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tricapra's review
4.0
This is my first time reading a book from Riverdale Avenue Books, and I'll definitely be back for more. While there were some minor typos and basic editing errors in the second half of the book, this is definitely worth your time if the description catches your interest. Andrew Robertson has put together quite a compelling collection of queer, erotic horror stories. I was pleased that not all of the stories had tragic endings, and also pleased that the horror element was pretty prominent thoroughout. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone feeling prudish, because there are definitely some pretty graphic sex scenes. If you're looking for queer flavor in your paranormal erotica, this is definitely the book for you.
mxsallybend's review
4.0
Released just before Halloween this year, Dark Rainbow is an Anthology of Queer Erotic Horror edited Andrew Robertson is absolutely fantastic. Going into a collection like this, I usually hope to find a few really good stories, and resign myself to skimming over a few, but this was a solid, perfectly orchestrated collection of erotic horror that bleeds all the colors of the queer rainbow.
The stories that really stood out for me . . . the ones that made me stop, shake my head, and walk away for a moment . . . were as follows:
Pip and Estella by Valerie Alexander is a weird Southern Gothic take on Great Expectations that was full of dark and dirty lesbian exploration, and which built slowly to a series of chilling climaxes.
Goldilocks and her Undead Bear by Julianne Snow is my first favorite of the collection, the story of a fierce drag queen, her three gay bears, and a zombie outbreak. The battle at the club was fantastic, and that final line . . . it still makes me smile every time I think of it.
Think of Me by Lindsay King-Miller is the story that absolutely blew me away, a deeply moving tale that explores the pain of suicide, the legacy we leave behind, and how even our best efforts to make amends can lead to some very dark acts. You need to read this. Stunningly powerful.
Odd Man Out by Derek Clendening is a kind of a guilty pleasure, a story about horrible acts of violence and betrayal, but defined by twists that I thoroughly enjoyed.
His Type by Sèphera Girón is a slow-burning story, one that takes a while to reveal it secrets, to tear away its erotic skin to reveal the horror beneath it, but once its demons break through it just keeps getting darker, weirder, and more viscerally intense.
The Life Model by Jim Towns is a love story with supernatural elements, but even if I would be hard-pressed to define as horror, I absolutely loved the budding relationship between an introverted nude model and a shy painter. Just beautiful.
The Dark Gem by Lisi Damette is a story that was just full of surprises, transforming both an abused woman and her husband through witchcraft at a strange brothel. It is darkly suggestive, but full of images that linger long after you are done reading.
Broken Lines of Salt and Flesh by Robert E. Furey is another story of witchcraft and betrayal, marked by a wonderful bit of mystical seduction, an intensely exciting transformation, and the promise of something truly decadent. This is a story that is all in the details, and I loved it.
The Grave of Lilith by Harry F. Rey is a story I was hesitant about at first, but which was entirely redeemed by the message in its final paragraph. It is a weird story, as much about faith and belief as love and lust, built around a terrifying archaeological exploration of a biblical site, with . . . well, I refuse to spoil it, but I loved the final bit about those who deserve to die.
I deliberately avoided saying too much about the queer pairings in each story, but I was pleasantly surprised to find so much transgender content here, and even if it is more gay than lesbian, I still think Andrew Robertson did a wonderful job of paying respect to the entire queer spectrum of the Dark Rainbow.
https://bibrary.blogspot.com/2018/12/dark-rainbow-edited-by-andrew-robertson.html
The stories that really stood out for me . . . the ones that made me stop, shake my head, and walk away for a moment . . . were as follows:
Pip and Estella by Valerie Alexander is a weird Southern Gothic take on Great Expectations that was full of dark and dirty lesbian exploration, and which built slowly to a series of chilling climaxes.
Goldilocks and her Undead Bear by Julianne Snow is my first favorite of the collection, the story of a fierce drag queen, her three gay bears, and a zombie outbreak. The battle at the club was fantastic, and that final line . . . it still makes me smile every time I think of it.
Think of Me by Lindsay King-Miller is the story that absolutely blew me away, a deeply moving tale that explores the pain of suicide, the legacy we leave behind, and how even our best efforts to make amends can lead to some very dark acts. You need to read this. Stunningly powerful.
Odd Man Out by Derek Clendening is a kind of a guilty pleasure, a story about horrible acts of violence and betrayal, but defined by twists that I thoroughly enjoyed.
His Type by Sèphera Girón is a slow-burning story, one that takes a while to reveal it secrets, to tear away its erotic skin to reveal the horror beneath it, but once its demons break through it just keeps getting darker, weirder, and more viscerally intense.
The Life Model by Jim Towns is a love story with supernatural elements, but even if I would be hard-pressed to define as horror, I absolutely loved the budding relationship between an introverted nude model and a shy painter. Just beautiful.
The Dark Gem by Lisi Damette is a story that was just full of surprises, transforming both an abused woman and her husband through witchcraft at a strange brothel. It is darkly suggestive, but full of images that linger long after you are done reading.
Broken Lines of Salt and Flesh by Robert E. Furey is another story of witchcraft and betrayal, marked by a wonderful bit of mystical seduction, an intensely exciting transformation, and the promise of something truly decadent. This is a story that is all in the details, and I loved it.
The Grave of Lilith by Harry F. Rey is a story I was hesitant about at first, but which was entirely redeemed by the message in its final paragraph. It is a weird story, as much about faith and belief as love and lust, built around a terrifying archaeological exploration of a biblical site, with . . . well, I refuse to spoil it, but I loved the final bit about those who deserve to die.
I deliberately avoided saying too much about the queer pairings in each story, but I was pleasantly surprised to find so much transgender content here, and even if it is more gay than lesbian, I still think Andrew Robertson did a wonderful job of paying respect to the entire queer spectrum of the Dark Rainbow.
https://bibrary.blogspot.com/2018/12/dark-rainbow-edited-by-andrew-robertson.html
alandd's review
4.0
Wow. Wow. Wow. I never thought such a combination could give so good results. There were stories that didn't surprise me at first, but things improve story after story. Each one has its own macabre charm.
wildgurl's review
3.0
Dark Rainbow: Anthology of Queer Erotic Horror
by Andrew Robertson & Sephera Giron
2018
Riverdale Avenue Books
3.4 /5
What a perfect pairing. Horror and queer erotica. It works!!
Everyone of the 15 stories have an element of fear or suspense and alot of sex. Sex more than horror drive these stories, each about 10-15 pages. I wish there were more horror centered, but this was still a wild, and scary collection. Some new authors, to me....Valerie Alexander, Lindsay King-Miller, Sephera Giron, and Jeff C. Sherman.
Thanks to Riverdale Ave. Books and net galley for the e-book ARC for a fair and honest review.
#DarkRainbow #Netgalley
by Andrew Robertson & Sephera Giron
2018
Riverdale Avenue Books
3.4 /5
What a perfect pairing. Horror and queer erotica. It works!!
Everyone of the 15 stories have an element of fear or suspense and alot of sex. Sex more than horror drive these stories, each about 10-15 pages. I wish there were more horror centered, but this was still a wild, and scary collection. Some new authors, to me....Valerie Alexander, Lindsay King-Miller, Sephera Giron, and Jeff C. Sherman.
Thanks to Riverdale Ave. Books and net galley for the e-book ARC for a fair and honest review.
#DarkRainbow #Netgalley
jugglingpup's review
1.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I love horror. I love erotica. I love queer. I was ready. I was let down.
There were a few stories that were on the brink of interesting, but then fell short for me. One of the few stories that were interesting was the werewolf one, but I am not even sure that they were really werewolves and not something more monstrous. That one was on the brink, so close to being one I would recommend. It just didn’t go quite far enough for me. That was one of maybe three stories that I was almost happy with.
Most of the stories were ones I was counting down the time until they were done. They were not scary. They were not sexy. Some were barely even queer. I was left wondering why they were included in this anthology. There was one were the main bad guy was angry about being called gay, but then it ended with him having the worst example of bisexual representation I have ever seen sex. I really could have done without the need to have a potentially bisexual character be in the middle of a forced sex scene between his straight best friend and a girl, so he is with a man and woman at the same time. It was just a really bad time.
There were just more and more examples of things I just didn’t need in my life. A lesbian version of Great Expectations, but with mummification? Never really needed that, thank you. I was interested to see where things would go, but it was just a let down. Though this was one of the more interesting stories in the collection. I am just sad.
There really weren’t any remarkable stories or word choices or really anything for me to cling to when it came to this collection. I am really disappointed. I was going to buy it for my partner, who is even bigger into horror than I am. I can’t imagine him reading this book. It isn’t any of the three things the title promised me.
I got an ARC of this book.
I love horror. I love erotica. I love queer. I was ready. I was let down.
There were a few stories that were on the brink of interesting, but then fell short for me. One of the few stories that were interesting was the werewolf one, but I am not even sure that they were really werewolves and not something more monstrous. That one was on the brink, so close to being one I would recommend. It just didn’t go quite far enough for me. That was one of maybe three stories that I was almost happy with.
Most of the stories were ones I was counting down the time until they were done. They were not scary. They were not sexy. Some were barely even queer. I was left wondering why they were included in this anthology. There was one were the main bad guy was angry about being called gay, but then it ended with him having the worst example of bisexual representation I have ever seen sex. I really could have done without the need to have a potentially bisexual character be in the middle of a forced sex scene between his straight best friend and a girl, so he is with a man and woman at the same time. It was just a really bad time.
There were just more and more examples of things I just didn’t need in my life. A lesbian version of Great Expectations, but with mummification? Never really needed that, thank you. I was interested to see where things would go, but it was just a let down. Though this was one of the more interesting stories in the collection. I am just sad.
There really weren’t any remarkable stories or word choices or really anything for me to cling to when it came to this collection. I am really disappointed. I was going to buy it for my partner, who is even bigger into horror than I am. I can’t imagine him reading this book. It isn’t any of the three things the title promised me.
magicalghoul's review
When it comes to anthologies you sort of expect a mixed bag with some great stories amid forgettable ones, but in this collection I found more of the latter than the former, which wasn't enough for me to be motivated enough to finish the rest.
That being said I'll list the ones I did like and would recommend:
♢ Pip and Estella by Valerie Alexander
♢ Think Of Me by Lindsay King-Miller
That being said I'll list the ones I did like and would recommend:
♢ Pip and Estella by Valerie Alexander
♢ Think Of Me by Lindsay King-Miller
charkinzie's review
2.0
I made a few attempts at picking this title up and completing the review. Sadly, this collection wasn't for me. I love horror and LGBTQ+ stories and content and this one just didn't connect with me.
That being said, all of the stories are well-written. It just wasn't something that worked for me.
That being said, all of the stories are well-written. It just wasn't something that worked for me.
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