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There are some spoilers here, so I'll say I liked the story, to sum that up, and if you don't want the story ruined, just toddle on and read it, then come back and see if you agree or disagree with me.






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While I was confused in a few places as to whose mind I was in, I realized that in some ways it didn't really matter--Enzo and Jericho were experiencing a sense of twinning of identities so they were literally melded together. Those are the places where it's important to know that it's Jericho's mind that is the dominant mind.

The amusing part is that Enzo is presented as the "puppy dog"-- a clumsy, get-in-your-way, adorable, ball of wriggling fur (without the fur--no shifters here) with melty chocolate eyes--innocent and adolescent in his fawning over Jercho. His lust for Jericho is obvious. Jericho is, after all, Neptune risen from the sea, strong, bold, and a conqueror of women. It's that last bit that causes the problem for Enzo.

Just what does define sexuality? Preference of the sex of the object of your desire? Whom one is invariably attracted to? Women, men, both, neither, trans*? That's vague, but just use however you define your own sexuality in reading that.

Jericho, while exuding masculinity, is a gentle soul with the power to heal through his touch (darn it, Platters, return from whence you came). He is indubitably (uh-oh, watch out, I used an adverb) straight, and finds it difficult to give Enzo his treatments knowing Enzo is very up for them and finds them quite relieving. Jericho is extremely patient with this.

I'm just giving a summary, this isn't a review. Okay, to get the ball rolling again, Enzo is not quite the innocent he looks to be. Behind those puppy-dog melty browns are the calculating eyes of a Jack Russell Terror (okay, maybe terriers are known more for their tenaciousness than for their intelligence--that works too). Tenacious is actually more apt. In a blissed out moment, Enzo kisses Jericho, and sparks fly. Literally.

Jericho discovers he's not quite as straight as he thought. At least, in this story, not with Enzo. In seeing Enzo's true essence, his "Enzo-ness," Jericho sees himself as well, his sexual identity, and realizes he loves Enzo as well; Jericho's true essence that Jericho has been unable to see in himself despite his ability to see it in others.

The reference to the frog prince is very clever, reversed to suit the sexuality of the story--taking an old, familiar tale and turning it on its head. Ribbet, indeed.

A kiss still has power, the power to transform, the power to bring to the surface what is hidden. After all, how many fairy tales involve kissing? So go ahead. Next time you see one, kiss that frog. ( )