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  • manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Sugar-ism

    September 1, 2020 / 1 Comment

    Sugar-ism – Kuromame

    Perpetually overworked salaryman Tetsudo gets a much-needed day off and goes to a pharmacy to buy sleeping pills. He meets his old college friend, Kamitezuna. The same friend who rejected him after he confessed 8 years ago…

    This one-shot is about a depressed, overworked salaryman who wants to die. He buys sleeping pills from the pharmacy and meets his old college buddy who works there.

    The two had a history together. Kamitezuna is described as a selfish guy who does what he wants. He’s the type who helps people even if they don’t want to be helped. He basically bulldozes Tetsudo to eat with him, takes him to his apartment and have sex with him despite all appearances pointing to him being straight.

    Apparently there is a method to this madness as the mangaka gives a convoluted explanation about eros, thanatos and homosexuals that frankly sounded like homosexuals can’t be truly be happy because they can’t reproduce. There’s more blather. What I got in the end was something to the effect of Kamitezuna giving life to the Tetsudo.

    Anyways, I just liked the art.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Lost In The Mind by Alice Winters

    September 1, 2020 / 3 Comments
    46066905. sy475

    In The Mind: Lost In The Mind – Alice Winters

    After the last incident—which involved a serial killer—Chevy and Seneca are considering puppy wrangling as a new, safer profession than psychic detective work. Honestly, Seneca would prefer to focus on his new relationship with Chevy, even if he’s worried about the menacing countdown calendar leading to Chevy’s birthday. But when homicide requests some assistance from them, they have no idea what they’re getting into. And if they’d known what would happen, they definitely would have gone with the puppy wrangling.

    When an elderly couple is found dead in their own home, Chevy and Seneca are pulled into the case. But what’s unusual is that it appears neither of them were killed; instead, they simply stopped existing. Even with Chevy’s ability to go into the memories of the victims, he’s unable to tell what happened to the seemingly normal couple.

    That is, until it happens again. This time, the victims are found alive, all of them kneeling and staring at a blank wall as if hypnotized by it. It’s up to Chevy and Seneca to figure out what is drawing these people and who might be manipulating them.

    But when Seneca begins to act strangely, Chevy becomes concerned that he might also be affected by what is controlling the others. Chevy will do anything to keep the man he loves safe and as far from “The Light” as he can. But is it too late?

    Lost in the Mind is 94k words of banter, the strangest salad ever, and the strengthening of a bond (especially after Chevy’s birthday). This book follows the events of Within the Mind but focuses on a new case. 


    Chevy and Seneca’s second adventure still delivers the same hilarious WTFuckery but tones down the creepy mindfuckery.

    The two men are gifted law enforcement officers. Chevy can access people’s memories, Seneca can copy any gift. They were partnered together because Seneca keeps Chevy grounded.

    Both men are in their late 20s going on 5 because they are the epitome of mature, civilized adults. Mature, civilized adults whose very juvenile sense of humor includes ridiculous bets about having sex on tree branches, eating a head of lettuce while on a stakeout and inappropriate jokes about their boss to their boss’s face. It should have long gotten them fired long ago.

    But hey, everybody loves the uber charismatic Seneca. Who can talk everybody into doing anything, including murder it turns out. So they let him get away with everything.

    Meanwhile, Chevy, introverted and usually overlooked, finally got his own admirer. Seneca got jealous for one hot minute then recruited said admirer into his Chevy fan club. You gotta love his devotion to his man.

    I am happy that these two are settling together quite nicely. The book is written from Chevy’s point of view. He’s still as enamored with Seneca as he was in the first book. And still makes it his mission to aggravate the man. Seneca is still proudly demonstrating his love for Chevy in his inimitable Seneca way. The only change is that now, Chevy is no longer shy about showing his love back.

    After the events in Within The Mind, these two dorks have became inseparable. As in living together, working together, holding hands while going after bad guys inseparable.

    The new case is a very baffling mystery where individuals were found kneeling in front of a blank wall seemingly mesmerized. Investigation revealed these individuals were called by a light, enticing them to surrender to it. It turns them into fearless freaks with no regard to danger or consequences.

    While I wasn’t as creeped out as the first case, this still has it’s fare share of scare amped up by scenes where pairs of eyes all move simultaneously to stare at Chevy and by narrator Joel Leslie’s bad guy voices. The villain behind the light wasn’t as malevolent as their first serial killer. His ‘good intentions’ were pretty twisted though.

    This is a solid paranormal series although the world-building is nebulous at best. There is not much details about people, places and gifts. We don’t know where gifts come from. It’s only mentioned that it’s already there before. It’s also hinted that Chevy’s gift is more powerful than he thinks. Seneca’s gift also had a surprising twist and him getting his dark lord mojo on was one heck of a turnabout. I hope we get more explanations in future books.

    Lost In The Mind was quite the head trip. The story felt both slow and fast. The case was difficult and took a while to solve. The plot cycles through humor to horror to fluff at breakneck speed.

    One moment Chevy and Seneca are faced with the Pillow Case Cult (<- best cult name ever) ready to sacrifice them to The Light, the next we got an over the top birthday celebration complete with room full of balloons, a chastity belt and tunnel exploration. In between, we get quiet, tender moments of finger cuddles and warm fuzzies. It’s enough to give one whiplash.

    But I’m already ready for more outrageous Chevy and Seneca shenanigans. Bring on the next psycho!

    P.S.

    In The Mind series is best experienced in order. Witness Chevy hopelessly pining after Seneca, Seneca futilely chasing after Chevy because that’s how these two idiots roll in the first book, Within The Mind. Review here.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Light’s On
    Artist: Secret Machines
    Album: Now Here Is Nowhere


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to get your copy of Within The Mind. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

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    neverhollowed

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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Light’s On by Secret Machines

    September 1, 2020 / 1 Comment

    Soundtrack to to In The Mind: Lost In The Mind by Alice Winters

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • Uncategorized
    September 1, 2020 / No Comments

    Somewhere there’s a record of your whereabouts
    Everywhere you go you leave a trace
    You’re curled up under the light
    With the shadows of the fallen
    And everyone you’ve known
    That’s been replaced
    But the light’s on
    And you’re waiting for the signal
    The light’s on
    The light’s your place to hide
    The light’s on
    You don’t know just who your friends are
    The light’s on
    And its light will never know
    Hanging from the rings around your finger
    Hiding from the hammer holding fist
    The light’s on
    The light’s on
    The light’s on
    The light’s on
    The light’s on
    And you’re waiting for the signal
    The light’s on
    The light’s no place to hide
    The light’s on
    You don’t know just who your friends are
    The light’s on
    And its light will never know

    The light’s on
    (The light’s on)
    The light’s on
    (The light’s on)
    The light’s on
    (The light’s on)
    The light’s on
    (The light’s on)
    The light’s on
    (The light’s on)
    The light’s on
    (The light’s on)
    The light’s on
    The light’s on
    The light’s on
    And you’re waiting for the signal
    The light’s on
    The light’s our place to hide
    The light’s on
    We don’t know just who our friends are
    The light’s on
    And its light will never know

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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  • trailer,  Uncategorized

    MOVIE FEATURE: Are We Lost Forever

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  • Uncategorized

    RELEASE BLITZ: The Lucky Cat by L.M. Somerton (Excerpt)

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🌈boy's love manga | MM romance | music | giveaways and more 🐾

neverhollowed
neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
10 Jun

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲—𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

COVER REVEAL: Shaken and Stirred by Lilly Atlas



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/10/cover-reveal-shaken-and-stirred-by-lilly-atlas/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
10 Jun

NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Spy by Mell Eight (Excerpt & #Giveaway)


https://books2read.com/the-spy

https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/10/new-release-blitz-the-spy-by-mell-eight-excerpt-giveaway/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
9 Jun

Unrequited love can make you blind.

COVER REVEAL: Doink by Crea Reitan



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/09/cover-reveal-doink-by-crea-reitan/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
9 Jun

Sometimes growing up means growing apart in this queer take on As You Like It featuring first loves and friend breakups, from award-winning author Julia Drake.

BOOK TOUR: Lovesick Falls by Julia Drake



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/09/book-tour-lovesick-falls-by-julia-drake/

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