Never Hollowed By The Stare

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Never Hollowed By The Stare
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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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    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • TAGS
    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
  • TOURS & BLITZES
    • COVER REVEAL
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  • Uncategorized

    One Line Reviews Of Some Books I Read This Year (January – June 2023)

    June 27, 2023 / No Comments

    This is a round up of the books I read on the 1st half of this year that I’m too lazy to do a full review.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BLOG TOUR: Sparks in the Dark by James Siewert (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    October 22, 2022

    BLOG TOUR: The Househusband’s Guide to Domestic Bliss by Lance Lansdale (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    April 19, 2024

    COVER REVEAL: Real Risk by Elle Keaton (Giveaway)

    February 24, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    MY TOP 10 READS OF 2022

    December 31, 2022 / 1 Comment
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS OF 2023

    December 30, 2023

    COVER REVEAL: Gay All Year by Richard May

    August 3, 2020

    MUSIC MONDAY: Hot Tea & Make Of It by Half Alive

    November 29, 2021
  • Uncategorized

    One Line Reviews Of Some Books I Read This Year (September – December 2022)

    December 28, 2022 / No Comments

    This is a round up of the books I read on the 4rd quarter of this year that I’m too lazy to do a full review.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BLOG TOUR: Ryld’s Shadows by Bellora Quinn & Angel Martinez (Excerpt & Giveaway + Q&A with Author)

    March 8, 2022

    PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (May 20, 2020)

    May 20, 2020

    RELEASE BLITZ: Angel by Linden Bell (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 14, 2024
  • Uncategorized

    One Line Reviews Of Some Books I Read This Year (July – August 2022)

    December 20, 2022 / No Comments

    This is a round up of the books I read on the 3rd quarter of this year that I’m too lazy to do a full review.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    NEW RELEASE: For Your Heart by Crea Reitan

    September 7, 2023

    FLICKer: I Quit

    July 14, 2022

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Karma’s Kiss by M.C. Roth (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    April 27, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(July 20, 2022)

    July 20, 2022 / 1 Comment

    Here are the rules:

    Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    RELEASE BLITZ: For the Show by Katie Van Brunt

    March 1, 2025

    BLOG TOUR: Claim Me, Love Me by Jaiyde Thomas (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 23, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Depths Of Time by Lori Fayre (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    September 8, 2021
  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(June 29, 2022)

    June 29, 2022 / 1 Comment

    Here are the rules:

    Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: His Dark Reflection by Heloise West (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 2, 2020

    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Our First Time (Hello, Goodbye)

    February 9, 2020

    PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (October 21, 2020)

    October 21, 2020
  • book,  Uncategorized

    SERIES REVIEW: Panopolis Books 1 & 2 by Cari Z

    June 24, 2022 / 3 Comments
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 25369553.jpg

    Panopolis: Where There’s Smoke – Cari Z

    Panopolis is a rough place to be an average Joe. I came here looking for adventure and excitement, but nobody cares about one more normal guy in a city filled with super-powered heroes. The closest I’ve come to glory is working in a bank that villains often rob.

    But then I maybe accidentally-on-purpose helped a villain escape the hero who was trying to save the day. Imagine my shock when, a week later, that villain asked me out for coffee. One date turned into more, and now I’m head over heels in love with Raul.

    Falling in love with the guy dubbed the Mad Bombardier isn’t without its downsides, though. I’ve had to deal with near-death encounters with other villains, awkwardly flirtatious heroes who won’t take no for an answer, and a lover I’m not sure I can trust. It’s getting to the point where I know I’ll have to make a choice: side with the heroes, or stand fast by my villain.

    Either way, I think my days as a normal guy are over.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 25414079.jpg

    Panopolis: Where There’s Fire – Cari Z

    Making a name for myself as a Villain in Panopolis is hard work. Six months ago, my boyfriend broke me out of jail. Now he’s spending most of his time defending our turf against other Villains he accidentally freed along with me. And my new psychic powers are not only impossible to control, but they’re also giving me migraines.

    But it’s not all doom and gloom. My skills are improving every day, and Raul—aka the Mad Bombardier—and I have never been happier. That is, until my first solo job is interrupted by a mysterious woman who tells me that Raul has been kidnapped by a ruthless new Villain. The only way to free him is to do a job for Maggot, a man with scary ideas and an even scarier superpower.

    I can’t go to the cops or a Hero for help. Odds are they wouldn’t listen to me anyway. If I fail, Raul will be killed. If I succeed, we’ll both be bound to a man who’ll stop at nothing to put Panopolis on the path to civil war.

    It looks like the only way to win is to take out the competition.


    When I was working as an ESL tutor, my Japanese student and I talked about anime. I told him I was almost always fascinated with the villains and asked why anime stories usually show the villain’s backstory. I asked because most western cartoons don’t do that. He told me it was because the Japanese believe an enemy today could be a friend tomorrow.

    Panopolis by Cari Z is a great example of of the shifting lines between villainy and heroism. Sometimes, it’s a matter of perspective. This underrated series deconstructs the superhero and supervillain tropes.

    I came into this thinking I would get a cartoonish, comical romp, something along the lines of Despicable Me or The Incredibles. I got a dark, sinister tale of highly unethical science, mind control and oppression, torture and terrorism, politics and conspiracies, and the collateral damage that is conveniently ignored in the name of saving the day.

    Panopolis is a mega-city with an unusually high number of supers. Time-honored tradition dictates it’s always heroes vs. villains. The good guys have corporate sponsorships and all the perks. The baddies are mostly after money and make the heroes look good. The fights get a lot of tv coverage, usually as entertainment.

    Where There’s Smoke opens the series with a bank heist by one of the city’s most notorious villains, The Mad Bombardier. It happens to be the bank where Edward Dingle works. He’s a kind, mild-mannered guy. So kind he couldn’t resist covertly helping the very villain robbing his bank because he saw The Mad Bombardier needed a hand.

    Intrigued, The Mad Bombardier, a.k.a. Raul, sought Edward out again. Their first date was cute! They eventually started dating. The story breezed through the early parts of their relationship and fast-forwarded to them being an established couple.

    Raul is a total sweetheart, and his costume is supercool! He became a bomb expert due to a rather atypical upbringing. He wears a helmet with numbers counting down. It looks ominous, but it’s actually his little joke. He’s also the only top villain with no body count under his belt so far.

    Book 1 is a 2-hour audiobook, so the plot moved fast. The story is told from the 1st-person POV of Edward, tackling the moral dilemma and the consequences of dating a supervillain. It shakes an already precarious situation by having that supervillain’s superhero nemesis crushing on Edward and persistently asking him out. Edward is also slowly learning what those corporate sponsorships really entail.

    I love how the story blurs the lines. Along with Edward, we question who is the hero? Who is the villain? Who is the criminal? Who is the victim? And who the hell is really in charge? This novella laid out a fantastic foundation for the follow-up. It’s best to have the next book on hand before starting this because the ending turned Edward’s world upside down. You’ll be grabbing that sequel immediately!

    Where There’s Fire picks up on the aftermath of all those explosions. This is where those foreboding thoughts about Panopolis became harsh reality. What was only hinted at and glimpsed in the periphery came out in the open when Edward and Raul met with the villains. It’s where the series became truly dark.

    It’s also the part where I was seriously torn. One hand, I felt sorry for these villains because of what they had gone through. It was pretty nasty! I also understood their cause, their fight to right the wrongs done to their ilk. But then, them being what they are, they get a little too Machiavellian. Poor Raul had to suffer for it!

    This is the part where Edward embraced who he really was. How he saved Raul was brilliantly executed! It’s like the man conquered the city by making people feel and being his kind self. He was awesome!!!

    This is longer than the 1st book, so things were more fleshed out. The tension is tight throughout the story. The suspense ratcheted up several notches when our boy Edward took on the entire city. Edward’s trick on the boss fight scene was super clever!

    I tried not to give too many details here because it’s best to go in knowing only the minimum details. The Cari Z books I’ve read are those she has written with L.A. Witt. I need to read more of her solo works, as well, because she’s a very talented writer. I could tell she really knows her stuff when it comes to supers.

    Panopolis is the perfect example of that. It is an action-packed, sometimes sweet, thought-provoking, and uniquely fascinating take on heroes and villains. A potent reminder that with great powers comes great headaches.

    Rating:
    5 Stars – absolutely perfect

    Soundtrack: Villains
    Artist: Delta Spirit
    Album: One Is One

    Rating:
    5 Stars – absolutely perfect

    Soundtrack: How Villains Are Made
    Artist: Madelen Duke
    Album: Talking To Myself


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Where There’s Smoke and Where There’s Fire. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Where There’s Smoke: US | UK
    Where There’s Fire: US | UK

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

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    COVER REVEAL: What Works for Us by Colette Davison (Excerpt)

    December 6, 2019

    NEW RELEASE: Port in A Storm by Rhys Ford (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    January 23, 2024

    BLOG TOUR: The Firefly by Laury A. Egan (Excerpt + Q&A with Author)

    August 12, 2023
  • Uncategorized

    One Line Reviews Of Some Books I Read This Year (January – March 2022)

    March 29, 2022 / 1 Comment

    This is a round up of the books I read on the 1st quarter of this year that I’m too lazy to do a full review.

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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    BLOG TOUR: Charlie Sunshine by Lily Morton (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    April 30, 2020

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Summer’s Second by Jeff Billington (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 13, 2022

    COVER REVEAL: Sinful Mafia Prince by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

    August 3, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(March 9, 2022)

    March 9, 2022 / No Comments

    Here are the rules:

    Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    AUDIO TOUR: The Sceptic by Lily Morton (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    March 5, 2023

    COVER REVEAL: Defensive Zone by Jodi Oliver

    October 16, 2024

    MUSIC MONDAY: Bad Guy (Billie Eilish cover) & Tell Me What You Want (I Want It) by Carver Commodore

    July 26, 2021
  • Uncategorized

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(February 23, 2022)

    February 23, 2022 / No Comments

    Here are the rules:

    Take your current read and compare it to what you reading this exact time last year. Which one do you like better? What is different about the books? Any special facts/things you want to make note of or bring attention to?

    Read More
    neverhollowed

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    FLICKer: Acceptance

    April 24, 2025

    New Release Blitz: A Broken Winter by Kale Night (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 25, 2019

    BOOK BLAST: Dancing Before The Crash by C.C. Everill (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    October 29, 2021
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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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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
10 Jun

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲—𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

COVER REVEAL: Shaken and Stirred by Lilly Atlas



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/10/cover-reveal-shaken-and-stirred-by-lilly-atlas/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
10 Jun

NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Spy by Mell Eight (Excerpt & #Giveaway)


https://books2read.com/the-spy

https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/10/new-release-blitz-the-spy-by-mell-eight-excerpt-giveaway/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
9 Jun

Unrequited love can make you blind.

COVER REVEAL: Doink by Crea Reitan



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/09/cover-reveal-doink-by-crea-reitan/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
9 Jun

Sometimes growing up means growing apart in this queer take on As You Like It featuring first loves and friend breakups, from award-winning author Julia Drake.

BOOK TOUR: Lovesick Falls by Julia Drake



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/09/book-tour-lovesick-falls-by-julia-drake/

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