Tag: fantasy

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.

Marry My Husband

Published on by wordhues2 Comments

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The plot is an adaptation of the web novel of the same name. It follows the life of Kang Ji-won, a middle class working woman who is diagnosed with late stage stomach cancer.

She is portrayed as an ordinary woman – timid, hardworking and in simple terms the “not so popular”. She is married to Park Min-hwan, who was initially shown as a caring partner but changes since their marriage. Post the marriage he chose to quit his job and ended up being a burden to Ji-won. Things were just made worse by his mother who thought that her son could do nothing wrong and in turn pressurized Ji-won to work harder.

The stress takes it’s toll and she ends up falling sick. In those times her closest friend Jung Soo-min was her only companion when she battling with cancer. Her friend regularly visited her during treatments and encouraged her to fight.

Little did she know that her life was about to be turned upside down when she was sent back home from the hospital due to non payment of the hospital bills. When she arrived at home the scene in front was that of her husband cheating on her with her closest friend. They all the while were plotting a way to get rid of her to cash on the life insurance.

She threw a fit of rage on discovering the truth but neither of them regretted on what they did to her. They said “The living needs to keep on living” and in the scuffle pushed her sending her crashing to the floor. She saw her life drain out of her.

When she wakes up again she is back to the year 2013. To a time before she made all the wrong decisions in her life. Given the opportunity to change her fate, she now has to make the right choices to ensure a better future than the one she lived.

The series follows the changes she makes to enact her revenge on the ones that had killed her and all the while claiming her right to to a “Fairytale Happy Ever After”. With the help of her romantic interest Yoo Ji-hyuk who seems to be in a time loop of his own they sought to alter the present to make their future one in which they finally win.

In my opinion, it is a light-hearted revenge tale which is a nice break from reality giving the viewers the motivation that it is never to late to change their destiny.

Explorer within Four Walls

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If I were to write down the places next to home I still have not visited it would end up being a very long list. I have lived with very protective parents and going alone somewhere was never a possibility. Added to that, I an introvert and quite lazy I would prefer to explore places within the confines of my room.

On a general note, I prefer to visit places where I can just sit and breathe. I love mostly visiting places when the air is dewy and the sun is hot enough to keep me warm but not that it makes me sweat. I appreciate visiting a place when I can hear the sounds of nature over the noise of the busy city. I love those moments when the mind slows down without having the constant thoughts in my head that people are judging me.

Probably one of the reasons why I chose to get lost in the worlds that books bring me. Just a comfortable chair and good light is all I need to enjoy exploration. But maybe someday soon I will choose to venture out to the real world and explore the wonders it holds.

Bloganuary writing prompt
Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.
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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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