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The Clockwork Butterfly Trilogy #1
A Clockwork Butterfly
Lovers torn apart by duty...will Angelo and Lena be reunited? Mankind is close to extinction. Toxins have all but wiped out the male population. The remaining fertile men are housed in manors where their seed is collected. Lena Lee is a new collector with a rare pheromone believed to reignite human fertility. She's assigned a male who's predicted to be her perfect match. Angelo, a clockwork butterfly maker, is held captive, his essence harvested daily by Lena. Over time, the couple begins to fall in love, something which is strictly prohibited. When their forbidden love is discovered, Lena is banished from the manor. Torn apart by the duty that brought them together, Lena and Angelo must find a way back to each other. But even if Angelo manages to escape, he doesn't know where to find Lena. Will following the path of the clockwork butterfly lead him to his true love? Content strong language, BDSM, and graphic sexual content, including m/f, f/f, and f/f/m sexual interaction
292 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2012
406 people want to read
About the author
Tabitha Rayne
44 books63 followersTabitha Rayne is an award-winning author, artist and sextech designer and has been writing and publishing since 2009, specialising in sensuality and hot romance since 2011.
She is the commissioning editor for the Frolicme online magazine and erotic stories.
She invented the Ruby Glow ride on sex toy range.
Her debut short film, Inevitable, premièred at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023.
Tabitha was named one of the top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women 2022.
She is the commissioning editor for the Frolicme online magazine and erotic stories.
She invented the Ruby Glow ride on sex toy range.
Her debut short film, Inevitable, premièred at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023.
Tabitha was named one of the top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 24, 2014
A Clockwork Butterfly is a unique blend of steampunk and femdom in a dystopian world. New to me author, Ms. Rayne hooks me into her lovely world of dominant females, bondage, whipping and steampunk. I expect great things from the talented Ms. Rayne. Her world crafting shows much potential as does her character building.
Lena is a very innocent girl plucked from obscurity to help collect the sperm from a fertile male. These prized males are kept in manors to protect them and extract their seed. Lena undergoes a schooling which leaves her ill prepared to "milk" her male. Angelo is a boy trapped in a golden cage. Like his clockwork butterflies, he's expected to perform on command. When Lena and Angelo break the rules, more questions arise and Lena is sent off for punishment.
I'm picky when it comes to steampunk. This is light steampunk yet enough to make me find it quite enjoyable. Specifically the butterfly caught my attention and I really like it. How it's integrated into the storyline is quite well done. From a plot perspective, this story moved along. It felt a little bumpy, but this is to be expected because the story is from Lena's perspective. She is in the dark about the world and she learns more about how it functions, the reader learns with her. The world building is fun speculative fiction. I've read other dystopian worlds where women rule. It will be interesting to see how Ms. Rayne continues to build up this world. I'm also eager to learn about the different players and what the world is like outside of the manor and the correctional center. Many facts are revealed near the end of the story which leaves me with more questions than answers. It also makes a reader want to read the next book in the series immediately.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the innocence lost for Lena. Her sexual awakening through Mae is a tantalizing f/f meal. It is never too graphic, but just enough to give the reader a clear picture of a young girl first learning about orgasms at the hands of an experienced female. This gradually morphs into kinky sex with bondage and whippings. Lena is a submissive who thrives under the lash be it from Mae or Angelo. This crescendos into deviance as the Wasp takes Lena into her den of iniquity. Sexually speaking, this story is quite erotically arousing.
Something which I really enjoyed is Ms. Rayne's contrasts between those who have freedom and those who do not. Those who are outside of this manor, they live in humble abodes and don't seem to have much except the ability to go where they choose. Those in the manor, the more restrictions on their personal freedoms, the more material luxuries they are given. Both Angelo and the Wasp live in a place anyone would love, if they could only come and go as they please. This juxtaposition of material wealth and personal freedom is thought provoking and subtly inserted into the storyline. I like this kind of underlying covert theme. I hope it continues to be explored in later installments in this series.
This is a 3.5 star book for me. I recommend it to f/f lovers who enjoy kinky steampunk.
*I received this book as a review copy in return for an honest review
Lena is a very innocent girl plucked from obscurity to help collect the sperm from a fertile male. These prized males are kept in manors to protect them and extract their seed. Lena undergoes a schooling which leaves her ill prepared to "milk" her male. Angelo is a boy trapped in a golden cage. Like his clockwork butterflies, he's expected to perform on command. When Lena and Angelo break the rules, more questions arise and Lena is sent off for punishment.
I'm picky when it comes to steampunk. This is light steampunk yet enough to make me find it quite enjoyable. Specifically the butterfly caught my attention and I really like it. How it's integrated into the storyline is quite well done. From a plot perspective, this story moved along. It felt a little bumpy, but this is to be expected because the story is from Lena's perspective. She is in the dark about the world and she learns more about how it functions, the reader learns with her. The world building is fun speculative fiction. I've read other dystopian worlds where women rule. It will be interesting to see how Ms. Rayne continues to build up this world. I'm also eager to learn about the different players and what the world is like outside of the manor and the correctional center. Many facts are revealed near the end of the story which leaves me with more questions than answers. It also makes a reader want to read the next book in the series immediately.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the innocence lost for Lena. Her sexual awakening through Mae is a tantalizing f/f meal. It is never too graphic, but just enough to give the reader a clear picture of a young girl first learning about orgasms at the hands of an experienced female. This gradually morphs into kinky sex with bondage and whippings. Lena is a submissive who thrives under the lash be it from Mae or Angelo. This crescendos into deviance as the Wasp takes Lena into her den of iniquity. Sexually speaking, this story is quite erotically arousing.
Something which I really enjoyed is Ms. Rayne's contrasts between those who have freedom and those who do not. Those who are outside of this manor, they live in humble abodes and don't seem to have much except the ability to go where they choose. Those in the manor, the more restrictions on their personal freedoms, the more material luxuries they are given. Both Angelo and the Wasp live in a place anyone would love, if they could only come and go as they please. This juxtaposition of material wealth and personal freedom is thought provoking and subtly inserted into the storyline. I like this kind of underlying covert theme. I hope it continues to be explored in later installments in this series.
This is a 3.5 star book for me. I recommend it to f/f lovers who enjoy kinky steampunk.
*I received this book as a review copy in return for an honest review
January 25, 2016
Genres/Themes
This book is a mix of genres and themes including but not limited to: dystopian, steampunk, erotica, BDSM, F/f, M/f, & some ménage.
The Story
My understanding is that some kind of toxin happen (not really sure the full extent of what or how exactly) and men are now extremely rare. So we got a female society where one can live a whole life without ever seeing a male. The males are hidden away, enslaved actually, and are used for their sperm.
After reading the book there are a few things I’m still not sure about. The characters are in the dark about a lot of stuff, since the story is through their perspectives, we the readers are left in the dark as well. Even though some questions were left unanswered, the book was good enough for me to want to continue on in the series. Hopefully the questions are answered as the series goes along.
Recommended
To people looking for a good erotica that is unique and different.
Star Rating
3.5 stars
I won a free copy of this book through the BDSM group on Goodreads. A review was not required or requested.
This book is a mix of genres and themes including but not limited to: dystopian, steampunk, erotica, BDSM, F/f, M/f, & some ménage.
The Story
My understanding is that some kind of toxin happen (not really sure the full extent of what or how exactly) and men are now extremely rare. So we got a female society where one can live a whole life without ever seeing a male. The males are hidden away, enslaved actually, and are used for their sperm.
After reading the book there are a few things I’m still not sure about. The characters are in the dark about a lot of stuff, since the story is through their perspectives, we the readers are left in the dark as well. Even though some questions were left unanswered, the book was good enough for me to want to continue on in the series. Hopefully the questions are answered as the series goes along.
Recommended
To people looking for a good erotica that is unique and different.
Star Rating
3.5 stars
I won a free copy of this book through the BDSM group on Goodreads. A review was not required or requested.
April 8, 2013
With mankind virtually extinct due to a deadly toxin, those who remain are kept under lock and key in manors, where their precious seed is collected daily.
All young women born into this strange world, are watched from birth to see if they have what it takes to help reproduce more males into the population. Lena seems to stand out from the crowd, and although naive and innocent, they see great prospect in her.
Mae is one of the first girls Lena meets, she introduces herself to Lena in the most unexpected way and wastes no time in showing her the ropes (so to speak). Before long, they become alot more than just friends. It's during her time spent with Mae, that it's discovered that Lena carries a rare pheromone which they believe could reignite human fertility. Once it's confirmed, no time at all is wasted in pairing her with the 'perfect match'.
Angelo, whom Lena is assigned to, is just as innocent as her and he soon reveals that she is his first collector which means that he's never been in contact with a woman before ....nor her a man!
Before long, the inevitable happens and they fall in love which is strictly forbidden in this world. Once their love is discovered, Lena is carted off elsewhere for punishment and Angelo is assigned a new collector ....Mae.
Can Angelo and Mae hatch a plan to find his one true love, or is she gone forever?
A Clockwork Butterfly is so beautifully written that I became totally engrossed in reading and lost all contact with the outside world. The sensuality and intimacy of the sex scenes is extremely well written and have great depth. Admittedly I did suffer slight dampness on more than one occasion ......boy they're hot!! Every emotion felt by the characters, is shared by the reader and I found myself shouting at the book quite often, pleading for them to listen to me. I didn't see many of the twists and turns coming so there were a few surprises along the way which just added to the excitement. Every sexual taste is catered for here with a good mix of f/f, m/f, m/f/f, f/f/f and BDSM.
The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger which left me wanting, no, needing, to know what happened next! I hope to see a prequel to this!
If you're looking for an erotic read that you can immerse yourself in and be totally hooked, then this is it. Fantastic!!
All young women born into this strange world, are watched from birth to see if they have what it takes to help reproduce more males into the population. Lena seems to stand out from the crowd, and although naive and innocent, they see great prospect in her.
Mae is one of the first girls Lena meets, she introduces herself to Lena in the most unexpected way and wastes no time in showing her the ropes (so to speak). Before long, they become alot more than just friends. It's during her time spent with Mae, that it's discovered that Lena carries a rare pheromone which they believe could reignite human fertility. Once it's confirmed, no time at all is wasted in pairing her with the 'perfect match'.
Angelo, whom Lena is assigned to, is just as innocent as her and he soon reveals that she is his first collector which means that he's never been in contact with a woman before ....nor her a man!
Before long, the inevitable happens and they fall in love which is strictly forbidden in this world. Once their love is discovered, Lena is carted off elsewhere for punishment and Angelo is assigned a new collector ....Mae.
Can Angelo and Mae hatch a plan to find his one true love, or is she gone forever?
A Clockwork Butterfly is so beautifully written that I became totally engrossed in reading and lost all contact with the outside world. The sensuality and intimacy of the sex scenes is extremely well written and have great depth. Admittedly I did suffer slight dampness on more than one occasion ......boy they're hot!! Every emotion felt by the characters, is shared by the reader and I found myself shouting at the book quite often, pleading for them to listen to me. I didn't see many of the twists and turns coming so there were a few surprises along the way which just added to the excitement. Every sexual taste is catered for here with a good mix of f/f, m/f, m/f/f, f/f/f and BDSM.
The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger which left me wanting, no, needing, to know what happened next! I hope to see a prequel to this!
If you're looking for an erotic read that you can immerse yourself in and be totally hooked, then this is it. Fantastic!!
February 6, 2014
A Cuckoo Butterfly is a carnival of sex. With this plot, what else could you expect?
At some indeterminable time in the future, a toxin has destroyed the ability of most men to pass on male chromosomes. The male population has dwindled to near extinction and women dominate the world. The few men who still can produce the proper genetic matter are held captive in manors and selected young women collect these males' "magical essence" daily to help save the human race. Innocent Lena goes to one of these plantations to become a collector. Mae is her sexual teacher, and Angelo is Lena's assigned man. The story shoots off from there.
Author Tabitha Rayne is a fine erotica writer and good storyteller. The novel held my interest. That's an accomplishment when you consider the book is two hundred and ninety-two pages long and eighty per-cent of that is detailed descriptions of sexual gymnastics. I don't remember one use of the word "shatter" (or any of its variations). A few "clenches" show up but not so to be obnoxious. The novel's prose presents itself with little repetition. The male protagonist is not a domineering asshole.
The author interchanged character viewpoints often, which makes perfect sense for erotica. She overused pronouns, though, making these frequent viewpoint shifts often confusing. Consider this line from an encounter involving the two heroines: "Mae pulled the tie off her own robe and bound it around the bedposts and Lena’s hands. As she was pulling the binding tight, her breasts swung into Lena’s face and she tried to follow Mae’s nipples with her mouth." Overuse of pronouns is a minor criticism of an otherwise entertaining novel.
A Clockwork Butterfly gets four stars on my Cheap Thrills & Kozmic Blues shelf. It provides a bunch of cheap thrills and definitely helps to beat the blues.
At some indeterminable time in the future, a toxin has destroyed the ability of most men to pass on male chromosomes. The male population has dwindled to near extinction and women dominate the world. The few men who still can produce the proper genetic matter are held captive in manors and selected young women collect these males' "magical essence" daily to help save the human race. Innocent Lena goes to one of these plantations to become a collector. Mae is her sexual teacher, and Angelo is Lena's assigned man. The story shoots off from there.
Author Tabitha Rayne is a fine erotica writer and good storyteller. The novel held my interest. That's an accomplishment when you consider the book is two hundred and ninety-two pages long and eighty per-cent of that is detailed descriptions of sexual gymnastics. I don't remember one use of the word "shatter" (or any of its variations). A few "clenches" show up but not so to be obnoxious. The novel's prose presents itself with little repetition. The male protagonist is not a domineering asshole.
The author interchanged character viewpoints often, which makes perfect sense for erotica. She overused pronouns, though, making these frequent viewpoint shifts often confusing. Consider this line from an encounter involving the two heroines: "Mae pulled the tie off her own robe and bound it around the bedposts and Lena’s hands. As she was pulling the binding tight, her breasts swung into Lena’s face and she tried to follow Mae’s nipples with her mouth." Overuse of pronouns is a minor criticism of an otherwise entertaining novel.
A Clockwork Butterfly gets four stars on my Cheap Thrills & Kozmic Blues shelf. It provides a bunch of cheap thrills and definitely helps to beat the blues.
July 1, 2013
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair review.
Some books stick with you and capture your imagination right from the start. Imagining a society of all women where men are used as only a procreation element has been a daydream of mine forever. Maybe for a future story...who knows. To read it in Tabitha's story was wonderful. Clockwork Butterfly brings to life the steampunk elements of the advanced society within the decaying remnants of civilization. It is a curious blend of Victorian morals, with strict guidelines for the collectors and what their job really is.
Lena is sent to be a collector and soon discovers that it is not at all what she thought. Surrounded by girls, she feels a strange compulsion deep within herself and at the prodding of her new friend, experiences a lesbian affair to remember. Very hot!! Lena is on the fast track to success and is sent on her first assignment when it is discovered that her body holds a special chemical that is needed to spark something in the male sperm. Lena is sent on her first collection and meets Angelo. The two hit it off and struggle to make the perfect collection.
Things really heat up between Angelo and Lena, much to the horror of her friend and lover . It is forbidden to have feelings in the collection business and when it is discovered, things quickly turn for the worse and Lena is taken into corrective custody. I think this is my favorite part of the book. (no telling-even though I really want to!) Suffice it to say that the kink elements are there, with some smoking hot scenes that will give you lots of fun daydreams to ponder.
This book was a hot read with some hot f/f and m/f scenes that will curl your toes. I loved it!
4.5/5
Some books stick with you and capture your imagination right from the start. Imagining a society of all women where men are used as only a procreation element has been a daydream of mine forever. Maybe for a future story...who knows. To read it in Tabitha's story was wonderful. Clockwork Butterfly brings to life the steampunk elements of the advanced society within the decaying remnants of civilization. It is a curious blend of Victorian morals, with strict guidelines for the collectors and what their job really is.
Lena is sent to be a collector and soon discovers that it is not at all what she thought. Surrounded by girls, she feels a strange compulsion deep within herself and at the prodding of her new friend, experiences a lesbian affair to remember. Very hot!! Lena is on the fast track to success and is sent on her first assignment when it is discovered that her body holds a special chemical that is needed to spark something in the male sperm. Lena is sent on her first collection and meets Angelo. The two hit it off and struggle to make the perfect collection.
Things really heat up between Angelo and Lena, much to the horror of her friend and lover . It is forbidden to have feelings in the collection business and when it is discovered, things quickly turn for the worse and Lena is taken into corrective custody. I think this is my favorite part of the book. (no telling-even though I really want to!) Suffice it to say that the kink elements are there, with some smoking hot scenes that will give you lots of fun daydreams to ponder.
This book was a hot read with some hot f/f and m/f scenes that will curl your toes. I loved it!
4.5/5
May 7, 2013
“I received this book as a review copy in return for an honest review”
Well if you like to read some f/f scenes, this book is full of them. I am not really into that but Tabitha some how made me like it. Oh don’t get me wrong there is a male thrown in there every once in a while. It is a steamy book! A young innocent girl is taken from her home to be a collector. She is to pleasure men in order to get their semen for insemination. They are trying to manipulate the DNA in order to give birth to a specific gender. They barely have contact with the men so no one falls in love but they have never come across a woman like Lena before. A Clockwork Butterfly has a good story line and the characters make you believe in the story. There is a lot more to the story but I don’t want to give it all away. Take a chance and read it. It’s worth it.
Well if you like to read some f/f scenes, this book is full of them. I am not really into that but Tabitha some how made me like it. Oh don’t get me wrong there is a male thrown in there every once in a while. It is a steamy book! A young innocent girl is taken from her home to be a collector. She is to pleasure men in order to get their semen for insemination. They are trying to manipulate the DNA in order to give birth to a specific gender. They barely have contact with the men so no one falls in love but they have never come across a woman like Lena before. A Clockwork Butterfly has a good story line and the characters make you believe in the story. There is a lot more to the story but I don’t want to give it all away. Take a chance and read it. It’s worth it.
June 29, 2012
A Clockwork Butterfly is a unique work. It is fantasy, sci-fi, romance, BDSM, a little steampunk--a little bit of everything. This is a world where a toxin has killed most of the men. Those who are left are imprisoned in the Manor. Young women are watched throughout their lives to see if they can be what is needed to interact with the men and bring male children into this world. Lena is one of these young women. She is innocent but considered a top prospect to be a collector of the men's seed. Angelo, himself young and fairly innocent, is chosen for her. They are lost souls who find forbidden love in this world but because of this love Lena is sent away for punishment. She is imprisoned in another manor house where she will be shown the error of her ways by The Wasp, an older woman who commands the fear of even the guards at this prison. The Wasp sexually arouses Lena who remembers her love and her female roommate at the Manor while with The Wasp. But all of these people long for escape from their prisons. Can it happen?
I like Angelo and Lena. They are young, innocent, and learning about themselves and sex. Mae, Lena's roommate, teaches her about female love and domination. But Mae does have a secret. I loathed Mae at the beginning but gradually came to like her at the story progressed. The Wasp has an assistant, Cheryl, and both of them have secrets. I had to decide which of them to believe.
There is some world building that occurs during the story. It was enough that I understood that toxins killed off the men and the women were trying to keep humanity going through the few remaining men. I would have liked to have seen more world building occur before this story began. Knowing what happened and the history and consequences of the toxins at the beginning of the story would have produced a tighter written story. It would also have kept the story focused on the characters rather than telling the story only to interrupt it with some world building to let the reader know some history of this place.
Tabitha Rayne writes good sex. While it has a lot of BDSM, which is forbidden in this world, the reader must remember it is a fantasy so does not follow the rules that a traditional BDSM follows. But the sex is HOT!!! It pairs m/f, f/f, f/f/f, and f/f/m. There is almost a sexual pairing for everyone. For the story there is only one male, Angelo, but they hope to discover more.
I liked the butterfly through the story. It is delicate and beautiful but very important to those in the story. Again it would have been nice to know what Angelo did in his cell prior to the story commencing. Lena would still be enthralled of the butterfly but we would know how it fit into Angelo's world.
There are a few typos and logistic errors but they were few and while pulling me out of the story for a few seconds did not cause any major disconnect from the story for me.
And all I can say about the ending is there BETTER be a sequel.
A Clockwork Butterfly is a hot read, perfect for these long summer nights.
I like Angelo and Lena. They are young, innocent, and learning about themselves and sex. Mae, Lena's roommate, teaches her about female love and domination. But Mae does have a secret. I loathed Mae at the beginning but gradually came to like her at the story progressed. The Wasp has an assistant, Cheryl, and both of them have secrets. I had to decide which of them to believe.
There is some world building that occurs during the story. It was enough that I understood that toxins killed off the men and the women were trying to keep humanity going through the few remaining men. I would have liked to have seen more world building occur before this story began. Knowing what happened and the history and consequences of the toxins at the beginning of the story would have produced a tighter written story. It would also have kept the story focused on the characters rather than telling the story only to interrupt it with some world building to let the reader know some history of this place.
Tabitha Rayne writes good sex. While it has a lot of BDSM, which is forbidden in this world, the reader must remember it is a fantasy so does not follow the rules that a traditional BDSM follows. But the sex is HOT!!! It pairs m/f, f/f, f/f/f, and f/f/m. There is almost a sexual pairing for everyone. For the story there is only one male, Angelo, but they hope to discover more.
I liked the butterfly through the story. It is delicate and beautiful but very important to those in the story. Again it would have been nice to know what Angelo did in his cell prior to the story commencing. Lena would still be enthralled of the butterfly but we would know how it fit into Angelo's world.
There are a few typos and logistic errors but they were few and while pulling me out of the story for a few seconds did not cause any major disconnect from the story for me.
And all I can say about the ending is there BETTER be a sequel.
A Clockwork Butterfly is a hot read, perfect for these long summer nights.
April 1, 2013
In Tabitha Rayne’s quirky take on dystopia men are rare and their seed so precious it’s harvested like honey... As in her story The Billiard Room in
Forever Bound
we’re gripped right away and soon we’re panting for more...
June 16, 2014
A Clockwork Butterfly is an enchanting tale of love and lust set in a completely unique world. The main characters are real yet fantastical and the sex is so deliciously raw yet also divinely seductive. If you want to step out of the box with your erotic reading material, you won't go far wrong here. I'll definitely be reading the other books in the trilogy.
September 4, 2022
Looking for a steampunk dystopian erotica novel? Maybe you didn't even know you needed such a thing. Well not to worry because Tabitha Rayne is here to help you out.
I have read Tabitha's work for years on her blog but this is my first time reading one of her novels but it will not be my last.
So things I loved. Really great characters. It was easy to connect with them and you find yourself rooting for Angelo, Lena and Mae very quickly but also The Wasp and Cheryl too. The world it is set in, whilst some of how it really works or what is really going on is not explained it doesn't actually detract from the story at all. The whole thing rattles along at a pace and whilst there is a LOT of sex in it the plot is constantly moving forward and taking you along with it.
I love our main character Lena. She is such a complete slave to her sex drive. Even when she should really be concentrating on her escape she is like, wait, let me show you the dungeon. She embraces her desires so fully and bravo for that.
If you like F/F M/F with some femdomme and hints of D/s thrown in with a dystopian plot that moves apace then I totally recommend this.
I have read Tabitha's work for years on her blog but this is my first time reading one of her novels but it will not be my last.
So things I loved. Really great characters. It was easy to connect with them and you find yourself rooting for Angelo, Lena and Mae very quickly but also The Wasp and Cheryl too. The world it is set in, whilst some of how it really works or what is really going on is not explained it doesn't actually detract from the story at all. The whole thing rattles along at a pace and whilst there is a LOT of sex in it the plot is constantly moving forward and taking you along with it.
I love our main character Lena. She is such a complete slave to her sex drive. Even when she should really be concentrating on her escape she is like, wait, let me show you the dungeon. She embraces her desires so fully and bravo for that.
If you like F/F M/F with some femdomme and hints of D/s thrown in with a dystopian plot that moves apace then I totally recommend this.
October 28, 2019
In an unspecified future, the Y chromosome has all been completely wiped out, and the few fertile males in existence are kept hostage, their sperm collected by specially trained female collectors. Lena is one such collector, but she is particularly blessed with a rare pheromone that can help restore the Y chromosome, thus saving humanity. But things get complicated when Lena and her male, Angelo, the creator of exquisite clockwork butterflies, fall in love, which is strictly forbidden.
The Clockwork Butterfly is a charming tale, almost fairy-tale like. The sex scenes are powerfully erotic, and the story is engrossing and intelligent. Very enjoyable.
The Clockwork Butterfly is a charming tale, almost fairy-tale like. The sex scenes are powerfully erotic, and the story is engrossing and intelligent. Very enjoyable.
October 22, 2014
4.5 Stars for this genre-bending erotic read.
I really loved the concept of this world. It's almost completely female. Even of different species it's rare to find a male. The women are sorted into Donors (for eggs) Birthers (who gestate the embryos) and Mothers. Young women are tested to determine if they are capable of arousing ejaculation from what few men remain. If so, they are sent to be trained in the arts of Collection at manors where men are essentially pampered prisoners.
Lena has been chosen to become a Collector. If she graduates from training she may actually interact with a man. Along the way of her training, a fellow trainee, Mae, seduces Lena. Mae is perhaps not the friend Lena believes her to be--and this is verified when Lena is told that her training has been accelerated. Mae's discoveries of Lena's genetic compatibility with one of the manor's males causes Lena to get bumped to the front of the queue for his Collections.
Angelo is a tentative lover. He isn't interested in a constant barrage of women--he only wants one with whom he can connect. In his opulent room, he is virtually isolated; his only contact with humanity is through his visits with Lena. Lena cherishes their time together, which inflames Mae's jealousy--and further sparks Angelo's possessiveness. He commits a crime of passion--one which gets Lena banished from the manor.
Angelo's despondence at losing Lena is great. He refuses all attempts at Collection until Mae arrives in his room. They strike a bargain: he submits for her Collection and she helps him to escape the Manor. Meanwhile Lena pines for her lost lovers in a prison. Her punishment is to accept sex with new lovers without growing attached--this is easy, she only cares for Mae and Angelo. Any pleasure she gains from her punishments is enhanced by imagining it is they who are with her, not her captors.
There's a lot of sex, and I wasn't put off by the F/F, mostly because the writing had such a fantastical quality about it--I liken it to Ann Rice's BEAUTY series in that regard. While it's a future society, the modern trappings have mostly disintegrated and people have gone back to the land to survive. Science does exist, because all the technology of IVF is present by necessity, however the people live much like pre-Industrial times, in small close-knit communities with horse transport and limited rail. Angelo spends his free time inventing clockwork animals, among them a clockwork butterfly which can home in on the person whose DNA it last sampled. By releasing Lena's butterfly, Mae and Angelo endeavor to follow it to Lena's prison and rescue her.
It's an interesting read, and gave me a lot to think about with regard to our overchemicalized Earth and the loss of species we are already experiencing (thanks Monsanto!). Plus, I mentioned the lots of sex, part, right? It wasn't gruesome or sloppy. I enjoyed Lena's seduction by Mae, and Angelo's seduction by Lena. It becomes clear about two-thirds in that this will become a menage, and that doesn't disappoint, either.
I really loved the concept of this world. It's almost completely female. Even of different species it's rare to find a male. The women are sorted into Donors (for eggs) Birthers (who gestate the embryos) and Mothers. Young women are tested to determine if they are capable of arousing ejaculation from what few men remain. If so, they are sent to be trained in the arts of Collection at manors where men are essentially pampered prisoners.
Lena has been chosen to become a Collector. If she graduates from training she may actually interact with a man. Along the way of her training, a fellow trainee, Mae, seduces Lena. Mae is perhaps not the friend Lena believes her to be--and this is verified when Lena is told that her training has been accelerated. Mae's discoveries of Lena's genetic compatibility with one of the manor's males causes Lena to get bumped to the front of the queue for his Collections.
Angelo is a tentative lover. He isn't interested in a constant barrage of women--he only wants one with whom he can connect. In his opulent room, he is virtually isolated; his only contact with humanity is through his visits with Lena. Lena cherishes their time together, which inflames Mae's jealousy--and further sparks Angelo's possessiveness. He commits a crime of passion--one which gets Lena banished from the manor.
Angelo's despondence at losing Lena is great. He refuses all attempts at Collection until Mae arrives in his room. They strike a bargain: he submits for her Collection and she helps him to escape the Manor. Meanwhile Lena pines for her lost lovers in a prison. Her punishment is to accept sex with new lovers without growing attached--this is easy, she only cares for Mae and Angelo. Any pleasure she gains from her punishments is enhanced by imagining it is they who are with her, not her captors.
There's a lot of sex, and I wasn't put off by the F/F, mostly because the writing had such a fantastical quality about it--I liken it to Ann Rice's BEAUTY series in that regard. While it's a future society, the modern trappings have mostly disintegrated and people have gone back to the land to survive. Science does exist, because all the technology of IVF is present by necessity, however the people live much like pre-Industrial times, in small close-knit communities with horse transport and limited rail. Angelo spends his free time inventing clockwork animals, among them a clockwork butterfly which can home in on the person whose DNA it last sampled. By releasing Lena's butterfly, Mae and Angelo endeavor to follow it to Lena's prison and rescue her.
It's an interesting read, and gave me a lot to think about with regard to our overchemicalized Earth and the loss of species we are already experiencing (thanks Monsanto!). Plus, I mentioned the lots of sex, part, right? It wasn't gruesome or sloppy. I enjoyed Lena's seduction by Mae, and Angelo's seduction by Lena. It becomes clear about two-thirds in that this will become a menage, and that doesn't disappoint, either.
April 27, 2015
With mankind virtually extinct due to a deadly toxin, those who remain are kept under lock and key in manors, where their precious seed is collected daily.
All young women born into this strange world, are watched from birth to see if they have what it takes to help reproduce more males into the population. Lena seems to stand out from the crowd, and although naive and innocent, they see great prospect in her.
Mae is one of the first girls Lena meets, she introduces herself to Lena in the most unexpected way and wastes no time in showing her the ropes (so to speak). Before long, they become alot more than just friends. It's during her time spent with Mae, that it's discovered that Lena carries a rare pheromone which they believe could reignite human fertility. Once it's confirmed, no time at all is wasted in pairing her with the 'perfect match'.
Angelo, whom Lena is assigned to, is just as innocent as her and he soon reveals that she is his first collector which means that he's never been in contact with a woman before ....nor her a man!
Before long, the inevitable happens and they fall in love which is strictly forbidden in this world. Once their love is discovered, Lena is carted off elsewhere for punishment and Angelo is assigned a new collector ....Mae.
Can Angelo and Mae hatch a plan to find his one true love, or is she gone forever?
A Clockwork Butterfly is so beautifully written that I became totally engrossed in reading and lost all contact with the outside world. The sensuality and intimacy of the sex scenes is extremely well written and have great depth. Admittedly I did suffer slight dampness on more than one occasion ......boy they're hot!! Every emotion felt by the characters, is shared by the reader and I found myself shouting at the book quite often, pleading for them to listen to me. I didn't see many of the twists and turns coming so there were a few surprises along the way which just added to the excitement. Every sexual taste is catered for here with a good mix of f/f, m/f, m/f/f, f/f/f and BDSM.
The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger which left me wanting, no, needing, to know what happened next! I hope to see a prequel to this!
If you're looking for an erotic read that you can immerse yourself in and be totally hooked, then this is it. Fantastic!!
All young women born into this strange world, are watched from birth to see if they have what it takes to help reproduce more males into the population. Lena seems to stand out from the crowd, and although naive and innocent, they see great prospect in her.
Mae is one of the first girls Lena meets, she introduces herself to Lena in the most unexpected way and wastes no time in showing her the ropes (so to speak). Before long, they become alot more than just friends. It's during her time spent with Mae, that it's discovered that Lena carries a rare pheromone which they believe could reignite human fertility. Once it's confirmed, no time at all is wasted in pairing her with the 'perfect match'.
Angelo, whom Lena is assigned to, is just as innocent as her and he soon reveals that she is his first collector which means that he's never been in contact with a woman before ....nor her a man!
Before long, the inevitable happens and they fall in love which is strictly forbidden in this world. Once their love is discovered, Lena is carted off elsewhere for punishment and Angelo is assigned a new collector ....Mae.
Can Angelo and Mae hatch a plan to find his one true love, or is she gone forever?
A Clockwork Butterfly is so beautifully written that I became totally engrossed in reading and lost all contact with the outside world. The sensuality and intimacy of the sex scenes is extremely well written and have great depth. Admittedly I did suffer slight dampness on more than one occasion ......boy they're hot!! Every emotion felt by the characters, is shared by the reader and I found myself shouting at the book quite often, pleading for them to listen to me. I didn't see many of the twists and turns coming so there were a few surprises along the way which just added to the excitement. Every sexual taste is catered for here with a good mix of f/f, m/f, m/f/f, f/f/f and BDSM.
The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger which left me wanting, no, needing, to know what happened next! I hope to see a prequel to this!
If you're looking for an erotic read that you can immerse yourself in and be totally hooked, then this is it. Fantastic!!
January 19, 2015
How to describe A Clockwork Butterfly ..... well... This is the first Steampunk/Dystopian book I have knowingly read, so I wont try too!! In a not to distant furture Men are a rare breed after some kinda toxin starts to wipe them out. They are kept hidden in 'Manors' where women are trained to excite them and collect their essence. Now, how would you feel if you were told you were the saviour of mankind ... this happens to Lena Lee, who feels lied too and cheated, but commits high treason by becoming romantically involved with her male, Angelo.
This is a story for the 18+ brigade - our 3 main protagonists Mae, Lena and Angelo have a serious of encounters that lead to the ending - which I didnt realise is not the end of their story. I shall be seeking out book 2 - which must mean I enjoyed this one! 3.5 stars on GR as I am new to this genre (Steampunk/Dystopian) and it took me a while to get my head round it!!
This is a story for the 18+ brigade - our 3 main protagonists Mae, Lena and Angelo have a serious of encounters that lead to the ending - which I didnt realise is not the end of their story. I shall be seeking out book 2 - which must mean I enjoyed this one! 3.5 stars on GR as I am new to this genre (Steampunk/Dystopian) and it took me a while to get my head round it!!
February 22, 2016
This is the first book that I've read that is considered "erotica". It most definitely lives up to the name of that genre. The story line was decent and interesting and I was happy with the way things turned out in the end. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens from here. I struggled with whether to give this a 4 or a 5 star rating, and my honest score would be a 4.5...the reason for the 1/2 point off is that I felt there might have been TOO much sex...if that's even a possible thing in an erotic novel...the entire book felt like an orgy of orgies. Definitely a book for adults who don't mind mature and sexual reading material...and even then this borders on being over the top in some of the sexual scenes...there is some BDSM, m/f, f/f, and m/f/f sexual interactions so if you don't want to read about any of those, this is not the book, or series, for you.
June 15, 2014
This is definitely a 18+ book... The storyline is amazing and is well written that you just keep reading to find out what happens next. I read this in one sitting... How would you feel if you found out that as a women you were put in categories of either a Birther, a Donor, or a Collector.... well for Lena she ends up being a collector.. she has to help collect the sperm of a male to help populate the species and not only does she have to find sexual ways to do this ... she can't fall in love... Mae helps Lena find her sexual desires and ends up jealous over the male Lena has to collect from... but when Angelo and Lena fall in love and they go against the rules, well Lena gets in trouble .... Will Mae and Angelo be able to come up with a plan to get out of the manor and find Lena?... Very Hot and steamy scenes....
January 23, 2016
An absolutely fantastic introduction to the wonderful Tabitha Rayne.
Set in a very bleak future where the population fails to exist without the aid of selected males and females to help or so they think the future of mankind. Full of sexually charged moments with f/f m/f and m/f/f with the added bonus of some BDSM, where can it all go wrong. Cue forbidden love, sorrid affairs and escape plots. A few twist and turns thrown in to keep the reader on their toes.
The storyline just flows and although distopian style books are not really my thing, it was a fantastic read. Can't wait to get stuck into the rest of this series
Set in a very bleak future where the population fails to exist without the aid of selected males and females to help or so they think the future of mankind. Full of sexually charged moments with f/f m/f and m/f/f with the added bonus of some BDSM, where can it all go wrong. Cue forbidden love, sorrid affairs and escape plots. A few twist and turns thrown in to keep the reader on their toes.
The storyline just flows and although distopian style books are not really my thing, it was a fantastic read. Can't wait to get stuck into the rest of this series
July 17, 2014
Holy smokes this book was hot! The story follows Lena, Mae and Angelo in a dystopian world where men are few and far between. All three are trying to escape the future that is laid out for them, and I was gripped by their fight for freedom from the very first page until the very last. And if you like your sex scenes hot then don’t worry, because this story pretty much has everything covered! I got totally sucked into this book, and did not want it to end...so good thing it's part of a series! Just brilliant!
January 6, 2015
The book had a great story line and kept the reader in suspense but as far as the intimate relationships between the characters, I wouldn't call it love. Angelo seems to fall in love with who ever he has sex with and his love interest Lena seems to crawl into bed with whoever will take her. There is no loyalty to anyone but then again, this book takes place in the future when monogamous relationships are a thing of the past. Overall it was a great read and I will be reading the next two books to the series very soon.
January 2, 2015
An enthralling, extremely sexy book. Set in a rather bleak future, I was reminded initially of The Handmaid's Tale. As the story progressed I was drawn into the world of Lena, following her sexual awakening and steamy development. This book contains lots of hot F/F, M/F and M/F/F scenes that left me in serious need of a cold shower! I can't wait to continue the journey in the next book in this trilogy.
August 2, 2013
I'm a little torn about this book. I quite liked the basic idea and story and the filthy bits are all right, but somehow it left me with a feeling of that there could have been something more. Still a good read, so don't let yourselves be discouraged by me. ;)
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