Month: September 2020

Adventures in Music – K-pop #1 – Stray Kids #1

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If someone had told me five years ago that I was going to be a K-pop fan today and I would have glared and said “yeah, right.” I’d long since moved away from a lot of pop music, having gone through the teenage Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls phase, and had started in on heavier stuff like In This Moment and Five Finger Death Punch.

Then I started watching Korean dramas and came across one called Dream Knight. This show, though a bit corny and low budget, starred the boys from GOT 7. When I realized that they were an actual band, I decided to see what they were really like. I found the video for Just Right on YouTube, which started by adventure into K-pop.

Stray Kids is a fairly new band, having debuted in 2018. The first song I ever heard by them was Side Effects. That song led me to Miroh, which I didn’t love at first, but has since grown on me. From there, I found more and more of their songs (mostly through music videos on YouTube) like Victory Song, Voices and District 9.

So, naturally when they come out with a new video, I’m fairly aware of it. Not like a hard core fan, but I do become aware of it fairly soon after release. Recently I saw the video for Back Door, which is, correct me if I’m wrong, their latest release as of the time of this posting. Well, I loved it. Everything about it. The video is fun, the dancing is awesome and the song makes you want to dance along (since I can’t really sing along).

Naturally, the next step was to purchase the album, which I did yesterday. This morning, I gave it a listen while working. It played through 2 or possibly 3 times. There were no songs that I didn’t like or wanted to skip. Back Door continues to be the song that stands out the most to me but I also liked Wow and B Me.

I purchased another album at the same time but I’ll talk about that in a different post.

Do you like Stray Kids? Have you heard their latest album, In Life? What did you think?

Magic Slays – Kate Daniels #5 – Book Review

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Synopsis:

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price.

This review will contain spoilers if you have not read the previous books.

Kate has left the Order of Merciful Aid and has opened up her own business, which so far hasn’t gone well for her. When she finally gets a real paying job, she of course jumps at the chance and is ready to get the job done and get paid. Of course, this job isn’t as simple as it seems at first and quickly goes sideways, as many things in Kate’s life do.

At the same time, Kate’s adopted niece, Julie, decided to run away from school again. Deciding to “put her to the test”, Kate doesn’t just go pick up Julie and haul her back to school. Kate isn’t really “mother” material but she is definitely guardian material. She’s teaching that kid to be resilient and how to survive in a world that will very likely want to destroy her.

Kate is now living in the Keep as Curran’s mate. At the end of the previous book she more than earned her place as the alpha female of the Pack, even if that isn’t really what she wants to be.

This book has a lot of twists and turns. In the course of her investigation, Kate comes to learn a great deal of about her past that she never knew before. Including things that a shed a whole new light on her mother and how Voron raised her. Learning these thing also casts Curran under suspicion.

I haven’t been Curran’s biggest supporter from the beginning, so I found this whole “does he love me? Does he love me not?” thing a little annoying. Personally, I would still love it if Kate just took off somewhere and found a way to deal with her biological father on her own, but I know that isn’t going to happen.

Curran needs a good punch to the nose sometimes. Though Kate has hit him on multiple occasions so I don’t think that will actually do any good.

Overall, this book is a great read. It’s fast paced and action packed and hard to put down.

Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for reading!

I apologize if this isn’t the greatest review. I recently had minor surgery and am still on painkillers. I just wanted to get this written before i start the next book.

My Top 5 Mobile Games

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For this list, I’m looking at my favorite mobile games of all time. There’s not much more to say about that, so without further adieu, here we go!

5. Sims Free Play – I don’t actually play this game anymore, but I still think it’s a great games. There is lots to do to keep a player entertained for hours. I stopped played because once I maxed out levels, things became a little tedious and I felt like I spent too much of my time playing.

4. Merge Dragons – Like merging things? Like dragons? Enough said.

3. Merge Magic – I’m putting Merge Magic a bit ahead of Merge Dragons, even though they are basically the same game, because there’s something about the colours and the creatures in Merge Magic that I like just a little more.

2. Candy Crush Soda – There are several candy crush games, but my fav is Soda. Not sure why exactly, but if I’m in the mood to crush candy, Soda is my candy crushing of choice.

  1. Charm King – this was the first match 3 games I played on an Iphone and indeed one of the first ever mobile games I ever played. I may take breaks from it from time to time but I always end up going back.

What are you favorite mobile games? Do you play any these? Let me know in the comments below!

Adventures in Anime – The Earl and the Fairy

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I read the manga version of the Earl and the Fairy a few years ago, so when I came across the anime version on Tubi, I decided to give it a go. I ended up watching all 12 episodes in one sitting.

Lydia Carlton is what is known as a Fairy Doctor. She can see all manner of fairies and it’s her job to mediate between the human and fairy worlds. On her way to London to meet her father, Lydia comes across Edgar. Edgar is in search of a treasured item called the Merrow Sword. Whoever possesses this sword will be acknowledged as the descendant of the Blue Knight Earl, who once ruled the fairy realm. In order to find the sword, Edgar needs a Fairy Doctor.

Although he initially tricks her into helping him and basically kidnaps her, Lydia chooses to help him because she dis a kind person and she sees more in him than what is on the surface.

I enjoyed this anime in the way I enjoy many anime like this. It’s most fun and light hearted. The overall story isn’t particularly intense or even that original. It’s fairly predictable, as many anime like it are.

At it’s heart, the Earl and the Fairy is a romantic anime, surrounding the developing relationship between Lydia and Edgar. At only 12 episodes, it’s fairly short so there isn’t that much development. I would actually like it if more of this was made and their relationship could be fleshed out more.

Overall, I give it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. It’s nothing spectacular but watching it isn’t a waste of time either. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy anime.

Get 50% of an ebook on Book Lovers when you use my promo code JEANA50.

Magic Bleeds – Kate Daniels #4 – Review

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Synopsis: Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family… 

This book didn’t begin the quite the way I would have expected. It started with a bit of an emotional hit on our poor heroine.

This book was pretty action packed, and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I felt bad for Kate many times. Her life isn’t easy and trouble has a way of finding her.

There was a part of me that really wanted Kate to walk away from everything. I wanted her to pack a bag, grab her new attack poodle and just disappear somewhere beyond all the politics and random messes that surround her. I thought it would be an interesting way to go but of course, Kate isn’t that kind of person. She will never abandon people who need her.

My opinion of Curran fluctuated a great deal in the book. I went from mildly disliking him to outright hating him to actually liking him. Will I continue to like him? Maybe. We’ll see.

A great deal happens in this book. Quite a few things change for Kate. The eventual confrontation with her biological father is looming on the horizon. 7 more books to go. What will happen next?

Get 50% off on an ebook on Book Lovers when you use my promos code JEANA50.

Magic Strikes – Kate Daniels #3 – Review

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Synopsis:

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games – an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament – she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

I devoured this book in two days and loved every second of it! From the first word, I was engaged and didn’t want to put it down. If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to work the next morning, I probably would have stayed up the entire night reading.

I continue to love Kate as her character builds and her secrets are slowly revealed. In this book, we get some glimpses into her past and what her childhood was like.

Curran is still an arrogant alpha male, but his behaviour has become a little less “I’m going to get in her pants because she said no” to “I’m going to get in her pants because I like her”. I feel confident Kate and Curran are going to end up together. Poor Kate, she knows logically why she shouldn’t get together with him, but her body has other ideas.

More of an overall plot to the series is developing, and I’m really pumped to see how it all plays out. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t say much more there.

I give Magic Strikes 5/5 stars! I highly recommend it to anyone who love urban fantasy, especially series like Mercy Thompson. The relationship between Kate and Curran reminds me a bit of Mercy and Adam near the beginning.

Have you read this series? What did you think? Do you agree with my love?

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Adventures in Listing – Series I’m Eager to Finish

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For this list, I’m looking at series that I have started, but not yet finished. Generally, this could be because when I bought the first book(s) the rest of the series hadn’t yet been published. I’m not taking genre into account for this, so any novel, manga or graphic novel is eligible, as long as I have read at least one book in the series. Books I own that i have not yet read are not eligible.

So, in no particular order, here are the series I am most eager to finish:

  • Symphony of Ages – Elizabeth Haydon
  • The Iron Druid – Kevin Hearne
  • Kate Daniels – Illona Andrews
  • Wonderland Comic Series
  • Grimm Fairy Tales Comic Series

What series are you eager to finish?

Magic Burns – Kate Daniels #2 – Review

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Synopsis:

Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive…

I think I might be in love with this series. yes, I know this is only book 2, but wow, it is awesome! If it keeps on the way it started, this series is going to be a wild ride.

Kate is definitely a new favourite character of mine. She is a smart ass who can kick ass and also be empathetic. In this book, we get to see a bit of a different side of her when she encounters a 13-year-old girl, Julie, in need of her help. The way Kate refers to Julie as “my kid” is great! They barely know each other but they form a bond quickly, one that I think will continue throughout the series.

Curran is a character I can’t decide if I like or not. He is something of a stereotypical alpha male. He’s strong, arrogant and used to be in charge. He does well by the Pack, but not so much by Kate. Circumstances brought them together again in this book without her actually reaching out to him. Then, he blames her for bringing chaos into his life, while also taking every available opportunity to tease her in a sexual manner. I can’t decide if he truly likes or if he’s just an ass. Beast Lord or not, he really needs to be punched in the nose, preferably by Kate.

I’m sure their paths are going to cross again. His lion form is on the book covers after all.

There a quite a few little hints dropped about Kate, how powerful she could be and who her father really is. We learn a few little tidbits in this book and I can’t wait to find out more about her.

Thank for reading!

August 2020 Wrap up

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August was a pretty good month for me all around. I returned to working in my office after working remotely for 4 months, which seemed to trigger other things returning to a more kind of “normal”.

Getting back into the normal routine of getting up, going to work and coming home really helped me get back into other things I usually did, such as reading. This month, I finished off the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher, read a stand alone book and started the Kate Daniels series by Illona Andrews.

My plan for September is to complete the Kate Daniels series. That’s ten books so it may be a little ambitious of me. I also have 3 books pending for review. I’d like to get to those sooner rather than later, but I’m not going to force myself to read something I’m not in the mood for.

After accidentally buying a book that i already owned, for about the 20th time, I have decided that I really need to get through a lot more books before I allow myself to buy any more. I really dislike having to return books.

My focus for the rest of the year is to get through as many books on my shelf as I can. Funny, because I have been saying that for awhile and then end up buying new books at some point. Well, I will try harder having announced it on the internet.

Happy reading all!