Red Velvet and Absinthe - erotic book by Cleis Press Inc. - review by tim1724

Red Velvet and Absinthe was edited by Mitzi Szereto, editor of numerous other erotica anthologies. She's also an established author and well-known internet personality with an active blog and Mitzi TV, an online video site dedicated to "all things quirky and London."

Mitzi Szerato wrote one of stories in this anthology; the others were contributed by Rose de Fer, Janine Ashbless, Elizabeth Daniels, Anna Meadows, Charlotte Stein, Zander Vyne, Evan Mora, Ashley Lister, Sharon Bidwell, Claire Buckingham, Giselle Renarde, Carrie Williams, Tahira Iqbal, and Bonnie Dee.

The book is labeled "paranormal romance," which is an apt description of the stories inside. You'll find the usual werewolves, vampires, and ghosts, but the majority of the stories explore more creative ideas.

This title is geared towards a rather broad audience; most fans of erotica should find multiple stories to enjoy. I would only recommend avoiding it if you completely dislike horror or supernatural tales. Aside from two or three exceptions, most of the stories involve heterosexual couples.

The cover is attractive and eye-catching, but the inside is laid out in a straightforward, easy-to-read manner, as I'd expect from a book published by Cleis Press. As usual, the text is set in a well-chosen font which is easy on the eyes.

The book is a typical trade paperback size, at 8" by 5.5", with 225 pages.

I didn't particularly enjoy "The Blood Moon Kiss" written by Mitzi Svereto. I generally prefer that anthology editors not include any of their own work in a collection and this is a good example of why I feel that way. I felt the story was rather weak and derivative, as well as being more predictable than most of the others in this book.

I much preferred "Snowlight, Moonlight" by Rose de Fer. This story combines bondage with werewolves, making for an extremely erotic experience. Janine Ashbless's "Cover Him in Darkness" was another favorite of mine, a very unique and well-paced story about the liberation of a fallen angel, as well as a young woman's sexuality. "Painted" and "Dolly" were other very creative stories which avoided the usual cliches and delivered intriguing plots in addition to hot sex.