Dimension W Episode 1 - Collector Review

Kyoma Mabuchi, a Collector, runs into some trouble on a job and ends up bringing back an android girl named Mira.

I think 2016 has introduced us to another bad ass in the name of Kyoma Mabuchi. The show Dimension W is off to great a start with a strong cast of characters, refreshing plot and stellar animation. In the first episode we're introduced to Kyoma. He is a man who is surrounded in mystery. All we know is that he acts as a Collector and takes certain jobs that he is hired to do. He has the same style of a mercenary but I wouldn't call that. While details of who Kyoma is not shown. I like the way they tell us through actions what type of man he is. He is a man of action. A man who is going to get the job done. He appears cold but you can sense he's a good man. I'm curious to see how he develops and what we will learn from him this season.

Dimension W also succeeds with presenting us a refreshing concept and world. In the world of 2071 the energy crisis is solved, with the discovery of cross dimensions fields known as coils. These coils have infinite source of energy which was founded in the W dimensions. The episode shows the importance of these coils and how it's the livelihood of the world. There is however coils that shouldn't be used with also amazing amounts of energy called illegal coils. This sets Kyoma on a misson to stop those who are trying to use it. The world is refreshing and I was really drawn into the situations of the coils and the effects of it. Dimension W has great animation, a good score and great characters. Episode 1 does one hell of a job of introducing us to this world.

Final Grade: 8.5/10

Rainbow Days Episode 1 Review

Natsuki is a hopeless romantic who, just after being dumped by his girlfriend, falls in love with a girl handing out tissues while dressed in a Santa costume. Will Natsuki reconnect with his dream girl?

Rainbow Days has a nice premise, concept and good execution. Natsuki was dumped during the holiday season. He meets handing out tissues and instantly falls in love.  Natsuki is hell bent on finding this girl that he met that fateful night. Natsuki can be somewhat delusional. He only sees what he his reality wants him too. Think of it like this. A girl can just being nice but he will think it's romantically link. One thing I like about the show is how Natsuki is trying to get back into the dating world. His friends show their support by trying to help him with tips, take him out and keep him in check. I like how they show how Natsuki was affected by the break up. I just wish they showed more of it. Overall this anime is off to a good start. Natsuki quest to learn more about his crush should keep you interested.

Final Grade 7.0/10

Ojisan and Marshmallow Episode 1 Review

The series is about a man named Kusaka who has a fascination for marshmallows. Kusaka gets involved in a relationship with an office lady named Wakabayashi, and the story focuses on their relationship in the workplace.

Before I begin you have to know that is an anime short. It is only last 3 mins long. However in those three minutes I was pretty entertained. This anime short developed and planted seeds of a fun relationship between Kusaka and Wakabayashi. The short makes it clear that Kusaka loves marshmallows and Wakabayashi is having fun taunting him with it. There is chemistry between these two that will certainly be explored in later episodes. I did like the little play fight scene tey had. But the short didn't leave me wanting more. Maybe five minutes to establish more would be great. It was still a fun three minutes.

Final Grade: 7.0/C- 

Erased Episode 1: Flashing Before My Eyes Review

Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling manga artist who works at a pizza parlor. Ever since he was a kid, he has been holding himself responsible for a kidnapping incident. Finally, the time has come for the truth from his past to be revealed…

I haven't seen an anime with such a strong first episode like "Erased" for some time. I have to go on record and say that I'm hooked. This show is off to a great start and if 2016 anime is similar we are looking at a good year. One thing episode 1 does so well is introducing us to our main character Satoru Fujinuma. Satoru is guy that keeps to himself. He's a struggling manga writer who seems to not be able to tap into his full potential. There is something traumatic that is holding him back from unlocking his heart. This is something that he has been putting off for years and he is ready to confront it.

As stated in the synopsis Satoru feels responsible for a student who was kidnap. For the sake of spoilers I won't say anything about the episode. I will say I love how they depict how he carries this weight for all these years. The use of music, camera angles and the way he is presented is spot on. There is also supernatural element which works even for this realistic tone the show is going for. The ending of episode 1 is unexpected and will have you rewatching it for hints of next week. This show so far is taking its characters, plot and world seriously. A touch of slice of life, supernatural and real situations makes this off to a great start.

Final Grade A-/9.0

Only Yesterday Review

 Only Yesterday is a film that truly embodies the spirit of life and how dreams can change or stay the same form childhood. Taeko, a 27 year old woman, lives in Tokyo and decides to go out into the countryside to work as a field worker. Along the way she starts to reminisce about her life as a little girl and starts to question if she completed her dream since childhood.

The story is great and the use of imagery and animation has the style of what we love about Studio Ghibli. The animation is so nice and crisp and I love the watercolors that were used for the past and then the heavy, darker, colors for the present (1982). Also with the past dream sequences, some of the scenes seem half finished, making it more of a dream than reality and shows how life can past by in a blur.

The music is absolutely amazing and it sets the mood for each scene. When the music is not playing its at pivitol moments in time when I am on my seat to hear and to see what happens next. The music helps the mood and brings out such great emotions that also inhances the performance of the characters and actors.

Speaking of which, the voice actors in the movie is also great and one can tell they are invested in the story and really bring each character to life. Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel were amazing and gave such great emotion to the characters and the other characters as well, especially the flashbacks to Taeko as a little girl.

Overall I give this movie a 9/10. A must see if your a fan of Studio Ghibli and this story, for me, hits home to me on a personal level and what a story to have to celebrate 25 years of amazing storytelling. Dreams can be a reality. Take chances and have heart and you will see it come true. Anime Rules!!!

Lenni Reviews: "Bane" by Amelia C. Gormley

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I must have said a dozen or so times in my tenure as a book reviewer here that I'm going to be writing a review for you guys for the second book in a series without having read the first one. Well, surprise! Bane is the sequel to Strain, which I have indeed read! I happened upon it in one of my free ebook newsletters so when I saw this book in my review box, I snatched it up.

Bane follows the further adventures of Rhys Cooper, a man with a strange immunity to the virus which has ravaged the planet. The virus has three strains that do three different things: infect you with a disease called Rot, turn you into a monster called a revenant, or a super-human they call Juggernauts (or Jugs for short). Scientists in the Clean Zone have caught wind of Rhys' immunity and asked him to be a test subject for a possible vaccine but his partner; Darius Murrel, and the rest of Delta Company don't trust the government. It is the same government that developed this virus, had the Jugs fight for them, then banished them from society.

While as steamy (read: smutty) as the first book, Bane focuses more on the twisted story of trying to find a cure and a safe place for uninfected people and the Jugs they fear. With the virus in the book is so virulent, transmission and risk of another outbreak is a constant concern. The tension surrounding a possible vaccine, how it will effect the balance in the word, and whether or not it will even work, was the most riveting part for me, and I look forward to a sequel if Gormley has one in the works.

As for the M/M romance aspect of it, Rhys and Darius are pretty well established as a couple. The main romantic conflict comes from characters introduced in a different book; Nico Fernandez and Zach Houtman. Nico is a Jug and Zach is one of the doctors working with Rhys on a cure. Kept apart for a decade by Nico's infection, they are thrown together again. Their possible reconciliation is the backdrop to a well built, post-apocalyptic landscape.

To sum it all up, Gormley has sharp world building skills and a red hot pen for her erotic portions of her books. If you like your M/M romance with a sci-fi bent, Bane is a welcome addition.

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“If you like Lenni’s reviews; she also has her own writing posted at www.atthequillsmercy.com”

Lenni Reviews: "Evac" by Michael Murphy

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"Evac" is the story of a war veteran named Benjamin - Benji for short. While on assignment in Afghanistan, Benji loses his entire unit; including his partner, Blade. While his body mended, his mind is fractured; as he suffers from debilitating PTSD flashbacks. Finding it nearly impossible to reconnect as a civilian, Benji claws for any sort of release from his mental pain; participating in ever more dangerous activities until finally ending up on a bridge ready to end it all. It is here where he meets Nick, a young man on the same bridge for the same reason. The two men find common ground and give each other hope for a better future.

"Evac" is a quick but powerful story. Even at under 200 pages, I found myself both empathizing with Benji and enraged at the utter incompetence of the people around him. With such tragedy, it is very gratifying for him and Nick to get together with their much deserved happy ending. But what a ride getting there! Random sexual encounters, a brief stint at a BDSM club, picking bar fights; Benji hits all the self-destructive marks before  he meets Nick and is set on a more balanced path. Yup, I said BDSM club. And Michael Murphy doesn't flinch a bit in his depictions of the lifestyle and all the smutty encounters, so count this among the "mature audiences only" books.

And in case you're all wondering: "Lenni? What's with all the naughty LGBT books!?" Well, to be perfectly honest, I think more of these books should be reviewed on sites like ours and - I freely admit - I made myself a complete pest at the Dreamspinner Press booth at BEA this year. I have a LOT of books from them and I'm hell bent on reviewing as many as possible. Expect more of these in the future.

To get back on point, "Evac" packs a quick emotional punch with good pacing and development in a small package. Benji's unflinching honestly and pain to tug at your heart even if the book hits all the sorta cliche romantic tropes. But, they're cliche for a reason; it's how romances work. If you're looking for a quick and smutty romance with a happily ever after, "Evac" will do ya well.

Star Wars Episode 6: The Return of The Jedi Review

After rescuing Han Solo from the palace of Jabba the Hutt, the rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to make Vader return from the dark side of the Force.