[SHORT REVIEWS] #36

This will be a Korean edition, since I've found a number of stories, most of which I dnf'd of course (we're talking about Korean web novels after all, they're rarely a type of story I will find enjoyable), but there were some neutral ones.

And I simply wants to rant before I will stick to a limited list of novels and the rest will become history, since I will again stop reading them for some times (considering the number of DNFs and how mad the number of stories that couldn't grasp me from the beginning are there).

I am desperate at the number of weak heroines that always have the same situations as if their life is a copy-paste of another story. A lot of same elements and nothing interesting, but the main being we need some tortured love before things get better. I'm not even reaching out for those titles, I feel like I try to choose stories that would feel different, but they somehow end up being so similar. I honestly can read a story with angst, if the story is good of course, but in general it's so boring an dunimaginative with FMCs who have heads only from decorative purposes and I know it sounds harsh, but what can I do, it feels like authors don't want to portray a stronger woman. No, she must go through some shit in her life, usually regress and then get her shit together, as if there is no other way.

Another pet peeve of mine is how many novels starts from basically a scene that will happen in the future and we start flashbacking starting from chapter 2 and wait for many chapters before we reach the point which I don't understand, just start from something crucial, why drag it out we know what will happen, no one writes this type of 1st chapter spoiler like Koreans do.

Let's start from neutral, which I am waiting to continue.

Husband Exchange

#regression, rofan, intrigue

May not be a good start since the FMC felt a bit too guarded in her bubble world, beginning is not impressive, but I kinda want to see her dynamic with MMC, if they will be able to marry and break his curse and she will avenge herself after her awekening. But if it will be another boring story I will drop.

Sotry starts from FMC being murdered by her half-sister (illegitimate daughter) who seduced FMC's fiance and even got pregnant (classic jealous girl that wants everything that doesn't belong to her and always acts two-faced). FMC loved her sister and treated her well which allowed her to move in this society, big mistake. FMC aims at husband exchange, discarding her former unfaithful fiance and marrying a cursed Duke, hoping to break his curse and avenge herself destroying her family, after al he's the only one who can ever oppose Imperial family.

Good thing she is so fixated on it and I wait something out of her.

My Sister's Man

#amnesia, terminal illness, chasing wife

A bit weak middle, but overall it's a great story so far. I usually hate amnesia as a trope, but here I liked that author pulled sort of twist on us.

FMC wakes up with no recllection of herself during past 4 years. She learns that she is notorious and she stole her sister's man and married him, she can't believe it. We slowly learn the truth, which is truly great twist for the reader. A lot of thought is put into details of why characters do and act as they do.

FMC also has a Blanche Syndrom, she knows she won't live long and will enter eternal sleep one day, but here's the dilemma, she loves her husband dearly but also doesn't want him to be sad because of her, thus a lot of conflict plays out between them.

Eventually MMC falls for her and realizes things about the past they actually had and he tries to return her, but it's futile. 

I basically have last chapters to read to see how they will wrap it up, I hope it'll play out nicely, otherwise it'll be such a waste for all the good work done prior.

Beginning and a lot of good drama were very exciting. Loved how the story was laid out and all the emotional distress.

The Witch's Revenge is Fierce and Regal

#regression, rofan, revenge

This one seems pretty interesting. Although FMC maybe comes across as being a bit naive in her past life (usually it all boils down to the fact they're young and impressionable), but here she is really framed and has no idea how they managed to do so. It's all about the pact between two families and magic and curses.

She regresses and proposes to the Second Prince. Girl becomes fierce quite early when she realizes her worth and applies her authority. Gone was the abused girl of past life (again, this is what I'm talking about when I say all FMCs have some crappy past life and this is why they don't notice the people they love are fake af). In her family she lives life worse than a servant because she is illegitimate, but she has her magical power, while the direct son doesn't and won't manifest his powers. This allowed her to stand on a higher ground and use her power.

Vengeance Should be Grim and Regal

#revenge, intrigue

Both characters are pretty suss, very easy to read story, like a page-turner, quite entertaining.

FMC has no idea that the person she loves and because of whom she envies her sister is actually a monster. Her sister was tortured and she also died young.

FMC regresses and wants to make the second prince successor to the throne and elliminae the trash prince.

She has a peculiar situation at home where her father chose political marriage instead of true love at first, but when his wife died he married for love. Because of his attitude the maids at home always badmouthed her wherever, but at the same time her sister April (which is so far a good character) suffered from same treatment, although ppl praised her, but they did so by using her as a tool too, not truly praising her for something good, but just for doing anything. Which I found unique to this story.

I'm the Emperess with a bad ending but I got pregnant with the Tyrant's child

#rofan, misunderstandings, intrigue

What a fucking long title.

It was fine. She indeed has reasons to conceal that she got pregnant and the Emperor is the father, before he changed for better he lived only thinking about revenge because of who he is. Later when things started to change it was a blooming love. Eventually she decided to leave for a reason (although to me her reasoning was a bit far-fetched) because she thought it's going to save him, but it didn't. The ending is actually great I think. At least it was interesting overall.

To my arrogant master

#rofan, regretful MMC

This is also fine, not finished reading.

MMC actually has no redeemable qualities at first, I wonder how it will go on because he starts seeing atrocities of his actions in second half of the story. But by that time their positions changed.

He did and said some nasty stuff to her, have no idea how she fell for his ass at first, but good thing she is resolute in what she does when she left him.

FMC starts a bit like a blank canvass due to what happened to her, she has amnesia and remebers little of her past and boy she does have one.

At first she lives with MMC and he promises her a life different from battlefield, but honestly it all was pretty lame, snce he still has his own prejudices etc. Even the fact that it was he who dragged her for the first time became her fault since he remembered nothing. Instead of telling her the truth he led her to believe in things that hurt her heart and she decided to leave him for good.

She also regained her memories.

Love how she avenged her parents, no bs, just straight action.

Be cautious when reviving your trash ex-husband

#rofan, posession of a different body, regression

This one sounds interesting, really fun to read.

FMC loved her husband but then he suddenly died, she used the artefact of hers to turn back time, but when she wakes up she becomes a notorious fallen noble lady, while her body is occupied by this notorious lady.

Only prince recognized her as she changed.

But FMC realizes that her husband was unfaithful before their marriage and during courting he met with his mistress, the body she no occupies.

I'm really intrigued to see how it goes.

Yes, I'm insanely desperate to die

#rofan

Pretty intrigued by this one. FMC is a bit unhinged now, also world-weary, but actually her situation is peculiar. She regressed several time, but each time ends badly, also she can't die because her body is immortal, there is only one person who can help her. She lived for her family in one life, she avenged herself in another life. Now things are different again.

Please don't take revengeon your sister-in-law

FMC awakens and realizes she's in a plot where her SIL will avenge herself and destroy their family. Her SIl married her brother who used her as a shield. She herself is a villain SIL who will torture the poor girl as well. Who cares about others, but she wants to survive and also her SIL is so good and cute. 

It has strong female friendship vibes where FMC tries hard to make her sister-in-law better, she helps her a lot, I'll gladly continue reading.

NOW TIME FOR RANT

The Contract Wife is Leaving Now

#awakening

Weak-ass FMC again, again bullied by her family (stepmother) and she actually wants revenge but of course it comes from a man who makes everything convenient.

She is awakened and knows she's part of the plot and will die in a year.

Basically her stepmother poisoned her, but with that knowledge it took her so long to avenge herself like why.

Also she acted like a total bitch to me, like hey we should pity her, but the rest of people who cared for her but she didn't want to get close since she will die, she treated them coldly, so how is she better?

Here she didn't say she was ill because she wanted to get away from her abusive home. But honestly later I couldn't root much for her and it was such a meh story that I DNF'd it.

I know for a fact that she later becomes immune to the poison and everything is okay, but also the later part of the story involves some woman who in the story is future wife of her husband who marries ten years later after her death.

All I could think of was - meh

I'm not against a story where a person knows they're ill, it's pretty depressing thing, but at the same time you wait something to be said about the process. Some stories have such great relationships developed during lowest points of life.

I stole the Emperor's first night

Honestly not the best impression. I forgot if she transmigrated.

Anyway, she knows her future, so she decided to change it by becoming a swordmaster.

Instead of coming back she goes on a mission (alone, mind you, this idiot is so full of herself that she chases after a monster aone into unknown territory, I'm not even mad she lost her ability since stupid don't deserve good things) and loses all her acquired abilities in a scheme (which also sounds stupid like how did they lure how out? she found a random mission on a board and they lured her with this monster). I laughed so hard at the description how she heard a blades of a helicopter while it were wings of a monster. Imagine that SOUND.

Forgot if this is the one where "he grabs her by her pelvis", but even if he doesn't it really matters not, most web novels that are 18+ have worst sex scenes I've read.

I laugh like a bitch at sex scenes in Koreab web novels, nothing is as close at making you asexual as their description of sex. I feel as if I'm in anatomy class, no delicate and intimate descriptions that entice instead of being vulgar.

Anyway, she returns defeated by the fact of losing power and spends the night with Emperor the very first ball... girl spreads legs faster than anyone because well, he's handsome and she can't refuse that face.

ewe.

DOn't even BothEr to upload the cover because fuck it.

I married my younger sister's fiance

Could have been better. The overall ipression I got was shallow, though I liked the idea of FMC's power and how the prophecy in this story actually should have sounded like.

FMC and her sister were like day and night, but it played on the topic of she is the night but shunned for her appearance even if she is true child of prophecy who will save the world from darkness, while her sister is always showered with love, even if her nature becomes cruel and she even blinded people.

The story could have been better if it showed more the world and how the prophec and everything else influenced the lives of people instead of being mostly about some petty fighting and a lot of nonsense.

The Villainess has no regrets in this life

Simply childish. The writing and characters and the story.

FMC sometimes acted like a kid who wanted to show off and she did. Not realizing it brought her more troubles or could do so. She always repeats how she wants to get away from her family, but author portrays her as someone who seeks validation by continuously showing off almost, which is a fail if it was intended to look cool. It doesn't and she should be someone older in a younger body. Also story has many logical flaws.

Shallow story, maybe younger audience will like it but I think even younger audience doesn't deserve something this childish and not cool

I ran away with the obsessive male lead's child

Elves? Seriously?

Also just reading the beginning made me dnf since it was such nonsense. Fucking gorgeous cover though. Again, attend writing classes plz

I don't want to be a villainess or Empress

This story gave me the ick of "here goes another dumb female protagonist"

She regresses during crucial moment, knows what she is framed for and by who (she experienced it all in previous life), but in the end basically follows through and even is influenced by people she should hate the most in her life. Isn't that dumb? I think it is dumb.

She says she regrets that she caused the person who is now Emperor so much shit, but instead of doing something for him and atone for her sins she just stood there and waited for the scene to pass by. Basically her own protection still came first.

I find it dumb because if she did something or not rumors will spread anyway, so she is ruined by now, but she thinks she can just move away from the situation. That's how an empty-head thinks.

But when the current Empress Dowager calls on her and makes her feel guilty to the point she agrees to become consort of the Emperor ffs I closed it with rage burning in my heart. At that point I didn't want to continue.

The one who holds the fake princess night after night.

Again doesn't deserve to have a cover uploaded, but girl has some boobies.

This story is so garbage, that it's hard to come across garbage like that. Another traumatised woman who knows nothing as if she was born yesterday, another abusive asshole who took her to play his sister? And then you know what they did.. gives me the ick.

Also another case where MMC repents only at the very end.

My husband regrets now that I want to repay him

Another pretty cover, but shit content, at least the beginning where she has misunderstandings about her husband for having an affair with no proof. I hate this type of "I assume he has someone, but I have no solid proof just based on the past things I interpreted my own way". Surely he doesn't help the situation since he acts like an asshole not really caring his own mother and supposed mistress bully his own wife.

People don't understand what a romance is. He also traps her in a contract again because of her father when she finally was on the verge of gaining her freedom. never understood these FMCs who are portrayed as almost saints even if they're treated as shit. Why no one hired someone to beat the living shit out ofsomeone like her father, just for the sake of some satisfaction.

The Grand Duke only seeks the lady

DNF. Some childish bs.

The Grand Duke is obsessed with the fake villainess

The problems here are suck out of thin air it's irritating.

Also such a dumb beginning I can't. She agreed to a deal because Crown Prince asked her and she wanted exclusive rights for her family business, but when her reputation took a nose dive she continued with their deal even if she saw how unreliable he was. I mean, who wants to cooperate with you when your reputation is on the bottom of a barrel. How can you rely on words of a person who acts like that. I understand that she should be mature for her age, but at the same time she acts like brain matter left the building.

She is dumb and supposed-to-be-smart at the same time. Which is too contradictory.

Such dumb and overly melodramatic story it's embarrassing.

I will refuse the villainous father's proposal

Another garbage FMC. Why do they have heads? Only to be pretty.

In her own words she hates men like MMC because he is a father with a child... wut? Also because Cedric is pretty strict.. is it bad?

But she almost instantly disregards anything when a real villain appears and she should be the one who read the story before she transmigrated. She didn't clock that a man in front of her is just a sleazy bastard and she is deaf and numb to even caring to know more. If she did she'd find this dude caused the death of women, was a womanizer and was just a pile of walking trash.

But no.

Fuck this, another irritating story where we can't simply sack someone (I started missing Chinese stories where people were sacked and beaten just for the sake of petty revenge, but we should have honor here! fuck it).

Even if she will change her opinion later, but hoenstly... nope.

No, with my blood pressure I need to stop right there, admittedly there are still some titles left out but whatever. They're not worth me going feral right now.

Anyway, these are my opinions.

[TV] Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Season 3)

Well, I binged and I finally finished the series. So here comes the happy ending, but only after I finish watching the movie ahaha

(I chose posters randomly)

So, the 3rd season is actually shorter and the series is heading towards a finale. This is what I would have thought if I watched it upon release.

Anyway, what happened in the third season kinda flew past my head, because I thought we were over Phryne and her dalliances, apparently not. And this kinda didn't reach me. Also I'm the one who doesn't wait virtue from Phryne, but among the push and pull between her and Jack it just looked out of place? Maybe it's just my thing. 

Note: After reading a bit about the series it was based on I think I prefer the TV series. I'm biased 100%, but also it's just shocking how different the two works are.

But I'll be honest that it was a bit weaker than first two. Not saying that it wasn't enjoyable. I just felt that first two had more fun moments to them.

Overall it's a good conclusion, emotionally or smartly we get over our differences and conflicts.

The stories are always diverse and interesting. While the first season overarching story was about Phryne's sister. Second finished on a grand finale of justice. And the third one is a secret of Phryne's father.

And while the two main characters had their own thing going on, we also had Dot and Hugh trying to figure things out before their marriage (this is why i say wit was involved, because the way how they solved the problem wit the priest was brilliant to me).

Note: Random. Was surprised to find out that Phryne got arachnophobia, which also reminded me - damn, Australia is a place full of some crazy spiders and not only, it's interesting how long it took to introduce some of it.

And at the very end I'm happy to admit that this is what I was waiting for, coolest slow burn, sizzling emotions, heated emotions in those eyes that look so longingly, never-ending flirting, having a bit of rough time before finally two hearts connecting. They created one of the greatest on-screen romances to me ❤

Now I'm off to finish it all with a movie~ I know the movie rating is lower, but I don't care, I need more of these two~.

[TV] Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Season 2)

I'm binge-watching this show, it's incredible!

The bar never rose this high, now I really won't be able to look at other couples with the same tolerating eyes as before. I came to absolutely adore these two characters.

Miss Phryne Fisher yet again solves her mysteries, while she and Jack start to develop tender feelings for each other.

But unlike previous post that was simply fangirling about Phryne and Jack, this time around I can't skip on Dot.

We should all admit that Dot had the most character change out of entire cast. She starts as a simple maid and then helps Miss Fisher around the house, before she starts being invlved with solving mysteries along her. Her views change, but it doesn't mean he nature changes too. She now sees values in herself and what she does and doesn't want to change it for the safe and boring married life of ironing shirts and waiting for her husband to return (the conflict at the end of Season two between her and Hugh). Unlike her initial stage where she was even afraid of telephones and electricity. She lived in a frame. Yet it doesn't mean that her kind nature changed, she's still devout, still pure-hearted, just a nice young woman.

I liked that social commentary, especially on women, was not done so into your face and was rubbed into your eyes at every turn.

Miss Fisher of courese the most vocal character because she sees the wrongs of the world, but she doesn't have a messiah comples to save everyone. She may reach out to someone who needs her help, but she realizes she can't help everyone.

I liked that such things were shown through a prism of reality and not the unrealistic plot where everyone agrees that it's wrong but they all continue to live like that or they simply say it just for the fact of saying it.

Our characters live in their own world, surrounded by like-minded people, but not isolated in a bubble. Through others wee see those glimpses.

For example, one of the most striking moment is the episode of a drowned girl, when Miss Fisher sees the place the girl worked at and see that young girls worked all day long in the laundry room, slaving away for no pay, yet the church people said that they should be thankful for roof over their head etc. Commented by women too. Yet because of beliefs to them these orphaned girls were nothing more than sinners, children of illicit relationships etc. Thus unworthy.

But this is what reality looked like and I want to see something similar in such details.

Or another episode when a an poisoned his wife because she wanted to have her own life decisions.

Coming back to Hugh, although he is one of the quartet, but still they had a conflict based on the fact that Dot wanted to continue working for Miss Fisher, she wanted to be someone more than a housewife. Of course ti was all resolved, but even someone like Hugh had partly some of that classical thinking and I think it was okay to demonstrate it like that instead of making him too perfect and too modern-thinking. Because this how people thought before.

It is always a problem to me when I read something historical when authors make almost everyone too modern-thinking and they all comment how badly women were treated, but they don't really show it. I like authors who truly pay attention to such details. Just show it and the viewer will surely catch on how unfair it was because the heart will burn with emotions by wanting to rip someone apart.

To me the show perfectly balanced the commentary with entertainment, the action with thought.

But let's return to my favorite part - Phryne and Jack.

I liked that even their relationship got a bit shaky, even if they don't say anything explicit, sometimes things they said was better than confessions. Honestly, at times it felt like they're having heart eyes for each other without reservation.

Yet it was good to see than not everything is perfect. Honestly the emotions when Jack explained how unbearable it was when he received that message and thought Phryne got into a car accident were so good. He would never want her to change, after all he came to like her because of who she is, but at the same time it's also a torment of caring for her and being worried sick. Even though most of the times he caught her it was made fun of, yet it was also dangerous many times.

Based on the first season we know Jack divorced, almost background event. But the detail is that it coincided with how their relationship with Phryne developed. It was the right thing to do. In the second season we finally witness the famous ex-wife Rosie, who surely has eyed Phryne with displeasure, it is so subtle, much better than if they had open hostility or some cliche dialogues. Instead we may speculate that maybe Rosie was still hung up on her ex, despite having a new fiance. As Aunt Prudence said - quite devoted for an ex-wife.

But they wouldn't be Phryne and Jack if things ended there❤

RATE: 10/10.

[TV] Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Season 1)

Thank you gods of random recommended.

If I only knew that when you search for a lady detective, good murder mystery, great plot, great characters and amazing tension between two main leads this would have been a result. Problem is I never made a requiery. So I suppose the algorithm or the watchful eyes heard me gushing about the murder mystery + romance niche too many times and it gave me this present.

I had no idea such series existed, it's good that it comes at a right time, because I enjoyed it immensely! I'm ready to GUSH about it all night long!

EXCUSE ME! HELLO! EVRYBODY SHOULD WATCH IT!

A lady detective? Yes, please.

Phryne Fisher is an amazing character. So much strength, so much care. This is how you write a strong female lead. Aging gracefully she is a charmer, she has a rich history and loves her freedom. Phryne finds herself poking her nose into different cases then starts her own career as a lady detective. You will always find her on the cusp of danger, since she never stays idle.

An let's not forget detective inspector who learns that the best way is not to stop Phryne, she also has a way to get a lot of clues to solve the case.

And OMG THE TENSION. I can't even stress enough how great the chemistry between these two actors is. The acting, the small gestures, so good! I love how their character have this initial dislike, but they accept each other and then start to care and appreciate each other. With tease and such, but never crossing the line. Jack is the only man who still has the will not to succumb completely. This glorious yearning!

They managed to bring a perfect couple to life. When I talk chemistry I want to see something like theirs, when I say yearning, I want something like what they feed me. It's delicious.

It's the rare moment that you look at the characters and think - just kiss already! but at the same time you're not mad that they have such strong emotions for each other.

But despite it all, I love how they portrayed it. Came as a surprise that Jack was actually married, but separated from his wife (never appeared in S1), then mostly in the background we know he's getting a divorce, but I love this as a detail, because before it he ight never had plans for a divorce, unless his wife asked him, he's the type of guy who would follow what woman asks him. But I also see it as a sign that his heart is no longer with his wife as well and the most honest thing to do is to let go.

Another detail that comes across is how Phryne has several relationships, but at some point we don't see her with anyone again till the season ends. I wonder if it will become a norm or no later.

I love the writing of this series. I honesty do. Each character gets a slow development. Secondary characters matter, you care for the entire cast because they bring something to the table. Especially Dot who is most influenced by Miss Fisher, yet she and Hugh are the cutest couple. So much action but also emotion. A lot of show, don't cut corners.

And also I have no idea who worked behind the scenes, but they did such a great job at everything. The costumes, the settings, everything looks great.

Not to mention that actors themselves. Everyone plays their age, wow. I know it was a strange part to be surprised about, but imagine my shock when I see actors who don't have botox or plastic faces, no shining teeth that look unnatural. This should be a common thing for screen though! No one looks like they've been to a salon ffs. Should stop myself from going on a tangent.

Anyway, it's amazing, for those who love this type of story it's a perfect pick! 10/10!

❤👀

Just to show how FUNNY these two are and the tension OMG. Found perfect video~

THEY ARE HYSTERICAL! My bar is now raised so high, if any pairing can't reach the same level I'm sure I'll be saying - it's not Phryne and Jack though

[NOVEL] A Malevolent Connection by Lynn Messina

We're back reading about Beatrice.

Despite suffering a few initial setbacks, the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare has settled into her new position nicely.

Thanks to Lady Abercrombie’s machinations, she has secured the admiration of society and finally earned the respect of her staff. Even the lessons in defending herself, which her husband, the Duke of Kesgrave, insists she take if she wants to continue in her dangerous avocation, are going well. Save for the dreaded pineapple chunks chef André insists on putting in her beloved rout cakes, everything is perfect.

But then she learns from a most unlikely source that Kesgrave’s malevolent uncle is scheming to destroy her happiness. Determinedly, she resolves to meet the threat head on—a plan that immediately goes awry when the duke asks her to allow him to handle the matter.

Stand idly by while dark forces muster?

Well, no, Bea can’t possibly do that—especially not when the villainous relation winds up bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.

Beatrice Hyde-Clare. Book 8

I had true laugh out loud moment when book started with Bea and her pineapple dilemma. Honestly, I love when book has some of their own quirks, even if it doesn't really matter, but it adds to the picture nontheless. I've seen the latest covers, imagine me just rolling around because it had the pineapple on it, this joke is never ending.

Otherwise it felt so good to be back. Witty writing style, fun and easy-going plot. Everything set for you to have a good time if you're up for it.

This time the story is more about Beatrice and Damien instead of it centering on the mystery.

Since the two became married they did not have any conflicts, it doesn't mean what this book describes is a big conflict they had, but it's still a pretty obvious hurdle that was expected. And what is really great that the two of them take it upon themselves to communicate instead of shtting down. Well, at one point Damine was most insistent on that and props to him.

Thing is both Beatrice and Damien lived such different lives and of course to Beatrice what happens between the two of them is much more than she could have ever expected from a huasband, someone who promised to be equal with her. But the only problem arising was that sometimes Damien makes decisions without prior discussion with her, even if he bases it on his own knowledge of her. But what she wants is to be true equals, were they talk and discuss, it doesn't mean she wants to always win the argument, she can do as he wants if he presents his argument. But for that they need most basic communication face-to-face. And it's not like Damien did those things maliciously, it's just the bad habit of who they were until their marriage. Both she and him has been living a completely different life with completely different expectations from their partners, then they fell in love, even if they were so different. They can't change with a snap, but they still have enough love and respect for communicating like adults.

This is what I found the most central to anything else.

I mean I love their moments together, they share a lot of tender affection. It's interesting to see them grow and change. Beatrice is not someone who wants her husband to change solely for her and not put any effort, even if he promised her she can do as much. Same for him.

What I love the most about the serie sis that you really can't take one and read it, it's such a fascinating tapestry that slowly reveals itself. Even mysteries themselves have connection to Bea and her husband or not.

As mention this time mystery is not so prevelent and it's not a big deal. Although the mystery is connected to Damien's uncle who actually planned to hire someone to make him a widower.

True to her self Bea at first actually did not put much into it, some that she admitted to have as this carelessness, which was not malicious or thoughtless. Only a week ago she protected herself from an intruder and she is safe and sound, so maybe that emboldened her to think less of the real threat before she realized it's not as innocent.

This also adds to their overall dynamic because Damien always cares for her safety, while she can bolt somewhere without thinking much about it.

But the mystery itself is solved pretty quickly, only knowing most of what participants of it had to say for Bea to come to conclusion who did it and why.

Maybe one of the aprticipants will be appearing again in future book, I have no idea, it's just usually like that.

Otherwise I'm not spoiling the rest of it, it's such a short book and it's actually a delight to read.

RATE: 4/5.

[Korean BG novel] Cling to me, even if you hate it / 싫어도 내게 매달려

To be honest I was surprised to like it as much as I did. As not a big fan of angst this has a lot of it. But I can bear drama, if it has reasoning behind it and not simply a tragedy for the sake of being a tear-jerker and nothing more.

#regression, drama, misunderstandings, political intrigue, second chance

Ariana regresses in time and it's been some time of her and Kenneth being married. In her previous life she was despised by him and everyone around him all because of her family.

Kenneth and Ariana actually met a long time ago when she was still a girl, she was always kept inside by her cruel mother and not allowed to have anything because everything will eventually belong to her brother.

Kenneth saw a shy girl with big blue eyes that longed for going outside caught his attention, he took her out and saw her happiness. They grew up slowly and she asked him out after graduation, not realizing that her family will use that to their advantage, despite Kenneth actually supporting Ariana's brother in business, he was betrayed by her family, because of their date at opera his location was compromised and the shooting happened. Ariana thought he died, but she hoped he was still alive and safe.

Meanwhile her family rejoiced as imperial family's dogs, finally reaching the place they thought they deserved, they threw their own daughter / sister in the hands of a cruel prince who others knew as benevolent but who was abusing women behind the closed doors. What did it matter to them if she suffered?

But Kenneth returned and he pointed his rage at those who betrayed him, including Ariana's family.

When that family fell as scapegoats imperial family even benevolently offered Ariana as a bride, since she did not have time to become princess.

Ariana asked for help to be saved, but she had no idea how different her words sounded to him, who thought for all these years she betrayed him.

She loved and felt guilty, endured.

He loved and hated himself for his feelings.

Few years later when Ariana was driven to the edge she shot herself in front of her husband. But instead of dying she regressed in time where she had one more chance. All she wanted now is to ensure that she became pregnant with her daughter, the only ray of sunshine in her life. And then she wanted to disappear.

If you expect him to grovel, he will grovel. They will go through many things together to finally reunite.

I find that her ability to give him a second chance has a certain strength. As you might read it right now, you may think he does not deserve it. But you have to wait till the moment when we see the past and the Kenneth's side of the story is revealed what he did. It's a lot. Eventually by the end of the story the power dynamic changed and Ariana is the one holding reins over who is in charge. Kenneth would get along with any of her decisions and that is his atonement.

When I finished reading it I really felt like I was looking at a torn family picture that was put together again, you can see the image, but you also see the tear marks.

Maybe this will sound like I'm going on a tangent, but I liked the built-up misunderstandings between them, it's not some empty ones that characters created for themselves. They have real basis and something that created a rift between them, eventually making them lose any desire to be honest.

And Ariana held the shortest end of the stick here.

First of all, let's not forget the fact that many miss and even author to me kept not mentioning when it should have been mentioned. During the opera attack it wasn't just Kenneth who was targetted but his parents were killed in a gruesome way. He knew his location was compromised because of Ariana, but despite her screams she was dragged before she could do anything.

Later she was claimed to "seduce the Crown Prince", basically her reputation was ruined by imperial family and her own. There was one striking moment when the prince told her to smile otherwise she knew the consequences and for survival she smiled as brightly as she could, that became a photo in a newspaper that Kenneth saved and looked at from time to time to remind himself of her betrayal.

Imagine being betrayed like that. He was already prejudiced towards her but then she asked to save her. He loved her and wouldn't actually want anything to happen to her, but he loathed himself and this feeling.

Eventually she was guilty for what her family did and thought it was unforgivable, but she also still loved him, this is why she endured a lot from him. The staff didn't treat her with care because of their master's attitude and they even openly discussed what would happen if a true lady came into their household.

The breaking point for her was the loss of her daughter who was only year old. With no adequate medical care the girl was gone. And the father did not treat this episode with care.

Later she shot herself and regressed.

Now she wanted to only have her daughter and disappear. Many of what happened created and built small misunderstandings as well. Like the Theodora, the woman everyone waited to become next Kenneth's wife (which was far from Kenneth's plans, he never wanted this union everyone talked about). Or Kenneth actually thought she still had something for crown prince (again, because of that photo and she also tried to escape once at very unopportunate time). And Kenneth loathed imperial family, they were the ones who orchestrated the whole incident, but pushed Ariana's family as scapegoats and he couldn't really raise the coup, but he could undermine their influence.

The way we deal with imperial family is a separate line, but honestly it comes to others as surprise that Theodora belongs to a family who are praised for standing up behind Kenneth but actually acted under imperial order now. They planned to place Theodora as a wife and slowly swallow the family worth behind Kenneth.

Even Ariana's image slowly changes because of revelations about the crown prince. But does she care? Not.

During an incident she takes a chance to disappear finally and after few years she and her cute daughter now live happily. Although it's still sad to see how while she gives everything to her daughter she can't protect her from all harm and prejudice as a single mother.

Meanwhile Kenneth was still searching for them, he believed that before he sees her body he won't stop searching. I mean he even visited graveyards, imagine going there in search of your beloved woman.

This is big spoilers but the fantasy part mainly concerns their regression and unfairness towards Ariana, all thanks to nun. She asked Kenneth to not let the war happen when it was in imperial family interests, when they can't usurp his wealth through a wife then they want to ligitimately occupy his resources of his own territory. He worked tirelessly, mind you knowing that he buried his wife and also his daughter was buried too. He only hoped that she will be able to regress, not to the ideal time, but at least somewhere when their daughter was not born yet. Eventually he achieved what he was hoping for, but he died for the cause. He regains those memories only later in the novel. Of course he is devastated by everything, but the moment is interesting, before he regained memories he was acting how he would always do, a bit of manipulation a bit of emotion, but from that point on he realized the weight of his actions and he would move only according to her will. He might perish, but she must stay safe.

What I liked the most when he told her - Nothing is your fault, all my words and all my actions are my sins to bear.

This time when he said he will act only as he wishes she could finally believe him, she stopped being afraid and feel guilty for everything. Which also allowed her to give him a second chance and give them a try.

All in all angsty novel, but I think it's a good one. Rare for these novels to have such a good background work done that make you believe why they have certain attitudes etc. As characters they slowly grow and change. Their love also changes.

RATE: 5/5.

[MANHWA] On The Way To Meet Mom / 엄마를 만나러 가는 길 by GOMYANG

This is the best thing I've read in a while.

Despite such an obviously-sounding title the premise of this manhwa is what surprised me the most (the lore of this world he lives in).

This story is short but so precious, I recommend anyone to give it a go, you definitely won't regret it.

Because I came into reading this with zero spoilers, except for knowing the title and the cover (the very exact one of the manhwa itself, which attracted me in the first place). This is why I'd like to give a vague summary as well.

A found child was brought into child protection facility where Mori meets other children and slowly learns new things. Such as there are parents, such as there is a mom. As time goes by he receives his first letter and is told that he now has a patron, the letter is simple "hello" and the gifts are simple and well-thought. Seeing his friend reunite with their mother Mori starts to imagine what his mother would look like, so he sets on a journey to meet mom.

Now spoilers~