Posted by Unknown on 23rd Apr 2010

Memoirs of a Sex Toy by Lizbeth Dusseau
Reviewed by Tobias Tanner

The title simply does not do justice to the newest novel from the prolific hand of Lizbeth Dusseau. Her protagonist is often played with, but entirely too formidable to be considered a mere toy. She is bound, battered and beaten, but never broken and never, ever cast aside. Like most of Dusseau’s ladies, Chelsea is a submissive. Not weak or passive, mind you…submissive. There’s a difference.

This is the story of a young woman with a natural bent toward compliance. There is plenty of that to be found here. Plenty of everything, come to think of it. It begins near the end, but don’t let that stop you. Right after that is the beginning, and in the end is another sort of beginning, which isn’t nearly as confusing as it sounds. I’m sorry if that sounds cryptic, but you’ll see what I mean.

Be prepared for submission in escalating waves as Chelsea is taught, and learns, how to be the submissive she wants and needs to be. Her master drives her straight into her own deepest and most secret desires. There is sex, all kinds of sex, any way you can think of, and some you might not have thought of. There are floggings and spankings, ropes and chains, piercing, anal sex, multiple partners, double penetrations, rapes, humiliation (both public and private) and ultimately, betrayal, which is the greatest rape of all.

Chelsea copes with some things better than others. She’s a very bright girl, after all. Sometimes, the need to run away is a primal, irresistible urge. But she can’t stay away. Her natural state is submission, and she can’t hide from that, even when she wants to.

One way or another, that is true of everyone. Our problems and kinks may be different, but the questions are always the same. Let Dusseau answer some of those questions for you. She has a way of making us think about things, even as her characters do, and what comes out is way beyond mere prurient content, way beyond mere salaciousness. What comes out is reality. There is no judgment in it, or regret, or apology. It’s just the way of things.

Not to mention, it’s great fun, as usual.