Fairyville is clearly an unusual place - not only are there several wacky residents (notably Zoe who is a medium but who also sees fairies) but some people whose children are born in Fairyville hospital are wondering if their child was somehow switched with another child; surely their natural children shouldn't be able to levitate objects?
The book 'Fairyville' follows two couples as they try to get to the bottom of the swapped children whilst learning about themselves and each other. Zoe Clare the medium has been in love with Magnus Monroe, her landlord and manager, for two years. He seems to like her very much and yet every full moon he spends the night with another woman, although that's a one-off and he doesn't see the woman again. Zoe decides to seduce him but he seems strangely resistant; she doesn't know why but the reader is told that Magnus is a fairy prince and he is only allowed to stay on Earth if he gives the women with whom he makes love their hearts back afterwards so that they don't love him any more. He feels too strongly for Zoe and so isn't willing to have her indifferent to him after a night of sex, and thus holds back.
However, Magnus's plans aren't working too well when Zoe tries to seduce him, especially as almost immediately afterwards her old flame Alex Goodbody returns. Alex is a private investigator who has been hired to look into whether a young boy, Oscar, isn't actually Mrs Pruitt's son but was swapped when she gave birth in Fairyville. Alex left Fairyville under a cloud when discovered having sex with his football coach but Zoe still loves him and his arrival in town rekindles some of the feelings.
To add to the complication, Alex is visiting with his fellow private investigator, Bryan McCallum, with whom he's just started a sexual relationship. Bryan and Alex have worked together for ten years and Bryan is very deeply in love - his character is written very well as a gentle, kindly and thoughtful man and yet also a very masculine and strong one. Bryan not only can see the interest between Alex and Zoe but he also finds himself attracted to Zoe as well. Much of the sex in this book is gay sex between Bryan and Alex, and also between Bryan and Magnus, but there is also a three-in-a-bed session including Zoe and other sexual practices that some might find distasteful so this is definitely a book for those who know what to expect in erotic romance and feel comfortable with it.
As soon as Alex and Bryan arrive in Fairyville strange things begin to happen to them, such as rocks showering on them in a hotel room, angels being summoned by Zoe to rescue them and a relative of Alex's speaking to him from beyond the grave. As soon as Zoe meets Alex again some of their feelings come back which leads to jealousy on Magnus's part and insecurity for Bryan. These elements are wrapped up fairly well by the end of the book but the tension between the four main characters, and their interactions (usually sexual) are the main thrust of the story. As the story continues Alex finds out more about his own past, Magnus's fairy status causes him more problems and the relationships between the four become more complicated, especially when Alex travels to Fairy with the young boy, Oscar.
This book is described as an erotic paranormal romance; it's certainly erotic with lots of sex scenes including gay sex, three in a bed and other stuff; it's paranormal with fairies, ghosts, angels and fairy wars; however it wasn't particularly romantic as the relationships between the four main characters were more based on lust and friendship rather than romance. However, Emma Holly is an excellent writer in this genre and she kept the story moving along well, it wasn't always clear what was going to happen, all the threads were resolved (although some in a manner the more traditional reader might not entirely find comfortable) and her portrayal of the world of Fairyville was interesting. The worldbuilding wasn't as good as in some of her other books (such as 'The Demon's Daughter') and there was a higher ratio of sex to plot in this novel but it was still well written and will reward those who like this genre.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007
