Rating: 4 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Voodoo and Hunter are … well, not on vacation, but they’re not looking to do much actual work. The two of them are somewhat off-the-book field agents sent to check up on a recent broadcast from the Lioncolnshire Poacher, a numbers station that has recently, and entirely unexpectedly, sent out a transmission, its first since 2006. The broadcast leads the two men to a B&B in the middle of nowhere kept by a small and charming young man who wants more than to be stuck in the life his parents left him.
Carl seems so wide-eyed and innocent, and perfect for Voodoo, who wants a Daddy/little relationship, something that Hunter, for all that they love each other, just can’t give him. Carl hasn’t really considered age play before, but for Voodoo, he’s willing to try. Add in missing secret agents, a Russian assassin, a werewolf feeling the pull of the upcoming full moon, and it’s going to be quite an adventure filled few days.
This is the first book in the Hitmen and Hexes series, a series that involves … well, assassins, secret agents, and magic. It’s also very action packed with more of an emphasis on excitement and kink than mystery. To be honest, I was very on the fence for parts of this book, but, in the end, I did find myself enjoying what the story had to offer.
Voodoo Daddy (or just Voodoo or Daddy) is a white-skinned, blonde-haired mage with no real ties to the Voodoo religion or practices. What he is is a witch, who happens to use the name Voodoo for effect. And because he thinks it’s a cool name. He’s large, in charge, and desperately lonely for a Little. He wants someone to care for and treasure, someone to nurture and hug in his arms and call him Daddy, and Carl seems so perfect …
Carl has been alone in the B&B since his parents died. Set a distance away from the town (and it’s a small town), deep in the woods, it’s hard enough being gay; it’s harder finding company. While he isn’t necessarily into what Voodoo and Hunter are into, he is into the attention, and not averse to trying new things out. Besides, he does like coloring. But Carl has a few secrets of his own that he’s not certain he can tell the others. Like what’s hidden in his wardrobe.
Hunter is a werewolf, led by emotions. He has poor impulse control, especially this close to the full moon, and while he’s not entirely interested in Carl, he wants Voodoo to be happy. Besides, with three of them, he’ll no longer be the lowest man on the totem pole. What he wants, what really brings out the beast in him, is the idea of having a lover completely at his control, tied so tightly they won’t even move. Voodoo calls it a necromancy kink, the idea of having a limp and unresisting body to use as he likes. Not the most romantic name, but it’ll do. Carl isn’t quite right for that, but his new toy, the Russian assassin? Oh yes, he’ll do just fine.
“Doll” is what Hunter calls him when they catch him, and he has no reason to argue. As an assassin, his name has never mattered, anyway. He was sent here to kill Carl, and ends up being hunted like prey by Hunter. For the first time, he finds himself not unhappy at being caught, at being at someone else’s mercy. At being someone else’s toy. But Voodoo and Hunter have no idea what’s going on, what Carl really is, or who Doll is beneath his pliant and obedient guise. But they’re going to find out.
First, the elephant in the room: Voodoo. The idea of using this name of a religion as the name of a character who has no ties to the religion — who is also referred to by other characters as a witch doctor — and doesn’t practice the religion, and simply because it sounds cool is a little iffy, to me. But add in a werewolf named Hunter and a Russian named Doll and you can kind of see where the vibe of the story is going. (There’s also a French assassin called the Crazy Frog, so, yeah.) However, I think it’s meant to be tongue in cheek, but it’s something to take note of as it may offend some readers.
The writing is blunt and tell-don’t-show, and the characters get right to the point. Voodoo and Hunter lay out their kinks instantly, within hours of meeting Carl, but there’s a reason for that! A lot of things I might ordinarily shake a finger at as far as timing, or common sense (I had a list) end up being addressed later in the book, which really pleased me. While everything goes perhaps a little too easily and some loose ends aren’t tied up, that isn’t the focus of this story. This is an adventure-filled, sexy romp, and the story is fast paced and action driven.
The writing style took a minute to get used to, and there was a missing line between one page and the next around 57% into the book, but overall, it was a fast read. It might not be to everyone’s taste, and you’re not going to get a romance out of this — the characters go from kidnapper and captive to fucking to love within two days — but if you’re willing to go along with the flow, you get a nice little story, a bit of sex, and a fair bit of magic.
