Customer Reviews

Sex Noir: Stories of Sex, Death, and Loss

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm so sick of these "erotica" books where every story is two people meet and then have sex. Yeah, so what? Thank god Sex Noir isn't like that. It's not so much "erotica" in that sense because the stories don't follow formula. Instead they are strong literary creations, with real characters who have conflicts and pains and hangups, and their sexual lives are central to the stories. I really enjoyed a fresh voice, and yes, many of the stories did get me hot, too.

Jamie Joy searches through the facets of humanity, finding Melpomene, the muse of tragedy lurking in the dark corners of the mind ready to explore death on her terms. She creates a dark, deeply intimate glimpse of death for her characters in their moments of ecstasy.

A friend introduced me to Jamie Joy's work in late July of this year. He read "Mastering the Storm" aloud, capturing a godly male voice with such intensity that I had to read the collection of stories. At first I flipped through at random, reading what immediately caught my eye. The more I read though, the deeper she dove. I went back to read the book cover to cover, feeling as though the journey through this sexual darkness was my own.

This is erotica written for all who have loved and lost. No moments are more real than this, in pain or ecstasy. A hurt from longing for someone's return or the memory of knowing a rush of emotion, felt once will never be quite the same again. To give in to the temptations of joy, we wager with death a piece of our soul.

Sex Noir is a unique exploration of dark and erotic themes. This book may be classified as more literary than erotica-- because the writing is so well-developed, the characters are so emotionally deep, and the stories are very diverse. My favorite story is "Dahlia" a horror-erotica piece that combines a hot SM scenario with a very troubled character on the verge of possible insanity. It draws you in-- a real page-turner. I am surprised by some of the negative reviews on this site. They are all anonymous and one liners. When I read something like Sex Noir, so passionate and well-crafted, I want to share the news with other readers. Read the book and see for yourself. Sex Noir has no equal-- there is no other book quite like it. It is dark and sad and intense, and exceptionally well-written.

Gatto's collection of dark erotica is satifying yet disturbing. This is a great book for those who are willing to look at the darker side of human nature. A finely-tuned, original work. Hopefully, Gatto will continue with her themes, though they are not always seen through the eyes of joy.

One of my favorite literary erotica books I've read to date. Excellent writing combined with dark themes make for both an interesting and hot read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in more than j/o material, but who enjoys the darkly sensual. A rare find. I hope this author continues to produce such well-crafted material.

I have never written a review before, but after I read this book, I had to write one! This book is not like other erotica books- it is very serious in nature, it has an excellent writing style, and I found the stories to be unique. The writer uses many dream symbols and water imagery, which I found very appealing. Some stories were extremely sexually exciting, and some stories were so sad, they even made me cry. If you like psychological horror, sexy stories, sad stories and want to read a great variety of different erotic stories unlike you've ever read, buy this book. I got it as a gift, and I'm going to buy it for a friend.

This is sweet pain...this is dreaming...both describe how one actually feels when in the throes of love and raw desire and Jamie Joy Gatto has written these stories with a pen-full of tears and liquid heat. I sped through these stories and was bounced from forbidden fantasy to tavern-smelling reality to the unrequited longing we all know too well. I have had so many of these feelings and some I didn't know I had until reading this book. It's the day after my first reading and my mind is still swirling with warm sensations and nostalgic memories of uncontrollable want. Jamie Joy Gatto is the supreme author of finely crafted literary erotica. She is the ruling Goddess of my secret thoughts.

Rather dull for what it promises, much overwritten, much in need of a good editor, with parts of it just unreadable. Avoid.

Miss Gatto needs to stick to journal writing (privately please) and spare us her dramatic drivel.

Gatto's writing is raw and unpolished. In time, she may have something to say and even say it competently, but this book reads like the diary of a tortured adolescent. Very self-conscious.