The Unicorn’s Horn was once a hot and lively pleasure house. Folks would come from miles around to be satisfied by the stable men kept by Gavin Medici, the house’s owner.
Trouble is, the world is ending, and surviving is more important to the brothel’s customers than an evening filled with unspeakable delights. Before long the purveyors of favors find themselves broke, hungry and living in a decaying brothel. With a simple witchy spell, a visitor who promises to make everything better comes knocking. But demons are unpredictable and often come with hidden agendas. A little demonic possession and the odd human sacrifice seem like a small price to pay. But is that all it will cost Gavin and his men?
J.P. Jackson is an award winning author of dark urban fantasy, paranormal, and even paranormal romance stories, but regardless of the genre they always feature LGBTQ+ main characters.
J.P. works as an IT analyst in health care during the day, where if cornered he’d confess to casting spells to ensure clinicians actually use the electronic medical charting system he configures and implements.
At night, the writing happens, where demons, witches and shape shifters congregate around the kitchen table and general chaos ensues. His husband of 22 years has very firmly put his foot down on any further wraith summonings and regularly lines the doorway with iron shavings and salt crystals. Imps are most definitely not house-trainable. Ghosts appear at the most inopportune times, and the Fae are known for regular visits where a glass of wine is exchanged for a good ole story or two. Although the husband doesn’t know it, Canela and Jalisco, the two Chihuahuas, are in cahoots with the spell casting.
J.P.’s other hobbies include hybridizing African Violets (thanks to grandma), extensive travelling and believe it or not, knitting.
In a world teetering on the edge of climate collapse, Gavin Medici, known as Sir to his boys, is in dire trouble. Customers to his all-male brothel The Unicorn’s Horn have dried up, and money is scarce. But when his beloved witch-boy Corbin casts a spell, a whole new level of trouble comes walking in. Demons are notoriously greedy, unreliable, and dangerous. You never know if the pact you make with one will turn against you.
J.P. Jackson immerses us in a fascinating underworld of supernatural threat, erotic enticement, and lethal secrets. With a strong command of his writing, a diverse cast of characters, and a fast-paced plot, I devoured this short book in one sitting. I wanted more. Fortunately, there are four others to read in the series – and I can’t wait to see how the men of The Unicorn’s Horn survive both the challenges of their decaying world, and the seductive, potentially treacherous demon in their midst.
Gavin Medici the owner of the brothel The Unicorn’s Horn is broke, with very few customers. He can’t pay the boys anymore. The world is ending just like his brothel. One of the boys summons the help of a demon. The demon offers to lift Gavin from all his problems, in exchange for pleasure from the boys, and some more…
An intriguing story with fae, witches, and demons, I’m curious where this will end. So far wonderfully written read!
This is my first book by J.P. Jackson, but won’t be my last. I enjoyed the worldbuilding, mystery, and suspense evoked by the story. I liked how the chapters from Sir/Medici’s perspective were 1st person while the ones from Corbin were 3rd.
Due to total economic collapse Sir and his boys are no longer able to earn a living with the pleasure house. When Corbin calls for help, Sir must decide whether it’s a price they can all pay.
For such a short story, the characters were well developed and I found myself connecting with each of them for various reasons. Jackson weaves a little humor into a horror featuring a dystopian world filled with fae, demons, vampires, ghosts, zombies, and more.
While not exactly a cliffhanger, there’s definitely as many new questions as answers and this is obviously launching a serial of short stories. I’m looking forward to book 2, Branded and Bedeviled.
CW: Be sure to check the CWs on Jackson’s website.
Sometimes dark and creepy are just what the doctor ordered. And J.P. Jackson’s short story Skin Session: Demon at the Doorstep hits all the creepy vibes you want it to. There is a lush and rich cast of gay characters that make the story interesting and fun, especially since the setting of the short story is set in a dystopian future a few years from now.
As with all J.P. Jackson’s works you get his unique brand of story telling that will keep you wanting more, in fact, because this is a short story you will definitely want more.
This was entirely too short, leaving me wanting more. The world building and writing was wonderful. The author's ability to create a whole complete picture in such few pages has me impressed!
A teasing glance of salvation from the despair of dystopia is offered through damnation by a demon on the doorstep, summoned by love for a found family and sealed by the same love with a lot of sexual heat and lust consummating the deal. Gavin Medici, a.k.a. Sir has created a home for his exotic and special boys at his brothel, trying to survive in a world where even supernatural monsters are starving and the real monsters are those who wield moral and temporal authority. When those authorities shut down their brothel; their home, their business, their way of surviving; what can they do? Making a deal with a demon seems like the only option. Not to mention the demon is hot and only expects what they can give, even if blood as if well as sex is what’s needed to seal the deal.
This felt more like a teaser, an opening to a story than a complete story. It still hooked me with its compelling characters, the intensity of the crisis, the vivid setting, and the sheer steam rising from the interactions between Sir, the boys, and their new patron. I’m eager to read more.
For a shorter read there is an impressive amount of world building and even characterisation here. The story feels complete enough not to need more, but I'd certainly like more
3.75⭐️ rounded up…I have to admit, this is not the type of story I’d usually pick up on my own. I enjoyed this quick read though. The writing is great, & the world building is impressive for such a short story. My only complaint is having to wait for the sequel to find out what happens!
3.75/5 stars! Holy hell! The spicy scene in this was BEYOND! Recognize it for what it is: a fun, short, extremely spicy novella, and you'll have a good time.
A quick introduction to what promises to be an interesting series. Good world building and an intriguing combination of paranormal beings and many potential storylines.
This short work is the intriguing introduction to a world of crisis and weird creatures. Gavin Medici, also known as Sir, is a down-on-his-luck brothel owner as climate change is taking the world to the edge. It is also freeing all kinds of paranormal beasties, one of whom makes Sir an offer he can't refuse: revival of the business in exchange for watching the boys work, sometimes working the boys or Sir, and one human sacrifice a year. A Bladerunner-plus-True-Blood world is created, leaving the reader eager for the next installment.
This was a really fun story. It was short. Only took about an hour to read. It was very entertaining. I would have loved for it to be longer. I can't wait to start on the sequel tomorrow.
In a dark world, where the rain never seems to end, and all sorts of unspeakable horrors have been revealed to be more than just myth, one man is just trying to do right by his boys ... even if that means a deal with the devil. For this month’s book review, I read Skin Sessions: Demon at the Doorstep by JP Jackson.
Now, full disclosure, JP is a good friend of mine and gave me a free copy of this book for my review. And I’m really glad he did, because it was just what I needed after an extremely busy month. It’s a short story, barely more than forty pages, but those pages manage to pack in a lot.
We’ve got all your standard JP Jackson goodness: witchy magical boys, spooky monsters, and sexy, hairy men. Our story is set on an apocalyptic Earth, one that seems to be largely of humanity’s own design. In this world, Gavin Medici, our main character, runs a brothel - or at least, he’s trying to. Things have not been the same since the endless rains and other issues began plaguing the world. He and his stable of boys are doing the best they can to survive, but sometimes that means making some unthinkable choices.
We spend much of the story getting to know Gavin and his boys, some of their history, and their current predicament. JP feeds the readers bits and pieces of the world’s history and current status, just enough to let you know what is happening but still leave you wanting to know more. I certainly did.
The story is told through two perspectives, Gavin’s, and that of the boy who seems to be the ‘leader’ among his stable, the gothy witch-boy, Corbin, who’s actions largely drive the story forward. Gavin’s parts are told in first person, while Corbin’s are in third, letting us in on how his fellow boys are feeling about everything at the same time. This was an interesting choice, and one I didn’t actually pick up on until I was almost done with the story.
It was a very intriguing tale, feeling like a prelude to something bigger, which I hope means a sequel. The steamy parts of the book are indeed very steamy, and just by being set in a pleasure house, I already want to know more of what is going on inside those walls. Hopefully JP won’t make us wait too long before we get to find out.
Not to be confused with Donkey on the Doorstep or any of the Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels. Nope. No, no, no...
This is great series starter from horror writer, J.P. Jackson, who paints a gloomy world where it's always raining, people are poor and desperate, and the authorities are increasingly strict and based on religion, not law. Sounds heavy? Actually, it isn't. This is about Gavin, his pleasure house, The Unicorn's Horn, and his gaggle of men employed to give pleasure to paying clients.
Except they aren't, because no one has any money, and a religious zealot of a health inspector has just taken their licence to trade, leaving them in a desperate situation.
An ill-advised spell follows, which results in a chunky demon turning up at the doorstep. He gives them a lifeline, promising to make everything better. What could possibly go wrong?
We don't find out in this book, as this is an introduction, but what seems like a good deal (the occasional human sacrifice, and everyone knows someone suitable) is going to turn sour. It's inevitable. Never trust a demon. Or an angel for that matter, but that's a different story.
I love J.P.'s writing, as the horror and gore (not much here, but you can bet your ass it's coming) is laced with gleeful humour and a healthy splash of sexiness. You just never know what you're going to get, but you do know that whatever it is, you're going to enjoy it.
I'm looking forward to the next Skin Sessions. Enby PA, Corbin, is a great character, full of potential, and I hope they play a key role in this promising series starter.
🌟Skin Sessions: Demon at the Doorstep 🌟 💎Having Two “Sirs” is Better Than One 💎
Jackson has a talent with words—there is no better way to start this review. His descriptions really pull you into the story and elicit your senses. And you can’t beat the name of the bar down the street from their house: Mulligans—which shares the same name of my debut book (sans the “s”)!
While “Demon at the Doorstep” is a short story, this is merely the prologue to what I know will be a fantastic series. I’ve already downloaded the remaining books and eager to jump into them straight away.
To be frank, I prefer contemporary gay stories, that tend to be more grounded. Fantasy and science fiction are great—don’t get me wrong—but until now, I have not been able to get into any as part of a subgenre in our field (authoring gay books).
In book 1, Jackson does an amazing job crafting a believable world and laying the foundation for what I know will be an exciting and fulfilling series.
The extras feel more like main characters—each with well-defined personalities and believable stories. I’m a fan and so happy for the opportunity to get to know Jackson better as a result of our recent #ownvoice event last month.
A very nice start to a series of shorts about Gavin Medici, the Sir of a house of pleasure staffed by young men from various walks of life. As the story opens, they are not doing well as business is down, the world is falling apart, and the religious town council is more than happy to revoke Gavin’s license. As a last resort, he agrees to a deal with an incubus summoned by one of his boys, a young witch. There’s a somewhat HFN ending as the book closes with Gavin being first to make a payment to the incubus for his help.
The story is fast-paced and though there’s not much time to develop the characters, there’s enough here to intrigue readers and start to get to know the young men who all wholeheartedly support Gavin.
I’m looking forward to more, more, more.
PS – The cover is amazing. Very bright and attention-getting and suits the theme of the story perfectly.
This is a great introduction to the “Skin Sessions” Series. I love how Sir and the house boys have become a family and would do anything for one another, even if it means inviting a demon into the brothel. It is a fun, fast and entertaining.
I am looking forward to the rest of the series and more stories from this author. Great story telling, Great cast of characters and Great World Building!
For fellow mood readers and those with triggers : this series is a dark urban fantasy and takes place in a brothel, the author recommends visiting the complete list of warnings at his website : https://jpjacksonwrites.wordpress.com/
Well this was a little different to what I normally read but I’m here for it. This is the start, an introductions into the unicorns horn.
I like how this book is a series all based around the same characters and what’s going to be their trials.
There’s a lot of dark and twisted pieces to come and there’s a definite hint to them within this first instalment.
I loved the intro into Corbin and I’m excited to see more about him and what his journey has, he’s a pretty cool character.
I’m interested in the demon, Taz-rial too, I want to see how well he plays into the house and if he’s actually worse than he lets on or if he will actually help them.
Look forward to reading the rest of the series.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
“After all, sex demons in a brothel kind of made sense.”
With the length of this book, it was never going to be this incredibly detailed epic, but the world was sufficiently described and had a charm to it. I could see myself there and appreciate the supernatural flavor.
The demon seemed to answer all their issues which may be too convenient but I was still happy they had a good resolution to the conflict of the story. While I might have hoped for a more detailed love scene, I would look forward to another installment as the characters were likeable and entertaining. I can't am emotional attachment despite the short timeI doesn't with them.
The only flaw of this short story comes from the fact that is indeed too short to deliver all of its potential. The story and characters are different, interesting and mercilessly call for more: for being explored in depth but they can't cause...short story! So now there's nothing left to do but annoy J.P. Jackson until he'll give us a full book of these out of the box boys!
The author weaves an entertaining tail around a crumbling world, inhabited by humans and otherworldly characters. It starts with a brothel where Gavin, aka Sir, is in charge. The brothel is staffed by men who only service men. As their fortunes are dwindling, an Incubus, Taz, comes to their rescue. All the characters are sexy and well written. I was sorry to see the end.
There really wasn't any spice, it was all backstory for the first 4/5 which seemed excessive for a short story. The "spice" at the last 3 pages ended before anything really happened. It felt like an after thought. Too many characters, none of which were developed at all except for Corbin, which would be a stretch. Decent writing quality, but nothing to really pull you in.
I had the opportunity to beta read this before it was officially released and OMG I loved it. I want more though, JP, get the next book out!!! If you like gay characters, shifters, a little demonic activity... well and a good dose of prostitution, well hey, this is TOTALLY the book for you!
Finished this little short (jeff edges you with this one, that's for sure 😉) from J.P. Jackson. it's so good. Interesting characters that i can't wait to read more about tham. I'm looking forward to seeing how this series goes 🥰
Wow, I was blown away by the incredible world building and characterization the author did in this story especially with how short it was. It drew me right in and now I am totally invested in finding out what will happen next. I can’t wait for the next book!
After climate change, the world fell apart. Gavin and his crew were going belly up when one of the boys invited an Incubus, Tazrial in. Gavin made a deal with the devil to save his establishment. This is a continuing serial with an unusual paranormal twist that draws you in.
44 pages long, ends just as the brothel owner makes the deal with the demon. This is like one quarter of a novel, not the whole thing. Since it was so incredibly short I would expect zero typos; I found three. There were too many characters we don’t know a thing about. What’s the rush?
I am always sceptical when reading shorts but this time? I loved the combination between dark erotica, urban fantasy elements and strong dystopian vibe. Gavin's House of pleasure - The Unicorn's horn, isn't just a gay brothel. It's a Safe haven, a beacon of hope, the only home for the resident boys living there, who have only each other to rely on and survive. Bad times call for desperate measures and when the call is answered, the question is, will life get better or more complicated. The plot line is engaging with a lot of spice, a grain of violence and grittiness, hilarious banter and interesting characters. I am jumping right into the next to check on Daddy Gavin and how are the boys doing. Happy reading!