Marrick's Promise

Thrown to the Lions #2

by Kim Dare

Marrick thinks that being thrown to the lions will be the ultimate adrenaline rush, and he’s not disappointed. But his plan is to try everything life has to offer once. He has no intention of visiting the lions again. Blaine and Luther don’t expect to give any of the human sacrifices they share another thought once they leave the den. This man’s different. They have no intention of letting this one go. The only question is, while they are willing to share Marrick with each other, are they willing to share each other with a human who could become as important to each of them as they are to each other?

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Menage, Romance, M M M

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2010

About the author

Kim is a thirty-three year old bisexual submissive from Wales (UK). First published in 2008, she has since released almost 100 BDSM erotic romance titles ranging from short stories to full length novels. Having worked with a host of fantastic e-publishers, she has just moved into self publishing.

While she has occasionally ventured towards other pairings, Kim's first love is still, and probably always will be, Male/Male stories. But, no matter what the pairing, from paranormal to contemporary, and from the sweet to the intense, everything she writes will always feature three things - Kink, Love and a Happy Ending.

Reviews

[JenMcJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh! A longer Kim Dare story. YaY!

Well, this time we learn a little more about why the lions have the ritual with the humans. We still don't learn too much about what the lions do all day or where their wealth comes from.

Okay. I am going to be honest here. I love having a new longer story from Kim. I even battled the publisher site and purchased it direct. (I hate doing that and that site is not easy) Once I got it on my Kindle, I sucked it down in record time and enjoyed it. Anyone following my reviews knows I tend to overthink at times and I probably did that with this tale (errr..tail?)

So, it turns out, I didn't love Blaine and Luthor. They felt dim-witted to me. They mention working in a legal practice or something which made their utter lack of ability to relate to humans unrealstic (even considering wereshifters are unrealistic, *grin*). Their social skills were non-existent, their lack knowledge of BDSM and the gay human club scene was surprising and again, made them seem backward. I can appreciate that they may not have been out in the human world clubbing it up seeing as they are afraid of hurting humans and they seem to have been a couple since the cradle, but is there no gay porn in this world? Likewise with the time they spent with Marrick's parents. Have they never watched tv? Did they not go to college to work in the legal world?

I had a really hard time looking at them as mature adults able to take care of themselves, let alone a "pet".

Oh, and I should mention that there are some editing issues in the book. At least one made me laugh:

"Marrick made a sound that was almost like a kitchen’s purr. Luther couldn’t help but echo it."

That said, nothing would stop me from buying the next m/m book Kim Dare puts out, or the next, or the next....you get the picture.

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second volume in the "Thrown to the Lions" series is just as fascinating as the first. While the story is very different, the central theme is the same: the shifter partners think they know everything and are very surprised when "their" human teaches them otherwise.

Luther and Blaine are lion shifters who believe they know how to relate to the human they have chosen as their pet. The fact that they have to be super careful with him has been drilled into them by Arslan, their leader. However, their human partner, Marrick, makes them re-think all their values because his needs are different.

I liked that, in the end, the human teaches the lion shifters how to behave. Not that Marrick doesn't have some adjustments of his own to make, but the paradigm shift is so much bigger for the lions. I loved the issues of cross cultural communication that keep popping up and make this book a delight to read. Bring on the next volume!

[Relly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first

3.25 ⭐️

I liked this one better than the first. Luther and Blaine are great characters and sometimes kind of naive. The scene in the club was entertaining. Marrick is a good mate for them as he is prepared the speak up and actually fight for what he wants and needs.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marrick is a young man who wants to live his life at the fullest after being very ill as a child. He wants to experience pain, fear, he wants to overcome those emotions and be stronger for it. He is thrown to the lions and he catches the attention of Blaine and Luther, who soon sees him as a potential mate. They want to protect him, but they end up mothering in, making him unhappy. The story is about finding the only way to be happy together.

The setting is interesting, but not sufficiently sketched. There's nothing making the world unclear, but I wish I knew more about the way lion shifters are perceived and interact in the world. Arslan, their leader, seems the only one to have a good experience with humans. Both Blaine and Luther depend on his teachings and follow what he says to the letter. The conversation between the lions and Marrick's family was funny and it gave an idea of the distance between the world of the lions and that of the humans.

Marrick seemed more grown-up than the lions. I think it depends on his childhood. The lions are adorable and perceptive, but it was like watching two guys who are not used to thinking for themselves, they seemed more overgrown puppies than the kings of the animal world, if you get what I mean. I couldn't take them too seriously, even if their devotion was endearing.

A very enjoyable read, with no real drama.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really care for the first book Ryland's Sacrifice, but I'm happy to say that this one was much better. Blaine and Luther are hilarious. Buff, blonde and ignorant to the ways of humans.

[Betryal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even after having finished this story I'm still trying to comes to grips with it.

You have Marrick who is a Sub, but with the push and mannerisms of a Dom by the way he's pushy, points out what he wants, the way he wants it to be and should be or he's taking to the high road. He's a thrill seeker and takes risks to 'feel alive'. Wondering myself how far one needs to go to feel alive. :pinching myself: That seems to work for me. :snickering: He's spoiled to a degree if I was to say so myself.

Now Luther and Blaine are his two were-lion mates in this one. They're persona's are the tough, strong big boys in all this and supposed to be Marrick's masters, but yet what Arslan says is supposed to be the Pride's law and that law says not to hurt humans, be gentle and caring for them. This limits what they can and can't do to keep their pet Marrick pleased and content. In a constant state of bliss where he won't walk out on them again. At one point I was confused as to who in all this were the Masters and who was the actual pet the way Marrick got his bossiness and temper going on. Blow it all to Avalon I think one of the lions should have put him over their knee and spanked Marrick.

In certain case scenarios I wanted to blow a fuse on the characters in this book and it didn't get my mojo as much as the first one with Ryland had, but to keep with the series I'm still going to read the one yet to be released after this one and hope to God I'm not wanting to throttle someone in it. As most books I'll just say that all's well that ends well.

[Emma Sea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love menage books, but this one left me a bit cold, because the two Doms seem to be a bit lacking upstairs (more than just being werelions). I like D/s relationships where there is a psychological bond between the Dom and sub. These guys don't have it: they're "mates" therefore they're drawn together. That's not enough for me (and if it was, I, Omega did it better, anyway). The BDSM was pretty much scratching (I wouldn't term it scraification, although in book 3 it's clear Merrick has scarred).

I would have enjoyed this more if I had Merrick's backstory earlier on in the book.

Still very enjoyable and competently written.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this second book in the series, Marrick is thrown to the werelions. This time Blaine & Luther, two lion lovers take n interest in him. But they struggle to find the balance between keeping him happy and keeping him safe, and whether they can do that dictates whether they can keep him.

This story was okay. There seemed to be a set up for the two lions, who were established lovers to struggle with sharing one mate, but after a few hints that it could be a problem it was never really dealt with again. Also we know that at some point when he was young Marrick was ill with a disease that kept him in a hospital for months at a time. We know that he is okay right now and we know that he believe that condoms will keep him from getting ill again but we never really find out what was wrong with him. Marrick clearly is a sub and his 2 mates are doms and I felt like we missed the opportunity for a really intense scene. BUT, still an enjoyable tale and a nice bedtime read.

[Adara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the motivating forces behind Kim's characters always makes them a good fit for each other in the end, no matter the trials in between. I was a bit surprised that Arslan didn't give them a bit more resistance about the one lion, one pet rule given his insistence on other rules, and particularly after his insistence on the rules (not that one in specific, but overall) in the car when driving Marrick home the second time. It was mentioned in the beginning and then never brought up again. *shrug* Otherwise it worked for me and I enjoyed the story. On to Ellery's Duty.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luther and Blaine, the lovable and boisterous youngsters in love who find a pet worth their attention for more than a night. But, youthful indiscretion has left them with some baggage to heave ho before Marrick's willing to sign up. Marrick has his own issues to come to terms with before he can accept the compromises one makes for a relationship.

A bit more of the world of lions and men is explained during this sexy menage. Sweet with just a hint of claw.

Favorite quote:

"There's living a life not restrained by fear, and there's acting like a suicidal little fool.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good kinky paranormal m/m/m romance about a young man who's determined to live life to the fullest and try everything once (but not necessarily twice). Will he change his mind after getting thrown to the (were)lions?

[Clover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story even if I liked more the 1st book.
waiting for the next book with a lot of impatience^^

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of m/m/m, but since this was by one of my favorite authors, I had to give it a try. And so glad I did! Really enjoyed it. (and the cover art is hot!)

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lionwere book. Marrick has to decide if he wants to join the pack. This is really a great book. The sex is hot and the development of the realtionships is really good.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice work Kim, putting open dialog and trust foremost in the story. Of course the sex was pretty hot too. This was my first in the Lion series and I wasn't disappointed. Thanks again.

[FoxClouds · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was a re-read and it didn't really work for me this time.

[Becky A · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Marrick’s Promise" received THREE stars.

The novel gained *stars* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."

1/2 * gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

1/2 * gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for this item:

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."

[Hann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think Kim Dare could top (no pun intended) the first book but I was pleasantly surprised.

I LOVE the way these three all learnt and grew together. Definitely one of a few well-written poly relationships...with a heavy dose of fantasy mixed in.

A+ read.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paranormal romance with power dynamics. The chemistry between the main characters never fully came together here. Thin plot (though that was expected). Quick, not unenjoyable.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall
This blurb, specifically the last line, is extremely misleading. The majority of the novel isn't about "can we make this threesome work?" In fact, aside from some initial struggle where Luther and Blaine make faces at one another and try to make sure they are both OK with what's happening (emotionally), the two were-lions are pretty comfortable with Marrick as their pet. I thought that it worked for this story, since that concept wasn't really the focus of the story.

In fact, the focus of the story mostly seems to be about sex until Marrick finally makes the long-hinted-at action and all three men struggle to come to an understanding with some outside help (or non-help, as sometimes the case seems to be). I enjoyed the story and the characters and overall the writing, but none of it was enough to grab me and make me want to stay and read more. Everything felt a little sex heavy, and I wasn't really inspired by the scenes. An OK novel.

Strengths
The characters were pretty interesting, with our masochist Marrick and two were-lions who have been told that humans are fragile. Blaine and Luther come across as being pretty dense, which I think is the author's intention, and really is the device that keeps the story moving forward as they just don't get it. I didn't fall in love with the characters, but I enjoyed while they were on stage, for what it was worth.

The final sex scene was the best and strongest scene in the book, I felt. It had emotion and depth that the rest of the book lacked, and it made me yearn to have the entire novel written with such thought and care. It was the first time I really felt what the characters felt and could understand what they all needed from one another--not just understand, but see it.

Weaknesses
I might be the only one who feels this way, but there was too much sex going on. Between sprints of plot were marathons of sex (okay, that may be a slight exaggeration). I'm fine with lots of sex, but I didn't really feel anything for these characters, and I couldn't buy why they wanted one another, aside from the mate thing. It wasn't until the final scene that they actually seemed to care for one another in a way that didn't involve a body part being shoved into another man's body part.

What is probably the crucial weakness for me is the lack of dynamic between characters. Supposedly Marrick is the mate to both Luther and Blaine and we see some of their yearning to always be near him and protect him, although some of it comes across as over-protective and domineering, but I never really got an impression from Marrick that he was in love with these two. While we were told that he was, and that he couldn't sleep without them, I didn't really go for it. Maybe we were limited by the length, but I wanted more development before they were swearing themselves to each other.

Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.

[Phaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

2014 Re-read:

These books make me stupidly happy. I shouldn’t be this giddy. I mean, ménages are not something I’d ever seek out. And there were uncomfortable concerns in this one. At the same time? It just really worked.
It’s so amazingly lovely to be reading something that’s about more than basic sex and/or those overly simplified issues that tend to provide plot for the majority of fluff. I hadn’t even remembered this volume as so very favourable. But it really was.

Guess I am just really lucky! I hope the rest of the series makes me feel just as good. I suspect it might.


2011 Review:

Wow.
How’d have though that I could like a threesome story this much?

I am really impressed with this series. This volume meshes seamlessly with the first one; the characters stay true, and they are all very different from one another. Well, except for Blaine and Luther; those two have their differences but are very similar. That, however, is on purpose for sure.
I am just so impressed with how in this book the issues are completely different from the first volume’s. The relationship dynamics too. None of this is a repeat, despite heavy restrictions in the initial setup and the differences between humans and werelions. Those differences, the sense that these lions are truly non-human, are part of the amazingness of this series. You really get the feel of ‘other’ and you watch as both factions try to understand one another and come to terms with not only the different species but also all the individual characteristics, needs and wants and fears.

Man, such a great book. I mean, maybe not in the romance ‘make me feel good’ way. Not that I don’t feel very satisfied at the end now. But this was not about making me happy, it was about watching those three find a way to be happy together. Does this distinction even make any sense to someone other than me? XD

The next one promises to be very different again. <3 As for the final volume, I don’t really know. We shall have to watch and observe.

Man, I just love the way they all interact and how not everyone has to like everyone else. XD Arslan still is very cool, without being super… er… superlion, I guess.

[Secilia_numa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in "Thrown to the Lions" series by Kim Dare.

In this world, werelions are known to co-exist with humans. Werelions live in a pride, and learn how to lay with humans without hurting them through a tradition of "sacrifice". Once a week, a human sacrifice is brought into the pride where unmated lions can do whatever to the naked, blindfolded and handcuffed sacrifice within the boundary of a safeword. In most cases, sacrifices are "adrenalin-junkies, pain-sluts or whores," who enjoy some time and returned safely, never to visit again. But in other cases, a strange bond develops between the sacrifice and the werelion.

Blaine and Luther are brats who appeared in the first book. They seem to operate on testosterone alone, roaring and romping as they wish...almost a caricature of typical "macho jock". They look alike, think & act alike, and are lovers.

Marrick lives to enjoy thrill. He is determined to live his life to the extreme, after recovering from a severe illness as a child. To him, being thrown into a den of lions is an ultimate thrill, better than being whipped by a Dom in a local club.

Marrick's night of pleasure turns into much more when Blaine and Luther decide Marrick should be their pet. Although Marrick is not unhappy with menage, his life turns into a series of unexpected adventures...

In addition to being a good BDSM story, Marrick's promise is often hilarious because of Blaine and Luther are so clueless. Just loved the scene when they visit Marrick's parents and end up having tea!

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marrick is an adrenalin junkie who hangs out at the BDSM clubs and figures it will be a lark to be thrown to the lions. Another rush. Were-lion Mates Blaine and Luthor are instantly attracted to him and despite knowing it's only one night, start stalking him. Finally they "rescue" him at a BDSM club and Arslan agrees they can "court" him. Sure it's all fun and games, two hot sexy guys, however Marrick likes it rough (as in scar inducing rough) and the lions have been taught that you have to be gentle with your pets and have taken it to heart after their first experience with a human didn't go well and he was injured. But if Marrick can't get one he needs from the two hotties, is there any hope. Blaine and Luthor are not too bright, in fact none of the lions except the boss seem that bright. They live in human society but seem totally oblivious to how it works. I also understood part of Marrick's reason to live life to the max given a childhood illness, but needing to draw blood and be scarred permanently to feel alive may mean you need to see a therapist. LOL There was an amusing scene as Blaine and Luthor show up at Marrick's parents house and have tea with them. It was okay, I had been curious about the couple so was happy to read more about them, but they were a bit too bratty and annoying to really appeal to me.

[kimberly_rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this story and some of the scenes were wonderful, definitely worth my reading time, my thinking and visualization time. Dim-witted but adorable, Hulk 1 and Hulk 2 were likeable, loveable even. The insta-love was tolerable with the mate concept, but still wobbly.

But, the repetition. Oh, the repetition.

I read over and over about what Marrick needed (he was sorta self-centred, come to think of it) and how this befuddled the two hunky werelions. Simple things, such as requesting they use a condom (repeated in at least three--three!--scenes), bigger things, such as BDSM psychology. Repeat = BAD for storytelling. And yet, other things, things I was interested in, were left to languish, such as the building up of Marrick's surface-scratching character and--especially--delving further into the past mystery man, a very significant and yet barely there entity, who caused all this trepidation from the big lions.

All complaining aside, I did enjoy myself for the majority of the time. Dare is a talented wordsmith with a unique vision. 2.75 stars.

(I sorta kinda think I want to fantasize about these Hulk Boys being topped together by a big bad Dom--similar to the dynamic in Davitt and Snow's excellent novel, Room at the Top. They seem easily lead, and submissives can be just as possessive and controlling as dominants.... They could definitely be switches.)

[Jimmy Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The byplay between humans and lions continues, with a pair of lions who have experienced first-hand what happens when they're not as careful as they need to be with a human. But Marrick's a bit of a pain slut, and he grows more and more frustrated with their lack of wanting to hurt him - to a manageable degree.

A lot of the conflict could have been solved by simple conversation. Marrick got upset repeatedly at the Luther and Blaine, but didn't bother trying to explain WHY. Sure, I'd get upset if they started quoting their alpha's rules to me but would argue my point until it was useless to do further. He just barged out and left them.

Luther and Blaine's ignorance to human customs and habits is annoying at times, but I liked how they TRIED. Never once did they just give up; they showed up at Marrick's bondage club, at his parents' home ... probably would have ended up tracking him down at his job too if it had come to that.

In the end they three kind of deserved each other; Marrick's just about as bratty as Luther and Blaine can be - and that's said with the utmost in fondness for all three characters.

[mlady_rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been awhile since I read the first book in this series. About 2 1/2 years. The main reason this got set aside was I prefer paperbacks to books I have to read on the pc. (I don't have an eReader at the moment.) But a power failure and a laptop with battery power was a good enough excuse to dig it out.

Erotica. BDSM. Bondage. M/M sex. Threesome. Oh, and kitty cat shape-shifters.

Marrick is an adrenaline junkie who is "thrown to the lions" and gets paired up with lovers Blaine and Luther. After a night of mind-blowing (anonymous) sex, Blaine and Luther find themselves missing Marrick. They track him down in a BDSM club, the "victim" of a whipping.

Overprotective to the extreme, they get him off the cross and corner the dominant holding the whip. Marrick is confused, but relaxes when he realizes these are the lions that rocked his world. (He was blindfolded the whole time.)

Short story. Not an overly complicated plot. But the erotica is top notch. I'll probably get around to book three at some point.

[Tamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the "Thrown to the Lions" series. This is actually a re-read for one of my challenges and since I wasn't a member the first time I read it, I never reviewed it or added to my read bookshelf.

This book was a little harder to get in to because I didn't understand Marrick's view point, or maybe it's because though the two lion's and Marrick cared for each other, they never TALKED about what they wanted or needed, just a lot of assumptions. For some reason this match up didn't seem to delve as deeply into their feelings as happened with Arslan and Ryland. I'm so glad that Marrick and his lions worked things out in the end, but I think I liked the first book better. This is a good read and I intend to continue with the series, because I like the Lions :)

1st read - April 2011
2nd read - October 23, 2011

Merged review:

==========================
1st read - Apr 20, 2011
2nd read - May 23, 2016

[Becky Condit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please leave comments on Becky's 5 sweet pea review of Marrick's Promise at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....

“The idea is to feel the fear and do it anyway. That’s what makes you feel alive.”

This book was such fun to read. Everybody is having to adjust to new ways of thinking. The biggest barrier to everyone’s happiness is communication, or lack thereof.

Blaine and Luther are quite certain they know exactly how to treat a pet, but Merrick has different ideas and soon it’s the human telling the lion shifters how things are going to be done. Arslan, the alpha has told Blaine and Luther they have to be super careful with their pet, but what if Marrick doesn’t want to be treated as if he’s made of fragile stuff?

I loved watching all of the characters grow and develop into a cohesive unit that you know is going to be a successful partnership in the future. Another wonderful story from Kim Dare’s imagination.

[Gwengwel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book and more question remained unanswered

"The tradition has kept humans safe and lions accepted within the human world for
hundreds of years."

Since we know that's because of Blaine and Luther that this law exist, it's easily to deduce that they are more older than one hundred years. And what happen to their human, their mate?

Can you become a Werelion? Or you have to be born of parents Werelions? Do they work? Go to school?
And so much more question...

As for the personage I like a little Blaine and Luther (too much immature to have a mate in my eyes) but really want to strangle the brat out of Marrick. I don't know why but his personality was just...grrr...ok, he pissed me off.

[Georgie · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one understand Marrick. That was my first thought throughout the book, no one understands what he needs and what he craves. Being thrown to the lions was an adrenaline rush, he didn’t expect to fall in love and when he did Luther and Blaine didn’t understand him. Some parts of this book I thought maybe Marrick will give up and be their pet, but in the end it would say pet rules masters in this book. It made me sad when Luther and Blaine explained the first time with a human, why they were afraid to play rough with Marrick. I loved this book.

Check out my blog, I write my reviews on there first then post them here. missnobody1996.tumblr.com