NUTTIN’ BUT TROUBLE
C.B. ARCHER
ISBN: Digital 9780463848654
September 2019
Deep Desires Press
61 pages
$2.99
M/M Urban fantasy, erotica
Rating: Three cups
Porter is a gay ghost, a classic trouble maker at the College of United Monsters where he is quite a slap-dash student and also an on-call sneak, spy and sometimes thief for various officials and staff. He gets into trouble often but can usually squeak by with charm, slyness and sheer luck. However that does not help much in his desire to keep a pet cat. The Headmistress always seems to find and confiscate them. He’s had more brief pets than their proverbial lives so far. Of course they are all ghostly or some kind of magical or monstrous creation.
In this, the fourth installment of an ongoing series, he takes on a task which ultimately has far ranging and dire consequences, causing much harm he did not intend. Porter is really a kindly and goodhearted being so when he learns of the resulting deaths and tragedy, he is very distressed. Still, but all is well that ends well. Any explanation would be a spoiler.
There really is no Significant Other here for Porter although he indulges in occasional orgies with some fellow students who are basically frenemies but usually up for a bit of fun. The closest thing to a sweetheart he has is a very wily and of course paranormal cat. She lets him know her name is Bastet, makes herself at home in his room and seems very capable of evading the notorious headmistress.
I am at a loss what to call this tale! The writer breaks almost every rule in the book with no genre specific paradigm and all but saying, “And now, gentle reader” in classic Victorian fashion on occasion. However it is far from Victorian, hilarious, absorbing, and exceedingly cleverly done from the first line to the last. A reader who expects a regular m/m paranormal romance will be nonplussed but for something unique and out of any and all boxes, it is really quite enjoyable!
College of United Monsters Series
Desires of the Deep, #1
Centaur of Attention, #2
Gorgon in 69 Seconds, #3
