Featured

#TBTT : FALL IN QUÉBEC – Goblin Filming Location

Québec City is dubbed as the home of the Goblin. Goblin is a 2016 hit korean drama that was filmed in Québec City. Let me share with you my tour at the drama’s filming locations in Québec and fangirling moments.

COVID-19 really cancelled most of our life’s plan. Luckily, there are memories of our travels we can always look back to thanks to the photos taken during the trip! Today’s episode of ThrowBack Thursday Travels, we are going to talk about an exciting trip to Québec City! From its astonishing architecture, rich history, and delish cuisines, Québec has earned a special place in my heart. Je me souviens!

Quebec city, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1985, and it is the only fortified castle town in North America.

I had the chance to visit Québec for the first time in 2017 when I toured around Canada while applying for Universities. When I first moved to Canada in 2018, I have dreamt of going back and visiting Québec. One of the reasons is, I fell in love with its beautiful architecture and great history behind the province. But above all, it’s also the home of the Goblin (nope, not an actual Goblin, but a fantasy handsome fictional goblin).

source: lesoleil

In 2016, a famous Korean drama called Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (a.k.a. GOBLIN) was released and it broke the records. Some of the scenes in the drama were shot in Québec City which helped draw more Asian tourists in the City. And I guess being a big Korean drama fan, I didn’t want to miss this chance. Visiting its filming location made me relive all the “feels” I have for the drama.

Let’s explore Québec City, the home of the Lonely and Great God!


Continue reading “#TBTT : FALL IN QUÉBEC – Goblin Filming Location”
Advertisement

TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU THINK WITH THE ACRONYM “F-O-R-G-O”

Have you ever got stuck in a situation in which you know what to do, you know what you want to do, but you can’t seem to do it?

Think about the life decisions that you have to forgo because you hesitated or you were afraid, or maybe let’s admit it, you were waiting ’til that push or motivation kicks in?

A motivational speaker Mel Robbins once said “Motivation is garbage, you’ll never going to feel like it.”

We are engrossed with the idea that we have to always be motivated in order for us to do something. There has to be a sign, a chug, or a boost for us to start doing. But the truth is, the more we think about being motivated, or wanting to be motivated, the less motivated we become. We believe in this falsehood that at some point in our life, we are going to have a courage to be motivated. So WE WAIT, WE IDLE, and WE HESITATE because we are so busy waiting for the right time. The truth is, you’ll never going to get anywhere until you start your first step.

This is why I came with the idea of putting meaning in the word F-O-R-G-O by creating an acronym with tips in it. By definition, forgo means letting go of enjoyment, or to go without something. My definition of forgo is to refrain, resist, and renounce the things that hold you back and just start doing something. Whether you’re on your start up, you want to join a company, you want to launch an idea, or maybe even joining America’s Next Top Model, I hope that these tips will somehow help you.

PHOTO SOURCE: quotefancy.com
Continue reading “TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU THINK WITH THE ACRONYM “F-O-R-G-O””

Mahfuz Chowdhury (Project Reinvention) – Importance of Branding

Photo Source: Sheridan PSB

I had this great opportunity to have a phone interview with the Brand Manager of Canada’s CandyBox Marketing, Mahfuz Chowdhury. We talked a lot about the importance of branding and how important it is to build your personal brand now even no one’s paying you to do it. It will be significant in your personal growth and it can also help you have a portfolio item when you want to jumpstart a career.

He’s the author of the bestselling book Project Reinvention: The Social Timeline of a Millennial. A self-motivated marketer who also spends some of his time doing this podcast Ride with Me which talks a lot about personal branding and motivation.

He graduated from Sheridan College 2 years ago, and I first met him at a Digital Marketing Conference held at Sheridan College.

He’s the man who stepped out his comfort zone and didn’t let his difficult circumstance in life define what’s his life’s going to be. May his story and advice inspire the one reading this to start building their personal brand NOW.

Photo Source: Sheridan Pilon School of Business, 2019

I tried to transcribe my Q & A phone interview with him in the best way I can so I hope you guys enjoy it.

GIF Source: GIPHY
Continue reading “Mahfuz Chowdhury (Project Reinvention) – Importance of Branding”

BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSION: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

NAKED TRUTH: This book is very sad, haunting, painful, eye-opener and exceptionally honest. I could easily spoil everything away but I won’t. If you look for lots of reviews, it won’t be hard to find out what It Ends with Us is all about. But don’t judge a book based on its plot synopsis. This book is different than the rest of Colleen Hoover’s book. It’s better to know as little as possible before you read this book, which is why on this spoiler free review, I wouldn’t be talking about the events,  I’ll just tell you guys the naked truth on what I truly felt upon reading this.

it end wth us quote.png

it ends with us.jpg

TITLE: It Ends With Us
AUTHOR:  Colleen Hoover
GENRE: New Adult, Romance
FORMAT: eBOOK
PUBLISHER: Atria Books
PUBLICATION DATEAugust 2, 2016
DATE READ: August 3, 2020

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY ON AMAZON

5

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

anchor divider

non spoilery review

POIGNANT. EMPOWERING. EYE-OPENING. ie.png

“Cycle exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes, it’s easier to just keep running in the same circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet. “

Naked Truth: I think I have used the word beautiful a couple of times without really knowing whether I think something is beautiful. But I’ll be straight forward now; this story is absolutely beautiful and unforgettable. It’s haunting in a way that it would probably stick with me for a long time. It made me think deeply and assess my emotions and perception about things. This book almost killed me, but it also healed me somehow. After reading this book, I felt like I wasn’t anchored in the water anymore. I felt like I’ve reached the shore.

I made this review thinking that it’s better not to say anything about the story. I could only say that you guys should read it for yourself. This book contains raw truths in it, and there were times in which I had to stop and breathe and reflect. It was heartbreaking in a way that I just want it to stop because I don’t know if my heart could endure it anymore. But at the same time, it has a beautiful message that I wish everyone could read it. This has been one of the most real stories I have ever read and one of the stories that left a huge impact.

It Ends with Us transcends us to a whole new level of what is imperfectly perfect. It tackled important issues in life and how we make decisions out of that situation. People sometimes make bad choices thinking it’s for the best. And it’s easy for us to judge when we’re standing outside a situation. Like Colleen and the rest of us, I’m also one of those people who spend our lives thinking if we were in that certain situation, we could have handled it better. We could have easily walked away from things that hurt us. But in the minds of the people experiencing it, they have reasons for not leaving. Everything is different. We are just on-lookers, so who are we to judge.

“That’s what fifteen minutes can do to a person. It can destroy them.
It can save them.”

Another thing I love about this story is how mature the characters were. There were times in which you’ll truly get annoyed when the characters made bad choices but, in this book, you will empathize with them; you will see things the way they see them and understood why they have to do it. The progression of the story is well written, and for a certain time, I felt like I was inside it. I realized that sometimes, we do not need a knight and shining armor. Sometimes, our hero lies within us.

As much as I wanted to say more things, I will end my review here, and I will head on to the spoiler-filled review section down below. If you have read this book, feel free to scroll down so we can discuss it.

 

WHAT ‘S YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE COLLEEN HOOVER BOOK?


SPOILER ALERT!.png


Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSION: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover”

Alex Owumi (The Fire Raven Trilogy) – Blog Tour

IMG_5955.JPG

Hi bookish peeps! This is my new segment here in my blog after a long hiatus. I’m back again with an exclusive and fun Q & A with the bestselling author of The Fire Raven Trilogy, Alex Owumi . 

Last November 15, 2017, he had recently released the final book of his trilogy titled: THE FIRE RAVEN: THE WINTER VENDETTA

024-6x9-box-set-with-Ereader-psd-template-mockup-COVERVAULT[2]

Watch the book trailer here: THE FIRE RAVEN BOOK TRAILER

Mr. Owumi’s insights were profound and interesting and you’ll surely find yourself wanting to read his works more.

At the end of this interview, you’ll see links where you could watch the book’s trailer and where you could purchase the book. Without further ado, let’s start!

THE FIRE RAVEN FAN ART
[ Edited by my sister Louissha Murel ]

Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored. This blog tour was organized by the author himself. My post mainly focuses on helping the author promote his new book and also to help introduce to the bookish world amazing independent authors like him. ]

Continue reading “Alex Owumi (The Fire Raven Trilogy) – Blog Tour”

WHERE DO I REALLY BELONG IN THIS WORLD?

A famous author once said, “There’s a difference between living and just surviving. Do something you love, and find someone to love who loves that you love what you do.
It is really that simple. And that hard.

When I was a kid, I thought I was invincible. I thought I could do all I could ever dreamed of doing because the young soul in me thought that, everything is possible, there is no such thing as I can’t.

tumblr_nqzwylTHFq1spq12ao1_500

I had it all planned out, I will become a doctor and I would be able to treat diseases and help the sick.  Few years later, my dream shifted, being a doctor was too big for me, so I’ll just be a nurse instead. But that also didn’t last, I have found a new calling. It was 4th grade when my love for literature and writing grew.  I’ve joined numerous speech contests, poetry recitals, even journalism wherein I was in charged to write featured articles for the school newspaper. It was a wonderful feeling that had lasted ’til high school. I would spend my days writing journals, short stories, and writing reflection papers about a certain topic made me excited. I even joined a public speaking contest.

But as the end of my high school year grew near, we had faced the moment of truth where we would pick a college degree. There is no such thing on the list of choices, or the choices  that have been given to me where I could write poetry, and explore the depths of literature. They said, it just wasn’t the type of career that will land you a good job in the future. But what is future, why do we always judge the unknown place, have not yet occurred time?

That was the very first time where I’ve felt lost and not in control of my life. My dad told me to pick Information Technology since it’s a demanding career. So I’ve picked it and made up my mind that I will have that degree and maybe writing could wait. College entrance exams came in and I’ve failed the exam of IT on the prestigious University I wanted to study in, so I was offered another choice. The courses left to take were, Business Administration, Engineering, Hotel & Hospitality Management, and Nursing. My once wide choices were narrowed down into just four. I have debated to just choose another school, but this was the only school that time that has a guaranteed full scholarship. I’ve picked Business Administration, but few hours later after I have chosen that course, I’ve informed the registrar that I wanted to change it to Hotel & Hospitality Management. I hated myself for being inconsistent, I just didn’t know what I was doing. I went on with my gut feeling.

In the middle of my college year, I decided I wanted to be a Flight Attendant. It was a pretty cool job with a decent salary and moreover, I could travel the world. Being in a hospitality industry course is a ticket to that newly found dream.

Four years later, I have graduated a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel & Hospitality Management. For four years, I have fooled myself that this was were I truly belong. I know it’s stupid but I was just afraid to take risks of wavering again on the last minute. I could either work on the airline industry or hotel industry. That’s where my goal was headed.

I’ve failed on flight attendant interviews, even airport ground staff. So I gave up on that dream also. I have pursued jobs in a hotel and few months after graduation, I have landed a job.

Fast forward to present day, I’m on my verge of resigning. I wasn’t happy with my job, I feel like I don’t belong here. Waking up each day is a struggle because it’s another day where I would do what I don’t like. The once confident version of myself slowly become the opposite. I like people but I hate being around them for a long period of time. It gets awkward. I stutter a lot these days, and even took a break from blogging just to focus on this career. But none of it was working.

I’ve realized that I was missing out a lot of good things because I was so focused on doing what I don’t like.

Then I’ve been told that “Instead of looking where you truly belong, why not find something you think you will like and enjoy doing and just do it.

I sat down and reflected. He was right. I was finding myself in the wrong places. If I focus on what I like, maybe things won’t be so difficult at all. The dreams we had set aside, maybe it’s time to pick them up again. I guess it’s never too late to start on something you truly like.

Writing is always what I wanted to do, so I will continue writing and writing. I may never be a published author but that’s okay, as long as I still write.  I will write ’til I improve. I will write ’til I find my voice again. I will write about the things I love, for the people I love, and for the people who might be on the same page as I am. I will write ’til I find my voice again.

Maybe, I really won’t fit in anywhere. Maybe nobody ever does.  Maybe we are a wandering free soul with a wide imagination. Once we find what we truly dreamed of, never let that go, hold on to it and be the best in it. Nothing comes easy, everything takes time.

Go back to the version of yourself where you believed that everything is possible. Because it really still is. It’s a matter of how you look at things in a bigger picture. Not everyone has a mentor who will guide them the way. Even if you have, in the end, it’s all up to you.

tumblr_onjyswal731vvtbeoo3_540

So many people will tell you ”no”, and you need to find something you believe in so hard that you just smile and tell them ”watch me”. Learn to take rejection as motivation to prove people wrong. Be unstoppable. Refuse to give up, no matter what. It’s the best skill you can ever learn.” – CE

divider-6

WHAT IS ONE THING  YOU TRULY LIKE DOING THAT YOU HAVE SET ASIDE?

xoxo, Cheena Louisse

BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSION: The Rose & the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

Such a sumptuous conclusion of The Wrath and the Dawn duology that is madly unforgettable! Renee Ahdieh remained evocative on her narration and moved my heart in many different ways. Her writing style takes us to a pure bliss as if we’re living inside her epic tales. I like that the plot was less angsty and had a lighter feel to it. I wish it’s a trilogy ‘cuz I feel like we could have explored this world more deeply.

banyan tree.png

the rose and the dagger cover

TITLE: The Rose & the Dagger ( The Wrath & the Dawn # 2)
AUTHOR:Renee Ahdieh
GENRE: Young Adult, Retelling, Fantasay, Romance
FORMAT: Paperback
PUBLISHER: Putnam
DATE READ: July 27, 2016

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY ON AMAZON

4.5.png

GOODREADS:

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as “a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance.”

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid’s empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn’t yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

divider-6

non spoilery review

A BEAUTIFUL TALE THAT WILL MESMERIZE YOU.  TRAD 1.png

“Destiny was for fools. Shahrzad would not wait for her life to happen . She would make it happen.”
From the stars, to the stars. I rate it 4.5 STARS!

The Rose & the Dagger picks up right where it ended on the first book but this time, Renee showed us the lustrous depth of the world she created and submerged it deeply into a course of rich fantasy. She incorporated lots of elements to spiced up her story more; more tales, magic, flying carpet, giant serpents,  unbeknownst temple that harbors people with special gifts, those and all other things were present here to captivate the readers. And by the time you’re reading this review, it means you have read the first one. This book tackled more on how to break Khalid’s curse which i a good thing because we still don’t know whether it’s breakable and what are the things at stake to break it.

I also enjoyed the presence of little tales in this book to remind us what we’ve grown to love on this story. The two tales that I’ve loved inside there story were; The Girl Who Grasped the Moon that was really a poignant tale that taught us that greediness comes with a price and The Tribe of Weeping Men a tale taught us that just looking forward and never looking back to where you came from also comes with a price.

There’s less romance on this book but every stolen moments of Khalid and Shazi are swoon-worthy. I like that even they are apart from each other, they could still function as a normal human being rather than whine all day. I like the fact that the characters are mature enough to be realistic and face the situation they’re in without jeopardizing each other.

“It was because they were two parts of a whole. He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to him. It was never about belonging to someone. It was about belonging together.”

There were lots of fighting, bargaining, betrayals and deceptions, that would test the where the characters’ allegiance and loyalty truly lies. I like the fact that Renee managed to dwell on more of the character’s development because it helped us to understood the story more in the eyes of her feisty leads.

There’s an impressive progression of the story line but I have to admit that the beginning was rather slow. I have so much love for this duology and I can talk about it for hours, but I will end my review on a final conclusion about the ending.

I am genuinely happy that the conflict of this book ended on a high note. She gave us an ending with less bloodshed and more of resolution. An ending that we didn’t expect because in a story with a presence of war , we always think of putting the enemies’ head on the spike. But no one has to die all the time. Just like what Sun Tzu said in his famous ART OF WAR book, Every battle is won or lost before it’s ever fought. The characters dealt with this in a peaceful manner preventing the potential war that would cost more lives and do more harm than good. The rise of the girl power on this book really helped a lot. I enjoyed this conclusion more than I should because it’s full of surprises and jaw-dropping moments.

I’ll miss this duology so much. Moreover, I’ll miss Khalid Ibn al-Rashid.


SPOILER ALERT!.png


Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSION: The Rose & the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh”

BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSION: The Eden Conspiracy by C.A. Gray

Why is this series not on the New York Times best seller? The Eden Conspiracy is the spectacular sequel of The Liberty Box that is truly a page-turner. I’m glad this sequel is more action-packed and it did not disappoint. Honestly speaking, C.A. Gray’s style of writing is remarkable and she really knows how to write a compelling story with equally exceptional characters. This sequel solidified its place as one of my favorite series out there.

THE EDEN.png

The Eden Conspiracy.png

TITLE: The Eden Conspiracy (The Liberty Box # 2)
AUTHOR:  C.A. Gray
GENRE: Science Fiction, Dystopian
FORMAT: eBOOK
PUBLISHER: Wanderlust Publishing
DATE READ: July 20, 2016

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY ON AMAZON

5.png

GOODREADS:

Can the truth set you free?

The refugee caves have been destroyed, and most of the refugees are dead. The Potentate now knows of their existence and will stop at nothing to wipe them out completely. He suspects that terrorist Jackson MacNamera is among them, as well as reporter Kate Brandeis’s fiancé, hacker Will Anderson—and probably therefore Kate herself. Now that the Potentate is aware of security threats, most of the strategies the rebels used to get back onto the grid before now no longer work. The Potentate knows the rebels are on foot, and he knows they were at the caves not long ago—they can’t get far.

The remaining rebels, among them Jackson and Kate, have Kate’s fiancé Will to thank for their survival: he arrived back from the dead and in the nick of time, bearing classified information about the Potentate’s plans to expand his influence internationally. But the remaining rebels and the Council cannot agree on whether their top priority should be spreading truth far and wide and freeing as many citizens from government control as possible, knowing that they will likely die in the process—or escaping to New Estonia, in hopes that they might live out the rest of their days in peace.

Kate, meanwhile, finds herself torn: between Jackson and the fiancé she thought she lost, and between the damsel-in-distress she once was, and the rebel she believes she has always been underneath. Whether the other hunters will support her or no, she knows she must use her influence over the people of the Republic to tell them the truth, no matter the cost. But is she strong enough to withstand the government’s lies?

divider-6

non spoilery review

AN INCREDIBLE STORY WITH COMPELLING UNDERLYING THEMES tec1

What an unforgettable sequel! I loved every bits of it and I’m really excited to write this review!

First of all, I love Jackson MacNamera. He’s a character that’s so well-made without sounding unrealistic. I love how strong and willful he is and I quote “this guy is a machine!”❤️

The story picks up right where it ends. We see our characters fighting for their survival and slowly waking up and see the dystopian world they’re in.
Everything is well-balanced and I love how intense and action-packed this book is than the first one. The world building remains impressive and the conflict keeps on getting deeper. It’s amazing to see the growth of each characters on this book and how they all shine in their own special ways. I mean it’s not just Jackson who’s actually superior in skills. C.A. Gray makes sure that the other characters also stand out. Like Will, you’ll admire his hacking skills, Nick, his leadership, Kate, from being a damsel-in-distress to a kick ass heroine. And on this book, we have seen how abominable and vicious Voltolini is to an extreme level.

Aside from the world building and character growth, it’s really nice to see that this book still has some fundamental theme; you are the architect of your own thoughts. Always stick to the truth and when you couldn’t see it, seek for it. Open your eyes and your mind and pay attention to everything around you. Our mind is the most powerful weapon and we shouldn’t allow anyone to use it against us and against our own will.

The ending of the book wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger but surely, we know that there’s a lot to come.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES. It has the ability to capture the attention of both young adult and adult reader. AND I CAN’T WAIT TO READ BOOK 3.

Thank you C.A. Gray for writing this beautiful story. You’re one of my favorite authors now and I will surely read your other works. You are the Jackson of my life ❤️


SPOILER ALERT!.png


Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSION: The Eden Conspiracy by C.A. Gray”

BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSIONS: The Liberty Box by C.A. Gray

book review date

DYSTOPIAN SCI FI.png

The whole plot and world building are all incredibly intriguing and I love the scientific aspects incorporated in the story as well as some of its interconnected elements and themes with our real life situation. The sequel The Eden Conspiracy will hit the shelves on July 18th 2016! 

for book quotes.png

 

THE LIBERTY BOX.jpg

 

TITLE: The Liberty Box # 1
AUTHOR:  C.A. Gray
GENRE: Science Fiction, Dystopian
FORMAT: eBOOK
PUBLISHER: Wanderlust Publishing
DATE READ: July 17, 2016

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY ON AMAZON

4.5.png

GOODREADS:

Kate Brandeis has it all: a famous reporter at the age of twenty-four, she’s the face of the Republic of the Americas. She has a loving fiancé and all the success she could wish for. But when she learns of the death of a long-forgotten friend, her investigations unravel her perfect memories, forcing her to face the fact that she’s been living a lie.

Jackson MacNamera, trained from a young age in the art of mind control, returns to the Republic for his mother’s funeral. Within a few hours of his arrival, authorities collect Jackson and take him by force to a room ironically called The Liberty Box, where he must choose between surrendering his thoughts to the new Republic, or fleeing for his freedom.

Kate, bereaved and confused, finds her way to a cave community of refugees, where Jackson seems to offer her an escape from her grief. The two forge an uneasy bond, and in the process Jackson learns that Kate has some insight which may help the hunters in their attempt to free other citizens from the tyranny of the Potentate. Against the expressed wishes of the Council, the hunters plot a series of daring raids, attempting to prove that not only is freedom possible, but that the citizens are not too far gone to desire it. But with the odds so stacked against them, can the refugees succeed in their rescue missions right under the Potentate’s nose?

anchor divider

non spoilery review

AN INTELLIGENTLY WRITTEN BOOK THAT HAS MANAGED TO BALANCE AND CAPTURE THE ELEMENTS OF A GOOD STORY.  the liberty box pic.png

I just finished this book! I highly recommend it! I received this eBook copy from @royalsocialmedia in exchange for my honest review.

First of all…. I was mind-blown! I think I love C.A. Gray now! The whole plot and world building were all incredibly intriguing and I love the scientific aspects incorporated in the story as well as some of its interconnected elements and themes with our real life situation.

What I like about this story is that it felt believably real. This story takes place in a future time but it embodies what we fear at present day-being unable to distinguish what’s real and what’s not.

In this story, the economy of The United States had reached its rock bottom and the country suffered from what seems to be a serious stagflation that cannot be resolved. There’s chaos everywhere. This is where a billionaire man Volotini entered the scene. He’s Machiavellian by all means but with a plan. His rise to power was abrupt but the Congress had no other choice but to buy his idea and to instate him as the dictator or Potentate.

Now called the Republic, the government collects people’s brain waves and make everyone believe that the country is prosperous. What you see is not really what it is. Everything is a lie and controlled by the government. People remained optimistic because they think they are living a good life and the government is always helping them. In short, the whole country is brainwashed and only an outsider can see the truth. The government sacrificed realism for their own good.

What if you found out everything was a lie? Would you sacrifice your happy and sound mind to face the truth? Or would you deny it and refuse to believe to continue living life as you have known it?

Kate Brandeis is a product of this Volotinian system. She’s a successful reporter, wealthy and has a loving fiance. One day, Kate’s senses suddenly awakened after her old friend Maggie was reported to be assassinated for treason. She has been branded as an enemy of the state. Since then, Kate started to get images of her past and small vision on what her world truly looks like. She’s an interesting character though we have yet to view her as a heroic figure.

Jackson MacNamera is a guy who grew up on Iceland. He’s described as a person with heightened senses and he could see right through everything because of his strong mind. His training with his grandfather helped him learn how to control his own mind. I like him as a character because he possesses exceptional skills that could be necessary on this situation that would be soon be a revolution.

The Liberty Box is a thrilling dystopian ride that will surely mesmerize you. Every element is balanced and there are lots of tension and action going on. I’m excited to unravel what’s going to happen on the second book because this is a very promising novel. This book is a rare gem that everyone should try reading. There are no dull moments and every bits of it are truly action-packed.

The sequel will be released tomorrow, July 18th! Be sure to grab your copies!

 


SPOILER ALERT!.png


 

Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSIONS: The Liberty Box by C.A. Gray”

BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSIONS: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

A book with an exciting premise. You’ll truly appreciate the details Evelyn Skye has thrown at us. The tsarist Russia felt alive. This book has its best moments, it wasn’t all that bad and was truly astonishing.

crown's game quote

crowns game

TITLE: The Crown’s Game # 1
AUTHOR: Evelyn Skye
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
FORMAT: Hardcover
PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray
DATE READ: July 11, 2016

ADD TO GOODREADS

GOODREADS:

Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love… or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear… the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

divider-6

non spoilery review

Love over ambition.the crown's game pic.png

The concept of the game was interesting. I like the setting, an alternate fantasy version of the tsarist Russia. I like the idea of having one enchanter for each country to defend the state. I like the magic Nikolai and Vika possessed. I also appreciate how detailed Evelyn Skye was when she described the setting, it felt rich and magical. This book has its best moments too, it wasn’t all that bad.

The whole progression of the story felt a bit tedious but I’m glad it gets better as I progress.

In this book, we have two enchanters, Vika and Nikolai but each country could only have one enchanter so that all the powers will be concentrated into one individual. If there are two enchanters, the powers will be divided hence they wouldn’t have all the access to the powers out there needed to protect the tsar and the whole Russia now that the Kazakhs are showing signs of threats.

The number of enchanter shall be limited because each country’s wellspring emits a finite amount of magic at any given time. It is not without limits.

Thus, the Crown’s Game was commenced. The two enchanters will battle to win the title. But it wasn’t the physical-stupefy-expelliarmus kind of duel. Each of them will take turns and try to conjure their powers around St. Petersburg and show that he/she is better than the other. It’s up to them what move they’ll do. Each of them has a scar on their chest and once it burns, it means it’s your turn. But at the end of the Game, only one will live and the other will die. There is no escape in the Crown’s Game, because even you won’t kill your opponent, once all the 5 turns has been taken, the game itself will decide, the game itself will kill you. Death by burning

Sounds pretty intense right? The book felt promising and left me wanting for more.

The book is written in third person perspective and we can see all the aspects of the characters envolved; Vika, Nikolai, the Tsar and Pasha the Prince even his sister Yulianna. I have to give credit to Evelyn Skye for the massive historical research she had done to include on this book; The historical event of the seige of Mesologgi from the Ottomans; the Greek Revolution; even the truths behind the tsar Pasha Alexender and his imperial court.

I’m excited as to what this book has to offer.

vika.gif


SPOILER ALERT!.png


Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW + DISCUSSIONS: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye”