Skin Deep by S. W. Vaughn

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Aside from having a very hot cover, Skin Deep is also a very good novel. It’s the story of Will Ambrose and Cobalt, two men who have more in common than simple an odd name.

Will is a DJ for a night show on the radio. He is gay and out but that is not a free ticket for happiness; Will tends to attract people with violence issue, boyfriends who end to hurt Will and not only in a figurative way. And now Will is even more in danger since his boyfriend Lyle, not only is violent, he is also a cop, and so Will is scared to go for help. But one night Lyle goes way over a push and a bruise, and it’s the time that will realize that his life is in danger.

Cobalt is a hot tattoo artist with a successful parlour in Manhattan. His place is like a haven for people, and more than ordinary crow can understand. Cobalt is a banished fae, and he built a shield around his parlour to avoid unwelcomed guests. It was thought for protect otherworldly creatures, but it’s useful also to Will, he really needs a safe haven. And Cobalt is ready to give it to him, only that he fears that Will is not strong enough to also accept more from him. The previous three love relationship Cobalt had, all ended badly when his lovers discovered Cobalt’s true nature: they were not able to accept him, and refusing him, they refused also reality and lost their minds. Cobalt believes to be cursed and for sure he is not willing to start a relationship with a very fragile man like Will.

I like the intake of the author in the issue: there is no paranormal explanation, as Cobalt believes, he is not cursed at all. Like Will attracts bad boyfriends for him, since he is a fragile man bad boyfriends think they can treat like an object, Cobalt attracts fragile men; a fragile man sees in Cobalt a safe haven and they really need it. But there is fragility and fragility, and Cobalt doesn’t understand that Will is stronger than expected, and with a good man by his side he is able to face everything.

There is a good love story here, but there is also a good portion of violence; fortunately, the reader doesn’t witness it, but he has second-hand report. There is also rape, and again, you don’t read it, but you know it happened. So be aware, it’s not an easy story, but I like all the complex development. I think the author is planning more stories in the same setting, and so she spent quite a time in preparing possible scenario: there are too many supporting characters that have a strong personality to be confined only in this story, Nix and Malik, for example, but also Skelly and even Jared, Will’s neighbour who does only a little cameo, but who left me a strong impression.

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Cover Art by Anne Cain