I got this story idea at 3AM when I lived in an apartment near my uni.

it was March 2016. And I never looked back.

I don't read that much 'romance' books, I just personally prefer adventure and fantasy genre.
I just find romance books are overwhelming corny and with so much sex inuendos that I just like; "Plot... Characters that grow without anyone saving them... I'm BEGGING..."

However, lately, I encountered a lot of romance books that didn't make me want to dig a hole and bury myself out of secondhand embarrassment. (I found this as a sign as that I'm now officially an adult reader). Still, however so, if you put romance book besides an adventure one, I choose the later without a second thought.

So, why the hell I decided to write His Spring Symphony and spent three years of my life finishing it?

I have this thing when I started something, I want to finish it.

Also, I really love my OCs and I want them to be happy.

And this year, I finally finished His Spring Symphony. After three years.


I had no timeline nor plot points when I started this. I only knew the premise and the ending since the beginning. The scenes I found important came gradually and sometimes from dreaming them.

I didn't know how to write romance when I first started this. But I know character growth, I know pain and disappointment, I know love.

I care about this story that I couldn't stop writing every single point I wanted. I wanted Haru and Hunter get the best from my writing as much as I could.

I don't know if I'm a good writer or not. But, His Spring Symphony, I know in my heart, is my best work (so far).

And I have to say goodbye and continue to write.
Because that's what writers do.

We continue to write.

It is the time of the year to talk about my favourite book that I read this year whOSHHHH

2018 has been a GREAT reading year for me. [I mean, REALLY GREAT]

The last time I read this avidly was back in 2013.

I initially set to read only 20 books for 2018.
But by the time I reached 20, I amended to 30 books.

I read in a total of 35 books this year [exclude school readings]

Honourable Mentions

The re-reads:

VICIOUS

Cruel Beauty

 House of Hades

The Wraith and The Dawn
Anna Dressed in Blood
Eleanor & Park

That not make it on the list but I love you still:

Reaper at The Gates

War Strom
Female of the Species
One of Us is Lying


THESE ARE MY TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2018!!!!!!
[Click the book picture for Goodreads link]




I'm gonna start with this one romance book;


Josh and Hazels' Guide to Not Dating



I love watching romcom and kdramas. But I love watching them. Reading has always been private to me; me and imaginations. Most of the time romance [contemporary romance especially] gave me so much secondhand embarrassments that I can't finish it and would eventually not reading them.

Most of the romance books I encountered are prone to night one-night stand plots, quick attractions and stuff. And I, as an asexual, don't get that and would never to. I don't get plots like that. That is why I tend to avoid romance books altogether.

This book, in particular, came from many many romance book recommendations by Booktubers that I trust.

This book is endearing.
It's about college acquaintances, turned to friends when they met again, who understand each other and turned to love. Slow burn at its finest.

Josh and Hazel's relationship are matured [sometimes stupid], they respect and understand each other. They're both different in personalities and lifestyle, but they click.

I swear, my personality is so close to Josh its funny.
I didn't want to bury myself in the sand while reading it out of second-hand embarrassment and it says a lot.

Lee Jun Hyuk IS Josh Im thank you for coming to my TedTalk.





Wintersong




Goblin King. Ancient Curse. And a lot of music.

Really, I wanted to read this because I still missed the kdrama Goblin and like... Bowie's Jareth. Might as well I picked it up when I found in Borders.

I didn't expect much going into it because I just wanted to read about a woman who breaks an ancient curse and feels. I just wanted to read a familiar story about a cursed Goblin King.

At the end of it, I got a huge amount of music knowledge (The girl's family are musicians and they lived in the 17th century? Germany and the second book sets in France),  emotional baggage, SLOW BURN romance.

I actually cried reading this because it was so in depth. In my head, I kept imagining a small village that has a constant fog and beautiful woods.

If you love the folklore of Goblin King, you will love this. Because I found it entertaining and quite accurate; on the peaches; siblings get missing and music associating to the folklore while reading it.

Also, there is poetry about the Goblin King that EXISTS written in the 18th century:
Erlkönig





The Wicker King



This is the last book I read in 2018. The 35th.

It broke me, it made me think, it made me feel, It made me reminiscent my teenhood in a way that it is psychologically eye-opening.

I knew of this book because somebody tweeted that this is the book he/she still thinking about it after months of finishing it.

It happened to me too. There is a book you love and enjoy and there is a book that when at night you can't sleep, your mind would think about it; The Wicker King is that book to me.

About two friends, August and Jack as Jack started to hallucinate things and is so scared because a king in his hallucinations is after him. August, as his friend, decided to believe him and follow Jack on a quest to defeat that said king.

This is magical realism and psychological. Its super fascinating. Most of the chapters end in one page and the books have arts, pictures and playlists. It just sucks you in, hovering August and Jack as their facing their problems.

I would definitely read it again.
Also, don't miss the Author's Note at the end, it will make you cry.




Receiver of Many



Blessed me for searching 'Hades and Persephone retellings' out of the blue in the middle of the night.

I feel like you need to know about Greek Myth and its Patheon-They are assholes, rapey and sexually active and frustrating- to understand that this mere fiction and the author reflects the exact characterization of the characters.

I like the Hades/Underworld; we always saw the place as dark and evil and basically hell. But people forget that Hades is the richest Greek God because Underworld has gold and gemstones, and this book reflects Underworld looks like; full of gems and gold and crystals.

 I like both Hades and Persephone too. This book is a traditional retelling of the myth. So Zeus and Apolo are the iconic assholes. Hades is not that brooding and there're full of stories how he develops from being upset to take care of the Underworld to fully accepted his duty as king. 

But, no one, NO ONE mentions this book is erotica and I READ IT DURING RAMADAN HOLY CRAP.
Don't read this during Ramadan.

Make sure you're 18+ because there are a lot of explicit scenes.

Enjoyable book. I like how the author 'consented' the whole story because Greek Myths are messed up dude.

Also, sTOP villainise Hades!






The Cruel Prince



I read this because of the societal pressure of people kept talking about it and seeing this in bookstores everywhere that led me to decide to read it as a form of an ebook.

Holly Black's writing is not for me usually. However, The Cruel Prince WORKS.
I'm still surprised by how much I enjoy it honestly.

The world of urban fantasy London is lush. The politics of the fea world is intricate and intriguing. All the characters are GREY.  I love my child, Jude, so much and I hope she succeeds in her plan. Jude's adoptive dad is SO interesting.

I expect Cardan [The prince] to have a redemption arc cause I don't like him. There is a difference between an asshole character and an asshole character that bullies people. Cardan is not cruel, he's just a bully and I want to slap him. He pissed me off a lot and I really do want to like him. I just need a reason to.

I'm so excited for the second book!!!





Restore Me



Terrified.
I was terrified to start this book because it has been three years since Ignite Me. I was mostly scared of not enjoying it as much as I used to because of growing up.

Hey, but I love it. Tehereh Mafi is truly a great writer.
The plot truly thickens.
Warner Anderson is still my favourite boy.

Cannot talk more cause this is the fourth book~





Thunderhead



The first book was magnificent at best. I agreed why they got shortlisted for a Pulitzer.
The Arc of Scythe Trilogy are books that NEEDED to be books that get discussed in literature classes. They have so many arguments, opinions, and discussions could surface while reading both Scythe and Thunderhead.

The only issue I had after finishing Scythe is that I was not attached to any character to be invested. But however, it is still a good book so I decided to read Thunderhead and wow, I was so into it.

I'm surprised that how much I like the cloud/computer system of the story [Thunderhead] more than I could let an AI get into my head to brainwashed me.

I'm SO SO SO SO excited for the last book. 
Such a great Sci-fi book on the Utopia society and us humans would ruin anything because we are the species who crave power and are greedy.

Now, thinking of it, the books are creepy haha.





Stolen Songbird



Trolls. A Cursed Kingdom. 
And only a human girl and the Troll Prince could save them.

I mean like in a literal sense.
The girl, Cecile was captured by a human bounty hunter and he took her to this hidden, underground troll kingdom to save the Trolls because she matches the descriptions of the prophecy.

And ohhhh, its good.
It's SUCH A FUN, AND QUICK READ.

I found this trilogy purely from coincidence. Goodreads like; 
'Hey, Amni! You like fantasy and retellings and curses stories that bound two people and they have to work together to achieve their goals right?
This is the book for you!'

I spent four whole nights staying up and read them. My sleeping schedule is screwed now.

It's somehow a story of love and more also the story of politics. It's about a young Troll Prince who's trying to save his people from a curse that bestowed upon his kingdom and the discrimination or pure trolls and half-trolls conflict. It's about a young politician who's trying to be fair in the midst of an old curse and people who are so used of their statuses and privileges.

It's SO ADDICTING. THE VILLAINS especially the first we encountered are so complex. AND every character faced the consequences of their actions!!!!

Cecile and the Troll Prince's relationship are not based on attraction; they grow to respect each other and understand each other from where they came from; Cecile from above and Prince from below. Their relationship is based on respect and slowly becomes trust and love, it's so good.

It's honestly a great trilogy to binged in the middle of the night and cried at 5AM [I did it.]





Darker Shade of Magic



A . D . S . O . M 

This year has been me reading V.E. Schwab's books honestly.

Seriously, Vicious still owns my heart but ADSOM surprised me.

The more I love the book, the harder it became to write about how much I love the book.

ADSOM is a pretty simple story: There are 4 different Londons and only an Antari, in this case, Kell, can travel to every one of them by a token. 

Kell is a messenger for the kingdom of Arnes, Red London, and one day an artifact came into his hands; an object from Black London aka the ONLY London no Antari would visit. He has to go to Black London to get rid of this object, but powerful people are trying to kill him, and he also needs to find out why.

The book is so exciting, quick, my head vividly imagined all the scenes and what a great fantasy book to start if you're new to reading.

I genuinely so in love with this trilogy like; I CANT fathom words ahhhhhhh.
EVERY main character in this trilogy are my children; Kell, Lila, Rhy, Alucard, Holland are my kids I WOULD FIGHT ANYONE WHO TRIES TO HARM-

Okay, okay, great trilogy.
I'm both so scared and excited for the movie adaptation.
Don't know when it would come out though.




Vengeful



I'm forever gonna claiming this: 
Victor Vale is Vicious's fandom official Foster Father.

I waited for TWO months to read this because no local bookstores have it. It was like getting a million dollars when I finally got it.

One of the rare books that EVERY character are villains.
Every character are complex [ESPECIALLY our OG arch nemesis; Victor and Eli]

I cannot say much but Vicious is forever my favourite book of all times. And I wish V.E. Schwab would write the third book because I need more Victor and his group of foster family.

And him being canon asexual is a big thing for me because I finally have a character that is similar to me. However, the best thing is that the plot doesn't focus on it and are about revenge and being evil.

I really want these books to be a tv show so badddddd.
Long live Victor Vale [and his coat]!






I guess that's it.

I don't think I could read this much in 2019 since it's my final year in uni.
However so, the more stress I am the more I read.

A reminder;

Becoming a reader is a process.
Different people have different taste and a different pace of reading.

Be proud if you read 100 books.
Be proud if you only read one.
Everyone has a book waiting for them, you just gonna have to find it.
It will come to you eventually.


Also, can books be cheaper?



- Amni

For starters,

 I do feel like 2018's dramas are mostly dry and lived on from the hype of the actors in it.

This OR I was just really stressed out over things for school that I found most kdramas dry? [I feel like it's the latter]

However, I do feel like this year's dramas has a more melodramatic plot and for someone who was in a spiral of her own melodrama, I didn't need it. And most of them, I just dropped them after episode 5 or so.

I was prone to go watch lighthearted ones.

So, bear with me, I feel like I started a lot of dramas but weren't able to finish them because I was not interested or just don't have the patience to watch it.

[This list is scattered unless for the last two.

These are all the dramas I remember watching.]

1. Welcome to Waikiki 

This is the FIRST kdrama I watched in 2018 and I LOVE it.

It's just a great show to watch when you get back home from school or work to just laugh.

I still remember in episode 1 when three of them went to a grocery store to buy milk and made a speech on their broke-ness I laughed SO HARD.

Dude, I'm not the biggest fan of comedy in a drama but Waikiki WORKS. The slapstick comedy is stupid but hilarious. All the actors ARE WONDERFUL in their roles.

And relatable? Despite it slapstick comedy it's just so close to most of our hearts about the struggles to have a job and money to live a society where everything goes so fast that your biggest fear is not to be able to catch up.

2. Switch: Change The World

The main reason why I started this: 

I haven't see Jang Geun Suk in a drama for YEARSSSS and I missed him.

I did watch this and I felt so agitated waiting for the new episodes.

All of the characters are grey and have their own needs to achieve something and they dared cross the line between right and wrong.

If you like crime drama-centric on gangsterism, worth the watch.

3. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

This drama is like HELLA big this year.

It's fun and funny and the romance is technically a slow burn.

I have one petty problem though: I read the webtoon and Park Seo Joon looks so boyish compared to the webtoon design of his character and I had trouble enjoying it.

The main girl looks EXACTLY like her counterpart in webtoon.

That's it, a petty reason.

Overall a fun drama, a forgettable one yes, but a fun drama nonetheless.

[Gosh, I sound so mean...]

4. Lovely Horribly

The ONLY reason why I watched this is that the main character is a writer and I have a soft spot of drama that has this type of character.

And the ONLY reason I went through all episode because I was into deep to stop.

A drama I realized that Highlight's Gi Kwang is kinda cute.

A drama has a lot of plot holes but still fun because it's spooky.

Watch for Ji Hyo.

And the OST, Bumkey still the best!!

5. Misty

I watch this out of boredom and didn't expect anything but I was HOOKED.

It's so melodramatic and you gotta hate the main woman but then... oh....tHAT happened?? Wow...

[But I still don't condone cheating]

Quite a lot of topic of sexism in the workplace and mainly about the couple's marriage that is falling apart.

This drama has strong writing I'll give that.

6. Mr. House Helper

aaaHHHHH I feel REFRESH after an episode.

Offended me with 'Your house reflects your state of mind' because true.

This drama is more to Slice of Life than any other genre.

I like the main guy and the way he handles people and became friends to his clients.

And HE GIVES TIPS ON HOUSE CLEANING!!! [I appreciate]

I like him and the second girl lead cause...the main girl... is okay?

Watch for the lighthearted moments.

7. Life

When they cast Lee Dong Wok and Cho Seung Woo together my head went '!!!!!!!!'

And they're enemies in this drama??!!!

This is not a romance but more to 'reality going to choke you with facts' drama.

It shows that every institution in the world is in fact, business and profit first.

Even when you're an established, talented doctor don't have the power to stop them.

Watching this knowing this fact scared me.

8. Life on Mars

This is based on a British TV show about a cop who goes back in time

I watched a few episodes of the British one and the Korean version is more emotional and I feel like I prefer the Korean one more.

I believe that Jo Kyung Ho is one of the most UNDERRATED Korean actors out there. He's talented and I like the way he acts in shows.

This drama is good too I feel bad for his character.

And the number of PRETTY JACKETS the main guy wear? Whew!

9. The Undatables

I LOVE Nam Goong Min and Hwan Jung Eun individually because they're so funny [so funny] and we got a drama that they're together and my mind. MY MIND!

A lighthearted drama of course and the romance are more adult and quick.

But Nam Goong Min's character is not as funny as Dan Tae and my hopes were high and kinda disappointed but oh well.

Still, a funny kdrama to watch.

10. 100 Days with My Prince

This is a drama you watch just because.

The plot is nothing special but D.O is an exceptional actor and I feel like most of the time I enjoyed it because of him and the main girl.

Also, FLUFF relationship honestly we here to stan.

11. My Husband Mr. Oh

The plot is not special either but to cast a comedian as the second lead and you enjoyed his character is wholesome af.

I watched in until the end because I was into deep to stop lmao.

12. Time

Tragedy. Melodrama. People dying.

Hell, this drama is dramatic as drama could be but I can't stop watching it. It was written like a Shakespearian play.

The actors are doing a great job. I can't believe the dude is the same dude in Waikiki.

13. The Ghost Detective

Daniel Choi, we missed you.

It was the spooky season, of course, I watched this.

The first 2 episodes ARE STRONG AF. There were spooky, interesting and shocking.

But then... it went a little bit downhill?

Suddenly, the main girl kept on fainting when she in the two episodes looks strong.

Most of the time I was just confused.

But I stayed for the plot and the mystery and that red DRESSED BITC-

Anyways, a great drama to watch if you want to watch a supernatural drama but is kinda afraid, it's not that scary after a few secrets revealed.

14. Children of Nobody.



I genuinely forgot about this drama sjdjddfjffjdjjs

I didn't watch it until episode 7 aired cause the summary provided is weird.
But, as a person who loves police drama with a hint of psychological, I gave it a try and I LIKE IT!

The drama centers around child abuse and a child psychologist who are also maybe? was a survivor of abuse.

It's super interesting and makes you think of theories and stuff.
It still airs too!

And Vixx's Hakyeon is in here!!

15. Mr. Sunshine

Look. 
This was written by the person who wrote Goblin and the same director who directed Goblin OF FUCKING COURSE I WAS GOING TO WATCH IT.

I agreed that a lot of us are not a fan of historical dramas especially it's historical in the sense that this has happened back then.

And I too, have issues on the age gap. But I gave a benefit of a doubt because I waited for this drama since it announced and the actors are ALL credible and acted in movies I had hopes okay.

I feel like you have to have some knowledge on the US occupation in Joseon to further understand.

It is a VERY good drama and has very strong and careful writing.

This is a drama you don't watch for fun cause you gonna get bored.

This is a drama you watch BECAUSE you want to learn and enjoy good writing.

Also, Park Hyo Shin sang the OST. 

16. Return

This is the drama that the villains did so much shit to cover their wrongdoings and then they did another stupid shit and you just like "SIT DOWN!"

This drama is GREAT. There so much discussion after an episode ended. I'm in love with Shin Sung Rok now. This is a drama you love hating the rich men whom somehow you know are not the killer but like "fuck them!" 

Kinda disappointing to changed the main lead in the middle of the series because an issue happened and poor her.

A great show to watch!

Random not this year's dramas:

I know this one comes out 2 years ago but;

17. Age of Youth

Screw it okay! THIS IS SO GOOD.

I wished we have more kdrama centers around college kids like wHAT SHOULD I SACRIFICE TO HAVE ONE??!!

Great, SO GREAT. I didn't sleep and marathoned ALL THE EPISODES.

Senior Jin Myung and Jae Hwan HAVE MY HEART!!

My favorite couple in the drama T___T

This one comes out three years ago but!

18. Missing Noir M

ITS SO GOOD AND IM SO PISSED NO KNOWING IT EARLIER IN LIFE.

It's a well know underrated Kdrama and I jUST YES

Great detective drama and amazing plot and it have like 10 episodes I'm so sad.

I don't have any favorite dramas this year, I was pretty off. But I have two dramas that I do enjoy most this year.

19. Feel Good To Die

I read the webtoon [Happy if You Died] out of boredom and it is SO FUNNY.

Then I found out that it would turn into a drama and I'm like YESSS LORD

The webtoon is more to the relationship and funny moments, rarely a serious issue goes up and the main lead is in his 50 and the girl in her mid-twenties and there is no romance. Like it ended in the way a lot of readers aren't sad nor happy?

The kdrama too, there rarely a romance scene [unless with the male second lead] and I can't believe I say this. This a great adaptation.

It surprised me. To adapt a famous webtoon and changed the story to suit a drama but STILL have the integrity to respect the original story is fascinating.

The kdrama focuses a lot of office drama and character developments. Baek Jin Sang, the male lead, wooo you gonna want to strangle him so bad like in the webtoon. He's such a J-E-RK and then you see him grow and you care for this man.

This is basically a drama about a middle-aged man who keeps dying because he refuses to be nice.

Great drama about work life. STRONG WRITING.

10/10 would recommend.

20. The Guest

The Son, The Father, and the Holy Spirit.

My Coffee Prince waiters T___T

I was scared. At one point I screamed. At one point I cursed like a sailor.

I find it super fascinating how the show entangled Korean Shamanism and Catholicism together WITH a ghost/spirit that was deep into the Chinese culture.

Like WHAT?!

We get an exciting show by this.

I love how everyone who watches this show is able to come out with many theories and how we all want all three of them TO BE AT PEACE!

All three of them went through a lot when they were kids and I'm just- I WANT TO FIGHT THAT FUCKING SPIRIT!!

LET THEM BE AT PEACE!!

I feel no supernatural/horror Kdrama will TOP this in the short run.

gUYS, people were really scared to watch this when it aired cause it aired at 11 PM.

Even I watched the episodes in the morning.

A great show.

Episode 2 is my FAVOURITE. The exorcism part aHHHHH.

Watch it. Do it for Father Mateo.

I think these are enough.

I didn't enjoy a lot of shows this year honestly. A lot of them I watched this out of boredom and forgets about them. A lot of it because I was super busy and I decided to read books instead.

Adios for this year's Kdramas

- Amni