Escaping Darkside by Amanda Steiger
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Paranormal, Dark Fantasy
Length: Short (60 pages)
Other: M/M
Rating: 3.5 Cherries
Review by: CactusDeath is just the beginning of Christian’s problems. After he’s killed in a hit and run accident, he wakes up in Darkside — the demon-infested world between life and death — and learns that he’s being hunted by the merciless Council.
Then he meets Seth, an inhumanly beautiful man with silver hair and golden eyes. He offers Christian his protection, and a glimmer of hope. At the far end of Darkside is a door to Earth. If Christian can reach it, he’ll have a second chance at life.
There is only one problem. Going back to Earth will mean leaving Seth behind forever… and Christian is falling in love with him.
The choice between life and death is much harder than Christian imagined when he meets an angel in the portal between hell and earth. Seth is a fallen angel that can read Christian’s mind and wants to fulfill his every wish and fantasy. This kind of instant love can only come from an angel, but Christian must choose between returning to Earth and continuing on to Hell. Seemingly an obvious choice but Christian’s growing attraction to Seth throws a wrench in that easy decision.
This is an interesting and entertaining short story that incorporates a lot of issues but wraps them up neatly within the context of angels and demons, heaven and hell. While at times the story was slightly corny, the author at least keeps the underlying messages obvious without being too in your face. The story ends up being a quick, easy read with some hot angels while giving some food for thought – if you so choose – to some bigger problems.
Christian is a basically good human who’s been condemned to hell by a corrupt Council of angels when he had the misfortune to die in a hit and run accident. If low blood pressure is the normal state for a patient, then there cheap viagra discount will be decreased incidents of fatigue.3. When sperm are being retrieved surgically from the man (e.g. “MESA”, “PESA” or viagra sale “TESE” procedures).5. But the changing lifestyle and food habits have so grossly affected the human population that, today, Cholesterol has become a big problem to the male world. order generic levitra Reconstruction of the penile arteries ensures increased blood supply to the penis sildenafil canada causing firm erections. Although confused and completely out of his element in Darkside, an afterlife between hell and earth, he quickly gives his trust to Seth. While it’s debatable how Christian instantly “knows” Seth is wonderful and good and won’t hurt him, he’s at least lucky that Seth indeed is one of the rare good people in the hell side portal. Christian has a lot of emotional scars from his life and led a pretty solitary life while alive. Past fears and assaults prevent him from getting close to others, leaving him desperately lonely and unhappy.
Even though Christian falls for Seth rather quickly, it’s also easy to understand. The combination of Christian’s loneliness and the concept of angels offering instant and total love allow these two to form a bond that would otherwise come across as cheap or unbelievable. Instead the companionship fulfills needs from both men and the upcoming parting causes pain on both sides. The slight BDSM twist to Christian was unnecessary and distracting as not only was it unneeded but it was unresolved and later completely ignored. However, this aside didn’t detract from the story and its enjoyment at all.
This was an impressive short story filled with enjoyable characters and an interesting setting. It also reads like an ongoing story with multiple references to past and future conflicts, and the ending especially sets up a sequel. While I won’t give away what choice Christian makes, it does set up for a happy ending so romance lovers are safe to read this. You’ll love the relationship between Christian and Seth and for a short story, it’s pretty satisfying.
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