Best Gay Paranormal / Horror
And the Rainbow Award goes to:
1) Megan Derr - Midnight
Paperback: 298 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (January 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936202638
ISBN-13: 978-1936202638
Amazon: Midnight
Megan Derr's Midnight is probably the best book I have read this year. I feel no hesitation in giving this superlatively written book a perfect score. It is sublime. I now have a new standard of brilliance to hold myself to as both a reader and a writer. --Cherie
I was impressed with this book. Ms. Derr does an excellent job creating a magical alternate universe twith a Regency era flavor. --Bobby
Lord Devlin White, Duke of Winterbourne, is the last in a long line of powerful witches who assist the Demon Lord of London in keeping control of the Nightwalkers living amongst normal men. With all but one of his siblings gone to the new American colonies, his proud family line all but ended, Devlin is kept from gloom and despair only by unusual ward, Midnight. Neither alive nor dead, sustained by magic and a bond to Devlin, and confined to the night, Midnight is happy to spend his life by Devlin's side-though he longs for the day that Devlin sees him as more than a ward. But the powerful magic that raised him from the dead is desperately sought by someone who will stop at nothing to obtain the secret of Midnight that Devlin would die to protect...
2) Belinda McBride - Blacque Bleu
Paperback: 258 pages
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC (August 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611183626
ISBN-13: 978-1611183627
Amazon: Blacque Bleu
This was quite a surprise! Normally the relationship dynamic portrayed in this story isn't my cup of tea but I actually felt a real connection to the characters and I didn't notice things that would normally bother me. The characters were a great blend of realism with that hint of supernatural. Despite the common story line, it stands strong on its own and is really more about relationships and need for companionship and to be understood rather than the supernatural. Definite re-read! --Alannah
A closeted werewolf and a dying vampire give in to desire and make an unusual and powerful connection. Lukas Blacque is a deeply closeted werewolf, and almost more than anything in life, he desires his neighbor, Oliver Bleu. Oliver is a vampire who is slowly dying from insomnia. More than anything, he needs Lukas Blacque and the rich blood that flows through his veins. On the day that Blacque makes an important commitment to his family and pack, he also succumbs to temptation and agrees to a passionate weekend with the alluring vampire. At sunset on Friday, it’s all about urgent lust and the drive to lose his virginity. When the sun rises on Monday, lust has shifted to love and devotion. He’s not sure he can walk away, even for the commitment he’s made. He’s even less sure Bleu will let him go. In Blacque’s world, vampires and werewolves make uneasy bedfellows, and a gay werewolf is an impossibility. In Bleu’s world, all living creatures are little more than vessels for food and sex. But in the mysterious and magical town of Arcada, the unexpected is always waiting right around the corner. Now Blacque and Bleu just need to survive long enough for Arcada’s magic to work for them.
3) Timothy McGivney - Zombielicious
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (December 23, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608202631
ISBN-13: 978-1608202638
Amazon: Zombielicious
Sexy and horrifying, Zombielicious is an innovative twist on the Zombie craze. The multiple point of view narration could have been a real mess, but the author really makes it work well. Fast paced and exciting; a refreshing change from all the whiny angst ridden plot lines being recycled again and again. This one's a winner. --Tim
Amidst a zombie outbreak, Walt, athletic and confident, meets shy and quiet Joey, the attraction between them both instant and electric. With strength in numbers, they band together alongside fellow survivors; Jill, an ex-porn star turned nurse who's made a startling discovery about her past; Ace, a disgruntled security guard who just can't live up to certain short comings; and Molly, the fiery redhead unwilling to give up on her dreams of stardom. In this apocalyptic new world of the dead, an anything-goes attitude has become the law of the land and lust, betrayal, true love and redemption are all just a gunshot away.
Honourable Mention:
4) Andrew Wolter - Much of Madness, More of Sin
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0578061031/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
A winner all the way around. --Carey
5-tie) Lex Valentine - Breathe Me In
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZMSGNC/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Very enjoyable story about two mates and their struggle and passion to be with one another. As with the rest of her books in this series, it was a well written. --Michelle
I gave it a high rating because honestly, I have yet to read this series but I was still able to follow along with the story and I was not confused with who the characters were. The rest of this series is definitely going on my TBR list. --Rachel
Lee Thomas - The German
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1590213092/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Set during the height of World War II, The German examines the effect a series of ritualistic murders has on a small, Texas community. A killer preys on the young men of Barnard, Texas, leaving cryptic notes written in German. As the panic builds all eyes turn toward a quiet man with secrets of his own, who is trying to escape a violent past. Ernst Lang fled Germany in 1934. Once a brute, a soldier, a leader of the Nazi party, he has renounced aggression and embraces a peaceful obscurity.
7-tie) Angel Martinez - A Different Breed
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1611249910/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
This book was a little surprising for a gay paranormal romance. In a very good way. Vampires in gay romance have become a little trite, but Martinez looks at them with fresh eyes. Though it does lean more toward erotica in that the relationship happened way too love-at-first-sight fast, there was a well-developed plot to support the romance of two very likeable protagonists. --Jem
EM Lynley - Wicked Good
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZLWECC/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
This was an anthology so it was hard to figure out how to break down the rating, but as a whole each story was plotted well with believable settings and fully developed characters. It's rare for an anthology to not have a single disappointing read but this one did not. Each story was unique but enjoyable in their own right. I would have to say that this is one of the best anthologies that I've read in a while. --Shanna
9-tie) J.L. Merrow - Camwolf
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1609284666/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Loved this book. It's the first time I've read this author, will have to read more. --Anne
Storm Grant - Shift Happens
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1611249864/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Paranormal adventure with some lovely touches of humour --Juni
This story is freshly original in its telling of a shifter story. I loved how the romance was incorporated into the action; how the love built between Adrian and Tom, even when one of them wasn't quite human. --Merith
1) Megan Derr - Midnight
Paperback: 298 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (January 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936202638
ISBN-13: 978-1936202638
Amazon: Midnight
Megan Derr's Midnight is probably the best book I have read this year. I feel no hesitation in giving this superlatively written book a perfect score. It is sublime. I now have a new standard of brilliance to hold myself to as both a reader and a writer. --Cherie
I was impressed with this book. Ms. Derr does an excellent job creating a magical alternate universe twith a Regency era flavor. --Bobby
Lord Devlin White, Duke of Winterbourne, is the last in a long line of powerful witches who assist the Demon Lord of London in keeping control of the Nightwalkers living amongst normal men. With all but one of his siblings gone to the new American colonies, his proud family line all but ended, Devlin is kept from gloom and despair only by unusual ward, Midnight. Neither alive nor dead, sustained by magic and a bond to Devlin, and confined to the night, Midnight is happy to spend his life by Devlin's side-though he longs for the day that Devlin sees him as more than a ward. But the powerful magic that raised him from the dead is desperately sought by someone who will stop at nothing to obtain the secret of Midnight that Devlin would die to protect...
2) Belinda McBride - Blacque Bleu
Paperback: 258 pages
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC (August 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611183626
ISBN-13: 978-1611183627
Amazon: Blacque Bleu
This was quite a surprise! Normally the relationship dynamic portrayed in this story isn't my cup of tea but I actually felt a real connection to the characters and I didn't notice things that would normally bother me. The characters were a great blend of realism with that hint of supernatural. Despite the common story line, it stands strong on its own and is really more about relationships and need for companionship and to be understood rather than the supernatural. Definite re-read! --Alannah
A closeted werewolf and a dying vampire give in to desire and make an unusual and powerful connection. Lukas Blacque is a deeply closeted werewolf, and almost more than anything in life, he desires his neighbor, Oliver Bleu. Oliver is a vampire who is slowly dying from insomnia. More than anything, he needs Lukas Blacque and the rich blood that flows through his veins. On the day that Blacque makes an important commitment to his family and pack, he also succumbs to temptation and agrees to a passionate weekend with the alluring vampire. At sunset on Friday, it’s all about urgent lust and the drive to lose his virginity. When the sun rises on Monday, lust has shifted to love and devotion. He’s not sure he can walk away, even for the commitment he’s made. He’s even less sure Bleu will let him go. In Blacque’s world, vampires and werewolves make uneasy bedfellows, and a gay werewolf is an impossibility. In Bleu’s world, all living creatures are little more than vessels for food and sex. But in the mysterious and magical town of Arcada, the unexpected is always waiting right around the corner. Now Blacque and Bleu just need to survive long enough for Arcada’s magic to work for them.
3) Timothy McGivney - Zombielicious
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (December 23, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608202631
ISBN-13: 978-1608202638
Amazon: Zombielicious
Sexy and horrifying, Zombielicious is an innovative twist on the Zombie craze. The multiple point of view narration could have been a real mess, but the author really makes it work well. Fast paced and exciting; a refreshing change from all the whiny angst ridden plot lines being recycled again and again. This one's a winner. --Tim
Amidst a zombie outbreak, Walt, athletic and confident, meets shy and quiet Joey, the attraction between them both instant and electric. With strength in numbers, they band together alongside fellow survivors; Jill, an ex-porn star turned nurse who's made a startling discovery about her past; Ace, a disgruntled security guard who just can't live up to certain short comings; and Molly, the fiery redhead unwilling to give up on her dreams of stardom. In this apocalyptic new world of the dead, an anything-goes attitude has become the law of the land and lust, betrayal, true love and redemption are all just a gunshot away.
Honourable Mention:
4) Andrew Wolter - Much of Madness, More of Sin
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0578061031/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
A winner all the way around. --Carey
5-tie) Lex Valentine - Breathe Me In
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZMSGNC/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Very enjoyable story about two mates and their struggle and passion to be with one another. As with the rest of her books in this series, it was a well written. --Michelle
I gave it a high rating because honestly, I have yet to read this series but I was still able to follow along with the story and I was not confused with who the characters were. The rest of this series is definitely going on my TBR list. --Rachel
Lee Thomas - The German
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1590213092/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Set during the height of World War II, The German examines the effect a series of ritualistic murders has on a small, Texas community. A killer preys on the young men of Barnard, Texas, leaving cryptic notes written in German. As the panic builds all eyes turn toward a quiet man with secrets of his own, who is trying to escape a violent past. Ernst Lang fled Germany in 1934. Once a brute, a soldier, a leader of the Nazi party, he has renounced aggression and embraces a peaceful obscurity.
7-tie) Angel Martinez - A Different Breed
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1611249910/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
This book was a little surprising for a gay paranormal romance. In a very good way. Vampires in gay romance have become a little trite, but Martinez looks at them with fresh eyes. Though it does lean more toward erotica in that the relationship happened way too love-at-first-sight fast, there was a well-developed plot to support the romance of two very likeable protagonists. --Jem
EM Lynley - Wicked Good
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZLWECC/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
This was an anthology so it was hard to figure out how to break down the rating, but as a whole each story was plotted well with believable settings and fully developed characters. It's rare for an anthology to not have a single disappointing read but this one did not. Each story was unique but enjoyable in their own right. I would have to say that this is one of the best anthologies that I've read in a while. --Shanna
9-tie) J.L. Merrow - Camwolf
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1609284666/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Loved this book. It's the first time I've read this author, will have to read more. --Anne
Storm Grant - Shift Happens
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1611249864/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Paranormal adventure with some lovely touches of humour --Juni
This story is freshly original in its telling of a shifter story. I loved how the romance was incorporated into the action; how the love built between Adrian and Tom, even when one of them wasn't quite human. --Merith