• manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Ki ga Au Iu Koto wa

    Ki ga Au to Iu Koto wa – Asou Kai

    1. Ki ga Au to Iu Koto wa – Shiraishi has been seduced by his so called “Best Friend” for 6 years since they were both in high school. The train they take to work, their favorite music, their sandwich choice for lunch… always happen to be identical. That strange relationship would never ever change, supposedly. But now that Shiraishi is divorced, it could be just a matter of time before he gets himself scored.

    2. 1 + 1 + 1 – Between a man who bears a past and a revived lover, the existence of a certain “man” becomes the trigger. Both prickly pain and sweetness are all in one long story…

    The Meaning Of Being Like-Minded is a two-story volume featuring the guys from the oneshot, Ki ga Au to Iu Koto de and a paranormal love triangle between a convenient store clerk, a salaryman and his dead boyfriend.

    Ki ga Au to Iu Koto wa: This is how Shiraishi and Iizuka started, flashing back to their high school days when Iizuka revealed he was gay and Shiraishi said some words of support. From then on, Iizuka was forever declaring his love for Shiraishi while the latter was not really reciprocating but not actually rejecting him either.

    Iizuka has a genki puppy dog personality. Shiraishi has a poker face and comes off as cold.

    The story shows Iizuka pursuing him persistently. The thing with this trope is that the character tends to come across as too pushy and annoying. What I like about Iizuka is that he doesn’t overdo it.

    While the one-shot sequel was more fluffy, this was on the angstier side. Most of the POV was from Shiraishi who had to slowly come to terms with his feelings. He sleeps with Iizuka but I suspect he could be aromantic or on the greyish scale with the way he sometimes wonders what it’s like to fall in love. It’s like he’s not really feeling things but with Iizuka, he’s feels a deep connection to the guy so it’s the closest thing to him falling in love.

    1 + 1 + 1: This is about a convenient store clerk crushing on the salaryman who come in regularly and only to buy yakiniku. Later, he learns that there was a ghost hanging around him that only the clerk can see. When he asks about it, he learns it was the salaryman’s boyfriend who died in a car accident.

    I liked this less because there’s a love triangle and it’s with a bratty ghost. The ghost is forever stuck at the age of 18 so it’s understandable that he could be selfish but it doesn’t make for an enjoyable read. Luckily, the story makes up for it with a happier ending.

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: The Engineer by C.S. Poe

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    Magic & Steam: The Engineer – C.S. Poe

    1881โ€”Special Agent Gillian Hamilton is a magic caster with the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam. Heโ€™s sent to Shallow Grave, Arizona, to arrest a madman engineer known as Tinkerer, whoโ€™s responsible for blowing up half of Baltimore. Gillian has handled some of the worst criminals in the Bureauโ€™s history, so this assignment shouldnโ€™t be a problem. But even heโ€™s taken aback by a run-in with the countryโ€™s most infamous outlaw, Gunner the Deadly.

    Gunner is also stalking Shallow Grave in search of Tinkerer, who will stop at nothing to take control of the townโ€™s silver mines. Neither Gillian nor Gunner are willing to let Tinkerer hurt more innocent people, so they agree to a very temporary partnership.

    If facing illegal magic, Gatling gun contraptions, and a wild engineer in Americaโ€™s frontier wasnโ€™t enough trouble for a city boy, Gillian must also come to terms with the reality that heโ€™s rather fond of his partner. But even if they live through this adventure, Gillian fears thereโ€™s no chance for love between a special agent and outlaw.

    Based on the short story, “Gunner the Deadly.” Entirely revised, newly expanded, and Book One in the exciting new steampunk series, Magic & Steam. 


    The Engineer is the explosive opener to the steampunk-tastic series, Magic & Steam. It’s has all the whiz! boom! bang! you could ever ask for.

    Gillian is a special agent from the Federal Bureau of Magic & Steam assigned to arrest the Tinkerer, a wanted engineer responsible for a lot of death and destruction. In the midst of gunfire, he crashes into the notorious outlaw, Gunner the Deadly. Learning that Gunner was also after the Tinkerer, he grudgingly agrees to work together.

    Gillian is an experienced magic caster so right off the bat, we get high level displays of magic. This is something I always take a lot of pleasure in. I’m usually bored with beginner magic so having a professional caster means not having to deal with the tiresome training trope. And boy oh boy, Gillian certainly didn’t hold back on his elemental magic! I wish we could see this on-screen.

    Gunner was no slouch either. With Gillian’s help, his weapon was powered up by ether magic, allowing him to blast through heavy machinery. He saved their assess many times.

    The Tinkerer was a crazed evil genius armed with fantastical weapons of mass destruction. At first glance, it seems he blows things up willy nilly. Later on, a surprising twist revealed a method to this madness and a tumultuous history with another character.

    The plot covers the couple of days Gillian and Gunner were running after the Tinkerer. Info was dumped here and there explaining the workings of magic and machinery, like Gunner’s weapon, as well as the world in general. Most of it went over my head but I did grasp the gist. There’s natural magic, made by a caster, and the artificial(?) magic made by machines. The latter was dangerous and illegal.

    Alongside this grand adventure run tentative steps to forge a sweeter kind of connection. The way it was built up, showing Gunnar’s gentler, caring side and Gillian being irresistibly drawn to these nuances in Gunnar’s personality, I was completely sold on their overnight romance. As much as I loved HEA, I’m glad the story didn’t push for that, instead ending with a promise of a New Year’s eve.

    This is an expanded short story of around 84 pages so it moves at break-neck speed. But even with that kind of pace, it was a well-realized world of Gatling guns, mechanical spiders, massive tanks, and attack airships. Recommended if you up for a romp in the Wild, Wild West with mysterious outlaws, maniacal engineers and badge-carrying virgin heroes welding lightning bolts.

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars โ€“ perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Lightning Riders
    Artist: AWOLNATION
    Album: Angel Miners & The Lightning Riders

    P.S.

    Posts on C.S. Poe’s works here.


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

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  • quote,  Uncategorized

    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

    You and me and everybody under the sun
    We’re lightning riders, we’re lightning riders
    We won
    You and me, and all the maniacs and outlaws
    We’re lightning riders, we’re lightning riders
    We won (two, three, four)

    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up

    And now I glow in the dark
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
    And now I glow in the dark
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

    You and me, and all your inspiration my love
    We’re lightning riders, we’re lightning riders
    We won
    You and me, and all the ninety nights and outlaws
    We’re lightning riders, we’re lightning riders
    We won

    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up

    And now I glow in the dark
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
    And now I glow in the dark
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me

    Hey, maybe I’m drowning in the stratosphere
    Swimmin’ in circles for a couple years
    Maybe I’m drowning in the stratosphere
    Swimmin’ in circles for a couple years

    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

    And now I glow in the dark
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (o-o-o-oh)
    Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
    And now I glow in the dark
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me
    I’m just blowin’ up, blowin’ up these bridges behind me, hey