Sentou Yousei Yukikaze 4-5 - anime (2002)

Title: Sentou Yousei Yukikaze 4-5

Format: anime

Length: 5 OVA episodes

Holy fuck! The two most intense episodes of the set! I started watching Yukikaze a few days ago and I've finally managed to finish it. Let me just say the drama got turned up two-fold as the story hit its climax. The relationship between Rei and Yukikaze becomes a little clearer as we learn more about the JAM and the war that's going on. 

Likewise, the relationship between Rei and Jack hits a critical point as the plot speeds towards the conclusion. I should have expected a dramatic, sad moment to crop up as the war hits its peak and victory seems bleak, but even if I did, it still would have hit me hard in the gut. 

What I like about this series is the ever constant grip on reality despite the obvious sci-fi elements that allow the audience to step away from the real world for a moment. Gonzo's choice to consult the air force about tactics and maneuvers helped to keep the fight scenes believable while still creating a sense of disbelief during the parts when Yukikaze and the JAM excel perform beyond the scope of reality.

I'll admit, the military jargon and sequences can be hard to follow at times, if you're not used to it. Those familiar with militant speech, or have any active military backgrounds probably would have an easier time catching all the details and understanding what they mean. The good thing is, even if you aren't too familiar and get a little lost in all the talk, the action scenes make up for it. 

The animation and coloring are superb. And since I've set aside my prejudice about 3DCG in anime for this show, I have to applaud the animation group for blending the two platforms together, both drawing and CG. It made the actions scenes so much more exciting to watch. I think I actually tensed up during the final battle, almost shrieking for the good guys to win. 

So much happened in Operation 5 I can't even begin to describe it. My mind was overloaded by the end of it all. The epilogue was tears worthy, and any sentimental who enjoys shedding a tear or two over aftermaths of a great, emotional battle, will definitely be affected by the ending provided. 

After I cool down a bit and give myself a few more days to process everything, I have a feeling I'm going to go back and watch the whole thing again and see if I can pick up on any information I missed the first time around. 

I can definitely see why this story became popular in its original print. The visuals just make it that much more awesome. :)

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Sentou Yousei Yukikaze - anime (2002)

Title: Sentou Yousei Yukikaze, 1-3

Format: anime, OVA

Length: 5 episodes

I've recently discovered this show called Sentou Yousei Yukikaze (i.e. Battle Fairy Yukikaze; or simply, Yukikaze). It's set in the future, with a heavy sci-fi, military setting. The main character, Rei Fukai, is the pilot of B-503 aka: Yukikaze. Secondary main character, James "Jack" Bukhar, is Rei's commanding officer and seemingly only friend. 

To my understanding, this OVA set is actually based off a novel series by Chohei Kambayashi.

When I first saw a trailer of the anime, I wasn't too sure what to expect of it. Since it's only a five episode OVA, I didn't know how they would execute the story. I was under the impression it would be something along the lines of Macross or Gundam, only much shorter and more condensed. 

Upon actually seeing the first episode, I found it to be completely different from what I was expecting. While not quite as brightly colored as Gundam or Macross, or heavily laced with political messages disguised as key plot points, the story is very involved and thought provoking. 

Yukikaze is an AI system built into the B-503 that seems to be almost sentient. The thought of machines gaining a consciousness of their own has been stewed in the backs of many people's minds over many years, so on that basic concept, it's nothing new. But the way Yukikaze reacts to the situation, and takes control during key parts of the story is intriguing. 

I enjoy how Yukikaze is not omnipotent despite its (her? his?) power. I have seen in various other anime or other story platforms where sentient AI are too overpowering. They control too much of the situation and leave little room for human choice to enter the equation. Yukikaze's power is restricted, seeming to focus solely on aiding Rei during critical moments. 

Rei has full power to leave the machine behind and pursue a different course of action. If only his conscience would allow it. Rei's complicated personality and principles make it difficult for him to step away from Yukikaze as others might have long ago. There is a sense of trust there that's almost frightening because of the things that Yukikaze projects and the truths that it reveals throughout the story. 

I haven't finished the series yet, I'm slowly working on it, but I find the relationship between Rei and Yukikaze to be rather fascinating. I can't quite find the words to describe what it is that interests me so about them. I suppose it's the same sort of fascination that draws me to Jack too. 

Rei and Jack seem to also have a complicated relationship. They're friends, but also stand on two different stages of military ranking. There is a subtle history being played throughout the episodes that describe their relationship, and since I haven't quite finished watching, I'm sure I'm missing a few key points that would tie everything together. 

So until I can connect all the plot points and whatnot, I'll talk about the simpler stuff: 

The animation. To note, I've always had this unfair prejudice against animations that rely heavily on CG effects to help in particular action sequences. I've always seemed to prefer a more hand-drawn style, with minimal aid/interference from CG (which is why I love the old Ghibli movies so much; despite being aided by a lot of CG, it still looks drawn).

To be honest, I was anxious about the flight scenes in the show. But as I've immersed myself in the story, and concentrated more on what's going on, and less on how easily I can tell someone used a 3D program to do the jet fights, I actually don't mind that much. There are times when I still get that squirmy, uncomfortable feeling when the blending isn't smooth enough to my liking, but for the most part I've come to ignore them in favor of a more fruitful and enjoyable experience. 

And besides, it's pretty interesting to see how accurately they have animated the projected flight patterns of a F-15 fighter jet. From my understanding, the animators of Gonzo (a company I've come to love for their affinity for obscure plots and unique directive executions) worked with a real Air Force team for their flying scenes. 

The voices, too, are interesting. I've only watched it in Japanese, but from accidentally hearing a few clips in English, I think the translation is palatable. The quality of voice and the inflections of speech seem to follow the original Japanese audio. If I had to guess, I would say it wouldn't be hard to watch this in English as well as Japanese. (some shows have horrible English dubbing but excellent Japanese dubbing, while others are the exact opposite. This series... I think could go either way.)

I'll have to go back and listen to it again to make sure, though. I'm pretty sure even after I watch the last two episodes, I'll want to go back just to recap so I can draw a proper conclusion about the series. I'll just watch it in English the second time around to kill two birds with one stone.

Simply put, this discover has been an unexpected treasure. Fans of military type of shows would probably enjoy this. As would sci-fi fans. People who have watched anime like Macross or Gundam or anything obscure that's a product of Gonzo will probably enjoy this. Granted, it's not for everyone, but I think I really like it. It's a shame I haven't seen more stuff about it on the internet. It seems to be under-appreciated by most audiences. 

Overall: 4 out of 5

Young Justice - season 1 (unfinished)

Title: Young Justice - season 1
Format: animated series
Length: 24 minute episodes



Still on my DC kick, I've recently started watching Young Justice. I never got to watch it before because it always came on at times I couldn't watch it, or I forgot, or I was obsessing over a different series at the time. (Or I was probably really busy with academics.) Either way, I've got time now, and I'm in a mood since Nolan's Batman trilogy has ended, so I'm kinda marathoning it as much as I can between stuff I have to do. 


It's interesting to say in the least. It's definitely shoved full of teenager hormones, and sometimes the impatient part of me that has a problem with teens/kids wants to just smack them around when they get into these silly fights with each other. But the DC fan in me still watches and forces that impatient part aside to enjoy the little plot points that get dropped throughout the episode (or several episodes). 


One thing that's cracked me up since starting the series is... well, Kaldur/Aqualad. He's dark-skinned. This doesn't bother me, even though it was kinda surprising (Aqualad was originally pale skinned, like Aquaman).


Twice, while watching a few episodes in a row, a roommate has passed by the television right when Aqualad introduces himself or the others call on him, and stopped to say, "Aqualad is black?!" while wearing a shocked, incredulous expression on their face.


It's really amusing.


On the other hand, Superboy/Conner, has some major anger issues. Reasonable, but still major. It probably doesn't help that Superman isn't being very accepting of their biological relationship. (Or the truth about his birth.)


I'm still trying to figure out which Robin is behind the mask. I'm pretty sure it's Tim, but I could be wrong. I don't know, and I don't want to cheat and use the internet just yet to find the answer. The bad thing about all the Robin's (male ones anyway) is they all pretty much look alike except for their eyes. (Jason sometimes has his white streak, and sometimes not; depends on the timeline and who's drawing.) 


Anyway, it's pretty interesting so far. Strange, since I'm not used to watching these types of shows anymore, but I'm getting used to it. In the meantime, I think I'll keep going and reevaluate my opinions once I'm at least done with the first season. 

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Title: Snow White and the Huntsman
Director: Rupert Sanders
Format: live action movie
Length: 127 minutes

The new Snow White movie came out just the other week and I managed to see it yesterday. I didn't get the chance to review right away, but my memory is fresh enough that one day won't hurt. To start, let's talk about the movie as a whole. It was visually stimulating and the soundtrack was well suited for the moments. The graphics of mythical creatures was alluring, even the troll under the bridge. I especially liked the graphics that aided in expressing the Queen's (played by Charlize Theron) magic. What you see in the previews is very much what you get in the movie.

Now let's go with the plot. This movie takes on an old fairytale (and Disney favorite for many people) and puts an interesting twist on the plot. We see how Snow White came to be, and why the Queen wants her so much. Yes, we know it's because she's supposed to be "the fairest of them all," but there's a little more depth do it than just because she's pretty. The Queen's character is complex, and her background plays a major role in dictating why she acts the way she does. We see how her foundation sets into motion this terrible chain of events that poisons the land and her own soul.

I would have liked to see a little more of her story, but for what little we do see, Charlize does an excellent job of projecting that history through the Queen's current actions and the emotions that ride her. I believe Charlize did a wonderful job in making the Queen someone who was believable and creepy. Someone who you could possibly relate to. (I wanted her to win, frankly.)

On the opposite side, we have Snow White (played by Kristen Stewart), aka: the Princess. They hardly say her given name in the movie, only mentioning it in the narrative in the beginning. Otherwise she is only known as "the princess." Snow White's character has lived a harsh life, and the journey she takes is a grueling one. She has to learn to trust, and find her resolve to fight the Queen and put an end to her reign. It's not easy. She meets many trials along the way.

As a character, I thought SW was okay. But played by Kristen, I had a hard time relating to her. I couldn't get into her character because Kristen didn't portray SW's emotions well. I noticed that Kristen only wears one expression on her face: blank. Her facial muscles don't move very much, least of all to close her mouth (the only time she seems to close her mouth is when she's dead -- that's not a spoiler, we already know from the original Snow White story that she has to die). I couldn't tell if she was angry or surprised or happy or sad except when she inflected her voice and showed tears. Otherwise, it was hard buying into her acting.

(Personally, I think Kristen would do better as a voice actress since she can convey the emotions in her voice well, but not a visual actress since she can't portray them on her face.)

As for the Huntsman (played by Chris Hemsworth), I felt neutral about him. I wasn't overly impressed or disappointed with his character. He was, quite plainly, a support character. Chris plays his role well, but there were times when I wondered if he couldn't be a little more vocal with his emotions during more serious parts of the movie. Perhaps I didn't give him a close enough look when I watched the movie, but he didn't really stand out to me.

One male character that did stand out was the Queen's brother, Finn (played by Sam Spruell). While not an overly 3-dimensional character, I very much enjoyed his interactions with his sister. Sam and Charlize had an interesting chemistry. They seemed to feed off of each other. You could believe they had a dysfunctional sibling relationship. (And as an extra little tidbit, I also enjoyed the fight scene between the Huntsman and Finn. Can anyone say pimp cane?)

Speaking of actors and characters, one thing to note while watching this movie is that you'll recognize cast members from a recent, well known saga. Cast members from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides play key supporting characters in this movie. If you've seen it before, you'll instantly recognize them here.

But apart from the acting and visuals, the movie was a pleasant experience. It felt like the story could have been extended upon, but I'm not sure if I could have stood to watch SW's character be mistreated by a poor choice in actress for a minute longer. Also, there were some wardrobe inconsistencies, especially with SW's character, that bothered me a bit. It was blatantly obvious when they were trying to make her look "sexy" during certain parts, because it didn't quite fit with the context of the story. Likewise, not just with the clothes, you could tell when they dyed Kristen's hair to better fit the character's description. Kristen's hair is three different shades of brown, and finally in one scene it's actually black as night.

There were a bunch of little things that the editors didn't catch and fix while they were making the movie that you can see rather obviously as you watch the movie. While it doesn't necessarily detract from the experience, I had a hard time ignoring it altogether. At the very least, I enjoyed most of the movie, especially key characters, both main and supporting. Overall, it's an okay movie. If there's a discount theatre that shows this movie, I would suggest going there instead of paying full price. Or maybe even wait until you can rent it.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Tiger & Bunny, 2011 - anime

Title: Tiger & Bunny
Genre: action, comedy, mystery, (b)romance
Length: 25 episodes
Format: anime

Oh boy. Where do I start? It was the title that got me. I was wondering what sort of show could have a name that cheesy and initially thought it would be full of tiny characters with overly cute features, or something having to do with animals and life lessons. Instead, I got the brain child of the Power Rangers, Marvel and DC, and every other western superhero/mutant-based comic or show that's out there.

T&B is littered with western comic book superhero influences, including but not limited to The Avengers, TMNT, X-Men, and Batman. But unlike our normal western superhero drama, T&B puts a twist on the classic by giving it a sports-like atmosphere. We don't just have superheros or people with superpowers, they're contracted to major multimillionaire companies, sponsored by popular consumer products like Pepsi and Bandai. They compete with each other to earn the most points by capturing criminals and saving citizens.

I must say, the game spin caught me off guard, as well as the full blown CG that's used on the characters' costumes. More often than not I shy away from such obvious shows of CG because I don't like how it meshes well with the 2D art that's notorious in anime/cartoons. I prefer to have CG being used as cinematography aids rather than key factors in the show.

However, I managed to put my prejudice aside for this show. After getting past my initial shock and discomfort, I found I didn't really mind it because of the type of action scenes the characters engage in. For those who share the same discomfort as me, I think you'll be able to enjoy this show anyway.

Of course, to enjoy this show, you have to first be familiar with western superheros. Not just Superman and Batman, but even the other branches as well. The organizations and the affiliations. You don't have to be a major geek to understand it all, but it helps to be familiar with the main trademarks and characters of each series.

It is this knowledge that will help you pick up the cues that are peppered all throughout the show. Characters in T&B have been designed with one or more western super' in mind. To give you a hint, one of Wild Tiger's handy gadgets is reminiscent of Spiderman's web. I could tell you more, but some key factors are spoilers. I'm sure if you watch you'll see what I mean.

Now, apart from the homage to western comic book heroes, the show if very lively and dramatic, touching on almost every major genre. You've got a bit of action, a bit of adventure, a bit of family drama, friendship drama, mystery, and romance -- though that one takes a backseat to the action and drama.

I added bromance to the genre because this show deals heavily on the partnership of Wild Tiger and Barnaby/Bunny. They have a partnership that begins in adversity and grows into something powerful and indestructible at the end. Their teamwork and trust helps them to overcome obstacles both in the crime fighting world and on a personal level. They are a dynamic duo.

If you want to have a few laughs and indulge in something that brings you back to your childhood days of fantasizing about Superman and Wonderwoman and whatnot, I think this series is right for you. It's fun and suitable for various types of audiences.

Overall: 4 out of 5

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Title: Grimspace
Author: Ann Aguirre
Format: book

It's been a long time since I've delved into the sci-fi genre, and this book will be my first reintroduction. That said, I'm no expert on the standards, so I'll be going into this virgin. As someone who's rather new to this field, I say it's been a spectacular ride. 

One of the things I enjoyed about this book is the characterization. I've read books where main couple doesn't really tug at my heartstrings enough. Either they're lacking some element in their personality that makes them seem very 2-dimensional, or the chemistry between character A and character B just doesn't mesh well to me. 

Jax and March are a peculiar couple, but I found their relationship to be entertaining to watch. They're quick witted, both have issues to deal with, and both have messed up personalities that somehow make them quite compatible with each other. It helps that the roles they play on the ship help them to connect in a way that very few can replicate. 

Speaking of ship, the scenes where Jax is plugged in and navigating grimspace were quite interesting. There are various ways that grimspace can be interpreted, and part of me thinks it hearkens back to Star Trek and warp speed travel. All that's missing is the presence of aliens.

Oh wait, no it's not. You can't have sci-fi without some aliens, especially not when space travel is involved. Though there isn't a lot of introduction to what other creatures live out there in the galaxy, we do get to see some hint that there are more than just humans roaming space when Jax and Co. face a few life-threatening challenges. Bugs seem to be the theme for the aliens in this book, as I have yet to see something mammalian show up. I'm hoping that will change in the next book of this series. 

Another things I'd like to see is a bit more stuff getting done for the team's mission. Grimspace definitely felt like nothing more than an introduction to the characters, world, and life that Jax and her team live. There were a lot of side trips and sidetracking involved in this book, and -- in part -- it felt random and unsatisfying. Nothing got done -- except for people, but that's a completely different matter. I hope that more of the mission gets tackled in the next book because I felt like I only got a taste. A tease. An awful tease. 

At least Jax was entertaining to be with. Her point of view on things run against the grain more often than not. Her personality makes her likable, as she's full of snark and wit and sarcasm. She also has a head full of crazy ideas, which can sometimes work out of her favor when she overthinks things, but also lead her to the right conclusions when the going gets rough. 

I'm sure Jax will continue to be entertaining as she and the crew continue on their journey. I'm interested to see how this will go because the ending left many questions unanswered. 

Overall: 4 out of 5

Noblesse: Season One by Son Jae Ho

Title: Noblesse (Season 1)

Author: Son Jae Ho

Format: webcomic

My brain's a little muddled, but let's see how well I can do this. To start, Noblesse originally is a Korean webcomic. Manhwa, if you prefer. Since then, it's progressed quite well, and I believe the creators have published the story into volumes. (Don't quote me on that.) 

Noblesse is a complex story that revolves not necessarily on one protagonist, but a group of them. We first meet the core of the "group" within the first few pages of the first chapter: Rai. His name doesn't get revealed until a little later, by which we as the audience finds out that "Rai" is more like his nickname, bestowed upon him by three Korean high school students who are right away added to our protagonist bunch. 

Though the story does seem to center around the school environment at first, as Rai explores a world he has -- until now -- been oblivious to, it is not really a high school based story. Noblesse doesn't focus on classes or school drama, etc. that's often seen in Japanese manga/anime. In fact, the school is merely a starting point and neutral meeting ground for some of the series' main characters to come together. 

Speaking of characters, another person to add to the bunch is the handsome principal: Frankenstein. Franky is the loyal servant of Rai, who has a mysterious past that whispers of the immense power he holds. For years upon years, Franky has been looking for Rai, uncertain of what happened to him after he disappeared from their mutual home. 

While there are many questions about what happened and why Rai was missing, very few get answered as events take a dramatic turn. Of course, if you have protagonists, you have to have antagonists. For Season one (which happens to consist of 92 chapters total), these villains come in pairs, in two waves. 

We learn a little bit more about the world that these characters live in and get a hint of the powers that they hide from the public, human eye, as supernatural people come to cause havoc. The first pair, who only go by code names M-21 and M-24, seem to be searching for something. There is suspicion that they're looking for Rai. 

This spells trouble, not just for Rai and Franky, but also those who they associate with. The innocent will always get dragged into dangerous situations whether they like it or not, and the unfortunate coincidence of their acquaintance with Rai and Franky lead the three high school students (Yoona, Ikhan, and Shinwoo) to become victims of circumstance. 

When the three students get into trouble, Rai and Franky take a step forward to save them. The battles and confrontations that take place as the students run into trouble again and again give light to the powers that Rai and Franky have, making it clear they are anything but normal humans. If humans at all. 

Noblesse is full of action and fighting scenes that raise the tension with every progressive chapter that takes place. As a webcomic, it's expected that scenes will take a while to finish, but if you're reading the season all at once, it's hard to notice. 

The colors and dramatic actions that are drawn out are wonderful to stare at. The artists do a fantastic job using a blend of lights and darks to represent day and night, as well as adding a unique flare to certain powers. The lines are very delicate as well, precise and detailed with every frame that is drawn and colored. 

Despite the comic being full of pretty people, masculinity is not lost on the men, and the women are not overly sparkly or beautified. Take, for example, Franky. He's very pretty for a man. Long flowing blond hair and a perfect smile worth plastering on a poster. But even though he's got a pretty face, he has nasty secret that makes his personality very twisted. I wish I could say more, but that would be spoiling. 

I have to say, my favorite character in Season One is Frankenstein. He's complex and very dark. He has many layers and wears many faces. At times, you can't help but laugh at him. At other times, you want to take a step back and shudder at the things he can do and the things he says. 

Season One barely scratches at the surface of this universe. It's a fairly good setup and introduction to what Noblesse will be like later on down the road, and leave the reader curious and hungry for more. More knowledge, more action, just simply more more more. I give it two thumbs up. 

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Inu x Boku SS, 2012 - anime

Title: Inu x Boku SS
Genre: shounen, fantasy, romance
Length: 12 episodes
Format: anime

I recently found this while avoiding a day of studying for a test. I know, I'm so responsible. But! My irresponsibility has shown me something new. I have never seen an anime like this before, so I wasn't too sure how I would like it. I tend to stray away from art where the female character looks like she belongs in junior high or lower. 

After watching the whole thing, I'm not disappointed in the outcome. A bit weirded out, and feeling peculiar, but let me explain why... 

First, let's start with the premise. Inu x Boku takes place in modern day and centers around a young girl who is fifteen years old. She is moving into an apartment complex with a reputation for employing bodyguards for the residents and being of supernatural taint. This is Ririchiyo. She has a round, pretty face, but her attitude is cold and her eyes even colder when you try to talk to her. But on the inside, she's awkward and clumsy at handling social situations, so that often leads to her lashing out when she doesn't mean to. 

That's where her bodyguard, who is a polar opposite of her, comes in. Upon arriving at the apartment, otherwise known as Ayakashi Mansion, she meets the man who is meant to be her bodyguard: Soushi. Soushi is devoted to a fault and perfectly selfless when it comes to meeting Ririchiyo's needs. He has no problem expressing his opinion, no matter how embarrassing it may be, least of all when it comes to the subject of Ririchiyo. 

Together, they make an awkward pair, and the comedic way they interact certainly deserves some laughs. Ririchiyo simply doesn't know what to do with Soushi most of the time, though she learns to accept his obsessions with time. 

A lot of this series is about meeting the people that Ririchiyo comes to live with, and her developing relationship with her bodyguard. It's cute to see her stumble and try to open up to certain situations that the rest of us as an audience would find so normal and easy to do. Especially in terms of love, we get to see how naive she is on the subject, and how she goes about dealing with it in the most evasive of manners. 

But let's not forget that this is a shounen series. Despite the cuteness, despite the lovey-dovey romance, despite having a girl as the main protagonist, we can't forget there are certain elements that make this series fit under the masculine title of "shounen." 

There is a level of perverseness in certain key side characters that make me wonder about their sanity. There's a woman who's borderline fetish/lesbian, a S&M fanatic, and a crossdresser/transvestite. The first two especially may give the audience reason to pause upon first seeing them because of their baud opinions about sexual subjects. The crossdresser is the least conspicuous of the three, which can be considered a nice contrast to the other extreme of abnormality. 

Then again, nothing of this show is normal. Each character in the story has their faults that are used to bring out a level of comedy in the show. One that should certainly be noted is Soushi's obsession with being Ririchiyo's bodyguard. Loyal though he is, he's overly emotional and often gets weepy whenever Ririchiyo has to leave his side to attend school or otherwise.

I don't think I've ever seen a male character in a shounen series cry so much. I don't think I've ever seen one have that many sparkles float around his head so often either. Part of me wonders if this really is a shounen series, but that's the label I've found it as, so I'm willing to extend my belief that it belongs there.

Now, aside from Soushi making me want to erase all those dang sparkles that sprout around his head, let me talk a bit about the plot. Yes, there is one, underneath all that nonsense. Aside from the subtle ways in which Ririchiyo develops friendship with some of the other residents at the complex, she also develops a relationship with Soushi. This relationship is a particularly sticky and complicated one, when you manage to ignore all the sparkly, comedic parts.

Soushi plays an important role in Ririchiyo's life, not simply as a bodyguard, but as a figure of influence. Soushi is a bit complex underneath that happy, selfless personality. He has his own dark thorns, which are part of the reason why his dedication to Ririchiyo is so significant. The truth about him is a bit surprising, especially when taking into consideration his nature. The things that are hinted that he's done are rather extreme. To think he was exposed so young to the darker parts of the world helps the audience understand why he is the way he is today.

I think the creators of the story could have gone a little more in-depth about the past, and maybe tossed around the sequence of events in the series to make it a bit more coherent. I enjoyed the comedy, but while I was watching, I felt like I was missing a few key elements that would have really pulled me into the story and connected with the characters.

If I had to say, without spending a few more episodes getting a little serious, this series lacks something that could have made it more 3-dimensional. It doesn't cover all the bases that would make for an excellent show, so I can't really say I'm overly impressed or fascinated by it. Nevermind that the premise wasn't especially original, I think it could have used a little extra something to help fill in some cracks that could have made up for the lack of episodes.

Would I watch this again? Possibly, but not solely out of adoration for it. It's a fun, simple series to watch from time to time, but I don't find myself especially obsessed about it. Anyone can watch it, if they're looking for a quick laugh and want to crack at other people's faults and perversions. Oh yes, I did mention the perversions, right?

Another reason why this series can probably be considered shounen is the constant molestation of girl characters - Ririchiyo especially - throughout the series. Seeing a girl with that frame, that age, being molested like that was a bit of a turn-off for me. I don't mind perversity in general, don't get me wrong, but when paired with that certain type of art, I prefer to avoid it.

In any case, this series is just something fun to watch and pass the time as I had. I'm sure there are people who will better enjoy it than me, but as someone who likes a little less crying and less sparkling in my men, and more frame to my girls, I'll just say this isn't for everyone.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Alien in the Family by Gini Koch

Title: Alien in the Family
Author: Gini Koch
Format: book



As if the first two books weren't crazy enough, now Kitty has to deal with marriage and in-laws coming to wreck things for her and Jeff. There is so much going on in this book, I don't even know where to start. There are subplots after subplots smeared all over these pages that it's hard to keep everything straight. 


Let's just start with the simple stuff, then. Well, simple-ish. It's clear that interspecies marriage is next to impossible. Paul, if I remember correctly, is the only main character who's a halfbreed. The fact that so many more want to follow his parents' route is causing political and religious pandemoneum. It's a given that Kitty's and Jeff's marriage will be met with many challenges, from all sides of the playing field. How they manage to deal with each challenge that comes is amazing. Kitty, despite how many times she breaks down crying and has serious insecurity issues, manages to barrel on through them and makes it to the end in one piece. 


The trials she faces shows she'll do whatever she can to be in Jeff's life forever and ever. She displays dedication that any woman could admire. Despite her faults, her weaknesses, she'll push herself to protect her man and the people she loves. And we know that Jeff would do the same, as he's shown in the previous two books. 


But, of course, she can't do it alone. Not always. Kitty's support system really shows as she knocks back challenge after challenge, hand in hand with her best friends and loved ones. James really takes a shining in this book. He shows just why he and Kitty are so inseparable, and why it's a darn good thing he's gay instead of straight and stealing her from Jeff. He's more than just a pretty face, more than just another guy in her life, more than just a friend. The things he does to help her out, especially concerning her wedding, is phenomenal. 


It's moving how much effort he puts into helping her out. Nothing can stop friendship, not even people after their lives. (As per usual.) I would love to have a friend like James in my life. I would want him at my wedding, too. 


Another part of Kitty's support system are the unimaginable Poofs. I'll leave out all the spoiler details on how exactly they're awesome and simply say that I wish my cat was that awesome. My cat can't do what the Poofs can do. My cats are cuter, I'll say that, but in terms of skill and talent, they aren't quite so resourceful, least of all when it comes to alien butt-kicking. Their role in the book are surprising, especially when we wind down to the climax. 


Apart from all that, an interest element that has shown up in this book is the element of chess. The application of the strategical and age-old militant game of war has been put into creative and interesting use. I didn't expect to be drawn into a board game metaphor when I started this book, but I'm not disappointed in its application. 


While we're on the subject of war, we have to talk battle, and when we talk battle, we have to talk music, because Kitty is never without her soundtrack. The use of music has been a complete crack up for me. What I mean is, it's so appropriate and corny at the same time it's hard not to laugh at certain songs that are being used throughout the book (not necessarily just at the battle scenes). You have to know the music to understand why some scenes are so laughable, and put on your geek hat to appreciate why certain songs fit for certain moments. Epic cannot be described by a simple definition; epic is specific for each individual situation. You really have to understand Kitty to understand the epic juxtaposition of music and scene in this book. 


And speaking of epic, I was surprised by how Kitty took part in the "boss battle." We've seen Kitty go toe-to-toe with the major baddie before, because that's just how things are done in the geek world, and this time she shows her skills in a different manner. It's not quirky wit, it's not panic-induced ingenious, it's pure skill. Kitty shows why she's a perfect four step and spent years training in self defense. I hope she shows more displays of skill and wit in the future books as well. 


Now, let's take a moment to point out a few cons to this books. Large and packed with action though it was, I think there was just a little too much going on. As much as I loved the subplots and taking a moment to figure out what the greater plan was, I think there were too many times I had to literally stop and just take a break from this book because it was too chaotic. I know that there's a method to the madness and a reason why so much is going on, but there is such a thing as too much.


Like the comedy. This series lives for the comedy and the moments of complete inappropriate humor in the middle of a serious moment, but there were times when I could have done without the excess giggle and "dur." I have to admit I skimmed more quickly during some of the comedic parts because they seemed to drag on too long. I would have preferred a little more seriousness, or perhaps a condensed version of that same content. 


There was several places throughout the book that could have been condensed or summarized with equal effect on the reader instead of drawing it out line for line between characters. There is a lot of talking going on in this book, more talking than actual narrative going on, and sometimes I thought it could have been the other way around. It's still possible to be comedic without sharing every detail, like the parts where people talk over Kitty when she's trying to make a suggestion and she fails to get their attention. (Though I admit the shirt technique was hilarious.) 


Speaking of characters, there were parts where I thought I lost some of them in the madness of things. Since this book relies a lot on dialogue to get details shared, certain people have to talk. While it shoes the genius of someone's brain, or the lack thereof, I think there was some mixing of roles that made me think "this could have been narrated instead, instead of forcing a certain character to play this particular role in the conversation." Chuckie and Jeff are good examples. During certain conversations, they take on particular roles in contrast to Kitty, and their responses aren't always consistent. Sometimes their actions, not necessarily their words, seem inconsistent as well, more for the comedic effect or just to move along the plot than as genuine responses from the characters themselves. 


There was a lot of fat that could be trimmed from this book and still achieve the overall effect or result that was being aimed for. But even with the fat, this has proved to be a fun and interesting book. Congrats to Kitty for making through it all, and finally getting her man.


Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Viewfinder, 2012 - ANiMiX

Title: Target in the Viewfinder
Genre: yaoi
Format: animix
Length: 39 minutes

Let me start off and say this is not an anime. This is an ANiMiX, meaning it's mostly a composition of graphics and pictures with a minimal amount of animation tied in. You get to see certain actions and camera movements, as well as see people talking, but otherwise there isn't much motion being drawn out frame by frame.

Now that I cleared that up, let's get to the review. The clarity of picture is fantastic. The colors aren't overly bright, nor overly dark. There's a nice blend of lighting that keeps true to the noir setting that Ayano Yamane created in the original manga serialization. You won't have to worry about random flowers or bubbles sprouting every five minutes across the screen in this story.

You also don't have to worry too much about the characters staying true to their original design. The ANiMiX does a great job at copying Yamane's style of art throughout the entire piece. There are a few moments when it strays away from her style, and the proportions are a little off, or the lines aren't quite delicate enough where they should be, but for the most part the art is very similar.

Despite only being a composite of image stills, the ANiMiX does a fairly good job of creating a flow that follows the original storyline. While there is some censoring during the raunchy parts between main characters Asami and Takaba, there are plenty of shots of Takaba naked and wearing an expression of pleasure. To those familiar with the manga, this can be considered a let down, especially since some of the "training" Asami puts Takaba through is rather explicit and electrifying. The same can be said when Takaba lands in the hands of Fei Long later down the road.

That being said, this ANiMiX covers the first few books of the series, up to the point where Takaba first encounters Fei Long. It also includes one of the well-loved "extra" stories featured in the series, when Takaba is enjoying New Years with his friends and commences in drunk calling Asami. Though the story runs through a little quickly, with less than 40 minutes to do it, the animation covers a lot of ground. Despite the censoring, the story is followed very closely, which is a plus for those who enjoy a similarity between their manga and anime.

Apart from all that, let me talk a bit about the voice acting. Takaba's VA/seiyuu is close to what I imagined him to sound like when I read the manga. Takaba's character is a young man, and with a handsome face; the type of submissive that you'd expect to have a pretty voice when caught in a fit of passion. Takaba's VA delivers that during the explicit parts of the story, especially when paired with Asami.

On the other hand, I found Asami's VA to be a bit disappointing. He wasn't what I thought the man should have sounded like at all. Though he carries the depth of a man of danger, the general inflection that the VA uses when Asami speaks doesn't quite match his character. I expected something less nasal sounding and more throaty and on the edge of guttural.

Fei Long seemed to be relatively accurate. An effeminate voice for an effeminate man. Honestly, I wasn't too sure what Fei Long would sound like when I read the series, but I don't find his VA a wrong choice. Possibly not the best, but it's not hard to see why that sort of voice was picked for his character. He sounds a bit on the high strung side, prissy, like he's got the stick shoved too far, but considering the characters history, it's not impossible to see the connection.

I think the ANiMiX did a pretty good job representing the series. I'm a larger fan of full animation - i.e. anime - rather than still pictures, but for what it is, and what it isn't, I give the production a thumbs up for staying as true to the original series as possible, by trying to please the audience while still fitting within the media regulations of Japan's media.

Overall: 4 out of 5

Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Title: Mark of the Demon
Author: Diana Rowland
Format: book

Mark of the Demon opens up with our main heroine, Kara Gillian, performing her main talent: summoning demons. Right away we see how capable she is at the task, and get a feel for what sort of atmosphere the book is. For those thinking this is more on the Wiccan side, you would be off. If you're thinking religious, that's wrong too. But that's not to say the description of the demons therein aren't too far from classic imagery: leather wings, horns, molten colored skin, et cetera.

But that's not all she can do. Kara is also a detective, and a newbie at that. She hasn't been in the business of investigating violent crimes for long, and it shows in the way she interacts with her coworkers, and vice versa.

Kara doesn't have an especially friendly relationship with the men at the station. She doesn't think too highly of their unanimous port bellies and attitudes, and they all think she doesn't belong. Very few people take her seriously, and don't think she slept her way through the ranks to get where she is now.

But Kara shows attitude of her own that says she can be just like them. She's not wishy-washy, and she has the skills to pull off her job.

The underlying theme that Kara isn't a complete failure pretty much lasts throughout the whole book. It is what drives her into action in the first place (part of the reason, anyway), and what keeps her going when others challenge her knowledge and authority. It's also what leads her to the final battle scene when the mystery is solved and the pieces all come together.

Speaking of pieces, the methodology Kara uses to solve her case is rather unconventional. This isn't necessarily a compliment. It shows that Kara is indeed a novice in her field of work, because the way she collects her evidence is more by luck and happenstance than actual critical thinking. Despite working the field as a policewoman before she got transferred, the only skill she seems to have gained during those times is a social skill to talk with the street thugs and social questionables for help.

Her way of talking isn't the most polite either. Be prepared for frequent drops of the F-bomb throughout the book, not only by Kara but other characters as well. It seems that there is no barrier or limit to how many times cuss words can be put on a single page during a single conversation. The more shocking an event, the more gets dropped.

This startled me. I didn't expect to be faced with that much foul language, least of all by a female character. Not to say that women don't cuss. I'm well aware they do, but in this case it seemed to be used in excess. I don't know if the author was trying to make Kara seem more rough around the edges by having this added quality to her personality, but if that's the case, I think the execution fell short of the goal.

Something else that also fell short, in my opinion, is Ryan. Ryan's character started out strongly, playing the role of a man who's hard to understand and worth all amounts of wariness when discussing delicate topics like demon summoning and anything else not considered "normal." He's the handsome, dangerous type that is supposed to rival Rhyzkahl. But when he finally gets close to Kara and Kara opens up to his advances, the personality that shows through as they interact is sorely disappointing.

It's as if Ryan got swapped with a prepubescent teen. I can understand if the previous image he wore is supposed to be a facade of sorts, but the truth that lies underneath that mask is not what I expected it to be. I don't feel attracted to Ryan's boyish behaviors, or the way Kara responds to them in turn.

Rather than seeming like a pair of adults, somewhere near their thirties, the pair of them seem like a couple of high school kids messing around. Like if Harry Potter suddenly got dropped into the mix. Except Kara is no Hermione, and Ryan is no Harry. Or vice versa. Ryan's intelligence about the situation is lacking, and his assistance even more so. As he starts to serve as a sidekick to the whole investigation, it seems he becomes more of an accessory than asset. I don't think he even serves as a strong enough counterpart as a male to her female.

Likewise, Kara doesn't seem to collect her thoughts in a concise and productive manner that makes me, as a reader, believe she deserves to play the role that she does. I'm not sure what Rhyzkahl sees in her that makes her so special, when she comes off as too mediocre.

I find myself struggling to pinpoint what makes Kara unique. Generally, you/I should be able to name at least one thing that makes a heroine worthy of her title. For Kara... is it her luck? Maybe it's just coincidence. She doesn't seem to do much until the very end when everything comes together and all the wandering around finally pays off.

And, of course, all she has to do is something she should have done in the first place. It would have been easy if only she had done it, but we all know that would just make it too easy. Still, she could have saved herself some hardship, and prevented some deaths if she had done it right the first time around.

(By the way, I think the wrong people died in this book. Maybe I'm just being spiteful, but some of the people who survived this major ordeal should have died instead of those who did.)

I'm not too sure if I'll be reading the next book in this series. I was kinda disappointed with how it turned out. It started out strongly, and had continued to interest me for a while, but up to a certain point I became irritated and confused by the way the characters were going about their business. I know there are some plot holes and character slips where certain people kinda get lost in the background and then suddenly found again. I would have liked a bit more consistency with the events, a bit more intellect from the main people involved in solving the mystery, and stronger connection with the characters as a reader.

The writing itself was okay. It wasn't garish, but it wasn't the smoothest I have ever read. Some dialogues were a little frustrating to get through since there were times when descriptions were lacking or there was too much being said. Sometimes people talked too much, said too much, when instead the information should have been inferred through thought and reader drawn conclusions. There are also times when I have trouble visualizing the scene in front of me, because the characters I'm imagining don't match what's being portrayed in front of me. Perhaps there is a lack of cohesiveness between the reader's imagination and the story being told.

This is my experience with it. It's not a bad book. Could it use a bit of polishing? Certainly. But I don't think this book is horrible. Maybe the sequel is a vast improvement on this first one of the series. I'll probably never know, because I don't plan on making any serious effort to read it. Not now anyway.

Overall: 3 out of 5

Alien Tango by Gini Koch

Title: Alien Tango
Author: Gini Koch
Format: book

Now I'm not familiar with formal dances, apart from the fact that I can't do them, but I do know that the tango is very sensual and emotive. It's a dramatic and romantic dance between partners which tells a story between movements.

Alien Tango is very much dramatic and romantic. If there is one thing I've learned, the cover tells all. Well, not all all, but it hints well enough about the major events of the book to tease the reader about what to expect. We see Jeff carrying Kitty, which he happens to do quite a bit of in this sequel. For good reason too. Setting aside the romantic factor for a bit, this book is full of action and mind-blowing terror that's too much for one person to handle.

Kitty has never taken the backseat when it comes to missions, and she definitely shows this all throughout the book. Her ideas never fail to shock and amuse those around her, especially the reader. I've never heard of a marketing major being this creative, but there's a first for everything, and Kitty is definitely unique. She's one part ingenious, one part crazy, one part sympathetic, and one part brassy. Some people might want to keep her on the other side of the planet for safety's and sanity's sake. Others want to keep her at the hip just to make sure she doesn't do anything too insane.

She shows she's one of those infectious characters you kinda wish you never knew, but once you do, you can't forget. I'm sure Jeff and the other boys of Alpha can agree to this to some degree or another. It's not hard to sympathize with them a little when they have to deal with her antics, especially during dire situations.

And how dire the situations get in this book. So much is going on, it seems like there's no stop to it. Lots of books like to steamroll through the action and go ear-bleeding fast towards the end for a definite massive explosion. This series, however, doesn't follow that method. Like general events in life, not everything gets dumped on you at once. Sometimes it does, or it feels that way, but there are lulls every once in a while too.

Kitty and the gang get their wild moments, and their quiet moments, and run through a roller-coaster of events that surprisingly gets a whole lot more accomplished than you realize. Issues that are introduced in the beginning of the book are solved in stages, almost in an unintentional manner. A lot of what Kitty does appears/feels like it's a spur of the moment, and her shotgun method of making decisions often leaves those around her (and the reader) with little preparation for what's to come. There is no time for anticipation or warning, no time to brace yourself for whatever bomb she has to throw next.

This makes for the events that take place so special and thrilling. It doesn't feel premeditated. It's very much "flying by the seat of your pants."

I'm starting to wonder if Koch or Kitty loved going to amusement parks as kids because that's what I feel like I've stepped into when I read this series. I'm sure I'll continue to have fun with this series as I search for the next installment of the series. Now that Kitty and Jeff are on the right track, I'm sure things are bound to get a lot more interesting. As if they weren't interesting enough!

Overall: 5 out of 5

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch

Title: Touched by an Alien
Author: Gini Koch
Format: book

Oh me, oh my. Where do I start? Let's start with the title. I've heard cheesy titles before, and sometimes you just gotta snort and giggle at the alteration because it's so ridiculously corny. Simply reading the phrase "touched by an alien" is bound to make anyone laugh and give you a weird face. But that's not all the title did for me. It caught my interest and made me pull the book off the shelf.

Which brings me to another fantastic point: the cover. There are boring covers, there are plain covers, there are bad covers, there are good covers, and there are awesome covers. TBAA has an awesome cover. It speaks of all the major elements in the book: actions, romance, and aliens. I'm pretty sure I stared at the cover for a good ten minutes admiring the detail and blend of elements. And drooling over the guy -- who is a lovely rendition of main male character Jeff Martini. 

Of course, we all know a pretty cover and funny title isn't all there is to a book. It's the actual content that's worth it. I first took TBAA for a test run using Google Preview. Right from the get-go I was hooked. Being introduced to one of Kitty's crazy methods of improvisation had me laughing right away. I mean, seriously, a PEN? A darn good pen, but still -- a pen. If you're gonna make an impression, a pen is the way to go. 

After reading a couple chapters on Google Preview, I knew I had to get the whole thing. I couldn't stand to be teased with missing chapters and important content. I'm very glad I did. TBAA is full of snarky humor, romance, humor, tension, action, and ingenuity. Or maybe it's just craziness. Either way, it's very hard to find a slow moment in this book. It just keeps going and going like the Energizer Bunny, sliding from one event to another. 

While the content relies a lot on dialogue and not so much on physical description of the surroundings, that doesn't detract from the story. I had very little problem imagining scenes as they played out, because each character had personality in their words. Some books that rely heavily on dialogue can sometimes slip in this category, but TBAA does a good job of keeping the reader hooked and connected to the story and characters. 

This especially comes into play as Kitty interacts with her number one man: Jeff Martini. Let me just say every girl needs a Martini in her life. He's strong, he loyal, he understands, he's funny, he's protective, and he's a 20 out of 10 in bed. Beat that. 

The chemistry between Martini and Kitty is positively electrifying. You can't leave either of them alone. It's fun to see how they interact, and it's not hard to be emotionally pulled when tension rises high between them during critical parts of the story. 

Let me also add I love Reader. If every girl needs a Martini as a lover, she also needs a Reader as a BFF. He understands in a different way and creates a lovable relationship with Kitty that makes you want to snuggle the hell out of the guy and spend time with him on a normal afternoon. I wish I could name all the things that make Reader special but I'd probably run out of space. 

In any case, the characters all have a complex bond that grows and knits together a net of loyalty and love as the story progresses along. 

Speaking of story, TBAA had various elements of surprise that I found rather intriguing. The theories behind the actions of the enemies, and Kitty's conclusions as she conquers the challenges she's faced with, put a unique spin on old classics. Let me just say that the pen isn't the end of her ingenuity or creativeness. Kitty kicks ass in ways that make you go "What, no way!" and laugh at how well it works at kicking evil to the curb. 

If you're a fan of sci-fi movies like "District 9" or "Mars Attacks," this book will probably be right up your alley. Likewise, if you are a fan of comic books and like to geek out from time to time (or all the time), some of the references here will pull you right in. 

I greatly enjoyed reading this book. I'm planning on seeking out the sequel. There's no doubt I'll read it again and again somewhere down the road. :)

Overall: 5 out of 5

5 questions book meme (JFF)

This is another meme about books. I like to share them since they pertain a lot to the content of this blog. :)

1) If you could read one book again for the first time what would it be? 

A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette & Elizabeth Bear. I greatly enjoyed reading this book the first time around. I admit, the names confused me, but after I got the hang of it, I enjoyed the world that Monette and Bear had created, and the character tension. The fact that it also hearkens to Norse roots is a bonus point too. 

2) Do you finish every book you start or do you abandon without reservation?

I don't like abandoning books, but sometimes I just can't get myself to finish. And I'm not talking about putting a book on hiatus because I don't have the time to read it. I mean I drop it and never return. It's a shame, but if I can't get myself to appreciate the world that the author has created, or something about the characters just bugs me, I can't force myself to slug through it. I will be as fair as I can while reviewing it, though. I won't slander a book just because I couldn't finish it; I'll be honest when I say it just didn't work for me.

3) Would you rather survive the zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion?

That's hard. I'm a big fan of zombies, but aliens are sexy too. My badass side says there's nothing like kicking zombie butt to make you feel good. My perverted side says bring on the probes and cow abductions, it's a thrill a minute. If I can have a partner in crime to survive with me, I'll go for zombies. Yeah.

4) What book are you most looking forward to in 2012?

Tricked by Kevin Hearne. I love the Iron Druid series to pieces. I can't remember how I first got into it, but I'm so glad I did. I'm looking forward to see what sort of trouble Atticus is going to get himself into, and how he'll do it. And if we'll get to see his naked butt again this time around. (I know, I know, I'm naughty. I like fantasizing about a hot Irish boy streaking in public as he goes around slaying things with his sword. And I do mean his sword.)

5) What book to do you wish you had never read?

Oh boy. I'm not sure. I guess for this year, that will have to land with Demons Are a Girl's Best Friend by Linda Wisdom. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the execution in this book. I suppose I had high expectations for a best seller, which made the gravity of my opinion that much heavier. I won't say it's the worst book of all time, or the worst book I've ever read. I just can't think of any particular books that I wish to wipe from my memory right now. Maybe I wiped them already. So it's a little unfair to say this book is that terrible. It just didn't appeal to me. 

5 Books Meme (JFF)

This is a books meme someone showed me. I thought I would share it, since it's fun. 

Directions:
1. Take five books off your bookshelf.
2. Book #1 -- first sentence
3. Book #2 -- last sentence on page fifty
4. Book #3 -- second sentence on page one hundred
5. Book #4 -- next to the last sentence on page one hundred fifty
6. Book #5 -- final sentence of the book
7. Make the five sentences into a paragraph.
8. Feel free to "cheat" to make a better paragraph
9. Name your sources

This is my answer. I used the books that I had lying around next to my bed instead of actually going through my shelf.

Book #1 -- first sentence
Arlen paused in his work, looking up at the lavender wash of the dawn sky.

Book #2 -- last sentence on page fifty
"Not here, Elena. Show me to your rooms."

Book #3 -- second sentence on page one hundred
Corvis laughed hysterically, choking on the soil, and flipped over like a landed fish.

Book #4 -- next to the last sentence on page one hundred fifty
He saw an image of that same man's deformed face that was so clear he could have drawn it.

Book #5 -- final sentence of the book
Later, they drank sweet berry wine and ate sandwiches out of their picnic basket, watching the water lap gently at the shore in front of their home.

Make the five sentences into a paragraph.
Arlen paused in his work, looking up at the lavender wash of the dawn sky. "Not here, Elena. Show me to your rooms." Corvis laughed hysterically, choking on the soil, and flipped over like a landed fish. He saw an image of that same man's deformed face that was so clear he could have drawn it. Later, they drank sweet berry wine and ate sandwiches out of their picnic basket, watching the water lap gently at the shore in front of their home.

Feel free to "cheat" to make a better paragraph
Corvis laughed hysterically, choking on the soil, and flipped over like a landed fish. Arlen paused in his work, looking up at the lavender wash of the dawn sky. He saw an image of that same man's deformed face that was so clear he could have drawn it. 

"Not here, Elena. Show me to your rooms." 

Later, they drank sweet berry wine and ate sandwiches out of their picnic basket, watching the water lap gently at the shore in front of their home.

Name your sources
The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett
Angel's Blood - Nalini Singh
The Conqueror's Shadow - Ari Marmell
Born to Darkness - Suzanne Brockmann
Fate's Edge - Ilona Andrews

Demons Are a Girl's Best Friend by Linda Wisdom

Title: Demons Are a Girl's Best Friend
Author: Linda Wisdom
Format: book


I have to be honest. I abandoned this book without properly finishing it. I found it difficult to do so, despite my great dislike for doing that to a book. I like to finish reading things, even if they are disappointing. Unfortunately, I couldn't get myself to do that here.

While the premise of the book was interesting enough to begin with, I found the execution rather lacking. The idea of Maggie being an magical officer, working with other magic users or supernatural creatures was interesting. It was like looking at Men In Black, only without the aliens. However, that's about as far as the interest goes.

Dialogue between characters seemed very stunted and forced. I imagine that seeing the characters talk visually on a movie screen would have made up for the lack of description, but since this is a book, and I have only my imagination to work with, I could not work off so few cues that were given. I couldn't tell by dialogue alone if a character was particularly mad or happy or being sarcastic or sad.

While this can be excusable among minor characters, this should not be the case for the main characters. Unfortunately, the problem encompassed everyone. It became especially apparent when Maggie conversed with Declan.

Generally speaking, it is possible to see why a character is attracted to another. Though as a reader we might not agree with the attractiveness of said character, we can understand why they are liked. I could not see this in Declan. Declan seemed to lack proper depth and personality to make me believe Maggie was attracted to him. As a romance novel (or a book that has romance in it, anyway), it should be clear why someone likes someone else. Personality, looks, complexity. Declan lacked that. I couldn't tell where he stood, if he was supposed to be the mysterious type, the playful time, the bad boy, or the mistaken gentleman. Whatever Maggie saw in him, whatever any other female in the book saw in Declan, I did not see.

On another note, there are parts in the book that are a little peculiar. I applaud Wisdom for stretching out her hand in the creativity jar, but once again I find the execution to be somewhat lacking. I'm talking about the dream stalking, when Maggie enters Declan's dreams and they go do stuff and talk. The drop into those scenes were often very sudden, and I'm not sure of their importance.

Maybe I needed to continue reading to the end, to understand why she was able to do that, or why he called on her, but I could not see the significance of the matter. Why was it so important these scenes took place? Why couldn't their interaction be different, on a more normal plane? I don't know, but the whole idea threw me off.

It's unfortunate, but there were just too many issues I found with the story and characters that I could not get myself to continue with it. I did not feel overly compelled to pick the book back up and slug through more of its pages. I hope that Wisdom's other books aren't all like this. For now, I'll look elsewhere for more stimulating witch romance.

Overall: 2 out of 5

Clan Rathskeller by Kevin Hearne

Title: Clan Rathskeller
Author: Kevin Hearne
Format: ebook; short story (link)

Oh, Atticus. There is nothing like a little short story to remind us of what makes you so hilarious and awesome. For anyone familiar with The Iron Druid Chronicles but not quite familiar with this story, Clan Rathskeller takes place ten months prior to the first book (Hounded). We see Atticus in Tempe, just strolling through a mall with his witty sidekick, Oberon, when he runs into trouble.

Well that's not new. Attitucs has a trouble magnet strong enough to would make the North/South Poles jealous. It's how he gets himself out of trouble that makes him such an entertainment to read about. Atticus never fails to make a reader laugh, or want to slap a hand over their face and cry "Oi!" This adventure is no exclusion.

This short story delivers a hard punch in the guy that has us tearing up right away, and it's not from pain (though some parts might make you wince in embarrassment), but from too much laughter. Now, don't get me wrong, Atticus isn't slap-stick funny. He's witty, sarcastic, and unconventional at times. He finds creative ways to solve problems that get the job done, even if it means he has to be indecent in public along the way.

Oh yes, we get to see Atticus in all his glory, as he works his Druid magic and as he waves his meat and two veggies out in the open air. Who can't laugh at such a scene? There's nothing like a naked man streaking right past your eyes to make you stop and do a shocked double take.

Clan Rathskeller is fast-paced and charged with equal parts action and humor. If you're looking for something to make your day better, this short story will definitely do the trick. If you want to refuel on your Atticus/Oberon loving, this will top you off nicely too. It probably even makes for an excellent "introduction" to the whole Iron Druid series for someone who has never read the books before. There's just enough of all the major elements that make Atticus and Oberon so lovable to let a new reader get a good taste of what the series it like.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Amelié (2001) - movie

Title: Amelié
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Format: French romance movie
Length: 122 minutes

Ah, Amelié. The first time I watched this was a few years after it came out. I was over at a friend's house, having a little girl get-together. I was too young to really understand what love was about, and the idea of true love seemed like something marketed by Disney only. My ideas of what made love so fantastic and pure were seen from an immature point of view.

The world around us tends to stomp on the idea of there being any such thing as true love, or a pure love at that. This movie, however, brings back that old romantic spark. Amelié hearkens to the dreamer in all of us, the innocent boy or girl who secretly wishes to meet The One and live Happily Ever After. To live out those picturesque days as portrayed in 1950's shows about the perfect husband, and perfect wife, and perfect children and neighborhood.

The character Amelié is a peculiar girl who has grown up with a mother and father who mean well but somehow fail to give her the amount or type of attention she needed. This has made Amelié grow into an even more peculiar woman in her adulthood. She's introverted and finds herself falsely believing her ordinary and routine life is enough. It isn't until she has her first true encounter with love that makes her think differently. But being the strange girl she is, Amelié doesn't have an easy time dealing with the confrontation.

She goes about it in such unconventional methods, you can't help but feel sympathetic -- and maybe empathetic. The movie finds humor in the things she does, and gives small doses of comedy as she trips over small obstacles along the way.

What's special are the times she and her love interest cross ways. You can't help but smile while Amelié jumps hoops to get his attention while at the same time avoiding contact. She puts such effort into her task, it's like seeing any other love-stricken girl on the street. Men and women alike should know what it's like to do more than necessary, to go above and beyond just to catch the eye of that one person.

In society today, we do things by flirting, bar hopping, dates, study groups with hidden intentions, and more. We use modern methods to get into someone's pants -- and into their hearts. Though Amelié's methods aren't quite so conventional these days, her thought process is the same. For anyone who has been in love, I think it would be easy to relate to her, or find some goodhearted humor in the things she does.

This movie can be played any time, anywhere, with virtually anyone. Though there are a few parts that are questionable for younger audiences, even teenagers will enjoy it. I did, when I first saw it. I still enjoy it, even  ten years after production. It's a timeless film that's sure to please anyone.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Better Off Undead by D.D. Barant

Title: Better Off Undead
Author: D.D. Barant
Format: book

So far, we've seen Jace tackle the challenge of going home. She was brought to Thropirelem against her will and employed to find and take down the bad guys. After doing that, she pursued the task of trying to get herself home via hunting down the man responsible for bringing her to Thropirelem in the first place. After having failed that, what's next?

Why, struggling with the challenge to keep her humanity intact while chasing after a mentally unstable man in power. As if a girl doesn't have enough to deal with simply being the only illegal alien on the whole planet. 

Better Off Undead brings a chapter to Jace's life and opens her up to a new question. Her identity. What is she? Who is she? What is her place on Thropirelem? What is her place amongst the people she works with/for? Yes, she's an agent, an employee, an asset and fighter for the greater good -- but what else? When the one thing that makes her unique in NSA gets taken away from her, what is left? 

Jace battles more than just the threat of becoming non-human in this book. Something more personal, more psychological, rears its head as she does her work. And dealing with it isn't easy when her work is just as difficult to handle. 

We haven't seen the last of Tair, or his devilish antics. He's the Joker in the card deck and plays his part well. Jace doesn't get a break while Tair interferes with her personal and professional life. 

I believe that the events in this part of Jace's story are part of a turning point. A new step that sets her up for something greater. Something more complicated than we've seen so far. The shift in character dynamics isn't hard to miss, and it leads me to wonder how things will progress from this point onward. Especially after coming to the end, and witnessing the newest development in Jace's life, I think it's safe to say her life is slipping into another interesting curve. 

So what next? What now? What sort of challenge will she be faced with now? Who knows. But I'm very interested to learn the answer. This feels like it's just the beginning. Just a milestone. There's still much for Jace to do and settle. Her life on Thropirelem has truly just begun.  

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Teahouse: Chapter 2 by Emirain

Title: Teahouse (Chapter 2)
Author: Emirain
Format: webcomic

Warning: Review may contain spoilers.

After meeting all the characters in the first chapter, including the mysterious and tall man who's interested in Rory's virgin butt, it's only appropriate that we be met with answers. And answers certainly are met. We learn the name of Mr. "Tall Dark and Rapist," as Lilith likes to call him - which in fact is actually "Reed." We also see in detail why Rhys left such a strong impression on Axis when they first met.

Mm, how steamy. Nothing is better than completely dominating a stubborn straight man with such finesse he forgets everything except how good it feels to be taken.

Also, if you recall, the first time we met Rhys, there was supposed to be a house-wide call. Linneus wasn't present when it happened, because he valued his current client more than someone new. Atros wasn't too happy with that, especially when he found out that Linneus was receiving more than his fair share of rough-housing during sessions.

The actions Atros takes against Liard Arulent come to light, and the way it is executed leads a reader to wonder if Atros is just protective of his whores, or if Linneus is special because of their history. Or is it a mix of both? The mystery that lingers between them is electrifying. It's hard not to wonder and hope there's a personal reason behind Atros' actions, especially when he confronts Linneus later on.

The relationship between Linneus and Atros is certainly complicated. As is Rhys' and Axis' relationship. With the newest pair: Reed and Rory, we now have a full house of emotional and psychological chaos. There are issues of sexuality, of security, of identity, and of purpose. There is so much going on, and so much to consider, it's safe to say we are only just beginning.

This is still just the tip of the iceberg. I hope we figure out what's so special about Rhys' social status, who Reed is, and what will happen between Linneus and Atros down the line. There are so many unanswered questions, it's only a matter of time before all is revealed.

I can't wait for the rest of the story to reveal itself. The art is absolutely lovely and the colors are vivid and eye-catching. That alone will keep me coming back to check on updates.

Overall: 5 out of 5

Feral by Joely Skye

Title: Feral
Author: Joely Skye
Format: book

Shifters. As in shapeshifters. Or, more commonly, weres. In any case, this book is a homoerotic relationship between two shifters of different species. Meet Ethan, a cougar shifter, and Bram, a wolf shifter. As the synopsis goes, Ethan finds himself captured by Bram's pack and confined in a room. Bram becomes his babysitter, delivering his food and making sure nothing happens. And other duties. 

It's pretty commonplace that when two individuals are stuck in each other's company for an extended period of time, their initial relationship changes. For Ethan and Bram, they grow closer - even though it is forbidden for them to do so. 

Bram is the pack's omega (i.e. bottom of the totem pole), so he is obligated to follow the alpha's (Doug) orders to the T. The relationship Bram has with Doug is a complicated one thanks to certain events in the past. However, this complication doesn't seem to be portrayed as smoothly as a reader might hope. I had a problem with connecting with the characters. The fluidity of their conversation and their interactions with each other seemed forced and awkward. 

The wolves' feelings for each other didn't seem genuine, and I had a hard time connecting with either man. Bram especially was hard to sympathize with. I didn't feel like I could reach into his head and empathize with his actions.

As for Ethan, I could partially sympathize with him, but he too lacked enough depth for me to get really involved with his side of the story. The characters as a whole seemed too two-dimensional and shallowly developed. While the plot itself is interesting and had kicked off to a thrilling start, I didn't feel overly compelled to finish the book in one sitting like I might others.

I might have enjoyed the story better if I had a better understanding of the dynamics of either shifter species, and why it was so important to break through these psychological defenses. Or how.

And when it came to the sex... it seemed dry. It wasn't personal enough for my liking, or erotic enough to make me wonder if I should be sitting with a box of tissues at my side. It wasn't so much the description as the method it was told that turned me off. In combination with flat characters, I struggled to find it emotionally drawing. I was overly tempted to just skip it entirely.

I wouldn't recommend this as an 'introductory' book into the genre of gay erotica. But it might still appeal to someone who wants to pass the time with a bit of guy love when there's nothing else to read.

Overall: 2.5 out of 5