Review: Touch Within the Abyss

I recently finished this manga, and boy, do I need to tell you guys about it. It's sweet, it's full of drama, it has human characters, one with a heart of gold and the other with a horrible past... Come on, it has all the right ingredients for a good story. I'm talking about Touch Within the Abyss, by Moyori Mori. Thanks to the publisher for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 208 pages.
• Publisher: TokyoPop.
• Publication Date: March 25, 2025.
• Genres: Contemporary, Drama, Gay, Manga, Romance.
• Rating: 4/5 stars.

"If you knew the real me... you'd be disappointed."

Hitman Chinatsu once failed to pull the trigger on his target and it cost him his brother's life. That day, the sole witness who took Chinatsu's trembling hand had clear eyes that stared right through him... straight into the abyss within.

Five years later, a purse-snatching reunites Chinatsu with his savior: Kasumi, a young blind man searching for a way out of his own lonely world. Chinatsu knows better than to get involved with a potential witness, but he can't help but be drawn to Kasumi's radiant smile. If Kasumi knew the truth of their provenance, could he ever forgive the sins of Chinatsu's past?

I'm an absolute fan of the art style, which is clean and neat, allowing the characters' emotions to be easily expressed. As a manga, it obviously relies on the graphic aspect a lot, but there is a nice balance between both the art and the script, which I also liked, despite the ups and downs, because there were times when I felt that the story wasn't moving as much as it could.

Both characters were a surprise to me because I initially thought they were parodies of the types of people they're representing, but you quickly realize there is more than meets the eye. Chinatsu is the typical tragic hero, yet he is in contact with his emotions and actually works to do the right thing; Kasumi is a bubbly, happy person despite his disability, but he also shows a darker side due to his insecurities and his overprotective family.

Now, why am I not giving it a 5-star rating? The pace wasn't the best at key points during the story, and I didn't see enough originality in it. It has good elements and proves that Moyori Mori is a good artist, but I have yet to see something that completely awes me. This is a simple, comfortable romance that plays it safe despite its topics, so I'm expecting better for next time.

Touch Within the Abyss is a nice manga to pass the time with, a cute story about wounds, trauma, and romance with second chances at life. A hopeful story, it shows you there is always an opportunity for things to get better if you get to the job of working on yourself. I would definitely check something new from Moyori Mori if given the chance because there was potential in this story, but not enough work on it. It is entertaining and lighthearted, however.

Kinky regards, K!

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Review: Once Upon a Place

Let's talk about books and folklore for a moment, shall we? We often say that fiction is better than reality, but there are elements of reality that keep fiction alive, connecting us to the world and teaching us that there is still hope. How about we make it unique by learning about the places pictured in fiction? Let's talk about Once Upon a Place: Forests, Caverns & Other Places of Transformation in Myths, Fairy Tales & Film, by Holly Bellebuono, with a foreword by Jack Zipes. Thanks to the publisher for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 208 pages.
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications.
• Publication Date: March 8, 2025.
• Genres: Folklore, Mythology, Non-Fiction, Paganism.
• Rating: 5/5 stars.

Once Upon a Place explores narratives from modern film, famous fairy tales, and ancient mythology to define the five core locations that shape every story: the Cavern, the Deep, the Vessel, the Forest, and the Labyrinth.

Popularized by Joseph Campbell, the hero's journey features narrative stages along which a person matures and transforms. But where heroes transform is just as important as what they do to get there. Holly Bellebuono shows you how the location of each hero's journey step is intimately tied to the challenges faced, setting the tone for the entire adventure.

To illustrate each location, Bellebuono shares fifteen original adaptations―such as the tales of Persephone, Gilgamesh, Cerridwen, and Alice―to explore how the "sense of place" drives the adventure and outcome. From Innana's descent into the Cavern to Snow White entering the Forest, this book offers powerful wisdom about personal growth, life's purpose, and the origins of creativity.

What I like about this book is how simple yet insightful it is. You don't need to be that familiar with the stories in order to enjoy them or follow them. The author captures their essence as she retells them in a conversational style that retains the evocative language they were written with so long ago. That is already a good mark in my eyes!

Not only that, but also the ideas that Holly Bellebuono explores in each of the stories, and their settings, are as universal as you can expect them to be. We are all familiar with concepts like rites of passage, maturity, adulthood, and coming of age. However, the way she shows them under a different light, more spiritual than anything else, is fascinating.

I wasn't that convinced about The Vessel chapter because it is not a setting, strictly speaking. Nonetheless, as a crucial element in the stories that feature it, you get to see it as a remarkable object that can symbolize anything from birth to knowledge. I would say this one was my least favorite chapter, but it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it.

As a specialized book, this is perfect for Pagans and witches interested in folklore and symbolism. Far from being the typical, overly commercialized book of spells that promises to change your life, Once Upon a Place presents you with a choice: you either change and evolve, or stay stagnant. As you learn in all the chapters, this should be a no-brainer 

Kinky regards, K!

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Review: Oracle of the Chimeras

First times are always special. At least mine have been. And my first time with the Oracle of the Chimeras, by author Debora Mayfair and artist Marga Biazzi, was special for sure, so I want to tell you all about this adorable deck that combines cute art with deep knowledge about the self and witchcraft. Thanks to the publisher for the copy to review!

• Publication Date: May 8, 2025.
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications.
• Page Count: 128 pages.
• Card Count: 40 cards.
• Dimensions: 3 x 1.28 x 5.11 inches.

Manifest the specific talents and strength of the chimeras with this kawaii (cute) oracle deck.

Cultures around the world have found meaning in the animal kingdom, drawing inspiration from different creatures to achieve specific talents and strengths. In this deck, these animal powers find their human manifestation as chimeras, beautifully portrayed by the cute, soft-toned art of Marga Biazzi. This oracle helps you manifest the qualities of these animals in your life.

Obviously, the art had a lot to do with me getting this deck. It's impossible not to love it! The level of detail and the unique style could charm anyone, especially because the creators decided to show the union between the human and the animal world to create their chimeras. You don't have animals mixed up, but humanoid creatures in between both realms.

However, it was the descriptions that made me fall in love with it to a deeper level. Many oracle decks tend to focus either on the light or dark side of the person, light work or shadow work, which is fine, but few present a balance between the two. This is one of those cases where you can work the right-hand and left-hand path as you need.

The size of the cards is also perfect for me while also allowing for introspective meditations. There were many times when I wasn't sure about some of the meanings in the reading, but just looking inside the card, I was able to connect and find the answers I missed. That's another plus point: the design doesn't distract, and has no lettering or words on it to focus just on the chimera and their energy.

There were instances when I felt some descriptions didn't go as deep as others, so it wasn't as balanced in that regard, in my opinion, but it does give an initial guidance that helps to get the conversation started, so expect it to be a more intuitive experience than with other decks. On the good side, it will help you with psychic development. On the negative side, it might require more effort, time, and practice if you're not familiar with animals as spiritual guides.

Kinky regards, K!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Crafting a Tradition of Witchcraft

Hello hello. Are you in the mood to create a tradition of Witchcraft? I have been curious about how this gets started and formalized, and turns out one of our Pagan Elders wrote a comprehensive guide that gives you all you need to begin the process. I'm talking about Crafting a Tradition of Witchcraft: Creating Foundations for Your Spiritual Beliefs & Practices, by Raven Grimassi. Thanks to the author for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 250 pages.
• Publisher: Crossed Crow Books.
• Publication Date: October 7, 2024.
• Genres: Folklore, Mythology, Non-Fiction, Paganism.
• Rating: 5/5 stars.

Crafting a Tradition of Witchcraft will help better identify your own magical and spiritual beliefs, while showing you how to use these ideals as the building blocks for your own magical tradition. This book encourages you to reclaim your power and forge your own path to magical empowerment.

By showing you how to articulate your own beliefs as they pertain to the practical and spiritual aspects of the Craft, Raven Grimassi encourages you to break free from the constructs of preexisting or outdated magical structures. Working through this book will show you how to build your own tradition from the ground up, making you stand at the forefront of a Craft tradition that is tailored to your own personal ideologies.

Whether you are a solitary witch or a member of a new or existing coven, all practitioners will benefit from an in-depth study of their own core magical beliefs, as encouraged by the author. From exploring your beliefs on the witch’s god and goddess, the seasonal calendar, lunar and solar mysteries, as well as the practice of magic itself, each witch can rise up with a newfound sense of empowerment.

With a simple but detailed style, Raven Grimassi offers a comprehensive look into the foundations and some specifics of crafting a tradition. If not a complete book, Crafting a Tradition of Witchcraft opens the door and leads the way for those interested in understanding how the process works and/or how to start a tradition. Although there are some traditional, binary ideas, they act as examples to understand the connections between different aspects.

From cosmology to divinity and altar set up, ritual structure to roles for groups or the different aspects of a solitary practice, you learn about structure and leadership, how to ensure everything is working out, and pay attention to seemingly unimportant details. Honestly, there were aspects and roles I wasn't familiar with, but that Raven explained in such a simple way that it's easy to keep them in mind for future reference.

Now, this book doesn't mean to dismantle or change the established ones, but encourages the flourishing of those in the process of becoming. Perhaps also help the traditions that are mutating with time acquire a new shape and form. I believe that witchcraft should be useful for the time and space it is being practiced within, and so this book helps you explore the concepts that are fundamental to your practice.

All in all, a fascinating addition to any witch's library for reference and growth. Even if you are not thinking about creating a tradition, this will help you immensely to establish a personal practice, a belief system, and keep in mind those values that are your foundations. Simple yet insightful, Crafting a Tradition of Witchcraft helps you develop a critical eye when it comes to concepts and learning, something we could all benefit from.

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Memoir of a Mangled Mind

Hello, cuties. I finished reading a book recently that drove me crazy, made me gasp, rage, and smile. It's one of those readings that shows you the worst and the best of humankind in a single tome, a single story that you're so desperate to believe they are fiction. But no. Everything was painfully real in Memoir of a Mangled Mind: How Concealing My Dissociative Identity Disorder Unleashed Multiple Personalities, by Steven Simmons Shelton, MA, JD. Thanks to the author for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 388 pages.
• Publisher: SelfPublished.
• Publication Date: November 19, 2024.
• Genres: Memoir, NonFiction, Mental Health, Sexuality, Abuse.
• Rating: 4/5 stars.

When sexual predators target Steve Simmons as a child, his mind fractures into multiple personalities—alters—who give him blackouts as a protective shield.

The abuse ends when he’s fourteen, but two alters begin hijacking his consciousness to live their own lives as a thief and a gay prostitute.

Steve discovers he has multiple personalities but keeps the mental disorder a secret for fear of being institutionalized. That decision grants his doppelgangers free rein to drag him down the paths of crime and debauchery.

To maintain his freedom and reputation, Steve discards his ethical compass in order to conceal his alters’ criminal activities—even after becoming an attorney at one of the world’s premier litigation firms.

This deeply personal memoir lays bare Steve’s childhood sexual assaults and the poor judgment he exercises to hide his mental disorder caused by the trauma.

How will he navigate the road to redemption?

This is not for the faint of heart. There are so many graphic, horrible things this man went through that you have to be prepared. There are repeated rapes, pedophilia, ephebophilia, gaslighting, abuse, manipulation, suicidal thoughts, suicide ideation, attempts, and more (highlight the text if you want to know exactly what I'm talking about; I usually don't read content warnings to avoid spoilers, however.)

Steven has an impeccable style that he uses to tell a tale we don't want to believe is real because of what it would mean if it is. Humans are far from perfect, but some members of our kind make you wonder if they know the definition of being human. Steven doesn't hold back. If you think he was raw in the note at the beginning, you will agree with him in little to no time.

The best way that I can put it without it sounding morbid is that this is an amazing read about survival, perseverance, resiliency, and hope. That last one is the most fitting, in my humble opinion, because even if he wanted to give up so many times, Steven still tried to stay afloat despite what his alters did to ruin his life/their lives. It's a curious thing that they tried to "protect" him by putting him in so much danger.

My only complaint is the ending. It was abrupt, too sharp, although still effective. I wasn't expecting something that far from what happened, but something changed in the style, as if the author was in a rush to finish. However, it was still an addictive reading that shows you what it is like to have this kind of mental condition (slight spoiler censored). Awe inspiring. One of my favoirte readings of the year so far, easily.

Kinky regards, K!

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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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Cheat(er) Code

Rise and shine, people of the internet. I have a recommendation you will thank me for! There is only one thing that is better than a graphic novel full of humor, sex, fantasy, and gorgeous art, and that is a graphic novel full of humor, sex, fantasy, and gorgeous art and the best diversity I could have found! I'm talking about Cheat(er) Code, written by S.A. Foxe and art by Daz.

• 
  Publication Date: November 24, 2020.
• Publisher: Oni Press.
• Print Length: 144 pages.
• Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Gay, Romance, Yaoi.
• 5 / 5 stars.

An erotic graphic novel that pushes all the right buttons, Cheat(er) Code is a hilarious, sexy, and surprisingly tender story about navigating heartbreak and rediscovering your own confidence.

Kennedy and his boyfriend Seth have been together six years, and honestly, it's pretty comfortable. That is, until the couple gets into a huge, potentially relationship-changing fight. Kennedy turns to his trusty video games to distract himself, but when a random power surge hits, he's transported inside his video game library. Dazed and incredulous about his digital predicament, Ken finds himself seduced by a silver daddy, rutting with a couple of barbarians from an epic fantasy, and sorting through a lot of confusing feelings about his favorite anthropomorphic cheetah character. Kennedy will need to confront his biggest fears to get back to reality before the game glitches him out of existence, but sometimes, the unexpected (and unexpectedly sexy) is just what you need to hit the reset button.

I've been going through so much stuff as of lately that when I found this book in the Queer Liberation Library I had to get it. It was worth all the wait and then some because it's the type of story that we need, that we want, and that we love. Let me make this clear: there is sex, lots and lots and lots, but the social commentary about gay culture is just as huge.

From a chubby, heartbroken guy to a swinger couple that couldn't care less about stereotypes, adding a gorgeous art and a solid script that gives you more character development that you could ever dream of, this is a mandatory reading for every queer person in sight. Yes, I'm looking at you. You better be getting your QLL membership right now.

Now that we have established that this is juicy fantasy porn, I want to get serious for a second. This is not a story that touches social aspects of culture, but explores them in a savage way that surprises you, and it does it quickly but naturally. Come on, it's the definition of a solid script with amazing character development and growth.

With different forms of body shaming, playing with stereotypes, diversity in bodies and relationships, along with a solid, wholesome friendship (and no, not with benefits), there's nothing to complain about. Cheat(er) Code is the book we need for times like these, a wholesome, yet wildly queer story that heals those who read it. And that might help you relieve some stress, too.

Kinky regards, K!

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My Pagan Bucket List

I've been thinking about what it means to be a Pagan and a Witch to me. Of course, there is all the fun I have with spells, divination, sigil crafting, and so on. Of course, there is also the importance of connecting with other people so we can strengthen each other, learn from each other, and enrich our paths. But what are some fun goals to work on? What's on my Pagan bucket list?

"Don't get me wrong. I love being solitary, but..." Photo by Los Muertos Crew.

After thinking about it and reading some examples on the internet, some things called to me. They are mostly about community, connecting with others, and getting out there. I have been solitary all my life, so I want to change that one step at a time.

Don't get me wrong. I love being solitary, but I lack the community I see in movies, books, comics, and memes. I visit witchcraft and metaphysical stores because they give me that community, even if for a little bit, even if for a (literal) price. So, I based my list on that. And it happened to be 13 goals long!

• Attend a public ritual.
• Be part of a coven.
• Study with another Elder (already studied with Laurie Cabot; hard to top that!)
• Do a reading for an Elder.
• Meet an Elder in real life.
• Attend a spiritual retreat.
• Go on a pilgrimage.
• Paint my own tarot deck.
• Go camping (bonfire included!)
• Participate in a paranormal investigation. 
• Do my own Book of Shadows from scratch.
• Visit Salem, MA.
• Intentionally bake something.

What about you? Is there something else you'd like to do? Is there something you think I'm missing? Let me know in the comments or DM me on any of my social media.

Kinky regards, K!

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Manga: Lethal Dose of Love

It's been a long time since I came here, isn't it? I wanted to come back with a thoughtful article, and while working on it, I grabbed a copy of Lethal Dose of Love, by Yosumi. It should suffice to say that I devoured this without even thinking about it, and I think you should, too.

• Publication Date: October 15, 2024.
• Publisher: Yen Press.
• Print Length: 192 pages.
• Genres: Drama, Gay, Romance, Yaoi.
• 4 / 5 stars.

He’ll never forget him—his ex-classmate Yuu, that is. College student Ryousuke was absolutely devastated when Shinobu confessed and then promptly disappeared from his life without waiting for a reply. After desperately searching for years, he is overjoyed when they suddenly meet by chance. His happiness is soon eclipsed by the fact that Shinobu walks off into the arms of another man...

As always, the script got me into it, and I found a story that only got better with time. Yuu seems like a cliché at first, but then you spend more time with him, his past, and his baggage, until you find out what made him the way he is. I won't spoil anything, just say there's a great exploration of trauma and healing.

This also is supported by the art. Equally clean and raw, there's a delicate balance between too much and too little, and Yosumi hits the sweet spot that feels just right. There's not only sex for the sake of it, but an exploration of mental health that shows in the art, the layout, the inks, and even the dialogues. I love how it all comes together!

Some scenes didn't feel as organic as the others. There was some coldness, a distance that didn't match the rest of the book. Being an atmospheric and immersive reading, I was taken out at some points because it felt like there wasn't as much passion as before. It didn't happen often enough to be a real problem, but enough for me to notice.

In general, it's a beautiful story that you should definitely dwell on. It's one of those that are realistic, that feel natural, and remind you of the good that there's still in the world. It is not idealistic, as you can imagine, but there are many times that I smiled and laughed at Yuu and Ryousuke. I am always saying that I wish the story was longer, but this one was just right.

Kinky regards, K!

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