parasihir's reviews
34 reviews

The Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego, Joe Whitt

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hopeful inspiring relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

It is so beautiful! This book makes me want to have a garden of my own that has an orange flower (if you know, you know). I am just so touched at how they work together and the human are not bad. They are kind. Not the monstrous and ungrateful human we commonly find in the Earth, but the ones that can appreciate every creatures, big or small.

The most beautiful garden in town is the work of a fairy who loves the gardener's smile.

I am in love.
Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

It's an easy to read book about Tuva, who wants to be more mature as a teenager that just started her seventh grade! I understand her point, though. I was like her, but more wild and untamed. I did have the vision that being in love make me uncool and it's cringe and it's disgusting and make up is awful and bra is weird and romance is ass. But it is not like that. Tuva wondered whether a teen can be in love and still stan BTS at the same time and the answer is, we can!

I'm glad Tuva finds the answer little by little after going through so much with her friends, her crush, and her father. Good God, I love her father! Kudos to you, big man!

Anyway, for young readers (maybe if you are in junior high school or at the later stage of elementary school), please give this book a try! Maybe it can help you a lot, who knows. And please know that, you are cool! Be yourself, darls.
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Lie With Me by Philippe Besson

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emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I am intrigued by the way Philippe describes his love, his youth, and the love of his life. It is consuming, full of hunger, and quiet. It is far too quiet for the universe to hear, but loud enough for both of them to understand. I enjoy it thoroughly. Following the series of events that Philippe described is not that hard. With little effort, I can jump right in and see what Philippe was trying to depict. Of love. Of grief. And also, of yearning.

I just wanted to write to tell you that I have been happy during these months together, that I have never been so happy, and that I already know I will never be so happy again. 

Obviously, I cry.
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My Crazy Feminist Girlfriend by 민지형, 민지형

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challenging informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Menurutku bukunya menarik, tapi eksekusinya kurang memuaskan. Meski begitu, My Crazy Feminist Girlfriend ini bisa dijadikan bahan bacaan dan diskusi seputar feminisme. I advocate feminism, but I don't know what to say because I think I don't know it well enough. I need to educate myself more about feminism, that, I realize after reading this book.

One point, though, the misogyny and patriarchy in South Korea is unbelievable. But if we really think about it, di Indonesia juga gak beda jauh. Ah, dunia ini beneran gak ramah sama perempuan.

Uh, malah jadi ngalur ngidul. This book is overall enjoyable, but certainly has its own flaws. Boleh coba dibaca aja xixixi.
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Himawari House by Harmony Becker

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Himawari House is exactly the embodiment of life goes on. I love how the characters' emotions are portrayed in the book and how they deal with their own problems in their own way. That doesn't make them separate themselves with each other though. It is beautiful to see how a various cultural background can fit together under the Himawari House—the Sunflower House. I hope they will shine like the Sun does, or look up to the Sun when things get hard; because that's what a sunflower does! 
Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 40 by Mizuho Kusanagi

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adventurous challenging emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I just want to say that Chagol is a piece of shit.
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Grief Is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The first thing I thought of about the crow is death. Probably more like a proof  that someone is dead in their house. And then I also think about ghost. The crow will take form of the memories, the places, the words, and everything that you grieve. Some are confusing, some are beautiful, but everything is sad. And heavy. But the crow will be gone one day. Because even if someone was dead in that house of a family, life goes on. The grief will be there, forever, but it is simply a part of their life. Not ghost nor death. It is life.
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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

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dark emotional funny sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book eats me up from the inside. Reading Theodore's point of view can kill me. Poor my baby blue. 
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The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

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adventurous challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Probably the first book in 2024 that makes me spill tears with extra enormous effort to not let out a scream. It hurts me real bad. Everything flows perfectly. Even at the first chapter, I actually had a great time savoring the world-building, the terms, the magic with painstaking effort to go back and forth from the book to the glossary. Yes, I open it on another tab, but it was still a little bit of effort because I wanted to understand everything. It made me that interested and immersed in the story.

Since the very moment I read the way Mamoru jumped to go to his school, I know I love that boy.
And my biggest devastation comes from the way he stayed true to his name. To protect. Nyama to you, the Protector. Nyama to you, Son, Brother, Friend. Nyama to you, Soldier. You did your part. I love you so much.
And I absolutely head over heels for Misaki. My MOTHER.

The way everything unfolds leaves me with hunger. I need more. I need it. So I just read, read, read and then suddenly (not so sudden), everything that was once broken becomes better. Not the best. But better. Life, I suppose, does go that way. A little better than yesterday.

The Sword of Kaigen has every elements you can ask for in a fantasy book. A good world-building, a wonderful magic system (it is actually not that complicated once you take notes of it), a amazing characterization of all characters, a admirable relationship (of all kind, I mean it), a real plot, and the best ending you can ask for. It has been a long time since I actually finish a fantasy book with a new whole concept like this. A new world, though M.L. Wang seems to write it based on East Asian culture. Hard to grasp at first, but perfect when you get to understand it.

If you want a real good book to read to keep you focused in turning the pages as it hooks you in the story, The Sword of Kaigen is the best choice. Trust me. And also,  may you will find this book as gorgeous as I find it, if you decide to pick it up, of course. Love you!

Nyama to you, my fellow reader. 
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All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

All My Rage destroys me enough, along with my love, my faith, and my rage. It is incredibly phenomenal. THE ENDING, good God, my tears suddenly stream in an endless flow. That is a PERFECT end. I'm glad it was written that way. Solid 5 stars for my tears. We CHEERS (with glass filled with tears, of course). 

FYI, just FYI, my tears taste less tasty after I read this book. I cried THAT much. 
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