The Ouroboros Cycle - Review (Le Music, The Rant and The Love)

I finished this book and of course I can't wait to talk about it:



That's the trailer for it and here's the description:

How far would you go to avenge the one you love? Would you go beyond death? Born into the stifling confines of French upper society, Babette Varanus never thought that she would have to answer that question. Surrounded by wealth yet ostracized by her peers, Babette had little interest in love until she met Korbinian, a scandalous German baron with the audacity to regard her as his equal. But when the intrigues of her grandfather’s enemies conspire to tear them apart, Varanus will embark upon a journey of vengeance, love, and redemption that will take her beyond the limitations of mortality and reveal to her the dark forces that command humanity from the shadows. Faced with madness, murder, hidden cults, and erudite vampires, does she have the strength to withstand the storm that rises against her?

-http://www.gdfalksen.com/ouroboroscycle

I came to know about this book because I took one of those online quizzes about "Who are you in Steampunk Culture" sorta quiz and I got G.D. Falksen. I obviously did not know who he was, I was barely getting a grasp of what Steampunk is and to make the story short; I googled him and came to the realization that he is an amazing peculiar writer. I have been longing to read any of his books and it was until January that a good friend of mine gave me the two books that are currently out about this story. 

Before going back to the review,  I have to admit I didn't know there was a soundtrack to the first book:

The Ouroboros Cycle - Original Soundtrack

As you can tell, I completely passed over the experience of reading it with that music. However, instead I found this amazing fan soundtrack fro the PS4 game, Bloodborne (which depresses me bc I le haz an Xbox One) to listen to while I read this novel.

This soundtrack is absolutely fantastic! If you like Gothic Orchestra based music, I highly recommend it. The composition is magnificent and the complete album is free, so there is no excuse to NOT have it play while you read (this post or the book). 

Here's the link to the playlist:

Borne in Blood by Alex Roe

Support the artist and donate, because it is so worth it! This guy has talent! I propose he shall compose for the next D.M.C. video game (I can see Dante kicking it as the badass he is, while playing music like this *fangirl mode on*)

I need to get back on track, I was about to go on and on about Devil May Cry, I haven't played it because I be le poor and that makes me weak towards the subject.

Anyway, Ouroboros Cycle- The Rant!

First of all, I am going to say this...You are going to get "slightly" deceived by the plot description.  More than half of the book, it is just the setting and nothing else... You will even think you are reading a teen romance book at some point and would like to throw the book away being afraid of the worse:  TWILIGHT

However, fear not for I assure you this is not trash and you will be captivated by the romantic narration and writer's style. This is what kept me going until I was able to see the light on Chapter 14 (Yes, out of 30 this is the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars). However, I do understand this is the ground for the series and thus, it is a forceful introduction that you have to read in order to get to the good part.

Here comes the SPOILERS skip to the Love part if you don't wanna hear me rant.

- I get it, they are in love, Babette and Korbinian are meant to be. Please, kill Korbinian already for the love of my sanity revenge to take place. Even though, Babette is the heroine of the story, I thought she was blonde for half of the book. You really believe she is  a teenager and it could have been worse, it took me months to get over the first part of the book because it had zero to do with the plot. You expect to Korbinian to die any second, but that second never comes and all they do is painfully, grotesquely and slowly fall in love.

-It was a torture seen them fall in love, I expected this part to be subtle and for the reader to assume how strong their love is (come on, it is not hard to imagine) So, the only thing that kept me going was the expectation. This is another thing that I somewhat dislike about the book. You could tell Korby (yes, that's how I'm going to call Korbinian) to hit the sack BUT before doing so, Babette was going to get preggo in the eggo and the Granny (Yes, William shall be called Granny cuz I give zero fucks when I am ranting) was going to take the kiddo away for Babette to grow as a character and Blah Blah Blah.

-Alfonse shall be Gaston and it took him forever to die too. He had more lives than a cat and...he is a werewolf. His character was so hard to digest, yes he is evil and whatnot but he is also so..meh. I don't get most of his actions, he is just an asshole for the fuck of being an asshole. I don't get why he had to be a pain in the behind, when he clearly has a relationship with his cousin and that was his excuse. At the end of the book it states that he still is screwing Claire and even has children, so he is only a pain to Babette, well Dr. Varanus, because of stupid pride. It HAS BEEN DECADES! get a life. His case is so pathetic, he has two hairy balls whenever it is convenient to the plot but in reality he is just an excuse of a human werewolf being. I don't even know why they were even significant and worth adversaries to William. I thought there must have been more to this, the whole family rivalry, I am crossing fingers it will be mentioned on the second book because these villains sucked. They are so stupid it is not even funny how they died at the end.  They wait to kill Friedrich, they don't make sure William (they life archenemy) is dead, they care but not really care for Babette... I don't see a good motive for them to be evilly stupid. Didn't the order also were to William's back for a pup??? What was the purpose of the deadline at the beginning if they were not going to give a shit about Babette afterall?

-I really thought the order at least knew about Friedrich after the whole deal at the beginning and at the end, they didn't know about him AT ALL, they forgot about William...they gave no fucks about his bloodline apparently, even thought they almost lived outside his window at the beginning of the book to see what was going on w his family. The Order in other words...is STUPID. FUCKING ASS STUPID. I still don't know how to feel about Williams nor Frederick, they are neutral for now. I am afraid they are inclining to be the stupid but important characters that I don't care about until they die. In summary, if I don't get an explanation of why there's a war between the vampires and wolfies, just like the two houses in this book...I don't know what I will do. 

Ouroboros Cycle- The Love

I shall tell you why you should spend time reading this book, I think the most notorious reason is the writing style. Falksen does a lovely job at narrating the scenes and the dialogues are superb. The story has potential because of the main protagonist and even though she is weak and somewhat generic, you can identify with her as she matures through the book (hopefully it will keep going thought the story). The story is somewhat predictable but it has awesome twists that I shall talk about next. The side characters compensate for the pathetic excuse of villains and I have to admit I am curious as to what will develop on the next book "A Cautionary Tale for Young Vampires"
Here comes the SPOILERS skip to my Panda Rating if you don't wanna hear me fangirl

-The dialogue and splendid narration will keep you reading the agonizing love story between Babette and Korby. They use sarcasm as their love tongue and I do envy these lovebirds in this aspect. You do see the chemistry between the two but it is overwhelming at times. Anyway, the flow of the words it is magical, I can see the places and the fight scenes like a movie, sometimes I did have to read twice to know exactly what was happening but I think that is because I would read too fast the first time. The illustration help a lot to visualize (mostly the clothes to be quite honest). I was able to imagine the enhanced senses these creatures have and how it affected them. It was not just "punch in da face" but a good description of the action and effect; specially when there was a fight between vampires and scions.

-Babette is just wonderful. I hated her at first, because you really believe she is your normal teenager that hates society and ends up falling for the rebel hot guy. Yes, I was disappointed at first because I was expecting a mature, cold heart, meticulous woman with a insatiable thirst for revenge and I got young Babette instead. Fortunately, she grows and becomes a great heroine, denouncing mortality and even deluded and forever haunted by the love of her life. I did not expect Kurby to come back at all, and I like him more as a deranged illusion created by the very scientific inclined Dr. Velarus. This sentence sounds like Frankenstein, I know... but it is true! The irony makes me a happy and I was also a very happy sadistic panda, how she gets beaten up by life and literally by the scions and whatnot (I could hear bone cracks, skin melting and clothes tearing apart in every fight...I have issues). As I said, you can tell how she grows as the story progresses, not only physically but obviously mentally. I am however, very intrigued in what she is studying. I mean, she took an oath to be immortal for knowledge, I don't think she is only absorbing like a sponge, she must be experimenting and doing something worth 25 yrs in the process, am I right?

- The side characters DO make up for the shitty villains that this book has. I can't wait for the war to erupt between the Shashavani? Shashavanians? Shashavavivi~ (I can't remember how to spell or how to call the vamps people, shame on me) Crazy queen is one of my favs, I want her to go all nuts and for Lord Iosef to cut her head defending Dr. Valarus (A fangirl can dream). I did not have to get many expectations since I read everything super fast while I reach the point of no return. When Babette transforms to a vampire, the story about the trilogy and the omnipotent old vamp is really interesting and very Christian. I do hope this almighty being ends up being Godric from True Blood, I would laugh if he is really a she...a vamp scion *Insert Underworld reference* ;D

-Luka and Ekaterine are fantastic, I might be under the impression that they must be grand since I did not expect a crap from them. I thought Ekaterine was going to be annoying, the annoying character that gets either jealous of the main character or going to adore her to the point that makes me want to puke. Ekaterine resulted to be a well balanced and likeable character. I believed Dr. Veranus to be a lone wolf and was refreshing to see her interact like a normal human person with the Shashavani more than her own people (wolfies and normal gals). I just like Luka because he is quiet and overall a badass, I want to grow up to be like him.

I think I already covered characters, plot, flow, narrative/style, not sure what else to review so here comes my FINAL SCORE

PANDA RATING:

5 out of 6 Mustache Pandas :{D

This review took its sweet time. I be le tired, I shall update if anything comes to mind but for now this is it.

Until next time, my lovely pandas~

Takano san, when are you coming back to my life? Junjou Romantica is going to have a 3rd season, what about Sekaichi Hatsukoi?!! I need to believe in love again.

Takano san is love, Takanos san is life <3

February Lootcrate, Not so much "Play" theme, Le Munny, and Ready Player One

Hello lovelies~

I need publicity! I'm shameless to say that I am doing this post for that whole sole purpose. I am going to try to mask it a little and said a few words for "Ready Player One" but really, this is all for all of you to vote for my cute little Munny:

I added it on two categories:

Best Basic:
https://gleam.io/g/G6OjR/ijod

Most Fashionable:
https://gleam.io/g/AmjKS/ijoe

Why should you vote for my kawaii creation?

I only used the three sharpies in the box! If this is creative I don't know what else it is! It has dried autumn leaves on the head, that match with the glasses and look at the attire! It has square checkboard pants (Even though it was supposed to be a skirt) and the mouse with a mustache on the shirt (It was not intended to be a Junjou Romantica Panda...)

I feel like this is somehow turned into a sales post...

The froggy I got from Betoyo and I have no clue what it is or where it came from, but is poking the little munny's belly. So kawaii~  I know :3


Anyway, please vote for me, I will really appreciate it.

Thank you~

Bye~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just kidding, I'm going to keep talking about the book, but first... I think I'm one of the few who was slightly disappointed at the Lootcrate. I don't think all the items conveyed the whole theme which was "Play"

I feel like they put a lot of effort into the board game that was included in the crate, but every other item was just placed randomly with a lame excuse as to make it fit into the theme. The Munny, per se, is it a "Play with yourself" sort of thing? *Insert inappropriate joke here* but really, what else was it suppose to be? The nano mini robot toy... Let your cat "Play" with it? I am starting to believe Lootcrate ordered a million of these things and they are just giving them away, every freaking change they get! I got a mysterious box with one, I got a PAXSouth crate with one of them, and the first one I got was from the "Transform" crate...I don't want this to turn into a rant but, I don't want them anymore!!! As much as I would like to think I can sell them as mini vibrators, I don't think I can, so please...I don't want them anymore. My cat is already bored with so many of them... (Not really, but for rant purposes I am saying he does!)

 Going on a roll with the rant, I shall now talk about what I dislike about "Ready Player One" 

Here's the wiki page if you wanna know the plot and whatnot, my lazy comrades: Ready Player One- Ernest Cline

*Spoiler Rant- Review for Ready Player One*

There's not much to hate about this book, I did enjoy it. The only flaw that I can see about it is the writing style.

I am about to commit harakiri over here, but I find the narration style just like mine...which in a few words, it kinda sucks!

What I mean here is that it goes straight to the point, it doesn't really narrates in detail anything, the use of the usual literary devices like metaphors and similes are not really there... It is not poetic at all, like I said it goes straight to the point and the reader only gets external references to get a visual picture. If you haven't seen the movies, games or heard the music...You will not get the entire picture.

When I mumble in here, in this blog, I pretend that you guys in the internet will know what the hell I'm talking about and thus,  I have no need to embellish my language nor go into detail, pretty much throw you a reference and photos. Well, just like there is a lack of photos in this post, you will not see any in the book. Good luck visualizing 75% of the book if you did not grow in The United States during the 80s.

Personally, I imagined most of the book with what I remember seen not whenever I was a kid, but as an adult since...First of all, I was out of the time period and second, I spent all my childhood in South America. Thanks to the internet I could search for the music, images, and whatnot to visualize certain aspects of the book. However, I feel like I must have missed the melancholy that comes remembering stuff from whenever you were a kid. Playing the games, memorizing the lines of the movie and rocking it hard with the music and whatnot.

So yeah, be prepare for a cultural and historical clash if you have a different background. If you are lazy and don't get the references, well...stay for the story?

If you liked Indiana Jones, this is the book you should be reading!

I can't wait for a movie and the second book because of this reason. I love the idea of solving puzzles and adventure. I like the challenge and I am pretty proud to say I kinda solved the first key location. Not really because of the riddle but expectations and whatnot...I still did it so HA! I mean, come on, the kiddo is poor and he tells you he solved the damn thing at the beginning of the book, so it was given that the first key was in a free server. The riddle had something to do with learning so come on...given that it was at a school, duh~

The other ones, I'm just gonna said you needed more information from the world itself to solve them (That's my excuse, the lack of knowledge inside the book's universe) Anyway, the riddles are just the beginning. The plot twists! #OMG

I was like "shit! They actually tried to kill the kiddo," "damn,they got inside the gate and got 'killed,'" "WAIT...HE IS A SHE?!!!! (I did not expect this one at all),  "WTF? that makes no sense. HE IS A HIKIKOMORI, HE SHOULD HAVE FREAKED THE FUCK OUT WHENEVER HE GOT OUT OF HIS ROOM!!!" (Yeap, I am being sarcastic on the last one)

It has good plot twists but it also has the expected incidents; like the coin that gives an extra life, I saw that one coming a mile away, Wade and Art3mis falling in love and their whole "We can't be together until we get rich  find the egg," the way the story was going to end was straight from point A to B which is not bad but not excellent. Everyone could tell there was going to be an "epic" battle with mecha and magic, because that is a classic with the last minute win when hope was almost gone. Guy gets the girl and ends up rich "From zero to hero"

I still don't understand the whole Wade going to slavery and been okay with it, you know been around actual people and seen the world after isolation. I don't think that is a credible behavior, nor how he became a super kick ass hacker but whatevs, it is fiction and it kinda fits the geeky classic hero game theme.

The rhythm is pretty well done, the author has a good pace, I did not get bored and I just wanted to keep reading and overall I can only say it has an amazing flow. I am so grateful when authors do this, right now I am half way another book and it is barely starting to get into the actual plot (I'll rant over it whenever I'm done with it)

In summary, for sure, I'll be reading the second novel. I need a system of rating...I guess it will be pandas with mustaches because why not?

Yes, panda from Junjou Romantica

4 out of 5 mustached pandas :{D

That's it, if you want to have a discussion about the book, keep it to yourselves. I can really careless BWHAHAHAHAHA just vote for my Munny! ;D

See ya later lovelies,

May our paths cross and blend into the same fate...Takano san <3

To my Future Self~

It has been more than a year long hiatus, ohh dear...What have I done with my life?


Well, not a lot but I got a job and a place so that must count for not been able to post crap on my lovely blog. To be honest, I missed blogging and whatnot, it was like a diary...sort of. Thus, I decided to dedicate this post to my future self, apparently there was a thing going on Youtube about talking to your old self, writing like a letter/vlog to your teenage you as to make awareness on how teenagers have it rough with their self esteem and whatnot...to which I give zero fucks to be honest.

To me it is just a huge propaganda to feel sorry for your privileged ass, whoever has the means to have internet, cable, video games, a computer, a roof and food to eat, has not enough life hardship, and thus they have a need to have some sort of crisis in their accommodated lives. I do feel sorry for this generation, so much potential has gone down the drain as a human civilization. Talk about a viral debate over the color of a dress... I am not asking to debate over global warming, cancer or politics... but really, a dress???



So, future self, as you can guess I am the usual grumpy person as ever... you know, you were worried about turning 27 and here you are (I hope) Remember being afraid at 21 over your mortality and whatnot? Hell, I do and I am still slightly uncomfortable since we have forgotten about hopes and dreams. Instead you have been inclined to waste time playing video games (yeap...Xbox One has been your doom) watching shit tons of anime (Look at your anime list and feel shame) Woman...you are writing this in your working hours (I hope you don't get fired by Gorgon Leticia) and don't even get me started on all the useless shit you have acquired (Instead of paying your taxes). Anyway, you are not THAT bad, at least you keep yourself literate by reading books, if there is any hope for you...I think that is it.

Going back to recording what has happened over a year since I have blogged, I shall tell ya what amusing things you have done:

• You have become a porn director, your film "Chocolate Magma' got tons of awards. Who would have guessed that high school fantasy about swimmer boys covered in chocolate would one day paid off. Yes, you were able to recruit you high school crush and his supah fabulous hot friend to play the main roles.
• Internet famous, look at your Instagram, everyone follows you and your crazy adventures, everyone wants to see what you see and oh my dear, Twitter... I am amused by all the people who quote you. Are these two a thing in the future?
• You married a famous Youtuber after you meet him at a game convention, love at first sight. Joseph Gordon Levitt did not happened... Too much of an age difference and it wouldn't have worked and you know it! Still no kids, but you still have the crazy idea of adopting a Chinese girl...so NOT for tax return purposes.
• Starting your book, you wanted to publish some sort of thesis about new behaviors in this technological era and whatnot, but you are waiting to go back to your field for that and so...an autobiography is out of the question too. Instead, you kept on going with the Short Story about Magic and It. Looks promising, something along the lines of "Twilight" hey, if there is 50 Shades of Grey going on...it is worth a shot.
• I feel like I am doing this as if in the near future I have amnesia and don't remember a shit... Which is highly possible because I have the worst shitty ass memory as evah! I do believe that there is a "forgetting" scientific and chemical progress that happens to humans and I do have the ability to do that as efficient as possible.

You are right...none of that happened but it was worth dreaming, am I right? ;D


Instead I'll tell ya what kinda happened with illustrations and whatnot (No banana for scale cuz this is not 9GAG)


I am somewhat proud to tell ya that with the job you got some money to go to anime conventions (Akon & AnimeFest) and finally cosplay: Look at you how lovely you looked as a Gothic loli:

You also cosplay Fire Princess:

Kawai Pff~

Also found Aiden (Watch Dogs)

Not only that but you found your anime Twin, Hanji Zoe from Attack on Titan. First cosplay and totally nailed it:




Having Crysta and Ymir helps too

You also meet the osm Kailey, but seriously...need to stop the obsession with Deadpool



Now you only need to work on Mirai's cosplay:






That was basically your Otaku life, you got a gamer one too...You finally gave up on facebook games to go to the main leagues and...remember your disgusting obsession with Destiny?



Yeap, you played non stop after the complex migraine that occurred on September 19. Not to make you remember this incident, but part of you died...No kidding, up to date everything during those months is a huge blur. You couldn't speak properly for days and the headache lasted for weeks. Luckily the costly CT scan came out alright and no tumors...but yeah, you don't remember much between September-January. 

Anyway, going back to your gaming life. You weren't happy until this:

Still no Nechrocasm but Crota can suck his huge sharp penis, hairy mucus balls, and black soul sucking ass


You also haven't finished Sunset Overdrive but the similarity between my character and I can't be unseen.


It has my "WTF" face

Your music taste is still the same, and I am getting lazy as usual. You got to go to concerts, In This Moment (She touched my hand and it was a 5 minute yuri moment *fangirls*) but no Mindless Self Indulgence :'(



You uploaded some videos whenever you went to see Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull, but you never finished uploading the whole concerts (Shame on you)




Playlist for Sex & Love CONCERT



I am getting tired of this, you just need to look on your facebook what the hell you did...




As up to date:

 

GT on xbox is: iLoveTitans69 

You thought it was funny since Titanfall was your first game (Which you half hated afterwards) and it goes with your Hanji personality...



Instagram: DKCesia

Goodreads list: Cesia's List of Books


Myanimelist: DKCesia



Still no Takano san, but one day...one day... 



P.S. Lootcrate and Betoyo have also taken over your money, but so far it is worth it! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note to myself: I hope I can keep on blogging about anime (specially Death Parade) also I want to do some Spanish dub "Ano Mori de Matteru" is on the list.  I want to do some reading,gaming and music reviews. I want to keep this alive somehow, so internet, here I come again...Not in the perverted way!!

No Takano san yet but, I got two hugs from Markiplier at PAXSouth :3