Monday, 6 October 2014

Monsters in Hollywood (books 1-6) by Lila DuBois




Lights, Camera ... (Book 1): 
Calypso Hollywood Productions is a company run by five beautiful and talented women; Lena, Jane, Akta, Margo and Cali.

One day a group of three exceptional looking men, Luke, Michael Henry and Their walk into office with a proposal for a movie.

But here is the twist, they 'are monsters, hiding from persecution and are slowing dying out. They need to get out Their message That They want to be friendly and integrate into human society without hiding.

They are among us as Their Already Seer has provided them all the spells, in the form of gorgeous tattoos That allow them to change from Their monster bodies to human form.

However, the girls laugh them off and send them on their way, not without Luke begging for a Date with Lena, who Obliges Because He is after all gorgeous and she is starting to feel like a born again virgin.

The monsters That LD describe Both are horrifying and beautiful, and get all Apparently Their sexual experience from succubae !!

This is an erotica book after all and it soon turns to some rip roaring sex from Luke and Lena. Apparently magical spells but do not hold well after eight hours of sex and a night's sleep as Luke inadvertently lets out for Lena His monster to wake up next too, I unfortunately looks like a demon With His huge wings, horns and cloven feet!

This leads to some humorous moments and then the plot really begins. There are other moments when you 'humor Realise That all their "knowledge" about humans comes from watching TV shows and movies, although this is a little odd can actually When They Interact with humans, so That falls flat after a while.

Just as the girls are getting on board and seriously thinking this movie That Could Be a go ahead to That monster is not fully With the plan tries to kill Lena and the plot twist and Takes a really starts to sizzle as much as all the intense sex That is going on.

Some very sad moments in This First Book That really seal it as a story and not just erotica.







My Fair Monster (Book 2):
Clearly Whilst the first book sets the scene and then Continues to concentrate on the love that has now blossomed Between Lena and Luke, it is now obvious That this is now Jane and Michael's turn.

More body numbing sex OCCURS but Michael's monster is not what you would expect!

A new monster has joined the group, Runako, I is not convinced That Should integrate humans and monsters. With His sad back story and still painful memories Clearly I Began to agree with His points of view on human annihilation instead.

The grin inducing Often humor is still here, Along with the eyeball popping sex but this book felt more like a love story and there was no clear moving forward of the story.

However LD book sets up 3 very neatly at the end.

I was aware of quite a few editing errors in this book Which Were a little distracting.








Gone with the Monster (Book 3):
This is Clearly Runako and Margo's chapter and she is one tough lady That man needs a tougher to crack her. So I kidnaps her and Margo Takes to a cave.

This Allows for some really funny moments, as by default in Original two characters are much more humorous. Runako's monster just happens to be the biggest demon looking thing you can think of.

Whilst Margo is filled with Self-body issues, Runako acerca is clueless female human emotions Generally And This makes for great banter not to mention the almost painful but highly erotic sex scenes.

Again we are shown the horrors of humans vs monsters in the past and why Runako is so afraid of integration. When I fully shares with Margo His pain she confesses That She May who did they know awful things to His Sister.

This knowledge With a new element of revenge and killing Enters The story line and Gives it an interesting twist.

New monsters and plot elements in this book are Introduced at it Continues to not shy away from going to some deep dark places in some XXX sex scenes.

Again, some editing issues, but this time not so distracting.








Have will travel Monster (Book 4):
Now That the story line is not just about the monsters bringing out into the open, the secret Black Wolf agency trying to capture and experiment is to focus on monsters.

Henry goes off to China to seek out and plead for help from the secret, yet powerful warrior clan.

Their is Tokaki Most prized warrior and Agrees to come and help them, but as the fight coordinator on the movie !!

There is a lot more in this book speak movie Which was becoming tedious. The two new characters Tokaki and Jo, the artist, are so obviously going to be the next couple together but That Get Their characters and plot lines are so cliché to make it feel like some 70s porn film.

Whilst I Understood That Tokaki was the Chinese version of the westernized notion of monsters, I turns into a huge white tiger that looks a lot like the parade dragon / lion, I got fed up reading about Their Chi - I am not reading in Original books for intellectual stimulation! Not to mention That acerca 50% into the book info we have only peeked at a penis surprised so far, and if Jo says His male body is "ridiculous" once more I Would have screamed, and not in pleasure.

The little movie Were funny one liners and the best character in Madoka This chapter was the teenage sister, a beautiful purple dragon.

Eventually Tokaki and Jo get together, but I is rude, obnoxious and oblivious to her feelings Which of course are fixed by watching a marathon of chick flicks. I found this to be very condescending and not fitting With the rest of the books. Although they 'are getting a bit boring monsters in every mating for life with each girl picks I have to enlighten on monster sex.

If I had not bought the last two Already books in the series I Would have Given Up At this point as the center plot is missing, the editing and continuity is way off and the sex has Become boring.

The notion That brilliant sex can suddenly fix all female hang up and make You have instant self-belief is a little nauseating or maybe I have yet to enjoy That sort of sex!

The ending paragraph was good and it pulled together some unanswered questions from early in the book but does not make you want to read the fifth installment.








A Monster and a Gentleman (Book 5):
You are now thrown forward into movie production. Apparently all on set people believe in monsters and none have run screaming to the loony bin but surprise, surprise one has leaked to the press photos DESPITE huge confidentially clauses.
Cali the bitch of the group Total has-been lusting after Seling, a fire breathing dragon, who joined the group During a rescue camp at the Black Wolf, and this is Clearly Their sexual chapter for fun and eventual mating.

No mention Thus Far of the plot twist Involving the Black Wolf camp, if They Were Such a threat then why forget them ?? So Easily The editing is much more of an issue in this book and LD Could have Done with some better beta readers / editors to pull together her inconsistencies.

Why every single woman in this group have to be hung up on Their lack of body perfection is now becoming annoying. Plus the eleven sizzling sex scenes and daring are now repetitive, same sex couple different.

Not sure on the odds of finding each monster kill Their exact Within the five women in LA who happen to be making Their movie.

Eventually Investigations get under way into who leaked the photos of the monsters, trying to out them.

The monsters call on Their Seer, Mauve the Banshee.

Between the Black Wolf Banshee and the militia, That suddenly make a reappearance this is a lot more violent action in this book.

Towards the end is more of a monster story, much less erotica, even if boring in this book.

This series has sort of flunked in the middle not sure If its erotica, a story, Both of neither. The one dimensional characters and Have Become Often slide off the page with no thought. The book end has-been read simply as I am hoping for a conclusion.









The last of the Monsters (Book 6):
Flashbacks from VARYING PoV allow for the story of Henry, the monster and end Akta - That end the couple need to pair off to Make This all so convenient.

Mauve the Banshee has discovered who the leak is and punishment is interesting. The Black Wolf men are used in a unique way.

Once the movie is finally out, so are the monsters and they 'are whisked off to meet all the "special" people of the world.

The relationship Between Henry, the color changing monster and Akta skin is crawling and childish to say the least.

A dramatic finale Allows the series to redeem itself at the end.

Overall This Could Have Been probably four books, better edited and more flesh and brains Given to the characters. The first book was amazing and the sex but soon Became repetitive and pathetic Were plot lines, or Told At least not well.


For a fast bit of erotica LD is a good writer as she does not shy from some eye watering moments but as a storyteller, nope not her strong suit as her plots are often forgotten or repetitive, but overall a good series to read.

The movie references in the stories and was very clever book titles and you can not help but love the cover art!





Thursday, 2 October 2014

CODE NAME: Ghost & Fire (Books 1 & 2) by Natasza Waters




This is a bit of a hard one to review, military based thriller/erotica/romance is not my thing but I was offered the, two parts of the story, to review.

When I first started it I gave up. It didn't grab me and I found the set up a little confusing especially when NW was describing the main characters and all the periphery elements, I couldn't keep up with who was who!

However, I went back to it and was sort of glad I did.  I have mixed feelings over the books as they are a bit dragged out, but there is an engaging story, a traumatised heroine and an alpha male hero who engage in some steamy sex scenes, but even that becomes a little formulaic by the second half of the story (in book 2) and there is a limit to my sympathy for both main characters.

The sexual tension and inevitable sex was initially exceptional. The multiple male characters are fantastically hot alpha males.... they would certainly make my knees knock, and this is fiction after all – I don’t really want too much reality in my erotica!

What can I say about Kayla; she is strong with a lot of past trauma that really shapes her character and how she reacts to things.  She is also abrasive, cold and not overly likable plus many a time I wanted to scream at her to just stop, just stop!

Thane, the male lead, at the start I didn't quiet “get” him but he grew on me eventually, but the on/off almost abusive relationship between the two of them I think was supposed to be sort Burton/Tayloresque but never really got pulled off correctly.

However, this is not some bubble headed erotic, drool a minute story though, there is some real gusty stuff in here and the serial killer aspect is very well written. That said you HAVE to read book 2 to get any closure, which I feel is a little bit of a cheat when with cleaner, more concise writing and fewer subplots and characters the story could have been easily concluded in this one book and been a better read for it, but it didn’t the author leaves you on a cliffhanger, with no closure.










After reading the first book "Ghost" you have no option but to continue the story. However, I didn't find this book as gripping as the first and to be honest the on-off relationship between the two lead characters got a bit tiresome. Having said that, I would recommend these two books.

As said before, NW would have been better just extending the first book then putting this sequel out. Kayla remains true to form with her stop/go emotions, yes she has severe emotional trauma in her past but does that really give you the right to treat others like rubbish? Also I found the constant reminder by NW of her past a bit boring and therefore I lost sympathy eventually.  Basically in Ghost she was strong and coping, in Fire she became a moaning, boring bitch.

Overall, I like NW writing style the serial killer aspect of the story is defiantly wrapped up in this second book and if you enjoy military romance/thriller novels but can suspend all sense of reality then you will love these books.

Will I go onto book no.3 - if I see it on offer, then yes!




Monday, 29 September 2014

Pretty Little Dead Girls by Mercedes Yardley




Bryony Should have been murdered in second grade, she Knew It, her Father Knew It, the whole town Knew It, even the soon to be President Knew It, Fate wanted it; Happened but a mistake.

Through school, university, suicidal boyfriends, we watch as she cheats death and tries to choose where to live That does not Involve serial killers or places That Could be in horror movies. Eventually the ethereal Star Girl settles in Seattle where she meets a variety of wonderful friends, all are drawn to Also Become her protectors.

As the bodies start to mount up around her I Could almost feel the weight of her sorrow pulling at my own heart. In a sort of cat and mouse Told MY way of all the potential murderers after Bryony and left me on tenterhooks wondering who would be successful and get Their prize? She made it sound like it would be delicious to witness, Which was rather worrying!

The surrounding characters are well fleshed out and have a wonderful sense of reality to them, even now I miss them. The devotion from her friends is breath taking the obvious love from her Father and Mrs W Nearly broke my heart. I adored the little comments acerca's would-be, could-be's and may-be's.

The Saucepan of Vengeance will stay with me for a while as it really made me chortle.

The language is Certainly whimsical But Also so amazingly clever, it is after all quite a gore laden book with talk of serial killers, murder and death but I loved the conversational way That MY pulled me into the story, Involving me in Bryony's fate, she was very clever in mind evoking scenes Which Had No business make me smile, but did anyway.

The ending is spectacular and I can not wait to read more from this author; I finally got to read a book with the word discombobulated in it!





Saturday, 27 September 2014

Sleep Of Fools by Lori R. Lopez


In his sleep Chrono can climb like a monkey, only his waking world does not have monkeys, or trees or anything that is not grey and mechanized.

Fed by pills, dressed in grey, putting cogs into place each and every day, all day, then to sleep; this is Chrono’s world.  

Although sleep is not necessarily what it seems either as he is herded into a nether world; to destroy the clock he assembles during the day.

The analogies and mental visuals that LRL conjures up and lays before you are fantastic.

Then a chance fall, a kiss, an escaping screwdriver, a pair of green eyes and all that changes.

When Jewel spurs him into trying to escape the “system” their whole world is destroyed, the final twist in the tale is brilliant and I loved the end line.

Jar Baby used to be my favourite story of LRL of all her amazing work but I read this back to back three times I was so enthralled.  A masterpiece IMO.


Thursday, 25 September 2014

Survivor by JF Gonzalez




Firstly I love the cover but it has nothing to do with this book, so not sure why the author decided to update it to this.

My first foray into hardcore and I was not overly impressed with the story line or the amount of grossness, I was pleased the author stayed away from animals (although there is one very brief paragraph) however, there are multiple rape scenes, tortures, mutilations, the making of snuff films, mentions of child pornography, bestiality, bondage, some cannibalism, so enough gore and splatter that this should be a fantastic read.

The whole “Hitcher” style kidnap at the beginning is well done, up until the police are involved; “Desperation” by SK crept into my mind with the no emotion cop (who later becomes an emotional wreck?!) and the whole being put in jail on a Friday afternoon and not being allowed out until Monday morning seems a little odd and convenient – can’t two high profile lawyers call in a few favours! It’s only a traffic offence not mass murder, yet.

After an explosive and riveting start; I was lulled in to an exquisite sensation of skin crawl and then suddenly slapped with a big yuck.

The main character, Lisa, is kidnapped, chained up and told she is the star of a hardcore S&M snuff film; well if that does not make your skin crawl then having her watch the would be rescuer suffer the torture, rape and mental breakdown that has been promised as “bonus content”  should be enough to scare the pants off you.

However, I found the most disgusting part of the book to be the suggestion that Lisa blurted out to save her own skin but this was badly set up at the beginning of the book and then the deaths which could have been a pivotal mind twist were glossed over IMO. 

The actual suggestion was repulsive, but then who knows what we would promise faced with certain torture and death.

A cat and mouse type of search and rescue is instigated by her husband , when he finally makes it our of prison, which is all a little to handy for the time line, the story sort of takes a nose dive after that.

None of the characters are likeable or believable. They are caricatures of what they could be.  The “good” side is too syrupy and the “baddies” act like total idiots in the end.

To have the “set-up” guy switch his mind set so quickly all the time got on my nerves; he is either an abused and traumatized kid post bunny torture and has no empathy or he is in it for the money but really cares, he can’t be both! Or at least not in the way JFG tells/explains it.

The Big Cheese in it all just seemed like a bumbling twit in the end and was a bit Al Capone (tax evasion - let down) in his eventual capture.

I found the over padding of the good guy vs bad guy image a little nauseating and predictable. As for the planting of a red herring, it’s supposed to divert your attention not scream at you “it was me! coooeee over here” or put at least put in a few more.

The elderly assassin is inspired, although I would have liked her story extended much more as there are about 30 years missing in her story. Her vicious killing of the security guards but decision to leave Brad (hubby) alive so her can wriggle free and phone the police is just horrible storytelling and again with the letting your characters do stupid things just to aid the story line shows very poor skill, and commitment to the story.

The end fight scene was such an anti-climax, firstly Lisa’s body seemed to have her head on the wrong way around; the rapist/killer was able to enter her from behind but she then bit off his nose? 

Then in her half stabbed, half-starved, waif like body state with no weapons training and having been in a catatonic condition for several days/weeks (time line is a bit off) how was she able to kill two big, strong men (who are proven killers) on her own and then drive herself through the Nevada desert (with no sat-nav!).   

Lets not even mention that said big, strong torturous killers, supposedly into the "hardcore S&M" scene scream like babies and act in total agony when she bites their nose - whoops I did. 

JFG really backs away from some of the kills, just some vague descriptions on how brutal they were, basically lots of build up to a damp squib throwaway line. As for the whole S&M scene – laughable, clearly no research done.

Despite the long winded comments from the author at the beginning that this is the final and most brilliant version, it has some serious consistency errors and definitely some typos that would have benefitted a good beta read and editor, which is surprising as I think this author (my first book by them) is quite high profile and has a fair few books to their name.

I did enjoy the ending. I loved the wrap up bits and I needed some soothing and loving after all the actual gross splatter thrown at me. There was no ambiguous ending and I enjoyed that, I want to be told a story not make up half of it myself.

Would I read this author again, maybe, if another title gets flashed up to me (or someone would like to suggest one) but I won’t be searching them out.



Tuesday, 23 September 2014

At Hells Gates: Volume 1 - anthology



The forward is thought provoking and heart felt; I adored the reason the charity was chosen.

At the end of each story is a little comment on the story, bio and a few words from the authors. Personally I would have preferred the comment pre the story with the bio and word after, but that is editor’s choice.

Apart from one story which was a little too gothic for my tastes this really is a top notch collection and what a great charity to be assisting. The editors did very well to place the stories in such a fabulous order.

Black Crow by Devan Sagliani:
Poor Tyler, and his girlfriend Emily, he has literally run through Hell to be with her and now they are stuck in the woodshed. They are also surrounded by what seems to be hundreds of crows.

As he flits in and out of a dream state in his exhaustion the reality and dream world mix to give a strange foray into a well known burger bar!

I loved the personality the author gives his characters and those around them, the perfect pre-undead world that DS paints; I really cared about these characters, felt I knew them.

Whilst there is no definitive ending, only mere suggestion at what might happen, which I usually really dislike in stories, I really enjoyed this opening tale.

Exploding Shit Zombies by Stephen Kozeniewski:
Jake likes to call the zombies “sheeple”, their gatherings often turning into clusterfucks!  His weird and wild descriptions of the zombie horde continue as Jake brings his motley survival crew together.

Jake is an interesting person with some grand illusions and intentions, which makes for some grin inducing reading; until the explosions start to occur.  Vera and Chloe are witness the “atomic” explosions and the dead pan writing gives its own shudders as you think you know the death that awaits these two calm sisters who are enjoying a beer in their beach chairs.

When a swollen zombie explodes all over Chloe, Vera tries to explain the digestive system of a zombie, then lots more zombies start to explode and the mental vision just made me start to giggle – try explaining that to your non-zombie reading Hubby!

When they make a run for it and end up at The House with the Senate in session, you can imagine the comment that ends this story!


No Shelter by Lesa Kinney Anders & Matthew Kinney:
Derek is begging for money and food at the traffic lights when the zompoc starts.

Bikers Hawk and Snake are helping out at the shelter when Derek, freshly bitten, stumbles in. As more Bikers arrive to help and Derek “turns” it’s not long before bedlam occurs within the Shelter.

When Snake finally manages to get hold of his policeman brother he gets the full low down on what is occurring. The story continues but felt more like the opening chapters to a longer book.

Whilst I was interested in the story it felt a little cliché for me but the writing was faultless, just a lot of characters to try and keep up with in the melee of an apocalypse.

Ollie Ollie Oxen Free by Shana Festa:
Poor Nursing students Ollie and Emma experience their first patient death. After returning home and having a relaxing night, the morning news blasts at Ollie about “the living dead, cannibalisation and attacks”; she laughs this off as a mid-October scare prank.

However when Muffin the cat brings home a zombie she changes her mind; soon she is fighting for her life, minus some hair.

The descriptions of the zombies were suitably gross and the emotions and terror that SF has Ollie expressing all had a touch of reality to them.

As the slaughter carries on around her, the current storm protects her from the more horrific happenings, but not us the reader as SF continues to describe in lurid details all those horrors.

Reaching her boyfriends office she comes to face to face with the dilemma of the bitten person that is still alive and the fear of those around them; mob reaction seems to rule, but Karma is a bitch.

To say I really enjoyed the ending would be perverse but I would be very interested in reading more from this author and the world she creates.

Nefarious by Stevie Kopas:
Moira and Samson have locked their dead, but screaming, children in their bedroom. Moira’s mind has yet to catch up to the reality of the situation as she tries desperately to care for them, feed them, but she needs her husband’s help to really fulfil this task.

The disgusting disintegration of her mind, the feeding sessions and the final spousal conversation make for riveting reading.

Home Defense by James Crawford:
The zombies in this story have a sense of mischief and as Shawn and the narrator explain how they are shooting the invading party I could not help but giggle at the insanity of it.

When the zombies actually started verbally taunting back them I was totally gobsmacked! A great short, short story packed with fun and mayhem.

Stories from the Apocalypse by J. Rudolph:
Excerpts from a journal; Cali it seems is guilt ridden from ex patients to families she has failed to help.

There were lots of fly by names which made for complex reading and as I never got the chance to get to know them it was hard to care, but for Cali I had some sympathy.

The writing was concise and I should imagine the longer book version would be quite a read as the emotions wrought were quite raw.

Journal of the Undead: The Beginning by S.G. Lee:
Lt George Mitchell is on a “top-secret” army base hospital and is literally thrown in at the deep end tending to wounded soldiers.

When one of his patients sits up after he has pronounced them dead he starts to suspect where he is and what the soldiers are fighting beyond those high walls. Things get more hinky when he not allowed to administer a “special” shot to a bitten soldier.

When the Major finally clues him on the situation Lt Mitchell can only gawp. As weeks then months go by the situation, inevitably, worsens and soon they are over run.

A mix between military, guerrilla warfare, zombies and a personal diary it’s all a rush of action until the end when a little secret is revealed.

Princess and the Flea by Paul Mannering:
At first I could not continue reading this as the animal cruelty described in the first paragraph made me feel sick, not from fiction but fact.

As I flicked through I noticed that not all is what it seems. We are far in the future in this book and strange things are occurring. The final few paragraphs spell it all out.

Well written, thought out and graphic glad I continued.

Hour of the Beast by J.M. Martin:
Vera is struggling with her pregnancy and at odds with her husband.

I did not really connect with the characters or the story as I found the world she lives in a little hard to follow in such a short story. It was all a bit haunting and gothic, not my cup of tea at all.

The author does explain at the end it is a fantasy world but I felt it was too hard to enter in such a condensed way, also not really all that fitting for this anthology so far. Shame really as it was well written just not the genre of story I would usually pick up.

The Err Apparent by Tim Marquitz:
Thrust straight into the middle of some Goth ritual involving chants, sacrifices and lots of black capes and make up, Frank is surprised when this group of wanna-be teenagers manages to conjure up a demon.

When “Calvin Hobbes” from the “FBI” aka Frank from DRAC goes to investigate body no.3 he is set upon by the local Reverend to ensure they snare that local cult Satanist!

Frank is all there with his usual sense of humour and gung ho attitude, until he is made aware that the demon is actually a Manitou, and it’s on a deadly mission.

Lots of action, fun, killings, religious goings on and a few monsters, brilliant little short set in the Demon Squad series world.


Cracked: A Deadland Saga short story by Rachel Aukes:
A little snippet of a zombie infested world from a military unit leaders PoV. There is a lot of militarised speak and if you don’t know the lingo its hard going.

Maz is trying to keep the final three of his thirty five original unit alive and get back to base. The two final paragraphs are so sad.

This is a tiny section of a much larger series and whilst it gives you a great flavour of the writer’s style of itself it’s not really much of a story. However, if you love the military aspect of Zompoc then you will love this.


Undead Britain by Frank Tayell:
A year into the zompoc and Charlotte is a scout for the larger group looking to hide out in the Castle; in the undead world every noise is panic stations and the tension is palpable from the first sentence.

Flashback to the start of the zompoc and Charlotte, her husband and children are trying to prepare for the mayhem that ensues at the beginning. News excerpts give us information on what is going on in the rest of the world, the horrors to come.

Week by week they slowly realise that life has changed and they are struggling to merely survive. Eventually they make the decision to evacuate.

Told in minute detail the pain and trauma faced are excruciating, when the final kill comes it left me feeling bereft; brilliant writing from this author, such skill in building emotion and tension.


The Weight of Darkness by Sean T. Smith:
Sonja and her team, a post-apocalyptic commando team called the Foxes, are hiding out in the Vatican. The apocalypse was over twenty five years ago but the nuclear war was just starting.

Stuck in Europe having travelled by foot from Africa they are trying to reach home in Wyoming, USA. The plague that surrounds them is a new twist on the zombie theme, highly interesting concept.

Having only known survival and not living Sonja is an interesting character that I look forward to following up in this authors series of novels.

The Husband by Jacqueline Druga:
Miriam’s husband seems to have deteriorated and she wants to kill him. She has focus, she has reasons, she has ideas and she has a best friend!

Short, snappy, funny and brilliantly written. Fabulously wicked.

Seth by Jacqueline Druga:
Jena has a sort of second sight gift, not strong and not enough to earn a living by but enough. Whilst waiting to read a local medic in a coffee shop she meets Seth.

With an enigmatic invite she is hooked. During their discussion many strange things are said and done. When Mrs Williams comes for a reading and she is told to hand over the envelope the story truly starts to unfold.

A sad happy ending with a little spooky feel.

The Fertile by Jacqueline Druga:
A strange little story that seemed to have no purpose other than to confuse and amuse, which it did very well! I really like this author and hope to find more of her work.

Welcome to Hell by Sharon Stevenson:
Vampire hunters on Halloween! Shaun and Sarah, siblings that are chosen ones.

With all the normal vamp killing clichés in a supernatural nightclub called Haven, this was like a good Buffy episode.

I love this world the author has created and will be seeking this series out.