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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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  • Home
  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
    • MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MEMES+TAGS
    • MUSIC MONDAY
    • LAST YEAR I WAS READING
    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • TAGS
    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
  • TOURS & BLITZES
    • COVER REVEAL
    • GIVEAWAYS
  • About + Ratings
    • ABOUT + RATINGS
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  • manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Zodiac Boys

    August 21, 2019 / No Comments

    Zodiac Boys – Honma Akira

    A collection of oneshots related to the Chinese Zodiac.

    Eeeh?!

    Confusing stories of mostly rabbit and dragon pairing. Where’s the rest of the zodiac?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    NEW RELEASE: Of Fire & Bone by Natalina Reis (Giveaway)

    June 19, 2021

    MUSIC MONDAY: Sad Sad Feeling by Blame My Youth

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  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Exhale by Joel Abernathy

    August 21, 2019 / 6 Comments
    39678549. sy475

    Flesh And Bone: Exhale – Joel Abernathy

    Two men haunted by the same ghost…

    Falling for “the other man” in my marriage was never part of the plan. Then again, according to Nicolae Ursache, I am the other man, and human wedding vows don’t apply. Not to werewolves.

    Nicolae is a smug, arrogant alpha male stereotype–and I do mean alpha in the literal sense–but when the same people who killed my wife kidnap my teenage daughter, he’s my only chance at getting her back. The fact that Nicolae was my wife’s rightful mate means that we share a mutual interest in bringing Ellie home, but I never could’ve imagined how he planned to do it.

    I will do anything to protect my daughter. Even if it means becoming the plaything, or worse, of the man I loathe most.

    This dark shifter romance contains mature subject matter.

    **NOTE: There is no mpreg in this universe.**


    Because of the slew of enjoyable shifter stories I came across with, I grew to like the genre though I tend to avoid the omegaverse ones because there are some aspects I found unpleasant. Going in, I thought this was the usual shifter thing but to my surprise, I inadvertently found myself in an omegaverse. By the time I realized, the book has sunk its claws deep into me and wouldn’t let go. This was largely due in part to Joel Abernathy’s skilled storytelling and mostly to Kurt Graves’ excellent narration. They both did it so well, I finished the book even though I wasn’t into the main characters or the omega business.

    Exhale piqued my interest with the “falling for the other man in my marriage” premise, something we don’t see often. The plot follows several threads. One was about a father’s love for his daughter who was caught in the middle of family politics. Another is about a man dealing with his wife’s loss and his hate+attraction to the man his wife supposedly cheated him with. Third, a human trying to come to grips with the fact that were-wolves exists and he was now somehow part of this world.

    The story is told in Jack Mullins’ first person POV. I didn’t actively like the guy but I did feel sympathetic. He lost his wife, his daughter was kidnapped and then his wife’s other man showed up at his doorstep. Jack was whisked away to Romania and given no choice but to bond with the bastard in order to get his child back. Jack’s most outstanding feature was his devotion to his daughter, Ellie, who was trans. He would do anything for her, even mate with the man who was supposed to be his wife’s mate. He was played by two giant assholes and he did his best to make the most of the fucked up situation. He got his HEA but it didn’t feel that rewarding, IMO, given what he went through and what he turned out to be. Jack deserved better.

    Nicolae Ursache is one of those giant assholes. I almost DNF’ed the book because of him. He said a lot of hateful, humiliating things so him going from hate to like to love would have been more convincing had we had his POV. He became tolerable later on but I kind of wished he suffered more.

    The world-building focused primarily on the wolves, their hierarchy, conflicts, traditions and lifestyle. Magic and other supernatural creatures were mentioned in passing and ironically, this I am more interested in. I wanted the scope to be bigger than just the wolves, maybe bring in those haints or witches but well, it’s not that kind of book.

    What really made me want to continue with Flesh and Bone series were the secondary characters. I found myself wanting to know more about them. Mason, Nicolae’s son, I feel sorry for the guy. Andreii, the feral pup, I want to see how he turns out and Vasil, the enforcer, I really liked his amiable personality. They have their own books so yay! I’m happy the author also gave Ellie her own romance within the stories, if not her own book, so that thread is worth following up too.

    Overall, I wasn’t wowed but Exhale did it’s job well as a series opener. It grabbed my attention, kept me engaged and made me look forward to the next book.

    P.S.

    Other paranormal/shifter series you might be interested in:
    Big Bad Wolf
    Hexworld
    Soulbound
    Green Creek

    Rating:
    3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it

    Soundtrack: Mercy
    Artist: IAMX
    Album: Kiss+Swallow

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Mercy by IAMX

    August 21, 2019 / 2 Comments

    Soundtrack to Flesh And Bone: Exhale by Joel Abernathy

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BLOG TOUR: Spark & Tether by Lilian Zenzi (Excerpt)

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    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(May 12, 2021)

    May 12, 2021
  • Uncategorized
    August 21, 2019 / No Comments

    When I’d asked, he’d simply grunted and opened up his smartphone to do whatever the fuck werewolves did online. Probably stalking vampires on Tinder, because why the hell wouldn’t those be real, too?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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    RELEASE TOUR: All American Boys Series by Various Authors (Giveaway)

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    COVER REVEAL: Crown Court Killer by Dahlia Donovan

    March 18, 2022
  • trailer,  Uncategorized

    MOVIE FEATURE: The Politician

    August 21, 2019 / No Comments
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    RELEASE BLITZ: New Year Not You by Edie Montreux (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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    BLOG TOUR: The Shackles That Hold Us by Michele Notaro (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    June 12, 2022

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

PROMO BLITZ: To Defend a Damaged Duke by Fearne Hill



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/18/promo-blitz-to-defend-a-damaged-duke-by-fearne-hill/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS: Oliver Takely

Our favorite  MM authors a.k.a. castaways are asked, what books, songs and luxury item would they take to a desert island?

#desertislandbooks

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

After spending the year suffering as a reality TV villain IRL, Alec Braud will do anything to get his redemption arc.

BOOK TOUR: America’s Not-So-Sweetheart by Blair Hanson



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/17/book-tour-americas-not-so-sweetheart-by-blair-hanson/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

Falling for a royal guard with glowing eyes and a lethal energy punch? Definitely not on my Terrafeara survival bingo card. But here we are.

PROMO BLITZ: Kael by Becca Seymour



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/17/promo-blitz-kael-by-becca-seymour/

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