New Book Review - Feral and Hysterical by Sadie Hartmann

Name - Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horror’s Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women

Writer - Sadie Hartmann

Published By - Page Street Publishing

This is the second book by Sadie Hartmann dedicated to creating lists of horror fiction recommendations. This time her focus is entirely on horror written by women and the book is arranged neatly into different topics listing her recommendations, each with a synopsis and her own thoughts about the books in a short review.

I really loved some of the creative list making and vibe selections and while like any normal reader wasn't much enthusiastic about a few categories. But therein lies the true depth on offer here, as the author really attempted to cater to almost every kind of taste that different readers have.

There are also five small essays by an interesting selection of authors shining even more light into female experience and expertise regarding understanding horror medium. These added a fine sense of variation among the lists and reviews.

Another great thing about the book is the great artwork on offer dispersed all throughout the book, almost perfectly conveying the mood for each list. In a reference book like this, these brilliant sketches really added an extra reason to keep coming back for more.

Hopefully she will keep writing this kind of books about books in the future, maybe about other genres, maybe about films or TV shows. I really like her prose style and her genuine sense of love for the works and her energetic approach.

I am gonna give this 4.5 out of 5 stars (mostly cause I liked the first one even more).

Weekend Shorts - Alien Boy by Fawaz Al-Matrouk

Name - Alien Boy 

Written by - Fawaz Al-Matrouk 

Ilustrated by - Aude Abou Nasr

Edited by - Ann Vandermeer

Published by - Tor Books / reactormag.com

Our world is always full of horrors, and war is certainly one of the most dreadful precursors and instigators of horror. One of the most negative impacts war has on children is how it makes them forced to displace and makes their families broken.

This story deals with such a child, displaced from his homeland to a foreign country with rules and customs unfamiliar to him, estranged from his mother, never really accepted in this new environment. And how this fear of displacement never really leaves him.

The story is very simplistic and not very original, yet it is also poignant due to the time we currently live in. Everyone deserves their story to be told and everyone deserves second chances.

I will give this 3 out of 5 stars, simply because I expected more.

New Book Review - Preaching to the Choir by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Name - Preaching to the Choir

Written by - Adrian Tchaikovsky

Series - Terrible Worlds: Transformations 

Published by - Rebellion Publishing Ltd. / Solaris Books

First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you NetGalley and Solaris Books for this opportunity.

It seems Tchaikovsky can write in any genre, as this time he tries his hand in writing horror and provides yet another short yet impactful and enjoyable novella. This one has touches of fantasy, gothic and body horror immersed in a fast paced story with bits of real world tidbits to keep the readers googling stuff.

The story follows our protagonist Elena Mendes as she travels with her boyfriend Ross Enderbough to his family mansion Enderby for a rather very special occasion, where she meets with the suspicious and mysterious family members, soon discovers their creepy traditions and witnesses some horrific family secrets.

Compared to other books by the author this one is quite lacking in humor, much more descriptive and atmospheric and there is also rather a distinct lack of plot twists. But despite being predictable at times, it's the prose and execution that made this one such an enjoyable read.

Like most of Tchaikovsky's work, the pages seem to file away, as I kept thinking of just another chapter before other stuff and found out that I'm almost. In these day and age of everyone being so damn busy, and huge and daunting books flooding the market, short and precise reads like this continue to deliver a short breather.

This one gets a spooky 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Lorgar: Bearer of the Word - Gav Thorpe

Book - Lorgar: Bearer of the Word

Writer - Gav Thorpe 

Series - Horus Heresy: Primarchs #5

Narrator - Jonathan Keeble

Publisher - Games Workshop / Black Library 

There are times when you know beforehand that the book you are picking up is bound to be a bleak and gut-wrenching experience, but you still do read it because you want to observe the execution and the lore. If you are into Horus Heresy you know about the tragic story of Lorgars upbringing from various internet resources, but it will surely be quite difficult to give up experiencing it as a Black Library novel.

Most of the story of 'Bearer of the Word' takes place during Lorgar's younger years, told from the viewpoints of Kor Phaeron and one of his slaves Nairo, as they view the superhuman charisma of Lorgar while trying to manipulate him for their own purposes.

The harsh upbringing of Lorgar is explained through glimpses of his foundation into the religious doctrines of the dry world of Colchis. The geography and broader religion of this world are also explored somewhat during the telling of his story and action takes a backseat as the author focuses more on telling us why and how Lorgar became one of the most important precursors in the design of chaos to bring about the heresy.

None of the characters presented here are likeable, having little redeemable qualities and all vigorously attempting to use Lorgar to promote their own agenda. Kor Phaeron is a despicable father figure and always scheming behind his adoptive sons back for his own vested interests. Even faced with the inevitable coming of the Emperor, he keeps thinking of ways to reestablish his old religion rather than progress into the ways of the empire.

Lorgar himself is a character having multiple layers despite seeming too gullible and innocent at first. I would have really liked it if the author had explored further upon his psyche. I would have loved a chapter detailing the Emperor's arrival and how Kor Phaeron and Lorgar perceived it. And despite everything due to the subject, the audiobook seemed like a hard listen due to mental and physical tortures and other unwholesome aspects of the story.

The narration by Jonathan Keeble was simply sublime and added much to the atmosphere and psyche of the characters and made some of the slog through the harder bits of the prose bearable.

This gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me, and I would definitely like a sequel of sorts detailing further exploration into the early days of the Word Bearers, as I am a fan of them as a Legion (sure as hell I am a minority here).

Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature, edited by Becky Spratford

Name - Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature

Editor - Becky Spratford

Writer - Various 

Introduced by - Sadie Hartmann

Published By - S&S/Saga Press

I'll start with a bit of introspection, regarding my realization of my own appreciation of horror as a genre. As a child, I used to be very afraid of anything remotely to do with horror. I remember going to sleep early to avoid watching X-files with my older siblings; as a matter of fact, even the opening score was enough to scare me.

But as I got older and slowly fell in love with fantasy and science fiction, I gradually entered the world of horror in all its forms and variations, and began to understand that it has the ability to transform into anything and can also influence almost every other genre, creating remarkable fusion and falling in love with it quite inevitably.

This collection of essays deals with very interesting and enjoyable experiences of some famous names in horror writing, and mostly tells us their tales of growing up and falling in love with the genre, as many of us did all over the world.

The writing is often uneven and varied as is the nature of such a collection, but almost all the pieces are deeply emotional and thought provoking, and will surely leave the readers also reminiscing their own stories.

The editor did a brilliant job of selecting the authors and arranging the essays, making this a perfect experience for horror fans.

This gets 5 stars out of 5 from this nostalgic horror fan.

New Book Review - King Sorrow

Name - King Sorrow

Written by - Joe Hill

Narrated by - Ari Fliakos and multiple other voice actors

Published by - William Morrow / Headline 

Audiobook by - William Morrow 

To review a book like 'King Sorrow' is quite difficult, as there is little left to be said about such a much talked about book, and it's still even more difficult comparing it with all the hype that it created as one of the best books of the year. But thankfully, it does deliver on its promises while also having a few minor issues keeping it from archiving perfection.

This is my first read of Joe Hill, and boy can he spin a great tale? Although he did remind me a bit about his father, he created his own unique sense in creating his characters and an epic take spanning a lot of time in their life. The horror elements were among the best parts of the book keeping the readers guessing if the nightmare will ever end.

The most fascinating thing about the book is the characters, who are fleshed so brilliantly, with their unique traits making them feel so relatable despite often not being lovable. Hill kept us guessing at who might or might not survive till the end and ending provided quite an emotional closure to this charismatic cast.

The novel was a hefty one, almost 900 pages in length (26+ hours for me as I listened to the audiobook), could have been easily crafted into a series with its multiple stories at different times in the life of characters doing the unintentional bidding of the King. The whole setting is not explained in detail, keeping a sense of mystery regarding the supernatural element of the book, and the bits of humor dispersed were quite charming.

I have to suggest the reader to try to listen to the audiobook, as the voice acting and sound effects made it that much more visceral, almost making me feel like the dread of facing the dragon at times and being part of the unlucky group of friends.

My little complaints are regarding the slow start and the author not bothering with trimming a bit of the fat, making the experience more streamlined and fast-paced.

In the end, I will give this 4.5 out of 5 stars.

New Book Review - The Hunger by Marsheila Rockwell

Name - The Hunger 

Series - Marvel Zombies 

Written by - Marsheila Rockwell 

Published by - Aconyte Books 

First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you NetGalley and Aconyte Books for this opportunity.

This certainly had the potential to be a very enjoyable book, with an interesting premise and some promising characters used. But ultimately too much banter and using Deadpool without focusing on his strengths made this one good while yet lasted but almost instantly forgettable upon finishing the reading.

This one deals with the patchwork team of Sanctum Sanctorum librarian, Zelma Stanton, witch Nico Minoru, monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, and Deadpool coming up with a convoluted plan and trying their best to stop the zombie menace. The characters on offer were quite a well thought out team representing some lesser known Marvel heroines, and throwing in Deadpool had a certain sort of risk. 

The main issue with the book for me was the handling of Deadpool, making it seem like  he was only included for his popularity and used rather half-heartedly. There is also a bit too much banter for my liking and while the prose was a breeze to read I kept wondering when the action would begin.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but nothing happens that leaves an impression and seemed like the whole excursion by the characters was rather pointless by the end.

3 out of 5 stars from me.

Hashtags - #Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #Review

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information visit marvel.com. © 2023 MARVEL

Retro Book Review - Hell Hound by Ken Greenhall

Name - Hell Hound 

Written by - Ken Greenhall 

Published by - Valancourt Books 

I never would've even known about this book if I hadn't read about it in 'Paperbacks from Hell's by Grady Hendrix and '101 Horror Books To Read Before You're Murdered' by Sadie Hartmann, so I'll begin with thanking these two great connoisseurs of great horror fiction.

This book is a weird little piece of vintage horror from the late 70's. It has a brilliant mixture of psychological horror interspersed with unusually written creature feature with some soothing yet quite crisp and often frightening prose. His descriptions and dialogue create a sense of unease making the readers think more than comfortable while keeping them interested in what is to come next.

The characters are far from one dimensional and the multiple viewpoints bring that much more depth into the overall experience and sense of unease. I especially loved getting into the mind of Baxter and wished we could get more chapters from his perspective.

The small little twists and unusual actions of the characters kept me entertained till the last chapter and I will most definitely read more from this author in the future.

I will give this one 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Graphic Novel Review - The Fables of Erlking Wood

Name: The Fables of Erlking Wood 

Published by: Goats Flying Press

Writer & Artist: Juni Ba

Letterer: Aditya Bidikar

A rather unorthodox piece of modern-influenced folk tale incorporating a healthy dose of humor, sadness, and charm with beautiful design and artwork. That is how I can describe in one sentence this delightful little graphic novel that came literally out of nowhere to hit me in the feels reminding me a bit about my own lonely childhood.

This one is presented as a collection of fables and tales focused on the Erlking Wood of the title, the small bits then coming together in the overarching story of the main characters while creating an atmosphere of magically charged longing and contentment at the same time.

These characters despite being a mixture of animals, humans, and demigods are all quite emotional and relatable, and the author makes the reader care for their journeys of self-discovery and attempts at redemption. 

The art is just a joy to look at, giving another extra dose of magic into the overall mix. The changes in style are quite a unique experience, creating a different realm for the reader to explore.

A delightful read, gets 4.5 out of 5 stars from me.

New Metal Review - "Outward Streams of Devotional Woe" by Unsouling

Album Name - Outward Streams of Devotional Woe

Band Name - Unsouling 

Genre - Experimental Black /Death Metal

Label - I, Voidhanger Records 

Release Date - October 3, 2025

Line Up -

  A.S. - All Instruments and Vocals

I am always a bit sceptical about one man projects, because while there are quite a few brilliant genre defining stuff like Bathory, Burzum, Leviathan etc there are also countless mediocre and bland stuff. It is really hard to invigorate with real and emotional instrumentations rather than relying on programmed bits and uninspired copycat performances. But despite my reservations, I finally decided to go with it due to the short length of the album.

The album opens with 'Immaterial Entrance', a rather straight forward eerie black metal track, which gives a chilling wintry vibe immediately hitting listeners with an unhealthy dose of anguish and grief. From the get-go the album never transcends the sense of overwhelming icy hopelessness, rather embracing it and trying to mold the musical experiment with other forms of extreme metal.

There is a bit of doom metal depth, some crushing OSDM styled riffs, and even a dose of post metal shenanigans. The feeling often gets angrier with some growls and heavy drumming, but eventually always returns with a sense of foreboding and dreadfully nuanced emotionally charged blackened depth. The melodic bits interspersed between tracks and two minutes long instrumental song do provide a welcome distraction and create a distinguished sense of impending disaster.

The vocals are mostly harsh and often buried beyond the music, but overall create a sense of being part of the background. I rather liked the cleaner bits on offer on 'Your Momentary Passing' and 'To Come Unbound', and would have liked if there were more of such pieces throughout. The drumming seems to be live rather than programmed which is always a bonus point in my book.

My main problem with the album is that it never really delivers on the promise it often eludes. There is not enough experimentation; despite the genre blending, it never reaches the stage of something never done before. The vocals are not distinguished enough, and the overall experience seems too short. Hopefully, the next outing of this project will address these shortcomings.

Overall Score -

                         7.5 out of 10.

For more info check out the bands official Bandcamp page and their metal-archives page -

https://unsouling.bandcamp.com/

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Unsouling/3540538398   

Weekend Shorts - Let's Go to the Zoo by Louis Evans review

Name - Let's Go to the Zoo

Written by - Louis Evans 

Ilustrated by - Scott Bakal

Edited by - Mal Frazier

Published by - Tor.com 

It's been a while since I read a short story, so I wanted to get restarted through something short, weird, and thought-provoking. This one fits the bill quite nicely with an added dose of psychological nuance thrown in deepening the atmosphere.

The story is told in first person, detailing a couples visit to the Zoo, without spoiling anything further I can just add that actually they are visiting to see something specific, which on the surface level might seem simple yet through small and thoughtful expositions turn out to be not so ordinary.

The prose is a bit unorthodox and gives the short story an extra edge at times, making me re-read sentences just to glimpse into any hidden bits on offer.

Despite being so minimal, this was quite refreshing, 4 out of 5 stars from me.

New Book Review - Extremity by Nicholas Binge

Name - Extremity 

Written by - Nicholas Binge

Published by - Tor Publishing Group

Oftentimes, there are some reads which seem quite fun as you read it, but start to lose some of its fun and coherence when you examine it closely, more so with the perspective of hindsight. 'Extremity' is such a book. A fast-paced mystery and sci-fi hybrid that is a thrilling enough ride while it lasts, but quite forgettable once you are done.

This book is told through the first-person viewpoints of three characters: one veteran, one rookie, and one former police detective. The narrative style seemed a bit odd initially, but soon became comfortable enough and I as a reader was swept away by the blistering pace of plot progression. 

Some plot holes or rather unexplained plot points did make the enjoyment a bit hampered, but the interesting characters and the unexpected directions of the conflict kept me entertained up to the mini cliffhanger ending.

The main problem is that the author hammered through the science fiction bit of the story in his attempt to focus on the thriller aspect. Maybe he did this to keep stuff rolling for future sequels, but the story suffers from keeping the reader a bit unsatisfied when thinking back after finishing the book.

I will probably check out future books if any sequel does come out to see how the author explains the setting further. Meanwhile, this gets 3 out of 5 stars from me.

Graphic Novel Review - Bowling with Corpses & Other Strange Tales from Lands Unknown

Name: Bowling with Corpses & Other Strange Tales from Lands Unknown

Published by: Dark Horse Book

Writer & Artist: Mike Mignola

Colorist: Dave Stewart 

Letterer: Clem Robins

My experience with Mike Mignola is quite limited, as I have only read the first volume of Hellboy and a few other works from him here and there. So, it was quite a lot of fun to be acquainted with his unique style of storytelling and unorthodox art. And the concept of building a new world also resonated with me, satisfying an older craving.

Bowling with Corpses features the titular story along with a bunch of short stories telling some simplistic yet brilliantly depicted tales while introducing the boundaries of the setting. The storytelling technique is quite engrossing; often using the art and the overall setting reminded me of 'The Gods of Pegana', which is a book I still remember quite fondly.

What more can I say about Mignola's art that hasn't always been said. It creates a vivid sense of otherworldly sensation and dark brooding atmosphere that acts as the main force driving the story. My only gripe is that somehow I feel the art would have worked even better in black and white.

Hoping to see more from this world and quite eager to find out what happens to these characters in the future. I will give this 4 out of 5 stars.

Weekend Shorts - Wire Mother by Isabel J. Kim

Name - Wire Mother 

Written by - Isabel J. Kim 

Published on - Clarkesworld Magazine October 2025 (issue 229)

This one was a blast to read, with a fun concept, engaging prose and interesting characters. When lots of stuff is being written about artificial intelligence and digital people it is really hard to sound original in this regard but Isabel shines through with making her story feel like natural and quite plausible compared to many.

This story is about Cassie, is set in far future and deals with her imaginary neuro divergent disorder making her incapable of accepting digital people as real. The story is told through her point of view and established the world around her slowly through her eyes while progressing to her inevitable rebellion against the norms of her society.

This was my first read from Isabel and this just clicked. The short yet poignant story left a sense of unease and desire to return to the setting. Maybe there are more stories to tell regarding Cassie or her world; only the author knows surely.

I will give this 4 out of 5 stars.

New Book Review - Godzilla Minus One by Takashi Yamazaki

Name - Godzilla Minus One (novelization)

Written by - Takashi Yamazaki

Translated by - Evan Ward

Published by - Seven Seas Entertainment 

Godzilla Minus One is a masterwork of how to tell a simplistic yet impactful story in a profound way. It follows quite a predictable formula but due to the strength of the inherent message and brilliant execution, it turns into something to rejoice for ages to come.

I had an interest in revisiting the experience, so I immediately picked up the novelization of the film as soon as I found out about it. And thankfully the book does deliver with some delightful new scenes and a glimpse into the psyche of some of the characters.

Uniquely, Godzilla Minus One is not just a monster movie, but features the struggles of a post-war country who are on the losing side facing yet another disaster and trying to overcome it this time on their own terms. The characters are quite vividly imagined, making the readers sympathetic to them and feeling anguish or joy alongside them in this all too human tale.

Almost everyone who is a genre fan has surely seen the movie or heard about it. This novelization just gives them another chance to re-enter this world.

4 out of 5 stars from me.

New Book Review - Exiles by Mason Coile

Name - Exiles

Written by - Mason Coile (Andrew Pyper)

Narrated by - Ashley Morton 

Published by - G.P. Putnam's Sons / Baskerville 

Audiobook by - Penguin Audio

'Exiles' is a conglomeration of genres mixing a backdrop of sci-fi with bleak and uncompromising horror with a sense of pervading mystery packed in a tight package of fast moving thriller. While this combination seems like a hard thing to do masterfully the audiobook version with its emotionally packed narration does quite a wonderful job of delivering a memorable performance.

The plot follows three humans (one female and two males) going on a mission to Mars where they would live out the rest of their lives and prepare the way for other explorers following their footsteps. Awaiting them are three robots who built and now maintain their habitat. 

The story from the beginning is quite unpredictable, never really informing the reader much about the direction or about the main characters, creating a sense of mystery. The thrill slowly builds and the focus shifts from an exploration story to turn into horror focusing on alien environment and personal struggles.

The thing I liked about the story is the slow reveal for the reader of the fact that despite otherworldly setting, robots and possible alien menace, the horror actually is much more personal relying on the history of personal trauma and psychological instability. 

None of the characters are lovable, but it is quite understandable why they are motivated in acting in specific ways. The cunning and manipulation by the apparent antagonist while his/her identity is revealed give the emotional impact yet another jolt.

Maybe this story was custom built in such ways but the performance by Ashley Morton was simply outstanding, delivering such emotional narration, especially in the final third of the book, is remarkably memorable. The ending hit like a gut punch, which is both an accomplishment by the author and the narrator.

Sometimes after starting the book I came to know that the author is with us no more, which is such a shame, as it seems he was currently at the pique of his craft. At least, he lives us with a backlog of past works to explore in the future.

This gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Retro Comic Review - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 1 #26

Name: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 1 #26

Published by: Mirage Comics

Writer & Artist: Rick Veitch 

Letterer: Gary Fields

The 'River Saga' ends with style, providing an exciting issue with a satisfying final battle and closure for all the relevant characters. The main villain behind the powerful and brutal Bloodsucker turns out to be a weird one, as per the rule in TMNT, who gets defeated in an epic way, leaving us wondering what fun could have been had if not for the rights issue.

The story progresses smoothly unlike the second issue and Veitch has gotten the hang of characterizing the turtles perfectly this time and conflict is told through his unique and weird style, giving some memorable moments well after you have finished.

The art is as good as ever; there are some brilliant moments like the psychic punch and Raphael's triumphant return that are bound to stay with you if you are a turtles fan. 

All in all, this one closes the story with a massive sense of accomplishment and a lingering desire of seeing Bloodsucker return to wreak havoc once again.

A whooping 4.5 out of 5 stars from me.

Weekend Shorts - When there are two of you: A documentary by Zun Yu Tan

Name - When there are two of you: A documentary 

Written by - Zun Yu Tan

Published on - Clarkesworld Magazine January 2025 (issue 220)

This one had an interesting premise of a future where people use their digital clones or sentience to assist them in their daily lives. The story deals with the various scenarios that might occur as a result. 

The story is told as two interviews taken from two individuals who are dealing with this phenomenon quite differently. The story could have been developed a bit more, adding a bit more background or conflict rather than going the psychological way to describe the effect.

The bit with a conversation from an online forum was interesting and could have been used more to add more flavor.

I will give this 3 out of 5 stars.

New Book Review - The Hungry Gods by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Name - The Hungry Gods 

Written by - Adrian Tchaikovsky

Narrated by - Emma Newman

Series - Terrible Worlds: Innovations 

Published by - Rebellion Publishing Ltd. / Solaris Books

Audiobook by - Tantor Media 

Another Adrian Tchaikovsky novella, another innovative and interesting work involving a richly imagined world incorporating relatable and charismatically depicted characters. Nowadays, his work means contender for best of the year list.

This time the setting is a post-apocalyptic resource-depleted world, with animal-inspired factions embroiled in struggle for survival suddenly turned upside down by the arrival of four technologically advanced beings claiming to be gods.

The prose by Tchaikovsky is as enjoyable as ever, seeming to glide through the world building and introducing the main players. The obvious ecological rhetoric is done quite artfully making us ponder if this might occur in our future if we keep on polluting our surroundings. 

The characters are quite skillfully fleshed, having their own purposes and motivations to guide them through to the ending which is quite satisfying as is often the case with the author. I liked Beaker and Iffy the most and would have liked to read more about them.

Hoping to get more releases for this series in future as I will remain trying to finish reading all of available Tchaikovsky stuff (a daunting task indeed). This gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Animated Tv Show Review - Devil May Cry (2025)

Animated Show Name - Devil May Cry (2025)

Season - 1

Aired - April 3, 2025

Episodes - 8

Network - Netflix 

Based on - 'Devil May Cry' by Capcom

Developed By - Adi Shankar, Alex Larsen

Animated by - Studio Mir, Adi Shankar Animation 

Although I haven't played much of Devil May Cry, I have a basic understanding regarding the story of DmC. And this somewhat modernization of the adaptation of the popular video game series does hit all the correct spots to score high marks especially regarding the entertainment value, also keeping interest piqued for future seasons.

The story is breakneck fast-paced, filled with witty dialogues and has some interesting twists and turns to keep the viewer guessing. The plot does not adhere to the video game strictly, which seems like an improvement in my book despite many fans feeling otherwise based on the internet. Any adaptation should have some room for creativity and alteration so as to give the developers their own chance to share their vision in my opinion (people can play the games any time if they want the original storyline, so what's the bother?).

Interestingly, the side characters were much more well-fleshed and had developed background compared to Dante, I really loved the White Rabbit. I would give the lesser development and focus upon the main characters benefit of doubt, presuming that the creators kept their cards in hand for future seasons. The creators playing with concepts of real world politics, racism, and religious zealotry added further relevance to some of the story and characters.

The art and animation are a clear strong point with fluid and high-profiled animated action sequences accentuating the overall urgency and breathtaking visuals. The battles are brilliantly choreographed, often making me come back for a second view of the spectacle.

The use of both old school and modern rock pieces enhances the bombastic nature of the actions as well as the emotional episodes like the 6th one. The music is universally loved for this series even by its haters and that is definitely for good reasons.

My score - 9 out of 10.