misspalah's reviews
1037 reviews

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"Recite us something, won't you?" "Where the head is held high, Where knowledge is free, Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls. ... Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let me and my country awake." Every schoolchild in India knew at least this. The judge began to laugh in a cheerless and horrible manner. How he hated this dingy season. It angered him for reasons beyond Mutt's unhappiness; it made a mockery of him, his ideals. When he looked about he saw he was not in charge: mold in his toothbrush, snakes slithering unafraid right over the patio, furniture gaining weight, and Cho Oyu also soaking up water, crumbling like a mealy loaf. With each storm's bashing, less of it was habitable. The judge felt old, very old, and as the house crumbled about him, his mind, too, seemed to be giving way, doors he had kept firmly closed between one thought and the next, dissolving. It was now forty years since he had been a student of poetry.

• The Inheritance of loss by Kiran Desai

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I'm struggling to determine whether this book was commendable or not. It's often lauded as one of the finest examples of postcolonial literature, and I can certainly recognize its significance in that regard. It vividly depicts the repercussions of English colonialism in India and explores the pursuit of the American dream amidst societal divides. However, I also believe that a deep understanding of Indian culture and values is necessary to truly appreciate its depth. The narrative encompasses a multitude of themes, from the struggles of illegal immigrants to identity crises and the Gorkhaland movement, spanning across settings in America, India, and Nepal. Through the intertwined stories of Sai, the orphaned granddaughter of a retired judge, and Biju, the son of the judge's longtime cook, Desai crafts a poignant tale of reflection, aspiration, and longing. While I found the exploration of divisions—be they geographical, national, or religious—fascinating, and admired Desai's skillful prose and insightful observations, I felt that the plot lacked momentum. Despite this, I was captivated by the beauty of Desai's writing and the intricate portrayal of her characters' hopes and regrets.

The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

At this juncture in her story, Estella removed her mittens, pried the lid off her eggnog, confirmed that none was left, and sighed. I repeated Leonard's words, incredulous: "What happened to the woman I fell in love with?' What the hell did he mean by that?" Estella smashed the empty cup between her palms and rivulets of cream trickled down her wrists. She flung the remains into the back seat and licked her hands clean, the left one first, then the right, like a cat. "Same thing as

'I thought our life together would be different,' I suppose." Only years later would we find out what he actually meant. We had driven up to see the monarchs, supposedly, but I'll admit that they didn't make much of an impression on me. I was too fixated on Estella, and my memories are primarily of the effect they had on her— how happy she was, how entranced; the gasp that escaped her when she spotted the first sleepy cluster, dozens of wings folded at rest on a drooping eucalyptus branch; the brightness in her eyes as she watched the livelier ones flit about in the cold sunshine. The sight of my sister's pleasure only heightened the excitement I'd been feeling since the start of our journey. Watching her was like watching a hungry child devouring a sundae, face aglow and smeared with chocolate sauce, chin dripping melted ice cream. We only stayed two nights in the end, returning to LA as giddy and giggly as schoolgirls who'd just come back from playing truant.

• The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao

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I was immediately captivated by the story. The family's secrets, the characters, and their extravagant lifestyle fascinated and repulsed me. The plot begins with Gwendolyn waking up in a hospital bed, the only survivor of a poisoning that killed her entire family that orchestrated by her sister, Estella. As Gwendolyn, who is now disabled and unable to speak, tries to understand her sister's motives and Povs by recalling back their complex relationship - those hidden memories and dark secrets. Their close relationship never recovered especially when Leonard came in between them and on top of that, he did become abusive towards Estella at some point in the marriage. Eventually, they mended the bond between them right before the whole massacre. Gwendolyn feels guilty for not being there for Estella after her husband's death and struggles to accept her own role in the tragedy. I have to say despite Gwendolyn being the reliable narrator is the story, you really can’t help but empathising with both of them, Gwendolyn and Estella. The toll of keeping family secrets, ingrained in their prestigious Sulinado lineage within the Chinese-Indonesian community, becomes evident as their sanity unravels. The story initially introduces numerous characters, reflecting the vast Sulinado clan, but gradually brought the focus on Gwendolyn and Estella. Tiffany Tsao did well in pulling the readers to join Gwendolyn's quest in understanding her sister's actions and it drives the narrative forward. The novel intricately weaves together the complexities of elite Chinese-Indonesian society with historical events like the 1998 riots, providing context to the characters' struggles amidst societal upheaval. It unflinchingly exposes the excesses and corruption of the privileged class, contrasting with the challenges faced by the marginalized Chinese-Indonesian population. I know many said it’s a mixture of gone girl and crazy rich asian but i would say those comparison is just a crime in itself. Comparing "The Majesties" to "Crazy Rich Asians" oversimplifies the former, disregarding its depth and complexity. While both novels feature affluent ethnic Chinese families in Southeast Asia, they differ thematically and narratively. "The Majesties" did surpass my expectations, with its richly layered narrative culminating in a hauntingly poignant conclusion. Skillfully written and deeply evocative, it showcases the author's storytelling prowess—a vivid, immersive tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Written Lives by Javier Marías

funny lighthearted slow-paced

2.0

Madame du Deffand's bad reputation pursued her for some time, but could not outrun her talent. Once past the first flush of youth, the kind of prestige she wanted was intelligence, and with the birth of her salon was born her legend: when she was very old, foreigners and young Frenchmen with a future would go to extraordinary lengths to get invited to one of her suppers, in order to be able to tell their descendants that they had met the friend of Voltaire, Montesquieu, D'Alembert, Burke, Hume and Gibbon and even of the lately deceased Fontenelle. One of those young men was Talleyrand, who, at eighteen, had a rather ingenuous view of the Marquise: "Blindness," he said, "confers on the gentle placidity of her face an expression bordering on beatitude."

Her eyes did, it seems, preserve to the last their permanent beauty, but to see in that lady "unequalled kindness", "great beauty" or "beatitude" was perhaps another form of blindness, since age never changed Madame du Deffand's character, for she had always been indifferent and, on occasion, cruel.

• Madame du deffand and the idiots : Written lives by Javier Marias

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It was enjoyable at first but it became such a chore to finish it. Instead of the usual detailed biographies, it's filled with short stories that reveal the human side of these writers, showing their quirks and imperfections. Unfortunately in my case, i really thought it is about an important and detailed information on regards of these famous authors' lives. The book mostly talks about male authors and somehow it is clearly demonstrated who did the author likes and dislikes. I don’t want to make my own assumptions but from what i have read i can say that he did not really like female authors simply based on those not-so-great descriptions of women in this book. Joseph Conrad, James Joyce and Henry James are some of the authors that has been highlighted in this biographies with the author’s witty and quirky storytelling. Even though there's not much new to learn about these famous writers,  it was fun while it lasted.  At the end of the day,  It just shows they're human like everyone else. This book is perfect for you if you are into some wild and unverified gossip and rumour about these prominent authors than their factual details. 

Savage Tongues by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I sat in bed and let out a long repressed cry. I cried quietly, silently. I held the blanket against my mouth. I was afraid of belting out my pain, afraid that woven into the fabric of my grief was the violence and cruelty of my relationship with Omar, what had happened between us, and all of the people— family, strangers, animals— who had cleared the path for us to meet. The last thing I wanted to do was unleash that cruelty back out into the world. I'd taught myself to regard my pain as my greatest asset, productive, instructive, generative; but only if I could figure out how to hold it kindly, gently. There was something transcendent in that pain. And for that reason, I'd wanted to avoid unleashing its unfiltered storms and dark shadows on another. I'd thought that if I held on to my suffering long enough I'd be able to metabolize it; it would dissolve and never again be recycled back into the currents of the world. But no. I'd been eclipsed by Omar. The injustices he'd assailed against me— against that wild boar and the birds he kept in cages, and who knows what other beings — could not be contained in a single temporal dimension. That's violence's greatest asset, I thought; the ability to make time itself servile to the deviousness of its will. We are left to manage the discrepancy between the scale of the event, its limited temporal duration, and its boundless posthumous influence over our hearts and minds.

• Savage Tongues by Azareen Van Der Vliet Oloomi

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I know we are in March and its too early for me to say it but this is one of the visceral read i’ve had this year. The tremendous guilt (especially when our main character, Arezu described the SA and the R*pe that happened to her), the non-stop frowning (on why Arezu try to justify or equally blamed herself for putting herself in that situation and chasing the danger afterwards), the countless sighs (of trying to really understand the complexity of feelings that Arezu had towards the perpetrator) and occassionally ‘whyyyyyy?’ (because i try not to judge The MC stupid decision but sometimes its hard not to) while reading this book is just too real. The prose is gorgeously written - its heartfelt and evocative and it is a testament to why the author won the Pen/Faulkner Award. However, i have to warn that this is not for everybody. As the story did not get anywhere and it was not written in linear manner. What we’ve got is the regurgitation of emotions / feelings / sinful confessions / hidden & dark desires that has been kept inside of our main character, Arezu for so long after the incident. It’s not necessarily a bad thing for me - afterall, i love literary fiction but i can understand the frustration of others who rated this book lower than 3. The book also highlighted one of the most beautiful female friendship that happened between Arezu, Ellie and Sahar. While Sahar is already out pictures (not because she’s being abandoned - she’s literally difficult to be contacted as she lives in Palestine) but Arezu and Ellie continued to become best friends which is why Ellie agreed to accompany Arezu to Spain to confront and recount the whole memory of what has been described as painfully haunting during her journey to the adulthood. Another surprising aspect to this book is how the main characters is Pro-Palestine including Ellie, being an Israeli herself. She recognised the occupation, the injustice and oppression inflicted by Israel towards Palestine. Arezu, being an Iranian recognised the struggle of living under the governing of the oppressive regime. If you choose to read this, be prepared to feel uncomfortable as the elements of grooming, Stockholm syndrome and unresolved daddy issues is apparent that despite reading it in the perspective of victim herself, you will see that she kept on defending Omar’s action, her rapist & perpetrator and to why it happened in that manner and why he acted that way. Overall, this is truly heartbreaking read. I think the intention would be in showing that so many girls out there fell for the false security provided by the older guys they knew in their life only to be preyed on later. They mistaken the lust with affection and in turn, they thought they will be cherished forever. Once these girls grew into womanhood, they finally realised that they were the victims and what they thought was love was just a way to ravage their body and soul. 

Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems by Mahmoud Darwish

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

“I am what I have spoken to the words: Be the place where my body joins the eternity of the desert.

Be, so that I may become my words.

No land on earth bears me. 

Only my words bear me, a bird born from me who builds a nest in my ruins before me, and in the rubble of the enchanting world around me.

I stood on a wind, and my long night was without end.

This is my language, a necklace of stars around the necks of my loved ones. They emigrated.

They carried the place and emigrated, they carried time and emigrated.

They lifted their fragrances from their bowls.

They took their bleak pastures and emigrated.

They took the words. The ravaged heart left with them.”

• A Rhyme for the Odes (Mu‘allaqat) : Unfortunately, It Was Paradise by Mahmoud Darwish

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I usually dislike introductory or foreword part in the poetry book simply because sometimes it takes away my own interpretation of the poems since i have been spoon-fed of what’s the poem is all about. BUT for this book, i actually glad i read it before deep dived into his poems. Not only it was helpful in understanding the theme of his poems but it establish the link of his whereabouts and the events that happened during that time. Darwish demonstrate what its like to be an internal refugee - leaving the country to be safe and returning to it with the strange feeling. That exile status permanently embedded in his works and it shows in many of his poems. I regretted that i didn’t really study hard to excel Arabic in high school and now i just have to accept the fact that i couldn’t read his works in the original language. I am sure the english translation did well given that Darwish has been consulted on it but nothing beats reading it in the original language. Ultimately, while his 4 to 5 pages poems is excellent and the prose was penned perfectly, my favourite one usually the one that was written in one page. It may be short but it is evocative and tugged my heartstrings the most. I will list down my favourite poems in the post below this. Overall, every chapter in this book served its purpose to portray Palestinian’s struggle against the illegal occupation. From the lost of his own land, Birwe in Palestine, nostalgia of being free to suddenly being imposed of movement restriction, displacement of the land and the erasure of identity and sense of belonging, Darwish’s works was full of grace and heartfelt words. A highly recommended read!

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My Fav poems from this book : 

1. I will slog over this road
2. The Kindhearted Villagers
3. Who Am I, without exile?
4. Wind shift against us
5. We Went To Aden
6. The Owl’s night
7. A soldier dreams of white tulips
8. The Death of The phoenix 
9. Like The letter ‘N’ in the Quran
10. The Raven’s Ink

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p/s: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Ceasefire Now! 

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

For the first time in their lives they could openly share their most private thoughts and know that they weren’t alone. I helped them to discover that, and I became willing to learn from them as well. Those women were used to turning the other cheek when injustices were committed because it’s inappropriate to get involved, or to go to the police and betray your own. But they didn’t hesitate to help me and put themselves at risk when I was in danger. They know that they’re capable of fighting.

• Balli Kaur Jaswal, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

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This was such a rollercoaster ride for supposedly what people consider a lighthearted book. At least, that’s what i am assuming from the title. Then, we ventured into ‘South Asian’ community in Southall London that has been living there for at least 20 years but still maintaining their traditions (both good and bad depending on how people perceived it). And this tradition thriving while living in a so called modern western society was being normalised despite the large gap that existed between the young and older generations. Our Main Character, Nikki is the epitome of it. She was part of the community but she was fully westernised. She resented the internalised patriarchy that her mother and sister has but at the same time, she knew it would take years to dismantle it. She quit her study , worked at pub and moved out of the house which is a nightmare for any South Asian Mother. Then, she stumbled upon creative writing job in the temple community board which led her to the circle of a women twice her age , some are widows, some are divorcees and some just want to spend their time freely by signing up to this class. Sure, who would’ve thought that a bunch of widows, divorcees and bored housewives could’ve written a good erotic stories that practically saved some of the dry marriage across the community in London specifically for those that managed to get their own copy. BUT something sinister is lurking underneath this comedic plot : The sudden death of 2 girls around the area (although not at the same time), the suspicious suicide notes, the question of honour or shame, the spying and intimidation of certain people who branded themselves as ‘brothers’ which point to none other than ‘Honor Killing’. Nikki found herself in the middle of the community that dont want to talk about it despite knowing the truth and with people who would’ve go to a certain length to protect the honour of the community. Overall, this was such a wholesome read! I was afraid the erotic part will be uncomfortable read for me considering i am pretty much a prude but luckily nothing too extreme. I have to commend the book particularly the way the author struck balance of the humorous & colorful characters, literotica and at the same time demonstrating important issues in South Asian society in the book . 

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In Praise of Blood: The Crimes of the Rwandan Patriotic Front by Judi Rever

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

3.0

In Rwanda, death is generally not regarded as the end. If the spirits of the dead are dishonored, many believe evil will befall those responsible. The soldiers would have believed that the intentional disturbing of a corpse was sure to unleash malevolent spirits. They had to tamp down their fears and overcome their cultural prohibitions about the respect due the dead since a program of ethnic cleansing was under way, At twilight's darkest hour, they transported the corpses southeast to Akagera park, a vast wilderness area near the border with Tanzania, far from the scrutiny of the United Nations peacekeepers and the few NGOs still in Kigali. There, they dumped the bodies in pits, and incinerated them with a mixture of gasoline and gas oil. Soon the smell of smoke with death in it issued from the RPF's improvised "ovens." When the genocide broke out, Kagame's forces already controlled a large swath of Byumba, having seized it during the war of invasion that began in late 1990, and they had pushed up to a million Hutus into displacement camps such as Nyacyonga, where disease and hunger were rife.

• Getting away with mass murder - In Praise of blood : The Crimes of the Rwandan Patriotic Front by Judi Rever

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"In Praise of Blood" presents a controversial perspective on the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The Author, Judi Rever, challenges the  narrative of a single genocide primarily targeting the Tutsi minority and proposes the occurrence of two genocides. This theory, known as the Double Genocide Theory, suggests that alongside the well-documented genocide against the Tutsi, a second genocide was perpetrated by the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) against the Hutu majority. Many actually acknowledged that the concept of a double genocide is not entirely new but for me, it is. The last book i read about Rwanda’s Genocide was written by Joseph Saberanzi titled ‘God sleep in Rwanda’ which pretty much highlight the conventional timeline of what entailed between Hutu Majority and Tutsi Minority. Now that i finished this book, i have more questions than answers to what happened exactly during those time. BUT i also have to highlight that this book was awarded a lot of prize for its credible reporting when it was published. Over the years, people started to find inconsistency and inconclusive evidence presented by her. This includes witness testimonies on the alleged death camps by The RPF. Some forensic anthropologists and scholars also raises questions the feasibility of mass cremations and acid disposal methods described in the book. Some even accused her to be Genocide denier. Just in case you wanted to read this book, i hope my review might help you determine whether it’s worth reading it or not. Now back to the concept of double genocide and how it applied in the Rwanda History. It was previously propagated by Hutu hardliners and genocide perpetrators as a means of deflecting blame from their own atrocities. The author argues that accusations of RPF genocide against the Hutu were used as a smokescreen by the extremist Hutu regime to divert international attention from their own genocide against the Tutsi. She further highlighted that the RPF's alleged genocide against the Hutu was conducted in secrecy. She also establishes the link that Western allies may have been complicit in covering up these atrocities. The fact that it was United States, United Kingdom and Canada is the one that turning blind eye on this is not surprising given the current situation on Gaza. Overall, this book has been eye-opening and illuminating in demonstrating another angle of the bloodiest event in the Rwanda History. This was not an easy read considering how graphic the crime was particularly on what they inflicted on women specifically. I think it’s time to find another book written by the Rwandan that could help shed light on the premise of ‘Kagame is the one orchestrating the whole thing to claim the power’ which heavily denotes by Judi Rever and offered the perspective of civilian when this massacre happened. 

The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey by Dawn Anahid Mackeen

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

“I thought of the turn of events i’d been through to get to this place - moving home to Los Angeles; finding my grandfather's journals, a discovery that felt like he was calling me; crossing the border alone. I also thought of the Turks I'd met along the way: the two women who shampooed my hair at the Kilis hamam and the nice Bolvadin taxi driver who had invited me to his relative's wedding despite my ethnicity, despite what he'd been taught about the Armenians. At one point, Hala's son Omar told me that when his extended family had first learned I was coming, theyd thought I was in need, like my grandfather. It was their tradition, the twenty-seven-year-old explained, to help someone in crisis. They would feed me, shelter me, whatever I required to make me whole. They had welcomed both me and my grandfather in this same spirit, both of us strangers, with different ethnicities, languages, and cultural beliefs. "A friend of the clan will not be asked what religion he embraces," one of the villagers later explained. "Religion is for God; the homeland is for all."

• One Family - The Hundred Year Walk : An Armenian Odyssey by Dawn Anahid McKeen

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The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey offers an extensively researched portrayal of the Armenian Genocide and its aftermath as seen through the experiences by Stepan Miskjian which is the author’s grandfather. The book will not come to its fruition if the author’s mother give up on searching for any personal notes or diaries left behind by his father. Those notes together with some published materials in the library managed to present a deeply personal perspective on the sufferings endured by the Armenian people during this tragic historical period. The author worked together with an Armenian community around the neighbourhood to translate and also shared their input in order to complete this sort of historical investigation. The book managed to fully recount her grandfather's harrowing journey through the Ottoman Empire during that dark time . Through both Miskjian's story and Mckeen’s journey to trace back the his past, readers are transported to the heart of the Armenian experience, from the initial deportations and death marches to the struggles for survival and eventual resettlement in America. I know that not many people enjoy memoir or autobiography but this book is so evocative in its storytelling. The author managed to narrate Miskjian's experiences to life with rich detail, capturing the fear, pain, and resilience of the Armenian people in the face of genocide. Her writing is engaging and empathetic that allow readers like us to connect with the suffering endured by Miskjian and others. Ultimately, The book sheds light on a dark chapter of history of the Armenian Genocide that is often overlooked and denied. By amplifying the voices of those who lived through the genocide, she ensures that their stories are not forgotten and that future generations will remember the atrocities committed against the Armenians. Overall, this book serves as a testament to the importance of bearing witness , preserving memory and emphasizing the importance of acknowledging historical truths to prevent similar atrocities from occurring in the future. If you have never heard about The Armenian Genocide and would like to learn more about it, i think this is the right book to start with. 

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

“I am not the only man to seek his fortune far from home, and certainly I am not the first. Still, there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.”

― Jhumpa Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies

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I love all the stories in this book. Although i rated them differently according to my preferences but there is not one bad or meh story in it. ‘A temporary matter’ dealt with a hidden guilt and grief shared by husband and wife after losing their kid altogether. The story titled ‘When Mr. Pirzada came to dine’ is the reminiscant memory of a young girl when her parents decided to house a foreign guest. ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ narrated a POV of tour guide towards an NRI family that he drove around in India. Since this is a main title for entire collection , i actually expected to blown over by it but it was not. The story was good but i love ‘A temporary Matter’ more. The fourth story titled ‘A Real Durwan’ highlighted the trust and betrayal dynamic in the close knitted community living together in the area. ‘Sexy’ is another favorite of mine - extramarital affairs was so overused in the short story but if its written right, it could be amazing just like this story. ‘Mrs. Sen’ narrated the story of a boy and her neighbour, the boy felt that he and Mrs Sen have this sort of bonding or camraderie for one another even up to the point keeping a secret for each other. For a story number 7 - This blessed house , while understand the whole point of it, i find it hard to connect with the story - probably because both of the characters is so unlikeable. Next story which is titled ‘The treatment of Bibi Haldar’ was equally witty, funny and devastating at the same time. It tackled the treatment of disability in the society and the stigma attached towards it. Oftentimes, the disabled were being abused, discriminated and some were even sexually assaulted. Last but not least, ‘The third and final continent’ is such a perfect conclusion for the whole anthology. A story of an immigrant managed to make it in the foreign land  never cease to amaze me. Sure, a cliche storyline but it was warmhearted nonetheless. 

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Individual rating for each story in the book :

• A temporary Matter : 5/5
• When Mr. Pirzada came to dine : 4/5
• Interpreter of maladies : 3/5
• A real Durwan : 3/5
• Sexy : 5/5
• Mrs. Sen : 4/5
• This blessed house : 3/5
• The treatment of Bibi Haldar : 5/5
• The third and final continent : 4/5

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

“And the more they asked, the more they wondered. And the more they wondered, the more they hoped. And the more they hoped, the more the clouds of sorrow lifted, drifted, and burned away in the heat of a brightening sky.”

― Kelly Barnhill, The Girl Who Drank the Moon

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As someone that RARELY read fantasy, i knew that major part of fantasy genre usually includes world building and introduction of characters hence why some of those books went over 400 pages but consider i still want to say , 352 pages is too long for my liking. I get why its long but i dont have enough capacity to stay in fantasy world (if you know my genres you know why i said this). That being said, the reading was tedious. You were introduced with many characters , although not at once but some chapters do go back and forth whereby you have to keep track some of them since they are interrelated in a way. I think the turning page is when i discovered sister Ignatia is a sorrow eater (and the whole institution is a complicit in orchestrating the whole baby abducted by the witch so more sorrow could be generated), the madwoman is Luna’s mother and Ethyne is the baddass woman that came during important part of the book and slayed her way into the plot. I dont think i want to write the whole synopsis here ; i think everyone can just google it but picture this ; Whoever claimed they are good in the book is not really good and whoever were accused as a bad guy is not really what they were supposed to be. Another plus point to the book, there’s an old and wise witch with her loyal companions, a juvenile dragon and our main character, Luna who will unleash her true potential as powerful witch once the whole decade of misunderstanding  is being entangled. This is random but i actually like when Antain’s scenes appeared either with the Madwoman or Xan (in the swallow form) because you can see how genuine and sincere Antain are. It showed how he is one of the good guys in the book. Overall, its fun when there’s a twist and it gets tedious when you have to read through one by one as to not miss out on any details in the supposed fantasy world.