Sebastian Molina by Cassandra

Sebastian Molina
Cassandra
(Precious Hearts Romances)


Nakahanap ng isang kaibigan si Nerissa sa katauhan ng misteryosong si Blue—ang taong sinabi ng kapatid niyang namayapa na maaari niyang hingan ng tulong kung kakailanganin niya iyon. Subalit ni minsan ay hindi pa niya nakita ito at ang tanging paraan ng kanilang komunikasyon ay text messaging.

Subalit nang minsang manganib ang buhay niya dahil sa isang kasong kinasangkutan ng kapatid niya noon, hindi si Blue ang sumagip sa kanya kundi ang guwapo at ubod ng yabang na janitor sa kompanyang pinapasukan niya—si Sebastian. Ang nakakainis pa, tila enjoy na enjoy naman itong tulungan siya dahil ang kapalit niyon ay paglaki ng utang-na-loob niya rito.

Pero nakilala niya ang totoong ugali nito na malayo sa ipinakita nitong kagaspangan sa kanya. Pakiramdam niya ay ligtas siya at walang mangyayaring masama sa kanya basta kasama niya ito. Ito ang totoong nagliligtas sa kanya at mga bisig nito ang palaging nakahandang yumakap sa kanya. Dito niya naramdaman ang totoong kahulugan ng mga katagang “I will protect you” na minsan nang sinabi ni Blue sa kanya…

~W~

About the book:

Title: Sebastian Molina
Author: Cassandra
Imprint: My Love, My Hero
Published On: November, 2011
Pages: 256 pages

Reader's Point-of-view:

Sebastian Molina, a novel written by Miss Cassandra was published under the imprint My Love, My Hero. My Love, My Hero was a Precious Hearts Romances imprint in which the hero would save the heroine. It seemed like the premise was the knight in shining armor would enter the picture and would save the heroine--whether she's in distress or not. LOL!--and would protect her at all cost. Sebastian Molina was about Nerissa who lost her beloved brother. Her brother has a friend she met through the phone her brother gave to her before he died. Her texting buddy was hidden by the code name, Blue. Her brother told her that if she needed someone, just text Blue. But the when she needed him for protection against people who's after her dead brother, Blue wasn't there. Instead, it was Sebastian who helped her. Sebastian was a janitor on the company where she's working. And from that day on, it was always Sebastian who helped her. Slowly, she fell for him until she learned a secret Sebastian had been keeping for her.

Again, reviewing this novel was hard for us. It took us hours just to come up with a worth-reading review. We tried our best to be polite and well, funny. But it was hard! Ang hirap maging funny, mas madaling maging sarcastic. Hahahaha!

Sebastian was a very lovable hero. He was sarcastic, a joker and so damn annoying that you could not help but adore him. He's not the normal knight in shining armor hero that was typical on a My Love, My Hero imprint. Like what I've said, he's annoying. It was written that he was protective over Nerissa but the protection he gave her was different. Siya yong hinahayaang gumalaw si Nerissa but he was at the sideline, watching her and protecting her. Siya yong lalaking gusto mong maging kaibigan at protector at the same time and eventually, hindi mo talaga maiiwasang hindi siya mahalin. Sanay kasi akong makabasa ng hero sa My Love, My Hero imprint na alpha male at overbearing. Sebastian wasn't included in that category. I love his dedication towards his work and I love how he valued every promises he made. May isang salita siya kahit ang kapalit non ay ang paghihirap niya.

Nerissa was your typical heroine. The novel was written mostly on Nerissa's point of view but I didn't feel connected to Nerissa as a reader. It was as if I was reading in a different point of view. Ang hirap ipaliwanag. It seemed like even though I was inside Nerissa's mind, I could not understand half of what she's thinking and saying. Hindi ko siya masyadong nakilala aside sa mahal na mahal niya ang kuya niya. In short, nakulangan ako sa characterization niya. On the positive side, hindi bland si Nerissa unlike other heroines I had read. Hindi siya yong typical damsel in distress heroine na papasok sa ganitong imprint. Ms. Cassandra was right when she made Nerissa a bubbly type of a woman since nag-compliment ang ugali niya kay Sebastian.

The plot was okay. Dito na papasok yong kaguluhang naramdaman namin bilang reviewer. After reading the teaser, I have this nagging feeling inside my head shouting, "Dude, this was freaking familiar to me!" And as I was reading the novel, I was enlightened actually. I wanted to give Ms. Cassandra the benefit of the doubt since she's not a newbie writer anymore but her work, Sebastian Molina, was really similar to this certain manga, Dengeki Daisy. As in similar. The plot was the same, the characterization of each characters, the conflict. I could enumerate the similarities but I won't do that because just like what I said, I want to give her the benefit of the doubt. But it was hard, actually. Just like what I had written on the second paragraph, nahirapan kaming mag-review dito dahil nahirapan kaming basahin ang nobela. We could not help but compare it to this manga. I was expecting a different approach on the middle part but it was as if I was actually reading a novelized form of this certain manga. It was that bad. Para bang ang lumalabas ay kumukuha sila ng plot sa mga manga tapos ay sila ang gumagawa ng sarili nilang ending. Sana gawan din nila ng bagong ending ang Vampire Knights. Hahahaha!

Setting the manga issue aside, if it was indeed a mere coincidence (I just hope so. It was a really, really, really good coincidence. Hahahaha!), then, this novel is a great-read. I like how the story unfolds and I like the twist and turns of every events. Hindi boring kahit na makapal ang nobela. Hindi siya naging dragging at hindi mukhang pinahaba lang just for the sake of pahahabain ang nobela. It was good. But... You know our issue.

In overall, the manga--I mean the novel was good. Hahahaha. If you're into a real action-romance genre, then try this. But just like what I had said on my Luna King review, if you're an otaku and a Dengeki Daisy fan, I don't think this one's for you. But maybe it's just me and I'm just being paranoid or what so try it.

We just have an issue with the whole coincidence thing. I really, really want to hear Ms. Cassandra's side in regards to this. Or maybe I should try reading other reviews about this novel. Baka hindi lang ako ang nakapansin. But if worse comes to worst, I'm willing to point out every similarities para hindi masabi ng fans ni Ms. Cassandra na naninira lang ako. I'm a reader and I love it. Hahahaha! Bring it on!

Favorite Character: Kentarou, the head of Ginori and Sebastian's boss. My heart melted when he hugged Nerissa when they learned about the truth behind Nerissa's brother's betrayal. My heart was gooey-gooey that time. I heard he has a story already so I'm going to hunt it. I hope there's no coincidence anymore :)

Favorite Scene: When they learned the truth about what had happened to Nerissa's brother and how lovable Kentarou was that time. Si Sebastian nga pala ang bida no? Hahahaha.

Rating: 1.3 Stars

(Half of the score was because of Kentarou and that scene. You go, man!)

Note: Rating may change (since I love the characters and the plot. LOL!) if proven or if explained by the author that the similarities were just mere coincidence and not what they called, "Inspiration" and "Adaptation" to the manga. I'm not totally asking for explanation. Kung gusto lang naman :)