Ki’iri by L.E. Bryce is a homoerotic paranormal fantasy.

Daro lives in a coastal village with his grandfather working as a senu, a gifted person who talks to hrill, dolphins. Daro gleams important information from the hrill about storms and locations of the fish for the fisherman, a job that is looked upon as a favor from the Gods. One day Daro goes out to talk to the hrill as he always does, and he encounters a hrill unlike any he ever encountered before. This hrill wasn’t child like in nature, it asked questions about his life, something that hrill have no interest in. Daro ponders about this hrill, Arion, until he remembers about the Ki’iri, the Lady’s, the goddess’s follower, a taleve’ in animal form. The taleve’ take on different animal forms that are pleasing to the Lady and live apart from men because they are very beautiful men who sexually excite other men. Daro both desires to see Arion and hopes to never see him. It is forbidden for a mere man to touch or even talk to a Ki’iri. Will Daro ever see Arion and how can he a mere man ever have a relationship with such an honored Ki’iri?

Ms. Bryce captivates her audience with this spellbinding tale about a mythical being in a special lane where humans and the honor of the gods live hand-in-hand. The description of the Ki’iri and how they are treated by average men was fascinating. I loved how Daro overcame his fear of the unknown when he began to talk to Arion in spite of what he thought Arion was. The relationship that forms between Daro and Arion is both loving and very beautiful. I would recommend this story to anyone who is fascinated with dolphins and the sea. Thanks go to Ms. Bryce for an intriguing story.

Reviewed by: Teresa