Book Review - Desire and Duty by E.C. Jarvis

* * * * I give Desire and Duty by E.C. Jarvis 4 stars! I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll start by saying that I’m not sure erotica is my thing. This was the first full-length novel I’ve read in the genre. I’ve enjoyed some short erotic fiction and I love a good sex scene in general but, I found this to be a little too much, too often. Had I gone by my preference only, I would’ve given it three stars. But, I think it is a unique and shockingly empowering book that deserves the higher rating.

For fans of the genre, I’m confident this book delivers. There’s a little something for a lot of different tastes, not to mention a colorful cast and a plot filled with high stakes.
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Jarvis seems to have some skill with world-building as well. Though the imaginary kingdom of Kienia is not described in detail (that’s not the point of the book, after all), we were given enough taste of it that I was left curious. I imagine Jarvis does a great job of this in her novels of other genres. I’ll be finding out.

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What I Liked:

• Lenora is an example of a strong, female character who isn’t a sword-wielding badass. She is dealt some pretty rough hands as the Consort of the Emperor and she keeps her wits and uses her cleverness and her sexuality (the only skills she possesses) to survive.
• For the most part, the pace is good. The novel cuts right to the point and every chapter pushes forward toward the climax. (Pun intended.) I would’ve liked to see that climax slowed just a bit, as I mention below.
• I’m just a sucker for a love-story and the book delivers enough of that to make me happy without sacrificing spice. Lenora is a practical woman and doesn’t require romance – but I enjoyed the little moments that were offered.
• The characters read like real, complicated, confusing, and maddening (sometimes disgusting) people.

What I Didn’t Like:

• The climax was somewhat anti-climactic. (Quite a thing to say about an erotic novel. *Tee-hee. Suddenly, I’m five.*) The final, dramatic scenes of the assassin’s attack and the birth feel a bit rushed.
• The “big reveal” plot twist at the very end was somewhat predictable. However, it still manages to peak my interest about how Lenora will solve her problems in the next book, which I imagine was the point.
• Although, this novel didn’t have too many errors, I did find some that drove me bonkers. “Reigns” instead of “reins,” “captures” instead of “captors,” and the like.

 
Would I Recommend This and to Whom:
I would recommend this to fans of erotica who like both a little kink and a little adventure in their story. But, I’ll warn you, now; you’ll never look at a fork the same way.

Favorite Quotes:

• “Emperor’s hairy-ass-crack”
• Empty seeds were no good for growing babies, no matter how liberally, viciously, or frequently one spread them about.
• “I intend to do my duty, whatever it takes. And you? Where does your true loyalty lie? To the Emperor, or the Empire?”
• The unusual oral sex session lasted for over ten minutes, during which she’d discovered a broken fingernail that needed tending, admired the cornicing along the ceiling edge, seen a flock of gulls flying in formation past the window, and generally watched the clock ticking away the seconds until he finished.
• He was as much a slave to the will of powerful men as she. An object of some value to be discarded at the first sign of failure or trouble.