ChillFire

Favourite game series? Hmm... for me it's a toss-up between Resident Evil and Splatoon. I really love the classic Resident Evil games. There's just something about the action, the puzzle elements, and overall plot that just hooked me. Resident Evil 3 (original, not the remake) is probably my all-time favourite. Splatoon has really addictive gameplay and its PVP multiplayer can get really competitive. The co-op mode is also excellent fun. I can easily spend a long while playing Splatoon 2 and end up losing track of time. Can't wait for Splatoon 3 to come out this summer. Also, in the spirit of Valentine's, a romance game: YAGS (Yearning: A Gay Story) is probably the best gay visual novel I've played thus far. It's completely free to play, but you can choose to donate to the developer if you wish. There's 4 (+ 1) characters to romance, and a bunch of sequels, side games, and whatnot if you finish it and end up wanting more. (I'll have to check out Our Life, a game mentioned above, though! It does sound interesting.)

Honestly, I've never heard of the first definition of vendetta. I've only ever seen and heard it used in the second definition's context. How interesting. (Also, I just have to ask... What the hell is that Twitter GIF supposed to represent? haha)

A short review for a short story! Leonardo and Spencer like each other but don’t know it – but perhaps with a little push from their friends and family, that’ll change. What I Loved I don’t think it’s very often that we get both points of view of a relationship. It was interesting to read both sides’ thoughts! I really liked all the side characters. The focus is on Leo and Spencer, of course, but having all these other characters around them and their own little side plots (Janine’s was a bit sad) helped bring this short to the next level. What Could’ve Been Better Miscellaneous Thoughts This story has a lot of references to the COVID-19 pandemic, since it takes place in the “present time”. I tend to read for escapism and being reminded about the shitshow that is the outside world right now made me feel a bit uncomfortable, to be honest. (And to be 100% clear: I don’t think that referring to the current state of society is a bad thing, and I am definitely not criticizing this story for it… This is more just a self-observation thing.) Verdict I wanted a short romance to read, and this fit the bill perfectly. Definitely give it a go. 5 stars.

Out of the blue, Matt suddenly becomes a parent and has to raise his baby brother. Now he has to juggle parenting, college, and his new job all at the same time. When everything seems like it is about to fall apart, his boss’ boss steps in to help him out… What I Loved Y’know, I thought Boss Nanny was going to be about the “gentle giant that falls in love with the person that needs protecting” trope, and it does have elements of it. (Nothing wrong with that!) However, I do like that Seamus is imperfect and does have his own problems and insecurities, as it gives his character more depth. It isn’t all sunshine and roses in this world, and that’s great. Being a single parent as young as Matt is hard. He didn’t deserve the cards that were dealt to him, but he was able to adapt well with the help of Seamus. I enjoyed reading Matt’s highs and lows trying to parent Aidan. (And if anything, it sort of reinforced my belief that I definitely do not want to ever parent a baby or toddler, haha. Aidan is very cute, though. I have to admit that.) The humor is top notch! I laughed out loud several times while reading. (My favourite interaction has to be the texting conversations between Matt and Seamus in Potato Detox.) All of the “main supporting” characters were used really well, and I loved them all – Matt’s friends at Coffee|Bar, Seamus’s college friends, and Matt’s dad. What Could’ve Been Better Minor mistakes litter the story, like usage of the wrong character’s name in a sentence and small grammar issues. There was also one instance where the word “maybe” was written as if it was starting a sentence, but the rest of the phrase appeared to be deleted at some point. Extremely minor nitpick: authors should be able to use actual emojis in their stories, no? (Not sure if there is some limitation in the GA CMS.) Here’s how to insert an emoji if you’re unaware: on my Mac, I can press Command + Control + Space to bring up an emoji picker. On a Windows PC running Windows 10 or newer, you should be able to press Windows Key + Period. Miscellaneous Thoughts Verdict While I do have my reservations about some of the content in the latter half, I don’t think it detracts much from the amazing first three-quarters of this story. Seamus, Matt, and Aiden’s journey together was a joy to follow. Definitely give this a read. 4.5 stars.

I’ll be upfront here – I’ve never seen a single episode of Power Rangers: Dino Charge before. Yeaaaah. So, why did I read this? Honestly, I’m not really sure myself. Something about the title and description pulled me in, I guess. (Maybe it helps that I’ve been reading other stories that have been inspired by the Power Rangers lately?) Anyway, that doesn’t really matter. I just wanted to make it clear that this review comes from someone unfamiliar with the source material. Riley thinks he likes Chase, but they’re total opposites. On top of that, Chase is always flirting with girls at the Dino Bite Cafe. There’s pretty much no chance for him. … Right? What I Loved Riley and Chase are quite cute together, and they really do seem to complement each other very well despite being opposites in many ways. The two boys help each other become more well-rounded and better people in general. Chase helps Riley open up and be more relaxed in life, and Riley helps Chase settle down and bring some order into his personality. Speaking of, it’s nice that the rest of the team is so supportive of their relationship and have been since the start. What Could’ve Been Better Minor grammar issues persist throughout the story, but they don’t appear often enough to be too annoying. Going Home, part 1 starts out in the third person, but suddenly jumps to first person as Chase partway through without any sort of transition. Miscellaneous Thoughts Being a superhero doesn’t pay very well, huh? haha I looked up some details I was curious about on the Power Rangers wiki after reading this and stumbled upon pictures of Riley and Chase’s actors from the show. Honestly, they did not look like what I expected. (Then again, when does that ever happen?) Verdict Adventures in Dating is a cute little fanfic. I really enjoyed reading about Chase and Riley’s relationship and how they grew together. (Maybe I’ll even put Power Rangers: Dino Charge on my to-watch list now, haha.) 5 stars.

The apocalypse is coming. Soon, the Earth will be invaded by demons, monsters, and other unspeakable horrors from another realm. It’s time for the legendary Champions to reawaken and fight back the darkness. What I Loved Pop culture references up the wazoo! The action scenes were well written and very engaging. Usually, my brain tends to start glossing over details when I read long action sequences, but I didn’t find have that problem (at least that much) in this story. Top marks for keeping them interesting. All the insults that Killian and Chad fling at each other are great. I always found their bickering to be quite amusing. I really liked the concept of the heroes undergoing a reincarnation event. I don’t consume much superhero media, so it might be a common thing elsewhere, but I personally found this concept to be quite unique. (Wonder if they’ll continue to be reincarnated and reunited with each other again and again for infinity?) What Could’ve Been Better Miscellaneous Thoughts The Internet has ruined me. It took me a little while before I could look at the name “Chad” and not read it as the meme term for an “alpha male”. I’m getting lots of Power Rangers vibes from this story, haha. Was it ever explained how Nathanial himself was awoken? I honestly don’t remember. Every single time that Chad incanted a spell, I always imagined in my mind one of those “action” sequences in the older Pokémon seasons and other older anime. (You know the ones when a character would say something cool and do some sort of pose while the camera moves around them and the background goes all blurry? Yeah, like those ones, but with better animation and detail.) Verdict The Chosen is a great mix of action, comedy, and romance. I could not put it down during my re-read. (I even lost sleep because I wanted to keep going!) Any fan of fantasy and sci-fi will enjoy this. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Chad and Adam met for the first time in a bar. But… what if it didn’t happen like that? What I Loved Adam being Chad’s RA is my favourite scenario out of the bunch. I just found the whole thing so Chad! Him barging in and nerding out over TV shows is definitely something he’d do. Plus, the interactions between the two were really cute in that one. Seeing other sides of prior events seems to be a bit of a theme with these side stories. Not that I’m complaining – it was fun to see Adam’s thoughts when meeting Chad for the first time. What Could’ve Been Better No criticisms to be found here. Miscellaneous Thoughts Do authors write “fan”-fiction of their own stories often? I honestly have no idea. At first, I was wondering if these scenarios take place in a world where the Chosen don’t exist, but Chad and Adam were still fated to be together. Then Adam nearly called Chad “princeling” in one of them, which cleared that up. Some things just never change, huh? (For example: Adam’s love for Broadway musicals.) Verdict Another cute little side story (stories?) in the Chosen series. Again, if you like the other books, you’ll like this one too. 5 stars.

15,000 years ago, Prince Emrys decides that it’s time to tell everyone that he’s now dating Admerion. It does not go as he expected. What I Loved If the events depicted in this short were to happen in the present day, I’m pretty sure it would go in a very similar direction. Goes to show how everyone is still largely the same, despite the time gap. I always found the whole “two people but still one” thing to be very well executed throughout the entire series. I quite enjoyed the ongoing gag with the starship naming. What Could’ve Been Better I have nothing to criticize. Yes, really. Miscellaneous Thoughts Interesting (but also completely unsurprising) that Apollo had eyes for Aurek all this time. Wonder why he never acted on his feelings before his reincarnation. Emrys sure does have a dramatic flair underneath all the regality, eh? Guess that’s where Chad got it from. Verdict A cute little side story. If you’ve read other books in the series, then you’ll enjoy this as well. 5 stars.

(Note: Considering that this story is essentially an autobiography, I thought that it would not be very appropriate to use my usual review format, so I will be writing my thoughts in a semi-freestyle form. Spoilers ahead.) This story is well worth your time. Just be sure to keep a box of tissues (or several) near you when reading. Thank you to Sam, John, and Adam for this wonderful tale.

FOREWORD: You should read this story before reading the review. All you need to know is that it is excellent and well worth your time. After crashing his car into the ocean one winter night, Callen is greeted by a supernatural being. He is told that he has six hours left to live. With that, he is teleported hundreds of miles away to his friend’s apartment. It's time for him to get his affairs in his order. What I Loved This story is an excellent entry in the ‘tragedy’ genre. What Could’ve Been Better I have nothing to criticize. Yes, really. Miscellaneous Thoughts While I do like this story a lot, it should be noted that it is very depressing. (There is also lots of ‘hope’ to balance it out, though.) Verdict I stumbled upon this story expecting a romance with a supernatural twist. While I did get that, I also got so much more. What a story! Highly recommended. A must read. 5 stars.

Congratulations on moving to Eagle Lake! Plumbing problems? Call Heinrich Ernst and Son, Plumbing and Heating. Rick will certainly help you out. Need to relax? Be sure to check out our picturesque lake, near the Cedarcrest property. You should especially consider visiting at night – there might be a surprise in store for you. Doubting your investment? Our little town will most certainly be the place to be in the future. Contact your real estate agent, Rita McKee, for more details on what’s to come. And remember: “The pace is slow, and everyone knows your name. And your business.” What I Loved God, I loathed Rita and Heinrich Sr. Every time they showed up and started spouting off about whatever, I honestly wanted to just yell at them. On a semi-related note, the content warnings slowly morphing into Rita and Heinrich Sr. “weather reports” was hilarious. Great job capturing the atmosphere and vibe of life in a small town. Reading Double Concerto almost makes it feel like you’re actually living in Eagle Lake! Thanks for including links to the various music referenced throughout the story. I’m not a huge classical music fan, but it’s nice to have this “supplementary material” for those who want it. I’ll be sure to have a listen later. What Could’ve Been Better Jerry kinda felt like a throwaway character, to be honest. Did he even have much of a role in anything? Perhaps he did and I just forgot. Miscellaneous Thoughts The theme of “having your life be micromanaged” hit very close to home, honestly. At one point during the first half of the book, I felt like Gus was being put in front of Rick just to torture him, haha. What’s that saying, again? “Authors love to torture their characters?” I should really check out the series where CJ and company are featured in. I don’t live in the States (nor do I participate in my country’s equivalent patriotic day), so it was interesting reading about all the festivities surrounding the 4th of July. Verdict I couldn’t put down Double Concerto when I was reading it! (One time, I accidentally read to 6am in the morning. Had to “wake up” shortly after. Whoops.) The slow pace of life at Eagle Lake pulls you in and makes you never want to leave. While I have some issues with some elements of the plot, they aren’t too major and Double Concerto is still a very enjoyable read. 5 stars.

While out exploring a cave nearby his house, Torsten finds some sort of football-sized egg. What the hell kind of animal could lay an egg that big? Suddenly, it hatches, and out comes… a baby dragon?? Looks like Torsten’s life is about to take an unexpected turn. What I Loved The deep lore behind the world. For fantasy, this is essential! Several action-packed scenes featuring cool dragon fights. What Could’ve Been Better Sometimes the obligatory lore info dump scenes were a bit dry. Just a small nitpick that probably doesn’t really matter: I wonder why the school or local government aren’t getting worried about the main characters missing so many days of school, haha. This is a common thing I’ve noticed in ‘magical’ stories featuring teenagers, so it isn’t necessarily unique to Spirit of Fire. Miscellaneous Thoughts Baby dragons sound really cute. Minus the scratches, bleeding, and claw marks that will inevitably happen. Though, now that I think about it, in that state they’re not much different than a cat… I really hope that none of the primary characters die in the next book. (I mean, I think it is a given that at least one person will die… It’s a Stellar novel, after all. But still!) Man, I want to fly on a dragon after reading this. It sounds really fun. Verdict Spirit of Fire isn’t a story that I’d usually consider reading, with all the shapeshifting and whatnot. But, since it was written by Stellar, I decided to take a chance on it. And I’m glad I did! The story is thoroughly enjoyable and is a great read for any fan of the fantasy genre. 4 stars.

What I Loved The action scenes were well written and very descriptive, especially the ones where Slade takes Rover flying. I really liked the dynamic that developed between Slade and Rover, as Slade slowly gained Rover’s trust. Sett really is a true friend. What Could’ve Been Better Why doesn’t Rover get the police involved? Miscellaneous Thoughts Verdict I really wanted to like this story. The plot started out strong, but as it went on, I felt like it went everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The ending didn’t really do anything for me either. Maybe I just didn’t get it. 2 stars.

- Mr. Brightside by The Killers What I Loved A series based off an album? How unique! (I know that some authors use music as a muse, but I think this is the first story that I’ve read on here which has a song tie-in. Plus, The Killers are one of my favourite bands, so that only sweetens the deal.) The themes (jealousy, paranoia, etc…) from the song Mr. Brightside were perfectly integrated into the plot. The first half of the story is up there with some of the best material that I’ve read on this site. Jason’s backstory is heartbreaking, and the slow reveal of all the details was perfect. There are a bunch of scenes and little details that hit differently on a re-read. For example, while Jason crying in Shane’s arms is simply intriguing on the first go, it feels significantly different on subsequent reads once you know why he broke down. Jason and Shane are definitely some of my favourite characters... ever. What Could’ve Been Better The entire thing with Nikolai was the weakest part of the plot for me. It didn’t have as much depth or “weight” to it as Jason and Shane’s backstory. While there isn’t necessarily any issue with Shane revealing things through an extended conversation in the final chapters, I did find it to get a bit dry and poorly paced as it went on. Perhaps it could’ve been changed up a bit, so it isn’t just Shane recounting what happened for the entire time. Miscellaneous Thoughts Reader suggestion: listen to Mr. Brightside while reading the latter half of Chapter 11. Man, Shane’s been through a lot. He’s stronger than I am, for sure. Verdict One of the best stories on this site. Jason and Shane are both amazing characters and I greatly enjoyed the ride they took me on. A must read. 5 stars.

Raccoon City, September 1998. The T-Virus, a bioweapon which turns people into mindless zombies, has contaminated the city’s drinking water. As its citizens become concerned over a “flu” that is going around, a series of random violence and cannibalism incidents occur throughout the city. Meanwhile, Kieran, a 15-year-old attending Raccoon High, deals with his own personal problems. Being gay and effeminate, he doesn’t have any friends and is often the target of unscrupulous characters. When he meets some of his fellow GSA club members, however, things seem like they’re looking up. And then the world goes to hell. What I Loved Seamless integration into the Resident Evil universe. The ramp up of the zombie outbreak (hearing about the “flu”, seeing a “hobo”, etc…) was well executed. Seeing the infection slowly progress through the eyes of a regular citizen was fun to witness. While this story is perfectly accessible to those who haven’t had any interaction with the Resident Evil franchise, there’s lots of little tidbits (references) here and there for the fans. What Could’ve Been Better Were there really GSAs in late 90s high schools with many members? It was a more ‘conservative’ time, after all. Miscellaneous Thoughts Hmm, I wasn’t familiar with some of the plot elements, so I looked them up. Apparently, they come from the Resident Evil movies! I haven’t watched any of them, so it should be noted that this review comes from the perspective of someone who has only played the games. Kieran only drinks filtered water? How convenient. Did we really need two Jill Sandwich references? haha Verdict Given I recently binged a bunch of Resident Evil games recently since the release of Resident Evil Village, this seemed like a great candidate to read. The Raccoon City incident will always be the most interesting part of Resident Evil to me, and I had a great time looking at it through the eyes of regular citizens. While it is flawed, there are some interesting ideas here and I definitely enjoyed reading Resident Evil: Epidemic. 4 stars.