Tag: books

Woman reading in a lantern-lit garden beneath a starry sky

Fantasy world

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Which fictional world would be the most fun to vacation in?

I think that if I could be part of a fictional world, it would most certainly be a world where magic exists. I love reading books that revolve around magic, special powers, and worlds that exist only in the imagination. There is something fascinating about the idea that reality can be shaped by creativity, courage, and a little bit of wonder.

Imagine using magic to complete daily chores that you don’t like doing. Laundry could fold itself, dishes could clean themselves, and cleaning the house would take only a few seconds. Imagine instant costume changes with no worries about surprise events or running late. Life would feel a little less stressful and a lot more fun.

But what interests me most is not the convenience. Imagine a world where you can heal nature and help people heal as well. Forests damaged by pollution could be restored overnight, rivers could run clear again, and barren land could become green and full of life. Magic could bring hope where there is despair and give people a second chance when they need it most.

While I wouldn’t want magic to be the solution to everything, it would be nice to have it for solving existential crises. Some challenges help us grow, and life would probably lose its meaning if every problem could be fixed with the wave of a hand. However, having a little magic to guide us through our hardest moments would make the burden easier to carry.

If I had magic, I could create the perfect world for myself: a quiet place surrounded by nature, endless libraries filled with books, cozy corners to read in, and enough peace to simply exist without worrying about the pressures of everyday life. Maybe I would even extend the hours in a day so I could finally do all the things I never seem to have enough time for. There are so many books I want to read, places I want to explore, and hobbies I want to try, but somehow the day always ends before I get to them.

And, if I am being completely honest, one of the first magic I would learn would probably be invisibility. Not forever, and not for grand adventures, but for those days when I simply cannot handle the world or the people in it. The days when every conversation feels exhausting and every expectation feels heavy. It would be nice to disappear for a little while, away from prying eyes, unsolicited opinions, and the constant need to be present.

In that invisible space, I could just exist. I could wander through forests, sit by a lake, read for hours, or watch the world go by without feeling like I had to participate in it. There is something comforting about the idea of being unseen, not because I want to hide, but because sometimes I want the freedom to experience the world without it experiencing me back.

Under the Queen’s Umbrella

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

I personally love historical dramas. I love the imagery they evoke and the references they make to the history and culture they portray.

Under the Queen’s Umbrella follows the story of Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, played by actress Kim Hye-soo. Side note before I continue: her portrayal of the role is phenomenal. Every expression conveys so much emotion — I simply love her performance.

Back to the series: the story centers on a queen who is truly the backbone of her family. It shows how a woman, even within the strict boundaries of earlier times, does everything in her power to protect her loved ones. She works quietly in the background, never demanding recognition, but finding joy in her family’s success.

After losing her firstborn son — the Crown Prince, played by Bae In-hyuk — under suspicious circumstances, the Queen quickly realizes how his death has placed her family in danger. Traditionally, the younger brothers of the Crown Prince were not educated to the same level, so they would not be considered rivals to the throne. This practice was meant to protect them from harm. However, after the Crown Prince’s death, rivalry erupts among his brothers and stepbrothers, each competing for the title. The Queen understands that her sons must adapt quickly and become worthy candidates.

She sets out on a mission to prepare them for the throne, all while learning the true challenges each prince faces and giving them courage and support to overcome those struggles. At the same time, she navigates the schemes of ministers, the other wives of the king, and the King’s mother. Unknown to her, hidden enemies with secret agendas are plotting against her in ways she never expected.

The series portrays the extent of a mother’s love and the lengths she will go to protect those she cherishes. With a strong plot and a wonderful cast who embody their roles and emotions perfectly, Under the Queen’s Umbrella is a drama I would wholeheartedly recommend. It offers a relaxing watch, distinct from the usual K-drama trope of romance. While there is a love story, the series keeps its focus firmly on the politics of the royal household.

Ornate broken mirror reflecting a sunlit forest with trees and autumn leaves

Evil or Experienced

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Daily writing prompt
What villain actually had a good point?
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Stories are powerful teachers. For many of us, childhood tales from Disney painted morality in stark colors: the hero was pure, kind, and destined to win, while the villain was cloaked in black, ugly in appearance, and evil without reason. These portrayals ingrained in us the idea that people can be neatly divided into “good” and “bad.”

But when I first encountered the Grimm brothers’ tales, I realized how much had been softened in translation. In the original stories, true love did not always conquer, and good people did not always find happy endings. Villains were not born evil — they were often victims first, shaped by cruelty, misfortune, or betrayal. Their darkness was not innate but a reaction to the hand life dealt them.

This perspective challenges the simplistic binaries of morality. The eternal nature versus nurture debate becomes less important than the question of adaptation: how does a person respond to suffering? Some rise above it, choosing compassion despite pain. Others break under its weight, making destructive choices that ripple outward.

And here lies the unsettling truth: morality is relative. The villain in your story may be the hero in someone else’s. A person who hurt you may have protected ten others. Where do we draw the line — with the child who was tortured, or the adult who now tortures? The answer is never simple.

Modern storytelling embraces this complexity. Characters like Maleficent or Killmonger resonate because they are not evil for evil’s sake. They embody pain, injustice, and survival. We may not condone their actions, but we understand them — and that makes them hauntingly real.

The lesson villains teach us is sobering: no one in this world has your absolute good in mind. Even family, often the closest bond, may not always act with pure selflessness. This does not mean we should live in paranoia, but rather in awareness. Stories remind us not to close our eyes and blindly trust, but to see people as they are — complex, flawed, capable of both harm and kindness.

Teach you a Lesson

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Netflix series is adapted from the Naver webtoon Get Schooled which takes a bold look at the failures of Korea’s education system and the troubling leniencies given to juvenile offenders. In Korea, young offenders often receive lighter punishments due to their age, a loophole that has drawn many teenagers and young adults into crime. The series dramatizes this issue through the creation of the fictional Educational Rights Protection Board (ERPB), an agency formed after the tragic death of a teacher at the hands of a student. Its mission is to reform schools so that students can thrive regardless of their backgrounds, while ensuring that offenders are held accountable for the harm they cause.

Led by Education Minister Choi Gangseok, the ERPB team—Na Hwajin, Im Harim, and Bong Geundae—travels across the country to confront problematic schools. Their approach is uncompromising, using every method available to “straighten out” troubled students and teachers while tackling the root causes of dysfunction. This narrative highlights the importance of early intervention, showing that shaping children’s minds at the right age can prevent destructive adult behavior and, ultimately, reshape society.

The series is compelling in its social critique and gripping in its drama, but it leaves viewers wanting more depth in the characters’ backstories. While the focus on systemic reform is powerful, the show misses opportunities to explore how each ERPB member’s own school experiences shaped their moral drive to fix the system. I think that if there were more detailed flashbacks to their personal struggles of the team members could have added emotional resonance and made the characters more relatable. It feels as though the 10-episode format constrained the storytelling, prioritizing the reform narrative over character development and limiting its ability to connect deeply with viewers.

Despite these limitations, Get Schooled is definitely worth watching. It offers a refreshing take on education as crime prevention and demonstrates that the right actions taken at the right time can transform not just individuals but society as a whole.

Worlds yet to Explore

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Reading to me has also being a gateway into something beyond reality. When everything seems bleak around me picking up a book and turning those few pages makes everything fascinating again.

I love reading all kinds of books mysteries and thrillers in particular. But, the genre I have come to appreciate the most is “Magical Realism”. I enjoy the possibility of the existence of magic in the real world. I fantasize of being in a world where I could have magic too.

I have read most of the popular book series during the start of the bibliophile part of my life. But the most surprising one for me was the series “Dark Visions Trilogy” it may have been an older series but I simply loved it. Even today, I love to go back and read them when I get the chance.

When I am asked what I want to read the only answer I have to that is “If it’s a book that would disconnect me from the boring reality called life, I will read it!”.

Bloganuary writing prompt
What books do you want to read?
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