The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

“…people aren’t gaming pieces. You can’t arrange them to suit yourself.”

Lady Kestrel’s engagement to Valoria’s crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust …

While Arin fights to keep his country’s freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.

Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner’s trilogy.

Personal Thoughts:

The Winner’s Crime upped the game! As Arin and Kestrel world expands readers are now treat with a more thrilling and deadlier plot game. The rules are more complicated, the villain is more menacing, and the stakes are higher.

After making a deal with the emperor in the previous book The Winner’s Curse to save Arin and his people, Kestrel find herself trapped in a more dangerous game. Her engagement to the Valorian’s crown Prince is nothing but a task she needs to fulfill in order to continue save Arin. She needs to continue convincing the emperor, Arin, and everyone around her with all her lies. But how long can she pretend? What if her deceiving skill is not enough to protect the one she love or even herself?

Herrannis on the other hand are now free from being slaves and prisoners of their own land but for Arin that is not enough. The Valorians are still getting much of their resources. He needs to find a way to fully get out of Valorians grasp while trying to get Kestrel back. But what if Kestrel doesn’t want to go back? And can he find an allies against the Valorians to fully free Herran and at what cost?

Marie Rutkoski continue Arin and Kestrel’s story with full intensity. All the lies, betrayals, scheming and plotting both personal and political carry intricacy and weight of feels in them. Every moves and decisions are affecting not only the playing characters but also the readers.

In this complicated game of politics, love, lies and alliances Kestrel is trap with a frigthening opponent – the emperor. Equally cunning and smart, and probably more devious than Kestrel, the emperor like many good villain is utterly compelling. His addition to the story makes this second installment more thrilling and ultimately engaging. With him as an antagonist Kestrel need to be more careful in her moves. She can’t trust anyone, not when she knows that the emperor is capable of controlling the game and every players inside it.

Other than the game with the emperor, Kestrel also playing a dangerous game of lies with Arin. As she tried to help the Herranis by being their spy she is also building huge wall between her and Arin through her lies. And Arin as expected knows she is lying and will do anything to uncover all the lies which may negate Kestrel’s effort to protect him and his people. These two though clearly care for each other do things that may frustrate readers, but nevertheless a welcome frustration. All the misunderstanding and unsaid thoughts between Arin and Kestrel are carefully put to evoke feelings from the readers. The intricate dance that Arin and Kestrel is doing is not only emotionally taxing but also exhilarating. A roller coaster ride of emotions that I personally enjoy riding.

“Sometimes you think you want something,” Arin told him, “when in reality you need to let it go.”

With its rich characterization, stunning world building, clever plotting Marie Rutkoski’s successfully pushed The Winner’s series to higher level. She deliver another thrilling, emotionally taxing, and compelling story through Arin and Kestrel’s complicated and highly imaginative world.

The fact that I’ve done a reread few breath space after I’ve first finished this novel and another one before writing this review tells how good The Winner’s Crime is. I can’t get enough and obviously didn’t want to leave the world yet. If only I have the third/final book, I’m sure my life will be less miserable. Looking forward for more of Kestrel and Arin’s story and the dangerous game they are playing.

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* This review is based on an eBook I received courtesy of the publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) via NetGalley.

The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

“I am the perfect weapon, I can kill with a single touch.”

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

Personal Thoughts:

Melinda Salisbury story telling dazzles right at the first page. Her narrator, Twylla has an intriguing voice that is both sympathetic and interesting. As Twylla narrates her life inside the palace and as Daunen Embodied readers will surely feel her struggles. Her role as Goddess embodied certainly feels like a curse than a gift. She isn’t perfect, not even like-able. In fact she frustates me a lot of times. Sometimes I wonder how come she just do things without questioning them, but then I will remember that she has a poor background. People like her are brought up not to question things especially not the Queen. Her character development though a little slow is quite interesting.

“Choice. For years I’ve craved it, idealized it as a dream I can never have and, though it pains me to admit it, the queen is right. I have had choices, but because I didn’t like them I didn’t acknowledge them. I’ve been the agent of my own misery, time and again.”

As for the mens, well we have a soldier and a Prince as contenders for Twylla’s affection and loyalty. Sounds familiar? Yes, I’ve read that set-up countless times before, there’s Chaol and Dorian from Throne of Glass, Damian and Rylan from Defy, Aspen and Maxon from The Selection series, now we have Lief and Merek to add to the list. These two are easily like-able characters who both have their owns motivations/reasons in winning Twylla’s affection. Compare to Twylla, Lief and Merek are more developed characters.

The title kinda spoil some of the twist for me. While reading I keep on asking myself, why is the title The Sin Eater’s Daugther if the main character Twylla is more than just the sin eater’s daughter? Her role as the Goddess embodied or specifically Daunen Embodied is far much greater than being a daugther of a sin eater. As I notice that fact, my questions go deeper and eventually lead to my conclusion that maybe Twylla isn’t really a Goddess embodied. So obviously, with that thought I formulated lots of theories so the revelation in the end though satisfying isn’t really shocking to me.

What surprise me is how smart the villain is to orchestrate such a huge lie. The extent of her manipulation is so grand that I can’t believe she actually think all of it by herself and that she was able to pull it all off. She is not only cunning and manipulative but also villainy smart. A worthy villain to a high fantasy novel like this one.

“You think if having choices like people think of flying. They see a hawk soaring and hovering and they tell themselves how nice it would be to fly. But pigeons can fly, and sporrows, too. No one imagines being a sparrow, though. No one wants that.”

Full of intrigue, secrets, betrayals, Melinda Salisbury weaved a beautiful and intriguing fantasy novel in The Sin Eater’s Daughter. This is a wonderful start to a very promising YA fantasy series.

Vendetta Blog Tour: Character Interview with Luca + Book Review

I’m crazy excited to start the PH promotional tour of the first book of Blood for Blood series Vendetta by Catherine Doyle. Not only because I’ll be able to tell to all of you how good this debut novel is but also because I had a pleasure of interviewing one of the five brooding characters inside it, Luca. If you haven’t read the book yet, and haven’t met Luca here’s your chance to have a piece of his thoughts. I guarantee you, he is the best of part of this new thrilling contemporary series from Catherine. Vendetta won’t be as fun and thrilling without him. Anyway, before I gush too much about Luca, here’s the interview, I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy interviewing Luca.

Interview with Luca:

Q1. What does it mean to be part of a mafia for you? What do you think your life will be if you are not born in a family like yours?

Being part of the mafia means the same thing as being part of my family. The two are interconnected. I’ve never known anything different, so it just means getting up every day, living, breathing, doing what my father wanted me to do, what his father wanted him to do, and so on. It is what it is.

I don’t think it does much good to dwell on things than can never be, but sometimes when my mind is quiet, I do wonder about it. When I was a kid, before I understood the permanency of my life direction, I wanted to go to university, to study languages or history maybe. What kind of kid dreams about lectures and college assignments, right? I must have been the only boy who didn’t fantasize about shooting guns or driving fast cars, and yet that’s where I ended up. Life is funny sometimes.

Q2. If you were in charge for a day with your group, what is the first thing you would do as the boss?

The idea of being in charge doesn’t appeal to me. I suppose if I had to do it, I’d reign some of the older family members in, and give one person in particular a lesson in respecting the hierarchy of our family before his head gets so inflated it endangers us all. In a male-dominated order of assassins, egos can be more dangerous than guns. We can’t defend ourselves from the outside if there are cracks on the inside.

Q3. Can you give us a little peek of what’s a life with four brothers like? What’s it’s like to have a twin brother?

Having four brothers is a lot of work, especially with the ones I have, but there’s no greater feeling than being surrounded by your family. Being a twin has its ups and downs. On the one hand, Valentino and I share an unshakeable bond. We would do anything for each other. On the other hand, our roles within the family can be clouded by our closeness, and sometimes when our decisions clash it’s not a nice experience for anyone.

Q4. If you can have one more day with your Dad, what are the things you want to tell or ask him? What are the things that you’ll do together?

If I couldn’t stop him, you mean? If I couldn’t change the events of that night? I wouldn’t do anything special or extraordinary during our last day together. I wouldn’t waste our time. I’d sit with him, I’d talk to him, I’d laugh with him. I’d spend every last second of our time together listening to the sound of his voice, studying the lines on his face, remembering every facial expression, however small, so I’d never forget any part of him.

Q5. If you had to describe the day you first met Sophie in the diner using a song, what song will it be and why?

I’m not going to pick something soppy if that’s what you’re hoping for. That’s loverboy’s thing. I remember that night in the diner being incredibly annoying. We had just moved to Cedar Hill, and Nicoli and I had to go and case the place for Jack and his crew. Within five minutes, Nicoli was drooling all over Sophie instead of concentrating on what he was supposed to be doing. And she was encouraging it, blinking those big eyes too much and smiling crookedly at him. I honestly considered smashing my head off the table just to be free of the torture. It was like being sucked into the worst romantic comedy ever made. I know it wasn’t exactly her fault considering that big bubble of naivety she was living in at the time, but it was an incredibly frustrating evening for me. It’s hard to put a song to that level of exasperation. What about Secrets by One Republic? It’s about baring your secrets, which is ironic, considering we were all lying to each other that night. Or maybe Robbers by The 1975. That song comes to mind when I think about that night. I’m not even sure why. Maybe I just like the melody.

Q6. Finally, what’s new with you? What should we expect from you in the future books of Blood for Blood series?

What’s new with me? Oh, just this gaping gunshot wound. I can’t tell you what to expect from me, but I can tell you I’m going to be around, and I’m going to be my usual charming self.

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Thank you so much Luca for answering all my questions and to author Catherine Doyle for allowing him. If only we can continue the Q&A more longer but I know you need to rest too, especially with your condition. Get well soon ok? I want to see you in action in the next book.

Isn’t Luca charismatic? And here’s more, a character profile of Luca made by the author, Catherine Doyle. Just for you to have a little more idea of Luca’s appearance and background. Also, check my review of Vendetta below for more idea of the book.

About the Catherine Doyle:

Catherine Doyle lives in the west of Ireland. She holds a bachelor’s degrees in psychology and a master’s degree in English from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Vendetta is her first novel. Catherine lives in Galway, Ireland.

Find Catherine

Website  | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

Blood Will Spill, Hearts Will Break: With a fierce rivalry raging between two warring families, falling in love is the deadliest thing Sophie could do. An epic debut set outside modern-day Chicago.

 

 

“There is beauty everywhere; even in the dark, there is light, and that is the rarest kind of all.”

Blood Will Spill, Hearts Will Break: With a fierce rivalry raging between two warring families, falling in love is the deadliest thing Sophie could do. An epic debut set outside modern-day Chicago.

For Sophie, it feels like another slow, hot summer in Cedar Hill, waitressing at her family’s diner and hanging out with her best friend Millie. But then someone moves into the long-abandoned mansion up the block–a family of five Italian brothers, each one hotter than the last. Unable to resist caramel-eyed Nicoli, Sophie finds herself falling for him — and willfully ignoring the warning signs. Why are Nic’s knuckles cut and bruised? Why does he carry an engraved switchblade? And why does his arrogant and infuriating older brother, Luca, refuse to let her see him? As the boys’ dark secrets begin to come to light, Sophie is confronted with stinging truths about her own family, too. Suddenly, she’s torn between two warring dynasties: the one she’s related to and the one she’s now in love with. She’ll have to choose between loyalty and passione. When she does, blood will spill, hearts will break. Because in this twisted underworld, dishonor can be the difference between life and death.

Personal Thoughts:

Since this post is quite pretty long than I intended to I won’t give you a run down anymore of what’s the story is about. Though the blurb doesn’t do much justice which basically tell a Romeo and Juliet type of romance, I still encourage you to read the book and find out on your own what’s the deal is about. Trust me, there’s more into Vendetta than just the romance. It is action packed and gritty to be just a romance novel.

For a newly debut author Catherine Doyle writing is pretty impressive. Vendetta is an easy flowing read. All the actions and tensions are well written. Catherine knows where to push her characters and throw some punch that will surely make the readers feel.

The romantic storyline is not overly used which I really appreciate. Because more than the tension between Nic and Sophie I’m honestly more invested to the family tension of the Falcone. It wasn’t deeply explore given that we have Sophie as the narrator, but that small peak inside the Falcone’s life is so much intriguing. I really hope that the next book will show more of that dark and grittier side of the Falcone family and the inner part of the mafia underground where they belong.

If it isn’t obvious yet from the character interview above, Luca is my guy here. But that doesn’t mean that I want him for Sophie. Nic can have Sophie, I’ll keep Luca for me instead. Seriously though, I don’t think Catherine need to use Luca as part of the romance. I’m happily contented with what she did in this first installment. So I hope she won’t make a love triangle by pushing Luca to go between Sophie and Nic. I believe Catherine can do better than that. There so much plot lines in the story she can develop without adding a romantic twist that is so predictable just to give readers more tension. I can give you a lot of ways what to do with Luca. The family issue alone is so much wider to explore, his role in his family and to the mafia group, add the whole dark underground world in the background for sure Luca can be a lot busier and useful than deal with teenagers angst.

Then we have Valentino. When Valentino showed up in the story, I was intrigue. All his talks with Sophie during their first meeting really catch my attention. It signals me that there’s so much about him that the narration isn’t telling, and that I need to watch the guy. As if he holds some secrets that will later reveal in the end. And true enough he is really a revelation. Something I didn’t see coming even I already anticipate his involvement in the matter. Catherine is quite sneaky in that one.

“This life is so complex that we rarely get to be the people we are truly meant to be. Instead, we wear masks and put up walls to keep from dealing with the fear of rejection, the feeling of regret, the very idea that someone may not love us for who we are deep in our core, that they might not understand the things that drive us.”

More than the romance and drama this book tells how hazy the lines between right and wrong is, so much that you can’t even decide who the villain in the story really is. Catherine Doyle successfully deliver an impressive debut novel in Vendetta. It is fast, entertaining, and thrilling read. Looking forward reading more about the world of mafia underground and the lovely characters inside it.

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*This review is based on a copy I received courtesy of the publisher, Sholastic Press Philippines in exchange for an honest opinion.

Mark of the Thief by Jennifer A. Nielsen

When Nic, a slave in the mines outside of Rome, is forced to enter a sealed cavern containing the lost treasures of Julius Caesar, he finds much more than gold and gemstones: He discovers an ancient bulla, an amulet that belonged to the great Caesar and is filled with a magic once reserved for the Gods — magic some Romans would kill for.

Now, with the deadly power of the bulla pulsing through his veins, Nic is determined to become free. But instead, he finds himself at the center of a ruthless conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and spark the Praetor War, a battle to destroy Rome from within. Traitors and spies lurk at every turn, each more desperate than the next to use Nic’s newfound powers for their own dark purposes.

In a quest to stop the rebellion, save Rome, and secure his own freedom, Nic must harness the magic within himself and defeat the empire’s most powerful and savage leaders.

Personal Thoughts:

Jennifer A. Nielsen’s Acsendence Trilogy is a favorite middle grade fantasy series of mine. I devoured every pages of those books appreciating Jennifer A. Nielsen’s writing by simply creating one of the most smart and cunning character I have ever met in middle grade fiction, Sage/Jaron. Jaron easily added to my list of favorite character together with other thieves like Eugenides of The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner, and Neal Caffrey of White Collar TV series. So just imagine what my reaction is when I found out that Jennifer has a new series coming out with a thief for a leading character.

Mark of the Thief is a historical fantasy set in one of the most historically rich place on earth, Ancient Rome. The protagonist, Nic a slave mining outside Rome was forced to go underground to find a bulla that once belonged to Julius Caesar. Nick isn’t eager to do the task because previous miners who went deep into the mine for treasures are either dead or lost their sanity. But without so much choice in the matter, Nic go down and there he find not only Julius Caesar’s golden bulla but other treasure of golds and a griffin guarding it. After some stunts with the griffin, Nic managed to get hold of the bulla and escaped the mine with the griffin before the mine collapsed. His escaped doesn’t last though, because he was later recaptured and was sent back to his master, Sal who later sold him. Before reaching the mines, he also met one of the Romans’ senator Valerius and his son Crispus who informed him that the griffin left a mark on his back and not just a scar like what Nic assumed. A mark that Nic must hide as well as the bulla in order to protect himself from powerful people and savage leaders who will do anything to get their hands on Caesar’s long lost property and its power.

The setting alone makes Mark of the Thief a worth read. Ancient Rome in this novel has a life of its own that you can count it as one of the characters adding more dynamic to the story. Rome is so rich and full of history which the author cleverly use along with her fictional world. Jennifer A. Nielsen’s description of Rome and everything that is happening inside it feels like real history, as if her characters actually lived during those era and we are just reading a new story that was never been told before.

Jennifer A. Nielsen’s writing is as strong as her style in The Ascendance Trilogy. Her plotting skill is top notch making Mark of the Thief a thrilling and engrossing read.

Right from the first page readers will get intrigued with the leading character Nic with his quick-witted mouth and tough personality. Though he isn’t much a plotter like Jennifer’s previous character Jaron, Nic can still win every readers attention. He has his own brand of charm which mostly consist of his stubbornness and high self-esteem. His constant danger situation makes the book thrilling and suspenseful.

Comparing Nic to Jaron is not fair but like other readers of Jennifer A. Nielsen’s works I can’t help but do the same because lets face it, Jennifer previous lead character Jaron is what makes The Ascendance Trilogy so much a hit. Readers of The Ascendance Trilogy love the brilliant, quick-witted and multi-layered Sage/Jaron. He is simply unforgettable. Jennifer successfully weaved a wonderful character in him that I can’t help but hope that her next lead character is as good as Jaron. But unfortunately, Nic fall short. Though Nic is as quick-witted and tough he is not as clever as Jaron. Jaron is a plotter, someone who is always three or more steps ahead in the game, he knows the rules and he can even rewrite them if he thinks it will favor him or his goal. While Nic on the other hand is not a strategist, he has no idea of how to save his own self, the people he care, much less save a whole empire of Ancient Rome. I think a battle between these two, Jaron will surely win even with Nic’s magical power.

But don’t get discourage because even Nic is no Jaron his story is as interesting as others Jeniffer’s books. As I’ve said above, the presence of Ancient Rome alone is a worth reading, throw some adventure, political intrigue, magical amulet, legendary creature and mythology there so much to love in this first installment of Praetor War series. I myself is excited to find out how Jennifer will weave those intricate details of political war, mythology and adventure into a bigger plot.

Overall, Mark of the Thief is a wonderful start to a new fantasy story from Jennifer A. Nielsen. With its historically rich and beautiful setting, ingenious plot and beautiful writing Jennifer Nielsen successfully deliver a new fantasy series to follow. Fans of The Ascendence Trilogy will surely enjoy this new offering from the master plotter herself.

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*This review is based on a copy I received courtesy of the publisher, Sholastic Press Philippines in exchange for an honest opinion.

Vendetta Art

Today is the official released day of Vendetta by Catherine Doyle, the first book of Blood for Blood series published by Chicken House Ltd.. So Happy Book Birthday to Vendetta!!!

I have read the book few weeks ago and we are organizing a five days blog tour via PBT in partnership with Scholastic Philippines which will run from March 02-06, 2015. Aside from reviews and interviews there will be exciting trivias and interesting guest post that I’m sure you will all enjoy. I myself is excited to share them to all of you. We might also do a give away, you just have to convinced me first to let go of my own advance copy. :D

Before the blog tour, let me share first this cool Vendatta Art made by author Alice Oseman as a sneak peak. This art perfectly represents the three main characters of this new contemporary YA series, Blood for Blood by Catherine Doyle. Trust me, you need to meet these three characters as well as the other characters of this beautiful series.  There are five brooding hot guys in this novel! I won’t give more details, just go and read the book.

 

Check these links for more information about the book, Vendetta: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads | Publisher | Author

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

“Anything that kills hope is a sin.”

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

Personal Thoughts:

* warning there are some spoilers below.

Saying that I’m a fan of Gayle Forman is one of the biggest understatement. Ever since I fall in love with her books, If I Stay and Where She Went, Gayle become an inspiration to me. Like David Levithan, Gayle’s books are in my auto-buy list. Her works are always a must read because I belive in her talent and creativity. Meeting her in person last year is one of the most wonderful and memorable book-ish experience for me. That day, Gayle mentioned about this new book of her, I Was Here, which she describe as a suicide-mystery novel. I anticipated its release and now that I recently finished the book, I can say that Gayle did it again! She weaved another “all-the-feels” story just like with her previous books.

The story deals with the aftermath of suicide.

After Meg committed suicide her best-friend Cody was left alone to deal with it. She attended every funeral masses for Meg, face every unsaid questions from other people, while trying to grieve. It’s a process she barely understand because she don’t even know why Meg do it? She doesn’t have a clue, not even a single answer. In fact, Cody feels clueless about Meg’s life since they go separate way for college. All the talks and emails they have doesn’t count because apparently there are lots of things that Meg are not telling her. It’s like she didn’t really know her best-friend. This made her more unsettled. She wants to know more. She wants answers and Meg isn’t there anymore to give those to her so she did some digging. Her investigations leads her to a twisted reality, a more dangerous path she didn’t expect.

I Was Here reminded me of one of my favorite contemporary novel, Saving June by Hannah Harrington. Cody’s attempt to unravel the reasons why Meg committed suicide is same with Hannah’s character Harper, except Cody’s discovery is much more darker making I Was Here more disturbing and thrilling.

The title “I Was Here” adds more things for me to contemplate while reading this latest book of Gayle Forman. It is a simple statement that says so much about how people wants to matter in this world. To be recognized as someone who lived. But when you suddenly end your life by suicide unfortunately it is not how you lived but how you end your life is what most people remember.

I’ve already said my opinion about suicide and mental disorders in my review of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven few weeks ago. How we view suicide as a way out without considering the other person condition. That also applies in here because Meg also suffers depression, a huge factor that push her to end her life. Sometimes we need to see things in a different angel to fully understand the reality of the situation. No one has the right to blame or to pin point someones fault, especially not in a super sensitive situation like suicide. Blaming the person who committed it won’t do any good. Not allowing her to church won’t make any difference. The person is already dead, what ever sin/crime we thought she made is already done, no one can undo it but we can at least give her some peace by respecting her for the last time.

“I was reminded just why God wants us to forgive. Not simply because it’s the key to a better world, but because of what it does for ourselves. Forgiveness is God’s gift to us. Christ forgave us. He forgave our sins. That was his gift. But by allowing us to forgive each other, he opened us up to that divine love. The article had it right. Forgiveness: It’s a miracle drug. It’s God’s miracle drug.”

Beside with depression, Gayle also added a more darker reason that push Meg to end her life in suicide. Apparently there is also this suicide support groups angle. I’m not sure if something like that really exist in the real world but if that really exist I hope no one able to stumble it ever. No one needs encouragement to do suicide.

The complex emotions of loss and grieving flows in every pages of I Was Here. It is a beautiful story that is not meant to provide all the answers or solve cases but to remind us that there are so much more after death and grieving. That sometimes forgiveness is a journey that we all need to take and one of the best way to move forward.

P.S. Read Gayle Forman’s note at the end of the book. There so much in it than just acknowledgments.