Flaming

4.0 out of 5 stars

By Jo

'Playing With Fire' opens with an explosive couple of pieces that prove the book true to its title: hot.

Nikki Magennis' humbling and beautifully poetic flash opening leads into 'Fire Woman' by Sommer Marsden, a story that is sublime in its energy, power and gorgeous dirtiness. It leaves you panting, scorched. To be honest, you could buy the book for these two stories alone. I was wowed before I'd hardly started.

I won't pretend all the stories are to my taste. Some are darker, like 'One Hot Slut' by NT Morley, or 'Burned' by Michael Hemmingson. But that means there is something for everyone, and the premise of the collection is an edgy one.

'Scorched' by Janine Ashbless balances on that edge perfectly, dealing with adultery, threesomes, jealousy. Shanna Germain's 'White Heat White Light' is another poetic, raw piece, honest and emotional as it is erotic.

These pieces are, in the main, serious fiction. Ones to go back to.