renpuspita's reviews
1353 reviews

 Membaca Purple Eyes mengingatkan gue sama beberapa fantasy romance YA atau yang adult (minus smutnya lah ya) yang rilis dari author-author luar negeri. Meski ini karya author lokal, gue sendiri cukup suka dengan kualitas penulisannya yang oke. Memang berasa terjemahan, tapi ga ada rasa kaku yang pernah gue rasakan kalau baca buku dengan setting dan penduduk luar negeri tapi yang nulis orang Indonesia. Mungkin karena authornya sendiri, Prisca Primasari ini penerjemah juga selain jadi penulis. Jadi dia tahu bagaimana penulisan yang walau rasa terjemahan, tapi tetep enak untuk dibaca.

Mengambil sedikit mitos Yunani, yaitu tentang sang dewa kematian, Hades (walau gue mau protes kalau dewa kematian di mitologi Jepang itu harusnya Izanami aja, bukan Izanagi), Purple Eyes memang cukup kental tema "kematian"nya. Walau begitu unsur gore atau kekerasannya tidak terlalu implisit mengingat salah satu sub plot di buku ini adalah Hades yang memburu seorang serial killer yang berkeliaran di kota Trondheim, Norwegia. Purple Eyes berfokus pada kisah Lyre atau Solveig, asistennya Hades dan hubungannya dengan Ivarr Amundsen. Ivarr sendiri seorang pemuda pemilik pabrik suvenir yang baru saja kehilangan adiknya, Nikolai yang tewas terbunuh oleh si serial killer. Awalnya Solveig ga ngerti kenapa Hades nyuruh Solveig buat deketin Ivarr terus, ngajak jalan - jalan, makan etc. Sampai akhirnya tujuan Hades pun terungkap, tapi semuanya juga mulai terlambat karena Solveig perlahan jatuh cinta sama Ivarr, yang bersikap dingin bak patung lilin padahal baru kehilangan adiknya. Pertanyaannya tentu saja, apakah Ivarr emang aslinya ga punya emosi sama sekali?

Tema utama Purple Eyes sendiri menurut gue adalah how to deal with grief. Selain kematian, rasa sedih dan penyesalan memang jadi salah satu topik yang dibahas di buku ini. Dengan bantuan Solveig (dan juga Hades), Ivarr akhirnya perlahan mulai memproses rasa dukanya akibat kehilangan Nikolai dan juga serentetan musibah yang menimpa pemuda itu. Buku ini memang selain terasa aura duka dan sendu, juga penuh dengan salju yang menguarkan rasa dingin. Tapi anehnya, membaca Purple Eyes menimbulkan rasa hangat. Gue suka baca kisah romansa antara Solveig dan Ivarr yang walau dalam hitungan hari, tapi dieksekusi dengan baik oleh Prisca. Tidak ada rasa terburu - buru, apa yang terjadi antara Solveig dan Ivarr rasanya begitu alami, bahkan setelah Ivarr tahu identitas Solveig yang sebenarnya. Untuk ukuran sebuah buku tipis aka novella, ceritanya cukup padat dan karakterisasinya ditulis cukup baik. Karena toh, karakternya juga hanya berkutat di 3 tokoh saja (plus 1 tokoh si serial killer yang lebih ke arah figuran). Jangan khawatir, ceritanya berakhir dengan bahagia. Tidak ada deus ex machinae (walau Hades ini dewa), bisa dibilang endingnya memuaskan.

Purple Eyes ini buku pertama dari Prisca yang gue baca, tapi gue jadi penasaran sama buku dia yang lain. Kalau kamu nyari fantasy dengan bumbu romansa dari author lokal dan juga buku yang tipis (buku ini ga sampe 200 hal) untuk dibaca sekali duduk, gue rekomen banget Purple Eyes. 

 Idenya cukup bagus, tapi gagal dalam eksekusinya.

Membaca sekilas judul dan blurb Spora, emang mau ga mau ngingetin sama game The Last of Us, mengingat "musuh"nya adalah jamur yang bisa menjadi parasit dalam tubuh manusia dan membunuhnya setelah fase inkubasi. Sayangnya, buku ini emang kerasa banget kalau debutnya Alkadri (yang gue kenal dari komunitas Blogger Buku Indonesia). Bagi gue, idenya walau tidak baru tapi sebenarnya menarik, walau gue kurang paham kenapa settingnya harus di SMA. Mungkin emang bukunya ditargetkan untuk pembaca remaja? Kalau iya, mungkin kalau yang ga masalahan teknis dalam menulis, buku ini lumayan sebenarnya. Sayangnya, kelemahan buku ini emang lebih ke segi penulisan utamanya dialog dan juga eksekusinya.

Gue udah baca beberapa judul penulis lokal di tahun 2023 dan lebih banyak dari tahun - tahun sebelumnya, jadi gue tahu gimana kalau penulis ga bisa menulis dialog yang renyah dan alami. Dialog di buku Spora ini nanggung dan inkonsistensinya tinggi. Kadang pakai bahasa baku, kadang gaul. Lucunya si tokoh utama, yaitu Alif, gonta ganti bahasa baku dan gaul saat ngobrol sama teman dekatnya yaitu Rina. Jadi gue mau ga mau selalu mengernyit waktu bacanya dan mengoreksi dialog mereka supaya terasa kalau ini emang BENERAN anak SMA yang ngomong dalam percakapan sehari - hari. Ditambah dengan penulisan yang ga konsisten untuk istilah tingkatan kelas dalam SMA, seperti pakai kelas sepuluh, sebelas, tapi next time pakai kelas 3 SMA membuat gue semakin bingung jadi ini maksudnya gimana. Gue curiga kalau ini naskah lama yang terus coba dipoles dan berusaha disamakan dengan kondisi saat novel ini diterbitkan (tahun 2014) karena jaman gue SMA dulu (tahun 2002-an), gue emang masih pakai istilah kelas 1-3. Oh, jangan lupakan juga kesalahan fatal yang terlewat sama editornya, istilah "tidak bergeming". Seriously, ini tim editornya kemana? Ngantuk kah?

Spora ini tebalnya 200-an halaman lebih tapi ditulis dengan spasi 1,5 yang kalau dimampatkan sebenarnya mungkin tebalnya ga bakal sampe 200an. Walau fontnya yang cukup besar sebenarnya ramah untuk mata dan kenyamanan membaca. Ada beberapa ilustrasi isi di dalam buku yang menurut gue cukup menambah point plus pada cerita. Nah, kalau dari segita cerita, pacenya sendiri di awal agak lambat untuk kemudian memuncak dekat akhir. Sayangnya, tidak ada penjelasan yang lebih tentang si "jamur". Jamur ini apakah punya efek halusinasi untuk penderitanya atau memang punya kekuatan supranatural yang lebih sampai bisa "berkomunikasi" ? Endingnya pun sepertinya ada sesuatu yang mencurigakan terkait konspirasi di balik merebaknya jamur di sekolah Alif yang akhirnya dibiarkan menuju open ending. Karakterisasinya? Hambar. Ga ada yang lovable, ga ada juga yang bikin gue pengen simpatik walau Alif digambarkan sebagai anak dengan masa lalu yang cukup kelam. Interaksinya baik dengan si teman dekat, Rina, maupun gebetannya, Fiona terasa biasa saja. 

Walau dengan banyak kekurangan, gue acungin untuk deskripsi dan penceritaannya sebenarnya agak lumayan jika mau mengesampingkan penulisan dialognya yang canggung. Potensinya juga lumayan, jadi kalau bukunya agak tebalan sedikit (dengan catatan ga dicetak dengan spasi 1,5 s/d 2 sampe jarang2) mungkin beberapa hal akan jelas. Spora emang horror yang bisa dibaca dalam sekali duduk, tapi sayang tidak memberikan rasa puas setelah membacanya. 

 Part of binge reading of Heroine Complex series

Finally my binge reading end with Holiday Heroine, the 6th and also the final book for Heroine Complex series. Just like its predecessor and the first arc, the sole narrator for this book is no other than Beatrice "Bea" Tanaka. The wayward little sister, trouble maker and holiday romcom aficionado that decide to move into Maui in the end of book 3. Just like Aveda, Bea kinda redeemed herself of sort, from a girl that love to throw tantrum as a result of unprocessed trauma and grief to be her matured herself. From a super heroine in the verge of abusing her mind control mojo therefore will slip into super villain path to a super heroine that try to resist the allure of villainy. Yet, like Evie and Aveda, the problems is just a start for Bea since she's feel overwhelmed with her new awakening power. She also try to balance things with long distance relationship with Sam Fujikawa, her boyfriend. And things getting awry when Bea suddenly time traveling to a bizarre timeline with Christmas at its core.

Since I read all the books back to back, I can said than the second arc of the book, start from Haunted Heroine follow same patterns. All of the heroine, Evie, Aveda and Bea face inner turmoil result from their unresolved past or result of they try to being mature, changed or to be resilient. Then, they will be away from their one true love. But, in case of Bea, Kuhn up the stake with not only make Bea kinda break up with Sam, but make it a disaster, more that Evie's emotional distance with Nate or Aveda's jealousy with Scott. Bea sure didn't go in easy way, though. Don't fret, Bea and Sam's romance still end up in HEA though, and true to its predecessor they will have heart to heart talk and communication that will solve some Bea's problems. See, patterns. If you read the book in a year gap, the pattern might be not too recognizable. However, since I did a binge reading, it's all pretty glaring.

The time travel thingie is pretty much sketchy and can be confusing as fuck and maybe Kuhn got inspiration from Avengers or what. Of course there's a mention of the said Avengers when in the final showdowns against the Otherworld and none other than Shasta, Bea assemble all the member of Tanaka-Aveda super heroine team. Pretty meta, though. If Evie and Aveda have each other as best friend, then Bea have Leah as her BFF and Leah also provide as support for Bea with things going awry for Sam. I can also feel how Bea herself love Evie so much, despite their hard past. I also liked that Kuhn decide to not write more about Bea and Evie's dad since said Dad didn't deserve their forgiveness; and glad that Bea found a father figure in the form of Pika, the grumpy chef that she befriend in Maui. I also like the theme of the holiday rom-com as part of the time travel and how Kuhn incorporated that happiness is thing that Bea choose. That Kuhn choose to not writing a martyr trope in this book is also a plus point. Sadly, I kinda missed Maisy Kane's blog or commentary since maybe because this book is written from Bea's PoV there's no room for Maisy's witty remarks.

Overall, Heroine Complex series is pretty solid from the first book (Heroine Complex) to the last (Holiday Heroine). All the heroines, Evie, Aveda and Bea, all of them are messy, complicated, unlikable of sort, yet they thrive to be a better person of themselves with the help of their loved ones. This series also pretty much diverse, not only in ethnicity but also sexuality and gender as well. Kuhn also address the problem that PoC faced and maybe it's still relevant to this day. Some of her insight maybe too blatant for my taste like in book 4 or book 5, though I still understand her frustration as well. Being an Indonesian, so basically also Asian like Evie, Aveda and Bea, I understand some of their struggle especially I found myself to be like Evie since we also tend to bottled up our feelings. No wonder that Evie is my favorite and although her own book, Heroine Complex is not that good compared to the next book, I understand that it's just book 1 in series problem. I end up like her second arc book, Haunted Heroine! For Aveda, I like her redemption in Heroine Worship but feel her second arc book follow the same pattern with Haunted Heroine and it's the same case with Bea's final book as well. 

With the ups and the downs, I still recommend Heroine Complex series especially if you search for an urban fantasy series that have hearts, messy, unlikable heroines that will make you sympathize with their inner turmoils, swoony romances with different flavour of friend to lover trope, solid teamwork and diverse characters! Just start with book 1, Heroine Complex and enjoy the adventures of the super heroine of San Fransisco in the making! 

 Part of Heroine Complex series binge reading

Now we got into book 5, Hollywood Heroine and just like the first arc the sole narrator is Annie Chang whom more known by her superhero name, Aveda Jupiter. I wonder in book 4, how exactly Kuhn will bring Aveda's inner turmoil since if you read the series back to back or follow it from the beginning, you know that Aveda's biggest problems is her low self-esteem in the form of Annie Chang therefore make her act like diva and bad friend to Evie. Aveda kinda redeem herself tho, she's still Hurricane Annie, determinable and intense, yet in a good way. Although, the aftermath of the event in book 4, Haunted Heroine show to reader that deep inside Aveda is actually..not okay.

Just like book 4, the setting happen outside San Fransisco and we know get swept into the city of angels aka Los Angeles. It's Hollywood baby, because apparently some Hollywood executive want to make a tv series based on Aveda and Eve's super heroine pursuits. Also just like book 4, yep, you kinda feels the pattern here, a people that Aveda known from her past make their appearance. At first arc, we just got a glimpse into Mercedes, a fellow super heroine with human GPS ability like that also start her super heroine debut in San Fransisco only to be less famous compared to Aveda. We get to know that Mercedes is basically Karen in disguise, rotten and racist to the core. Aveda and Mercedes toxic dynamic (more like from Mercedes side) is one of the focus of this book.

As for character development, we get to know that Aveda actually almost fall into burn out state, but it's frustrating to see because she just didn't want to admit it. The Hurricane Annie mode made Aveda insist that she can solve the problems herself, forget that she also have her own teams that ready to support her. Also her fear of changes also pretty well put and I think kinda resonated with me, because I too, sometimes hate changes. Yet, changes are not always bad. In the other side, while Aveda and her husband, Scott, didn't have those emotional distance like Evie and Nate in book 4 since Scott also happen to accompany Aveda to L.A that didn't mean they don't have their own problems as well. Aveda sure is jealous of Mercedes that try to act friendly to Scott, but she also didn't want to saddle Scott with her dreams that sadly all of it come from her own assumptions. Don't worry all will get well, while Aveda and Scott also got into fights they also solve it like what adults should behave. I also liked to read the glimpse into Aveda and Scott's wedding since we never get to know when and how they married. Romantic is not enough to describe it. In the steamy sex scene, well, more like vanilla. I always think that Kuhn reserve those steamy scenes for the Tanaka sisters, lol.

After ghost, the supernatural forces now come in the form of vampire which is somehow silly. But, eh, puppy demon in book 2 itself were already quirky. Vampire aside, the main problems in this book is how Kuhn try to show so many big problem with the way Hollywood work. Just like book 4, the unfairness toward women of color are glaring. Kuhn's way to writing might be too blatant for my taste, but I can feel her frustration. She also point it to for some people (especially white), diversity seems like just a form of trend, and I guess she was right. So, there's so many aspect to be discuss from this book regarding the diversity and what people of Asian American face especially in the Hollywood. For example, how the studio cast a Japanese actor for Aveda while she's a Chinese and cast Chinese actor for Evie whom is Japanese. Because apparently all of them look Asian enough. It's such a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm but worth to thinking for since the it's still happen to this day (together with white-washing).

The book itself is okay. I enjoy Aveda's inner turmoils and her character developments are well written since Kuhn pretty much excels in writing emotional scenes. She also put some interesting tidbits in this book that might be get missed if they are not familiar enough like The Ripped Bodice, a bookshop that cater to romance readers alike. I happen to know them since I also on Twitter (not X, f*ck you melon!) so it's amusing to read how Aveda, Evie and their new member, Pippa (also from book 4) try to search clue about vampires from the paranormal section books. Also, I think Kuhn is a major Nalini Singh fans, since she mention her names twice (in this book and also in Heroine Journey). I'm intrigued of what Singh's series that she liked!

Overall, a pretty strong installment in Heroine Complex series and especially if you like Aveda, you can't missed this one. If you still not read book 1, Heroine Complex yet, then don't hesitate. Go. Read it!! 

 Part of Binge Reading Heroine Complex series

The emotional train is still going strong for our superhero trio and now the second arc of the trio's journey into managing life while kicking demon's ass continue. Kuhn bring back Evie Tanaka as the narrator for Book 4, Haunted Heroine. From all the trio (Evie, Aveda, Bea), I admit I have a soft spot for Evie since I can see myself on her. We both a first child with some chips on our shoulder, though Evie's emotional baggage was bigger than mine. The story itself continue directly from Heroine's Journey aka Bea's book. Evie find that she's pregnant with child. She's over the moon, her life is finally perfect. She's know a superheroine of her own right, become co-superheroine with her best friend, Aveda Jupiter. Her love life is also fabulous since Nate is so in love with her, and finally her tumultuous relationship with Bea turn to the right path with both of them agree to join therapy to process their emotions. All was good.

But is it?

While Haunted Heroine was indeed, feature ghosts and demons alike, I think the title also refer to Evie's haunted past. The setting of Haunted is back to Evie's college and since she's drop out from her grad, things was awkward. Especially, her ex, Richard, professor that love mansplaining and belittle his own student is still teaching there. In the other side, her pregnancy make Evie worried because one classic thinking. Is Evie capable to be a good mother since in the past she can't somehow become a good parent to Bea? Add it with some marital woes because Nate become emotionally distant from Evie and constantly reject her sexual advances. All of it kinda of overwhelming right? But I'm glad that Evie didn't face that all alone. She have Aveda in her side, that now is totally a best friend to Evie, a sign that show Aveda really change for the better. 

Kuhn kinda challenge Evie in this book. How to accept and let go of her pasts and regrets. How to forgive her own faults. I said that I have a soft spot for Evie, because I know how it feels to have a bottled up feeling. Evie is too hard to herself, Aveda pointed once that Evie can be angry for Richard's unfair treatment to the student in Morgan College but not angry for herself since Richard is also a douchebag to Evie. Her dilemma, her weariness to constantly balanced grad life and become a sole parent to Bea also what make Evie finally snap and yet she still feel guilty. A guilt that later will be weaponized against her. I like what Kuhn write for Evie's character development. It's feel like closure after what happen to Evie in the first book and also touch some topic from book 3 where Evie and Bea fight and Evie admit that she can't grieving after their mom's death because she just try to survive. I like that Kuhn incorporated via Nate that, life is not perfect and he also remind Evie that life is full of unexpected things but that what make it interesting. I feel that the pregnancy part also well written, since Evie's feeling for her pregnancy somehow valid and give me insight of the fear of a mom-to-be.

For romance department, while it's true that Evie and Nate become emotionally distant, I like how Kuhn solve the problem. The groveling scenes make me go aww and the heart to heart talk make me almost shed tears of my own. I admit that in book 1, both Evie and Nate is going too fast of their romance and also married 4 months after they proclaimed their love. So their problems were also stemmed from that fact and also both are broken in some ways. So it's so good to read how they solve their marital fights. I'm not read book 5 (Aveda) and book 6 (Bea) yet, but I always feel that when it comes to Evie and Nate, the sex scenes become scorching hot, lel. Some of Evie's horny thoughts are pretty hilarious to read, but in the same time also kinda sadden me because of the emotional distance between Evie and Nate. Don't fret tho, all will end well.

The ghosts itself didn't creepy of give me heebies jeebies. The villain itself more like the people in Morgan College that somehow become nasty and that including Richard, the big jerk. While I liked how Kuhn show that Richard's view regarding fantasy featured PoC is so bad, I just wish she didn't drag Tolkien's work. Like, I know I know, I get her points, but I really like Tolkien, sobs. Some of her writing in criticize the state of the fantasy literature and how student study it (since Richard is teaching the pop culture class) can be too in your face, but in the end it depends to how reader perceive it. In the other side, both Evie and Aveda got new friends from the undergraduate student and they finally enjoy what college life should be since Aveda didn't go to college and Evie dropped out. There's a new development regarding the demon portals and I'm curious if the villain from the first book will come back and start their villainy ways.

Overall, a good book that left me satisfied with how Evie's character develops and how she finally make peace with her pasts. The next book, Hollywood Heroine is about Aveda and I think, I'm intrigued for what Kuhn have for Aveda. Aveda in this book is totally a supportive characters, the diva persona is already gone although Aveda is still bossy. Aveda also kinda solved her "Annie Chang" problem in her own book, Heroine Worship, so there's no lingering past or regrets. Well, I must read her second arc book to find out, right? 

 Part of binge reading Heroine Complex series.

I don't think that the series will get emotionally wrecked and yet Heroine's Journey proved me otherwise. Heroine's Journey is the third book of Heroine Complex series and now the story told from Beatrice Tanaka's first PoV. If you already read book 1 and 2 (and yes, books must be read in order. Can't be read as stand alone), then you already know about Bea. We know her first as Evie's younger sister, a kinda spoiled 17 y.o brat with tantrums rivaled Aveda's. Although we got explanation that behind all that tantrums was a girl with grief so big after Evie and Bea's mother died of cancer. Heroine Journey's timeline is fast forward 4-5 years later. Bea is no longer 17, she's now in her 22 y.o, a respectable adult (in her opinion anyway). The book start with Bea feeling frustrated because Evie and Aveda disagree with her decision to become a super heroine and suddenly an invisible entity called to Bea. Much to Bea's surprise, the entity is Bea's deceased Mom! Or is she really her mom or another demonic being with malicious intent? 

Did Bea still throwing tantrum here and there? Yep. But, you said she's already in her 22? I think, in my 22, I too somehow act like Bea, lel. I just realized that all of the heroine of this series, from Evie, then Aveda and Bea, all of them are kind of unlikable. Evie with her pushover tendencies, Aveda with her magnanimous attitudes and then Bea with her spoiled brat personality. Yet, in the end Kuhn managed to love them all with all their insecurities and weakness. Because, she write them with so much personal development, make them feel like a real person. Yes, Bea is constantly anger and she do some unethically things with her mind mojo. She also easily bored and always distracted with shiny things, a fact that make Evie disagree with Bea's want to be superheroine beside Evie also still a worrywart of mom figure. Yet, with the story unfold, I guess Journey's big theme is about how Bea processed her grief. Bea lost her Mom in the tender age of 12 and the event was traumatic she withdraw from real life, from her best friend, then always angry to the world. We always know a saying that said time will heal the wounds. Yet, it's need 10 years for Bea to finally let go of her sadness and pain, then decide to moving forward with her choices. 

This book is pretty much family drama with super heroine, mind mojo and demonic invasion as added flavors. The found family theme is pretty well executed especially if you already follow the heroic trio (Evie, Aveda, Bea) from the beginning. The stake is pretty much mild since the focus of the book is how Bea become a better person and make amend with Evie regarding their sisterhood relationship. I also liked while all books featured romance with trope friend to lover, Kuhn managed to make them all different! In Evie and Nate's case, it's more like colleague to lovers, complete with insta-lust if that your things. Aveda and Scott are childhood friend that drift apart because of misunderstanding to finally give each other second chance to start love. While Bea and Sam is more like your high school friend slash rival slash platonic friend then develop into love. All of them guaranteed HEA and I liked that the romance is pretty much natural in case of Bea and Sam. I mean, their romance is pretty much my catnip and while the sex scenes more like fade to black (aka vanilla) the sexual tension are plenty. 

Heroine Complex series have its up and down, and yet I still enjoy Evie, Aveda and Bea's story. Since all of them told from first PoV, their story feel personals and some things are resonated deeply for me. The Asian American and PoC's problems in overall also well executed, provide some insight. Yep, all the books are pretty much diverse, in race and also sexuality, since Bea herself is a bi and her best friend, Leah is a lesbian (not forget, Lucy too). Heroine Journey's mark the end of the first arc of the heroic trio and will continue in the second arc, start again with our first ordinary people turn super heroine, Evie. I admit, I liked her PoV since we both first born and I kind of resonated with Evie's problems as a first born. 

 Part of Heroine Complex series binge reading.

Heroine Worship is book #2 in a series about Asian superheroine, Aveda Jupiter, her personal assistant turn superheroine, Evie Tanaka and people around them. The story continued from book #1, Heroine Complex so this book must be read after you finish book #1. If Heroine Complex is about Evie finally embrace her power and become a superheroine of her own right, then Heroine Worship told from Aveda or Annie Chang's 1st PoV. Basically, this book is a redemption story of sort for Aveda, from a superheroine with diva attitude, hog spotlight for herself, less than stellar best friend to Evie, to become a new version of herself. Understanding, supporting and well, become less diva. But, of course change didn't happen overnight.

Kuhn did a good job to write Aveda story from Aveda's first PoV so I know that Aveda is genuine about her change. It's just people around her constantly doubting her because they already know her tantrums and bossy signature. Aveda is still bossy, still bludgeon through problems like she is the only problem solver here, but she also try to amend her method. She want to ensure that Evie get her a best wedding ceremony ever, yet her old method were ugly and it's always end up in disaster because people assume that she didn't want to share the spotlight with Evie. I like that Kuhn also didn't shy away from showing that Aveda and Evie's friendship were toxic but she also write that it can be mended although not instantly. The key is communication, and when Aveda and Annie finally being true to each other, I'm green with envy reading their friendship. Not everyone got a dynamic like that, not like Aveda and Evie.

Heroine Worship is more emotional compared to Heroine Complex. Aveda or Annie Chang is basically a mess. Though her childhood is basically one of Asian Childhood trope with parents that constantly compared Aveda to her cousin and disapproved of her choice to become superheroine. No wonder Aveda try so hard to squeeze her Annie Chang persona and embrace her more badass Aveda avatar because Annie Chang remind her of her weakness. Again, the way Kuhn address this issue is wonderful and the scene when Aveda finally have heart to heart talk with her mother is one of the spotlight. Just like with Evie, sometimes what Aveda need is to talk and be true to herself.

The romance itself was well written. Although I still prefer Evie and Nate, I think the trope of childhood friend to lover between Aveda and Scott also well executed. And the problem is also the same for Aveda regarding Scott feeling to her. Too many assumption and yes, lack of communication. If Evie known for her people pleaser and want to avoid conflict at any cost, then Aveda try to act with bravado because she want to hide her hurt feelings. Especially when she knew Scott and Evie have a history of sort and she have this ugly thought that she always become a second choice to Scott while the truth was otherwise. Maybe we Asians are, indeed, best in repressed our feeling and I think it's not good for our mental health.

While the story is more to drama, the action is still there. The demon make its comeback by affecting the brides to be, turn them into Bridezilla. The stake while is not on world ending level, still high since Aveda insist to give Evie the wedding of the century and become the best maid of honor ever while people around her become skeptical. For me, this book is well written compared to book 2 and I'm glad that Aveda amend her err way and embrace her Annie Chang personal. I recommend to start with Heroine Complex, when the story begin and prepare to read an action packed urban fantasy with hearts and found family trope. 

 Part of Heroine Complex series binge reading.

Heroine Complex is the first book of...Heroine Complex series. Dunno why the series called the same with the first book, publisher decisions not mine. For me, this book is dramatic, all over the place and extra. But, in a good way. I admit I decide to collect the set because the premise of Asian superhero (or super heroine) are unique back then in 2016, long before we got Shangchi or Ms Marvel. Reading Heroine Complex feel like reading a superhero comic or movie but in a novel format. That's why there some sound effect that a little bit weird when written in the book, but after awhile I don't mind it.

Told thoroughly from Evie Tanaka's first PoV, the Asian stereotype is so true, it's hurt to admit it. Being Indonesian myself, so basically, also Asian, I understand some of Evie's inner turmoil. She used to bottle up her feeling, avoiding conflict to finally just snap up and awaken her true power, a fire-wielding power. I get why Aveda Jupiter, Evie's childhood friend turn boss, getting jealous because she feel that Evie now steal the spotlight while Evie in the first place just want to hide her ability. The book is painful to read because it's pretty glaring that Evie and Aveda's relationship is basically a toxic friendship. Evie feel grateful because Aveda back then defend her when they are in the kindergarten and then again when Evie drop out from college because her power lashed out. But, I think Aveda take it all for the granted and with her penchant for diva-ness. Even their school friend, Scott, now that Evie and Aveda is being toxic to each other. Although, Kuhn finally address this toxicity with Evie stand up to Aveda and Aveda kinda redeemed herself in the end. Just a little bit, though.

The world-saving plot is just like your usual plot and what make Heroine Complex interesting is more like in the dynamic between the characters. We get to know Maisy, a mean and nasty antagonist blogger that ready to tear Aveda apart in the online community, and Shasta, her sidekick that apparently hide a secret of her own. We also got introduced to people under Jupiter HQ, from Lucy, the bodyguard slash karaoke enthusiast and Evie's rebellious sister, Bea, that manage to get under Evie's skin by being difficult (she's a teenager, teenager supposed to act difficult). The romance department didn't disappoint since Nathaniel Jones aka Nate, Evie's love interest is an dorky and grumpy beta hero but I liked that Kuhn incorporated tropes that I liked. Basically, friend to lover; although Nate and Evie can't be considered as friend, more like colleague but in a close proximity, and also he feel first, she feel harder. Although at first, the romantic relationship can be categorized into insta-lust at first, but because Evie and Nate already know each other for a long time, this is more like hate-to-love things.

The villain is pretty much comical and the tone of this book also pretty light, so don't take this very seriously. Although, again, the strength of Heroine Complex is the character development and the dynamic. The Asian stereotype might not for everyone forte, but if you are an Asian, you might be feel related to what Evie feels. Also, since she's a first kid, I know very well the pain to be a role model to your sister especially if you also got to be her parents figure. In the end, Evie finally become a super heroine of her own right and the next book, Heroine Worship is told from Aveda's PoV. I admit, I'm intrigued. Aveda is known by her diva attitude and I wonder what Kuhn have for Aveda story in the future. 

 

 Once again, Gena Showalter not make me disappointed (2 thumbs up)
I've read the 3 short stories ((The Darkest Fire, The Darkest Prison sama Amazon's Curse) in e-book version, so i skip it and read just the guide inside

And...
Its soooo great and very funny.
My favorite part is "At Home With Lords of The Underworld"
Where William (Anya's BFF), interviewing The Lords.
I like his interview with Lucien and Gideon (laugh so hard until my stomach hurt ^^)

And then my other favorite is At Round Table Women in LOTU speaks. Its great and i like interview between Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter.
There are The Darkest Passion sneak peek.
Make me cant wait to read

Overall : Great Book for Gena Showalter's fans especially Lords of The Underworld ^^ 

 The Iron King adalah salah satu buku yang menutup perjalananku dalam membaca begitu banyak buku selama tahun 2010

Di tahun 2010 ini juga, ada beberapa buku yang aku kasih 5 bintang, 4 bintang, 3 bintang, dan 2 bintang paling rendah (gw ga tega kasih 1 bintang :)) )

Di tahun 2010 ini berbagai macam genre udah aku baca, yang 95% kebanyakan adalah romance, dan salah satu genrenya adalah genre Young Adult. Genre yang sempat aku pandang sebelah mata tahun ini.

Bukan apa2, hanya umurku udah dua puluhan lebih, agak aneh rasanya baca kisah remaja, dan pengalaman yang *sedikit* ga menyenangkan abis baca Twilight, membuatku menghindari YA untuk tahun ini, tapi sepertinya aku tak bisa menghindar, haha :D

Dan dari semua YA yang aku baca tahun ini ada 3 judul YA yang mendapat kehormatan mendapatkan 5 bintang dariku, dan itu sangat istimewa, karena lagi, aku bukan fans cerita YA...Oke ceritanya tentang apa sih?

Meghan Chase, atau Meg, biasa dipanggil, remaja 16 tahun, seperti remaja kebanyakan, mengalami krisis remaja pada umumnya
Kehilangan sang ayah saat masih belia, membuat dirinya cukup terguncang. Walau akhirnya bisa mengatasi keadaan itu, Meghan merasa tak nyaman dengan ayah barunya Luke, yang kebanyakan tidak menghiraukan dirinya, tapi dia sayang pada Ethan, adik tiri Meg.

Meg memiliki sahabat akrab, Robbie Goodfell, yang asal-usulnya tidak jelas, namun selalu siap bagi Meghan disaat apapun Meghan membutuhkannya, termasuk saat dia dipermalukan oleh kapten football di sekolahnya ...

Suatu saat, Ethan mengatakan pada Meghan, bahwa dia sedang ketakutan pada Pria di balik Lemari, dan Beau anjing mereka , tiba2 menyerang Ethan! Belum habis kekagetan Meghan,dia menyadari bahwa Ethan yang dia tahu saat itu bukan Ethan sesungguhnya, dan Ethan yang asli diculik.
Dan Robbie sahabatnya, ternyata juga bukan manusia biasa seperti yang Meghan kira. Robbie tahu kemana Ethan yang asli dibawa, ke dunia faery yang disebut NeverNever, dan dia bersedia mengantarkan Meghan kesana.

Meghan dan Robbie pergi ke NeverNever, dan disana Meg tahu siapa Robbie sebenarnya. Robbie Goodfell tak lain tak bukan adalah Robin Goodfellow, atau lebih dikenal dengan nama Puck. Dia adalah bawahan Raja Oberon, penguasa istana Terang. Dunia Faery mempunyai dua istana, Istana Terang dengan penguasanya Oberon dan Titania serta Istana Gelap, dengan Mab sebagai ratunya. Dalam perjalanan menuju Istana Terang, Meghan terpisah dari Puck, dan hampir ditangkap goblin. Meg kemudian bertemu dengan seekor kucing yang mengenalkan dirinya sebagai Cait Sith, Kucing Setan, Grimalkin, tapi dia lebih suka dipanggil Grimalkin.

Meg membuat perjanjian dengan Grim, untuk menemukan Puck. Berdua mereka pergi ke Istana Terang, hanya untuk menghadapi kenyataan bahwa Puck diubah menjadi gagak, dan Meghan ternyata adalah putri kandung Raja Oberon!. Masih bingung dengan kenyataan yang dihadapinya, Meg harus selalu waspada dengan keadaan sekitarnya, mulai dari Titania yang membencinya, para faery yang menghina darah campurannya, sampai kesibukan Istana dalam menghadapi Elysium, acara perjanjian gencatan senjata antara Mab dan Oberon.

Saat Elysium inilah, Meg bertemu dengan Ash, putra terakhir Mab. Meg tak bisa menghindari ketertarikannya pada Ash, walaupun tahu, saat sebelumnya cowok itu pernah hampir membunuh dirinya dan Puck. Elysium menjadi kacau, karena serangan makhluk Chimera, dan Mab menganggap Oberon melanggar perjanjian. Di tengah ancaman perang, Meg menyadari mungkin Ethan ada di istana Mab, dan bersama Grim serta Puck (yang telah bebas), pergi ke Istana Gelap

Keadaan menjadi rumit, saat Ash turun tangan. Ash yang memiliki dendam kesumat pada Puck, juga hendak membunuh Meghan, tapi perjanjiannya dengan Meghan, membuatnya mengurunkan niatnya dan bersedia membantunya menemukan Ethan.

Di perjalanan menemukan Ethan, Meghan, Ash, Puck dan Grimalkin, nantinya akan menyadari bahaya sesungguhnya yang sedang mengancam keberadaan NeverNever, serta munculnya golongan fey ketiga selain faery yang sudah ada, The Iron Fey. Meghan kemudian tahu bahwa yang menculik Ethan adalah Iron King, raja para Iron Fey. Masalahnya Ash dan Puck adalah faery sejati yang tak tahan besi, sementara Meghan yang half faery jelas2 tahan terhadap besi, namun mampukah dia menyelamatkan Ethan sendirian?...

5 reasons why I give this book 5 stars :
1. Ide ceritanya, walau ga begitu fresh, tapi menarik

2. Julie Kagawa memunculkan dua mitologi disini, A Midsummer's Night Dream dan Mitologi Celtic. Istana Terang adalah perwujudan Mitologi Yunani, Oberon, Titania, Satyr,Goblin, Dryad, semuanya adalah makhluk yang sering muncul di Mitos Yunani. Sedangkan Istana Gelap adalah manifestasi Mitos Celt. Mab sering dikenal dengan nama Maeve, adalah Ratu Mimpi, dan makhluk2 di istana terang (redcap, pooka) adalah makhluk mitos Celt. Begitu juga istananya Tir Na Nog,adalah tempat Dewi Morrigan, dewi Perang Celt berdiam, setara dengan Elysium, yang merupakan tempat suci di Yunani. Dan aku adalah penggemar berat mitologi, jadi tentu saja aku sangat menikmatinya.

3. Tema fantasy di dalamnya, tidak berlebihan jika buku ini dibilang percampuran Narnia dan Alice in The Wonderland. Julie Kagawa, berhasil menggabungkan semua elemen2 dari dua cerita itu secara alami.

4. Istana Terang dan Istana Gelap, seperti halnya 2 Courts dalam dunia Faery. Seelie dan Unseelie. Lalu ide untuk memunculkan Faery yang ketiga, The Iron Fey, sangat imajinatif.

5. Praise dari Gena Showalter, my favorite author. Believe me, apapun yang Gena bilang bagus, emang kenyataannya bagus (udah membuktikannya,haha :D)

(Alasan tambahan : Buku ini buku pertama yang diterjemahkan Zaizai, my friend. Dan terjemahannya so far so good. Hei, aku jujur lho ;D)

So, Tim Puck atau Tim Ash? Gimana kalo dua2nya, hehehe ^^ (Dalam bayanganku Ash, tak lain dan tak bukan adalah Ben Barnes, lagian penggambarannya juga sepertinya PAS :)), Puck? No Idea, hmpfh =)) )