Cleis Press, September 2011; ISBN-10: 1573447161
Review by Kristina Wright: Keeping the tradition of Gothic literature alive, perennial editor Mitzi Szereto gives us Red Velvet and Absinthe: Paranormal Erotic Romance. As Szereto states in the introduction, her goal was to not only offer readers an anthology that was reminiscent of the Gothic classics, “but take things further by adding to the brew a generous portion of eroticism that’s far less restrained than what transpired between Cathy and Heathcliff.” And so she does! This scrumptious collection will thrill the fans of Gothic literature with a titillating collection of stories that inspire shivers of both desire and dread.
The best word to describe Red Velvet and Absinthe is atmospheric. These stories are written to draw you into a world unlike any you’ve ever known and make you believe in the things that lurk in the shadows. The authors have done an admirable job of paying tribute to the Gothic masters and mistresses of old, putting a new spin on familiar Gothic tropes. In most of the tales, things are not always as they seem and the reader is left breathless with anticipation right up until thFe end. All of the stories are sensual treats and the level of eroticism varies from what you might find in a more traditional Gothic story to contemporary literary erotic explorations.
As is befitting the subtitle, Paranormal Erotic Romance, there are number of paranormal elements to be found in the stories. Shape-shifters, werewolves, vampires and otherworldly creatures are well-represented with interesting interpretations and twists. My favorite stories in this collection include Janine Ashbless’s poignant “Cover Him With Darkness,” Charlotte Stein’s creepy “Dolly” and Zander Vyne’s shocking “La Belle Mort.” Each story is so well-written and so delicious that it’s enough to make you put the book down and contemplate what you’ve just read—and then reread it all over again.
Despite the short format, each author in Red Velvet and Absinthe delivers a complete and complex erotic tale. Mitzi Szereto is known for choosing the very best of literary erotica for her anthologies, and this book is representative of the very best of the genre. With fifteen unique stories (as well as an introduction by Szereto and a foreword by paranormal author Kelley Armstrong), gans of paranormal and Gothic stories will find a few favorites among this collection—and be eager to share their opinions (and maybe copies of the book) with friends.
Available at: Amazon
