My apologies for taking such a long time to comment on something that deserved a much swifter response.
That being said...HOLYZOMFGWTFBBQ.
Translation: I've mentioned it before and those who know me are aware that my attention span is that of a sneeze. This however, grabbed my attention with the lyrics to a
fantastical Rolling Stones song (way to set the mood man, seriously), and it didn't let go of it until, "...the devil left."
Oh and of course, the striking (expected), cover art.
There are certain styles of writing I have trouble connecting with, however I've come to learn that if the story is good enough, style comes second as it's simply the bowl the food is served in. Lucky for me in this instance the bowl adds plenty. In fact, forget the food analogy. This is the finest wine poured in spectacular crystal. Your style pulled me in with the perfection of its execution, the story kept me riveted. And I found myself lost in not just the story as a whole but in each character and scene as they were introduced. And surprisingly not JUST the Bounce Chix but every. Single. Character who makes an appearance. There are no throwaway characters. This is rich,
RICH with detail. The character depth and individual personality building is so cleverly woven throughout the fabric of the entire story that the immersion effect it had on me was almost subconscious. As a result, every scene captured my attention in different ways depending on who was in it.
Notice I said WHO was in it and not just WHAT was happening. Many can write the most devious of torments but few can take advantage of their own diabolical ideas as the characters involved are often not much more than flat cardboard cutouts of typical archetypes (the tough chick, the good girl, the rebel, the cheerleader, etc. They might as well all be played by Megan Fox in different outfits). The who to me at least, is far more important than whatever form of bondage or tickling is taking place as I get so invested in realistic characters in a realistic setting that by the time the slightest mention of kink comes around I'm completely and so utterly invested in who it's happening to, the fantasy torment becomes so truly real, something experienced and
FELT not just read and I feel however you, the writer, wants me to feel on top of my own personal reactions unique to how I read something and process information.
I believe that few can capture the intended "horror" of the Horror genre itself whether it be in depicted in music, a book, movie, TV show or specialized kink fiction. Not much scares me personally and I have purposely watched supposed "horror" in the hopes it'll make me jump. I am often disappointed by paper thin characters, cheap jump cuts, cheesy dialogue and forceful music that pushes me to feel something. After reading this however (twice now I might add), I realize there is a lot more to this fragile genre than just scares. There are layers upon layers of detail and atmosphere and complexity of character that first must be piled on and then peeled away in order to truly move the reader to a feel a remaining sense of dread.
I have to bring up the example of Jaws (I know, odd...but hold on), as some consider that to be one of the finest horror movies and it has little to do with the shark. It isn't about a fucking shark. That movie works because we connect so well to the hero. The character building is subtle but extremely powerful. The wordless scene with his son at the dinner table is a perfect example.
To copy/paste an excerpt from a previous draft of this comment for you here (I can think of no fresh way to express myself when it comes to this particular aspect as this response was genuine and cannot be repeated with more truth), "
There were times I shook my head and marveled at the tension and mood you brought to certain scenes. Fuck, I'm in all love with Jane now as I LOVE that look on a girl but Christ man every Bounce Chick had so much, SO MUCH personality I soon began to feel for them as a unit before very long. I freaked the fuck out when they were being tortured and I wanted to fucking rescue them. The writing was that epic it brought them to LIFE. I've been affected by writing of that level only a few times. I'm emphatic it seems to really well written characters and I laugh at myself when I'm storming about my apartment screaming, BULLSHIT!!!! HOW COULD THIS FUCKING HAPPEN?!?! I love, love, LOVE the dialogue between the girls in class. The banter between them throughout it all is incredibly realistic and more importantly very feminine. I suspect these girls are very real and dimensional to you in the sense that they hold a special place in you. These are not paper thin girls and became real to me one a time as I was introduced to them but SO MUCH more realistic whenever they would start talking to each other."
Three girls written in realistic light by a male is one thing. But you repeat the same magic with all others and THEN you have them interact with each other and the effects are tenfold.
And now. The tickling.
The sub-chapters "
Red Door" and "
Don't Want To" are two of the hottest tickling scenes I've read. The domination and absolute power of Staten over Ms. Vorhoeven are awe-inspiring to a fellow writer. These scenes inspire more than I can describe. Then to close it with "
Scream" and the line, "She wept for redemption." was at once beautiful and darkly, beautifully poetic in contrast to her breaking.
The chapter, "
The Summoning": Good. God. Man. Jane turns me on more than I should tell you and I am envious as a writer that she belongs to you. The introduction to her bondage in, "
Taken" set my expectations high but her domination in
The Summoning left me speechless.
How about a sample for those who haven't read it yet?
"There ya go, Janey." Sierra laughed, while she tickled and tickled. "Laugh for me. I won't tell anyone. I"ll just make you laugh so hard for me."
"KFFFFAAAAFCKLE HAAAAAAAAAACKLE!!!" Janey wept into her gag. She literally could hold back nothing now. Sierra could force any reaction she wanted, and all Jane could do was take it.
"And if you're really good," Sierra whispered into Jane's ear, snaking her long finger to the dreadfully tender flesh between Jane's cheeks, methodically scratching. "I'll do this for you all night."
There is more. Much,
MUCH more. More than I can write about or possibly quote. The writing is lush and devilish, the tickling is absolutely sadistic in certain scenes and the namesake of the novel itself, the Biter is one of the most brutal, mind-fucking characters created. There is humor, playfulness, absolute terror and dread, seduction, relief and every other everything in between everything else.
And, a cliffhanger.
In short and in some ways blunt: To those looking for quick wank material, you have a multitude of scenes to choose from that will last you longer than anything probably ever has. To writers looking for a masterclass in just about every worthwhile device when it comes to writing (description, scene setting, pacing, character development, dialogue, gagged dialogue, how to begin and end a chapter to keep the reader wanting more and most important of all - hiding it all and making it look easy), this is it. To those who enjoy a damn good horror story, you've found it.
Oh, and boobs. Lots of boobs, feet, tummies, different body types, tickling, bondage, screams, laughs and just scorching hotness all over the damn place.
To Bandito, here's an insight into my head after I was done with this: "There was nothing but silence and oblivion."
In the very best, most inspiring way possible.
