• manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Itadakimasu wa Koi no Aji

    Itadakimasu wa Koi no Aji – Matsumoto Ayaka

    A high school boy’s lunchbox is filled with excitement! A BL about young love between a picky eater and a cooking fanatic!

    Mizuno, a cooking fanatic, is so preoccupied about what other people eat thate even keeps a close eye on his classmates’ lunches. He’s particularly taken aback by the picky eater, Hashimoto, and worries that someday he’ll get sick, and after a certain chain of events,
    Mizuno gets stuck with making Hashimoto’s lunches for him! At first, Mizuno isn’t crazy about the idea, but as he watches Hashimoto’s face as he eats his perfectly balanced and nutritious packed lunches with gusto, Mizuno starts to enjoy his lunch time as well…

    Roughly translating to Itadakimasu, the Taste of Love, this is a cute shout-out to good nutrition and home-cooked meals.

    Mizuno dreams of becoming a nutritionist and is quite obsessed with cooking and the benefits of healthy food. Upon learning his classmate Hashimoto, a picky eater, is not eating well due to his parents not being home all the time, he volunteers to cook for him.

    This lil grumpy/sunshine romance proved yet again the adage of winning a man’s heart through his stomach in the most adorable way possible. This one-shot also has kawaii character designs, lovingly detailed food drawings, and floofy moments that, alas, ended too quickly.

    I’m begging for more servings of fluff, food, and feels!


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  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Igni Ferroque by Ashlyn Drewek

    Tennebrose: Igni Ferroque – Ashlyn Drewek

    Despite being branded as an outcast amongst outcasts, Phelan Oliver devotes his life to helping his fellow Necromancers. But even with his vast knowledge, nothing prepares him for the day he comes face to face with a demon he didn’t summon—one who embodies everything he has been taught to hate, whose wickedness sparks sinful feelings Phelan can’t ignore no matter how much he tries.

    Taken captive by a prince of Hell, Phelan strikes a desperate bargain. In exchange for his soul’s freedom, he’ll give his captor what he wants, even if it means betraying his own family.

    But demons aren’t the only ones with secrets and Phelan’s might end up costing them both more than they’d ever imagined. 

    IGNI FERROQUE is a dark MM paranormal romance about a pious Necromancer and an incorrigible demon and what happens when their paths intersect. There’s scorching steam and brutal violence in this enemies-to-lovers tale, wrapped up with plenty of intrigue and betrayal. It is intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list of triggers can be found in the front matter of the book and at my website under Tropes & Triggers. 

    This book can be read as a standalone, but it is highly suggested to read the series in order, as the history of Winslow and its witches builds on itself with each book. 


    Igni Ferroque is a book that comes with a long list of trigger warnings: non-con, dub-con, blood play, torture, mental illness, occult practices, mentions of animal and human sacrifices, controversial commentary on religion, particularly Catholicism, and more listed in the book.

    Author Ashlyn Drewek excels at darkly delicious enemies-to-lovers romances and pulled no punches in this sequel to Malum Discordae, Book 1 of Tennebrose. I definitely enjoyed this book more than its predecessor.

    Tennebrose is a secretly magical university in Winslow, where witches trace their family histories to the past 400 years. The university is where their sons and daughters study among unaware non-magical students.

    Phelan Oliver is a necromancer from a renowned family of necromancers currently working as a research librarian at the university. The necromancers of Winslow have been systematically summoning demons listed in the Book of Lazarus, only to kill them once they appear. Phelan is one of those involved in the rituals, though his powers barely exist.

    The fun started when Demon Prince Remiel spotted him and took a liking to the necromancer. After stalking Phelan for a while, only to find out how blah the man’s life is, he whisked the necromancer to his domain in hell and had his wicked way with him.

    On her website, the author admitts that writing the non-con parts was difficult.

    “Given all the other horrible things Remiel does, why should that one thing stop him? So even though I knew some readers would hate me for it, I left my human morality at the door and wrote my demon prince as authentically as I could. Did I say it was ok? No. Does Phelan say it’s ok? No. In fact, he brings it up to Remiel on two different occasions to let him know he hasn’t forgotten. But Phelan (and I) also realized Remiel would never apologize for something he didn’t feel bad about because he doesn’t see right/wrong the same way we do. “

    And yes, Remiel is the best character here. Sardonic and sauve, he was always true to his demon nature. He was both the dastardly villain and the charming prince sweeping our boy off his feet. He resorts to torture and seduction to weaken Phelan’s resolve, he could be so amoral and cold in some situations, then be a source of comfort and subtle but heartfelt affection.

    And always, Phelan’s most fiercest protector.

    Complicated he may be, there are no doubts about his deep, unspoken feelings for the necromancer. The tender feather caresses were my favorite!

    Phelan, on the other hand, behaves as most ultra-religious MCs I’ve read. This is a man who lives like a 14th-century monk, denying himself pleasure, remaining completely celibate throughout his 30 years, and even whipping himself with those nasty whips used by flagellates.

    Initially, he proved quite resistant to Remiel’s methods of seduction because our boy is nothing if not stubborn. He even outwitted the demon prince once. At times, I wasn’t impressed with his actions and reactions, always with the woes, the blame, or begging for punishment from God because he was in complete denial of who he is

    Phelan shines best when he’s going toe to toe with demons. Our boy can be quite ballsy and surprisingly wily, outwitting yet another demon prince to save his demon prince. The necromancer even challenged the king of hell in a gutsy move that completely won me over.

    This is a long book about the ever-evolving and hella nuclear relationship between Remiel and Phelan. The sexual tension burns like the flames of hell, leaving our virgin hero scorched, conflicted, and then later, became Remiel’s most feral savior. The evolution of their romance was well-paced, convincing, and deliciously satisfying!

    Interwoven with the romance are fascinating twisty-turny threads of family secrets, dark pasts, demon wars, town conspiracies, deadly grimoires, and powerful arcane relics bestowed by God himself. Tennebrose lore was already rich and here it brought the series to another level!

    There are minor hiccups, things the editor might have missed. Like how one body part was able to reach a certain body part when they were already in a certain position. Or a couple of reactions that seemed confusing or out of character.

    Also, just a heads up if you are sensitive about religion, the story might appear to have a grim view of Catholicism and religion as a whole. This is usually voiced through Remiel, who continuously challenges Phelan to be honest with himself and embrace his true nature.

    But, however tumultuous and dark the journey is for Phelan, in the end, it’s all in God’s plan. And it was the most bombastic, genius coup de etat + coup de gras + literal deus ex machina climax, I could only shake my head in amazement!

    It turned Phelan’s world upside down and inside out, and just like that, he found his place in the grand scheme of things. I could imagine the Almighty giving Phelan and Remiel a big, cheeky wink across the cosmos.

    Igni Ferroque is a potent brew of occult and romance told with the skill of a born storyteller. Overall, unapologetically dark and incendiary!

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Sanctify
    Artist: Olly Alexander (Years & Years)
    Album: Sanctify

    P.S.

    Tennebrose books can be read as standalones but get to know the discordant town of Winslow in Malum Discordiae.


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    IGNI FERROQUEKindle I Audiobook

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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Sanctify by Olly Alexander (Years & Years)

    Soundtrack to Tennebrose: Igni Ferroque by Ashlyn Drewek

    Sanctify by Olly Alexander for a book about pain, pleasure, and love forged in the occult and the divine.

    When I pray
    When I
    When I pray

    In the night, you come to me
    ‘Cause I’m the one who knows who you are
    Ooh
    Give me your confession, saying
    Lately, life’s been tearing you apart
    Now

    Walk through the fire with you
    ‘Cause I know how it can hurt
    Being cut into and afraid

    So don’t break (break)
    Sanctify my body with pain (pain)
    Sanctify the love that you crave (crave)
    Oh, and I won’t, and I won’t, and I won’t be ashamed
    Sanctify my sins when I pray
    When I pray

  • quote,  Uncategorized

    When I pray
    When I
    When I pray

    In the night, you come to me
    ‘Cause I’m the one who knows who you are
    Ooh
    Give me your confession, saying
    Lately, life’s been tearing you apart
    Now

    Walk through the fire with you
    ‘Cause I know how it can hurt
    Being cut into and afraid

    So don’t break (break)
    Sanctify my body with pain (pain)
    Sanctify the love that you crave (crave)
    Oh, and I won’t, and I won’t, and I won’t be ashamed
    Sanctify my sins when I pray
    When I pray

    You don’t have to be straight with me
    I see what’s underneath your mask
    I’m a man like you, I breathe the rituals of the dancer’s dance
    Oh, oh

    And there’s fire in you
    And you know it’s gonna hurt, being cut into
    And afraid

    So don’t break (break)
    Sanctify my body with pain (pain)
    Sanctify the love that you crave (crave)
    Oh, and I won’t, and I won’t, and I won’t be ashamed
    Sanctify my sins when I pray
    When I pray

    You’ll find redemption when all this is through
    Father, forgive me for finding the truth
    Love takes its toll on me, I’m just like you
    Maybe it’s heavenly
    Maybe it’s heavenly

    So don’t break (break)
    Sanctify my body with pain (pain)
    Sanctify the love that you crave (crave)
    Oh, and I won’t, and I won’t, and I won’t be ashamed
    Sanctify my sins when I pray

    Sanctify my body with pain (sanctify, sanctify my sins)
    Sanctify the love that you crave (sanctify)
    Oh, and I won’t, and I won’t, and I won’t be ashamed (sanctify)
    Sanctify my sins when I pray
    When I pray
    When I pray