Monday, September 29, 2008

"Boku wa, Tori ni Naru" ("If I Were a Bird")

I have just finished watching the entire series, Code Geass R2: Lelouch of the Rebellion. Wow, what an amazing epic story. I almost lost faith in this series midway through the second season but I stayed loyal to the end. After 50 episodes (almost a year!), I'm definitely glad. The ending also has a major surprise.

Right now, I will discuss one of the songs from the second original soundtrack (OST) called "Boku wa, Tori ni Naru" (English translation: "If I Were a Bird") by Hitomi. I strongly believe this should have been the ending of Episode 25 instead of the Ali Project song. It has a lovely night box melody that turns mysterious and majestic. This song is so good and addictive! When I find the lyrics, I will update this review and post them (English and Japanese) on the blog.


Update! Stay tuned for my review of Code Geass! I will have it ready in November.

UPDATE: I have posted the lyrics in English and Japanese. Click on the link below to access them.


When I just can’t find my way
You are always there for me
When I am out of my way
You are always there for me

When I just can’t find my way
You are always there for me
When I am out of my way
You are always there for me

Like a bird in the sky
You set me free
You give me one heart
Like a star in my night
You’ll always be a part of me

When I just can’t fly my way
You are always there
You are always there
You are always there for me

In my darkest dreams
I hear you call me
You give me the reason to live
In my dirty heart
I hear you call me
And you reach out to carry me away

No one can save my soul
Only you

Like a bird in the sky
You set me free
You give me one heart
Like a star in my night
You’ll always be a part of me

Kurai tsuki anjisuru
Sono hikari no saki de wa
Futashika na sonzai no
Boku no yume ga umarekawaru

Isogi ikiru kedo
Gomen ne

Tori ga sora o tobimawareru you ni
Boku wa jiyuu ni ima nareru n da

Boku wa jiyuu ni ima nareru n da

Tori ga sora o tobimawareru you ni
Boku wa jiyuu ni ima nareru n da

Like a bird in the sky
You set me free
You give me one heart
Like a star in my night
You’ll always be a part of me

Like a star in my night
You’ll always be a part of me


Friday, September 26, 2008

Review: A Bite to Remember (Argeneau Vampire #5)

If you're going to fall in love with a vampire, make sure it's a bite to remember.

A Bite to Remember, by USA Today Bestselling Author Lynsay Sands, is the sixth addition to the Family Argeneau series. This novel centers on the life of Vincent Argeneau, nephew of Marguerite and cousin to her children (Lucern, Bastien, Etienne and Lissianna). Vincent is a 400+ year old vampire who lives in Hollywood and is the son of Victor Argeneau. They share one genetic trait: they cannot drink bagged blood because they lack a certain enzyme to ingest it. Therefore, Vincent must feed off human hosts during the day to control his hunger. Marguerite suspects that Vincent might become self-destructive because he has lost passion in his interests (for example, theatre), lost some body weight, and seemed more disinterested and detached from life. She also visits him in Los Angeles. In the meantime, someone has a grudge against Vincent. This mysterious person tries to shut down his plays through hypnotizing actors with “contagious anemia” and destroying stage equipment and sets. Before someone gets hurt, he closes the productions indefinitely to figure out who is behind this mess.

Bastien calls on his private investigator friend, Jackie Morrisey, to unravel the mystery of this case. She along with her assistant, Tiny, travel to Los Angeles to meet the vampire. Sexy, intelligent, and discreet, she is an excellent problem-solver when it came to dealing with vampires. However, Jackie has a secret: she has a negative preconception of immortals. Psychologically damaged from a sour relationship with a previous vampire, she vowed to act in a business demeanor, not sleep in the bed with Vincent! She can’t fall in love with a spontaneous, wealthy vampire, or so she thought. Opposites certainly do not attract, right? Unfortunately, the suspect is on a murderous rampage and leaves Jackie near death. Can she accept her new fate? Can she still follow the suspect’s lead? Or will it be her last bite to remember?

I loved this book so much!! I could not stop reading!! I would rate this book #2 to Single White Vampire This was truly a mystery novel that kept me wanting to read more and more every day! I was not disappointed with the amount of sexual imagery in the novel either because Sands chose to focus more on the case as well as new characters in the novel. This was truly a mystery novel with a great ending that I had not expected at all! This book reminded me why I enjoyed reading P.N. Elrod’s Vampire Files (Jack Fleming), Tanya Huff’s Blood (Vickie Nelson) and Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire (Sookie Stackhouse) series. I was drawn to the characters’ imperfect but human emotions as well as their ability to solve mysteries.

Readers will also learn that vampires can alter their body shape. While Vincent is lean because he never desired to eat real food, Lucern has a muscular body shape because he was raised in a time period where people fought with swords in combat. Even though those days are over, Lucern still ats food to keep his muscle mass. We also meet the Notte vampire family, who are originally from Italy, who play a critical role in the novel. This book was so good that I am giving it five stars. It was comical as well as suspenseful. In addition, all of Marguerite's children have life-mates so readers will appreciate the fact that the storyline does not have any more loopholes.

The original inhabitants of the city of Atlantis were an advanced civilization with regenerative capabilities because of nanos technology. In addition to incredible physical strength, their skin would heal quickly and remain youthful indefinitely. Unfortunately, they had to avoid the sun because the nanos will eat away at the organs in the search for more blood. Overtime, they developed fangs to retrieve blood from a host for survival. A proper form of punishment by death would include a beheading or lying outside in the sun for the nanos to eat away the organs. The vampire council has very strict rules in which all vampires must abide by to keep their existence unknown to humans.

Vampires are not dead or soulless blood-sucking animals. They don't age, can walk in the sun (although it reduces their blood supply in their pale skin and rather be nightwalkers), very strong, can read people's minds, can have sexual intercourse and reproduce to have babies! To keep their population numbers down and less obvious to humans, however, they have a child once every century. They even work among humans although they lie about their condition and travel frequently to avoid stares and their discovery as vampires. They can eat regular food to keep their bodies in shape, but must have blood supply to soothe the hunger and heal quickly. A stake can kill them because the heart cannot pump blood to stop the swelling and bleeding. Garlic and holy crosses do not harm them.

There are currently four more books published in this series. I have a lot to read and catch up! The next story focuses on Lucian, 3000-year-old ancient vampire (and brother-in-law to Marguerite) who finds the world predictable and dull until a hunter operation turns sour and an attractive surprise falls in his arms. Sands is so gifted when it comes to creating sexual imagery in her characters!

Stay tuned for the next novel in the Argeneau Vampire series, Bite Me If You Can
.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Review: Smoke and Shadows (Tony Foster #1)

...it began with shadows--shadows that seemed to be where shadows didn't belong, shadows that almost seemed to have an existence of their own....Tony tried to ignore it---until he found Nikki Waugh's body...and felt the shadows' touch.... Then shadow cast its claim on lee, and a stunt crash went wrong for no discernible reason, and Tony knew he had to find out what was threatening everyone on the set. And of course, he needed Henry's help...."

Smoke and Shadows, by award-winning Canadian novelist Tanya Huff, is the first book based on the side character, Tony Foster, from the Vickie Nelson Blood series. The setting is contemporary in Vancouver, British Columbia. Tony relocated to the West Coast with Henry Fitzroy, 500-year-old vampire bastard son of King Henry VIII of England, to establish a new life for himself. Once a homeless kid at living on the streets at age 15, Tony returned to school for his GED and has his own place. Now at the age of 23, e landed a job as a Production Assistant at CB Productions for the syndicated TV show, "Darkest Night", a vampire-private investigation series. Surely nothing could have been worse for Tony until the unexpected happened.

He started to notice shadows. Weird shadows that did not belong there. Then the shadow's touch claimed someone's life. Then everyone on the set touched by the shadow started to act weird and/or become injured. Tony knew he had to figure out what was threatening people. Once he realized he was dealing with magic beyond his comprehension, he needed Henry's help. Once Arra Pelindrake, the special effects technician and wizard from another world, told Tony the truth about the situation, he had no choice but to accept the unbelievable. Tony, Henry and Arra will have the impossible task to save the entire world before the Shadowlord destroys everything.

I was very happy Tanya Huff, same author of the Vicki Nelson series, began to experiment with a different genre. I will admit I had little initial interest in wizards. I learned a few things in this new series. Tony Foster is an open homosexual who still acts masculine. It is nice to know that one can be gay and not fall predisposed to stereotypes. I knew nothing about wizardry, but from my perception of Arra, it is not an impressive skill. Henry is still struggling with the knowledge Tony needs to live his own life. It seems Tony and Henry were very close relationship-wise. Tony still remembers Vicki and Michael whenever he needs help with the police from the Blood series. I was happy that Huff uses these references.

I wanted to like this book but it presented many problems. First, Henry Fitzroy is a minor character in this series. Very different if you're used to reading the Vickie Nelson "Blood" books where Henry was a major character. Huff wants to give Tony the center stage, but it's hard to grasp since many fans want to learn more about vampires, not wizardry. Second, Huff tries to hard to make Tony act typical young adult and as a result the plot suffers. I am usually not a stickler for profanity, but it was not necessary. When Tony felt alone, he was right: no one was there to sympathize with him, including the reader. Last, some parts of the book bored me. Since Henry was only active at night, Tony and Arra had the responsibility to take care of evil shadows during the day. Tony is not a particularly interesting person to watch when he fights. The plot as a result suffers tremendously near the end.

I still recommend this book because I have high hopes the next books in this series will involve more Henry and Tony mastering his new wizardry skills. This is my first book on wizardry, and I understand why I avoid this type of genre. Treat Henry as an accomplice and not some type of liability or non-existent character!

Also check out the Vicki Nelson Blood novels (5-6 total). I will need to read the sixth book, Blood Bank, which came out recently. R.I.P. the TV Show, Blood Ties. I haven't heard any updates so I'm assuming there will be no second season.

Stay tuned to the next book in the Tony Foster Wizardry series, Smoke and Mirrors.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Review: Death Note (2007)


Death Note (2007) is a psychological and supernatural Japanese anime thriller about a young man who wants to rid the world of criminals and corruption. Yagami Light is a serious, highly intelligent Japanese student with great academic prospects. Meanwhile, he's bored out of his mind in high school. One day while walking from school, he discovers a mysterious black notebook with the words, "Death Note," written on the outside lying on the ground. It came from the realm of the Shinigami (literal translation: Death Gods) who have the power to kill humans in any way with the stroke of a pen. Light uses this book to achieve what he desires: a perfect world without crime. With his shinigami partner, Ryuk, Light seeks to become "God of the New World" when he passes judgment on those who are deemed evil or get in his way.

Unfortunately, when reported criminals drop dead one by one inexplicably, the police authorities send a legendary ace detective (who calls himself by one letter, L) and the International Police Organization to track down the killer, who goes by the name, "Kira." Light realizes that L knows Kira can identify and kill people without laying a finger on them. Light attempts to avoid detection. As two of the world's greatest minds, they engage in a long and deadly psychological chess-like battle of wits, logic and deception. Who will ultimately outlive and settle this score?

This series was simply awesome. I followed all episodes and the ending is sad and tragic. There are more characters and shinigamis that appear throughout the series. The whole concept of the story was original and amazing. Death Note also spawned two live-action movie versions and an anime movie, Death Note: Change the World, that focuses on a case within the last 23 days before Light's death. Shinigami, based upon Japanese folklore, are a race of extra-dimensional beings who survive by killing humans to extend their own lives. People will eventually die regardless of whether or not the Shinigami pay attention to them, but a Shinigami can end their lives sooner than intended for their own benefit. That's what made this series so compelling and interesting to so many viewers. You have a character here who thought he could play God and rule the world, but that's not how life works. Even his partner, Ryuk, realizes this was nothing but a tragic game for someone whose ego was larger than life.

What is the notebook specifically?

A shinigami's Death Note is a notebook that can kill any human whose name is written in it. All Death Notes are governed by the same set of rules determining the extents and limitations of the Notes' powers.

Written rules


* The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
* This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
* If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject's name, it will happen.
* If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of a heart attack.
* After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.


The music in this series was primarily gothic and hard rock. The band, Nightmare, produced excellent songs near the beginning of the series. I loved it because it matched the personalities of the characters and different themes throughout the show. Yes, there have been occurrences of copycat Death Note notebooks in the news. It is a very popular show that is currently dubbed in English and aired on Adult Swim of the Cartoon Network. I highly recommend this series. Check it out now!!

=red>This series is available to buy and rent on DVD.


  • Episodes: 37 (39 if you include the two specials)
  • OP Song: "The WORLD" by Nightmare; "What's Up People?!" by Maximum the Hormone
  • ED Song:"Aluminia" by Nightmare; "Zetsubou Billy" by Maximum the Hormone; "Coda ~ Death Note" by Yoshihisa Hirano




"The World" by Nightmare

"Alumina" by Nightmare

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Review: Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire #5)

Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks -- unless the killer decides to find her first...

Dead As a Doornail, by Charlaine Harris, is the fifth novel of the Southern Vampire (“Sookie Stackhouse”) series. The setting is contemporary winter season in the rural town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. As a cocktail waitress at Merlotte’s Bar, Sookie Stackhouse has a secret gift: she can read people’s minds. (She’s telepathic). She’s around 26 years old. As if things could not be normal around her, her brother, Jason, has been turned into a shapeshifter from a bite in the previous novel. Before she can accept his changed condition, someone is targeting the shape-shifting community with murder. And the community suspects Jason, as the newest member, is responsible.

Unfortunately, Sookie is vulnerable when someone nearly burns her house down -- with her still inside. Eric, Viking-era vampire, gives her a bodyguard for security reasons and Bill, her first vampire lover, returns for her rescue. To make matters worse, Alcide (from Club Dead) asks for her support in a werewolf ceremony to choose the next clan leader. Along these journeys come ongoing love triangles and dangerous consequences. Why does someone want to murder Sookie? Can she clear her brother of any wrongdoing? Can she save those around her before it's too late?

this book was a very quick read (try four days!) for only being 300 pages. I was relucant to read this novel since I was very disappointed with Dead to the World (check my links below for my review). However, this book did not disappoint. Loaded with action, romance and suspense, this is the type of book that clearly marks Harris' talent. I cannot wait til the sixth book comes out since there is still more to learn about some new characters in the novel. This is your typical mystery-supernatural novel with lots of drama and action.

As much as I wanted to give this five stars, the ending did not really impress me. It is quite open given that we never hear again about one character who nearly almost killed Sookie. Does Charlaine Harris plan to write more about this character in her next novel? If not, then she really messed up by incorporating character development on that person. I am still curious as to what will happen to them. Don't expect a happy ending with Sookie and Alcide either. It seems that Sookie never gets a break because her life is either in constant danger or she is "employed" to work for the vampires and werewolves. Expect more supernatural beings to pop-up in this novel: shapeshifters, fairies, werewolfs, vampires, oh my! As for Bill fans, don't expect much drama between him and Sookie. ::sighs:: But Eric fans should not be disappointed.

Overall, this book was nice for getting through those long days and perfect for indoors rainy weather season.

295 pages, Hardcover, $22.95 Price

Stay tuned for the next novel in the Southern Vampire series, Definitely Dead.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Coming Soon: Supernatural (Season 4)

Hello everyone! The premiere of the fourth season of Supernatural is approaching soon. It will air Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 9:00pm Eastern Time on the CWTV channel. I am very excited to learn what happened to our favorite main cast, brothers Dean and Sam Winchester. If you have never heard of this series, the Wiki page states "[the brothers] travel across the country in a black 1967 Chevy Impala investigating and combating paranormal events and other unexplained occurrences, many of them based on American urban legends and folklore, as well as classic supernatural creatures such as vampires, werewolves, and ghosts." Click on the link below to see the promotional video and learn more about the season premiere.

Bella will no longer resume her role in this season, but the series introduces another female character, Kristy. I can't wait to see what she will bring to the show. I do not know if Ruby reappears, but I hope she does returns. She is a former witch-turned-demon who helps the Winchesters in their search for Lilith. The series has always been known for promoting good classic and new rock songs.

Enjoy the promotional video.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Epica feat. Kamelot "The Haunting"


This is the song, "The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)" from Kamelot's seventh album, The Black Halo (2005).

The singers are Simone Simons of Epica and Roy Khan of Kamelot. They are both Dutch and Norwegian, respectively, trained in opera and sing in gothic/symphonic metal rock bands. In the song, Roy is a prominent young alchemist who is disappointed with the inadequacy of science and religion to answer his questions. He searches for the ultimate truth that can only make his life worthwhile. There is much more to the story, but this narrative album is worth exploring.

I simply love this song. Khan's voice is simply amazing and powerful. It has a very gothic theme as if I am traveling through time in different parts of Europe.

Enjoy the video!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Review: Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1999)


Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1999) is a dark, cyberpunk Japanese anime television series about the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) lifeforms, also known as boomers. A major earthquake levels devastates much of Tokyo, and the ruthless and powerful Genom corporation manufactures these boomers to rebuild the city. These lifeforms have become integrated into everyday life, replacing humans in menial jobs, and hold positions ranging from janitors to office managers. Thus, the boomers become an important and stigmatized labor class to humanity.

However, some of the boomers occasionally malfunction and go berserk ("rogue"), and the city's inept A.D. (Advanced Defense) Police are outmatched and cannot stop them. Genom ultimately wants to take over the city with an army of robotic monsters. A mysterious group of four young female mercenaries, also known as the Knight Sabers, wear pilot-powered combat hard suits that outline their physiques and come with individualized weaponry. The Knight Sabers wage a major war against these rouge boomers before they take over the world.

The four women that comprise the Knight Sabers are Sylia Stingray, Priss, Nene Romanova, and Linna Yamazaki.

I was introduced to Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 on the Action Channel (Starz! network package). This is a "remake" loosely of the 1980s original action video (OAV), Bubblegum Crisis 2032. What makes Tokyo 2040 different is that it incorporates industrial rock and percussion music to give it a science fiction background. I thought the music of these series was pretty good although the some song selections may make you wonder how do they fit the characters and fight scenes. Each episode was named after a rock/punk song or album. The animation and action scenes are very well done and won't disappoint even hardcore and cult fans.

You are probably wondering why I labeled this series under the genre, "cyberpunk." According to Wikipedia, the science fiction subgenre features "features advanced science, such as information technology and cybernetics, coupled with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order." In addition, the plots "often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and megacorporations in a near-future Earth setting." Mankind has created androids with the unexpected consequence of the machines to become "rogue" (out-of-control).

Although technology has become more advanced, artificial lifeforms cannot replace human souls. This series also highlighted themes of exploitation of labor (social classes) and the industrial revolution. There is supposed to be a sequel called Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2041, but since it has been almost ten years since the announcement with no new information, the series will probably never go into production.

This series is available to buy and rent on DVD.

  • Episodes: 26
  • OP Song: "Y'know" by Akira Sudou
  • ED Song: "Waiting for You" by Akira Sudou



"Y'know" by Akira Sudo



"Waiting for You" by Akira Sudou

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Review: A Chill in the Blood (Vampire Files #7)


“…In the city of sin, the gangs still rule – and they’re on the brink of an all-out war. Neither crooks nor cops care how much blood, innocent or otherwise, flows during the fight. But Jack does.

…Jack has to stop the battle before it starts. But how much of his remaining humanity will he have to give up to do it?”


A Chill in the Blood, the seventh book in the Vampire Files series, begins with three important characters: Jack Fleming, Charles Escott and Shoe Coldfield. It is February 1937 in gangland Chicago. Six months have passed (for fans who have read the previous novels). Jack is a vampire. How did he become one? There is just too much to explain. His friend, Charles, is a private agent who helps and rescues Jack whenever he’s in trouble, although Jack has to rescue Charles at times. Shoe, longtime friend of Charles dating back into the 1920s, is a gang lord in Chicago’s Bronze Belt. He helps Jack and Charles escape another mobster’s plan to kill both of them. Both men are brutally bruised after a crazy night of mayhem and blood.

The story begins as they are racing against time during the wee hours of the morning to find answers and seek refuge. Most importantly, they are trying to get away from the mobsters and their “friends” (police) as quickly as possible. Coldfield takes them to a place where they stay and clean themselves up. Jack has better ideas than staying around in the Bronze Belt, Chicago’s African-American neighborhood -- to get some fresh blood. After he stops by Charles’ office, he runs into more goons. As a vampire, he knocks out one by one. Jack asks himself: do they belong to the now-dead Vaughn Kyler or resurrecting Paco gang?

Surprisingly, Gordy and his girlfriend, Bobbi, a nightclub singer, arrive at the scene. He used to work for Slick Morelli in the first novel, Bloodlist. He helps Jack load the unconscious mugs into his car, and they hurry to the Bronze Belt. There, Fleming meets Escott about more plans to meet Angela Paco. He uses the “L” train to travel to another part of town. Inside the clubhouse, he spots some of Paco’s mugs, warning him that he is in the right place. He sees Angela Paco, beautiful, young and cold-blooded like her father. She cannot believe he is alive. Jack unexpectedly finds Opal and uses her to his advantage to contact Angela personally. He strategically Angela that he will work for her. This man who has been the target of execution now wants to work for the Paco gang??

A new crime boss from New York is in town and scares Angela significantly – Sean Sullivan. As a woman, she cannot become sole crime boss of her father’s territory. This man is very clever – he has the search for Opal, the late Kyler’s bookkeeper, because she has the accounting books and knows something more than either gang has the slightest idea--something worth a fortune in the Paco mansion. Jack has to tag along if he wants to keep everyone around him alive. Unexpectedly, a car rushes to the group as they march to the car and fires on them. One man was shot dead and Opal suffers a bullet in her collarbone. Jack, in an enraged and anxious state, tries to convince the mugs to rush her for critical help. This is one hell of a night that he will never forget—one that makes this novel so critically renowned and magnificent.

Unfortunately, Jack Fleming discovers he won’t make it out of this situation in one night. Sean Sullivan is too educated and clever to fall for fool’s tricks, and Angela Paco is too sharp to risk losing everything she has, including her ill father, Frank Paco. Escott persuades him that he knows a celebrity in town who has access to the press and law, ultimately ending the gangs’ businesses in Chicago. Jack needs to prevent a gang war from exploding between the New York and Chicago gangs, not to mention the innocent bystanders (some very close to Jack) caught between the lines. Can he really do it without losing his sanity? We learned from the previous novel that although is a vampire, Jack isn’t totally invincible when it comes to constant stress and blood loss. Only you can find out by reading A Chill in the Night.

Chill in the Blood is actually another sequel to the fifth (Fire in the Blood) and sixth books, (Blood on the Water) in the Vampire Files series. However, P.N. Elrod knew that many prospective readers may have not read the first six books, so this book is excellent in laying out the fine points and summarizing each character’s background. I could have just read this book, without going through the first six books, to understand the story, but it’s more adventurous to read everything in chronological order.

I like how Elrod incorporates certain parts of Chicago, like the Bronze Belt, “L” train, Chicago Fire, etc. in his stories. Not only are you learning that such places exist in reality, but they give a historical reference to what Chicago was like in the 1920s and 1930s. The Bronze Belt was a city section predominately African-American. Given how segregated Chicago is today geographically (Northside vs. Southside), Fleming acknowledges that a white face does not belong in a predominately black neighborhood. The “L” train is obviously the elevated train system that navigates throughout the city as mass (rapid) transit. The great Chicago Fire of 1871 is said to have started when a farmer O’Leary’s cow kicked a lantern accidentally, and the flames flourished burning the entire city to the ground. Just reading such information in a fictional novel can also be educational for someone not familiar with the history or geography of Chicago.

She also includes historical events like the pre-WWII Hitler and the Great Depression after the stock market crash in the late 1920s. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, like the WPA (Works Progress Administration), which allowed unemployed people to work under the government to improve public utilities and local artists to create artwork for public facilities. This kept everyone employed and earning some money on the side. Elrod includes pop culture icons in the text, while I don’t know many of them, I can surmise that they were prevalent and significant in those decades.

We also learn more information about the characters’ backgrounds, particularly Angela Paco and Shoe Coldfield. This book is just hilarious. So hilarious that I laugh on every page. I have never seen Jack act so perky to a group of mobsters. If you thought Jack was invincible, he almost faces ANOTHER death: cyanide in his blood stream. It causes paralysis. Just reading this section made me want to cry out for him!! There are so many suspenseful twists that in the end they finally come together with a breath-taking “wow!” as this book is brilliant. This is the perfect Hollywood blockbuster theater movie, if it ever makes that level. Beware—there is a lot of blood and guns in this book!

This book is non-numeral, which is a surprise, which I feel Elrod is saying, “anyone can read this book, beginner or fan.” I guess this book will have a beginning and an end to complete the book. After reading the sixth book in the series, the ending left me hanging like I have just abruptly stopped at a yield sign. Not a good feeling, if you know what I mean. This book is unusually longer (327 pages) versus her older editions (around 200 pages.) A new reader can understand the entire series with all the characters in place (if you want to know how a person died, however, you may have to read a specific book prior to A Chill in the Blood) without having to read the previous six books.

On the meantime, I was reading an official website of P.N. Elrod about the possibilities of a Vampire Files movie/TV series. Chances are, they won’t be one for a while unless someone from Hollywood wants to see a script. Just pray!! There is a partial script of Blood List (Book One) in progress! It’s sad that this series has existed since 1990! There should be a movie by now, hopefully and soon. This should be a cult classic. To learn more about the previous books in the Vampire Files, please check my account for reviews.

NOTE: I already know I am out of sequence. I will post books five (Fire in the Blood) and six (Blood on the Water) of the series before I post book seven, The Dark Sleep.

Stay tuned for my next review on the eighth (non-numerical) installment in the Vampire File Series, The Dark Sleep
.