Review – The Silver Chain by Primula Bond

This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.

Reviewed by Kay Brooks

When Serena Folkes makes the decision to end her unsatisfying first relationship at the age of twenty, she is looking for adventure but is determined that it will not involve men. Instead, she heads to London in the hope of launching her photography career. After a lifetime of insecurities bestowed upon her by an abusive set of adoptive parents, Serena feels she has a lot to prove to herself. Her plans are disturbed when the incredibly suave and handsome Gustav Levi appears with a proposition: He will showcase Serena’s photography at his exclusive gallery and in return, she must wear a silver chain, symbolising that she belongs to him. This deal will last until her photos are all sold or Christmas arrives. As her passion for the troubled man increases, Serena realises that she does not want to be released from his control.

My first impression of The Silver Chain was that it was a better written version of Fifty Shades of Grey, which was my first and only experience with erotic fiction. Bond can certainly write. Her descriptions are evocative and create seductive surroundings for the sensual events that occur. The sex scenes are not quite as straightforward and simplistic as the ‘mummy porn’ introduced to us by E L James. Bond manages to create a sense of the tension between Serena’s naivety and her desires. This makes for a more interesting read. However, not being a great fan of erotic fiction and generally finding it quite cringe-worthy, I was more focused on the developing feelings and the revelations from Gustav’s past. Unfortunately, interesting events were few and far between, making this a difficult novel to engage with.

While Bond is talented with words, she tends to draw parts out to the point where I had to force myself to continue reading. I often found my mind wandering to what I needed to buy from the supermarket or other such distractions and then had to re-read parts forcing myself to stay focused. I also found some of the analogies used confusing and wasn’t quite sure exactly what Bond was trying to infer about the characters. Gustav is painfully quiet at times, which does make him seem mysterious to some extent but this became tiresome. Serena, who I struggled to like throughout the novel, responds in some strange ways to events. For example, when she stumbles upon some rather sexy attire that belonged to Gustav’s ex-wife. I have to admit, this part made me giggle at the ridiculousness of the situation.

The twist at the end is slightly intriguing but would not be enough to encourage me to read the second instalment.

4/10

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