Shakyra Dunn's Blog, page 3

[BOOK REVIEW] The Rite of Wands

The Rite of WandsMackenzie Flohr One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever

And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.

Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.


But Mierta is not the only one with secrets… especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.

I had the pleasure of joining the beta-team for "The Rite of Wands," and was given the chance to review the book! I figured that since I've been so inactive after starting up a new novel to write, it was time for me to get back into the swing of things.
For my review, I broke this story down into three separate categories: the good, the bad, and the ‘meh’ as a whole. This does not pertain to any sequels, prequels or midquels (if applicable). Let the games begin!



THE BAD:Anya. She's still such an enigma to me, and I don't really see her purpose in half of the things that she does. Her personality is sour, and unlike Deor, she actually continues to be arrogant and snobby into her adulthood and noble growth. She seeks to take over the throne from the inside, even marries Deor to do so, but I can't really see much for her outside of that. Oh, and she flirted with Mierta to try and seduce him to do her bidding. I don't like that. She's automatically bitchy in my book for it, and there's no method of changing it yet.The book felt too short, and ended on a bit of a rough path. 
THE MEH:I actually don't feel like I had any real 'meh' moments while I was reading. I always shifted between good and bad for the process. There was never much to siphon through my in-between methods.
THINGS I NEED TO KNOW/FINAL THOUGHTS:I didn't really feel like Mierta's story was resolved. At the same time, this isn't a bad thing, as there are going to be more books in the series and should resolve some thoughts in the future. I was also told by the author herself that the next book is going to revolve around Mierta's younger brother Lochlann, and maybe then I'll be able to connect the pieces and draw it back to the first story.
OVERALL: I rate this book 4.7 out of  5, rounding it up to 5 stars, and it was a great debut for a new series!
Would I read the sequel?                            I look forward to reading the sequel, actually!


                                                    BUY LINKS:                    AMAZON ^ BARNES AND NOBLE ^ KOBO ^ iTUNES

The Rite of Wands ~Review 2~

The Rite of WandsMackenzie Flohr One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever

And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.

Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.


But Mierta is not the only one with secrets… especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.

I had the pleasure of joining the beta-team for "The Rite of Wands," and was given the chance to review the book! I figured that since I've been so inactive after starting up a new novel to write, it was time for me to get back into the swing of things.
For my review, I broke this story down into three separate categories: the good, the bad, and the ‘meh’ as a whole. This does not pertain to any sequels, prequels or midquels (if applicable). Let the games begin!



THE BAD:Anya. She's still such an enigma to me, and I don't really see her purpose in half of the things that she does. Her personality is sour, and unlike Deor, she actually continues to be arrogant and snobby into her adulthood and noble growth. She seeks to take over the throne from the inside, even marries Deor to do so, but I can't really see much for her outside of that. Oh, and she flirted with Mierta to try and seduce him to do her bidding. I don't like that. She's automatically bitchy in my book for it, and there's no method of changing it yet.The book felt too short, and ended on a bit of a rough path. 
THE MEH:I actually don't feel like I had any real 'meh' moments while I was reading. I always shifted between good and bad for the process. There was never much to siphon through my in-between methods.
THINGS I NEED TO KNOW/FINAL THOUGHTS:I didn't really feel like Mierta's story was resolved. At the same time, this isn't a bad thing, as there are going to be more books in the series and should resolve some thoughts in the future. I was also told by the author herself that the next book is going to revolve around Mierta's younger brother Lochlann, and maybe then I'll be able to connect the pieces and draw it back to the first story.
OVERALL: I rate this book 4.7 out of  5, rounding it up to 5 stars, and it was a great debut for a new series!
Would I read the sequel?                            I look forward to reading the sequel, actually!


                                                    BUY LINKS:                    AMAZON ^ BARNES AND NOBLE ^ KOBO ^ iTUNES

[PROMO POST] The Cycle of the Six Moons: The Last Winter Moon Trailer Reveal!

The Last Winter Moon (The Cycle of the Six Moons #3)by Adelle YeungGenre: YA FantasyRelease Date: November 11th 2016
The Goddess of Starrs has vanished… 
Arriscyal has fallen… Gediyon is missing… Dreana holds the answers to everyone’s pasts…When Michelle returns to Starrs, the world is in chaos. No one knows who to trust, and even faith in their Goddess has dwindled. Michelle must reveal the truth of the Cycle; only then can she hope to unite everyone.The Sixth Moon looms overhead. The end of the Cycle is nigh. Michelle and Jayse must stop it once and for all.
Add to Goodreads
The Starriest Summer (The Cycle of the Six Moons #1) on Goodreads
Fifteen-year-old Michelle saves the world on a daily basis…with her trusty video game controller, of course! Naturally, she jumps at the chance to play an experimental virtual reality game.

The beautiful fantasy world of Starrs? Check. The power to mold matter? Check. No reset button? Wait, she didn’t sign up for this!

Turns out Starrs is really real, and to make matters worse, Michelle’s interference awakens the Cycle of the Six Moons, a series of devastating trials that will devour the universe.

Fighting the apocalypse was way easier when danger stayed on the other side of the screen, but Michelle finds a secret weapon in her new-found powers. She uses them to rescue the crown prince of a powerful magic kingdom from their sworn enemies, a technologically-advanced cult that strives to eradicate magical blood.

Michelle starts to fall for Prince Jayse, the only one who believes Michelle to be a savior rather than a curse. But not even video games could prepare her for what the cult has in store for them… 


An Eclipsing Autumn (The Cycle of the Six Moons #2) on Goodreads
Deciding last minute to stay in Starrs, Michelle continues her epic adventure as Goddess. After all, learning how to save the world sure beats a year of pre-calculus. With her friends by her side, Michelle travels to a city of scholars to learn the lore of the Cycle of the Six Moons.

At first, the exotic retreat turns romantic, as Michelle spends her free time exchanging sweet letters with the crown prince, Jayse. But, during her studies, Michelle learns something that drastically changes her game plan. Powerful blood must be spilled to end the Cycle…blood that only runs through her veins and the prince destined to fall in love with her.

During a celebration honoring their enlightenment, Michelle and Jayse are whisked off to a rogue city as trophies of a tournament, where only the strongest can claim a taste of their blood. Gallant as ever, their guardian, Gediyon, enters to prevent harm to his friends. Unfortunately for the contestants, the Cycle’s latest trial prevents everyone from waking from a cursed slumber…
******************
I'm pretty excited for book three, as I just recently finished up the second book, An Eclipsing Autumn! My GOSH, that story had a massive cliffhanger. But I'm gonna leave that up to the extended review of the series that I'm going to be posting in time for the third book itself!
All right, now that we have the description and my little statement out of the way, on to the fun part of this blog post: the trailers themselves!
******************

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/embed/j3TmSL11zdY
The Song of the Sea Angel: https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-qC6gL83fo
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 1 – https://www.youtube.com/embed/FoCAT9Hsuu8
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 2 - Beasts of the Mountain: https://www.youtube.com/embed/JlJIU48PQNA
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 3 - Magical Cheese Soup: https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRHyZ9ZBlrk
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 4 - Cruel Cold: https://www.youtube.com/embed/v1OvMjVtAR0
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 5 - The Coastal Lands of the Gifted: https://www.youtube.com/embed/k-ufeiAdhOQ

About the Author Adelle Yeung is the author of The Cycle of the Six Moons trilogy, a young adult fantasy adventure.

She is also a voice-over artist who can’t go a day without a cup of tea. When she’s not writing or recording, she enjoys sewing costumes, baking sweets, and escaping on video game adventures. She lives in California with a cat that dreams of eating the pet bird.

She has provided script supervision for the independent animation, Shattered Heaven, and is head script editor and one of the co-writers for the upcoming game Fiona Frightening and the Wicked Wardrobe.
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

The Cycle of the Six Moons: The Last Winter Moon Trailer Reveal!

The Last Winter Moon (The Cycle of the Six Moons #3)by Adelle YeungGenre: YA FantasyRelease Date: November 11th 2016
The Goddess of Starrs has vanished… Arriscyal has fallen… Gediyon is missing… Dreana holds the answers to everyone’s pasts…When Michelle returns to Starrs, the world is in chaos. No one knows who to trust, and even faith in their Goddess has dwindled. Michelle must reveal the truth of the Cycle; only then can she hope to unite everyone.The Sixth Moon looms overhead. The end of the Cycle is nigh. Michelle and Jayse must stop it once and for all.
Add to Goodreads
The Starriest Summer (The Cycle of the Six Moons #1) on Goodreads
Fifteen-year-old Michelle saves the world on a daily basis…with her trusty video game controller, of course! Naturally, she jumps at the chance to play an experimental virtual reality game.

The beautiful fantasy world of Starrs? Check. The power to mold matter? Check. No reset button? Wait, she didn’t sign up for this!

Turns out Starrs is really real, and to make matters worse, Michelle’s interference awakens the Cycle of the Six Moons, a series of devastating trials that will devour the universe.

Fighting the apocalypse was way easier when danger stayed on the other side of the screen, but Michelle finds a secret weapon in her new-found powers. She uses them to rescue the crown prince of a powerful magic kingdom from their sworn enemies, a technologically-advanced cult that strives to eradicate magical blood.

Michelle starts to fall for Prince Jayse, the only one who believes Michelle to be a savior rather than a curse. But not even video games could prepare her for what the cult has in store for them… 


An Eclipsing Autumn (The Cycle of the Six Moons #2) on Goodreads
Deciding last minute to stay in Starrs, Michelle continues her epic adventure as Goddess. After all, learning how to save the world sure beats a year of pre-calculus. With her friends by her side, Michelle travels to a city of scholars to learn the lore of the Cycle of the Six Moons.

At first, the exotic retreat turns romantic, as Michelle spends her free time exchanging sweet letters with the crown prince, Jayse. But, during her studies, Michelle learns something that drastically changes her game plan. Powerful blood must be spilled to end the Cycle…blood that only runs through her veins and the prince destined to fall in love with her.

During a celebration honoring their enlightenment, Michelle and Jayse are whisked off to a rogue city as trophies of a tournament, where only the strongest can claim a taste of their blood. Gallant as ever, their guardian, Gediyon, enters to prevent harm to his friends. Unfortunately for the contestants, the Cycle’s latest trial prevents everyone from waking from a cursed slumber…
******************
I'm pretty excited for book three, as I just recently finished up the second book, An Eclipsing Autumn! My GOSH, that story had a massive cliffhanger. But I'm gonna leave that up to the extended review of the series that I'm going to be posting in time for the third book itself!
All right, now that we have the description and my little statement out of the way, on to the fun part of this blog post: the trailers themselves!
******************

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/embed/j3TmSL11zdY
The Song of the Sea Angel: https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-qC6gL83fo
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 1 – https://www.youtube.com/embed/FoCAT9Hsuu8
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 2 - Beasts of the Mountain: https://www.youtube.com/embed/JlJIU48PQNA
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 3 - Magical Cheese Soup: https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRHyZ9ZBlrk
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 4 - Cruel Cold: https://www.youtube.com/embed/v1OvMjVtAR0
The Last Winter Moon Teaser 5 - The Coastal Lands of the Gifted: https://www.youtube.com/embed/k-ufeiAdhOQ

About the Author Adelle Yeung is the author of The Cycle of the Six Moons trilogy, a young adult fantasy adventure.

She is also a voice-over artist who can’t go a day without a cup of tea. When she’s not writing or recording, she enjoys sewing costumes, baking sweets, and escaping on video game adventures. She lives in California with a cat that dreams of eating the pet bird.

She has provided script supervision for the independent animation, Shattered Heaven, and is head script editor and one of the co-writers for the upcoming game Fiona Frightening and the Wicked Wardrobe.
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

[ANIMANIUS] Let's Tear Down SAO!

LET'S TEAR DOWN SAO!I decided to fill in my time with a much older review that I had done.

Anyone that knows me as a person knows how I feel about the anime Sword Art Online.And about 80% of the time, they know that I will either rip it down or try to convince why I just do not like anything relating to this series.

Note: This is not including season 2. I hear that it is better than the first season in terms of story consistency, but I likely will not ever watch it due to my strong distaste for the series as a whole.
PLOT
In the year 2022, virtual reality has progressed by leaps and bounds, and a massive online role-playing game called Sword Art Online (SAO) is launched. With the aid of "NerveGear" technology, players can control their avatars within the game using nothing but their own thoughts.

Kazuto Kirigaya, nicknamed "Kirito," is among the lucky few enthusiasts who get their hands on the first shipment of the game. He logs in to find himself, with ten-thousand others, in the scenic and elaborate world of Aincrad, one full of fantastic medieval weapons and gruesome monsters. However, in a cruel turn of events, the players soon realize they cannot log out; the game's creator has trapped them in his new world until they complete all one hundred levels of the game.

In order to escape Aincrad, Kirito will now have to interact and cooperate with his fellow players. Some are allies, while others are foes, like Asuna Yuuki, who commands the leading group attempting to escape from the ruthless game. To make matters worse, Sword Art Online is not all fun and games: if they die in Aincrad, they die in real life. Kirito must adapt to his new reality, fight for his survival, and hopefully break free from his virtual hell. (Source media: Myanimelist.net)

WHAT I DID LIKE"What? The way you started this off, there's actually stuff you LIKE about this show?"

Yes. Even I can find my perks in a series that I despise. So, what is it here?



The first two episodes. It had such a great premise to it, had such potential to it. I mean, come on, 10,000 people getting trapped in a virtual reality world, unable to awaken unless someone beats the game? How cool does THAT sound?! But then it got ripped under me in terms of how far that type of plot potential really held. Because immediately in episode 3, they SKIP. TWO. YEARS. Out of nowhere. No buildup, no nothing.The animation. It is GLORIOUS to look at, especially the boss battles that the characters endure. I think their entire budget went down to those fights, and to some of the scenery. It was just pretty to look at.The opening/ending soundtracks. (Note: NOT including opening 2. Because opening 2 really, really sucked.) I am a fan of Lisa after watching Angel Beats, and when I first heard her singing the first opening of SAO, "Crossing Field," I wasn't disappointed. I also really love the second ending, "Overfly," and "Yume Sekai," the first ending is really soft and lightens my mood. And I refuse to speak of the second opening. So, overall, the music was well done.Clyne and Lisbeth. I adored these characters. Clyne especially, I really thought that he had potential to be a good character, but he was trapped in the wrong show. These two characters barely got to be in a few episodes. I think Lisbeth was only in two, actually. Clyne managed to get MAYBE three.

HERE COMES THE PAIN... Okay, now on to what you REALLY came here for. My many, many flaws about this series. I've got my list up and raring to go~
I don't think it goes to say this, but there are glaring warnings of spoilers.
I warned you!


Kirito is your stereotypical main male character in a video game type environment. He’s a NEET (Someone who stays indoors constantly). I like a lot of NEET characters, such as Sora from "No Game, No Life" (someone that actually came out after Kirito, but is done much better), so I think, hey, he could be okay. Always wearing black, always trying to be the cool mysterious badass, get all the girls to fawn over him somehow, when he pushes all but Asuna away. He has a leg up in the game because he was a beta tester, and everyone hates him. But take away his swords, he’s really got nothing behind him for me. Oh? Wait? You put him back in the real world and he’s a total nobody again? You don’t say. Kirito, to me, has no real personality, similar to how I feel about Asuna. He’s just a wall built for Asuna that swings his sword when people try to even go within five feet of her. Speaking of Asuna, she is a bland heroine. All that she does is bitch, and then suddenly she turns around and she’s coy, and not even in a good way. Which is funny because I actually love characters of her type. She’s a tsundere done wrong for me. Wanna see good heroines? Try Revy from Black Lagoon, Taiga Aisaka from Toradora, Kyoko Mogami from Skip Beat. Two of those heroines don’t even use weapons (Well… Taiga does on and off, but it’s not something used for killing) or are a part of action shows, and they still have more personality than Asuna! Kirito and Asuna’s romance. It came out of nowhere, practically. First, Asuna hates him, they hardly talk, hardly ever see each other, suddenly Kirito is thrown into her guild when he loses a fight. They still hardly talk, she bitches at him. Then Kirito gets close to dying, Asuna saves him. “OH LOOK, BETTER KISS ASUNA. OH WOW, I’M NOT GONNA DIE? HEY, ASUNA, LET’S GET MARRIED AT 16/17. OH, BUT WE’RE NOT REALLY MARRIED, ONLY IN THE GAME. I LOVE YOU THOUGH, GURL, MAKE ME DINNER.” Don’t get me wrong. I am a massive romance fan. But that relationship literally came from thin air to me, and it wasn’t very believable that it happened.There should’ve been more action, more battles with the monsters. There were 100 levels, and they only showed, what, TWO? Sachi. She's a character that was just there for… an episode, maybe? Only there for Kirito’s harem, they shared a bed, she wants to believe that they’re together, and then, boom, she’s dead. *Shrug* Oh well. Wasn’t that important. Annoying, but not important. Pretty much abandoned by episode 5.Kirito’s GOD-HACKING on health in episode 3 or 4 or whatever, it was relatively early, where he’s getting slashed through trying to help Silica. So WHEN does that come up again? Never. So why have it?Episodes 15-end, ALF Art Online. That. Arc. Was fucking. POINTLESS. Really? Elves?Suguha. I don’t get her point in the show much. She’s Kirito's sister, but not really his sister, they’re actually cousins. Oh, but she loves Kirito, she wants to be with him, but he loves a girl who’s currently stuck in a remote comatose, who’s currently being held prisoner in a video game by some sadistic bastard with the most ridiculous scream I’ve ever heard in anime (I watched the Japanese).Oh, wait, speaking of which! Sadistic Bastard: So bad that I didn't even bother to remember his name! He tries to rape Asuna. Plus in my book, I love a moment where characters have bad things happen to them. Bonus points if I legit cannot stand the character. Downside; He gets beat to death by Kirito because he tries to rape Asuna. Man points lost. You constantly talked about how you wanted to beat him, and the very instant Kirito tracks you down in the real world, you turn with your head in your ass and DIE? Didn’t have much of a point, just some old pedophile that wants Asuna’s vag, wants her parent’s money, wants to legitimately take her for himself, but at the same time, pushes her away.Yui. All that she was… a hardly important character in the first part of the series. Adorable kid that calls Kirito and Asuna her parents. One of my favorite voice actors in Japanese too, Kanae Ito. She’s just a program meant to try and ruin things for them, but she loooooves them too much to hurt them. Programs aren’t meant to feel, only in anime though. But at least she was cute, and legit looked like she could’ve been Asuna and Kirito’s love child.Asuna’s a “great cook.” Taking the easy way out and using magic. Well, at her age, I couldn't cook either, but I wouldn’t have resorted to magic even if I could.SAO’s creator. You hardly ever hear mention of this guy again after episode 14.Oh, and one MAJOR glaring point here: The creator of the series herself… APOLOGIZED… for how terrible that this show turned out. Point proven.
....BUT THAT'S NOT ALL Despite all of my hatred towards this series... I don't think that it's the worst show that I've personally ever seen. I just think that you should go into it with lower expectations, and maybe, just maybe, you'd walk out a little better. I also think that those that watch should skip episodes 15-26, and if you like it, move on to season 2. You aren't missing very much in between. 
If I had to give the first season my own ranking, it's a 4/10 for sure. I base my ranking on the overall series, but if I had to rate the first half, it would be a 5.5/10. It had its glaring points, but the first two episodes gave it a little pick-me-up. And the second half of the series completely dragged it through the mud and off a cliff.
So, even after re-reading all of this and revamping it, would I try season 2? Probably not. I still can't find much interest in this show after the first, but I admit, this has provided me with a bit more insight on how much I really can tear down my favorites and least favorites in anime. 

Animanius (3): Let's Tear Down SAO!

LET'S TEAR DOWN SAO!I decided to fill in my time with a much older review that I had done.
Anyone that knows me as a person knows how I feel about the anime Sword Art Online.

And about 80% of the time, they know that I will either rip it down or try to convince why I just do not like anything relating to this series.

Note: This is not including season 2. I hear that it is better than the first season in terms of story consistency, but I likely will not ever watch it due to my strong distaste for the series as a whole.

PLOTIn the year 2022, virtual reality has progressed by leaps and bounds, and a massive online role-playing game called Sword Art Online (SAO) is launched. With the aid of "NerveGear" technology, players can control their avatars within the game using nothing but their own thoughts.

Kazuto Kirigaya, nicknamed "Kirito," is among the lucky few enthusiasts who get their hands on the first shipment of the game. He logs in to find himself, with ten-thousand others, in the scenic and elaborate world of Aincrad, one full of fantastic medieval weapons and gruesome monsters. However, in a cruel turn of events, the players soon realize they cannot log out; the game's creator has trapped them in his new world until they complete all one hundred levels of the game.

In order to escape Aincrad, Kirito will now have to interact and cooperate with his fellow players. Some are allies, while others are foes, like Asuna Yuuki, who commands the leading group attempting to escape from the ruthless game. To make matters worse, Sword Art Online is not all fun and games: if they die in Aincrad, they die in real life. Kirito must adapt to his new reality, fight for his survival, and hopefully break free from his virtual hell. (Source media: Myanimelist.net)

WHAT I DID LIKE"What? The way you started this off, there's actually stuff you LIKE about this show?" 

Yes. Even I can find my perks in a series that I despise. So, what is it here?


The first two episodes. It had such a great premise to it, had such potential to it. I mean, come on, 10,000 people getting trapped in a virtual reality world, unable to awaken unless someone beats the game? How cool does THAT sound?! But then it got ripped under me in terms of how far that type of plot potential really held. Because immediately in episode 3, they SKIP. TWO. YEARS. Out of nowhere. No buildup, no nothing. The animation. It is GLORIOUS to look at, especially the boss battles that the characters endure. I think their entire budget went down to those fights, and to some of the scenery. It was just pretty to look at.The opening/ending soundtracks. (Note: NOT including opening 2. Because opening 2 really, really sucked.) I am a fan of Lisa after watching Angel Beats, and when I first heard her singing the first opening of SAO, "Crossing Field," I wasn't disappointed. I also really love the second ending, "Overfly," and "Yume Sekai," the first ending is really soft and lightens my mood. And I refuse to speak of the second opening. So, overall, the music was well done.Clyne and Lisbeth. I adored these characters. Clyne especially, I really thought that he had potential to be a good character, but he was trapped in the wrong show. These two characters barely got to be in a few episodes. I think Lisbeth was only in two, actually. Clyne managed to get MAYBE three.HERE COMES THE PAIN... Okay, now on to what you REALLY came here for. My many, many flaws about this series. I've got my list up and raring to go~
I don't think it goes to say this, but there are glaring warnings of spoilers.
I warned you!


Kirito is your stereotypical main male character in a video game type environment. He’s a NEET (Someone who stays indoors constantly). I like a lot of NEET characters, such as Sora from "No Game, No Life" (someone that actually came out after Kirito, but is done much better), so I think, hey, he could be okay. Always wearing black, always trying to be the cool mysterious badass, get all the girls to fawn over him somehow, when he pushes all but Asuna away. He has a leg up in the game because he was a beta tester, and everyone hates him. But take away his swords, he’s really got nothing behind him for me. Oh? Wait? You put him back in the real world and he’s a total nobody again? You don’t say. Kirito, to me, has no real personality, similar to how I feel about Asuna. He’s just a wall built for Asuna that swings his sword when people try to even go within five feet of her. Speaking of Asuna, she is a bland heroine. All that she does is bitch, and then suddenly she turns around and she’s coy, and not even in a good way. Which is funny because I actually love characters of her type. She’s a tsundere done wrong for me. Wanna see good heroines? Try Revy from Black Lagoon, Taiga Aisaka from Toradora, Kyoko Mogami from Skip Beat. Two of those heroines don’t even use weapons (Well… Taiga does on and off, but it’s not something used for killing) or are a part of action shows, and they still have more personality than Asuna! Kirito and Asuna’s romance. It came out of nowhere, practically. First, Asuna hates him, they hardly talk, hardly ever see each other, suddenly Kirito is thrown into her guild when he loses a fight. They still hardly talk, she bitches at him. Then Kirito gets close to dying, Asuna saves him. “OH LOOK, BETTER KISS ASUNA. OH WOW, I’M NOT GONNA DIE? HEY, ASUNA, LET’S GET MARRIED AT 16/17. OH, BUT WE’RE NOT REALLY MARRIED, ONLY IN THE GAME. I LOVE YOU THOUGH, GURL, MAKE ME DINNER.” Don’t get me wrong. I am a massive romance fan. But that relationship literally came from thin air to me, and it wasn’t very believable that it happened.There should’ve been more action, more battles with the monsters. There were 100 levels, and they only showed, what, TWO? Sachi. She's a character that was just there for… an episode, maybe? Only there for Kirito’s harem, they shared a bed, she wants to believe that they’re together, and then, boom, she’s dead. *Shrug* Oh well. Wasn’t that important. Annoying, but not important. Pretty much abandoned by episode 5.Kirito’s GOD-HACKING on health in episode 3 or 4 or whatever, it was relatively early, where he’s getting slashed through trying to help Silica. So WHEN does that come up again? Never. So why have it?Episodes 15-end, ALF Art Online. That. Arc. Was fucking. POINTLESS. Really? Elves?Suguha. I don’t get her point in the show much. She’s Kirito's sister, but not really his sister, they’re actually cousins. Oh, but she loves Kirito, she wants to be with him, but he loves a girl who’s currently stuck in a remote comatose, who’s currently being held prisoner in a video game by some sadistic bastard with the most ridiculous scream I’ve ever heard in anime (I watched the Japanese).Oh, wait, speaking of which! Sadistic Bastard: So bad that I didn't even bother to remember his name! He tries to rape Asuna. Plus in my book, I love a moment where characters have bad things happen to them. Bonus points if I legit cannot stand the character. Downside; He gets beat to death by Kirito because he tries to rape Asuna. Man points lost. You constantly talked about how you wanted to beat him, and the very instant Kirito tracks you down in the real world, you turn with your head in your ass and DIE? Didn’t have much of a point, just some old pedophile that wants Asuna’s vag, wants her parent’s money, wants to legitimately take her for himself, but at the same time, pushes her away.Yui. All that she was… a hardly important character in the first part of the series. Adorable kid that calls Kirito and Asuna her parents. One of my favorite voice actors in Japanese too, Kanae Ito. She’s just a program meant to try and ruin things for them, but she loooooves them too much to hurt them. Programs aren’t meant to feel, only in anime though. But at least she was cute, and legit looked like she could’ve been Asuna and Kirito’s love child.Asuna’s a “great cook.” Taking the easy way out and using magic. Well, at her age, I couldn't cook either, but I wouldn’t have resorted to magic even if I could.SAO’s creator. You hardly ever hear mention of this guy again after episode 14.Oh, and one MAJOR glaring point here: The creator of the series herself… APOLOGIZED… for how terrible that this show turned out. Point proven.
....BUT THAT'S NOT ALL Despite all of my hatred towards this series... I don't think that it's the worst show that I've personally ever seen. I just think that you should go into it with lower expectations, and maybe, just maybe, you'd walk out a little better. I also think that those that watch should skip episodes 15-26, and if you like it, move on to season 2. You aren't missing very much in between. 
If I had to give the first season my own ranking, it's a 4/10 for sure. I base my ranking on the overall series, but if I had to rate the first half, it would be a 5.5/10. It had its glaring points, but the first two episodes gave it a little pick-me-up. And the second half of the series completely dragged it through the mud and off a cliff.
So, even after re-reading all of this and revamping it, would I try season 2? Probably not. I still can't find much interest in this show after the first, but I admit, this has provided me with a bit more insight on how much I really can tear down my favorites and least favorites in anime. 

[PROMO POST] 24-Hour Book Heist Giveaway!

Young Adult books come in all shapes and sizes. Some star werewolves or vampires. Some feature magic. Sometimes the world is new. Sometimes it’s a twist on everything you know. There is family. Friendship shows up in spades. Most of the time, you can be sure you’ll fall in love. 
It’s a world of literature that so many miss out on because they think the name describes the reader’s age. In reality, YA books are for those who appreciate the wonders of youth. They strive for the optimism and the courage in the face of danger. Yes, teens read these stories in droves, but they aren’t the only ones who can learn from the perpetual hope these characters see. To see the world through the eyes of someone who wants to make it better is an astounding thing. 
Nineteen young adult authors have banded together to show their little corners of the world, their hope and courage and optimism. It is shown through the actions of teenagers who are ever changing. They love with the same fierceness that they hate and forgive easily. They believe they can do anything. Who doesn’t want a piece of that? 
When you enter our giveaway, you not only have a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite, but so many more prizes from paperbacks to swag. Every entrant will also receive five FREE eBooks. You can sign up nineteen different ways.   
By entering, you are also helping each author donate books to The Lisa Libraries. It’s an organization that provides books to people in underserved communities who may not otherwise have them. They supply youth centers, women’s shelters, and so much more. 
Like this Facebook page where you can learn more about us and where we’ll announce our winners throughout the giveaway!
https://www.facebook.com/Book-Heist-Kindle-giveaway-607276049397351/
Introducing our mixed bag of authors!Michelle Lynn – DystopianRebecca Jaycox - FantasyMichelle Bryan - DystopianGina Azzi – Contemporary RomanceMelissa Craven - ParanormalKelly St. Clare - FantasySusan Faw - FantasyG.K. DeRosa - ParanormalT.D. Shields - DystopianPatrick Hodges - ContemporaryAmalie Jahn – Science Fiction Claire Luana - FantasyK.J. McPike - ParanormalMichael Bailey – Super HeroesJ.A. Culican - FantasyElysabeth Eldering – Paranormal MysteryRita Goldner – Children’sK.R. Conway - ParanormalT.L. McDonald - Fantasy 
You can also sign up for the giveaway at this link! https://gleam.io/dt2Mj/book-heist-kindle-giveawayBetter act fast, the giveaway ends at midnight!

24-Hour Book Heist Giveaway!

Young Adult books come in all shapes and sizes. Some star werewolves or vampires. Some feature magic. Sometimes the world is new. Sometimes it’s a twist on everything you know. There is family. Friendship shows up in spades. Most of the time, you can be sure you’ll fall in love. 
It’s a world of literature that so many miss out on because they think the name describes the reader’s age. In reality, YA books are for those who appreciate the wonders of youth. They strive for the optimism and the courage in the face of danger. Yes, teens read these stories in droves, but they aren’t the only ones who can learn from the perpetual hope these characters see. To see the world through the eyes of someone who wants to make it better is an astounding thing. 
Nineteen young adult authors have banded together to show their little corners of the world, their hope and courage and optimism. It is shown through the actions of teenagers who are ever changing. They love with the same fierceness that they hate and forgive easily. They believe they can do anything. Who doesn’t want a piece of that? 
When you enter our giveaway, you not only have a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite, but so many more prizes from paperbacks to swag. Every entrant will also receive five FREE eBooks. You can sign up nineteen different ways.   
By entering, you are also helping each author donate books to The Lisa Libraries. It’s an organization that provides books to people in underserved communities who may not otherwise have them. They supply youth centers, women’s shelters, and so much more. 
Like this Facebook page where you can learn more about us and where we’ll announce our winners throughout the giveaway!
https://www.facebook.com/Book-Heist-Kindle-giveaway-607276049397351/
Introducing our mixed bag of authors!Michelle Lynn – DystopianRebecca Jaycox - FantasyMichelle Bryan - DystopianGina Azzi – Contemporary RomanceMelissa Craven - ParanormalKelly St. Clare - FantasySusan Faw - FantasyG.K. DeRosa - ParanormalT.D. Shields - DystopianPatrick Hodges - ContemporaryAmalie Jahn – Science Fiction Claire Luana - FantasyK.J. McPike - ParanormalMichael Bailey – Super HeroesJ.A. Culican - FantasyElysabeth Eldering – Paranormal MysteryRita Goldner – Children’sK.R. Conway - ParanormalT.L. McDonald - Fantasy 
You can also sign up for the giveaway at this link! https://gleam.io/dt2Mj/book-heist-kindle-giveawayBetter act fast, the giveaway ends at midnight!

[GAME GRINDING] Tales of Zestiria V.S. "The X"

Tales of Zestiria V.S "The X"Sorey is a human youth that grew up among the Seraphim, spiritual beings invisible to others. 
Sorey believes in the folklore that says "long ago, every human was able to see the seraphim" and dreams of unraveling the ancient mystery to make the world a place where people and seraphim can live together in peace.

One day, Sorey visits the human capital for the very first time. He becomes embroiled in an incident during which he pulls out a holy sword embedded in a rock and ends up becoming a Shepherd, one who casts away calamity from the world. He begins to realize the gravity of his mission, and his dream of coexistence between mankind and the seraphim becomes more intense—And thus, the Shepherd embarks on an amazing journey with his companions.


Rare is it that a video game gets its own anime adaption, right? No? Well, okay, maybe not anymore, but how many of them actually seem to succeed in making their anime as good as its game's standards? 
Better yet, I'll ask this: IS the anime ever better than the game itself, or is it a mass of convolution and left to pure luck that the anime isn't something to completely scrap after a few episodes?
With the conclusion of this anime's first season just over a week ago, and the knowledge of the video game still decently fresh in my mind from about a year ago, I decided to craft this little event. 
Is Tales of Zestiria worth playing, or should you just skip to the anime for its story? Maybe even just play the game and skip the anime? Watch and play? Huh. Which one is the better option overall?
Before I begin, I'd like to recommend that you have basic knowledge of the video game Tales of Zestiria before reading over this review. Maybe you don't even have to have completed the game, or watched the anime. But I'm going to try and keep this as spoiler-free as I can for most of the development. And don't worry, I'll warn you of the spoilers.
ROUND ONE: OPENING SONG We're going to start this off pretty simple. 
Which version of this saga had the better opening sequence? 
We are comparing "White Light" by Superfly of the video game to "Kaze no Uta" by Flow of the anime!
As far as appeal goes, I feel that "Kaze no Uta" has a much stronger rhythm to it, and it seems to have more of an adventurous spirit behind it, whereas "White Light" seems to rely more on the aspect of stepping into battle and wanting to cleanse the world of malevolence. Both themes are extremely important to the story of Tales of Zestiria, but I'd have to lean more towards "Kaze no Uta" for appeal because it relates heavily to Sorey's character and the adventures that he takes while he is growing as the Shephard.Lyrical wise, which song has the stronger suit? I'm gonna give examples of the English lyrics here, and let you guys decide on it! Kaze no Uta: Following your path that leads far into the distanceLet us ride the wind!The answer we're searching for won't be found easilyBut we knew that when we took the first step!We've left footsteps in our dreams from the detoursBut once we open that map we've been drawing all this time...
White Light:Without a single word, become whiteLet’s live life in a phantasmagoric wayBlack, darkness, all tossed awayI’m just so so sick of themPlease, one last chance I wanna be white, white now



As far as the animation for each sequence go, I think that they both suit their respective songs incredibly. That would be the beauty of ufotable at its finest! But once again, I lean more towards "Kaze no Uta" for the way that it introduces the characters, shows off their personalities more, and still retains the sense of stepping into battle that "White Light" exuberates.ROUND ONE WINNER: Tales of Zestiria the X

ROUND TWO: STORY PROGRESSION One of the biggest issues that I had with Tales of Zestiria was the story progression. The video game felt incredibly slow to start, and that pacing continued for quite a while, up until around the time that Alisha controversially leaves the party and Rose takes her place. And even after that, the story still felt like it had some inconsistencies in pacing. 
Some people also comment that the anime moves at a similar pace, mainly with the first two episodes of the anime taking place in Elysia, where Sorey and his best friend Mikleo are from, meeting Alisha, and the entire first season working in the fashion of the first, maybe, six hours overall of the game.
I'd like to disagree with people about the pacing of the anime versus the game. I personally feel that a lot more is executed in the anime, and a bit faster than the game did for me. Heck, three and a half hours of gameplay amounts to about the story development of four episodes. If you account that, the game is almost twice as long to work through. And that's not even accounting the actual gameplay, this is just projecting up to the story's sequence of events.
My biggest applause goes to the way that the anime switched up the sequence of events. And it's so noticeable and seems to flow much better than the way that the game executes it. Not only that, but I also admire some of the changes that they made to the characters. I'll list a few examples, hopefully avoiding a slew of massive spoilers:During the early start of Sorey's journey as the Shepard, Mikleo is coming to terms with the new ordeals of malevolence and wanting to help him to understand more about what he is facing. In the game, Mikleo flat out runs off and leaves Sorey and Lailah while he goes to think about the right method to help in addition to being annoyed with Sorey's gung-ho attitude towards the situation. In the anime, I feel that this situation is handled better because Lailah actually tells him of a way that he could help Sorey, and Mikleo leaves without telling Sorey, and Lailah keeps him the dark, which is a huge boost in Mikleo's character development.After Sorey first takes up the mantle as Shepard, Alisha is actually attacked by the Scattered Bones assassins, something that didn't occur in the original storyline, which was pretty impressive. It gives us more insight into Alisha's character that way.Speaking more on Alisha's character, she was originally slotted as the main heroine, but she was controversially replaced by Rose without warning, and leaves the journey at the end of the Marlind arc. In the anime, she seems to have a much broader part in the story, acting as a major influence to Sorey throughout the entire anime rather than just the first 25% like in the game. Which made me pleased, because I thought that Alisha was a character that deserved to be fleshed out more, and she is among one of my favorites in the anime for these reasons.ROUND TWO WINNER: Tales of Zestiria the X

ROUND THREE: CHARACTER IMPACT I'm not going to go into a ton of detail on each of our main characters here, but I will give you a general idea about who they are, what you can expect from them, and who my favorites are overall from both the anime and the video game.
Sorey: Let's start with our hero, the Shepard Sorey. Growing up in the mystical world of Elysia alongside his best friend Mikleo, the only human able to interact with the Seraphim due to his high levels of resonance, he is very optimistic and is a thrill seeker. He and Mikleo have a tendency to search through ruins, always seeking to explore new regions and uncover new mysteries. After meeting Alisha Diphda, a human from the land of Ladylake, he draws forth the powers of the Shephard and he seeks to follow his dream of allowing the Seraphim and humans to once more interact. 
I always found Sorey to remind me a bit of Sora from Kingdom Hearts, and that's aside from similar names and appearances. He's optimistic, fun, loves adventure, and he finds a lot of passion in his dreams. That and his relationship with every character seems so... dynamic. He can make friends with anyone that he meets, and that is only expanded on in "The X."
Mikleo: A Seraphim of water, Mikleo is the right-hand man of Sorey. Aaand he is also considered the heroine by many fans because of how pretty he looks. He is Sorey's contrast--where Sorey is more optimistic and gung-ho, Mikleo is very calm, collected and observant, and is almost always at Sorey's side, wanting to assist him in any ways that he can.
Of all of the guys that are in the story, Mikleo is definitely the most interesting for me. I adore his behavior, and his sense of humor is so unexpectedly good for him. I especially love seeing him paired up with Edna, because she's such a snarky person, and he can be so hotheaded around only her, and it's a side of Mikleo you wouldn't expect. His loyalty is admirable, and I love him in both versions of the media he appears in. 
Lailah: Lailah is the Seraphim of flames that ruled over Ladylake, awaiting the return of the Shepard. When Sorey steps up to the plate, she sees his potential, and works to help him as much as her "contract" allows. A fan of baking and a motherly type, Lailah is definitely a strong fighter and an elegant person. 
What I love most about Lailah is not only her gentle nature, but I also admire the way that she carries herself, especially when it comes to withholding information. She always tends to be ditzy about it, jokes around, and it's shown most in the game above the anime. The anime portrays her more in the motherly sense than the charismatic and fun girl that she really is, and I definitely prefer her fun side to her motherly side.
Edna: Seraphim, strong as the earth with a tongue that splits through air, walks Edna. The younger sister of a powerful Seraphim, she is introduced atop the mountain range. Her older brother Eizen has been corrupted by malevolence and transformed into a dragon, a powerful being in need of purification. Edna seeks a way to restore his mind, and joins Sorey's quest to achieve that goal. 
I... ADORE Edna. She's by far my favorite character in Zestiria. I think that her attitude, despite it being one that could be perceived as obnoxious, snarky, mean, I really do find her personality to be so strong and ladylike in a way that contrasts Lailah's motherly nature. She has that older sister quality about her, but she also be a younger sister given that she actually is one, and that younger quality about her is most evident around Mikleo. She teases him, gives him the nickname "Meebo," carries a parasol given to her by Eizen, and generally has a sweet look about her. Yeah. She's my favorite.
Zaveid/Dezel: Nope, they're not at all the same person, but they are both Seraphim of the same element, Wind. And I decided to group them together because they both essentially got the same amount of screen time in the anime and game combined.
Dezel (with the hat) is the Seraphim that guards over Rose, and is introduced in the very last episode of the anime, and about midway through the game. He is very stern, serious, and even now, there is a lot that is unknown about him. He is a complete contrast to his element in my opinion. 
Now for Zaveid (long hair). He is a loner, rides wherever the wind takes him. He is first introduced when Edna is seeking a way to restore Eizen back to his former self, and it is revealed that he was a close friend of Eizen's, and has the desire as well to see to it that he is either saved or restored. Zaveid also has the duty of watching over Edna, a promise that he made to Eizen.
Of these two, I would definitely give my props to Zaveid. I like his personality, and in the game, his interactions with Lailah are pleasing. She cares about him, yet is still uncomfortable enough with him to tease and harass him. His relationship with Edna is also touched on in the anime, something that I honestly didn't expect much to occur. Dezel didn't really stand out much as a character for me. Maybe he will in the anime though!
Alisha Diphda: Princess to the kingdom of Rolance, she is a faithful knight and an advocate to her land. She stumbles upon the world of Elysia after her country is besieged by malevolence and seeks the guidance of a Shepard. Under the watchful eyes of Sorey, she comes to learn that he can see the Seraphim and invites him to the ceremony of Ladylake to determine a new Shepard. After Sorey succeeds, she becomes a close companion to him and acts as his primary follower and aide. 
I personally find Alisha to be a strong character, not solely for her titles, but because of the way that she goes about situations. Many perceive her to be naive and foolish due to her idealism that she would risk her own life for the lives of countless others, but I feel that as a princess to a struggling kingdom, that is definitely the right path for her. She is foolish for choosing to be a fatality if it is so thrust upon her, but she is still someone that I feel is worthy of her behavior.
Rose: Rose is seen as an enigma in the beginning of Zestiria, working as a merchant for the Sparrowfeathers. She is the first person that Sorey meets when he arrives in Ladylake, and she lends him a helping hand in exchange for a favor. This momentum keeps up, but there is definitely more to Rose than meets the eye.
Personally, I love all of the main cast, but I would have to put Rose as my least favorite of the Tales of Zestiria cast... the video game, at least. The anime seems to flesh her beginning out much better, and it really expands on the relationship with Alisha that she develops. The game doesn't seem to show much of any--it really only shows Rose to be more antagonistic towards her, whereas Alisha shares a mutual distaste and yet still sees them as friends. I think that Rose is a bit of, well, a bitch in the games. The anime, I do not. It's a strange combination.ROUND THREE WINNER: Tie
Now that we have our results, I'd say that in terms of character development, story, and overall appeal, watch the anime for the better results. If you don't want to watch the anime... definitely try out the game, and maybe it could influence your ideals on wanting to try and find the differences in the anime the way that I had! 
I would rate the overall series, game and anime, a 6.7/10. Individually, I would rate the game a 6, and the anime a 7.3. I just preferred the pacing of the anime and the fleshing out of the characters much more, especially given that I played the game first.

Game Grinding (2) Tales of Zestiria V.S. "The X"

Tales of Zestiria V.S "The X"Sorey is a human youth that grew up among the Seraphim, spiritual beings invisible to others. 
Sorey believes in the folklore that says "long ago, every human was able to see the seraphim" and dreams of unraveling the ancient mystery to make the world a place where people and seraphim can live together in peace.

One day, Sorey visits the human capital for the very first time. He becomes embroiled in an incident during which he pulls out a holy sword embedded in a rock and ends up becoming a Shepherd, one who casts away calamity from the world. He begins to realize the gravity of his mission, and his dream of coexistence between mankind and the seraphim becomes more intense—And thus, the Shepherd embarks on an amazing journey with his companions.


Rare is it that a video game gets its own anime adaption, right? No? Well, okay, maybe not anymore, but how many of them actually seem to succeed in making their anime as good as its game's standards? 
Better yet, I'll ask this: IS the anime ever better than the game itself, or is it a mass of convolution and left to pure luck that the anime isn't something to completely scrap after a few episodes?
With the conclusion of this anime's first season just over a week ago, and the knowledge of the video game still decently fresh in my mind from about a year ago, I decided to craft this little event. 
Is Tales of Zestiria worth playing, or should you just skip to the anime for its story? Maybe even just play the game and skip the anime? Watch and play? Huh. Which one is the better option overall?
Before I begin, I'd like to recommend that you have basic knowledge of the video game Tales of Zestiria before reading over this review. Maybe you don't even have to have completed the game, or watched the anime. But I'm going to try and keep this as spoiler-free as I can for most of the development. And don't worry, I'll warn you of the spoilers.
ROUND ONE: OPENING SONG We're going to start this off pretty simple. 
Which version of this saga had the better opening sequence? 
We are comparing "White Light" by Superfly of the video game to "Kaze no Uta" by Flow of the anime!
As far as appeal goes, I feel that "Kaze no Uta" has a much stronger rhythm to it, and it seems to have more of an adventurous spirit behind it, whereas "White Light" seems to rely more on the aspect of stepping into battle and wanting to cleanse the world of malevolence. Both themes are extremely important to the story of Tales of Zestiria, but I'd have to lean more towards "Kaze no Uta" for appeal because it relates heavily to Sorey's character and the adventures that he takes while he is growing as the Shephard.Lyrical wise, which song has the stronger suit? I'm gonna give examples of the English lyrics here, and let you guys decide on it! Kaze no Uta: Following your path that leads far into the distanceLet us ride the wind!The answer we're searching for won't be found easilyBut we knew that when we took the first step!We've left footsteps in our dreams from the detoursBut once we open that map we've been drawing all this time...

White Light:Without a single word, become whiteLet’s live life in a phantasmagoric way
Black, darkness, all tossed awayI’m just so so sick of themPlease, one last chanceI wanna be white, white now

As far as the animation for each sequence go, I think that they both suit their respective songs incredibly. That would be the beauty of ufotable at its finest! But once again, I lean more towards "Kaze no Uta" for the way that it introduces the characters, shows off their personalities more, and still retains the sense of stepping into battle that "White Light" exuberates.ROUND ONE WINNER: Tales of Zestiria the X

ROUND TWO: STORY PROGRESSION One of the biggest issues that I had with Tales of Zestiria was the story progression. The video game felt incredibly slow to start, and that pacing continued for quite a while, up until around the time that Alisha controversially leaves the party and Rose takes her place. And even after that, the story still felt like it had some inconsistencies in pacing. 
Some people also comment that the anime moves at a similar pace, mainly with the first two episodes of the anime taking place in Elysia, where Sorey and his best friend Mikleo are from, meeting Alisha, and the entire first season working in the fashion of the first, maybe, six hours overall of the game.
I'd like to disagree with people about the pacing of the anime versus the game. I personally feel that a lot more is executed in the anime, and a bit faster than the game did for me. Heck, three and a half hours of gameplay amounts to about the story development of four episodes. If you account that, the game is almost twice as long to work through. And that's not even accounting the actual gameplay, this is just projecting up to the story's sequence of events.
My biggest applause goes to the way that the anime switched up the sequence of events. And it's so noticeable and seems to flow much better than the way that the game executes it. Not only that, but I also admire some of the changes that they made to the characters. I'll list a few examples, hopefully avoiding a slew of massive spoilers:During the early start of Sorey's journey as the Shepard, Mikleo is coming to terms with the new ordeals of malevolence and wanting to help him to understand more about what he is facing. In the game, Mikleo flat out runs off and leaves Sorey and Lailah while he goes to think about the right method to help in addition to being annoyed with Sorey's gung-ho attitude towards the situation. In the anime, I feel that this situation is handled better because Lailah actually tells him of a way that he could help Sorey, and Mikleo leaves without telling Sorey, and Lailah keeps him the dark, which is a huge boost in Mikleo's character development.After Sorey first takes up the mantle as Shepard, Alisha is actually attacked by the Scattered Bones assassins, something that didn't occur in the original storyline, which was pretty impressive. It gives us more insight into Alisha's character that way.Speaking more on Alisha's character, she was originally slotted as the main heroine, but she was controversially replaced by Rose without warning, and leaves the journey at the end of the Marlind arc. In the anime, she seems to have a much broader part in the story, acting as a major influence to Sorey throughout the entire anime rather than just the first 25% like in the game. Which made me pleased, because I thought that Alisha was a character that deserved to be fleshed out more, and she is among one of my favorites in the anime for these reasons.ROUND TWO WINNER: Tales of Zestiria the X

ROUND THREE: CHARACTER IMPACT I'm not going to go into a ton of detail on each of our main characters here, but I will give you a general idea about who they are, what you can expect from them, and who my favorites are overall from both the anime and the video game.
Sorey: Let's start with our hero, the Shepard Sorey. Growing up in the mystical world of Elysia alongside his best friend Mikleo, the only human able to interact with the Seraphim due to his high levels of resonance, he is very optimistic and is a thrill seeker. He and Mikleo have a tendency to search through ruins, always seeking to explore new regions and uncover new mysteries. After meeting Alisha Diphda, a human from the land of Ladylake, he draws forth the powers of the Shephard and he seeks to follow his dream of allowing the Seraphim and humans to once more interact. 
I always found Sorey to remind me a bit of Sora from Kingdom Hearts, and that's aside from similar names and appearances. He's optimistic, fun, loves adventure, and he finds a lot of passion in his dreams. That and his relationship with every character seems so... dynamic. He can make friends with anyone that he meets, and that is only expanded on in "The X."
Mikleo: A Seraphim of water, Mikleo is the right-hand man of Sorey. Aaand he is also considered the heroine by many fans because of how pretty he looks. He is Sorey's contrast--where Sorey is more optimistic and gung-ho, Mikleo is very calm, collected and observant, and is almost always at Sorey's side, wanting to assist him in any ways that he can.
Of all of the guys that are in the story, Mikleo is definitely the most interesting for me. I adore his behavior, and his sense of humor is so unexpectedly good for him. I especially love seeing him paired up with Edna, because she's such a snarky person, and he can be so hotheaded around only her, and it's a side of Mikleo you wouldn't expect. His loyalty is admirable, and I love him in both versions of the media he appears in. 
Lailah: Lailah is the Seraphim of flames that ruled over Ladylake, awaiting the return of the Shepard. When Sorey steps up to the plate, she sees his potential, and works to help him as much as her "contract" allows. A fan of baking and a motherly type, Lailah is definitely a strong fighter and an elegant person. 
What I love most about Lailah is not only her gentle nature, but I also admire the way that she carries herself, especially when it comes to withholding information. She always tends to be ditzy about it, jokes around, and it's shown most in the game above the anime. The anime portrays her more in the motherly sense than the charismatic and fun girl that she really is, and I definitely prefer her fun side to her motherly side.
Edna: Seraphim, strong as the earth with a tongue that splits through air, walks Edna. The younger sister of a powerful Seraphim, she is introduced atop the mountain range. Her older brother Eizen has been corrupted by malevolence and transformed into a dragon, a powerful being in need of purification. Edna seeks a way to restore his mind, and joins Sorey's quest to achieve that goal. 
I... ADORE Edna. She's by far my favorite character in Zestiria. I think that her attitude, despite it being one that could be perceived as obnoxious, snarky, mean, I really do find her personality to be so strong and ladylike in a way that contrasts Lailah's motherly nature. She has that older sister quality about her, but she also be a younger sister given that she actually is one, and that younger quality about her is most evident around Mikleo. She teases him, gives him the nickname "Meebo," carries a parasol given to her by Eizen, and generally has a sweet look about her. Yeah. She's my favorite.
Zaveid/Dezel: Nope, they're not at all the same person, but they are both Seraphim of the same element, Wind. And I decided to group them together because they both essentially got the same amount of screen time in the anime and game combined.
Dezel (with the hat) is the Seraphim that guards over Rose, and is introduced in the very last episode of the anime, and about midway through the game. He is very stern, serious, and even now, there is a lot that is unknown about him. He is a complete contrast to his element in my opinion. 
Now for Zaveid (long hair). He is a loner, rides wherever the wind takes him. He is first introduced when Edna is seeking a way to restore Eizen back to his former self, and it is revealed that he was a close friend of Eizen's, and has the desire as well to see to it that he is either saved or restored. Zaveid also has the duty of watching over Edna, a promise that he made to Eizen.
Of these two, I would definitely give my props to Zaveid. I like his personality, and in the game, his interactions with Lailah are pleasing. She cares about him, yet is still uncomfortable enough with him to tease and harass him. His relationship with Edna is also touched on in the anime, something that I honestly didn't expect much to occur. Dezel didn't really stand out much as a character for me. Maybe he will in the anime though!
Alisha Diphda: Princess to the kingdom of Rolance, she is a faithful knight and an advocate to her land. She stumbles upon the world of Elysia after her country is besieged by malevolence and seeks the guidance of a Shepard. Under the watchful eyes of Sorey, she comes to learn that he can see the Seraphim and invites him to the ceremony of Ladylake to determine a new Shepard. After Sorey succeeds, she becomes a close companion to him and acts as his primary follower and aide. 
I personally find Alisha to be a strong character, not solely for her titles, but because of the way that she goes about situations. Many perceive her to be naive and foolish due to her idealism that she would risk her own life for the lives of countless others, but I feel that as a princess to a struggling kingdom, that is definitely the right path for her. She is foolish for choosing to be a fatality if it is so thrust upon her, but she is still someone that I feel is worthy of her behavior.
Rose: Rose is seen as an enigma in the beginning of Zestiria, working as a merchant for the Sparrowfeathers. She is the first person that Sorey meets when he arrives in Ladylake, and she lends him a helping hand in exchange for a favor. This momentum keeps up, but there is definitely more to Rose than meets the eye.
Personally, I love all of the main cast, but I would have to put Rose as my least favorite of the Tales of Zestiria cast... the video game, at least. The anime seems to flesh her beginning out much better, and it really expands on the relationship with Alisha that she develops. The game doesn't seem to show much of any--it really only shows Rose to be more antagonistic towards her, whereas Alisha shares a mutual distaste and yet still sees them as friends. I think that Rose is a bit of, well, a bitch in the games. The anime, I do not. It's a strange combination.ROUND THREE WINNER: Tie
Now that we have our results, I'd say that in terms of character development, story, and overall appeal, watch the anime for the better results. If you don't want to watch the anime... definitely try out the game, and maybe it could influence your ideals on wanting to try and find the differences in the anime the way that I had! 
I would rate the overall series, game and anime, a 6.7/10. Individually, I would rate the game a 6, and the anime a 7.3. I just preferred the pacing of the anime and the fleshing out of the characters much more, especially given that I played the game first.