Category Archives: Guest Author

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 13: It’s All Right! by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 13: It’s All Right!     

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 2, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Who would have thought that the first stop on the Grand Line would turn out to be an island filled with Pirate hunters! After a large welcoming feast, everyone is passed out, except for Zolo, who is battling against the members of Baroque Works. Ms. Wednesday has a giant duck which she rides, although not very well. And the bird seems to be directionally challenged. A bloated Luffy finds himself outside, but is too sleepy to make sense of anything and decides to take a nap even as two more agents join in the battle – Mr 5 and Ms Valenine! They announce that someone is missing from the kingdom of Alabasta! Turns out, someone is not who they appear to be!

Luffy awakens to find, to his dismay, that Zolo is battling the hosts who fed him so well. Fed up with this behavior, Luffy challenges Zolo to fight him! When Nami finds out that they are being offered a billion berries to escort the princess of Alabasta to her home, she forces them to quit fighting so they can help her. Igaram offers them the Eternal Pose that should guide them to Alabasta. However, on their way out of town, they discover Ms All Sunday on their ship, and she has been up to no good. The princess swears she hasn’t revealed the top boss’ identity… until she does. Oh dear, are they in trouble now?

The next stop on their journey is an island called Little Garden, but they are hard put to understand where the name comes from as it resembles a jungle more than a garden! The animals here seem to be a bit… big.  Luffy and Ms Wednesday decide to explore a bit, as Luffy yearns for adventure. Sanji challenges Zolo to a hunt, so off they go, leaving Usopp and Nami on the boat. They quickly learn the reason behind the island’s name. Apparently, it’s a location trapped in time, and here be dinosaurs and giants! Two giants, actually, who are in the middle of a battle that has spanned one hundred years!

Now that our heroes have reached the Grand Line, I am sure they will have many exciting adventures ahead of them and this is just the first. If this is any indication, things are gonna get wild! Will everybody become friends and have a feast with the animals Zolo and Sanji kill? Gotta wait till the next volume to find out!

Saturday is Horror Day #164 – Titane

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Titane

As a result of a childhood accident, Alexia (Agatha Rousselle) is left with a titanium plate in her head. Fast forward to her adulthood. Alexia is a car model, wearing skimpy clothing and writhing on top of automobiles. She leads a rough life and is clearly unhappy. One night, an encounter with an obsessed fan ends badly. Afterwards, she finds herself in the car she has come to love, having sex – with the car.

Due to her own actions, Alexia has to become someone else to avoid the law. She spots a computer-aged

picture of a missing boy who would be 17 now, and disguises herself as him. She presents herself to the law and the father Vincent (Vincent Lindon) is called. He identifies his “son” Adrien and takes “him” home. Vincent is the captain of a firefighting brigade and they don’t know how to take Adrien. Alexia binds herself to pull off her disguise, including her pregnant belly. But the deception begins to take a toll on her.

This is, without a doubt, a strange film. I was intrigued by what I read was the premise, of a woman having a sexual relationship with a car and getting pregnant, but this is not what I expected. It’s rather dark and violent, and the scenes with Vincent are both tender and sad. He wants to hold on to his “son”, no matter what – including if he isn’t his son. I can’t deny it’s well-made, and the performances are good, but it just didn’t do it for me. And leaves many questions.

I can’t say I recommend it, but I will give it 3 Stars. I wouldn’t watch it again.

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 15 by Yusei Matsui

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Assassination Classroom, Vol 15    

Author: Ysei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 4, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Koro Sensei is not the only monster at Kunugigaoka Junior High, the other one being Principal Asano. But was he always this way? No, far from it. He began the prep school with three students and a dream. He was well liked and had ideals. So, what happened? Now he has challenged Koro Sensei, and it’s his turn. If he opens the last book, he will assuredly die. Is he willing to die for what he believes?

Class 3-E is dismayed to learn that they are being forced to participate in the school play, when their time would be put to better use honing their assassination skills. And they have been given the worst time slot – during lunch. Who’ll be paying attention then? The students pick what jobs they wish to do, and Koro Sensei expresses his desire to be in the play as well. They quickly tell him what a good idea that isn’t, but Hazama, who is going to write the play, tells him she will write him in a part, which pleases him.

Hmmm, seems as though there is another secret assassin lurking in the classroom! When did Kayano acquire tentacles? She gets Nagisa to help her lure Koro Sensei into a trap, at which time she reveals herself. Will she be the one to end the teacher/monster? How did she get to be this way, and how did she fool the whole class into believing she was something she wasn’t? In revealing who she really is, Kayano accuses Koro Sensei of murder! His students are aghast! In order to clear himself of the charges, their teacher will finally have to tell them his story, although he hadn’t planned to do that quite so soon. But he has no choice now.

In this volume, we have two back stories, Principal Asano’s and Kayano’s. Boy, what a surprise! Who would have thought the nasty conniving principal ever had a nice side? I sure didn’t. And Kayano – never saw that coming! Never even noticed the small clues along the way! Now we come to Koro Sensei’s back story, but that has to wait until the next volume. Can’t wait to hear it! Another great volume, on the edge of my seat for the next one!

Saturday is Horror Day #156 – Silent Night (2021), Lake Mungo

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Silent Night (2021)

The apocalypse is happening… and everyone knows when. Nothing can be done to stop it. In preparation for the event, the government has provided citizens with Exit Pills, to avoid suffering when it does occur. Nell (Keira Knightley) and Simon (Matthew Goode) have a happy marriage and three sons. They decide they don’t want to face this alone, so they invite their group of long-time friends to join them at a house in the countryside to have one last hurrah and see each other one last time before they accept the end by taking their pills. Everyone seems to be in relatively high spirits, and much drinking ensures. But not surprisingly, loose tongues reveal long-kept secrets, straining even the best of relationships as this group of friends waits for the apocalypse to occur. And one of Nell and Simon’s sons, Art (Roman Griffin Davis) questions what the adults are doing.

I found this a very thought-provoking film, and one that it isn’t impossible to envision. If not this

particular scenario, then something similar. Like Art, I had so many questions about what was going on and how the adults were responding. This is the perfect what-would-I-do movie as you imagine yourself in their shows and think about how you would react to what is going on. Yes, there are some secrets revealed that might have/should have been kept to the grave, but some people just can’t hold their liquor. It’s also about love and shared history and togetherness. It’s well acted, especially Knightley and Goode. I am a huge fan of Goode, which is how I became interested in watching this when I accidentally ran across it while looking up the other series, the Silent Night, Deadly Night series. Similar name, totally different. Also, you might remember seeing the boy who plays Art in JoJo Rabbit, which is a very interesting film.

My only real complaint, and a minor one at that, is something I found their accents difficult to understand, but if anyone is concerned about that, you can always turn on close captioning. I didn’t, and I was fine with it. Like I said, this film gives you a lot to think about, and unlike a lot of horror films, it is a believable scenario. I’ll give this film 4.5 Stars.

Lake Mungo

Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker) is only 16 when she drowns. Her parents, June (Rosie Traynor) and Russell (David Pledger) are grief-stricken, wanting to know why this happened, as is her brother Matthew (Martin Sharpe). But after her death, strange things start to happen, and the figure of the late girl begins appearing in new photographs.

The search for understanding what happened leads to the discovery of things about Alice her family didn’t realize, that she led a secret double life.

To be honest, this film didn’t do it for me, although I’ve seen a number of good reviews for it. They talk about grief and how to deal with it, but that wasn’t the kind of ghost story I was expecting, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t impressed. I kind of lost interest early on but kept going anyway. If this sort of thing interests, give it a try, just wasn’t for me. I’ll give this film 2 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #151 – Saw VI, Saw: The Final Chapter

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

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Saw VI

Agent Strahm learned the truth about Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), but the knowledge didn’t help him as he let his own arrogance get in the way and he died, while Hoffman lived to see another day.  FBI agent Erickson (Mark Rolston) is getting closer to the truth himself. Will he survive the knowledge, once he finds out? Meanwhile, the game continues, beginning with two co-workers at an insurance company who must give up the proverbial pound of flesh in order to save themselves… or should I say, save one of them, for only one can win this game.

The sixth installment in the Saw series continues where the fifth left off. Hoffman has been acting as Jigsaw’s accomplice, but it seems as though the FBI might be closing in, having realized the voice on the tape isn’t John Kramer’s. What if their analysis is successful? Will they unmask Hoffman? Why does Agent Erickson focus so heavily on Kramer’s ex, Jill (Betsy Russell)? She was an innocent pawn in all of this… wasn’t she?

In this installment, the game centers around employees of an insurance company who have long defrauded their customers, including John Kramer. Despite being dead, he had everything planned, and he intends to show these people the consequences of their actions. It’s easy to make a decision about someone’s life when you don’t know that person and never will. But what if it’s someone you do know, whether friend, co-worker… or loved one?

I find the character of Mark Hoffman to be very intriguing. I think he is a better assistant than Amanda. The series continues to be very interesting. I like the acting, the plot, the direction. It’s still very enjoyable, and I went ahead and watched the next one, which I am going to review next. I will give this film 4 Stars.

Saw: The Final Chapter

Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell), John Kramer’s (Tobin Bell) ex, seeks protective custody, but will she give up Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) in order to get what she wants? Detective Matt Gibson (Chad Donella) is counting on it. Meanwhile, Jigsaw survivor/self-help guru Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery) is making a living by assisting other survivors to cope with the aftermath of their torturous time with Jigsaw. But his own dark secrets threaten to overwhelm him and he is forced to fight to protect his family and friends. Will he succeed?

As in the other installments of this series, the emphasis is on how actions have consequences, the same

thing John Kramer has said from the beginning. The people he targets all have something to atone for, and they all have choices to make. Hoffman is carrying on Jigsaw’s legacy, despite being hindered by Jill.

I know others think the series went downhill after the first film, but I disagree. And despite being labeled the final chapter, spoiler alert – it isn’t. I know of three more, and another one is coming out this year. So it’s far from dead. The games are good good, as well as gory. I am especially looking forward to Saw X, since it takes place earlier in the series and we’ll see more of John Kramer. Bobby Dagen deserves what he gets, trust me. I did like this one too and I’ll give it 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #142 – Insidious: The Red Door

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Insidious: The Red Door

Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and his family have been through a lot, especially Josh and his son Dalton, who both experience astral projection. They decide to put everything aside. Josh and Dalton are hypnotized into forgetting everything that took that year, and all knowledge of the Further.

Nine years go by, life goes on. Josh and Renai (Rose Byrne) are divorced, and there is a strain in the relationship between Josh and his kids. When Josh’s mother dies, the family assembles for the funeral, just before Dalton is set to leave for college. Renai urges Josh to offer to drive Dalton, which he does, and Dalton reluctantly accepts. Upon arrival at the university, Josh tries to help Dalton be more social by giving him a flyer/invitation to a frat party, although Dalton insists that isn’t his scene. They find his dorm room and then when his roommate enters, he finds it’s a girl named Chris (Sinclair Daniel).

Dalton is taking an art class, and the teacher tells the students to reach deep inside of them for a memory, but when he does, he doesn’t understand what the red door means. But he is starting to see things he can’t explain. He and Chris decide to get to the bottom of things, but at what cost?

I love the Insidious movies, especially Patrick Wilson, and I don’t think this one disappoints. There is a definite creep factor, and the way the tension builds is wonderful. I think that beneath the surface story of the father and son getting back the time that was lost, it’s about healing and letting go and moving on. Look for a surprise appearance at the end of the film! All in all a satisfactory watch. I believe this will be the last of the series.I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Book Review: Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

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Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol 1     

Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Publisher: Seven Seas

American release date: December 14, 2021

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/LGBTQ+/Fantasy Romance/396 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Wei Wuxian once had it all. He grew up at Lotus Pier, having been found abandoned on the streets and taken in by Jiang Fengmian. Wei, whose birth name is Wei Ying, was raised alongside siblings Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli. Handsome and intelligent, Wei was taught the ways of the cultivator, learning to not only use his sword, but how to manipulate qi and how to use his flute as a weapon. He was also fun-loving and irreverent, and he was wont to speak his mind, a habit which did not sit well with all. Especially a certain member of the Lan clan of Gusu – Lan Zhan, also known Hanguang-jun. Lan Zhan is highly renowned among cultivators, and greatly esteemed, as well as also being very handsome and talented. But as far as temperament, he is the opposite of Wei, being very reserved and somewhat stand-offish.

Wei and Lan Zhan are thrown together when the clans send their young cultivators to Cloud Recesses, the home of the Lan clan, for training. Wei is easily bored by the tedious studies and the many clan rules, especially the no liquor rule. He doesn’t hesitate to break those rules when he sees fit, and never seems to take his studies seriously. It comes as no surprise he would come into conflict with Lan Zhan.

However, due to circumstances not of his making, Wei, also known as the Yiling Patriarch becomes notorious for his demonic cultivation, and when he is killed, no one seems to mourn his passing. There has been too much water under that bridge, so to speak. Well, perhaps one person mourns. Sixteen years pass, and a tortured young man named Mo Xuanyu, whose life has been one of torment because of the circumstances of his birth, decides to exact a steep revenge. His plan is to call down the soul of a dead villain into his body and have it carry out that revenge on his horrible family. But for this to happen there is a terrible price to be paid, one which he willingly accepts – he sacrifices his own soul.

And so Wei Wuxian awakes to find himself in the body of Mo Xuanyu – and with a job to do. Assuming he can navigate this new world without being discovered and killed again. What if he runs into people he once knew, a not unlikely possibility. Will anyone recognize him? Will he be killed again? And will one person in particular know who he really is?

The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation books are the inspiration for the Chinese drama The Untamed. It is beautifully written and very compelling. Having already seen the Untamed and fallen in love with it, I was excited to learn about the book, which only fleshed out the characters in ways the series was unable to. The books themselves are beautiful, and contain many wonderful illustrations. At the back of the book is a great deal of useful information, including characters, locations, pronunciation of certain words, and more.  Now that I am up to volume 3, I have started to rewatch the series again.

What this comes down to is a romance between two souls. Twin flames, if you will, who seem forever drawn to one another no matter the circumstances. Now I see more clearly how Lan Zhan is able to recognize Wei Wuxian, even after sixteen years of thinking him dead, and despite a sixteen year search for him. Wei has much to learn of what transpired during his absence, and the repercussions of some of his actions. He has a nephew he’s never met, and a brother who hates him. Then there is the Ghost General, Wen Ning, who will respond whenever Wei calls him.

As Wei and Lan Zhan investigate the mysterious disembodied left arm that wreaked havoc at the Mo Estate, they wind up in the mysterious Yi City. Much occurs there, but this volume ends on a cliffhanger, to be continued in the next. This is such a riveting tale, and so universal. How can you not love it? I certainly do.

Book Review: Bleach, Vol 66 by Tite Kubo

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Bleach, Vol 66     

Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: March 1, 2016

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Everyone is appalled when Captain Hitsugaya is presented as one of Gigi’s zombies! Through observation, Kurotsuchi surmises that Hitsugaya was turned into a zombie before he was dead. Does that mean there is hope they can reclaim him? Kurotsuchi is excited at the idea of all the drugs he can test on Hitsugaya… for the sake of the Seireitei, of course.

Stern Ritter L – L for Love – Pepe seems to have Byakuya and Hisagi fighting one another. What’s up with that? They’re too smart to fall for that, right? Meanwhile, Kurotsuchi is having a very interesting conversation with Gigi, in which he explains how he anticipated her moves and countered with his own. In other words, he has turned her zombies into his zombies.

Back at Reiokyu,  Yhwach is seemingly impervious to attacks, surrounded by an impenetrable force. He presents to them Stern Ritter W, for the Wind, a strange looking little guy with two tongues. And in other news, just as Ichigo et al are about to take their departure in Kurotsuchi/Uruhara’s device, Ganju arrives and demands to go with them! (Long time no see, Ganju!)

Yhwach has more warriors up his sleeve, so to speak. Stern Ritter M (the Miracle) and Stern Ritter C (the Compulsory). He thinks this is the end of Squad Zero. But nothing is over until the fat lady sings…

Even if they defeat Yhwach… I mean when they defeat him… can life go back to the way it was in the Soul Society, or have they been irrevocably scarred by events? Hitsugaya a zombie? Say it isn’t so! But it is. And now we can only hope Kurotsuchi’s tactics and amazing brain will help bring the Captain back to himself.  Hopefully in the next volume we’ll see the arrival of Ichigo and the others. I can’t help but be reminded of the last time we saw this happen, when Ichigo, Chad, Orihime, and Uryu were catapulted into the Seireitei in order to save Rukia. Let’s hope they are equally successful this time!

Another great volume, on tenterhooks waiting for the next one!

Wednesday Briefs: June 15, 2022

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

The Garret Farm: Part 34 by J Ray Lamb

Jason was finally gone and the farm settled into mid-spring. Trent was busy from sunrise to sunset with preparations for the spring planting. Sandy suddenly found himself in charge of a fence building team to cordon off the winter wheat section that Claire had meant to fertilize. Trent couldn’t use that acreage for anything during the warm season so it was decided to fence it off and make it an extra pasture for the summer.

The rest of the farm was moving on from the drama. Colin had his hands full turning the farm into a full live-in facility…

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Book Review: Skip Beat! Vol 11 by Yoshiki Nakamura

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Skip Beat! Vol 11      

Author: Yoshiki Nakamura

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: September 4, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Shojo Manga//216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Kyoko’s portrayal of Mio has caught everyone by surprise. They are beginning to acknowledge that she has talent. Ren finds himself dreaming of her at night, remembering a time when they were children and he had to tell her he was leaving, which was heartbreaking. When they arrive on the set, Mr. Yashiro enlists Kyoko’s aid in making Ren eat the way he should. Ren surprises Kyoko by telling her he wants to be like her, that he wants his portrayal of Katsuki to exceed that of the original, as Kyoko is doing with Mio. Even the original Mio thinks Kyoko’s performance is better than hers. But just when things seem to be going so well, Kyoko is shocked that a re-take has been called… on Ren! Ren never has re-takes! What is up with that?

Sho doesn’t show, at least on the outside, how much he is affected by learning that Kyoko is going to be in a movie with his biggest enemy, aka Ren Tsuruga. But he has been affected, and can’t stop imagining things, such as Kyoko making lunches for Ren, the two exchanging pet names and intimate touches. He vows to have the best girlfriend once he is on top! Could it be Kyoko? And how disturbing is that thought to him?

Ren has been told by the director to go, and to come back when he can confidently play Katsuki. The President’s worst fears have been realized. What is he to do? Kyoko realizes Ren is in trouble, but she has no idea why. As his junior, she doesn’t dare approach him with an offer of advice. But then she remembers the time she was able to help him, dressed as Bo. Maybe that could work again? How to engineer such a meeting? Fate smiles on her when she discovers him by chance, on her way to play Bo. Ren reveals that he is having problems with the love scenes because he has never fallen in love! Bo/Kyoko is shocked, but still determined to help Ren. Ren reveals there is someone he does care about, but she’s in high school, so Kyoko decides to coach him, little dreaming that he is talking about her. To be fair, Ren has no idea he’s talking to Kyoko. Mr. Yoshiro plays matchmaker and maneuvers Kyoko into making dinner for Ren, but things don’t quite turn out as expected.

This series goes straight to my heart, I love it so much! I look forward to the day when both Kyoko and Ren will realize how they feel. I’m afraid some bad times are going to come in between though, since Kyoko doesn’t even known Ren is Corn, and that is bound to be an upsetting revelation. At least now that he is focusing on her, he can do his love scenes. Maybe even Lory will realize that Ren cares for Kyoko. I love to watch Kyoko’s continued growth as an actress. She may have begun this journey for the revenge, but it has become something so much more.

Can’t wait for the next volume!