Basilisk

Title: Basilisk
Author: Kate Cotoner
Publisher: Torquere
Buy Link: Buy Link Basilisk
Genre: M/M Paranormal, Shapeshifters
Length: Novella (113 pages / 26400 words)
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A Guest Review by Cole

Review Summary: A fun take on the Greek gods, featuring Anthony as the Basilisk, who is Echidna’s son, and Clayton, an American businessman living in London on extended business, and their fight to get out of the deadly machinations of Olympus.

BLURB

When his dream man walks into his lunch break wearing tight snakeskin jeans, Clayton King puts down his sandwich and follows his libido. Clayton tracks his guy to a pet shop and leaves with a name, Anthony, and a date for that night. What Anthony neglects to tell him is that they’re going to a fancy dress party, and Clayton is the only normal guy in a hall full of Greek gods.

Except it’s not a fancy dress party, and Anthony isn’t simply a shop assistant. He’s a basilisk, the shape-shifting king lizard of Greek mythology who can kill a mortal with a single glance. It’s his task to seduce human men so his mother, the goddess Echidna, may feed upon their flesh. Though trapped by his duty to his mother, Anthony can’t bear the thought of harming Clayton. What’s a god to do?

REVIEW

Clayton knows that his stay in London is quickly dwindling, so he takes every opportunity he can to see the city. Everyday, he takes his lunch to a different place in the city to eat and watch the people. On this day, he is eating his sandwich in Trafalgar Square, lamenting the loss of the pigeons he remembers from his trip there as a child, when he sees the most beautiful man walk by in a pair of sinfully tight snakeskin pants. The man has an air of royalty about him, but not of cruelty, and though Clayton is somewhat of a shy man, he knows that this is the one chance he has to go after something he wants. It takes several blocks, but after following and trying to catch up with the hot ass swaying in the distance, he finally catches up to the man. Only, just as he reaches out to him to ask him for a date, the man turns down an alley and seemingly disappears. Searching the dilapidated shops in the dark and narrow alley, Clayton comes upon a pet store, and taking a chance, he plunges inside only to be met with a woman who must have once been the greatest beauty on earth, yet now carries a withered visage and throws a piercing glare. He is directed to the fish tanks in the back of the shop when he asks after the man. The woman tells him that he is her son, Anthony. The ineraction he has with Anthony is at once sizzling hot and embarrassing as Clayton fumbles in his attempt to ask Anthony on a date. Mystified that Clayton would ask him on a date (something no one has ever asked before) and not just want a hook-up, Anthony agrees and tells him to meet him at the pet store later that night, where he will take Clayton along for his other job. However, Echidna has a devastating plan to keep her son from leaving her, one that requires Anthony to do all of the work. Yet, Anthony cannot say no, no matter how much more he wants to deny her this time, more than any time ever before. He actually kindof likes Clayton, who is different from all the men who have approached him in the past. Clayton is genuinely good, whereas Anthony is not.

I really enjoyed reading Basilisk. It was sinfully hot, with a smoldering public sex scene, and at the same time endearingly charming. No matter Anthony’s past deeds, he is easy to sympathize with, as he has the ultimate overbearing mother. And Clayton filled out the image of the naive and sheepish warrior and friend that has a heart of gold, honor, loyalty, and strength. I thought they had great chemistry, especially in the scenes where they’re planning the date and at the beginning of the date. Their interactions blaze with sexual energy and Kate Cotoner has a really wonderful way of framing the dialogue around the mood of the scene. There is a lot of great interplay between Anthony and Clayton as they each try to suss out the other person and gauge that against their preconceived notions of who they are. This is done extraordinarily well and the writing in these parts, in my opinion, is the best in the book.

I also loved the second half of the book where they’re at the club with all of the gods, demi-gods, satyrs, nymphs, dryads, nyads, centaurs and many other creatures. The major gods and goddesses take no part in the on-page conflict of the story, but as always with the Greek myths, they’re always in the background. I got to see a lot of lesser gods and goddesses, though, that I love to see. And because the personalities of these gods and creatures are so well-known throughout the evolution of their history, I love to see how an author is going to take those personalities and make them their own. In some cases they are caricatures because it is their purpose to be an archetype. I thought that Kate Cotoner did well with this part also — they were archetypes, but also tongue-in-cheek, almost ramping their personalities up so much that they are the ultimate in whatever emotion or gratification they represent, whether anger, revenge, naiveté etc.

I thought the description of Anthony’s shapeshifting was interesting and definitely original, not to mention totally hot (just saying that his changing into a snake was a sensual, naked dance while he’s only covered in diamonds that are embedded in his skin like scales). I did wish that we had gotten more of an ending, though that was because I had grown to love the story and the style of the writing by that time. Actually, I thought the ending was quite fitting and keeping with the light tone throughout the whole novella.

In the end, I loved this story. It is the first book by Kate Cotoner that I have read and I have to admit that she is a skilled writer. I will be looking forward to reading more of her books. This story probably isn’t for everyone, but those who like the Greek myths will want to read this one, as the interplay on the myths with the modern setting is really great. Though it deals with some serious things, the tone of the story is light and funny, so it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Definitely Recommended!