Scan barcode
fazila's reviews
307 reviews
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
5.0
I decided to check out Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens after hearing so many raving reviews about it. The synopsis piqued my curiosity big-time that, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I know I am late to the fan-fest for Where The Crawdads Sing, but better late than never right? I thought the book is historical fiction with some mystery, so I was pleasantly surprised to find elements of romance in it. This book totally blew my mind. I adored this story of Kya's perseverance, survival and independence so much. It is hands down one of my favorite coming-of-age stories so far.
The novel is the survival story of a girl named Kya who lives in the Marsh in Northern California. Kya's mother abruptly leaves her with her father and siblings one morning to never come back. She finds herself with her siblings and a drunk and an abusive father at the shack. Her older siblings grow tired of their father's abuse and leave Kya and her older brother Jodie at home. She was relieved when Jodie decided to stay with her and not walk away with others. But Kya's relief is short-lived when Jodie also pack up to take his leave. She is heartbroken when she realizes none of her family wanted or asked her to go with them. She felt abandoned and devastated. She decides to not let the loss of her loved ones bring her down. She refuses to let the pain consume her and pushes forward with determination.
Young Kya at the age of six is left alone with her father to fend for herself. She decides to make the best out of her situation by taking care of the house and taking over all of her mother's duties without complaint. We can see her strength as a young girl in the way she deals with the difficulties life threw at her. Kya refuses to back down and let her struggles dampen her spirits.
We see the fight of a young child against the curve balls life threw at her. It is very inspiring to see Kya through her patience and hard work to try winning her father's attention and love. Kya and her father's relationship evolves into a unique bond that makes us want to cheer her on as she continues her journey.
Kya's bond with Jumpin' and Mabel is unique and precious. Jumpin' and his wife Mabel becomes protective of her as she grows older offering her basic necessities to being her place of comfort. Kya and Jumpin's relationship throughout the book is beautiful. We see Jumpin' wanting to support her despite them not having much for themselves.
Kya takes in the world around her and uses it to her advantage by applying the things her mother and Jodie taught her. Her hunger for knowledge is such a prevalent theme throughout the book. Despite her lack of education, she uses everything the marsh, her home has to offer to elevate herself in knowledge. She learns about different organisms, insects, and plant-life by merely observing them. We see Kya as a student with a thirst for knowledge.
Kya and Tate's relationship develops through their mutual love for the marsh and the organisms that inhabit it. Kya is an excellent student with a keen eye for detail. Her artistic abilities are also improving along with her mastery of the marsh. Delia Owens takes us through their beautiful and innocent first love and Kya's first heartbreak.
Kya shows us the journey of her heartbreak and how she dealt with love and loss of love. Life's cruelty didn't weaken her. The way she channeled her energy into learning more and grow as an individual was inspiring to say the least.
Chase Andrews, The town's Golden boy meets the marsh girl. He is intrigued by her and decides to woo her. Chase Andrews and Kya's relationship starts off rocky and moves on to become more serious. The best way to describe their relationship is to say it's complicated. Kya wants to fill the void Tate left but is not willing to sacrifice her heart. She finds herself warming up to Chase's advances. Chase's goal was to be the first to sleep with the marsh girl and score points among his friends. We see a manipulative and a cocky guy trying to sway her to make decisions that favor him and only him. Reality smacks Kya in the face when she least expects it. Her life with Chase is not what she envisioned. She finds herself abandoned and left on her own yet again.
Kya breaks things off with Chase and decides not to put herself up for more pain. She decides to brave the world by herself. She works diligently documenting the marsh life and has made a lot of progress in recording them. Tate's re-entry into her life leaves her with uncertainty and joy at the same time. She is encouraged by Tate to submit her work to publishers. Her work on the marsh life is one of its kind and gets the recognition it deserves. We see her life improving from there on due to her hard work and dedication.
Chase is found dead in the swamp. Foul play is suspected. Kya is the primary suspect and has to go through the worst time of her life. The trial was grueling and it left her more closed off from the community than ever. She doesn't want anything to do with the community that shunned her. Kya wants to be left alone and not be pulled into the center of all the chaos.
Kya's journey is undeniably a memorable experience. Delia Owens did a brilliant job in portraying the marsh, intricacies of the wildlife with so much detail that you can picture them vividly in your mind. I believe her expertise as a Zoologist is reflected masterfully in the book. This book was an absolute gem to read and experience.
I am recommending this book to all of you people out there who love a good coming-of -story. If you love nature and everything it has to offer, then this book is for you.
Kya is a fiercely independent character who faced challenges on her own. She is strong, smart and everything a female lead should be. I loved that she always had this drive to do more, learn more. I connected with her character so much.
There were parts in the story that felt unrealistic. The way she dealt with the aspect of food, clothing, and finances at her age was not that convincing. The fact that Kya never encountered any health problems not even once despite living in the marsh seems to be a bit unreal. But, it's a fiction novel and we can certainly allow some leniency on that.
There were a lot of time-jumps in this book. I found it to be interesting and made me pay attention to different times in the book. Kya's every stage in life and her growth overall as a person is very well written. A perfect blend of mystery and romance made this coming-of-age story fascinating to me. I believe this book is worth the hype.
The novel is the survival story of a girl named Kya who lives in the Marsh in Northern California. Kya's mother abruptly leaves her with her father and siblings one morning to never come back. She finds herself with her siblings and a drunk and an abusive father at the shack. Her older siblings grow tired of their father's abuse and leave Kya and her older brother Jodie at home. She was relieved when Jodie decided to stay with her and not walk away with others. But Kya's relief is short-lived when Jodie also pack up to take his leave. She is heartbroken when she realizes none of her family wanted or asked her to go with them. She felt abandoned and devastated. She decides to not let the loss of her loved ones bring her down. She refuses to let the pain consume her and pushes forward with determination.
Young Kya at the age of six is left alone with her father to fend for herself. She decides to make the best out of her situation by taking care of the house and taking over all of her mother's duties without complaint. We can see her strength as a young girl in the way she deals with the difficulties life threw at her. Kya refuses to back down and let her struggles dampen her spirits.
We see the fight of a young child against the curve balls life threw at her. It is very inspiring to see Kya through her patience and hard work to try winning her father's attention and love. Kya and her father's relationship evolves into a unique bond that makes us want to cheer her on as she continues her journey.
Kya's bond with Jumpin' and Mabel is unique and precious. Jumpin' and his wife Mabel becomes protective of her as she grows older offering her basic necessities to being her place of comfort. Kya and Jumpin's relationship throughout the book is beautiful. We see Jumpin' wanting to support her despite them not having much for themselves.
Kya takes in the world around her and uses it to her advantage by applying the things her mother and Jodie taught her. Her hunger for knowledge is such a prevalent theme throughout the book. Despite her lack of education, she uses everything the marsh, her home has to offer to elevate herself in knowledge. She learns about different organisms, insects, and plant-life by merely observing them. We see Kya as a student with a thirst for knowledge.
Kya and Tate's relationship develops through their mutual love for the marsh and the organisms that inhabit it. Kya is an excellent student with a keen eye for detail. Her artistic abilities are also improving along with her mastery of the marsh. Delia Owens takes us through their beautiful and innocent first love and Kya's first heartbreak.
Kya shows us the journey of her heartbreak and how she dealt with love and loss of love. Life's cruelty didn't weaken her. The way she channeled her energy into learning more and grow as an individual was inspiring to say the least.
Chase Andrews, The town's Golden boy meets the marsh girl. He is intrigued by her and decides to woo her. Chase Andrews and Kya's relationship starts off rocky and moves on to become more serious. The best way to describe their relationship is to say it's complicated. Kya wants to fill the void Tate left but is not willing to sacrifice her heart. She finds herself warming up to Chase's advances. Chase's goal was to be the first to sleep with the marsh girl and score points among his friends. We see a manipulative and a cocky guy trying to sway her to make decisions that favor him and only him. Reality smacks Kya in the face when she least expects it. Her life with Chase is not what she envisioned. She finds herself abandoned and left on her own yet again.
Kya breaks things off with Chase and decides not to put herself up for more pain. She decides to brave the world by herself. She works diligently documenting the marsh life and has made a lot of progress in recording them. Tate's re-entry into her life leaves her with uncertainty and joy at the same time. She is encouraged by Tate to submit her work to publishers. Her work on the marsh life is one of its kind and gets the recognition it deserves. We see her life improving from there on due to her hard work and dedication.
Chase is found dead in the swamp. Foul play is suspected. Kya is the primary suspect and has to go through the worst time of her life. The trial was grueling and it left her more closed off from the community than ever. She doesn't want anything to do with the community that shunned her. Kya wants to be left alone and not be pulled into the center of all the chaos.
Kya's journey is undeniably a memorable experience. Delia Owens did a brilliant job in portraying the marsh, intricacies of the wildlife with so much detail that you can picture them vividly in your mind. I believe her expertise as a Zoologist is reflected masterfully in the book. This book was an absolute gem to read and experience.
I am recommending this book to all of you people out there who love a good coming-of -story. If you love nature and everything it has to offer, then this book is for you.
Kya is a fiercely independent character who faced challenges on her own. She is strong, smart and everything a female lead should be. I loved that she always had this drive to do more, learn more. I connected with her character so much.
There were parts in the story that felt unrealistic. The way she dealt with the aspect of food, clothing, and finances at her age was not that convincing. The fact that Kya never encountered any health problems not even once despite living in the marsh seems to be a bit unreal. But, it's a fiction novel and we can certainly allow some leniency on that.
There were a lot of time-jumps in this book. I found it to be interesting and made me pay attention to different times in the book. Kya's every stage in life and her growth overall as a person is very well written. A perfect blend of mystery and romance made this coming-of-age story fascinating to me. I believe this book is worth the hype.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
4.0
FBRC REVIEW :
Let's get to the review, shall we? So the first time I read The Rosie Project is in 2013. I haven't read the other books in this series. I wanted to read them all so, I thought this was the best time to read it again. I remember the book to be an engaging and entertaining read. I still felt the same this time around as well. The book left me feeling happy. It was funny, well written and charming.
The story is said from Don Tillman's perspective. He is special in his own way. I found his character to be sweet, and endearing despite his oddities. Don is a 40-year-old Assistant professor of genetics, hasn't gone beyond the first date with a woman, can count on 1 hand the number of friends he has. He is aware of his differences and has come to terms with the fact that he is wired differently than most humans. He knows he is different from others and has no qualms in making a fool of himself around others. Even though the author through some characters alludes to Don having Asperger's it's neither confirmed nor denied in this book. He is someone who is socially inept and has rigid schedules he designs to make his life easier. We see him as someone who is strictly driven by logic and his need to make his life comfortable and safe. Don is brave, smart and unique. I absolutely loved his character. He is funny without meaning to be.
Don is determined to find a partner in his life through a questionnaire he carefully outlines to highlight his interest and preferences. He dubbed his quest for a wife as The Wife Project. He is helped by his friend Gene and his wife Claudia whom Don considers to be close friends. We get a glimpse of his social awkwardness in his interactions with them. Their love for him is visible and we can see that they are concerned about his happiness.
Enter Rosie, the Ph.D. psychology student who in her own words is fucked up because of her relationship with her father Phil. She is beautiful, strong and a little broken. She gets involved with Don due to a misunderstanding. Her entry brings a lot of chaos into Don's life. She completely destroys his schedules and his routine and he still enjoys her company immensely. This makes Don confused and overwhelmed by the emotions Rosie seems to invoke in him. To him, Rosie is the most unsuitable person for The Wife Project. She doesn't check most of the boxes on his list, yet the happiest moments in his life is always connected to her.
I don't know for sure if I love Rosie as much, because we don't hear much of her story besides the fact that she is on a search for her biological dad and has daddy issues. I didn't understand exactly how her father was neglectful or why she is so troubled and not getting along with Phil. I love the fact that she brings out a side of Don Tillman which is not otherwise visible. This is the perfect example of the opposite attracts.
Don's relationship with Daphne and how he manages that bond is genuinely one of the sweetest things I have seen. He is caring, empathetic and caters to her even after her condition deteriorates. The author shows us that Don is not without love or empathy, he just lacks the necessary social skills and training to be what is considered "NORMAL" in society.
Gene is Don's friend and a fellow Professor, head of the Psychology Department at the University. I don't know how to explain to him, to be honest. I found him to be selfish, a jerk, and totally oblivious to his surroundings and people in it. He is someone who is completely out of touch with his reality.
The story is a fairy tale rooted in reality. I really liked it and very much enjoyed it. there were so many moments in this book that were downright witty and entertaining to envision. I would recommend it to everyone who loves romance with comedy sprinkled in. If you are in for a fun read and want a no-fuss, straight-forward funny novel, then this is the book for you.
MY THOUGHTS :
I loved this book, but I had a small problem that I wanted to talk about. There was this reference to 72 virgins in the book a little bit problematic. I understand that there were a few other instances where the religious beliefs were considered to be illogical in the book and the author made jokes about religious belief. Being a Muslim let me just say that the reference to the 72 virgins is misunderstood. The reward of women may be enticing to some men, to some it might be immense wealth, to some, it could be food, wine or anything that you desire the most. We don't know what could motivate someone to be the best of themselves. There are various references to numerous things that might be enticing to some, but not to others in the Holy Books. We don't live our lives in this world hoping to get the virgins in heaven. That is not the sole purpose. I see this line being used in media and movies. I am saddened that people don't take time to understand the meaning of it and not learn or understand the concept. We follow some strict rules to keep us from harming ourselves and others around us, it is also to discipline oneself. We abstain from a lot of things that may be normal to other people because we want the best for ourselves and those around us. Also, the joke about Mary mother of Jesus was also not something I liked. Because she is also one of the most prominent and influential woman personalities in our faith tradition. I dislike things like that.
Other than these minor problems I liked this book. I am hoping that the intention of the author was not to offend and so I will take it as such. I think authors need to keep in mind that when it comes to religion you need to be sensitive and open to understanding their perspectives and views even if it's worlds apart from your own.
Let's get to the review, shall we? So the first time I read The Rosie Project is in 2013. I haven't read the other books in this series. I wanted to read them all so, I thought this was the best time to read it again. I remember the book to be an engaging and entertaining read. I still felt the same this time around as well. The book left me feeling happy. It was funny, well written and charming.
The story is said from Don Tillman's perspective. He is special in his own way. I found his character to be sweet, and endearing despite his oddities. Don is a 40-year-old Assistant professor of genetics, hasn't gone beyond the first date with a woman, can count on 1 hand the number of friends he has. He is aware of his differences and has come to terms with the fact that he is wired differently than most humans. He knows he is different from others and has no qualms in making a fool of himself around others. Even though the author through some characters alludes to Don having Asperger's it's neither confirmed nor denied in this book. He is someone who is socially inept and has rigid schedules he designs to make his life easier. We see him as someone who is strictly driven by logic and his need to make his life comfortable and safe. Don is brave, smart and unique. I absolutely loved his character. He is funny without meaning to be.
Don is determined to find a partner in his life through a questionnaire he carefully outlines to highlight his interest and preferences. He dubbed his quest for a wife as The Wife Project. He is helped by his friend Gene and his wife Claudia whom Don considers to be close friends. We get a glimpse of his social awkwardness in his interactions with them. Their love for him is visible and we can see that they are concerned about his happiness.
Enter Rosie, the Ph.D. psychology student who in her own words is fucked up because of her relationship with her father Phil. She is beautiful, strong and a little broken. She gets involved with Don due to a misunderstanding. Her entry brings a lot of chaos into Don's life. She completely destroys his schedules and his routine and he still enjoys her company immensely. This makes Don confused and overwhelmed by the emotions Rosie seems to invoke in him. To him, Rosie is the most unsuitable person for The Wife Project. She doesn't check most of the boxes on his list, yet the happiest moments in his life is always connected to her.
I don't know for sure if I love Rosie as much, because we don't hear much of her story besides the fact that she is on a search for her biological dad and has daddy issues. I didn't understand exactly how her father was neglectful or why she is so troubled and not getting along with Phil. I love the fact that she brings out a side of Don Tillman which is not otherwise visible. This is the perfect example of the opposite attracts.
Don's relationship with Daphne and how he manages that bond is genuinely one of the sweetest things I have seen. He is caring, empathetic and caters to her even after her condition deteriorates. The author shows us that Don is not without love or empathy, he just lacks the necessary social skills and training to be what is considered "NORMAL" in society.
Gene is Don's friend and a fellow Professor, head of the Psychology Department at the University. I don't know how to explain to him, to be honest. I found him to be selfish, a jerk, and totally oblivious to his surroundings and people in it. He is someone who is completely out of touch with his reality.
The story is a fairy tale rooted in reality. I really liked it and very much enjoyed it. there were so many moments in this book that were downright witty and entertaining to envision. I would recommend it to everyone who loves romance with comedy sprinkled in. If you are in for a fun read and want a no-fuss, straight-forward funny novel, then this is the book for you.
MY THOUGHTS :
I loved this book, but I had a small problem that I wanted to talk about. There was this reference to 72 virgins in the book a little bit problematic. I understand that there were a few other instances where the religious beliefs were considered to be illogical in the book and the author made jokes about religious belief. Being a Muslim let me just say that the reference to the 72 virgins is misunderstood. The reward of women may be enticing to some men, to some it might be immense wealth, to some, it could be food, wine or anything that you desire the most. We don't know what could motivate someone to be the best of themselves. There are various references to numerous things that might be enticing to some, but not to others in the Holy Books. We don't live our lives in this world hoping to get the virgins in heaven. That is not the sole purpose. I see this line being used in media and movies. I am saddened that people don't take time to understand the meaning of it and not learn or understand the concept. We follow some strict rules to keep us from harming ourselves and others around us, it is also to discipline oneself. We abstain from a lot of things that may be normal to other people because we want the best for ourselves and those around us. Also, the joke about Mary mother of Jesus was also not something I liked. Because she is also one of the most prominent and influential woman personalities in our faith tradition. I dislike things like that.
Other than these minor problems I liked this book. I am hoping that the intention of the author was not to offend and so I will take it as such. I think authors need to keep in mind that when it comes to religion you need to be sensitive and open to understanding their perspectives and views even if it's worlds apart from your own.
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
5.0
FBRC REVIEW :
Riley Sager with Lock Every Door has managed to bring out one of the best bone-chilling, pulse-pounding books I have read. This book with its high-level suspense and tension captured me from the very first page. I loved this book with all of its over-the-top-crazy plot and the heart-pounding moments I endured with our protagonist Jules.
Lock every door is scary, gripping and entertaining with its twists and turns I didn't see coming. I loved how desperateness of the characters led them to make really unwise and unrealistic choices. If it wasn't for the desperation and hopelessness in life the story wouldn't have gone the way it did.
Jules is an orphan who has had a hard time in her life. She feels unloved and unworthy in her life. She loses her job and her boyfriend the same day, which makes things really difficult for her. She decides to stay at her friend Chloe's house for the time being. Finding an apartment sitter job listing, she decides to check it out.
Bartholomew is an old building that has a special place in Jules's heart. Her childhood is associated with the place and she cannot believe her luck when she is offered an insane amount of money to just house-sit the apartment. Despite the strict and strange rules she decides to take up the job. Her financial situation is dire and the conditions to work at Bartholomew is ideal for someone who is single and unattached. The job and the situation are too good to be true.
Chloe warns Jules of the history the place had and all the rumors attached to the place. Jules doesn't want to believe them and shrugs them off as people trying to create controversy due to the secrecy attached to the place. Her stay starts off easy and then things start happening one by one.
The other sitter Ingrid goes missing and this spooks Jules which makes her question other things that are strange about the building. The more she asks questions the more the residents start to clam up. The place shrouded in secrecy and horror makes Jules fear for her life.
The story with its captivating storytelling managed to be equal parts horrifying and entertaining. I have to say I was impressed by the way the story by switching the present and past instances weaved so beautifully to bring out an engrossing thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seats.
I don't want to talk more about this book. This book will keep you entertained and engaged to the end with the suspense and the thrill the plot gives you. Lock every door is a scary, horrifying and hair-raising story in the best of ways.
I definitely recommend this to everyone who loves a good horror/thriller. It's gripping and mind-blowing and the insanity of the characters is worth reading and experiencing. The characters will leave you stunned and in disbelief over their action. A 5-star hair-raising read for sure.
Riley Sager with Lock Every Door has managed to bring out one of the best bone-chilling, pulse-pounding books I have read. This book with its high-level suspense and tension captured me from the very first page. I loved this book with all of its over-the-top-crazy plot and the heart-pounding moments I endured with our protagonist Jules.
Lock every door is scary, gripping and entertaining with its twists and turns I didn't see coming. I loved how desperateness of the characters led them to make really unwise and unrealistic choices. If it wasn't for the desperation and hopelessness in life the story wouldn't have gone the way it did.
Jules is an orphan who has had a hard time in her life. She feels unloved and unworthy in her life. She loses her job and her boyfriend the same day, which makes things really difficult for her. She decides to stay at her friend Chloe's house for the time being. Finding an apartment sitter job listing, she decides to check it out.
Bartholomew is an old building that has a special place in Jules's heart. Her childhood is associated with the place and she cannot believe her luck when she is offered an insane amount of money to just house-sit the apartment. Despite the strict and strange rules she decides to take up the job. Her financial situation is dire and the conditions to work at Bartholomew is ideal for someone who is single and unattached. The job and the situation are too good to be true.
Chloe warns Jules of the history the place had and all the rumors attached to the place. Jules doesn't want to believe them and shrugs them off as people trying to create controversy due to the secrecy attached to the place. Her stay starts off easy and then things start happening one by one.
The other sitter Ingrid goes missing and this spooks Jules which makes her question other things that are strange about the building. The more she asks questions the more the residents start to clam up. The place shrouded in secrecy and horror makes Jules fear for her life.
The story with its captivating storytelling managed to be equal parts horrifying and entertaining. I have to say I was impressed by the way the story by switching the present and past instances weaved so beautifully to bring out an engrossing thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seats.
I don't want to talk more about this book. This book will keep you entertained and engaged to the end with the suspense and the thrill the plot gives you. Lock every door is a scary, horrifying and hair-raising story in the best of ways.
I definitely recommend this to everyone who loves a good horror/thriller. It's gripping and mind-blowing and the insanity of the characters is worth reading and experiencing. The characters will leave you stunned and in disbelief over their action. A 5-star hair-raising read for sure.
The Second Chance Supper Club by Nicole Meier
3.0
FBRC REVIEW :
DISCLAIMER : I received an advanced review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The second chance supper club is a story of two sisters and their estranged relationship. The story's main focus is on the sister-sister relationship and a mother-daughter relationship. Ginny and Julia had a huge fight after their parent's death. The fight left them both separated for 3 years. Problems at Julia's Network forces her to reevaluate her life. She wants to flee and her instincts leave her at the doorstep of Ginny.
Julia is beautiful, ambitious and hardworking. She works as a morning show host for the Global Broadcast Network. Succumbing to the pressure from the execs at her Network Julia makes an on-air mistake that changes her life forever. She is forced to leave her job on temporary leave until the issue is resolved. Julia discusses the matters with her highly ambitious and goal-oriented fiance James. Instead of the expected support and morale boost, she finds herself feeling ashamed and disappointed with herself. She decides to flee from all the backlash she received by unexpectedly dropping for a visit to her estranged sister Ginny.
Ginny used to a renowned chef who had to give up her job in Manhattan and move to Arizona following the death of her parents. She leaves her career and her life in Manhattan behind to tie up the loose ends back home. Ginny is hardened by life and circumstances. She is angry at her sister for not taking up responsibility. Their interactions are filled with anger, pain, grudge, and betrayal. Ginny has a broken relationship with her daughter Olive who favors her free-spirited father Will. Ginny is running an underground secret supper club that fills her days with food prep and organizing things for dinners. Julia's presence at Ginny's home wasn't welcomed at first. Julia offers to help out Ginny until she has to return to New York. Their arrangement and the constant interactions help them clear the air, take responsibility for their thoughtless actions and words.
Julia and Ginny for me were two bitter, self-absorbed women. They were not willing to communicate or even interact without judgment. I hated their interactions and the way one would internally think about the other. They annoyed me and the entire dialogues were stilted and cold and awkward for me. I am all for flawed characters, but these two sisters were basically the same characters with different physical appearances.
Olive was a brat and disrespectful towards Ginny most of the time. Their bond was also fractured due to their busy lives and lack of communication. For me, all the characters fell flat in the beginning. As the story progressed the characters became a little bit interesting. I don't know if the story would have been more enjoyable if the characters had enough dialogues that were better executed. I didn't like the way the story was told and the characters made it difficult to enjoy it.
I liked the concept of the story, I liked the themes the author wanted to portray and highlight in the book. I love a good sister-sister or mother-daughter book. I believe the book had the potential to be a good one but the story was predictable and there were no surprises. I think people who love family dramas might enjoy it. I was really excited to read this book when I read the synopsis. The cover looked great. The landscape, food, farmer's market, and the situations were all well described. It is an easy read and will make you think about home, your roots, family, relationships. The book definitely focuses on family bonds, values, and responsibilities. If you are a fan of family-drama, estranged sisters relationships, mother-daughter drama, and a happy ending you might like this book.
DISCLAIMER : I received an advanced review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The second chance supper club is a story of two sisters and their estranged relationship. The story's main focus is on the sister-sister relationship and a mother-daughter relationship. Ginny and Julia had a huge fight after their parent's death. The fight left them both separated for 3 years. Problems at Julia's Network forces her to reevaluate her life. She wants to flee and her instincts leave her at the doorstep of Ginny.
Julia is beautiful, ambitious and hardworking. She works as a morning show host for the Global Broadcast Network. Succumbing to the pressure from the execs at her Network Julia makes an on-air mistake that changes her life forever. She is forced to leave her job on temporary leave until the issue is resolved. Julia discusses the matters with her highly ambitious and goal-oriented fiance James. Instead of the expected support and morale boost, she finds herself feeling ashamed and disappointed with herself. She decides to flee from all the backlash she received by unexpectedly dropping for a visit to her estranged sister Ginny.
Ginny used to a renowned chef who had to give up her job in Manhattan and move to Arizona following the death of her parents. She leaves her career and her life in Manhattan behind to tie up the loose ends back home. Ginny is hardened by life and circumstances. She is angry at her sister for not taking up responsibility. Their interactions are filled with anger, pain, grudge, and betrayal. Ginny has a broken relationship with her daughter Olive who favors her free-spirited father Will. Ginny is running an underground secret supper club that fills her days with food prep and organizing things for dinners. Julia's presence at Ginny's home wasn't welcomed at first. Julia offers to help out Ginny until she has to return to New York. Their arrangement and the constant interactions help them clear the air, take responsibility for their thoughtless actions and words.
Julia and Ginny for me were two bitter, self-absorbed women. They were not willing to communicate or even interact without judgment. I hated their interactions and the way one would internally think about the other. They annoyed me and the entire dialogues were stilted and cold and awkward for me. I am all for flawed characters, but these two sisters were basically the same characters with different physical appearances.
Olive was a brat and disrespectful towards Ginny most of the time. Their bond was also fractured due to their busy lives and lack of communication. For me, all the characters fell flat in the beginning. As the story progressed the characters became a little bit interesting. I don't know if the story would have been more enjoyable if the characters had enough dialogues that were better executed. I didn't like the way the story was told and the characters made it difficult to enjoy it.
I liked the concept of the story, I liked the themes the author wanted to portray and highlight in the book. I love a good sister-sister or mother-daughter book. I believe the book had the potential to be a good one but the story was predictable and there were no surprises. I think people who love family dramas might enjoy it. I was really excited to read this book when I read the synopsis. The cover looked great. The landscape, food, farmer's market, and the situations were all well described. It is an easy read and will make you think about home, your roots, family, relationships. The book definitely focuses on family bonds, values, and responsibilities. If you are a fan of family-drama, estranged sisters relationships, mother-daughter drama, and a happy ending you might like this book.
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
4.0
FBRC REVIEW :
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho is a breath of fresh in the fantasy world in my opinion. This book has elements in it that are inspired by Korean folklore and mythology. I was hooked into the story from the very beginning. It was different and unique. I gave it a 4-star rating. The story is set in modern-day Seoul. This provides us with the chance to learn about a new country and culture. We get to experience Korean culture through the story. I loved this book and can't wait for the next book in this series and the drama it will bring.
As the story is set in Seoul and the plot s heavily influenced by everything Korean there were terms and phrases that were not familiar to me. I had to constantly google them in order to get a better understanding of the story. That was the only problem I had with the book. I don't mind learning about new things, but it just took away from the flow of reading the book. Overall it was a new experience for me. I enjoyed the book and the characters as well.
Wicked fox is set in Seoul. The main characters are 18 yr old Miyoung and Jihoon who gets thrown together accidentally and find themselves involved in serious problems that affect their lives. Miyoung is a nine-tailed fox called Gumiho who possesses the power of the moon. They need to feed the souls of men to survive and stay immortal. Miyoung doesn't like the idea of having to feed on people to extend her life. She feels guilty and her conscience only lets her kill people who are evil and has done horrible acts.
Miyoung is strong and powerful, but at the same time vulnerable as well. I loved how she was so closed-off from the beginning and then, later on, opens herself to friendships reluctantly. I liked her vulnerability depicted in the book as well. She is withdrawn yet at the same time yearning for connection. She is a monster who takes lives to sustain her immortality but at the same time selfless. There were so many contrasting instances in her character to make her intriguing. I loved how she was obsessed with Korean drama and the predictability of it helped her deal with her life. It was nice to see a protagonist having different layers that make her fascinating to the reader.
Jihoon is the young boy who is handsome, carefree, easy-going and warm. He lives with his grandma and helps in running her restaurant. He has Somin and Changwan as his closest friends. He is protective and loyal to them. The character of Jihoon is also layered in terms of his depth. He has his own battle with the baggage he carries around. He is kind, respectful and considerate. I loved his character. Jihoon and his pestering or persistence are what makes Miyoung yield to a friendship with him. I loved how he looked at Miyoung and chose to see the good and acknowledge the bad without judgment. His acceptance is what makes Miyoung fall in love with Jihoon. I loved their love story as it was simple and pure.
Junu is the handsome bachelor Dokkaebi who is helping out Miyoung and Jihoon with their troubles. He is easily motivated by money but also seems to have some attachment and care for Miyoung and Jihoon.
Nara is the young Shaman who early on in the book with her powers helps Miyoung find the vile men to kill. For every full-moon, she contacts the troubled spirits and figures out the people who will be selected for the kill. I liked Nara and how the influence of Nara's actions turns the plot into a more dramatic turn. She and her grandmother who is an older and more powerful shaman are some of the key players to look out for in the coming books.
Somin is fierce, loyal, beautiful and a bit of a rebel. She is a really great friend to Jihoon and seems to be open in accepting Miyoung when she finds out her importance to Jihoon. I liked her. I loved how she seems to be this tiny girl and despite her size has a very big personality. She is protective and accepting of her people.
I don't know how I feel about Yena, Miyoung's mom. She is also a Gumiho and she happens to use the power to manipulate humans. She hates humans with a passion. She hides a lot of secrets from her daughter. She has a tight reign on her daughter's life. She is unforgiving and hard on Miyoung. Miyoung and her mother's relationship is complicated, to say the least.
Wicked fox is different and unique. I believe it's new in terms of its story line and had a great time reading it. I will definitely recommend readers to check it out. Do not miss out on the chance to experience Seoul and the world of Gumihos, Dokkaebi's and Shamans. This book will give you a new experience and have you intrigued from the get-go.
Have you read Wicked Fox? If so, what are your thoughts on the book? Let me know in the comment section down below..
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho is a breath of fresh in the fantasy world in my opinion. This book has elements in it that are inspired by Korean folklore and mythology. I was hooked into the story from the very beginning. It was different and unique. I gave it a 4-star rating. The story is set in modern-day Seoul. This provides us with the chance to learn about a new country and culture. We get to experience Korean culture through the story. I loved this book and can't wait for the next book in this series and the drama it will bring.
As the story is set in Seoul and the plot s heavily influenced by everything Korean there were terms and phrases that were not familiar to me. I had to constantly google them in order to get a better understanding of the story. That was the only problem I had with the book. I don't mind learning about new things, but it just took away from the flow of reading the book. Overall it was a new experience for me. I enjoyed the book and the characters as well.
Wicked fox is set in Seoul. The main characters are 18 yr old Miyoung and Jihoon who gets thrown together accidentally and find themselves involved in serious problems that affect their lives. Miyoung is a nine-tailed fox called Gumiho who possesses the power of the moon. They need to feed the souls of men to survive and stay immortal. Miyoung doesn't like the idea of having to feed on people to extend her life. She feels guilty and her conscience only lets her kill people who are evil and has done horrible acts.
Miyoung is strong and powerful, but at the same time vulnerable as well. I loved how she was so closed-off from the beginning and then, later on, opens herself to friendships reluctantly. I liked her vulnerability depicted in the book as well. She is withdrawn yet at the same time yearning for connection. She is a monster who takes lives to sustain her immortality but at the same time selfless. There were so many contrasting instances in her character to make her intriguing. I loved how she was obsessed with Korean drama and the predictability of it helped her deal with her life. It was nice to see a protagonist having different layers that make her fascinating to the reader.
Jihoon is the young boy who is handsome, carefree, easy-going and warm. He lives with his grandma and helps in running her restaurant. He has Somin and Changwan as his closest friends. He is protective and loyal to them. The character of Jihoon is also layered in terms of his depth. He has his own battle with the baggage he carries around. He is kind, respectful and considerate. I loved his character. Jihoon and his pestering or persistence are what makes Miyoung yield to a friendship with him. I loved how he looked at Miyoung and chose to see the good and acknowledge the bad without judgment. His acceptance is what makes Miyoung fall in love with Jihoon. I loved their love story as it was simple and pure.
Junu is the handsome bachelor Dokkaebi who is helping out Miyoung and Jihoon with their troubles. He is easily motivated by money but also seems to have some attachment and care for Miyoung and Jihoon.
Nara is the young Shaman who early on in the book with her powers helps Miyoung find the vile men to kill. For every full-moon, she contacts the troubled spirits and figures out the people who will be selected for the kill. I liked Nara and how the influence of Nara's actions turns the plot into a more dramatic turn. She and her grandmother who is an older and more powerful shaman are some of the key players to look out for in the coming books.
Somin is fierce, loyal, beautiful and a bit of a rebel. She is a really great friend to Jihoon and seems to be open in accepting Miyoung when she finds out her importance to Jihoon. I liked her. I loved how she seems to be this tiny girl and despite her size has a very big personality. She is protective and accepting of her people.
I don't know how I feel about Yena, Miyoung's mom. She is also a Gumiho and she happens to use the power to manipulate humans. She hates humans with a passion. She hides a lot of secrets from her daughter. She has a tight reign on her daughter's life. She is unforgiving and hard on Miyoung. Miyoung and her mother's relationship is complicated, to say the least.
Wicked fox is different and unique. I believe it's new in terms of its story line and had a great time reading it. I will definitely recommend readers to check it out. Do not miss out on the chance to experience Seoul and the world of Gumihos, Dokkaebi's and Shamans. This book will give you a new experience and have you intrigued from the get-go.
Have you read Wicked Fox? If so, what are your thoughts on the book? Let me know in the comment section down below..
The Oracle of Cumae by Melissa Hardy
3.0
FBRC REVIEW:
DISCLAIMER : I received an advanced review copy for free from Edelweiss+, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Oracle Of Cumae is the story of Mariuccia Umbellino who is a 99yr old woman and her secret. The story is narrated by Mariuccia and we get to see the story through her lens. Its a funny, engaging and intriguing read. I found the story to be quite unique with its stories that come from Italian mythology and folklore. The story is centered around the Oracle who is a powerful Old Ones in the world.
The Oracle of Cumae is known as Sybilla who was the beloved of Phoebus Apollo, the Sun God. We see a strong female character who is a genius, happens to have magical abilities and is surrounded by women who become serpents called Lamie until the Pope says Magic. Sybilla is given utmost respect by people and is often consulted by the village people for solutions to their problems. She is revered and her presence is not something she bestows on humans. She is considered to be supernatural. Her character is shown as a bit grouchy and aloof and proud. I was expecting more of a story and character development of Sybilla as the name of the book is The Oracle Of Cumae. The story is mainly about Mariuccia and her life.
Mariuccia and her family lived in Monte Monaco. They were given a lot of riches by the Oracle in gratitude for their service to her. Even though they lived in a village Mariuccia, her mother Esperanza and her sister Concetta were educated. She is someone who is strong and has her own opinions. I believe her character is asexual in nature. I am not entirely sure of this, but certain comments she makes in the book makes me believe she is. The story takes a turn when people from Castel Durante comes to destroy the Cave in which Sybilla was staying. This leads to a turn of events that propels Mariuccia's mom and her to rescue Sybilla and bring her home. There are love spells to cast and then recast on Bacigalupo. A lot of these scenes are funny and the way the characters interact with one another is also very interesting.
I wish the character of Lamia and Sybilla were more developed. Lamia happened to be the snakes who guarded the Oracle and they are beautiful women who turn into serpents but to revert back to human form the Pope needs to say the mass. They are described as easily excited creatures who shrieks like peacocks and fearful in nature.
There are a lot of stories told in this book. Some of these stories are passed on from generation to generation in the village. The tale of the jettatore is also very fascinating and what happens to the jettatore is also explained towards the end of the book. The book is heavily influenced by Italian mythology and the folklore. I love books based on mythology and folklores. The book also pokes fun at Christianity and kind of addresses the problems that arise when old religion clashes with a new religion. How the old way of life was destroyed and how the church and Pope decide to get rid of the Oracle and the events that follow and how people react differently based on their upbringing and traditions.
This book is an enjoyable read and I would recommend it for fall. There are small magical elements and if the world of magic and the folklores were expanded into more detail, then the story would have been really a hit for me. But overall it was funny and at times there was dark humor to the situations. The book will be published on 8th Oct 2019. So keep an eye out for this book if you love stories based on mythology and folklore.
What are your favorite books to read for fall and Halloween?? Let me know about them in the comment section down below. Happy reading!!
DISCLAIMER : I received an advanced review copy for free from Edelweiss+, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Oracle Of Cumae is the story of Mariuccia Umbellino who is a 99yr old woman and her secret. The story is narrated by Mariuccia and we get to see the story through her lens. Its a funny, engaging and intriguing read. I found the story to be quite unique with its stories that come from Italian mythology and folklore. The story is centered around the Oracle who is a powerful Old Ones in the world.
The Oracle of Cumae is known as Sybilla who was the beloved of Phoebus Apollo, the Sun God. We see a strong female character who is a genius, happens to have magical abilities and is surrounded by women who become serpents called Lamie until the Pope says Magic. Sybilla is given utmost respect by people and is often consulted by the village people for solutions to their problems. She is revered and her presence is not something she bestows on humans. She is considered to be supernatural. Her character is shown as a bit grouchy and aloof and proud. I was expecting more of a story and character development of Sybilla as the name of the book is The Oracle Of Cumae. The story is mainly about Mariuccia and her life.
Mariuccia and her family lived in Monte Monaco. They were given a lot of riches by the Oracle in gratitude for their service to her. Even though they lived in a village Mariuccia, her mother Esperanza and her sister Concetta were educated. She is someone who is strong and has her own opinions. I believe her character is asexual in nature. I am not entirely sure of this, but certain comments she makes in the book makes me believe she is. The story takes a turn when people from Castel Durante comes to destroy the Cave in which Sybilla was staying. This leads to a turn of events that propels Mariuccia's mom and her to rescue Sybilla and bring her home. There are love spells to cast and then recast on Bacigalupo. A lot of these scenes are funny and the way the characters interact with one another is also very interesting.
I wish the character of Lamia and Sybilla were more developed. Lamia happened to be the snakes who guarded the Oracle and they are beautiful women who turn into serpents but to revert back to human form the Pope needs to say the mass. They are described as easily excited creatures who shrieks like peacocks and fearful in nature.
There are a lot of stories told in this book. Some of these stories are passed on from generation to generation in the village. The tale of the jettatore is also very fascinating and what happens to the jettatore is also explained towards the end of the book. The book is heavily influenced by Italian mythology and the folklore. I love books based on mythology and folklores. The book also pokes fun at Christianity and kind of addresses the problems that arise when old religion clashes with a new religion. How the old way of life was destroyed and how the church and Pope decide to get rid of the Oracle and the events that follow and how people react differently based on their upbringing and traditions.
This book is an enjoyable read and I would recommend it for fall. There are small magical elements and if the world of magic and the folklores were expanded into more detail, then the story would have been really a hit for me. But overall it was funny and at times there was dark humor to the situations. The book will be published on 8th Oct 2019. So keep an eye out for this book if you love stories based on mythology and folklore.
What are your favorite books to read for fall and Halloween?? Let me know about them in the comment section down below. Happy reading!!
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
FBRC REVIEW :
I read this book for the buddy read that's happening on Sept 16th for the Goodreads group by the name "For love of a book". I gave this book a 4.5 star. I loved this short story collection. I loved the fact that it was filled with 6 fairytales that were retold in Leigh Bardugo's world called the Grishaverse. The stories are all based on folklores & myths that we are pretty familiar with. This was an interesting collection of stories that were captivating and filled with great messages to take away at the end of it.
Every story told in this book is a fairytale retelling that is essentially flipped on its head. The story that we know is transported to the atmospheric setting of the Grishaverse which is then complemented by the magic and the dark bargains one makes to make their wishes come true. Everything that was familiar about these stories is flipped on its head and given an alternate ending that was equally unpredictable and exclusive in its essence.
I loved the setting and the atmospheric, gothic feel it had to it. The dark side of the story and how the beautiful and the perfect characters we knew in the stories were shown with the darkness inside them. We get to realize that the best people described in those disneyfied versions are not what they seem to be. I loved the dark connotation a lot of these characters had. These stories gave the villains a voice that was otherwise deprived to them. I enjoyed the unique perspective these characters were able to provide in this book. The way the author tells the story made it fascinating to me.
The major themes were of sacrifice, love, trust, betrayal, and revenge. Every story in this collection was executed beautifully and had a great time reading this book. My favorite was the first story and its message. The story of Ayama and the Wolf was really beautiful and fascinating to me. It questions the standard of beauty we appoint to the world and our prejudices and judgment towards people who don't fit the idea of the standard beauty.
I love the artwork that is provided in this book. It was really stunning and done so beautifully. I loved how it perfectly complimented the story and gives us a glimpse into Leigh Bardugo's imagination. The stories are unique, unpredictable, thought-provoking and insightful. Overall if you are in the mood for a quick, gripping fairy tale retelling, this book is the way to go. Definitely check it out and I guarantee you will be intrigued and captivated by the setting and storyline.
I read this book for the buddy read that's happening on Sept 16th for the Goodreads group by the name "For love of a book". I gave this book a 4.5 star. I loved this short story collection. I loved the fact that it was filled with 6 fairytales that were retold in Leigh Bardugo's world called the Grishaverse. The stories are all based on folklores & myths that we are pretty familiar with. This was an interesting collection of stories that were captivating and filled with great messages to take away at the end of it.
Every story told in this book is a fairytale retelling that is essentially flipped on its head. The story that we know is transported to the atmospheric setting of the Grishaverse which is then complemented by the magic and the dark bargains one makes to make their wishes come true. Everything that was familiar about these stories is flipped on its head and given an alternate ending that was equally unpredictable and exclusive in its essence.
I loved the setting and the atmospheric, gothic feel it had to it. The dark side of the story and how the beautiful and the perfect characters we knew in the stories were shown with the darkness inside them. We get to realize that the best people described in those disneyfied versions are not what they seem to be. I loved the dark connotation a lot of these characters had. These stories gave the villains a voice that was otherwise deprived to them. I enjoyed the unique perspective these characters were able to provide in this book. The way the author tells the story made it fascinating to me.
The major themes were of sacrifice, love, trust, betrayal, and revenge. Every story in this collection was executed beautifully and had a great time reading this book. My favorite was the first story and its message. The story of Ayama and the Wolf was really beautiful and fascinating to me. It questions the standard of beauty we appoint to the world and our prejudices and judgment towards people who don't fit the idea of the standard beauty.
I love the artwork that is provided in this book. It was really stunning and done so beautifully. I loved how it perfectly complimented the story and gives us a glimpse into Leigh Bardugo's imagination. The stories are unique, unpredictable, thought-provoking and insightful. Overall if you are in the mood for a quick, gripping fairy tale retelling, this book is the way to go. Definitely check it out and I guarantee you will be intrigued and captivated by the setting and storyline.
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
4.0
FBRC REVIEW :
I read this book for the September 18 buddy read on the For love of a book group here at Goodreads. I gave this book 4.25 stars. I enjoyed the book and the story. It was unique in its idea and the setting of the book. The book is set in ancient China. The story is inspired from various fairy tales. The first one is a Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The second is a French fairy tale, Donkeyskin where the inspiration for the three dress of sun, moon, and star made in the book is taken from. The third is the legend The Cowherd and the weaver is the one that inspired the story behind the Blood of Stars storyline. The review is going to be a bit of spoiler-filled review, so if you haven't read the book, then please read and then come and check out the review.
Our main character/protagonist is Maia who is the daughter of a tailor. She has 3 brothers. At a very young age, her mother dies, leaving Maia to take up the responsibility of taking care of her family. She is essentially the glue that holds her family together. She is the obedient one, the responsible one and the careful one. She is a very skilled tailor. In their culture women are expected to marry and take care of their homes. Maia, at a very young age, was very interested in sewing and always learned the techniques from her father. Her brothers who should have followed and joined the family business were never interested in being a tailor.
After her mother's death, her father becomes an alcoholic and could barely do things for himself. Maia steps up to take care of their shop and the family. Maia's dream was to be the Emperor's tailor. She was an expert at sewing and wanted to fulfill her passion. While Maia was struggling to keep things running at home, her brothers signed up to join the army to fight against the war taking place between the Emperor and the Shansen who is a warlord. There is not a whole lot of background provided for the circumstances under which the war takes place. I wanted to get more details for the war and the events that lead to it. Unfortunately, the book doesn't provide us a lot of details. Maia loses her older two brothers Finlei and Sendo in the war. Her younger brother Keton also joins the war with the promise to bring Sendo back, but not only does Keaton loses Sendo, but he is also left with an injury that will prevent him from walking without support. Tragedy strikes their family and Maia loses her faith in Gods.
A court official comes knocking on the door asking for Maia's father to report to the place for applying for the position of Imperial Tailor which is a position given to only men. Knowing her father wouldn't be able to go and as her brother is disabled she decides to take upon herself to go to the palace and pretend to be the Master. She cuts her hair, dresses in her brother's clothes and enters the palace disguised as a boy( her brother Keaton). Once she reaches there she realizes that there are 11 famous and talented Masters from around the country competing for the position of the Imperial Tailor.
Up to this part of the book, the story was done really well, the pacing was good, the characters and their background and the setting are all explained. From the events that take place in the palace onwards the book takes off at a faster pace, the competition is really hurried in my opinion. The side characters were not fully developed. They were all there to provide the momentum in the story but were very forgettable. The Emperor and the story behind his life are shrouded in mystery. We don't have much information about his background and the details of his life that we know is not much. I would have loved the Emperor Khanujin's character to be more fleshed out and developed.
Emperor Khanujin is betrothed to the Lady Sarnai who is the daughter of the Shansen. Lady Sarnai is in love with Lord Xina. For the purpose of the peace between the two warring places, the Emperor and Shansen decide to unite them through marriage. Lady Sarnai is against this union and decides to extend the tests by giving near to impossible tasks for the tailors. We have the characters ridiculing the young Master and sabotaging Maia's work. She comes out of them successfully with the help of magic. The magic system in the book is not something I found to be very strong. I wished it was expanded and explored more.
Lord Enchanter was a good character. I loved his character. We don't know much about the extent of his power and the magic he has, how much limitations he has. We are given clues into his past and the story of how became Enchanter. We know he is powerful, has some influence in the palace but is presented as this very easygoing, flirty guy. He figures out Maia's secret and decides to help her out with the tasks.
I wanted the competitions to be longer, I wanted more out of the characters. I didn't think it was necessary to bring romance into the book and make it the main focus of the second half of the book. The romance blooms between Maia and her love interest and the one thing I am happy about is it wasn't insta-love. I liked their chemistry and the way their interactions were structured left me feeling smiling at them. But at the same time, I felt like romance kind of stole the show for a big part of the book and could have put more into bringing a lot more details into the book of the tales, magic system, etc. I felt the two characters that were prominent were Maia and her love interest and the story then moves forward revolving around just the two of them.
We get to see the tasks being fulfilled and how Maia seemed to be having no clues about much of the history of it finds herself being challenged. The last half of the book brings in characters that were mentioned briefly in the beginning. Demons are not explained in much detail and some characters were introduced and the story line kind of takes a different turn in the book towards the end. I liked the story in general and how it was done altogether, but if I was to look at it critically then the above-mentioned aspects were things that could have put this book above its peers. The writing style was good, engaging and had a good rhythm to it. I loved the story and the setting and the concepts introduced in it. These were the reasons for my excitement towards this book. So the fact that YA Fantasy as a Genre is becoming very predictable and letting romance be the driving force is a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book and I enjoyed it and was intrigued by it, but would have loved to see more character development and more depth and backstory to the characters, magic system and the creatures. The book had so much potential to be a great fantasy read. Reading the review you might think I didn't like the book, but it's just that I feel the genre YA Fantasy has become formulaic and repetitive with Romance heavily woven into the fabric of it. I don't mind the romance aspect of it but the idea that the protagonist has to be in love or should find a love interest in every single book is not something necessary in my opinion. I believe life is more than just romance and fantasy should have those stories as well.
Don't be shocked by the rating I gave the book after reading my thoughts. I want more out of this book, I want more of the characters, I want more from the world they travel to, I want more PERIOD. 'MORE' seems to be the theme of this review. I want the second book to pick up and prove to its readers that it can break the repetitive mold YA Fantasy seems to be stuck in. Hopefully, the second book will bring some amazing things to the story.
This book can be recommended to everyone who is in the mood for a short, easy, uncomplicated, romantic fantasy with a different cultural setting. The story has some mythological elements to it and we also get a glimpse into some folk tales/fairy tales that the author grew up listening to which is interesting to me. Definitely check the book out if you are in the mood for a simple, easy and quick book with fantasy elements to it.
I read this book for the September 18 buddy read on the For love of a book group here at Goodreads. I gave this book 4.25 stars. I enjoyed the book and the story. It was unique in its idea and the setting of the book. The book is set in ancient China. The story is inspired from various fairy tales. The first one is a Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The second is a French fairy tale, Donkeyskin where the inspiration for the three dress of sun, moon, and star made in the book is taken from. The third is the legend The Cowherd and the weaver is the one that inspired the story behind the Blood of Stars storyline. The review is going to be a bit of spoiler-filled review, so if you haven't read the book, then please read and then come and check out the review.
Our main character/protagonist is Maia who is the daughter of a tailor. She has 3 brothers. At a very young age, her mother dies, leaving Maia to take up the responsibility of taking care of her family. She is essentially the glue that holds her family together. She is the obedient one, the responsible one and the careful one. She is a very skilled tailor. In their culture women are expected to marry and take care of their homes. Maia, at a very young age, was very interested in sewing and always learned the techniques from her father. Her brothers who should have followed and joined the family business were never interested in being a tailor.
After her mother's death, her father becomes an alcoholic and could barely do things for himself. Maia steps up to take care of their shop and the family. Maia's dream was to be the Emperor's tailor. She was an expert at sewing and wanted to fulfill her passion. While Maia was struggling to keep things running at home, her brothers signed up to join the army to fight against the war taking place between the Emperor and the Shansen who is a warlord. There is not a whole lot of background provided for the circumstances under which the war takes place. I wanted to get more details for the war and the events that lead to it. Unfortunately, the book doesn't provide us a lot of details. Maia loses her older two brothers Finlei and Sendo in the war. Her younger brother Keton also joins the war with the promise to bring Sendo back, but not only does Keaton loses Sendo, but he is also left with an injury that will prevent him from walking without support. Tragedy strikes their family and Maia loses her faith in Gods.
A court official comes knocking on the door asking for Maia's father to report to the place for applying for the position of Imperial Tailor which is a position given to only men. Knowing her father wouldn't be able to go and as her brother is disabled she decides to take upon herself to go to the palace and pretend to be the Master. She cuts her hair, dresses in her brother's clothes and enters the palace disguised as a boy( her brother Keaton). Once she reaches there she realizes that there are 11 famous and talented Masters from around the country competing for the position of the Imperial Tailor.
Up to this part of the book, the story was done really well, the pacing was good, the characters and their background and the setting are all explained. From the events that take place in the palace onwards the book takes off at a faster pace, the competition is really hurried in my opinion. The side characters were not fully developed. They were all there to provide the momentum in the story but were very forgettable. The Emperor and the story behind his life are shrouded in mystery. We don't have much information about his background and the details of his life that we know is not much. I would have loved the Emperor Khanujin's character to be more fleshed out and developed.
Emperor Khanujin is betrothed to the Lady Sarnai who is the daughter of the Shansen. Lady Sarnai is in love with Lord Xina. For the purpose of the peace between the two warring places, the Emperor and Shansen decide to unite them through marriage. Lady Sarnai is against this union and decides to extend the tests by giving near to impossible tasks for the tailors. We have the characters ridiculing the young Master and sabotaging Maia's work. She comes out of them successfully with the help of magic. The magic system in the book is not something I found to be very strong. I wished it was expanded and explored more.
Lord Enchanter was a good character. I loved his character. We don't know much about the extent of his power and the magic he has, how much limitations he has. We are given clues into his past and the story of how became Enchanter. We know he is powerful, has some influence in the palace but is presented as this very easygoing, flirty guy. He figures out Maia's secret and decides to help her out with the tasks.
I wanted the competitions to be longer, I wanted more out of the characters. I didn't think it was necessary to bring romance into the book and make it the main focus of the second half of the book. The romance blooms between Maia and her love interest and the one thing I am happy about is it wasn't insta-love. I liked their chemistry and the way their interactions were structured left me feeling smiling at them. But at the same time, I felt like romance kind of stole the show for a big part of the book and could have put more into bringing a lot more details into the book of the tales, magic system, etc. I felt the two characters that were prominent were Maia and her love interest and the story then moves forward revolving around just the two of them.
We get to see the tasks being fulfilled and how Maia seemed to be having no clues about much of the history of it finds herself being challenged. The last half of the book brings in characters that were mentioned briefly in the beginning. Demons are not explained in much detail and some characters were introduced and the story line kind of takes a different turn in the book towards the end. I liked the story in general and how it was done altogether, but if I was to look at it critically then the above-mentioned aspects were things that could have put this book above its peers. The writing style was good, engaging and had a good rhythm to it. I loved the story and the setting and the concepts introduced in it. These were the reasons for my excitement towards this book. So the fact that YA Fantasy as a Genre is becoming very predictable and letting romance be the driving force is a little disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book and I enjoyed it and was intrigued by it, but would have loved to see more character development and more depth and backstory to the characters, magic system and the creatures. The book had so much potential to be a great fantasy read. Reading the review you might think I didn't like the book, but it's just that I feel the genre YA Fantasy has become formulaic and repetitive with Romance heavily woven into the fabric of it. I don't mind the romance aspect of it but the idea that the protagonist has to be in love or should find a love interest in every single book is not something necessary in my opinion. I believe life is more than just romance and fantasy should have those stories as well.
Don't be shocked by the rating I gave the book after reading my thoughts. I want more out of this book, I want more of the characters, I want more from the world they travel to, I want more PERIOD. 'MORE' seems to be the theme of this review. I want the second book to pick up and prove to its readers that it can break the repetitive mold YA Fantasy seems to be stuck in. Hopefully, the second book will bring some amazing things to the story.
This book can be recommended to everyone who is in the mood for a short, easy, uncomplicated, romantic fantasy with a different cultural setting. The story has some mythological elements to it and we also get a glimpse into some folk tales/fairy tales that the author grew up listening to which is interesting to me. Definitely check the book out if you are in the mood for a simple, easy and quick book with fantasy elements to it.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
5.0
FBRC REVIEW :
This book is an all-time favorite of mine. I read this book for the first time when I was in school. I remember one of my friends saying it was great and went on to describe the book in detail. I was so intrigued and excited to find out more about this book. I went to the library and picked it up and let's just say the rest was history. I loved it instantly. I was at the time on an Enid Blyton kick and loved books with a sense of adventure and mystery and friendships in it. So it is safe to say that this book was right up my alley.
This book appealed to my young heart and mind equally with a strong, vulnerable protagonist and the band of people he had around him. I loved the magic elements of the book, the setting, and the overall plot. The great thing about this fantasy is that if you were one of those loners and felt left out of a lot of things and wanted to feel a sense of belonging this book gives you all of that and a lot more. I remember being the odd one out of groups one too many times to count and books were my best friends. I related to Harry a lot and felt everything he felt while reading the book.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was a great beginning for this series and it gave me the perfect escape whenever I needed it in my life. The dynamics between the characters, the friendships, the relationships were just so satisfying to read about. I love Hagrid so much. He is such a great character. The way he is towards Harry is so endearing to read about. He is such a softie and fiercely protective when it comes to Harry.
I loved how great Ron and his family were. Loved Fred and George and their antics. I liked how he simply welcomed Harry and how they bonded over sweets and chocolates. I realized I didn't remember how rude they were to Hermione. Reading it now I felt so bad for her to be the one to always be the voice of reason between them. She definitely annoyed them with her talks about books, studies, and rules. The whole dynamics between them, in the beginning, is something I could definitely relate to when it comes to the way she is constantly going on about studying and rules. The boys at that age are more into games and fun stuff. I am not saying all girls are like that, but I have known a lot of girls my age at the time to be similar to Hermione.
Neville was such a sweetheart. I just wanted to be there for him. The poor boy!!! I love him, he is so adorable and clumsy and always getting into one trouble or other. I felt bad for him and wanted him to just be left alone when Malfoy was tormenting him. He just couldn't get a break.
Malfoy was just such a great character. He was just the right amount of snooty and evil to make us want to hate him. Snape is always on Harry and the way he just looks at him and treats him was just entertaining. Knowing the background now I understand him a lot better. But when I remember the first time I read about him, I hated him and the way he favored Malfoy.
Every character is so well thought out and the way the plot is put together is fantastic. If you are a fan of fantasy and love adventures, school setting, magic, and friendships, then this should be definitely on your to-read list. I definitely enjoyed it even more now as an adult reading it. I loved how it transported me back to those school days and gave me THE-FEELS. It is so good. I definitely recommend it. A low-fantasy series for the Middle-grade, YA audience with great adventures that will entertain and engage you to the end.
This book is an all-time favorite of mine. I read this book for the first time when I was in school. I remember one of my friends saying it was great and went on to describe the book in detail. I was so intrigued and excited to find out more about this book. I went to the library and picked it up and let's just say the rest was history. I loved it instantly. I was at the time on an Enid Blyton kick and loved books with a sense of adventure and mystery and friendships in it. So it is safe to say that this book was right up my alley.
This book appealed to my young heart and mind equally with a strong, vulnerable protagonist and the band of people he had around him. I loved the magic elements of the book, the setting, and the overall plot. The great thing about this fantasy is that if you were one of those loners and felt left out of a lot of things and wanted to feel a sense of belonging this book gives you all of that and a lot more. I remember being the odd one out of groups one too many times to count and books were my best friends. I related to Harry a lot and felt everything he felt while reading the book.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was a great beginning for this series and it gave me the perfect escape whenever I needed it in my life. The dynamics between the characters, the friendships, the relationships were just so satisfying to read about. I love Hagrid so much. He is such a great character. The way he is towards Harry is so endearing to read about. He is such a softie and fiercely protective when it comes to Harry.
I loved how great Ron and his family were. Loved Fred and George and their antics. I liked how he simply welcomed Harry and how they bonded over sweets and chocolates. I realized I didn't remember how rude they were to Hermione. Reading it now I felt so bad for her to be the one to always be the voice of reason between them. She definitely annoyed them with her talks about books, studies, and rules. The whole dynamics between them, in the beginning, is something I could definitely relate to when it comes to the way she is constantly going on about studying and rules. The boys at that age are more into games and fun stuff. I am not saying all girls are like that, but I have known a lot of girls my age at the time to be similar to Hermione.
Neville was such a sweetheart. I just wanted to be there for him. The poor boy!!! I love him, he is so adorable and clumsy and always getting into one trouble or other. I felt bad for him and wanted him to just be left alone when Malfoy was tormenting him. He just couldn't get a break.
Malfoy was just such a great character. He was just the right amount of snooty and evil to make us want to hate him. Snape is always on Harry and the way he just looks at him and treats him was just entertaining. Knowing the background now I understand him a lot better. But when I remember the first time I read about him, I hated him and the way he favored Malfoy.
Every character is so well thought out and the way the plot is put together is fantastic. If you are a fan of fantasy and love adventures, school setting, magic, and friendships, then this should be definitely on your to-read list. I definitely enjoyed it even more now as an adult reading it. I loved how it transported me back to those school days and gave me THE-FEELS. It is so good. I definitely recommend it. A low-fantasy series for the Middle-grade, YA audience with great adventures that will entertain and engage you to the end.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5.0
FBRC REVIEW :
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is a great follow-up to the Philosopher's stone. The book was exquisite. The story was extremely entertaining and engaging from the very beginning till the end. Harry starts off his journey with adventures and his join him on each of them.
Dobby is a great character with a lot of quirks. I loved how he wanted to keep safe but at the same time seem to do things that ultimately ended with Harry getting into one trouble or the other. I liked Dobby and how despite his loyalty and duty is to serve his Master he feels the need to warn Potter of the dangers awaiting him at Hogwarts.
Dursleys seem to be even more difficult. They are full-on making Harry's life miserable. There is no way out for Harry out of his prison-like life at Dursleys.
Flying cars, missing Hogwarts train, monster trees, broken wand, puking slugs, never a dull moment for the Harry-Ron duo.
The entire school year is even more interesting this time around with the new Defence Against Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Lockhart. Man, was he a great character. He was so full of himself and every time he opened his mouth, I wanted to roll my eyes at whatever he had to say.
Malfoy was his annoying self. He definitely hates Harry Potter. He is so jealous of him and kind of wants what Potter has. He was such a brat on most of the occasions. Snape supporting him or ignoring his bullying definitely didn't help the matters.
I liked Snape much more in this book than the Philosopher's stone. He was great when it came to Lockhart shading him at times. His attitude towards Harry hasn't improved much, but at least we know he is not out to kill Harry.
Hermione is less of a pain-in-butt for Harry and Ron and often participates willingly in their adventures. She comes with plans to help Harry out. Their dynamics as friends are definitely improving.
Hagrid, as usual, is a great character. He is so good to the trio and always is the one to bring home dangerous creatures. He is such a softie. I love Hagrid so much.
Dumbledore is being Dumbledore. He knows things but refuses to tell them. It's almost as if he wants Harry to be equipped to fight things on his own. I guess it could be a strategy to shaping him into the Greatest Wizard who will ultimately have the courage and confidence to deal with Voldemort.
Moaning Myrtle was interesting, to say the least. Her character was definitely colorful. I loved the Ghost party scene as well. A lot of it was funny.
We get to see different kinds of magic at play here in this book. The new monsters introduced in the book give us entertaining moments. The history of the school is introduced in more detail. We see Voldemort trying to finish Harry off forever.
Overall the book was definitely better in my opinion than the first book in the series. I loved how everything came together bringing us another adventure-filled action-packed plot. I gave it 5 stars. Definitely check it out if you haven't read it already. Let me know in the comment section below, out of the first 2 books in the series, which one did you enjoy the most??
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is a great follow-up to the Philosopher's stone. The book was exquisite. The story was extremely entertaining and engaging from the very beginning till the end. Harry starts off his journey with adventures and his join him on each of them.
Dobby is a great character with a lot of quirks. I loved how he wanted to keep safe but at the same time seem to do things that ultimately ended with Harry getting into one trouble or the other. I liked Dobby and how despite his loyalty and duty is to serve his Master he feels the need to warn Potter of the dangers awaiting him at Hogwarts.
Dursleys seem to be even more difficult. They are full-on making Harry's life miserable. There is no way out for Harry out of his prison-like life at Dursleys.
Flying cars, missing Hogwarts train, monster trees, broken wand, puking slugs, never a dull moment for the Harry-Ron duo.
The entire school year is even more interesting this time around with the new Defence Against Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Lockhart. Man, was he a great character. He was so full of himself and every time he opened his mouth, I wanted to roll my eyes at whatever he had to say.
Malfoy was his annoying self. He definitely hates Harry Potter. He is so jealous of him and kind of wants what Potter has. He was such a brat on most of the occasions. Snape supporting him or ignoring his bullying definitely didn't help the matters.
I liked Snape much more in this book than the Philosopher's stone. He was great when it came to Lockhart shading him at times. His attitude towards Harry hasn't improved much, but at least we know he is not out to kill Harry.
Hermione is less of a pain-in-butt for Harry and Ron and often participates willingly in their adventures. She comes with plans to help Harry out. Their dynamics as friends are definitely improving.
Hagrid, as usual, is a great character. He is so good to the trio and always is the one to bring home dangerous creatures. He is such a softie. I love Hagrid so much.
Dumbledore is being Dumbledore. He knows things but refuses to tell them. It's almost as if he wants Harry to be equipped to fight things on his own. I guess it could be a strategy to shaping him into the Greatest Wizard who will ultimately have the courage and confidence to deal with Voldemort.
Moaning Myrtle was interesting, to say the least. Her character was definitely colorful. I loved the Ghost party scene as well. A lot of it was funny.
We get to see different kinds of magic at play here in this book. The new monsters introduced in the book give us entertaining moments. The history of the school is introduced in more detail. We see Voldemort trying to finish Harry off forever.
Overall the book was definitely better in my opinion than the first book in the series. I loved how everything came together bringing us another adventure-filled action-packed plot. I gave it 5 stars. Definitely check it out if you haven't read it already. Let me know in the comment section below, out of the first 2 books in the series, which one did you enjoy the most??