Measure of Devotion takes an unusual approach to the subject of slavery. Posit for a moment that the ancient slavery traditions of Rome had carried forward into the present day and that there was still a second lower class of human being that was destined to spend entire lifetimes as the property of someone else. This book makes that assumption and then examines the ramifications of that in a fictional story about one young man and the slave that he is given. Yes, this book has its elements of of m/m sex but it's very much subdued by the meatier topics of romance and idealism amid a different social order than what we're used to.

The book is satisfying reading on the m/m romance level but it surpasses that by touching on and considering deeper issues involved in submission and slavery. Its's clear that the author has spent a LOT of time considering these aspects of a dominance/submission relationship. Unlike many works of M/M erotica that touch on these themes, this book seems to have been less interested in the eroticism of the relationship than the feelings romantic and otherwise with the characters.

The book is well crafted and fast reading and has enough titillating action that it's never boring but it should also be read with the bigger issues in mind. Who knows? It might just expand the reader's outlook.

I'll definitely be checking out the second installment.

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I was really surprised at how much I liked this book. In the beginning I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get through it at points because of personal hang ups I have, but it was well worth seeing through to the end. I found myself personally involved with the characters and even cried four times!
Will absolutely be reading the next one to find out what happens to Kale!

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