LIST: May's Rants & Raves

 Ladies and Gentleman, as N*Sync loves to tell us

and here is May's Rants & Raves Reviews! This month started out slow and was still slow until near the end of the month where it blew up. We have some new friends, some old buddies and some disappoints and some triumphs. So, a normal LIST right? Let's get started.

20. Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell: 7 - OKAY

    Starting with the month's biggest disappointment. I will not lie, I got suckered by the cover, the synopsis and the fact that an Asian male was a main character. The author also had a very cute and kooky bio which made me laugh. However after an initial promising chapters the book became very convoluted, predictable, a bit pretentious and worst... boring.

    Sure this is a debut novel so some jank might exist but this book took some weird narrative twists and turns which really confused me and I consider myself a very competent reader (humble brag: on average I read 7 books a month) but the sad thing is when I was confused, the story was not compelling enough to make me re-read to understand it. It mostly has a 7 because I original enjoyed it enough to finish it and see how it ended but the last couple chapters were a struggle and the ending really did not do it for me either. The main characters were predictable with no personality as well. Easily my biggest disappointment for this month after such a promising start.

19. The Language of the Night by Ursula K. Le Guin: 8 - Rave

    A insightful selection of essays by one of the queens of fantasy, Le Guin. While the introductions she wrote for the books discussed in this collection did not resonate with me because I have no read those books, everything else was very well written and though provoking. It was a nice insight into all the struggles she went through as a female author in what was once a male dominated genre filled with tropes and sexism.

    Ursula writing advice through is second to none (and one of the reasons why her writing craft book 'Sailing the Seas...' previously got a 9 on this very LIST) and inspires me to keep at my own writing. One of the quotes from this book has stuck with me so much I made it a one of my quotes on Goodreads. Even through this book is at the back of the LIST, I liked this sooo much more than Boys with Sharp Teeth by a large margin.

18. Grey's Anatomy Season 22: 8 - Rave

    How does one go about reviewing a show that has been around for 22 seasons when regular readers of this blog know I am mostly a one and done season type of guy? It is really sad that the writers of this show can only write truly heart provoking moments when cast members are leaving. This season we finally say goodbye to main cast members characters' Teddy and Owen, both whom have stayed long past their welcome and have dragged us through endless drama. I am happy they gave them an optimistic ending because honestly if they gave us a throw-away or tragic ending it would been a spit in the face of the people who watched this show.

    Grey's really shows its age, even in a decent season like this one. The endless parade of new characters introduced just to be a love interest for a arc thing is getting old, the endless saga of will they/ won't they relationships is also played out too. I am happy some relationships are handled with more care  and given time to really flourish (Jules/Winston comes to mine) but those are few and far between. Grey's has long moved past being a TV show and Must Watch TV and become a soap opera with better cameras and better actors and that's a shame. I still like most of the current cast and the new class (Kwan/ Millin/ Griffith/ Adams) did breath some much needed life into the series so I guess I'll keep watching.

17. Ultimates Vol. 3 Rescue Mission: 8 - Rave

    

    Let me take a side-bar and discuss something I have noticed about myself. I not a big fan of episodes of the week, I intend prefer long arcs and big pay-offs. It is why growing up I found myself enjoying Star Trek: Voyager but compared to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and its rich storytelling, there was no comparison. So on that note, I find myself realizing why I like the Ultimates by Deniz Camp but not connecting with it as much as I want too.

    Deniz seems to favor stand-alone stories which introduce big things but right now there is no pay off for me. We are introduced to interesting characters but nothing comes out of it even after a couple issues. Also because all the stories are so loosely connected, after reading one of these volumes I start to forget what happened in them because there is no clear arc (at this time). This was the feeling I had when I read Vol. 2 previously but this month I can actually clarify what I was feeling. I like Camp's writing, I like the art, I like his take on the characters (Ultimate Hawkeye for an example is an instant like) but I just missing something. Hopefully with the Ultimate universe coming to an end, Camp brings all his threads together and we get a great pay off but as it stands, this is feeling much more Voyager and not DS9 for me and why it is at the back of this LIST.

16. Shanghai Calling: 8 - Rave

    

    A fun, no fuss rom-com with Daniel Henney playing a jerk but eventually finds his soul and love. This movie played the fish out of water trope well and Daniel is just has charisma... even as a jerk. Sure the love connection with Eliza came out of nowhere but eventually I was on board once they gave themselves a chance.

    The film also had a clear beginning, middle and end which I appreciated and it was nice seeing Daniel's change of heart in real time, the side cast were also more than just window dressing and got their own stories as well. Overall a cute flick and it is always nice to see Mr. Henney get some attention.

15. Nemesis Forever: 8 - Rave

    Mark Millar's characters and world seems to have great starts but eventually they long stay past their welcome (at least for me). Thankfully, Nemesis Forever doesn't stick too close to the formula and we actually get a definitive conclusion (for now) with a unique twist. Nemesis is such love to hate him type of guy and the stuff he gets away with is amazing in the worst way. While this wasn't a blockbuster like his original outing for me, it is much better than its sequel. I hope Millar lets Nemesis rest for awhile before he does what he does best and keeps milking it till I'm not interested anymore.

    Also the art... I was not a fan. At first I really didn't like it but I eventually got used to it but it never stuck out to me like the previous artists who worked with Millar on this character. I think it was a combination of the scratchy art style and the color choices that gave this series a almost water color look which I do not associate with Nemesis at all.

14. Shades of Magic: Steel Prince (Full series): 8.5 - Rave

    It is awesome that V.E Schwab took a throw-away line in a Conjuring of Light and turned it into a full on exploration of the character, in this case, Maxim the father of two of the main characters in the Shades of Magic series. Just as awesome is that V.E actually wrote these books as opposed to getting someone to write with her name attached to it which most authors do. I enjoyed exploring Maxim's back story, learning more about him and the person would become his main bodyguard as well as the three different artists interpretations of the Shades of Magic magic systems.

    Some of the art could have been cleaner (book two is especially very messy for me) but at the same time it is cool to see the world that I really grew to love come to life. A fun side quest to explore if you want more from Shades... universe.

13. Battle Beast Vol. 1: 8.5 - Rave

   

    This series is just pure undulated fun. For Kirkman and Ottley to revisit Battle Beast and really flesh him out was an unexpected treat especially with Invincible currently doing great due to the animated series. Speaking of, getting Michael Dorn aka Worf of Star Trek: The Next Generation voice him was genius and one of the best casting in a animated series with an already stellar voice cast. I won't lie, every dialogue I read of Battle Beast in this book I read it with Dorn's voice in my head.

    The art is stellar and appropriately grisly in all the right ways, Invincible has never balk at violence and BB keeps the flag raised high. I love the story of Beast finding his own make-shift crew and making it work (despite one trying to constantly kill him and failing miserably). Also the tease that this is just the beginning and who is coming in the next volume makes me look forward to it even more. As stated earlier, it is fun and I am here for it.

12. Dragonlance Destines # 1: Dragons of Deceit by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman: 8.5 - Rave

 

    Does this title get an extra. 5 because of nostalgia? Maybeee. However it needs to be known that growing up the original Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies were my Lord of the Rings. Along with David Eddings, it helped me seriously get into fantasy and I've never left. So when I heard the original writers were coming back to write a new trilogy and it was going to be a mixture of new and old characters? I knew I had to check it out and I am happy I did.

    Just like certain foods can bring you comfort, this series does that for me. I love the original cast, to this day I still think about Rasitlin, Tanis, Sturm, Tas and others. Now to add new characters who are just as unique, likeable but just as flawed into the mix and add a time travel element to it? Yep. I knew I was in. My only real gripe is that this series suffers from over-stating the main characters motivation non stop which is a trend in writing I am not a fan of (in also happened way too much in Boys with Sharp Teeth) but other than that I really enjoyed my new-old trip down memory lane and will definitely continue with this new trilogy.

11. The Dark Artifices # 1: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare: 8.5 - Rave

    Due to another book, which will be become clearer as we continue this LIST, I am deep inside the Shadowhunter universe again. For awhile, me and my wife were big fans of the Shadowhunter universe but we just stopped. We don't even really know why. However we have both found our spark for it again (just in time it seems as Cassandra prepares to write the last trilogy in this universe) and I am invested again. Speaking on Lady Midnight, I really liked it. I enjoyed meeting a new cast of characters, good and bad but also catch up with some previous favorites. The storyline was compelling enough and the action came fast and furious like we are used too.

    My biggest gripe with this story though was the chemistry between its main leads, Emma and Julian. Both are in love with each other but can not be with each other and I felt I would feel the angst more if they weren't written to be automatically be in love with each other. Personally because we never really saw the journey of them falling into love, its harder for me to cheer for people whom were are told are destined to be with each other. I know, Cassandra is trying something different than what she did previously but their scenes were my least favorite in this book. The sprawling extended cast also seem a bit un-necessary but maybe they'll come into their own in the subsequent books. Speaking of; I am invested so I'll continue but I hope Jules and Emma relationship truly becomes something I can organically root for.

10. All that We Seem or See by Ken Liu: 8.5 - Rave

    What is this you say? A mainline Ken Liu book only scrapping into the Top 10? A Ken Liu book getting lower than a 9? Sadly All that We... is a good book but I just expected better from Ken. I know he publicly said he does not know if he has another epic fantasy like The Dandelion Dynasty in him and that he wants enjoys the 'lower' stakes of what seems to be the beginning of a group of novels staring his protagonist Julia Z.

    Unlike some critics of this book, I actually liked the story. I enjoyed the near future setting, the plot (Julia trying to help a client find a dream weaver who has gone missing) and where it ends. This book kind of gave me a mixture of the TV show Fringe via Harlen Coben-esque mystery, which is surefire hit for me at least. The technology is fascinating, especially Julia's fancy morphing drone and the concept of dream weaving. Julia definitely smacks of 'not like those girls' trope but she is likable and flawed enough to be someone worth cheering for.

    So why only 8.5? Well, that is a couple things that keeps this book from rising higher. First and the weirdest one for me is Ken's lack of explaining things. For a person who is known for his detailed explanations (to the point it scares some readers away), Ken is relatively tame for this book to the point where he is dropping terms we have never heard of with no explanation at all and no glossary in sight. It caused a slight disconnect for me and took time to get used to. My other gripe is pacing, this book felt a bit padded for what is a simple tale. Some scenes could have been cut and the book would not suffer. Also Ken is also known for complex, multi-facetted villains and the bad guys in this book where pretty generic to say the least which is surprising as well. Overall though, I enjoyed the science and the fiction of this book and look forward to more of Julia Z's exploits.

9. The Liveship Traders # 2: Mad Ship by Robin Hobb: 8.5 - Rave

    Okay... Wow! From going from 'I don't know if this series is for me' and 'I guess I like it' in Ship of Magic, book two in The Liveship Traders has sold me to the point where I am actually enjoying myself. It is something about these second books which sell the series to me, it happened with the Assistant to the Villain series last month, now Mad Ship has made me a bonafide enjoyer. This book flew for me as I consume multiple chapters and this is a chunky book (800+ pages) so you know I am liking it that I went through it as fast as I did. Hobb still suffers from pacing issues but it was nowhere near as apparent for me as it was in the first book.

    Hobb's characterization however continues to be un-matched and she surprised me with the twists and turns she takes her characters on. I mean, she took a near unlikable character and made me worry and care for her. She is that good. Also when the weird serpent side story started to make sense, I was blown away in the best way. I won't lie, I am now looking forward to finishing this trilogy and I hope Ship of Destiny is a banger just like this one.

8. Nobody Wants This Season 2: 8.5 - Rave

    A cute, fun and surprisingly sometimes deep series with two likable leads continues to be one of me and my wife's favorite shows. While this season did not do much for the main couple moving the needle-wise ( SPOILERS: they pretty much do the exact thing in this finale that they did in the previous finale which was disappointing and one of the reason this show is rated down a bit) the writers at least took some chances with the side characters and gave them much deeper, stronger storylines and made them better because of it. Sasha, Morgan and Esther all feel like real people this season and not just 'siblings' and friends.

    Do I wish we had more forward movement for the main couple? Yes but I trust the writers have a plan. Also the scene where Sasha and Morgan pretend to be fake British to scam the phone guy was hilarious and one of the best scenes of both seasons.

7. Reborn: 9 - RAVE

    Mark Millar's writing and ideas can be a bit of a hit or miss for me lately. For every Magic Order or Big Game hits we have duds like Night Club and Prodigy. Reborn falls in the hit. Taking a very unique concept of where we go when we die, the story really goes there. Our lead after her death awakes in a world where aliens, monsters, dragons and more exist in a massive mish-mash and she is the chosen one. She is aided by people she loved who have long passed on but can now re-join her in this over the top fantasy world. Surprisingly, it works and it works well. This is a popcorn flick with a bit of heart but in comic form. You just turn off your brain and let it take you for a ride.

    Also this book is no slouch when it comes to the art with Greg Capullo pulling no punches and you can tell he relishes drawing a world with almost endless possibilities. You want to draw a dragon with a lion head? Go for it! Your favorite pet, now grown up so you can ride him? Sure. Nothing seems off limits in Reborn and its stronger because of it. I really enjoyed this read and I hope that the subsequent books (cause Millar loves milking his products) keep up the quality because this is a hell of a opening salvo for this universe.

6. Bloodhounds Season 2: 9 - RAVE

    Bloodhounds is back and bloody as ever. This show pulls no punches, pun intended. This season we are also given a evil, un-hinged but also charismatic villain played to perfection by K-pop star Rain. Bi (Rain) is pretty much known for his good guys roles so it is nice he is able to cut loose and I know he relished being a bad guy for once and you can tell he gives it his all. However the heart of Bloodhounds will always be Woo DoHwan and Lee SangYi as our leads. This season giving SangYi's character WooJin some of most dramatic moments and heart rending scenes. Previously, DoHwan hard carry the emotion but this season sure SangYi step up and step up he did. Also the action as always is top notch with some truly brutal scenes.

    My only gripes with this season was for a show that is not afraid to go there most of the time, it got kind of timid this season. SPOILERS while a lot of the side cast was killed the main cast members have some serious plot armor where the writers don't want to kill them off for fear of losing their character especially in instances they could have clearly been written out. END SPOILERS.

    This might be because this season feels like a continuation instead of beginning and end like Season one did. This season seems more interested in keeping the story going even introducing new bad guys and while I don't mind more stories in this universe I hope they don't end up milking it too much. I also hope they avoid some of the tropes like constantly endangering their mother, folks getting beaten but not getting arrested, folks surviving the most ridiculous scenarios just because and making the story more compelling which this season lacked as well. However it still gets a 9 from me and I really enjoyed watching it.

5. The Surge 2: 9 - RAVE

 

    As regular readers of this blog know, I love me some Souls games, specifically Dark Souls, Elden Ring and Sekiro. Because of the popularity of this sub-genre, many game makers have made many Souls-likes over the years. Well today because I beat it again for maybe the fourth time? I get to review one of my favorites. The Surge 2 by Deck 13.

    This game was recently on sale and even though I have 100% it previously on my PS4, I decided I need to play it again on my Steam Deck instead and what a fun replay it has been. I love everything about this game. I like its hi-tech, cyber-punk setting which is a massive departure from most Souls-like settings, I like the character weapon choices and the combos you can pull off with them. I like the story, even though its is nothing spectacular, it still keeps you going and motivated. However most of all I love two systems which is exclusive to The Surge 2. The armor crafting and parry system. The armor crafting is the Surge's call to fame, you see an armor piece you like? Aim specifically for that part and chop it off them. Chop enough and you can build a full set of the armor and then you are really in business. It helps too that when you do the chopping, the game slow down just enough so you can see the bloody business in action. Its pretty addictive. Another addictive system which is also new to The Surge 2 is its unique directional parry system. As a person who loves parry mechanics in his games, the fact this game changes it up and makes it intuitive as well as rewarding is heaven for me. I can play a whole game and do nothing but parry and my life is complete.

    Now while I enjoy all this, this game is not perfect and hence a mark down from 10. On my Deck I am experiencing a bit of slow-down which always dampens the fun and it weird because this game isn't that intense to run or new. I am not a fan of fast travel being such a late addition it is barely needed and that when you start a new game, you lose all your movement items and have to re-earn them. I dream there is a version of new game plus where you keep all your movement items and have true freedom from the jump but alas it is not meant to be. However these are all minor gripes to one of the most addictive games I have ever played. As previously stated, I 100% this game on PS4 and I am aiming to do the same again on Deck. Every time I beat this game I want to restart it and go again, its that much fun and easily one of my favorite pieces of content this month.

4. Ghosts of the Shadow Market by Cassandra Clare and Various: 9 - RAVE

    As previously mentioned in my Lady Midnight review, this month I got back into The Shadowhunters series seriously. While I enjoyed The Mortal Instruments Cassandra's first foray into this universe, the SH series nearest and closest to me and my wife's heart is The Infernal Devices. This series, staring Will, Tessa and the main star of this book, Jem, left such a mark on us that we might as well called them Runes of Remembrance.

    Well when I heard that Jem was getting his own short story collection involving him through the years, I knew I would be done and I am happy I dived back in when I did. This series re-ignited my interest in this world and just me talking about got my wife back into the world as well ironically. This book just hit at the right time, seeing Jem, one of my favorite literary creations move through time and touch various peoples lives was really cool, especially when he interacted with people I have met before.

    I am only marking it down because while some stories were great, some didn't hit mainly due to me not knowing the characters (which I know is my bad). Some stories also felt a bit slow paced as well but when the good stuff happened, it was worth it. On one hand it sucks that this book is placed so far back in the SH timeline that I should have read it much later to really get the full experience but on the other hand, it is this specific book that got me back into the universe. Strange right.

3. Bedding the Enemy by LaQuette: 9 - RAVE

    LaQuette continues to impress, after last month's Golden Rave for Vanessa Jared's Got a Man to this month's top 3 placement, I think I am a fan of her work. LaQuette's take on the Mafia romance genre (which seems to be all the rage thanks to my recommendations after reading this) is done with a different take when she made our female lead Black and our male lead Asian. Her characterization is strong, the action is on point and the spicy is hot. The story was a bit generic and we can see the twist coming a mile away but the main thing is, it worked and I liked it.

    Also LaQuette's opening about making sure her Asian male fans were seen really spoke to me (and definitely did not influence this score nooo...) and it was cool that an Asian male lead can be the mover and shaker of one of these stories. This is the Romeo Must Die we should have got back in the day if the studios and public weren't so afraid to pull the trigger on a inter-racial romance.

2. A Conjuring of Light by V.E Schwab: 9 - RAVE

    As a reader whose rating can change based on an ending, it really makes me happy to say with A Conjuring of Light, V.E Schwab sticks the landing for the Shades of Magic series. Everything fell into place and when I closed this book I had a big smile on my face. After falling in love with the first two books in this trilogy, this book continued to go from strength to strength. I love how every character gets their moment in this book, even the ones you least expect. I love how epic the showdown was, the magic systems, the side quests which grow to be just as important to the main story and everything else. I like how this series which I had zero expectations when I first picked it up grew to become one of my most loved trilogies in recent memory. It is that good.

    With this book, V.E has secured her spot as a must-read author for me and I have been reading everything she has put out about writing, following all her socials and even bought more of her books. This series has turned me from a casual observer to a real fan but despite all this praise it is not my # 1 piece of content for this month. No, that title belongs too...

1. House of X/ Powers of Ten (whole series): 10 - RAVE

    Regular readers of this blog know that Jonathan Hickman is no stranger to the top spot of my LISTs. However this month he secured it in the best way possible. House of X/ Powers of 10 is such a blockbuster of a series that I am lost for words when I try to describe it.

    After being back-seated by Disney/ Marvel due to Fox's ownership of the IP, the X-Men comic series has suffered for years. No longer relevant and no longer selling like it used to Disney sat until the IP was back where it belonged. To truly bring it back to the forefront, Marvel asked Jonathan Hickman, the architect of so many recent big moments in Marvel to come in and usher in a new era. The era of Krakoa and for awhile, all bets were off and what a ride it was. But he was not alone, Marvel paired Hickman with two of the most talented, up and coming artists Pepe Larraz and R.B Silva and he made household names out of them too and deservedly so. This series is beautiful to look out with splash pages filled with action, color and having the impact of a blockbuster film.

    Hickman understanding of all the characters and what makes them tick is second to his ability to put them in some of the most craziest stakes and upped the ante even more. Yes, we knew he'll write a great Magneto and Xavier but his Moira? The final piece of the puzzle fit so perfectly and she became a character that no-one will ignore ever again. During my re-read of this series, I loved following each thread and even in hindsight the second time around, I enjoyed every facet of this story. All the timelines have their 'oh my' moments. This Hickman and his peak and it is a shame that the story he wanted to tell was truncated by Marvel because where we could have gone from here? No-one knows.

    This is the easiest 10 I have ever given.   

    

Well that is May. I hope you enjoyed reading this LIST and look forward to next month's one.

Until then.

AV

RAVE: I love my shelves

     My always amazing wife got me new shelves for our anniversary. I have been slowly adding and moving stuff around but I think I am have arrived at optimal shelf display-ness.

    Some notes:

- Of course my favorite comic writer Jonathan Hickman gets three shelves dedicated to him. One for his Marvel work and one for his Independent/ Image work. Finally being able to display my whole East of West collection and The Manhattan Projects makes me very happy. The third shelf directly underneath the Image shelf and a bit hard to see is all my floppies written by him.

- Ken Liu mostly gets his own shelf especially with The Dandelion Dynasty becoming an instant fave of mine. I really want to get the hardcovers for books 1 & 2 (The Grace of Kings and Wall of Storms respectively) to finish my collection but I might settle for paperbacks if I can't find the hardcovers. I am also currently reading 'All That We Seem or See' so they'll go there as well.

- FromSoftware gets there own shelf along with the Bloodborne figure my bestie gave me.

- Clive Barker gets his own shelf. I really want to add his first book of plays 'Incarnations', the two books of 'The Art' and Books 3-6 of his 'Books of Blood' short stories.

- Next to that, to the right, are some of my new favorite authors; Harlan Coben and V.E Schwab.

- Underneath Barker are some other favorite classic authors of mine, Stephen King, Ursula K. Le Guin (who I picked recently thanks to a library sale hence the stickers still on them).

- The final bunch of books are mostly mixed and matched stuff.

- Stuff I will like to add other than the stuff I listed above. Some Rebecca Yarros (my wife has most of our collection in her office) and more V.E Schwab. I also badly in need of some Sara Douglass whom I love but I sadly don't own any of her physical books.

Well that's the tour! I'll probably post updates every couple months or so.

AV

LIST: April's Rants & Raves

     As promised, April's Rants & Raves is up much earlier than the previous month. With my shoulder issue hopefully in the past I should be able to get back to not only LISTs like this but writing as well. This month's list has some surprises too. One of our normal heavy hitters disappoints immensely and our biggest winner is a new writer. Also this month we will be using our new modified Rating system, 8.5 used to be capital RAVEs but now 8.5 going forward will be lower case Rave to make the capital RAVE more worthwhile and prestigious. Without more to say, let's do this.

19. Tonight, Again by Clive Barker: 6.5 - Okay

    Oh man... This was disappointing. As regular readers of my blog know, Clive Barker is my favorite novelist of all time so for one of his writing works to be this low really shows how bad it is. This loose collection of illustrations, erotic poems and erotic short fiction was so pedestrian and un-inspired I felt none of the 'spice' or 'heat' it was supposed to invoke. If this book was written in modern days I would be convinced someone type 'write some erotic fiction in the vein of Clive Barker in ChatGPT' and then published it.

    This was so bad, I DNF'ed it before I even knew what DNF was. I decided to go back and finish reading because it was at the tail-end of Clive Barker month I was having but I am happy I did so I leave it in the rear-view and never think about it again. A big disappointment.

18. Gone for Good (Netflix): 7.5 - OKAY

    So it looks like this month was a month of misfires even by people I normally enjoy. Harlan Coben's shows are always great thrill rides but I will not lie, out of all his shows, this one doesn't rank that high when I compare it to the others. The final twist was pretty great tho and raised this shows rank up slightly and the story was not bad, it was just formulaic.

    This show also had a very strange filler episode dedicated to one of the main cast that kind of had nothing to do with the main plot. It was a good story, no doubt but at the end of the show I was thinking back if there was a true point to it and I could not come up with one. The cast is commendable but Coben has much better adaptions out there so this falls on the backend of this LIST and gets an OKAY.

17. The Innocents (Netflix): 8 - Rave

    This show had such potential to be a really good one but unfortunately some really bad writing and a very convoluted ending to eked out another season ruined it. The cliffhanger was un-necessary and similar to my thoughts on Butterfly (Amazon) this show could have concluded so much better.

    One of the reasons why I love K-dramas is because 'most' of the time they write with endings in mind. They don't write like they need more seasons. I thought most UK shows had the same principal but it appears not when its on Netflix. This season ended with an obvious cliffhanger to bait another season and Netflix did not bite. It is a shame because the cast was great with some nice chemistry between our leads and a compelling, unique unexplored story. If the ending was better, this could have been a 9 or a 8.5  at least.

16. Punisher Warzone: 8 - Rave

    After two previous attempts (the horrible Dolph Lundgren one and the Thomas Jane lead one in 2004), Lionsgate Studios gave the Punisher one more attempt before eventually handing the license back to Marvel. Getting Lexi Alexander, a female director and a person who didn't really know who the Punisher was, why did this go so hard? This maybe one of the most faithful renditions of Frank Castle and yes I am even including Marvel's Jon Bernthal's version. Lexi just understood what made Frank, Frank. The brutality, the stoicism, the thirst for justice and vengeance and just the general bad ass-ness (the scene where he breaks his own broken nose back into place with a pencil? Chef Kiss).

    Sure, this isn't the greatest film and you can tell they were working with a budget but when it comes to faithfulness to the source? This movie gets a Hell yeah from me. I am only removing some points because I felt his main enemies (Jigsaw and his brother) were kind of hokey and over the top and some small pacing issues but overall, this movie was amazing. Also rest in peace to the lead actor, Ray Stevenson, he did an amazing job and sits tall as my definitive Punisher.

15. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: 8 - Rave

    A great companion piece to Ta-Nehisi's memoir 'The Beautiful Struggle' which we previous loved and reviewed, Between the World and Me is another intimate look into Ta-Nehisi's mind. Filled with great observations that asks the hard questions, this book (written as a letter to his son) reads just as well as his memoir. I however did not enjoy it as much. It still has Coates' signature amazing prose and storytelling skills are un-matched but I also felt this book was not as focused as I would have liked. Still a good read, for anthropologists (like myself) or if you have any interest in the ever evolving race relations in the United States.

14. Flight and Glory # 1: Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros: 8 - Rave

    

    This one was a good read. I have become a big fan of Rebecca since discovering her through her contemporary novels and The Empyrean series. I really enjoy her character work and how she handles spice as well with nothing getting too risquè but filled with passion. This book starts amazingly with some of the most well-written depictions of grief I have ever read. I really thought I was onto a winner so when it flattened out and turned into a more standard romance with a will they/ won't they trope I was a bit disappointed.

    Sadly, I never really felt the Main Female Characters motivations to not be with the Main Male character. Her reasoning got less and less rational as time went on and it was a bit frustrating to see her go back and forth on. It at least ended well and I am looking forward to continuing the rest of the series and as a lead book, it is not bad but I do feel this book lost me a bit hence its lower placement on this LIST.

13. Magisterium # 5: The Golden Tower by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare: 8 - Rave

    After a strong penultimate book, I walked into The Golden Tower expecting some good things. I was sadly disappointed. This book did the cardinal sin of writing of showing transition of one scene to another (aka driving from one location to another) and not having a real reason other then to fill up space. On top of that we have a climatic showdown which really lack oomph for me and an ending that just... ends. When I turned the last page on this book, I was hoping there was a hidden epilogue or something but no, Holly and Cassandra decided to just end it the way it did and I could not be more disappointed.

    Because I read them both around the same time and they are both 5 book series, I was always mentally pitting the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning versus this one and 99.9% of the times, Magisterium won, until the end. Karen's Fever series ended very satisfactory and Magisterium ends like there is another story coming... and it is not. I originally gave this book a 8.5  during my initial thoughts but I have now scaled it down to a 8. I think I'll adjust my Goodreads rating as well.

12. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson: 8.5 - Rave

    My first Brandon Sanderson  novel (I had a  quick dalliance with his graphic novel White Sands but that one is not 'written' by Sanderson) and I liked it. I actually enjoyed this a lot and I can see how people can become fans of his writing. I enjoy his detailed explanations about the magic systems (I'm a Ken Liu fan, I enjoy good detailed explanations now) and his character work was also very strong. I enjoyed learning about the complex histories of these worlds however sadly just as I was really getting into it, it ended.

    Now this isn't as bad as The Golden Tower above but it was abrupt and I was left disappointed that just when it got good, this particular story was over. I would have enjoyed to see some of the characters achieved their dreamed of goals, some relationships develop and some more action but nope. I feel this may have affected its final rating slightly. However, this foray into Sanderson did end well and I think I'll continue exploring his Cosmere universe in other stories. Next up, the Stormlight Archives.

11. The Ultimates Vol. 2: Power to the People: 8.5 - Rave

    Deniz Camp continues to write some of the most compelling alternate world history since Jonathan Hickman. I can see why Hickman picked him to continue the Ultimate universe and also to end it. They share similar 'big moments' mixed in with quiet character studies so well. However sadly, I do have one issue with this volume and it probably is why it is not in the top 10 for this month.

    I don't remember much of what happened in this volume. I recall enjoying myself while reading it and I remember being excited for the next volume but ask me now, gun to my head, my favorite moment from this volume, I'll draw a serious blank. I think I low-key created the new rating system for moments like this. I really enjoyed it but does it deserve a capital RAVE? I do not think so. The capital RAVE should be saved for things that blew me away or got me thinking about it long after I close the book or the credits roll and this volume did not do it for me.

10. Gone before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon: 8.5 - Rave

    Harlan and Reese write a compelling stories with a great hook. I really enjoyed this book's pace and at times I felt like I was reading a screenplay (which does not surprise me that it was written with a TV series in mind). The characters are compelling, our lead character is flawed, believable but also some one you can cheer for and screw the haters, Porkchop is amazing and everyone needs someone like him in their fictional lives.

    This book really reads like Coben, Reese might have contributed some ideas and scenarios but it definitely reads like a Coben thriller and I have no issues with that. Also as always, that trademark final twist (once I understood it, it was written a bit strange for me and others) was a another jaw dropping moment. My only down marks for this book are some pacing issues and the villains, why heinous were also kind of one dimensional. Still, a great read and worthy of cracking this month's top 10.

9. The Housemaid (Film): 8.5 - Rave

    Now this was a surprise. My wife actually read the book but I just watched the film and for my first Freida McFadden experience it was a good one. This film had it all, a good cast, a unique storyline that kept you on your toes and some nice twists.

    Amanda Seyfried played crazy a bit too well lol. My wife also said the book does not end like the film does so that was a nice twist for people who read the book. Overall, this was a good popcorn film, something you can watch after turning your brain off and going for the wild ride it took you on.

8. The Passing of the Dragon by Ken Liu: 8.5 - Rave

    A nice, impactful short story by one of my new favorite authors Ken Liu. Ken examines the nature of art and who it truly belongs too. Is it the artist or the people who interpret it. This reads like one of the great short stories I previously read in The Paper Menagerie or The Hidden Girl collections and it is cool, he has made it free to read on his website as well. As always Ken's prose is near flawless and hooks you and even tho the story is short, the ending is very satisfying for me... something authors in this LIST can learn from.

7. Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 8.5 - Rave

    Okay, now we are getting to the really good stuff on this LIST. Compared to the first novel, I really enjoyed Apprentice. I think now I am used to the characters, the cozy setting and the basic set-up of how this world works, I am buying more into it and enjoying it because of that.

    This book had some good twists, some nice reveals and I enjoyed getting more perspectives too instead of just Evie and the Villains. I still feel the main true villain is a bit weak and he does exude menace like how the book is describing him (at least for me) but that is a small mark on something I read pretty quickly and enjoyed. I will definitely continue with the series.

6.  A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: 8.5 - Rave

        I am so happy when I take a chance on a new artist and they surprise me like Roseanne A. Brown does. Funny story, I found this book not through Booktok or Youtube recommendations, no I found her on my own because I was shopping at Ollies for books and her second book in this duology was on sale so I picked it up due to striking cover art. After reading the blurb I decided to borrow the first book and boy did it not disappoint.

    A Song... is a unique fantasy with African influences which really drew me in. The characters are flawed, the storyline is compelling and does not play it safe and I really enjoyed every moment of reading this. Roseanne's writing is nice and easy to read which always a plus and this first volume gives me  the good feeling I got when I was reading A Darker Shade of Magic which is a good news because I really like that series. I will definitely finish out this duology and see what else she has written.

5.  Now You See Me, Now You Don't: 9 - RAVE

    

    Our first legit RAVE for this month and it deserves it. This movie hit all the right marks for me and I really enjoyed how they were able to bring the OGs together with the Next Generation. The special effects as always were amazing, with some really cool effects (especially in the castle) and the cast, new and old, did a great job. I especially enjoyed how the rivalry between the old cast and the new.

    Also it was nice to Isla Fisher back (Ozzie! Ozzie! Ozzie!) especially after her sitting out the sequel and still fitting into the narrative. The story was compelling, especially being the third time around, they did something that made sense and did not feel like a rehash like so many sequels. I kind of saw the big twist coming but it was still cool to see as well. Yes, I still believe in magic.

4. Invincible Season 4: 9 - RAVE

    If this was a review based on episodes, Episode 7 of this season of Invincible would break the ratings scale and score a 12. However, as it stands, this is a review of the entire season and I loved it but at the same time, I do have some issues with it. From the first couple episodes I did not get the same feelings I always got when I watched this show. As a show that's quickly becoming one of my favorite animated series of all time, the first two episodes were just good to me. Episode 3 was better but then we had Invincible's side-quest into Hell and well, things fell apart there. I did not hate the episode like some people do and boy do some folks hate it but it is the epitome of a filler episode.

    Thankfully the show then dove tails into the Viltrumite Wall and that is when I got invested again. Overall I like the new additions like Tech Jacket, the rip off Star Trek crew being the biggest idiots known to man and seeing Nolan really grow as a character as he asks for forgiveness was good TV. However those last couple of episodes (including the very low-key but also ominous finale) really hard carried this show to a 9. The voice cast continues to be amazing and yes, the animation only really improves during certain scenes but boy when they do go all in, it is a sight. No lie, I can watch episode 7 on repeat and not be upset. It is that damn good.

3. Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli: 9 - RAVE

    Continuing this month's tread of finding new authors I really enjoy is Noelle's Ask for Andrea. This dark thriller had me hooked from jump and I really enjoyed how the premise allowed the author to explore 3 different perspective and capture your attention with each person. Seeing your murder from the your eyes is definitely something I knew I needed to read but here we are and Noelle does a great job at it.

    My only really gripe is near the end, this novel does lose a bit of its unique-ness by combining all three perspectives into one. It of course makes sense but the three different POVs is what really made me like this book. The ending was also good but not great but that does not detract that Noelle is definitely a writer I'll be paying attention to going forward, hence the # 3 spot.

2. Bloodhounds Season 1 (Netflix): 9 - RAVE

    Wow, this is the type of K-drama that is perfect for Netflix. Similar to how Squid Games took advantage of the freedom Netflix provided, Bloodhounds does not pull any punches (pun intended) and has some of the most intense action sequences I have seen in awhile. Woo Do-hwan shines as a boxer with a heart of gold and trying to keep his friends and family safe. He gives so much in his performance and you can see his growth as an actor. Lee Sang-yi is not mis-casted either, being a perfect wingman to Do-hwan and the two combined make a duo worth cheering for.

    This show also loved to spike my blood pressure with some crazy cliffhangers and what I feel was the k-drama equivalent of Game of Thrones infamous Red Wedding where nothing goes right, IYKYK. Also the show sadly had to deal with a massive real life scandal with the tragedy involving their lead actress, Kim Sae-ron but the show was able to pivot and still give us a good ending despite that. That there is something you really got to commend them for as well.

1. Vanessa Jared's Got a Man by LaQuette: 9.5 - RAVE

    To everyone surprise, including myself, my Golden Rave and # 1 this month goes to not only a brand new author but also a romance novel? In a month packed with my favorite author of all time (Barker), his modern equivalent (Liu) , a skilled writer with a lot of good books under her name (Yarros) and one of my new favorite thriller writers (Coben), the winner is a Black Woman writing a spicy, slice of life romance.

    I don't know how to describe why I like this book so much but I'll try. I love the cover, it just pops and caught my eye. I love the premise and related very heavily to it, a Black Woman and a Asian man, both older which is nice to see, wiser and needing a fresh approach to love. I love how easy it was to read. I read 70% of this book in one night while I was laid up in bed with a bad shoulder and in immense pain and this book was one of the only things that kept me sane. I even, after finishing it, went back and re-read some of my favorite chapters and immediately looked up what else LaQuette has written and purchased the one that stood out to me the most (it'll show up high in next month's LIST I promise) and purchase this very novel through Book Outlet first chance I had.

    I love the characters, Vanessa and Michael feel like real people with real problems. I love their chemistry and how they are there for each other and how their attraction just felt real. I like the side cast and happy two of them will get their own books and own stories. There is just many reasons why I like this book and I am happily bestowing on it the highest honor of this month. The Golden RAVE.

    Well, wasn't that a surprise. Truly this was the month of amazing episodes, enjoyable movies, explosive action packed dramas and amazing new (to me) talents. It was not all good tho, I noticed a pattern of some folks not sticking landings and that always disappoints me.

    However the future is bright with authors like Brandon Sanderson, Noelle W. Ihli, Roseanne W. Brown and especially LaQuette blowing my mind and filling up my TBRs.

Until next time.

AV

    

LIST: March's Rants & Raves

     Yes, this month is very late but at the same time we are lucky we still made it. My last couple weeks have been a real struggle for me because of my shoulder impingement which caused me a lot of pain and made it impossible to do anything especially write a long LIST like these LISTS have become. Anyhow, while I am still in slight pain I have recovered enough to write my RANTS & RAVES for this month.

21. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe: 6.5 - Okay.

    Edgar Allan Poe was mostly known for his short stories and poetry, The Narrative... is his one true novel... and it was bad y'all. Like really bad. Like almost DNF bad. Even as purely audiobook this was a struggle. Poe is known for his short, impactful, dread-filled work writes this book with the most drab detachment. A mutiny, starvation, cannibalism and a battle against a foreign force is written with as much passion as a history text book.  The story goes on for waaay too long and I feel it didn't need to go into as detail as it did. Top it off with 'it just ends' ending akin to found footage films and I left this very dissatisfied.

    The Narrative... was my top off for a month of Poe which I was really enjoying reading and re-discovering. It is a shame the Poe month ended on such a downer. Also it also fell into a weird trend/ motif of content that is set at sea this month. More on that later.

20. Hellraiser: Bloodline: 7.5 - OKAY

    Unlike Hellraiser 3, I actually remembered Bloodline pretty well. Growing up, I think I recall it was one of the better Hellraiser films I have watched. On a re-watch I still see what I enjoyed about it. This film gets vilified a lot and of course is also the film where the original director disagreed so much with the final product that he asked to be credited as Alan Smithee the pseudonym for when a director has to attach a name to a film but doesn't want their name.

    Objectively, I like the three timelines, I like the original bad guy (in this case a gal) and the boldness of writing a Hellraiser movie without the eponymous 'Pinhead'. I like learning the origin of the puzzle boxes and the hierarchy of Hell. However the studio interfere and the by-product is the stuff of the Hellraiser films I don't like. The needless need to insert Pinhead where he was not needed. Their need to have him do quippy one-liners which feel more like the M.O of Freddy and Chucky and the need to just kill people... just to kill them. I am actually surprised the movie ended as well as it did with a definite ending which seems like it was a miracle with how this film was produced.

19. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger: 7.5 - OKAY

    

    I recall reading this book for school and enjoying it and I decided as part of me exploring modern classics I would do a re-read. I unfortunately did not get any type of satisfaction from this re-read and I can comfortably say I think I might have given this book its flowers too soon and now I am looking for the receipt.

    This book isn't that good y'all. I do not know why but on my second read I do not understand why J.D using Holden as his proxy is so weird with his language and why he is so repetitive. I do not like how judgmental Holden is, calling people 'fake' when he is just as... if not worst. I am not a fan that he is mostly an unlike Main Character until his sister comes into play and then we see some real layers to him and I really, really did not like how it just ended with no real answers. This book actually made me put a pause on 'classics' for me, while I still aim to read a couple classics this year, I definitely won't be doing them back to back or every month anymore which was my original plan.

18. Shakespeare was a Woman and other Heresies by Elizabeth Winkler: 8 - Rave

    Disclaimer, I picked up this book purely on the recommendation of Liene's Library on YouTube. She sold this non-fiction book so well and made me interested in what Elizabeth had to say. I have some small knowledge about the authorship debate of Shakespeare (mainly due to a very under-rated film called 'Anoymous') but this was my first real dive into the discussion/ debate.

    This book was very written and well researched. No surprise because Ms. Winkler is a journalist by-trade. Some of the book read like a thriller even through it was non-fiction. However this book was also very dry at times and I feel it was way longer then it needed to be. While I enjoyed reading it and don't regret that I did, I un-like Liene won't be giving it a glowing recommendation as she did. It was just good and a perfect example of an interesting read but just that, hence its placement on this LIST.

17. Doom Treasury Edition by Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene: 8 - Rave

    

    An interesting combination of an artist I am very familiar with (Hickman) and an artist I not (Greene). As always, Doom under Hickman's pen does not miss and will never miss, it also appears Greene also has a good grasp on what makes Victor tick as well. Together, they craft a good story with an impactful (if slightly anti-climatic) ending. This was a fun, out of continuity romp that asks the question, what is Doom faces something no-one else can handle. When the chips are down and our heroes can't save us, can Doom?

    As my first real introduction to Sanford Greene, his artwork really stood out to me, his heroes and villains don't look like they are drawn from the same stock as others BUT it works and it has a unique charm. Half of the 'Treasury Edition' is actually the original script as well as Greene's original pencils which was a nice touch. I will probably never buy this (despite my un-written mantra to buy everything Hickman has created) because I don't think it is worth the full price regardless I did enjoy reading it and discovering more about an artist I was un-familiar with.

16. Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning: 8 - Rave

    This was a long journey and the end of an era for me. When I started my reading journey late last year I was determined to not only read standalones but full series as well. One of the first series was the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Now at the end I can say while I enjoy it, I also felt this series never got over an 8 for me. There was never a particular novel in this series that blew me away and I felt the last novel showed me what I did not like about the Fever series as a whole.

    I really did not like the slowest of slow burn romances, I feel the character reveals and their motivation reveals were too few and far between and I also did not enjoy how it took so long, especially in this book to get to meat of the matter. This book is bloated, to the point where I feel we could have saved the first 30-40% off it and it'll be a better narrative because of it. Still it was a satisfying conclusion and I like the big final reveals so that saved it from being a complete wash for me. Karen does continue the Fever series for another series but as of now I think I'm good on her world. Maybe in 2027 we will come back to it.

15. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb: 8 - Rave

        After reading so much about her, this is my first time reading Robin Hobb aka a person who has been described as the queen of fantasy and on the same level as Robert Jordan, G.R.R Martin and Tolkien. While I can definitely see why people enjoy her detailed writing and very well done characterizations where you will literally feel really bad for someone or really hate someone else, Hobb's Ship of Magic was just good for me. I didn't feel the 'magic' that so many other reviewers felt surprisingly and honestly, some of this book was a struggle for me and it only really got good near the end.

    I like the concept, I like the characters (even some of the bad guys) and Hobb's style has a flow to it which I enjoy so I will be continuing with Hobb and The Liveship Traders series but I hope the next book in this series 'Mad Ship' does not take it's time to get to the good stuff as much as this one did. Also this continues the theme of Phil on the seas for this month which I find very funny in hindsight that I started all these nautical content so close to each other.

14. Cross Season 2: 8 - Rave

    A very enjoyable season with some impactful moments (especially in the finale... IYKYK) carried by Aldis still killing it as Alex Cross. This show also introduces us to a dilemma, a likeable villain portrayed by Jeanine Mason (who I remember from So You Think You So Can Dance) who you actually feel is justified in taking down this cocky white collar thieves/ monsters because of what they did or turn their eyes away from.

    However I do have some gripes with this season and it is specifically the lack of direction for one of favorite characters Sampson. This season Sampson is saddled with a do nothing/ no point storyline for a whole season and I low key feel it was purely to keep him and Cross apart so we can get this weird dynamic they wanted for Cross and his FBI friend Kayla. I did not enjoy how 'heavy-handed' some of themes were near the end of the season and I truly felt this season tried too hard to be 'edgy'. I did enjoy the ending though and what type of storylines it can mean for the show going forward but honestly, I prefer season 1 much more over this one.

13. Found Season 2: 8 - Rave

    

    After a strong first season, season 2 of Found has some growing pains for me. The writers and creators knew that after Sir escaped they had to flip the script and find new ways of having him and Gabi interact. They also still had to drive the stories forward and continue to shine the light on cases people ignore. This however is where I have a small gripe with the show. I feel the show did need to always do a 'case of the week' and some episodes could have just continue the main story. Near the end of the season the formulaic 'case of the week' storylines did start wrapping up but having mostly cases of the week in a 22 episode season was a bit much for me especially with some of the cases been wrapped up a bit too conveniently (aka all is forgiven and everyone is a good person now).

    I mentioned in my season one RAVE that Found's biggest strengths was the back and forth between Sir and Gabi and that was lost a bit this season (understandably with Sir's escape and being on the run) however the show was not able to find a new 'hook' as compelling as the two constantly butting heads in the present and the past. They tried with Margaret's missing son's return and reveled what happened in the present and the past which had its moments but it was nowhere as captivating as young Gabi's imprisonment. Also some of these extended back stories became a bit longer winded after a while and Sir constantly breaking into Belle/ Lacey's house with no real consequences suspended our belief one times too many. The end of the season teased a big twist/ reveal but if anyone is paying attention, it was not a surprise at all who the Sir's accomplice was either. 

    Overall, a good season, with some good stories but I still feel season one was stronger and much see TV, while season two was a nice distraction. Also can get an award for who was Shanola Hampton's make-up person? Whoever you are... you are a baddie cause Gabi was never caught lacking.

12. The Night Agent Season 3: 8.5 - RAVE

        The Night Agent continues to go from strength to strength with some tense moments, great set pieces and filled with compelling character. This season was truly a return to form and kept it local especially compared to the divisive Season 2 (which I still enjoyed).

    Filled with dark conspiracy, a unique antagonist and his relationship with his son, played by Stephen Moyer and some jaw-dropping twists (especially at the beginning) this was a strong season. The Night Agent is a great watch and this season proves they still have stories to tell but at the same time, they can also end on a great note, something I feel TV show writers need to learn to do better.

11. The Vision & the Scarlet Witch (full series): 8.5 - RAVE

    Two of my favorite Marvel characters separately and one of my favorite Marvel couples finally get a series worthy of them on the same line as Marvel TV's Wandavision. What starts with a fun jaunt into the complex history of Vision and Wanda and includes their extended family too so yep, The Grim Reaper, Ultron, their twins, Vision's daughter all get to play a role but at the core was a story dedicated to these on/off again lovers.

    And what a ride it is, this book definitely didn't always hit for me but when it did, especially near the end and how earned it was, I won't lie, it really resonated with me and raised its score up, considerably. I love a writer like James Robinson (who has been doing great work building up Wanda) can finally tell the definitive (at least for now) ending for this couple and it was a good one. Well done.

10. Once & Future (full series): 8.5 - RAVE

      It is funny, after loving Kieron Gillen's Wic+Div and absolutely despising his Young Avenger's run, we have Once & Future, a unique story he told with Dan Mora with Boom! Studios. Once & Future falls squarely in the center of Gillen's work for me. I didn't hate but it never hit the marks I wanted to hit like Wic+Div did. I enjoyed this unique take on Arthurian legend (something I have a passing interest in) and I liked how he weaved other mythologies throughout the series. I do feel however this series (which was extended by Boom!) went on a bit longer than it needed. However the conclusion was satisfying and the art by Dan Mora was amazing. I have seen some of the work he does for DC but here, Mora is truly able to spread his artistic wings and his dragons look fierce, his green giants scary and his monsters the things of nightmares. I will definitely be looking into more work by Mora now.

9. The Dark Tower # 3: The Waste Lands by Stephen King: 8.5 - RAVE

    

    Continuing my journey back to The Dark Tower, Book 3, The Waste Lands picks up as Ronald truly finishes building his core team, his ka-tet. I really enjoyed this one, not as much as book 2 but this book still had its moments. King continues to give us very nuanced characters and his world building skills truly begin to shine in this volume.

    My complaints are minor but it still kept the book from being a 9. I just going to come out and say it. We did not need to spend that long in Jake's life before he returned to Roland's world. That sequence just dragged for me and took away from the parts I like the most about The Dark Tower universe. However with a big cliffhanger and what is beginning to feel like a stronger narrative building, I think I will be continuing my journey back to the Tower.

8. The Elenium # 3: The Sapphire Rose by David Eddings: 8.5 - RAVE

    

    Thus, one of the first trilogies and high fantasy books I have read ends. I really enjoyed re-visiting The Elenium and I am happy it ended as well as it did. I am still blown away that a trilogy of books I read as a young teen has still stuck with me as well as this did which is a good sign of a good story. I like the characters, the world and enjoyed the ride. The ending was perfect hitting the sweet spot between bittersweet and a promise of a better tomorrow.

    However, this volume had something I really could not connect with because this volume Eddings was a bit too focus on the political games/ manipulations people play and to be honest, those sections really drag and did nothing for me. I feel with those sections shortened I would like this book even more. As it stands, it was a good revisit and unlike The Fever series, I have no doubt I will re-read the sequel series to this trilogy 'The Tamuli' some time down the road.

7. New Murders in the Rue Morgue by Clive Barker: 8.5 - RAVE

    Since I read the original by Poe previously, I think it was an appropriate time to re-read Clive Barker's spiritual sequel and it did not disappoint. This short story makes so much more sense now with the right context. This also reads like classic Clive which is my favorite. It was filled with gore, mystery and a compelling question. What truly makes us human? All I can say, after reading this I knew I had to review it and speak my piece. This Clive was the Clive that captivated a young Phillip and inspired him to become a writer and I still feel that influence to this day.

6. The Long Walk: 8.5 - RAVE

    This movie was confronting, heartbreaking and at the same time, the story it told is so relevant even many years after it was first written. It tells a story about how a totalitarian government can control us and make us think they are doing to help us and the people who refuse to bend and instead rebel against it. I was surprised that they will able to carry the concept of men just walking for miles without stopping (with the exception of one cut-away for a flashback) and still made it as compelling as it was. I think I mentioned in my previous review of Battle Royale that after a couple deaths, the students dying didn't affect me as much and I thought that was a shame. This film did not have that problem with each death having an appropriate reaction from me.

    Also after seeing him in Alien Romulus and now in this, David Jonnsson is an truly talented actor that should get more work. His facial work is on some next level, like a non problematic Jonathan Majors and he hard carried this film for me.

    

5. Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament by Clive Barker: 8.5 - RAVE

        This is probably one of the most compelling short stories I have read recently and I am not surprise it was by Clive. As I mentioned above, classic Barker had me in a chokehold back in the day. I remember I enjoyed this story when I first read it but on a re-read it really hit me. The imagery, the violence, the story-telling all peak.

4. Clive Barker's Dark Worlds by Phil and Sarah Stokes: 9 - RAVE

    

    Without a doubt my favorite author of all time is Clive Barker (as the numerous entries in this LIST and previous LISTs should tell you) so when I say I really enjoyed this look into the private man that is Mr. Barker I mean it. This intimate, enlightened and extensive look into what makes the man tick written by his archivists and good friends, the Stokes is a great read for anyone who has interest in the man behind Hellraiser, Candyman and all his best selling novels. I also enjoyed the behind the scenes photos, scripts and thoughts behind why he wrote certain stories. I see myself buying a physical copy of this (I borrowed it through Hoopla) just so I can own it and it earns my first 9 of this month.

3. One Piece Season 2: 9 - RAVE

    So full confession. I have not watch one episode of the anime but man I just love the Live Action One Piece tv series. Season one was a ride and Season two keeps it up and does even more. You think they would shy from some of the fantastical elements but nope, the showrunner and writers are like... this is what you signed up for so we are going to give to you... chain-gun monkey and all. I think because they just accept that this is how it is, I accept it too.

    Unlike the early Fox X-men films who was scared to really show the X-men as they are (black leathers vs colorful spandex), the One Piece LA crew do not have that problem and I appreciate them for their full commitment. This respect for the source material as well as a well casted original crew and new additions just makes watching this show a real joy. I will definitely continue looking forward to future seasons. Also yes... the nautical theme is strong in this one as well.

2. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E Schwab: 9 - RAVE

    

    V.E Schwab's 'A Darker Shade of Magic' series continues to thrill me. This one takes a bit of time to get going but when it does, it really, really hits. We are introduced to more characters, newer factions and the tournament was a thrill to read about. Oh and there was some seasons we were at sea so it fits the un-official theme of this month.

    I can admit after reading this (and I'm also reading the final book as I write this) I think I am a big fan of Schwab's style. She reminds me of Cassandra Clare, in the best way. I love how her characters are not perfect beings but tragic people. I love the magic systems. I love the storylines and where its going. I know as soon as I finish this series, I'll definitely keep on reading anything she puts out with a couple of her books already in my TBR. However as good as V.E is (and she is damn good) the invokable champion of this month is...

1. The Dandelion Dynasty # 4: Speaking Bones by Ken Liu: 10 - RAVE

    To no-one who reads this blogs surprise, my favorite book of the month of March is 'Speaking Bones' by Ken Liu. Man this book stick the landing. After the un-evenness of The Veiled Throne, I hope that Speaking Bones would do a course correct and boy did it ever. I consumed this book (just reading too, no audio to help) in record time and each chapter was just peak, compelling story-telling.

    This book (and series by default) has become my whole personality. Even a couple months removed from it, I still think of the complex characters, the cool silk punk technologies, political intrigue done correctly and the epic battles (and yes, some where at sea). By now I am even used to how Ken would write a epic scene and then go... 'sooo how did we get here? I am glad you asked!!" and he will explain it in his endless detailed style but also make it compelling and relevant and you know what, you have now read 3 books of this style, by now you should expect it and love it.

    I have never booed against bad characters and cheered for the good guys as much as when I read this book. Each ending for each character took me on journeys I did not know I need and those final scenes truly shows Ken's mastery of prose and setting a scene. This is an easy 10 for me and now I am sad I have no more Dandelion Dynasty to look forward to. This conclusion has now secured the Dandelion Dynasty as probably my favorite fantasy series of all time and I am going to keep championing it to people who truly want a epic fantasy.

      Sorry for the wait but the great news is, I did not stop rating and reviewing even when I was down. April's Rants & Raves should go up around my normal time I upload these so look forward to that. Until then.

AV