reviews_and_ramblings | Hajiri's Pet by Auburnimp & Michael Barnette

Well, well, well, it's not easy to write something on this book and let you understand the mixed feelings it gave me. Hajiri is a former gunwhore (a mix between a paid bodyguard and a whore) and now a zonewarrior, a man paid for resolving other people problems maybe not in a legal way. In one of his nightly wandering in the wealthy zone of an apocalyptic Tokyo, Hajiri finds himself with something he is not sure to want, a pet, a genetically engineering mix between a human and a snow leopard. Kenshin, as he named the pet, was trained to protect his Master, and to please him in every way, in and out of bed. He is used to be considered an animal, to live in a cage and to behave like a pet in every moment of his life; worst, he has a chip that, if he "behaves" badly, releases in his system a pain that can arrive to kill him.

Kenshin has absolutely need for a Master, he can't live without one, and so he decides that Hajiri will be his next Master, and if he is good enough, he will be the last. And here Kenshin proves that he is not as all the other pets, he is faulted, he has a working brain! And here is my guilty pleasure in reading this story: I liked Hajiri and Kenshin's relationship, I liked when Kenshin behaves like a little kitten, I liked when he purrs and kneals his Master... all right, I'm guilty! My mind continued to send discording messages, saying that Kenshin is not a pet, he is a man, and he deserves to be treated like a man, but then, Hajiri didn't force him to behave like that, and so it's Kenshin's choice; but it's not his choice, he was brainwashed, he has chip in his brain that prevent him to disobey. Here the big dilemma: to be pet or not to be pet? Probably this is the same dilemma someone like me will always have reading a full yaoi style novel.

Other than a strange love story, there is also a lot of violence in this novel, violence that doesn't save anyone, men, women and children alike: the futuristic apocalyptic world recreated by this duo (that will be familiar to whom read Michael Barnette's work at Mojocastle Press) is not a clean and spotless futuristic world lead by technology, but it's more like a big slum with few and elite safe zones. Everything can be bought and sold, above all the human (and not human) life.

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Reading List:

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Cover Art by P.L. Nunn

Hajiri's Pet by Auburnimp & Michael Barnette

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not sure if I'm going to read this. The violence-that-doesn't-solve-anything is a bit of a turnoff for me.

But the idea of a "gunwhore." I *love* that.

Yes there is violence, the like of Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill to give you an example. But all in all the story is mostly about Hajiri and his pet; if you like the Master / pet relationship with an heavy dose of Japanese yaoi manga culture, you can try. As I said, I was fascinated despite myself :-) Elisa

It sounds as if it is really readable, but I am a bit worried about the bestiality aspect of it. I like when they behave like a pet..or forced to be a pet (hehe)..but if they are somewhat "physically" a pet...it gets a bit blurry.

Don't worry, there is no hint of bestiality in this book, I even had to think if tags it as "furry lover" since Kenshin has no one of the "physical" attribute of a feline, if not the nails a bit longer and deadly. He only behaves like a kitten sometime, purrs and licks his lover to show his love. Elisa

Ahhh, well then that sounds much better.
I just read a bit of an excerpt for Chapter one. The writing comes across as if done by a novice - so I am weary about paying close to 6 bucks for it (I am a struggling college student, lol). But as the overall story does interest me, I will add it to my "to read" list, and hope for the price to fall someday.

Yes, it's strange since both Auburnimp than Barnette are not at all new to the genre, but yes, the book seems written by someone much newer, maybe they tried to write in a yaoi manga style, usually a lot simplier style than a western novel.

This sounds intriguing Elisa and I will get this. Have read a few human-like dog/human romance in Yaoi (Ruff Love and Man's Best Friend) and they are sweet and cute. So as long as the Master loves the slave I am fine.

Yes, absolutely, Hajiri loves Kenshin and always tries to take the right decision for his lover, when Kenshin is not able to do it on his own. Elisa

I just had to tell you thanks for putting me in touch with this review - I bought it once I read your review and just loved it. I know exactly what you mean about Zen's character - incorrect as it might be I loved it when he purred and pawed at Hajiri but Hajiri was always trying to treat him as 'normal' and let him be what he thought he could be. I hope this book is part of a series or there is another one to follow as I love the story. Thanks for your reviews - I read them daily and have bought more than one book based on your advice - oh and the Man Candy ain't bad either!
Merry Christmas!

Yes it is part of a series, I have an idea on the other zone warrior and his captive boyfriend... Glad you like it, Auburnimp and Barnette usually are really good. Elisa

I finally caved in and got this story. I'm really glad that I did and I must thank you for recommending it Elisa. Originally it was the excerpt on the book's site that made me hesitant, but I'm happy that the overall writing was better than that.
Zen was totally adorable, the more I read I wanted to hurt those corp people for him. As you said Elisa, there was nothing to worry about as far as bestiality. His quirks, fears, and mannerisms were all very interesting.
I'm not totally sure about how I feel about Hariji though. I do like him but there is something about his personality that nags me.
I didn't find the violence bad or meaningless at all, it was fitting with the storyline, written decently, and didn't make me squeamish.

I'd really love for there to be a continuation. I was not thrilled to have it end on me without being able to know what fully happened to Zen after his ordeal..that made things feel pretty incomplete.
I would also love to know about what happens next to the zonewarriors and gunwhores kept in the towers.

Just the same, thank you for pulling my attention to this and making me take notice of these authors.

I believe this is only a first in a series, so I hope that you, and me ;-), will have some answers. Also I'm wondering on the people in the tower, and also on the evolution of the story between the two main characters. Elisa

Hajiri's Pet by Auburnimp & Michael Barnette

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