This is a hardcore erotica book. Although Liv and Cassandra end up falling in love, there doesn't seem to be much interaction between them besides the sex scenes. There's not much of an understanding of their basic lives, and is just centered on their erotic encounters. Liv is supposed to trust Cassandra completely, yet doesn't know her. Just felt like there was a lot missing from their story.

ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review.
So this is the first book of its kind that I have read. Because of that it was a bit harder for me to follow (written very well I am just not very knowledgeable on some of the lingo) That being said it was still a very good read. I enjoy the character development and story line. I really appreciate that the author was very knowledgeable about what she was writing. I will definitely read more books by Debra Hyde in the future.

Very sexy. A little wordy at points and way farther into the kink scene than some of the other books I've read about the BDSM scene. The connection between L and her Domme was believable and excellent, but there were some scenes, subplots and characters that were just over the top. Plus when it gets that deep into the life style it's harder for me to connect with. The electroshock scene was really hot though. Overall, intriguing but ultimately overdone.

I am a very big fan of historical erotica, if that makes any sense. I avidly search out the classics and devour them. This had a similar title to The Story of O. A book I really enjoyed, but had an issue with the male gaze aspect of the novel. This book addressed my issues there. However this book raised some more issues for me. Mainly the issues I have with so many books that have a Female to Male transsexual character. First off the word is "transgender", not "transgendered". You don't say "girled" or "boyed", why would you use the past tense for transgender? That gets me EVERY time. Then there was the issue I had with a character that appeared to be one that was going to be important, but fettered off, Quinn. The way Quinn was described was almost enough to make me put the book down. You don't describe someone as having a "transgendered body". It is just rude and grammatically incorrect. Thankfully the author redeemed herself in my eyes when it came to her portrayal of transmen with her service submissive Reese. Huge fan of Reese!

The actual story wasn't as simple as the Story of O. There were more layers to the characters and to the plot than I am used to with erotica. The scene in L's bedroom alone would have made me love this book, I would say more, but I don't want to spoil it. It fit the world of D/s as I have always experienced it and how I want to experience it. I didn't like the permanent marking came so early in their relationship. That would have been a huge red flag if a Dom/Domme had asked that of me. The actual mark was described in such a gorgeous way that I liked the idea, but the timing was so sketchy. The second permanent mark made more sense, while not being my scene. I loved that marking idea and what it represented. The timing was also much better. 

Overall, the book was hot and intense in a very controlled way. The only major red flag was the permanent mark so early in the relationship. That is a huge plus for this book. The constant checking in and asking for consent (though it is not informed consent) really made this book so much better than the erotica I am used to finding. 



4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book.

I picked this book because I wanted to try and read more diversely. I have read lesbian romance in the past but never with a side of BDSM. I read about 15% of this book and found that I just didn't care about the characters. luv was annoying, I didn't care about Tara or Quinn and Cassandra really didn't do anything for me. I was really hoping to like this book, but unfortunately I didn't. I did not finish this book because I just couldn't care less how this ended and the steps to get there.

The interaction between Liv and Cassandra were enticing. The description of each scene was visual in reading each detail that I could picture everything that was happening. The dominant and submissive aspect had me on the edge wanting to read more.

I started reading this several weeks ago, became bored and put it down around the 25% mark and thought I'd just end up DNF'ing it - hearing about the "Void" for pages on end was a bit too much and melodramatic. I picked it back up this morning to finish the book and it improved somewhat, but not enough for me to really change my opinion. The writing style was too flowery and sounded like I was reading a historical romance rather than contemporary erotica, so I skimmed over a lot of the pages, but not so much that I didn't get the point. I avoid reading historical romances since it's just not my style, but for this book, I think 'less is more' would have been a better fit (the extended descriptions didn't add to the scenes) and perhaps made the read more enjoyable.

There was a lack of romance or plot to the book and that was a letdown. I could see the connection between Cassandra and Liv, saw how they provided each other with what they needed, but I couldn't connect with the characters. I didn't see how they grew to love each other outside of the sex and we didn't get to see how they lived their lives in the year they were together (before the book ends). There was some drama at one point, but even it was short-lived.

This book was more erotica than erotic romance and that perhaps is the biggest disappointment.

I'm not super into works with BDSM, so I didn't finish this book. It started off okay, but there wasn't enough plot in between all the "action" to hold my interest. That said, I gave it a positive review, because I wasn't misled in the plot, it was just something I tried hoping I'd like it. If you heavy erotica with a tiny side of plot, absolutely go for it. I don't think you'll be sorry.

This book is hard for me rate because the writing was good the characters were believable but certain things about this book just annoyed me for example every time the Liv used the phrase "the Void" I just had to roll my eyes. I also didn't understand why it is called a lesbian erotica and then it has many female - male erotic scenes. I also did not like how bisexuality was portrait and how the characters dealt with it.

O.K. So the main question that comes to mind is where do I start?


The book is so well written, that you just couldn't put it down. It was also very educational. It may also offend some people so just be aware. Me? I really enjoyed it.


It's like the lesbian story of O, if you read O it was kind of disappointing at the end but this one actually leaves an opening for a possible sequel. What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't just a sex book for the sake of sex. It was an actual story. A plot and main characters which gives the book more depth. The two main characters are very well developed and you can sense the actual bond between them.


I'm not sure what attracted me to this book, but I'm glad for whatever it was. It is really worth your time. Find yourself a really comfi chair, a cup of coffee, you may want to consider a few extra accessories but they are optional (only kidding!!!!) and sit back, relax and enjoy. Happy reading.


This was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1984390328

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R23DDN2B81JYLC/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Story of L recounts how Liv catches the eye of the infamous Domme Cassandra at a fetish club one evening. They meet while Liv is dealing with an urge that she refers to as the Void. What follows after is Liv's journey into submission to Cassandra and her transformation into L. Throughout the book, I'd say that Cassandra would definitely be described as difficult by most. She makes L jump through quite a few hurdles initially, but L is devoted and receives help at times from Cassandra's service submissive, Reese, and one of her friends, Quinn.

As someone involved in the kink lifestyle, I greatly enjoyed Story of L. This was a thoroughly interesting jaunt into the world of D/s with more realism than typically is afforded to such relationships. From Cassandra's first appearance, I was admittedly a bit put off by her demeanor and some of her demands, especially at such an early stage in their relationship. It didn't take long though to uncover how much of a romantic was buried close to the surface. I was extremely pleased with how intimate Cassandra and L's relationship truly was; I'm not a fan of cold, harsh Dommes who never drop that persona.

The story is well-written and moved at a fast pace with a good ratio of sex to plot. I do somewhat wish that more time was spent on Cassandra and L conversing together and building a bond. I didn't feel like the two of them really got to know about each other's lives. We were given some glimpses into L's work at the university and Cassandra's past as a Domme, but I would have enjoyed some more fleshing out of them both. Overall though, Story of L is an extremely enjoyable read that I'd strongly recommend to anyone interested in an accurate depiction of a D/s relationship.

Story of L is, as you might expect, a lesbian retelling of The Story of O. It is the erotic tale of Liv, a woman who is surprised to discover ultimate satisfaction through an act of submission, and Cassandra, the woman who obtains her own satisfaction through the submission of others . . . but who does not easily offer up the pleasures of her dominance.

Before you get the wrong idea, however, this is not a sex-for-the-sake-of-sex slice of erotica. This is a story with some real depth to it, one that forces us to explore our own ideas of dominance and submission, even as Liv learns about hers. It is a story of a darkly passionate lesbian romance and BDSM wish-fulfillment, but definitely with a be-careful-what-you-wish-for theme.

Liv is a switch, a woman who prides herself on being both dominant and submissive. It is a tough role to play, both wielding the power and giving it up, and you get the sense early on that there is a choice to be made. It is the appearance of Cassandra, who pushes her to the edge (and beyond), that forces Liv to begin questioning her role, and to seek out a return to the deeper, perfect submission she experienced at Cassandra’s feet.

Cassandra is a dominant, but also an unrepentant romantic. She is looking for that perfect submissive, that one loyal slave whom she can love, and who can love her in turn. She is not content with a plaything who slips in and out of a collar, a woman who comes by to be whipped when it is convenient. No, Cassandra seeks nothing less than complete ownership over Liz’s life. Before ever allowing Liz to return to her place at her feet, Cassandra tests her newfound love, pushing her to explore precisely what it means to be submissive, and forcing her to make a series of sacrifices so that the two can better understand one another. Liv’s best friend, Quinn, serves as something of a focal point for the reader, keeping us at arm’s length from the power exchange, while cautioning Liv to be careful of just how deeply she should commit herself to Cassandra’s demands.

Story of L is a story about the intersection between fantasy and reality, and the ways in which one can accommodate the other. It is both a story of the honest demands of a true BDSM lifestyle, and the honest commitments of a lesbian relationship. You get the sense that Debra has truly done her homework, and that she has a true passion for the characters and the lifestyle. Physically and emotionally satisfying, this is definitely a story worth exploring.

Completely unexpected - that pretty much sums up my emotion upon finishing this amazing book. The fact that this book won a coveted literary award compelled me to give it a try despite its subject content. I am so glad for an open mind because this book was quite the adventure. I readily admit to my ignorance and intimidation when it comes to BDSM so I can't comment accurately about its authenticity to that lifestyle. Frankly, that isn't what this story is about, but it does play a rather interesting character in of itself as the catalyst for bringing Liv and Cassandra together. Don't get me wrong, there's some pretty intense play that made me fan myself multiple times. What I wasn't expecting is the marked intensity of Liv's transformation in becoming Cassandra's darling, and Cassandra's transformation into something so much more because of L's uncanny ability to fit Cassandra in ways that she never anticipated. The author delves deep into human emotion and interlaces it with sexuality and it's all intensified because of the BDSM lifestyle. It's truly some breathtaking writing that you rarely if ever find in the erotica genre, and I loved every word. I'm officially giving this 4.5 stars due to some grammatical and editing errors, but this is writing you can't miss. It certainly deserves literary awards. Who knew erotica could be so intelligent and thought provoking.

I've never read the Story of O, and so perhaps I missed some sort of connection or something, but, I just could never properly get into this book. Not because it was BDSM either, I've read a few others and on that scale this was actually pretty darn good. It was a full story, not just the "talkies" (those are always hard to read), and not just sex, but a good combination of both. And the craft behind the writing was really nice too.

But, there were parts that I just couldn't get into, and a couple of things here and there that totally pulled me out of the story too.

Basically it wasn't the worst BDSM story/novel I've ever read, but, not the best one I've read either. Solid 3 stars.

I got this ARC through Netgalley on behalf of Riverdale Avenue Books.

This book was hard to get through for me. I have read a lot of lesbian fiction and BDSM fiction, but never heard a lot of the terms used in this book. Either the author is much more familiar with the "scene" than the average author, or she did her research much better. Either way, I was left confused and wondering quite a few times about what certain things meant. I think the sex scenes were okay, but again, a little too advanced for me, perhaps. Maybe the more seasoned BDSM reader would enjoy this a bit bitter than I did. :)

This is an okay erotica story but needs a bit more story. I found the characters good but just wanted a bit more depth to them and the story.

Debra Hyde has written a erotic bdsm story that will either engross your imagination for hours. As you read you may blush a little, get a little excited, or be a little embarrassed at some of the scenes that play out in the story line. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes BDSM. The story is well written and it will make you want to finish it in one sitting to find out what happens.

This was an extremely interesting read. I haven't read a lot of BDSM novels it figured I would try this one out. Im glad I did. The plot was intense and I often asked myself why Liv continued to jump through all of the hoops. But it was obvious that her feelings for Cassandra were way more than just desire. It was interesting to see another side of relationships through this book and I found the author's writing to be highly engaging. Thanks for a great read!!

This is one of those books that you really need to know what you're getting into before buying. Same thing with rating this book. For me personally, I rate it 3 stars for how much I enjoyed it, however for the type of book it is I'd probably rate it 4 stars. What I mean by that is that this book is about as pure an S&M erotica book as you're going to get.

The book is basically about the character "L" and her learning to serve her new Master Cassandra. It's exactly as it sounds, lots of sex scenes in slave/master fashion. If that's not your thing, this book isn't for you. If you're interested in the lifestyle at all, then this is there perfect book for you.

The writing was a little choppy for me in general and there wasn't much substance between the two characters other than sex. Even the non-sex tasks are through L and another character. Again, fine for an erotica book but I still like my erotica books with a little more plot and chemistry between the two leads.