Reviewed by Vicki
TITLE: Counterpunch
SERIES: Belonging #2
AUTHOR: Aleksandr Voinov
PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing
LENGTH: 200 pages
BLURB:
Fight like a man, or die like a slave.
Brooklyn Marshall used to be a policeman in London, with a wife and a promising future ahead of him. Then he accidentally killed a rioter whose father was a Member of Parliament and had him convicted of murder. To ease the burden on the overcrowded prison system, Brooklyn was sold into slavery rather than incarcerated. Now, he’s the “Mean Machine”, a boxer on the slave prizefighting circuit, pummelling other slaves for the entertainment of freemen and being rented out for the sexual service of his wealthier fans.
When Nathaniel Bishop purchases Brooklyn’s services for a night, it seems like any other assignation. But the pair form an unexpected bond that grows into something more. Brooklyn hesitates to call it “love”—such things do not exist between freemen and slaves—but when Nathaniel reveals that he wants to help get Brooklyn’s conviction overturned, he dares to hope. Then, an accident in the ring sends Brooklyn on the run, jeopardizing everything he has worked so hard to achieve and sending him into the most important fight of all—the fight for freedom.
REVIEW:
Oh man…. Another look at this dark world! I read and reviewed Anchored, the first look at this world written by Rachel Haimowitz a week or so ago, now I’m back in it with Counterpunch. I read this when it first released and loved it, as I did Anchored, so thought I’d read them again with the new release under Riptide Publishing.
This is an interesting look at what our world could be. It has the same framework, songs I know are mentioned, sports stars, and a common history, but it is NOT our world. Slavery was never abolished. Humans are born as slaves, and die as slaves. Or in the case of Brooklyn, punished for crimes by being sold as slaves. He had a life, a career, a wife, and it all ended in a moment of death. The death of a protestor, who may or may not have been pushed back by Brooklyn. Unfortunately she was the daughter of an MP and Brooklyn is punished to the full extent of the law.
Brooklyn was an amateur boxer before he became a slave, and is now a professional slave boxer. He’s working his way up through the ranks, but no matter how well he fights, he is still a slave. He’s also a whore. He may like the boxing part of his new life, but he could live without the “appointments” he has after each fight. He’s a big man, and some take a certain thrill in fucking him. The women he doesn’t mind, they just want a bit of rough trade, but the men he really isn’t as happy about. But it is what it is, this is his life now. So out he goes after the fights. One night after a fight, he is told he’s going to a man, and is sent to a posh hotel, and left in a fancy suite, with lots of BDSM equipment. He’s strapped down by his trainer and left.
In to his life comes Nathaniel. A very confusing man, who brings out very confusing feelings in Brooklyn. Things he can’t think about much less feel as a slave. I have a hard time calling their relationship “romance”, it’s really not. Nathaniel has his own agenda, it does involve helping Brooklyn, but he has his own reasons, and it isn’t all about Brooklyn. Feelings do develop between them, but it’s more than that. You’ll have to read it to get the whole plot! So there is sex, there is some abuse (but NOT by Nathaniel), there is drama, angst, good and bad. It does have a happy ending though, so it’s all worth it!
Aleksandr Voinov knows how to write a dark book. That is a very good thing. It’s dark, but there is hope, some compassion, and some love. Not for everyone every time, but it’s there. I’m stuck again not knowing how to describe Aleksandr’s writing style, I don’t have the words, other than to say he is an incredible writer. I can see and feel everything. Smell it even. The smell of a boxing gym, musty and sweaty, or the smell of sex. His descriptions, his characters, his dialogue is all spot on. I was right in the middle of it all. Emotionally connected, I loved Brooklyn, and wanted him to win, to survive and to thrive. I liked Nathaniel when Brooklyn liked him, and lost trust in him as Brooklyn did. I was angry at the situation Brooklyn was in, and not sure how it was going to work out, right up until the end. Even having read it before! So great writing, great characters, a deep and dark plot, good sex, good connection between the characters, and a good ending. Just what I expect from this author!
RATING: 
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