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An Uncommon Whore (An Uncommon Whore #1)

by Belinda McBride (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 1,048 ratings · 138 reviews

Genre: LGBT Science Fiction/Space Opera

"As a general rule, you won't find the love of your life while you're on your knees under a table." -- Helios Dayspring

Pasha is a slave, whoring for travelers at the most dangerous bar on Warlan. He has no memory, no future of his own, yet deep inside Pasha knows that that he is meant for better things. The day that Pasha spots the

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ebook, 122 pages

Published January 25th 2010 by Loose Id, LLC

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Community Reviews

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Jul 27, 2010 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, e-book, favorites

Don’t judge a book by its cover (and its title), because this one harbors a surprisingly sweet and engaging story.

Pasha is a sex slave with no recollection of his past. He doesn’t know who he was, who he is or who he is going to be, but he does feel there’s something more for him out there. And when a stranger walks into a bar, he knows not to let him slip away.
And so begins the story of Pasha/Helios and Griffin.

I liked the world McBride created and the plot was engaging and layered. The sex...more

15 likes · like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: man-love, paranormal-sci-fi-or-otherworldly

The short review:

It was hot. It was good. It was weird. It was exciting. It was emotional. It was fun.

I really liked it.

The extended version:

This book started off with a bang. (Er...pun...possibly intended?) "Pasha" is a beautiful whore with no name, no history, no age, and no memory. He's simply the possession of a humanoid "owner" who whores him out to support his gambling habits. So when Pasha finds himself at a seedy bar where it's too dangerous even for female whores, he's not surprised an...more The short review:

It was hot. It was good. It was weird. It was exciting. It was emotional. It was fun.

I really liked it.

The extended version:

This book started off with a bang. (Er...pun...possibly intended?) "Pasha" is a beautiful whore with no name, no history, no age, and no memory. He's simply the possession of a humanoid "owner" who whores him out to support his gambling habits. So when Pasha finds himself at a seedy bar where it's too dangerous even for female whores, he's not surprised and can only daydream - futilely - of escape from his present circumstances. Little does he know that the hardened yet compellingly virile mercenary across the room is about to recognize him as Helios Dayspring, the ruler who went missing during a war on their now-former home planet.

Thus begins this fun and energetic road romance of discovery. Helios's unexpected rescuer, through daring deeds of derring-do, soon sweeps him away from his shackled existence for more otherworldly destinations. During this trip, we uncover Helios's history and what happened in his conversion from royalty to whore. In addition to this overarching background, we see Helios and his mercenary, who is actually Captain Griffin Hawke of the royal guard, make rediscoveries of their long-buried emotional ties to each other. The question of how Helios will be received once he ultimately lands on his (new) home planet is always present to lend some tension to the story through the end.

There is a lot of sex in this relatively shorter story. That said, I felt like the sexytimes were well done and also furthered the relationship between Lio and Griffin. Before, they had never fully consummated their feelings for each other because of what each perceived as the struggle for dominance in penetration. Now, we see that Lio's years as a whore have wiped away that notion, and Griffin's own acceptance and openness later to this aspect of loving his Lio (and being loved by Lio) help to complete the picture of their emotional and physical partnership.

Only a couple of drawbacks come to mind. The ending felt a little rushed, and I think we needed another chapter or so to show how things shook down on the home planet. Also, I would have liked for Helios's history and relationships (e.g., with his family, with his troops, etc.) to be fleshed out a bit more. Finally, it's prostate, not prostrate. *smacks forehead*

All told, though, I really liked An Uncommon Whore. The journey through space and to different planets was fun and adventurous, and the sexytimes were hot hot hot.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2010 Andi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Intrigued by the title, I found and read an excerpt. I loved the voice of the protagonist, and I also greatly appreciated the fact that it was a clean and technically excellent text. On those grounds, I acquired the ebook and read it swiftly, finding it more than lived up to my expectations. The use of amnesia as a device to unfold the story worked well here, lending a pace to the tale that kept me reading for the answers. The world-building, while spare, was sufficient to create a sense of plac...more Intrigued by the title, I found and read an excerpt. I loved the voice of the protagonist, and I also greatly appreciated the fact that it was a clean and technically excellent text. On those grounds, I acquired the ebook and read it swiftly, finding it more than lived up to my expectations. The use of amnesia as a device to unfold the story worked well here, lending a pace to the tale that kept me reading for the answers. The world-building, while spare, was sufficient to create a sense of place. The balance between sex and plot was good, and the plot included enough threat and interesting political intrigue to carry the story. The greatest strength of the book, however, in my opinion, was the characterizations. The protagonist's acerbic, ironic tone and the manner in which he retained a distinctive personality despite the exigencies of his situation as a pleasure slave made him appealing and believable. His guardian and lover was a hardened soldier, but a man whose past actions and feelings had helped him hold on to passion and compassion as well. The theme of dominance and submission and its relation to social and political position played out nicely between the two. Each learned from their experiences and the other's experiences and molded the lessons into greater strength and deeper love, although not without some hard effort along the way. Secondary characters in the story were well drawn and dimensional. Even the protagonist's alien master at the beginning of the story was not completely unsympathetic. Many of the female characters were strong and interesting. Even a woman long dead at the beginning of the story (Suzan) became a real and appealing presence in the story.

One small quibble in the midst of a generally very well done piece of work in technical respects--something the editor should have caught if not the author: the male gland at issue is the "prostate" gland, not the "prostrate" gland. This is a common error, but worth pointing out for future reference.

I wish the book had been longer, although I gather the story will be continued. It was a reasonable stopping point for a continuing story; I just hated saying goodbye to the characters! I will definitely be watching for this story to continue.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2010 Kassa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book has received high praise from the usual suspects even though a few said it’s not perfect but still great. So intrigued, I set about reading this knowing very little about the plot – I didn’t even read the blurb – and expecting a great sci-fi book. Well the setting is simply fabulous and definitely delivers for any fan, creating a complex and fascinating culture. The characters of Helios and Griffin are well beyond classic stereotypes and bring a great conflict and interplay into the mi...more This book has received high praise from the usual suspects even though a few said it’s not perfect but still great. So intrigued, I set about reading this knowing very little about the plot – I didn’t even read the blurb – and expecting a great sci-fi book. Well the setting is simply fabulous and definitely delivers for any fan, creating a complex and fascinating culture. The characters of Helios and Griffin are well beyond classic stereotypes and bring a great conflict and interplay into the mix. If anything the story ends too soon, leaving many questions dangling, and with so much possibility that it will be a real shame if the author never writes a sequel. Hint: Please write one. Now. Yesterday. Already being published if possible.

Told in first person point of view from Helios’ perspective, the story starts in a seedy bar on a disreputable planet as Helios is sitting behind his large reptilian pimp. From there the scene feels very similar to classic Star Wars with a few twists and thus the setting mixes familiar elements with new thus able to offer something ultimately different and unique without spending long paragraphs obsessing over detail. There is richness to the setting that is constantly offered no matter where the characters are so the science fiction atmosphere is always vibrantly present. The interplanetary politics and actions are offered and given depth, but this complicated side plot could have been fleshed out to double the space and still captivated readers. Here the story streamlines certain aspects and uses classic themes to keep the plot quick and interesting. I would have preferred a more complex and fleshed out detailing of events but the quick recitation is common in this story.

Similarly the complex relationship between Griffin and Helios focuses on their present as they reconnect while Helios slowly and agonizingly gets his memory back. Since his memory has been wiped several times and he’s been programmed as a slave, his journey from nameless slave to leader of an exiled people focuses on his reestablished relationship to Griffin. This is both good and bad since their chemistry is incredibly hot and their dynamic fascinating. Griffin and Helios struggle with the concepts of dominance and submission as both are naturally dominant men. It takes Helios’ time as a slave to understand the strength in submission and that receiving sex is not weakness. So the interplay between the men is mostly sexual and emotional as they come together again.

Unfortunately for the plot, Helios’ past actions as a leader and his hope for the future of his people is very glossed over and shortly summarized. Helios spends the entire length of the book struggling to regain his memories while vacillating between wanting to know and fearing the knowledge. He never really emerges as a strong, capable leader. His actions are mostly sexual and in combination with strengthening his connection to Griffin with only a few off hand comments about his people’s future and their current planet. The lack of additional detail about his past doesn’t help and ultimately leaves Helios as a two dimensional character at best – even though he’s interesting, engaging, and immediately draws your eye. Perhaps any sequels would help develop this aspect of his personality and delve more deeply into his heroic past.

The tightly paced plot is all there with a wealth of atmosphere and solid, well developed characters. The sexual chemistry is smoking hot and the sex doesn’t stop. This strengthens the main romantic relationship but does weaken the additional side plots about political intrigue and ruling a planet. This story would have benefited from being twice as long with more attention paid to the various details, especially focusing on the socio-political implications. Even so, this is a very entertaining story that no doubt delivers exactly what the author intended - a light and interesting read.
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9 likes · like · see review

Oct 22, 2011 Jenre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, romance, sci-fi

I'm a sucker for a PL Nunn cover so when I saw this book at Loose Id I clicked on the link to see what it was all about. My interest was further piqued by it being a sci-fi romance and an amnesia plot. I must say that I was glad to have taken a risk with this new-to-me author because I greatly enjoyed An Uncommon Whore.

The story begins in a seedy bar on a planet made mostly of dust. The bar itself is a popular stop off point for travellers and miners who come to the planet to work. The bar is al...more I'm a sucker for a PL Nunn cover so when I saw this book at Loose Id I clicked on the link to see what it was all about. My interest was further piqued by it being a sci-fi romance and an amnesia plot. I must say that I was glad to have taken a risk with this new-to-me author because I greatly enjoyed An Uncommon Whore.

The story begins in a seedy bar on a planet made mostly of dust. The bar itself is a popular stop off point for travellers and miners who come to the planet to work. The bar is also the workplace of several prostitutes who are recognisable by their veils and flowing clothing. One such whore is Pasha whose pimp, U'shma, is a reptilian humanoid. U'shma plays cards with a dangerous looking man with scars and an eye patch and loses - the price being a night with Pasha. Once alone, the man, Griffin, reveals to Pasha that he is not a whore but a prince of Griffin's people who has been captured and had his mind wiped of all that he was before. The book then follows Pasha - or Helios as he is called - and Griffin as they attempt to escape from U'shma and return Helios to his people.

As with any sci-fi romance it's important to get the correct blend of unique world building and character based emotional connection. With this book I felt that the author had got this blend just right. The world building is a mix of familiar and unfamiliar. For example, the world where Helios and Griffin originally came from was a planet based world, similar in many way to a Greco-Roman society. The men are warriors and priests and the society is run by kings with trusted councillors and advisers. Politics and religion play an important part in that society too. Although the people of this world are aware of space flight, they themselves were not equipped for space, leading to disaster when their close neighbours betray them to a space-ready enemy. For most of the book Helios and Griffin are travelling and in these travels they encounter many different types and species of humanoids. Everything was clearly described and I got a strong impression of the setting and the characters within it. It made me realise that the author had put a great deal of thought into how each of the sci-fi aspects were going to gel together and I was impressed by the world building in general and how the futuristic ideas join and complemented the more familiar quasi-historical ideas.

Although I liked the characters of Griffin and Helios, finding them sympathetic and realistic, the part which fascinated me most about their relationship was the interplay of domination and submission. This theme spread out through the whole of the book in general, but it was in the interaction between the two heroes where I found it most interesting. Much of this links in with Helios' memory loss and subsequent role of submissive whore. We learn that before his capture Helios was not at all submissive and yet during his time as a prostitute he has learned the value in submission when necessary. The way that Griffin has to adjust to Helios' new personality, to allow himself to dominate the man he is used to serving was an unusual theme for a book in terms of characterisation. It also leant their relationship and emotional edge as both men feel out their new roles within their relationship. The sex scenes were then used as a way to show this shift in the relationship so that by the end of the book I felt that the two men were on an equal footing with one another.

The book wasn't perfect though. My main problem stems from the fact that I saw very little of the king and warrior in Helios. This may possibly be because this book is about Helios' rescue from slavery and his subsequent regaining of his memories and former strength. Throughout the book we are told of how brave, tough and strong Helios was; how he was a powerful and effective strategist and leader. Yet during the book we see only a shadow of this man. Even when his memories begin to return he constantly defers to Griffin, who seems the one with the strength and ability to lead, not Helios. It's only a minor niggle but I finished the book feeling rather sceptical that Helios still had it in him to lead his people and I would have liked to have seen some of the strong warrior in Helios to be convinced of his ability to lead. The book ended with many questions unanswered about the future of Helios, Griffin and their people and I wondered whether there may be a sequel in the pipeline. I hope so.

Overall, An Uncommon Whore is an interesting and unusual book. I would highly recommend it to those who like sci-fi and yet who also want to read a character based romance. Grade: Excellent.
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6 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2010 Serena Yates rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

I really liked this book. It's a sci-fi story, but the focus isn't on the technology, it's on people struggling with power, politics and relationships. They just happen to live in the future.

The development Pasha undergoes from being a slave to being the king of his people, fighting first memory loss and then the returning memories, was really interesting. Captain Griffin Hawke helps him along and Pasha's attracion changes into Helios's love for his former lover and friend. The struggle both men...more

7 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2010 Jason Huffman-black rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, m-m, box-set-challenge, mar-10

This was a really well written story with characters that I felt invested in. The sex was awesome and I kept wanting to turn back to the cover to see them there, which doesn't always happen with books. For once the descriptions built a picture within my mind that matched the beautiful artwork on the cover. Although the ending was a little sappier than I would like, I am excited to hear that there is going to be a second book.

10 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2010 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Without a doubt one of the best of the m/m sci fi books that I've read to date. The unravelling of Helios' past, including his relationship with Griffin, made for a fascinating journey and gave an emotional intensity to what was an unusual storyline. A great read.

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2011 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, bdsm, sci-fi, challenge-bdsm-gang-bang, purchased, challenge-mm-gang-bang, slavery, x-lng

How would you feel to not remember anything but the present? Would it ease your mind or would you always want to know what happened in the past? Pasha knows he’s an uncommonly handsome sex slave and that there was a past. He just can’t remember it. During one of his sexual servitudes, being pimped out by his master, he spies upon a man that he desperately wants, but doesn’t know why. This man is a scarred pilot of a ship, Griffin. Griffin is a desperate man, trying to keep his people together wh...more How would you feel to not remember anything but the present? Would it ease your mind or would you always want to know what happened in the past? Pasha knows he’s an uncommonly handsome sex slave and that there was a past. He just can’t remember it. During one of his sexual servitudes, being pimped out by his master, he spies upon a man that he desperately wants, but doesn’t know why. This man is a scarred pilot of a ship, Griffin. Griffin is a desperate man, trying to keep his people together while keeping the hope alive. His hope is to find his missing prince, who was once a beloved lover. By sheer chance, he buys the veiled Pasha for the night. Griffin’s prayers are answered; Pasha is his long lost Helios. Helios remembers nothing.

I totally enjoyed this story. Helios and Griffin are totally hot together. Learning about the terrible subjugation of Helios was sad yet kind of hot. It reminded me Joss Whedon's Dollhouse series, just a bit. Learning about this world kept my interest going. The hot sex between Helios and Griffin had me aroused quite a bit. The give and take Master/slave undercurrents really turned me on. Helios is so sexy in his submission. He’s the perfect sex slave, able to please any man or woman. He is so much more and as we learn more about Helios, it breaks my heart. To take a warrior who’s a nation’s hero and turn him into a sexual slave to be used and abused had me crying out in outrage. How dare they? I wanted to hunt down the offenders as much as Griffin.

Not all is what it seems and Ms. McBride keeps my attention riveted as each new piece of information is revealed. The conspiracy, betrayal and attempted genocide is depressing and horrific. A nation decimated by greed and hatred is sad as we see the results of tortured children. Anyone who can torture children deserves a special place in hell. I’m so involved and invested in these characters that I’m moved to tears as I read about the aftermath of destruction after Helios was captured. I learned there is a second story and I can't wait to read it. I recommend this story to m/m lovers who enjoy sci-fi slavery twist. This is a happily for now story with dark undertones.

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Nov 14, 2010 Bookwatcher ~Mary MooCow~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt-gay, sci-fi, erotica

I just finish this book and I still have tears in my eyes!
Soooo touching! All story is heartwarming, and the end! So tearjerker!

About the story
Captain Griffin Hawke has the weight of his people on his back. His world was conquered, he lost everything, and his only hope is find the lost king, to restore Astrum. Who is this king? Helios Dayspring.
No, Griffin is not the narrator of this book... Pasha is... who is Pasha? He is the narrator of the book, and I'm not spoiling your story because after f...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 26, 2013 Bev rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sci-Fi Fans

Shelves: favorites, futuristic, m-m-sci-fi, really-good-friends, total-keepers

Mixed reviews for this one, but I really liked it. 4 stars and a big from me!!

Another shortie review....too many books

...not enough time

.

Pasha is a slave/whore on the planet of Warlan who knows nothing of his past, but feels that there must be more to his life than he is currently being forced to endure. Enter Griffin Hawke, space pirate, who negotiates with Pasha's 'owner' Ushma to keep Pasha for the night....we then discover that 'Pasha' is not 'Pasha' but Helios Dayspring, prince of Arash...more

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 06, 2010 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, favourite, glbt, keeper, m-m, romance

This book totally blew me away! I was expecting a good story ~ even though this is the first time that I've read anything by Belinda McBride ~ but I was not prepared for the richness of detail and emotion, nor the depth of character.
An Uncommon Whore goes straight to my re-read pile 'cause I'll want to enjoy this again and again.

And I would LOVE to have more of Helios and Griffin... a LOT more.

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2010 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, m-m, alt-univ-futuristic-sci-fi, what-i-read-in-2010

Helios and Griffin are rich, complex characters and the relationship between them is well written and interesting. This is an engaging story and I would love to read more about them.

My complete review is posted at Rainbow Reviews.

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Bubbles Hunty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

I loved this book. Such a sweet story. Both of the main characters were great

ETA: After second time reading it; still loved it.

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 09, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Emanuela ~plastic duck~ by: Stacey Jo

Shelves: sci-fi, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It was better than I expected. When I read the blurb I thought that it would be more angsty, but I guess Helios's voice was so light and steady that it made the theme of slavery more bearable.

The best thing in the book is the narrator. I really appreciated his reasonable voice, his strength and dignity. When you read further into the story, you realize that this comes from the fact that he was a leader of his people and this trait of his personality was always present even in his status as slave...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 02, 2010 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, m-m, sci-fi, bom-mm

Helios Dayspring, (Pasha) is a slave and a whore and he knows it. He has no memories of his name or his past and spends his days trying to figure out how to escape. When Griffin Hawke walks into the bar Helio knows he has got to meet him... which he does and he discovers that Griffin may be the answers he's been waiting for.

I will admit that I was totally surprised by this book. The characters are engaging, the romance sweet, the sex hot and all delivered in just the right amounts. I liked the s...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 13, 2012 Julz04 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Julz04 by: Goodreads

Shelves: alpha-hero, domination-submission, graphic-raunchy, m-m, non-con, part-of-a-series, rape, reunion-second-chances, sci-fi, fantasy, erotica

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3.5 stars

This genre is one of my secret (well, not any more) indulgences. I just love me some gay, slave, fantasy. Hey, don't knock it til you try it. ;D

Sucked in by P.L. Nunn's artwork on the cover (never know if you'll find another Bloodraven underneath), this sounded like an interesting read and it was.

It's kind of like Brokeback Mountain (but no cowboys) meets Star Wars mixed in with a lot of flashbacks about the atrocities perpetuated on our heroes (torture, slavery, rape, etc) whose worl...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Pia Veleno rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: __queer, source-fw

Wow!

More of a review later, but wow, yeah, great characters, world building, and conflict. I hear a rumor there's more to come. Write fast, Belinda, I'm there.

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 14, 2013 Julio-Alexi Genao rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fun, sexy, and enough story to satisfy, even if only toward the beginning. A nice read, with unexpectedly tender bits and heartwarming implications.

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2011 Vicktor Alexander rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: M/M Romance Group

Okay, to be honest when I first saw the title for this book I was a little shocked, at the same time, very intrigued. This was the fourth book in the m/m genre that I ever read and I was not disappointed. From the first paragraph I was hooked and Mrs McBride held me hooked all the way to the end. Anyone that's read my blog or other reviews of mine know that I'm a little bit of an epilogue whore myself and I often find myself disappointed when a book that's so good ends with the couple admitting...more

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May 31, 2011 Trix rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mm-novels, sword

A book deserving a 4 star rating.

Based on the summary, I expected 2 pov in the story: Helios and Griffin. And I really wanted to read the part where Helios would say "As a general rule, you won't find the love of your life while you're on your knees under a table." Sadly, that quote was only included in the summary, not the actual story and Helios was the one to tell the tale. And yes, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more action, fighting scenes, intrigue as that is what the story ind...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Casey rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was one of those books that starts out great then loses its way. The opening was provocative and it gave me high hopes. The tension sagged a little then perked up then sagged again without recovery BUT, it was still entertaining. I didn't stop reading, almost, but not quite. If it had kept its pace and tension it would be a 4 star read easily. As it is, it's sort of 2.5. I've given it 3 because I love the characters.

Pasha and Griff are well rounded and good together. I was disappointed the...more This was one of those books that starts out great then loses its way. The opening was provocative and it gave me high hopes. The tension sagged a little then perked up then sagged again without recovery BUT, it was still entertaining. I didn't stop reading, almost, but not quite. If it had kept its pace and tension it would be a 4 star read easily. As it is, it's sort of 2.5. I've given it 3 because I love the characters.

Pasha and Griff are well rounded and good together. I was disappointed there wasn't much sex. When it was there it was well written but I couldn't figure out its placing in the story. It was as though the author thought 'ooo, they haven't had sex in a while, let's pop a scene in' and it didn't really relate to what happened either side of it.

I also thought the story slipped from showing to telling part way through. There is a lot of potential here to expand into a great novel or series. Some great characters. Carlotta was interesting and should have more pages somewhere. The sexy warrior woman is screaming to have her story told.

It holds a good, solid premise and characters that are easy to fall in love with.

I want to know what's going on with Markus, even though we saw him for 2 paragraphs. I want to know how U'shma is getting on. I want to hear the tales of the old Sun Priest. I want to see Helios explain to his sister what happened to him and hear her story. I want to know what Alexander thinks of his father's choice of consort, what his people think.

As you can see - loving the characters is not an issue. The author paints pictures of them in a few short paragraphs and you're hooked but the actual story telling could be better. It felt rushed, information thrown onto the page to get it out there rather than crafted.

It makes me think this was an idea for a series that ended up being cut to fit a novello. So, whilst I liked the read, it had so much more potential that I ended it feeling disappointed.

I still say 'read it, read it' for the characters alone. Definite potential for fanfic to round out the bits that are missing. (less)

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Jul 23, 2010 Rhianon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, romance, science-fiction, soldier-military, slave-fic

[3.5 stars:] This is one of those reads that has layers. You can take it as a fluffy smut-riddled romance if you want; or you can see into it, between the lines, and enjoy the richness of the underlying story, as well.

While the ending felt rushed, especially after the time McBride took to saturate her characters in each setting, it was truly the only flaw I was able to find. Part of my opinion regarding the way the plot threads are wrapped up has to do with the fact that many are left dangling.....more

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Apr 10, 2010 Heidi Cullinan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have been drawn to this book since I first saw it either reviewed on a blog or offered as a freebie—I forget the source, but I loved the cover art and loved the premise. And when I started to read, I really, really loved the voice, the story, and what felt like the promise of the story to come.

I still enjoyed the story and still recommend the book to anyone interested; for me, however, after the first half the story I thought I'd signed on for veered a bit, which I could have lived with, but t...more

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May 24, 2010 Angel Martinez rated it 4 of 5 stars

OK, I'm torn on this one. There are issues - of suspension of disbelief, of consistency, of pacing - but...

Darn it but I liked the characters. Very much so. And there lies my weakness. Even though it's told first person, which distances us from Griffin, I still found myself drawn in within the first few pages.

Were there points where the sex overrode the plot? Yep. Especially at the beginning. Were there points when I said, now, wait a sec, that's just too convenient? Yep.

But Helios is a resili...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Brenda (b) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, futuristic, 1-ebooks, 2-2010-read, romance, first-person

I found this story to be quite interesting. I considered the world created by the author to be a little on the cruel side, but I think that gave the love story a bit more poignancy. I liked the characters and was anxious to learn more about what had happened to Helios as it was revealed to him. When I got to the point that I noticed there were only 10 pages to go, I wasn't quite sure how the author was going to be able to wrap up the plot. I think the ending of the story was decent, in spite of...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 20, 2010 Tj rated it 4 of 5 stars

I put this book off since I was worried that it would be too ... I don't too much angst to it. It didn't turn out that way. The characters were both strong men which isn't always the case in some books. They were well matched and had gone through a lot. They weren't perfect character which made them that much more believable. The world building wasn't large but it gave enough to be interesting a believable. I wish there was a little more to the story at the end. It didn't build as much as the re...more

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Oct 10, 2010 Valentina Heart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: glbt, glbt-sf-futur-fantasy-paran

The story is rather romantic in it's seriousness, and I found it to be quite engaging because of it. It has just enough love in it, mingled with the harshness of the world they live in and the politics that rule them. Both characters are very strong and very proud, even in their humility they shine. But the affection between them is what makes this book sparkle.
The ending is rushed and in my opinion the whole book should have been longer. But still, the last pages are extremely beautiful and th...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 30, 2010 Wren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, sci-fi

A very intelligent book. The characters are rich and complex. We come into the story when Helios has been a slave for 5 years, can't remember anything before that, and slowly his history is revealed. Told in first person from Helios's pov. Griffin is his lover, and he is almost heartbreaking in his own right as you learn about what he's been through as well. I would like to have seen a bit more at the end. It was rather neatly wrapped up. I had been thinking it would lead in to a follow up story...more

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Apr 23, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vals-picks

An Uncommon Whore by Belinda McBride dares to be different with its unusual approach to the already underrepresented subgenre of space opera within m/m romance. The story comes to us through the first-person viewpoint of an amnesia victim who aspires only to escape slavery, but learns that he has a far loftier destiny than he might have imagined. This fills him with a mixture of trepidation, pride, and determination as he tries to live up to his responsibilities and make the most of his second c...more An Uncommon Whore by Belinda McBride dares to be different with its unusual approach to the already underrepresented subgenre of space opera within m/m romance. The story comes to us through the first-person viewpoint of an amnesia victim who aspires only to escape slavery, but learns that he has a far loftier destiny than he might have imagined. This fills him with a mixture of trepidation, pride, and determination as he tries to live up to his responsibilities and make the most of his second chance with a lost lover from his previous life.

Science fiction isn’t a genre that we readers often see in m/m romance, and space opera is even rarer, though it’s undeniably fun with its mix of straightforward adventure, galactic locations, and strange aliens all presented with casual understatement as everyday occurrences – think Star Wars, the 1977 movie, for a perfect definition of space opera. Add to this the nonconformist decision to tell the space opera in first-person narrative, which opens the way for much wry humor, and An Uncommon Whore stands out as a good story that takes the path less traveled in every respect. It also features some intensely erotic, detailed sex scenes.

The story opens with Helios who is a prostitute on a rugged mining planet. He has no memory of his past and aspires only to convince his next client to help him escape the reptile who owns him and provide passage off-planet. In the first scene, he spots a brawny space-pirate type who looks promising and contrives to attract the man’s attention. The pirate Griffin buys him for the night and explains that he has been searching for Helios, who is really the long lost leader of their exiled people. Years ago, the two of them had been lovers. Now they must escape from the mining planet and travel to a space station where they will attempt a risky business transaction to raise much-needed funds for their people. Opposing them are covert enemies amongst their allies and Helios’s own mind, controlled by a slave-chip in his brain, which has already changed him greatly from the warrior that he once was. It all adds up to an exciting story that may feel slightly anti-climactic, but apparently, there is a sequel on the way.

Val for AReCafe(less)

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Romance > M M Romance

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Science Fiction

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Fantasy

41 users

Romance

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Adult Fiction > Erotica

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Erotica > Bdsm

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Glbt

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About Belinda McBride

A little about me...I'm an author, you can find my erotic romances at Loose Id, Changeling Press, New Concepts Publishing, Dreamspinner Press and Passion in Print. I live in far Northern California right down the road from Shasta Dam. I've got five Siberian Huskies and a chihuahua who keeps them all in line. My oldest daughter is a professional yacht chef, my youngest is in college, studying scien...more

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Quotes from An Uncommon Whore

“As a general rule, you won't find the love of your life while you're on your knees under a table." -- Helios Dayspring” — 7 people liked it

“Love isn't about forcing submission,Grif. Its about...doing for the one you love. It's about their happiness over our own.” — 2 people liked it

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