When I was young there was a cartoon here in Italy that I liked very much. It was about an ipothetical daughter of Apollo, god of Sun, Pollon, and it was Japanese I believe. It arrived in Italy after passing through the censorship and actually very few of the original cartoon survived; I say so since, from what remained, you could understand that the main idea was that all the Olympic gods were highly sexually driven men and women, who practically have sex with everyone (and sometime everything!) was around. Their actual roles were always forgotten and you had to wonder how the human world could function if its gods were like that!From this childish memory, it remains to me a passion for all the related stories about Gods and similar deity, and I enjoy, here and there, a story that mix ancient legends with modern time (see Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenion).
Venus Envy is something similar to that cartoon, it's setting in Rome instead of Mount Olympus, but basically the gods are the same. Venus in particular, and that is right with her role, thinks to herself like a gift for everyman, and when she is rebuffed by Sancus, god of honesty, she doesn't think twince to curse him with the help of her son Cupid. Now Sancus seems unable to desire, and have sex, with everyone he loves, but has an uncontrollable urge to have sex with evey man he crosses on the street. Being Sancus a good god, with actually a moral, he doesn't find the situation very appealing, even less when he falls in love for Aurelio, a nice man he met one night and is unable to "satisfy" the morning after.
This is only a short novella, so there is nothing much to say. I like one thing in particular, something that is often taught to us in school: in the common imaginary, the Greek gods, and their correspondent Roman version, are always seen as debauched and unstable, always ready to "party" and easy to be enraged, and so also vindictive; the "original" Roman gods instead, always represent something useful and "ordinary", they are more near to the human world than their Greek colleagues, and seems to care more for down to heart things, like jobs and homes and everything related. This is fully respected by this novella, where Venus is a bitch in heat and instead Sancus is more like a library mouse who finds himself in a very embarrassing situation for him.
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/b
The Rainbow Awards: Phase 2: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/82368
This was a strange book for me to read since it was a discovery after other. When I browsed my reading folder to pick up a book, my eyes caught the name of Maia Strong: it was not a new name for me, I read another book, a fantasy gay romance, and I remembered that I liked it, so I picked that one. Usually before starting I go to the publisher website to read the blurb (not reviews, I don't like to be even unwillingly lead on my judge): the blurb serves me to be mentally ready to the story, it's a contemporary, a paranormal, a fantasy, it's a romance, a thriller, it's angst, light... something like that. The blurb in this case was strange, it seemed an ordinary story about a man from a very religious jewish family who has not the courage to come out to them. Nothing strange or odd there. But then there was a word, brothel... I'm not so skilled in the matter to know if "brothels" are legal or not in every country of the world, I know they aren't in Italy, but I think they are in some northern European country, even if maybe they are not called brothel. So first question on my mind: where the book was set? and in which era? Then there was the issue of the law, a changing in love troubled the main character, a clear reference to homosexuality and prejudice... so again, my question was: I was starting a contemporary romance? or an historical? or something other? Knowing, if if slightly the author, I had an advantage point, I knew it was possible that the book was a fantasy. The cover didn't help, it was "neutral", even if, I don't know, that cover makes me thing to a contemporary romance... it's something in the men, the hair cut, even the physique.Anyway, long preface to say that Client Privileges is a fantasy romance; more, it's setting in the same universe of The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing, the previous fantasy romance I read by Maia Strong, and one secondary character, that has only a reference cameo here, is a main character in the other story, and an event that happens here is also a main event in there. The time span of the two story is in parallel, so they are both stand alone, but I think that, if your read the previous one, and you liked it, it will be nice for you to read this one, and viceversa.
There are common elements in the two stories, above all the way the author deals with the fantasy setting. It's actually an "ordinary" way, she seems so familiar with her universe that she feels like unnecessary to spend time in details, the city, the environment in which the characters live, is out there, plain and clear, without forced imaginary. It's a point of strength for me, I actually don't like very much fantasy or futuristic novel since usually I'm bothered by all the heavy set around: more the author build a complicated universe, more he needs to explain it to the readers, and more he risks to overdo. Maia Strong built a fantasy universe that is basically a feudalism society, each municipality is ordered by a town council or by guilds; the overall feeling is of something neat and pleasant to live, even with its trouble. There is poverty, there are difference in social status, there is prejudice.
There is also an hanging feeling, it's very hard for me to explain: it's like the setting is "ancient" but the characters are modern. People move in a town where houses, shops, and vehicle are "old", but they behave and think with a "modern" mind. It's not a criticism, I think it's a very difficult balance to maintain, and not an easy task to write a believable story, something I think the author reached. These words, balance, believable, are the essence of the story, this is not a "rollercoast" type of story, but more a pleasant travel in a coach along the country.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?m
Series:
1) The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/31702
2) Client Privileges
The Rainbow Awards: Phase 2: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/82368
There is a bit of Cinderfella, a bit of The Beauty and the Beast, and yes, also a bit of the Puss in Boots, all mixed together in a resulting tale that is a winning formula. Often I read historical fantasy tale, but most of the time they have not originality, they are only a way to tell a story of man love in frilly garments without the burden to do an historical accurate research. in Year of the Cat, Selah March is not trying to masquerade an historical tale with the fantasy freedom, she wants to tell you a fairy tale, a naughty fairy tale, and she reaches her purpose. Etienne is the third and favorite son of an old merchant. His father always sheltered him from his older brothers and from the outside world. It's not that Etienne is dumb, it's only that he has a gentle soul and a tendency to obey if commanded, and not willingness to rebel. His father knows that, once he dies, Etienne will not survive at his brothers' rage and tells Etienne to run away, in a isolated cottage in the forest. To this exchange there is a witness, a silver cat.
The cat, that Etienne will call Jacques, is a cursed man. More than 50 years before he was cursed by a witch and now he doesn't remember anything of his previous life, he behaves more like a beast than a man, even when he is in his human form. Jacques is damned to be a cat by day and a man by night. And like a cat, he is drawn by pretty things, things with which he wants to play. At first he thinks Etienne being an angel, someone who will surely help him to break the curse. But when he realizes that Etienne is only an innocent boy, he changes his plans: Jacques will play with Etienne, he will use him for his pleasure, always treating him like a precious thing, his precious toy.
And so it's, the relationship between Jacques and Etienne is very strange, their sexual intercourse edges on pain, but then Jacques is always careful to provide Etienne with everything he needs, a shelter, food, books, even music papers. Only that Etienne has to behave, he is Jacques' property, more his slave than his master, even if Jacques tells people that Etienne is a wealthy marquis, and Jacques is his manservant.
It's strange, there is obviously a BDSM tone in the story, but more than a modern thing dipped in a fantasy context, I see Jacques' behavior like something I would expect from a cat, being jealous and protective at the same time of the things he loves. Even the play with knives I found very right, have you ever seen a cat playing with a bird or a mouse he caught? They can be very cruel. So yes, the BDSM tone sounds very good in this fantasy tale, and it didn't ring wrong as other time similar tale did.
And a nice surprise was also Etienne: in many fairy tale, the damsel in distress is not exactly a clever woman... Cinderella, Belle, and other colleagues, if not for the help of some fairy godmother or divine intervention, they were more sacrificial lambs than real heroines. Instead Etienne, even if debauched innocent, has an inner strength that will help him by his own. Etienne is not, and will never be, a leader or a fighter, at least not with his fists, but he is clever, and above all he is in love. But even if in love, he knows where to rely his trust, not on his brothers, or on a wealthy patron... even if in rags and scruffy, his cat / man is the right one. And to add a point to Etienne's cleverness, it didn't take him long to realize that the silver cat Jacques was the same man who appeared to him one night, barely few hours... I do think Belle took longer to find out who the Beast was!
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Ye
Amazon Kindle: Year Of The Cat
The Rainbow Awards: First Week results: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/81134
This is a historical anthology, with a bit of paranormal in one of the tales, and with plenty of different approaches on the same genre, the historical romance. With more or less 25 pages each, all the stories should be considered "shorts", but what struck me (positively) is than no one of them has the feeling to be rushed, all of them are well plotted and the characters have a good development, almost an impossible thing to achieve in a short story, and here we have 4 examples of that.My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn: I was curios to read this short story, I'm used to a "futuristic" Stormy Glenn, with a push on the erotic side, and maybe with a bit of Alpha/omega play. How was it possible to shift all of it back in time, to the late nineteen century in the wild wild West? When Daniel is kidnapped by the notorious outlaw Black Bart, I didn't feel like he was so upset by his captive condition. From the first moment he sees the handsome outlaw, Daniel seems more than eager to play catch and go with the man, and even if he has a meaning behavior, Black Bart actually doesn't do anything to hurt the younger man. My Outlaw is a romp in the desert, with all the element I was used to find in other Glenn's books, and with a final twist that gives thuthfulness to all the tale.
Forbidden by H.C. Brown: set in the 1075, Middle Age and Norman conquest period, this would led the reader to believe that it was a savage romance, with the damsel (in this case male damsel) in distress who will be saved by his knight in shining armor, a big and strong, and maybe stranger man, more used to the battle field than the bedroom... right? Wrong! Our "damsel" in distress is Renoir, the younger son of a Norman baron; even if he looks like the right weak partner in a savage romance, blonde hair, fair skin, Renoir is not exactly an innocent. He is living in sin, and his father is tired of that, more King William himself wants for him to marry an older woman with plenty of lands but no man around. Instead of rebelling to the imposition, like every "damsel" in distress would do, maybe even run away, Renoir accepts to marry the woman and leave with his male lover to live in blissful isolation. And now another side of Renoir comes out: maybe he is so aloof and unromantic, since he has a broken heart? And his lost lover maybe is the knight in shining armor we were all expecting? As I said, this tale has a plot and characters development that is impressive for how short the story is. The overall approach on the story is that of a farce (word used not in a derogative way), it reminds me some old plays with the trick of the exchanged character; the story is more heavy in the plot twists than in the historical accuracy, but I think that was the aim of the author.
Poisoned Heart by Anna O’Neill: here is the slightly paranormal tale. In Edo-period Japan, Raiden is seeking vengeance against is guest-brother, a man his family welcomed and who killed Raiden's parents. Now Raiden has managed to learn the magic to travel back in time, and he wants to kill Masashi before the man could kill his parents. But even before starting his travel, Raiden seems unwell with the idea to kill an unarmed Masashi, it seems like he wants to give a chance to the man. I don't feel so much hate inside Raiden's heart, more betrayal, but not the betrayal of a guest-brother, more that of a lover. And so it's, when Raiden steps back in time, he can see the old Raiden, the fifteen years old who looks upon Masashi with starstrucked eyes. Only that now Raiden can see Masashi also with different eyes, those of an adult and not of a teenager. More Raiden has now the knowledge to understand that maybe Masashi was a victim like him.
Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov: the last tale is setting during the Crusades and William is a medieval knight who wants to do penance for his sins, the sin to have loved a man. In the Templar order William suppressed all his secret desires, not only for men but for anything that is mundane. He thinks to be at peace, to have finally found his path. But William is in denyal, he is not repentant, he is only far from any temptation. As soon as he is faced with it, in the form of Guy, his past lover, all William's hidden desires are freed. I like Guy's approach to the problem: he didn't near William with a broken heart or recriminations, he didn't try to convince William that what he is doing is wrong, he simply states that William was not free to take a decision regarding both of them, he had obligations that prevented him to join the Templar. It's a very logic and effective way to face the problem.
3 out of 4 of these authors were new to me, and so I can't say if this work is better than any other previous work. I don't even know so well their background to understand if they are newbie or not... What I can say is that I think this is a good quality product. BTW, in no one of the short stories is played the card of the "blushing" virgin, so common in so many other historical gay romances... a coincidence or a choice?
https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.a
Setting the rules for the Rainbow Awards, first phase will start soon: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/79926
Damon's is the new series by Sophia Titheniel. In comparison to the previous one, I think this is more light, young and also maybe funny. The main characters are elves, living in a fantasy Los Angeles where human and otherworldly people live together in peace; if you put aside the pointed ears and the long curly hair, Damon and Alyan are as any other everyday gay boy: suffering for an heartbroken while at the same time you are worried that your hair is not stylished enough or that your skin is not perfect.Alyan was dumped by his boyfriend, and he is a month that is moping inside the apartment he is sharing with his sister. Said sister is tired, and probably also a bit disgusted, since Alyan lacks of personal hygiene in that month, and enrolls his brother in a speed dating night. After some remonstrances, Alyan goes to the night club, whose owner, Damon, is Alyan's longtime crush, even before the treacherous ex boyfriend. That night Alyan comes back home with a stranger, after spending all the time trying to catch eyes with Damon, but the one night stand doesn't help him to forget... but who is Alyan trying to forget? the former boyfriend or the never boyfriend, Damon?
As you can see, there is practically no drama in this story, and as I said, the elf nature of the characters is only a nice add, but doesn't influence so much their behavior; plus the author has a romantic insight on the story but with a modern taste: Alyan loves Damon, but when Thomas approaches him in the night club, he doesn't put much resistance. More, he has sex with him more or less since it wouldn't be nice to say no (well, you couldn't say that Alyan is a teaser...). And truth be told, sex with Thomas is good, even if he is not the love of his life.
And Damon? How does he cope with Alyan being a bit of a slut? more or less like it's nothing important, for sure nothing that could compromise any chances they have to be together. The important thing is that Alyan is able to realize that they are fated to be together, no matter how many men he has to bed to arrive to that conclusion.
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.p
Setting the rules for the Rainbow Awards, first phase will start soon: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/79926
I remember that I liked Concubinage, I have always had a penchant for Sheikhs and related story, and the fantasy world of the Courtesans of Tajhaan by L.E. Bryce resembles a bit that genre, but I also remember that Concubinage was a bit sad, not exactly a love story, but more the life of two akhari, Inandre and Hanithi, who probably, outside that situation could have been lovers and instead are best friends, and probably the only steady point in each other life. Inandre loves Hanithi, and the proof is that, when he is in dear need of comfort and the warm of someone who really cares, Hanithi is the only one he wants near him. But for how Inandre was raised, it's impossible for him to love another akharu, so impossible that he even considers it. Hanithi could be only a friend, and he is not the one who could resolve his immediate problem. Inandre was raised to be a lover, a companion, an artist, he doesn't know how to do anything else, and if he is not able to find a patron, he will be not able to survive.
Hanithi introduced Inandre to Shapur, a wealthy merchant, not the lesser nobility Inandre was used to frequent before the scandal that ruined his career, but Shapur is now is last chance. At the beginning of the novella, with the only point of view of Inandre and Hanithi, and the clear affection between them, I saw Shapur as an intruder in the possible love story between the two akhari. Then, when Shapur starts to behave a little better with Inandre, my idea of him changed, but still I was thinking and hoping for an end with Hanithi in some role in Inandre's life. But Shapur is a character who grows stronger with the story, and more I read of him, and more I put Hanithi in a corner; the author was so good to make me completely change my mind in the quite short span time of a novella. More, she was able to make me see Shapur from two different perspective: first the one of the akharu who was searching a new patron, and in a second time with the eyes of the lost boy that was Inandre, a boy who disappeared during his training, but that the bad experience he went through has brought him back.
And I was not expecting to find passion between Inandre and Shapur, I was content enough with the sweet and tender story they had, but I'm very glad that instead the passion was there, and that even if we read only about the sparkle, the reader knows that Inandre has a bright future in front of him, a future where he will be no more alone, and where he will be finally loved, as he has always desired, even if not admitted.
http://www.king-cart.com/Phaze/product=D
Amazon Kindle: Dragonfly
Series: The Courtesans of Tajhaan
1) The Golden Lotus: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/18566
2) Concubinage: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/21522
3) Dragonfly
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
A Rose Among the Ruins is another of those gay historical romance that author and readers have to tag as fantasy to allow the possibility of a man on man love story in medieval time to be possible. But aside the small expedient of the love potion to loosen the reluctance of both men to admit they are in love with another man and the use of an imaginary kingdom, all the novel is a pure medieval romance, there are no more magic, or fantasy creatures or permissive behavior.Rhicer is the Master of Arms for the king of Ageselm. He is also one of the oldest friend of the king and a faithful servant. It's many years that their kingdom is at was with the near kingdom of Mordyn, and finally they have found a truce: Emyl of Ageselm will marry the Mordyn princess and will sign a peace treaty. Rhicer is not so sure to like the idea, he has lost his soon to be bride 20 years ago to the hands of Mordyn warriors, she killed herself after being raped, and Rhicer has no good feelings in his heart for those men. More, the young men of Ageselm had to learn how to fight when they were way too younger, like Kanath, that is now Rhicer's lieutenant.
Rhicer and Kanath are good friends and fellow warriors, but never once it passed in their mind that they can be more. True, Rhicer has listened to some whispered tales of norther barbarians who bond in war with other men, but it's not something he can even consider... and even if he can consider it, what is the mechanism? With a woman he knows, but with a man? Surely it's not possible. But actually those are thoughts that Rhicer starts to have after Kanath stole a bottle of wine from the bride's dowry. Kanath believes it to be a simple bottle, and instead it's a love potion, intended to ease the first night between the king and the princess. When Kanath shares with Rhicer the bottle, everything changes between them.
Where Rhicer has loved a woman before, and knows the feeling, Kanath is still to young. And impulsive. When the love potion starts to work between them, Kanath is both repulsed than attracted by their feelings; but he is also to scared to do something, other than being irrationally jealous when some woman is near Rhicer. It will be Rhicer instead that, with the wise of his older age, will analyze their situation and try to find a suitable solution. And again, when that solution will not work, it will be again him that will find another one painful solution, but the only possible for two men in love in that situation.
Even if it's a fantasy that tends to be more realistic than some historical romance I read, A Rose Among the Ruins manages to still remain a romantic love story. More, it's also a quite naughty love story, once the two men understand how good it can be sex between men. This is only a novella and so the sex scenes weigh a bit on the length of the story, but since they are good, I didn't mind. Actually I think that, with some time more spent after they discover of the love potion they have taken and before they take their final decision, this story could have been without problem a full novel. But even like this, it's for sure above the average of many gay historical romance I read.
http://dreamspinnerpress.3dcartstores.co
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Someone could wonder if Remastering Jerna is a romance, and truth be told the publisher doesn't list it as one. When I started it, even I had my doubts, the story of Jerna seemed without hope, harsh and without pity, and love had a very little role. At least the passionate love, since, on the other hand, Jerna loves very much his family, a wife and two daughters, but I saw little passion in it. So for a good share of the book, I remained with my question: if and when I would have found the "romance" part of the book. The if was a legitimate doubt, because nor the author or the publisher promised it to me. Due to all this, you can imagine how glad I was when I finally found THE love I was searching, but, as you can understand, in the end this is not a romance, but more the life journey of Jerna, who starts as a teacher and ends as the taught. Jerna was a submissive for a Master he respected, but I'm not sure he really loved. Even if the Master, Kimis, fulfilled Jerna's need to be dominated, it didn't satisfy his desire to have a family, to have child, and all the other ordinary things of life. Life with Kimis was mundane and good, but not complete. Jerna left Kimis to marry Tyrme, a good woman who, in all the novel, will always have a positive role; but to me Tyrme seems more a good friend, a loving companion, but not a lover. To Jerna's eyes, Tyrme is a whole with their daughters and family, when Jerna is torn apart from them, never once he says he misses Tyrme as individual, but instead he always mourns for his family. With this, I'm not saying that Jerna doesn't love Tyrme, I'm only saying that, as Kimis didn't fulfil every Jerna's need, so it doesn't Tyrme. In a way, Jerna passed from a Master to another, Tyrme is a very authoritative woman, quite the one who leads the family, but he hasn't still found the right one.
When Jerna is framed with a crime he didn't commit, he is forced to divorce from Tyrme and sent to prison. Jerna is a strong man, even if a submissive, and he faces the trial of prison and all the violence inside (also rape), with a strength that seems impossible. It's not a body strength, more a strong will and maybe also something that he learnt from his training as submissive. From the prison Jerna ends to be an endured servant in a brothel, and this means also being a whore: in his mind Jerna doesn't see it as a betray towards Tyrme, since it's only his body involved, not his mind, and above all not his heart.
All above changes when Jerna meets Ria; at first Ria is an untrained Master, who in his fight to find an outlet to his desire to dominate makes more damage than nothing. Ria is not a bad man, but he is not trained. The first bad experience between Ria and Jerna, I believe, is not all Ria's fault. It's true, he is untrained, but Jerna, from his side, has a bit of an aloof attitude, something he has always had from the first. Nor with Kimis or with Tyrme, whom in a way Jerna considers Master, Jerna has ever let this attitude down; he submits with his body, but deep inside, I think he still believes to be superior to them. Same attitude with Ria, even if maybe in this case he is more right than not. Anyway this leads to Jerna to agree to be Ria's teacher, to teach him how to be a good Master. Jerna starts it thinking to teach something to Ria, but I think that, in the end, also Jerna will learn a lesson, and maybe for the first time, he will find the right Master... one who he himself trained to the role. So yes, if someone was wondering why the "remastering Jerna" of the title, when apparently it was Jerna who was remastering Ria, this is the answer: both Ria than Jerna will learn that it's not enough to know how to do a BDSM scene, to have a real D/s relationship it's needed something more.
http://www.pdpublishing.com/jernaendpage.h
Amazon: Remastering Jerna
Reading List:
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It seems that the story of the Pauper and the Prince is pretty common among whom likes to revisited the gay romance with a fantasy / historical flavor.This is the time of Mark Alders and his definitely fantasy tale. In a medieval fantasy kingdom, there is a sad prince, Wilhelm, who likes men but has to marry a woman to have an heir, and an even sadder pauper, Pavel, a very young man who has to barter his body for a piece of stale bread. Between the two, the one more clever to me it seems Pavel: despite his young age, Pavel knows that he can't be fussy with his partner choices, even if he fancies the handsome prince who looks at him with hungry eyes, the ones who give him food in exchange of sex are the lower class men who do that behind their stores. True, there is not much romance in this part of the story, but it serves the reader to understand Pavel and his disbelief to Wilhelm unselfishness: Pavel can't believe him since in his life no one has never given him something without asking something else in exchange.
This is true for people, but Pavel has a very special friend, a chimera, a mythical being with the body of a dragon and the head of a lion, who has always protected Pavel since the boy was less than 10 years old. But the chimera, Odoacro, can't protect Pavel from the ugly things of the human world, and can't prevent the man to sell his body for food. And so the chimera decides to push Pavel in Wilhelm's arms, hoping for the prince to be kinder than the other men. When Pavel goes to Wilhelm with his usually blunt barter, sex for food, Wilhelm is at first excited by the prospect, but then also horrified: he doesn't want the man like that, in his naivete, Wilhelm still wants Pavel for love not for sex; doesn't matter if the man has sold himself to other men, with Wilhelm will be only love. And so he asks only a kiss in exchange for the food Pavel needs.
The way as Wilhelm behaves, confirms to the chimera that he is the right man for his young friend. In a way the chimera is the fatherly figure both men lacked in their life: Wilhelm's father is not exactly a supporting parent, but truth be told, it's probably the way any normal parent will behave in his same situation. If I'm true, I didn't like so much how he ends up, quite a bloody way, but all the second part of the story took a decisively turns towards fantasy that almost borders on myth and magic. It's strange, despite being very sexy, and the sex quite explicit, let alone the memories of poor Pavel and the way he had to gain his morsel, the story nevertheless maintain a fanciful taste, I don't know, I had the feeling that both Wilhelm than Pavel were more boy at play than real men at work. It was like all the work was done by the others, like the chimera or Catherine, Wilhelm's fiance, and to Pavel and Wilhelm only be left the good share, like they suffered enough before the reader met them, and now it was time for them to be happy.
On the contrary of other similar novels I read lately, The Pauper's Prize is a full fantasy tale, and of the old school. It is not, and it doesn't want to be, historically accurate; this is like one of those classical fairy-tales where you don't question if the dress of the princess is right for her age! For a first book I read by this author, I have to say that it's a nice discovery.
http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/inde
Amazon Kindle: The Pauper's Prize
Reading List:
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Elected by Pepper EspinozaThis is a really short, 35 pages, but really nice story. Sam and Owen know each other. More, they probably spent more than one night together knowing each other better. But Sam and Owen can't be friends.
Sam is a Republican strategist while Owen is a Democratic news producer; and even if it's not clear if Sam really believes in what he promotes, it's more than clear than Owen is a Democratic for passion and not only for convenience. In the only 35 pages we had, it's not said how they met, probably for work related reasons, but Owen knows very well and in a very intimate way Sam, and Sam is more than willing to prolong this acquaintance, if they are discreet. Sam is also willing to make some changes in his life, to find a work that allows him to be near Owen, even to behave as Owen's boyfriend in their private life, if he could maintain his public face. And their attraction is so strong, and truth be told, Sam's behavior when they are alone is really good, that Owen is willing on his side to let go the "little" facts that he absolutely doesn't like Sam's boss, Sam's work, Sam's public face.
The story is a really good example of how you can't choose the person you love. And that it's better to try to fit together you different personality rather than be sturdy and wait for the other to change. Being extremist only led you to be alone in your bed.
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/El
Peanut Butter Kisses by Pepper EspinozaAs the candies in the title, this romance is sweet like sugar.
Peter is a big pastry chef, he is at the top in every competition, but always second. He is again competing at a national level and again he has as an assistant Josh. Josh is a young chef who looks with starry eyes upon Peter: for Josh everything Peter creates is perfect, and when Peter loses, for Josh is almost a personal matter. Obviously Josh is in love with Peter but he has never had the courage to make a move on Peter, both since he doesn't judge himself worthy of the love of wonderguy Peter, and because he really doesn't know if Peter is gay, since the man never express an interest in him, other than for work.
But this time Peter seems a bit more interested in Josh as a man than in Josh as a pastry assistant...
The story is short, less than 40 pages, but really really sweet. I like above all the fact that Peter is really not a special guy, maybe he is even a bit overweight, and he is really a sweet guy; but for the loving eyes of Josh he is wonderful.
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Pe
Amazon Kindle: Peanut Butter Kisses
The Obsolete Man by Pepper EspinozaThis is a really, really, really nice short story... I have said to many really? well sorry but it's what I was continuing to replay in my mind while reading this book.
James is an average man; good looking, nice, beautiful eyes, probably if he was a little more self-conscious he could be the classical successful man, and instead he is quite and maybe even a little shy, he doesn't consider himself worthy of more than he has and he settles down to a life that maybe it's not what he dreamed, but that is good and so why change? There is a part of James' life that remains obscure, and it's how he ended married with a woman when he is clearly attracted by men. Anyway James being a nice man as I said, has never thought to cheat on his wife, even if he has noticed the handsome man on the 7.23 a.m. train he takes every morning to work.
But if drama didn't hit James' life, he would probably have continued with his daily routine till the end of his working life to then settle down again in a retirement routine, letting that handsome man slip in a hidden closet of his mind. But in a blink of a moment, James becomes an obsolete man: at 45 years old he is too old to learn again how to be printing technician in the publishing firm he has worked for 25 years and he is fried; his wife, that probably has never shared passion with him, has not enough patience to support her husband in a life change, and leaves him. Without his daily routine of going to work and coming back home, James is lost, and the only solution he sees is to end his life "using" that daily routing, throwing himself under the 7.23 a.m. train.
In the spur of the moment, and since he has really nothing to loose, James decides to devote his last day to realize his secret fantasy, approaching the man of his dreams, the handsome stranger on that train. He is nicely surprised when Chad not only welcomes the approach but confesses that also him had noticed James before. There is no question on the fact that Chad is gay, maybe since we are at San Francisco, and Chad has "that" attitude, maybe only since he welcomes James' approach in a way a straight man wouldn't do, anyway James chooses the "straight" way (pun intended) and asks Chad to follow him in an hotel and share a morning of sex. And Chad accepts.
Chad's character is not really full developed, at least not as James' one. He is a nice man, he is gentle and caring, and from the things he says, we can understand that he is not selfish; he not only noticed James since he was a nice looking man, but he also noticed when the man stopped to smile, so in a way, he noticed when life started to spiralling down for him. He is not so unselfish to refuse an offer of easy sex from an almost stranger, even if Chad knows that something is not right with the man, but then he is really nice, trying while having sex, to also understand James' reasons and troubles.
I don't believe that James really wanted to commit suicide, he only needed a nice gesture from someone; but if that gesture hasn't come, probably James would have gone on with his intent, the author is really good in mounting the tension till the break point.
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Ob
The Prince Who Never Smiled by Pepper EspinozaLeopold is the prince of a fantasy medieval kingdom. He has never smiled and so people think that he is deformed or maybe cursed. Recently his mother is not well and her only wish is to see her son's smile and so the king, who is deeply in love with his wife, sends out a decree: the first person who will make his son smile will marry him.
After being subjected to all the type of "show" from a string of wanna-to-be princess, Leopold takes a break and goes on an hunting expedition in the country, and here he meets Dexter, a young peasant who is going to court in search of a well-paid job to help his family. Leopold, who actually prefers the company of men, even if, till this moment, neither men were able to make him smile, as soon as he sees Dexter, can't help the smile on his face. Why is not exactly clear, if not a sudden case of love at first sight, since Dexter hasn't done anything of really funny.
This is the classic example of Cinderfella's story, with also a bit of breeches rippers: Leopold is besotted by Dexter, and he claims that he only wants to please him for once, since till this moment people only pleased him. But truth be told, Leopold bends upon a full debauching plan to strip Dexter of his virginity, and there is a bit of droit du seigneur in this story, with Dexter that feels as he can't deny anything to Leopold since he is his prince. But Dexter is not so against the idea, and once Leopold shows him what they can do together, he is more than a willing participant. He almost forgets that he has a family at home waiting for him.The story is a quite enjoyable novella, a funny romp between the sheets with a fairy tale atmosphere (even if nothing of really "strange" or out of ordinary happens), but all in all it's more tender and romantic that real funny, with almost a little core of sadness.
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Pr
Amazon: It's Only Love
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At first, reading the blurb of this story, you can think for it to be a fantasy tale: the king of a small realm who falls in love for a woodsman and makes him his consort... how else it could happen if not in a fantasy tale? But truth be told, if you pass upon this detail (not little, you are right), The King's Tale is all for all an old fashioned historical romance. The time and custom are well described and researched, and even the "trick" they use to be together is historically based: the handfasting ceremony was common among the medieval people in what is now England, two people, usually a man and a woman, forged a pact to be together for an year; if within the year they had a child, the pact would turn in a marriage, if not, they would have the change to come back to their family without any other string to bound them. The handfasting was a regular and recognized ceremony well before the institution of the modern christian marriage and for the hereditary law it was biding as well. But shall we come back to the story. Christopher is the beloved son of a kingdom in the Cornish coast. The time is perhaps the late X century or the beginning of the XI; I don't believe it is after the Norman conquest, since the custom are more similar to the old Saxon legends. But truth be told there is a feudalism structure that resembles very much what was introduced by the Norman; and there is also a reference to a King Henry, who, from an historical point of view, could be linked to King Henry I, the son of William the Conqueror. I believe the author did an hard work to write an historically accurate novel allowing herself only some small freedom to make Christopher and Dafydd a possible match.
At the beginning of the story, Christopher is just became king, after the death of his father. Even if his father knew of his son's preferences for men, he told to his son that he had still to marry, to produce an heir to the kingdom. So Christopher is travelling the kingdom in search of a woman he can love, but obviously the quest is impossible. Christopher can't really love a woman. At the same time, Dafydd, the fourth son of a wealthy welshman, moved to Christopher's kingdom: as fourth in line he has nothing on his own, and his father prompted him to search his own path far from their land (maybe fearing for him to be an obstacle to his other sons). So Dafydd is leading a quite and comfortable life as woodsman, even if he is way more skilled than the task requires. On a snowy night, Christopher searches shelter in Dafydd's cottage and some days after in Dafydd's bed; when he asks to the man what he wants in exchange of his kindness, Dafydd replies that he wants a story of beauty, since he has seen few beauty in his life. And Christopher decides that he will tell to the man a tale of beauty AND love. He makes Dafydd his consort and brings him to live to the castle.
As I said, the chance for it to be real are few, but not impossible. Christopher's choice is not easy and not seen well by all his people. But he is the King, and what he wants he has. This is probably the best part of him and yet also the baddest: Christopher doesn't ask to Dafydd if he wants to be his consort, doesn't give him a choice; he brings the man to the castle and forces him upon his people. In doing so, he also puts the man at great risk, and what will happen it's in part due to his decision. If someone could think that Christopher is selfish and uncaring, I think instead that he is coherent to his character: he is a leader, he was raised to command and to have his wishes satisfied; he can be good and merciful, but only if he wishes, he has not to be. He may asks, but most of the time, he doesn't since he is not used to be refused.
A different man from Dafydd probably will have not bear such a man. But Dafydd is a gentle soul, he has not a selfish bone in him and he deeply loves Christopher. Even before the king's desire for him, he was already in love with him, a love he feeds from afar. He is also a strong man, both in body than in will, and only due to that love he can submit to Christopher's love, that is both love than ownership. Both Christopher than Dafydd know that it was Dafydd's choice to submit, and this is the reason why their relationship could last.
As I said I will tag the story as fantasy only since there are not clear references to a precise time period, but for all the rest, the story is pure historical. Even Christopher's decision to bear a bastard child he can then claim as an heir is the obvious decision that a man in his situation and time would have done. So, even if at first I didn't like the momentary interference of a woman between the two men, it was necessary as the only way to allow them to be together.
The King's Tale surprised me, since I was not expecting for it to be so "real", I opened it ready to read a fantasy tale, and instead I lost myself in an engrossing era, the Middle Ages, that I have always loved. I would also like to highlight the effort of the author to use a language that is right for that era, an expedient that maybe at first could make it difficult for a common reader to start the book, but that in the end, it has a main role in allowing that "lost in the tale" feeling that I mentioned above.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/current
Amazon: The King's Tale
Amazon Kindle: The King's Tale
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The Vampire King's Husband is a stand alone book by Amber Kell, an author that in the past used me to short stories inside a series. Instead I believe this short story was planned as a one shot. It has a fantasy setting, an apparently medieval town: the young hero is searching work as apprentice from a blacksmith, there is a castle overlooking the town, the life inside the castle has a strict order level... all hints that the way of life is somewhat historical. Then, here and there, I found some pieces that goes against this idea, one of the young blood donors of the castle wants to be a musician and he plays a guitar, Bastion, the young hero, studied 20 foreign language and he was taught the bare hand fighting... All right, being this a fantasy tale, they are not point that are so important, it's only to let you have an idea of the feeling of the story.Another thing that makes it a fantasy and not an historical story, is that Vasska, the king, is a centuries old vampire. He is still unmarried and he asks the Goddess to send him a mate, Bastion. As Vasska said to the Goddess, woman or man doesn't matter, and so the homosexual nature of their relationship is not something that arises trouble. It's more a question of vicious relatives that were almost convinced that Vasska would have never been able to find a mate. Beside, Bastion is an impoverished nobleman, he is cultured and pretty, so he is the perfect "bride" for the king. There is some "rebellion" from Bastion's side, who doesn't like to be treated like a pretty boy, but basically it's what he is, and the only thing he has to do his to be pretty and to love Vasska.
The story is not very long, less than 40 pages, and all the dangers Bastion has to face are always resolved quickly and without loss... but, truth be told, in so few pages you can't expect nothing more.
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Walk Among Us by Vivien DeanI appreciated in the past Vivien Dean's originality, when she gave a twist on an unusual vampire romance. Now she creates another terrific (or horrific...) novel about an former priest who sees demons...
Calvin is back on his hometown near Chicago for his father's funeral. But Calvin is not mourning the loss of his father, since the man was an homophobic who kicked him out when he found his son was gay. But Calvin managed to build a good life in New York as an appreciated artist. Actually he doesn't know why he bothers to come back, since no one in the small town seems to understand his detached behavior. And then during the funeral a sniper killed a man and Calvin sees him perfectly. Matthew is a very handsome man with a brooding behavior and tormented eyes. The artist in Calvin is immediately attracted by this perfect image, and the man in Calvin is attracted by the handsome man.
In an usual romance, you would expected that Calvin is horrified by Matthew's action, but like Calvin is detached by his father's death, he seems to be detached by all the little world around the man. Calvin doesn't know the man Matthew killed, and he is more interesting in Matthew, than in the act he did. Probably Calvin closed something in his soul when his father kicked him out, he hid in the safe of his heart all the emotions, and now he has like a shield around him. A shield that protects him from the demons.
The demons prey on the mourning souls, and this is the reason why Matthew was at the funeral of Calvin's father. Matthew is only a man, not an hero. He is not thrilled by the idea to have the skill to see demons, and if possible, he avoids the crowd, so he has less chance to see demons. But here and there, Matthew's conscience nags him and he needs to do something to stop the demons. So he goes to funeral, the likely place to find mourning soul. But this time is not a relative of the dead who is mourning: Calvin doesn't regret his father's death, and so he is not the target for the demon.
The book is not very long, less than 90 pages, but it's very well plotted. It mixes very well the demon's matter with the erotic part, and the two erotic scenes in the book are really good and arousing. Calvin's character is a bit more developed than Matthew, even if probably Matthew is the most intriguing. All in all another very good book by Vivien Dean.
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/romance/w
Amazon Kindle: Walk Among Us: A Calling of Souls story
If All the Sand Were Pearl by Pepper EspinozaFirst of all the setting: I would say a fantasy world... there are not high-tech elements to make it a futurist novel, and the only "modern" intrusion, is the presence of some plastic dildos... in the past there were dildos but they are made of wood, I believe. So yes, I will go for the fantasy.
Anyway, in this fantasy world, same sex marriage is not forbidden, even if it is not common for the simplest reason: wealthy families needs heirs and in a same sex marriage a natural heir is not possible. Jag is the last son of a once wealthy family; since he was born when all his other siblings were just betrothed or married, he was left with a decision: become a scholar or a priest. He set for priest and he was happy with the decision at 12 years old, but later one thing of priesthood left him "unsatisfied": chastity. Anyway he has never had a chance to be sexually active and so he really doesn't know what he is losing. He only knows that he dreams of the hard body of a man rather than that of a woman. So when financial problems push his family to negotiate an arranged marriage also for him, the only choice he is left is the gender of the betrothed... and he chooses a man.
Jag has never seen before his betrothed and he fears the wedding night. He is not sure of what expecting, and since he is rather young, also the physical appearance of the man is a huge problem for him. And then, is he enough attractive for the other man? Jag is lithe and small, he has the body of a scholar and he only knows that his betrothed is a big man used to work outside. The more innocent problems swirl in his mind, the same questions a virgin maid would have in the same situation.
Brace lost the hope to find a suitable partner long ago. He prefers man and no noble family would allow him to marry one of its son. And now he has a last chance. But he doesn't want to marry a man compelled to take a decision he doesn't like. And so he sends to Jag a gift, a very rare pearl, worthy enough to buy back his freedom and allow to him and his family a comfortable future. With that pearl in his possession, if Jag will decide to marry him, he will do that only according to his real desire.
Brace is a good man; he has no problem to find a willing partner for a one night tryst, but he wants a long term relationship. He doesn't want an husband to fill his nights, he wants a man to fill his days. Brace is true and simple like the life he likes: his horses, his travels... More than a lover he needs a companion.
In the end, you would expected for Jag to be the brooding one, the scholar type, and instead Jag unveils to be a young man waiting to be freed, and Brace could be the key to his freedom.
The story is pretty classic, and in this case "classic" is the right term, since this novel has an old fashioned style, but it's also erotic, the sex scenes are good and explicit, but always in line with the mood of the novel, even if that plastic dildos make them a bit kinky.
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/if-a
Amazon Kindle: If All the Sand Were Pearl
No Fear in Love by Jamie CraigThis is the second story I read in the A Calling of Souls anthology by Samhain Publishing, and like the other one is a story about a night which changes forever the life of two men.
Weston and Mark were buddy friends since they were teenagers; from a small English village, they share everything since they both feel stranger among other people. Probably Weston realized before his friend what that strangeness was, he loves his friend Mark, and it's not a friendly love. But Weston probably is more cautious and probably he fears to leave the comfort of his small village life and so he searched shelter in the church and in the chastity: he became an Anglican pastor. He removed passionate love from his life and most of the time he is content with it. Not when he is with Mark.
Mark chose to leave the small village for the big city, for London. He still returns back sometime, mostly to spend time with his best friend Weston. Also Mark is gay, but he has not chosen chastity... instead he tried to search his love in a lot of men, only to realize that he has just found it, and he is Weston. So now Mark is determined to spend a night with Weston, to prove him how it could be between them, and to have at least that night for them.
And so Mark consciously seduces Weston, he destabilizes his friend beliefs, and he puts the seed of doubt in his mind; is the church only a substitute of what Weston really wants? can he risk his comfort life for the uncertainty of a life with Mark?
I like both Weston than Mark, but in both of them I found something to blame: why Weston didn't dare to fight for his love and instead chose the easy way of becoming a priest? if he knew that his friend was gay (and he knew it since he said that Mark went to him the first time he was with a man), why he lied to himself?
On the other hand Mark... perhaps he didn't realize to be in love with Weston before moving to London and realizing that he was searching the man in other partners. I could think so, and thinking in that way, I find him nicer than Weston, since he decides to do something, he decides to risk their friendship in the hope to obtain love.
The story is not very long, 60 pages, and since it's mostly a one night story, there is not much space to develop the characters. They haven't the chance to interact with other people, the issue of Weston being a priest is not so much a problem, if not for him, there is not judgment from outside. There is also no space to develop Mark and Weston's relationship as friends, to let us know how they were as young gay teens in a small village. The story is appealing and I'd like to read something more both before than after the central night.http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/no-f
Amazon Kindle: No Fear in Love: A Calling of Souls story
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Amazon: Calling of Souls
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Cover Art by Anne Cain
Cover Art by Anne Cain
Cover Art by Anne Cain
I remember with pleasure Aneshu, the first book in the adventures of Aneshu, a former sex slave now actor, but always a slave. Aneshu always draws the attention of high class men, but he is more than aware of his status. He is a good actor, but a simple man with simple desires; he has no dreams to better his status and at the end of the first book he was content with his lover Elami, another former sex slaves turned actor. On the contrary of Aneshu, Elami is a witty and sparkling man, always searching to be at the center of attention; but despite is coquettish behavior, Elami really loves Aneshu. And so it's with regret that Aneshu accepts to be sent in a far kingdom, to spy on the guardian of the future bride of his king. He is said to be a spy, but he is not prepared to the man he has to spy. Handsome and young, Amiru both temps and repels Aneshu. It's not even a question of being faithful to Elami, I think Aneshu is well aware that is lover probably is not a man to be faithful himself, it's more a question to fear the unknown. Even if a former sex slave, Aneshu is quite "ordinary" in his desires, and he doesn't wish to change it.
The setting is again a fantasy kingdom with an arabian feeling. Aneshu and Elami's love story opens and closes the novella, and in the end, the author makes a detour on her usual way to write sex, sensual but not explicit, to add a bit of spiciness and naughtiness, but even then, she always remains classy.
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Amazon Kindle: Aneshu's Folly
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This is only a short story, a sexy romp in fancy dress, or better naked, since the two main heroes are mostly in bed than not. Warin is a sorcerer but this time not even his magical power can help him, his sister was kidnapped and he has to pay the ransom. Being a poor sorcerer, a mix between a bandit and a rogue, the only solution he finds is to himself kidnap another person, and the chosen prey is a sad prince. Benedict is the beloved bastard son of a king, but he is not happy; his father doesn't take him in captivity, but he is so worried about the danger around his son, that it almost the same. Benedict has no chance to be what he really wants to be and to love who he wants, another man. Warin met him an year before, he stole an intimate encounter with the prince in a dark corner of the palace and then, like a good rogue, he flies away, leaving the sad prince even sadder than before.
Now that Warin has Benedict all for himself for a few day, there no idea in Warin's mind to behave like a honored man, he has every intention to debauch once for all the prince... only that the prince is not at all against the idea. Moreover, he is a willing participant in his debauching.
The real plot of the story, the kidnapping of Warin's sister and the one of Benedict is soon forgotten in favor of the romp between the sheets of the two men. Actually sometime it seems that the real reason for Warin to kidnap Benedict is not a ransom, or at least not a ransom in gold... the treasure that Warin wants, and that he steals is of a more physical nature, and Benedict has no regret in giving it away: Benedict is like the princess in the tower who, instead of repel the dangerous man, throws down a rope from the window for the dashing and dangerous rogue to have an easiest access to his room.
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/So
Amazon Kindle: Sorcerer's Lover
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The novella travels in two different parallel universe: a fantasy China of 400 B.C. and modern San Francisco.In the first universe Zhong Shi is a young shapeshifter dragon who is in love with Chen Jing. Chen Jing is much older than Zhong Shi and he assumes a bit the role of master in their relationship, in all the meanings of the term. He teaches Zhong Shi how to behave among human, and also how to master his powers. Then, during a mission, Chen Jing is cursed, and he becomes a totally burden for Zhong Shi. The young dragon doesn't reject his new role as caretaker, but probably it's too much for him.
In modern San Francisco Sebastian is a young College student who is in a fated relationship with Luke. The sex is good, but truth be told there is not much more between them. Then Sebastian meets David, a way older IT consultant; David is past forty, almost fifty years old but he came out only two years before. In the blink of a moment, he saw his entire world crash down, his ex wife took all his money and his lover dumped him just before he moved to San Francisco. Even if older, David is like a newborn baby who trusts Sebastian as a friend. And when things between Sebastian and Luke get worst, maybe also as something more.
It's nice to try to relate the fantasy dragon pair with the modern men: who is who? it's not clear since the power games inside the couple change a lot. The dragon pair started as master and ward, to then changing in burden and caretaker. The modern couple started as young student and experienced mam, to moving toward lovers and in a way shortening the age difference.
I have to admit that I prefer the shapeshifter dragon pair, they are more sexy than the modern one. Today Sebastian is an interesting character, but David seems to me a bit too weak; maybe, knowing the end, it's not a wrong side of him, but still, I really had the idea that Sebastian was way more smart and interesting than David. For how he behaves, I also think that David's character was too old: all right, he has to be a man who came late to realize who he really was, but maybe a thirtyish man would have been more up to the character than a fortyish. Anyway this is only a novella, and it's to praise how the author manages to bring on the roles play not letting the reader being sure of who is who almost till the end. Nice supporting character role for Hector, Sebastian's cat, who has a scene all of his own and a really interesting personality.
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This is a funny little romp, less than 20 pages and all a show of the skill of the author in puns intended. The Old Santa Claus is passed away, bless him, and a new Santa Claus is needed; since the time has changed and the grandpa look is no more fashion, the Committee chooses a 23 years old hunk who likes to be called Kid Christmas... he loves all the Old Western things, and he has a very interesting six "shooter"...But there is also a villain that doesn't like Christmas, Snow Globes (and yes he has very big globes) and kidnaps the Kid. Only that, even if full of initiatives, our Kid is easily distracted by big... globes, and so he has no easy way with Snow Globes and his army of icy willie...
All right, how can I be serious in a tale like that? You can only read and enjoy and play with the author with the all too obvious puns and dreaming that, if wars would be fight in that way, it would be a more interesting world!
I like Eric Arvin's work; he is desecrating and funny, sometime also creepy (but not in this tale); I believe that he loves the old classic (movie and similar) and he enjoys to give them a new "twist".
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/advent.h
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Cover Art by AbsolutBlue
Main Bookshelf: Suspenseful fantasy, historical fantasy, friendship fiction, heterosexual love stories, original gen and original het hurt/comfort and darkfic, fiction recommendations, and nonfiction. Content:
The Three Lands: He vowed himself to his god. Now the god is growing impatient... The Three Lands, a fantasy series on friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace.
Darkling Plain: Separated in time and place, a young woman and two young men are united in their goal: to protect those they care for from the destruction of battle. The odds are against them. Darkling Plain, fantasy tales about young people in times of conflict.
High Bookshelf: Suspenseful fantasy, historical fantasy, contemporary fiction, friendship fiction, original slash hurt/comfort and darkfic, gay fiction, gay erotic love stories, gay erotica, leather fiction, fiction recommendations, and nonfiction. Content:
Ethernal Dungeon: In a cool, dark cavern, guarded by men and by oaths, lies a dungeon in which prisoners fearfully await the inevitable. The inevitable will be replaced by the unexpected. The Eternal Dungeon, a historical fantasy series set in a land where the psychologists wield whips.
Life Prison: They are imprisoned until death, and their lives cannot get worse . . . or so they think. But when an unlikely alliance forms against their captors, the reformers risk losing what little comforts they possess. Life Prison, a historical fantasy series about male desire and determination in Victorian prisons.
My Review of Mercy's Prisoner 1: Life Prison: Life Prison is a tale on the Mercy's Prisoner series; it's setting in a fantasy world which resembles the Victorian period. In this world, life in prison is regulated as in the Dante's Inferno, every circles (prison's level) hides an atrocity for the prisoners who deserve to be there. Mind this last point: the prisoners are not innocents hold in captivity for some unbelievable injustice, they are guilty and sometime of an atrocity maybe even worst of what they now suffer in prison.
Merrick is a murder of the worst type: he consciously killed his three years old niece. He didn't act on the spur of the moment, he planned the kill; and now he replies it in his memory as the best moment of his life. In prison Merrick is not thinking at freedom, he is thinking at death; he wants to die but the only rule the guards have is to not kill the prisoners, or to not help them to kill themself. Other than, guards can do whatever they want, and they have no problem at follow this rule. Prisoners are no more than free whores for the guard who have them in hold.
To Merrick is assigned a new guard, Thomas. Thomas is young and idealist and the truly thinks that life in prison, even if a forever captivity, could be dignified for the prisoners. The initial incredulity of Merrick turns at first in opportunity: maybe Merrick can manipulate this man, maybe he can reach his purpose. But Thomas, for how young he is, it's not so naivee as he seems. Merrick will learn that a firm hold can be more tight than a strong one.
It's not a romance what happens between Merrick and Thomas, but it's a relationship. They build something together, even if it's not love. Reading the play of minds is almost as good as reading the sexual interaction between the two.
Life Prison is the tale of what the title tells right: the life in prison; it's not a journey toward freedom, or better it's not a journey toward the freedom outside the prison, but it's the journey of a man who learns to "live" in prison. Till he meets Thomas, Merrick is not living, he is waiting to die. Merrick is not a man who can live outside: he finds in prison, and in the confinement of prison, a suitable environment for him; outside he would be a criminal, a reject of the society; inside he is a man.
Michael's House: In a world where temples are dying and sacred theaters have been replaced by brothels, what will happen when a hard-headed businessman joins forces with an idealist? Michael's House, a historical fantasy series set in an Edwardian slum.
My Review of Michael's House: First of all I would like to re-post what the same author wrote to introduce the story: Whipster deals with the ethical issues surrounding youth prostitution in a fantasy setting based on Edwardian times. The novel has no onscreen sex and little onscreen violence. The primary focus of the story is on the interactions between the adult characters.
I wanted to repost the same words, since, even if in a fantasy setting, the author chose to not use the easy way to have only boys "of legal age" to act as "whores". In his fantasy world, a boy in age to be an apprentice could be "sold" by his parents to a whorehouse; sex between adult paying customers and underage boys (between 11 and 21 years old) is not only allowed, but in some case also promoting by the government. Said boys, obviously, should immediately interrupt their profession once they reach the 21 years age, and find another job... that it's quite impossible since they are shunned by society and most of the time they end to beggar or worst.
Michael was one of those boys; having him a strong will he survived through his teen years, with the help of two other boys: the fellow whore Hasan, a boy two years younger than him, and the good boy Janus, the son of an important family who decided to go against his same family to befriend a whore. And when Michael is forced to "retire" to the "old" age of 21 years old, Janus and Michael open their business, a whorehouse. It could sound strange that Janus, a man who only has in mind the good of the boys, accepts to be the one who whores them, but probably he accept the lesser evil: giving them an healthy house, the chance to study and the possibility to save some money during their apprentice, could allow them to not end on the street when they are of age. These are Janus' reason. And Michael? he claims to not having heart, but in all the book, I never see him mistreat a boy, but truth be told, I didn't find a reason for him to open a whorehouse if not that it's the only thing that he knew; and maybe also since in this way he has a reason to bind Janus to him.
Between Janus and Michael there is not a classical love story, but it's not only a friendship. Michael says that Janus is his conscience, and maybe, if Janus asked, he would allow the man to being intimate with him, but they have not that type of relationship. Michael is not able to "physically" love, for him sex is not love, and so he can't associate it with Janus. And then there is Hasan: Michael loves also Hasan, and so neither with him he can have a physical relationship. In a way Michael needs both men: Hasan represents his past and Janus his future, and so he needs both of them in his life, but no one of them can't be "touched" and "defiled" by sex.
On the other two characters, I believe that Hasan, if asked in the right way, would allow his relationship with Michael to enter a new personal level, and instead I don't understand Janus. I really believe that he loves Michael, but probably Janus can't see possible a physical relationship with a man: Janus is like some of those men who see love as a pure relationship, and so something beyond the sex gender; he loves Michael, and he can understand that Michael has "needs" and so, probably, he accepts Hasan by his side, above all since Hasan himself said to Janus that Michael is a better man for having near him a friend like Janus. So Janus knows that, in Michael's heart, he is on a upper level than Hasan, and this is the only important thing for him.
In a way Janus is too perfect for me to fully like him, I always prefer more faulty characters like Michael and Hasan; for Janus is simple to be perfect, since he is born perfect; for Michael and Hasan was an hard way, and so, even if they are not fully perfect, I like them better.
Prison City: What will happen when a youth from a bay island boarding school ends up in a futuristic prison? Prison City, a retrofuture series based on the Chesapeake Bay oyster wars, homoeroticism in British public schools in the 1910s, and 1960s visions of things to come.
Master/Other: Masters come in many forms. Some don't even know they're masters. Master/Other, gay fantasy and science fiction about prisoners, slaves, liegemen, and love.
Loren's Lashes: Leather is a world of rich pleasure palaces and endless sensual delights, where dreams can be pursued without limit, provided that a man has the strength to stand the test. . . . But in the rural town of Mayhill, population 32,000, leather life is a little different. Loren's Lashes, a retro series about a Midwestern community of closeted leathermen.
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This is a short story but it is very well built and plotted, so much that it gives you the idea to be longer. At the beginning of the book a wealthy man, Tamasin, presents himself and his bed slaves to the readers. Tamasin is a merchant of some sort, probably no more in the primis of his adult age, he has a wife and three sons, so he has fulfilled his "social" duties and now he can enjoy some privileges of his own; every years he spent the hot months in his villa with some servants and above all with his three bed slaves, Urrit, Elagan and Semoy. The three men, young and handsome, are different in looks, behavior and also origins.Elagan was the oldest of the three and he was still there when Tamasin bought the house; he is a strong man, with a strong will, but he is "used" to be a slave; he questions his master, but more as a play than a real need to contrast him. Urrit was raised in his homeland to be a sex slaves, and always for him is centered around his "skills"; he has never considered any other life for him and so he is almost detached about it, freedom is not something he missed since he has never had it. And then Semoy; Semoy was not taught in the art to be a sex slaves, and he had very bad experience with men in the past; he arrived in Tamasin's possession not to be a bed slave, but Tamasin was fascinated by this young and shy man; probably he didn't do him a favor to choose him for that role, probably Semoy would have preferred to work with his hands doing an hard work, rather than being pampered and waiting for the nights when the Master chooses to make him wear the Red Sash, the sign that he is the chosen for the day. Of the three Semoy is the one that probably, even if unwilling, gives to Tamasin the most sincere response during their encounters, and it's clear that Tamasin favors him among the other. But Tamasin has duties, his family and his business, he can't neglect and at the end of the summer he has to come back to them.
I like as the author describes Tamasin, he comes out like almost a pater familias, a man who cares for his bed slaves like a man would care for a most cherished property, but he is not selfish or indifferent; it was not an easy task, since Tamasin's character was not an easy one. Tamasin has not regrets for what he is doing, there is not concept of sin or unright behavior; having homosexual relationship or possessing slaves is an ordinary thing, and so Tamasin doesn't question it in his mind; but Tamasin wonders if his slaves are happy, if he is not imposing them something they don't like: this is the good side of Tamasin, since, as before, it's not his due to wonder it, a slave is a property and as a property someone could believe he has not feeling. Urrit, for example, is a bit like that, he was stripped of his personal conception of pleasure, sex is not more something that has to bring pleasure to him, but only to his Master; probably now Urrit finds "his" pleasure in something else, but no more in sex.
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This is not absolutely a "light" tale, and the cover unfortunately didn't do it justice. Dark Waters is a tale which has its roots in the old Scottish legends, and it's setting in a time when people still believed in those legends. The Eldren, fey people or similar, were mythical creatures, sometime in human form, sometime in animal form, and sometime in between. From a period during while they probably commanded on the world, now their mixed blood sons are among the ordinary people, even if they don't lead a "normal" life: they are travellers, leaders or monks, always a step above the common mob.
Flein is one of them and he chose to be a traveller. He wanders all over the world, being immortal, or at least with a life span much greater than a full human. Now he is travelling in the Highland, and he is warned against a waterhorse (a shapeshifter horse who lives along the loch) who preys on human. But Flein is not scared, maybe he is also a bit fascinated; and when he meets the creature, first as a beautiful stallion and then as an even more beautiful naked man, he manages to tame it (or at least he thinks so). He named it Donnchadh, and probably he would be content like that, having seen and met a wonderful creature, but someone else in the Glen is accusing Donnchadh to be a murderer and a rapist, preying on the woman of the clan MacAllister.
Now Donnchadh is not a saint, and indeed he preys on human, but he is an honest beast, as said one member of the clan; he only kills if attacked or for food, and he absolutely doesn't rape his "preys". Donnchadh is not "happy" that someone else is hunting on his ground and threating his "people": in his mind, the Loch and the Glen are his ground, given to him centuries ago by his father, and he has to protect them, but more like a shepherd with his sheep than a pater familias. And so with the help of Flein he is on the trail of the real murderer.
It's not an easy tale, but probably it respects the myths and legends. Donnchadh is not a "shapeshifter" for romance novel, he is scaring and dangerous and he probably accepts Flein's friendship (and something more), only since the man is not enterily human... he is more like him than he wants to admit.
Flein on the other hand treat Donnchadh as a fascinating creature. For most of the book, Flein thinks to him like an "it", not a human. He is honest enough to admit that he is interested in him also in a very personal way, but at the beginning I read that interest like the one you could have for an exotic creature, that you don't consider entirely civilized... more or less the same interest an explorer could have for a native who he doesn't consider at his level. But then Flein realizes that Donnchadh has his own behavioural code, that he knows what is right and wrong, only that sometime what is right for him, it's wrong for someone else. Do you know that conquerors used to say that the natives were not human being but more animal since they didn't know how to distinct between Good and Evil? Problem is that they had as parameter their own Good and Evil...
Anyway this is only a novella, but it's a very good one; so close your eyes and try to not look at the cover when you will click on the buy button! Oh, one last thing, for an Ellora's Cave novel, there is not so much sex as you would expect, and sometime this is not a fault ;-)
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The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing is a fantasy, since it's setting in a fantasy world and the main characters behave as medieval men never would, but for all other details it's a medieval historical, setting in a rather interesting growing town where bartering is an art and human skills the most valuable goods.Jimothy Redwing is a wandering minstrel, he walks from town to town gaining his foods with music and songs and delivering letters, both written than spoken. It's quite an idea this one of a minstrel that, other than memorizing songs, memorizes also the letters of who is unable to write... there is some historical expert among my friends who can tell me if this is a fictional detail or is actually a true thing? I have never found it in any other historical romance I read, but it seems to me quite a good idea and it sounds so real.
Anyway Jimothy is travelling from one city to another to bring some important letters, one in particular to the lanmere of the city (something similar to a mistress of the land). During the journey he meets Ricky, a man who, on the contrary of him, travels by horse and who is so kind to offer him a pass. And since Ricky is rather comfortable around the land, they manage to spend the night in a waycabin, one of a series of cabins that the late landmere built all around the country to host wandering travellers (another quite good idea...).
Alone in the cabin Jimothy finds that Ricky and him have something in common, they both prefer the company of men, and they spend a lovely night together; Ricky actually is a very friendly and sexy man, with an easy smile and an easy "behaviour"... I don't want to say that he is a bit of a "butterfly", but yes, he is not shy in matter of sex; our poor minstrel could do very little to go away with his intact virtue, if he even wanted it.
But when the day after they arrive to the city, Jimothy finds that Ricky is not exactly who he told him to be, and an unknown enemy is not so glad to see Ricky gangs up with a common and simple wandering minstrel. Ricky discovers also that he is unable to move on Jimothy like he had with his other passing flings, Jimothy becomes more and more important every day they spend together. But Jimothy is a wandering minstrel, and what would happen to the wandering part of his work if he chooses to stop and love a man?
The suspence part of the story, the unknown enemy, is not very mysterious, and for me it's not the main interest of the story. I like a lot the fiction world the author created, with all the details and the supporting characters. It's a joy to read every single aspect, carefully carved till the single shop sign on the street. Also the two characters are nice, probably I prefer Ricky, I always prefer the bratty ones.
The story is long but not boring. The love is sexy and joyful, there is a lot of sex but it's not too much, probably since the book is long and so it seems not like the two are only and ever in bed. Also the ending is of the right mood of all the story, not quite so granted as you can expected. This is for me a very good start for an author who tried her hands on a new genre.
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This novel is an old fashioned fantasy novel; actually if not for the fact that is setting in a fantasy world and that the names are not real, and the events are imaginary, it could well be an historical novel, there aren't real "fantasy" event if not for the fact that some of the characters in the story have the "sight", the ability to see the illness inside other people or to foresee the events of the following days (but not too far from that).The story is very long, and at the beginning it runs separately for the two main characters: Yveni is the heir of the duchy of Sardelsa, but when his father dies, he is too young to take the throne, and the regent decides to get rid of him; before the plan takes out, Yveni runs away, disguising himself as the poor son of a trader. At the same time, in a near kingdom, Paole is assisting his dying master; Paole is a slave and before arriving under the protection of his Master, he has seen many owners, and not all of them were good. Paole has developed an hard shell around him, and not even the gentle behavior of his last Master helped him to trust again. Even the fact to discover that his Master has freed him and made him his heir is for him another proof that he was only a slave, since his Master didn't trust him to be enough faithful to remain with him as a free man.
Spending his first year alone allows Paole to understand the need of company that his Master had, and Paole, that was taught as an healer decides to take an apprentice; and instead he finds himself with a slave. In his flight from the man who wants him dead, Yveni was kidnapped and sold as a slave. Even if he is almost 18 years old, Yveni seems younger and when Paole buys him, he thinks to have a little brat in his hands, not a young duke. Paole is not a noble man, but he has his principles; he likes men, and I have the impression that he like very young men, but he accepts their attentions only when they are given freely: being Paole an handsome man, and having very useful knowledge, when he is travelling from town to town, he is not against the idea to accept a different sort of payment for his services from the young men he meets.
Yveni doesn't know what to think of Paole; at first he sees him like a profiter, but more time he spends with him, more he is attracted by the older man. Yveni is very young, and he is very innocent, he was never awaken to sexual desires before; maybe he is attracted by Paole only due to the fact that Paole is there when Yveni starts to wonder about his sexuality, or maybe Yveni starts to feel something since Paole is the right object of his desires, and he has never before met someone else he was attracted to. Anyway there is a bit of sex in the story, but not so much, it's more a question of feelings and how to deal with them. The problem is not much that Yveni is attracted by Paole (it's not exactly explained, but I believe that in this fantasy world homosexuality is not common but not illegal), but more that Yveni is a Duke and he needs to marry to have an heir. And maybe another problem is that Paole, in their relationship, is the top dog, and being only a "consort" to Yveni is not enough for him: Paole is tired to be a "slave", he finally has the freedom he always wished, and now it's not simple to loose it to be again the "property" of someone else, if if this time it's a love bond.
I like how both characters change during the story, at first both of them are quite the imperfect heroes, one, Yveni, a spoiled brat, the other, Paole, a man who seems unable to have real feelings. The story is very long, also in a time space parameter, it lasts two years in the life of the characters, and so it's only right that they change during it. For Yveni it's also a natural change, he passes from being a teenager to being a man, and instead for Paole it's more a thing to understand what is really important in life.
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This is the first novel I read by Nica Berry (I read only a short story before), even if I heard good things about the previous two books (that I have and probably will read). One of the things that prevented me to read her before, was that I have always had the idea that her stories have an high level of angst, that angst that leave you with the feeling that it will not an easy life for your heroes. I'm happy to say that, in the end, Northern Love is more romantic than expected and so for me was easier, even if one thing is confirmed, the women in her books are not exactly "nice" characters (at least in this book Atka gives to my gender some hope).There are quite few things that were challenging for me: the fantasy setting (a genre I'm not really fond of), the menages a trois (but truth be told is an all male menages, so not many problem here) and the non consensual sex (rape is till something that I hardly find erotic). But the author dribbles among all this issues in a way that makes me overcome all my preconceptions. Emmanuel and Jerek are two orphan boys in a fantasy kingdom who find in each other a reason to live; Emmanuel is the body, the force for both of them, and Jerek is the mind, the cleverness that serve to both of them to survive. Jerek has a dream, to find a mythical citadel in the north, a place where they will be never starving or in danger, and to find that citadel they both embark in a privateer ship. Obviously two young boys in the hands of unscrupulous men have no easy life on board, and Emmanuel, with his beautiful body, but maybe with a not so clever mind, is the first to fall prey of the captain. He is convinced that he is doing what he is doing to not harm Jerek, that if he takes all the "punishment" upon himself, he will save Jerek from the same destiny.
Emmanuel is young, and even if he experimented with Jerek, he is also innocent, and along the way the torture becomes almost a pleasure, and this, instead of soothe him, makes him even more guilty at his eyes. If he was not enjoying the torture, he was not betraying Jerek, but if he finds pleasure in the torture, then he is a traitor. And so when Jerek speaks aloud the words, calling him a traitor, Emmanuel is unable to defend himself, and Jerek goes away believing Emmanuel guilty.
Jerek finds solace in the arms of another man, the shapeshifter seal Piaktok, and he also fulfills his dream to find the citadel, but without Emmanuel his joy is not complete. He says to himself that he is searching vengeance, but instead he is missing a part of his heart, only that, when he finds again that missing piece, his heart is shielded in ice, and he is blind to love, as his past lover is became blind for real. There is a strange parallelism in the story, both Jerek's lovers have a physical disability, Piaktok is mute and Emmanuel is blind, and in a way they represent the inability of Jerek to see the true and to speak his true feelings; on the other hand, Piaktok and Emmanuel, even if mute and blind, are able to understand each other and to recognize the love around them.
There is a bit of squirming feelings in the story, when the author ventures to describe Piaktok's physical attribute in shifted form, but she never goes farther on, there is no sex in shifted form, and instead she always dissolves that feelings adding a bit of humor, Piaktok is quite a "funny" lover, always with a smile on his face. And maybe also for this reason, when the nastiness falls upon Piaktok it's even more sad, since of all the characters, Piaktok is the more innocent soul.
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Before saying anything on this novella, I would like to anticipate that I made a search online with the name of the author, and the only other result I found, other than this book, is a short story in another Torquere Books anthology, so I'm quite sure that Glyn Soitiño is a new author, and so some uncertainty I found are probably to add to this. Said that, I would also like to add that the novella was nice and maybe with the expert hand of a proved writer it could have been more than that: the main story is not so original, the genie who falls in love for his temporary master, but the characters, especially the genie, are what made the story interesting.Zahir was a magician in an old arabian country. He fell in love for a prince of a near kingdom but their love was doomed and as "punishment", Zahir was imprisoned in a blue bottle, forced to grant the usual three wishes to the man who temporarily frees him, to then come back in the bottle waiting for the next master. This time his master is Aidan, a man who is still mourning the death of his first and only love Richie. Since Zahir can't bring back to life who is already dead, Aidan is not interested in anything else; Aidan is drowning in his sorrow, as often in this case, Aidan doesn't want to stop the pain since it's the only thing he has that links him to his lost lover. For the same reason, Aidan "wears" the scar he has due to the accident in which his lover was killed, as a reminder of what happened and who he lost.
Since here the story is not different from other I read, but at this point it takes an original turn: Zahir is not an "ethereal" creature; everytime I read of a genie in the bottle, I always wonder what is his life inside that bottle? The author gives as an answer, Zahir spends his time watching television and having naughty thoughts on Aidan! At some point, the author also tells us how Zahir takes care of his personal hygiene, and even how he can "entertain" himself when there is not a willing human to do so... all of that allows us to see Zahir more as a human, than a fantsy creature. Anyway Zahir is also "different" from our classical genie, since he is not at all a strong and invincible man; on the contrary, Zahir is more the pretty boy type, who is willing to let the command in the hand of his partner. In his only other relationship, with his doomed lover, Zahir was the older partner, and his partner gave me the impression to be a bit spoiled, and so he preferred to be the cherished one, and Zahir accepted that role, even if it was not his favorite. But with Aidan he can be as twink as he wants. Problem is that Aidan is not exactly the dominant partner, he is more for an equality in life and bed; also with his lost lover, Aidan was at the same level, in age, in work and in life. Here maybe there is a lost chance for the author, to push on the funny side of the story.
When at first I said that the story could have been better, I said that since I have the idea that the story lies in the middle: it's not a full angst story, Aidan's sorrow is not pushed till the edge, and it's not a full funny romp, the twinkiness of Zahir is not fully developed. From my side I would have been inclined for the funny romp, there are some sparks in Zahir that would have made it real nice. Anyway, for a novella and a new author, the story is nice and easy to read.
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Dragon's Egg: Jack, a welsh orphan that made fortune in America, since his late teen years is haunted by strange dreams about a dragon friend who, in the end, becomes his lover. He thinks to be crazy and instead he doesn't know that his lover is real and he is dying to be so far away from his mate. Jack has to learn his real origin and claims his dragon's lover, Aneurin.
Dragon's Stone: After claiming his lover, Jack has to learn how to live in his new world with his dragon's lover and with all a new family around him. He also has to go to school, a school for magic and he will find new friends, first of all Remo, a real elf. But Jack's fate is more huge of what expected...
Dragon's Quest: Remo is happy with his new friends, Jack and Aneurin, but a lover from his past is near: Quenton. Both Remo and Quenton are spies, on opposite front, but love is a powerful weapon and can bond or divide forever...
The Dragon's Egg series is real fun. Jack is like "an American on the King Arthur's court": he lives in a world and era different from his own but he deals with the matter with good humor and positive attitude. And he is like a teenager with his first love when he is near Aneurin, his bond lover. Jack is not a macho man and so is not Aneurin. They are like two children who play to be adult: and like children, even the battles are game field.
If you want to spend some time without thinking, Dragon's Egg is what you can read and enjoy.
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Master Nerrin is a powerful mage; one year before he turned a man into a dog after the man killed his dog: young Kail agreed to replace the pet for one year. Now the year is over and Master Nerrin, faithful to his word, turns again Kail into a man... problem is that Kail doesn't want to be a man again since in his mind he is convinced that he will loose Master Nerrin's love. And so he resists to the changing, saving two distinct feature of his canine form, his ears and tail. Plus in his mind the pet is still stronger than the man, and he thinks more as a devoted dog than a young man.This is all in all a western yaoi novella. Kail is the classical uke, all blushing and tears, all cuddle and petting. Master Nerrin is the classical caretaker Seme, the one that gently accompanies his pet to discover all the sexual potential he has in him, even when the innocent uke doesn't know what he really wants. Master Nerrin is gentle but firm, once he accepts Kail's plea to be still his pet, he will never allow to Kail to take back his decision.
At first Kail searches Master Nerrin's attentions since he wants back the feeling of love he had from Master Nerrin when he was a pet, but don't worry, there is no reference to "sexual" relationship when Kail was a dog: what Kail feels now is totally new for him, like Kail was a virgin at his first sexual experience. This is something that is not exactly clear: I don't know if Kail was so innocent even before he was turned in a pet, or if his actual behaviour is still a consequence of his unwillingness to be again a man: I believe the reason is this last one, since Kail behaves very much like someone who is facing for the first time a set of all new "human" emotions.
Anyway, if you like yaoi, and you like a nice and enjoyable long sex scene, The Pet Promise is a nice book; but mind you, if you don't like or know the Seme and uke's interactions, you probably will not understand this one, and Kail will result a very improbable character.
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This is a nice and creepy short story. Scott is a college student and the only gay guy on the dorm; he has a little crush on one of his fellow students, but probably he is too shy to say or do something, and so he is prepared to go through college in completely loneliness. Then his uncle sends him a calendar as birthday present, and Scott eye-dreams on one of the guys in it, Mr. October. Problem is that his daydreamings become even too real when at night Mr. October comes to visit him. But Scott's roommate, an homophobic jock, is not so happy for Scott.This is really only 16 pages so I can't say much without giving out the story. So let me only say that the story is nice and Scott's character is young and cute, but not a "nerd", he is probably only shy. And his crush on Andre could be something real if he only found the courage to make a move: Andre has not many chances to speak, but from some little details, I think he could be talk in try something with Scott, he is not totally against the idea, even if, I think, he can't be Scott's real love; he can be a nice college intercourse.
I like the twist of the story, both in Scott's relationship with his roommate (Scott decides to not be always the subject of his roommate's nastiness) and with Andre (at least they start to talk...); it could be interested to know what will happen between Andre and Scott.
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Reading this book I realized that I don't know much about angels and demons, and about the Creation and the Fall of Lucifer. These are five stories about love between angels and demons, and about the power of clean all the mistakes that sometime love has.Hunter and the Prey: Lev is an Angel. He trains the young Angel to be warriors and to destroy the evil creatures that roam the human world. But he can't destroy one of these creatures, the demon Alael, cause he loves him. And when Alael decides that it's time for them to be together, no one can deny them.
Angels of Blood: Irael is a fallen angel who proclaims himself god of a tortured world. The Order of Chaos is not happy with the angel's behaviour and want to destroy him. But Adon, one of the Angel of Creation, has his own plans on Irael, and he will do as he wants and the winner takes all.
Unholy Need: Nichael is an angel who has to hunt and kill a powerful mage, but during his mission he stumbles upon Nias, a young demon. It seems that Nias displeases Lucifer and he was sent in a mission where he clearly can't survive, and Nichael has to help the young demon, cause now he can't let him go.
Order of the Highest: Talah is a demon spy, former lover of Sepha, a powerful ancient demon, he has to lure one of the Highest, a powerful group of angel warrior. But when he meets Aridas, he knows to have found the only thing missing in his life. But can he be free from the binding he has with Sepha?
The True Fall of Lucifer: After years and years of loneliness, Lucifer has to admit that he misses his former lover, Michael. And since also Michael wants Lucifer back, what prevent the fallen angel to reunite with his true love?
All the stories are pretty short, more or less 30 pages each, but are full of details and reading it you have a feeling of light and shadow, of deep black and flash of blinding colour. There are also many hints of bondage and submission, of pain that enriches the love making.
All the book is setting in a fantasy world, so it's not strange to see all these angels and demons around, they are not some otherworldly creatures in a normal world, they are normal creatures in a mythical world.
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Amazon Kindle: Realms of Fantasy
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Cover Art by Anne Cain
In a little college small town Logan Shoemaker apparently has a good life, he is the owner of an old Victorian house he turned in a magick shop and lives upstair. The neighbors are nice and he is quite content with his life, if not for the financial trouble he is having: people don't believe no more in magic and his shop is always more empty.In one of the darkest days of his life, after drinking a full bottle of red wine, Logan cries out for help... and someone listen to him. Hallan lives from the other side of the ancient mirror Logan hangs up in his kitchen; he is an elf, a potion master, and the mirror allow him to see the everyday life of Logan, but he has never had before the chance to talk to him, only if Logan asks for help, only in that event Hallan can step through the mirror in Logan's life. But only by night and without Logan seeing him.
That night Hallan helps Logan making four little bottles of passion oil and also giving to Logan the most wonderful sex of his life (always in the dark and with Logan believing he is having a wet dream). But the morning after Logan finds the four bottles and also a ring Hallan left for him, and so he realizes that his elf dream lover is real.
But in Hallan's world there is a war in act, and Hallan as king's potion master is in deep trouble. And he can't be with Logan, since if Logan sees him he will be forever captive in the elf world, without no more the possibility to step through the mirror.
I like the story, it's really a fairy tale; even if there is sex, and really hot sex, it never ruins the fairy tale atmosphere of the story. Hallan is really tender, so wise and steady, not at all the usual elflike character I'm used to. He is strong but at the same time gentle, he creates magic with his hands, mixing love potions and making sweet love to Logan. Logan is a cute character, I don't understand if he is pretty or not, but I imagine he is, but he is also shy and gentle, the classic man who helps the elderly and shelters stray pets (even if it's the first time I read of a stray rodent...)
The story is more simple of what I was expecting but it was not a bad thing; reading it I was building a lot of possibility in my head, trying to imagine how all the supporting characters in the story will be involved in the final solution; in the end all was simpler than what I was imagining, but I'm not criticizing the author, for me it means that she gave deepness even to the less important characters.
http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/El
Amazon: The Elf And Shoemaker
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At the beginning of time, the Snow Queen fell in love for a human and was betrayed; the pain she felt in her heart killed her and the snow spirits decided to protect themself keeping all their hearts and crystallizing them in a crystal. In this way they were safe from emotions but they couldn't feel anything. Now a spirit of luck steals the crystal and wants to melt it to gain magic, but doing so he will kill all the snow spirits. Shirai, one of the oldest snow spirits was sent to find the luck spirit and instead finds Marmion.Marmion is an ordinary college student, until this day: he is having the worst day of his life, full of unlucky events. And when he finds a white man with shades of blue in his small apartment, he doesn't think that things can go worst than that: the man is beautiful, but cold as an icicle, and everytime Marmion touches him he risks hypothermia. Not that Shirai wants so much to touch him, since instead he risks to melt away due to the warm from Marmion's body... not a simple situation for wanna-to-be lover.
The story is not so long, 90 pages, but nice. Even if it's a full fantasy story, it's more a fairy tale; the focal point is more the relationship between Marmion and Shirai than the search of the Snowheart crystal; nice the turning of events that allows Marmion and Shirai to be lover, but there is still one thing that I don't understand so well, how they can be together in the long distance: neither of them can live in the other's world, not for forever at least... but maybe I'm trying to be realistic in a fantasy story...
The most interesting thing of this novella is Shirai's character, his physical appearance and what he causes in Marmion. The author gives us plenty of details to imagine him, long waist white silver hair, blue tongue, changing eyes (like a snow storm)... only in the most intimate details he puts a stop, but not only in describing Shirai, also when it's time for Shirai and Marmion to have a private moment together: they have a sex relationship, but it's not something we share with them. We only know that, both for Marmion than Shirai it's their first experience (for Shirai in absolute term).
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/novella
Amazon Kindle: Finding a Heart of Snow
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You know that I'm not fond of fantasy in general, but I can say when I read a good book, and Strongman by Denise Rossetti is a good book. Truth be told she almost convinced me to read a menages not long ago thank to her interesting blurb and the very beautiful cover (Tailspin), but menages plus fantasy setting was really too much for me. So when Strongman came out, I quickly bought it, but for a reason or another, I didn't read it as soon as I bought it. And now I can say that it was a shame, since the story is really nice and the two characters are all I like in my man on man story.Fortitude is a warrior, former mercenary and now roustabout in a circulating fair. Everyone in the fair respects Fort since he is the bigger and the strongest, but actually Fort is not the typical strong man without a brain. Fort knows how strong he is and he doesn't try to have all he wants only thanks to his body, he likes beautiful things, being them a fine china, or an embroidered blanket or the beautiful tumblers he sees everyday while they train. And there is a tumbler in particular he likes, Griffid. But Fort's likeness is purely aesthetic, he would never think to Griff as nothing else as a good tumbler who makes a very good show on stage. Fort was raised Straight Church, a very strictly religion which still considers sodomy a mortal sin, and even if he went far away from his home land, the strictly teachings of his youth still give him nightmares at night.
Griif is an easy man; he likes better women, but he sometime enjoyed also a man or two, and when he put his eyes on Fort, he is all for the conquest. He woos the man, he teases and plays, he at first thinks it is all a game. But more time he shares with Fort, more he realizes that have the man for a pleasure night is not all he wants. Fort is like an onion, he has many layers, and peeling them Griff risks to have tear on his eyes, but maybe also for joy. Fort is a man worth to fight for, and even if Griff is lithe and pretty, he is a strong fighter, one that never let go what or who is important for him.
I like very much how Fort and Griff's relationship develops, how it's not so easy for them to fall in love, since Fort's beliefs, even if wrong, are still implanted in his mind; Griff has to be patient and clever, ready to push when it's time, but also to back down when it's time for Fort to arrive to some conclusions for his own.
The setting is really nice, a medieval fantasy world that probably is common to the other two previous stories in the series, and so, if you have no problem with the menages or het stories, probably it's worth to try all the three stories together. Probably it would a shame to bond this fantasy world to only this story.
http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.a
Series: Phoenix Rising
1) Gift of the Goddess
2) Tailspin
3) Strongman
Reading List:
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Dev and Lee are both college students. Dev is a jock and Lee is not a nerd but almost, he is for sure a "straight" student like Dev: Lee is gay, he is part of the LGBT circle and he writes gay themed play for the local theatre group. When Lee's friend, Brian, is attacked and sent to hospital by two football players for the only reason that he is gay (even if later in the story probably we realize that Brian isn't a so easy character, and probably is not a 100% victim), Lee decides to vengeance his friend at his own way: he dresses in drag and goes to the pub where the local football team is celebrating a victory and hooks up with one of the jocks, Dev. If at this point someone is wondering how Lee could deceive Dev so much, disguising himself as a girl without no one notice it, well, it's simple, there are no clear elements to tell Lee from a girl, like a breast or gentle hips, if not his male attribute (that he can hide under a skirt), since Lee is a fox and Dev is a tiger. Out of Position is another of the anthropomorphic novels by Kyell Gold, and for me his best so far. As in the other contemporary romance I read by Kyell Gold, Waterways, the problems that Dev and Lee have to overcome in order to have their happily ever after are the same of an ordinary couple, but in this novel there is the bonus that they are both "furry" characters, with tails, and paws and scents... plus there is an obstacle more, they are of different breeds, but this one is not so important as the other big one, that they are gay. Actually at first Lee approaches Dev believing him a 100% straight boy: Lee wants to teach to Dev a lesson, proving him that he can have sex, and enjoy it, also with a man. Problem is that Dev non only enjoys it, he is almost addicts to Lee: Dev can't help to search for Lee even if they are at opposite; Dev is in college with a sport scholarship, he is not a perfect student but he manages to have his credits thanks to his sport success; Lee is the classical perfect student and he and his friends look upon the jocks at college with superiority, like something to suffer since they can't do anything else.
At first Dev comes out like the simple mind guy who discovers that he can enjoy also a male partner; he is not an homophobic, but he has never considered having sex with a man. But if you read with attention Dev's introduction, you will realize that he is not simple as appears; in a world where Dev has the chance to have all the girls he wants, thanks to his jock status, he has a discriminating attitude, he is more for the quality than the quantity. For Dev is not necessary only a willing body, he wants that his partners have also a mind of their own, he wants to be challenged. And so when he meets Lee, after the first shock when he realizes that Lee is a man, he is ready and willing to overcome this obstacle due to the fact that he really likes Lee as a partner, not only as a body to have sex with. Not that the sex is not important, and in the book you will find plenty, so yes, if you can't go through the fact that this is an anthropomorphic novel, be careful since you will have to face a lot of scenes in which the fact that the two characters have furs, paws and tails is clearly in display.
The book is very long and follows the two characters in a long span of their life: not only as two college students that have to hide their relationship due to the homophobic environments where Dev lives, but only as two young man, Dev as a professional football player and Lee as a sport procurator for a professional football team. Strange is that it's not Dev that realizes that living as an openly gay man is not so easy as you imagined in college: it's Lee that has to come to reality, Lee who always though to change the world, and instead now is living and working in an all-male world where gays are not supposed to be. It's Lee that is questioning his beliefs and what he wants to do with his life. What the reader thought at first of the two main characters, Lee the steady one with his future all planned and Dev the uncertain one with no real skills other than being good with a ball, is totally turned up: outside of the secured walls of the college world who has problems to settle down is Lee.
I like a lot how Lee and Dev's relationship evolves: even if they have to face a lot of obstacles, they are always together, and for together I don't mean in the physical way; for work Lee and Dev have to live apart from time to time, but they are always sure of their love, they never question who is the real forever love for each other. They can have problems, they maybe have to change idea on something they thought was the right thing to do, but never, never they think to give up to their relationship. I also like as Dev comes out of the story, how his character develops and deepens to prove to the reader that being a jock not always means being dumb; all in all who makes the most embarrassing and dangerous mistakes is Lee, the one who should be the clever of the couple.
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Cover Art by Blotch
In This Land series by Matthew Haldeman-Time is quite a famous trend in the M/M romance world: Matthew Haldeman-Time is maintaining an online and ongoing series, and people can read any new chapter paying a small fee every month. I started the subscription more than two years ago and it was just well far on deep in the story, so I really don't know when all started. I have to admit that now I interrupted my subscription, but not since the story was no more interesting, but since the author finally decided to release the story also in print version, collecting all the various chapter in 8 different book (and later on I will explain why 8, or at least why I believe there will be 8 books) and I obviously bought the book in print version (I have all the book of Matthew Haldeman-Time in print...).The starting point of the series, is Bade's personal story. Bade is a prince of a fantasy kingdom, a realm that is a mix of medieval and arabian custom. In Bade's world, homosexuality is not a crime, even if not so common; since Bade is not the first born, he is relieved from the task to provide an heir to the throne, and so is his twin brother Vane. Bade and Vane are inseparable, but at the beginning of the book they are forced apart by Bade's particular "mission": he is chosen by Prince Orinakin, the royal diplomat of a more important and wealthy kingdom, as suitor for his pharaoh Anosukinom. Prince Orinakin is travelling among all the kingdoms of the world to find various and handsome suitors and Bade is one of the chosen. Bade doesn't know why he is considered worthy, or why the chosen was him and not his more friendly twin Vane, but he takes the choice as a task, a way to bring the issues of his native kingdom in front of the powerful pharaoh.
For Bade is quite a cultural shock: even if in his native land, homosexuality is not forbidden, he is not used to openly manifest his sexual behavior or desires. Instead in this new land, sex is a common expression of a natural need, and not only it's not forbidden, it's also warmly adviced. The Bade we met at the beginning of the book almost separates in two different men: one who remains inside his mind and that has quite a predisposition toward Orinakin, the royal diplomat, and one that becomes to express himself also through his body, and that is deeply fascinated by Anosukinom. It's quite interesting to see Bade's evolution to see what will be his final choice. On the other side, both Orinakin than Anosukinom are interested in Bade, but Anosukinom, as man and god alike, already knows who will be his future husband, and so his intetest in Bade could mean that he is the final chosen. Instead Orinakin fears to care too much for Bade since, if he will marry his brother, he will be forever forbidden to him.
Even if Bade, Orinakin and Anosukinom are the main characters of this first book, all the other brothers of Orinakin have big supporting roles in the story, and since they are in total 8 (with Orinakin and Anosukinom), I have the feeling that every book will focus more on one of them, and that only in the final book all their stories will come to an end. Every brother has a different color who identify him, and Purple is the color of Orinakin.
"In this land" recreates a very complicated and interesting fantasy world, with deep arabian characteristic, like the harem and the use of water and gardens to embellish the palace. I felt almost like a cultural clash when Bade arrives in the new land, since his background was more european medieval, with all the boundaries that this means, and he found himself in a country that was at the same time terrifying and fascinating, since it disputed all he believed since then. I have also the feeling like Bade moved from a world in black and white, or better in soothing color, like brown and black, to a world that was a rainbow of joyous color, and this reinforced the sensation of cultural clash I had.
http://www.lulu.com/content/4895867
Amazon: In This Land: The Purple Book, Volume One
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Irdun is a whore in a up-class brothel. It would be not a bad life if not for the fact that the island where they live probably will soon destroyed by a vulcan, but the man who owns Irdun's doesn't want to leave the island and with him he forces all his whores to stay. Thissol is Irdun's favorite customer, a jewel smith: he has not much money but he is gentle and really in love with Irdun. He will be glad to pay for Irdun's contract, but doing so he will loose all his money and Irdun doesn't want that this happens.The book is really short, 27 pages, and it consists mainly of two scenes, but there is also a little mystery: centuries later an archaeologist is visiting the ruin of Sombar, the island destroyed by a vulcan, and while he is approaching to the site where the brothel was, we read in the past of how Irdun is trying to leave that place... Will the young whore be able to save his life and running away with Thissol? or will he be one of the body that the modern archaeologist will find in the ruin of the brothel? The parallelism between past and present is really nice and follows the reader till the end, mounting an anticipation that will be free only at the very end.
Very nice short story, and as in other books I read by this author, when she is dealing with stories setting in this fantasy world with an arabian flavor, there is also more eroticism than in the other universe (the water lovers). I noticed that in this short story she simplified the plot, not using all the fantasy words I was used to: maybe, in this way, it's easier for who didn't read the previous books, understand a short story like this one.
http://www.king-cart.com/Phaze/product=H
Amazon Kindle: House Of The Swallows
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It's a strange book, I don't really know if I understood at all, I even don't know how to tag it... fantasy? futuristic? paranormal? probably it's an urban fantasy, a genre I'm not really used so much.Stockton is a strange man; he has powers he doesn't even know, he is able to kill the Things, monsters that prowl in the City, and the City is inside him, he feels it, he feels its breath and its pulse. Stockton is not an hero, he is quite unaware of what he does and who he meets; for him waking up in a stranger home is not unusual, taking coffee with a perfect stranger and then goes out that home without even say hello... normal. And so when it's Rhodes' turn to share a morning coffee, for Stockton it's not something different; it's not like Rhodes saved his life or something similar, it was the City that drove him to his house, and it was the City that looked after him, Rhodes is only another little pieces of the puzzle.
But there is a bigger plan around Stockton, and Rhodes is part of that plan, and it's not Stockton's decision to say no.
It's not a love story, probably it's not even a romance. Yes there is something between Stockton and Rhodes, but it's not quite passion and neither quite love... it's more something they share since they are together and in a difficult situation. The fact that they are both men is not even a problem, it's not something that is aroused as an obstacle... probably in this urban fantasy world, there aren't gender boundaries.
I don't now if I read this book in the right way, I was suddenly plunged in the story and probably my mind was searching for reasons, where they were not: probably since it was my first experience with this genre I hadn't the right mental predisposition. I would really like to have an opinion from someone more experienced than me.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?m
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In this second adventure Mikael and Katjin go to the Highlands, in the land where is whispered that demons live, to learn how to live and use their blood bond. They are only young boys, 16 years old, too young to bring on their bond into a physical one, but maybe they are approaching the time when the bond will be no more like a child play (touch me, don't touch me) and more something that involves desire and jealousy.In the Highlands, Kat has to face the fact that Mik is no more only his, he is no more a secret, he is no more an helpless boy he has to help and treat has a new toy. Mik is someone like him, and he can be also stronger than him. Kat starts to feel new emotions, jealousy toward Mik and his new powers, and jealousy toward Aidan, the Highlander who has an unsettling interest in Mik, an interest that Kat doesn't like.
As you can understand, both Mik than Kat are growing and with them is growing their relationship, even if, for now, it still remains the bud of a possible future real relationship. For now, it's still something new, something to explore and understand. The setting is a fantasy land, the bond they have is a magical thing, but all in all, the problems Mik and Kat have to face are the same an everyday teenager has to face: the strange feelings he feels for the boy that till yesterday was only his best friend, the possessive urges he has to keep him apart from the world, to make him his own possession, even if he still doesn't know how to do so.
In this second book there is more insight in Mikael's past and family, and in this way we can understand better him and his fears; in the previous book, Mikael was in someway the weaker one, he was not in his habit and so he needs more protection; even if Kat was his same age, he was more self-conscious and able to face the world. Now, both Kat and Mik are strangers in a stranger land, and both of them have to learn new ways and custom; and probably, since for Mik is not the first time, he is more ready to mend than Kat, and so he gains force and arises to almost a pair level to Kat, causing the insecurity in the other boy.
Again it's not a conclusive book in Kat and Mik's story, the boys are not yet fully grown, their life journey is not ended, probably it will end only when they will become adult.
http://www.prizmbooks.com/zen/index.php?m
Amazon: Heart Song
Series:
1) Heart Sense: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/35187
2) Heart Song
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Cover Art by Pluto
This is really a strange anthology and not a romance at all; some of the characters are gay men, both modern or myth or figures from the past, but it's not them being gay that linked all the story, it's more the unexpected and the legend, the faith and the myth mixed together.The Safety of Thorns: Israel is a slave boy who lives in a plantation; he is very young (don't know exactly the age but he is still working little jobs around, so I believe he is nothing more than a child). One day, near the briar patch he sees a strange man. Israel believes him to be the Devil, even if the man reassures him that it's not true. But from that moment on, Israel's life is no more the same and terrible things happen around him. Maybe the man was not the devil, but probably he opens Israel's eyes to who he is and where he stays, and that was worst than a damnation.
Etiolate: Oliver is an African American artist; as an artist, with an artist's eyes, he likes the pretty thing, above all the pretty boys. But Oliver is not an handsome man and he is not even wealthy and famous, and so the pretty boys don't like him. One more night he sees the reject in the eyes of one of that boys, and probably his desire is so strong that he unveal something terrible, a curse or similar... or maybe he only frees his true self, one who sees the beauty also in the horror of death.
Her Spirit Hovering: Howard was a young man with big dreams of becoming a famous and adored artist. He had the skills, he was good, but he had also a overbearing mother who always crushed his dreams. Not only that she also managed to ruin every important relationship Howard had, first with Kamela, a young Indian girl he met at school (and being of a different culture was not good for his mother) and then with Ned, a talented man he lived with (and obviously being a man was not good for his mother). Now his mother is passed away, and Ned is probably thinking that he know can start living, but grudge and regret are bigger than the wish to start, and the weight of his presence is almost as present as when she was alive. But it's true that it's all his mother's fault, or maybe it's Howard that doesn't have the courage to take his life in his hands?
Come Join Me: Aime is a young boy with a gift, he can see the spirits of his dead relatives. But only his grandmother thinks at that like a gift, all the others, his mother first, want to cure him. Will Aime learn to live with his spirit friends, or will he join them?
Sea, Swallow Me: Jed has always searched for something, someone bigger than life. And maybe he finally meets him in a seaside village, in the deep of the sea.
Circus Boy Without a Safety Net: C.B. is a boy with a wonderful voice and a love for the old stars, in particular Lena Horne. When he was young his parents supported his dream allowing him to dream day and night about his favorite star, but when he became a young man, a teen, and this passion still was wih him, they feared him being gay and try to repress his dreams. He was a good singer, but he couldn't be himself in the choir of the church. When C.B. finally will leave home and enter the unknown world of New York, so far and strange in comparison to his little town, will he be finally free?
Strange Alphabets: in this short story the author romances a moment in the life of Arthur Rimbaud, when he first left his family home and his mother to find his true self in the big and alluring Paris. Arthur will learn that being free it is not always so good, and great pain will wait him, but the lure of poetry and the extasy of flesh is too strong to resist.
Magpie Sisters: a little scene on a little thief girl who is drawn by shiny little thing.
A Bird of Ice: Ryuichi is a Japanese monk; he lives in a peaceful monastery along a lake and one day he "saves" a swan which is drowning. Despite the warning of his brother, he takes care of the animal, and he is strangely attracted but it. And when the animal leaves, it marks Ryuichi with a kiss / bite. From that moment on Ryuichi is no more the same and he will have to see deeply inside himself to understand what he wants and who he is.
Catch Him by the Toe: Sambo is an African tamer and Simba is his beautiful Asian tiger; Sambo and Simba, Africa and Asia, man and animal, they are both strange and beautiful. Maybe too strange and beautiful for the little American town of Azalea, which can't see beyond its own fear of what is unknown and extraordinaire.
As I said, the anthology is not simple, but it's mesmerizing. It's full of color and flavor, an intoxicating mix that catches you while reading and lingers afterward. All the tales are mostly sad, but not without hope; the romance is not the target of the characters and so it's not even the final point of the stories; they are almost all self discovery journey, and the ending point of the journey not always is a light and beautiful paradise.
Amazon Kindle: Sea, Swallow Me and Other Stories
Amazon: Sea, Swallow Me And Other Stories
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It's not the first time that I read a fantasy romance regarding Angels and Demons, but usually they didn't effect me too much, I didn't find any fascination in them. Instead this short novel by Molly Church, only 29 pages, has the feeling of a longer novel and it appealed to me in a strange way, since it mixed another element usually I'm not fond of, the D/s role play.Yare'ach is a warrior angel, mortally wounded during a battle. The female Hellborn who finds him, instead of pitying killing the angel, decides to take him to her lord, Ayve. Ayve is a demon, a fallen angel, and he has a sadness inside of him that nothing seems to soothe. The Hellborn feels that this wounded angel and the demon have something in common and maybe she hopes to please her master with a new toy.
But for Yare'ach being used to live in Hell is not simple. As an Angel he was incorporeal, his body had no needs, nor for food or sex, and so he is totally unprepared when it slowly start to make request apparently without consent from its own owner. Yare'ach and Ayve start a D/s relationship where Yare'ach learns to be the perfect submissive, since it's in the Angel's nature to follow the orders of a superior lord. I like Yare'ach's character since his uncertainty and unsteadiness seem true, even if, in a way, he is not a full grown or independent man: he doesn't discern between good and evil, he doesn't know what they are, he is happy only when someone else could tell him what to do and give him directions and a safe place. Ayve is a complex character not fully developed in this short story: we know he is a brooding man, that he is sad and not happy, but that he finds comfort in Yare'ach, in taking care of the Angel, sometime more like a father than a lover.
I like also the setting, a medieval fantasy world, Hell is an huge stone castle without any of the modern comforts, always surrounded by an eternal night. Other than some hint on the characters having wings, there is nothing that make this a fantasy novel, no magic, no paranormal events, and also for this I liked the book.
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?m
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This is the first book on a spin off series of The Water Lovers of Sirilon; Dyas, a taleve (a man chosen as lover by the Lady of the Sea), is not new to who read the previous series: he was a very young boy, fourteen years old, when the Lady chosen him, and so an oddity among the other taleve, that, even if young, usually are eighteen years old or more. In the previous series Dyas is almost a mascotte of all the taleve, the puppy they always petted (Dyas' spirit is a wolf) but no one really wants as a lover. Now many years passed, and Dyas is 30 years old (and given that the Water Lovers died at forty he is almost an "old man"): he is sent to the far islands to help setting another Blue House, the fifth house, to welcome the taleve from that part of the sea. When he arrives to the island, he discovers that all the old and strictly traditions that kept the taleve almost as captive in the Blue House of Sirilon, are not at all followed in that place. There are three taleve on the island and they live among the people, working and living like poor peasant; Dyas and the two taleve with him don't know how to face this sudden liberty, but it's impossible for them to force the islanders to follow the law. Above all since Dyas starts to have a personal interest in Adarrel, one of the other taleve on the island.As always in this series, I like a lot all the imaginary the author created around her fantasy world. I like how the taleve are free to indulge in their love since they were blessed by the goddess, and in this way, they have an immunity against the normal law. I like also the feeling of the story, a bit sad, a bit sweet... it has a gentle flow, it's not a fast paced tale, but it's quite and tender. Despite what all the setting and the religious thing could lead to believe, it's also quite erotic, the water lovers are very open in their needs and preferences. Dyas and Adarrel could have trouble in the future, there are a lot of things that are still to be faced (an age difference of 10 years is not normally a big problem, but if you are fated to die at 40...), but for now they are happy and maybe they will help to build another fantasy world where the taleve are no more privileged captives, but more special men among the others.
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Amazon Kindle: The Fifth House
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Erik is a medieval painter very skilled both as a painter than as lover. But lately he performs more his lover's skill than the painter's one and the king is not happy. The king asks the court's mage to punish Erik and the mage takes a bit too much pleasure in doing so, banishing Erik to an endless life without any mortal pleasure, food and sex, and leaving him only the pleasure of art. Every year Erik has only a night with a chosen lover to refill his soul, and the night should be enough for him for all the year.In modern time Jason is eager to now the famous Erik the painter, a man who is believed to be the last of a generations of painters in work since the Middle Ages. When innocent and virgin Jason arrives to the gothic manor where Erik lives, he discovers that the man is a very handsome guy and he is swept away in a night of passion that forces Jason to let go every boundaries. But the morning after Jason will be one more paint in the personal gallery of Erik.
The starting point of the story is nice, but it would be interesting to have something more on Erik's life after the damnation: instead there is an abrupt rush to the end of the story; maybe not so surprising since the book is only 37 pages long. An orgy at the beginning, a long sex scene in the middle, and a fast romp en plain air at the end, and the book is finished. But all in all, for a short story, at least it's original.
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