The first entry of author Kyell Gold’s anthropomorphic character-populated series about the same-sex relationship between the tiger Dev and the fox Lee opens with a map of where the cities serving as the story’s various settings would be in the real-life United States. However, repeated utterances to “lion Jesus” and minor political references in the preview of the next novel in the series somewhat spoil the fantastical setting, with Gold initially stating that the story isn’t a sports story (given Dev being a football player and all), but rather a romance, which very much holds true.
In the words of Dev, “It all started with a girl,” with he and Lee narrating the book’s various subdivisions, starting with the first part from Dev’s perspective where he believes he met a pretty vixen, but dreams of lovemaking to another man, thus attempting to find the mentioned girl. There are a few intermediary chapters in which Lee describes the essentials of football, which are somewhat educational and give those not versed in sports an idea of how the game plays. The book further indicates the months and years in which the events occur, with the rare bouncing back and forth between certain periods.
Dev finds himself sexually confused, and eventually finds the truth about the vixen whom he had supposedly met before, deciding to experiment with Lee, although his college roommate Randy somewhat impedes their relationship. Also serving as a major impediment is Lee’s former boyfriend, the spotted skunk Brian, who even photographs Dev with a girl for whom the football star has no romantic interest to incriminate him. Dev is ultimately outed, with a chapter added after initial publication focusing on Lee’s past relationship with Brian, and a preview of the next book in the series afterward.
All in all, this was a fairly enjoyable romance novel, which I only read due to my involvement in the furry fandom, and the animalian elements referenced throughout the story give it a sense of authenticity, such as repeated references to animal musk, and mention of things such as antlered athletes being allowed to keep their horns in sports. As mentioned before, though, the religious swears somewhat mar the alleged setting of an alternate universe, along with a minor political reference in the preview of the following book in the series, although the first book itself isn’t overtly religious, pro or anti, or political. Regardless, the novel nonetheless has niche appeal.
In the words of Dev, “It all started with a girl,” with he and Lee narrating the book’s various subdivisions, starting with the first part from Dev’s perspective where he believes he met a pretty vixen, but dreams of lovemaking to another man, thus attempting to find the mentioned girl. There are a few intermediary chapters in which Lee describes the essentials of football, which are somewhat educational and give those not versed in sports an idea of how the game plays. The book further indicates the months and years in which the events occur, with the rare bouncing back and forth between certain periods.
Dev finds himself sexually confused, and eventually finds the truth about the vixen whom he had supposedly met before, deciding to experiment with Lee, although his college roommate Randy somewhat impedes their relationship. Also serving as a major impediment is Lee’s former boyfriend, the spotted skunk Brian, who even photographs Dev with a girl for whom the football star has no romantic interest to incriminate him. Dev is ultimately outed, with a chapter added after initial publication focusing on Lee’s past relationship with Brian, and a preview of the next book in the series afterward.
All in all, this was a fairly enjoyable romance novel, which I only read due to my involvement in the furry fandom, and the animalian elements referenced throughout the story give it a sense of authenticity, such as repeated references to animal musk, and mention of things such as antlered athletes being allowed to keep their horns in sports. As mentioned before, though, the religious swears somewhat mar the alleged setting of an alternate universe, along with a minor political reference in the preview of the following book in the series, although the first book itself isn’t overtly religious, pro or anti, or political. Regardless, the novel nonetheless has niche appeal.
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