It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation but at the end of the day, blood trails will mix with the beach and bodies will get mangled. Dinner is served. Organs are on the plate. It's time for a feast.ย
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
Gore isn't always my preference, so it's not surprising that I abandoned this story halfway through. I did go to the last chapters to see if I would change my mind, but the ending didn't really entice me to pick it up again. Despite that, however, I still recommend the novel for those who want a quick read about a terrifying encounter with a man-eating man. It's also perfect for beginners because the story was easy to follow, and again, it was so short that you could read it in one sitting.
Si Bela Angelique Flores, isang manunulat, ay walang ibang nais kundi ang magpatuloy na magbahagi ng kanyang sining. Walang problema para sa kanya na makilala siya bilang Angelica Bellaflor, ang kanyang sagisag-panulat para sa mga kuwentong nagbibigay ng pag-asa.
Ngunit ibang usapan na si Diabla Likha, ang sagisag-panulat niya para sa mga kathang may madidilim na tema. Kanyang isinusumpa sa sarili na pananatilihin niyang lihim na iisa lamang ang katauhan nina Bela, Angelica, at Diabla maski hanggang kamatayan . . . kahit ano'ng mangyari.ย
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
I saw this a while ago and decided to read it on Wattpad since there are only ten chapters inside. The physical copy is the extended version of the story, so I didn't mind finishing it until the end to see if I was interested enough in buying the book.
It's mainly about the alter egos of Bela, a writer who dabbles with the recesses of human emotion by manipulating people whom she has relations with. Despite the short narrative, the novel perfectly illustrates her twisted character as an unhinged creativeโone who uses morally questionable ways to extract inspiration for her dark poems. As the story goes further, her cruelty became more emphasize as she unbashfully confessed to enjoying preying on people.ย ย
Overall, I enjoy reading the novel and am considering purchasing it for collection purposes. There are other elements that I love inside but I couldn't reveal it because it would spoil the story. I would also love to see a flashback of Bella's past relationships so hopefully they added that on the extension.
Once, I was feared by all who gazed upon me. For centuries, I served, defending my crops in solitude and stillness, baring my scythe as an omen.
But when the crops die around me, I find myself standing over a field of shriveled stalks.
It is her fault.
The female who has taken over my fields. She might be the new queen of these lands, but in her wake, she brings only death.
So, I will scare her away. I will reclaim these fields, and she will learn to fear me!
Until one evening, she is attacked by no other than the Crow King. She cowers behind me for protection, begging him to spare her life.
Her terror and desperation stir me into action...
Nobody, not even a god, is allowed to frighten what is MINE.ย
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
The creativity? The passion!? THE CONCEPT!? These authors are scaring tf out of me! Who would have thought that a scarecrow would be perfect as aย humanoid monster-fuckable MMC? I certainly don't, but I'm glad someone did. I would never EVER thirst for a scarecrow, but my mind was permanently altered after seeing this.
Hallowstock (the MMC) is such a sweet gentleman that it pains me that he doesn't exist in real life. His devotion to Delilah was impalpable, yet at the same time, I love how he got his own goals and motivations that clash with hers. The conflict of interest gave him his own distinct personality that I haven't seen in other male leads for a while, so it's a breath of fresh air.ย
And for Delilah? I find her hesitancy to settle in a small town very realistics. A lot of stories romanticized the trope of embracing the small-town life, so I'm glad the novel acknowledge how isolating that kind of transition would be for someone whose used to living in the city. Her uncertainty made her feel grounded and believable, she didnโt magically adapt overnight, and I appreciated that the story gave her space to wrestle with what she truly wanted.
All in all this is a weird, unexpectedly heartfelt, and unhinged story. Somehow, the book made a literal scarecrow feel more emotionally available and compelling than half the human MMCs Iโve read lately. Literature are amazing sometimes.
Amanda and Julian are doing their best to rear their five sons during the repressive dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Though the parents view themselves as apolitical, most of their sons bristle at life under martial law and turn to various forms of activism โ or to simple teenage rebellion โ for release. After the family becomes the victim of extremist violence, Amanda begins to find her own dissident voice.ย (Letterboxd)
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the free screening of Dekada '70 at the Metropolitan Theater with my childhood friend, Elle. The place is gorgeous, and I love the exhibition of our local artisans' craftsmanship, so I'm definitely looking forward to their future events.
With that being said, Dekada '70 is a gut-wrenching film that unfortunately still rings true to this dayโactivists are still labeled as terrorists, worker rights are put on the sidelines, and human rights violations still exist. What's worse is people celebrate those deaths because of political idolatry, which divided the country even more.
The Philippines is in deep plunder, plagued by corruption, deception, and false promises. Those facts are tackled vividly through the Bartolome's picture-perfect middle-class unit, with a father who provides for his family, a wife that nurtures, and five distinct sons. Under the dictatorship, their lives will soon change, tragedies will strike, and the unconditional love of a mother will be tested.
On screen multiple conversations play out. The clash between the principles of the old and the new generation. The exploitation of our countrymen in exchange for borrowed colonial power. The horrors and abuse activists suffer in the hands of the regime and the patriarchal constraints that held back the liberation of Filipina women. All in all, I learned a lot while watching Dekada '70 and would definitely recommend others to watch the film.
A 19-year-old animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world beyond her imagination (IMDB)ย
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
Words cannot describe how much I resonate with this film. As someone who's having a hard time right now, I relate a lot with Mabel because I also feel powerless with the current state of the world. Similar to her, I also question why no one cares how much the earth is suffering because of the unnecessary man-made development we did, or why we keep chasing efficiency even when it causes so much distress.
Even though the movie takes on a more pragmatic approach when it comes to dealing with the human antagonist. I still agree with Mabel's earlier notion that humans can be very cruel and selfish considering she tried to approach the mayor multiple times to stop the project. It also leaves a bad taste in my mouth when they make her team up with the same politician who couldn't care less about her and use her grief as a gateway to feel sympathy.
Yes, I know it's a children's show, and it's important for them to know that violence is not always the answer. However, I also believe that they could have written it in a way that doesn't use her bad experience as a connector.
May bagong kinababaliwan na dating app sa Lancaster High, and it's an app that an NBSB like Iris should try out. At least 'yan ang sabi ng best friend niya about the dating app Dorrem. Hindi lang in-expect ni Iris that she'd be risking more than a broken heart when she installed it on her phone.
The chats started innocently enough-if chatting with creepy dudes she would never talk to at school could be counted as innocent. One chat with a stranger, however, unnerved Iris.
It began with the words, "Help me!"
The longer she used the app, the more it felt like she was playing a dangerous game. And then one day, the rules of the app mysteriously changed.
The stakes are high for Iris.
Too bad it's too late to deactivate.ย
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
Not going to lie, as someone who tried dating apps before, I don't think the story would be so far-fetched. In fact, putting challenges on Bumble would be fun. Imagine looking for a hookup, then suddenly you need to play a deadly game of truth or dare. Oof... Kidding aside, the plot was really interesting, and hopefully the author will use the same premise again with different sets of characters.
The main couple of the book just didn't do well for me because I find them very annoying. I know that they're supposed to be young. But the amount of stupid decisions they commit because they can't communicate well irritates me. Also, if you have the prior knowledge to know that the game manipulates the partners to hate each other. WHY DO YOU KEEP FALLING FOR THE TRAP!? STOP LEAVING EACH OTHER BEHIND!!
Anyways, I'm stressing out and I need to calm down. The book was fine. It's enjoyable and nakakakilig. There are continuity problems on it, especially at the end where a major plot twist was revealed, however, I still gave it three stars because, again, the plot was interesting.
Days before graduation, two college best friends go on one last road trip where they settle how they really feel for each other. (Letterbox)
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๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
Damn, rewatching this film after being ghosted is a different kind of torture. It hurts to watch someone yearn over and over again, knowing it will keep leading to unrequited love. Yet, at the same time, I canโt help but be captivated by their situation.
I still donโt fully understand why it took Carson seven years to confess to Dio. However, I can recognize how difficult it is to risk a friendship in the hope that they will like you back. I think thatโs what makes the movie so unforgettable because the majority of us can relate to the painful experience of one-sided love. Heck! I'm on one right now, and this film gave me the space to self reflect.
Honestly, I really wanted them be together because I like the idea of a slow burn friendship-to-lovers. But, I also knew that it will remove the message of the filmโthat we could love someone so much that we lose ourselves, and that person just couldn't love us back the way we wanted to.
I know that people wanted to have a sequel where we can learned about Dio's point of view, and I don't really think it's a great idea because of the same reasons. For me this would be a classic film cause it's culturally relevant no matter who you are.
Apathy was worse than a guilty conscience. Those who turned a blind eye against oppression were as just as guilty as the oppressors.
The day Mollyโs attackers were set free was the day Mallary decided to take justice inti her own hand. And Mallary knows that in order to do that, she would have to get closer to her enemies hanggang sa pagkatiwalaan siya ng maduduming sikretong tinatago nila. Sheโs starting with Nathan, the lawyer who took the fall for all of his guilty friends. The perpetrators may have thought that no one will know what they did. But they thought wrong. Mallary knows theyโre guilty and she will go through great lengths to make them pay.ย
* ยฐ ยฐ *ย
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
Revenge stories always bring me a sense of satisfaction. I always like to root for the underdog, particularly when it's an anti-hero bringing justice for all even when it crosses the line. In this case, however, I never feel that same sense of wish fulfillment. I just felt a sense of dread considering how close it was to today's real-world events.
The pattern repeats itself over and over again. Powerful people committing atrocities, never facing the consequences of their actions because of undeserving wealth. A justice system that bends at the sight of gold and a victim forced to fend for itself while looking above the podium, hoping for a lifeline.
The only thing that's comforting about this novel is the fact that it's not real, and at the very least, the villains get to be punished at the end. It's just unfortunate that it doesn't always work out that way in real life. A meaningful resolution has always been reserved for people of means, while the poor were crushed under the weight of injustices.
Dear M,
Alam kong hinding-hindi mo ito mababasa. Alam kong hinding-hindi mo ito makikita, at alam ko ring hindi ko masasabi sa iyo na hanggang ngayon gusto pa rin kita.
Magkaiba kasi tayo ng buhay, nang pinanggalingan, at pagtingin sa isaโt isa. Tropa ang tingin mo saโkin, at ako hihigit pa ang nakikita ko saโting dalawa.
Maraming nagsasabi na bagay daw tayo, na may chemistry daw kapag tayo magkasama. Pero aanhin ko ba ang opinyon nila, kung sa paningin mo hindi ako ganun kakaiba?
Inaya kita noong lunes dyan sa SM North, tuwang-tuwa ako kasi pagkatapos ng dalawang taon makikita na ulit kita. Kahit na akward ang ating pagkikita na-enjoy ko pa rin, kasi tayong dalawa ang magkasama.
Sa tuwing tinitignan ko ang mga mata mo, naghahanap ako ng senyales na sana may kislap ako sa iyo. Sa bawat pagpatak ng oras lalo kong napagtanato na hanggang dito lang talaga tayo.
Pasensya na kung nagsinungaling ako, at sinabi ko na nagustuhan lang kita dati. Gusto ko kasing umangal ka at sabihin mo na โparehas tayo, na ako rin.โ
Hinihiling ko na sana tumigil na ang puso kong ninanais ka. Ayoko rin kasing matulad kay Carson na umabot ng pitong taon, at nagtitiis sa wala.
Hindi na ako mangungulit. Hindi na ako magpapantasya. Alam ko na ang katapusan nito, at alam kong para ka sa iba.
Nakakainis lang isipin na sobrang engot ko, na akala ko wala na. Ewan ko ba.
Nagmamahal,
Kaibigan mong tanga
Eleonora โNoraโ Monreal was born into Cebuโs elite, surrounded by pearls, soirees, and a life wrapped in comfort and security. Yet in her quiet moments, she loses herself in the pages of The Midnight Press, a secret paper passed hand to hand. Sheโs captivated by its poetry but hardly notices the sharp edges of war and resistance hidden in the words.
That is, until her father promises her to an American soldier.
Suddenly, the verses she once adored reveal a bitter truth. Freedom isnโt just a word anymore. It is slipping right through her fingers.
Then fate brings her to Milagro โMiloโ Cortez, a man with a smile like sunrise and a courage that burns brighter than fire. With him and his people, Noraโs world shifts. And as The Midnight Pressgrows bolder, so does she.
In a time when love and liberty come at a steep price, Nora must decide what and who are truly worth fighting for.
* ยฐ ยฐ *
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
As a Filipina and a broadcasting student, I squealed when I saw this online last year. Back then I really wanted to read it, but I didn't have the money at the time, so I waited until I could figure out how to buy it on Kindle, because it's cheaper there.
The story is shorter than I anticipated; however, the density of its narrative makes up for it. It is set in the American colonial period in Cebu, Philippines, which happens after the Spanish colonization.
I am not exaggerating when I say that I have deep appreciation for this novel. Not only because it serves as a representation of our country in historical fantasy, but in my opinion, it also did a fantastic job of illustrating our history without a colonial lens. Instead of glorifying America as a savior of Filipinos, the story focuses instead on our people vying for our independence.
Oftentimes our media portrays them as "rescuers" of sorts, so it's very refreshing to see an alternative viewpoint. I also love that it highlights the women's perspective in the revolution, not only their contributions but also their pain, their voices, and their stories. I could go on and on with this book, but I suggested that you pick it up for yourself.
Ngayong dose-anyos na ako at nasa kolehiyo na, mas lalo kong nakapagtayo kung gaano kahirap maging mahirap. Kahit na maging maingat ka at timbangin ang iyong bawat yapak, maari ka pa ring bumagsak kapag nagkamali ka sa iyong pagtahak.
Sabi nila kapag tumanda na raw ako masasanay din ako sa hindi pagkapantay ng mundo, pero habang lumilipas ang panahon hindi ko pa rin mawari kung bakit kailangan may magutom. Sa kabilugan ng mundo, bakit kailangan may tatsulok?
Siguro kung naniniwala pa ako sa panginoon pagpapasa-diyos ko na lang ang lahat. Magdadasal ako na malinis ang kanilang mga kaluluwa, at umaasa na magpapakabait na sila. Ang kaso, sumabay din sa aking pagtanda ang pagkawala ko ng bilib sa nakakataas. Ang hirap kasing maniwala na may tumitingin saโyo kung puro pasakit ang iyong dinaranas.
Kung minsan nga ang siyang nagbabanal banalan ang siyang parang kampon ng demonyo. Nagpapanggap, nanunuyo, at tumatapak sa karapatan ng ibang tao.
Ngunit ano nga bang alam ko? Isa lang naman akong hamak na estudyante, walang pang alam sa pag-ikot ng buhay at paggalaw ng mundo. Baka sa susunod maihuhulma na rin ako sa isang modelong tao, walang reklamo at nakapirma lang sa kanto.
Ami awakes from years in stasis to find sheโs at the edges of deep space, and the only surviving member of her crew. Utterly alone and unable to contact Earth, she sends out a distress beacon, not expecting a response. When she gets one from a being who calls himself Dorian, sheโs welcomed onto his ship as he offers his assistance in any way he can. But nothing on Dorianโs ship is as it seems. And as Ami tries to navigate the maze of hallways and first contact with this alien being, a deep hum begins to resonate, haunting her, as if the ship itself is whispering to her.
* ยฐ ยฐ *
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
A cosmic horror MMC!? Why didn't this become a thing sooner!? Like sure, I have read about this type of dynamic in fan fiction before, but this is my first time encountering it outside the space. Now that I knew that it was plausible, I definitely needed more stories with cosmic or eldritch love interests, and I might even compile a few recommendations for posting.
Anyhow, this is a hard read for me (in a good way) since the book contains a lot of scenes where the heroine suffered panic attacks in space. The vivid depiction of longing and loneliness got so much into me that I had to take a few breaks in between just so I could continue on and finish the book. Because I went into this with the impression that it's going to be a romance novel, I wasn't prepared, so please take note of the trigger warnings.
Another thing that really sticks out to me is the ending, where the context was given behind the deaths of her crew. It's horrifically horrifying, and I don't know if I want to give props to the author for writing that twist or get mad because it left me feeling conflicted. And I don't like conflicts within myself. Char! Overall, I definitely recommend this for someone who likes to read gothic horror in a sci-fi setting.
May masamang alaalang nakabaon sa isip ni Isabella. Araw ito ng namatay ang lolo niya ng iligtas siya nito mula sa panganib 18 taon na ang lumipas. Kung ano man ang panganib na 'yon ay hindi na niya mawari, pero konektado ito sa mga malalagim na patayan sa kanilang barangay ngayon.
Samantala, may bagong lipat sa lugar nila. Matikas, matalino, maginoo, at misteryoso si Dr. Gareth Earl Lagard, ngunit 'di matantya ni Isabella kung ano'ng pakay nito. Tila ba hindi ito nababahala na nakatira siya sa bahay kung saan pinatay ang lolo ni Isabella.
Habang papalapit ng palapit kay Isabella ang mga taong pinupuntirya ng serial killer, nagiging tila larong habulan ng leon at ng walang kamuwang-muwang na tupa ang buhay niya.
Lahat ng mga lihim ng nakaraan ay mauungkat. Lahat ng katanungan ay masasagot. At ang huling taong inaaakala niyang mamatay-tao ay mabubunyag na tunay na salarin.
* ยฐ ยฐ *
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
Akala ko talaga hindi ko matatapos basahin to' because of my busy schedule, pero I managed to do it, and hopefully I can binge-read some more. One of my friends from university actually saw me reading this, and we got into a recommendation frenzy after they recognized the author, kaya sinikap ko talagang tapusin to' to share my thoughts with them.
Now that I did manage to complete it, I wholly agree with what they said. The writing in this book is pretty good, dahil sobrang creepy talaga nang pagkakasulat ng crime scenes sa loob nito. From the way the deaths are described (i.e., the minimal bruising on the body but liquefied bones), nakakapanindig balahibo talaga siyang basahin. I don't want to spoil anything, but napaka manipulative din talaga ng kontrabida dito. They're very meticulous with their planning, and with their killing streakโstraight up evil talaga siya, Mama.
As for the criticism, medyo na nabilisan lang talaga ako sa ending. In my opinion there's a lot of important narrative that happens behind the scene, and I kinda wished na hindi isinulat as flashback. Like yung relationship nina Natalie and Sarah, there's still a lot of things na puwedeng i-explore there that I hope they get their own book. Yes, there are other books connected with the same universe, and I would read them after the stars align. (ALIGN!?)
The mischievous girl, Ling Miao Miao, accidentally enters the mission system of the novel Monster Hunting and becomes a villainous supporting character. To return to the real world, she must complete the system's taskโwinning over the mysterious and twisted young man, Mu Sheng.
Along the way, they team up with Mu Yao, a member of a monster-hunting family, and Liu Fu Yi, a monster hunter. Together, they fight monsters and level up. As the missions progress, they gradually resolve the animosity between humans and monsters, rewrite the fated ending, and save the world. (Credits to: MyDramaList.)
* ยฐ ยฐ *
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
I forgot the title, but I swear I read a manhua that had a similar plot to this. The story was also about a woman who transmigrates into a Chinese novel and has to navigate a blackened siscon ML that later on falls in love with her. I'm not sure if it's a live adaptation, but if it was, they did an absolute incredible job of adapting it to a Chinese drama.
The wardrobes are very mystical and magical, the actors are amazing and the CGIs are chef's kiss. My only real complaint was the ending, because I didn't like how rushed it felt. There's no foreshadowing that indicates the plot twist which really waters down the overall message of the show, which was "loving who you are."
They already did a great job of portraying that by Mu Sheng denying his origin and stating that he was cursed at birth, and I wish they did a similar thing of giving subtle clues instead of dropping a bomb. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the series and finished it until the very end. What I really loved about this movie was how wholesome it is and the crazy magical girl transformation of their power-ups.
Wala nang mahihiling pa sa buhay si Seph. May disenteng trabaho sa isang sikat na ospital, may masaya at kompletong pamilya, at higit sa lahat ay may nobyong doktor.
Ngunit magbabago ang lahat sa pagkatuklas niya sa pangangaliwa ng kanyang kasintahan. Sa pag-aakalang maiibsan ng alak ang sakit na nararamdaman, isang gabi ay maiisipan niyang magpakalango sa alak sa isang bahay-inuman.
Sa isang gabi ng panandaliang pagtakas sa problema, magigising siyang katabi ang lalaking may asul na mga mata sa iisang kama. At dahil likas na mapaglaro ang kapalaran, matutuklasan niya na ang lalaking iyon ay isa sa kanyang mga pasyente sa ospital na pinapasukan.
Sa unti-unting pagkabunyag ng lahat ukol sa pasyenteng nakasalo niya sa iisang gabi, mabubunyag din kay Seph ang katotohanan ukol sa kanyang tunay na sarili.
Ano nga ba ang mga lihim na nakatago sa likod ng malamig na alak at mainit na gabi?
* ยฐ ยฐ *
๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐:
I'm not sure if it was deliberately written in a comedic way, but I can't stop laughing while reading the novel. The name of the main lead (Vweuvius) was ridiculous in itself, but the way he speaks adds to that goofiness as well. Even at parts where the narrative takes a darker turn, I cannot bring myself to take it seriously when the situations are too far-fetched.
For example, when the marriage plotline was revealed. I found it very unbelievable that Seph's family (the female lead) just let her be married to a stranger, considering she was eighteen at that time and took her vows at a bar. Additionally, the plot was too convoluted for the number of chapters it had, and while I was genuinely interested to learn the history of Vius's illness. I was ultimately let down by the explanation, which can be summed up as a clunky family drama. Also, maybe I'm just too old for this stuff, but I never find Vius's actions to be romantic nor disturbing.
For me he's just annoying, because in my eyes he's the textbook definition of a manchild: impulsive, always whining, and has to be talked down to. Despite all of my objections, though, I did still enjoy reading it for what it was. It has that juvenile writing charm, and as a longtime reader of SaviorKitty, I saw how big their improvements are when looking at their old works like this one.
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