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Midnight Rain #1
Hajiri's Pet
This book will be going out of contract with the listed publisher on February 28th of 2013.
Please also note that due to ongoing illness Auburnimp was unable to complete the series. She is has officially retired from writing and the series will be finished by the setting's creator, Michael Barnette, following the story arc the authors originally created. It will be changing publishers. Watch for an update regarding this series on Michael's domain at: http://www.michaelbarnette.com
Hajiri is a zonewarrior. A former gunwhore who once sold his body for money, he’s looking for the job that will let him move up in the live and die world of the Shinjuku Containment Area.
A chance meeting outside a popular Shinjuku club leaves Hajiri in the possession of a corporate high roller’s battlepet. A young human/snow leopard cross genetically engineered to be the perfect sexual partner and bodyguard.
The last thing Hajiri needs is a complication in his life. But how can he turn away a person who had been tossed out like so much trash, especially when that man just saved his life?
Hajiri doesn’t want responsibility. What Hajiri gets is a lot more than he bargained for when the young man shows him what it means to be a battlepet’s Master.
Contains graphic sexual encounters between men, strong D/s themes, toys, spanking and violence.
Please also note that due to ongoing illness Auburnimp was unable to complete the series. She is has officially retired from writing and the series will be finished by the setting's creator, Michael Barnette, following the story arc the authors originally created. It will be changing publishers. Watch for an update regarding this series on Michael's domain at: http://www.michaelbarnette.com
Hajiri is a zonewarrior. A former gunwhore who once sold his body for money, he’s looking for the job that will let him move up in the live and die world of the Shinjuku Containment Area.
A chance meeting outside a popular Shinjuku club leaves Hajiri in the possession of a corporate high roller’s battlepet. A young human/snow leopard cross genetically engineered to be the perfect sexual partner and bodyguard.
The last thing Hajiri needs is a complication in his life. But how can he turn away a person who had been tossed out like so much trash, especially when that man just saved his life?
Hajiri doesn’t want responsibility. What Hajiri gets is a lot more than he bargained for when the young man shows him what it means to be a battlepet’s Master.
Contains graphic sexual encounters between men, strong D/s themes, toys, spanking and violence.
103 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2008
About the author
Auburnimp
34 books59 followersAuburnimp has been writing since she was fifteen. Her characters are always strong, feisty and often impetuous enough to get into dangerous situations rather like their creator.
She has been a knife-thrower’s target, an exotic dancer, a drummer, a homeless wanderer and many other things due to a desire to simply go where life takes her.
She now lives in a small house in a large English city with four resident cats and one frequent visitor.
She is female and has blue eyes; anything else is frequently subject to change without notice.
She has been a knife-thrower’s target, an exotic dancer, a drummer, a homeless wanderer and many other things due to a desire to simply go where life takes her.
She now lives in a small house in a large English city with four resident cats and one frequent visitor.
She is female and has blue eyes; anything else is frequently subject to change without notice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 12, 2010
Do you want an incentive to read this story?
Let me talk about the main character, the Snow Leopard of that image... I bet you will be mesmerized as I was!
Zen, white hair and golden eyes is a snow leopard and a battlepet. He was genetically constructed to be a pet (submissive) and a defender, being a ferocious animal if he must defend his onwer.
After a battlepet fight he is treated like a garbage, and his onwer dump him like that... a garbage sack.
Hajii is not like Zen... but at the same time they are very similar. He was a gunwhore, meaning a bodyguard/whore owned to protect and also give pleasure. At the time of the story he is a free man, and a zonewarrior, aka a hitmen.
The two men will meet when Hajji being beating is defended by the discarded poor pet, Zen.
The story is very interesting, and I loved the exotic city (Tokyo, sorry but to me Tokyo is exotic) it's take place. It's also very good all the sci-fi theme, with a strange and very hard world, where everyone is fighting to live (Called Shinjuku Containment Zone).
BUT what I ADORE in this book is the master/pet relationship.
If you want to read a BDSM book maybe this one is not your right choice... there is no bondage (at all) and only a very quick and not well developed spanking scene. This book is all about a pet, Zen, adoring his new and loving master, Hajii.
It's a very cute story and I hope more will be told about this two characters. Unfortunately the story doesn't end... the (let's call it) pseudo end left a lot to be told, and I really hope the writers will do more... because this book is perfect... and Zen&Hajii deserve to keep living in another tender story.
5 stars, without doubt
June 25, 2010
Excellent, excellent book with an intense, interesting world, intriguing characters (and their lives and struggles), and excellent plot. I was drawn into the authors' world immediately, and was entranced with the zone warriors, gunwhores, battlepets, and evil corporations immediately.
This book has strong dominance and submission elements because of the nature of the battlepet and his conditioning to obey his Master.
HOWEVER, this book is NOT FINISHED. I do not know if there is a sequel, but it is obvious that once the pet overcomes his conditioning, and begins to develop a sense of self, the couple will have tough issues to deal with. I would have definitely given it a five if the story was only LONGER.
ETA: I have found out from auburnimp's website that there IS a sequel (in fact at least two more books, from what I was able to surmise).
This book has strong dominance and submission elements because of the nature of the battlepet and his conditioning to obey his Master.
HOWEVER, this book is NOT FINISHED. I do not know if there is a sequel, but it is obvious that once the pet overcomes his conditioning, and begins to develop a sense of self, the couple will have tough issues to deal with. I would have definitely given it a five if the story was only LONGER.
ETA: I have found out from auburnimp's website that there IS a sequel (in fact at least two more books, from what I was able to surmise).
October 11, 2009
This is an interesting futuristic vision of the world where the incredibly rich live in a well-maintained area of Tokyo, whereas those less fortunate live within the walls of the Shinjuku Containment Area Zone. Hajiri is a now a muscleman for the zone, a step up from gunwhore when he sold his body and his protection to the highest bidder. While at a popular club, Hajiri happens to see a human pet fight about to start and leaves when it’s obvious one of the pets is supposed to lose on purpose to prove its owner’s callous attitude. On his way home, Hajiri is attacked by gang bangers and saved by the same battlepet that was supposed to be dead by now. Hajiri takes the injured battlepet home, thinking perhaps to sell him for quite a bit of money but once he gets to know the pet he names Zeshin, or Zen, he can’t bring himself to let go of Zen. However, Hajiri knows nothing about battlepets and he and Zen have some problems communicating. To say nothing of the kill job he’s supposed to handle and gang problems in the zone.
If it sounds like a lot is going on, there is. However, the action flows smoothly and easily from one scene to the next with never too much going on so that you get lost. The downside to this world is that there is virtually no world building offered aside from sparse comments from Hajiri about how the zone works. The authors are clearly in love with their science fiction world and do not hesitate to make up an entire vocabulary of random words such as “gunwhore”, “gangerbitch”, “corps”, and “cybermods” that they use often and generously. A glaring downside to this is that the majority of these terms are thrown at the reader immediately within the first few pages. This completely overwhelms the reader with new terms and no definitions for the usage other than guessing. In addition to the sparse, if any, world building, this created an under developed world filled with confusing terms and few guidelines. Which was incredibly unfortunate as the relationship between Zen and Hajiri worked rather well.
Hajiri is a complex character showing positive and negative traits. He doesn’t shy away from violence and the mercenary aspect of his personality just as he doesn’t shy away from wanting a better life for himself and Zen. Hajiri is experienced and cynical with the world and finds himself unexpectedly attracted and protective of Zen. These unfamiliar emotions and desires create a contrast to the casual and everyday violence perpetrated by Hajiri and around them. His desire for Zen to live an independent life wars with his acceptance and even desire for him to stay Zen’s Master. He doesn’t want Zen fearful for his life and begging, yet Hajiri likes the adoration and almost worshipful love Zen offers. Which doesn’t begin to describe the sizzling hot sex these two men have, graphically and often within the story.
Battlepets, and Zen in particular, are bred to fight and fuck. They are bred to have sub human intelligence mixed with animal DNA and enhanced sexual receptors to create obedient pets whose number one goal is to please their Master. Zen considers himself flawed as his intelligence is above normal for battlepets and thus is often medicated to keep his thoughts dull and repetitive. Zen is a fascinating character as his true personality is slowly revealed without the artificial medication and controlling chip in his body. Although he’s been conditioned as a pet, worthless and unimportant, he has flashes of independence and dominance. His desire to love and be loved makes him a sympathetic character amidst the highly dramatic actions he’s been conditioned to display.
Although the dynamic between Hajiri and Zen could have been melodramatic and overly emotional, the authors had a deft hand in creating a complex relationship that shows depth, texture, and emotion between two complicated characters. Adding in a significant amount of sex and violence and a whole cast of secondary characters with hints to future books, the story is rather impressive for all the elements that were successfully put together. The one caveat of world building and terminology aside, I was impressed with the complexity of the story and the strength of its characters. I was also intrigued by the hints of true personality Zen showed at the very end, waiting eagerly to see where the authors take this thread of potential to next.
Although I expected to like the book, I was rather impressed with how much I enjoyed the characters, action and storyline. The writing is sometimes dense with terminology but skip it when it’s complicated. It doesn’t affect the story if you don’t really understand the terms used and stay to the strengths of the story, which is the interaction between Zen and Hajiri. With all the hints to sequels, I’m intrigued and interested to see where they go next and can easily recommend this book to those who like strong futuristic backdrops with graphic sex and violence. It’s not so much that I ever felt overwhelmed but it is there, so be careful. Otherwise, enjoy the walk on the wild side of a new world with fascinating characters.
If it sounds like a lot is going on, there is. However, the action flows smoothly and easily from one scene to the next with never too much going on so that you get lost. The downside to this world is that there is virtually no world building offered aside from sparse comments from Hajiri about how the zone works. The authors are clearly in love with their science fiction world and do not hesitate to make up an entire vocabulary of random words such as “gunwhore”, “gangerbitch”, “corps”, and “cybermods” that they use often and generously. A glaring downside to this is that the majority of these terms are thrown at the reader immediately within the first few pages. This completely overwhelms the reader with new terms and no definitions for the usage other than guessing. In addition to the sparse, if any, world building, this created an under developed world filled with confusing terms and few guidelines. Which was incredibly unfortunate as the relationship between Zen and Hajiri worked rather well.
Hajiri is a complex character showing positive and negative traits. He doesn’t shy away from violence and the mercenary aspect of his personality just as he doesn’t shy away from wanting a better life for himself and Zen. Hajiri is experienced and cynical with the world and finds himself unexpectedly attracted and protective of Zen. These unfamiliar emotions and desires create a contrast to the casual and everyday violence perpetrated by Hajiri and around them. His desire for Zen to live an independent life wars with his acceptance and even desire for him to stay Zen’s Master. He doesn’t want Zen fearful for his life and begging, yet Hajiri likes the adoration and almost worshipful love Zen offers. Which doesn’t begin to describe the sizzling hot sex these two men have, graphically and often within the story.
Battlepets, and Zen in particular, are bred to fight and fuck. They are bred to have sub human intelligence mixed with animal DNA and enhanced sexual receptors to create obedient pets whose number one goal is to please their Master. Zen considers himself flawed as his intelligence is above normal for battlepets and thus is often medicated to keep his thoughts dull and repetitive. Zen is a fascinating character as his true personality is slowly revealed without the artificial medication and controlling chip in his body. Although he’s been conditioned as a pet, worthless and unimportant, he has flashes of independence and dominance. His desire to love and be loved makes him a sympathetic character amidst the highly dramatic actions he’s been conditioned to display.
Although the dynamic between Hajiri and Zen could have been melodramatic and overly emotional, the authors had a deft hand in creating a complex relationship that shows depth, texture, and emotion between two complicated characters. Adding in a significant amount of sex and violence and a whole cast of secondary characters with hints to future books, the story is rather impressive for all the elements that were successfully put together. The one caveat of world building and terminology aside, I was impressed with the complexity of the story and the strength of its characters. I was also intrigued by the hints of true personality Zen showed at the very end, waiting eagerly to see where the authors take this thread of potential to next.
Although I expected to like the book, I was rather impressed with how much I enjoyed the characters, action and storyline. The writing is sometimes dense with terminology but skip it when it’s complicated. It doesn’t affect the story if you don’t really understand the terms used and stay to the strengths of the story, which is the interaction between Zen and Hajiri. With all the hints to sequels, I’m intrigued and interested to see where they go next and can easily recommend this book to those who like strong futuristic backdrops with graphic sex and violence. It’s not so much that I ever felt overwhelmed but it is there, so be careful. Otherwise, enjoy the walk on the wild side of a new world with fascinating characters.
Read
May 15, 2009Well, well, well, it's not easy to write something on this book and let you understand the mixed feelings it gave me. Hajiri is a former gunwhore (a mix between a paid bodyguard and a whore) and now a zonewarrior, a man paid for resolving other people problems maybe not in a legal way. In one of his nightly wandering in the wealthy zone of an apocalyptic Tokyo, Hajiri finds himself with something he is not sure to want, a pet, a genetically engineering mix between a human and a snow leopard. Kenshin, as he named the pet, was trained to protect his Master, and to please him in every way, in and out of bed. He is used to be considered an animal, to live in a cage and to behave like a pet in every moment of his life; worst, he has a chip that, if he "behaves" badly, releases in his system a pain that can arrive to kill him.
Kenshin has absolutely need for a Master, he can't live without one, and so he decides that Hajiri will be his next Master, and if he is good enough, he will be the last. And here Kenshin proves that he is not as all the other pets, he is faulted, he has a working brain! And here is my guilty pleasure in reading this story: I liked Hajiri and Kenshin's relationship, I liked when Kenshin behaves like a little kitten, I liked when he purrs and kneals his Master... all right, I'm guilty! My mind continued to send discording messages, saying that Kenshin is not a pet, he is a man, and he deserves to be treated like a man, but then, Hajiri didn't force him to behave like that, and so it's Kenshin's choice; but it's not his choice, he was brainwashed, he has chip in his brain that prevent him to disobey. Here the big dilemma: to be pet or not to be pet? Probably this is the same dilemma someone like me will always have reading a full yaoi style novel.
Other than a strange love story, there is also a lot of violence in this novel, violence that doesn't save anyone, men, women and children alike: the futuristic apocalyptic world recreated by this duo (that will be familiar to whom read Michael Barnette's work at Mojocastle Press) is not a clean and spotless futuristic world lead by technology, but it's more like a big slum with few and elite safe zones. Everything can be bought and sold, above all the human (and not human) life.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/47...
Kenshin has absolutely need for a Master, he can't live without one, and so he decides that Hajiri will be his next Master, and if he is good enough, he will be the last. And here Kenshin proves that he is not as all the other pets, he is faulted, he has a working brain! And here is my guilty pleasure in reading this story: I liked Hajiri and Kenshin's relationship, I liked when Kenshin behaves like a little kitten, I liked when he purrs and kneals his Master... all right, I'm guilty! My mind continued to send discording messages, saying that Kenshin is not a pet, he is a man, and he deserves to be treated like a man, but then, Hajiri didn't force him to behave like that, and so it's Kenshin's choice; but it's not his choice, he was brainwashed, he has chip in his brain that prevent him to disobey. Here the big dilemma: to be pet or not to be pet? Probably this is the same dilemma someone like me will always have reading a full yaoi style novel.
Other than a strange love story, there is also a lot of violence in this novel, violence that doesn't save anyone, men, women and children alike: the futuristic apocalyptic world recreated by this duo (that will be familiar to whom read Michael Barnette's work at Mojocastle Press) is not a clean and spotless futuristic world lead by technology, but it's more like a big slum with few and elite safe zones. Everything can be bought and sold, above all the human (and not human) life.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/47...
July 29, 2013
It’s the lure of the PL Nunn cover… gets me every time in it’s awesome sweetness.
But.
This story alternately entertained and annoyed. I blame it mostly on the pacing. So slow and tedious when the action stopped, so fun when there was lots of back talk, posturing and gunfights.
Zeshin/Zen, or “the boy”, is a lab-engineered fighting machine (part human/part snow leopard), owned by an Aoki Corp thug. Zen is treated like an animal, a pet, and has much value as a submissive sex-toy. This is one expensive toy in this dark, gritty AU world where the poor and downtrodden greatly outnumber the powerful wealthy. Still, one night when Zen loses a battle, his Master sees fit to throw him out, like table scraps into the trash. Lucky for Zen, he is rescued by Hajiri, a cybernetically enhanced human battlewarrior with a heart of gold.
We get a long section where the two get to know each other and not much happens. There’s a lot of: “this boy is so unworthy” and “this boy is nothing” ad infinitum. On and on it goes… And yet… I couldn’t help but really like Zen. He was bred for subservience, it’s all he knows, and he’s a dangerous battlepet, but all he wants is love. His mantra is heart-wringing:
“This boy wants a good Master… this boy loves his Master and wishes to please him… this boy wants Master to love his pet… why don’t any of my Masters love this boy the way this boy loves them?"
It looks like Zen may have found the Master he deserves in Hajiri-- someone who can care for him as well as see his hidden potential. Yet, enjoys the kinky pet-play that’s part of the package. The pacing inevitably picks up for the action scenes where Zen and Hajiri wrestle with the yakuza-like Corp thugs, but lordy, they’re just too far and few between. The rest of this has some ok world-building and fun gun-fiery action. With good editing this could have been developed into a great, kick-ass action story.
April 4, 2011
4 1/2 stars rounded to 5. This story surprised me on several levels. One it was actually a sweet love story of a Battlepet, bred and trained to both protect and submit to a master. Zen had never had a master keep him for long and his most recent master had him thrown in the dumpster, so I was compelled to hope along with him that he had found his "forever master".
Secondly, the world building was very nicely done without info dumps or too many details to keep track of. And finally, there is a very nice action plot throughout the story which kept me wanting to know what would happen next.
My only complaint is that the story ended with an HFN, begging for a sequel which doesn't look as if it will ever happen. I'm disappointed, as I would love to read more about this world and Zen and Hajiri's adventures.
Secondly, the world building was very nicely done without info dumps or too many details to keep track of. And finally, there is a very nice action plot throughout the story which kept me wanting to know what would happen next.
My only complaint is that the story ended with an HFN, begging for a sequel which doesn't look as if it will ever happen. I'm disappointed, as I would love to read more about this world and Zen and Hajiri's adventures.
July 9, 2010
In many ways this is a very dark vision of our future. Big corporations have taken over the world, are fighting wars against each other, and have enslaved humans by using chips to manipulate their brains. And if that isn't enough, they're also breeding and training people to be slaves. They call them "nilhumans", and they have serial numbers instead of names.
What I really liked about this book was the great world building, as well as the underlying message of hope. This is the story of one human intended to be a slave (or pet) and his struggle to be a "full person", despite his training. Genetically flawed in the eyes of the laboratory that created him, he is more intelligent than the others and struggles more with his fate. When he is found by Hajiri, a cybernetically enhanced human, he is given a name and a new home. He can't believe his luck. With Hajiri's encouragement, he starts to become the person he could be.
I sincerely hope this book will have a sequel!
What I really liked about this book was the great world building, as well as the underlying message of hope. This is the story of one human intended to be a slave (or pet) and his struggle to be a "full person", despite his training. Genetically flawed in the eyes of the laboratory that created him, he is more intelligent than the others and struggles more with his fate. When he is found by Hajiri, a cybernetically enhanced human, he is given a name and a new home. He can't believe his luck. With Hajiri's encouragement, he starts to become the person he could be.
I sincerely hope this book will have a sequel!
August 31, 2010
Oh, P.L. Nunn, I just can't say no to books with your lovely artwork on the cover.
As for the story itself, I found Hajiri's Pet to be a relatively light and entertaining read, although somewhat repetitive in terms of dialogue and sex scenes. (I think "This boy loves his Master" was probably said about 8928 times, no joke.) Aside from that, I thought the sci-fi elements, worldbuilding, and overall storyline were enjoyable and intriguing. My biggest complaint is that the novel ends somewhat abruptly, without any kind of real resolution to the overall story arc. A sequel was/is obviously intended, but it's been more than 2 1/2 years since this was published, so I'm not holding my breath.
As for the story itself, I found Hajiri's Pet to be a relatively light and entertaining read, although somewhat repetitive in terms of dialogue and sex scenes. (I think "This boy loves his Master" was probably said about 8928 times, no joke.) Aside from that, I thought the sci-fi elements, worldbuilding, and overall storyline were enjoyable and intriguing. My biggest complaint is that the novel ends somewhat abruptly, without any kind of real resolution to the overall story arc. A sequel was/is obviously intended, but it's been more than 2 1/2 years since this was published, so I'm not holding my breath.
on-hold-for-now
May 29, 2010Such a pretty cover.. *sigh*
March 10, 2013
Heh, heh. Lookie what I found languishing in one of my numerous folders.
Anyways, here's the review:
Man, all this "this boy" business...what's up with that? Unless they're referring one of these things. (yeah, it's Japanese, but come on. I'm sorry, but Japanese pm takes a lot of stuff from Chinese.)
But yeah. These things don't translate to English (imagine how awk it is for me to try to explain historical dramas to non-Chinese speakers =_=) very well/at all...
I mean, it's set in a pseudo-Japanese-type universe, so I get the sentiment...
It just...gets really, really distracting after a while, you know?
(*sigh. It's moments like these that has me mourning how clunky English sounds sometimes, especially in comparison to Chinese. Chinese is so succinct, yet multi-dimensional at the same time. Each character in and of itself conveys a subtle nuance that adds to the overall meaning of the words.
But alas. I pretty much grew up speaking English and so am more adept at manipulating this language. [Gotta know the rules before you can break them and all that.]
Don't get me wrong. English has its moments. It's just...you know...when you juxtapose the two...)
The cover...
I just have something against this art style. It just...looks...so awk...=_=
The writing in and of itself leaves something to be desired, but I like the explorations into Zen's POV.
The gunwhore idea reminds me of Fang and Fur.
And then it reminded me of Spliced and Heroes & Ghosts in that they all have very, very similar tropes.
Probably one of the most poignant moments was when Zen
I find it funny that Zen has amber eyes since snow leopards are UNLIKE other big cats in that they tend to have blue, green, or grey eyes.
The idea, though, that Zen might instinctively use "me" and "I" gives me a bit of pause. I haven't done enough studies/research in this area so I can't definitively say, but this would indicate that he has some kind of ingrained sense of self. As I said, I don't necessarily know enough to say definitively whether or not a sense of self is ingrained or learned, so I'll let this lie. It is, however, an interesting point of contention.
And then...geishas aren't prostitutes. Those are the oiran. And, I mean, I know geishas and oirans kind of look similar, but there are also marked differences if you know what to look for (lol). Anyways, this was all hammered into my head by this one manga I read way long ago (what was it called...? Ah, no good. It's gone), but geishas aren't oirans.
Aaaaand magical penis solves all problems.
...Okay...
Have fun with that...
(to which they respond: "Oh, we will.")
Anyways, here's the review:
Man, all this "this boy" business...what's up with that? Unless they're referring one of these things. (yeah, it's Japanese, but come on. I'm sorry, but Japanese pm takes a lot of stuff from Chinese.)
But yeah. These things don't translate to English (imagine how awk it is for me to try to explain historical dramas to non-Chinese speakers =_=) very well/at all...
I mean, it's set in a pseudo-Japanese-type universe, so I get the sentiment...
It just...gets really, really distracting after a while, you know?
(*sigh. It's moments like these that has me mourning how clunky English sounds sometimes, especially in comparison to Chinese. Chinese is so succinct, yet multi-dimensional at the same time. Each character in and of itself conveys a subtle nuance that adds to the overall meaning of the words.
But alas. I pretty much grew up speaking English and so am more adept at manipulating this language. [Gotta know the rules before you can break them and all that.]
Don't get me wrong. English has its moments. It's just...you know...when you juxtapose the two...)
The cover...
I just have something against this art style. It just...looks...so awk...=_=
The writing in and of itself leaves something to be desired, but I like the explorations into Zen's POV.
The gunwhore idea reminds me of Fang and Fur.
And then it reminded me of Spliced and Heroes & Ghosts in that they all have very, very similar tropes.
Probably one of the most poignant moments was when Zen
I find it funny that Zen has amber eyes since snow leopards are UNLIKE other big cats in that they tend to have blue, green, or grey eyes.
The idea, though, that Zen might instinctively use "me" and "I" gives me a bit of pause. I haven't done enough studies/research in this area so I can't definitively say, but this would indicate that he has some kind of ingrained sense of self. As I said, I don't necessarily know enough to say definitively whether or not a sense of self is ingrained or learned, so I'll let this lie. It is, however, an interesting point of contention.
And then...geishas aren't prostitutes. Those are the oiran. And, I mean, I know geishas and oirans kind of look similar, but there are also marked differences if you know what to look for (lol). Anyways, this was all hammered into my head by this one manga I read way long ago (what was it called...? Ah, no good. It's gone), but geishas aren't oirans.
Aaaaand magical penis solves all problems.
...Okay...
Have fun with that...
(to which they respond: "Oh, we will.")
January 3, 2009
Hajiri is a zonewarrior. A former gunwhore who once sold his body for money, he’s looking for the job that will let him move up in the live and die world of the Shinjuku Containment Area.
A chance meeting outside a popular Shinjuku club leaves Hajiri in the possession of a corporate high roller’s battlepet. A young human/snow leopard cross genetically engineered to be the perfect sexual partner and bodyguard.
The last thing Hajiri needs is a complication in his life. But how can he turn away a person who had been tossed out like so much trash, especially when that man just saved his life?
Hajiri doesn’t want responsibility. What Hajiri gets is a lot more than he bargained for when the young man shows him what it means to be a battlepet’s Master.
Contains graphic sexual encounters between men, strong D/s themes, toys, spanking and violence.
I got totally sucked in by the cover on this one. I really do like PL Nunn’s art work. The book has a gritty, futuristic feel and the premise was kind cool with the battlepets, gunwhores and nasty corporations controlling much of their world.
However, some of the writing was not as tight as it could have been, especially the ending which seemed a little unraveled. The repetition of speech by Zen grated a little and he seems awfully young in which pushed a few of my squick buttons.
For all that though, I did finish the book and found it surprisingly entertaining despite the bits that got up my nose. I’d be totally keen to see more in this series, as there are some interesting secondary characters that are begging for a story. The authors have created a very cool world and this appeals much!
I have had a few really good reads from Liquid Silver Books, but one thing I would like to see is bigger pictures of book covers in their pdf ebooks. They’re so small and I’d love to see larger images, especially if it’s artists like PL Nunn. Merow!
http://sharrow.wordpress.com
A chance meeting outside a popular Shinjuku club leaves Hajiri in the possession of a corporate high roller’s battlepet. A young human/snow leopard cross genetically engineered to be the perfect sexual partner and bodyguard.
The last thing Hajiri needs is a complication in his life. But how can he turn away a person who had been tossed out like so much trash, especially when that man just saved his life?
Hajiri doesn’t want responsibility. What Hajiri gets is a lot more than he bargained for when the young man shows him what it means to be a battlepet’s Master.
Contains graphic sexual encounters between men, strong D/s themes, toys, spanking and violence.
I got totally sucked in by the cover on this one. I really do like PL Nunn’s art work. The book has a gritty, futuristic feel and the premise was kind cool with the battlepets, gunwhores and nasty corporations controlling much of their world.
However, some of the writing was not as tight as it could have been, especially the ending which seemed a little unraveled. The repetition of speech by Zen grated a little and he seems awfully young in which pushed a few of my squick buttons.
For all that though, I did finish the book and found it surprisingly entertaining despite the bits that got up my nose. I’d be totally keen to see more in this series, as there are some interesting secondary characters that are begging for a story. The authors have created a very cool world and this appeals much!
I have had a few really good reads from Liquid Silver Books, but one thing I would like to see is bigger pictures of book covers in their pdf ebooks. They’re so small and I’d love to see larger images, especially if it’s artists like PL Nunn. Merow!
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August 8, 2016
A typical yaoi. If you like a lot of hot sex, a Master/slave dynamics, plenty of crazy futuristic stuff (I don't even know how to describe it all) - then this story is for you! It was a quick and enjoyable read.
The only thing that annoyed me was that the story didn't seem properly ended. There is no conclusion either to Hajiri/Zen relationhip or the war started against the Aoki.
I know it's supposed to be only the 1st part of a series but, taking into consideration that one of the authors had to quit on writing, I'm afraid it will be a long wait to see how this story evolves... :(
The only thing that annoyed me was that the story didn't seem properly ended. There is no conclusion either to Hajiri/Zen relationhip or the war started against the Aoki.
I know it's supposed to be only the 1st part of a series but, taking into consideration that one of the authors had to quit on writing, I'm afraid it will be a long wait to see how this story evolves... :(
March 13, 2011
For Pete's sake, where's the sequel?
June 14, 2010
This was a toss-up between a "3" star and a "4" star, but I really liked it on a basic level and so chose for the better option ... the first two chapters or so is confusing, bogging the reader down with a million terms that are foreign enough to make it incomprehensible. And yet reading about Zen's fighting abilities and then seeing the complete turn-around when he faces whom he considers his new "Master" is just ... wow. The possibilities are endless.
Hajiri is not a bad guy but he's not in the least bit gentle, either. He uses Zen repeatedly but without malice because his view on battlepets is the same as many others like him and above him; battlepets are merely THINGS, to use and sell as he saw fit. Zen would pull a good price, both for payment and/or trade, and for a while that's what he thinks about whenever he looks on his new pet. While Zen on the other hand, strives only to please his Master and becomes easily confused in a part of the city he has no clue about. He is smart - amazingly smart and clever - and yet his training, the drugs, and the chip cause him to become 'dummied down.'
On one hand I liked immensely how Hajiri's view on Zen and what he is gradually changed, how protective he became of him, how fond. On the other, I severely disliked the fact that he continued to talk over Zen as if the battlepet wasn't there whenever he was speaking with someone else. Zen would never be asked questions about himself - they would automatically assume he wasn't smart enough, a mere item that had to be researched into. Even when Hajiri came to love him, and Zen's love changed to a more personal nature, still Hajiri would talk about him as if he weren't even in the room.
I kind of wish the novel had continued on for another few chapters, to settle that issue and wrap up a little more of the 'post-chip' transitions within Zen's nature. Perhaps there will be another one? I'm hoping, especially with the glimpse we get of another battlewhore pair of great interest.
Hajiri is not a bad guy but he's not in the least bit gentle, either. He uses Zen repeatedly but without malice because his view on battlepets is the same as many others like him and above him; battlepets are merely THINGS, to use and sell as he saw fit. Zen would pull a good price, both for payment and/or trade, and for a while that's what he thinks about whenever he looks on his new pet. While Zen on the other hand, strives only to please his Master and becomes easily confused in a part of the city he has no clue about. He is smart - amazingly smart and clever - and yet his training, the drugs, and the chip cause him to become 'dummied down.'
On one hand I liked immensely how Hajiri's view on Zen and what he is gradually changed, how protective he became of him, how fond. On the other, I severely disliked the fact that he continued to talk over Zen as if the battlepet wasn't there whenever he was speaking with someone else. Zen would never be asked questions about himself - they would automatically assume he wasn't smart enough, a mere item that had to be researched into. Even when Hajiri came to love him, and Zen's love changed to a more personal nature, still Hajiri would talk about him as if he weren't even in the room.
I kind of wish the novel had continued on for another few chapters, to settle that issue and wrap up a little more of the 'post-chip' transitions within Zen's nature. Perhaps there will be another one? I'm hoping, especially with the glimpse we get of another battlewhore pair of great interest.
February 1, 2011
Battlepets and Zone Warriors. Two very different worlds collide in a dark alley when Hajiri is attached by gang members from the Red Lotus. He is saved by a discarded battlepet, left for dead in a dumpster. Hajiri takes the battlepet home, unsure what he wants to do with this high priced possession. Sell or keep him? Life in the Zone is harsh and the money could be used to make his life better. It quickly becomes evident that Hajiri isn't going to sell the beautiful pet and starts looking for ways to break the training on Zen that has him acting little more than an animal.
Zen has been used and discarded by several masters. This boy is defective, flawed, stupid and worthless. This kind Master confuses this boy, saying words this boy doesn't understand, testing this boy about sitting in chairs, allowing this boy Master food instead of bland, dry kibble and insisting this boy were clothes. This boy is a battlepet. Engineered in a lab and this boy's only purpose is fighting and sex. But this boy likes this kind Master. This boy loves this Master and all this boy wants is for this Master to love this boy back.
This is such a fantastic story set in a futuristic Japan. A wall separates the Corpers from the Zoners in so many ways. There is more going on that either Hajiri or Zen knows until it is almost too late. Zen so fiercely loyal to the Master he loves that he will kill any an all who try to harm him. Hajiri's trying to protect Zen from the Corpers because he cannot lose the only person he has ever loved. A battle is brewing and the Corpers may have picked the wrong couple to mess with. I hope there is a sequel. There is so much I need to know. Are the enslaved gunwhores freed?
The quote that broke my heart: "Please, Master of All Pets, let this Master keep this worthless pet. Please, Great One, let this be the Forever Master for this worthless and flawed nothing of a pet."
Zen has been used and discarded by several masters. This boy is defective, flawed, stupid and worthless. This kind Master confuses this boy, saying words this boy doesn't understand, testing this boy about sitting in chairs, allowing this boy Master food instead of bland, dry kibble and insisting this boy were clothes. This boy is a battlepet. Engineered in a lab and this boy's only purpose is fighting and sex. But this boy likes this kind Master. This boy loves this Master and all this boy wants is for this Master to love this boy back.
This is such a fantastic story set in a futuristic Japan. A wall separates the Corpers from the Zoners in so many ways. There is more going on that either Hajiri or Zen knows until it is almost too late. Zen so fiercely loyal to the Master he loves that he will kill any an all who try to harm him. Hajiri's trying to protect Zen from the Corpers because he cannot lose the only person he has ever loved. A battle is brewing and the Corpers may have picked the wrong couple to mess with. I hope there is a sequel. There is so much I need to know. Are the enslaved gunwhores freed?
The quote that broke my heart: "Please, Master of All Pets, let this Master keep this worthless pet. Please, Great One, let this be the Forever Master for this worthless and flawed nothing of a pet."
May 15, 2009
I danced around this book for over a year, unsure of it. My hesitation was, unfortunately, founded. It just didn't deliver a satisfying story.
I give kudos to the author for the imagination and clever use of future vernacular. Top notch on that. But the rest of the story was left to be a mess. The worst sin an author can commit, in my opinion, is to treat the reader as if I am stupid. But in this case, I think it was more of a case of the author forgetting what she wrote. Hajiri professed his love for Zen long before an epic battle took place. The battle that, after which, Hajiri "suddenly" understands that he loves Zen. Nope, sorry. You already said that, so there was no emotional revelation. There were other incidents in which information was reiterated as if it was just discovered. But this was the most glaring one.
The characters were loose, their emotions were over-the-top and barely tethered. The setting was nearly non-existent. I was certainly told that they were in a futuristic Tokyo hell-hole but it wasn't shown. Motives for characters were tenuous, if mentioned at all.
This is disappointing, because it had the potential of being a good story. A competent editor would have been able to pull this story into some much better light. There seemed to have been a sequel hinted at, so maybe I'll see if that made it into being and got better treatment than this one. But it'll probably take me another year to decide on it or not.
I give kudos to the author for the imagination and clever use of future vernacular. Top notch on that. But the rest of the story was left to be a mess. The worst sin an author can commit, in my opinion, is to treat the reader as if I am stupid. But in this case, I think it was more of a case of the author forgetting what she wrote. Hajiri professed his love for Zen long before an epic battle took place. The battle that, after which, Hajiri "suddenly" understands that he loves Zen. Nope, sorry. You already said that, so there was no emotional revelation. There were other incidents in which information was reiterated as if it was just discovered. But this was the most glaring one.
The characters were loose, their emotions were over-the-top and barely tethered. The setting was nearly non-existent. I was certainly told that they were in a futuristic Tokyo hell-hole but it wasn't shown. Motives for characters were tenuous, if mentioned at all.
This is disappointing, because it had the potential of being a good story. A competent editor would have been able to pull this story into some much better light. There seemed to have been a sequel hinted at, so maybe I'll see if that made it into being and got better treatment than this one. But it'll probably take me another year to decide on it or not.
May 30, 2011
I want to give this story a higher rating, because I would so love to read more about this post apocalyptic world barely created. Both Hajiri and Zen were intriguing, and I would have love to read more about them; to read about the loose threads touched upon, that led the reader to believe there will be more. But, by the age of the book and no mention of a sequel, it doesn't look like this will happen.
October 21, 2011
Great pet fiction - which is a theme that I love. If only it didn't feel like the setup for a first volume of a series, and if only I didn't have the sinking feeling that the rest of this series will never come about. I saw a comment from the co-author Michael Barnette that Auburnimp has retired from writing, which immediately made me sad about this very promising story now doomed to non-completion. (There is closure in this volume, it just didn't feel like an all problems resolved HEA end.)
Oh well, authors can change their minds too and my hope for this series will be that the author misses writing and comes out with the second volume, which I will be waiting to buy.
Oh well, authors can change their minds too and my hope for this series will be that the author misses writing and comes out with the second volume, which I will be waiting to buy.
September 13, 2012
I don't really know what I expected when I decided to read this, but it definitely surpassed anything I could have thought of. The world-building was extraordinary and complex enough that I want to read more about how everything works. I definitely want to read more about he characters. Zen was adorable, and I want to see more about his development of his sense of self. And Hajiri? He definitely has the personality I'd expect from someone born and raised in the underbelly of this technologically advanced world. I'm ready for the next part of the story, I want to find out what happens to Midori and the other gunwhores trapped in the Aoki Corp building...
July 3, 2011
3.5 stars. The slave/master relationship wasn't my favorite. Mostly, because the slave had no choice in his feelings or need for his master. I do like where it's heading, however, and I kind of liked that I knew very little about this world and bit by bit it was created around the characters. I wonder if this will be a series, because it felt like a set up for something more, so that's why so why I rate it 3.5 stars. By the end, I felt like I just started to figure things out and it was over. I hope there's more to come, 'cause I am definitely still interested.
September 23, 2011
A snow leopard / human hybrid mix. Interesting. Now throw in a futuristic Corporations vs everyone else and you have a good story. I love the battlepets, gunwhores, and zonewarriors. What concepts!!! I liked the characters, though I was very happy when Zen started to get past "This boy" all the time :) Very enjoyable read and I have to go looking for the rest of the series if there are any more.
So sorry to see this series never went any farther.
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1st read - Nov 1, 2011
2nd read - Sep 9, 2015
So sorry to see this series never went any farther.
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1st read - Nov 1, 2011
2nd read - Sep 9, 2015
October 31, 2012
Ever since I've read Evangeline Anderson's "Slave Boy", I've been desperatelly looking for a BL novel, that can touch my heart in a simmilar way. Finaly, after few years time, there it is - "Hajiri's Pet". Both books are simmilar in fact of telling the story of a master and his boy, but the most important thing is the heart-warming atmosphere, full of love and trust. The story is just beautiful and I love the characters. Besides the romantic plot there is still some place for adventures. I can't wait for the second volume :)
August 25, 2010
This book fairly BEGS for a sequel. The main plot points of this book were wrapped up nicely, but there are enough secondary plots and other details to fill at least one more good-sized book.
I liked this one a lot. I'm a fan of Cyberpunk anyway, so this book hit a couple of my favorite genres. I liked the characters, I liked the world. It's different enough from the majority "boy meets boy and something happens" books that I'll remember this one for a while.
I liked this one a lot. I'm a fan of Cyberpunk anyway, so this book hit a couple of my favorite genres. I liked the characters, I liked the world. It's different enough from the majority "boy meets boy and something happens" books that I'll remember this one for a while.
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September 26, 2011Loved it! Gonna move on to the rest of the series. Scifi M/M romance with battlepets and zonewarriors. Takes a little bit to get into the world with all the new vocab thrown at you (including shortened versions of words you aren't familiar with yet) but it is worth the small initial struggle.
Visit my book blog @ Sweet Vernal Zephyr
Visit my book blog @ Sweet Vernal Zephyr
September 27, 2011
Gritty shifter tale that addresses class hierarchy and the rise of corporations in the power structure. Excellent worldbuilding, the only thing missing was the sound of pachinko parlors ringing up through Shinjuku. Sensitive treatment of a m-m D/s relationship. Only glitch for me was some of the dialogue struck me as odd, overly verbose or complete sentences when fragments would stand in better. Definitely interested in a follow-up.
August 25, 2010
I would've rated this book 5 stars if it were a least a hundred pages longer. There was some interesting social commentary on the future, but also on relationships between classes and on poverty. I finished it wanting to know more about Zen's beginning, Hajiri's life, and of their future. I'd like to read more from these authors.
October 18, 2012
Wow, I was reading this just as a little diversion and I was totally surprised to find Hajiri & The Pet completely intriguing. I wanted it to be longer, in fact that's my biggest complaint.
So where is the sequel? I want more!
If you're bothered by violence and futurist setting don't read. Everyone else get on board.
So where is the sequel? I want more!
If you're bothered by violence and futurist setting don't read. Everyone else get on board.
January 16, 2013
God, after reading this book I'm just wishing there were going to be more. What a fun read. Poor Zen with his programming and confusion and tough Hajiri who's really not all that tough. The world they live in sounds freaking miserable! Danger and death everywhere and at any time. But they found eachother and lurrrrrve. Very sweet story among the chaos and fighting.
January 11, 2010
Ok cyberpunk m/m romance about a mercenary whose life is saved by a genetically engineered 'battlepet' who then imprints on him. Definitely an HFN ending... and there aren't any other books in this series yet.
May 28, 2012
I went out and tried this book. It wasn't quite my type but i thought to give it a try. Wrong move. I was bored to tears. I didn't like the way zen talked or any of it. Just read like a really bad fanfiction. Going to delete this from my kindle.
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