![\"Mayor](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/90/Widows-Bay-1.jpg\")
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming with a special report. The NHL has finally released their Hometown Remix jersey designs. There are definite winners and losers in this competition.
\n", "content_html": "We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming with a special report. The NHL has finally released their Hometown Remix jersey designs. There are definite winners and losers in this competition.
\n\nEarlier this month the NHL announced the release of 32 Hometown Remix jerseys.
\nYour mileage may vary with this ranking. My favorite may be different from your favorite. Some of these were surprising for teams I don’t normally like, let alone root for, but good design is good design and even I can appreciate that.
\nI’m not sure how you make an uglier uniform for the Penguins, but they managed it. I find the way they’ve used the particular blue and yellow colors to be offputting and clashing.
\nI would have preferred to see the crown logo the Kings’ have previously used in some of their jerseys. The purple color is excellent, but the Chevrolet logo in the middle continues to look bland.
\nYup. That's an Ottawa jersey. The color scheme of the jersey, while appropriate to a Roman aesthetic, just doesn’t look eye-catching. I find this jersey to just be a superficial palette swap and find it lacking in creativity.
\nGreen? Really? St. Paddy’s day is once a year, but this is a boring color swap to a jersey I already find quite controversial.
\nDid you know the Red Wings are from hockey town? Let me remind you for the 100th time that they are with this “new” jersey design. This isn’t even a color palette swap, it’s just the same repackaged jersey design with extremely slight tweaks.
\nThe Canucks enabled darkmode for their jerseys.
\nThe gold color and textures make the Flames uniform look a bit better than their normal flat bright yellow. Still can’t really save this color combination though, even if it’s a nice reference to the final year in their arena.
\nWhile the color scheme is new and refreshing, with gold metallic sections, I would have preferred to see the return of the screaming eagle logo as the primary logo in the center of the jersey. There are other nice touches with the cherry blossoms and the numbering font on the back, but I personally think there are other iconic DMV related concepts or images that could have been referenced instead of the Capital building.
\nWhen you said you were going to take inspiration from the Aurora Borealis, I expected more colors. A gradient shift on the normal Jets jersey just isn’t doing it. Numbers in the back look kinda cool though.
\nDiagonal font never goes out of style for this New York team. But it really should.
\nAfter the brand new light blue jersey, this black one seems so uninspired. They should have let any of their tertiary new revamp logos be the primary logo here. The fleur-de-lis, the STL treble clef or the trumpet logo would have stood out more.
\nBlack and red jersey for the Devils. Daring today aren’t we?
\nTheir normal jersey with their alternate logo. Not a lot of creativity here.
\nLove the colors, the U tusk logo as the primary? Not so much.
\nOil is black. But this isn’t gold.
\nThe red brick Freedom Trail at the hem is a nice touch. However, not even that cool detail can save that plain brown everywhere.
\nToday I learned Raleigh is called the City of Oaks. The oak leaves debossed on the sleeves are a nice touch.
\nWhile I do like the colors on paper and the fan favorite cannon, I think I like their alternate cannon jersey better than this layout. One of the most unforgivable flaws in this jersey is the fact that the primary color is Confederate gray instead of UNION blue. You’re named the Blue Jackets and having a historical theme to your team, and yet you miss the mark in this way? I think there are more creative ways to connect the Blue Jackets theme.
\nThe Sharks HTR kit as a whole elevates this design. The Shark teeth and gums are a fun addition to the jersey in theory, but I personally think previous iterations of the team’s logo have been better. The Sharks have a large collection of interesting jerseys to pick from, but this one doesn’t quite hit as hard as the others.
\nIt's hard to mess up black, neon green, and white. While the jersey is nice, the Stars have a ton of other great jerseys, so I can’t say this is better than what they already have.
\nThe Islanders finally perfected their iconic Fisherman’s jersey with proper coloring. I’m glad they kept the lighthouse logo for the shoulder patches, and I appreciate the wave design at the bottom.
\nI’m surprised to have both of Florida’s jerseys rank so high in my HTR ranking list. I believe the logo for TB is what predominantly makes this jersey special. Evoking pirates pays homage to the city’s football team in addition to general nautical themes. The lightning bolts on either sleeve look nice, and the color scheme looks better and more inspired than their regular jersey. Where I find this jersey lacking, however, is the fact that it relies heavily on the circle style logo, evoking the idea that this is a practice jersey rather than a primary jersey. Still a creative, interesting jersey, just not top 10 worthy.
\nControversial colors and names have hampered the Predators uniform and theming. I think they should fully move to this design as their Hometown Remix jersey has the best details while still using their core color palette. The filigree on both the front, back, and main logo really accentuate that country feel. The stars that are on the side of their pants really complete that western-wear design.
\nI wanted to see that cracked liberty bell logo so badly, but the details they included on the sleeves with the thoughtful inscription are worth mentioning. The charcoal base and orange highlights also look great compared to the Flyers’ usual jersey. This jersey does a great job of encompassing the city of Philadelphia with all their details top to bottom.
\nWhile some would say the Minnesota Wild have only changed their color palette with their HTR jerseys, I think they pay homage to their North Star hockey roots through this design. If the color palette is meant to evoke their hockey siblings to the south, this jersey captures that idea while also playing into themes of the wilderness. The sleeves also feature the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor constellations! The extra design on the numbers is especially nice and different from other jerseys in their rotation. Much like Montreal, however, I think the Wild have several good jerseys already competing for top contention.
\nWhile Montreal’s HTR jersey isn’t my favorite, I have to give credit to the designers. The jersey has captured the city’s flag in its design, with the logos on the sleeve directly coming from the flag itself. The flag pays homage to French Canadian culture. With that said, I think Montreal’s primary jersey kit and its recent Heritage Classic jersey are better.
\nLike Vegas, people hate the Panthers (and rightfully so), but the people who designed this jersey understood the assignment for what a Hometown Remix jersey should be. Your mileage may vary on whether you think the primary color is pink or grapefruit or coral in color, you can’t deny the logo itself is clever and suitable for a team that plays hockey in a city known for being hot year around. This jersey evokes sunshine and “Miami Vice” aesthetics. I hate to admit that their accompanying HTR hat is one of the better options for those who would prefer to buy a hat instead of a jersey.
\nI still won’t be buying one, however.
\nThe house always wins, and you should always bet on Vegas to find a way to capture the vice and villainy of its city’s roots. For many hockey fans, this jersey captures what many hoped a hockey team in Vegas would have used as their primary aesthetic. The jersey still features its Golden Knights theme with its shoulder patches, but the focus is predominantly on gambling. There’s a moral argument to be made about promoting betting outright on a jersey, but you won’t find me making it. Sometimes it’s fine to let something be fun for the sake of being in theme. Even Vegas haters can’t deny that this jersey encompasses the aesthetic of the city and everything people imagine when they think of it.
\nHarking back to the team’s original 6 roots, the jersey for Toronto has a retro look with a classic feel. The frayed leaf, cream and dark navy blue color palette, and minimalist design make this jersey look attractive, especially when paired with the team’s full kit. In my opinion, this jersey is better than Toronto’s current primary jersey.
\nEvoking ice, snow, wintery feelings, the Rocky Mountains, and thin air, this is an excellent jersey for the Colorado Avalanche. While the Avs have had many alternate jerseys over the last few years, this one takes a different approach with a fresh color scheme. While some fans might miss the Yeti footprint, this jersey features silver accents, a blue-gray gradient on the logo, mountains on the sleeves and crest, and the Colorado C from the state flag. This embodies what a hometown jersey should be.
\nThere’s no surprise with this team’s ranking. The Ducks are embracing their Disney origins in full, capturing the nostalgia and betting on your childhood love of the Mighty Ducks films. Fans of the team have been begging for a throwback to the films, and the Ducks have now provided. Anaheim and Disney are intertwined, and the Ducks as a franchise wouldn’t exist without their former parent company down the road.
\nFinally, the anchor, something Seattle fans have been teased with ever since the franchise first revealed the teams’ original logos. Seattle embraces the vintage nautical theming with a fresh color scheme and a unique naming/number font style. The Space Needle, Mount Rainier on the sleeves, and the original Kraken logo combine together to illustrate what makes Seattle special. Further, this jersey in my opinion shows that the Kraken organization actually hired a graphic designer with taste compared to many of the other teams which hardly tried with their HTR designs.
\n\n
Ultimately, it’s always exciting for teams to inject new designs into their jersey rotations. Which jerseys are your favorite? Which ones have you already purchased to add to your collection? I look forward to seeing these jerseys in action on the ice!
", "image": "https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/91/Hometown-Remix-Jersey-Ranking-Pop-Culture-Blog-Post.png", "author": { "name": "Zath" }, "tags": [ "Pop Culture", "Opinion" ], "date_published": "2026-11-04T10:30:00-06:00", "date_modified": "2026-11-04T10:30:00-06:00" }, { "id": "https://nostalgictomorrow.com/widows-bay-season-1-review/", "url": "https://nostalgictomorrow.com/widows-bay-season-1-review/", "title": "Widow's Bay Season 1 Review", "summary": "With Halloween less than a week away, I decided to tune into Widow’s Bay since it recently received Emmy buzz (winning 14 out of 19 nominations) and to get myself in the mood for the holiday without gorging on candy. This show sounded like something that would be right up my alley: eldritch horror mixed with a dash of small town folksiness, superstition, and even comedy.
\n", "content_html": "With Halloween less than a week away, I decided to tune into Widow’s Bay since it recently received Emmy buzz (winning 14 out of 19 nominations) and to get myself in the mood for the holiday without gorging on candy. This show sounded like something that would be right up my alley: eldritch horror mixed with a dash of small town folksiness, superstition, and even comedy.
\n\n\n\nThe mayor of a New England town resolves to turn it into the next tourist hot spot, despite local warnings that it’s cursed.
\n
Release Date: April 29, 2026
Number of Episodes: 10
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Comedy
Tropes: Deal with the Devil, Monster of the Week, Ghost Story
Where to Watch: Apple TV
The premise? When a remote island curse reawakens, it's up to a handful of residents to figure out what’s going on before it's too late. Sign me up.
\nIf Amity Island from Jaws leaned into eldritch horror instead of shark week, you’d have the basic set up for Widow’s Bay. An outdated town on the brink, desperately needing that influx of tourist money to update its much needed ancient infrastructure makes for the perfect setting for a horror story. The setting was one of the strongest points of the show for me personally; homes that have seen better days, the historical society museum, and older technology that isn’t quite as reliable as its modern counterpart, all lend themselves well to creating the feeling of being just outside of the safety net modern society casts around us.
\nThe very first episode does establish very interesting concepts alongside tropes any horror fan will be familiar with. We have the remote island, the strange event that kicks it all off, the superstitious locals, and the skeptic town mayor. All things I’m normally interested in, but the execution half way through the first episode left me wanting and unfortunately this feeling did not leave.
\nThe main problem I have with the show is its pacing. We’re introduced to a sliver of an interesting mystery about the island but then it's pushed aside in favor of monster of the week style episodes. While a monster of the week setup can be interesting, this show didn’t keep me engaged with its subplots. I was more interested in the eldritch horror surrounding the island instead of anything else. These detours felt like the show was burning film, forcing me to slough through weekly monsters in order to get back to the more interesting elements of the show.
\nThe actors were well casted for their roles, and they did a tremendous job. I especially enjoyed Kevin Carrol as Sheriff Bechir and K Callan as Ruth. Bechir was extremely relatable in being the most level headed on the island with a perfect sense of dry humor and quiet protectiveness for those he serves. The other cast members had their moments but these two performances stood out to me the most.
\n![\"Bechir](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/90/Widows-Bay-2.png\")
If you are a scaredy cat, or just not a huge fan of horror, I think the show is worth watching. This isn’t your brainless bloody slasher or something that will make you sleep with the lights on. It will have an uncomfortable scene, spooky ambiance, and a jump scare or two, but nothing that even the most timid fan can’t stomach.
\nThe show balances the horror with comedic relief well. Some of these scenes had me laughing out loud, while others carried on a little too long and over stayed their welcome. The concept of a horror-comedy is a challenge so your mileage may vary, but I appreciated the injection of humor into the horror genre which sometimes has a tendency to take itself far too seriously. Overall, I thought this added a certain charm to the show.
\nThe last episode, in my opinion, was the strongest and left me with enough questions that I’ll be interested in checking out the next season when it releases. I wish that more of the actually interesting main plot about the island had been explored more throughout the season.
\nWidow’s Bay failed to meet my high expectations due to moments of irritation with characters, jokes that ran on for far too long, and lackluster subplots. However, it still managed to be an entertaining watch during spooky season. The show is worth the time of anyone trying to find that rare balance between horror and comedy. So pack up your bags and set out for a trip to Widow’s Bay instead of Martha’s Vineyard as soon as you can.
\nGears of War: E-Day is a return to form on everything that makes a Gears game great. With a campaign filled to the brim with a compelling, emotional story, characters both new and old you’ll hope will survive the savage onslaught, and a Horde Siege mode that will keep you and your friends locked in for hours. There has never been a better time to be or become a Gears of War fan.
\n", "content_html": "Gears of War: E-Day is a return to form on everything that makes a Gears game great. With a campaign filled to the brim with a compelling, emotional story, characters both new and old you’ll hope will survive the savage onslaught, and a Horde Siege mode that will keep you and your friends locked in for hours. There has never been a better time to be or become a Gears of War fan.
\n\n\n\nExperience the brutal horror of Emergence Day through the eyes of Marcus Fenix in the origin story of one of gaming’s most acclaimed sagas.
\n
Developer(s): The Coalition, People Can Fly
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Third-Person Shooter, Action, Adventure
Platform: Xbox Series X
Despite Gears of War: E-Day being the latest game in the Gears of War franchise, it takes place before any of the previous Gears games during what is known as Emergence Day, the infamous moment when the Locust Horde assaulted the surface of Sera in a global attack. E-Day has been referenced in all previous Gears media, but we have never before seen the start of the Locust War.
\n![\"Marcus,](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/89/Gears-of-War-E-Day-03.png\")
At the time of writing this review I’ve clocked in over seventy hours of Gears of War: E-Day on the Xbox Series X and pre-ordered my copy of the game on disc. For context I’ve completed the campaign, played each of the Horde Siege modes, and dabbled in Verses. Further, I’ve also played and completed each Gears of War video game (minus Tactics), and I’ve read every Gears novel.
\nGears has always been an iconic cover-based third person shooter, but now with E-Day, the gameplay has been updated and modernized. We can now jump across gaps, climb vehicles, and quickly zipline up ropes ascending to the tops of buildings. Verticality isn’t the only thing new, with enough speed on your sprint you can now slide, which is a lot of fun and reminds me of another People Can Fly game, Bulletstorm. These new inclusions help breathe a bit of fresh air into the familiar controls while still keeping the familiar gameplay at its roots.
\nHorde is back with a fast paced action mode called Horde Siege. This game mode has you traveling around set maps (which are locations from the campaign) and completing different types of missions. As a big fan of Horde from the previous Gears games, I feel that Horde Siege is the perfect game mode for E-Day. You really feel the tension of a city collapsing as multiple squads try to navigate their own time sensitive missions and extract safely. There still is extra equipment to use and purchase with energy, but there are constantly changing objectives which force each squad on the map to remain mobile. I do like that what you leave behind can still be used by other squads when they travel to that same area. It gives you a feeling that even though you don’t always see the other squads on the map, they are still there fighting the same threats as you and everyone can lend a helping hand at any given moment.
\n![\"Gears](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/89/Gears-of-War-E-Day-00.png\")
During my time with the game, I haven’t come across any major game breaking glitches. The most notable issue I found while playing was sometimes the sound will crack and stutter for a few moments before returning to normal. During Horde Siege, I’ve had a Corpser bug out during an Invasion Event a couple times, and I’ve also experienced some lag when trying to interact with other players and objectives. The Coalition has been patching the game every few days so I imagine that these issues will ultimately be resolved over time.
\nIn Multiplayer there are no battlepass type gimmicks, you simply play the game to unlock each of the characters and cosmetics. All unlocks are either earned by completing certain objectives, like completing the campaign or doing something special X amount of times in a particular game mode, or can be purchased outright by using the in-game currency. The current game is a breath of fresh air to simply be able to play and unlock the cosmetics I want without jumping through hoops.
\nE-Day is a beautiful game, and The Coalition made a concerted effort to give this game an immersive feel through every single detail. From character expressions and body language, unique and grounded armor designs, to littered city streets full of debris, everything feels cinematic and intense in a way that makes you feel as though you are navigating the crisis of E-Day first hand. This game has set a new standard for environmental storytelling, from the stunning full cityscape views, to water reflections, to the deterioration of the world around you, you literally see Kalona torn apart in real time (more on this later).
\n![\"The](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/89/Gears-of-War-E-Day-01.png\")
As a whole, I honestly don’t need games to get any better graphically than E-Day. Video games should still feel like video games, though they can still feel like an interactive cinematic experience.
\nThe music is top tier, and even the menu music makes me emotional. It reminds me of the iconic Halo 3 menu music. The game’s music elevates the cutscenes, underscoring the emotional story beats and enhancing them in a way that if I ever go back and listen to the soundtrack, I’ll be taken straight back to how I felt when I first experienced this game and its story.
\nTo be deeply immersed in a video game, all of these background elements have to be working in harmony to the point where you may not conscientiously notice how much of an impact those details are having on your experience. You’ll notice immediately when something feels off in a game, whether it’s the music, environmental design, or janky character models, but when everything works perfectly, you remain immersed and engrossed in the story.
\nThe story around Emergence Day has been alluded to over the course of the Gears of War series, but we’ve never been able to see day one of the Locust attacks. The entire set up of this inciting scene is well thought out and executed. At every point we feel that growing tension and dread as the characters start to realize the gravity of the situation they find themselves in.
\n![\"Svore](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/89/Gears-of-War-E-Day-02.png\")
Gears has never been for the faint of heart, and E-Day is a reminder of why. The horror is back in a whole new way. One of the most horrifying things I came across during the campaign wasn’t a fight scene but seeing the bodies piled up on top of each other as civilians tried to flee through the underground subway turnstiles. I still get chills thinking about it.
\nEnvironmental story telling does major heavy lifting throughout the campaign. There are lore objects that add further context to the world and underscore the horror of E-Day in quieter but no less impactful ways. There are cinematic vista shots that will take your breath away from the scale of the devastation across the city. There are moments throughout the story where you will be reminded that everything that happens occurs over the span of only a few days, further heightening how quickly and ruthlessly the Locust Horde lay waste to humanity.
\nCharacters have always been an integral part of the Gears universe, and E-Day not only brings back fan favorites who have been with us from the beginning, but also adds brand new characters to round out the cast. The newly formed Bravo Squad consists of far more than just Marcus and Dom. Newcomers Mags and Lucas add interesting and complex character types that we haven’t seen fleshed out before. Mags easily became one of my favorites as the story unfolded, feeling grounded and human with many of her ambient dialogue lines. Even characters from the novels are finally receiving serious screen time, as with Raven pilot Gill Gettner and my personal favorite from the entire series, Captain Quentin Michaelson (both of whom are playable characters for the other game modes).
\n![\"Captain](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/89/Quentin-Michaelson.png\")
E-Day may just be my favorite of the series as a whole. It felt like the culmination of all the lore, characters, and world-building that has been with us through all Gears media. The story paid tribute to the lore which came before without needlessly retconning past games or introducing spectacle shock value moments. What was slightly changed with the lore is, in my opinion, nothing drastic worth complaining about. Further, E-Day serves as a perfect opportunity for those unfamiliar with the Gears franchise to hop on board, offering a new entry point into the series by starting at the beginning. You don’t need to know who Marcus, Dom, or any of the other characters are because the game establishes their personalities and backstories thoroughly within the game itself. Of course, if you’re already a fan and have played the previous games, you’ll pick up on references and details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
\nGears of War: E-Day is proof that the best is still yet to come in this franchise. To me, this game serves as the best entry in the series since the original trilogy. This is the Gears game I have been patiently waiting for and without a doubt my personal game of the year. I hope that The Coalition continues on and makes E-Day a proper trilogy since there is certainly enough space in the story to continue forward. I have so many questions and look forward to seeing how this emotional story evolves in the future. The Gears faithful may know how the story ultimately ends, but the journey is just as important as the destination.
\nIt took a considerable effort to pry me away from the game long enough to write out this review. I highly recommend Gears of War: E-Day as an incredible feat of storytelling which focuses on nuanced characters. This is a grounded sci-fi story showcasing humanity at its best and lowest. You’ll root for these characters, you’ll loathe some of them, but most of all, you’ll want to see how they survive and overcome overwhelming odds.
\nDon’t just add this game to your wishlist. Go out and purchase it as soon as possible to enjoy one of the best games of 2026.
\n", "image": "https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/89/Gears-of-War-E-Day-Video-Game-Review-Blog-Post.png", "author": { "name": "Zath" }, "tags": [ "Video Games", "Video Game Review", "The Coalition", "Gears of War: E-Day", "Gears of War" ], "date_published": "2026-10-16T10:30:00-05:00", "date_modified": "2026-11-03T09:39:06-06:00" }, { "id": "https://nostalgictomorrow.com/steel-of-the-celestial-shadows-vol-1-review/", "url": "https://nostalgictomorrow.com/steel-of-the-celestial-shadows-vol-1-review/", "title": "Steel of the Celestial Shadows Volume 1 Review", "summary": "
The first volume of Steel of the Celestial Shadows sets the stage with a historical setting steeped in mystery and the supernatural which will leave you running back to the store to buy the second volume.
\n", "content_html": "The first volume of Steel of the Celestial Shadows sets the stage with a historical setting steeped in mystery and the supernatural which will leave you running back to the store to buy the second volume.
\n\n\n\nA down-and-out samurai named Ryudo Konosuke struggles through his hardscrabble life in early 19th-century Japan. It is said that a samurai’s spirit rests in their sword—and Konosuke can’t even pick one up thanks to a cruel curse that repels anything made of metal that gets near him. Destitute and hopeless, he decides to end it all. But when a beautiful and mysterious woman saves his life and his soul, it is the beginning of Konosuke’s journey into a strange world of magic that exists a step away from his own.
\n\n
It is said that a samurai’s spirit rests in their sword—and Konosuke can’t even pick one up thanks to a cruel curse that repels anything made of metal that gets near him. Destitute and hopeless, he decides to end it all. But when a beautiful and mysterious woman saves his life and his soul, it is the beginning of Ryudo’s journey into a strange world of magic that exists a step away from his own.
\n
Mangaka: Daruma Matsuura
Publisher: Viz Media
Published: January 16, 2024
Genre: Action-Adventure, Drama, Supernatural, Historical, Romance
Tropes: Underdog, Damsel in Distress, Supernatural Awakening
Rating: Teen Plus
Series Status: Ongoing
Konosuke is a fallen samurai who can’t wield a sword, let alone shave his face with a blade as all metals warp in his presence. He longs for death by the very thing that rejects him. One day he is saved by a mysterious woman and his life takes a drastic turn.
\nWhile this volume does have a slow start and a little bit of pacing issues as it brings characters together, if you stick with it, the story eventually opens up and you will be hooked. The mystery around Konosuke’s curse and Tsuki are really compelling parts of this first volume. There is a bit of romance here as well, and I’m curious to see how that will play into the story in the long run.
\n![\"Konosuke](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/88/Steel-of-the-Celestial-Shadows-V1-1.png\")
A samurai who is unable to hold a sword but continues to practice swordsmanship shows just how dedicated Konosuke is to his craft and just how desperate he is to prove himself a samurai. Konosuke is a character anyone can be sympathetic towards because of his plight and the position he finds himself in. While I didn’t immediately gravitate to him, I could appreciate knowing the high amount of stress one would be in if they were in his shoes, unable to do the very basics like being able to shave or boil water.
\nTsuki was a much needed addition to this story, and I immediately liked her personality despite not knowing much about her. I enjoyed seeing her stand her ground against Konosuke’s defeatist attitude, and she helped him start to change.
\n![\"Tsuki](\"https://nostalgictomorrow.com/media/posts/88/Steel-of-the-Celestial-Shadows-V1-2.png\")
There are two art styles included in this manga. One which is more artistic and painterly in style and is used for the cover and some chapter opening pages. The other is used throughout most of the manga. I really liked the regular art style and thought it worked well with each scene, especially showing Konosuke’s constant state of stress. I found something a little unsettling about the painterly style, but perhaps that was the intent.
\nIf you are looking for a samurai story full of intrigue, mystery, desperation, and an unusual hook, then pick up a Steel of the Celestial Shadows volume 1.
\nWith Gears of War: E-Day about to break free when it releases, I wanted to dive back into this universe and take a look at the novel that expanded the Gears world and its characters so much for me. As a long time Gears fan, I’ve been extremely excited for the new game’s upcoming release, hoping for a return to what made the series so special in the first place. Expect my game review to come soon!
With Gears of War: E-Day about to break free when it releases, I wanted to dive back into this universe and take a look at the novel that expanded the Gears world and its characters so much for me. As a long time Gears fan, I’ve been extremely excited for the new game’s upcoming release, hoping for a return to what made the series so special in the first place. Expect my game review to come soon!
\n\nAs kids, the three of them were inseparable; as soldiers, they were torn apart. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago fought alongside Dom’s elder brother Carlos at Aspho Fields in the epic battle that changed the course of the Pendulum Wars. There’s a new war to fight now, a war for mankind’s very survival. But while the last human stronghold on Sera braces itself for another onslaught from the Locust Horde, ghosts come back to haunt Marcus and Dom. For Marcus—decorated war hero, convicted traitor—the return of an old comrade threatens to dredge up an agonizing secret he’s sworn to keep.
\n\n
As the beleaguered Gears of the Coalition of Ordered Governments take a last stand to save mankind from extermination, the harrowing decisions made at Aspho Fields have to be re-lived and made again. Marcus and Dom can take anything the Locust Horde throws at them—but will their friendship survive the truth about Carlos Santiago?
\n
Author: Karen Traviss
Published: October 28, 2008
Pages: 402
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Action
Tropes: Found Family, Big Damn Heroes, Heroic Sacrifice, Survivor Guilt
After nearly 80 years of conflict known as the Pendulum Wars, the Coalition of Ordered Governments finds themselves under a new threat which comes to be known as the Locust Horde.
\nFor those unfamiliar with Gears of War, or who have only played the games, you are doing yourself a disservice by missing out on one of the most character driven science-fiction stories out there. Aspho Fields isn’t just a video game retelling or a hollow tie-in you can skip; the book’s narrative establishes each character and how they came to be the ones we see throughout this universe during the Locust War.
\n\n\n\"...because it made him family. It was okay to hate your siblings, but no outsider had the right to dare lay a finger on them.\"
\n
Aspho Fields is a dual timeline book. One timeline follows the aftermath of the original Gears of War video game while the other takes place during the Pendulum Wars before anyone knew what was hiding beneath the surface of Sera. This dual timeline allows readers to explore familiar faces like Marcus Fenix, Dominic Santiago, and Victor Hoffman before and after E-Day, giving us a unique perspective on how they’ve developed over the long years of conflict. We are also introduced to a couple of my all time favorite Gears of War characters in Bernadette Mataki and Quentin Michaelson. Despite the large cast of characters, each receives sufficient screen time and a well developed backstory, allowing us to get to know them far more intimately than the video games allow.
\n\n\n“The battle was, as always, nothing like the plan. It never was. Instant decisions had to be taken, and hindsight might one day prove them right or wrong, but the one that was always wrong was sit on your ass and do nothing.”
\n
I have yet to come across an author who writes better military fiction than Karen Traviss. She is able to craft a believable story with all the little details that make even a science-fiction world seem grounded and realistic. Her writing style is immersive and full of depth. From the way each character reacts during combat to the choices they are forced to make in a split second to how they process what they’ve gone through, it's clear that Karen Traviss has done thorough research on the topic.
\nThe tension surrounding each conflict builds throughout the book, all leading up to the events at Aspho Fields which changed so many characters' lives forever. Even while rereading this novel, there are parts that choke me up because the emotional impact still hits hard even after all this time. Camaraderie, grief, and survivor's guilt are core themes throughout this book that are handled with great nuance and care. This is true of the entire series as a whole, including the games themselves.
\nLong time fans of the series will enjoy the references to events, characters, and familiar locations from around the Gears universe. Even if you are not a fan of the Gears of Wars video games, Aspho Fields is worth reading for a grounded, science-fiction story with great characters, tension filled action, and a complex narrative.
\nNow if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to play E-Day.
\nKing’s Man is a second chance historical MM romance that puts its characters through the ringer, causing them to work extremely hard for their happily ever after.
\n", "content_html": "King’s Man is a second chance historical MM romance that puts its characters through the ringer, causing them to work extremely hard for their happily ever after.
\n\n\n\nHad there been no war, Sam Hutchinson and Nate Tanner would have lived their lives together as intimate friends, and secret lovers. But when the revolution convulsed America, it threw them down on opposite sides of history…
\n\n
Five years later, Sam is a Loyalist refugee in London, penniless, bitter, and scrambling to survive amid the city’s shadowy underworld. It’s a far cry from his respectable life as a Rhode Island lawyer, and the last person he wants to witness his ruin is Nate Tanner— the man he once loved, the man who betrayed him.
\n\n
The man he can’t forgive.
\n\n
Now an agent of the Continental Congress, Nate is in London on the trail of a traitor threatening America’s hard-won freedom. But the secret mission of his heart is quite different. Nate longs to find Sam Hutchinson—the man he still loves, the man he lost to the war.
\n\n
The man he can’t forget.
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When their lives unexpectedly collide, Sam and Nate are thrown together on a dangerous mission. And despite everything that still divides them, old passions begin to stir...
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Can they seize this second chance at love, or is their tangled past too painful to forgive?
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Author: Sally Malcolm
Published: March 25, 2021
Genre: M/M Romance, Historical Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Angst, Political Drama, Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
Sam Hutchinson and Nate Tanner are secret lovers who have differing opinions on America’s future when the Revolution violently tears them apart. Years later, they meet again in London and some wounds aren’t easily healed.
\nThe American Revolutionary War has been covered ad infinitum in popular media. However, Malcolm manages to show us the conflict and horror being done by citizens to their own and then the ramifications of the war’s aftermath. This setting was extremely interesting to me because it's always skipped over when media recounts this time period. There is always a great battle and then suddenly everything is fine. But King’s Man sheds some light on the incredibly turbulent period of early American history.
\nIt’s clear that Malcolm has a deep knowledge for the history and culture of this era. Even before reading the author’s notes where she describes writing a master’s dissertation on the subject, it’s clear to anyone who reads this novel that she is deeply passionate about the topic. She is knowledgeable about the political and social divides everyday people faced on both sides of the conflict across the Atlantic. This knowledge shines throughout her novel, creating a richness that I thoroughly enjoy when reading historical romance. The historical backdrop is WHY I love reading books in this genre. I want to feel immersed in the time period, from everything to the way the characters speak to their everyday concerns to the locations they traverse to everything in between. A historical romance is nothing without its setting.
\nOne of my favorite things about this story was how much Sam and Nate knew and understood one another because of their deep history. Even when they were angry and frustrated with each other, they knew what kind of person the other man was and couldn’t help but admire and love all those parts of him, flaws, strengths, and all.
\nKing’s Man does have a prequel short story titled Rebel, and even though it isn’t listed as the first book in the Outlawed series, it should be in my opinion. The first chapter of King’s Man gives little introduction to the characters and immediately brings us to their established relationship and their immediate internal conflicts.
\nAs a result, I highly suggest reading Rebel first because it will twist the knife far deeper when you understand how Sam and Nate met and fell in love. Rebel is a short story and is available for free through the author’s newsletter. It’s worth your time, so you don’t miss out on Sam and Nate’s backstory! It is also an excellent story in its own right, and it depicts how Sam and Nate fell in love during a time when such feelings were considered an “eternal sin”. If you aren’t convinced, check out my full review of Rebel here.
\n\n\n“Nate had once kissed that stiff jaw, been intimately familiar with its contours. He’d brushed his lips over Sam’s delicate eyelids, from beneath which his flinty eyes now stared coldly.”
\n
Betrayal between two love interests is something I dislike reading about immensely, usually because the conflict is dumbed down to create artificial drama and is then tossed aside when the story beats have run their course. The central conflict between Sam and Nate is extremely complicated and nuanced given the historical time period. I devoured each page of this novel because I wanted to know more about what happened in the past. I needed to see when they would eventually be able to talk to each other about everything that happened. These two men went through such a painful journey and at the end I wasn’t angry with either one of them because there was really no “right” way out of the situation they found themselves in. It was heartbreaking. I wish they hadn’t had to go through what they did because all they wanted was to be together and work together towards a common goal. This is a story full of remorse, regret, guilt, grief over missed opportunities, and finding a way back from ones’ mistakes to find forgiveness and healing.
\n\n\n“How is this so easy for you?”
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“Being with you was always easy. Easiest damn thing in the world.”
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The romance between Sam and Nate is touching, and in some ways resembles a slow burn as both characters navigate their new reality in a changed post-war world. Both characters long for a simpler time before the war broke out, but both understand they can’t go back and change the past. They rediscover why they fell in love with each other and contextualize these feelings alongside their new circumstances. Their love story felt believable, and never once did I stop rooting for them. Their shared intimacy and history enhanced the second chance romance’s drama and propelled me to flip the page over and over.
\nThe second book in the Outlawed series, Thief Taker, releases on October 6th. I have my copy preordered, and I can’t wait to read more about this time period and these characters!
\nSally Malcolm has crafted a historical fiction that feels authentic to the time period, with deeply interesting and complex characters, a realistic love story, and a dramatic narrative that will have you reading into the early morning hours because you just can’t put the book down. Pick up King’s Man as your next read, and you won’t be disappointed.
\nAs a fan of delinquent manga, I had wanted to check out this series after I saw its eye-catching cover and clever title announced a while back. Glasses With a Chance of Delinquent Volume 1 was worth the wait for a fun-filled, absolutely enjoyable shojo manga that plays up to its tropes and knows exactly what it is.
\n", "content_html": "As a fan of delinquent manga, I had wanted to check out this series after I saw its eye-catching cover and clever title announced a while back. Glasses With a Chance of Delinquent Volume 1 was worth the wait for a fun-filled, absolutely enjoyable shojo manga that plays up to its tropes and knows exactly what it is.
\n\n\n\nMomose has always longed for a peaceful high school life. She wants nothing to do with hoodlums, delinquents, or troublemakers. When she meets Ichikura, an inconspicuous black-haired boy with glasses, he looks like a normal, nice guy. But it turns out that back in junior high he was a nefarious delinquent!
\n\n
He keeps assuring her that he’s changed his ways, but he’s still pretty quick to pick fights! Has Ichikura really turned over a new leaf? And will Momose keep quiet about his rowdy past?
\n
Mangaka: Naruki
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
Published: January 28, 2025
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life
Tropes: Delinquent with a Heart of Gold, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity
Rating: Teen (13+)
Series Status: Ongoing
Momose has entered high school, and she doesn't want to be bullied again by any delinquents like she was in her junior high. When she signs up for the Helpers Club, she meets Ichikura, a studious, perfect student who is actually a former delinquent in disguise.
\nWhat I like most about this manga is that both Momose and Ichikura are trying to change from how they were in middle school. Momose was bullied and Ichikura got into fights so much that no one wanted to talk with him. They are both trying in their own way to turn over a new leaf in high school.
\nDespite being a delinquent, Ichikura isn’t like Momose’s former bullies, but he's not exactly prince charming either. I enjoyed the back and forth between the two as they both have traits that get under each other's skin. Ichikura is pretty hilarious and a really good guy deep down. Momose, while being very timid and clumsy at times, does start to stand up for herself and shows just how much she wants to change. The opposites attract trope is cute and sweet so far, and I’m looking forward to reading the next volume!
\nThe art is fun, and it's always nice to see the extra effort taken by the mangaka to draw the characters in multiple outfits which allow them to express themselves. Each character's facial expressions are very expressive, which makes every scene hit that much harder with good art.
\nGlasses With a Chance of Delinquent Volume 1 is a cute opposites attract manga that will have you laughing and gushing at two adorable characters who are trying to better themselves. Make sure you brush your teeth after or there is a chance you’ll get cavities from cute overload.
\nSince I enjoyed the first volume of The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse so much, I was eager to see if the story would hold up after the first volume. Like the previous one did, this volume exceeded my expectations and has now solidified itself as a series I will continue to read.
\n", "content_html": "Since I enjoyed the first volume of The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse so much, I was eager to see if the story would hold up after the first volume. Like the previous one did, this volume exceeded my expectations and has now solidified itself as a series I will continue to read.
\n\n\n\nA girl walks alone in a world without humans. Her mission—to search for survivors and cleanse the land. But is anyone still out there in the lonely, beautiful ruins, waiting to be found?
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Mangaka: Haruo Iwamune
Publisher: Yen Press
Published: June 24, 2025
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Post Apocalyptic
Tropes: Sole Survivor, Dead World, Action Girl
Rating: OT (Older Teen)
Series Status: Ongoing
Saya, a provisional inspector with the Ushimitsu Technical Research Institute, is on a mission to find survivors and cleanse the land of the poisonous crystallosis pathogen that kills any human who breathes it in. However, after the events of the first volume, she now has lost motivation for that mission until an unlikely visitor shows up at her door.
\nRight away I was hooked on the continuation of the first volume and how instead of just ignoring everything that happened, Saya is affected by those events, even if she's processing things at a different pace. The first few chapters have been my favorite that I’ve read of the series so far. Like the previous volume, the stories are immensely moving by both what we see and don’t see on the page.
\nDespite the apocalyptic setting and the grim reality the characters find themselves in, there is a strong theme of hope throughout each of these pages. Most stories in this genre have the reader feeling as though they are in a constant state of depression as there really is no realistic ultimate goal to work towards. The Color of the End explores the motivation each character has for moving forward in the way of goals. I think this part was particularly moving because it puts in perspective how someone can keep living after so much tragedy.
\nShoutout to my fellow beepboop robot fans, as there is plenty here to warm your circuits.
\nThe art really sells the contrast between the characters eking out a living amidst the ruins of a war torn world around them. The dark detailed backgrounds of destruction contrast with the lighter drawn characters and really hone in on the devastation of what has been lost.
\nA picture can say a thousand words, and The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse is a perfect example of the power of visual storytelling. I enjoyed this volume even more than the first, and I cannot wait to see more of Saya’s journey through the ruins of a world that is gone but not without leaving important messages behind. If you are looking for a beautiful, melancholic story about the deep connections we can make, take a trip with The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse.
\nSally Malcolm is quickly establishing herself as one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I haven’t even read all her books (yet).
\n", "content_html": "Sally Malcolm is quickly establishing herself as one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I haven’t even read all her books (yet).
\n\n\n\nFalling in love is just the beginning...
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Samuel Hutchinson has lived his whole life in Rosemont, Rhode Island. And as far as he’s concerned, his future is fixed: complete his legal training, marry a respectable woman, and settle down to raise a family.
\n\n
But Sam never counted on meeting Nathaniel Tanner.
\n\n
Clever, urbane, and dazzling, Nate has been banished to Rosemont by a father determined to remove him from the rising political tension in Boston. The last thing Nate expects to find in the sleepy Rhode Island town is a man who’s not only interested in Nate’s radical ideas, but who interests Nate in return.
\n\n
In every conceivable way.
\n\n
Over books and conversation, their friendship deepens. But when Nate dares to confess his true feelings, Sam faces a stark choice—reject his friend and continue to live a lie, or rebel against everything he’s been taught and embrace his heart’s desire…
\n\n
This short story is approximately 12,000 words and comes with a HFN guaranteed.
\n
Author: Sally Malcolm
Published: March 11, 2021
Genre: M/M Romance, Historical Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Meet Cute, Friends to Lovers
Samuel Hutchinson works at a law office in Rosemont, Rhode Island. One day, the dashing Nathaniel Tanner walks through the front door and changes his life forever.
\n\n\n“Not at all.” Sam was aware their handshake lingered, that his attention was very much taken by the feel of the other man’s hand in his own. “Feel free to be as troublesome as you like.”
\n
I knew I was going to be in for a good time after reading the charged meet cute. Samuel’s reaction to meeting Nathaniel was so endearing. He was smitten even if he didn’t know what to label his emotion as initially. Watching the two of them slowly build their friendship naturally by sharing their love of books and talking of politics, even when they differed on their opinions is something I always enjoy reading.
\nDon’t let the shorter length of this story deter you from giving Rebel your full attention. You will find an emotional story of coming out in a time where you were told you were going to burn in hell for being different. Sally Malcolm expertly navigates the constraints and reservations from the time period while working towards their happy ending. Her writing style is very immersive and makes you feel as though you are sitting in on the thoughts of someone from the 18th century through her expertly crafted prose.
\n\n\nHe didn’t want to be like Nate—he simply wanted him. He wanted him in the most forbidden of ways. He was drenched in desire for him.
\n
Rebel is written from dual POVs and I enjoyed getting to know both Sam and Nate. I was surprised at how emotional I was getting from such a short story. To say anything more would spoil the plot.
\nThis story sets the stage for King’s Man, which is book one in Sally Malcom’s Outlawed series, and it will most certainly be added next to my TBR. The summary has me panicking, but I simply must know what happens to Sam and Nate.
\nIf you are looking for your next historical romance, set aside your lunch time and read a compact friends to lovers romance with Rebel.
\nSeven Sundays Volume 1 should have been a cute, fun, and romantic read, but unfortunately this title stumbles with pacing issues, artificial drama, and vague explanations.
\n", "content_html": "Seven Sundays Volume 1 should have been a cute, fun, and romantic read, but unfortunately this title stumbles with pacing issues, artificial drama, and vague explanations.
\n\n\n\nTaeyang never thought he’d run into his first love, Jiwan, again—things didn’t exactly end well after Jiwan ghosted him years ago. So when Taeyang’s heroic firefighter rescue lands him a television appearance at the very station where Jiwan works, Taeyang seizes his chance. But no amount of imagining their reunion could have prepared Taeyang for the revelation that awaits him…Turns out, Jiwan has a kid—named Taeyang, no less! And after Taeyang learns Jiwan’s son is as old as their breakup, all the pieces start to fall into place. Now he knows just what to do: compel Jiwan into giving him seven of his Sundays for seven dates to make up for all that lost time!
\n
Story and Art: Charyeok
Publisher: Ize Press
Published: July 21, 2026
Genre: BL Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Age Gap, Second Chance Romance
Rating: 18+ Mature
Series Status: Complete
Taeyang and Jiwan grew up near one another and eventually became lovers. Then suddenly Jiwan disappeared leaving Taeyang to wonder what happened. Now older, Taeyang is a firefighter who gets to star in a short documentary series by the company that Jiwan works at. Taeyang accepts the opportunity to finally confront Jiwan searching for answers.
\nI was drawn to this series by the idea of a second chance romance combined with a single parent trope. Unfortunately after a really interesting opening, things quickly went off the rails with severe pacing issues. When Taeyang and Jiwan meet for the first time after eight years, Jiwan tries to hide his identity in a dinosaur costume, which was a bit of fun but then the story rushed to introduce Jiwan’s son and also the seven dates they will be going on to make up for the use of Taeyang’s name which is Jiwan’s son’s name.
\nWhen we are introduced to these characters there is heavily implied history. There are some brief flashbacks, but I feel as though a clearer backstory showing Taeyang and Jiwan’s friendship and how it developed into more would have deepened their connection.
\nThe part that was very confusing for me to follow was the origin of Jiwan’s son. We are treated to a single flashback that gives very vague and very strange implications. As this is just the first volume of this series, perhaps these circumstances are explained more thoroughly later in the story.
\nKid!Taeyang is pretty adorable and funny without becoming problematic or distracting to the overall story. Seeing both the Taeyangs hang out and play was one of the most enjoyable parts of this story.
\nTaeyang is sympathetic to the fact that he’s been carrying a torch for Jiwan and has never been in a relationship since. I wanted to see more of Taeyang’s firefighting responsibilities but that was glossed over pretty quickly after the beginning of the story.
\nJiwan, however, doesn't have many likeable traits. He seems to be a bit of a jerk with Taeyang and is stringing him along a bit, going from hot and cold with him depending on the time of day. We’re given another short flashback into Jiwan’s back story to make us sympathetic to him, but it just makes the reader wonder why Jiwan is being a jerk to Taeyang who is only trying to be with him.
\nSince this is a manhwa, this volume is fully colored inside. The art style is nice and it has its share of very cute moments where that full color really helps bring out the emotions in each character. I thought the cover was very eye-catching.
\nDespite the cutesy cover, this is an adult BL manhwa and there are several explicit scenes depicted within its pages. This story does have a younger top dynamic so if you are not into that, be warned. There is another man in this story, the baby sitter for kid!Taeyang, who wants to sleep with Jiwan. That bit of the story is very awkward at times and feels forced to have some extra padded drama. There are also times where the age gap is used to compare both Taeyang and kid!Taeyang during sexual scenes that might be uncomfortable to read.
\nOverall this manhwa has a lot of good tropes and story beats but fails to execute on them in meaningful ways. There are some fun laughs and the art style is nice, but if you are looking for a more cohesive story, Seven Sundays Volume 1 unfortunately doesn’t bring its Sunday best.
\nA copy of this book was provided for an ARC Reader Review. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Yen Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.
\n