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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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    • LAST YEAR I WAS READING
    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • TAGS
    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
  • TOURS & BLITZES
    • COVER REVEAL
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  • Uncategorized

    COVER REVEAL: Blaze of Eternity by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

    September 14, 2023 / No Comments
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    March 18, 2022

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    RELEASE BLITZ: Liars by Lucy Lennox & May Archer (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    October 29, 2020
  • Uncategorized

    RELEASE TOUR: Magic, Demons, and the Hunter by J.P. Sayle (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 25, 2023 / No Comments
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    RELEASE BLITZ: Ryder’s Guardian by T.L. Travis & Ann Lister (Excerpt)

    May 20, 2020

    RELEASE BLITZ: Zero by Ana Night (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    February 26, 2023

    RELEASE BLITZ: Unforgotten by Garrett Leigh (Giveaway)

    February 17, 2021
  • Uncategorized

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Egregious by J. Hali Steele (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 10, 2023 / No Comments
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    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Dragon Lesson by Mell Eight (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 1, 2020

    BLOG TOUR: The Selkie’s Coat by Drea Roman (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    April 23, 2020

    FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56: There Goes The Weekend

    December 12, 2019
  • Uncategorized

    RELEASE BLITZ: Shadowy Illusions by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

    August 5, 2023 / No Comments
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    BOOK BLAST: The Hardest Fall by Rheland Richmond (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 3, 2022

    MUSIC MONDAY: Are You All Good? by Breathe

    February 3, 2020

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Grounded by K.R. Collins (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 24, 2021
  • Uncategorized

    AUDIOBOOK TOUR: Again by Morgan Brice

    August 3, 2023 / No Comments
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    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(November 10, 2021)

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    BOOK TOUR: The Witch Brothers Saga by Adam J. Ridley (Excerpt & Giveaway + Guest Post)

    July 27, 2022

    SERIES BLITZ: Destiny Ink Series by Deanna Wadsworth (Giveaway)

    April 30, 2023
  • Uncategorized

    COVER REVEAL: Patience by Lark Taylor

    July 27, 2023 / 2 Comments
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    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Leading The Blind by B.A. Tortuga (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    June 9, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Waxing Poetic for Christmas by Mara Townsend (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 5, 2019

    BLOG TOUR: Infinite Bond by L. Rose (Excerpt)

    April 29, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    BLOG TOUR: Lord Manetu by Mary Rundle (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    July 22, 2023 / No Comments
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    RELEASE BLITZ: Trio: Friend, Lover, Mate by Drea Roman (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    January 30, 2021

    RELEASE BLITZ: Awakened Desires by Colette Davison (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 23, 2022

    RELEASE BLITZ: Hard Earned Cash by K.L. Hiers (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    June 27, 2020
  • Uncategorized

    COVER REVEAL: Shadowy Illusions by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

    July 17, 2023 / No Comments
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    One Line Reviews Of Some Books I Read This Year (April – June 2022)

    July 19, 2022

    COVER REVEAL: Pick Me by May Archer (Giveaway)

    September 17, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Fade In by V.L. Locey (Giveaway)

    January 22, 2020
  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Woods of the Raven by Mary Calmes

    June 30, 2023 / 1 Comment

    Woods of the Raven – Mary Calmes

    Something wicked this way comes…and it might be too late to stop it. Xander Corey lives simply, sustainably, on the outskirts of Osprey, a small, quaint town in Upstate New York. He’s a librarian when the town’s budget can afford him, a good friend, kind neighbor, and also, a witch. And while that’s of no concern to anyone around him, there are others, non-humans, who have a vested interest in Xander’s family land. Xander knows something dark and dangerous is brewing. He’s just not quite sure what.

    And that’s not the only mystery he’s dealing with. The new chief of police is, by turns, giving him heart palpitations and homicidal thoughts. Xander can’t decide if the gorgeous yet infuriating Lorne MacBain is on his side, or trying to drive him insane. Added to that, the man doesn’t believe in magic, and since that’s who Xander is, their future looks anything but bright.

    But Lorne is not the unimaginative, stick-in-the-mud Xander thinks he is. And a rock to anchor him as his life is turning upside down is just the thing Xander needs. Now if only the two of them can stay alive…


    The cover is gorgeously atmospheric!

    I’m familiar with Mary Calmes as I’ve seen many of her works. Woods of the Raven is my first read from her, and needless to say, I have high expectations from a veteran author.

    The premise (and the cover) immediately caught my attention. A small town in New York with its very own guardian witch watching over the land. It is something I would call a witch procedural. It is very rich in witchcraft with an emphasis on the “craft” part.

    MC Xander Corey goes around town offering advice, explaining arcane stuff, helping people cleanse their homes, making potions, wreaths, and something called witch ladder, which he also sells at the fair. He donates the proceeds to animal charities because his magic is a gift. Therefore he cannot accept payments. The book goes into detail in the makings of the items as well steps in doing the rituals.

    The story reads very much like a cozy slice of life that stumbled upon a murder mystery. Romance comes in the form of the hunky new sheriff, Lorne Macbain, who brought the crime to Xander’s notice because it happened near his property.

    Having antagonistic run-ins with the sheriff before, Xander was surprised to learn that those were rather confusing attempts by the sheriff to get his attention. Apparently, the poor man has been crushing on the town witch for a while but Xander was oblivious.

    Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the storytelling. Whatever plot the novel had was buried under piles of explanations and info-dumps. While I enjoy being educated in witchcraft, the story also felt the need to cram all the possible lore and magical creatures known, in addition to the Corey family background and town history. And so, sadly, the magic is lost in all that telling. Also, a bit confusing to those not very familiar with western folklore.

    I love standalone novels, but this one could use a sequel or two so there would be room to show the other events rather than sacrifice plot, character, and romantic development for explanations. Because heck, even the romance was lackluster in its failure to build palpable chemistry.

    I also felt we only skimmed the surface of Xander’s and Lorne’s characters. Also, Xander’s best friend Amanda was a strong woman in theory but in action was an overbearing caricature. I wished her character was executed better.

    However, the story did exceptionally well in the boss fight scene because it was thrilling and action-packed with awesome displays of wild magic. This is what Xander was born to do, and boy, was he bad ass!

    Woods of the Raven had a great premise but suffered in its delivery. Goes to show a little telling goes a long way.

    Rating:
    2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a like

    Soundtrack: When The Raven Calls
    Artist: Spirit of the Woods
    Album:


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

    WOODS OF THE RAVEN: Kindle | Audiobook

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    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Brace

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    COVER REVEAL: A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner (Excerpt)

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    PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (October 14, 2020)

    October 14, 2020
  • 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.

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    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Breathe Out Slow by A.D. Lawless (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    September 9, 2019

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    May 12, 2022

    COVER REVEAL: The Infinite Onion by Alice Archer (Excerpt)

    March 10, 2020
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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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🌈boy's love manga | MM romance | music | giveaways and more 🐾

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
22 Sep

A thunderbolt to the kokoro!

#REVIEW: Mafia Target by Mila Finelli

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5 principe e assassino stars 🔫🎯⚡️❤️‍🩹

SOUNDTRACK: Danger by Etro Anime🎶

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
22 Sep

Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no bounds—even in a town full of monsters!

RELEASE BLITZ: The Orc and the Manny by Chloe Archer (Excerpt & #Giveaway)



https://neverhollowed.com/2023/09/22/release-blitz-the-orc-and-the-manny-by-chloe-archer-excerpt-giveaway/

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
21 Sep

FLICKer: Curse of the Unkissable Kid #shortfilm
A bullied kid drinks a magical potion before reading the fine print.

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neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
21 Sep

RELEASE BLITZ: Infamous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine (#Giveaway)



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