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The Island
Shaw is in Fiji to sell a stolen painting to the crime boss, Vornis. It will be the deal of a lifetime, if Shaw can pull it off. But then Vornis parades his latest toy around in front of him—a captured DEA agent whose time is running out. It’s none of Shaw’s business, and it doesn’t matter that under any other circumstances Lee would be exactly Shaw’s he’s young, he’s hot, and he might even have a personality if they hadn’t beaten it out of him. Too bad there’s no way Lee is getting off the island. Too bad there’s nothing Shaw can do for him. And too bad there are some lines that even Shaw won’t cross.
Keeping his hands off Lee proves harder than he thinks, but Shaw’s not stupid enough to fall for the tortured captive of a dangerous crime boss, is he? If he did, it wouldn’t be just his job he would be risking—it would be his life.
Keeping his hands off Lee proves harder than he thinks, but Shaw’s not stupid enough to fall for the tortured captive of a dangerous crime boss, is he? If he did, it wouldn’t be just his job he would be risking—it would be his life.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2012
About the author
Lisa Henry
94 books2,212 followersI like to tell stories. Mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters. They gotta work for it though. No free lunches on my watch.
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November 5, 2016
"Whatever happens here, your soul’s unbreakable.
He kept his eyes closed.
It’s a shame the rest of me is made of f*cking glass."
"He was lying in a bed, and the man was holding his hand and stroking his thumb across his palm, and he hadn’t hurt him.
What’s the first thing you remember?
This."
Wow. I absolutely LOVED this book! Loved!!
So amazing and so emotional, heartbreaking at times, but I cried happy tears more than the sad ones :D Ahh I have no idea what to say in my review, I only know I'll have to squeeze in my 20+ quotes somehow 
well maybe I won't put them all, but I apologize in advance 
"So beautiful here, Shaw thought, so peaceful.
So remote. So dangerous."
The story
Shaw arrives to a Fiji Island in order to sell a stolen painting to a drug lord and crime boss sadistic bastard Vornis, whom I hate with an undying flame! Shaw plans to make connections in the crime world and thinks to do it through Vornis, so he agrees to stay for a week, until the painting is authenticated. As a welcoming present, Vornis sends him his new toy...
A young American DEA agent caught during a mission, who is brutally tortured, physically, sexually and mentally.
Shaw has no other option but to accept, but instead of raping him like he was supposed to, he fakes it for the cameras so his host wouldn't know.
Shaw is torn between his morals and business, seeing what they did to Green-eyes, and being unble to help him.
"Out of sight, out of mind. Don’t think about what they’ve done to Green-eyes.
Don’t think about what they’re going to do to him.
Jesus, don’t give him a fucking name either."
Green-eyes/Lee finally meets someone who sees him as a person, and against better judgment, it gives him hope, hope for himself and hope in Shaw.
"He didn’t want to be proved wrong. Hope was a fragile thing, and he needed to nurture it for a while before he put his trust in it."
The week goes by, Shaw tries to block everything they're doing to Lee, the torture, the rape, but that leaves the question - will he help him escape The Island on the risk of ruining six years of work to get there?
My thoughts on the story
This was a tough read no doubt, but nothing like I imagined it to be! I admit, I don't read dark reads, don't really like them, but this one worked for me, probably because it wasn't as dark as I though it would be.
The Island is a beautiful place, and it just brings the contrast to all the horrible things that happen on it. That was brilliantly done! The POVs change every two or three chapters, from Shaw to Lee, and both sides are so different, just heartbreaking!
Mostly this tells the story of the psychological struggles of both main characters, the wish to escape or to die and a choice between morality and business.
I'm somewhat surprised at the lenght of the Island part, won't say any spoilers about it, but yeah. NOT that I'm complaining!
The torture/rape scenes aren't explicit, maybe one, but that one is more sad than it's shocking and terrible. Just so you know, in case you plan to read the book :)
BTW I don't know why I though this was dark erotica. It really isn't. The story is tough and terrible at some points, but yeah, overall the book is romance erotica :)
The ending was just beautiful, I cried very happy tears when I got to it <3
Shaw recognized duality. He worked with it every day. He could still differentiate between hypocrisy and necessity, couldn’t he?
Shaw
He's a dealer in anything a crime lord would want. Art, weapons, whatever is needed. Over the years he's become numb to all violence, seeing someone murdered or knowing someone's going to get murdered, discussing torture and seeing it, and he just doesn't know how to feel about Lee. He feels sorry for him, wants to help him, but forces himself not to think about it. Too much risk. When Lee starts to hope for a rescue, and looks at Shaw like he's his saviour, Shaw tries to convince him he's a monster like everyone else, he just isn't a rapist.
But as the week goes on, Shaw has more trouble with distancing himself, he knows Lee's probably going to die soon from the continuous torture, and he's the only one that could help him escape.
"Shaw thought that he would never understand hope as simple and pure as that. He was too much of a realist, and maybe he’d been lucky enough never to have needed it. Leaps of faith were for the desperate. Shaw had never been desperate."
Shaw... I just loved him! He's such a difficult character, and it was really well done, his psychological struggles throughout the book. He kept telling himself he's better than all the monsters he works with, but he kept trying to convince Lee he's exactly like them, because he couldn't stand to see faith in his eyes, when he didn't know if he could give it to him. Very, very well written character! And at 65% I just adored and fell in love with him again! Happy tears there <3 There are some shocking things to be revealed about him, but I won't spoil it to you guys :D
"It was probably all bullshit, and he’d probably regret it, but right now, in the middle of the night, in the quiet, it felt like maybe they were in this together. Yeah, he was fucking crazy, but he wanted to believe it."
Green-eyes/Lee
Lee was captured and abused for eight weeks before Shaw came to the Island. He was the first person who looked him in the eyes, the first person who saw him as a human being. Shaw didn't rape him, he treated him nice, and promised to contact his people on the outside. Lee was maybe too late to hope, but he did it anyway. He had nothing to lose.
"A minute could be drawn out to last a lifetime in this place. An hour could vanish in the blink of an eye as consciousness fled. There was no time here. There was only sensation."
I didn't think I could survive the chapters written from Lee's POV. Those were so f*cking heartbreaking! But I loved him with all my heart. And I don't think it's possible to read this book and not feel the same for him. I guess the author did a great job here too.
The moments when he was drugged and trying to remember his life, anything, the way his mind worked, how he coped with everything they were doing to him...
The damn sand-dollars on the beach
I don't even have to start with the torture, luckily, not many of the scenes were described, we only saw him after it happened, but that one scene when it did... just brought me to tears!
"Home was the safest place in the world.
The next safest place was with Shaw."
The Frigate
Now, this is a big spoiler, and if you plan to read the book - don't open it!
"Lee had seen Shaw’s face when he looked at the ocean, and it was the most human face Lee had seen in a long time."
Overall
I just totally loved this book! I was a click away from giving up on reading it, but now I'm so glad I decided to read it! It was worth it, really was. Thank you Baba for your review, you made me decide to give it a shot :D And thank you Glam for reading it with me in our buddy <3
“Whatever you want,” Shaw repeated. “Whatever you came here for. Just tell me, and it’s yours.”
January 7, 2013
3.5 stars.***Review completed January 7, 2013
First of all let me say that for a long time The Island was a pretty stable four-star-rating. Granted, it's a good read, I really liked it but I was not wowed. There are so many glowing five-star-reviews on GR that I'm once again the odd one out there. Anyway, I think I can live with it coz as always I think that honesty is the best policy. Without doubt it's an intriguing as well as engaging read, and I really loved the premise of The Island. But. Truth be told, what really ruined the book for me was the final third of the story.
A shout out to those readers who are apprehensive to give this story a go
Compared to Special Forces: Soldiers Part I -Director's Cut The Island is a pure walk in the park. Also, when I started to read it I expected something darker, something way more disturbing but all the disturbing stuff happens off page. In conclusion, don't be afraid, I'm sure you can handle this story.
Shaw is in Fiji to sell the villain, Vornis, a stolen Cézanne. Our bad guy gets easily bored and therefore Vornis is very glad that Shaw came to keep him company. Vornis wants to show off his new toy. The so-called "toy" is young, male, and lean. Shaw is surprised to see the young man out in the rain.
The toy has a name although he can't remember it. Lee is utterly numb because he is on drugs and most of the time he's beyond fear. It has nothing to do with his strength of mind or what there is of it, he was just too tired to fight anymore. He'd learned to shut his own mind down, even without the drugs. He wasn't even an animal anymore. Vornis had reduced him to an insensible thing.
After all the humiliation and degradation Shaw was the first man who had looked him in the eye; he'd given Lee his name back.
I can understand that Lee needed his inner monologue (I loved the sand dollar thingie), it was some kind of sanctuary for him. However, Shaw's constant pondering was annoying. Yeah, I got it that he was sorry for not helping him sooner, but I felt it was just too much. As a matter of fact, I think there was basically too much repetitiveness. To top it all off, Lee's brilliant green eyes are always present. After having mentioned them for the umpteenth time, I was very sure I would never forget his eye color.
Also, I felt there was not enough depth, not enough character development, and not enough interaction between the MCs. Fact is, throughout the final third of the plot there was never enough quality time between Shaw and Lee. Did I see any evolving relationship? No.
What I found beyond odd was their sexual interlude on the frigate. Let's face it please, Lee had endured TWO MONTHS OF SEVERE TORTURE AND RAPE and then I, as a reader, have to believe that the only thing he wanted was a quick f@ck on theship frigate? I mean the guy was even crying for Pete's sake! He did not need a f@ck, he needed to see a shrink ASAP. It's safe to say that we should get back to the real world.
Why, I couldn't agree more, Shaw! Bingo!
Talk about real world...
Lee was sick of focusing on himself. He'd lived in his head for eight weeks on the island. He didn't want to do it anymore. He couldn't sleep at night and he was tired of feeling like shit all the time. Being home again was not the solution either because his parents almost smothered him with their "mindfulness". Sometimes he wished he could just go to sleep and never wake up. That's called passive suicidal ideation. At least he got the treatment he needed and was seeing a shrink.
Furthermore, the quick HEA was so convenient. "I missed you." "I want you." Sorry, guys, but that's not good enough for me. There was never a real heart-to-heart between Shaw and Lee. Saying numerous times "You'll be okay, "You're okay" won't sweep me off my feet either. Bottom line, where was the resolution? As far as I can judge I strongly believe that The Island needed at least a few additional chapters. The ending was way too short and guess what? Yep. A short talk and some frantic sex. That's it.
First of all let me say that for a long time The Island was a pretty stable four-star-rating. Granted, it's a good read, I really liked it but I was not wowed. There are so many glowing five-star-reviews on GR that I'm once again the odd one out there. Anyway, I think I can live with it coz as always I think that honesty is the best policy. Without doubt it's an intriguing as well as engaging read, and I really loved the premise of The Island. But. Truth be told, what really ruined the book for me was the final third of the story.
A shout out to those readers who are apprehensive to give this story a go
Compared to Special Forces: Soldiers Part I -Director's Cut The Island is a pure walk in the park. Also, when I started to read it I expected something darker, something way more disturbing but all the disturbing stuff happens off page. In conclusion, don't be afraid, I'm sure you can handle this story.
Shaw is in Fiji to sell the villain, Vornis, a stolen Cézanne. Our bad guy gets easily bored and therefore Vornis is very glad that Shaw came to keep him company. Vornis wants to show off his new toy. The so-called "toy" is young, male, and lean. Shaw is surprised to see the young man out in the rain.
Sometimes it hurt to remember, but it was a different sort of hurt than he was feeling now. He remembered that. Nothing else, though. He couldn't catch his own thoughts. They were there, fluttering just out of reach, like moths looking for the light. He reached for them, dumb, clumsy, and missed them every time.
The toy has a name although he can't remember it. Lee is utterly numb because he is on drugs and most of the time he's beyond fear. It has nothing to do with his strength of mind or what there is of it, he was just too tired to fight anymore. He'd learned to shut his own mind down, even without the drugs. He wasn't even an animal anymore. Vornis had reduced him to an insensible thing.
After all the humiliation and degradation Shaw was the first man who had looked him in the eye; he'd given Lee his name back.
What's the first thing you remember?
The sound of the ocean.
Shaw.
This.
The shower had always been their confessional. Shaw wondered if Lee would always need the feel of the spray on his skin to make the words come.
I can understand that Lee needed his inner monologue (I loved the sand dollar thingie), it was some kind of sanctuary for him. However, Shaw's constant pondering was annoying. Yeah, I got it that he was sorry for not helping him sooner, but I felt it was just too much. As a matter of fact, I think there was basically too much repetitiveness. To top it all off, Lee's brilliant green eyes are always present. After having mentioned them for the umpteenth time, I was very sure I would never forget his eye color.
You are not slipping away. You are not going quietly into the dark. Stay with me.
Also, I felt there was not enough depth, not enough character development, and not enough interaction between the MCs. Fact is, throughout the final third of the plot there was never enough quality time between Shaw and Lee. Did I see any evolving relationship? No.
What I found beyond odd was their sexual interlude on the frigate. Let's face it please, Lee had endured TWO MONTHS OF SEVERE TORTURE AND RAPE and then I, as a reader, have to believe that the only thing he wanted was a quick f@ck on the
You're an asshole, Shaw. You shouldn't have touched him. Not when he's still a broken thing.
Why, I couldn't agree more, Shaw! Bingo!
Talk about real world...
Lee was sick of focusing on himself. He'd lived in his head for eight weeks on the island. He didn't want to do it anymore. He couldn't sleep at night and he was tired of feeling like shit all the time. Being home again was not the solution either because his parents almost smothered him with their "mindfulness". Sometimes he wished he could just go to sleep and never wake up. That's called passive suicidal ideation. At least he got the treatment he needed and was seeing a shrink.
Furthermore, the quick HEA was so convenient. "I missed you." "I want you." Sorry, guys, but that's not good enough for me. There was never a real heart-to-heart between Shaw and Lee. Saying numerous times "You'll be okay, "You're okay" won't sweep me off my feet either. Bottom line, where was the resolution? As far as I can judge I strongly believe that The Island needed at least a few additional chapters. The ending was way too short and guess what? Yep. A short talk and some frantic sex. That's it.
"Welcome to Alva Beach, Lee."
January 11, 2013
This book is one of those where you think WTF!!! Why, Why, Why did I wait to read it...4.5 stars ~ Loved it!
"Lee always walked with his eyes down, and the island revealed all it's secrets to him. Sand dollars, tiny holes inhabited by translucent crabs, glittering shells built like spiral towers, and sand that turned from brilliant white to warm caramel when the ocean caressed it."
This book was so exquisitely described by Lisa Henry, beautiful prose and excellent writing. I was there... feeling the sand beneath my feet, the cool breeze and the smell of the ocean, surrounded by palm trees and the warmth of the sun on my skin.. only this fragile veil of beauty on the Pacific Island conceals a sanctuary of evil, created by a monster of epic proportions. Vornis... a man of extreme wealth and power who likes to show the world the educated gentleman that prefers the finer things in life, a contradiction to his true nature... he was a drug lord, murderer, torturer and all round bad ass! He is vulgar, ostentatious and enjoyed showing off his wealth, wallowing in the jealousy and envy of others, with all things of beauty being yet another trophy in which to gloat over.
Shaw a trusted facilitator has such a trophy and Vornis wants it.. a Cezanne worth millions, only Shaw wasn't there for the painting or it's value... he was after the bigger paycheck, the valuable contacts to be made through his association with Vornis. He had worked hard for 6 years to get to this point and he knew he was playing a dangerous game but he was focused, driven and now perfectly placed and in a position to take advantage and achieve his long awaited objective.
Only Shaw's perfect career plan had not taken "the boy" into consideration... Vornis' new Fuck Toy!
Lee had been captured 8 weeks prior and now he was totally dehumanised, confused, his eyes empty with a drug induced haze which along with glimpses of kindness and plenty of torture had made him compliant to the sexual deviant that was now his Master. With all humanity lost, his only purpose was to be used, abused and tortured by Vornis and his Men!
My heart was breaking for Lee and although we were not privy to the abuse on page (my depraved mind and love of dark fiction would have liked Ms Henry to have been a bit more adventurous and put some scenes on page) ... what he had endured still left a knot in my stomach. His moments of clarity, so fragile when he was trying to remember who he was, clinging to the slim slithers of hope and self preservation, wanting to survive and seeing Shaw as his saviour had my emotions all over the place!
I had quite a few WTF moments in this book, mainly with Shaw, who although he feels guilt because he is unable to show kindness and guilt because he is helpless to stop it, he also feels guilt because he is selfish enough to play the game to meet his own ends... he may not be a rapist but he was still complicit! Had he become so desensitised that he would put his own ambition before the life of a human!?! Was there nothing he wouldn't do to be in the inner circle of the rich and powerful?... conscience be damned!... he wanted to swim with the sharks!
When you start this book, you have more questions than answers and Lisa Henry, cleverly peels back the layers to divulge snippets of information, you are twisted and turned in every direction, with a fabulous twist I never saw coming! The writing was excellent, it was compelling reading and I was totally engrossed! For me this was a five star read, right up to the end when I realised it had finished! I wanted more between these two characters, we had been through so much with them, felt their pain, confusion, guilt, uncertainty all of it! and although they had spent months working through their issues separately... I wanted more from them together. Perhaps an epilogue!?!
Thank you Aimee for pushing me to read this..
For more reviews, please visit... Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
August 6, 2013
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU REMEMBER?
The Island is not an easy book to review. I don't even think it's an easy book to read but it's definitely a MUST READ. I know you guys might read the blurb and think this is way out of your comfort zone but if you give it a try, you'll understand what I am talking about.
Shaw is one of the bad guys, he works with some not-so-legal stuff. He’s in the middle of one important job when he meets ‘green eyes’. His world is about to change and he doesn’t even know it.
What would you do if you have been fighting for years to get where you are now and your conscience is playing games with you? What if we add your heart to the equation?
Green Eyes is just a guy who was in a bad place in a bad moment. And now, he’s no one. He’s just a thing, a toy.
What would you do if one day you have a perfect life and 1 minute later everything is turned upside down? How do you survive when you’re a slave and you’re just waiting for someone to kill you? Do you have hope or do you just pray for this to be over soon?
Hold on to hope. Count down the sand dollars, pass the time, wait and see.
Thanks Vio for your rec & Thanks Amaia for our BR.
September 6, 2023
*4.5*
The cuffs dug into his wrists and scraped against the wounds from last time.
And none of it mattered.
My soul is unbreakable.
Whatever happened here, they wouldn’t get that.
This book gave me five star feelings (both good and bad). It was difficult to read at times, be forewarned, there is rape and torture for 50% of the story. It isn’t gratuitous or overdone for the plot, and just as I was starting to feel like it went on too long, everything changed.
The story is one bad guy selling a stolen painting to another REALLY bad guy on an island in the middle of the Pacific. REALLY bad guy owns a ‘pet’ human that he has broken to suit his particular needs. He shares his pet with his guests.
Everything was so fucking fragile, and he felt it most acutely at night.
Lisa Henry doesn’t disappoint with the heart and personal growth of these two men. Her pick of book cover says so much.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but I do wish the ending had been a few more chapters.
And none of it mattered.
My soul is unbreakable.
Whatever happened here, they wouldn’t get that.
This book gave me five star feelings (both good and bad). It was difficult to read at times, be forewarned, there is rape and torture for 50% of the story. It isn’t gratuitous or overdone for the plot, and just as I was starting to feel like it went on too long, everything changed.
The story is one bad guy selling a stolen painting to another REALLY bad guy on an island in the middle of the Pacific. REALLY bad guy owns a ‘pet’ human that he has broken to suit his particular needs. He shares his pet with his guests.
Everything was so fucking fragile, and he felt it most acutely at night.
Lisa Henry doesn’t disappoint with the heart and personal growth of these two men. Her pick of book cover says so much.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but I do wish the ending had been a few more chapters.
January 15, 2012
First of all I am surprised and amazed that I actually wanted to read The Island let alone that I finished it. I am so glad I did because it turned out to be an intense, riveting and superbly written story. I was well and truly taken out of my comfort zone and oh yes this was gut wrenching and difficult but I can honestly say it was worth it's a gripping story.
I am usually a complete and utter wuss when it comes to reading about abuse thankfully the detail is mostly off page and its definitely not glorified. My emotions were all over the place especially my rage and hatred for the villain/s! Lee and Shaw are each others saviors my only wish was that Shaw had woken up to this earlier.
What I loved most about this story was the last quarter the ending it was perfect impressive and believable. Fantastic and highly recommended as long as you observe the warnings.
I am usually a complete and utter wuss when it comes to reading about abuse thankfully the detail is mostly off page and its definitely not glorified. My emotions were all over the place especially my rage and hatred for the villain/s! Lee and Shaw are each others saviors my only wish was that Shaw had woken up to this earlier.
What I loved most about this story was the last quarter the ending it was perfect impressive and believable. Fantastic and highly recommended as long as you observe the warnings.
May 19, 2015
♥♥♥ 4 STARS ♥♥♥
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'What's the first thing you remember? The sound of the ocean. Shaw. This.'
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It's been days since I read this book, and I still can't stop thinking about it. I also still have no clue how to review it.
The books starts off with Shaw, a facilitator who needs to make some connections. So, he goes to Vornis' island to try to sell him something he can't refuse. In the business side of things, it is all going according to plan. What Shaw didn't expect was to meet an American soldier that Vornis had captured and is torturing in every way possible.
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"Don't tell me what I'll feel. You are the only one who looked me in the eye in that place. You are the only one who saw me.”
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The moment Lee came into the picture, my heart completely broke. He was just a shell of the human he once was. He was scarred both mentally and physically. Shaw was the only person on the island that looked him in the eye. Lee held on to that, he needed to have hope that he would one day make it out of there alive, and that maybe Shaw would help him. It was so tough seeing how broken Lee was. So many times I wanted to hug him so hard, and I was hoping that Shaw would do something fast. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. Shaw has been working a long time to get to this point, and it's so hard for him to throw it all away to help Lee. He is in such a complicated position and yet somehow Lee understood it, and that really hurt me. I wanted him to be free and happy.
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'I want you, Lee, but you deserve better. You have to know that. You have to know what I am. Someone has to.'
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This book had some dark content, which most definitely is not for all readers. The abuse wasn't explicitly explained--except for one scene--but you get the gist of what is going on. This story was heart shattering, and yet there was something beautiful about it, too. Lee may have appeared weak, but I think he was actually really strong. I fell in love with Lee from the start. Shaw I ended up liking, but there were so many things I wanted him to do. He frustrated me so much. Then at the end, I appreciated something that he did for Lee, instead of acting on his feelings. But, I got frustrated with him all over again for the things he didn't do. It just kept going on like that.
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"Do you trust me?"
"Always."
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This was quite the emotional roller-coaster, I went everywhere from crying, to smiling, to being enraged. It was crazy. The only thing that held me together was Lee, and the connection he seemed to be making with Shaw. It's definitely a book I won't be forgetting any time soon. Overall, I liked the book, despite the things that happened to Lee. I was happy with the ending that they got, but I do wish there would have been a little bit more to know what happened to them both.
***WARNING: Contains scenes of abuse.***
March 30, 2015
4.5 Hardest Stars I've Given
Deep Breath...Wow....Overwhelmed, Overloaded...that's when I know I've read a Bloody Good book.
At times I found it to be difficult to read; yet still absolutely beautiful to read....
Lee Anderson
Lee was the star of this story for me, he held my attention throughout the book, calling to me...yes I wanted to climb inside my kindle and wrap my arms around him, save him... and SLAY EVERY MOTHERFU#kER WHO DARED LAY A HAND ON HIM!!
The Island begins with Shaw a trusted facilitator traveling to a remote private Pacific Island invited by crime boss Vornis, to sell a stolen Cézanne painting to the villian.
Vornis is pure evil, a monster, powerful wealthy, important.
For Shaw, this met is everything he has been working towards....to be trusted by this power man. Years of planning.
SHAW
Vornis's toy was the American captive Lee. Beaten, drugged, raped within a inch of his life.
I'll admit I was quite conflicted on the rating of this book, on the one hand the writing was amazing...I'll take my hat off to Lisa Henry for keeping me completely absorbed in this heartbreaking story, it will definitely be going on my creme de la creme shelf. But and it's a BIG BUT....
And if it wasn't for the gorgeous Lucy who I buddy read this story with....
it would have been a little bit harder, a little bit lonelier.....so Thank you Lucy Lu xoxo
Deep Breath...Wow....Overwhelmed, Overloaded...that's when I know I've read a Bloody Good book.
At times I found it to be difficult to read; yet still absolutely beautiful to read....
Lee Anderson
Lee was the star of this story for me, he held my attention throughout the book, calling to me...yes I wanted to climb inside my kindle and wrap my arms around him, save him... and SLAY EVERY MOTHERFU#kER WHO DARED LAY A HAND ON HIM!!
The Island begins with Shaw a trusted facilitator traveling to a remote private Pacific Island invited by crime boss Vornis, to sell a stolen Cézanne painting to the villian.
Vornis is pure evil, a monster, powerful wealthy, important.
For Shaw, this met is everything he has been working towards....to be trusted by this power man. Years of planning.
SHAW
"I'm glad you're here, Shaw. I have been growing a little bored with nothing to do except play with my toy" ~ Vornis
Vornis's toy was the American captive Lee. Beaten, drugged, raped within a inch of his life.
Lee always walked with his eyes down, and the island revealed all it's secrets to him.
How many sand dollars today
Twelve was a good number.
Lee closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing.
He hated the way the anticipation alone made him tremble.
I'll admit I was quite conflicted on the rating of this book, on the one hand the writing was amazing...I'll take my hat off to Lisa Henry for keeping me completely absorbed in this heartbreaking story, it will definitely be going on my creme de la creme shelf. But and it's a BIG BUT....
And if it wasn't for the gorgeous Lucy who I buddy read this story with....
it would have been a little bit harder, a little bit lonelier.....so Thank you Lucy Lu xoxo
Read
May 14, 2018DNF @ 46%
There is so much pain and hurt! I couldn't go further. I like emotions in balance but this one just made me feel bad. And their inner thought was killing me...
There is so much pain and hurt! I couldn't go further. I like emotions in balance but this one just made me feel bad. And their inner thought was killing me...
February 12, 2018
4,5 stars
I loved this book so much! I've read it in one sitting.
It took me a while to get into the story and warm up to the characters, but then I couldn't put this book down.
We get many disturbing topics, such as kidnapping, sexual abuse, murders. There are some on-page heart wrenching scenes. My heart broke for green-eyed Lee over and over again.
And Shaw, well I resented him for not standing up for Lee and helping him. He seemed so ruthless and cold.
This story isn't dark. Not really. At least it didn't feel dark to me. I've read many dark, twisted and also pitch black stories. Actually after reading this one I saw Lisa Henry wrote Stealing Innocents under the pen-name Cari Waites. And that book was really dark. I mean, as dark as it can get. So knowing how far this author can take us in the dark seas of imagination, The Island was bearable.
We get suspense and I'm glad the author surprised me here. Big time!
I'm pleased the bad guys (really bad guys) got what they deserved.
I simply adored Lee and Shaw. And I so needed an epilogue!!! The reason I'm not rating this with 5 full stars would be the fact that the ending wasn't exactly what I expected. Of course Lee needed time to heal, of course he needed therapy. I just feel like this took a lot of time, even if it was necessary, but we didn't get more of Lee and Shaw together. Maybe we'll get more of them in the future. A novella would be awesome.
Overall I really loved it and found myself re-reading some highlights. The writing really worked for me, so I'll be reading other books by this author.
“One foot in front of the other,” Lee murmured. One sand dollar and then another."
I loved this book so much! I've read it in one sitting.
It took me a while to get into the story and warm up to the characters, but then I couldn't put this book down.
We get many disturbing topics, such as kidnapping, sexual abuse, murders. There are some on-page heart wrenching scenes. My heart broke for green-eyed Lee over and over again.
And Shaw, well I resented him for not standing up for Lee and helping him. He seemed so ruthless and cold.
This story isn't dark. Not really. At least it didn't feel dark to me. I've read many dark, twisted and also pitch black stories. Actually after reading this one I saw Lisa Henry wrote Stealing Innocents under the pen-name Cari Waites. And that book was really dark. I mean, as dark as it can get. So knowing how far this author can take us in the dark seas of imagination, The Island was bearable.
We get suspense and I'm glad the author surprised me here. Big time!
I'm pleased the bad guys (really bad guys) got what they deserved.
I simply adored Lee and Shaw. And I so needed an epilogue!!! The reason I'm not rating this with 5 full stars would be the fact that the ending wasn't exactly what I expected. Of course Lee needed time to heal, of course he needed therapy. I just feel like this took a lot of time, even if it was necessary, but we didn't get more of Lee and Shaw together. Maybe we'll get more of them in the future. A novella would be awesome.
Overall I really loved it and found myself re-reading some highlights. The writing really worked for me, so I'll be reading other books by this author.
February 13, 2015
Review to follow when I've recovered sufficiently. (I think it might take a while.)
Big thanks to Alona and Mark for letting me come along on the ride.
Big thanks to Alona and Mark for letting me come along on the ride.
January 29, 2015
Written October 2, 2013
4 1/2 Stars - Intense, frightening but also beautiful about the most terrible and finally to be safe...
The other day...
This book has been collecting dust too long now. My friends Vio and Rosalinda tells me I have to read it, and in a weak moment this summer I bought it. Since then, it has been lying there on the shelf and stared hard at me. I know I'm so lame and cowardly.... sigh!... All the other girls here dares to read all these popular contemporary romances with slave topic. But not me...
...But after just finished a book about another damaged soul I feel ready for the next one. Maybe a little closer to reality and therefore all the more daunting. Hope now it doesn't become too cruel and nasty...
Today...
It was scary, horrible cruel with horrific inhuman treatment of other people on that island. I almost shook with fear and crying simultaneously. But yet so beautifully told and amidst all the misery yet so dignified described. Now, afterwards, I am so grateful that I actually took the courage and read this intense but well-made novel.
Shaw comes to this beautiful island to sell a stolen artwork to a criminal bigwigs, Vornis. Although Shaw seen and experienced most of the host's criminal atrocities and terror, he is still both shocked but also strangely attracted to the beautiful very young sex-toy Vornis offer him.
The young man (Lee aka Geen Eyes) is an American DEA agent who two months earlier, was captured in Colombia and later sent to Vornis paradise island in Fiji. He is drugged, abused, tortured, scared, skinny and have lost everything. Shaw wishes he had never seen him...
I think it's best to know as little as possible before reading this book, it gives it more justice. You'll be both shocked, surprised but also thankful sometimes. It's like three parts: an initial calming part of lapping waves. A middle with horror and heart-clapping and a final third for recovery, tears and a few small smiles.
It's about making the right decisions, to survive and to dare to live again. Unforgettable - thank you who urged me to dare to read this beautiful novel.
I LIKE - heartbreaking scary and yet so beautiful
4 1/2 Stars - Intense, frightening but also beautiful about the most terrible and finally to be safe...
The other day...
This book has been collecting dust too long now. My friends Vio and Rosalinda tells me I have to read it, and in a weak moment this summer I bought it. Since then, it has been lying there on the shelf and stared hard at me. I know I'm so lame and cowardly.... sigh!... All the other girls here dares to read all these popular contemporary romances with slave topic. But not me...
...But after just finished a book about another damaged soul I feel ready for the next one. Maybe a little closer to reality and therefore all the more daunting. Hope now it doesn't become too cruel and nasty...
Today...
It was scary, horrible cruel with horrific inhuman treatment of other people on that island. I almost shook with fear and crying simultaneously. But yet so beautifully told and amidst all the misery yet so dignified described. Now, afterwards, I am so grateful that I actually took the courage and read this intense but well-made novel.
Shaw comes to this beautiful island to sell a stolen artwork to a criminal bigwigs, Vornis. Although Shaw seen and experienced most of the host's criminal atrocities and terror, he is still both shocked but also strangely attracted to the beautiful very young sex-toy Vornis offer him.
“Toy?” Shaw asked.
Vornis was looking out in the rain. Shaw followed his gaze. He looked up in the line of trees, and ha saw, and a moment later understanding caught him.
His stomach flipped.
Fuck.’
The young man (Lee aka Geen Eyes) is an American DEA agent who two months earlier, was captured in Colombia and later sent to Vornis paradise island in Fiji. He is drugged, abused, tortured, scared, skinny and have lost everything. Shaw wishes he had never seen him...
‘Jesus, Shaw, what are you going to do? Are you really gonna let this happen? Really?
Shawn heard the blood roaring in his skull, as loud at the ocean.
The ocean.’
I think it's best to know as little as possible before reading this book, it gives it more justice. You'll be both shocked, surprised but also thankful sometimes. It's like three parts: an initial calming part of lapping waves. A middle with horror and heart-clapping and a final third for recovery, tears and a few small smiles.
‘Whatever happens here, your soul's unbreakable.
He kept his eyes closed.
It's a shame the rest of me is made of fucking glass.’
It's about making the right decisions, to survive and to dare to live again. Unforgettable - thank you who urged me to dare to read this beautiful novel.
I LIKE - heartbreaking scary and yet so beautiful
December 19, 2013
Sometimes...I get carried away and SPOIL the fun for others.
**4.5 Fragile and Tortured Stars**
The Island...a place where all hope is lost. Where the broken are formed. Where torture is foreplay- for the monsters. And unthinkable bonds are born.
You are not slipping away. You are not going quietly into the dark. Stay with me.
The Island begins with Shaw traveling to Fiji, to sell a stolen painting to the crime boss Vornis. Shaw's intentions are to win Vornis's trust and get an invite to his inner circle. But sometimes, years of hard work, and one goal...will change in a split second decision...or encounter.
With the intentions of getting the job done at all cost, Shaw didn't expect to lay eyes on Vornis's new toy...or feel an emotional draw towards the broken man.
Lee doesn't remember who he is and why his being held by these monsters. All he knows is pain and humiliation. If he listens and obeys, maybe the numbing drugs will be given quicker. But learning the difference between a monster and a human...is the hardest lesson Lee learns in life. They all hurt him...use him. Until his given to Shaw, the man with the hazel eyes...the first man who didn't hurt him.
Want you, want this, need this...
Against his better beliefs in what he should do or feel, Shaw begins to care for Lee. He questions his choices and fights to keep a harsh distance between himself and Lee. For getting caught in anything other than an abusive relationship, can mean the death of both of them.
Trust and hope grows in Lee...for the man who looks him in the eye. Who see's Lee as a human being, in need of help. His pain and grief lesson with Shaw's helping hands. And hope keeps Lee from breaking and losing himself.
He only had to hold himself together until it was over. He only had to hold on to hope. Shaw will look after you when this is done...
Raw, intense and a thrilling read. The Island is filled with heart stopping scenes...not made for your everyday fairy tales. You will dread it, but love it all the same.
Mates...make sure you visit The Island xx
**4.5 Fragile and Tortured Stars**
Hope: A feeling of expectation and desire for a
particular thing to happen. A feeling of trust.
The Island...a place where all hope is lost. Where the broken are formed. Where torture is foreplay- for the monsters. And unthinkable bonds are born.
You are not slipping away. You are not going quietly into the dark. Stay with me.
The Island begins with Shaw traveling to Fiji, to sell a stolen painting to the crime boss Vornis. Shaw's intentions are to win Vornis's trust and get an invite to his inner circle. But sometimes, years of hard work, and one goal...will change in a split second decision...or encounter.
With the intentions of getting the job done at all cost, Shaw didn't expect to lay eyes on Vornis's new toy...or feel an emotional draw towards the broken man.
Lee doesn't remember who he is and why his being held by these monsters. All he knows is pain and humiliation. If he listens and obeys, maybe the numbing drugs will be given quicker. But learning the difference between a monster and a human...is the hardest lesson Lee learns in life. They all hurt him...use him. Until his given to Shaw, the man with the hazel eyes...the first man who didn't hurt him.
Want you, want this, need this...
Against his better beliefs in what he should do or feel, Shaw begins to care for Lee. He questions his choices and fights to keep a harsh distance between himself and Lee. For getting caught in anything other than an abusive relationship, can mean the death of both of them.
Trust: Firm belief in the reliability,
truth, or ability of someone or something.
Trust and hope grows in Lee...for the man who looks him in the eye. Who see's Lee as a human being, in need of help. His pain and grief lesson with Shaw's helping hands. And hope keeps Lee from breaking and losing himself.
He only had to hold himself together until it was over. He only had to hold on to hope. Shaw will look after you when this is done...
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again.
Beyond the suffering you've known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again.
Raw, intense and a thrilling read. The Island is filled with heart stopping scenes...not made for your everyday fairy tales. You will dread it, but love it all the same.
Mates...make sure you visit The Island xx
January 21, 2013
This was a stunning portrayal of evil and abuse, perfectly balanced with hope and morality. This is my first book by Lisa Henry.
The writing is brilliant, perfectly paced to set the mood and tone; punctuated with italics and repeat phrases that underline and enhance thereaders characters emotions. Superbly done!
Shaw arrives on the beautiful island to do a deal with a powerful drug lord. He has worked up to this moment for six years, dealing with the very worst humanity has to offer.
Shaw is a facilitator and procurer of things anything the upper echelons of evil might need. This deal will see him gain everything he has ever wanted and he burns for it's success, he needs it, craves it and will let nothing get in his way. Not even Vorni's new play thing; a dark haired green eyed broken boy who has his cock twitching. Shaw feels nothing for him, this insensible thing who is not to be humanised in any way.
When dealing with Vornis and the like what else should he expect, he has nobody but himself to blame for the situation he is in....right?
”Out of sight out of mind
While Shaw battles with the man he iswas. The brutalised Lee holds a figurative mirror to his conscience.
'Out of sight , out of mind. Don't think about what they've done to Green-eyes”
I loved how the gorgeous Island setting is cleverly presented as a paradox to the danger it holds, not only the natural dangers, but the monstrous evils of the drug lord Vornis and his associates.
This picture symbolises both the characters for me. Shaw is depicted holding Lee, he is strong but questioning, unsure. Lee is broken but still standing...trusting. There is one thing wrong with this image, and it's the Colour of Shaws wings. You decide what colour they should black, grey or white.
The first half of The Island is riveting and shocking, full of nervous energy, dread, awe, sadness and anticipation. You are instantly absorbed within the characters minds, there determination and fear the battle of conscience. The second half is a slow subliminal soothing the perfect balance and antidote to the first.
Please take note of the publishers warnings
The writing is brilliant, perfectly paced to set the mood and tone; punctuated with italics and repeat phrases that underline and enhance the
Shaw arrives on the beautiful island to do a deal with a powerful drug lord. He has worked up to this moment for six years, dealing with the very worst humanity has to offer.
Shaw is a facilitator and procurer of things anything the upper echelons of evil might need. This deal will see him gain everything he has ever wanted and he burns for it's success, he needs it, craves it and will let nothing get in his way. Not even Vorni's new play thing; a dark haired green eyed broken boy who has his cock twitching. Shaw feels nothing for him, this insensible thing who is not to be humanised in any way.
When dealing with Vornis and the like what else should he expect, he has nobody but himself to blame for the situation he is in....right?
”Out of sight out of mind
While Shaw battles with the man he is
'Out of sight , out of mind. Don't think about what they've done to Green-eyes”
I loved how the gorgeous Island setting is cleverly presented as a paradox to the danger it holds, not only the natural dangers, but the monstrous evils of the drug lord Vornis and his associates.
This picture symbolises both the characters for me. Shaw is depicted holding Lee, he is strong but questioning, unsure. Lee is broken but still standing...trusting. There is one thing wrong with this image, and it's the Colour of Shaws wings. You decide what colour they should black, grey or white.
The first half of The Island is riveting and shocking, full of nervous energy, dread, awe, sadness and anticipation. You are instantly absorbed within the characters minds, there determination and fear the battle of conscience. The second half is a slow subliminal soothing the perfect balance and antidote to the first.
Please take note of the publishers warnings
September 16, 2013
1.5 STARS
Posting a 1-star review for a highly rated book, you always feel the imaginary (I hope) weight of the collective glares of everyone who loved it.
Sorry.
I rarely give books I finish an outright 1-star rating but this one I really, really can't not. Mostly because trying to think of something positive to say outside being able to make it to the end is giving me a migraine. But also due to the sexytimes, which should be this story's saving grace, but instead came out this side of bland for me.
The story starts with the arrival of one Adam Shaw in a Fijian island that belongs to the nefarious criminal Vornis, with a smuggled Cezanne painting in tow for sale. Being a long-time associate of Vornis, Shaw is given a lot of allowances and comforts in this visit, the biggest of which is the promise of getting hooked up to other international men ofmystery evil to expand his business with. The other being allowed to share in Vornis' plaything, a DEA agent (Lee) he captured in a failed surveillance mission in his camp in Colombia. The conflict arises from the push and pull between Shaw's job and his libido morals, which may not be as imaginary as he first thought it to be.
See the premise sounds so promising, it reminds me a lot of The Tied Man. Except this failed massively to deliver on the characters' appeal and the emotional wattage that only made me feel upset for all the wrong reasons. True, I've read a lot of books that went far and beyond where I felt The Island shied away from and in a scale of FSoG to TTM this falls in the middle of the BDSM-torture spectrum. But I don't think the sympathy for the well-being of a young man tortured and raped into submission should lie on how graphic and gruesome the depiction of his suffering is. I was ever so hopeful there will be enough character complexity to hold my interest at the very least, if not give me something to feel anything about.
Unfortunately, both Lee and Shaw's characters seem to be stuck as the awaiting victim and reluctant savior for the entirety of the book which is so very apparent with the redundant lines and forced, vapid sentimentality. I mean, how can I feel any sympathy towards Lee counting his days by the number of sand dollars when his disjointed memories before his capture were so vague and superficial that they brought little contrast to his predicament? How can I care about Shaw when he comes across as pretentiously self-righteous because his moral dilemma is an endless, exhausting circle of I am evil or maybe not because I have a dog? Character logic was just so painfully absent (Lee's a DEA agent and he doesn't even know what drug he's getting injected with) and both characters were so poorly formed and as a result, the foundation of their relationship failed to have any perceivable depth or go beyond the obvious.
And by obvious I do mean sex.
The insta-lust was bordering on absurd and how the relationship between Lee and Shaw progressed as the story went along bordered on irritating. There wasn't even any doubt for me as a reader, no tension over how things will go. Which was so frustrating because the early chapters will lead you to believe there'd be ample suspense... only to leave my thrills suspended in perpetual disappointment that couldn't be shocked back into caring after that "plot twist of convenience" in the middle. At that point it felt like the plot was floundering at its lack of direction beyond Lee's implied torture and Shaw's circular moral arguments that the reader's interest needed to be resuscitated in some way. IN ANY WAY.
When it didn't. If anything, it actually pissed me off further because that twist made everything that happened, everything that's been said and thought of by before it a heap of twaddling flapdoodle.
Which, surprisingly (because I thought I was all out of complaints to give) only led to me further raging over Lee's character as he eventually I found it an astounding display of selfishness.
I can't, for the life of me, find anything good to say about this book… okay maybe the part before Shaw first saw Lee was not that bad. All 15 pages of it. Beyond that, I'm sorry to say, was a downhill of disappointment for me. One star because I finished this and thr half star goes to Molly.
Because you know. Dogs.
Posting a 1-star review for a highly rated book, you always feel the imaginary (I hope) weight of the collective glares of everyone who loved it.
Sorry.
I rarely give books I finish an outright 1-star rating but this one I really, really can't not. Mostly because trying to think of something positive to say outside being able to make it to the end is giving me a migraine. But also due to the sexytimes, which should be this story's saving grace, but instead came out this side of bland for me.
The story starts with the arrival of one Adam Shaw in a Fijian island that belongs to the nefarious criminal Vornis, with a smuggled Cezanne painting in tow for sale. Being a long-time associate of Vornis, Shaw is given a lot of allowances and comforts in this visit, the biggest of which is the promise of getting hooked up to other international men of
See the premise sounds so promising, it reminds me a lot of The Tied Man. Except this failed massively to deliver on the characters' appeal and the emotional wattage that only made me feel upset for all the wrong reasons. True, I've read a lot of books that went far and beyond where I felt The Island shied away from and in a scale of FSoG to TTM this falls in the middle of the BDSM-torture spectrum. But I don't think the sympathy for the well-being of a young man tortured and raped into submission should lie on how graphic and gruesome the depiction of his suffering is. I was ever so hopeful there will be enough character complexity to hold my interest at the very least, if not give me something to feel anything about.
Unfortunately, both Lee and Shaw's characters seem to be stuck as the awaiting victim and reluctant savior for the entirety of the book which is so very apparent with the redundant lines and forced, vapid sentimentality. I mean, how can I feel any sympathy towards Lee counting his days by the number of sand dollars when his disjointed memories before his capture were so vague and superficial that they brought little contrast to his predicament? How can I care about Shaw when he comes across as pretentiously self-righteous because his moral dilemma is an endless, exhausting circle of I am evil or maybe not because I have a dog? Character logic was just so painfully absent (Lee's a DEA agent and he doesn't even know what drug he's getting injected with) and both characters were so poorly formed and as a result, the foundation of their relationship failed to have any perceivable depth or go beyond the obvious.
And by obvious I do mean sex.
The insta-lust was bordering on absurd and how the relationship between Lee and Shaw progressed as the story went along bordered on irritating. There wasn't even any doubt for me as a reader, no tension over how things will go. Which was so frustrating because the early chapters will lead you to believe there'd be ample suspense... only to leave my thrills suspended in perpetual disappointment that couldn't be shocked back into caring after that "plot twist of convenience" in the middle. At that point it felt like the plot was floundering at its lack of direction beyond Lee's implied torture and Shaw's circular moral arguments that the reader's interest needed to be resuscitated in some way. IN ANY WAY.
When it didn't. If anything, it actually pissed me off further because that twist made everything that happened, everything that's been said and thought of by before it a heap of twaddling flapdoodle.
Which, surprisingly (because I thought I was all out of complaints to give) only led to me further raging over Lee's character as he eventually I found it an astounding display of selfishness.
I can't, for the life of me, find anything good to say about this book… okay maybe the part before Shaw first saw Lee was not that bad. All 15 pages of it. Beyond that, I'm sorry to say, was a downhill of disappointment for me. One star because I finished this and thr half star goes to Molly.
Because you know. Dogs.
April 2, 2015
This is an absolutely FANTASTIC book full of all kinds of angst. Angst as in ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING and not for the weak of heart! I am officially decided to never read this book again (meaning I won't be reviewing it either because I don't remember enough to do it justice.)
I've seen Sophie's Choice. I've seen Schindler's List. But the thought of re-watching those movies and re-reading The Island is torture.
First timers, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! Make sure you have a friend/spouse/offspring/pet around you at all times while reading. You are GONNA need a hug.
I've seen Sophie's Choice. I've seen Schindler's List. But the thought of re-watching those movies and re-reading The Island is torture.
First timers, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! Make sure you have a friend/spouse/offspring/pet around you at all times while reading. You are GONNA need a hug.
June 10, 2014
I boarded Vornis’ helicopter to The Island fully expecting to come back with a glowing review, but it wasn’t to be. The more books I read by Lisa Henry, the better I understand why many friends label Dark Space and, to a lesser extent, The Last Rebellion, as her best work. Dark Space was actually my first Henry and I loved the expressive Brady (a perfectly executed first-person narrative) and its sci-fi setting to pieces! And then there’s The last Rebellion, in which she pushes you into the meat grinder. When climbing back out, you may find that the experience is worth your missing limbs.
How The Island pales in comparison! In theory it sounds fantastic. But there’s only so many wrongs that can still make a right. Just as there’s only so much the sensual setting – a small Fiji island – can disguise when its inhabited by bland characters and the backdrop for a plot that’s boring and unevenly paced at best and nonsense at worst...
My review in one sentence: a rather curious blend of endless harshness and a fairy tale romance; these extremes having in common that they both fail to convince.
Were the characters anything like in my favorite Henry books, they might have been able to save the barren plot. But they were unmemorable, making me an oddly inactive participant in their precarious situation. MC Shaw, whose name was so over-used in the beginning that I had to convince myself that I was indeed reading a Henry, remained stuck in his shallow loop of going back and forth between trying to not give a fuck about the captured and tortured young man, Lee, and wondering if he should rescue him like the abused dog he once gave a second chance. His conscious working overtime, he was so obviously out of his element in the company of sadists and ruthless businessmen; I couldn’t buy into his position as a trusted comrade to his scary associates at all. And were this book not some romantic fantasy, neither would men of this caliber have. The Big Reveal, which you may or may not see coming from miles away, only took away a little of my scepticism concerning the credibility of his ‘poker face’: I still viewed him as a guppy in a sea of sharks.
And then there’s victim Lee, whose character went through hell for a big part of the book. Something that should have made me all teary-eyed, taking the disclosure of tear-jerky little tidbits about him into account. But apart from feeling vaguely grossed out by the references to his non consensual off-page activities, I found myself mostly uncaring. And why should I have cared? When stripping away the cruelty, there was little more to him than a few sentimental memories and a profession that didn’t seem fitting.
Plot-wise, well, perhaps Henry has spoiled me with her other works, because I’ve had better.. For a long while, everything kind of flowed on gently or moved at a glacial pace (depending on how you look at it), allowing for endless introspection and off-page torture. Allowing, too, for the style-trick of throwing in repetitive words and lines in italics at short intervals to add urgency and drama to the story; a ‘neat trick’ that, IMO, should be applied sparingly, if at all.
Then, a sudden lazy ‘wtf plot twist’ and, unfortunately, a rather bizarre spin to the romantic story-line, that ridiculed all the gross abuse that the traumatized Lee had experienced up until that point. I realize that it must be totally difficult to combine a non-con storyline with a sweetly romantic one. I do! But even wading through the redundant final chapters – seemingly intended to convince me of the plausibility of the romance – couldn’t entirely chase away the sour taste the ‘Lee twist’ had left in my mouth.
Sooo, feckity-feck! I like to say that Henry is one of the better M/M authors out there. And I know that many others enjoyed this book more, so perhaps this is a case where my expectations were based on past experiences, and therefore too high. For Henry fans, The Island is of course a must-read. Though I’m sure I’m already last to THAT party. If you’re about to pick up your first Henry though, I’d suggest starting with the awesome ‘Dark Space’ or her short freebie ‘Falling Away’. Or, if you’re into that, the more disturbing ‘The Last Rebellion’ and ‘Tribute’.
BR with Bananas.
How The Island pales in comparison! In theory it sounds fantastic. But there’s only so many wrongs that can still make a right. Just as there’s only so much the sensual setting – a small Fiji island – can disguise when its inhabited by bland characters and the backdrop for a plot that’s boring and unevenly paced at best and nonsense at worst...
My review in one sentence: a rather curious blend of endless harshness and a fairy tale romance; these extremes having in common that they both fail to convince.
Were the characters anything like in my favorite Henry books, they might have been able to save the barren plot. But they were unmemorable, making me an oddly inactive participant in their precarious situation. MC Shaw, whose name was so over-used in the beginning that I had to convince myself that I was indeed reading a Henry, remained stuck in his shallow loop of going back and forth between trying to not give a fuck about the captured and tortured young man, Lee, and wondering if he should rescue him like the abused dog he once gave a second chance. His conscious working overtime, he was so obviously out of his element in the company of sadists and ruthless businessmen; I couldn’t buy into his position as a trusted comrade to his scary associates at all. And were this book not some romantic fantasy, neither would men of this caliber have. The Big Reveal, which you may or may not see coming from miles away, only took away a little of my scepticism concerning the credibility of his ‘poker face’: I still viewed him as a guppy in a sea of sharks.
And then there’s victim Lee, whose character went through hell for a big part of the book. Something that should have made me all teary-eyed, taking the disclosure of tear-jerky little tidbits about him into account. But apart from feeling vaguely grossed out by the references to his non consensual off-page activities, I found myself mostly uncaring. And why should I have cared? When stripping away the cruelty, there was little more to him than a few sentimental memories and a profession that didn’t seem fitting.
Plot-wise, well, perhaps Henry has spoiled me with her other works, because I’ve had better.. For a long while, everything kind of flowed on gently or moved at a glacial pace (depending on how you look at it), allowing for endless introspection and off-page torture. Allowing, too, for the style-trick of throwing in repetitive words and lines in italics at short intervals to add urgency and drama to the story; a ‘neat trick’ that, IMO, should be applied sparingly, if at all.
Then, a sudden lazy ‘wtf plot twist’ and, unfortunately, a rather bizarre spin to the romantic story-line, that ridiculed all the gross abuse that the traumatized Lee had experienced up until that point. I realize that it must be totally difficult to combine a non-con storyline with a sweetly romantic one. I do! But even wading through the redundant final chapters – seemingly intended to convince me of the plausibility of the romance – couldn’t entirely chase away the sour taste the ‘Lee twist’ had left in my mouth.
Sooo, feckity-feck! I like to say that Henry is one of the better M/M authors out there. And I know that many others enjoyed this book more, so perhaps this is a case where my expectations were based on past experiences, and therefore too high. For Henry fans, The Island is of course a must-read. Though I’m sure I’m already last to THAT party. If you’re about to pick up your first Henry though, I’d suggest starting with the awesome ‘Dark Space’ or her short freebie ‘Falling Away’. Or, if you’re into that, the more disturbing ‘The Last Rebellion’ and ‘Tribute’.
BR with Bananas.
January 12, 2012
4,5-5 stars
I can hear the complaints from readers - "Oh no,not torture and rape again"
But rest assured, (and that`s why I gave The Island the high rating) this isn`t about torture and rape - no kinks get satisfied and no sadistic glee here!(means not on-page...)
This is a story about the value of a single human life in the "grand scheme".
That doesn`t mean this was a comfortable read - far from it.Mostly told from Shaw`s point of view who never witnessed the actual torture of his "business partner" Vornis` boy toy - the American captive Lee.He just saw the results and got told what happened.(It was bad enough - gut wrenching moments galore...)Some parts were told from Lee`s point of view (and again just flashbacks of what had happened) - when he wasn`t drugged into oblivion.Watching his pain and fear - and after meeting Shaw the tiny glimmer of hope - was for me as the reader and helpless bystander the hardest part of the story.
Shaw came to the island to sell a stolen,expensive painting to the crime boss Vornis and to meet a few important future business partners.Meeting Lee - given to him every night during his stay as a present from his host to enjoy himself...his growing feelings and compassion for Lee threatened to destroy everything he worked so hard for - same went for many people involved and millions of dollars.So what was Shaw going to do - looking away and leaving Lee to die a terrible death - or jeopardizing everything he worked so hard for by saving Lee...
Want to know? Then read it...
The writing was fabulous.Once started it was unputdownable despite the disturbing and sometimes painful to read content.
There`s more story here than that what I told above but I really don`t want to spoil it more than necessary...
I can hear the complaints from readers - "Oh no,not torture and rape again"
But rest assured, (and that`s why I gave The Island the high rating) this isn`t about torture and rape - no kinks get satisfied and no sadistic glee here!(means not on-page...)
This is a story about the value of a single human life in the "grand scheme".
That doesn`t mean this was a comfortable read - far from it.Mostly told from Shaw`s point of view who never witnessed the actual torture of his "business partner" Vornis` boy toy - the American captive Lee.He just saw the results and got told what happened.(It was bad enough - gut wrenching moments galore...)Some parts were told from Lee`s point of view (and again just flashbacks of what had happened) - when he wasn`t drugged into oblivion.Watching his pain and fear - and after meeting Shaw the tiny glimmer of hope - was for me as the reader and helpless bystander the hardest part of the story.
Shaw came to the island to sell a stolen,expensive painting to the crime boss Vornis and to meet a few important future business partners.Meeting Lee - given to him every night during his stay as a present from his host to enjoy himself...his growing feelings and compassion for Lee threatened to destroy everything he worked so hard for - same went for many people involved and millions of dollars.So what was Shaw going to do - looking away and leaving Lee to die a terrible death - or jeopardizing everything he worked so hard for by saving Lee...
Want to know? Then read it...
The writing was fabulous.Once started it was unputdownable despite the disturbing and sometimes painful to read content.
There`s more story here than that what I told above but I really don`t want to spoil it more than necessary...
January 18, 2013
I really liked this book. It took a little to get into it, because I'm the type that likes to be grasped straight away and thrown into drama. So, I'm not so much the thoughtful type, and I don't really care for slower lead ins. However, this book did dramatically pick up after a bit, then it thrusted me fully into a highly agitated storyline, where Shaw had a lot of trouble dealing with a very uncomfortable situation. The fact he had to let go of Lee, knowing he was being abused and misused in the most horrible of ways would have been hard on him, even more so since he had a conscience, regardless of what he thought of himself. I loved when he stepped up to the plate, and did something I really did not expect him to do. At that point in the story I thought he was doomed to be put in the same situation as Lee, especially since the big bad man had a huge hard-on for him. So, when the storyline went in a different direction from what I expected I thought, "Wow," I like this, because I like to be shook up and given something I didn't expect. Then more of the unexpected was put onto my plate, and I thought "Cool," we have an Australian version of James Bond here. So, I did really like this story, but because of the slower lead in I had to knock off the 1 star and settle with a 4. Plus, it wasn't a knock me off my feet story as much as my favorite reads, which hit me so hard that I beg and throw tantrums for more. Hence, I'm happy with this story, but satisfied it finished where it did.
Taking a bow, the end.
December 15, 2015
What a ride!
To everyone who considers reading this, but isn't sure if they can actually devour it: Don't give up on it!
I swear I thought this novel was an experiment on how far a character can be dragged through hell before the reader will angrily throw the book against a wall or worse.
It's even harder to bear given that the main character, Shaw (whom you should probably consider 'the good guy') is actually a criminal himself. And then there's Lee. And if a character ever went through hell for real, it is him.
At times, you will be suffocating reading this. There's torture, abuse and psychological terror. Lee is broken long before the story actually begins.
And Shaw? He's visiting the island to sell a stolen multi-million dollar painting to Lee's tormentor. And the only thing that distinguishes Shaw from the monsters hurting Lee is the fact that Shaw doesn't consider himself a rapist.
I hated Shaw. He pities Lee. He wants to be a good guy, but connecting with the big players in international terrorism is what he's been waiting for all his life and this kid, this pitiful DEA agent who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, fucks things up for him. Yeah, we feel for you, Shaw...
Shaw's decisions made me hate him more than I hated Vornis, because Vornis at least *was* the bad guy, the antagonist that you're supposed to hate. But the fact that a guy like Shaw was all Lee had in his 24/7 hell was almost too hard to bear for me. I seriously hoped Shaw would end up in jail and Lee (if he survived this) would spit in his face afterwards.
BUT don't underestimate the author! This book turns into a clever study in psychology and I am very happy to say it doesn't just throw you into the terrors of abuse and torture, it also shows you how a character deals with it and tries to find himself when he lost his humanity and more, when just a few weeks ago, he was an aspiring young guy, thinking he owns the world.
AND most importantly - and this is the last thing I am going to say about this 5 star book - not everything here is what it seems....
Don't miss out on this gem!!!
To everyone who considers reading this, but isn't sure if they can actually devour it: Don't give up on it!
I swear I thought this novel was an experiment on how far a character can be dragged through hell before the reader will angrily throw the book against a wall or worse.
It's even harder to bear given that the main character, Shaw (whom you should probably consider 'the good guy') is actually a criminal himself. And then there's Lee. And if a character ever went through hell for real, it is him.
At times, you will be suffocating reading this. There's torture, abuse and psychological terror. Lee is broken long before the story actually begins.
And Shaw? He's visiting the island to sell a stolen multi-million dollar painting to Lee's tormentor. And the only thing that distinguishes Shaw from the monsters hurting Lee is the fact that Shaw doesn't consider himself a rapist.
I hated Shaw. He pities Lee. He wants to be a good guy, but connecting with the big players in international terrorism is what he's been waiting for all his life and this kid, this pitiful DEA agent who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, fucks things up for him. Yeah, we feel for you, Shaw...
Shaw's decisions made me hate him more than I hated Vornis, because Vornis at least *was* the bad guy, the antagonist that you're supposed to hate. But the fact that a guy like Shaw was all Lee had in his 24/7 hell was almost too hard to bear for me. I seriously hoped Shaw would end up in jail and Lee (if he survived this) would spit in his face afterwards.
BUT don't underestimate the author! This book turns into a clever study in psychology and I am very happy to say it doesn't just throw you into the terrors of abuse and torture, it also shows you how a character deals with it and tries to find himself when he lost his humanity and more, when just a few weeks ago, he was an aspiring young guy, thinking he owns the world.
AND most importantly - and this is the last thing I am going to say about this 5 star book - not everything here is what it seems....
Don't miss out on this gem!!!
July 4, 2017
Amazing
This is an amazing story! I wish I had read it sooner!! Brilliant storyline, characters you will either love or loathe and twists to keep you on your toes!! Must read!!!
This is an amazing story! I wish I had read it sooner!! Brilliant storyline, characters you will either love or loathe and twists to keep you on your toes!! Must read!!!
April 17, 2017
Wow, six stars, read this through the night, too good to put down. Brilliant twist to it, you must read this! Really enjoyed my re-read too..
'Whatever happens here, your soul's unbreakable.' He kept his eyes closed. 'It's a shame the rest of me is made of fucking glass.'
January 14, 2012
I know, I know, I said to myself I won't read this. I am a bit burned out with m/m genre in general ... and I don't see how a torture/abuse theme will help. I'm not a faint-hearted person (one of my most favorite themes in mystery/thriller mainstream IS serial killer after all) but I just get tired of characters having to go through all this before they get their happy end (at least in serial killing novels, they are all dead. Yeah, I know, call a psychiatrist for me, I don't get my logic either)
But everybody was raving about this one and sometimes my curiosity got the best of me. So I did. I read it. And look Ma, the first person who DID NOT give this 5 stars. Don't get me wrong, I like the story, but it doesn't feel like it's my kind of 5-star rating of a story.
First thing first ... yes, the torture/abuse is not on your face. Readers do get the glimpse of it, either from Lee's state of mind, or the abundant scars left on his body. There are some scenes that seem to be a 'start' of torture but it never really get there. I'm sure there are many scenes in other books that are more horryfing. It doesn't mean that it will not make readers suffer because sometimes imagination is more horryfing than actually reading in on pages (or on your ereader).
AND, the story takes part on the island only about 2/3 of it. The last 1/3 of the story is actually what makes this story SPECIAL. Because there is a TWIST I don't see coming by a mile. It takes the story into a different path, of me understanding more about who Shaw is (and why he does what he does in the Island).
Also, like my friend, Elaine, points out, Ms. Henry does not rush into HEA or HFN just to make us feel happy and relieved. She actually takes us into a journey in the aftermath, after both Shaw and Lee escape from the Island. It's a journey towards healing, more on the Lee's part rather than Shaw, and I totally appreciate that. In fact, that 1/3 part of the story plays the bigger role in me giving this the 4-star rating. It humanizes the characters, especially Lee (although he is already a shining character for his ability to survive).
What doesn't make this a 5-star rating, for me, especially, is more technical. There are some repetitive sentences that Ms. Henry used, like when Shaw is telling himself to focus, or that "out of sight, out of mind", that just grate on my nerves. I know it's supposed to mean something as a reminder of what Shaw (or Lee) is going through, to help them stay strong on their principles, but I wish it is written in different way. Because after reading the word "focus" so many times, I end up losing it, and it impacts on my joy of reading.
Plus, I stil think the strength of the story is actually the last 1/3 part. The first 2/3 is okay -- but I'm not completely blown away or shedding tears as well (gosh, does that make me sound heartless?!?) because somehow I think the story can get better impact when it is about the aftermath. If any of you have read Finding Zach from Rowan Speedwell, which I like better, you will know what I mean.
--------
Oh, just one thing, I want to say KUDOS for Ms. Henry for THIS SENTENCE alone. It refers to them watching a cricket game
“At least when we have a world series, we’re not the only country in it,” Shaw had told him.
YES!!! That is TOTALLY SPOT-ON. I know it's off topic, but I always want to point that one out to my American friends *lol*
But everybody was raving about this one and sometimes my curiosity got the best of me. So I did. I read it. And look Ma, the first person who DID NOT give this 5 stars. Don't get me wrong, I like the story, but it doesn't feel like it's my kind of 5-star rating of a story.
First thing first ... yes, the torture/abuse is not on your face. Readers do get the glimpse of it, either from Lee's state of mind, or the abundant scars left on his body. There are some scenes that seem to be a 'start' of torture but it never really get there. I'm sure there are many scenes in other books that are more horryfing. It doesn't mean that it will not make readers suffer because sometimes imagination is more horryfing than actually reading in on pages (or on your ereader).
AND, the story takes part on the island only about 2/3 of it. The last 1/3 of the story is actually what makes this story SPECIAL. Because there is a TWIST I don't see coming by a mile. It takes the story into a different path, of me understanding more about who Shaw is (and why he does what he does in the Island).
Also, like my friend, Elaine, points out, Ms. Henry does not rush into HEA or HFN just to make us feel happy and relieved. She actually takes us into a journey in the aftermath, after both Shaw and Lee escape from the Island. It's a journey towards healing, more on the Lee's part rather than Shaw, and I totally appreciate that. In fact, that 1/3 part of the story plays the bigger role in me giving this the 4-star rating. It humanizes the characters, especially Lee (although he is already a shining character for his ability to survive).
What doesn't make this a 5-star rating, for me, especially, is more technical. There are some repetitive sentences that Ms. Henry used, like when Shaw is telling himself to focus, or that "out of sight, out of mind", that just grate on my nerves. I know it's supposed to mean something as a reminder of what Shaw (or Lee) is going through, to help them stay strong on their principles, but I wish it is written in different way. Because after reading the word "focus" so many times, I end up losing it, and it impacts on my joy of reading.
Plus, I stil think the strength of the story is actually the last 1/3 part. The first 2/3 is okay -- but I'm not completely blown away or shedding tears as well (gosh, does that make me sound heartless?!?) because somehow I think the story can get better impact when it is about the aftermath. If any of you have read Finding Zach from Rowan Speedwell, which I like better, you will know what I mean.
--------
Oh, just one thing, I want to say KUDOS for Ms. Henry for THIS SENTENCE alone. It refers to them watching a cricket game
“At least when we have a world series, we’re not the only country in it,” Shaw had told him.
YES!!! That is TOTALLY SPOT-ON. I know it's off topic, but I always want to point that one out to my American friends *lol*
January 5, 2013
Opening Line: “Shaw looked out the window as the chopper came in to land.”
I was kind of unsure going into this (especially after the warning in the back blurb) I mean I don’t even read BDSM so I figured this was going to be way out of my comfort zone but luckily I took a gamble because it turned out to be a fantastic, well written and very moving story. Sure it’s intense, but it’s also thought provoking, suspenseful, romantic, (way) surprising and even tender.
And oh did I mention it takes place on a Fijian island (hello virtual vacation -although I’d choose an island not inhabited by a twisted crime lord) Anyways. Yes there are situations here that are uncomfortable, disturbing and just plain painful to read but they take place off the page and are non-sexual, more like a prisoner of war situation then a kinky F’d up sex thing (if that makes sense?) So don’t be afraid of THE ISLAND especially if you like good romantic suspense, Australian heroes and a smile inducing HEA.
Entrepreneur Adam Shaw arrives on the private Fijian Island to sell a stolen and very expensive (albeit ugly) painting to the powerful crime boss known as Vornis. Vornis is one twisted pig in the truest sense of the word but he’s also an important stepping stone in Shaw’s murky world as he will introduce him to some important future business partners. Shaw is the middle man to the bad guys, finding them what they need for a fee; weapons, bombs, jewels, artwork nothing is out of his reach but he has a conscience too and it’s about to be tested.
On his first night on the lavish island Vornis introduces Shaw to his new “toy” a beautiful but destroyed young man. He is now only a shell of his obvious military background; beaten, drugged, brutalized, starving and for the most part living in some reclusive part of his own mind. Being the consummate host Vornis gives the boy to Shaw to "play with" for the duration of his stay. Shaw is not a monster though, he’s different from these people or so he keeps reminding himself.
Over the coming days Shaw does what he can not to hurt the boy any further while still appearing to be one of the monsters. Putting on a show for the cameras in his room and appearing unfazed when Vornis takes him back for a few hours to well, terrorize and beat the shit out of him. I mean he feels for his situation but really it’s none of his business and what could he do anyways? They’re trapped on the island, hounded by bodyguard soldiers with escape an impossibility. If Shaw shows any weakness at all towards the boy Vornis will kill them both. It’s a slippery slope and it’s so cleverly written watching Shaw work both sides.
For the majority of this story we remain in Shaw’s head, with only the occasional glimpse into the mind of the boy know as Lee. Again this is great writing because make no mistake this is also very much Lee’s story and when his head clears enough from the drugs and we’re allowed in let me tell you it’s a mess. His coping techniques, utter terror and flashbacks bothered me more than the abuse he was suffering. For Lee, Shaw is the first person since his capture to look him in the eye, to treat him like more than a dog and to give him hope that he might have a future. Hope can be a dangerous thing though.
There’s a huge plot twist that I didn’t see coming and can’t get into because it will give it all away but let me tell you it was awesome. I also loved that this story continues for several months into the future realistically dealing with “things” that needed to be dealt with before we get the big HEA but again its spoiler territory so I can’t say much more than that.
Totally recommended. Cheers
325jb45
Originally reviewed for my friend Darien over on PANTS OFF REVIEWS check it out :)
http://pantsoffreviews.blogspot.ca/20...
I was kind of unsure going into this (especially after the warning in the back blurb) I mean I don’t even read BDSM so I figured this was going to be way out of my comfort zone but luckily I took a gamble because it turned out to be a fantastic, well written and very moving story. Sure it’s intense, but it’s also thought provoking, suspenseful, romantic, (way) surprising and even tender.
And oh did I mention it takes place on a Fijian island (hello virtual vacation -although I’d choose an island not inhabited by a twisted crime lord) Anyways. Yes there are situations here that are uncomfortable, disturbing and just plain painful to read but they take place off the page and are non-sexual, more like a prisoner of war situation then a kinky F’d up sex thing (if that makes sense?) So don’t be afraid of THE ISLAND especially if you like good romantic suspense, Australian heroes and a smile inducing HEA.
Entrepreneur Adam Shaw arrives on the private Fijian Island to sell a stolen and very expensive (albeit ugly) painting to the powerful crime boss known as Vornis. Vornis is one twisted pig in the truest sense of the word but he’s also an important stepping stone in Shaw’s murky world as he will introduce him to some important future business partners. Shaw is the middle man to the bad guys, finding them what they need for a fee; weapons, bombs, jewels, artwork nothing is out of his reach but he has a conscience too and it’s about to be tested.
On his first night on the lavish island Vornis introduces Shaw to his new “toy” a beautiful but destroyed young man. He is now only a shell of his obvious military background; beaten, drugged, brutalized, starving and for the most part living in some reclusive part of his own mind. Being the consummate host Vornis gives the boy to Shaw to "play with" for the duration of his stay. Shaw is not a monster though, he’s different from these people or so he keeps reminding himself.
Over the coming days Shaw does what he can not to hurt the boy any further while still appearing to be one of the monsters. Putting on a show for the cameras in his room and appearing unfazed when Vornis takes him back for a few hours to well, terrorize and beat the shit out of him. I mean he feels for his situation but really it’s none of his business and what could he do anyways? They’re trapped on the island, hounded by bodyguard soldiers with escape an impossibility. If Shaw shows any weakness at all towards the boy Vornis will kill them both. It’s a slippery slope and it’s so cleverly written watching Shaw work both sides.
For the majority of this story we remain in Shaw’s head, with only the occasional glimpse into the mind of the boy know as Lee. Again this is great writing because make no mistake this is also very much Lee’s story and when his head clears enough from the drugs and we’re allowed in let me tell you it’s a mess. His coping techniques, utter terror and flashbacks bothered me more than the abuse he was suffering. For Lee, Shaw is the first person since his capture to look him in the eye, to treat him like more than a dog and to give him hope that he might have a future. Hope can be a dangerous thing though.
There’s a huge plot twist that I didn’t see coming and can’t get into because it will give it all away but let me tell you it was awesome. I also loved that this story continues for several months into the future realistically dealing with “things” that needed to be dealt with before we get the big HEA but again its spoiler territory so I can’t say much more than that.
Totally recommended. Cheers
325jb45
Originally reviewed for my friend Darien over on PANTS OFF REVIEWS check it out :)
http://pantsoffreviews.blogspot.ca/20...
August 5, 2015
4,5 stars.
Why haven't I read this one earlier???
Hold on to hope. Count the sand dollars, pass the time, wait and see.
This book has been sitting on my kindle and collecting dust for ages. I love dark and disturbing stories and tags and warnings like those in this blurb usually don’t bother me… but… and I have no idea why… I was just too chickenshit to read The Island.
Until yesterday.
I was flipping through the book titles I wanted to read soonish… and there it was. The book fucking blinked at me… mockingly… and I thought ‘Now or never’.
Boy… I haven’t regretted it, not one moment. The Island is a roller coaster ride par excellence, I read it in almost one sitting, the whole time on the edge of my seat, hubby had to literally peel me my off my kindle last night. :))) It was a powerful read that still gives me shivers.
Can you imagine the unearthly beauty of the Fiji Islands, the clear blue water, the white beach, the amazing pacific… and associate it with brutality, sadism, rape and maliciousness?
Can you imagine a young guy captured and existing completely and utterly at the mercy of an evil bastard who tortures him sexually and shares him with men who are like him into inflicting pain and humiliation? Lee is living this nightmare.
Only a few things keep him sane (when he isn’t drugged), memories of his home and the sand dollars he collects in the shallow water.
How many sand dollars? Twelve. Which was your favorite? The green one. Never saw one that color before. Find another one tomorrow.
Lee closed his eyes briefly. Seven sand dollars today. Not a great haul, but they’d been good ones. Round and white and fragile. Lee always fought the compulsion to crush them when he was holding them in his hand, to turn them to sand and let the wind take them.
One foot in front of the other. One sand dollar and then another. Time would pass. It always did.
Whatever happens here, your soul’s unbreakable.
Then Shaw arrives. Shaw, who has his reasons to show up on the island. Shaw, who can’t help Lee the way he wants to. Shaw, who is wrecked with guilt for not stopping the abuse every time when Lee is taken away for new games and torture. Shaw, who isn’t as amoral and sadistic as the bad guy Vornis who tries to hide his rotten ugliness behind the island’s beauty..
“You’re going to die here,” he [Shaw] told the ocean, told Lee. Would have told him, except he’d left him sleeping in bed. “You’re going to fucking die here.”
At some point my adrenaline level was literally skyrocketing, and I thought I couldn’t read any further.
Even though the abuse and rape stay off-page the reality of the way Lee is treated is not hidden from the reader… just like Shaw’s guilt for not stopping it immediately. He has his reasons… and when he shows who he really is, hell breaks loose.
I won’t give away any more details but if you want to push your boundaries, if you love a big fat adrenaline rush every now and then and if you haven’t read the book yet… guys… accept the challenge and read it. Now!
August 24, 2018
"What's the first thing you remember?"
It takes a special kind of monster to turn this tropical paradise into hell.
Vornis has set this travesty in motion. He's a sociopath. A criminal. A monster who's taken "Green Eyes" as a hostage & brought him here to torture & kill. He & his minions have trained him like a dog to be the perfect fuck toy.
"Green Eyes" a.k.a. Lee has been tortured, gang raped, starved, drugged to the point that he cannot even remember his name & stuck in a room that's "four steps deep and six steps wide; too small to stretch out in, and too low to stand up in." Yet somehow he's held on for 8 weeks by trying to remember small tidbits of his life & taking pleasure in the smallest things.
"One foot in front of the other. One sand dollar and then another."
Enter Shaw, facilitator to the underworld. He comes to the island to establish his reputation & meet the big fish, Guterman. After a 6 year quest, he's finally going to cash in on all his hard work. One big problem exists-Green Eyes. Green Eyes captures his attention, makes him question his morals, makes him feel like one of the monsters he is doing business with, raises his protective instincts & most importantly & unbelievably of all, Green Eyes trusts him. Shaw tries to tell himself time & time again, "out of sight, out of mind" to no avail. Lee affects him, distracts him all of which is dangerous when doing business with the amoral. He has a job to do. He has to focus.
Tears constricted his throat. The man hadn’t hurt him, not really. He couldn’t remember the last time a man had made the choice not to hurt him, and it overwhelmed him now. He was lying in a bed, and the man was holding his hand and stroking his thumb across his palm, and he hadn’t hurt him.
What’s the first thing you remember?
This.
It was beautiful. It was agonizing. It was littered with angst. I had my doubts about Shaw but Lee's unwavering faith & hope pulled me through. I have no idea how he was able to retain even a shred of humanity after being put through 9 weeks of torture so profound it boggles the mind just to contemplate. The Island I believe has overtaken Comfort Food as my worst nightmare put to words. Tip of the hat, Ms. Henry. That's quite a coup.
"Fear, like pain, turned out to be a bottomless pit."
But no matter how hellish it became he soldiered on.
"Whatever happens here, your soul’s unbreakable."
Lee's soul is strong enough to carry him & Shaw & come out the other side.
"One foot in front of the other. One sand dollar and then another.
What’s the first thing you remember?"
January 29, 2012
I thought the beginning was good, especially with Lee's fugue states. I really enjoyed the moments he had on the beach too with the sand dollars. I guessed Then came 65%, and from that point till 80% I absolutely hated the book. So many WTF moments I lost count. From around 80% till 95% I was unconvinced and slightly bored. However, the last 5% saved it.
January 16, 2013
This book was so much more than I could’ve dreamed. I gave it the full 5 stars because it was so damn perfect, for me personally.
There was just this perfect balance… of everything! I don’t know how else to explain it really. I loved every second of this book and I never wanted it to end.
I knew before I stared that this was a relatively short book, compared to what I usually read. So I had prepared myself to not fully connect with the characters. Like them, yes. But I wasn’t prepared for such truly wonderful writing.
Lisa Henry is out of this world. The way she described the Fijian surroundings had me dreaming of a holiday. I could see everything she wanted me (as a reader) to see and I was already blown away.
Then there came this incredible story. A story that held me transfixed from start to finish. Henry didn’t give us every single detail of Shaw and Lee’s lives; we actually don’t know that much about them, even by the end of the book. However, what she did do was give us just enough to intrigue and enthral. It certainly worked on me. I soaked up every tiny spec of new information I could get.
Even by 10%, I felt like I needed Lee to be okay. I already cared for him deeply. For the man he was before, before he was raped and captured by Vornis. A truly despicable human being.
I think that’s what I loved the most about Lee, his journey. The way he handled the horrifying situation he found himself in. The way he trusted Shaw, with everything, even his own life. And the way he came out the other side. Untouched by what he had suffered? Of course not, but I have no doubt that he will be okay, with time.
Even the torture and rape was written extremely subtly. I know, that sounds a little crazy, but it’s true. You knew exactly what was happening to Lee, but you are gratefully distracted by his coping mechanism. Thinking of memories good and bad, that Vornis could never take from him. And secrets that he holds within himself.
''You were a dumb kid. All yours…'
'…You once vomited on a whole bunch of people at the county fair. They'll never forget you…'
He smiled at the floor, and tears stung his eyes.'
'You broke your arm and didn’t tell anyone for ten hours. You were stupid and stubborn, and they can’t take that.'
He had those memories and a million others.
The cuffs were digging into his wrists, scraping against the broken skin.'
Now, Shaw was anther work of pure genius. I felt like pone moment I really loved him, for taking care of Lee. For showing him kindness when he needed it the most. The next, I was thinking… What aren’t you stopping this? Even though I knew that it wasn’t that simple.
I realised eventually that that wasn’t the real Shaw. Nothing he did on that Island could be compared to the man that he really is. It was brilliantly confusing. I loved the moments of beautiful honesty from Shaw, even if a lot of them were in his head and not said aloud.
'Shaw felt his breath catch in his throat. Was that the first time he’d heard anything like a laugh from Lee? Jesus, he wanted to hear it again! He raised his eyebrows. "Are you taking the piss out of my accent?"
I was already giving this book 4 stars, but the ending… bumped it up all the way. I am a complete sucker for a happy ending and was more than happy, ecstatic even, to read this…
'"Whatever you want," Shaw repeated. "Whatever you came here for. Just tell me, and it’s yours." *Happy sigh*
I cannot wait to read more by this author. *Bows to Lisa Henry* for an amazing book.
:)
There was just this perfect balance… of everything! I don’t know how else to explain it really. I loved every second of this book and I never wanted it to end.
I knew before I stared that this was a relatively short book, compared to what I usually read. So I had prepared myself to not fully connect with the characters. Like them, yes. But I wasn’t prepared for such truly wonderful writing.
Lisa Henry is out of this world. The way she described the Fijian surroundings had me dreaming of a holiday. I could see everything she wanted me (as a reader) to see and I was already blown away.
Then there came this incredible story. A story that held me transfixed from start to finish. Henry didn’t give us every single detail of Shaw and Lee’s lives; we actually don’t know that much about them, even by the end of the book. However, what she did do was give us just enough to intrigue and enthral. It certainly worked on me. I soaked up every tiny spec of new information I could get.
Even by 10%, I felt like I needed Lee to be okay. I already cared for him deeply. For the man he was before, before he was raped and captured by Vornis. A truly despicable human being.
I think that’s what I loved the most about Lee, his journey. The way he handled the horrifying situation he found himself in. The way he trusted Shaw, with everything, even his own life. And the way he came out the other side. Untouched by what he had suffered? Of course not, but I have no doubt that he will be okay, with time.
Even the torture and rape was written extremely subtly. I know, that sounds a little crazy, but it’s true. You knew exactly what was happening to Lee, but you are gratefully distracted by his coping mechanism. Thinking of memories good and bad, that Vornis could never take from him. And secrets that he holds within himself.
''You were a dumb kid. All yours…'
'…You once vomited on a whole bunch of people at the county fair. They'll never forget you…'
He smiled at the floor, and tears stung his eyes.'
'You broke your arm and didn’t tell anyone for ten hours. You were stupid and stubborn, and they can’t take that.'
He had those memories and a million others.
The cuffs were digging into his wrists, scraping against the broken skin.'
Now, Shaw was anther work of pure genius. I felt like pone moment I really loved him, for taking care of Lee. For showing him kindness when he needed it the most. The next, I was thinking… What aren’t you stopping this? Even though I knew that it wasn’t that simple.
I realised eventually that that wasn’t the real Shaw. Nothing he did on that Island could be compared to the man that he really is. It was brilliantly confusing. I loved the moments of beautiful honesty from Shaw, even if a lot of them were in his head and not said aloud.
'Shaw felt his breath catch in his throat. Was that the first time he’d heard anything like a laugh from Lee? Jesus, he wanted to hear it again! He raised his eyebrows. "Are you taking the piss out of my accent?"
I was already giving this book 4 stars, but the ending… bumped it up all the way. I am a complete sucker for a happy ending and was more than happy, ecstatic even, to read this…
'"Whatever you want," Shaw repeated. "Whatever you came here for. Just tell me, and it’s yours." *Happy sigh*
I cannot wait to read more by this author. *Bows to Lisa Henry* for an amazing book.
:)
February 4, 2012
Dark, Brutal, and Gripping! Loved it!!
I'm thinking I might have been a little over-prepared for this one. I didn't read the blurb or any reviews, but was told that there was quite a bit of rape and torture throughout the story. Well, it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected! All the bad stuff was either alluded to or mentioned after the fact or kinda glossed over. Lee went through a lot of horrible things, but I didn't have to suffer along with him. So, if I had to state an issue with the story, that would be mine: that I was protected from the graphic, violent violations of Lee's humanity. I mean, I knew what was being done to him, but I didn't live it and feel it like he did. I know that's a lot fucked up of me, but I feel like the story would have been more intense and more emotional if I wouldn't have been so protected. On the other hand, I still loved the story.
I really liked Shaw's character. There was a lot going on with him and I liked how he constantly struggled with his primary goal versus his morality. He never hurt or raped Lee and I truly believe he tried to keep him as safe as he could in the only way he knew how.
In the end, I really felt the connection between Shaw and Lee, not just the sex but the emotional connection, and that there could be true love between them beyond hero-worship or Stockholm Syndrome. I wouldn't exactly call this a HEA, but it's definitely a HFN. And I am 100% ok with that.
This story is very heavy and dark and I recommend it to anyone who thinks they can handle it.
I'm thinking I might have been a little over-prepared for this one. I didn't read the blurb or any reviews, but was told that there was quite a bit of rape and torture throughout the story. Well, it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected! All the bad stuff was either alluded to or mentioned after the fact or kinda glossed over. Lee went through a lot of horrible things, but I didn't have to suffer along with him. So, if I had to state an issue with the story, that would be mine: that I was protected from the graphic, violent violations of Lee's humanity. I mean, I knew what was being done to him, but I didn't live it and feel it like he did. I know that's a lot fucked up of me, but I feel like the story would have been more intense and more emotional if I wouldn't have been so protected. On the other hand, I still loved the story.
I really liked Shaw's character. There was a lot going on with him and I liked how he constantly struggled with his primary goal versus his morality. He never hurt or raped Lee and I truly believe he tried to keep him as safe as he could in the only way he knew how.
In the end, I really felt the connection between Shaw and Lee, not just the sex but the emotional connection, and that there could be true love between them beyond hero-worship or Stockholm Syndrome. I wouldn't exactly call this a HEA, but it's definitely a HFN. And I am 100% ok with that.
This story is very heavy and dark and I recommend it to anyone who thinks they can handle it.
April 19, 2013
This is another book I chose on the strength of past reviews, and boy, am I glad I did!! Total keeper, and 5 stars from me
I would warn you straight away that this is not a story for those who have a problem with abuse. I won't go into glorious detail about the story, just to say that it involves covert ops; the imprisonment, horrific torture and repeated rape of one man (and normally that would put me off), lots of death (all fully deserved of course!), and the subsequent rescue of that one man Lee Anderson, an American DEA agent, by Australian Adam Shaw and co-helper Usayd, who were definitely not what they seemed.....
How Lee deals with his release, flash-backs and subsequent slow, tentative recovery, and how Shaw deals with the inquiry that follows on from the fall-out on the island of the title and his future, is for you, dear reader, to discover. Thoroughly recommended, and once I'd started it, I couldn't put it down.
I would warn you straight away that this is not a story for those who have a problem with abuse. I won't go into glorious detail about the story, just to say that it involves covert ops; the imprisonment, horrific torture and repeated rape of one man (and normally that would put me off), lots of death (all fully deserved of course!), and the subsequent rescue of that one man Lee Anderson, an American DEA agent, by Australian Adam Shaw and co-helper Usayd, who were definitely not what they seemed.....
How Lee deals with his release, flash-backs and subsequent slow, tentative recovery, and how Shaw deals with the inquiry that follows on from the fall-out on the island of the title and his future, is for you, dear reader, to discover. Thoroughly recommended, and once I'd started it, I couldn't put it down.
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