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A review by nikolinaza
Salju Kyoto by Sara Aisha
5.0
Actual rating 4.5 stars
Nailah went to Japan to find his best friend, Badri. But when she found him, he was not the man he used to be. He has belonged to a dark underworld, a horrifying, sinister world of yakuza. But when Badri told Nailah to stay away, she met Arjuna, her savior but also another man who was probably a bit more dangerous than her bestfriend--a man whom she couldn't bring herself to escape from.
This book was on my wishlist since 2016-2017 after a friend recommended it to me. So if there's someone who used to own a bookstagram account under the username of @lavendragon, I want to let you know that I finally able to get my hands on this lovely book!
(Also big thanks to @book.bars for helping me having this.)
Pros:
1. The proper characters. Nailah had no idea on how to fight, nor she mastered any self-defense techniques, but she is one of the mentally strongest heroine I've ever encountered. Even when she was not the official leader of the pack, she didn't get overshadowed by the men. She's fierce, a real badass lioness, and she suits both her husband, bestfriends, and people around her so well.
Also, props to Cik Sara Aisha for not romanticizing the yakuzas and portraying them as a ultra-manly and cool people. Yes, their loyalty to each other and the gang is on an another level, but other than that? Nah, nah, I'm out.
2. The whole story itself. The writing is totally 100/100. Even most of this book consisted of romance, it was not cheesy (at least, unlike the books with the same trope I've read). And it has no love triangle trope between the female main character, male main character, and male lead character! I love how most of the characters are able to keep their love platonic.
3. The japanese ambience. Cik Sara Aisha knew well how to write them properly and simply, so I could truly imagine how the culture, place and organisations looked like.
4. The religious ambience. It was my first time reading a mixture of yakuza and islam. It was truly refreshing.
Cons:
1. The repetitive scenes. It was not boring nor annoying, but I think we've got enough to see Arjuna-Nailah-Badri debated about the consequences of their choices....
Also, I want Sato to be, like, my boyfriend or something? He's cute.
If I had the chance, I wouldn't doubt to get another book by this author.
Nailah went to Japan to find his best friend, Badri. But when she found him, he was not the man he used to be. He has belonged to a dark underworld, a horrifying, sinister world of yakuza. But when Badri told Nailah to stay away, she met Arjuna, her savior but also another man who was probably a bit more dangerous than her bestfriend--a man whom she couldn't bring herself to escape from.
This book was on my wishlist since 2016-2017 after a friend recommended it to me. So if there's someone who used to own a bookstagram account under the username of @lavendragon, I want to let you know that I finally able to get my hands on this lovely book!
(Also big thanks to @book.bars for helping me having this.)
Pros:
1. The proper characters. Nailah had no idea on how to fight, nor she mastered any self-defense techniques, but she is one of the mentally strongest heroine I've ever encountered. Even when she was not the official leader of the pack, she didn't get overshadowed by the men. She's fierce, a real badass lioness, and she suits both her husband, bestfriends, and people around her so well.
Also, props to Cik Sara Aisha for not romanticizing the yakuzas and portraying them as a ultra-manly and cool people. Yes, their loyalty to each other and the gang is on an another level, but other than that? Nah, nah, I'm out.
2. The whole story itself. The writing is totally 100/100. Even most of this book consisted of romance, it was not cheesy (at least, unlike the books with the same trope I've read). And it has no love triangle trope between the female main character, male main character, and male lead character! I love how most of the characters are able to keep their love platonic.
3. The japanese ambience. Cik Sara Aisha knew well how to write them properly and simply, so I could truly imagine how the culture, place and organisations looked like.
4. The religious ambience. It was my first time reading a mixture of yakuza and islam. It was truly refreshing.
Cons:
1. The repetitive scenes. It was not boring nor annoying, but I think we've got enough to see Arjuna-Nailah-Badri debated about the consequences of their choices....
Also, I want Sato to be, like, my boyfriend or something? He's cute.
If I had the chance, I wouldn't doubt to get another book by this author.