diana_raquel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
"After today, I will have seven rights."
[Disclaimer: The following review is a gigantic one and can be very triggering].
So...I have this little personal joke about my reading taste: if a book gets the label of problematic, there's a high chance that I'm gonna like it. This isn't something that happens all the time because I've read some books that are considered to be problematic that I hate with a passion, but what do you wanna me to say? I generally like problematic books. I like them because most of them make me think about things that I usually don't get the chance to think about.
In my opinion, and I feel like it's the mainstream opinion, people are allowed to like problematic books as long they are aware of the reasons why that particular book is considered to be problematic or to have problematic elements in it. We should be aware of the reason why a book can have the label of problematic but not limit our reading experience because of it. There's a fine line between critiquing a book that you don't like because you feel that the content is offensive or misused and the metaphorical burning of books "at the stake".
So, why is Docile considered to be a problematic book? In a futuristic world but not very distant because there is a sense of reality and familiarity throughout the narrative, the debt crisis in the USA has gotten so out of control (mainly because of a system where debt is accumulated and inherited without end) that people have to be forced to sell the use of their body in exchange for the forgiveness of some debt or all of it, by becoming a Docile. And in this futuristic world, there's this drug- Dociline- that basically makes the process of being a Docile easier. A person under the influence of this drug is somewhat absent from events while their body is still present, meaning, that they will do everything that their master wants without remembering a thing when they detox from the drug.
The book follows the story of Elisha Wilder, a young man whose family has a gigantic amount of debt. On his 21st birthday, Elisha decides to enter the process of becoming a Docile in exchange for his family to be debt-free. But he plans to never take Dociline, knowing by personal experience the awful side effects of the drug. However, his debt is purchased by Alexander Bishop III, whose family is the brains and money behind Dociline. When Elisha refuses the drug and refuses to believe that Dociline has negative side effects, Alex comes up with a new plan: to turn Elisha into the perfect Docile without the help of a drug.
As you already probably guessed this has all the ingredients to be a problematic book. And it is. This book discusses and portrays sex slavery; sexual and physical punishment; graphic descriptions of rape (including POVs from the rapist); emotional, psychological, and physical abuse; manipulation, coercion, gaslighting, and alienation; graphic descriptions of attempted suicide, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks; graphic descriptions and discussions of sexual and physical trauma; nonconsensual consumption of drugs (it's just one time but it still counts as a content warning). And, to add to the list, there are a lot of non-consensual/dubious consent elements to it. So, I really liked this book and what it was trying to do but I understand why people may not like it. This is a very heavy and dark reading that can be very triggering for some people. So, if you're considering this book just be aware of the previous list. In my opinion, you have to know these things before you read the book because, again, the reading experience can be very triggering. Do these elements appear throughout the whole narrative? No, but they do appear, especially in the first part.
If you have seen this book going around, you probably saw it being marketed as an erotic dystopian kind of book. For the most part, I agree with this choice of marketing but I wouldn't call this book an erotic dystopia. It has elements of both genres but in my opinion, this is speculative fiction (I know that this term is an umbrella term but I don't think that this particular book fits the mold of what we traditionally call dystopia, erotic, or even erotic dystopia).
Before I even considered reading this book, I saw some reviews because I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. The plot seemed like something that I would like and the tagline of "There is no consent under capitalism" really catch my interest. So I read some reviews. One of the conversations that this book sparked was a conversation that the reading community needs to have but, in my opinion, is a little apprehensive about having. As a reading community, if something that makes us uncomfortable is used in a book, do we take the opportunity to discuss that element/issue, or do we immediately cancel the book or/and its author and engage in the metaphorical burning of books? I know that the internet can be an absolute cesspool but I feel that this is a discussion worth having.
As I said before, I feel like the mainstream opinion is that people are allowed to like problematic books as long they are aware of the reasons why that particular book is considered to be problematic. But there is a fine line between critiquing a book that you don't like because you feel that the content is offensive or misused and literary attacking and shaming people for liking that book. In my opinion, I think that we only scratch the surface of the issue and I think that this is something worth being discussed in depth.
I think that this is a good book to open or further that discussion. In any way Docile advocates, excuses, or celebrates the terrible things that it portrays. Some of the elements that I included in the list above are used as plot devices and I'm the first to say that I don't mind that things like that are used as plot devices, as long as those things make sense within the narrative. If they have a purpose and aren't used just to move the plot along or pull the readers' heartstrings (I'm looking at you Nicholas Sparks), then I actually like to see how the narrative uses those elements. Having said that, I feel that I have to say that I'm aware that the purpose of every fiction book is to, in some way, influence/manipulate the reader into a reaction. Now if you buy into the influence/manipulation or not is a totally different conversation. For instance, I don't mind the problematic aspects of Docile and I let the book influence me into a positive opinion of it because I see a purpose in using those awful things as plot devices. I didn't like A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, for example, because, to me at least, it romanticizes a serious disease just to move the plot along and make people cry, there's no purpose other than that (or, at least, I don't see it).
So, what's the purpose of using elements of sex slavery, rape, abuse, and all of the things listed above in Docile? Well, the book is supposed to criticize capitalism and show how this economic system can be dehumanizing. At the same time, it's meant to show how far the human race is capable of going as long as the collective/society can justify it. It is meant to show the connection between power, money, class, and privilege. But this is only part of what this book is trying to do. In reading some reviews, I feel like some readers focused a lot on this part of the message, using it to justify their opinions. And that's fair. I also think that the narrative could go further when criticizing the more social-economical aspects of the system presented in the book. I don't know if some of the suggestions that I saw would be well received but they're interesting points of view nonetheless.
What really stroke me in reading this book is the other part of the message within it. The tagline of this book, as I said before is, "There is no consent under capitalism", and that can be related to the social-economical criticism done in this book, but I actually think that this is more in relation to the discussion about rape, sexual abuse, and consent that this book presents.
At first glance, some readers can look at the tagline and think "Oh, we're we go again...go on, tell us how capitalism is bad, you snowflake, cultural maxist (still trying to understand this one), socialist!". Think of this: What is the thing that we all know about marketing? That sex, and everything relative to it, sells. Think of the books, movies, tv show, etc that tends to get popular and, probably some of the elements on those are related to sex. And if you can get praised for the depiction of those elements or get the label of problematic, then the thing gets even more popular because people wanna know why the internet is talking about some book, film, tv show, etc. Fifty Shades of Grey (I know that I use this trilogy a lot but the thing keeps being a good example for everything, it's not my fault), Game of Thrones, or The Handmaid's Tale are good examples of this. The media that we consume has to have conflict in it and, often, rape and sexual assault are considered great sources of conflict and tension. Consensual sex doesn't introduce conflict, it stands outside of the classic model of conflict. Or so we thought.
If there's anything new that Docile brings to the table is that the idea of consensual sex can also be a source of conflict and may not be as consensual as we thought. Essentially, context matters. Like I said before, this book doesn't advocate, excuse, or celebrate the awful things that Elisha suffers, but, from the perspective of the universe of the book, those things can be seen as consensual. Elisha knows what is gonna happen to him as soon he chooses a master, he signs a contract and he never takes Dociline, he's aware of what's happening to him, and he can say "no". However, at the same time, we know the reasons that lead him to basically sell his body. To him, is a matter of his survival and the survival of his family. Therefore the question is: as long as your body can be sold not only as a commodity (i.e. something that can be sold for profit) but also as a way of surviving, how could any of us ever truly give our full consent? Without real equality, consent can be something that is given under coercion.
There's no other way to put it: there is rape in this book. Elisha sells himself into a system that institutionalizes rape. Nonetheless, what we encounter in this book isn't the violent ideal of narrative rape that other books, movies, or tv shows constantly show us. Instead, we watch Elisha experiencing rape as many people experience it. Rape isn't just a violent sexual act. Rape is about power and control. And we see Alex exerting absolute power and control over Elisha. Even if Elisha says "yes" and gives verbal and non-verbal consent, it's very clear that he cannot give true consent. The relationship between Elisha and Alex isn't equal, therefore, it isn't consensual.
But this book isn't only a criticism of the social-economical aspects of capitalism and about the link between rape, coercion, and consent. The narrative is split into two halves. The first one is more graphic and triggering inducing, the one that tests the limits of humanity and the limits of the reader. This is the part where I had to stop, take a break (usually to cry- yes, I'm always crying over books), and then return to the reading. However, the second part is very different from the first. It shows the reader the struggling process of recovering from trauma and becoming your own person again. It is about self-rediscovery. It's about rebuilding, regaining autonomy, and gaining equality. As the narrative walks toward an equal footing, consent becomes the cornerstone of the second part. Consent is an ongoing theme, it's something that is treated with seriousness. And in doing this, the narrative goes into uncharted territory that we don't get to see in a lot of books.
Not only the second part goes into uncharted territory in its genre, but it also goes further. Like I said before, consensual sex doesn't introduce conflicts like rape or sexual abuse usually can. Nonetheless, in a universe where rape is not only tolerated but also acceptable or even ignore or expected, recovering from rape generates conflict. In the second part, every time Elisha gives consent or makes an independent decision, he's at war with society. Saying "no" and regaining autonomy is a revolutionary act. It shows that there's still hope and that there are things worth fighting for.
If you're still with me, I would like to reiterate that I really liked this book. It's a rollercoaster. If you're anything like me, this book will make you cry, smile, shout, and gasp. It's beautifully written (the writing style isn't poetic or anything like that, but the portrait of the characters and their emotions and reactions are masterfully done) and it can be a very addicting and compelling read. It's the kind of book that will stay with you (at least, it stayed with me).
One of the best things about it is the characters. The main ones are very complex and human. They all seem very realistic, which makes them very compelling. We never know what the people around Elisha and Alex are thinking and even if we have access to the thoughts of Alex and Elisha, we never know how they are gonna react. The only criticism that I can make in relation to the characters, is that I think that the arc of Elisha could be a little more developed. We don't get to know him as his true self in the first part and I think that to know him a little more before he signs the contract would make for a more developed arc but that's me nitpicking. I love Elisha's personality and arc, I just think that Alex's was more developed.
Another thing that I think could be more developed was the side plot about the side effects of Dociline. I think that the side effects of the drug would be great content for a possible sequel, especially with the open ending that this book has, but I don't think that there are plans for a sequel. I would like to see a sequel because I'm not ready to leave this universe and characters, but that's just me.
I strongly recommend this book. It isn't one of those books that will give you all the answers but it's one of those that will make you think about the world around you. And if you are still here, thank you for reading this until the end. If you did it, I'll be sending you a digital cookie. If you are willing to read my ramblings about a book, then you deserve it!
[Disclaimer: The following review is a gigantic one and can be very triggering].
So...I have this little personal joke about my reading taste: if a book gets the label of problematic, there's a high chance that I'm gonna like it. This isn't something that happens all the time because I've read some books that are considered to be problematic that I hate with a passion, but what do you wanna me to say? I generally like problematic books. I like them because most of them make me think about things that I usually don't get the chance to think about.
In my opinion, and I feel like it's the mainstream opinion, people are allowed to like problematic books as long they are aware of the reasons why that particular book is considered to be problematic or to have problematic elements in it. We should be aware of the reason why a book can have the label of problematic but not limit our reading experience because of it. There's a fine line between critiquing a book that you don't like because you feel that the content is offensive or misused and the metaphorical burning of books "at the stake".
So, why is Docile considered to be a problematic book? In a futuristic world but not very distant because there is a sense of reality and familiarity throughout the narrative, the debt crisis in the USA has gotten so out of control (mainly because of a system where debt is accumulated and inherited without end) that people have to be forced to sell the use of their body in exchange for the forgiveness of some debt or all of it, by becoming a Docile. And in this futuristic world, there's this drug- Dociline- that basically makes the process of being a Docile easier. A person under the influence of this drug is somewhat absent from events while their body is still present, meaning, that they will do everything that their master wants without remembering a thing when they detox from the drug.
The book follows the story of Elisha Wilder, a young man whose family has a gigantic amount of debt. On his 21st birthday, Elisha decides to enter the process of becoming a Docile in exchange for his family to be debt-free. But he plans to never take Dociline, knowing by personal experience the awful side effects of the drug. However, his debt is purchased by Alexander Bishop III, whose family is the brains and money behind Dociline. When Elisha refuses the drug and refuses to believe that Dociline has negative side effects, Alex comes up with a new plan: to turn Elisha into the perfect Docile without the help of a drug.
As you already probably guessed this has all the ingredients to be a problematic book. And it is. This book discusses and portrays sex slavery; sexual and physical punishment; graphic descriptions of rape (including POVs from the rapist); emotional, psychological, and physical abuse; manipulation, coercion, gaslighting, and alienation; graphic descriptions of attempted suicide, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks; graphic descriptions and discussions of sexual and physical trauma; nonconsensual consumption of drugs (it's just one time but it still counts as a content warning). And, to add to the list, there are a lot of non-consensual/dubious consent elements to it. So, I really liked this book and what it was trying to do but I understand why people may not like it. This is a very heavy and dark reading that can be very triggering for some people. So, if you're considering this book just be aware of the previous list. In my opinion, you have to know these things before you read the book because, again, the reading experience can be very triggering. Do these elements appear throughout the whole narrative? No, but they do appear, especially in the first part.
If you have seen this book going around, you probably saw it being marketed as an erotic dystopian kind of book. For the most part, I agree with this choice of marketing but I wouldn't call this book an erotic dystopia. It has elements of both genres but in my opinion, this is speculative fiction (I know that this term is an umbrella term but I don't think that this particular book fits the mold of what we traditionally call dystopia, erotic, or even erotic dystopia).
Before I even considered reading this book, I saw some reviews because I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. The plot seemed like something that I would like and the tagline of "There is no consent under capitalism" really catch my interest. So I read some reviews. One of the conversations that this book sparked was a conversation that the reading community needs to have but, in my opinion, is a little apprehensive about having. As a reading community, if something that makes us uncomfortable is used in a book, do we take the opportunity to discuss that element/issue, or do we immediately cancel the book or/and its author and engage in the metaphorical burning of books? I know that the internet can be an absolute cesspool but I feel that this is a discussion worth having.
As I said before, I feel like the mainstream opinion is that people are allowed to like problematic books as long they are aware of the reasons why that particular book is considered to be problematic. But there is a fine line between critiquing a book that you don't like because you feel that the content is offensive or misused and literary attacking and shaming people for liking that book. In my opinion, I think that we only scratch the surface of the issue and I think that this is something worth being discussed in depth.
I think that this is a good book to open or further that discussion. In any way Docile advocates, excuses, or celebrates the terrible things that it portrays. Some of the elements that I included in the list above are used as plot devices and I'm the first to say that I don't mind that things like that are used as plot devices, as long as those things make sense within the narrative. If they have a purpose and aren't used just to move the plot along or pull the readers' heartstrings (I'm looking at you Nicholas Sparks), then I actually like to see how the narrative uses those elements. Having said that, I feel that I have to say that I'm aware that the purpose of every fiction book is to, in some way, influence/manipulate the reader into a reaction. Now if you buy into the influence/manipulation or not is a totally different conversation. For instance, I don't mind the problematic aspects of Docile and I let the book influence me into a positive opinion of it because I see a purpose in using those awful things as plot devices. I didn't like A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, for example, because, to me at least, it romanticizes a serious disease just to move the plot along and make people cry, there's no purpose other than that (or, at least, I don't see it).
So, what's the purpose of using elements of sex slavery, rape, abuse, and all of the things listed above in Docile? Well, the book is supposed to criticize capitalism and show how this economic system can be dehumanizing. At the same time, it's meant to show how far the human race is capable of going as long as the collective/society can justify it. It is meant to show the connection between power, money, class, and privilege. But this is only part of what this book is trying to do. In reading some reviews, I feel like some readers focused a lot on this part of the message, using it to justify their opinions. And that's fair. I also think that the narrative could go further when criticizing the more social-economical aspects of the system presented in the book. I don't know if some of the suggestions that I saw would be well received but they're interesting points of view nonetheless.
What really stroke me in reading this book is the other part of the message within it. The tagline of this book, as I said before is, "There is no consent under capitalism", and that can be related to the social-economical criticism done in this book, but I actually think that this is more in relation to the discussion about rape, sexual abuse, and consent that this book presents.
At first glance, some readers can look at the tagline and think "Oh, we're we go again...go on, tell us how capitalism is bad, you snowflake, cultural maxist (still trying to understand this one), socialist!". Think of this: What is the thing that we all know about marketing? That sex, and everything relative to it, sells. Think of the books, movies, tv show, etc that tends to get popular and, probably some of the elements on those are related to sex. And if you can get praised for the depiction of those elements or get the label of problematic, then the thing gets even more popular because people wanna know why the internet is talking about some book, film, tv show, etc. Fifty Shades of Grey (I know that I use this trilogy a lot but the thing keeps being a good example for everything, it's not my fault), Game of Thrones, or The Handmaid's Tale are good examples of this. The media that we consume has to have conflict in it and, often, rape and sexual assault are considered great sources of conflict and tension. Consensual sex doesn't introduce conflict, it stands outside of the classic model of conflict. Or so we thought.
If there's anything new that Docile brings to the table is that the idea of consensual sex can also be a source of conflict and may not be as consensual as we thought. Essentially, context matters. Like I said before, this book doesn't advocate, excuse, or celebrate the awful things that Elisha suffers, but, from the perspective of the universe of the book, those things can be seen as consensual. Elisha knows what is gonna happen to him as soon he chooses a master, he signs a contract and he never takes Dociline, he's aware of what's happening to him, and he can say "no". However, at the same time, we know the reasons that lead him to basically sell his body. To him, is a matter of his survival and the survival of his family. Therefore the question is: as long as your body can be sold not only as a commodity (i.e. something that can be sold for profit) but also as a way of surviving, how could any of us ever truly give our full consent? Without real equality, consent can be something that is given under coercion.
There's no other way to put it: there is rape in this book. Elisha sells himself into a system that institutionalizes rape. Nonetheless, what we encounter in this book isn't the violent ideal of narrative rape that other books, movies, or tv shows constantly show us. Instead, we watch Elisha experiencing rape as many people experience it. Rape isn't just a violent sexual act. Rape is about power and control. And we see Alex exerting absolute power and control over Elisha. Even if Elisha says "yes" and gives verbal and non-verbal consent, it's very clear that he cannot give true consent. The relationship between Elisha and Alex isn't equal, therefore, it isn't consensual.
But this book isn't only a criticism of the social-economical aspects of capitalism and about the link between rape, coercion, and consent. The narrative is split into two halves. The first one is more graphic and triggering inducing, the one that tests the limits of humanity and the limits of the reader. This is the part where I had to stop, take a break (usually to cry- yes, I'm always crying over books), and then return to the reading. However, the second part is very different from the first. It shows the reader the struggling process of recovering from trauma and becoming your own person again. It is about self-rediscovery. It's about rebuilding, regaining autonomy, and gaining equality. As the narrative walks toward an equal footing, consent becomes the cornerstone of the second part. Consent is an ongoing theme, it's something that is treated with seriousness. And in doing this, the narrative goes into uncharted territory that we don't get to see in a lot of books.
Not only the second part goes into uncharted territory in its genre, but it also goes further. Like I said before, consensual sex doesn't introduce conflicts like rape or sexual abuse usually can. Nonetheless, in a universe where rape is not only tolerated but also acceptable or even ignore or expected, recovering from rape generates conflict. In the second part, every time Elisha gives consent or makes an independent decision, he's at war with society. Saying "no" and regaining autonomy is a revolutionary act. It shows that there's still hope and that there are things worth fighting for.
If you're still with me, I would like to reiterate that I really liked this book. It's a rollercoaster. If you're anything like me, this book will make you cry, smile, shout, and gasp. It's beautifully written (the writing style isn't poetic or anything like that, but the portrait of the characters and their emotions and reactions are masterfully done) and it can be a very addicting and compelling read. It's the kind of book that will stay with you (at least, it stayed with me).
One of the best things about it is the characters. The main ones are very complex and human. They all seem very realistic, which makes them very compelling. We never know what the people around Elisha and Alex are thinking and even if we have access to the thoughts of Alex and Elisha, we never know how they are gonna react. The only criticism that I can make in relation to the characters, is that I think that the arc of Elisha could be a little more developed. We don't get to know him as his true self in the first part and I think that to know him a little more before he signs the contract would make for a more developed arc but that's me nitpicking. I love Elisha's personality and arc, I just think that Alex's was more developed.
Another thing that I think could be more developed was the side plot about the side effects of Dociline. I think that the side effects of the drug would be great content for a possible sequel, especially with the open ending that this book has, but I don't think that there are plans for a sequel. I would like to see a sequel because I'm not ready to leave this universe and characters, but that's just me.
I strongly recommend this book. It isn't one of those books that will give you all the answers but it's one of those that will make you think about the world around you. And if you are still here, thank you for reading this until the end. If you did it, I'll be sending you a digital cookie. If you are willing to read my ramblings about a book, then you deserve it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Classism, Cursing, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Torture, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Slavery, Confinement, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Drug use
written_between_the_stars's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Elisha is stronger than me, because I would've decked that man so hard or laughed straight in his face during the first half of this book. Even the first hundred pages. Alexander Bishop the Third you're a ridiculous man.
In many ways Docile did exactly what it promised to do. It's a trope many of us probably read once or twice in a fanfaction before. And it's one of my favorites (if done right). I was honestly surprised to find out Docile was published traditionally, and so recently too. Daring titles like this get rare in trad pub and I'm not sure if three years later it would still be published as it is.
I can't lie the first half of the book infuriated me at times and all I wanted was to jump inside the story and shake the characters until they snapped out of their behavior. I couldn't predict where the story was going at all or imagine many endings that would've satisfied me. Elisha was at points so submissive and Alex SUCH an oblivious prick, I struggled to root for either or see a possible redemption arc.
One of my favorite series of all time is the Captive Prince trilogy by C. S. Pacat and I have to admit I'd pay LOTS of money to read a snipped of the the characters meeting. It would take Laurent of Vere probably less than a minute and two sentences to make Alexander Bishop cry and break down in on public.
During my read and comparing the protagonists I realized I only like to read about bratty subs that fight back, if not externally than at least internally (like Damon).
Alex's behavior is so ignorant and horrible at times, while Elisha is brainwashed into only existing to make him happy. I worried this dynamic wouldn't be explored properly and in the worst case romanticized. (There's enemies to lovers and then there's THIS).
In the end we - thankfully - get a story that deep dives into the psychological aftermath of breaking a person and I think that was the only and necessary decision to make and direction to go
The system of Docile is interesting as well as scary, which is exactly the point K. M. Szpara wanted to deliver. It doesn't romanticizes it's heavy themes but shows a dystopian world that - I'm sure - many would read as a modern psychological horror story. (I'll just categorize the book as dystopian horror for myself).
I'm not sure if the execution was 100% on point though and wish the author would've explored different aspects of the system. I think the concept had lots of potential that wasn't completely exhausted. Again, in many ways Docile reads like a Fanfiction you discover at 3AM. Unputdownable. Thrilling. But slightly rocky. You wake up dizzy and confused the next morning, wondering what the fuck you read.
In my opinion the book could've done more and while the entire second half was necessary it wasn't as engaging as the first half. I liked the more horror/taboo direction it steered in during those pages, even though it was uncomfortable to read at times.
I also think Docile would've benefited from a trim. This novel easily could've been 300 pages instead of 500. Was it still incredible fast to read? Yes. But still. Like I said, I searched for exactly this trope and wanted to read a book with "bad" and adult queer characters. It did what it promised. But I wish it would've done more with less... I think if Docile were a bit sharper, shorter and nailed the message/horror and characters a bit better, this easily could've been a new favorite and five star read.
In the end, it scratched the right parts of my brain but I'm not mind blown by the story and the second half dragged out and steered in all sorts of directions. There was no real structure to the book (why I think it ended up being this long). Definitely an interesting read though and if you've never read anything with that trope it might be more surprising and shocking to you than it was for me.
In many ways Docile did exactly what it promised to do. It's a trope many of us probably read once or twice in a fanfaction before. And it's one of my favorites (if done right). I was honestly surprised to find out Docile was published traditionally, and so recently too. Daring titles like this get rare in trad pub and I'm not sure if three years later it would still be published as it is.
I can't lie the first half of the book infuriated me at times and all I wanted was to jump inside the story and shake the characters until they snapped out of their behavior. I couldn't predict where the story was going at all or imagine many endings that would've satisfied me. Elisha was at points so submissive and Alex SUCH an oblivious prick, I struggled to root for either or see a possible redemption arc.
One of my favorite series of all time is the Captive Prince trilogy by C. S. Pacat and I have to admit I'd pay LOTS of money to read a snipped of the the characters meeting. It would take Laurent of Vere probably less than a minute and two sentences to make Alexander Bishop cry and break down in on public.
During my read and comparing the protagonists I realized I only like to read about bratty subs that fight back, if not externally than at least internally (like Damon).
Alex's behavior is so ignorant and horrible at times, while Elisha is brainwashed into only existing to make him happy. I worried this dynamic wouldn't be explored properly and in the worst case romanticized. (There's enemies to lovers and then there's THIS).
In the end we - thankfully - get a story that deep dives into the psychological aftermath of breaking a person and I think that was the only and necessary decision to make and direction to go
Spoiler
in the second half. If Elisha & Alex simply would've gotten together with little struggle (as it seemed at points in the first half, you got me there K. M. props to you) this book would've been highly problematic (and I don't throw those words around easily).The system of Docile is interesting as well as scary, which is exactly the point K. M. Szpara wanted to deliver. It doesn't romanticizes it's heavy themes but shows a dystopian world that - I'm sure - many would read as a modern psychological horror story. (I'll just categorize the book as dystopian horror for myself).
I'm not sure if the execution was 100% on point though and wish the author would've explored different aspects of the system. I think the concept had lots of potential that wasn't completely exhausted. Again, in many ways Docile reads like a Fanfiction you discover at 3AM. Unputdownable. Thrilling. But slightly rocky. You wake up dizzy and confused the next morning, wondering what the fuck you read.
In my opinion the book could've done more and while the entire second half
Spoiler
and the court sectionI also think Docile would've benefited from a trim. This novel easily could've been 300 pages instead of 500. Was it still incredible fast to read? Yes. But still. Like I said, I searched for exactly this trope and wanted to read a book with "bad" and adult queer characters. It did what it promised. But I wish it would've done more with less... I think if Docile were a bit sharper, shorter and nailed the message/horror and characters a bit better, this easily could've been a new favorite and five star read.
In the end, it scratched the right parts of my brain but I'm not mind blown by the story and the second half dragged out and steered in all sorts of directions. There was no real structure to the book (why I think it ended up being this long). Definitely an interesting read though and if you've never read anything with that trope it might be more surprising and shocking to you than it was for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Body horror, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
lottiegasp's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a great novel set in a dystopian world where class inequalities are analogous to the current world but exacerbated even further. Debt is inherited such that families find themselves millions of dollars in debt and their only chance at paying it off is to sell themselves to wealthy business owners or trillionaires. To cope with the horrible tasks they need to undertake in order to uphold their contracts, these debtors are offered a drug called Dociline that makes them docile, obedient and lost their memories once they come off the drug.
I found the book a page-turner and easy-reading throughout. It was surprisingly fast-paced given how long it is.
What I liked most about the book was that it is explicit and mostly unflinching in its message, which is the novel's subtitle- there is no consent under capitalism. I find that some dystopian books can be muddled in their politics (often they are anti-authoritarian but don't want to come right out and say anti-capitalist, so that the world-building is just vague and unsatisfying) whereas this one is very clear in how the class politics in this fictional world relate to the current real world. Likewise, many novels will romanticise abuse for the sake of a love story, and I like that this novel is explicit in calling out the abuse and power imbalances in the relationship and largely does not romanticise it (with some exceptions).
In my opinion, the author does a really great job at developing the two main characters - Elisha who is selling his family's debt and Alex the trillionaire who buys Elisha, both go through wild character arcs and I found them both very convincing.
I was slightly disappointed by the ending. And I noticed a couple of plot holes in terms of the sequence of events, although they didn't detract too much from my enjoyment.
I found the book a page-turner and easy-reading throughout. It was surprisingly fast-paced given how long it is.
What I liked most about the book was that it is explicit and mostly unflinching in its message, which is the novel's subtitle- there is no consent under capitalism. I find that some dystopian books can be muddled in their politics (often they are anti-authoritarian but don't want to come right out and say anti-capitalist, so that the world-building is just vague and unsatisfying) whereas this one is very clear in how the class politics in this fictional world relate to the current real world. Likewise, many novels will romanticise abuse for the sake of a love story, and I like that this novel is explicit in calling out the abuse and power imbalances in the relationship and largely does not romanticise it (with some exceptions).
In my opinion, the author does a really great job at developing the two main characters - Elisha who is selling his family's debt and Alex the trillionaire who buys Elisha, both go through wild character arcs and I found them both very convincing.
I was slightly disappointed by the ending
Spoiler
which I think compromised the politics somewhat for the sake of the love story, redemption arc and happy ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Classism, and Mental illness
maithewriter's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First of all, let me just say that the marketing of this book totally sucks. I picked it up because I thought it would be a seething commentary on capitalism, but I think the book only scratched the surface of that discourse.
Still, it was an engaging and gripping read, though I'll admit not the type of book I would read if I weren't duped by its marketing, lol. There's a lot of uncomfortable slavefic stuff, and it's hard to empathize with the two main characters at first because they fit right into the slavefic tropes: trillionaire guy meets naive and poor but cute guy and lots of BDSM stuff. I seriously thought of not finishing the book because of the graphic descriptions of sexual assault and even rape in the first-person POV (and it felt like it won't veer away from those), but I'm glad I slugged it out because the latter part of the book was no longer about sex. It explored consent, trauma, and healing -- the last part of which was my favorite because Elisha's healing process was extremely visceral and raw. It made me think about my own boundaries and made me re-assess how I view love and dependency.
Honestly, there's a lot to unpack in this book (capitalism, rich vs. poor, slavery), but the sole focus on two characters and the use of their POVs limit one's capacity to explore the depths of each ideology touched on here. Aside from Elisha and Alex, the other characters didn't feel all that compelling. It also didn't help that it felt like a half-assed worldbuilding -- the setting was a very near dystopian future that trod the line of possible reality but also required a lot of suspension of disbelief. One of my main questions was, how could people just accept this kind of debt resolution system? It seemed so far-fetched, but we were supposed to just gobble it up without any explanation of how the world came to be that way. Even the supposedly leftist group was treated so antagonistically that it felt like we were supposed to side with the wealthy people (and Alex's character arc further proved that).
I'm giving this a high rating because I thoroughly enjoyed the story and made me think deeply about certain concepts. But please take my review with a grain of salt -- this is coming from someone who's never had to suffer the trauma and indignity that this book explored. This is definitely not everyone's cup of tea -- it's got a lot of trigger warnings so please beware before picking up this book.
Still, it was an engaging and gripping read, though I'll admit not the type of book I would read if I weren't duped by its marketing, lol. There's a lot of uncomfortable slavefic stuff, and it's hard to empathize with the two main characters at first because they fit right into the slavefic tropes: trillionaire guy meets naive and poor but cute guy and lots of BDSM stuff. I seriously thought of not finishing the book because of the graphic descriptions of sexual assault and even rape in the first-person POV (and it felt like it won't veer away from those), but I'm glad I slugged it out because the latter part of the book was no longer about sex. It explored consent, trauma, and healing -- the last part of which was my favorite because Elisha's healing process was extremely visceral and raw. It made me think about my own boundaries and made me re-assess how I view love and dependency.
Honestly, there's a lot to unpack in this book (capitalism, rich vs. poor, slavery), but the sole focus on two characters and the use of their POVs limit one's capacity to explore the depths of each ideology touched on here. Aside from Elisha and Alex, the other characters didn't feel all that compelling. It also didn't help that it felt like a half-assed worldbuilding -- the setting was a very near dystopian future that trod the line of possible reality but also required a lot of suspension of disbelief. One of my main questions was, how could people just accept this kind of debt resolution system? It seemed so far-fetched, but we were supposed to just gobble it up without any explanation of how the world came to be that way. Even the supposedly leftist group was treated so antagonistically that it felt like we were supposed to side with the wealthy people (and Alex's character arc further proved that).
Spoiler
As for the ending, there was no other way to describe it but romantic and fairy tale-like. Alex and Elisha kind of work things out, which the romantic and escapist in me liked (love conquers all!), but I understand would feel really fucked up for sexual assault victims. It was an acceptable ending for me though, given their character arcs of how Elisha healed and Alex changed for the better. It also felt full circle, because it was ultimately Elisha's choice to be with Alex -- and this is a book that weighs heavily on consent and choice, right? I was happy about it, but I don't condone it in real life because it honestly felt unrealistic.I'm giving this a high rating because I thoroughly enjoyed the story and made me think deeply about certain concepts. But please take my review with a grain of salt -- this is coming from someone who's never had to suffer the trauma and indignity that this book explored. This is definitely not everyone's cup of tea -- it's got a lot of trigger warnings so please beware before picking up this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Suicide, Sexual content, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Racism
maybreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Genuinely don't know how to feel about this. Tbh I think the main character should die. Be killed by the other one in fact.
And that's the issue isn't it. This book does not know what it wants to be. Does it want the reader to hate the main character? But then the first half of it doesn't work. Plus why is there a semi redeeming ending teased? The first half reads like a fucked up love story. One of those dark romances that are more popular every day. The second half is a case against the first half. Judge and lawyers included. In the end I am confused
And that's the issue isn't it. This book does not know what it wants to be. Does it want the reader to hate the main character? But then the first half of it doesn't work. Plus why is there a semi redeeming ending teased? The first half reads like a fucked up love story. One of those dark romances that are more popular every day. The second half is a case against the first half. Judge and lawyers included. In the end I am confused
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Physical abuse
18soft_green's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I’m spilling the beans. I’ll try to hide the spoilers but I think this book could have done better with the trigger warnings. And I think readers should actually get to know exactly what they’re getting into.
Okay, so when I put a hold on this book I knew it was an analogy for how there is no true consent under capitalism. That’s actually why I wanted to read it as I am a leftist. This book challenged me to say the least. It challenged my ethics and my boundaries and view lelfists. But not the way I think the author wanted, I think.
This book is pretty outspoken in that it will contain themes of rape. I wanted to read the story because I recognized that the author is a leftist and generally, of so I thought, leftists are pretty educated and thoughtful about topics like racism, feminism, and sexual assault/harassment. Before listening to this book I, as a writer, had the strong belief that there is no ethical reason for a book to contain a graphic rape scene. Maybe a scene where the sex doesn’t go as planned but when it comes to actual rape, you can tell a story where rape happens and include some details without writing the scene. I am open to being corrected or finding exceptions to the rule always. If you give me a better/more accurate perspective I will change my mind. That’s why I read this.
As a survivor of rape, repeated rape, I am knowledgeable and sensitive to this subject. I have been a support to friends, partners, and family who have suffered sexual assault/harassment and I’ve done a fuck-ton of research and personal healing. And I hate this book.
I put off writing a review for it for months because I was trying to find a more objective view of it. It hasn’t worked. As time passed I’ve only become more upset with it. It makes me angry.
Here’s my perspective: if you, as an author, need to process something personal and you best do that by putting it in a narrative, do it. I do this all the time because I’m a big thinker and sometimes giving my struggle to someone else (fictionally) and watching them process it helps me to see the situation in a new light and have grace for myself. So if this is what the author needed to do, awesome, I’m glad they’re processing their shit instead of keeping it locked up. But they should not have published it. I think a lot of people forget that oversharing isn’t just harmful to the person oversharing. The people that are getting this information they did not ask for are being harmed and not just because it makes them uncomfortable. It’s invasive! It takes energy to process they might have needed for other things. It forces them into a relationship dynamic they did not consent to. But wait, I didn’t have to read this book. I knew it was going to be challenging and could have put it down any time I wanted, right? Yes?
But it wasn’t just the tale that made this book shit. It was the characters, the plot, the way the rape was treated by the author. The author tries sympathizing with Alex, the abuser. I remember listening to Alex’s pov and wondering if the author was trying to convince me that rich abusers are just people doing the best they can. I was listening, and thinking, wait, you don’t think this is legit real do you? Rich people don’t think this way. Rapists don’t think this way. And even if they did, Alex’s actions still caused harm and they aren’t going to be absolved because he regrets it and apologized. He’s still guilty. Elijah, in my opinion, is fucking annoying. I think it’s just his personality that clashed with mine. What happened to him is unforgivable and his emotional response to it makes psychological sense and, I think, is fitting to his personality. What I hate more than anything is how the story is set up like Alex and Elijah are meant to be together. You can’t come back from abuse like that. Ever. You are, for life, changed and your relationship dynamic is completely destroyed. Even with therapy and boundaries and working to become better people. Your love for each other is tainted, you can’t start fresh because that harm changes who you are permanently and affects all of your relationships not to mention the one which gave you that trauma in the first place.
Then there’s the revolution movement and this part contains
The story didn’t end with someone, if not Elijah, killing Alex violently. That would have been the only acceptable ending. There is no way for him to redeem himself. I don’t care if he loves Elijah or not, he doesn’t get any more chances. As a rich person he’s already a parasite and thus a danger to society, we don’t need to add in his affects on those within his general facility.
Lastly, it’s not written that well. Like, it’s barebones type writing. Academic essay type writing. I was bored while also being triggered (which is partially my fault for not respecting my own boundary). There is no justifiable reason to include a graphic rape scene. Not even for the leftist cause. Yes there is no consent under capitalism and rape is a good metaphor. You don’t need to write the rape to use that analogy. And you most definitely don’t need to hand it over to the general public to consume.
1.25/5 stars. Would not recommend to anyone ever. Don’t hurt yourself with this book, it’s not worth it.
Okay, so when I put a hold on this book I knew it was an analogy for how there is no true consent under capitalism. That’s actually why I wanted to read it as I am a leftist. This book challenged me to say the least. It challenged my ethics and my boundaries and view lelfists. But not the way I think the author wanted, I think.
This book is pretty outspoken in that it will contain themes of rape. I wanted to read the story because I recognized that the author is a leftist and generally, of so I thought, leftists are pretty educated and thoughtful about topics like racism, feminism, and sexual assault/harassment. Before listening to this book I, as a writer, had the strong belief that there is no ethical reason for a book to contain a graphic rape scene. Maybe a scene where the sex doesn’t go as planned but when it comes to actual rape, you can tell a story where rape happens and include some details without writing the scene. I am open to being corrected or finding exceptions to the rule always. If you give me a better/more accurate perspective I will change my mind. That’s why I read this.
As a survivor of rape, repeated rape, I am knowledgeable and sensitive to this subject. I have been a support to friends, partners, and family who have suffered sexual assault/harassment and I’ve done a fuck-ton of research and personal healing. And I hate this book.
I put off writing a review for it for months because I was trying to find a more objective view of it. It hasn’t worked. As time passed I’ve only become more upset with it. It makes me angry.
Here’s my perspective: if you, as an author, need to process something personal and you best do that by putting it in a narrative, do it. I do this all the time because I’m a big thinker and sometimes giving my struggle to someone else (fictionally) and watching them process it helps me to see the situation in a new light and have grace for myself. So if this is what the author needed to do, awesome, I’m glad they’re processing their shit instead of keeping it locked up. But they should not have published it. I think a lot of people forget that oversharing isn’t just harmful to the person oversharing. The people that are getting this information they did not ask for are being harmed and not just because it makes them uncomfortable. It’s invasive! It takes energy to process they might have needed for other things. It forces them into a relationship dynamic they did not consent to. But wait, I didn’t have to read this book. I knew it was going to be challenging and could have put it down any time I wanted, right? Yes?
But it wasn’t just the tale that made this book shit. It was the characters, the plot, the way the rape was treated by the author. The author tries sympathizing with Alex, the abuser. I remember listening to Alex’s pov and wondering if the author was trying to convince me that rich abusers are just people doing the best they can. I was listening, and thinking, wait, you don’t think this is legit real do you? Rich people don’t think this way. Rapists don’t think this way. And even if they did, Alex’s actions still caused harm and they aren’t going to be absolved because he regrets it and apologized. He’s still guilty. Elijah, in my opinion, is fucking annoying. I think it’s just his personality that clashed with mine. What happened to him is unforgivable and his emotional response to it makes psychological sense and, I think, is fitting to his personality. What I hate more than anything is how the story is set up like Alex and Elijah are meant to be together. You can’t come back from abuse like that. Ever. You are, for life, changed and your relationship dynamic is completely destroyed. Even with therapy and boundaries and working to become better people. Your love for each other is tainted, you can’t start fresh because that harm changes who you are permanently and affects all of your relationships not to mention the one which gave you that trauma in the first place.
Then there’s the revolution movement and this part contains
Spoiler
The only thing I have to say here is that there were some spies playing dociles and masters and once one of those dociles raped Elijah at a party in front of everyone and when Elijah confronts the bitch he says he’d do it again because he’s so loyal to the movement and idk if the author was pointing out how ruthless some people are or thinking that for fhd revolution you must be prepared to commit any atrocity ✊🏻 It doesn’t help that that character would openly hit on Elijah and they started a fuck buddy arrangement later on. Like, this could speak to how fucking destroyed Elijah’s sense of self and agency is because of his experience with Alex but… it also bothers me that no one helping Elijah actually knew how to help him. Which is weird because we’ve figured out how to do this already. It requires professionals but like, the leftist movement has people from all walks of life in it and those who have been victims of abuse and well educated tend to be leftist so what the hell?!The story didn’t end with someone, if not Elijah, killing Alex violently. That would have been the only acceptable ending. There is no way for him to redeem himself. I don’t care if he loves Elijah or not, he doesn’t get any more chances. As a rich person he’s already a parasite and thus a danger to society, we don’t need to add in his affects on those within his general facility.
Lastly, it’s not written that well. Like, it’s barebones type writing. Academic essay type writing. I was bored while also being triggered (which is partially my fault for not respecting my own boundary). There is no justifiable reason to include a graphic rape scene. Not even for the leftist cause. Yes there is no consent under capitalism and rape is a good metaphor. You don’t need to write the rape to use that analogy. And you most definitely don’t need to hand it over to the general public to consume.
1.25/5 stars. Would not recommend to anyone ever. Don’t hurt yourself with this book, it’s not worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Chronic illness, Classism, Dementia, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Eating disorder, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Deportation, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Minor: War, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Vomit, Blood, Colonisation, Body shaming, Deportation, Kidnapping, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
maryeeafsu's review
dark
emotional
sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Torture and Confinement
lamegod's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Confinement, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Torture, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Drug use, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Medical content
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is very uncomfortable to read, and that is definitely intentional. That said, I don't think it was alwas discomforting in the most constructive way. I really liked most of Elijah's story, and would have been happy to have the book be just that.
I didn't like Alex's pov. I predicted for his first chapter what his arc would be - - and I just wasn't interested in it. If this had to have a second perspective, I would have preferred literally anyone else in the story. Abby, Elijah's dad, Dutch, even Miranda would have been more compelling to me. And given that all of the actual villains in this book were cartoonishly evil, it just really didn't work well to have a nuanced discussion of the themes being explored.
Plus, I kind of hated the ending. I understand the intent, but I just didn't really want Alex involved at all.
I didn't like Alex's pov. I predicted for his first chapter what his arc would be -
Spoiler
rich guy buys a toy, realizes it's a real boy after all, and starts feeling things that make him confused and then eventually growPlus, I kind of hated the ending. I understand the intent, but I just didn't really want Alex involved at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Rape
thecharnelraven's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Confinement, Classism, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence