Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly review

TL;DR

The novel starts with an unnamed narrator's instant lust and infatuation for a famous, older poet.
The narrator desires to emulate the poet's success and intelligence, but also harbors violent desires.
The relationship develops amidst discussions of poetry, complicated by the narrator's surprise at his own sexuality.
A terminal cancer diagnosis leads to a loving, habitual relationship, while the narrator's previous relationship deteriorates.
The narrator experiences a spiral of substance abuse and casual sex, with a friend suggesting polyamory.
The narrator also contends with his prejudiced mother, Hetty.
The novel explores different forms of love and lust, marked by shifting power dynamics.
Despite a promising start, the novel loses focus, forgets characters, and fails to develop narrative threads.
The shift in tone and genre towards gothic fantasy in the later stages is noted as particularly odd.
The ending is described as dangerously close to 'it was all a dream'.

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