mariedaniella's reviews
216 reviews

adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

“Even if the memories never come back," he said slowly, "I'm going to love you again. I have decided to warn you in advance.”

I read this one trying to get over a reading slump and not remembering anything from the first book which perhaps made for high expectations from me that then might be a big part of why I didn’t enjoy this one, especially as much as I did Foul Lady Fortune.

I read this one trying to get over a reading slump and not remembering anything from the first book which perhaps made for high expectations from me that then might be a big part of why I didn’t enjoy this one, especially as much as I did Foul Lady Fortune.

The main thing I didn’t like was the storytelling. I thought it was a bit weak. I thought that Chloe Gong’s writing style didn’t work with the type of story the author was telling. This book was more action-heavy with a lot of moving parts, see, and I think Gong thrives better with atmosphere, build-ups, and narratives. I thought this was particularly apparent towards the end wherein the supposed pinnacle of the plot was flat or lackluster because of the writing. Some tense moments turned a bit boring, some emotional scenes turned unexcitable. How the chapters and parts were cut—how it would jump to another point of the story or character just when, as a reader, you’re getting into the tone, feel, or continuity—also didn’t help.

The writing wasn’t messy per se nor was it actually bad just that it wasn’t good either. It’s fine, I guess. It’s okay. A bit unimpressive. I thought the first book of the duology storytelling was done better, that the author could or have done better.

Secondly, I didn’t like the lack of themes and discourse on the important historical context of the story. I understand that it involves incredibly serious subject matter that must be handled carefully but as this is the second of a duology (fourth book including These Violent Delights), the themes still truly, extremely, giving nothing is just poor work, especially since history is very much an integral part of the story e.g. the characters’ involvement in historical parties. The avoidance was too obvious to overlook this time around like wanting to include it but not to talk about it, ignore it as if it wasn’t there. I wish there was at least a tiny bit of exploration or, if not, a creation of something else—leaning a lot more to the side of fiction of historical fiction, if that makes sense.

There were a few moments that were enjoyable, at least. The characters were still loveable and their dynamic with each other worked well. I still loved the romances. It made up for enough interest to continue and finish the book.

So… to sum it up. TL;DR — This was a lackluster end to a duology and Secret Shanghai book series for me. It’s not so bad, I just wish it delivered something more.

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

This book was adorable! What A Girl Wants (2003) meets Princess Diaries (2001) and a bit of Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Tokyo Ever After was a light yet heartwarming story following Izumi, a very lovable main character, in a classic young-adult journey of self-discovery after learning that she’s an actual princess.

There are two things I liked about this book. The story being set in Japan was done very beautifully and Izumi’s character arc was something to root for. I liked it even more so because both were written seamlessly with each other. I loved being introduced to Japan and Japanese culture through the lens of an outsider like Izumi. I felt her awe and appreciation all throughout the book but with the addition of her yearning for her estranged father and her cultural identity, everything became more poignant.

Moreover, Izumi felt real as a character. She was a good mix of optimism and doubts, fun and reflective. I liked that she had a good support around her and while the romance was a bit flat, it still had its cute moments. I liked that her “mistakes” in her being a princess weren’t written as comical clumsiness (that honestly makes me second-hand embarrassment) but instead tied as part of her journey of cultural identity.

This was overall an enjoyable read with a tiny bit of everything: laughs, cute ya romance, and a heartwarming story! I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick, easy, read with good representation.

God of Wrath by Rina Kent

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dark medium-paced