Latest novel from Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz's latest novel 77 Shadow Street is now available.

To learn more about it, go to http://www.deankoontz.com/77-shadow-street/

Stonewielder (Covers)

Return of the Crimson Guard (Covers)

Night of Knives (Covers)

Toll the Hounds (Covers)

Reaper's Gale (Covers)

The Bonehunters (Covers)

Midnight Tides (Covers)

House of Chains (Covers)

Memories of Ice (Covers)

Deadhouse Gates (Covers)

Gardens of the Moon (Covers)

Star Quest by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz's first novel debuted as one of the two novels in one volume from Ace Double andpublished in 1968.

This short sci-fi and adventure mix tells the story of Tohm, who has just realized that he lost his body. Then known as Jumbo Ten, he deserted the Romaghin army to find his beloved whom he believed was also kidnapped. His search led him to something bigger and grander than anything he had ever imagined.

Koontz was able to develop the character well in such a short novel. He was able to spare some paragraphs for the character to analyze the situation and therefore allow the reader to sympathize with Tohm.

It felt lacking and Koontz could have stretched and improved it, but it was already obvious from this novel that he would become an exceptional writer that he is today. His skill in description is incomparable. Even his action scenes are well-written. I can see the events play out in my head as he describes them.

I recommend that Dean Koontz fans like myself read this book. They wouldn't find his writing style so alien. It has the the Koontz elements that we so dearly love.

I'm giving this book an 8 out of 10 rating.

The Coming of Cuculain by Standish O'Grady

This book tells us the colorful childhood days and the coming of age of the Celtic race's greatest hero.

The book is divided into sixteen chapters. Each one is about the important events in Sentanta's life, who later on became known as Cuchulain, that marked the important influences and the people that shaped his life. There is also a chapter about Deirdre, whose life and misadventures indirectly influences the events the next events.

Readers who are not familiar with this myth will not find this book difficult to understand. The uncommon words that are used are explained. The introduction will also provide additional information to the reader.

The book tells only the story up to Cuchulain's coming of age after he was knighted. This will serve as a good introduction to the Ultonian cycle. If the reader wants to know what happens next to Cuchulain, I recommend Myths of the Norsemen by H.A. Guerber and Red Branch by Morgan Llywelyn.

O'Grady's narrative is smooth and engaging. I had to finish this book in one night because it's well-written. I'm giving this a 10 out of 10 rating.

Xiahou Dun

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Xiahou Dun from the Dynasty Warriors games.

Cao Cao

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Ezio

I posted this Ezio sketch in my deviantArt. See link below.

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Hachi: A Dog's Story

This beautiful tale of loyalty and friendship will surely make dog lovers cry. It is a remake of the Japanese film Hachiko Monogatari about an Akita named Hachiko who found love and friendship with a music professor named Parker Wilson. Parker tried to find the owners of the puppy who he found wandering in the train station and he even offered it to other people. But no one claimed Hachi. Even then he was becoming more attached to the dog. His wife was reluctant at first but she soon accepted the loving Hachi into the family as well.

For the next two years, Hachi grew more attached to Parker. He would often accompany the professor to the train station every morning and then wait for him to come home. It became their habit to meet outside the station. Hachi would wait for his master on the same spot. Some people near the train station noticed this too.

Then one day, his master never came back. Hachi did not know that Parker has passed away. Parker's daughter decided to take him in but he would still go back to the station and wait for his master. The people who knew Hachi took pity on the dog. They decided to watch over him as he continues to wait for Parker. Hachi waited for nine years.

I cannot begin to fathom what it must have been like for him all those years. Waiting and not knowing when that familiar voice would be heard again is an experience even humans would find unbearable. What was it like for someone who can't talk and ask the people around him 'where is my master and friend'? Did he even begin to understand after so many years that he would never see Parker again?

Hachi's loyalty and the sadness he experienced through all those years brought tears to my eyes. It's common knowledge that dogs are loyal companions, but what Hachi did is just unimaginable. I've never cried as much since I watched Marley and Me.

For the story alone, I'd give this movie a 10 out of 10 rating. This is one of those movies that remind us why dogs are called 'man's best friend'.

Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race by T.W. Rolleston

This book is a great introduction to Celtic culture and mythology. One of the highlights is the introduction of Celtic culture based on written accounts and archaeological evidence. Most books about myths often proceed to the recounting of the stories right after a brief introduction. Knowing about the culture and background of the people behind it will make it easier for the readers to understand the motivation and inspirations behind the tales.

The book is divided into eight chapters. The ff. is the list of the titles of those sections:
1. The Celts in Ancient History
2. The Religion of the Celts
3. The Irish Invasion Myths
4. The Early Milesian Kings
5. Tales of the Ultonian Cycle
6. Tales of the Ossianic Cycle
7. The Voyage of Maeldun
8. Myths and Tales of the Cymry

The second chapter discusses the possible origin of the religious practices and worship of the Celts. While the third chapter is about the first of the four main divisions of the Irish mythical and legendary literature. The fourth  mentions the Geis for the first time which is essential in the Ulster cycle. The fifth chapter is about one of the popular mythical heroes in literature, Cuchulain. And chapter six completes the three main divisions through the stories of Finn and Oisin.

The last chapter is slightly diferrent from the other chapters and it is explained briefly in the first part. It contains the stories in the Mabinogion.

There is also a section dedicated to explaining the possible origins of the Arthurian legends and how the tales differ from those sources. The book however does not compile the stories of the later versions of Arthur.

Overall, the book is easy to understand. I recommend this to readers who don't have a background in mythology. Although the first chapter has a few commentaries that seem biased, this is one of the best compilation of myths I've read so far.

I'm giving this book a 9 out of 10 rating.

Greek and Roman Ghost Stories by Lacy Collison-Morley

This book outlines the general idea of what the people in ancient Greece and Rome thought about afterlife in general. The soul is distinct from the body and has a place assigned to it in the center of the earth after it has departed the body. It is important to bury the dead or else they will wander the earth forever.

There are three types of the dead based on Apuleius' classification: the Manes, Lemures and Larva. The last two are the 'bad spirits'  and are associated with the hauntings.

There is also an interesting section about Necromancy. It is the practice of calling up spirits so the living can consult with them. People also believed that the dead have the power to see the future. The rest of the book contains stories of ghost sightings and excerpts of written accounts from various sources.

This book is divided into 7 parts. The following is the list of those sections:
1. The Power of the Dead to Return to Earth
2.Belief in Ghosts in Greece and Rome
3. Stories of Haunting
4. Necromancy
5. Visions of the Dead in Sleep
6. Apparitions of the Dead
7. Warning Apparitions.

The book is pretty easy to understand if you're already familiar with Greek and Roman mythology. Some historical figures are also mentioned, so reading a little bit about history would come in handy. It would have been much helpful though if the author provided notes about the people and events that are mentioned. This isn't meant as a compilation of horror stories however. Those who are expecting to read creepy stories will be disappointed.

I'm giving this book a 6 out of 10 rating.

Stonewielder by Ian. C. Esslemont

Stonewielder is the 3rd book from the Novels of the Malazan Empire series by Ian C. Esslemont. The book is divided into three parts: Book 1: The Sea; Book 2: The Land; and Book 3: And All the Shores Between.

There are six interconnected stories that can be found. First is Greymane's re-admission into the command structure of the Empire. He was offered to lead the Malazan Army to Korel. Readers will get to know what had happened to Greymane during his campaign in the past.

Meanwhile, the Stormguard is having some problems in their defenses. The foundations of the Wall are weakening and they have a shortage of recruits.

Murders in Banith have caught someone's attention. It seems like the killings have a pattern. But this discovery will endanger someone's life.

An Army is massing to attack Ring. They are opposing the so-called Lady or Protectress. But the history of uprisings are in odds against the success of this campaign.

All these stories all lead to the mystery that is the Protectress whose old name was Shri Kasmil the Destroyer. Apparently there are three relics that can be found all over Korel. These relics are the sources of her power. These are found in the ff. areas: one in Ring, the second one in Sky Tower and the last is in Thol.

The continuation of Kiska's journey was also included here. She and her companions had an encounter with the Tiste Liosan army who seemed to have succeeded in defeating their enemy. How they did it was never explained.

This book shed some light about the people in Korel and the Stormguard. I still have so many questions but I think Stonewielder has delivered. The battle scenes and the description of the destruction wrought by the Great Flood were good. It was easier to sympathize with the characters here than the previous books. There's more emphasis on the emotional impact of the events on the people involved.

I recommend this book to those who have read the Malazan books. This is a great follow-up on the last 2 books of Erikson's series. First time readers will find this confusing however, so I suggest they read the other books first. I'm giving Stonewielder a 9 out of 10 rating.

Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian C. Esslemont

Return of the Crimson Guard is the second installment of Ian C. Esslemont's Novels of the Malazan Empire. Although the title of the book pertains to the Empire's old nemesis, it also marks the start of the changes for the Empire.

The book is divided into 3 major parts:
Book 1: Diaspora's End; Book 2: The Eternal Return and; Book 3: Fates and Chances. The major players can also be divided into three major groups: those loyal to the empire, the Old Guard along with the groups who rose up in rebellion (the Talian League) and the Crimson Guard.

It tells us about the history of the Crimson Guard and their determination to find the Duke - K'azz D'Avore. It will also show the present conditions and sentiments of the Avowed. In Book 3 when K'azz finally announced that he has returned, the Guard split into two factions. The other group is led by Skinner.

The book also provides a background of the Stormriders, the flowering of the first human civilization and Kallor's rise to power. One character also shed some light about the Seguleh society.

Those who have read The Bonehunters might be curious to know what happened to the Wickans. This book will provide some answers.

The battle scenes were epic. There were also instances where the opposing forces had to merge and fight together. When the Malazans defeated the Talian forces, they both opposed the Crimson Guard.

Readers will also get to see Greymane in action for the first time against Skinner. Dassem also showed up.

What I liked most about this book is Laseen's active participation in the events. In other books, she's said to have been a deadly assassin. She showed her skills this time by going against Cowl. An unexpected death however will change Malazan Empire.

The only confusing part was the mention of a Primogenatrix in chapter 3. In was not explained in the latter part of the book.

The story is told from different point-of-views, the most imporant of which are Kyle's, Possum's, Rillish's, Shimmer's and Nait's (or Jumpy).

The multiple battle scenes were handled very well even if the scale is almost ambitious. I liked the match-ups as well. I was happy to see Laseen participating, as well as Tayschrenn.

Overall, it's a great book. I think I'll even add it to my favorites. The flow of the narrative is smooth and the action scenes are well-written. It's comparable to the scope of battles that took place in Memories of Ice but in a much shorter book. I don't recommend this to anyone who has not read a Malazan book yet. Esslemont has a habit of leaving only teasers that readers who haven't experienced reading his and Steven Erikson's works will have a hard time understanding.

I'm giving Return of the Crimson Guard a 10 out of 10 rating.

Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament Finals

After all the trials Seishun Gakuen has gone through, they have finally reached the greatest trial of their journey. In this OVA, they face an old nemesis and the current champions Rikkaidai Fuzoku.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Here are the highlights from each episode:

Episode 1: New opening and ending songs.

Sanada and Tezuka's match turned out to be a battle of wills (and with a little bit of luck). Tezuka lost although Sanada was also at his limit.

Episode 2: Ryoma has an amnesia. No one knows why.

Doubles match between Inui and Kaidoh versus Renji and Kirihara.

Inui's Data Tennis is challenged. He's forced to make the impossible possible. Seigaku forfeited the match due to Inui's condition.

Episode 3: It seemed like Fuji was losing to Niou - but it was all just Inui's dream.

Niou used the Tezuka illusion to challenge Fuji. The match is essentially a battle between Fuji and Tezuka. Later, Niou used a Shiraishi illusion but Fuji surprised everyone with his 6th Counter, the Hoshi Hanabi, and won.

Episode 4: The Golden Pair versus Jackal and Marui. They have been stalling all along to give Ryoma plenty of time to recover his memory. Most of the episode was about the events that transpired before Ryoma had his amnesia. Nanjiro was training him and asked if his son enjoys tennis.

Several players helped Ryoma by having matches with him.

Oishi and Eiji won by using Synchro.

Episode 5: First of the two-part episode of the match between Ryoma and Yukimura.

Since Ryoma was late, Kintaro had a chance to duel with Yukimura.

Ryoma showed his ability to redirect the aura at will.

Episode 6: Continuation of the match.

Ryoma lost his five senses. It seemed like Yukimura was going to win.

Then Ryoma remembered Nanjiro's words. The Final Door is opened - the Tenimouho no Kiwami or Flawless Unity.

The Prince prevails over the Demi-god and wins the championship for Seigaku.

***

This is a great ending to a great series. I love the simplicity of the explanation that Nanjiro has given to the other Seigaku players about achieving Flawless Unity. Just wanting to win the game and working hard are not enough. In Rikkai's determination to hold on to the title they forgot one important thing - enjoying the game itself. It's no longer about tennis for them. Instead it's just winning the title the 3rd straight time. Yukimura never lost a game and so he had one disadvantage. He does not know the feeling of having failed and risen up to take the challenge again and again.

It was also fitting that Ryoma finished the match with a new move - and splitting the ball too!

There are a few things I would have liked to see but overall, I'm quite satisfied with this OVA. I just wish they could have wrapped it up more nicely. Those reporters who have witnessed Seigaku's journey were not present in the ending. They could have had a line or two after the last match. They were important characters too. I didn't see Jyousei Shounan and why was Ryoma's mom absent?

It seemed like things happened so fast but I'm still giving this a 10 out of 10 rating.

~Thank you Takeshi Konomi for this great series!~

Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament Semifinals

After beating Higa and Hyotei, Seishun Gakuen proceed to the semifinals to face Shitenhouji. This 6-episode OVA shows the struggle of the Seigaku regulars to find their true potential and overcome their weaknesses.

The players they will encounter are stronger and have deadly techniques that they need to overcome.

Warning: Spoilers!

The following are the highlights in each episode:

Episode 1: Shitenhouji defeat Fudomine. Episode also showed a match between Tachibana and Chitose.

Episode 2: First match between Seigaku and Shitenhouji.

Fuji is defeated by Shiraishi despite using his Final Counter.

Episode 3: New opening and ending songs.

Momo and Kaidoh versus Koharu and Hitojiri. Match tested Momo and Kaidoh's patience and how well they knew each other's moves.

Episode 4: Taka-san's dream of becoming the number one power player comes true when he survived Ishida Jin's multiple styles of Hadoukyuu.

Episode 5: A doubles match becomes a singles match as Tezuka faces Chitose.

Episode 6: Seigaku proceeds to the Finals.

Kintaro is given a chance to fight Ryoma in a one-ball match. The match lasted longer and ended up in a draw.

***

One of the highlights of this OVA is the 3 Doors of Muga (translated as 'Selfless State'). The players who have this ability have surpassed their limits at one point in the match and are able to copy tennis moves that they have seen before. This will be explained bit by bit during the matches.

Taka-san finally got to test his mettle and the rivals Momo and Kaidoh have shown that they matured.

Bringing a character like Kintaro into the picture furthered my fondness for Ryoma. Kintaro has everything I don't like in a young male character.

I'm giving this OVA a 10 out of 10 rating.

Angry Iskaral with Mogora

Iskaral Pust and wife Mogora.

This drawing can also be viewed through my deviantArt: http://fav.me/d4crvzn

The Paran Siblings

Tavore, Ganoes and Felisin from the Malazan series.

This drawing can also be viewed through my deviantArt: http://fav.me/d4crviu

Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament

Seigaku's journey to the Nationals continue in three short OAVs. The final episode from the main series showed Ryoma leaving Japan for a tournament in the U.S. In the first episode of Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament, Ryoma went to visit his seniors to cheer them on, but because Oishi's injury got worse, the vice-captain decided to let Ryoma play in his stead. This OVA consists of 13 episodes and shows Seigaku's matches against Higa and then Hyoutei.


Warning: Spoilers!

These are some of the highlights of each episode:

 Episode 1: Seigaku cheered for Rokkaku but the team could not beat Higa's players. Oji was attacked by one of the players too.

 Episode 2: Seigaku's first match with Higa. Ryoma plays against Tanishi. Although Ryoma appeared like he was losing, he was actually doing it on purpose.

Episode 3: Fuji (teamed up with Taka-san for the doubles) revealed his Fourth Counter - Kagerou Zutsumi.

Episode 4: Eiji was still upset by Oishi's decision. He decided to play singles this time. At the end of the match though, he told everyone he realized he's better at playing doubles with Oishi.

Episode 5: Inui lets Kaidoh test his limits in a doubles match. Kaidoh wanted to try if he can win a match without using his Snake.

Episode 6: Tezuka reveals his technique called Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami in a match against Kite. Seigaku proceed to the Quarter Finals.

Episode 7: A must-watch episode featuring players from Seigaku and Rokkaku playing beach volleyball. 

Episode 8: Prelude to Seigaku's rematch with Hyotei.

Episode 9: Momo's battle with Oshitari. Momo showed a skill he has learned during his training with Taka-san in the mountains - Instinctive Tennis.

Episode 10: New opening and ending songs. Inui and Kaidoh's match against Hiyoshi and Gakuto. The opponents tried to win a fast match but they did not know they were playing at Kaidoh's pace all along. Tezuka will be facing Kabaji in the next match.

Episode 11: Part of this episode showed a different Tezuka. Kabaji's ability to imitate a player's moves trapped Tezuka in a match with himself.

Episode 12: The Golden Pair versus Shishido and Choutarou. The Hyotei pair showed some resilience but the Golden Pair's chemistry was better. However Eiji and Oishi lost the game when the former stopped the latter's shot. Eiji must have felt (through the Synchronization) that Oishi was at his limit.

Episode 13: Ryoma proves his worth against Atobe. After beating Atobe's technique, the game later turned out to be an endurance match, which Ryoma won.

Seigaku proceed to the Semi-finals.

 ***

The story has a faster pace than the main series. The viewer has to pay closer attention to the dialogue and the comments by the spectators. Inui and Fuji are not the only players who will explain the techniques this time. Everyone will contribute.

I'm glad to see a rematch with Hyotei in the second round. Both teams have shown that they improved.

The beach volleyball episode was hilarious so I advise the viewers to not skip it.

I liked the part where they explored part of Kaidoh's tennis. I've been wondering before how he would manage to win a game without using his famous technique. On the other hand, episode 11 has shocked me. I was happy to see different expressions on Tezuka's face for the first time but it felt so out of character. I did not think it was possible for him to have a weakness like that. Then again, he always keeps to himself and he has to carry the team's problems alone.

I'm giving this a 10 out of 10 rating.

Anyone who likes Prince of Tennis has to watch this. I mean, why shouldn't you?

Onos T'oolan

Tool from the Malazan series. Here's the link to my deviantArt: http://fav.me/d4boipc

Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont

This is the first book that is supplementary to the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Readers who are already familiar with the mentioned series should by now be aware that the Malazan world was not created by Steven Erikson alone. The introduction in the book will explain that.

The book focused on two characters who are caught in the events that transpired on the Night of Shadows - or Shadow Moon.

Temper, a Malazan soldier, has been trying to live an uneventful life. The seemingly quiet and bored veteran however has a past that keeps haunting him. Meanwhile, somewhere in Malaz Island, his complete opposite Kiska stumbles upon an exciting discovery that will open up an opportunity for her to live the kind of life she wants.

Most readers who have read Erikson's books will be familiar with most of the gods and Ascendants mentioned here, as well as the Shadow Realm. One of the highlights of this book is Edgewalker's participation in the events. Part of his nature is revealed here - we know now that he is not human or Jaghut. We also have a good idea of what he looks like.

Part of the mystery of Kellanved and Dancer's ascendancy was revealed here, though readers can only draw mostly speculations as to what happened and how they did it. There was a scene in the book that readers might overlook showing only the aftermath of the encounter between Kellanved and Dancer and Laseen and her Claws. Readers might be wondering if Kellanved was killed but other than the evidences present in the throne room, there are no other clues. First-time readers who want their mysteries solved right away might find this frustrating. It's one of the things I like about the Malazan books though. They provide clues but leave some things unanswered that would force readers to speculate and theorize. If you're the type of reader who likes being spoonfed (and don't want to think for yourself), then this book and the series is not for you.

The Stormriders were also mentioned here several times and readers will now have an idea of what they look like. Their purpose for attacking a certain area however was not stated blatantly but there are hints in the book. Readers should also take note of the attempt of the Stormriders to get near Malaz Island.

Although Ian C. Esslemont's and Erikson's styles differ, the 'feel' of the book is the same. Fans of the series will find no major differences and will certainly have no problems adjusting.

One good thing about Esslemont is that he has better imagery than Erikson. He provides fairly good descriptions of the characters and the setting. Character descriptions however are sometimes repeated in another scene or in another character's point-of-view. It makes you wonder if he copied and pasted the descriptions. But still I enjoyed the book because of that. He was still able to keep the mystery of certain characters without having to sacrifice good imagery.

His actions scenes are better too. I can picture out what's going on in his scenes much easier than Erikson's.

This book has 6 chapters plus a prologue and epilogue. I recommend this to Malazan Book of the Fallen fans and even those who are not familiar with the series. Although most Malazan books are loaded with characters, concepts and mystery, this might serve as a good introduction. It is much easier to follow than Gardens of the Moon (the 1st book in the series) and it introduces two important characters, Kellanved and Dancer, who will play big roles in the 10-book series.

I'm giving this book a 9 out of 10 rating.

Ouran High School Host Club

This 26-episode series follows the life of Haruhi Fujioka with the Host Club and its six members.

Most of Ouran Academy's students come from wealthy families but Haruhi managed to get in the school as a scholar. She accidentally stumbled upon the Host Club in the first episode and broke a vase. The Host then asked her to pay for the broken item but since she could not afford it, she had to take on the job as a host. 

Because of Haruhi's appearance, the members thought that she was a guy. Eventually, they found out that she is a girl through subtle clues when they interacted with her. The last one to notice this was Tamaki Suou, the leader of the Host Club.

They all agreed to keep it a secret to maintain her image but there are noticeable differences in the way they are treating her since then.

 The rest of the Host Club members are as follows:
1. Suou Tamaki - referred to as the "King" of the Host Club. He is cheerful, a bit narcissistic and sometimes dense but his friends trust and respect him nonetheless. He treats the other hosts as his family.
 2. Ootori Kyouya - co-founder of the Club and is in-charge of the records and finances of the group. Sometimes portrayed as cruel and aggressive. Even though he appears cool most of the time, he is very passionate about his work and studies.
 3. The Hitachiin twins Kaoru and Hikaru - they have more episodes dedicated to their story than all the other hosts. Before they became friends with Tamaki, people stayed away from them. They built a barrier to prevent other people from trying to make friends with them. Those people who want to get close to them tend to fall victim in the little game they invented where they are forced to tell the twins apart from each other. Haruhi was the first person to notice the differences between Kaoru and Hikaru.
4. Haninozuka Mitsukuni - the Host who looks like a kid and is considered a Shota type. He likes sweet food and stuffed toys and is known to everyone as Honey. But don't let those looks deceive you. He is good in martial arts and is also known to possess a bad temper.
5. Morinozuka Takashi - he's a close friend and protector of Honey. He doesn't talk very much but despite his intimidating appearance, when he's paired with Honey, girls would go crazy over them.

 This series is a mix of comedy and romance, with the former more obvious than the latter. Most of the episodes are about the members' past and their relationship with the other hosts. There is little progress in the romance between Haruhi and Tamaki (and even between Haruhi and Hikaru) so viewers who want to see a little more romance might be a bit disappointed. One of the best things about this series though is the female lead, Haruhi.

Haruhi and Tamaki

She is different from most heroines in any series of this type. She does not have any rigid rules about gender and dressing up. She's a bit dense, yes, but she's like a breath of fresh air when compared to most girls in anime. Her voice is not high-pitched and she is neither a cutie pie or a violent tsundere.

I recommend this to anyone who likes both comedy and romance and who wants to see a different type of female lead. There's also a bit of boys' love in this series that some viewers may like. It's very entertaining. I don't often find myself laughing when I watch a series but this made me laugh more than I expected. I even enjoyed the antics of the fangirls. I admit I wanted to see more progress in the romance part but I was disappointed. That part was frustrating for me.

I'm giving this series a 9.5 out of 10 rating.

Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz

This is another tale of the possibilites that one's heart is willing to take.

Spencer Grant is haunted by his past. He despises it yet he stubbornly clings to it, waiting for an opportunity to understand a part of himself that he's afraid to explore. When he met valerie Keene, everything changed for him. He could not explain why he was drawn to that woman but he just knew that if he could just talk to her, he'll know the answers. But Valerie's gone and now he's being pursued by an unknown group of people. People with power and influence. And they won't stop.

Dark Rivers of the Heart is divided into two parts: On a Strange Sea and To the Source of the Flow. Like most of Dean Koontz's books, the characters have dark pasts that they somehow had to accept and overcome. But unlike the usual Koontz protagonists, Roy Miro isn't well-educated, smart and wealthy. But he's overly confident and merciless. Although he himself was not blessed with good looks or a high I.Q., he believes he's entitled to the the privileges he's getting. Coupled with Eve Jammer, they make an annoying and formidable opposition.

For the first time, I hated one of Koontz's protagonists. Waiting for Miro's punishment kept me going. I didn't like what he did to Harris Descoteaux.

The ending was a bit disappointing to me. I was expecting Miro to die a painful death, but I guess bringing down the secret government agency in which he belongs is just too complex. Besides, the ending showed that Grant and the others were willing to fight and to save victims like themselves.

I liked the tension between Spencer and his father near the end of the book. I also did not anticipate Spencer's father, Steven Ackblom, to turn things around. Readers will also get to compare which character is crazier: Miro or Ackblom?

I recommend this to any Koontz fan who wants to see some slight changes in the type of characters. Miro is an effective nemesis. You'd love to hate him.

The Prince of Tennis (live-action movie)

The Prince of Tennis live-action film is a shorter version of the anime, which combines some of Ryoma Echizen's rivals into one character, Egate Mcleod Higaki. He also replaced a member of Hyotei, Hiyoshi Wakashi.

The first part of the film shows his introduction to the Seigaku tennis club regulars. Ryoma here is undecisive and he doesn't seem happy to be playing tennis with his seniors.

If there was a hint of this in the anime, it's more obvious here. He seems to have little motivation in playing against other schools. His match with Tezuka Kunimitsu however somewhat changed his perception of the junior high school players. But that alone wasn't enough to convince him to stay and help Seigaku get to the Nationals.

From left: Kaidoh, Momo, Eiji, Tezuka, Ryoma, Oishi, Fuji, Taka-san and Inui

But when Higaki visited the tennis club to taunt Tezuka and the other members, Ryoma changed his mind.

The match against Hyotei followed the same events in the series except for Ryoma and Higaki's match. Halfway through their match, Higaki's relationship to the girl whom Ryoma met earlier was explained. It also provided a bit of an explanation for his attitude. The girl, Shioin Higaki, replaced Ryuzaki Sakuno's character from the series and is Egate's sister.

The last part of the match was a test of endurance instead of skills. It was a bit anti-climactic for me.

Fans of the Ryoma-Sakuno pairing might be a bit disappointed but overall it's a good movie. I'm glad that they didn't alter some of the characters' personalities.

Coach Ryuzaki Sumire didn't play a big role here and she wasn't even around during the matches.

Fans who have seen some of the musicals will be familiar with the Seigaku cast. Prince of Tennis fans will enjoy this.

***
Directed by: Yuichi Abe
Cast:
Kanata Hongo - Ryoma Echizen
Yuu Shirota - Tezuka Kunimitsu
Hiroki Suzuki - Oishi Shuichiroh
Hiroki Aiba - Fuji Shusuke
OSamu Adachi - Kikumaru Eiji
Hirofumi Araki - Inui Sadaharu
Yoshikatsu Kotani - Kawamura Takashi
Masaki Kaji - Takeshi Momoshiro
Kousuke Kujirai -Kaidoh Kaoru
Egate Mcleod Higaki - RIKIYA
Nanjiroh Echizen - Goro Kishitani
Shioin Higaki - Sayuri Iwata

The Prince of Tennis

Most anime feature a prodigy destined for greatness. The series would then follow the exploits of that character to his or her final quest. Yet most of those characters start off weak and in desperate need of a mentor, friends (who at first were enemies) and perhaps even a love interest who will inspire him or her to do great things.

Ryoma Echizen is a tennis prodigy, but he certainly does not start off as a weakling who needs practice and experience badly. Unlike most characters of his type too, he is not loud, obnoxious and someone you could easily make fun of. For those qualities alone, I consider Prince of Tennis the best anime I have seen to date.

The 42-volume manga was created by Takeshi Konomi. His work inspired a 178-episode TV series, animated and live-action movies, musicals (Tenimyu), more than a hundred songs, radio drama (Rajipuri) and video games. Whoever thought that a sport such a tennis that involves almost no physical contact with opponents and fast matches can be turned into a series like this one?

Ryoma has the makings of a great tennis player. The son of the legendary Samurai Nanjiro, he came to Seishun Gakuen to enhance his skills. The series started off slow at first and viewers might be blown-off by Ryoma's personality. It got more interesting when he meets Seigaku tennis club's regulars and defeated most of them. The story takes a turn as it becomes apparent that it is not just about the kid's journey to greatness but Seigaku's journey to the National Middle School Tennis Championship.

The Seigaku regulars, led by Tezuka Kunimitsu, have national-calibre talent. Tezuka himself is one of the the most feared and respected by his peers. Each one has a special skill that sets him apart from the rest. But will those skills be enough to take them to the Nationals?

The rest of Seigaku are listed below:

From left: Tezuka, Momo, Oishi, Kaidoh, Taka-san, Eiji, Fuji and Inui.
Front: Ryoma

1. Tezuka Kunimistu - team captain of Seigaku and considered by everyone, including their opponents, as the man to beat. His personality is quite similar to Ryoma in some ways. He is also a brilliant student.
2. Fuji Shusuke - considered a genius but he lacks the passion and purpose for playing tennis. He often goes into court to avenge a friend or teammate who lost.
3. Oishi Shuichiro - considered the 'mother' of Seigaku because he worries a lot about his teammates. This vice-captain is the other half of the famous Golden Pair and is known for his excellent ball control.
4. Kikumaru Eiji - the very athletic doubles partner of Oishi. Although bubbly and hyperactive on court, he has a weakness for long, endurance matches.
5. Kawamura Takashi - called Taka-san, he's the power player of Seigaku. He is very shy off-court but when he gets hold of a tennis racket his personality changes. Near the end of the series, Taka-san reveals that it's his last year as a tennis player.
6. Momoshiro Takeshi - considered as Ryoma's closest friend. Momo is also a power player and the rival of Kaidoh. He's very loud and often gets into silly fights and like Ryoma, he has a huge appetite.
7. Kaidoh Kaoru - passionate and often too serious, Kaidoh is an imposing presence on and off the court. He's also the most hardworking and physically fit in the team. Kaidoh is also the future team captain of Seigaku.
8. Inui Sadaharu - considered the brains of Seigaku, he uses Data Tennis to find the weakness of opponents. He also terrorizes fellow prayers from time to time with his deadly concoctions. He  also has an air of mystery in him because he never takes his glasses off.
9. Coach Ryuzaki Sumire - she's also the former coach of Echizen Nanjiroh. Grandmother of Sakuno who has a crush on Ryoma.

The other supporting characters will help the viewers understand the matches and the techniques used by players on the court. The reporter Inoue fills in that role when Inui or Fuji are not around to comment during the matches. The players on the court themselves do not talk about their techniques often unlike other series that involve matches or fighting.

Three freshmen are also among the supporting cast. Ryoma's mother will also be introduced in the series later. It featured her meeting with Nanjiroh.

The series is divided into different arcs according to Seigaku's progress towards a spot for the National tournament. The following is the list of arcs from each season of the series:

Season 1
1. Intraschool Ranking Arc
2. Tokyo District Preliminary Arc
3. Seigaku Training Arc
Season 2
4. St. Rudolph Arc
5. Seigaku Training II Arc
6. Tokyo Preliminary - Yamabuki Arc
7. Intraschool Ranking II Arc
Season 3
8. Kanto Tournamennt - Hyoutei Arc
9. Tezuka's Deaprture Arc
10. Kanto Tournament - Jyousei Shounan Arc
Season 4
11. Kanto Tournament - Jyousei SHounan II Arc
12. Recreation Arc
13. Kanto Semifinals - Rokkaku Arc
Season 5
14. Training to Defeat Rikkai Dai Arc
15. Kanto Finals - Rikkai Dai Arc
Season 6
16. Receartion II Arc
17. Junior Selection Camp arc
18. Junior Selection Team VS US Coast Team Arc
19. Recreation III Arc
Season 7
20. Intraschool Ranking III Arc
21. Start of Nationals Arc

The best players of the opposing teams helped improve Ryoma's skill. Among the most important players he faced was Akutsu Jin from Yamabuki. Their match spanned 4 episodes and Akutsu also plays a big role in easing Ryoma's doubts prior to the match against Rikkai Dai's Sanada Genichirou.

Talented though Seigaku may be, they are not perfect. Even the Golden Pair has lost several matches. Players of different teams will be introduced prior to the matches. They also have special techniques which Seigaku has to match and overcome.

The following is a list of the schools Seigaku has to beat:

The team captains

1. St. Rudolph - their best player is Fuji Shuusuke's younger brother, Yuuta. Their talent scout Mizuki uses data tennis as well.
2. Yamabuki - best player (at that time when they faced Seigaku) was Akutsu whose athleticism and various tactics Ryoma had to overcome.
3. Hyoutei - their tennis club has 200 members. Led by Atobe, the regulars are an even match against Segaku's talents. Among the teams listed here they are considered Seigaku's best rival.
4. Jyousei Shonan - their coach employs coordination training which enhances the players' talent. Ryoma faced Shinjou Reiji and withstood his unusual techniques.
5. Rokkaku - they also have a good freshman and captain, Aoi Kentaro, in their team. They consider Seigaku as their friends.
6. Rikkai Dai - reigning champions of the National Tournament, they are fighting for their injured team captain, Yukimura Seiichi. Their vice-captain, Sanada faced Ryoma in in episode 126.

Hyoutei has matched up against Segaku a few times in the series and it was Atobe who exposed the extent of Tezuka's injury during their match.

The Junior Selection Camp allowed Atobe and Sanada to match up as well as show one flaw in Ryoma's character. Althought the series showed him to be a very talented player who is able to adapt to any situation and defeat any type of player, the weakness he has shown here added a balance to his one-sided character.

One of the things I love about the series are the unforgettable characters the Seigaku team meet on their way to winning the championship. Atobe is probably the most unforgettable of them all because of his personality and his famous line.

I enjoyed most of the filler episodes as well. The chibi episodes in particular were very entertaining. The Junior Selection arcs are fillers too but as I have mentioned above, it helped add a balance to Ryoma's personality.

The series ended with Ryoma's departure prior to the Nationals. Seigaku's matches in the Nationals will be shown in the OVA.

Aside from Ryoma's characteristics, most critics say that Prince of Tennis is boring. It takes more than ten episodes before a viewer can finally see the direction the series is taking. Again, Ryoma's skills seemed a bit too much for his opponents even when he met his seniors from Seigaku for the first time. However, the focus will not be entirely on Ryoma but on the entire team. Viewers will finally see some drama when they realize that this is Seigaku's last shot for the championship together, especially when they realize that six of the players will be going to high school. Now that they have Ryoma, they have a better chance of fulfilling that dream they sought since Tezuka, Oishi and the rest were still freshmen. That part about Tezuka's freshmen years will be shown much later in the series.

Another positive quality of the series is that even if it's more than a hundred episods, the series clearly has a direction and a sure ending. There will be no excuses for having spin-offs that will stretch this into a never-ending series.

The series does not focus too much on women as well. It's one of the things I like about Prince of Tennis. The women, although they played big roles in shaping Seigaku's players, are not annoying and overpowering. There's a hint of romance between Ryoma and Ryuzaki Sakuno but it's not like other series where the protagonist's motivation for winning is a woman. If you're the type who hates cutesy girls who have mice-like voices or violent tsunderes, then this series is perfect for you. If you like an all-men series, I highly recommend this as well.

I recommend to anyone who wants to give this series a try to watch up to 30 episodes before they decide to drop it. It takes time to build up the story leading to the important matches. Also, the intraschool rankings will introduce the rest of Seigaku. It is as important to get to know Ryoma as well as his seniors.

I'm giving Prince of Tennis a 10 out of 10 rating.

A Darkness In My Soul by Dean Koontz

This 1972 science-fiction novel was one of Dean Koontz's earliest works. This book explores the facets of the human mind, its desires, hopes and and its quest for meaning and purpose. The book is divided into four parts: Divinity Destroyed, Humanity Restored, The Incomplete Creation and Man As God.

The protagonist Simeon Kelly is one of the two successful products of Artificial Creation. He has the ability to probe the minds of other people. One day he was asked by AC to explore Child's mind, another creation of AC, to unlock the missing information needed to create the shields that will be used for the pending world crisis. Child, the first supergenius ever created, has been withholding important information from Morsfagen and the rest of AC.

Simeon's tour of Child's mind takes him into strange worlds and forced him to think and reshape his view of things. Different though they were, he realized that they were both looking for meaning and purpose in their lives beyond that of their use to AC. Child however, has created an elaborate system based on myths and religions and trapped Simeon in that strange world. Unlike Child too, Simeon had a chance to get in contact with a lot of people including Harry Kelly, who treated him like a son.

He managed to get out of Child's elaborately-built world, taking with him the supergenius' psychic energy, but he failed to do what Morsfagen has asked of him. Confronted and trapped by Morsfagen, he was forced to devise another plan that would ultimately change the world.

This book explores the human psyche - the ego, superego and id, and later on, the concept of God. This is not as detailed as Koontz's later books but I still enjoyed it. He did not choose to focus on the world crisis but instead on the development of Simeon Kelly and how the events taking place around him helped shaped the conclusion of the story. As a fan who was not exposed to his earlier works, I find this really weird and refreshing. It still has the distinguishable characteristics that identifies it as a Koontz book, including a surprising ending. Readers who are not familiar with the concept of the human psyche and Greek mythology might find this a bit confusing but Koontz will explain the former in the later part of the book.

One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz

Once again Dean Koontz has shown that even a life full of despair does not necessarily create a broken, hopeless soul. Micky Bellsong's life was forever changed by one girl she met one day at her Aunt Geneva's house. Like Micky, Leilani Klonk lived with terror all her life but she was able to cope better than Micky did. What sounded at first as some sort of joke turned out to be the grim story of Leilani's life.

Leilani is trapped in a strange family. A stepfather who allegedly killed several people and a mother who calls herself Sinsemilla and who's always high on drugs and self-delusion. He also told Micky about Preston's, her stepfather, belief on aliens and their power to heal deformities. Her brother Lukipela was taken by Preston to the said aliens and was never seen since. As Leilani's 10th birthday approaches, her fated meeting with aliens draws near. She fears that Preston killed her brother and that he would do the same to her.

Meanwhile, a boy tries to outrun his relentless pursuers. He witnessed the murder of his mother and the massacre of a family whose house he had sneaked into to get some money and change of clothes. The family's dog goes with him and together they had an adventure that made their bond as brother and sister even stronger. He takes the identity of Curtis Hammond and at first it was not obvious that he was a shapechanging alien until he encountered Gabby. In Chapter 32, the first hints of his uneathly qualities came when he was described as a boy 'who never slept in his life'.

Koontz did not focus on the two competing alien races but instead on the pursuit of the characters for hope and safety. He also discussed the issue of utilitarian bioethics. It has the elements common to most of Koontz's books: great imagery, characters with traumatic pasts, dogs, and a megalomaniac for a protagonist.

The convergence near the end of the book eventually explained Curtis's purpose on earth and the Gift that he was supposed to each the residents of this planet. What that Gift is has surprised me and I love it for its simplicity and its involvement of dogs. I'm glad he did not choose any superficial technique as the Gift.

Breathless by Dean Koontz

"Within every chaos, is an eerie order waiting to be revealed. " ~ Lamar Woolsey, chapter 44

This tale of hope amidst the challenge of the unknown and the threats of humanity's capability for cruelty and destruction can be considered as one of Dean Koontz's masterpieces. The plot is no different from most of Koontz's books involving science fiction and suspense and yet he still doesn't fail to surprise me.

The book is divided into three parts. The first is called Life and Death in which he introduces the main characters of the story: Grady Adams, Merlin the dog, Camillia Rivers, Lamar Woolsey, Tom Bigger and Henry Rouvroy. How these characters will affect each other was not clear until the final few chapters of the book. Henry was more like a distraction from the main story although it seemed like he will have a huge impact on the lives of the other characters. Tom Bigger also did not have anything to do with the characters I mentioned but his experience, which wasn't revealed until later, provided some light into the strange events that's been going on in the world. Liddon Wallace is one of those characters with megalomania (characters that are common to most of Koontz's books) and provided  the model for the negative side of humanity. Yet he was somehow redeemed when a strange event took place. His last appearance in the book showed him as still the same proud guy but the experience kept bothering him and forced him to reflect about his life.

Koontz's unmatched talent for imagery was showcased in this book. When he introduced the two strange creatures and described them bit by bit as Grady and Merlin were getting to know them, it was easy to picture out what they look like.

Chapter forty-two described what could be the possible origins of Puzzle and Riddle, and also marked the start of the complications that will affect Grady, Merlin and Cammy. Lamar later plays a big role in explaining another possible theory.

Part two is entitled Death in Life. Here the story peaks. Lamar finally met the duo and things started to become more complicated as the government has now taken over the situation. The reader also gets to experience the events through Puzzle's and Riddle's point of view for the first time in chapter sixty-one. Lamar also spoke of the possibility that the duo were new species, not the products of science. Here Koontz shows he has done research about the subjects he discussed.

Part three is called Life in Death. It is aptly named because the message of this book is about hope. Despite people like Henry and Liddon, there's still hope for humanity. We think that because we are able to explain a lot of things because of science, we already know everything. But even those theories that withstood time can't explain certain things in life. They should not be the basis for how we must live and treat each other and all the creatures we share this world with. 

This book gets a 10 out of 10 rating.

Fiddler

Below is the link to my deviantArt. It's a drawing of Fiddler, a character from the Malazan series.

http://fav.me/d42glms

The Crippled God

The Malazan series ends with unexpected twists, surprising revelations and heartbreaking deaths. The Crippled God picks up from where the stories in Dust of Dreams left off.

It has two main stories: one, the mission to free the Crippled God, and the fight to save Kharkanas. It also included points-of-view from the Forkrul Assail, Tiste Liosan, Korabas, and Kaminsod - the Crippled God.

The Bonehunters continue their march through the Glass Desert and eventually met the Snake, which until after the meeting was a mysterious player in the overall story.

Meanwhile, the Shake fight on for Kharkanas. Their determination humbled the Tiste Andii, who have at last come home. Although at first it seems that this has no connection to the Crippled God, it was later revealed that there was some of of alliance between the K'Chain Nah'ruk, Liosan and Assail.

Paran and the rest of Paran's Host also appear in this book. Recall that in Toll the Hounds Picker tried to contact Ganoes but he was too busy to engage in a long conversation.

Mappo continued his search fo Icarium and Tool's role, and the significance of the events in the previous book, wasn't clear at first.

The physical description of the Forkrul Assail is much detailed here than in previous books. Kalyth also narrated the events that occurred during the occupation of the Forkrul Assail of Kolanse.

Although in the previous book it was mentioned that several gods would be involved and possibly fight over something, only the usual participants appeared in the book. There was a scene however where gods and goddesses were gathered at the Fall of Coltaine where they seem trapped or were unable to take any action. I don't know what to make of that. Draconus' grand entrance was also overrated but I'm glad he didn't interfere with the later events.

Some casualties might shock the readers but it was foreshadowed that Stormy, Gessler, Gruntle, Yedan Derryg and Mappo would all die. As for Tool's happy ending, it still didn't make sense why he didn't take any actions when he was still leading the Barghast. He could have left  earlier or prepared his family better. I still think it was selfish and irresponsible and that he doesn't deserve a second chance with Hetan.

There was one scene involving Quick Ben that intrigued me. He was talking to someone he called Mother and Father and I can't make sense of it. It somehow implies that he has some connections with Mother Dark and someone he called Father. But Quick Ben is one mystery that I don't want to be solved.

I also wondered how the release of Korabas will affect the other events. I was pleasantly surprised that it had a connection to the Crippled God after all. Not all books nowadays are hard to predict.

I love how Erikson wrapped up the main series by ending with the reunion of Apsalar and Crokus, and Fiddler talking to a boy when he was fishing, which mirrors the events in the first book.

There was only one character in this book that truly broke my heart and that was Kaminsod. I wish he was given more time to narrate the events in his point-of-view. There was no mention of him later too. It seemed that everyone was so quick to forget that he existed.

The book also discussed the many aspects of human nature. Humans are by nature destructive and that is why the Assail wanted to rid the world of this vermin to impose order. The Perish have their own version of imposing balance and that's letting the Wild flourish. Unlike humans, beasts don't try to destroy everything they see. But for Kilava, humans and the wild are the same and that reconciliation is possible.

Throughout most of the journey of the Bonehunters, those surrounding Tavore spent most of their time speculating about her real motivations and the source of her determination to fight a hopeless battle. During the conversations, several interesting insights can be gleaned and these in turn can best describe the overall theme of the book. The theme can summarized in three words: faith, compassion and despair. Tavore has faith in their mission because to not believe is to invite despair and contemplation that everything they have done so far is meaningless. Compassion too is what has driven her to free the heart of the Crippled God. Although in the previous books it seemed that Kaminsod was only driven by need for vengeance, he was not evil. Gods and people have been feeding on his suffering. He therefore has no choice but to despair and it's not surprising that he's been plotting for revenge. What Tavore sought to do was to balance the scales by freeing someone who did not deserve to suffer. Korabas too was a victim. She did not choose to be that way but instead of giving in to despair, knowing that she was not wanted, she still chose to live.

It was touching to know that part of the reason why Tavore has done all those things is because she felt responsible for her sister.

This is a great conclusion to the series although the part about Kaminsod was a bit lacking.

Rating: 9 out of 10

***
Here is the list of the 10 books in order:
1. Gardens of the Moon
2. Deadhouse Gates
3. Memories of Ice
4. House of Chains 
5. Midnight Tides
6. The Bonehunters
7. Reaper's Gale
8. Toll the Hounds
9. Dust of Dreams
10. The Crippled God

More Reviews to Come

So far I've done a few reviews of some anime, books and video games. I'll be writing more reviews of my favorite anime series in the next few weeks as well as the novellas from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. I'll be rereading some of Dean Koontz's works too. Most of what I've reviewed so far I have watched/read/played in the past 3-4 years. I'll be including some series that I've recently finished too.

Things to do:
1. A four-part review of Prince of Tennis.
2. Top Ten lists of anything from the Malazan series.
3. Reviews of my favorite books by Dean Koontz.
4. Summary of some mythology and folklore books I'm going to read.

Junjou Romantica Season 2

The second season of Junjou Romantica is even better than the first. Misaki and Usami's relationship has leveled up. However, Misaki still questions his feelings for Usami, and what's more, the couple has to face more problems: the involvement of Usami's family.

Misaki met Usami's brother for the first time and trouble ensues. It seems that Haruhiko wants to steal Misaki, but Usagi took up the challenge and even kissed Misaki in front of Haruhiko.

Meanwhile, Hiroki and Nowaki still argue over the same issues as in the first season. But the couple here is more determined to keep their relationship stronger. They are more open about their feelings and they're doing their best to discuss problems openly instead of avoiding confrontations.

Miyagi also got the chance to finally tell Shinobu about his past - the woman, his teacher, whom he loved before. He apologized when he realized that Shinobu was insecure about it.

In the latter part of the series, Misaki also meets Usami's father. The father later told him that their relationship has ruined the family. For Misaki, it finally began to sink in that the kind of relationship he's in can potentially hurt the ones around them. I think this was all that was needed to let Misaki reflect on his feelings for Usami and give him a time to decide what he should do. This test also proved that he feels the same way for Usami.

I enjoyed this 12-part series. The storyline got even better and it was hard not to keep watching 'til the last episode. I'm giving this sequel a 10 out of 10 rating.

Dust of Dreams

In Dust of the Dreams, the story of the Bonehunters continue. Tavore and her army march across the Wastelands to Kolanse after staying in King Tehol's Letheras. Their allies, the Perish and the Khundryl, will join them along the way.

At first it was not clear what Tavore's intentions were but after the reading, done by Fiddler at the beginning of the book, they found out that they were marching to the lands occupied by the Forkrul Assail.

For the first time too, the readers will be given a chance to experience the events through the K'Chain Che'malle's point-of-view.

When the Errant heard about the unleashing the Deck of Dragons, he decided that the Elder gods should take action. The Errant, threatened by the upstart gods and the Master of the Deck, wanted to take everything he has lost. And so he gathered the Elders and discussed his plans.

Somewhere within the same continent, the Barghast were having problems of their own. Beset by internal strife, some clans have decided to separate from the larger group. They still haven't found the enemy they were destined to fight and it seemed that their dissatisfaction for Warchief Onos Toolan's lack of action has reached an end.

At the same time, a horde of children, survivors of a war, travel across a barren land beset by diseases and pursued by unknown forces. Their destination is unknown as well as their purpose.

Meanwhile, an odd company of strangers trailed by a ghost travel together and explore a strange 'city'.

Like the previous book, Dust of Dreams contains a lot of character introspection but to a lesser degree than Toll the Hounds. The overall mood too is dark, forewarning the reader that dark events are about to come.

Several themes have been explored in this book. Some of the characters who experienced similar situations showed different ways of coping with the problems. One such example is the difference between Torrent and Kalyth, who are both the last survivors of their tribes. Although plagued by regrets, they each tried to cope differently. Torrent was adopted into the Barghast and Kalyth by the K'Chain Che'malle. Kalyth was more determined to keep her memories alive by accepting her new role, but Torrent was content to see the Awl'dan children being integrated into the Barghast tribe.

Memories either served to strengthen the characters in this book or weaken their resolve. Memories too caused long-time friends Fiddler and Hedge to go separate ways. The Errant, remembering all his days of glory, sought to gain what he had. But for Sechul Lath, the past is past and it should just stay that way.

The memories within the Refugium was what its denizens also wanted to preserve. Now that it's dying, Silchas and Rud set out together to find a way to save everything - the Imass residing in that place, the culture and the glory of the past.

The legacy of the past was what kept Yan Tovis going on. Relying on the words of a blind man, she led the Shake to the Shore.

Some of the characters, recalling some events tried to weigh the past by looking at what-if scenarios. Some of them just dwelt on regrets. There are also plenty of passages in the book that tried to summarize the events that took place in the previous books. Cuttle told the story of the Bridgeburners and Olar Ethil revealed a lot of information as well. Yan Tovis and Yedan Derryg also pieced together information about their people's past.

For Cuttle however, history is "...just what's survived. But they're not the whole story...". An army, no matter how successful and no matter how many battles a commander has won, individual stories can't be found in the pages of history or in songs sung to heroes. I guess what Cuttle wanted to tell the young soldiers listening to him is that glory alone is not worth fighting for. He said that the Bridgeburners despite all their success, had to pay a price in the end.

Tanakalian will probably disagree with that statement because for him even when the exploits of an army is unwitnessed, the undertaking of an impossible mission is a glorious act in itself. He was referring to Tavore's plan to march to Kolanse where there is a possibility that they will be opposed by everyone and even isolated.

I also commend Erikson about his insights on women. There was a scene where Bakal asked Estaral why women were so willing to see another woman get hobbled. Kisswhere also commented on her fellow women and how they relate to each other. Not all men are familiar with how women build and destroy their relationships with other women.

Erikson brought up the idea of binary opposition as well. According to a K'Chain Che'Malle, tension is needed and that one god alone cannot exist for long. One force cannot exist without the other.

This book is full of revelations. It's important to read the previous books and to remember some of the past events that are mentioned here.

The battle scenes were okay but I admit I really can't see them play out in my head (but I'm not gonna dwell on those details).

What happened to Hetan greatly disturbed me. I'm not saying that it shouldn't have happened to her but it just seemed so out of character for Tool to act and think like the way he did in this book. I understand that he was having difficulties in dealing with the problems among the Barghast but he looked really weak. Although this isn't as good as Deadhouse Gates or Memories of Ice, the last two battles were unforgettable. After reading this, you will definitely want to start reading The Crippled God right away.

Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou

What could be more tragic than lovers torn apart by betrayal, sense of duty and families willing to fight each other to the death.

Kouga Danjo and Ogen's granchildren suffer the same fate that befell them years ago. It seems like the stars decreed that they were not meant to be together; that peace between the Tsubagakure of the Iga and the Manjidani of Kouga, two ninja clans, will never be realized.

The story is set at the time when the heir of Tokugawa Ieyasu was being decided. To end the conflict, Ieyasu sought the counsel of a priest, who told him that the ninjas might be useful to decide who the rightful heir is. The ninjas were also seen as a threat and that letting them kill each other will benefit the government.

Gennosuke and Oboro

Little did they know that the two clans were about to reconcile through the marriage of Gennosuke and Oboro. Danjo and Ogen both knew this but did not mention it when they were summoned to Sunpu in what they thought was just a showdown of ninja arts. They both died and the war was carried on by the eighteen ninjas listed in the scroll.

The Iga found out about the contents of the scroll first and sought to lure Gennosuke to their camp so they can trap and kill him. The Kouga became suspicious and after sending a few people to Iga they soon discovered that the cease fire between the two clans has been broken. Gennosuke shows his ability for the first time. They then made their way back to their home.

From that day on, Gennosuke and Oboro were separated. Both felt that the war between the two clans was unjust. Oboro decided to seal her eyes so she would not accidentally harm her friends or participate in the fight. Gennosuke did the same.

This 24-episode series showcased the skills of the Kouga and the Iga ninjas, and tested the resolve of Gennosuke and Oboro who are trapped in the middle of the conflict.

Each member, composed of ten from each clan, employed special techniques. The following is the list of the other members of each clan, not including the former leaders and Gennosuke and Oboro:

Kouga

1. Kagerou, who's been fed poison throughout her life and uses her beauty and charms to kill enemies.
2. Kisaragi Saemon who can imitate another person's identity and even the facial features. His technique allowed him to infiltrate the Iga.
3. Muroga Hyouma, Gennosuke's mentor and friend. He is blind but he taught Gennosuke to see more as a precursor to teaching him a deadly technique.
4. Kasumi Gyoubu who can merge into any solid surface.
5. Okoi, Saemon's little sister who has the ability to absorb the enemy's blood when they come in contact with her skin.
6. Udono Jousuke, a playful and jolly fellow, who has a surprisingly elastic body.
7. Jimushi Jubei, who doesn't have any arms or legs. He hides his weapon somewhere.
8. Kazamachi Shogen, who uses phlegm when he attacks.

Iga

1. Yakushiji Tenzen, the immortal ninja who is more skilled in manipulating people than in actual combat.
2. Akeginu, who's very close to Oboro. She has the ability to use her blood during combat to distract enemies.
3. Chikuma Koshirou. He possessed the ability to creat whirlwinds with his breath and is also skilled with the boomerang.
4. Amayo Jingoro, has an unusual technique of being able to change his appearance into a liquid form. He has to have a water source nearby however or he could die.
5. Hotarubi, a demented girl who uses butterflies to overwhelm her opponents. She also has a pet viper.
6.  Mino Nenki, who uses his hair during combat.
7. Asuki Rousai, an old man who has the ability to stretch his powerful limbs.
8. Yashamaru. He uses a black rope made of women's hair and treated with a secret oil.

***

Someone once told me that the plot was silly because the ninjas were just trying to kill each other. However this has a basis in history. But that was not the focal point of the series. Like I mentioned earlier, the government saw the ninja clans as possible threats in the future. They were no longer needed and yet they were still practicing their deadly arts. Unlike the samurai, they were expendable.

The story tried to look more closely at the relationship between the two clans. Gennosuke and Oboro's love was tested. The frustration was there. What choice do they have? They can't defy orders and besides, both clans were willing to annihilate the other. Only the lovers wanted peace without having to spill any blood.

The series will make you feel helpless. Oboro too is not such a strong character and sometimes it makes you want to thump her head. She'd make up for it in the last episode though. I like what she did although it was a sad conclusion to the story.

The fight scenes are okay but I will not recommend this to anyone who does not like gore and blood.

Personally, I think Tenzen is a disgusting type of character, which made him even more effective and a formidable opponent. Seeing him die was all the more satisfying (and guess who did it?).

I like the animation and the opening and ending themes were both okay. I'm giving this series an 8 out of 10 rating.