Theme Song Saturday

Welcome to Theme Song Saturdays, a new weekly meme, hosted by yours truly, in which we share our love of music and books! Since I love books and music, this meme is for fun to try to incorporate those two loves! Whenever I read a book, a certain song -- kind of like a soundtrack or theme song -- plays through my head.

Want to know how to play? Head over to the Theme Song Saturday introduction post to read the rules and get the code.

Here's my song this week:

Cry of the Black Birds by Amon Amarth is Swedish Viking metal, and, even though I hate screaming metal, the song really captures what Bjolf's crew is fighting.  Since his ship is named after the raven, I thought this song was perfect!

What's yours?  Leave a link in the comments to your post ^_^

Google Reader and GFC

Since Google Reader and GFC will soon be leaving us, I am trying to eliminate GFC.  If you want to follow my blog, please subscribe via e-mail, Linky Followers, or Bloglovin'.  Even though the GFC button will still be up, please do not follow me there.  Thanks for understanding, guys!

Follow Friday

Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read. The point is to follow as many book blog as you can and make new friends! As part of the adventure, she gives a weekly question.

Here's this week's question:

Q: The #FF is 150 weeks old! And we want to hear from you! What would you change about the hop? What do you like about it? Or just suggest a question to be used for next week!

That's awesome!  I cannot believe you ladies have been kicking butt for 150 weeks!  Thanks for keeping this hop going, and I hope to see people continue to participate in the future :)  As far as changing, you ladies do a wonderful job!  And I love that Alison manages to make it by every blog and comment.  It's really sweet, especially with how many people take part every week.

Question idea:  When you're not reading, what is your most geeky hobby?

Yes, I have some book reviews coming up. However, I've just been stuck on my Xbox recently -_-;  And, now after the awesomeness of DMC: Devil May Cry, I might end up pulling out my PS2 and play through the original . . .  Not to worry, I am currently reading a book that I intend to review this weekend!  If you don't like game reviews, I sorry!  These gaming phases don't usually last for too long ^_~

Video Game Review — DMC: Devil May Cry

Title:  DMC: Devil May Cry
By:  Capcom
Rating:  Mature
Release:  January 15, 2013
ASIN:   B007UM59AC

Rating:

"Revisit the iconic protagonist, Dante, and other familiar faces of the Devil May Cry franchise and discover the early years that helped define his struggles. Travel with your guide, Kat, whose special psychic abilities allow her access to the demon realm, Limbo. Kat is the right-hand girl to the mysterious leader of The Order — a small group of freedom fighters trying to end the demon occupation of the human world. The Order needs one more recruit to help wipe out the demons — Dante. Enjoy the same stylish action and fluid combat you've come to expect with a game that perfectly complements the franchise's intense combat and features superb character design, storytelling and cinematics. Battle in intense and iconic sword- and gun-based combat with all-new weapons designed to send each demonic spawn you encounter back to Hell. Use Dante's Angel and Demon powers to chain together ground-based and aerial combos and achieve the best style rankings. Experience what it means to be both Angel and Demon, and show the world the wrath of an outcast."

~ Amazon

I've loved Devil May Cry since the first one!  And, I hate to admit it, I never finished it and never played the other ones :(  That being said, Dante was always an awesome character, and the story concept really had me intrigued.  When I saw the reboot as a demo on Xbox Live, I couldn't resist.

Needing his help to stop Mundus, Dante learns that he is a nephilim—the offspring of a demon and an angel.  Fearing the power nephilims have over hell and limbo, Mundus killed Dante's mother and imprisoned his father.  Now he is trying to take over Earth and imprison humans.  Enter Vergil—Dante's forgotten twin brother and the leader of the resistance—and Kat.  The two convince Dante to help in their plan to overthrow Mundus.  However, after finally defeating the demon, Dante learns another, deeper truth.  And that truth will forever change the course of his life.

I loved this game!  I really enjoyed seeing how Dante became a demon hunter.  It was an interesting start, and it gave a lot of good back story.  That being said, I hated Dante's new look. However, if you're a purist, download the skin pack and change to the classic DMC look.  Honestly, aside from some of his cheesy dialogue, this made the game that much better.

The combat was really free flowing and felt seamless.  When Dante started gaining all of the weapons, I was really skeptical about the ability to button-mash effectively and still be able to play.  However, I was surprised. Even though he has two different angel and demon weapons, three different guns, and two different pull abilities, I was able to switch between them with very little effort.  Also, with the different weapons, it was easy to chain the moves together.  I will say, however, it makes the fighting really fast.  And, with that, some of the enemies (for example, the Dreamrunner) become much faster and makes it a little hard to follow.

As with the first game, there is a lot of platforming in this.  Every jump has to be timed properly, the button combos have to be down, and so on.  There were times that I would spend thirty minutes or more on one demon door because I got the timing wrong.  It's also the same on several boss fights.  That being said, something about the game really kept me playing.  At points, I wanted to throw my controller at the screen, but I just couldn't stop playing!

I loved Kat!  Spray painting her spells was rather amusing, and I found her to be a rather compelling character.  Yes, Dante definitely did seem like a hormone-driven boy around her, but I think she was able to get through his hard exterior and showed him how to care.

The graphics were amazing!  With that, however, the load time was a little long.  Normally, I wouldn't say anything about it.  However, after playing Tomb Raider with short load times, I felt as though they could have corrected this issue.  Seeing the chained attacks on the load screen was pretty spiffy . . .

The ending . . . Wow!  Because of the original games, I expected it.  However, it still made me sniffle.  Also, it was one of the worst boss fights I have ever fought!  I think it took me nearly 30+ tries before I finally got the combo right.

They need to make a sequel!  This game makes me want to pull out my old PS2 and play the original game.  After that, I want to grab the other three games and beat them all!  Dante has always been an awesome character, but this game makes me feel ashamed that I never finished the first or played the others.  Hmm . . . I might end up downloading Vergil's DLC ^_~

Video Game Review — Resident Evil 6

Title:  Resident Evil 6
By:  Capcom
Rating:  Mature
Release Date:  October 2, 2012
ASIN:   B0050SY4DG

Rating:

"The story is told from the perspectives of Chris Redfield, a former member and founder of the BSAA traumatized by a failed operation, Leon S. Kennedy, a Raccoon City survivor and agent for the U.S. government, Jake Muller, illegitimate son of Albert Wesker and associate of Sherry Birkin, and Ada Wong, a freelance agent framed for the bio-terrorist attacks by Neo-Umbrella. They must all confront the force behind a massive bio-terrorist attack with the newly developed C-virus in cities across the world."

~ Wikipedia

 I've always loved the Resident Evil games/movies.  Plus, after downloaded the demo and seeing Leon was returning, I couldn't keep myself from playing it!  However, being pretty crappy at third person shooters, a friend of mine played it with me.  Luckily, he had already won the game, kicks ass at shooters, and was game to play it again! 

Ha-ha, even after playing it, I'm not sure I could tell you exactly what it's about.  In addition, even if I could, it would ruin the whole story.  Let's just say this, at some point or the other, all of the stories tie together, and it appears as though they are battling a new strain of the virus.

I've seen my fair share of bad reviews concerning this game.  However, I really, really enjoyed it.  Granted, my only real experience with the Resident Evil games revolves around number 4, which I tried at a gaming store.  That being said, loving the franchise, I know a lot about the story behind the games.  And, for me, this was a perfect fit!  Plus, it was the return of Leon, who was my first video game crush back in 1998 ;)

The fact that the game is split into four different campaigns was interesting.  I liked seeing the story from the different view points, and it was nice to be able to take a break between campaigns.  It didn't need the consistent play that some of the previous ones did.  Also, it let fans play their favorite characters without feeling as though they were cheating on others. 

The non-stop action in Chris' campaign got a little annoying and overkill; however, considering his position in the BSAA, it was completely understandable.  Further, the ending for his campaign had be in tears!  It was interesting to see him after the events of Resident Evil 5 and how he was surviving after that.  And I am still convinced that Wesker is going to come back! 

Like Chris', Jake's campaign is another non-stop action; however, it was not nearly as intense as Chris'.  That being said, I think the OTE in his campaign might be enough to give you severe thumb/hand cramps.  Also, in the typical style of Japanese games, we really don't get to see the mushy ending between Jake and Sherry.  Yes, yes, I was waiting for it!

Leon's campaign was a lot more introspective than the others.  Because of his relationship to the President and working with Helena, it changed the whole dynamic of game play.  That does not mean that the story lacked.  For me, in a lot of ways, I felt the story was pushed even further because of the introspective nature of his campaign.  Plus, Leon just rocks :)

The last campaign is only unlockable after you beat a few of the others.  I will not give away the secret, because it's a nice surprise.  That being said, the crossbow is probably my favorite weapon!

The QTE got to be overkill!  I hated playing the little games while in the middle of battle.  Further, the healing got on my nerves.  It was hard to try and mix your herbs while being attacked on all fronts.  The changing camera perspectives during running/QTE scenes really, really pissed me off.  Many times I ended up dying because my camera angle was forced into a change. 

That being said, I LOVED it!  I love the ability to play agent hunt after beating the first campaign.  And, even though the serpent symbols are a bitch to find, the collections are awesome!  If you're planning on playing this, it is time consuming!  But it's worth it :)

Late Night Book Review — Submission

Late Night Book Review — Gabriel's Rapture

When it Rains . . . It Pours

Well, it seems as though Sinnful Books is finally back up and running!  Even after renewing my domain, it took all weekend+ for it to finally come back.  *sigh*  I'm sorry things have been down and reviews haven't gone up. 

Speaking of reviews, I have been suffering with a cold all weekend, so nothing has been written.  Also, I just got an assignment from work, so tomorrow isn't looking so promising!  I promise that the reviews will be written up and posted over the weekend.

Thanks for hanging with me, guys!  And, no, I did not disappear ;)

PROMO: Whispered Truth

 

Title:  Whispered Truth
Genre:  Historical Mystery 
Published:March 31, 2013

"In 1911, England hovers on the cusp of change. A new king waits to be crowned. Women and the poor are fighting for their rights. Political turmoil rages throughout Europe. And a promising young artist lies dead in the heart of London.

"Just another tragic death in a city filled with untimely demises. Or so thinks Hargreaves, the gifted, but troubled, Detective Inspector called in to investigate. Haunted by the tragedy of his own past, he is unprepared for the onslaught of long-buried memories and powerful emotions the case brings. Making his task even more difficult is the troubling presence of Daisy Cartwright, a wealthy widow closely connected to the victim, and a woman he feels inexplicably drawn to.

"Untangling the tightly woven threads connecting the victim and the suspects, Hargreaves soon reaches a conclusion, only to have that theory shattered by the revelation that everything he has been led to believe is a lie. Groping through the silence and secrets, he uncovers a cold-blooded killer, and a connection to his own past that leaves him reeling."

Excerpt

Forty-five minutes later, her head pounding with fatigue, Daisy thanked Olivia for a truly enjoyable evening, nodding and smiling at the rest of the guests as she made her carefully timed exit. She subtly scanned the room for Eugene, hoping for a chance to speak with him before she left, but he was nowhere in sight. Disappointed, she continued into the hallway, followed by Sir John, playing his role as host to perfection, seeing her to the door.

“I’ve instructed Mary to bring your hat and coat,” Wilson, the Sebright’s butler said, opening the vestibule door as she approached.
“Thank you, Wilson,” she replied, as a gust of wind sent a smattering of rain against the stained glass panels beside the front door.
“Do mind the weather, Daisy,” Olivia called, her strong voice carrying into the entrance hall. “I would hate to hear you’ve caught a chill.” She stretched her ample neck, peering over the back of the drawing room sofa.
“Not to worry, Olivia. I’ll be quite all right,” Daisy called back, touched by her concern. She genuinely liked Olivia, taking delight in her numerous eccentricities. She just wished Olivia had chosen a better husband. “So nice to see you again, Sir John,” she said, turning with a charming smile to the man in question. “I was hoping you and Olivia could join me for dinner next week. There’s something I would dearly love your advice on. Perhaps next Wed…”

Her words were interrupted by a scream. Flinching in surprise, she stared wide-eyed down the hallway as another scream, even more ear piercing than the first, quickly followed. “What on earth,” she mumbled, following her first instinct and hurrying down the hall, leaving Sir John rooted to the spot, his mouth hanging open in shock.

Nearing the rear of the hall, Daisy spotted the Sebright’s housemaid, Mary, trembling at the entrance to the coatroom. Her face was ashen, a hand clamped over her mouth in an effort to stifle the further screams gathering in her throat.

“Mary!” Daisy exclaimed, reaching for the young woman’s arm. “What is it?”

Mary’s head shook quickly back and forth, her eyes filled with stark terror.

“What’s happened?” Daisy tried to keep the alarm from her voice as a cold sense of foreboding swept over her. From the corner of her eye, she could see Olivia and several other guests making their way down the hall toward them.

In a voice filled with more curiosity than annoyance, Olivia asked, “What is all the commotion? Ooh, has our young Mary seen a ghost? How thrilling! You know, there were rumors when we moved in here…”

Daisy kept her attention focused on Mary, Olivia’s voice fading away. Mary stepped aside and pointed a trembling hand to the rear of the coatroom. Unsure what Mary was indicating, Daisy took a step into the room and gasped, the color draining from her face. Amidst a jumbled pile of evening wraps and overcoats, a body lay sprawled on the floor, unmoving. Stepping closer, her stomach clenched.

Oh, dear God, no. Please…

It couldn’t be. It was just a strange trick of the light.

A familiar pain swept through her and she choked back a sob. Shaking her head in slow denial she stared at the once handsome face of Eugene Evans, his youthful features now distorted and reddened into a deathly grimace as dull, sightless eyes stared past her.

Author Bio

M M Hall is the author of Whispered Truth, the first novel in the Inspector Hargreaves series. She also writes as Molly M Hall, and is the author of Reckoning, the first installment in the Dark Prophecy series. She currently lives just outside of Denver where she's at work on her next novel.

She pursued a degree in English Literature at Columbia College and worked in the corporate world for several years before turning to writing full time.

When not reading or writing she can be found listening to music, playing piano, exercising, working on her very inadequate French, or looking for inspiring landscapes to photograph.