"May your Paths be safe, your Floors be unbroken, and may the House fill your eyes with Beauty."

     isbn: 9781635575437 | pages: 245
     publication date: September 15, 2020 | source: library
     genre: adult, magical realism
     rating: 7/10 

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
    B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

a story of journal entries
If I was well-versed and eloquent enough, I might be able to compile my thoughts for Piranesi into a structured essay, but unfortunately my writing abilities have failed me. Instead, let me attempt to summarize why this book completely captured my attention from start to finish. Piranesi is a story that is hard to describe - it follows a narrator as he lives in this massive house with never ending halls and vestibules. He answers to the name Piranesi as that's what the other house resident The Other calls him but he knows that's not his real name. Despite living his days content in collecting seaweed, keeping a record of what he sees around the house, it is his meetings with The Other that introduce the conflict of the story. 

It takes a while to get into the story because of the strange narration style. Everything is told through a series of journal entries that he keeps which include all the little details of his life. In a different format or even from a different narrator, the entries would read incredibly boring and mundane, but because it's told through Piranesi's voice, it seems simply fascinating. Something about the syntax and word choices that he makes takes the most simple aspects of life like the changing of tides, the daily happenings of birds, and walking through endless halls, and makes it so interesting to read. It made me want to take a step back from the business of life and just appreciate all the little details of the world.

exploring intrigue 
This book walks the fine balance of being short in length but feeling like it lasts forever. At times I felt like I've been reading hundreds of pages only to find that I've completed 3 journal entries, but it just works for this story. As Piranesi starts to uncover the origins of the House, the Other, and himself, we get to delve into philosophical and moral conversations about the human understanding of world and society. I honestly could not have guessed where Susanna Clarke was going to take the plot and it truly felt like we were discovering each piece of the puzzle with Piranesi which made the reading experience all the more intriguing. 

Piranesi is a story that reads like a timeless reflection of the desire and fascination with the confines of the human mind as well as the effects of scholarly ambition and greed. Each of the characters introduced give readers a glimpse into a grey spectrum of morality as you try to piece together the origins of the house and Piranesi's presence. This is a story that despite its short length, elevates the simplest aspects of life and makes it just a bit more wonderful.

Hello there! I am once again back with another drama to book recommendation post. Are these my new favorite things to write? Possibly. Unfortunately, with school and work slowly consuming me, I have very little time left to spend watching dramas so this might be the last one for a while until the next break hits. Regardless, I thought I'd share some of my anticipated releases for 2022 by recommending them to the lovely cast of DOOM AT YOUR SERVICE.

The moment I saw that Park Bo Young was in a new drama, it was a no brainer that I was going to watch it. DOOM AT YOUR SERVICE is a fantasy melodrama that explores the questions of love, family, and the impact one leaves in life. The story starts with Tak Dong Kyung finding herself with only three months left to live after discovering a tumor inside her brain. That, on top of realizing her boyfriend is a married cheater, leaves her to wish on a star for the destruction and doom of the world. Lucky for her, it happens to be Myul Mang's birthday and as the personification of doom, he'd like nothing more than to grant her wish. The two strike a bargain, Dong Kyung lives pain free for the rest of her three months and in exchange she'll wish for the end of the world before she dies. 

However, their bargain raises up questions and emotions that they weren't expecting and at the end of three months, Dong Kyung has to decide if the doom of the world is really the answer.

Myul Mang - Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen

Goddess - The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
The Goddess is a character whose every word holds a hidden meaning making her incredibly confusing and a little irritating. However, as the story progresses, more is revealed about her and the haunting juxtaposition that comes with being the personification of life and having to suffer in death. First off, 2022 is THE YEAR of gorgeous illustrated covers and I think she'd immediately be drawn to the intricate details. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea also follows Mina who sacrifices herself for her family and her village, an act that will surely resonate with the Goddess whose very being is meant to be a sacrifice to pay for the wrongs of humanity.

This drama was definitely slower and sadder than I expected. It tackles the difficult questions of death and one's legacy in a way that's quietly reflective through the lives of Dong Kyung, Myul Mang, and her family. I struggled at first to continue because of its slow pacing but after finishing the drama, it definitely leaves an impact on you that leaves you looking at life from a different lens and appreciating the precious the time you have with your loved ones.

If you've watched DOOM AT YOUR SERVICE or have any books you'd recommend to the characters, please let me know!

"They call this place the Venice of the East. Just as they call Shanghai the Paris of the East. When are we going to stop letting the colonizers pick the comparisons? Why don't we have call Paris the Shanghai of the West?"

 isbn: 9781529344561 | pages: 494
     publication date: November 16, 2021 | source: ebook/net-galley/tour
     genre: young adult, historical fiction, retelling
     rating: 6.3/10 

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

Thank you so much Turn the Page Tours for allowing me to participate on this tour! Be sure to click the banner above to see all the other stops for Our Violent Ends!

about    the    author

Chloe Gong is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, studying English and International Relations. During her breaks, she's either at home in New Zealand or visiting her many relatives in Shanghai. Chlose has been known to mysteriously appear by chanting "Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's best plays and doesn't deserve its slander in pop culture" into a mirror three times. You can find her on Twitter @thechloegong, check out her website at thechloegong.com, or email her at chloegongwrites@gmail.com. 

giveaway

Up for grabs, we are giving away ONE (1) finished copy of These Violent Delights and ONE (1) finished copy of Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong. This giveaway will run from Nov. 1st through 20th at 11:59 PM CST and will be open to US residents ONLY. One winner will be chosen. To enter, click the link below!

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"Children are not born with the fear of falling. It is life that conditions them to be afraid."

 isbn: 9780063056367 | pages: 464
     publication date: October 12, 2021 | source: ebook/net-galley
     genre: young adult, fantasy 
     rating: 6.8/10 

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

immediate interest
Jade Fire Gold is easily one of my most anticipated releases of the year and after months of expressing my excitement for this novel, it's finally released into the world. June C.L. Tan's debut is pitched as a "what if the Katara from ATLA was the dark avatar and Zuko was tasked to hunt her down" and that immediately caught my attention. The premise interwoven with the wuxia inspired fantasy world make this a story that I wished my high-school self could have read. 

Ahn is the definition of a reluctant chosen one whose fate was essentially predetermined because of the powers she's born with. Growing up in an impoverished town, she longs to escape and explore the world though her journey ends up being one she doesn't expect. Her unlikely alliance with Altan, the exiled prince, brings together tropes that are typically found in YA fantasy novels which make the characters familiar and their stories engaging. 

As a debut novel, I knew not to get my hopes super high especially after reading some reviews online. If I were to review this from a very critical perspective, I would have to point the biggest flaw of the story being its pacing. Despite the world being interesting at first, the actual storytelling doesn't go as smoothly and had a lot lulling moments that would be intercepted by action before falling back. It actually shocked me to find that this novel is over 450 pages because it almost feels like very little happens in the actual plot.

a beginning that opens to more
However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for this story that blurred that "critical" reading lens. I know without a doubt that if I had read this as a high schooler when I consumed so many fantasies with a Caucasian cast of characters set in a Euro-centric inspired world, I would have fallen in love with the story. It makes me all the more grateful that stories like this, with this representation, is starting to be more visibly accessible in media because 15-yr-old me could not imagine reading stories in a fantasy world inspired by the wuxia dramas my parents watch.

The cast of characters in Jade Fire Gold, especially the side cast, have grown on me with their camaraderie and banter. While Ahn and Altan could have definitely used some development in their own character arcs, I still enjoyed following their story. For a debut, Jade Fire Gold sets up a decent opening to a new fantasy world and the possibility for the author to continue growing and honing her craft. And while it might not have exceeded my expectations, it didn't leave me feel disappointed but intrigued to see what will happen next.

Hello friends! I definitely fell off blogging in August and now September is almost over as well. While reading took the back seat for the last two months, my attention has shifted to "binge-watching" k-dramas - at least my very mild definition of binging. With that said, the post I wrote for MY ROOMMATE IS A GUMIHO is probably one of my favorites this year so I knew I had to make some more for the other dramas I have finished.

HER PRIVATE LIFE came out a couple years ago but I always struggled watching rom-coms alone so I never got past the 3rd episode. This time around, I watched it with my sister and she made sit through all the cringe-y and adorable moments with her and we made it to the end. The premise follows Deok Mi who's a head curator at a museum in Seoul. When the director's husband becomes involved in a scandal, she steps down and is replaced by Ryan Gold, a Korean-American adoptee who's renowned for his talent to judge a piece of art. The two get off on a rocky start but eventually warm up to each other as secrets from their past reveal themselves. Through it all, Deok Mi has to hide her other passion in life - being a fansite manager for K-pop sensation White Ocean's Cha Shi An.

Rather than making another book recommendation list based on the characters, I thought I'd try to recommend some of the books that are currently on my TBR for the rest of the year instead. I've been slacking on my reading as well and have so many "currently reading" stories that I'm in the middle of or wanting to start so here are just a few:

Sung Deok Mi - Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Deok Mi is what I'd define as a ultimate working woman - she's dedicated to her job, extremely professional and loved by her colleagues, and also has a healthy work-life balance. She's basically the role model I aspire to achieve because I currently have no work-life balance. While I haven't read Iron Widow yet, the story pays homage to China's only female emperor which is pretty admirable. Plus, Xiran Jay Zhao is one of authors whose boldness makes them stand out and you can't help but be in awe. I can see Deok Mi becoming a huge fan of the author and then falling in love with the story as well. As her character breaks barriers on the definition of being a working adult in her 30s and a professional fangirl, Iron Widow is breaking so many barriers in the YA genre.

Ryan Gold - Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Charismatic to the T and possibly one of my favorite male characters in a K-Drama, Ryan is truly top tier. Like many male leads, he's accustomed to the finer things in life and as an art critic, he definitely would have an appreciation for a story that combines elements of classical literature with modernity. Cloud Cuckoo Land has a little bit of interstellar travel mixed in with influences of Greek literature. The multiple POVs would keep him hooked throughout and even though this is a massive story I can see him finishing it one night if he puts his mind to it, just like his determination to answer the questions and join Deok Mi's fansite.

Nam Eun Gi - Jade City by Fonda Lee

Admittedly, Eun Gi annoyed me a lot at first with his character but we support the amount of GROWTH and maturing he did throughout the drama. One of his best traits was his display of constant support and love for this family and friends which can be defined as loyalty, also one of the key themes of Jade City. I've been putting off this book for an entire year now and with the finale releasing in November, it's finally time to declare fealty to the Kauls. Also as an Olympic judo champion, he also has the strength and dedication that makes him worthy of wearing jade.

Lee Seon Joo - Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

A K-drama is incomplete with a best friend and Seon Joo brings that role to life. She's supportive, funny, and has her own dash of dramatics that adds a bit of something extra to the story. I can't think of anything more dramatic than a Shakespeare play and I can already see her freaking out over Roma and Juliette from These Violent Delights. Lucky for her, the sequel is releasing soon as well so she can binge the entire duology and be utterly swept away in Chloe Gong's high stakes retelling of Romeo and Juliette. (Also the thought of her gushing about this to Deok Mi, I can picture it so clearly in my mind.)

Cha Shi An - A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee

I couldn't not talk about the idol of the show. Shi An's character offered insight into life as a popular k-pop star from the exhausting schedule to obsessive fans, it can be overwhelming at times. His interest in art combined with his sunny disposition and love for this friends and family makes him even more lovable. Going off of covers here, I think he would be drawn to the stunning cover of A Clash of Steel and when finding out that it's a Treasure Island retelling, would be even more compelled to pick the book up. With his busy lifestyle, sometimes escaping on a pirate adventure is just what he needs.

Sindy - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Another character whose growth is really surprised me, Sindy starts off as this stalker-y and almost petulant child. However, when she is able to channel her passions into something creative and fulfilling, she begins to mature and take responsibility for herself. Sindy's also got an eye of aesthetics of course, being another Cha Shi An fansite manager so I think she'd appreciate how gorgeously vivid the prose is for The Night Circus. I could imagine her convincing the rest of the team to create an exhibit based off the story and the visuals for that collection would be absolutely stunning.

Eom So Hye - You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

Quite possibly the most annoying character but also the comic relief of the show, Director Eom is what comes to mind when you think of an airhead. However, you slowly grow to sympathize with her and she does eventually try to be a better person. A book that I think would absolutely touch her heart and get her tears flowing would be You've Reached Sam. I've heard so many great things about Dustin Thao's debut and about the premise of a girl calling her deceased boyfriend would be sure to remind Director Eom to cherish her loved ones.

That concludes my list! This is probably the first book list in a while where The Bone Witch hasn't appeared as a recommendation though I do want to reread it this year (mentioning it at the end of the list doesn't count). I'm incredibly stoked to pick up all of these stories and now that I'm slowly creeping out of my 3-4 month reading slump I can't wait to jump back into the habit of reading.

If you've watched HER PRIVATE LIFE, what are some books you'd recommend to the characters? What are some books on your TBR for the rest of the year?

"Sometimes, if you want to save other people, you need to remember to save yourself first."

isbn: 9781534477117 | pages: 387
     publication date: October 5, 2021 | source: physical copy from publisher for tour
     genre: young adult, fantasy | trigger warnings: blood, war, self-harm (magic) 
rating: 6.8/10

    A M A Z O N    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P * 
B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

the lengths of duty
Vespertine tells the story of a world where the dead turn into spirits whose bodies need to cleansed for the afterlife or they'll develop a ravenous appetite for human possession. Artemisia is portrayed as a Joan of Arc character whose selflessness and sense of duty drive her actions and that is juxtaposed with the revenant she unleashes who views the world through a seemingly selfish perspective. The two, alongside a cast of complex characters really challenge the importance of stereotyping someone based on one aspect of their personality.

"If there's one thing I can always rely upon, it's the reassuring dependability of human idiocy."

The world of Vespertine takes the conversation of religious devotion and turns that into a central focus of the story and intertwines the various levels of devotion into the arcs of the main characters. In a fantasy world where theocracy exists as the main governmental structure, it's always interesting to see how authors balance religion and power and this is one story where the history of the world is so fascinating and immersive. 

"Do you know, it took me nearly a hundred years to figure out that monks existed? All that time, I just assumed they were unusually hairy nuns."

unlikely friendships are the best
Throughout Vespertine, Artemisia slowly comes to terms that despite being outcasted her entire life and treated as other, it doesn't mean that she's alone. From her banter with the revenant to the friends (new and old) she makes along the way, the character relationships were one of the key factors for how much I enjoyed this story. This is probably the first Margaret Rogerson novel where I was less focused on her prose or world-building and found myself more attached to her characters. While there is one portion in the middle of the story where, to be honest, the plot does not progress very much, it doesn't feel dragged because you're learning about the characters and their world.

Amidst all the hard questions and bleak depictions of war and death, this book had me smiling and just having so much fun.

"I supposed that for most people, mocking their fear made it seem weaker. The more they laughed at it, the less power it held over them."

Thank you so much to Turn the Pages Tours for having me! Don't forget to check out the other stops by clicking the banner below:

Hello there! I currently have two reviews just sitting in my drafts waiting to be edited but I am wallowing in my post kdrama feels so here's an impromptu book recommendation list. I'm usually the worst when it comes to finishing any form of series (i.e. dramas, tv shows, books, etc.) so this is my first drama of 2021 and the slump is real. 

MY ROOMMATE IS A GUMIHO is a fantasy rom-com starring Lee Hyeri as a history college student (Lee Dam) who finds herself entangled with a 999 year old fox played by Jang Ki-yong (Shin Woo Yeo) when she accidentally becomes in possession of his marble. The storyline is playful and full of absolutely adorable moments as well as ones that classically pull at your heartstrings.

lee dam - spin the dawn by elizabeth lim

Dam is fiercely protective, strong-willed, honest, and has a heart of gold that makes her your perfect kdrama protagonist. She's incredibly expressive, loves food, and fully embraces what she's passionate about which makes her character relatable and easy to love. Like Dam, Maya from Spin the Dawn is willing to do anything for her family and also has a passion that's often looked down by others. The two stories also have that element of forbidden romance and all the cute moments that make you smile like an idiot. 

gye seon woo - down comes the night by allison saft
I went through so many moments of loving/hating Seon-woo's character. He embodies your typical rich boy in a kdrama who has everyone swooning over him. Of course, he ends up falling in love with someone who could care less about him and thus we get our second lead. While Seon-woo is arrogant and incredibly stubborn, he also undergoes so much character development that makes you wish for a happy ending (with someone else of course). Both characters from Down Comes the Night go through their share of development as the story progresses but Hal Cavendish in particular seems like someone Seon Woo could relate to: rich, beloved, influential, but ultimately misunderstood. Maybe reading about Hal's happy ending could give Seon Woo some hope in finding his in the future.

yang hye sun - gods of jade and shadow by silvia moreno-garcia
Hye Sun quickly became one of my favorite characters for her quirky personality and banter with Woo Yeo. She's such a great side character and friend for Woo Yeo and I loved how they were always supportive of each other even if they bickered a lot. One of her quirks was having trouble understanding idioms and the "modern" lifestyle after being a gumiho for so long. Gods of Jade and Shadow is a beautiful and lush story with a forbidden love story element that I think would give Hye Sun all the emotions. Especially since she's had her fair share of heartbreaks, it could be something that resonates with her. 

do jae jin - the bone witch trilogy by rin chupeco
Jae Jin is seriously a gem and it was his friendship with Lee Dam that made me fall in love with the character dynamics. He is the perfect "puppy" character who embraces his "nice guy" personality and makes the most out of it. He's also a bit of a romantic and his romance with Hye Sun was absolutely one of the cutest aspects of the entire drama. At this point, I'm not even sorry for having The Bone Witch show up in almost every recommendation list, but hear me out - Jae Jin would have an absolute blast with Tea's story, meeting the wonderful characters, and all the lovely relationships would make him smile. I can totally see him finishing the books and immediately running over to give Hye Sun a huge hug to tell her how much he loves her.

choi soo kyung - how we fall apart by katie zhao
I couldn't not include the other part of Lee Dam's friendship trio in this post. Soo Kyung is incredibly smart and has the same fiery and, dare I say, shameless personality that Lee Dam has. She's an incredible support system and is willing to defend her friends and her grades with everything she's got which makes her perfect for How We Fall Apart. I would actually be super curious to see how Soo Kyung would navigate Sinclair Prep's ruthless student body and if her smarts can win her the top student spot, toppling both Jamie and Nancy. 

In hindsight, I really tried to recommend books I haven't talked about a lot but it seems I've failed...but just looking at this list makes me wish I could actually share these stories with the characters because I would love to hear their thoughts. 

Please let me know some of your favorite k-dramas and if you've watched MY ROOMMATE IS A GUMIHO let me know your thoughts. In my post-drama mourning, I also have a journal with me if you'd like to watch me wallow in my emotions.