And No Birds Sing — Kathryn Ptacek

""Death need not be ugly. Why not make that last one-way journey a pleasant one? After all, the French refer to orgasm as "the little death (le petite mort)." French critic Roland Barthes also used the term to describe the emotional release a reader should have when finishing a great story. I would argue that both meanings apply to these stories. In Kathy's capable hands (lamias) are both kindly and vicious, understanding and voracious. Every man's dream and every man's nightmare. The angel of death." - Bob Booth (from his introduction)"