This week our story is A Shot of Bourbon by Shadowgod. I hope you enjoy it as much as Conner did. So, give it a shot, and you may find you like... bourbon.

review by Conner

This was the first story by Shadowgod that I ever read. I’ve been a fan ever since. For me, humour and intimacy are an irresistible combination. This story has both in spades.

As stories go, this one is on the shorter side – 5 healthy chapters totalling about 38k. The story takes place in Bakersfield, CA, home to Bourbon, our protagonist, and his parents. Bourbon (a nickname bestowed on him by his parents) is a 17 year old high school student. He narrates the story. Every now and then, Bourbon takes a moment to speak directly to the reader. Humour with a touch of irreverence is the usual result. Rusty, the object of Bourbon’s love and lust, is a young lad of similar age who lives in the neighbourhood. Bourbon’s dad is an absolute sweetheart. He has a wisdom born of equal parts common sense and compassion. Bourbon describes him as “a very face value kinda' guy”.

Bourbon has a dirt bike. Next to Rusty, Bourbon loves his bike. For those of you who enjoy the sound of a racing engine and especially for those who enjoy the feel of an engine between your legs – well, let me just say, you won’t be disappointed. A large part of the story centres around this activity.

That said, though, this is very much a love story. While on the surface, there’s nothing really exceptional about Bourbon and Rusty’s relationship, within its folds, there is layer upon layer of intimacy that leaves you yearning for more.

It’s a beautiful tale, beautifully told. The editing, by Viv, is excellent.

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Happy Writing!