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dfostermartin's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
3.0
bradenthompson's review
3.0
As it goes with anthologies, some stories are better than others. The first by Melissa Febos is fantastic.
zelieanner's review
3.5
Good, but it’s been a long time since I read short stories and I didn’t really connect like I do longer formats. I liked the one about the French theater.
floweringfables's review
4.0
I read Kink for my erotica/romance book club, & I have quite a few thoughts on it!
I thought this was a very thought-provoking read that touched on a variety of importance topics within kink & alternative lifestyles. It wasn’t so much of a erotica as it was a collection of think-pieces that I feel are meant to get your wheels turning, & possibly challenge your views.
I feel that people who read this book may be surprised by what they’re into — that maybe it is the purpose of this collection of stories! If someone hasn’t had an introduction to kink & the BDSM scene, this book certainly throws you in head first. It’s definitely not for everyone & that’s okay!
There were so many important topics covered through each chapter. Power dynamics, healthy/unhealthy power exchange, normalization of exploration, sex work, trans representation, & ultimately surrender to pleasure, which is a unique experience for everyone.
I didn’t like how quickly some of my favorite stories ended & wish many were longer. There were a few that I didn’t care for altogether, whether they were triggering or just not my cup of tea — one being pretty graphic & about unhealthy power exchange, & one mentioning inter-family relations.
I thought this was a very thought-provoking read that touched on a variety of importance topics within kink & alternative lifestyles. It wasn’t so much of a erotica as it was a collection of think-pieces that I feel are meant to get your wheels turning, & possibly challenge your views.
I feel that people who read this book may be surprised by what they’re into — that maybe it is the purpose of this collection of stories! If someone hasn’t had an introduction to kink & the BDSM scene, this book certainly throws you in head first. It’s definitely not for everyone & that’s okay!
There were so many important topics covered through each chapter. Power dynamics, healthy/unhealthy power exchange, normalization of exploration, sex work, trans representation, & ultimately surrender to pleasure, which is a unique experience for everyone.
I didn’t like how quickly some of my favorite stories ended & wish many were longer. There were a few that I didn’t care for altogether, whether they were triggering or just not my cup of tea — one being pretty graphic & about unhealthy power exchange, & one mentioning inter-family relations.
macyberendsen's review
4.0
This has a lot of negative reviews, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought and am confused by people being upset by this “not being kinky enough.” I think it’s each author’s unique experience with sex and how they want to interpret that. I don’t think this book was meant to be a “smut” read, but more so an exploration of an even more taboo branch of an already taboo subject.
hannahouston's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
fl0ralaura's review
2.0
Carmen Maria Machado saves this otherwise 2 star anthology. I found the kink in these stories largely uninspired and it often felt separate from the story otherwise being told. It was shocking how many stories in this anthology are summed up by “person bored with their sex life jazzes things up” when I was looking for stories of people embedded in the BDSM lifestyle, who found comfort in this alternative lifestyle, who found community in these spaces.
hrobison11's review
4.0
Some of these stories are written so well that you have to remind yourself it’s fiction.
Some are of course, not as well written and leave the reader with a sense of “really?”
This was a unique collection that really demonstrated the diversity of the word. While there was more based in the bdsm style, there was actually some differentiating among elements of that world.
I would like to see a true anthology, of real stories, to see how well these authors did in portraying certain elements. It’s good to see this being written about, and making it fiction might make it easier for others to read, but a nonfiction anthology would be a great next step.
I received an arc of this book and my opinions are based on that.
Some are of course, not as well written and leave the reader with a sense of “really?”
This was a unique collection that really demonstrated the diversity of the word. While there was more based in the bdsm style, there was actually some differentiating among elements of that world.
I would like to see a true anthology, of real stories, to see how well these authors did in portraying certain elements. It’s good to see this being written about, and making it fiction might make it easier for others to read, but a nonfiction anthology would be a great next step.
I received an arc of this book and my opinions are based on that.
sweetlena96's review
Most of the stories were boring. Also didn’t find most of the stuff that kinky. Multiple instances of what I would consider non consensual acts. Also since when is trans people having sex kinky? It’s just sex same as cis people having sex. Some of the stories were just queer people having sex which felt like a weird statement to put it in a book called kink. Carmen Maria machados Story was wonderful though