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oraclement's Reviews (158)
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely for younger readers, probably my fault. But it's cute.
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
It's a memoir, so... idk how to quite rate it; but honestly this wasn't what I expected. I went in thinking it'll be something fluffy and friendly but it's kinda, hmm. And I understand why this book is banned, I think it's for a reason bcs there were many explicit sexual contents inside; pretty surprising. I checked other reviews here too to compare my experience and apparently many felt the same way. While this was an honest and lovely, quirky comic memoir (Maia is a gifted comic artist) I don't think this is suitable for everyone. I feel like this is very western centric experience..? A given, since it's a memoir, not a non-fiction book but yes I find it quite hard to understand and dive in; but this was good read in broadening my worldview.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For some reasons, reading the blurb I went in thinking this will be a locked room murder mystery, but it's not (which isn't a problem). Basically, a man was murdered brutally and there's at least 7 women affected by his vile acts, each a possible murder suspect with their own motives.
With that you'd expect a heavy crime-mystery-thriller, but upon reading it, this actually also feels very contemporary & filled with a lot of important social issues related to women and relationship; such as abuse, manipulation, power dynamics, rape, even fertility. That was the most unexpected experience of the book, one that I greatly enjoy. Make sure you watch out for trigger warning because this could be heavy read (not for me, may be so for others), but those topics being brought up feels very.. heart wrenching for me.
This has a medium pace and I think almost all characters get respectively good share of their stories, there's a lot of names to keep up with here (slows my reading but that's a me problem). As for plot twist & the final reveal, it wasn't grand in any way, I don't find it surprising though it wasn't exactly expected/predictable, so.. if you're deep into mindblowing plot twist, perhaps there's better ones out there for you.
Overall this book packs crime thriller, contemporary, social and women fiction into a great mix in just around 300 pages. Highly recommended! Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me access to the e-ARC to read this book before its release.
With that you'd expect a heavy crime-mystery-thriller, but upon reading it, this actually also feels very contemporary & filled with a lot of important social issues related to women and relationship; such as abuse, manipulation, power dynamics, rape, even fertility. That was the most unexpected experience of the book, one that I greatly enjoy. Make sure you watch out for trigger warning because this could be heavy read (not for me, may be so for others), but those topics being brought up feels very.. heart wrenching for me.
This has a medium pace and I think almost all characters get respectively good share of their stories, there's a lot of names to keep up with here (slows my reading but that's a me problem). As for plot twist & the final reveal, it wasn't grand in any way, I don't find it surprising though it wasn't exactly expected/predictable, so.. if you're deep into mindblowing plot twist, perhaps there's better ones out there for you.
Overall this book packs crime thriller, contemporary, social and women fiction into a great mix in just around 300 pages. Highly recommended! Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me access to the e-ARC to read this book before its release.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I took my time with this slowly, not sure if it's the genre or the pacing that isn't really my comfort zone to read. The reveal was slow, perhaps because it is a cozy fantasy? But I sorta hoping for a more... peek into the faeries world instead of her ventures bridging between the chaos they (faeries) made on human realm. Hmm, perhaps on next book? I feel like the main plot only kicks around 60-70% way into the book, which is rather too slow or late for my personal preference, so there's that. But if you're looking for a book that gives green academia vibes, a character who's socially awkward and prefer the company of non-humans, I'm sure there's a specific type of reader perfect for this book! Perhaps just not my alley. The love line is cute, though. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read the eARC for the title, I enjoyed it well!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyable read, I fly through this. The pace was medium but it reveals just enough across the pages for the plot to develop properly; I like the idea or the format that we're reading a book excerpt in a book; bookception, cute. I feel like the ending was a little abrupt and anti climactic, perhaps a little soap-operaish, but also.. I think the overall tone of the book was rather lighthearted & a little comical for the genre, which is totally fine & well appreciated. Would be a nice summer read. I recommend this book sincerely. Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for lending me the eARC to review!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unreliable narrator slow reveal of his mental state & disturbance as he.. swim across the swimming pools of the county to reach his home. A psychedelic summer read, super short one at that but felt as long as the miles he swam his way accross.
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Poignant and touching stories on the life of gay people in a land where they aren't accepted (well, more than that but that's a whole other discussion). The writing was beautiful, a character study and there's some surrealism touch to it. I read the English version of the book, which makes it a translated work, but even then you can still feel the thick feeling one can relate as fellow Indonesian living the very same reality; reading this makes the experience feels more up close and personal. I wish I have better ways to describe this book but as months passed since the time I read it, the words are gone by now but I remember this book dearly as a sad, but warm embrace around the harsh lives we live here. Thank you for writing this work of fiction that feels a little like puzzle of short memoirs.