Tag: GLBT Dark Fantasy

Above the Cloud by Adrianna Dane

Title: Above the Cloud

Series: Tales of the Midnight Pearl Brotherhood 06

Author: Adrianna Dane

Genre: Fantasy, Witchcraft, Magic

Length: Short (50pgs)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (Amber Allure) (11th December 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: The ancient myths of the Brotherhood of the Midnight Pearl tell of an island formed from the depths of the ocean, in the midst of a sea of mystical, sapphire beauty. It is an island paradise built on love and devotion to a common belief, a society made up entirely of handsome and desirable men. And Alonzo Smith is on a journey to discover his place among them.

For Alonzo, the frustrations of serving Master Phelix have been many on the group’s journey through the jungle. Alonzo’s patience, however, is about to be rewarded.

On the morning before the group heads toward the Titan Mountains and the next leg of the journey, Master Phelix awakens Alonzo and leads him on one final, intimate, and dizzying jungle adventure. The rewards and revelations may just be more than Alonzo might ever have expected. Now, he must make a choice—does he stay in the jungle with the Obscurants and Master Phelix, or continue on to see what destiny, and/or fate, has in store?

The sequel to Tales of the Midnight Pearl Brotherhood: Lessons Learned…

Purchase Link: http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/TMPB_AboveClouds.html

Review: This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Alonzo is separated from the group by Master Phelix and taken into the jungle.  While away, Alonzo finds out Master Phelix’s past and what Master Phelix is looking for in a man.

This is the third book in this series that I have reviewed and I can only say that the author does write really well.  The story is interesting and it is one I really do want to finish, but whoever had the idea to cut it up into small segments should be cut up into small segments themselves. It is frustrating to have to go back and read the previous books just so I know where I am up to and then to have it cut off again just when it gets interesting. (THIS IS A BOOK NOT TV).

Saying that…I am intrigued by Alonzo’s story.   In this one, Alonzo finally gets to submit to Master Phelix and finds out Master Phelix’s story. Alonzo is now near the end of the journey through the jungle.  As he stands at the bottom of the mountain he has to make the decision to make of either going forward or back to the jungle.  And then he realizes at the last-minute that Master Phelix will be leaving them at the edge of the jungle.

I will recommend this to those who already have this series, love hot submissive sex, a journey of self-discovery, has infinite patience or wait until the series has ended and then get the entire series.

Idriel's Sin by Jay Di Meo

Title: Idriel’s Sin

Author: Jay Di Meo

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novel (244pgs mobi)

Publisher: Amber Quill (Amber Allure) (27th November 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Idriel, a second-class angel accused of murdering his comrades-in-arms, is sent to bootcamp on Earth where angels and demons train for the heavenly battles. The last thing he expects is Eligor, a first-class demon with his own ethics and more handsome than any angel, who grudgingly takes Idriel under his protection.

While waiting for his sentence to be passed, Idriel trains with Eligor and finds himself falling hard for said demon. Despite his innocence, he begins to accept his fate, which he is on his way to becoming a demon himself, and gives in to his body’s demands when it comes to Eligor.

But Idriel’s days on Earth are numbered. Soon he will be sent to the Pit, according to Heaven’s Law, and nothing can stop it from happening—until all Hell quite literally breaks loose, and what Idriel once considered a sin may now be his only salvation…

Purchase Link: http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/IdrielsSin.html

Review: Wow! Well, this is an Angel & Demon story that I loved.   Idriel was a warrior angel until he was accused of murder.  now he is a tortured prisoner being held in bootcamp until he is sent to the seventh level of hell. Eligor is a fallen angel who is now a demon but has risen again!!! He is in bootcamp to train and as a privilege takes Idriel under his wing.  But, as the two get to know each other things come to light that changes everything for both of them.

Absolutely brilliant story… with the angel just a little bit wicked and the demon just a little bit good, just the way I like them. Idriel has been framed. He knows he has, but no-one will listen to him.  When Eligor takes responsibility for him, Idriel begins to have hope that someone will believe him.  But, it’s not as easy as he hoped.  Eligor doesn’t know what has got into him.  He shouldn’t be protecting the murderous traitor.  But, something draws him to Idriel.   It isn’t long before he’s in trouble and trying to find the culprits isn’t easy.

This is a great story-line and a solid plot; with great characters and some fantastic smoking hot sex. It isn’t easy to contain my excitement because this story rocked… it has betrayal, anger, rage, hope, love, lust, fear, hot sex, voyeurism, fights, blood, poison and surprises.  There is so much going on within the story that it just keeps you gripped.  I loved the bootcamp idea especially with it being on the human plain in an island near Crete. The lust and want between Idriel and Eligor is great and then we have both of them wanting to do what they can for the other.

I will have to recommend this to everyone as it just rocked big time. It isn’t the usual Angel and Demon story it’s more than that, as it is a solid basis for a series if this author wanted.   It has given us good world building, with great characters, a brilliant story-line and plot that keep you reading and corruption in the ranks of Heaven.

Lessons Learned by Adrianna Dane

Title: Lessons Learned

Series: Tales of the Midnight Pearl Brotherhood 05

Author: Adrianna Dane

Genre: Fantasy, Witchcraft, Magic, Voyeurism

Length: Short (30pgs Mobi)

Publisher: Amber Quill (Amber Allure) (20th October 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥2Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: The ancient myths of the Brotherhood of the Midnight Pearl tell of an island formed from the depths of the ocean, in the midst of a sea of mystical, sapphire beauty. It is an island paradise built on love and devotion to a common belief, a society made up entirely of handsome and desirable men. And Alonzo Smith is on a journey to discover his place among them.

After his last adventure in the jungle with the Obscurants, Alonzo finds re-acclimation with his initiate brothers a difficult adjustment. There’s also the fact that Master Phelix still hasn’t claimed him in the way he would like and Alonzo becomes frustrated by the situation—although Master Phelix readily helps Alonzo to deal with his more immediate problem, not quite in the way Alonzo would have liked.

Crisis erupts in camp as David is taken with fever, and it appears he may die. Alonzo cannot lose his friend, no matter what it may take to save him. And after his experience in the jungle, Alonzo may be the only one who can help David survives his strange fever.

While Master Phelix teaches Alonzo about the value of patience, the crisis with David teaches Alonzo about the dangers of temptation. Lessons from the past learned as Lord Wetham’s boy come into play when David’s life hangs in the balance.

The sequel to Tales of the Midnight Pearl Brotherhood 04 – Primordial Impulse…

NOTE: Don’t miss the next installment in the series, Tales of the Midnight Pearl Brotherhood 06 – Above the Clouds, available December 11th!

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/TMPB_LessonsLearned.html

Review: Alonzo doesn’t understand why Master Phelix refuses to take him and it frustrates him. When David is stuck down by a strange bite, Alonzo strives to save him and comes to the realization about himself and why he can’t fully submit.

This story is well written but, to me seemed a bit surreal in places, especially when he was trying to save David.  It also confused me the way it would revert to his past and how it related to the now. I also didn’t like the way that Master Phelix acted with him and got someone else to have sex with him without allowing Alonzo to see who it was.

I must admit I am not a fan of this series and find it very hard to get into each segment unless I read all the books from the first one onwards so that I can get back into it.

I recommend this to those who have already got the rest of the series and advise anyone else to buy the entire series when it is finished.

 

 

 

The Vampire and The Plant Guy by Helen Louise Caroll

Title: The Vampire And The Plant Guy

Author: Helen Louise Caroll

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Vampire

Length: Short (26pgs Mobi)

Publisher: Amber Quill (Amber Allure) (27th November 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Being a forty-three-year-old vampire in a small town creates a whole host of dating issues, including a particularly sensitive one. That’s why undead accountant Darryl Yates has pretty much given up on the idea of finding a man of his very own. But thanks to his brother Larry, he’s got a date with a “plant guy” who happens to bear the same name!

Nursery owner Daryl Keyes lusted after Darryl back in high school. Now he’s got a chance to make some fantasies come true. But what’s up with Darryl’s pointy teeth?…

Purchase Link: http://amberquill.com/AmberAllure/VampirePlantGuy.html

Review: Darryl is being fixed up on a blind date by his brother.  he really doesn’t want to know as the last time his brother set him up it did not go well.  he’s trying to talk his brother out of it when his doorbell rings and he gets a nice surprise. Daryl has lusted after Darryl for over twenty years and is really happy that Larry (Darryl’s brother) says that Darryl is interested.

This is a cute short that gives us warmth, charm and a bit of hotness. This author has taken us back a bit with the vampire lore i.e. can’t go on moving water, sleeps in a coffin, bursts into flames in sunlight etc. Both these characters seem really nice but as the story is so short you don’t get to know them that well.

All I can say about this book is it’s a really good short that makes you grin in places, it also makes you feel sorry for Darryl as being a vampire isn’t all its cut out to be. But, Daryl seems like a good match for the vampire and it’s the start of something good between them. So all in all I say give this book a go if you like vampires and happy endings.

 

 

 

Tame by A. J. Llewellyn

Title: Tame

Author: A.J. Llewellyn

Genre: Shifter, Dark Fantasy, Mystery

Length: Novella (106pgs)

Publisher: Amber Quill (Amber Allure) (16th October 2011)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Cavan Carmichael has just transferred to LAPD from rural Oregon. It’s Halloween and he’s expecting…well, the unexpected, since it’s the time of spooky things, and this is LA, after all. Nobody, however, could have predicted an animal abuse call that turns out to reveal a beaten, chained-up man in a garden shed.

Then come the words that Cavan knows will haunt him for life: “Don’t worry, I’m tame.”

Cavan rescues the man who, underneath the bruises and blood, is very handsome. And mysterious. Nothing about the stranger adds up. Nothing he says makes sense. For every medical test the doctors perform, only more questions arise. When Ludo, as he insists he be called, is admitted to the hospital, he has grievous injuries inflicted by a despicable assailant via antique torture instruments.

Unbelievably, Ludo’s injuries heal fast and Cavan, who visits the recuperating man, is astonished to find he is attracted and protective of the man. But can Cavan overlook the oddities, such as bristles under the man’s tongue? The strange wolf hairs in his wounds? Is the most beautiful man Cavan has ever seen really…tame?

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Tame.html

This title is part of the Howling At The Moon 2011 AmberPax™ Collection.

Review: Cavan is a cop; he’s just doing his job never expecting to find a man who desperately needs his help. Ludo is a man with secrets, he is stuck in a mess until he is rescued by a policeman and he finds that he is able to trust this man with a heart of gold.

This is a well written story that has a strong story-line and plot. Cavan has just transferred and is struggling to cope with his mother’s issues. Work is going great for him until he gets called to an animal abuse case and discovers a man who has been beaten, abused and shackled. Cavan helps Ludo as much as he can while trying to keep his attraction at bay. Ludo is grateful for Cavan’s support and help and quickly falls for the compassionate cop.

There is a darker flavor than the usual Llewellyn.  The mystery definitely has the center stage on this one.  The characters are great together and the sex is smoking hot, the story-line is brilliant and I love that myths were used in this story to explain the shifter. a nice change from the normal stories. There was a lot that was left open and hopefully there will be more stories to come. There were one or two problems with proof-reading that really shouldn’t have gotten through but otherwise this is a brilliant story.

So I recommend this to those who love shifters, hot sex, a great story and a happy for now ending. I really hope that A.J. Llewellyn has left it like this because he plans a sequel.

 

Moon-Touched by Vivien Dean

Title: Moon-Touched

Author: Vivien Dean

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Shifter

Length: Novel (155pgs)

Publisher: Amber Press (Amber Allure) (16th October 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Thomas Durling escaped his small-town upbringing for over ten years, until a single phone call draws him back. Told his mother has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, Thomas returns to the small northern Michigan town he once called home to find a mute stranger named Andre taking care of her in his stead. On the surface, Andre seems harmless enough, but Thomas has enough problems trying to deal with his mother’s illness. He doesn’t need a gorgeous young man to distract him, especially in a town that already drove him away once with its homophobia.

But Andre Nezat has nowhere else to go. A wolf without a pack, he’s been on the run since witnessing his father’s murder, always looking over his shoulder, never looking ahead. Taking care of Thomas’s mother has given him a welcome sanctuary, as well as a place he can call home for a couple months. He wants to stay, but more importantly, he wants to help, even if Thomas isn’t ready to accept that they can actually be friends…

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/MoonTouched.html

This title is part of the Howling At The Moon 2011 AmberPax™ Collection.

Review: Thomas is back in town to ensure his mother’s well-being.  He doesn’t need the added complication of being attracted to Andre, the man who has been helping to care for his mother. Andre has been on the running from the past some time, his attraction for Thomas complicates his plans when his past begins to catch up.

This is a well written story that is different from the usual run of the mill shifter story. Thomas returns to his hometown that he couldn’t wait to get out of because of the small-minded bigotry. , he returns because of his mum; she has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.  We see him struggle with the effect it has on him, as he sees how Alzheimer’s is affecting her. Andre is helping Thomas’s mum as much as he can but he knows that he will have to move on soon as his past is always following him. We feel sorry for him as we learn the truth of his injuries and the effect it has on him.

I loved how being a shifter in this book is not easy and that the change is harrowing and painful.  I thought it was great that there wasn’t any instant mating and that they got to know each other quite well in the short amount of time that they had. Thomas’s reaction to Andre’s change was great and wasn’t overdone or overplayed. The sex was emotional and connected the two men together in a way that was more than just physical release.

This is a wonderful story that I will recommend to those who love shifters, emotional pasts, a difficult present and a hopeful future.

 

 

 

The Demon Waiter by Laura Tolomei

Title: The Demon Waiter

Author: Laura Tolomei

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Paranormal, M/M, M/M/F, M/F

Length: Novella (127pgs)

Publisher: eXtasy Books (15th October 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Now he had the place. He had the lovers. He had the simultaneous come. And tonight was Halloween

He hadn’t expected it. Not at all. And yet there it was, Laurent De Berger’s heart wish was                a…impossible! And to think he had done it by the book, have sex in a dusty ghost town saloon with Anthony and Renée on Halloween night, only to find out…no, he still couldn’t believe it! But since there was no going around it, what to do now?

Purchase Link: http://www.extasybooks.com/the-demon-waiter/

Review: Laurent has one true wish and he decides that on Halloween, after searching long and hard for what he needed to perform the ritual, he can now perform it and get his heart’s wish.

I thought this book was okay.   The story-line was really good and so was the premise of the plot.  I liked that Laurent was starting to want more than just sex and he went about finding a solution in a paranormal way; which left him open to the Demon realm. There is plenty of hot sex with a multitude of partners but even when he meets his soul-mate it doesn’t end happily for him.

Now my problem with this book is that on the publisher’s website it says GAY romance. Yes, that’s right GAY.  Now to me GAY means that it is men having sex not m/f or m/f/m but just Gay men having man on man sex.  I knew from the blurb that there was a chance of m/f/m for the ritual but honest to god until half way through it was mainly m/f and m/f/m with a tantalizing bit of m/m thrown in.   This was a major let-down as I was expecting a gay story. Now that you all know that, it may hit your spot just right but at least you’ll know what to expect.  For me by the time it got to the best part I’d already lost interest.

Now that isn’t to say it isn’t a good book because it is.   It is interesting to find out why Laurent is so addicted to sex with Renée and Anthony and to see the paranormal world being woven into a great story-line.  I also liked the way the story ended leaving it open enough for a sequel, if the author wanted to.

So I will recommend this to those who love m/f/m, dark fantasy, paranormal, m/m, hot sex (and loads of it) and an ending that has you pulling your hair out.

 

 

First Watch by Peter Hansen

Title: First Watch

Author: Peter Hansen

Genre: Action, Alternate History (1926), Horror, Romance, Dark Fantasy

Length: Novella (56pgs)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing (30th October 2011)

Heat: Explicit

Heart: 4

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Do you want to live? In the darkness of a WWI battlefield, young Legionnaire Edouard Montreuil lies dying. As teeth nibble his flesh, a voice whispers, Do you want to live? Frightened and desperate, Edouard bargains his freedom for a second chance.

Aboard the Flèche, a grim submarine captained by the nightmare who granted Edouard new life, Edouard pays the price for his survival. Each night, he gives his body to his captain as the bells sound first watch. But surviving is not living, and as the days stretch into months beneath the waves, Edouard grows desperate for escape.

Can Edouard’s old comrade Farid Ruiz help him break this devil’s bargain, or will Ruiz fall to the same fate, trapped beneath the waves at the mercy of a monster whose hunger knows no bounds? Edouard and Ruiz served together once before, and slept together too, but courage and passion failed to save them from the eldritch beasts who roamed the night. This time, the cost of failure is nothing so clean or simple as death, and the spoils of victory are not just life, but love.

Purchase Link: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/first-watch

Review: Edouard is desperate to escape from the clutches of the monster that saved his life.   He begs his friend to help him out of his situation. Farid agrees to help his old friend and lover out of the mess he is in without knowing the full facts and he just might live to regret it.

Whoo hoo…dark fantasy, come to momma. This book is very good and will give you a myriad of emotions to ponder. Edouard wants out of the bargain he made during WWI as his payment is too much to take any longer.  He’s tried to run in the past but he is always found. Farid agrees to help him but it backfires and now… well, let’s just say, it wasn’t the best plan in the world.

The story-line was good and was really well written but I must admit the cover mislead me slightly.   Okay, it mislead me a lot because I was expecting it to be a science-fiction inter-species romance and then I read the blurb and I was a bit disappointed.   but I said to myself “hey it’s fantasy paranormal type so chin up”.

Now we have dubious consent sex scenes between the Captain and Edouard although it’s mainly foreplay that we witness between them and the scenes are quite erotic for those of us who are twisted like that.  For others it might be quite horrific. The scenes between Farid and Edouard were erotic and hot and I also felt sorry for Edouard because he kept having flash backs. I also felt very sorry for the Captain because although he was a monster he genuinely seemed to love Edouard and I wanted to cry a little as he lost Edouard.

So I recommend this to those who love alternative history, paranormal, dark fantasy, kinky tentacle sex, hot man sex and a happy for now ending.