Rating: 
Summary: Good writing, yet annoying
Review: I like Dara Joy's stuff, but this book didn't really appeal to me. It read like a regency romance with the male and female roles switched and then she added on a lot of terms and phrases to makes it futuristic. I liked the main characters, but I had a hard time keeping their supposed social roles in mind (male is weak, female has control over him). Add to that the fact that skipping to the glossary is occaisionally neccessary, and the book gets kind of awkward. It wasn't a bad book, but I didn't like it as much as her Matrix of Destiny books.
Rating: 
Summary: Transport me to Forus
Review: I couldn't put this book down. Something about the heroine being in control and his being so wild and sexual realllllly got to me. The wedding night scene was the hottest I've ever read. If you like out of control steam heat with plenty of plot action you'll love it. For my opinion, worth every cent and then some.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and erotic-what a combination!
Review: This is a great book. I was so happy to finally read a story where the woman is totally in control. How refreshing is it after all these years to have the tables turned and the hero placed into the position that heroines have been in for ever? This is a sharp parody but it is also fun and sexy. If you are a lover of romance or sf, this is the book that cannot be missed. Perfectly done. I agree with the other comments here, she deserves an award for this one! Bravo, Dara!
Rating: 
Summary: A Complete Disappointment
Review: When I learned that Dara Joy had a new book coming out, I could barely contain myself. After having enjoyed the Matrix of Destiny series and the "High" series, I was looking forward to a continuation of her talents. The concept of the male/female role reversal was, at first, intriguing. After a while, it just became annoying. You would think that after reading a regency romance and the way the women were treated, this would give them the opportunity to do things right. It simply gave the women the chance to treat the men the same way they were treated. The story itself had no depth and I felt no compassion for the characters. I couldn't even finish this book. Green was no different that her male counterparts in romance novels from 20 years ago (dominating brutes) and Jorlan just didn't come off as as a submissive character. The other men just came off as wimps. I am still waiting for the MOD series - Traed's story. Until then, if you must read this book, my advice would be to either get it from the library or wait for the paperback. It simply wasn't worth the cost of a hardcover. This I learned the hard way.
Rating:
Summary: Too Weird
Review: Somehow, it went way beyond role reversal too the point of being a little too weird. Yes, women can definitley be financially and mentally superior to men, but not always physically and that is where it made me feel little uncomfortable. How can men lay around and not get fat and potbellied? Where's the men's movement? Even during the regular Regency period, there were groups of women always fighting for equal rights. Why not the men? To have only Jorlan thinking along those lines and prohibited to even speak along those line is going a bit to the extreme. I miss the light-hearted and sometimes raucous humor of Knight of a Trillion Stars and Rejar. Where's Triad's story?
Rating: 
Summary: Role Reversal at it's finest
Review: Ritual of Proof is a very different story. Ms. Joy has written some really exotic and unique things in the past. She out did herself this time (again). I truly love the Matrix (Lorgen, Rejar, Taj Gian, Traed) and I sort of hoped this book would continue that saga. Ritual of Proof is good but it is not a continuation of this series. I will admit, much as another reviewer stated, this book took me awhile to adjust to its subject matter. The men, in this society, are subservient and treated much like women were during the Regency period. The men are young, pretty, sex toys, dim-witted, incompetent, and unable to care for themselves, yet able to raise children. The women are landowners, government officials, businesswomen, soldiers; they are older than their "name-bearers". It is true role reversal. In this story, Green is 34, Jorlan is 25. His job is to be her name-bearer and raise the children. He has no other station in life. Except that Jorlan is a very strong male who challenges the society's stranglehold that has been placed on the male species of his culture. Honestly, I tried to put this book down several times and walk away. I do not like the mistreatment of either sex. It is odd how we, as women, can become complacent to poorly treated women but have a difficult time seeing the same treatment occur to the man. This book drove home the point, when I read the role-reversal and saw Jorlan be discriminated because of his gender. I read the entire story - there is a wonderful love story, very steamy, erotic sex, and a strong message built into RITUAL OF PROOF. I recommend you read it and be prepared to challenge some of your own personal beliefs!
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: This book was not what I expected from Ms. Joy. It was well written, and I personally just did not care for the story line. I think that I fell so in love with the Knight of a Trillion Stars, Rejar and Mine to Take, that this just did not work for me. I personally could never live in a world like this, so I had trouble enjoying the story. The men in this book are treated pretty much the way many women are treated in Regency Romances (which I don't care for either.) In this case however, I just had trouble seeing the man as a strong partner, and I can not stand a week man. This might not be everyone, like I said, it is well written, and this is personal preference, but should you find yourself agreeing with any of this, you should wait for paperback.
Rating:
Summary: This book made me miss my train stop!
Review: I always reasd on the way to worl on the train and I was so engrossed I missed my stop and was twenty minutes late! But it was worth it, there was no way I was going to stop reading- I was in the middle of the first love scene. Worth the wait. Worth the price. Worth the read. Worth the space on your keeper shelf. Don't even think of not buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Top Read right to the keeper shelf
Review: Truly a must read that will grab you and never let you go even long after you've finished reading it! I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: BOOK OF THE DECADE!
Review: I'm not going to reiterate the details of this book as other reviews have already done so, but I am going to tell you that if you are wondering whether to read this book this is what I have to say. In my opinion this book will stand out to be one of the most important books of and about the romance genre. There has never been a book like this before. It represents a large stride forward in its contents and in what it represents to us as readers and aspiring writers (as I am). There are so many nuances and angles of intrepretation that I have no doubt people will be discussing and referring to this book for years. It is an instant classic-not just on personal judgement but for the entire genre. I thank her for writing it from the bottom of my heart. She has created the first paving stone and opened a new path for new writers like me to follow. You go, Dara!
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