(manga) Akatsuki no Yona

When I first saw the manga on bookstores' shelves, I hesitated because it is a long series and I didn't want to miss a few of the earlier volumes since they might not be on sale anymore.

But then, one day I got bored and read the manga online, soon I became hooked.

The premise is simple but interesting, a spoiled princess's father is killed by her cousin, who also happens to be her crush. She runs away from the palace with her bodyguard, attempting to borrow the powers of the four dragons from a legend.

The artwork is detailed and beautiful, and they resemble a little of Magic Knight Rayearth (the princess Yona looks a lot like Hikaru the fire knight, with her red hair). The story itself reminds me of Fushigi Yuugi, which I loved dearly and followed obsessively a few years back. The swoony background, the funny scenes, the legend, it all sound rather similar, but Akatsuki no Yona holds its own charms. I find it engaging, perfectly if not quickly paced, wonderfully drawn and the story nicely told, with a few side morals for readers. One more thing: it's also hilarious, and I appreciate that from a manga that's supposedly an epic adventure journey.

That being said, I wish I can read more as soon as I possibly can. We're up to volume 9, and 10 is coming soon.

Photo taken from akatsukinoyona.wikia.com (it has complete information too!)

Let Her Go

This is Laura's new favorite song, and this time Max likes it too :-)

from vimeo.com

"Let Her Go" by Passengers

Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you’re missin' home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

from vikyishere.tumblr.com

Staring at the bottom of your glass

Hoping one day you'll make a dream last

But dreams come slow and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes

Maybe one day you'll understand why

Everything you touch surely dies

But you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missin' home

Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark

Same old empty feeling in your heart

'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep

But never to touch and never to keep

'Cause you loved her too much

And you dived too deep

from firstcovers.com

Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missin' home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go (oh, oh, ooh, oh no)

And you let her go (oh, oh, ooh, oh no)

Will you let her go?

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missin' home

Only know you love her when you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you're missin' home

Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

2014

taken from rockingwallpaper.com

Happy New Year, everybody!

Hope 2014 is a better year for each of you,

and 2013 remains a precious memory :-)

Crime TV series, a review

I'm a huge fan of crime TV drama series, so I practically watch almost every one that comes up on TV these days. So I'm going to make a review for most first impressions and what I think of them, just for fun and to look back on what I've watched the previous years.

I've watched and loved

taken from wallsave.com

Castle

Season 1-5 and loving it. I'm so addicted to the series I faithfully follow each and obsessively watch them. I think what makes Castle so great is the core relationships between the characters (Castle-Beckett, Castle-Alexis-Martha, Beckett-her father, the team with their leader, Esposito-Ryan, Esposito-Lanie, Lanie-Beckett), and the comedy. There is not a lot of twists in the mysteries, but there are enough dramatic tension and lots of chemistry in each that makes it so much fun to watch. I also appreciate the humor laced through their interactions, as it is not often that I come across a smart, thrilling and funny TV series all in one package.

from georgespigot.wordpress.com

Sherlock

Oh, Sherlock. This is the only UK show I stick with, and love wholeheartedly. Benedict Cumberbatch is a wonderful actor, and for me he's the best Sherlock ever. The mysteries are clever, which I appreciate, and there's subtle humor that makes you laugh out loud. Martin Freeman's expressions have a lot to do with that :) and I love their dynamic. Their chemistry, despite the lack of romance (except for Irene Adler's episode and a little hint of love here or there), is the main reason this is so worth watching. It feels like watching a 90 minutes movie per episode, and I just can't get enough. On to season 3!

from buddytv.com

Law and Order SVU

At first I thought of them as a little old fashioned. But then, they grow on me. The interactions between Stabler and Benson are subtle but beautiful to watch, the mystery cracking episodes simple, often predictable, but fun to watch with a bowl of popcorn. What this series lacks is that it focuses so much on the crime solving that it often neglects the main characters' personal lives, and when they pop out on screen, I feel like I couldn't care less because they're not as absorbing nor important.

I've watched and liked

from Italiansubs.net

NCIS

I like the main and side characters, but do not find them especially likable. Tony especially gets on my nerves, and his relationship with Ziva is never fully resolved, so it is a little disappointing. There are only hints of romance (McGee-Abby, Ziva-Tony), that it gets wan as it progresses throughout the series. I also do not find the mysteries thrilling, they tend to take their time and it lacks enough action. I occasionally watch it now and then, but am never fully invested for the above reasons.

from mysticmuse.net

Bones

Same as above. But the main reason is that I do not find myself liking the main characters. At least with NCIS I love the characters. In this one, I find Bones' quiet strength and inability to socialize annoying to the extent that I cannot relate or empathize with the character, much less with the story.

I've only watched once or twice

The Mentalist

First impressions: I like Simon Baker. The characters seem charming and quirky enough. The mystery and personal histories involved are engaging. I might watch more of it.

The Bridge

I love Diane Kruger so I checked this out just to see if it was good. I only watched one episode and not from the beginning so I couldn't decide or write a verdict, but my first impression is that I can't decide if I like the main characters' dynamic and the mystery sort of drags on instead of it being a procedural one mystery per episode kind of series, and I'm not ready to be invested in it.

Law and Order UK

I like it. However, it does not show very often so I don't get a chance to watch it.

Might want to watch in the future

- Motives: trailer looks good

- The following: Kevin Bacon!

- The killing: has many rave reviews

- Body of Proof: has one of Castle's guest characters, and it looks decent enough so I might check it out