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  • Home
  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
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  • MEMES+TAGS
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    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
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    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
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    • COVER REVEAL
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  • manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Karasu Otoko ni Kiotsukete

    May 21, 2022 / 1 Comment

    Karasu Otoko ni Kiotsukete – Kawai Ame

    Shiratori, a civil servant in charge of controlling the city’s crow population, was approached in the park by a handsome but suspicious-looking guy named Kuroo. As Kuroo had no address and was unemployed, Shiratori was wary of him, but somehow found himself unable to dislike him. One day, he finds out that Kuroo is actually a crow…?!

    Be Careful Of Raven Man starts with civil servant Shiratori doing his park maintenance duties. Part of this is controlling the crow population. He spies a crow being bullied by two others. He kindly reminded the crows about their precarious situation. The man tended to talk aloud to the birds. He has a soft spot for them and doesn’t want them exterminated.

    Then his watch was stolen by one of the birds. The bullied crow took after it to retrieve it. This is when Kuroo makes his appearance. He promptly latches on to Shiratori, who made it a habit to feed him because he thought Kuroo was homeless.

    Kuroo has Grell’s (Kuroshitsuji) personality. Clingy, has no concept of personal space and has no shame whatsoever declaring in his love for Shiratori. He’s quite the drama queen, employing his Oscar-winning acting skills to persuade Shiratori to declare his affection.

    He might sound like a bad person when I say it like this, but he’s actually very endearing. I never found him pushy. The poor crow is kind of a pariah in the bird community. So it’s no wonder he’s attached to the person who showed him kindness.

    The plot is pretty simple and straightforward, so you can already guess how things play out. Given that, I still loved the whole thing. This is an example of a manga that spins a cliché into a highly entertaining story. While not employing any groundbreaking twists, this little paranormal one-shot is very cute and charming.


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  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Chrysalis by S.E. Harmon

    May 21, 2022 / 2 Comments

    The Formicary: Chrysalis – S.E. Harmon

    A gunshot to the head is bad enough. Waking up with amnesia is far worse. I learn that the hard way when I wake up in the hospital, my memory practically wiped. I don’t know why someone wants me dead. Hell, I don’t even know my name. They say my name is Christian Cross. Too bad that name means nothing to me.

    I haven’t forgotten everything, though. Grayson Laurie has always been my kryptonite, and it would take more than a bullet to the brain to forget him. He assures me that I’m imagining the distance between us, but I know better. I just don’t know how to fix it. I console myself that at least I’ve reached rock bottom and things can’t get worse…until they do.

    My life is a tangled mess of lies and deceit. The more I learn about myself, the less I want to know. I want nothing more than an honest future with Gray, but the past isn’t about to let me go without a fight.

    Fortunately, I’m starting to realize that fighting is my specialty.


    To paraphrase one of the characters, amnesia is something we mostly see in Days Of Our Lives. I find this trope cheesy because of how it’s overused in soaps. But the blurb of the book immediately piqued my interest.

    Chrysalis is the first book of The Formicary duology. Christian Cross wakes up in the hospital with no memory of anything, not even his name. The only thing he remembers is the memory of Dr. Grayson Laurie, his boyfriend. The hospital staff told him he was shot in the head. Gray told Chris, the amnesiac ghosted him four years ago and that the doctor is now in another relationship. To make matters worse, some very dangerous people were after Chris, who had no idea why.

    The book follows Chris as he traces clues to his identity, fights off the bad guys and wins back the love of his life. Rather than a rebirth, as the title might suggest, this is a return to an old secret life he kept from Gray.

    The story is told from a first-person POV. One thing that stood out is that Chris is prone to unnecessary jokes that are not exactly funny or witty. The writing is fast-paced and tight enough to keep the momentum going, but Chris’ little asides don’t really add anything.

    However, there is nothing cheesy with how the amnesia trope was deployed. This is one of the better uses of the trope. It worked exceptionally well with the mystery. It is exactly as the blurb says, and I was completely hooked!

    I really enjoyed tagging along with Chris as he stumbles upon the bits and pieces of his old life. There were big hints, like the extra body parts and ninja fighting skills, that helped me suss out who or what Christian is. But even knowing that, the air of intrigue and anticipation remained high until the end. Also, despite his bad jokes, the man is an entertaining narrator.

    The second chance romance was also wonderfully executed! There’s some push and pull between the MCs because Gray was hurt, and Christian might disappear again. But Chris’ devotion to Gray was pretty obvious from the start, and it was also clear that Gray still has strong feelings for his ex. Their chemistry jumps off the page! I loved watching them find each other again and again.

    Gray’s current boyfriend is a non-entity who soon exited so there’s no cheating here. The book is not a standalone. It ends with a cliffhanger so best to have the second book on hand before starting.

    Chrysalis has mystery, action, yeah okay, maybe some humor, a couple of painful separations, and long-overdue reunions. It is about a man looking for answers. It delivers those answers in one suspenseful, gripping package. It’s not the most memorable but it’s certainly worth remembering.

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

    Soundtrack: Chrysalis
    Artist: Dianna Lopez
    Album:


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

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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Chrysalis by Dianna Lopez

    May 21, 2022 / 1 Comment

    Soundtrack to The Formicary: Chrysalis by S.E. Harmon

    Chrysalis by Dianna Lopez for a book about a man who couldn’t remember and the man he couldn’t forget.

    I run to wish upon a star
    Open my palms to feel this love
    Why won’t you just escape my dreams
    You never seem to want to leave
    But when we meet I feel real high
    Late night I swore we touched the sky
    A lonely night is all I need

    Had to die to love myself
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    I just want to remember

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  • quote,  Uncategorized
    May 21, 2022 / No Comments

    There is softness on my crown
    And freedom in my eyes
    Ancient secrets in my laugh
    A calling to remember

    I run to wish upon a star
    Open my palms to feel this love
    Why won’t you just escape my dreams
    You never seem to want to leave
    But when we meet I feel real high
    Late night I swore we touched the sky
    A lonely night is all I need

    Had to die to love myself
    Rebirth to another
    Ripping brainwash in my cells
    I just want to remember

    I run to wish upon a star
    Open my palms to feel this love
    Why won’t you just escape my dreams
    You never seem to want to leave
    But when we meet I feel real high
    Late night I swore we touched the sky
    A lonely night is all I need

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  • trailer,  Uncategorized

    MOVIE FEATURE: Bros

    May 21, 2022 / No Comments
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    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Thirst by J. Hali Steele (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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    RELEASE BLITZ: Collar Me by Colette Davison (Excerpt & Giveaway)

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Book images and promotional materials are from Goodreads or media kits provided for blog tours, cover reveals and release blitzes. Manga covers and other images are sourced through Google image search. The two dorks in the header image is from a manga by TogaQ & Kikuchi Neko. The cat logo is my own design. Reviews and other writings found in the blog are mine unless otherwise stated. All Buy Links to Amazon and Bookshop in my posts contain affiliate links.

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