Welcome back through the double steel doors of The Vault! Today’s is a rare treat as we’re getting the chance to follow-up with the THIRD entry in an interesting sci-fi erotica series. We had the pleasure a few weeks ago to interview the author to learn a little more about what makes them tick, and maybe some of that insight will help us with today’s review. What does it say when a short story series explores new elements and ideas as it progresses? Does a series become harder to follow when it goes off the beaten path, or will these surprises keep us excited and flipping pages? We’re hoping the third time will be just as charming as the first and second, let’s get ready to go on another fantastic voyage!
The Tigress of Futan: Survival Instincts by April Garrus is the third edition in the saga of a young Futanari named Zorah. I can’t imagine this still needs explaining but try to keep in mind that Zorah is (to over simplify) a female in every appearance besides genitalia…where she is seriously packing some “heat” btw. -cough- Now that that’s out of the way, the first two stories detailed Zorah’s decline in one society and rebirth in another. After failing in her duties in the life of suppression and denial, Zorah is finding the “take what you need by force” methods of The Pathfinders to be better aligned with her strengths, aided by the teachings of her master in book two. To be honest, it’s hard to really sink your teeth into book number three without at least a quick skim of the first two for a refresher. Go ahead and do that now, I’ll wait…
All caught up? Great! Book three starts with some major conflict, as Zorah immediately has to prove herself to fight off an endless horde of baddies at this academy for Pathfinders. Things don’t go as planned, and our hero wakes up at the infirmary with a curiously pretty blue skinned girl watching over her. Despite being the apprentice of a rival master, Jül has no intention of harming Zorah, and actually would rather have them as an ally for protection. Jül is a Nøm, and as such is cute, tiny, smart, and approaches love and sex much differently than the kind of encounters Zorah is accustomed to. Can these two work out their differences before academy classes start? And just where the hell did all of Zorah’s stuff go?!
While the first two stories weren’t exactly wall-to-wall sex, there was still a lot of it to be had in its proceedings. Survival Instincts approaches things from a new angle, leading the reader into a slow burn romance style of story. Zorah is a horny devil, constantly having a need to jerk off thanks in part to her training in book two. Jül is no such fucktoy, and the pair need to celebrate their differences in order to get along and more importantly, survive. The slow approach is a great opportunity for character building and the tension that builds between Zorah and Jül is worth its weight in gold even if the story isn’t your particular cup of tea. There’s sexual payoff, but not in the way you might be expecting. Let’s just call it “telepathic masturbation” and leave it at that. The relationship with Zorah and Jül leaves me craving more, not unlike the desires of our protagonist herself. The tough but impossibly hot enforcer with the cute as a button yet just as clever side kick…we can always make that work and the author succeeds splendidly.
Verdict: The Tigress of Futan: Survival Instincts by April Garrus is yet another fascinating fantasy erotica short that builds another layer onto an already impressive universe. Keeping hardcore sex to the sideline for a change, the author exercises their right to develop characters through friendship and bonding, satisfying readers of a good slow burn romance. Sexual moments are teased and eventually payoff in a fun surprise that should give most erotica lovers something new to drool over while making us sure to desire the next book all the more. We’ve seen love, anguish, torment, violence and free spirited bonding…I’m beyond excited to see what the next brick in the foundation will be to eventually build this monster.
Special thanks to April Garrus for providing an advance review copy of Survival Instincts to TehBen.com for review.
Author’s Twitter: @AG_Hot_Flashes
Purchase Link: Amazon
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