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    REVIEW: The Shabti by Megaera C. Lorenz

    The Shabti – Megaera C. Lorenz

    Can you flimflam a ghost?

    It’s 1934. Former medium Dashiel Quicke travels the country debunking spiritualism and false mediums while struggling to stay ahead of his ex-business partner and lover who wants him back at any cost. During a demonstration at a college campus, Dashiel meets Hermann Goschalk, an Egyptologist who’s convinced that he has a genuine haunted artifact on his hands. Certain there is a rational explanation for whatever is going on with Hermann’s relics, Dashiel would rather skip town, but soon finds himself falling for Hermann. He agrees to take a look after all and learns that something is haunting Hermann’s office indeed.

    Faced with a real ghost Dashiel is terrified, but when the haunting takes a dangerous turn, he must use the tools of the shady trade he left behind to communicate with this otherworldly spirit before his past closes in.

    For readers who enjoy A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, and Malice by Heather Walter


    I totally loved the premise of The Shabti, a historical paranormal romance by new-to-me author Megaera C. Lorenz.

    Think of The Masked Magician but for psychics! Also, a book about ancient Egypt by an actual Egyptologist!

    Dashiel Quicke is a reformed pseudo-psychic, now doing tours as a spiritualist debunker, exposing tricks used by so-called psychics. This didn’t endear him to his former group, led by his old mentor, Reverend Maude Fink. Also, a former partner, Porfirio, shot him in the leg, and Dashiel is doing all he can to avoid his old cohorts.

    In one of his shows, he met Professor Hermann Goschalk, who hired him to investigate the weird happenings surrounding an Egyptian artifact called the shabti. The shabti is that figure on the cover, and they are known to be connected to the dead.

    At first, Dashiel could explain and show that the weird occurrences resulted from mundane things, like a broken pipe or noisy radiator. Later, even more strange things happened which Dashiel and Hermann saw right in front of them, and Dashiel had no choice but to acknowledge, he was facing the real thing.

    The book is an entertaining mix of spooky and cozy. The ghostly manifestations were spine-tingling! Tried as they might to contain it, the accursed shabti could even manifest from out of a photo from a book!

    I also loved the part where Dashiel, the fake medium, had to use the skills he was taught to channel an all-too-real spirit. And I was super amused at their WTF reactions when they learned what the spirit’s millennia-old grudge was. It was stupidly petty!

    Interwoven with the horror part is the endearing friendship and romance between the two MCs. There were many warm domestic scenes, with the fat orange tabby Horatio adding his adorable self to make these moments even cuter.

    The more Dashiel spent time with Hermann, the more he couldn’t help falling for the man. Hermann is in his 50s, your quirky, bumbling professor, and a confirmed bachelor. He’s a sweet, charming man who, for some reason, sees the good in Dashiel. He had that kind of unshakeable faith in Dashiel that Dashiel couldn’t help but try to live up to.

    Dashiel is around 45 years old, cynical, and morally grey. Most of his life was spent playing the medium with his partner and ex, Porfirio. Our formerly dastardly con man wants to start over and live a normal, honest life, but ghosts from the past started coming after him, trying to drag him back to the fold.

    I loved both MCs! Dashiel, in his 3rd person POV, was a compelling narrator, and I just adore Hermann! Extra points for the older MCs.

    The pacing isn’t consistent, and the plot could have been shorter (we could do without Dashiel’s half-baked plans to run away), but overall, it’s still an engaging book. The writing had a spark of humor, rich Egyptian lore, and an immersive atmosphere.

    If it wasn’t mentioned in the blurb that this is set in 1934, I would have a hard time pining down the era. The time-markers used, like certain political movements, Hollywood actors, and sports personalities, might not be familiar to a non-American audience a.k.a. I was too lazy to Google.

    The climax is a bombastic showstopper of a seance! The author pulled no punches when she wrote the scenes, cleverly incorporating Dashiel’s debunking with his parlor tricks, portraying the horror of spirit possession and the resulting chaos and mayhem when everyone realized they had an actual spirit in their midst.

    It went on for a tad too long but it was one of the most fun and satisfying climactic scenes I’ve read! The letter Hermann wrote to trigger the spirit was as ridiculous as the spirit’s grudge. I can’t believe Porfirio’s damned boots were part of it!

    The Shabti is a story of ghosts and redemption. A fabulous blend of Egyptology, queer romance and horror, it as scary and thrilling as it is sweet and cozy!

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

    Soundtrack: Spirits
    Artist: The Strumbellas
    Album: Hope


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    REVIEW: Midnight Companion by Kit Barrie

    Midnight Companion – Kit Barrie

    The horseman comes for you.

    Traveling schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, doesn’t believe the rumors about witches and spirits haunting the idyllic village of Sleepy Hollow. The townsfolk, led by the rich Van Tassel family, are friendly and welcoming to strangers. On Halloween night, Ichabod is caught in the clutches of a frightening specter. But the Headless Horseman is not the devil he has been led to believe, and Ichabod finds himself falling for the lonely spirit.

    All is not as it seems in Sleepy Hollow. Something besides the Horseman prowls the secluded woods. Upon learning the disturbing truth, Ichabod is determined to free the village from its evil curse. But, more importantly, he is determined to save the Horseman he has given his heart to, even if he loses his head in the process.

    Midnight Companion is an M/M retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.


    The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving was brought to life in the quirky supernatural gothic horror movie starring Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, Christina Ricci as the ethereal Katrina Van Tassel, and Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman. I’ve seen it countless times and still never get tired.

    Midnight Companion by Kit Barrie is a retelling written in pitch-perfect gothic tones that captures all the wonderfully eerie scenes and gives it an unexpectedly endearing romantic twist by casting the Headless Horseman as a romantic lead.

    The world-building is fabulous, easily conjuring images of an idyllic village suspended in time surrounded by dark, forbidding woods and the unsettling air of wrongness hidden in the smiles and welcomes.

    The story opens with Ichabod Crane, a traveling schoolmaster, about to move to the next town up north after finishing his stint in the current one. The kind folks warned him against moving farther up north to Sleepy Hollow as people who ventured there were never heard from again.

    Being of rational, scientific inclinations and not a believer of superstitions, Ichabod proceeded to Sleepy Hollow and was welcomed with open arms, particularly by the prominent Van Tassel family. Katrina Van Tassel took a liking to Ichabod and personally invited him to the Harvest Party in her house.

    That was when things went awry for Ichabod, and he found himself cursed, hunted by mysterious entities, and rescued by the Headless Horseman. The same Headless Horseman the villagers said to have murdered anyone who ventured into the woods.

    This is the first time I’ve encountered the Headless Horseman as the love interest. He’s the opposite of the one portrayed in the movie. As far as supernatural boyfriends go, Reiter, as Ichabod named him, is a complete gentleman, a devoted protector, and a patient lover to our virgin boy, Ichabod (some novel logistics here). A total sweetheart!

    Reiter is cursed to remain as a headless spirit in a solitary existence. He was the first victim of the witch, and throughout the century, he tried helping other victims who didn’t survive. When it was Ichabod’s turn, he felt a pull towards the schoolmaster and had to protect him.

    Ichabod is the same quirky, likable character as in the movie. The story is in his POV, and his thoughts reflect a logical mind, a kind heart, and a passion for helping others. He understandably freaked out during his first encounter with Reiter but quickly realized the Horseman meant no harm.

    And because he’s that kind of person, he befriended the lonely spirit and soon found himself falling for the Headless Horseman’s understated charms. The romance is sweet and beautiful, the beam of light piercing through the gloom and doom cycle of deaths and curses.

    My favorite part is Reiter letting Ichabod hold his head when they’re out and about, a sign of complete trust that warms my heart.

    Together, Reiter and Ichabod worked to break the curse. It was a suspenseful race against time and an entire village. The story had me riveted from start to finish. I wanted more!

    Two things, though. First, Ichabod’s hissy fit when Reiter told him the truth about the witch didn’t impress me. The dork had to be rescued again.

    Second, Ichabod had to search for a key item to break Reiter’s curse. He actually found it, but I must have missed something because I was confused as heck why Ichabod just left it in its hiding place. Then they waited until the next Harvest Party to act. Couldn’t they grab the item sooner?

    Overall, Midnight Companion did a spectacular job reworking a beloved Halloween tale into a seamless blend of sweet romance and spooky adventure. Also, a reminder to keep your head in the game when your heart is on the line.

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

    Soundtrack: Spellbound
    Artist: Ghostly Kisses
    Album: The City Holds My Heart


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    REVIEW: Whispers In The Dark by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne

    Black Oasis: Whispers In The Dark – Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne

    You never know what’s hiding under your bed…

    At twenty-four, Cody has already lost hope of having a life of his own. All his time is spent playing nurse to a dying, spiteful step-father and maid to his bully half-brother. His only escapes are playing his favorite online fantasy game, Black Oasis, and talking to the strange, unearthly presence under his bed that may or may not actually exist.

    But everything changes when his nightly visitor, who introduces himself as Nor, starts talking back.

    As their connection deepens, Nor invites Cody into the surreal world existing just beyond his nightmares, filled with haughty demons, passion-killing pet bugs named Gef, and a dark landscape that is oddly familiar. With his sweet but monstrous companion by his side, Cody might finally gain the life of freedom and adventure that he’s always wanted.

    Join Nor and Cody as they unearth the true meaning of hope, passion, and a love of endless depths that spans between worlds in Whispers in the Dark, the first book in Knight and Mayne’s co-authored queer, monster romance series, Black Oasis.

    Whispers in the Dark is an M/M monster romance full of hurt/comfort, angst, humor, and a sweet, spicy love between a redheaded Texan and his precious, six-fingered Deepdweller. This love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Be sure to check the Trigger Warnings at the beginning of the book for more details.


    I swear, this book was inspired by that cute meme where an anxious sleeper sought comfort by holding the hand of the creature under their bed.

    Whispers in the Dark is the opener of Nikole Knight and Lily Mayne‘s monster romance series, Black Oasis. Downtrodden Cody, whose diabetic father hated him for being queer as much as he depended on him for his basic needs, and whose half-brother bullied him as much as he leered at him, discovered a sleep demon nesting under his bed.

    Nor, a gigantic, six-fingered creature with dark, leathery skin and a tail, is protective of the young man he followed from dream to this world. Sensing that the unseen demon meant no harm to him, Cody started sharing everything from random things to his most embarrassing secrets.

    Soon the two became friends and Nor became comfortable enough to come out from under the bed. These interactions were Cody’s only solace from a life of drudgery and abuse. Until one day, things took a turn for the worst and Cody and Nor had to get away from this world fast.

    Both MCs were endearing and very likable. It’s hard not to root for Cody, even though I wished he would just walk out of his toxic family. Our boy’s trying. Nor was a surprise! He was this big scary claws and teeth sleep monster ready to rip anyone who’d dare harm his little rabbit, Cody. He kept his mystique until they’re back in his world, and he turned out to be a himbo! I loved this big dork!

    Admittedly, I was underwhelmed. This story badly needed an adventure or a quest. Half of the plot takes place mostly in Cody’s bedroom while the rest happens in Nor’s world. There’s a “nothing going on” feel to it.

    The bedroom scenes were pretty much standard human meets scary monster, scary monster becomes boyfriend. Cody and Nor kept the momentum going despite oft-repeated scenarios. Their dynamic was sweet and accepting. Together they kept me thoroughly invested in the book.

    Cody’s jaunts to Nor’s world and then his permanent stay felt like missed opportunities to explore and create more action-centric scenes. Instead, the two mostly holed up in Nor’s hovel playing house a.k.a. fuck, which wasn’t very exciting.

    My itch to explore Nor’s world is because of this huge but semi-low-key mystery the authors threw in. Black Oasis, the online game Cody played looked eerily similar to Nor’s world. This was mentioned a couple of times and then left by the wayside. Argh!

    World-building wasn’t very detailed but it reminded me of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous. I imagined it’s set before the interdimensional rift of Monstrous happened and the game Black Oasis somehow caused it. It would be awesome if these series are related, they have a lot in common.

    I’m sure answers will be revealed as the series progresses. Still, would be nice if we got more clues.

    My favorite parts are Cody’s interactions with Lau, Nor’s best friend and self-proclaimed smartest creature in their world. Nor, bless this lovable himbo demon, whole-hearted believes that, much to Cody’s exasperation.

    Cody and Lau love pushing each other buttons and these are the funniest scenes. Cody knows the demon is a blow-hard and feels protective of Nor. Lau loudly declares he hates humans and feels protective of his best friend.

    The cocky demon is made for an enemies-to-lovers romance because we all know he has it bad for a human. Who? I’m dying to find out.

    Whispers in the Dark is a sweet slow-burn romance about finding solace and acceptance in unlikely places. While it may lack some elements, overall, it is as heartwarming as the strange comfort of holding the hand of the monster under the bed.

    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Monster (Under My Bed)
    Artist: Call Me Karizma
    Album: The Gloomy Tapes Vol. 2


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    REVIEW: You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

    Midcentury NYC: You Should Be So Lucky – Cat Sebastian

    An emotional, slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, queer mid-century romance about grief and found family, between the new star shortstop stuck in a batting slump and the reporter assigned to (reluctantly) cover his first season—set in the same universe as We Could Be So Good.

    The 1960 baseball season is shaping up to be the worst year of Eddie O’Leary’s life. He can’t manage to hit the ball, his new teammates hate him, he’s living out of a suitcase, and he’s homesick. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he’s ready to call it quits. He can barely manage to behave himself for the length of a game, let alone an entire season. But he’s already on thin ice, so he has no choice but to agree.

    Mark Bailey is not a sports reporter. He writes for the arts page, and these days he’s barely even managing to do that much. He’s had a rough year and just wants to be left alone in his too-empty apartment, mourning a partner he’d never been able to be public about. The last thing he needs is to spend a season writing about New York’s obnoxious new shortstop in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers.

    Isolated together within the crush of an anonymous city, these two lonely souls orbit each other as they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attraction. But Mark has vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret ever again, and Eddie can’t be out as a professional athlete. It’s just them against the world, and they’ll both have to decide if that’s enough.


    You Should Be So Lucky is the second book of Midcentury NYC, a historical series by Cat Sebastian about queer newspaper reporters in 1960s New York City. The story stars Mark Bailey, whom we met in We Could Be So Good as the book reviewer and Nick Russo’s sorta friend.

    Mark, outta sorts since the loss of longtime boyfriend William, was voluntold by the publisher and Nick’s boyfriend, Andy Fleming III, to write a series of diary-like columns on Eddie O’Leary, the golden boy recently traded to the newly formed baseball team, The Robins.

    Mark is essentially, a grieving widower. He and William were married in all but the law. William was a lawyer. He left Mark a sizable fortune, a huge apartment full of antiques, and a spoiled diva of a dog, Lula.

    Now in the worst slump of his life, Eddie is given the cold shoulder by his entire team and boo-ed by fans for his outrageous rants against the perpetually losing Robins when he was about to be traded. While he may be hot-tempered at times, this baseball player is also a ball of good cheer and contagious smiles.

    Eddie’s skeptical about Mark’s column but as one of those see-ers of good in people, it wasn’t long until he trusted the reporter. It also didn’t hurt that Mark looked delectable in his suits and that the diary entries weren’t what he expected.

    This is a story about a talented pro-athlete in a slump and I just realized as I was writing this, that Mark was also in a slump. I loved the author’s take on the theme. There are no miracle cures, no insta-power-ups, and no sudden heroes. Just Eddie, being a poster boy for slumps but in a good way. Because even golden boys have slumps, just like the rest of us.

    Mark is slowly finding inspiration to write again the more he spends time with Eddie and the Robins. Sometimes it’s a matter of how you look at things. Mark realizes that there’s more to the story than Eddie O’Leary.

    He finds other topics, such as the unexpected appeal of the Robins. There’s also an unlikely second chance in the team’s notorious coach, a former baseball superstar now a drunkard and a womanizer.

    Meanwhile, Eddie grits his teeth and keeps at it until he is lucky to get a hit or two. The man was floundering but slowly won over his team. And they pitched in to help his batting skills. Like Mark, Eddie discovers the hidden depths of his notorious coach, a method to his madness.

    There’s a lovely found family here, not only for the queers but for their allies. One of the most touching parts is Mark and his friendship with elderly reporter George Allen.

    There’s a low thrum of grief in the story and many small joys scattered throughout. We have a wonderful friendship-turned-romantic-relationship between Mark and Eddie and an adorkable ray of sunshine in Eddie, whose wholesomeness and joy radiate happy vibes off the page. Grumpy Mark didn’t stand a chance!

    But the book also suffered the same complaints as We Could Be So Good. The damned thing was so sloooow! I felt every drag of the molasses-slow pacing, it became a chore to read. And like its predecessor, there’s a lot of nothing going on. Sure, I sang praises earlier, but it took a god-awfully loooong time to get to those points. And it is repetitive, too.

    I love slow-burn romance, but better make sure the rest of the book isn’t dragging its feet, too.

    You Should Be So Lucky is a story of second chances, a celebration of baseball, and an appreciation for suits. It’s very much YMMV, so I still encourage everyone to grab it. Overall, an inspiring sports romance brimming with optimism and healing that falls between like and love.

    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Lucky You
    Artist: Lightning Seeds
    Album: Jollification

    P.S.

    Midcentury NYC books are interconnected but We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky can be read as a standalones.


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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, it’s more like a recurring nightmare where dreams get c*ckblocked at every turn.

    Especially if you’re a supervillain like me.

    The irony is that I have zero powers, despite coming from purebred villain stock, but try telling that to Big City’s beloved hero, Captain Masculine.

    This himbo is ruining my research, and if his firepower doesn’t kill me, the sight of him in Lycra surely will. Luckily—or unluckily, in my opinion—my bestie just signed me up for the Bangers dating app and found my perfect match.

    If this isn’t the start of my villain arc, I don’t know what is.

    Butch

    It’s hard feeling like I have to wear a mask every day—that 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 City’s 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.

    I’ve seen countless villains come and go, but something about Antihero intrigues me more than the usual hero-villain encounters should.

    It’s 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 me—the man behind the mask.

    But that’s a luxury no superhero can afford.

    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 kid’s 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.

    *FULL LIST OF Content & TWs can be found in the front of the book and at c-rochelle[dot]com*

    CONTENT & TROPES:
    • MM romance
    • Dual POV
    • Superheroes/villains
    • Grumpy/sunshine
    • Star-crossed lovers + fated mates
    • Lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers (yup)
    • Hurt/comfort + found family
    • D/s dynamic that’s more bedroom than lifestyle
    • MM romance (in case you missed that part)
    • Plus suspenseful plot + save-the-world epicness for pizazz

    POTENTIAL TRIGGERS:
    • Sweary dialogue
    • Naughty irreverent humor
    • Extremely morally gray characters with moments of psychotic ideation
    • Extra spicy extracurricular activities (see inside book and c-rochelle[dot]com for specifics)
    • Minor gore in villain lair and during hero/villain battle scenes
    • Controlling + neglectful parents with some physical (superpowered) abuse
    • Lack of autonomy + indentured servitude
    • Restraints (not the fun kind)
    • Detailed descriptions of humans’ 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 – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Villain
    Artist: Ado
    Album: Ado’s Mitattemita Album


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