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MANGA: Ushimitsu Dokidoki Koshotentan
Ushimitsu Dokidoki Koshotentan – Tacocasi
Komiya is a struggling grad student trying to make ends meet. He meets Youzou Nishi, owner of the Nishi Bookstore, while searching for an affordable room and board, which the latter had advertised in exchange for looking after the bookstore occasionally. After living a month with Youzou, Komiya is smitten. But Youzou is a great mystery. Apart from managing a bookstore, he also has another job that Komiya doesn’t know much about, except that Youzou’s clients all seem otherworldly. Komiya doesn’t think about it much until an earthquake and rejuvenation water turns Youzou into a child. As it turns out, Youzou also runs a pawn shop of holy miracles for gods. (Source: futekiya)
Since the release ofย Nidaime Jiguko Brothers,ย Tacocasiย has become an instant favorite. Their stories are of a paranormal bent, featuring various gods and demons.
The Story of Ushimitsu Dokidokidoki Secondhand Bookshopย orย Midnight Bookstoreย is another delightful offering following the same theme. It combines magic, romance, and mystery.
Forty-something Youzou is a secondhand bookstore owner who moonlights as a trader of magical contracts, deals, and items. He offered board and lodging to a struggling grad student Komiya, who it turned out had been crushing on the spectacularly oblivious older man.
A magical accident caused Youzou to turn into his child-like form and needed Komiya’s helpย going aboutย his business. He goes from child to adult and back at certain hours, which can be tricky and/or awkward. Also, they need to findย certainย deities to help Youzou return to his adult form permanently. Cue the quirky supernatural side characters.
The setting is a university town near the mountains. It hasย the slowย living idyll, quaint houses, and old neglected shrines. It’s a place that makes it easy to believe in the supernatural. It reminded me of our overnightย trip to the mountainsย to stay with an indigenous tribe. Boy had they a million stories to tell of their paranormal encounters!
The neglected shrines connect to how the gods and goddesses of certain shrines had to hustle to keep their homes going. It brought the gods more in touch with human business. For instance, the goddess of fire is in charge of a famous hot springs and makes ink that she sells. The deities then secretly put the money in the donation boxes.
The setting is just one of the charms. The manga also gives us a slow burn, understated, cozy romance. While it seemed mostly one-sided as seen from Komiya’s POV, and Youzou has one heck of a poker face, it is not angsty but focuses on Komiya’s joy of being able toย take care ofย Youzou, both in his child and adult form.
It also has a rather practical approach, with Youzou explaining his inconvenient position that would make dating him impossible. Then, the disarming poker-faced man declared he was not discouraging Komiya from kissing or hugging him. What is our boy toย do,ย but not waste any chances and jump headfirst into the fire…
Despite the stakesย involvedย andย theย external conflicts, I loved how the story has Youzou’s chill vibe all over it.ย It’s wholesome and adorable but not overly cutesyย or fluffyย or anything extreme.ย It’s amusing without going over the top.ย Overall, a gently compelling story where the heart goes doki doki.
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REVIEW: Not All Himbos Wear Capes by C. Rochelle
Villainous Things: Not All Himbos Wear Capes – C. Rochelle
PLEASE NOTE: Full list of Content & TWs can be found in the front of the book and at c-rochelle[dot]com.
Xander
Big City is supposedly the place where dreams come true. As someone just trying to live my life, I can tell you, itโs more like a recurring nightmare where dreams get c*ckblocked at every turn.
Especially if youโre a supervillain like me.
The irony is that I have zero powers, despite coming from purebred villain stock, but try telling that to Big Cityโs beloved hero, Captain Masculine.
This himbo is ruining my research, and if his firepower doesnโt kill me, the sight of him in Lycra surely will. Luckilyโor unluckily, in my opinionโmy bestie just signed me up for the Bangers dating app and found my perfect match.
If this isnโt the start of my villain arc, I donโt know what is.
Butch
Itโs hard feeling like I have to wear a mask every dayโthat the only value I bring to the table is the sparkling image others have created for me.
Such is the life of being Captain Masculine, Big Cityโs greatest superhero. This is the existence I was destined for, and I will gladly defend this city against every threat to its people.
Except Doctor Antihero.
Iโve seen countless villains come and go, but something about Antihero intrigues me more than the usual hero-villain encounters should.
Itโs because of him that I impulsively signed up for a dating app, hoping a meaningless fling with a local normie will help get my head back in the game. The truth is, what I really want is someone who sees meโthe man behind the mask.
But thatโs a luxury no superhero can afford.
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Not All Himbos Wear Capes is an MM romance between a superhero and a villain. Our men find other men in tight supersuits incredibly attractive. Sometimes, they keep these supersuits on while engaging in explicit extracurricular activities with each other (and sometimes they even use bad words!).
This is not your kidโs superhero book. This is Sin City and The Boys having a love child with extra spicy Spideypool and is meant for 18+ adults who can handle such things.
The Villainous Things series contains standalone books (each with HEAs) that feature interconnected characters and an overarching plot.
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*FULL LIST OF Content & TWs can be found in the front of the book and at c-rochelle[dot]com*
CONTENT & TROPES:
โข MM romance
โข Dual POV
โข Superheroes/villains
โข Grumpy/sunshine
โข Star-crossed lovers + fated mates
โข Lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers (yup)
โข Hurt/comfort + found family
โข D/s dynamic that’s more bedroom than lifestyle
โข MM romance (in case you missed that part)
โข Plus suspenseful plot + save-the-world epicness for pizazzPOTENTIAL TRIGGERS:
โข Sweary dialogue
โข Naughty irreverent humor
โข Extremely morally gray characters with moments of psychotic ideation
โข Extra spicy extracurricular activities (see inside book and c-rochelle[dot]com for specifics)
โข Minor gore in villain lair and during hero/villain battle scenes
โข Controlling + neglectful parents with some physical (superpowered) abuse
โข Lack of autonomy + indentured servitude
โข Restraints (not the fun kind)
โข Detailed descriptions of humansโ negative effects on coastal wildlife (specifically with pollution and including a seagull autopsy with details of the contents of its stomach)
Heroism and villainy as a matter of perspective, or in this case, a matter of signing the contract, is a frequently explored theme in superhero stories.
Villainous Things, by C. Rochelle, is another take on the subject. The series opens with Not All Himbos Wear Capes, an enemies-to-lovers secret romance between Big City’s golden boy, the cheese-tastically named Captain Masculine, and Doctor Antihero, a member of the infamous villain clan, the Suarez family.
The world here is divided between normies and supes. The supes are considered different species and shouldn’t procreate with normies because their abilities might harm ordinary humans. They are expected to form strategic alliances with other prominent supe families to create more supes.
The supes are further divided between superheroes and supervillains. The heroes are backed by the government and signed contracts to protect the city from the bad guys.
Cap Masculine and Doc Antihero first met as Butch and Xander via an online dating app. They immediately hit it off on their first date. Still clueless of each other’s alter egos, they continued dating until things became serious between them.
Then Xander invited Butch to meet his family. Only for Butch to realize Xander is from the notorious Suarez clan, having recognized his sister as Ultraviolent, and his mother as Glacial Girl. Xander still remained the clueless loving boyfriend, while Butch tries to find the right time to tell him.
Also, his family has arranged for him to marry a girl from another famous superhero clan, treating Butch as nothing more than a breeding stud. His entire life has been mapped out since birth and Butch is used to following orders.
The plot starts simple enough as a secret identity romance, where the supposed villain shows his caring side and the hero discovers his kinkier desires. There’s also a grumpy/sunshine aspect, Xander being the growly top and Butch as the sunshiny himbo.
I’m not a fan of the romance because it’s mostly boring daddy/boy foreplay with cringy dirty talk. Outside the bedroom, they were okay, mostly just there as eyes to see the world through. In short, I don’t care for the MCs. I just like the things happening around them.
Because bigger things are happening than just a forbidden love affair. Cap Masculine’s blinders fell off, and he took a stand against the indentured servitude his famous superhero parents signed him in when he was born. As they and the rest of the superheroes have signed such contracts.
At this point, the plot became a convoluted game of political machinations, supe rights, family upheaval, and unlikely allies where power is challenged, and murders are committed to maintain the status quo.
I wished the Saurezes came on page much earlier because they were the more interesting characters. Xander has a complicated relationship with his family. He says they’re all psychopaths and stays away from their house. They appeared halfway in the story, and made things a hell of a lot more chaotic and exciting.
Apocalypto and Glacial Girl have five known children, Violencia, Wolfgang, Baltazar and twins, Gabriel and Andre. Xander is the secret baby because he didn’t show any superpowers. His high IQ gave him multiple PhDs and nifty inventions, which he used to save the ocean. These inventions were hijacked by his evil dad into dastardly gadgets.
Wolfgang, a.k.a. Hand of Death, practically stole the show, when he made his move to secure the Suarez family. One of the most powerful villains and a sly psycho who will protect his family at all costs, but is also surprisingly vulnerable, he’s my favorite character and happily, his book is next.
The rest of the books feature the male siblings and continue the overarching plot so the books must be read in order.
At first blush, Not All Himbos Wear Capes is a fun, raunchy take on the superhero trope. Then it goes grey and gritty the more we know about Big City and its secrets.
While not really saying anything new about heroism and villainy, it still gave us an intriguing world that is fun to explore through the eyes of its superheroes and villains. Overall, heroically kinky, villainously wears its heart on its sleeve.
Rating:
4 Stars โ minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Villain
Artist: Ado
Album: Ado’s Mitattemita Album
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NOT ALL HIMBOS WEAR CAPES: Kindle | Audiobook
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SOUNDTRACK: Villain by Ado
Soundtrack to Villainous Things: Not All Himbos Wear Capes by C. Rochelle
Villain by Ado for a book about forbidden relationships, embracing one’s true identity, and freedom from societal pressures.
Iโm sure we freak them out just by holding hands
Youโre reported when you opt out of the โrat raceโ
Iโm not a mutant; Iโm just me
Whether thatโs X or YStubborn people hoard many goods and evils
They say Iโm โinfringingโ upon you
OhโฆMr. Crazy Villain Villain
Nocturnal petals
I wear different clothes and pretend to be a boy in front of you
Dear Dr. Duran Duran
Please come pick me up
To someone I donโt even know, Iโm already a villainMy hated life
My hated life
Eventually becomes inflamะตdI cover up my deviant nature again
A stamะตn and stamen wonโt get anywhere? -
ใใฃใจๆใ็นใใ ใใงใพใใจใใใ
้ฆฌ้นฟใใ็ซถไบ ไธๆใใใ้ๅ ฑใใใ
็ช็ถๅค็ฐ ใใใชใ ใใ ใฎๅใ
X ใจใ Yใจใในใ่ซ่ ๆงใฏๅๆชๅค้ ญ้ฃผใ
ๅใๅใ “ไพตๅฎณ” ใใใฃใฆ่จใใตใใใฆใOh, Mr. Crazy Villain, Villain
ๅค่กๆงใฎ่ฑๅผ
้ใๆ็ใฆๅใฎๅใงใฏ็ทๅญใฎใใชใใ
ๆๅ Dr. Duran, Duran
่ฟใใซใใฆไธใใ
้กใ็ฅใใชใ่ชฐใใซใจใฃใฆๅใฏใใใดใฃใฉใณใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
ใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
ใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
ใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
่่ใฉใคใ
่่ใฉใคใ
ๆๅฅใฎ็ณ็้ธ่ฑใฎๆง ใใพใใฒใ้ ใ
้่ใจ้่ใใ็ซใก่กใใชใใฎ๏ผ
ใญใ็ฅใฃใฆใใฎใไนฑๆญฉใจใใไฝๅฎถใฎใใจใ
Import you, import you
้ ่ฑใๆใฆใฏๅฎใ็ตใถใถใใฃใฆใใใใญใผใ ๅค็จฎๅคๆงใฎๆง
ๆใใๅใใ่ฉฑใใใใฃใใใผใฉใใณ่ณชใฎ
ใใง๏ผใMr. Crazy Villain, Villain
ๅฏ่ฝๆงใซๅนธใใ
ๅใฎใใผใ๏ผLDK ๅซๅฆฌใใใใฏใใใฆใ
Hi there ใขใใใผ YOLO, YOLO
ๅพฎ็ฑๆใงใใใฎใซ
่ชฐใ็ฅใใชใ ็ฅใใใใใชใ็ฎ่ใฎไธ็ด ๆดใใใๆชๅ ๅ ฑใซๆงใใๅ
้ชจใพใงๆผใๅใฃใฆใใๆช่พฃใซ
ๆฎ้ ทใช็บใปใฉ็ถบ้บใช่นใ็ซใค
็ฅ้ๅบๅใซ่ธใใใใไฝใฎๆOh, Mr. Crazy Villain, Villain
ๅค่กๆงใฎ่ฑๅผ
้ใๆ็ใฆๅใฎๅใงใฏ็ทๅญใฎใใชใ๏ผ
ๆๅ Dr. Duran, Duran
ใใใ ใ
้กใ็ฅใใชใ่ชฐใใซใจใฃใฆๅใฏใใใดใฃใฉใณใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
ใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
ใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
ใดใฃใฉใณ ใดใฃใฉใณ
่่ใฉใคใ
่่ใฉใคใ
ๆๅฅใฎๆใฆใฎ็ณ็I’m sure we freak them out just by holding hands
You’re reported when you opt out of the “rat race”
I’m not a mutant; I’m just me
Whether that’s X or YStubbornย people hoard many goods and evils
They say I’m “infringing” upon you
Oh…Mr. Crazy Villain Villain
Nocturnal petals
I wear different clothes and pretend to be a boy in front of you
Dearย Dr. Duran Duran
Please come pick me up
To someone I don’t even know, I’m already a villainMy hated life
My hated life
Eventually becomes inflamะตdI cover up my deviant nature again
A stamะตn and stamen won’t get anywhere?
Hey, you knowย a writer named Ranpo?ย Import you
Someday, even artificial flowers will bear fruitDon’t be so scared; there’s a wide variety of genders
Let’s talk about gelatinous things, like lovely things and sad things
“So what?”Mr. Crazy Villain Villain
May you be happy with the possibilities
My heart’s an 1LDK apartment, let me be jealous at the very least
Hi there!ย My motto is YOLO
I just need a little love
No one knows, I don’t want anyone to know
What’s under my skinThis is a song dedicated to the great villains
Act the part to the very bone, viciously
The more cruel a town, the more beautiful its rainbow
Dancing on obscene ads, it’s a pop font loveOh Mr. Crazy Villain Villain
Nocturnal petals
Wearing different clothes, I pretend to be a boy in front of you!
Dear Dr. Duran Duran
I’m here!
To someone I don’t even know, I’m already a villainMy hated life
My hated life
In the end becomes inflamedKitto te o tsunagu dake de zotto sareru
Ratto reesu ichinuketara tsuuhou sareru
Myuutanto ja nai tada no boku sa
X toka Y tokaBeki ronja-sama wa zen’aku tatougai
Boku ga kimi o “shingai” suru tte iifurashiteru
Oh…Mr. Crazy Villain Villain
Yakousei no hanabira
Chigau fuku kite kimi no mae de wa danshi no furi suru
Haikei Dr. Duran Duran
Mukae ni kite kudasai
Kao mo shiranai dareka ni totte boku wa mou viranDakatsu raifu
Dakatsu raifu
Ageku no biranItsudatsu no saga o mata hitakakusu
Oshibe to oshibe ja tachiyukanai no?
Nee shitten no ka ranpo to iu sakka no koto o Import you
Zouka mo hate wa mi o musubuโyes, and?
Burutten ja nee yo tashu tayou no sei
Kanashii kanashii hanashi o shiyou kka zerachinshitsu no
“de?”Mr. Crazy Villain Villain
Kanousei ni sachi are
Boku no haato 1LDK shitto kurai wa sasete yo
Hi there mottoo YOLO
Binetsu ai de ii noni
Dare mo shiranai shiraretakunai
Hifu no shitaSubarashiki akutou-domo ni sasageru uta
Hone made enjikittะต yare akuratsu ni
Zankoku na machi hodo kirei na niji ga tatsu
Waizatsu koukoku ni odoru popputai no aiOh Mr. Crazy Villain Villain
Yakousei no hanabira
Chigau fuku kitะต kimi no mae de wa danshi no furi o!
Haikei Dr. Duran Duran
Koko da yo
Kao mo shiranai dareka ni totte boku wa mou viranDakatsu raifu
Dakatsu raifu
Ageku no hate no biran -
MOVIE FEATURE: The Trace of Your Lips (La Huella de Unos Labios)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Elite Connections: An LGBTQ Charity Anthology
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COVER REVEAL: Burning The Midnight Oil by Ashley James
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SERIES TOUR: The Christopher Books by Stephen G. Hardy (Excerpt + Q&A with Author)