Rapid Reviews

Flintstones Evolution and Hexagon Issue 3 | Rapid Reviews

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Evolution of THE FLINTSTONES Over 60 Years (1960-2020) Explained by Dave Lee Down Under (YouTube)

Once again, Dave Lee delivers an excellent Cartoon Evolution video. The voice over was well done; I could understand each word he said.

I enjoyed the transitions/pacing. It was not 40 minutes of him talking nonstop; he took short breaks for clips—it broke up the video well. The editing was great. It felt fluid and professional. There were no awkward jerks or cuts.

However, I felt like I didn’t learn as much in this episode as others. It seemed like there wasn’t as much behind the scenes or origin information.

But, I loved how the video was at times synced to what Lee was saying. For example, while Lee spoke about how much the live-action Flintstones movie made, a clip of Fred Flintstone fantasizing about making lots of money played.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

HEXAGON #3 by Michael Moreci (Author) and Jheremy Raapack (Illustrator) (Impact Theory Comics)

The various covers for HEXAGON #3 was the first thing to make me go “oooh…” It just continued from there.

The artwork continues to impress me as does the pacing and writing. The artists, writers, and editors know exactly when to pull a panel out or zoom in on a character. I really enjoy the lighting style; it makes it look like everyone is being lit by a stage spotlight. The lighting adds to the 80s feel and to the feel of music being an important part of the story.

I didn’t feel as rushed with this issue. It felt like I got to take a break from the action and mystery of the previous issues and catch my breath but that does not mean the story was slow or boring. The first issue was the origin—setting up everything; the second introduced the mystery and conflict (i.e. the story “started”); and the third felt like a catch up/rest period.

My main concern with this issue was Don’s friends didn’t go with him (so far). I hope we get to see more of them, especially seeing their reactions when they find out the truth about Don’s background. 

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Do you have any books, games, or movies to recommend? Let me know in the comments.

Until the next wormhole..thanks for reading!

Do you like sci-fi and fantasy? Hungry for adventure?

From July 1-31, many of my books will be on sale during the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale. The participating books will be anywhere from 25% to 100% off. While there, check out some of the other participating authors.

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Amphibia and More | Rapid Reviews

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Amphibia (Disney Channel, Disney+)

I wasn’t interested with the show about a girl who is transported to another world; there seems to be a lot of those “in another realm” series out there lately. 

I finally gave it a change thanks to a video by Vailskibum97 (and the fact there wasn’t much else on). I ended up watching the whole first season in about three days. 

I was a bit worried while watching the first episode. The animation seemed too “loose” and the characters’ reactions seemed too goofy or over-the-top. But, I continued to keep an open mind and soon found the animation to not be so wild. It was still pretty out there, but not as bad.

Plus, you gotta love all the pop culture references and jokes, like the blue shell during the race in the “Bizarre Bazaar” episode.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Codex of Tyler Grayson: Creatures Among Us by Richard Gibbard (book)

A story about people who are writing a book (or codex) about monsters, demons, and such was intriguing. It seemed like a nice twist on the monster hunter trope where the hunter already has all the information or is just a noob. In The Codex of Tyler Grayson we see the manual being made. 

But, what I really enjoyed is how well the author showed the readers the characters’ personalities without telling us. I was able to get an idea of who the characters were many times before even meeting them. The way the characters were described or how others reacted to them told much about the character before they even opened their mouth. I knew much about Tyler and his friends chapters before they even arrived.

Finally, I was able to learn about the world and the story’s rules pretty quickly. Within the first few chapters, I knew about the Scribes and the Codex. I knew that there was magic, and it was hidden from the rest of the world.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Are there any books, movies, or games you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments section. And don’t forget to like, follow, and share.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading!

Do you like sci-fi and fantasy? Hungry for adventure?

From July 1-31, many of my books will be on sale during the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale. The participating books will be anywhere from 25% to 100% off. While there, check out some of the other participating authors.

My Books
Other Participating Authors

#Hamilton and More | Rapid Reviews

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Hamilton (Disney+)

Can you call it a musical when 99 percent is singing? Or is it borderline opera? There’s a funny thought after seeing Jefferson and Hamilton engage in a rap battle: opera.

It was a bit harder to keep an open mind regarding a musical about Alexander Hamilton’s life. The hype was real; it was off the charts. Everyone talked about the play and how wonderful it was. I felt like nothing short of the players coming on stage and telling the world how to cure cancer was going to be “wow” enough. But, as the play progressed, I found myself enjoying it more and more. By the end, I was invested.

The singing was wonderful. I loved how they used the company players/background players as “special effects,” such as acting like a hurricane or rewinding time.

It was a little hard to get the jokes at first. The singing–especially the rap songs–went too fast and all I could hear was “blah, blah, blah-blah…*laughter*.” I felt like, “What did I just miss?” It made the experience less enjoyable to feel left out. Other times, I could understand them, but they would move on to the next lines so quickly I didn’t have time to process the joke.

Speaking of enunciation, the players, for the most part, enunciated the lyrics well. I could tell they had experience projecting for a theater crowd. However, there were times when it seemed like they muttered or sang fast.

The lighting was also well done and everyone hit their marks and cues, as far as I know. You know the old theater saying, “If you make a mistake, act like you didn’t…the audience will never know.” The whole performance seemed fluid.

Finally, I enjoyed how the singers fluctuated their voices so you could tell when they were sad, scared, or happy. Their acting ability came through their singing, which can be hard to do sometimes. (I also enjoyed the few times they broke the fourth wall by addressing the audience or acknowledging that a sad scene had just occurred.) 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Breaking Free by Caleb Monroe (book)

The story about a man and his griffin was immediately captivating. The way Monroe described the storm made me feel like I was there with Jacob. The way Monroe described Jacob’s mental issues made me feel Jacob’s pain; I felt as if I were in his shoes. I felt each bout of anxiety.

The book did have typos and missing words here and there but not enough that I couldn’t figure out the story. Also, I felt like I couldn’t get a completely clear picture of what Jacob looked like. I could piece together an image from his actions, like brushing his hair back, but it felt fuzzy.

I really enjoyed that the book seemed to be meant for teens, or older teens, yet the main character was in his 20s. The book had the style and language of a book targeted for a mid to late teen audience. Normally, a teen story will focus on teenage characters. The book could be classified as new adult, but it seemed to miss the more mature language, violence, and themes new adult fiction might contain–except for Jacob having a mental illness. This twist in the classification of genre made the story even more intriguing, though confusing at first when I tried to figure out Jacob’s age. It took me a few chapters to realize he was an adult.

Finally, it didn’t seem like there were large sections of boring material, or large areas of endless exposition. Any exposition seemed to flow right in line with the story. Near the end, I did start to feel tired and wanted to finish, but that is more because I was almost done reading and I wanted to finish than anything to do with the story.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Do you have any movies, books, or games to recommend? Let me know in the comments. Don’t forget to like, follow, and share.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading!

Do you like sci-fi and fantasy? Hungry for adventure?

From July 1-31, many of my books will be on sale during the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale. The participating books will be anywhere from 25% to 100% off. While there, check out some of the other participating authors.

My Books
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Rapid Reviews: Google Stadia and More

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Google Stadia Pro 

Not long ago, Google announced that newcomers to their video game streaming service, Stadia, could receive two months of Pro membership for free. I tried it out and it was an adventure.

It took me hours to sign up because it was a little confusing on what I needed to do and what equipment I’d need. One article sounded like I needed the $130 Founder’s package while another said Stadia was free. Another article would say that Stadia worked on everything, yet another would say it didn’t work on iOS systems. I went to the sign-up page; it said I needed to download he app; I downloaded the app and it asked for my activation code. “I never got an activation code,” I said.

I ended up nearly quitting many times before I finally found the FAQ page and learned that I could use Stadia if I had a computer with Chrome. OK, I have Chrome and the right version, but it is on my Surface. Could a Surface handle Stadia? Also, I didn’t want to deal with using W, S. D, A keys to play. There were many articles stating Stadia was compatible with many game controllers. I finally found the list of controllers it worked with.

Thankfully, I finally got my account set up. I was also able to connect my controller. Seemed like I was ready. Now, I just needed to see how Stadia would react with my Surface.

It worked well. 

I don’t have the best Internet or the best computer, yet I found Stadia to work well. It didn’t lag; I could get into the games with ease; and the graphics looked as good as any console. The images were sharp and bright. I pressed the left stick and the character moved immediately. I seriously thought about using Stadia for all my gaming needs. According to Google, there is no need to get a new console nor do you need to wait for downloads or updates.

I then had some problems purchasing games. Unless I was on an Android device, I couldn’t use Google gift cards. I also couldn’t use Paypal unless I was on Android. All I could use was a credit card; not a big issue but very limiting. On PlayStation I can add to my wallet through Paypal (or credit card) or I can use gift cards. Also, Google has said that with Stadia you can play anywhere. That’s true, as long as you have an Android. Right now, you can’t use the iOS app to play games…or buy them. Google has stated that they are working on this shortcoming.

If Google ever does work it out so that I can buy games via Paypal on my computer or use gift cards (on something other than Android only) or make it so I can purchase games through the Apple app, I just might not need an Xbox or PlayStation. Instead of spending money on a $399 or more console–that you have to update every five-ish years–I’d put money towards the $130 Stadia package where I can get a controller and plugin so that I can play on my TV. Hopefully, on my TV…I’ve heard from some that not all TVs work; yet another issue for Google to work out.

Disney Sorcerer’s Arena by Glu Games Inc

I ended up liking the mobile game right away, and it wasn’t solely because they had Ian and Barley from Onward as unlockable characters. The art style was refreshing. It kind of made the characters look…mystical, like they were part of some artwork that you’d see in a magic school. 

I also liked that I could control the characters. I’ve played the Disney Heroes Battle Mode game. I like the game, but you don’t get to play as the characters. The game is 99 percent auto-play. What’s the point of having Goofy, Darkwing Duck, Scrooge McDuck, Baymax, and Stitch on a team if you can’t play as them?

What I like about Disney Heroes Battle Mode over Sorcerer’s Arena is that Sorcerer’s Arena really plays the in-app purchases game. Every five seconds is an ad. They’ve also really *cough* rigged *cough* the game in a way that you want to pay for diamonds so you can unlock characters. They also have a season pass program. Finally, unlocking characters is a little harder in Sorcerer’s Arena. When I was playing Battle Mode, I’d unlock a couple characters a week without having to spend money and/or very few diamonds (which I didn’t have to pay money for); in Sorcerer’s Arena, I feel like it takes me weeks to just unlock a one star character.

But, a Disney crossover game where you actually get to play as the characters is hard to pass up. Also, the many limited events, such as the current (as of this writing) Toy Story event, makes it feel like there is always something to do. The events also allow you to get character tokens for some of the more difficult to obtain characters.

What are some of your favorite mobile games? Let me know in the comments section.

Until next wormhole…thanks for reading! (and wash your hands–even when the lockdown is lifted)

Good news! The Smashwords Authors Give Back Sale has been extended to May 31! 

You have another chance to buy The Beast of Camp TimberWolf, Gift of the Minion, and now Who Pranked JR for 60% off!

Rapid Reviews: Tower of God and More

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PlayStation Play at Home Initiative 

From April 15-May 5 everyone with a PlayStation can download and keep Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey for free. 

It was pretty nice to return to the Uncharted series. I’d bought the collection when it first came out (or soon after), but ended up trading it in because I needed the money for another game. I am also terrible at shooter games and got frustrated within the first few chapters. Fortunately, I started playing Fortnite and got “better” at shooter games. Now, I can actually make it through multiple gun battles before dying. (Usually, I only die because I threw the grenade at my feet or because I missed a platforming jump.)

As for Journey, I haven’t had much time to play it; but from what what I’ve seen, it does live up to the hype. The game is pretty amazing. It is hard not to just sit and enjoy the scenery. It did take me awhile to figure out what was going on–controller and story plot-wise. There isn’t much in the way of a tutorial. Also, a clone of my character appeared out of nowhere and started moving around. I’m guessing it is some kind of online feature showing me other players, but it was still very confusing. But, I still enjoy the serenity of the game. I feel like I could find the soundtrack and mediate to it or have it play in the background. I also wouldn’t mind having a few screenshots for desktop images. Finally, I enjoyed the fluidity of the controls. It made it feel like my character was gliding at times.

Tower of God by SIU 

Unfortunately, I can’t watch The Tower of God on Crunchyroll because of a lack of subscription, but I can read the comic on Webtoons, so I can’t say much about the cartoon. As for the comic, it’s the classic story of a boy trying to find the girl; but in this case, it might not be because of romantic love but friendship love.

To tell the truth, if I’d heard about the series during a time where I had other comics or shows to watch/read, I wouldn’t have given Tower of God a second look. The plot seems pretty standard: boy loses girl; boy must face tough challenges to find her. Even the climbing the tower seems normal for an anime. It seems like there is always a tower or some kind of series of levels the protagonist must pass. The art style was also a little weird; however, from the glimpses I’ve seen of the more recent chapters, it looks like it has improved while not completely revamping itself. 

The strange thing about the series is by a logical-review standpoint the series is not that special. Like I said, a young man going through challenges to find the woman he likes, the protagonist possessing some strange gift, and the fact that he has to hide he is different makes the series seem more tropeish than original (though it is extremely difficult nowadays not to be cliche–when you look at anything too hard you’ll see how familiar it is). I’ve read and seen countless series that followed this formula. Yet, there’s something interesting that I can’t put my finger on. Even the fact that while others are climbing the Tower for money, power, or the thrill of the hunt, the protagonist is doing it out of love is a common story line.

Right now, I’m feeling cautiously optimistic. 

How about you? Have you heard of Tower of God? What do you think of it? Let me know in the comments section.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading (and stay safe out there).

Good news! The Smashwords Authors Give Back Sale has been extended to May 31! 

You have another chance to buy The Beast of Camp TimberWolf, Gift of the Minion, and now Who Pranked JR for 60% off!

Rapid Reviews: Comics and More (Quarantine Special)

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The Gamer by Sangyoung Seong and Sang-A (Webtoons): The comic features a young man who one day gains the abilities of a gamer; he can level up his intelligence and strength. He is also able to learn new skills. The series has a interesting premise and the art style is nice. The characters have a realistic comic book look, but the switch between the “realistic” style and the cartoony-over-dramatic drawings offer a break and humor. The fact the comic focuses more on the main character leveling up than battles and action is also a unique choice (at this point I’ve only ready about 50 parts, so that might change later). What I enjoyed about his semi-lack of fights is that I didn’t noticed it until I was about 40 parts into it. Even though most of the story involves the main character pondering what to do, the series is not slow nor without mystery.

Erift’s Journeys: Secrets of the Sealed Forest by J.T. Tenera: Tenera accomplished what most writers dream of–an interesting hook. The beginning of the book immediately peaked my interest. The interaction between Joseph and Eric kept the book interesting and alive. However, the book does enter a dry period as Professor Ben explains his research in great detail. I kept feeling like, “Let’s get on with it.” But, the book ends strongly with a lot of suspense, action, and mystery. I enjoyed that the ending was left open with the “Big Bad” escaping and hints that Joseph’s story is far from over, but Secrets of the Sealed Forest left me satisfied. I felt like while the overall story was not over this adventure was; the story did not leave me with a feeling of frustration or like I had a hole inside.

DOOM Eternal

DOOM ETERNAL Walkthrough Gameplay Part 1 – INTRO (FULL GAME) by theRadBrad ‪(YouTube)

DOOM ETERNAL Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 – 2+ HOURS FULL GAME – Intro + Mission 1 PS4 DOOM Gameplay by‬ GhostRobo (YouTube)

DOOM ETERNAL Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 FULL GAME [1080p 60FPS PC ULTRA] – No Commentary by MKIceAndFire (YouTube)

The soundtrack and setting was awesome. I loved how the soundtrack made you feel like you were a slayer/gladiator ripping and tearing your way through horde after horde of demons. The set pieces always amazed me. The scenes made me feel small (yet strangely not powerless) while also making me feel like I was part of the world; I felt transported to the universe of DOOM. Since I hadn’t played a DOOM game in a very long time, and only for about a half hour or hour then giving it up, I was lost with all the talk about Maykrs and the Legend of the Slayer. And the game didn’t offer much in the way of help. I finally had to look it up on the Internet. But, I was still confused by why Doomguy would trust anything Dr. Hayden would say after he apparently betrayed Doomguy in one of the other games. Doomguy seemed to have no problem following Hayden’s orders. Finally, I enjoyed that the game never seemed to have a slow moment. It seemed like you were always on the move–especially during battle (you stood still for very long, you were killed). DOOM Eternal is a pure adrenaline rush from soundtrack to setting to action.

Urban Animal by Justin Jordan and John Amor (Webtoons): Urban Animal follows the life of Joe Gomez who discovers he can change into any animal, even going so far as to mixing parts and creating new animals. I enjoyed the raw art style. It felt very primal and animistic. The sharp edges and semi-muted colors gave the comic a very ancient, caveman-like feel. I could have lived without so many naked people scenes (Joe and other Chimera can’t morph their clothes–thankfully they can use nature to make a new set). As for the story, the writing was excellent. I felt like the story was always moving forward and that every scene meant something.

The Boring Days and Awesome Nights of Roy Winklesteen by Sally Dill: Dill seemed to know her audience. The book is definitely designed for middle school readers. The story’s flow of easily resolved problems isn’t ideal for adult or teen readers but is excellent for younger readers who want to “feel safe.” However, this ease of conflict resolution leaves the story feeling like there is no rise in action or risk to the character. In one chapter, Roy’s father uncovers how Roy escapes from his room every night. Roy is worried that his father will remove the rope. In the end, the father forgets about the rope. Roy doesn’t even have to attempt to convince his father to leave the rope or plot another escape. One feature of the story I enjoyed the most is that many of the unimportant events are summarized. When Roy decides to spy on his neighbor, I thought, “Oh no, now we’ll have 10 chapters of him following his neighbor around.” I was happy to see that the spying lasted about a paragraph–the story then moved on to the next plot point.

Ialin’s Curse by Isakytm (Webtoons): I felt that the artwork pulled you in. The switching between light colored scenes to dark, more threatening scenes set the mood. I felt as in danger as David did. When David felt frightened, I did as well. I am also glad that the series creator answered many of questions while leaving just enough unanswered to keep me coming back. The author also did an excellent job of placing cliffhangers for ultimate effect. 

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading.

From Mar. 20-Apr. 20 The Beast of Camp TimberWolf and Gift of the Minion will be 60% off during the Smashwords Authors Give Back sale.

Disney and Pixar Onward | Rapid Reviews (Spoilers)

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Disney and Pixar’s Onward: Great movie. I laughed and cried. It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited for a Pixar movie. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. The whole “teen embarrassed by a family member” thing was a bit cliche; but as a whole, I enjoyed the experience. My personal hype for it paid off–usually the expectations I place on it don’t match up, but this time they did.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Season 7: So far, I’ve felt like the series never ended. It doesn’t seem like there was a gap in new episodes. Usually, when they have a restart of a show years later, they try to modernize it and it fails. So far, it seems like the producers are keeping it in tune with the old seasons. I also like the Bad Batch, who remind me of the Ninja Turtles. You got your tech guy, your disciplined leader, the tough guy, and the comic relief. Though with the Bad Batch, it seems like the one you’d think would be more like Raphael, Wrecker, is more like Michelangelo. It is actually Crosshairs that is more like Raphael, go figure.

Ninja Turtles UK Insurance Commercial REACTION/BREAKDOWN by THE OLD TURTLE DEN: I’m glad THE OLD TURTLE DEN showed the whole commercial without reacting before going back through with his reaction. In other videos by the same person, they would show the clip/video but keep pausing it to discuss what they saw. It made it difficult for me to follow and made the video seem longer. I’m glad to see that they can change; it makes me want to continue watching their videos; it shows they listen to their audience. As for the commercial, the CGI Donatello looks amazing. There are times when you can tell it isn’t as good, but it is only a minute long commercial and not a movie or series. The part I liked is that you can tell Direct Line cared about the property they were using. They didn’t just slap something together and go, “People will watch it because it has a Ninja Turtle in it.” I could tell they worked hard and spent a lot of time and money on it.

THE OLD TURTLE DEN
Direct Line

Thanks for reading…and I’ll see you next wormhole.

Many of my eBooks will be on sale for free or 50% off during the Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale–Mar. 1-7. Click here to check it out!

Invincible Quill Magazine (Nov. issue) | Rapid Review

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The following are my opinion and do not reflect the opinion of any organization or person. May contain spoilers!

Invincible Quill Magazine November 2019 issue (Earnest Writes, free download): The latest issue has launched, and it’s about National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). The latest issue focuses on helping writers through NaNoWriMo. There are poems, prompts, and articles. I did notice some typos and some awkward sentences, but what work of art doesn’t have flubs? I liked the “Writing Styles Alignments” chart that lets you know if you were a neutral pantser or a chaotic plotter. According to the sheet, I’m a chaotic plantser; this means that I have a plot idea and then it all goes crazy from there. I also enjoyed the article by Kairavi Pandya titled “Better Egotist Than Poseur.” The article talks about how readers and writers alike think of novelists and poets as the brain surgeons of the field while they think of screenwriters or drama writers as loyal physicians. I like how the author mentions that a novelist is not better than someone who writes short stories–we’re all writers. Finally, this issue seemed to fly by. I got to one point and was like, “Why won’t this scroll any more?” It was because I was at the end of the magazine. The magazine was so interesting to read that it felt like I just started. The flow of poems to articles and back again made the reading captivating. I felt like I was reading something entertaining, not a boring textbook.

Do you have any shows, books, movies, etc you’d like to see a review on? Tell me in the comments.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading.

Join in the adventure as Joe and company deal with everything from waking up in the morning to stopping an alien invasion in the Christmas themed eBook Gift of the Minion. Releases Dec. 3. Preorder for $0.99, regular price $2.99.

Yolocraft, Fortnite, and More | Rapid Reviews (Spoilers)

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The following are my opinion and do not reflect the opinion of any organization or person. May contain spoilers!

Yolocraft Season 8 (Blitzwinger & Unlimited Magic, YouTube): With another death the eighth season of Yolocraft comes to a close. *sob* It was an interesting one with unexplained deaths and disappearing horses. It was also odd to actually know more about the new Minecraft features than they did; usually it was them telling me. But, as always, the team of Blitzwinger and Unlimited Magic provided video after video of entertainment. There was humor and there was suspense. Each time they went into the Nether was nerve wrecking. And there were episodes I wished they would have edited; for instance, watching them ride their horses for about 30 minutes while they looked for the Pillager Outpost. Probably the best part of the series was the thousands of chickens they had.

Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 1 (Epic Games, PlayStation 4, Xbox, and more): Before you get too excited, I know that season 1 isn’t over–I also know that apparently it’s been extended to February–this is just a little recap/mid-review. The first chapter of Fortnite I didn’t play much. It was mostly the crossover events. First, I couldn’t afford any skins. Second, I’m bad at shooter games. Third, I felt like I didn’t get anywhere. It seemed like I never leveled up or progressed and on top of that I couldn’t make it passed the nineties. So, I am enjoying the new leveling system where it tells you in big letters, “Hey! You leveled up!” I also like how you can see your progress in the Battle Pass section. I don’t know how much of the menus they fixed, but it seems easier to find things like missions. I really enjoy the extra XP time during the weekends. When I first saw how far I’d have to go to get any of the Battle Pass skins, I thought, “That’s never going to happen,” then one day I was at level 60. I don’t know if they reworked their matchups but I seemed to actually survive for longer periods and actually get eliminations. Before, it was just me running away and dying…a lot. I’m also looking forward to this villain team/EGO thing they are hinting at.

Photographing the Dead by Dean Koontz (Nameless series, #2): I have to agree with some of the reviews I’ve seen that the second book wasn’t as good as the first, but that doesn’t make it bad. I still found it to be thrilling and hard to put it down. I liked how Koontz kept shifting to the two women hiking. You knew that they were going to meet the killer at some point, but would they survive? I kind of felt like I was always racing towards some unavoidable fate. Koontz’s villain was creepy as always; he really knows how to make a truly evil antagonist. You feel no pity for the man. I enjoy how Koontz tells the reader that sometimes the person is just evil–that they do something just because they can or they think they are better than everyone else. In the first book, I didn’t feel that there was much danger for Nameless–I kind of felt the same in this one–but I was worried for the hikers. Now that I think about it, maybe that’s the point: feel for the victims. After Nameless sees those “ghosts” at the end, I began to wonder if Nameless isn’t so “nice.” Maybe he murdered someone and we shouldn’t feel sympathy or worry about him.

Do you have any shows, books, movies, etc you’d like to see a review on? Tell me in the comments.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading.

Join in the adventure as Joe and company deal with everything from waking up in the morning to stopping an alien invasion in the Christmas themed eBook Gift of the Minion. Releases Dec. 3. Preorder for $0.99, regular price $2.99.

Pokemon, Nameless, and Mandalorian | Rapid Reviews (Spoilers)

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The following are my opinion and do not reflect the opinion of any organization or person. May contain spoilers!

Pokemon Sword/Shield (Game Freak, Nintendo Switch): From the little bit that I’ve seen of the games, through YouTubers like Stampy Cat and GhostRobo, it looks like the other versions of Pokemon. It seems to keep the same mechanic of battle and catch Pokemon. I do like that they added sneaking. It’s nice to see that there is a way to lower your wild Pokemon encounters than by using repel after repel. I haven’t seen a gym challenge yet, but I do like the idea; and from what I’ve gathered it sounds like the gyms have some kind of mission that you need to complete first. I also enjoyed that the player’s rival, Hop, seems to have more of a part than just “smell ya later.” He actually hangs out with the player for a little bit. They (the developers, players–I’m not sure where the tale began) said that the opening/tutorial was shorter, but it looked to be just as long too me. Finally, I have to say Yamper is cute. I think it might be my second favorite Pokemon; I still like Growlithe more–though they get bonus points for the “amp” Poke-pun.

In the Heart of the Fire by Dean Koontz (Nameless series): Pretty much everything you’d want from the first book in a series. You get introduced to the main character; you get a feel for the world; and you understand the character’s goals. The story has lots of suspense and action. The writing grabs you and you can imagine yourself in the world. Also since the character has no name, you can put yourself into the shoes of the character a little bit easier. I do have a problem with how OP Nameless is. He has this nearly all-powerful organization helping him. They can hack into anything, and they can plan for any problem. Nameless himself seems very capable. I didn’t feel worried that Nameless could be hurt. He can be injured, and he can be surprised; but it just seems like everything falls into place thanks to the planning of the organization. I’m glad the books are short; I can finish one in a short period of time and move on to something else. The shortness also adds to the sense of a deadline; it keeps the book moving forward. Finally, I liked that the whole series was released at once so I can “binge read” them. I think with the stories being so short, if Koontz released them one at time, I might have not been interested. FYI, you can get a discount on the entire collection on Amazon (not sponsored, not an affiliated link).

The Mandalorian (Chapter 3: The Sin, Disney+): I really enjoyed how well the production team showed more of the Mandalorian’s character, and the lives of the surviving Mandalorians, without telling. Within only a few seconds of a scene, you could tell who was the leader, what the Mandalorian culture is, and the personality of the main Mandalorian. The episode also did a great job with their battle scenes. Both the ranged/gunfight and the hand-to-hand stealth fight were done well; I enjoyed how they balanced it out–it wasn’t all fist fights or all blaster battles. The crew seems to be able to jump between the two well. I also enjoyed the hints at possible other plots or conflicts, such as one villain stating that the metal is easy to come by but not a crafter. I wondered if the villain knew that the Mandalorians were in hiding; I half expected the metal to be bugged. When young Mandalorian was about to be killed by a droid in his flashback, I hopped that Original Yoda would have shown up to rescue him, showing why he might care for the baby Yoda. Finally, I enjoyed how they make the Mandalorian tough but kind. He isn’t gruff and likable like Wolverine. You can tell Mandalorian had it rough and he’s been affected by it, but you can see his kindness and how he wants to protect his people. He wants to honor their culture, i.e. he is the culture and history of Mandalore–which is probably why he hasn’t been given a name yet.

Do you have any shows, books, movies, etc you’d like to see a review on? Tell me in the comments.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading.

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