Guest Post by Jess Mahler
When Xan proposed a guest post about novels with polyamory and kink, I was initially stumped. I just… couldn’t really think of many. But I knew I had a few on my book list so I went scrolling through so see what I had on my shelves that I had forgotten.
The truth is, I had forgotten a surprising amount, but most of it was rightly forgotten. Polyamory and kink are both niche subjects for romance novels (and even more ‘niche’ for anything else!). So it isn’t surprising they are hard to find. And way too many authors writing those romance novels are monogamous and/or vanilla folks, which is why much of what exists just isn’t that good.
Ultimately, I did find enough books I would be happy recommending to other folks to make up a guest post, but this is pretty much it. Okay, I could have made the list 6 books long, but it seemed a bit much to have two books by Xan in a guest post on Xan’s blog. Might look like I was buttering up or something, ya know?
Note: All links to Amazon will be affiliate ones. If you buy through those links, I will make a small amount of money on that sale (which I plan to use to buy more books to review), but it will not add any to the cost of your product. It comes out of the company’s profits.
In the Time of Toba: Lilith by Michon Neal
Michon’s stories are, honestly, rather weird. Ze whole-heartedly embraces this weirdness, calling hir work ‘cuil fiction’.
In Time of Toba starts with a science fantasy retelling of the the Garden of Eden with Lilith, the apocryphal ‘first woman’ as the protagonist. Lilith’s relationships are central to the story, but the kink is more implied than explored. Sameal submits to Lilith almost in his first appearance – calling her ‘my Lorde’, and others also come under her dominion. But you won’t find kinky sex scenes here. So if that’s what you are looking for, pass on by.
But if you enjoy a story that challenges all our assumptions about relationships, life, history, and a certain religious myth, strap in for a wild ride.
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
Confessions: Priest by Ella Frank
I didn’t intend to start with the 3rd book in the series. That was just what I picked up one day. The rest of the series is good, but this is definitely my fave. The Princess (Robbie), the Prick (Julien) and the Priest (Priest) have all finally settled into their happy threesome, with the past put behind them and the future looking bright, right? …right?
Eh, not quite.
Priest’s story is a thriller story thrust in the middle of their hoped-for happily-ever-after. And, you know, Robbie may enjoy Priest’s controlling nature, but not telling his princesse the truth about who is? That may end up costing Priest dearly.
Romantic-thriller is one of my fave subgenres. This one hits all my buttons
That said, this is literally the only series with cliffhangers that I’ve bothered to finish reading, and only because I did accidentally start with the third book. So if cliffhangers are a hard limit for you, pass on by.
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
Eden’s Garden by D.F. Krieger
Eden is just looking for a fun low-key relationship while she’s on assignment in Virginia. She gets rather more than she bargained for with these four submissives who are all looking for someone special.
Eden’s Garden is what I think of as a ‘candy-fluff read’. There’s no real depth to the story, the character interactions are fun, but the scenario isn’t particularly believeable (these four submissive women who spent years looking for a dom ALL find their perfect dom in this one woman, at the same time?). But even among fluff books, there is good fluff and there is bad fluff. I love how Krieger makes each of the characters unique, how she uses them to explore the many different sides of submission, and most especially how they all band together to support and love their way to a happy ending.
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
Kneel, Mr. President by Lauren Gallagher
The Pres is courting a heart attack with all the stress from his job. The First Lady is afraid enough to look for help from the last person on Earth she ever expected – her husbands ex boyfriend and current head of security. Can letting go of a little control be what David needs? And if it is, what will happen to their odd three-some of necessity when it isn’t needed anymore?
This is the closest book on the list to straight erotica and to an extent gets a spot from sheer nostalgia. This was the first romance novel I read that did kink and polyamory in a way I could enjoy. But it’s stood up to several re-reads since then. Another candy-fluff book, and don’t think too hard about how the Pres, First Lady and Security dude are getting away with these shenanigans. But the backstory is decent, the character growth is real, and the sex is fun.
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
Nine of Swords, Reversed, by Xan West
Nine of Swords is, for me, fundamentally different from the other stories on this list. The other stories make the list because they are good stories with characters I enjoy reading about and tropes I get a kick out of. Nine of Swords is one of my faves because, while the story is good, and the world building interesting, what I really love about this book is that I can really identify with the characters in ways I rarely can. Reading about high-powered-lawyer-reformed-son-of-mafia-boss makes for a fun thriller. But there is no way for me to see myself in the book – and no way I can take anything from the book and apply it to my life. Nine of Swords I can really sink into in a way I can into few other books. And for such a short book, I’ve found a surprising amount of ideas that I can take and apply to my own life and relationships.
Not a fluff book – more like the book equivalent of a weighted blanket. (happy sigh)
The relationships? The kink is real life stuff, no erotica for the sexies here, and that just makes it better. Polyam… wait… did I?… You know, I forgot there isn’t explicit polyam in this one. (What’s up with that, Xan? Did you put all the polyam into Their Troublesome Crush? Cause that had ALL the polyam…) Ah fuck it. This one is polyam in my headcanon and y’all just need to deal with it 😛
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
(I can’t put it in a list of my fave reads, because I have a really hard time reading my own writing – I’m not the only one with this problem, right? – but I’ve got my own polyam and kink fantasy novel, The Bargain. Check it out if you like low fantasy and high protocol kink.)
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
So, that’s it, bunch of good books. Go read ‘em and enjoy.
BTW – the reason Xan offered me a guest blog spot is I’ve got a nonfic book about polyamory and kink. Check it out if you want to learn about how to have healthy relationships that combine polyamory and kink.
Polyamory and Kink by Jess Mahler
Like it says on the front, this is a book about polyamory and kink. More specifically, this is a book about adding kink to your polyamorous relationships.
Whether you are curious about kink yourself or have a partner who is entering a kink relationship and you want to know what to expect, this book will cover the bases. Including
— what is kink
— healthy vs unhealthy kink
— how kink will impact other relationships in the polycule
— how to find and connect with kinksters
— polyam and kink culture clash (and how to avoid it)
— kinky approaches to nonmonogamy
— combining power exchange with egalitarian polyamory
— and more
- Buy on Amazon (affiliate link)
- Add on Goodreads
About Jess Mahler
Jess has never been one to do things the ‘easy’ way. Which is probably why she spent several years pulling together a family-of-choice from across the country. The family, including a demon, a dragon, and a cat, hopes to settle in the Appalachians where Jess’ heart has been rooted for as long as she can remember.
Health issues keep her from taking a more active role in tikkun olam, repairing the world, so she writes to spread knowledge and ideas. Her fiction and non-fiction both explore different ways of living and being.
Jess has 15 years in polyam relationships including dealing with legal challenges, abusive relationships, group living, LDRs, and a good bit more. As an autistic autodidact, you never know when she’ll pull an odd bit of knowledge out of her back pocket that gives a new perspective on an old problem.
Corey's Book Corner 