Book: Blood of the Sphinx
Series: Virgin Kings #1
Self Published
Publication Date: December 19, 2016
Length: 98 pages
Reviewed by Meredith
Synopsis
Enter Sasha's dark world where half-naked warriors fight in the arena for sexual dominance.
Son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, Sasha is the king of kings. He’s the pharaoh, and he’s supposed to be the most powerful man in Egypt, but he’s convinced there’s something wrong with him. Maybe he’s in heat or maybe he’s just cursed, but no pharaoh should have such an insatiable need to be mated by another man. Even worse, the man he desires has never shown an inkling of interest in him.
When the young pharaoh finds himself the sole ruler of Egypt and under siege by the Romans, he has to find a way to deal with the desires consuming him or all will be lost.
Review
I would 100% say this is a fantasy more than anything else.
By the title you get the gist of the time period but the history isn’t perfectly accurate
and it’s not supposed to be. It’s the time of Antony & Cleopatra when
Octavius and the Romans defeated her and her armies and stormed the cities and
palace of Alexandria. You know the story so I won’t make this a history lesson. If you know how it ended for Cleopatra than you'll see where J. Johanis deviates for a good reason.
The Pharaoh in this, Sasha, is pretty dang powerful… Even if
his people don’t see it. But he has “unconventional needs” and that’s where his
best friend and personal guard, Adrian, comes in… at least he hopes.
I’ve read everything (I think) that J. Johanis has ever
written. Her work is that of dark erotica. I’m aware this isn’t everyone’s
thing but for me she does it in such a fascinating way I can’t stop reading
if I tried. Not everyone achieves their goal in books like these but she did in
this one.
I’m thrilled to see it’s the start of a series and I’m eager
for more. Even though it’s a novella it packs a punch and has a lot of story in
this. Put aside your knowledge of history (to a certain degree) and see the
fantasy and erotic passion of this tale by J. Johanis.
This, like all her books, is very entertaining and page
turning.
Excerpt
“The blood of
the sphinx runs through my veins,” Sasha said as he inspected the warrior
standing at attention before him. “It’s what makes my family line so
potent—what gives us the power to make or break a man.”
The warrior’s chest heaved as
Sasha moved in close. The man, who had exuded nothing but confidence in the
arena, was sweating under his inspection. Sasha tried to ignore his fear, tried
not to be disappointed. After all, Sasha was the pharaoh. It was only natural
for men to tremble in his presence.
Expelling the thought from his
head, he let his gaze drop to the warrior’s powerful hips. His thoughts
returned to the arena. He recalled the strength of those hips as the warrior
fucked the fallen man, and his breath caught in his chest. All of a sudden the
room was too hot. Sasha reached out to touch him but stopped. He wanted to taste
those perfect pecs, to run his hands down those sculpted abs. He needed the
man’s rough hands all over him, but he had to remain strong and conceal his
desires. Sasha was still young, but before long he’d be ruling on his own, no
longer hidden behind the shadow of his mother’s governance.
“You’re aware of my power to
drain your masculinity and make you into an adorable little toy for my pleasure,
yet in the arena last week, you made a vow to serve me. You willingly gave up your
freedom. Why?”
The warrior cleared his throat.
“Great Caesarion, son of the divine Cleopatra and the exalted Julius Caesar.
You are the king of kings, a god among men. I would give anything to serve
you.”
Sasha’s heart palpitated. He’d
been co-ruler with his mother for as long as he could remember, but hearing
such veneration still struck at his core. Sasha’s gaze traveled from the man’s
handsome face to his erect member, tenting his white skirt. Another wave of
heat flashed through him as he imagined the warrior pinning him down and
driving that cock inside him. Sasha turned his back on the man and, with both
hands, removed his pharaoh's headpiece, letting his long sandy hair fall loose
around his shoulders. After mounting the headpiece on its golden stand, Sasha
crawled onto his bed and lay back on the silky red fabric, resting his weight
on one elbow. Though the warrior remained at attention, his gaze followed Sasha
as he moved.
“You are a man,” Sasha said,
narrowing his kohl-lined eyes in a seductive manner. “Tell me exactly how you
plan on serving me.”
The warrior’s eyes widened for a
moment, and then he dropped to his knees beside the bed. “Great Pharaoh, I will
serve you in any way you desire. I am yours to command.”
Sasha took a deep breath and let
it out slowly. Today might be the day.
This man might be the one.
“In that case, what if I wanted
you to let your animal instincts guide you? You’re much older and stronger than
I am. We’re alone without a guard in the room. There’s absolutely nothing
stopping you from doing whatever you want to me.”
“Your Majesty… I’m not sure what
you mean.”
“I am flesh and blood, just like
you. If you pinned me down, forced me to submit, I could do nothing about it.”
The man’s complexion turned
ashen. “Your Majesty, I would never… You’re the pharaoh. You’re my god. I… I’m
nothing but your humble servant,” he rambled and pressed his forehead to the
floor.
Sasha’s face burned as a sour
taste came into his mouth. Closing his eyes, he took slow measured breaths.
He'd never before been so forward. He’d practically told the warrior what to do
to him, yet the results were still the same. This strong man kneeling before
him wished only to bow before his pharaoh and be his submissive servant. Why
couldn’t a man who wished to lay claim to his body step forward? Sasha was the
pharaoh. He couldn’t tell the warrior what he needed—that he needed to be held
down and taken by force. All he could do was give a man the opportunity to
claim him, but none ever would. When Sasha opened his eyes, the man was still
kneeling. Sasha rose from the bed and stood over him.
“Do you know what will happen to
you when I fuck you?”
The man’s mouth dropped as he looked
up with a jerk.
“Yes, Great Caesarion, but I…”
“Good! If you want to serve me,
you’ll do so in my harem. Now lift your skirt and bend over my bed!”
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New author to me but this book sounds great !!!
ReplyDeleteNew to me author. Thank you for showing her to me!
ReplyDeleteJ Johanis is a new to me author, but that's clearly something that needs to change soon. The book sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI have several in Mt TBR that I haven't read yet otherwise J Johanis is a new-to-me author
ReplyDeleteDrago Star is my favourite book by Jenna
ReplyDeleteJ. Johanis is new to me, but I was lured in by a friend. And after reading a few reviews of their books, I'm glad I found out about them.
ReplyDeleteNew author for me but I love MM and historical retellings!
ReplyDelete