What do you think?
Rate this book
Blurred Lines
A growing phenomenon in the queer community is rejecting the strict confines of the gender binary. The need to be 'all boy' or 'all girl' all the time—or to feel like one or the other at all—is a restriction on free gender expression. What does it look like when someone blazes their own path through gender roles? Wearing, saying, and doing what they want, even when it causes confusion or discomfort to others? It takes a strong personality to defy societal norms, and this collection brings together several of them.
In Werebears and Water , Rayce and his boyfriend, Vince, take a break from their busy college lives to visit a WereCon, where they hope to meet others like themselves. Most of the attendees are players and posers, but when a sexy spitfire of a girl named Maia comes to share their room after a hotel mix-up, they will find that she's everything they were looking for... and everything they didn't even know they were looking for.
Tony tends bar, and whether he's in a suit and tie or a mini-skirt and glitter, he can handle anything from sarcastic comments to the drunk and disorderly—except for the gorgeous George, whose comfort level with Tony's gender fluidity is a little fluid itself. Experience has taught Tony to expect the worst, and he's not about to risk his heart on someone who can't love him, tits and all. Only by Defying Expectations can George win the fair bartender's heart.
Then, in Red Blood, White Blood , Chee, once known as Chen, has sought the guidance of her tribe's spirit creatures, and has received and unorthodox she will not receive the totem's blessing to become a hunter, because that is a man's duty and, despite her body, she is no man. Her horrified family sends her away to another tribe, where a wise woman may have a cure for her strange malady... but the wise woman's cure is acceptance. As Chee teaches Taki, a boy with a similar dilemma (and a woman's body), the ways of men, she learns her own place as a woman of her new tribe, both publicly and in the privacy of a darkened hut.
Finally, Of All the Days to wear the tits, Vesh chose the day ze tried to finger guardsman Jeric's pouch. And later, ze was caught again fingering the big man's private property. And again, when Vesh is finally caught stealing from the wrong person, ze and Jeric are given a joint bump and grind their way through the deadly catacombs beneath the city and bring back their prize alive, and they will walk away with enough gold to hump their way to any other city they wish.
In Werebears and Water , Rayce and his boyfriend, Vince, take a break from their busy college lives to visit a WereCon, where they hope to meet others like themselves. Most of the attendees are players and posers, but when a sexy spitfire of a girl named Maia comes to share their room after a hotel mix-up, they will find that she's everything they were looking for... and everything they didn't even know they were looking for.
Tony tends bar, and whether he's in a suit and tie or a mini-skirt and glitter, he can handle anything from sarcastic comments to the drunk and disorderly—except for the gorgeous George, whose comfort level with Tony's gender fluidity is a little fluid itself. Experience has taught Tony to expect the worst, and he's not about to risk his heart on someone who can't love him, tits and all. Only by Defying Expectations can George win the fair bartender's heart.
Then, in Red Blood, White Blood , Chee, once known as Chen, has sought the guidance of her tribe's spirit creatures, and has received and unorthodox she will not receive the totem's blessing to become a hunter, because that is a man's duty and, despite her body, she is no man. Her horrified family sends her away to another tribe, where a wise woman may have a cure for her strange malady... but the wise woman's cure is acceptance. As Chee teaches Taki, a boy with a similar dilemma (and a woman's body), the ways of men, she learns her own place as a woman of her new tribe, both publicly and in the privacy of a darkened hut.
Finally, Of All the Days to wear the tits, Vesh chose the day ze tried to finger guardsman Jeric's pouch. And later, ze was caught again fingering the big man's private property. And again, when Vesh is finally caught stealing from the wrong person, ze and Jeric are given a joint bump and grind their way through the deadly catacombs beneath the city and bring back their prize alive, and they will walk away with enough gold to hump their way to any other city they wish.
Paperback
First published February 10, 2014
28 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Tudor
60 books16 followersIn 2010, Kathleen Tudor was working full time as a magazine writer (under a different name) and toying, very occasionally, with the idea of writing fiction. She wrote a piece called Navigator about a pair of women who learn to share an incredible emotional and sexual bond through the act of learning to co-pilot a starship, and after striking out once, sold it to Circlet Press, where it appeared in Like that Spark.
Sad but true: It took two years of occasionally writing for calls and selling work for Kathleen to realize that her passion lay with fiction. She gave up non-fiction writing and hasn't looked back. That same year, early 2012, her very first sale, Navigator, was chosen for a Circlet Best-Of anthology, Fantastic Erotica.
Kathleen's work has appeared in anthologies by Ravenous Romance, Xcite Books, Circlet Press, Cleis Press, Mischief from HarperCollins UK, and Storm Moon Books. She is also an editor with Circlet Press, and her first anthology, Like Hearts Enchanted, will be out later in 2012.
Kathleen lives in California with her incredible partner and child, a dog, a cat, and a fish named Speedy. She enjoys the outdoors, including kayaking, hiking, and recharging on the beach, but her favorite activities remain writing, editing, and reading--not a day goes by that she doesn't do at least one of those!
If you would like to contact Kathleen, please email PolyKathleen@gmail.com.
Sad but true: It took two years of occasionally writing for calls and selling work for Kathleen to realize that her passion lay with fiction. She gave up non-fiction writing and hasn't looked back. That same year, early 2012, her very first sale, Navigator, was chosen for a Circlet Best-Of anthology, Fantastic Erotica.
Kathleen's work has appeared in anthologies by Ravenous Romance, Xcite Books, Circlet Press, Cleis Press, Mischief from HarperCollins UK, and Storm Moon Books. She is also an editor with Circlet Press, and her first anthology, Like Hearts Enchanted, will be out later in 2012.
Kathleen lives in California with her incredible partner and child, a dog, a cat, and a fish named Speedy. She enjoys the outdoors, including kayaking, hiking, and recharging on the beach, but her favorite activities remain writing, editing, and reading--not a day goes by that she doesn't do at least one of those!
If you would like to contact Kathleen, please email PolyKathleen@gmail.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 21, 2016
2.625 Stars
My trans* vision quest continues. I now know the meaning of the asterisk! YAY ME!
Defying Expectations by K. Lynn
2.5 Stars
Crossdressing! WIN!
Story... meh.
Tony is a crossdressing bartender. George is a regular and a flirter. George works up the cajones to ask Tony out but when Tony shows up to lunch with his breast forms George is caught off guard. In my opinion, Tony overreacts to George's reaction, but apparently there is history of being hurt which we're not privy to, so it struck me as prematurely throwing the towel in, but maybe it was justified. *shrugs* Prolly could've done with some back story to support that history is all I'm saying.
The story itself is slightly repetitive and lacks gusto.
Werebears and Water by Caitlin Ricci
1.5 Stars
TOO BUSY!
There is just too much happening in this short. Rayce is trans FTM and Vince is his boyfriend. I thought the trans* issues were explained well, but everything else fell flat for me. Rayce and Vince are also werebears who have come to WereCon and meet Maia in the lobby after she has a meltdown over the hotel losing her reservation. Maia is also a sea nymph shifter? Who's speaking at WereCon. And they invite her (total stranger) to share their room? The next thing I know Vince and Rayce are polyamorous? But they've never poly'd anyone else's amorous before?
At the end of the day, it was too far out for me especially the weird coaching Vince does with Rayce while they're spitroasting Maia.
Of All The Days by Sian Hart
4.5 Stars
WINNER!
Great AU adventure reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark with a spoonful of Harry Potter. I like both characters and their interplay. It caught my attention quickly and held it. Jeric is a mercenary and Vesh is a archaeological thief. They get hired to retrieve two crowns for a dubious character. I didn't really grasp how or why they were hired together; it seemed rather random. But the adventure gauntlet that ensues was uproariously fun.
Vesh also has a magic amulet that allows them (?) to change gender from male to female and at one point even a hermaphrodite! The sex scene betwixt them was hella fun. I do enjoy protagonists that have size difference and are hot for each other and maybe there's some roughness. *eyebrow waggle* This hit the lottery for all of the above.
Most enjoyable!
Red Blood, White Blood by Jasmine Gower
2 Stars
Hodgepodge-y feels on this one.
I understand the intent, or what I think the intent was on the author's part, to illustrate the difference between the sexes within the context of this historical tribal society. The gender roles are prescribed with little variability and probable expulsion from the tribe were one to defy them. But there's something off-putting as a reader in modern society reading that women are to be "caregivers" and men are to be "hunters" and these two protagonists are encouraged to teach one another how to act in accordance with these roles if they're to expect acceptance. I get it, but then again, shooting dinner and/or extending kindness are not solely the providence of a particular gender or at least they shouldn't be, in my humble opinion.
The story itself isn't really all that engaging. It lacks zest and the characters are generic.
If there's one thing I've learned from my vision quest (Which isn't over. Far from over. Still woefully lacking in knowledge.) it's that the trans* experience is varied and the lines of the trans* box are certainly blurred. <~~~see what I did there?
My trans* vision quest continues. I now know the meaning of the asterisk! YAY ME!
Defying Expectations by K. Lynn
2.5 Stars
Crossdressing! WIN!
Story... meh.
Tony is a crossdressing bartender. George is a regular and a flirter. George works up the cajones to ask Tony out but when Tony shows up to lunch with his breast forms George is caught off guard. In my opinion, Tony overreacts to George's reaction, but apparently there is history of being hurt which we're not privy to, so it struck me as prematurely throwing the towel in, but maybe it was justified. *shrugs* Prolly could've done with some back story to support that history is all I'm saying.
The story itself is slightly repetitive and lacks gusto.
Werebears and Water by Caitlin Ricci
1.5 Stars
TOO BUSY!
There is just too much happening in this short. Rayce is trans FTM and Vince is his boyfriend. I thought the trans* issues were explained well, but everything else fell flat for me. Rayce and Vince are also werebears who have come to WereCon and meet Maia in the lobby after she has a meltdown over the hotel losing her reservation. Maia is also a sea nymph shifter? Who's speaking at WereCon. And they invite her (total stranger) to share their room? The next thing I know Vince and Rayce are polyamorous? But they've never poly'd anyone else's amorous before?
At the end of the day, it was too far out for me especially the weird coaching Vince does with Rayce while they're spitroasting Maia.
Of All The Days by Sian Hart
4.5 Stars
WINNER!
Great AU adventure reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark with a spoonful of Harry Potter. I like both characters and their interplay. It caught my attention quickly and held it. Jeric is a mercenary and Vesh is a archaeological thief. They get hired to retrieve two crowns for a dubious character. I didn't really grasp how or why they were hired together; it seemed rather random. But the adventure gauntlet that ensues was uproariously fun.
Vesh also has a magic amulet that allows them (?) to change gender from male to female and at one point even a hermaphrodite! The sex scene betwixt them was hella fun. I do enjoy protagonists that have size difference and are hot for each other and maybe there's some roughness. *eyebrow waggle* This hit the lottery for all of the above.
Most enjoyable!
Red Blood, White Blood by Jasmine Gower
2 Stars
Hodgepodge-y feels on this one.
I understand the intent, or what I think the intent was on the author's part, to illustrate the difference between the sexes within the context of this historical tribal society. The gender roles are prescribed with little variability and probable expulsion from the tribe were one to defy them. But there's something off-putting as a reader in modern society reading that women are to be "caregivers" and men are to be "hunters" and these two protagonists are encouraged to teach one another how to act in accordance with these roles if they're to expect acceptance. I get it, but then again, shooting dinner and/or extending kindness are not solely the providence of a particular gender or at least they shouldn't be, in my humble opinion.
The story itself isn't really all that engaging. It lacks zest and the characters are generic.
If there's one thing I've learned from my vision quest (Which isn't over. Far from over. Still woefully lacking in knowledge.) it's that the trans* experience is varied and the lines of the trans* box are certainly blurred. <~~~see what I did there?
June 13, 2014
Gender. Sexuality. Race. Relationship. For most people these are binary absolutes, simple either/or definitions. You are male or female, gay or straight; human or not, monogamous or not. As far as ‘polite’ society is concerned, there are simply no allowances for people to cross those stark, rigid, lines . . . forever drawn in permanent ink, and never to be questioned.
Well, I say so-called ‘polite’ society be damned, and so does Kathleen Tudor. Her Blurred Lines anthology is one of the most positive, inclusive, delightful collections I have had the pleasure of reading in a very long time.
K. Lynn opens the anthology with Defying Expectations, probably the most traditional of the four stories, but one with a lovely approach to gender fluidity. In detailing the budding romance between a genderfluid bartender and gay male customer, Lynn explores the assumptions and misconceptions that exist even within the LGBT community. There’s some definite tension to the tale, but overall it’s sweet and understanding.
Almost as if she took the title as a challenge, Caitlin Ricci follows that up with Werebears and Water, a fantastic story that blurs all the lines. Here we have a werebear in love with a female-to-male transsexual, who encounter a sea nymph at WereCon. After an act of chivalry on their part, and a little voyeurism on hers, Rayce and Vince invite her to be a part of their polyamorous relationship. There’s so much going on here, I was worried Ricci might have been trying too hard to blur the lines, but it all works beautifully, exploring the joys of openness, acceptance, and love.
Not to be outdone, Sian Hart ups the ante with Of All The Days, probably my favorite in the anthology. Plot-wise, this is an old fashioned fantasy quest tale, with the heroes being forced to make their way past traps and trials to find the treasure and complete their mission. It’s a fun story that would be right at home in any fantasy anthology, but what makes it really interesting is the relationship between Jeric and Vesh. Vesh is a professional thief with an amulet that allows him to magically transform his gender from male to female and all variations in between, while Jeric is a mercenary guard who is more than happy to explore a lover with those variations.
Jasmine Gower ends the story with another traditional sort of tale, but one that hearkens back to an even older tradition – that of the two-spirited wise one. Red Blood, White Blood begins when Chen undergoes the ritual to become a hunter, only to have his spirit guide reject him for being a woman. It’s an absolutely fascinating story about gender and gender roles in a native tribe, with some really inventive approaches to mental, emotional, spiritual, and even physical transitions. I didn't expect the resolution that Gower provided, but loved it even more for the audacity.
If you’re a fan of stories that are erotic, well-told, and positive in their blurring of gender lines, you’ll be hard pressed to find a stronger collection of stories. Kathleen Tudor is to be commended for putting together such a wonderful collection of authors and stories. Highly recommended!
As published on Bending the Bookshelf
Well, I say so-called ‘polite’ society be damned, and so does Kathleen Tudor. Her Blurred Lines anthology is one of the most positive, inclusive, delightful collections I have had the pleasure of reading in a very long time.
K. Lynn opens the anthology with Defying Expectations, probably the most traditional of the four stories, but one with a lovely approach to gender fluidity. In detailing the budding romance between a genderfluid bartender and gay male customer, Lynn explores the assumptions and misconceptions that exist even within the LGBT community. There’s some definite tension to the tale, but overall it’s sweet and understanding.
Almost as if she took the title as a challenge, Caitlin Ricci follows that up with Werebears and Water, a fantastic story that blurs all the lines. Here we have a werebear in love with a female-to-male transsexual, who encounter a sea nymph at WereCon. After an act of chivalry on their part, and a little voyeurism on hers, Rayce and Vince invite her to be a part of their polyamorous relationship. There’s so much going on here, I was worried Ricci might have been trying too hard to blur the lines, but it all works beautifully, exploring the joys of openness, acceptance, and love.
Not to be outdone, Sian Hart ups the ante with Of All The Days, probably my favorite in the anthology. Plot-wise, this is an old fashioned fantasy quest tale, with the heroes being forced to make their way past traps and trials to find the treasure and complete their mission. It’s a fun story that would be right at home in any fantasy anthology, but what makes it really interesting is the relationship between Jeric and Vesh. Vesh is a professional thief with an amulet that allows him to magically transform his gender from male to female and all variations in between, while Jeric is a mercenary guard who is more than happy to explore a lover with those variations.
Jasmine Gower ends the story with another traditional sort of tale, but one that hearkens back to an even older tradition – that of the two-spirited wise one. Red Blood, White Blood begins when Chen undergoes the ritual to become a hunter, only to have his spirit guide reject him for being a woman. It’s an absolutely fascinating story about gender and gender roles in a native tribe, with some really inventive approaches to mental, emotional, spiritual, and even physical transitions. I didn't expect the resolution that Gower provided, but loved it even more for the audacity.
If you’re a fan of stories that are erotic, well-told, and positive in their blurring of gender lines, you’ll be hard pressed to find a stronger collection of stories. Kathleen Tudor is to be commended for putting together such a wonderful collection of authors and stories. Highly recommended!
As published on Bending the Bookshelf
April 26, 2015
★★★★☆
I really enjoyed this anthology for expanding my thinking and understanding and recommend it for learning more about gender fluidity.
Defying Expectations by K. Lynn
George is very attracted to Tony but doesn't quite know what to make of him - sometimes he's in skirts and sometimes he's in pants. Can they make this work?
Werebears and Water by Caitlin Ricci
Two werebear college students - one a female-to-male transexual - meet a sea nymph shifter at a convention. Vince is bisexual and in love with Rayce who's still struggling with the body parts that he and Vince are saving up for surgeries to change and Maia who has her own secret that she's a shifter. I found this story very intriguing because I needed to bend my mind around Rayce identifying as male and so it was a different mindset for me to contemplate.
Of All The Days by Sian Hart
Thief Vesh can shift between male or female and goes on a fantasy road trip with Jeric, a big, burly guard who can swing either way. I quite enjoyed this story.
Red Blood, White Blood by Jasmine Gower
This was a really interesting spiritual story of Chee who is rejected by her spirit guide as a man even though she has male genitalia and is sent to another tribe to learn with the Wise Woman and train Taki how to be a man who in turn trains Chee how to be a woman. It was interesting the way the emotional and physical roles were intrepreted.
I really enjoyed this anthology for expanding my thinking and understanding and recommend it for learning more about gender fluidity.
Defying Expectations by K. Lynn
George is very attracted to Tony but doesn't quite know what to make of him - sometimes he's in skirts and sometimes he's in pants. Can they make this work?
Werebears and Water by Caitlin Ricci
Two werebear college students - one a female-to-male transexual - meet a sea nymph shifter at a convention. Vince is bisexual and in love with Rayce who's still struggling with the body parts that he and Vince are saving up for surgeries to change and Maia who has her own secret that she's a shifter. I found this story very intriguing because I needed to bend my mind around Rayce identifying as male and so it was a different mindset for me to contemplate.
Of All The Days by Sian Hart
Thief Vesh can shift between male or female and goes on a fantasy road trip with Jeric, a big, burly guard who can swing either way. I quite enjoyed this story.
Red Blood, White Blood by Jasmine Gower
This was a really interesting spiritual story of Chee who is rejected by her spirit guide as a man even though she has male genitalia and is sent to another tribe to learn with the Wise Woman and train Taki how to be a man who in turn trains Chee how to be a woman. It was interesting the way the emotional and physical roles were intrepreted.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews