Booked with Boba: book review

"WITH ALL THE DESTRUCTION HAPPENING DOWN THERE, IT'S SO EASY TO FORGET THE BEAUTY THAT'S UP HERE. THE SKY IS SO BEAUTIFUL AFTER RAINFALL."

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

publication date: september 13th, 2022 | source: owned

page count: 417 pages | genre: historical fiction, contemporary, fantasy, romance,

⩇⩇:⩇⩇ » review time .ᐟ

꒰ જ⁀➴ 5 depressingly beautiful stars ☆ ┆ tropes: soulmates 💕 ꒱

౨ৎ ⋆ ｡˚「🍋」» every lemon will bring forth a child and the lemons will never die out «「🍋」౨ৎ ⋆ ｡˚

HEY YALL IM ALIVEEE!!! Ahaha did not mean to ghost for um ~~7 months~~ a while but reading slumps and burn out from mf school is actually the biggest pain ever and frankly I'm not sure how I'm still alive. I might be dead here but on Goodreads, I'm actually pretty active and occasionally I get the bright idea to make an aesthetic review because I don't want to do my homework so I'm going to transfer some reviews over in a new format so here come a wave (not really only like 3 or 4) of reviews!

────୨ৎ────

i am still quite traumatized but i did just finish my ap lang exam so i have some time (and im also ignoring my upcoming tests/projects/finals hehe) so i will attempt to untraumatized myself (very unlikely) and write a review about a book that made me ugly cry in public!!! please excuse any incoherent sobbing and screeching down the line :D

˚₊‧꒰ ♯ now playing ▸ love wins all, iu ↻ ꒱

‧₊˚ ⤿ 💌: dearest, darling, my universe ᡣ𐭩

꒰⚔️꒱ ➷ the story

okay so like the story actually broke me?? i was 27 pages in when i cried for the first time and proceeded to tear up several times in school as the book went on. salama's story was nothing but heartbreaking and i think i cried a little each time the hospital was overrun with all these children sustaining critical injuries. reading about it only broke my heart more and i think i was so close to crying when reading ahmed's story bUt i cOuLdNt because i was in cLaSs. katouh did a perfect job weaving salama's trauma and amplifying hopelessness of the syrians and i am now forever traumatized but also in awe by how much suffering people can go through yet still be inspired to fight for their freedom and lives. it was beautiful yet devastating and reading this broke me in the best way possible.

⋆.˚🦋༘⋆ "we fight while we're still here, salama, because this is our country. this is the land of your father, and his father before him. your history is embedded in this soil. no country in the world will love you as yours does." ⋆.˚🦋༘⋆

꒰🏰꒱ ➷ the romance

the romance? oh my god the romance. kenan and salama were actually soulmates and you cannot convince me otherwise. he's the pazu to her sheeta and together they make each other stronger and so much better and give each other something to fight and live for. i was incoherently screeching while watching salama slowly fall in love with kenan and their love story was genuinely so beautiful i now want to curl up in a ball and cry.

"you're my sheeta."~♡~"you're my pazu."

꒰🥀꒱ ➷ the trauma

the trauma is trauma-ing!! i am now forever scarred, never recovering, bawled my eyes out public and died a little inside as the story went on. katouh wrote salama's trauma perfectly and as much as i hated khwaf in the beginning, his personification only reflect the struggles so many war veterans and refugees experience in their head. those drowning thoughts that assume the worst of the worst, that eat you up from inside out, and essentially prey on your worst regrets and fears is the worst possible thing anyone should ever had to go through. i wanted to cry and then scream at khwaf so many times to leave salama alone yet at the same time, i hated that i understood where the irrationality of all her fears and regrets came from. khwaf is a forever going to be a part of salama, but katouh showed that she can overcome it with kenan by her side. also can we talk about chapter 29??? respectfully, ms. zoulfa katouh, please pay for my therapy.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🕊️˚ “for every life I can’t save during my shift, one more drop of blood becomes a part of me. no matter how many times i wash my hands, our martyrs’ blood seeps beneath my skin, into my cells. by now it’s probably encoded in my dna.” ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🕊️˚

────୨ৎ────

okay im done yapping and im going to go back to sobbing!!! go read this book but make sure u bring a hefty amount of tissues because you will cry but it would be nice to not bawl in public like my dumbass did so- happy readingg lovelies <33

「🌷 」ೀ⋆｡ » and to all the syrians who loved, lost, lived, and died for syria.

we will come back home one day.「🌷 」ೀ⋆｡«

FINAL RATING:

what was the most traumatizing book you've read?

"YOU SHOULDN'T ASK THE GIRL BLESSED BY DEATH WHOM SHE'LL DIE FOR. YOU SHOULD ASK HER WHOM SHE'D KILL FOR."

She has power over death. He has power over her. When two enemies strike a dangerous bargain, will they end a war . . . or ignite one?

Heroes die, cowards live. Daughter of a conquered world, Ruying hates the invaders who descended from the heavens long before she was born and defeated the magic of her people with technologies unlike anything her world had ever seen.

Blessed by Death, born with the ability to pull the life right out of mortal bodies, Ruying shouldn’t have to fear these foreign invaders, but she does. Especially because she wants to keep herself and her family safe.

When Ruying’s Gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an impossible deal: If she becomes his private assassin and eliminates his political rivals—whose deaths he swears would be for the good of both their worlds and would protect her people from further brutalization—her family will never starve or suffer harm again. But to accept this bargain, she must use the powers she has always feared, powers that will shave years off her own existence.

Can Ruying trust this prince, whose promises of a better world make her heart ache and whose smiles make her pulse beat faster? Are the evils of this agreement really in the service of a much greater good? Or will she betray her entire nation by protecting those she loves the most?

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

publication date: april 16th, 2024 | source: tour arc

page count: 368 | genre: fantasy, romance, sci-fi

Molly X. Chang’s debut novel To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is out today!!! I honestly have never been more excited to read a book and I hope I can relay some of that excitement here. This book absolutely delivered a plethora of emotions and I need to talk about them like right now so grab your favorite bubble tea and let’s chat about the beautifully complex book that is To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods.

The book follows Ruying, a girl blessed by Death with the ability to pull a life right into her hands, who’s doing everything she can in order to survive and protect her family with her country invaded by foreign invaders. When her gift is discovered by an enemy prince, he offers her an unfeasible deal that he swears is for the good of both their words: work for him and become his private assassin in order to eliminate those who are in his way and never have to worry about her family starving or being harmed every again. But to agree to his deal would mean Ruying would be turning on her own people and giving into her Gift which will ultimately cost her years of her own life. Will she be able to trust this prince by using her powers for his claims of the greater good? Or will Ruying end up betraying her own nation in order to protect those she loves most?

First of all the world building: it’s incredible albeit a little bit confusing. The world is purely magical rich, enriched with beautiful folktales that I could not help but vividly imagine everything Ruying ended up describing the beautiful but broken world that she lived in. The stories were so cool and I am an absolute sucker for fairytales so that in itself was a huge bonus because the fantasy was real people and I was having a grand old time. The Chinese proverbs sprinkled throughout the book was an astute test to my deteriorating Chinese skills but honestly made me appreciate them even if they sounded like they came out from a fortune cookie. While the overall world was a bit complex, think that Molly X. Chang handled the world building pretty solidly and I was nonetheless still very intrigued by all the magic that was happening all around.

As for Ruying and Antony, I have honestly never felt more conflicted. On one hand, I understand Ruying’s intentions of being desperate enough to agree to work with the enemy in order to give a better life to her family but on the other head, I didn’t want her trusting Antony because I’ve read way too many murder mysteries to be as trusting as she is. Antony is also like the most morally gray love interest I have ever read and frankly I’m not sure what to think. I think that both he and Ruying are torn by their obligations to fully trust each other and they do have their own reasons for doing what their doing but as I watched their cautious love bloom, I could only screech from the sidelines and pray that everything ends up okay. As for Ruying’s sister and Baihu, honestly their goals stressed me out even more because everyone’s goals are against each others and there’s conflict and betrayal and I am too stressed for this I swear I’m not okay anymore.

In the end, I was way too emotional and I think my older sister can attest to me screeching throughout the house when I got to certain parts of the book. I did really love how Molly X. Chang conveyed the complexity of morals during times of war and I was nothing short of heartbroken for Ruying’s internal struggle in coming to terms with the actions and choices she made throughout the book. This debut novel isn’t perfect by any means but I do think that the central message and beautiful portrayal of so many emotions made this more worth it at least in my end. I do think there are some more heavy topics that people might not be okay with but I do think that this book is worth checking out and I hope that if you do pick it up, you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

FINAL RATING:

thank you so much to Colored Pages Tours for allowing me to participate on this fantastic tour!

- A U T H O R B I O -

Born in Harbin, China, Molly X. Chang was raised on folklore told by the grandparents who taught her to take pride in the heritages and cultures that shaped her life, and the harrowing history of the ancestors who'd come before her. To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is her debut novel.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.mollyxchang.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23053455.Molly_X_Chang

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mollyxchang

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyxchang/

"聪明一世，糊涂一时.

Intelligent and cautious for a lifetime, it takes a second of stupidity to unravel it all."

" IF I AM TO DO SOME GOOD, I MUST MAKE PEACE WITH MY OWN LIMITS. I WOULD LOSE PERSPECTIVE OTHERWISE."

Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion.

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

publication date: September 26th, 2023 | source: owned

page count: 560 pages | genre: fantasy, historical fiction, mystery/thriller

IT’S HERE IT’S HERE OH MY GOD IT’S FINALLY HERE FDKLSJFDKLSFJDKLJFDS!!!! Wow I am so behind on this review; what happened to my vow to release this when the book released—I HAVE BETRAYED YOU ORION AND ROSALIND IM SORRY!!! Ahem. Anyways. Chloe Gong is BACK with with the finale to her Secret Shanghai and I am not okay. This has been one hell of a ride filled with a rollercoaster of emotions and many many tears accompanied by my heavenly screeching throughout so grab some boba and let’s sob together about the beautiful ending of the Secret Shanghai universe <3

The ending of Foul Lady Fortune (SPOILERS PEOPLE GO READ BOOK ONE FIRST PLEASE and my review for it too hehe) left the two lovers separated on opposite ends of the city. Even worse, Rosalind’s identity as Fortune is revealed which forces her to be confined in her apartment due to the swarming reporters lurking outside. It seems like the only obvious choice is to host a national tour in order to leave the city. But when the tour goes wrong, everything Rosalind knew crumbles. Cue the ass kicking and the plot twists upon plot twists with secrets spilling into the air that had me screeching like a pterodactyl!

Where do I even begin with this review good lord. This book was absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2023 and I think if I actually word vomited my thoughts onto this review it would be way too damn long so I will try my best to not word vomit so much. The storyline was literally perfect. Within like 2 pages I was once again teleported back to this magical world and I seriously could not put this book down while I was reading it. Reading from everyone’s POV especially when suspicion was in the air and secrets were peaking out around the corner was literally the most stressful thing ever. I was literally panicking to see whose secrets were going to be revealed first and most importantly, how the others would be taking that information. SPECIFICALLY YOU MISS PHOEBE HONG AND MR SILAS WU. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH ANXIETY THE TWO OF YOU FREAKING CAUSED ME DANCING BACK AND FORTH TOGETHER LIKE A FREAKING CAT AND MOUSE OMFG I WANTED THE TWO OF U TO GET TOGETHER ALL READY SKDLFJDKFJDKSJFSD. So anyways let’s move on!!

Speaking of which, the romance? Omg the romance. I freaking love the romance. Especially since this is the sequel so you know what that means? EVERYONE THAT NEEDS TO GET TOGETHER FINALLY GETS TOGETHER WOOHOOOO!!!!! Man it took goddamn forever considering this book was well over 500 pages but it was so freaking worth it. The tension? The yearning? ABSOLUTE CHEFS KISS. I literally squealed between each interaction and I swear for like a majority of the book it was just me going like “OH MY GOD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD GET TOGETHER ALREADY” for all the wondrous couples that I absolutely adore with all my heart and now I can die happy!!! No seriously though I think Chloe Gong made me believe in love again because I have never shipped anyone so freaking hard in a long time and this book had me literally kicking my feet in the air like a crazy person which I totally am so uh I think that checks out. Still some of the best couples I have read this year without a doubt because they are literally all freaking adorable and I have never felt so single.

Genuinely though, this book will undoubtedly be one of my favorites of the year and probably of all time considering the literal roller coaster of emotions I experienced while reading it. I absolutely loved seeing the struggles of loyalty, tested through the boundaries of family, love, and even their country. Chloe Gong wrote an amazing finish ending to this beautiful world she created and I could not be more proud of how far the characters have come. I am now also severely attached to these characters and am now going to cry because I’m 1000% sure that I’m going to die alone BECAUSE THANKS ORION HONG FOR YEETING MY STANDARDS INTO THE UNKNOWN AND NOW I AM NOT OKAY BECAUSE WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FACK WAS THAT???? If you've read the ending you totally know what I am talking about. When I tell you I screeched at the Epilogue I am not kidding.

Anyways, this book was such a fun read and I’d highly recommend so definitely go read it and come cry about it with me in the comments!!

FINAL RATING:

Who are your favorite book couples of 2023?

"I REALIZE THIS FITS INTO THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS SEEN MYSELF, WHICH IS: ART, ATTEMPTED, THOUGH OFTEN SPOILED BY THE DEMANDS OF ANOTHER'S TASTES"

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.

Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.

What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.

But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.

publication date: August 16th, 2022 | source: kindle

page count: 344 pages | genre: mystery, thriller, horror, contemporary, fantasy, lgbtq

Hi I’m back with another book that scarred the living shit out of me!! Jesus this book, where do I even begin with this review. If anything I should be surprised I even remember what happened considering I read this in freaking January but I do remember being extremely grossed out and hella confused at what I was reading which honestly should not be a surprise anymore at this point because a good book always confuses the living shit out of me! I have acquired my peach slices so I will now shut up and actually start this already also overdue ass review so grab some bubble tea and let’s get started!

After his twin sister Caroline died under horrific circumstances, Mars decides to attend his sister’s prestigious summer academy in her place so that he can attempt learn more about her. What he finds there is a fairytale that’s not meant for him. The charm and festivities hide the old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic conservative environment that forces Mars to feel like he’s constantly in the spotlight. Desperate, he seek out Caroline’s old friend group, dubbed the Honeys for the beehives they maintain in the woods. The Honeys have a secret, and the longer that Mars stays at the academy, the more certain he is that this place and everyone here are involved in her death and the more desperate he becomes at uncovering the truth.

This book fully yeeted my expectations out the window and I’m not sure if I should be impressed or grossed out at this point. The mystery was pretty intriguing and I remember being so invested in trying to figure out what the actual heck was going on that I felt like I missed the most obvious hints towards the big plot twists since when I recommended this book to a couple people, they were able to guess the huge plot twist in like 5 seconds. Nevertheless I was properly horrified with the plot twist and can say that La Sala did an amazing job and building up the plot while still keeping up the air of suspense as the story progressed until the dark truth was revealed.

Speaking of surprises, oh my god the romance? The romance. I mf’ing love the romance. It was a little unexpected (but not really because I swear I have the nose of a bloodhound when it comes to ships in a book) and it was SO CUTE. I literally love them and I want more please. On a more serious note, this book did a fantastic job at weaving in more heavy topics within the story and I loved seeing Mars’ character growth throughout the novel as well, battling his internal struggles as well as the backlash they receive for being genderfluid. The internalized toxic conservatism that was bluntly symbolized in the oh so very prestige summer camp was really interesting to see especially with Mars being the polar opposite of everything they stood for which resulted in a riveting dynamic that I thought was pretty intruiging to see as the story progressed.

This book was one of the creepiest and most confusing books I’ve read this year and I loved it. The atmosphere was instantly set and the eeriness only continued to escalate as the book progressed. There were plot twists upon plot twists which only got better as the book went on and I’m pretty sure I threw my kindle a couple times out of shock. The characters were so well developed, especially Mars, and the setting of the summer academy Aspen completely juxtaposed Mars’ character perfectly and that made it all the more captivating to read. The story itself is incredible and I genuinely could not put this book down. As a side note though, I don’t think I can ever look at honey the same way again.

FINAL RATING:

What's one of the creepiest books you've read?

"OUR ILLUSION WEAVE ROSES AROUND US, AND WHEN WE TRY TO ESCAPE, WE ARE MET WITH THORNS"

A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.

Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.

Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

publication date: Feburary 14th, 2023 | source: kindle

page count: 289 pages | genre: fantasy, gothic, mystery, horror, romance

I honestly have never been more confused in my entire life and that’s saying something. That’s also probably a lie but we’re going to ignore that. This review is so long overdue (quite literally - I read this book in FEBURARY while in Taiwan during break for crying out loud but damn was I on a reading spree back then) but I did promise to eventually write a review and here it is! This book was equal parts beautiful and confusing and I’m going to attempt to make sense of my jumbled thoughts I recall while reading this book so grab some bubble tea and let’s dive right into it.

The story opens up introducing a happy couple. A beautiful marriage between a scholar of myths and a heiress to a fortune with a dark past. Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada is equal parts mystery as she is beautiful and the two lovers, despite their differences, find comfort in one another and exchange a bargain: he can have her heart with the promise of a happily ever after but in exchange for her love, he must never inquire into her past. But when Indigo learns of her estrangled aunt health deteriorating rapidly, the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams. The bridegroom will find himself unable to resists the cries of the crumbling manor that whisper for secrets to be unveiled with the promise of answers. For within the walls, lurks the shadow of another girl who is long gone: Indigo’s childhood best friend Azure. As the manor slowly reveals Indigo’s secrets, the bridegroom becomes forced to choose and search between fantasy and reality even if that could yield in catastrophe.

I don’t even know where to start with this except to say that reading this book was so confusing and magical and I really don’t know what’s real anymore good lord. The magical aspect? Absolutely stunning. I was so emersed in the story and the sprinkles of magic throughout only made it all the more better even if it was an absolute headache to follow. I actually felt like I could just walk outside and enter this world of magic and mystery right this second which is definitely credited to the beautiful writing because what the actual heck Roshani Chokshi. The writing is just straight up mesmerizing and I am way too dumb to follow along but nevertheless it was so pretty and I was so confused but who cares. This book was just equal parts odd as it is pretty and I’m living for it.

The bond between the bridegroom and Indigo is one I was surprised to find that I was rooting for. At first it kind of felt to me that the love between the two was slight obsession which seemed to be fueled by intruige and curiosity. However, it’s hard to miss the mutal trust that emerged between the two and even while the bridegroom was prying in places he wasn’t supposed to, he still felt a sense of loyalty and love for Indigo which totally earned brownie points. Indigo herself is a mystery. To be fair we see more of her through the flashbacks of Azure’s chapters in the book but learning about her past and her character was one of the coolest things, contrasting that to the present and very cryptic Indigo.

I’m not sure how much I can say without giving too much way about the book but I will say that I did throw my kindle across the my cousin’s bed when I finished the book and proceeded to text my sister in a frenzy despite it being like 5 am in America because I wasn’t allowed to screech my feelings out loud. This book was absolutely amazing and literally everything about it was just beautiful. I was way too invested in a book thats not even 300 pages which is also huge props to Roshani Chokshi because she mangaged to absoloutely blow my mind with a book that’s half the size of most YA novels. Anyways that’s a wrap! I’m actually surprised I managed to write this much about a book I read nearly 7 months ago but I present my very late and hopefully comprehendable reveiw about one of the most beautiful books I read in 2023. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way to make my very own key to the Otherworld.

FINAL RATING:

What's the prettiest book you've read so far?

"SHE WANTED TO BE A GIRL WHO WAS DESERVING OF THE WORLD"

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

publication date: September 27th, 2022 | source: owned

page count: 528 pages | genre: fantasy, historical fiction, mystery/thriller

This book has confirmed that I will always read anything Chloe Gong writes because they’re all just too good. I loved the unique retelling of Romeo and Juliet’s story through These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends and I’m pretty sure I screeched like a pterodactyl when I found out that there would be a series expanding this incredible world she built. This book was said to be a retelling of Shakespeare's As You Like It and honestly I had no idea what that is but I still loved this book regardless. Chloe Gong's retellings are literally perfect and that's coming from a bubble tea obsessed potato who loved her Romeo and Juliet retelling despite thinking the play was kinda dumb (I was forced to watch a 40 something minute video in like 7th grade as a substitute for not actually reading the play due to COVID and I low key remember just playing it in the background and then doing something else cause I didn't want to watch it lol). That being said, grab some bubble tea and let’s chat about some undercover butt kicking assassins in the world of 1931, Shanghai, China.

The book opens up a few years after Our Violent Ends leaves off and starring none other than Rosalind Lang, Juliette’s cousin. Four years ago, she was brought back from the brink of death and for some unknown reason, can’t die. Now she’s a kick butt assassin for her country. Her code name? Fortune. (literally gorgeous by the way dksjfdlsfjlkdsjflds) But when a series of murders start to appear with the Japanese under suspicion, Rosalind has a new mission. Pose as the fake wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and identify the culprits behind the terror plot while infiltrating a foreign society. The problem? Both Rosalind and Orion have secrets they don’t want the other to find out and this mission will uncover more horrifying things then they ever could’ve imagined. Cue the double and triple agents and a plot line that’ll blow your mind because Chloe Gong said so.

Even after reading all 500 pages of its spectacular glory, I still don't know who the goddamn antagonist is. Nationalist? Communist? Who the heck is who and does what? I have no clue. This book did a fantastic job exploding my pea sized brain though. I had so much fun reading about Orion and Rosalind’s mission together and following them as they unravel the mystery of the murders in their city—which by the way, was super interesting so kudos to that. Watching two polar opposites being forced to pose in a fake marriage with no strings attached (totally) was absolutely my cup of tea and I really should know better by now when reading romance books and watching romance k-dramas because damn do I feel single.

Speaking of which, the romance here was absolutely mf’ing adorable and I need more like right now. She finds him infuriating and he pushes all her buttons regardless. Literal chefs kiss. I loved Rosalind and Orion’s fake relationship because I am a sucker for those types of things and seriously they fit each other so well. Their feelings only grew the more time they spent with each other and the moment when they started to see the other in a different light had me beaming so hard my face hurt. Y’all keep your eyes peeled because Rosalind and Orion aren’t the to-be couple out there and I can confirm that I am so goddamn invested in every single one of them.

One of the best 500 something pages I’ve ever read people and I do not regret for even a second picking this book up. Chloe Gong gives us a chance to explore and reunite side characters from These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends and I couldn’t have picked a better cast. I loved the reemergence of old characters and the introduction of new characters and watching them all grow and develop throughout the book made me want to ball up and cry. How dare you Miss Chloe. Nonetheless, this book was mf’ing amazing and it was worth reading all 500 something pages so go read it right now and cry about it with me in the comments!

FINAL RATING:

What's your favorite Shakespeare play?

IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THE SCREAMING, SOMEONE IS IS ABOUT TO DIE"

An island oasis turns deadly when a terrifying legend threatens to kill off visitors one by one in this haunting novel from the highly acclaimed author of The Girl from the Well and the Bone Witch trilogy.

Pristine beaches, lush greenery, and perfect weather, the island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination...if not for the curse. The Philippine locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won't be next.

A Hollywood film crew won't be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide.

Within minutes of their arrival, a giant sinkhole appears, revealing a giant balete tree with a mummified corpse entwined in its gnarled branches. And the crew start seeing strange visions. Alon knows they are falling victim to the island's curse. If Alon can't convince them to leave, there is no telling who will survive. Or how much the Dreamer god will destroy...

publication date: September 27th, 2022 | source: kindle

page count: 332 | genre: horror, fantasy, thriller

I'M BACK WITH THIS VERY MUCH OVERDUE REVIEW AS PROMISED BECAUSE IT WAS MIDTERMS WEEK AND CHEMISTRY IS A PAIN IN THE ASS I'M SORRY!! Anyways, hi people, I'm alive yes thanks for asking. Y’all Rin Chupeco is a BEAST because this book was terrifying in all the right way possible. My sister picked this up before I did and like freaked out while reading so I got curious. And when I say freaked out, my sister was asking me to hold her hand and saying “Oh my god oh my god” over and over. Also she refused to go upstairs by herself and was very spooked. Needless to say, I was not that spooked but this book still have me the chills. I will now word vomit my pain and admiration for Rin Chupeco and this roller coaster of a book so grab some bubble tea and let’s chat with ghosts!

The story opens up with a film crew from the US here to film a ghost hunting documentary thingy on a deserted island in the Philippines that’s supposedly haunted with a curse. They meet Alon, a local teen who seems to have a special relationship with the island and warns the crew to stay away if they know what’s good for them. And in a very Hollywood fashion with entitled celebrities and white men, they ignore Alon’s warning. With Alon agreeing to be their tour guide, the crew begin to settle down but the island’s little horrors begin showing themselves one by one. Cue the scary shit.

I do not know what to think anymore man. I was so confused when reading this which obviously means that this book is amazing and you should go read this right now. First things off, the horror. I don’t really read horror books with like ghosts and stuff because then I become paranoid but this book was extremely creepy and I mean that in the best way possible. The crew members have their own ghosts and the island is dead set on exposing the living shit out of them with said ghosts! Specifically the ones who have commited a big no no. If this book taught me anything, it’s that people are greedy as heck and karma is real people. Y’all should’ve gotten off the island when you had to chance but nOo, you just had to stick around because of legends of a Dreamer god who’ll grant unimaginable powers in exchange eight sacrifices. Now doesn’t that sound like a lovely time.

So the horror is amazing and creepy af. What next? I’m glad you asked because the romance is FREAKING ADORABLE. I was literally reading this in my room and squealing the second said characters were introduced to each other. When you read as many romance novels as I have, you can spot a ship from a mile away; it’s an amazing skill to have. Seriously though, they’re adorable and I feel perpetually single. Also I was not satisfied with the amount of cuteness and I want more.

I don’t think words can express how much I adored reading this and this book without a doubt made it onto my all time favorites lists. I loved the world that Rin Chupeco created and I hope to see more of it in the future. This is definitely one of their more underrated books but I would highly recommend more people check it out. Don’t read this book at night if you spook easily though, because I don’t think you’ll be able to sleep. And seriously, I don’t think I can ever look at a tree the same way ever again.

FINAL RATING:

What's your favorite creepy urban legend?

ALSO HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR OF THE RABBIT TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE IT!!!

We made itttt! The year’s almost over and I literally do not want it to end. I haven’t really posted much cause of school and me low key forgetting I have a blog (sorry jiejie) so I will attempt to write one last post of the year to fill the gap on my blog. As the last post of the year, I’m going to talk about my most enjoyed reads of 2022 and pair them up with songs that I think would fit well with the main characters or overall vibe of the book cause why not! I did manage to read 50 books which was less than I read last year but not bad, especially since I kept finding myself in reading slumps. I’m going to shut up now so grab some bubble tea and let’s chat about the books that emotionally scarred me!

ace of spades by faridah àbíké-íyímídé

when we were kids by twice

First up, Ace of Spades. Hello we meet again! I think this was the first book review I wrote in 2022 and this book still gives me the chills everytime I think about it. The story follows two Black kids in “a very prestigious and very white school” who suddenly find themselves the targets of a weird mysterious person called Aces who’s revealing their darkest secrets for the whole school to see. Now doesn’t that sound like a fun time. This book talks about a so many serious topics and really enhances them while still being an amazing thriller novel. I don’t have a specific character to pair up a song with but I think the song “When We Were Kids” by Twice matches pretty well with the overall vibes of the book. The song reminiscents about the past and how things were when they were kids. I think Chi and Devon would find some comfort in that song after all they’ve been through. Twice’s vocals and ability to convey emotions through their songs is no joke people.

you've reached sam by dustin thao

eight by iu

Next up we have the first book of 2022 that made me cry: You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao! It follows a girl who’s life is consumed by grief after her boyfriend passes away in a car accident. She becomes so desperate to hear his voice again so she calls him and to her surprise, dun dUn DUNN, he picks up. This book was absolutely heartbreaking and I loved the portrayal of grief in Julie, especially with how some people treat those who are grieving after some time. In short words, this book was depressing and makes me feel chronically single. And what better song to pair this depresso espresso book than with “eight” by IU! The song talks about precious memories and wanting to go back to the past to stay in them, something Julie would definitely relate to. A depressing song with a depressing book! How fitting. Now excuse me while I go get my blankets and embrace my depresso espresso self.

starfish by akemi dawn bowman

stronger by wjsn (sung by dawon and yeonjung)

Oh would you look at that! The next book is also depressing af and also scarred me! Shocker. Yes, I’m talking about Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman because don’t I just love a book that scars the living heck out of me. The novel follows Kiko and her journey to accepting herself for who she is whilst also gaining the confidence to speak her mind. This book quite literally paints inspiration in your head and smacks a whole butt ton of feels right in your face. “Stronger”, sung by WJSN’s Dawon and Yeonjung, comes with an encouraging message that you can overcome any challenges and difficulties in your life. And that I think, is exactly the message Kiko needed to hear. Her struggle in standing up to her verbally abusive mother was one of the main conflicts in the book and in the end, was the most satisfying character developments/growth I’ve read this year.

the sacrifice by rin chupeco

maison by dreamcatcher

The next book surprisngly didn’t make me cry but rather, it gave me the chills. Ladies and gents, make way for The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco! This book was creepy in all the best ways possible and I am never going near a tree again. Also ghosts are real. The story opens up with a film crew from the US here to flim a ghost hunting documentary thingy on a deserted island in the Philippines. They meet Alon, a local teen who seems to have a special relationship with the island and warns the crew to stay away if they know whats good for them. And in a very Hollywood fashion with entitled celebrities and white men, they ignore Alon’s warning. With Alon agreeing to be their tour guide, the crew begin to settle down but the island’s little horrors begin showing themselves one by one. Cue the scary shit. Wow would you look at that, there’s conveniently a song called “Maison” by Dreamcatcher! The lyrics are literally “save my home in the jungle” and “please someone fight for us”, if this isn’t fate then I don’t know what is. On the serious side, this book was really good and I do highly recommend it. Oh and stan Dreamcatcher.

foul lady fortune by chloe gong

sour grapes by le sserafim

And the final book to wrap up 2022 with a smile is none other than Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong. I literally loved These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends so much and this book did not dissapoint. The book picks off with Rosalind Lang, Juliette’s cousin, who’s now an kick butt assasin and due to some mysterious experiment that saved her life, can’t die. Cue the double and triple agents and a captivating story that exploded my tiny pea brain. I low key don’t know who the antagonist is anymore but who cares; I’m just here for Rosalind and Orion and the scarce adorable moments we get from the other couples in this book. I paired Rosalind up with the song “Sour Grapes” by Le Sserafim since the song is literally her towards Orion and I’m absolutely living for it. “Sour Grapes” is a song about wanting to avoid love in fear that it’s not as sweet as the person imagines it to be. Safe to say that this song is basically Rosalind in a nutshell but not for long! Now go read this work of art right now.

And that’s a wrap! This year has honestly been a roller coaster of a ride with many amazing, tear-inducing memories made and I hope that’ll continue into the following year. If anything, this is just another reminder that I’m oLd. Happy new year!! Let’s make this year more beautiful than the last.

What was your favorite book you read in 2022?

HELLO, THERE!

LET’S BE FRIENDS

Labels

recent posts

Blog Archive