“Emily Vargas has been taken captive. As part of his conditioning methods, her captor refuses to speak to her, knowing how much she craves human contact. He's far too beautiful to be a monster. Combined with his lack of violence toward her, this has her walking a fine line at the edge of sanity. Told in the first person from Emily's perspective, Comfort Food explores what happens when all expectations of pleasure and pain are turned upside down, as whips become comfort and chicken soup becomes punishment.”
From Goodreads.
AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER:
"This is not a story about consensual BDSM. This is a story about “actual” slavery. If reading an erotic story without safewords makes you uncomfortable, this is not the book for you. This is a work of fiction, and the author does not endorse or condone any behavior done to another human being without their consent."
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Publisher: Burlesque Press
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Release Date: March 21st, 2010
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My Copy: Kindle Version, personally bought.
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Pages: around 190
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Genre: Dark Erotica
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Series: N/A
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Buy This Book:
Comfort Food |
I think I wasn’t as frightened and as reluctant to read this book as I have noticed a lot of people were. It helps for me that one of my favorite movies ever is Secretary and that i have actually dabbled in Power Exchange and Bondage play in real life. I am far from considering myself a member of that community, but I do understand the appeal and it’s definitely something that turns me on when not taken to the extreme.
Comfort Food is all about psychological warfare in a way. Master’s mission to break Emily’s will and we watching her deal with that and realizing that no psychology degree can compete with the unexpected, being dominated is exactly what Emily needed.
“That's the thing about conditioning. You can know it's happening all you want; it doesn't change the results. Eventually you break, reduced to something less than human”
I went through this book in one sitting and was utterly impressed with the quality of the writing. Kitty’s words flow through the page and having the story told from the 1st person was simply perfect. I loved that when it came to the sex scenes, the story changed to third person, it was a subtle and perfect way to reflect Emily’s detachment from what was officially sexual abuse and the fact that she actually enjoyed it could not change that.
“Rape. Death. Dismemberment. Maybe in that order, maybe not. Though that order would be preferable to Dismemberment. rape. Death. Or Rape. Dismemberment. Death. You always want your dismemberment to happen after the death”
Emily’s inner voice could have become boring or annoying because of the lack of dialogues, there are some, but the book is mostly her thoughts and descriptions, but there is where Kitty Thomas’ genius lays. The book was never boring and never staled, I was gripped from page one to the end. Emily’s thoughts were utterly fascinating and her dark humor was a pleasant surprise.
“He was the one thing in my life that made any kind of sense, and I didn't know his name”
Master is a scary character in such quiet way *shivers*, but I have to say he had his appeal and you can’t help but feel compelled and attracted to him. His and Emily’s relationship was extreme but I could understand her feeling that pull towards him that turned into need.
Comfort Food is not a book for everyone and is not a comfortable read for the average book lover, but it’s a powerful story nonetheless. A story of complete and utter surrender, being that to Master or to Emily’s own nature that she has never really understood before.
“Am I to be sane and miserable in a world of somebody else's creation or am I to be crazy, and in my own strange way, free?”
It’s a story about coming to grips with what you enjoy, accepting it and fighting for it. You don’t have to be like everyone else and Emily isn’t. She finds in Master something she didn’t even know was missing from her life. I DO NOT condone the way he did things, by kidnapping her and breaking her like that, I believe that in real life it could happen but in a more consensual way. However, it works for Emily because she would never have accepted that part of herself otherwise. It works because it’s fiction and the suspension of believe is one of the most powerful weapons in the world.
I loved Comfort Food and if you are on the fence about it, give it a chance. It’s an unconventional love story with an unconventional HEA, but life is made of diversity and I loved reading about two people finding each other and finding a relationship that works for them, regardless of society.
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This sounds like quite high-end, literary erotica. Wonderful!
I've got to admit, I used to be able to read throw-away erotica books just for the pleasure of them but having read Eden Bradley, Amy Lane and Kate Pearce I think my taste in erotica now demands a higher quality.
Maybe I'm becoming an erotica snob :)
Great review, hon!
P.S. - has the package arrived yet?
Oh yay, I just bought this book last week but haven't had time to read it yet...
@Danielle
oooh I would LOVE to see what you think of this one!!!
I have yet to read the ones you mentioned, but when I can, I will def check them out =)
Thanks hon!
It hasnt gotten here yet, will let you know when it does =)
@Patti
Hope you get to read it soon!! =)
Oh Larissa!!! What a great review and I am glad that you enjoyed it so. I read this book a while back and reviewed it. It is an awesome book. This is from my review.. my thoughts... "This book left me open, wounded, at peace, broken and loved."
It is a book that is not for everyone, you are right about that... but for those that can read it... it will blow you away!
Hope all is well Princess Hussy!
Thank you for the lovely review!
@Danielle: I would definitely class what I'm writing as dark literary erotica, with a heavy dose of psychology. :) I've always thought of erotica as a literary genre, and that just may be because I seem to run into a lot of the more literary erotica in my own reading. :) Story of O and "Topping From Below" come immediately to mind.
Whoa Larissa! I hadn't heard of this book before, but after reading your review, I really want to check it out. The cover art alone is amazing, but the story sounds strangely appealing because of the psychological experience.
Thank you for the honest review.
I just got the book on Amazon. $1.74!! Wow!
I love my Kindle. Thanks for the rec.
Thanks for this review. It has definitely peaked my interest, will be adding to my TBR pile. I have only read a couple of books in this genre, but this sounds really intriguing.
Wonderful review Larissa, i heart this book so much, im glad you understood Master and Emily too, you got the deeper meaning.
Im kinda in love with master, is that wrong LOL!
MMMMM....i must have it! i love "strange psycho" book! LOL
I've been hesitant to pick this one up, because of the story line, but it's gotten such love that I might have to break down and try it.
@Cecile
I saw your review!! it was awesome! =)
Thanks hon!
I agree, it is definitely an amazing book!
@Kitty
My pleasure!
@Missie
My pleasure hon! YAY! you got it!cant wait to see what you think!
xoxo
@Lbarra
I hope you get a chance to read it soon =)))
@Sparklybearsy
LOL Master can be very swoon worthy hehe
=)
@Glory
LOL ooooh hope you like it!!
@A Buckeye Girl Reads
hehe yeah, thats how I felt, so many people loving it, I just had to have it =)))
I had seen the book previously, but I'm glad I saw your review. It helps. I will probably check it out.
@Andrea
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
Read it last night & y'all were so right. This was a great book, very emotional. Thank you for the recommendation.
@Lbarra
that's so awesome! Im sooo happy you enjoyed it! =)