Review: Blood & Ash by Kate Aaron

Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural
Elements: Fae, Vampires

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - The variety of characters is limited, and it has the distinct flaw that most slash has of having far too limited number of female characters. The two main are quite nice, though.
• Setting - 4 - An interesting world, though it could have done with a few more details of the physical world.
• Plot - 3 - A bit too scattered and simplistic for what the Author was attempting, I think. Not horrible, just not living up to its own potential.
• Genre Elements - 3 - Definitely not enough explanation here. And the modern world lining up with the fae world felt too abrupt. I would have liked more details on the relationships between the two worlds, though the explanation of how the Fae world came to be was very interesting.
• Voice - 4 - The two main characters are mostly distinct, but the others are a little harder to tell apart.
• Romance Elements - 3 - Too simple for my tastes. Not horrible, just too easy.
• Overall - 3.5 - A good story that need a bit of tweaking to be great in an interesting world that I would have liked to learn a lot more about.

Basic story -
Ash is prince of the Faery Realm. Azrael is his new guardian. But can he protect him against the war that is coming?

My thoughts -
This is an interesting idea, but it felt a bit forced and unfinished to me. I wanted to enjoy it more than I did, but I think a bit of editing and more complexity to the story would have  helped.

There are some interesting ideas in this story. I love the love the implication of a fae world right next to ours, though it was never completely explained. I would have liked more history on that, and more detail about how the two worlds have grown apart.I also would have liked more information on all the different types of beings, and their interrelations, though that was explained better. The Fae world seemed fascinating, and I would have liked to meet more Fae characters, too.

Ash is the sort of character I love, and Azrael seemed interesting, too. Even Ash's best friend. I just never got enough time to really enjoy them before things changed to a love story. I would much have preferred a good deal more time between attraction and falling in love. I also would have liked more time between Ash and his father and brother.

The abduction seemed interesting, but far too easily accomplished. I'd have liked attempts before they managed to get Ash. Azrael seemed to do nothing but talk to Ash about how they couldn't be together. And his story about his human lover seemed to go nowhere. I would have liked some meaning there.

Overall? I just wanted more time taken to explore and explain this world before it became a love story, and more about the two main characters as well. 

Warnings -
Vampirism, implication of torture, but all very mild.

Overall Recommendation -
An intriguing world, but flawed. An acceptable adventure read, if you like Vampires and Fae. Not one of my favorites. I probably won't be reading the rest of the series.

Link to the story - Blood & Ash (on Goodreads)
Author Link - Kate Aaron (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Prince's Boy by Cecilia Tan (Publisher's site) (read my review here) 
• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Fireflies by Ally Blue (on Goodreads) (read my review here)
• From Afar by Ava March (on Goodreads) (read my review here)  
• The Fall of the Dragon King by MomsDarkSecret (Fiction Press) (read my review here)

So what is Slash, exactly?

So I was going to write this up myself, and include a lot of links and history, but the truth is, it has been written before, and by more clear and concise writers than I feel I am able to be. So instead, I'm going to do a mini-master post on places where you can learn more.

I apologize to everyone out there who has been confused by the title of my blog. I meant to do this far sooner, but I kept dithering on the post I'd written up because I knew it wasn't perfect. Then I ran across an article about Slash that was perfect, and realized what I needed to do, so here we are.

But for a simple definition, we will start with the Urban Dictionary version:

slash

1. Genre of fanfiction involving pairing two male or female characters together; characters are commonly shown with a slash in between.

For a pretty basic overview, Wikipedia's article on Slash Fiction gives a good amount of detail not only of how it is defined and used in the fanfiction world, but also a lot of the history of slash in fanfiction, and some of the sub-genres you might find.

A more indepth look at Slash can be found at FanLore, which covers a much more fan-specific view of the genre, as well as a deeper look at its history in fandom and some of the controversies surrounding it. There is also an article about the History of Slash Fandom at fanlore as well, if you want more information on how all this came about.

And then, for a beautiful comprehensive version of why people enjoy reading and writing slash and where it comes from, I highly recommend The Brat Queen's "What Is Slash?"

This list is of course, by no means comprehensive, but all of the above articles have links to other articles about slash and its effect on fandom. I highly recommend you check it all out.

Happy reading!

Review: Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: swordplay

Rating:

• Characters - 5 - Each character is highly unique and distinct from the others.
• Setting - 5 - The City is a very unique take on the classic European city, and each section of it is highly distinct, with its own feel and its own people. Very excellently crafted.
• Plot - 4 - The plot is actually highly intricate, though at first it was quite confusing to follow. By the end of the book it pulls you along, but it takes a while to comprehend what's happening.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The Historical aspects of this sort of fantasy come into play here. Swordfighting, a world before commonplace books, a world of Nobility but not Royalty...all excellent pieces of a whole that make this world feel real.
• Voice - 5 - You never mistake any of these characters for each other. Each has such a unique outlook on the world that even when point of view changes, it is always obvious after only a few words who is speaking.
• Romance Elements - 4 - As it is not the central point of the story, it's not fully delved into here, but it is a nice love story, and it is there. However, if you read purely for romance sake, you might feel a little let down here.
• Overall - 4.5 - An excellent story, and definitely worth buying and reading for anyone into male/male romance.

Basic story -
Riverside isn't a place to wander lightly. Unless you're the type who lives there. The story of a Swordsman, his lover, and a Plot.

My thoughts -
I really didn't know what to expect going into this one. I have a few paperback books in the male/male book genre, but aside from Mercedes Lackey, I'd never read any. All of my reading in this genre had been online or in eBook form. I couldn't help wonder what an actual published book might be like.

I was very pleasantly surprised. Kushner's world is real. It feels right, and the characters just fit. Richard St Veir is an enigma in a world that loves enigmas. Alec, his lover, is as well. It's probably one reason they fit so well together. I loved the casual bisexualness of this world, too. That so many have flings with both men and women, with no thought or worry about how it will affect their lives as far as others' opinions of them.

The beginning is a little hard to follow, and it takes a while to work out who the players are that you want to be paying attention to. However, the story slowly emerges from the world, and becomes clear. Because she's taken so much time to give you an overview of the world, what follows is far more complex than you might otherwise be able to follow without that detail.

The short stories that follow the main are lovely as well. Especially the Death of the Duke, which will give most romance readers exactly the ending they crave.

Warnings -
Some less than pleasant things happen to Alec, but there is no graphic detail, and it's just a beating, not anything more, though there is implication it could be.

Overall Recommendation -
Overall, I very much enjoyed this story. I highly recommend it to Fantasy and History male/male readers.

Link to the story - Swordspoint (on Goodreads)
Author Link - Ellen Kushner (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)  
• The Ennik Series by Kim Fielding (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Seducing Stephen by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Prince's Boy by Cecilia Tan (Publisher's site) (read my review here)
• Dolls and Seesaws by Menswear (AO3 - unfinished story)

And I'm back

Sorry for the interruption, folks. It's been a crazy week, and I never managed to get back into the blog to get the next few posts queued.

On the plus side, I finished Swordspoint, the review of which is going up momentarily, and I've started on Blood Bathory, which I am very much enjoying. I've also almost finished an online story called Blurring the Lines which I'm highly enjoying, so lots more reviews will be coming.

And I'll try to get a few more reviews typed up so that this doesn't happen again.

Saturday revew delay

Due to a busy schedule this weekend, Saturday's review likely won't get posted until Sunday. I will get it queued for Sunday, or Monday morning at the latest.

And lots more reviews to come, everyone!

Review: Club Trinity by Minxie

Genre: Supernatural, crime
Elements: BDSM, vampires

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - Great takes on the usual crime and vampire archetypes.
• Setting - 5 - Excellently detailed. This feels like a place you could easily walk into and easily find your way around.
• Plot - 5 - A fantastic melding of Crime, BDSM, and Supernatural elements.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Not only does the crime feel interesting and realistic, but the BDSM elements are excellent, and she makes the Supernatural elements all her own.
• Voice - 4 - The characters are very distinct, despite some scenes meant to tease with identity. It all works very well with the overall flow of the story.
• Romance Elements - 4 - Highly inspiring. But then, I have a fondness for Vampires and their mates, whatever form they take.
• Overall - 4.5 - An excellent story, and well worth reading if you like any of the genre elements listed above.

Basic story -
Someone's haunting the BDSM club in town, and Detective Zane Jeffries needs to find out who's doing it, but what he doesn't expect is the twists and turns this case will take.

My thoughts -
I was already a fan of Minxie's Harry Potter fic before I read Club Trinity. Even if I had not known her work, reading this story would have told me that it is the work of a talented writer. I hope in the end she finds a way to get it published, because it deserves to be. I'd love to read more stories about these characters. I want to read so much more about these vampires and the Lilim she created as an unusual addition to the vampire mythos. Most of all, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

This isn't a time period I tend to prefer, but in Supernatural and BDSM stories, but it is something I'm willing to read. Especially when written by good writers like Minxie. Both are more likely to be set in modern day. Crime is also something I don't just seek out. But Minxie's style makes this story more than worth it.

I'm particularly fond of her take on vampires in this story. I don't want to into too much detail for fear of spoiling others, but she adds some fantastic details that I don't believe I've ever seen before. And she makes them not only work, but they feel real, especially in the context of this story.

Despite the fact that this is truly an amazing story, it's completely free online. For now, at least. As I said, I really do hope it gets published. And if it is, I will be first in line to buy it. It is definitely worth owning.

Warnings -
BDSM, violence, character death, and scary crime scenes. If you're not overly sensitive to those things, you'll probably be fine, as they're not horribly graphic, but still elements to be wary of if you have issues with any of them.

Overall Recommendation -
Definitely a read if you like crime stories, BDSM, or vampires. A highly unique fusion of all three.

Link to the story - Club Trinity (on AO3)
Author Link - Minxie (on AO3)
If you liked this story, try -

• Undesirable by Velvet Mace (LJ) 
• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Simon & Sir by MaineBoyXY (Nifty Archive)
• Above the Dungeon by SM Johnson (Goodreads Page)

Review: The Book of Myth by Qui

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: BDSM, threesomes, harem, naga, djinn, incubus, faeries, dragon, satyr, kitsune, demon

Rating:

• Characters - 3 - The characters here are cute, but really, they are only devices for the smut in each chapter, so they are molded by what the author needs to make that smut work. Cute, but not characters that stand on their own.
• Setting - 4 - Good for the type of story this is, but not overly detailed either.
• Plot - 3 - While not quite PWP, it definitely comes close.
• Genre Elements - 5 - This is where the story excels. Not only does the author have one fantasy creature to decide the details for, but practically one per chapter, and manages to give us insight into each beautifully. And on top of that, finds a way to twist that difference into smut each and every chapter.
• Voice - 3 - The voices get a bit muddy at times, but mostly because there's not a lot of thought past how to get to the smut.
• Romance Elements - 3 - There is an element of romance here between the two main characters, but it's minimal as they spend most of the story apart from one another.
• Overall - 3.5 - Cute and fun, especially for a free online read.

Basic story -

In a far away kingdom, there is a dangerous book that has drawn many to their doom. This is one such tale; of a young prince waiting for an ambassador to arrive, and finding a book to pass the time.

My thoughts -
A cute story with very little plot, and at least one chapter most smut-readers will find enjoyable, depending on their kink. Most of the well-known kinks are represented at one point. The characters are really secondary to the story, which is just about using the most kinks possible inherent in mythical creatures. It's fun and mostly light, and a fun way to pass a few hours.

The flow of the story is random so as to cover all the kinks it does, but each chapter works fairly well on its own, if you don't care for the larger story. Despite the randomness, there is an overall plot, if you read through the entire thing, and it is shockingly sweet for a smut piece like this one.

This one's definitely for anime/manga fans, as the ideas in it represent that sort of take on smut and romance. Also, several of the creatures involved are the Japanese or Oriental versions of these myths.

The best reason to read this aside from smut and variety is that it's free to read online. It's fairly well edited, though there are a few errors here and there, as there are on most Fiction Press or AO3 stories.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it, but I probably won't be looking for more from this author, as I tend to prefer more realistic worlds, even in my fantasy.

Warnings -
Dub-con, but only in the lightest of senses. Most of the smut is pretty consensual, really. A bit of bestiality, so stay away if that bothers you, but even that is minor.

Overall Recommendation -
Cute. Not for those who don't appreciate yaoi, as this is basically yaoi in text form, rather than as a manga. But fun to read for all the different creatures she writes about. 

Link to the story - Book of Myth (on Fiction Press)
Author Link - Qui (on Fiction Press)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)  
• Cinder by Marie Sexton (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Fireflies by Ally Blue (on Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)

Review: Sorcerer's Knot by Tali Spencer

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: magic, Cthulhu

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - The characters themselves are a little stock, but Spencer uses them to great effect, especially once she's established the world a little.
• Setting - 5 - The setting is pretty unique. This is dark fantasy, and very well written, and the world reflects that excellently.
• Plot - 4 - The plot is pretty much standard. This is a smut story, but she does a good job of making it be about more than just smut.
• Genre Elements - 5 - As with the setting, the details of the magic of this world are very well-crafted, and it makes the story that much more believable. The Cthulhu element...well, that's very believable and horribly creepy, so do be warned.
• Voice - 4 - The characters are pretty distinct, and well-written so that each is easy to tell from the others.
• Romance Elements - 2 - Here's one of the places the story loses me. I'm a sucker for romance, and it's almost not there at all in this story. Really, the story is more about sex than romance. I will say that there is a seed of a romance here, in a very believable way. This story just doesn't focus on it.
• Overall - 4 - Not a Cthulhu fan myself, so between that and the lack of romance, this one lost me. But overall, it's an excellently written book.

Basic story -
Cian has been searching for the key to all magics, but when he goes looking for water magic, he finds himself in far deeper than he anticipated.

My thoughts -
As soon as I started reading this one, I knew it wouldn't be something I would enjoy. While the story is very well written, enough so to keep me reading, the subject matter was a bit out of my usual realm of enjoyment.

The story itself is very well-crafted, and the smut (aside from one scene--see the warning below) was very enjoyable. If you like tentacle porn, this is probably a good one, but Cthulhu stuff freaks me out. I can't really enjoy the thought of a non-humanoid with such vast intelligence doing that to anyone. Nor am I fond of rape scenes in any form.

I think for me, I might have enjoyed it more if Cian and the sorcerer who has been hiding the Cthulhu (and there I'm using the wrong term, but it's simpler for me than to go seeking the exact creature she used) really had fallen in love. They do to some extent, but it's more of a meeting of equals--two men who know they're trapped and want what the other has.

At some point, I may check out what else Spencer has written, but just knowing that she writes Cthulhu fantasy makes me pretty wary of her stuff. I do think she's an excellent writer, I just don't think her writing is for me.

Warnings -
Cthulhu. Physical and mind-rape. And it does get a little graphic, so if just reading those is too much, definitely stay away from this one.

Overall Recommendation -
This was not really my thing, though it is well written, but if you like smut and Cthulhu, this may be the book for you.

Link to the story - Sorcerer's Knot (on Goodreads)
Author Link - Tali Spencer (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)  
• Soulless by T Baggins (on Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Undesirable by Velvet Mace (LJ) 
• The Ennik Series by Kim Fielding (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Book of Myth by Qui (Fiction Press) (read my review here)

GBLT Online Comics

I randomly read a lot of online comics, so I have a small selection of GLBT comics I follow. For the purposes of this blog, I will only list the ones that fit the strictures I hold books to, but there are many more out there. If you like the comic, check the creator's site. Quite often they will have links to other GLBT friendly comics.

After scouring my comic links (well, aside from the Yaoi manga I read, which is something else again), I've only managed to find four that fit my rules for this blog:

Shades of A by Tab Kimpton
Genre: Romance
Elements: BDSM, Crossdressing, Asexuality
Summary: Amal is a university student with a problem. He's not interested in sex, unlike his ex. Then one day he runs into someone at a club with his ex.
Comments: If you like this one, I highly recommend Kaos Komix as well, which has a number of different pairings, all of which are GLBT in some form or another.

Starfighter by Hamletmachine
Genre: Science Fiction
Elements: D/s, Military
Summary: Cain and Abel are a pilot and his navigator in the space corp. And it's very important that they bond well.
Comments: This one's Yaoi in art style as well as the way the boys come together--as in there's definitely dubious consent their first time. But if you can get past that, it's an interesting idea.

Teahouse by CC and E
Genre: Fantasy
Elements: prostitution, BDSM
Summary: The city of Ivore has a high-class brothel. This comic tells some of their tales.
Comments: The art in this is amazing, and the characters are incredibly varied. Especially for a brothel story. Definitely highly recommended.

Oglaf by Trudy Cooper
Genre: Fantasy/Comedy
Elements: You name it, it's probably in there.
Summary: A sexy gag fantasy comic strip. You never know what will post next.
Comments: Just read it. It's wonderful and hilarious and perfect.

Review: From Afar by Ava March

Genre: Historical, Supernatural
Elements: vampires, bonding

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - Raphael and Aleric are both excellently crafted, and distinct enough that they stand out from each other.
• Setting - 4 - March has an excellent grasp of this period, and all of her books are worth reading for this aspect alone, if that is a setting you like.
• Plot - 4 - The plot is pretty simplistic, even with the vampire elements, but quite enjoyable.
• Genre Elements - 5 - This is where the book shines, though I would have wanted a great deal more on these vampires. She's got hints at a much larger community here, and I would have loved to learn more about it, both in London and outside of it.
• Voice - 4 - The main characters' voices are very distinct from each other, though the other male vampires all bleed together. I think this is because they are meant to feel one single unit.
• Romance Elements - 4 - It's a good romance, though Aleric falls too quickly. Raphael at least is understandable.
• Overall - 4 - Very enjoyable, especially for the genres, though far too short. I would have liked a great deal more about the boys' lives--both apart, and then together. And I wanted even more about the vampire community as a whole.

Basic story -
Raphael has been watching Lord Aleric Vane for some time. Then one night, he must make a choice. Save his life, or lose him forever. And even in saving him, there is no guarantee he won't lose him still.

My thoughts -
This is a very enjoyable short read. Raphael, despite being the vampire, is a little more believable as a character than Aleric. I like Aleric's concept of what is going on and how he comes to terms with everything, though. He's so young, and so much a part of his age, that he takes a great deal at face value, and doesn't even question things except for how he fits into the world that he is seeing.

What I really enjoyed in this is the vampire society, though we only get a teasing glimpse. I have to admit, the thought of a household of men all enjoying each other's company is intriguing, though that is only a small bit of what drew me. I like that it's actually a very regimented society, given the dangers too many vampires in one area could cause. The queen vampire is interesting, too. It all makes me wonder what other areas are like.

I think I would have liked to see more buildup between the boys. Maybe the two of them hiding out from the vampires and Aleric slowly growing closer to Raphael. He comes to the right choice in the end, though, and with Raphael's guidance, I think the two of them will do just fine.

Warnings -
Vampires, blood and violence. Nothing too severe, especially if you like vampires. A small caution, though, for those who don't. The violence is over pretty quickly, so that can easily be skipped.

Overall Recommendation -
A good quick read from an author who excels at  historical gay romance. Worth reading if you like vampires.

Link to the story - From Afar (on Goodreads)
Author Link - Ava March (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)  
• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Blood and Roses by Aislinn Kerry (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Soulless by T Baggins (on Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Seducing Stephen by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon (Goodreads) (read my review here)