Manga Review: Little Butterfly

Little Butterfly by Hinako Takanaga

Publisher: DMP June
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Yaoi
Themes: High school, first love, best friends, experimentation, runaway, abusive family
Rating: Mature 18+
Volumes: 3 Volumes originally, Now collected Ominbus
ISBNs:
- 978-1-56970-159-1


Basic Premise:
Yuki Kojima is a bright, happy, and giving high school student. Atsushi Nakahara is a failed prodigy, with a delusional and abusive mother and an absent father, which has made Nakahara reserved and sullen. They are polar opposites who never would have never met outside of the classroom if Kojima hadn't decided to be nosy and ruin Nakahara's plans to run away from home. Nakahara finds a sympathetic soul in Kojima, who is happy to help his newfound friend any way he can. But, Nakahara wants more than friendship and it's up to Kojima to decide if he's ready.



Sex Shown:
Kissing, hugging, fondling invisible penises, suggestive positions, allusions to more



Review:
This was my very first Hinako Takanaga-sensei manga. I LOVE IT. This is on my re-read shelf.

Kojima is just so sweet. You want to hug him all the time. At first, it seems like he's going along with whatever Nakahara wants just so Nakahara will have a safe haven away from his horrible home life. It's funny when you see the proverbial light bulb go off in Kojima's head and he realizes he might actually feel something more for Nakahara than simple friendship.

You just have to root for them and their future. Their story is totally sweet, even if it does have a few rough patches due to outside forces. Hinako-sensei doesn't let her characters get to happily-ever-after easily and I totally respect that.

Manga Review: Desire

Desire by Maki Kazumi and Yukine Honami

Publisher: DMP
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Yaoi
Themes: High school, first love, best friends, experimentation
Rating: Mature 18+
Volumes: 1
ISBNs: 1-56970-979-3


Basic Premise:
Toru Maiki has a crush on one of his best friends Ryoji Nakajo. So it comes as a huge shock when Ryoji confesses to being turned on by the thinking about Toru. As jokes go, it's a cruel one and Toru isn't amused. Ryoji is serious and he wants to see if it's a fluke or if there is something more to it. The way he wants to see is having sex with Toru. One part of Toru is ecstatic at the idea. The other part is deeply depressed at a physical relationship with no emotion involved. It's up to Toru to decide what's more important -- lust or love.





Sex Shown:
Kissing, groping, fondling, pressed bodies, suggestive positions, allusions to more.




Review:
This was one of the first yaoi/BL manga I ever read. (I'll do a review for the first at a later time). I was still fairly new to the genre (in manga format) so I wasn't sure what to think of it.

Now that I'm a veteran yaoi/BL manga connoisseur and I've re-read it, I can offer up an opinion.

Toru and Ryoji are cute together. The way they both struggle to pretend it's just experimentation when it is so much more is endearing. Ryoji comes off as just playing around but his actions betray how serious he is about Toru.

I'm sure I am partial to it because it was one of my firsts, however this title will remain forever in my re-read pile. I never get tired of seeing Toru and Ryoji "finding" one another. My only regret was that it wasn't longer.

Manga Review: Jazz

Jazz by Tamotsu Takamure and Sakae Maeda


Publisher: DMP
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Yaoi
Themes: High school, doctor-patient relations, college, study abroad, jealous lovers, forced pleasure
Rating: Mature 18+
Volumes: 4
ISBNs:
- 1-56970-935-1
- 1-56970-894-0
- 1-56970-888-6
- 1-56970-853-3



Basic Premise:
Koichi Narusawa is a doctor. Naoki Segawa is his patient. From the first treatment, Naoki wants Koichi and decides to take him. Koichi is swept up in the storm of Naoki's love. A love so strong not even transferring to America can stop Naoki from acting upon it. Both are insecure and yet both want love so badly. They have so many differences to overcome or else they can never be together.



Sex Shown:
Kissing, suggestive positions, rape, pressed bodies, allusions to more, drugged sex



Review:
If anyone ever asked me what my favorite yaoi/BL manga was, I would answer without hesitation and with enthusiasm -- JAZZ.

I LOVE this manga. I can read it over and over and never get tired of it. I almost fell into reading it again while writing this review (read it a long time ago but finally getting around to writing the review now).

You have to empathize with Koichi. He lost both of his parents and, even when he had them, they weren't much of a family. He doesn't really know how to love or what love feels like. He shows everyone a serene, smiling face that makes everyone think he likes them when he's actually ambivalent.

Naoki is passionate about everything. It's all or nothing with him. He's the only child of a rich family with an overprotective mother and a somewhat negligent father. He knows what he wants and he's used to getting it the way he wants no matter who stands in his way.

These two personalities meet up and fireworks isn't the word for it. They are an explosion of nuclear levels. Their emotions become the readers emotions. You can feel their anguish and despair. You'll get angry with Koichi, you'll rage at Naoki (a lot), and then you'll love them both all over again.

For those who like their romance a little rough (like me), you'll love this manga.

Manga Review: Love Round!!

Love Round!! by Hinako Takanaga


Publisher: Deux
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Yaoi
Themes: High school, Boxing, First Love
Rating: Mature 18+
Volumes: 1
ISBNs: 978-1-93449-655-8



Basic Premise:
Kaoru Komatsuna has an effeminate name and an effeminate face to go with it. He's very touchy about both. When Junya Kubo makes the mistake of making fun of Kaoru's name, Kaoru KO's him in one punch. Junya can't believe someone with no muscle mass laid him out. But, he wants Kaoru to join his gym and become a boxer like him. They can train together and it could possibly lead to more... if Kaoru doesn't KO Junya into oblivion first.



Sex Shown:
Kissing, pressed bodies, groping invisible penises, suggestive positions



Review:
I laughed my ass off!!

Hinako-sensei has regained my trust with this one. I couldn't stop laughing. I was rooting for Junya and Kaoru so badly but Junya has a habit of saying whatever comes to mind first no matter how insulting it may be to his listeners (he's only telling the truth, after all). That gets him in huge trouble with Kaoru on a regular basis. So much so that Hinako-sensei starts a KO count in the margins. That had me laughing too.

I loved Junya and Kaoru. I totally recommend this for someone who wants a good laugh while getting their BL fix.

LASR-WC Anniversary Contest!

02 August - 29 August

Click image above for details

Vote for ERIS at HEA

Eris is up for Book of the Month over at Happily Ever After Reviews!
 
Come out and vote.

Manga Review: Time Lag

Time Lag by Shinobu Gothoh and Hotaru Odagiri


Publisher: DMP June
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Yaoi
Themes: High school
Rating: 16+
Volumes: 1
ISBNs: 1-56970-921-1


Basic Premise:
Satoru Tendou has indulged in a one-sided love with his childhood friend Shirou Sawaguchi for years. Their freshman year of high school Satoru confessed his feelings and was immediately rejected. Satoru isn't one to admit defeat easily and has confessed once a year since. It's their senior year and they are both about to graduate. Satoru is thinking it's about time he graduated from his unrequited love as well when a new suitor steps up to catch his attention.


Sex Shown:
Kissing


Review:
This story is so totally sweet. Lost chances, mixed messages, and new love all rolled into one. You have to feel sorry for Satoru since he's in a problem not of his own design. He doesn't even know that he's hurt Shirou badly and that's why he's being rejected.

And then, Seiichi comes into the picture hoping to sweep Satoru away since it's obvious Shirou doesn't want Satoru. I had to laugh when Shirou and Seiichi start vying for Satoru's time and affection. Poor Satoru doesn't get a word in edgewise.

I totally recommend this story for someone who wants a sweet, innocent romance.

Manga Review: All Nippon Air Line (ANAL)

All Nippon Air Line (ANAL) by Kei Azumaya


Publisher: DMP June
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance
Themes: Airplanes, love at 30,000 ft, stewards
Rating: 16+
Volumes: 1
ISBNs: 978-1-56970-748-7


Basic Premise:
All Nippon Air Line, nicknamed ANAL, is the premiere air line catering to people who want a "different" flying experience. All of the employees of ANAL are men from the baggage handlers to the pilots to the flight crew. While working for ANAL doesn't mean you are gay, it's a pretty safe bet. Even if it is at 30,000 ft, these men are still looking for love.


Sex Shown:
Suggestive positions and allusions to more.


Review:
Eh. It's an interesting way to pass the time if you have nothing else better to read. There is no main character. Or, if there was a main character, then it is the air line itself.

There are several romance stories within this one volume that could have been fleshed out to make this a more interesting read (and possibly more than one volume). Instead, the author chose to do a bunch of little snippets that don't really go anywhere towards a satisfying conclusion.

That said, there are a few characters that are endearing. The president for instance is a character that makes the book bearable. And Ana Sui the master martial artist who is waiting for some man to beat him in a fair fight before he'll submit (since he's a bottom).

But like I said, this is a pass unless you are really hard up for something to read and this is the only option.

Manga Review: 9th Sleep

9th Sleep by Makoto Tateno


Publisher: DMP June
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Themes: Reincarnation, gods
Rating: 16+
Volumes: 1
ISBNs: 978-1-56970-834-7


Basic Premise:
Luke is a product of immaculate conception -- his mother was a virgin when she became pregnant with him. He's 15 when he finds out he has an older brother, Malchus, who wants to see him dead. What Luke thinks is a lie is actually the truth when he realizes he's a reincarnation of a god who came to Earth to escape doing battle for his throne with his own brother. His route of escape is to be reborn through the bodies of virgins over and over. But the time is coming when he will no longer be able to escape the coming battle.


Sex Shown:
Nothing to report because there is no sex. There isn't even kissing. A few nude bodies but nothing sexual about them.


Review:
Shenanigans! This is not a yaoi. It's not even BL. Makoto-sensei even says in her afterword that this was never meant to be a BL, just a fantasy story that she wanted to write.

Luke and Malchus are truly brothers and there is nothing sexual between them whatsoever. They are emotionally close but it's familial love ONLY. This story is a fantasy adventure. That's all.

That said, it was a good story. Sad and heart-wrenching until the end, Makoto-sensei remains a storyteller I enjoy reading. I would LOVE to see a romance story (BL or otherwise) featuring one of the brothers as the lead but I'm happy with what I got.

Manga Review: Love Master A

Love Master A by Kyoko Hashimoto


Publisher: Go! Comi
Price: $10.99
Genre: Drama, Romance
Themes: High School, Student Council, Unrequited Love
Rating: Teen 13+
Volumes: 2
ISBNs:
- 978-1-933617-60-2
- 978-1-933617-61-9


Basic Premise:
Aria Sakurai has forsaken love. She's confessed to over one hundred boys in her short life and been rejected each time. Such an accomplishment has earned her the ironic nickname of the Love Master. People go to her on advice on what not to do. To get away from the moniker she transfers to a new school but ends up being the center of attention when she's chosen as her class's president on her first day. To make matters worse, her reputation has followed her AND she thinks she might be falling in love despite her vow to abstain.


Review:
Cute story that could have used one more volume. It's obvious from the jump who Aria will end up with at the end of the story but there was a rival to that love interest mid-story. I would have liked to have seen more about that.

The school dynamic is interesting and the characters are well-rounded. It's a little predictable but a great way to pass the time.

Manga Review: Croquis

Croquis by Hinako Takanaga


Publisher: Tokyopop BLU
Price: $14.99
Genre: Yaoi, Drama, Romance
Themes: High School, College, First Love, Cross-dressing, Transgender
Rating: Mature 18+
Volumes: 1
ISBNs: 978-1-4278-1799-0


Basic Premise
Three stories in one.

The title story is about Nagi Sasahara, who is a part time model for Shinji Kaji's college art class. Nagi is gay and knows it and has been burned many times in the past by those who have misunderstood him. He's saving up money to make the switch so that no one will ever call him weird again. Or that was his plan until Kaji entered the picture and made him rethink his stance on life and love.

On My First Love
This is a story told in two parts -- one part from Torii's POV and the other part from Kamota's POV. They are high school buddies whose similar taste in books has made them friends... but can they both work up the courage to become more?

Wish Upon a Star
Sei Mayama hates stars because one didn't grant his wish when he was a child. His best and closest friend Daiki loves stars. Sei's one and only wish is to love Daiki and be with him forever, but there's no way wishing upon a star will make Daiki feel the same... or is there?


Sex Shown
Kissing, groping, suggestive positions, and allusions to more.


Review
I love Takanaga-sensei's stuff... usually. I'm kind of ambivalent about this one. The best story of the three is Wish Upon a Star and I wish Sei and Daiki had been the title couple for that reason. Their story was cute. While told wonderfully in a short amount of time, I think they could have floated an entire volume all on their own.

On My First Love is bittersweet. I can almost see a story developing for Torii and Kamota later in life but I can also see people getting hurt because of that story developing.

And now the kicker -- Croquis (the title story). WTF!? I don't know how it works in Japan, but transgender operations in the US take a lot more preparation than simply saving up money to get stuff hacked off. There's usually hormone therapy and mental therapy and screenings. I'd like to think someone with Nagi Sasahara's mental mindset would never make it past step one.

I'm not arguing the right to have a sex change. I'm arguing that wanting to be a girl because girls are allowed to date boys is the WAAAAAAY wrong reason to go through such a life-altering change. That's Nagi's only reason. He doesn't feel like a girl trapped in a man's body or anything like that. He just wants to be able to date men. *head desk*

Enter Kaji who convinces Nagi (in only page, mind you) that a sex change isn't necessary since Nagi is beautiful the way he is and Kaji wants to date Nagi with full knowledge that he's a guy. *head desk again*

I can see Nagi had totally thought this through and couldn't be swayed from his course of action because he truly felt strongly about... oh wait... no he didn't. That killed the story for me. To anyone who ever struggled with this decision or knew someone who struggled, this book would not only be a wall-banger (throwing it against the wall in disgust), it would probably end up through the wall from how hard it was thrown.

Suffice to say, this is not the usual title I would expect from Tokyopop BLU. They usually tend towards the sweeter side with their yaoi and BL stories. And there is something totally weird about this book. Nothing about the story but the book itself. There were random snippets of German throughout. At first I thought it was some kind of weird onomatopoeia but then I realized what I was looking at. One quick search of my online dictionary later and sure enough, it was German.

This wasn't one or two mistakes either. This was on several pages throughout the book. Not whole passages but a word or two at the end of a speech bubble. That was very weird and I have no explanation for it. While this has nothing to do with my review, I felt the need to mention it.

LASR-WC Spotlight

The spotlight is on me again. This time I'm at The Long and the Short of It's Whipped Cream site.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm

Stop by if you would like to enter to win a copy of ERIS. Or just stop by to leave a comment on one of my posts. The spotlight lasts from Monday to Friday with a new post each day. Don't miss out.

Update: Sort of

Lord help me. I have to format my computer. I knew I named this thing Pita for a reason. :P

I knew this day was coming. It's here and there's no help for it. The computer has been acting very strange lately. Not a virus according to Norton but still peculiar. I can't watch stuff (DVDs, streaming video, et al) without it sounding like it's coming through an earthquake to get to me. Rather than "cure the symptoms", I'll just opt for the surgery and go straight to the source.

This is a full day endeavor since I got this laptop three or four years ago. That means hours and hours of downloading and installing update after update after update after... The prospect of it almost makes me want to just buy a new one and be done. But then, there's that whole lack of money-thing to contend with. Thus, I sacrifice a day to formatting and installing.

The good news is that getting my personal effects off this machine won't take long. All my important stuff (WIPs and such) are on my mini. So it's just a matter of grabbing the handful of files on this computer (3 folders at half an hour, tops) and then dumping the whole thing.

In writing news, I am writing. I know I haven't updated my WIP Meters in a while but I am writing. This is very good news since I was a little blocked for a while there. Not full on writer's block, just too busy with real life to get a moment to actually type something worth while. Real life is calming down somewhat (day job isn't as much of a pita either) so the writing is coming back.

Other than that, it's same old same old.

Retro Movie Review: Bloodsucking Babes from Burbank

Bloodsucking Babes from Burbank

Year: 2007
Length: 1h 29min
Starring: Heidi Brucker, Danilo Mancinelli, Mira Rayson


Vampire Weaknesses:
- didn't stick around long enough to find out.



Vampire Traits:
- Messy eaters (tearing off chunks of flesh and blood everywhere)
- No issues with sunlight

Live Chat at 4pm EST

Join me at Melodee Aaron's place for a live chat today at 4pm EST.

http://www.melodeeaaron.com/

- Click on the "Spotlight" button in the left hand column
- Scroll down then click the "Live Chat" button below my name.

See you there!

Spotlights and Contests, Oh My!

I'm in the spotlight at Melodee Aaron's site and her Yahoo loop.

Read the interview (and fast facts):
http://www.melodeeaaron.com/
Click on the "Spotlight" button in the left side column


I also did a guest blog over at You Gotta Read Reviews Guest Blog. It was a quick interview. Give it a looksie.

On to the contests!

Contest #1
Join Melodee Aaron's yahoo group and hang out with me for the week to chat about my books and for fast prizes:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/melodee_aaron/


Contest #2 - Best of the Best of June
http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/

Come out to D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters so you can vote on the best
of those chapters posted in June. Choose the best cover, the best first line,
the best last line and the best overall first chapter.

4 lucky voters will be entered into a lottery to win one of these 4 prizes:
- Eris tote from me (snail mail address required)
- eBook download of Acknowledging Meirion (ARe account required)
- eBook download of The Lovely Kittengirls of Mew Orleans by GG Royale
- eBook download of The Flapper and the Fellow by GG Royale

Voting for Best of June ends 31 July. Don't be late. Though you can always vote
for Best of July in August and so on.

The prizes and the number of winners varies each month so stayed tuned. Who
knows, you may even find a book you want to read.


******
Contest #3 - Author Island
http://bit.ly/9h2Xz7

Author Island has daily giveaways and tons of contests that the authors host.
Well I'm hosting a contest. Three lucky winners will receive a book from my
backlist to celebrate the rave reviews of my new release ERIS.

Visit the above link for details.

Contest ends 15 August.

Movie Review: Sorcerer's Apprentice

Sorcerer's Apprentice


Basic Premise
Dave is the Prime Merlinian -- the one person other than Merlin who can kill Morgana. Only he doesn't know it, doesn't feel it and it's up to Balthasar to train him in his magical heritage before they're both killed and Morgana is brought back to life to raise an army of evil dead.

Vote for ERIS

You Gotta Read Reviews is having their first monthly cover art contest and Eris is a contestant.

Come on out and vote for Entry #6!

HEA Reviews: Eris

Eris has gotten a second review from Happily Ever After Reviews.

"I cried, laughed, had moments of incredible frustration, but in the end fell in love... This is a must read for anyone who likes time travel romance..." ~ Yadkny, Happily Ever After Reviews, 5 Tea Cups

Retro Movie Review: The V Word

Retro Review: Masters of Horror - The V Word


Year: 2007
Length: 58 min
Starring: Micheal Ironside (vampire), Arjay Smith (human), Brandon Nadon (human)


Vampire Weaknesses:
- Decapitation
- Needs to feed after turning or they die
- Sunlight



Vampire Traits:
- One bite transference with few hour turn around
- Can see reflection
- Super strength (I think, no definitive proof)
- Messy eater (throat ripping and blood everywhere)

Retro Movie Review: Innocent Blood

This is the first installment of the vampire movie challenge. These reviews are going to be a bit different format-wise.

Retro Review: Innocent Blood

Year: 1992
Length: 112 min
Starring: Anne Parillaud (vampire), David Proval (human)

Vampire Weaknesses:
- Sunlight
- Garlic
- Neck-breaking
- Bullets to the head
- Like zombies until after first feeding


Vampire Traits:
- Can see reflection
- Single bite transference with one hour turn around
- Fast healing
- Super strength (broke out of handcuffs)
- Super hearing and sense of smell
- Messy eater (blood everywhere)

Personal Challenge: Vampire Movies

Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with writing... or does it?

I always tell people that if it has vampires in it, I'll watch pretty much any movie. I may not like them all but I will watch them.

Due to this personality quirk, I have seen some fantastic vampire movies and I have seen some vampire movies that make me wish I had immortality just so I wouldn't regret the time I wasted watching them.

Well, I've issued myself a challenge. I'm going to watch every vampire movie Netflix offers. I was browsing through the vampire movies section and I couldn't pick one that caught my attention. Some of them were complete turn offs. BUT, I have a few vampire books coming up in my writing queue and I want to get into the neck-biting, blood-sucking mood.

Like all the other movies I watch, I will write up a review for my blog. Netflix has a LOT of vampire movies (thankfully some of them are on instant play so I don't have to wait for the mail).

I have only one stipulation, if the movie sucks too badly, I'm not watching the whole thing. I refuse to torture myself with this challenge... too much. :P

Just to start things off, I'm going to list off the vampire movies that I've already seen (that I can remember) and where they rate. That'll set the tone for the coming reviews.

Awesome
(These are the ones I will watch over and over and never get tired of seeing them.)
- Blade
- Blade II
- Underworld
- Underworld 2
- Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
- Vampire Hunter D
- Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
- 30 Days of Night


Great
(These are the movies I had to get on DVD -- or will get soon -- because without them my vampire collection wouldn't be complete and then I would feel guilty.)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula
- Interview with a Vampire
- Queen of the Damned
- Dracula: The Dark Prince
- My Best Friend is a Vampire
- Once Bitten
- The Batman vs. Dracula
- Vampire In Brooklyn
- Twilight
- New Moon
- Eclipse
- Lost Boys
- Van Helsing


Good
(These are the movies I may watch again one day if I'm in a weird mood.)
- Blade Trinity
- Dracula III: Legacy
- Vampires: Los Muertos
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Movie
- The Breed
- Rise
- Lost Boys: The Tribe
- Daybreakers



Okay
(It was on TV and it beats getting up to put on a DVD -- yes, I can be just that lazy at times.)
- Dracula II: Ascension
- Vampires
- Vampire Effect (Asian)
- Blood the Last Vampire (both live action & anime)
- Cirque de Freak: The Vampire's Assistant


Never Want to See Again
- Immortality

Now it's time to add to each of these lists. I'm sure the "Never Want to See Again" list will grow by leaps and bounds. :P

Movie Review: Predators

Predators


Basic Premise
Eight strangers -- ex-military, special ops, Yakuza, African death squad, death row convict, cartel enforcer, Russian soldier and a doctor -- have been stranded in the middle of a jungle on a foreign planet to endure the most dangerous game predators-style.

Guest Blog at Nana Malone's

I did a guest blog at Nana Malone's about crying. No, no, no. I'm not crying. You just have to read the blog and see. :P

Take a look

DUST!

Pardon my dust. I found a new template I just had to implement. Isn't it pretty?

Well, I have to tweak things and move things around before it's home. But here it is thus far.

Once I finish here, the promo blog is next. *eg*

Guest Blog on Escape Into Romance

Stacey Espino invited me to guest blog at Escape Into Romance.

Stop by and give it a look

Fav Author Interviewed

One of my favorite authors of all time and the woman who inspired me and who kept me glued to the library as a kid waiting for her books to appear has an interview up at USA Today.

Stop by and give it a looksie

Two Contests!!

CONTEST #1

Desiree Holt has featured ERIS on her "Desiree Holt Tells All" blog. Stop by and leave a comment and you are entered to win a book from HER backlist. That's right. Hers. She's footing the bill this time. :P

Click HERE to enter.

CONTEST #2

"D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters" the best of the best of June's posts contest is LIVE. Stop by and cast your vote for the best first line, the best last line, the best cover, and the best overall first chapter and you could be entered to win one of FOUR great prizes:

- ERIS tote from me
- ebook download of ACKNOWLEDGING MEIRION via ARe from me
- ebook download of THE KITTENGIRLS OF MEW ORLEANS by GG Royale
- ebook download of THE FLAPPER AND THE FELLOW by GG Royale

Click HERE to vote NOW.

Eris Available on Mobipocket and Kindle

ERIS has shown up at Mobipocket and Amazon Kindle

Movie Review: The Last Airbender

The Last Airbender


Basic Premise
Katara, the last water-bender of the Southern water tribe, and her brother Sokka have discovered Aang, the last airbender, buried deep in the ice. They release him and with him let loose a series of battles as the fire nation tries to capture Aang because he is the avatar, the one person who can use all four elements and bring peace to all of the nations the fire nation wants to subjugate. Aang must travel North, learning his role as he evades capture with the help of his new found friends.