5 and 4.5 Stars for Claimed by the Order by J. Johanis #MM #Mythology @JennaJohanis

This was absolutely fantastic; I couldn’t put it down. The writing style is beautiful, and it’s clear Ms. Johanis has an exceptional grasp of mythology and well-constructed fantasy. This is an unusual view of ancient cultures’ gods and goddesses.I rarely read books with non-con because too often, it’s softened, played up for reader sympathy, used as a method to get the main pair to hook up, or handled badly all-around. None of that is to be found in this story. I appreciate how clear the distinction is, both physically and psychologically, between the rape and the genuine intimacy. It’s even clear when pseudo-intimacy is employed. The only part that might loosely be labeled as “dubious consent” between the main romantic leads is mitigated by several factors and is not a decision made lightly by either party. Ultimately, neither one feels shame for the act itself, only for the the events which unfold afterward.

Marduk starts out as a bit of a playboy, a typical cute-and-mostly-knows-it type. And then his whole world is shattered by unbearable violence. What I love about the way it’s written is that he never becomes fragile, not even when he’s reached the limit on what he can handle. Although he believes himself to be a failure, his actions continue to demonstrate his strength and resilience. He remains true to himself and his principles. Throughout, he is convinced there must be a better way to resolve his problems than the easy route.

By contrast, Anu-Akad is, on the surface, mild and timid. He seems just as unlikely a hero as Marduk, and at first, he seems willing to resign himself to whatever he is told must happen. It’s a pleasure to watch him grow into his nobility. The unfolding of his relationship with his father is both gut-wrenching and heartbreaking as they seek to reconcile their difficult history.

This is really not a story for the faint of heart. It carries heavy warnings for a lot of material of a mature, graphic nature. But that’s not the appeal of the tale. It’s in the grappling with underlying emotions that the real story is told. All in all, utterly captivating.

Amy