Citadel Of Servitude

Quite simply this is the best erotic book I have ever read. I have a library of over a thousand volumes, a good percentage of which are erotic fiction, and this is the best. I am now looking for the rest of Aran Ashe's work, I have Slaves of Lidir and Dungeons of Lidir, and I am still looking for Pleasure Island all by Aran Ashe. I am eagerly awaiting Slave Mines of Tormunil and Love Chattel of Tormunil (april 2003).

There is a sexual s&M world that exists only in the imagination, and Aran Ashe is particularly adapt at showing us that world. Citadel of Servitude is written in the Gorian style, complete with a language that suggests medieval Europe where Doms and Dommes have unlimited noble rights upon the common classes. They and their guards exercise these rights upon captive women and the occasional captive male with sexual abandon, blow by blow, page by page. The story begins with naked captive women, arms locked behind them, breasts outstretched, marching through the city gate. Common Men and women run to see the display, mostly lusting, before the women disappear into the mysterious citadel. There is a plot, much like that found in East of Eden, the plot similarly a backdrop against which the sexually improbably is played - repeatedly - the captives surrealistically begging for more after hours of captive abuse. Some dream this while others of us wish for a greater sense of reality. Still, fantasy is more about dreams than reality, and on this level, Citadel of Servitude is near the head of its class, well written and well paced.

I have read three other Aran Ashe books. I did not like them. However with this book s/he surprised me. It is without doubt the most stylishly written, kinkily erotic book I have ever read. Most erotic novels tend to be formulaic repeats, but Ashe shows an imaginative quality here, seldom found in these books. Hir deft grasp of detail adds to the heat and produces a tome which by now is well-thumbed.

This book and this whole series is some of the best erotica ever written in my opinion.

I have read most of her previous stuff and liked it but I struggled as this just never seemed to get going.