[SHORT REVIEWS] #33

BOOKS

CHN

美丽怪物 by 蜀七 *JJ

(mtl: Beautiful monster)

Synopsis: Jun Ming became a monster. He feeds on malice, luck, desires, he incites those and feeds on them.

As a parasitic vine entered his body his fate also changed.

This is really drama, the type where author feeds you a bucket of glass from the first page. Maybe I'm this sentimental right now, but the very first chapter made me so depressed. I know that if you think about the situation then probably the MC could have acted differently, but the whole bullying process is truly so depressing.

Author has some simple but great way of describing things and my imagination ran wild along with it, not all stories are capable of making me had such vivid imagery.

But I also would like to note that author may have never intended to say these things and it's just my imagination, after all it's a supernatural story, yet at the same time when you read how MC feels the relief and how he feels better it made me think of how he previously mentioned that he liked to imagine himself in a totally different place while he was being bullied and it made me think "what if it's just his final fantasy". Considering the vine did enter his body you may start doubt which part of JunMing left.

The only really sad part is that the story is not finished. It's beautifully written, I was truly captivated by it, but unfortunately still has status of being published, yet the last update was in Jan. It's such a pity.

[BL] 假少爷他觉醒了[重生] by 甘洄*JJ

(mtl: The fake young master has awakened)

Synopsis: Story about Li An who returns back to the pivotal moment of his life and slowly lays down trap by trap for the family that screwed him over so much.  He wants to pay back for all the unwaranted suffering. It's very melodramatic but at the same time author really does a good job about emotional part. I've read this author's works previously and I have only positive things to say about stories I've read. Despite the fact that it's such a cliche setting and honestly tired troped of fake / true young masters, but I enjoy when it's done right. This reading experience was no exception. So if anyone likes the combo of things like revenge / rebirth stories, cunning protagonist, melodrama, they might enjoy this one too.

You can see the review here. I go into more details, since I finished the story while creating this short reviews post ahaha

[BL] 人！咪家死人了，你管不管 by 茶香茉莉 *JJ

(Report! Mimi Is Here to File a Case)

Synopsis: Lin Jiangyue returns back, but something goes wrong and he retains the ability to understand and communicate with animals. Because of the murder case next door his ability gets eventually exposed and he, as a special consultant, joins police on solving many cases.

I wish I could say positive things about it. Those who like shallow, flufy stories might like it. But to me it ended up a boring shallow story that followed the establised routine.

My main complaint was how shallow everything is. The characters themselves, including animals. Everyone is pretty one-dimensional person that lacks any depth. Animals could have played the role, but it's pretty basic and not so interesting. The knowledge on animals is also the wiki-level. The cases are following the same path, something happens, they find animal witnesses, thanks to leads collect evidence and voila~. And the routine repeats. The significance of animals in these cases is present, but at the same time it's not. Maybe because it is like a copy-paste scene after copy-paste dialogue.

And I feel it's a pity and a wasted potential.

Also NU should have included tw of animal a*use.

[BG] 闪婚而已[先孕后爱] by 朵慕 *JJ

(mtl: A whirlwind marriage)

Synopsis: Jiang Zhi did not expect that a wild drunk night will lead to a marriage to one of the most prominent bachelors of their city. 

Cloying meh.

I can honestly say that I didn't finish it, though the story is very short (excluding extras), it is sweet and easy, but also FMC is too infantilized. I usually don't care if someone can act coquettish, but here the MMC calls her a little girl or little kitten, she is of course 165cm tall, very standard, acts like a small animal sometimes, throws tantrums, which should have been described as the pregnancy symptoms, since the hormonal changes are wild, but by the time I dnf'd it I haven't seen the story present it that way. Even the struggle to make her more independent from Bo Shiyu (MMC) she is said to not want everyone at work to know she became the boss lady. Actually understandable, but honestly it is kind of silly not to use resources that are laid out to you. She says many times that they come from different social circles, yeah obviously, but then asks when she is going to become stronger? But girl, you can't compare to your husband's family no matter how you try if you measure by social status and achievements. I wish in these stories we could get a picture of a woman who slowly wants to get better, but doesn't emphasize the difference so much. Just to make the FMC feel better, since it's a fantasy of author's mind, of course her husband is the only one who always bends his head and bows first. Otherwise what would you expect. mutual respect? Dream on. 

Another point that really stuck to me is how she told him that if he finds anyone he likes they can get a divorce. Which doesn't look good to me. It just once again provides proof of how little people think of marriage. She just told the man he is going to be a father, he, with all his money and power, accepts it and asks her to get married, even if she thinks it's for the baby, but the next thing she says is about divorce. Girl thinks she did a good job. I think not.

Anyway, the plot of this story is too simplistic. The emotional part even more so 9god, protect me from all these stories where they say marriage first love later when MMCs basically have an eye for FMC from the very beginning but they don't explain why they feel that way). Story starts from the night itself when she is so drunk she doesn't recognize the way. Bo Shiyu meets her ad thinks she's one of "those", but since the dinner arrived on its' own two feet he is okay with it. Sounds bad, yeah it is. So they have this one-night stand, seeing the MMC physique Jiang Zhi thinks she did not lose. She treats it as an accident and takes it well, which was pretty impressive. But then time passes and her sudden interaction with Bo Shiyu grow, before she refuses his proposal of dating. Then in a while she realizes she's pregnant and Bo Shiyu takes responsibility. Here dynamic changes even more, since he is acting like a nagging nanny that always chases after a naughty child. But she doesn't help think of her better since she walks straight into obvious troubles. At least one time she was not aware she was pregnant. But the second time... honestly, it only takes a second to call the man and say - my friend is in danger, can you help me? In this case we can slowly progress the slowly growing feeling so she can feel his protection, but author decided for some reason to go for "hero saves the beauty" and coincidentally when FMC walks out right after she was brought home and went to a bad where her friend was held against her will, since she was scammed, for some reason MMC did not drive off immediately and of course he followed, somehow finding his way, then seeing her walk in and following of course, but imagine he did not appear. Honestly, it looked silly..

Also another problem is how "troubles" appear out of nowhere, or they are not troubles at all if you think about it. So Jiang Zhi is not some orphaned girl, picked up, she was lost long ago so the story follows "my mother adopted a girl and poured all her love into her before I returned" kind of script. She returned to Jiang family and no one welcomed her, since she grew up a wild girl. But honestly, you may not live with them, she is an adult, can move out etc. Even if the family wants to cause trouble, they're not powerful enough, you can cause them trouble too. Why in each and every story we don't hear anything about social media. She acted as if the sky was falling with this family. When they call why do you answer? I wanted to ask her time and time again. You just say - go fuck yourself. You're independent, live away from home and don't care about them. Don't bring blood relationship, it is just too cheap. The problem with her family is that they've failed in business and wanted to marry her off of course, as if it's a forced buy and sell, how about the police. Then the adpted girl said - what if the family will make you leave the city, since you will never find a job? Oh really? What a big threat from a family who are nothing themselves. 

Too much silly is too much.

US

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

I'm adding this book to TBR because it attracted me by the cover and premise. I love stuff like, I'm a basic bitch.

I decided not to add too many books this time around, with time I'm filtering with what still hangs and waits its' turn and which is not attractive to me anymore. Pretty easy thing to do when you organize your TBR digitally haha

The only good news since last time is that Beatrice Hyde-Clare series will get a new book released in December this year.

MOVIES

HOT FUZZ (2007)

What can I do. I really had never watched this movie before, even if I'm sure a ton of people saw it, at least that memable scene from it.

Very fun watch, I think they filmed it well, it has a good amount of crazy in it and this is why it is so entertaining. Made me want to read more about small-town mysteries.

Not much else to say except that it was really entertaining.

Gentlemen prefer blondes (1953)

Well, you have no idea how many times I started watching this movie and then was interrupted. But finally it happened.

And I have nothing much to say about the story, but I think it's worth watching for the female friendship.

Dorothy is such a great character, always snappy and sharp, honestly you can envy her wittiness. But she is also a fierce friend. So the two are the best combo who always have each other's back.

I'm pretty sure many have watched this movie not only because of Monroe, but because it has the most popular music number "Diamonds are the girl's best friend", which was referenced so many times in pop culture. Or if they never watched the movie they surely know the song and the part.

Anyway, it was a great watch. Gorgeous, gorgeous women.

I try to update the previous posts if I finished or dnf'd something, but most of all, nothing major happened. I wait for stories that are upcoming (if we talk western books), I want to finish one book before switching to others. I mostly spent time with Chinese stories because the process got dragged and I switch to easy read / exploration. I actually talk about All Hail Chaos I was waiting for so long, but I admit I drag through it. The reason for is plot barely moving anywhere and there are too many flowery descriptions which are mostly unnecessary (a lot of stuff I could forget in the book one, but not really wanting to see it here, cringy stuff counted in). Good thing I enjoyed these stories I found meanwhile. I really want to read this book and I'm not saying it's bad (at least at this point haha), but it just manages to drag. This is the reason I don't want to switch to any other novel for now. This is such a crazy difference when I was reading the first book, which I finished in few days.

I added few things I want to watch when it comes to anime, I want to watch Planetes, which I think I tried to start but something felt off for me back then, but as I watched it now I felt nothing wrong, like why was I like that back then.

I re-watched Howl's moving castle for who knows which time after my Katsuhiro Otomu maraphon. This anime is legendary to me.

I struggled a bit more through Jujutsu Kaisen season three or Culling Game (it's beginning). And I can not stress enough that this anime lost the plot for me, where we started and where we are now is too much. Also too much of it is explanation and no plot that moves forwards. I couldn't care less and honestly got so bored. 

I also want to watch Texhnolyze, I think I atempted it once long ago, wrong time it was. Not saying you need to be an adult or something, just was not the right mood for it. And then it was forgotten for so long.

Which leads me to the idea of including Last Exile in this list. I already have all three waiting for me.

[Chinese BL novel] 假少爷他觉醒了[重生] by 甘洄 / The fake young master is awakened

Very cliche title, very cliche situation of fake / true young masters switched at birth, but still I can eat it and do it with relish.

This author wrote several stories before and I read some of them and the experience shows that they take good are of their stories and put a lot of thought into storyline and especially emotional part.

Li An had a tragic life experience, his family he lived with turned against him when they found out he was not their biological child, but they also did not let him go before squeezing the last bit of worth he had, even the things he created and accumulated by himself had to be given away because the "true master suffered", but did he really suffer? The parents and family were collectively blind to the viciousness of the true young master or they shared the same black blood of scheming and deceiving as he had, thus they never cared. Eventually true young master got what he fought for and the entire family stood with their backs straights while the bones of Li An were cracking and crumbling under their feet. The victim to their cruelty.

Li An died in winter.

Li An returned in autumn. before him was the face of his fiance who tried to talk him into signing equity tranfer. Li An looked at this face that disgusted him and thought to himself - I need to wait, I can wait, because I need to pay you back. All of you.

I must say that I finished it really fast and I liked it.

Almost all the stories about the true/fake young master trope seemed to have explored this topic through and through and wrote so many stories that some parts feel like they're routine of these plots. But despite some of the predictable parts I can read it with relish if it's written well.

Plot is the classic revenge story. With Li An returning he plans for his family's demise, while planting a lot of traps step by step and does it behind the scenes, while his family does not even suspect him until the very end.

Along the way he finds a man who gave him love and pulled him out of the dark world and allowed him to feel happiness again. Guan Lan became everything to him.

The Plot.

It follows a step by step plan of Li An who uses the knowledge of his family's business and future to lay out several traps before fully closing the net. Not to mention he managed to do it like a roller-coatser when his family slowly rose from the ashes and almost thought they'd make it through after the first big crisis they faced before plunging into a greater darkness.

Why Li An did it?

Spoilers~ It become apparent from early on when Li An thinks about the death of his parents and the way Li Jiaqi (true young master) always described himself as a victim that something is not right.

In his first life he was a soft persimmon who truly loved his family and didn't want to hurt them, he also always believed that all those years meant something, he had no idea the malice in the souls of his adoptive parents may be so deep.

After his death he thought a lot about the details and now he had a chance to face the truth. The death of his parents is in direct correlation to Li Jiaqi, who lied about Li An's parents being abusive, he cause the car accident which led to Li An's parents death and escaped from the scene later, enrolled himself into the orphanage and later found the second family who adopted him, of course the cycle of being ungrateful repeated itself.

But Li An found out the truth. And remembered what the adoptive parents did to him in his past life and what Li Jiaqi did to his grandpa after he died. Li An was drugged and died in the snow, but because prior Li Jiaqi used his newly-found influence online to create a narrative Li An's reputation from bad became even worse. Li family playd a victim saying Li An chose the wrong patha nd it's all his doing, thus he died and they became they biggest beneficiary of this situation.

So the hatred he felt towards the Li family was hard to describe, he wanted Li Jiaqi dead.

This is why he used the projects and scandals at first to rob his family of business. When Li Jiaqi who failed to participate in audition that made him rise to fame in previous life managed to join another crew, Li An created a narrative for him and tied him closely to the Li family. The illusion really worked and Li Jiaqi really believed he became someone, only to face the scandal of his family using internet celebrities signed under their company for gains.

Of course it led to the first scandal and it also made Li Jiaqi face it with his family, so his first role was ruined. 

Some time later when the family thought they're going to make it through and Li Jiaqi finally got another role after spending his entire fortune to make connections, they faced the second and bigger scandal that left the entire family in ruins, it's the final scandal before the face-off.

In revenge stories I do prefer morally gray characters who plan behind-the-scenes and usually stay in the shadows till the grand finale, it's better to never showed that it was you who did it.

But this time around it was impossible but this time Li An was so ready to rip off Li family's face in front of the public and let them feel what he felt when he was cyber-bullied, not to mention all the curel things they said about his parents saying it's good they died, since they believed they bullied their son.

As for Emotional Side.

I really liked how it was done, to me it was the best part.

Not really the romance, but the portrayal and journey of each character.

Li An let go of the past, he did not let go of revenge, but more his state of mind changed. With his grandfather he realized what it's like to have a family, with Guan Lan he felt what a true love is.

He never white-washed himself as a complete victim of circumstances, he knew he was blameless, since he was also switched at birth, but it was his upbringing and his good heart that allowed others to trample on it. He knew his own blame in all of this.

But honestly a lot of what he said how he went through these things made me sentimental and teary-eyed. 

The significance of some things was delievered through simple things and they were working for me. Like the simple description of Li An holding the hands of his grandfather and describing how hard his time was, losing both daughter and son-in-law, spending years looking for the lost child. Although a lot of it is descriptive and rather bluntly explained, like others around the old man would be mentioned to say - what a hard fate, but I don't know I truly felt for the situaion through those simple descriptions like withered hands.

Guan Lan is not described in detail but actually has the classic sad CEO past, honestly I may be joking but the way it is described.. maybe I was so sentimental but it really got to me when his past was explained in more detail, even if we knew most of it.

To him Li An also became the source of new faith, he made him feel alive, his heart was beating once again, he also thought that he will never find peace in this life, will be like a working robot that just did what needed to be done to get to his final goal and just continue existing.

As for the Li family, I must say I liked Li Jiaqi's portrayal. He is a complete selfish and disgusting bastard, what author managed to do is to fully convey how psychotic that person is. The way he planned, the way he thought he schemed well against Li An, they way this envy and jealousy consumed him and led him to his final doom. His is the epitome of ungrateful wretch, but he always played a victim and thought it's going to be like that for the rest of his life.

Because of who he is and we know he is comletely selfish even towards his own biological parents we share not an ounce of pity for him. This is why I think author managed to make the actions and consequences pretty balanced.

Li parents were more of a different story, but the result of those hardships made you realize that no matter what they're not far from Li Jiaqi. Xiao Qiurong, adoptive mother of Li An, she started to regret how things turned out. She may be the best mom, but also ignores that other kids had parents too or they're human beings too. This is why there is little pity to have for her plight. Li Tianen, the adoptive father, is more of a background character, but actually the root of the switched babies accident, because it's his then lover did the deed.

Li Ping had a very different path fom last life. In last life he stood strongly on the side of his parents and younger brother, but this time with disillusionment when it came to his parents he did not want to take part in what his parents did, but he was also powerless, since he could not really go against them till the very end. He blamed himself for cowardice and lack of strength. But when everything was over he was the one who took off and disappeared to have a new life, unlike mother and son who were left behind still being consumed by hatred.

I like it when stories have characters leading a completely different path from the past, it shows that people may have different fates. Although Li Ping was not the main target of Li An, he was till included and of course was burnt by the second scandal.

Overall it was a decently-built story. Surely it was predictable, but it didn't matter to me. I thought the whole path the characters took was interesting to follow and author really knows what she does even with such worn out tropes.

Great journey, good story for people who like a good emotional story, with favorite tropes, with a drop of melodrama.

RATE: 5/5. I was quite satisfied with my reading experience.

[Chinese BG novel] 女战神的黑包群 by 二谦 / Goddess of war and her black envelope group (PART 1)

*Qidian, so be prepared.

This is a 3k beast and I'm not even 1/6 through it. I'm on chapter 565. I decided to make a pause because I found myself a bit tired of this story. I'm sure there will be part 2 eventually when I will come around continuing, but at this point, well, I just wanted to explore this story a bit.

Goddess of War is a story about the main character Dong Shu, she is an interstellar legend with her incredible abilities and achievements that can take a day and a night to recount. But in her life a tragedy happened, her brother, who was also a renown legend in their world met an accident and fell into coma since then, but no matter what ways Dong Shu tried she couldn't make her brother Dong Li wake up. She truly loves her brother who always took care of her, so when a black envelope group appeared in her smart brain she saw a chance in it.

How Black Envelope Group operates: someone released a black envelope in a group chat, you click on it and then you're transported into a new world. Black envelope group gives you a basic information, name and age and asks you to fulfill the OG wish. The problem is sometimes she has memories and can assume what the wish might be, at other times there are no memories and she is blind guessing.

If you succeed you are given black envelope points as a reward, if you get enough then you can start sending black envelopes yourself. What are the perks - rewards. She sends envelopes and asks for a reward and she can asks for precious medicines that do not exist in their world all for the sake of creating a miracle medicine that will wake her brother. That is her goal of completing these worlds.

For a reader what are the perks. Dong Shu is pretty strong and intelligent character. Downside is that it's often said rather than done. Like author says she has brainwashing skills, but rarely shows it. She has her smart brain and her mental power with herself, this is why she can be physically strong in any world, the main point is to have enough to eat.

Black envelope group provides almost no info, the only thing is how they give rewards that might be helpful, though Dong Shu does not use them unless necessary.

FMC is smart and ambitious in these worlds and tries to fulfill the wishes as soon as possible, but here's a catch.

A downside is that FMC does not stay in these worlds, this happens rarely and most of the time her time in this world for some reason depends on main couples of these worlds. As long as the couple is happy and together she is safe, but when they break up she is ejected from the world. To me it repeats the same process, although at the same time she does not waste time, but sometimes her circumstances make this sudden leave sad (for example she has kids to take care of or parents that love her dearly, stuff like that). But because the process is repeated most of the time it a) feels like copy and paste and b) gets a bit boring. Not to mention how the fulfilling someone wish correlates to main protagonists. I can understand the world should collapse but it doesn't, only FMC is ejected. Another downside is that sometimes these worlds feel empty. Although something happens but it feels like it doesn't really matter and eventually the ending might be flushed. So you sit and think - so, what was the point?

ARC 1

Foodie in the 70's. Girl who just wanted to have her fill. The world was a success.

Tbh it was a ncie beginning. Mostly because FMC managed to convert the thinking of her parents, I like when characters have a change of heart and follow a one-sided path. Also she got together with potential female protag and they helped each other, eventually FMC lived the longest in this world. But the way that both women helped each other was heart-warming. Female protag despite her gold finger realized that FMC has so many ways about life and so many ideas, she did not envy it, on the contrary she thought of her own limitations with a clear head. So both were content with what they eventually got.

ARC 2

Innocent heiress. First failed world.

Mostly not because FMC is bad, but because OG's morals were questionable, she wanted to get together with her non-related stepbrother. But FMC who may do a lot of shit is uncapable of such stuff or guess such things, she later on was keen on the possibility of marriage being OGs wish, but usually it ended with nothing.

Otherwise she became successful in this world, yet because of a villainous supporting character she had to sacrifice herself for the good. A bit silly how they allowed her to do what she did at the very end. Also her stepbro actually fell for her and he was not the only one. 

ARC 3

One General's success is built on ten thousand bones.

A pretty good arc, I really liked it. Especially the theme of transmigrating girl who caused so much devastation to the world with her "innovations".

FMC lands as a peasant girl who wants to make sure a general protecting their land is safe. She travels to the borders to slowly build up momentum for the possible revolting against current imprial power that only knows how to indulge.

On the opposite side are the transmigrating girl who plays the innocent type who fishes for men to support her, she is currently the main wife of one of the princes, but her innovation actually left another country in devastation, although it brought quick success an dthey acquired a lot of new land, they destroyed people along the way. It just showed that not all transmigrators selflessly do something good or the devastating effect weapons can have.

Pretty good arc to me. Was a great success.

One fun part is how FMC asked the general to marry her because she was afraid she'll fail because of failure in marriage to a designated person. Because FMC perished with one of the protags she still made such wish, good thig the world was a success.

ARC 4

Little wolf dog brother in apocalypse.

FMC got a nice gold finger here, a delivery app where she can get food out of thin air. It mostly told how she traveled with her neighbor, a young man who was also left alone. So they stuck together and she took care of him, trying to make him the strongest because she knew she might leave any moment. She also had some research done on the virus which she left to a trusted person.

But this is also the first world where author gets a bit repetitive, as if they try to reiterate too much or even use the same diologues or rhetoric of characters. Which was going in circles sometimes.

ARC 5

Specialst on trending

Outdated actress who spent most of her resources on her husband, but forgot about herself. Eventually her husband forgot all the good parts and asked for divorce.

In this arc we have a traversing girl with a lot of ambitions but who does not care about people surrounding her, thinking she is hot commodity. And also the husband is reborn but it was too late.

I can say I liked this as well, because this female protagonist who has no real talent of her own, tried to promote herself as most outstanding and because she believed it's just a story and others are just NPCs, not realizing that world does not revolve around her and others are living and breathing people. Eventually she built her own downfall. Not to mention others who initially supported her turned against her.

I think it's a nice touch of - don't be too full of yourself.

FMC because she couldn't act spent most time singing, since she had healing magic she also used it in her voice, then took part in variety show. She eventually starred in movies and learnt some craft but not on the high level. She was always more physical type, just strong girl.

ARC 6

Let's eat chicken (*gaming term)

FMC suddenly becomes a boy.

In this one she plays as a kind-hearted boy. She eventually got her shit together and started studying extensively. She is successful in it because of her mental strength. But she also appreciates knowledge she can absorb in any world.

The OG died when saving someone. And eventually the main couple separated also because they didn't have this emotional push at first when both people felt there is no need for much, life is precious and let's be together.

By this time she eiether broke up couple intentionally or was the catalyst for relationships, but overall unlike first couple no one stays together for long.

FMC eventually got a lot of things done before leaving and this is the part where she got really good parents and she did everything so they'll be taken care of if she's not there. I really felt sorry for the parents.

But also because it had a lot of gaming content which I simply started skipping eventually.

ARC 7

Cultivation world.

FMC lands as OG who is actually riddled with a lot fo rumors and for a good reason. She is renowned for bringing young men and changing them like gloves. FMC's idea and wish are conencted to finding how such a powerful figure perished, since she had no solid memories of those moments.

She actually cultivated well in this world. Became close to both protags, male protag respected her view on cultivation.

She also found the truth behind her weakness. It was a devised plan by demonic cult, they used a man who was close to OG to poison her with a special herb and using incence they'd weaken her cultivation so when the Demon King came she was easily defeated. This time FMC was prepared. Eventually she played a huge role in defeating Demon King and the demon cult alltogether. But eventually failed to pass the tribulation when ascending to immortality because a female protag sais something to her.

But it was a success.

ARC 8

Campus.

I always find campus stories a bit boring. So FMC was a chubby young girl who was bullied. Although she did not strive to lose weight she eventually started to lose weight bit by bit and started studying. Which impressed teachers and others, even her bullying ended with her getting more popular. The protags here are two character from her class, one is a campus nerdy girl who is cute, deemed as a goddess and is good at studying, another is a rebellious boy, but who eventually got better because of her.

FMC actually had nothing to do with these two, even og died from a car accident which was random. But when she reached some success she once again was ejected leaving her parents behind.

At this point I was really getting irritated that she can't stay just because protags were breaking up an dmaking up because of one female character who was always sticking to them and coming in-between.

ARC 9

Raising children in 60's

First time FMC had children, of course kids were there when she arrived. Another failed world.

Thing is OG wanted her to marry some random man OG had a relationship with. But FMC would never even consider it.

OG is a widow living in a small village in the 60s, life is hard and her husband left early, although she liked him but his family did not support her since she gave birth to a girl. Now she is notorious because she had relationships with several men, but she did it for survival. Yet it was obvious she was more selfish about herself than her kids. This is why the world failed, she thought of herself and not her kids, even if she already preferred boys over girls like anybody else. Her boy was born from one of her lovers btw.

This is second time FMC got a golden finger that helped her through hardest times.

The protags were two people from her village, there is also another protag / traverser who landed in this place. Both couple were unhappy. But the main protag was this traversing girl who had her eyes on an educated youth and wanted to leave to city with him eventually. All the young love that was present at first was worn away with years of hardships and lack of supportive husband.

So when these families failed FMC also was ejected, but at least she made the kids grow up and be successful, for this she was different from OG.

ARC 10

Because FMC was devastated by the morals of previous world she was apprehensive of wishes in this one. This is called Phoenix Journey, a woman who rose from ashes and avenged her parents. 

OG is a girl who came from a PM household, she fell for not favorite prince and with her family she managed to support him to the throne, but the new emperor turned around and betrayed her, killing her entire family and his "true love" destroyed FMC, don't want to put here gruesome details.

FMC traveled to a bordering country and y coicidence met a girl who looked like her, from her she realized this girl is a daughter of her mother long-lost sister, this is why they look alike, she took her place and returned to a family who wanted to use her instead of her sister for a "good luck" marriage. FMC did not mind it, because she wanted to find a person to cooperate with, she will give them strength to rise to power and they will help her to size the neighboring country she's from. 

It's not a bad arc, has a lot of relationships and action / consequences sequences. Eventually FMC found a best person for the future Emperor for this land and the one who is capable of being the best partner (not as a marriage union of course). They managed to outperform others and she laid out plans how to defeat the others. She indeed managed o fulfill OG's wish, avenging her entire family. Others by the end also found out her true identity since they started doubting who she is. She killed the Emperor who betrayed her and his wife, who went through everything OG went through.

One of few where FMC stayed in this world for years. Reason is FMC is a reborn person and she had similar situation as FMC, eventually she got together with a prince who loved her and they lived in contentment.

ARC 11

Well,t his one was actually boring.

Republic of China era. FMC plays a concubine who was given away several times. While FMC lived her life freely and unrestrained she met three warlords of this region. Most of the time it was abuot them and her family and also a girl who became her friend. But the ending to me was really flushed when it was quickly described how she and her friend decided to go to frontline since they wanted to help and she perished protecting her friend. She also never met the protag group in this one. I really had the feeling of asking - what was the point?

ARC 12

Weird arc ended in FAILURE.

First of all it's a world of not so distant future, all men have to go through preparatory school, mainly very military style. But OG is a girl.

Also FMC had no memories. While FMC excelled at her task she also found out that she was sent to replace her unhealthy brother, but who actually just wanted to skip hardships. And her parents were truly biased son-raising monsters.

FMC eventually confessed to instructor and was redirected to military since she was a talent, before her roommates could use it against her, since all three started doubting her.

This arc also ended pretty quickly after she was transferred, she died on a mission.

Her roommates found another substitute, OG's half-siser who was sent instead of their good-for-nothing brother.

Why the world failed, because OG was discovered and had indecent relationship with her roommates and she wanted to be with them, of course FMC never even considered something like this.

FMC managed to get her brother be taken into this preparatory school, but because he didn't want to go they eventually found the half-sister, it's an older girl their father had after an affair with a starlet, before he found a good marriage with a richer girl. He had no idea he had this child but when she appeared due to circumstances they managed to send her in instead their son where she was soon discovered an ddied. But for this the aprents surely didn't care, when it came to OG they also didn't care if their girl would be discovered and exploited.

But by this time I thought that FMC's spending timein worlds is really short, it all depends on something else like main couples, she can leave at any moment, stories are also lacking substance. Some are at least more or less interesting, give a different take on different situations. But several last ones are rushed and not inetersting or this arc simply has some twisty OG with her weird wish.

[ANIME] Roujin Z (1991)

I mention Katsuhiro Ootomo because it's his work, not created with him as a director though. Some find the need to compare it to Akira, but I find it really weird. First of all, it's two completely different stories, second of all, Katsuhiro did not direct this and lastly same people who expect Akira would say stuff like - this looks too much like Akira, if th story really resembled it and they would never feel satisfied that way or another.

Roujin Z mainly tells a story of a young woman Haruko who takes care of an elderly man as a caregiver. When suddenly this elderly man, Mr Takazawa, is selected as a subject to take part in testing Project Z. This project was initially directed at making the process of taking care of elderly people who are not capable to physically take care of themselves easier, but it also raises the question of robotics and also the moral question of is it really correct to leave elderly to cold machines.

Young Haruko whose grandma died in a lonely way cannot shake the conviction that this is wrong and elderly people need the human care and support. This is why she tries to help Takazawa-san who sent a SOS message through the computer.

The story takes a humorous and almost absurd path when failing to do so Haruko finds several elderly me i her hospital capable of hacking the main computer of Project Z, this bio-computer actually is partially AI and capable of self-development, but being awakened in such a way the computer, which used the voice of deceased wife of Mr Takazawa decides to take him on a journey to the beach because this is everything Mr Takazawa had been dreaming about these days.

But one thing is to wish for it, another is how public witnessed a huge bed-robot-machine drives through streets of Japan, wreaking havoc and demolishing things because it's that huge, while police and participants of this project try to stop it and return it to its place.

This anime does not discuss but still raises the question of elderly care. Is it really alright to leave them in the care of machines, even if machines are capable of providing all the care needed and even offer some form of entertainment. Although Takazawa is the central figure of this anime, but mainly he doesn't even speak well and only repeats the same thing over and over again. So is it really correct to deprive him from fulfilling some lasting wish to visit the beach where he remembers the happiness he felt together with his wife.

It's the type of story that is ridiculous, but also sad.

Well, and they really crashed that city.

RATE: 8/10.

[ANIME] AKIRA (1988)

AKIRA is larger than anything. A true classic of anime in every sense. I re-watch it from time to time just to re-visit it and marvel at everything, at wonderful and gripping story, amazing animation and overall superior work of art.

When it comes to AKIRA it's the story you can explore and discuss, it revolves around many themes that feel modern even if it was released so many years ago. It also offers great visuals that you can marvel at decades later. This what makes anime a great one and a legend. If I had descendant I'd say - watch this :)

I'm on Katsuhiro Ootomo roll right now, we start with Steamboy, now Akira and later Roujon Z (I am well aware that it was not directed by him, but the story belongs to him), finishing with several selected shorter animations. I think it's a pity Katsuhiro did not release more, but I also understand that after Akira it was pretty hard to impress the public and meet exectations (although I think it's unfair towards any creator), even though I find his other works great too. He has so much to say when it comes to incorporations of technologies and innovations, the social impact, which can be found in many of his stories. No wonder he is one of the greatest when it comes to animation / story creation.

[ANIME] Koori no Jouheki / 氷の城壁 (2026) (Season 1)

The Ramparts of Ice

Koyuki Hikawa has trouble interacting with others, instead preferring to keep her distance and spend her time alone. However, when she meets Minato Amamiya, he suddenly starts trying to close the distance between them.

I may have liked the beginning, but in later parts it became more about emotional struggles in terms of love and I don't really care about it. And this is me not saying that the anime is bad, it's just a bit cliche what they did by the end of episode 14.

Let me start from good parts and what I liked:

• I didn't mind the darker approach, not for everyone school was all sunshine and flowers, for many it was a dark time of bullying and fights. In a microcosm it was a society, but also a limited one where people didn't bother thinking tey might hurt others or on the contrary were doing it on purpose. The high stress level does not excuse anyone from being a horrible human being and scarring someone for life. This made Koyun quite a layered character with her initial guarded self to opening up with someone and realizing that some of the things she did to another boy Minato (MMC) is something that was done to her. So it was a nice portrayal.
• I really liked the part where we get perspective from different point of views on the same situation. My biggest example is the bench talk between Miki and Koyun after which Koyun started dating boy named Igarashi. Miki at the time thought it was partially her fault that she pushed Koyun towards Igarashi, but through their talk we realize Koyun herself does not remember things as such and she started dating not for this reason.
• The main female character does ambiguous things instead of being one-dimensional.
• The story explains really well the circumstances of several characters and how they came to be as they are now, what they went through, at which stage they are now.
• Not to make matters too depressing anime includes many cute moments (mainly the chibi version or when a character suddenly does something more unexpected).

What made me a bit sad is the turn toward romance and the approach.

So we have four friends that formed their own circle: Girls Koyun, Miki and boys Minato, Yota. Then we have the following situation →

Koyun realizes Minato might like her, but she doesn't know how to approach this situation. At first Koyun misunderstood that Miki might like Minato and it will become a struggle for Yota and his feelings she is aware of.

Minato likes Koyun, but misunderstands for a long time that she might like Yota, since she makes the happiest and most comfortable face around Yota (the only logical misunderstanding that has some valid proof, instead of just being a speculation)

Yota has like Miki since middle school and was not ready to confess, but it just happened like that. He is the only one who has no misunderstandings about others.

Miki who was once ennamord in the fantasy that her best friend might be in love with the guy she appreciates as a friend too is now facing a confession and although she likes Yota, but does not see him as love interest (yet). So they left with this amniguous open ending for development for both parties.

The most cliche part is actually including a first year girl who has eyes for Minato and she does a lot of undermining like a hardworking villainous supporting role. She plants a seed of doubt when she sees Minato liking Koyun, but also wants Koyun to give way. Manipulative and selfish, does what she wants.

So from some emotional drama and how teenagers cope with life we switch to love~

Anyway, it was okay.

RATE: 7/10.

[MOVIE] How to murder your wife (1965)

A black comedy about a successful cartoonist, who has been living a perfect life of a single man, but got married while drunk and everything begins to change.

Actually a pretty harmless movie if you think about it. A cartoonist Stanley Ford who built his successful career is now facing a sudden marriage that happened during bachelor party when he was completely drunk, but the eyes of a woman who suddenly appeared out of a fake cake caught his attention and passion was burning. With realization that he is now married to a woman who can't even speak English the entire world felt like it came crashing down. But despite the idea of sending his wife away or separate did not happen when he was caught in a whirlwind of action and in just a short period of time he found himself bound to this woman. Many might think the movie places women in a vurnelable position and there is a segment like that, especially at the very end, but on the other hand it fully describes the power women hold over their husbands too. In their daily life or when it comes to emotions too. After all even the main character despite his irritability over the changes that happened at 37 cannot shake off the loneliness when his wife leaves him. But I do think the movie also shows how remarkable the female character is. To me she is passionate (although some might say it's an Italian cliche) and also she tries to surround Stanley with love. She learns the language, although not in a conventional way. Cooks for him, thus he gains weight that he cared about all these years. It might seem that her world revolves around him, I won't deny that. But she's not entirely bound to the kitchen, if you know what I mean. They have a social life, they party. Pretty much everyday life of a couple.

SPOILERS

The plot is pretty simple if you explain it, because Stanley always does the things himself, so on top of that he can re-create his cartoons, when he think of murdering his wife he also draws it as a cartoon. He plans and visits people, but everything is reflected on pages. And even proceeds to truly put drugs in his wife's glass during a party. But when it comes to disposure of the body, he does it with a mannequin. Of course everything is reflected on the comic pages. So when his wife wakes up and realizes what happened she leaves him. But with Mrs Ford gone now Stanley faces real charges of her murder.

I don't know about others but I found the scene at the end particularly funny, when Stanley defended himself and all the men celebrated but then they showed the unimpressed women and I laughed because I thought - oh boy, you touched this hornets nest, be prepared to get your heads chewed off when you get home. laugh while it lasts.

Also they invited Virna Lisi to play Mrs Ford and what a gorgeous woman she is. 

Fun watch, what can I say, a fun watch.

RATE: 7,5/10.