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Kdramas February 2024

Hi, dreamies! Tomorrow we enter into a new month… which means we have new kdrama releases! I’m writing this before even knowing which are yet, but I hope there are some exciting ones.

BRANDING UN SEONGSU

"So Eun Ho is the oldest intern in charge of the marketing agency and is known for his cuteness and youthful appearance. Despite living life as a 'YOLO' enthusiast, he unexpectedly entered the job market and began his internship. He clashes with his boss, the workaholic Kang Na Eon, at every turn.

Succeeding in every project she takes on, Kang Na Eon is the youngest marketing team leader and a living legend in the industry. She started out as a public recruiter, climbing the corporate ladder to become an executive, all while sacrificing friendships and love for success. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes entangled in an incident with an intern she initially thought was foolish, completely turning her world upside down overnight.

What will unfold as the souls of two people who hated each other because of their very different values swap bodies following an unexpected kiss?"

Episodes: 24 Release Date: February 5 - March 11 Thriller, Business, Romance, Supernatural

A KILLER PARADOX

"The story follows Lee Tang, an ordinary college student, who gets into an argument with a customer during a part-time job at a convenience store at night, unconsciously swings a hammer, and kills him. Suffering from guilt and fear of murder, Lee Tang learns one day that the person he killed was a serial killer and slowly realizes that he has a supernatural ability to identify "bad seeds". He soon becomes a dark hero who punishes people who committed unethical evils in the past. A cold-blooded, charismatic and persistent detective starts to chase Lee Tang."

(Source: mydramalist)

Episodes: 8 Release Date: February 9 Thriller, Mystery, Comedy, Supernatural

WEDDING IMPOSSIBLE

"Na Ah Jeong works as an extra actress. She's talented as an actress, but she has not been recognized for her work at all. She has experience acting as a married woman, but in real life, her dating life is on the back burner due to her difficult reality. She has a male friend named Lee Do Han, whom she has known for 15 years.

Do Han is the son of a chaebol family that runs the LJ Group. He is pushed to get married by his family, but he has a secret that he can't marry. Do Han turns to his friend Ah Jeong and asks if she would act like his wife and daughter-in-law of his family. She accepts the offer and prepares to play the first leading role in her life as Do Han's wife.

At that time, she has an unexpected disrupter. That person is Lee Ji Han, who is Do Han’s younger brother. Ji Han has ambitions to make his older brother, Do Han, the successor of the LJ Group. Ji Han works hard to achieve his goal, but his plan is disrupted by his brother's sudden wedding announcement. Ji Han now tries to prevent his brother's wedding and he brings Yoon Chae Won into the picture as his brother's potential bride."

(Source: mydramalist)

Episodes: 12 Release Date: February 26 - April 2 Comedy, Romance, Drama

THE IMPOSSIBLE HEIR

The illegitimate son of a Korean conglomerate owner and his ambitious childhood friend are determined to rise to the top of the societal food chain, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

Kang In Ha was born into poverty in a single-parent household. Despite his lack of resources, In Ha was determined to succeed. He discovered that his father is the chairman of Kang Oh Group, a highly successful corporation, and leaves behind his life of poverty to achieve his dreams.

In Ha, who is shunned by his new family, teams up with his intellectually gifted friend Han Tae Oh. Together, they devise a plan from a young age to take over the company and claim their positions at the top of society. As they achieve success, their climb to the top is threatened by an equally ambitious woman who has a troubled past similar to theirs. She could potentially ruin all of their plans.

(Source: mydramalist)

No official poster out yet. Will update

Episodes: Unknown Release Date: February Business, Drama

How could I not know that Lee Jae Wook was appearing in a new drama?! I need to watch this ASAP. Unfortunately, the exact release date is not out yet and we don't even have a poster (I'm writing this on the 29th of January, in case it changes), so deep inside I feel it may not come out this month.

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❝˚✧｡˚ the last immortal ˚｡✧˚❞

❝˚✧｡˚ the last immortal ˚｡✧˚❞

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My First Xianxia

Hello there my dreamies! I came up with that name, dreamies, to call my readers, what do you think? It sounds cute.

I recently watched a Xianxia for the first time because an online friend recommended it to me. I’ve always loved fantasy, and this genre seemed to have something I’d enjoy. Xianxia means “a fantasy TV genre based on Chinese mythology and the concept of chivalrous spirit”, literally meaning “immortal heroes”. 

The name of this Xianxia is The Last Immortal.

THE LAST IMMORTAL - BASIC INFORMATION

Episodes: 40 (45 mins)

Release dates: Dec 11, 2023 - Jan 4, 2024

Genres: Romance, Wuxia, Drama, Fantasy

In a world full of wonder and enchantment, Feng Yin, a female spirit, sets out on a journey to collect the pieces of her scattered immortal essence while navigating the complexities of her true identity. Accompanying her on this quest is Gu Jin, the son of the "true god", whose magical powers have been sealed, making their relationship all the more intricate.

Once master and servant, their dynamic transforms amidst personal challenges. They begin to develop a deep connection that suggests the potential for a stronger bond. As their fates become intertwined, Feng Yin and Gu Jin embark on a transformative journey to retrieve her immortal essence, fueled by admiration and trust.

(Source: mydramalist)

REVIEW - NO SPOILERS

I watched it in one week. 40 episodes. I’ve never watched a drama so fast in my entire life. I have not uploaded last week’s Thursday’s blog because I needed to finish this drama to talk about it.

The characters in the story were exceptionally well-crafted. Usually, I tend to like the male lead characters more, but in this particular case, it was the female lead character that caught my attention. At the start of the story, she appears cute and charming. She is shown as a weak character due to her low power. However, her personality is so strong that she sets what’s right and wrong clearly in her mind, and is determined to do the right thing, even if it means facing the consequences. 

The male lead in the show was amazing. He is very loving and caring towards everyone around him, to the extent that he would even sacrifice his own existence just to ensure their happiness and well-being. Although he initially appears to be a foolish character, as the show progresses, he emerges as an even stronger character.

The supporting characters are incredibly well-developed, each with their own unique personalities that mesh perfectly with the story.

One of my favorite parts of the drama is the character development.

In regards to the romantic relationship, there are not many physical actions involved. Nevertheless, their connection is incredible and their way of loving each other is very passionate and dramatic, sometimes even shocking. 

The world-building was amazing. Everything was stunning, and though the story of the immortals was initially hard to understand, it was very captivating.

REVIEW - SPOILERS

I would like to share my thoughts on two memorable scenes that I came across in dramas. For me, a drama that has iconic scenes that stay with you forever is what makes it memorable. The first scene that truly touched my heart was when Qing Yi destroyed Cloud Condensing Mountain, which was Ah Yi’s home. She was deeply hurt and sad, and her cries felt so real that it made me cry too. 

Later, Qing Yi planned to seal her immortal bones, but unfortunately, her immortal core was already damaged, which meant that she would end up being killed. When Qing Yi found out about this, he ran towards her to stop it, but it was too late. In a state of shock, he hugged her tightly as she disappeared right before his eyes.

The scene hurt a lot, it created a lot of emotions in me, and I still remember the huge impact it had on me. The effect of that scene was so significant that it stayed with me long after I had watched it.

In the second scene, Feng Yi discovers all that Qing Yi had done for her. She tells him that they should forget about everything that happened. Qing Yi asks her what they should forget, referring to the moments when she ignored him and the hurt she felt because of him, or all the loving moments they spent together. In response, she kissed him in a beautiful moment that made me want to shout, "Finally!"

I really enjoyed watching the drama, but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. The drama was full of intense emotions, but the ending felt plain and lackluster. Although I appreciated the significance of the pear blossom tree forest scene, where the male lead was revived, I was hoping for a more satisfying conclusion. I expected the couple to at least hug each other, but they just looked at each other, leaving me wanting more.

RATING

Characters: 10

Plot / world-building: 10

Music: 10

Acting: 10

Ending: 7.5

Overall: 9.5

[eddydreaming]

University: First Experience

Hello everyone! How are you all doing today? I wanted to take a moment to share my experiences during my first year of university, specifically focusing on the recent completion of my first semester. I thought it would be nice to reflect on how the semester went and share my thoughts with you.

BEFORE ENTERING UNIVERSITY

The year preceding my enrollment in the University was one of the toughest years of my life. However, it was also one of the best years in terms of friendships, as I had a lot of friends whom I love dearly. During that time, I even had a romantic involvement with a guy, but unfortunately, it did not end well. If you are interested in knowing more about it or if I feel comfortable talking about it, I will share the details with you.

Since the age of 14, I have wanted to pursue a degree in Translation and Interpretation. I have always been praised for my language skills, which I have enjoyed immensely. 

There are other degrees that involve learning languages, but they usually focus on the language's history, literature, and other related topics. This wasn't what I was looking for since I'm passionate about languages themselves - their structure, grammar, and vocabulary so that I can understand and speak them. 

I studied a lot and was stressed most of the time. It wasn't that this degree required a high mark, but I just wanted to ensure that I would be accepted without worrying about meeting the minimum requirements. My thought process was that if I always tried my best, I would get the highest marks possible and secure my entry into the university.

I was one of the students in my school who achieved the maximum grade. This meant that I wouldn't have to pay for my first year of university. It was an amazing feeling to be able to accomplish this after putting in so much effort. I proved what I was capable of.

LIVING IN ANOTHER CITY

Right now I am not living in a city so far away from my parents’ home, but it is far enough for me to need to move in here. My parents and I decided that the best option for the first year was to stay at a student housing. This was my first experience of being a little bit independent.

I am very happy living by myself during weekdays. I go back to my hometown on weekends. I have always enjoyed being alone and the freedom it provides me makes me even happier. This is probably because my parents have always been strict with me. Here, I don't need their permission to go out at night to have some drinks or to visit my friend's apartment to watch a series or make desserts.

MAKING FRIENDS

I was shocked when this person approached me out of the blue because I thought it would be difficult to make new friends. But he came to me by himself and we hit it off right away. We even became best friends. We first met in a class we had together on the second day of school and we've been inseparable ever since. In addition, I'm grateful to have classmates I can talk to even if we're not close friends. It's an amazing feeling because I've never experienced this before.

THE DEGREE

I had always dreamed about how amazing pursuing this degree would be for me. And even though my expectations were quite high, the degree has managed to surpass them all. I have enjoyed every class and have learned a lot about things that I am passionate about. Every day, I feel so excited to attend my classes. Of course, there are some classes that are more boring and challenging than others, and there are a few professors who are a little bit peculiar. But this is just a common thing that can happen anywhere.

Overall, I am really enjoying my first year of university. Although I know things may get harder in the future, I couldn't be happier with my current experience.

[eddydreaming]

Phone screen customization, twinkling watermelon themed!!

[eddydreaming]

Death's Game - Review

Hey there! Today I want to talk about my first kdrama of the year… Death’s Game. It is divided into two parts, but I will discuss it as if it’s only one. In my opinion, it was ridiculous to divide it into two parts, if they wanted to release the first 4 episodes first and a couple of weeks later the rest, then fine, but no need to make it have two parts. Enough complaining, let's get into it.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Episodes: 8

Release dates: December 15 2023 and January 5 2024

Main Cast:

Plot:

“He's perennially unemployed, his ex-girlfriend has moved on, and he's just lost all his life savings to a Bitcoin scam. Burdened by societal pressures, Choi Yi Jae decides to take his own life. Insulted by his flippant attitude towards dying, Death comes to punish him with her game: he must experience death over and over again through 13 other lives. But if he can find a way to survive the imminent death coming for these lives, he gets to live out their lifetime. His life was a bust, but what about the lives of others?”

(Source: mydramalist)

REVIEW - NO SPOILERS

The main reason I started watching this drama was the crazy cast it has. Like, how can it have so many famous actors? Again, it’s crazy. I mean, look at this:

Then, I decided to watch the trailer to know what I was getting myself into, and I thought, once again, that it was crazy.

My first impression of the drama, without even having watched a single episode, was huge, so the second it came out there I was. I wasn’t prepared enough though. 

The first few episodes of the show were hilarious and entertaining. However, as the story progressed, it became more intense, and before I knew it, I had already finished the first 4 episodes. Okay, it’s alright, now I only have to wait a week to watch the other 4, right? Nope, I had to wait until the 5th of January, because someone decided to torture us watchers by making us wait all that time.

The second part of the drama was even better than the first, particularly the last episode. It was the most thought-provoking thing I've watched in a while.

This drama is not for everyone: its main theme is s**cide and d**th. Of course, it can be hard to watch for many people, but the meaning of life that it tries to convey is worth everything. 

REVIEW - SPOILERS

I recommend not to read this part if you haven’t watched the drama yet. I know some people like reading spoilers and that it makes them want to watch something more, but I am gonna give huge spoilers, including the end, that will for sure affect your experience. 

Now, can we talk a little bit more about a specific character? The ML’s mother. She made me suffer A LOT. Her thinking that her son had committed s**cide because of her hurt me greatly. Because of that, the last episode was… wow. I swear I cried for a whole 30 minutes. 

I truly liked how they got to merge all the stories into one, making all the lives Yi Jae had lived linked. It was thrilling, infuriating and sad, those would be the three words that describe it the best.

One of the most shocking parts was the painter assassin’s death, a death planned by Yi Jae himself. It was horrid, and remembering while writing about it right now gives me the chills. I thought it was unplanned, but he had intended to die in such a way just as a plan for his vengeance. That is outstanding from the ML, so anguished when at the beginning seemed like such a fragile and weak person. That part is when we see the most massive change in the ML, a fundamental character development. 

The ending couldn’t have been more perfect, I couldn’t have asked for more really. He decided to live his mother's life, who had planned to s**cide. That way, he survived Death's challenge, and so she gave him another opportunity, an opportunity to get back to his life. He achieved it.

Yi Jae wanted desperately to go back to his life because he could see that the people he had left behind cared for him deeply, and they deserved him to stay alive. The end is with the ML talking with his mother, who had called him right before he jumped from that roof.

¿DO I RECOMMEND WATCHING IT?

Yes, yes and yes once more. It was shocking and I cried a lot, but it was all worth it. It’s been a while since I watched it, but I still recall the intense emotions it evoked.

The content may be too intense for some viewers. However, if you are hesitant and my review has not been enough to persuade you, go and watch the trailer or give the first episode a chance. If it doesn't capture your interest by the end of the first episode, then it may not be to your liking.

[eddydreaming]

Reading Challenge 2024

A new year means a new challenge… something that will make your readings more exciting. Well, I had a very fun idea for this year’s challenge, one I may also do. I’ll explain it to you right now.

Do you know those kind of games called Dating games? I refer to the ones where you have some photos and after choosing one it reveals what is the thing related to that image, the thing you will be having a “date” with.

That’s why this challenge will be called: “Date a Book Each Month”.

I will select several genres that you will have to be reading each month. Choosing only one book of a whole genre is so hard, so you will choose the image that appeals the most to you and… your month’s read will be elected. I decided to make two parts instead of only one, so welcome to the first one. Let’s begin!

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

We have reached the end of this post… It was an enjoyable challenge because I had to think a lot about what photos could be, even in the slightest, relatable to the book. I decided to divide it into two parts so it would not be that long, so here you have it!

I hope it was fun to do and you enjoy this reading year with this cute challenge! See you next Tuesday.

[eddydreaming]

Books I Must Read On 2024

Us readers have infinite TBRs... and that will always be like that because everytime we finish one book we add 2 or 3 more to our list. However, there are some that have been on my TBR for a long time that I would like to finally read. I have chosen 5 of them and I hope I am able to read them all.

Note: they are all books that have been on my TBR for a long time, so they will not be recent or future releases.

1) Throne of Glass

406 pages

Publishing date: August 7, 2012

Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult

"In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, Celaena, an assassin, is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass—and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world."

(Source: Goodreads)

Sarah J. Maas is one of the authors I enjoy reading the most. So far I have read ACOTAR and I'm currently reading Midnight City as it releases. Throne of Glass is another book series of her, and it looks so good, so I would love to read it as soon as possible.

2) Circe

393 pages

Publishing date: April 10, 2018

Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Retelling

"In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from or with the mortals she has come to love."

(Source: Goodreads)

I actually purchased this book a couple of weeks ago, so now I have no excuse not to read it. This book along with The song of Achiles are very well-known books by Madeline Miller, and as this is the one I found in the store, it is the one I am going to start with.

3) Gilded

Pages 502

Publishing date: November 2, 2021

Fantasy, Romance, Retelling, Fairy Tale

"Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her... for a price.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever."

(Source: Goodreads)

I have read The Lunar Chronicles and Heartless by Marissa Meyer, so I would like to read this one as it is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

4) The Way of Kings

Pages: 1007

Publishing date: August 31, 2010

Epic Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, High Fantasy

"Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war."

(Source: Goodreads)

I've been putting this off because it's 1007 pages long... But I loved the Mistborn series by Branden Sanderson, they are one of the most mind-blowing books I've read, so I'd like to read some more from him. This one is very famous, so Idecided I could go with it.

5) Divine Rivals

Pages: 357

Publishing date: April 4, 2023

Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

"After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love."

(Source: Goodreads)

This is the most recent book, but I've been wanting to read it for a while now so I decided it would be a good idea to add it to this list.

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Me? Obessed with Hidden Love? I don't know why you would say that...

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A little spread I made 🤗

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I'm not crying you are 🤧

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This man is so fine

LEE JAE WOOK COSMOPOLITAN Korea, January 2024