Sin and Soil

A well written and very enjoyable read. Very few editorial mistakes. Domestic Decay, another fantastic series, is what lead me to pick up this older series from the same author. As other reviewers have said, they have very similar premises and general familial relationships between characters, but the characters are very distinct between the two series. The main distinction, for me, is that both series prioritize plot/ world building and character growth where many other authors in this space seem to neglect them. I'm looking forward to learning more about this world and it's characters in the following books!

Let's start with the story. I have made it to book ten and have enjoyed the story all the way. The author has populated this world with real, believable people with real issues. They stand up in the face of adversity with their fear subsumed rather than conquered. Damon, the main character (MC), often wins battles with just a bit of luck and a lot of grit. His “family” consists of two other orphans and a surrogate Mother with paranormal powers. The four of them find themselves coming to the aid of each other over and over as the story unfolds. The author, Anya Merchant, is a competent world builder. The landscapes and the dangers they present are varied and imaginative. There are frigid and temperate climates with peoples of the land and of the forests. There are major and minor deities who rule, gather armies, and war with each other over the centuries with little regard to the normal folks who inhabit the world. The intrigue keeps growing as new things—Royals, pretenders, demigods, monsters, heroes, villains, and regular “salt of the Earth” people—are revealed. Things that are known to be true may not be so. Bonds and alliances are subject to change. Power is granted, refused, or withheld. The MC grows in maturity (except as noted) and paranormal power over time. The only time I take issue with the author relates to the depiction of sex. It appears to be a goal of the author to include the MC in some sort of sexual act nearly every other day. His relationship with the opposite sex never matures. He is always pushing toward more. Seemingly every woman he meets, no matter her age, causes him to lose his mind and attempt another sex act. Moreover the sex does not move the story along. The MC is nearly always the initiator. The women are hesitant but ready and willing in the end. In the end, I found myself skipping over the sex to get back to the story.

I've been impressed with Anya Merchant since I first discovered her novels. I had most enjoyed her contemporary novels -- well-developed characters, time taken to naturally evolve the characters, and great plot ideas and execution of those ideas! -- but was I willing to follow her into a series with a fantasy setting? I did, and am quite glad that I did. I very much enjoyed Sin and Soil-- Anya Merchant is still one of the top in her field -- and am looking forward to more installments. Lots of extra threads here that she can weave into future novels. Whatever it takes, keep this woman writing! She's among the best!

One of the best taboo erotica i'v read. Slow bulid-up is really antagonizing and exciting at the same time. Yeah it' gets to the base fairly quickly but there are romance, intimacy and acknowledgement of love brewing. Affections and reasons of hold-ups are well set. Buyable. Very well can put my feelings in it. And it also well sets up the suspense of background story. Whether it will be good fantasy story or not I don't know yet but the start is good. I didn't expect this depth of depiction of feelings and emotions of characters from a male protagonist harem fiction. Happily surprised. Keep up the good work, writer!

i wrote a review for the second book before i returned to write this. the writing was decent, the scenes were sexy, but the story just kind of sits in a holding pattern, not advancing much in an attempt to keep re-hashing the same sort of sexy teasing that worked a few times over and over. The world holds alot of promise, the story has the potential to be very interesting, but the author never really moves the plot out of a very limited setting. this continues in the second book as well and it start to get aggravating after a while. on the fence about whether this was worth the money.

Damon Al-Kendras born and raised in Remenai, the books equivalent of Middle Earth but also the New World dopple ganger, that's under going the turmoils of colonization under the rule of the Kingdom of Merenia. Damon is a gladiator with his best friend Austine. Currently fighting in the Arena of Avaricia, on the Veridian's Curve. Fighting a highly trained wolf troll he is not in too much danger since gladiatorial bouts are no longer allowed to be to the death. Are stark change from his father's time but he still enjoys the roar of the crowd and the knowledge that he's the best on this side of the Endless Sea. In fact his father's debts are why he is fighting since he was 13. A deceased gambler he must fight to pay off his debts or endanger his foster family of Malon, his foster mother, his older foster sister Ria and younger foster sister Vel. During the bout Damon notices a strangely familiar blonde woman wearing a Cat's mask as this bout is taking place during the Turning Festival. A minor holiday celebrated in a fashion similar to Halloween. I do not wish to delve deeper but to suffice it all up there will be some "Step brother what's that in your pants?" style setups. Despite the low brow set pieces for sex the author does raise them above the crass-ness you would expect from some not to be named books in a similar genre " cough Lord Lightly cough" and gives her characters depth and agency so none of the women feel ike a glorified real doll and Damon doesn't come off as a borderline sex offender with no conscience. I'll continue to read future volumes and look forward to her author works. Spoilers and Trigger Warnings Merenian laws concerning the age of consent is that a woman under the age of 20 is a minor so this adds a level of tension when Damon meets his younger "foster" sister who has an intense resemblance to the masked noblewoman he slept with in chapter one. Followed later in the story with his fully sober and consenting sex with his older step sister Ria. Ria can be a bone of contention for some since she is of Indigenous origin and is clearly described as an elf but not called an elf. This tale like the authors other works delve into incestuous but technically not relationships much like the current favorite thing on a disturbing number of porn sites. Unlike those sites the relationships feel less contrite but do verge on unlikely. All sex scenes are consensual, except maybe one accidentally poke while swimming naked and a dramatic scene involving hoodlums that is suggested that it could have gotten violent in a sexual matter if Damon had been less quick to attention.

This is a book that definitely feels like it toes the line of taboo more often than not. The author had such a way of writing this that it triggered the same shameful yet erotic reactions that the characters were experiencing. Not only were the adult bits written very well but the action wasn't lacking at all. There did seem to be some pacing issues but overall I am very much looking forward to the next installment.

Story is layered like a mystery novel, what you think is up front isn't and aside from minor spelling errors a wayward autocorrect the writing was not without an very interesting pace. I look forward to more because the lines are blurry the heroes questionably strained and side characters with a good volume to them. It was long, again like a mystery novel, I appreciated that and it works, subtle things mattered and just overall good work to read.

I've been a big fan of Anya Merchant's for a while now but Sin and Soil is the best of her works I've read yet. Anya is able to craft a really intriguing fantasy setting that actually makes you interested in more than just the sexual build up. But wow is the sexual content content of this book amazing, I loved the mystery of Vel, the playfulness of Ria and the motherly qualities of Malon. After finishing the first novel I immediately purchased the next four. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the fantasy genre and also likes a bit of taboo in their stories.

In short, excellent. The writing flows, and the characters shine. The explicit encounters, of which there are a few, compliment rather than detract. More intimate (and hotter for it), less porn star set. Editing is better than the norm in this genre. The only negative really is that the books are short. e.g. bk2 is around 3hrs, shorter than bk1. However, the writing isn’t rushed and the story does convey progress throughout the series. It’s the same great mix of adventure, friendship and love; equal parts intimate & downright lewd.

Anya Merchant has always been a favourite in erotic fiction, as much plot as porn so to speak. But the erotic fiction genre has so many bad authors that the bar is set pretty low. This novel isn’t just erotic fiction but an actual novel with great story and amazing sex scenes just happen to be a part of it. I will be recommending this book to my online reading group.

Author has a catalogue of erotica and with this story is now branching out into harem fantasy but staying true to her recurring theme of woman in authority as main temptation for the protagonist. The Magic system is interesting and the world building has some elements that need expanding if they are to draw the reader in and paint an immersive picture. Looking forward to book two.

Another well written story that captivates and keeps the reader enthralled! Can nitwait for the next one. Only wish it was longer.