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Gold Standard
Here are nine stories spanning Kyell Gold's career to date, including four Ursa Major Award-winning short stories and one story nominated for a WSFA Small Press Science Fiction award. Three of the stories originally appeared as stand-alone stories online and were later incorporated into the award-winning novels "Waterways" and "Out of Position."
This collection serves as an excellent introduction to the many worlds he has explored in the last decade, and includes his popular online stories "Aquifers" and "In Between." Also present is Kyell's first published story, "The Prisoner's Release," whose characters subsequently filled three novels and two short story anthologies.
Full story list: "Aquifers," "In Between," "Secrets," "Don't Blink," "Jacks to Open," "Race to the Moon," "Drifting," "How to Get Through the Day," and "The Prisoner's Release."
This collection serves as an excellent introduction to the many worlds he has explored in the last decade, and includes his popular online stories "Aquifers" and "In Between." Also present is Kyell's first published story, "The Prisoner's Release," whose characters subsequently filled three novels and two short story anthologies.
Full story list: "Aquifers," "In Between," "Secrets," "Don't Blink," "Jacks to Open," "Race to the Moon," "Drifting," "How to Get Through the Day," and "The Prisoner's Release."
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2011
61 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Kyell Gold
66 books633 followersHi there! I am a writer of gay furry fiction--but you probably know that if you've seen my book listing here. I live in California with my husband Kit, and when I'm not writing, we like to go out to eat and watch movies. We travel a lot, too, mostly around the West Coast, but occasionally to the midwest and east.
I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books and news, general writing principles, gay rights, and whatever else seems interesting. And I co-host a podcast, called "Unsheathed," where we talk about the craft of writing and the furry fandom, sometimes at the same time.
If you have a question about any of the books, check the FAQ on my website and then ask away! :)
I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books and news, general writing principles, gay rights, and whatever else seems interesting. And I co-host a podcast, called "Unsheathed," where we talk about the craft of writing and the furry fandom, sometimes at the same time.
If you have a question about any of the books, check the FAQ on my website and then ask away! :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 8, 2013
Aquifers
4.5 stars. Awesome YA story dealing with race, class, religion, sexuality, and family matters, but it never got maudlin. So freaking adorable and "Foxy" & Kory are the best.
In Between
5 stars. This is the first part of the novel Out of Position featuring a sweet, large football playing tiger named Dev & the gorgeous, smug, smart, activist fox named Lee. Features their first meeting, their first intimate night, and their reunion after that first night when Dev can't resist Lee. Adored it.
Secrets
5 stars. Love the continuation of In Between.
Don't Blink
3 stars. Cute, but the superhero plot line didn't really interest me as much as some of the other stories.
Jacks to Open
4 stars. The flirting and potential was awesome. Loved the supernatural element as well.
Race to the Moon
2.5 stars.
Drifting
4 stars. Um, THAT WAS THE MOST DEPRESSING STORY. EVER.
How to Get Through the Day
3.5 stars. A sort of cute story about how a poly relationship can move towards 2 of them becoming a couple, and it's ok with all 3 people. Slightly depressing, but hopeful at the end.
The Prisoner's Release
3 stars. A darker story the most of these and it had potential, but it got a bit confusing at times.
4.5 stars. Awesome YA story dealing with race, class, religion, sexuality, and family matters, but it never got maudlin. So freaking adorable and "Foxy" & Kory are the best.
In Between
5 stars. This is the first part of the novel Out of Position featuring a sweet, large football playing tiger named Dev & the gorgeous, smug, smart, activist fox named Lee. Features their first meeting, their first intimate night, and their reunion after that first night when Dev can't resist Lee. Adored it.
Secrets
5 stars. Love the continuation of In Between.
Don't Blink
3 stars. Cute, but the superhero plot line didn't really interest me as much as some of the other stories.
Jacks to Open
4 stars. The flirting and potential was awesome. Loved the supernatural element as well.
Race to the Moon
2.5 stars.
Drifting
4 stars. Um, THAT WAS THE MOST DEPRESSING STORY. EVER.
How to Get Through the Day
3.5 stars. A sort of cute story about how a poly relationship can move towards 2 of them becoming a couple, and it's ok with all 3 people. Slightly depressing, but hopeful at the end.
The Prisoner's Release
3 stars. A darker story the most of these and it had potential, but it got a bit confusing at times.
November 12, 2013
1.5 Stars
This was a compilation of furry m/m stories. Let me repeat: Furry. m/m.
Hmmm ... okay, first the positives. I think that the author did a good job with the world building. It's commendable that she was able to accomplish what she did in the short stories. Also, the stories were fairly well written.
My BIG hang-up: I tried a bunch of different "tricks" to wrap my head around the furries but I. Just. Couldn't. Do. It. So, sadly, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Although not all the stories were YA, I'm not a huge fan so there's that. And, I really didn't care for Drifting. (Ugh. That was depressing.)
Bottom-line: On the whole, the stories were fairly well written but just not my cuppa.
This was a compilation of furry m/m stories. Let me repeat: Furry. m/m.
Hmmm ... okay, first the positives. I think that the author did a good job with the world building. It's commendable that she was able to accomplish what she did in the short stories. Also, the stories were fairly well written.
My BIG hang-up: I tried a bunch of different "tricks" to wrap my head around the furries but I. Just. Couldn't. Do. It. So, sadly, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Although not all the stories were YA, I'm not a huge fan so there's that. And, I really didn't care for Drifting. (Ugh. That was depressing.)
Bottom-line: On the whole, the stories were fairly well written but just not my cuppa.
December 26, 2011
Overall
Furries aren't really my thing (I feel like I've said that before), but I've heard good reviews about this author from other people who didn't really think they'd like a novel centered around furries. (Furries the anthropomorphic animals, not the humans who dress up like animals and have sex, just to clarify.) I was looking at Amazon's free reads and found this and decided to give it a shot.
The writing throughout these stories is excellent, which I think is necessary for success, especially for reaching readers who are less comfortable reading about this type of character. Gold not only has a mastery of language, but also does an excellent job of describing and developing characters and plot. Gold is comfortable and familiar with the created world and confidently strides through it, building things along the way to create visually stimulating masterpieces. Definitely worth looking in to, this collection introduces the reader to various series without forcing the purchase of said series in order to understand what is going on. If you're willing to dip your toes into the world of anthropomorphic animals, this is a great place to begin.
Aquifers
A good start to the anthology, we are eased into Gold's world and the sexuality that exists there. For most this will be a good indicator if you really can't stand the thought of two furries being in love and having sex. I fell in love with the characters, who are awkward sometimes, impossibly sweet, and pretty much standard high schoolers trying to find themselves and love. I love the themes of racism, class differences, and acceptance that are the secondary focus of the story outside the main character's exploration and self-acceptance. A good strong piece that is a perfect introduction. Although this story is continued into a novel, this one stands alone, satisfying the reader while creating interest in the rest of the tale.
In Between
This story has more sex and older characters as we're bumped up to college. Here a fox, playing as a female, seduces a tiger and gets him to thinking beyond his heterosexual desires. Perhaps a little too well, as he comes back, unable to get the fox out of his head. The sex scenes are well done, although the author doesn't let the reader forget that these are animals as things such as claws and tails are taken into consideration. A classic tale of a jock realizing he's not as straight as he thought and struggling to come to terms with it. I found the characters enjoyable and the fox is smart, witty, and a perfect foil to the tiger.
Secrets
A continuation of "In Between," this story works heavily with flashbacks, doing lots of time skips, which could be confusing, but it was well handled. Most of the events don't rely too heavily on when they take place, so the shifts aren't too discombobulating. Because I read this and the previous story back to back, they flowed easily into one another and I don't remember exactly what happened in each, but the main focus of this story is that the tiger has a secret and as the story progresses, different secrets are revealed until the big one at the end is displayed. I think the time jumps were handled well in this story, and it made me even more curious about where the rest of the tale goes.
Don't Blink
This story was weaker than the previous ones. Revolving around a young superhero trying to prove himself both to the police and the league of superheroes, Blink Coyote wants a nemesis and gets what he wants when his girlfriend gets captured. There were several things I enjoyed in this, including many of the side characters and Blink's general desire to be noticed. Other elements and turn of events fell flat and while they didn't necessarily feel forced, they didn't feel like a natural progression. More like they came from far left field. Still it was an overall enjoyable story for what it was.
Jacks to Open
Initially this story's focus is on gambling, which doesn't really interest me, but as everything unfolds, it becomes apparent that there is more there than some playing cards. I really enjoyed this story and the path that it took, although I admittedly wanted more (and the author made no mention of this story continuing). The characters are shady without being bad, and they can hold their own with one another, which I'm noticing is a theme with this author's relationships. There is an underlying magical-ish world that the reader just gets to dip toes in, something I'd like to see more of, especially with these two characters--although I can see the advantage of the mystery being half the fun.
Race to the Moon
A cute little story that is styled much like a fable, following a coyote and raven, which has a touch of romance in it. This was enjoyable, and I couldn't guess where it was going completely (aside from obvious things that fables tend to have). A nicely done effort.
Drifting
This was a difficult story for me to read, since it involves a relationship where at least one member of the couple is unhappy with certain aspects. I think everything was well handled, whether I liked the content or not, and I definitely felt for all the different characters. My main niggle with this story was that we never find out what is going on with the other person in the pair, even after he admits that it is "my problem." I would have liked more development there, even if it wasn't the focus of the story.
How to Get Through the Day
This story was written as a bonus story as an addition to another work by the author. While this story stands alone fairly well, it's obvious that it's building off of something that already exists and there are a lot of questions that I want answers to, which if this is used to tease the reader into purchasing Gold's works, it's a good thing! I liked the insecurity of both characters, especially the main one, and the construct of the story as a list that the main character goes through as his to-do list of every day. There are plenty of teases in the story, but it's also self-satisfying and good in its own right.
The Prisoner's Release
A very different story from the others, this one is dark (most of it takes place in a prison cell) and inhabits a more historical and royal-infested world. I felt that the story overall was good, although some parts at the end confused me since it seemed to conflict with what the main character had said at the beginning (though he could have been lying then, as is likely, but I was still confused about who was being loyal to whom, etc). I liked the two main characters and their dynamic, bouncing between wary trust and tentative emotions. Although not my favorite, it was still enjoyable.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
Furries aren't really my thing (I feel like I've said that before), but I've heard good reviews about this author from other people who didn't really think they'd like a novel centered around furries. (Furries the anthropomorphic animals, not the humans who dress up like animals and have sex, just to clarify.) I was looking at Amazon's free reads and found this and decided to give it a shot.
The writing throughout these stories is excellent, which I think is necessary for success, especially for reaching readers who are less comfortable reading about this type of character. Gold not only has a mastery of language, but also does an excellent job of describing and developing characters and plot. Gold is comfortable and familiar with the created world and confidently strides through it, building things along the way to create visually stimulating masterpieces. Definitely worth looking in to, this collection introduces the reader to various series without forcing the purchase of said series in order to understand what is going on. If you're willing to dip your toes into the world of anthropomorphic animals, this is a great place to begin.
Aquifers
A good start to the anthology, we are eased into Gold's world and the sexuality that exists there. For most this will be a good indicator if you really can't stand the thought of two furries being in love and having sex. I fell in love with the characters, who are awkward sometimes, impossibly sweet, and pretty much standard high schoolers trying to find themselves and love. I love the themes of racism, class differences, and acceptance that are the secondary focus of the story outside the main character's exploration and self-acceptance. A good strong piece that is a perfect introduction. Although this story is continued into a novel, this one stands alone, satisfying the reader while creating interest in the rest of the tale.
In Between
This story has more sex and older characters as we're bumped up to college. Here a fox, playing as a female, seduces a tiger and gets him to thinking beyond his heterosexual desires. Perhaps a little too well, as he comes back, unable to get the fox out of his head. The sex scenes are well done, although the author doesn't let the reader forget that these are animals as things such as claws and tails are taken into consideration. A classic tale of a jock realizing he's not as straight as he thought and struggling to come to terms with it. I found the characters enjoyable and the fox is smart, witty, and a perfect foil to the tiger.
Secrets
A continuation of "In Between," this story works heavily with flashbacks, doing lots of time skips, which could be confusing, but it was well handled. Most of the events don't rely too heavily on when they take place, so the shifts aren't too discombobulating. Because I read this and the previous story back to back, they flowed easily into one another and I don't remember exactly what happened in each, but the main focus of this story is that the tiger has a secret and as the story progresses, different secrets are revealed until the big one at the end is displayed. I think the time jumps were handled well in this story, and it made me even more curious about where the rest of the tale goes.
Don't Blink
This story was weaker than the previous ones. Revolving around a young superhero trying to prove himself both to the police and the league of superheroes, Blink Coyote wants a nemesis and gets what he wants when his girlfriend gets captured. There were several things I enjoyed in this, including many of the side characters and Blink's general desire to be noticed. Other elements and turn of events fell flat and while they didn't necessarily feel forced, they didn't feel like a natural progression. More like they came from far left field. Still it was an overall enjoyable story for what it was.
Jacks to Open
Initially this story's focus is on gambling, which doesn't really interest me, but as everything unfolds, it becomes apparent that there is more there than some playing cards. I really enjoyed this story and the path that it took, although I admittedly wanted more (and the author made no mention of this story continuing). The characters are shady without being bad, and they can hold their own with one another, which I'm noticing is a theme with this author's relationships. There is an underlying magical-ish world that the reader just gets to dip toes in, something I'd like to see more of, especially with these two characters--although I can see the advantage of the mystery being half the fun.
Race to the Moon
A cute little story that is styled much like a fable, following a coyote and raven, which has a touch of romance in it. This was enjoyable, and I couldn't guess where it was going completely (aside from obvious things that fables tend to have). A nicely done effort.
Drifting
This was a difficult story for me to read, since it involves a relationship where at least one member of the couple is unhappy with certain aspects. I think everything was well handled, whether I liked the content or not, and I definitely felt for all the different characters. My main niggle with this story was that we never find out what is going on with the other person in the pair, even after he admits that it is "my problem." I would have liked more development there, even if it wasn't the focus of the story.
How to Get Through the Day
This story was written as a bonus story as an addition to another work by the author. While this story stands alone fairly well, it's obvious that it's building off of something that already exists and there are a lot of questions that I want answers to, which if this is used to tease the reader into purchasing Gold's works, it's a good thing! I liked the insecurity of both characters, especially the main one, and the construct of the story as a list that the main character goes through as his to-do list of every day. There are plenty of teases in the story, but it's also self-satisfying and good in its own right.
The Prisoner's Release
A very different story from the others, this one is dark (most of it takes place in a prison cell) and inhabits a more historical and royal-infested world. I felt that the story overall was good, although some parts at the end confused me since it seemed to conflict with what the main character had said at the beginning (though he could have been lying then, as is likely, but I was still confused about who was being loyal to whom, etc). I liked the two main characters and their dynamic, bouncing between wary trust and tentative emotions. Although not my favorite, it was still enjoyable.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
November 22, 2013
An anthology of MM romances and one fable featuring furry characters.
This is my first foray into the genre and whilst it was clearly outside my comfort zone, I enjoyed the experience more than I had anticipated!
However, there was no way around the required adjustment period. It wasn’t until I was about half-way through the anthology, that I realized the fur, paws, and muzzles, no longer bothered me, and that I was actually starting to appreciate the author’s imagination and ingenuity.
Like most anthologies, this was a mixed bag in terms of length and engaging characters/stories.
I plan on reading more books by this author…..since it seems I am no longer creeped-out by "furry love"!
This is my first foray into the genre and whilst it was clearly outside my comfort zone, I enjoyed the experience more than I had anticipated!
However, there was no way around the required adjustment period. It wasn’t until I was about half-way through the anthology, that I realized the fur, paws, and muzzles, no longer bothered me, and that I was actually starting to appreciate the author’s imagination and ingenuity.
Like most anthologies, this was a mixed bag in terms of length and engaging characters/stories.
I plan on reading more books by this author…..since it seems I am no longer creeped-out by "furry love"!
October 25, 2013
When I was a kid here in Sweden there was a very popular TV-show called "I fablernas varld" (when it was broadcaseted in the UK it was called "The Daily Fable"). Anyway, this was a series about different animals living together in a community in (mostly) harmony. They had human style clothes, human style jobs, went to school, they all spoke the same language, in short, they might as well have been humans - but they weren't.
This is the case with the "furries" (animals) in Gold Standard, in many ways they might as well have been humans and their problems are very human. They aren't human, though, and that was my problem with this book. I'd like to point out that these animals are not shifters, they are animals all the time.
The book consists of nine short stories, a format that wasn't a huge success with me, I thought they felt rushed and some of them didn't really get a proper ending. However, the author tells us in the foreword that these were short stories written over some time, the author's early writings, and some of these stories have been elaborated into novel length. That sound like a good thing, because I enjoyed Mr Gold's writing, and even though I'm coming to the stuff I didn't like, the world building is very thought out, the writing is flowing nicely and I actually cared about the characters.
This being being said, I'm sorry, but sex scenes between two animals is so not my thing! I didn't know that before, since I hadn't even heard of furries a few months ago.
I read this book for a challenge and to me, challenges are about getting to know new friends, get introduced to new authors/books that I might never have heard of otherwise, and also to see if I can push my boundries. When It came to this book, which in many ways is a book about young men falling in love for the first time, and they might as well have been humans - but they weren't, I was really put out by the animal sex. It's wasn't so bad that I felt I couldn't read it, it was more like Eeeewwww!. Had it been about humans I might have enjoyed it more, but then again, Mr Gold clearly writes for people who enjoy furries and their sex life and it's hardly his fault that I'm not into that stuff, so it's a solid 3 stars from me.
This is the case with the "furries" (animals) in Gold Standard, in many ways they might as well have been humans and their problems are very human. They aren't human, though, and that was my problem with this book. I'd like to point out that these animals are not shifters, they are animals all the time.
The book consists of nine short stories, a format that wasn't a huge success with me, I thought they felt rushed and some of them didn't really get a proper ending. However, the author tells us in the foreword that these were short stories written over some time, the author's early writings, and some of these stories have been elaborated into novel length. That sound like a good thing, because I enjoyed Mr Gold's writing, and even though I'm coming to the stuff I didn't like, the world building is very thought out, the writing is flowing nicely and I actually cared about the characters.
This being being said, I'm sorry, but sex scenes between two animals is so not my thing! I didn't know that before, since I hadn't even heard of furries a few months ago.
I read this book for a challenge and to me, challenges are about getting to know new friends, get introduced to new authors/books that I might never have heard of otherwise, and also to see if I can push my boundries. When It came to this book, which in many ways is a book about young men falling in love for the first time, and they might as well have been humans - but they weren't, I was really put out by the animal sex. It's wasn't so bad that I felt I couldn't read it, it was more like Eeeewwww!. Had it been about humans I might have enjoyed it more, but then again, Mr Gold clearly writes for people who enjoy furries and their sex life and it's hardly his fault that I'm not into that stuff, so it's a solid 3 stars from me.
November 27, 2014
This anthology has a little bit of everything. You have first love, college jock, super hero's, some funny and some angst. I thought about rating each story seperately, because a couple were definitely the favorites for me, but I decided to average them out.
I never would have thought furry critters would be my thing, but honestly you don't notice your reading about animals except in the best possible way - and what I mean by that is the worlds the author spins and all the tiny little details. I loved it! I love it when an author can make me believe another world exists, even if it's only for an hour or two. I know the first two stories have novels they're attached to, and I'm planning on buying those as soon as possible!
I never would have thought furry critters would be my thing, but honestly you don't notice your reading about animals except in the best possible way - and what I mean by that is the worlds the author spins and all the tiny little details. I loved it! I love it when an author can make me believe another world exists, even if it's only for an hour or two. I know the first two stories have novels they're attached to, and I'm planning on buying those as soon as possible!
November 26, 2011
REALLY great introduction to Kyell Gold. I can't wait to get some of these in paperback.
Aquifers
4.5 stars
In Between
5 stars - omg I can't wait to finally read Out Of Position.
Secrets
5 stars
Don't Blink
3 stars- Took a while for me to get into. I enjoyed where it ended up.
Jacks to Open
4 stars
Race to the Moon,
3.5 stars- cute
Drifting
5 stars- um wow, that was just depressing.
How to Get Through the Day
3 stars
The Prisoner's Release
3.5 stars
Aquifers
4.5 stars
In Between
5 stars - omg I can't wait to finally read Out Of Position.
Secrets
5 stars
Don't Blink
3 stars- Took a while for me to get into. I enjoyed where it ended up.
Jacks to Open
4 stars
Race to the Moon,
3.5 stars- cute
Drifting
5 stars- um wow, that was just depressing.
How to Get Through the Day
3 stars
The Prisoner's Release
3.5 stars
April 30, 2012
These short stories are populated by endearing characters and relatable factors. The characters may be non-humans with their own perceptions of scent, light, etc., but they're also very ordinary people who need to explore their sexual identities or otherwise change their lives. Lots of gay sex scenes -- which may not be everyone's cup of tea -- but these scenes nearly all pull their weight in character development. I thought the book was an overall enjoyable read, and an interesting sampler of Gold's body of work.
July 16, 2012
Was in the free romances through kindle. Decided saying no to something completely different would be silly. Besides the roleplays I write in I have never read any furry fics. So this was different. The sex in the stories was worked in well, it didn't seem out of place or forced, everything flowed well. An enjoyable read for anyone who wants to read outside their normal genres.
September 9, 2019
Kyell never seems to disappoint.
While not the skilled wordsmith that Kyell is, I'll try to do this review justice. He's always had a way with making you fall in love with his characters, and this book makes for a fantastic sampler platter of characters to do that with. Yet even with these stories each being a small part of a greater story they still excel at being standalones. So even if you aren't looking to get into a full novel (or series in many cases) don't be afraid to pick this one up for the occasional short story. Trust me, it won't disappoint.
While not the skilled wordsmith that Kyell is, I'll try to do this review justice. He's always had a way with making you fall in love with his characters, and this book makes for a fantastic sampler platter of characters to do that with. Yet even with these stories each being a small part of a greater story they still excel at being standalones. So even if you aren't looking to get into a full novel (or series in many cases) don't be afraid to pick this one up for the occasional short story. Trust me, it won't disappoint.
November 20, 2021
Furries! I actually only read the first story here, Aquifers, so my 5-star rating is for that little bit of sweetness. 🥰
January 16, 2024
erotic stories usually arent my thing but a friend recced this and it was all so cute??? oml would rec so much.
February 19, 2015
This is not Disney's Robin Hood (although there are a lot of foxes in it).
If you do not know what "furry porn" is, or think it's all about pictures, these nine short stories are a pretty basic introduction and some of them are smutty, while others are sweet. They range between sports (swimming, football), historical, fairy tale (tail?), and superhero.
"Aquifers" While swimming otter Kory meets a fox, Samaki, between friendship, family, and church they have to decide what they are going to be together, friends - or more?
"In Between" After football, with his buddies at Fang, a bar, Dev, a tiger, thinks he spots a vixen, who he walks home and finds all isn't as it appears to be - not the fox, not even himself.
"Secrets" Dev and Lee have their secrets, but hiding their relationship or the way Lee wears dresses isn't something they seem ready to tell the whole truth about.
"Don't Blink" Maria's training to help Jake, a coyote superhero who can teleport in the blink of an eye and member of the League of Crimefighting Canids, known as "Blink Coyote" perhaps shouldn't have included a certain possum (Charles or Doctor Defiance) playing his nemesis...
"Jacks to Open" Sean, a red wolf, can see the signs of the cards, but he didn't perhaps see what the silver fox Jack would become to him.
"Race to the Moon" a fairy tale, when a black coyote named Noc challenges the raven girl Omber - to the moon, and back - it's a race that they both win in the end.
"Drifting" The strained relationship between Tobias, a lemur and Dylan a black panther might end with or without Tobias's interest in the fox trainer at his gym, Marty.
"How to Get Through the Day" Fin has a list to follow but between his dates with Amir and Hayward he might not need it so much as a crutch anymore to be happy.
"The Prisoner's Release" Volle, a fox, is a prisoner but with help from 'Streak' a wolf he might find release, love and freedom.
If you do not know what "furry porn" is, or think it's all about pictures, these nine short stories are a pretty basic introduction and some of them are smutty, while others are sweet. They range between sports (swimming, football), historical, fairy tale (tail?), and superhero.
"Aquifers" While swimming otter Kory meets a fox, Samaki, between friendship, family, and church they have to decide what they are going to be together, friends - or more?
"In Between" After football, with his buddies at Fang, a bar, Dev, a tiger, thinks he spots a vixen, who he walks home and finds all isn't as it appears to be - not the fox, not even himself.
"Secrets" Dev and Lee have their secrets, but hiding their relationship or the way Lee wears dresses isn't something they seem ready to tell the whole truth about.
"Don't Blink" Maria's training to help Jake, a coyote superhero who can teleport in the blink of an eye and member of the League of Crimefighting Canids, known as "Blink Coyote" perhaps shouldn't have included a certain possum (Charles or Doctor Defiance) playing his nemesis...
"Jacks to Open" Sean, a red wolf, can see the signs of the cards, but he didn't perhaps see what the silver fox Jack would become to him.
"Race to the Moon" a fairy tale, when a black coyote named Noc challenges the raven girl Omber - to the moon, and back - it's a race that they both win in the end.
"Drifting" The strained relationship between Tobias, a lemur and Dylan a black panther might end with or without Tobias's interest in the fox trainer at his gym, Marty.
"How to Get Through the Day" Fin has a list to follow but between his dates with Amir and Hayward he might not need it so much as a crutch anymore to be happy.
"The Prisoner's Release" Volle, a fox, is a prisoner but with help from 'Streak' a wolf he might find release, love and freedom.
November 13, 2013
Well, this was definately different.....really kinda out of my comfort zone! I enjoyed several of the stories. But every time there was a sex scene I would suddenly remember that I was reading about animals....then the image of two animals kissing would come to my mind....and I just couldn't figure it out! I mean....it would be hard to kiss without lips! And there legs couldn't bend in the way humans do. And I do NOT need to picture animals stroking their SHEATHS and having their RED wet penises sticking out! Ew! Just Ew!
Sooooo I am giving it 2 stars....but if you are a furry lover this book could be great!
Sooooo I am giving it 2 stars....but if you are a furry lover this book could be great!
September 20, 2015
This anthology was originally distributed for free, if I recall correctly, as a teaser for several of the author's larger works. The stories have interesting characters, unexpected plot lines, and furry themes. There isn't quite enough background for the settings, though the characters are still comprehensible with a bit of persistence. The stories are a good introduction to Gold's writing style and themes, but to really appreciate his creativity and ability I'd definitely recommend the longer works. Caveat: there is often a lot of explicit sexual description that I find largely irrelevant to the plot and characters.
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March 18, 2012I am leaving this book unrated. Not because it doesn't deserve a rating, but because I if I mark it honestly I would have to rate it low and that isn't fair to the author.
This book was well written and the stories within the anthology are good. It is just that the concept, the idea of 'furries' just really rubs me the wrong way! It is not a book that I would have chosen to read for myself, it was recommended to me in a challenge. So I apologise to Kyell Gold. I think you are a good author, just really not in my style.
This book was well written and the stories within the anthology are good. It is just that the concept, the idea of 'furries' just really rubs me the wrong way! It is not a book that I would have chosen to read for myself, it was recommended to me in a challenge. So I apologise to Kyell Gold. I think you are a good author, just really not in my style.
April 9, 2016
This collection of stories straddles the line between not quite erotica and not not quite erotica, I think? The stories are genuinely interesting, but there is also no small amount of good old-fashioned explicit hay rolling.
It's something of a sampler of Kyell Gold's work, and it serves that purpose well in that I'm probably going to check out his other books.
If you want to read something fun and engaging while also reading about hot gay furry guys doing hot gay furry things, you've come to the right book.
It's something of a sampler of Kyell Gold's work, and it serves that purpose well in that I'm probably going to check out his other books.
If you want to read something fun and engaging while also reading about hot gay furry guys doing hot gay furry things, you've come to the right book.
September 5, 2020
I don't know if I knew this was furry fiction when I got it. I must have, since there's a fox on the cover, but I was still confused for quite far into this. How animal were these anthropomorphic creatures? Why don't I know more about the mechanics of canine sexual relations? Is there such a thing as homosexual canine sex among real animals? It's good to be exposed to new things, though I'm not sure these particular things are for me.
November 30, 2013
2,5 stars
Despite the furry weirdness, I kinda liked the first story Aquifers (but i would have liked it to be much longer) and the one with the cross-dressing (part of Out of Position, I even got the complete book!).
It seems I had my fill of furry stories after that, because the rest didn't hold my interest.
February 3, 2014
A great set of short stories.
I would love to have the books each of these stories are a part of. They are very well written and the characters very well developed. I really did not have an issue with anything in these stories aside from the lack of heterosexual romance. I do not mind, at all, the collection of male romance, though. If you don't mind Furries or same sex romance books then this is a definite collection worth reading. Very enjoyable.
I would love to have the books each of these stories are a part of. They are very well written and the characters very well developed. I really did not have an issue with anything in these stories aside from the lack of heterosexual romance. I do not mind, at all, the collection of male romance, though. If you don't mind Furries or same sex romance books then this is a definite collection worth reading. Very enjoyable.
December 31, 2015
Didn't know what I was expecting with this collection, but I honestly loved it. Think the author's got some kind of deal going with the ursa people though, every story seems to have won one of their awards!!
July 8, 2012
A very different, yet fun, collection of stories featuring furry critters rather than people. All of the stories are m/m fiction, some better than others. I was very pleasantly surprised to like it so much.
May 17, 2013
I enjoyed the first few stories more than the last, but I was surprised to find myself liking the "furry" genre at all. The stories are well written and the characters are well-rounded, flawed and lovable. I will pick up a full length novel now.
April 25, 2014
That was very interesting! I had never read furry fiction before so that was very cool. I like the different stories and the author was right, it definitely showcased his work. It was a little bit of everything! I enjoyed reading it! :)
July 10, 2013
2.5 stars
August 2, 2014
Oh dear! I don't think I am very much of a fantasy person.
Could not get over the idea of animals as humans. There were 9 short stories in this book, some off them seemed much longer than they were.
Could not get over the idea of animals as humans. There were 9 short stories in this book, some off them seemed much longer than they were.
February 13, 2017
This was kind of a sweet book, but it just didn't hold my interest, I didn't finish it.
June 29, 2014
Gold standard
Gold standard is a good read it's got a lot going on in it but it's a good read non the less
Gold standard is a good read it's got a lot going on in it but it's a good read non the less
January 20, 2015
Amazing
All off the stories were so well written. One of my favorite quitters can't wait to read more of his stuff.
All off the stories were so well written. One of my favorite quitters can't wait to read more of his stuff.
January 14, 2016
great collection of short stories from the furryverse.
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