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apostrophen's review
5.0
Edit: Flash Sale, August 24th, 2019, on the Bold Strokes Books web-store.
"Discodemius," by Jerry L. Wheeler
Raising Hell: Demonic Gay Erotica is the counterpart to the earlier anthology [b:Wings: Subversive Gay Angel Erotica|11001947|Wings Subversive Gay Angel Erotica|Todd Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1304211216l/11001947._SY75_.jpg|15920761], both edited by Todd Gregory. Looking at the evil in this book - and let's be honest, evil can be sexy - is also fun on more than one occasion.
"Discodemius" is the first tale in the collection, and it's full to the brim(stone) with snappy dialog, a twisted concept, and a hapless fellow who thinks conjuring up a demon just to be entertained is something that could possibly go well for him. Sometimes I read stories that are just so different that I wish my brain would work on a similar level, but then I realize that half the fun is in being so surprised by the facets of the story, and I decide not to fly into a jealous rage. This story is one of those times. Toss in some great music (this is one of the few times I've ever been able to completely 'hear' an entire song while reading a story), some time-travel, and some unexpected learning about love and what's worth fighting for, and you end up with a wonderfully well-told tale, and a big grin on your face. The demon in question - Discodemius - is pretty much a thing of literary beauty.
"Loki's Boy," by Jeff Mann
Case in point, the next story in Raising Hell has captives, a different sort of hell, and demons from a viking era. That it's Jeff Mann spinning this wonderfully evocative - and tightly bound - story of erotica from a different era with such deft strokes won't surprise you, since I assume you've been listening to me for the past few weeks, months, and years. If you haven't been listening to me - and hello, welcome to my blog! - then I'll restate it again: nobody does erotica with edgy BDSM overtones like Jeff Mann.
That we're revisiting the viking mythology here is just icing on the cake. The companion volume to Raising Hell is Wings, and in that volume, Jeff Mann's story also dealt with the viking life. Or, afterlife, actually. Either way, it gives the two stories a one-two punch, and I found myself rereading them both to contrast the two themes. I'm not sure I've read any tales that seem to capture that sense of the visceral viking world quite like these two - and that's intended as the compliment it is.
"Brimstone," by Dale Chase
I've made no secret of Dale Chase being the first author to draw me in to the western setting. The grit, dust, and sweat, as well as the verisimilitude obviously born of a great deal of research, always stuns me. Historical fiction is a mystery to me - likely because of such a terrible lack of history training in my academic careers - but, if I might abuse a phrase, I know what I enjoy.
"Brimstone" will clue those in the know to a specific time and place by virtue of its name alone. The demon in Chase's tale is visiting this famous piece of western history and interacting with a particular duo - Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday. This story has an amusing twist - which I won't ruin here - and made me smile. It also reminded me that if you enjoy Dale Chase's westerns, you owe yourself a visit to a particular novel: [b:Wyatt: Doc Holliday's Account of an Intimate Friendship|13587113|Wyatt Doc Holliday's Account of an Intimate Friendship|Dale Chase|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344729173l/13587113._SY75_.jpg|19174465].
"One Night, Then Another," by Max Reynolds
Gabriel is a young man trying to educate his way out of a squalid piece of the city, and building up funds to pay for the classes turning quick tricks. He tries to avoid his alcoholic mother, his abusive brother, and wishes very much that they - and the whole council building they lived in - would just go up in flames. He meets a hot man on the dance floor who takes his mind off his troubles by filling it with lust instead, and things take a turn for the darker.
There are two seductions going on in this story. One is the obvious lust-inspired seduction that Gabriel finds with the stranger. The other, though, is the seduction of having an easy way of getting rid of the dirty parts of his life and turning his back on those things he wishes would just go away. Both play out in an equal tempo, and the end leaves you in little doubt of both satisfaction and the cost of satisfaction.
"The Truth in Your Eyes," by Joseph Baneth Allen
One of the fun things about this collection is how it's the twin of Wings. Many of the authors have tales that touch upon - or form a kind of mirror to - the tales from this other collection, and this story has exactly that feel to it, and the two tales make a fun bookend on an interesting world.
The story here - between the sweaty bits - is one of a demon (with a love of kitties) potentially getting in over his head (and definitely getting in over his very human lover's head) with a group of people who seem bound and determined to do them ill. That the demon is trying to be a good guy and evolve is one thing that might throw a wrench or two into the mix, but setting up bombs and potentially harming cats makes it personal. Involvement is rarely such a fun mix of sexy and bloody, though. Reading "The Truth in Your Eyes" made me go back and re-read "The Hate Patrol" from Wings.
"The Priest's Redemption," by Jay Starre
On first glance this seems like a story with a few usual suspects - closeted priest, internal doubts, and a desire that has made the priest cast out someone for whom he felt too much. But when a priest on a mission in Africa starts attempts to cast out the demon possessing a young man, the demon speaks of the man's desires, and soon the priest is desperately trying to hold his mind - and his faith - against the oncoming surges of tantalizing seduction the demon offers.
I liked the twisting of this tale, which leaves the reader guessing right to the end whether this tale could possibly have a happy resolution for everyone (or anyone). Starre brings a feverish and dark edge to the sweaty almost-hallucinatory trial of the priest. Solid (and sweaty) read.
"Familiar," by Nathan Sims
A second high fantasy styled story in the Raising Hell anthology, "Familiar" tells the story of a demon-hunter who finds himself bound to a demon, the resulting "gift" being the very definition of a double-edged knife. In a world where the demons are tearing through the flesh of the soldiers, though, he is now powerful enough to make a real difference...
But is that worth his soul?
I loved the dark feel of this story (and this world) and would love to revisit the characters therein. While it's self contained - and the erotic content is set to a high burn - the narrative isn't lost because of it, and the sense of wanting more from the character and setting isn't one of incompleteness. I'm just greedy. Maybe I can convince Nathan to tell us all more.
"The Lustrum," by William Holden
If you've been paying attention, you'll know why I crack a William Holden story with my spine ready to shiver. That Holden will spin a tale that captivates is a sure thing, but whether or not the story will head somewhere dark and disturbing isn't always the case, but it's a good bet. So, when I got to "The Lustrum," I assumed the reader's crash position.
Meaning, I turned on a bright light and got ready for a potentially sleepless night.
Joining a recently dead man as he stands (as a ghost) over his lifeless body and his grieving partner, the story opens with death, but soon a shining figure in white appears - and this is as good a time as any to remind y'all that Lucifer himself was an angel once, and that his name does mean "light."
What follows is a man who tries to make sense of death, life, a potential second chance, and the crushing knowledge that the ever-after might not offer eternal salvation, but there's a real chance at eternal pleasure - but at what price? The erotic in the story scorches nearly as hot as the Hell that might be waiting for someone who makes the slightest misstep.
Creepy, moody, sexy, and oh-so-classic Holden.
"You've Got the Eyes of a Stranger," by Mel Bossa
Okay, so a demon in the form of a cat, trying to ruin the life of at least one human... Maybe not the tale to show my man to swing him over go the cat side of the debate. But what the Bossa tale costs me in terms of feline campaigning, it makes up for with a sweaty sexy story with rising tension toward what might be the demon's success.
Though trapped in the form of a cat as the launching point for his evil plan, the demon in question has what he thinks is a full proof plan. No one hurts each other like lovers, and these two men are ripe for causing each other pain. The ultimate destination, though, zigs where you thought it might zag. It's clever.
"Satan Takes a Holiday," by Jeffrey Ricker
Ah, Satan. He works hard, and sometimes he just needs a freaking break from it all. It's difficult work to keep all those souls in torment, and even with a hardworking assistant (she's worked every weekend for a millennium, what with it being hell and all) sometimes a time-out is required.
Thus begins Jeffrey Ricker's awesome (and awesomely funny and sexy) story. This story gives us the ultimate fallen one in a kind of fun jaunt, and when a lovely young man catches his eye, well...
What Satan wants, Satan... Wait. No. Didn't Satan wanting things lead to trouble last time? Of course, if he's not careful, You Know Who might pop in for a visit, and that will definitely be interesting...
"Imp," by Trebor Healey
The next story in Raising Hell is Trebor Healey's "Imp." Trebor's tale is, to my mind, the most unique of the tales told in this collection. Here we get a fully formed mythology around the imp character who is telling us of his affairs here on Earth. Not exactly erotic, the connection the Imp forms is one feeding on the energies created by his mischief - and his struggle with a young man in a time and place where mischief just wasn't enough to bug him. This young man's inability to be bothered by the Imp was to the downfall of more than one, and there's a winding, twisted path to get there.
It's unsurprising how poetic and full of mythology this story is - it is, after all, a Trebor Healey tale - and yet it remains accessible, and as I grew more and more frustrated with the Imp (I really wanted to smack him around) the reality of just how well Healy had spun me into his prose was obvious.
"Duel on Interstate Five," by Felice Picano
This short sharp shock of a story ties up the tales in Raising Hell on a futuristic note. It's a solid piece by Picano, who does spec fic with such a lovely edge to it, and a tongue-in-cheek "road-warrior" feel to it, as well.
In an era where actual ground-cars are barely used any more and the roads are a somewhat wild place, an impromptu challenge between drivers with unusual stakes can develop. Told with a fun and slightly future-feel lexicon, the story vibrates off the page, and you can smell the burned rubber.
"Discodemius," by Jerry L. Wheeler
Raising Hell: Demonic Gay Erotica is the counterpart to the earlier anthology [b:Wings: Subversive Gay Angel Erotica|11001947|Wings Subversive Gay Angel Erotica|Todd Gregory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1304211216l/11001947._SY75_.jpg|15920761], both edited by Todd Gregory. Looking at the evil in this book - and let's be honest, evil can be sexy - is also fun on more than one occasion.
"Discodemius" is the first tale in the collection, and it's full to the brim(stone) with snappy dialog, a twisted concept, and a hapless fellow who thinks conjuring up a demon just to be entertained is something that could possibly go well for him. Sometimes I read stories that are just so different that I wish my brain would work on a similar level, but then I realize that half the fun is in being so surprised by the facets of the story, and I decide not to fly into a jealous rage. This story is one of those times. Toss in some great music (this is one of the few times I've ever been able to completely 'hear' an entire song while reading a story), some time-travel, and some unexpected learning about love and what's worth fighting for, and you end up with a wonderfully well-told tale, and a big grin on your face. The demon in question - Discodemius - is pretty much a thing of literary beauty.
"Loki's Boy," by Jeff Mann
Case in point, the next story in Raising Hell has captives, a different sort of hell, and demons from a viking era. That it's Jeff Mann spinning this wonderfully evocative - and tightly bound - story of erotica from a different era with such deft strokes won't surprise you, since I assume you've been listening to me for the past few weeks, months, and years. If you haven't been listening to me - and hello, welcome to my blog! - then I'll restate it again: nobody does erotica with edgy BDSM overtones like Jeff Mann.
That we're revisiting the viking mythology here is just icing on the cake. The companion volume to Raising Hell is Wings, and in that volume, Jeff Mann's story also dealt with the viking life. Or, afterlife, actually. Either way, it gives the two stories a one-two punch, and I found myself rereading them both to contrast the two themes. I'm not sure I've read any tales that seem to capture that sense of the visceral viking world quite like these two - and that's intended as the compliment it is.
"Brimstone," by Dale Chase
I've made no secret of Dale Chase being the first author to draw me in to the western setting. The grit, dust, and sweat, as well as the verisimilitude obviously born of a great deal of research, always stuns me. Historical fiction is a mystery to me - likely because of such a terrible lack of history training in my academic careers - but, if I might abuse a phrase, I know what I enjoy.
"Brimstone" will clue those in the know to a specific time and place by virtue of its name alone. The demon in Chase's tale is visiting this famous piece of western history and interacting with a particular duo - Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday. This story has an amusing twist - which I won't ruin here - and made me smile. It also reminded me that if you enjoy Dale Chase's westerns, you owe yourself a visit to a particular novel: [b:Wyatt: Doc Holliday's Account of an Intimate Friendship|13587113|Wyatt Doc Holliday's Account of an Intimate Friendship|Dale Chase|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344729173l/13587113._SY75_.jpg|19174465].
"One Night, Then Another," by Max Reynolds
Gabriel is a young man trying to educate his way out of a squalid piece of the city, and building up funds to pay for the classes turning quick tricks. He tries to avoid his alcoholic mother, his abusive brother, and wishes very much that they - and the whole council building they lived in - would just go up in flames. He meets a hot man on the dance floor who takes his mind off his troubles by filling it with lust instead, and things take a turn for the darker.
There are two seductions going on in this story. One is the obvious lust-inspired seduction that Gabriel finds with the stranger. The other, though, is the seduction of having an easy way of getting rid of the dirty parts of his life and turning his back on those things he wishes would just go away. Both play out in an equal tempo, and the end leaves you in little doubt of both satisfaction and the cost of satisfaction.
"The Truth in Your Eyes," by Joseph Baneth Allen
One of the fun things about this collection is how it's the twin of Wings. Many of the authors have tales that touch upon - or form a kind of mirror to - the tales from this other collection, and this story has exactly that feel to it, and the two tales make a fun bookend on an interesting world.
The story here - between the sweaty bits - is one of a demon (with a love of kitties) potentially getting in over his head (and definitely getting in over his very human lover's head) with a group of people who seem bound and determined to do them ill. That the demon is trying to be a good guy and evolve is one thing that might throw a wrench or two into the mix, but setting up bombs and potentially harming cats makes it personal. Involvement is rarely such a fun mix of sexy and bloody, though. Reading "The Truth in Your Eyes" made me go back and re-read "The Hate Patrol" from Wings.
"The Priest's Redemption," by Jay Starre
On first glance this seems like a story with a few usual suspects - closeted priest, internal doubts, and a desire that has made the priest cast out someone for whom he felt too much. But when a priest on a mission in Africa starts attempts to cast out the demon possessing a young man, the demon speaks of the man's desires, and soon the priest is desperately trying to hold his mind - and his faith - against the oncoming surges of tantalizing seduction the demon offers.
I liked the twisting of this tale, which leaves the reader guessing right to the end whether this tale could possibly have a happy resolution for everyone (or anyone). Starre brings a feverish and dark edge to the sweaty almost-hallucinatory trial of the priest. Solid (and sweaty) read.
"Familiar," by Nathan Sims
A second high fantasy styled story in the Raising Hell anthology, "Familiar" tells the story of a demon-hunter who finds himself bound to a demon, the resulting "gift" being the very definition of a double-edged knife. In a world where the demons are tearing through the flesh of the soldiers, though, he is now powerful enough to make a real difference...
But is that worth his soul?
I loved the dark feel of this story (and this world) and would love to revisit the characters therein. While it's self contained - and the erotic content is set to a high burn - the narrative isn't lost because of it, and the sense of wanting more from the character and setting isn't one of incompleteness. I'm just greedy. Maybe I can convince Nathan to tell us all more.
"The Lustrum," by William Holden
If you've been paying attention, you'll know why I crack a William Holden story with my spine ready to shiver. That Holden will spin a tale that captivates is a sure thing, but whether or not the story will head somewhere dark and disturbing isn't always the case, but it's a good bet. So, when I got to "The Lustrum," I assumed the reader's crash position.
Meaning, I turned on a bright light and got ready for a potentially sleepless night.
Joining a recently dead man as he stands (as a ghost) over his lifeless body and his grieving partner, the story opens with death, but soon a shining figure in white appears - and this is as good a time as any to remind y'all that Lucifer himself was an angel once, and that his name does mean "light."
What follows is a man who tries to make sense of death, life, a potential second chance, and the crushing knowledge that the ever-after might not offer eternal salvation, but there's a real chance at eternal pleasure - but at what price? The erotic in the story scorches nearly as hot as the Hell that might be waiting for someone who makes the slightest misstep.
Creepy, moody, sexy, and oh-so-classic Holden.
"You've Got the Eyes of a Stranger," by Mel Bossa
Okay, so a demon in the form of a cat, trying to ruin the life of at least one human... Maybe not the tale to show my man to swing him over go the cat side of the debate. But what the Bossa tale costs me in terms of feline campaigning, it makes up for with a sweaty sexy story with rising tension toward what might be the demon's success.
Though trapped in the form of a cat as the launching point for his evil plan, the demon in question has what he thinks is a full proof plan. No one hurts each other like lovers, and these two men are ripe for causing each other pain. The ultimate destination, though, zigs where you thought it might zag. It's clever.
"Satan Takes a Holiday," by Jeffrey Ricker
Ah, Satan. He works hard, and sometimes he just needs a freaking break from it all. It's difficult work to keep all those souls in torment, and even with a hardworking assistant (she's worked every weekend for a millennium, what with it being hell and all) sometimes a time-out is required.
Thus begins Jeffrey Ricker's awesome (and awesomely funny and sexy) story. This story gives us the ultimate fallen one in a kind of fun jaunt, and when a lovely young man catches his eye, well...
What Satan wants, Satan... Wait. No. Didn't Satan wanting things lead to trouble last time? Of course, if he's not careful, You Know Who might pop in for a visit, and that will definitely be interesting...
"Imp," by Trebor Healey
The next story in Raising Hell is Trebor Healey's "Imp." Trebor's tale is, to my mind, the most unique of the tales told in this collection. Here we get a fully formed mythology around the imp character who is telling us of his affairs here on Earth. Not exactly erotic, the connection the Imp forms is one feeding on the energies created by his mischief - and his struggle with a young man in a time and place where mischief just wasn't enough to bug him. This young man's inability to be bothered by the Imp was to the downfall of more than one, and there's a winding, twisted path to get there.
It's unsurprising how poetic and full of mythology this story is - it is, after all, a Trebor Healey tale - and yet it remains accessible, and as I grew more and more frustrated with the Imp (I really wanted to smack him around) the reality of just how well Healy had spun me into his prose was obvious.
"Duel on Interstate Five," by Felice Picano
This short sharp shock of a story ties up the tales in Raising Hell on a futuristic note. It's a solid piece by Picano, who does spec fic with such a lovely edge to it, and a tongue-in-cheek "road-warrior" feel to it, as well.
In an era where actual ground-cars are barely used any more and the roads are a somewhat wild place, an impromptu challenge between drivers with unusual stakes can develop. Told with a fun and slightly future-feel lexicon, the story vibrates off the page, and you can smell the burned rubber.
More...