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Pledged to Magic #3
Sex Rites
Sequel to Conjuring the Flesh
Pledged to Magic: Book 3
Victory carries a price. Thane and Ander snatched the promise of immortality from a tyrant’s grasp, but now the zamindar will stop at nothing to regain what he lost. Even the sex magic practiced by Thane, his lover, and his mage initiates is no match for an empire’s legions.
Exiled and pursued, the freedom fighters’ quest for ancient secrets leads them to exotic lands and to Dannel, a young warrior whose fighting prowess is matched only by his frustration. Journeying far into the deepest, most forgotten heart of their lands, Thane, Ander, and their new companions will discover lost truths and a single stunning hope for the future... the hope that may save them all.
Pledged to Magic: Book 3
Victory carries a price. Thane and Ander snatched the promise of immortality from a tyrant’s grasp, but now the zamindar will stop at nothing to regain what he lost. Even the sex magic practiced by Thane, his lover, and his mage initiates is no match for an empire’s legions.
Exiled and pursued, the freedom fighters’ quest for ancient secrets leads them to exotic lands and to Dannel, a young warrior whose fighting prowess is matched only by his frustration. Journeying far into the deepest, most forgotten heart of their lands, Thane, Ander, and their new companions will discover lost truths and a single stunning hope for the future... the hope that may save them all.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 18, 2012
As an ordinary consumer of the written word and narrative, and as a gay bloke who enjoys well crafted stories of adventure, it would be hard not to enjoy Brandon Fox's trilogy Pledged to Magic. The third book, Sex Rites concludes this grand epic in fine style, a satisfactory HFN with strong HEA overtones, yet leaves room for a to-be-hoped-for continuation.
Fox has boxed clever with these stories: how can an author fail with a bunch of late adolescents frozen at their age by the magic they enact, yet benefiting from the mental experience of advancing age? Hunky, ever-horny, handsome, and passionate, Thane, Ander, Eric, Skorri, and newcomer, sex-starved Dannel work their magic through intense and protracted sex. This could so easily degenerate into a mere excuse for steamy scenes, but Fox's skill as an author makes the act of sex-magic really work, and he never loses sight of the outcome of the spells cast to drive forward the narrative.
So it goes without saying that the graphically described sex is hot and, in Sex Rites, almost non-stop, but the sense of danger and adventure permeates the story as the young men seek the answer to a new mysterious power. The discoveries the intrepid explorers make blends in science-fiction to the heady fantasy world created in the previous books, as they encounter a force beyond the zamindar's grisly blood magic and a match for their own sex-magic.
Well drawn characters, gripping plot, a poetic but unfussy writing style, and a celebration of gay love in all its uninhibited exuberance make this a trilogy of novels to linger in the mind.
Fox has boxed clever with these stories: how can an author fail with a bunch of late adolescents frozen at their age by the magic they enact, yet benefiting from the mental experience of advancing age? Hunky, ever-horny, handsome, and passionate, Thane, Ander, Eric, Skorri, and newcomer, sex-starved Dannel work their magic through intense and protracted sex. This could so easily degenerate into a mere excuse for steamy scenes, but Fox's skill as an author makes the act of sex-magic really work, and he never loses sight of the outcome of the spells cast to drive forward the narrative.
So it goes without saying that the graphically described sex is hot and, in Sex Rites, almost non-stop, but the sense of danger and adventure permeates the story as the young men seek the answer to a new mysterious power. The discoveries the intrepid explorers make blends in science-fiction to the heady fantasy world created in the previous books, as they encounter a force beyond the zamindar's grisly blood magic and a match for their own sex-magic.
Well drawn characters, gripping plot, a poetic but unfussy writing style, and a celebration of gay love in all its uninhibited exuberance make this a trilogy of novels to linger in the mind.
August 31, 2012
I love how this story starts right out with Thane and Ander engaged with new botanical wonders inside Lord Jeffery Tolmin's greenhouse. If you have read "Apprenticed to Pleasure" and/or "Conjuring the Flesh", you know that Lord Tolmin is Thane's unofficial surrogate Father and aristocratic patron.
Enjoy these first few pages of ideal lingering wonderment because a gigantic development occurs on page 4 which sends Thane, Ander, Skorri and Eric running for their lives! This is when the real story gets rolling and boy what a great ride it becomes.
Their narrow escape leads them to the distant Eastern Regions where old stories and rumors lay claim to the original existance of ancient knowledge regarding magic and legends of forbidden powers.
They eventually arrive near the heart of a remote trade route valley where some very interesting developments occur almost immediately. When Thane and Ander go to investigate a strange "tingle" in the Kei, they are led to a curious performance of ritual Martial Arts. The winner of the contest is a super hot muscular hunk (Dannel) who has a very interesting past.
Their encounter eventually leads all of them (including Skorri and Erik) to a legendary temple complex where all are forbidden except for Cult type priests and their "Guardians". Dannel just happens to be a Guardian and helps Thane and his sex magic crew to unravel the temple secrets.
Dannel also has some very interesting personal issues and priest bonding restraints which he must overcome. However, I cannot reveal anymore details without giving away too much of the story.
Although "Sex Rites" still has a strong link to the first two books in the Pledged to Magic series, it can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. It also has a slightly more science fiction/fantasy ending than the first two books.
"Sex Rites" is easily one of the hottest gay action adventure novels I have ever read. I also enjoyed the copious amounts of really hot gay sex!!
Enjoy these first few pages of ideal lingering wonderment because a gigantic development occurs on page 4 which sends Thane, Ander, Skorri and Eric running for their lives! This is when the real story gets rolling and boy what a great ride it becomes.
Their narrow escape leads them to the distant Eastern Regions where old stories and rumors lay claim to the original existance of ancient knowledge regarding magic and legends of forbidden powers.
They eventually arrive near the heart of a remote trade route valley where some very interesting developments occur almost immediately. When Thane and Ander go to investigate a strange "tingle" in the Kei, they are led to a curious performance of ritual Martial Arts. The winner of the contest is a super hot muscular hunk (Dannel) who has a very interesting past.
Their encounter eventually leads all of them (including Skorri and Erik) to a legendary temple complex where all are forbidden except for Cult type priests and their "Guardians". Dannel just happens to be a Guardian and helps Thane and his sex magic crew to unravel the temple secrets.
Dannel also has some very interesting personal issues and priest bonding restraints which he must overcome. However, I cannot reveal anymore details without giving away too much of the story.
Although "Sex Rites" still has a strong link to the first two books in the Pledged to Magic series, it can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. It also has a slightly more science fiction/fantasy ending than the first two books.
"Sex Rites" is easily one of the hottest gay action adventure novels I have ever read. I also enjoyed the copious amounts of really hot gay sex!!
November 17, 2017
This series needs more volumes
August 27, 2012
4.5 Stars
Brilliant! Thane, Ander and Dannel's adventure continues with Dannel having a larger and more important part from the second in the trilogy. He is a fighter but I see someone who is sweet and innocent with a thirst for all things shiny and new. The connection he has with Thane and Ander is strong and the joining of these three makes them almost invincible, along with Eric and Skorri they travel to a place they hope will help them defeat the evil in their world.
I was impressed with the way this series plays out,the first book introducing us to the magic and the cast with some conflict but mostly showing us how the relationship with the MC’s begins, then we move to the second book which concentrates more on the conflict that they must find a way to win in order to save their world it’s darker than the first but no less enjoyable, when I started reading the last I was happy to find it returned to the feeling I got from the first, a story about how love and trust can conquer all.
I was a bit saddened by the ending, with this being a trilogy I expected a completion of the story with hopefully my favorite type of ending an HEA but how it ends is a book that leaves an opening for another so it’s more of an HFN....~~to be continued?~~
Brilliant! Thane, Ander and Dannel's adventure continues with Dannel having a larger and more important part from the second in the trilogy. He is a fighter but I see someone who is sweet and innocent with a thirst for all things shiny and new. The connection he has with Thane and Ander is strong and the joining of these three makes them almost invincible, along with Eric and Skorri they travel to a place they hope will help them defeat the evil in their world.
I was impressed with the way this series plays out,the first book introducing us to the magic and the cast with some conflict but mostly showing us how the relationship with the MC’s begins, then we move to the second book which concentrates more on the conflict that they must find a way to win in order to save their world it’s darker than the first but no less enjoyable, when I started reading the last I was happy to find it returned to the feeling I got from the first, a story about how love and trust can conquer all.
I was a bit saddened by the ending, with this being a trilogy I expected a completion of the story with hopefully my favorite type of ending an HEA but how it ends is a book that leaves an opening for another so it’s more of an HFN....~~to be continued?~~
December 30, 2012
I loved this book. To me this is pornography as art. It's a perfect erotic romantic fantasy. How fun it would be to pick the characters for this movie. I wish I could live so long as to see a serious effort on such a movie. Although, probably no one is as beautiful as in one's imagination, except they say that Krishna is. I imagine that some people would be Appalled by this book, or series of books, but they would be missing what an unselfish love story it is. Personally, I think that we should all start practicing this magic and see if we can get it to work. Supposedly, if there is a story written, the same story existed already in some other book, sort of like Shakespeare has already said everything. If that is the case, I would like to know from where the author took his inspiration. Regardless, thank you Mr. Fox for writing this story. Now, what the heck am I going to read next.
June 9, 2012
Rather abrupt ending to an otherwise engaging trilogy: I feel a little cheated .
I loved the dynamic between the MCs -usually I run as far from menage as possible- but the deep emotional connection between Ander and Thane, combined with the total lack of jealousy, histronics or drama in their interactions gave the story a really satisfying romantic tune.
My one niggle: Despite the really creative and beautifully painted sex scenes it just got to much for me in the end. Shame on me - I've to admit I skipped the last ones because I was eager to get on with the plot ;p
I loved the dynamic between the MCs -usually I run as far from menage as possible- but the deep emotional connection between Ander and Thane, combined with the total lack of jealousy, histronics or drama in their interactions gave the story a really satisfying romantic tune.
My one niggle: Despite the really creative and beautifully painted sex scenes it just got to much for me in the end. Shame on me - I've to admit I skipped the last ones because I was eager to get on with the plot ;p
March 11, 2010
This book is the last of a trilogy, and the arc of the series is resolved in a way that offers lasting change for the story's world, not just our studly heroes. It has some of the best sex scenes of the series.
Other books in the trilogy:
Book 1: Apprenticed to Pleasure
Book 2: Conjuring the Flesh
Other books in the trilogy:
Book 1: Apprenticed to Pleasure
Book 2: Conjuring the Flesh
June 11, 2012
For what is supposed to be the final book of a trilogy, this feels much more like a middle book, with the story unfinished and the ending of this episode rather rushed.
July 24, 2012
I think you left the ending wide open for another book even though you state the Pledge Series is a triology. I loved the series just not the ending as it does leave it wide open
August 9, 2012
Wow a great trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews