BOOKISH HAVEN: A VISIT TO MT. CLOUD BOOKSHOP.

When I first saw and heard Mt. Cloud from Kevin's post a few years back, it immediately became a personal goal to visit. There's just this magical pull from Indie Bookstores that a visit is a must. Luckily, I had the chance to revisit Baguio (currently drafting while in transit to Manila) and the first order of business is to locate it.

Most cab drivers weren't familiar with Mt. Cloud but they know Casa Vallejo by heart. Mt. Cloud is just there, sitting calmly in the middle of a busy area and it's honestly easy to find. I took a bunch of photos first before I entered the store and honestly, I wasn't expecting anything. I just let the store blow me away and it diiiiiiiiid!

Mt. Cloud Book Shop houses Filipino Authors and Artists. Every single corner has illustrations, accessories, bookmarks etc made by Filipinos and every shelf space carries Filipino blood. Well, that's based on what I saw! Seeing the books friends wrote and artist's talent in painting/drawing just made me feel so damn proud of being a Filipino! Not only Filipinos are courageous and brave but we are also amazingly talented and Mt. Cloud made sure they display that for everyone to see.

Made it!

Children's corner and some amazing crafts!

Look at that! Stairway to Heaven!

View from the second floor/loft

More books! I saw Romance Class books here!

Look at my happy face! I couldn't help not to pose for a pic! Mt. Cloud is just an amazing bookstore and it is absolutely worth visiting!

And now the haul --

Here you go! I saw a few more Romance Class titles that I've been eying for a while but I don't wanna hoard just yet so I got the ones on top of my list slash I cannot find in Manila hehehe! So lucky also I stumbled upon these illustrated Filipino themed post cards because I am kind of obsessed with post cards lately. And I gotta have the Mt. Cloud stickers for my bujo!

Mt. Cloud Book Shop sure has such cozy and warm ambiance that would immediately make one feel at home. They have well stocked shelves and it is exciting to see books by friends. Visiting Mt. Cloud is definitely one of the highlights of this short trip!

Have you been to Mt. Cloud?

REVIEW: POISON'S CAGE BY BREEANA SHIELDS.

Title: Poison's Cage
Author: Breeana Shields
Series: Poison's Kiss #2
Edition: Paperback
Publication: January 16th 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Pages: 336
Category: Mythology, Romance, Fantasy

Synopsis:

A single kiss could kill. A single secret could save the kingdom.

Iyla and Marinda have killed many men together: Iyla as the seductress, Marinda as the final, poisonous kiss. Now they understand who the real enemy is—the Snake King—and together they can take him down. Both girls have felt as though they were living a lie in the past, so moving into the King's palace and pretending to serve him isn't as difficult as it sounds. But when you're a spy, even secrets between friends are dangerous. And each girl has something—or someone—to lose. Does every secret, every lie, bring them closer to the truth or . . . to a trap?

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:
ISBN13: 9781101937860

Amazon ▴ Barnes and Noble ▴ Book Depository

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SLIGHT SPOILERS HEHE

I just finished reading the last page of Poison's Cage and woooooooowsa, I am blown away. This is waaaay better than the first book and absolutely the perfect ending for a duology! I was kinda hoping there's a third book but I am absolutely satisfied with how things wrapped up! It was truly an amazing read!

Poison's Cage let me walk along side Iyla and Marinda in their quest to destroy the Nagaraja. The story is told from their alternating perspectives and it is so fascinating to be able to see everything from both sides. Iyla is such a tough cookie but her longing for Marinda's affection, her resentments towards what she lost and the emptiness of being an just option have all dawned in her and it's relatable in ways I can't even pinpoint. Her struggles of choose between her own life or Marinda's gave me such conflict as well but her loyalty and love for her friend outweigh any doubts. Shields gave Iyla's story redemption and hope that I thought it would end there, but she gave her love, true love in fact, that made me so happy! Iyla deserves so much more and indeed, it was even beyond what I expected. And I think I might have fallen in love with Fazel's lightness and sincere character. They balance each other well. One rejects kindness like a reflex and one gives kindness without reservation.

Marinda grew up so much in this installment. Her doubts and assumptions are all obvious throughout the story but it made her so real, so raw, that her pain pinches my heart. However, the good in her triumphs in situations she can easily kill. Despite the agony she just went through (OMG, THIS PART FELT LIKE I'VE BROKEN A BONE OR SOMETHING BECAUSE UGH EXCRUCIATING PAIN), she remained hopeful and unafraid to love the people around her.

The twists and turns of the story just floored me. Some parts can be easily predicted but Shields have so many things up on her sleeve apparently. The mythology has been nothing but richer and she owned this story, backed up by her research and love for the Hindu, Buddhist and Indian mythologies. I've never used this phrase in a while but believe me when I say this is mind-blowing!

There's no perfect ending for Poison's Kiss than Poison's Cage. Fast-paced, mythology-rich and exquisite character arcs, this book lands a spot in my Best Books of 2018, no doubt! It was beautifully written and I want more books like this in my life and in yours, too!

Thank you, Penguin Random House International, for the galley!

"But I learned a long time ago that tears are thieves of power."

"I need him to fall for me-at least enough to loosen his lips and dislodge his secrets. And I can't do that if I let myself be charmed by his easy laugh. By the way his skin feels like velvet against mine."

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER BY MARIE LU.

Happy New Year, everybody! Hope you had a blast lasy NY Day! I surely did! Today I will share my first review of the year! Thank you JM of The Bookfreak Revelations for hosting this tour and PRH International for sending in my review copy!

Title: Batman: Nightwalker
Author: Marie Lu
Series: DC Icons #2
Edition: Paperback
Publication: January 2nd 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Pages: 272
Category: Fantasy, Romance, Heroes, Retelling

Synopsis:
Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:
ISBN13: 9780399549786

Amazon ▴ Barnes and Noble ▴ Book Depository

It is fitting that Batman: Nightwalker is my first read of 2018. New Year, new stuff.. right? It is also my first 2018 Blog Tour review and my first ever Marie Lu book so HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME, INDEED!

I was so happy to have been given an ARC of Nightwalker because I was really looking forward to getting this one. The first book in this series was by Leigh Bardugo and I have absolutely fell in love with her take in Wonderwoman's story. It did set the bar quite high, if I am being honest. But the authors of this series are no doubt going to blow my mind to bits, and I have never been right in my life in this level. My first Marie Lu book was absolutely phenomenal.

To be honest, I am not THAT of a DC fan. I am a Marvel kinda person but I am familiar with Bruce Wayne. Lu gave me a different side of Bruce and I am so relieved that this book is finally out in the wild! Lu wrote it in a very uplifting way and it is such an eye-opener. The politics in the story is honestly? THE TRUTH! It is happening right now in our government and Lu remarkably took this chance to dissect it like no one has done before.

What truly made me fall in love with this book is Lu's inclusion of diverse characters. I was sooooo happy and fascinated to have met a Filipina character - yes, a side character that felt so Hermione-ish to me - a character that resonated with me as a Filipina. Aside from that, Lu was able to explore each of the characters in a way that reflected not only their physical attributes but their intentions and hearts. I saw how Lu gave these characters their own timeline to shine. IT WAS JUST BASICALLY AN AMAZING BOOK THAT I LOVED SO DEARLY YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THIS.

Younger Bruce is still the Bruce I know todat. He's still the loving person I adored. It melted my heart how much he is willing to sacrifice for those that matter to him. In this book, we can definitely see his vulnerability but despite the fear, he still trusted his heart. Everything in his story is well-balanced and I really, deeply wish Lu would write a sequel. BECAUSE AN ENDING LIKE THAT REQUIRES A SEQUEL.

Also, my love for Alfred with never ever dwindle. EVER.
AND I SCREAMED WHEN DETECTIVE GORDON WAS INTRODUCED! LIKE, IT WAS THE BEST THING TO HAVE GRACED THESE PAGES EVER HAHA!
Lastly, what could Madeleine and Kady (Illuminae) do if given a chance to work together?

Batman: Nightwalker is such action-packed novel that I could not literally put down! Marie Lu has proven how amazing she writes and her take on Batman is one version that will stick with me for a long time! Highly recommended for those people who love stories with hackers/underground notorious groups/droids and BATMAN! REWARD YOURSELF AND GO PICK THIS ONE UP NOW!

Thank you PRH International for the galley!

"Just because one can doesn't mean one should."

JANUARY 2018 HOT PICKS!!

It's the second day of 2018 and I cannot believe how just fast the days go by. It was just literally yesterday when I was drunk-texting my family and friends, greeting them HNY and now look at me, all sober and ready to go back to my normal daily life. HA! But I am honestly excited for the books that are hitting shelves this year!! Let's start with this month's!

You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone by Rachel Lynn Solomon
January 2nd 2018 by Simon Pulse

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
January 16th 2018 by Soho Teen

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
January 2nd 2018 by Sourcebooks Fire

The Forgotten Book by Mechthild Gläser
January 2nd 2018 by Feiwel & Friends

Unearthed (Unearthed #1) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
January 9th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

Everless (Untitled #1) by Sara Holland
January 2nd 2018 by HarperTeen

Poison's Cage (Poison's Kiss #2) by Breeana Shields
January 16th 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Iron Gold (Red Rising Saga #4) by Pierce Brown
January 16th 2018 by Del Rey

These are the Top 8 Titles I wanna get and read these month! I have advanced copies of some of these and I cannot wait to get to them! But will try to finish Iron Gold and post my review on the release day!

WHAT TITLES ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? ARE YOU ALSO THRILLED FOR IRON GOLD?

WELCOME, 2K18!

Looking back, 2017 has been both horrible and wonderful all at once. Horrible in a way that I'd *maybe* let myself go and became too comfortable with and in things that eventually affected me negatively (both physically and mentally). I wasn't the type you can easily bully but somehow, inside THAT bubble, I allowed toxic people to take control of how I view myself and this went on for so long. This led me to doubt *points to myself* everything. It was so hard to just be hopeless in your little corner that I have gotten accustomed to the every day bashing and loathing of these said toxic people I don't even have anything to do with. But the universe still cared somehow and it gave me the perfect window to jump out. So, 2017, I would like to thank you. I am stronger than these people think and I could finally believe in me again.

And as I venture into 2018, I would like to take some time-off. I will use this opportunity to recover from what I have been through and prepare myself for bigger things ahead. This year, I want to focus my energy in healing, forgiving and in doing these little things I love so much. I wanna be a healthy me both physically and mentally. It will be a year I will invest in me and I will make as many happy memories as I can with the people that matter.

And of course, to finally having plenty of time to tackle that never ending TBR titles HAHA!

HERE'S TO THE AMAZING BOOKS WE WILL READ THIS YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!