Review: Nomi x Shiba, Vol. 1

After that previous roller coaster, I wanted something familiar but also different. Enter the high school romance that we all worship and love. However, this time is different because there is a huge dose of humor and laughs to be found in Nomi x Shiba, Vol. 1, by Tohru Tagura, and translated by Leighann Harvey. Thanks to the publisher for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 192 pages.
• Publisher: Yen Press.
• Publication Date: March 25, 2025.
• Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Gay, Manga, Romance.
• Rating: 4/5 stars.

They first met at boarding school. After two whole years of living in the dorms, Nomiya can’t say he’s ever been in love. Sure, he thinks Mikoshiba’s face is kinda cute and girlie, and yeah, Nomi’s heart skips a beat every time he sees him, but that doesn’t mean he’s in love with Shiba, all right?! He’s into chicks, not dicks, okay?!

This is a cute, cute, cute story! I lost count of how many times I smiled like an idiot as I got to know Nomi and Shiba how their relationship works, and the environment they are in. I have to say, it might not be the most original of stories, but it is healing, it is adorable, and you fall in love with them right away. It is plain, wholesome romance that gives you as many good laughs as you could want.

The art is also quite good. Nomi x Shiba, Vol. 1 gives you that innocent feeling at the beginning that grips you right away, but then there's all this tension, a push and pull between both guys that keep you hooked, wondering what will happen next. The art reflects each of these feelings perfectly, adding depth to them, developing the inner world of each of them as you get to know them.

I have to admit there were some plot holes that left me dissatisfied, which I attribute to this manga originally meant to be a one-shot, a standalone tome, which would have made this a bit more understandable due to limited space. However, turning it into a series made me want to know more, to get more development, more answers. It wasn't a huge point, but it did affect my reading experience because it took me out of time several times.

Nomi x Shiba, Vol. 1 is a comfort reading more than anything else. It's adorable, it's cute, it's funny, and has endearing main characters that you root for the moment you meet them. It is a calm, wholesome manga that heals you from the inside while also allowing you to daydream thanks to the writing style and the art of each page. I have to say, also, the rest of the cast is just as good, so I hope we get more of them in the next volumes!

Kinky regards, K!

Connect with me on Instagram and Twitter!

Remember this blog lusts after your comments and shares to grow healthy!

Review: From Best to Bested

Hello, hello, kuties. I hope everything in your lives is going much better than in today's book. It is a story about hurt and grief, of damage and defeat, of how humans can be the worst kind of heroes but also the most unforgiving villains. It's my first time reading something like this, but I highly recommend you pick up a copy of From Best to Bested, by MN Bennet, with an audiobook narrated by Nick Cracknell. Thanks to the author for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 306 pages.
• Audiobook Duration: 8 hours and 38 minutes.
• Audiobook Narrator: Nick Cracknell.
• Publisher: Self-Published.
• Publication Date: January 13, 2025.
• Genres: Erotica, Gay, Horror, Thriller, (Toxic) Romance.
• Rating: 5/5 stars.

Roman Grayson has turned his prison stint into an opportunity of fame by becoming the reigning champion in an underground fight club. But when he’s dethroned by a new inmate, Roman quickly loses everything that made his incarceration bearable. From the extra perks of being champion, to the authority of keeping fellow inmates in line, all the way to his best friend being forced to room with the man who stole everything from Roman.

In a desperate attempt to win back his title and respect, Roman challenges the new reigning champion to a rematch, but Ezra Delgado only wants one thing from Roman. His pride. Roman has more enemies than he can count in the form of hostile inmates, angry guards, and a corrupt warden who’d gladly see Roman dead so long as it made a profit. If he wants to survive, Roman will have to decide how much of himself he’s willing to sacrifice for Ezra’s entertainment.

From Best to Bested is a MM dark romance. This is a tale about defeat, surrender, and submission, then clawing a way back out. Please check content warnings at the beginning of the book.

This was a challenging book, I have to say! I was nervous because I have seen a lot of controversy regarding "dark romance", but I gave the author the benefit of the doubt once I saw that he (correctly) promoted it as a toxic romance. That gave me some ease, knowing he wasn't romanticizing such a horrible scenario.

That said, this is an amazing story. It takes you on a wild ride through Roman's fall from grace, partly because of his own mistakes but also partly because of the people involved in it. This is a man who does his best with whatever he gets, even if he doesn't know how to handle things every now and then. It was painful to see everything he endured, but that was the whole point.

I've followed the author for a while, but this is the first time I've read his stories, let alone listened to them! Bennet has an incredible style that surrounds you in a dark atmosphere, a different universe that doesn't let you go, a style that Cracknell knows how to develop even further with the cadence of his voice. Even I, who struggles with solely audio, found it irresistible to stop, and don't get me started on reading and listening at the same time!

From Best to Bested is already one of my favorite readings of the year. It is dark, alluring, horrific, and shows the worst and the best of the human psyche. A Gothic tale about men being the most dangerous predators, it also offers a glimmer of hope with an unconventional ending. I would read a sequel for sure if the author decided to write it, but it still shines as a stand-alone book.

Kinky regards, K!

Connect with me on Instagram and Twitter!

Remember this blog lusts after your comments and shares to grow healthy!

Review: Neopets: The Official Tarot Deck

Boy oh boy, has it been a long time. My life has been a whirlwind lately, but here we are, still doing that witchcraft every day, and today I want to share a tool that I started using that has surprised me a great deal: I’m talking about the Neopets: The Official Tarot Deck, by Aimee Scholz, Anthony Conley, Crystal Rice, and John Taylor. Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the deck to review!

• Publication Date: February 27, 2024.
• Page Count: 176 pages.
• Card Count: 78 cards.
• Dimensions: 3.5 x 5.5

Your favorite Neopets—now on a full deck of traditional tarot cards. This tarot deck features an all-new box and card layout with a Faerieland theme, so you can channel faeries like Jhudora, Illusen, and Fyora for guidance. With an illustrated guidebook to help you interpret your cards, this officially licensed Neopets deck will inspire you to reflect on life and its many quests.

Neopets: The Official Tarot Deck is perfect for returning fans and neo-stalgic players. Originally published by Geekify, this new variant of the Neopets tarot deck focuses on Faerieland and its faeries, with an all-new box design and card backing by artist Aimee Scholz that's exclusive to this edition. 

Impress your friends and family with your fortune-telling skills. This officially licensed Neopets tarot deck features 78 of your favorite characters from Neopia, as well as a guidebook to help you thoughtfully interpret your cards. Each illustrated card combination will offer guidance, insight, and reflection with the help of the Neopets faeries. The deck contains all of the traditional major (22 cards) and minor (56 cards) arcana. It can be read as you would a Rider-Waite deck.

This was such a funny tool! Neopets was an integral part of my childhood, all the way up to my middle school years. I even got back into it a bit after getting this deck again, and I cannot tell you enough how powerful the nostalgia was. It is a powerful element in these cards because it shows you your past while still working towards your present and future.

In a way, it helps you reconnect with your inner child, see things from a different perspective. Not only that, it also allows you to disconnect from everything in a therapeutic way because of the distance it puts between you as the querent and the answer to your questions. It is much more objective, but it doesn't mean it is hard to accept. Quite the opposite.

The art is gorgeous as well. You don't need to be as familiar as you might expect with Neopets' lore and plots to interpret the cards because the booklet gives you enough insight. However, as you become more acquainted with them, you can see beyond what is explained in each of those pages. It is as gentle as it is direct, which is another good aspect to it.

All in all, this is a beautiful, adorable deck that reminds you of an innocent time that feels so far away, but that truly lives inside. It provides you with the clear guidance of a child, without the complexities and problems of adult life. Although the folklore is internet-born, it is just as effective as the centuries-old myths and legends we all study since we became baby witches.

Kinky regards, K!

Connect with me on Instagram and Twitter!

Remember this blog lusts after your comments and shares to grow healthy!