Review: A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Too many things happening at the same time. Too many to comprehend. But once you've grasped it, the story flows perfectly.

First of all, I'm no Fantasy reader. This goes back to when I first picked up The Hobbits and swore that I ain't a fantasy/high fantasy reader. It's just not my genre. But being surrounded by all the hypes around this series and TV show, I was tempted to try reading high fantasy again.

I did and I did not regret it at all. It was utterly amazing. The world (the medieval world I hate) and the characters were so real and the story was so intense. The plot went absurdly well, killing the people I wish not to. It's a psycho-read to see the characters you adore killed by the writer.

The book is written from multiple perspectives. The thing I really like is that the story won't overlap each other. The story goes on switching from one character's view to another. It was annoying to read about the same thing from another's head so this book does justice.

The female characters. I do not know where to begin. Lady Stark was the most badass mother ever. I do not know where to start about my admiration towards her courage and ultimate badass-ness. The feminist in this book, game strong.

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Review: The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman

The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Denis Thériault
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was told of this book by CutiePieMarzia's YouTube channel (a very odd way).

Initially, the story itself was what made me read this book. I like the idea about the postman reading others' letters and prying others' privacy. It's unethical yet I find it interesting to read about how the story would go.

Honestly, I didn't expect a mind-fuck ending. Throughout the story, I wasn't expecting the story to end that way. It was literally mind-blowing and captivating.

Of course, the writings were phenomenal. I always have a hard time reading poetry so to be able to write both a good novel and with bits of poetry within would be extraordinary.

Seriously, I didn't know this small book would give me such a gasp.

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Review: Fairest: Levana's Story

Fairest: Levana's Story by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Novella of the Lunar Chronicles series - a story about Queen Levana (of how she became who she is). I have high hopes for this series because of how Marissa Meyer twists and turns the common knowledge of fairytales. I always do enjoy a good fairytale retelling.

It hurts to read about Levana. If she's evil, then her sister would be far worst. Levana is a victim, a broken doll since the miserable fire incident in her childhood time. I couldn't but to sympathise Levana, for her past. Looks is by far one of the most important aspects for a female. Yes, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but everybody judges, it's the truth. Because of she was too concerned of it, she has lost confidence with herself, turning into who she is now.

I enjoy being in the Lunar world again, after so long. (and still anticipating Winter) Fairest was an unexpected published. It was totally unnecessary because the series has not yet ended. (and because I always do think novellas are quite unnecessarry) It was a bonus but also a disappointment as the last book was delayed even further. I would want the ending more than this piece of novella.



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Review: Me Before You

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I understand how this book can turn out to be an emotional-romance (something terms I came up with). It reminds me so much of TFIOS but with a more strong issue.

First and foremost, I have to declare that I'm not a big fan of medically-depressed books (another terms I came up with) and this topic is the main idea of the book. I don't want to sound offending but clearly, I'm not emotionally prepared for topics like these. I get how topics like these could spark up the romance effect of the fiction but it just doesn't appeal to me.

However, I'm very satisfied with the character development by Lou. She grew stronger and stronger throughout the book and eventually be able to live out of her circle of comfort. In a way, I'm immensely proud of her.

I couldn't say more as my current emotional state has been filled by the main issue of the book. But all I want to say is some readers might be able to accept books like these and people who do would regard this as a beautifully written literature. I can't.

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Review: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"People think they love each other, so they get married. And then one day they discover real love, without meaning to or even realising it. It hits them right between the eyes. It's like hydrogen coming into contact with air: There's a huge explosion, and everything gets destroyed."


About 200 pages left and the story exploded. I did not see the plot twist coming. It grasped my attention back to the murder case, my eyes fleeing through the pages, wanting to know the story. Not to lie that at some point of the story, it was draggy and really dry. But my advice is read through it, it'll be worth it.

The way the author portrayed his story was wicked. You know that that person was not the murderer because there are still 200 pages left, but how? How can the story change? What is the truth? You know that the murderer is just in front of your eyes, but who?

Amazing, amazing suspenseful thriller written. A wonderful journey with the narrator, as he writes his story, you discover the truth. Twisted characters. Lies within lies; a book within a book.

Stunning read.


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[REVIEW] The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

This is a book I did not expect to like or rate it high. To be honest, I was interested in reading this book because of its high ratings on Goodreads and rave by book tubers. Of course, the beautiful cover partly contributes. I'd gotten on reading it without knowing what is it about and the result was pretty shocking.

Goodreads synopsis: Winning what you want may cost you everything you love. 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. 

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Firstly, I love the story. I believe it's because it's hard to guess what would happen next and you've no choice but to keep reading it. (I finish it in one evening.) I find it hard to explain the mixed feelings I had reading this. The starting was a blur, when the author starts introducing the two communities, Herrani and Valorian. It took me a few chapters to fully understand what's going on, I'm slow I know. So basically, the Valorian conquers the Herrani land years ago and the Herrani(s) are slaves to them. The main character, Kestrel is a Valorian and she stumbled upon an auction and bought a young slave Herrani. Of course, the rest would be the forbidden love between them.

However, there's a twist which I hadn't see it coming. (read the book) The whole plot twist really got me into the story and wanting more. From reading this, I felt the pain, the sorrow and the emotions are pretty strong. Kestrel was torn between being with her love one or loyal to her people. It might seem cliché but it's a whole new feeling while reading it.

Kestrel and Arin are one superb pair. They might be from the different communities but in fact they share the same passion and character. This leads them to each other and they can't help but to fall in love with each other.

Need I say more because the rest is for you to find out when you read it. I believe this is a dystopian, historical (kinda), young-adult fiction. It's the 1st book of The Winner's Trilogy. I highly recommend this because not many books surprise me as this does.

Summer

you can get this book from book depository: The Winner's Curse

[REVIEW] The Ghost Bride by YangSze Choo

Funfact: This is my first book written by a Malaysian author. *round of applauses*

The Ghost Bride is a paranormal (& romance) asian fiction which sets place in one of the states of Malaysia, namely Malacca. This book contains many hearsay customs and traditions of Chinese (of Malaysia) and supernatural believes. Personally, being a Malaysian chinese, I do still heard or lectured on various superstitions make known on this book.

Goodreads synopsis: "One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..." 

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound. 

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price. 

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

First of all, I want to congratulate Ms Choo for writing such an epic story about the Malaysian customs (mainly focusing on the Chinese community), especially the afterworld of the dead. It was unbelievably mind-blowing and certainly convincing, as those are the beliefs that I have learnt of and practised since childhood. Believe it or not, acts of superstitious can sound really absurd but some may hold a few hands of truth. Enough scaring, what I'm trying to say it's that whatever written in this book is certainly what the older generations truly believe in and some were still practiced in the later generation.

Everything written in this book was so relatable that I couldn't help but to be convinced by the story. Many things which were written in this book seem to be the answers to those customs I've been asked to follow. Of course, there's no proof to what will actually happen after death but through our customs and beliefs, we believe in having an afterworld for the dead to wander around before their reincarnations.

I love every aspects of this book, from the story to the characters. However, I find the ending was quite abrupt. Another thing about this book which slightly annoys me is the usage of vocabularies. This was pointed out by my friend and I do agree with her. Some words are unsuitable. It's not that I'm afraid of bombastic words, but some actions need not be described with such "hard" words.

Apart from that mild problem of words usage, I'm quite satisfied with this book. I like that Li Lan has picked the right guy in the end. :D

Summer

I recommend this book to everyone - The Ghost Bride (other editions available)