Thank you to NetGalley and Dragon Roost press for this arc.

I do love short stories/anthologies, they are normally a lovely mix of good with perhaps one or two bad shorts. Unfortunately I can honestly say there was not a single story I wanted to/or was glad that I had read. I skimmed a fair amount of this book (probably 85%). This screamed indie but not in a good way, it all fell rather flat and was unnecessary in a lot of places.

Bar the poorly written narratives I felt like I was plopped on Fanfiction or AO3 (no shade, there are a lot of stories I adore from these two sites. I still visit both regularly).

I was hoping for some great LGBTQ+ titles but was just fair too woke from the first story. I was really bored and wanted to DNF but felt like I needed to give it a fair shot (a decision I truly regret).

Think the editors need to take another look at this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragon's Roost Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

The book as a meal: Today I was hungry for something different, and it ended with a salty aftertaste
The book left me: Feeling very filthy?

Why did this call out to me?
These two genres combined is something I haven't read yet, so I thought it would be fun to pick up. I had a hope this would please my inner "monster-f'er"

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Sadly, put-down-able. A lot of the stories blend together and don't do enough to feel different from one another. They also drag for a long time. Although I appreciate the "details", I wish it was a bit more "action" oriented rather than "described".

Issues:
Very very filthy material that borderlines on the disgusting
Several stories last for too long
Almost every single story feels or reads the same way

Good things:
Dares to wade in water that is usually a little too out there for many
Described in a way that let me "live in the moment" of the stories

How did it feel to read?
It felt like reading something off AO3 with enough tags to break the system. It has "indie author" written all over it (yay indie authors). I was thrown back to a time where I hid my screen away from the door in the fear that my parents would catch me interacting with something way above my age rating. But even when I am old enough and don't have to worry about it, I still felt the compulsion to tilt my phone far away

What mood would I read this in?
It is late at night, I can't sleep becasue tomorrow is halloween, and I need something to get that energy out ;--)

Where does this fall in my tier list ranking?
Sadly this is a high D tier book. Although I liked some of the stories well enough, it didn't capture me in the way I hoped it would. I might not be the right person to read this book, but I do know some people in my life that would love it

Favorite poems/stories:
Graphite
Bite
The Roses of Heliogabalus
The Leatherman
What they don't tell you about the Mummy's Curse

I didn’t really enjoy this one - the writing style of some of the short stories was really clipped and created an odd reading experience, while the others weren’t really my cup of tea. It’s a great concept and I know a few friends who would like this anthology but it just wasn't for me

After reading this book I’m beginning to think these short stories aren’t for me. Most of these were way too short and left me very confused on what I just read. However, I did enjoy the poems, some of the short and longer stories. I enjoyed a couple of short stories: Franklin & Jackson and Silicone Toys. Also, I loved the poems Where to Draw the Dotted Lines and Invitation. My favorite was probably What they don’t tell you about the Mummy curse. I wasn’t a fan of the really short ones like Regina di Santana and This Living Hand. All and All this wasn’t a horrible book and it wasn’t an amazing book.

The pleasure in pain is an LGBTQ+ anthology.

When I picked this up, I decided I wanted to go in blind. I learned very quickly that this wasn’t the run of the mill horror anthology, but erotica. Which is fine, I have nothing against the genre and I love supporting my fellow LGBTQ+ authors.

It has a wide variety of stories, and stretches all across the spectrum which I personally appreciated. There is not only diversity in the queerness but writing styles. And while not every story suited my personal preference I still enjoyed them.

I’ll be checking out all authors in the future.

I was excited to read this book since it included several short story’s, which is a little outside my normal reading. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the book and it was hard to get through. Several of the stories just did not make sense, and were hard to follow.

As an avid reader of both horror and erotica, I was thrilled by the idea of the melding of the two genres. As all anthologies go, there were some stories that appealed to me much less than others. I don't consider that to be a fault though, as I'm sure that there were other readers who were drawn to those ones and perhaps weren't as fond of my favorites. This collection of stories and poems felt cohesive and I don't really have any negative criticism of it.

Dnf sorry I really didn’t enjoy the first 25% of the book and unfortunately I did not wish to continue reading. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. I also didn’t connect with any characters. I don’t anticipate the story to peak my interest after what I did read. I haven’t thought of the book since I put it down which makes me not want to finish it in the future. I really appreciate the arc and I wish I did enjoy it more but unfortunately it’s not for me. I’d be willing to try something else from the author just not this book. Sorry again I really hate to dnf a book but I want to love what I’m reading not counting down the pages until it’s over.

This collection of short stories best represents the best authors of the LBGTQ community. Every story is unique and keeps the reader entertained throughout. I highly recommend this collection for people that are looking to dive into new authors in the community as this will open doors for readers to find new authors to read. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!!

"Let them watch on, voyeurists of brutal euphoria, and tell me there is no beauty in destruction."

I LOVED this book. Stories, worlds apart, interwoven by sanguine threads. I was caught in a rapid cycle of disgust, desire, and delight from start to finish.

It features so many new-to-me authors as well as some familiar favorites. 

If you enjoyed Brute edited by Steve Berman, I bet you'll love this book, too.

This was my first NetGalley title. Thank you so much for the chance to check this book out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord

The stories are even scary or sexy. I didn't have a good time. One of them was actually disgusting in the worst way. I couldn't even finish it was too many strikes to try.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Pleasure in Pain is unique and diverse anthology. There is definitely something for every reader in this collection, from poetic tales to brutally heartbreaking stories.

I really enjoyed this read, there were a couple of the short stories that I really liked. “Graphite”, “I wander the earth longing to taste your beating heart” and “What they don’t tell you about the Mummy’s curse” (that was the most bizarre thing I’ve read in ages)

I’d recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys an anthology that really gives you something different in each story. Different feel, different prose, and varying levels of poetry and absurdity.

The Pleasure in Pain is definitely not for the faint of heart, but for those who can appreciate a story that doesn’t hold back. The book is filled with short stories all written in an artistic way describing different types of sexual acts. Some are very descriptive and others merely implied. What I appreciated about the book is that if one story in particular didn’t interest me it was very short and I could move onto the next. Unfortunately, what that also means is if you found a story that you did like it didn’t last that long. I don’t normally like short stories but it worked well in this book.

This anthology is captivating and gritty. While the nature of anthologies is such that not every story will suit every reader, this anthology is carefully curated to stay on theme while also providing an array of story types. If you’re a reader craving scintillating and decadent storytelling that is queer without restraint or apology, that does not cater to the oppressive demand for clean wholesomeness for queerness to be validated, then this is a collection that is bound to have something for you.

This was a first for me. The book wasn’t a bad read but it simply wasn’t for me. Perhaps it’s the subject matter although I can read almost anything and enjoy it. Monsters mixed with erotica was just to far out there for me.

Usually with anthologies, you get a fair mix of good and okay stories, with maybe one or two bad ones. I can't honestly say there was a single story in this one that I liked. They all felt rather bland or just generally poorly written. It was like reading fanfiction from AO3 tags that have less than 10 works and they're all by people with bad takes on characters you love; it was disappointing, but you had to check them all out just on the off chance you found something good in the mix. I would have DNF-ed this one if it had been any longer than it was.

Unfortunately I couldn't get on with this book. I found the characters to be annoying and without depth. I didn't like their names and everytime I read them I got more annoyed! I'm sure this book will fit some people's taste but not mine.

"The Pleasure in Pain" edited by Roxie Voorhees is a bold and unapologetic exploration of queer love, lust, and desire. With twenty-five stories and poems that traverse the spectrum of queerness, this anthology offers readers a diverse and immersive journey into the realms of romance, fantasy, and horror.

One of the anthology's greatest strengths is its refusal to shy away from the complexities of queer identity and experience. The stories and poems featured within its pages embrace queerness in all its forms, from twisted fairytales to possessed jewelry, from asexual cults to gods' bathroom glory holes. Each piece offers a unique perspective on love and desire, challenging traditional narratives and celebrating the diversity of queer lives.

The anthology's contributors represent a wide range of voices within the queer community, offering a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives. From established authors to emerging talents, each writer brings their own unique voice and vision to the table, creating a collection that is as varied as it is compelling.

In addition to its thematic richness, "The Pleasure in Pain" is also notable for its bold and provocative storytelling. The anthology delves into taboo subjects with fearless abandon, exploring themes of kink, power dynamics, and the darker aspects of desire. While some readers may find certain stories challenging or uncomfortable, others will appreciate the anthology's willingness to push boundaries and challenge conventions.

Whilst I appreciate that this is an anthology and I may not gel with every piece within the book - I found that I was struggling to enjoy the writing style of most of the pieces and it impacted my overall enjoyment of the book. Would I say give it a miss? No. It just was not for me.

I DNF'd this around 35%. Short stories can be difficult because some of these I thought were quite good, but quite a few came off as overly gruesome and grotesque just got shock value. Not my cup of tea personally.