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Blood Red Butterfly
Despite falling in love with aloof manga artist Kai Tashiro, Homicide Detective Ryo Miller is determined to break the alibi Kai is supplying his murderous boyfriend--even if it means breaking Kai with it.
Words: 28,834 (approximate)
Words: 28,834 (approximate)
89 pages, ebook
First published February 17, 2013
7 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
221 books5,416 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 19, 2013
Beautiful Cover, but I just wasn’t feeling the characters…
I was first attracted to this book a few weeks back when the cover was revealed on Facebook, and reading the blub my interest was piqued. I am not a Josh Lanyon aficionado like some other readers, but I do like a good crime thriller and romance combined with plenty of action in and out of the bedroom. Blood Red Butterfly starts out really well and I was engrossed in the investigation the suspect Micky Torres, his Alibi Kai Tashiro and of course the Homicide Detective Ryo Miller.
Ryo is unable to contain his frustration when all his instincts were telling him that Torres murdered the 70 year old Esther Martinez, a heinous crime, he is convinced was committed in revenge. Yet out of the blue Torres now has an alibi, a 24 year old femme dude, Kai Toshiro, someone he is familiar with only because his advances had been rejected on more than one occasion in the gay bar Fubar, giving Kai the nickname Ice Princess for his cold and aloof nature.The fact that he was giving Torres a convicted murderer and a suspect in the killing an alibi was only compounding his frustration even more, and he can’t quite understand what Torres has that he doesn’t!
Because of his conviction he wants to believe that the alibi is bogus yet his cops instinct tells him Kai is being truthful? but he is determined to prove otherwise!?! So he believes he is telling the truth but still believes Torres to be the murderer. A night at Fubar and his powers of persuasion get him a night with Kai, and this is where it falls apart for me, and gets very clouded and confusing as I felt it was no longer about the investigation but more about his ego. As a cop he makes some very bizarre decisions and his relationship with Kai to me was cold, lacking in passion and I wasn’t feeling any connection between them, the whole thing was impersonal! Kai is very angry and pissed off with the World and lives up to the name of Ice Princess, and what they have together was an extremely volatile relationship grounded on nothing! yet Ryo wants to give up everything for this man the second time they get together?
It took to reach the end of the book and sometime later for me to actually feel a connection with the characters,something I wanted much earlier on, and really it was just a conversation and an explanation of all the fuck ups, misunderstandings, and what had really been going on. But unfortunately it was all too late for me. I haven’t yet read a book from Mr Lanyon that I truly loved, it has nothing to do with his writing as I love the style so perhaps I really need to read one of his more popular books to experience him as others do.
I am sure other readers will love this and again, his writing is excellent but I was just unable to connect with the characters, I will not yet give up on Mr Lanyon but on this occasion, sorry, I just wasn’t feeling it!
So for the cover, writing, the beginning and the ending I give this 3 stars.
For more review, please check out Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews and you can also find us on Facebook
I was first attracted to this book a few weeks back when the cover was revealed on Facebook, and reading the blub my interest was piqued. I am not a Josh Lanyon aficionado like some other readers, but I do like a good crime thriller and romance combined with plenty of action in and out of the bedroom. Blood Red Butterfly starts out really well and I was engrossed in the investigation the suspect Micky Torres, his Alibi Kai Tashiro and of course the Homicide Detective Ryo Miller.
Ryo is unable to contain his frustration when all his instincts were telling him that Torres murdered the 70 year old Esther Martinez, a heinous crime, he is convinced was committed in revenge. Yet out of the blue Torres now has an alibi, a 24 year old femme dude, Kai Toshiro, someone he is familiar with only because his advances had been rejected on more than one occasion in the gay bar Fubar, giving Kai the nickname Ice Princess for his cold and aloof nature.The fact that he was giving Torres a convicted murderer and a suspect in the killing an alibi was only compounding his frustration even more, and he can’t quite understand what Torres has that he doesn’t!
Because of his conviction he wants to believe that the alibi is bogus yet his cops instinct tells him Kai is being truthful? but he is determined to prove otherwise!?! So he believes he is telling the truth but still believes Torres to be the murderer. A night at Fubar and his powers of persuasion get him a night with Kai, and this is where it falls apart for me, and gets very clouded and confusing as I felt it was no longer about the investigation but more about his ego. As a cop he makes some very bizarre decisions and his relationship with Kai to me was cold, lacking in passion and I wasn’t feeling any connection between them, the whole thing was impersonal! Kai is very angry and pissed off with the World and lives up to the name of Ice Princess, and what they have together was an extremely volatile relationship grounded on nothing! yet Ryo wants to give up everything for this man the second time they get together?
It took to reach the end of the book and sometime later for me to actually feel a connection with the characters,something I wanted much earlier on, and really it was just a conversation and an explanation of all the fuck ups, misunderstandings, and what had really been going on. But unfortunately it was all too late for me. I haven’t yet read a book from Mr Lanyon that I truly loved, it has nothing to do with his writing as I love the style so perhaps I really need to read one of his more popular books to experience him as others do.
I am sure other readers will love this and again, his writing is excellent but I was just unable to connect with the characters, I will not yet give up on Mr Lanyon but on this occasion, sorry, I just wasn’t feeling it!
So for the cover, writing, the beginning and the ending I give this 3 stars.
For more review, please check out Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews and you can also find us on Facebook
May 11, 2014
Nuh uh.
Noooooooooooo!
Insta-love, stalkerish MC, strange relationship, and a mystery/crime with no resolution? This bellyflopped for me.
I didn't actively dislike it but I didn't like it either. It was a swing and a miss.
Noooooooooooo!
Insta-love, stalkerish MC, strange relationship, and a mystery/crime with no resolution? This bellyflopped for me.
I didn't actively dislike it but I didn't like it either. It was a swing and a miss.
February 17, 2013
I have had the honour of reading this novella by Josh prior to its release and with the full disclaimer of professing my deep, abiding affection and worship for Josh's writing, I wanted to jot down a few praises for this book.
Regardless of said affection, Blood Red Butterfly is a fantastic jump back into the world of Josh's writing. Having been gone on a self-imposed semi-hiatus, Lanyon returns to us with an exciting, complicated tale of gay men struggling through cultural differences and with loving another man.
The suspense in this novella is tight and the reader is taken on a short, sweet ride through murder and intrigue, culminating with an action sequence most Hollywood films would envy.
Fantastic read. Good pacing. Great characters. Grab the book when it comes out and spend a day with Lanyon. You won't regret it.
Regardless of said affection, Blood Red Butterfly is a fantastic jump back into the world of Josh's writing. Having been gone on a self-imposed semi-hiatus, Lanyon returns to us with an exciting, complicated tale of gay men struggling through cultural differences and with loving another man.
The suspense in this novella is tight and the reader is taken on a short, sweet ride through murder and intrigue, culminating with an action sequence most Hollywood films would envy.
Fantastic read. Good pacing. Great characters. Grab the book when it comes out and spend a day with Lanyon. You won't regret it.
May 24, 2017
No one does LA like Lanyon.
So, this was a bit more hyperbolic than I'm use to from Lanyon, but the details and history of LA are great, and the tie in between Kai and his art gives it a interesting mirrored quality. Also, Lanyon writes police officers well, which I really appreciate.
So, this was a bit more hyperbolic than I'm use to from Lanyon, but the details and history of LA are great, and the tie in between Kai and his art gives it a interesting mirrored quality. Also, Lanyon writes police officers well, which I really appreciate.
February 18, 2013
I'll probably be in the minority here, but I thought this was disappointing. I wanted to like it. I consider Josh Lanyon an oasis of mature, thoughtful m/m writing. This was just not my book. The characters seemed cold and inaccessible, and I didn't see why they loved each other. (Ryo's feelings in particular seemed more like an obsession.) The writing wasn't as polished as usual, with several commas where there shouldn't have been any and some odd word choices (for example, masseuse instead of masseur). Maybe I'm being too picky, but Lanyon's previous works have set the bar high.
February 18, 2013
3.10 stars
A huge disappointment, it gets 3 stars because it was a great idea which fell short. Kai and Ryo, I guess I missed the attraction, the burn or sizzle between them, my heart wasn't racing or feeling any heartbreak. The Yaoi/Manga references went over my head, I didn't get most of them, a bit of a mishmash unfortunately. I want and miss Adrien, that best describes my feelings.
A huge disappointment, it gets 3 stars because it was a great idea which fell short. Kai and Ryo, I guess I missed the attraction, the burn or sizzle between them, my heart wasn't racing or feeling any heartbreak. The Yaoi/Manga references went over my head, I didn't get most of them, a bit of a mishmash unfortunately. I want and miss Adrien, that best describes my feelings.
February 19, 2013
Hear me silently, happily squeeing. :D
Me - I'm in love with this book.
More after I read it again.
-----------------------------------------
Second try (after having settled down a bit^^)
I'm hugely impressed by how this worked out. I had been a bit afraid in the beginning because, you know, how do you transfer a visual art like manga into written word? It worked really, really well and the result is a wonderful story filled with action and emotion to the brim.
I wonder how it might look and feel for someone who hasn't read manga and BL/shonen ai/yaoi in particular. For me (and I have read my fair share of them) it worked like a charm. Every scene triggered a vivid image of a manga panel. I could see the story drawn right there on the pages of the book. It felt a bit like following Ryo and Kai around with a camera, every angle was right and every vantage point chosen to highlight Ryo and Kai's connection and to draw you in.
Me - very much in love with this book.
Me - I'm in love with this book.
More after I read it again.
-----------------------------------------
Second try (after having settled down a bit^^)
I'm hugely impressed by how this worked out. I had been a bit afraid in the beginning because, you know, how do you transfer a visual art like manga into written word? It worked really, really well and the result is a wonderful story filled with action and emotion to the brim.
I wonder how it might look and feel for someone who hasn't read manga and BL/shonen ai/yaoi in particular. For me (and I have read my fair share of them) it worked like a charm. Every scene triggered a vivid image of a manga panel. I could see the story drawn right there on the pages of the book. It felt a bit like following Ryo and Kai around with a camera, every angle was right and every vantage point chosen to highlight Ryo and Kai's connection and to draw you in.
Me - very much in love with this book.
June 3, 2018
Very yaoi. Me likey!
Me every time I go on about Kai and Ryo... If you'll excuse me.
Me every time I go on about Kai and Ryo... If you'll excuse me.
January 18, 2014
* 3.85 * rounded up.
I read this late last night in bed ( insomnia girl! ). I was really excited to see that Josh had brought out another novella and the concept was intriguing. It has all the right things going for it and you can't deny that Mr lanyon is the dogs doodahs at writing short stories that never make you feel short changed. He's way high in my favourite authors list and I so wanted to be giving it 5 stars but I couldn't do it this time. I think it boils down to the fact that at times during the story I felt a bit disconnected from Ryo and Kai. Without giving any spoilers away I found their relationship a bit contradictory at times, Kai's reactions to Ryo didn't always gel but there were some sizzling moments between them . I still enjoyed it and it kept me reading into the early hours so its staying in my keepers . It may be that a second time round will give me a different prospective, you never know! I still heart you Josh and I would still recommend it.
I read this late last night in bed ( insomnia girl! ). I was really excited to see that Josh had brought out another novella and the concept was intriguing. It has all the right things going for it and you can't deny that Mr lanyon is the dogs doodahs at writing short stories that never make you feel short changed. He's way high in my favourite authors list and I so wanted to be giving it 5 stars but I couldn't do it this time. I think it boils down to the fact that at times during the story I felt a bit disconnected from Ryo and Kai. Without giving any spoilers away I found their relationship a bit contradictory at times, Kai's reactions to Ryo didn't always gel but there were some sizzling moments between them . I still enjoyed it and it kept me reading into the early hours so its staying in my keepers . It may be that a second time round will give me a different prospective, you never know! I still heart you Josh and I would still recommend it.
July 3, 2013
I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this book.
Kai and Ryo were just a bit too aloof and distant for me to grow attached to or care about.
I, in theory liked them and felt for them, but in reality I didn't really like them or feel for them.
The whole crazy Torres thing added in on top complete with the showdown...idk, at the end I still felt sort of sad.
Kai and Ryo were just a bit too aloof and distant for me to grow attached to or care about.
I, in theory liked them and felt for them, but in reality I didn't really like them or feel for them.
The whole crazy Torres thing added in on top complete with the showdown...idk, at the end I still felt sort of sad.
February 19, 2013
Adored Kai, such a prickly dude. :-D The look-see into manga/yaoi was interesting, too, provided an intriguing textural layering to the story without dominating it or drawing the focus away from Ryo and Kai (and Mickey).
I don't want to spoiler the thing to death, but suffice it to say that staying up til 3am to read this was soooooooo worth it. Sabbatical year or no, Josh Lanyon consistently delivers the rich stories we can rely on for entertaining & satisfying repeat reads. Sorry, but it must be said -- if you're waiting to pick this one up, you're a nutter. :-)
I don't want to spoiler the thing to death, but suffice it to say that staying up til 3am to read this was soooooooo worth it. Sabbatical year or no, Josh Lanyon consistently delivers the rich stories we can rely on for entertaining & satisfying repeat reads. Sorry, but it must be said -- if you're waiting to pick this one up, you're a nutter. :-)
May 11, 2014
3.4
According to my own personal experience of noir through books and films, its tropes are:
Cynical hero with a hidden soft heart and a tough veneer.
Femme fatale heroine, beautiful, mysterious, troubled, needs saving.
Story development is somewhat disjointed, does not always end well, thus the cynical hero. The heroine is usually saved at a price.
Character development The hero is shown with his sardonic wit and jaded view, his soft heart is also shown but a distance is kept from the reader/viewer thus emphasising the loneliness of the hero more. Because in noir the hero is a lonely romantic at heart.
This short from Lanyon's pen hits all the above markers, so to me it's a noir. The story is an m/m but Kai aptly fills in the femme fatale role while Ryo hits the 'Slick Hero' right on the mark. A noir which I enjoyed eventhough it did not hit all my personal buttons, which is rather impossible anyway.
Those who read the book will enjoy the picture more.
According to my own personal experience of noir through books and films, its tropes are:
Cynical hero with a hidden soft heart and a tough veneer.
Femme fatale heroine, beautiful, mysterious, troubled, needs saving.
Story development is somewhat disjointed, does not always end well, thus the cynical hero. The heroine is usually saved at a price.
Character development The hero is shown with his sardonic wit and jaded view, his soft heart is also shown but a distance is kept from the reader/viewer thus emphasising the loneliness of the hero more. Because in noir the hero is a lonely romantic at heart.
This short from Lanyon's pen hits all the above markers, so to me it's a noir. The story is an m/m but Kai aptly fills in the femme fatale role while Ryo hits the 'Slick Hero' right on the mark. A noir which I enjoyed eventhough it did not hit all my personal buttons, which is rather impossible anyway.
Those who read the book will enjoy the picture more.
March 13, 2013
hmm, I really enjoyed this book but, IMO, it had some issues. I didn't really feel the connection between the MC...it was pretty much all lust. Then, WHAM, rushed ending with insta-love! WTF!? And the mystery was all over the place and was missing a lot of detail.
I started out this review planning to give the book 4 stars, but I just can't and still retain my dignity.
3 stars :(
I started out this review planning to give the book 4 stars, but I just can't and still retain my dignity.
3 stars :(
February 19, 2013
I read quite a few Yaoi anime in the 90s, while they were lovely stories and beautiful to look at, there were never enough meat in the plot development to hold my interest. Josh Lanyon's take on yaoi-hybrid filled this gap. Blood Red Butterfly is character-driven, the plot is straight forward but complex in details.
Lanyon excels in characterisation, while in a story of this length, there isn't a great arc in character development, I enjoyed "misreading" the characters that Lanyon so cleverly employed here. Much like Ryo in the story admitted that he misread Torres, readers could easily misread Ryo and Kai. Right from the start, we know Ryo believed "attitude" is half the game, so he appeared to be sure of himself, impulsive, even a bit biased. And we see Kai as the top-notch "ice-princess" that is perfect for yaoi: unearthly beautiful, arrogant, cynical and "hard to get". But as the story progressed - we know they weren't really what they appeared to be. Hey, even Torres was "not just a bad guy".
The final chapter, which set a year after, was brilliantly done and gave explanations to what went through both Ryo and Kai's mind. I could see how Ryo and Kai would be apart after that fateful night a year ago, there were clues for it. Ryo's feelings for Kai was out of control and he knew it, he also killed for the first time, that obviously was a big deal for him. And what Ryo read into the Blood Red Butterfly story was also significant - it shocked him the first time he read that - and it has shaken him further when he saw the story played out, except he "percieved" that the star-crossed lovers were Kai and Torres. Ryo felt he simply couldn't measure up to that. No one could, but Ryo didn't know that story didn't represent the Kai at present. And Kai - all his mistrust and pretense had a source and until he reconciled with that, he couldn't move forward.
This story has a harder edge than most yaoi I've read, Ryo and Kai certainly aren't toothache sweet characters. I love that while there is an undertone of Japanese romanticism (love and death) here, but it remains a modern and relevant love story.
Lanyon excels in characterisation, while in a story of this length, there isn't a great arc in character development, I enjoyed "misreading" the characters that Lanyon so cleverly employed here. Much like Ryo in the story admitted that he misread Torres, readers could easily misread Ryo and Kai. Right from the start, we know Ryo believed "attitude" is half the game, so he appeared to be sure of himself, impulsive, even a bit biased. And we see Kai as the top-notch "ice-princess" that is perfect for yaoi: unearthly beautiful, arrogant, cynical and "hard to get". But as the story progressed - we know they weren't really what they appeared to be. Hey, even Torres was "not just a bad guy".
The final chapter, which set a year after, was brilliantly done and gave explanations to what went through both Ryo and Kai's mind. I could see how Ryo and Kai would be apart after that fateful night a year ago, there were clues for it. Ryo's feelings for Kai was out of control and he knew it, he also killed for the first time, that obviously was a big deal for him. And what Ryo read into the Blood Red Butterfly story was also significant - it shocked him the first time he read that - and it has shaken him further when he saw the story played out, except he "percieved" that the star-crossed lovers were Kai and Torres. Ryo felt he simply couldn't measure up to that. No one could, but Ryo didn't know that story didn't represent the Kai at present. And Kai - all his mistrust and pretense had a source and until he reconciled with that, he couldn't move forward.
This story has a harder edge than most yaoi I've read, Ryo and Kai certainly aren't toothache sweet characters. I love that while there is an undertone of Japanese romanticism (love and death) here, but it remains a modern and relevant love story.
February 19, 2013
I would say this is another Josh Lanyon classic style. A somewhat harden cop and his cynic sarcastic love interest.
Mr. Lanyon had said that this is his attempt at writing "Yaoi-hybrid". I am not sure if I get it... But I read that the story progress at more brisk pace. The emotions that were usually wrote at a more sedate tone became explosive and wild. Things got amplified more and happened more and quickly in shorter page count.
The plot was not very complex but have some depth to it, as it should be for 100s pages story. I felt that I didn't get to know Ryo background as much even though he was the narrator. Kai, on the other hand, felt a more well rounded character for me. I can't help but compare Ryo to Jake Riordan, in that Ryo was willing to Made me respect him more than I would Jake.
The result was that all the three principle characters came off very clear. Kai was a dichotomy
Despite a couple of eye rolling moments in the book, this is still highly enjoyable read. It is the book that you can tell was written by professional author.
Mr. Lanyon had said that this is his attempt at writing "Yaoi-hybrid". I am not sure if I get it... But I read that the story progress at more brisk pace. The emotions that were usually wrote at a more sedate tone became explosive and wild. Things got amplified more and happened more and quickly in shorter page count.
The plot was not very complex but have some depth to it, as it should be for 100s pages story. I felt that I didn't get to know Ryo background as much even though he was the narrator. Kai, on the other hand, felt a more well rounded character for me. I can't help but compare Ryo to Jake Riordan, in that Ryo was willing to Made me respect him more than I would Jake.
The result was that all the three principle characters came off very clear. Kai was a dichotomy
Despite a couple of eye rolling moments in the book, this is still highly enjoyable read. It is the book that you can tell was written by professional author.
February 23, 2013
My least favorite of Josh Lanyon's stories up to date. The yaoi cliches and unnecessary insertion of too many Japanese words made me feel like I was reading a poorly written fanfic. There are very enjoyable yaoi novels and there are excellent Japanese anime and/or manga based fanfics. I love reading them on occasion. This novella felt to me like an unsuccessful attempt at crossover. Now I need to reread the Adrien English series again to forget this experience. And I dearly hope that the next story by Josh Lanyon will be something in the author's old, amazing style.
March 1, 2013
IMO, looks like a quickie from Mr. Josh Lanyon. I was happy to buy another of his books, but was left disappointed. It didn't feel like Josh Lanyon at all. The story was told from Detective Ryo Miller's POV and in a way it looked like a seminar in Police Academy. There was too many long unnecessary explanations on how a policeman should do his job. So being in the head of Ryo Miller was a sad and boring experience. There was no depth to the characters. And it is especially surprising because Mr.Lanyon's characters are usually highly delicious.
I wouldn't recommend this one. Not to Lanyon's fans, nor to anyone else. This is just too raw to be called a story of any kind.
I wouldn't recommend this one. Not to Lanyon's fans, nor to anyone else. This is just too raw to be called a story of any kind.
February 24, 2013
I feel bad I can't draw manga. Blood Red Butterfly is such a visual story and the rhythm is so delicious that I would love to see the whole novella illustrated — or even better, animated. Josh Lanyon is giving the reader so many wonderful details about everything! I especially love the way Kai is described: his untroubled, slender figure and his bitten black fingernails. There is something utterly charming about that... and very complex too!
It's almost unbelievable how only in less than 90 pages Kai and Ryo became so alive to me. I guess I'll never stop being amazed how Josh Lanyon manages to do that only with a handful of pages. What a remarkable skill he has.
I loved the atmosphere of this story and the fresh, vibrant feel of it. I also liked the juxtapositions in it: honour and dishonour, fake and real, success and failure, love and hate... Torres' character brought a nice third dimension to it and I'm sure I didn't catch all the nuances during the first read. Blood Red Butterfly certainly deserves to be re-read as soon as possible.
Another thing I loved about the story was the constantly changing dynamics between the main couple Ryo and Kai. The way Kai seemed to be at Ryo's mercy during the first chapter while under Ryo's interrogation and how their roles kept changing after that when the story continued. The power play between them was utterly intriguing. They had some hostile, downright aggressive encounters with each other and those were the points I (surprisingly) enjoyed the most. Thinking about it now, I suppose those were the moments that made the story very cinematic, very dramatic. Overall I liked the pacing with the fast and slow scenes taking turns quite rapidly.
And I have to say that the sex scenes were... refreshing and very energetic. The story had unquestionably the best use for the little word "Oh" that I've ever witnessed... anywhere. ;)
I'm no yaoi expert, but to me this story was a successful hybrid of vivid beauty and some darker, murky tones. I was so pleased that it all sounded like Josh Lanyon himself with only a slight, exotic and daring difference to the writing — like a lingo (I hope this is a correct choice of word). And I bet the author had a lot of fun with some of the most vibrant moments and the most lively word choices! I certainly did enjoy reading them! Also the apparent amount of the research the author has done on Japanese culture makes me humble.
Thank you for challenging yourself and us readers, Josh! I loved it. You are more than welcome to challenge me again any time you like.
It's almost unbelievable how only in less than 90 pages Kai and Ryo became so alive to me. I guess I'll never stop being amazed how Josh Lanyon manages to do that only with a handful of pages. What a remarkable skill he has.
I loved the atmosphere of this story and the fresh, vibrant feel of it. I also liked the juxtapositions in it: honour and dishonour, fake and real, success and failure, love and hate... Torres' character brought a nice third dimension to it and I'm sure I didn't catch all the nuances during the first read. Blood Red Butterfly certainly deserves to be re-read as soon as possible.
Another thing I loved about the story was the constantly changing dynamics between the main couple Ryo and Kai. The way Kai seemed to be at Ryo's mercy during the first chapter while under Ryo's interrogation and how their roles kept changing after that when the story continued. The power play between them was utterly intriguing. They had some hostile, downright aggressive encounters with each other and those were the points I (surprisingly) enjoyed the most. Thinking about it now, I suppose those were the moments that made the story very cinematic, very dramatic. Overall I liked the pacing with the fast and slow scenes taking turns quite rapidly.
And I have to say that the sex scenes were... refreshing and very energetic. The story had unquestionably the best use for the little word "Oh" that I've ever witnessed... anywhere. ;)
I'm no yaoi expert, but to me this story was a successful hybrid of vivid beauty and some darker, murky tones. I was so pleased that it all sounded like Josh Lanyon himself with only a slight, exotic and daring difference to the writing — like a lingo (I hope this is a correct choice of word). And I bet the author had a lot of fun with some of the most vibrant moments and the most lively word choices! I certainly did enjoy reading them! Also the apparent amount of the research the author has done on Japanese culture makes me humble.
Thank you for challenging yourself and us readers, Josh! I loved it. You are more than welcome to challenge me again any time you like.
February 19, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.0
Ryo Miller is a LAPD Homicide Detective hot on the trail of gangbanger, Mickey Torres. Ryo is convinced that Torres murdered Esther Martinez, a seventy-year-old woman whose testimony put Torres behind bars. Enter manga artist, Kai Tashiro, who swears that on the night of the murder Torres was with him. The sparks fly between Ryo and Kai but Ryo remains determined to break Kai's alibi story and steadfast in bringing Torres down.
I enjoyed this book. I liked both Ryo and Kai. Some of the dialogue was a little cheesy for my tastes but I nonetheless enjoyed watching their relationship develop. I would have liked it if this book had been fleshed out a little more. The back story was interesting and I thought Kai's extended family dynamic and the related problems added a neat component. I would have enjoyed reading more about Ryo, Kai, their extended families, and the problems with Ryo's job.
Bottom line: an enjoyable novella.
Ryo Miller is a LAPD Homicide Detective hot on the trail of gangbanger, Mickey Torres. Ryo is convinced that Torres murdered Esther Martinez, a seventy-year-old woman whose testimony put Torres behind bars. Enter manga artist, Kai Tashiro, who swears that on the night of the murder Torres was with him. The sparks fly between Ryo and Kai but Ryo remains determined to break Kai's alibi story and steadfast in bringing Torres down.
I enjoyed this book. I liked both Ryo and Kai. Some of the dialogue was a little cheesy for my tastes but I nonetheless enjoyed watching their relationship develop. I would have liked it if this book had been fleshed out a little more. The back story was interesting and I thought Kai's extended family dynamic and the related problems added a neat component. I would have enjoyed reading more about Ryo, Kai, their extended families, and the problems with Ryo's job.
Bottom line: an enjoyable novella.
June 21, 2017
Audible
It was like reading manga comic. If it was the author's goal, then she succeeded in it.
I doubt I could have enjoyed if I had read it and not listened to it.
But Lance Greenfield has brought the best out of it.
Read as a part of Male/Male Mystery and Suspense Box Set: 6 Novellas.
February 19, 2013
In counterpoint to the saying, 'a picture is worth a thousand words,' each page of this little story leaves the reader with an immediate bold, vibrant, if sometimes harsh, image. And even though romance is expected, it’s not often easy and never taken for granted. As with any great love story, sacrifices must be made. Brilliant.(less)
August 23, 2020
Wow. Okay, I think on enjoyment it rates a 4,only because I am a Manga/BL/Yaoi virgin and know I missed lots of references. I bumped the rating up for sheer bravery and uniqueness. Great job. I am so glad that there is so much variety in this genre!
October 30, 2017
Meh. I really wanted to like this story of a cop and the heir to the Tashiro fortune who meet when cop Ryo tries to break Kai's abili for a killer ... but it just Did.Not.Work.For.Me. Too much moody posturing on Kai's part, too much hard-boiled cop stuff on Ryo's part and just a lot of ... fluff .... in between impersonating deep meaningful stuff.
August 13, 2017
Hmmm. There were parts I really liked, and there were other parts. I liked the characters Ryo and Kai quite a bit. I of course loved the beautiful cover. But I'm sad to say that the story itself was just a bit underwhelming, and some of the prose was just bizarre-"getting jiggy with it"-really? I had to stop and remind myself that this was a Josh Lanyon story or I may have put it down right then.
I'm so happy that Josh stretched himself writing something so new and different from his usual style, but I'm disappointed that it seems that his usual brand of excellence got lost along the way. Hopefully his next book will be back on track.
I'm so happy that Josh stretched himself writing something so new and different from his usual style, but I'm disappointed that it seems that his usual brand of excellence got lost along the way. Hopefully his next book will be back on track.
August 23, 2018
I don't know why I hesitated so long to get this novella. It certainly is a departure to JL's usual, and I don't know how authentic his research is (though I know he does massive amounts of research and he sought clarification/correction from his Japanese readers before releasing) but I enjoyed all the detail in this book. Josh has a way of writing exposition so naturally, you don't realize you're learning things, lol. There were some questionable "police procedure" which usually makes me impatient with characters who act unprofessional while on the job. Overall though, really enjoyed this one.
January 30, 2014
I loved the front cover! And I enjoyed the premise of the story. If it hadn't felt like things were rushed or chunks were missing, I would have enjoyed it more.
The insta-love kinda threw me for a Josh Lanyon story. But it WAS an interesting experiment, and I can imagine more of these kinds of stories, but just maybe fleshed out a bit more?
I DID enjoy the little teasing bits and glimpses into Asian culture, and the yaoi story was fascinating :)
Anyway, not a bad read, but not one of my favorites of Josh's.
The insta-love kinda threw me for a Josh Lanyon story. But it WAS an interesting experiment, and I can imagine more of these kinds of stories, but just maybe fleshed out a bit more?
I DID enjoy the little teasing bits and glimpses into Asian culture, and the yaoi story was fascinating :)
Anyway, not a bad read, but not one of my favorites of Josh's.
February 28, 2013
A police detective falls for the alibi witness of the man he is trying to put away for murder.
Full review that is one HUGE spoiler can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
Full review that is one HUGE spoiler can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
December 30, 2013
A gripping read, unputdownable at least for me:) Only two things disturbing: Ryo's stalkerish behaviour in the beginning and the time gap between the final two chapters was too long.
February 27, 2013
Very well written, but I didn't feel the emotional impact I normally have when reading Lanyon. Somehow those two main characters stayed kind of pale for me - I felt detached for most of the read.
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