Thursday 30 June 2016

YAOI PREVIEW: NEW BEGINNINGS BY KOTESUKO YAMAMOTO


New Beginnings 
Kotesuko Yamamoto

Synopsis:
When Keigo, Chihiro's long term childhood friend, confesses his love, Chihiro is at a loss! What are two men going to do together?

Tuesday 28 June 2016

HENTAI REVIEW: HOT & STEAMY VOL:2 BY HIROSHI ITABA

Book Cover for Hot & Steamy Vol. 2
Hot & Steamy Vol: 2
Author/Artist: Hiroshi Itaba
Genre: Erotica, Romance, Seinen
Age: Mature
Publisher: Project H
Reviewed By: Hentai No

Synopsis:
Matsuno left the corporate life to work at the inn of a hot spring in hopes of living simply. But things get complicated quickly when you’re unofficially dating your employer.

Monday 27 June 2016

LGBT REVIEW: MURDER ON FAUX PAS ISLAND BY CASEY MCKITTRICK


Murder on Faux Pas Island 
Author: Casey McKittrick
Publisher: Lethe Press
Genre: Gay Mystery
ASIN: B0106I9BZ0
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
The year is 1935 but this is an America where cross-dressing goes almost unremarked, often unnoticed, and gay relationships are mundane; gay marriage, a quotidian fact of life. Famed chef and female impersonator Pancetta Brulee of New Orleans has been hired to cater a gay engagement party for two prominent grooms at the infamous Faux Pas Island and the Robicheaux estate. Both family and island have a terrible past, and most Cajuns and Creoles avoid the place like the plague.

Pancetta attends the weekend engagement party, only to be faced with the gory murder. The family enlists her and her gorgeous yet restless ex, who happens to be on the island as a groundskeeper. The two embark on a strenuous search for the truth of a tragic Saturday night. 

Among the suspects are a disillusioned fiancé, a Hollywood starlet sister-in-law, an old family friend and admirer of the deceased, a godmother and Countess of Romania, a disapproving mother and father, and a spurned lover of the dead man who has long been a rival for his father's affections. Murder on Faux Pas Island unfolds as a yarn with campy humor and a hint of romance.

HORROR REVIEW: FROM DUSK TILL DAWN SEASON 2



From Dusk Till Dawn Season 2
Released By: Entertainment One
Rating: 18
Running Time: 128 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: 27/6/2016
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

As in the movie version, the first season started out with the Gecko Brothers out on the road as serial criminals after more money. There, they found an all-night club in Mexico where they also discovered vampires who lay in wait for unsuspecting humans. Little did they know that the Gecko Brothers and co would be up for a fight against the supernatural - one that could be life-threatening for them.

Sunday 26 June 2016

MOVIE REVIEW: ATTACK ON TITAN MOVIE 1

Attack On Titan The Movie Part 1 DVD
Attack on Titan Movie 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 94.20 Mins
Audio: English DD 5.1 & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes 

For those who have lived inside the wall, some have an inbuilt curiosity to see what is outside and Eren Yeager is one such person. As he was born there, he has never seen an ocean or any other part of the world and feels it's time he and his friends Armin and Mikasa did. Eren thinks it's time he left to find out if there is anything outside and whether titans really exist.

YAOI PREVIEW: CURSE OF LUST BY UNGYOU


Curse Of Lust
Ungyou
BL
Age 13+
NETCOMICS

Bonggoo Park makes a living as a male escort.
Hoping to change his life, he seeks a new line of job and chances upon a classified ad about a male housekeeper.

Saturday 25 June 2016

NENDOROID REVIEW: LEVI FROM ATTACK ON TITAN

Attack on Titan Levi Rivaille Nendoroid Attack on Titan Levi PVC Action Figure 10CM Attack on Titan Anime Collectible Model Toy


More than anything, this model's face reminds me of Akihisa Yosii from Baka and Test. He's looking particularly cheeky and defiant in this model and the attention to detail is pretty cool too when you consider how tall he is, and how convincing he looks in his gear wielding his sword. 

  • Figure details:
    Model Number: Attack on Titan pvc figures
    Soldier Accessories:Soldier Finished Product
    Puppets Type:Model
    Mfg Series Number:Model
    Condition:In-Stock Items
    By Animation Source:Japan
    Remote Control:No
    Commodity Attribute:Finished Goods
    Version Type:First Edition
    Warning:Attack on Titan Levi Toy
    Brand Name:Attack on Titan Figure Toy
    Size:10cm,S
    Item Type:Model
    Age Range:5-7 Years,8-11 Years,12-15 Years,Grownups,> 14 Years old,> 8 years old,> 6 years old
    Dimensions:Approx 10cm
    Theme:Movie & TV
    Completion Degree:Finished Goods
    Gender:Unisex

Friday 24 June 2016

NET COMICS MANGA REVIEW: KINGDOM OF THE WINDS VOL: 1 BY KIMJIN


Kingdom of the Winds Vol: 1 
Author/Artist: Kimjin
Genre: Fantasy
Age: 13+
Publisher: NETCOMICS
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
An epic fantasy and vivid re-imagination of ancient Korean history, made possible by painstaking historical research combined with breathtaking mythological visualization! Kingdom of the Winds tells the legendary story of King Yuri (Goguryeo's second emperor), King Damusin (Muhyul, Goguryeo's third emperor), and Muhyul's son Hodong. This tale fills in the personal details of their lives, their ideals and human emotions as they struggle with an unavoidable fate that intertwines and tangles their lives with that of their nation. You will meet the heroes of the Kingdom of the Winds; heroes afflicted and lost, opposed to each other, and bound together on their epic journeys to achieving their diverse ideals that actual history had only hinted at. We suggest you to read the background information by clicking on Background tab first before proceeding to the first chapter.

Thursday 23 June 2016

NARUTO FUNKO POP! ANIME SASUKE VINYL FIGURE


Naruto Funko Pop! Anime Sasuke Vinyl Figure

He's been through a lot recently what with being in two major series and now about to be in Boruto Sasuke looks as you would expect him to and I'll bet fans can tell which part of the series this figure is from. A pupil of Lord Orochimaru, he can't help but deny his former Team 7 mate his friendship, as he's wanted revenge for such a long time.

Wednesday 22 June 2016

MANGA REVIEW: AKH VOL:1 BY MYOUNGJI PARK


Akh Vol:1
Author/Artist: Myoungji Park
Genre: Fantasy
Age: 13+
Publisher: NETCOMICS
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
Osiris, the strong and beautiful lord of the living and the dead rules Duat, the underworld.

On Osiris' wedding day, Set, the God of Evil proposes to the groom's beloved goddess Isis.
Infuriated by her rejection, Set attacks the peaceful realm of the dead to possess it for his own.

YAOI REVIEW: BEYOND VOL:1 BY E HAE

Beyond Vol: 1
Author/Artist: E.Hae
Genre: BL
Age: 13+
Publisher: NETCOMICS
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
A new recruit at monthly magazine "Other World,” Namjoo is caught up in the publication's conspiracy in this exciting romantic adventure.
Ever since he almost died as a child, he has been living with a secret.
Whenever he opens an office door, a bathroom door, a wardrobe door, or a “door," he gets sucked into a strange world!
Is there a way to stop these trips that are full of dangers?
Come, let’s discover what’s Beyond!

MANGA PREVIEW: LET'S BE PERVERTS BY YOUJUNG LEE

 
Let's be Perverts
Youjung Lee
Rating:
Comedy
Age 16+
NETCOMICS

Perverto is just a regular 17-year-old...with the unavoidable nickname, "pervert." Unlike his namesake, he's actually quite naive when it comes to sexual matters; his first and only youthful romance having ended terribly. To escape his bad reputation, he transfers to a new school for a fresh start. But on his first day there, he's falsely accused of groping a girl named Hongdan on the subway.

Tuesday 21 June 2016

MANGA PREVIEW: MADTOWN HOSPITAL

 
Madtown Hospital
JTK
Comedy
Age 13+
NETCOMICS

Korea's #1 comedy author and his genre-defining masterpiece, Madtown Hospital, is invading the U.S.!

ARTBOOK REVIEW: ALIEN NEXT DOOR BY JOEY SPIOTTA


Alien Next Door by Joey Spiotta
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 80
ISBN: 9781785650260
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Many years back, Joey was asked by a friend of noted Alien artist H.R. Giger if he wanted to collaborate on an Alien inspired children's book. This comes after Giger had apparently seen Joey's print for a fake children's book, "Facehugs for Everyone." He had no idea Giger had a softer side, but there it was, and Joey hoped he would hear back from him. Unfortunately, the world had lost a legendary artist and Joey never heard back. Later though, he was asked to create his book, Alien Next Door, a book full of comical pokes at the Alien movies fans will want to see.

Sunday 19 June 2016

BOOK REVIEW: SUPERNATURAL: COLD FIRE BY JOHN PASSARELLA


Supernatural - Cold Fire by John Passarella
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 1781166757
ISBN-13: 978-1781166758
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Based on the hit TV series created by Eric Kripke, this is one of the many novels that chronicles the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean's battle with the unknown, demonic and dangerous. With Castiel coming along for the ride, Cold Fire is set in Season ten, one of the most testing times for the brothers where they find a disembowel and eyeless corpse suspected of being attacked by an animal. Further investigation rules that out, thinking it's more likely that a human or demon could be the cause.

Saturday 18 June 2016

NARUTO BOOK REVIEW: NARUTO: THE SEVENTH HOKAGE AND THE SCARLET SPRING


Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and The Scarlet Spring

Synopsis:
With the world now safe and the ninja villages working together, Naruto's work as Hokage seems pretty mundane. Giving his son, Boruto, enough attention is the toughest task he has. But then Sasuke uncovers a conspiracy that may involve surviving members of the Uchiha clan. And at the same time, Sarada begins to have doubts about the truth of her origins. For teen audiences.

Friday 17 June 2016

ANIME REVIEW: ATTACK ON TITAN PART 1

Attack on Titan Part 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 320 Mins
Audio: English DD 5.1 & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes 

In medieval times giants walked the earth destroying humans in their wake and nearly obliterating every last one. The survivors after the invasion decided to erect huge walls to keep out the giant intruders, and though the walls are there as a deterrent to them, the city hasn't seen a giant in over a hundred years.

JOYLAND ILLUSTRATED EDITION BY STEPHEN KING

 
Joyland Illustrated Edition
Stephen King
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 304 
ISBN: 9781783295326
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Devin "Dev"Jones is a college student with ambitions to get the girl, a decent job and a place to stay, but back in 1973, his life hadn't gone to plan. Dev believes that Wendy Keegan, his love interest had never wanted to be involved with him sexually, keeping him hanging on, then announced she was leaving for another job in Boston. That is what made Dev stand back and think he might never get to make-out with the girl he loved. When Wendy leaves, Dev also looks for a job and one lands right in his lap as though it was meant to, straight out of a Carolina Living magazine which advertised Joyland, an old American theme park.

Thursday 16 June 2016

BOOK REVIEW: THE IMMORALITY ENGINE BY GEORGE MANN

  
The Immorality Engine
George Mann
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 350
ISBN-10: 190672718X 
ISBN-13: 978-1906727185
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Sir Maurice Newbury is Queen Victoria's secret weapon in the fight against crime on the foggy streets of London. While in the Affinity Bridge, Newbury and Hobbes investigated a crashed airship, in The Osiris Ritual a mummy is revealed to possibly have been murdered, making others think of it as a curse and now this is hailed as being their "hardest and darkest investigation to date."

Wednesday 15 June 2016

BOOK REVIEW: MIDNIGHT NEVER COME: ONYX COURT #1 BY MARIE BRENNAN


Midnight Never Come Onyx Court #1 by Marie Brennan
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1785650734
ISBN-13: 978-1785650734
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Taking place during the time of Elizabethan England a the court of Queen Elizabeth 1st, there is another ruler, Queen Invidiana of Faerie England and her world is beneath the one we know. It has been heard that both worlds have been in alliance though betrayal and deception have also reared their heads even more so that as Invidiana has sent Lune, a faerie to try and infiltrate the Elizabethan royal court. There, an agent, Michael Devon wants to find out what is behind the dark queen's power so Elizabeth can be the only one reigning supreme.

MANGA REVIEW: THE LILY AND THE ROSE BY DANY & DANY


The Lily and the Rose
Dany&Dany
Publisher: Yaoi Press
Pages: 152
Rating: M
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Christophe Laurent, a young male wants to become a priest just like Father Colbert, but his dear friend Alain Mauriac is daunted by this as he has other ideas for him if he is to be a part of his life. Lazing on a summer's day, they each talk about what they will do when they finally mature, but all is not what it seems even to these young men.

Tuesday 14 June 2016

MANGA REVIEW: MAMIYA DOLL HOUSE BY KAZUHIKO MISHIMA


Mamiya Doll House
Kazuhiko Mishima
Publisher: DMP
Pages: 256
Rating: M
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis: 
The Mamiya Doll House is a place where men and women go to make their dreams come true - in every way, and the owner, Mamiya doesn't mean just playing with toys, oh no. His aim is to be able to make the most realistic doll imaginable, and which is as functional in every way as good as a humans. Many who visit him think he might be a fake, but once they are around him they witness a totally different reality, and once they have their doll, they never look back.

BOOK REVIEW: THE OSIRIS RITUAL BY GEORGE MANN


The Osiris Ritual by George Mann
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 288
ISBN-10: 1783298251
ISBN-13: 978-1783298259
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Being among such writers as Cherie Priest, Gail Carriger and James Blaylock, George Mann has also established himself as being one of the most influential authors of steampunk fiction. Here his crime fighting duo Newbury and Hobbes are on the case of murders that are thought to be the work of a mummy's curse.

BOOK REVIEW: THE ANGEL OF HIGHGATE BY VAUGHN ENTWISTLE

The Angel of Highgate by Vaughn Entwistle
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 1783295341
ISBN-13: 978-1783295340
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

With the Revenant of Thraxton Hall and The Dead Assassin under his belt, here Vaughn has Lord Geoffrey Thraxton enjoying a night with Maisy, a good-humoured lady of the night re-enacting one of his sexual fantasies in Highgate Cemetery, which is also home to his own former family. His enjoyment done, he sends Maisy on her way, his pocket less weighted down by a single coin and doesn't expect to see a lone woman lurking around.

Monday 13 June 2016

BOOK REVIEW: NOD BY ADRIAN BARNES

Nod by Adrian Barnes
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 250
ISBN-10: 0956687695
ISBN-13: 978-0956687692
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

As the title refers to the land of Nod, the novel takes a look at the after effects of a global event which makes people unable to sleep. We see what happens first hand through Paul's eyes as he is one of the rare Sleepers here who can see what is going on as readers can understand through him as an author himself how society can go from being bustling, non-stop excitement, life, death and fun to being cut short, put to a halt as most of humanity acts zombie-like living with the hope that they can sleep, and crushed by the thought that they, like many others, can't.

FANTASY ART BOOK REVIEW: EMPYREAN: THE ART OF STEPHEN HICKMAN

Empyrean: The Art of Stephen Hickman
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 160
ISBN-10: 1783298456
ISBN-13: 978-1783298457
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

With a body of work that is mainly fantasy with a portion of science fiction, this coffee table book is a real showcase for art appreciators who want to see his interpretation of characters and settings from some of the most famous novels around, and through his book covers, Hickman has evoked the feelings of his subjects. The front page image, Dragon also gets to be inside stretched over two pages of the scaly face with horned snout and Hickman's trademark leathery wings and tail stare out into the distance.

Sunday 12 June 2016

BOOK REVIEW: ALIENS OMNIBUS VOL:1 BY STEVE PERRY


Aliens Omnibus Vol 1 by Steve Perry
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 608
ISBN-10: 1783299010
ISBN-13: 978-1783299010
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

As I remember watching Alien 3 in the cinema way back to the days of pre-internet, I also remembered the first two movies and Alien that set off the franchise with a cast that felt they were hand picked to do the job of convincing us that there was life on other planets, and that it wasn't as friendly as we first thought. The release of this series of three novels in the Aliens series made me recall this memory of feeling a part of something new and interesting, and as deep and dark as I had hoped.

FANTASY BOOK REVIEW: IN THE LABYRINTH OF DRAKES BY MARIE BRENNAN


In The Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0765377632
ISBN-13: 978-0765377630
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

From the first A Natural History of Dragons series of novels, Isabella wanted to search for and catalogue dragons of every kind and didn't mind going all around the natural world to do so. This is the one thing that sets her apart from her fellow women as she acts, in tomboy fashion as a man would do and comes under great scrutiny from other men for being so bold.

Saturday 11 June 2016

HORROR REVIEW: BLACK WINGS OF CTHULHU EDITED BY ST JOSHI


Black Wings of Cthulhu 4 Edited by S.T. Joshi
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 400
ISBN-10: 1783295732
ISBN-13: 978-1783295739
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Seventeen more tales of the unsettling and darkly Gothic, inspired by the works of writer H.P. Lovecraft. As the title suggests, anyone who is interested in this kind of literature, knows what it is like to feel dread in everyday life. Readers of other anthologies from Titan Books will recognise the names of Cody Goodfellow, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Darrell Schweitzer, Fred Chappell and Melanie Tem. Special attention is also given to Charles Lovecraft, an Australian writer who changed his surname to that of the original Cthulhu author.

Thursday 9 June 2016

LIVE ACTION MOVIE: PARASYTE THE MOVIE PART 2

Parasyte The Movie Part 2 DVD
Parasyte the Movie Part 2
Released By: Animatsu
Rating: 15
Running Time: 111.5 Mins
Audio: Japanese DD 2.0 & Japanese DD 5.1 with English Subs
Release Date:Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes 

Scenes of the previous movie start this one off. The aliens have been ordered to devour the human race, but one of the aliens has been captured and is used to find out others of his own kind who are a part of the parasyte murders. The world is close to being taken over by them, so who can stand up to their alien might?

Wednesday 1 June 2016

ROMANCE NOVEL: TERRITORY OF ANGELS A:R HEAVEN #1 BY TRICIA OWENS


Territory of Angels A:R Heaven #1
Tricia Owens
Publisher: Amazon Media EU
Pages: 254
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
Can Angels fall in love with a former shoe salesman?
Ryan thought becoming an Angel would be easy. Well, besides the whole dying part. But it's difficult when he's hounded by bouts of insecurity and a secret, unrequited love. The only good thing to happen to him is his friendship with the lovable Angel Finnian. But Finnian is lover to the Commander of Heaven's Army: Anifiel, the most magnificent Angel in Heaven. Anifiel doesn't approve of his lover befriending a measly human, unfortunately, and when Finnian's curiosity about Earth compels him to leave Heaven and investigate, Anifiel blames Ryan's bad influence.

YAOI REVIEW: PURITY THE POST-YAOI ANTHOLOGY


Purity The Post-Yaoi Anthology
Various Authors/Artists
Publisher: Originally a Kickstarter project
Pages: 180
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Blurb:
For all those yaoi enthusiasts who don't know what this anthology is about and its purpose, take a look at what is on the Purity website: "Purity is a black & white erotic anthology of sequential and pin-up works by artists stylistically inspired by yaoi manga." The main reason this was set up is due to the love each writer and artist had for the yaoi genre and the need they had to get something less mainstream published and put out into the world. The yaoi genre has influenced and touched so many people, and there are plenty who have worked on this original kickstarter project into its finality.