Jennifer Levine (2)

Devil’s Masquerade by Michael M. Jones—

Writing - 4/5
Story - 3/5
Spiciness - 2/5

In this short story, two undercover ducal agents are infiltrating a Devil’s Masquerade evening where the highest echelon of society gathers to engage in a night of debauchery. An incubus or succubus has been sighted in the area and the two agents are tasked to weed the demon out of the crowd, because everyone knows a sex demon can’t say no to a night of zero inhibitions. I don’t want to spoil the seksy times but I was surprised that it was lady on lady action. I’m glad to see this story being written but it did absolutely nothing for my nether regions. (Erm, awkwardness on Goodreads) Continuing with the awkwardness, I find the idea of orgies fascinating. How people can just let go completely and then, presumably, return to their everyday lives I may never know. What if you saw the person you caroused with somewhere random? Also, I’ve always wanted to go to a masquerade ball. Sometimes I think that if I ever get married, it would be pretty sweet to have a masquerade ball wedding…then I realize that I hate that kind of stuff (themed weddings) and I’d hate myself a little bit for doing something like that. I’d better settle on a masquerade ball-themed New Year’s Eve party and cross it off my bucket list. (which I also don’t have)

[a:Michael M. Jones|3421556|Michael M. Jones|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] is skilled enough in his writing. I’m sometimes wary of ebook releases but there were absolutely no editing errors that drove me up the wall which was refreshing and I quite liked Jones’ style. My only gripe—there seemed to be waaaay too much silk flowing around curves and between legs and, well, everywhere. I mean, I like silk as much as the next girl…actually, maybe I don’t.

The Seer’s Mask by Brandi Guthrie

Writing - 3/5
Story - 3/5
Spiciness - 3/5

The Seer’s Mask is about, wait for it, a seer that places irremovable masks on prisoners of war. Gadeah, the seer in question, is head of a group of Sisters who rule the kingdom and Aamir is a sexy POW who I picture to look like Khal Drogo (HOT). Anyway, Aamir wears the seer’s mask and he is relegated to be Gadeah’s sexual slave, though she has never utilized his services despite her impotent consort. Guess what? Not fo long, bitches. This story takes place almost exclusively in the bedroom and I totally would’ve given it 4 stars in the spiciness department if it weren’t for a few sentences that had to do with areolae and sacs…ew. Buzz Killington.

Short stories are hard for me because I always want more of everything—character development, plot, description, and that is just not possible. Especially in the case of an erotica anthology where the authors have to include sex scenes in their short page allotment. I think this story of Ms. Guthrie’s could easily be elaborated into a longer novella or inserted into a full-length novel and I would read it. Just less mentions of those aforementioned words, please!

Heir Apparent by Victoria Pond

Writing - 4/5
Story - 3/5
Spiciness - 3/5

Heir Apparent feels like a short story written in a well-established fantasy realm. Margaret, heir to the throne since the death of her brother and husband, is sent on a soothsayer’s quest to find one whom she believed to be lost forever and, since this is part of an erotica anthology, I think we all know what she finds at the end of her quest. The writing was fluid and I enjoyed the fact that there was more dialogue and a sense of humor inserted into this story. I was/am skeptical about some aspects of the story (climbing a tower in full armor? I don’t think that is possible. ) However, I was invested in this story’s characters more so than in the preceding stories—I only wish there was, and excuse the pun (or don’t), more completion in the sex department. As it is, it is a bit unfulfilling.

My only other minor annoyance was about how/why he was in the tower. There’s no mention of the King having any magical powers. Who imprisoned him there? Why the mask? Why can’t he take it off? Are we supposed to believe that the knights won’t question who is in the tower and just tell the King? Unanswered questions abound but I guess it is a good sign that I enjoyed it enough to want to know the answers. This is the perfect time to fess up that I know the author of this short story. Also that I will saturate her with wine at the next book club until she answers ALL the questions for me. Bwahahahaha.

An Unusual Legacy by Anya Levin

Writing - 3/5
Story - 2.5/5
Spiciness - 4.5/5

Oo-ee, voyeurism and sex with a stranger? Obviously, this is one hot little story. However, I had to reread the first two pages three times before I resigned myself to having no clue what was going on. Maybe it is because I was reading it in the middle of the night or perhaps I am an idiot? Hopefully it is the former, otherwise I should probably give my degrees back. Anyway, this one kind of reads like The Matrix except when the main character takes the red pill and goes down the rabbit hole, it is sexy time with strangers and Laurence Fishburne isn’t there telling her what to do. This story was rather frustrating because I loathed the setup, loved the middle, and thought the ending was interesting if still a little bit confusing. I’d love to blurb the plot but I would probably muddle it up--how depressing is that? Either way, I wish Ms. Levin would’ve just simplified it, taken out the entire Jenny/Leonie love backstory and proceeded with a standard VR-type storyline.


Overall, I thought this anthology was well done. The editing was fabulous and I didn’t find any errors—a wonder in the ebook world! (Seriously, I find errors in my Kindle books all the time—even the ones with major releases.) All four stories were entertaining and varied enough to keep my interest. I only wonder who the primary audience is for the book—it seems like there is something for everyone and that is a risky move to take. Being something for everyone almost necessarily means that a lot of the book might not appeal to each reader. Regardless, it is worth its $3.99 price tag and I’d definitely read more from each of the authors. It was interesting to see how the prompt picture inspired their stories and if any Goodreaders know of any more good picture prompted anthologies, rec them to me because I enjoyed the idea.
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Devil’s Masquerade by Michael M. Jones (F/F): Grace and Starling are demon hunters in a fantasy kingdom, partner in job and lives. They are at the opposite, Grace petite and light, Starling tall and rubenesque, but between them there is a camaraderie that fits their attitude in life. When they are assigned to the patrolling of the Devil’s Masquerade annual ball, patronized by the Duke, they have to let go armour and swords for silks and glitter. Again, on the opposite of what you would ordinarily believe, the most reluctant is Grace, while Star takes it as a chance to dress her lover in fancy garments and enjoy every moment of it. The ball, the Masquerade, allow Grace and Star to behave out of their “character”, to be feminine without being considered less than a warrior, and they will profit of every minute; finding the demon is necessary but no more their main purpose. At the end of the night, they will come back to be warriors… until next year ball.

The Seer’s Mask by Brandi Guthrie (M/F): Gadeah is the Seer, the priestess of a matriarchal society; she is worshipped as a goddess, but she is not one, and she has the desires of every woman, to be loved and cherished. Her consort is detached from her, and lately she feels more and more connected with Aamir, the warrior she and her army enslaved, marking him with a chained mask around his head, so that everyone can see he is nothing than a property of the Seer. To the Seer is allowed a lot, even to use Aamir as a sex toy, but it’s not allow to her to fall in love for an enemy, and when it will happen it will be the end of her privileged life, but maybe the beginning of her true love.

Heir Apparent by Victoria Pond (M/F): this is a mix of funny and fairy tale; the only daughter of an evil king is his only heir and as such, she has to behave as a prince instead of a princess; she wears an armour, she is in command of an army (even if the army seems to be more a theatrical troupe than dangerous soldiers) and she has a mission, to reach a fairy erection… ehm, tower, and free the person inside. Of course since the prince is a princess, the damsel in distress is not a damsel at all. What the heir apparent will do? Will she behave like a woman or a man? I found myself more often than not smiling while I was reading this short story, I think the author was kindly making fun of the classical fairy tales.

An Unusual Legacy by Anya Levin (F/F and M/F): I’m not sure I fully understand this short story, but maybe I’m not really familiar with the sci-fi genre; from what I understood Leonie and Jenny were “virtual lovers”, meeting once a time in a some futuristic chat-room where they can interact almost as if they were really there. In this society everyone live in an “interface”, but there is a rebellious group that organize gathering where people can let it go of their interface; of course once they do that, they will wear a “mask”, a complete body mask changing their appearance. With the change comes freedom, sexual freedom that convey another type of feeling, of being the owner of your own, despite the strict society you are living in.

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Buried Alive in the Blues by J. Daniel Sawyer (M/F and M/M): More than an apocalyptic futuristic short story, this was almost an horror. While the world is crashing down around her, a woman is mourning the loss of her beloved husband Juno. For her nothing matter now, if not the blues, and when the last band in the world playing the right blues comes to town, that is the only reason why she will leave her home. But she is not going only to listen to music and dance, she is going to the end of the world and back again, and through sex she will take her vengeance, or maybe even grant peace to her enemies.

Expiry Date by Elizabeth Coldwell (M/F): in its macabre tone, this was probably the most funny of the short stories. Holly has no money to pay for her chip to be upgraded, and at the end of the day she will be dead. She decides that she will enjoy her last day, even if this will mean to cheat her best friend: Suzi has the best husband around, Marco, and Holly wants a piece of him before the end. It’s not really cheating since she will be not around to continue to do so. But destiny has other plans.

Darkest Night by Elizabeth Schechter (M/M and M/F): for once the M/M pair was not the good one. Moira is an AI of Tariq’s spaceshift, and she is always there for him, despite all the different lovers, males and females, entering his life. Now Tariq has Marcus, and he seems happy; Moira has no jealousy in her, and she only wants the best for Tariq, so she doesn’t understand why Marcus is so contrary to her. Then Moira intercept a message: the end of the world, know and unknow is coming, and they have only two choice, searching shelter deep in the ground or chosing to die in the space, like they have always lived. Tariq has no doubt, and Moira can only follow what Tariq wants, but Marcus has a slightly different idea.

Invasion! by Beverly Langland (F/F and M/F): this is almost a joke, when the radio airs the announce that there is an Invasion from Mars, two women and a man decide that if they have to die, at least they will enjoy the waiting…

Fences by David Hubbard (M/M): without doubt Fences was the most romantic and in a way the only one with a bit of hope in the end. Jeremy had a perfect life, a loving husband, a beautiful house in the suburbs, two dogs… the full package, until a lethal virus destroyed everything. Now a widower with his days counted, Jeremy is only waiting for the end, and trying to enjoy what remains of his life. He is not expecting a second chance, above all not to love, but his neighboor, Bradley, is alone as Jeremy, and he has lost everything like Jeremy. Bradley was not gay, and in a normal situation nothing between them could have happened, but this is not a normal situation, and sincerely, now it’s more important that you are able to find someone, than being selective on his gender. But even if maybe Jeremy and Bradley get together out of loneliness, it’s not a desperate move: both Jeremy than Bradley had a good life before, and they would have been able to live out of their memories, but they don’t want to face the end alone.

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