Masha

Enjoyed it more than I expected. This convinces me to read more of Rebecca Ross books. I will continue with Divine Rivals since this supposed to be the foundation/prequel of the series.

DNF at 50%-ish, I tried to finish it because this + the sequel are one my bookclub June's read and everyone in the club seems to love it so much 💔

Yeah really sorry I can't, I just can't stand Raeve at all. It gets to the point that I wish I can cut her tongue or even her vocal chord because of her inability to stop being snarky for a moment and shut her mouth up. Why is her initial thought when seeing a man is cutting his genital? Even when that man is just simply existing 😭 I don't know maybe this type of FMC is just not for me. I found her insufferable, a very strereotypical edgelord. She is also the type that act first think later and that most of the time doesn't end well but hey no worries, the MMC exist to always get her out of trouble and clean her mess anyway.

Essie deserves better. Someone who actually, ACTUALLY care about her.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Raeve supposed to be an assassin? Isn't assassin supposed to be stealthy, silent, calculated, strategic, and careful? Isn't assassin supposed to kill their target quick and leave no mess? I don't know maybe my definition of assassin is outdated and today assassin just mean edgy murderer.

Still the world building is pretty great, I don't like the changing terms like day to dae, grandma to grandmah or grandpa to grandpah (wtf lmao) simply for the sake of making new words. But I must say I really like the elemental deities and the dragons. So, world building is probably the strongest aspect of the book. But sadly, it cannot be carried by horrible characters 💔

Sad I really want to like it, I really want to connect with the romantasy community and relate with people in the bookclub. But yeah I don't know, it's just not for me I guess. I don't understand the hype. Good title wasted on a not so good story.

I need a break from romantasy perhaps, I will look and pick up some classic epic fantasy in the meantime 🫠

Absolutely beautiful book, it's an actually good romantasy. Love is treated as something precious and powerful. The relationship between the characters are build with care and thought.

I will come back later and update this review since I need time to process and recover.

I won't deny that the writing is actually good, it actually makes me feel uncomfortable and filthy. The topic though... yeah, I like disturbing and challenging stuffs but this is too much for me dawg

Honestly, I consider this one of my favorite fantasy/cozy fantasy book. The plot is straightforward and simple but very well thought and fleshed out. The characters show growth and development throughout the book, showing that through hurdles and conflicts people can change for the better and accept themselves. You are rooting for all of them. Honestly, I felt good after finishing the book, it's a hopecore book.

Oof, okay, first I apologize for my English, I will try my best to deliver my thoughts and opinions on this book. To start, I like the premise, I'm a sucker for haunted house, Southeast Asian vibe that makes me feel nostalgic in a way and being a bisexual Southeast Asian, this book personally feels relatable. The only difference though I was raised on my homeland first then migrated for work, I can speak my language and have supportive parents. But Jade's case is not a rarity and I've met people with similar situations. Asian family dynamic is really... eh sometimes.

The first thing I notice is the house itself, it kinda representative of Jade. The house is full of anger, sadness, secrets and regret. The dad trying to fix the house no matter what is similar on how he tried to force Jade to accept him and repair their relationship. Colonialism is a relevant topic especially about historical houses. As for the colonialism part, in a way it's also related to both Jade and his dad. They both immigrated to USA and despite being Vietnamese by blood, the land, the people, their own family sees them as outsider, not Vietnamese enough and try to claim ownership of the land.

Now, sadly, I feel like the book has too many problems presented that the book starts to lose direction toward the end. Some parts feel unresolved and fall off. Though I see it as Jade's state of mind being a confused teenager in a search of her identities (sexual, ethnicity and cultural) and an immigrant. The colonialism is being pushed too much it starts to lose impact.

But, I look forward for more books from this author and I wish to see more Southeast Asian books, especially if they dealt with colonialism, folklore, family dynamics, and identities. It's nice that the author choose an underrated area of Vietnam instead of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh.

(copied and rewritten from my Fable review)

The least terrifying thing of this book is the creature. My God, this brand of traditional wives always make me feel unsettled. This book makes me feel like a cat in the corner high on alert.

Stay unhinged Uketsu. 

The book that solidifies Agustina Bazterrica as one of my favorite authors. 

Now everything makes sense.

The pretty cover and the tea magic system is what caught my interest, it's quite unique compared to most. The writing style to be simple but still engaging, story is quite straightforward, it's your typical YA fantasy, but still exciting enough to keep me hooked on. The characters, I don't feel much attachment to them, gues they need to be fleshed out more. But well, the book helps me get out of my current reading slump because of the accesible writing and story.

It's edgy, the shock starts in the beginning, but gradually weathered down due to the mc's constant reminder of his “flaw” and emo personality. It's well written though, so quite an enjoyable ride.

It's a good thing when you get emotionally invested in the book plot and characters, briliant and brutal.

While I generally enjoy everything and the book actually keeps me hooked up, Spoiler alert just in case to share my thoughts. I feel like the sudden change of theme is just so abrupt, I wasn't expecting that the facade would just drop within the first few chapters. But then again it's a fast paced novel so understandable.Of course there are instances where I question the protag's decision and way of thinking but on some ocassions I have to step back and think. I can think logically and be like “if that's me” because I'm not in that position. In reality, if I was in the same position as the protag I would have been reckles, hasty, and not thinking clearly as well. 

This book is probably one of the few productivity self-help book that I apply immediately into my daily lives and which I'm actually excited to implement when my next semester began again. The authors explained the system quite clearly with a little example and there's bo right and wrong way to implement it. It also helps you to finally find the joy and love in what you want or always wanted to do but due to work grinds or constant distractions you need to put it back.

While for me some actions are just too extreme (like deleting everything...) I can totally see the authors point. Though there's a flaw in the system, in which I believe they don't suit certain type of work/job environments. But who knows, maybe the core can still be applied, afterall the system is flexible and should be adapting to changes! 

Good for her

the horror is the realization that the suffering of the main character and that ending happen everyday anywhere in the world and even worse...

I stopped at the assault of the woman where a bottle is involved.  

What the fuck