Relations that Suck and La Femme Fatale are two stories about the same girl – a vampire named Eva. La Femme Fatale tells her story, taking us back to the time of the French Revolution and her move to the New World. It takes us through her early time as a vampire and her struggle to both conceal and accept what she is. The most unique part of La Femme Fatale, however, is its format. Referred to as “genre-busting” Marilyn Yu has taken our traditional concept of the book and turned it into…a deck of cards. Though large (they’re about trade paperback size) the cards remind you of a tarot deck. Containing a story, waiting to be read.

From Eva’s personal narrative in La Femme Fatale, the story continues in Relations that Suck. Relations that Suck starts much later on, once Eva has figured out a way to live inconspicuously as a vampire. She befriends a local spider named Dries. It explores their complicated relationship and both the positive and negative effects that relationship can have on one another. Like La Femme Fatale, this book isn’t presented in the traditional way. The narrative is accompanied by a series of beautiful photographs that represent the evolution of Eva and Dries.

Both of these stories are presented in an incredible fashion. The photographs in Relations that Suck are breathtaking and you need to take your time to fully take in each one. The story wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting without them. Likewise, the artwork in La Femme Fatale is equally breathtaking. Each card was clearly give a great deal of time and attention and the art has an incredible detail, fitting in with whatever time period is taking place at different points in the story.

The stories themselves are well written but I don’t think would stand out quite as well without their artwork. The two go together, they are perfect compliments. There are many stories out there right now about vampires. These two stories do not differ all to much from whats already out there, but what makes them worth picking up is the multi-level experience you will get from them. You’re not just reading a story. You’re also looking at an art show, reading the tarot cards and getting pulled in by Eva’s dark and beautiful eyes. I really enjoyed reading these books and they are a great read for people looking for a break from the conventional novel.

About the Author

Marilyn Yu, voted Best APA Designer in the Bay Area by Asian Week readers, is a clothing designer, artist, and author based in San Francisco. With a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley, Yu is constantly trying to merge her various interests in the work she does. For over a decade, Yu has interwoven media, ideas, and people in her creations.

The author, Marilyn Yu, is described as, “a creative guru who has interwoven media, ideas and people into her creations for over a decade.” This description of her is clearly demonstrated in both the format and the tale of “La Femme Fatale.” Created in a card format similar to the tarot, Eva Prim’s life story is told both in writing and in pictures making it something incredibly unique that is sure to be treasured by its owner. For me, when I opened the beautiful box containing the beautifully designed cards, I felt like I was opening a treasure chest.

I totally enjoyed the way that this story is formatted because while most books that would tell a tale spanning 700 years would get bogged down by text, the author/artist is able to convey the journey of Eva Prim through both illustrations and some text. Also by leaving some of the cards just beautifully decorated with no words, readers can use them for reflection and divination into their own subconscious minds to learn more about themselves.
I think that “La Femme Fatale” would be the perfect gift for a woman who has everything, because I can guarantee you that she has nothing like this, and she would be sure to treasure the beauty of how the story is both composed and portrayed. The companion guide that accompanies the book would also help guide her to make full use of the cards. The guide helps to explain the cards and offers questions that will assist the reader as a tool to gain a deeper understanding of herself.

Paige Lovitt, Reader Views, June 2011

La Femme Fatale by Marilyn Yu is simply another example of the author’s myriad of talent. In her first book, Relations that Suck: The Story of Eva and Dries, she tells a spellbinding and passionate story by providing the reader with a virtual masterpiece of photographed actors playing the role in each page of the book. This was such a wonderful creation and it left me anxiously looking forward to her next book.

When I received the box I was shocked. I opened the “box” and realized that the book was created in a tarot style. Each page was a tarot card that represented the pages in Eva’s story.

While reading it, I found myself getting lost in the beauty of the cards and not taking in the entire story. But, as you read the story you are overtaken by the luring words in which Marilyn writes. She is not an author who just writes a story but she writes poetry and romance like no other. Each word is filled full of meaning and emotion like a strawberry that one bites into and the juice overtakes the senses. The taste is so beautiful and tasteful and not one that the normal reader can describe. She is amazing with her weaving of the story that she so graciously provides us with.

The Eva’s world of the vampire there is so much of this world that many vampire fans long for- colors that are bright, clothes that are rich, and beautiful beautiful people. The story and pages make ones long to be a part of Eva’s world, no matter if it is happy, sad or very real to the world of the vampire.

Marilyn has once again shocked, amazed, and pulled me into the world of Eva. It is unusual to find such talent in one person.

Marilyn not only writes the stories, designs the cards, photographs the actors, but designs and makes the clothing through her own personal clothing line, Plutonium Clothing.

I highly recommend this to everyone- the vampire fan, the artist, the poet – there is something here for everyone and more.

Examiner.com, June 1st, 2011
Bertena Varney, Paranormal Literature Examiner

Shawna Yang Ryan is the author of Water Ghosts (originally published in 2007 as Locke 1928) and was a finalist for the 2008 Northern California Book Award.

Born in Sacramento, California, the child of parents who met during the Vietnam War when her father was stationed in Taiwan, Shawna Yang Ryan graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and received an M.A. from the University of California, Davis. In 2002, she was a Fulbright scholar in Taiwan. She currently lives in Berkeley, California.

“Beautiful book! … Fantastic work.”

The Two Knotty Boys are educators and the authors of “Two Knotty Boys: Showing You The Ropes” and “Two Knotty Boys: Back on the Ropes.”

Beautiful, collaborative art – by RJ Johnson “The Mayor of There”
“A beautiful art book that tells a useful parable about all relationships –not just those between vampires and spiders– “Relations That Suck” is a book that is wonderful for your coffee table or your lover’s nightstand.”
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These Images Don’t Adertise; They are Telling a Story… – by Romeo S. Ponsaran
“In Marilyn Yu’s mythology of post-modern love, she explores its essential character: the tension between ego and spirit, the challenge of loving across difference, and the dislocating influence of “objective” cultural mediators (media, technology, etc.) on identity and consciousness.

Using the fashion photography aesthetic, Yu uses a familiar and contemporary visual medium to ask a timeless question: “What is Love’s place in the world?” Through her archetypal yet original characters we follow their journey of love, explore love on the margins of society, and contemplate the possibilities of love in the 21st century. The fundamental tension of the human condition is retold-the age-old struggle between the ego and spirit is reborn.

Balancing style and substance, she provokes, satisfies and enchants she reader. In this unique and original tale, she narrates visual delicacies to invoke penetrating questions. With its many layers, she offers a classic mythology with a modern twist engaging to young and old.”
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relations DO suck! – by Francis E. Flores “Frankus”
“Relations That Suck is a fantastic and emotive love story that explores the intricacies of companionship. The artistry and detail within the photography and fashion make this a wonderful conversation book for people of all ages and lifestyles.”
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She sucks you in… – by Richard Deandrea
“The subject matter is not as important as the visual escapade. A story that tunes to the longings we all have, it is worth the look see for she really sucks you in…”
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Not your usual vampire story – by Elena
“What impressed me most about this book is how well the photographic content meshed with the story. The lighting and locations were well thought out and magically transported me into the story. Not your usual coffee table material but certainly more intriguing.”
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A wonderful book…. – by Y. L. Ha
“Part picture book of beautiful images, part modern fairy tale, and part meditation on the fragility of relationships. Relationships That Suck weaves a complex and delicate tale that deepens with each reading.”
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What a tangled web she weaves… – by Reflector Girl
“Beautiful book! Beautiful photography! Beautiful artwork! I love the pairing of spiders and vampires, and the idea of a vampire spinning a web of seduction. An intriguing story about relationships and personal identity. A tale everyone can relate to.”
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Theatrical. mysterious. dark. goth. fantasy. – J. Chang
“I was excited to enter this book, knowing full well that artiste Marilyn Yu never stops short of producing works of art that are shocking – yet understated in their calm presentation. It is obvious that this artist’s approach is to combine her magic, creative talent with an intelligent, structured approach.

While the story and costumes and models may be out of this world and absolutely extraordinary, at the same time they premise lies on a stalwart foundation of plausibility… even though the story concludes with a shocking ending, at the same time it left me thinking “… yes i can actually see that happening.” It is the author’s ability to weave (no pun intended as she is also a clothing designer) magic with reality, that allows one’s imagination to cross over into real world.

This is a beautiful coffee table book. And a mind-boggling short-story inside, replete with gorgeous designs and presentation.”
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Design for delight! – by KingoLego
“Marilyn jumps the chasm between fashion, photography and fantasy. I don’t know much about fashion, but I do know what I like! Looking forward to the retail stores, action figures and movie…. “

The fable is a difficult medium to work in, and Yu struggles with it a bit more than she does with the fashion (which is flawless in every frame). For a fable to work, it must be concise enough to read in one sitting, yet carry many layers above and beyond those which are presented. I think she makes a commendable effort here, with a story whose connotations touch on the dangers (and perhaps pleasures) of guilt, the balance of power in friendships, and whether or not a spider is ever really a proper roommate.

Overall, however, the strength of the book is visual: vampires in pretty clothing. And, really, how far can you go wrong with that as your premise?

Review by Haute Macabre, 28 August 2009

Each page of this book narrates the tale of Eva and Dries, yet the photographs really take the spotlight upon themselves. The photography is haunting and glamorous, and I felt that photographers Angela DeCenzo and Norma Cordova did a fantastic job capturing the moods of the story.

Marilyn Yu does spin a surprisingly touching tale, although I admit to being a bit puzzled as to why two very different models portrayed Eva.

Both models Jennifer Allford and Jennifer Lazorack are beautiful, yet one has light hair and the other a darker color. Perhaps this represents Good vs. Evil? I was left a bit unsure about that. Male models Calvin Jones and Marcus Wu appear as well, and handsomely suit their roles.

While most of the photographs could indeed be used as pages from a fashion design portfolio, there are a few graphic pictures showing Eva in her glory as a vampire.

In addition to the intriguing clothing, the hair styles and makeup are flawless, with most of it done by Christal Saville, along with contributions by hair stylist Matthew Mommer and makeup artist Nikol Dedischew. The locations for the photo shoots suit the story quite well, and I do think that above all else, the photography is outstanding.

This is a book I would recommend to people who love the fashion design world and the mystery of a good, short vampire story. The spider, Dries, is quite the character too!

Laura Hinds, MyShelf.com

Midori is the author of bestselling books “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage”, “Master Han’s Daughter” and “Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink”. A regular advice columnist for Men’s Health, Midori has appeared on HBO and BBC, and has been featured in Vogue, Playboy, Der Spiegel, Cosmo and more. Multifaceted, she is a skilled photographer, artist in Japanese rope, presenting to art institutions such as Tanzquartier, Vienna and Das Arts in Amsterdam.