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ddnreads's reviews
404 reviews
Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage by Rebel Girls
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
It tells a story of a legendary ballerina who didn't give up on dancing. She's into dancing from day 1 and never really stopped. Despite her struggle and illness, Alicia kept going and she actually lived a long happy life as a dancer. Her contribution to the ballet world was highly noticeable, especially in her hometown, Cuba. It was eye pleasing inspirative story. I enjoy this a lot!!!
Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music by Rebel Girls
informative
inspiring
4.75
I love this. The stories portrayed various kinds of women in music industry with inspirative narrative. Easy to digest, and great illustrations. I love the illustration so much!!!!
It diverse from pop singer, songwriter, rapper or even the leader of a well known music label.
Colourful and empowering, this book is highly recommended for young girls out there to pursue their dreams unapologetically, love themselves, and keep going with whatevers music that stole their breaths away.
It diverse from pop singer, songwriter, rapper or even the leader of a well known music label.
Colourful and empowering, this book is highly recommended for young girls out there to pursue their dreams unapologetically, love themselves, and keep going with whatevers music that stole their breaths away.
Aero & Sword Master: Origins and Odysseys by Greg Pak
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Just found out that Fonda Lee co wrote this graphic novel~
A fan of the art ๐๐๐
And since I'm novice to this, I enjoy the story so far. Finished in one setting~
Plot wise, it's a bit jumpy but it's alright
A fan of the art ๐๐๐
And since I'm novice to this, I enjoy the story so far. Finished in one setting~
Plot wise, it's a bit jumpy but it's alright
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Reread March, 2023
I didn't joke when I say this is my comfort book.
It reminds me how I treasure parcabeth๐ญ
AND TO HAVE THE SEVEN WENT ON A QUEST TOGETHER ๐ซถ๐ฝ I LOVE THEM IT'S IRRATIONAL. I didn't know how I managed to get over the cliffhanger years ago:(((
I'm just going to drop lines and moments here
I didn't joke when I say this is my comfort book.
It reminds me how I treasure parcabeth๐ญ
AND TO HAVE THE SEVEN WENT ON A QUEST TOGETHER ๐ซถ๐ฝ I LOVE THEM IT'S IRRATIONAL. I didn't know how I managed to get over the cliffhanger years ago:(((
I'm just going to drop lines and moments here
"You dropped this" by Percy after he drowned the Romans demigods surrounding Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel
"Halo Hazel Levesque" by Leo Valdes after they connected the dots between Leo and Sammy:(
"Percy threw his arms around her. they kissed, and for a moment nothing else mattered. an asteroid could have hit the planet and wiped out all life, and annabeth wouldn't have cared."
THE JUDO FLIP AFTER THAT
"You're not getting away from me. Never again."
"You're Percy idiot, I'm Leo."
Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
I enjoy this so much๐ญ
It's very atmospheric I can taste the jambu. I love how this book explored places and fruits and birds around Malaysia and I'm familiar with them and can't wait for the international readers to feel them too!!!
The story set in Mayalsia, 2020, during the COVID pandemic. It's nice to see an entertaining adventure during those struggling time.
Hamra, a 13th yo girl, ever so tired and obedient first girl in an Asian household, took something from the jungle and had to pay the price for her action. Accompanied by her neighbour/ best friend, they went on a quest with the weretiger to undo the curse. The story laced with the devastating social distancing policy, being away from parents, and taking care of grandparents (with grandma having the dementia).
What I love:
- The pace is okay. The quest woven perfectly one after another.
- ILYAS AND HAMRA RELATIONSHIP:( that's what friendship are for
- HAMRA AND THE WERETIGER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Anyone who love middle grade should give this book a go๐
Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's book
It's very atmospheric I can taste the jambu. I love how this book explored places and fruits and birds around Malaysia and I'm familiar with them and can't wait for the international readers to feel them too!!!
The story set in Mayalsia, 2020, during the COVID pandemic. It's nice to see an entertaining adventure during those struggling time.
Hamra, a 13th yo girl, ever so tired and obedient first girl in an Asian household, took something from the jungle and had to pay the price for her action. Accompanied by her neighbour/ best friend, they went on a quest with the weretiger to undo the curse. The story laced with the devastating social distancing policy, being away from parents, and taking care of grandparents (with grandma having the dementia).
What I love:
- The pace is okay. The quest woven perfectly one after another.
- ILYAS AND HAMRA RELATIONSHIP:( that's what friendship are for
- HAMRA AND THE WERETIGER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Anyone who love middle grade should give this book a go๐
Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's book
Lebih Senyap dari Bisikan by Andina Dwifatma
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I know this book is going to be good, but I don't know it's going to be THIS GOOD ๐ญ
It's been a long time I got so immersed in a book I finished it in one sitting and forget about anything else. Page turning parah.
Buku ini mengisahkan sepasang suami-istri yang berambisi mempunyai seorang anak. Lengkap dengan lika-liku pernikahan mereka yang wow aduhai sekali perjuangan dan masalahnya.
Buku ini tajam dan blak-blakkan. Belajar banyak menjadi ibu dan peran perempuan dalam rumah tangga. Sakit-sakitnya, kejomplangannya, endurancenya. Gila-gilaan deh...
Banyak isu sosial di masyarakat yang effortlessly fit in nyemplung jadi alur di buku ini dan jadi bahan pikiran. Pokoknya jadi punya bahan pikiran banyak banget abis baca ๐ญ
Ini tu kayak worst case scenario semua yang trending dan sering dipikirkan orang-orang. Tapi jadi sangat relatable juga karena pasti banyak Amara Amara dan Baron Baron lain diluar sana yang mengalami hal serupa (or worse even).
Both perempuan dan laki-laki harus baca ini si. It's tense and reflective. It deals a lot with parental issue and marriage struggles. I don't think my review will do it justice:')
I'm a fan of the writing styles. Witty and atmospheric. I'm scared to death about many things within this story. Ikutan ngilu, takut, marah dan deg2an. Detail perasaan dan suasana oke banget. It will haunt me for a looooong loooooong time:)
Mba Andina Dwifatma, has just became my autobuy author:)
To convince you more here are some of my favourite lines:
It's been a long time I got so immersed in a book I finished it in one sitting and forget about anything else. Page turning parah.
Buku ini mengisahkan sepasang suami-istri yang berambisi mempunyai seorang anak. Lengkap dengan lika-liku pernikahan mereka yang wow aduhai sekali perjuangan dan masalahnya.
Buku ini tajam dan blak-blakkan. Belajar banyak menjadi ibu dan peran perempuan dalam rumah tangga. Sakit-sakitnya, kejomplangannya, endurancenya. Gila-gilaan deh...
Banyak isu sosial di masyarakat yang effortlessly fit in nyemplung jadi alur di buku ini dan jadi bahan pikiran. Pokoknya jadi punya bahan pikiran banyak banget abis baca ๐ญ
Ini tu kayak worst case scenario semua yang trending dan sering dipikirkan orang-orang. Tapi jadi sangat relatable juga karena pasti banyak Amara Amara dan Baron Baron lain diluar sana yang mengalami hal serupa (or worse even).
Both perempuan dan laki-laki harus baca ini si. It's tense and reflective. It deals a lot with parental issue and marriage struggles. I don't think my review will do it justice:')
I'm a fan of the writing styles. Witty and atmospheric. I'm scared to death about many things within this story. Ikutan ngilu, takut, marah dan deg2an. Detail perasaan dan suasana oke banget. It will haunt me for a looooong loooooong time:)
Mba Andina Dwifatma, has just became my autobuy author:)
To convince you more here are some of my favourite lines:
"Amara sudah isi belum nih?" Sambil memegang perutku.
Namun, tidak ada yang memegang penis Baron sambil bertanya, " Baron sudah berhasil menghamili belum, nih?"
"Baron berasumsi bahwa aku selalu tahu apa yang terbaik untuk Yuki karena aku ibunya. Tidak pernahkah terlintas di pikirannya bahwa aku mungkin tidak memiliki insting yang cukup kuat untuk tanggung jawab sebesar itu, bhwa aku mungkin juga masih meraba bagaimana caranya menjadi seorang ibu."
"Mengapa dia boleh menjadi pihak yang marah dan frustasi, sementara aku ditinggalkan untuk menyusun kembali kehidupan kami yang sudah remuk menjadi puing-puing?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Blood
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.75
This book is very fantasy beginner friendly (if that makes sense๐ญ). It managed to captivate the world building without it being very complicated to digest. The writing is flown effortlessly. Super page turning. I like the character at once (Mazen, Aisha, and Qadir. Not you Midnight Merchant). I love the tales!!!!
Plot wise, the story is great. It seemed like we're going one way, only to find out that at the half end there are SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING AND SECRETS UNRAVELING AND BRAIN IS HAVING A HARD TIME PROCESSING IT ALL. Felt a bit too crampy.
All and all I will be very delightful to read the sequel bcs I need to know how my girl (Aisha) and boys (Qadir, Mazen, and Hakim!!!!) survive.
If you're into YA fantasy with captivating world building, Jin and the Forty Thieves retelling, throne and power seizing, give this book a go๐
Thanks so much for the arc๐
Plot wise, the story is great. It seemed like we're going one way, only to find out that at the half end there are SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING AND SECRETS UNRAVELING AND BRAIN IS HAVING A HARD TIME PROCESSING IT ALL. Felt a bit too crampy.
All and all I will be very delightful to read the sequel bcs I need to know how my girl (Aisha) and boys (Qadir, Mazen, and Hakim!!!!) survive.
If you're into YA fantasy with captivating world building, Jin and the Forty Thieves retelling, throne and power seizing, give this book a go๐
Thanks so much for the arc๐
Ithaca by Claire North
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book turned out to be okayish for me.
I like the writing style. It's witty and funny at times. However, the pace of the book is not one of my liking. I feel too cramped with too many names and I can't get attached to the characters.
I love how the women portrayed here. Each of them strong in their own way, and they seized unapologetically. It's good but not extremely pleasing.
I like the writing style. It's witty and funny at times. However, the pace of the book is not one of my liking. I feel too cramped with too many names and I can't get attached to the characters.
I love how the women portrayed here. Each of them strong in their own way, and they seized unapologetically. It's good but not extremely pleasing.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
Giving a gothic dark vibe, the story was told in riddles. We were to see beyond what was written. It tackled the issue about a broken home, domestic abuse, pedo step father, and a obsessive psychopath kinda best friend.
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
WHAT WAS THAT?!!
Mesmerising lyrical writing, this book revolves around the dynamic of a married couple under one condition: the bridegroom shouldn't pry into his wife past at all cost.
Until a condition brought them together into the House of Dreams. The wife's childhood house. This is where the secrets unfolded telling about two girls found their way into adulthood, from believing into fairies and otherworld, and acted upon those beliefs.
Mesmerising lyrical writing, this book revolves around the dynamic of a married couple under one condition: the bridegroom shouldn't pry into his wife past at all cost.
Until a condition brought them together into the House of Dreams. The wife's childhood house. This is where the secrets unfolded telling about two girls found their way into adulthood, from believing into fairies and otherworld, and acted upon those beliefs.
"I thought you love us. Or maybe I just don't understand your love."
Giving a gothic dark vibe, the story was told in riddles. We were to see beyond what was written. It tackled the issue about a broken home, domestic abuse, pedo step father, and a obsessive psychopath kinda best friend.
This was a very dark coming of age stories. When RC said it's about how the marriage comprises the monsters in the past, I felt that.
"We're two blues, the heat seam of dusk and dawn. We share a sky, if not a soul, and yet we are cut out the same shape."
"Only grief can make time change its tempo like that, expand seconds to centuries, with only our eyes marking the distance crossed."
I love how the author weaved the philosophical ideas of teens turned into adulthood. What shaped them and what those years means.
The characters' trait was so intriguing. The condition that they have to put through shaped what they are. The TOXICITY was heavy.
However, I can't shake the feeling of relief when I finished. I love how the story ended.
(I just really wish the stepfather rott in hell somewhere)
If you're into atmospheric dark romance, gothic mysterious vibe with alluring writing, tales about love and finding oneself, coming of age (teens and married), and the subtle line between fairy tale and reality, give this book a go๐
The characters' trait was so intriguing. The condition that they have to put through shaped what they are. The TOXICITY was heavy.
However, I can't shake the feeling of relief when I finished. I love how the story ended.
(I just really wish the stepfather rott in hell somewhere)
If you're into atmospheric dark romance, gothic mysterious vibe with alluring writing, tales about love and finding oneself, coming of age (teens and married), and the subtle line between fairy tale and reality, give this book a go๐
"All marriage possess their own tongue. It is a lexicon discovered in that space between clipped sentences. Its poetry can be heard in the rustle of blankets as you shift to curl around the other in silent apology."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Grief
Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoy this more than the first book ๐ and reading this after Six of Cranes duology is actually very nice. You've got snippets how things ended and when you've read the books, it made more sense.
Plot wise, this book is more fast paced and action packed. Maya is dealing a lot with her becoming a demon. I can feel her struggle.
And Edan. Poor Edan. I don't like it how Maya didn't trust him:'
The dress was Maya's and only Maya's was able to use it. So, the challenge to created the dresses for Lady Sarnai? Wasted ๐คฃ
Things I don't really understand: Maya's patriotism. She didn't particularly like her emperor, it's not like her country gave her what she wanted (?) She even had to mask herself as a boy to be accepted by the kingdom. Why didn't she focus on dealing with her demon and trust her lover rather than involved in the war.... Yes, the innocence lives, but it doesn't portrayed exactly how it affected her. So, Yap the missing 1 star is for this.
Plot wise, this book is more fast paced and action packed. Maya is dealing a lot with her becoming a demon. I can feel her struggle.
And Edan. Poor Edan. I don't like it how Maya didn't trust him:'
The dress was Maya's and only Maya's was able to use it. So, the challenge to created the dresses for Lady Sarnai? Wasted ๐คฃ
Things I don't really understand: Maya's patriotism. She didn't particularly like her emperor, it's not like her country gave her what she wanted (?) She even had to mask herself as a boy to be accepted by the kingdom. Why didn't she focus on dealing with her demon and trust her lover rather than involved in the war.... Yes, the innocence lives, but it doesn't portrayed exactly how it affected her. So, Yap the missing 1 star is for this.