afi_whatafireads's reviews
589 reviews

Parini Shroff wrote a story that is not only entertaining, but depicts the harshness of a society that is still present until today. From the cultures of patriarchy, to the cruelties and abuse in marriages and to the predators that lived in the society.

It took me awhile to really engage with the story, and I honestly had mixed feelings with it, but I feel that the second half of the book saved the story; hence why I'm rating it 4🌟 . For a debut novel, I feel that Shroff did a good job in the sense of relaying the message to the world. Writing-wise, there were a few parts where transitions to each dialogues felt messy; which was one of the problems that I had with the book in the first place. But, I'd learnt to just accept it like reading a Bollywood Soap Opera where the women in the stories are not only extremely flawed, they are also relatable in ways that make you'll laugh at their antiques but also ; its one that felt realistic.

The Bandit Queens is actually inspired from a real person - Phoolan Devi, in which she was called the Bandit Queen herself. The author took inspirations in which the main character Geeta, looked up to Phoolan Devi, and will always ask herself - What would Phoolan Devi do in this situation . Phoolan Devi is one amongst many that represents the cruel truths of patriarchy and misogyny in India. Its not only saddening, but heartbreaking to know how she had been raped multiple times in her lifetime and beaten at every place that she ended up with.

I feel that in some ways, whilst murder cannot be justified as moral - the desperation of oneself ; in which to endure the abuse, extreme gaslighting and constant demoralisation ; had led to the extreme measures that the characters in the book had taken. Whilst the author had written the book in a way that it was witty and hilarious; the fact that they had to do what they did in the first place was just infuriating. The irony in which the author had shown in the characters - were in their ability to manipulate the situation to their benefit. Not gonna lie, most of the characters in here are pretty insufferable to say the least, but they were also endearing in a sense. I feel that each of the women in this book had a character growth and the kind of camaraderie that had been built by the same source of misery.

Another topic that the author had brought upon was the hardships of motherhood and the obsession for women to mould to society's standards to take the role only to procreate. Its not only saddening that women who didn't have the children were judged and frowned upon, its also sad that the worth of a woman is based on her ability to mother their children. Its one that reflects the world that we live in ; and how this pressure to be 'perfect' in the eyes of society that it can make women to lose their sense of worth. It was heartbreaking to read and it hurts more that its an issue that is still ongoing all around the world.

Overall, whilst it took me a bit of time to warm up with the story; and I had mixed feelings for it at some parts, I'd have to say, I enjoyed the forward tone that the author wrote the story. Its entertaining at best, but the issues are forwardly written that it can't be missed. It might put some stereotype to the country itself, as the story is set in India, but I feel that, where each part of women who can relates to the story, no matter where you are, I hope that it can serve as something that can make you be stronger. For ones who relate to Geetha, I pray for your well-being and my happiness comes your way.

Def a solid read as a longlist for the 2023's Women Prize.

Chapters : Episode 50 - Episode 75

I feel like the more I read the adaptation of Lore Olympus of the Greek Gods, the more I fell in love with it. Safe to say, this volume had me tearing up and the author did a great job in showing the repercussions of rape and sexual assault ; especially for the victim in processing their feelings.

Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟

In this Volume, we go back and forth to Hades and Persephone's POV with ones from Hera's POV as well. If you're not someone that is used to read mangas or graphic novels from webtoons, it might get confusing at certain parts, but, for me, I feel that the different POV's really showed everything that is happening in Olympus and its not just focused on the two main characters of the story.

I feel that, amongst the rest of the Greek Mythology retellings, Lore Olympus really served to portray the affects of sexual abuse to its victims as well as the guilt that comes with it. The unprocessed emotions not only will cause the victims harm, it will also create an emotional break for the people around them. Honestly, I'm glad Persephone has good friends around her; as she grew up so sheltered from the world by her mother, that her naivety was taken for granted from the people around her.

Hades is also a character that I came to really really emphatize in the series. His loneliness and self-doubt is something that most adults can relate to at this age and day. There's something about solitary that is addicting and yet; there will come a time that it will become a poison as well. What makes Hades has a good character arc is how he can be super adorable around Persephone :') Honestly, at the end of the day, this man just wants someone to care for him.

Overall, really loved this volume, and there were a lot of foreshadowings that the author had slowly shown. I also liked the panels where Hades and Persephone just talking and walking around, chilling - no drama or whatsoever. Can't wait to read Vol 4 and again, the physical adaptations are freaking amazing!

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this beautiful copy!

For a seemingly simple storyline, this book left you feeling helpless, heart aching for the narrator and it you feel as though you've just finished a long marathon with tears all the way from the start to the finish.

Ti amo is the story of an unnamed narrator - written in journal entries back and forth, of her days with her husband who was diagnosed with cancer. From her reminiscent to the early days before her husband was ill to the looming day awaiting for death to come; is a story that will leave you claustrophobic, dense with emotions and a feeling of helplessness and on death and sickness and how its cruel for both the patient and the caretaker.

Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟

For a book I randomly picked after going through multiple predictions for the 2023 International Booker Prize Longlist , the story not only packs a punch, it left me feeling so much at 1.30 AM and staring into space for a good solid 10 minutes. Its a love story but is more than that. Its of grief in a different form, of the call of death that seemed far but looms on your daily lives, and its on the hardships of seeing your loved ones lose themselves over a virus that no one has control over - in which you lost a part of yourself as well.

Ørstavik did a wonderful job in her narration. Not only that its compelling, the proses are easy to read and leaves you tuning and wanting more. In fact, after each paragraph, I was left feeling breathless, trying to catch my breath as I process the emotions of the narrator. Its almost like the images that the author painted is vivid , passing through like an old movie - narrated through the story of the unnamed narrator. Ørstavik had managed to transport us readers to Milan, and to the places that the narrator went as an author, and to the places that she had experienced with her husband whilst he was still able to get up around. Every emotion, every despair and every pain that the narrator felt was brilliantly conveyed through the story, and it left my heart just aching and wanting to give her a big hug.

Stories on diseases and caretakers always gets me hard. From seeing your loved ones slowly losing themselves and the pain that the caretaker has to undergo as well - is an emotion that is not easy to process at most. Ørstavik brought forward the intensity of the narrator's feelings through her writing. The relationship with death and how at the end of the day, is an affair that only you alone can face it - even if you're surrounded with your loved ones. What I love is that the author not only manage to show that not only the idea of death affects the patient, it affects the person that is left behind as well. Having to handle with grief - and the very idea to live forward without the memory of a person that you're used to be with every day of your life.

This is more than just a love affair. Its of two souls who came together and fitted a piece of another. Its about a disease that robbed their happiness with the idea of death looming in their lives. Its on grief and the many ways to cope with it. And mostly, its on the belief of love; on the profession of love - Ti Amo - in ways that means more than just words.

Compelling and heartbreaking and definitely a read that will linger with me for a very, very long time.

Daunting and beautiful.

So many layers to a seemingly simple story of friendship.

It broke my heart in a way that tugs at my heartstrings.

RTC.

Edited Review : 12th March 2023

It took me almost two weeks to finally pan out my thoughts for this book. What seemingly looks like a simple story on the surface, lies a deeply woven tale of two souls that are almost one.

In a world where people just takes. Takes. And takes; what is left behind , but only sorrow and heartache?

This is my first full novel from Yiyun Li and I've read one of her short stories from the collection The Story: 100 Great Short Stories Written by Women and I have to say, Madam Li excels in the way she write seemingly quite stories that are so very loud. This tale of two friends, set during the 1950's in a rural area in France, of their toxic dependency to one another, the societal expectations and the divide of class and the negligence and abuse on children in which had led them turned out as what they are. I don't think my thoughts will give justice to how Li managed to tug my heart with this story but she did it.

Agnes and Fabienne are two characters that you might hate or love, especially Fabienne. At first, I don't think I can relate much to a character like Fabienne, but the more I know about her, the more I took pity on her. She reminded me a lot of the character in Earthlings in Sayaka Murata, where there is a sense of distorted reality to the stories that they wrote in the book; in which it became an escapism for Fabienne written through Agnes to actually tell the horrors that happens in her life.

The story is more than a tale of friendship. Its on the devastation and fascination of the people on the upper social class in their feelings with the people on the lower class. Its on the scrutinising eyes of the society, whom judges each individual on their backgrounds and on their father's sins. Its on the obsession with women to be seen and fitted into a mould that society deemed to be 'perfect' in order to be treated as a successful young lady. Its on the harshness of poverty that leads to the desperation of the innocence and naive to be hard and harsh to live through the hardness of the world.

Each part of the story, from the very start to the end, carries a message that is not only daunting but leaves a burden in your heart. Imagine if these two girls were brought up in a more encouraging environment, where they have no need to worry about food or what people expect them to become. Whats interesting is how Madam Li actually puts out a sort of criticism in the obsession of the literary world. From the way women authors were being discarded when there is a male introducer for the part of the book to the obsession of the children's lives that was interpreted to be written through the voice of the book written by Agnes and Fabienne. Li also showed how other people are quick to judge and carries a form of "saviour complex" like what Mrs Townsend had to Agnes. Its a take on society in seemingly trying to force their beliefs that they feel 'right' for children where its only beneficial to them.

An unsettling and gut-wrenching tale that may not be for everyone, but is one that I will remember for a long time. It leaves you haunted by the two lives that can be more, two girls that can take the whole world, only and if only, they were given that chance.

Highly recommended. 5🌟 to this gem

Thank you to Times Reads for this copy.

Its been awhile since I've read a YA that genuinely makes me feel good.

This one is IT. Paired with the stunning cover, I really dig this story and ended up finishing it in just 4 hours :') Whilst there were some technical things that could be explained better, I just find this an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend to everyone. It's that good.

What if one day you suddenly had the power to become invisible?
That's what happened to Alice Sun, an A+ student, with perfect grades at a renowned International school that she only has partial scholarship; in which when her parents wanted her to move out of the school due to the increase of the tuition fees. Of expectations, social-class divide and an innocent love that leaves you butterflies, is a story of a girl in discovering her means and her worth in ways that is realistic and with a hint of magical realism.

Personal Ratings : 4🌟

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much going into the book. I don't even know what to expect at all tbh, but I'm glad I went in the book blind. Alice Sun is a character that you can both hate or love, and for me, Alice became a character that is endearing to me. The fact she's a scholarship student who has to work hard to succeed in a school filled with students with wealthy family backgrounds, the societal expectations that was set on her and what she set for herself had made her more of a robot than a person.

Whilst the technical aspects of the magical realism in the story was a bit too sudden and seemed abrupt, I kinda get the gist of what the author had tried to portray in the story. Since Alice is someone who felt that she was invisible all her life, it took things in literal for her , in the aspect to get her find her true worth in life; rather than just working hard towards a goal with no hopes and dreams. I specially loved characters like Mr Chen (shoutout to him! we need more adults like him in life), that encourages Alice to not only focus on school but rather on her dreams instead, and reminded her that she's only a kid at the end of the day ; which means she's still allowed to have hopes and desires.

And the ROMANCE . PUHLEASE!!! Reading Henry's and Alice's story is literally like a high school kdrama academic-rival plot, who both of them is secretly in love with each other. IT WAS SO FREAKING CUTE MY CHEEKS HURTS FROM SMILING!!!!!! Henry Li the MVP <3

At the end of the day, the main point of the story is to know your worth, and that there is more to life than just living to everyone's expectations but your own. Life works in ways that you can't expect and as long as you're working towards something that you love, it will work out at the end.

Definitely a wholesome read that can be read by everyone :) Such a good reminder for the hustlers and especially to those who are too hard on themselves to give yourselves some love and credit for your hard work :) You matter!

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for this gorgeous copy!

Judge me... But I liked this book :')
I surprised even myself ngl.

BIG DISCLAIMERS : I don't condone any acts in this book nor wish it to happen in real life. For the sake of it being fiction and not being real. It works.

Zade.... is a very complex person. But what makes him appealing I feel would be his honesty towards everything that he does? I feel.

This book really crossed that borderline of morality. Its dark romance for a reason, so yes, go into the book expecting whatever the author wrote in the trigger warnings in the VERY FIRST PAGE a warning. A lot to unpack for this two characters, but I do like the idea of the bad people being offed :') (again i don't condone murder but ..)

Again, not for everyone. Please don't pick this up if you can't stomach it. But for real, the plot worked for me. I feel that the second book would be darker and I'm not up for it ngl haha.

🌶: 5/5
Personal Ratings : 4🌟

This was quite sad towards the end but lowkey the spice in here was something else.

Its giving.... unhinged woman, but also, the backstory for Sybil is very very sad. The fact that the horrific things that the author wrote for the characters backgrounds were actually real and had happened>> which makes it hard to read at times.

This is definitely not for everyone. But in terms of dark romance, I dig it. Its psychotic, gore, very intense, and definitely unhinged. Not for the faint hearted.

🌶: 4/5
Personal Ratings : 3.5🌟

Poignant and almost intimate.

This would be the phrase that I will use to describe this book. Its thorough and yet still original, and not written in a way that forces you what to do, but rather, a mixture of his own experiences and more towards an approach This works for me and it definitely is not for everyone, but if you feel its useful, please by all means.

One of the things that I liked about this book was how it was written in a format that relates more to Murakami's real experiences and not a "GUIDE TO ____". Its refreshing and feels liberating to read a memoir that almost felt like reading Murakami's own journal.

Surprisingly, Murakami's non-fictions were the ones that appealed to me of his reading. Maybe, its the way how he's just so honest and forward in his memoirs that it makes it endearing to read. Not only that, the dark sense of humour that Murakami has made his non-fictions witty and non-preachy. Its a story of his journey, with the things around him, of his experiences, but told in a way that it almost felt unreal. Is it possible to write a memoir that feels like a reality that doesn't feel real? I think only Murakami can actually pull it off gracefully.

I am no writer, but I had passed this book to one of my friends who is an author, and she absolutely devoured it. For that, I can say, this book is definitely something that can be an eye-opening to authors or aspiring-writers. Murakami wrote this book in 2015, and this book had just been translated about a year ago, but somehow, everything that he had written in here, is not only useful but is relevant to the world now. His journey in forms of essays had gone through his journey from the very start of him as a novelist , his struggles, and even to how he got his works known abroad. I feel that for authors, his guides and advices shows somewhat a reallistic approach to apply in writings as Murakami only started as an author during his 30s. With absolutely no technical aspects of writing, he wrote for himself, and for the world, and for the stories to be there, passed from one person to another.

As a Reader , you might be skeptical to go into this book, especially if you haven't read any of his books. But yet, I can assure you, this almost-sort of memoir had been such a wonderful experience for me as a reader. In fact, I almost teared up at some parts, in how he appreciates his readers in his own way.

The one thing that I loved about Murakami's writing , especially in his memoirs is that ; he is honest to a fault. He not only criticizes himself, but he had written on the social system and how the harsh reality it is to be in the world of publishing. Some of his comments may seem odd and selfish, and yet, as he had wrote, what he did applies to him and if it suits someone else, you can definitely apply it to work as well. There is a streak of rebellion in his writing that I liked and it separates him from the other Japanese authors at the time. His belief in his readers, and more importantly, his belief in his own story makes him the author that he is now; and I liked that he had sort of a character progression in which he learns year-by-year to improve his writing.

I have a few essay favourites, and one of my most loved ones that somehow tugged my heart is the part where he went abroad to establish himself as an author. I came to realize as I read more translated works year by year that, a translator is an individual who is as important as the author himself. I loved that Murakami had wrote a lengthy thank you's to all of his translators that came to work with him. And for that, I have come to thank and recognize translators as well, for they have as equal importance in a book being known and publishing to the mass.

Honestly, I loved this book more than I thought I would. I can write a whole case study for this, but for this review I will stop for now. Most importantly, like every great authors that had come and gone, the one thing that they will never stop highlighting :

To be an Author, you MUST READ. Never stop reading.
I highly recommend this book. Its one that I will shove to everyone to read and it can be something to ponder upon.

Personal Ratings: 4.25🌟

Biggest thank you to Times Reads for gifitng me this copy!

Damn. That was something. The last 150 pages had so much going on, I had to take a few breathers cause everything was SO. BLOODY. INTENSE

Finally picking up the start to the Cosmere Series, the extended world of Brandon Sanderson, and I honestly am excited to finally meet all the characters I've heard in passing. Vin, my feral child, Elend my sweet ideallistic baby and Kell, my heart <3

I have so much to unpack in this review, and no worries it will be non-spoilery, but I would say, The Final Empire kickstarted well for a first book, and an entry to the extensive world of the Cosmere Series. Its action-packed, well-written and the details were intricate. Sanderson definitely lived up to his name in the SFF world and after Skyward, you'll either love or hate his books, and I for one can see myself falling deeply in the abyss that its called the Sando Cult .

Personal Ratings : 4🌟
(would explain why its not given a higher rating)

To make this review not be too-long, I will divide it into categories and will write its pros and cons (if there's any in the certain categories)

PLOT
The plot of the story is fairly simple. There's a thieving crew that seeks to restore the empire from its current ruler, known as The Lord Ruler. We follow Kell as he found Vin, a 16 year old girl who can somehow do things that she couldn't understand. A world of allomancy, and elemental fantasy, politics and philosophies of the old.

Pros
Plot-wise, I feel that Sanderson did a good job in setting the main story. The purpose of the story is well-executed, and the pacing is just easy enough for beginners to read but sufficient enough for readers who have dived into fantasy for awhile. I liked that the plot is spaced out-well through the book and it made the story easy to follow. Divided into four major parts, Sanderson had brought everything well and it shows a flow to the story that keeps readers on their toes.

Cons
Whilst the plot can be well-paced, its also draggy at some parts. I didn't think it was the writing, but more on the problem of Pacing and Transition from one scene to another. Some scenes felt too abrupt and there were some parts that didn't felt necessary. Easy to say, there were a lot of fillers in between the lines. Whilst some are needed for world-building purposes, others can be just very draggy. I get what he's trying to accomplish and it didn't hinder my reading experience but it definitely showed the lack of experience , considering Sanderson wrote this book in 2006. Some chapters felt either way too fast, or it can be way too slow. The buildup wasn't as smooth as I hoped.

CHARACTERS
I absolutely ADORE the characters in here. For me, each character has their own time to shine, and Sanderson definitely aced this one. I liked that each character has their own strengths and attributions. There is a sort of camaraderie amongst the characters buildup that makes it heartwarming to read. Vin is a child that I will protect for life, and Kell, well, he's someone who is very much in the gray area but is also someone who listens and will achieve his vision with whatever means necessary. And Elend, my baby :') Gosh he's someone who sees the world as black and white but is smart enough to thread in between the gray lines. I can't wait to read more of him in the second and third book.

WORLD BUILDING
God DAMN. Sanderson ACED this one as well. The world building in here is just ✨CHEF'S KISS✨. Paired with Sanderson's writing, I would say, Mistborn would be one of the series that has one of the most intricate magic systems and definitely that is building up . The Allomancy magic is so unique and me being someone that loves Elemental Magic, this one was just something that literally EXERCISED my brain. I love how Sanderson had really explained in detail but in ways that made it seem we're watching how it works live. The writing makes every detail vivid and I was able to imagine each move. It was not only cool but it was SO . BLOODY. AWESOME. I for one want to be a Mistborn too :')

Cons
One slight con in here, is that, I do get that the information can be a bit info-dumpy. It kinda suits the nature of the book and story I supposed, but I get why some people can find it a bit overwhelming at first. But fret not, he will explain the magic system so many times in the book, you'll get used to it soon enough.

POLITICS
I for one need MORE of the politics. I feel that we'll get more of this plot in the second book (oof can't wait). But I do love the Court Politics in here and the differences between the class systems and the Ministry and its balance of power; one can say that, we're going for people that is off lesser evil. There's no entirely good and bad, but, if your intentions are good, you'll fit to rule.

Overall, I had enjoyed and devoured this book in 3 days. Sanderson has creeped and made a way in my heart and I'm scolding myself for leaving this book on my shelves for almost 3 years :') I guess I did picked it up again at the right time and I definitely can't wait to dive more into the series! Definitely a solid one :)