renpuspita's reviews
1359 reviews

 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! 

Before I start writing the review, I will state that I'm a Muslim practitioner, although just do a bare minimum, like praying (if I remember), fasting, and giving money to the poor. Unlike many of my Muslim colleague, I don't use hijab. Just preference of mine. Also, usually I avoid reading books with Islamic theme, again just preference, lol. So, The City of Brass is my first foray into fantasy book with Islamic theme and lore, maybe that's why reading this book make me feel nostalgic of sort. Like the prayer, the custom, the language, the laws, I found myself smiling while reading this one. I admit, my faith kinda wavering this day , I'm afraid maybe someday I'll go ashtray. But, eh, enough about that, right? ^_^

The  City of Brass is S.A.Chakraborty's debut. It's feel like her debut, but without some of debut weakness, such as confusing world building or wordy sentences and paragraphs. Quite opposite, Chakraborty's writing is pretty much simple and straightforward. Reader that not quite familiar with Islamic or Arabic term might be feel difficult to understand some term, but since I state at the first that I already know them, I can read this one with ease. The City of Brass itself is like a fanfic or retelling of Alf Layla Wa-Layla, or we might know it as One Thousand and One Night. My friend, Raven, also said that The City of Brass is appear in those folktales. I think I will try to read 1001 Nights someday.

However, not only 1001 Nights, because Chakraborty also infused some elements such as the tale of Prophet Suleiman with the Djinn (or you might know Suleiman as Solomon). I feel not only similarity with the terms and lore, but with the setting as well. All Djinn tribes have their hometown similars to our. From Shahrayn that dwell in Sahara Desert. Ayanlee djinn that dwell in Ta Ntry that if I remember correctly located below the Nile river, exactly in Ethiopia and Somalia. The proud Geziri tribe that claim Am Gezira as their own, pretty much Saudi Arabia, and Tukharistani that own Silk Road, so basically they come from Kazakhstan and around. Then we have Agnivanshi tribe, dwell from Agnivansha, if you know that Agni is fire in India, then you know where it is. And lastly, Daeva tribe who lived in Daevastana, with their glimmering city, The City of Brass, the Daevabad, located in what we know today as Iran. 

Not only the location, but the faith of Daeva, which the Geziri say with distaste that they are fire worshiper remind me of Majusi (Magush), or Zoroastrianism. And how one of the character practice his religious devoutly, people around him called him religious fanatic. Then, the discord between the Geziri, those who govern Daevabad and Daeva, those who claim that Daevabad is their own. Between of them, there's shafit, mixed blood union between Djinn and human, constantly in lower caste in Daevabad, without justice, only lived because the Geziri somehow try to tolerate them at best.  All of it hit too close to home, to reality, but without Chakraborty write it in your face. She's like let her reader guess it of their own, while show that history always repeat itself. No matter who, when and where. There always people suffer under oppression and tyranny, injustice and prejudice. And a character with moral and integrity, full of privilege, but found that he can't do anything to make a better world for those who suffer.

In term of trope and characters, since the premise of City of Brass itself is simple, Chakraborty itself also use trope that fantasy reader already know. We have our heroine Nahri, a con woman and thief of questionable heritage that found herself as a last descendant of Nahid, a djinn healer then swept away to Daevabad by a djinn that she accidentally summoned, Darayavahoush e-Afshin or we may call him Dara. Then, we will introduced to Alizayd al Qahtani, the Geziri-Ayanlee prince of Daevabad that found himself entangled in his effort to give the shafit a better place to live despite his father, King Ghassan barely tolerate them. Told between alternative PoV, Nahri and Ali, Chakraborty bring us into her world, a world that not as simple as it seems, not that mesmerizing like its first glimpse. With Nahri, we got an adventure, for she and Dara flee from the ifrit that chased them, then meet with ruhk bird (or Roc), peri and Marid in their journey to Daevabad. In Ali, we got a glimpse into Daevabad and court machinations in the palace. I think why I never bored while I need a week to finish this because of my busy schedule, it's because this book never let me down. For me, it's never a dull moment. We have adventure, then next we get a political maneuver from inside Daevabad. Also some mystery that surrounding Dara, his enslavement by Ifrit and his dark past that make him known as The Scourge of Qui-zi.    

While I enjoy reading about Nahri and her pragmatism and cunning mind, especially about her fortune because of her background as a poor thief in the Cairo street, I admire Chakraborty for her ability to make compelling male characters. From Ali, Dara, even King Ghassan and one of my favorite character, Jamshid. I admit that the female character beside Nahri, only have spoiled brat like Zaynab (Ali's sister), or a mentor figure that sadly not helping Nahri and seems like hiding her own secret. Ali is remind me of myself, despite deemed as a religious fanatic, he has integrity and idealistic to the core. Dara is more like Byronic hero, with a tortured past. What surprised me is King Ghassan, for I despise him but also admire his ruthlessness, cunning and complexity. He's act as a king, a paranoid ones. He can be a loving father to Ali and Muntadhir, his  Crown Prince, but he held Daevabad above all he didn't hesitate to use his children as pawn. He also illiterate, because if he have an entire scribes to read for him, why bother. In contrast with Ali that pretty much enthusiastic with book, I think I got why despite his religious upbringing and devotion, he can feel empathy. Book will do that to you, lol. My less favorite male character is might be Muntadhir. I just feel like he's okay, he's doing his brotherly duty to protect Ali, but that's all. My opinion might be differ in the next book, tho.

Although I'm a romance reader, I don't mind if a fantasy book I read didn't have any, and if it's have one or two romantic moment, I want it to well written. Nahri's affection to Dara might be feel sudden, but I see it as a forced proximity trope. Like, if I'm in Nahri's shoes, find myself as an extraordinary person with extraordinary background that got swept away with this dark, lethal but also charming guy, my heart might be skip a beat. I also liked that Chakraborty write Nahri not as shivering lily, despite she don't have experience with men. Nahri do what she want to do to Dara, although the result end up in disaster. I'm myself much invested to Nahri relationship with Ali, despite their first meeting start badly because Ali's hostility, but they become friends afterward. I admit I'm a sucker for friend to lover trope, however I don't search for romance in this book, lol. So, whatever Chakraborty have in the future, I'll accept it.

The City of Brass is a wonderful debut from S.A. Chakraborty with a promising start. Four or five last chapters of this book make me holding my breath since it's change everything and I'm so grateful I have my copy of book 2, The Kingdom of Copper and book 3, The Empire of Gold already in hand. I think if you love epic fantasy with Middle East lore and setting, complete with compelling characters, stubborn and pragmatist heroine, also Machiavellian politic court, I'm

Sebelum ke review, gue pengen komplen dikit perihal blurb di buku ini. Karena bagi gue agak misleading. Di blurb dibilang kurang lebih begini "Ketika Poirot menyempatkan diri mengunjungi lokasi penggalian, ia begitu cepat akrab dengan Louise". Tentu aja gue berasumsi kalau "ia" disini mengacu kepada Poirot kan? Masalahnya, setelah baca buku ini, Poirot itu baru ke lokasi penggalian setelah Louise dibunuh! Loh, jadi "ia" ini mengacu ke siapa? 😨. Blurbnya terus terang agak bikin bingung, karena yg dekat sama Louise itu Suster Amy Leatheran sementara Poirot baru tahu kepribadian Louise seperti apa dari penjabaran orang2 di lokasi penggalian setelah pembunuhan terjadi. Apa gue aja yg salah tangkap sih? 🤣.

Eniwei, gue terakhir baca buku Agatha Christie itu sekitar 6 tahun yg lalu dan itu juga baca karena abis nonton versi film Murder on Orient Express untuk membandingkan kedua versi (yang versi buku lebih bagus dan jelas tentunya). Murder in Mesopotamia ini sendiri bisa dibilang prekuelnya Murder on Orient Express seperti nantinya akan dijelaskan di penghujung cerita. Buku ini dituturkan seluruhnya dari sudut pandang Amy Leatheran, seorang suster yang diminta Dr Leidner untuk merawat istrinya Louise Leidner yang bersifat dramatis tapi juga sering ketakutan karena Louise merasa dia diawasi oleh mantan suaminya yang seharusnya sudah lama meninggal. Karena narasi memakai PoV pertama dari Suster Leatheran, jadi bisa dibilang Poirot disini walau tokoh penting bukan tokoh utama dan semua penceritaan tentu saja bias dari sudut pandang Amy seperti yang dijabarkan di prologue buku ini. Walau PoV pertama itu suka tricky, gue suka dengan cara Dame Christie menulis PoV Amy disini karena narasinya sangat lugas, subjektif sehingga bikin pembaca jadi bertanya - tanya, tapi juga jujur apa adanya.

Gue tentunya ga akan terlalu bahas misteri pembunuhannya karena berpotensi spoiler 🤭. Selain itu ga baca bagian akhir dulu kayak kebiasaan gue biar misterinya terjaga. Dari buku ini, gue semakin paham kalau seri manga Kindaichi emang sangat terpengaruh karya2 Agatha Christie. Mulai dari misteri pembunuhan ruang tertutup atau yg sekiranya mustahil dilakukan, jumlah karakter yang cukup banyak, kenal satu sama lain berkumpul di tempat yg sama dan semua punya alibi serta motif untuk membunuh korban, korban yang bakal dicintai atau dibenci banyak orang dll. Jadi emang agak sedikit nostalgia pas baca buku ini walau ya Murder in Mesopotamia tentunya ditulis lebih dulu dong.

Selain diajak menebak-nebak siapa pelakunya, pembaca diajak mengenal orang2 di tempat penggalian Doktor Leidner dan dinamika mereka selama ini. Gue cukup suka juga nukilan-nukilan info tentang proses penggalian di Irak ini. Pada saat Poirot mengungkap siapa pembunuh Louise gue cukup menikmati bacanya, walau bagi gue bukan alasan pembunuhnya itu yg ga masuk akal. Masuk akal banget sih, tapi, latar belakang pembunuhnya yang bikin gue terkesima. Kayak, kok bisa??? (insert pikachu face here). Gue merasa latar belakang dan identitasnya agak outlandish dan kayak apa ya, kurang masuk akal hahaha. Gue ga mau banyak bahas karena entah jatuhnya spoiler hehehe.

Overall, gue suka buku ini walau gue kasih ga sampe 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 karena masalah latar belakang si pembunuh. Gue suka sama narrativenya Amy Leatheran dalam menceritakan kasus pembunuhan dan juga proses penyelidikannya Poirot. Salah satu buku series Hercule Poirot yang malah penceritaannya dari PoV orang lain, yang jangan sampai terlewatkan deh! 

 

 Kalau gue nemu dialog "EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH???" sekali lagi, pingin gue tampol deh.

Di tahun 2018 gue pernah baca versi adaptasi komik dari novel Touche. Reviewnya sendiri bisa dibaca disini: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/f55dfc2b-9697-4655-ae9a-8b32b1916bd4 ; dan waktu itu gue mikir mungkin novelnya lebih bagus isinya karena namanya adaptasi pasti ga bisa 100% mirip.

Ternyata gue salah. Ini kesekian kalinya gue baca buku karya penulis lokal tapi rasa dialognya kaku, kering banget kayak kanebo. Bahkan kanebo kering pun rasanya ga sekering buku ini. Dialognya serasa baca buku terjemahan, dan ternyata bukan cuma gue aja yang mikir gini karena di review lain juga sama. Sama seperti komplain gue di versi komiknya, di versi novel ini malah lebih parah. Bahasa campur-campur yang dipake di novel ini padahal settingnya sendiri sekolah SMA di Surabaya bikin dialognya berasa cringey. Bahkan dialog Pak Yunus, yang notabene baru pulang dari luar negeri pun terkesan sangat dipaksakan. Berkali - kali saat baca buku ini gue ngoreksi dialog antar tokohnya yang resmi dan kaku banget ngalah2in pidato presiden. Sampe gue mikir, emangnya anak SMA tahun 2011an (awal novel ini ditulis) apalagi di Surabaya ngomongnya kayak gini yah? Oke, kalau ngomongnya pake "loe gue", gue bakal ketawa kenceng, karena trust me, gue dulu anak Malang yang ngomong ya campur - campur bahasa Indo dan bahasa Jawa (baru pake gue setelah pindah kerja ke Jakarta). Di buku ini ga mengesankan kalau Riska, Indra dan Dani itu anak Surabaya! Heck, where's the "eh, koen sek urip ta?" atau "cuk, piye kabarmu saiki?", minimal antara Dani dan Indra karena mereka sohiban . Surabaya seakan menjadi tempelan saja di buku ini.

Gue sendiri mengamini kalau karakterisasi di buku ini memang lemah, apalagi dengan keterangan Indra yang dingin. Iya, iya, udah tahu kalau Indra itu tipe cool, but not that calm, jadi ya ga usah diulang-ulang "kata Indra dingin" atau "jawab Indra dingin". Masa ga ada pilihan kata yang lain, bestie. Dan, perlukah gue ulang kalau dialog-dialognya super cringey? Karena ga cuma kaku, tapi juga beberapa dialog kurang mengalir dengan luwes? Gue heran karena buku ini udah dicetak ulang sampe tujuh kali bahkan covernya ganti 3x dimana gue suka cover yang paling baru, tapi kualitasnya ternyata sama jeleknya? Selain kurang luwes, juga ga konsisten. Di satu dialog pakai "kau", di dialog lain pakai "kamu". Bahkan dialog antara Riska dan Mamanya juga sama kakunya.

Karena dari tadi gue komplen mulu (haha), sebenarnya ada juga kelebihan buku ini. Seperti teka - teki hilangnya Pak Yunus dan bagian penyelidikan trio Riska-Indra-Dani di Solo. Penjabaran perjalanan di Solo bagus dan juga kebenaran di balik hilangnya Pak Yunus juga cukup oke. Walau ya, gue ngerasa di bagian awal - awal saat Pak Yunus ngasihtahu keberadaan touche, itu kayak berasa penulisnya flexing. Like, hey, I know stuff that you don't know. Ini mah cuma feeling gue aja yah, kalau yang lain ga merasa sih gapapa, hahaha. 

Pengalaman baca gue kurang nyenengin untuk buku pertama seri Touche ini, dan masih ada dua buku lagi. Semoga aja ada improvement, minimal walaupun dialognya kaku kayak kanebo (lagi), ceritanya bisa bikin tertarik bacanya. 

Reading reviews for Uprooted , I can see that the opinion of this book is pretty much polarized. Either you love and praise it or you hate it with a passion of thousand burning suns (okay, this is exaggerate). As for myself, I really liked it. Uprooted remind me of time when I read Elantris and Gods of Jade and Shadows, two standalone novels that I always recommend to everyone that want to read stand alone novels. However, Uprooted also have some glaring weakness that make me don't want to rate it more than 4 stars.

In her notes, Novik said that the idea of Uprooted come from Polish folklore, titled Agnieszka Skrawek Neiba, and because of it, the titular heroine of Uprooted also have name Agnieszka. In the first glimpse and also the blurb, Uprooted start with a single, simple premise. There's a wizard called the Dragon that lived in the Tower. For every 10 years, he will demand people from the village to give a girl age 17 years to live with him, in exchange of his protection from the malicious evil forest called the Wood. After 10 years, he will release the girl, but that girl herself will come out change, no longer want to live in the village. This year, it's Agnieszka and her friends turn. Agnieszka dread the time when the Dragon come, because she's so sure that he will choose Kasia. Kasia is the brightest girl in Dvernik village, she's beautiful, kind and brave, everything that Agnieszka not. Yet, it's not Kasia that the Dragon choose, because he choose Agnieszka instead.

Bewildered, confused, and angry -also Agnieszka already hate the Dragon because he will snatch her beloved friend Kasia at first-, Agnieszka find life in the Tower at first is difficult. The Dragon not only aloof and indifference, but also quick to anger and chastised Agnieszka because that girl is so clumsy. I understand that the first 5-6 chapters or so is slogging to read. Too mundane perhaps. Add it with the way Novik write Uprooted which told from Agnieszka's first PoV. We read she grunt, hate and whining. It can be tedious to read at first, yet I understand that Agnieszka is still 17, she is homesick already and scared because of the Dragon's treatment. When the Dragon realized that Agnieszka has affinity with magic, he reluctantly teach her the art of magic only to find that rather than healing magic, Agnieszka is more attuned to Jaga's magic that very much different from the Dragon's.

The story pick up the pace when Agnieszka decide to defend her village from the Wood attack. That's when the story finally shines. That's when I finally can enjoy this book. I see that Novik have a way with words. Sure, that Agnieszka's narrative can be too hyperbole, too flowery and exaggerating, but I can feel Agnieszka's emotion as my own. Her confusion, her eagerness to learn magic, her worry for her village and especially her beloved friend, Kasia. Novik's writing can evoke those emotions from me, merely just from reading her passage. Just like reading a story that need a sacrifice of my time sleep. I think that Agnieszka's driving force in this story mostly come from her friendship with Kasia. How she will move to Heaven and Earth to protect her, especially after Kasia got taken by the Wood and end up change. But, I also liked that despite their friendship, Novik manage to also write the frustration between both characters. How they also hate each other condition, although the friendship overriding those hate.

I read in some article that Uprooted is like a story that can be told in trilogy, but just condensed into one volume. I do agree, because there's so much happen in this book after a dragging and sloughing first part. There's a fight between the Dragon and Agnieszka against the Wood in order to free Kasia. Then, we will get introduced to the Kingdom of Polyan, in which their queen already taken by the Wood 20 years ago, and her son, Prince Marek together with his wizard companion, the Falcon want the Dragon and Agnieszka to save the Queen. Yet, The Wood is malice, cunning and its spread its seeds of corruption in everywhere Agnieszka turn and bidding its time to strike in order to destroy everything. This is when I hold my breath, because wow, the story is told in a high octane that make me want to devour the book in a whole but in the same time I don't want it to end. Agnieszka and the Dragon try to fight the Wood with their magics, but the Wood always have aces in its sleeve and always ready to face both Agnieszka and the Dragon. Not only just fight, battle and siege with the Wood, Novik also write about court & magician politic, especially when Agnieszka go to Kralia, Polyan's capital in order to become a witch and warned the Polyan King of the lurking danger from the Wood. 

However, for the last 2-3 chapters, the tension seems to lower and kinda lost some of the momentum after the intense siege between the Wood and combined force of the Dragon and Agnieszka. I feel like the ending feel open, like Novik tell the reader to how to interpreter it. I see a question  where people ask if Novik will write the continuation of Uprooted and she answer that she don't have plan yet. I think that as a story, Uprooted can be read as a stand alone, yet some things are still left unresolved. This is why I didn't give it 5 stars despite in the middle toward the end part that make me don't want to finish this book quickly. 

Another is the romance aspect. I'm a hardcore romance reader and I appreciate that Novik also incorporated the romance element. But, sadly I don't see the Dragon (aka Sarkan) as the love interest of Agnieszka, because I feel that he's too grumpy, aloof and although he relent when Agnieszka pursued him, he's also still running away from his feeling. I think maybe the first part when Agnieszka come to the Tower feel like Beauty and the Beast, but to read how Agnieszka's feeling toward the Dragon that changed from hate to want/need is weird. I can't said it's Stockholm Syndrome per se, and maybe Agnieszka feeling to Dragon come from when they try to intertwined their magic. Mind you, I read so much insta-lust and insta-love stories, but the insta-feeling that Agnieszka has for the Dragon in Uprooted left me dumbfounded. Although I praised Novik to write Agnieszka to pursue the Dragon first and didn't shy away from her sexuality. There's one sex scene, but modestly written and can be skipped if you prefer your fantasy to be clean from any sexual content (well, I'm not!!) Sadly, since Uprooted is told from Agnieszka's PoV, it's like the romantic feeling feel one-sided although the Dragon himself kind of reciprocated it.

One big question while reading Uprooted is why the Dragon took girls to his tower? With the story unfold, we will get the reason, and nope, the Dragon didn't rape or laying finger to them. Maybe he just want company but too proud to admit it and maybe there's a bigger reason for that. That reason is why I understand how the title Uprooted come. How the term "uprooted" is connected with the main plot in this book, not only with how the The Woods rooted in the place but also with the people of the Polyan Kingdom especially the Dvernik village. Some of reviews stated that Agnieszka is Mary Sue, however I don't feel it and I see that her emotion are valid although the narration can be too hyperbole. I also see that the magic system is sketchy at best and feel like Agnieszka can do many thing with her magic that seems endless. I do feel like the magic system is not explained thoroughly like with how Sanderson write, but well, this is the way Novik write her magic system for her Uprooted world. I liked her description of magic, and how the spell-tongue for the Wizard's real name when spelled by Agnieszka describe why the Wizard called by their moniker (like for the Falcon and the Dragon). I liked that Agnieszka's magic just a single or simple spell and cantrips but she wield it with song or telling a story. My favorite is when Agnieszka and the Dragon chant the Summoning spell, it's really feel magical.

I spent almost a week to read Uprooted because of my busy schedule, and find that with the dragging and slow first part, the story pace pick up in the second and third part although lost some momentum in the end. But, I still like Uprooted nonetheless, and will always recommend it if you search for a standalone fantasy that is magical and can evoke your emotions (in a good way) while read it. 

PS: The Indonesian edition have dragon on the cover. But, nope, there's no dragon. There's monster like chimaera, hydra, the Wood's monster such as wolves, walkers and mantises, and some abomination from the Wood's trap. But no dragon, and well the Dragon is just the wizard's epithet. He won't suddenly change into dragon, lel. 

Read in 2010, when I still loved this series, so the rating reflected that time of the reading.

*Now, I'm not, heh :P

 RE-READ

Original squeeeing review can be read below in spoiler tag *which kinda make me embarrassed, lol*, but well, I'm glad I got my fangirl-mojo back.

While I kinda lost contact with friend that recommend me this book back at 2011 (wow, time sure flies fast. 8 years ago!!), I can't thank her enough to my intro into Demonica series. Sure this series have some up and down, but Larissa Ione always deliver. Pleasure Unbound is no exception. Eidolon still is, non-arguable- my favorite Seminus demon, even readers love Wraith more. I know that Tayla at first can be too hot-headed, but I can't blame her because fanatical thought is horrible (and still do until now.). I like how Ione solved Tayla's sexual problems, not just magically cure her can't-orgasm by Eidolon's magic peen in the first time, but make it progress slowly while E and Tayla try to understand each other. Who knows that a simple hospital for demons and just your ordinary battle between good vs evil can be so..so ..much more.

Also, Pleasure Unbound is the most erotic Demonica book Ione's write (bordering erotica, tho), so who am I to complaint, hahaha. Since her books after that tend to plot rather than just some sex scenes throw in your face. But, hey, Ione is one of those authors that know how to write blazing, scorching, sex scene, so go figure!

Ah, I missed all those good paranormal romance books in their glory era (circa 2008-2014) *sigh*


 

 I HAVE A NEWS FOR ALL EIDOLON'S FANS!!

Just look at the bottom of my review *grin*

---------------------------------------------------------
Just wanna say :

Everybody love Wraith, maybe because his bad-ass attitude

Everybody love Shade, maybe because.. what? Dunno *lol*

But

For me, just one of Seminus Brother that from the beginning until the end, that still captivated me, still make me love him, still make me adore him and his name is..

EIDOLON

*LOL*

So, is it wrong that his book is favorite of mine? But, actually all of Demonica are favorite of mine!

This is my 3rd times read...And I realize something,...

Wraith's book is about his change, from his bad-ass attitude to became a better person (and remember he is badly tortured at the past, so he deserved happines for his book)

Shade's book is about how he deal with his curse, and his feeling to Runa..I dunno, Shade is not my favorite Sem after all, but after re-read his book, I got his"other" side, that I'd missed when first read it...

Eidolon's is about prejudice... Maybe with highly erotica content in this book (hello chapter 2 *grin*), people forgot, that his book have a deepest meaning from all Demonica (in my opinion of course)...
It's about prejudice, both from Demon side and Human side...
Especially from human side, let's say Tayla...

Tayla believe that all demon are bad, all demon are cruel. But look, after she meet Eidolon, she know that she wrong. That every side not always black and white. Every side always have a gray side, a shade, that make is right isn't always right, and wrong not always wrong.. Demon aren't all bad, there are some harmless demon, and The Aegis, her organization is not as good as she believed..

And then E.... While many fans of Demonica love Wraith,I love E because his dedication to his hospital, and while his relationship with Wraith not good like Wraith and Shade, he still care for his little brother...

I must stop babbling about this series *lol*

I'm glad when some friend of mine decided to read this, and then they love it...

I'm glad that Larissa Ione make this wonderful series...

What I must said?

If you not read Demonica yet, you must take this to your top to-read list ;)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 The News!!!!!!!:D

As the gift from Larissa, because so many fans of her support Jaci Burton at DA BWAHA, she write the scene between E and Tayla, and their efforts to make baby!!

This scene is take place at Sin Undone and Eternal Rider..

Oh, how I love read about E again!!

This is the link!

http://larissaione.com/blog/books/dem...

Make sure to scroll down, until you find their story, and......

Happy Reading!! :D

(ohh, and that scene is scorching hot!! ) 

 

 Still in Dragon Kin series binge, I decide to read Dragon on Top for the next. I didn't re-read this one, because back then, I just don't have time or not interested enough to read about Ghleanna. This novella is also prequel and the event happen after Chains and Flames, so Rhiannon already become queen, and Bercelak is her consort now. You can read Dragon on Top as stand alone, but you will miss the world building and characters background. Ghleanna first introduced in Chains & Flames, as for Bram the Merciful, he first appear in A Tale of Two Dragons.

Aiken again show her craft writing with an usual trope "opposite attract". For this novella, she used alpha heroine and beta hero. Honestly? It's unique. Especially if you so fed up with all that alpha macho hero out there. Bram might be a beta, nerd, easily distracted, peacemaker and also merciful, like his moniker. Yet, he show that he can be alpha too, both out and in the bed (ehm). Aiken know that war can't be won through just a melee or hacking enemy until they become pulp. One of the core to winning war is through negotiation and alliance. I really enjoy the way Aiken write about it.

When I'm afraid if Ghleanna just a typical strong alpha female, readers will get into her struggle too. If you already reading Chains and Flames, it's apparent that Ghleanna hate her father's reputation, Ailean the Slag. Having a former whore as your father, even the said father already committed to monogamy, is hard, for Ghleanna also have been accused as a whore too. It's a little bit so sad to read how Ghleanna can't accept her own father, but Bram help her to see her father's present life, not his past. I also delightful to know that even Ghleanna is a type that "kill enemy first, ask them later", she also have a part in Bram's negotiation thingie.

I forgot if I had read about Sea Dragons in Dragon Kin novel, and mind you, I read book 1-6 long long time ago. Dragon on Top give insight into Sea Dragons, called Fins, and how eccentric and egomaniacal they are. Aiken once more show how intricate her Dragon Kin world building can be. As for Bram and Ghleanna relationship, it's so funny to read how both characters are so easily distracted. I'm amused when reading Bram that can't stop his mind and his work, so immersed in the process. Amused too how Ghleanna seems didn't see Bram at first, didn't know that this younger dragon already fallen in love with her through years. How her Cadwaladr family see Bram's infatuation, yet Ghleanna so oblivious to it. In the end, I really enjoy their interaction, a unique addiction to common romance trope out there.

And..that's why I like G.A. Aiken! Her heroes always fallen in love hard and work hard, and her heroines are ass kickin and so unapologetic! Really, really, my favorite!! :) 

 Satu kata: EDAN

Dan, maaf budokwi, aku pinjem ini lama banget, ga kukembaliin - kembaliin pula *pentung*

Anyway, ini memang brilian untuk masanya, dan bahkan masih brilian sampai sekarang. Jadi tahu Kindaichi itu dapat idenya darimana, mengingat semua komiknya selalu memakai tema "pembunuhan di rumah/pulau/tempat" terpencil, dan karakternya selalu banyak (walau yang mati paling 3-4 orang). Beda dengan Conan yang kasusnya pendek - pendek. Yah, pada akhirnya Kindaichi emang jadi berasa monoton, karena kasus pembunuhannya sama terus, jarang ada selingan :D

Selain Kindaichi, terasa juga And Then There Were None ini menginspirasi Dexter. Karena alasan dari si pelaku, sedikit banyak mirip Dexter. To right the wrong.

Ini ga spoiler ya, tapi kalau kamu jeli, sebenarnya siapa pembunuhnya sudah bisa ketebak dari awal. Ada yang membedakan si pelaku ini dari 9 orang yang juga ikut terjebak dengannya di Pulau Negro. Dan yep, itu mulai dari awal banget lho, walau gw baru sadarnya menjelang akhir - akhir, hehehe. Plus, pelakunya juga orang yang paling "masuk akal". Kenapa gw bilang "masuk akal"? Karena gw ga mau terlalu spoiler :P.

Apa semuanya mati? Iya, semua tokohnya mati. 
Lalu siapa pelakunya? Jangan bilang hantu!
Engga lah, dikira ini Valak di Conjuring yang kena meme engga lucu itu :P

Jangan khawatir, And Then There Were None sama sekali engga ada unsur supranaturalnya. Sebaliknya, unsur psikologisnya sangat kental, dimana pelakunya benar - benar memainkan semua 10 karakter di buku ini bagai boneka marionette. Buku ini lumayan bikin parno juga. Selain karena sibuk menebak - nebak siapa sih pelaku sebenarnya, adegan Vera kena ganggang dan adegan saat tinggal tiga tokoh yang tersisa dan pada paranoid plus saling tuduh itu bikin megap - megap. 

Urutan kenapa terbunuhnya pun cukup unik, dan alasan kenapa dibunuh juga lagi - lagi mengingatkan gw sama Kindaichi (ya, Kindaichi emang sekarang terasa banget kalau terinspirasi dari novel ini). Menurut gw, ga berlebihan kalau buku ini dianggap masterpiece Agatha Christie, karena memang idenya sangat luar biasa!

Oh ya adaptasi And Then There Were None sangat banyak, bahkan film Indonesia pun kabarnya juga ada yang mengadaptasi buku ini dengan judul Pesantren Impian. Film Sabotage yang dibintangi Arnold suasanaseger juga loosely adapt this book. Mungkin yang paling baru adalah adaptasi BBC yang dibintangi oleh Aidan Turner dan Sam Neill (yang nonton Jurassic Park jaman jebot pasti kenal doski deh). Si Aidan jadi Phillip Lombard, dan ngehenya, pas baca review, di seri ini semacam ada getar - getar asmara antara Phillip dan Vera. Padahal di buku sama sekali engga ada lho ya! :( Yah, gw mau coba nonton ini, tentunya dengan lampu nyala, karena baca bukunya aja udah merinding :P.

PS: Terjemahannya too literary, terasa sangat patuh dengan naskah aslinya. Jadi emang berasa agak aneh pas bacanya dan tidak terbiasa
PSS: Buku Agatha Christie kedua yang kebaca setelah Ledakan Dendam yang dibaca pas SMA. Ada jarak 13 tahun pas bacanya *buka umur* XD