Reviewed by EBookObsessed on
The world as we know it has ended. Someone started dropping bombs and those that were left alive had to recreate society. A Global Counsel formed itself and walled up several major cities keeping its citizens prisoners for their own safety. Enforcers were given weapons and the responsibility of keeping the citizens safe and contained. The GC withholds medical attention to the citizens. It is only available to the Council members, their children who will be future councilors and the enforcers. The GC also wants to control population so they force sterilize the women who they deem unworthy to breed.
Enforcers not only control the citizens, they scout outside the walls to find bandits who will murder for supplies and are a danger to the citizens. They also search for Outlaws. Outlaws are anyone who are not contained within the city walls; anyone who the counsel does not control. The enforcers used to catch the outlaws and give them a choice, become a citizen or face death. Now someone has changed the rules and if you are caught outside the city walls, you are dead.
Hudson Lane would rather face death or whatever horror might await her outside the wall, then to marry the Enforcer Lieutenant, Knox. He might call it protecting the citizens but he is simply a murderer and a rapist and he really, really likes his job. When her brother presents her with a marriage contract declaring that she has no choice, Hudson takes off the first time she can get outside the city walls.
Hudson comes upon Connor Mackenzie and his group and begs for their protection. Connor doesn't trust strangers and has no interest in added to the people he is already responsible for but his men out vote him and he allows Hudson in against his better judgment. All he knows is that she is hiding something and that something could bring more than trouble for them if the enforcers find their camp.
Connor isn't wrong. Hudson isn't just any citizen. Her father was the man who created the Global Council. A man would allow his own wife to die without medical attention to fulfill his philosophy. And Hudson's twin brother, Dominik is the man most feared in the land. Dominik is the head of the enforcers. The man who decided that outlaws no longer get an opportunity to return to the cities. And he isn't going to let his sister disappear into the night.
THOUGHTS:
I am a big fan of Elle Kennedy's Killer Instinct series and I enjoy the characters she writes. When I was first offered a copy of her new series which is considered Erotic Dystopian, I was curious what that would entail but I like Elle Kennedy so why not give it a try. There was quite a buzz on several review blogs about this book and I couldn't wait until it popped to the top of my list to see what all the excitement was about.
All I can say is - Wow! Not only is it steamy and sexy but more important, it is good. Many erotica stories are blah, blah, words, hot sex, blah, blah, spank me, blah. There is no real story just words between sex scenes. Elle Kennedy gives us great world building. Connor and his group have wonderful character depth. Secondary characters are introduced and are so intriguing I can't wait to see if they take a more prominent role in the series.
As far as the erotica part, the story has explosive chemistry between Connor and Hudson, and it was presented in a way that blended well with the overall story. The end of the world has come so most of the population, whether citizens or outlaws, engage in a lot of sexual activity. You really might die tomorrow, so why be shy. You find someone attractive enough and it is on. Money is not used outside of the city so bartering is the only way to acquire things you need so payment is made in sex, weapons, trading, whatever. Hudson has been living in the enforcer's compound her whole life and her brother has been running the enforcers since his teens. Hudson had to blackmail a boy to get her first kiss and anyone who was brave enough to try to have sex with her, did it quickly, in the dark and tried not to be found out by Dominik or they would get a severe beating for touching his sister. To say Hudson is sexually repressed is not exaggerating but it is not because she doesn't want to have sex. There is instant attraction between Hudson and Connor and although he tries to fight it, he eventually gives in. He also watches Hudson's reactions to his suggestions and when he suggests adding one of his men to the mix, the gleam in Hudson's eye tells him that she would definitely be interested.
Claimed has lived up to all the hype. It has great story telling, world building and characters and lots of steamy, hot sex. Did I mention -- Wow! Grab a copy soon because...you never know.
Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Reading updates
- Started reading
- 27 September, 2015: Finished reading
- 27 September, 2015: Reviewed