Quiver by Tobsha Learner (4 stars)

About Quiver

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Plume; Reprint edition (April 30, 2013)

An electrifying short story collection for fans of

50 Shades of Grey and Bared to You

 

“Taking in the panoply of sexual desire, each tale shudders with full-frontal detail in a style that is both lyrical and forensically accurate.” –Vogue

Fifteen years after its original publication, an unforgettable erotica classic re-issue with a sexy new package from the publisher of Anne Rice’s seminal New York Times best-selling Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. In QUIVER: A Book of Erotic Tales (Plume; 4/30/13, $16.00) Tobsha Learner, “the thinking woman’s erotica” writer, explores the pleasures of new and rediscovered love, lust, and obsession in twelve interconnected impossible-to-put-down tales.

In the flashes that blur the line between fantasy and reality, each steamy story in QUIVER captures the spontaneous erotic experiences of a group of middle-class acquaintances—a dentist and his wife; an accountant and a beautician—as they audaciously unleash their deepest desires. Alternating between male and female perspectives, Learner invites readers to enjoy the unique intimacies of the characters’ trysts. And there are no holds barred in these interactions: heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, exhibitionistic, and sadomasochistic relationships are unabashedly on display in this provocative collection. With its blend of escapism and realism, QUIVER will surely appeal to readers who enjoyed their first experience with BDSM with Fifty Shades of Grey, as well as more experienced readers in the genre.

Review

Often, the biggest downfall of erotica stories is that they use sex as a way to shock the reader. It's like the gratuitous sex scene in a movie. The reason I started reviewing erotica is because so many bloggers wouldn't, and I wanted to give the genre a chance. Then I read several not-so-good erotica books, and I was ready to throw up a white flag.

But I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of short stories. The focus is on the characters, not the sex. And the author really mixes it up with the types of characters she features. Two of my favorites: a long metaphor comparing sex and music (The Man Who Loved Sounds) and a ghost story (Pomegranate).

Yes, I still blushed occasionally, but I found myself intrigued with the characters. In one particular story, Tulip, I wanted to know what happened to Deidre--a woman who dares to consider love again and children.

If you are looking to dip your toe into erotica fiction, this short story collection would be a good starting point. It is well-written, character-focused, and still offers some hot scenes.

Rating: 4 stars

About the Author

Born in the U.K., Tobsha Learner has also lived in the U.S. and Australia. She has worked extensively in stage, television, radio and film. She lives in London.

Connect with Tobsha at her website, tobsha.com.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Please visit other stops on the Quiver blog tour page.