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Namida-kun to Namida-chan – Kobato Mebaru & Ogura Muku
Stories on the theme of crying.
First story was cute. Second story might not be for everyone.
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Skybound – Aleksandr Voinov
Love soars.
Germany, 1945. The Third Reich is on its knees as Allied forces bomb Berlin to break the last resistance. Yet on an airfield near Berlin, the battle is far from over for a young mechanic, Felix, who’s attached to a squadron of fighter pilots. He’s especially attached to fighter ace Baldur Vogt, a man he admires and secretly loves. But there’s no room for love at the end of the world, never mind in Nazi Germany.
When Baldur narrowly cheats death, Felix pulls him from his plane, and the pilot makes his riskiest move yet. He takes a few days’ leave to recover, and he takes Felix with him. Away from the pressures of the airfield, their bond deepens, and Baldur shows Felix the kind of brotherhood he’d only ever dreamed of before.
But there’s no escaping the war, and when they return, Baldur joins the fray again in the skies over Berlin. As the Allies close in on the airfield where Felix waits for his lover, Baldur must face the truth that he is no longer the only one in mortal danger.Lots to love about this. WWII from the German POV, men in uniform, beautifully written story, pacing that didn’t feel rushed, historical authenticity, poetic imagery, the atmosphere of fire, smoke and steel plus a gripping and suspenseful climax. Even without the romance this is already a gem. The romance itself was full of longing and love. I love the subtly of actions and the tender moments, the sharing of cigarettes, the tinkering of the piano, the clinking of the safety belt. Never had I wished so hard for a story to have a happy ending.
Rating
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32506330-skybound)
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Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.
Maurice Chevalier -
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Toshokan no Yokai – Hayakawa Nojiko
Hashimoto, the librarian, has a little kamaitachi on his shoulder that’s been causing havoc in his life. Now, he has to reign his emotions in before the power he inherited from the demon hurts someone he has affections for!
Cute!
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REVIEW: The Servant’s Heart by Missouri Dalton
The Servant’s Heart – Missouri Dalton
Terence has spent his life in the shadows. Even now, far from his home country serving the Lady Linnaea, he lurks behind a servant’s mask. But secrets like his cannot be hidden away forever, and as his mask starts to slip, the castle weaponsmaster, Iolyn, begins to take more notice of him. Will budding romance be enough to shake Terence free of his past? Or will he always be stuck in the shadow of a tainted bloodline?
This is interesting enough for me to want to read it as a full-length novel. The romance angle here was like,”we’re both gay so why don’t we hook up” so I was more into the story rather than shipping Terence and Iolyn. The royal couple reminded me of Mathias and Esta from Prisoner and lightning magic seemed badass.
Without the obligatory m-m relationship, this would work pretty well on its own but the short story structure might not be the best medium for all the great ideas the writer had.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17372742-the-servant-s-heart)
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I used to think that the day would never come
I’d see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun…New Order -
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Tasogare wa Dare – Kitahata Akeno
Asahi who has a memory problem meets a waiter who looks like his first love.
Not a happy story so I’m really glad it had a happy ending
