#BookTalk: Jim Butcher's Dresden Files #15 Skin Game (HEAVY SPOILERS)

Seriously, if you don't read the Dresden Files I am judging you. 

Heavy spoilers is hidden. 

Read it in one day (of course), to be honest, when it came to Jim Butcher, his books immediately made me push every other book on my TBR list way back. No matter what other book I have down the line, Jim Butcher's is the book I pick up.

So when Skin Game came out, I was practically salivating for it. I think I dreamed about it one time or another. 

Anyway, Harry Dresden+Nicodemus+Heist...no force in the 'verse can stop me from reading this book. Except death, but you get what I mean. 

First though I need to say, PARKOUR! LOL. That will never get old. 

I'm just imagining Harry running all over Demonreach and shouting Parkour like a bigass three year old. That's one of the reasons why I love Harry, he's this really powerful wizard but he's also a spaz and not afraid to show it...I think Murphy said something of the same note. 

Back to the book. Nicodemus is at it again, and called upon Mab to let him borrow Dresden for a job. Mab agreed so Harry had to work with Nicodemus.

Bad idea all around right?

Nicodemus being Nicodemus of course has something up his sleeve so Harry had to figure what that is and also somehow sabotage whatever Nicodemus wanted to do without getting dead. 

I like that this book centers on Harry's almost supernatural ability to get out of deals. It's not really honorable of him, but since he's dealing with either the Sidhe or bad people, I'm okay with that. I can appreciate the bendiness of Harry's mind.

And we get to read Micheal in action again, which is awesome. One of the things I like about Jim Butcher is that he can write a character like Micheal who is devout in his belief without being preachy and sanctimonious. In fact, I feel assured in Micheal's belief of God, and that he's okay with people questioning God and that he admits that he doesn't have all the answers but he believes that God acts with love. 

I'm not a religious person but Micheal makes me want to believe and that's kind of awesome. 

We didn't get to see Thomas but we get mentions of him. 

We get lots of Murphy (YEY) and how do I adore the progress in their relationship and there was this scene in the book where Murphy got hurt bad and Harry was questioned on why he wasn't as angry as he should have (considering Harry has a dangerous level of white knight syndrome) but Harry seemed to only be as angry as if Micheal was hurt, and Harry answered he was angry but Murphy was warrior in her own right and he respected her strength. I SERIOUSLY dig that. That he treated Murphy as an equal. That he trusted her to deal with all the supernatural crap when she's not even close to supernatural. 

BTW, WE ALL DO CRAZY THINGS FOR LOVE. That scene, THAT SCENE. When the sword broke, I practically screamed. 

AND THAT OTHER SCENE, with the bed. I KNEW it was a dream but HOLY SHIT.

And ha, HARRY's PREGNANT. 

That was some twisted and funny shit, right there. 

Butters. I was so sad for Butters' doubt about Harry but how epic is Butters becoming? And I love that Bob and him are like this great partnership. I'm kind of wondering how Butter is changing Bob though. He was different when he was with Justin, and different when he was with Harry, I'm wondering how working with Butter changes him. 

We see more of how destroying the Red Court resulted in the Supernatural world of Chicago and the world, how there's so much power to grab and every supernatural groups are furiously claiming theirs. 

We also get Molly, trying to do her best as a Winter Lady, but she's dealing with the same thing with Harry and I think she's less aware of how her powers can change her. Harry has people to point at him and question him and doubt him but Molly keeps everything close to her chest and she's isolated. Sure she has her family but she hasn't told them yet so--

Maggie, and Mouse and the Carpenters. SO CUTE. 

I teared up and sobbed in a lot of places, I mean, full-on sob and tears. And I felt pity for Nicodemus at one point. DAMN YOU, BUTCHER FOR CREATING SUCH CHARACTERS!

AND, BUTTERS AS A KNIGHT OF THE CROSS. AND LIGHTSABERS!

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

And Harry and Murphy at the end!!!!!

And now of course, I'm gonna imagine Maggie and her own talking skull ( also, her half-sister) which is really awesome. 

...I think that's all my exhausted brain can think about right now. 

Quote

"Knowing someone hates you is one thing, understanding why is another thing all together."

-Leah Curran Touched #2 The Saint

#NowReading: Adrienne Kress's The Friday Society

Summary (Goodreads):

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns –and the heroines who use them all 

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

edited:

The writing style didn't agree with me so I abandoned this. 

#BOOKHAUL!, DreamWalkers and A Whole Lot of Nothing

Aren't they PURTY?

Still have a ton of new books but I'll introduced them to you gently. 

Anyway, have been busy editing Wolf at the Door (WATD) especially since contract is being negotiated and I haven't time to continue with DreamWalkers but will go back to it after. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of changing The Wolf Series into the Oathbreaker Series, considering the book isn't really about the wolves but about the Waerloga....strange how things can hit you at the last moment. 

And I just changed the title on Goodreads. So WATD is Oathbreaker #1. 

I'm not editing much of the book just a little here and there, change some weird sentences or catch a few more typos and misspellings if I can. 

I really need a good editor. It would help if I have another set of eyes to catch things that I didn't. 

In DreamWalkers, it's weird how as an author you would have your own favorite character. Someone who despite not being a main character, you love just the same. Sure enough, like a parent, you would have a favorite child but...in DreamWalkers, I didn't expect Yohan to be my favorite. Sure he will be a big part of the story but...It's not surprising that Medea would be the most confusing character for me, I just don't really get her because my personality is so very different from her and writing her has its ups and downs and sideways while Sen, my second favorite, is actually pretty easy to write about that I'm worried that he would come off as boring. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider him boring, but he's so entrenched in Asian customs and traditions (Japanese, where everything is suppressed and understated) that I'm afraid he would come off as staid and...boring. To me he is fascinating, all that rock-steadiness and Japanese restraint hiding an ocean vastness of will and passion and I give him little moments-subtle-moments where I try to give hints of that intensity and bring it out, especially in his interactions with Medea. But Sen is also respectful, quiet, a flowing river underneath a mirror surface type and I'm afraid I wouldn't do him justice. And I'm afraid that my readers who aren't Asian will not be able to relate to him...

It's like when an Asian movie is remade by Hollywood,  a change in values and traditions change the whole look and feel of the movie. Sometimes what we Asians consider powerful emotionally or scandalous isn't a big deal for other people and I'm afraid of such meaningful actions from Sen would pass people by because they don't get it. They don't get him.

Or am I thinking too much or being an Asian snob?

Yohan, my favorite, would most definitely be a crowd pleaser, not only because he's the not-so-typical bad boy type--sort of--but because he is passionate and he acts on said passion. Not that he's reckless, because he's not. But he's the type to say rousing speeches and lead men while Sen is the one who stands behind the throne and whispers secrets and quiet advice. Both boys are intense but while Yohan has the burn-to-ashes intensity of the sun, Sen is the steady light in the dark that guides you home. 

So, which would you prefer? 

P.S: Boo is doing great. He's eating a lot, napping like the world is going to end and basically creating a mess wherever he goes like cats do. 

Happy with his progress. *thumbs up*

Ship Talk: #Olicity

This episode, yo. THIS EPISODE, YO.

Ugh, it gave me such a beautiful dream just to take it all away *weeps* I knew they were going to do it, but, DAMN, it was such a lovely scene.

And when he said, "I love you" the way his face and eyes and expression changes into what I called his 'Felicity's Oliver' face, it was so....GAH. I had to squee silently because it's the middle of the night and everyone else is sleeping including my kitten I don't want to wake him up because it was hard enough to get him to sleep. 

(Here is a picture of a sleeping Boo)

My reason for shipping them isn't just insane chemistry, it's because the Oliver who is with Felicity is good and honorable, it is the best version of himself. And he respects her, he cares for her, he's soft and gentle for her and most of all, he smiles for her. And not the way he smiles at general (if he actually did smile) but he has this special look on his face when he's with her, when he speaks to her and I LOVE that. I SHIP that. 

They have a very unique relationship, a true partnership where he listens to her when he doesn't listen to anyone else, where she encourages him to stand up for what he believes, remind him of said principles. She believes that he can be the man that he wants to be and because of her faith in him, he becomes that man. She is there to talk him off of a ledge, and there to smack his face with reality. She cares for him but she also dishes out the hard truth.

Like Oliver said, Felicity isn't a sidekick, she's his partner.

And that's why I ship my babies.

He has no baggage with her like he does with his other women, no history. There is no guilt, or pain, or misunderstanding. There is only respect and truth and trust and now affection. This is Oliver's clean slate, this is his second chance. 

And that is why I ship my babies.

ThIs video by iForeverYooung? 

This is why I ship my babies. 

Music Video Talk: Lee Michelle's Without You #MVTALK

So, this video. It got me.

I am kind of confused on why most reaction videos to this MV doesn't really get the video which is weird because I think the video was pretty clear on what it was about.

This is a girl who despite her Korean blood looks like a black woman. In South KOREA. She has dark skin and big hair. So when the little girl showed up and we saw her looking at the picture of a black man, I already know what it'll be about.

Those pictures on the wall, the way she tries to powder her face white was kind of harrowing for me. And to think that it's a child doing this makes me even more sad. And angry. 

It really doesn't matter if you black, yellow, or white, you've been there. When you've experience little jabs about your looks, when you're being told that you're not good enough, or made to feel that you'll never be good enough. And this MV showed us a part of that. She's a black kid in South Korea where pale skin and small faces is the yardstick of beauty.

But then there was a black and white painting of her face on the wall, and she splashed it with color. She's started of angry but then she started to smile...that was a powerful message.

at the start I realized that she's actually running away from prejudice and fear. 

She was REALLY brave in making this video though.

Of course the song choice didn't make any sense but I guess we can take it as the song is about a person who didn't accept her as she is, or made her feel small. But fuck it, she's fine without that person anyhow. 

I love at the end though, when the little her meet the teenage her and they smiled at each other. 

After all, the best revenge is success. 

The Wolf Series: Book covers for Wolf at the Door!

The Wolf Series: Book covers for Wolf at the Door!: I said to Mey Yeng, "I want a red door with a black background, and the shadow of the wolf will be a silhouette of a wolf.  And sh...

Kittens, Knitting and Dry Eyes.

Kittens, named, Baby and Boo is healthy. I have them on soft foods now and weaning them off milk and they're doing fine. Baby, the little one, was sort of listless the first few days but she's getting pretty frisky as her brother Boo. 

Will deworm them next. In the afternoons they sleep in my room while at night she sleeps in the kitchen where it's warm. 

I try not to get them use to sleeping on my bed, but today, they insisted on taking a nap with me. I think they were cold because they burrowed into my hair. Some people have fleas, I have kittens. 

They purred into my ear, distracting me from my reading and my current crocheting project. 

But look at them. Baby is in the front and Boo is at the back. Her soft paws petted me as she slept. Cute. 

These are some pictures I took when I was armknitting. It looks pretty restrictive right?

My sleeping habits are pretty human-like now and less vampire but I still get headaches now and then. Methinks it's because I'm straining my eyes. Due to that I'm going to rest my eyes for a few days and maybe exercise and drag my ass out of the house for a bit. 

I need to buy bread and yarn anyways. Might as well. 

Picked up a lot of titles this month.

And this is only what I'm currently reading. Not my whole haul. 

As a kid, when you're happy, happiness is all you feel.

Layers and layers of happiness that at times you feel like you'll burst. But as you grow older, every time you're happy, it'll always be laced with a little bit of sadness and regret. 

Sadness over the things that could've been and regret over the things that had been.

Cats, Knitting and DreamWalkers playlist.

I found these two in my backyard, seems someone dump them. I'm worried about the my ability to take care of them since they're so young so I'm thinking of sending them off to my brother and his pack of cats. I think they're about a month old, I'm giving them milk and prepare them for soft foods. 

They're actually quite well-behaved. They don't mewl much unless they're hungry and left alone, the bigger one (I haven't named them yet) likes to chew stuff but they don't pee and poop everywhere but their box so I'm pleased with the babies.

Besides, since they are kittens, they still sleep a lot.

I finally taught myself arm-knitting and made this, an infinity scarf, on my first attempt (admittedly I had to re-do the damn thing three times. It was exhausting though and now I'm all out of yarn. It's still messy though, embarrassingly so. Still, it's gorgeous and warm and I'm quite proud I stuck to it. 

What is arm-knitting? This is armknitting. 

Trust me, it's not for the faint-hearted. My shoulders and back are killing me and it took a lot out of me. You should also make sure you go to the bathroom before you do this because the yarns will be attached to your arms. Of course if you do really need to go you would have to bring the yarns with you (since I was using four yarns, that was kind of hard to do. XD

I'm planning to do a DreamWalker playlist. Quite excited about this. I'm a nerd. So?