Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Disturbia Diaries #1: I Spy Dead People (2013)

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I Spy Dead People

Piper had just moved into the new neighborhood with her author father when Linzy, one of the neighbor's kid went missing. together with Kinley, a new friend she just made, Piper set out to investigate after she happened to be the last person who saw Linzy before the disappearance. to make matters more complicated, she stumbled upon Linzy's body. before she was able to get over the shock, she found Linzy's ghost in her bed, haunting her since she was the only one who could see her.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. looking at the cover, i had expect a lighthearted read. little did i know that there would be so much depth in it and so extremely addictive. the humor was completely unexpected, where i found myself grinning like an idiot often enough to draw gazes. Piper was simply an extraordinary character! there were nothing about her that doesn't scream lovable, though her friendship with Kinley was somewhat painful to look at, it was understandable for her to keep the secret of seeing a ghost to her new best friend. however, her friendship with Linzy was very entertaining. as self centered as Linzy was, i found myself rooting for her more and more through the pages. besides having the easy and enjoyable read to get me easily through the book, it was also the mystery of finding who Linzy's killer was that kept the suspense high and my curiosity at large.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Walkure Romanze (2013)
ワルキューレロマンツェ

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Walkure Romanze

Mizuno was a student training to be a Begleiter at an academy. he came to this academy to become a Knight, after winning the champion in his own country. however, an injury during a tournament finals forced him to withdraw. so he decided to become a Begleiter to one of the maiden knights, helping her to win tournaments instead.

despite its harem aspect, the series was surprisingly enjoyable for a casual watch. the plot actually taught us about the honor of the Knight other than doing all the obvious fan service. while the characters were beautiful to watch, they tend to be pretty shallow in general, which was not unexpected for a genre like this. the only uniqueness of the series was its backdrop, circling these high class maiden on their journey of becoming a Knight. thanks to the unique setting, the episodes never did came off being dull, which was already impressive seeing the direction the series was going.

Monday, April 28, 2014

New Bloods #1: Awaken (2014)

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Awaken

after The Shift, the world was left in despair and people struggled to survive the harsh sand lands. Tara lived in Rivercross, where ten shacks were built with whatever material scavenged from the ground. the 25 or so people that lived here became family, looking out for each other. Tara had been picked up by Gra'da since she was a baby and he took care of her ever since. she woke up on her 18th born day, looking forward to the evening celebration that Rivercross threw for her. little did she expect to find men in black metal monsters moving across their land, destroying Rivercross, killing the old folks and taking the young ones with them. she was spared when Gra'da hid her after she lose consciousness.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. the accent used in the writing was something different compared to what i was familiar with. fortunately it wasn't too much for me to not being able to enjoy the book to its fullest. the trio formed by Tara, Finn and Cat was an unexpectedly comfortable combination. their journey was so engaging that i found myself smiling or frowning along easily. i was most relieved to finally be free from reading about cheesy romance that seemed to always be circling the two main characters in most books. the plot was so fast paced that i found myself completely hooked and desperately tried to slow down my reading, afraid of missing even one word would resulted to not knowing part of the story. as surprised and unexpected as i was with the book, i was thoroughly thrilled with every turn of event, and satisfied with the goosebumps it gave me. i was simply overwhelmed with every idea and can't help looking forward to the second installment.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Gundam Build Fighters (2013)
ガンダムビルドファイターズ

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Gundam Build Fighters

the story took place in the future, where GunPla Battles were competitions that Gundam plastic models fought against each other. Sei was the son of a model shop owner, who was talented at building GunPla. however, he was inexperienced in the GunPla Battles. one day, he encountered a mysterious boy named Reiji, who was an accomplished Gundam Fighter, someone who pilot the GunPla. together, they strove for the GunPla Battle world championships.

the series was the thirteenth Gundam franchise of Sunrise. unlike the previous series, which was more hardcore and mechanical, this series was more heartwarming and relaxing. Gundams from previous series could be found in this series as well, making it somewhat nostalgic. Sei and Reiji worked together to fight their way up to the top. while each opponent became stronger and harder to beat, it made their growth visible and intriguing. in the very end, we found ourselves feeling attached to these two characters. like all Gundam series, there were also plenty of actions for the mechas to show their uniqueness and to win our hearts.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

The Wishful #1: Wishful Deviltry (2014)

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Wishful Deviltry

Karis was one of the humans who inherited an ancient genetic code from their biological parents on her sixteenth birthday. however, not all humans inherited one of these four powers - sight, force, strength, and maker skills. eager to get rid of her boring life, Karis looked forward to her birthday, waiting for the change that will transform her life. still days from turning sixteen, Karis found her house ambushed by two animal looking humans. Kaleb, her best friend saved her and they were sent off to a special school attended by students with powers, where they would be safer than living among the humans. soon Karis found out that her father had been working on a project to enhance their powers and there were people who wanted to get their hands on it.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. the book started off being a very smooth read. well, until Kaleb started to annoy me with his handsome, ladies' man front. although things got better following Titanium's appearance, it went downhill immediately when Karis fell for both guys like some typical teenage girl. since then, she had gone off my favorite character list. despite that little flaw, i found myself captivated throughout the book. from the escape, to the learning, it was actually fun to see how the duo grew. it was a pity that the truly delicious part that involved Karis finally using some powers was only available for the last 20 percent of the book. but hopefully that signifies a promising second installment!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai (2013)
機巧少女は傷つかない

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Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai

the story took place in a world where technology were so advanced that scientists were able to develop sophisticated magic. Makinot was the combination of science and magic, where circuits were made from spells and put into objects, bringing them to life and even gaining a personality. it was first developed as a military weapon, now available throughout the world. Raishin was attending Royal Academy, accompanied by Yaya, his puppet weapon. he planned to become the top in his class, however his test scores were bad.

despite the seemingly confusing backdrop, the revenge plot was rather generic. the characters were likable but also held a certain characteristic that could make them distasteful to look at. Yaya was the main focus as she supported Raishin along the way. her excessive loyalty was impressive to watch, especially it was put to the test. but at the same time, her constant attempt to get into Raishin's pants, tend to get very annoying very soon. the series was quite entertaining in general. there were unfortunately, plenty of unanswered questions, hopefully signaling another season in progress.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Carrie (2013)

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Carrie

Carrie was a shy and socially awkward girl, outcast and bullied by everyone. her mother was deeply religious, but always felt that Carrie was a devil child. one day, having her first period, Carrie asked for the other girls for help, thinking that she was bleeding to death. the other girls ridiculed her, one even recorded the event and uploaded the video online. one of the girls, Sue, regretted taking part and asked her boyfriend, Tommy to ask Carrie to the prom. in the meanwhile, Carrie found out that she had telekinesis, an ability to move things with her mind.

the film was adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name. being a classic and very popular book, we held great expectation for the film. despite the terrifying poster, it was somewhat a relief to find out that the film wasn't exactly a horror. however, seeing how Carrie stood up for herself in the very end, no matter how terrifying it was, was a pleasant experience. having not found a chance to read the book, i found myself enjoying the film despite the seemingly less in depth storyline.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

True Fate #1: True Fate (2014)

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True Fate

strange things had always happened to Nia. however, she and her best friend Rhea had always written them off as flukes. on her eighteen birthday, she spoke of a prophecy, scaring Rhea to tears. now nineteen, she met with a stranger that she felt attracted to from the very moment they laid eyes on each other. Aaron felt the same way towards Nia, like they were fated to be together. knowing each other on the first day felt like they knew each other for the lifetime. they were both approached by Lilith, a girl who claimed that they weren't entirely human. with the danger upon their tail, they need every help they can get to survive.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. the book started out promising, especially the part that introduced the dreamscape they were in, communicating in their dreams was a refreshing idea. while i personally believed in the existence of soul mates, it was quite a pain to see them repetitively throwing themselves at each other or knowing how their body tingled with each others' touch. having matching marks to proof that they were fated was truly an overkill. fortunately, the moment Nia showed her power, it made the waiting worthwhile. unique, Nia had the ability to manipulate and gain strength from all four elements, which made her rare and precious to her people. seeing how perfect her life and her boyfriend was, it was actually believing to have Nia going through the savior mode to balance it out. i enjoyed the action part of the book more than its romance, which was a little too heavily dosed for my taste.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Once Upon a Time (2013)
王宫灿烂

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王宫灿烂

6000 years ago, in a land where the Emperor ignored his people, lived many unhappy people who were bullied by the rich. one day, a rebellious group attacked the palace, trying to overthrow the Emperor. his loyal followers, Yufa and Takzi protected the Emperor and entered a forbidden room, where a concubine vanished many years ago. the trio vanished into the future, where they learned to live in the modern society. by going through time, the trio discovered that they became immortal.

compared to their previous production, My FM had done better work than this. their previous Chinese New Year movie was impressive and most certainly drew tears into our eyes. this time around though, it was hardly humorous nor heartwarming. the father and son relationship that seemed promising turned out to be just typical, where else the confrontation with the missing concubine, who was also eager to banish the trio back to the past, took place so fast and the tension never did build.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Runaway (2013)

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Runaway

Christine, Chloe, Katie, and Lucy were four sisters who always stuck together. they used to have a happy life, until their parents died and they were sent off to their Aunt Mel. sister to their mother, Aunt Mel was a mean lady who abused the sisters so very often. she got paid looking after the sisters, yet she couldn't stop complaining. not only at home, the sisters were also bullied in school, especially for having no parents. however, Aunt Mel had kept a secret from them, something that could have changed their lives but she kept it hidden away. one day, decided that they had enough, the sisters runaway together, facing a life even more dangerous that it already was.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. the book was a fast read since it was a short story. it took more than half way through the book before the sisters decided to runaway. however, going through the first half of the book, getting absorbed into the experience of being bullied together with the sisters made it even more engaging. the book was an absolutely easy read. it was also easy to accept that they were too young to consider the danger of running away, facing the big bad world, especially comparing to the already torturous life they lived. the ending was somewhat unexpected, but surprisingly it was rewarding and satisfying to know that the girls were finally in good hands. despite being short, the book was an entertaining read.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Hantu Gangster (2012)
鬼老大哥大

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Hantu Gangster

there were three gangster groups, one made up by Malay, another by Chinese, and the last one by Indian. for 50 years they ruled a local town in peace. after the mysterious death of these 3 leaders, their son who now took their father's place in the group felt a growing hatred towards each other. they tried to take over each other's territories. the three dead leaders returned from their graves, approached Tesai, who had the ability to see spirits, with the hope of bringing the town together again.

the film was a horror comedy directed by Namewee. it wasn't exactly impressive, but it was entertaining enough to get us through the film. having so many casts and subplots, it was difficult to focus or build any in depth backdrop for any of the characters, which was a disappointment. as much as we wanted to learn more about Tesai and his son, maybe even understand what happened to his wife, there were simply no time for this. the focus was mostly spent on a Malay who secretly stirred things up between the three groups with the hope of controlling everyone in the end.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Dracian #1: Dracian Legacy (2014)

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Dracian Legacy

Ren's parents died when she was seventeen. a year later, Axel walked into her life, a guy she couldn't resist falling for. one day, strange creatures started coming after her, forcing her close friends and families together, revealing the truth that they tried so hard protecting her from. she was a Dracian. for centuries the Dracian had been at war with the Telalians. to make matter worse, Ren was the Echo, the chosen one whose destiny was to end the bloodshed.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. i had plenty of mixed feelings for the book, most of it ruined by the very same thing. the exaggerated teen flirts and banters often made it a struggle to continue reading. tried as i might, i found it difficult to enjoy the romance, perhaps it was a little too cheesy for my taste. Ren hasn't been my favorite character after she tried to convince the world she doesn't date or flirt, yet we found her all over Axel and Dean. fortunately, after the truth was finally revealed, minus the romance if it was even possible, things became much more interesting.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Frozen (2013)

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Frozen

Elsa was a princess who had the magical ability to create ice and snow. one night while playing, she accidentally injured her sister Anna. since then she was kept locked in her room, causing the girls to grow apart as they grew up. after the King and Queen were killed in the sea during a storm, Elsa was to be their new Queen. however during a confrontation with Anna, Elsa released her powers and set the kingdom in eternal winter. Anna was determined to find Elsa, teaming with with a mountain man Kristoff and his reindeer Sven.

it was odd waiting for Elsa to take the spotlight then finally realizing Anna was the main character. the love pouring from Anna to Elsa was overwhelming, it was moving and quite different from what we were used to see in Disney movies. the adventure was beautiful and engaging only if we weren't waiting for Elsa to appear. it was quite disappointing to be seeing so little of Elsa comparing to Anna, who was just human. Elsa remained mysterious until the very end, hidden along with her magical abilities. fortunately the animation was captivating enough to get us through until the very end.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Little Busters!: Sekai no Saitou wa Ore ga Mamoru! (2013)
リトルバスターズ!世界の斎藤は俺が守る!

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Little Busters

the OVA was a special un-aired episode. it was split into two plots, the first was the establishment of a new battle ranking system for all the 10 Little Busters, the second involved the girls going to Kuragaya for life advice. in comparison with the its series, the OVA was different and refreshing. however, the comedy turned out to be some hit and some miss. it was fun seeing Riki went through the battle games, starting from the lower ranks, challenging the person directly above her to reach the top. eventually Kyousuke introduced the Mask the Saitou element, which increased the craziness.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

No Alligators in Sight (2013)

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No Alligators in Sight

Lettie was a 13-year-old, who was forced to grow up taking care of her younger brother Bert. they lived with their father after their mother left them when they were young. Joel was an alcoholic. one day, after being caught for switching the price for a CD she really wanted, Lettie and Bert was sent off to their mother for the summer. meeting Getrude after all these years was odd, especially when she had Orlando, a new stepfather in tow. her mother had wanted to take Bert with her when she left years ago, but when the siblings was determined to stay together, they were both left behind with their father.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. Lettie was an extraordinary character, looking after herself and Bert, making sure that they fed themselves, did everything around the house. she wanted to be a normal 13-year-old more than anything else in the world, but shouldering so much responsibilities made it impossible. her humor and sarcasm were lovable, making her tough and relatable. the book was from time to time rather lengthy, especially for the part where she wrote into her blue book, but it was helpful in the sense that it cleared some stuff up for us readers, since it revealed Lettie's mind. the plot was random, often throwing situations into Lettie' path, the fun was seeing how she handled it. the book became more and more delicious as it neared its end, making the wait absolutely rewarding.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Koitabi: True Tours Nanto (2013)
恋旅~True Tours Nanto

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True Tours Nanto

the six short episodes told the love story of three couples, set in Nanto, a town in the countryside. through the episodes, there were actually some worth explored places for tourists, which was very much the intent of this short series. among the three couples, part of the focus was on Youji and Chiaki. they had been together for 5 years, but Youji decided to transfer job. they struggled with their relationship and what will become of it.

Monday, April 14, 2014

The Dark Rituals #2: Possession (2013)

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Possession

Colina had released the evil when she tried to save her father and brother's soul. her boyfriend, Luke tried to save her and died in his attempt. Colina now awaken in an asylum, found herself previously possessed and now trying to regain her memories. the moment she laid eyes on Dean, a comatose patient, he became the perfect vessel to put Luke's spirit in. however, Luke could only surfaced during the witching hour. they had to escape the asylum at all cost, before they were killed by an evil spirit that possessed someone in the asylum, doing rituals and absorbing his victims' powers. things gotten further complicated when Dean returned, taking over the body during the day time and claimed to have feelings for Colina as well.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. i was so overwhelmed when i got goosebumps every now and then, being absorbed into Colina's situation. it was such a difficult emotion to obtain through reading, yet i was bathed in it for more than once, thrilled and thoroughly satisfied with the experience. the plot has gotten more and more intense since the previous book, where we could still took a breather occasionally; where else for this installment, i didn't realize the book could actually get more difficult to put down. Colina had became a target due to her unique abilities of being a combined healer and death dealer. now that the creatures older and more powerful than god had laid their eyes on her, they marked her with a bear totem, a protection and gift for those they choose. not forgetting the last but still extremely delicious bits of seeing a Berserker at work. now that i had more taste with The Dark Rituals (2013) series, i wanted more doses of it, which unfortunately have to wait until the next book is release.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Noragami (2013)
ノラガミ

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Noragami

Hiyori was a middle school girl that had been bullied by her classmates. one day, she went to the restroom by herself to cry. scrawled on the bathroom wall was a phone number, indicating that by calling the number would help solve her problem. out of desperation, Hiyori called the number. soon she met with Yato, a homeless boy who announced himself a god. Yato had many bad attitude, but secretly held the power of god.

even though Yato was a god, he was also a starving artist. he was still trying to get recognized while becoming stronger along the way. the gods used lost souls as weapons, called Shinki or Regalia. Hiyori encountered Yato coincidentally, saving him from an oncoming bus. that very moment her soul was somehow tempered, giving her a tail, which was also her lifeline. Yukine was Yato's Shinki. he was an abused child, also a lost soul. despite having all the bad moments, Yato was unique in his own ways. he was smart and trying hard for people to believe in him. he was surprisingly, a god that was easily relatable.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Dark Rituals #1: Awakening (2013)

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Awakening

Colina was still training to be a healer. but one day, her family was killed by a group of men, destined to destroy every last one of them. she was temporarily spared because her brother had hidden her in the kitchen, with a spell to conceal her location. the men continued after her, forcing her to seek the Death Dealer Guild for help. she met Luke, who was reluctant to train her until Darla, his sister was captured by these men. to became a dark wizard, Colina had to survive three trials. first she had to die and returned, then she had to be possessed, and lastly brought someone over to the other side, indirectly killing them. with the men tight on their trail, the duo were forced to speed things up for survival.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. seeing the cover itself had my curiosity blossomed uncontrollably. lucky for me, the book was available for free reads. Colina was an easy to love character, even Luke and Darla, James and Sarah, those that they came in contact with, were highly likable characters. there were times Colina seemed naive or childish, but seeing the situation that she was thrown into, it was already impressive that she managed to keep a sane mind. infusing Colina's trials into their life and death escape plan made everything even more intense, sometimes also emotionally engaging. the book was impossibly difficult to put down, and an absolute fast read that i couldn't wait to lay my hands on the second installment.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle - Shukuteki! Rätsel-hen (2013)
ファイ・ブレイン 〜神のパズル 宿敵!レイツェル編

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Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle - Shukuteki! Rätsel-hen

Kaito was a puzzle loving high school student. he was selected as a candidate for Phi Brain. he and his friends, Nonoha found an unsolvable puzzle near their school and went ahead trying to solve it. however, the puzzle turned out to be a life threatening one created by a mysterious group POG (Puzzle of God). he would be joined by other Solvers to battle all over the world by solving the philosopher's puzzles.

the series had reached Season 3, while the first two seasons were said to have their own strength and weaknesses, the puzzles were intriguing as always. for this season, Kaito and his friends went on a journey to England, in order to restore Jin's memory. they were walking through the underground maze beneath the church, where Kaito and Rook first met Jin, and a mysterious girl appeared in front of them. Jin identified the girl as Raetsel and seemed to know her. before they were able to find out, Raetsel disappeared and brought Jin with her. to make matter worst, Raetsel activated the traps of the underground maze and started to come after Kaito and his friends. with a dark theme and intense scenes, the life threatening situation that they put themselves through was the most interesting and satisfying experience.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

This Wicked Game (2013)

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This Wicked Game

Claire's family was part of the International Guild of High Priests and Priestesses for over fifty years. it was a secret society that shared the knowledge and experience of practicing voodoos for generations. Claire's family also ran an underground supply house for ingredients required for voodoo. despite helping to look after the shop or filling orders for the ingredients , she doesn't believe. one day, a mysterious woman placed an order for a deadly ingredient. it immediately triggered fear through the Guild. however, Claire was horrified to find the adults not taking any actions, it was up to her together with the other firstborns to face off the deadly enemy.

the book was somewhat refreshing for not jumping headfirst into the paranormal world. we followed Claire, slowly dipping ourselves into their mysterious world, reminding me so much of our parents who also hid so many secrets from us. lacking faith actually made Claire a less favorable character, but fortunately due to her background and how she was exposed to voodoo, it was most certainly acceptable. being the descendant of the most powerful Priestess made her a target. it was pleasant to know that despite her lack of faith, she didn't mind using voodoo for the safety of everyone she loved. not having a too in depth plot fortunately doesn't make the book any less engaging. it was an absolute fast read.

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Daiya no A (2013)
ダイヤのA[エース]

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Daiya no A

Eijun was a pitcher, who joined an elite school with Kazuya, a catcher. Eijun knew that he was far from being the best pitcher, however he didn't realize his potential nor understand his true talent, which really was what made him stood out among the team. he had a dream of becoming the best, the Ace of the team, a pitcher that would bring the team victory. together with the rest of the team, they strove for the championship.

while i was not a huge fan of sports series, thise one had almost everything in it, especially by being hilarious and surprisingly intense at times. Eijun's two-sided personality was sometimes frustrating to watch, but fortunately tolerable. he was comical at times, but serious and devoted when it came to the games. the unique way he pitched was in fact his true talent. the first half of the series moved rather slowly, even uninteresting. however for the last few episodes, when things finally got more intense than comical, it was where the highlight was.

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Sookie Stackhouse #11: Dead Reckoning (2011)

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Dead Reckoning

during one of her shift working in Merlotte, a bar, Sookie witnessed a firebombing. since Sam, the owner of Merlotte was a shifter, suspicion immediately fell on the anti-shifters that surfaced recently in the area. Sookie suspected Sandra Pelt was out to get her, since she had killed her sister Debbie Pelt earlier. in the meanwhile, her lover Eric, the vampire and his child, Pam was plotting to kill the vampire who took over their area just recently. one way or another, Sookie got drawn into their dangerous plot while trying to figure out Niall, her fairy great grandfather's part in her grandmother's life, especially for leaving behind a magical item that grant wish.

eleventh book into the series, it was still impossibly difficult to put down. unfortunately i had forgotten much about what happened previously unless mentioned, but it doesn't make the book any less fun to read! it was like getting absorbed into Sookie's life all over again, and it was quite a roller-coaster ride. it was actually quite disappointing to see how Sookie and Eric ended up. him being overprotecting was understandable, but not making it any easier for Sookie to accept being controlled so much. Bill on the other hand, started to regain her trust and slowly returned to her life. it was sometimes frustrating to see how their triangle relationship would turn out, since so little time was spent on their romance, but so much more on the drama of their world, which was so delicious that i wasn't complaining as well.

Monday, April 07, 2014

Gingitsune (2013)
ぎんぎつね

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Gingitsune

Gintaro was a fox spirit that protected a small temple since the old times. Makoto's family had the ability to see the god's agent, but the ability was only limited to one living relative at one time. after her mother passed away, Makoto inherited the ability and started seeking Gintaro. with the help of Gintaro, they started helping the people in their community and became great friends.

the series was not one of the most stunning series that stood out. but without trying to achieve any new grounds and simply wanting to be lighthearted, the series had succeeded with flying colors. Gintaro was original a lazy and obnoxious fox spirit after all these years. getting to know Makoto had been the turning point in his long lived life. with the help of the reluctant Gintaro, Makoto had the chance to help the people around her. while it was seemingly cherry on the outside, Makoto had a difficult childhood, especially after the death of her mother. her special ability only further alienated her, making her an introvert and socially awkward. the growth we saw in her throughout the episodes were the most rewarding along with the growth that also took place in Gintaro. it was such a beautiful series with a story so straightforward that it was surprisingly easy to watch.

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Songstone (2013)

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Songstone

Kita was found abandoned on the beach by Noni, a villager, when she was still a baby. unlike other dark skinned villagers, Kita was pale with bright red hair, which made her an outcast. she became the slave of Matiko, a medicine man who had the power to change the way people view him. he was a sorcerer who practiced black magic, killing those who threatened him by using magic. only Kita knew his secret, but she had no strength to fight him. one day, when a journeyman arrived, looking for a storyteller. Kita revealed her ability to meld song into stone, an ability greatly honored in a world with no written word. Pono, the journeyman helped her escape and they embarked on a journey that none ever took before.

i received free e-books for the series from the author in exchanged for a review. the story was inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Maori people. it was a pity that i wasn't informed since the very beginnign that the story was somewhat base on the Maoris, else the people would have formed even more accurately in my mind. by saying dark skinned people, i had imagine the Africans until its very end, which was odd seeing that they lived on an island and by the beach. fortunately, following Kita on her journey was intense and engaging, especially with Pono around, making it mysterious at some point, wondering if he was betraying her trust. i was pleased to find their relationship developed accordingly, making it even more rewarding, especially near the end.

Saturday, April 05, 2014

Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 3: Hangyaku no Monogatari (2013)
劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 叛逆の物語

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Hangyaku no Monogatari

the third movie was the last movie in the Madoka trilogy. unlike the first two movies, which were recaps; the third movie was a sequel, which was strictly unconnected to the series. the story followed Homura after the events of the first two movies, moving in a direction we never saw coming. after crying a puddle of tears, though frustrated, it was still understandable that it was already the best ending we could ever hope for, because there really was no other way for the situation to work itself out better than it already had. it however, had continue leaving behind cliffhangers that hopefully signify any form of sequel. finishing the film left us feeling down yet satisfied. it was brilliant and really outdone itself, worth every minute of its airtime.

Friday, April 04, 2014

Bitten (2014)

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Bitten

Elena was a werewolf. she left behind her world of supernatural at Stonehaven, thinking that she could escape her fate by creating a new one as a photographer in Toronto. one day, she received a call from her pack leader, asking her to come back. she returned to Stonehaven, again meeting the other werewolves, protecting her pack, and facing the man that she tried so hard to get out of her system. to make matter worse, she was the only living female werewolf left.

taken from the Women of the Otherworld (2001-2012) book series written by Kelly Armstrong, Bitten (2001) was the book of the series. having been a huge fan of the book series, i had looked forward to seeing it being translated into a series. comparing to the Elena in my imagination from reading the book, the one in the television was far more feminine. while her tough girl attitude took quite a while to sink in, she wasn't a difficult character to love. Clay on the other hand, was surprisingly distasteful where else in the book, he was the pitiful ex that Elena discarded, also the one i rooted for since the very beginning. it was definitely interesting to see how things flow from there onward, not only with their relationship, but also with the werewolves.

Thursday, April 03, 2014

Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 2: Eien no Monogatari (2012)
劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 永遠の物語

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Eien no Monogatari

the second movie was another recap for the last 4-episodes of the series. comparing to the first movie: Hajimari no Monogatari (2012), the second movie was even more impressive. it left an impression so huge that it easily overtook the prior. the reason being while the series had only 80 minutes for its 4-episodes, the movie had 120 minutes to tell the same story. this alone helped pace the story so much more better in return. more screen time were given to Madoka and Homura in this movie, which was excellent since the duo had the best teamwork among its characters. while Homura was rarely in the spotlight for the series, the movie tend to spend more time on her, making us like her even more. again compared to the series, the movie really outdone itself, making it so much more alluring to the already impressive series.

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Witches Of East End: Season 1 (2013)

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Witches Of East End

the story followed the lives of Joanna, a mother of two beautiful daughters, Freya and Ingrid. they were the bloodlines of the powerful and immortal witches. while Joanna had been alive for centuries, her daughters never lived past the age of 30. Freya was the spontaneous daughter, currently engaged to a doctor, Dash. to make things complicated, Freya had been dreaming about Dash's brother, Killian. Ingrid was the intelligent daughter, also a librarian who researched on witchcraft. one day, Wendy, Joanna's long lost sister appeared at their doorstep, indicating that she was here to protect her sister and her family.

the series was fast paced when it wasn't about romance. the triangle love story between Freya and the brothers, Dash and Killian, was somewhat typical. but when it came to reliving their past, or figuring out the shifter who was trying to kill them, it became so engaging. it was difficult to decide which sister was more favorable, because both of them were so different that they were impossible to compare with another. Freya was the wild child but still very good with potion making; where else Ingrid was the quiet child very good with spells. to be honest, Joanne and Wendy's characters were even more attractive compared to the children. they may still have their romance going for them at their age, but it never became a nuisance that hindered their witchcraft.

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 1: Hajimari no Monogatari (2012)
劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ 始まりの物語

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Hajimari no Monogatari

the first movie in the Madoka trilogy was a recap for the first 8-episodes of the series. however, it was still unfair to use the word recap since although the movie contained the same events, everything else was simply further enhanced. those who haven't watch the series would feel even more overwhelmed, compared to the already satisfying experience that we had with its originals. the pacing was increased since having 12 episodes squeezed into a 120 minutes movie was impossible without speeding up everything. the speed however, also improved its drama, giving even more personality to its characters. the darker themed used upon the cherry bright character remained impressive like its series, easily reached our expectations while overwhelming our visual experiences. it was impossible to not compare the movie to its series, but since we were already biased, loving and basking in every minute of the series, it was also impossible not to love the movie equally much.