Darker Edge of Desire

August 4, 2014
Gothic is a misnomer for this anthology, as many of the 14 tales, including the more successful ones, lack the expected atmosphere. Worthy of note is Gary Earl Ross’s “Sister Bessie’s Boys,” a delicate story about growing up, overcoming loss, and truly attempting to know other people. Another strong story is Szereto’s own “The Dracula Club,” about a Dracula-obsessed American who follows her dreams to Transylvania and finds more than she expected. The most Gothic of the successful stories, Jo Wu’s “Devoured by Envy,” charts ballerina Giselle’s self-destructive obsession with a man who refused her sexual overtures and married another woman. Two of the weakest inclusions, Benji Bright’s “Blood Soup” and Rosalía Zizzo’s “The Alchemist’s Daughter,” suffer from muddled settings and overwrought premises. Most disappointing of all is Adrian Ludens’s “Reynold’s Tale,” which portrays Poe as a tortured homosexual destroyed by the secrets the eponymous narrator reveals to him. The few gems in this very mixed assortment are all but drowned out by the other entries.

October 15, 2014

All the subversive decadence of the classic risque gothic is on display as 14 authors take it to new heights and dimensions, putting totally different spins on love, lust, and desire in this haunting collection. Drawing heavily on legend, myth, and fairy-tale traditions, the writers experiment with a fascinating variety of themes and characters--paranormal and otherwise--adding their own erotic, sometimes kinky, but always explicit touches to produce stories that are surprising, tantalizing, and terrifying--and definitely unforgettable. VERDICT Diverse, edgy, and infused with fantasy and horror, this chilling anthology of incendiary short stories is certainly not your typical Halloween romance anthology, but it will appeal to fans of the dark, erotic, and forbidden who don't expect traditional love stories or "happily ever afters." Note: Tempted Romance is a new erotic romance imprint launched this fall by Cleis Press.

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