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Control
When Control agent Joaquin Castillo finds himself unintentionally bound to a brainwashed sex slave, he vows to restore the boy's memories and set him free. Then he discovers the boy's true identity, and everything goes straight to hell.
Free - Status: Complete
word count - 167,155
Free - Status: Complete
word count - 167,155
502 pages, online fiction
First published July 26, 2014
416 people are currently reading
16934 people want to read
About the author
Cordelia Kingsbridge
32 books1,232 followersCordelia Kingsbridge has a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.
Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!
Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
October 3, 2016
4.5 Stars.
I'm in a real review slump......RL is way too busy at the moment but that's not really an excuse,I just can't seem to post a coherent review these days....so this will be very short.
I recently read Close Protection by this Author and loved it.I was very hesitant to read this because of the BDSM element but thought I'd give it a go and I actually really enjoyed it.I've read M/F books when I was just getting into Erotic books and did enjoy them at the time but have found that they definitely don't do it for me,so imagine my surprise when this one worked for me.
I'm definitely not an expert in this genre but I would say it's very mild on the BDSM front.I thought it had a kind of Dystopian feel about it which I really liked.As with the other book I've read by this Author the two Male characters are quite fascinating.They have great chemistry but it's not all about sex,there's a really good story going on as well.
Would I recommend this one.....
100% yes if you're a M/M fan that wants something different but if you prefer the gay for you trope/or a fluffy romance,definitely not.
I'm in a real review slump......RL is way too busy at the moment but that's not really an excuse,I just can't seem to post a coherent review these days....so this will be very short.
I recently read Close Protection by this Author and loved it.I was very hesitant to read this because of the BDSM element but thought I'd give it a go and I actually really enjoyed it.I've read M/F books when I was just getting into Erotic books and did enjoy them at the time but have found that they definitely don't do it for me,so imagine my surprise when this one worked for me.
I'm definitely not an expert in this genre but I would say it's very mild on the BDSM front.I thought it had a kind of Dystopian feel about it which I really liked.As with the other book I've read by this Author the two Male characters are quite fascinating.They have great chemistry but it's not all about sex,there's a really good story going on as well.
Would I recommend this one.....
100% yes if you're a M/M fan that wants something different but if you prefer the gay for you trope/or a fluffy romance,definitely not.
January 25, 2019
3.5 Stras
If there would have been a sequel to this, my rating would be higher. That wasn’t enough for me, I know it was 500 pages but you know I need my dose of some romance but this one couldn’t satisfy me on that department. I liked Misha and Joaquin’s relationship but at some point, it frustrated me because of that collar. If the collar has been removed a bit sooner, it would be fantastic! But the writing was good and that made me read it till the end and another good thing was it’s not heavy on science. Yes, I didn't understand some parts but it was on me not the book. Told in single POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel, a bit angsty and slow-burn. Overall, despite the issues, I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
If there would have been a sequel to this, my rating would be higher. That wasn’t enough for me, I know it was 500 pages but you know I need my dose of some romance but this one couldn’t satisfy me on that department. I liked Misha and Joaquin’s relationship but at some point, it frustrated me because of that collar. If the collar has been removed a bit sooner, it would be fantastic! But the writing was good and that made me read it till the end and another good thing was it’s not heavy on science. Yes, I didn't understand some parts but it was on me not the book. Told in single POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel, a bit angsty and slow-burn. Overall, despite the issues, I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
August 17, 2015
Blade Runner meets The Bourne Trilogy with a side of kink
I was surprised by the tact this book took. I'm beginning to realize this author doesn't favor traditional romance. Actually, I'm not even sure that a romance was her intent, though I was rooting for Misha and Joaquin all along.
I was deceived by the title into thinking this was slave fic and it was... sort of. Again, non-traditional slave fic with a psychological twist that is loaded with suspense, intrigue, espionage and political maneuvering. All of which kept me on the edge of my seat.
A feat considering my recent bout of reading ADHD. In fact, I was so enthralled that occasionally mid-page I would lapse into staring into space and talking to this book about what would motivate x, y, or z character to do such a thing. LIKE A WHACKADOODLE!
Next thing you know I'll be shuffling around in a bathrobe, mumbling and counting toothpicks.
Correction. Mumbling and drinking Colorado bulldogs. Muuuuuuuch better. >____>
Joaquin Castillo is a PNP officer for the Paranthian government. He's the "Body" of the his two man team with his "Brain" being Danica. We join them on a operation to capture and possibly eliminate Rowland who is the leader of a human trafficking organization called the Black Dawn. Joaquin upon eliminating Rowland discovers his personal slave catatonic in the room. Danica recognizes his slave's collar as a black market rumor that no one's ever seen in practice. This collar attaches to the spine and takes over all brain function thereby making a perfectly compliant slave; however, it's linked to a master pendant and if the master dies, the slave dies shortly thereafter. Scrambling Danica tells Joaquin to put the master pendant on and voila Joaquin is now master of slave that he neither knows nor wants.
Joaquin's problem boils down to consent. Misha can't give it but he's been programmed to need certain things that put Joaquin in a morally dubious position. Misha's conditioned to seek approval of his master and if not received he tends to lapse into self abuse, so it is a lose/lose situation for poor Joaquin.
I liked Joaquin a lot. The fact that I kept picturing...
Did NOT hurt my likes. He's very street wise and has strategic intelligence, but eloquent he is not. He sticks his foot in it on more often than not, but he's well intentioned.
Misha is far more intriguing of a character. Kingsbridge layered him quite well and even threw in a significant dose of psychology to add to the mystery. I'm not sure I agree with his diagnosis, but I did find the character fascinating. He's no ordinary slave and when his background and the collar intersect... I had my reservations as to whether or not he was going to make it. And whether or not he and Joaquin would make it.
Control is a strong suspense thriller heavy on intrigue which is precisely what made it such a page turner. The political backdrop is quite similar to contemporary US/Russian relations. There is a tentative truce between Paranthas and Marenne that would take little to nothing to disassemble and lead to war. Haishi is a small neutral country between the two that places in instrumental role in the coda. There are loads of secondary characters that are equal parts repulsive and captivating all of whom influence the plot.
Overall, the pacing is solid, though I did think it got a little too technical and detailed in the last 20-25% and bogged down. If you enjoy political suspense thrillers with a side of romance, you're in luck AND it's free!
Way.
The romance and sex are more bit players, but when they occur they are fantastic. Stupendously light yet erotic as all get out D/s. That first rimming scene... I legit started to break a sweat. No lie.
Why not 5 stars?
Well, I think it could've been tighter. An editor could've streamlined it. The world building is good, but I was hoping for more. It would've been a nice touch for Marennese to be a new language rather than French. And the most disturbing thing of all was the notion that even in the future commercial flights still have sucky legroom.
Seriously? We can't address this? I'm aggrieved for all the future generations.
Recommended for suspense thriller fans.
I was surprised by the tact this book took. I'm beginning to realize this author doesn't favor traditional romance. Actually, I'm not even sure that a romance was her intent, though I was rooting for Misha and Joaquin all along.
I was deceived by the title into thinking this was slave fic and it was... sort of. Again, non-traditional slave fic with a psychological twist that is loaded with suspense, intrigue, espionage and political maneuvering. All of which kept me on the edge of my seat.
A feat considering my recent bout of reading ADHD. In fact, I was so enthralled that occasionally mid-page I would lapse into staring into space and talking to this book about what would motivate x, y, or z character to do such a thing. LIKE A WHACKADOODLE!
Next thing you know I'll be shuffling around in a bathrobe, mumbling and counting toothpicks.
Correction. Mumbling and drinking Colorado bulldogs. Muuuuuuuch better. >____>
Joaquin Castillo is a PNP officer for the Paranthian government. He's the "Body" of the his two man team with his "Brain" being Danica. We join them on a operation to capture and possibly eliminate Rowland who is the leader of a human trafficking organization called the Black Dawn. Joaquin upon eliminating Rowland discovers his personal slave catatonic in the room. Danica recognizes his slave's collar as a black market rumor that no one's ever seen in practice. This collar attaches to the spine and takes over all brain function thereby making a perfectly compliant slave; however, it's linked to a master pendant and if the master dies, the slave dies shortly thereafter. Scrambling Danica tells Joaquin to put the master pendant on and voila Joaquin is now master of slave that he neither knows nor wants.
Joaquin's problem boils down to consent. Misha can't give it but he's been programmed to need certain things that put Joaquin in a morally dubious position. Misha's conditioned to seek approval of his master and if not received he tends to lapse into self abuse, so it is a lose/lose situation for poor Joaquin.
I liked Joaquin a lot. The fact that I kept picturing...
Did NOT hurt my likes. He's very street wise and has strategic intelligence, but eloquent he is not. He sticks his foot in it on more often than not, but he's well intentioned.
Misha is far more intriguing of a character. Kingsbridge layered him quite well and even threw in a significant dose of psychology to add to the mystery. I'm not sure I agree with his diagnosis, but I did find the character fascinating. He's no ordinary slave and when his background and the collar intersect... I had my reservations as to whether or not he was going to make it. And whether or not he and Joaquin would make it.
Control is a strong suspense thriller heavy on intrigue which is precisely what made it such a page turner. The political backdrop is quite similar to contemporary US/Russian relations. There is a tentative truce between Paranthas and Marenne that would take little to nothing to disassemble and lead to war. Haishi is a small neutral country between the two that places in instrumental role in the coda. There are loads of secondary characters that are equal parts repulsive and captivating all of whom influence the plot.
Overall, the pacing is solid, though I did think it got a little too technical and detailed in the last 20-25% and bogged down. If you enjoy political suspense thrillers with a side of romance, you're in luck AND it's free!
Way.
The romance and sex are more bit players, but when they occur they are fantastic. Stupendously light yet erotic as all get out D/s. That first rimming scene... I legit started to break a sweat. No lie.
Why not 5 stars?
Well, I think it could've been tighter. An editor could've streamlined it. The world building is good, but I was hoping for more. It would've been a nice touch for Marennese to be a new language rather than French. And the most disturbing thing of all was the notion that even in the future commercial flights still have sucky legroom.
Seriously? We can't address this? I'm aggrieved for all the future generations.
Recommended for suspense thriller fans.
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March 21, 2022
Loose and happy, a whole new world opening itself to him, Joaquin let go of Misha's hand and extend his right hand instead. ❝Joaquin Castillo. It's nice to meet you.❞
❝Raphael Bertram.❞ Cheeks dimpling, Misha shook Joaquin's hand; even in his exhaustion, his grip was firm and sure. ❝But my lover calls me Misha.❞
i adored Misha sm, i just wanted to protect him at times, but he's also the type who can kill you with no hesitation. we love the duality in this household. 😌 i wasn't really feeling the romance until the second half and that's when things started to take off for me. as much as i loved the ending and how it came full circle, i do wish .
regardless, i enjoyed the story and most of the characters, as well as the banters between Misha and Joaquin. <3
❝Raphael Bertram.❞ Cheeks dimpling, Misha shook Joaquin's hand; even in his exhaustion, his grip was firm and sure. ❝But my lover calls me Misha.❞
i adored Misha sm, i just wanted to protect him at times, but he's also the type who can kill you with no hesitation. we love the duality in this household. 😌 i wasn't really feeling the romance until the second half and that's when things started to take off for me. as much as i loved the ending and how it came full circle, i do wish .
regardless, i enjoyed the story and most of the characters, as well as the banters between Misha and Joaquin. <3
February 10, 2017
This was me
after finishing Control. I’ve read the second half oft the book in one sitting, I had a severe headache, but I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!!
A heartfelt THANK YOU goes to this talented author who turned a near DNF into a 5* read for me and to my friend Ralu who convinced me to keep reading in the first place. Oh, boy! I was so glad I listened to her!
It is no secret that books about slavery and BDSM are not my first choice. Of course, I have read the blurb and knew what I was getting into, but I just had to read it because I recently finished another book by this author which is now an absolute favorite read for me. I love her writing style and could not get enough, so I delved right into Control and… was disappointed. Even though I felt kind of an insta-love for Joaquin and the beginning of this book was thrilling enough, as soon as it came to this slave thing I was about to give up, because I did not like it. My friend was right, though, and things turned out completely different than expected.
When Joaquin Castillo, who works for a secret government agency by the name of Control in order to shut down Black Dawn, an organization responsible for the majority of human trafficking in his country, rescues a sex slave, he does not know what he is getting into. Misha, as he names him, is not a “normal” sex slave. He wears a collar which is connected to his brain and a corresponding pendant gives his ”master” absolute control over him. After killing the man who is holding Misha captive, Joaquin is required to take this pendant to save Misha’s life.
At first, Misha was only a shell, a slave craving for sex and conditioned to feel pain when his need is not fulfilled.
Joaquin is forced to accomplish this task and I loved this whole Dom-against-his-will thing. At first, I wanted to suggest he should read a manual, something like ‘How to act like a Dom in ten steps’ or so ;-), but later on I came to know that he has indeed experience as a Dom and his reactions were just due to the fact that it goes strictly against Joaquin’s ethics not only to have sex with, but to dominate a man whose consent is more than questionable. This speaks so much for his personality. I also loved how Joaquin takes care of Misha, his protective streak is in overdrive when it comes to defend Misha against his own employer who wants nothing more than to explore the unprecedented technology and to use him to shut Black Dawn down for good by all available means.
Removing the collar without killing Misha is not an option, but there is a method to regain control over Misha’s brain which proves to be successful and it reveals Misha’s personality gradually. Damn, this man made me shudder! Sometimes in a good and other times in a… not so good way. ;-) I don’t want to give away too much about who – or better what – he really is, so let’s just say Joaquin as a member of a task force is an altar boy compared to him…
In order to find out what is really behind the human trafficking organization and to protect the world against another war, Joaquin and Misha are forced to operate more or less single-handedly, since there is a mole in Joaquin’s organization who endangers everything. Like I said, the second half of the book had me constantly on the edge of my seat, with both men being on the run and the revelation of Misha’s identity.
It’s a real shame that the author removed her free stories from the internet, because Control, just like Close Protection, is no longer available. An author who is able to make me love a story which topic is not really for me has skills, I can tell you!!!
September 16, 2017
*4.5 stars*
I'm well and truly mindfucked. What a ride! Abrupt ending but I can definitely see the appeal. I'm so happy I found this author.
I'm well and truly mindfucked. What a ride! Abrupt ending but I can definitely see the appeal. I'm so happy I found this author.
November 6, 2014
"There’s nothing I enjoy more than the intersection of plot, character, and porn."
Cordelia Kingsbridge
Cordelia Kingsbridge
August 10, 2014
Control is Kingsbridge’s third online novel, offered for free, and written in (mostly) weekly installments. This book, started in September 2013, finished in late July and topping in at 167k words, is a thrilling and sexy sci-fi story set in a world like ours, but more “future-y” (aka more gadgets and tech), and made up of different countries that are dealing with some obvious tensions, where a very strategic assassination could lead to war.
The beginning of this story starts with a bang as MC Joaquin, a government security agent, leads an assault on a crime lord, but his mission’s success leaves him with an unexpected deliverable—a young man who had been the crime lord’s sex slave. Due to the power of a very special “obedience collar,” he has no recollection of who he was before his slavery, only that he lives for his Master, and not just for his Master’s touch and good graces, but also his very life is tied to who his collar is linked to, and when the crime lord is assassinated, his system starts to shut down, and is moments from death. In order to save his life, Joaquin is forced to take on the role as his new master, and from those chaotic first moments, their lives are intricately tied together.
Control is a very interesting and compelling read as the mystery of “Misha” unspools through the story as well as the growing relationship between Misha and Joaquin, although they face a very big difference of motivations. Misha wishes to please his new master in any way possible (and is punished with pain by the collar if he is not regularly fulfilling his master’s sexual needs), and Joaquin detests being in a place of control over Misha, and is striving to find a way to not just help Misha regain his memories, but find a way to full extricate him from the collar’s control without killing him. Along with those challenges, Joaquin’s agency is still tracking the leaders of the syndicate that had enslaved Misha, and through their investigation, find out some deeper, darker forces are at work.
Kingsbridge plays with a very interesting angle on dub-con or dubious consent, as Misha has no way to refuse orders, and is driven to have and want sex by the collar, so cannot truly consent. Joaquin finds being intimate with Misha as akin to rape because Misha cannot refuse, but unless he helps “relieve” Misha during these instances, Misha is racked with terrible pain. They are both hostage to the collar’s control, and Joaquin, even as he has sex with Misha, a man who he finds incredibly beautiful and would be attracted to under normal circumstances, feels intense guilt, and fears that whenever he is successful in freeing him, that Misha will only see him like the rapists who had enslaved him before.
Little does he know that finding out Misha’s true persona will add a whole new layer of mixed feelings.
I’m not a fan of rape and non-con, but I didn’t find Control a hard read in that aspect. I mostly felt bad for both Misha and Joaquin as they were working through these issues, and although there are some references to what happened to Misha before, it’s not graphic.
Overall, this was a very compelling read, and I think fans of Kingsbridge’s other novels Close Protection and Blood Red will enjoy this one a lot. Also recommended for fans of sci-fi/dystopia/future M/M stories, and who won’t mind a little d/s sexual dynamics in their reading.
My main down point is that I felt some of story’s steam drop off a bit in the last quarter or so. The climax is good, as is the ending but I didn’t feel the same kind of intensity as I did earlier in the story. That, and I would have loved more of an epilogue. No spoilers, but more post-climax time would have been great to provide that new, unhindered perspective. (Maybe I’m just greedy though and not ready to leave Joaquin and Misha’s world yet.)
But overall, a great read, especially for being a free novel. Kingsbridge’s focus now will be reworking her online novels for publication, which is a stellar idea. I think she’s a really interesting voice to add to the published m/m genre, and she does a bang-up job of mixing plot, character growth, and sex in one saucy, incredibly readable package. You can read all her work now for free, so if you’re interested, I recommend checking her out. (All her novels are long, so if you want to read them on an e-reader, I recommend Story Master as a resource to make the e-files.)
The beginning of this story starts with a bang as MC Joaquin, a government security agent, leads an assault on a crime lord, but his mission’s success leaves him with an unexpected deliverable—a young man who had been the crime lord’s sex slave. Due to the power of a very special “obedience collar,” he has no recollection of who he was before his slavery, only that he lives for his Master, and not just for his Master’s touch and good graces, but also his very life is tied to who his collar is linked to, and when the crime lord is assassinated, his system starts to shut down, and is moments from death. In order to save his life, Joaquin is forced to take on the role as his new master, and from those chaotic first moments, their lives are intricately tied together.
Control is a very interesting and compelling read as the mystery of “Misha” unspools through the story as well as the growing relationship between Misha and Joaquin, although they face a very big difference of motivations. Misha wishes to please his new master in any way possible (and is punished with pain by the collar if he is not regularly fulfilling his master’s sexual needs), and Joaquin detests being in a place of control over Misha, and is striving to find a way to not just help Misha regain his memories, but find a way to full extricate him from the collar’s control without killing him. Along with those challenges, Joaquin’s agency is still tracking the leaders of the syndicate that had enslaved Misha, and through their investigation, find out some deeper, darker forces are at work.
Kingsbridge plays with a very interesting angle on dub-con or dubious consent, as Misha has no way to refuse orders, and is driven to have and want sex by the collar, so cannot truly consent. Joaquin finds being intimate with Misha as akin to rape because Misha cannot refuse, but unless he helps “relieve” Misha during these instances, Misha is racked with terrible pain. They are both hostage to the collar’s control, and Joaquin, even as he has sex with Misha, a man who he finds incredibly beautiful and would be attracted to under normal circumstances, feels intense guilt, and fears that whenever he is successful in freeing him, that Misha will only see him like the rapists who had enslaved him before.
Little does he know that finding out Misha’s true persona will add a whole new layer of mixed feelings.
I’m not a fan of rape and non-con, but I didn’t find Control a hard read in that aspect. I mostly felt bad for both Misha and Joaquin as they were working through these issues, and although there are some references to what happened to Misha before, it’s not graphic.
Overall, this was a very compelling read, and I think fans of Kingsbridge’s other novels Close Protection and Blood Red will enjoy this one a lot. Also recommended for fans of sci-fi/dystopia/future M/M stories, and who won’t mind a little d/s sexual dynamics in their reading.
My main down point is that I felt some of story’s steam drop off a bit in the last quarter or so. The climax is good, as is the ending but I didn’t feel the same kind of intensity as I did earlier in the story. That, and I would have loved more of an epilogue. No spoilers, but more post-climax time would have been great to provide that new, unhindered perspective. (Maybe I’m just greedy though and not ready to leave Joaquin and Misha’s world yet.)
But overall, a great read, especially for being a free novel. Kingsbridge’s focus now will be reworking her online novels for publication, which is a stellar idea. I think she’s a really interesting voice to add to the published m/m genre, and she does a bang-up job of mixing plot, character growth, and sex in one saucy, incredibly readable package. You can read all her work now for free, so if you’re interested, I recommend checking her out. (All her novels are long, so if you want to read them on an e-reader, I recommend Story Master as a resource to make the e-files.)
January 27, 2019
It was...alright. For the 48% that this book managed to hold my attention.
And then from then on everything was just more of the same. Misha being horny, Joaquin rejecting his advances, the Control trying to find out who Misha really was.
I mean, it was good at first, but once the novelty wore off, it got kinda repetitive and boring. So I'm dropping this at 50% after some skimming. From what I managed to glanced from what I skimmed, the storyline seemed to be predictable as well.
So yeah, nothing special about this one. I wasn't impressed, but then again, I didn't go into it expecting to be wowed out of my ass. So there's that, I guess.
Blog : Tadaaaah! I have a blog!
Youtube : And a youtube channel
IG : and an IG account. Ain't I just a cockroach
January 27, 2021
That was pretty damn good. I almost wish there was a sequel or at least a little bit more of Misha and Joaquin at the end though. The collar really frustrated me at times, I almost wish it could have been removed sooner, but I get why it wasn’t. Loved the dystopian feel through out the book. A solid read overall!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2022
❝joaquin castillo. it’s nice to meet you.❞
❝raphael bertram.❞ cheeks dimpling, misha shook joaquin’s hand; even in his exhaustion, his grip was firm and sure. ❝but my lover calls me misha.❞
misha ♥ >>>>>> [all the other wannabe psychopath mcs]
December 22, 2014
Great adventure suspense read. I spent to much time enjoying it to write a review, but I'll definitely be reading it again. Woof!
May 3, 2017
Interesante el aspecto ético y moral de este libro, me ha encantado, Joaquín (sí, lleva acento) y Misha me tenían con las tripas estrujadas todo el rato, la autora nos consigue poner el la piel del otro y que sintamos el asco, la duda... He disfrutado muchísimo leyendo sus tormentas emocionales. Se supone que es BDSM pero ha sido muy light, al menos desde el punto de vista del "depliegue", todo está más centrado en la carencia de algo primordial en una relación D/s
En el plano amoroso, la relación es quizás apresurada, pero lo que viven juntos supongo que te hace desarrollar vínculos que de otra manera hubieran tardado en darse, o no se habrían dado. Es un estilo muy directo que no se regodea en florituras ni diálogos innecesarios, todo va al directo a dónde más duele y, para mí, funciona.
El dejarlo en 4 es porque viene de ser una publicación on line y se nota, y porque se desinfla un poco alrededor del 80%, resolviéndolo todo en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, la verdad, esperaba más porque hasta ese momento estaba vendida a la historia.
Aún así recomiendo que lo leáis si os apetece algo diferente.
En el plano amoroso, la relación es quizás apresurada, pero lo que viven juntos supongo que te hace desarrollar vínculos que de otra manera hubieran tardado en darse, o no se habrían dado. Es un estilo muy directo que no se regodea en florituras ni diálogos innecesarios, todo va al directo a dónde más duele y, para mí, funciona.
El dejarlo en 4 es porque viene de ser una publicación on line y se nota, y porque se desinfla un poco alrededor del 80%, resolviéndolo todo en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, la verdad, esperaba más porque hasta ese momento estaba vendida a la historia.
Aún así recomiendo que lo leáis si os apetece algo diferente.
July 26, 2014
This is my favorite out of Cordelia's online stories. Read this as a WIP (along with some awesome buddy-readers) and will need to re-read it all in one go for a full review. For now, I will just say - happy sigh.
February 8, 2017
It's very hard to talk about this book without getting really personal, and for once I don't care. If you'd prefer a comprehensive analysis of characters and plot, I suggest you read this and also this. Me, I'm gonna blather on about emotional stuff that's not directly relevant.
There may be slight spoilers. You've been warned.
---
You know those "stories" you entertain yourself with late at night? Stories you play out in your head that, for whatever reason, you'd prefer to stay in your head? Weird themes and plots that slip through the cracks of your shell, that reveal something of your core? Things you don't fully comprehend but ring so deep you need to hold it close, afraid to let others see? You play these stories out to process scraps of your being, to glue together disparate parts of yourself. You call it a guilty pleasure, but it's really for your sanity.
That's what Control is to me.
In these late night fantasies of mine, I play through people like Misha being rescued by people like Joaquin. It's uncanny. Literally the only thing keeping this from being identical is Misha didn't start off mute. And also the story is told only through Joaquin's POV-- which is a good literary choice because there's no way to articulate the emotional wreckage going through Misha's mind while still keeping the narrative coherent and tight.
The second half of the story is Misha regaining his original personality, and yet again it touches upon archetypes I nurse in the dark hours. Misha is cold, detached, and brutally efficient. But also submissive and needy. His edge is taken off because he's forced to be close to another person, and that person grows on him. He grudgingly becomes more "human."
It really comes down to me empathizing with Misha, to riding the whole roller coaster with him, with Joaquin being the brake and the cushion. Joaquin pushes himself to understand Misha, to make sure he doesn't overstep bounds. To being the perfect companion, for better or worse. Even if it eats at his consciousness. It's a Mary Sue at it's finest, and I couldn't care less. We need more Joaquins in our lives.
The whole politics game was just a driver, a supporting feature to this world of Misha's abuse. And I wish the epilogue had an epilogue because there really needs to be a scene in which Joaquin and Misha go full-blast on each other, no reservations. Just straight up kinky filth to round out the long journey from "omg I'm sorry for raping you" to "omg this would be rape if you weren't sincerely consenting." Because they deserve it.
I've read a lot of non-con/dub-con, and Control hits the closest to personal territory, to the exact beats I dance to. It's why I'm being so candid. For example, I've also read Release, which does some things similar to Control but with a different focus. I didn't like how Ayo gets ignored except for dramatic effect. He's more of a plot device than a character. And in the second book I hear there's a lot of sex while Ayo's still compromised. It sounds like the matter of consent is handwaved, something Joaquin never does, even when Misha's personality is nearly 100% back. So yeah, I may be raving about Control for a long while. Also the writing is fucking fantastic and I'm envious as fuck over how this was a serial, like how can you plan so brilliantly that you never look like you're pantsing??? Dear author, you've ruined me!
There may be slight spoilers. You've been warned.
---
You know those "stories" you entertain yourself with late at night? Stories you play out in your head that, for whatever reason, you'd prefer to stay in your head? Weird themes and plots that slip through the cracks of your shell, that reveal something of your core? Things you don't fully comprehend but ring so deep you need to hold it close, afraid to let others see? You play these stories out to process scraps of your being, to glue together disparate parts of yourself. You call it a guilty pleasure, but it's really for your sanity.
That's what Control is to me.
In these late night fantasies of mine, I play through people like Misha being rescued by people like Joaquin. It's uncanny. Literally the only thing keeping this from being identical is Misha didn't start off mute. And also the story is told only through Joaquin's POV-- which is a good literary choice because there's no way to articulate the emotional wreckage going through Misha's mind while still keeping the narrative coherent and tight.
The second half of the story is Misha regaining his original personality, and yet again it touches upon archetypes I nurse in the dark hours. Misha is cold, detached, and brutally efficient. But also submissive and needy. His edge is taken off because he's forced to be close to another person, and that person grows on him. He grudgingly becomes more "human."
It really comes down to me empathizing with Misha, to riding the whole roller coaster with him, with Joaquin being the brake and the cushion. Joaquin pushes himself to understand Misha, to make sure he doesn't overstep bounds. To being the perfect companion, for better or worse. Even if it eats at his consciousness. It's a Mary Sue at it's finest, and I couldn't care less. We need more Joaquins in our lives.
The whole politics game was just a driver, a supporting feature to this world of Misha's abuse. And I wish the epilogue had an epilogue because there really needs to be a scene in which Joaquin and Misha go full-blast on each other, no reservations. Just straight up kinky filth to round out the long journey from "omg I'm sorry for raping you" to "omg this would be rape if you weren't sincerely consenting." Because they deserve it.
I've read a lot of non-con/dub-con, and Control hits the closest to personal territory, to the exact beats I dance to. It's why I'm being so candid. For example, I've also read Release, which does some things similar to Control but with a different focus. I didn't like how Ayo gets ignored except for dramatic effect. He's more of a plot device than a character. And in the second book I hear there's a lot of sex while Ayo's still compromised. It sounds like the matter of consent is handwaved, something Joaquin never does, even when Misha's personality is nearly 100% back. So yeah, I may be raving about Control for a long while. Also the writing is fucking fantastic and I'm envious as fuck over how this was a serial, like how can you plan so brilliantly that you never look like you're pantsing??? Dear author, you've ruined me!
September 1, 2016
Very well-thought story that made me think of a novel I adored. It was titled « Les Corps communicants » ("Communicating bodies"). In both stories the more dominant guy become more and more enslaved because of his "connection" to the mind of the more submissive guy. In Les Corps communicants, the connection was the result of a surgical operation on the brain of the 2 MCs. Here, only one (Micha, the slave) was operated to install his strange collar that was designed to enslave forcefully not only his body but his mind as well. And the other (Joaquin, the police cop and dominator) only had to wear a pendant to get connected to Micha, but he couldn't remove it without risking to kill the slave. Then everything Joaquin did was thought to spare sufferings to Micha, thus becoming "enslaved" by Micha's needs generated by his collar. Twisted story. :)
Since Joaquin felt like he was raping Micha each time he let the slave make something resembling or close to a sexual intercourse (after Micha begged him for it), that made the sex scenes more a hardship than a pleasure for him and then for us, the readers, too. And each time Micha showed affection, adulation... to Joaquin, Joaquin thought that theses emotions were induced by the collar, not by Micha's "real" mind. So he rejected each time these demonstrations of adoration, considering them "artificial". That made the possible love between the two MCs impossible.
It's more a science fiction story than anything else. And if I removed 1 star, it's only because the "medical" parts were not well enough searched and I'm sure that the author knows about drones and other spying apparatus. The story wouldn't have lost this fifth star if the author had taken care to be closer to the present science in her novel (or had imagined a more detailed futuristic world). But since I got it for free, I can't complain too much can I? ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2017
An interesting tale that takes you into a dystopian world. This story kept me entertained from beginning to end, and it's a long story, so glad I was able to enjoy each page. The content is slightly deranged and wicked, so perfect for lovers of dark stories!
September 13, 2017
Amazing story. But after all they went through, ALL they went through, that ending was very unsatisfying.
September 3, 2015
Again, I'm writing this more than a week after reading the book, so what follows is more impressionistic than I'd prefer.
I read this back to back with Close Protection so perhaps it's inevitable that I compare them. I liked this better, and despite the fact that Control is a futuristic, sci-fi story, I found it considerably more plausible in a lot of ways. It helped that the world-building was fantastic--the basic national/political set-up was complex without being too confusing; the structure and purpose of Control, and the whole business with Misha's collar were imaginative but made sense. Everything about the collar was fascinating: it has the potential to be a really porny, crude set-up, but Kingsbridge pushes on the concept about as far as it can go, exploring the moral and psychological complexities of both characters and their situation in ways that continually surprised.
Based on the two books of hers I've read, Kingsbridge does seem to have a taste for upright, ultra-decent tough-guy leads, who fall for far more morally compromised, beautiful, slender younger men. As with Ryder in Close Protection, Joaquin was about as "good" as I can bear in a character: I really admired the way she used that "goodness" to explore the contours of consent under highly fraught circumstances, but at times it came at the cost of creating someone whose scruples felt almost saintly--or worse, didactic. Still, those moments were few and far between, and otherwise the dynamic between Misha and Joaquin was addictively compelling. And if Joaquin brushes against "too-good-to-be-true" Misha more than makes up for it by once again pushing up against the limits of tolerable personality traits in a romantic lead. I can't say enough in praise of the way Kingsbridge charts the restoration of his (quite problematic) personality: it was riveting and also unlike anything I've read before.
Bottom line: this is one of those books where if you are intrigued by the premise and don't mind very long stories, you will probably love this.
I read this back to back with Close Protection so perhaps it's inevitable that I compare them. I liked this better, and despite the fact that Control is a futuristic, sci-fi story, I found it considerably more plausible in a lot of ways. It helped that the world-building was fantastic--the basic national/political set-up was complex without being too confusing; the structure and purpose of Control, and the whole business with Misha's collar were imaginative but made sense. Everything about the collar was fascinating: it has the potential to be a really porny, crude set-up, but Kingsbridge pushes on the concept about as far as it can go, exploring the moral and psychological complexities of both characters and their situation in ways that continually surprised.
Based on the two books of hers I've read, Kingsbridge does seem to have a taste for upright, ultra-decent tough-guy leads, who fall for far more morally compromised, beautiful, slender younger men. As with Ryder in Close Protection, Joaquin was about as "good" as I can bear in a character: I really admired the way she used that "goodness" to explore the contours of consent under highly fraught circumstances, but at times it came at the cost of creating someone whose scruples felt almost saintly--or worse, didactic. Still, those moments were few and far between, and otherwise the dynamic between Misha and Joaquin was addictively compelling. And if Joaquin brushes against "too-good-to-be-true" Misha more than makes up for it by once again pushing up against the limits of tolerable personality traits in a romantic lead. I can't say enough in praise of the way Kingsbridge charts the restoration of his (quite problematic) personality: it was riveting and also unlike anything I've read before.
Bottom line: this is one of those books where if you are intrigued by the premise and don't mind very long stories, you will probably love this.
August 1, 2014
I'm not sure if it's because I read this story as a WIP, but I didn't get into it as much as I did Close Protection. Edited to add : I really liked it a lot at first. I liked the premise and the set up and the main characters a lot. I felt like the author lost steam at around 60% and the story started to become bland for me. I know that my buddy read partners liked it very much so don't take my word for it only. It wasn't as complex and interesting to me as CP was and, while I really liked the main characters, Misha and Joaquin, a lot at first, I started to lose interest in their story at about 60%.
The plot was very convoluted and you definitely need to suspend your disbelief as you read some of the details. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and all the details didn't quite come together like they should have.
I did enjoy Buddy Reading this weekly and would like to do that again. It was fun!
The plot was very convoluted and you definitely need to suspend your disbelief as you read some of the details. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and all the details didn't quite come together like they should have.
I did enjoy Buddy Reading this weekly and would like to do that again. It was fun!
April 14, 2015
So much yes. I really, really enjoyed this. At first it reminded me of (dare I say it?) The Administration. *Gasp*. But only a little - it had the same dystopian vibes, the same BDSM-y feel. But it's actually totally different, more of a Bourne Identity kind of thing. But with tons of hot gay sex. There is no downside.
May 6, 2021
Ah, that's one author I would like to give money to. Pretty, effing awesome.
December 22, 2022
Rating: somewhere between 3.5 and 4 Stars
The Story:
Joaquin is working as the body-part of a two-people-team for a kind of special police team working against human trafficking. When taking down a crime boss he gets bound to a sex slave wearing a special obedience collar and has to play his master and look after him till the agency can work out how to negate the collar. The man doesn't remember his life before the collar, he doesn't even know his own name - so Joaquin calls him "Misha". But it soon becomes clear that there is more going on here and Joaquin who feels the need to protect Misha gets drawn into a case that could alter the future of three countries.
My Thoughts:
I have been reading a lot for decades now and I got to the point where I had this feeling that almost every plot I had read in a variety before. (This was one of the things that made me enjoy m/m initially because there suddenly were a few new to me plot-lines.) Every once in a while but I encounter a book that seems new. And that was the case here.
Never entirely. "I feel compelled to look after him" - I read that before. But there was so much originality here. The whole world that Kingsbridge created, a dystopia-like future resembling our world loosely. Technology that seems like we might be there in maybe 50 years or so. But a geography that seems like a country like the US but smaller, a country like France with more traditional architecture and a country like a mixture of Spain, Morocco and Mexico - all three bordering on each other. All coming with languages and customs, governments and law enforcement of course.
There was also something new in the relationship corner. This did not read like a m/m romance. The first times that Joaquin has sex with Misha, because Misha needs it to placate the collar, Joaquin is not enjoying it at all. He's thinking of other people, he has to take a viagra-like medicine for erectile dysfunction. And this goes on for a while - for more than half of the book Joaquin does not want to have sex with Misha and does not enjoy it when he has. And I felt with him. The fact that Misha can not really consent because his personality is subdued by the collar makes Joaquin feel like he is raping him and he's not into it. Despite the book embracing some bdsm, Joaquin is a person of very high morale, he can not enjoy sex as long as he doubts his partners consent. I totally approve. There is no rape fantasies here. Readers who demand hot sex secenes may have to wait for the last quarter of the book - but then - yes, then they get their fill (oh how wrong that sounds)
Also the emotional relationship between Joaquin and Misha may not satisfy some people. This is a slow-burn. And up to the last pages never ever get the words "I love you" ever said. I felt it and it was enough for me. But then I don't like my lovestories all that sweet and if you do then maybe this won't be enough for you.
This book has over 500 pages but I did not feel that. The story, the action, the relationship, the worldbuilding - all that combined made this a real page-turner for me. There were a few minor issues that felt unresolved to me. I can live without the I-love-yous but I would have liked maybe a tad more to have the moral problems between Joaquin and Misha resolved at the end. But still I thought this was pretty good.
The Story:
Joaquin is working as the body-part of a two-people-team for a kind of special police team working against human trafficking. When taking down a crime boss he gets bound to a sex slave wearing a special obedience collar and has to play his master and look after him till the agency can work out how to negate the collar. The man doesn't remember his life before the collar, he doesn't even know his own name - so Joaquin calls him "Misha". But it soon becomes clear that there is more going on here and Joaquin who feels the need to protect Misha gets drawn into a case that could alter the future of three countries.
My Thoughts:
I have been reading a lot for decades now and I got to the point where I had this feeling that almost every plot I had read in a variety before. (This was one of the things that made me enjoy m/m initially because there suddenly were a few new to me plot-lines.) Every once in a while but I encounter a book that seems new. And that was the case here.
Never entirely. "I feel compelled to look after him" - I read that before. But there was so much originality here. The whole world that Kingsbridge created, a dystopia-like future resembling our world loosely. Technology that seems like we might be there in maybe 50 years or so. But a geography that seems like a country like the US but smaller, a country like France with more traditional architecture and a country like a mixture of Spain, Morocco and Mexico - all three bordering on each other. All coming with languages and customs, governments and law enforcement of course.
There was also something new in the relationship corner. This did not read like a m/m romance. The first times that Joaquin has sex with Misha, because Misha needs it to placate the collar, Joaquin is not enjoying it at all. He's thinking of other people, he has to take a viagra-like medicine for erectile dysfunction. And this goes on for a while - for more than half of the book Joaquin does not want to have sex with Misha and does not enjoy it when he has. And I felt with him. The fact that Misha can not really consent because his personality is subdued by the collar makes Joaquin feel like he is raping him and he's not into it. Despite the book embracing some bdsm, Joaquin is a person of very high morale, he can not enjoy sex as long as he doubts his partners consent. I totally approve. There is no rape fantasies here. Readers who demand hot sex secenes may have to wait for the last quarter of the book - but then - yes, then they get their fill (oh how wrong that sounds)
Also the emotional relationship between Joaquin and Misha may not satisfy some people. This is a slow-burn. And up to the last pages never ever get the words "I love you" ever said. I felt it and it was enough for me. But then I don't like my lovestories all that sweet and if you do then maybe this won't be enough for you.
This book has over 500 pages but I did not feel that. The story, the action, the relationship, the worldbuilding - all that combined made this a real page-turner for me. There were a few minor issues that felt unresolved to me. I can live without the I-love-yous but I would have liked maybe a tad more to have the moral problems between Joaquin and Misha resolved at the end. But still I thought this was pretty good.
December 2, 2014
There is nothing Ms. Kingsbridge will write that I won't read. Few professionally published works are close to the quality of her products.
And then there's the fact that her choice of topics and kink are a perfect fit for me. Like her other stories, this is not for everyone, but it just lights my Bic like nobody's business.
And then there's the fact that her choice of topics and kink are a perfect fit for me. Like her other stories, this is not for everyone, but it just lights my Bic like nobody's business.
August 6, 2015
My favorite so far from this author by a wide margin. An interesting take on non-con in AU or futuristic universe. Enjoyed the hell out of this one!
March 8, 2017
Yet another great book by Cordelia Kingsbridge,I can't for the life of me understand why she isn't published.
January 20, 2019
This is my friend's update that made me interested in reading this book:
Taken out of context and given the name of the book I thought this will be a "BDSM sex sex sex" kind of book, boy was I wrong.
This book is more nuanced than that. It is an incredible tale that is unlike anything I have read before. It kept me in it's thrall. I don't want to give anything away but this is one of those "unputdownable" books.
I can't for the life of me understand why this book is out of circulation. It is brilliant.
“You don’t have a name?”
“I don’t know, Master.”
“Do you – do you remember your last Master?”
“Yes, Master.”
“What did he used to call you?”
“Many things, Master.”
“What was the most common?”
“Slut,” said the boy.
Taken out of context and given the name of the book I thought this will be a "BDSM sex sex sex" kind of book, boy was I wrong.
This book is more nuanced than that. It is an incredible tale that is unlike anything I have read before. It kept me in it's thrall. I don't want to give anything away but this is one of those "unputdownable" books.
I can't for the life of me understand why this book is out of circulation. It is brilliant.
March 1, 2015
A highly recommended story and basically the blurb sums it all up.
But the ride was truly awesome.
If you are skittish about kink, don't be and read this book.The subtle mention can be overlooked easily.
This story is in Joaquin Pov and one of the most morally correct MC ever.Who decides to never take advantage of Misha,the brainwashed sex slave.
But the story can't be a vanilla one,so the author twisted the plot a bit and created a situation where the Morally correct Joaquin had to give in on some of the rules he set.
Read this book and enjoy the ride.
But the ride was truly awesome.
If you are skittish about kink, don't be and read this book.The subtle mention can be overlooked easily.
This story is in Joaquin Pov and one of the most morally correct MC ever.Who decides to never take advantage of Misha,the brainwashed sex slave.
But the story can't be a vanilla one,so the author twisted the plot a bit and created a situation where the Morally correct Joaquin had to give in on some of the rules he set.
Read this book and enjoy the ride.
August 10, 2016
This was so freakin' cool. I found myself loudly exclaiming a variety of colorful profanity. "What the fuck?!" was used often. This was weird, exciting, and hot as hell. Loved.
Read
March 27, 20222.75✨ the collar shouldve been removed a hell lot sooner that we could get more screentime on a real romance (and more reasonable length)
everyone uses this quote but wtv. naturally the book and relationship (not them personally, but their moments that were shown) lacked plenty of shit for me but interesting enough
”A new beginning.”
“Yes.”
Misha’s fingers tightened against Joaquin’s. “I’d like that.”
“Okay.” Loose and happy, a whole new world opening itself to him, Joaquin let go of Misha’s hand and extend his right instead. “Joaquin Castillo. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Raphael Bertram.” Cheeks dimpling, Misha shook Joaquin’s hand; even in his exhaustion, his grip was firm and sure. “But my lover calls me Misha.”
everyone uses this quote but wtv. naturally the book and relationship (not them personally, but their moments that were shown) lacked plenty of shit for me but interesting enough
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