Damned and Desired by Kathy Kulig
January 6, 2010
Erotic Paranormal Romance
E-Book, Novella
Ellora’s Cave
Reviewed by Tori
*This book contains some light BDSM and a little m/m/f fun.
Favorite Quote: “Ok. I get it now. No climax with my quarry. Can I go now?
She’s a demon, he’s a shape shifting leopard. From their first meeting in the Arizona desert, passion ignites and trouble begins. As a demon, Sakari Lock must harvest life force energy through sexual seductions to sustain her exiled world. But when Sakari meets Brad, she breaks the number one rule of Anartia—don’t get personal with your quarry.
Physician’s assistant Brad Montag is drawn to Sakari with a blazing desire he can’t explain, unaware of how dangerous she is. No matter how enticing, she’s a complication he doesn’t need until he can conquer his past and regain control of his shape shifting abilities. When immortals from an alternate dimension try to free their exiled world, Brad is caught in the middle of a battle that could destroy not only him, but all he loves.
Sakari Lock has been demoted. Or promoted. All depends on how you look at it. Formerly a slave to the Queen of Anarita, she is now a drone. One who harvests the chi-sexual life force- to give as offering to the rulers of her exiled world. When she meets Brad Montag all bets are off. She wants Brad all to herself, not as a means to an end for her world. But her mistress demands obedience. And Brad is one of many who contain the vital life force her world requires to break it’s bonds and return from exile. So with the help of another demon Sakari tries to find a way to save Brad from certain death and stay with him forever.
A very graphic exotic novella, Kathy Kulig takes us on a journey into the steamy world of demons, shape shifters and the fight for love. While Sakari is a type of succubus she isn’t like the other drones. She wants to experience love and passion. Being sexual with different men is not for her. After another drone is demoted, Sakari is given their drone position and ends up killing someone while trying to extract the chi. After being “retrained” in a way that had me sticking my head in the freezer, she is sent back to Earth with a warning, “Do not fail.”
She meets Brad Montag and the attraction is blinding hotly. But Sakari is reminded of her past failures and tries hard to do what needs to be done for the future of her race. Brad is a Native American shape shifter with his own problems. After a failed mission in Iraq that leads to the death of a fellow soldier, Brad has not been able to call his leopard form forward. Even though neither of them can afford to get involved, they are unable to deny the passion they feel for each other. Sakari begins to question the plans of the rulers of Anarita after she sees her mistresses consort Tarick’s laboratory and his experiments. She learns that Tarick wants her to become the new queen and will use Brad and others to fuel those experiments. As Sakari races to try and stop these plans she must make a choice that could end in her death.
I had a problem with the first half of the story. It read slow; often stumbling upon itself. The characters repeated same lines and phases. Some hopping around had me backtracking to see whom was speaking. Sakari seemed stiff and a bit naive for being a sex demon. I didn’t get a sense of a plot; only a lot of sex. Don’t get me wrong…this was some steamy all get out sex. But there was no depth. No emotional ties. The characters in the book are one dimensional.
About halfway through the book it all changed. The writing became cleaner and flowed more evenly. The plot exploded and I found myself reading faster to find out what happens. Sakari and Brad finally clicked for me. I could now feel their chemistry and passion. The love scenes between them leap off the pages. Very raw and hot. The secondary characters develop into rich personable people that I was able to identify with them. After I passed that hurdle I really got into the story and enjoyed it.
Rating: 3/5
Recent Reviews:
Anna’s Book Blog – 4/5
Goodreads
Thanks Tori!!
SusiSunshine says
I so know what you mean. So it gets better? Okay perhaps I should resume reading then.
Great review.
Kathy Kulig says
Hi Tori,
Thank you so much for the wonderful review. I'm glad you enjoyed the book, and I really appreciate your honesty. All best, Kathy
Mar says
Whoa, seems like there's a lot going on in this story but you can never go wrong with a shape-shifting leopard man. :) Not to mention any story that makes you stick your 'head in the freezer' sounds good to me. I'm definately going to read.
Good review, Tori!
tori aka ggs_closet says
Susi-Yes, keep going. It explodes 1/2 way through.
Mar-LOL Yes, there are some freezer worthy moments.
Ms Kulig-Thank you for stopping by and commenting. We love when authors visit. :)
Fiction Vixen says
But there was no depth. No emotional ties. The characters in the book are one dimensional.
This always kills it for me when reading erotica. I'm glad you were able to stick with it and the second half worked out for you. I'm intrigued but not sure if I have the patience to get through the first half first. I'll have to think about this one.
Smokinhotbooks says
You are a trooper for hanging in there *gives T shiny medal*
I think I'm a bit burnt out on erotica lately so I'm really picky these days (especially with m/f romances).
Nice review T.
tori aka ggs_closet says
FV-The 3 I did were really my first ever acknowledged Erotica books.
KC-Is it chocolate? (biting into medal)