This is my favorite piece of erotic literature of all time. It has its flaws, certainly: Some of its chapters seem a little filler-y, it could use a little more world building to ground its villain amd setting, it could probably have used another pass in proofreading... but these are all relatively minor quibbles.
I first read this story when it was posted episodically on the gurochan forums back in 2011-2012 and it has stuck with me ever since. Unlike many erotic stories that deal with the subject of sexual slavery, torture, rape, and other dark subject matter, the protagonists in this story don't feel like mere objects of cruelty, but actual characters. After each cruel treatment we get to sit with them and feel their feelings, see them comfort each other, struggle to maintain their humanity. In spite of it being a story dealing with sadism and involuntary bondage, the perspective remains fixed within the victims and the narrative rarely revels in their suffering.
The characters are where this story really shines. There are four protagonists and one antagonist, and the author does an excellent job at distinguishing them by appearance and personality. Some characters do receive a little more development than others, it's not exactly a masterpiece of character arcs, but nevertheless the characters never feel static. There is always a feeling of tension as the antagonist works steadily to further and further dehumanizing the protagonists, and they in turn struggle to survive and maintain a hope of eventual escape.
The setting, too, is endlessly fascinating. Reading through this story, I find myself trying to puzzle out how this operation is maintained in secrecy, how the main antagonist first formed it, how many girls have been through it, and what hope the protagonists have of successful escape. It feels genuinely thought out, and every new snippet of information goes onto my internal conspiracy peg board, so to speak. It's a lot of fun to try and figure out what exactly is going on.
Ultimately while it is only a work of amateur erotic literature, and can't be held to the same standards as a classic novel, it has resonated with me more than any other erotic story I've ever read, and even after ten years of reading it for the first time I still find myself thinking about it.
Finally, I wanted to ask: If you are the author of this story and you still check in on these reviews, I was hoping that I could possibly get in contact with you. Way back in 2012 when this was first posted on gurochan, I asked if I could get your permission to pen a loose sequel to this, and I recall you giving me permission. I dragged my feet then, but I find myself still eagerly imagining the details of such a possible sequel even now, and I was hoping to ask for permission again. That said, even if you ultimately decide not to contact me, I wanted to thank you for writing this.
Pelagia
Twitter: @PelagicCruiser
Email: skreeran@gmail.com
I just wanted to say Happy Belated Thanksgiving, as well as a premature Merry Christmas.
Hope you are doing well,
Recal
:) Hope you've been doing well Hoop!
-Recal