Thursday, April 25, 2013

Season 4 of Lost Girl Resumes Late 2013

Good news for popular hit series, Lost Girl! Season 4 will resume with 13 new episodes in late 2013 on Showcase and (early 2014 on the Syfy Channel in the U.S.). From the Huffington Post:

Fae-tastic news for "Lost Girl" fans -- a fourth season of the Canadian series has been ordered.

"Lost Girl" is in the middle of Season 3 and has been one of Showcase's most impressive series. The show, which stars Anna Silk as a supernatural creature who feeds off sexual energy for her abilities, boasts crazy ratings, making it one of Canada's top-rated specialty dramas. 

"'Lost Girl' remains an anchor series for Showcase, and with its sharp writing and palpable cast chemistry, it has amassed a fan following second-to-none," said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. "We are delighted to bring fans another season of the series and can't wait to see where the creative team takes the story next."

In its inaugural year, which aired in late 2010, "Lost Girl" was the number-one series on Showcase and has only grown in its following seasons. In fact, it remains the number-one specialty program in its Sunday timeslot in key demographics.

Production on Season 4 is set for this spring and is scheduled to air in late 2013. Executive producer of Prodigy Pictures, Jay Firestone, says there's plenty for fans to get excited about. "Bo's world is going to be turned upside down," he teased. "Her beliefs will be challenged and her allegiances will be questioned. Fans can look forward to a roller-coaster ride."


Monday, April 22, 2013

100,000 Hits!

As of April 22, 2013, this blog has reached the epic number: 100,000 hits! Since I launched this supernatural-themed blog nearly five years ago, I have written over 360 posts that covers anime, novels, and entertainment. When I started this project, I was a recent college graduate who wanted to share to the world my hobby in this popular genre. I have been an avid fan of the horror/paranormal/supernatural genre since the 1990s. I got my first glimpse with this genre by reading classic horror teen novels by R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. This figures paved the way for the popularity of the teen supernatural genre in the 2000s. I would also visit Blockbuster Video and cable channels, such as Sci-Fi (before its re-branding), HBO, Showtime, and USA Network, to catch up on cult classics. High-speed Internet (which was absent in my childhood) has now made it possible for fans and newcomers to watch these great classics online. Although I post much less now (I have completed graduate school and am in the early stage of my career), I look forward to continuing this blog! Stay tuned for more reviews and updates!

Review: Dead Beat (The Dresden Files #7)

Harry Dresden -- Wizard: Lost items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Dead Beat, by Jim Butcher, is the seventh novel in the Dresden Files. Paraanormal investigations are Dresden's business in the Windy City. He tries to bring law and order to an increasingly chaotic world of wizards, monsters, and vampires. It's three days before Halloween and nearly a year after the events in Blood Rites. Karrin Murphy is head of the Special Investigations Unit of the Chicago Police Department. As Harry's best friend, she looks out for him in case supernatural trouble is nearby.

When an ancient evil threatens to destroy Murphy's reputation, Harry has no choice but to succumb to their bidding. He must find the Word of Kemmler and all the power that comes with it. Dresden has not heard of The Word, so he consults his spirit assistant, Bob, who used to belong to Kemmler, the most powerful necromancer in a thousand years who was killed by the White Council. Now he must race against time and merciless necromancers to find the Word before Chicago becomes the center of the walking dead on Halloween night.

In the meantime, he must also protect Dr. Butters, a Chicago assistant coroner, from the grasp of necromancers and hold his own against the strong influence of a fallen angel, Lasciel. As if Halloween couldn't become more creepier for Harry Dresden.

This was another excellent Halloween-themed novel filled with action and suspense by Jim Butcher. To my surprise, the latter quarter of the plot takes place in the town of my alma mater, Northwestern University. This made for an amusing ending. Each case becomes more dangerous and challenging for Harry to overcome unscathed. Harry's life also changes drastically due to the necromancers and vampire war against the White Council. Although he does not treat it like a promotion (from wizard to regional Warden), I look forward to what new privileges and responsibilities await him. Lately, I am missing the romance that was more prevalent in the earlier books. I hope Harry can find happiness and a cure for Susan's current condition in his new role

Stay tuned for the next novel in the Dresden Files series, Proven Guilty

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Review: Siren's Surrender (A Dark Tides Novel #2)

Sometimes the secrets between a man and a woman are best left to the ocean's depths...

Siren's Surrender, by Devyn Quinn, is the second novel in the Dark Tides novel series. Gwen, the middle daughter of the Lonike sisters, refuses to embrace her mermaid heritage. She felt embarrassed about showing her scale pattern (often mistaken as tattoos) and exposing her iridescent tail. In fact, she rather blend in as a human and manage her beachfront hotel in Port Rock, Maine. But her peaceful life ends when her older sister, Tessa, returns from the Mediterrean Sea with news of an existing ancient mermaid civilization. Gwen can no longer ignore her Mer heritage.

Black Whittaker, a covert-ops agent and former military officer, wishes he was never assigned a paranormal case in his childhood home of Port Rock, Maine. For nearly seventeen years, he avoided the place because it brings back crushing memories of his abusive and alcoholic mother that he rather forgets. He reminds himself that this is a normal case and will leave as soon as he follows standard procedure and questioning on the Lonike family.

But the tides change when Blake meets and falls in love with Gwen that fateful night at the hotel. He also stumbles upon a dangerous mermaid incident that nearly ends his life. After the event, they are transferred to a secret army base to learn more about the abilities of the Mer. Blake serves as liaison to the Lonike family while also remaining true to his mission. He must keep the family safe from an evil nemesis bent on their destruction. As the situation becomes more serious, how long can he keep his true feelings from Gwen? Will he have to give up his career to be with the one he loves?

This is another fantastic novel about mermaids! With a combination of action, suspense, and romance, Quinn did a great job with this plot. Although the ending felt very rushed, this book showed the downside of being a Mer -- Gwen's insecurity about fitting in with the human population. This is the opposite of the first novel (Siren's Call) where Tessa fully embraced her Mer heritage, including the abilities and language. The author also gives readers a glimpse of the evil nemesis' thoughts and her intentions on earth. I look forward to reading what awaits in the third novel this summer. If the author has the chance, I would appreciate short stories (especially background and follow-up stories) on the Lonike sisters and their husbands.

Stay tuned for the third and final book in the Dark Tides novel, Siren's Desire.