Customer Reviews

Warlock, A Novel of Possession

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

 

 

Warlock, like many of this author's other works, embraces the spirituality of gay romance through a deftly balanced amalgam of erotica and fantastical themes. Though not as exotic as Angel Lust or as adventurous and fast-paced as Harvest, this particular book is crafted on the premise that horror works best on a subtle, psychological level. It is also a testimony to the maturity that Perry Brass has reached in his writing technique. By eschewing its reliance on fictional locales, the settings of New York and Switzerland and the situations they present compelled me to read on.

From a gay perspective, the characters were not as positive as I would have liked. I suppose that their flaws were simply meant to flesh them out as well as to imbue the story with a sense of humanity (a necessity in this genre). Thus, the characterizations of Allen and Destry were credible yet intriguing. The story was further spiced up by a host of colorful minor roles. Occultwise, howevever, I was never quite rewarded in the way I would have thought. Perhaps, this was the author's intent so that the air of expectancy would not be diminished. From the way Warlock resolves itself, I get the distinct impression that there's a good chance of a sequel.

Perry Brass is a sensualist who seems to achieve his literary goals by incorporating mellifluous and very lyrical depictions of everyday actions into his narrative. The fact that he did not rely on the usual horror cliches enables this tale to keep its contemporary edge while exuding a Lovecraftian aura. Granted, this book is not for everyone. But then, neither is Lovecraft or gay erotica.

This book was not what I was expecting. Or maybe it was, and I just don't know it yet. From the beginning, I just couldn't grasp what was happening in the story. The main character, Allen, is basically a frustrated gay man with a very poor opinion of himself, apparently centered around his small endowment. He is picked up by Destry Powars, a big hairy brute at a bath house who's rough look, vulgarity, and belittlement of Allen just make me wonder "Why?" Allen follows him home basically because he "couldn't say no." Ends up going on a trip with Destry to Switzerland where some pretty wild things happen.

The story just doesn't make sense. The characters are never really flushed out, so you don't know why they are the way they are. They ask questions that are never really answered. There is some mystery and possibly even a little horror thrown in, but it's usually barely touched upon and not fully explored. I mean are we dealing with warlocks, vampires, Satanists, or just some regular folks who follow a troll with some unknown magical powers? There's even a bit of erotica there, but it's not worth the couple paragraphs spent on it, as Allen usually goes on a mind-bending daydream during it so you forget what's going on.

Overall, I think it can be entertaining, but there's a lot better stuff out there.

This is my first Perry Brass novel, a celebrated gay author.

It is impressive but I shall tell straightforward that my enjoyment was severely dininished by its unhappy ending. I know it is my own personal problem but I have this thing about romances going awry, unless of course the ending is operaticly tragic, in which case I can reconcile myself with it.

This is basicly a romance, if a gloomy one. Not so young, not really beautiful Allen, obsessed with his tiny little penis, meets vulgar, charming, wealthy Destry (what kind of name is Destry, by the way?) but quite soon, while their intensely physical passion grows, things start going wrong: dark, hideous things start surfacing under the glossy film of Destry's life.
Mr Brass chose to give kind of a supernatural colouring to his tale, frightening little and not so little touches of psychological horror, but he could just as easily have skipped all that: I guess the financial world of globalisation is dirty and frightening enough on its own real own.

Anyway the result is duly scary, the writing good, the story fast paced, the book a page turner.
I see just a flaw but unfortunately it is a major one, therefore the two stars (and it could have been one).
The main hero, Allen, is simply foolish and unbelievable: curiosity is one good thing for a character, even necessary to keep the story going, but Allen simply cannot help but sticking his nose nearly everywhere throughout the story without learning better judgement from any of his bad experiences. It is hard to believe and too ordinary a device in the long run, not to mention that such a tract is inconsistent with the character as it is introduced at the beginning: a tiny little individual afraid of life who would never repeat blunders.

There is a lot of graphic sex, but it really gave me a strange feeling of estrangement: its main point seems that of outlining an obsession, a grim sense of predestination.

Allen Barrow is a bank clerk. He leads a quiet, ordinary life, with quiet, ordinary friends. In his mind, his most distinguishing characteristics are his tiny penis and his difficulty getting hard. And then one night at the baths, he meets Destry Powars. Destry doesn't mind Allen's shortcomings, and Allen performs much better with Destry, who carries him off to a spectacular apartment.

The book here becomes a bit reminiscent of John Preston's Mr. Benson, without the S/M. Wealthy, dominating older man whisks younger guy out of his humdrum life into a world of power and privilege. Only in this case, Allen shares the privilege rather than serving it. But where does it come from? What is Powars' mysterious business, why is he carrying Allen off to Switzerland, who are "they", and what is their hold over Powars? What is in the locked room of his apartment, and what is in the odd herbal drink Powars insists Allen partake of? And what is it that Allen has that Powars' needs so desperately?

A sexy, mysterious novel.

Perry Brass certainly knows how to weave a fantastical story of eroticsm, sensuality combined with a stimulating story and unforgettable characters. A sad poignant start to this story begins with a non-descript man who is described in many, many terms as small, mild-mannered man with a small endowment, who leads a quiet life of unadorned annonymity within the gay community. A dead end life, with a dead end job. He is 'captured in spirit and body by a powerhouse of a man - wealthy, strange,powerful - a madly in love with this small man. A different love story (if you like these for a change of pace) Destry Powars loves like no other. Too late for everything. An ending like I have never read before!! Sad, powerful, enigmatic characters, poignant. Be prepared to have your feelings pulled from you in this heartbreakingly wonderful story of love, passion and self-realization. I was left stunned and gasping.