Lenni Reviews: "Elixir: A Changeling P.I. Novel" by Ruth Vincent

Mabily Jones is an intern for a private eye after being tricked into human form by the Fairy Queen. Obadiah Savage sells bootleg Elixir to humans looking to get high. Thrown together when they are accused of a crime they didn't commit, the pair must travel to the Fairy realm to clear their names.

This book was pretty fun. Mab is as capable as she can be as a human with no powers against fairies. The romance between her and Obadiah is predicable but the way the story plays out between Mabily and the Fairy Queen was creative and unexpected. Mabily is a relatable character and while I enjoyed her, the while book seemed very light and simple. If you're looking for fantasy with fairies that doesn't get too dark, this is a good example of it. This felt more like a YA novel; teasing at the darkness but playing it safe. As I'm used to darker fantasy, it left me wanting but the story is fun and interesting; leaving me wanting to know what could happen next. 3.7 out of 5.

For more of Lenni's reviews, check out Haunting Hypatia.

CE Week - LifePrint, olloclip, Robo3D, Roli

CE Week - LifePrint, olloclip, Robo3D, Roli

Continuing on with the CE Week tech event is part 7 of a series of quick video presentations with the LifePrint portable printer, olloclip phone accessories and optics, Robo3D 3D printers and Roli for the musician in you - click and watch them below!

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The Walking Dead Third season Revealed During SDCC

Fellow Survivors,

 

In celebration of SDCC this week, Telltale joined our friends at Skybound Entertainment live on stage to discuss a few more details on our upcoming season of The Walking Dead.

Eagle-eyed fans will recognize that the poster revealed today is an homage to the original poster for The Walking Dead when the concept was first shown at SDCC in 2011. In contrast to the original, Clem is no longer being protected, and stands shoulder to shoulder with mysterious newcomer Javier. We'll be sharing some details later this summer on how you may be able to get your hands on a special limited-edition run of this poster.

 

The Walking Dead's Creative Director Dennis Lenart from Telltale was joined by Melissa Hutchison (voice of Clementine) to share a few more details about the upcoming season, and tried their best not to spoil the story that's yet to come.

What they could share was your first new look at the season since it was revealed at E3 last month. In this first shot, you'll see Javier and Clementine making their way through a walker-infested slaughterhouse. Remember, you'll be playing as both characters, although you may not be playing each character within the same frame of time...

Another unique aspect of this third season is that while it absolutely continues the story of the previous two seasons, it also serves as a new entry point for fans who've yet to be caught up to speed. Players starting with this third season will be introduced to young survivor AJ, who fans will recognize as the son of Rebecca from Season Two - and we can confirm that he will be making an appearance in this season as well. So players who are new to the series will have a chance to learn more about Clementine's backstory, while at the same time, those who have played previous seasons will have a story that's uniquely tailored to the diverging paths they've taken in the past.

Lenart also discussed the importance of playing as Javier, and how the team was able to create a character without any prior relationship with Clementine. This will provide an interesting opportunity for players to meet a character they may have helped shape. They'll also have a chance to play as a survivor fresh to the series, who is currently struggling to keep his family together in the face of the undead apocalypse.

Stay tuned for more news as it happens on this upcoming third season, as we gear up towards the premiere coming later this fall!

CE Week - 3Doodler, Catalyst, myCharge and Jabra

CE Week - 3Doodler, Catalyst, myCharge and Jabra

Produced by: Young Jeohn

Continuing on with the CE Week tech event is part 6 of a series of quick video presentations with 3Doodler 3D printing pen, Catalyst waterproof cases, myCharge powerbanks and Jabra headsets - click and watch them below!

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Calling All Critters!!!

Calling all Critters,

   I came upon an idea as I was watching past episodes (and anticipating the next one) and thought that this would be a great present for Critical Role and other Critters alike. I love to write especially poetry, monologues and short stories. Twitch and streaming on YouTube, are ways of broadcasting a lot of materials of variety and sharing those things with people is a great way of meeting other like minds. Well because I am such a huge fan of Critical Role and being a Critter myself, I want to give something to the Critical Role family, cast, crew, and Critters alike (yay for alliteration right here...)

So here is my idea: On one day a week (or two depending on my life schedule, I will be writing a story about the motley crew of Vox Machina. This story however, will not be written by just me. I want all Critters and others who are just becoming Critters, to help me write the story. Think of it as a huge Mad Libs project. Depending on how many chapters we write, will depend on how much we want to write and end the story. Are you in? Comment below this post or send me an email at Ashley@otakusandgeks.com. I want this to be a great fun project and maybe as a surprise gift to the Critical Role cast and crew. Thank you for your corporation and let's write Vox Machina's new adventure, filled with character development, love, lost, fun, humor, and most of all, natural 20's...

Vox Machina Rules!!!!!

CE Week - Odyssey Toys, Aiptek, Kensington and Nonda

CE Week - Odyssey Toys, Aiptek, Kensington and Nonda

Continuing on with the CE Week tech event is part 4 of a series of quick video presentations with Odyssey Toys, Aiptek projectors, Kensington computer peripherals and the Nonda car charger/car locator.

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Re: ZERO -Starting Life In Another World- (Ep 1 -13)

"This is bad. . . Very Bad"

"Subaru-Kun, Is something wrong?"

This review is something I've been waiting to do for quite some time, as I wanted to wait until I was an supple amount of episodes in. "Re: Zero -Starting Life In Another World-" Is an ongoing anime series that takes place in an mythical world. The anime begins in an eerie way, as you hear the sounds of someone struggling to get the words from his mouth. Simply stating it is bad; then cuts to a scene of a modern day world where our heroic protagonist Subaru is seen exiting out of a convenience store. Only for seconds later his eyes to blur, and he literally appears in a new world.

Being the shut in that he was, this was not an alarming experience but one full of thrill and excitement. As he thought himself to be the protagonist, and his life was now beginning and he would be off on an heroic journey-- whatever that may have been. That would be a sore mistake as he would quickly learn, as he would end up almost getting robbed. . Until he is saved by a mysterious woman with white hair. . This-- is when the story begin to take off.

I will not state any more then what I have, but it is safe to say that this show will take you by surprise. As it has a very MMORPG feel from the beginning, the tones and situations that it touches up on will eventually start to take you on an emotional adventure that would have you begin to question 'Why would he do this?' or even more-so 'Would I have done anything different?'

I will begin my review by going with the animation quality. From the very first episode you could tell the distinct style that this anime portrayed in the 40 minutes long special. The ambience and beauty that came from the scene of Episode 1A, to the gruesome details that is foretold in episode 1B. The quality of animation in this series never seems to falter or sway. In fact as the episodes progress, it seems to only increase in the quality.  Thus, in my eyes this anime does a very good job at the tones it uses. Utilizing color schemes and shifts in shading to portray the mood of the scenes.

Which brings me to the bulk of this show-- the characters. I will not spoil anything, but I will say that this anime has quite the depth in character development. Subaru shifts extremely from Episode 1 to Episode 13 in such a masterful way, watching the character grow, make mistakes, grow, grow confidence, get cocky, get completely destroyed, grow. Watching Subaru learning to adapt, is one of the reasons this anime is great. And it isn't only Subaru, the characters revolving around the character gets fine development as well. People you think you will never see again pops up when the time is right, and everything seems to have significance.

I could go on and on, but so far (As of 7/11/16) this anime is only up to episode 15. And I must say this may be the best anime of 2016 in my eyes, one of the best I have seen in a long while. The writing of it is superb, each episode will have you wanting another as the cliff hangers are laid out in tasteful ways. It is addicting, it is thrilling, it is unexpected and most of all. . It plays with your thoughts. It is an experience in it's own respect, and because of that. .

 

I reward this anime, a 5/5.

Gonna Be The Twin-Tail!! (Review)

Soji Mitsuka is an ordinary high schooler with an extraordinary obsession. Twin tails are his fire, his air, his will to live! But when a mysterious woman from another world enlists his help to fight hideous monsters with various moe fetishes, Soji much transform into a powerful pigtailed…girl? With the help of his childhood friend, the class president, and his endless devotion to pigtails, Soji and his crew form a twin-tailed threesome to take on the monsters who feed on the “attribute power” of humans. But Soji’s new pigtailed powers come with a price; his surging popularity as the new heroin in town makes the twin-tailed trend explode, giving the monsters ample attribute powers to feed upon!

Lenni Reviews: "Don't Be Cruel" vol 1 by Yonezou Nekota

Facing the possibility of losing his scholarship, Takashi Negugasa cracks under the pressure and cheats during a test. Unfortunately for him, school delinquent and known playboy, Kideyuki Maya, catches him in the act. In exchange for keeping it secret, Maya blackmails Negugasa into sleeping with him.

As this is a 2 in 1 volume, we see Maya's interfering cousin, Akira, and the obvious feelings Maya has for Negugasa despite Negugasa's obliviousness. It's that "I really like you but I can't say it" scenario. Once I got passed the coercion (yeah, it's a little close to straight up non-con) the pair to make a cute couple. As soon as they get out of their own way, that is.

This may be a typical sort of boys love story but its well drawn and the main characters are likable enough to endure the will they/won't they back and forth (which thankfully doesn't last all that long). I found it a little odd for Maya to turn around and say Negugasa was manipulating him when Maya was doing the blackmailing in the first place (what an odd character flip...) but hey, at first neither man would admit any feelings at all and I'm a  mush. I'll admit I like the happy ending. 4.5 out of 5 and I would love to read the next one!

Like Lenni's writing? This review and more are also posted at literaryloon.com

"I Quit" Why are Marvels youngest Heroes ready to Quit?

image credit Marvel

Hey O&G fans, recently posters have been popping up with some of marvel's young heroes with the caption "I QUIT" July 5th under them. This has lead some readers to believe that there will be big changes after the Civil War 2 story arc, with some heroes leaving their respective teams. Just in case you haven't seen them here are a few of the posters:

So what has these heroes ready to quit? Yesterday it was revealed as part of the Marvel NOW! "Divided We Stand" initiative, a new Champions series is on its way in October with young heroes from the Avengers and X-Men featuring these characters from the posters as part of the team. Writer Mark Waid describes the series as a "generational shift."

"When we were growing up, the general perception was it takes adults to fix the world. Kids can do little things, but basically you have to wait till you grow up to make the big choices and the big decisions. Well, Mark Zuckerberg would disagree with you. Some of the other young trend-breaking scientists that are coming to light, online especially, would beg to differ with you," Waid told Entertainment Weekly  "Those are the inspirations, as much as anybody else, for the idea that we don’t have to wait until we grow up to be Tony Stark or Captain America to make a difference in this world. We’ll find our way, and we’ll find our own way." This team takes its name from the 1970s Marvel super-team the Champions - a name that has been mired in legal battles that have prevented its re-use until now

The original CHAMPIONS series was created by writer Tony Isabella and artist Don Heck, issue #1 debut in 1975. Writer Tony Isabella developed the concept of a new team of superheroes and originally wanted the roster to consist of former X-Men Angel and Iceman, and the newly created Black Goliath. Black Goliath became unavailable when the character debuted in his own title, forcing Isabella to rethink the concept. Editor Len Wein insisted on at least five members, and Isabella added three established heroes: Russian spy Black Widow (team leader), the Greek God Hercules, and the supernatural avenger Ghost Rider.

 

This New team will consist of Ms Marvel, Kid Nova, Spiderman (Miles Morales) Awesome Hulk, Viv Vision (Daughter of the Vision) and Young Cyclops. Which should be an interesting combination.

Mark Waid will be joined on Champions by artist Humberto Ramos, currently writes the Ms. Marvel/Spider-Man/Nova trio in All-New All-Different Avengers. We will keep you updated on more info as the series is closer to it's release.

 
source: Entertainment Weekly and Wikipedia
 

by Sean Tucker

CE Week 2016 - Kodak, re-fuel, Vitrima, and WowWee!

CE Week 2016 - Kodak, re-fuel, Vitrima, and WowWee!

The CE Week event is a yearly affair where tech companies and start ups gather to show off their latest gear, and we're here to give you a taste of what we saw. This is part one with many more to come!

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News: D.Gray-man is Coming Back!!!!!

Hello everyone! Great news. Funimation released an announcement yesterday about D.Gray-man. Some of you may not know but D.Gray-man has a new series coming out, D.Gray-man HALLOW, which is coming out as a simulcast show on Funimation.com July 4th at 2:05pm EST. That is great, however, the English dub was cut and Funimation only released episodes 1-51. So as an added bonus to Funimation acquiring the new season, they also acquired the rest of the original D.Gray-man series, 52-103! That's right, more D.Gray-man and as a fan of the original series, I cannot wait to see the rest of the series and beyond. Stay tuned at Funimation.com and their blog for more information for the upcoming episodes and new series. Now if you excuse me I need to watch episodes 1-51 again. Until then...

Anime Rules!!!!!