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

LIST: February's Rants & Raves

  In the shortest month, we have another long LIST and what an interesting LIST it is. Very high highs and some very low lows. I guess I'll let the LIST speak for itself so here we go.

28. Possessing Her Book 2: Now You're Mine by Morgan Bridges: 5.5 - RANT

    Oh dear. This book. In hindsight I was actually very nice to the first book in this duology. Upon hindsight, I would drop its original ranking down to a 6.5 and the worst piece of content from January. There is just too many problems with this book. The Male Main Character (MMC) is a red flag psycho and our Female Lead is weak and has no real good qualities and lets the MMC get away with literal murder. This was also a scene in this book that the MMC does, that gave me serious ick and almost made me DNF (Did Not Finish) this book. The smut was detailed and I'm still not used to such colorful language used outside of erotica but even the timing of some scenes just felt egregious and un-neccessary.

    The only reason why this book has a 5.5 is because the writing and prose was not bad but the story, the characters, the side characters and the conclusion just all felt silly. The big bad 'reveal' lacked impact and very convenient without a real set-up. I regret spending time with this duology and needless to say I will not be reading anymore books by this author.

27. The Mystery of Marie Roget by Edgar Allan Poe: 6.5 - Okay

    

    High on my enjoyment from reading Murder in the Rue Morgue by Poe, I decided to also read its direct sequel. That seemed un-necessary. This novella did not have the well plotted story 'Murder..' had and there is no big twist which made 'Murder..' so memorable. Instead, we were given a barely read-able investigation into a real life crime with Poe using substitutions to not make it obvious what it is about. Poe continues to use his literally un-named detective to comment on a real life murder and his theories through his character. However, he presents no solutions just muses.

    I read a lot of Poe's short stories during this month and compared to some of the other stories like The Tell-Tale Heart, the Pit and the Pendulum, heck even Metzengerstein were much better reads than this one. The later have complex stories, great imagery and a conclusion. The Mystery of Marie Roget had none of those.

26. Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth: 7 - OKAY

    As previously posted on this blog, February started a movie series called 'Raising Hell' where I re-watched or watched all the Hellraiser films. Yes, all 11 of them. I remember watching Hellraiser 3 and did not mind it (more on power of nostalgia in a later entry) but upon my re-watch I realized this film did not age well.

    From turning Pinhead to a stereotypical psycho killer (in the vein of Jason and Freddy) complete with one liners and mocking characters to a complete genre switch at the halfway point where it became more of an action films in the vein of Robocop and other late 80's films (with exploding cop cars and man-hole set pieces) instead of a horror film, this movie was lacking. The only decent part of the film were the main leads, Doug Bradley is still amazing as the Hell Priest and Terry Farrell (my forever Star Trek crush growing up) was a very believable female lead especially compared to Ashley Laurence's rather wooden acting in Hellraiser one and two.

    However instead of great ending to the what was a good duology we have tons of new cenobites with no redeeming factors, a barely there story and a (I feel) an un-necessary redemption arc for Pinhead which is un-done by the next movie. Before this re-watch I always felt the movie after the 4th seemed like cheap cash grabs but I am now seeing it started much earlier than that.

25. Alien Earth: 7 - OKAY

    I bounced so hard off this. Taking what should have been a slam-dunk, what we got was a very meh opening (where I nearly DNF a show which I don't think I've ever done), a decent middle (with one of the best stand-alone episodes which felt like a lost Alien film and how it at least got the 7 based off that) to a very meh ending with a lot of 'please give us another season' bait.

    90% of the characters were either unlikeable or too stupid/silly to have any feelings of attachment. The concept of putting children inside synthetic bodies and sending into a active warzone made me shake my head too and made me wonder who greenlit this idea. Also our Female lead having a pet Alien was a bridge too far as well despite how cool it was. If this show does get a second season I know I will not be back. I feel this show could have worked with just any type of Alien enemy (and they tried because the xenomorph was only one of many hostile species) and not besmirched Alien's problematic legacy.

24. Hellbound: Hellraiser II: 7.5  - OKAY

    As I said in the Hellraiser 3 entry, nostalgia is a bitch. I really thought Hellbound was my favorite Hellraiser film of the four I have seen. I remember so many scenes from it and some of them even gave me nightmares growing up (because I watched it when I was way too young), it was that memorable. So why was it during this re-watch I realize that Hellbound was just... okay. I always thought and even told people Hellbound to Hellraiser was Terminator 2 to the original Terminator but now after this re-watch I no longer feel that way.

    Hellbound rehashes a lot of Hellraiser, even using the same concept (bringing someone back from Hell) but it is just copy/ paste and nothing new. What is new is the new villain who un-ceremoniously kills all the cool cenobites to prove he was the big dog but then subsequently goes out like a bitch with no pay-off. The acting is still decent but as I mentioned before Ashley as Kirsty is doing the bare minimum in all her scenes and in hindsight is not a heroine really worth cheering for. If anything she is slightly overshadowed by the secondary female lead, Imogen Boorman as Tiffany (who has the best line, hands-down, in the film).  I am kind of happy I did this re-watch because now I see the original is the superior of the two.

23. Prodigy (entire series): 8 - Rave

     Continuing my exploration of the Millar-verse which started with Nemesis and Big Game, we have arrived at Prodigy. Prodigy's main character Edison Crane has been touted as Mark Millar's favorite creation and a mixture of James Bond, Jason Borne, Sherlock Holmes and more. I find him incredibly boring. Edison reads and acts like a Gary Stu, the name you give to literary characters who are perfect in every way and have zero flaws. The problems with Gary Stu characters are they just feel made up and not real. Sure Edison can write complex sonnets, while solving the water crisis in India and also be a world-class athlete but when all he does with it is go in National Treasure/ Jason Bond globe-trotting adventures with no real consequences at the end, it gets kind of samey and when I completed the third volume I was happy to be done with him. Also I do not enjoy (at least until the third book) that it is always about Edison and how amazing he is. It low key kind of reminded me of Star Discovery and how they wrote Michael Burnham (and y'all know how I feel about that).

    Despite these low points, the art is still amazing, some of the set pieces were cool and when Edison wasn't always winning, it did have some cool moments. This series just shows the problem about a  book with perfect characters and a case study for why flawed characters make much more compelling reads. In the Millar-verse I rank this slightly above Night Club which isn't great for Prodigy.

22. Hellverine Vol. 2 Hell Hulk Unleashed: 8 - Rave

    

    Speaking of continuing series I enjoy, the latest volume of Hellverine (and probably his last as a solo star) was a good fun read. This arc features Mephisto and a new enemy, the Hell Hulk which was interesting, especially in the way it drove people mad. Akihiro continues to work with his new found family and confront not only his inner demons but outer ones too.

    My only gripe with this series is due to the nature of the characters we don't really have any high stakes because everyone can be resurrected due to the nature of the story. Also Percy finally brings in Akihiro's love interest Aurora from X-Factor and later the Marauders to break them up? For no reason other than to do it? I have been wanting to see Aurora's reaction to Hellverine and I must say it was very disappointing. However the art was still good, the story was strong with a good hook and it ended well so I liked it enough to give it a Rave.

21. Gook: 8 - Rave

    Gook was a unique film, very uncompromising and cautionary tale about racial disharmony. Justin Chon stars and directs well, with some well done shots and a real vision. However this movie doesn't make one feel well. From the excessive swearing, a lot of scenes that felt like they needed more time to truly stick and a very downbeat ending I am surprised I still enjoyed it.

    Justin and David So perform great for people who aren't know for their dramatic work, Simone Baker as our main character Kamila brings her role to life which is impressive for one so young. The funniest story is when I finally sat down to watch this film, I felt like I have watched it before. I had some strange deja vu as I re-watched certain scenes and I can't say for sure if I did watch it before and just forgot. All in all, a good directorial debut by Justin and a story that needed to be told.

20. Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning: 8 - Rave

    A compelling beginning (with a pay off we have all been waiting for) and a strong ending but with a meddling middle gave me flashbacks to book two of the Fever series which I thought was just okay. This (the 4th book) at least showed the consequences of the 3rd book well and it did move the story forward and I enjoyed learning more about Dani (who is low-key my favorite character) and Ryodan but I am happy that with this book done we can move onto the final book of the original ending.

    Depending on how Shadowfever ends, I might either continue with the Fever series second era and go all the way to the end or I might just stop with Shadowfever. I guess we shall see soon enough because I am reading the 5th right now. I enjoy this series but I won't lie, I do wish its pace was much faster.

19. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: 8 - Rave

    A cozy fantasy that was recommended by my wife, with low stakes (at least at first) was an enjoyable read. It definitely was not like any other fantasy series I have read before and I think I enjoyed that the most about it. I do agree with some reviewers that I wish they had a bit more time together before they started swooning over each other but I did not hate it. It is ironic that it falls right next to the series where I felt it took forever for the main characters to get together. I guess I just enjoys book where the romances is more well paced, not too fast, not too slow. The big bad reveal was also well plotted and got the right reaction from me though I did wish it got to that moment much faster.

    I did this book purely as a audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator and I like the cast of characters. My only real gripes with it was I do not feel this book needed to be as long as it was and it took awhile for it to get really good but I will be adding the remaining books to my TBR so it did make a impression on me.

18. Hellraiser: 8 - Rave

    As briefly mentioned above, I used to think Hellbound: Hellraiser II was better than the original. Now I can say beyond a doubt I was wrong. After re-watching the original, I now have so much more appreciation of how close it stuck to the original material. Sure, some small changes were made regarding Kirsty but I actually felt that change made sense and made Uncle Frank much more creepier in retrospect. I also appreciate that after being screwed twice with Transmutations (Underworld in some regions) and the abominable RawHead Rex (owner of the Golden Rant from this very blog), Mr. Barker decided to direct this one and despite it being his first project, he truly imbued it with his himself.

    I appreciate this film so much more now I realize how tired I am of the slasher horror genre and that this film tried something different with its own story and he even kind of accidentally created a horror icon in the form of Pinhead aka The Hell Priest. Top that off with a surprise turn from Andrew Robinson (Garak of ST: DS9) playing a good guy and then a not such a good guy was a pleasant surprise too since I forgot he was in this film. Honestly I forgot a bit about this film even though I've watched it before so this was a great re-watch. 

17. Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe: 8.5 - RAVE

    Much like the month of January was about exploring the classic works of H.P Lovecraft, February was all about Edgar Allan Poe. Confession time, I have known about 'Murders...' ever since I became a fan of Poe but I have actually never read the novella until now and boy, was it a treat. To believe Poe can be credited with creating the modern detective story back in 1841 is truly awe-inspiring and he gave everyone a formula writers are still using today with a determined detective, a string of clues, a confession to the crime and a twist that still blows me away.

    This novella really drove home what I enjoy about Poe's writing and it started me down a path of like stories. As noted above I read the sequel to this story (which did not end as well) and I aim to read Clive Barker's take on it in the month of March. Truly a pleasant surprise and worth doing my deep dive into Poe's writing.

16. Where the Crawdads Sing: 8.5 - RAVE

    A well paced, enjoyable murder mystery with a killer twist. Based on a novel my wife has read, she mentioned it stayed pretty close to the source material which is always nice.

    Not much more to say other than this was a good film, well directed, the cast did well and the storyline was compelling enough it kept me interested until the final twist. Also it was nice to see a strong female lead taking her life back especially after so many people treated her so badly.

15. Beyond the Hanging Wall by Sara Douglass: 8.5 - RAVE

    This one surprised me. Despite being a big fan of Sara Douglass I never explored her standalone novels and after I found out this book, Threshold and her Wayfarer Redemption series are all linked together through Darkglass Mountain trilogy I decided to read the two books I never read. Now the surprising part. Unlike Threshold which had me under a spell until near the end, Beyond the Hanging Wall felt very safe and pedestrian and was actually disappointing me. It actually felt like one of Sara's earlier novels, re-released after she became popular off her other series.

    However near the end, this book does the opposite of Threshold and makes me much more invested, the story gets richer and the characters more three dimensional. I prefer the ending for this book much more than Threshold even tho I feel Threshold was a better novel overall. I am happy I read it and I now look forward to Darkglass Mountain trilogy and see how Sara combines all these fantasy worlds she has created.

14. Found Season One: 8.5 - RAVE

       Thanks to Netflix, me and my wife was able to finally watch a show we missed when it was airing originally. Found has a unique premise and I enjoy how it focuses on people whom are typically ignored and making sure every person is valued. Sure, some of the cases can get a bit generic and also a bit preachy sometimes (like network tv loves to do) but the strong cast carries the procedure nature of the show.

    The real strength of the show is the chemistry/ antagonistic relationship between series leads Shanola Hampton and Marl-Paul Gosselaar (who plays menacing a bit too well) which really makes it good TV. Combined with some interesting backstories for the main cast and a crazy mic drop moment for the season finale, it is definitely worth a watch if you like these type of shows. 

13. The Thief of Always by Clive Barker: 8.5 - RAVE

    

    Clive Barker as any regular readers of this blog knows, is my version of comfort food. The Thief of Always was one of the first novels I read of his after I read all six volumes of his Books of Blood and I remembered a lot of it to my surprise but also is a sign of a memorable read. Whilst it was written for a younger audience, it still has a timeless appeal to it.

    By the end of this novel, I was surprised how much of the final chapters, resounded with me, especially now as I am much older. I won't lie, this book really got me in the feels and that feeling elevated from a 8 to an 8.5 and the higher end of this LIST.

12. The Dark Tower Book Two - The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King: 8.5 - RAVE

    

    Continuing my re-read of the Dark Tower books (which I have decided to combine with an audio books going forward) I am happy I decided to stick to it. As previously mentioned, the Gunslinger can be a rough read and even with my new appreciation for it with my most recent re-read it was still a 8/10 book for me. The Drawing of the Three does not have such issues, from the jump, I really enjoyed this re-read and consumed it in record time thanks to double teaming with the audio book.

    I think Mr. King in this volume really understood where he wanted to go with The Dark Tower and it shows. Compelling and complex characters, a more realized setting and some insane set pieces make this a great read. With this volume, I am much more excited to continue my journey to The Dark Tower again to the point where instead of waiting as long as I did last time, I aim to jump into Book 3 at my first convenience.

11. Magisterium Book 4 - The Silver Mask by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare: 9 - RAVE

    

    I hate to compare oranges to apples but since they are both book 4, Holly Black and Cassandra Clare showed how to write a penultimate book especially compared to Dreamfever. This book truly upped the stakes, moved the needle and all the other metaphors lol. A couple majors things happen in this book and it sets the scene for a wild finale for sure.

    Oh and we finally get a pay-off for Call and Tamara relationship and yes, I still don't like Call as a Main Character. Funny enough, despite that, I do like this series and I am eagerly looking forward to the conclusion because if it keeps up this constant quality uptick, I think I will really enjoy it.

10. Bridgerton Season 4: 9 - RAVE

    

SPOILERS! Jump to 9 if you have not seen this season.

    So, I have been a fan of Bridgerton since season one (which I still believe it is one of the best seasons) so me and my wife have watched every season (and the Queen Charlotte spin-off) with interest. One thing I enjoyed about this season is seeing some East Asian representation and Yerin Ha playing Sophie gives her all. She is funny and charismatic and has natural chemistry with everyone.

    Sure the story was kind of paint by the numbers 'Cinderella story' but it was nice for the show to confront the class struggle that exists in Regency times. My only really gripe with this season is sadly the same as the previous season where the writers are doing too many side-plots drawing attention from the main couples so they can keep the rest of the cast busy. I like Hyacinth and Eloise but did they need a story this season? I was also not a fan of giving Violet a significant storyline this season but for it to be a means to an end of her 'finding herself' again. That could have been done in a couple scenes, not a season long arc. I am also not a fan of Sophie being a very intelligent woman being told by a man that their is no way her father would abandon her especially when the original source was a woman who clearly hated her. I feel Sophie did not need spurring to find the truth about her father's will.

    However, something that elevated this season was the sad love story of Francesca and her husband, John. Hannah Dodd as Fran continues to be one of the best casted additions to this ensemble and she portrayed Fran's love and grief over losing John so well. Episode 7 broke my heart and the only thing it has done has made me super invested in her upcoming full season.

9. The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates: 9 - RAVE

    I have been dying to read something written by Ta-Nehisi Coates for a couple years now so during Black History Month, I decided to just do it and I read his memoir 'The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons and the Unlikely Road to Manhood'. What an elegant read this was. Coates is a masterful story-teller, weaving past and present into one compelling narrative. This book as the title implies mainly focuses on Coates, his brother, who is referred to as Big Bill and their upbringing under a strict but fair father in the 80's.

    Reading this reminded me of hood classics like 'Boyz N The Hood' and 'Menace 2 Society' but in book form and I really got to know the man behind the storywriter which I know is the goal behind most memoirs. I consumed this in record time, which is a sign I really liked it. I do wish it was a bit more focused at time but that is only a small gripe. Based on the strength of this, I think I will continue to read Coates' essays, his novels and his comic book runs and not just during February.

8. The Vision (entire series): 9 - RAVE

    As a big fan of the character, I always had an interest in Tom King's The Vision run. I even bought the first volume (with issues 1 to 6) and after I read it, I liked it but I must admit I was not immediately hooked by it like I thought I was going to be, especially after hearing everyone call it an 'instant' classic. Time went on and I never finished it. However this year, thanks to Hoppla I was able to read the whole series and I get it now. I really do.

    The final six issues really drive home the themes and it really comes to life for me where I actually really enjoyed reading it. I became really invested in the thought provoking story and the art matched it so well. Never too dynamic but perfect for the story it was telling. Vision's family ties and his relationships with others has never been explored as well as it was in this series and I think I see a lot of inspiration for WandaVision in this series. I am happy I finished this story and I now believe it is essential reading, especially if you like the Vision.

7. Avatar Fire and Ash: 9 - RAVE

    

    I might be in a minority but I really enjoy the Avatar films. I like the characters (most of them), the storylines and the epic scope of it all. I feel Fire and Ash in particular re-captures the thrill and action of the first film and was not as over-loaded with the worldbuilding the second film was. This epic was 3 hours and you felt the 3 hours but it was an enjoyable 3 hours if that make sense.

    This film also gave us a new antagonist in the form of Varang who is the anti-Neytiri in everyway and she was compelling in her insanity and bloodlust. The visuals to no surprise are still amazing and I continuously get lost where the CG begins and the real filming begins. Some of the technology and warfare in this film gave me Dandelion Dynasty vibes which I really liked because as regular readers of this blog know, I love me some Dandelion Dynasty.

6. Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    As I continue to learn the craft of writing, I have been looking into aids and guides. I previously reviewed Stephen King's book on it, 'On Writing' and while I really enjoyed it, I did feel at times Mr. King enjoyed diving down memory lane a bit too many times and not enough tips on writing. Ursula K. Le Guin's guide 'Steering the Craft' however is much more a writing guide and wow, did I learn a lot from this book.

    I think a big part of this book is how much Le Guin encourages you to write, form peer workshops and practice your knowledge. Filled with illustrative examples and a good sense of humor, this helped me understand writing in ways I have not looked at it before. I borrowed this book from my local library but as soon as I finished it and returned it, I instantly brought a copy for my own personal library and I now look at it very fondly. This guide gets one of my highest recommendations if you have any interest in writing or enjoy literature. 

5. The Dandelion Dynasty Book 3: The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    So after an amazing run for Ken Liu novels where he held the # 1 spot on multiple LISTs, The Veiled Throne is my first Ken Liu novel that I enjoyed but not my favorite piece of content for the month. Now, I still love The Veiled Throne and it still gets a 9.5 but to come in at number 5 shows you how competitive the this month's LIST is.

    The Dandelion Dynasty is still a compelling read, filled with nuanced, complex characters and even the new additions work so well in this universe. We still have some of the most darkest takes on war and the loss and each scene hits with the impact of a gut punch. However due to the rather extended 'Dandelion Dynasty: Iron Chef' I feel these scenes lasted a bit too long and lowered the final score and my overall feeling about this novel. Yes, the Iron Chef scenes and characters eventually pay off in a big way but I feel the length of it was a bit self indulgent on Ken's behalf.

    However, the big twist, the impending sense of another big war coming with the re-opening of the Wall of Storms combined with brilliant characterization still has me in thrall and I still read this massive volume in record time and eagerly look forward to the conclusion.

4. Spartacus: House of Ashur: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    Spartacus: House of Ashur takes an concept I would have never thought believable and just made it work. Like how can Spartacus creator and visionary, Steven S. DeKnight take Ashur, one of the most infuriating, evil members of the Spartacus lore and make him not only a hero of his own story but a likeable person? How!? But by Jupiter's Cock did he do it. By episode 3 of 10, I found myself cheering for Ashur and his people and by episode 10 I was roared with him when he delivered the coup de grâce in one of the most amazing endings for a episode of television I have ever watched. If you know, you know. Combined that with a natural born star in Tenika Davis as the female gladiator Achilla and her tragic and compelling story and you have a season filled with thrills and chills. The final battle between Achilla and her opponent was so satisfying that as soon as I finished the episode, I instantly re-watched the fight again, something I have never done before.

    I actually purchased Starz so I could watch this and I must say I was not disappointed. I am so ready for a season 2 announcement because I can not wait to see where they go from here. I have a prediction that House of Ashur will have a very high spot on my year end LIST and it is just February. Yes, it is that good.

3. The Empyrean: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros: 9.5 - RAVE

    

    As my previous LIST mentioned, I enjoyed 'Iron Flame' the second book of Rebecca Yarro's Empyrean epic but I felt it suffered from some pacing issues. Well did Onyx Storm address those issues and more. Onyx Storm's motto should be 'All Gas, No Breaks' because from the first chapter, this was a full-on tour de force that never let me go. This book had some moments that still stick with me and the emotional trauma Rebecca puts us through is just not right. This book now stands as my favorite book in all her Empyrean books I have read so far and that is no easy feat because I LOVE Fifth Wing.

    However it is not all praise. I feel some of the spice can get a bit much (and I know, I know, you need the romance in the romantasy) but why is all the love and angst between Xaden and Violet? I would like some other characters. Like can we explore their relationships? I know we might see some more of that in the upcoming thanks to the introduction of multiple POVs (which I really enjoyed) so we might be moving in the right direction there but yes, Xaden x Violet pairings for the fifth/sixth time does not take away from how much of a win this book is. I was already invested in The Empyrean but now I am ravenous for the next volumes.

2. Absolute Batman Vol 2 Abomination: 10 - RAVE

 

    A perfect 10 and it is still not the # 1 piece of content? Yep. But does it deserve its perfect 10?! Even more of a yes. It is hilarious I have spoken in length of Scott Snyder and when he writes certain characters I like his writing but I don't always love it however when Scott is locked in, the man is locked the fuck in. Absolute Batman was always a highlight for me but in this second volume, so much happens and it is all amazing.

    From Absolute Mr. Freeze, to Bane's origin and him breaking Bruce's friends to get to him. This was a rollercoaster ride I did not want to get off. Combine this with Nick Dragotta doing magic with his pencils and illustrating the most intimating Bane and Killer Croc I have ever seen. All Dragotta's re-designs are frame-able to be honest because they are all amazing.

    Top it off with one of the best, knockdown dragged out battles to conclude the arc and there was no way I was not going to give this volume a 10. Absolute Batman is a movement right now with a lot of people discussing it and praising it and it deserves it 100%. This is the pinnacle for comic story telling right now, no doubt. If you have not gone 'All In' and you enjoy comics? You owe it to yourself to give Abs Batman a try, you won't be disappointed.

1. Predator: Killer of Killers: 10 - RAVE

    In a month of Yarros,  Liu's,  Absolutes and the return of one of my favorite TV shows (I own all the seasons of Spartacus... long live physical media) who had the honor of taking the top spot? Why Predator: Killer of Killers of course. This anthology of short films all tied in with an amazing ending is hands down my favorite media for the month of February. Everything about this was amazing, cool predators, cool weapons, cool kills (Predators in the SKY!) and some of the most epic stories told. Under the guiding vision of Dan Trachtenberg, the Predator franchise for me has gone from strength to strength. Prey was amazing, Badlands was amazing but hands down my favorite piece of media he has made is this animated epic right here.

    The Japanese storyline of Samurai vs Ninja vs Predator was everything I have ever wanted in a Predator story and it was told mostly without dialogue which made it even more epic. My only gripes with this film are so minor it won't even deduct points from it. Also the set-up with that post credit scene makes me salivate for more of this. I currently write two sets of notes for this LIST, the final product which you are reading here and my thoughts, immediately after I watch it. I wrote in my immediate thoughts that I feel if this was not animated it would be my favorite piece of Predator media. I no longer feel that way. This IS my favorite piece of Predator media. If this was available on DVD or Blu-ray I would buy it without a thought. In a month stacked with easy # 1 on any other LIST, Predator: Killer of Killers rose to the top.

Phew, that was a lot so without more to say, see y'all next month!

AV