Logan Case is a slave. Bent over in the swamps, harvesting the precious Pesiaro fruit for the wealthy and their champions. When he catches a glimpse of the Lady Talia, the landowner for whom he works, he wishes, more than anything, that he could taste of her fruit.
The Pesiaro is precious because of its ability to increase, enhance, or perhaps provide special abilities to those who eat it ... IF they are of the right constitution. For the slaves, eating the Pestiaro could bring about certain death. But when Logan harvests the most rare golden Pestiaro, rather than call its attention to the guard, he pops it in his mouth. When the guards see what he has done he is to be immediately captured and punished, but the fruit has given him new strength and he easily defeats his captors.
His owners now see his potential as a champion - his power is great indeed. But when he is tested by the teachers, he sees that he has a long way to go as they defeat him easily. But they also see that his potential is great. And what Logan has that few other champions have, is that he is accustomed to beatings and being being near death due to his upbringing as a slave, and so he is trained.
Part of that training includes healing from a beautiful healer who takes a shine to him and goes the extra mile and they enjoy one another sexually as well. Logan looks forward to being beaten in training so that he can 'heal' afterward!
His owners will be pitting Logan against the champions of other houses soon, but first he must prove that he is Lady Talia's champion. His foe will not simply roll over for him and will not pull up short of death they way his trainers have.
This. Was. Awesome.
This was everything I was looking for in an adventurous, sleazy, alpha male, fantasy story.
Author Jack Porter delivers this story with efficient directness. There's likely more action/fight sequences than sex scenes with the fights well crafted (the sex scenes are just slightly uninspired but still enjoyable). I was often breathless through the fights, with the final battle truly exciting. I really got the feeling of exhaustion and determination of our main character.
I loved the concept of Logan's 'strength' coming from his having been beaten so often as a slave. And I like the power of the Pestiaro fruit. I'd like to have this explored more.
There is, perhaps, just a little too much repetition here - one fight is pretty much like another (until the final battle), and one sex scene is pretty much like another. If a third of each were cut the book might just be a little tighter.
Still, I really looked forward to my reading in this book and I really look forward to reading the full series.
I'm not always looking to read this kind of fiction, but when I am, this is exactly what I'm looking for.
5 Guilty Pleasure Stars
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