Bound for Trouble

July 1, 2014

Cleis Press has nailed the erotic anthology yet again with this collection of sexy shorts. An array of talented authors put unique twists on the tried-and-true themes of bondage and dominance--one couple try out some new material in Annabeth Leong's "Paper Chains," while another incorporate an unconventional third partner in Heidi Champa's "I, Robot." Stories range from fun and flirty (Carrie and Mike playfully stumble upon a newfound bondage kink in Saskia Walker's "Discovering Her Wrists, Bound") to soulful, sensual romance in which dominance is key (Kiki DeLovely's "In Her Sights"). One highlight in particular includes Graydancer's quixotic, poetic piece, told from an unusual perspective: "I am the rope that binds." The variation in style and composition infuses a broad, well-visited theme with a refreshing sense of diversity and accessibility. Though the book depicts almost exclusively couples or twosomes, there are queer and straight representations throughout. VERDICT A quick, quality read for bondage fans, as well as a fun source of inspiration for spicing up this familiar fetish.

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