renpuspita's reviews
1356 reviews

The Mythology Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by D.K. Publishing

adventurous informative slow-paced

4.0

Just like the tag "Big Ideas Simply Explained", this book is exactly that. Contains mythology, mostly famous ones, from all around the world in a brief explanation. Not all mythology get explained, tho. This book have 7 sections, Ancient Greek, Ancient Rome, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania. Each section start with very brief explanation about the mythology timelines and then followed by the mythology itself in 1 to 4 pages completed with some illustrations and catchy diagrams. While the Ancient Greek and Norse have mythology that I'm familiar with, the Ancient Rome section is pretty much informative. Europe part have Celtic & Finland myth. While the Asian mostly focused to Epic of Gilgamesh and Hindu pantheon, there's some part that have Korean mythology that entirely new to me. Sadly, the SEA part of Asian only represented by Philippines and not Indonesia (boo1 ;p!). American part get represent by Native America & Aztec Myth, Africa have Egypt, Yoruba and West Africa, and the Oceania part tell story of Indigenous Australian, Maui and also Papua New Guinea.

For me, this book is pretty good for a reference especially about mythology. Think wikipedia on book with a luxurious paper that suitable for collector edition. The book contributor also expert of their expertise so they know what they write. A little bit warning, though, this book is not suitable for children because of the violence and sex content. For example, some of Zeus's exploits here are what the Ancient Greek's myth most familiar with and the writer didn't hesitate to write it. Another mythology also have some sexual violence content. However, I still recommend The Mythology Book by DK if you are a myth afficionado or simply want to read one or two folktales from around the world.

Content Warnings

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

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emotional 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? Yes

4.25

So. Many. Feels!!!

I read The Kiss Quotient as part of my personal reading challenge to read 25 books for 2025. Pick this book because, well, it's been on my never-ending-TBR for more than 5 years, lol. I never watch Pretty Woman (yeah, I know), but the premise of gender-bending Pretty Woman is intriguing enough. It's not everyday I read a romance with reverse power dynamic, to read about woman in power (and competent to her fieldwork) pairing with a struggled and kinda poor man. What make The Kiss Quotient also a little bit different for me is, this is the first time I read a heroine in autistic spectrum written by the author that also in spectrum. Helen Hoang diagnosed by Asperger in her 30-ish and her discovery was what prompt her to write The Kiss Quotient.

In the first glance, the idea about male escort make this book's first impression with "oh, the book's content must be hot/steamy/spicy!!". Actually, yes, the book's vibe already steamy from the first chapter. Stella is an econometrician nearing her 30-ish and her mother already bugged her with talk of babies. Her Asperger condition make her sensitive to touch & noise. Stella also socially awkward and tend to say a wrong thing because she can't read the room or nuances, led to bad sex experience. With the way her mind work, hiring male escort seems like a plausible idea. Enter Michael Phan, apparently hotter than Daniel Henney (we will see about that), charming with a hard past and daddy issues as well, all of it led to his male escort part time. Stella want Michael to teach her in the art of pleasuring in bed and Michael always happy to comply. But when hearts and feeling getting involved, a line between client and lover soon blurred.

I like that even the book start of strong in steamy level, actually the deeds (aka the sex) happen in the middle of the book. The first time Stella and Michael have their session, it's more like foreplay with so many sexual tension. Stella is so gung-ho about her bad sex experience and she doesn't want a repeat so they start awkward. It's painful to read but also endearing as well. I find myself connecting more to Stella because I'm too kinda socially awkward and tend to voice what's on my mind without sometimes read the room or nuance. Not as bad as Stella, but I really understand what Stella feel. Hoang did a stellar (no pun intended) in writing about Stella's struggle with social interaction and how she feel regarding her body's reaction to Michael's touch.

As for Michael, I need time to connect with him. He's walking a thin line between red flags and green flags, lol. I feel like Michael try to punish himself and think he's unworthy of Stella (traits that I dislike from hero from any book I read, not just this one) because of his dad's wrongdoing. I think what Michael feels is pretty illogical but I kinda see that his dad kinda damage Michael's confidence and Michael resort to escorting and thrown away his dreams to become a designer because he feel like he was responsible for his mother and family. Basically, both Stella and Michael have flaws of their owns and the misunderstanding, oh the misunderstanding is pretty hard and painful to read. I really want to said "communication!!" rather than both parties assuming things, think that they didn't deserve each other because of their flaws. Stella with her autistic, Michael with his family issues, but then I kinda think, well that what make them a human being. They need to be apart to realize that they really meant for each other and despite their difference in power dynamic, only their willingness to take that differences apart that they will work their relationship.

If there's some complaints, I think the end kinda rush with the way Michael try to make amends to Stella. He need a lot of groveling and Stella need to give him a piece of her mind, lol. I agree with a review that state a change in Stella's parents characterization is sudden and I feel it a little bit jarring to see how in the start Stella's mom is annoying and her dad seems like pretty supportive only to see her dad act distrustful toward Michael when they meet and Stella's mom turn up caring. Maybe it's a dad thing to ensure that his daughter to have a relationship with a better man. If only there's a scene when Stella's dad approved of Michael despite Michael's dirty past, sigh. As for the steaminess, one word: WOWZA! Hoang sure know what she write and I find myself fanning reading the sexy scenes, lol. Michael also very dreamy in the bed but I also like when he pampered Stella and try to understand her needs.

Overall, The Kiss Quotient is a pretty good debut from Helen Hoang with a straightforward story and bearable angsts also drama. The steaminess of the story is off the chart, but the book also have some tender moments as well. I like that Michael call Stella with "My Stella", like, yeah I know that seems like obsessive of sort but I just found it endearing compared to if he call her "baby", "love" or "darling", lol, I also like Stella's interaction with Michael's families, especially with his mom and his sister. I recommend The Kiss Quotient if you want to read a contemporary romance with a unique heroine that well written and a hero that have flaws with some steaminess in and out of the bed that will make you go fanning yourself. I sure did, lol!

Content Warnings

Deadly Director's Cut by Vicki Delany

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lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

More entertaining and dramatic compared to book 1, Vicki Delany once again bring reader to Haggerman's resort in Catskill with its interesting ensemble casts. Elizabeth Grady must sleuthing (again) because a murder that happen in her resort (again) and the stake is much higher because she have her resort's reputation to uphold or say goodbye if the murderer is one of her employer. Set after the war, the motive of the murder now is not about accusation of communism but a grudge toward the poor famous director.

If book 1 deals with false accusation about communism to implement the Cold War setting, in book 2 Delany bring Hollywood to Catskill. An Academy Award winning director want to set his movie in Haggerman and Elizabeth will do her best to cater to the movie crews and actors alike. Just like some of movie cliche, the director was despicable, one of the main actor have interest toward Velvet, much to Elizabeth's dismay, an actress that also Olivia's friend have once married to the director and bring strife in the movie set. It's not surprising when the director end up dead because of poison. But, the poisoning happen in Haggerman's, therefore bring more problem to Elizabeth because if the news that the food in her resort end up kill people (and a famous one!), customer will never go to Haggerman's resort again.

Unlike book 1 in which I already guess the culprit from the start, in Deadly Director's Cut, Delany keep her mystery card close. The mystery is pretty solid and although not that hard to predict, she still write it tightly through the end. While I read book 2 in months after book 1, I didn't need to remember who is who. Delany manage to not info-dumping about the old characters and Elizabeth's past regarding her widowhood and her relationship with her mother, Olivia. About Olivia, her bond with Elizabeth may improve a little bit especially near the end of the story. As for romantic development, there's no love triangle and it was apparent that Elizabeth and the rival hotel owner's son, Richard Kennelwood, have feeling for each other. I also like the sisterhood between Elizabeth and Velvet and how Elizabeth worry for her friend because Velvet seems charmed with the possibility to become actress in the Hollywood. As a narrator of the story, I also like Elizabeth's voice. She is so mature, a little bit stern perhaps but also has dry sarcasm and wittiness.

If book 1 deal with the sexism that happen to Elizabeth, then book 2 deal with the ugly truth about Hollywood and movie world in overall. The issue of ageism is pretty much real especially toward women, as proved by Gloria, a friend of Olivia who only older by 20 years compared to the actor's age but she play as his grandmother rather than mother. She also tell Velvet to not be disillusioned by Hollywood's spotlight. The issue about the relationship between directors and the actor/actress also got addressed and how the Hollywood in that time don't have place for woman to be a force to be reckoned with except to have a pretty face and body.

Just like Deadly Summer Nights, Deadly Director's Cut also an entertaining and fun cozy read. Sadly, it's seems that Delany only wrote 2 books for Catskill Summer Resort Mystery. Maybe she think that if murder happen for the third time, the Haggerman's reputation might be threatened for real, lol. Delany herself kinda wrap Elizabeth story in the end nicely but I hope I can read more about not only Elizabeth's sleuthing but also her relationship with her mother and people of Haggerman's or maybe her burgeoning romantic relationship with Richard. Catskill Summer Resort Mystery is another cozy mystery series that can't be missed especially if you like a cozy that set in summer resort with interesting ensemble characters and a woman that didn't afraid to show who's the boss. Recommended

Content Warnings

The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Ending cerita yang "oh..gitu doang?" :|

Gue mengira awalnya karena The Rose and The Dagger ini adalah penutup dari duologi kisah cinta Shahrzard dan Khalid maka gue akan mendapatkan kisah yang sangat epic atau minimal penuh dengan sihir dan semacamnya. Sayangnya, mungkin karena kisah cintanya udah ditulis sedemikian rupa di buku pertama jadinya di buku ini gue berasa kayak yang biasa aja gitu lho. Gue merasa ini mungkin Renee Ahdieh ingin bikin trilogy tapi editornya bilang "udah bikin jadi duology aja", yang akhirnya membuat buku ini dikatakan jelek engga, tapi bagus juga engga.

Gue mengira akan ada kemampuan Sharzhad atau Shazi dalam memakai sihirnya, tapi ternyata sihirnya pun hanya terbatas memakai permadani terbang. Tidak dijelaskan secara rinci darimana kemampuan sihir Shazi berasal, yang meski pembaca tahu bahwa sihirnya Shazi itu diwariskan dari Jahandar tapi tidak jelas juga asal mula sihir Jahandar. Bahkan penggunaan kitab berbahaya milik Jahandar pun hanya begitu saja. Berharap ada adegan perang epic antara Khorasan dan Parthia? Siap - siap kecewa karena penulisannya juga seakan ga niat. Manuver politik yang sangat sederhana, pengkhianatan yang sudah bisa ditebak juga dll. Bahkan adegan yang gue harapkan antara Khalid dan Tariq untuk mengakhiri permusuhan mereka karena kedua pemuda ini sama - sama mencintai Shazi juga yang biasa aja. Apakah kutukan Khalid sudah musnah juga tidak dijelaskan dengan baik. Begitu banyak pergantian adegan antara bab yang ditulis dengan kurang mulus dan bikin gue menduga - duga apa ada bagian cerita yang dihapus supaya seriesnya cukup jadi duology saja.

Intinya buku ini ya.. BIASA AJA.

Lucunya, gue lebih menyukai baca karakter - karakter pendukung di buku ini ketimbang karakter utamanya. Gue menyukai Irsa dan juga sedikit kisah cintanya dengan Rahim. Gue suka baca adegan Syeikh Omar yang bijaksana dan bahkan Despina sendiri pun cukup mencuri sedikit fokus cerita. Untuk Tariq, sejak awal gue emang udah kayak "loe apaan sih ga jelas", apalagi dengan sikap posesifnya ke Shazi. Khalid ya...gue udah tahu dia sejak di buku pertama jadi karakterisasinya di buku ini hanya kayak kelanjutan dari buku pertama. Mungkin pembaca lain bakal klepek2 baca Khalid yang ooo sangat mencintai Shazi. Jadi gue merasa emang Renee Ahdieh ini lebih fokus ke perkembangan karakter Khalid ketimbang Shazi. Shazi sendiri justru menurut gue adalah karakter paling lemah di buku ini. Dia ini karakter utama, tapi gue ga merasakan ada sesuatu yang membuat gue bisa terkoneksi sama Shazi. Bagi gue Shazi hanya terdiri atas emosi marah, tergesa - gesa dan sedikit arogan mungkin karena posisinya sebagai Khalifa Khorasan. Tapi selain itu ya tidak ada yang benar - benar membuat Shazi memorable buat gue.

Duologi The Wrath and The Dawn dan The Rose and the Dagger mungkin cocok untuk penggemar YA fantasy romantis yang lebih berat di romansanya ketimbang fantasynya. Sayangnya, meski gue pembaca romance sekalipun gue ga merasakan romansa yang membunga - bunga dari buku ini dan bahkan cenderung biasa saja. Trope enemy to lovernya sejak awal memang kurang dieksekusi dengan baik dan banyak mengandalkan insta-lust/insta-love ketimbang slow burn (I mean, di hari ketiga mereka menikah Shazi udah bertanya-tanya mau dicium Khalid atau engga itu apa namanya kalau bukan insta-lust?). Kalau kamu cari YA fantasy rom yang ringan - ringan aja dengan setting Timur Tengah dan mengambil inspirasi dari Kisah 1001 Malam, mungkin duologi ini akan cocok. Sayangnya, gue udah baca buku lain yang juga terinpirasi dari Kisah 1001 Malam dan bahkan ada love trianglenya, tapi ditulisnya jauh lebih bagus daripada kisah Khalid dan Shazi.

Content Warnings

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Enemy to lover tapi berasa yg nanggung banget!

The Wrath and The Dawn bisa dibilang karya debut dari Renee Ahdieh yang terinspirasi dari Kisah 1001 Malam. Premise dasarnya sendiri memang mengambil kisah Shahrazad atau Scheherazade yang mendongeng tiap malam kepada suaminya, Syah Razar agar dia selamat dari kekejaman sang suami yang selalu membunuh istri - istri terdahulu. Tapi kalau ngira The Wrath and The Dawn bakalan plek ketiplek sama Kisah 1001 Malam, ya bakal salah karena Renee Ahdieh hanya mengambil dasarnya saja dan mengembangkan ceritanya sendiri.

Di buku ini semua tokoh utamanya masih remaja umur 16-18 tahun. Shahrzad atau Shazi menikahi Khalid Ibnu al-Rashid yang seorang Khalif Khorasan karena ingin balas dendam gara - gara Khalid ngebunuh Shiva, sahabatnya Shazi. Tapi Shazi terus tahu kalau Khalid ternyata ga seburuk yang dia kira. Oke dari ini saja udah tipikal ceritanya, lol. Cuman gue teruskan baca karena pingin tahu kenapa Khalid ngebunuh istri - istri sebelum Shazi. Kalau di Kisah 1001 Malam yang asli, Syah Razar melakukan itu karena sakit hati, nah apakah di buku ini juga sama? Tentunya ya harus baca bukunya sampai akhir buat tahu.

Bagi gue, The Wrath and the Dawn ini lebih fokus romance ketimbang fantasynya. Lho Ren, kan kamu penggemar berat romance? Oh ya jelas, tapi gue merasa romance di buku ini kayak mixed signal. Renee Ahdieh mungkin bingung, mau bikin romansa yang slow burn atau yang insta-lust sekalian. Gue sendiri melihat kayaknya Ahdieh lebih fokus ke karakterisasi Khalid yang type strong, silent dan tortured. Arketipe tortured, brooding, mysterious dan "I'm not worthy of your love!" -nya itu DAPAT banget. Tapi gue ga bisa bilang hal yang sama buat Shazi. Buat cewek yang keras kepala dan pengen balas dendam sama Khalid, yang gue baca cuma "WOE is ME!", alias galau mulu si Shazi. Di satu sisi ingin ngebunuh Khalid, tapi disisi lain "aduh, Khalid mau nyium gue ga ya??". All happen in the 2nd (or 3rd day, I forgot, lol) day! Baru awal - awal! Jadi ini mau dibikin cinta bak mie instan atau yang slow burn deh?? Padahal dari segi Khalidnya sendiri udah mayan oke tapi dari Shazi gue mikir ini anak kenapa??

Gue bukan penggemar love triangle, tapi ada love triangle yang bisa ditulis dengan bagus. Ngebaca salah satu love interest Shazi di buku ini yaitu Tariq gue malah geli sendiri. Plus kesal juga sama Shazi. Gue ga masalahin misal Shazi masih ada perasaan sama Tariq dan nyium cinta pertamanya kalau Shazi sama Khalid misal masih tunangan atau penjajakan dulu. Ya selama janur kuning belum melengkung yekan? Tapi ini kan Shazi sama Khalid SUDAH nikah! Call me old fashioned, but, Shazi, loe tuh dah jadi permaisurinya Khalid tapi masih mau aja dicium Tariq! Wallahi, we are finished! Gue akan lebih menghargai kalau si Shazi pas mau dicium nolak lah atau gimana gitu, toh pas itu juga udah ketahuan kalau Shazi aslinya ada hati sama Khalid. Tapi diem - diem bae pas dikokop Tariq, ya gue juga jadi kesel bacanya lah hahaha. Tariq sendiri sering mencibir ke Khalid dan bilang Khalid itu raja bocah, tapi kelakuannya malah lebih bocah daripada Khalid. Kaca mana mas kaca???

Bagian politiknya sendiri sih ga terlalu banyak ya dan bahkan fantasynya pun termasuk yang sedikit kalau dibandingkan sama misalnya trilogy Daevabad yang juga sama - sama memakai kisah 1001 Malam. Gue mayan suka sama dongeng yang dituturkan sama Shazi, cuma sayangnya ga banyak. Ada salah satu dongeng yang lucu juga karena Shazi menuturkan kisah Bluebeard tapi ala Middle East. Wicis, cerita Bluebeard sendiri sebenarnya dari Prancis dan terinspirasi dari kisah Gilles de Rais walau ada study yang menyatakan kalau kisah Bluebeard memang ada kesamaan dengan kisah 1001 Malam yang asli yaitu di bagian suami yang ngebunuh istri - istrinya. Terjemahannya sendiri oke, agak kaku dikit tapi masih bisa dinikmati. Ada glossarium juga di belakangnya walau gue merasa beberapa istilah itu cuma kayak tempelan biar ceritanya berasa ada di timur tengah. Gue suka sama persahabatan Shazi dan Despina, juga dengan Jalal, Kapten Pengawalnya Khalid. Meski gue ga terlalu suka awal kisah romansa Khalid dan Shazi, pas mendekati akhir cukup ditulis dengan bagus.

Endingnya sendiri berakhir ngegantung dan dilanjutkan di The Rose and the Dagger. Gue merasa karena ini karya debut, maka The Wrath and the Dawn emang banyak kurangnya. Tapi buku ini ga buruk meski menurut gue juga ga wow banget. Gue berharap meski di buku pertama porsi romancenya lebih dominan, di buku kedua akan balance antara aspek fantasy dan romancenya. Apalagi melihat Shazi kayaknya punya sedikit sihir di dalam dirinya yang ga terlalu dieksplor di buku ini dan ending buku pertama yang menyiratkan kalau akan ada masalah besar yang mengancam Khorasan dan juga Khalid.

Content Warnings

Crooked House - Buku Catatan Josephine by Agatha Christie

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mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Dengan ini gue nobatkan Crooked House sebagai salah satu buku PALING stress yang gue baca tahun 2024

Dari halaman awal, the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha Christie bilang kalau Crooked House ini adalah salah satu buku favoritnya yang pernah dia tulis. Udah penasaran aja kan, emang kayak gimana sampai jadi favorit. Sekilas baca, gue langsung paham "Oh, jadi Knives Out salah satu idenya pasti dari buku ini." Gimana tidak, premis dasar Crooked House itu banyak dipake Knives Out. Mulai dari keluarga kaya raya tapi disfungsional, kematian patriach keluarga Leonides yang diakibatkan suntikan dari botol berisi racun dan orang asing selain keluarga yang menjadi detektif meski kalau di Crooked House ini detektifnya dadakan.

Charles Hayward cinta mati (banget) sama Sophia Leonides dan ingin menikahi gadis itu. Tapi Sophia baru saja berduka karena sang kakek, Aristides tewas setelah disuntik cairan dari botol yang harusnya berisi insulin. Kecurigaan diarahkan sama janda Aristides, Brenda yang usianya 50 tahun lebih muda dari Aristides, dan Laurence, guru yang disinyalir adalah kekasih gelap Brenda. Semua anggota keluarga Aristides ga ada yang suka Brenda, jadi wajar lah Brenda dituduh. Tapi, setelah tahu ada warisan yang gede banget dari almarhum, beberapa orang jadi punya motif untuk membunuh! Charles pun diminta ayahnya yang bagian dari Scotland Yard untuk menyelidiki kematian Aristides. Bantuan datang dari cucu Aristides, Josephine yang baru berumur 12 tahun tapi bilang ke Charles kalau dia bisa menduga siapa pelakunya.

Buku ini tipis yang ga sampai 300 halaman. Gue akuin beberapa bagian agak membosankan meski tetap mengundang pertanyaan, apa benar Brenda yang menyuntik Aristides dengan racun. Khas Agatha Christie, red herring lalu disebar. Gue sebagai pembaca diajak melihat dari sudut pandang Charles dinamika keluarga Leonides. Misteri tetap dijaga sampai saat menjelang akhir cerita gue cuma bisa bilang...

ASTAGA JADI DIA PELAKUNYAA!!!

Yup, didn't see it coming, wkwk. Gue akuin kalau Agatha Christie kali ini juga masih briliant, karena siapa yang akan menyangka. Charles sendiri padahal sudah dikasih kisi - kisi sama ayahnya terkait kebiasaan para pembunuh kayak gimana dan dia sendiri juga masih ga nyadar sampai akhir - akhir cerita. "Aha!!" momentnya emang dapat banget buat buku Crooked House ini. Gue rasa ada karakterisasi dari pembunuh yang membuat Charles melewatkan hal yang penting sehingga saat dihadapkan pada kenyataan hanya bisa tertegun. Kalau gue sendiri selain "pikachu shock face", gue juga kayak merasa sedih baca akhirnya. Kayak, motif pembunuhnya emang mungkin kayak hal sepele, tapi justru akibatnya sangat fatal. Pembunuhnya ga menganggap apa yang dilakukannya salah dan wajar - wajar saja. Menurut gue, ini tipe pembunuh yang paling membahayakan tapi juga menyedihkan untuk dibaca.

Applause sekali lagi buat Agatha Christie dan gue juga paham kenapa novel ini jadi salah satu buku favoritnya. Apalagi Agatha Christie bilang kalau dia having fun banget pas baca. Mungkin having fun karena bisa sekali lagi ngibulin pembacanya wkwkwk. Gue juga bersyukur karena ga kepo dengan baca halaman terakhir sehingga momen terungkapnya kebenaran tetap terjaga. Buku yang tipis, tapi dengan impact yang cukup besar, Crooked House atau yang diterjemahkan jadi Buku Catatan Josephine ini emang ga boleh dilewatkan.

Content Warnings

The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I plan to give The Cruel Dark maybe 3,5 stars, but then the truth regarding both Millicent and Callum come to the light and I'll be like "huh, that EXPLAIN things!", so I just up the rate into 4 stars. What? That's what I feel about the Cruel Dark, lol. And I like that the epilogue have some closure rather than left the story open to reader's interpretation. Don't worry, the story end in a happy note!

The Cruel Dark is Bea Northwick debut and I don't really remember, maybe I buy when it was on sale in Kobo. Now this title is only in KU, so I guess I'm lucky back then I give this book a chance and buy it. In the surface, The Cruel Dark have many gothic element that pretty apparent in the books with same genre. A lone woman with no other family member, an abandoned mansion, a enigmatic and charismatic (also brooding) hero, the head helper that seems cold and aloof and then the shadow (or maybe the ghost) of the hero's ex wife that maybe (or maybe not) killed by her own husband. Don't forget..the woman in white.

Millicent Foxboro or Millie come into Willowfield to assist Callum Hughes, a professor, with his research regarding Celtic mythology. Not only Willowfield is in a sorry state of mansion, Millie had been haunted not only by her murky pasts but also apparitions of woman in white. Callum himself is brooding and seems cold, but gradually he and Millie become close and they soon engulfed in their passion for each other. However, both characters also hide their own secret and what Callum did to his deceased wife, Mrs Hughes? Is it true that he killed her in a cold blood? And what is this ghost that Millie encountered in the Willowfield mansion? Is she part of the fae or something more sinister?

I admit Northwick can capture the gothic vibes of the Cruel Dark very well. The book also steamy, so it's a most welcome if you like to be shivering reading about ghost also want your story to be titillating, lel. However, the story pace can be too slow sometimes and I wonder what make Callum's attitude toward Millie change. Maybe because he amused to see Millie didn't back down from his harsh remark and constantly challenge him? Their first tryst can be sketchy at first because Callum is Millie's employer, so their power dynamic can be unbalance. But, with the story flow and like I said, when the truth come out, all will end well. Yeah, trust me!! I like that Northwick manage to write the mystery tightly will reveal it a bit by little bit so I can's help to turning the page. And to said that I'm satisfied with how the story unraveled is an understatement. I also like the touch of Celtic mythology into the book and wondering if the woman in white that Millie encountered is a bean sidhe. The sex also well written and I really love that Millie didn't shy away from her sexuality and like to take initiative when it comes to bedsport. Didn't help that Callum have his own dirty talk, heh!

I think if you like a gothic historical romance set in Roaring Twenties but also in the time of Prohibition (but alas, the Prohibition vibes is not that much), you can put The Cruel Dark into one of your to be read. Millie might be tortured with her pasts but she is not a simpering lady and manage to hold her ground with Callum. Since this book told from Millie's first PoV, sometime I wondering what Callum think about Millie. Apparently, Northwick already release "Lover", a companion novella to The Cruel Dark that written entirely from Callum's PoV and better to be read after you finish The Cruel Dark. This book is surely can't be missed!

Content Warnings

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Revenge is, indeed, a dish best served cold.

Before I write my review, I suggest you to read the TW/CW first because some of the book contents can be too triggering for some.

Reading The Guest List because I need to catch up with my GR thematic Reading Challenge (beta version, only in Android app) and the choice didn't disappoint. I also buy the ebook when it was on sale, and again, a money well spent. Many compared The Guest List with "And Then There Were None" and "Murder on Orient Express". Both are two of Agatha Christie's classics and also well loved. The marketing itself can be pretty bold to compare Lucy Foley with the Queen of Crime but I guess the comparison is not fall far from the mark. The bit about Murder on the Orient Express is halfway true if I compared the ending, but The Guest List kinda can catch the vibes of strange and isolated island with ensemble cast that have so much secrets between them that And Then There Were None have. And this is from me who always put And Then There Were None in top of my mystery recommendation lists.

Many reviews also state that the book is slow pace, but I digress. I feel that the pace actually was mid to fast. The slow pace maybe because so many point of views to be told? The Guest List have 5 PoV (and another PoV added near the end) from 5 person. Aoife, the wedding planner and also the owner of the Folly, the castle in Inis an Amplora or Cormorant Island. Then, Hannah, the plus one, she is Charlie's wife and Charlie is the bride's best friend. Another is Johnno, the groom best man and Olivia, the bridesmaid, also the bride's half sister. And the last PoV belong to Jules, the bride. This is her dream wedding, her soon to be husband, Will, is the star of survival reality show and she know that their marriage already decide by fate although Jules and Will dated only in months. She will have the best wedding ever, although this little note that warn her to not marry Will always nagging her mind. Why, indeed? There are chapters called Wedding Night that told entirely from 3rd PoV and that's what make this book interesting. A murder was happen. But, who is the victim? Who is the culprit? Why murder them in the first place?

With past and presents entangled, the event that happen in The Guest List actually only happen in 2 days maximum. One day before the wedding and the day when the wedding happen. While Foley write 5 PoV, all this PoV actually happen in almost the same time while some of them kinda reminiscing their pasts reveal one or two shocking truth that finally shed some light into a person of interest. I won't tell that much since I think the spoiler can be hard to avoid, but the victim deserve their fate. The culprit is not who I think at first and I amend that after all that build up from the first part the ending feel flat. There's little closure, hence why I didn't give this a full 5 stars. I want total closure, dammit. From all the PoV, I connected the most with Hannah and Olivia. Especially Hannah, I can feel her struggle as a Mom of two and how she feel that her marriage to Charlie is kinda fizzling the passion barely there. The closure that I want is

to see Hannah bitchslapped Jules. HARD. I don't care with what happen to Jules in the end or when she finally understand what Olivia already endured, but what Jules and Charlie did left me bitter in the end. I really hope that Hannah will divorce Charlie immediately after the wedding end. I can't blame Hannah to feel attracted to Will in the first place because beside an actor, Will also have his charms. But Hannah never did once cheated on Charlie, and what that pitiful excuse of husband did? Gawd, I really want to punch Charlie in the face and I really want Hannah to also punch Jules to the face, consequences be damned!

.

The Guest List deal with the darker nature of human and it pretty much apparent from Will, Johnno and their pack of fratboys from their boarding school era. The wedding (and alcohol) bring the worse from them. I really feel this sick feeling to my stomach reading their wrongdoings and how they feel like their past deeds just a prank with they constantly brush off their bullying with "boys will be boys." Foley herself write in the interview in the back of the book with how she want to write characters with some past that explain why they behave like that, but I feel conflicted. I guess that also one of the book's weakness with how convenient some of the culprits's motives seems aligned with the victims's past deeds. I guess, maybe because Foley want to give them all motive to kill in order to bring some of the red herrings. However,

while I already guess that the man that Olivia dated was Will, the connection between Hannah's sister, Alice to Will seems like happen because of the author write it? And also Aoife too? For Johnno, I can understand that he got the most beef with Will because they are friends from their boarding school era. Jules's motive because she was humiliated by Will because of his connection to Olivia, I can accept that. But Hannah and Aoife's reasons feel pretty much too convenience!

. Too put it simply, I agree with my friend because I want what happen in Murder on the Orient Express will happen too in The Guest List. But, alas.

Still, I feel The Guest List deserve it winnings despite some its flaws and weakness. The comparison of this book with not only one but two of Agatha Christie's beloved classing maybe can be too much, but I admit that I enjoy reading the Guest List although the end feels a little bit anti climax. The female rages was well written. The first PoV actually work wonders because I can feel connected to all the PoV except Jules, lel. Yeah, I know Jules have parent issues and perfectionist, but her PoV is the least favorite of mine. I prefer Hannah and Olivia, although Olivia's PoV can be too depressing and nauseating to read. Poor Johnno, though. But eh, he also kinda deserve it in the end. Aoife's voice provide some of history behind Inis an Amplora history and how she manage to hold a wedding in professional manner while hiding some secrets of her own. Truly, this book left me want to turn page after page, make me hold my breath and in the end, shouting to the victim with "yeah, you deserve it after all you've done."

Recommended!

Content Warnings

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop - Selamat Datang di Toko Buku Hyunam-Dong by Hwang Bo-Reum

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emotional inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Buku yang buat gue bimbang dalam kasih rating. Di satu sisi gue suka sama pendekatan authornya terkait seluk beluk toko buku dan segala macamnya. Di sisi lain, gue merasa kurang terkoneksi dengan Yeong-ju dan orang - orang di sekitarnya. Apa ini karena gue baca terjemahan versi Indonya? Apa kalau baca yg versi terjemahan bahasa Inggris, gue akan merasakan hal yang berbeda?

Welcome to Hyunam-dong Bookshop atau Selamat Datang di Toko Buku Hyunam-dong adalah K-Lit ketiga yang gue baca. Selama ini belum ada K-Lit yang gue rate lebih dari 3,5 dan apa ini artinya gue lebih cocok sama J-lit? Baca Hyunam-dong Bookshop sedikit banyak mengingatkan gue pada School Nurse Ahn-Eunyong tapi lebih pada timeline yang non linear. Eniwei, timeline non linear buku ini cuma awal - awal saja karena selanjutnya timelinenya mulai rapi. Meski tokoh utamanya adalah Yeong-ju (yang typo di blurb bukunya jadi Young Joo, tapi Hyunam-dong Bookshop ga cuma menceritakan tentang dia saja. Ada Min-joon, barista dengan krisis aktualisasi diri terkait pekerjaan, Min-cheol, si anak SMA yang galau mau lanjut kuliah atau ngga dan ibunya yang akhirnya tahu juga siapa namanya selain Ibu Min-Cheol yaitu Hee-Ju. Ada juga Jimmy, pemilik Goat Bean yang juga kawan Yeong-ju dan bermasalah dengan suaminya. Jung-seo, seorang wanita muda yang hobi bermeditasi sambil merajut untuk mengatur emosi dan amarahnya. Kemudian ada penulis Hyun Seung-woo yang ahli dalam membuat kalimat baik yang nantinya perlahan akan dekat juga sama Yeong-ju.

Gue paham kenapa buku ini bisa jadi comfort book bagi beberapa orang, tapi terus terang gue ga merasakan hal itu. Beberapa hal yang dibahas di buku ini cukup menggelitik utamanya terkait dengan burn out akibat pekerjaan atau bagaimana menghadapi orang serta lingkungan yang toxic. Kekurangannya menurut gue karena ada beberapa bab yang jadi kurang fokus dan terlalu filosofis untuk gue. Bab - bab favorit gue tentunya tentang bagaiman Yeong-ju menjalankan bisnis toko bukunya. Banyak hal - hal menarik yang bisa gue amati dan bisa dijadikan masukan terkait dengan kelancaran dalam berbisnis toko buku tanpa terlalu banyak bahasa bisnis. Gue merasa Yeong-ju juga cukup idealis seperti keputusannya untuk tidak menjual buku best seller dengan harapan buku yang ada di toko bukunya lebih bervariasi. Tidak cuma dari segi buku, karena Hyunam-dong Bookshop ini juga sekalian cafe, maka ada beberapa bahasan tentang kopi dan jenis - jenisnya. Buku dan kopi, emang kombinasi yang ga pernah salah meski gue aslinya ga suka minum kopi, hehehe. Acara - acara yang dilakukan Yeong-ju di toko buku juga menarik, misalkan ada acara klub buku atau bedah buku bersama penulisnya. Yeong-ju juga aktif dalam sosial media, suatu hal yang gue rasa cukup unik mengingat semua sosmed dia handle sendiri. Suatu hal yang luar biasa dan gue salut dengan kerajinan Yeong-ju dalam menjalankan bisnis bukunya. Gue juga suka sama personal developmentnya Yeong-ju, dimana awalnya dia kelihatan kayak baik - baik saja tapi ternyata masa lalunya cukup pelik sampai jadi pemantik dia punya toko buku.

Kekurangannya, mungkin seperti yang gue utarakan di awal, apa karena terjemahannya? Beberapa transisi antara dialog dan narasi kurang mulus. Pun karena diceritakan dari sudut pandang orang ketiga serba tahu, kurang terasa emosi beberapa tokohnya, kecuali untuk Yeong-ju atau Min-joon. Gue juga kurang paham sama penamaan orang Korea sehingga sering salah kira gender tokohnya, dimana gue kira Jimmy itu awalnya cowok tapi ternyata aslinya tuh cewek! Beberapa bagian buku ini emang kayak berasa buku motivasi untuk kehidupan sampai gue merasa ini apa buku self-development tapi dalam bentuk fiksi, lel. Meski begitu, bagian yang gue suka saat interview Yeong-ju dengan salah satu penulis dimana wajar saja kalau tidak mengingat buku yang kita baca tapi setidaknya isi buku itu merasuk ke tubuh jadi diingat oleh tubuh. Nah, intinya ga usah galau kalau habis baca buku ga ingat apa - apa gaes, itu wajar aja.

Bukan buku yang akan gue baca dua kali, tapi menurut gue kalau kamu suka buku tentang toko buku yang juga bahas dinamika tokoh - tokohnya maka Welcome to Hyunam-dong Bookshop bisa dicoba. Apalagi kalau butuh self-healing utamanya yang ada hubungannya sama burn out entah itu karena pekerjaan atau malah hubungan yang kurang mulus dengan sesama manusia misalnya.

Content Warnings

Surat Kematian - Death Notice by Zhou Haohui

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Selama ini untuk karya penulis dari Asia Timur, gue lebih banyak baca karya dari author Jepang atau Korea. Surat Kematian atau Death Notice bisa dibilang karya author dari Negeri Tirai Bambu pertama yang gue baca. Buku ini juga hadiah dari Mba Desty untuk event Secret Santa di bulan Desember 2021 dan kemungkinan besar bakal terus gue anggurin seandainya ga ikutan RC Babat Timbunan dengan tema khusus "Hadiah". Tapi gue bersyukur juga memilih Surat Kematian ini karena menurut gue ceritanya emang SERU, meski ada beberapa hal yang gue kurang sreg makanya ga full ngasih 5 bintang :-)

Premis Surat Kematian sebenarnya udah awam digunakan. Bahkan gue teringat manga Death Note saat membaca buku ini, minus entitas supranatural tentunya. Menggabungkan element cold case dan serial killer manhunt, Kepolisian Kota A (gue baru tau kalau aslinya kotanya di Chengdu) harus berpacu dengan waktu untuk menyelamatkan orang - orang yang diincar seorang algojo yang menamakan dirinya Eumenides. Masalahnya, orang yang diincar itu pelaku kejahatan yang lolos karena sistem hukum di China yang dianggap oleh Eumenides lemah. Tapi ya nyawa kan tetap nyawa dan apa yang dilakukan Eumenides tentu menjadi perdebatan. Sejauh apa orang bisa bersikap main hakim sendiri meski apa yang dia lakukan itu dia anggap sebagai kebenaran?

Cara penuturan Death Notice emang sangat telling rather than showing, yang menurut gue mungkin ciri khas author dari China dan Jepang kayak gitu. Berat di narasi dan deskripsi. Gue ga ngerti apa karena dari terjemahannya meski infonya buku ini diterjemahkan langsung dari Mandarin, tapi gue merasa gaya nulisnya Zhou Haohui meski ceritanya seru, tapi berasa amatir. Banyak bagian - bagian yang menurut gue bisa dipangkas dan gaya tulis sudut pandang ketiga serba tahu ini juga jadi kayak semacam kelemahan buku ini. Gue mengamini beberapa review kalau ada beberapa hal yang janggal dan meski Luo Fei, salah satu polisi di buku ini, dibilang jenius, rasanya kejeniusannya gue agak merasa janggal, lol. Baca Luo Fei ini emang gue jadi keinget tokoh L di Death Note sih, sementara Eumenides itu si Light Yagami akan Kira. Bedanya, sampai akhir identitas Eumenides masih tertutup rapi.

Lho? Jadi ceritanya belum selesai? Gue selalu merasa kok buku ini agak - agak tipis ya ga sampai 400 halaman meski ukuran bukunya juga cukup gede dan ngebatin kenapa buku yang no 2 tebel banget sampai 600 halaman. Ending Surat Kematian sendiri ternyata di luar prediksi BMKG dan buku ini emang seperti sebuah pendahuluan yang disiapkan Haohui sebagai pembuka panggung perseteruan antara Eumenides dengan pihak Kepolisian, utamanya Luo Fei dan kapten Han Hao. Gue ngasih rating cukup tinggi karena tiga bab terakhir emang luar biasa tensi dan pacenya. Haohui cukup lihai dalam menyimpan misteri untuk kemudian membukanya satu persatu bak kulit bawang dengan sangat rapi. Bahwa Eumenides dan Luo Fei itu terhubung dan kepolisian ternyata ga sebersih yang kita kira. Cara Eumenides mengelabui Han Hao dan Luo Fei di akhir emang gue akuin luar biasa.

Meski begitu beberapa hal emang cukup janggal seperti misalnya

kasus Han Hao yang membuatnya diangkat jadi kepala Reserse Kriminal tapi temannya malah meninggal. Cara Haohui menjelaskan memang cukup aneh dan kurang bisa diterima dengan nalar. Lalu identitas asli Eumenides senior dan motivasinya menjadi Eumenides bikin gue merasa bimbang. Di sisi lain gue ngerti kenapa Eumenides senior ingin jadi vigilante demi membalaskan dendamnya tapi gue ga suka dengan cara dia mengorbankan orang, dalam hal ini kekasih Luo Fei, Meng Yun. Eumenides senior mau menghalalkan segala cara demi prinsipnya dan gue mikir "duh, ini orang kayaknya delusional". Selain itu cara Eumenides junior aka pelanjut Eumenides yang senior, itu juga gue masih bertanya - tanya. Sejenius apa Eumenides kedua? Kenapa dia bisa menebak dan mempermainkan polisi dan bahkan gimana caranya dia tahu strategi polisi? Apakah Eumenides kedua ini hacker handal yang bahkan lebih handal kemampuan programmernya ketimbang Zeng Rihua yang ahli IT di polisi? Terus terang masih banyak yang perlu dipertanyakan dari si Eumenides kedua ini

. Walau dengan beberapa kejanggalan itu dan mungkin premis yang udah sering dipakai, gue merasa Surat Kematian ini punya beberapa hal yang bisa dijadikan bahan diskusi. Seperti sistem keadilan di China yang ternyata toh ya sama aja dengan Indo, bisa dikorupsi dan orang yang harusnya diadili malah melenggang bebas. Membuat gue bertanya - tanya, simbol Lady Justice itu ditutup matanya mungkin bisa diinterpretasikan bahwa hukum itu tidak pandang bulu. Tapi gue juga merasa dengan mata yang ditutup, hukum pun seolah mengalihkan pandangan dari apa yang benar dan salah. Eumenides sendiri berkata kalau orang berbuat jahat karena terkadang mereka tidak punya pilihan? Tapi gue sendiri bisa berdebat tentang sistem main hakim sendirinya Eumenides ini apakah emang bisa diterima sesuai dengan hukum yang berlaku?

Cerita Surat Kematian berlanjut ke buku dua yang diberi judul Takdir. Bukunya juga sudah diterjemahkan dan memang lebih tebal, membuat gue jadi penasaran langkah apa lagi yang Eumenides punya untuk berkelit dari Luo Fei dan kepolisian Kota A yang memburunya. Memang Surat Kematian ini ada beberapa kelemahan, tapi kalau suka thriller suspense dengan misteri yang ditulis secara rapi dan beberapa twist yang ga terduga (atau bisa diduga kalau udah kebanyakan baca genre sejenis), buku ini cukup gue rekomendasikan.

Content Warnings

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renpuspita's reviews 1356 reviews

renpuspita's reviews
1356 reviews