renpuspita's reviews
1353 reviews

 Seberapa besar rasa duka yang bisa ditanggung seorang istri, setelah kehilangan suami yang baru saja dinikahi satu tahun dalam kondisi mengandung bayinya dan setelah itu langsung menikah dengan sahabat sang suami untuk lalu hidup dalam pernikahan tanpa cinta? Itu adalah premis awal yang ditulis Tiffany Reisz untuk The Night Mark. Faye Barlow harus kehilangan suaminya, Will Fielding untuk selamanya dan sejak saat itu dia bagaikan hidup tak mau, tapi mau mati juga berkali - kali digagalkan oleh suaminya yang sekarang, Hagen. Muak dengan pernikahan tanpa cinta walau sudah berusaha selama empat tahun, Faye dan Hagen pun bercerai. Perjalanan ke Carolina Selatan untuk mengambil foto buat kalender membawa Faye ke sebuah mercusuar di pulau Bride Island dengan legenda tentang putri seorang penjaga mercusuar yang meninggal terseret ombak di dermaga. Siapa sih yang bakal mengira kalau Faye bakal terseret ombak yang sama dan mengarungi waktu dari 2015 untuk kemudian terdampar di tahun 1921? Paling terkejutnya ternyata sang penjaga mercusuar, Carrick Morgan itu mirip banget dengan Will, dan Faye saat ini ada di tubuh Faith Morgan, putri dari Carrick.

Seperti ciri khas Tiffany Reisz, unsur tabu dan ada unsur agama juga ada di The Night Mark meski ga terlalu mencolok banget seperti yang gue baca di The Lucky Ones (sudah diterjemahkan juga sama Elex). Unsur tabunya sendiri lebih ke arah cheating, tapi cheating ini juga tergantung kamu lihatnya dari sudut pandang yang gimana karena menurut gue, Faye tuh dah cerai sama Hagen dan ditinggal mati Will jadi harusnya dia sih bebas ya mencintai siapapun. Masalahnya, tubuh yang dia tempati yaitu Faith,itu kondisinya complicated. Akan ada beberapa twist yang mungkin awalnya kamu bakal mikir lah Faith ini kan putrinya Carrick, tapi gimana ceritanya Faye (dalam tubuh Faith) bisa mencintai Carrick? Apa yang bakal dipikirkan Carrick? Tenang gaes, ga ada unsur incest kok hahaha. Faith sendiri ga ada hubungan darah sama Carrick dan ada alasan yang kuat kenapa Faith pergi ke Carrick dan menyandang nama keluarga Carrick yaitu Morgan. Dilemanya sendiri juga akan kelihatan nyata dari segi Carrick yang berusaha melawan rasa tertariknya pada Faith/Faye. Bingung? Emang agak2 bingung buat jelasin apa yang terjadi di buku ini tanpa harus spoiler banget XD.

Untuk unsur agamanya sendiri, mengingat setahu gue Reisz itu Katolik taat, jadi ada tokoh pendeta di buku ini yaitu Fater Pat Cahill. Gue sendiri suka sama karakter Pat Cahill ini karena sering jadi voice of reasons di buku ini. Untuk genre The Night Mark sendiri, bisa dibilang campuran antara time travel dengan historical romance. Jangan mengira time travel disini bakal scientific banget karena menurut gue jatuhnya lebih ke magical realism. Kalau kalian tahu Outlander, ya The Night Mark ini bisa dibilang mirip - mirip Outlander lah karena sama - sama mengarungi waktu dan tokoh utama wanitanya jatuh cinta sama pria di masa lalu. Cuma bedanya kalau Claire di Outlander masih secara resmi menikah, di buku ini Faye udah cerai walau ya seperti yang gue bilang di awal, masalahnya rumit. Unsur time travel di buku ini lebih kayak keajaiban dari Tuhan (mungkin) yang intinya sih untuk membuat Faye itu move on dari rasa dukanya yang mendalam karena kehilangan Will.

Dari segi karakterisasi, gue suka sama semua karakter - karakternya. Gue applause sama cara Reisz menggambarkan duka Faye. Gue ngga menganggap cara Faye menghadapi duka itu lebay, karena loe pikir aja baru setahun menikah dan lagi cinta - cintanya terus suami mati direnggut dari loe hanya dalam waktu singkat. Faye bertahun - tahun hidup dalam kegilaan dan kesedihan sebelumnya akhirnya bangkit lagi. Reisz seakan ingin menulis kalau cinta itu bisa hadir dua kali dalam hidup, karena ya jodoh mana ada yang tahu. Selain Faye dan Pater Pat Cahill ada juga tokoh Dolly, seorang gadis kulit hitam tuli yang nantinya akan jadi salah satu keluarga Faye yang berharga di tahun 1921. Mungkin yang agak lemah itu malah Carrick ya. Gue cuma merasa Carrick tuh mukanya mirip Will (walau ya ga mirip2 banget) dan ceritanya lebih fokus ke dilema dia melawan rasa suka ke Faith/Faye. Untuk ukuran pria tahun 1921, Carrick ini nrimoan banget orangnya wkwk, kayak yang pas dia akhirnya tahu masalah time travel ya udah nerima - nerima aja XD. Pertanda kalau Carrick ini emang ditulis author cewek hahaha. Apalagi karena buku ini walau ditulis dari sudut pandang ketiga tapi fokusnya dari Faye, jadi gue hanya tahu Carrick dari pandangan Faye dan juga dari Pat Cahill yang pada tahun 1965 adalah pendetanya Carrick. Untuk villainnya sendiri pun ga terlalu dibahas banget, kayak yang ya udah gitu. 

Pertengahan buku apalagi pas Faye tinggal di 1921 itu mayan slow abis padahal kejadiannya cuma semingguan aja. Tapi Reisz bisa dengan detail menjabarkan kejadian di tahun itu juga dilengkapi dengan kejadian - kejadian bersejarah salah satunya Great Depression dan era Prohibition alias era dimana banyak yang menyelundupkan miras di Amrik. Penjabaran tentang cara kerja mercusuar dan setting mercusuar di Bride Island itu juga menjadi nilai tambah. Meski eksekusi gimana akhirnya Faye dan Carrick bisa bersatu mayan - mayan agak "gampang", gue suka sama cara Reisz menulis saat Faye dan Hagen akhirnya berdamai dan bahwa Hagen itu sebenarnya bukan pria yang jahat cuma karena kondisi aja Faye dan Hagen ini jadi kelihatan musuhan. Bab terakhirnya juga menurut gue the best sih, cukup menyelamatkan bagian tengah yang kedodoran dan mekanisme time travel yang menurut gue outlandish banget (tapi time travel sendiri juga udah outlandish XD)

Bukan buku terbaik dari Tiffany Reisz yang pernah gue baca, tapi tetep akan gue rekomendasikan apalagi kalau kamu nyari time travel romance yang ga biasa. 

 Still as cozy and charming as book 1, Death in Castle Dark; Castle Deadly, Castle Deep bring me back to Castle Dark and Nora Blake's sleuthing adventure when, again, Nora stumble upon a dead body in one of the castle murder mystery's performance. Poor girl, just in the matter of months to discover another murder case in the same place and you may wonder if the castle was cursed. Lucky for Nora, she have support from her boyfriend, Detective John Dashiell although their romantic relationship somehow getting rocky.

The mystery itself is solid and also light while still left me pondering what the motive behind the murder. The victim is a bright young guy that seems loved by Wood Glen citizen, especially by the local theater group member, Blue Curtain. Nora again try to deduce whodunnit and why. Like book 1, Nora hope the culprit is not one of the Castle troupe member that she hold dearly although one of the new member, Dorian, make her feel uneasy. But, the investigation also getting tricky because all the suspects are thespian and acting is in their nature after all. Not only the murder mystery, but Bond also include some of treasure hunting mystery in the form of a poem that left by Derek and Paul's eccentric uncle. Because, a castle didn't complete without one or two treasures right?

Compare to book 1, the romance take the more spotlight, because Nora and Dash find themselves getting slightly estranged because of their busy schedule. Reading Nora's romantic woe and jealousy are amusing, but I like that she didn't throw tantrum here and there since mostly her displeasure about the situation is only in her head. I like that finally Nora and Dash make amend of their current predicament and make their relationship work again. Also, I'm surprised to read sex scenes in this book 😂, although the scene more like implied rather than explained. The scene kinda taken me aback maybe because I don't expect it in cozy book or maybe cozy mysteries that I read is just a few. The scene can be easily skipped if that is not your things. The romantic couple is not only Nora and Dash. Derek and Connie is still lovey dovey as ever since Derek confess his feeling to Connie in book 1. Derek's brother, Paul, also find courage to pursue his romantic pursuit and make his relationship with Gen work despite they live in different city. Seems like Castle Dark not only as a place when murder happen but also bring the romantic of the people.

I like the part when Bond include the play "A the Doll House" by Henrik Ibsen and write how both Castle Dark troupe and Blue Curtain member bring the play to live. The drama aspect are pretty much well written and adding charm to this book. While the mystery is solid, seems like Nora always attract problem to her, lol. Lucky that she have her twin brothers to taught her self defense. Speak of the twins, the twins also one of a spotlight of the book and reading them make me remember my own nephews.

A Dinner and Murder Mystery is a cozy mystery that make me feel good because the family theme is well executed, the sisterhood between Nora and the female member (Connie, Renata, Elspeth, Zana and then Miranda) is a delight, the platonic friendship between Nora and the Corby brothers is good too and the romantic relationship also well written. Also, don't forget the Bronte kittens and the dog named Hamlet! While I want to know more about Nora's life with Castle Dark member, but the end of this book feel like Bond think the story work well as a duology. Beside, it will tempt fate if Nora suddenly entangled with murder in the castle for the third time.

Recommended if you like your cozy mystery very cozy with a low stake and strong romantic elements! 💕💕 

 Death in Castle Dark is a cozy mystery that emphasize the coziness, while still retain its mystery elements. It's also slightly gothic with a mention of Victoria Holt's book (never read hers, to be honest), since the setting was in ACTUAL castle with its secret passages and also a grandiose piano (complete with a map of the castle's room in the start of the book that help me to understand the structure of the castle). This is also the first time I read Veronica Bond (that apparently a pseudonym used by Julia Buckley, another new author to me) and I find that I like her voice already.

Told entirely from Nora Blake's first PoV, I find the premise of the book is unique. A recreated murder mystery located in actual castle that invited its visitor to playing detective (called Inspector) to solve the murder case that recreated by the castle's employee consists of actors and actresses alike. Things got ugly so fast when the murder become real and Nora found the corpse. What I really like from this book beside its coziness is the atmosphere and character's interaction. I had said before that this book have a slightly gothic vibe and Bond stay true to its vibe by writing a chilly scenes when Nora got chased by unknown assailant. Also, since all the suspects are actors, it was tricky to guess the alibi and motives since everyone can lie as easily as breathing. The mystery is solid till the end and I read this book with dread because from Nora's PoV, it will be devastating if the culprit is someone from Castle Dark that she know dearly.

The character's interaction is one of the spotlight and I like the "found family" trope that Bond try to execute here. That's why I really hope the culprit is not one of the castle employee and employer since Nora also bonding (harhar no pun intended) and making friends with them. I also like the addition of the pets, especially the kittens that named after Bronte's siblings and a dog named Hamlet. I'm surprised to see some of romantic elements, not only by Nora and the detective that investigate the case, but also between the actor and actress . Speaking about detective, I like that John Dashiell (or Dash for sort) didn't try to shoo Nora away and constantly ask her if she found anything that will help the case. Nora's family also a supportive family. Sigh, this book is really, really COZY, lol, i can't find anything to complaint except maybe some things that make me go "huh" like when Jade, a teenager that deliver the kitten to Nora said that her father is feminist, I'll be like "umm..okay". Just a matter of preference, though.

I have an enjoyable read with Death in Castle Dark and definitely will read the next. I think if you really love your mystery to be as cozy as possible but with some of gothic vibe, this book is perfect for you. 

 Tampaknya dengan Sisi Liar, Ade aka Tsugaeda udah mulai nemu gaya nulis yang nyaman. Setidaknya ini yang gue rasakan setelah baca semua buku dia. Tahun kemaren gue baca Efek Jera, yang memperkenalkan Dio Prasetyo, anak jalanan street smart & book-smart yang direkrut Sarjono atau kerap dipanggil Om Jon untuk bergabung dengan sebuah agensi yang berfokus menyelesaikan masalah - masalah yg mengancam negara dengan cara yang tidak biasa. Di Sisi Liar ini, gue ketemu lagi sama Dio dan yang menariknya, kali ini fokus cerita juga lebih banyak ke Dinta, cewek yang jadi partner Dio yang di Efek Jera porsinya ga terlalu banyak. Sisi Liar emang diceritakan dari sudut pandang pertama Dio, tapi Tsugaeda juga menuliskan bab dari sudut pandang ketiga via Dinta dan juga..Makarim. Gue mayan kaget juga Makarim ternyata dapat jatah juga di buku ini, hehe.

Ceritanya sendiri sebenarnya udah jelas di blurb dimana investigasi Dio tentang kasus pembalakan hutan berujung pada perburuan manusia setelah dia bertemu dengan si Raja Rimba. Kalau pada mikir apa yang kejadian di buku ini fiksi yang didramatisir, sayangnya perburuan manusia ini emang ada kok kasusnya dimana gue sempat inget beberapa tahun lalu sempat booming kasusnya. Ga cuma perburuan manusia, tapi kasus human trafficking karena banyaknya TKI & TKW masuk ke negara jiran dengan cara ilegal juga dibahas tuntas di buku ini, tentunya dengan beberapa insight tentang pembalakan kayu ilegal yang besar - besaran. Agak ngeri - ngeri sedap emang baca Sisi Liar. Gue paham ini fiksi dan beberapa hal bisa jadi didramatisasi sama Tsugaeda biar kisahnya seru, tapi gue juga mikir seberapa banyak yang fiksi dan berapa persen yang emang fakta? Gue rasa pembalakan hutan dan kasus human trafficking jelas masalah besar di Indo, tapi faktanya sampai sekarang juga ga ada penyelesaiannya karena ada kasus klasik yaitu dimana ada demand, disitu ada supply. Kasus yang seperti ular uroboros, ga ada ujung dan selesainya gimana.

Dio di Sisi Liar ini emang sedikit lebih dewasa dan matang di Efek Jera. Sayangnya, gue ngerasa ini jadi kelemahan juga di buku ini karena dalam beberapa hal Dio berasa kayak shonen protagonis dan selamat dari kejadian yang menimpa dia saat ketemu Raja Rimba simply karena plot armor. Kek, ya Dio itu tokoh utama gitu lho, pastinya diselametin kan hahaha. Pun beberapa bagian kayak gampang banget, terutama yang pas nyuri lukisan Raden Saleh. Bisa gitu cuma beberapa halaman terus selesai? Eniwei, terkait kasus pencurian lukisan ini, ini agak lucu karena gue jadi inget film Mencuri Raden Saleh. Baik Sisi Liar maupun Mencuri Raden Saleh sama - sama rilis tahun 2022 walau ya gue yakin Ade udah nulis Sisi Liar sebelumnya, tapi syuting Raden Saleh pun juga dari 2021. Hmm, kebetulan kah? Tambahan lagi, kalau kalian udah pernah baca Muslihat Berlian, bakal ada cameo salah satu tokohnya dan juga kalau udah baca Sudut Mati, akan ada penyebutan nama satu karakter yang bikin gue "Lah ini kan dulu karakter di Sudut Mati??". Ini kamu mau bikin Tsugaeda universe ya De? XD

Walau dengan beberapa kelemahannya yang cukup mencolok, termasuk personalitas Raja Rimba yang berasa agak2 kartunis di akhir2, gue lebih suka baca Sisi Liar ini ketimbang Efek Jera ataupun Muslihat Berlian. Beberapa bagian emang rada "telling" ketimbang "showing" tapi ga sampe yang kayak gue baca kopas mentah2 dari wiki atau artikel gitu. Gue suka sama dialognya Dio dan Dinta, gue harap mereka bakal jadi partner (in crime) di buku - buku selanjutnya. Interaksi Dio sama Om Jon atau Makarim emang ga sebanyak di Efek Jera, tapi bagi gue ga masalah juga. Kasus yang menimpa ayahnya Dio, Beno Prasetyo, juga mulai terbuka sedikit demi sedikit dan buku Sisi Liar ini juga diakhiri dengan sedikit clue yang menurut gue cukup mind blowing dan bertanya - tanya, siapa sih dalang di balik kasus yang menimpa Beno? Kalau kamu suka baca novel2 ala Dan Brown alias dibawa jalan - jalan kesana kemari, di Sisi Liar ini kita akan diajak ga cuma ke Kalimantan aja, tapi juga ke Sumatra, NTT, Timor, Singapura dan juga Malaysia. Mayan lah ya daripada baca buku settingnya di Jakarta terooos, atau Jawa terooos, ya walau Sisi Liar emang ada beberapa bagian cerita yang di Jakarta.

Gue ga akan bosan merekomendasikan buku2nya Tsugaeda kalau kamu nyari thriller yang juga mengambil issue-issue yang lagi hangat di Indo. Efek Jera udah nyindir kasus maskapai LLC, Sisi Liar mengulik tentang pembakalan hutan liar dan human trafficking. Nah, buat buku selanjutnya, kamu mau nulis apa lagi nih, Tsugaeda? :D 

 Buku yang gue beli karena suka covernya dan premisnya (kayaknya) menarik. 

Sepanjang baca gue mayan terdistraksi sama nama tokohnya Weena, yang bisa aja gue lafalin "Wina" tapi seringnya gue bayangin jadi "weeeeena" 😅. Matter of preference, tho. Mungkin nama Weena ini dipilih biar berima sama Halloween ya, walau tetep nama yg ga biasa. Secara penulisan, gue akuin nulisnya rapi dan mayan enak dibaca. Gue baca di bagian catatan penulisnya kalau dia riset dan emang buku ini menggambarkan settingnya yg di Manhattan, New York dengan cukup baik. Walau sampe selesai baca gue juga ga paham, kenapa Manhattan yang dipilih? Apa karena parade Halloween terbesar emang disini, walau gue mikir mungkin kalau di Irlandia atau Skotlandia sono lebih menarik mengingat mitologi All Hallow Eve awalnya dari sana. Tapi ya udah lah, gue kan bukan penulisnya yak hehe.

Kurangnya mungkin di bbrp bagian rada telling terutama terkait myth Halloween sendiri walau ga sampai yg model kopas text book gitu dan masih enak dibaca. Sama...cinta segitiganya. Gue jujur kaget ada romansanya karena awalnya nyangka ini bakal jadi novel horror atau dark fantasy remaja biasa. Mana romansanya mayan teenlit sekali apalagi karena semua diceritakan dari sudut pandang Weena jadinya berasa keju 🤣. Gue juga kurang paham Far Far Away ini dunia yang bagaimana apa kayak model2 Hogwarts gitu mengingat penduduknya dapet undangan untuk kesana dan sepertinya juga Far Far Away ini punya pemikiran sendiri buat ngundang orangnya. Entahlah, gue merasa kurang puas aja baca buku ini walau gue akuin bagian akhir2nya lumayan seru dan konklusi ceritanya pun cukup memuaskan.

Untuk buku dengan judul "monster" , penampakan monsternya menurut gue emang kurang walau penulisnya sendiri menuliskan kalau monster come in many forms dan walau Weena menganggap dirinya monster karena kemampuan ajaibnya, dia memilih untuk berbuat baik alih2 menggunakan kekuatannya untuk berbuat jahat seperti villain di buku ini. Oh ya, buku ini mayan triggering karena ada issue tentang pengabaian oleh orang tua dan juga rasa duka yang mendalam. Selain itu penjabaran adegan kekerasannya pun cukup eksplisit.

Bukan buku yg meninggalkan kesan mendalam bagi gue, tapi boleh dicoba kalau kamu nyari dark fantasy lokal dengan bumbu internasional (karena settingnya di US) dan ga keberatan sama romansa ala anak SMA (iya sih; Weena sama temen deketnya, Jack itu kan masih SMA 😅) 

 I rarely reading YA, mostly because I dislike love triangle that back then seems like the norm because of Twilight and I'm often got impatient reading immature characters. But in my latest 30-ish, I discover that some of YA titles are good! That's the case with Six Crimson Cranes and I'm glad that I also enjoyed The Dragon's Promise!

I do agree with reviewers that said for a title with "DRAGON" on it, the story about Shiori's journey to Ai'Long, the Dragon King Palace only happen in like 150 first pages give and take. But, I think the title is more like the "other" dragon's promise and not only Seryu's. I did like with how Lim write about the dragons in the Ai'Long. They are more like capricious, cunning and terrible creature. Seryu is antique, a rarity, but other dragons are creatures with their own agenda. Reading about dragon in this book is a delight for me because often I read dragon as a wise creature or only magical without sinister personality.

The story itself was fast paced and I have a hunch that it's maybe better written as trilogy rather than compressed it into duology. So much happen in this book, from Shiori's journey to Ai'Long in order to fulfil Raikama's wishes, then back to Kiata just to find that the demon Bandur whom a villain in SCC come back to claim his right as a Demon King and demand Shiori to free the demons once and all. Then, continue with Shiori's journey to Raikama's hometown, searching for the true owner of the pearl and the final showdown with the Bandur himself. I agree that Bandur feels like a 2D villain although not too cartoonish. Malicious, but not too over the top. For a book, plenty things happen but the story kinda wrapped nicely while some things kinda left unexplained.

For me, the strength of the Six Crimson Cranes duology is in its characters interaction and relationship. While told entirely from Shiori's first PoV, I still get a glimpse and insight into other characters. I always love the siblings love between Shiori and her six brothers, while they like to bickering, the brothers also support Shiori in her journey and predicaments. What make me surprised is how Shiori's Father, the Emperor himself behave. Yes, he's stern, as befitting of the Emperor of Kiata, but he's also kind. That's the sign that I really read a fantasy book because a kind and loving father is apparently hard to find especially in real life (I admit I have daddy issues, lel)

As for the romance, I'm Team TAKKAN FTW! For Seryu, I find him likable but I always know from the start that he fall into the friend-zone area with Shiori. I mean, they are better as friends! I love Takkan because his soft boy personality, lol. Beside, the romantic arc between Shiori and Takkan already written in Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise just kind of make it official. Yeah, I know that Takkan written as a veryyyy nice boy, but I hope in the future Lim will make him hardened enough to face the gossipy & cunning court in the Kiata. Beside, he also show his strength in this book while fighting Bandur and the demons. Reading Shiori and Takkan's romance is one of the book's highlight for me and remind me that sometimes I just need a sweet and over the top young love that still manage to make me swoon.

Discussing about SCC duology is not complete without discuss about Raikama. While I appreciate Shiori's character development in SCC, although her reckless behavior in this book make me shake my head, the most interesting character in SCC duology is Raikama. She's a complex character and if you had read SCC then you already know Raikama's fate in The Dragon's Promise. The focus of this book is more like Shiori's promise to Raikama and how she finally discovered her stepmother's past. How hard Raikama's past was and the reason why she become Shiori's stepmother kinda of heart-wrenching to read. Raikama just want to be loved and have a family of her own. I know that her past will be written more in Her Radiant Curse, and since I know what happen with her in the past, I kinda dreaded reading Her Radiant Curse while also curious.

I like the ending since Lim maybe want to write that HEA can come in many ways, lol. Seems befitting of Shiori and Takkan too, and well, the most important thing is they are happy. Pronto. A well mix of fantasy and romance with characters that you will love, influenced by fusion of Asian myth and a journey that will make you don't want to finish reading (I sure did), I pretty much recommend Six Crimson Cranes duology!! 

I can't help to compare Six Crimson Cranes with The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, since I read Six Crimson Cranes 1-2 weeks after I finish The Girl Who Fell. Both influenced by mix and match of Asian Mythology and written by Asian American author, although Six Crimson Cranes apparently happen in the established world of Lor'Yan that also become setting for Lim's previous Novel (Spin the Dawn duology). Personally, I enjoy Six Crimson Cranes more than Girl Who Fell.

The strength of Six Crimson Cranes is in the heroine character's development. Shiori'anma or Shiori, the only daughter of Emperor Hanrinyu of Kiata Kingdom, first come of as a spoiled brat (or princess). She detest her betrothal to Lord Busian's son and prefer to be together with her six brothers. But, when her stepmother, Raikama, detect her magic and since magic is forbidden in Kiata, Raikama curse Shiori's six brothers into cranes while Shiori herself find her head covered by bowl and can't talk. One word escaped from Shiori's lip and one of her brother will die. Shiori's journey in order to save her brothers and expel Raikama's curse is the the highlight of this book, because Shiori changed from a spoiled princess to a girl with strength and determination forged by difficulties and obstacle that she face during her journey.

The story itself pretty much YA and straightforward, simple to follow but still enjoyable to read. I can't help to feel annoyed reading part when Shiori being bullied by Zairena. As for Shiori's spoiled attitude at first, I didn't mind it because well, Shiori act her age and Lim also write that Shiori kinda regret her past actions especially when she finally meet Takkan, Lord Bushian's son that she supposed to marry. The world building is also like the story, pretty simple and straightforward but still interesting to read. There are some twist near the end and the story also end in a cliffhanger that will continue in book 2, The Dragon Promise.

As for the romance, it's not a main focus but there's hint of romance, especially between Shiori and Takkan. I know that there's also possibilities of love triangle because Shiori also get close with Seryu, the grandson of Dragon King (so, he's also dragon), but although I can see that Seryu is infatuated with Shiori I feel that theirs relationship more like friends. I prefer Shiori with Takkan, lol, maybe because I like Takkan's soft boy personalities and I enjoy her interaction with Shiori. Not only romance, but the love between Shiori and her six brothers also a delight to read, and how complicated Shiori and Raikama's relationship was.

For a YA fantasy with Asian mythology at its core while also a retelling of The Six Swans fairy tale, Six Crimson Crane is a must read. 

 I read this back to back with the first book in Portland After Dark series, Trueheart, and it's a right decision because the start of Ironbound start after the event of Trueheart. Hunter is once the Queen's hunstman, the leader of the Wild Hunt. But in the end of the Trueheart since the Unseelie Queen bested by Tess in order of Tess to save Thomas and the people that got ensnared by the Queen's magic, this event also liberated Hunter from his own slavery. Hunter give a choice to the Queen, come to bed (ruling with him) or come to war (pretty much explanatory) and the Queen choose war, so Hunter decide to rule his own court. This book is not a standalone and better to read after Trueheart ended.

Hunter is of course different compared to Thomas. If Thomas is still have his humanity, then Hunter is other, he's an antihero to the core. Yet, he's more than he seems and it's pretty interesting to read his character developments. Sterling still write him as an antihero but all he did in this books is for the best of his fair folks that follow his court. He's trying to be just and fair, but also didn't try to hide his disgust regarding Thomas's half fae identity. In the end, in order to reach his goal, he cooperate with both Thomas and Tess because apparently the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Hunter want to be ready to the Queen's attack, Thomas want to be free and back to be human again and live together with Tess, so once enemy now become ally to free Portland from the Queen's tyranny.

Compared to Trueheart, I find myself liked Dove more than Tess. While in Trueheart, Tess is a rational woman that suddenly got shoved into fae world so her disbelief at first was understanble, with Dove she already know the faes thank to her hippie parents and her love for paranormal romance. Beside, the world building already explained in the first book and if Dove is the same with Tess, the story will going nowhere. I also liked that beside a cleaning service staff, Dove also a blacksmith, make her more unique with her ability. At first Dove and Tess's personality kinda the same, they care for people. While Tess didn't believe the fae because of her predicament in the end of the book 1, Dove come to care for fae under Hunter's court. Maybe it's a stockholm syndrome case, in which Dove and Hunter's romance can be counted like that, but I love to read about Dove and her friendship with some fae, like Torchy the will o wisp, Sharpenwit the hobgoblin and Red Tod the redcap.

The story itself is a conclusion with the fight with the Queen although I'm a little bit disappointed because there's no war. More like, spying there, investigating here, attacking there and here. The conclusion is pretty well written, Thomas and Tess finally get their own HEA and they also got their story told so basically Ironbound is story about Hunter, Dove, Thomas and Tess. The mystery behind Hunter's identity also got revealed although I still in disbelief in how Dove can deduct Hunter's real identity right away. For the romance, it more like a slow burn and maybe a little bit enemy t0 lover (or maybe abductor and captive, whichever you prefer since Hunter abduct Dove in the first place and held her in his own Court). To sum it up, everyone get their HEA and the villains get their comeuppance at last.

As a series, Portland After Dark is a promising urban fantasy perfect if you like to read everything fae with modern settings. 

Trueheart is the first book of Portland After Dark duology and also the first Mel Sterling title I read. I can't remember why at the first place I buy the e-book but when reading through reviews I think maybe I bought it because Elizabeth Hunter's review or when Grace Draven recommend it in her FB page.

Trueheart is more Urban Fantasy than Paranormal Romance although the romantic element is still the focus and also one of the story driving factor. Read this remember me back at some urban fantasy titles I read back in 2011-ish era, particularly Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Trueheart also have fae, in which the story focused more to Unseelie Fae. Therefore we will get introduced to some of nasty fase such as kelpie, red cap, hobgoblin, bean-sidhe and the Wild Hunt. The hero, Thomas is part human part trow. I didn't familiar with trow and when I'm googling it, apparently it's a small creature but Sterling describe it to more in physical sameness with trolls. Though, Thomas said that trow is superior than troll. Thomas itself was once The Unseelie Queen's lover, but found he slowly lose her favor while also live as the Queen's slave, forced to do her bidding.

I liked with the way the story unfold and the world building introduced. Our heroine, Tess Gordon getting entangled with the Unseelie court because her driving needs to save her clients. Although I find myself also get annoying when reading Tess try to fixing things because this fixer personality also bring Tess problems. BUT, in the other side, I also praised Sterling to didn't hesitate to "torture" the characters in this book. The Unseelie Queen is pretty nasty fae that will use Thomas for her own needs and therefore bring problems to Tess too, since Tess and Thomas are falling for each other. The fae in this book is truly Unseelie, they are nasty creatures, cunning and love to bargain for their own gains.

The story end in a HFN kind of sort. The problems with the Unseelie Queen is not solved yet, but since I read Trueheart back to back with Ironbound, I guarantee that our MCs will finally get their own HEA. It's just the road to HEA is pretty rocky and filled with many obstacles. The next book, Ironbound will feature Hunter, the leader of the Wild Hunt that once also the Queen's lover but like Thomas, get replace with new lovers. To said Hunter fall more like anti-hero than hero is an understatement and the event of this book will pave the way for his story to told. 

An urban fantasy series that is not to be missed. 

 

 Ugh...I really hate to rate a book 1 or 2 stars, but when the story failed to grab you in more than 50% marks but you insist to finish reading then you don't have no one to blame but yourself.

I have read Ally Carter's YA title and only one, though I think "Not If I Save You First" was better written than The Blonde Identity. I don't get the "adult" part. What make The Blonde Identity as an adult book different than Carter's YA titles? The fade to black almost not existent sex scene? The not that sizzling sexual tension? The angst? The sappy declaration of love between our amnesiac heroine, Zoe; with the spy that maybe lying through his teeth as easy as he's breathing, Sawyer? Or the fact that they already falling in love in TWO days? I didn't mind insta-lust or insta-love but somehow I find it ridiculous in this book.

The amnesiac part kinda remind me of Argylle movie that I watch this early 2024 although The Blonde Identity was published back then in 2023. I keep waiting for a twist, but eh..the twist is not what I thought at first although it's enough to keep me want to read to know if Zoe really Alex's twin sister or maybe there's no twin. The twist behind Sawyer identity just make me go "Ooh. Yeah. That." Like, I just pretty much tired and just kinda accept it. 

The actions parts were well written and maybe a plus point of this book. But, I feel like the way Zoe written is too juvenile for my taste. She just all over the place and I really doubt if she really in her twenties rather than still in her young adult phase. I also don't get why suddenly she's so badass if Carter always write that Zoe is weaker compared to Alex? I just...OMG, I can't even! Some of tropes in this book like, grumpy x sunshine, fake dating (or marriage), there's only one bed, "touch her and I will kill you", and "I'm a bad guy so I didn't deserve your love, Zoe"; are just like Carter try to write and mix them all in one book but the result is over the top. I also don't get why use "Her" and "Him" for each chapter that pretty clearly written in 3rd PoV. I can differentiate the PoVs, thank you so much!

The good things beside the action sequences and the part when Zoe and Sawyer have their fake honeymoon as part of the undercover, is I bought the e-book when it was on sale. With the way Carter write a bait in the epilogue that will lead to the sequel, nah, nope. I think maybe I'll try her Gallagher series that I know is a YA, rather than this book t