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Knife's Edge: Kinky Lesbian Erotica
12 stories about spanking, surrender and restraints and some of the fun a few inventive gals can cook up with each other. What else? There are pirates and aliens and cowgirls and the hottest meter maid you'll ever run across. Add in a vampire or two and the hottest fantasies you ever entertained about the girl's field hockey team and you’re in for one wild ride.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2017
9 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 24, 2017
When I saw that Emily Byrne’s new collection was entitled Knife’s Edge, I crossed my fingers, hoping the book would include her story “An Incident in Whitechapel”. Though I first encountered it years ago, this tale of a cross-dressing knife and scissors grinder on the trail of Jack the Ripper has remained in my memory as one of the very best erotic short stories I’ve ever read. As thick with atmosphere as the notorious London fog, “Incident” combines intense and passionate BDSM with social commentary and a stunningly ambiguous ending. Its depth and richness impressed me more than ever on my second (and then third) read. In truth, this story alone is worth the price of this book.
If you do buy Knife’s Edge, though, you’ll get more than just this gem. This diverse collection includes tales of kinky female pirates, outlaws, cowgirls and field hockey players. Within its pages you’ll find vampires, aliens and Greek goddesses. The variety of settings amazed me, though almost all the stories feature similar dynamics—a submissive main character brought under the spell of a powerful, dominant, often older woman.
Aside from “Incident”, one of my favorite tales was “Planet 10”. The protagonists in this story belong to different, non-human species; they demonstrate that desire can bridge almost any gap. “Cowgirls and Science” is a cheeky rodeo fantasy. Ms Byrne brings the two rough riders who seduce the archaeologist narrator to vivid life. “Arachne”, a lesbian retelling of the ancient myth, is another stand-out, with particularly gorgeous writing:
But Arachne, though a great artist, is too proud of her gifts. “I do not believe in gods or their followers. My faith hands on the power of my shuttle alone.” The goddess Athene challenges her, breaks her—and ultimately rewards her by accepting Arachne’s devotion.
The brief but intense “Polar Vortex” also grabbed me. The unnamed women in this story are a D/s couple, but some unexplained events have driven them apart emotionally. Now the dominant tries to recapture the magic of their connection by requiring her sub to immerse herself in a bathtub full of snow. This creative scene melts the icy walls that have been separating them.
I didn’t like every story in Knife’s Edge. The lead-off tale, “Reunion at St. Mary’s”, struck me as contrived and a bit silly. “Wage Slave”, with its sexy boss lady taking sexual advantage of her nerdy system administrator, was too predictable to be interesting. Overall, however, Emily Byrne has put together a fine collection of beautifully crafted lesbian fiction. Highly recommended.
[I freely chose to review this book, having read other work by this author.]
If you do buy Knife’s Edge, though, you’ll get more than just this gem. This diverse collection includes tales of kinky female pirates, outlaws, cowgirls and field hockey players. Within its pages you’ll find vampires, aliens and Greek goddesses. The variety of settings amazed me, though almost all the stories feature similar dynamics—a submissive main character brought under the spell of a powerful, dominant, often older woman.
Aside from “Incident”, one of my favorite tales was “Planet 10”. The protagonists in this story belong to different, non-human species; they demonstrate that desire can bridge almost any gap. “Cowgirls and Science” is a cheeky rodeo fantasy. Ms Byrne brings the two rough riders who seduce the archaeologist narrator to vivid life. “Arachne”, a lesbian retelling of the ancient myth, is another stand-out, with particularly gorgeous writing:
I sit at my loom like a spider in her web and my cloths fly through the cities on gossamer wings. Great citizens and their wives come to watch me as I weave and to marvel at the results. Tapestries and chitons, hangings and coverings for wall and floor and door, all these and more climb new-born from my loom. They leave the city, my children do, to go to foreign lands and across strange seas. I long for them, each one beloved, brought to life with infinite care by my fingers.
But Arachne, though a great artist, is too proud of her gifts. “I do not believe in gods or their followers. My faith hands on the power of my shuttle alone.” The goddess Athene challenges her, breaks her—and ultimately rewards her by accepting Arachne’s devotion.
The brief but intense “Polar Vortex” also grabbed me. The unnamed women in this story are a D/s couple, but some unexplained events have driven them apart emotionally. Now the dominant tries to recapture the magic of their connection by requiring her sub to immerse herself in a bathtub full of snow. This creative scene melts the icy walls that have been separating them.
I didn’t like every story in Knife’s Edge. The lead-off tale, “Reunion at St. Mary’s”, struck me as contrived and a bit silly. “Wage Slave”, with its sexy boss lady taking sexual advantage of her nerdy system administrator, was too predictable to be interesting. Overall, however, Emily Byrne has put together a fine collection of beautifully crafted lesbian fiction. Highly recommended.
[I freely chose to review this book, having read other work by this author.]
October 21, 2017
A wonderful collection of varied short stories from a talented author. I particularly liked Planet 10 and The Hands of a Princess.
August 1, 2018
Knife’s Edge is a delightfully hot collection of twelve stories featuring kinky sex between women, in a wide variety of settings and even genres.
Although I found this book sexy from the start, when I began reading, I was at first afraid it was going to fall into a series of stories with similar patterns: two toughened women meet in a man’s world, perhaps one is not aware that the other is even female. The secret is exposed, resentful rivalry diminished, hot sex to follow. I felt that I’d read this story before, but I kept reading—and I’m very glad I did!
There are some fantastically hot stories in this collection, and most of them take place in widely varied worlds: another planet, medieval-like fantasy worlds, Greek Mythology, the past and future Earth. And within the “real,” modern world, there are offices, rodeos, the city street where Meter Maids (do we still call them that?) are fetishized and fantasized about.
Consent is present in every story, but my personal favorites are those that push things, take the Kink beyond a little light spanking and restraint (where some of these tales are happy to remain). I loved “An Incident in Whitechapel,” in which a submissive is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to help calm the deep desire for revenge that drives her lover to seek and kill Jack the Ripper in 19-century London. She goes to great lengths indeed. I also loved “Planet 10,” about a working stiff on a deep-space trading base who wishes to *endure*, more than anything, what a mysterious alien has to offer. It’s a delicious story.
I would give this book four stars because, like any collection or anthology, some stories do more for me than others. Some of this is my own taste, but I do feel that some of the story structures are more interesting than others, as well as the sex scenes. Most are wonderfully original, but I do feel I’ve seen stories similar to a few of these before.
But if all-female stories of kink in a variety of settings—and intensity—are what you are looking for, this is a wonderful set!
Although I found this book sexy from the start, when I began reading, I was at first afraid it was going to fall into a series of stories with similar patterns: two toughened women meet in a man’s world, perhaps one is not aware that the other is even female. The secret is exposed, resentful rivalry diminished, hot sex to follow. I felt that I’d read this story before, but I kept reading—and I’m very glad I did!
There are some fantastically hot stories in this collection, and most of them take place in widely varied worlds: another planet, medieval-like fantasy worlds, Greek Mythology, the past and future Earth. And within the “real,” modern world, there are offices, rodeos, the city street where Meter Maids (do we still call them that?) are fetishized and fantasized about.
Consent is present in every story, but my personal favorites are those that push things, take the Kink beyond a little light spanking and restraint (where some of these tales are happy to remain). I loved “An Incident in Whitechapel,” in which a submissive is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to help calm the deep desire for revenge that drives her lover to seek and kill Jack the Ripper in 19-century London. She goes to great lengths indeed. I also loved “Planet 10,” about a working stiff on a deep-space trading base who wishes to *endure*, more than anything, what a mysterious alien has to offer. It’s a delicious story.
I would give this book four stars because, like any collection or anthology, some stories do more for me than others. Some of this is my own taste, but I do feel that some of the story structures are more interesting than others, as well as the sex scenes. Most are wonderfully original, but I do feel I’ve seen stories similar to a few of these before.
But if all-female stories of kink in a variety of settings—and intensity—are what you are looking for, this is a wonderful set!
May 5, 2017
Byrne is capable of blending a dizzying number of kink fantasy elements into powerfully hot stories with a strong sense of character.
The collection opens hot and strong with “Reunion at St. Mary’s,” an absolutely scorching story that combines a dizzying number of fantasy elements in a group sex scene that keeps me gasping for pages on end. (Nuns, spanking, and the girls’ hockey team are somehow just the beginning of this fantasy.)
I was afraid the next eleven stories would seem pale in comparison to this particular filthy, kinky gem.
Byrne, however, is very wise with pacing and variety throughout the book. After “Reunion at St. Mary’s,” she showcases other strengths of her writing. “Arachne” in particular relies on gorgeous language, strong characterization, and a particularly creative mythological retelling to hold its own after the unrelenting heat of “Reunion.” Another story, “The Hands of a Princess,” appeals through humor and a strong plot—while still being quite kinky in its own right.
A couple of stories ("Planet 10" and "Lovely Rita, Meter Maid") skirted the edge of dehumanizing fetishes (for a particular (alien) race, and for a woman in uniform), but Byrne seems aware of the situation and addresses the issue within the story. A couple of weaker stories seemed underdeveloped.
However, those things shouldn't scare readers away from a collection of stories that reaches impressive heights of kink, strikes strong emotional notes, and surprises and delights through new ways of handling favorite scenarios.
I'll be posting a longer review on my blog on 5/6/17. After that date, this link will take you there: http://annabethleong.blogspot.com/201...
The collection opens hot and strong with “Reunion at St. Mary’s,” an absolutely scorching story that combines a dizzying number of fantasy elements in a group sex scene that keeps me gasping for pages on end. (Nuns, spanking, and the girls’ hockey team are somehow just the beginning of this fantasy.)
I was afraid the next eleven stories would seem pale in comparison to this particular filthy, kinky gem.
Byrne, however, is very wise with pacing and variety throughout the book. After “Reunion at St. Mary’s,” she showcases other strengths of her writing. “Arachne” in particular relies on gorgeous language, strong characterization, and a particularly creative mythological retelling to hold its own after the unrelenting heat of “Reunion.” Another story, “The Hands of a Princess,” appeals through humor and a strong plot—while still being quite kinky in its own right.
A couple of stories ("Planet 10" and "Lovely Rita, Meter Maid") skirted the edge of dehumanizing fetishes (for a particular (alien) race, and for a woman in uniform), but Byrne seems aware of the situation and addresses the issue within the story. A couple of weaker stories seemed underdeveloped.
However, those things shouldn't scare readers away from a collection of stories that reaches impressive heights of kink, strikes strong emotional notes, and surprises and delights through new ways of handling favorite scenarios.
I'll be posting a longer review on my blog on 5/6/17. After that date, this link will take you there: http://annabethleong.blogspot.com/201...
December 31, 2022
As the title suggests, this is a kinky collection of erotic stories. All of which are unique. And a hell of a way to end my reading for 2023.
Contains:
Fisting
Penetration with a hockey stick
Fisting
Penetration with a knife
Fisting
Penetration with a leather penis
Fisting
Penetration with a tail (Alien sex)
Wax play
Blood play...and more.
Contains:
Fisting
Penetration with a hockey stick
Fisting
Penetration with a knife
Fisting
Penetration with a leather penis
Fisting
Penetration with a tail (Alien sex)
Wax play
Blood play...and more.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews