Review of Handcuffs and Lace by Rechan.
Bear with me as I post this here first to compile my thoughts. Hopefully to be posted on furplanet publishing later tonight.
One of the things that takes a lot of courage and stamina in this fandom is to be different. Very few works are sold or advertised as straight materials that I see from publishers. I myself don't prefer such work for obvious reasons, but they are entertaining for a change of pace to remind us of what makes a story work, not on the principal that the characters are of the same sexuality as the majority of the fandom. Some minor grammatical errors are present, though scarce and don't ruin the flow of the book.
There is no forced villainy or over the top dramatic action. The story feels very honest and timid. The major source of conflict is that the two main characters are having a relation despite one working for the law and the other is now a criminal shamed by his conduct.
The thing that jumps out at me the most about this story is the people are desperate. There are no superficial character molds that are meant to relate to the reader. The main character herself is overly complex sharing native heritage within her average personality. This had no bearing on the story and could have been omitted, but it added something most other stories just leave out all together; Character origin.
Too often we're made to stare at how attractive and stand alone a character is in a work, merely for the ascetic value. Here we have the complete opposite. Vi's average, and acts as though she has to work for what she earns. She's emotionally starved, and not current in or looking for a relationship. She's been around men long enough to understand how their pride works and that they cling to it. Vi's not a sexual robot, but a breathing person who invests into people. She works at the police station not as a full officer, but trusted enough to be left alone with Emerson the newest detainee.
Emerson, the main male lead is a successful actuary. He's also a solicitor of a nameless prostitute who is arrested for his activities while at a convention for his profession. His reason for doing so is genuine, albeit it does not justify the action. He became weak, and wanted something quick and easy to keep going. He had no plan or ability to form a long term relationship due to the nature of his profession and that most of the women he knows are married. In the process of getting a cigarette, and endangering Vi's career they have a quickie. It's more intense than either expected, and despite the awkwardness of the action the two decide to meet again.
Here is where the story makes a turn. Emerson starts to talk about faith. Which normally would be something I'd expect to drone on in spite of sensitive subject.
His perspective on faith shows him to be an earnest man. He's honest with himself, and this conversation shows this better than all the other analogies he makes in the story. He has heart, but he isn't willing to fool himself just to experience a sense of magic or wonderment. Several times in the story he gives these stories which empower his character. Much of what makes him a man is his ability to accept the truth. He knew he committed a wrong, and was shamed by it for engaging with a prostitute. There is no denial in his actions and regrets. He is also let out in one of the most record breaking bails I've ever seen for a low level bank employee on prostitution, and I watch Law and Order. Even his smoking habit is given a look showing he is more of a man towards necessaries and comfort.
Vi disagrees adamantly. It makes the conversation stop dead. The two have a prime difference, and they aren't willingly to buckle to each other for the lack in understanding.
There is a natural delay before the sexual encounters. Genuine hesitation.
Of course it isn't all pleasant. Here in lies my greatest problem with the work. The repetitive nature of their redeeming qualities. Vi's Daddy stories in particular get annoying. While they add to the charm and respect of the character they are taken too far, and often too many times at inappropriate moments. Even for an awkward romance it goes beyond my tolerance to hear about someone's father when an anecdote doesn't fit into the situation or conversation. A lot of the dialog with her feels wedged in, for the sake of developing her. This is most likely due to the work being a short story. Unfortunately she does this so many times, that is becomes a revulsion of her character.
Emerson is intelligent but puts his mind aside for mundane things. He's weak minded despite having such a profound education and outlook in life. This really takes away from the character, and had the writer taken more time to stretch the work it would have been developed more fully. We're given so much of Emerson he has to pull turns in his attitude to make conflict with his lover Vi.
This is where the work really suffers and feels artificial. The idea is sound, but the execution is lacking in regards to him hooking up and pin-balling another person's emotions around. Derived mostly from his split with his fiance and Vi's divorce with her husband Bruce several years before the story both characters are established as sexually needy. I can believe that, but I cannot believe that they lapse their judgments so far that after letting a prisoner out of his cell for a smoke, and making love that they would be seen in public. There is no talk from Vi's coworkers, no rebutting, no real conflict outside of the forced relationship.
Furthermore on a side note Vi has a pet cat. Yet in a world of anthropomorphic animals this always gives me a jolt of reality. I understand to a degree that not all of a species would evolve forward similar to apes, but seeing this in animated works and written fiction is always an uncomfortable area for me. Perhaps I just don't understand.
I wasn't satisfied with the ending. That's not saying much, but there could have been something more to do with the pair. The ending is little more than a wall signalling you to stop. There is no more to do with the two splitting up or developing more outside of the sex and a few awkward conversations.
One of the things that takes a lot of courage and stamina in this fandom is to be different. Very few works are sold or advertised as straight materials that I see from publishers. I myself don't prefer such work for obvious reasons, but they are entertaining for a change of pace to remind us of what makes a story work, not on the principal that the characters are of the same sexuality as the majority of the fandom. Some minor grammatical errors are present, though scarce and don't ruin the flow of the book.
There is no forced villainy or over the top dramatic action. The story feels very honest and timid. The major source of conflict is that the two main characters are having a relation despite one working for the law and the other is now a criminal shamed by his conduct.
The thing that jumps out at me the most about this story is the people are desperate. There are no superficial character molds that are meant to relate to the reader. The main character herself is overly complex sharing native heritage within her average personality. This had no bearing on the story and could have been omitted, but it added something most other stories just leave out all together; Character origin.
Too often we're made to stare at how attractive and stand alone a character is in a work, merely for the ascetic value. Here we have the complete opposite. Vi's average, and acts as though she has to work for what she earns. She's emotionally starved, and not current in or looking for a relationship. She's been around men long enough to understand how their pride works and that they cling to it. Vi's not a sexual robot, but a breathing person who invests into people. She works at the police station not as a full officer, but trusted enough to be left alone with Emerson the newest detainee.
Emerson, the main male lead is a successful actuary. He's also a solicitor of a nameless prostitute who is arrested for his activities while at a convention for his profession. His reason for doing so is genuine, albeit it does not justify the action. He became weak, and wanted something quick and easy to keep going. He had no plan or ability to form a long term relationship due to the nature of his profession and that most of the women he knows are married. In the process of getting a cigarette, and endangering Vi's career they have a quickie. It's more intense than either expected, and despite the awkwardness of the action the two decide to meet again.
Here is where the story makes a turn. Emerson starts to talk about faith. Which normally would be something I'd expect to drone on in spite of sensitive subject.
His perspective on faith shows him to be an earnest man. He's honest with himself, and this conversation shows this better than all the other analogies he makes in the story. He has heart, but he isn't willing to fool himself just to experience a sense of magic or wonderment. Several times in the story he gives these stories which empower his character. Much of what makes him a man is his ability to accept the truth. He knew he committed a wrong, and was shamed by it for engaging with a prostitute. There is no denial in his actions and regrets. He is also let out in one of the most record breaking bails I've ever seen for a low level bank employee on prostitution, and I watch Law and Order. Even his smoking habit is given a look showing he is more of a man towards necessaries and comfort.
Vi disagrees adamantly. It makes the conversation stop dead. The two have a prime difference, and they aren't willingly to buckle to each other for the lack in understanding.
There is a natural delay before the sexual encounters. Genuine hesitation.
Of course it isn't all pleasant. Here in lies my greatest problem with the work. The repetitive nature of their redeeming qualities. Vi's Daddy stories in particular get annoying. While they add to the charm and respect of the character they are taken too far, and often too many times at inappropriate moments. Even for an awkward romance it goes beyond my tolerance to hear about someone's father when an anecdote doesn't fit into the situation or conversation. A lot of the dialog with her feels wedged in, for the sake of developing her. This is most likely due to the work being a short story. Unfortunately she does this so many times, that is becomes a revulsion of her character.
Emerson is intelligent but puts his mind aside for mundane things. He's weak minded despite having such a profound education and outlook in life. This really takes away from the character, and had the writer taken more time to stretch the work it would have been developed more fully. We're given so much of Emerson he has to pull turns in his attitude to make conflict with his lover Vi.
This is where the work really suffers and feels artificial. The idea is sound, but the execution is lacking in regards to him hooking up and pin-balling another person's emotions around. Derived mostly from his split with his fiance and Vi's divorce with her husband Bruce several years before the story both characters are established as sexually needy. I can believe that, but I cannot believe that they lapse their judgments so far that after letting a prisoner out of his cell for a smoke, and making love that they would be seen in public. There is no talk from Vi's coworkers, no rebutting, no real conflict outside of the forced relationship.
Furthermore on a side note Vi has a pet cat. Yet in a world of anthropomorphic animals this always gives me a jolt of reality. I understand to a degree that not all of a species would evolve forward similar to apes, but seeing this in animated works and written fiction is always an uncomfortable area for me. Perhaps I just don't understand.
I wasn't satisfied with the ending. That's not saying much, but there could have been something more to do with the pair. The ending is little more than a wall signalling you to stop. There is no more to do with the two splitting up or developing more outside of the sex and a few awkward conversations.