Fantastica Volume: 1

Released By: Yaoi Press

Writer and Artist: Yamila Abraham

Cover Art: Studio Himitsu

Release Date: Out now

Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Felix Humbolt is a warlock who has only one choice in his life, to carry out a successful curse on the Rockwell family. It sounds easy enough until there's a real problem, Felix is also having a secret affair with their eldest son, Levi. Levi isn't just an ordinary lover though, he cares enough about Felix to want to travel all the way to his ex-boyfriend Hayden, who is a demon and see if he knows how he can end the curse forever, and in turn get Felix free of having to curse his family.

Felix doesn't know what he has let himself in for though, as after Levi has visited Hayden, he realizes how much he wants him back. The other problem that faces Levi is that the curse doesn't just have the opportunity to take his father, but him as well, and Levi feels powerless and unhappy even though he has Felix around to keep him company in their penthouse apartment. And if Felix doesn't carry out his duty as a warlock and curse his father, then he will be punished and another warlock will be assigned to him. So there's really no way out either way he looks at it. That in itself makes Felix feel powerless as he can't have his own life, just the awful truth that he must take all of the Rockwells lives one by one.

I found I liked this story very much as there is a great deal of character development here. Felix is supposed to be the resident bad guy, but you get to feel as though he wishes he wasn't in many ways. Levi is stuck in a rut he feels he can't get out of until he goes to see Hayden, but him doing this can only serve to make things worse between Felix and Hayden. It's kind of a love triangle that is the staple of many yaoi stories, and it feels at home in this one. Levi's problem with drugs never becomes a problem with Felix who even though he is with him most of the time doesn't tell him what he can do with his life. It's not something that is a part of his contract, but there are things that are, such as not killing the members of the Rockwell family.

Both Levi and Felix are emotional types and I liked the fact that early on in the story both of them are near to tears at the thought of Levi's father dying soon. This pretty much is in keeping with the tradition of yaoi bad guys not really being as bad as previously thought. They have emotions too, and this trait is explored in this book. There are some funny things in this story too, Levi summoning Hayden is a scream, and Levi discussing Felix's eligability to be in GQ magazine.

The cover art is beautiful and well drawn, and reminds me of Dany&Dany's work. Also it's great to see the main characters in a sensual clinch. Even though this is a text based yaoi story, the cover art is enough to entice the reader to want to buy it.

Verdict: Fantastica is a sensual gothic style brooding first volume - once you read it, you will never forget it.