scarletshore's reviews
187 reviews

Giselle by Rikako Akiyoshi

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This is my second time reading Akiyoshi Rikako’s work, and my first time experiencing her writing in an Indonesian translation. I have to give kudos to the translator and publisher. I usually don’t enjoy books translated into Indonesian, but they did a great job with this one.

Since the book revolves heavily around ballet, I appreciated the footnotes provided for each ballet term mentioned. It made the reading experience smoother and more informative. The book is slow-paced with long chapters, but despite that, it’s a real page-turner. I found myself thoroughly enjoying it.

The plot twist was completely unpredictable, and the last 50 pages left me shocked multiple times. However, something about the ending irked me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it felt like something was missing. Initially, I thought the book leaned more towards horror than mystery or thriller, but after finishing it, I realized it’s not a horror story after all. Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend reading it.

Salvation of a Saint: A Detective Galileo Novel by Keigo Higashino

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This is my second time reading a book by Keigo Higashino, so I had quite high expectations going into it. I have to be honest, the first half of Salvation of A Saint was a bit confusing and even a little boring for me. It felt like the story was taking me to places that didn’t seem to contribute much to solving the case, which made it hard to stay engaged, especially with Detective Kusanagi's personal impressions about the main character. Those details felt really unnecessary.

However, when I reached around 70% of the book, I was amazed at how the story began to shed light on the murder case. Everything started to untangle, and the pace picked up significantly. The twist was truly unexpected, and it was executed brilliantly. It's the kind of twist that makes you rethink everything you’ve read up to that point, and I was really impressed by how it all came together.

Overall, I would give this book a 4.0 rating. While the second half of the book was excellent, the slow and somewhat disjointed first half prevented me from rating it any higher. Despite this, I still believe it’s a must-read for those who enjoy thriller and crime novels. 

The Village of Eight Graves by Seishi Yokomizo

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the third book by Seishi Yokomizo that I have read, and I had a feeling it would be good from the moment I read the prologue. The book grabs my attention right from the start. It’s a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you hold your breath or even scream as you read. There were parts that gave me goosebumps, showing Yokomizo's masterful storytelling and ability to evoke intense emotions.

As expected, the plot twist was truly unexpected. The narrative leads you in different directions, making the revelation all the more surprising. I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending, finding it both surprising and fitting. It’s rare to come across a thriller that not only grips you throughout but also leaves you feeling fulfilled at the end. Compared to the other two Yokomizo books I’ve read, this one stands out. It’s not just a thriller; it also weaves in elements of drama. 

Unlike the other books, this one doesn’t focus much on the detective work of Kindaichi Kosuke. Instead, it explores more into the main character’s perspective and thought processes. By exploring the main character’s mind, Yokomizo offers readers a different kind of suspense, one that is psychological and introspective. Whether you are a longtime fan of Yokomizo or new to his books, this one is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Assassination Classroom, Vol. 5 by Yūsei Matsui

5.0

Assassination Classroom, Vol. 4 by Yūsei Matsui

5.0

Diary of a Murderer: And Other Stories by Young-Ha Kim

3.0

The idea of each story is great, but the execution is meh. The only story that is good is the first chapter for me. It's not the kind of thriller that I love. I want to enjoy this book, but this book is so boring.

A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The premise of "A Magical Girl Retires" is unique and well executed. It's rare to find a fantasy book that's less than 200 pages, and this one really stood out in that regard. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded initially, capturing my interest from the start. 

However, I have to admit, the ending didn't quite meet my expectations. Something felt off about it—not because of the book's length, but because the conclusion left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, it's still worth a read if you're looking for a quick and engaging fantasy tale. Despite its ending, the book's originality and pacing make it an enjoyable experience.

Your Utopia: Stories by Bora Chung

3.25

While I had high hopes for "Your Utopia", I found it didn't quite resonate with me as strongly as "Cursed Bunny." Though it's not entirely fair to compare the two due to their different genres, I couldn't help but feel less captivated by this collection. Here are my thoughts on each story:

- The Center for Immortality Research (3.5/5)
The plot twist was interesting, but the story felt pretty flat and not very memorable.

- The End of the Voyage (4.5/5)
This one was really good, especially towards the end. The twist was unexpected and made the story great.

- A Very Ordinary Marriage (4.0/5)  
This story was wild. I thought the wife might be in a cult, but I was wrong. The scary parts, especially the bathroom scenes, were creepy.

- Maria, Gratia Plena (4.5/5)
I didn't get it at first, but the ending made everything clear. The story turned out to be quite powerful.

- Your Utopia (3.0/5)
This one is retty dull. It didn’t live up to the book's title for me.

- A Song for Sleep (3.75/5)
Weird but unique. The story was good and a bit sad, which made it interesting.

- Seed (2.0/5)
My least favorite. I found it boring.

- To Meet Her (2.5/5)
Had potential but wasn’t executed well. It didn’t leave a strong impression.

Overall, "Your Utopia" has some great moments but I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I hoped.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I believe every woman should read this book at least once in their lives, but be sure to check the trigger warnings first. I really enjoyed it and appreciated that the author conducted thorough research, even including citations and footnotes. The book sheds light on many important issues and experiences that women face, making it both eye-opening and relatable. I really, really want to give it 5 stars, but as a fellow woman, a few aspects of Kim Jiyoung's mindset bothered me. Some of her decisions and thoughts just didn't resonate with me. Additionally, the ending didn’t seem plausible to me, which left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. Despite these points, I would still highly recommend it.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.75

I have to say, I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. It's packed with emotions, making the story so much more engaging and relatable. The author does a fantastic job of showing different aspects of life, and the narrative is both hopeful and heartbreaking at times. What really stood out to me is how the book portrays bookworms. It highlights that everyone has unique reasons for reading and their own ways of collecting books. If you loved the first book, this one will definitely touch your heart even more.