reviews_and_ramblings | White Flag by Thom Lane

White Flag is a strange novella since it mixes the dreamy atmosphere of a fairy tale with the naughtiness of an erotic romp, and the author is so good in blending them, that you almost don't realize when the fairies (no pun intended) are suddenly turning into little devils. It's always a pleasure when I find a new author that is able to arise my interest at first taste, even if, in this case it's my fault, I bought the first book by Thom Lane, but as sometime happens, it shifted in my reading list. Now I will be sure to pick it up and put it in first line.

Charlie is a modern vagabond, a minstrel who uses pen and ink instead of voice and lute. He is a travel guide writer, he spends a month in a place and another at the opposite end of the world. He likes to savor all the tastes of new places, but he is very careful to not become addicted, he doesn't want strings, he doesn't like commitment. And then, while sailing along a French river, like a naughty fairy, or a modern Bacchante, Matthieu lures him at shore: Matt is young and fresh like the wine he is harvesting, and willing and sparkling as well. Matt's life is easy and lazy like Chalie's, but in a way, completely different. Where Charlie has no root or obligations, Matt is firmly set in his family home, and is roots are deep like the one of the vineyard he so much love. Where Charlie has no family or real friends, Matt is living inside a welcoming family, a matriarchal society were the women lead the house and the men the affair, but deep inside, it's the woman who will have the last word on everything.

Charlie is enthralled, the first day he spends with Matt is almost like a dream, and he is convinced to be able to wake the morning after and being free from the enchantment. But Matt's power is too strong, and Charlie, like pushed by an invisible force, is forced to leave his boat and ventures on Matt's ground, among the vineyard, and inside his home. It's like a magical land, where everything is perfect and simple, where Charlie can spend the day doing nothing and the night having passionate sex with Matt. Even if Charlie's mind is constantly denying the truth, Charlie's body and heart are lost, too much involved in the lure. And then Charlie finds the strength to go away, to break the spell; but Matt is not ready to let him go, he decides to go with Charlie, at least for some days. But more the boat takes Matt and Charlie far from the vineyard, and more Matt seems to die out, like a fire without fuel.

As I said it's a strange novella, it's totally a contemporary tale, there is nothing of fantastic or paranormal on it, and nevertheless, I had the feeling to read a fantasy tale. Even the way as the time flew, inside and outside the vineyard was different, even the sex between Charlie and Matt was different, more forceful and down and dirty on the boat, almost ethereal and less graphic inside Matt's bedroom. I believe the author interweaved a story full of symbolism and atmosphere, making it at the same time light enough to be also quite arousing.

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Amazon Kindle: White Flag

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Cover Art by April Martinez