Release Day: Vore
My latest offering.
This is an overview of themes and information about my latest release - available as paperback and ebook here. And an extract that I’d partially shared on a note on Substack during the editing phase, replicated here in (almost) full.
The Bratva.
A poisoner.
A rival crime organisation.
Three threads destined to collide.
The moment Vadim Morozov sees Anara Eden, his heart is claimed. And when the opportunity arrives to meet, he does not hesitate; deflecting potentially deadly attention from Septer soldier Kassian Garner. Publicly stating Anara is his wife surprises everyone.
But Anara has secrets. She is cautious about lowering her carefully constructed barriers which protect her life. Though her instincts suggest Vadim is safe, betrayals and manipulations from the rival crime group force her to question her perceptions.
Their connection fractures in the conflict between Vadim’s Bratva and Mace Kersey’s Septer. And with the rumours of a poisoner targeting men, both fraternities are alert to threats, unaware it is Anara who is conducting this underground act; removing problematic men to ensure women are protected.
The consequences of Vadim’s declaration, and the choices Anara makes to pursue justice and attempt to align her heart with her head, have the potential to ruin everything.
Vore is a feast of sinful delights. A series of challenges and ruthless decisions made to navigate a developing romance. Deceptions and morally dark acts threaten to devour the opportunities offered to forge a united future.
There are strong themes in Vore - like all my work. I do not shy away from difficult and challenging topics, nor do I include things to be sensationalist. The topics I cover in this story are done so with sensitivity, and because I feel they’re important ones to be represented - albeit, with a creative twist.
This book is dark.
Yes, there is a romance - a fake marriage which becomes real, and a whole heap of yearning and teasing which comes along with that - and that romance is centred around worship, knife play, and submission / dominance. And consent. But while the thread of this relationship runs through the book, that doesn’t mean the other elements are soft.
Far from it.
This book includes a cannibal, who takes a great deal of erotic delight from how they consume their victims. The book is called Vore for a reason. Both literal and not.
(Though don’t expect any complete devouring of a body by another - not in any kind of digestive sense in that way, this is more gore and killing, or sexual, hard vore. Vore is a layered paraphilia, and I couldn’t cover every layer and make it work for this story.)
This book includes two rival fraternities - one being the Bratva (Russian Mafia) and the other people a Norse-influenced gang called Septer. They were already at war, or certainly antagonistic about their designated territory, before Anara Eden got embroiled in things. Anara’s inclusion only exacerbates an already challenging situation, and increases the level of betrayal Vadim experiences.
Anara herself is the owner of the apothecary Erinyes - but she’s so much more. Alongside her legitimate store, she runs an underground business providing tinctures to support women who can’t get help legally. This includes both to induce abortion and to remove men. She does not have any qualms about administering a poison and watching a man die; she is judge, jury, and executioner.
But amongst the darkness is a playfulness, a level of possessive lust which is expressed both alone and with a partner. There are few closed doors when it comes to how these morally very dark characters collide.
The connections and friendships within this world are solid, with characters who are not caricatures nor superficial. There is depth, and there is detail - I write in a melodic and cinematic way. There is symbolism and specific choices in names, in descriptions, in the environment. You’ll be entirely immersed in this world, and the journey I take you on will eat you alive.
And you’ll devour every single word.
A taste of Vore - an extract from the book:
Hearing male voices made her pause. Hands dropping to her sides. Eyes darting around. Being in the library was not a cause for panic, nor chastisement. But something made Anara feel guilty. She reached for the first book she could grab, rushing to an armchair by the unlit fire, and hastily opened it.
‘Hello kroshka,’ Vadim said, striding through; Artem, Makari, Nikolai, and Pavel behind him, loitering politely in the doorway.
‘Vadya.’ She was breathless as their eyes met.
‘Are you enjoying your book?’ He choked down laughter, his dark eyes glinting with mirth. His lips quirking into a smile, which tugged on his healing wound, as he walked closer to stand before her.
‘Yes.’ Anara did not want to duck from his gaze, even as she felt heat continue to snake over her skin. ‘Why?’
Vadim leant forward, gritting his teeth as his abdomen’s cuts pulled against the dressing, the tender flesh. His mouth was almost touching the lobe of her ear. ‘Because it’s in Russian,’ he whispered.
The combination of his scent and the warm exhale of his words only brought an intense ache to her quim. Her thighs clenching and breath caught. The shift of his body to rest one hand on the arm of the chair and cage her in making her heart shudder.
‘Может быть, нам стоит пойти куда-нибдь ещё?1’ Artem asked, head slightly tilted. Hoping Vadim would turn, would understand, would realise the importance in not revealing their reality to her.
Vadim retained his gaze on Anara, but pushed back slightly, blood on fire and body desperate. ‘It’s okay, Tyoma; go through.’
The advisor began to object.
‘It’s okay.’ Vadim sighed, standing, twisting. ‘I want to ask her about Origins, but you can go into the study and get settled.’
‘Ты подвергают ебаный безрассудный2.’
‘Tyoma,’ he warned, eyes narrowing. ‘She knows who I am, there’s no reason to keep her from my study.’
Artem’s jaw ticked with the potential risk of such disclosure. His role was to advise, to guide. And his every suggestion to use this woman for what she could offer then kick her out, to tread with caution, to protect the fraternity, and prevent being seen as weak, was being ignored. He shook his head, but walked forward, aware the brigadiers followed.
Makari waiting in the doorway for Vadim.
With her eyes studying the movement, Anara observed the removal of one of the books from the shelves. Witnessed his fingers press into an innocent knot in the wood. Heard the click of the internal mechanism to release the hidden doorway; the silent swing of the shelving as it peeled open to create a double-width entry into the library.
Her mouth hinged open.
Then slammed shut as she sensed Vadim twist to face her again. A shiver pulsing over her skin when their eyes met.
‘Tell me, wife,’ he said with a softening to his tone, ‘about how you first began working with Origins Research Group, and what you know about them.’
She watched him move to perch on the window seat; tried to figure out his purpose. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Did you find them, or did they find you?’
‘I got an email, I think,’ she said, casting her mind back; it had been so long that they had worked together, it was difficult to recall. ‘Kasdeya visited and we talked about what support they could provide.’
‘And what exactly is that?’ Vadim’s focus was trained on her, even as he registered his men in the study. Their drinks poured and seats taken. Artem’s folded arms and defensive exhales.
She frowned. An uneasy weight roiled in her stomach; the anxious taste of her lies being detected. Did he tell me who he was to test if I’d share my own truth, she thought as her lips pressed together. The lower caught on her teeth and she saw him flinch.
Vadim shifted his position, pressure building. ‘I’m curious; I’ve never heard of them before and they intrigue me, kroshka—’
‘I doubt you know every single business,’ she retorted, her voice a little strained. Her throat dry. Every nerve ice and fire, alternating fiercely under her flesh.
He laughed, head tilting. ‘No, I don’t. But if they’re helping you, then I want to know who they are and what they do.’
‘Why?’ Anara’s grip of the book increased as she fought regret over how she had reacted. She should have provided more relaxed answers, should have been more casual and open in her acknowledgements. ‘It’s not a competition Vadya, you’ve been so generous in allowing me to live here—’
‘You’re my wife,’ he said smoothly.
Her breath caught at the words; that familiar heat spiralling through her entire body. Coursing through her blood. Settling in her core.
‘It’s my business to know you’re safe,’ he continued, standing, eating the distance between them in easy, long strides. ‘Origins is a new entity to me, and I want to understand so that I can better protect you.’
‘I don’t need you to protect me,’ she argued faintly, eyes on his.
Vadim shook his head. ‘I know you don’t need me to. But I want to, and to do that I need to have all the information.’
She swallowed; unsure if they were still talking about Origins, or if he was insinuating he wanted to know more of who she was. What she continued to hide.
‘Their website looks impressive, but it doesn’t tell me much,’ Vadim said, turning from her and pacing; he needed the distraction. Staring into her eyes only dilated his until she was all he could think of. ‘It doesn’t tell me much about what they offer. I know they’re helping pay the salaries and assist in the rebuild, but I don’t want you to be let down—’
‘You’re my husband, I’m sure you’d help,’ Anara interjected sweetly, forcing herself to move from the chair, ‘if it came to it.’
Before the fire, Vadim paused. He rested his hand on the mantle, his eyes closing briefly. This woman, he thought. ‘You really detest anyone helping you, don’t you?’
‘That way I don’t get let down, do I?’ She clutched the book to her chest. ‘Your… men are getting restless, I should go.’
As she began to walk toward the hallway, he reached for her arm. A cascade of sparks snaking through them both from the touch, from the instant meeting of their eyes. The air still. Sound drowned. Her breath an erratic shudder, his a coiled ache.
The Playlist:
Hurt Me Harder - Zolita
Aftertaste - LORYANN
Cinnamon Sun - Daisy Gray
HONEY - LUNA AURA
I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE - Måneskin
EAT - Zoe Ko
Poison - BUNNY
i like the way you kiss me - Artemas
Red Velvet - Jutes, Ari Abdul
Caviar - Two Feet
if i didn’t know better - Mack Lorén
Thirst - Nyline
Sugar - Sleep Token
CAROUSEL - Echos
Beside Myself - Hesta Prynn
KANDY - Kami Kehoe
Medicine - Cameron Hayes
Sinner - DEZI
bite - Ellise
Taste - Ari Abdul
Crave - Tove Lo
Heartburn - Wafia
Wicked Little Monster - Veda
POISON - Arankai
Martyr - KiNG MALA
Cannibal - Xoe Wise
Desire - MEG MYERS
Vore - Sleep Token
Content Warnings:
Abortion
Alcohol
Cannibalism
Drug use / Drugging
Explicit content
Kidnapping
Knives / knife play
Manipulation
Murder
Physical abuse / assault
Rape
Sexual abuse / assault
Smoking
Torture
Trafficking
Violence
Vorarephilia
Weapons
If you would like any further detail about how much these themes are presented in the book, please ask!
Vore is available now to obtain via Amazon.
And there are extremely limited book boxes available on my Ko-fi store.
You can get a feel for the dark vibe of the book with a listen to the playlist.
Может быть, нам стоит пойти куда-нибдь ещё - Russian for ‘Perhaps we should go somewhere else?’
Ты подвергают ебаный безрассудный - Russian for ‘You are being fucking reckless’
Always super happy to see other Sleepyheads making excellent use of their inspiration. Your book sounds … compelling.