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Book Review of Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Bk 1)

Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Bk 1)
Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Bk 1)
Author: Larissa Ione
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback


*Spoilers ahead!*

I've heard great things about this series, and looked forward to reading it. However, I was so dismayed with the beginning of the book that I couldn't even finish it. At the start of the book, Tayla is critically injured and winds up in Eidolon's demon-run hospital--a major issue, since she's a demon-slayer. Eidolon's brother decides to "mess with" Tayla's mind while she's unconscious, making her *very open* to sexual suggestion. Eidolon takes advantage of this and has sex with her, even though he knows she's not in her right mind.

Now, I'm not a prude by any means--heck, I used to read Laurell K. Hamilton (until she got too weird, that is). It wasn't that Ione threw a sex scene between the two main characters in the first 25 pages of the book (although that was also a bit off-putting), or that the sex was too graphic. It was the fact that Tayla was under an outside influence and not acting of her own volition--and Eidolon had sex with her anyway. I know people will argue--the characters are "meant to be together," they're "soulmates," so it's ultimately OK. To me, it wasn't much difference between this and a frat boy taking sexual advantage of a drunk college girl because she wasn't sober enough to say no. I found it troubling and offensive, and couldn't finish it.