Until I started reviewing books, I had no idea what a lycan is. (Silly me. I thought the only name for a wolf-shifter was werewolf.) Not only is the word not an invention of some paranormal industry wordsmith, the term has venerable roots in history/mythology: Lycaon was an Arcadian King cursed by Zeus to assume the shape of a wolf for the crime of offering human flesh as a sacrifice for the Gods.

The human/animal hybrid in the mythology of Utter Domination is not limited to werewolves, but also werepanthers, and probably more otherworldly creatures than that in the offing. These lycans are sensitive to silver, can shift at will into manbeasts as well as huge wolves, and after they've marked their mates, can track them anywhere. In Utter Domination, the lycan is not the bad guy. The bad guy is the scientific bureaucracy led by Drs. Wagner and Freda Dallas. Oh--you're going to hate Freda. These evil doctors and the soldiers at their beck and call have captured and imprisoned a lycan in their secret laboratory compound. These two Dr. Frankenstein wannabes fail in their attempts to obtain their captive lycan's semen for their inhumane scientific experiments. At least, they fail until Dr. Dallas notices that the lycan is sexually attracted to Erin, one of the scientists who delivers his food.

However, a good guy scientist like Erin won't agree to participate in such perverted experiments, so they drug her with Formula 9, one of their pet concoctions which is apparently the aphrodisiac from Hell. Which leads to several episodes of hot (and even some undrugged) sex. Which leads to Jesse (yes, the lycan has a name) marking Erin as his. Jesse does some time in chains behind bars behind concrete walls several stories underground. Ultimately, before Jesse gets away, he curses all the scientists--including Erin. *I'm inserting a little off topic BDSM segue here: Later Erin gets her turn being tied up. I'm not sure where the "utter" domination comes in, but perhaps I have expectations of D/s which involve more than ropes and teasing. D/s fans should know there are some really hot scenes, but that D/s is not the focus of Jesse and Erin's relationship.

Some romances come across like there's nothing really at stake. Not this one. Erin has a real sense of urgency. She has my complete sympathy in her quest. Jesse with his Cajun accent is one of those heroes who has more to him than meets the eye. I was a little surprised at how much more there was to him--there was a detail or two that seemed to me as if it came almost out of left field. He had some features that could have been more credible with just a word or two in the right place. The Spanish speaking were-panthers and the contents of the syringe Dr. Wagner had out when Erin was rescued (and no! I'm not telling you what's in the syringe--you'll have to read the book!) foreshadow more to come in Celeste Anwar's shape-shifter-evil-government universe. (What ever happened to Dr. Wagner, anyway?) If "were" served up with romance is your cuppa tea, Utter Domination is a must-read. I'll be waiting for sequels because I have unanswered questions.

Reviewed by Maîtresse
© 2006