BOOK REVIEWS: WONDER WOMAN - WARBRINGER

TITLE: WONDER WOMAN - WARBRINGER

AUTHOR: LEIGH BARDUGO

I was thrilled when I found out that DC Icons Series was being cooked. But my excitement sky-rocketed knowing that the first book was about the crowning jewel of the DC Universe - Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman is one of my favorite characters among the DC icons. She is in my opinion a true embodiment of what a woman is in general - strong, powerful, courageous, sensitive and a total bad-ass all in one. I know, I am self-confessed feminist - growing up in a household filled with strong willed women in my family made me one. I truly believe that women can rule the world if they wanted to and wonder woman's world of Amazonian warriors from Themyscira could vouched for that.

“You do not enter a race to lose”

The story begins with a quote from Queen Hippolyta to her daughter, young Diana before she joins the amazon race.

I like the way Leigh Bardugo plotted the story. Before there was the infamous Wonder Woman that we know, she was once a young Amazonian princess name Diana. Growing up in a mysterious island filled with strong women who are battle ready wasn't easy for the pampered princess. She was trained by one of the bests in combat but still she was yet to prove to them that she was more than just the daughter of the queen. She hungered for glory and to stand side by side among the fiercest warriors in the island, eager to prove herself so her comrades will see her as their equal. She wanted to be out there, taking challenges, quests and proving her strength and worth to all of Themyscira.

The story will take you to a girl's journey of becoming the mightiest Amazonian princess that she would become someday. A heroes journey must start somewhere and this action filled novel will give you a different take of how a legend was made.

This is a good YA novel for me. I totally enjoyed every page. I felt her dilemma as she made the hardest decision, seeing the reality of the world, discovering the value of humanity and friendship and love.

Bravo to the author!

 

BOOK REVIEWS: THE PRINCE'S PSALM

TITLE : THE PRINCE'S PSALM

AUTHOR: ERIC SHAW QUINN

I have always loved fictionalized versions of historical events, let alone biblical ones. This book is an epic tale of love, tragedy, and faith, much like many of the stories in the Bible. Yet, despite how complex and often contradictory the tales in the Bible can be, it takes a master storyteller to weave them together and create a beautiful narrative, as seen in the story of David and Jonathan. I have nothing but praise for the author for pulling all the strings together. Eric's talent for storytelling is compelling, and it’s clear he treated the story and the characters with the utmost respect. The way he brought the characters of David and Jonathan to life feels so real and relatable. He was incredibly brave to tackle this topic in the Bible. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that it’s no longer about homosexuality; it’s about love, loyalty, duty, and the willingness to rise above human emotion in order to answer the call of faith. The book is beautifully written.

Yes! You're right. This is the story of the famous David, who killed the giant Philistine warrior Goliath by hurling a stone with a slingshot. In the Bible, God favored David, the prophet anointed him, and the people of Israel elevated him as one of the nation’s heroes. In the end, he became king.

But there is more to the story than what we commonly know, and that’s where a fiction writer works their magic to recreate the tale. Writers often captivate us with their ability to take historical or biblical events and imagine what might have happened beyond the written word. They read between the lines, connect the dots, and create compelling dialogue and scenes through extensive research. They then masterfully and eloquently turn those ideas into words, crafting a beautiful masterpiece like The Prince’s Psalm.

I enjoyed this book so much that I didn’t want it to end. As a reader, I was rooting for David and Jonathan’s love for each other, hoping that their bond and commitment would be enough to save everyone. But we all know the biblical tale and how the tragedy of their relationship led to David becoming king. Still, because the characters were created with such love and realism, it was easy for me to see them not just as biblical figures—a hero and a king—but as men whose love for each other transcended the grave.

I highly recommend this book to open-minded readers who just want to be entertained. This is definitely one of my top reads for the year, and I’m hoping the master, Eric Shaw Quinn, will write more books like this one.

Xoxo

    

LIVING ALONE| THE FREEDOM AND WHAT NOT

Excuse my self-centered mug

It wasn't something I considered a big move. In fact, I still lived in the same compound but would be transferring to a different unit.

However, it was a major move! Why? Mainly because I had lived in the same unit for eight years. That was a long time! The memories I created there somehow shaped me for the better. Those were crucial events that molded the person I am today and the path I want to take in the future.

It was where the ultimate dreams happened. I didn’t just wake up one day and decide that I wanted to be a writer. The first characters I created and the plot of my first book materialized one lazy Sunday afternoon while I was in bed procrastinating, as though I had all the time in the world. I am an independent person, and I’ve always been that way, as long as I can remember. I lived alone in my uncle’s house during my senior year of high school, which was scary when you really think about it, mainly because I was just a kid.

But in terms of living alone, it was one of the most liberating experiences I’ve had, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I learned so much about myself by living alone. It was scary, yet it was cool because I got to play "adult" before I truly became one. The perks of being young included being fearless of most things. I was never scared of being by myself, even when I was sick with a fever. I took myself to the doctor, got my prescriptions, bought my medicine, and went home. Even when I was 16, I was very responsible for myself. I had the realization that my mom lived on a plane ride away, and so did my relatives. I was the only one here, and I had nothing but myself to rely on.

The drive to be independent is embedded in my bones. I loved the freedom of buying what I needed to sustain myself, deciding the color of paint for my walls, grocery shopping, and learning about the health benefits of different foods. I loved choosing the paintings I wanted to hang, paying the bills, and budgeting. These are things you just have to expect. Sometimes, the type of person you invite to your place becomes exciting. Though I’m not really this person—I didn’t invite guests over and didn’t feel obligated to do so either. I felt like my place was sacred, and the only people I allowed there were immediate family members and my partner.

I know living alone can be scary for some. Heck, it isn’t for everyone, and that’s a well-known fact. There are people, especially here in my country, who are content to live with family members. In the Philippines, you’re not obliged to move out of your parents’ house once you hit adulthood. There’s no "30-something living in their parents’ basement" story here, because 1) most Filipino houses don’t have basements, and 2) family bonds are so strong that parents don’t kick their kids out. If you want to live with your parents your whole life, that’s fine because it’s acceptable here, and no one will judge you. 3) Filipino parents love having their children around.

But then, there are people like me who are itching to live alone. Aside from being an introvert, I also thought that living alone was one of the most exciting parts of adulthood. You don’t have to have a family to live alone—you just have to make that decision for yourself. I did!

Here in the Philippines, rent can range from as low as 4,000 pesos to 20,000 pesos, depending on your lifestyle. If you have the money, you can afford to buy a condo unit in places like BGC or Makati. But if you’re a regular employee, you can rent a bachelor’s pad closer to your workplace. You just have to be creative and find a more affordable place if you’re on a tight budget, like I was.

I’ve been in the same compound for 11 years. I lived in a high-end village, but the landlady who owned the compound charged 4,000 to 6,000 pesos per room. The rooms were old and outdated, but if you wanted to renovate, that was on you—not her job. That was actually her rule: the tenant has to cover all renovation costs. My old room was big, but it was definitely in need of repairs. So, I decided it was time to move out and transfer to a new one. I had the new room restored a bit and bought an air conditioner that I found on sale at SM and had it installed. Since I have a graveyard shift at work, it's important for me to get at least 8 hours of sleep, and now I can do that, even in the hot tropical summer we're experiencing right now.

I have to say, getting an AC is no longer a luxury—it's a means to survive the summer heat and get through it alive. LOL.

Xoxo

BOOK REVIEWS : THE IMMORTALS

The Immortals is a fantasy fiction debut novel by an amazing writer - Jordanna Max Brodsky.  It's the first book in the series called Olympus Bound. A fresh tale about our beloved gods and goddesses from the Greek Mythology.

Obviously, Brodsky has a wide rage of knowledge regarding the subject. It seems that her understanding about myths and legends is beyond what is written in history books and scrolls. Aside from the fact that she has a degree in History and Literature from Harvard according to her goodreads profile. This is probably the reason why she's able to write this book effortlessly and perceived these immortal characters as if they're living among us today. I mean, who knows right?

Honestly, I randomly picked this book because of it's title. As a fantasy fiction enthusiast, anything that has something to do with Immortals, white people withe fangs or wings are interesting for me. I was a skeptic at first because I am the type of reader who don't normally check reviews before burying myself into the pages. I just dive head first! HA!  I always feel that my perception about a certain book is my own. It might be a best seller but if everything about the book is so distant and unrelatable for me then that book is a major let down. I am a sucker for good cover and I want the characters to seduce me for me to keep flipping the pages. I don't normally give up on books but there are few that I just can't finish and I just have to stop and put it aside.

The Immortal is surprisingly amazing! I enjoyed every second of this book and I loved all the references Brodsky used to explain plainly what is happening inside in every plot.

Divinity is living among us - that's the idea of the book it presents. These Deities, they existed for millennia and ruled the pagan world but because the pagan worship was destroyed thousands of years ago when the civilization started to change and when the new religion came forth.

Yes! It seems like Yahweh killed Zeus. shocker!




So what happens to the gods without their devoted worshipers? Their graces diminished until their divine light fades away. This is what happened to the Greek Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus. Now, after the Diaspora happened, they are scattered everywhere in the world. Some of them still dwells in the old world waiting for some faithful follower to revive the worship but others just moved on and live like mortals do. Surprisingly, a lot of them ended up living in the concrete jungle of New York as if they're drawn to the skyscrapers and its secret undergrounds.

The book follows the mighty Goddess of the Hunt, protector of the innocent, the relentless one, moonbeam, mistress of the moon, sworn to celibacy and lady of the hound, one of the delian twins - the Goddess Artemis or as preferred to be called Selene deSilva.

She had lived for so many lifetime but most of it blurred in her memory as the fading of her godliness diminished through the years. But Selene is true to her calling as the protector of the innocents and of course she is the ultimate feminist because she only protect women as her charge.

But ancient rituals is revived in her name and once again she taste the incalculable amount of power as a goddess and became Artemis once again. But there's always a consequence, because embracing Artemis will only meant one thing - She will loose Selene in the process, her version of humanity.

A choice has to be made.

The great thing about this book is that Brodsky did her best to humanize the gods and they are thrown into mortal living were they have to make choices for their own and suffer for the consequences after. It made them relatable for me and I ended up rooting for the main characters to actually make the right decision. Brodsky did a great job putting the pieces together and making the greek mythology fresh again but still all elements that we love about the myths are still there. The mystery, the fun, the magic, the fucked up deities and many more... It's amazing and I am hooked.

I'm definitely going to read book 2 and will blog about it very SOON.

Xoxo

   
 

THE WRITER WENT TO PANGLAO

While were in the van traveling from one tourist destination to the next, I noticed that everywhere I look I saw a lot of tourists but mostly westerners riding a motorbike. Many of them were in their flipflops and short shorts and Ray-ban, just taking the road to see the different places of what Bohol could offer. I was curious and so I asked our manong driver.

He said that there are many stores from where you can rent a motorbike if you want to have that intimate experience with the beauty of the place and I couldn't agree more.

So after we had an overnight at Tagbilaran, the next morning, we rendezvous with the others at the Island City Mall where we took a jeepney ride to bring us to Panglao. For me the ride was amazing and it felt like we were traveling with the locals which was the best way to travel in my opinion.The jeepney was fully packed and we were crammed like sardines but it was fun. The ride dropped us off at Alona Beach.

I always find the light

Alona Beach is where the tourist mecca. The beach front where you'll find affordable restaurants depending on your budget. It caters to all and there are locals offering island tours, scuba diving, snorkeling and many more every corner.

 The thing was, it felt like we were the tourist who came from a different country since everywhere I turned, I found westerners if not Korean and Japanese. Good thing I looked like Japanese and I often mistaken as one but that didn't bother me anymore and I could use it to easily blend in.

Some Japanese guy talked to me in their language and I had no idea what he was talking about, I politely answered him in English which was a very funny encounter.

Hello Boys

Alona Beach Front

I have to say, the Beach front was amazing. You'll hear reggae music blaring somewhere and beach tourists were sitting in front of the restaurants or in a bar drinking refreshments and eating tacos and nachos, the good stuff. Life in the beach was really great and relaxing. The sound of the waves lapping at the shores, the blue seas, boats taking tourists to their island tours, people perfecting their sun tanned skin. I couldn't wait to strip right down to my speedos to join them and worshiped the sun god. The goal was, I wouldn't go home until I was crisp brown. LOL

Tan Mug or Not

Your Beach Babe Realness

Who do I kill to go back here?

We walked the entire stretch to see all the stores and saw sun worshipers on their back or front on the sand reading books or just simply soaking the heat.

Rasta Style

Sun Bather Unite

View from where we Ate

 That night, after we took a shower and cleaned ourselves, we were ready to have dinner. We went back to the beach front and the entire scene changed. There were acoustic band, the chairs and tables were outside and tourists were ready to party. Since none of us drink so we were only there for the food and beside, we were already famished - good meal over amazing conversation.

We had seafood of course and took a little stroll by the beach afterwards. It was the best thing to do before we end the day - watching the moon from the horizon as the night sky meets the dark sea. Before we went home, we ordered mango shake in a store near the lodge.

 The lodge where we stayed was very cheap. For a room we payed 900 pesos and it could go low up to 800 pesos.

Panglao was amazing. The only downside was, you could hardly swim in the water because there were lots of boats but other than that the place was great.

I wanted to go back though. Probably very soon.

Xoxo

THE WRITER WENT TO BOHOL

This has been a long awaited vacation. We book the flight last year via ticket promo sale online just like most of us ordinary peeps do. I've been looking forward for this trip and been counting days until March 11 came. Aside from the fact that I've never been to this beautiful provincial island in Central Visayas, I also wanted to see the white sand of Panglao, the majestic Chocolate Hills, the nocturnal Tarsier species and the floating restaurant of Loboc and many more.

The flight was 7 in the morning so after my adjusted shift from work since I worked graveyard, I booked a GrabCar to take me to the Airport (NAIA 4). We booked the plane ticket from AirAsia so the Airport was the old one which was okay with me. I've been to this Airport before when all the domestic flights were still located here and 5 years ago when I went to Boracay. I have to say, there's not much of a change though, it still looked the same aside from the Seattle's Best Cafe booth which was kinda new - but as long as it served its purpose then I'm good.

Despite of the vexation my Allergy Rhinitis brought, I was with the good company and everyone was smiling and happy and excited to take this vacation.

Besides, my partner and I, we haven't been in a vacation for awhile so this would be our first for 2017. Oh that was ME by the way with the glasses.

The plane took off and the moment we were airborne, I put on my sun-glasses and enjoyed watching the cloud formation since I was sitting beside the window. The weather was great so the view from the top was heaven on earth.

 
That was me by the way looking at the window before the plane took off. What was I thinking at that time? Well, I quoted Lestat deLioncourt as he ascended to the sky uttering these immortal lines:

"I walked for hours among mortals in the narrow old streets of Heidelberg, and of Lisbon, and of Madrid. I passed through Athens and Cairo and Marrakesh. I walked on the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea.

What was I doing? What was I thinking? That the old cliché was true- the world was mine."

Wasn't he amazing? This is my traveler's mantra every time I take a plane or go somewhere by land. I think he said these lines in the Tale Of the Body Thief book. It's one of the best Anne Rice books by the way.

The plane left on time so we arrived at the Tagbilaran Airport earlier than expected. One of our companion had relatives from the province of Hagna so she asked her Aunt to fetch us. From the airport, we rented a Van to tour us around the famous tourist spots for P3000 which was actually cheap given that there were 5 of us. We divided the amount and we ended up paying 600 each which wasn't that bad.

My lame ass with Airport sign

From the airport, we went straight to the tour and first stop was called the Blood Compact.

It was also known as Sandugo - It was a tribal tradition done by a Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565. A ritual to sealed their frienship according to the all knowing Wikipedia.

Me and Bruno Mars

The Gang

Second stop is the amazing Baclayon Church.

Trying to be cute

Ancient Wooden Door

Can I get an Amen?

 According to my friend Wiki, the Baclayon Church is actually called La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church that was founded by Jesuit Priests on 1596. Obviously it was during the Spanish Era. The church was so old that during the 7.3 earthquake on 2013, the building facade suffered a major devastation. Inside, the construction to rebuild the church was still on going but despite of the damage there, you could still marvel at how majestic it was. It also has a Museum on the 2nd floor show casing old scrolls and paraphernalia including priests gown and small altars.

The Majestic Altar

The high ceiling latin writings

Baroque Pulpit

 

3rd stop was the Wildlife Park.

This was the least of my favorite stop. I just wanted it to throw it out there that I hate snakes or anything that crawls. So seeing humongous serpent made my anxiety wild. But I thought about one of my characters name Gakud, he has four of these attached to his head.  

Agfa Moment

The biggest Snake I've seen EVAH!

4th stop was the Floating Restaurant of Loboc.

It was the most refreshing and relaxing part of the tour. We were already starving after all the picture taking we did and so going to the floating restaurant where they served a buffet lunch and a trip along the entire stretch of the Loboc river with an acoustic band playing novelty bisanyan songs was just perfect. I saw children on the site climbing the highest trees and jumping to the river, it was amazing! The boat ride while eating, the relaxing ambiance and the smile of the people around would take away all the burdens from your back.

Starving faces

When Vanity Strikes

Excuse my Beauty

Tree of Life

Scenic

5th stop was the mystic Man-made Forest.

Taking picture in the man made forest was very tricky and not to mention dangerous. You see it was in a highway and for you to be able to get that mystic perfect picture, you have to brave yourself and get in to the street while there is no vehicle from both sides. But hey, vanity won all the time. It looked like an enchanting place and I swore the Sang'gres were there hiding somewhere.

The road to Lireo

Obligatory Selfie

Staying at the side

 6th stop was to see our nocturnal friend the Tarsier.

What did I expect? I thought Tarsier were bigger and lively like jumping from tree to tree like a small monkey but instead we were greeted by sleeping little creatures hiding behind leaves and tree branches. They were cute though but I wasn't sure how they doze off with tourists trying to wake them up.

The Fat Guy Outside

Sleepy Head

Wake Up!

7th stop was the Butterfly Farm.


As if I had stepped into the garden of Eden when we got to the Farm. Wow! I've never seen so much beautiful butterflies in my life. I was in the corner with mouth open in amazement. I suddenly wanted to belt out in a full on Mariah Carey song Butterfly. It was amazing to see how this beautiful species strive.

Last but not the least stop was the breath taking views of the Chocolate Hills.

The old cliche' must be true and that you save the best for last. It was one of my favorite stopover in the tour. Finally I saw them but first we must climbed one of the hills to see the beauty up above and despite my lack of sleep, I summoned my inner most Glamazon and climbed relentlessly to reach to top. Was it worth it? It was worth my fuckin' kidney! It was beautiful up there and seeing the scenic hills everywhere was amazing. It was the best way to end the tour.

My mug

You have to see it with your own eyes

Trying to look adorable LOL

After seeing the infamous Chocolate Hills, we decided that it was time to go home. Our host wanted us to spend the night in their place and so we did. We went to Hagna, it was a quaint little town with smiling friendly people. It was a long day and it was fun. This was our first day in Bohol. 2nd day, we went to the capital city of Tagbilaran and booked a room at Arabelle Suites then had dinner at Chicken Ati-atihan along Maria Clara Street.

The next day, it was the Panglao day and I will talk about it in my next post. But if you want to see some videos of this trip, please check out my YouTube Channel.

Xoxo