Blacker than Black in Riptide Publishing

Dec 02, 2011 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance, m-m, vampire, urban-fantasy, borrowed-kindle

What just happened here? I'm still blinking in confusion. I think this author who is new to me thinks in a different pattern than my brain follows. Throughout the story, I'm was constantly frustrated because I felt as if I was walking around blind. It's as if this was the second book where I completely missed both the world building and the explanation of characters. For the most part, I felt as if Ms. Etzweiler stingily doled out information while keeping the bulk of it in her head.

Even after t What just happened here? I'm still blinking in confusion. I think this author who is new to me thinks in a different pattern than my brain follows. Throughout the story, I'm was constantly frustrated because I felt as if I was walking around blind. It's as if this was the second book where I completely missed both the world building and the explanation of characters. For the most part, I felt as if Ms. Etzweiler stingily doled out information while keeping the bulk of it in her head.

Even after the ending of this book, I was left a bit bemused and befuddled. It could be written this way on purpose because we are seeing this from Black's point of view. Since he's just as clueless, we will remain the same. There were many questions brought up which were never fully answered. This makes the book feel as if it were more a stream of consciousness rather than a tightly woven and thought out story.

Here are a few examples of points brought up. Are Black and Red really lycae or are they half breeds? Why exactly are they so different? Did Blue really do what he was accused of? And if so, how and why? What really happened to Vincent Noire? The story was confusing in how it presented him. It's almost as if this story was really like Star Wars between Luke and his father, Darth Vader. Has anyone else mentioned this eery parallel? I mean, we have twins. Sure they aren't separated here. We have a father who left them. A mother who is dead or disappeared but we don't know what exactly happened. A new mentor type who becomes a protector of the twins. An aunt who does her best to try and shield them abet poorly.

The concept of this story is quite interesting. If only the world building was better explained perhaps it would be more enjoyable. If there weren't so many loose ends that would give a reader a better feeling of closure. I don't need a happily ever after. I do like to have questions raised answered. I mean, why the hell are antibiotics no longer available? And how is this relevant to the story overall? Specifically the lack of easily purchased antibiotics or aspirin had to have some point to be mentioned twice, non? And if it had no point, then this author needs to learn how to cut out extraneous information during editing or at least not accidentally focus on details that do not drive the story forward. This book is recommended to m/m readers who love vampire stories. ...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Elisa Rolle added it

I have to admit, this was not an easy book for me to read, mostly since the writing style is very rich and I often had the feeling I was losing myself in that, but you have to weight this feeling with me being Italian. If you add to this the fact the story is told in first point of view by Black, and first POV is always more difficult to understand, you have a good idea on how challenging it was for me this novel.

The plot revolves around Black, a whore, and Leonard, the john who buys him for one I have to admit, this was not an easy book for me to read, mostly since the writing style is very rich and I often had the feeling I was losing myself in that, but you have to weight this feeling with me being Italian. If you add to this the fact the story is told in first point of view by Black, and first POV is always more difficult to understand, you have a good idea on how challenging it was for me this novel.

The plot revolves around Black, a whore, and Leonard, the john who buys him for one night; Black and his sister Jhez are not selling sex but chi, something you can try to match with vital energy. The Lyche community are the one in power, and they survive feeding from human on their chi; what they don’t know is that Black and Jhez are not ordinary whores and while they are selling chi, they are also stealing it from the lyche. Only this time Black falls for his same trap and Leonard, the Master of York, is pretending to be paid back, something that Black couldn’t do if not borrowing his services, and those of his sister, to Leonard.

To better describe this novel I really need to go into details that many will consider SPOILERS, so please, if you don’t want to read further stop here. Said that I’m not unveiling anything that is not also on the publisher website, albeit under the same spoiler warning.

This is a transgender story, or better, as the publisher lists it, genderqueer. I wondered about Black, he was my main suspect, but indeed I was totally unprepared on Leonard. Truth be told, transgender is the wrong word, they are actually hermaphrodites, that this the word used by Leonard and the one I prefer. In any case, being hermaphrodites or not doesn’t really matter from a sexual point of view, since sex is not the main element of this story, and for example, during their first sex scene, I hadn’t actually realized about that if not for an “easiness” in their movement that, after I went back and re-read it, it would have been not possible in any other way. I had the feeling the author chose to not tag the characters with a specific female or male label to level them, to be able to start from scratch in building their relationship without any preconception, or expectation. The author gave an empty blackboard to the main characters and they were free to fill it with their story, not with what the reader was expecting them to do.

Black and Leonard will be unusual also on their reaction to dramatic events, like the death of a parent; the reaction will not what you would expect, in that highlighting that Black and Leonard dictate their own story. Black and Leonard are difficult characters to like, they are not linear, they are not pretty; Black is mistrusting of everything and of Leonard almost until the end, Leonard is a manipulative man who has very few qualms to use other people, even people he cares for, to reach his own target.

I think that one of the main concept of urban fantasy is that you need to recreate an original world building in a familiar contest, and Rhi Etzweiler did that, this story is not the copy of anything I have ever read, and until the end the characters surprised me, really giving me the feeling they were real, and having their own free will.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937551253/?... ...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Jody rated it really liked it

This is Rhi Etzweiler's first solo novel and considering it's nice flow, intriguing characters, vivid world imagery, and fresh take on the vampire mythos it definitely won't be the last we hear from her. Etzweiler has created a future world that is dark and bleak where a hierarchy of vampires (lyche is her term) rule the cities and humans are left to struggle to survive anyway they can. For many, that means selling their souls on the streets as Nightwalkers to any lyche who chooses them. For Bla This is Rhi Etzweiler's first solo novel and considering it's nice flow, intriguing characters, vivid world imagery, and fresh take on the vampire mythos it definitely won't be the last we hear from her. Etzweiler has created a future world that is dark and bleak where a hierarchy of vampires (lyche is her term) rule the cities and humans are left to struggle to survive anyway they can. For many, that means selling their souls on the streets as Nightwalkers to any lyche who chooses them. For Black and his sister Jhez they've lasted much longer than the usual Nightwalker and as the story unfolds the reader discovers there's more to them than meets the eye. As they become entwined in lyche politics their lives are put in danger and the truth about them comes to light and changes their future forever. Throw in a sexy yet conflicted lyche by the name of Leonard Garthelle and you have a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final page is turned.

What first impressed me about this story was its vivid depiction of a world on edge. Where Black and Jhez live is a forlorn city reeking of no hope, amongst other smells. It's dark and depressing and those who struggle to cope there have to do many unsavory things to survive, often losing their emotions along the way. Black and Jhez show a strong bond with one another though. They often hug and will do anything to keep the other safe. They're all that's left of their family and the only other person allowed in is Blue. Blue has plenty of issues of his own with a cloud of mystery surrounding him. He's the local drug dealer and has seen plenty of bad things in his life barely hinted at. The three of them are interesting to see together and the strong bond of love they have. Black and Blue (the Bruise Brothers) appear weak throughout the story with momentary flashes of raw unexpected power. Jhez is badass to the core though with her flippant words and cocky attitude and I greatly enjoyed seeing her cope in the new world they find themselves in amongst lyche royalty. I look forward to seeing more of her in the future and the man strong enough to take her on. Blue also greatly intrigued me. He suffers so with the constant barragement of noise in his head and the reasons behind this will have my mind whirling until his story is told.

Monsieur Garthelle of York, Leonard to a very few, is in charge of the city and is looking for chi thieves who are stealing energy from his fellow lyche. He finds Black and is immediately drawn to him. Once they share chi he blackmails Black and Jhez into helping him with an even bigger problem in the lyche hierarchy and those trying to usurp the balance. Leonard is extremely sexy and mysterious and the sexual tension between him and Black is off the charts. The few sexual interludes they had made my heart pound and left me wanting more. Leonard's kept secrets for so long and been alone forever that it's hard for him to deal truthfully with Black who he's really starting to care for. Seeing him struggle to admit his feelings and be open with Black made me ache for him. Having him not only accept Black into his heart and family but Jhez too made me like him even more, since others of his ilk would have nothing to do with Mutts like them.

I enjoyed the fresh take on vampirism that Rhi presents. Having individuals share energy instead of blood felt more dangerous to me. Being drained dead like a battery and having your soul drained completely spoke volumes to the kind of world these characters live in. Sharing chi also makes for a stronger bond and felt more sexual to me since it's through touch that the transfer occurs. The more skin exposed the more chi can be transferred.

From start to finish I was fully invested in this story. While I could have done with a bit less political intrigue and had more focus put on the relationship between Black and Leonard, I still found the flow to be pleasant. The ending section is a bit hurried with a very open ending that I hope gets picked up from again soon. The sexual tension is palpable throughout but with very few blatant sexual interludes, which I would have liked to have had more of. The secondary characters of Jhez and Blue really grabbed my attention and I so hope we have their stories told soon since the anticipation is killing me. Blacker Than Black was an entertaining story with a memorable world that I look forward to visiting again soon and recommend you do too. ...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Alex rated it it was amazing

Shelves: queer, gender-queer, fiction, romance

Stars: 4.5/5

Overall
An incredible journey that takes the reader from the rough streets to shadowy, backstabbing high-class mansions. It's a winding tale that plays at a murder mystery, delves into social issues, paints a glorious urban fantasy world, and rounds it out with a tense bit of romance. This is not a typical read, and it's hard to shove it under any one genre heading, but it's definitely something to pick up (especially if you want something new).

Strengths
It's difficult for me to pinpo ...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Jadette Paige rated it it was amazing

First let me say that as a writer I was told years ago that authors with very strong voices will affect readers either in a good way or a bad way. They will either love the book or hate it.

I loved this book.

Rhi's voice is very strong. The images and scenes were intense to the point that when I put the book down for even a few days, it stayed with me.

I loved the way she wove the story about Leonard and Black especially the vulnerability of both these men. From page one, Rhi sucked me into the s ...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Amara rated it it was amazing

I'm not sure what to say about Black really. I've tried for a while now to form some kind of comprehensive review, and just can't quite get one to come out like I want.

Bottom line... I loved it. I've read several things by Rhi Etzweiler now, and I just love Rhi's writing style. In this one, although written in First person POV, which rarely works for me, it really works for me with Black. The world Rhi has created is wonderful, the vampires are like none I've ever read before, a whole new take o ...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Dee Wy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, vampires, m-m-paranormal, over-250-pgs

4.5 stars. There are so many things I loved about this story, the first and foremost being the highly creative world of vampires (lyche in this world) that drink in energy (chi), not blood. The story is tense and we are fed only snippets of information as the story progresses and along with Black and his twin sister Jhez are constantly trying to figure out what is really going on. I was surprised at how little this frustrated me, as it worked well to keep the tension high and desperate to learn ...more

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