Review: sequel to Curio has good bits and great bits
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 12, 2012
A brief follow-up to McKenna's novellaCurio. Pricey for such a short piece, but if you were hooked by the characters inCurioyou probably won't be able to resist any more than I was.This one is written from Didier's point of view. It's a little too flowery for my taste and, especially at the beginning, I felt a little lukewarm about the story. It starts up a few months afterCurioended, with Didier convincing Caroly to do a bit of role-playing.It's neat to think that they're continuing to grow closer as a couple & that sexual experimentation is a part of that, but the actual scene reprises too much ofCuriowithout the same emotional authenticity...Caroly pretends to be coy and reluctant this time, instead of actually being coy and reluctant. Didier pretends to be aggressive and selfish, but remains clay-like, forming to whatever shape will most excite his partner.The latter half of the story, when Didier and Caroly are back to being themselves, when Didier is worrying about the future and feeling his way through his relationship, was fantastic. These characters are wonderful and their gentleness with one another, the clash of their fears, is so moving.I can't give Coercion the same sort of jumping-up-and-down, overwhelmed and insistent recommendation I gave the original story,Curio, but I'll definitely keep reading the vignettes that McKenna publishes about Didier and Caroly. I'm completely invested in the characters.