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Entropy #2
Duality by Joshua Edward Smith
Lisa and Sir have finally managed to balance their kinky love life with the vanilla world of suburbia. But when Sir starts training a sexy young submissive, the strength of his relationship with Lisa is tested. Could polyamory be the key to maintaining the stability Lisa needs while giving Sir the variety he craves? This captivating sequel to Entropy is a provocative journey through the complex world of physical and virtual sexuality.
- GenresRomance
Mass Market Paperback
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About the author
Joshua Edward Smith
9 books56 followersJoshua Edward Smith is the author of five fiction novels in a variety of genres (the financial thriller ‟Singularity”, the award-winning contemporary women's fiction novel ‟Apotheosis”, and the erotic ‟Entropy” trilogy), several shorter works, and innumerable blog posts and tweets. He is also a technology executive, jazz musician, ballroom dancer, and father of three. He lives in central Massachusetts.
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April 2, 2016
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
After the emotional turmoil in book 1 I was actually very interested in finding a closure, and I hoped that the characters would find it too... but instead it looked even more like the shattered glass chaos...or so it seemed...at first
Quite honestly I can't place ME anywhere, being scattered in thoughts just like the image presents, even more likely stirred! Rattled!
Actually, I am fucked cause some very heavy mixed, confused emotions are roaming through me...and I am spinning...
There are a lot of issues/subjects to deal with in this book, and I needed to think, i think...LOL
or not, cause if I start to think about it, and dwell upon it, it will become more complicated then it already is...it's overwhelming, for sure.
Anyway, I can't just easily sum up the story in Duality. It pretty messy, it's an illusion of freedom BUT I got the feeling that it was all compulsive reaction to utter hidden unhappiness, and as a result we get endless SEARCH through piles and piles of messy, complicated, sexually built tension in relations.
We follow the lives of Sir and Lisa, as they are together now in a sort of a relationship - coping with everyday life's perks and basically stagnant daily stuff
BUt, there's nothing simple in the everyday life for Sir as he's trying to defy the urge for another chase...
In the mean time, Annie, the frigid wife awakens and wants her husband back, needs him on that primal level that Sir was deprived of in the first place. There are decisions that Sir needs to make for the full circle of his emotional/physical completion to be full
Dear God, as much as I tried to make this short, in which I have obviously failed, and even if it seems from my ramblings that this whole thing was just a huge "fuckfest" with too many people, it's actually more than that.
Yes, there's awesome sex in it, but I need to emphisize the potent core of it all and it starts with the main character -SIR.
SIR is the DUALITY in this story, he's the turning wheel, while his role was in another "light" in ENTROPY where he was still the guy who cheated his wife with Lisa, he was the one in need, emotional need BUT he provided a safe haven for Lisa and when their life together started he seemed content at first cause he got what he wanted out of the physical, right? He got himself the perfect submissive...what he needed and craved for.
There were two women in Lisa. He loved the obedient, submissive pet. He loved the strong, independent, decisive drill seargent who kept track of the kids' incredibly complicated lives.
BUT that was the point. Sir loved the chase. He got what he wanted.
Sir's attention was turning more and more to the women pursuing him online. The game....and they would flirt.
Duality - described in this way: "I am the earth and you are the moon, and you are the earth and I am the moon."
So when we "don't bother to make a distinction between what it acts like and what it is. We just say it. It is both things...."
Sir was a complicated man, he was extremely smart and educated, he knew his game, he was sure of himself and he knew his way around women, he knew them, he studied them, cherished them, appreciated them and wanted them and he needed to rule, to dominate, to dictate, to own and claim.
I want them all...I want all the women...
But he truly ever needed only one, and he was convinced that was Lisa.
He was happy with Lisa, and thought is was greedy and ridiculous for the two of them to be playing with other people. But there was something about both Sir and Lisa that made that urge irresistable to them. Sir loved the chase and discovering the complexities of a woman. And Lisa loved being wanted.
what Sir has with Lisa is actually a symbiosis - a relationship, where they both got what they needed from each other - Sir dominates, uses her cause Lisa needes it, she craves that escape, so it's a win-win situation.
"You serve me perfectly every single day. You keep the entropy at bay. You always obey me. You are perfect, and I love you.
and here comes the main issue I had with Sir. He tosses the words "I love you" around like the ping-pong balls...and the fact is, I saw him as the only person who actually wants and needs to be LOVED. so in the essence, he wasted the "I love yous" too many times...for the sake of his "pets" but not for himself.
Sir kept her on the pedestal. It was a strange contradiction in a dominant/submissive relationship. The submissive was supposed to serve, to worship. Yet Sir clearly worshiped and served her. It felt backward and wrong, but it made him happy, so it was also completely right.
the way I see it, Sir is actually using the BDSM mechanisms of conducting his relationships cause he (other than the fact that vanilla sex is not satisfying enough to him) needes the sense of control of the submissives' emotions, "love", so he could replace the actual lack of the same emotion in him.
It's a cover, it's an escape into the place where control is substantional to inner peace and completion BUT the actual lack of "LOVE" in Sir's marriage to Annie was the scar tissue that never healed and it was the real problem that never got solved.
So, the way I saw it, Sir was that exact distinction between "what it acts like and what it is", cause he wasn't truly complete, therefore, he was DUALITY.
Sir LOVED his wife, he transferred that feeling onto his submissives cause he could control it, it could have never grow larger into anything more...(otherwise the divorce would have happen inspite of the financial problems that made them stayed married to Annie)
Sir wanted physical connection to his wife primarely, he wanted to emerge the emotional bond with the physical one. He needed Annie to want him, to desire him.
"I needed you to want sex. To want me. Without that, i could not be happy. I think that I should be with someonewho wants me to be happy. And will do whatever it takes to make me happy. i want to be with someone for whom my happiness is her priority. And vice-versa. My partner's happiness should be my priority, too."
and there's the essence of his search...search for the constant craving of the primal emotion of beloning, of being complete and fulfilled with the person he loved.
And I guess, in the end it all came to a full, complete circle.
so for the conclusion, I have to say that I am not a fan of twitter, FB, any kind of online sexting or whatever the hell that would actually imply...cause i find it totally impersonal, detached. I can understand the allure of the danger and the unknown and the lack of physical touch that could be the basis of flirt, cause you know, somewhere deep inside it's exciting and fun BUT it would never go further than that, cause it's a role you play, it's a game, a drive, a thrill of a moment where you can be "someone else" for a sec or two. BUT it's not real...
And here in the book, the characters DO go further and push the boundaries of the acceptable in the eyes of the society...they break the conventional and frameable postures of sexual liberty.
And as much as the book presents it in a very open manner and speaks freely about different stages of sexual indulging, I still had the feeling that the main character Sir wasn't the sincere one, he exceeded trust in his submissives but he was fake in my eyes...
at times, the pacing of the developments in the book made me feel like I am stagnating and waiting for smth to happen...it felt like all of them were emotionally hybernating while the sexual action itself provided only physical release, so at times I felt the lack of substance, the sex felt empty and without the essence.
condoning or not the various shapes of relationships, i have no pros or cons related to the issue, I keep my preferences to myself and I expect from others to do so.
But nevertheless, keeping an open mind to it all, and regardless the fact that I couldn't fully relate to Sir or Lisa or Gwen, their messy lives, made me realize that it all really comes down to the one basic thing - we all need to feel loved.
This author writes about intriguing, unconventional subjects, leads us through the messy relations of his characters into the mindwirl of human mistakes, dealing with personal issues, growth, challenges, undisclosed desires, expectations and making decisions in order to find their own way, a place in the sun, a way to belong and freely exist in this one hell of a confusion called life.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
order of reading:
December 14, 2017
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Duality follows shortly after the conclusion of Entropy, book one in the series. Joshua Edward Smith introduced readers to two married individuals who embark on an extramarital affair through social media. Both are involved in vanilla relationships with their significant others, but together they are Sir and Lisa, a BDSM couple. They thrive on social media and followers, on being popular and well-liked. We previously saw them through their affair as Lisa in particular dealt with several serious personal issues and now we follow them after their first meeting as they embark on something more serious together.
I previously had a lot of issues with Lisa, I really struggled with liking her and her choices, but with Duality I found myself liking her and disliking Sir. Lisa learned a lot in Entropy and it is no surprise that she brought those learnings with her to Duality. She helps with the children, she becomes a domestic partner to Sir, and she provides him everything she thought he needed. Sir, however, is the kind of man who wants to have his cake and eat it too. He's never satisfied and he lets you know repeatedly through out the novel. He wants his wife's positive qualities, he wants Lisa's positive qualities, and he wants other women to fill those spaces. I really struggled with liking him, he reads very much like a selfish spoiled teenager rather than adult, well-educated man. Even with my dislike though, much like Entropy, the third person perspective allowed me to sit back and just watch it play out.
Lisa and Sir's relationship is unconventional and I really appreciated that Smith kept this novel as realistic as possible as well. Lisa has money, Sir is struggling financially, and their methods of raising children is different. We see their daily lives, the school events, the bickering between children and parents, it all is very much like real life. Slightly less complicated than Entropy, Duality deals with serious subject matters as well, especially as Lisa discovers that her role of caring for and being there for Sir is much like that of caring for her children, an opportunity she is later given in the novel. Ultimately, the characters have happiness, but overtime recognize that happiness is this flowing, changing thing that's never constant. I really felt like the characters learned over time the value of work in relationship, of compromise and learning together, but ultimately it worked out how I expected it to.
I enjoyed Duality, but not nearly as much as Entropy. I struggled with the characters, with their selfishness, but continue to appreciate how true to life they are as humans. Duality again reads more non-fiction than fiction, it delved deep into human nature and pushing the boundary of what is conventional.
Duality follows shortly after the conclusion of Entropy, book one in the series. Joshua Edward Smith introduced readers to two married individuals who embark on an extramarital affair through social media. Both are involved in vanilla relationships with their significant others, but together they are Sir and Lisa, a BDSM couple. They thrive on social media and followers, on being popular and well-liked. We previously saw them through their affair as Lisa in particular dealt with several serious personal issues and now we follow them after their first meeting as they embark on something more serious together.
I previously had a lot of issues with Lisa, I really struggled with liking her and her choices, but with Duality I found myself liking her and disliking Sir. Lisa learned a lot in Entropy and it is no surprise that she brought those learnings with her to Duality. She helps with the children, she becomes a domestic partner to Sir, and she provides him everything she thought he needed. Sir, however, is the kind of man who wants to have his cake and eat it too. He's never satisfied and he lets you know repeatedly through out the novel. He wants his wife's positive qualities, he wants Lisa's positive qualities, and he wants other women to fill those spaces. I really struggled with liking him, he reads very much like a selfish spoiled teenager rather than adult, well-educated man. Even with my dislike though, much like Entropy, the third person perspective allowed me to sit back and just watch it play out.
Lisa and Sir's relationship is unconventional and I really appreciated that Smith kept this novel as realistic as possible as well. Lisa has money, Sir is struggling financially, and their methods of raising children is different. We see their daily lives, the school events, the bickering between children and parents, it all is very much like real life. Slightly less complicated than Entropy, Duality deals with serious subject matters as well, especially as Lisa discovers that her role of caring for and being there for Sir is much like that of caring for her children, an opportunity she is later given in the novel. Ultimately, the characters have happiness, but overtime recognize that happiness is this flowing, changing thing that's never constant. I really felt like the characters learned over time the value of work in relationship, of compromise and learning together, but ultimately it worked out how I expected it to.
I enjoyed Duality, but not nearly as much as Entropy. I struggled with the characters, with their selfishness, but continue to appreciate how true to life they are as humans. Duality again reads more non-fiction than fiction, it delved deep into human nature and pushing the boundary of what is conventional.
September 15, 2017
Wow! After reading Entropy, Book 1, I couldn't wait to devour Duality, Book 2. I was a little disappointed at first not knowing Sir's reaction to Lisa upon their first meeting. The story skips into ten months later with Sir and Lisa's relationship.
Since Annie abandoned Sir and their children, Lisa took over her role. I felt Sir had become somewhat of a douchebag and using Lisa plus still having online fling with young Gwen. Sir loves all women. He needs sex in a D/s role in order to feel wanted and content.
When frigid Annie moves back in with Sir and Lisa, there is a little chaos. Then Gwen moves closer to Sir, creating more temptation, but Sir honors Lisa's request to only have sex with her.
There are twists and turns in Duality. My emotions ran high with these characters. The end results will surprise you. The author has written an amazing story. I would definitely recommend this book.
Since Annie abandoned Sir and their children, Lisa took over her role. I felt Sir had become somewhat of a douchebag and using Lisa plus still having online fling with young Gwen. Sir loves all women. He needs sex in a D/s role in order to feel wanted and content.
When frigid Annie moves back in with Sir and Lisa, there is a little chaos. Then Gwen moves closer to Sir, creating more temptation, but Sir honors Lisa's request to only have sex with her.
There are twists and turns in Duality. My emotions ran high with these characters. The end results will surprise you. The author has written an amazing story. I would definitely recommend this book.
November 2, 2016
First, this book was so good, I read it twice. Seriously. Joshua Edward Smith is at the forefront of a revolution in modern erotica. The fantasy is gone, along with the sophomoric drama and sappy clichés the genre has become littered with. Smith’s characters have mortgages and former spouses and pissed off children to contend with. They are as real as you or I, as real as those next door neighbors you exchange mindless pleasantries with each week. Imagine getting a glimpse inside their homes. Inside their lives. Inside their minds. What would that be like? Welcome to Erotica Vérité.
Be prepared for lots of sex. Hot sex. Panty-drenching, think-about-it-all-day-at-work sex (you’re welcome). But in this new genre, the act isn’t merely the culmination of desire, or a ritualized climactic progression, but a complex dialogue brimming with subtext. Smith uses sex to offer critical insight into his characters because it is their most honest and vulnerable form of communication. The accidental “threesome” between Lisa, Sir, and Gwen, speaks volumes about these individuals. After the initial shock wears off, you may find yourself consumed with a need to psychoanalyze what the hell just happened. I felt like I needed therapy and a mug of cocoa.
If all you know about the BDSM lifestyle is from trends in pop culture, this book will surprise you. Smith treats the subject with respect and sincerity, while educating us on its fundamental psychological principles. There is far more nurturing involved in being a dom than I imagined (and here I thought I could just give out spankings all day), and most any relationship would benefit from a written contract detailing the expectations and obligations of each party. Those of us in the ‘vanilla’ world need to take notice: This is how it’s done.
When the story begins, we find that Sir has settled into a comfortable domestic situation with Lisa, the woman he’d been having an online D/s affair with in Entropy (if you haven’t read Smith’s first novel, Amazon 1-Click right now).While they remain committed to the BDSM partnership, being together in the real world proves more challenging than either anticipated. Life is constantly getting in the way, and it becomes unclear as to whether their relationship will survive. Or if it should.
Sir is not the male lead one typically finds in erotica. He isn’t wealthy, or built like a Greek god, and (gasp) he’s middle-aged. With children. And a soon-to-be-ex-wife skulking in the shadows. What makes Sir sexy is his clear and decisive nature. He is logical, calm, and confident—the go-to guy when the sh*t hits the fan. And he is incredibly intelligent, well versed in a little of everything so that he is never without precisely the right thing to say. There is much to be said of a guy who can pound you like the last nail, AND give you a mini lesson in quantum physics. I’m in. As the saying goes, a hero’s greatest strength is his greatest weakness. In Sir’s case, he LOVES women. No, adores them, behaving as if each one is a mystical, magical creature whose secrets have yet to be discovered. He understands that women need to be chosen, singled out from the herd. They need to feel special, and he enjoys putting them on a pedestal. His affections are genuine, even if only in the moment. But alas, Sir LOVES women, and it is hard to watch his main squeeze suffer when he begins falling for someone else. Someone prettier. And younger. Ouch. Female kryptonite. Wait! Don’t write Sir off as an inconsiderate pig just yet. He isn’t. Read the book. Climb inside his head and get to know him a bit. You’ll feel differently.
Bold, cerebral, and original, Duality is absolutely superb. There are millions of readers like myself who have been hungering for something like this, something more. Just as the title suggests, you will find instances of duality at every turn, and the author uses it brilliantly to illustrate the evolution of his characters. But Smith’s writing remains the most remarkable example, a living, breathing entity that both supports and speaks independently of the characters. The result is two narratives happening simultaneously, each offering a different perspective of the same story. This is a major mark of Smith’s work, and creates a level of depth often lacking in erotica. Simply put, Duality is a must read that will have book clubs everywhere getting into screaming matches. I hope book three is on the way.
Be prepared for lots of sex. Hot sex. Panty-drenching, think-about-it-all-day-at-work sex (you’re welcome). But in this new genre, the act isn’t merely the culmination of desire, or a ritualized climactic progression, but a complex dialogue brimming with subtext. Smith uses sex to offer critical insight into his characters because it is their most honest and vulnerable form of communication. The accidental “threesome” between Lisa, Sir, and Gwen, speaks volumes about these individuals. After the initial shock wears off, you may find yourself consumed with a need to psychoanalyze what the hell just happened. I felt like I needed therapy and a mug of cocoa.
If all you know about the BDSM lifestyle is from trends in pop culture, this book will surprise you. Smith treats the subject with respect and sincerity, while educating us on its fundamental psychological principles. There is far more nurturing involved in being a dom than I imagined (and here I thought I could just give out spankings all day), and most any relationship would benefit from a written contract detailing the expectations and obligations of each party. Those of us in the ‘vanilla’ world need to take notice: This is how it’s done.
When the story begins, we find that Sir has settled into a comfortable domestic situation with Lisa, the woman he’d been having an online D/s affair with in Entropy (if you haven’t read Smith’s first novel, Amazon 1-Click right now).While they remain committed to the BDSM partnership, being together in the real world proves more challenging than either anticipated. Life is constantly getting in the way, and it becomes unclear as to whether their relationship will survive. Or if it should.
Sir is not the male lead one typically finds in erotica. He isn’t wealthy, or built like a Greek god, and (gasp) he’s middle-aged. With children. And a soon-to-be-ex-wife skulking in the shadows. What makes Sir sexy is his clear and decisive nature. He is logical, calm, and confident—the go-to guy when the sh*t hits the fan. And he is incredibly intelligent, well versed in a little of everything so that he is never without precisely the right thing to say. There is much to be said of a guy who can pound you like the last nail, AND give you a mini lesson in quantum physics. I’m in. As the saying goes, a hero’s greatest strength is his greatest weakness. In Sir’s case, he LOVES women. No, adores them, behaving as if each one is a mystical, magical creature whose secrets have yet to be discovered. He understands that women need to be chosen, singled out from the herd. They need to feel special, and he enjoys putting them on a pedestal. His affections are genuine, even if only in the moment. But alas, Sir LOVES women, and it is hard to watch his main squeeze suffer when he begins falling for someone else. Someone prettier. And younger. Ouch. Female kryptonite. Wait! Don’t write Sir off as an inconsiderate pig just yet. He isn’t. Read the book. Climb inside his head and get to know him a bit. You’ll feel differently.
Bold, cerebral, and original, Duality is absolutely superb. There are millions of readers like myself who have been hungering for something like this, something more. Just as the title suggests, you will find instances of duality at every turn, and the author uses it brilliantly to illustrate the evolution of his characters. But Smith’s writing remains the most remarkable example, a living, breathing entity that both supports and speaks independently of the characters. The result is two narratives happening simultaneously, each offering a different perspective of the same story. This is a major mark of Smith’s work, and creates a level of depth often lacking in erotica. Simply put, Duality is a must read that will have book clubs everywhere getting into screaming matches. I hope book three is on the way.
November 16, 2016
After reading Entropy, I couldn't wait to dive in and find out what happens next with Lisa and Sir. Having heavily identified with Lisa, I was at cozy and happy with how the book opens, content at the glimpse of their life together in the physical sense. That quickly changed with the arrival of Gwen. At first my emotions were all over the place, for I had been putting myself in Lisa's shoes this whole time, and this book turns the tables and makes it more about Sir's journey. At first, I was furious with Sir, thinking at one point, "How dare he?!?". But upon the realization that this "man of her (my) dreams" who brought Lisa so much wasn't just some white knight who swooped in to save the princess, but a real man, with his own needs and demons, it made him even more endearing to me. This book stays true to form with Entropy - it's not some fairy tale. It's real. Very real. The emotions and struggles are very realistic, and gave me a glimpse into the ever allusive Dominant mind, and I have to say, it intrigued me. I never would have dreamed that the story would progress quite like it did, but it kept me bound and wanting more. And if you think the D/s scenes in Entropy were hot, be prepared, they get steamier. I also have to say while I wasn't a fan of Gwen, even after realizing that I was sympathizing too heavily with Lisa, I do love her character's progression and ended the book rooting for her too.
I'm told there's a third book in the works as this review is being written and I couldn't be more excited to read it. Smith is an amazing storyteller, and I eagerly await to see what he brings us next.
I'm told there's a third book in the works as this review is being written and I couldn't be more excited to read it. Smith is an amazing storyteller, and I eagerly await to see what he brings us next.
April 20, 2016
In my opinion the first part, Entropy, was better. I couldn't wait to read more about Lisa and Sir. I didn't know what to expect, how the story would develop, and although at the end all of the characters seemed to be happy with their lives and decisions they made, I was not fully satisfied. I disliked the fact that Sir was connected to more than 1 woman, actually I think I was even a little jealous. Lisa was my favorite character and I was hoping for a different ending for her but it seems like her life keeps deciding for itself.
In Entropy Sir seemed to be loving and caring but after reading Duality my opinion about him slightly changed. Now I think that he is a little selfish and I think that Ashley was right calling him a dirty old man. I would never like to be involved in a relationship like this; I don't think I am obedient. However, I enjoyed the book and I learned a lot from it. If you're interested in the book, I recommend reading Entropy first.
I received and advanced reading copy of this book via LibraryThing in an exchange for an honest review.
In Entropy Sir seemed to be loving and caring but after reading Duality my opinion about him slightly changed. Now I think that he is a little selfish and I think that Ashley was right calling him a dirty old man. I would never like to be involved in a relationship like this; I don't think I am obedient. However, I enjoyed the book and I learned a lot from it. If you're interested in the book, I recommend reading Entropy first.
I received and advanced reading copy of this book via LibraryThing in an exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect from a follow-up to Entropy, a book that was as scary as it was fascinating. So, here, in Duality, not a single page is wasted in giving us what we asked for. If Entropy was about Charlie Bucket (Lisa), then Duality is about Willy Wonka (Sir). It explores his desires, his motives and his otherwise normal-seeming life mixed with the utterly crazy online life he leads that now keeps spilling into real-life moments. It's an intensely-detailed view at both the lifestyle and the psychology of Sir, a character who both repulses me and makes me mad jealous at times.
Naturally, the book is full of intense sexual scenes, but there's a certain sense of desperation from all of the characters this time, almost like watching addicts get their fix, no matter the cost, for both physical and mental sustenance. It's fascinating, intelligent and satisfyingly disturbing on nearly every level. Duality is expertly crafted by Mr. Smith, whose confidence and skill transcends page and pours into your brain like a fine Scotch after a long day at work.
Naturally, the book is full of intense sexual scenes, but there's a certain sense of desperation from all of the characters this time, almost like watching addicts get their fix, no matter the cost, for both physical and mental sustenance. It's fascinating, intelligent and satisfyingly disturbing on nearly every level. Duality is expertly crafted by Mr. Smith, whose confidence and skill transcends page and pours into your brain like a fine Scotch after a long day at work.
August 11, 2016
The minute I finished reading Entropy, I bought Duality--and devoured it as well.
This will be a difficult review to write simply because I do not want to give away any spoilers, but all I want to do is gush about all the amazing things that happened in this book. I couldn't wait to find out how Sir and Lisa fared with the continuation of their story, but I knew going into it that it was going to have to get messy. Such is the natural progression of life and fiction, I'm afraid.
What I can tell you is that instead of confining his characters, Mr. Smith throws life at them and explores how this challenges them on many levels. These carefully constructed characters are allowed to grow and make mistakes, learn, and discover. Relationships change course and sometimes it is heartbreaking, other times it's exactly right. But it's always real.
Another beautifully written novel from a talented author with a vision. Entropy left me saying: "Yes, Sir." Duality left me saying: "Oh, wow, Sir."
This will be a difficult review to write simply because I do not want to give away any spoilers, but all I want to do is gush about all the amazing things that happened in this book. I couldn't wait to find out how Sir and Lisa fared with the continuation of their story, but I knew going into it that it was going to have to get messy. Such is the natural progression of life and fiction, I'm afraid.
What I can tell you is that instead of confining his characters, Mr. Smith throws life at them and explores how this challenges them on many levels. These carefully constructed characters are allowed to grow and make mistakes, learn, and discover. Relationships change course and sometimes it is heartbreaking, other times it's exactly right. But it's always real.
Another beautifully written novel from a talented author with a vision. Entropy left me saying: "Yes, Sir." Duality left me saying: "Oh, wow, Sir."
August 2, 2016
Duality follows Lisa and Sir down the path of life and human nature. It is natural to be selfish with something at first, which makes us human. However, when the actual business of living life within social constraints and the twists and turns interfere with one's own selfishness things change. What happened between Sir, Annie, Lisa, Gwen, and Ashley was nothing more than the natural order of life events.
Sir shows strength and power through each of his interactions with these women, but only so far as they allow him the torch. He gives each what they need while coming full circle in recognizing what he truly needs for reaching his own nirvana. This is a very different style of writing by Mr. Smith. The strength and power of integrating extended metaphors through scientific expression intrigues the reader. The POV unfolds the puzzle nicely while leaving the reader with a comfortable change of pace. Well worth the experience through both Entropy and Duality.
Sir shows strength and power through each of his interactions with these women, but only so far as they allow him the torch. He gives each what they need while coming full circle in recognizing what he truly needs for reaching his own nirvana. This is a very different style of writing by Mr. Smith. The strength and power of integrating extended metaphors through scientific expression intrigues the reader. The POV unfolds the puzzle nicely while leaving the reader with a comfortable change of pace. Well worth the experience through both Entropy and Duality.
September 25, 2017
Book 2 in the Entropy Series by Joshua Edward Smith
The story of Lisa (Kitty) and Sir continues in book 2. This story takes you on a journey exploring their sexual desires as they explore BDSM further.
Very well written, drawing you into the character and their lives.
4 Stars
The story of Lisa (Kitty) and Sir continues in book 2. This story takes you on a journey exploring their sexual desires as they explore BDSM further.
Very well written, drawing you into the character and their lives.
4 Stars
September 28, 2017
I gave this Book a rating of 4 ✩’s
Title: Duality
Series: Entropy Book 2
Genre: BDSM Romance
Author: Joshua Edward Smith
Format: Kindle Edition
Published on: April 20, 2016
I voluntarily reviewed a Free Courtesy Advanced Reader Copy of this book received from Hidden Gems
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Summary Paragraph:
Lisa is unhappy in her affluent life and wants more. She meets SIR through an online chat, Twitter, and they begin an affair.
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What I liked/Didn’t Like: This is book 2 in a trilogy. I liked the book and would have given it 5 stars except the pace of it was fairly slow yet well written. This book tackles some of the aspects of a BDSM online based affair between a married woman and a man not married to her but who is also married. While in days past a online affair would not be considered cheating it is considered cheating now and that is also another reason for the 4 stars I generally don’t like books who have cheating in them but as it happens in real life it was pertinent to this series.
While this book picks up where book 1 ended and did so beautifully and with and very good stroke of originality. This one delves a bit deeper into SIR and Lisa’s relationship. It also tackles a subject that is fairly new to most people Polyamory. Personally I a way too jealous of a person to be in a relationship like that but I can see the merits of it.
Title: Duality
Series: Entropy Book 2
Genre: BDSM Romance
Author: Joshua Edward Smith
Format: Kindle Edition
Published on: April 20, 2016
I voluntarily reviewed a Free Courtesy Advanced Reader Copy of this book received from Hidden Gems
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Summary Paragraph:
Lisa is unhappy in her affluent life and wants more. She meets SIR through an online chat, Twitter, and they begin an affair.
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What I liked/Didn’t Like: This is book 2 in a trilogy. I liked the book and would have given it 5 stars except the pace of it was fairly slow yet well written. This book tackles some of the aspects of a BDSM online based affair between a married woman and a man not married to her but who is also married. While in days past a online affair would not be considered cheating it is considered cheating now and that is also another reason for the 4 stars I generally don’t like books who have cheating in them but as it happens in real life it was pertinent to this series.
While this book picks up where book 1 ended and did so beautifully and with and very good stroke of originality. This one delves a bit deeper into SIR and Lisa’s relationship. It also tackles a subject that is fairly new to most people Polyamory. Personally I a way too jealous of a person to be in a relationship like that but I can see the merits of it.
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January 28, 2022If you read the first book in this series, you can understand how it was nearly impossible not to start reading this book. Fortunately, I had the pleasure of not having to wait between finishing book 1 and book 2.
Book 2 continues with a flare of originality. In the sea of many repetitive books, I give a lot of credence to the newness of the material. Also, the heat is turned up a bit higher in book 2.
Following a 10 month time lapse in the story between book 1 and book 2, the relationship between Lisa and Sir takes on a physical relationship.
Sir’s personality or needs (I’m not even quite sure what the proper reference word would be) is not very likable. That is not intended to be a negative about the book. Hatred for a character makes for a good read sometimes. I admit to having hopes that Sir would eventually redeem himself. I’ll keep that opinion to myself. I will say that I do believe that Sir’s final moments seem to be out of character. I had a difficult time reconciling his final choices.
There is a large cast of characters in this book. I would have liked to have had the chance to know Annie a bit more.
Book 2 continues with a flare of originality. In the sea of many repetitive books, I give a lot of credence to the newness of the material. Also, the heat is turned up a bit higher in book 2.
Following a 10 month time lapse in the story between book 1 and book 2, the relationship between Lisa and Sir takes on a physical relationship.
Sir’s personality or needs (I’m not even quite sure what the proper reference word would be) is not very likable. That is not intended to be a negative about the book. Hatred for a character makes for a good read sometimes. I admit to having hopes that Sir would eventually redeem himself. I’ll keep that opinion to myself. I will say that I do believe that Sir’s final moments seem to be out of character. I had a difficult time reconciling his final choices.
There is a large cast of characters in this book. I would have liked to have had the chance to know Annie a bit more.
March 16, 2016
I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Duality and I am so excited for you to read it, too. The book, a sequel to Entropy, follows Lisa and Sir as they navigate the difficulties that arise as their D/s relationship and their vanilla relationship begin to blur together. The book is well-written, smart, sexy and captivating. I found it hard to put it down! The author has written characters with real depth, and I was drawn in from the start. With fantastic twists and turns along the way, it held my attention to the very last word. This is a story you won't want to miss!
April 25, 2016
Mr. Smith's follow-up to "Entropy" delivers the human and emotional side to the BDSM community which is something that is lacking within this genre. He brings us further into the depths of Sir's complicated desires for control, compassion, honesty, and familiarity. The Dom side of Sir fights with, for, and against his "vanilla" life with Annie, the wife we get to finally meet. Lisa's development in this novel is great as she finds her own truths along the way. The addition of new characters brings a beautiful twist to the plot that left me devouring page after page into the wee hours of the morning. I was angry, hurt, and left wanting more when I finished. In the end, Mr. Smith delivers what should be the "perfect ending." However, a sliver of another possible twist leaves this reader hoping for a possible sequel, creating this into a trilogy.
March 17, 2016
Mr. Smith provided me a pre-release copy for review and I was so happy he did. In this amazing sequel to Entropy, we read more about Sir and Lisa and how they figure out their lives now they are together, in real life. As with any relationship, they endured ups and downs which left me turning pages faster and faster to see how they dealt life's troubles. Will their relationship survive?
Well-written with beautifully rounded characters, Duality is full of romance, love, and sex--the perfect read.
The only thing I had to say when I was finished was, Mr. Smith, write another.
Well-written with beautifully rounded characters, Duality is full of romance, love, and sex--the perfect read.
The only thing I had to say when I was finished was, Mr. Smith, write another.
October 20, 2016
Although I loved the story of Sir and Kitten, I couldn't wait to read the next part of the story. I was disappointed that their relationship fell by the way side. I didn't find his relationships with his other Subs as refreshing as I found his relationship with Kitten. I hope that there is a third part to this with him and Kitten reuniting. I was disappointed with how this book turned out. Joshua did a great job writing the book, it was just that I wasn't as attuned to the this part of the story like I was to the first one.
March 15, 2016
I received an advance copy from Mr. Smith and I devoured it! Much like the characters devour each other! Duality is sexy, nicely paced and keeps you guessing. the whole story-line is so believeable, and yet so outside of my vanilla life- just how I likemy fantasies. I love the variety of characters, too. And how mature and respectful they are! If you hate degradation and sexism in romance novels, this is the book for you.
March 16, 2016
"I am the earth and you are the moon, and you are the earth and I am the moon"
Duality: in physics and in life. In this sequel to Entropy, we explore the complicated nature of relationships, both new and old. As Lisa and Sir adjust to their life together, we learn that what we want isn't always what we need.
Love, friendship, and sex make a story that you won’t want to put down – and will leave you wanting more.
Duality: in physics and in life. In this sequel to Entropy, we explore the complicated nature of relationships, both new and old. As Lisa and Sir adjust to their life together, we learn that what we want isn't always what we need.
Love, friendship, and sex make a story that you won’t want to put down – and will leave you wanting more.
April 30, 2016
Sir turned into someone I really didn't like in this book. Even so it's still a decent read.
September 27, 2017
This story is very interesting and thought provoking!! I'm glad I got a better understanding of Sir. I can't wait to see what happens next.
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