5 Sheep Comic Review: The Loose End by Dave Dwonch (from Titan Comics)

"The award-winning imprint Hard Case Crime presents a wacky story of guns, ganja and gambling from writer Dave Dwonch artist Travis Hymel."

 

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The Loose End
by Dave Dwonch
Illustrated by Travis Hymel
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA), 2025
ISBN 1787746445, 9781787746442
Length 112 pages
Genre: Crime & Mystery, Action & Adventure
Steven Hollis is a mild-mannered scriptwriter with a love for risk and reward. When he gambles his way into debt, the Mob offer him a one-way ticket from under their thumb. All he has to do is kill the biggest Hollywood executive in the industry…

However, plans derail when a trip to Mexico City turns sour. A drug deal gone wrong sets the cartel on the hunt for a rag-tag group of actors, writers and executives as they have a no-holds-barred standoff!

If you’re a fan of cinema classics and a totally balls-to-the-wall action adventure, this is the book for you!

The Loose End graphic novel collects The Loose End issues #1-4.

Gonna start off with what I say in EVERY Dave Dwonch graphic novel review: Dave is talented, skilled and one of my favorite writers. I have never been disappointed with his storytelling.

My review of The Loose End could double as a movie review; reading it felt like watching an action release. I agree with the comparison to a Quentin Tarantino action movie script, but I'd like to add that it has Pulp Fiction humor. 

The Loose End covers all the action movie tropes. It even starts out with a car chase and the master-level use of the movie plot flashback technique (ex., Two days ago..., Two hours later...) to keep the story moving at warp speed to the end. Pulled into the story/action from the beginning, I couldn't put it down till I finished. And like all great stories, there are a couple of plot twists.

Big shout out to the artist. His style, panel compositions and the use of multiple color pallets to set the mood for each scene. 

The Loose End is an exciting adventure from start to finish, so buckle up, Buttercup!

Warp Speed Uss Enterprise GIFfrom Warp Speed GIFs

5 "Blink 182 thing" Sheep

 

SharonS

About the Author:
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Dave Dwonch has been a comics writer and artist for nearly two decades, penning titles like Jenny Zero (Dark Horse), Vamplets (Scholastic), as well as The Automaton and the Cyrus Perkins series under his Hellbrain imprint. Most recently he collaborated with Travis Hymel on The Loose End for Titan's Hard Case Crime line to rave reviews. He's also worked as a letterer and editor, most notably for the Eisner nominated series, Princeless.

About the Artist:
Linktree
Travis Hymel is an artist and illustrator living in Colorado. He has worked for clients such as Oni Press, Dark Horse Comics, IDW, Titan Comics, Devil's Due comics, and Action Lab Entertainment.

Check out Titan Comics 

 

Excerpt: The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy Book 1) by Matthew Devitt + giveaway

One man against the world

 

The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy Book 1)
by Matthew Devitt
Oct 17, 2025
Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Affer was once a peaceful planet, until a war broke out between its six inhabiting species. The humans, who were once the mightiest force on Affer, were massacred in droves, and the ones who survived the onslaught were reduced to mere slaves. The five other species divided the humans amongst themselves and returned to their respective kingdoms.

The years passed, turning into decades and centuries, without any change. Eventually, the humans had accepted their fate as slaves. All except one. Four hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to free his kind...and conquer the planet. 

**Use the code “silver” for $3 off the paperback at The Author’s Website!**

 

**Only .99 cents!**
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Excerpt:
"Death is a part of freedom. Blood will be spilled whether we fight this war or stand down and stay as slaves. I'm trying to put humans back at the top where we belong. It's all I've ever thought about…freedom and victory. My only purpose in life is to rectify the disposition of this damn world, and I'll do whatever it takes to do that." - Fletcher Rush

“They should be here any minute,” Fletcher muttered.

They’d managed to take care of all the preparations Fletcher had planned, and now he was standing on the city wall by the main gate along with Ji.

“I’m surprised we finished everything,” Ji said, glancing across the field in front of them.

“Me too,” Fletcher admitted. “I think we have a good chance to win this fight.”

“We either win or we die,” Ji said, shuddering after he said it out loud.

“Or they capture us and enslave or torture us.”

“Not helping.”

“Just fight like your life depends on it, because it kind of does,” Fletcher said, casting his gaze out to the path.

“What if they don’t come?” Ji asked.

“Trust me, they’ll come. I might not have confirmation, but based off what that elf said, and Light’s temper, I would bet my life on them attacking.”

The two didn't say anything after that; instead, they just kept watch. The light breeze swayed the leaves and small branches of the many trees that dotted their vision. It had grown quite dark and was hard to see, but Fletcher and Ji still saw the dirt kicking up from the large convoy of vehicles headed toward them.

“Looks like that’s the elves,” Ji said, pulling out an arrow and notching it in his crossbow.

“This should be fun,” Fletcher said, taking the remote control from his pocket and getting ready to use it.

The vehicles got closer and the two saw truck after truck approach, stretching out as far as they could see, each of them packed with bloodthirsty elves.

“Hey, Ji, no matter the outcome of the battle, I just want to say thanks. I wouldn’t be here today without your help,” Fletcher said, turning to his friend.

“Don’t be getting sappy on me now, man,” Ji said, giving Fletcher a light shove. “But seriously, I feel the same… Thanks, Fletcher.”

The car in the lead started closing in and the two of them saw it had a large metal ram built on the front of it.

"Fuck, I think they're going to ram into the gate," Fletcher said, turning to the inside of the city where two dozen soldiers were waiting. "GET READY FOR THE FIRST TRUCK, AND DON'T LIGHT THE OIL UNTIL I GIVE THE ORDER!"

Fletcher turned back to look at the approaching army just before the truck slammed into the main gate. The gate exploded, sending splinters of wood flying in every direction and shaking the strong stone walls.

“Damn—” Fletcher said, getting thrown to the ground by the impact. He got up and looked at the inside of the city. Elves were already rushing out of the vehicle, drawing their weapons before advancing forward.

"I'LL HEAD DOWN!" Ji shouted, shooting off an arrow before he dropped the crossbow and ran down the stairs.

Fletcher turned his attention back toward the convoy that was approaching very fast.

“Wait…” Fletcher softly muttered to himself, his finger resting on the trigger to the makeshift bombs.

The sound of the engines grew louder as the cars neared the city, none of them slowing down in the slightest.

Just a bit more…

“SEE YOU, MOTHERFUCKERS!” Fletcher shouted as he pressed the button, causing the bombs to go off.

The ground ripped apart as the explosions detonated, making contact with the trucks milliseconds later and blowing them to hell.

A fire quickly took over the front lawn of the city as the explosions mixed with the gasoline in the vehicles’ fuel tanks. Over two dozen trucks were obliterated, another five had caught on fire, and the pathway had been completely destroyed. The cars that weren't affected by the blast stopped in their tracks, and the one in the front got rear-ended after stopping so fast, making Fletcher smile.

About the Author:

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I've always had a love for fantasy, and to this day LOTR and The Inheritance Cycle remain some of my favorite books. There are limitless possibilities when you're writing, but with fantasy, it's different. You don't have to adhere to rules or logic; you can create whatever type of world you want. Characters can live in a dystopian society, a grand futuristic city, a picture-perfect world, or a medieval wasteland. Time, technology, and magic are all there for the taking, and as a writer, you get to choose what defines your story.

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Excerpt: Doomsday Planet by William Burke

The world’s richest man just made a killer deal with an alien species; he sold them the human race! Now four warriors from Earth’s past must battle to save its future on… THE DOOMSDAY PLANET.

 

Doomsday Planet
by William Burke
July 12, 2025
Sci-Fi / Action - Adventure
Publisher: Severed Press
The world’s richest man just made a killer deal with an alien species; he’s sold them the human race!

Astronaut Marcus Reno dies in a lunar accident, only to be resurrected by a race of benevolent time travelers to command a regiment of warriors plucked from Earth’s past. Their mission: save humanity from an invasion by the Zagan—tyrannical aliens working in cahoots with Earth’s richest man, who’s eager to leap from oligarch to god.

With doomsday imminent, Reno leaps into battle with only a band of Viking berserkers, and a tenacious WW2 Soviet aviatrix at his side. Together they must assault a Zagan base hidden on a prehistoric, dinosaur-infested planet.

Between the Zagans’ guns and the dinosaurs’ jaws, their chances are slim . . . but is it still a suicide mission when, technically, they’re already dead?

“Doomsday Planet is part military thriller, part time-travel epic, and all-out action. Melds gallows humor, speculative madness, and cinematic pacing into a genre fusing space adventure. Beneath the chaos is a meditation on sacrifice, and the costs of playing god.” The Prairies Book Review

Amazon

 

Excerpt
Chapter One
January 10th, 2036
The Moon
Astronaut Marcus Reno maneuvered the cargo shuttle Brier Creek into low lunar orbit, twenty kilometers above the scarred palette of grays and blacks Buzz Aldrin once described as “magnificent desolation.”

Reno vividly recalled his time on the lunar surface, where the daytime temperature hit two hundred degrees while the nights were colder than the Antarctic. The surface was constantly bombarded by cancerous solar radiation along with micrometeorites raining down at nine hundred miles an hour. Even the lunar dust was jagged enough to slash human lungs to ribbons. The moon was a vindictive mistress, and that’s why Reno loved it.

“Did you miss me, darling? I’m back.”

Two seconds later, a voice came over the radio. “Brier Creek, this is CAPCOM; we didn’t copy your last transmission. Please repeat.”

Reno realized his radio had been keyed and said, “CAPCOM, this is Brier Creek. I said, Passing Gateway Station in preparation for landing at Athena Mining Base. Telemetry is good, all systems green.”

After the two-second Earth-to-moon radio delay, CAPCOM came back with, “Copy. That’s what we thought you said … darling.”

Reno chuckled at the ribbing, but his smile faded as the flashing red beacon of NASA’s orbiting Gateway Station grew closer. Seeing Gateway’s sweeping dragonfly-winged solar array always stirred up unwelcome memories of his time commanding the International Space Station.

He muttered, “Quit living in the past. You’ve got a job to do.”

Being a NASA project, Gateway Station was staffed by eight mission specialists, a far cry from Reno’s lonely vigil as a corporate astronaut for Visser Aerospace. He’d spent the past nine months alone aboard the Brier Creek, shuttling equipment from Earth-orbiting cargo vessels to the lunar mining installation Athena Station. Upon landing, his cargo would be swapped out for canisters of mined Helium 3, which he’d deliver back to Earth’s orbit before doing another run. Today marked his thirtieth round trip in nine months.

But months of splendid isolation piloting a spacecraft made of glorified tin foil suited Reno’s nature. Some would have called him a misanthrope, but he preferred to think of himself as an eccentric recluse, like Howard Hughes … or the Unabomber.

The radio beeped to life. “Brier Creek, this is CAPCOM; sorry to add to your to-do list, but on your way back to Earth, corporate needs you to deorbit a dead weather satellite so it’ll burn up over the Pacific.”

Reno groaned at this addition to his ever-expanding mission duties. Most were outside his job description and dangerous to boot. “Copy that, CAPCOM. Hugo Visser sure knows how to squeeze his money’s worth out of an astronaut.”

Reno’s boss, Hugo Visser, was the world’s wealthiest entrepreneur and the godfather of renewable energy and space travel. He aimed to send humanity to the stars while working his astronauts to the bone.

CAPCOM said, “Reno, it’s not all bad news. We wanted to be the first to congratulate you on just breaking the world’s record for cumulative solo time in space.”

Reno replied, “I thought that cosmonaut, what’s his name, Oleg Beroz … something, held that record.”

“You mean Oleg Berezovoy? He retired two years back then died a couple of months ago.”

“Oh. Well, thanks for letting me know. Couldn’t have done it without you guys.”

He shut off his mic and took a long, deep breath. At age sixty-three, Marcus Reno, or just Reno to those he tolerated, didn’t need more reminders of his mortality. He was either one of space exploration’s pioneers or an outdated relic, depending on whom you asked. But even his critics couldn’t deny he was a steady hand who’d done it all. Most of it twice. But despite being one of only fifty astronauts to walk on the moon and holding plenty of other records, his name had become synonymous with the International Space Station incident.

CAPCOM radioed, “Brier Creek, switch over to private comm channel.”

The private channel was reserved for astronauts to communicate with wives and loved ones. It took Reno a moment to remember what channel it was, which spoke volumes about his personal life. He switched over.

The comlink beeped and came to life. “Reno, this is Dr. Majors, company flight surgeon.”

Reno groaned. During his time in the military, NASA, and now in the private sector he’d never met a flight surgeon with good news.

“What’s up, Doc?”

“I just wanted to let you know your medical tests came back fine. Actually, it’s better than fine. There’s been zero loss of bone density and your spinal fluids are circulating perfectly despite extended zero-G. In fact, your muscle and bone density have improved across the board. It’s like night and day compared to your last medical workup.”

A series of X-rays and scans flashed across Reno’s viewing screen.

Cumulative bone density loss had forced Reno’s retirement from NASA, only to have Hugo Visser snap him up with promises of commanding Athena Station … at least until Reno vocally objected to his prioritizing cost-cutting over crew safety. His big mouth had exiled him to piloting the lunar shuttle Brier Creek.

The doctor said, “Thanks to nanorobotics, we’ve conquered zero gravity-related physical decay. We’re all really excited.”

Images of nanorobotics, or nanobots, appeared onscreen. The insect-like creatures reminded Reno of the ticks he’d gotten while serving in Afghanistan. Hundreds of these microscopic automations were coursing through his bloodstream, repairing the physical decay that came with extended zero gravity. Reno had been the first human guinea pig, a logical choice given that prolonged zero-G exposure had left him with the bone density of a tortilla chip.

Reno said, “Fantastic. Another technological wonder for Hugo Visser to slap his name on.”

The standard two-second radio delay became a pregnant pause.

Reno could picture the tension back at CAPCOM. Hugo Visser made it a habit to eavesdrop on their radio communications, especially the private channels. In addition to being paranoid, he was also a pathological narcissist with an ego as fragile as Reno’s bones. Reno was the only corporate astronaut who gleefully poked the bear.

CAPCOM finally responded. “Copy, Brier Creek. You can return to the main channel.”

Thinking about his boss inspired Reno to run a diagnostic on his cargo. Eight Visser Motors crypto trucks converted for lunar use were securely packed into the cargo bay.

Reno was about to radio a status update when a shrill alarm filled the cabin. He checked his readings, but everything was in the green. The alarm sounded again. Reno confirmed the signal wasn’t from his control panels. It was transmitting over the communications system.

A panicked voice came over the air, but it wasn’t speaking English. The message repeated without the two-second Earth-to-moon delay, meaning it originated on the moon.

Reno scrolled through the radio frequencies. The incomprehensible signal was being transmitted across all channels. “That’s gotta be Mandarin.”

The alarm sounded again, followed by a heavily accented voice speaking English. “This is People’s Republic Mining Station, Long March 8, issuing a distress call. We have a fire of unknown origin. The reactor is burning. We require assistance.”

Reno flicked through the radio frequencies, muttering, “A whole moon full of clean Helium 3 and you geniuses are running a nuclear reactor. It’s like I’m the only goddamned grown-up on the moon.”

But it didn’t matter what caused the fire or whose base it was—the ancient tradition of the Mariners’ Code mandated giving aid to anyone in distress.

“CAPCOM, this is Brier Creek, preparing for a rescue operation.”

CAPCOM came on advising, “Brier Creek, don’t respond to the distress call; Mr. Visser had declared the Chinese mining operation an adversary.”

Reno struggled to keep from punching the com panel. “CAPCOM, they’re not adversaries; they’re business competitors and the Mariners’ Code still applies out here, so please advise Mr. Visser to go hang it in his ass.”

About the Author
Website-Facebook
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Doomsday Planet is William Burke’s fifth novel, following a long career in film and television. He was the creator and director of the Destination America paranormal series Hauntings and Horrors and the OLN series Creepy Canada, as well as producing the HBO productions Forbidden Science, Lingerie and Sin City Diaries. His work has garnered high praise from network executives and insomniacs watching Cinemax at 3 a.m.

During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.

Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.

He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.

He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com

The Emerald Regal Guard & The Fern of Revival by Jason Lontz

The Emerald Regal Guard & The Fern of Revival
by Jason Lontz
March 6, 2025
Genre: Children's Middle Grade Chapter Book, Action/Adventure

Pages: 81
In the white oak woods as the leaves begin to fall into a river on the rise. Will the strong-willed emerald guardian Leum and the lizard regal guard be able to protect the lizard legions from Blaine's bullfrog brigade and the rest of their amphibian adversaries? When the king requires a special fern that only grows in the remote swamplands will his reign continue unchallenged if old alliances are disturbed? Discover if the proven warrior and the rest of the emerald regal guard can find a way to defend home tree, complete the quest, and weather the storm.

-Enter the embattled woodland of the Lizard King Anole
-Behold a tail of enchanting alliances beyond sword and shield, claw and cutlass 

Amazon

 

About the Author

website
Jason Lontz grew up in New Jersey, where his love for story telling took root among books, backyard adventures, and bold imagination. His debut action-adventure novel, The Emerald Regal Guard & the Fern of Revival, channels the wild charm of coastal Carolina, and a flair for creating immersive worlds. Jason is currently working on the third book in the series, continuing the saga with even greater stakes and deeper magic.

Movie Review: Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic World: Rebirth
July 2, 2025
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writers: Michael Crichton, David Koepp
Starring: Scarlett Johansson; Mahershala Ali; Jonathan Bailey; Rupert Friend; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo; Ed Skrein
Running time: 2h 13m
MPAA rating: PG-13
Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet's ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

Jurassic World Rebirth is the latest installment in the action-packed dino franchise. It's a total popcorn flick and I loved it. If you're expecting more, look elsewhere because this is for those who love edge-of-your-seat dinos!

Scar Jo brings the fun and humor in this one, with tons of laugh-out-loud moments and some real-life emotion. There is, of course, foreshadowing all over the beginning. it's sooooo clear what's going to happen and then of course it does. Typical, but you gotta love this is a paint by numbers of the best kind.

Sometimes I don't want to think, I just want to watch the biggest creatures that once walked the earth roar!!!! It's booming and shakes the seats at times and I LOVE it! Of course, the characters do the dumbest things, draw attention and don't turn around when they need to. But that's just how these go.

Some classic nods to the first love in this franchise; those who know will know. Listen, nothing will ever be as epic as the first movie, just get over that. But this one can be enjoyed from start to finish and was worth the ticket price + popcorn + candy + drinks + hot dogs....you get the idea.

Getting 4 "don't eat me" Sheep
KD 

 

Excerpt: Failsafe by Jeff Sylvester + giveaway

The world runs on code, but not all code is safe.

Failsafe
by Jeff Sylvester
September 3, 2024
Genre: Science Fiction Action Thriller
The world runs on code, and not all code is safe. This is why Anna Flynn has a job.

Matter Manipulation Devices alter the physical world, turning dreams into reality. But some dreams are treacherous, and the streets are filled with mods that manipulate matter in illegal and dangerous ways.

As a seasoned MMD agent, Anna fights back against the criminals who misuse these devices and traffic in illegal mods. When she intervenes in a plot to assassinate one of the world's most respected political leaders, her methods draw the ire of her superiors, and she finds herself under investigation from her own agency.

Increasingly isolated and unsure whom she can trust, Anna works to unravel a conspiracy that would unleash the worst potential of matter manipulation technology on the world.

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Failsafe Excerpt
She had to move. Popping her eyes open, she pushed forward into the room as quickly as she dared. As she entered, she found the security guards taking cover behind various pieces of furniture. Klein—the only man in a security uniform—carried a staff like Anna’s. The two women with him had smaller handheld devices. None of the three had engaged with Ben, wisely taking her advice, and that had probably kept them alive. She hastened her pace, trying not to reveal her presence while still making it to Ben before he reached the bedroom door. She assumed the door was sealed, but also that this wouldn’t pose a problem for Ben.

Indeed, Ben gestured, and the door disassembled. He did have access to manipulate Shah’s home. Anna wasn’t surprised.

He turned to shuffle backwards, focusing on the security guards while retaining the same awkward firing stance. With the direction he was facing, Anna knew when she got close enough, he’d see her regardless of whether her concealment mod was still active or not—light and sound bending only worked at a distance. Intending to startle him, she clicked off the mod and lunged forward, aiming her staff at his gun.

The effect was exactly what she’d hoped for. Ben’s eyes went wide as she materialized out of thin air. He was still registering her sudden appearance when her staff connected with his hand and the gun went flying. At the same time, Klein and the two other security guards bounded out from behind their cover. Ben grunted as he recovered, then crouched down to face Anna, his body tense and ready to strike. She prepared for it, pivoting her weight back into a defensive stance. One attack by him and she’d have him incapacitated. It would all be over.

Except he didn’t attack. As the three guards closed in, his eyes shifted to them in alarm, and he turned and bolted into the master suite.

“Who are you? Stop!” Shah’s panicked voice spilled through the open doorway.

“I’m coming!” Anna dashed in after him, Klein and the other two guards on her heels. She found the councilwoman and her husband backed up against the far wall, Ben advancing on them. She leapt at him and landed a strong blow across his back, crumpling him to the ground. Moving past him, she placed her body in front of the Shahs.

The three security guards lined up across the doorway, blocking any escape. Klein gave Anna a curt nod. Their communications had saved his life, and he knew it—she thought she could count on him not to mention her use of the concealment mod.

Anna looked down at the defeated man with an icy stare. She wanted to pity him, knowing that whatever this had been, he hadn’t been sure of his actions. But people had died, and he’d shot her partner. Empathy has its limits.

“It’s over, Ben.”

“It’s not.” He stared up at her, a sudden calm taking over his features. His voice contained no trace of its former waver. Right now, at this moment, his determination was absolute. “I can do this. And I will.”

He rose to his feet and extended his arm. His hand held something small and dark green. It appeared to be military. A weapon. A bomb.

“No.” The protest escaped Anna’s lips as a whisper. Her staff shook in her hand as she arced it forward toward the explosive, but before it could connect, the world around her vaporized in a brilliant flash. And then there was nothing.

Book Trailer:
https://youtu.be/DqmFjC-t2ZY

Check out the entire book in audio on Youtube!

About the Author
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Jeff Sylvester has been a professional software developer most of his life, but also enjoys writing and creating music. He and his family live in Suwanee, GA.

 

Giveaway
$10 Amazon
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Double TV Show Review: Fallout (Amazon Prime TV Series) - some spoilers

Fallout
April 10, 2024 (USA)
Based on: Fallout; by Bethesda Softworks
Created by Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Starring: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Walton Goggins
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 8
Running time 45–74 minutes
Amazon Prime Video
Genre: Action, Drama, Post-apocalyptic, Science fiction, Western
In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.

Reviewer: KD
Getting 4 and 1/2 Sheep

Fallout season one on Amazon Prime is based on the video game. I never played the game and knew just about nothing, so went in just with the shows version of what this world was like

"In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits."

Turns out, that only the richest can buy into a bunker. Everyone else either dies, becomes a mutant of sorts or joins up with waring group. It's a dog eat dog world, like literally you are going to eat someone's butt or their dog, cat, etc. Everyone is out to get each other, living top side is a free for all and adapting or death is the order of the day.

It takes a while to figure out what's going on and who can be trusted. Seems like no one can. There's not much description of what each faction is about, you kind of have to just keep watching and put the pieces in place as they come about. But by the end of the last episode, I still felt like a lot was missing.

However, you do get to understand that the major money players and big corporations are the ones pulling the strings. It's scary to even dream up that the very people making these vaults are the same ones that want to drop the bombs. Wipe the slate and start over a fresh new world, in their version. Pretty crazy and sadly could be VERY true. Hopefully not, but you never know.

Lots of fun cameos from random actors, that was a laugh to see someone famous in just one episode. Overall, enjoyed this one and certainly want to watch season 2. Seems the foundation is laid and now Lucy sets off with the ghoul to find some answers.

Certainly worth a watch, just make sure you have a strong stomach for some parts!

Reviewer: SharonS
Getting 4 and 1/2 Sheep

I agree with Katie! Fallout is worth a watch. I'd also knew nothing about the game it is based on, but it is dark comedy at its best. It will have you laughing and saying "Ew, gross!" at the same time. But it also has some dramatic moments.

99 Cents: Smuggler's Valor: A Sci-fi Action Adventure (Reese Daniels Smuggler Series Book 1) by Reese Daniels

We're thrilled to announce that the first two novella's in the Reese Daniels Smuggler Series are now available and the third will be released soon! To start, check out Smuggler's Valor!

Smuggler's Valor: A Sci-fi Action Adventure (Reese Daniels Smuggler Series Book 1)
by Reese Daniels
June 2023
Smuggling precious cargo to a remote colony was supposed to be easy. I was dead wrong.

Smuggling is a dangerous business and Reese Daniels has the score of a lifetime within his grasp; however, getting shot down on one of Uranus' moons wasn't in his plan. Stranded and on the run in the middle of an alien invasion, Reese must work with a group of Marine cadets to escape a grisly fate.

AMAZON

 

 

About the Author
Website
T.D. Wilson was born in 1968 in Troy, Ohio and has been an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy from a very young age. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and has supported the systems and networks in several of the largest Supercomputing data centers in the world. His early thirst for adventure in reading began as he explored many of the great stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As his reading scope expanded, Mr. Wilson was fascinated by strange new worlds from the magical of Middle Earth and Narnia to the far reaches of space in Star Trek and Babylon 5. As a science fiction author, he strives to integrate a realistic flavor to his worlds by providing his readers a feel for the real science in science fiction. A topic he loves to discuss with his friends and readers. Mr. Wilson still lives in Ohio wi

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YA Horror: The Devil's Pawn by Marilyn Levinson

If you enjoy a creepy paranormal horror, this one's for you! Read on for more details about The Devil's Pawn by Marilyn Levinson!

The Devil's Pawn
by Marilyn Levinson
January 22, 2024
Genre: YA Horror
After fifteen-year-old Simon Porte's family is killed in an automobile crash, his father's brother, whom he's never met, brings Simon to live with him and his wife in upstate New York. Simon doesn't trust Uncle Raymond, and for good reason. Raymond is dying and using his diabolical powers to take over Simon's body. Simon must develop his own supernatural defenses to survive. With his dotty great-aunt, his young sister, and a pair of odd twins, he wages war against the evil Raymond and his cronies.

AVAILABLE HERE

About the Author
Website
A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for young readers. Her books have received many accolades.

Her books for young readers include NO BOYS ALLOWED, RUFUS AND MAGIC RUN AMOK, which was awarded a "Children's Choice," GETTING BACK TO NORMAL & AND DON'T BRING JEREMY.

Marilyn loves traveling, reading, knitting, doing Sudoku, and visiting with her grandchildren, Olivia and Jack, on FaceTime. She is co-founder and past president of the now defunct Long Island chapter of Sisters in Crime.
 

Book Tour Schedule
February 26th
http://rrbooktours.com Landing Page
https://www.instagram.com/ettaviereads?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg&utm_source=qr – Feature
https://haddieshaven.blogspot.com/ - Feature
https://www.instagram.com/robin.bookish.escape/ - Feature
http://www.ismellsheep.com/ - Feature

February 27th
https://ramblingmads.uk/ - Feature
https://www.instagram.com/amysbookshelf82 - Feature
 

February 28th
http://www.thefaeriereview.com – Review
https://www.instagram.com/molina_lovestoread/ - Feature
https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/ - Feature

February 29th
https://www.instagram.com/brendasbookstack/?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D – Feature
https://www.instagram.com/authormariereed/ - Feature
https://www.instagram.com/laura_c_loves2read/?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM – Feature

March 1st
https://www.instagram.com/shesbooked_ - Review
https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website - Review
https://www.instagram.com/mermaidsreadtoo_/ - Feature

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Excerpt: Here Be Jinn (Fieldwork in Mesopotamia Book 1) by Dennis Tsarson + giveaways

Ancient magic is an advantage in the battle for the modern Middle East

Here Be Jinn (Fieldwork in Mesopotamia Book 1)
by Dennis Tsarson
Genre: Contemporary Mythic Fantasy Action Adventure
Ancient and unknown forces have been unleashed in war-ravaged Iraq.

When Elliott Gildart decides to join an archeological dig in the drylands of northern Iraq, he expects a break from his monotonous job. But the discovery of an unusual and out-of-place megalithic platform turns exploration into a risky undertaking and leaves Elliott facing a future he’s not sure he’s prepared for.

Meanwhile, Neil Feaver and his cameraman, Jake Parvis, stumble upon their own strange developments while filming a documentary about Iraq’s ongoing civil war. Saved from imminent danger by a mysterious stranger, they soon learn that lost magic and mystical artifacts have fallen into the wrong hands. Now, everyone finds themselves caught in the crisis, involving coalition forces, Islamist militants, and enigmatic factions that have existed since the times of the Ancient Near East.

As terrifying forces align, can they prevent impending peril? Or will ancient magic be enough to turn the tides?

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Excerpts: Here Be Jinn

At first glance, the drylands could have been mistaken for a desert. An arid and mostly lifeless landscape, they appeared to spread on and on with no end in sight. Yet when Elliott jumped out of the land cruiser, the crumbling feeling beneath his feet indicated that it was not sand but parched soil that he stood upon. He looked around the area. The terrain was uneven; many mounds of different sizes dotted the landscape, rising from the earth like boils on burnt skin.

And, of course, there was the heat. It might have been only February, but for somebody who hailed from lands of a significantly colder climate, it was unbearable. Elliott swore that had it not been for the baseball cap covering his blond head, the wall of heat would have brought him down on the ground unconscious. The door of one of the off-road vehicles opened. Mergham was the first to step out, followed by Lauren, who jumped out with her usual grace. They were then joined outside by another colleague: Mr Akhmad. A local of Iraqi Kurdistan who had met up with them in Erbil. He was some years younger than Mergham and noticeably bigger in muscle mass. He had been described as a local guide and logistics co-ordinator by Mergham, and this made him the third part of the triumvirate in charge of the dig alongside Lauren and the author himself.

Elliott was not a geography expert—he wasn’t sure if these drylands even had an official name. Yet here he was, at the end of the known world, countless miles away from the perpetual dullness of urban life and the wretched call centre. Still, though their small fleet of four-wheel-drives had brought them to the middle of nowhere, they were not just left there in the wilderness. A small camp had already been set up. He could see the pointed shapes of two dozen tents about a hundred metres away. As he had been informed, a couple of people affiliated with the dig had arrived at the site some days beforehand.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Dr Mergham spoke after summoning all the arrivals in a ring around him. “We’ve made it! This will be our camp for the next couple of months.”

“Woo-hoo!” shouted one of the team members. This comical cry of joy was followed by a brief round of chuckling from a few others.

“Yes, I am sure you are all excited,” Mergham continued, smiling himself, “but first please give a round of applause for the man without whom you would not be seeing this camp here.” He gestured towards the man standing to his left. “Mr Akhmad!”

People clapped, and they clapped sincerely.

“Thank you,” Akhmad said, his voice laced with a strong accent, lightly bowing his head. “Thank you.”

“Perhaps you could give the team an orientation tour of this camp?” Mergham suggested.

“Of course.”

The camp was not big, but neither was the group: there were just over twenty of them. The main operations tent, a fabric pavilion, was located in the centre of the encampment; it stood out amongst its neighbours in length, width, and height. Next to it was a gazebo used for the storage of equipment. Nearby was the one for supplies, and another chosen to store finds. One was set up as a kitchen. Other than that, the campsite did not have a special plan or layout; the individual tents were pitched at random. Shower tents as well as toilet tents could be found a short distance away from the main cluster. The team were introduced to the people who were already on-site: three assistant archaeologists and the cook.

Their guided walk ended back at their vehicles’ location. Then their first assignment began; they had to unload the supplies they’d brought with them and bring them to the storage gazebo. Naturally, three people were exempt from it—it was not hard to guess who. And once this task was done, with everything out of the vehicles and sorted, they received payment…in the form of another excursion, now led by Mergham himself.

The sun was still shining far above them when they set out towards the archaeological site. Clutching a map in his hand, Leonard led them deeper into their new and unusual surroundings, this unexplored wilderness. They walked for about ten or so minutes, through flat land and mounds, until the site appeared before them.

“Here it is!” the author declared, extending his hand as he gripped the map even harder. “This is the place we’ll be excavating.”


***

As Neil struggled in the sandy haze, he felt the ground underneath his feet dissolve. He found himself falling, plunging into this strange sinkhole. Sand irritated his eyes, and tears blurred his vision. The continuing plunge made his heart race at an impossible rate, subjected to pressure that felt strong enough to rip it into pieces before he hit the bottom of this enormous pit.

Then a hand clasped his wrist in a grip as solid as that of a handcuff. Neil’s whole body jerked as his fall suddenly ceased.

“Got you!” a familiar voice sounded from nearby.

Neil blinked intensively until his vision recovered. He gave his surroundings a brief look. What he saw left him shocked and trembling. He was dangling in the air with Nouri’s grasp being all that that kept him from continuing his fall. The guard’s grip was tight and solid, but his position was as precarious as Neil’s. He’d braced himself against the wall of the pit, clinging to a dagger he’d implanted in the rock. The situation was dire. The dagger was not planted strongly enough to bear the weight of two men. Tremors ran through Neil’s body as the blade slid out of the wall bit by bit. He looked down; he could see the bottom of the pit far below. Not even the luckiest man in the world would survive a fall from such a height.

“What are we going to do?” Neil called out to Nouri, his raised voice edging on hysterical.

“I am going to try to make our landing as safe as possible,” the guard responded.

“How?!”

“Have faith. And don’t make any sudden movements.”

Nouri pushed back against the wall with his foot. The movement tore the blade out, sending the duo falling.

Nouri’s grasp on Neil’s wrist remained just as strong, but that brought the reporter zero comfort. He shut his eyes tightly, his heart pounding. Neil was certain that this second plunge lasted mere moments. But his mind mistook every second for a minute. He was sure that he would smash against the pit’s floor head first, yet some unknown force flipped him in the air, making him land on his feet like a cat. Still, the impact was hard. He gritted his teeth as his feet cried out in pain. Nouri’s supportive grip kept him from collapsing.

“Are you alright?” the guard asked.

“Yes,” Neil hissed through still-gritted teeth before letting go of his hand.

It took him a few more moments to steady himself. Then his gaze began to wander around the place. The pit was wide; three or four university lecture rooms would have fitted in easily. Looking above, he could not see the crack they had fallen through; it was as if the crevice that had swallowed them had been sealed again. No sunrays appeared to reach the bottom of the pit from above, yet there had to be some source of light slithering into this underground cavern through some unnoticeable holes, keeping the space relatively well illuminated.

It was bright enough to allow Neil to recognise the grotesque figure a few feet away from the duo. The thing lay sprawled on the ground. Nouri’s sword stuck out of its body in a sign of victory, but Neil found it hard to overcome the disturbing feeling that this monster might suddenly get back on its feet. He kept watching it for a while to drive away his doubts. The body did not convulse a single time, and relief washed over him.

Neil looked to the left, and what he saw astonished him. The façade of a building stood there underneath countless layers of sand, dirt, and gravel, built out of large stone slabs. The entranceway was wide enough for two people to walk in side by side; if a grown man had sat on the shoulders of one of them, a few inches would have still separated his head from the large stone block that served as the entrance’s lintel. It stood there, pulsing with enigmas. The identity of the builders, the way it had ended up deep below ground—questions kept popping up in his mind.

Nouri walked towards his vanquished foe, grabbed the sword by the hilt, and pulled it out of the corpse. On any other occasion, the blade would have been stained crimson with blood, but the steel remained spotless, as if it had just been taken out of an armoury. Neil had stopped being amazed by this point; the cavalcade of miracles that day had proven that nothing was impossible.

Within moments, the creature’s hideous form began to undergo its own type of decomposition. Flesh quickly turned into sand, and the sand evaporated into air right before Neil’s eyes.

Sword in hand, Nouri stood tense, looking in every direction, searching the place for something…or someone.

“What…the hell…was that…thing?” Neil said between breaths, pointing at the empty space where the corpse had lain.

“A daeva.” Nouri turned to him. “Or, more specifically, a desert daeva.”

About the Author:
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A self-described amateur scholar, Dennis Tsarson has been interested in the world’s mythology and folklore traditions since reading Greek myths as a boy. That interest grew into an undergraduate degree in history and archeological training, which he incorporates into his fantasy retellings while travelling the globe. When he’s not writing or exploring new countries and their cultural histories, you can find him settled in the United Kingdom, studying the comparative tendencies in folktales around the world.

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TV Series Review: YuYu Hakusho (Netflix 2023)

YuYu Hakusho (Netflix)
First episode date: December 14, 2023 (Japan)
Based on: YuYu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi
Genre: Action; Adventure; Comedy drama; Fantasy
Network: Netflix
5 episodes
Original language: Japanese
Producer: Akira Morii
Cast: Takumi Kitamura, Jun Shison, Kanata Hongō, Shuhei Uesugi
Yusuke Urameshi, who died saving a little boy, is sent back to Earth and becomes a detective of the spirit world to fight all the demons found on Earth.

I tend to love live-action adaptations of manga/anime. Tokyo Ghoul, Bleach, Full-Metal Alchemist and now YuYu Hakusho! I had never head of this one before. The five episode series (yay for not drawing things out!) is based on the 1990–94 manga... I figured that out when I saw the outfits and hairstyles the characters had, lol, hammer-time pants everywhere!

 

 

The first episode was a little cheesy and I had my doubts but once the demons showed up and the fighting started...BOOM, I was hooked. They spared no expense on the choreography and special effects. So much fun! I've always loved the demons from manga/anime. Very creative and creepy.

If you enjoy supernatural Japanese series then check this one out. 

Look at the comparison of the live-action characters to the original... 

 

This guy bothered me a little. He looked like there was a pacifier in his mouth, lol

 

4.5 "spirit gun" Sheep!

 

 

 

 

SharonS