afi_whatafireads's reviews
589 reviews

So........
This will be a very very very very ranty post, which I seldom post in my reviews but good lord I can't stand this book.

Definitely not for me.

If you wanna read my full review , its here.

[How are u guys today :)) For me …. It was fine until I have to think about this books 😂

So excuse me for this ranty post , as I don’t post much ranty stuff but for this book in particular, I’m being a bit spiteful because of how BORING it was for me :’))

 So this story pitches as a second-chance romance where the girl gets back with a guy that she supposedly cheated on with her ex. (Yes read that again).

Whilst I went in with open arms and an open mind, I can’t for the life of me figure out WHY D HECK IS THIS BOOK EVEN A BOOK 😭😭😭😭😭 And if u’re someone that knows me , I NEVER rant about a book in public but lowkey this one deserves it :’) I was not only stressed out but genuinely want to slap someone 😭😭

Here are 3 reasons why this book IS NOT FOR ME. (just stating three when there's a LOAD MORE OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS BOOK BUT I REALLY CANT BE BOTHERED AGH)

 1) Writing - Style
Good lord the writing style here is just bland. Blander than my diluted Richiammo Coffee that I drank a week ago. Its tasteless and just very immature. There were so MANY UNNECESSARY dialogues and proses like “He said” “She said” And the filler scenes were just not it. Its distasteful. Whats even worst was that I listened to some of the chapters in the book with my audiobook and GOOD LORD IT MADE IT WORST. I was wondering why I freely signed up for this torture 😭😭😭


2) Characters
Which brings me to my next point which are characters. Good lord ARE THEY EVEN ADULTS INNHERE WHY ARE YALL ACTING SO IMMATURE. I get it , i really get what message the author had tried to send out but good heavens IT DIDNT REACH OUT THE AUDIENCE 😭 at least not for me. The female MC WAS SO UNLIKEABLE 😭 she’s basically bitching about her life in full swing and DONT get me STARTED WITH THE MALE MC!!!!! His only personality is that he has a “bAriToNe VoIcE” . I swear to god if i hear someone says “bARiToNe vOicE” one more time imma slap them.

 3) Plot in General
Just the overall execution of the book fell down in drains. It could have been a fun Camp Rock style vibes, with the cool theater kids and just fun times exchanging about music BUT NOT IT HAS TO BE WORDS AND JARGONS THREWN OUT OF SPITE AND JUST WITH POOR TASTE. Istg wtf is the author high whilst writing this. I can’t even. So yes this post is a very ranty review and Im not even sorry for it 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 im sorry for MYSELF THAT I HAD PUT UP WITH THIS TORTURE WHILST BEING SICK AF SO GOOD JOB TO ME NO THANKS TO THE AUTHOR :’)

so this book is literally a Camp Rock if it flopped. For real. Everything about this book made me want to hurl myself at something and that's saying something

One of those books that I didn't expect to like, but felt to my liking.

This is a collection of short stories that centres around the horrors that has impended and the folktales from old stories in Japanese Literature. The collection has 29 short stories in total and overall, I feel that it was a very satisfying read for me. Not only that these short stories brings forward a message on spirits vengenace, it also brings around the central theme of greed from the mankind and how at the end of the day, its scarier than the ghosts and spirits that roams around without sight.

I loved how vast this collection of short stories are. From goblins, to roaming ghosts women, to ghosts who kill for vengeance, and to even the origins of certain ghosts and its sad back story. I feel that albeit the stories are short, I liked how at the end of the day, the stories portrays a message bigger and scarier than the spirits itself, its how humans are the scariest being at the end of the day. Whilst spirits are predictable, humans acts on their own impulse and needs and therefore, there might be times that some things might turn out totally unepexted.

Some of the stories that I really liked :-

6th Story: Of A Promise Broken
4.5🌟
The story of a woman vetting for vengeance due to a broken promise.

This was both eerie and just :')))))))) im- im sad for the new mistress cause of a broken promise from her husband but damn. Lesson learnt : don't make promises to woman if you can't keep them.

9th story: The Tongue-cut Sparrow
4.25🌟

Its the greed of humans that made them unbearable. I love this. The sparrow who turned to become a fairy and has rewarded kindness of her master but misfortune to the mistress

It doesn't hurt to be kind to everyone.

Overall, if you're into books that are short, has that classic feature and is into the japanese classic cult horror, you will definitely like this collection. Its short and yet there's a whole collective theme to it that makes reading it like a fun, horror and weird adventure .

Thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy!

Is it bad that I finished this in less than 30 minutes, but the IMPACT that the story gave me? Damn. I expect nothing less from Claire Keegan.

Reading this short novella (best described) that is under 50 pages reminded me a lot of the feelings that I have when I'm reading Sally Rooney. Its not exactly the same per say, but I love how mundane it is. How its just a story of an everyday life of a man who is going through his day and reminiscing what had happened in his life. There's something about Keegan's writing that felt personal in some sense. Her words flows through and what seemed like a simple plot had been uplifted in highlighting more than just the life of this man

The way Keegan weaves in the main theme of the story which is the misoginy that has been ingrained in the society that it had lead to our main character to not realize his mistakes; is parallel in most realities that a lot of people has to live with.

Whilst some might sympathize with Cathal, our main character with his misfortunes, Keegan shows in some ways, where something that has been so normalized, and when it finally gets called out and questioned, acceptance to such notions won't be a simple task. In fact, Keegan lets us in to the main MC's thoughts and minds, where we feel that his fiancee was in the wrong, but when another perspective was offered; it was at best his way of thinking that had led to what is happening to him. We agree that in this state of thinking, women were simply asked to accept what the situation is rather than questioning wether any of the actions were right or wrong.

Funny how a book so thin can impact me so much. I love the idyllic setting that Keegan had written on Dublin. It really felt like I was there with Cathal going about his day. There is something about her writing that felt calming and heart piercing. Such a simple book and yet, filled with so many heart.

4.75🌟 for this gem!

Thank you to Times Reads for gifting me this gem. I love it so much.

Bite me because this series is starting to become a fav 🤣

So first some Disclaimers, this book contains this themes and if you're uncomfortable don't venture into it :)
- Polyamarous relationship (MMF)
- Spicy Level (for me): 3.5/5 🌶
- Obviously not suited for underage :)
- Retelling of folklores and mythologies
- Loads of political intrigue (im digging it)

Following the first - Book: Neon Gods, Couple: Hades and Persephone - and the second book - Book : Electric Idol, Couple : Eros and Psyche - in the series , Wicked Beauty takes into the same world of Olympus. If you're new to the series, honestly, would advice you to read it in order to really get into the characters and the political intrigue in here cause surprisingly the politics in here can be messy and I like it (lol).

What I liked about the series is how the retelling is it makes all of these characters human but has a magical intrigue on its own. Basically, Olympus is set in a world where most of the positions of the Thirteen are passed down except Ares. To compete for the position for Ares, a competition would be held to see which ones would last to get the title and become one of the Thirteen. Wicked Beauty is the story of Helen, Achilles and Patroclus, where they are entangled in the competition for Ares. Helen - to escape from her families clutches, and Achilles to make a name for himself. A story of self-discovery, messy court politics and of love that is unconventional but everlasting in its own way.

Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but well, this one had a lot of action scenes that I can say, its was not a bad read despite this being focused heavily on the romance as well. Achilles and Patroclus relationship is one that is built on trust and I loved reading about them and mixing Helen into their relationship seemed out of sorts but it was one that made me happy for them.

Helen is a character that I can easily hate, but somehow, I fell in love with her. She was raised in a household that came off riches but was mentally abused everyday, making her feel unworthy . Her character growth in here for me is one that I liked. I somewhat liked that her dynamics with Achilles was one that didn't put love first, but she had made herself a priority first rather than letting her emotions take over. She was the kind of woman that is easily disliked but will grow on you, and I for one liked how she fought for what she wanted till the very end.

The romance for me was just okay. I think if the last two chapters would be a tad longer, I would be happier with how everything concluded but overall it was not a bad read. It was quick on Helen's part when she fell for Achilles and Patroclus, but I can somewhat look over it as something that became a balance on both Achilles and Patroclus relationship.

Overall, I'm kinda into the mess that is the Olympus that Katee Robert created. For fun and games, this series was not a bad read and I surprised myself that I enjoyed this. Would continue Radiant Sin (cause loads told me that there are more political intrigue in here, which I enjoy immensely) so will see how it goes.

3.75🌟

i just feel so much. so so much. its just amazing.
infinite feeling.

A story of a community, of finding yourself in a song, through a medium that can only be understood and recognized by your own soul, a story of family relationships and male vulnerability and a story of love in different forms.

I love how stories can transcend and transport you to a place that can seem far and unknown. Told in short and concise chapters, we follow Stephen, his aspirations and how he navigates through his community. Born as a black man to immigrant parents, is the story of his youth, his self-searching through a series of trials, the support of a community and mostly of how dancing and music plays a big role in his playing part in the adult world. The exploration of complex relationship between immigrant parents and children, following through a world of different culture and a story of youth that was taken and built again through love and hope.

Honestly, I don't know if my words are enough to describe how I feel about the book. There's so much feeling that I don't know how to translate it into words.

One of the things that I loved about this book was how it was written in an almost song-like form. I loved that everything is revolved with music. How each of our characters in here communicates through the same medium that they love; a universal language that can be understood by all - music. It felt almost like going through a piano recital - from the chapters divided into three different parts, where the opening recital started with a steady crescendo - in the height of Stephen's youth - to a slow descend of diminuendo as the music slowly notes down to a soft steady note - during Stephen's low period - to be increased again in staccato, as Stephen goes through his life bit by bit, and slowly ending the recital with a piannisimo as the show ends through the ending of the story.

Nelson is definitely in a league of his own. There's a nuance to his writing and stories that make us fully absorbed into it. Small worlds is a form of art on its own, a piece that was written for the youths who are searching for what they want in life, for the males to explore vulnerability without seeing as someone weak, for the generations of immigrant parents who had worked hard to provide a better life for their family and mostly, for the small community which had been built by the love and trust that they had for one another, bonded as one. Its a celebration of life in its hard and mundane ways and definitely one that leads us to believe, that we too deserve our own small world, filled with the people that we love and cherish. I strive to believe in that.

Infinite feelings for this book. Much much love.

Thank you so much to Times Reads for this copy! I'm forever thankful.

Imagine if your idol BIAS turned out to be a secret spy (secretly imagining S.Coups or Jeonghan from SVT and got me giggling) and somewhat fell into a "relationship" with his "bodyguard" who is also a spy. Yup. :p

I think I missed the memo when Marie Lue first came out during the infamous "dystopian era" (Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Divergent), so Stars and Smoke was my first read for me, and ngl, I was pretty much into it. I think, it has been awhile since I've read a pretty good YA with a good premise and storyline and this one pretty much checks every box that made YA good for me. It has the elements of family, and coming-of-age and paired with main characters that were not annoying, made this a book (and I just knew it will be a series) one that I will anticipate for its sequel.

The story foll0ws superstar Winter Young, a Chinese American from a very prestigious boyband, who was scouted to become a spy on an impossible mission. There he met Sydney, sassy and smart, to become his guard and trainer. Together, they went on a mission that goes through a lot of emotional turmoil for each character involved. The story of grief, loss, trauma, secrets and love, in the most uncommon ways.

Honestly, I feel that you can somewhat predict what's about to happen in the middle of the story but Lu's writing is one that I felt compelled to finish the novel. I loved how each of our main characters were given such a good solid arc and that their self-discovery was one that I loved most. Winter Young is such a sweetheart for real, and I love Sydney! Lu definitely writes pretty powerful female characters in this book and that was one of the reasons that I loved about the story. Sydney had her own share of trauma and abuse, whilst Winter is fighting his own turmoil of grief that makes them such interesting characters to follow through. Not to mention that we're going backstage into the 'idol' world which makes me giddy imagining my biases as spies :p

I love the vulnerability of each characters in here and I liked the story and pacing was pretty good. The romance to me was a bit of a stretch (like if it was more prolonged it will definitely be good), but the action scenes made up the story. I felt the last scene of the book was one that made it seem like I was watching a movie and I was anticipating what had happened towards the end. Also, I liked that this series is set in the real world and we can all become a bit delulu as fangirls (haha).

Overall, this was a read that I will recommend to everyone. I felt Lu excelled with this one with her characters definitely. Not the best, but it made a pretty good palate cleanser for me. Would def recommend this for a light read.

Personal Ratings : 4🌟

Thank you to Times Reads for this gorgeous copy~

Quiet, mundane and celebrates women in every form. Be it in girlhood, motherhood, old age , in different stages of life and different circumstances; its a portrayal of strength and resilience with the kindness and warmth that can only be provided by a woman. Its a collection of short stories that is a reflection of society in different stages of life, some coming with their own circumstances and going through the complex relationships between parent, child and sibling. Its the story of braveness to fight violence with grace and flair, and its a collection that I will definitely remember for a very long time.

Miss Kim Knows is a collection of 8 short stories that varies throughout. There is no story that is similar with another, and I had loved how that the messages from each stories are almost subtle and yet it leaves a mark after finishing each one. I liked how Miss Cho Nam Joo is still staying true with her "Me-Too Movement" whilst making each story has different voices throughout. Each story has their own strengths and for me, it made a pretty solid collection. Lowkey, my ratings for each story is all above 4🌟 and that is definitely saying something :')

Some of my thoughts for each story:

1. Under The Plum Tree - 4.85🌟

Of old age, sisterhood and parts and parcels of ageing and growing old and being a caretaker. Its of motherhood in a different form, the portrayal of complex relationship between families and the love of sisters. I cried for this one. It honestly took me by surprise how much I appreciated the first story.

2. Dead Set - 4🌟

This one had an unreliable narrator but it was definitely one that was almost ironic in its own way. We go through a writer who is labeled a "feminist" handling her "antis". There were parts that got me "lol-ing" but I somewhat enjoyed this. A tad weird and confusing but still good.

3. Runaway - 4.25🌟

This one was just sad. It left us the readers to wonder who is at fault. Also ironic how one family goes away but then the rest of the family got closer. Its the portrayal of a complex relationship between families and how resilient someone can be.

4. Miss Kim Knows - 4.75🌟

Lowkey this one had me chuckling so much. Its a depiction of female-in-rage, but making it subtle and quiet. The injustice and blatant discrimination in the workplace is one that is not uncommon in our world nowadays and I love that its always highlighted in stories. I also loved how Cho Nam Joo wrote on the hardships of youth to survive in a cut-throat world. This one was definitely entertaining at best.

5. Dear Hyunnam Oppa - 4.85🌟

Another example of what women in rage and fed up with your bs can do. The story is written in a letter form and good lord I was SATISFIED AF after finishing this. Its a story of a woman with constant discrimination and gaslighting that she had to endure from her boyfriend and good lord I was so frustrated reading this but it felt LIBERATING when this story ended. **cues song edit : How I Love Being A Woman**

6. Night of Aurora - ∞🌟

By far my FAVOURITE from this collection . Its told in such a mundane way and yet, the dreams and aspirations, the feelings of being a woman. The need and liberation when you wanted to wish for something and the relationship of women across generations. I love this with all my heart and I just bawled my heart out. I want to go see the aurora too.

7. Grown-Up Girl - 4.85🌟

A story that is a definition of "celebrating womens wrongs and womens rights." Lowkey can't even be mad because the girl had did something that requires braveness and I for one applauded her for it.

8. Puppy Love 2020 - 4.25🌟

This story got me AWWWWW ://// at every few pages. Its a portrayal of innocence in the midst of uncertainty and the hardships that comes with having going through the big emotions.

Overall, I had enjoyed this collection of short stories very much. Its a story of women in various voices. Its a story of family relationships. Its a story of discrimination and violence that reflects the real society. But all in all, its a story that is a story of liberation.

Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟 overall

Thank you to @Definitelybooks for this copy!

Pleasingly unnerving and left me going WTF . I was sure I am pretty desensitized at this point of my reading journey, but it turns out, there are things that will still made my stomach churn and my body jilted just at the very thought of it (**hint: in the title itself**). I was left just staring at my book for a good few minutes before putting out my thoughts for this short yet impactful story and I'm kind of regretting finishing this at 1am :')

Nails and Eyes is a collection of 1 Novella and 2 short stories that plays around with the theme of horror- but in not your ordinary kind - but one that leaves totally up to the reader's thought of view and highlighting the ingenious way of playing with perception and will leave the readers questioning what you're reading again and again.

Nails and Eyes
This for me was by far a novella that struck me good. It left me going WTF so many times I had to put the book down, reread the whole page again, and experiencing again the churning of my stomach and the unease that some scenes had left me. I loved how the author had written the story in second person, and paired with such an unreliable narrator, it leaves the readers intrigued of what will happen to these small family that is filled with so many unlikeable characters. The visceral shock that the story left me had got me teary eyed. Definitely well-written and good lord I will never not look at my contact lens and not remember this story anymore :') It definitely will live in my head rent free.

What Shoko Forgets
A short, yet an impactful read. It left me feeling disoriented at first, and for good reason. The story tackles on loneliness and possible abuse of old people and handling with trauma. Whilst I was a bit disappointed that it was quite underdeveloped, it left quite a big impact as to how the horrors that Shoko had experienced are not from spirits of the unknown, but originated from the doings of mankind. And if you think about it, that's the most terrifying thing to happen after all.

Minute Fears
Cleverly written and a touch of motherhood in an angle that I love. There's something about folk horror that gets you and the ending had made me went :") Definitely a perfect touch to the whole story.

Overall, this collection of short stories is one that I will definitely recommend to those who liked something a bit dark but in a wow-i-didn't-think-this-will-affect-me-but-it-did. Will live somewhat rent free in my brain.

Personal Ratings : 4🌟

Biggest thank you to @Definitelybooks for this gorgeous copy!

Based on the renowned Chinese-American actor, Anna May Wong, its a story of hope and surival, of a woman that has tried her hardest to brave thru a world of fame ; of Hollywood in the midst where acceptance of people-in-colour had not been fully accepted. Left a dent in my heart but not the best from Tsukiyama unfortunately.

A story of what I can call an autofiction based on the first ever Chinese-American actress, Anna May Wong that had made it into Hollywood, we follow her journey from the early paths of her career to the last parts of her life. Its a story that is filled with burning passion, hunger for success, of the fight for equality in the midst of a world filled with horror and terror and mostly of love in various forms.

The story had been told in three parts, in a journal form that showed the highlights of her life from her childhood , her downfall and following her to her deathbed. Character-wise , the story that was told in the first-person might seem to disengage the readers with the character, but to me, it felt a bit like following the journey of a person going through her ups and downs in the midst of world of chaos and where it was not easy to be accepted as a person of colour at the time. I liked that we went thru her phase of rebellion with her father, the complicated relationship of second-generation children that had to go through the dilemma of being indebted to your parents and torn to chase your dreams and how she was adamant to survive in a world that is so cut-throat and can tear down a person limb by limb in a heartbeat.

I feel that Anna May Wong is definitely a character of her own. Her keenness and love towards art and acting had made her strive to become a name and a legend of her own. In some ways, Tsukiyama had shown the complications of her acting and how it had affected both the Americans and Chinese at the time. The blatant racism that she had to face and how she had gone up the ladder bit by bit represented the harsh realities of Hollywood and the entertaiment industry, and the fact that it is still now the way it is made it even heartwrenching to read.

For the most part, I had enjoyed her journey; but one thing I had felt the most lacking in this novel was the depth of character in here. Anna May Wong felt generic and I hated that at some parts, there is a series of blatant info-dumping on Tsukiyama's parts. It was definitely a missed opportunity as I would have loved if the nuances and Anna's feelings were more explored in here rather than just writing it as an almost matter-of-fact way.

But overall, I had still enjoyed the book. It was more heartbreaking as it was based on a real person and that she was an icon of her own. What had saved the book for me was the relationship and love that she had through her family and the representation of a bond and culture that can be burdensome but is what that had kept a person like Anna uphold for a long time. At the end, what matters most through the phases of loneliness and heights of fame is to come back to a home filled with the people that loves you and who you love. And that is what had helped the brightest star to shine the brightest.

Personal Ratings: 3.65🌟

Biggest thank you to Times Reads and the publisher for the copy of this book!

I definitely wasn't expecting anything going into the book, but the emotions I felt after finishing this was one that will be ingrained in my heart for a long time.

The story is set in Salpêtrière, an asylum in France (based on the real hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière), that were used as a place to abandon women that were deemed "crazy" and "mad". We follow a number of characters with different backgrounds from the book and how each and everyone of them has their own circumstances that leads them to be admitted to the asylum. In a world dominated by men, is an array of stories that left me in rage, fuming with anger and a representation from the voices of the women oppressed.

Reading this book was like going through a somewhat mysterious plotline, in a way that built up to something bigger at the end. It left us wanting more of the story, and wanting to know what had happened to everyone in the end. Truth to be told, I am still contemplating of how to articulate my thoughts into words for this unexpected gem that I stumbled upon, but I feel that this book is more then just voicing out women's voices, its also to show the misogyny and the abuse of power that comes from experiments that are indicated to women.

Character-wise, I loved our main protagonist and how everything came somewhat into a full circle. It was heartbreaking and left me feeling bleak in some ways. Plot-wise, I feel that there are more things that can be unpacked and there is a lack of gothic elements that I felt was a missed opportunity, but all in all, the stories of the women in here, to the experiments based on renowned doctors claiming to help the mentally ill patients with hypnosis and methods of torture, in the form of experimental claims made it a story that showed the voices of the women oppressed.

This was a read that I will remember for a long time. From the plot leading to the infamous mad women's ball - in which the irony of the representation of society of the sane being as mad as the madwomen trapped in the asylum - to the stories of each characters and women that were held in contempt in the asylum. A story that of hope, grief, loss and mostly of souls that were broken and left behind and left to mend on their own.

Personal Ratings : 4🌟
(Buddy read this with my friends at a book staycation and its a memory that I will forever store in my mind.)