'~WoNdErFuL 2 ThOuSaNd 6..

Saturday, April 23, 2005
23rd april aka World Book Day..

So on a world book day...
What else would be more important than to celebrate reading, authors..share opinions on the play, novels u have just watched/read..?
So here forth, I present to u the review of the black magician trilogy..

Sonea is a girl, a slum dweller who was living with her aunt and uncle since her mother's death and her father disappearance. Today, she was sent to the north quarters to find a residing area as they had just been evicted from their home. She met her 'thieves' friends who had gathered for the yearly Purge. They were throwing stones at the guards and magicians. But their stones fell when they hit an invisible shield created by the magicians. Sonea was given stones to throw at the magicians. She threw the stone and as expected, it hit the barrier and fell off. But her second throw, she focused on her feelings of hatred for the magicians' guild and the king and all the injustice that has been done to her and her family onto the stone and released it from her hand n willed it to hit the barrier. But to her amazement and shock, it passed through the barrier and hit the magician's temple, knocking him out. Chaos ensued, and in the confusion, a boy near her was charred by the numerous strikes from the magicians. She was horrified by the ordeal, and her friends who found her quickly let her to an escape route.

She had hidden herself from the magicians and secretly tried out her skills under the encouragement of her friends. But she soon lost control and was on the verge of destroying herself and part of the city when the magicians found her and teach her CONTROL of her powers. She was captured and taught control. But there's a trial when she's ready, to agree whether to bind her powers or let her be a trained magician. She was blackmailed by one of the magician to agree to his terms. But before the trial ends, her friend, Cery, was released from being hostage. Seeing her friend's safety, she went on to tell the truth and consented to a truth read by the administrator of the university, Lord Lorlen. Through the process of truth-reading Sonea's mind, he saw his friend, Akkarin aka High Lord, performing black magic in an underground room. Surprised, shocked and angered by what he saw, he also felt for the safety of Sonea if she leaves the compounds of the guild. So he urged her to keep what she saw a secret and remain in the guild for her safety. He also told her to reveal this information to Lord Rothen, her Guardian who will take care of her well-being in the university.

Then, the summer intake swearing ceremony is going to begin. She and several of the summer intakes of novices were to agree upon abiding the rules/laws of being a magician. Lessons started the next day after the ceremony. But she had gained the disapproval of a boy in her class. His name is Regin. He seems keen on making her the butt of his jokes, and collaborating with his classmates to make fun of her. She knew she wouldn't be well-liked, but she did not expect them to ridicule her. She had thought they would leave her alone. Well, gaining the dislike of her present classmates, she requested to be upgraded to the winter intake class. She had to finish the half year class within three months and pass a mid-yr test. Thereafter, she had to catch up with the winter class covered topics. It was surely hard-work but she was determined to do it, and she had amazingly succeeded. But Regin was not determined to let her off. He was soon in the same winter intake class as he had followed what Sonea did.

The winter intake classmates were more serious in their work and hangs on in pairs. She had gained one friend, Poril. He was poorer in his studies. Thus, he was retained in the winter class. But Regin was not gonna let Sonea off so easily. He threatens Poril not to talk to Sonea anymore. Feeling a stab of hurt, and anger, she suffered in silence. Meanwhile, Regin was still gathering people to attack her on her way back to the novice quarters. Things took for a change for the worse when Akkarin found out that his secret is let out of the bag, and took Sonea as his apprentice by force. In doing so, Lord Rothen, Administrator Lorlen and Sonea would keep to themselves the deadly secret. By things do not change for Sonea, Regin and his gang still gathered to set traps for her. But each time, she would lose to them. They would abuse her physically. Until she couldn't take it anymore, she requested to fight Regin in a formal battle. The battle was won by Sonea. And thereafter, Regin did not lay anymore attacks for her. But there is still one thing that feared her.

Days seemed to be for the better as Sonea won the formal battle against Regin. She has gained quite a few classmates ever since she was the High Lord’s favourite who won the formal battle. Regin has not been laying traps for her, and admitting his defeat. But Sonea still had a bigger worry in mind. Series of deaths related to the use of black magic has surfaced to terrorise the city. Sonea was let in on the black magic secret by Akkarin himself. Learning of his past, she suddenly felt how much pain he has suffered. She doubted his practise of the black magic in the past but now that he has shown her evidence of slaves of Ichani, she believes in him. She is also in awe in his ability to fend off the black magicians over the years, keeping the city safe from Ichani. But recently, more slaves of Ichani has entered the city and started to kill the innocent, drawing their magical powers to enhance their own. Akkarin is getting weaker each day after the fight. Sonea knew she had to do something, she had to help. Much as Akkarin was unwilling to teach her black magic, she was also unwilling to learn it. But for the sake of protecting her country, she felt it is necessary to learn it in case Akkarin was no longer able to defeat them, she could still help. But soon the guild knew of their black magic practises. They hold a trial and sentenced them the exile to the Sachaka, the land of Ichani. Despite hearing their stories, the king foolishly passes the sentence without verifying the truth first.

They finally knew the truth a tad too late. Sonea and Akkarin were already in Sachaka. The stories they had heard from Akkarin and Sonea about the Ichani was real. They tried in vain to contact Akkarin and Sonea. But Sonea and Akkarin was coming back to help their country. Taking a round about, they pass through the South pass and was heading back when they met with a Ichani. They managed to kill the Ichani with their combined effort and Lord Rothen’s son, Dorrien. Knowing that they were telling the truth, Dorrien sent them back to the city with the help of his villagers. They arrived but the city was going to turn into wreckage. Their arrival was timely. The Ichani did not know of their arrival. So they could lure them out one by one and kill them. The battle between Ichani and magicians of the guild has started. And the magicians lost the battle bitterly. When the battle is finally over, thanks to Akkarin and Sonea, the city was in a bad form. Houses were demolished by magic. After the battle was won, a lot of the positions in the Guild is reshuffled. Sonea, though not a magician yet, has gained the term Black Magician. The Yearly Purge has been admonished by the king and a hospital was build to provide healing services to the dwellers, once exclusive to the rich only. And Sonea is expecting the child of Akkarin in her womb.

Comment: This trilogy has several subplots and though at the beginning it may seem boring, the story was filled with vivid details to enrich the imagination. Many a times, you would take pity in the heroine, Sonea, or even share her joys, sorrow and congratulate her for her strong determination to keep on going. She never let anyone down. It reveals its major plot in the third book, but you would find that you want to keep on reading to find out the ending. The numerous subplots in the trilogy were interesting. It is definitely one trilogy that would keep you in mystery till the very end. Fascinating.

=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 11:07:00 AM

Friday, April 22, 2005
World Book Day..

In view of tml's world book day(23rd april)..
I'm going to review the black magician trilogy..
From Bk 1-3:
1- The Magicians' Guild
2- The Novice
3- The High Lord
I'm still trying to keep the entry short..
but it seems like it's not possible,
So i guess tml u will find out..

Been spending alot of my time to re-read a self-help book..
Hmm, 7 habits of highly effective teens..
Still hve difficulties following the habits till now..haha..
Oh..and playing MS like there's no tml..haha..
Guess i'm going addicted to online gaming..
=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 4:20:00 PM

Friday, April 15, 2005
Logy-Phobia...

Logy-phobia
Definition: It is the fear of finishing a trilogy or a series of books written continously by a author detailing an event, because of the gruelsome details or emotional deaths in the story which may be too unbear-able for the reader itself.
Example: I cannot finishing reading this LOTR trilogy because i've logy-phobia.

I've been reading this trilogy called THE BLACK MAGICIAN TRILOGY..
It was alright for me to read book 1 and 2 interestingly and appreciatively..
The climax of the trilogy is of course in the book 3: The High Lord..

The first quarter of the book was exciting..and informative without deaths..
Well, at least no deaths that could have cause the reader sadness or disconfort..
As the story progress, you begin to be suck into the whole story..
Taking you thru trials, exile process, and finally..The expected war..

To give credit to the author,
everything is very wonderfully written and described..
It was just the sad part that deaths have to occur..
Deaths such as noble sacrifices for the war..

I dun understand why must it have deaths..
Makes the fantasy tale all the darker..
But guess i can't escape them..
Deaths are natural and so had to take it as it is..

Upseted by a trilogy..
=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 12:06:00 PM

Thursday, April 14, 2005
DisTress..!!

"When you feel all the feelings from you has evolved, i can only offer my congratualiton that you're still human after all.."

Perhaps i've never felt so much anger and sadness from reading a novel than this one..I shall not reveal the contents of this novel as i do not wish to bring any evoked feelings in you..But i just wish to express my disturbed feelings here..Wish to take these feelings away from me..Not that its' wrong to have them..but having them makes me more emotional than i already am..Perhaps i should just calm down and take it as it really is..A fictional story..aka fantasy land..and not involve my feelings in it..But i dun think i can..I wish there could be another way, though i do not see it now..Hmm..Guess i should stop blogging till i finish reading this novel and have calmed down myself..Perhaps then, i can have a detailed analysis of the situation i'm expericing now..For now, a little rest is better before continuing the novel..

Feeling anguish erupting into strange feelings i've never felt b4..n trying to dispate it into the thin air..

=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 11:43:00 AM

Monday, April 11, 2005
Filled With Regret..

"Perhaps Life is Just one big barrel of Regret & Remorse.."

I have been lost touch with my sec school friends for as long as i can remember..
We had a class chalet last yr..
With a really low attendance..
Several of the guys were there..
Only a trio of the gals were present..
That is such a sad thot..

Then, now i realized...
Almost all of my Sec Sch male classmates are in NS now..
Aww..except for a few of us..The rest are in CAMPS!!
Sob..Sob..
If only i have been hanging out more often with them..
Perhaps, we still might have fun & wonderful memories to take comfort in..
But i selfishly used my time for my own selfish purpose..
To complete my tutorial, revision, finding extra info on my subjects,
attempt past-yr papers..play online games..or just sleep..
Oww...I must have been really selfish to keep my time all to myself..
I had no idea how sad i'm gonna be when i'm all alone..
But now..Now..
Regret has hit my heart..And i know it won't stop..
Perhaps, i too dun wish it to stop..
Maybe, i wish to be regretful till..till i won't be selfish again..
But i aren't really sure if being regretful helps..
I just silently hoped that all of my pals in NS
would be having a much less troubled time..
I'll visit ur blogs as often as i miss hanging out with ya..
Take care in NS..

And just one more confession..
I'm truly, deeply sorry for not remembering your b'day until it's too late..
Hope to gain ur forgiveness..
With utmost regret, i apologised to you again.

=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 12:05:00 PM

Sunday, April 10, 2005
It's impossible..!!!!

Hmm..
I was wondering if there is anyone in the world..
that might be able to read all the books there is in the world,
gaining both knowledge and insight into each subject..
Then i realized, it is impossible even if he/she is determined..
Cos we heaven really developed our brains when we are a months old..
So we gotta chose which books we are interested in..
Or rather topics we are interested in..
Hence, the bookstores may store lots of books but not always out of books.
Becos, not all books interest the same person..
Each individual has his/her own taste in books.

For me..
I prefer to read fantasy, adventure, sci-fic, self-help and science books..
But i only select those that interest me greatly..

But my didi, he prefers to read thriller, detective kind of books..
and insist that ppl can actually complete all the books in the world of all subjects ranging from toddlers' books to novels to comics to technical, science, business books..And i ask if he can name any..he was dumb-founded..Get wad i mean? He thinks its possible, but i think it's impossible..

So if anyone has evidence to support either my didi's claim or my claim..
Just let it be know..
Tell me about it plz..
I wanna gain this fabulous piece of knowledge..
Perhaps to inspire me to carry on reading and studying the bulky textbooks..

=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 4:35:00 PM