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Vampire Queen #1
The Vampire Queen's Servant
Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth is a seven-hundred-year-old vampire in need of a new servant-- now more than ever as she's suffering the signs of a mysterious ailment that threatens to consume her. As a gift she's been give Jacob, an extraordinary physical specimen, but all wrong when it comes to being...used. A total alpha male, he's not accustomed to submitting to any woman's wishes.
Elyssa soon learns that what really binds Jacob to her are not her sensual midnight hungers, but something far more provocative. It stirs her blood, renews her life, and awakens her soul like only true love can. And the passion between Elyssa and Jacob is about to yield something else unexpected--a shared history that reaches back through the centuries and is fated to challenge their destiny like nothing ever will again...
Elyssa soon learns that what really binds Jacob to her are not her sensual midnight hungers, but something far more provocative. It stirs her blood, renews her life, and awakens her soul like only true love can. And the passion between Elyssa and Jacob is about to yield something else unexpected--a shared history that reaches back through the centuries and is fated to challenge their destiny like nothing ever will again...
373 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2007
406 people are currently reading
8496 people want to read
About the author
Joey W. Hill
115 books3,518 followers"BDSM Romance for the Heart & Soul"
A submissive herself, Hill brings authenticity to her intensely emotional BDSM love stories. With over fifty titles and seven series, her contemporary and paranormal romances feature everything from billionaires, bikers, SEALs, firefighters, cops and housemaids, to vampires, mermaids, witches and angels.
"Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.” –카지노싸이트, Pink Lady
Joey is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Erotic Romance, and she loves to hear from her readers!
If you're on Bookbub, she'd love for you to follow her:
You can also find her here:
Website: storywitch.com
Facebook: @JoeyWHillAuthor
MeWe:
Twitter: @JoeyWHill
A submissive herself, Hill brings authenticity to her intensely emotional BDSM love stories. With over fifty titles and seven series, her contemporary and paranormal romances feature everything from billionaires, bikers, SEALs, firefighters, cops and housemaids, to vampires, mermaids, witches and angels.
"Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.” –카지노싸이트, Pink Lady
Joey is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Erotic Romance, and she loves to hear from her readers!
If you're on Bookbub, she'd love for you to follow her:
You can also find her here:
Website: storywitch.com
Facebook: @JoeyWHillAuthor
MeWe:
Twitter: @JoeyWHill
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
May 19, 2008
This is NOT a book for the faint hearted. There are some VERY strong BDSM elements to it. There were several times I felt myself wanting to cringe from the things Jacob is put through to prove his submission to Lyssa. Being an alpha male, he has some problems with being submissive, but in Lyssa's world that is not allowed. It is made very clear throughout the book that Vampires must be dominate, and demand nothing less but submission with all of their slaves, but honestly some of it was hard to read at times. I think what compelled me to read and finish is was the feelings Jacob and Lyssa have for one another.
August 12, 2010
I won't be doing a full review because this book just sort of lost me somewhere. Maybe it's because I spent a week and a half to read it, stopping to glom the entire Girl Genius archives in the middle of it, but I don't think so.
The book shares three things in common with literary fiction: a trade paperback price, a love of figurative language and a lack of emphasis on plot.
Now, the reverse snob in me hates literary fiction, so anytime things start to resemble it, I get cranky. Not only that, but it lacked something in the execution. The language veered over from subtly poetic to laughably florid at times. Anytime you compare a vagina to a flower or petals, you lose me. Yes, I know flowers are effectively plant genitalia, but it's like motion and ocean, hero and zero. It's overdone in fiction writing. I also didn't think there was enough character development or change to support the lack of plot. By the end, I was a bit bored. I was skimming the sex scenes, desperately searching for character growth, story, something. My reward? No HEA. FFS.
I have book two, so I'll read the next one, where this story finishes. I'm looking forward to continuing the story, but I hope that either Lyssa and Jacob are more interesting or there's more story going on. If it's another 300+ pages of charged looks, awkward power battle sex and flowery similes, I'm done with the series.
The book shares three things in common with literary fiction: a trade paperback price, a love of figurative language and a lack of emphasis on plot.
Now, the reverse snob in me hates literary fiction, so anytime things start to resemble it, I get cranky. Not only that, but it lacked something in the execution. The language veered over from subtly poetic to laughably florid at times. Anytime you compare a vagina to a flower or petals, you lose me. Yes, I know flowers are effectively plant genitalia, but it's like motion and ocean, hero and zero. It's overdone in fiction writing. I also didn't think there was enough character development or change to support the lack of plot. By the end, I was a bit bored. I was skimming the sex scenes, desperately searching for character growth, story, something. My reward? No HEA. FFS.
I have book two, so I'll read the next one, where this story finishes. I'm looking forward to continuing the story, but I hope that either Lyssa and Jacob are more interesting or there's more story going on. If it's another 300+ pages of charged looks, awkward power battle sex and flowery similes, I'm done with the series.
July 7, 2008
You should read this book! At first I was put off by a review I read that said there was a lot of violence in this book... I disagree!
This is really a love story. The story is about Alyssa- a 1000 year old vampire queen who was somewhat recently parted with her human servant Thomas. (For those who read the vampire genre we know what a human servant is.) Along comes Jacob- handsome man who swears he is the one to serve her and be with her. He tells her that Thomas himself trained him and that he will do anything to be with her.
Their story really unfolds as Alyssa tries to deny the soul-deep feelings she develops for Jacob while they are falling for each other!
There is great sex, and it happens really quickly too! There is some BSDM elements to this book- she is definitely trying to always be dominant, but Jacob gets to be in charge plenty of times. There were 2 scenes in the book that I would consider "violent" but they dont take away from the story- they only reinforce it!
Please give this book a shot... I cant wait to read the next one!
This is really a love story. The story is about Alyssa- a 1000 year old vampire queen who was somewhat recently parted with her human servant Thomas. (For those who read the vampire genre we know what a human servant is.) Along comes Jacob- handsome man who swears he is the one to serve her and be with her. He tells her that Thomas himself trained him and that he will do anything to be with her.
Their story really unfolds as Alyssa tries to deny the soul-deep feelings she develops for Jacob while they are falling for each other!
There is great sex, and it happens really quickly too! There is some BSDM elements to this book- she is definitely trying to always be dominant, but Jacob gets to be in charge plenty of times. There were 2 scenes in the book that I would consider "violent" but they dont take away from the story- they only reinforce it!
Please give this book a shot... I cant wait to read the next one!
December 28, 2014
First things first, I enjoyed this book immensely and I have never read anything quite like it. It takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions and just when you think you know where the story is headed it turns around and goes in the other direction. It was romantic,erotic, violent, and morose-sometimes all on the same page! The sex scenes were very hot and inventive and there was some BDSM, but nothing hardcore.
The story is about ancient, beautiful vampire queen Lady Elyssa and sexy alpha male Jacob Green. Over the course of the book she makes him her full human servant by giving him all three marks that join them together until one of them dies. About half way through the book you learn that Elyssa is dying. That's about the time I started with the Kleenex and I cried on and off througout the rest of the book(Note: I do not cry when I read books, or hardly ever). During the course of the book the world building begins and you learn about the vampire politics that become more and more important to Lyssa and I assume will continue to in future books. At the end of the book Lyssa is still alive and madly in love with Jacob and has given him the third mark and she is still dying without a cure for her disease in sight.
I will certainy be reading book two to learn of her and Jacob's fate. I highly recommend this book to romance lovers, but be prepared for some heavy reading at times throughout this book. I felt it was well worth the puffy eyes!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
1.5 DNF Stars
So boring and bland. Normally it would be my type of book. Experienced and older vampire heroine with a younger human hero, but the execution of it all was eh. Way too wordy and not enough dialogue, and too much focus on bdsm, and not enough plot.
Safety:
No virgins
Heroine was previously married
Didn't get far enough for really any other info, but I do know there is a menage scene between hero, his brother, and heroine in book 2
Heroine does share him Too. She has him have sex with two other women in front of her and other people, and insinuate she will share him with men too
So boring and bland. Normally it would be my type of book. Experienced and older vampire heroine with a younger human hero, but the execution of it all was eh. Way too wordy and not enough dialogue, and too much focus on bdsm, and not enough plot.
Safety:
No virgins
Heroine was previously married
Didn't get far enough for really any other info, but I do know there is a menage scene between hero, his brother, and heroine in book 2
Heroine does share him Too. She has him have sex with two other women in front of her and other people, and insinuate she will share him with men too
March 16, 2022
Oh god, I'm so glad to have finally finished this book. I wanted myself to read this, so I proposed a buddy read with Nenia, who quickly bailed on the book as she didn't like it. I don't really blame her. I don't like DNF-ing books out of principle, so I tried to power through.
The book was well-written, which I appreciated; it was just boring. There's not enough plot to justify 374 pages. Not much happens; Lyssa and Jacob leave the house once to go to the mall. The best part of the book was the dinner where she invites a few other vampires and their servants to her house. An orgy ensues at the end of dinner, and there's a FFM scene with Jacob {and not Lyssa}. However, it's not cheating as she compels Jacob to have sex with another vampire's servant and bring another servant to climax simultaneously.
Also, the sex scenes didn't do too much for me. (Though I was waiting for them to finally do the penetration bit in the beginning.) Even though Jacob is an alpha male, Lyssa really wants him to sexual submit to her. Can I say I really appreciate the author including in her bio that she's a submissive herself?? When authors write BDSM erotica, I always wonder if they know about it personally or are just adding it for the romance (or to copy 50 Shades of Grey). In other words, is the BDSM portrayed in the novel authentic or not.
Furthermore, Lyssa took forever to decide if she wanted Jacob as her servant. It wasn't like anyone else was lining up the block. There was no competition, which is unlike the case for most jobs. He also underwent torture and permanent disfigurement in the way of scarring for her! (before he even knew if she'd accept him or not as her servant)
I was so relieved at the end of the book that Lyssa realized & told Jacob she loved him, because I wasn't sure if that would actually happen. She emotionally reserved herself from him if that makes any sense. Anyway, Jacob was really dream worthy and I'm not 100% sure if Lyssa deserved him. I did love Jacob's unconditional and endless devotion to Lyssa from the very beginning. Hill created a great hero.
Anyway, I'm proud of myself for finishing this one. Go Audrey! I really wanted to enjoy it more. This book would be the cozy read I'd pick up before bed to relax me before sleep or if I had some insomnia.
The book was well-written, which I appreciated; it was just boring. There's not enough plot to justify 374 pages. Not much happens; Lyssa and Jacob leave the house once to go to the mall. The best part of the book was the dinner where she invites a few other vampires and their servants to her house. An orgy ensues at the end of dinner, and there's a FFM scene with Jacob {and not Lyssa}. However, it's not cheating as she compels Jacob to have sex with another vampire's servant and bring another servant to climax simultaneously.
Also, the sex scenes didn't do too much for me. (Though I was waiting for them to finally do the penetration bit in the beginning.) Even though Jacob is an alpha male, Lyssa really wants him to sexual submit to her. Can I say I really appreciate the author including in her bio that she's a submissive herself?? When authors write BDSM erotica, I always wonder if they know about it personally or are just adding it for the romance (or to copy 50 Shades of Grey). In other words, is the BDSM portrayed in the novel authentic or not.
Furthermore, Lyssa took forever to decide if she wanted Jacob as her servant. It wasn't like anyone else was lining up the block. There was no competition, which is unlike the case for most jobs. He also underwent torture and permanent disfigurement in the way of scarring for her! (before he even knew if she'd accept him or not as her servant)
I was so relieved at the end of the book that Lyssa realized & told Jacob she loved him, because I wasn't sure if that would actually happen. She emotionally reserved herself from him if that makes any sense. Anyway, Jacob was really dream worthy and I'm not 100% sure if Lyssa deserved him. I did love Jacob's unconditional and endless devotion to Lyssa from the very beginning. Hill created a great hero.
Anyway, I'm proud of myself for finishing this one. Go Audrey! I really wanted to enjoy it more. This book would be the cozy read I'd pick up before bed to relax me before sleep or if I had some insomnia.
April 10, 2009
I couldn't get into this book. Half the time, I thought it was a poorly written sappy romance. The other half of the time, it seemed like an slightly edgy paranormal romance/erotica. It doesn't speak well for the writing that I never once cared about any of the characters. Too many cliches, too redundant, with a generally uninteresting story line. Even the "edgy" scenes were fairly boring because it really didn't matter to me if a character was hurt.
Premise: 1000 year old vampire queen takes an alpha male as her servant. She forces him to learn to be submissive. He's the reincarnation of a protector from her past. She's ill with a fatal disease. Vampires are sexual deviants and love power games. There you go.
Premise: 1000 year old vampire queen takes an alpha male as her servant. She forces him to learn to be submissive. He's the reincarnation of a protector from her past. She's ill with a fatal disease. Vampires are sexual deviants and love power games. There you go.
October 4, 2024
All Lady Lyssa wanted was a manicure. But when she arrives at her favorite nail spot, she gets more than she bargained for when she's greeted by an incredibly handsome man who has a letter from Lyssa's former human servant, Thomas. In this letter, Thomas tells her that 1) He is dead (RIP) and 2) He has trained the very handsome man, whose name is Jacob, to be her new servant. At first Lyssa is offended that Thomas had been training someone without her consent, but then she's like "Well this guy is hot as hell AND he has excellent calf muscles, so let's see what he's made of." Thus, she puts Jacob through a series of both pleasurable and humiliating tests to see if he's worthy to be her servant for all eternity.
I love books that let vampires be vampires. I too was a Twilight girlie back in my youth, but the whole genre of "vampires are just misunderstood creatures who can be healed by the love of a bland human" got old REALLY fast. Vampires are predators, let them predators, damn it! *End rant*
Jacob is a wandering soul-also a former vampire hunter-who believes that he's destined to serve Lyssa. He's very much a protective "alpha" male, so he struggles to surrender to her completely. Lyssa needs him to submit to her completely for her safety AND his, but his defiance turns her on a little (a lot). There's a push and pull to their relationship that makes their dynamic both dark and fascinating.
This book also has excellent world building. Lady Lyssa is the head of the vampire council so she's basically the vampire queen (although the queen doesn't have absolute power so it's similar to a constitutional monarchy). Lyssa was in a volatile political marriage to another powerful vampire named Rex but after his death, she is now the sole head of the council. Vampires can choose a human to be their servant and companion, and human servants are.... not treated well in this society. They have no rights and have to do whatever their vampire master demands of them. I need y'all to read that again: THEY HAVE TO DO WHATEVER THEIR VAMPIRE MASTER DEMANDS OF THEM. This is my way of warning y'all before you decide to read this book: if you have issues with group sex, look away!
"He reflected there was nothing linear about their relationship. They didn’t even have the upward consistency of a spiral. He was beginning to sense this was the way she loved, as mercurial as a fairy in truth, choosing by some random path of her own which thought or action she would pursue next. He might as well predict the direction to chase a butterfly through a meadow of wildflowers, so colorful he could barely distinguish between the creature he chased and the nodding blooms."
Lyssa has her guard up (and for good reason) but my favorite parts of the book were when Lyssa let those walls down and allowed herself to enjoy Jacob's company. Lyssa struggles with the fact that she actually enjoys it when Jacob teases her. They had excellent banter, and their chemistry was amazing.
Since there are 20 books in the series I don't know if I'll get through every book. But……there are a couple of books with pairings that I'm interested in learning more about. Like Brian and Debra, what's going on there? 👀👀👀
Lyssa/Jacob’s songs:
Power by Isak Danielson
I Can't Go on Without You by Kaleo
TW: abuse, sa, violence
I love books that let vampires be vampires. I too was a Twilight girlie back in my youth, but the whole genre of "vampires are just misunderstood creatures who can be healed by the love of a bland human" got old REALLY fast. Vampires are predators, let them predators, damn it! *End rant*
Jacob is a wandering soul-also a former vampire hunter-who believes that he's destined to serve Lyssa. He's very much a protective "alpha" male, so he struggles to surrender to her completely. Lyssa needs him to submit to her completely for her safety AND his, but his defiance turns her on a little (a lot). There's a push and pull to their relationship that makes their dynamic both dark and fascinating.
This book also has excellent world building. Lady Lyssa is the head of the vampire council so she's basically the vampire queen (although the queen doesn't have absolute power so it's similar to a constitutional monarchy). Lyssa was in a volatile political marriage to another powerful vampire named Rex but after his death, she is now the sole head of the council. Vampires can choose a human to be their servant and companion, and human servants are.... not treated well in this society. They have no rights and have to do whatever their vampire master demands of them. I need y'all to read that again: THEY HAVE TO DO WHATEVER THEIR VAMPIRE MASTER DEMANDS OF THEM. This is my way of warning y'all before you decide to read this book: if you have issues with group sex, look away!
"He reflected there was nothing linear about their relationship. They didn’t even have the upward consistency of a spiral. He was beginning to sense this was the way she loved, as mercurial as a fairy in truth, choosing by some random path of her own which thought or action she would pursue next. He might as well predict the direction to chase a butterfly through a meadow of wildflowers, so colorful he could barely distinguish between the creature he chased and the nodding blooms."
Lyssa has her guard up (and for good reason) but my favorite parts of the book were when Lyssa let those walls down and allowed herself to enjoy Jacob's company. Lyssa struggles with the fact that she actually enjoys it when Jacob teases her. They had excellent banter, and their chemistry was amazing.
Since there are 20 books in the series I don't know if I'll get through every book. But……there are a couple of books with pairings that I'm interested in learning more about. Like Brian and Debra, what's going on there? 👀👀👀
Lyssa/Jacob’s songs:
Power by Isak Danielson
I Can't Go on Without You by Kaleo
TW: abuse, sa, violence
June 15, 2010
This was my first Joey Hill book and it wont be my last. The Vampire Queen's Servant by Joey .W. Hill is book one in her 'Vampire Queen Series', it's certainly not for the faint of heart or if you are used to something a little more tame and vanilla. This book delves into BDSM and D/s in a big way. Jacob is one of those sexy Alpha men that has you drooling, nothing about him says submissive but when he sees Lady Lyssa he wants her, he learns her ways, how to look after her, be her servant. It's usually the male protagonist who is the more dominant so i was very intrigued to see how it played out with Lyssa in that role. Jacob doesn't submit easily, making the vampire queen work for his submission leaving her frustrated at times but that just adds more to his appeal for her, she's used to "yes" people.
It doesn't all go in Jacob's favour though, certain scenes were pretty brutal to read, the threat of male on male rape, a forced ménage à trois and group voyeurism are just some acts Jacob has to go through to become Lyssa's servant. The vampire politics are quite strict, Lyssa needs Jacob's submission if he is to exist in the vampire world and not undermine her authority.
Very much character laden i loved this book for alot of reasons, yes it has enough erotica to please the smuttiest of bitches, it has an underline mystery of past history and who is the bad guy, but it's the structure of character in Jacob and Lyssa i loved best. The author gives you great depth in these characters, they're not perfect and she shows you that and for all the politics and rules in both the vampire world and the D/s world all they both want really is love. I liked the tender moments Lyssa had, she was harsh at times so the contrast in her nicer side was good to see.
This is an on-going series so in The Vampire Queen's servant you don't get all the resolves you would in a stand alone book, but it just made me more eager to follow on with book two The Mark of the Vampire Queen.
If you like paranormal, vampires, biting, erotica, moresomes and pedicures given by a sexy alpha male then this book is a must read for you.
It doesn't all go in Jacob's favour though, certain scenes were pretty brutal to read, the threat of male on male rape, a forced ménage à trois and group voyeurism are just some acts Jacob has to go through to become Lyssa's servant. The vampire politics are quite strict, Lyssa needs Jacob's submission if he is to exist in the vampire world and not undermine her authority.
Very much character laden i loved this book for alot of reasons, yes it has enough erotica to please the smuttiest of bitches, it has an underline mystery of past history and who is the bad guy, but it's the structure of character in Jacob and Lyssa i loved best. The author gives you great depth in these characters, they're not perfect and she shows you that and for all the politics and rules in both the vampire world and the D/s world all they both want really is love. I liked the tender moments Lyssa had, she was harsh at times so the contrast in her nicer side was good to see.
This is an on-going series so in The Vampire Queen's servant you don't get all the resolves you would in a stand alone book, but it just made me more eager to follow on with book two The Mark of the Vampire Queen.
If you like paranormal, vampires, biting, erotica, moresomes and pedicures given by a sexy alpha male then this book is a must read for you.
January 2, 2016
This series has received very high ratings on 카지노싸이트, but for me the book fell flat as the world building was just plain non-existent, and the writing contained overly dramatic dialogue that was lacking in descriptive detail. The first 1/3 of the book was very repetitive with every second line from Lyssa reading something along the lines of "Jacob, you have no idea the can of whoop ass I'm going to unleash on you. You should leave. Did I mention the whoop ass coming your way?" Since there is so little world building it was very easy to catch some of the major plot twists because when something is finally added to the plot it screams "look at me - I'm going to be important!!"
I also don't happen to be a fan of BDSM books that involve one character trying to make someone submissive who doesn't naturally tend to that direction. If being a sub is your brand of hinky all the power to you, but I always feel a bit uneasy when when one character tries to change the sexual preferences of another.
Hot cover though.
I also don't happen to be a fan of BDSM books that involve one character trying to make someone submissive who doesn't naturally tend to that direction. If being a sub is your brand of hinky all the power to you, but I always feel a bit uneasy when when one character tries to change the sexual preferences of another.
Hot cover though.
September 14, 2015
DNF. Horrible writing, the dialogue and the plot are lame, editing is nonexistent, and the sex even though it's supposed to be over the top BDSM is mediocre. It was like the author couldn't figure out whether to make it a sappy, fluffy Romance or a dark erotica which is why the sex scenes didn't play right for me. The Dom/sub relationship came off as confused which is probably why it wasn't reading real. I felt absolutely no attachment to the characters and no interest in the plot. No interest whatsoever. Zero. Zip. In fact I'm feeling incredibly grateful I didn't spend any money on this one.
I might try to revisit in the future because everyone seems to love it but I was doing a lot teenage-like scoffing and eye rolling while reading it so I doubt it.
The 1 star is for the cover. It's much better than most I guess and is the only nice thing I can say about it. Woohoo COVER!!
I might try to revisit in the future because everyone seems to love it but I was doing a lot teenage-like scoffing and eye rolling while reading it so I doubt it.
The 1 star is for the cover. It's much better than most I guess and is the only nice thing I can say about it. Woohoo COVER!!
nevermind
May 3, 2016DNF
It really, really pains me to DNF this, since it was a gift from my dear friend Jess. I tried, I did, but I couldn't make it work. The writing was too precious and not informative enough, and I didn't like the characters. (Also, the male lead making his first appearance wearing only hose like a half-dressed Renaissance man tends to put a damper on things.) I don't think I truly understand the need for novel-lenth erotica.
Jess:
It really, really pains me to DNF this, since it was a gift from my dear friend Jess. I tried, I did, but I couldn't make it work. The writing was too precious and not informative enough, and I didn't like the characters. (Also, the male lead making his first appearance wearing only hose like a half-dressed Renaissance man tends to put a damper on things.) I don't think I truly understand the need for novel-lenth erotica.
Jess:
July 15, 2012
This is a comprehensive review of the first eight books in the series.
Passionate, raw, often painful to read. Hill takes D/s to a supernatural level that knows no bounds. The world she creates is haunting and addicting, rife with floggers, whips, paddles and fangs. It hurts so good, stabbing way down in the deep dark squishy part of the soul.
Passionate, raw, often painful to read. Hill takes D/s to a supernatural level that knows no bounds. The world she creates is haunting and addicting, rife with floggers, whips, paddles and fangs. It hurts so good, stabbing way down in the deep dark squishy part of the soul.
not-for-me
October 29, 2015Self note:
In book two h, H and his brother have a menagé. DON'T LIKE SHARING BETWEEN H/h!!!
In book two h, H and his brother have a menagé. DON'T LIKE SHARING BETWEEN H/h!!!
April 24, 2008
This book is about Lyssa the Vamire Queen and Jacob ( a human) who applies for the position to be her servant. Jacob was trained by Thomas who was Lyssa's previous servant.The problem is that Jacob is an alpha male and he is not submissive. Both Lyssa and Jacob try to dominate the other but also want to submit to each other. There is alot of sexual tension as well as romance and quite a bit of violence from Lyssa (after all she is a vampire). I was not sure I would like this book but was pleasantly surprised. Have to get the sequel to this book now.
September 29, 2022
This book was just not for me which was disappointing. I felt like it had so much potential but for the first 150 pages the plot was her getting a manicure and smut. I could not connect with any of the characters.
Don't get me wrong, I love me some spice. But I just could not enjoy this. Two stars as I think it was a good idea and i did enjoy the vampire aspect, it just needed more.
Don't get me wrong, I love me some spice. But I just could not enjoy this. Two stars as I think it was a good idea and i did enjoy the vampire aspect, it just needed more.
September 29, 2021
4.5 steamy stars. I did not know vampire queen - human servant was the niche romance coupling that I needed in 2021 but here we are. I liked the hero but liked his "knight" aspect more than his scrub/vagabond aspect. I need more deets on his vampire hunter backstory!!
Reminded me a lot of Aja James' Pure Ecstasy because it is a vampire queen with a human servant. Loved the H+h in Pure Ecstasy. There is group stuff, voyeurism, and BDSM in The Vampire Queen's Servant. Lots of gratuitous sex scenes including one strangely animalistic scene where the vampire queen turns into this gargoyle creature.
Reminded me a lot of Aja James' Pure Ecstasy because it is a vampire queen with a human servant. Loved the H+h in Pure Ecstasy. There is group stuff, voyeurism, and BDSM in The Vampire Queen's Servant. Lots of gratuitous sex scenes including one strangely animalistic scene where the vampire queen turns into this gargoyle creature.
April 16, 2009
Really, I just skimmed it. It's just not my style. I didn't identify with the characters or feel any true interest in their story. I just skimmed enough to see where the author was going with the concept. Despite some sexy scenes it didn't feel passionate or exciting to me at all, just a dull read.
February 7, 2017
Joey W. Hill is a very unique author. She can turn the simple evolution of a couple's relationship into an epic romance, baffling the reader with the scope of this ability within the confines of three to four hundred pages. Hill is an author to be savored and dedication of time is necessary in order to appreciate her artistry.
Lady Elyssa Amaterasu Yamato Wentworth is a vampire queen not only by birth but also by the shear force of her personality. A thousand years has given Lyssa plenty of time to loose countless human servants, beloved each for their uniqueness and collectively for their submission, and also the loss of one controlling and perhaps crazed vampire husband. These years have also wrought a strange affliction upon Lyssa that forces moments of intense weakness. It's during one of these bouts that Lyssa decides to take home a potential new servant, Jacob.
Jacob, former vampire hunter and circus performer extraordinaire, has spent one man's dying months at perfecting his ability to serve and protect Lady Lyssa. Thomas, a monk and Lyssa's former servant, gifts Jacob to Lyssa by letter, provoking the queen's loneliness after a year of self enforced celibacy. She can no more resist the Renaissance man standing before her in nothing but skin tight hose, any more than she can fight the irrational need to bind him to her for centuries to come.
Combined with a supreme predatory nature and her status as Queen, Lyssa finds extraordinary sexual satisfaction by the willing submission of her servants. But, unlike those who've served before, Jacob is not a practitioner of sexual submission nor does he fully grasp the extent of submission required by a vampire. Having dabbled only in soft bondage, Jacob's inner alpha has always directed him where he needed to go in terms of a woman's pleasure. The cries and physical reactions of a woman in his arms determined where his hands and other appendages needed to go to ensure her pleasure. Being commanded what to do and punished for disobedience is a concept unknown to him. Yet, despite Jacob's need to control the situation, Lyssa's demands provokes a powerful response from him that he's never experienced before. But with his explosive desire for Lyssa also comes panic. Not that he doesn't trust his lady, but he's never been invaded so thoroughly nor so immediately by a woman before.
The rules governing the relationship between vampire and servant are ancient in their existence. It's a completely one sided affair giving the power exclusively to the vampire. At the whim of the vampire, a servant is given a total of three marks. One that is basically a tracker, resembling a mental GPS. The second allows the vampire to invade the very mind of it's servant. Again this is one sided. While the vampire can view the thoughts, emotions, fears, the past, and present of their servant's mind, the vampire may choose at it's leisure to invite the servant within the confines of it's own mind. The third and final mark links the servant to a vampire's immortality and thereby prolonging the humans life by three to four times what is normal.
Lyssa can't help but be intrigued by Jacob. While a willing submissive is her preference, Jacob's arrogance and subsequent disobedience, springs forth a tidal wave of lust and yearning for him. Although he's a man who claims to be unable to woo a woman by words, Lyssa can't deny the emotions he ignites within her with his cunning wit, dry humor, and above all his words of devotion to her and his need to not only be her protector, but her beloved companion as well. Impulsively and much to Lyssa's early chagrin, she gifts Jacob with the first two marks, yet she promises him that third will never be given for purely unselfish reasons.
I've come to see that unlike most romance authors, Hill enjoys writing about tortured heroines verses tortured heroes. Unlike Hill's 'Ice Queen' - Marguerite, who was horrifically tortured, Lyssa's vulnerability and thus my connection to her plight, was difficult to uncover. As a reader, my preferences crave a dominant hero verses a dominant heroine, so that alone counts against Lyssa. I'm also attributing it towards her being a vampire and with that is the supreme ability to crush Jacob on a whim. Plus, Lyssa has lived for a thousand years thereby having plenty of time to cultivate and perfect her controlled facade. Even Jacob states that anyone else would be hard pressed to observe the subtle nuances in her expressions, signaling her displeasure or approval. Honestly, it's not until Jacob plunges into Lyssa's mind that I could finally understand her motivations and what a revelation did they ultimately prove to be. I finally saw Lyssa as human. She's a woman who is capable of remorse which was definitely something I needed to see in order to move past some of her bad treatment of Jacob. And when Lyssa begins to acknowledge the blurred lines between vampire and servant, she realizes that she craves spending time with Jacob. The sexual desire is still there but she's surprised at even her mundane cravings of him like sitting on the couch and watching television. It's at this time, when she finally reaches out for Jacob, that her vulnerability steps out from behind her shields and I simply could no longer resist her.
Jacob, on the other hand, was very easy to connect with. He truly cares for his lady but he was also very human. I bonded with his thought processes and how even he at times questioned Lyssa's behavior and on more than one occasion, thinks he's taken the wrong path. But true to his Irish heritage, he's equally stubborn as he is motivated to belong to Lyssa, heart and soul. Simply put, Jacob is genuinely a good guy with a big heart. His compulsion to be chivalrous to all woman was very enduring.
'The Vampire Queen's Servant' is very reminiscent of Hill's Ellora's Cave contemporaries despite it's paranormal attributes. This novel puts Jacob and Lyssa's relationship center stage which is unique, IMO, in today's paranormal genre which features a lot of action and fight sequences with the romance taking a backseat. However, I don't think that the novel is for everyone. Because Lyssa's vulnerability and humanity doesn't really come out until more than halfway through the novel combined with her brutal treatment of Jacob, some people might give up on Lyssa early on and may decide to not continue reading.
The BDSM in 'The Vampire Queen's Servant' is not extreme yet the novel definitely deserves it's "erotic" label. You can expect some sharing of sexual partners and some interesting devices to enhance sexual pleasure, but I in no way found the novel to be 'uncomfortable'. Just the opposite in fact. There is a scene where Lyssa hosts a dinner for three vampires and their human servants. The scene is intensely erotic with Jacob performing sexual acts with two other woman, all at the command of Mistress Lyssa. To me it's like Joey W. Hill orchestrates this elaborate masterpiece with numerous people engaging in sexual acts on a stage. Each performs a solo with the others supporting in the background. Then they all come together in a resounding climax that leaves you breathless.
The close of 'The Vampire Queen's Servant' in no way signals the end for Jacob and Lyssa. Their story could not be contained within the confines of one book alone and is followed by it's sequel - 'The Mark of The Vampire Queen'. I think this was Lyssa's doing. You can't say no to a queen.
Again, Hill's novels are not fast reads by any means. She forces you to slow down and savor her words rather than speed through. Jacob and Lyssa's relationship is very complex and it takes time to uncover the inner workings of their hearts especially when one person is guarding their heart so well. I admit that I struggled with the novel in the beginning but about midway through, it really started to flow and the characters washed through my mind like so much silk.
Lady Elyssa Amaterasu Yamato Wentworth is a vampire queen not only by birth but also by the shear force of her personality. A thousand years has given Lyssa plenty of time to loose countless human servants, beloved each for their uniqueness and collectively for their submission, and also the loss of one controlling and perhaps crazed vampire husband. These years have also wrought a strange affliction upon Lyssa that forces moments of intense weakness. It's during one of these bouts that Lyssa decides to take home a potential new servant, Jacob.
Jacob, former vampire hunter and circus performer extraordinaire, has spent one man's dying months at perfecting his ability to serve and protect Lady Lyssa. Thomas, a monk and Lyssa's former servant, gifts Jacob to Lyssa by letter, provoking the queen's loneliness after a year of self enforced celibacy. She can no more resist the Renaissance man standing before her in nothing but skin tight hose, any more than she can fight the irrational need to bind him to her for centuries to come.
Combined with a supreme predatory nature and her status as Queen, Lyssa finds extraordinary sexual satisfaction by the willing submission of her servants. But, unlike those who've served before, Jacob is not a practitioner of sexual submission nor does he fully grasp the extent of submission required by a vampire. Having dabbled only in soft bondage, Jacob's inner alpha has always directed him where he needed to go in terms of a woman's pleasure. The cries and physical reactions of a woman in his arms determined where his hands and other appendages needed to go to ensure her pleasure. Being commanded what to do and punished for disobedience is a concept unknown to him. Yet, despite Jacob's need to control the situation, Lyssa's demands provokes a powerful response from him that he's never experienced before. But with his explosive desire for Lyssa also comes panic. Not that he doesn't trust his lady, but he's never been invaded so thoroughly nor so immediately by a woman before.
The rules governing the relationship between vampire and servant are ancient in their existence. It's a completely one sided affair giving the power exclusively to the vampire. At the whim of the vampire, a servant is given a total of three marks. One that is basically a tracker, resembling a mental GPS. The second allows the vampire to invade the very mind of it's servant. Again this is one sided. While the vampire can view the thoughts, emotions, fears, the past, and present of their servant's mind, the vampire may choose at it's leisure to invite the servant within the confines of it's own mind. The third and final mark links the servant to a vampire's immortality and thereby prolonging the humans life by three to four times what is normal.
Lyssa can't help but be intrigued by Jacob. While a willing submissive is her preference, Jacob's arrogance and subsequent disobedience, springs forth a tidal wave of lust and yearning for him. Although he's a man who claims to be unable to woo a woman by words, Lyssa can't deny the emotions he ignites within her with his cunning wit, dry humor, and above all his words of devotion to her and his need to not only be her protector, but her beloved companion as well. Impulsively and much to Lyssa's early chagrin, she gifts Jacob with the first two marks, yet she promises him that third will never be given for purely unselfish reasons.
I've come to see that unlike most romance authors, Hill enjoys writing about tortured heroines verses tortured heroes. Unlike Hill's 'Ice Queen' - Marguerite, who was horrifically tortured, Lyssa's vulnerability and thus my connection to her plight, was difficult to uncover. As a reader, my preferences crave a dominant hero verses a dominant heroine, so that alone counts against Lyssa. I'm also attributing it towards her being a vampire and with that is the supreme ability to crush Jacob on a whim. Plus, Lyssa has lived for a thousand years thereby having plenty of time to cultivate and perfect her controlled facade. Even Jacob states that anyone else would be hard pressed to observe the subtle nuances in her expressions, signaling her displeasure or approval. Honestly, it's not until Jacob plunges into Lyssa's mind that I could finally understand her motivations and what a revelation did they ultimately prove to be. I finally saw Lyssa as human. She's a woman who is capable of remorse which was definitely something I needed to see in order to move past some of her bad treatment of Jacob. And when Lyssa begins to acknowledge the blurred lines between vampire and servant, she realizes that she craves spending time with Jacob. The sexual desire is still there but she's surprised at even her mundane cravings of him like sitting on the couch and watching television. It's at this time, when she finally reaches out for Jacob, that her vulnerability steps out from behind her shields and I simply could no longer resist her.
Jacob, on the other hand, was very easy to connect with. He truly cares for his lady but he was also very human. I bonded with his thought processes and how even he at times questioned Lyssa's behavior and on more than one occasion, thinks he's taken the wrong path. But true to his Irish heritage, he's equally stubborn as he is motivated to belong to Lyssa, heart and soul. Simply put, Jacob is genuinely a good guy with a big heart. His compulsion to be chivalrous to all woman was very enduring.
'The Vampire Queen's Servant' is very reminiscent of Hill's Ellora's Cave contemporaries despite it's paranormal attributes. This novel puts Jacob and Lyssa's relationship center stage which is unique, IMO, in today's paranormal genre which features a lot of action and fight sequences with the romance taking a backseat. However, I don't think that the novel is for everyone. Because Lyssa's vulnerability and humanity doesn't really come out until more than halfway through the novel combined with her brutal treatment of Jacob, some people might give up on Lyssa early on and may decide to not continue reading.
The BDSM in 'The Vampire Queen's Servant' is not extreme yet the novel definitely deserves it's "erotic" label. You can expect some sharing of sexual partners and some interesting devices to enhance sexual pleasure, but I in no way found the novel to be 'uncomfortable'. Just the opposite in fact. There is a scene where Lyssa hosts a dinner for three vampires and their human servants. The scene is intensely erotic with Jacob performing sexual acts with two other woman, all at the command of Mistress Lyssa. To me it's like Joey W. Hill orchestrates this elaborate masterpiece with numerous people engaging in sexual acts on a stage. Each performs a solo with the others supporting in the background. Then they all come together in a resounding climax that leaves you breathless.
The close of 'The Vampire Queen's Servant' in no way signals the end for Jacob and Lyssa. Their story could not be contained within the confines of one book alone and is followed by it's sequel - 'The Mark of The Vampire Queen'. I think this was Lyssa's doing. You can't say no to a queen.
Again, Hill's novels are not fast reads by any means. She forces you to slow down and savor her words rather than speed through. Jacob and Lyssa's relationship is very complex and it takes time to uncover the inner workings of their hearts especially when one person is guarding their heart so well. I admit that I struggled with the novel in the beginning but about midway through, it really started to flow and the characters washed through my mind like so much silk.
March 8, 2011
There are some authors who are meant to push your boundaries and throw you in uncharted territory, for me Joey W Hill is such an author! THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT is a story about how Jacob becomes the servant of vampire queen Lyssa. A very simple given but the journey they undertake is executed with such depth of character and rich detail of vampire culture that it kept boredom far away from this story.
In THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT I got a first taste of the vampire culture which bears a cruel, dark side and among the vampires there’s always the vie for more power. Lyssa needs to be on her guard 24/7 and show no weakness. Though she is the only living Queen, Joey W Hill gave her one heck of an Achilles heel to balance her vast powers. At the beginning of the story I thought that perhaps this series starter wouldn’t do it for me, simply because Lyssa was the kind of character who didn’t nudge me out of my comfort zone, she threw me out of it. Her personality, her darker vampire side versus the more emotional and feminine side, and her actions born from that mentality made her a character I didn’t instantly like. Yet I read on, because if there was one thing I just had to know then it was her motivations for her actions, where did her personality stem from and what was hiding beneath the surface? The first glimpses of her hidden side gradually won me over, Lyssa is, if nothing else, a vampire queen who is thought-provoking and has an intricate personality demanding absolute attention. With Lyssa I got a strong, difficult and complex heroine who mesmerized me from the start.
Opposite of Lyssa there is Jacob. Now Jacob is a man I instantly loved and cherished for many reasons. He is an Irishman and I love the natural born attitude that comes along with that fact. It is also not in his nature to be a submissive, it is his promise to serve Lyssa with all that he is that fuels the need to serve her in that way. This brings a fire to their dialogues and their passion that livens up their growing connection. You can feel the challenge Jacob provides Lyssa, he dares her, he contradicts her, and he serves her in every way she needs him to serve without Jacob becoming a wimp of a man. Jacob is strong of mind and body but he is also loyal. He is charming, gallant and smart and he has the ability to make one woman the center of his singular devotion. He makes me weak in the knees and in that I can understand the seduction he presents for Lyssa.
Of course there are various obstacles for Lyssa and Jacob to overcome, some a bit easier than others. They presented dilemmas of the heart with the three degrees of binding between a vampire and her servant. Thomas, as the former vampire queen’s servant, still had a strong voice and effect on the overall story as his drama was gradually revealed. Lyssa also comes with a background that is gripping and then there is the strategic maneuvering of the vampire society, testing Lyssa with her powers that provide a setting where the etiquette between a vampire and its servant becomes crystal clear. These rules between a vampire and his/her servant are something that Lyssa tries to teach Jacob over and over. Both mentally and physically the eroticism is at times scintillating in its search for domination and submission as it is endearing in its heart rendering and vulnerable moments. Jacob’s desire to serve Lyssa is severely tested in this novel and his inner conflictions are well elaborated. It made me feel so very connected to his progress in becoming a servant. He may have been trained by Thomas to be a vampire servant but in no way was Jacob prepared for the emotional side of it. Because the author gave an in-depth view of Lyssa and Jacob’s inner thoughts I felt it all with them, especially how far Jacob was willing to take his servitude that was so essential to his character development.
There’s a changes coming in the vampire world and Lyssa has to prepare for the upheaval in the council and her territory, and this given spices the story even further. Still, I must also warn you, this is but the first episode where some things receive a conclusion but no real ending. The events that started in THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT, both in plot as in romance, are picked up in THE MARK OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN. I for one am glad to have this book already up on the shelves.
This story took me on a journey where I had to get used to the customs of vampires and their servants. Where Lyssa’s introduction created a push-pull effect with me and I didn’t know what to think of her. Nevertheless, it is the use of prose that imbues the words, scenes, actions and dialogues of the characters with emotions that I consider a trait of this author. Her writing style amplifies the effect of this story and I got gradually pulled in, succumbed to the developing relationship that enthralled me with its dynamics.
Once again Joey W Hill knows how to keep me fascinated with an arresting plot arc, multi-faceted characters, the eroticism is an sensual feast that contains some violence and darkness, and a story that wields the power of her incredible storytelling. This is another series for my keeper’s shelf!
4 stars
Quote Lyssa:
I can’t bear to lose another servant…
She had no servant. No one to indulge her need to casually reach out, touch and stroke. No one to hold her close, surprising her with the offer of comfort. No one to make her smile, banish shadows from her eyes. No one to kick around and treat like dog shit. She spoke, her voice quiet, tired. “I release you from your oath Jacob. You don’t have to stay. You can go now. I’ll find my way home.
Quote Jacob:
Gentle and rough. Tenderness and cruelty. Two sides of the coin, pleasures as light and dark as the women’s contrasting skin, and with permutations of all the shades between. He couldn’t deny the allure of it. Within him, as he suspected it was for most men, were the gentle lover and the demanding, primal animal. Here he was allowed to indulge and unleash both. Over it all was the watchful presence of his Mistress who’d compelled him to his course, which added an indefinable but no less arousing ingredient to it. The stimulation he felt was a synergy of all the arousal in the room. Instead of two women, he was arousing all of them. The power of it swept over him. While it drained some force of his anger, it left a sharp edge that only fed the hunger in himself.
Quote Jacob/Lyssa:
“Yours,” he said fiercely in her ear. “Yours, no matter who you force me to fuck to prove your damn dominance. All yours, lady. Heart, soul, mind…every drop of my fucking blood is yours. And every tear, she thought, wondering if he realized that the wetness between his jaw and her cheek came from him. As Tara said. Overly sentimental, these Irishmen.
Her Irishman.
In THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT I got a first taste of the vampire culture which bears a cruel, dark side and among the vampires there’s always the vie for more power. Lyssa needs to be on her guard 24/7 and show no weakness. Though she is the only living Queen, Joey W Hill gave her one heck of an Achilles heel to balance her vast powers. At the beginning of the story I thought that perhaps this series starter wouldn’t do it for me, simply because Lyssa was the kind of character who didn’t nudge me out of my comfort zone, she threw me out of it. Her personality, her darker vampire side versus the more emotional and feminine side, and her actions born from that mentality made her a character I didn’t instantly like. Yet I read on, because if there was one thing I just had to know then it was her motivations for her actions, where did her personality stem from and what was hiding beneath the surface? The first glimpses of her hidden side gradually won me over, Lyssa is, if nothing else, a vampire queen who is thought-provoking and has an intricate personality demanding absolute attention. With Lyssa I got a strong, difficult and complex heroine who mesmerized me from the start.
Opposite of Lyssa there is Jacob. Now Jacob is a man I instantly loved and cherished for many reasons. He is an Irishman and I love the natural born attitude that comes along with that fact. It is also not in his nature to be a submissive, it is his promise to serve Lyssa with all that he is that fuels the need to serve her in that way. This brings a fire to their dialogues and their passion that livens up their growing connection. You can feel the challenge Jacob provides Lyssa, he dares her, he contradicts her, and he serves her in every way she needs him to serve without Jacob becoming a wimp of a man. Jacob is strong of mind and body but he is also loyal. He is charming, gallant and smart and he has the ability to make one woman the center of his singular devotion. He makes me weak in the knees and in that I can understand the seduction he presents for Lyssa.
Of course there are various obstacles for Lyssa and Jacob to overcome, some a bit easier than others. They presented dilemmas of the heart with the three degrees of binding between a vampire and her servant. Thomas, as the former vampire queen’s servant, still had a strong voice and effect on the overall story as his drama was gradually revealed. Lyssa also comes with a background that is gripping and then there is the strategic maneuvering of the vampire society, testing Lyssa with her powers that provide a setting where the etiquette between a vampire and its servant becomes crystal clear. These rules between a vampire and his/her servant are something that Lyssa tries to teach Jacob over and over. Both mentally and physically the eroticism is at times scintillating in its search for domination and submission as it is endearing in its heart rendering and vulnerable moments. Jacob’s desire to serve Lyssa is severely tested in this novel and his inner conflictions are well elaborated. It made me feel so very connected to his progress in becoming a servant. He may have been trained by Thomas to be a vampire servant but in no way was Jacob prepared for the emotional side of it. Because the author gave an in-depth view of Lyssa and Jacob’s inner thoughts I felt it all with them, especially how far Jacob was willing to take his servitude that was so essential to his character development.
There’s a changes coming in the vampire world and Lyssa has to prepare for the upheaval in the council and her territory, and this given spices the story even further. Still, I must also warn you, this is but the first episode where some things receive a conclusion but no real ending. The events that started in THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT, both in plot as in romance, are picked up in THE MARK OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN. I for one am glad to have this book already up on the shelves.
This story took me on a journey where I had to get used to the customs of vampires and their servants. Where Lyssa’s introduction created a push-pull effect with me and I didn’t know what to think of her. Nevertheless, it is the use of prose that imbues the words, scenes, actions and dialogues of the characters with emotions that I consider a trait of this author. Her writing style amplifies the effect of this story and I got gradually pulled in, succumbed to the developing relationship that enthralled me with its dynamics.
Once again Joey W Hill knows how to keep me fascinated with an arresting plot arc, multi-faceted characters, the eroticism is an sensual feast that contains some violence and darkness, and a story that wields the power of her incredible storytelling. This is another series for my keeper’s shelf!
4 stars
Quote Lyssa:
I can’t bear to lose another servant…
She had no servant. No one to indulge her need to casually reach out, touch and stroke. No one to hold her close, surprising her with the offer of comfort. No one to make her smile, banish shadows from her eyes. No one to kick around and treat like dog shit. She spoke, her voice quiet, tired. “I release you from your oath Jacob. You don’t have to stay. You can go now. I’ll find my way home.
Quote Jacob:
Gentle and rough. Tenderness and cruelty. Two sides of the coin, pleasures as light and dark as the women’s contrasting skin, and with permutations of all the shades between. He couldn’t deny the allure of it. Within him, as he suspected it was for most men, were the gentle lover and the demanding, primal animal. Here he was allowed to indulge and unleash both. Over it all was the watchful presence of his Mistress who’d compelled him to his course, which added an indefinable but no less arousing ingredient to it. The stimulation he felt was a synergy of all the arousal in the room. Instead of two women, he was arousing all of them. The power of it swept over him. While it drained some force of his anger, it left a sharp edge that only fed the hunger in himself.
Quote Jacob/Lyssa:
“Yours,” he said fiercely in her ear. “Yours, no matter who you force me to fuck to prove your damn dominance. All yours, lady. Heart, soul, mind…every drop of my fucking blood is yours. And every tear, she thought, wondering if he realized that the wetness between his jaw and her cheek came from him. As Tara said. Overly sentimental, these Irishmen.
Her Irishman.
March 9, 2024
Well, this might have gotten 5 stars if it didn’t have what this author ALWAYS puts in her books - either public sex or sex with other ppl.
And to you readers who cry SPOILER as you read this, buzz off. This is an erotic BDSM book, there’s ALWAYS that sort of thing, apparently. Only I get pissed about it. It’s one of the reasons I don’t particularly like the genre.
But I do like the author’s writing style.
In so many ways her stories remind me of Aja James’ stories. There’s a lyrical quality. The women, even the subs, are strong. In this book/ series, there’s the supernatural, the idea of reincarnation and soulmates. All reminiscent of the Pure/ Dark Ones and Dragon Tails by Aja James. The difference is that Ms. Hill likes to write a lot of psychological stuff. Sometimes, they get boring, other times they make the story more interesting.
I like the fact this was free. But not the fact that all the other books in this series cost $$. I might still get them tho. If for no other reason than to see Carnal DIE!
And to you readers who cry SPOILER as you read this, buzz off. This is an erotic BDSM book, there’s ALWAYS that sort of thing, apparently. Only I get pissed about it. It’s one of the reasons I don’t particularly like the genre.
But I do like the author’s writing style.
In so many ways her stories remind me of Aja James’ stories. There’s a lyrical quality. The women, even the subs, are strong. In this book/ series, there’s the supernatural, the idea of reincarnation and soulmates. All reminiscent of the Pure/ Dark Ones and Dragon Tails by Aja James. The difference is that Ms. Hill likes to write a lot of psychological stuff. Sometimes, they get boring, other times they make the story more interesting.
I like the fact this was free. But not the fact that all the other books in this series cost $$. I might still get them tho. If for no other reason than to see Carnal DIE!
September 26, 2010
No interesting character development or plot. Cruel female vampire tortures her servant for unrealistic or vague reasons.
STORY BRIEF:
Lyssa is a powerful 1000 year old vampire. Her previous human servant Thomas died. Thomas chose Jacob as his replacement and sent Jacob to Lyssa with a letter of recommendation. Thomas also trained Jacob in things he would need to know. Jacob wants to be Lyssa’s servant. She tells him he must be totally submissive and endure torture from her. Much of the story is Lyssa saying and doing cruel things to Jacob. He endures it and stays with her. She requires that he act as her maid, housekeeper, party planner, secretary, etc. There is a sequel book to continue the story.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I read the first 211 pages and the last 33 pages (65% of the book). I couldn’t take anymore. There was no character development and too many unknowns about the pasts and motivations of Jacob and Lyssa. What little was said about Lyssa’s past was told and not shown, for example on page 133. “Several vampires had trapped her in an alley. Or so they’d thought. Three bodies had been left behind, and hers had not been one of them. In fact, after making a brief stop to freshen up, she’d met Rex as planned for a theater production and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the play.”
Lyssa was mean, rude and a dominating bully. I never understood why Lyssa told Jacob she must torture him in order for him to be her servant. It seemed like an excuse to tie him up and cause sexual pain. There is almost too much sex in this book. Whenever they are together, thoughts of sex are involved. And, the sex scenes were not that good. There didn’t seem to be any story with good guys, bad guys or interesting developments. I normally do not like writing a review if I haven’t read the whole book, but reading more than half and being unable to finish it I felt was worth noting.
DATA:
Story length: 373 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: many and long. Setting: current day Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve read one other story by Joey W. Hill. I gave 1 star to “A Choice of Masters” copyright 2003, which appears in the anthology “Enchained.” My review for the anthology was posted on 3-13-08.
STORY BRIEF:
Lyssa is a powerful 1000 year old vampire. Her previous human servant Thomas died. Thomas chose Jacob as his replacement and sent Jacob to Lyssa with a letter of recommendation. Thomas also trained Jacob in things he would need to know. Jacob wants to be Lyssa’s servant. She tells him he must be totally submissive and endure torture from her. Much of the story is Lyssa saying and doing cruel things to Jacob. He endures it and stays with her. She requires that he act as her maid, housekeeper, party planner, secretary, etc. There is a sequel book to continue the story.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I read the first 211 pages and the last 33 pages (65% of the book). I couldn’t take anymore. There was no character development and too many unknowns about the pasts and motivations of Jacob and Lyssa. What little was said about Lyssa’s past was told and not shown, for example on page 133. “Several vampires had trapped her in an alley. Or so they’d thought. Three bodies had been left behind, and hers had not been one of them. In fact, after making a brief stop to freshen up, she’d met Rex as planned for a theater production and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the play.”
Lyssa was mean, rude and a dominating bully. I never understood why Lyssa told Jacob she must torture him in order for him to be her servant. It seemed like an excuse to tie him up and cause sexual pain. There is almost too much sex in this book. Whenever they are together, thoughts of sex are involved. And, the sex scenes were not that good. There didn’t seem to be any story with good guys, bad guys or interesting developments. I normally do not like writing a review if I haven’t read the whole book, but reading more than half and being unable to finish it I felt was worth noting.
DATA:
Story length: 373 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: many and long. Setting: current day Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright: 2007. Genre: erotic paranormal romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve read one other story by Joey W. Hill. I gave 1 star to “A Choice of Masters” copyright 2003, which appears in the anthology “Enchained.” My review for the anthology was posted on 3-13-08.
May 10, 2010
The Vampire Queen's Servant by Joey Hill (Read April 2009)
I would like to think that I am not the squeamish type when it comes to romance novels. However, a book classified as a BDSM erotic vampire novel sounds a bit daunting, does it not? Since reading A Mermaid's Kiss and A Witch's Beauty, I have become a serious Joey Hill fan. My good friend and fellow writer Michelle heartily encouraged me to start her vampire series, and so I acquiesced, all the while harboring some reservations about the BDSM stuff. Who would have expected it to be one of the most touching, revealing and vulnerable relationships in a romance novel? Hell, not me. (Okay, I was expecting whips and chains. So sue me.) Obviously I was missing the big picture about this lifestyle, which is ultimately about trust. But having the dominant be the female partner, in this case Lyssa the vampire queen, is a fascinating take on this sort of relationship. Jacob is a fabulous character, struggling with his instinctive need to dominate and the need to serve his "lady" who has stolen his heart over several lifetimes, as a knight, a Japanese warrior, and now as an applicant to be her human servant. God, is that romantic or what? This is one of the most "romantic" books I have ever read, and the fact that it is a BDSM erotic paranormal is just some tasty icing on the cake. Hill has written a beautiful book, although not as intense and fast-paced a read as A Mermaid's Kiss or A Witch's Beauty. Jacob and Lyssa's story unfolds in a slow, sensual, and satisfying way. Another interesting part of this book is that one of the key characters (Thomas, Lyssa's former servant and instructor for Jacob) has already died when this book takes place. That does not stop Hill from painting a stunning portrait of this man who selflessly loved his vampire queen, and dared to kill for her. Joey Hill is a writer beyond reproach and The Vampire Queen's Servant is a joy to read. I can't wait to devour the rest of the series! Grade: A+
Penelope
I would like to think that I am not the squeamish type when it comes to romance novels. However, a book classified as a BDSM erotic vampire novel sounds a bit daunting, does it not? Since reading A Mermaid's Kiss and A Witch's Beauty, I have become a serious Joey Hill fan. My good friend and fellow writer Michelle heartily encouraged me to start her vampire series, and so I acquiesced, all the while harboring some reservations about the BDSM stuff. Who would have expected it to be one of the most touching, revealing and vulnerable relationships in a romance novel? Hell, not me. (Okay, I was expecting whips and chains. So sue me.) Obviously I was missing the big picture about this lifestyle, which is ultimately about trust. But having the dominant be the female partner, in this case Lyssa the vampire queen, is a fascinating take on this sort of relationship. Jacob is a fabulous character, struggling with his instinctive need to dominate and the need to serve his "lady" who has stolen his heart over several lifetimes, as a knight, a Japanese warrior, and now as an applicant to be her human servant. God, is that romantic or what? This is one of the most "romantic" books I have ever read, and the fact that it is a BDSM erotic paranormal is just some tasty icing on the cake. Hill has written a beautiful book, although not as intense and fast-paced a read as A Mermaid's Kiss or A Witch's Beauty. Jacob and Lyssa's story unfolds in a slow, sensual, and satisfying way. Another interesting part of this book is that one of the key characters (Thomas, Lyssa's former servant and instructor for Jacob) has already died when this book takes place. That does not stop Hill from painting a stunning portrait of this man who selflessly loved his vampire queen, and dared to kill for her. Joey Hill is a writer beyond reproach and The Vampire Queen's Servant is a joy to read. I can't wait to devour the rest of the series! Grade: A+
Penelope
November 10, 2012
Joey Hill truly is a linguistic artist. She can evoke an image like no other. Her writing is so sensual & erotic. The mall sequence in this book is bar none one of the most evocative & erotic things I've ever read. There is a pervasive melancholy & wistful undercurrent in this book. The irony of examining the of issues of mortality & ennui in relation to immortality is really quite touching, almost existential at times.
This book is the first of the vampire series; the story of Lyssa & Jacob. Lyssa is the vampire queen & Jacob longs to serve her. They have an inexplicable connection neither understands fully. Their road is not a smooth one & for the majority of this book I didn't really like Lyssa-not certain I do even after having finished it. For a 1000 yr old vampire she sure has some craptastic communication skills. Jacob should be sainted for putting up with some of her antics. She pushes his boundaries &, for that matter, patience at every turn. Naturally, there's angst & a big secret which is Lyssa's motivation for challenging him. A showdown is on the horizon which no doubt will test their relationship.
As for the sex, you ask? Panty melting. One word of caution though, there is a fairly horrifying rape/menage scene but it's well written. There's some kink but very little. Surprising really considering Ms. Hill's other offerings but there you have it.
This book is the first of the vampire series; the story of Lyssa & Jacob. Lyssa is the vampire queen & Jacob longs to serve her. They have an inexplicable connection neither understands fully. Their road is not a smooth one & for the majority of this book I didn't really like Lyssa-not certain I do even after having finished it. For a 1000 yr old vampire she sure has some craptastic communication skills. Jacob should be sainted for putting up with some of her antics. She pushes his boundaries &, for that matter, patience at every turn. Naturally, there's angst & a big secret which is Lyssa's motivation for challenging him. A showdown is on the horizon which no doubt will test their relationship.
As for the sex, you ask? Panty melting. One word of caution though, there is a fairly horrifying rape/menage scene but it's well written. There's some kink but very little. Surprising really considering Ms. Hill's other offerings but there you have it.
October 26, 2015
3.5 Stars
Review to Follow.
Review to Follow.
December 19, 2017
First of all, i will admit i dropped the book at about 41%. Maybe it gets awesome after that, i don't know and honestly i don't think it'd matter anyways. I went into this book looking for something easy and fun to read, but there are simply too many things that i personally don't like, but let's go with order. there will be minor spoliers here and there but trust me, nothing really happens anyways so it is no big deal.
THE GOOD STUFF
A story where the woman is actually in charge and not a damsel in distress? sign me in!
And from the ebook preview she seems not to be some kind of superwoman. Even though she is "dominant" she is not invulnerable and/or invincible. The guy (who is called Jacob by the way, and tend to be shirtless most of the time. Just what is wrong with Jacobs) has to battle his own ego while learning to submit to her.
This premise got me interested because
a)I'm sick of the clichés of paranormal romance/young adult books
b)The MCs do seem (seem) imperfect and "human" (pun intended)
Plus the sex scenes are good. The good stuff ends here, abruptly.
THE BAD STUFF (AKA THE REST OF THE BOOK)
First of all, it doesn't happen anything. Anything. There is a teeny tiny bit of plot in the first pages, just to set the story going and that's it. 150 pages are filled with three things:
a)How ancient and powerful is the vampire (whose name i forgot, we'll call her V from now on).
b)How awesome, strong, intelligent, fierce, muscular and with a big dick is Jacob.
c)sex scenes, the only good parts i read.
This is the plot up to the point i read:
V is horny, goes to get a manicure but a sexy stranger is at the salon instead. She brings him home no questions asked (actually asked but ignored) and they have sex. Then they have more sex.
THE END.
V is not a dominant woman, nor she is independent and/or strong. She is just yet another fantasy heroine in need. Now don't get me wrong; i know i said that i liked the fact that she is not perfect like some kind of goddess. But you simply can't tell me every half page that she is oh-so-strong and than make her act like an horny 16 years old. She makes hasty half-assed decisions just because she wants to fuck Jacob. That's it. This is the reason the story happens. A friggin' thousands years old vampire who'd survived god only knows how many wars and fights, the very definition of willpower and cunning, and she behaves like a girl. This, put togheter with the infinite rambling on her supposed awesomness that the book forces us to read is hilarious. She constantly gets seduced by the strong and sexy man, that can make her orgasm with his bare touch.
And here we arrive at the second thing i hated: Jacob. He is perfect. He is hot, deadly, is perfectly at ease even before V because, simply put, he is good at flirting and fucking. This obviously works even on an otherwordly creature, because there's really no difference between an ancient fucking vampire mistress and the girl next door. Plus he has no reason to do any of this. He literally just seen her one day and fell in love, and now doesn't question in the slightest the decision of becoming the slave of V. Oh well, maybe he does, for a paragraph. More than enough for accepting the idea of serving a woman he doesn't know, that kills innocent people (she even said so), in a relationship that will last several centuries and cannot be undone. Unless you die.
Did i mention that Jacob perfect? He is an expert in everything, from household management, catering organisation, cooking, taste in dressing, taste in decorations, rose gardening, everything. I mean, why having him fail at something and (god forbid) learn and grow, amirite?
Even his supposed shortcomings aren't real. Is being too proud and strong willed to be friggin' enslaved a shortcoming? That's his only "flaw".
Last but not least: being excited doesn't mean being hard all the time. This guy gets hard at the sight of a nipple under the fabric of a dress. He either is 16 or suffers of priapism. This is not funny or erotic, Jacob should seek medical help either case.
THE GOOD STUFF
A story where the woman is actually in charge and not a damsel in distress? sign me in!
And from the ebook preview she seems not to be some kind of superwoman. Even though she is "dominant" she is not invulnerable and/or invincible. The guy (who is called Jacob by the way, and tend to be shirtless most of the time. Just what is wrong with Jacobs) has to battle his own ego while learning to submit to her.
This premise got me interested because
a)I'm sick of the clichés of paranormal romance/young adult books
b)The MCs do seem (seem) imperfect and "human" (pun intended)
Plus the sex scenes are good. The good stuff ends here, abruptly.
THE BAD STUFF (AKA THE REST OF THE BOOK)
First of all, it doesn't happen anything. Anything. There is a teeny tiny bit of plot in the first pages, just to set the story going and that's it. 150 pages are filled with three things:
a)How ancient and powerful is the vampire (whose name i forgot, we'll call her V from now on).
b)How awesome, strong, intelligent, fierce, muscular and with a big dick is Jacob.
c)sex scenes, the only good parts i read.
This is the plot up to the point i read:
V is horny, goes to get a manicure but a sexy stranger is at the salon instead. She brings him home no questions asked (actually asked but ignored) and they have sex. Then they have more sex.
THE END.
V is not a dominant woman, nor she is independent and/or strong. She is just yet another fantasy heroine in need. Now don't get me wrong; i know i said that i liked the fact that she is not perfect like some kind of goddess. But you simply can't tell me every half page that she is oh-so-strong and than make her act like an horny 16 years old. She makes hasty half-assed decisions just because she wants to fuck Jacob. That's it. This is the reason the story happens. A friggin' thousands years old vampire who'd survived god only knows how many wars and fights, the very definition of willpower and cunning, and she behaves like a girl. This, put togheter with the infinite rambling on her supposed awesomness that the book forces us to read is hilarious. She constantly gets seduced by the strong and sexy man, that can make her orgasm with his bare touch.
And here we arrive at the second thing i hated: Jacob. He is perfect. He is hot, deadly, is perfectly at ease even before V because, simply put, he is good at flirting and fucking. This obviously works even on an otherwordly creature, because there's really no difference between an ancient fucking vampire mistress and the girl next door. Plus he has no reason to do any of this. He literally just seen her one day and fell in love, and now doesn't question in the slightest the decision of becoming the slave of V. Oh well, maybe he does, for a paragraph. More than enough for accepting the idea of serving a woman he doesn't know, that kills innocent people (she even said so), in a relationship that will last several centuries and cannot be undone. Unless you die.
Did i mention that Jacob perfect? He is an expert in everything, from household management, catering organisation, cooking, taste in dressing, taste in decorations, rose gardening, everything. I mean, why having him fail at something and (god forbid) learn and grow, amirite?
Even his supposed shortcomings aren't real. Is being too proud and strong willed to be friggin' enslaved a shortcoming? That's his only "flaw".
Last but not least: being excited doesn't mean being hard all the time. This guy gets hard at the sight of a nipple under the fabric of a dress. He either is 16 or suffers of priapism. This is not funny or erotic, Jacob should seek medical help either case.
Read
September 21, 2021I really liked this story, which is about Lady Elyssa/Lyssa the ages old, never aging vampire queen and her introduction to Jacob, a former vampire hunter, to be her new servant, from her former servant, Thomas the monk.
It is the story of their individual pasts and present, with possibilities for the future, providing the sick Lady Lyssa has one but that will probably be covered in Joey W Hill's next book.
The depth of their developing relationship and dare the word reciprocated love be mentioned, as well as intense lust, has begun here. Love and lust that has differences between the species but which are all the more powerful for it.
It has a rich, formal dialogue with reminiscences of past long gone era's. It shows passion and some intensely erotic sexual scenes but these also include non consent and dubious consent, which may not suit all readers and who should be over 18 to access this novel.
I like the development,depth and richness of the main characters, it also links well to the associated characters, which I believe will be seen again in this series. There is also an antagonist,Carnal, who makes an appearance who I disliked intensely and expect to see return in the next novel.
I hovered between 4 and 5 star...ideally 4.5 but it has that little extra something for me that made me round up to 5 star.
One thing I wasn't happy with was the price. This was the most expensive book I've bought on kindle. Normally I would now go and purchase the rest of the series...but not at these prices. Maybe the next one for special occasions. I know writers have to make a living and I'm not denying them that, but sorry to say Ms Hill, at almost £9 /$14, then it precludes many readers on tight budgets from buying and enjoying your work and worse encourages illegal lending.
I've heard the arguements of real book versus electronic and know paper books cost more to produce, this e-book is expensive.
It is the story of their individual pasts and present, with possibilities for the future, providing the sick Lady Lyssa has one but that will probably be covered in Joey W Hill's next book.
The depth of their developing relationship and dare the word reciprocated love be mentioned, as well as intense lust, has begun here. Love and lust that has differences between the species but which are all the more powerful for it.
It has a rich, formal dialogue with reminiscences of past long gone era's. It shows passion and some intensely erotic sexual scenes but these also include non consent and dubious consent, which may not suit all readers and who should be over 18 to access this novel.
I like the development,depth and richness of the main characters, it also links well to the associated characters, which I believe will be seen again in this series. There is also an antagonist,Carnal, who makes an appearance who I disliked intensely and expect to see return in the next novel.
I hovered between 4 and 5 star...ideally 4.5 but it has that little extra something for me that made me round up to 5 star.
One thing I wasn't happy with was the price. This was the most expensive book I've bought on kindle. Normally I would now go and purchase the rest of the series...but not at these prices. Maybe the next one for special occasions. I know writers have to make a living and I'm not denying them that, but sorry to say Ms Hill, at almost £9 /$14, then it precludes many readers on tight budgets from buying and enjoying your work and worse encourages illegal lending.
I've heard the arguements of real book versus electronic and know paper books cost more to produce, this e-book is expensive.
October 14, 2008
Yet another take on the world of vampires: their physical characteristics, their heirarchy, their emotional needs, their special abilities, etc. This author adds a couple of new elements: the importance of a human servant, and what happens when an immortal confronts her mortality! This was my first book by this author, and I have very mixed feelings about it. Yes, I rated it three stars, as the story was well-written and I thoroughly enjoyed parts of it. BUT ... some things were very hard to swallow (excuse the pun). There were quite a few painfully explicit bondage scenes, and near the conclusion (SPOILER ALERT), there was an intimate scene where the vampire wore her "true face", and, I'm sorry, but that was just too much for me. She was too much a "creature" there and not enough woman for my sensibilities! Now,will this keep me from reading the sequel about this couple - NO! I'll chance another scene like that to find out what happens to these two, though I do hope it is resolved in just one more book. I would also like to read something non-paranormal by Hill, because she is definitely talented.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2018
3.5 stars
It has good steamy scenes, great character development and interesting premise. However, I found the writing style a bit slow paced and the plot too thin. Good read for BDSM fans with delicious alpha male servant and fantastic female vampire queen.
It has good steamy scenes, great character development and interesting premise. However, I found the writing style a bit slow paced and the plot too thin. Good read for BDSM fans with delicious alpha male servant and fantastic female vampire queen.
dnf
February 18, 2013I just couldn't take the whole premise.
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