Games & Players (The Administration, #3) in The Administration Zone

Apr 24, 2016 Trio rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-mm, sociology-abuse-dark, p-author-free-ao3-other, bdsm

Excellent! Really great character development, love these stories.

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Mar 06, 2016 Lana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: original-mm

Remember that time when I actually eat and sleep at a healthy and reasonable time? Yeah, good times, good times. Toreth and Warrick would be a perfectly suitable replacement though.

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Feb 11, 2015 Cindra rated it really liked it

Shelves: uf-pnr, erotica-bdsm-m-m, sci-fi, dark-edgy-raw

With every layer of Toreth's past that's revealed, I feel more empathy/sympathy for him. Helps to explain his cold demeanor and why he is such a hard-ass. With Warrick's level of intelligence, it seems he is able to surmise that Val's early life has contributed to his fear of commitment and emotional intimacy. God, I hope Warrick is patient enough to wait for the emotional wall-breaking that seems imminent. Lovin' this series. ...more

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Sep 01, 2015 Dani rated it it was amazing

Shelves: abuse, made-me-ponder, intergenerational-trauma, family-systems, psychopathy, narcissism, m-m, emotional-sucker-punch, slash, twisted

All time favorite.

I can`t recommend this series enough.
Fucking smart, the most nutritious mind food, intellectually stimulating, incredibly psychologically perceptive and astute, wise and full of weary empathy ... see my raving review of the whole series here.

Book by book review to follow once I find time for a much needed, savoring reread. ...more

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Aug 17, 2023 Veronica-Lynn Pit Bull rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mm-leo-fbi-pi-military, the-administration

This review contains minor spoilers. Book 3 (Games & Players) of The Administration series consists of the Novella Game Set and 7 short stories. The novella provides a good bit of insight into Toreth’s character. A socioanalyst is at I & I to root out anti-administration sentiment and Toreth has been assigned as his “personal assistant” – which quite explicitly means Tillotson expects him to provide sexual favors. Even Sara is put off by having “a spook in the building” because she never met one This review contains minor spoilers. Book 3 (Games & Players) of The Administration series consists of the Novella Game Set and 7 short stories. The novella provides a good bit of insight into Toreth’s character. A socioanalyst is at I & I to root out anti-administration sentiment and Toreth has been assigned as his “personal assistant” – which quite explicitly means Tillotson expects him to provide sexual favors. Even Sara is put off by having “a spook in the building” because she never met one but heard they were extremely creepy. To add insult to injury once Sara gets a gander at the spook’s “widest, deepest, bluest, most come hither eyes” she’s smitten. It doesn’t help either that back in the day Warrick had a dalliance with Carnac the spook.

Carnac is equally unhappy with his assignment which is intended as some bottom feeding punishment for turning in an honest report instead of the one his supervisor wanted. Toreth’s somewhat reluctantly provided charms aren’t enough to mitigate the mind-numbing boredom until he realizes that Toreth is QUITE interesting indeed. While he was expecting I & I to be filled with “functional sociopaths or one of a variety of other charming psychological aberrations”; he discovers that Toreth is a bit of an enigma. Initially he assumed he was “a classic, and therefore rather dull, result of I & I’s policy of recruitment from the tail end of the human bell curve”; but then he learned that there were 2 people that Toreth “considered real” and “trusted” and decided to entertain himself by fucking with him. The story lends itself to a good bit of character and relationship development and Carnac’s offered insight to Warrick: “Yet, somehow, he manages to accept your love and to love you in return, insofar as he is capable, although I’m sure the word has never occurred to him. Indeed, he trusts you, which is actually more significant. I imagine that you still tolerate a measure of thoughtlessness and indeed cruelty on his part, but your inevitable dissatisfaction must be outweighed by the rewards of pleasure and affection. A relationship is maintained, against all probability”. Unfortunately, Toreth is no match for Carnac’s mind fucking, but Sara saves the day.

With regards to the short stories, “As long as it lasted” takes place 5 years before Mind Fuck and answers the question as to whether Sara remembers her one-night indiscretion. “Rules of Engagement” mostly showcases Toreth’s ability to care for Sara as a friend, in a very Toreth- like way when it’s brought to his attention that her latest boyfriend really earns the title “Rick the prick”. “Wine, Women, and Cushions” lets us know that back in the day Cele and Dilly had a thing. I get that Dillian is not a beloved character, but I also get that she’s just worried about her brother. “Playing With Fire” is quite entertaining. It explores the very lopsided concept of (in)fidelity within Toreth and Warrick’s relationship. Toreth’s emotional immaturity and antisocial tendencies are nicely highlighted by his desperately wanting for himself what he is unable to provide for someone else. “All Work and No Play” is a short story consisting of 2 shorter stories – both of which highlight Toreth’s growing emotional connection to Warrick (in a very Toreth-y way of course). “Gee” is an insight into Toreth’s formative years. “Shopping & Fucking is the introduction to The Wardrobe. Toreth is buying Warrick a present:
“Hang on,” Toreth said, and then turned to him. “Go away.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s a present—you’re not supposed to know how much it costs.” He smiled slightly. “Sara explained that to me once.”
This is the story that examines the role of BDSM is the relationship; and it’s all Warrick. Sure Toreth is into it too; but mainly because it’s Warrick and because Warrick’s so into it. Warrick is obsessed with it. “Without The Game” makes it clear that Toreth doesn’t appreciate Warrick’s obsession with “their game” eclipsing his appreciation of Toreth himself. “Pool School” is a night out with the gang and is funny and adorable (and typically Toreth-y).
...more

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Aug 06, 2015 Milyd rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mm-read, 2015, sm, scifi

Review of Rules of Engagement:

One minute I was rooting for Toreth to hunt Rick, the next I was asking myself why I even "cared" about Toreth :/ ...more

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