Series: Original Sinners #4.5
Published by Selfpublished on 15 December 2015
Genres: Adult, BDSM, Erotica
Pages: 65
Format: eBook
Source: Author's web-site
Christmas is not always the most wonderful time of the year for the many gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people who are estranged from their families. This year's Christmas story concerns two such people--Søren and Magdalena. Søren speaks of Magdalena, his mentor in sadism, in THE MISTRESS and THE KING.
I thought it was high time you all met this cruel and lovely lady who was so important to Søren in the years before he met Nora. I hope you love her much as I do.
(This story takes place when Søren is twenty years old and a seminarian.)
Poinsettia is the perfect Christmas story! Because young Søren showing humility and grace is not something I expected at all, but Reisz graciously gave it to me anyway.
My Poinsettia review:
One Christmas Eve, long ago, in a brothel in Rome, Søren might have spent the most peaceful and moving Christmas ever – in the company of a sadist madam, who wanted to teach him to keep his masochists alive… And that was a very powerful, beautifully written tale shared for free with The Original Sinners fans. I’m not going to say much about this, the quotes (which could have been many more!) can speak for themselves. The prose is absolutely gorgeous, and seeing a vulnerable side of Søren was almost magical. And Magda… I think I’d like to meet her again in the future *hint, hint*.
Poinsettia can be read even if you’re not up to date on the series, because it’s a story where only Søren from the original cast is present, and this glimpse into his time of training to become a priest won’t spoil anything at all – it will only make you want to buy all the books and settle in to enjoy. Even this short novella made me cry…
Some of my favorite Poinsettia quotes:
“People want to obey anyone. If you act like you’re in charge, people will follow your orders simply out of relief that someone else is leading the way. It’s easier to follow than to lead. Leading takes courage which is why so few people want to do it.”
“People like leaders. They do not like tyrants.”
“I can be a benevolent dictator, can’t I?” He set his wine glass down on the end table and went to work on her fireplace.
“You’re already a dictator. Now let’s work on the benevolent part.”
Magdalena tried to convince herself she let Marcus into her home and her life because she found him attractive. She did but that wasn’t why. Usually male sadists repelled her. It wasn’t personal. Like repelled like—she and Marcus were two north ends of a magnet. But while Marcus was a sadist, he was still nothing more than boy. He wasn’t competition, nor was he a threat. He submitted to her not as a slave to a Mistress, but as a student to a teacher. Better he learn from her than on his own. An untrained boy of his strength and intensity with that level sadism could kill someone by accident.
“But I don’t want to know your secrets,” she said. “I want you to tell me your secrets. The secrets aren’t the prize. You giving up your secrets to me—that is the prize.”
“There is a spark of something inside you that’s as beautiful as the outside. Since I can see that spark, I feel it’s my duty to blow on it and start a wildfire.”
You can read Poinsettia online on Tiffany Reisz’s website.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I read this on my lunch break yesterday. It was a wonderful story. I just love Tiffany Reisz’s writing. Great choices on the quotes. You’re right, there could’ve been a lot more. 🙂
I read it yesterday, too, Melanie… maybe we read it at the same time 🙂 I always have trouble choosing just a few quotes when I read one of Reisz’s books, her prose is beautiful, and there is always something I want to share.
Oh my! I can see why you’re such a fan of Reisz, Lexxie. Those quotes! I think I’ll read this short prior to launching into the Sinners series…it it on my list for 2016! 😉
I know, right? If I could have, I would have just copied and pasted the whole thing into my review! That’s how many great quotes there are 🙂 And you are going to fall in love with Nora, Kingsley, Søren and all the other characters, I just know it. *BIG HUGS*
I haven’t had a chance to pick up anything by Tiffany Reisz…yet. I do keep seeing her name all over the place so I do want to give her a shot pretty soon. I am so glad that you enjoyed this one. Thanks for sharing!
She became one of my all time favorite authors in 2015, Carole! Her stories and characters are very unconventional, but her prose and the character development are beautifully done!
Okay, 2016 goal is to read this series starting from the very, very beginning. You’re in charge of making sure I stick to it. lol.
OMG, Christy! You are going to love it! And I read the whole series starting in May, so it’s totally possible! *makes a post-it to make sure Christy makes it*
Twitter: kbaby81
I really need to read her books! Glad this little gem was a great read!
I love her stories, Lekeisha, and I hope you will as well!
I loved this story too 🙂
It was so good! I loved reading about Søren when he was younger 😀