Good afternoon, lovely folks! Happy New Year and Happy Holidays! I guess looking at the last post on the blog at the end of Oct you can surmise we've been busy. This was the time when I seriously started getting ready all the Christmas preorders for cakes and pastries, and it didn't slow down until Christmas eve at which point we promptly caught the flu.  Coming out on the other side of all the New year festivities, I fee like it's time to make lists of memorable Chinese dramas of 2023, cause let's face it, I watched far more dramas than read books, and I failed miserably on my Good ..read more

Daughter of The Moon Goddess ( The Celestial Kingdom #1) bought on Audible Synopsis from Goodreads Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind. Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emper ..read more

  Butterflied Lover (2023) 22 episodes, watched on Viki Synopsis from MyDramaList Inspired by the romance of Liang Shang Bo and Zhu Ying Tai, the story revolves around two lovers who will overcome all obstacles to remain together.  Ling Chang Feng is an honourable general and has been in a passionate marriage with his wife for the past 3 years.  However, a strange disturbance hits their city on their third anniversary, and "madmen" run wild in the town, attacking innocent citizens violently.  Ling Chang Feng leaves his wife behind to protect the people, but when he returns ..read more

  I've Fallen For You (2020) 24 episodes, watched on Viki Synopsis from MyDramaList A story that follows the quirky female investigator Tian San Qi as she searches for her long lost 'brother' and cracks many cases along the way. Growing up, Tian San Qi had a strange liking for performing autopsies. She had an older 'brother' who would always be by her side and they spent many good years together. One day, he mysteriously disappears. San Qi as a child promises to find her true love and vows never to marry unless it's him. In her search, she comes across many potential candidates and form ..read more

  A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin (The Book of Tea #1) bought on Audible Synopsis from Goodreads  For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu. When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance ..read more

  Under The Power (2019-2020) 55 episodes, watched on Viki (you can find in on YouTube) Synopsis from MyDramaList Lu Yi is a cold, ruthless and authoritative high-ranking officer of the Ming Dynasty's Jinyiwei (also known as the Brocaded Guards for their elaborately embroidered uniforms). The Jinyiwei are part of the Emperor's elite bodyguards that also serve as the secret police, and Lu Yi is one of the best at his job. He meets Yuan Jin Xia, a smart, feisty and tom-boyish female officer from the Police's 6th Division, and they clash over a case that the both of them were involved in ..read more

Red Winter/  Dark Tempest/ Immortal Fire by Annette Marie bought on Audible Synopsis from Goodreads Red Winter (Book 1): Emi has spent her entire life hiding from the creatures that hunt her. The savage earth spirits are determined to kill her before she can become the living host of a goddess, so she stays hidden—until the day she saves the life of a kitsune. Shiro isn't the harmless fox spirit she thought he was. He's mysterious, cunning, unpredictable … and now hers to command. He's sworn to pay his debt to her, but he doesn't know who she is. If he finds out, he'll kill her ..read more

  Nirvana In Fire (2015) Season 1, 54 episodes,  watched on Viki Synopsis from MyDramaList In sixth-century China, the Emperor of Great Liang orders the unjust execution of his brother-in-law Marshal Lin Xie alongside the Lin family, his 70,000 army soldiers, and Crown Prince Qi.  Secretly surviving the massacre is Lin Xie's son, Lin Shu, who undergoes medical treatment that changes his appearance entirely and leaves him in a weakened state, unable to ever perform martial arts again. Lin Shu changed his name to Mei Chang Su and later became the chief of the pugilist world and e ..read more

  The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk bought on Audible Synopsis from Goodreads Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an a ..read more

  The Rational Life (2021) 35 episodes, watched on Netflix  Synopsis from MyDramaList Shen Ruo Xin is a professional career woman in her 30s and she has to navigate through many things in her life. From swimming through the cesspool of office politics with its nepotism, sabotage and company problems, to withstanding familial pressure to settle down and marry, to handling suitors interested in her for their own selfish personal motives, to being counsellor and mentor to her best friend and her juniors, she is one busy lady but watch as she handles them all with great aplomb while man ..read more