All or Nothing

Monday again. Reviews again. I found another adorable, hot manga about a high school romance between two opposites that discover (or, more appropriately speaking, accept) a chemistry between them that goes beyond friendship. As they explore it, Oka and Sawada learn about each other as much as they learn about the other in All or Nothing, by Shikke and translated by Leighann Harvey. Thanks to SuBLime for the copy to review!

• Publication Date: Nov 19, 2024.
• Publisher: Yen Press.
• Print Length: 160 pages.
• Genres: Drama, Gay, Romance, Yaoi.
• 4 / 5 stars.

The last thing Oka and Sawada expected to find out at lunch was that their two friends Hasumoto and Kadoi were dating.The four boys were classmates, friends, and even neighbors in the dorms. The sudden revelation sparked something within Oka and Sawada—as they begin noticing each other in new ways. But what started as playful curiosity quickly grows, and each moment the two spend together threatens to bring them closer than they’ve ever been before…

I loved the concept of the story. We all love queer awakening stories, those are my favorite, in fact, and you all know I'm a sucker for high school romances. However, this was much more adorable than I was expecting. Although the script's pace was uneven at times, I still enjoyed how everything happened from beginning to end.

The chemistry between Oka and Sawada was obvious from the beginning, not to mention the repressed lust for each other masked as shared curiosity. I say this because, thanks to the art, you realize there is much more happening inside of them (pun not intended; maybe just a little?) than what they say in their dialogues. The art itself is great, not perfect or of the highest quality, but it gives more life than you'd expect.

My only real complaint is the addition of another story that felt forced. There could have been a number of extra content that Shikke could have included, but somehow the choice was a short manga that is not related in any way to the main story and can't even compare to it, mainly because the lack of chemistry, the linial characters, along with one of them having the same facial expression for 90% of it.

If we ignore that questionable additional content, we are left with a story that makes you laugh and smile at all times. The tension, the drama, and the adorable scenarios between these two, along with the spice, are everything we are here for. Simple, short, with nice art, and a good development, I recommend All or Nothing to anyone in search of a wholesome romance.

Kinky regards, K!

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Someday I'll Fall for You, Vol. 1

Another week, another review! I hope you guys are doing well. Today I'm coming with a story that is as sweet as it is spicy, that plays with some tropes we all love, and that I don't want to spoil just yet. Please, allow me to tell you why your life needs Someday I'll Fall for You, Vol. 1, by Tomo Kurahashi and translated by Christine Dashiell. Thanks to SuBLime for the copy to review!

• Publication Date: November 12, 2024.
• Publisher: SuBLime.
• Print Length: 210 pages.
• Genres: Drama, Gay, Romance, Yaoi.
• 5 / 5 stars.

A story of childhood friends who realize they want something more.

Kazuma and Chiaki have been brought up like brothers, but everything changes when Chiaki realizes he has feelings for Kazuma.

Childhood friends Chiaki and Kazuma have been brought up like brothers, but the illusion of family shatters when Kazuma catches Chiaki touching himself, and in the heat of the moment, ends up lending a hand. From that night on, the two of them help each other satisfy their base urges—that is, until Kazuma gets a girlfriend and Chiaki realizes his feelings go beyond friends with benefits. Will these childhood friends be able to go back to the way they were before? Or will their relationship manage to bloom into something more?

You already know I'm a sucker for all things high school romance and childhood friends, but this is another level! These are childhood friends turn friends with benefits before one of them even realizes he's queer! It's a concept I didn't see before, and I'm eager to see how it develops, although I later learned that this is a prequel to an already published manga.

The script is solid, simple yet straight to the point, and does not lack anything, especially character development. The pace speeds up and slows down depending on the scenes, creating a dizzying atmosphere that doesn't disappoint. You can't stop reading once you're under its spell! The dialogues were one of my favorite aspects as well, so human and real that you could hear the characters' voices in your head as you went on.

I can't complain about the art, either. It's equally clean and raw, leaning towards one or the other depending on what's needed, the same as the script's pace. Truth be told, the character's design isn't anything remarkable, but that also works in favor of the story to make it look all the more realistic, helping you connect with it much easily.

If this sounds more like praise than something else, then I've succeeded. Someday I'll Fall for You, Vol. 1 is not a legendary, groundbreaking plot, but a comfort love story for those days when you want to daydream, and a good amount of spice and high school zest for life (and sex). And I can't recommend that you read it enough. Do yourself a favor a grab a copy.

Kinky regards, K!

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Review: Incubus Tarot

I want to do something different today. It’s still a review, but a tarot deck review. I’ve used it for a while and I just can’t complain about it. I’m talking about the Incubus Tarot, by Davide Furnò and Charles Harrington, which presents a mix of surrealism, classical symbology, and gothic charm. Thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. for the deck to review!

• Imprint: Llewellyn.
• Publication Date: December 2024.
• Page Count: 128 pages.
• Card Count: 78 cards.
• Size: 3.00 x 5.03 x 1.72 inches.

Hiding down in the obscure depths of our consciousness is a world that only reveals itself during sleep, when the mind has fallen into the hands of the subconscious. As your inhibitions fade, the dark lords of Incubus Tarot appear. This nightmare-themed deck by Davide Furnò opens the gate to a dark and barren realm, inhabited by surreal creatures that evoke your innermost fears and challenge you to overcome them. With Charles Harrington's book to guide you, your journey through danger will lead to remarkable insight and confidence.

The art is plain gorgeous! Inspired by the classical Rider-Waite Smith, but with its original style and symbolism. Each one of the cards is reinvented in a dark fantasy, surreal world, although always loyal to its roots, to the point that you can easily identify most of them without looking at the names.

I consider the guidebook one of the best ones I’ve read, and it comes with a simple three-card reading that has been useful more than once to me. I am yet to try with a different deck, but I get the impression that it’s especially thought for this one. We shall see later on! So far, it is a deck that tells you things straight to your face without sugarcoating anything.

These are the decks that I like to use with more spiritual people instead of with those who might be just getting started with Tarot or divination in general. People might not take it kindly that you tell them something different from what they asked, so I would say to be cautious with this deck. However, it works great when reading for yourself.

As an addition to a witch’s arsenal, I would recommend it for those a bit more experienced because it uses reversal meanings in a new way, and each card comes with three meanings that could apply to anything in the reading. It’s tricky, so I have the impression it would be best for experienced witches, but if you plan on using it for yourself only, then don’t think too much about it, regardless of your experience!

Kinky regards, K!

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