Friday, January 8, 2021

SciFi/Fantasy Book Review: Beyond Jealousy by Kit Rocha

 



Beyond Jealousy is the fourth novel in Kit Rocha's "Beyond" series, their nine book post-apocalyptic erotic romance series.  If you're not aware of the series, it takes place in a post-apocalyptic part of the US in which there's a rich and privileged...and puritan city surrounded by nine slummy but more liberal sectors run by gangs that thrive by selling alcohol, drugs, sex, etc.  Each book deals with a different romantic grouping inside this world's Sector Four, run by the O'Kane gang, which maintains a policy of loyalty, free love and respect for each other.  And in case you couldn't tell from my use of the word "erotic" - these books are VERY explicit, with sex and orgy scenes in great detail coming every other book, so if you're not into that, well these aren't for you - but if they are, these are very fun and enjoyable.  

Beyond Jealousy switches up the formula a little by following a trio instead of a duo: The love triangle of Rachel, Ace, and Cruz, who have circled each other on the peripheries of the first three books - with Ace and Rachel wanting each other in book 1, Rachel and Cruz finding each other in book 2, and Cruz and Ace falling for each other at the end of book 2/beginning of book 3.  Here that all takes center stage in a series of these two guy one girl sex scenes in all directions, as the three attempt to figure out what these feelings mean for each other - and they all struggle internally with their own past demons.  Oh and there's also general plot things going on - a potential gang war growing over the production of counterfeit alcohol - but that's secondary really to the explicit romance in what really matters, and it's done so well overall that I was very happy with the result.  

Note:  As with the other books in this series, you can start the series here if you want and read it as a stand alone, but it does build upon character and plot work done in the first three books and the first novella - and as I hadn't read the novella before this one, I'd clearly missed a little bit, but not enough that it was a problem.  


-------------------------------------------------Plot Summary-------------------------------------------------------
Rachel may be a trusted member of the O'Kane gang and the gang's master brewer, but there's always been one thing she's been missing since her exile to Sector Four:  someone to be her own, not just someone she has to share for a good fuck.  Ace was always the guy she expected to make a move for her, but he never seemed able to despite her clear interest - always pushing her away with harsh words.  And then came Cruz, the hero and former soldier from Eden, who also wanted her even if he wasn't quite sure what to do with her.  And then Cruz and Ace found each other, and Rachel again felt left on the outside.

But both Ace and Cruz still want Rachel just as much as they want each other.  Ace simply knows his own past, and doesn't think himself worthy of either of them and knows that he will eventually break both their hearts.  But surely Ace can help bring Rachel and Cruz together and can teach them to love without inhibitions - to love and to fuck in ways that would make anyone from Eden die of shame.  

But neither Cruz nor Rachel want to give up on any of them - or to let Ace back away from the three of them once he finally seems to commit to the relationship.  And as the O'Kanes liquor-smuggling business brings the threat of gang wars to the sectors, can the three of them figure out the fire that lies between them before outside influences come to try and take them all away from each other?
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To some extent, the Beyond books have a formula readers of the series will be familiar with by book 4.  Our story will mainly feature (side chapters following other chapters aside) out main couple getting together early, despite any past conflicts they may have had.  They will have lots and lots of tremendous sex in explicitly and really well done scenes, all the while political and gang conflicts pop up and threaten to upend things.  And then, near the end, one party - pretty much always the guy in the couple - will do something really dumb to ruin the relationship, resulting in the girl having to assert her independence in tears until the guy has some sense slapped into him and can make amends.  And to some extent, Beyond Jealousy follows this formula to a tee, and readers will see the moment where things go wrong coming a mile away.  

But Beyond Jealousy switches things up by no longer focusing on a couple, but a trio instead: Rachel and Ace and Cruz.  Oh we've had plenty of orgies in the series before, particularly in the first two books, but here this isn't about orgies making one pairing feel good and close, but a trio exploring each other sexually as part of their own combined relationship.  So whereas before you may have had Lex and Dallas helping Noelle and Jasper with their relationship, but clearly being on the side, here Ace and Cruz and Rachel are a single unit, with each feeling complete only with the other two, even if they don't mind moments alone with one of the others.  

And this works so well not just because of the great sex scenes - which well, still really good as we explore many many possible ways you can go with a M-M-F trio - but because the main trio are really strong characters who its easy to care about.  Rachel came from the puritan city of Eden, but has long since gotten used to Sector Four....but just has been hurt time and time again by Ace's refusal of commitment, so when he finally buys in with Cruz, it seems she finally can enjoy what she feels she's been missing...but that makes her fear their loss in a way that she never has before.  She wants to be submissive and to trust in someone to not hurt her, if Ace and Cruz will let her.  Cruz may have came more recently from Eden, but Ace and the Sector has taught him to be a demanding and dominant lover, even as he outside of the love wants merely to be able to do good however he can - no matter the cost.  And Ace may be have a thing for sadism and art - tattoos and painting - but he has a heart of gold, a heart he doesn't feel is worth anything due to his past as a high priced whore, and needs someone to teach him his own self worth. 

They're a hell of a trio, and they work so well together, to make this story really enjoyable, as the sex gets more and more steamy and explicit and the trio learns to fall for each other.  My biggest complaint about this one isn't really a complaint about this book kindof - for the first time, this book ends with a side character chapter that provides a cliffhanger to be resolved next book, which honestly felt like it could've been the prologue instead of book 5 since it has little to do with the main trio's story.  It lowers the mood of this one a bit, which was unnecessary.  But otherwise, if you've enjoyed this explicit erotic romance series previously, you will really enjoy this one as well.   

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