Precious Stone Trilogy(Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green) Review

Title: Precious Stone Trilogy (Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, Emerald Green) by Kerstin Gier

Synopsis: Gwen is born into a family of time-travelers. Gwen’s cousin, Charlotte, is expected to experience her first time travel as she is approaching her 17th birthday so Gwen is horrified when she finds that she has traveled to the past.

Thoughts:

My friend had been telling me about this trilogy ever since she finished it one or two years ago. It took me quite a while to read it though because I didn’t have a Kindle then and had to buy books and back then it wasn’t readily available in book stores~you had to order in. I have to say that this book let me down big time considering that everyone around me seem to all be hyped up about it. Now that isn’t to say that this book was bad-the plot was mind-blowing-but I really expected much more when I first started reading it.

Before I point out all the flaws of this book, I’d like to say that the plot of this story is utterly intriguing. Honestly, the only reason I can finish this trilogy within a week is because I just couldn’t put down my book (my kindle actually~). The story is quite short compared to other trilogies that I’ve read but it doesn’t make it any less engaging. In fact, because of its length the story is very fast-paced and plot-focused. I also like the fact that the story is finished without any loose ends- everything ties in a perfect circle and you can make sense of the mysteries in the end.

Although the plot was original and above average, it can’t cover many of its shortcomings. The first and the one that irritated me the most was the protagonist, Gwen. I really liked her character at the start of the book because she was such a fun and bubbly character but then I really find her to be over-dramatic by the second half of the first book, mind you it’s only the first! She is immature for her age and she acts as if the whole world is falling apart just because the is some ‘relationship struggle’ with the boy that she met 2-3 days ago. I know Gideon is drop dead gorgeously hot but postponing a mission that involves life and death and especially your own just because of that is not on. I can just say that Lesley might as well be the protagonist…..her character was much much more likable although she talks like a middle school girl.

Now I really hate to criticize the writing style in a book normally because my English is not even that good and I don’t think I’m good enough to judge but the writing style in this book is just absolute bore. It is not descriptive and that is a wonderful opportunity missed of describing all the exquisite buildings or places when they travel to the pat. It is hard to tell whether it is the actual writing or the translation that has gone wrong……I really hope it’s the latter…..

Despite all that, I’d still give this trilogy a solid 7 out of 10……it just shows how impressed I was with the plot. It was a trilogy that I thoroughly enjoyed and finished in a week so I think it’s a read worth reading. I would recommend this trilogy to teens and under only because adults wouldn’t be able to tolerate Gwen’s character definitely.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it^^ I’ve been really neglecting my blog because I literally have no time with school and work last year. I’m so glad that I don’t have work this year so hopefully this year I’d be able to write more on my blog 😀

My Top 10 K-dramas of 2015!!!<3<3<3

Finally! It took me a while to make up this list because even though I didn’t watch as much as last year or the year before, all of the dramas I’ve seen in 2015 are above standards! Anyway, without further ado, here’s my Top 10 K-dramas in 2015.

Top 1 – Kill Me, Heal Me

Words cannot describe how perfect this drama is! The cast, the plot, the chemistry, the O.S.T……..literally everything from this drama is well thought out. The writer knows what she is doing-she has an idea, she develops it at the perfect pace and she delivers it boldly even though it contains issues that South Koreans wouldn’t be comfortably dealing with. It is also delivered with humor and in a light-hearted way which I love. The characters are quirky and lovable and there isn’t really a villain in this drama which I love!!! This drama is truly a masterpiece and it’s not just me that thinks this, this drama received ‘Drama of the Year’ award at the MBC Drama Awards! This drama is definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already!

Top 2 – Oh My Ghost

This drama first caught my attention with its ghost-themed romance but there are certainly other things that is worth noting. The acting is superb and the main leads are just natural at portraying the characters. For this reason the chemistry between the main leads are no joke. There’s improvised kisses and lines that makes you wonder if the couple is actually dating in real life. This drama is highly recommended to those that are into romance and comedy. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s not as scary as you think it’d be!

Top 3 – Healer

There’s no way one can mention dramas of 2015 without thinking of Healer. Healer is bad-ass and packed with actions, screaming ‘come at me!’ I must say that the title is quite misleading as I was thinking that it would be more of a medical drama than a kick-ass action one. This drama is all about the truth and justice, with a news broadcast station and newspaper company as the main setting. It occurred to me after I watched the drama that the media can be really manipulative when it comes to reporting a story. This is what’s special about the drama and I’d say this is my favorite action drama of the year. Ji Chang Wook officially became one of my favorite male leads and it’s interesting to see his transformation since he’s the baby emperor in Empress Ki.

Top 4 – She was Pretty

If you love Kill Me, Heal Me and you are suffering from Second Lead Syndrome, this drama is a treat for you as Park Seo Joon and Hwang Jung-eum are our main couple here. As usual, the acting is amazing and comedic. This is a very fun and bubbly watch which is the main reason why I chose this as my Top 4. The drama involves cute childhood encounters, mistaken identity and many more drama cliches, however, there is something in the way that this drama is done that it makes people want more of it! I would say all the drama-addicts on the comedy side should watch this and be ready for uncontrollable laughing fits!

Top 5 – Heart To Heart

Isn’t this the cutest drama?! I just love love love this drama so much. At first it is quite sad because of the mental disorder that Cha Hong Do has but it is so heartwarming to see her journey of overcoming the fear of meeting people. This drama is a emotional roller-coaster ride which has its highs and lows, twists and turns and it’s the type of ride that even when it’s finished you can’t help but scream for more. I just feel for the main character so much because meeting people is actually hard. It takes so much courage and confidence to go out and talk to people and when the character does it I feel like a proud mother.

Top 6 – Falling for Innocence

Another rom-com on the list, this one has a special place in my heart. It actually reminded me of a Hong Kong drama that I watched with the whole concept of the ex-boyfriend donating the heart to the love interest. This one is in my top 6 because the whole story is finely laid out and there is no ridiculous fillers or anything. There is depth to the characters but it is not overly complicated which is great because sometimes it’s hard to find a balance between making a shallow character and a character that just messed up. It is also brilliant in terms of the chemistry of the characters.  This is a must watch as a rom-com in 2015!

Top 7 – D-Day

D-Day is the first disaster drama that I’ve heard of so it piqued my interest. To my surprise, even though the drama is not from one of the main broadcast stations, the quality of the drama is comparable to the main networks or even better than some of them! The CG is realistic and you can see from the crumbling buildings that the budget is high.  I also love the original idea of an earthquake hitting Seoul and it’s fascinating to see how Korea handles national emergency situations. This drama is undoubtedly impressive and I think this drama is suitable for both teenagers and the older generation.

Top 8 – School 2015

This drama is full of mysteries and it gets me at the edge of my seat every episode as we get nearer and nearer to the truth of a scandalous high school secret. It might not sound as serious because it is involved with a school setting but watch this and it will prove you wrong. It’s jaw-dropping to see the dark side of high school in South Korea and the intense atmosphere is what I love about this drama. The characters all seem to be hiding something but I suppose when you are a teenager, you always try to be someone you’re not. This should be the first school drama to check out if you haven’t already!

Top 9 – I Remember You

Crime dramas are always some of the most interesting dramas because there is a lot going on and you are engaged if the murderer is not revealed and you try to guess who it is. This crime drama is fast paced and engaging which I love about dramas. The characters are all very original and there is an interesting aspect of it in that some are ‘born with a criminal mind’. It’s intriguing to see because most people believe that the environment in which a person grows is the main element of affecting a person’s behaviour. This drama messes your mind with a serial killer that is capable of turning a young boy into one as well!

Top 10 – Yong Pal

Another medical drama! I love that this drama has everything I look for in terms of genre of a drama-Yong Pal is an action, crime, romance and medical drama. Who wouldn’t want a Yong Pal in their life? Joo Wan never fails to amaze me with his acting and his choice of work because I literally love every single one of them! Everything about this drama is outstanding except the pace and this is why it is the last on my list. Other than that, there is really very little things to complain about this drama. Some say the chemistry was meh but I think it’s because they are comparing it to other dramas that are out this year. In my opinion it’s convincing and that’s enough for me.

So here it is! This year I was only able to watch around 25 hours because I watch more Taiwanese dramas and Hong Kong dramas. I’m satisfied with this year’s dramas but I hope next year would have more hits. I am going to watch more dramas from 2015 so if you think I should watch a drama you recommend just leave a comment below! Thank you for watching and I’ll see you soon^^

 

 

Kdrama Review: Cheer Up / Sassy Go Go~

Title: Cheer Up/Sassy Go Go 

Cast:

• Jung Eun Ji as Kang Yeon-Doo
• Lee Won Geun as Kim Yeol
• Chae Soo Bin as Kwon Soo-A
• Cha Hak Yeon as Ha Dong Jae
• Ji Soo as Seo Ha-Joon
• Kim Min Ho as Min Hyo-Sik
• Kang Min Ah as Park Da-Mi
• Son Bum Joon as Cha Seung-Woo
• Ooon as Joon-Soo
• Park Yoo Na as Kim Kyung-Eun
• Shin Jae Ha as Choi Tae-Pyung
• Kang Gureum as Kim Na Yeon
• Jung Hae Na as Han Jae-Young
• Kim Ji Suk as Yang Tae-Bum

Synopsis:

Kang Yeon Do is at the bottom of her school academic wise. She puts everything in ‘Real King’, the dance club that she is in. When ‘ Real King ‘ was abolished and the only way to get it back is to join the Cheer-leading team ‘Baek Ho’, she decides to cheer lead with the people she hates most, the top 5% of the school.

Review:

Ever since School 2013, I’ve been really into high school dramas and this does not disappoint at all! Even though this drama is a little shorter than your typical 16 episode drama, it does not stop it from showing its potentials. For starters, I would like to say that 12 episode should be the ideal length for dramas since it’s long enough for the plot to develop and short enough to avoid fillers. You have no idea how happy I was to find a drama that doesn’t have filler episodes that drag the pace of the drama.

It’s amazing how one year can change a person. Thinking about how Soo Ah was in the middle and then the end. I think it’s an excuse if people say they can’t change just because they’ve always been like the way they are. In this way, this drama is an inspiring one. It also tells us to live in the moment and I think it’s dead right. I really love the whole concept of the drama-the way it is about friendship, school and life.

I actually couldn’t believe that they all forgave Soo Ah in the end. I was honestly still annoyed at her cowardliness when she decided she wanted to end her life. I guess it takes hearts of gold to do this and the students at Sevit are full of them^^ Now that’s a true happy ending!

All the characters in Cheer Up! is lovable (maybe except Soo Ah) butKang Yeon Do is my favourite. She values friends and truth and even though she can get hurt, she does not hesitate to fight for what is right. I think even if she doesn’t do great academically, she will do great things in life. The students in ‘Real King’ are like Yeon Do in that friendship is important to them and I love how they teach the ‘Baek Ho’ kids that.

School dramas in kdramaland are often depressing since we all know that competition within the school is intense and therefore it is hard to male friends. This drama shows this aspect of the korean school system but kudos to the writers for using friendship as a symbol of hope for those students in their hard times. I think it’s quite sad as well since I thought the reason the writers wrote this kind of story is because that’s what missing in their school lives.

The romance is this drama is no joke. You’d think that the romance wouldn’t be as strong since ‘they are just teens’ but clearly it is not the case. Of course there are hints of innocence and purity in the relationship between Yeon Do and Kim Yeol but you can tell that they are serious about each other (heck they even imagine what it would be like to live together!). I think their relationship is going to last a long time which is a good thing because I find with romance in teen dramas, it is hard to imagine them being together forever since the romance reminds me of poppy love and first love more than anything else.

If I have to rate this, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 for a drama in general and 4 out of 5 for a school drama. I really learned through this drama and it is such a fun and delightful little treat for Christmas. I don’t think anyone would complain about the pace but I think we would definitely have seriously second lead syndrome. Ha Joon and Yeon Do is actually more like the poppy love/ first love idea that I was talking about. They are so sweet together but I’d say I would still prefer Kim Yeol. Some people were arguing between banana milk (Kim Yeol) or strawberry milk (Dong Jae) but I was confused because Dong Jae was clearly not a love interest……may it’s just me….lol

Side Note: What the hell, Korea? I’m discovering more and more cool things about you. You sell gummy bears in that enormous packet? Why isn’t this in Ireland??? I’m really craving gummy bears now T^T

Thank you for reading and comment below what you think of the drama! I’m so glad I finished this drama since I love Eun Ji and I wasn’t able to watch that during my exam period. Thanks again and I’ll see you guys soon^^

First Impression: Heart To Heart<3 (Episode 1+2)

Title: Heart To Heart

First Impression:

I really like how the episode is played- it first shows a snippet of the end of episode and then it goes back to the source of its story. In a way that’s like a preview that’s used to tempt the viewers to stay and watch the whole story. It sure worked with me, especially the second episode. The first two episodes are fast-paced and packed with events which I think is way I’m liking it so much. It also does a stunning job at making contrasts in the episode. For example, Ko Yi seok is seen as a caring and understanding doctor who treats his patients professionally at the start of the episode when he convinced the suicidal women off a building. But then we see that he is not what he appears to be when he actual treats his patients in the clinic, not paying attention to what they say and even drinking on the job. This aspect of the drama really draws me in as I wonder why there is such a contrast in the character.

Speaking of characters, I’m definitely loving Cha Hong Do. You can already tell that she is a genuine person with a lot of knowledge since she stays at home and read a lot. Her psychological illness is actually way more serious than I thought, even to the extent that she is hiding from her crush for 7 years. This is really sad and it makes me angry that Doo Soo didn’t even attempt to meet with her for 7 years until now. I mean he’s been getting free food for 7 years?! Where are his manners? Having said that, he is a sweet guy in the way that he isn’t really pushy when it comes to Hong Do. He gives her the space that she needs but I think this is one of the reason why it would be hard for them to be together. Yi seok on the other hand forces Hong Do to speak out and take off her helmet, making her uncomfortable but that’s really helps her since she can’t live her whole life like that.

I think it would be fun learn about more of the main characters’ family and background since they are all quite eccentric. I’m  really curious as to why they are like that. We already know a lot about Yi Seok’s family (that’s a surprise for dramaland) and I can kinda understand why Yi Seok is so twisted. I can still sympathize with him though since I can see that he’s not really a bad person at heart when he cares for his mother. I think Hong Do is his medicine, like he said. But I think it would be more than just healing him. When Dr Uhm asked Yi seok if he intends to become a real doctor-one that can cry alongside his patients when they cry, I thought Hong Do would be the key to that.

The relationships in the drama is already complicated and I’m feeling a love square here >~< For now I’m shipping Hong Do with Doo Soo but we all know that they are not going to end up together T^T Even though I sympathize with Yi Seok, he is not a likable character so far. I sincerely hope he can be less of an ass the next few episodes before I develop serious Second Lead Syndrome…….

 

I’m going to continue watching this drama since there are so many things I want to know! One thing for sure is how Yi Seok will treat Hong Do’s anthrophobia. I mean even her crush can’t help her…..I have a feeling this drama is going to be one of my Top 10 dramas of 2015. Hopefully it will~ gotta finish this drama soon so that I can post my top 10 post the first week of January!

Thank you guys for reading and I hope you enjoy the post. Christmas was amazing for me and I hope you had a great one too^^ I’ll see you guys soon:D

Anime Review: Btooom!

 

Title: Btooom!

Synopsis: Ryota Sakamoto is a NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) who plays video games all day. He is considered a failure in real life but in the game ‘Btooom!’, he is one of the top 10 players in the world and the best player in Japan. One day, he wakes up with his memory lost and with him stranded on an island to play a real life version of Btooom.

Review:

Plot: When I first read the plot, it kinda reminds me of the anime version of hunger games but with bombs. It seemed interesting to me and after Sword Art Online, I was looking into more animes with video game plots. It was the right decision to give it a try! Though I was expecting an action anime, I didn’t realize how intense and gory this would be. Since it is a survival game and it’s a matter of you die or I die, this anime is full of suspense and constant tension. The anime does an amazing job at bringing out the atmosphere by bringing constant questions. Is he going to kill to survive? Will working together really work? Is Sakamoto really leaving the man behind? These questions gets us wondering who will betray who next and you can really trust anyone in that situation. I give the plot 4 out of 5.

Characters: The main characters are all admirable in their own way in this anime.I love the way Ryota thinks, people might think he is naive and that that’s his weakness but in my opinion, this is one of the reasons why he is still alive. His character developed the most in this anime. We see this near the end of the anime when he is being considerate of Himiko and not force her to do what he wants to do.

I just love love love the way at the beginning how each episode tells the background story of the upcoming characters. It is such a simple yet engaging way of telling us about the character and it’s hard to miss the back story since it is not told in bits and pieces. My favourites include Himiko and the psycho murderer kid.

I would give the characters 4 out of 5 for their development and like-ability. I’m really impressed with the depth of the characters since it is a 12 episode anime and that normally doesn’t give room for character growth.

Romance: The romance between Himiko and Sakamoto is very sweet and delicate. Since Himiko’s past experience with men has traumatized her and she is not trusting any men. It is rather delightful to see her slowly open up to Sakamoto and begin to overcome her trauma. The fact that these two are married in the video game makes this couple even more special in my heart!

Music: The music in this anime is definitely above average with its catchy opening and heartfelt ending. I love the lyrics of the opening. The whole idea of challenging your fate and not admitting defeat really reflects the whole concept of the anime and I think this is one of the reason why anime music is so outstanding.

Conclusion: I would give this anime a strong 4.5 out of 5. I just can’t get enough of it! I’m going to read the manga to see what happens next because the ending is clearly open. I would recommend this anime to any action anime fans because there’s no doubt that it’s full of action. People who love Sword Art Online should totally check this out as well because that’s how I came across this anime.

Thank you guys for sticking around and I hope you like my post today^^ I  have so many reviews that I have to do but I just don’t know which one to do first! This is one of them so clearly that’s how much I love it 😀 Comment below if you have seen the anime and tell me what you think! 🙂