The Literary Huntress: 2 stars

Book Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday

by Colleen Hoover
E-book edition
Published March 18th, 2014 by Simon & Schuster UK

✰✰

Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble - she's a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great boyfriend, and the music coming from the balcony opposite hers is fast becoming the soundtrack to her life.
But when Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious and attractive man behind the music, Ridge, gives Sydney hope that she can move on and they begin to write songs together. But moving on is harder than she expects, Sydney can only hope…. Maybe someday…
Colleen Hoover draws you in to this passionate tale of music, love and betrayal…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23626307-maybe-someday

I really have complicated relationship with this book, which is really surprising because I really liked her other book, Confess. Apparently, NA and me haven't been on good terms lately, since I also hated (and even DNF) Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven. Or maybe it's just me not in the mood for romance. *shrugs*

This book started out so well. I really enjoyed the first quarter of the book. I love it when book couples just seemd so connected and attracted and just can hit it off directly because they do have similar interest, rather that just "jolt of electricity" or "fluttery feels". In Sydney and Ridge case, they're attracted to each other because they lived across each other and they're passionate about music (which is why they noticed each other at the first place). And then Ridge being honest with her and tell her that her boyfriend has been cheating with her roommate, and she moved in with him. I thought, "well this is going to get interesting. I can't wait to see how their relationship will go from there". By that time I already shipped them, so I should liked what happens next right?

Wrong.

Their relationship did blossom. Turns out Ridge is deaf, which is unexpected and really makes me happy because I never read about one. But my feelings turn 180º when we know that Ridge already has a girlfriend.

The thing is, cheating is not okay. Sydney has been on the other side of it, and I bet it's very unpleasant. And yet she's doing it to other people right after her own experience. And this book justify it. I don't care about "the heart wants what it wants" and "you can't control matters of the heart" shit. Cheating is cheating. It's not okay. No one wants to be cheated, so no one should be cheating. STOP JUSTIFYING IT.

And I absolutely despises how Hoover uses Ridge condition as an excuse to have sexy times between Ridge and Sydney. First it's inconsiderate to actual deaf people, and second, it shows how thoughtless Ridge and Sydney are. Call it making music or whatever, but if your boyf/girlf do that with other people, I bet you won't appreciate it as a creative process.

Both Ridge and Sydney also don't feel guilty about what they've done. "Having feelings isn't guilty". Well it isn't if you have feelings for someone who isn't taken. Ridge is taken, of course it's not okay. And Sydney is a hypocrite, she doesn't want to admit that she's wrong and even get defensive when someone points it out at her. I'm not saying that Ridge isn't guilty, because he is. He encourages things first, then tell Sydney about his girlfriend. How very nice of him.

I really wish I enjoyed this book more, since I really do enjoyed the first quarter of the book. But the rest of it just went downhill. Despite its flaws through, I found that Colleen Hoover's writing really clicks with me. Which is why I force myself to keep reading while I want to throw my phone repeatedly.

I think I just stay off NA for a while now.

12:30 AM
10 Comments

Expectations vs Reality // Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

2 stars

Title: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Paperback edition, 522 Pages

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Published: October 2015

2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27187955-carry-on

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

So if you're not familiar with Rainbow Rowell or this book yet, let me explain. Rainbow Rowell writes a book, Fangirl, that has this character named Cath that is obsessed with Simon Snow series, which is basically a retelling of Harry Potter. This book is about Simon Snow. But not the original book. It's like Rainbow Rowell's own fanfiction about Simon Snow. So it's basically a book, that is based on other fictional book, that is based on other fictional series.

Now let's get started before you have a headache.

Expectations:

A story just like Harry Potter, full of magic, friendship, interesting characters and amazing world building.

Reality:

I'm dissapointed. Again. It's like Fangirl all over again. I kind of enjoyed the plot, but I would've enjoyed it more if it weren't for the characters. I mean magic? Solving a murder? Defeating the big bad wolf? I love that kind of story. But the characters are completely immature!

Simon Snow is the Chosen One. He's the main character. But here's the thing: he is not interesting at all as a character. He depends too much on the Mage. He runs to him everytime he faces a problem and didn't try to solve it by himself. He doesn't make his own decision. He said it himself, he only do what he's told. He sits around and wait while his friend Penelope make the stratedy. And he's obsessed with his room mate, Baz. All he's doing is stalking him. Becaus he has a feeling that he's evil. Why is that? Because he is evil he said. Well then.

Baz is more interesting. Well I guess. Compared to Simon, I love his chapters more. He actually did something. He's the typical bad-boy-with-horrifying-past and I-am-mean-to-you-because-I-like-you. But I still feel like he's underdeveloped.

Penelope is okay I guess. She's smart, but she doesn't afraid to jump head-first into action. And she actually cares for Simon. And she doesn't care about Normal or not. And she doesn't easily trust people (unlike our main character).

Agatha. I don't even know why is she even in this book. What is her purpose? To add drama I guess?? Did she do anything? Nope. She didn't do anything? Nope, literally. She cries and then run away. Well good for her. Why is she so obsessed with Lucy all of a sudden? No one knows :):):)

No spells??? It relies on normal words/phrases like There's nothing to see here! or Take a break, have a kitkat. We just "pour magic/our will into the words". And we don't really know about the magickal world. What is the Coven or how the Mage and his men works, or why the old families have their own Coven. What is the Humdrum's goals?

And it was supposed to have monsters! But we barely get any monsters. We only get numpties (trolls basically) and story about how Simon got attacked by Chimaera. Baz as a vampire doesn't count. WHERE ARE MY MONSTERS???

We have no closure. I mean no one is bother to say the truth about what happened to each other. spoiler Baz didn't tell Penelope that the Mage is evil. Penelope didn't tell Baz about Davy and Lucy. Simon is basically in the dark about The Mage being evil. spoiler ends So is The World Of Mages. I can't see the dynamic and team work within them and it frustates me. What about Nicodemus and Ebb?

And the romance? What romance? I feel no chemistry between them. No fluff. It came out of nowhere, after years in each other's throat and trying to kill each other (I mean really, you try to feed your crush to a Chimaera???) and suddenly they're kissing???

It's not all that bad though. I mean, there are some moments that I actually liked, like how close Penelope and Simon are, when they actually work together and figure everything out, and Lucy's povs. But still it wasn't as good as I hope it would be.

Conclusion:

It doesn't feel like a YA book to me. It feels like a Children's Book because of how immature the characters are, and how rushed evertyhing is. I kinda like the plot, it has so much potential. But the immature characters ruined the plot, steers it to the other way. UGH. To be fair, it's only one book with 522 pages. But then maybe Rainbow Rowell shouldn't put so many things to be solved in a book. It feels unfinshed. It's like Harry Potter but less magical and more rushed.

9:30 AM
6 Comments

It's Not You, It's Me // Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2 stars

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Paperback edition, 441 pages

Published: February 7th, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins
2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11614718-delirium

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

This is my second time reading this book. The first time, I DNF it. After re-reading it, I could see why we didn't get along the first time! It's actually slightly better the second time.So here are 3 reasons I didn't like Delirium.

Lena. Let's just say I didn't like the main character. Lena is too nervous about everything, she's too emotional, and she's spineless. Sure, I get it. With her mother's death, everyone expects her to end up just like her, thus make her extra-careful. But one minute she's like "no, love is forbidden blah blah blah" the next moment she's kissing and make out with Alex. I thought she would be extra careful, distrust Alex, and generally have more walls. But no. For a girl who's afraid of love, she fell really fast for Alex.
The World Building. I admit, Lauren Oliver does a really good job in the world building. It's too damn good that I actually won't live it in. I thought it was supposed to be a world without love. But it was also a world without laugh, hugs, music and books! Which means it's boring. Which is why I don't like it. It's just boring and dull and just.... gray. Just imagine it guys, a world without laugh, hugs, books, music, and love.
I think, in terms of the ideology, I could see where the idea came from. A world without love supposed to be a world that is "safe" and "under control". But it doesn't make it a better place. The people there are emotionless, because apperently love affects desire and happines and emotions. And with love gone, so do the other things. The people are just content with their life, but they aren't heavy. They're pretty much detached.
Side characters. Since the world is so boring, so is the people in it. They're basically emotionless, they don't laugh, they don't dance. Some of them even kill their children because they don't love them *shudders* So yeah they're basically emotionless robots.
The plot twist is predictable?? I don't know, even though this is a re-read, I remember guessed it on my first read. In a book where the world and the characters are dull, I expect something, anything to surprise me. But nothing!

So yeah, those are the things that turned me off. I think it's more like "it's not you it's me" case. I mean, if you love solid world building, even if it's a dull and boring world, you'd enjoy this book. But I just can't. I can't get invested enough with the world and characters, because, well they're boring! And Lena. I don't mind her being weak and whiny and emotional, because I believe there's this thing called character development. And yes, she got better by the end of the book. But she fell to fast for Alex and she just change her mind about the whole system.

What's your opinion on this book? Did you like it? If you don't, what's your problem with this book?

9:00 AM
6 Comments

Book Review: #88lovelife by Diana Rikasari

2 stars

11:00 AM
0 Comments

Book Review: Silver by Talia Vance

2 stars

Title: Silver

Author: Talia Vance

E-book edition, 384 pages

Published: September 1st, 2012

Publisher: Flux

2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16088074-silver

"As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away."

Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can't resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party when Brianna's charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her that she's been hiding even from herself.

Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.

But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.

Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.

I was really excited when I was starting this book, because this book tells about mythology other that Greek/Roman. This book tells us about Irish mythology, which is really exciting. So why only 2 stars?

The main character, Brianna and her clique are typical dumb, spineless female characters. They make girls look like they need boys all the time to protect them, like they couldn't live without boys. All the female characters are so obsessed with boys.

“The only thing that's changed is the way Blake looks at me.

And it takes my breath away.

Blake's eyes glow in the firelight. But it's the flames behind his eyes that make my whole body run hot. I can feel myself blush as he brings his hands to my cheek, branding me with his touch. "Brianna Paxton." He lets his fingers rest against my skin, stroking just beneath my chin. "You are even more beautiful than I remembered.”

Brianna didn't do anything until near the end of the book, she just got in danger, got panicked, but someone would always be there to save her. Towards the end of the book, something seems to change her into this powerful, smart girl.

The romance. Blake & Brianna. Brianna is like Bella Swan 2.0. Whiny, clingy, without her boyfriend, her world is coming to an end. The whole soul-bonding thing is okay. But they're lusting each other, it's like lust-bonding. Just. No. And the chemistry between them is just nonexsistent. Brianna and Blake also stalks each other, which is creepy.

I really like the whole backstory and legends about Danu and other ancestors, and the powers the Bandia has. But when you don't like the main character of the story, it ruins the whole book for you. If you like Twilight and mythology, this book is for you.

3:11 PM
1 Comments

Book Review: Emma by Jane Austen

2 stars

Title: Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Paperback edition, 592 pages

Published: June 26th, 2014

Publisher: Vintage Classic

2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18300260-emma

Summary:

Emma is young, rich and independent. She has decided not to get married and instead spends her time organising her acquaintances' love affairs. Her plans for the matrimonial success of her new friend Harriet, however, lead her into complications that ultimately test her own detachment from the world of romance.

Review:

This book divided into 3 volumes. I don't really like this book, compared to Pride and Prejudice because the plot about matchmaking is really bland and boring. Volume 1 was all about Emma's effort to unite Harriet and Mr. Elton. It was sooo boring. But it picked up it pace at the end of volume 1. Volume 2 is much better. It's more fast paced, interesting, and many new characters were introduced. Volume 3 is where the story really happens. Lots of confessions and action and it tied up all the loose ends.

Emma isn't a very likeable character at the beginning. She thinks she's more superior than others. She IS more superior than others but that doesn't mean she can decide everything for Harriet. But after all her errors, she became more sensible and humble, and wasn't very judgemental.

Harriet is too naive and obidient for Emma, she agrees to everything Emma said. Mr. Knightley is a true gentleman, not only to people equal to him, but also inferior to him (such as Harriet). But I think it's kind of creepy how he fell in love with Emma since she was 13 years old... Miss Bates talk too much, but I think it's because she was lonely/nervous. Mr & Mrs Elton are both arrogant, like really arrogant.

Since English is not my first language, I found the language was hard. So many odd words, words that are not common, so I think vocabulary is really hard. The opening was really helpful for understanding the plot. Still, not exactly my favorite, because the beginning was very slow and boring, and the rest of the book didn't make up for the slowness of the first volume.

7:16 PM
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Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

2 stars

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

E-book edition, 308 pages

Published: February 10th, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22308716-red-queen

Summary:

MARE BARROW'S WORLD IS DIVIDED BY BLOOD—those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own—an ability she didn't know she had. Except... her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard—the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince—and Mare against her own heart.

Review:

This is the first book I've read in 2015. It's been six months and I only remember bits and pieces about this book.But this book is one of the most hyped up and most anticipated release of 2015.

I remember the description about the world is pretty solid. I can remember the river, where the Reds live on the river bank and every year the Silvers would parade/flaunt their power and wealth while going through the river. I remember the palace being amazing (made of gold?) and the big arena in the middle.

Now, Red Queen has elements of dystopia novel. But it's just feels so similar with other books.

Social injustice? Check
The lower castes lives in extreme poverty while the higher castes enjoy lavish luxury? Check
The country is on a brink of rebellion? Check

Just basic elements of dystopian novels. BUT THEN.

The country is losing war with other country? the selection
The silvers with amazing superpowers? Shatter me
The castes divided by blood? Red Rising

The romance between Cal and Mare is insta-love and the chemistry is nonexsistent. They just fall in love without any reasons, and the love triangle is unecessary.

This book is just so similar with other dystopia books, so it feels like a mash up, instead of original series. I probably won't bother to read the next book.

5:47 PM
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Book Review: The Pretenders by Lisi Harrison

2 stars

Title: The Pretenders

Author: Lisi Harrison

Paperback edition, 304 pages

Published: May 13th, 2014

Publisher: Poppy

2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18453102-pretenders

Summary:

Three girls, two guys, five secret journals.
The five most popular students at Noble High have secrets to hide; secrets they wrote down in their journals. Now one of their own exposes the private entries...
I am leaking these because I'm tired and I know you are too. The success bar is too high and pretending has become the only way to reach it. Instagrams are filtered, Facebook profiles are embellished, photos are shopped, reality TV is scripted, body parts get upgraded like software, and even professional athletes are cheating. The things we believe in aren't real. We are pretenders.

Review:

In the Engllish class, everyone is assigned to write a journal. The teacher promised that no one would ever read the journals, not even herself. But then, the journals of the Phoenix Five, the five most popular student at school were leaked. When the most private thoughts of five most popular students is leaked, no one is safe.

I don't see why the Phoenix Five are called the Pretenders, because from what I've read in the journal, they don't pretend to be anything unsual. They just trying to fit in and .survive high school. The characters are immature, when I read this book I imagine them as delusional 10-12 years olds.

Lily: She's delusional, trying too hard to fit in public school, the most immature of them all, and basically a creepy stalker
Sheridan: She wants too be a celebrity but she's a drama queen. She's just too much.
Duffy: literally NOTHING happens to him.
Vanessa: Too competitive, sees everyone as her enemy, paranoid, broken home, ruthless
Jagger: I don't even understand what is his story, since he barely gets any pages

The author has favorites, like Sheridan got many pages, and Jagger barely had 10 pages or so. We got everyone's backstory except for Jagger's. I couldn't care enough for the characters.

The plot is really slow, I almost give up on this book. It's just so boring and immature. But it picked up towards the end, like in the last 50 pages or so. But then... the author suddenly ends the book. And no, this is not a cliffhanger. At least when you get a cliffhanger, some problems had been solved. This book barely solves anything. Basically, nothing happens. You can't end a book in a middle of the story, it gives no closure or whatsoever for the characters.

I haven't read any of Lisi Harrison's book, but based on my experience with this book, I won't read any other books by her.

9:06 PM
2 Comments

Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

2 stars

Title: Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter

Ebook edition,

Publisher: Hyperion

Published: 2010

2/5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6574102-heist-society

Summary:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Review:

Yes finally I can open my laptop. To be honest, this February I was really busy, I can't even read any books.

Okay enough talking. Today I want to talk about Heist Society. Heist Society is about a family, even generations of thieves. The story begins when our main character, Katerina Bishop, was expelled from school. Kat's got the talent to be a thief, but she doesn't want to join the family business and even go to school for a normal life. Turns out she was expelled because her friends framed her. Her father is accused of stealing paintings when he didn't, and if they aren't returned, her father will be killed. To return the stolen paintings, Kat starts to gather around her fellow thieves friends and family.

When I read the synopsis, I was thinking "well, this book sounds very interesting". The idea of the story is very unique, about generations of a family of thieves. Moreover, the rating on Goodreads is fairly high.

Anyways, it ends up disappointing. This book is not living up with my expectations. I think the story line is too flat and doesn't have any climax. The villain described as a cruel person, but his actions are not cruel enough. The main character herself, Kat, her personality is boring. She's got the talent but she's constantly worried. And even if she is not worried, there's nothing special other than she was a thief. Character's background, the thief, and the paintings didn't give enough explanation which left a lot of holes and end up confusing.

The book is not bad, but too predictable and not exciting. The concept is interesting, but the execution is too simple. And the characters are too flat. The book itself eventually ends up just "good", but not "memorable". I think it could've been better.

3:51 PM
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Book Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

2 stars

Masque of the Red Death

by Bethany Griffin

Paperback Edition, 400 Pages

Published by Bentang Pustaka

Translated by Yudith Listiandri

Published on Januari 2013

✰✰

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17255285-masque-of-the-red-death

I've seen this book a lot on goodreads and other book blogs, and the reviews are good enough. So when I walked to the book store and saw this book was on sale (IDR 20.000) I picked it without any second thought. I hate the cover honestly, but it's better than nothing, right?

I expect this book to be amazing because I've seen this everywhere. I really want to like it. I do. But honestly, this book is so freaking confusing. It's fast-paced, but too fast and left many things unexplained. We saw in the beginning Araby felt sad because she saw a deceased baby, but we didn't know the reason. We didn't know anything about Araby except that she's a scientist daughter. Not just a scientist actually, her father is the scientist who invented the mask to stop the plague. Suddenly she fainted at the club and there's this club employer, Will, who took her home. Then she felt comfortable and BOOM! Insta-love. Okay she already liked him before but I think she should've freaked out since she didn't know Will yet which made him a stranger, and he took her to his home But no, that made her fell deeper for him. Then there's Elliot, and I think he's a freaking bipolar. And we didn't get any explanation about Finn's death until the end of the book. There're just too many holes in this book.

The idea is good, but I didn't like her writing style. Maybe it left too many holes for the story to improves in the next book, but it just make it so confusing. I'll do a re-read on this book though, but not anytime soon.

8:59 PM
0 Comments

Pages

Book Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Expectations vs Reality // Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

It's Not You, It's Me // Delirium by Lauren Oliver

What's your opinion on this book? Did you like it? If you don't, what's your problem with this book?

Book Review: #88lovelife by Diana Rikasari

Summary:

Review:

Book Review: Silver by Talia Vance

Book Review: Emma by Jane Austen

Summary:

Review:

Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Summary:

Review:

Book Review: The Pretenders by Lisi Harrison

Summary:

Review:

Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Summary:

Review:

Book Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

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