VALERIAN: CITY OF ALPHA Mousepad and Art Print Giveaway!

August 4, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

To celebrate the mobile game release of VALERIAN: CITY OF ALPHA, the official mobile game of the feature film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Spil Games is offering us a giveaway!

It is the official mobile game of Luc Besson’s upcoming sci-fi movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne. The legendary director is famous for creating sci-fi blockbusters including The Fifth Element and Lucy.

The film has been described as visually spectacular and the mobile game creates an engaging experience that will draw players into the Valerian universe.

Valerian: City of Alpha was built from the astonishingly intricate backstory created for the movie. Gamers get to explore that super cool universe for themselves.

“Spil Games has successfully captured our movie in a mobile game,” says Virginie Besson-Silla, the movie’s producer. “What we see is an immersive experience that Valerian fans will have fun with.”

The movie is set on the astonishing City of Alpha — an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and culture with one another.

The mobile game begins 590 years earlier when Alpha is still just a space station. The aim is to explore and discover the aliens and planets that will come to be featured in the movie. Players must complete exciting missions, connect with alien species and come up with strategies to help them create the knowledge-sharing metropolis. The ultimate objective is building for themselves the biggest and best version of the City of Alpha.

Much more than just a game of a movie

• Revel in stunning artwork
• Explore the entire universe in which the movie is set
• Connect with mind-blowing alien cultures and snag their technologies
• Create the Alpha metropolis — your imagination is the only limit
• A unique combination of city building, exploration and diplomacy

IOS download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/valerian-city-of-alpha/id1161756765?ls=1&mt=8
Android download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spilgames.Valerian

Courtesy of Spil Games, I have a Mousepad and Print (see above) for one (1) lucky winner!

Contest is open to US residents only. No PO Boxes please. To enter, just fill out the form below. Contest ends August 18. I’ll draw a name on August 19, and notify winner via email.

ENTER DAILY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING!

Good luck!

Continue reading VALERIAN: CITY OF ALPHA Mousepad and Art Print Giveaway! →

Box Reviews, Fantasy, SciFi

Box Review: ThinkGeek Capsule – July 2017

August 3, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

From the site:
“We’re ThinkGeek. We enjoy movies, books, and long space walks outside the vehicle. We want everyone to embrace their inner geek, and the ThinkGeek Capsule is our monthly mystery box that gives you the fun of a blind box with the security of knowing you’re getting gear hand-selected by ThinkGeek.

Each ThinkGeek Capsule is packed with $50 worth of collectibles. Items may include desktop replicas, stuff for your home, enamel pins, art prints, t-shirts, and more. Contents will vary by month, but you will ALWAYS get an exclusive t-shirt.”

Cost: 1 month plan starts at $24.99 plus $5 s/h

*SciFiChick.com received a box for review purposes.

The box comes with a list of spoilers that I skipped until I went thru the box on my own.

Because pins seem to be the norm in most mystery boxes.

The BONUS item I received this month was the 12th Doctor Pocket POP! Keychain. There were 2 possible Doctors I could have received.

Game of Thrones Mini Canvas – I’m not a GoT fan, but I know I’m in the minority. These are cool and unique collectibles, if you are a fan.

Vulcan Travel Guide and Hulk Poster and Colored Pencil Set – The Vulcan Travel Guide is my favorite item in the box! And the value is almost as much as the box price, so subscribers are getting a great deal. The cute colored pencil/poster set will be a great gift for my nephew!

ThinkGeek Promo Code – This is a great idea to get people to go buy more stuff from the site! Mine have been for the minimum $5 each month so far.

Dungeons and Dragons Tshirt and matching Patch – This is a cute, unique design if your a D&D fan. And a large, matching dice patch, if you’re a collector.
(Heads up for the ladies – the sizing is Juniors, so you may want to order 2 sizes larger if you’re older than a teen.)

SUMMARY: This was an even better 2nd box! There seemed to be higher value items in this box, despite fewer items. And I enjoy the variety of geek culture. I’m excited to see what the next Capsule holds!

Book News, Comics, Fantasy, SciFi

Received in July

August 2, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

The following are the books, movies, television shows, etc. I received in July for review and/or giveaways:

Blu-Rays:
Kong: Skull Island
Ghost in the Shell

Mystery Boxes:
TeeBlox
Bam Box
ThinkGeek Capsule

47 North / Amazon Press:
(ID)entity by Pj Manney

DC / Young Animal:
Mother Panic Vol. 1: A Work in Progress by Jody Houser
Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye Vol. 1: Going Underground by Gerard Way

Del Rey / Balantine:
Gilded Cage by Vic James
The Core by Peter V. Brett
Star Wars: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden
The Last One by Alexandra Oliva

Disney Hyperion:
The Adventurers Guild by Zack Loran Clark
Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Percy Jackson Coloring Book artwork by Keith Robinson
Apex by Mercedes Lackey

Epsilon Games:
Primus Vita – Issue 1

First Second:
Castle in the Stars: The Space Race of 1869 by Alex Alice

Harlequin Teen:
Legion by Julie Kagawa

Harper Voyager:
The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst
Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill
Noumenon by Marina J. Lostetter
Sinless by Sarah Tarkoff
Breach of Containment by Elizabeth Bonesteel
The Rift Uprising by Amy S. Foster
The Rift Frequency by Amy S. Foster

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / John Joseph Adams / Mariner:
Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
Retrograde by Peter Cawdron

InkShares / Geek and Sundry:
The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein
Devil’s Call by J. Danielle Dorn

Library of America:
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Hainish Novels and Stories

Little, Brown:
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Pyr:
A Kiss Before Doomsday by Laurence MacNaughton

Scholastic:
The Knowing by Sharon Cameron

St. Martin’s Griffin / Thomas Dunne:
Bad Girl Gone by Temple Mathews

Subterranean Books:
Don’t Live For Your Obituary by John Scalzi

Titan Books:
The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley
Clade by James Bradley
Infinite Stars by Bryan Thomas Schmidt

Titan Comics:
Assassin’s Creed: Volume 3 Homecoming by Anthony Del Col

Tor:
Arabella and the Battle of Venus by David D. Levine
Killing Is My Business by Adam Christopher

Tor Teen:
Last Chance by Gregg Hurwitz

William Morrow:
Strange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hill

Box Reviews, SciFi

Box Review: TeeBlox – July 2017

August 1, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

“TeeBlox is a t-shirt subscription service that brings 100% authentic licensed geek and gamer shirts to your doorsteps every month. No hidden fees. Cancel anytime. Satisfaction Guaranteed.”

Get 1 shirt and 2 other items starting at $12.99/mo and use code: SCIFICHICK24 to get 24% off your first month!

Subscribers can pick from the following categories: SciFi, Marvel, DC Comics, Cartoons, Movies and TV, Games, Hot Meex, or Disney!

*SciFiChick.com received a box for review purposes.

Star Wars Shirt – This Han Solo shirt is an awesome black and white image on a white shirt. I love it!

Comic and Sticker – This is a strange comic, that doesn’t look like something I’ll enjoy. But the large Storm Trooper sticker is great.

Summary: I love the character tee this month! It’s retro and an awesome, iconic image.
If you need to replenish your geek wardrobe with nice quality tees, look no further.

Remember, use code: SCIFICHICK24 to get 24% off your first month!

Giveaways

Convention Survival Pack Giveaway From Comet TV

July 31, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

Courtesy of COMET, I have a prize pack for one (1) lucky winner!

Contest is open to US residents only. No PO Boxes please. To enter, just fill out the form below. Contest ends August 4. I’ll draw a name and notify winner via email.

To celebrate the madness and fun of convention season, COMET TV has put together an awesome Con Survival Kit! It’s the perfect thing to get you prepared to tackle any convention! Whether you’re heading down to the madness of San Diego, checking out the Disney adventures in Anaheim, or just getting ready for the multitudes of conventions this summer this Con Survival Kit will get you prepared for anything.

The Con Survival Kit includes:

1 Limited Edition Comet Cosplay Shirt – It doesn’t matter if you dress up as an out of this world creature or just head down to your favorite convention in street attire, our limited edition Comet Cosplay shirt will help you make a statement.

1 Comet 2GB USB Lanyard – You need something to hold your badge in place, heck it might have taken blood sweat and tears to get it! This isn’t just an ordinary lanyard though, it’s also a 2GB USB drive, perfect for holding music, photos and anything else you can fit on there!

1 Collapsable Flexi Water Bottle – I… Crave… Water… You know you’re going to be practically parched running from panel to panel but fear not! We have the perfect flexi bottle to keep you safe and hydrated. Ah… It makes you feel better already doesn’t it?

2 Granola Bars – Look, we all need a little bit of a pick me up right? We have a couple bars to keep your inner Godzilla at bay and a smile on your face!

ENTER DAILY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING!

Good luck!

Continue reading Convention Survival Pack Giveaway From Comet TV →

Box Reviews, Fantasy, SciFi

Box Review: Smuggler’s Bounty – July 2017

July 28, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

“Star Wars and Funko are proud to present Smuggler’s Bounty, the only OFFICAL Star Wars subscription box in the galaxy! Featuring 100% exclusive collectibles, apparel and accessories from the Star Wars universe, each box is carefully curated for Star Wars fans and shipped directly to your doorstep. Every box is themed specifically around the Star Wars films with collectors in mind. For just $25 (plus shipping) every other month, members will receive a box full of exclusive Star Wars-themed Funko collectibles and a host of other surprises valued at over $50. Each box will focus on a different part of the Star Wars universe and include memorabilia exclusive to the program, perfect for any Star Wars fan.”

The theme this month was Droids!

Patch and Pin – these are small collectibles included in each box.

Again this month, there was no card detailing the items included. Are they just getting lazy?

Star Wars Droid Tshirt – Yet another black tee. It’s a cute design at least.

EXCLUSIVE Unfinished C-3PO – This is a really cool and unique design!

EXCLUSIVE R5-D4 – This is a fun retro droid from the first Star Wars film.

Summary:
I love getting 2 Funko POPs in a box. And the Smuggler’s Bounty seems to be the one that offers the most over the course of the year. I miss having the detail card though. And I’m still waiting for them to include a comic from any of they’re fantastic Star Wars lines.

Book Reviews, Fantasy

Fantasy Book Review: The Rat Prince

July 27, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

The Rat Prince by Bridget Hodder

Synopsis:
Before Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters moved into Lancastyr Manor, Cinderella was known as the Lady Rose de Lancastyr. Then her stepmother forced her to become a kitchen maid and renamed her. At first the rats of the manor figure Cinderella for a lack-wit and take pity on her by bringing her food and a special family heirloom. But when Cinderella’s stepmother finds a way to prevent her from attending the ball, the rats join forces to help her. The night of the ball is filled with magic and secrets–not least of all who Lady Rose will choose to be her Prince Charming.

Review:
Char is the Rat Prince, who looks after Cinderella and the household. You may know the story of Cinderella, but this is a fun new twist, both from Cinderella and Char’s point of views. This all-ages novel is a highly-enjoyable fairy tale. This clever take puts Cinderella’s rat friends as main characters and a surprising Prince Charming. There is plenty of humor, suspense, drama, and heart. This sweet and endearing story is not one I’ll soon forget.

DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Movie Reviews, SciFi

Blu-Ray Review: Ghost in the Shell

July 25, 2017 SciFiChick Leave a comment

Ghost in the Shell

Synopsis:
In the near future, Major is the first of her kind: a human who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people’s minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that her life was stolen instead of saved. Now, she will stop at nothing to recover her past while punishing those who did this to her.

Review:
I had low expectations of this film before watching, as I have seen all the negative reviews and anger at the “white-washing” of characters. Scarlett Johansson stars as Major, who’s brain has been installed in a completely cybernetic body. Her memories are spotty, but she makes for a perfect soldier. Though, her new enemy reveals the truth of her existence, and everything she knows she now has to question.

Ghost in the Shell is an action-packed, scifi thriller. While it’s not a bad movie, there isn’t much more than good acting and impressive CGI that stood out to me. The story has been done (Robocop had more of an impact), and nothing was surprising. And the futuristic world needed more backstory – it wasn’t confusing, but felt choppy. I’m not familiar with the source material, as I’m not a fan of Manga – so I can’t speak to that. But it was a fun, suspense-filled adventure.

News, Reviews, Interviews, and Giveaways