Heaven Official's Blessing Volume 6 - Book Review

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

Heaven Official's Blessing is a Chinese BL novel written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, it's also known by it's Chinese name Tian Guan Ci Fu.

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu is a globally renowned author whose works are often cited as the best-known in the modern danmei genre. Originally self-published via the novel serialization website, JJWXC, her current titles include The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, and Heaven Official's Blessing. All three series' received multiple adaptations and have been published in numerous languages around the world.

In China BL is known as Danmei, the novel was first published in 2017, on JinJiang Literature City, a popular Chinese website for publishing and serializing online fiction.

Though not chronologically, the novel and book series, follows Xie Lian, a once human crown prince of the kingdom of Xianle in the east who ascends to godhood at seventeen, after dedicating himself to cultivation and martial training. During the inaugural years of his divinity, his kingdom experiences upheavel and war, due in part to draught and a terrifying new disease. Going against the edicts of both the heavenly realm and of fate, Xie Lian involves himself in the affairs of the mortals who have always loved and supported him, hoping to achieve peace and relieve suffering in his kingdom. Unfortunately, his appearance in the mortal world only amplifies the conflicts between his people and their desperation leads to the dramatic and abrupt downfall of Xianle, as well as the downfall of Xie Lian. The people destroy his temples, statues and abandoning him as their most respected religious figure and earning him the reputation of a God of Misfortune.

The novel is being officially translated into English by Seven Seas Entertainment, with the 4th volume being published on the 30thof May 2023.

Body in Abyss, Heart in Paradise.

White No-Face, Xie Lian;s greatest fear and most hated enemy, has arrived... or so it seems. While the ghost with the half-crying, half-smiling mask is somewhere nearby, the creature is elusive as always, taunting Xie Lian from just out of reach and promising total destruction of everything he holds dear.

A Xie Lian confronts the trauma of his last encounter with the terrifying ghost, Hua Cheng will do anything in his power to protect him. But White No-Face's identity and purpose are not the only mysteries to unravel, as Hua Cheng also has a history in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Mount Tonglu. Will Xie Lian finally discover the full connection they share - and learn the true depths of Hua Cheng's devotion?

I thought how Volume 4 ended broke my heart, but seeing how things went in Xie Lian's past really broke my heart, especially with how he felt abandoned by those closest to him, as well as the things he went through, for me really made Volume 5 a little hard to read. Thinking about this volume, you can't help but wonder how we have the positive Xie Lian as I would think anyone that went through what he did would ever come out of the other side.

That being said I think what we see in this volume really shapes characters like Feng Xin and Mu Qing as you see they still feel guilt towards how they left and treated Xie Lian, as well as how they still hold their roles as subordinates to Xie Lian close to their hearts as they still aim to protect him in the present.

We see more of how Hua Cheng believed in and adored Xie Lian and helped in keeping his spark alive and would follow him no matter the path he took.

This volume really gives a good look into past events, as well as getting us closer into everyone learning who Hua Cheng really is, and why he's so devoted to being around and helping Xie Lian.

I will never get over how stunning the artwork is for these novels, each volume is as stunning as the last and really adds to  each chapter.

I'm still in the process of reading Volume 7, but I'm ashamed to say that I started it last year and so far this year haven't read any physical books.

I really need to get mu butt in gear and started reading my books again, but a part of me doesn't want to finish this novel series, I love these characters too much.

Have you read volume 6 of Heaven Official's Blessing?

What were your thoughts?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye

Korean Drama - The Tasty Florida

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

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The Tasty Florida is a 2021 South Korean BL web series directed by Yang Kyeong Hui.

It aired September 24, 2021 - October 15, 2021.

The series has 8 episodes.

Main Cast:

Cha Woo Min as Seo Hae Won

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Yu Hwan as Baek Eun Gyu

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Supporting Cast:

Moon Kang Hyuk as Cha Ji Soo

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Zeze (Choi Jae Hoon) as Ha Jin

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Yoo Seung Jun as Joo Seo Hyeok

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Yoon Ye Hee as Guest House Host

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This drama has some amazing tracks on it's OST, including from the shows cast.

Yoo Hwan, Cha Woo Min, Moon Kang Hyuk, Zeze, Yoo Seung Jun - Florida

Moody sol

Runy - Star

Moody sol

Yoo Hwan - It's You

Moody sol

2Z - All I Need

XSamNine

College freshman, Seo Hae Won moves into a guesthouse above Florida Banjeom, a popular Chinese restaurant. Despite being recommended for a part-time job by Cha Ji Soo, Hae Won finds himself at odds with the restaurant's owner and head chef, Baek Eun Gyu, who seems to instantly dislike him.

Working alongside colleagues Ha Jin and Joo Seo Hyeok, Hae Won quickly adapts to the restaurant environment and attracts attention from patrons.

As he becomes more comfortable, he unexpectedly develops feelings for his cold-hearted boss, Eun Gyu.

The story explores whether Hae Won can overcome the initial tension and win Eun Gyu's heart.

Rakuten TV〈楽天TV〉

As usual for a Korean BL series, this is a short and sweet series. I thought the cast did really well and I had some serious 2nd male lead syndrome.

I thought the plot flowed really well considering the episodes had a runtime of around 11 minutes each.

I really liked Cha Woo Min as Seo Hae Won, he definitely brought a naivety and innocence to the role, He seems to be doing really well for himself and seems to be doing quite a few villain roles, and for me with this being my introduction to him shows he's an amazing actor. Hae Won as a character seems to be really open about things and willing to accept his feelings for Eun Gyu. I don't think if it's ever brought up in the series what his sexuality is at the start and whether he was initially straight and grew feelings for Eun Gyu or if his character was gay from the start.

Yu Hwan was really good as Baek Eun Gyu, this was my first time watching Yu Hwan act so I'm not familiar with his acting style, so I would like to check out more of his roles to compare, but he did a good job of showing different emotions. Eun Gyu came across as someone who was unwilling to admit that he had feelings for another man, even though others around him could see it.

I loved Moon Kang Hyuk as Cha Ji Soo, I definitely had 2nd male lead syndrome with him and lowkey wanted Hae Won to fall for me, but I don't think Ji Soo whole heartedly liked him. Part of me feels he did want a romantic relationship with him but another part of me thinks that he was trying to push Eun Gyu into admitting how he felt about Hae Won. I'd love to check out more shows with Moon Kang Hyuk as I really enjoyed his acting.

I feel that the cast really bounced off one another and really told the story well and brought their characters to life.

I think even with how short the series is, we definitely get enough context to what's happening and for me it concluded really well, I wasn't left wondering what if and wasn't left with any unanswered questions.

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Have you watched The Tasty Florida?

Were you a fan of the cast?

Did you enjoy the plot?

Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye

Given Volume 3 - Book Review

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

Given is a Japanese BL manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Kizu.

It has been serialized in the bimonthly manga magazine Cheri+ since 2013 and has been collected into 9 tankobon volumes by Shinshokan.

Volume 3 was published March 1, 2017 in Japan and August 11, 2020 in English.

The series has been adapted multiple times, with an audio drama in 2016, an 11-episode anime series in 2019, an anime film in 2020, and a live-action drama in 2021.

The series follows a group of four students in an amateur rock band and the dual romantic relationships that form among them: between electric guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and vocalist Mafuyu Sato, and between bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.

Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hot-headed guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music - and to one another - always brings them back together again.

Uenoyama realizes he's in love with Mafuyu and steals a kiss from him backstage at their first live performance. But now he's even more confused - he hasn't shared his feelings with Mafuyu and has no idea how Mafuyu feels about him. In contrast to their naive romance, Haruki has been harbouring a secret desire for bandmate Akihiko, who's already entangled in an intense, conflicted relationship with someone else.

Like with Volume 2, Volume 3 continues to story perfectly. We see more into Uenoyama's feelings for Mafuyu and his dilemma in if Mafuyu returns his feelings at all, to which we do get a confession between them. Also while Mafuyu seems to struggle with his feelings about his past, we can see that a weight has been lifted after being able to to his emotions into words.

We delve a little more into Haruki's one-sided feelings towards Akihiko, as well as how this has swayed the way he looks, for example that Haruki grew out his hair.

We also get to see how Haruki, Akihiko and Uenoyama ended up in a band together, as well as how they come up with their band name after their first performance with Mafuyu.

We also delve more into Akihiko and his relationship with his roommate Ugetsu Murata, we get a more intense look into their relationship.

Akihiko also takes Mafuyu to Ugetsu's concert to introduce him to more classical music, which we also find out that Akihiko hides sides of himself from Haruki, which for me shows that he cares about what he thinks about him. and wants to be seen positively by him.

We see Mafayu starting to get series about music and wanting their band to succeed, we also get to see that he's reconnected with his friends from his childhood.

I always love the little short story panels we get at the end after the main story, they always show a different side and are often comedic and gives more insight into their daily lives.

The more I go back over these volumes the more my love for the series increases, the story, the art, the characters, it's all just perfect and I will always recommend this series to everyone.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye

Given Volume 2 - Book Review

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)

Given is a Japanese BL manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Kizu.

It has been serialized in the bimonthly manga magazine Cheri+ since 2013 and has been collected into 9 tankobon volumes by Shinshokan.

Volume 2 was published January 30, 2016 in Japan and May 12, 2020 in English.

The series has been adapted multiple times, with an audio drama in 2016, an 11-episode anime series in 2019, an anime film in 2020, and a live-action drama in 2021.

The series follows a group of four students in an amateur rock band and the dual romantic relationships that form among them: between electric guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and vocalist Mafuyu Sato, and between bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.

Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hot-headed guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music - and to one another - always brings them back together again.

As the band races toward their first live concert, Mafuyu struggles to write lyrics for their new song but can't find the words to express the emotions burning within him. Meanwhile, Uenoyama hears rumours about Mafutu's past and is bewildered by his won feelings. The tension builds until the night of the show, when the band explodes into a raging, life-changing performance.

Volume 2 is the perfect continuation of the story, we get to see a lot more of Mafuyu's past and his relationship with his childhood friends Hiragi Kashima and Yuki Yoshida. We see how Mafayu and Yuki's relationship developed in more and how they needed one another. But even though Mafuyu was in love with Yuki, he still felt lonely. We learn why he feels so much guilt about having Yuki's guitar as well as how Yuki's death came about and why.

We get to see how Ueunoyama's feelings start developing more and how he begins to come to terms with how he feels for Mafuyu, even asking advice from fellow bandmate Akihiko.

We get to meet Ugetsu Murata, who is Akihiko's roommate, but when we meet him it's indicated that there is more between them than just normal roommates.

There's nothing in the way of things developing with Hikaru and Akihiko, only that they try to push both Mafuyu and Uenoyama in the right direction for their first ever show. Akihiko seems to take Mafuyu under his wing, which to me shows that he's had the same struggles as Mafuyu in that he's sometimes found it hard to put words to his emotions and has overcome them to some extent.

I love how Natsuki Kizu drew their performance, even while reading you can feel Mafuyu's emotion's, his guilt, his heartache and his loneliness as well as everyone finally beginning to understand and accept him. The addition of flashback throughout this section helps the reader to feel those emotions too. We also get to see Mafuyu accept that he's able to move on without forgetting his first love.

I love that we get a little bonus story after the main plot of volume 2 that follows Mafuyu and Yuki to the beach, and it connects perfectly to the main story.

To repeat what I said when I posted a bout Volume 1. I will always recommend this series as I love the characters and the story, it touches on a lot of topics that people often try to push to one side, like mental health, suicide and sexuality, especially when it comes to school age.

It's one of my favourite series' in the BL genre as well as overall, it's definitely one of my favourites to read all over again.

See you soon!

안녕

(Annyeong)

さようなら

(Sayonara)

再见

(ZaiJian)

Bye