by Diamond (link)
Genre cest, drama/angst, romance, erotica
Pairings Isaac/Nikki, Taylor/Natalie, Zac/Kate, Zaylor
Length prologue, 24 chapters and epilogue
Status Completed (first story in the Avenues series)
Avenues begins fairly innocuously and not unlike so many other Zaylor stories–with unhappy brothers, at least one of whom has less than brotherly feelings for the other. It treads fairly common lines, but there are good reasons for some of these themes to be so popular, and Diamond handles them so well in Avenues that it sometimes feels more “canon” than real life even is.
The story is narrated by Taylor, who has a wonderfully comic voice that nearly breaks the fourth wall at times. We soon learn that he’s not the only one who is troubled, although it takes him a few chapters to get the full truth out of Zac. Even before he does, things start heating up. One of Diamond’s earliest attempts at cest, Avenues seems almost tame now compared to what I know she’s capable of, but the restraint she shows here somehow makes the payoff even better.
Avenues is, overall, rather short and takes place over the course of only about two weeks. A realistic but not over-the-top amount of drama (and hotness) is packed into those two weeks. Also realistic is her portrayal of the brothers–jaded, resigned Taylor; enigmatic, hot and cold Zac; not-as-oblivious-as-he-seems Isaac. With such a happy ending for the Zac and Taylor, a sequel almost doesn’t seem necessary, but there are just enough loose threads left here that I’m on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what Diamond can possibly put those boys through next.
Review by Bethany (website)