Spanking erotica from one of the finest literary erotica writers around, you’re in for a treat. Sadie has fetishes as we all do, but she’ll stop at no...moreSpanking erotica from one of the finest literary erotica writers around, you’re in for a treat. Sadie has fetishes as we all do, but she’ll stop at nothing to ensure her encounter is perfect.
The backstory is well crafted and fluid, creating a depth to Sadie that lesser erotica wouldn’t have bothered with. The spanking scene is hot, lengthy and a very fun read.
I’m so pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail and research that went into this work, Baylee proves once again that knowledge is both powerful and submissive.(less)
I am impressed that Crowe was able to create such a sympathetic character in such a small story.
The myth of the amulet is a wonderful touch, one that...moreI am impressed that Crowe was able to create such a sympathetic character in such a small story.
The myth of the amulet is a wonderful touch, one that I did not predict. Revenge is served up in a neat, well-written package.(less)
I had no idea what to expect from In Memoriam because Brent Abell and I exchanged stories on a whim. What I received i...moreMy review from DreadfulTales.com
I had no idea what to expect from In Memoriam because Brent Abell and I exchanged stories on a whim. What I received is a novella full of despair, death, gore and manifestations. Does Abell’s debut novella etch itself into memory, or does it fade away like the ghosts of the past? From Amazon:
It’s coming. It feeds on fear and driven by hate. It’s coming. Andi Winters is about to find out the price for her choice is vengence. It’s here. Caught in between the natural and supernatural, Andi Winters is about find out the price she must pay.
I enjoyed the emotional and physical torture that Andi was put through. The book begins with Andi making a very difficult decision, one that she hopes will keep her boyfriend Chris happy. Even before the supernatural elements take over, there is a very real element of human danger that threatens her.
One key success in character building is that Andi is a strong female lead, but she is not without flaws. This balance is something that I applaud Abell for, because Andi feels like a complete person. It’s easy to care about her, even if for a portion of the book, I disliked her.
Chris is a fine supporting player whose role shifts somewhat between co-protagonist and antagonist. He isn’t as fully developed as Andi as a character, but he doesn’t need to be as he spends a good deal of time in the background.
Except for very specific points, the story flows at a frenetic pace. The supernatural elements are key to the pacing, and Abell shows a deft hand at crafting verbiage that locks the reader in while increasing their heart rate.
Brent Abell is quietly amassing a list of publishing credits while he crafts his novel, which was only ever to be a novella. Abell is quite comfortable creeping people out with a smaller word count, as In Memoriam so effortlessly portrays.(less)
This short story packs a lot of events into a compressed space, without ever making the reader feel rushed. Yes the pacing is frantic, but that does n...moreThis short story packs a lot of events into a compressed space, without ever making the reader feel rushed. Yes the pacing is frantic, but that does not detract from the action at all.
The major characters are all well developed and dispersed evenly among heroes and hopeful victims. The main character, Cowboy, is a throwback to a time many have forgotten and it is he who recounts the horror until it catches up to him. Z & R are exactly who you think they are, though they sadly don't have any dialogue.
Note: this review covers only the title story. (less)
Not my usual read, but the stories were crafted very well and kept my attention throughout. The sex was incredibly hot, especially in SUMMER SOLSTICE,...moreNot my usual read, but the stories were crafted very well and kept my attention throughout. The sex was incredibly hot, especially in SUMMER SOLSTICE, which is by far my favourite story of the collection.
Baylee crafts characters that are easy to care about, using a flow of words that is both diverse and easy to read. Given that the stories are short, there is some repetition during the erotic elements, but it does not detract from the heat of the moment.
The evidence of research is clear and forthright, Baylee knows who/what/where she's talking about. This fine attention to detail, along with many steamy scenes make this a must-have for any erotica fan. I urge readers who don't normally read erotica to give this a try as well, Baylee starts off gently before working you into a frenzy. (less)
Dark Legend began beautifully, faltered midway and picked up somewhat to provide a finish. Christopher Stires gets many things right, but many things...moreDark Legend began beautifully, faltered midway and picked up somewhat to provide a finish. Christopher Stires gets many things right, but many things wrong as well. Being only his third novel, I believe that he didn’t fully break out of short story mode when writing this, so I’m very interested to see how he chooses to progress.(less)
Very well done on all accounts. Stories by Michael Louis Calvillo, Graham Masterson, Lisa Manetti, and Armand Rosamilla all stood out as favourites, t...moreVery well done on all accounts. Stories by Michael Louis Calvillo, Graham Masterson, Lisa Manetti, and Armand Rosamilla all stood out as favourites, taking nothing away from the other works. (less)
Worth it for early Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle as well as the critical essays, only if taking a course in detective fiction. If you're not taking a cla...moreWorth it for early Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle as well as the critical essays, only if taking a course in detective fiction. If you're not taking a class, don't waste your money, most of the other stories are boring pablum that are neither mysterious or well-constructed. The number of "award winning stories" in this collection had me expecting quality fiction...I was mostly wrong.(less)
I have to admit that I read this collection twice before beginning this review. Once, as a reader, as uninterrupted as one can possibly be these days....moreI have to admit that I read this collection twice before beginning this review. Once, as a reader, as uninterrupted as one can possibly be these days. The second time, I read with reviewers eyes. Those of you uninitiated with Michael’s work must be informed that it is not for the faint of heart, mind or soul. Much of it is X-rated and full of debauchery in all forms.We begin with A Letter To Doctor Freudstein, a first person account to her lover, Doctor Freudstein. Daniela, recounts a few hot and sordid tales with both the Doctor’s assistants, and the Doctor himself. This one’s got a medium kink factor, because Daniela and the Doctor are in fact, zombies.
Next up is the “And Ten Poems” portion of the book. Leading off with Jack-O-Lantern Lady, Michael hits us with two of his favorite things: BBW’s and Halloween. It’s short, dirty and polarizing. The Crypt Below is one of my favorites of the collection, it has an almost ethereal feel to it, and it’s laced with insanity. Dance Of The Elder Gods seems to continue where Crypt left off. It’s more frenetically paced and has a rhyming scheme that implies the writer has gone mad. The Gorgon is a creepy, erotic tale, in rhyming triplets. I quite liked the construction. Beneath The Bright Zombie Moon is a love poem. I wasn’t expecting it, and it’s quite good. Woman With Plumage has an air of aristocracy about it, laced with a healthy dose of fetishism. Critter is probably my least favorite of the poems, I just don’t understand how the events in it are related. Mummy Waits is a raunchy little tale that’s both funny and disturbing all at once. Coffin Banging is exactly what you think it is, though even more graphic. Graveyard Sunrise is an erotic love poem, set of course, in a graveyard. It’s one of the more passionate works in this collection.
We now arrive at our climax, Demoni. This story takes up the better part of half of the volume, and with good reason, this is a very good story. Natasha’s had a hard life, and on one particular day she’s taken down to her all time low. She vows revenge on those who’ve wronged her, and she doesn’t care what price she has to pay. Natasha is well versed in the language of demons, and uses this knowledge to have her revenge extracted for her. The pacing of the story is quite good, with only a few little hiccups along the way. The erotic scenes are hot, if a little weird, and the gore is well placed and brutal. Demoni is a very capable erotic horror story, well worth a read.
Overall, while this collection did have a few negatives, I found it to be well within Michael’s capabilities and expertise, and the good far outweighed the bad. I deplore giving star ratings but if you want one, I’m going 4*, only because I didn’t enjoy every single piece.(less)
This is a collection of poems and stories, all in the vein of vampire erotica. I am a fan of Diana’s work, and was very anxious to see what her minion...moreThis is a collection of poems and stories, all in the vein of vampire erotica. I am a fan of Diana’s work, and was very anxious to see what her minions conjured up. Let’s begin.
From Experience – Jessica Brown. Our subject wakes up to find herself tied down at the mercy of her captors. We discover that they’re vampires, and have had trouble keeping “subjects” alive. A nice hot scene ensues and the story reaches it’s denouement, with a nice nod to the life of an author thrown in.
Garlic, Thyme & Wild Roses – Isabelle M. Chasse. This is a poem, presumably about a human in love with a vampire. Follows the AB AB rhyming scheme quite nicely, and is very graphic.
And Visions Of Sugar Plums – Patrick Welch. An interesting variation of the vampire mythology, in that this story has no vampire, only an alien imitating a vampire. I understand what the author was going for here, but this is not one of the stronger stories in this collection.
Oathbound – Michael Montoure. This is my favorite story in the collection. We start with a rather physical game of tag, during which we learn that the vampire is held captive by the family of his opponent. This is more of a love-lust story, and I don’t want to spoil too much. Worth the read.
Ersaph, I Want To Fuck You – Inuki. Short and to the point, it’s a lust poem. Well written with some creative rhymes.
Tlazolteotl – R. T. Martinez. More of a character study than an actual story, we follow our hero’s exploits as he stumbles upon a fetish website that he’s not seen before. It doesn’t really flow for me, though the description of the character really did have me wishing for his demise.(less)
This tale is blasphemous, heretic, diabolical and quite honestly, one of the best pieces of hardcore horror fiction I’ve read. The wording is both har...moreThis tale is blasphemous, heretic, diabolical and quite honestly, one of the best pieces of hardcore horror fiction I’ve read. The wording is both harsh and sensual, with explicit description.
A quote from the synopsis: “The first vampire was a woman who found Jesus. This is horror/torture, and not a book for the squeamish.”
As you’ve obviously guessed, Jesus Wept isn’t for the easily offended. If you can handle harsh images that border on deicide, this one’s for you.(less)
Up next is Deadlocked which brings the trilogy full circle, as this book focuses on Frank, Haley’s partner from Locked In. Deadlocked begins as Frank...moreUp next is Deadlocked which brings the trilogy full circle, as this book focuses on Frank, Haley’s partner from Locked In. Deadlocked begins as Frank and Haley part ways, and immediately recounts Frank’s plot during the time that Locked In takes place. The story follows Frank’s journey to ensure Haley’s safety. This is Thea’s most in depth character study yet, one that takes a lingering fear and exploits it into a full-on apocalypse.
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