Green Fairy (Dangerous Spirits Book 1)

Having read/listened to the entire (as of right now) Out of Position series, buying another of Gold's works had seemed to become a habit.I was initially surprised by the change in viewpoint (OoP through first person and Green Fairy in an omnipresent third throughout). I had also bought the audible audition so I could listen to the book at work when my boss was absent.First thing about the audible audition is that it may take some time to warm up to the voice of the narrator. He portrayed most characters with a thick country twang, which was discouraging to me. At first. Actually, I flat out laughed so much when I heard the voice he used to play Sol's mother that my coworkers thought I was insane. However, according to the map that Gold provides in the beginning of "Isolation Play," you'll see that the setting of Green Fairy is in or near South Carolina. I fell in love with his voice acting in about chapter 3. So I completely recommend the audible edition.As for the book itself...what can I say? Kyell Gold completely delivers, as usual, in his style that's motivated me to actually read a book. I'm a college student, and I would sometimes sacrifice precious sleep and stay awake until 3 in the morning just so I could find what happens next. I don't know if I've ever felt that kind of power in a book before. Sol's story was so moving and relatable. I was reminded of the troubles I had in discovering my own sexuality, and the fear of what would ensue when I finally found it. The fear of loneliness was like a shackle I couldn't escape from. I would sometimes find myself hoping that I could just go in the book and tell him that everything would turn out fine. I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to be his friend.I feel like there's so much more I should say about this book, but I don't want to spoil it! Do yourself a favor and stop reading this review. Just...just buy it. Like, seriously. Do it now!

A surprisingly effective mixture of YA high school coming-of-age, coming out as gay, ghost story/time travel to the Nineteenth C. French club scene, with cross-dressing, a little light bondage, murder, baseball team and "furry" story, in which the characters are all partly animals, with tails and fur and some animal characteristics. Rather than merely relying upon the animal nature to explain character motivations (vain rooster, wise owl) Gold plays a little with the animal natures and different genres he's juxtaposing, and supplies well-developed characters who supply believable motivations for the developments of plot and story. The worst tragedies are safely sealed off in the past and more remote accounts, but these realities underlie the normal day-to-day perils behind the immediate worries about not making the team or not getting a car from the parents. The connections drawn to the 19th century French art and social milieu from a typical American suburban or small-town high school are effective and unexpected. All in well considered and executed prose. The green fairy of the title is absinthe, which the high schoolers experiment with in a sort of magical experiment that provides the door into time-travel or communication.

Kyell never fails to amaze me, no matter what era or place he uses for his stories. In this one, the one I liked the most was the Moulin Rouge, and I would definitely love to discover more about this grimly thrilling universe he created. I don't think I was ever as moved by any of his other characters as by the combined (mis)fortunes of Sol and Niki, even if my mixed feelings left me a little bit confused. But of course, confusion leads to contemplation, and so I kept finding myself thinking time and time again about how this story relates to me and my own life. It was not hard to find similarities, as I've just graduated from high school, and currently about to start college, even if in a country where pederastry [sic] is a lot... let's say: less encouraged. But that's probably why I like to read these kinds of book anyways... so thank you Kyell for making this a possibility for me.From my perspect, this book is a great read, and not just for fans of anthropomorphics, as the book puts scarce emphasis on sexual explicity, and is a lot more about life, and our struggle of finding something meaningful within it.

Knowing that Kyell Gold writes erotic books all the time, seeing this book with the PG-13 rating made me skeptical, but after reading the sample and the other reviews, I decided 'why not?' And spent the 10$, and I gotta say, it was well worth my time. There were a lot of points that made me go 'aww' or 'oh no he didn't' or 'dont do it!' Or just plot twists in general, and the subplot involving Jean and Niki interwinding with the plot point with Sol, Carcy and the others made me happy, sad, or scared in moments with them, and happy for what happened to them in the end. 10/10 best book I've ever read, can't wait to get book 2, and for book 3 to be released later in 2015

This is a well crafted novel that touches on themes of youthful naivete, artistic expression and self-discovery. Green Fairy seems at the outset to be a by-the-numbers gay coming of age tale with somewhat stock characters, but it soon branches into exotic and unexpected places. It was definitely a page turner by the haflway mark, and I devoured the last part of the book in a single evening. I was especially touched by the poignant conclusion.Kyell as always uses the furry theme very well, with many thoughtful flourishes to the world that make it feel believably different from our own.The only thing missing for me was the more explicit content found in most of the author's works, but it doesn't detract from my recommendation.

It may be one of the darkest books that Kyell Gold has published so far, but darkness is a big part in the world and how you cope with it without plunging in despair is character building whether you are straight or gay.

Probably one of the best pieces of furry fiction I've read in years.