I know this post will be published near Halloween, so I’m not sure how many of you will read it. But if you do, thank you! I have more on what I will be doing post-wise at the end of this. Stay tuned 🙂
What I Watched
Charlotte
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This was a re-watch for me, but a first time watch for my husband. With only 12 episodes, you would think that this is an incomplete anime. On the contrary, it is a complete anime with plenty of humor, romance, drama, and a dash of supernatural abilities. Unlike My Hero Academia (which I love and am watching the new season of), this show takes a more realistic approach to superpowers. Only teenagers can have powers, and those powers fade after adulthood. Even more interesting, these powers often have great faults or limitations (for example, one character can only be invisible to one person at a time). Also, scientists, warlords, and leaders are constantly trying to take advantage of these teens with power. The saying, absolute power corrupts absolutely, really applies to this show. Despite the comedic element and light-heartedness of the first few episodes, the plot gains intensity as the show progresses. There is downright darkness in some episodes, with scenes of violence and intensity. However, it shows such actions in a negative light and some of them are understandable, even if it is hard to watch. The character development, in addition to the plot, is done extremely well. And that ending? *chef’s kiss*. Anyway, I highly recommend this show to adults interested in a suspenseful, new take of the superhero genre.
Content Warnings: Intense scenes of Violence, Brief Nudity, Drug Usage (seen negatively), and a few cuss words.
Parallel World Pharmacy
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This isn’t your typical isekai/new life anime. At first glance, it seems that way with the premise: a man dies, and then his soul is transported into a new body at a new place/point in time. However, it becomes a different story entirely when it adds in a magic element and the medical angle. Farma (yupp, that name haha) is the main character. Sweet-tempered, brave, and hard-working, he proves himself to be a capable pharmacist (or doctor). Despite the fantasy world and basic premise, the story isn’t that intense. It is more like a slice of life anime than an intense, dramatic isekai anime. I especially liked how the church was treated. At first, you think that the church would be the typically corrupt stereotype. However, they acknowledge the truth (sort of) and turn out to be pretty good people. This anime is also unique for its mini-lessons on the chemistry of disease and pharmacy. It reminded me that some of these anime seem like ways to get teenagers interested in a career as a pharmacist. Although short, the plot wraps up fairly well, and it was one of the more clean animes out there. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Content Warnings: Farma is shown without a shirt, Clevage-baring tops, some intense action scenes, but not very bloody.
Dr. Stone
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This is a fascinating anime (and it’s not done!). The premise is that the entire human race is petrified (turned to stone), and then one human finally becomes de-petrified. That human? Senku Ishigami, boy genius. Together, with the help of others he de-petrifies and/or finds (long story), he tries to bring back human civilization from the stone age (thus the name of the show). Of course, there are those who oppose his scientific progress, citing human corruption as a reason. The plot develops fairly well, mainly focusing on building scientific inventions for various spoilery plot points. The description of such inventions is so scientific, in fact, that I am reminded of my earlier premise: sometimes these anime seem like educational treatises to get teenagers interested in a particular field. I mean, think about it, why else would they have a food show, pharmacist show, and science show? There’s even a show about the human body (Cells at Work). I enjoy the more “educational” anime shows, regardless, because the story and characters are great. I’ve already touched on the story, which though incomplete, resolved enough of its plot points that I am pretty satisfied (though anticipating the next season!). The characters are fun, too. Senku is hilarious, though some of his phrases get a bit tiresome. I really like Kohaku and Chrome, who are probably my favorites of the cast (though Yuzuriha is a close third). Overall, the characters and plot are great, and I definitely recommend it.
Content: Nudity (covered by bushes or well-placed legs), a few bad words, a bit of blood (mainly disease-related, though a few violent scenes show a bit of blood), and intense action scenes.
What I Read
The Truth Beyond the Lies
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This book isn’t released yet, but it is spectacular. I got to read an early review copy and I absolutely love it. Basically, the story centers around Peri, a clockwork doll who wishes that she was real. Peri is very naïve, and most of the plot is about her learning how things are not always as they seem. Kathleen Bird does a wonderful job of interweaving the fairy tale elements of Pinocchio with the steampunk world she has created. I could gush continuously about this story, but I think it would be better to put my full review on Goodreads when it is released.
Preorder the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Beyond-Lies-Isles-Miadhra-ebook/dp/B0BHXTHSP1/
Speaking of Goodreads, the other two books I have reviewed I posted there.
Girl in the Red Hood: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28095482-girl-in-the-red-hood
Ganbatte! The Ties that Bind Us: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61317515-ganbatte-the-ties-that-bind-us
What I Wrote
Recently, I decided to update Toothbreaker, a novella set alongside Etania’s Worth with tie-ins to Etania’s Calling. This book was one that I never felt like it was quite done…until now. Featuring Sage, my first redemption character, and Tamar, an Eritam “doctor,” I think you’ll enjoy it! Here’s the blurb:
A man who betrayed his people. A woman who once loved him. An Eritam that hunts them both.
Sage has lost everything: Tamar, the Eritam woman he once loved… Fang, the wolf he considered his friend… his status as a Toothbreaker. Even his old friend Vartok tries to hunt him down! Sage knows he must make a choice. Will he continue to serve Malstorm, or surrender to Melchizedek? The wrong choice could cost his life.
Read the Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083BBNBM1
As for Etania’s Destiny, I will finish it right after my NaNoWriMo project, which I will tell you about next month!
What I Learned
The main theme I desire to convey with Etania’s Destiny is that God fights your battles. I don’t think I knew quite how true that would be in my own life until this month. This month, I had a lot of bad things happen. Thieves penetrated the gas tank of our truck and siphoned the gas. My car’s transmission had issues. Our cat began to throw up without explanation. One of my students decided to be defiant. An event that I was looking forward to participate in was cancelled. I realized that this year I might have to make a profit on my books or the IRS might audit me.
It felt like Satan and his demons were raining down arrows of persecution this month. I have felt spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically drained. Nevertheless, God has been at work, fighting back these things that have come at us over and over again.
I have no doubt that God has allowed the thieves to experience the consequences of their actions, but He worked in other ways. He helped us find a gas tank for a lower price. My car’s transmission issues turned out to be a matter of replacing hoses rather than the entire thing. He gave me insight into my cat’s problem, and we replaced her water and she is fine. My student who was defiant finally complied with instructions. We found another event for me to participate in, and I believe God will bless me with the income I need to avoid that agency.
In addition to this, I have written two articles. One is to be published soon, and another is in the querying process. My first radio interview aired, and I had another one that will air in November. I also have another two podcast appearances scheduled. The Lord continues to provide opportunities for me to promote my books. And I feel He will bless me with sales in ways I don’t expect.
God fights our battles. Once again, we are called to trust that what He says will come to pass. That He has our best interests at heart. That He will work all things according to His good.
I’ve learned that the hard way this month, but I think it is a lesson that will continue to shape my walk with Christ.
Final Thoughts
When I started this wrap-up series, I did so on a whim. I thought that it would be a perfect way to communicate with my blog subscribers and engage my Instagram followers. I also found the process to be enjoyable. It is fun to put my thoughts into a cohesive blog post and share what I watched, read, wrote, and learned each month. However, I have found that few of you read it, if any. So, I had to make a decision.
I will post these wrap-ups for two more months and then begin doing something different. I have not decided what it will be, but I’m sure it will be fun.
Thank you, everyone who has read/commented on my blog posts. I appreciate it!