I am SOOO conflicted on this book. It has gutted me to a certain extent. I am a fantasy reader. Yes, I read other genres frequently, but fantasy is by far my go to genre. On the flip side, literary fiction is one of my least read genres because I really have a hard time immersing myself in it. This book...this book is a combination of the two. And my conflict comes in because...I enjoyed the literary fiction portions of the novel far more than the fantasy pieces. What is this dark magic?

The writing is incredibly atmospheric and the character work was lovely. I loved the detail about the location and the vibrant personalities of the supporting characters. The Fire Island descriptions were amazing. I felt like I could visualize it all and feel the vibes of the gatherings.

I did find Joe, the protagonist, a bit less likable. He was terribly insecure and fairly flighty. I understand the reasons for this, but it still caused me irritation. I just wanted him to grow up. Perhaps the fact that he got under my skin so well is another testament to the good character development.

Now the heavy conflict...the plot. The pacing was good, but I struggled with the transitions between reality and fantasy. I (oddly) loved the literary portions of the book so much that the fantasy parts seemed to take out the seriousness and felt a bit awkward to my reading. I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but I wish this book had been written without any fantasy components. I love the camaraderie of the Disco Witches, but I wanted them to be more real. There were so many ways that the plot could have still bloomed without the magical pieces.

Still...I did enjoy my read. Despite my inability to gel with the fantasy components, I appreciated the blunt and honest presentation of historical and political events, the exploration of gay culture, and the attention to the realities behind the AIDS epidemic. There was so much powerful discussion in the narrative and I was definitely affected by those portions. Blair Fell has stated that the story is based upon his own experiences as well as his summer spent bartending on Fire Island...this personal touch really shows in the final product. It's captivating and raw. My heart hurt through several sections.

I will be on the lookout for more from Fell. His writing is immensely rich and realistic (except for the fantastical pieces). He sets a scene with immense talent. I enjoyed his Fire Island depiction so much and could do with even more stories of the supporting characters.

** I will warn potential readers that they need to be prepared for the content. There is some definite adult material in the narrative and it is not a closed door situation. For those uncomfortable with spice, this may not be the read for you. **