Lenni Reviews: "Windsinger" by A. F. E. Smith

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Mirrorvale has long stood in a precarious 'truce' with the surrounding kingdoms; held together with the fear of the changers. Now not only overload but a mother, Ayla Nightshade attempts to broker a formal peace treaty with an ambassador from the neighboring kingdom of Sol Kardis. After one day of hard negotiations, the ambassador is found dead. Suspected of murder, the race in on to prove Ayla's innocence and prevent all out war.

Across the the three books (this is the third Darkhaven novel) the writing quality, world building, and character depth has been consistently entertaining and well executed. The build up is slow to a rip-roaring climax; leaving plenty of time to be intrigued and entertained. The characters are especially interesting in this outing, with even the side characters having story arcs ramping up several times to push them to the limit and end up with some great development. It can seem a little trivial in the grander scheme of things but it was good to get to know them.

I do hesitate to give away too much and end up spoiling some pretty major plot points. Suffice it to say I am loving this series and hope to see more. 4.7 out of 5.

Tales From The Crypt 2017 Teaser

Hey O&G fans, M Night Shyamalan is rebooting the classic horror series Tales From The Crypt Which ran from June 10, 1989 to July 19, 1996. For those to young to remember the series or the movies it spawned here is a look at the original intro:

Intro to Tales from the Crypt. Aired on HBO from 1989 to 1996. "Tales of horror based on the gloriously gruesome EC horror comics of the 1950's" (IMDB) Best quality and no stupid logos since I ripped it from my own DVD.

Now check out the 2017 Teaser:

Tales From The Crypt Season 1 Trailer! (2017 Remake)

The remake has been delayed, so we hope this teaser is a sign that the series is a go. It was previously said that the new stories would be culled from trending pieces posted to the fiction site, Wattpad, and the footage bears a decidedly modern milieu. In the teaser, Shyamalan calls the original show a “forbidden fruit” from his childhood, celebrating its “dark, ironic” tone. No date has been set yet.

Shakespeare Adventure!!!

Justin and I decided to do a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book called To Be or Not To Be. This is part one of the adventure because there are so many paths and endings to have. Stay tuned next week because its going to be an interesting one...

Survival Horror game from Deck 13 The Other 99 Gets major update and new trailer

Deck 13 and games development studio Burning Arrow announced today the availability of a brand-new update for ‘The Other 99’ that brings multiple improvements to its game currently downloadable through Steam Early Access. Based on the feedback received from players engaged in previous versions of the action-horror title, Burning Arrow released this update to fix many of the concerns that were expressed while also making it much more challenging to survive the island. A list of corrections and enhancements developed and implemented in this new version can be found below: - New Starting Area. - Massively reworked Balancing. - Better interaction for survival with the world (e.g. now you can drink water from rivers, etc..). - Rework of the Survival Guide (Hunger & Thirst related). - Overhauled the island with new props populating the environment. - Rework of the combat. “It’s great being able to bring such an important update to The Other 99. We’ve taken a lot of the feedback we received on the early builds of our title and worked hard to improve the game in those areas with a focus on the game’s difficulty. With the new AI system that we have completed, it is no longer easy to avoid and bypass enemies, as fights are now much more challenging.” says NAME, co-founder of Burning Arrow. Burning Arrow also released a frightening new trailer to celebrate the release of the update. It shows the intensity that occurs when exploring the dark and unnerving island, and it captures some of the fierce combat and menacing locations featured throughout the game.

The Other 99 Game Description & Current Features The Other 99 is a single player, first-person, action-survival game. Ripped from their ordinary life, players awaken on a desolate hebridian island with nothing but a single note that reads: “The only way off the island is through the The Other 99”. Described as a British Battle Royal, Lost meets Fight Club and a digital Lord of the flies, The Other 99 is a game of mystery, exploration, brutal combat, stealthing mechanics and problem solving. But be careful: permadeath is included.

Ø One objective. Alternate playing styles. Getting off the island is your main objective. § Survival of the fittest: Do what it takes to get off the island. Follow the cryptic note and butcher your way to freedom. Only thing is.. many of the other 99 have the same idea. § Mind over matter: Keep focus and lurk amongst the bushes, tactically sabotaging camps and assassinating by the dead of night. § Discovery: Let animals be animals. Watch from a distance and decipher the mysteries of the island. Maybe there is more to the island than meets the eye.

Ø Dynamic AI system § Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Simulations are hard at work in the background determining how AI’s move, kill and survive. This effects the world you play in and provides unique situations every time. Campfires are lit because AI have actually visited them and bodies are there because they have died, the world lives around you.

Ø Large open world environment to explore § Pick up a lit torch and discover the lore and extensive backstory of the island through rock engravings, notes and environmental story telling. § Go where you please! Nothing is stopping you from walking to the other side of the playable area. Well.. Potentially 99 psychologically damaged murderous people. Ø Dynamic day-night cycle and ever changing weather system § Keep track of day and night cycles as this will change visibility on both you and the other 99. Lighting fires at night or running through open fields during the day are decisions you must make. § Weather can be unforgiving, rain blocking out the sound of footsteps and thunder illuminating the path ahead are elements you can use to your tactical advantage.

Ø Hunger and thirst § Maintaining hunger and thirst doesn’t just keep you alive, it ensures you are strong for every encounter you face. § Explore more efficiently by keeping well hydrated. § Kill more efficiently by maintaining your nutrition.

Ø Puzzle and problem solving § Solve perspective puzzles, collect components and decipher notes. These will lead to greater rewards and bring you closer to understanding what is happening on the island.

Nickelodeon's 'The Fairly Odd Phantom' Features Butch Hartman¹s Characters All Together for the First Time

Worlds and characters collide in The Fairly Odd Phantom, an original animated short featuring an ensemble cast of characters from the Nickelodeon animated series created by Butch Hartman: The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F Puppy and the brand-new Bunsen is a Beast. The short, which marks the first-time these popular characters have ever been featured together, is now available across Nick.com, Facebook, and Nick’s YouTube page. Hartman’s latest series, Bunsen is a Beast, premieres today, Feb. 21, at 5:30p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon, telling the story of Bunsen and Mikey--two new friends who embark on endless fun and adventures in their town of Muckledunk.

In The Fairly Odd Phantom, Danny Phantom and friends capture escaped ghosts in their lab, Fenton Works, but their mission quickly goes awry when secret agent Dudley Puppy messes with the control panel. Soon after, Wanda, Cosmo and Timmy end up in the lab instead of Fairy World, where they are all met by a very different newcomer, Bunsen.

For over 18 years, Hartman has created hit series for Nickelodeon, including The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom and T.U.F.F. Puppy, with his brand-new series, Bunsen is a Beast debuting today. As part of Nickelodeon’s continued celebration of its rich animation history, Hartman combined his pantheon of iconic characters into one comedic short.

On Feb. 24, Danny Phantom voice cast members, David Kaufman, Grey Griffin, Rickey D’Shon Collins, and Colleen O’Shaughnessy, will appear on a brand-new episode of the toon-talking Nickelodeon Animation Podcast, which gives voice to the creators and talent who bring to life some of the most innovative, hilarious, and heart-tugging animation in the history of television. Episodes are available on iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud and nickanimationpodcast.com.

The Fairly OddParents (10 seasons), which debuted in 2001, follows Cosmo and Wanda, husband-and-wife fairies, as they wreak havoc and help their godson Timmy overcome typical kid obstacles by granting him wishes.

Danny Phantom (3 seasons), which bowed in 2004, charts the adventures of 14-year-old Danny Fenton, who becomes half-ghost, “Danny Phantom.” Now with paranormal powers, he’s responsible for capturing the ghosts and monsters that roam the Earth.

T.U.F.F. Puppy (3 seasons) debuted in October 2010 and showcases a gung-ho, dim-witted dog named Dudley Puppy who finds himself accidentally thrust into the role of secret agent.

Visit Nick.com, Facebook, Instagram and the Nick App to learn more about Bunsen is a Beast.  Full-length episodes are currently available on Nick.com, Nick On Demand, and the Nick App, available for download on iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Android, and Android TV. 

Hartman began his animation career as an assistant animator on An American Tail.  He created his own shorts for What a Cartoon!, and also wrote and directed episodes of Dexter’s Laboratory, Cow & Chicken and Johnny Bravo.  Bunsen is a Beast marks Hartman’s fourth animated series for Nickelodeon. Hartman joined Nickelodeon in 1998 where he created and produced several cartoon shorts for the Oh Yeah! Cartoons series, including The Fairly OddParents.  Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the animated series, Hartman brought the series to life in the 2010 live-action/CG animated hit TV movie, A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!  The series came to life once again in the original TV movie, A Fairly Odd Christmas in 2012 and A Fairly Odd Summer in 2014. Hartman is also the creator of Nickelodeon’s animated series Danny Phantom and T.U.F.F. Puppy.