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Agony/Ecstasy: Original Stories of Agonizing Pleasure/Exquisite Pain
by
Jane Litte (Goodreads Author) ,
Bettie Sharpe (Goodreads Author), Meljean Brook (Goodreads Author), Anne Calhoun (Goodreads Author), J.K. Coi (Goodreads Author), HelenKay Dimon (Goodreads Author), Cameron Belle (Goodreads Author), Dionne Galace
,
more…
All new stories of punishing extremes and unbearable pleasure...
With historical, contemporary, and futuristic backdrops, this outrageously diverse collection of original stories explores every conceivable variation of BDSM erotica--from knitting circles to the Titanic to a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Featuring all-new stories by Meljean Brook, Jean Johnson, Bettie S
...morePaperback, 448 pages
Published
December 6th 2011
by Berkley Trade
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There were some good stories started, but they needed more development. More frustrating than entertaining.
I rarely buy anthologies because most are not as satisfying as full size novels. I took a chance on this one. Sadly I was disappointed. There are 21 stories by 20 different authors. Each story is about 20 pages long. Because they were so short, something was missing from all of them. The least satisfying were those with unfinished endings, not knowing what would happen with the couples. Som...more
I rarely buy anthologies because most are not as satisfying as full size novels. I took a chance on this one. Sadly I was disappointed. There are 21 stories by 20 different authors. Each story is about 20 pages long. Because they were so short, something was missing from all of them. The least satisfying were those with unfinished endings, not knowing what would happen with the couples. Som...more
Of all the reviews I write, anthologies are the hardest nut to crack. When the anthology is one of numerous short stories, rather than a handful of novellas, the task grows even more difficult. When you're working with stories that are a mere 20 pages in length, how do you review them without giving away all the details?
Since this is a genre collection, rather than a literary one, there's not a ton to talk about thematically. The authors' goals were to entertain, not enlighten. So I'd suppose my...more
Since this is a genre collection, rather than a literary one, there's not a ton to talk about thematically. The authors' goals were to entertain, not enlighten. So I'd suppose my...more
view all 8 comments
The Agony/Ecstasy anthology is made up of “11 stories of agonizing pleasure and 10 stories of exquisite pain.” I was hesitant to read this, because I’m not huge on anthologies to begin with and I thought 21 very short stories would not be for me. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them. Many are edgy and all are erotic. I decided to give my brief thoughts on each one.
On the Agony side:
Transfixed/Transformed by Anne Calhoun – One of the main reasons I picked up this anthology is...more
On the Agony side:
Transfixed/Transformed by Anne Calhoun – One of the main reasons I picked up this anthology is...more
Twenty-one stories, edited by Jane Litte, of intimacy, pleasure, excitement and discovery rolled into two volumes simply titled, "Agony/Ecstasy." I loved some of these stories; they caught me off guard with their simplicity or with the original spin they took on a well known theme. And other stories just didn't do it for me at all, or disappointed me outright, because I expected more from the author. I truly enjoyed ten stories from this double feature. Five weren't bad, and six I could have ski...more
First up, I have to admit I didn't read all of the stories in this anthology. There are always a bunch of stories in any given anthology that don't float my boat. I know this about myself, so if the story isn't working for me in the first couple of pages, i just skip to the next. Some of these stories REALLY irritated me, but I've come to understand that some of the things that irritated me are standard tropes in the BDSM genre and as such the problem lies with me, not the stories. I'll review w...more
Note: I've only read the stories by Anne Calhoun in this anthology, because she's one of my very favorite erotic romance authors.
Transfixed: 3.5 stars
It's a short story, so it's no easy feat for an author to write a cohesive work in such a tight word count. As always Ms. Calhoun's writing style is purely hypnotic. There's a rhythm to her words, an underlying poetry that enchants me every time I read her work. Each word is like sampling a delicious morsel from a five star restaurant.
The only re...more
Transfixed: 3.5 stars
It's a short story, so it's no easy feat for an author to write a cohesive work in such a tight word count. As always Ms. Calhoun's writing style is purely hypnotic. There's a rhythm to her words, an underlying poetry that enchants me every time I read her work. Each word is like sampling a delicious morsel from a five star restaurant.
The only re...more
Can't give a rating for this one yet. I bought it mainly to read the Anne Calhoun stories.
(she is an author goddess and I must read everything she writes)
My comments below are about her contribution to the anthology.
"Transfixed" (Agony) and "Transformed" (Ecstacy), are each wonderful in their own right. The former is haunting and rhythmic while the latter feels like an artistic study in metaphor. Both were captivating. The stories are 9 and 10 pages respectively.
In "Transfixed", the reader disc...more
(she is an author goddess and I must read everything she writes)
My comments below are about her contribution to the anthology.
"Transfixed" (Agony) and "Transformed" (Ecstacy), are each wonderful in their own right. The former is haunting and rhythmic while the latter feels like an artistic study in metaphor. Both were captivating. The stories are 9 and 10 pages respectively.
In "Transfixed", the reader disc...more
I wasn't sure whether to give this one 4 or 5 stars, but in the end I decided to go with 5, because the ones I enjoyed I REALLY enjoyed, and for the most part the ones I didn't like weren't so much bad as they were just not to my taste.
As I read I took notes to have a mini book club type phone call with my sister when she's done reading it. I thought I'd post my notes here. I read the book a story or two at a time over the course of week.
My overall favs:
Safeword by Delphine Dryden
Wicked Wedding...more
As I read I took notes to have a mini book club type phone call with my sister when she's done reading it. I thought I'd post my notes here. I read the book a story or two at a time over the course of week.
My overall favs:
Safeword by Delphine Dryden
Wicked Wedding...more
I'm just going to jump right in to my thoughts on this one:
I'm not usually a fan of anthologies, so I was a bit hesitant to read this, but I ended up really enjoying it. I like reading BDSM if it's not too over-the-top, and these stories were just the right speed for me. It's kind of silly, but I thought it was very cool that the book had two sides - you read the Agony side, then flipped it over for the Ecstasy stories.
My favorite story (actually two) was Transfixed (on the Agony side) by Anne C...more
I'm not usually a fan of anthologies, so I was a bit hesitant to read this, but I ended up really enjoying it. I like reading BDSM if it's not too over-the-top, and these stories were just the right speed for me. It's kind of silly, but I thought it was very cool that the book had two sides - you read the Agony side, then flipped it over for the Ecstasy stories.
My favorite story (actually two) was Transfixed (on the Agony side) by Anne C...more
Each one of these authors pulls you into their characters lives, and holds you captive through every kiss and caress. The link between pleasure and pain is a common theme throughout these stories, but each has its own unique voice. With the kiss of a whip and a scream of passion you are submerged into this world of sensation that I promise you will love as much as I do. There is now a whole new list of authors I want to follow, and I cannot wait to begin.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance &...more
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance &...more
My February 2013 TBR--it took me over a year to sort out my thoughts and get them down.
Let me start by putting my premises on the table. The Story of O was many a decade in the past. Anne Calhoun’s What She Needs was a gentle segue into erotic, followed by Carrie’s Story by Molly Weatherfield (perhaps better known as Pam Rosenthal), and lastly, Second Chances by Lauren Dane. To provide some points of reference.
On the other hand, I can read and understand just about everything that comes across m...more
Let me start by putting my premises on the table. The Story of O was many a decade in the past. Anne Calhoun’s What She Needs was a gentle segue into erotic, followed by Carrie’s Story by Molly Weatherfield (perhaps better known as Pam Rosenthal), and lastly, Second Chances by Lauren Dane. To provide some points of reference.
On the other hand, I can read and understand just about everything that comes across m...more
Joint Review originally posted here and here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/12/06/... and http://thebookpushers.com/2011/12/06/...
Transfixed – Anne Calhoun
E: Ms Calhoun provided exquisite detail that doesn’t just focus on the physical but draws the reader into the story. I wanted to know the why behind the characters’ motivation. I loved how neither one really fit into the common stereotypes of leather, whips, and chins. I also really enjoyed how it was private not in a “club” with observers. B...more
Transfixed – Anne Calhoun
E: Ms Calhoun provided exquisite detail that doesn’t just focus on the physical but draws the reader into the story. I wanted to know the why behind the characters’ motivation. I loved how neither one really fit into the common stereotypes of leather, whips, and chins. I also really enjoyed how it was private not in a “club” with observers. B...more
Meljean Brooks clever story totally earned the stars. Hands down, it was the best in the collection, her talent can cross into any genre. The others ranged from really bad to ok, but i'd be unlikely to look up the authors, as this genre tends to be too short plot to hold my interest. But bravo to Ms. Litte for nabbing Brooks story.
Just a little something to read on a cold, rainy night to get you in the mood...an adventerous one, to say the least. Many erotic short stories with an S&M twist. Some stories more explicit than others. Nothing too hard-core, in my opinion. I did learn a couple of new tricks. I would recommend this book!
The stories are very quick reads. All of them are very erotic, although not all of them are BDSM. Some of them are very very good (those would be the ones with the corners folded down. :-)
While, as with any anthology, not all of the stories were excellent, enough of them were good to rate 4 stars. I think this is a very good book for people who like erotica and for people who want to spice up their bedroom a little bit.
While, as with any anthology, not all of the stories were excellent, enough of them were good to rate 4 stars. I think this is a very good book for people who like erotica and for people who want to spice up their bedroom a little bit.
First off have to say that I won this book through the GR giveaways last year. And was really surprised when I first won it as I entered last minute. But with that said I have to say I really enjoyed reading both the Agony and the Ecstasy sides of this book. I'll admit that there were some storeis that weren't exactly my cup of tea and dealt with the love interests actually fighting each other and pain in that way. But I still liked that the agony was expressed in different ways than just one. T...more
Gave this book a chance because it was sent to me as a good reads first read. With all the buzz about 50 shades of grey I thought it would be similar. It wasn't. Underdeveloped and unnecessarily graphic.
This anthology of stories was a great read. The stories were good, short and erotic. I really liked the different styles and ideas in which all the stories were written. Some even added an unexpected tenderness between the characters. I loved the stories from both sides. Some were very edgy but easy to read. I have several new favorites now. After reading the story Each Step Sublime in the Agony section, I don't think i can think of the Little Mermaid again with thinking of this.
I liked most of the stories but some of them were terrible, in my opinion. But there was a little something in the book for everyone, I think, so I hope people will pick up the book and give it a try. Happy reading!
Jun 27, 2012
Natalie
is currently reading it
Disappointed in the current popular soft-core bondage fiction, I decided to try something less romance novel and go straight to s&m erotica. This is the book I was expecting. Excellent so far.
As always with any anthology you're going to have some winners and some duds, this didnt' stray too far from the formula.
Later, I will go back and list the stories I liked.
Good bedtime read. Stories only take a couple minutes to read. Very risque. Good book. Thanks for letting me read it.
I wanted to see if this "author" was as good as she must be for tearing down so many other authors over the years. After all those reviews, surely Litte's prose would be mind blowing, eh?
Dry. Emotionless. Meh. That'll teach me to hand over money out of curiosity instead of instinct!
Dry. Emotionless. Meh. That'll teach me to hand over money out of curiosity instead of instinct!
It is ok, not as good as 50 shades.
Some of the stories I liked a lot, others less, but they all got to me on an emotional level.
May 18, 2013
Tracey
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Ashley F
is currently reading it
May 09, 2013
Shirley Fernandez
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Liberating Lacey ...: Agony/Ecstasy: Original Stories of Agonizing Pleasure/Exquisite Pain | 10 | 20 | 15. Mai, 21:21 Uhr |
