Elaine White's Life in Books

Book – To The Highest Bidder (A Planet Called Wish #1)

Author – Caitlin Ricci

Star rating - ★★★★★

No. of Pages - 200

Movie Potential - ★★★★★

Ease of reading – very easy to read and follow

Would I read it again – Definitely!

I fell in love with this book right from the start. This is a high fantasy, truly beautiful May-Decemer love story. The cover is stunning and what's inside is even better.

To understand most of what I'm going to talk about, you'll have to know what the book is about. It's a little more complicated than the blurb entails, so stick with me:

Thierry is a 20 year old kid, who lives with his brother. He's just been accepted into a prestigious school, to become a pilot, which is his dream. To pay for it, his brother Corbin (a high end escort called an aspasian) sends him to his boss, Monroe, who helps arrange an auction, to sell Thierry's virginity. (Don't worry. I know it sounds weird on paper, but the way it's written, it actually makes perfect sense.) After the auction is won by the highest bidder (see where the title comes in?) they have their night together.

One night becomes letters, that his mystery man, only named Dragonfly (after a tattoo), requests and is willing to pay for. For each letter, Thierry gets money. But a bond forms, through those letters. With random visits (once a month) they see each other again, for dinner and sex. Dragonfly never talks or reveals himself, and finally Thierry loses patience. He whips off Dragonfly's mask during one visit and the reveal of his true identity is shocking!

PLOT

As a 1st person POV, I was apprehensive. This style and I do not always get alone. It takes a very special writer and a very special story for me to like a 1st person, but this one did it. I barely remembered that it was a 1st person, because the story took over.

I initially cringed at the very idea of Corbin encouraging his younger brother to sell his virginity, to pay for pilot school, but the way the story is written gives the choice more credence. The Planet of Wish is a pleasure planet, where all the best brothels are. On it is the brothel Asiq, where Corbin works for Monroe. Both are equally important characters to Thierry and Dragonfly. Though the story is all about Thierry and Dragonfly's relationship, Monroe and Corbin are very important, both in this book and towards the next.

I love how proud Corbin is of his job. Although he's naturally more included towards feeling emotions (see explanation below about Sythes) I like that it's not about how the job feels for him, but what he does. He helps people, in many ways, and that's what keeps him loyal to Asiq. But, at the same time, as well as being the best in Asiq because of this enjoyment of his work, you get this really strong sense that he'd do anything for Thierry. Especially to get him his dream job.

There is such brilliant detail and creativity in this story. Not only in the back story of each character, but in the development of the world, the imagery of the travel between planets, as well as the entire concept. In any other book, the ideas inside this story might seem fantastical, unbelievable or just plain weird. But here, they work. They work really, really well. Nothing is over-emphasised, over-done or too dramatic or fantastical. Everything is perfectly balanced.

I did have to admit that I got a very slight hint of a dom/sub relationship, whether it was meant or not. For me, it just came across as a possibility that never went anywhere, though that's not a bad thing. It started percolating when Dragonfly made Thierry sit at his feet while he ate, then pinged again when Dragonfly sent Thierry a bracelet (with a tracker, camera etc) that would keep him safe. It felt as though these were small things that might suggest Dragonfly was training Thierry to be more submissive, but, like I said, it never went anywhere. They were nice touches though.

When it came time for the big reveal of who Dragonfly really was, I'll admit, I hadn't really thought about who it might be. I was too wrapped up in the fact they were in love with each other and it was all so mysterious. But, when I found it, it was a total AHA! moment. Suddenly, certain moments that had preceded the reveal began to make sense. But, it was also really sad, because Thierry was so upset and things just went downhill after that.

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CHARACTERS

I love Thierry, our MC. He's innocent, naive and completely unprepared for the world he's stepping into. Naturally, Thierry has some hesitations about the auction, which are nicely written, with real authenticity. Thierry is a Sythe, which means he's purple (think the cover) and feels emotions more highly than any other species. That makes him ideal to be an aspasian, but even more expensive as a one time experience, for selling his virginity. The constant doubt and confusion over what he's done and the brief moments of shame are understandable, especially in his situation – wanting desperately to afford pilot school, but not wanting anyone to know how he had to pay for it. He's a sheltered, very gentle soul and I fell in love with him right away.

As his brother, Corbin is a more open character. Emotionally closed off, he's happy to live his life as an aspasian and help anyone he can, with his work. Since it's not all about sex, we readers can see the side of it that he likes and it's written in a way that makes everything the aspasians do perfectly natural and okay. Even if it was all about sex, we know that Corbin is happy with that life. I love how strong his relationship with Thierry is, as well. There's nothing they wouldn't do for each other.

Monroe, the owner of a brothel (for want of a better word) is actually a wonderful character. He's gentle and kind, protective and quite the father figure to the men who work for him. He takes care of Thierry, as he enters into this unfamiliar world.

The last big character is Dragonfly. I loved him, even though he never said anything. And I mean that literally. He never spoke in the entire book. He wrote letters to Thierry which were heartfelt, sweet and encouraging. The chemistry they shared, both in person and in those letters, is beautiful. It made me smile every time they were together. The small smiles, the gentleness of their physical times together, were equally matched by the heat and the desperate need to be together.

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OVERALL

For me, this was more of a love story than some I've read recently. The fantasy elements were perfect and the plotting was genius. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about it.

The ending was beautiful and perfect for the characters and the situation they were in. The Epilogue had me in tears with relief and joy. It's a very wonderful, innocent love story that wasn't at all what I was expecting. But I loved every minute of it. The best part is that the story is complete as it is, though I'll definitely be reading book 2, which focuses on Corbin's love life. I'm so excited to get started and I really hope there are more books in the series...like...about ten more!

I never want it to end.

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FAVOURITE QUOTE

“A gentle hug between comrades turned into a kiss between friends. And then I knew I had found my way home as his skin touched mine, and I was once again his.”