The second appointment in the Horsfall series, about two twin horse shapeshifters and their human lover, is less “light” then how it could seem.

Apparently Oliver is having the time of his life having a relationship with two men like Bayard and Marshall; before meeting them, Oliver was quite the nerd guy, the one that no one looks twice. And so having two handsome and strong lovers at the same time it’s at the same time inebriating but also unbalancing: why they are so attracted to him, what they find in him that makes them so caring and affectionate? Those are the questions that continuously wander in Oliver’s mind, and plus there is also the little problem of the strange nature of their relationship… no, not the paranormal nature of his lovers, that is still a secret for the outside world, but the fact that Oliver is having a ménages with two men, and as a cherry on the top, the men are twin brothers. That is not exactly something he can share with the world, above all since Oliver is an independent professional consultant who relies on the trust his clients have on him.

If Oliver’s troubling thoughts were not enough, also Bayard and Marshall are questioning the relationship; there is not space in their mind for the idea that it will not work, but both of them have different troubles about it. Marshall was the twin Oliver chose as second, in the first book, it was Bayard who made the first move on the man, and Oliver only in a second time arrived to consider the possibility to have a relationship with both of them. And so I have the feeling that Marshall is a bit unsecure, he always fears that Oliver in the end will choose Bayard, and this lead Marshall to be quite “insistent” in his affection towards Oliver, but at the same time also a bit oppressive, always searching for reassurance. Bayard on the other hand gave me the feeling that he is taking back, like he is forcing himself to give space to his “little” brother. He is way more the stronger of all of them, and I think than in the long, that attitude will lead him to be frustrated and eager to claim his right on Oliver.

So yes, for a less than 50 pages novella, Taste Test has quite a lot on the fire.

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/883324.html