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Obsidian
Dear Author,
I cry out in pain as my body changes. The muscular power of my body expands and my scales slide off my torso, revealing flesh. What’s happening to me? I don’t know who I am, or why I can smell the heat coming from the man carrying my limp body over his shoulders. He’s strong for such a small being. He cares for me, washing sweat off my brow while the rest of my body changes. Now, I am part of the human world and I need to find out why. But this man, this beautiful man who rescued me from the forest floor touches me sweetly, and I know he is mine.
Photo Description:
A man in the process of changing to a snake, or a snake in the process of changing into a man.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
I cry out in pain as my body changes. The muscular power of my body expands and my scales slide off my torso, revealing flesh. What’s happening to me? I don’t know who I am, or why I can smell the heat coming from the man carrying my limp body over his shoulders. He’s strong for such a small being. He cares for me, washing sweat off my brow while the rest of my body changes. Now, I am part of the human world and I need to find out why. But this man, this beautiful man who rescued me from the forest floor touches me sweetly, and I know he is mine.
Photo Description:
A man in the process of changing to a snake, or a snake in the process of changing into a man.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
27 pages, ebook
First published June 4, 2015
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 4, 2015
~4.5~
Sensual, magical, brimming with stunning imagery, Obsidian is not a traditional romance.
Naqxo is the last male of his Lamiae generation. The Lamiae are ancient snake shifters, with the females shedding their skin and mating with a human male.
But can a male Lamiae mate with a human man? Can he be filled, fed, sated?
I imagined this story set in the Mayan ruins where magic can happen.
The wonder and passion between Naqxo and Damis, the human man who longs for another man's touch and is fated to mate with a Lamiae, is powerful.
Rory Ni Coileain writes sharp, evocative prose, and the epilogue here is slyly suggestive, beautiful.
BRILLIANT!
Sensual, magical, brimming with stunning imagery, Obsidian is not a traditional romance.
Naqxo is the last male of his Lamiae generation. The Lamiae are ancient snake shifters, with the females shedding their skin and mating with a human male.
But can a male Lamiae mate with a human man? Can he be filled, fed, sated?
I imagined this story set in the Mayan ruins where magic can happen.
The wonder and passion between Naqxo and Damis, the human man who longs for another man's touch and is fated to mate with a Lamiae, is powerful.
Rory Ni Coileain writes sharp, evocative prose, and the epilogue here is slyly suggestive, beautiful.
BRILLIANT!
June 8, 2015
"Once I lived for the touch of the Sun. I dimly remember this. Now, though, I am part of the human world. I need to know why, I need to know what has happened to me. But this male, this beautiful gentle male who rescued me from the forest floor and touches me so sweetly… he is mine.
This, I need no one to tell me.
This I know."
Okay, I'm one of those 'ew, snakes' people - can't stand snakes, scare the hell out of me, etc.
But there is something about snake shifters that change the game for me.
Rory Ni Coilean's Obsidian packs a punch in less than 8K. The prose was touch purple in the beginning. We're talking lilacs and violets. But the world building and race she creates held my attention that I didn't worry about the purple.
It was all about Naqxo, Lamia (snake) shifter and Damis, a human who was betrothed to the female-dominant race. The inner turmoil of Damis, who prefers men and laments having to be given to a woman was done very well. The fact that Naqxo is a snake takes a backseat to the fantasy filled magic that happened on the page.
It was magical, romantic and gives enough without giving anything away. Some authors can be open and others hold their cards to their chest. This one is the latter giving just enough to carry off this short story.
And the first time sex scene was scorching. I'm hissing along with Damis and Naqxo.
Thanks to the author and team behind this story.
This, I need no one to tell me.
This I know."
Okay, I'm one of those 'ew, snakes' people - can't stand snakes, scare the hell out of me, etc.
But there is something about snake shifters that change the game for me.
Rory Ni Coilean's Obsidian packs a punch in less than 8K. The prose was touch purple in the beginning. We're talking lilacs and violets. But the world building and race she creates held my attention that I didn't worry about the purple.
It was all about Naqxo, Lamia (snake) shifter and Damis, a human who was betrothed to the female-dominant race. The inner turmoil of Damis, who prefers men and laments having to be given to a woman was done very well. The fact that Naqxo is a snake takes a backseat to the fantasy filled magic that happened on the page.
It was magical, romantic and gives enough without giving anything away. Some authors can be open and others hold their cards to their chest. This one is the latter giving just enough to carry off this short story.
And the first time sex scene was scorching. I'm hissing along with Damis and Naqxo.
Thanks to the author and team behind this story.
June 9, 2015
The author really managed to fit a lot of story, world building and romance in a few pages. The balance was perfect.
June 10, 2015
3.5
Short, but interesting. Some beautiful imagery used - and I say that as a person who (sorry) hates snakes!!
Thank you for this lovely piece of work. I can see a much longer story set in this intriguing world. :)
Short, but interesting. Some beautiful imagery used - and I say that as a person who (sorry) hates snakes!!
Thank you for this lovely piece of work. I can see a much longer story set in this intriguing world. :)
June 4, 2015
Really great world building, gorgeous descriptions of the lamia and of Naqxo, and fluid writing style. Both MCs are extremely sweet and endearing. This is a truly enjoyable read, and for all that it is short the story feels complete.
June 8, 2015
As someone suffering from intense snake phobia, I never thought I would read a book about snake shifters, nevermind liking it. But I did. And I think the story fits very well with the photo and the prompt. So kudos to the author and thank you for participating in LOR
June 4, 2015
Well, I haven't read anything like this before.
While I might have tripped over the foreign names in the beginning, I quickly found myself immersed in a vivid and rich world with two MCs who are so hopeful and in awe of each other, that I can't help feel sweetly giddy from reading their encounter.
It's shocking what an author can accomplish is just 27 short pages.
This author wrote a colorful and imaginative tale that is beautifully descriptive.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to the author for their time and participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
While I might have tripped over the foreign names in the beginning, I quickly found myself immersed in a vivid and rich world with two MCs who are so hopeful and in awe of each other, that I can't help feel sweetly giddy from reading their encounter.
It's shocking what an author can accomplish is just 27 short pages.
This author wrote a colorful and imaginative tale that is beautifully descriptive.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to the author for their time and participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
June 6, 2015
Well, this was entertaining, though I struggled with the foreign names.
And I'm no fan of snakes, so it's an achievement to finish reading this. :D
And I'm no fan of snakes, so it's an achievement to finish reading this. :D
June 4, 2015
Wow! Great world building especially since it is such a short story.
July 31, 2015
I love shifter stories about creatures other than dogs and cats, and this one has a really rare one as a main character: a snake shifter. But not only that - the world this story is set in is very different from our own, with creatures unlike the ones we know. The city deep in the jungle was fascinating, the snake shifters living in a sort of symbiosis with humans very unusual, and having part of the story told by Naqxo when in snake form was spellbinding.
Naqxo is the only male Lamia (which is what his species call themselves) of his generation, and the human-Lamia rules that are valid for females do not work for him. The gradual revelation of how things work for him had m spellbound.
Damis is a human with an unusual problem. He is not interested in women yet fully expects to have to mate with a female Lamia at some point. When an alternative presents itself, he has no idea whether it will work, nor what to do, but instinct is there to guide him anyway.
If you like unusual stories about truly creative worlds, if a snake shifter and a human figuring out how to survive sounds interesting, and if you’re looking for a read that is as imaginative as it is heartwarming and fascinating, then you will probably like this free short story. I think it is fantastic, and would love to read more about these characters and their world.
Naqxo is the only male Lamia (which is what his species call themselves) of his generation, and the human-Lamia rules that are valid for females do not work for him. The gradual revelation of how things work for him had m spellbound.
Damis is a human with an unusual problem. He is not interested in women yet fully expects to have to mate with a female Lamia at some point. When an alternative presents itself, he has no idea whether it will work, nor what to do, but instinct is there to guide him anyway.
If you like unusual stories about truly creative worlds, if a snake shifter and a human figuring out how to survive sounds interesting, and if you’re looking for a read that is as imaginative as it is heartwarming and fascinating, then you will probably like this free short story. I think it is fantastic, and would love to read more about these characters and their world.
June 9, 2015
Awesome read :)
So different, and so good. I love how well it fit the prompt and I can't believe it was only 27 pages.
So different, and so good. I love how well it fit the prompt and I can't believe it was only 27 pages.
October 2, 2016
Oh-so-lovely. Excellently done and in such a short space.
June 7, 2015
I was a bit put off at first. The beginning our male snake-shifter is with females(procreating). But further on, I understood it was more because it was Naqxo’s ‘duty’ and nothing else. He was the only male. Thus, it was his duty to help continue the line(though really that means there is going to be some incest going on later on… if all the next generation has the same dad… but hey...whatever). He dreams of finding his Mated. A human(male) who will bind with him and help him life after he has the Change. To shred his scales into his flesh of his human self. But to survive, you must receive your male human’s seed(your mate. Your one and only). If not, you will die. But he is blessed.
Damis was born as a Mated, fated to be mated with a snake-shifter. Sadly, he doesn’t want a female. He desires men. Life is cruel to fate him to be Mated and have the desires of men. Everyone knows there are no such thing as Male snake-shifters…
Until he is proven wrong. He has his work set out if he wants to save his beloved.
I was very happy they were able to met(in time). Naqxo deserved a happy ending. He spent his life doing his 'duty', when all he wanted was to find his one and only and live happily for himself.
Damis was born as a Mated, fated to be mated with a snake-shifter. Sadly, he doesn’t want a female. He desires men. Life is cruel to fate him to be Mated and have the desires of men. Everyone knows there are no such thing as Male snake-shifters…
Until he is proven wrong. He has his work set out if he wants to save his beloved.
I was very happy they were able to met(in time). Naqxo deserved a happy ending. He spent his life doing his 'duty', when all he wanted was to find his one and only and live happily for himself.
April 13, 2017
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love Is An Open Road event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
Coooool pic!
3.5 stars Initially I was confused, due to Niqxo's speech and thought process. But I soon figured out this interesting and complex world. It's a sweet and magical story, although I'm not sure what their lives will look like in the future and would have liked a little more clarity on that
August 23, 2015
One of those jewel stories which remind me of a flower petal caught in amber.
It is written beautifully and pulls you in from the start in this ancient place, Qaa, woven of secrets rituals and sunlight. It's the sense of urgency, of imminent doom that makes you stop breathing and then, suddenly, the gentle, sensual touch brings you back to life.
Fate is good to the belovéd but not before they have their share of anxiety and their bond is genuine and insanely well described down to every detail.
Whether I would like to read an extended version of it? Probably not, because it is perfect as it is (or maybe just because I like short stories) but it surely goes to my "to re-read" list.
Don't miss this pleasure!
It is written beautifully and pulls you in from the start in this ancient place, Qaa, woven of secrets rituals and sunlight. It's the sense of urgency, of imminent doom that makes you stop breathing and then, suddenly, the gentle, sensual touch brings you back to life.
Fate is good to the belovéd but not before they have their share of anxiety and their bond is genuine and insanely well described down to every detail.
Whether I would like to read an extended version of it? Probably not, because it is perfect as it is (or maybe just because I like short stories) but it surely goes to my "to re-read" list.
Don't miss this pleasure!
June 11, 2015
This was spectacularly beautiful. A male Lamia who believes he has no hope of mating with a human the way the females do to survive. A male destined to mate with a Lamia, desperate for the connection that would give him, but with no interest in females.
The fact that these two were created for each other and led to each other made this the most beautifully hopeful story.
Wonderful story, wonderfully told.
Some Favorite Quotes:
it is as if the sun grew hands.
a sense of sun-warmed stone. And peace. And an offer of love.
The fact that these two were created for each other and led to each other made this the most beautifully hopeful story.
Wonderful story, wonderfully told.
Some Favorite Quotes:
it is as if the sun grew hands.
a sense of sun-warmed stone. And peace. And an offer of love.
June 20, 2015
Not a typical shifter story (for a nice change) with great imaginary and even though this was a mated insta love thing, it was very believable and you could really feel the affection from the first moment on.
Niw, the after change and especially the feeding issue I found a bit strange but well... Definitely an author to keep an eye on!
Niw, the after change and especially the feeding issue I found a bit strange but well... Definitely an author to keep an eye on!
June 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this story, it was so unique and I really liked that. I would love to read this as a full length book. This was a new author for me, and I'm a huge fan, and I highly recommend this story.
June 4, 2015
A wondrous story, I almost didn't read it but I'm so glad I did.
June 7, 2015
I wasn't going to read this one because-- well snakes totally freak me out-- but some how this author made snakes a tiny bit less creepy for me.
April 17, 2016
I'm surprised I liked that one so much. Mystic, emotional and somehow very tender. Beautifully touching.
June 28, 2015
Short but fascinating look at a world of myth and legend. A lush and exotic story.
March 16, 2016
Mystic, beautiful and so vivid!
Even though being so short, “Obsidian” has so much to offer that I would have loved to spend some more time with the fascinating serpent Naqxo and delve even deeper in his unknown world Qaa.
The story first immerses us in a world filled in with finality for the dreaming serpent that is denied having a mate. The unexpected twist, however, changes totally the mood, finally letting in the hope when the possibility for Naqxo to find and actually keep his mate comes true. The love story itself is sweet, tender and so touching – one I would use to compare others against for sure :-)
Even though being so short, “Obsidian” has so much to offer that I would have loved to spend some more time with the fascinating serpent Naqxo and delve even deeper in his unknown world Qaa.
The story first immerses us in a world filled in with finality for the dreaming serpent that is denied having a mate. The unexpected twist, however, changes totally the mood, finally letting in the hope when the possibility for Naqxo to find and actually keep his mate comes true. The love story itself is sweet, tender and so touching – one I would use to compare others against for sure :-)
June 9, 2015
Very good, short paranormal (snake shifter) story
Naqxo is the only male Lamiae of his generation, unlike the females, who bond with local human males of "the mated caste" Naqxo is doomed to be alone until his successor comes along. But although promised a swift end, when it comes, it sends him Damis, one of the mated caste, who is able to "feed" him as the human males feed the female Lamiae at the time of their change from snake to human. Very well written, with some nice world building/mythology mixed in.
Naqxo is the only male Lamiae of his generation, unlike the females, who bond with local human males of "the mated caste" Naqxo is doomed to be alone until his successor comes along. But although promised a swift end, when it comes, it sends him Damis, one of the mated caste, who is able to "feed" him as the human males feed the female Lamiae at the time of their change from snake to human. Very well written, with some nice world building/mythology mixed in.
June 22, 2015
Lovely story with great worldbuilding in such limited space, evocative language of the kind that leaves you with a sense of colour and place and atmosphere, and a convincing and sweet romance with hints of melancholy - I was sorry to see it end. There were some pretty big issues left open at the end, worldbuilding-wise, which I'd have liked to see resolved, but maybe that's asking too much, and the story itself was satisfying either way. I don't usually read mating/bonding or shifter stories, but this one here with its nod to greek mythology is really worth a try.
June 11, 2015
** 4.5 Stars **
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
What a fascinating tale! Thank you Ms. Coileain
June 11, 2015
A beautiful little story. It was nice to see how this magical myth developed into a HEA. The author balanced the right amount of character development, world build, and plot within the amount of words.
The beginning was a little confusing, since I kept waiting for the MC to shift, but I was able to catch up quickly.
The beginning was a little confusing, since I kept waiting for the MC to shift, but I was able to catch up quickly.
July 3, 2015
Damis is not your average male mate... He likes guys not girls. Fated to mate a lamia female, how will he survive. His friend tells him he will be fine. And he will be chosen soon.
Naqxo is a lamia male. Having to grown a bit bored with what he does. He is answered in a dream that he will not suffer. What does the lamia female mean by that???
Naqxo is a lamia male. Having to grown a bit bored with what he does. He is answered in a dream that he will not suffer. What does the lamia female mean by that???
October 11, 2015
This author wields words expertly. I loved his previous contribution, but this one was too short to satisfy me. Setup took more of the story than action. Still it was a beautiful love story, even if snakes are a bit creepy for me.
March 18, 2016
I liked how this shifter story was pure fantasy and not urban fantasy. And it could have been the author who did the prompt as it was just what I wanted when I read it. I'd like them to have more time together, but it was a short story so I suppose I can't have it all. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews