Daemon Grendl's Reading List

A Well Trained Pup - Book Review

2012-02-13T17:38:00.009-08:00

Finding erotica on the subject of puppy-play is rare. Which is why I wish I could give this book a great review. Unfortunately it just wasn't that good. The story is a typical one-sided love affair, where one person is willing to do anything to please the other, while the other really doesn't love them back or appreciate their servitude.

Pup is wonderful as a she-puppy and there are several excellent scenes of puppy-play including sex with other puppies and even a kitten. Pup is sexually used by several masters which should make for an excting story: But the lack of a love-connection left me wanting. "E", her master, is more interested in her training then her as a person. He continually loans her out in preparation for the day can sell her to the highest bidder.

Not a bad book for people into or interested in puppy play - but not a great book on its own merit.

Read the full review here.

The Art of Surrender - Book review

2012-02-08T18:50:00.000-08:00

I'm disappointed in this book because it had tremendous potential and failed to live up to it. The premise of the story is two very strong and experienced dominants fall in love and begin a battle of wits to determine who will top the other.

The book opens strong with Jude and Michael separately in very hot BDSM scenes: Whipping, spanking, bondage, orgasm denial. The sexual tension between the two of them grows with each meeting as each expects the other to submit.

I was expecting, maybe they might take turns - switching roles. But then at page 100 Michael is so overcome with lust for Jude that he unconditionally surrenders. Instantly he's being whipped, sodomized, cross-dressing, sucking another man's cock in an alley, wearing a chastity device and being totally humiliated - It was totally unbelievable to me.

His total role reversal was completely absurd. He becomes her total slave while she maintains all her freedom, including multiple lovers. The descriptions of his total dominace and charisma at the opening of the books makes this impossible. I would have thrown the book away but I kept deluding myself that it would end differently.

Read the full review here.

A Game of Dress-Up - Book Review

2012-01-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

I didn't like A Game of Dress-Up by Elliot Mabeuse because I don't believe the relationship between Vanessa and Rob Taylor is consensual. As Vanessa's boss and a friend of her mother's, Vanessa is in no position to refuse Mr. Taylor's wishes. Then, when he catches her dressed as a slut, the implied threat is more that apparent that she must obey him or be ruined. A threat she openly says she fears in several asides.

The story itself is fair but all too common. A young girl is discovered by an older man and taught the act of love or as I see it, taken advantage of and used for sex. Eventually she's had enough, cannot come to terms with her feelings, and leaves him. While she enjoys the dirty sex her feelings of shame are overwhelming. Her freedom is short lived though as she quickly falls into the hands of an evil man who is even more dangerous and exploitive. Mr. Taylor rescues her and they live happily ever after.

I was not impressed and think this book is easily skippable.

Read the full review here.

Latex Fashion Photography - Book Review

2012-01-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

I'm really happy I bought Latex Fashion Photography: slick, shiny, sexy. It's an awesome collection of latex pictures: Beautiful models and outfits wonderfully shot by awesome photographers. At 384 pages it doesn't skimp on the pictures either: Most are full page and really look great. I was thrilled that each picture included the name of the model, photographer and latex designer. The book is pretty hefty: It needs a sturdy book shelf or coffee table.

The collection consists of over 60 photographers, 30 designers and over 100 hundred different fetish models. There is some overlap, but for the most part the photographers use their own models.

Of course the big name models are here: Rubberdoll, Emily Marilyn, Ancilla Tilia, Mosh, as well a dozens more I didn't recognize. World famous photographers are also represented like: Holly Randall, Martin Perreault, Steve Diet Goedde, Christophe Mourthé and dozens more.

Designers like Syren, Vex and Fetishuniverse are well represented but the full list takes up three pages and is complete with addresses and URLs.

This is definitely worth the price. Read the full review here.

The Blue Guide - Book Review

2011-11-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

I liked this book for the lovely romance and happy ending. While I was disappointed the sex didn't involve more kink, it was still a very nice story. Alicia, a private tour guide in London is recovering from a short affair with Daniel. When she gets involved with Paco and Carlotta she's suddenly having the best sex and most adventurous time of her life. She's enjoying lesbian sex for the first time too. There's public sex, pool sex, sauna sex and just plain hot-and-heavy sex. But it's too complicated for her and she's having mixed feelings. But a happy conclusion awaits so, not a bad read.

Read the full review here

Bound in Blue - Book Review

2011-11-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

Bound in Blue by Monica Belle has a good story and is very hot to read but also suffers a few problems. The lead character, a college professor, is over coming her inhibitions and exploring her kinky fantasies thanks to a new student that moves in with her. But her political correctness and feminist conditioning is holding her back. Eventually fantasy becomes reality for some very hot bondage scenes. But one must wade through several long lectures about the environment and a tragic ending as the price for this good read.

Read the full review here

New web host

2011-09-12T03:01:00.000-07:00

I found a new web host for my book reviews and I am in the process of migrating the files over. While not very difficult, it is a cumbersome task to edit all the files with the new host's name. Also, going back through my blog and fixing the links is time consuming. But I'll get it done.

If you find any errors, I would appreciate you pointing them out to me during the transition as it is easy to make mistakes.

Also, you can always jump to the top page to find what you seek. The top index is: http://grendl.sultryserver.com/books.html

Hosting Problem

2011-09-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

It appears my webhost, who hosted my book reviews is no more. While I search for a new one and fix the links in this blog you may see some of my past reviews at Goodreads.

On the Bare - Book Review

2011-09-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

On the Bare is a collection of short stories written by Fiona Locke. If you search the web, you will find several over-the-top reviews of this book claiming it's the best spanking book ever. Go ahead and include this review in that category. I loved this book so much I went to Fiona Locke's website and bought every book she listed there. If she wrote other stories: I want them.

Every story in this collection is exciting and told from the point of view of a young woman that deserves the spanking she's about to receive: In most of the stories, she enjoys the experience. It's really a thrill to read well written stories about people that like this fetish.

When published, this was part of the Nexus Enthusiast series. Virgin Books hired writers who not only wrote about a particular fetish but actually practiced it in their personal life. This gave those books a certain degree of validation and brought a real flavor.

See the full on review this web page.

Over 100 S&M Sex Tips - Book Review

2010-12-31T10:45:00.000-08:00

I've had a copy of this book around for a while but hadn't gotten around to looking at it.

This little book seems like the perfect gift (stocking stuffer) to give a lover with whom you want to start getting kinky. Its purple cover and bright colorful pages will make you both giggle as you read through it. The subjects are presented with such humor that it's easy to laugh and be relaxed as you discuss taboo subjects like spankings and nipple clamps.

This is not an instructional manual but a tiny 3 inch by 4 inch book barely a quarter of an inch thick. I think the intent is to introduce terms, suggest ideas and get couples talking. Each page only has a few sentences about a specific topic and gives a little hint about some aspect of S&M. Like for instance hint 49: “Start out with a small paddle or riding crop which is easy to guide...”

The most important thing about BDSM isn't the toys or the wardrobe but the ability to communicate your wants and needs. This book provides a safe starting point. It's pricey for such a tiny book but it is adorable and fun.

Read the full review on this webpage.

The Dom's Dungeon - Book Review

2010-12-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

The Dom's Dungeon by Cherise Sinclair is the story of a traumatized girl being taken under the wings of an experienced BDSM player who helps her over come her personal demons. Overall I thought it was a very good book. The story is compelling and it's enjoyable to watch Alex bring MacKensie out of her shell. It's very unusual to find a BDSM book with romance, positive role models and a happy ending. There are several excellent scenes of erotic domination that should give people unfamiliar with the scene good ideas and make experienced players cheer. It fun to read, sensual in places, and I recommend it.

You can read the full review here

Dirty Girls - Book Review

2010-03-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

Dirty Girls by Rachel Kramer Bussel is a nice collection of short stories that are moderately entertaining. I was hoping the stories would be more dirty, based on the title, but they were more harlequin romance than dirty erotica. Some of the situations are considered kinky but overall I would describe them as merely adventurous. Compared to many other collections I've reviewed, they are quite tame. Some are good, some not, overall an okay book for those seeking sweet not saucy.

My full review details each story see it: Dirty Girls

The Road to Depravity - Book Review

2010-01-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

Rarely do I have the misfortune of reading horrible books like The Road to Depravity by Ray Gordon. While the plot is bearable, if not ridiculous and highly contrived, the writing is so awful that it made reading this book a nightmare. Every idea is repeated ad nausea making it seem as if you've reread each page many times. Maybe he was told to expand the story because it was too short and instead of adding he just repeated sections.

Helen's husband Alan is psychologically abusing her. When he walks out, expecting her to beg his return, she instead embarks on sexual exploration with the neighbors involving prostitution, group sex and exhibitionism. Her desperation allows them to exploit and abuse her and in the end, forces her to open her own private whore house. All this while her husband, hiding outside, pathetically watches through the window. The sex, while plentiful, is neither sensuous nor erotic.

My advice is that you avoid this book at all costs.

Read my full review of The Road to Depravity

Secretary's Punishment - Book Review

2010-01-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

Unlike the movie Secretary, that this book is suppose to be a homage to, the book Secretary's punishment by J. W. McKenna sucks. The movie was about a relationship - A strange man and a damaged girl helping each other and falling in love: It's quirky and interesting. The book is about a perverted salesman taking advantage of a desperate girl: It's twisted and pathetic. Everything about the book is wrong: from the preposterous premise to the unbelievable situation to the ridiculous characters. I liked the movie but hate this book. J. W. McKenna should be ashamed of what he did to Mary Gaitskill's idea.

Read my full review of Secretary's punishment

Violet Blue's best isn't great - Book Review

2010-01-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

Best Women's Erotica 2008 is a fair collection of short stories, some are good but many are not. Most of the stories weren't very exciting and several were just plain bad. I know that they are written for women and, as a man, maybe I just get don't get it, but several like: Lost at Sea were total gibberish and I have no idea how they could be included in a book of erotica.

Several stories were male-male and I know that this image appeals to many women. So I can understand why a story like Rear Window about a woman watching voyeuristically as two gay men have sex was in this book. It didn't do anything for me but at least it was well written.

There were also several lesbian stories included which is common for collections of this nature. Usually I like these stories but most of these were just not well written. Getting Sorted and Blowjobs were notably exceptions and stand-out as very good stories.

Overall, I can't really recommend buying this book but it is worth reading for the variety of the topics introduced.

Read my full review of Best Women's Erotica 2008

American Fetish - Movie Review

2009-12-30T09:34:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how to describe how awful the movie American Fetish is. The acting is atrocious and the editing is absolutely haphazard. It's suppose to be some kind of classic detective story like the Maltese Falcon but the plot is so convoluted and the many dream sequences and flashbacks make it incomprehensible. Don't waste your time or money.

There is one nice thing I can say about the movie: the photography of the semi-nude women wearing classic lingerie is nice and some of the fetish scenes look pretty. But these images are so fleeting it's not worth the effort.

I got an E-mail from Rachel at Skin Two telling me about this film: We're writing to let you know about an edgy, sexy, truly provocative independent film called... AMERICAN FETISH. Inspired in part by the work of legendary fetish photographer Eric Kroll, this beautiful movie features some of the most haunting and original erotic imagery ever seen. Filmmaker Michael Simmons takes you deep into a dangerous and sexually-charged world that's almost never seen in mainstream (i.e., non-porn) movies.

But if you read that again, they don't really say it's a good movie. They must get commissions or had friends in the movie or something - That isn't a fair movie review and Skin Two has lost my respect for this blunder.

There is a trailer - http://www.americanfetishfilm.com

G is for Games - Book Review

2009-12-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

G is for Games is part of the Alphabet series by Alison Tyler. It's a cute collection of short stories involving sex and games - Not to be confused with actual sex games.

Based on the title, I was expecting actual sex games: Like those board games where the dice dictate the action or those sex cards games but I was mistaken. Instead, these stories is mostly about what happens after the bet is lost in cards or billiards or Twister.

Most of the stories are heterosexual but a few are lesbian and one is a ménages-à-trois with two men and a woman. Although that one story has major male-male action and I didn't really enjoy it.

While not the most erotic book, this is passable light erotica, almost romance. Read the full review of G is for Games

Learning NOT to Love it - Book Review

2009-11-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

I just finished Learning to Love it by Alison Tyler and what a chore that was. This book was so boring that I kept putting the book down to watch TV.

Ms Tyler has a great imagination and sets up some great and kinky sex scenes but cuts away when the good stuff starts. It's like watching an x-rated movie that's been edited for TV.

The characters are so shallow that I couldn't care less about them and the plot turns out to be so stupid that I want to scream - THE BUTLER DID IT !!

Save yourself the $7.99 and go find a better book. Maybe one like Assignment for Alison.

Read the full review: Learning to Love it

Another lame dominatrix bio

2009-03-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm sad to say I got fooled into reading another dominatrix's lame biography. Titled: You Know You Love It: Lessons in Sexual Mischief - I thought it would be a a guide for kinky sex but it wasn't. Ilona Paris wrote an amusing book to document her affairs and brag about her exploits. There wasn't any information to be learned. I'm sure her ego was boosted and she got my money for her purse but I got nothing out of the deal.

A much better book is Patricia Payne's Sex Tips from a Dominatrix

Read the fill review of You Know You Love It: Lessons in Sexual Mischief

Rubber Sex - Book Review

2008-12-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful collection of short stories that revolve around rubber and latex, although not always clothing. Some of the stories are lesbian and a couple are homosexual but mostly they are heterosexual. Overall, I would describe them as more romantic that sexual, but they were very enjoyable. These stories are about average people being transformed when they wear latex: By putting on an unusual material they are able to explore feeling and desires they wouldn't normally try. It gives them the freedom or permission to expand themselves and explore new territory. I recommend reading this book to all.

Read more of my review -
Rubber Sex by Rachel Kramer Bussel

The Submission Gallery - Book Review

2008-11-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

There were many things I liked about The Submission Gallery
by Lindsay Gordon and can easily recommend reading it.

Poppy is an artist looking for inspiration. When she begins to receive very exotic and kinky lingerie, from a mysterious benefactor, it sets her creativity on overdrive. She creates bizarre and kinky sculptures that open doors for her into the kinky underground culture. Very exciting things follow both in and out of the bedroom. The book gets overly complex with the drama but it all works out.

In my real life, I get to attend many artistic events where artists, performers, kinky people and regular folks interact. This book told a story that I could imagine happening there, because you really never know the intrigue going on in the lives of the strangers around you. Sometimes you meet people at these events and wonder what goes on in their bedroom or what brought them to a kinky event.

Obviously some parts of the book are unrealistic, but it was a well developed and well written fantasy.

Follow this link for the rest of the review:
http://grendl.sultryserver.com/fictionl/subgallery.html

What Suki Wants - Book Review

2008-05-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

This is a enjoyable book that's interesting, sexy, and naughty. What Suki Wants is written by Cat Scarlett

Suki is haunted by the memory of her dead girlfriend, the very kinky Magdalen, who died in a diving accident while visiting the states. Since Suki didn't get to say goodbye to her lover, she's never had closure. When Suki is fired from the cafe, she decides to take a road trip through the past. Her journey takes her to relatives and the ex-husband of Magdalen. During the trip, Suki has several exciting sexual interludes.

Read the rest of the review:
http://grendl.sultryserver.com/fictionl/whatsuki.html

Just finished Sweet As Sin

2008-01-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Sweet As Sin by Felix Baron and I'm so glad the torture has ended. What a terrible book that is! It was a struggle to just keep reading and a tiny book took me two weeks because it didn't hold my interest. I picked up another book of over 300 pages and finished in two days. The other was a scifi adventure so I won't list it here, but it reminded me how easy it is to read a good book.

See the details here - grendl.sultryserver.com/fictionl/sweetsin.html

Review of Concertina by Susan Winemaker

2007-12-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

I posted my review of the autobiography, Concertina, today. It's strange that while Susan Winemaker wanted to publish her story, she really didn't want to tell us too much about her. The biography leaves out all the juicy stuff I thought I was going to get when I bought the book. Most importantly, I wanted to know how one becomes a dominatrix and what it's like leading a dual life -- Just like superman, she must of had two identities. One doesn't see a dominatrix shopping in the grocery store or at the mall. Some of it was outlined but not enough for me. Has anybody else read it?

http://grendl.sultryserver.com/opinion/concertina.html

December Reading List

2007-12-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

I don't do much work during the Christmas season so I've been updating my reading list with the backlog of picture books. Fetichic, the Beauty of Fetish, and Wicked Intentions this week. Read the reviews at http://grendl.sultryserver.com/books.html