n_wilkinson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
n_wilkinson) wrote2010-06-17 11:44 am
n_wilkinson) wrote2010-06-17 11:44 am
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Fic Review: "Blind Desire" by ID Locke
Firstly, let me say this. I don't purchase books nearly as often as I ought to. And immediately after reading this book, I decided that I must rectify that mistake immediately.
Secondly, "Blind Desire" was -- in a word -- exquisite. Of course, it helps that I've been a long-standing fan of the author, ID Locke whom I was originally introduced to through her fan fiction which would be more familiar to you under the name Irondog. But even I was blown away by how quickly I was sucked into the story and how easily I fell into the world she created. To be honest, I couldn't put it down and refused to leave my chair, reading all 66K or so in one night. Yes, it was that fascinating.
I'm not a fan of first-person POV. I think that it is usually very poorly done -- especially in the fanfiction world -- and half the time, I don't feel like the character is speaking to me so much as the author is trying to tell me a story and doing a poor job of it. However, I've always found her writing to be uniquely different in that regards and "Blind Desire" is no exception. Locke has an amazing ability to make each character's voice distinctive, so much so that without being introduced to whomever is speaking, the reader can easily pick out which character is telling us their tale for any given scene. Not to mention her writing is very fluid and it's easy to get sucked into the character's pace.
Now, as for "Blind Desire" itself. I'll try to be as review-like and not-spoilery as possible.
In it's basest of basest, it's a little bit of fate, a little bit of fantasy, and a whole lotta sexin'. Something, I must admit, Locke does very well. Each smexy scene is both sexual and hot, without being overly romantic, the type of mushy drivel that makes me cringe on the inside. Her men are very much men and even better, she doesn't ascribe to the typical conventions surrounding homoerotica. Her men frequently "switch" positions and it's so natural and normal that any reader doesn't even blink at it. It never feels forced and she doesn't make a huge deal over switching things around, with the characters -- even those with reservations -- enjoying themselves to the fullest.
I think it's about time for a summary. So let me slap the one that she has on the catalog in here so you can read it:
"A chance encounter in an alleyway has Ryzel, an incubus, chasing after Quinlin, the Gifted human who almost interrupted his most recent meal. Quinlin’s prickly attitude doesn’t stop Ryzel from trying to find him because a Gifted human such as Quinlin is the richest possible food source for an incubus. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Ryzel also finds Quinlin beautiful.
Quinlin is frustrated and annoyed that he can’t get Ryzel out of his mind after only one stolen kiss. A second encounter with Ryzel in a bar leads Quinlin to make the life-altering decision to sleep with the object of his obsession to purge Ryzel from his mind once and for all. One night of pleasure reveals details neither intended to tell the other about themselves. The wheels of destiny are set into motion."
To be fair, I have a thing for arrogant incubi like Ryzel and supreme "bitches" like Quinlin. So this story appealed to me on several levels. The characters were easy to fall in love with and who can resist a story line involving Incubi, demons, and magic? Certainly not I. Locke's worldbuilding skills are, in a word, amazing. "Blind Desire" is set in a world much like our present day, but with a fantasy element involving demons, angels, etc. And yet, her characters are so real and lifelike you feel as if you could have met them on the street, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, courage and fear.
Another unique bit about Locke's writing is the sex scenes. They aren't arbitrarily placed, or used as mere filler material. Instead, each one fits perfectly within the plot. The story doesn't feel like a bunch of disconnected scenes, but a well-woven tale with sexy bits that serve to make the reader hot AND move the plot forward all at the same time. This isn't a story where removing the sexy bits would be easy or even advised. True, "Blind Desire" could be enjoyed without all the heat, but it wouldn't be the same. It would be missing an integral piece of Locke's storytelling.
Basically, read it. That's what I'm trying to say. If you have the money, go out and purchase "Blind Desire" . It's well worth it. Trust me. So worth it that I wished there were more by the time I was done with it. Which, consequently, would be my only complaint. I wanted more and there wasn't more. *laughs*
Here's the link to where you can purchase "Blind Desire", something I would highly recommend.
Aye-ye-ye, why is it so much easier to dissect someone else's story?
Secondly, "Blind Desire" was -- in a word -- exquisite. Of course, it helps that I've been a long-standing fan of the author, ID Locke whom I was originally introduced to through her fan fiction which would be more familiar to you under the name Irondog. But even I was blown away by how quickly I was sucked into the story and how easily I fell into the world she created. To be honest, I couldn't put it down and refused to leave my chair, reading all 66K or so in one night. Yes, it was that fascinating.
I'm not a fan of first-person POV. I think that it is usually very poorly done -- especially in the fanfiction world -- and half the time, I don't feel like the character is speaking to me so much as the author is trying to tell me a story and doing a poor job of it. However, I've always found her writing to be uniquely different in that regards and "Blind Desire" is no exception. Locke has an amazing ability to make each character's voice distinctive, so much so that without being introduced to whomever is speaking, the reader can easily pick out which character is telling us their tale for any given scene. Not to mention her writing is very fluid and it's easy to get sucked into the character's pace.
Now, as for "Blind Desire" itself. I'll try to be as review-like and not-spoilery as possible.
In it's basest of basest, it's a little bit of fate, a little bit of fantasy, and a whole lotta sexin'. Something, I must admit, Locke does very well. Each smexy scene is both sexual and hot, without being overly romantic, the type of mushy drivel that makes me cringe on the inside. Her men are very much men and even better, she doesn't ascribe to the typical conventions surrounding homoerotica. Her men frequently "switch" positions and it's so natural and normal that any reader doesn't even blink at it. It never feels forced and she doesn't make a huge deal over switching things around, with the characters -- even those with reservations -- enjoying themselves to the fullest.
I think it's about time for a summary. So let me slap the one that she has on the catalog in here so you can read it:
"A chance encounter in an alleyway has Ryzel, an incubus, chasing after Quinlin, the Gifted human who almost interrupted his most recent meal. Quinlin’s prickly attitude doesn’t stop Ryzel from trying to find him because a Gifted human such as Quinlin is the richest possible food source for an incubus. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Ryzel also finds Quinlin beautiful.
Quinlin is frustrated and annoyed that he can’t get Ryzel out of his mind after only one stolen kiss. A second encounter with Ryzel in a bar leads Quinlin to make the life-altering decision to sleep with the object of his obsession to purge Ryzel from his mind once and for all. One night of pleasure reveals details neither intended to tell the other about themselves. The wheels of destiny are set into motion."
To be fair, I have a thing for arrogant incubi like Ryzel and supreme "bitches" like Quinlin. So this story appealed to me on several levels. The characters were easy to fall in love with and who can resist a story line involving Incubi, demons, and magic? Certainly not I. Locke's worldbuilding skills are, in a word, amazing. "Blind Desire" is set in a world much like our present day, but with a fantasy element involving demons, angels, etc. And yet, her characters are so real and lifelike you feel as if you could have met them on the street, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, courage and fear.
Another unique bit about Locke's writing is the sex scenes. They aren't arbitrarily placed, or used as mere filler material. Instead, each one fits perfectly within the plot. The story doesn't feel like a bunch of disconnected scenes, but a well-woven tale with sexy bits that serve to make the reader hot AND move the plot forward all at the same time. This isn't a story where removing the sexy bits would be easy or even advised. True, "Blind Desire" could be enjoyed without all the heat, but it wouldn't be the same. It would be missing an integral piece of Locke's storytelling.
Basically, read it. That's what I'm trying to say. If you have the money, go out and purchase "Blind Desire" . It's well worth it. Trust me. So worth it that I wished there were more by the time I was done with it. Which, consequently, would be my only complaint. I wanted more and there wasn't more. *laughs*
Here's the link to where you can purchase "Blind Desire", something I would highly recommend.
Aye-ye-ye, why is it so much easier to dissect someone else's story?