bellebookcorner's reviews
1232 reviews

Malice - Catatan Pembunuhan Sang Novelis by Keigo Higashino

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Malice mampu mengejutkanku dengan plot twist yang tidak terduga! 
 
Buku ini jauh dari sekadar novel misteri pembunuhan sederhana. 
Menemukan pelakunya bisa dibilang cukup mudah; tantangannya adalah mencari tahu motif kejahatannya, yang membuat cerita ini tidak seperti cerita detektif misteri pada umumnya. 
Aku semakin tertarik dengan buku ini, terutama ketika pelaku menolak untuk mengaku, yang membuat Detektif Kaga harus menemukan alasan sebenarnya sendiri. 
 
Tapi harus diakui, membaca dari sudut pandang Detektif Kaga cukup menantang. 
Di bab terakhir, ketika kebenaran terungkap, aku harus membaca beberapa baris berulang kali untuk memahami apa yang dia bicarakan karena cara berpikirnya yang begitu kompleks dan rinci. 
 
Malice mengeksplorasi beberapa tema yang memicu pemikiran, seperti kecemburuan, bullying, dan pentingnya berpikir kritis seperti yang dilakukan Detektif Kaga. 
 
Meskipun temponya kadang-kadang bisa lambat di beberapa bagian, Malice adalah novel misteri yang ditulis dengan baik dengan alur cerita yang menarik dan karakter yang kompleks dengan kepribadian yang rumit. 
 
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Bullying, pembunuhan, kematian hewan, pemerkosaan, kekerasan seksual, sekilas menyebut perselingkuhan, kecelakaan mobil, bunuh diri 
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My Feral Romance by Tessonja Odette

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Even if you don’t love me back, you’re enough as my friend, and I want to keep you in any form.” 
 
Highly recommended for those who loves: 
✨️ Friends-to-lovers
✨️ He Falls First
 ✨️ Forced Proximity
 ✨️ Touch Him and You Die 
 
Intriguing storyline, beautiful writing style, well-paced, and loveable characters make this book so hard to put down! 
I was glad to see familiar characters like Briony and Thorne make an appearance as well as new adorable character like Araminta, whom I adore! 
 
I’m loving the chemistry between Monty and Daphne. They’re not perfect, but their flaw makes me love them even more as I get to know them throughout the story. 
I love their banter, which shows how comfortable they are with each other without having to pretend and just be free to be themselves. 
My favorite part would be the moment where they finally open up to each other about their deepest fear and raw feelings. 
 
As you can tell from the title, the romance is feral, messy and a bit rough so if you like spicy romance then you won’t be disappointed with Monty and Daphne! 
 
I read this book along with the audio version I got from Netgalley. Both narrators did a great job in delivering this story! 
However, I noticed there’s one chapter missing from the audio version when I was reading the book. 
 
Overall, My Feral Romance is an incredible read and definitely going into my favorite list of books in 2024! 
The bonus epilogue at the end was the perfect preview for the next book. I can’t wait to get my hands on that book next year! 
 
I received an advanced audiobook copy through Netgalley and the e-arc from the author through Book of Matches Media Tour, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
 
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: adult situations, explicit language, fantasy drug use, childhood trauma, descriptive on page sex scenes (medium spice), sexual activity in public spaces (without an audience), violence, blood, illegal fighting sport and mild gore. 
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My Perfect Husband by Georgina Cross

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

If you’re looking for a quick and engaging psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then pick up this book! 
 
The great writing style, fast pace, and intriguing characters make this book hard to put down! 
I was hooked right from the start and eager to uncover the truth of what happened that night 12 years ago. 
I thoroughly enjoyed the dual timeline, which provides insight into the events leading up to Ellie’s disappearance and the present-day investigation. 
 
There’s a couple of red herrings, making it challenging to figure out the truth before the big reveal at the end. 
 
However, I must say the way this book ends wasn’t to my liking; I was expecting more but the book concluded rather abruptly. 
 
Overall, it’s an entertaining, enjoyable and gripping story to read! 
 The world-building is vivid, making me feel like I’m walking down the street in New Orleans, and the unexpected twists kept me engrossed throughout the story. 
I’m looking forward to read more books by this author in the future! 
 
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

“Because if he could see her, see the truest and most private parts of her, and love her still, then that love was something worth facing a thousand monsters for.”
 
If you’re looking for an enemies-to-lovers story between a vampire and a vampire hunter, look no 
further—this book is for you! 
 
The plot was well-paced and well-written; I was hooked right from the start until the end following Carolina and Lalo tackled the vampire issue. 
The characters are loveable and I especially enjoyed the funny teasing between the siblings, which really enlivened the story! 
 
Carolina is a badass character whom I admire and love. She’s a fierce fighter and lover, often quite reckless and prideful, and finally she meets her match in Lalo—the sweetest and sometimes awkward guy who always riles her up but also becomes one of the few people who can comfort, understand and support her. 
 
I loved the chemistry between the two of them. It was delightful to see their banter and slight flirting! 
I was rooting for them the entire time and curious to see how or whether they would get their happy ending while saving mankind from vampires. 
 
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and entertaining YA vampire romance that comes with a satisfying ending! 
I’m definitely keeping an eye out for more books by this author in the future! 
 
Thank you to Hear Our Voices Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
 
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Grief, animal death, blood, gore, violence 
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You're Dead To Me by Amy Christine Parker

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dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I devoured this book in just one day! 
The easy-to-read writing style, loveable characters, and short chapters build great suspense throughout the story, making it easy to get lost in. 
 
I was hooked right from the start by the mystery and paranormal element involving Ruby’s ghost from the future, who keeps showing up as a time bomb for a dark future awaiting her. 
I have to admit, the ghost appearances were quite creepy and vividly described. 
I wished this phenomenon was explained further; I would’ve love to know why it’s happening to her in the first place. 
 
I liked seeing Ruby's character develop in this story and realizing her actions as the person behind the Reputationkiller account by outing others' secrets is not the right way to do justice. 
I also love the friendship of Ruby with her other two friends, Anton and Xavier. 
They showed strong friendship by having each other’s backs, even in dangerous situations while investigating. 
 
Despite having to suspend my disbelief because some events might seem a bit too far-fetched, I thoroughly enjoyed following Ruby and the gang as they uncovered the truth. 
One unexpected twist near the ending really surprised me! 
However, I kinda wish the last few chapters weren’t so rushed despite being wrapped up nicely in the last chapter. 
 
Overall, this is a fun fast-paced YA thriller with a dash of romance. Such a page turner! 
Highly recommended for teenagers, and I’m definitely keep an eye out for more books by this author in the future! 
 
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
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The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

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adventurous emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I have mixed feelings toward this book. 
 
The Egyptian elements give a unique vibe to this fantasy world-building since I don’t see often in a fantasy books. 
I also enjoyed following Sylvia’s journey — learning about her pasts and how it influences her thoughts and actions throughout the story.  
 
However, a few aspects prevented me from fully enjoying this book. 
The uneven pacing was one of those aspects, with some parts feeling dragged out, while the action-packed were reserved near the end.  
The magic system confused me; I had a hard time trying to understand how the magic works. 
I’m also not a huge fan of the long chapters which made this storyline felt longer than necessary. 
 
As for the romance, I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters, Arin and Sylvia. 
I actually prefer slow burn romance in a book, but this one was a bit too slow for my taste. It felt like a subplot. 
But, I’m still curious to see how their relationship evolves after the events of the last chapter. 
 
The Jasad Heir is a debut novel with a unique world-building, and it has the potential to be a good book. 
However, some aspects like the romance and the long chapters were not my preference, and I’m hoping the sequel will be better. 
 
If you like the sound of Egyptian inspired fantasy with thick political intrigue, a bit of enemies-to-lovers romance and a character with hidden identity then this one might be a new favorite of yours. 
 
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
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The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If you think a police procedural thriller with a dash of spicy romance sounds interesting, then this one might be for you. 
However, I highly suggest to check out the trigger warnings below before diving into this one! 
 
I was intrigued the first few chapters; it wasn’t just a simple ‘whodunit’ murder mystery. 
The story also covers some deep, heavy, thought-provoking topics, offering an eye-opening view of the two different sides of San Fransisco. 
 
The storyline was well-written, and the mystery and romance were well-balanced. 
The mystery kept me interested from the beginning until the end, racking my brains with theories upon theories to guess the twist at the end. 
 
I really enjoyed the investigation regarding the suspicious new drugs with Inspector Lennon and FBI Agent Ambrose. They make a good team, and I also liked getting to know their history as they slowly got closer to each other. 
 
Overall, The Broken Places was a captivating and emotional read, it explores about trauma, love, loss, grief, and second chances. 
This is not my first book by Mia Sheridan and it won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future! 
 
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
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Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

“If you fall in love someday, whoever they are, make sure it’s with someone you can be your whole self with. 
It’s dangerous to love half of a person.”
 
It took me a while to get hooked into the story, but my eyes were glued to my Kindle once I got to the part where the FMC, Ross Quest, entered a cutthroat competition to claim the prize – saving her mother. 
 
There are three phases in the competition, my personal favorite is the second phase, which includes longer schemes and forces the competitors to work together to succeed. 
Despite needing to suspend my disbelief here with teenagers planning such a complicated heist, I found it fun and thrilling to see how they strategize to stay ahead of the game, execute their plans, and improvise when things go awry. 
 
Ross has trust issues, which lead her to make questionable decisions throughout the story that at times felt slightly frustrating. But, deep down, she always craved a life like a normal teenage girl. 
I’m glad to see her slowly step out of her comfort zone with making new friends and rekindling her friendship with Noelia. 
I can’t say the same for the romance though as I didn’t feel the spark between Devroe and Ross, despite Devroe being a mysterious charming character. 
 
The last few chapters were quite intense as the stakes gets higher for the remaining competitors. Mind-blowing twists lead to a huge cliffhanger at the end! 
I'm excited to see what will happen next in the final book of this duology. 
 
Overall, Thieve’s Gambit is such a page turner! 
Highly recommend picking up this YA Thriller if you love: 
✨️ Heist Competition 
✨️ Rivals-to-Lovers 
✨️ Scheming                                                     
✨️ Betrayals and Alliances 
✨️ Shocking Plot Twists 
✨️ Diverse Characters 
 
I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
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Lethal Kings by Victoria McCombs

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“Games are always riveting until they take something you weren’t willing to give.”

Lethal Kings serves as a fitting conclusion to the Fae Dynasty duology with all the questions I had from the first book finally answered.
There are a lot of twists and turns as each secret is revealed when a mysterious figure called the Gamemaster shows up.

I enjoyed this story even more than the first book; the stakes are higher for the Mortal Queen’s fate. 
The Gamemaster creates a very intriguing game and I loved seeing how Althea tries to solve the riddles and pass the trials with the help of her family and friends.

While I appreciated the plot’s mystery and unexpected twists, I was hoping for more development from Althea and Bash's romantic relationship.
Instead, I often felt frustrated with how Althea act towards him. I was also disappointed not to see them work together as a team this time.

Nonetheless, this was a really good YA Fantasy series!
It’s highly entertaining with epic world-building and mind-blowing twists.
The ending was bittersweet—I can’t say more without spoiling the story, but one event truly shocked me and broke my heart….

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
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Mortal Queens by Victoria McCombs

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“Strategize with your head, never your heart. 
Your head can save you. 
Your heart will only lead to him, and ruin lies there.” 
 
Embark on a fun and thrilling journey of a human queen trying to survive in a realm of mischievous and deceptive Fae. 
Mortal Queens is recommended for those who enjoy: 
• Forbidden romance 
• Clean fantasy 
• Puzzles and riddles 
• Epic world-building 
 
I absolutely enjoy seeing Althea learn her way around the Fae with the help of Talen and Odette (my fav side characters!) 
She learns to differentiate who is sincere and who is hiding something up their sleeves. 
She becomes stronger and clever enough to evade traps/curses through hard lessons which open her eyes and build a stronger character. 
 
The world-building is captivating, but danger lurks in every corner. There is a dark mystery, especially relating to the history of the mortal queens. 
There are still many unanswered questions that left me wondering, and it felt like we barely scratched the surface, so I’m hoping we get some answers and more exploration in the next book. 
 
Overall, this is a well-written YA fantasy with lots of twists and turns! 
I’m excited to pick up the sequel to see whether Althea will succeed in her mission. 
 
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily! 
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