Review: The Forest of Dark Delights

The Forest of Dark Delights by James Cox
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Happily ever afters only happen when the author stops a story at the right place. Beauty and the Beast ended with the curse broken. But what if it was not? What if, Gaston never died? In a fairy-tale reinterpretation, Mr. Cox poses this alternate ending. Get ready for an erotic m/m lovefest.

When Beast's curse broke, he should have lived happily ever after with Belle. With Gaston out of the picture, they should have had no issues. Things did not turn out as Beast expected. Beast is human and he reverts back to his human name, Adam. Belle's change makes her unrecognizable and he is afraid of her. She is not the only one who changes. Gaston may have fallen off a cliff, but he didn't die. It took him years to heal from his ordeal and now he is back. He wants something from Beast and Belle. When he confronts them, it is not as he envisioned.

The twist in this "after" the guy gets the girl is perverse and guilt ridden. When a relationship is no longer working, it is not unexpected for a partner to stray. Belle's neglect and cruelty drives Adam into another man's arms. Who knew Adam liked men? In this version, he does and he enjoys it rough which is how Gaston wants to be ridden. Gaston and Adam's enemies turned lovers theme is a bit simplistic but it works. It is fun to watch as Gaston tries to atone for what he's done. Adam's spiral into depression is gently slowed down by Gaston's new found thoughtfulness. A times, the two are too sweet together.

For me, the story was a bit too short and too little interaction between the three main characters. I realize this is Mr. Cox writing so it will only have m/m sex. It would have been fun to have Belle take control of both men. Or to have a true love triangle with Gaston still wanting Belle; Belle loving Beast; and now Beast wanting Gaston. It certainly would have kicked up the kink and heat. It places naughty thoughts in a reader's head, with Beast and Belle dominating a very sorry Gaston. Instead, Mr. Cox seduces a reader with erotic scenes between Gaston and Beast. The conclusion when the two are discovered happens fast and resolves a little too conveniently. This fairy-tale retold erotica is recommended to m/m readers who enjoy enemies to lovers themes.