Customer Reviews

Death Row - The Trilogy (Ellora's Cave Presents)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Sci-fi elements, often scorching erotic scenes and a very interesting plot combine to create a superb read in the series "Death Row" by Jaid Black. The book is comprised of the first three novellas in the series (The fugitive, The Hunter and The Avenger), which I am assuming were originally published seperately via e-book format. Thank goodness readers can get the stories in this one volume because having to wait for each installment would have been plain torture.

Nellie Kan is a scientist in her home bioshpere, a rarity among women in in her time, where for the most part they are seen as mere sexual chattel to be mastered, basically enslaved by men. About thirty years ago, in a race to creat perfectly engineered children, free of diseases or even plain features, parents were choosing boys over girls. Genetics adjusted to this preference and for a long period of time, no females were born, resulting years later in a world that barely had enough females to help keep the human race going. Nellie is lucky enough to gain the patronage of an older scientist at the age of eighteen and by the age of thirty or so she is close to perfecting a serum to treat a deadly disease that plagues their race. Sub-humans run rampant in the jungles surrounding the protected biospheres, remnants of what used to be humans - humans that were experimented on. On the eve of her close discovery, Nellie runs into a mysterious stranger, Kerick Riley (an escaped convict from Kong) and she is later kidnapped by the man and taken as his wife. Desperate to finish the serum and help hundreds of infected people, Nellie must find a way to fulfill her destiny and make a relationship with Kerrick all while trying to stay alive. Someone wants her dead before she can find a cure to the sub-human dilemma.

This book never slows down from the moment it starts and there are several other subplots in addition to Nellie and Kerrick's. Several strong secondary characters come into play, adding a nice variety of personalities. Some may be turned off by the way women in general are treated, as I said before, literally as slaves to the men who capture/buy and claim them. This type of male/female relationship is typical of a Jaid Black book though, but the attitude varies slightly from her Trek Mi Q'an Tales series, where there is obvious romantic feelings abound in the males towards their women. In Death Row, where women are the most rare objects around, the mens attitudes are almost primordially archaic. Still, such attitudes do add a rather delicious spice to the book, kicking up the intimate scenes to just the right level. Nellie is a strong heroine with the grit and determination to see a dangerous mission to the end. Kerrick is a hardened convict determined to reclaim his place in an unstable and often violent world. From the sub-human infested jungles to the rigid patriarchal society of the biospheres, Death Row by Jaid black is a good solid sci-fi erotica read. One more novella continues the story after these, entitles Death Row: The Mastering and it can be found in the anthology "Enchained". Readers may want a copy if only to find out what happens to a secondary character from the first three novellas.

Kerrick Riley is a hardened man in the year2249. Imprisoned for fifteen years on death row, his time finally came to escape on the day he was to be executed. Kerrick has been biding his time and planning secretly for this moment since his incarceration. His plan succeeds and he takes with him his fellow inmates Elijah and Xavier and escape into the jungle. He finds himself in the facility where Dr. Nellie Kan works and once he sees her, he knows she belongs to him. Kerrick takes what he wants, and right now, he wants Nellie.

Dr. Nellie Kan lives in a world where women are sold to the highest bidder in marriage and are worth nothing. She has defied odds and has become a renowned scientist searching for a cure that will save mankind from the disease that's attacking their men and women. A disease that changes them into savage beasts. There is only one problem...someone doesn't want her to find that cure and will do anything to stop her. Nellie must escape and find the legendary underground location that she knows exists and find others that will help her.

Jaid Black is such a talented author and after reading Death Row: The Trilogy my opinion has not changed. This is a story filled with vengeance, violence and with unexpected love and understanding. Jaid Black drew me in from the first word and didn't let me go until the last word. She has a way with words that will have you seeing clearly what these savage beasts look like. There are juicy episodes that will get your heart pumping, however be aware that there are some violent scenes in this trilogy but it adds to the realism of this story. Death Row: The Trilogy will bring out every emotion into the surface. Prepare to enjoy yourself and beg for more. This reader recommends this story for those who are not of the faint of heart!

Idalmi
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, which is actually three seperate Ebook releases bundled together, but I'm sure glad I read these back to back.

This book reads as a cohesive single book, with three different chapters.

Kerick has done the impossible by escaping prison. He meets up with and kidnaps scientist Nellie, who is close to solving a mystery that could change their worlds. The keys to her discovery rest in a journal written by Kerick's mother before she died of a horrible disease.

This is a fabulous book and well worth the money! If you like your heroes to be Alpha and your heroines to be kept, you simply must read this book.

Death Row The Trilogy appears to be three stories in one book, but it is actually one longer story. There is a question at the end of this book which is answered in the subsequent short story titled "The Mastering" which is published in the separate anthology book called "Enchained." I suggest reading them together.

Death Row The Trilogy was pretty good. Definitely full of erotic scenes. It takes place on earth in the future. Genetic experimentation has created a race of subhumans who eat humans and other animals. There is also a shortage of females, about 1 female for every 500 males. Therefore, women are bought, owned and frequently shared. Dr. Nellie Kan is one of the few women allowed to have a career. She is working on a serum to prevent or cure the subhuman problem. Humans become infected and turn into subhumans. Kerick escapes from prison and helps her.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
I had a problem with the plot because the author used one of my pet peeves. She used vague communication between Nellie and Kerick to create conflict and story. Kerick had already shown he could be trusted to help her, yet she didn't share additional information with him. He found things out later and was a great help to her later, but I felt she should have told him things earlier.

DATA:
Sexual language: erotic. Number of sex scenes: twenty-eight plus. Setting: 2249 Central America. Copyright: 2004. Genre: erotic science fiction romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Jaid Black books, see my 5 star review of "One Dark Night" posted 4/2/08.

In a world where women are not individuals, but the chattel of men that own them-- brand them. They are there for their owner's pleasure, subservient and dutiful. Welcome to the future!

It is the day of Kerick Riley's execution on Death Row, but he has outsmarted them, escaping after fifteen years of hell. He has planned for this day and he need answers, which he hopes to find.

Scientist Nellie Kan has been given something very important. It could hold the key to a cure for a horrible disease that is infectious, and is devastating to those left behind.

Nellie will be kidnapped by Kerick, as his possession--his prize. In a world were women are more precious than diamonds and gold.

DEATH ROW: TRILOGY is by authoress Jaid Black. This book is a combination of three of Ms. Black's stories, but if it were not for the titles telling this reviewer were each one started and stopped, she would not have known the different. They blended seamlessly.

Ms. Black is an erotic illusionist. Creating feelings and emotions that were not there until you read her written words. Her savvy crafting will transport you into the realm she summons, letting all your senses experience those of the characters. Giving you an immediate and binding connection to them as they journey through this futuristic tale of mastering, savage sexuality, emotional bonding, and the hope of mankind.

Nellie's life has not been an easy one, but she manages to not just become someone's wife, instead she becomes a scientist that could change the world around her, as she sees it. Helping to cure mankind of a dreaded disease.

Kerick is a hardened killer that goes by the name of the Grim Reaper. When he gets a glimpse of her when sneaking into her domain, the place she works and lives, he knows she will be his possession--his slave to his every desire. He will alter and twist Nellie's plans when he kidnaps her, but could he be her saving grace or be her destruction?

Do you want a futuristic read that every five seconds you will not have to stop to pronounce the words? How about one that keeps you in the dark until the author clues you in on the mysteries she has spun? Want to read sex scenes that will leave you more than hot around the collar? Then this reviewer has the book for you! DEATH ROW: TRILOGY by Jaid Black. It is only available through the number one publisher of romantica worldwide - Ellora's Cave.

A word of caution: there is one scene that is violently graphic--gory. If that kind of content bothers you, then this book may not be for you.

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2006
Courtesy of Love Romances

I really do love Jaid Black's other works so I had no problem with plunking down my money for this trilogy. Wish I had my money back. This was just a really bad rehash of the Trek series. The differance is that the Trek series has humor and alpha males you enjoy, Death Row does not. This is just a "me man, you nothing but something I have sex with or I will hurt you" type of story. And while I like a good D/s story line, this is not it. The Alpha's in this book may say they "love" their females, but it never shows. Most of they time they are degrading them, both physically and mentally, and using them like second hand sex dolls. This is not a book I would recommend to anyone unless they like their heroines to be weak, submissive and have no opinions about their life. Hope the next books will improve.

I am a huge Jaid Black fan. I will read anything by her as she is just too clever and too naughty to pass up. When I came across Death Row I was excited thinking it would be something like the Trek Mi Quan series (which I love).

Death Row is a little more dirty and gritty...literally. I liked the set up, but you really have to be willing to go there. When I read about sex on dirt floors all I am thinking is infection!! This group of outcasts are basically cave dwellers. It just wasn't the seduction I was hoping for...especially since it's set in the future. In this book...future bad!!

I also didn't get the humor Jaid usually provides. Trek Mi Quan has hiliarous heroines who are feisty and rebellous. Not so much in this book.

However, if you are an avid Black fan you gotta give it a look.

I've learned my lesson about desperate ebook shopping while waiting for the next issue of my favorite series to be released. It's like going grocery shopping when you're hungry - you buy all kinds of nonsense. This book tops my list of nonsense buys.

The whole premise of the book is a rehash of all her other works - scarce women in the society thus women treated as sexual possessions. (I'd forgotten that Jaid Black's idea of empowering female fantasy is, in my opinion, so demeaning that it's actually a serious sign of a lack of self-worth.)

There were HUGE holes in the story which left you scratching your head going - why did that happen? There were subplots going on that were left completely up in the air with no indication of the characters' motivation.

The Empress' New Clothes was funny; everything she's written after that has gone downnhill. So no matter how many rave reviews one of her books gets - I'm done with Ms. Black - and I've said that before which is why this was really a nonsense buy.

This book is the best that I have read so far....
Really hot steamy scenes...Jaid Black really knows what women's fantacies are about! It's a book that would make you want to read it again and again..
Great job Ms. Black...I'll be waiting for your next book..hopefully No Way Out : Jana's Story will be out soon.

The first two stories in the trilogy stayed pretty much on course. However the last story made some pretty large jumps in logic/plot line that did not quite make sense. I did enjoy the stories enough to continue reading other works by Black.