Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: P.O.W.

AUTHOR: Max Vos

PUBLISHER: MLR Press

LENGTH: 42,000 words

BLURB: After being taken prisoner by a Taliban Warlord, can Sam Stone hold on long enough to get his best friend back to his family and find love in the arms of Abbas, the handsome, blue-eyed Arab?

Sam Stone has been secretly in love with his best friend and fellow Marine, Benoit, for a long time. It’s only after they were captured by a Taliban Warlord that he realizes that he would readily give his life to get Benoit back to his family. But it is Abbas, the Westernized Arab who steals his heart and helps Sam and Benoit regain their freedom. Now Sam has to learn to find true love and help heal not only himself, but the two men he loves deeply.

WARNING: Story contains scenes and depictions that may offend some readers. Non consensual sex, rape, gang rape, mental and physical torture, anal and oral sex between males.

REVIEW: Wow, this book was so wow.  This story was so raw both emotionally and what the characters had to go through physically.  This story pulled at so many heartstrings that you are drained when you’re finished.

This story is mostly about Stone and what he has to endure.  He’s been in love with his straight best friend and fellow marine, Benoit forever.  Even knowing that nothing could ever come of it, he loves him and would do ANYTHING FOR HIM!!

That sentiment is truly put to the test when Stone and Benoit are captured and tortured.

But no matter what happens, these two are so there for each other.  They keep each other sane-ish.  Stone tries to take the worst of the punishment and torture on himself to save Benoit from having to deal with the abuse and humiliation, however, there was only so much that he could do.  The men that held them, weren’t going to let Benoit off easy.

There is also the additional character of Abbas.  He’s another pawn in this game that the terrorists are pulling off.  He’s a medical student that is back because of his family.  They live in the region where the terrorists run and he’s back to help them.  The problem that he never anticipated was meeting someone that he fell for.  That he would take such risks for Stone, that shows so much of his character.  Knowing that if he’s caught, he’d be killed or they’d kill his family.  Yet, knowing all of the things that are done to Stone and Benoit, he still takes the risks as he knows just how wrong this is.

This story is not for the faint of heart.  It’s brutal.  There are such horrible things done to Stone and Benoit that you’re heart will hurt.  They are put through the wringer.  Yet, I do want to remind people that there is lots of sex in this book, but it’s hard sex, for the most part.  There is rape.  Lots of rape used as torture and humiliation.  I would caution you to really think before you pick up this book.

I will say that this book took me through lots of emotions.  I felt every bit of anger, horror, angst, and desperate love that flowed along the pages.  I was swept away and endured all that happened with them.  There was no escape from the horror that was inflicted upon them, and yet through all of this there was hope.  Hope of getting out alive.  Hope of Love sheltering you.  Hope of finding the love that you so want and deserve.

This book will take you on a ride and not let go.  You will be captivated from the very first page until the very end.  Read this book.  You won’t be disappointed.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: MLR Press  ::   ARe