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emizulu's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Enjoyed this book over the course of a day, but you could easily read each story as little bit size pieces. Explicit queer erotica wrapped up in compelling world building. As another reviewer said, I would happily read a full novel exploring any of these stories. Borrowed a copy from an acquaintance, but I suspect I'll have to buy my own so that I can reread in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Trafficking, Gun violence, Slavery, and Adult/minor relationship
melissabrinks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Apparently I'm not the only person who bought this based on the title without realizing it was erotica!
Queer Werewolves Destroy Capitalism is a collection of short erotic stories about queer men set in a variety of pulpy settings—the Wild West, the far future, et cetera. Not all of them contain werewolves and not all of them destroy capitalism, but there is a pervasive sense of queerness that goes beyond the relationships between the characters. Each one in some way challenges societal conventions, not just because they contain queer men, but because they resist some element of the normative world and prove it to be constructed.
I don't read much erotica so I can't compare it to much else on that basis, but it IS refreshing to read something focused on romance that I know is friendly and accepting; Lyons isn't going to suddenly bust out tired or offensive language that throws readers out of the fantasy by being bigoted. The book is quite spicy—Lyons makes full use of the titular werewolves, if you catch my drift—but while the sex may be a shade beyond vanilla, it matches the tone of each story. Some are more aggressive or challenging than others, depending on who is having sex and for what reason, but each one works within its context and gives us an interesting view into what sex is like in each world, and what sex means to each set of characters.
My only real gripe with the collection is that it could have used a stronger editing hand, both for clarity and for brevity. Still, it's a solid collection, but they're not joking on the cover when it says "smutty stories."
The werewolves do try to destroy capitalism though.
Queer Werewolves Destroy Capitalism is a collection of short erotic stories about queer men set in a variety of pulpy settings—the Wild West, the far future, et cetera. Not all of them contain werewolves and not all of them destroy capitalism, but there is a pervasive sense of queerness that goes beyond the relationships between the characters. Each one in some way challenges societal conventions, not just because they contain queer men, but because they resist some element of the normative world and prove it to be constructed.
I don't read much erotica so I can't compare it to much else on that basis, but it IS refreshing to read something focused on romance that I know is friendly and accepting; Lyons isn't going to suddenly bust out tired or offensive language that throws readers out of the fantasy by being bigoted. The book is quite spicy—Lyons makes full use of the titular werewolves, if you catch my drift—but while the sex may be a shade beyond vanilla, it matches the tone of each story. Some are more aggressive or challenging than others, depending on who is having sex and for what reason, but each one works within its context and gives us an interesting view into what sex is like in each world, and what sex means to each set of characters.
My only real gripe with the collection is that it could have used a stronger editing hand, both for clarity and for brevity. Still, it's a solid collection, but they're not joking on the cover when it says "smutty stories."
The werewolves do try to destroy capitalism though.
itaby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
roz_1122's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
wai's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
bookbinch's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up at an indie bookstore, mostly because of the title and cover. I mean QUEER WEREWOLVES…. DESTROYING CAPITALISM…??? Sign me up.
What I hadn’t noticed was that is is not just smutty stories, it’s actually erotica. But these stories are hot, well written and so diverse.
What I hadn’t noticed was that is is not just smutty stories, it’s actually erotica. But these stories are hot, well written and so diverse.
pantswithpockets's review against another edition
4.0
There are no reviews so I feel like it is my duty, just in case someone-unlike me- reads reviews before buying a book.
So: this is MALE EROTICA which I wish I had realized, but “Destroy Capitalism” pretty much had me hooked and there was no turning back. The title story is honestly pretty good, and definitely erotic. I’m not very into men and I’m definitely not into werewolves but like? It was good enough to make me not question either of those facts. Some of the stories were kinda hard to follow and/or dragged on, but honestly for a mistaken buy I’m impressed. The nice thing is this is SUPER QUEER and SUPER DIVERSE so it’s not just white man x white man which tbh is a huge compliment in this genre.
Edit: I have returned to this book twice and for that I have added more stars. Beautiful tales age like fine wine. And yes, I’m drunk on them.
So: this is MALE EROTICA which I wish I had realized, but “Destroy Capitalism” pretty much had me hooked and there was no turning back. The title story is honestly pretty good, and definitely erotic. I’m not very into men and I’m definitely not into werewolves but like? It was good enough to make me not question either of those facts. Some of the stories were kinda hard to follow and/or dragged on, but honestly for a mistaken buy I’m impressed. The nice thing is this is SUPER QUEER and SUPER DIVERSE so it’s not just white man x white man which tbh is a huge compliment in this genre.
Edit: I have returned to this book twice and for that I have added more stars. Beautiful tales age like fine wine. And yes, I’m drunk on them.
tgzink01's review against another edition
4.0
It's queer, it's anti capitalist, it's smutty. The cover does the book justice. There are werewolves, tentacle alien creatures, cowboys, smugglers, and more!
Read this in about an hour and a half. Delightful quick read, what I like to refer to as a snack read.
Read this in about an hour and a half. Delightful quick read, what I like to refer to as a snack read.
rhoudeboy's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up at an indie bookstore, mostly because of the title and cover. I mean QUEER WEREWOLVES…. DESTROYING CAPITALISM…??? Sign me up.
What I hadn’t noticed was that is is not just smutty stories, it’s actually erotica. But these stories are hot, well written and so diverse.
What I hadn’t noticed was that is is not just smutty stories, it’s actually erotica. But these stories are hot, well written and so diverse.