Review: Take Me, Break Me by Cari Silverwood

“I happen to love dark BDSM and this one ranks up there as one of my favorites for its unique perspective and psychological depth.” ~Under the Covers

Take Me, Break Me is my first Carri Silverwood read and Book 1 in her new Pierced Hearts series.  I happen to love dark BDSM and this one ranks up there as one of my favorites for its unique perspective and psychological depth.  Jodie wants to make a documentary on one of her biggest fantasies: to be kidnapped and held hostage as a slave.  She’s a reader of BDSM erotica and theoretically knows the motions, but hasn’t played them out in real life.  Her ex-boyfriend, Klaus, is an accountant and judo instructor.  Though they never played at D/s, she thinks he’ll rise to the occasion and be her perfect captor.  She has rules for the game: no sex, no nudity.  But as the game begins to progress beyond the first few hours and days, Klaus realizes that he has a sadistic Dom side beyond what he thought he was capable of.  Jodie comes to the realization that she craves not only submission, but the pain that punishment brings.  In the end there are no rules, no safewords, and a month to live out the fantasy as deep as Klaus will take it.  The question remains that without any reins, will Klaus and Jodie go to a place that neither can dig their way out of?

I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this book.  I haven’t read a BDSM story with chapters that alternate perspectives.  I always thought that I preferred the sub’s POV over the Dom’s, purely due to my ability to identify with it more readily.  But seeing the inner psychological workings of a new Dom, his fears and insecurities…was mind-blowing for me.  His intensity as a Dominant made it clear that he was meant to fill the role.  He is commanding, charismatic and scary at times.   But we see his vulnerability, his inner struggle in accepting himself in his role, his fear that he’s going too far.  Jodie is a complex character as well.  She knows she has submissive tendencies, but is shocked at how deep those waters run.  She falls easily into the role of true slave and questions her own needs for both the pleasure and the pain, of having no responsibilities but pleasing her Master.  When it comes time to end the fantasy, the conflict of how both parties react was very authentic  to me.  There’s a wonderful examination of how two people come to terms with going too far and how to enter a D/s relationship the right way.

The book comes with some warnings about dubious consent and that’s fair, though for me, I do believe that Jodie would have been able to leave the arrangement had she truly had enough.   The play is intense in terms of punishment: spanking, crops and lots of caning.  It’s often corrective and not meant to be pleasurable.  There is humiliation and fair amount of bondage.  And yes, there’s needle play (!)   For those looking for a light read, look elsewhere.  It’s an intense ride and even the punishment scenes without sex are hotter than Hades.  We get even a little snippet of m/m/f /f in there as well.  Read it alone!

*Review copy provided by author

Did you like this review? If so, please tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

[about-author author=”Cari Silverwood”]