Wrath James White ‘Cupid in Bondage’ Review
Written by: Matthew J. Barbour
The name Wrath James White is instantly recognizable to fans of extreme horror. White is among the modern masterminds of the splatterpunk genre. His writing hits hard, combining the macabre and erotic with humor and a bit of social commentary. Separating him from the flock is White’s attention to poetry and the fact that he is an African American writer in a genre primarily comprised of white authors. In 2010, his poetry collection, Vicious Romantic, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award.
Cupid in Bondage is a collection of short fiction and poems specifically focusing on erotic horror subject matter. Several of these pieces have been previously published. However, the bulk of material that appears is new to the collection. Pieces include:
Coming out Kinky (Introduction)
Harder, Daddy
Cupid in Bondage
This is my Blood
Larger than God
Torso
Stay in the Lines
Sickening
“Cum for me”
Sexxxy
Until Next Time
The Whole Damn Bag
Edible
Switch
She-Wolf
The Death of Passion
Razor Blade Fuck Time
Astral Projection
The Death Throes of Summer
Crimes of Passion
Bleeding for You
Haunted
The Last Time
Sometimes
As might be expected the content of this collection is largely sexual in nature with an emphasis on BDSM. This said, Cupid in Bondage is not Fifty Shades of Gray. It is not intended for lonely housewives as a masturbatory tool. Instead, the acts depicted are meant to shock and disgust the reader, particularly the abundant passages of self-mutilation.
Highlights of the collection include the poem, “This is my Blood,” and the story “Razor Blade Fuck Time.” For fans of Poppy Z. Brite, “Razor Blade Fuck Time” is a must read conjuring up the best moments of Exquisite Corpse. The story follows a man fascinated with serial killers and pain. After learning of a serial killer stalking his town, he sets out to the streets in the hopes of falling victim to the killer. What ultimately transpires is among the most brutal and disturbing scenes of sexual debauchery ever written.
However, for every hit there is a miss. “Larger than God” and “Stay in the Lines” are predictable smut with very limited horror elements. “Sexxxy” was identical (or nearly identical) to a story released in Porno for Psychos. There are also a number of typographical errors which pull the reader out of the story and the collection is relatively short. Total length comes in at just over 120 pages. These criticisms are not enough to warrant not recommending the book, but should be considered by potential readers.
Cupid in Bondage certainly delivers on shock. Yet, the collection is simply not up to Wrath James White’s ability as a writer. It is a collection of highs and lows. The end product is enjoyable, but the content and length are not for everyone. Still, if you have a hankering for cannibalistic sex or sodomy with a bowie knife, you are in the right spot.
Rating: 3/5
Horror Novel Reviews 
Cheap plug by the reviewer, if you are interested someone just pointed out that you can now by my erotica tale “Blizzard Beasts” as a standalone at Smashwords. Of course those that like erotica should probably get the whole collection, Dog Tags and Camouflage edited by Stayci Morgan on Amazon. Money made from the sales goes to a good cause.
Also my erotic horror short story, “Ixtab Awaits” is being printed in the next issue of Infernal Ink Magazine early next month. So if you like Mayan tales of asphyxiation and rape, you are in for a real treat. lol. I am serious though.
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