renpuspita's reviews
1348 reviews

 How to Fail at Flirting seems like a fluffy read in the first glance, but actually this book is very hard to read and reviewed. In the moment I read this book, I (with some of my book friends) just currently canceling a book club because they are enabler of sexual harassment's perpetrator that apparently still active in the bookish environment despite he already outed by another book clubs. So, the things that happen in this book kinda resonated me. Always, always side with the victim.

Naya is a survivor of years of emotional abuse from her ex. The abuse affect her confidence and it's hard to trust a man again. She also afraid to start a relationship. After her best friend and best friend's husband dare her to at least try to flirting in the night club, Naya relents and there she meet Jake, who also shamelessly flirt with her. Their flirting turn to more serious entanglement but Naya just found out that Jake is part of a company that auditing her university and her teaching career in the university is hang in balance. To make matter worse, Naya's ex, Davis also comeback to the university and try to harass her again. While Naya, know that she is in love with Jake and vice versa, still afraid to taking chance with their growing romance because she think she already broken because of David's emotional abuses.

This book written in simple manner and easy to follow. The early parts are fluff and kinda low in angst, but Williams begin gradually escalate the story's tension especially when Davis start to threaten Naya. Naya and Jake's blossoming relationship is a delight to read and I really love their bantering, chat and joke, although some jokes can be to dry or maybe it's just me. Jake is totally a cinnamon roll, but he also have some emotional baggage. Although, he's really fallin so hard for Naya. Their sex scenes were steamy af, but I also like to read tender moments between them. One particular scene when Naya got cold when they meet in their attempt to do long distance relationship, in which Naya already imagined the sweaty sex with Jake but all of it got canceled because she was sick so Jake tend to her health instead warm my heart. 

Williams didn't sugarcoated Naya's anxiety and I like that she portrayed Naya's brokenness in trusting man in a humane way possible. Reading from my lenses, I feel frustrated when reading Naya and Jake's fight but if I put myself in Naya's shoes, of course it's not easy to switch the flip, to let go of horrible memories after years being emotionally abused with the person you loved. At that moment, I really hate Davis's guts and he remain despicable to the end. A low human being, man like Davis did exist. Constantly belittle woman to rise themselves above other, make them look good while demeaning the others. A scene when Davis try to assault Naya give me dreadful feeling but I like that Naya finally stand up and fight. The scene is not easy to read but I feel that it was necessary because this book is about Naya to fight for herself and try to figure herself while also learn to love again.

This book told in Naya's first point of view, but I would love to see some of Jake's voice too. Just like Naya, Jake also suffer from some of self doubt because of his failed marriage. While he's very blatantly in love with Naya, I want to know what he think when they are fighting and away. One thing that I like for this book is, after Naya and Jake reconciled they didn't directly jump into each other. It take some times for them to process and try to accept each other. Don't worry, the story end in a happy note.

I will recommend this book if you want to read about the heroine's journey to find herself again after years of emotional and domestic abuse. However, this book have some triggering contents like I stated in the start of my review so please proceed with caution. 

A promising start but end in lackluster ending, The Year of the Witching is the debut of Alexis Henderson. A story about a girl named Immanuelle Moore who live in secluded settlement with religious fanatics just to find that maybe she's the reason of the curse that suddenly plagued her hometown. Some of reviews dubbed this book as The Handmaid's Tale with touch of Salem's Witch Trial but since I'm not read Handmaid's Tale yet, I can't really compare it. 

I think Henderson is successfully writing the suffocating vibes with the way Bethel was cut out from the outside world. But, the setting is also the weakness. I don't have slightest idea where Bethel located. Is this America? Or another made up country? When is exactly the time frame of the story? Is it happen in the 17th century just in the same time with Salem Witch Trial? The religion itself don't have particular name, only a believe that Father Light is good while Dark Mother is bad. Yeah, this book pretty much scream "patriarchy sucks!"

Immanuelle life already horrible from the moment she born. Her father was burn in the pyre because his forbidden relationship with Miriam, Immanulle's mother. Miriam then dwell in witchcraft while she pregnant with Immanuelle, only to die later in the childbirth. Moore family also seems bleak. The entire of Bethel citizens can be categorized into two category, bleak and fanatics to the core. They also shunned people who they deemed as witch and burn them in fire. Girls and women were the major victim, while the men reign supreme with their leader called Prophet have so many wives. Prophet's brides were considered as blessing. With that kind of setting, you already know that living in Bethel sucks with capital S. But, Immanuelle live there for her entire life and she already indoctrinated with Father's Scripture. So when a chance encounter in the Darkwoods (aka evil forest) make Immanuelle meet with the four witches, her old live become untangled and the dark evil inside Bethel become unraveled.

I can't count how many things in this book make me rage. The fanaticism, the unjust and unfairness that especially women in the Bethel endure. I also annoyed with the way Immanuelle still try to save Bethel's citizens because majority of them either crazy with religious fervor then they become complicit and pretend that the "evil" that happen between them didn't exist. The views of the religion is pretty much white and black, there's no area in between. What make me sad is, the practice of the Prophet to take young girl as their bride still common to this day. I can say that The Year of the Witching maybe written as a commentary and critic especially to the religion fanaticism.

While I like Immanuelle's characterization and especially her relationship with Ezra, or when Immanuelle finally met her other grandmother, Vera; I agree that her naivete can be hard to read. I agree that this book feels like YA and I already said that the ending was lackluster. Near the ending, I'm dreading with what will happen to the Bethel, especially Immanuelle and Ezra's fate because the part named Slaughter only to find it that the chapters that followed feel flat. Also the conclusion feel meh. After raging so much because of the unfairness that Immanuelle endured to ensure Bethel's safety, the ending is just....that.

The horror aspect actually pretty tame. Only blood and gore and some of little body horror that still bearable to read. The real horror is the way of Prophet and his apostles threat their subjects, especially toward girls and women. The Way of the Witching is promising although the ending is meh, but with the way epilogue written there's more to come for Immanuelle and Bethel in the future. I wish that in the next book (if it will come out) will explore more about Dark Woods and the other settlements that Bethel's citizen called heathen city. 

I read plenty of cozy mystery titles this 2024 and still add some more because of cozy reading challenge that I'd be part of. Take the Honey and Run is the first Jennie Marts's title for me and actually also her first foray into cozy mystery. I read this one for cozy mystery that take setting in the farm/ranch. While the heroine, Bailey Briggs's grandmother have a bee farm, it's more like setting since the place of the murder happen elsewhere. BUT, the weapon to murder the poor (or maybe not) victim was a hot spice honey that Bailey's grandmother aka Granny Bee produced. Granny Bee also have some little fiasco with the victim a day before he died with she will kill him if he dare to go near her again. Now, you will know what's followed. Granny Bee become a person of interest, so Bailey try to clean her grandmother's name. Apparently, the local sheriff, Sawyer Dunn also happen to be Bailey's old flame aka the one that got away. Awkward.

I did enjoy Take the Honey and Run. While the book have some cozy trademark, it was also focused more into the relationship between characters. The highlight is the relationship between Bailey and her best friend, Evie, shown with the way they did some investigations that sometimes also become source of comic reliefs. The Hives, aka Granny Bee's book club that consist of Bee's sisters and friends also joining hands to clean Bee's name. I like that Bailey also have a healthy relationship with her daughter and how Daisy behave like a teenager but she also smart and far from annoying brats. The romance aspect was one of strong points and I liked that Marts feature romance between Bee and her farm manager, show that people in their 60-70's deserve to find happiness in the love departments. As for Bailey and Sawyer, they once was lover when they still in high school but Sawyer then move out from town because of some reasons that will be explained in the book. I think there's will be hint of love triangle between Bailey, Sawyer and Evie's brother, Mateo, but I hope Marts will focused more to Bailey and Sawyer. There's also a hint of relationship between Evie and Griffin, a private investigator who also Bailey's friend. I think romance play an important part because Marts also a romance author, but actually the romance itself was well written and didn't override the mystery.

The mysteries were solid and Marts use some of red herrings, although some of the red herrings can be hilarious to read or just amusing. Didn't want to spoil much, but the mystery keep hidden until the end and when the perpetrator comes into light after Bailey finally find the clue that connects all the mystery, the reason behind the murder was quite sad to read. To sum it up, the victim deserve his fate because he was a womanizer and scumbag. Of course what happen to him was wrong, but I can understand why the killer did it in the first place. However, my pet peeve is why almost everyone in the town read Bailey's books? Is her books that famous or what, lol. It will be nice if there's any mention of the title of Bailey's books

Take the Honey and Run is a fun cozy mystery set in small town with interesting ensemble cast and adorable interactions. There some secrets that still left open like who the identity of Daisy's father since Bailey still lip-tight about that although I kinda have guessed who is it but better to know it later since it's not that important. This book also have some recipes in the back of the book that I want to try it sometimes. Looking forward for more Bailey's investigation and The Hives's shenanigans in the next book! 

 

Kumcer pertama yang gue baca dari beberapa kumcer yang dirilis oleh Dame Agatha Christie. Menurut gue, isinya sih rada nano - nano dan ga semuanya misteri. Malah beberapa cerpen itu kental sama aura supranatural. Gara - gara dulu gue baca The Pale Horse dan ngerasa kalau kleniknya agak menipu, gue jadi berharap beberapa klenik di kumcer ini juga aslinya tipuan. Tapi ternyata, beberapa emang beneran! Jadi untuk beberapa cerita, emang rasa horrornya lumayan kental.

Review singkat per cerpen:

Anjing Kematian : Entahlah, gue ga paham apakah iya itu susternya beneran dapat penglihatan atau delusional aja. Endingnya pun menurut gue kurang jelas

Tanda Bahaya : Pembunuhan tapi dilakukan oleh orang gila. Ada diskusi apakah kegilaan seseorang itu sifatnya turunan

Orang Keempat : Ini juga gue kayak skeptis gitu sih. Dame Agatha mencoba menulis kisah tentang orang berkepribadian ganda tapi ternyata ga seperti yang selama ini kita kira

Lampu : Mayan sereeeem. Endingnya gue kurang jelas sampai pas baca lagi, ternyata oh ternyata

Radio: Ini cuma bisa bilang ke pelakunya "syukurin loe!!" XD

Saksi Peristiwa : Menurut gue cerpen yang terbaik sih di kumcer ini. Misterinya cukup solid, ga kalah sama misteri yang ditulis di buku2 full novelnya dame Christie

Misteri Guci Biru : Cuma bisa bilang "ya ampun kasihannya" setelah baca endingnya

Kasus Aneh Sir Arthur Carmichael : Absurd. Tapi sesuai sama tema supranatural yang jadi benang merah kumcer ini

Panggilan Sayap - Sayap : Sama juga anehnya, hehehe. Lebih ke supranatural ketimbang misteri

Yang Terakhir : Ini paling horror sih. Lebih horror daripada cerpen Lampu

SOS : Rumah terpencil dan tulisan SOS. Entahlah, karena pendek ceritanya jadi kurang tereksplor dan endingnya pun menggantung


Kumcer yang pas kalau kamu pengen tahu apakah dame Agatha Christie juga bisa menulis cerpen yang sama menariknya dengan novelnya. Kalau kata gue sih, ga semuanya bagus ya dan banyakan terkesan nanggung. Plus, mungkin karena gue berharap cerpennya misteri semua, pas ada unsur supranatural gue udah kadung skeptis duluan berharap - harap jangan2 aspek supranatural alias kleniknya itu ngibul doang hahahaha 

 MEH at it finest.

At this point, I'm convinced that the author hate Augustus so much, she make him as a whiny, paranoid but also perverted man. Far cry from the man that managed to turn Rome into Empire from Republic. I think maybe Headley want to show that deep inside Augustus (aka Octavian) regret his deeds against Cleopatra and Mark Antony, therefore result in their demise and Egypt become part of Rome, but it feel short. To make matter worse, Octavian desire Cleopatra, because at this point, who doesn't? Maybe only his general and also close friend, Marcus Agrippa that didn't.

Queen of Kings feels like a fanfic rather than imaginative retelling, feature Cleopatra as a vampire after she summoned Sekhmet in order to win the war. At first, the story feel unique, but its slowly become a slog to continue reading and I find myself skimming some part. Almost all men characters (exclude Agrippa and the Psylii named Esum) desire Cleopatra, including the lowly soldier, although only Antony that loved her. But even Antony was recoiled to see how Cleopatra had become although he kinda amend that in the latest story. But, was Antony die in the early part of the story? Nah, you will find it later, if you manage to read until the end. I did.

Two stars because I manage to read this mess until the end and actually I appreciated the way Headley woven some mythology into this book and not only Egypt and Greek, but also some Norse myth and Psylii lore too. I just, didn't care enough for the story and also the characters. A pity, because this book have so many potentials and I read in the author's acknowledgment that she plan to make Cleopatra's vampire story into trilogy. But, well, there's no trilogy in the future so Cleopatra's ending in this book is left open. 

Digadang - gadang kayak Crazy Rich Asians dan The Hating Games combined into one, mungkin ekspektasi gue udah ketinggian sejak awal buat Last Tang Standing. Karena buku ini ga se-fun Crazy Rich Asians (walau sama - sama settingnya di Singapura) dan jauuuh banget di bawah The Hating Game yang kebetulan jadi salah satu novel favorit gue di 2024. Tapi, seandainya tidak perlu membandingkan dengan CRA atau The Hating Game, Last Tang Standing sebenarnya ga buruk - buruk amat untuk karya debut Lauren Ho.

Diambil dari pengalaman authornya sendiri (mungkin) selama jadi penasihat di firma hukum, maka tokoh utama Last Tang Standing, yaitu Andrea Tang adalah seorang pengacara yang bekerja di salah satu firma hukum terkemuka di Singapura. Gara - gara buku ini juga gue jadi ngegoogling posisi yang ada di firma hukum, karena gue tahunya, pengacara ya kan PENGACARA AJA. Ternyata ada tingkatan seperti junior associate, senior associate dan paling tinggi tuh partner. Ceritanya, Andrea saat itu lagi mengincar jabatan partner di firma hukumnya. Posisi paling mentereng mengingat dia udah lama jadi senior associate. Tentunya, true to its The Hating Games vibes, Andrea saingan sama Suresh Aditparan, pemuda India kasta Brahmana (emang ditulis gitu di bukunya) yang baru pindah dari London. Seakan ujian hidup belum cukup, Andrea juga pusing cari jodoh karena sepupunya yang lebih tua dari dia dan melajang (serta lesbian) ternyata memilih menikah dengan laki - laki hetero demi mengamankan warisan. Seperti halnya nyaris semua wanita Asia bahwa pernikahan itu adalah satu - satunya status tertinggi bahkan untuk wanita karir berdikari macam Andrea, jadi Andrea pun blingsatan nyari jodoh demi mengamankan warisan masa depan.

Awal buku ini sebenarnya menarik dan LUCU banget. Ditulis dalam format diari dan bahkan lengkap dengan time stamp kejadian - kejadian yang dialami Andrea, humor menggelitik dan sarkastik banyak dikeluarkan oleh Andrea dalam menyikapi kemalangan hidupnya. Hashtag #hidupkupayah pun sering digunakan. Kengerian Andrea dan sepupu serta sahabatnya, Linda Mei Reyes saat mereka menghadiri acara Tahun Baru di rumah keluarga Tang sangat lucu. Gue suka sama hubungan Andrea dan Linda, karena meski mereka berbeda bak bumi dan langit, tapi mereka juga saling mendukung satu sama lain, terutama masalah pria. Banyak one liner dan kejadian - kejadian konyol dan gue banyak banget nyimpan quotes atau adegan yang memorable dari buku ini. Pada awal-awalnya tentu aja.

Sayangnya, di bagian tengah, Lauren Ho seakan kehabisan bensin dan cerita mulai kayak ga jelas mau dibawa kemana. Mungkin menganut paham bahwa "the world is your oyster", maka Andrea punya beberapa love interest. Awalnya Andrea kencan sama cowo brondong bernama Orson, yang bikin gue terpana dan pengen ngomong "bisa - bisanya ente pacaran sama cowo dengan nama kayak SIRUP????". Setelahnya, persaingan (tampaknya hanya sepihak) Andrea dengan Suresh juga bikin Andrea dekat sama Suresh walau mundur teratur karena ternyata Suresh sudah punya tunangan bernama Anousha. Saking putus asanya, Andrea mau datang kencan buta dengan dokter spesialis Proktologi (tentunya lengkap dengan jokes2 mengarah ke area bokong). Awan mulai cerah saat Andrea didekati miliuner Chindo bernama Eric Deng. Masalahnya, gue ngerasa bagian Andrea sama Eric tuh bosenin banget buat dibaca. Walau gue suka romansa dengan beda usia, tapi beda usianya Andrea sama Eric tuh hampir 20 tahun! Eric tuh bisa aja jadi bapaknya Andrea, bahkan beda usia Eric dan emaknya Andrea aja ga jauh2 amat. Tapi namanya juga cinta? Heh.

Dengan beberapa love interest, sebenarnya udah bisa ketebak Andrea bakal milih siapa, antara Eric yang bucin atau Suresh yang termasuk "buah terlarang". Sebenarnya angstnya pun juga lumayan, tapi entahlah, bagi gue semua serba nanggung. Lauren Ho mungkin coba membuat romansa pekerja kantoran dan issue - issue di tempat kerja terutama sama yang dihadapi milenial. Lucunya, Andrea sempat kaget pas tahu dia milenial, padahal secara range usia dia EMANG milenial karena setting tahun buku ini tuh di 2020 (disebut2 tahun kabisat) dan Andrea masih 33 tahun (jadi gue sama Andrea ASLINYA seumuran). Apa selama ini Andrea ngerasa dia gen X? Kurangnya buku ini juga, walau gue merasa mungkin Andrea ingin ditunjukkan semanusiawi mungkin, gue hanya memutar mata tiap baca adegan Andrea mabuk. Bingung sama perasaannya ke Suresh? Mabuk dulu. Stress sama kerjaan? Mabuk lagi. Kagak sayang sama liver sendiri apa gimana deh? Selain mabuk - mabukan, gue juga ngerasa Andrea dalam beberapa kesempatan bak loser banget. Like, dia tuh membangga-banggakan dirinya sebagai pengacara top 40 under 40 di Singapura tapi gue jarang banget lihat kehandalan Andrea dalam menyikapi masalah kerja. Ya mungkin emang pengen dibuat terpisah antara kehidupan kerja dan pribadi Andrea. Tapi, ya kali loe dengan etos kerja seperti itu, datengnya suka telat2an gegara malam sebelumnya teler sampai pagi? Sesantai apa sih firma hukumnya Andrea XD?

Walau begitu, toh gue juga cukup menikmati curhatan Andrea di diarynya. Ada beberapa bagian yang gue cukup relate dengan Andrea, seperti misalnya binge reading baca webtoon sampai pagi. Tapi karena vibesnya Andrea tuh mbak - mbak SCBD yang (mungkin) hobinya tiap jumat malem nongkrong karena Sabtunya libur, ya bagian ini ga terlalu terkoneksi karena gue tipe habis pulang kantor ya langsung pulang tanpa mampir. Gue juga cukup kecewa karena tokoh Eric kurang digali, mengingat dia miliuner Chindo tapi umur 50-an setidaknya dia paling tidak kena efek Orba di Indo kan? Tapi ya ga dibahas, atau mungkin karena dianggap kurang penting atau apalah. Eric juga ditulis rada too good to be true walau kayaknya agak control freak juga, tapi kayak yang ya udah gitu. Persona miliunernya paling ditulis dia punya jet lah, buka hotel disini dan disitu dan sejujurnya bayangin Andrea pacaran sama Eric itu kayak gue bayangin anak sama bapak, lel. Berantemnya Andrea sama Suresh walau beberapa gemes, menurut gue juga kurang mungkin karena Lauren Ho berusaha membagi - bagi porsi romansanya Andrea mengingat love interestnya lebih dari satu . Tapi bagian tengahnya yang memble setidaknya dibayar dengan bagian terakhir yang walau menurut gue berasa terburu - buru tapi ditulis dengan baik. Intinya, Andrea bahagia dengan caranya sendiri lah.

Last Tang Standing cocok buat bacaan ringan dan humor-humornya pun sebenarnya menghibur. Terjemahannya juga cukup bagus dan renyah. Tentu saja ada bagian-bagian yang ga masuk akal, kayak emang bisa dalam kondisi mabuk berat si Andrea nulis di diarynya. Tapi yah begitulah, anggap saja buku ini hanya untuk hiburan tanpa harus banyak berpikir, namun juga tetap ada issue-issue terkait generasi milenial dan kultur budaya orang - orang China yang masih menganggap pernikahan itu segalanya buat wanita. 

 Highly entertaining but informative as well. The downside just the artstyle is not my favorite although still retaining its charms and can be chaotic *in a good way*. True to its subtitle, some myths or folklores in this book was told in a unique way. Some have its traditional storytelling, some have diary format that pretty much hilarious to read. Another have an announcement like when you watch a football game and it was make sense because the author told the story about ball games between Heroes Twins and the Gods of Death in Mayan myth! Or when the author told the story of Set and Horus rivalry but do it in correspondence style between the deities and the Ennead, lel.

While the start of the book begin with your good ol' Greek (feature Perseus and Theseus) and its counterpart Roman myth (Hercules, tale of Psyche & Cupid), the myths that featured in Legendary were varied. There a story about Sir Gawain and Green Knight told in humorous manner. The Norse got represent by Thor and Loki, again thanks to Loki's wits Thor got his Mjolnir back while sacrifice his dignity by become a bride for a giant! We get stories about Anansi, the spider trickster to represent Africa, together with some fable stories (my favorite is why leopard and dog become enemies). America continent get the myth told with Indian folklore & myth like the source of fire by the Raven, story about evil spirit from Brazil and much more. Even the Oceania myth also got represented like the Aborigin myth and Pacific Island tales. Although sadly not much from Asia, maybe because so many tales and myth, it was hard to choose just a few. I guess this book pretty much covered myth and tales from all around the world and retell it in unique presentation completed with illustration that may bring one or two smile to your face.

The content of Legendary can be enjoyed by everyone although maybe better for teenager rather than for children. Or if you want your children to read this one better to read it together for some content might not suitable for children. A must have if you are a myth aficionado that always searching for myth reference books to add to the collection. 

 A pretty comprehensive reference book about vampire, especially from myth and legends. Bonus point to include "vampire" from Indonesia, although I'm a little bit confused when read the vampire name is "penanggalan". Is this a new evil spirit/demon/etc? Then, when reading the description, I'll be like "oh, this is kuyang". Yep, I'm much familiar with "kuyang" rather than "penanggalan". Sadly, no vampiric creatures from Africa, Australia or Oceania mythology. Some of the vampiric creatures also more like demonic in nature and pretty sketchy to be categorized into vampire.

The book divided of some parts, focused into myth, legend and also vampire appearance in the world, such as vampire hysteria in the 13-15th century. There were also mentions of serial killer vampire that pretty much chilling to read, you wonder if you have already know it all form of serial killer then boom, there's serial killer mimicking vampire. What make this book shine is how the author pretty much knowledgeable when detailing vampire in literature, movie, tv series and games. From classic, of course there's detail explanation about Dracula by Bram Stoker. After all, Stoker's book was book that make vampire popular. BUT, before Stoker, there was Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu and the author also explain it thoroughly. For modern literature, there's Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris and don't forget, Twilight.

My complaint is, why there's no Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R.Ward in the example of romantic vampire books? The author mentioned some titles, including Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress and Alexandra Ivy's Guardian of Eternity. But no BDB? Seriously? No Dark Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon as well, but the lack of BDB is pretty much insulting because while I don't read it anymore, I admit that BDB is one of those vampire romance book that also achieve cult following. Also for a book that said to have illustrations in the blurb, the illustration are pretty much sporadic and sometimes just put there for being a decorations. It will be nice if there's a drawing of vampires from some mythology.

If you like all things vampire, this book is a must. I admit, despite my complaints, there's some knowledge about vampire that I only know after I read this book. Also, its piqued my interest to read Dracula by Bram Stoker. Hmm, maybe next Halloween, it's time to read Count Dracula! 

Setiap orang punya cerita, setiap orang punya rahasia dan "hantu"nya sendiri

Gue dulu tertarik beli The Thirteenth Tale atau yang diterjemahkan menjadi Dongeng Ketiga Belas karena covernya yang unik. Gue juga menganggap ini awalnya fantasy karena ada unsur dongeng dan bahkan vibe covernya sendiri mirip The Book of Lost Things yang juga diterjemahkan dalam jangka waktu yang berdekatan (bahkan edisi aslinya pun terbit hampir berbarengan!). Tapi dugaan gue salah. Buku ini bukan fantasy, bahkan bukan dongeng biasa. Dongeng Ketiga Belas adalah kisah tentang kehilangan tak terperi, rasa duka yang begitu tajam, rasa bersalah yang mengakar dalam, hantu yang kerap membayangi dan tragedi yang kelam. Tidak berlebihan rasanya kalau menganggap vibes buku ini kelam, tapi anehnya, gue justru menikmati lembar - lembar di dalamnya.

 "Ceritakan padaku yang sesungguhnya"

Dengan premise yang sederhana itulah cerita Dongeng Ketiga Belas dimulai saat Margaret Lea, seorang penulis biografi amatir diundang Vida Winter untuk mendengarkan kisah si penulis dengan masa lalu misterius. Vida memang pendongeng handal, saking handalnya semua jurnalis yang meliputnya dikibuli habis - habisan dengan kisah hidupnya yang dibalut dongeng. Tapi kenapa Vida sekarang mau membuka diri pada Margaret yang notabene bukan siapa - siapa? Ternyata ada alasannya, karena Vida merasa kondisi Margaret mirip dengannnya. Dan bergulirlah kisah keluarga Angelfield, sebuah keluarga disfungsional yang hidup di desa (atau kota kecil?) di Inggris, dengan fokus cerita pada si kembar bernama Adeline dan Emmeline.

Menurut gue, Diane Setterfield sendiri sangat ahli dalam menuliskan penuturan Vida atas kisah hidup keluarga Angelfield. Sebelum wawancara dimulai, Vida sudah meletakkan aturan dan batasan - batasan. Ada awal, tengah dan akhir, tidak ada lompatan dalam cerita -yang berarti cerita dituturkan dalam alur linear tanpa interupsi-, dan tidak ada pertanyaan - pertanyaan. Dengan ini saja pembaca seakan diperingatkan "jangan baca bagian akhirnya dulu supaya kamu ga kena spoiler! Supaya misteri dan teka tekinya terjaga". Lalu memang demikian adanya kisah di buku ini bergulir, runut dari awal sampai akhir. Mengandung awal, tengah dan akhir, sebab dan akibatnya pun jelas. Meski begitu, walau cerita Vida dituturkan dengan alur yang jelas, penulisnya juga mencampurkan cerita Vida dengan cerita Margaret ditambah pertanyaan - pertanyaan yang menghantui benak Margaret. Kebenaran apa yang terkandung dalam cerita Vida? Dari sini juga kita dituntut untuk cukup jeli, karena Vida menceritakan cerita keluarga Angelfield awalnya dari sudut pandang orang ketiga serba tahu, laiknya seorang pengamat sebelum akhirnya terselip (entah sengaja atau tidak) dan menggunakan kata ganti orang "kami" dan lalu jadi "aku" . Sementara untuk narasi dari Margaret sendiri sudah jelas, selalu memakai kata ganti "aku". Untuk membedakan narasi dari pihak Margaret atau Vida sendiri tidak terlalu susah, cukup dengan memperhatikan cara mereka "berbicara", karena menurut gue, cukup berbeda.

Setterfield seakan menulis buku ini sebagai homage untuk novel - novel gothic, terutama Jane Eyre yang selalu dibahas di buku ini. Margaret sangat menyukai buku Jane Eyre dan begitu juga Vida Winter. Meski gue akuin, gue belum pernah baca Jane Eyre tapi jadi cukup tertarik juga untuk membacanya. Selain Jane Eyre, ada juga membahas buku Wuthering Heights dan The Woman in White. Vibes gothic buku ini emang sangat terasa. Unsur - unsurnya semuanya ada, mulai dari rumah besar yang tidak terawat, obsesi paman si kembar, Charlie kepada adiknya, ibu si kembar yang bernama Isabelle yang mendekati incest, si kembar Adeline dan Emmeline yang aneh dan ga bisa diatur, atmosfir yang kelam, dan bahkan ada kebakaran besar. Gue lebih menyukai Dongeng Ketiga Belas ini daripada katakanlah, We Have Always Lived in the Castle karya Shirley Jackson ataupun The Historian karya Elizabeth Kostova, dimana dua novel yang gue sebut itu juga bernuansa gothic. Setterfield lebih pas dalam menuliskan kondisi si kembar Angelfield bersama dengan pembantu rumah tangga mereka, Missus, dan tukang kebun, John-the-Dig; yang menolak orang luar ketimbang agoraphobianya Merricat dan Constance di We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Bahkan untuk buku dengan tema "cerita dalam cerita", Dongeng Ketiga Belas lebih bisa gue nikmati daripada The Historian yang terasa sangat pretensius. Buku ini juga lebih baik daripada The Book of Lost Things yang sama - sama tentang dongeng, tapi itu mungkin karena gue ga terlalu suka konten gore dan horror di Book of Lost Things, walau Dongeng Ketiga Belas sendiri juga sama horrornya tapi horrornya sih lain dan enggak, buku ini ga ada element supernaturalnya meski tetep bikin merinding juga karena sosok "hantu" yang memang beneran ada atau cuma figmen imajinasi tokoh - tokohnya.

Misterinya sendiri menurut gue cukup solid dan jika jeli memang ada semacam lubang-lubang dalam cerita Vida, yang membuat gue berpikir apakah Vida masih tetap berbohong kepada Margaret saat bercerita. Pace ceritanya juga sangat lambat tapi memang buku ini tidak untuk dibaca terburu - buru. Bahkan vibesnya juga dingin karena salju yang turun di penghujung cerita dan bahkan ada adegan Margaret jalan - jalan di waktu hujan karena teringat saudara kembarnya sampai si Margaret jadi sakit. Menariknya, tidak jelas juga setting cerita saat keluarga Angelfield masih hidup. Apakah setelah perang? Tapi bahkan tidak ada jejak - jejak perang, padahal gue yakin ceritanya sendiri kemungkinan saat awal abad 20 dan mendekati masa Perang Dunia I, tapi buku ini ditulis seakan kejadiannya masih di era Victoria aka abad 19. Misteri yang terungkap menjelang akhir cerita menjelaskan apa yang sebenarnya terjadi pada keluarga Angelfield dan kenapa Vida mengganti namanya tapi gue masih bertanya - tanya

siapa sebenarnya yang selamat dari kebakaran? Gue sempat ngecek diskusi dan mayoritas setuju bahwa yang selamat itu sebenarnya Adeline, bukan Emmeline. Jadi Vida, yang adalah sodara sepupu dengan si kembar (ayah Vida adalah Charlie), menyelamatkan Adeline tapi memanggilnya Emmeline karena Vida tidak sanggup menerima kenyataan kalau Emmeline tiada dan Vida sendiri mengambil role Adeline. Tapi ada juga yang bilang kalau Emmeline lah yang selamat walau dia jadi tidak koheren pikirannya karena kebakaran. Ada juga teori, kalau justru Vida yang asli yang tewas, dan Vida yg cerita sekarang itu beneran Adeline, si kembar yang "jahat". Teori ini gue ga percaya sih, karena dari awal sudah jelas kalau Adeline itu ga stabil dan ga bisa komunikasi dengan baik, beda dengan Vida yang emang diceritakan sudah cerdas dari awal. Gue sendiri menduga kalau Adeline dan Emmeline itu hasil hubungan incest antara Charlie dan Isabelle, alih - alih anak Roland, suaminya Isabelle. Kenapa? Karena setahu gue anak yang lahir dari hubungan incest itu mentalnya ga stabil. Walau bisa jadi kenapa Adeline dan Emmeline tidak stabil dikarenakan tidak ada peran Isabelle sebagai ibu. Yang membuat gue bertanya - tanya, kenapa Isabelle tidak mau berperan sebagai ibu? Kenapa dia acuh? Kalau Adeline dan Emmeline itu bener anak Roland, setidaknya ada rasa kasih sayang atau emang sejak awal Isabelle tidak ada kapasitas mencintai sebagai ibu karena dia sendiri juga terlahir piatu dengan ayah yang sangat obsesif dan kakak yang punya kecenderungan seksual yang sadis

Dongeng Ketiga Belas adalah kisah tentang rasa duka yang mendalam serta perasaan ingin menjadi bagian keluarga yang utuh, dan itu tidak cuma dari Vida tapi juga dari Margaret yang kehilangan saudara kembarnya saat mereka masih bayi sehingga Margaret selalu merasa "tidak utuh". Tapi dengan segala kesuraman,tragedi dan keputus asaan, akhirnya ada sedikit titik terang di akhir cerita. Gue akuin gue ingin menangis dan bahkan merasakan kesedihan serta agak merasa hampa saat mengetahui kebenaran dari cerita Vida serta penerimaan Margaret akan "hantu"nya. Gue merasa untuk keluarga Angelfield seandainya jika kejadian yang menimpa keluarga ini berlaku sebaliknya, mungkin ceritanya akan lain, tapi akhirnya ya disitulah menariknya buku ini. Buku yang suram tapi juga menawarkan harapan pada akhirnya. Selain homage Setterfield untuk novel - novel gothic (utamanya Jane Eyre), buku ini juga menunjukkan kecintaan akan buku yang gue amini, karena di saat kondisi kita sedang serendah -rendahnya, buku - buku memang bisa jadi penyelamat. Sedangkan untuk kisah anak kembar di buku ini, gue merasa Setterfield melakukan riset yang cukup untuk anak kembar; karena gue juga jadi teringat keponakan gue yang anak kembar. Dimana keponakan gue saat masih bayi memang ada speech delay, tapi habis baca buku ini gue tersadar karena mereka berdua, mereka berkomunikasi dengan cara mereka sendiri atau yang dibilang "bahasa anak kembar" di buku ini. Sama juga seperti yang dilakukan Adeline dan Emmeline.

Apakah endingnya bahagia? Menurut gue endingnya cukup bisa diterima dan "kebahagiaan" yang akhirnya dialami baik Margaret ataupun Vida mungkin memang pas untuk mereka berdua. Apalagi "eureka moment" nya Margaret saat akhirnya dia paham apa yang diceritakan Vida itu menurut gue jadi salah satu highlight karena itu adalah titik putar dimana "misteri tidak lagi jadi misteri dan teka - teki menjelaskan dirinya sendiri". Buku ini menurut gue bisa jadi bahan diskusi yang baik, karena banyaknya tema - tema yang dibahas, termasuk juga apakah penelitian yang dilakukan si guru privat, Hester Barrow dan dokter keluarga, Dr Maudsley terhadap si kembar itu etis untuk dilakukan. Karena review ini juga udah sangat kepanjangan dan gue khawatir spoilernya pun lumayan, gue sangat merekomendasikan The Thirteenth Tale kalau kamu nyari novel dengan vibes gothic, misteri serta suspense yang cukup bikin penasaran dan rahasia keluarga yang terpendam dalam - dalam.

Against the Currant is the book that left me conflicted. In the span of 2024 alone, I read 13 titles including this one. Some of those titles feature the start of small business owned by the heroine that got into hot water so far when someone died days later after the victim's altercation with the heroine. Against the Currant is totally follow the same formula while try to be different with the way Olivia Matthews infused some of Caribbean culture to this book. I'm not that familiar with the Caribbean culture and norms, so I will take what I get.

This book is a cozy mystery yes, but tend more toward mystery rather than cozy feeling. The cozy come from the Lyndsay Murray's big family, from her parents, her big brother, her grandma, her cousin and some uncles and aunties. The pace itself kinda fast but I wish Matthews didn't try to always remind what time is it when Lynds going somewhere or investigate someone. This book also didn't try to hide its dislike of cops, lel. Apparently NYPD detectives were incompetence of sort with how they are so sure that Lynds is the murderer. Actually, the way Matthews write it was make sense. Lynds have motives, means and also her charm bracelet was found in the victim's place. All the evidence were against Lynds and I kind of know how frustrated Lynds might be. Try to clear her name because her business and her family matters. The unbelievable happen when Lynd and her cousin, Reena, got random shot that they believe the culprit try to intimidate them but the cop (in this case a potential love interest) said that maybe they fake the whole things. Like, OMG, seriously, I can't even. How incompetence these cops eh?

Although the mystery and the way of story unfold left me with mixed feeling, I decide to give half star more to my original 3 stars rating with the way story end, especially when Lynds got cornered by the culprit. I'm appraised Matthew's decision to write Lynds that keep practicing kickboxing because the scene when

Lynds kicking the culprit to their ass was very satisfying. We need more heroine in cozy mystery that know to defend herself

. While I said that one of the cop will be Lynd's potential love interest, I can see that the romance itself is more afterthought. Rather than Bryce (the cop), I enjoy Lynd's interaction with Jose, a local newspaper journalist. The power and strength of this book is more like the family support that Lynds has. Sigh, I almost green with envy, lel. Lynds sure have a family that love her in their own way and they also seem tight-knit.

I enjoy reading Against the Currant although Lynds's attitude sometimes can grates my nerves, lel. So I don't know if I want to read the next book or not. I think if you like your foodies cozy with Caribbean culture and a spitfire heroine that will not let others bullied her and accused her of murder, you might want to try this one.