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MANGA: Star Collector Vol. 1
Star Collector – Anna B. & Sophie Schonhammer
Fynn’s favorite activities are skipping class, smoking, and lying around. So when he’s told it’s time to shape up and try doing something else for a change, he has no idea where to even start.
Then, on a nighttime walk around his neighborhood, he sees a stranger with a telescope up on a hill: his name is Niko, and he loves to watch the stars. Intrigued, Flynn decides to find out more about this nerdy boy and what could be so interesting about the night sky that he loves so much.
I know I sound like an ass but I used to scoff at Western manga because the art seemed off. But when I saw the cover of Star Collector, I immediately requested it on Netgalley. So pretty!
This is a classic opposite attracts story made more magical by stars. Watching Fynn fall for Niko was cute but maybe it happened just a little bit too fast given that they hardly know anything about each other and Fynn just broke up with Zoe. I felt Zoe’s hurt but I liked her for being such a great friend. I would have liked some backstory but I’m guessing that will be for the succeeding volumes.
Star Collector Vol. 1 is a good start of a promising manga. Recommended for those who love gay for you stories about nerds and delinquents.
Can’t wait for volume two! Will Fynn and Niko finally see those shooting stars?
P.S.
I received a copy of Star Collector from Tokyo Pop via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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REVIEW: Leo Loves Aries by Anyta Sunday
Leo Loves Aries – Anyta Sunday
A new person will enter your life in the early year, Leo. Look past any moments of frustration they might bring and laughโthis could be the start of a thriving friendship.
Theo Wallace usually laughs at the horoscopes his mom sends. Still hung up on his ex-girlfriend and practically friendless, this one begs him to reconsider. Because a friendship that stuck, that thrivedโฆ
Well, that would be a reason to leave past pains behind and look to the Bright Future.
When his sister Leone challenges him to find her the perfect date for a spring wedding, Theo uses it as a chance to make new friends. Theoโs ex economics tutor and newest roommate Mr Jamie Cooper seems to be a possible and convenient match. Real convenient. Like written in the stars, convenient.
All he has to do is make sure this Jamie is good enough. Could really be the one for her, and the friend for him.
But watch out, Leo, the stars have a surprise in storeโฆ
Leo Loves Aries is a feel-good gay-for-you novel slow-burned just the way I liked it. Very effectively written in Theo’s POV, we can only shake our heads at how blind he truly was. We see Theo and Jamie’s relationship gradually developing, each squee-tastic moment bringing Theo closer to understanding the JLM on the red t-shirt Jaime allowed him to wear and coming to terms with his own feelings. It was such fantastic build up with a very rewarding conclusion, it left the heart all warm and fuzzy.
We can go scientific and posit
โThe position of the stars and planets will not affect your life in any way, shape, or form, whatsoever.โ
Yes, true.
But Theo and Jaime’s chemistry lit up the entire book with so much sparkle and zing they make a very convincing argument that yeah, maybe this Aries should find a Leo instead of pining for that Aquarius.
Well played, Anyta Sunday. Well played.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: I’m Gonna Love You Too
Artist: Buddy Holly
Album: Buddy Holly -
SOUNDTRACK: I’m Gonna Love You Too by Buddy Holly
Soundtrack to Leo Loves Aries by Anyta Sunday
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โWe are tutor and student. Roommates. Sparring partners. Friends. Anything you want us to be.โ
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MOVIE FEATURE: Le Clan
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A to Z Book Survey
I thought it would be fun to do this survey. I found it on Howling Libraries and it was originally created by Perpetual Page Turner
Author youโve read the most books from:
Definitely my favorite, K.J. Charles. The plan is to read all of her books. The ones I had finished so far:
- A Charm of Magpies series
- A Society of Gentlemen series
- Remnant
- Sins of the Cities series
- Spectred Isle
- The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal
- Think of England
- Unfit to Print
- Wanted, An Author
- Wanted, A Gentleman
For the longest time, there weren’t any clear pictures of KJC on the interwebs. Found the pic above from her interview with a German website.
Best Sequel Ever:
I have yet to read the best sequel ever. Though I really liked The Dream Thieves more than The Raven Boys.
The Raven Cycle review here
Currently Reading:
Typically, I have several books going for when the mood strikes
Drink of Choice While Reading:
I don’t drink while reading. I chug down a huge mug of room temperature coffee like people chug beer then read.
E-reader or Physical Book?
Physical books but I also have an e-reader for when I go out.
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
Hah! I have a hard time answering this as I rarely consider dating a fictional character because I am too busy shipping them with another character.
Ok…lemme think…
Shit! I really don’t know.
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Never Understand by Bbong
I didn’t like the art at first. And I thought there were too many chapters since I rarely read anything with more than 10 chapters. I gave it a try because the premise was kind of interesting then it proceeded to blew me away.
Review here
Hidden Gem Book:
Futari Hyakkei: Kaze no Owari Haru no Hajimari by Mita Ori
My number 1 manga for 2018. I wish people would notice this more because this has some of the sweetest, most fluff-tastic manga moments. Like I said, relationship goals.
Review here
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
Way back in elementary, a classmate introduced me to Nancy Drew books which turned me into a bookworm. Also seeing the cover of the Japanese edition of Captive Prince which very effectively put my 3-year book slump to death and put me on the road to becoming a book blogger.
Just look at them!
Review here
Just Finished:
Leo Loves Aries (review to come)
Haphaven review here
Star Collector (review to come)Kinds of Books You Wonโt Read:
I don’t read any religious, erotica, or sports-centric books. Also, I don’t go for hardcore yaoi stuff. Books with love triangles are big turn offs and cheating is a deal-breaker.
Longest Book Youโve Read:
For now, The October Horse: A Novel of Caesar and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough at 1110 pages.
But it will be Special Forces by Alexander Voinov once I find the courage to embark on a 3000-page saga.
Review of Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series here
Major book hangover because of:
Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward
because Jack and Ethan is OMG!!!
Death and The Devil review here
Number of Bookcases You Own:
One big bookcase that doubles as a TV stand and two small bookshelves on a wall.
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
Read the book twice then the audiobook because I loved Ruairi Carter’s narration
Captive Prince trilogy
Read the ebook, then the physical books and audiobook because I wasn’t too obsessed, no.
Preferred Place To Read:
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book youโve read:
I’m thinking I should memorize this so I could use it when the opportunity comes. This was one of my favorite book moments.
I could go on and on about His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto but really, just read it and be charmed by Arthur and Martin’s sweet, soft romance.
Review here
Reading Regret:
Throwing away an out of print edition of Night Watch by Sergey Lukyanenko because it got wet and heavily damaged. For purely sentimental reasons, I should have kept it. Now there’s a gaping hole in my collection and it is forever haunting me.
Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):
Specter (the first series) by Jordan L. Hawk
I’ve read the first 5 books of series 1 and I have Summoner of Storms on standby. I’m just prolonging the agony because I need to be in the right mood for that big finale.
Review here
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Also holding out on the last book The Raven King because I don’t want the adventure to end
Shades of Magic by Victoria Schwab
I hesitate to read the second book because I like to imagine Kell and Rhy end up together and Lila as an aro ace and/or the whole series as entirely romance free.
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
Spectred Isle review here
Exquisite Corpse review here
His Quiet Agent review hereUnapologetic Fangirl/Fanboy For:
Yes, these dorks. Review here
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
I was giddy with excitement last December waiting for Why The Devil Stalks Death by L.J. Hayward. This could very well be the best sequel ever but as of now I am afraid to touch it because my expectations are so high.
Worst Bookish Habit:
I am a mood reader. I start on something, then quickly lose interest and not pick up the book again for a very long time. I also need to take better care of my eyes. I use the laptop for hours on end then even when my eyes are too tired I still try to read. So my vision keeps getting worse.
X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th bookJ
On my physical shelf: Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
I love the Gentleman Bastards! What is Locke’s real name? Willing to wait till I’m a dried up skeleton for The Thief of Emberlain. Just make it good, Scott. No pressure.
On my e-reader: A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
This I haven’t read yet. The 2006 animated movie looks interesting tho. There’s RDJ having a Kafka moment.
Your latest book purchase:
Rich People’s Problems by Kevin Kwan
Love this trilogy! I read the ebooks and my father liked Crazy Rich Asians so I bought the physical books to make it easier for him to read. I haven’t watched the movie. I probably will when they show it on HBO. I still haven’t gotten the hang of the Netflix and chill thing because slow ass internet is anything but chill.
Review here
ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
Leo Loves Aries by Anyta Sunday
This kept me up until 6 AM, good thing it was a Saturday. This is also another book I was glad I gave a chance. I thought it would a boring relationship-centric contemporary but holy heck, what a delicious memorable slow burn dance it was!
RTC
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MANGA: Blue! Blue! Blue!
Blue! Blue! Blue! – Amamiya
When Takiya Kippei, the brother of two older sisters, realises that he desperately needs money to buy a birthday present for his lover, he decides to live and work onsite at a ryokan (a traditional japanese inn). There, he meets the well-educated Honjou Masumi, a man who is neither too strict nor too lenient, and who has a charm which embodies the word “mature”. “This is the first time I’ve met someone like Honjou-san” – as Takiya continues working at the ryokan, he starts to become interested in Honjou!
OMG! Beautiful art, beautiful story. So soft and subtle.
(source: http://www.mangago.me)
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REVIEW: Devil Take Me by Rhys Ford, Ginn Hale, Jordan L. Hawk, T.A. Moore, C.S. Poe & Jordan Castillo Price
Devil Take Me by Rhys Ford, Ginn Hale, Jordan L. Hawk, T.A. Moore, C.S. Poe & Jordan Castillo Price
Temptation lurks around every corner in worlds sometimes dark, sometimes lurid. Giving in is both dangerous and satisfying, though never in the ways one expects. While these enticements offer a vast range of benefits and boons, the cost is a soul and the devil expects his due. Sometimes suave and charming or calculating and cruel, these devils have schemes and desires of their own. They can be creatures to run away fromโฆ or toward.
Join the most unique and celebrated authors of LGBT urban fantasy and paranormal fiction for a fast-paced and unpredictable ride, from a city on the other side of reality, to a world suspended in dusk, to a twisted version of the 1960s and 70s.
Meet devils in top hats and waistcoats, a defrocked motorcycle-riding priest, and a genderfluid antiheroโamong many more. Full of humor, romance, horror, action, intrigue, and magic, these stories have one common elementโฆ.
Theyโre one hell of a good time.
I am the type of reader who, when I see the words raven king, dark duke or devil in winter in the title expects some being who can magically control ravens or actually came from hell only to be let down when they invariable turn out to be just some bastard with poor manners. So I was delighted to know that Devil Take Me was quite literal.
This anthology features a stellar list of authors, among them my favorites Jordan L. Hawk and Jordan Castillo Price, giving their own take on the theme of selling the soul to the devil and trying to get it back.
Infernal Affairs by Jordan L. Hawk: Fluffpaw’s crossroads demon Ralgath, first day on the job, answered a summoning from Chess, a non-binary who wanted to be a hero. Turns out Chess was more than he bargained for. Outwitted by a human, he was demoted to customer service but was later given a chance to redeem himself. Luckily for the demon, Fluffpaw was there to help him.
The lightest and fluffiest story of the anthology. Written in an ironic tone and about as serious as Greg Trembley’s demon voice for Ralgath. Ralgath and Chess were so cute, I’d hurl my tablet if they don’t end up together!
Collared by T.A. Moore: Ex-priest, Jack, was commanded by his personal demon Math to find what was stolen from him…
which took forever to find that I didn’t care anymore. However, I did enjoyed the gruesome horror and Math and Jack’s twisted relationship.
Counterfeit Viscount by Ginn Hale: Archie sold his soul to Nimble, a prodigal conjurer and he was given the chance to get it back by helping Nimble solve a case.
Set in the same world as Wicked Gentlemen, which I haven’t read yet, but now I’m curious. Loved the camaraderie and banter between Archie and Nimble and that twist that I didn’t see coming. Very satisfying epilogue too.
11:59 by C.S. Poe: Death-defy battles against nightmares is the order of the day everyday for Asuka. The monster slayer, tired and merely a shell of his former self, meets the bookworm Merrick, cheerful and full of life. Merrick persistently pursues Asuka and through his knowledge of mythology, helps him defeat the source of nightmares.
This I would love to see as an anime! The freeze frame scene of Asuka falling off a building in a rain of glass is classic. Merrick believing Asuka is a real hero is adorbs! Merrick is cute as a button but really, I was shipping Asuka with the Devil himself.
Wonderland City by Rhys Ford: Wonderland is in trouble as another little girl came through the mirror. Every citizen of Wonderland knows there’s nothing as dangerous as a human child. Xander Spade, with the help of deposed prince, Jean Michel and brave dog, Blue, was tasked by Oz, the Devil to find the child, Naomi, in exchange for returning his soul and going back home to the other side of the looking glass.
At first, this was as whimsical and topsy turvy as the original which I loved. Then came the confrontation with the Red Queen and everything became bloody, chaotic, painful and downright horrifying which I loved too. I know the queens of Wonderland are crazy but here, they are monstrously psychopathic. The process of letting the beast out was drawn out in every excruciating detail and my heart went out to Xander. The romance was there or it will be there once Xander stops putting Jean Michel at arms length.
Dark Favors by Jordan Castillo Price: When Johnny was young enough to fearless, he unwittingly sold himself to the Old Man. Fast forward to 1979 and the Old Man asks Johnny a big favor: kill somebody.
I hate dub-con situations and here comes the big dub-con scene as the highlight. Great. Would have skipped it but it was crucial to the story. Also, I felt conflicted because Adam harassed Johnny and I should hate him for it but at the same time I was drawn to his affable, confident personality and I think he should have just charmed his way through Johnny’s hardcore shell instead of tying him to a chair. On the upside, JCP‘s world-building was expertly crafted as usual and the idea of favors as currency was executed well.
Rating:
Infernal Affairs – 4 Stars
Collared – 3 Stars
Counterfeit Viscount – 4 Stars
11:59 – 4 Stars
Wonderland City – 4 Stars
Dark Favors – 3 StarsOverall:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: A Good Idea At The Time
Artist: Ok Go
Album: Oh No -
SOUNDTRACK: A Good Idea At The Time by Ok Go
Soundtrack to Devil Take Me by Rhys Ford, Ginn Hale, Jordan L. Hawk, T.A. Moore, C.S. Poe & Jordan Castillo Price
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“Can I get you a drink, sir?” the bartender asks.
Asuka spares the man behind the counter a glance.
He has no face.
Asuka visibly recoils. He checks his watch.
11:59 p.m.
He looks at the woman again, but she’s nowhere to be seen.
The Devil sits in her place. He holds a lit cigarette between two fingers, and a tumbler of whiskey is in front of him. “Hello, little bird. It’s been a while”.
