My Brother, Coyote

Reviewed by Dan Russell

Wild Child Publishing.com © 2006

Title: My Brother, Coyote
Author: James Buchanan
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Erotic Romance/Horror
ISBN Number (if applicable): 1-933389-65-6
Release date: April 22, 2006
Author's website: http://eroticjames.tripod.com
Warnings or ratings if applicable: M/M

My Brother, Coyote is a story telling the lives of two cousins, True and Seth, who are Navajo Indians growing up. Early on they realise that they have feelings towards each other that reaches deeper than the brother-like bond they already share. When they are discovered together by Seth's drunken father and physically attacked, Seth shoots him, earning the boy a spell in prison.

This is were the cousins embrace their sexualities and realise how much they need each other. The novel follows this couple as True becomes an educated archaeologist, and Seth spends time in and out of jail.

Reading this book was a new experience for me, as I have never read a homo-erotica story, nor a piece concerned with Indian folklore and legend. The story is steeped heavily with language and fables that entwine well with the main plot. I will not try and analyse the use of the legends in the story (as some of the professors in the story tried!). Let's just say that they add to the mysticism of the novel in an original way.

Three of True and Seth's adventures stood out for me: the incident where Seth is sent to jail, an archaeological journey into the wilds, and True's rescue from a flash flood. These three main parts are laced together with almost hallucinogenic visions of the Native American ceremonies, and graphic gay sex between the cousins. It has to be said that the love scenes are detailed, but handled with maturity.

My grievance with the novel is at the very end. After going through the early years of the couple's relationship, the book finishes just as things change. It hints that maybe all is not well between the cousins, and that the fables mentioned have an even bigger, more literal influence on the mens' lives. I felt that in such a short novel, there was plenty of room for the story to go further without the risk of boring the reader.

In summary, this will probably be a new experience for most readers. The subject matter is handled intelligently, and the switching from scenes in the cousins' lives will keep readers on their toes. An eye opener, if not a little short.

Rating: Four cats.

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To find out more about how to purchase My Brother, Coyote, visit Torquere Press.