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Endless World – Jaryuu Dokuro
Ikki, an optimist who isn’t afraid of anything, begins working at a small restaurant when he finds himself charmed by the owner. It’s there that he runs into Ryuu, and from Ryuu, he hears Toshimitsu’s name, one that’s oddly familiar.
Neither Ikki nor Ryuu can seem to get away from Toshimitsu, and now their mysterious shared past will lead to an unknown future.An NSFW manga with drugs and abuse but somehow managed to be evocative, intense and emotional.
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Endless World – Jaryuu Dokuro
Ikki, an optimist who isn’t afraid of anything, begins working at a small restaurant when he finds himself charmed by the owner. It’s there that he runs into Ryuu, and from Ryuu, he hears Toshimitsu’s name, one that’s oddly familiar.
Neither Ikki nor Ryuu can seem to get away from Toshimitsu, and now their mysterious shared past will lead to an unknown future.An NSFW manga with drugs and abuse but somehow managed to be evocative, intense and emotional.
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The Art of Murder: The Mermaid Murders – Josh Lanyon
Special Agent Jason West is seconded from the FBI Art Crime Team to temporarily partner with disgraced, legendary “manhunter” Sam Kennedy when it appears that Kennedy’s most famous case, the capture and conviction of a serial killer known as The Huntsman, may actually have been a disastrous failure.
For The Huntsman is still out there… and the killing has begun again.
Let it be known that the cover bears no relation to the story other than at some point Special Agent Jason West got wet. Also, not to spoil the story but I felt sorry for the perp. His life was ruined because of some mouthy spoiled rich brat. It could have gone another way for him.
People have complained about the lack of romance but I like the fact that it’s not romance-heavy given that these agents have known each other for less than a week and didn’t even like each other at the start. I would even go so far as to say the romance was unnecessary but since this is MM, romance and sex are almost always a given. If this was a murder mystery story with FBI agents who happened to be gay and do not necessarily fall in love with each other, it would still be as enjoyable.
I am not much a fan of the partners-to-lovers trope because the agents tend to bungle up because of some stupid emotion towards their partner (see Agents Irish and Whiskey) but here, both agents kept their heads and most of their professionalism intact. And unlike Agents Irish and Whiskey, this series needs no suspension of disbelief. Both agents were competent and solved the mystery in a timely manner.
As with the other Josh Lanyon story I have read, The Mermaid Murders focused mostly on the mystery. West and Special Agent Sam Kennedy are tasked to solve the supposed copycat killings in rural Kingsfield. Kennedy had captured the Huntsman ten years ago and now there was a possibility that he either got the wrong man or the serial killer had a disciple.
Kennedy, whom almost nobody liked, was good at hunting killers. At first, he and West didn’t get along so well. Kennedy was being an asshole but West proved himself despite serial killings not being his specialty and Kennedy couldn’t help but like him. True to form, he tried to push West away. All West is asking is a date, stupid Kennedy!
I like West’s specialization. He has a Masters in Art History which he used in the Art Crime Team. I liked how he compares the things he sees to paintings. Kennedy has a past (of course he has) which he didn’t want to talk about but we’ll see on the succeeding books.
At the start, I was listening with only half my brain engaged but the story drew me in. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint which part started getting my full attention but halfway through, I was fully invested in the story. It was a good mystery. I was in the dark with who was the real killer until the last part. Then there was the creepy but intriguing doctor who hightailed it when he was being questioned. I had a feeling we will see him in the succeeding books. And the suspense! I almost couldn’t bear the tension when West was down there at the basement. I was anticipating all sorts of bad things happening to him. All I can say is, you got me there, Lanyon!
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Kinder Murder
Artist: Elvis Costello
Album: Brutal Youth(source: https://www.goodreads.com/series/169224-the-art-of-murder)
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[spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A1Nkk5VymFPFtPBcMiLbHKr&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]Soundtrack to The Art of Murder: The Mermaid Murders by Josh Lanyon
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From out their grottos at evenings beam,
the mermaids swim with locks agleam.Walter de la Mare -
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Hare no Hi – Asada Nemui
A father who finds out his son’s secret…
A son who surpasses his father…
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Hare no Hi – Asada Nemui
A father who finds out his son’s secret…
A son who surpasses his father…
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The Rowan Harbor Cycle: Blackbird in the Reeds – Sam Burns
Devon Murphy has never believed that there were fairies at the bottom of the garden, but when he’s in an accident on his way to his grandmother’s house and comes face to face with the biggest, baddest wolf he’s ever seen, he’s forced to reconsider.
When his grandmother asks him to look into a string of suspicious accidents, he finds a much bigger mystery to unravel. From his childhood best friend to the too-attractive Deputy Wade Hunter, everyone in Rowan Harbor seems to have something to hide. Devon has to get to the bottom of it all before the accidents turn deadly.
Such a beautiful cover! The kind that gives you high hopes but unfortunately, the story didn’t make me feel anything, positive or negative. I wasn’t bored but I wasn’t excited either. There was no one to hate but nobody I warmed up to. The dialogues were funny enough but it wasn’t the laugh out loud kind. The romance was passable but forgettable.This book is the definition of average.
Blackbird in the Reeds is the first book of the Rowan Harbor Cycle. Devon is a returnee in the small town of Rowan Harbor where everybody is related to every other person and there is a small town fear of outsiders. Devon reacquaints himself with the town folks and meets Maria Leon, a teacher who was considered an outsider by everyone. Maria experienced suspicious accidents and Devon’s gran asks him to investigate. Devon also cross paths with the deputies and when he shook hands with one of then, Wade Hunter, they got zapped by static electricity. Apparently, that was a sign and the way everyone was teasing Devon about it was cheesy but well, that’s what small town folks do.
Everyone was pleasant and genial enough (except for Helena Mackenzie who was the designated pain in the neck) so I didn’t feel there was much going on in terms of conflict. It’s nice that it’s angst free but it also felt shallow in a way. It added to the mediocrity of the thing that the narration was flat. The voices for the characters were distinct but the person telling the story had almost no emotions. The world building needs some work but there’s a lot of promise. I could only hope the author is able to maximize all that was set in this first book in the succeeding installments.
P.S.
Jesse’s book is next. I’m not sure if I would read it.
Rating:
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a like
Soundtrack: We Want a Rock
Artist: We Might Be Giants
Album: Flood(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37777178-blackbird-in-the-reeds)
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[spotify id=”spotify%3Atrack%3A3MQ2v8wNLG8TnKxZtPecao&view=coverart” width=”540″ height=”620″ /]Soundtrack to the Rowan Harbor Cycle: Blackbird in the Reeds by Sam Burns
