Book: Jigsaw Man by Elena Forbes

★★★/★★★★★

“What matters is that people are going missing. They leave home one day and don't come back. Loved ones are left waiting, hoping... Hoping that the ring of a phone or the sound of a key in the lock is the person they're desperately missing. But they're not coming back, are they? There's a nutter on the loose and he needs to be stopped. How many more victims do you think are going to be taken off the streets, killed and set on fire? How many?”

I decided to read this book even though I was aware that it was already the fourth in the Mark Tartaglia series and well, it was a book I got on sale last month. The title intrigued me so much when I first saw it and the blurb surely is interesting. I haven't read a lot of police procedural books but I love watching them! I enjoy it more when I watch people solve mysteries and they go around asking this and that, trying to make sense of what's happening. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy this book, I did, I'm just saying that I feel like I'll enjoy it more if it's a tv show or something. But that's just me!

I've also read that you can read this book even if you haven't read the previous ones since this can be a standalone but of course there were mentions of past incidents from the previous books and after all it's a series. And I might've enjoyed it a little more if I've read the first three books since I've probably made connection with the characters already but I have to be fine by meeting the characters for the first time in the fourth book. 

Jigsaw Man has great characters, I liked DI Mark Tartaglia right away and almost everyone else. I was a bit unsure about Sam Donovan at first, maybe because I don't know her story yet since I haven't read the first three books, but I came to understand her character towards the end. The flow of the story was smooth and I was excited all throughout to find out why the victims were killed, how they were connected and especially who the killer was. Like everyone else, I tried guessing every time but ended up just reading on and waiting until it was revealed. And to make things more interesting, we have two different cases in this book which means two different killers. 

It was just a little disappointing to find out that there was no real significance in sewing together of the bodies. I mean, it wasn't explained why the killer did that and I really thought the two cases were connected. With Mark being in the same hotel and all, I really thought it meant something. Anyway, it's still a good book if you give it a chance. Hope you enjoy!

Book: A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

 ★★★★★/★★★★★

“Love and loss,” he said, “are like a ship and the sea. They rise together. The more we love, the more we have to lose. But the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. And what a sad world that would be.”

One word: Brilliant. 

Gahd, I really love this series and now that I've finished the last book, I don't think I'll ever be the same again! I mean, after knowing Kell, Lila, Rhy and all the other characters, it's hard to move on! And thinking that their story is already over... no, no, no! But well, Shades of Magic has been an amazing adventure. 

It's been over a week since I finished the book but until now I still have a book hangover. I tried picking up another book right after finishing but I just can't take my mind off Kell. It's a bit crazy, I know, but I needed a while to absorb everything and convince myself that it's really finished. The series is over. And it still makes me frown everytime I tell myself that.  

Everything in this book is just plain brilliant. The characters, the plot, the prose, the worldbuilding, especially the world building! I fell in love with everything the instant I read the first chapter and right there and then I had my new favorite series. And author! 

“Picking out a gift?” asked the captain.
“No.”
“Good, then take this.” He dropped a ring into Kell’s hand.
Kell frowned. “I’m flattered, but I think you’re asking the wrong brother.”

The characters are what made me love this series even more. I've already grown fond of Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard and even Holland who broke my heart in this last book. They all had their own moments, times when they had to make crucial decisions and I think that's when their character shone the brightest. Rhy has finally started acting like a prince, wanting to do something to protect his family, his people, his kingdom. Kell is ever the self-sacrificing prince/brother/Antari. (And I fell in love with him all over again!) Lila, well, she's still the best thief out there, always headstrong and  stubborn. I've always liked Alucard since the AGoS but in this book, omg, he stole my heart! And Holland, oh poor Holland. My heart ached for him all throughout.

I also love the interactions between the characters because they always just end up bickering with each other, annoying the hell out of one another. Especially Kell and Alucard! Sometimes Holland too. But those playful moments are what I'll miss most!!!

Her heart was beating hard against her ribs, some primal part of her saying run, and she was running, just not away. She was tired of running away. So she was running into Kell.
And he caught her.

Now let's get to the romance part where oh. my. gulay. Kell and Lila. Lila and Kell. Do I need say more? Because they're perfect. For each other. With each other. From the first book I've been rooting for their romance and finally, finally, Schwab gave us something exciting in this book! And can we also talk about that scene where Kell was teaching Lila some magic words? OH. MY. GOD! I was practically grinning the entire time. And when Alucard walked in on them? It was hilarious!

Moving on, we also have Rhy and Alucard and they're the cutest! I enjoyed every moment they had together especially when Rhy acted all prince-y at first but in the end finally realizing Alucard's true feelings. 

 When Kell Maresh and Lila Bard had first parted ways, he’d whispered the word in her wake, beneath his breath, full of the certainty—the hope—they’d meet again. He’d known it wasn’t an end. And this wasn’t an end, either, or if it was, then simply the end of a chapter, an interlude between two meetings, the beginning of something new.

 Overall, I'm very satisfied with this series. Schwab didn't disappoint and that ending is just... perfect! I honestly had to stop myself a few pages away from the ending because I just didn't want it to end. I love this series that much! I guess I wasn't just ready for it to end that I tried to draw it out for as long as I could. But of course, it had to end. 

Anyway, I know I only ended up fan-girling without even coming up with a proper review but there's really only one word to describe this book and it's brilliant. So read it, you guys!

And, well, Anoshe.

KDrama: Reply 1997 2012

Main Characters: 

Jung Eun ji as Sung Shi won

Seo In guk as Yoon Yoon jae

Hoya as Kang Joon hee

Shin So yul as Mo Yoo jung

Eun Ji won as Do Hak chan
Lee Si eun as Bang Sung jae

I'm not sure why but I didn't find this drama as good as the others despite all the hype surrounding it when it was first aired back in 2012. I remember hearing a lot of good things about this so I was eager to find out why everyone seemed to love it. And I know it took me years to finally watch it with my sister but to my dismay, it didn't live up to my expectations. Surely it has the 90's vibe and all but the story failed to impress me.

The story centers on the lives of six friends in Busan, as the timeline moves back and forth between their past as 18-year-old high schoolers in 1997 and their present as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012, where one couple will announce that they're getting married. That's basically the plot line and honestly, sometimes I was lost between the flashbacks and I had to ask my sister what was happening then. But despite that, I really loved the characters!

Shi won is the ultimate fangirl of H.O.T. and she lives to cheer and be Tony An's wife. She's last place in her class but doesn't really care about it. Yoon jae, on the other hand, is the first in his class. He's the quiet type who doesn't really mingle with others but he's close with Shi won. The two grew up together so they're very comfortable with each other and over time Yoon jae develops feelings for Shi won. The problem is, Shi won likes Yoon jae's older brother, Tae woong.

Shi won: “Why are you looking at me like that? Am I so pretty you won’t be able to sleep?”
Yoon je: “No, you’re so ugly I’m in shock.”

I really love how Yoon je and Shi won banter, always teasing each other, because they're hilarious! My sister is actually a big Seo In guk fan so I always received a punch to my shoulder or a pinch somewhere everytime Eun ji and In guk were exchanging playful gestures or whatever. Lol. 

Moving on to other characters, we have Yoo jung, Shi won's bestfriend and also a H.O.T. fan but later switches to Sechs Kies. She's known for falling in love easily whether with idols or any boy. Yoo jung used to have a crush on Yoon je (something Shi won doesn't know) but has her heart broken by him so she moves on and later falls in love with Hak chan. Hak chan knew of Yoo jung's crush on Yoon jae and seeing that Yoo jung is hurting, he comes to the rescue even though he's having a hard time interacting with girls. Hak chan is a transferee from Seoul and has a massive porn collection. And because of only having watched girls in his videos, he's shy in front of them. Over time he's worked out his relationship with Yoo jung and though he's always lacking in the boyfriend department and Yoo jung is the type who wants her boyfriend to always know the right things to do and say, they make it to the end.

 

Then there's Joon hee and Sung jae, friends of both Shi won and Yoon jae. Joon hee has a bit of shocking secret but we were not surprised at all because we've sensed it from the start. And I think his role just made the story more exciting for he's really close with Yoon jae and somehow revealing his secret to him will compromise their friendship. Joon hee is smart, sweet and he's a supportive friend. I liked him actually and was rooting for him until the end. Sung jae is the opposite of Joon jee and more like Hak chan. He's lazy, a big talker and the happy-go-lucky man of the group.

Aside from making us feel nostalgic and having great actors, this drama also gave us good music. I remember when "All For You" made a buzz and everyone was singing it. Okay, maybe humming especially those who are not Koreans. I've heard the other soundtrack and of course they were good. *Says someone who loves kpop!*

Overall Reply 1997 is an okay drama with amazing characters and good music. If you're a 90's kid, especially if you were born in Korean, you'll surely relate with this drama. It has a touch of comedy, drama and romance that will make you laugh, cry and give you butterflies in stomach because In guk and Eun ji seriously had a great chemistry. I admit I like both Eun ji and In guk (my sister LOVES In guk!) so it was a big bonus.

I think what I related most with in this drama was the way Shi won and Yoo jung fangirled during H.O.T's concert! Oh my god, I remember the days when my sisters and I were so into Super Junior and we were like Shi won and Yoo jung during Super Show 3!! We were spazzing and all and I think my sister might've cried at some point. So we related so much with Shi won with all the lining up early in the morning just so she can purchase an album, sticking up posters in our room and other crazy things fangirls do! And the way Shi won always chose Tony An over everything is hilarious.

But of course, aside from the music and 90's vibe, this drama also dealt with family, friendship and life's mishaps. We can see Shi won's family not really supporting her with her love towards her idol, Shi won and Yoo jung's falling out at some point, Joon hee's hesitation to tell his secret even to his friends and such. Then there was the romance between the characters which was at times we can also relate.

I liked Joon hee and I loved how Joo jae reacted when he finally found out Joon hee's secret. We thought it would be awkward for the two of them and Yoon jae would be mad or something but it was the opposite. He didn't distance himself and in fact, he treated Joon hee all the same. 

Shi won and Yoon jae ❤ 

What I didn't like was the way they confused us with who Shi won's husband was. I mean, seriously? Yes, the flashbacks helped in baffling us but come on, everyone could tell who ended up with who.

So yeah, I think this drama is good but not as good as I'd expected it to be. At some point we were just waiting for it to end because we already knew how things would go but well, we can't resist not seeing more of In guk.

Book: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★/★★★★★

“Kaz had taught her to crack a safe, pick a pocket, wield a knife. He'd gifted her with her first blade, the one she called Sankt Petyr―not as pretty as wild geraniums, but more practical, she supposed.”  

I finished this book a month ago but only able to write a review now.

Six of Crows was my first book of Leigh Bardugo and oh my god I loved it! I'd been hearing about this book while reading A Darker Shade of Magic (some comparing them) last year and I'm glad I listened when people told me to read this one if I loved ADSoM. I'm a big fan of ya fantasy and the world Bardugo created in this book is brilliant. The characters are also amazing, unique in their own way and you can't help but love them all! Especially cunning Kaz. :)

Six of Crows is set in the dark and violent city of Ketterdam, a trading hub where everyone wants to make money and is ruled by street gangs. Among these gangs is Kaz Brekker, the leader of the Dregs and a prodigy when it comes to thievery and secrets. When Kaz is offered a job that could help him speed up his revenge plans for the person who ruined his life, he knew he needs to take this job no matter how impossible it is. And for that, he needs a crew that can make impossible possible.

Kaz assembles his team of misfits; Inej, a spy known as the Wraith; Jesper, a sharpshooter who loves to gamble; Nina, a Grisha who can kill by just twisting her hand; Matthias, a convict who has thirst for revenge; and Wylan, a runway with privileged past. All six of them will try to do the impossible, trusting and depending on each other. And if they get lucky, they might just get the fortune and freedom and revenge they mostly desired. 

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” 

Gosh! I really enjoyed this book. The characters are all well-developed and they complement each other. It was hard not to like them because they're all cunning and funny and I liked that Inej and Nina are as competent as the boys. Of course each of them has their own unique personality and they might not get along well at first but along the way they learn to put aside their dislike for each other and just focus on the big heist they must pull off.

With everything happening in this book, I'm impressed that Bardugo managed to thread everything in the right place. I mean, I was hooked from the very first page until the last because it was so intense and the switch in POVs made it more exciting! The emotional tension between characters also made it more interesting and suspenseful. I think I was actually waiting for someone to snap and just, I don't know, quit or something because, hey, that would be a good twist but of course, something else happened. 

Kaz leaned back. “What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?” 
“Knife to the throat?”  asked Inej.“Gun to the back?” said Jesper.“Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina.“You're all horrible,” said Matthias.

There's action, suspense, a lot of comedy and of course a little romance in this book! I was actually very satisfied and happy with what little romance this book have because Oh my god! I ship them all!! I think Kaz and Inej are epic and I love them together!! Inej is fierce and lovely at the same time, I adore her! Kaz may not be the showy type and he may be cold at times but he cares for Inej. He wants her and that's so hard to say!

“He needed to tell her...what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn't pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her. That without meaning to, he'd begun to lean on her, to look for her, to need her near. He needed to thank her for his new hat.”

Nina and Matthias, on the other hand, are intense! There were times I wasn't sure if they were going to rip each other's heart or what. They had a bad history so Matthias isn't that thrilled to join Kaz's crew even if the reward is his freedom. Matthias is stubborn but he's rational and loyal. I wasn't sure about his at first but I came to love him towards the end. I like Nina because she's kind and a loving friend. She's also funny and like Matthias, she's loyal. And of course there are Jesper and Wylan who bicker a lot, and I say a lot! They're both hilarious and I think they complement each other well. It's like where Jesper lacks, Wylan supplies. Lol. In short, I love them both!

Overall, Leigh Bardugo surely did a great job with this book and now I want more! The world-building was amazing, the characters were well-rounded and the plot was well written! I'm reading Crooked Kingdom now (only few pages in) and I'm so excited to read the rest! I hope it live up to my expectations.

KDrama: Descendants of the Sun 2016

Main characters:

Song Joong ki as Yoo Si jin

Song Hye kyo as Kang Mo yeon

Jin Goo as Seo Dae young

Kim Ji won as Yeon Myeong ju

I remember when Descendants of the Sun made a buzz when it was aired back in February and people went crazy over it! It was what everyone was talking about, how the scenes were sweet and how hot and handsome Song Joong ki was. Even my friends who don't really watch kdrama watched it and became addict since then. My sister and I didn't watch it until two months later when all the episodes were already aired and I admit it was addicting. But then we thought it was over-hyped since we've seen better dramas.

So the story revolves around the lives of Yoo Si jin, the Captain of Team Alpha, an elite special forces in South Korea, and Dcotor Kang Mo yeon, a cardiothoracic specialist. These two accidentally meet in the hospital where Mo yeon works and there Si jin quickly falls in love with Mo yeon's assertiveness. At first, Mo yeon is skeptical towards Si jin but soon sees that Si jin is really a soldier. They then begin dating but every time they go out something comes up. It's Si jin who usually needs to go because of his job and soon Mo yeon realizes how different the two of them are. Si jin is a soldier who kills to protect lives while Mo yeon is a doctor who saves lives. Eventually they stop seeing each other. 

Mean while, Sergeant Major Dae young (also Si jin's friend) struggles with his feelings towards Myeong ju, an army surgeon. He likes her but he can't risk being removed from the army by Myeong ju's father who is the commander of the South Korean Special Forces Brigade. 

Eight months later, these four meet again this time in Urk carrying their own mission. Si jin, together with Dae young, was sent there earlier to lead his team on a peacekeeping mission while Mo yeon is sent there to lead a medical team. Myeong ju, on the other hand, followed so she can be with Dae young. There, the four of them fall in love again and together they help save lives. 

I actually enjoyed this drama with all its kilig moments and funny scenes. I also understood why girls went crazy over this drama because the writers surely did a good job developing the relationship between Si jin and Mo yeon who had a great chemistry and of course, the intense feelings between Dae young and Myeong ju. And though they did a good job building the relationship between the characters, they did little to the sub-plots and to the plot in general, for me anyway.

 They also have good and funny secondary characters. Sang hyun (Lee Seung joon) and Ja ae (Seo Jeong yeon) were my favorites and Onew as Chi hoon was a surprise to me but nonetheless did a good job.

Descendants of the Sun surely captured a lot of hearts but I still think it was over-rated. Don't get me wrong, I loved it and enjoyed every single episode but like I said, I've seen better drama with better plot. I mean, the plot of this drama had lots of potential with its military and medical stuff going on but they settled on melodrama which is really not a bad thing. I'm just saying that maybe they should've developed the military and medical sides of the show which would be more interesting since I, myself, am a huge fan of action-romance! But either way, I guess DotS's magic worked on a lot of people seeing that the drama's ratings were higher than expected.

Overall I give it a 3-star rating out of 5! It wasn't that bad but it wasn't that great either. I guess people were just too excited to see Song Joong ki in uniform which I admit was really manly and sexy! This drama was also his first role after getting out of the army which I think also helped on gaining viewers since people were waiting for his comeback.

And, oh, I forgot to mention about the bromance in this drama because there was!

♥

Book: Vampire Kisses (Vampire Kisses #1) by Ellen Schreiber

★★★★/★★★★★

“The moon is so beautiful tonight,” he said, staring out the gazebo.

“Makes me think of werewolves. Do you think a man can change into an animal?”

“If he's with the right girl,” he said with a laugh.

This one is a re-read. I first read the series years back when my friend lent the first book to me and I remember loving it. I admit I wasn't into vampires back then, well, except to Edward Cullen, I guess, but Vampire Kisses was somewhat cute and entertaining so I guess that did it. And it's a vampire ROMANCE so, yeah, I was sold right away.

 Raven Madison is obsessed with vampires, she actually wants to be one. Her obsession started when she was in Kindergarten and since then it's become her ambition to find an actual vampire and be one. Now she's sixteen and her dream hasn't changed. She likes black, watches vampire movies and she dresses in a gothic way branding her a little different from the others. Her style also doesn't get her a lot of friends except Becky, a timid farm girl everyone makes fun of. And if there's one thing in Dullsville Raven loves, it's the abandoned mansion sitting on Benson Hill. Now when the creepy Sterlings suddenly claim the mansion, rumors say they are vampires. And what more can pique Raven's interest than a family of vampires right under her nose? One way or another, Raven knew she has to find out the truth about the Sterlings, she especially likes to know more about the son, the Gothic Prince, Alexander Sterling.

Vampire Kisses is a light but engaging read. I liked Raven so much because she's perky and funny and she never lets anyone boss her around. She has a weird family but don't we all have? Her parents used to be hippies but until now they're still cool. She finds her little brother, Billy—Nerd Boy, annoying but he can be cute and sweet too. I actually love their scenes, when they're fighting and annoying the hell out of each other!

“You didn't go to Oakley Woods with a poster. You didn't dress up like a vampire to impress a poster. And you didn't hide my dad's racket so you could gain the attention of a raging poster!”

Aside from Raven's family, there's also Becky, her shy but very supportive bestfriend, and Trevor, her nemesis who annoys her all the chance he gets. Trevor is obviously crushing on Raven but he denies it by bullying her. I liked that Raven doesn't fear Trevor and she actually provokes him once in a while which just makes things more exciting.

“You want me so bad,” I shouted in his face. “And you can't have me!”

Now, now, let's get to Mr. Gothic Prince. Alexander Sterling is the son of the new family living in the creepy mansion. I remember adoring Alexander back then and now, well, he's still okay. He's nice but awkward in a sexy way! He likes hanging around the cemetery, doesn't go out in the day and loves the dark. Throughout the book we see Raven trying to figure out if Alexander is a vampire and really wishes he is. They eventually hit it off, Alexander inviting Raven to the mansion (not sneaking in, this time) and then decided to somewhat become friends.

“I want a relationship I can finally sink my teeth into.”

The humor and the darkness of this book mix quite well that I can't help but love it more and more. It's only the first book, I think I got through until the fifth back then, but I plan to finish all the books in the series now. And I know there's a bunch of other vampire books out there but if you want a quick, funny and very entertaining vampire romance, you should try this one.

Book: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

 ★★★★/★★★★★

 “So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.” 

Past midnight some time last week I started reading this book and finished around 4 in the morning having mixed feelings and everything. Don't get me wrong, I loved it but I think not as much as An Ember in the Ashes. I guess I was so blown away by AEitA that I set expectations in ATAtN only to find myself a little disappointed. Maybe I was expecting something else but regardless, ATAtN is a very enjoyable book!

 A Torch Against the Night picks up where Am Ember in the Ashes has left off with Elias and Laia running away from Blackcliff after Laia saved Elias from his execution. They agreed on helping each other—Laia will save Elias and in exchange Elias will help Laia break into Kauf prison to save her brother Darin. With the soldiers, Helene—the new Blood Shrike, and the Commandant out to hunt them, Laia and Elias must flee the city of Serra, trusting each other and the new and old friends they meet along the way. 

“There’s hope in life,” he says. “A brave girl once told me that. If something happens to me, don’t fear. You’ll find a way.”

The second book in the series is as action-packed, thrilling and dark as the first. We see Laia and Elias fighting for their lives and using every way they can just to escape the people hunting them down. Worse, Helene, being the new Blood Shrike, has to join the hunt because the new Emperor, Marcus, wants Elias dead. But worst, the Commandant, as merciless as ever, is able to track down Elias and Laia as soon as they thought they're free. And if you find AEitA violent then this book is way way brutal with lots and lots of deaths it's a nightmare!

Tahir did a great job in the world-building as well as with the pacing. This book is very intense that I found myself so engrossed and the slow pacing helps in building the thrill and tension of what will happen next. The plot is well-constructed though at times I found myself wishing it didn't go that way. Lol. It's also told in three different POVs (Laia's, Elias's and Helene's) and I really liked reading from Helene's POV.

“Most people,” Cain says, “are nothing but glimmers in the great darkness of time. But you, Helene Aquilla, are no swift-burning spark. You are a torch against the night—if you dare to let yourself burn.”

We also see a lot of character development in this book. Laia matured a lot in this book by becoming braver and making bolder decisions. And though she's nowhere near Helene's prowess, she comes to discover her own abilities that somehow help her in facing their battles. Her unfailing determination to save Darin is what keeps her going and the thought of seeing her brother again keeps the fire inside her burning. Elias, on the other hand, is still that selfless, loyal and courageous man we met in Ember! But in here, he goes through an agonizing phase which causes him to slip off back and forth to the other-world. And being righteous and all, he honors the promise he made to Laia that even though it might kill him, he's still willing to help her break Darin out of Kauf. Helene is becoming my favorite more and more. My heart broke for her because now that she's the Blood Shrike, she's ordered to hunt down Elias—her best friend, her love. And as if it's not torture enough, Marcus threatens to kill her family if she disobeys him. Torn between her family and Elias, my heart was aching for Helene all throughout.

But I love him. How do I kill the man I love?

Aside from Laia and Elias trying to break into Kauf to save Darin, there are also other things happening inside the book. The Commandant, if anything, becomes more and more evil by suppressing the Scholars after they revolted. She turns into a crazy blood-thirsty evil by killing every Scholar she gets her hands on. She's so cruel and heartless that I can't wait to see how she dies! Grr. Emperor Marcus, on the other hand, wants to strengthen his power by making alliance with Helene's father but of course not without threatening Helene's family first. He needs Helene to be loyal to him because he knew he'll need her to take down the evil bitch. We also get to meet Elias's adoptive family who helps Elias and Laia along the way and there's also Afya Aya-Nur, the woman who gave Elias a favor coin when she thought Elias was going to be the Emperor. Then there's the Soul Catcher, Shaeva, who pulls Elias into her realm. A lot of things are actually happening inside the book and each character is dealing with their own stuff; Laia—practicing her newly discovered ability, worrying about Darin, dealing with her feelings, Elias—trying to stay awake, planning how to break into Kauf, dealing with his guilt because of the Third Trial, and Helene—having a difficult time thinking of ways how to save her family and Elias, trying to prevent a war, dealing with her own feelings. This book is just so beautifully messy and so insane I loved it!

Now let's get to the romance. I hate to admit it but I actually liked Keenan with Laia. I never doubted him because he seems to really care about Laia and he's loyal but, but, but!! I wasn't a big fan of him in Ember but when he reappeared in this book I started to grow fond of him. And you know what I hate more? It's the fact that there was a certain point that I've come to accept him to be Laia's happy ever after considering Elias's condition. How foolish of me! Sorry Elias! Anyway, I'm just happy Keenan is out of the picture now. But Elias, oh, Elias! My heart still aches for him. Actually, my heart was aching for him the entire time just like with Helene because what he's been through is pure torture—knowing that he's slowly slipping away and can't do anything about it. And it doesn't help that he pushes away everyone because he's convinced that anyone who gets close to him dies. He pushes Laia away and doesn't let himself feel anything towards her.

I stare across the fire and into her dark golden eyes, the way I've tried not to for days. When I do, I remember why I haven't looked: the fire in her, the fervent determinations—it speaks to something at my very core, something caged and desperate to be free.

But Laia, being assertive that she is, won't let him blame himself for the death of the people around him. She will show him that it's okay to feel guilty but that he shouldn't let it consume him. And eventually Elias comes to accept that it's okay not to be responsible for everyone. That it's not his responsibility to keep everyone safe.

“Don’t lock yourself away from those who care about you because you think you’ll hurt them or—or they’ll hurt you. What point is there in being human if you don’t let yourself feel anything?”

Another thing that really saddened me is when Elias and Helene meet again and Elias said his goodbye to Helene one last time. (I might've cried on that one) Knowing they used to be best friends—and each other's first love, it was really heartbreaking to see them killing each other. Even in Ember I was hurting for these two because they were best friends but they had to fight each other.  

“I'm going to let go of you,” I say. “If you try to take me down, so be it. But before I do, I want to say something, because we both know I'm not long for this world, and I'd hate myself if I never told you.” Confusion flashes across her face, and I barrel on before she starts asking questions. “I miss you.” I hope she hears what I'm truly saying. I love you. I'm sorry. I wish I could fix it. “I'll always miss you. Even when I'm a ghost.”

Laia and Elias are bound to be together. I was sure of that. With everything they've been through they just deserve to be together. I loved them both since page one of Ember and until the last page of Torch I was rooting for the both of them. All the torture, all the pain, all the soldiers who hunt them down, and all the other forces—human or otherworldly—they've faced be damned just as long as in the end they finish their mission together. And they did.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! With all the twists and turns, you just can't help but finish this book in one sitting. But as much as I wanted to give this book 5 stars, there are a couple of things I have issues with. For one, like I said, a lot of things are happening inside the book all at once. I'm not saying it's a bad thing but for me it just didn't work. Like Elias being pulled into Shaeva's realm and dealing with lost souls while on the other side he's traveling with Laia and then fighting his way into Kauf. I also felt like some of the turns just appeared out of nowhere and though they have backgrounds, I just didn't quite expect them to turn that way. And then what happened to Elias really frustrated me because really? After all that he's just going to be the Soul Catcher? But then there are still book 3 and 4 so let's just see about that. 

“You are my temple,” I murmur as I kneel beside her. “You are my priest. You are my prayer. You are my release.”

I highly recommend this book to everyone so read it, you guys! :)

TV Series: The Last Ship (2014) Season 3

Main Characters:

Eric Dane as Captain Tom Chandler

Adam Baldwin as Captain Mike Slattery 

Bridget Regan as Sasha Cooper

Travis Van Wrinkle as Lt. Danny Green

Marissa Neitling as Kara Green

Christina Elmore as Lt. Alisha Granderson

John Pyper-Ferguson as Tex Nolan

Jocko Sims as Lt. Carlton Burk

Charles Parnell as Master Chief Jeter 

As you all know, The Last Ship is one of my favorite series ever. The first season wowed me and the second just made me love it even more! But this season, well, I was mad when they killed off Rachel's character. Ugh! I mean, why would they do that? Rachel was like the center of it all but they killed her. I was so so so frustrated by the end of the second season and I was hoping they would revive Rachel's character but they didn't! But, now I get why they had to do it and actually it made the show better. (I can't believe I just said that!)

[Warning: This review contains some spoilers!]

After discovering the cure in the first season and fighting their way to distribute it in the second, the third season focuses on further healing the sick world. Tom Chandler is now the Chief of Naval Operations appointed by President Michener. Mike Slattery becomes the new Captain of Nathan James and the other crews stay aboard except Kara Foster, now Kara Green, who takes a job in St. Louis as Deputy Chief of Staff. She and Danny also have a son now, Frankie. We also have new characters like Sasha Cooper, a former Navy Intelligence Officer now operating under diplomatic cover in China for the newly reformed U.S. government and Takehaya, a former Japanese Navy officer and legendary pirate captain in post-plague Asia, who is affected by Peng's poison that neutralizes the effect of the cure. Peng is the new leader of China, the now enemy of Tom and his crew because he wants to gain control of all Asia. We also have Allison Shaw, the Chief of Staff of President Michener, and the other regional leaders who later plot the death of Michener because they want to gain control of the federal government.

This season was really action packed and the turn of events were unpredictable. Tom went back aboard Nathan James after someone tried to kill him in China and right that moment Mike and some of his crew were ambushed in some thank you party in Indonesia. It happened simultaneously so by the time Tom was back in Nathan James, Mike and the others were held hostage by some pirates. Later we found out that these pirates were led by Takehaya.

But all throughout the season we also lost some good characters, starting with Val who I grew to love in the first episode. Then there was Mason when Mike and the others were held hostage by Takehaya. By the end of the season we also lost Tex, oh my god Tex! I was happy when I found out he was back and seeing him in action again was exciting. But, but, but! In the end he was killed, trying to save Tom from Shaw. Huhu :"(

This season may not be my favorite but it surely was thrilling and action packed! I loved the new characters and the story kept on getting better. And as if finding the cure and distributing it to the world weren't enough, Tom and his crew must also save Asia and now America from the hands of greedy leaders.

I really thought Allison Shaw could be trusted, that she shared the same vision as President Michener but no, she was a one big fat liar and a scary beach! At first my sister and I thought that Alex Rivera was the traitor but it turned out that Shaw was the bad guy. Grr. And because of her Tex died!!!!

Anyway, it'll be a long wait until the fourth season (2017) and I can't wait to find out what happens next! Tom can't leave Nathan James for good because he just can't! First they killed Rachel and then Tex and now Tom is leaving. But I know they have something else up on their sleeves for the next season. 

KDrama: W - Two Worlds 2016

Main Characters: 

Lee Jong suk as Kang Chul

Han Hyo joo as Oh Yeon joo

Jung Yoo jin as Yoon So hee  

Lee Tae hwan as Seo Do yoon

Kim Eiu sung as Oh Sung moo

 I know I've told you this a million times before but Lee Jong suk is the love of my life. I've loved him since I first watched School 2013 and now I just can't stop liking him more and more. And imagine my surprise when I found out that he was shooting a drama with Han Hyo joo who I also love. They make a perfect couple and how I wish we see more of them! 

W - Two Worlds revolves around Oh Yeon joo, a second year resident doctor at Myung Sei Hospital and daughter of Oh Sung moo, the famous artist who created the webtoon series W, and Kang Chul a gold medalist in Shooting and the lead character of the webtoon series W. Chul's family was murdered 10 years ago and now he's working to capture the killer. Yeon joo and Chul's lives get tangled together when Yeon joo is pulled inside the webtoon while looking for her father who mysteriously disappeared after drawing the last episode of W.

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Inside her father's office, while Yeon joo is looking for a clue on where her father might disappear to, she sees how Sung moo is planning on ending W and feels sad about it because she and everyone else wants the lead character, Kang Chul to have a happy ending but instead, Sung moo is killing Kang Chul in the last episode. Then, while she's busy looking around, a bloody hand just suddenly reached out and dragged her inside her father's monitor. Next thing she knew, she's saving a dying man on some hotel's rooftop.

 At first, Yeon joo didn't know the man she just saved but when a man told another that the dying man is actually their president, Kang Chul, Yeon joo starts to get confused. Then she locked eyes with Kang Chul and before she can think of anything else, a "To be continued..." sign appears and she is back inside her father's office. To her surprise, everything that happened in the rooftop is now drawn in the new episode of W and what's crazier is that a new character named Yeon joo is also added in the series. And only she knows that what happened in the webtoon actually happened and the new character is actually her.

Inside the webtoon, Chul is still recovering in the hospital and he starts to ask questions about Yeon joo but since she doesn't live in the webtoon, they can't find anything about her. His secretary and friend, So hee, tells her that the police thinks Yeon joo is the main suspect since she just suddenly disappeared in the rooftop before they can get her statement. His personal bodyguard, Do yoon, also becomes curious as to why he's so eager on finding Yeon joo but all he tells them is that she's the key to his life.

 In the real world, Sung moo is back and Yeon joo tries to ask him what happened to him and why he suddenly changed his plan of ending W. Sung moo tells her that his plan hasn't changed that this time he's actually ending it because he's so sick of it. Yeon joo also senses something different in her father but doesn't say anything about it. After she leaves, Sung moo goes back to his work, asking Su bong, his assistant, to research about a poison that's easily found in a hospital. Back in Chul's world, he's fast asleep in the hospital when a nurse enters his room. The nurse is about to inject something in his IV when Yeon joo suddenly shows up. It turns out that Sung moo plans on killing Chul again by poisoning him. When Yeon joo explains that the nurse is trying to poison him , the nurse runs away making Chul's men chase after her. Naturally, Chul wonders how Yeon joo knew about it but she smoothly lies by telling him she was passing by when she saw the suspicious nurse. Then she tries to sneak away but Chul grabs onto her, saying "Oh Yeon joo-sshi, we finally meet." when he sees her name on her lab gown. Chul also has a lot of questions to her but Yeon joo tells him she'll answer them next time. So Chul lets her go but made her promise to answer his questions the next time they meet. He then gets her number and sends her on her way. 

Fast forward to when Chul finally gets out of the hospital, that's two months later but to Yeon joo, who is still inside the webtoon, it was only half an hour or so. And as agreed, Chul contacts her and demands they meet. Chul finds her outside the hospital where she sat just a while ago and wearing the same exact clothes two months ago. (That's really confusing, right? Haha. It's because the time inside the webtoon is much slower than the time in the read world.) Noticing that she's wearing the same clothes, Chul buys her new clothes and while they're at it, Yeon joo thinks of a way how to get back to the real world. She realizes that in webtoons, the hero should experience something significant or shocking for an episode to end. So she marches straight into Chul and slaps him, hard, thinking it should surprise Chul enough. But no, it didn't. Instead, it makes Chul voice out his thought that it's what he gets after buying her expensive clothes. Seeing that it didn't work out, Yeon joo tries the next thing than comes to mind. She kisses him and of course, it works.

Back to the real world, Yeon joo is gone for only half an hour and she's not so thrilled to see that what happened between her and Chul is drawn in the new episode of W again. And this time, she's sure that Chul is real and that his world is real too. She then calls her father to tell him about it, saying he must not kill Kang Chul because it's not right. But Sung moo is enraged to see what just happened inside the webtoon and firmly tells her that he's really ending W this time. Sung moo already disbanded his team and goes to a motel to work on the last episode on his own. 

Chul, now more curious where Yeon joo has disappeared to, is driving away from the clothing store when a truck drives directly towards him. He notices that the windows and license plate are all blacked out and seconds before the impact, everything around him freezes expect him. Sung moo, who is drawing everything in the real world seems satisfied with it but to his surprise, his drawing just suddenly begin to erase itself. He tries to draw again but nothing happens. Back to Kang Chul, everything is still frozen and realizing what's happening now, he swerves hard, avoiding the truck and phew he's saved. He then gets out of his car, looks up the sky and asks, "Who the hell are you?" surprising his creator, Sung moo.

The story continues as Yeon joo keeps on getting dragged back inside the webtoon, much longer this time, and soon things start to change. Kang Chul also desperately wants to find out where Yeon joo came from so he keeps her close to him. And eventually they start to get closer than intended, falling for each other. 

 *I really liked this scene because this is when Chul is away and he calls Yeon joo to check on her and Yeon joo realizes that by then even Chul's voice could make her heart flutter. Before hanging up Chul tells Yeon joo that she can go home whenever she feels like telling him the truth and attempting one more time, she tries surprising him again, thinking it would cause a change in emotion, and tells him, "I love you!" but of course, it doesn't work. Lol. What's more charming is that when they hang up, Yeon joo feels mortified but Chul is smiling, saying "If I hear it one more time, I might be shaken,"*

At some point, Yeon joo has no choice but to tell Kang Chul about where she really came from. Chul tells her it's okay, that he'll understand whatever she's trying to say so she tells him the truth and as expected, it shocked him to find out that he's just a character from some webtoon. Then next thing we see, Chul is coming out of the webtoon to the real world via screen monitor. 

 *The truth shocks Chul quite a lot so it makes the To be continued... sign appear, making Yeon joo disappear.

Once he's out in the real world, he finally understands what Yeon joo was telling him when he sees his face being advertise everywhere. He sees the posters of the famous W and wanting to confirm it, he buys a copy and read it himself.

 

 Everything changes again when Chul finally found out the truth about his world, that everyone is just made up and nothing is real. But of course for him it's very real and everything and everyone is important to him. It angers him so then he decided to confront his creator, Sung moo, and find out why Sung moo created him in the first place if he's just going to make his life miserable.They have quite a talk and Chul ends up shooting Sung moo.

After recovering from Chul's shot, Sung moo finally decided to end the webtoon the way it's supposed to, by letting Chul capture the man who killed his family. Chul also thinks of a way how to continue his life inside the webtoon without compromising his relationship with Yeon joo. He then comes up with a plan with the help of Sung moo and Yeon joo but at some point other variables keep on changing and just when they think it'll be okay then, they get themselves new villains.

People from the two worlds soon become aware of how real both worlds are and the villains from the webtoon eventually find out about Sung moo's tablet, which is the portal between the two worlds. Chul and Yeon joo also struggle with their relationship and it doesn't help that some turn of events leave them no choice but to do things they don't really want to do. It's heartbreaking at some point and this is why I love this drama!

* * * * *

I REALLY love this series because it's refreshing and very unpredictable! The casts are amazing and the story just keeps on getting better the more you watch. You can say I'm a little biased here but you can't deny the fact that Lee Jong suk and Han Hyo joo are great actors!

I want to tell you everything about this drama but it's better if you just watch it yourself! I promise you'll love it because there's really no reason not to! It's a great drama with a touch of suspense, fantasy and romance, oh my god the romance! It 's funny and heartbreaking and trilling and just beautiful!

♥