Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 6

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 6 by Suki Umemiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Iris faces off against the Queen and the church. Fortunately, she has some good allies and the truth in her corner or the tide would have been much different given the original players. The side story at the end seems to circle back to perhaps the same festival as mentioned at the end of the volume 3, except it is clear that this takes place shortly after the church is built and while Dean is still just the mysterious part time employee Iris is desperate not to fall for yet trusts more and more each day. Even though the setting and timing is given a bit clearer this time around the focus is actually Mina and her growing feelings for their local priest. Tanya makes a very awkward and unusual fairy godmother in this attempt in a Cinderella story.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 5

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 5 by Suki Umemiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Iris is beginning to realize just how dangerous Yuri may truthfully be in addition to the possible threat from the current queen. At the same time, it's even more evident just how loyal those closest to her truly are. That may become even clearer as the end of this book leads into the announcement that the church is excommunicating her, essentially making her a social piranha. The short story at the end this time focuses on Sei and his determination to do well in his work and his service for Iris - certainly a theme it seems with all of those who actually work with her and see her own dedication to their causes.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 4

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 4 by Suki Umemiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The foundation party goes as well as can be expected, and we finally see Iris' friend Mimosa in one of the tea parties afterwards. The end story this time around focuses on Rheme, who seems to be one of the smaller characters despite still having a rather large part of Iris' inner circle and workings when it comes to information and how everything is structured, both for the corporation and for the fife (or duchy as it's referred to in the light novels). The link between Dean and Alfred is even more obvious to begin with in the manga given the artwork gives it away immediately where the written text could be slightly more ambiguous up to a certain point. Yuri remains a bit of a childish annoyance while also managing to be a legitimate threat at the same time.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 3

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 3 by Suki Umemiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Dean enters the picture this time around as we see how Iris continues to expand her ideas through her domain and Irina issues her invitation back into high society. As with the last book, the blurb at the end is a small insight into the characters, but also very confusing as to when it takes place in the storyline. The interaction indicates that it may be when Dean is still considered to just be an employee and not part of the family, however, there are many references to Iris' grandfather that is no longer there. It is possible that they are referencing Louis' father rather than the General, but so far in the series most reference to any grandfather has been to the General, who also is supposedly the most non-aristocrat of the bunch even though he's also a noble, which would fit with the general descriptions. However, it's also well known that for not coming across as a noble, being the head of the army, he's still rather intimidating, so perhaps not. Without further clarity in this snippet it's hard to really pinpoint who they're talking about or when it might take place, leaving it rather ambiguous at best.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 2

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 2 by Suki Umemiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We see Berne's rather spectacular temper tantrum in this version, as well as his shock as he realizes he doesn't recognize his own sister, both physically or in how she manages both their lands and her business. The side story at the end of this book wouldn't make much sense if not for also reading the light novels as it brings in Mimosa, who has not yet entered the scene in the manga and isn't part of the storyline until after Iris returns to high society in the capital, which has not yet happened in this version of the story. Having read the light novels first though, her character is at least familiar, even if the timing for the side story and the context seems a bit out of place.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 1

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 1 by Suki Umemiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This covers a lot of the same ground as the light novel does, with the addition of the girl's day scene at the end of the book. Of course being in manga form, we trade off a lot of the text for imagery in the different book format. It's still familiar, but enough to of a difference to be enjoyable as well. The art is slightly different too than what is used in the illustrations of the light novel, so while the characters are recognizable, they are not exactly the same as previously portrayed.

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I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 4

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 4 by ＡＴＡＫＡ

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mystia is still determined to change her fate and seems to think the only way to do that is to trigger the love interests with the boys and the heroine, who is more interested in idolizing Mystia herself and has no interest in the boys, while the boys all each want Mystia as their bride and also don't care about Alice at all. Helen seems to be another troublemaker that didn't exist in the original storyline. A few things that our Chaos friend has dropped have hinted at perhaps knowing that this is part of a game as well and as if the players are actually erased when they deviate from the storyline or their intended purpose, though if that were the case, would think Mystia herself would have run into issues long before now. Regardless, it seems as if despite her best efforts, she keeps finding herself in situations that could be taken very wrong (as evident by Weiss' reaction for awhile there) even if she's doing everything in her power to not be in the way and to do things right. Perhaps there's a difference in just living kindly and trying to force the storyline in this case, though.

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I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 3

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 3 by ＡＴＡＫＡ

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For all that Mystia keeps trying to trigger these "love events" for the heroine and all of the boys, it seems that she remains the focus of attention all around. Despite her best efforts, she's also making new friends left and right with even the girls adoring her mostly aside from those that are just too cruel and seem to be filling in where Mystia is refuses to play her previous villainess role as she remembers it. As a result, her entire class seems to now adore and nearly worship her overall. Meanwhile, jealousy rages with the boys and each one still seems convinced he's the one she'll end up with.

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I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 2

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 2 by ＡＴＡＫＡ

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


School has officially started, but nothing seems to be going as planned. If anything, there seems to be an unhealthy amount of attention and infatuation focused on Mystia. All of the boys seem convinced he's the one she loves for one reason or another when in truth she's trying to avoid all of them. Even side characters and the servants who had no dedicated "routes" in the game she played in her previous life seem to be in on the infatuation and obsession, which is a little disturbing all in all.

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I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 1

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway! 1 by ＡＴＡＫＡ

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Similar to Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter, this is another series where the main character wakes up in an otome game, holding both the memories of that character's life as well as their previous normal life when they played the game and how the story ended for the character they are now living as (which was not a favorable ending). As a result of these memories, Mystia is determined not to fall to her character's fate, however, she also can't seem to help stepping in when someone needs aid. Using her knowledge of the game, this allows her to save her fiancée's mother, altering the course of the game and their interactions - though just how far those changes may spread is yet to be seen.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 8 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 8 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This final volume of the series finishes Mer's tale from her childhood to marrying Louis. While it isn't pointed out anywhere, it would seem that they named their eldest child, Berne, after their lost friend from that fateful battle. Dean even makes an actual appearance in the end for a cute little scene with him, Iris, and their children, rather than just being referenced along the way. This is one rather large family that has a very interesting history behind the scenes of the kingdom in many ways.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 7 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 7 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Less is seen of Iris in this installment as we dive back into Mer's past and pick up with her training. This time around, the training will expand into the etiquette required of a noble that she had previously ignored following her engagement to Louis (though neither of them appeared to know exactly who they were being engaged to and were both prepared to turn down the arrangement from their parents in favor of the other - lucky for them that wasn't necessary). We also see the beginning of the queen's interest in Mer here, and how that plays into their interactions with the prince. Also took a bit to connect the dots with Sharia, but we see the beginnings of that relationship as well. Mer's first round at the Academy has just wrapped up and it seems something else may loom on the horizon.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 6 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 6 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It seems Iris and her family are still the focus and lead in for this story, however, the entire thing is written as educating Iris on her mother's history and childhood, so while they are there, the majority of the story is told from Mer's point of view. Every now and then it comes back to the present to segue into another part of the story or show some other recent interaction, but the majority of the book focuses in Mer's childhood sword training and how she first met Iris' father.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 5 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 5 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Iris continues to both surprise and impress as she reads the political situations and now must deal with war on top of proposals. Letty's ambitions are a bit of a surprise, but also in some ways the perfect solution. Aside from Iris' near breakdown at the news, the situation really plays off unintentionally to the best interests of all parties even if it's not originally what any of them thought would happen when the story began. The ending of this book reads like the end of the tale entirely, however, it appears that there are more installments for the series, so curious to see which direction the story spins from here.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 4 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 4 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


On the plus side, we finally get to see Dean reveal his true identity and make a move - rather spectacularly at that. On the downside, it seems Dean and Iris are both still partially hiding in the sand, refusing to actually reach out for what they both really want. With the war now back in play though, how might that change Iris' previous convictions on the political field and using her proposal to further the kingdom rather than her own happiness?

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 3 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 3 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We get to see Dean's sister in this installment, who seems to get along rather well with Iris. Iris, of course, has a seemingly never ending array of challenges facing her. Fortunately, this seems to have gone off rather well, though it's clear Yuri and Divan are plotting more. Dean and Iris continue to grow closer together as well, to the point where both seem to recognize their own feelings, but refuse to admit them to the other for various reasons, each believing that it's best for them both. Fortunately, it appears that even the majority of the town and the duchy are back on Iris' side now that the previous excommunication issue has been resolved, though it was rather surprising how she chose to deal with the government officials that had not been doing their jobs since the announcement was first made. 

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 2 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 2 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Iris is in a bit more trouble when the church decides to excommunicate her, leading to a chain of reactions affecting both her duchy and her business. Fortunately, she has some very strong allies in her corner and her network seems to keep growing as the conflict continues. Her relationship with Dean continues to be more complex as well, though we get more insights into his own situation and those who support him in this story.

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Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 1 (Light Novel)

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter 1 by Reia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In some ways, this is similar to tales like The Abandoned Empress and I Swear I Won't Bother You Again that I've recently picked up. Instead of going back in time however, Iris gains memories of a previous life as a Japanese citizen who loved playing an Otome game following the story line of the life she finds herself now living. She must rely on her combined knowledge of the game and the economics of her past life to improve her standing and make a living for herself in this new reality after being cast aside from the second prince, her previous fiancé. This installment leaves off where she is getting ready for a party hosted by the royal family, which will be the first time she sees any of the nobility since her departure at the beginning of the tale outside of her own family, though none of that nobility is aware that she is the name and person behind the rise of a new company everyone now adores for their products and wants membership to for access to more exclusive products.

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I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! 3

I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! 3 by Haru Harukawa

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Violette seems to have realized she no longer knows how things will turn out in this reality as Maryjune and Claudia are not attracted to each other without her bullying forcing their roles and putting them together, but that's not who she is anymore as she refuses to walk the same path that lead to her past misery. Meanwhile it seems everyone else is now convinced that she is no longer pursuing Claudia because they are secretly dating except for Yulan who seems to want Violette's happiness above all else, though preferably that would be with him. Even with the rumors and realizing that her plans must change, Violette still seems unaware that Prince Claudia is gaining interest in her, even after he asks her rather pointedly if she understands what he was telling her. Seems things could continue to be rather confusing at this point.

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I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! 2

I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! 2 by Haru Harukawa

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Violette seems to be getting closer to Yulan, while her plans to pair her sister and the prince together aren't going as well. The end of this volume leads to questions if Yulan may also be aware of Violette's previous fate and how this tale seems to be unwinding differently along the way. We get a nice side story towards the end of when Violette and Yulan met as children and how Yulan started falling for Vio. The text chapter at the end focuses on Claudia and Milania, though they are discussing the two sisters and their qualities and behavior. Seems they are both on the fence about Violette's change of heart and actions with this second time around.

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Guild Hunter 12.5: New Year's Eve

Guild Hunter 12.5: New Year's Eve by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a hilarious short piece from the email newsletter focusing on Eve, Ellie's little sister, hanging out with other hunter trainees on New Year's eve. Of course being hunters, both Elena herself being hunter born and Raphael given he's the city's Archangel, are hot topics of conversation. Eve proves to be a bit deeper and far more loyal than perhaps original thought of, especially given the odd divide that often takes place in Elena's family thanks to their shared father. Could also completely see Elena planning that little bombshell for her New Year's eve message given her sometimes wicked sense of humor and the way she loves playing with those closest to her. It would be nice to see some of these little family scenes woven into the main story going forward, though if not, side stories like this are some nice icing on the cake.

Psy-Changeling 19.6: Mate

Psy-Changeling 19.6: Mate by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a cute little snippet that hails back to the start of the series with Lucas and Sascha. It's nice to see how devoted these pairs remain even as the series continues to move forward and events change. Naya is another little spot of joy and continues to grow as well. It's nice to see things circle back to the original heart of the pack once in awhile.

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Mahjong Club: Solitaire Game

Mahjong Club: Solitaire Game (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is one of the smoother Mahjong games I've tried over the years. The daily challenges are interesting, though it's a tad annoying that you are forced to use paid (or earned if lucky) power ups to shuffle the deck if the tiles happen to be stacked in a way that you can't reach some of them without shuffling while the general play will automatically shuffle any time you run out of moves without any power up or bonuses required. So far it hasn't been an issue with overall game play, though could see it becoming a blocker down the line as the puzzles get more difficult.

Mistplay: Play to Earn Rewards

Mistplay: Play to Earn Rewards (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


While the idea is enticing, you can only play a small range of games that are synced to the app and must load them through the app to track the game time for any rewards. When you aren't actively playing games for the app, it'll run in the background to drain battery and force notifications to try and get you to do more in the app, including making purchases in the games, which kind of defeats the purpose of trying to earn rewards with the game play to begin with.

Merge Gardens

Merge Gardens (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


While the idea is interesting, in reality this is really a combined merge game and a match 3 style game with a set series of quests and nothing unique in the design other than where you place the merged items. Ultimately, this won't be one to keep as it has more lag than some other merge games in addition to the forced match levels to progress with the quests.

Merge Cooking: Theme Restaurant

Merge Cooking: Theme Restaurant (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 games


The gameplay has an interesting concept, but the course of events is very forced, including frequent ads for bonuses and power ups needed to create the recipes for the next order. There isn't really anything as far as creative license as it's all very linear with no choices as you play through each level and simply pay out the coins for whatever the next stage is. The game will glitch and jump around or freeze if you don't follow the correct sequence of events and fill out the game play the way they want you to.

Spy x Family 4

Spy x Family 4 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Anya is still a very awkward child, especially at school. We see a spin on some adventure in this one and the entrance of Bond, who is adorable and hopefully will add an entirely new dynamic to the series. Yor and Loid oddly are both focused on their own secrets but also keeping the other party happy at the same time. None of their plans seem to go as expected with this motley crew, and yet somehow they still work out. The side story with Anya and leading their spy mission with the stuffed animals is even more hilarious given their true goals and vocations. Poor Scruffy on the other hand doesn't seem to have any luck.

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Mint Chocolate 9

Mint Chocolate 9 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Yup, the president is trouble. So is this little boy who lives next door. A bit young for spying and blackmail, but guess he sort of got what he wanted. Kyouhei may end up in trouble for more than just a fight at school if he doesn't make it back in time. Nanami is usually about as open as a book too, so not sure how he thinks she'll be able to stall their teacher. Their parents at least seem happy with things at the moment. Good to see there will be more for this series as it certainly isn't over at this piont.

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Spy x Family 3

Spy x Family 3 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Still struggling with the books, but did find the anime based on this series really helped bring it to life and make it more enjoyable for me, so the books don't feel like they drag as much, though the pace is still very slow with little in the way of movement going forward with the mission. Some small steps here with the stars, though that was somewhat unintentional at the same time. The meeting with Yor's brother is so awkward and nerve wracking, it's a miracle everyone seems so clueless still. How Yor manages to hide a bullet wound and Loid honestly thinks she's just unhappy with their sham marriage is also baffling. Anya is the only one that really knows what is going on, and yet she's also so clueless on how to behave and so clumsy that it's a miracle things are going as well as they are up to this point. Hopefully the next book will pick up a bit more.

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Descendants 3.5: The Royal Wedding

Descendants 3.5: The Royal Wedding (2021)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


The artwork isn't really up to Disney standards, though the short film itself is still cute. In this piece, we see Ben and Mal finally getting married, though of course, things don't go entirely as planned. Fortunately, it's really just a misunderstanding and series of unfortunate circumstances as everyone is correct that even Hades wouldn't intentionally ruin his daughter's special day. Miraculously, both Hades and Maleficent seem to soften rather significantly when it comes to Mal's big day and playing their roles in the event to make her happy, even actually getting along with those they interact closely with from Auradon. Perhaps it wasn't what was originally planned, though honestly, it was probably an improvement at least in terms of the bouquet given how large the original one was - Audrey seems to have gone a bit over the top in her quest for planning the perfect wedding, though that's still a lot better than her role in the third movie. Originally was also surprised not to see Carlos here and the lines indicating that for some unknown reason he was gone and couldn't join them. A quick internet search revealed Boyce who had played Carlos passed away, so the character was retired from the series in honor of his memory. Touching and sad all at the same time, though perhaps could have also been a tad clearer in the way it was portrayed in the movie so it didn't feel like such a sudden and strange gap away from the standard in the series. The bracelet though, is a nice touch to pull things together and perhaps include all of the original characters at least in spirit if not actually on the screen.

Descendants 3

Descendants 3 (2019)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mal may contradict herself a bit in this one as she previously claimed she was half VK (villain kid from the Isle of the Lost) and half Auradon, but it turns out perhaps she's all VK as far as blood as along with her known mother, Maleficent, her father is none other than Hades. They've kept that relationship under wraps pretty well, especially given the fireworks at the start of the movie when Hades tries to escape the Isle. He does have a pretty good point though when he comes to help at Mal's request at the end and notes that when the good guy's make a mistake it's just that - a mistake - but when the villains make a bad choice, they're locked away forever. So what truly should define a villain then? Audrey learns some hard lessons, though perhaps in a bit of a backwards slide as Audrey and Mal at least seemed to respect and acknowledge each other in the second film. Ben and Mal once again are challenging the status quo after a few bumps along the way, resulting in stronger friendships and more diverse alliances as the barrier is finally brought down for good. Hades may even have a better seat at the wedding than Maleficent given her current lizard status.

Descendants 2

Descendants 2 (2017)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


It turns out choosing to be good may not be as easy as it first seemed. Mal especially is having a bit of an identity crisis as she tries to find her own true self in the midst of expectations being Ben's girlfriend or from the Isle of the Lost and how to reconcile the two halves together. This adventure and crisis brings us back to the Isle of the Lost where we meet Uma and her pirates. Turns out there are a few more challenges to find their happily ever after, but perhaps some communication would a be a good place to start.

Wish

Wish (2023)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wish is the newest of Disney animated movies, coming out just in time for the 100th anniversary celebration. There are lots of easter eggs thrown in with references to previous movies like Robin Hood and Peter Pan. Asha learns more about Rosas and their king than she bargains for through her application process hoping to become the king's next assistant. This leads to her wishing on a star and starting on a rather crazy and unplanned adventure from there. While everyone is termed as meaning well, there is definitely a clear picture of power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely in this tale. Meanwhile, you'll get a lot of fun musical numbers and an odd bunch of friends who are mostly willing to accept the truth and do what little they can, even when they feel like their hands are tied.

Descendants

Descendants (2015)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Descendants follows the children of some of Disney's classics, including Ben (son of Belle and Beast), Audrey (Sleeping Beauty's daughter), Jay (Jafar's son), Mal (Maleficent's daughter), Evie (Evil Queen's daughter from Snow White), Carlos (Cruella de Vil's son), Chad Charming (son of Cinderella), and Jane (daughter of Fairy Godmother). Ben is preparing for his coronation and decides that one of his first acts will be to bring a select few of the villain's children from the Isle of the Lost to Auradon for a second chance. Things don't go entirely as planned on either side as this quartet has their first taste of freedom, friendship, and all the things in between. There are more than a few bumps on the path as they decide if they truly are villains like their parents, or if perhaps choosing good is really what they wanted all along.

Art Puzzle: Jigsaw Art Game

Art Puzzle: Jigsaw Art Game (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The actual game play and puzzles are a lot of fun. The downside comes with the daily challenges to get the "hidden puzzles." These challenges are often set so high that unless you spend hours and hours that most don't have to game daily, you are not likely to get the secret puzzle for the day. If the game challenges were more realistic for a working family to play, then it would be a lot more fun and more likely to keep the game long term. As is, I can see these challenges constantly not being met driving me batty, and I know I don't have that kind of time to dedicate to a single game every day.

Tile Family: Match Puzzle Game

Tile Family: Match Puzzle Game (Android)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


The game play isn't the same as the ads, which loses points. Realistically this is more of a traditional match 3 tiles game where you earn points to then "buy" the pieces needed to beat the levels. It's an okay idea, and adds a bit of RPG to a standard matching game, but it's also very run of the mill with no choices, just literally paying stars for the next upgrade to finish the level and that's it. 

Cinderella & the Four Knights

Cinderella & the Four Knights (2016)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This is very similar to Boys Over Flowers in many ways, but has some Cinderella elements too as Ha-won is treated very poorly by her stepmother and stepsister. She gets a bit of a lucky break when she catches the eye of CEO Kang who is looking for help with the 3 young cousins under his care. Ha-won may have gotten more involved than she originally planned as she ends up rather close to each of the boys in different ways, but most of all, with the untouchable Ji-Woon. The only problem is, getting involved romantically isn't allowed, so what are they to do as they realize they've fallen for eachother?

Word Carnival

Word Carnival (Android)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This may be my new favorite game at the moment. It does sometimes get a little heavy with the advertisements and the type of word puzzle it is on, however the variety of puzzles to solve are a refreshing change of pace and the game play itself is relatively smooth. There is a mix with the daily puzzle challenges and the map quests to gain new levels. So far game play has been enough to fund any clues or bonuses wanted for a level, though we'll see if that continues to trend or if it tries to force the difficulty to gain more revenue from game purchases.

Goods Sort: Sorting Games

Goods Sort: Sorting Games (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


As far as the actual matching mechanism goes, this is relatively easy to grab and move the pieces around. The downside is in the heavy emphasis on paid upgrades, joining a team, and the ads. The ads aren't just playing between levels, they will outright crash the game so you get a blank screen and can't see or do anything. Unless you are willing to reboot and wait all of the time to load the next piece of game play for a level, this isn't a good game to keep around sadly.

Cryptogram: Puzzle Quotes

Cryptogram: Puzzle Quotes (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This one is interesting in theory, however, the clues are minimal at best. In the end, pray you know the quote or can guess the letters because you won't get any other hints. It's also inconsistent when it marks something as an error or puts it in as if it is correct, making it difficult if you truly aren't familiar with the quote and are taking educated guesses based on the letter placements to finish a word in the mix and identify more letters.

Nuts & Bolts: Screw Puzzle

Nuts & Bolts: Screw Puzzle (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The theory of the game is interesting and challenging most of the time. Some of the levels are easy, but it catches you with the screw placements as the screws themselves will block the plates from moving and/or will block the screw holes so you no longer have a place to move to if you let it swing at all. There is no alternative to the game play other than excessive ads or paying for bonuses to avoid the ads though, making it a poor choice for any type of freemium play.

Cyptogram Letters & Numbers

Cryptogram Letters & Numbers (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


From the ads for this game, it looked like a fun cryptogram with decent clues, however, the reality is you don't really get clues other than the few letters that are filled in at the start. You only get 3 mistakes too before it will reset or try to get you to buy something. The ads are all the time as well, randomly in the middle of game play as well as between levels, making it very difficult to actually play the game at all. Sadly, this will not be one to continue playing.

My Gently Raised Beast 4

My Gently Raised Beast 4 by Yeoseulki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Amon keeps dropping hints with Briddy, but has yet to outright tell her what he is planning or what he wants, resulting in a lot of confusion even as they continue to grow closer. Meanwhile, Lart seems to have grown up very quickly and is taking a much more active role, to the point where he seems even closer to Blondina and Lucy than to Adellai. Adellai, on the other hand, seems to be getting more and more desperate, especially as she realizes Lart has his own eyes on the throne after all and isn't just the airheaded prince everyone seems to have written him off as previously. Even the emperor is clearly fond of Blondina and would prefer peace with the Divine Beasts as well. Until Amon spoke to them however, he wouldn't have had any way of knowing just how easily that dream may be attained, at least as long as Amon and Briddy remain so close. Overall, it's little steps forward with each new installment to this series. It will be interesting to see how everyone reacts when they learn Briddy survived the ice, and just how far Amon is willing to go at this point after having thought he lost her. 

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Frozen City

Frozen City (Android)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


In some ways, this is nice as the characters keep performing their tasks and moving through their day schedule even when you aren't actively playing. In others, it's aggravating as you'll run into the "sleep" period consistently when you are forced to let everyone sleep and can't really do anything in the game play at that point in time. There are also these new "hero" cards that require special stars to level up before you can assign workers to various positions needed for your city to thrive, putting you in a bind where either you are waiting constantly for materials to build up and hoping you get enough stars from the battle quests or paying for materials in the game, turning it more into a premium game than a free game - so "freemium" would be fitting here, though it's maybe not as blatant when it comes to forced ad play or advertising as some other games are. In the end, the forced schedule is rather disruptive as opposed to some games where you can choose to turn to night or sleep or set shifts for your characters. There is a tab indicating that shifts may be something further along in the game play, though suspect the shifts would still only be during the 2 normal working shifts and not during the sleep or meal shifts.

My Happy Marriage 5 (Light Novel)

My Happy Marriage 5 by Akumi Agitogi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Usui has made his move and managed to split of Kiyoka and Miyo, though Miyo doesn't seem to be standing for it, especially not after Kiyoka's last confession before he was taken away. Rather disappointed in Arata at this point and it seems the few allies left are scattered, buried under what little work they can do to try and salvage things, or possibly also locked away at this point. With the emperor also working alongside Usui now and the way the laws are currently written, things are certainly looking rather bleak at the moment. It will be interesting to see what Miyo thinks she can accomplish going in person for this confrontation, especially knowing her powers are limited to the dream realm. If everyone else is correct though, and her power in dreams is truly so much stronger and above all of the other powers, curious that there hasn't been some attempt or focus in her training for her to potentially stop Usui and his fake Gift users rather than simply protecting her and keeping her away from everything, though she has always been more peaceful and non-combatant. We've seen a few instances where her own fire has flared up and she's been an unexpected force to reckon with, especially in the dream world like when she saved Kiyoka.

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Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While this is still a stand alone story that has as much to do with those of the living world learning about the haunted mansion and it's inhabitants, in many ways it is more true to the original story for the Disney ride it is based off of and at least some of the characters that are iconic from the park. It is less of a comedy than the previous attempt to bring the ride to the big screen in The Haunted Mansion, and has a bit more of a spooky/horror twist to it without actually being a horror film given it is still intended for families as the target audience. Madame Leota and Crump (though unsure a name was ever known for the ghost with the "hat box" on the original rides) are central characters when it comes to the ghost side of the story. We even see the bride make an appearance, though she doesn't have nearly as large of a role in the film as she does in the rides. The ending is the most fun, bringing the dining room dance to life, which honestly was the only part of the ride I enjoyed for a long time until I was much older.

Sticker Book Puzzle

Sticker Book Puzzle (Android)

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars


In theory, this is a cute idea and a fun alternative to a traditional puzzle or even a coloring app. It has a lot of forced "ad breaks" though that are highly aggravating and drag on the game play. It also makes it impossible to play without an active wi-fi connection since the ads won't play without it, which will result in you being stuck and unable to proceed with the game play. It's a coin toss after the forced ad break if the game will actually continue or if it will force close and you have to reboot everything, too. Ultimately, it's not worth the constant loading and ad time, no matter how nice the concept seems for a change of pace.

The Fast & the Furious 7: Fast X

The Fast & the Furious 7: Fast X (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Dom and his family are being framed and targeted by Dante Reyes, son of the drug kingpin Hernan they had previously taken down. Unfortunately, it seems he has allies inside the Agency, leaving Dom and his family at a serious disadvantage as they get picked off with one trap after another. As with the previous film, the ending is a bit of a cliff hanger that seems to be setting up for yet another installment to the series. Letty is still in Antarctica while Dom and his son face drowning and perhaps their last allies left are either in critical condition or facing their own showdowns. If another one does come up, it's clear there will be no peace for the time being and Dom may be facing his greatest challenge yet.

Indiana Jones 5: The Dial of Destiny

Indiana Jones 5: The Dial of Destiny (2023)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Indy thought he was retiring, but as usual, ends up in a much larger adventure than he thought he had bargained for, complete with Nazis, time travel, living history, and somehow unintentionally restoring the fragments of his family. Of course they also found a reason to get Harrison Ford on a horse, and he's one actor that really can ride. It's a rather hilarious chase scene and there is one part that you can just about see the green screen in use, but otherwise the film itself is high action and entertaining with a side dish of emotional drama. We have lots of bugs, and eels, which seem to take the place of snakes in this edition, but no actual snakes or the catch phrase "why did it have to be snakes". We do, however, get Indy's traditional gear, including his whip action and his iconic hat.

Avatar 2: The Way of the Water

Avatar 2: The Way of the Water (2022)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Finally got around to watching this during a redeye flight to Florida when I couldn't sleep. The CGI is well done and the characters are still interesting. We don't see as much of Jake, though he's still one of the main characters, as this largely focuses on his children and how they adapt to their way of the life as they are a bit different from the other Na'vi and their family is now being hunted by other avatars. Some adapt easier than others to their new way of life as they struggle to find a new place and settle in to try and keep their family safe. It's not so easy to stay safe though when their enemy is rather relentless and has some idea at least of where they could possibly go for help.

The King's Beast 11

The King's Beast 11 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Rangetsu decides to head back home and see the country on her way. Unexpectedly, she's joined by Teiga along the way. At the beginning, there's a brief ray of hope, but that seems to have been dashed rather spectacularly by the time they make it back home. Considering the way both Rangetsu and Tenyou are handling their separation, can't help but wonder if Taihaku showing up means Rangetsu may soon be back at the palace with her brother and everyone else.

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I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! 1

I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! 1 by Haru Harukawa

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Similar to The Abandoned Empress, our protagonist has a horrible fate in the beginning of the book, only to wake up back in their own past while remembering what happened in the future. This sets them on a path to try and change their own fate, but in doing so, things don't pan out exactly as anticipated. This time around, Violette is determined not to end up hated and lashing out at her new half sister and wishing her happiness with the prince.... except the prince seems to be taking no notice in her sister and instead is seeking her out. At the same time, Violette's old friend, Yulan, seems to be taking a more proactive role in the story and certainly seems more interested and involved than just a friend.

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Mint Chocolate 8

Mint Chocolate 8 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The student president is definitely trouble. Not sure why he has such a big issue with Kyouhei, but he's definitely crossing more than a few lines here. Fortunately Nanami is way to innocent and too stuck on Kyouhei to ever willingly betray him like that, even if she really needs to think again when it comes to them actually communicating. At least Kyouhei got the truth out of her, though hopefully it doesn't lead to more trouble. He's stone faced and non-reactive most of the time.... except when it affects Nanami, then he doesn't take any prisoners.

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Mint Chocolate 7

Mint Chocolate 7 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


School trip time! This student council president seems to be bad news as well. He seems nice enough to everyone else, but there is something going on when Kyouhei comes up, and that's leading to some bad interactions with Nanami. Of course, Kyouhei doesn't seem too concerned about it so long as he keeps his distance from Nanami and doesn't get her worked up again. We also get a bit of history finally on Mizuki, which is nice given how good of a friend he's been to these two lovable dorks.

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Mint Chocolate 6

Mint Chocolate 6 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nanami is struggling pretty hard in this installment as she seems to constantly fear being left behind or not changing. At the same time, she constantly wants to be close to Kyouhei, but is also afraid to be close to him for awhile to the point that she's actively avoiding him basically. Kyouhei doesn't seem too worried as far as the future goes though, at least not at the moment. If anything, he's mainly worried about Nanami and how to cure this strange distance of hers and whatever is ailing her this time around.

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Mint Chocolate 5

Mint Chocolate 5 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nanami's cousin comes to visit and that's a whole strange experience on it's own, let alone her aunt. Things get a bit tense as they try to keep their relationship on the downlow, but really, they're about as obvious as a neon sign. Despite being called out on their name usage as well, it doesn't seem like it's sticking, even if Kyouhei seems oddly pleased by the idea of Nanami using his nickname instead of his surname.

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Mint Chocolate 4

Mint Chocolate 4 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Things get heated when pictures and rumors are flying through the school. Nanami and Kyouhei's secrets don't seem to be so secret anymore. But perhaps that's a good thing as Kyouhei doesn't seem to be shying away from it nor does he seem to really care about keeping it a secret after all. He doesn't seem to be all that great at remembering holidays though if his sudden reaction to White Day is anything to go off of. 

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Mint Chocolate 3

Mint Chocolate 3 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


These two both really need to learn how to knock. More awkward situations, but also more slow progress and understanding as they grow closer. Kyouhei even sort of comes to the rescue when it turns out Nanami is sick for her birthday of all days. Unlikely he'd really care if anyone else needed to make it home or be taken care of until their parents got home.

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Mint Chocolate 2

Mint Chocolate 2 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


There's some repeat content here as they rehash the beginning of this odd family and relationship between the step siblings, but we get a big of new content each time with some glimpse into either Nanami or Kyouhei's point of view at the time and how they see each other. They have a few awkward situations along the way, but at least they seem to be somewhat on the same page now regarding their feelings.

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Mint Chocolate 1

Mint Chocolate 1 by Mami Orikasa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is very reminiscent of Marmalade Boy for anyone who has read the other series. Nanami is shocked when she finds out her crush is now her new step brother. To make things even more awkward, he's about as dense as a rock when it comes to recognizing girls or their emotions. Perhaps Kyouhei isn't as indifferent as he pretends though. If nothing else, there is definitely some sort of pull between these two, which probably isn't helped by Nanami's rather obvious emotions and quick rage any time he's in the vicinity.

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Stuff Sort: Sorting Master

Stuff Sort: Sorting Master (Android)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This is basically the same game as games like Triple Goods Match, Goods Master 3D, etc. It even looks to have identical graphics to Goods Sort Puzzle, though it has a significantly higher rating online and is by a different group. While it does push for earning coins and bonuses, there is a slightly better balance on the ad watching and the ability to watch specifically when you want a certain bonus if you are out of coins to play without feeling like you need to spend money or forfeit the level. Still freemium pushing, but not as heavy handed, making it more enjoyable for some simple play to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

Cat Sort Puzzle: Cute Pet Game

Cat Sort Puzzle: Cute Pet Game (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Overall, this is very similar to games like Elevator Sort where you are trying to match everyone to the same level or branch. Unlike the other game, the branch clears when a full set is made, opening room to continue sorting, which is a nice advantage to other sorting games where the block or cube is blocked off once it's filled. This one also has forced advertising and earning coins per level with the draw of buying ad-ons (specialty cats to sort, backgrounds, decorations, etc.). Honestly, none of it is something that looks to be worth spending actually money on, but there have been stranger things hyped for in-app purchases. 

Word Crush: Fun Puzzle Game

Word Crush: Fun Puzzle Game (Android)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


The game itself is enjoyable and challenging, however, it tries to force ads and top ups very heavily to gain hints or pass extremely difficult levels. It is also misleading in the ads as there is no actual match list as the ads indicated and you're looking for words on your own with sometimes no direction at all for the daily challenges. At least the levels usually have some sort of theme to help get you started. It loses points for the false advertising and the heaving handed push to spend money or watch an insane number of ads.

Cake Sort: Color Puzzle Game

Cake Sort: Color Puzzle Game (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Unlike the sample game play in the ads, there is no option to move the cakes once they are on the board unless you are willing to pay for bonuses. The coin rate from the game is minimal so more than likely if you want or need boosters, you'll be paying out of pocket for them or watching so many ads that there's little to no game play at all. Drops the overall engagement and any enjoyment from the game significantly and makes it so it's not worth the time to try and play. This one won't be sticking around either.

Find It Out: Hidden Objects

Find It Out: Hidden Objects (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Admittedly, I downloaded this for the Oswaldo character to find in the ads hoping for essentially an app version of Where's Waldo. While this character is featured in some of the maps, the game play itself is essentially the same as Happy Find and other similar find it games online, with extensive lists, locked areas, repeat scrolling and forced ads. The forced ads especially kill it and make it nowhere near as enjoyable as it could be - unless you're willing to pay most likely to remove those ads. Freemium at its best.

The King's Beast 10

The King's Beast 10 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Sogetsu himself seems to believe he has multiple personalities and can't identify which one is the real him, but it would seem, he's been himself all along, just relying on the appearance of these alternate personalities to protect himself from the pain he was forced to endure at the emperor's hand for so long. It's also interesting to learn Rangetsu is susceptible to heats, though none of the previous aphrodisiacs triggered it until now. Tenyou once again proves his own determination in protecting the twins when he steps in to help bring Sogetsu back home, which is clearly well timed given neither Rangetsu or Taihaku seem to be a match in the betting hall.

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The King's Beast 9

The King's Beast 9 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The emperor and his beast servant are formidable, but thankfully not a match when the rest of the princes and their beast servants join the fray on Tenyou and Rangetsu's side. Tenyou perhaps pays the heaviest price of them all with the loss of his arm, though this doesn't seem to be weighing him down overall. It does perhaps pose some proof and questions with Sogetsu and Rangetsu's healing abilities, as if they were able to use their power on anyone else, Tenyou would be the one that both would want to help given their positions and ties to him and his sacrifice to help the twins. It appears we are also meeting a prince from another of the authors series in relation to the metal the collar is made of around Sogetsu's neck. At least they found a way to unchain him from the inner palace, even if they can't remove the collar just yet. Sogetsu himself seems to struggle with his own personality and what to do with his freedom even as everyone seems relieved to have him back with his twin and the rest of them despite no one knowing exactly what his position will be as he can't leave the palace since entering it as a servant, but Rangetsu is also now Tenyou's beast servant.

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The King's Beast 8

The King's Beast 8 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It's a bit odd to see Rangetsu dressed like the rest of the princess' handmaidens, but it seems to serve it's purpose getting her into the palace. The twins find each other, but it seems getting Sogetsu out won't be as easy as they hoped, especially if they can't break the chain holding him. For all their planning, it looks like both Rangetsu and Tenyou are in more than a bit of trouble with the emperor and his beast servant.

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The King's Beast 7

The King's Beast 7 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Rangetsu's new uniform is finished, and the design is not helping when it comes to hiding any femininity as it seems to draw it out and be a more feminine design overall. Things come to a peak on several fronts given this new information regarding Sogetsu (both his previously conceived death and now this likely conclusion that he's still alive), Rangetsu actually having an Ajin power after all (and stronger than Sogetsu's same gift), and Tenyou confesses his feelings in such a direct manner, it's impossible for even Rangetsu to misunderstand this time.

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The King's Beast 6

The King's Beast 6 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


More awkwardness ensues as Rangetsu ends up having to try on an assortment of clothes for Tenyou and Taihaku as they are trying to determine his wardrobe as the prince's beast servant. Now we have more people learning Rangetsu's secret as well thanks to the third prince's plotting and this incense that can apparently only affect female Ajin. Even more confusion as Rangetsu is so pleased with the bracelet, but then Tenyou takes it away. Neither one seems to be able to stick with any decision or clear identification when it comes to their emotions or actions. 

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The King's Beast 5

The King's Beast 5 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Tenyou continues to dote on Rangetsu as he slowly comes to terms with his own feelings and tries to express them to the Ajin. Rangetsu herself continues to struggle with her own emotions and may be giving away more than a few unintentional tells about her secret along the way. Taihaku is an odd sort of help in some ways now that Rangetsu is aware he knows and is keeping her secret, but is also incredibly awkward in how he intervenes at times. He certainly didn't think he'd become a sort of touch stone for Rangetsu once she had someone she could lean on who she didn't have to completely hide from. Tenyou still doesn't know the truth, but at least has some idea of just how close Rangetsu and Sogetsu were now that at least it's been reveled that they were twins.

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The King's Beast 4

The King's Beast 4 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Rangetsu continues to draw the interest of the other princes and their beast servants, though it seems this new princess doesn't have a high opinion of Ajin. Tenyou shows more than a bit of cleverness as he fights for Rangetsu in his own way - which does not seem to be helping her growing confusion and changing emotions. Likely none of this is helped by Tenyou's increasing insistence on calling Rangetsu cute, no matter how accurate the assessment may be at times.

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The King's Beast 3

The King's Beast 3 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Turns out Rangetsu isn't the only one who mourns Sogetsu - to the point Tenyou also set up a rather elaborate grave for him - far beyond what it sounds like any Ajin usually expects. Tenyou also seems rather oblivious to just how close he and Rangetsu are, which makes things even more awkward given Rangetsu's secret. Rangetsu is also starting to learn some things about the court, starting with the tea ceremony. Her nonchalance regarding the poison and it's effects on her are also surprising. While things seem mellow between Tenyou and the first and second son, it seems perhaps the third may not be so laid back given this rather hostile introduction at the end of the book and leading into this sport tournament.

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The King's Beast 2

The King's Beast, Vol. 2 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Tenyou is clearly not anything like Rangetsu suspected. Who would think a prince would care about a beast servant to the point that they literally wear themselves out chasing them through the palace - and even up on the roof. Taihaku learning Rangetsu's secret, or at least part of it, could be trouble as well, though he doesn't seem likely to share in that knowledge just yet. The first son and his beast servant both seem to have lost their spark and resigned to the norms of society.... at least until Tenyou and Rangetsu start upsetting the balance. Maybe there's hope for some of the family at least, though it's clear none of them will take such a proactive stance as Tenyou is willing to attempt.

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The King's Beast 1

The King's Beast 1 by Rei Tōma

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Rangetsu is hiding a lot of things - the biggest being that she's a woman masquerading as a man so she can find her brother's killer. Clearly, she didn't anticipate finding unlikely allies or actually liking the prince she thought was responsible for her twin brother's death. Not sure what Tenyou thinks will change trying to investigate this time around - his older brother doesn't sound wrong when he points out that his inquiries are most likely to get shut down again. Hopefully they can uncover something useful before that happens.

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Sasaki to Miyano 1

Sasaki to Miyano 1 by Shou Harusono

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Was a little confused at first with how familiar this story seemed, and then realized it's been adapted to an anime that I've already watched, so of course it would be familiar. The manga is a tad harder to follow with the way Miyano is constantly second guessing everything and debating things back and forth between what actually happens and his BL story references, which can give a bit of a whiplash feeling along the way. The characters are still cute though and the same odd mix of innocent and blunt honesty.

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In Death 57: Payback in Death

In Death 57: Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another good story for the In Death series. This one feels a little more laid back, though there is still plenty of action with Lansing and all the drama. Eve seems to have settled in a bit more and is really enjoying her life at this point, though there are still moments where her snark and cynicism pop up. Hopefully Lansing doesn't make a reappearance and IAB doesn't cause more trouble. With Websters new plans, there's not going to be an in for that department anymore. Not that having a contact in a department has ever stopped Eve or her team from seeing through any of their other cases. Though it's a bit low key, we see the whole bullpen rally for a bit. Jenkinson seems to be leading that charge as well, which would make sense if he's able to take on some admin work for Eve with this new position.

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Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 2

Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 2 by Fuyu Aoki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Luke is an interesting character that I wish we'd seen more real time how and why he changed his tune to his obvious support and admiration at the end of the book. At least there's some resolution for Chloe and she and Lloyd both finally have their feelings out in the open. It feels like there is still a lot left unsaid or changing that could be elaborated on as this pair continues to grow, but it also looks like the story is considered finished with the epilogue, so unlikely we will get more of these characters.

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Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 1

Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 1 by Fuyu Aoki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a twist on a Cinderella tale with Chloe as the sister who is treated as less than a servant, this time due to a birthmark that is the reason she is labeled as a "cursed child". After escaping her home and somehow surviving the trek to the capital, she is fortunate enough to cross paths with Lloyd, one of the First Order Knights. The two of them are equal parts awkward and lost, with their own dark pasts that perhaps allow them to understand each other better than others, even if they aren't aware of it yet. Chloe is just coming to terms with her own feelings and wanting to share her story with Lloyd at the end of this volume after learning of Lloyd's past. Time may be running out it seems as her mother is still searching for her, and now her sister is heading towards her new haven, even if neither are aware.

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The Abandoned Empress 6

The Abandoned Empress 6 by Ina

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Tia struggles with her decisions as she still believes the decision she's made will save her from her previous fate, yet it's clear that things are not the same as they were before. She has many more friends and allies in her quest this time around, and the prince is clearly concerned about her, both politically and personally. It will be interesting as it all plays out to see if this other girl appearing from another world still happens and truly does win favor or if everyone's devotion will remain to Tia with this new world and the positions and true respect she's slowly carved out for herself.

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My Happy Marriage 4

My Happy Marriage 4 by Akumi Agitogi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Miyo's nightmares are getting worse, which means her health is getting worse, too. Her studies with Hazuki are going well however, which seems to be the only pro as Kiyoka is away from home more often as a result of the situation with the grave. Answers about the Usuba are slow to rise, but starting to get some traction there. At this point, the anime is now ahead of the manga story arc, though still behind the original light novel. It won't be long before it catches up however unless there is a pause planned for a second season to continue after the next arc completes in the light novel at the very least. It seems the manga will end up trailing behind as the slowest form at this point and much further behind the story even though it now has the same number of volumes as the light novels (thought that will change with volume 5 scheduled to release next month). Regardless, the story continues to follow closely and these characters are still fantastic. All 3 forms are thoroughly enjoyable.

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Psy-Changeling 22: Resonance Surge

Psy-Changeling 22: Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


We see more of Arwen and Pavel in this addition to the story along with gaining another new pair in the bear clan. Yakov has a bit of his grandfather's gift, and it turns out maybe some other family member's do as well. Theo and Pax are not your standard Psy either, though Pax does a good job of looking the part most of the time. Theo especially is probably the most human and least entrenched in Silence of all the Psy we've met so far, especially given it's still fairly recent at this point that it fell. The Marshall family especially seems to have more than it's share of secrets, and it doesn't seem to be over yet if that ending with Pax is anything to go by.

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He's My Only Vampire 10

He's My Only Vampire 10 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Wow, that's a messed up family tree if there ever was one. The ending is both positive and yet ambiguous at the same time. Just why is it that Kana and Aki have to keep moving and no one knew they were alive for so long? Did Eriya really cease to exist and that's why it seems like Aki now has all 7 stigmas? Does Kana realize her relationship to the angels at all or is she still in the dark about that and just living as Aki's thrall now? So many questions still, but it does seem as if they are at least happy together and everyone else is settling into their new lives without the stigmas.

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He's My Only Vampire 9

He's My Only Vampire 9 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The final stigma finally appears, and of course it's on Kana. On the plus side, Aki now has his memories back, and it seems all but confirmed that Kana somehow plays this unique role 4 times over - thrall twice over, half-angel (not sure on the official designation here), and now stigma wielder. There's a rather amusing short story at the end of this book with a Halloween party put on by the school that doesn't appear to really fit the timeline but is just a fun extra. It seems the mysteries are beginning to unravel.

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He's My Only Vampire 8

He's My Only Vampire 8 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We learn more about the angels in this installment and how they came to possess one of the stigmas. At the same time, we start to see Eriya's darker side and the revelation that Kana is not just Aki's thrall, but somehow also Eriya's as well. It's no wonder then that she constantly feels pulled in multiple directions. With Miyajima's request to know about his sister, can't help but think Kana will be playing a part there as well, which would be rather convenient given her history with the convent and the cross she wore previously.

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He's My Only Vampire 7

He's My Only Vampire 7 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Eriya joins the stage at starts going to school with Aki and Kana. Aki still doesn't have all of his memories though, resulting in a very awkward triangle between the three of them and debates over who makes the best couple with whom. While Eriya seems very charismatic, there is something that seems to be very off with the convenient timing and this new appearance.

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He's My Only Vampire 6

He's My Only Vampire 6 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Just when it seems like things are starting to come together, Aki giving up the lust stigma to get Kana back results in him losing all memory of her. Can't say this new cold and uncaring Aki is anything great, though can see how that could add to the "chaos" as Eve and her Dealer indicate to hopefully locate the sixth stigma. Can't help but wonder if the emperor is somehow actually Eriya given the devotion to him and everyone talking about how frail he is and can't be seen while no one seems to know where Eriya is.

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He's My Only Vampire 5

He's My Only Vampire 5 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Slowly getting more pieces of Eriya, Aki, and Kana's childhood together. It's hinted that Kana may already belong to Eriya, but he clearly had a very different childhood from Aki. If they are twins and both born with stigmas, why was Eriya cherished and Aki considered a demon to be hidden away? Even from this early age, it seems like Kana gets torn between the two to a degree as she's the only one who gets along with Aki or is willing to try and make him happy at all and not just focus on Eriya. Now back to the forest where their story started and Kana back in the hands of those who raised the twins.

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He's My Only Vampire 4

He's My Only Vampire 4 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Seems there might be something else going on with Kana given the way the angel's sword reacts to her. Then there's the commentary that she continually feels like this new thrall power is tearing her apart on the inside.... but is it only because of the power level or something else going on? Looks like 4 of the 7 stigma's have been found, with Aki collecting 3 of them and Jin still holding onto his for the moment. Plus a side of cross dressing with the drama clubs performance that throws everyone for a loop, including some ad-lib. Aki is certainly still dangerous, but he shows more than a few signs of compassion too, especially when you add Kana into the mix.

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He's My Only Vampire 3

He's My Only Vampire 3 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Can't say Aki's "relatives" are anything great. If anything, they seem rather twisted. We finally got some answers regarding the student council though with the introduction of angels. What exactly is this "true power" of a thrall though and the changes going on with Kana? Now they have to deal with these angels as well before they can continue on with Aki's quest if they're to save Eriya. Jin seems to mostly be loyal to Kana at this point, but that results in helping out Aki most of the time.

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He's My Only Vampire 2

He's My Only Vampire 2 by Aya Shouoto

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Kana is still a bit naïve, but we finally see her brother out of his room and slowly seem to be gaining new pieces to the story and each of these characters. This installment leaves off with another cliffhanger introducing a new character once more - this time the nemesis/fiancé. There seems to be something up with the stupid council as well given their intel and how involved they seem to be under the radar. Hopefully at least having this club formed will get the council off Kana's back even if the boys don't particularly care about school requirements.

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Wordgrams: Crossword & Puzzle

Wordgrams: Crossword & Puzzle (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


While the concept of the game is fun, the forced player vs. player is rather aggravating and not at all enjoyable for me. As a result, either I play against the "trainer" to try and avoid it and have a backlog of challenges clogging the screen, or wait and play with other people that does not interest me at all. Wish was there a solo player option and way to turn off the challenges.