Publisher: Just Joshin’
Date published: February
16, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-937909-36-9
Genre: Male/male romance;
Yaoi
Book format: E-book
Obtained via: Self-purchase
Reviewed by:Keldon
Authentic Lanyon, Yaoi
style
When
Josh Lanyon decided to tackle the world of manga and Yaoi, he came up with Blood
Red Butterfly, a tale unlike anything he'd written to date. In addition to the
intrigue and romance I’ve come to expect from a Lanyon offering, the Japanese
heritage of the paired protagonists lends an unmistakable Yaoi flavor to the
story.
By
day, Detective Ryo Miller deals with homicide; at night, he frequents clubs in
West Hollywood. For months he’s admired a man who looks like a real-life femme—a
man known as the Ice Princess. After three rejections, Ryo moved on to a new
club and more amenable prospects. Yaoi artist Kai Tashiro has a complex
relationship with everyone around him, from his family to his art to his romantic
entanglements, and things are about to get more snarled than ever.
When
an elderly woman is brutally murdered, Ryo knows that the killer must be the
man she helped put in prison: newly paroled Mickey Torres. Ryo never expected
the Ice Princess to walk in and provide Torres’s alibi. Ryo is cynical about
Kai’s story—and overwhelmed by attraction. On his part, Kai is suspicious about
Ryo’s motives—is the detective interested in him, or in breaking Torres’s
alibi?
As
Ryo and Kai do an uneasy dance, Ryo makes a serendipitous discovery about the
murder, landing Kai square in the crosshairs. The climax (not that one!) had me
holding my breath as Ryo and Kai battle the bad guys. The story ends with an
unexpected turn.
The
cover art is exquisite—a full set of illustrations was the only thing this book
lacked.
In
the beginning, the layers of Japanese culture and Yaoi romance make this tale a
departure from the typical Josh Lanyon, but the crime plot came together in
fine Lanyon tradition, with a couple of nice little twists and a satisfying
conclusion. Josh has successfully negotiated the journey into the world of boy
love. An authentic offering that will please fans of both Lanyon and Yaoi.
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