Comic Review: Bleed Them Dry: A Ninja Vampire Tale #1 from Vault Comics

Bleed Them Dry: A Ninja Vampire Tale #1

June 24th, 2020

Written: Eliot Rahal

Artist: Dike Ruan

Colors: Miquel Muerto

Design: Tim Daniel.

Created by Hiroshi Koizumi, in association with Lotus, Nagoya TV, and F.H. DeSanto.

Vault Comics
The year is 3333. Earth is in a state of recovery. Vampires are real, and though far less populous, they thrive alongside humans in the Japanese engineered mega city known as Asylum. People have come to understand that some Immortals are good, some are bad, and most navigate the world without incident. There is peace. That is, until now. Someone is brutally murdering vampires. And Detective Harper Halloway has been assigned to the case. To solve it, she'll have to unearth a much deeper truth: the future of humanity has been edited.

Urban fantasy...sci-fi...vampires...ninjas... 

Sign me the flock up!

I'm a big urban fantasy fan and I love a good vampire story; give it a dark edge and I'm all in...turn it into a graphic novel...and move out of my way! Add a ninja? Mwahaha!
So I was thrilled to check out Bleed Them Dry #1 from Vault Comics. And I was NOT disappointed.

The story is well told and grabs you from the beginning and yanks you into this futuristic world. 

Detective Harper Halloway is my kind of woman protagonist. Just the right amount of vulnerable vs badass and not over the top. It doesn't hurt her partner is a sexy white-haired vampire...who doesn't love a little eye candy?

Anyway, the story moves along at a fast pace with a WTF?-twist and big-box-office-movie-style ending that has me craving for the next part. 

This was me at "that" part

Great clean artwork and interesting panel composition. And one of the coolest presentations of death by sword I've seen.

Bleed them Dry is everything I look for in an urban fantasy graphic novel... it would make a great movie or TV series...just saying...

Put Vault Comics on your radar, Bleed Them Dry #1 is a winner and I'm betting they have more!

If you've never read a Vault Comic you can try out 13 different first issues for free on their site!

https://vaultcomics.com/free-firsts/ 

5 "That's gonna leave a mark" Sheep

SharonS

Vault Comics

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Vault publishes original, creator-owned science fiction and fantasy comics.

Creating science fiction and fantasy is, essentially, about imagining and experiencing the new, the bizarre, the unimagined. In the realm of science fiction and fantasy, creators can break the established order, dissolve conceptions of social identity, and give voices to the silenced. They can ask hard questions, and if they are brave, venture bold answers.

Inside the Vault, it's safe to be different.

Founded in 2016 by Adrian Wassel (CCO & Editor-in-Chief), Damian Wassel (CEO & Publisher), Nathan Gooden (Art Director), and Damian Wassel, Sr. (President), Vault is a private, family-owned company.

Vault actively develops its growing library of original IP across multiple platforms, including film, television, games, digital media, and consumer products. Cultivating a global network of best-in-class partners resulted in Vault's launch garnering much critical acclaim and immediate commercial success.

Sheep Movie Review: Promare (2019)

Promare (2019)
Promare: Puromea (original title)
24 May 2019 (Japan)
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Writing Credits: Kazuki Nakashima (original work), Kazuki Nakashima (scriptwriter), Michael Schneider (scriptwriter) (English version)
Stars: John Eric Bentley, Steve Blum, Johnny Yong Bosch |
Studio: Trigger
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1h 51min
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Promare uses a bold cel-shaded visual style to tell a blistering action-adventure story, and is the spiritual successor to many of director Imaishi’s former works.

Thirty years has passed since the appearance of Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves "Mad Burnish" appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team “Burning Rescue,” and Lio Fotia, the leader of “Mad Burnish" begins.

This exclusive encore event will feature a special prequel short "SIDE: GALO" with a look at Galo's first day with Burning Rescue!

Promare is a full-length Japanese animation from Trigger Studios that had a small limited run about a month ago. It did so well they brought it back for a one day limited run on Dec 8. I had heard a lot of great things about it and had seen some awesome fan art so I checked it out.

The Burning Rescue team!

What a lot of fun! The world has been destroyed by the Burnish--people who mysteriously gained the power to create a living fire. Burnish were hunted down and imprisoned and the city of Promopilos was created to keep citizens safe. Burning Rescue is a fire department that fights "living" fires using robotic suits! Kind of like Jaegers in Pacific Rim.

The over the top shirtless hero (he has the big hair to prove it), Galo! He has a burning firefighter's soul! He likes to yell this at the fire before he goes in to stop it.

What sounded like a simple plot was actually a complex story with unique world-building. I can't get into that because it would spoil the unfolding mystery of the Burnish. The characters in Promare are over the top classic archetypes you find in anime. There is a big dose of silly humor to balance out the dark themes of government genocide and prejudice.

Lio is the leader of the resistance and pain in Galo's ass.

The character designs are imaginative and the animation is eclectic and combined well with the music score. My favorite character designs were the Mad Burnish (the antagonists). The whole idea of "living" fire and how the creators showed it was awesome.

Definitely, a must-see for fans of anime action movies. It is subtitled. Also, stay after the credits because there is a ten minute-ish, informative and funny round-table discussion of the movie by the creators.

Check out the trailer. It gives you a good feel for the movie. If you find it entertaining then you'll want to catch this one!

4.5 "burning sheep soul!"

SharonS

Sheep Movie Review: Tokyo Ghoul S (2019)

The ghouls return to North America this September with “Tokyo Ghoul S” the next thrilling live-action adaptation – true to the original manga and the sequel to the original 2017 movie. “Tokyo Ghoul S” opens Monday, September 16 in 400 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. The film will have a three-day limited theatrical run (September 16, 18 & 20) and will screen in Japanese with English subtitles.

Tokyo Ghoul S (2019)

September 16, 2019 (USA)
Directors: Takuya Kawasaki, Kazuhiko Hiramaki
Adapted from: Tokyo Ghoul
Story by: Sui Ishida
Cast: Masataka Kubota, Maika Yamamoto, Kang Jiyoung, Shota Matsuda, Nobuyuki Suzuki
Genre: Drama/Fantasy
Runtime: 1h 47m
Now a member of Anteiku, Ken Kaneki grows closer to the ghouls around him. Determined to protect his new home against anti-ghoul forces, he trains his powers in secret. But when the infamous gourmet, Shu Tsukiyama, wishes to savor some half-ghoul flavor, Kaneki's training is put to test of a lifetime.

WHEN: Limited theatrical release - September 16, 18 & 20, 2019

WHERE: 400 theater locations across the U.S. and Canada.Check local listing for specific showtimes which vary by location.

I reviewed the first film Tokyo Ghoul (2017) when it came out and loved it! So I was excited to find there was a sequel. Like I said in my review of TG1 (Review: Tokyo Ghoul (2017), I haven't read the manga or watched the anime. But it's one I need to read because I love the horror and fantasy aspect. Point is, I went in without expectations and had a blast watching. So Tokyo Ghoul (S) had a lot to live up to.

Tokyo Ghoul (S) (2019) is not as good as the first, but it is still a rocking movie! The story is about The Gourmet, a psycho of epic proportions, and from what I can tell, sticks close to canon. Ghouls eat humans to survive and the morality of this is explored. Kaneki struggles with his ghoul half. He is learning ghouls, like humans, can be good or evil. The movie focuses on the relationships between Kaneki and his ghoul family as well as a ghoul/human relationships.

The Gourmet character is over the top crazy. He is fixated on eating Kaneki. His actions compare to someone with a sexual obsession. It is part creepy and part silly, but I liked him as a protagonist. The film is heavy on the gore factor...duh, it's about monsters that eat humans!

The Tokyo Ghoul (S) doesn't have as much humor as the first and I missed that. But this one is much darker, which I liked. There aren't as many special effects in TG(S) and the CGI quality is not as good as the first movie. We only see Kaneki use his kagune (defensive weapon) once at the very end.

Tokyo Ghoul (S) is worth watching if you loved this first one. If you love horror/fantasy movies check out both TG movies! Oh, there are subtitles if that matters to you. They don't interfere with my enjoyment of a movie.

4 "smelling" Sheep

SharonS

About Funimation

Funimation, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, is a global leader in the world of anime. A fully integrated, next-generation entertainment studio, the company's fan-first philosophy is anchored in its omnichannel approach to its immersive offerings. From streaming and home entertainment to theatrical distribution and broadcast, Funimation's commitment to character-driven storytelling, combined with tech innovation and key distribution partnerships, provides audiences with multiple and meaningful touchpoints to connect with this immersive world. FunimationNow, a next-generation streaming service, provides subscribers with instant access to their favorite sub and dub shows in ad-free HD on the widest array of platforms – including smartphones, tablets, TVs and gaming consoles. Funimation Films, the theatrical division of Funimation, acquires and distributes both anime and live action movies from prominent international filmmakers that appeal to the interests and passion of all types of fans. For more information about Funimation, visit funimation.com.

Selah's Manga Mania Review: In This Corner of the World by Fumiyo Kouno

In This Corner of the World

by Fumiyo Kouno
October 31, 2017

Genre: Seinen, YA, historical fiction, manga

Original run 2007 – 2009

Paperback: 450 pages

Volumes 3

THE MANGA THAT INSPIRED THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILM--NOW ON NETFLIX!

1940’s Hiroshima Prefecture. Suzu, a young woman from the countryside, joins her new husband and his family in the shipbuilding city of Kure. As her beautiful home collapses around her, Suzu must confront the challenges of a new life while coming to grips with a world in turmoil. Unwilling to give up hope, Suzu struggles against the horrors of war to create her own happiness.

One of the great things about any art form is to look at something from a different culture or lens. Today, we're going to look at a title that takes us through the late part of WWII from a Japanese perspective. Unlike my usual, I'm going to refrain from flippant remarks and not break it down in terms of pros/cons/squicky stuff because not only is this a serious and heartfelt title, but it deals with a time in history that I think many westerners have a limited point of view on.

Let's take a look at In This Corner of the World.

Suzu is a young woman who lives in the countryside of Hiroshima with her family. She helps with their seaweed business, has an ogre of a brother, and loves to draw. We see her travel to her grandmother's, escape a goblin (the only real nod to the paranormal in this), and generally live her day to day life until her marriage is arranged. She soon joins her husband and his family in Kure, a shipbuilding city. Her sister-in-law is unimpressed with her scatterbrained ways and she struggles to fit in with her new family and get to know her husband. She deals with tensions when an old school friend she had feelings for shows up, and struggles to deal with the fact that a friend she has made is also likely a sex worker that her husband used to visit.

Through it all, there is the war. Rations, neighborhood initiatives, hard times that only get harder, her sister-in-law struggling with sending her own children away, air raids and bombings, and difficult living conditions are a way of life.

Throughout the actual story are asides about different methods of extending food or what different programs were in Japan. Suzu struggles to adapt and keep up her optimism, both in her new environment and with everything else. And then a bombing changes everything for her and her relations with her in-laws. And then she gets word of what happened in Hiroshima to her own family.

This isn't as heavy as it sounds since there is a lot of day to day life scattered throughout, but it does deal with serious subjects, both in Suzu's personal life and with the historical aspect. It's incredibly well-researched and sourced, and I felt like I learned a ton while my emotions were being shredded. I wish the footnotes and some of the main text weren't so tiny because it does take a little effort to catch everything.

It's also as much historical information as it is an actual story, so if you're looking for a fast-paced drama, be aware that you'd probably prefer the movie version. There is a lot of story, but things often pause for explanations, which could seem a little disjointed, but overall I think it works very well. It's impressive that for not being a biography, the story seems very possible.

Emotionally, I felt for all the characters. Suzu grows considerably, and by the end fourth, some of what she deals with is gut-wrenching. Her emotional reactions aren't overlooked or rushed through, which I think is important.

The art is nice and accessible, things can get a little cramped and at times the size and scale of the story felt overwhelming. Still, this is one I absolutely recommend. I think we don't really talk about Hiroshima much except for textbook entries, and on the whole, don't like to stop and think about how it affected people. It's so easy to paint people as the enemy from a past time, but these characters are living their lives the same as anyone else. There's also a wealth of information here, so it has importance both as an educational tool and as an empathy-building one.

This would probably be easier for high school age on up, just for the size of it and some of the themes. I could see it complementing any history course, but it definitely is great as regular reading, too. It will move your heart and give you a ton to think about.

Five sheep

About the Author:
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Selah Janel is a writer who is trying to start doing that again instead of reading manga all the time.

Book Review: Endsinger (The Lotus War #3) by Jay Kristoff

Endsinger (The Lotus War #3)
by Jay Kristoff

Kindle Edition, 464 pages
November 25th 2014

by Thomas Dunne Books

A TREMBLING EARTH
The flames of civil war sweep across the Shima Imperium. With their plans to renew the Kazumitsu dynasty foiled, the Lotus Guild unleash their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. With the Tiger Clan and their puppet Daimyo Hiro in tow, the Guild marches toward a battle for absolute dominion over the Isles.

A BROKEN REBELLION
Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the Kagé rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends in an effort to unite the country against the chi-mongers. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war tearing the Imperium apart, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win.

A FINAL BATTLE
The traitor Kin walks the halls of Guild power, his destiny only a bloody knife-stroke away. Hana and Yoshi struggle to find their place in a world now looking to them as heroes. Secret cabals within the Lotus Guild claw and struggle; one toward darkness, the other toward light. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.

There is nothing a mother won't do to keep her children by her side. Nothing.

Not quite sure how to start this review without major spoilers from the first 2 books. If you have not read them, let me just say be prepared to have your heart ripped out; make sure you have someone nearby to comfort you and a box of tissues within reach.

This is a rare genre that I'm thrilled was created, it's a cross of Steampunk and 19th Century Japan, combining Japanese Mythology and Industrial Age technology.

The bond between Yukiko and Buruu is not something you would expect to see. Yukiko has an ability known as Kenning, which allows her to communicate with animals through telepathy. Buruu is a Thunder Tiger or what is called an Arashitora in this setting. Their first encounter was by accident when the Shogun ordered Yukiko's father to hunt an Arashitora down. As the story progresses their bond grows to where they consider each other on a brother and sister level, this becomes a key part in Endsinger.

Yukiko and Buruu are preparing for a war they started after rebelling against the Shōgun, gathering the Kagé rebels and clans that have decided to stand against Shima Imperium. The main story is a whirlwind of emotions for all characters involved. There are friendships, lovers, betrayals, loss and broken trust. There are secrets you find out that has carried over from the first book, and some of them are ones you would never have thought of.

Buruu, I'd have to say was my favorite character. He shows some major snark and sarcasm throughout the book. Over the course of the series he starts to show more human like emotions.

I was in tears by the end of this book, I had to sit there for about 5 minutes and gather myself because of how the story ended.

5 Sheep

DanielleD

About the Author:

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Jay Kristoff is a tragic nerd, but has spent the last ten years dumping expeez into his Intimidation stat, and now nobody is brave enough to say it to his face. He grew up in the second most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.

Jay's first trilogy, THE LOTUS WAR, is set to be published in over a dozen countries. The first installment STORMDANCER, was critically acclaimed and shortlisted for several SF/F awards, and the Lotus War novella THE LAST STORMDANCER won the 2014 Aurelais Award for Best Fantasy Short Fiction. The third book, ENDSINGER, is out in November 2014. Jay’s new series, the SciFi thriller ILLUMINAE, which he co-authored with Amie Kaufman, is due for publication by Random House in 2015. He is as surprised about it as you are. He is represented by Matt Bialer at Sanford J Greenburger Associates.

Jay is 6’7" and has approximately 13264 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.
He has a sweet beard.
He does not believe in happy endings.

Interview: Jay Kristoff's Endsinger (The Lotus War #3) blog tour + giveaway

Check out the whole tour

http://misterkristoff.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/endsinger-blog-tour/

Today we have Jay Kristoff visiting the Flock. He is from the land of Oz and refers to him self as the "nerdmastah" The last book in his Lotus War Trilogy is coming out soon. We talk about it a little, but then move on to the more interesting stuff like his secret kung-fu assassin wife...good times people, good times.

Welcome to I Smell Sheep! You will be happy to know I have no idea who David Grohl is. (Jay is often told he looks like Grohl)

Jay: That makes me feel very old. 

Sharon: nope, you shouldn’t feel old, I should feel dumb. Foo Fighters *facepalm* I’m the same age as he is <G> and yeah, you look like him…

Jay: That just makes us both old. <G>

Sharon: For readers who aren’t familiar with your series would you tell us a bit about The Lotus War trilogy?

Jay: Chainsaw katanas, telepathic samurai girls, and griffons! That pretty much sums it up in a nutshell J

But the books are basically about one girl’s friendship with a mythical creature called a thunder tiger (they’re kinda like griffons), and their efforts to overthrow the despotic government bringing ruin to their homeland. There’s shades of steampunk and epic fantasy in there.

Sharon: you had me at Chainsaw katanas! Actually you had me at chainsaws, but that’s another story…

Jay: *backs away slooooowly*

Sharon: *twitch, twitch*

Sharon: There are steampunk elements to the series. Is there a steampunk contraption in your books you would love to own in real life?

Jay: There’s an enormous mechanical construct called the Earthcrusher. It’s kinda like a huge spider-thing with chainsaws for arms. The ground shakes where it walks. Entire cities flee in fear at its approach. I could think of a few uses for something like that. It’d make driving in peak hour easier, for starters.

Sharon: heehee, I like the way you think…tell me you have offspring to pass this sort of thinking down too.

Jay: Nooooo, I’m an infant myself, I have no business raising another one.

Sharon: You state you are a nerd…prove it. What is the nerdiest thing you own?

Jay: Oh, wow. Hard call. Maybe my hardback set of black leather-bound Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition rulebooks?

I named my dog Samwise, dude. I am the nerdmastah.

Sharon: you named your dog Samwise? That is pretty nerdy, but you might have to turn in your man card for that one <G>

Jay: He’s a Jack Russell, too. :P

Sharon: Why did you pick a 16 year old female as your protagonist? I will also note there is a new series coming out next year you are co-writing with Amie Kaufman, also has a young female protag. Do you have an inner teenage girl you can tap into?

Jay: I’m not really sure why I write so many female protagonists, to be honest. I guess I find the perspective a little more interesting and a little more challenging? There’s nothing scientific about it – an idea for a character will creep into my head, be it a boy or a girl, and if they take my fancy, I’ll start writing about them. It would feel a little odd to change the character’s sex just because I might find it easier to write a male. If writing is easy, you’re doing it wrong. And unless you’re writing a biography, you’re always channeling someone who’s not YOU.

In the ILLUMINAE series you mentioned (the one I’m writing with Amie K) she writes the girl protagonist and I write the boy. Which is a nice change. Although in my next solo fantasy series (which I just sold to my editor, so yay, more books from me) the protagonist is also female. 

(shrug) I just go where the characters tell me J

Sharon: You worked in the advertising industry (yes, I stalked your bio) for a while. Got any funny stories about failed ad ideas or clients?

Jay: Failed ads stories are normally quite sad. You put a lot of thought into your ideas, only to see them get shot down, usually for no reason better than “hmmm, no I just don’t like it”. That’s kinda why I got out and started writing books. When you’re an author, your ideas don’t get canned because the client is in the middle of a messy divorce and came to the presentation in a bad mood.

But . . . funny. Hmmm. Ok, one time I spent close to a million bucks on what was essentially one big penis joke. True story :P

Sharon: moving on! <G>

Sharon: What’s it like living with a secret agent kung-fu assassin wife? Does she let you play with her secret agent gadgets?

Jay: No. She keeps her gadgets far out of reach. She’s kinda mean like that. But she wouldn’t be a kung-fu assassin if she was all sunshine and lollipops.

Sharon: If you could own any piece of art in the world what would it be?

Jay: The Card Players by Paul C Cézanne. Apparently that’s the most expensive painting in the world. I just googled it.

Sharon: must be a hell of a card game…

Jay: Art. Pfft. I dunno.

Sharon: What is your Precsssssssiousss?

Jay: Probably my CD collection. I know, right? Who the hell buys CDs nowadays . . .

Now I feel REALLY old . . .

Rapid Fire:

Sharon: Break a foot or break a hand?

Jay: Foot. Can’t write without hands!

Sharon: apples or oranges?

Jay: Oranges. In juice form pls. With Vodka.

Sharon: and a dash of peach schnapps! Fuzzy Navels for everyone!! (I had to google how to spell schnapps, true story)

Sharon: Bigfoot or Sasquatch?

Jay: Are they not the same thing? 0_o *googles* Wow. You learn something every day.

Sharon: roller coaster or carousel?

Jay: Roller Coasterrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sharon: lost at sea or lost in the dessert?

Jay: Either way, I’d die. So I’ll take the burial at sea. Sounds more epic.

Sharon: Coke or Pepsi?

Jay: What is this Pepsi of which you speak?

Sharon: I’m sorry Jay, this interview is over and you must now meet our dragon…

*empty Coke can hits Sharon in the head* 

Sorry, Katie says we have to go on…mumble, mumble…traitor…mumble

Sharon: Twilight Zone or Tales from the Crypt?

Jay: We never had TftC in Oz when I was a kid. TZ wins by default!

Sharon: what is this Oz of which you speak?! Okay, that was childish :P 

Jay: Ouch, burn. J

Sharon: Thanks for visiting. And sorry about wanting to feed you to the dragon, I just get emotional sometimes. No hard feelings?

Jay: Never! Thanks for having me :D

Endsinger (The Lotus War #3)
by Jay Kristoff

Kindle Edition, 464 pages
November 25th 2014 by Thomas Dunne Books
A TREMBLING EARTH
The flames of civil war sweep across the Shima Imperium. With their plans to renew the Kazumitsu dynasty foiled, the Lotus Guild unleash their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. With the Tiger Clan and their puppet Daimyo Hiro in tow, the Guild marches toward a battle for absolute dominion over the Isles.

A BROKEN REBELLION
Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the Kagé rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends in an effort to unite the country against the chi-mongers. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war tearing the Imperium apart, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win.

A FINAL BATTLE
The traitor Kin walks the halls of Guild power, his destiny only a bloody knife-stroke away. Hana and Yoshi struggle to find their place in a world now looking to them as heroes. Secret cabals within the Lotus Guild claw and struggle; one toward darkness, the other toward light. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.

There is nothing a mother won't do to keep her children by her side.

Nothing.

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

Jay Kristoff is a tragic nerd, but has spent the last ten years dumping expeez into his Intimidation stat, and now nobody is brave enough to say it to his face. He grew up in the second most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.

Jay's first trilogy, THE LOTUS WAR, is set to be published in over a dozen countries. The first installment STORMDANCER, was critically acclaimed and shortlisted for several SF/F awards, and the Lotus War novella THE LAST STORMDANCER won the 2014 Aurelais Award for Best Fantasy Short Fiction. The third book, ENDSINGER, is out in November 2014. Jay’s new series, the SciFi thriller ILLUMINAE, which he co-authored with Amie Kaufman, is due for publication by Random House in 2015. He is as surprised about it as you are. He is represented by Matt Bialer at Sanford J Greenburger Associates.

Jay is 6’7" and has approximately 13264 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.
He has a sweet beard.
He does not believe in happy endings.

Book Review: Year of the Demon (Fated Blades #2) by Steve Bein

Year of the Demon (Fated Blades #2) 

By Steve Bein
Paperback, 544 pages
ISBN13: 9780451465191

A MASK OF DESTRUCTIONDetective Sergeant Mariko Oshiro has been promoted to Japan’s elite Narcotics unit—and with this promotion comes a new partner, a new case, and new danger. The underboss of a powerful yakuza crime syndicate has put a price on her head, and he’ll lift the bounty only if she retrieves an ancient iron demon mask that was stolen from him in a daring raid. However, Mariko has no idea of the tumultuous past carried within the mask—or of its deadly link with the famed Inazuma blade she wields. 

The secret of this mask originated hundreds of years before Mariko was born, and over time the mask’s power has evolved to bend its owner toward destruction, stopping at nothing to obtain Inazuma steel. Mariko’s fallen sensei knew much of the mask’s hypnotic power and of its mysterious link to a murderous cult. Now Mariko must use his notes to find the mask before the cult can bring Tokyo to its knees—and before the underboss decides her time is up....

Year of the Demon starts off where Daughter of the Sword left off, following Detective Sergeant Mariko Oshiro's recent promotion to the Narcotics unit. What starts off as a typical drug raid turns out to be anything but normal. A mysterious iron demon mask is stolen from the under-boss of a powerful yakuza crime syndicate.

Kamaguchi Hanzo “hires” Mariko to get the mask back. There is the added bonus that if she does, he will remove the hit that was put out on her (Daughter of the Sword explains why there is a hit on her). Along with searching for the mask, Mariko also needs to search for her recently stolen sword “Glorious Victory Unsought”. Little does Mariko know, both the mask and sword have a dark history.

This book, like the first one, follows multiple stories at the same time. The breakdown is very easy to follow.

Heisei Era, the Year 22 (2010 CE) follows Mariko and what is going on in her part of the story.

Azuchi-Momoyama Period, the Year 21 (1588 CE) follows the story of Daigoro Okuma, the Lord of House Okuma, at this point in time he is the owner of “Glorious Victory Unsought”

Muromachi Era, the Year 148 (1484 CE) follows the story of Kaida who is an ama (traditional Japanese free diver, best known for diving for pearls) and her connection to the cult “The Divine Wind” and the iron mask.

There were a few parts of the book that felt extremely slow getting to the point of what was going on. Other than this one small snafu, I had a great time reading about the history and finding out more about Daigoro and the introduction of Kaida.

One interesting side note, I noticed about the 3 main characters in their respective time lines, is each has been dealing with how to live their lives and overcome their obvious handicaps, while facing the naysayers on a daily basis.

This is a great series to check out if you are a fan of Urban Fantasy with a touch of Japanese history and the way of the Samurai.

4 sheep

~DD~

About the Author:

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Steve is a rock climber, mountaineer, SCUBA diver, skier, photographer, and avid traveler, and he enjoys just about anything he can do outdoors. He has dabbled in a wide range of martial arts (twenty-five at last count) and he holds black belts in two American forms of combative martial arts. These days he has returned to studying Brazilian Jiujitsu.

Sheep Book Review: Samurai Game by Christine Feehan

Samurai Game, by Christine Feehan, is the tenth novel in her GhostWalker saga. I started reading the series with this novel and was easily able to pick up from here without feeling lost or overwhelmed by the previous editions. Sadly, though, things start out with a bang but slowly bottom out as the story continues.

Plot:

In an underground club, a high-ranking public official spends his secret nights indulging in fantasies as exciting as they are depraved. For a seductive employee of the Dungeon, it’s her job to fulfill them.

But when a dictator makes his own catastrophic moves, the Ghostwalkers have no choice but to bring in two major players—a man and woman both driven by passion and revenge. Both expendable. Both with nothing left to lose.

I want to add that while the plot description sounds very compelling, this so called "underground club" and public official disappear after the first chapter. I'm not really sure why that was put in as the official plot. This story really did start out on a fantastic foot, I was drawn in right away and flew through the first half of the book with action that happens early and hits hard. Then the story picks up a bit and things get even more interesting! But as we reach the midway point everything just kind of falls apart. SO much time is spent on chatting about this satellite and that super special lens plus who's out to get who. Yes, the book's a PNR/suspense but the endless discussions got really old really fast.

Our lead pair, Azami and Sam, are just a middle of the road couple for me. They had nothing special that I'll remember a week from now, and there was nothing really all that wonderful that I could see them bringing to the table as a couple when that table already appears to be chock full of badass dudes. Sam's a nice guy and all, but he was just a tad too clingy for my tastes; total relationship pressure pusher. Not cool, dude. I did like that Azami is a tough chick who can handle her own when it comes to combat, plus, after the sick childhood she had at the hands of a monster you really are sympathetic to her character. When it comes to fighting she's got the skills to pay the bills! I really wish we could have gotten more of her kicking booty rather than sitting in board rooms looking demure and innocent all the time.

As the title tells you, the story is Samurai-based with a bunch of info on the men and women who still train by the sword this very day. And that was all nice and fine, but am I reading an intriguing PNR story here are doing a wikipedia search? It was hard to tell at times. I love sword fighting, sexy warriors, samurai anything, and heck yes I loved the Karate Kid movies but something went terribly wrong with this tale. In my opinion, this story should have been a novella with the back half taken out, and there was absolutely no need for the book to be as long as it was. To top it all off, the romance between our leads goes hot and cold at the drop of a hat. One second it's on like Donkey Kong and the next they are making tea and having a chat. *yawn*

Dialog heavy and under stimulating, but I tell ya that first half of the book is the stuff you long to read about! I'd say to check around at other reviews first but please proceed with caution on this one.

Getting 2 1/2 'blow dart concealing' Sheep

KD