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SERIES REVIEW: A Paranormal Yakuza Duet by C.J. Ravenna
A Paranormal Yakuza Duet: Secrets & Sake – C.J. Ravenna
Jinta
He’s a yakuza with secrets. I’m the reporter determined to bring them to light.
When people start going missing, I sense a story that could make my whole career. I even have the perfect Raiden Noboru, enforcer for the most powerful yakuza organization in Japan.
The plan is go undercover as “Hiro” the photographer, cozy up to Raiden, and discover all he knows about the disappearances.
Problem is? Raiden isn’t the monster I thought he was. The beast beneath his skin is fiercely protective of what’s his, but he worships my body and soul, showing me a tender side of himself he hides from the rest of the world.
But I’ve got a story to tell. All I have to do… is betray the man I’m falling for.
Raiden
I stopped believing in fated mates long ago. Love only ends in heartbreak.
Ever since I was a boy, my only purpose has been to serve the Namikawa-kai.
Until him. The minute I see Hiro smile like a sunbeam and catch his cherry blossom scent, I’ve got to have him. What I thought would be a casual fling becomes so much more. Hiro is mine. Mine to care for, mine to protect. No one else can have him.
Before I realize it, I’m beginning to dream of a life outside the yakuza, a life with Hiro. Too bad that’s all it’ll ever be. A dream. I’ll never make someone as innocent as Hiro happy. I’m a criminal, and I’m no good for him…
…But I can’t stay away from him.
Secrets & Sake is book 1 in A Paranormal Yakuza Duet. It features insta-love, fated mates and wolf shifters, a sunshine undercover reporter and the grumpy yakuza soft only for him, loads of possessive touch-him-and-die vibes, plenty of searingly hot spice, and a Happy-For-Now conclusion.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Unmei no Akai Ito (Red String of Destiny)
Artist: Koshitomo
Album: Atelier
A Paranormal Yakuza Duet: Curses & Kitsune – C.J. Ravenna
Jinta
Nothing’s easy when you’re fated to a yakuza boss.
I’m possessed by an ancient, powerful kitsune hellbent on chaos and destruction. Until we can find a way to lift the curse, I’m a threat to everyone I hold dear. Tensions within the Namikawa-kai, hunters lurking in the shadows, and vengeful ex-boyfriends want to thwart us at every step.
All I want is to be with Raiden, my mate, the man I love. If we stand together, we can get through it all. But when I see a new, ugly side to Raiden, I can’t help but question if we really want the same things.
When the time comes to run, will Raiden leave it all behind for me?
Raiden
I’ll destroy anyone who hurts my mate—but I’m the one hurting him the most.
I’m the boss now. This is my pack. Tokyo is my city. No one will ever control me again. As I fall deeper into my new responsibilities, Jinta and I grow more estranged.
When betrayal strikes from within my own pack, Jinta is the one who pays the price. Jinta has no place in my world. He’s a pure ray of sunshine in the darkness of my life, and I can’t be the reason he gets hurt. I don’t deserve him. Never have.
I’ve got to let him go. Before the shadows of my world consume the only person I’ve ever loved.
Curses & Kitsune is the final book in A Paranormal Yakuza Duet and concludes with a hard-won Happily-Ever-After.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Kisetsu wa Tsugi Tsugi Shindeiku (Seasons Die One After Another)
Artist: Amazarashi
Album: Kisetsu wa Tsugi Tsugi Shindeiku
A Paranormal Yakuza Duet by new-to-me author C.J. Ravenna is a fabulous combination of werewolves and yakuza. Add to that a deft use of Japanese mythology that blended seamlessly into the plot, with action-packed scenes that pulled no punches on the violence and gore, the noir atmosphere, and it was easy to imagine how fantastic this would be as an anime!
Jinta Onodera, an ambitious young reporter itching for that big break, decided to go undercover as a yakuza fan magazine photographer to investigate the case of several people who disappeared in the Namikawa-kai territory. In his first meeting with the Namikawa enforcer, the notorious Wolf of Asakusa Raiden Noburo, the two hit it off immediately.
The romance started the very day they met. Raiden was immediately drawn to “Hiro,” who smelled like cherry blossoms. In turn, Jinta was falling hard and fast for the yakuza, who wasn’t the monster his reputation says he is. As fated mates, they were connected by the red string.
Raiden is growly, possessive, gorgeously tattooed, and drool-worthy in a suit or kimono. He suffered abuse and was groomed by another yakuza when he was just a teenager. He was traumatized by his parents when his father abandoned them, and his mother handed him over to the Namikawa as payment for his father’s debts.
Jinta was treated by his family as less than his golden boy brother. He’s super insecure about his worth, especially after he caught his ex-boyfriend in bed with his brother. Jinta is determined to make it big with the story he plans to write about the yakuza and the missing persons.
I was ready to root for Raiden and Jinta. Raiden calls Jinta, with his beaming smile, “sunshine,” which gives me life every time! And Raiden going after his Sunshine in the afterlife raises the bar for everyone! What I liked about Jinta is he gave Raiden the courage to dare hope for a life outside the yakuza.
While they were a solid unit at first, they soon fell into the hot/cold pattern of bitter fights and reconciliation sex. An incident would trigger an insecurity or trauma. One would lash out (usually Jinta) and then walk out. Then another incident would lead to a meeting, swoony words and grand promises are exchanged, sex ensues, and then all is okay until another trigger.
The first few times, it was emotions and feels. Then, I just stopped paying attention because the drama went on until the second book (Sunshine is a flaky boy, sadly) and I was tired. The real fun is in the paranormal and the yakuza business.
Yakuza politics, much like mafia politics, is a fascinating read. In Book 1, Secrets & Sake, the Namikawa-kai is headed by Namikawa, an elderly man who seemed to be around forever. The yakuza boss is a harsh master to Raiden, using alpha control to make Raiden hurt himself as punishment.
There is tension between the Namikawa-kai and their biggest rival, Takata-kai, headed by Takata, formerly a Namikawa, who thinks he should be their leader. There is also a painful history between Takata and Raiden, with Takata eager to get his hands on Raiden the moment the Namikawa enforcer showed weakness.
Later, we learn that Namikawa was cursed and that curse transferred to Jinta. Meanwhile, Raiden becomes the Namikawa-kai leader.
In Book 2, Curses & Kitsune, the famous nine-tailed kitsune is a bloodthirsty entity, and Jinta doesn’t know how to control it. Raiden drops everything to find a way to lift the curse (the Wolf of Asakusa always comes through). There is tension within Namikawa ranks when two members betray their pack. Wolf hunters are also making their presence known and are said to be working with the traitors.
Raiden is forced to do two unthinkable things: find his father and ask Takata for help. Meanwhile, Jinta made hissy fits. Then he tried to reunite with his family, only to realize it was best to say goodbye to the past and his family, and embrace the present and future with Raiden.
There are almost no lulls apart from the hissy fits. Lots of things are happening, and they’re happening relatively fast. The fight scenes are my favorite! The series also one of the most thorough at dealing with loose ends, with every bad guy given his comeuppance.
Representation of yakuza lore and Japanese culture was done with care, and the books were entertaining, apart from the romance. I am thankful that the author refrained from writing the books like manga in prose. I’ve encountered some books by authors doing very trope-y stories written like manga scenes, and they don’t translate well.
A Paranormal Yakuza Duet is not for the faint of heart. Passions and tempers run hot! Giant wolves and kitsune are on a rampage! Fated mates torn apart and reunited! Overall, intense, dark, and violent.
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SECRETS & SAKE: Kindle I Audiobook
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SOUNDTRACK: Unmei no Akai Ito by Koshitomo & Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku by Amazarashi
Soundtrack to A Paranormal Yakuza Duet: Secrets & Sake by C.J. Ravenna
Red String of Destiny by Koshitomo for a book about fated mates, a cruel world, and a courage to hope for tomorrow.
Blue Sky Sun Let’s go fishing today
The usual park with a large pond
I’m not concentrating.
Hey God, I’m going to use a special thread today.
I want to believe in the red thread of fate
And I’m waiting for you here today
The magic of the future at the end of the thread
The pond is sparkling in the sun
But the world isn’t that sweet.…
I want to believe in the red thread of fate
And today I was a little hopeful about the futureSoundtrack to A Paranormal Yazuka Duet: Curses & Kitsune by C.J. Ravenna
Seasons Die One After Another by Amazarashi for a book about shedding the past, embracing the future, and living in the moment.
Dear My Loathsome Past,
to you I offer this poem of farewell!I have cast away the remains of these days
that can’t get any worse, these most terrible dreams even if it kills me.For in the next life,
a flower will bloom to tell you a poem of transition;We spend some time wondering
if we should go or head on back.
I’m sure we’ll face hardship…
but after the slightest hesitation,
we straighten up and head onward.That’s right, we have to go!
Even with nothing, we have to go on living! -
青空 太陽 今日は釣りに行こう
いつもの公園 大きな池がある
集中力のない僕だけど
ねぇ神様 今日は特別な糸を使うよ
運命の赤い糸を信じたい
そして今日も僕はここで君を待ってる
糸の先にある未来にかける魔法
太陽で池がキラキラ光ってる
だけどね 世の中 そんなに甘くない
どれだけ待っても糸に反応はない
ため息をつく 諦めの早い
ああ僕だよ 今さら性格は変えれない
運命の赤い糸は信じない
だから今日は片付けて帰るとしようか
大丈夫平気さ これはいつも通り
本当は誰かに慰めてほしい
トボトボと歩く帰り道 後ろから声をかけられた
「落としましたよ?」渡された赤い糸
「釣りの糸ですか？珍しい色ね」
微笑む彼女
運命の赤い糸を信じたい
そして今日も僕はここで君を待ってる
糸の先にある未来にかける魔法
太陽で池がキラキラ光ってる
運命の赤い糸を信じたい…
運命の赤い糸を信じたい
そして今日は未来にちょっと期待が持てたBlue Sky Sun Let’s go fishing today
The usual park with a large pond
I’m not concentrating.
Hey God, I’m going to use a special thread today.
I want to believe in the red thread of fate
And I’m waiting for you here today
The magic of the future at the end of the thread
The pond is sparkling in the sun
But the world isn’t that sweet.
No matter how long you wait, there is no response to the thread
Sigh, quick to give up
Oh, it’s me, I can’t change my personality anymore
I don’t believe in the red thread of fate
So let’s clean up and go home today
It’s okay, it’s okay, this is business as usual
I really want someone to comfort me
On the way home walking with a tobotobo,
I was called out from behind “Did you drop it?”
The red thread passed “Is it a fishing line?
Smiling Girlfriend
I want to believe in the red thread of fate
And I’m waiting for you here today
The magic of the future at the end of the thread
The pond is sparkling in the sun
I want to believe in the red thread of fate…
I want to believe in the red thread of fate
And today I was a little hopeful about the future季節は次々死んでいく 絶命の声が風になる
色めく街の 酔えない男 月を見上げるのはここじゃ無粋泥に足もつれる生活に 雨はアルコールの味がした
アパシーな目で 彷徨う街で 挙動不審のイノセント 駅前にて僕が僕と呼ぶには不確かな 半透明な影が生きてる風だ
雨に歌えば 雲は割れるか 賑やかな夏の干涸びた命だ拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩
最低な日々の 最悪な夢の 残骸を捨てては行けず ここで息絶えようと
後世 花は咲き君に伝う 変遷の詩
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ それでも途絶えぬ歌に 陽は射さずとも明日は次々死んでいく 急いても追いつけず過去になる
生き急げ僕ら 灯る火はせつな 生きる意味などは後からつく君が君でいるには不確かな 不安定な自我が 君を嫌おうと
せめて歌えば 闇は晴れるか 根腐れた夢に預かった命だ拝啓 忌まわしき過去に告ぐ 絶縁の詩
最低な日々の 最悪な夢の 残骸を捨てては行けず ここで息絶えようと
後世 花は咲き君に伝う 変遷の詩
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ それでも途絶えぬ歌に 陽は射さずとも疲れた顔に足を引きずって 照り返す夕日に顔をしかめて
行こうか 戻ろうか 悩みはするけど しばらくすれば 歩き出す背中
そうだ行かねばならぬ 何はなくとも生きて行くのだ
僕らは どうせ拾った命だ ここに置いてくよ なけなしの拝啓 今は亡き過去を想う 望郷の詩
最低な日々が 最悪な夢が 始まりだったと思えば 随分遠くだ
どうせ花は散り 輪廻の輪に還る命
苦悩にまみれて 嘆き悲しみ それでも途絶えぬ歌に 陽は射さずとも季節は次々生き返る
The seasons die out, one after another; cries of annihilation howl in the wind…
A man not susceptible to the charms of the city looks up at the moon and notices how unrefined it all is.
Among an everyday life tripped up by the mud, the rain itself tastes of alcohol;
With eyes filled with apathy as they wander the city, innocents gather in front of the station, acting suspiciously.
In order to uphold the unsteady fact that I’m me, it’s like my half-transparent shadow is has come to life.
If I were to sing in the rain, would the clouds part? My life is all dried up in the midst of this bustling summer.
Dear My Loathsome Past, to you I offer this poem of farewell!
I have cast away the remains of these days that can’t get any worse, these most terrible dreams even if it kills me.
For in the next life, a flower will bloom to tell you a poem of transition;
A song filled with suffering, of which to grieve and moan, but never to die out… even if it is starved of sunlight.
Tomorrow’ dies out, one after another; even if you hurry, you’ll miss them as they become the past,
But to we who hurry through life, our flames are fickle, and we’re always adding meaning after the fact.
In order to uphold the unsteady fact that you’re you, your unstable ego ventures to despise you; I you were merely able to sing, would the darkness be dispelled? Your life has been left up to a dream rotten at the core.
Dear My Loathsome Past, to you I offer this poem of farewell!
I have cast away the remains of these days that can’t get any worse, these most terrible dreams even if it kills me.
For in the next life, a flower will bloom to tell you a poem of transition;
A song filled with suffering, of which to grieve and moan, but never to die out… even if it is starved of sunlight.
With a tired face, limping along; squinting at the reflected sunset..
We spend some time wondering if we should go or head on back. I’m sure we’ll face hardship… but after the slightest hesitation, we straighten up and head onward.
That’s right, we have to go! Even with nothing, we have to go on living!
After all, our lives were just picked up along the way – we’ll leave them here as we proceed, what little they are.
Dear My Loathsome Past, to you I offer this poem of farewell!
I have cast away the remains of these days that can’t get any worse, these most terrible dreams even if it kills me.
For in the next life, a flower will bloom to tell you a poem of transition;
A song filled with suffering, of which to grieve and moan, but never to die out… even if it is starved of sunlight.
Seasons revived, one after another
