Rating: 
Summary: Really enjoyed it
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised and pleased by the setting of the story. I hadn't read anything by Dara Joy before, though I'd picked up a couple of her books and scanned them before, because they seemed to have a rather chauvanistic theme. It looks like Dara heard a lot of those comments and wrote this book as her response :)Jorlan is quite the rebel ;) - and he and Green are likely to change their society. Green is a fascinating character - a product of her society but certainly a great deal open minded than most. The end will leave you wanting more, that's for sure... Dara really needs to write another story with Green and Jorlan playing major parts.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, I'd actually rate it a 10+
Review: This book is VERY different and written in its own way. Please don't be turned off by its seeming differences, its a great romance story and I actually found it very thought provoking. Makes you think where the world would be...you'll see what I mean. Even though its sort of fantasy-sci-fi, its very well thought out, I LOVED IT!!! The story was very creative, the characters were excellent and the plot was very good. I could'nt put it down. Its based in a whole different world and I found myself inmersed in it. Jorlan is a very good character, a very strong yet very sensitive heroe, who openly and strongly rebels against his society but keeps to the morals and ideals of those he loves for their sake. The same can be said about the heroine though she's not rebelious, she mainly keeps her own counsel, yet both characters are SO MUCH MORE because of the circumstances of their lives. It is an excellent book, I hope Mrs. Joy writes more books to this storyline!!!! EXCELLENT BOOK.
Rating: 
Summary: sadly disappointed
Review: I am a huge Dara Joy fan and I have all of her books but I wish I had saved my money and left this on the shelf. The book was simply not up to the standard that I have come to expect from her. The story was ludicrous and itshould never have made it past the editors. I have no idea what anyone could find in this book to like.
Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT BRILLIANT PARODY
Review: I'm not going to go over the reasons you should read this book in depth because others have eloquently done so; i.e. the imaginative story, the jump-off-the-page characters, the wonderful twists. I, however, would like to add something different.
I don't think Ms. Joy's intent was write a science fiction book or a romance book. I beleive she intended to write pure satire- and to that end, she has carried this off brilliantly. You cannot take this book at face value. The prose is loaded with subtle innuedo. Much deeper than it appears or ever lets on. The language, ah the language, a clever, clever ploy with its regency flair.
This novel was a filet mignon to be savored slowly (while "dressed" as a hamburger for quick consumption). What a delightful surprise! My kudos, Ms. Joy. Well done!
Rating: 
Summary: Inventive story
Review: Generally I don't appreciate novels where the erotic is the chief theme, but Dara Joy imagined a whole fantasy world just to properly appreciate the deflowering of a male in a woman-dominated world...and it was worth the read. Like many fantasies, the devil is in the details, and the believability falls off sharply in the second half of the novel. SPOILER ALERT-- How can a reader accept a woman-dominated world, particularly one with a flavor of the macho Italian Nation States around the time of the Renaissance, in which women still bear the children? I had expected Joy to show a pregnant Jorlan...that would have completed the turnaround. But men still have the superior strength, and are not vulnerable in childbearing...so how can the women dominate in Joy's warrior world? Not fleshed out in a way to satisfy the reader. STill, an inventive creation.
Rating:
Summary: Ritual of Proof
Review: I came across this book from a suggestion of one of my friends. There have been few authors who have attempted to create a story like this, much less do it correctly. Ms. Joy's book comes across flawlessly and I have to say I love the Glossary in the back of the book. This is a wonderful book, which does not just satisfy the romantic feel but also the science fiction and fantasy elements which I so love. I suggest this book to anyone who wants an enjoyable fulfilling read that will leave you thinking afterwards and probably have to read it again and again to understand all the elements of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: 'Ritual of Proof' describes a futuristic society established by man-hating feminists and men genetically engineered to be subjugated. The gender reversal is trite and juvenile, all enjoyment smothered by man-hating spite.
Rating:
Summary: The Worst Dara Joy Book Ever
Review: ...This book is the worse Joy has ever produced. The science and social stucture are cumbersome to describe and Joy's description of them lack imagination. She produced a society of women have developed very sexist and elitist atitudes. What a disappointment, I was hoping that the women would be more gentle leaders. Also her terms describing the various titles was confusing. She should have just stuck to the feminine version of a title e.g., "duchess" and labeled the male as "ducal consort" or something simple. She calls Claudine a "she-Count" and refers to another Top Slice member as an "Earlene". To my knowledge, both count and earl are equal titles. Call me a nit-picker but the title usage did bother me somewhat. Hopefully her next book will be an improvement.
Rating: 
Summary: A case of trying to be too much
Review: Ritual of Proof fails a sci-fantasy novel. It does succeed as romance novel.
The characters are not unusual. One could very easily switch the genders and move the location/time to earth in the middle ages and have the same story.
This works on the level of romance, it does brings one blood to a boil. Unfortunately, there is more to science fiction/fantasy world building than a few cute aliens and some fancy plants.
As long as you keep in mind this is a romance novel, firmly planted in that genre, you will enjoy this undoubtedly.
If you are seeking something deeper, or a more meaningful discussion of gender and sex, Kushiel's Dart, Slan, The Black Jewels Trilogy would be far better choices.
Rating:
Summary: New Dara Joy reader
Review: I do not read romance novels very much, but I like my romance with adventure, horror, and with a bit of sf mixed in. This is the first book of Dara's that read and I have to say that I was very impressed by this story. The characters Jorlan, and GreenTamryn were geniune and caring and seemed to me like real people of the future in a new world when men have lost their power and rely on very powerful women to buy and protect and finally find love with each other. Jorlan and Green had this love and respect, and by the end of the story she found herself an equal to herself. The side characters were good to. The only fault I had was trying to get all the words in the glossery down. I'm still trying to understand who exactly where the Kloo and the Klee and what kind of animals they were. This will not be the last of Dara Joy for me.
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