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13th out of 147 books
—
456 voters
Dark Heart (Tales of Amaranth #1)
by
Thom Lane
In Amaranth, the Wayfarers' Guild attracts all kinds of custom. When Lucan the mage walks into the stable yard with a lame horse in the rain, slave boy Tam runs to serve him -- and soon Tam wants to do nothing else. Ever.
Lucan is demanding, ruthless, devastating, in bed and out: everything Tam ever yearned for in a master. He's also master of the darkest arts, and not blin...more
Lucan is demanding, ruthless, devastating, in bed and out: everything Tam ever yearned for in a master. He's also master of the darkest arts, and not blin...more
ebook, 150 pages
Published
September 23rd 2008
by Loose Id
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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As some people have said in reviews, this is not a typical m/m romance.
Amaranth is a place where there are only 2 kinds of people - slaves and the free. Slaves seem to be valued, in as much as they do vital work, but easily replaced if they die, and pretty much on a social level with domesticated animals.
Tam is a Slave in a guildhouse, and luckily for him he has a very submissive mentality, and so it seems to work out for him. He lives very much in the moment, which I liked about him. He thinks...more
Amaranth is a place where there are only 2 kinds of people - slaves and the free. Slaves seem to be valued, in as much as they do vital work, but easily replaced if they die, and pretty much on a social level with domesticated animals.
Tam is a Slave in a guildhouse, and luckily for him he has a very submissive mentality, and so it seems to work out for him. He lives very much in the moment, which I liked about him. He thinks...more
This was a great read. It was like a kinky David Eddings. The world that was created was believable with no consistency issues to shatter the illusion. Although the sex was graphic & frequent, it was so intrinsic to the story that it avoided being gratuitous. I would highly recommend this book for lovers of fantasy...even if you aren't a lover of BDSM, this book works as a whole & you can't imagine it without the sexual slavery. If you liked this book you might also enjoy books written b...more
Fascinating story once it gets going, but it’s certainly not for everyone
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- Lane has a knack for establishing setting with just a few well-placed adjectives and descriptive nouns. His writing is clear and precise.
- The fantasy aspects of this story interested me. Granted, I’m mostly unaccustomed to reading stories of this sort, but Lane describes his world in a way that makes it seem quite intriguing: “Mages...more
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS:
- Lane has a knack for establishing setting with just a few well-placed adjectives and descriptive nouns. His writing is clear and precise.
- The fantasy aspects of this story interested me. Granted, I’m mostly unaccustomed to reading stories of this sort, but Lane describes his world in a way that makes it seem quite intriguing: “Mages...more
Delicious! I guess I'm just a sucker for fantasy, and this novella was a great quick read. Excellent writing, interesting plot and fascinating universe. The only thing I can complain about is that I wanted MORE.
MILD SPOILERS:(view spoiler)...more
MILD SPOILERS:(view spoiler)...more
This tale was a different type of read for me – and a completely different take on the Master/slave realtionship. In all honestly, I was struggling to adjust to their interactions, as there was nothing consensual about the pairing. However, the characters were drawn together and their relationship developed to one that was caring and consentual at the end. I was intrigued by both the setting and the special powers, which was a surprise for me, and both added significant value to the story.
This i...more
This i...more
Not my usual taste in books, but interesting for all of that. ^_^ The actions between master and slave is not the sweet-romance that can be build and made up within other novels but rather a bit more true-to-form.
Tam gets punished often and without leniency. He even at times invites the hits - quipping something he knows will get him cuffed or lingering where he shouldn't and getting a strapping for it. He's broken as a slave and yet has a will within that caste of slavery. There was another sla...more
Tam gets punished often and without leniency. He even at times invites the hits - quipping something he knows will get him cuffed or lingering where he shouldn't and getting a strapping for it. He's broken as a slave and yet has a will within that caste of slavery. There was another sla...more
Romance? Absolutely not. Erotica? Definitely. BDSM? Also absolutely not; no, this is dubcon at best, abuse, and a slave in an absolutely unvarnished world (good for the author for not painting real slavery with a pretty brush) grabbing on to the slightest hint of happiness he can cling to--violent and callous as it often was--and calling it love. That being said, it was also hot and remarkably well written. The prose is artful, the worldbuilding was brilliant, the plot secondary to the character...more
Dec 20, 2010
~riaria~
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
bdsm in a fantasy setting, maybe snape/reznor fans?
This book was amazing!
Not your conventional bdsm m/m novel I have to say in advance, but not less enjoyable.Quite on the contrary: The story is told from Tam's POV. Tam is a slave at the Wayfarer's Guild in the imaginary city of Amaranth and his life seems to be taking a new turn when a powerful dark Mage, Master Lucan comes along...
What I enjoyed most in the story was Tam's inner thoughts and feelings and how he assessed his situation as a slave at the guildhouse--his personal story so far.His...more
Not your conventional bdsm m/m novel I have to say in advance, but not less enjoyable.Quite on the contrary: The story is told from Tam's POV. Tam is a slave at the Wayfarer's Guild in the imaginary city of Amaranth and his life seems to be taking a new turn when a powerful dark Mage, Master Lucan comes along...
What I enjoyed most in the story was Tam's inner thoughts and feelings and how he assessed his situation as a slave at the guildhouse--his personal story so far.His...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
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Dark Heart by Thom Lane was an absolutely magic fantasy read. Excellent world building with a sexy, servile slave boy and hot, badass mage. I loved this book and cannot believe I’ve not picked it up before now. The cover alone is enough to send me back for a second look. hehe. I loved the world the author created, even though I periodically wanted the slaves to rise up, the whole in service thing did rather appeal to my kink. I thought the ending was well done too and not wrapped up in a bow. Ha...more
The Wayfarer Guild has been under attack by an unknown assailant. The guild mistress asks Lucan’s aid in discovering the offender. She suspects sorcery and only he, the best in the Mage Guild, can uncover who is trying to ruin the Wayfarers.
A Wayfarers Guild houseboy, Tam who’s sole life purpose is to please another; preferably a strong Master within the male gender. Diverted by a rain storm a prominent mage seeks refuge from the deluge. From the first moment, Tam began falling in love.
Due to...more
A Wayfarers Guild houseboy, Tam who’s sole life purpose is to please another; preferably a strong Master within the male gender. Diverted by a rain storm a prominent mage seeks refuge from the deluge. From the first moment, Tam began falling in love.
Due to...more
Dear Thom Lane, I am in love. Thank you so much for your Tales of Amaranth series. I never imagined anyone could combine scorching fantasies of submissive psychology with realism about what masters would actually want, but you just took that as your starting point and made the realism push the fantasy into impossibly hot territory. It's so rare to see laughter and contempt and indifferent use even in BDSM love stories, and you took it all the way into the master-slave relationship and made us lo...more
I really love the world building in this. I like that it has fantasy, adventure and mystery. I also like that the protagonist , despite being a slave , has his rebellious side. He is not one of those mindless and overly submissive slaves that does everything their master says. He's an interesting and strong character. I would have to love to read a sequel about them.
This books is for those who enjoys fantasy without being disturbed by the BDSM or Master and Slave relationships. If you like fant...more
This books is for those who enjoys fantasy without being disturbed by the BDSM or Master and Slave relationships. If you like fant...more
Eloquently written first person POV. Lane does a commendable job of showing the inner workings of a submissive's mind; how he found that place, and where his private preferences lay. The power play between slave and master is flawlessly fashioned -- the manipulation of control versus its equally manipulative counterpart of surrender. Lane's world-building is virtually effortless and subtle, no info-dumping; it's done through circumstances, and conversations, and setting. A writer with definitive...more
Wow - just wow. I've never read anything remotely like this book and though, I've also never read anything about slaves either, I can honestly say this book was fantastic. It was so well-written, so well plotted, the characters were enthralling for both their rawness and their heart.
Tam was such an abused little guy really, but having him be so accepting to what his life was all about was both heart-breaking and beautiful. Lucan was a strong, manly-man and I loved that he was able to show his h...more
Tam was such an abused little guy really, but having him be so accepting to what his life was all about was both heart-breaking and beautiful. Lucan was a strong, manly-man and I loved that he was able to show his h...more
2 likes · like · see review
Despite the cover and title, this is a decidedly un-dark read. I suppose as far as Gaymance goes, it's also a bit of a strange read. It's romance, yet I'm not sure you can soundly classify as that. When it comes to slavery in M/M Romance, there's usually that certain point in the book when social class, differences or anything really don't matter in the face of their love.In that respect, Dark Heart is different. The gap between their social classes is there and even at the end of the book, it's...more
3 likes · like · see review
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
Wow, just wow, this rather dark and harsh book was amazing in its treatment of the reality of total slavery. To be a slave in Amaranth is to be as replaceable as a piece of paper and worth just about as much. Tam is a slave in the Wayfarer's Guild house and while being owned by a guild house may seem like a better than average place to be owned, it is not. A slave is only worth as much as they are capable of doing and the slave quick...more
Wow, just wow, this rather dark and harsh book was amazing in its treatment of the reality of total slavery. To be a slave in Amaranth is to be as replaceable as a piece of paper and worth just about as much. Tam is a slave in the Wayfarer's Guild house and while being owned by a guild house may seem like a better than average place to be owned, it is not. A slave is only worth as much as they are capable of doing and the slave quick...more
4.5 stars
This was an interesting read for me. I love fantasy as a general rule and this definitely ticked that box. I'm not always keen on reading a slave/master story though; however this one really surprised me. Yes, Tam is a slave. He is expected to do whatever his Master/s needs or wants. He gets punished for real wrongdoings and also perceived ones. Normally this isn't my cup of tea.
But... I fell in love with Tam! He's a slave, yes, but doesn't seem to suffer being one (if that makes sense...more
This was an interesting read for me. I love fantasy as a general rule and this definitely ticked that box. I'm not always keen on reading a slave/master story though; however this one really surprised me. Yes, Tam is a slave. He is expected to do whatever his Master/s needs or wants. He gets punished for real wrongdoings and also perceived ones. Normally this isn't my cup of tea.
But... I fell in love with Tam! He's a slave, yes, but doesn't seem to suffer being one (if that makes sense...more
受けのtamがとっても健気で根っからの奴隷って感じが素敵でした☆
あと攻めのlucanがかっこよかった！魔法使って攻撃して…たと思います、確か！
正直、細かくは理解できなかったけど、面白かったです←英語力の不足で…orz
あ、でもramとlucanの会話が少ないなーって思っちゃいました。
もうちょっとlucanがtamにやさしーくしてるシーンとかあっても嬉しかったなあ。
このお話のafterstoryとか読みたいなーって思いました！
次のお話もこのままいくますー！
あと攻めのlucanがかっこよかった！魔法使って攻撃して…たと思います、確か！
正直、細かくは理解できなかったけど、面白かったです←英語力の不足で…orz
あ、でもramとlucanの会話が少ないなーって思っちゃいました。
もうちょっとlucanがtamにやさしーくしてるシーンとかあっても嬉しかったなあ。
このお話のafterstoryとか読みたいなーって思いました！
次のお話もこのままいくますー！
I have to admit that after the first chapter and a half I thought I wouldn't like this story at all. Tam is a slave in a world where people are taught that slaves have no soul. Master Lucan is a mage whom Tam desires more than anything else. The mage doesn't treat Tam with a special regard, he is not gentle or caring, there's nothing of that. Tam is a tool he uses for his pleasure and to perform the material tasks a slave must perform. Nothing romantic.
It was difficult to accept Tam's devotion f...more
It was difficult to accept Tam's devotion f...more
1 like · like · see review
Whip fetish can be overwhelming sometimes...
So what can I say about this AMAZING D/S (Dominance and submission) story?
Collared submissive slave:
checkStrong mysterious master:
checkFull immersion in cold bath more than one time was needed:
certainly CHECKAll book is (YEY) the slave point of view, Tam.
I can tell much. Tam will talk to you, and his submissive mind is perfect! He will described the dark and mysterious mage arriving to the guild of Amaranth, and with time (more or less, half boo...more
7 likes · like · see review
I don't know whether to give this a 3 or a 5 so I settled on a 4. The first half of this book was slow and then you are thrown into the last half abruptly and things pick up. Lucan is a mage and mages are feared. He comes to stay at the guild house when his horse goes laim on his way out of the city. Tam is a slave who serves the guild house The guild house is under attach from an unknown enemy and Lucan is hired to find out who.
This is told in the first person, which I don't mind. So this is to...more
This is told in the first person, which I don't mind. So this is to...more
Master and Slave - this was disturbing on many levels mostly for the ingenious worldbuilding. Amaranth isn't our world, our morale and ethics in medieval garb. It's an entirely different world, with a different morale where human slaves really are nothing more than soulless beings. Consequently, the relationship between the magician and the slave is in the beginning more something like a master and his pet dog. I could easily relate to Tam falling in love with Lucan, from the way Tam sees himsel...more
Jan 28, 2011
Nikyta
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
loose-id,
cruelty-abuse,
demons,
scifi-fantasy,
injury-recovery,
historical,
m-m,
magic,
master-slave,
series-serial
4.5 stars
This book wasn't anything like I thought it would be. I thought it was going to be so dark that I might have even felt a little dirty after reading it but it surprisingly wasn't. Lol.
I will say that I don't consider this BDSM. Not even light BDSM (view spoiler) and it's not even rea...more
This book wasn't anything like I thought it would be. I thought it was going to be so dark that I might have even felt a little dirty after reading it but it surprisingly wasn't. Lol.
I will say that I don't consider this BDSM. Not even light BDSM (view spoiler) and it's not even rea...more
2 likes · like · see review
This story is thoroughly engaging and wonderfully scripted, incorporating a vibrant BDSM world with fantasy elements. The characters are interesting and captivating and the sexual aspects of the world pale in comparison to the mystery and world building dynamics. Although the world building and characters had problems, the darker edge will entice readers and those who enjoy fantasy mixed with BDSM won't be able to put this book down.
As the blurb suggests, the story is about a house slave Tam who...more
As the blurb suggests, the story is about a house slave Tam who...more
This is a terrific book for those interested in m/m erotica in a fantasy setting. Amaranth is another world, where slavery is commonplace, and magic exists. The blurb for the book is pretty clear about the plot, so I won't try to summarize any more on that.
From the very first paragraph, I knew this was an author I could trust to tell a good story. Although I would consider this a character driven story, the plot was still very well scripted, and the pace kept me focused on not just finding out m...more
From the very first paragraph, I knew this was an author I could trust to tell a good story. Although I would consider this a character driven story, the plot was still very well scripted, and the pace kept me focused on not just finding out m...more
During the first half of this book very little happened. I hadn't connected with any of the characters. It wasn't that I didn't like them, I was just indifferent to them. It wasn't until almost exactly halfway through this book that it finally became interesting. We, the reader, finally learn about mage Lucan's power and see what he is able to do. What I ended up liking about this book was the paranormal story. As for the romance, I wouldn't call this a romance. I did end up liking the master/sl...more
I just love this book (and not just because of the cover!) Tam and Lucan are wonderful characters. Told in 1st person, we really get to know Tam. Learning about Lucan from Tam's perspective is like peeling an onion. Without the tears. Thom Lane does a great job with world-building, and it makes me want to know lots more about this place, even if slavery is a given. You have to be willing to forgo your social injustice reactions!
I suspect that this just wasn't my kind of book. I thought that the story dragged a bit in a few places, and that the plot outside of the D/s storyline was a little all over the place. I did fall in love with Tam, and I could even see just a little of the appeal of Master Lucan. However I thought most of the other characters we just horrible people. Some were just plain cruel, but most were just mean. Even the ones that are supposed to be friends. I don't need everyone to be all sunshine and pup...more
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Author Thom Lane is an English writer who has published romances and erotica as well as fantasies and other books under other names. In his tales of Amaranth, he is combining as many of those genres as possible…
http://www.loose-id.com/authors/q-t/t...
More about Thom Lane...
http://www.loose-id.com/authors/q-t/t...
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