renpuspita's reviews
1358 reviews

 Nora Roberts prove that she know best when it comes to writing a romantic suspense set in small town with its tight-knit community and that evil comes in many forms, especially those who seems as harmless at first. This book is first written in 1992 (wow, 31 years ago!) and feature murder spree by a Satanism cult. Make me want to check if in 90's there's a movement of Satan worship. There's no supernatural element, but the deeds that the cult do in favor of their perversion of worship chilled me to the bone. Divine Evil have SO MANY trigger & content warning that I believe will appalled today reader's sensibilities so proceed to read this one with cause. This book, so far is one of the darkest NR books that I've read and much darker than her JD Robb ones.

As for the characters, I liked that both Clare and Cameron written as jaded version of themselves, but still manage to overcome their pasts to become a better person. Clare that struggle with her grief over her father death and also alcoholism. The way NR describe Clare's grief is well written, she can capture its nuance and how Clare still processing with her grief and trauma since it's her who found her father's corpse. Cam that want to forget his partner's death, also struggle to not succumb to alcoholism. Also his relationship with his mother is strained and you can't help to feel disgust but also pity for Cam's mother because she is like one of those housewives that become dependent because of her situation. Clare and Cam romance is just a so so, thought, although the conflicts are pretty much just Clare didn't like to be bossed around and Cam itself try to respect her boundaries. I liked that both are mature so there's no prolonged drama. Another characters also well written, but the amount of characters are plenty, so maybe not that much development. The villains are slowly revealed and NR shows that power, indeed, corrupt. It's corrupt a rather calm and serene small town into murders that shocked their very foundation. On the other side, I liked how NR describe Emittsboro and its citizen. She detailed some of the town history, the citizen dynamics and events, also didn't shy away to point their conservatism views, especially toward stranger. What feel weird maybe the way Nora write the book in omniscient views, but somehow it didn't written smoothly

The ending also left open, if not tad bit rushed. There's no further explanation for any consequences that the cult face because of their crime. Some things left unexplained, some of victims fate also left unknown. I really want to know what happen to Emmitsboro after the villain and their cult got caught, but what I got is another thread that still loose. Still, Dark Evil is one of Nora Robert's title that not to be missed, although with plenty of trigger warning and since this book written roughly 30 years ago, there's many moral values that seems outdated. 

 Tidak seperti Mitologi Yunani yang orang lebih familiar apalagi didukung dengan banyaknya retelling versi feminis etc untuk tokoh2 mitologi Yunani (mungkin untuk mengimbangi mitologi aslinya yang emang sangat patriarki), tidak terlalu banyak yang ngebahas Mitologi Norse. Orang awam hanya tahunya dari film Thor saja. Padahal kalau jeli, sebenarnya Lord of The Ring sedikitnya dipengaruhi Mitologi Norse walau cenderung dari cerita Nibelungenlied, tapi Gandalf sendiri diambil dari sosok Woden, atau Odin. American Gods karya Neil Gaiman itu core mythnya adalah Norse, sampai yang bersangkutan juga nulis buku khusus Mitologi Nordik. Gue belum sempat baca dan malah baca buku ini dulu yang sebenarnya bisa dibilang versi lebih simpelnya dengan tetap dihiasi ilustrasi unik karya Christina Balit.

Tidak seperti Mitologi Yunani (karena gue bacanya juga back to back), tidak ada penjelasan khusus tentang dewa dewi karena mungkin dewa dewi Norse ga sebanyak itu. Fokus utama narasi Napoli lebih ke kisah Odin mencari kebijakan, Loki yang iseng dan licik (Loki versi Marvel ga ada seujung kukunya Loki yg asli 🤣) dan Thor yang tamak nan bodoh (Thor versi Marvel jelas dipake yang bagus2 saja walau sempat ada momen depresi). Karena gue juga ga terlalu familiar sama mitologi Norse, baca buku ini lumayan dapat insight lebih. Seperti Heimdall yang punya 9 ibu (jangan ditanya yg hamil semua atau salah satu aja) tapi ternyata juga mirip2 Zeus, hobi tebar benih di kaum manusia, cuma jauh lebih beradab tanpa kelihatan nafsu kayak Zeus. Dari Heimdall inilah tercipta 3 kasta di masyarakat Skandinavia, thrall (budak), karl (petani) dan jarl (kepala suku/bangsawan). Istilah thrall mungkin dah banyak yang tahu, tapi kalau Jarl gue tahu dari romansa viking. Hahaha, jadi ada gunanya juga kan baca romans?

Tentunya dewa dewi lain juga diceritakan, termasuk Frey dan kembarannya Freya. Mereka mungkin kayak Apollo tapi alih2 Artemis, malah Aprodite. Plus si Freya ini punya kalung Brisingamen persis seperti sabuknya Aprodite. Disini bisa dilihat kalau mitologi memang sedikit banyak saling mempengaruhi. Ada juga kisah Baldr yg sayang ga terlalu banyak yg tahu, mungkin karena Thor lebih terkenal (gegara Marvel). Keisengan Loki pun banyak dibahas plus juga hukumannya yg terkenal itu karena perannya dalam kematian Balder. Diawali dengan penciptaan (dimana raksasa Ymir dimutilasi badannya. Gue kadang mikir pujangga jaman dulu itu nyimeng apa sih), dan diakhiri dengan Ragnarok, perang yang mengakhiri kejayaan para Dewa Aesir, Vanir dan para Raksasa. 

Napoli sendiri mengambil bbrp kisah mitologi Norse dari puisi Edda yang terkenal itu. Dalam catatannya, Napoli mengatakan kalau banyak inkonsistensi dalam mitologi. Menurut gue, semua mitologi pasti gini karena penyebaran awalnya pasti dari mulut ke mulut, diceritakan oleh pujangga saat sedang berkumpul didepan api unggun. Pun tiap pujangga punya versinya masing - masing. Bahkan Napoli sendiri juga melakukan tambal sulam di buku ini. Jadi ya jangan jadikan buku ini satu2nya sumber. Bagi gue, nuansa mitologi Norse memang terasa suram dan kejam, mungkin karena musim di Skandinavia yang dingin jadi mau g mau kisah2 mereka juga seperti itu.

Pastinya kalau suka mitologi in general dan mitologi Norse in particular, buku ini bisa jadi koleksian. Walau ga ada dewa yang sehorny Zeus, tapi ceritanya tetap pretty bonkers dan outlandish. Drama ya tetap ada tapi tidak sedramatis mitologi Yunani dengan segala perselingkuhan dan backstab sana sini. Kalau Zeus itu penopang mitologi Yunani, maka mitologi Norse ditopang Loki. Karena tanpa Loki, selain tidak ada Ragnarok (karena tiga anak Loki yaitu Fenrir, Jormungand dan Hel, semua berperan penting), bisa jadi para Aesir dan Vanir kurang hiburan 🙃🤭. 

 Dikurangi 1 bintang karena masih ada typo dan bahkan ada kesalahan nama.

Karena diri ini penyuka mitologi, jadi tiap ada buku tentang mitologi pasti koleksi. Sayangnya buku mitologi yang diterjemahkan di Indo jarang. Paling ya cuma Mitologi Yunani karya Edith Hamilton, Norse Mythnya Neil Gaiman, dan retelling bias via Percy Jackson karyanya Rick Riordan. And nope, retelling mitologi kayak karya Madeline Miller didn't count. Gue pengen baca mitologi as it is.

Untunglah KPG nerbitin 4 karya Donna Jo Napoli yang ternyata bagian dari buku2 terbitan National Geographic. Diterbitkan dalam format HC dengan kertas lux yang mewah, tentunya ini salah satu buku mitologi yang jangan sampai dilewatkan. Apalagi ada ilustrasi2 memanjakan mata (nyaris abstrak sih) hasil goresan Christina Balit. Napoli sendiri emang lebih kayak cerita lagi dengan sumber Hesiod dan Homer. Jadi mungkin lebih autentik (?). Penjabarannya sendiri seperti baca novel jadi benernya ga bosen - bosen banget dan sejujurnya terjemahannya enak dibaca terlepas dari typonya. Ada beberapa bagian yang mungkin ga sama dengan apa yang kita tahu, seperti Poseidon dan Medusa, dimana Medusa ini istrinya Poseidon tapi kita kan tahunya Medusa diperkosa Poseidon dan dikutuk Athena, tapi disini tidak ada penjelasan itu. Jadi bagian mana yang sebenarnya benar? Apalagi Apollo disini hanya disebut Dewa Musik dan bukan Dewa Matahari? Mungkin supaya tidak rancu antara Apollo dan Helios. Pun antara Artemis dan Selene. Jadi mitologi pun banyak versi ya.

Karena ga sampe 200 halaman, jadi ga semua diceritakan. Apalagi Napoli nyeritain dari awal penciptaan, trus Titanomachi dan era Dewa Dewi Olympus. Pun semua dewa-dewi ga diceritakan, hanya Twelve Gods & Goddesses of Olympus aja. Menariknya, kalau para dewa-dewi cuma dikit halamannya, yang manusia2 demigod cukup lengkap. Tentunya ya lagi2 ga semua diceritakan, karena cuma yg benar2 dikenal kayak Perseus, Herakles, Iason (atau Jason), Theseus dan Helene. Harap diingat kalau Perseus itu anak Zeus yah, bukan Poseidon 🤣. Kalau Percy emang dibikin anaknya Poseidon kan, walau mungkin cuma kesamaan nama aja, cmiiw. Nama - nama di buku ini juga pake ejaan Yunani Kuno, jadi mungkin agak beda tulisannya sama yg versi modern yg banyak beredar (kayak Kheiron alih2 Chiron, Kleitemnesra alih2 Clytemnestra, etc)

Walau banyak ilustrasi menarik, gue ga rekomen ini buat anak SD ya. Minimal anak SMP sih, dan harus dengan dampingan orang tua. Karena ya...sebagai ortu penting rasanya menjelaskan apa yang terjadi di mitologi Yunani ini, terutama bagian Zeus yang hobi sebar benih. Bahkan Napoli aja suka nyindir Zeus di buku ini 🤣. Kayak ya emang bener, seandainya Zeus tetap setia sama Hera, mitologi Yunani itu bakal kering g ada dramanya. Orang Yunani Kuno emang tenyata dramatis pada masanya. 

 

Reading The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels remind me when I first read Soulless by Gail Carriger. Both are comedy of manners and sensibilities, set in Victorian era, have fantasy elements and heroine that not afraid to say what in her minds. Although Soulless more like a steampunk historical romance, while Wisteria Society have a "Howl's Moving Castle" vibe on it, because the houses are literally flying. 

The first part of this book kinda hard to follow because everything that happen in early chapter seems mundane enough. Like, assassination attempt to our heroine, Miss Cecilia Bassingwaithe (such a handfull name!) of the many Cecilia before her (include her deceased mother, Cilla) is already mundane. Things get explained thoroughly after house start flying in which this book is set in England AU (alternate universe, not fanfic, although if this book start as fanfic first, I really don't have slightest idea), where rather than sail in the ship, pirates chant an incantation to fly their house. Imagine the air traffic, for the love of me, I can imagine so many house flying and we talk about English Home in the Victorian eras here. Must be huge. Cecilia and her overbearing great-aunt, Miss Darlington, are part of Wisteria Society, a sorority for ladies pirate, when they take "No" from men and goes their merry way in stealing and pillaging...jewelry. 

Despite the assassination attempt, Cecilia find herself to get romantically involved with her would be assassin, a pirate of many moniker and alias, Captain Ned Lightbourne (that also a fencing master, apparently Italian-how scandalous!, and an agent of sort). It's been so many books for me to finally found a hero that is so rakish and charming. The romance is of course very swooning worthy, make me read this happily sigh, but also laugh because of both MCs acerbic remarks and witty banters! What I liked is, Holton totally use many common tropes like "he feel first but she feel harder", "there's only one bed", "enemy to lover" and she understood the assignment. The romance between Ned and Cecilia is totally chef's kiss, with Ned's courting Cecilia but still understand her boundaries and Cecilia that bit by bit fallen for Ned's roguish charm. 

Wisteria Society not only about romance but seems like Holton's love letter to classic literature and classic language as well. English is not my native and I hardly read classic (is The Hobbit count?), so I'm very happy to read this book in my e-reader so I can list many word that I never knew before. Holton make fun of Brontes, like Cecilia's evildoers father, Captain Morvath that believe he's Branwell Bronte's son, also Cecilia that try to finish Wuthering Heights, not forget some bad poetry from men! Cecilia herself is a girl after my heart. I know that she devoted to her great Aunt, with the said aunt keep pestering Cecilia to catch any maladies or God's forbid, the Great Peril (aka the sun itself. You know, it will cause dark spot on your face); but Cecilia also an avid book reader. She constantly searching any library or book to read and avoid unnecessary and dull conversation. Her adventure to save the Society from Captain Morvath that hellbent in ruling England and get rid of women that constantly belittle him is a delight to read. But not only Cecilia, because the (old) ladies pirate of The Wisteria Society is crack to read, especially Lady Armitage that have (un)healthy obsession to Ned, Constantinopla (or Oply for short) that demand she's already in her 19-ish (actually not), Miss Darlington herself and Pleasance, the maidservant of Darlington House that have affinity for communicating with ghost. The villain also pretty much 2D, like Captain Morvath is like your usual Captain Hook type that will swirling his mustache while reciting his bad poems. 

This book is pretty much convoluted tbh, but for me, that's the charm. It's didn't take itself very seriously and you don't expect this book is to be serious despite some serious moment like when Cecilia try to kill her father to avenge her mother or when Cecilia doubt about her position in the Wisteria Society. This book is aiming to be fun, to entertain, and yes, it's fun and entertaining. You won't get unnecessary drama and angst here. You will get a book that make you feel warm, also better if you have tea and scones beside you. If you want a unique historical romance with many romance trope done right, have a "Howl's Moving Castle" vibe and lady pirates, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels might be right up your alley. 

Pretty underwhelming for a cozy mystery with common tropes, like located in small town, the main character inherited mansion from deceased Grandmother, gay best friend, potential love triangle, gossipy neighbor and a victim that apparently not that well-loved despite look charming at first. Also, Sophie's eavesdropping skill is suck. Big time. I count how so many times she mess up while eavesdrop like fall into something or slip because a whoopsiee.

Also, not enough llama, sadly. I think with a llama called Jack Kerouac, maybe the animal will become a saving hero or what, instead just...a pet. 

 

Horrorstor is a dark macabre horror parody of...you guess it, IKEA. Although the event itself didn't happen in IKEA, but ORSK. ORSK, to quote the book, is "the all-American furniture superstore in Scandinavian drag, offering well-designed lifestyle at below IKEA prices." So, basically, they are IKEA-dupe, located in America. This book have many pamphlets, information, suggestions, terms and conditions, with the tongue-in-cheek tagline "if you don't know what to do, just ORSK." Hendrix clearly did his assignment to understand how IKEA operates and make fun on it. Each chapters will have a brochure contains ORKS furniture with its description clearly written by a copywriter. But, near the end, the brochure not only suggest what ORKS furniture that will be suitable for your needs but become more sinister. More macabre. Delightful.

Like your usual horror movies, Horrorstor have 5 protagonist, plus one (un)lucky man. What supposed to be an overnight shift to investigate what happen to ORKS, a store partner Amy, together with her coworker Ruth Anne and her supervisor, Basil find that their night will become a night that all of them will soon not forget. Not only those three, but their other coworker, Trinity and Matt decide that they want to sneak into the ORKS store at night to film their own ghost investigation. Add with Carl, a homeless man that caught in the web of the horror, soon Amy and her cohorts found themselves ensnared by malicious ghost from the past that want to "cure" them of their predicaments. What happen to be a paranormal activity investigation at first become a survival thriller if Amy and co want to come out from ORKS unscathed.

I'm regret my choice to read this title at night because I'm too much chicken when it comes to ghost. Turn that, it's not that bad, lol. All of the characters have flaws, its hard to relate with them at first. Especially Amy. This book follow her PoV, although it's told from 3rd PoV, but it's apparent that the MC is Amy. We will read about her struggle and her sarcastic remarks that I found, it's hard to warm toward her. But, with story progress, we will follow her character development. Another is Basil. It's easy to hate Basil because he's the epitome of a worker that held his job as a sacred things. Like with Amy, we will know that he's actually care and took his job as a supervisor seriously. Not just a mindless drone that want to climb on the management ladder. Sadly, the other three is not fleshed out thoroughly. 

The book itself end with a kinda happy note, if only I can said that is happy. But, like a horror book, there will always some casualties. While I said happy, actually the book end with open ending. Horrorstor is a standalone, but if Hendrix will write the continuation of the story, I would love to read it. Although, if he decide that the end of Amy and co is just like in the epilogue, than it's okay. I can always assumed that they all will make it in the end. 

Not like The Southern Bookclub Guide to Slaying Vampires (that I read first) that happen in spanning of years, Horrorstor only happen in one night or just 7-8 hours to be exact. It have so many horror movies element, more likely the stupidity of their characters that want to go separate ways, make me want to scream like "no, no, no! You all must stick together!!" and many others. Not only horror elements, but Grady Hendrix also input his social commentary especially about work habits, in which he constantly mocking ORKS's company policy via Amy and how he portray the mind of the ORKS worker to the "bee hive". A brochure of furniture in each chapter is not random either. If you pay closely, those furniture will be featured in the story or will become an important item later.

The length of Horrorstor is more like under 250 pages, so this title is perfect for a one-sitting read, if you happen in the mood to read a horror with some survival thriller elements.

  Overall rating: 3 stars

Draconus by Grace Draven - 2 stars

Read this novella make me did a double take. Grace Draven write this? Like, seriously?? When I see the year this novella published, that kinda make sense because the story is pretty much feel unpolished to me compared with Draven's current titles. Lack of solid world building, characters that far from lovable. Why the conflict is pretty much come from BIG misunderstanding and self-assumed jealousy. Not to add that all of misunderstanding result in 4 years separation between Leida and Magnus. Leida is just your typical TSTL heroine (gawd, how many years from the last time I used this title) and Magnus is too kind for Leida. Not only misunderstanding, but also secret baby trope that make me rolling my eyes. The only good thing is the smexy scene, but even that its feel tedious I just want to skip it. Not the best of Draven's work for sure

 Dragon Lord by Dana Marton - 4 stars

Surprisely I liked this one. Might be the saving grace (haha) for this anthology. It have solid setting, address patriarchy & misogynist bullshit and have characters that I can relate too. Draknart's mind trail is amusing to read and he act pretty much like dragon do, capricious and cunning. But in the end he come to care for Einin. I liked Einin too, because despite her hard upbringing, she choose to be free rather than resigned to her fate. I also like, despite the close proximity, Einin playing hard to get but gradually warmed to Draknart. Even the secondary character, the god Belinus and goddess Belisama also well written. I usually dislike pregnancy in epilogue, but I don't mind with this one, since Einin and Draknart already live long enough so the pregnancy feels like a bonus. Overall, a very solid novella with charming characters and solid writing too. 

 All the stars I can give to rate will not enough and my review won't do this book justice.

Hands down, one of my best and favorite read this 2023, The Empire of Gold is a satisfying and triumphant finale that befitting the wondrous magical series, Daevabad. And The Daevabad Trilogy will always be one of my favorite series, that I will recommend to everyone that need an epic fantasy series that will blown their world away 

 Well, that was disappointing 🥱😕. I guess I have high expectation since I loved It Happened One Summer and friend-to-lover trope is totally my catnip. But sadly, Bailey didn't deliver with this one. 

If I'm being honest, Hook, Line and Sinker have almost same formula with its predecessor. It deals with many issues, especially impostor syndrome and how Bailey try to address toxic masculinity in which happen to Fox. However, I just don't feel the charm and fuzzy feeling like I feel with book 1. I don't mind with slow burn because the sexual tension usually paid off in the end. I also don't mind the sex happen in almost near the end. What make me pissed off is the overused martyr trope. How Fox, constantly unsure of himself, even he already communicate and talk about his feeling with Hannah, still feel that he's unworthy of her. Even when Hannah try to leave him, but only just for a few hours (what the?), it's just feel forced because she believe him so she want to give Fox a chance. I just, what the point of the drama then?? *raise both hands*.

I also think that Hannah's conflict is pretty underwhelming, because I prefer to read about how she address her "impostor syndrome" or like in her own words, she is not a leading lady material. It's just, Idk, happen too fast? Also, she's feels like a fixer to Fox's problems. I also think the "friend to lover" trope is just a so so, since it's apparent that Fox already smitten by Hannah in their first meeting on Westport but constantly said that they are friend and try to be platonic because Fox believe that he's a womanizer to the core. Read that part make me sad and I do know why Bailey want to write about toxic masculinity and the first place, how Fox already resigned to what people's opinion deemed about him, that he see women as his conquest without they try to consider Fox's feeling. It's just all that passage delivered in inner monologue and too wordy for my taste. I have a feeling that if only Fox and Hannah address their growing interest rather than hide behind "well, we are FRIEND. Friend didn't screw each other even it's apparent we really do want have seggsss because of close proximity y'all!!", the story will end in 150 pages rather than going around for almost 400 pages. Figures.

Things that I liked maybe the creative process behind the movie production and how Hannah can search for any songs that suitable for the movie scene. Although I don't familiar enough with some titles that Bailey throw, maybe because most of the titles are classics 80-90's songs. Sadly, not enough Hannah and Piper's interaction, also the crews of Delta Ray are asshole, especially to Fox. I can't even with their prejudice toward Fox, even they are just joking about Fox's womanizer habit. Is it an example that boys will always be boys? Not enough interaction with Westport citizen too, although I liked to read Hannah and Christian (one of the actor in the movie) interactions.

Tessa Bailey's titles usually is a hit and miss for me. Unfortunately, Hook, Line and Sinker is those title that missed. 

 If I can give all the 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 in the world for this book, I would. I can't fathom what I feel after finish reading this one, except intense and full of mind-blowing moment. To say my review didn't do justice for the story of The Kingdom of Copper is an understatement. You must experience it yourself, since I have a feeling that The Daevabad Trilogy might be one of my favorite epic fantasy trilogy and favorite read for this year!

The Kingdom of Copper is the second installment of The Daevabad Trilogy and the event in this book is happened 5 years after The City of Brass with the exception of the prologue that told days after the event that decide our protagonist's fate, Nahri, Alizayd and Dara. Nahri is now fully embraced her role as Daeva's healer, Banu Nahida, while constantly under King Ghassan's watchful eyes and constant pressure. Ali was banished from his Princely duty and must go to Am Gezira to avoid assassination attempt to his life while try to mastering his new ability that connected to the Marid. However, Dara find himself changed entirely, and must serve another Banu Nahida, Manizheh that plan to seize Daevabad when they celebrate Navasatem, Djinn celebration for their ending service to Prophet Suleiman. The book told form those 3 PoVs, Nahri, Ali and Dara respectively, but don't worry, you will not get confused because Nahri and Ali's PoV often overlapping especially when Ali finally come back to Daevabad, while Dara's will offer reader a glimpse into his new form and also Manizheh.

I found myself keep holding my breath while reading this. The political intrigue, the family drama, especially Qahtani's family! I found myself warming toward Zaynab that at first I think as spoiled princess, but in this book she's matured and somehow become Nahri's ally. We also will get introduced to Ghassan's second wife, Queen Hatset. I'm almost afraid that, being Ayanlee, Hatset will be as cunning and ruthless as her husband. Imagine my surprise when yes, Hatset is cunning, but she's also a loving mother to Ali and reasonable mother in law to Nahri. She will do anything to keep her children alive, including bring Ali to Ayanlee scholar in regard to Ali's forbidden Marid ability. I'm become thoroughly disgusted with the way Ghassan treat his objects, his tyranny is so apparent compared to book 1 in which he will not hesitate to execute the shafit over one or two rebellion to teach them a lesson. Completely different from his ancestor, Zaydi Al Qahtani that decide to rebel againts Nahid Council because of their treatment to the shafit. I'm sometimes wondering, why Ghassan rule the shafit with iron fist and in the other side he easily threatened Daeva if Nahri dare to defy him. He always said that Daevabad come first, so from where all this obsession about Daevabad come? I can's see him as a wise king, because just like Ali, what Ghassan did to shafit is beyond horrible. Meanwhile, I'm also not impressed with Muntadhir, especially with his treatment to Ali. Gone the Big Brother that always protect Ali in book 1, Muntadhir in this book is despicable. I got that he's worried about Jamshid and with their forbidden feeling to each other, but I feel like Muntadhir is so pathetic in this one. Muntadhir did get his redemption arc, albeit too late, so right now he's my least favorite character. However, Jamshid (beside Ali) become my favorite character. He's so preciousss and I pray that he will come alive unscathed, especially after his unknown fate when Daevabad got sacked.

Some events that happen in The Kingdom of Copper are mirroring the event in real life, I found myself to take a breath and closed my eyes, try to not crying because of the unfairness that happen in Daevabad. I feel like history always repeat itself. The shafit, the Daeva, the Gezziri, and many others. How I can totally see the conflict and the conspiracy in this book can totally happen in real life. How for the interest for their tribe, the Daeva is willing to sacrifice theirs and blamed the shafit for that. How the Daeva's view about shafit, dirt blood, lower caste and all make me sick to the stomach. Reading this book is not easy. I praise for Chakraborty's ability to wring my emotions, to feel what her characters feel, the injustice, the despair, but also cheer when they finally triumphs againts their adversaries and then succumb again to despair reading their fate, lol. I also like that bit by bit, Chakraborty reveal the truth behind Suleiman's seal. The cause about why Prophet Suleiman punish the daevas, their connection with marid and ifrit. There's also a glimpse in how Anahid cross the marid lake and build Daevabad.

I would not discuss about the world building, since its already established in book 1. I also liked how Chakraborty write, simple yet engaging. I said that in book 1, she write many compelling male characters, but in book 2, the girls is shine through. Nahri, pragmatist as she is, finally decide enough is enough with Ghassan and openly defied him while still maintain her wits. Her friendship with Ali is still raw after what Ali did to Dara, but I liked that they try to make amend eventhough Nahri is still sore about the past. It's also seems that she still care about Dara and maybe Dara too have feeling for her, if only his emotional baggage not that big as the Sahara. But I'm surprised to see Nahri and Muntadhir's marriage is... well put. I'm expect they will hate each other and become grumpy, but to see that they act civilized to each other and Nahri still visit Muntadhir's bed despite she know about Muntadhir's feeling to Jamshid, is speak volume. I dislike Muntadhir, yes, but I can see that both Nahri and Muntadhir are victim to Ghassan's many schemes. The other female characters is pretty much well written, like Zaynab, Queen Hatset, the shafit doctor, Sen, that Nahri befriend in order to help her in the Nahid hospital, Razu and, even Manizheh. I think that there's something sketchy about Manizheh and her connection to Nahri. 

One of my favorite narrative is Ali's and I have heart for this guy, maybe because he's idealistic, he's remind me of myself back then. He's also underdog, getting hate from his own family, punished for his vision to see the wellness of the shafit. I want to said "OMG, please stop torturing him, already!". While I know many prefer Dara, I think Ali is more suitable for Nahri compared to the Afshin. Yeah, Dara and Nahri has history, but I hope the platonic relationship between Nahri and Ali can develop more. I'm smiling when see Ali's reaction to Nahri's wardrobe or when they become close because it's apparent that he's smitten by her while Nahri is still oblivious not mention still seethe to Ali because Ali's role in Dara's demise. But seeing they cooperate with each other, like when building the hospital and when Daevabad's got attacked, make me giddy, lel.

The Kingdom of Copper make me lose my sleeping time, and I will said, it's worth it. The book's climax is very much well written, intense and full of action, wits and revelation (not mention, some of characters end up dead :') ). The story end with a cliffhanger and I'm glad that I decide to wait until The Empire of Gold released, so I don't need to wait that long! I'm very much recommend to start with The City of Brass and be prepared to swept away in the world of the Djinn that full of wonder but also political intrigue!