Reviewed by Katinka C.

TITLE: Shepherd, Slave and Vow
AUTHOR: Lyn Gala
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 64 pages
BLURB: Bored with the privileges and duties of a member of the first family, Ferro finds himself in the slave tents as a consequence of his antics, knowing he’ll be rescued before long. At least, that’s the way it’s always worked before. This time, though, Ferro finds himself sold as a sheep-tender along with an intriguingly mysterious slave called Lisias. For the first time, Ferro’s met someone who seems immune to his wiles, and he’ll soon learn that Lisias has more to teach him than just shepherding.

REVIEW:

Oh Ferro! If he had lived today, his champagne parties in private jets would be featured on Rich Kids Of Instagram. In a worst case scenario, his parents would try to nip his brattiness in the bud by sending him to a prestigious boarding school abroad.

As it is, the good looking, privileged man lives in an ancient fantasy world with strong elements of Greek mythology. Mind you, that doesn’t make him any less obnoxious, but it does have an effect on the type of punishment he receives from his parents. Instead of boarding school they tend to send him to the slave markets every time he misbehaves. Little do they know that this is the only place where Ferro is free from the stifling protocols of the first family he belongs to. And as long as he avoids being sold, he’s always collected by one of his father’s men after a while.

Unfortunately, this time he hadn’t counted on meeting the mysterious slave Lisias.

Lyn Gala, she sure knows how to write aggravating characters. It’s probably because I know that she can do worse, that I didn’t mind loose cannon Ferro that much. Besides, the rich kid deserves to be cut some slack for reasons that will become clear. And truthfully, his expressive personality makes it all the more interesting to discover how the dynamics between him and the strong and silent Lisias will play out. Is this powerful looking man with his amber eyes truly only a tender of sheep? Or could he be exactly what Ferro needs?

This is a pretty marvelous story. In only 40 pages, Shepherd, Slave and Vow still covers most of what I consider important in my reads. The characters, especially Ferro, are distinct and developed enough to intrigue. Although you could say that the plot serves as a vessel to get to the sex — and dammit, you won’t be disappointed! — Gala sprinkles enough interesting details and pieces of world building over the pages to give this book a bite. And then there’s the D/s dynamics which are…simply precious!

“Now you know what it is to want, Ferro. Have you ever wanted anyone before?”

So if D/s, gags and bondage are just your thing and you have a little time to spare, you have found your next read. Personally, I also dig it when my MC’s get all furious and manhandle each other, until one of them ultimately bites the dust and the other claims his ‘price’. Muah! And guess what, Gala happens to rule at writing those red hot fighting scenes!

Nibbles? I did have a few. In general, the length of the story wasn’t entirely satisfying. I would have loved a somewhat slower build up and more prolonged action scenes. The story could have benefited from several more pages, to ‘flesh out’ Lisias some more. Finally, as naive and desperate as Ferro may be, I still feel like THAT was a whopper of a magic peen trope! And I’m curious to hear your take on this, because I wasn’t sold on Ferro finding his ‘life-calling’, meh. (“meh”? Ooooh, come tend to me shepherd! :p)

All things considered, definitely make sure to pick up Shepherd, Slave and Vow if you’re in for a little D/s hotness against a mythological backdrop. Or if you think obnoxious rich kids deserve to be gagged and bound, of course!

Katinka’s Rating: 

BUY LINK: Dreamspinner Store

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Katinka C. is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: KATINKA’S REVIEWS
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