THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SOME MINOR SPOILEROkay, I have to confess that I went into this book to check out that awesome Slimy Alien Pod a GR buddy Loe aka Loco has raved about and I was expecting something sexy to pop out from it. I am so glad to say, I wasn't disappointed at all. The man floating in this so called stasis pod was an eye candy and he literally lights up like a Christmas tree whenever someone touch him through the pod sac. How quaint is that? *grinning eye-to-eye*Yup, I am freaking loving all this scifi alien stuff going on in there - it answers all my geeky wet dreams. I must say I do have a thing for kinky slimy scenes, which is why I adore that scene where Neo from The Matrix first woke up from his red gelatinous stasis pod aka The Power Pod. This was black, the same oily black as the Faceless battle armor, and it wasn't sleek. It was bulky and misshapen. It reminded me of a beetle's carapace. Back home in Kopa we used to get those big hissing rhinoceros bettles, with sharp mandibes and articulated legs. The stasis unit could have passed for one of those, except it was about ten feet long, lying on its back with its legs clamped around an opaque sac of fluid with veins through it. It was fucking terrifying.Just looking at it, I could feel the blood draining from my face.There was a body floating inside the milky fluid, and I didn't have to ask: Cameron Ruston. It looked like he was being consumed by a giant insect, or hatched by one.I couldn't take my eyes off it. It was grotesque.To me, it was breathtakingly beautiful. I am in love with it. How I wish to own a couple of it to store my men in it. Wicked! The pod scene reminds me of a free original fiction about a man being forcefully turned into a human fish living in a large circular tube like aquarium in a dude's place. Sick story, I know. If I am not mistaken, it's about exacting a revenge. I quite like this picture I've found on the internet. It's the closest reassemble I could find for the stasis pod in this story.Awesome pod aside, I did enjoy the erotic telepathy sex between Brady and Cam. Also those the flashbacks Cam had of his nightmarish encounter with the Faceless was quite stimulating too - fear and anticipation works so well with sex. I want more of it. It wasn't nearly enough and it was teasing to the point of frustration. “Cam-ren. Cam-ren. Cam-ren.” It was like a sibilant hiss. The sound of it made my chest tighten and my throat constrict. My breath came in shallow gasps. Every nerve in my body was on edge. It was close. It was so close.“Cam-ren.” I could feel breath on my skin, leaving a trail of gooseflesh.Oh God.I couldn’t see. Why couldn’t I see?Oh fuck. Something scraped up my bare ribs, exerting just enough pressure to sting. Something sharp and thin and pointed. A claw? Jesus, was it a claw? I twisted my head from side to side, but I couldn’t see. I was blindfolded. I was naked. I tried to twist away, and I couldn’t move either. I was chained, wrists and ankles, and I couldn’t move.My arms were pulled above my head. My shoulders hurt when I tried to move. Pain flashed down my spine. My bare feet scrabbled on the floor but couldn’t get purchase. I couldn’t get away. There was nothing to do but take it.Right, so... what didn't I like? Believe it or not, it's Brady. At first he was as cute as a lost little puppy looking for some coddling and whines cutely. Then again, after much whining and him lamenting at every turn, I kinda got annoyed. I find it somewhat repetitive and draggy too. Cam should be the needy one after enduring such long period of isolation and hardship at the hands of the Faceless. Brady is just way too bitter and angry for me to empathize much. In a way, he is quite a self-centered person and can't see beyond his own needs. I know he is a filial son and a good brother and they are the reasons he pines so much to be back home. He is a good man and I should like him. Just that, I can't help but feel myself distancing away from him as the story progress.Later, the way Brady had chicken out on Cam not once but twice, I felt like strangling him there and then. I am referring to these events: First, he ran away when Cam had to say his final goodbye before he leaves with his Faceless master. Second, he blamed Cam for saving his life and wanted to die instead. Okay, I know I wasn't being fair here cos he is scared shitless over having a Faceless master and being a pet of one. And of course the prospect of being speared by his nightmare with a monster cock was blood curdling to him. And yes, he is only 19 years old and all that. Still, I wished he and Cam could stay with the Faceless master instead of going back to Earth. Yup, I am sick. You don't have to tell me that. So, that was how my happy bubble was busted *pouts*. I was elated when he was on that black alien ship before it all goes down the hill... for me. I so wish for a bittersweet ending instead. Sorry I need to say this... fuck the HEAs cos it keeps fucking with me! There, I feel much better already after saying it. Phew!I wouldn't have been so upset if... that 2nd pod didn't appear at the end of the story because it would have made a bittersweet ending and I could go with that instead of having both of them back on Earth apartment hunting and playing family which was totally improbable and doesn't jive with the story at all.By the way, I am quite in awe with that black Faceless ship. I mean come on, it's alive! A freaking living organisms not just boring metal and parts. Uber cool in my book. Looks like after sometime, I am only going to remember that slimy pod and the organic black ship rather than the story itself. Oh yeah, I wouldn't be forgetting Cam and Kai-Ren too. What I really wish was for a prequel focusing on their time together as... master and his cute endearing pet. In fact, this book reminds me of two of my beloved stories, [b:Acquainted with the Night. For I just can't stop imagining... Cam and his Faceless master having the same kind of master and pet relationship similar to AWTN or WWPCIBIYL. Sweet right?One more thing, I am in total agreement with most of the readers out there that the cover is absolutely fitting and beautiful - I can't stop starring at Cam's profile. PS: I am not sure if this even counts as a review since I am just gushing over stuff that makes my kinky meter ticks. But who cares? Lol.
