Lori L. LakeReviews
Silk and Feather
 Silk and Feather By M. Jones Wayward Books, 2002/225 pgs/$10.99 ($5.99GBP)/ ISBN: 1903531071 |
SILK and
FEATHER are nicknames for the two gay novellas, A
Shadow of Red Silk
and A
Crimson Feather, included
in this
volume. The first is about a
young man, Adrian, whose father has committed suicide after bankruptcy,
leaving his son penniless, alone, and struggling with a dreadful
respiratory disease similar to consumption. Adrian is brought to live
with his aunt and her son, a physically beautiful man who is cruel and
heartless. With only a few books and the clothes on his back, Adrian
faces impending death, either from illness or at the hands of his
ruthless cousin—or does he? An unlikely confederate rises up
to give
him hope and heart. It’s a very gothic novel not set in any
particular
period, but it feels appropriately swoony and Victorian, and I was
reminded of Sarah Water’s AFFINITY because of its dark tone. The second novella, A Crimson Feather, is so different in tone from the first that it is a surprise that Jones wrote them both. American cop Rook Larson works his desolate police job in some unnamed city, spending evenings drinking away his sorrow and longing for a boyfriend and a life. His boring life is upended when he finds a strange man who has been attacked and left for dead in an alleyway. The odd and puzzling victim, Azriel, is gorgeous to look at but loathe to trust Rook, even if Rook is a cop. Soon the two men are forced to deal with a foe more deadly and dreadful than either had imagined. Both of these short novels are well-written, engaging, and contain an unexpected surprise or two. What they have in common is an otherworldliness that isn’t often seen outside horror—but each falls more into the drama/romance category rather than in horror. Both will entertain and captivate and are recommended for gay romance readers of any age. |
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