The Reviews for June and July

Books
Doctor Who: History 101
Mags. L. HallIiday
***

It is Spain 1937, and some how the Doctor and his assistants are now walking around in pre-war era. Enjoying the sights and learning all they can about it. that is until someone decides to make them the enemy of the world, which doesn't make much sense with how this works out.

Reading this book, I was lost at first, considering that I did not know who the assistants were until I realized some of the knowledge came from the Radio dramas out of the BBC, if you haven't listened, then you don't know what is going on. Hence why I gave this book a 3 star rating.

Most of the Doctor Who books that came out in the 1990s were all like this, some taking place in between episodes and also gave new fresh look at the Eight Doctors, minus the three new ones.

If you are a true blue Whovian, I would say pick up as many of the books you can dare find and read them. Personally, it is a great way to catch up and also get introduce with a Doctor who got little to no screen time, like the Eighth. Unless you count the movie.

Movies
A Good Day to Die Hard
****

McClane is back with his son who is now heading up a shooting up of Moscow. It ends up that without much knowledge of the situation, McClane heads to rescue his son from a Russian court, only to find out later that this is all part of a CIA mission his son is part of. Not to give away much more, you have stolen documents, Charnobal and other great locations that either are in the path of destruction or more.

Personally, I love action movies, at first I was more, ANOTHER ONE, now I'm hoping that father and son get to be in more movies. I'm pretty much saying it now, please see the movie.

Manga
Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration  Vol 1.
Nobuhiro Watsuki
*****

A retelling of the story in an update that makes more action, giving Kenshin a multiple personality disorder, a kind nature to boot. Can we say, leads up to the movie? NOPE! Just a plain brawl in Meiji Tokyo with Kenshin not taking lives, but definitely adding to the injured by making it evident that he doesn't want to kill, but not many people are happy with his decision.

I really thought reading this was going to be a retelling, but it felt more like the creator just having a bit of fun with Good Ole Kenshin who needed some fun and comic time. There really is no story, just action, and more fun then you can shake a stick at. Kenshin's personality is there, and so is his Hitokiri Battosai self who seems very much wanting to have a fight to defend people he loves and cares about.

Let's start the Summer Right

May Reading

Books

The Book of Atrix Wolfe
Patricia A McKillip
****
A mage who has believed he committed a terrible crime turns into a wolf, he has to live with what he does. He soon finds out the people he has grown to care about are seeking him out with the help against his own creation, a Hunter who was used to kill and destroy the enemies of his king. Can he destroy what he created before it goes wild?

Its a good story, but ran a little long and didn't have much detail. I do enjoy the fact that Atrix was a great writer. The writer does have a great bit of work on artwork in painting the images of the characters and the story itself.

I would say yes, read it if you want something that has some interesting action scenes, and also some connections to nature.


The Tower at Stony Wood
Patricia A McKillip
****
During a time of a royal wedding a knight decides that maybe his bride isn't all what she seems, he hears a tale from a Bard that sends him into shock. He decides that going on the quest to rescue a princess in a tower and find out the terrible truth.

The story dos have action, it is pretty weaving of characters and more. I would say read it when you can, and work with it. The story can be a little long and yes, you do have to muscle your way through it it if you're not used to the read. Her style is a little odd.


Manga

(Check with me in June)

Movies

(Check back in June)

Been awhile...So sorry for the absentence

Apologies, my dear readers, I haven't been on since I'm not sure how to speak on the matter, but I"m going to be posting in the next few months some book reviews.

Manga

Natsume's Book of Friends

***** Stars

Imagine growing up being able to see spirits and ghosts, not having the ability to turn it off and having everyone you are supposed to trust think you're crazy. That's the problem that poor Natsume Takashi has, after the death of his parents, he's bounced from one relative to another, until he's a teen and moves to his grandmother's village. There he finds out that his gift has a terrible price, his grandmother had the same gift and she used it to beat up the local spirits, and make a book a friends, which is wanted by nearly all in the area, now Takashi must have the task to return the names and also deal with his gifts.

This story started out slowly,  I began trying to read this and started to fall in love with the tale, it spun into a magical world where the modern and the old Japanese beliefs seemed to conflict a bit. Takashi has to deal with respecting the old and having to act as the in between for some spirits. He learns that some of his gifts have an advantage and he isn't a freak after all, because he finds others like himself. 

I would say go with reading it, and watching the anime if you can, but the manga is WAY better than the series. The artwork is beautiful, the characters are really compelling and you kind of relate to Takashi and his friends in many different levels.

Books

Magic's Pawn

Mercedes Lackey

***** Stars

Vanyel has grown up being very lonely life, misunderstood and soon sent to live with his aunt in Haven. His aunt is a famous herald and teacher to many great mages and Herald's in training. Vanyel at first believes he's hated by all who come in contact, which isn't the case, he learns something about himself and about who he is from a rather friendly Herald named Tylendel. When a terrible price is paid and Vanyel learns the truth of some of his actions and the actions of someone he cares for, he finds out he is something more than what he appears.

This is one of my favorite books, truth is I love the characters and I love how the story takes place, it starts out with a character who is famous in the first book of the series written in the late 1980s called Arrows of the Queen. This gives you a historical prospective, and if you have never read any of her books before, this gives you a good place to start out if you're new to the series.

Sorry for the lateness

OK, due to some issues involving my fiance's computer, there were no posts about movies and such due to that.

So anyone, let's get down to movies!

Return to Oz
1985
*****

Yes, OLD, but a goodie for all who have a love for steampunk and a hint of the dark. The movie takes place after Dorothy returns from OZ, she is basically unable to sleep. Her aunt is at her last wits and believes that some therapy might do her some good. When all is said and done, the child is packed up to a mental hospital for "therapy" there she meets a little girl who helps her escape on a wild night of rain and crazy people trying to escape the mad doctor's house.

Waking up in OZ, it is drastically different and not the child knew before. She meets a new cast of friends, a talking chicken, a mechanical marvel, and Jack the talking pumpkin. Can she save the Emerald City and the mysterious girl in the mirrors?

Unlike the Judy Garland OZ, this place is pretty dark and not at all meant for children, this is actually based off two of the OZ books, Ozama of Oz and The Land of Oz, which are not happy go lucky. In truth, Dorothy is the brave hero and is able to hold her own against a Nome King who wants to take everything for himself. In fact, when I saw this movie when I was 10, I was terrified of the wheelers, the wheeling crazed creatures who worked for Princess Mombi the evil witch. I started to like this movie and because of that, it gave me a good sense of the what it means to be a kid and also to be hero.

May Reviews

Books
Monster High: The Ghoul Next Door
Lisi Harrison
****
Frankie and Melody's lives are getting a little more complicated, with the problems with Bekka a total monster hater. The RAD kids are trying to show they are not evil and also that they just want to go to school just like everyone else. So with Bekka making a problems, and Cleo, daughter of the Mummy thinking she is not getting the attention she so deserves as well as a teen photoshoot.

The series is interesting and also looked interesting as it gets going. The monsters are trying their best and also the story is addicting as is, from the first book to now the second.
Movies
None for this month

Manga
Pandora Hearts
****

Oz is turning fifteen and he's about to get a huge problem, he meets B. Rabbit who is out to find her memories and also trying to solve a mystery, his own attempted murder. He learns that B. Rabbit is his only chance and must ally with her in order to save the family and find out who Baskerville is.

This series is actually really good, the story is mysterious and also addicting. I found this series to be sad and also very interesting.

Anime
Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky)
*****
Kanata wants to be a trumpeter like her hero, a princess who went about the country bringing hope to the people fighting a neighbor for a reason no one remembers. Kanata who just turned fifteen ends up at Trumpeting the Hours fort where she meets the girls who are rebuilding a forgotten tank. She meets Rio, a trumpeter as well, Filicia the commander, Kureha the gunner, and Noel the group's mechanic.

The series has a mystery to it, a past that is mixed with Japanese, Spanish, and many others. At first it looks strange with the history of a world that is our current and their past. It is almost sad and very interesting little bits of history and set to a war no one knows why it is going on.

April Reviews

Books
Werewolf Smackdown
Mario Acevedo
****
There is a war raging between the werewolves, and a PI is suddenly thrown into it. This will pull all the undead into it, and cause problems for local undead creatures. The PI's girlfriend, a known vampire who suddenly has to investigate what is going on.

The story is not only off the wall and comes from the series of books written by Mario Acevedo, a well known writer in Colorado. I found the story humorous and waited a long time to actually get a chance to read it.

Movies
(None for this month)

Manga
Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 1
*****
Edward Elric and his brother, Al are on the road to find the philosopher's stone to find a cure for their small problem. Even though Edward has rose to the ranks of the State Alchemists. He is soon finding problems throughout the world he works for...some stranger than others.

The series is famous enough with fans and has won the hearts of many people. Fans have shown up at conventions world wide. I found this book to be amazing and well written, the story was an excellent openings to the series.

Anime
Persona: Trinity Soul
****

The Kanzato brothers go back to their home town after a long history of being separated from their elder brother. Shin, the middle brother has always looked after his brother, Jun. While they uncover the strange mystery of their family and also the strange incidents that led up to them leaving Ayanagi City.

The series shows a mystery and also based from the stories of the Persona games, these are mysterious and also scary at times. The characters a well made and the story leaves you hanging onto the next.

Early Reviews of March

I'm early, this is because of Animeland Wasabi...I will be reviewing the convention and also putting in some photos for my loyal readers to see. See you at Wasabi!

Books:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Seth Grahame-Smith
*****
Whose life is more interesting yet mysterious, that would be Abraham Lincoln, from the time he was young to his adult years, there is a lot that people don't know. In fact it wouldn't be surprising he was a vampire hunter in his spare time. At least that was the story implies of our president. He seems haunted by tragedy, and yet here he is, hunting vampires and running for president?

OK, first off the story was actually a surprise, I'm not a huge fan of Seth's work, but this story was actually really quite funny and yet felt almost true. He made a fictionalized story about a president who died so tragically enough at Ford's Theater and made the book almost strangely a work of art. It earns its five stars so quietly and gracefully for a book!

Video for the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X58RPS665V0

Movies:
Inception
****

What happens when you sleep? What kind of information can you give away in your dreams? A young man is able to jump into your dreams and find out secrets from your own life. His own life is a rather mystery and he’s a falling apart person trying to find where he mixes in life.

The story is fast paced and amazing, but it falls short in some places it is almost like Dark City in some cases where it becomes a blur between reality and dream world. Whether intended or not, it was confusing to me and also my fiancé who was sitting watching it with me.

Anime:
Yozakura Quartet
****

This series revolves around Sakura-shin, a small town where Youkai and Humans live peacefully, it is maintained by Hiizumi Life Council, a group of young people who strive to make lives better for the Youkai residents. Hiizumi Akina who is the head, his life can’t be any harder with a mayor like Hime who is on guard to protect the people who come here. Their life long friend, Gin is possessed by an evil Youkai, Enjin who wants to destroy the village and force a barrier between the humans and youkai. Many of these creatures want nothing more to live their everyday lives in peace, and Enjin is just out to ruin it for them all.

The series in itself is actually quite action packed with characters like Akina and Hime who are trying to stop the evil forces. They want to help their friend and also keep the human world out of trying to ruining the youkai’s rights to live freely.

The story is good, though there are points that you have to take a double take and that kind of makes it hard to the watcher. I suppose the manga would give better insight than the anime does, it gives character development there, in the anime is there no development. So the four stars sort of falls short of expect and truly the series should only get 3 stars. The fourth star is for the artwork in general which is rather nice and rather cool with great cast of characters and the fact that Seki from Weiss Kreuz is among the cast of Voice Actors, makes it at least worth while…

Manga:
Not Until After Animeland Wasabi!

(Follow me to Animeland Wasabi this year)