Location: Australia
Member Since:
April 08, 2011
Gwydion Callard
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Smashwords book reviews by Gwydion Callard
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Divine Wine
on July 13, 2011
The paranormal erotica and romance genres have bloomed in recent years, and as anyone will tell you, much of the fare offered up is... well, pretty bland. The werewolves are emo, the vampires sparkle, everyone has flowing tresses and wears a lot of lace. Then comes along Diana Tree with 'Divine Wine', and – joy of joys! - the genre is as it should be. 'This little book is a racy, edgy, gritty grindhouse story, packed with intriguing characters and sexy monsters. 'Divine Wine' a short, sweet and gruesomely entertaining novella depicting the twisted tale of two predators – one human, and one not. The pair engage in a game of cat and mouse around the grimy docklands of New Jersey, culminating in violent confrontations with gang-bangers, innocent bystanders, and a pair of (strangely adorable) bonded ghouls. I'm not usually a 'vampire person', but I was caught by the vivid depiction of Atlantic City at its seediest, and was helplessly drawn into the story by its atmosphere alone. Diana Tree has excellent pacing and style that makes for a thrilling read, never giving too much away about the characters or the outcome of the book. While possibly too dark for some, its not dark enough to be inaccessible, and if you're after visceral sensuality – the kind found in 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'American Psycho' – you'll probably get a kick out of 'Divine Wine'.