Review: Awakening the Witchblood

Let's pretend that I haven't disappeared from the face of Earth for a while, shall we? Instead, I want to come and tell you about an amazing book I recently read: Awakening the Witch Blood: Embodying the Arte Magical, by Nathan King.

• Print Length: 200 pages.
• Publisher: Crossed Crow Books.
• Publication Date: June 18, 2024.
• Genres: History, Witchcraft, Non-Fiction, Paganism Studies.
• Rating: 4/5 stars.

Drawing on the myriad of beliefs from European witch traditions, Nathan King has created an impressive guidebook, combining mythology and folklore with operative rituals designed to enliven and quicken the metaphorical Witch Blood that courses through our veins.

The Witchblood Awakens

Witches are not just users of magick; we are a physical embodiment, reflection, and power of the source. Coursing through our veins is a potent, magickal elixir called the Witchblood, our personal source of power that creates the spark igniting our spells and rituals. In his first book, Awakening the Witch Blood, folkloric witch and high priest Nathan King takes the reader on a truly magickal journey through witch-lore, ultimately leading you on a journey of self discovery.

When I started reading this book, I kept an open mind because I haven't read an introduction book in a long time. And I'm glad I gave it a chance because of how useful it is. Nathan King's debut is a repertoire of occult, Pagan, and Craft knowledge that benefits readers of different levels, a wide list of topics and offers enough guidance for those who are just starting.

For practitioners with more experience, it is a useful guide to revisit and re evaluate concepts and ideas from before. Times change and the knowledge available is not the same as even ten years ago. What I loved the most about this aspect of the book is that Nathan took the care to reference and mention where most of his ideas came from.

There are a few of them that I disagree with, and some topics I don't think are as essential as to be included, but that's what reading is about: finding out and starting a dialogue. I stopped having an European based practice long ago, but I still remember lots of it and saw the value of this book by focusing on them. It is a solid ground to start working at.

In short. both new and experienced Witches would benefit from this baby. It's as useful as it is beautiful, not to mention Nathan King's writing style is a feast. Descriptive, decorated, yet concise and straight to the point, I devoured his work in a few days. I recommend you do the same to savor his writing, but also take lots of notes. This book asks for it.

Nathan King is a Michigan-based witch, occultist, psychic and High Priest (Minos) of the Minoan Brotherhood Tradition. He spent a good deal of his magical life being trained in historic Salem, Massachusetts. He has been featured on SYFY and Travel Channel during his time in witch-city, and has worked with several shops and events within his field. Nathan is also a practitioner of Folkloric Witchcraft and carries a deep passion for spiritual contact and pagan spirituality as a living art form. Awakening the Witch Blood is his first book.

Kinky regards, K!

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On Identity Crisis, Searching, and Questions

It feels like forever since I was here.

Image from Pixabar

I'm going to be honest, I thought I was never coming back, that I had already done what I wanted with this name. As painful as it was, I just couldn't find the motivation or a reason to keep on writing. I've been having an identity crisis as "Kyler" that made me question if there was a point in doing what I have done so far.

The reason is that I see some people doing similar things, better suited, higher, stronger names in the Pagan world, which made me think "is there even a point?"

Even though I'm not sure there is, I miss being here. I'm trying to find more reason more than just plain nostalgia, erotica reviews, and occasional Witchcraft entries. There's this part of me saying "keep going" and the other asking why.

I consider myself a very practical person. If I enjoy something, that's enough reason to keep doing something, but as of lately I have come to feel... unaccomplished in my K facet. I like it, but is it useful? Am I doing something worth the time an effort I put? That's what I've been questioning myself. And I don't have an answer yet.

However, I want to try again, give this one more try, so I hope you will accompany me on the road as I figure it out. I'm still passionate about folklore, bisexuality, and Witchcraft, but I'll be looking for something that feels mine.

Kinky regards, K!

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Manga: All You Want, Whenever You Want

Happy Monday! Keeping up with the spice from last week, I wanted to tell you kuties about another manga that kept me entertained for a good while with a healthy mix of heat and drama, along with taboo relationships. Today's all about All You Want, Whenever You Want, by Omayu. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Publication Date: November 6, 2023 (digital); March 27, 2024 (print)
• Publisher: TokyoPop.
• Print Length: 224 pages.
• Genres: Drama, Gay, Humor, Romance, Yaoi.
• 4 / 5 stars

On the surface, handsome Sales Manager Tsubaki is all smiles and professional grace — but underneath, he's a workaholic who bears the brunt of a tyrannical boss and throws himself into work to avoid heartache. When his first encounter with the newest transfer to his division, Makino, results in a clash of personalities, Tsubaki assumes that they might be too different to get along... But the forthright and fearless Makino turns out to be just Tsubaki's type, and attraction sparks between them when they end up as next-door neighbors at the company dormitory!

Tsubaki is determined to listen to his head over his heart and keep clear lines drawn between them, but there's no helping it; Makino's affections win him over despite his best efforts. Even though it might be a bad idea to mix business with pleasure, an impulsive hook-up turns into something more!

This another one of those magas with a good script that took some twists here and there to keep it interesting, with human characters that reacted the way anyone in their situation would. There was also a good development on how the interaction between Tsubaki and Makino changed over time, how they started pushing and pulling until they reached a middle spot that (kind of) worked.

There was also a good dose of humor now and then that made me laugh several times. Even though there was tension and drama, I liked how natural those comic reliefs felt. The art also reflected all these changes, adapting with ease as well, so I couldn't stop reading until I was finished because of how immersive it becomes. I swear this is amazing!

What I wish had been better was the introspection into Tsubaki's thoughts, how he felt about the whole situation, getting to know him in a wider way, because sometimes it was that he just came into conclusions all of a sudden. Also, that bit of insta-love at the beginning wasn't my cup of tea. It had a better development later on, but not in the first pages.

All in all, it's a great story that explores how bonds and titles can complicate something as sweet as a relationship in the best of ways, with adorable characters you start rooting for as the plot progresses. They evolve with it, they grow, and you can't help but get excited as things reach that ending point. Great to pass the time and get lost in a wholesome romance!

Kinky regards, K!

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Manga: Never Let Go, Volume 1

There's a manga that you need to read. You just don't know it yet. I finished not long ago and was amazed at the topic, the development, and the art. It's just too good not to share it with you: I'm speaking about Never Let Go, Volume 1, by Saki Sakimoto. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Mangaka: Saki Sakimoto
• Publication Date: January 16, 2024.
• Publisher: TokyoPop.
• Print Length: 224 pages.
• Genres: Drama, Gay, Omegaverse, Romance, Yaoi.
• 4 / 5 stars.

Rich-kid Haruto is used to being flattered and fawned over by fellow students, so when he's kicked out of his elite Alpha school, he finds himself as the ultra-desirable Alpha transfer student at a mixed-gender high school. Everyone is quick to try to befriend him—everyone, that is, except student council president Miyabi, who actually seems to despise him.

Haruto swore he wouldn't get involved with anyone at his new school, but something about openly hostile, sickly-looking Miyabi keeps drawing Haruto in...

While I haven't read a lot of grumpy/sunshine relationships, this one in particular was easy to enjoy and get immersed in! I liked how the script handled some scenes, and while there's always the worry of dubious/no-consent in omegaverse stories, this one knew how to do it correctly and still keep the romance alive between these two.

And don't get me started on the art! It's so atmospheric it wraps you enough so you care about the characters, their pain, and their trauma. It was the perfect complement for the excellent development, how both characters grew up. There were some cliché scenes, some that I felt were a bit over to top, but graphically speaking it all works nicely.

There were a couple of scenes that didn't convince me that much, and I feel the creator could have experimented a bit more. Being a story that took risks in different aspects, I would have preferred it to do it in all aspects. However, I understand that maybe parts of the content could be hard for some readers, and that's totally fine. I just wish it was different.

In general, it's a story that shows the best and the worst of humankind, how classicist and unfair we can be, but also how kind and understanding we could become. However, it is still a light reading for pickier, more demanding readers. It is strong as a romance, and while the ending was solid and it works as a standalone, I'm excited to see what the second volume is about!

Kinky regards, K!

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Manga: Love Murder Basketball, Volume 1

After my last mangas, I wanted to read something dark, something disturbing, something that wasn't so nice and cute and lovely. I read the description of this volume and knew it would the best option. Boy it was. I'm already impatiently waiting for the next volume for LOVE MURDER BASKETBALL, Volume 1, by Kurutta Hito and Tsunderuuu. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Mangakas: Kurutta Hito (script) with Tsunderuuu (art).
• Expected Publication Date: November 28, 2023.
• Publisher: TokyoPop.
• Print Length: 194 pages.
• Genres: Crime, Drama, Gay, Horror, Yaoi.
• 5 / 5 stars.

A thrilling game of cat and mouse, murder and mystery...

As the son of one of the most infamous Yakuza bosses in Japan, Shoto Tanaka's life has been anything but average. Then he meets the most popular athlete in Japan, Goro Nakamura. Goro is used to putting on a show for the public, and since he comes from a family of wealth and notoriety, he's frequently in the limelight. Shoto, like many others, is captivated by his icy charisma.

What Shoto isn't aware of is that Goro is also the infamous 'Animosity Serial Killer' of Japan. In what ways will Goro and Shoto's profound devotion to one another and their various ideologies impact their complex relationship and those around them?

NOTE: This book contains explicit content and mature themes, including uncensored sex, bondage, violence, gore, and torture. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.

I need to make something clear before anything. I've seen this book being shelved as romance. However, I am not that convinced that it falls in this category. If anything, it is a horror manga that presents a toxic relationship. There are scenes that do give that impression, that these two are totally in love, but it is not enough for me. I will leave the door open for the future volumes, however.

That being said, I did like reading it. It's one of those stories that grabs you and doesn't let you go until you are done with it, and it is done with you as well. While it's true that it doesn't happen too much in this first volume, it left me wanting more even though it wasn't as addictive as I expected it to be. It gets the job done, however!

The art is also a marvel. It's a particular style I hadn't seen before that works well with this story. It's delicate but still graphic, giving the whole book an atmospheric, calm air. The same style gets erotic whenever needed. Somehow, the same aesthetic works for these scenes, giving them a much better look than what you expect!

It's definitely a reading that will keep you entertained, wondering what will happen later. While simple, it's captivating, with fascinating characters that surprise you several times. If you're like me and enjoy stories with dark, difficult themes, you'll be done in no time and reading the webcomic right away.

Kinky regards, K!

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Manga: Send Them a Farewell Gift for the Lost Time

I haven't reviewed manga in a while! So today there's a one-shot volume that became one of my all'time favorites and that I will definitely re-read in a short time. It's a story about breakups, wounds, love, forgiveness, and healing. It's Send Them a Farewell Gift for the Lost Time, by Cocomi. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Mangaka: Cocomi.
• Expected Publication Date: January 16, 2024.
• Publisher: TokyoPop.
• Print Length: 194 pages.
• Genres: Drama, Gay, Romance, Yaoi.
• 5 / 5 stars

For four years, Naruse was swept up in his love for his novelist boyfriend, Toui. But tiring of his flightiness and lack of commitment, Naruse finally walks away from his relationship.

Or at least, he tries to. Every time he runs into Toui, they seem to get tangled in one another's emotions and end up sleeping together. They argue and fight, then afterwards comes the pang of regret. Maybe their relationship is doomed to fail. Or maybe, it just needs a new angle...

One of the things that I dislike about yaoi mangas is that the stories can be so perfect they don't seem real, which is generally fine, until it is not. Until it's just too much. Well, this is the biggest exception to the rule I've seen because of how realistic, yet cute, beautiful, adorable, and hot, the story is. There are moments of tension, but it never looses its essence as a love story.

I loved how the characters changed and grew chapter after chapter, showing how similar yet still different they both were at all times. The art took this to another level thanks to the body language and facial expressions during key scenes, important moments that defined what would happen next, along with beautiful backgrounds and details that gave it a more sound personality.

There were moments, however, when I felt I missed something. I cannot put a name on it, but there was something I didn't find, even though the backstories, the development, script, and art were beautiful, some pages where the execution didn't work that much for me. I stayed immersed the whole time, don't get me wrong, but not fully. However, this was minimum.

For those who like redemption stories with a dose of humor, spice, and real life, this is the perfect reading. A good script with amazing art that transports you to another world as the characters try to heal, each of them in their own ways, and discover what all of that actually means. Innocent, yet mature, combines the best of both worlds with amazing results.

Kinky regards, K!

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Review: Witchcraft Unchained

It's been a hot minute, hasn't it? While I was away from the digital world, I read, and read, and read, and read some more, so I hope you're in for a few reviews the next days. Today, I come with a book that illuminated a lot things and debunked many false myths about Paganism: Witchcraft Unchained: Exploring the History & Traditions of British Craft, by Craig Spencer. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

• Print Length: 252 pages
• Publisher: Crossed Crow Books
• Publication Date: June 22, 2023
• Genres: History, Witchcraft, Non-Fiction, Paganism Studies.
• Rating: 4/5 stars.

On June 22, 1951 the last of the Witchcraft Acts was repealed in the UK. This single action would lead to the rise of what would become the global witchcraft revival movement. Despite another year marking the passing of this historical event, so much of our history still remains lost, misunderstood, or frankly made inaccessible to the magical community at large. There is a craving for better information about the more recent history of Witchcraft in the hopes that these gaps in knowledge may be filled, and it's the author's intention to make Witchcraft Exploring the History & Traditions of British Craft the book that will do just that. By addressing the metaphorical chains that have found their way into our community and restoring what has been lost, misunderstood, or made inaccessible, the reader can become empowered with new thoughts which will allow them to connect with their magic on a deeper and more personal level.

I loved the writing style of this book, how easy and simple it is at all times. There are several chapters that deal with many topics that may seem difficult at first sight, and some explanations could have been challenging. However, Craig made sure to take it easy without that affecting the quality of the book. I was able to see and understand everything and follow his ideas with no problem.

While it is true that the subtitle says the it's about British Craft, I've seen it influencing a lot of practices, so I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be more critical about their practice while also exploring its evolution through time, because we also get to see how some things changed while others stayed the same.

The only one thing that I didn't like was very specific: the chapter about the Goddess, the God, and the Great Rite, not being heteronormative. It was one of the chapters I was looking forward the most, but it didn't convince me at all what the author presented. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it, and while I saw his point in some of his ideas, I still don't share them.

All in all, it's a book that reminds you to question everything, ask everything and anything, always keeping room for surprises. It honors Witchcraft, a road full of unexpectedness, by sharing things you don't expect, answers to questions you didn't know you had, enriching your practice in a new way. I would recommend it to anyone, really.

Kinky regards, K!

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Cleansing with Amethyst Fire

I tried something different at the beginning of this year. My house needed some cleansing, which became obvious when I was having nightmares, insomnia, my relatives experienced headaches, heard things, and had weird dreams as well. Doing some checking and consulting, I found that there was a lot of residual energy in different rooms, so I decided to do my job, but all of a sudden I thought: What if I use Amethyst Fire?

Following the protocol I usually use, I stuck to the structure to center my energy, clean myself, connect with the Divine, but changed when I reached cleansing part. Instead of visualizing white light or moonlight, which I've always worked with, it was Amethyst Fire that I pictured, which surely felt different.

While the other two always gave me a sense of calm and serenity, it always took me a long time to cleanse everything. This time it was much faster, although I wouldn't classify it as violent, but more like transformative. Changing. It was as if the residues became something different, something better, actually useful, instead of just stagnating the energy.

The process was also a bit different. Instead of light beams going everywhere, the flames went straight to where I felt they needed to, and then expanding to the rest of the room. Mostly, the went to the corners, windows, and doors, until the whole place was ablaze (in my head, of course). Then it consumed itself just as fast as it had ignited. Not even smoke remained.

Call me biased, but I feel much better than before, full of energy, and capable of getting stuff done. My family is also feeling better. So... I might do it again, just to make sure I'm not influencing myself. In the mean time, feel free to do it as well if you identify as a bi+ person, and share your experiences. I'm eager to know if you get the same results!

Kinky regards, K!

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Plans for 2024

Happy new year, kuties! I wanted to stay away from the internet for a bit to recharge and enjoy the outside world, breath more air, focus on me, those I love, to start the year with a fresher head and calmer mind. Last year was CRAZY, but just because of that I learned a lot and was able to put my priorities in order.

Photo by George Becker

Truth is that I've been a blogger for a long time, so I want to start devoting time to my own writing projects. I did okay last year, so I want to take this one as a chance for improvement, refocusing, and planning what to do with my current projects. I know priority should be synonym of one, but then... You know me. I like to take it to the top and readjust as I go.

Amethyst Witchcraft: When I did that top9 post on Instagram, I realized that the most popular posts where those I enjoyed the most, the ones about bisexuality and bi witchcraft. I want to dedicate much more time to it, more effort, and not my all, but a lot of it. Let's say, a third of my all. I still remember the good results I got the first times I tried the new techniques and visualizations I developed, so it's only fair to go back and take it to the next level (whichever that could be).

Grimmcraft: I admit it hurt me a bit that Grimmcraft didn't get attention, but I also recognize I didn't do my best with this section. The second third goes to this section that I'm still enthusiast about. The more retellings I see, the more I learn about fairytales, the more interested I'm in in their symbolism, their messages, and how they can inspire Witchcraft.

Poetry book: The last but not least important third naturally goes to my own writing. I will say I took the easy way out with this one because I took all the poems I already have to develop a concept, an Idea I've been thinking about for a while and that I'm excited to work in. While there's no specific plan, no fixed set of steps to get it done, I want to finish my first book this year.

As I said before, thank you so much for the support, the love, the kind words, and the trust during last year to all of you. Heaven knows I needed it, that it helped me keep going. I want to be a better me, as everyone says, with the difference that I want to go back to what made me me: my love for all things bisexual, fairy tales, poetry, Gothic literature, and folklore.

Here's to a better, surprising 2024!

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