In an age of brutality, a Scottish clan imprisons Noci. Only one man can save her now -

Taracut "the Gelded", the unfeeling overlord of Northumbria.

The fierce warrior draws breath only to serve his king, and his impenetrable heart beats only for duty. Although a vision warns Noci that Taracut is numb to all emotion, even lust, she offers herself to the overlord in exchange for her freedom. 'Tis as simple as this: Satisfy Taracut's dark urges and she will live. Fail to submit to him, and the self-righteous bastard will condemn her to a fiery death at the pyre.

A sweet kiss seals the bargain, and so the bitter battle for the overlord's soul begins. Tricking him with games of seduction, teasing him with a purring acquiescence to his every demand, tempting him with her wanton body, Noci introduces the warrior to the full spectrum of feelings, from passion to...

Betrayal.

Suspecting Noci has played him false, the enraged Taracut exacts a terrible retribution for her deception. The fierce warrior forces Noci - his pretty pet, his enthusiastic whore, his secret obsession - to crave him as much as he craves her.

Louisa Trent introduces another saucy femme fatale who takes charge of a rough Alpha male and binds him to her through submission in Icon. Noci is free spirited and independent, a contrast to Taracut's reserved, priggish attitude. The wild child seduces and enslaves the rigid, staid warrior. In our time, Noci would be a neo-hippie artist and Taracut would be a decorated Marine with connections, status and a droll life.

If you're faint of heart, you might want to steer clear. This is BDSM that covers everything from exhibitionism to caging to birching, and that's just the tip of the rod. Still, there's more here. Noci and Taracut engage one another in witty and risque banter until the sexual chemistry builds high enough to overflow a dam. From then on, there's no turning back and everything depraved goes, with mutual consent, of course.

Overall, I got a kick out of this book, and it wasn't just about the sex. The author's ribald narrative pokes fun at her cast of characters until I was snickering to myself going, ...Hmmm...well, how about that!... Acerbic commentary, sharp dialogue, and snarky observations about people could definitely run neck-and-neck with Shakespeare and Voltaire. Certainly, it's not often you read an author with enough insight into human psyche that she can utilize BDSM as the catharsis for her characters. Throw in solid writing, visuals, and superb research and what you have is a winner.

Patrice F