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Hart and Soul
by
Nica Berry
Orphaned Niann has one wish, to go up the mountain to seek a spirit guide like the rest of his peers. Instead, he's forced to wait until frustration drives him to go without permission on his eighteenth birthday. There, he meets his guide--the kala deer, the tribe's patron animal and one that grants its disciples the ability to heighten the power of others's animal spirits...more
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published June 1st 2008)
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May 04, 2011
Jen (Red Hot Books)
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one. Unless you are really drunk.
This may be the worst book I have ever read. In my life. Jenner and Niann live in some sort of tribe. Niaan has been an outcast since birth, but Jenner has a special connection to him. The tribe's shaman realizes that Niann may be a "chosen one," a kind of a sexual healer and he hopes to use Niann's energies for his own gain. Once the tribe realizes what he is, they all use him. Jenner is probably the only person who loves Niann, and has to fight against everyone to set him free.
I knew this was...more
I knew this was...more
Disclosure: I know the author.
I do have to say that I think it's more of a book about love overcoming abuse than an m/m romance--yes there's a HEA, but the heart of the story is more about good overcoming evil. Or rather, balance and love overcoming lust and the search for power. The romance feels tangential to that.
I read this more as a fantasy first and a romance secondary, which may be why I had less issues with it than other reviewers.
There is dubious consent/rape in the book. I think Ms. Be...more
I do have to say that I think it's more of a book about love overcoming abuse than an m/m romance--yes there's a HEA, but the heart of the story is more about good overcoming evil. Or rather, balance and love overcoming lust and the search for power. The romance feels tangential to that.
I read this more as a fantasy first and a romance secondary, which may be why I had less issues with it than other reviewers.
There is dubious consent/rape in the book. I think Ms. Be...more
I was drawn to this book's premise right away. Native American type setting? Shamans? The stolid protector trying to do right by someone he's loved from afar? I am so there.
For the most part I liked it. Like many of the reviewers who have posted about this book, I was bothered by the sheer amount of squicky, violent, dubious consent sex in this book. But the writing was lovely, and I did find that I cared what happened to these people. And there was a character who reminded me of something out o...more
For the most part I liked it. Like many of the reviewers who have posted about this book, I was bothered by the sheer amount of squicky, violent, dubious consent sex in this book. But the writing was lovely, and I did find that I cared what happened to these people. And there was a character who reminded me of something out o...more
Unique Isn't Always a Good Thing
Jennar was five years old when he watched the women of his clan provide the bare minimum of assistance to a pregnant outsider who stumbled into their settlement in the throes of labor. The unknown woman died, but the baby survived. A baby that those women thought should die along with his mother. Jennar was the one who gathered the infant, cleaned him, swaddled him, and named him Niann. He promised the baby he'd protect him even as strong feelings for the tiny chi...more
Jennar was five years old when he watched the women of his clan provide the bare minimum of assistance to a pregnant outsider who stumbled into their settlement in the throes of labor. The unknown woman died, but the baby survived. A baby that those women thought should die along with his mother. Jennar was the one who gathered the infant, cleaned him, swaddled him, and named him Niann. He promised the baby he'd protect him even as strong feelings for the tiny chi...more
OK this book made me uncomfortable for the most part due to some of the sexual violence that was implied if not spelled out in all its, not so, glory. But having said that I found the story addictive. At one point I decided I was going to stop reading it but then found I picked up my ebook reader and turn to it wanting to know what happen next, and having finished it I still dont know if I can say I liked it. What I can say is reading it was an experience, it was beautifully written and painted...more
Reviewed at: Library of Lights
Date reviewed: 20 May 2011
Review link:/?p=292 http://mykindaland.com
All right, truth be told, I don't exactly fancy homosexual fiction, but since I've requested this book by mistake for reviewing purpose, I might as well give credit where credit is due. Overall, while the story was highly original, I did not like the violence implied in this story. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I find it difficult to read the book til the end.
This book is not my type of book, a...more
Date reviewed: 20 May 2011
Review link:/?p=292 http://mykindaland.com
All right, truth be told, I don't exactly fancy homosexual fiction, but since I've requested this book by mistake for reviewing purpose, I might as well give credit where credit is due. Overall, while the story was highly original, I did not like the violence implied in this story. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I find it difficult to read the book til the end.
This book is not my type of book, a...more
The writing was competent, and I cared about the resolution of the story enough to stick with it, but that's all I can say for it.
The content just didn't sit right with me. Frequent rape scenes that the author didn't seem to condemn, a whole host of awful female characters who are awful for no reason other than to make the relationship between the leads seem better.
The portrayal of gender could have been affirming and interesting, but by the way it was framed it instead felt abusive and incredib...more
The content just didn't sit right with me. Frequent rape scenes that the author didn't seem to condemn, a whole host of awful female characters who are awful for no reason other than to make the relationship between the leads seem better.
The portrayal of gender could have been affirming and interesting, but by the way it was framed it instead felt abusive and incredib...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Note: This review is for the Carina Press reprint.
Overall
Although there was plenty to enjoy in this story, there are some large parts of it that are difficult to get through, and I could see this stopping some readers from finishing it. I struggled with it and ended up skimming the parts that made me uncomfortable and would have preferred them not be in the story at all. I internally debated if they had a purpose, aside from plot and the author's attempt to show not tell about events, but couldn...more
Overall
Although there was plenty to enjoy in this story, there are some large parts of it that are difficult to get through, and I could see this stopping some readers from finishing it. I struggled with it and ended up skimming the parts that made me uncomfortable and would have preferred them not be in the story at all. I internally debated if they had a purpose, aside from plot and the author's attempt to show not tell about events, but couldn...more
No romance here! This is a study in how sex can be a link between the physical and spiritual worlds and a battle for good versus evil. The implied, if not downright explicit, sexual violence was too difficult to read and made me skip often. I've never read anything like this and hope never to again. I have to give the author props for having an imagination, even if it made me squeamish!
This was a very hard book to read and several times I considered not finishing it. However, there were also parts of the book that I enjoyed and the details about the world Jennar and Niann lived in were fascinating. The reasoning behind many of the scenes that made me uncomfortable were revealed towards the end of the book and this better understanding led to a greater appreciation of the story.
Challenges:
Book #105 for 2011
Book #105 for 2011
Lost me with the animal erotica. Just can't go there.
Jan 26, 2013
Shannon
marked it as maybe
Jul 12, 2012
Tracey
marked it as to-read
Jan 31, 2012
Maria Pussycat
marked it as to-read
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Nica Berry attended the 2005 Clarion Writer's Workshop for Science Fiction and Fantasy,
the 2007 Taos Toolbox workshop for SF/F novelists, and graduated with a Master's
degree in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University in January 2008.
When she's not writing, Nica likes to hang out at the zoo and take pictures of the animals.
More about Nica Berry...
the 2007 Taos Toolbox workshop for SF/F novelists, and graduated with a Master's
degree in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University in January 2008.
When she's not writing, Nica likes to hang out at the zoo and take pictures of the animals.
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Oh god...wtf?? Seriously?? That's in an erotica novel? Deer sex with human consciousness. In detail.
The mind more than boggles...more
May 06, 2011 09:37pm
May 08, 2011 05:40pm