iris_ymra's reviews
137 reviews

When Alina first examined at Keramzin she had been able to conceal her Grisha power for the fear that she would be separated from her best friend Mal. Years later when they both serving in the regiment for their military service and had to cross the Fold, Alina finally released her power to protect Mal, for the same reason of fear of losing him.

Alina had been identified as the sun summoners. A Grisha powerful enough to change the state of Ravka, or as a dangerous mean when a dark power -- the Darkling -- owned her.

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The idea of Grisha world and power, is indeed a terrific idea and amazing. Certainly Leigh Bardugo has created a great fantasy world. In this book, although (for me) it isn't that thrilling how it progresses and didn't really put me on edge all the time, but the storyline and plot build up a surely gripping scene that I can't help but to anticipate for in the next book. 

The book isn't heavy with multiple conflicts, should be an easy reading to engage with. Definitely an interesting characters' development, yet isn't far from the cliché. But, it's still fine for me, since I mainly focused on the storyline more than the characters in this book.

Ps. One problem too for me, since I read this book/series later than the other Grisha book, I kind of have the story spoiler and already know what to expect. Perhaps that reduces the thrill and excitement another bit.

'The development of our personalities doesn’t take place in isolation, but in relationship with others—we are shaped and completed by unseen, unremembered forces; namely, our parents.'

'We’re all crazy, I believe, just in different ways.'

'Sometimes it’s hard to grasp why the answers to the present lie in the past.'

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Six years ago Alicia Berenson murdered her husband -- Gabriel -- by shooting him five times. And ever since Alicia has remained silent even when she was convicted of the crime.  

Theo Faber a psychotherapist, who had been following up with the case seized the job opportunity at Grove -- where Alicia is admitted -- because he has the  feeling of being responsible to save Alicia -- as he once been saved -- metaphorically and literally. 

Later, the stories between Theo and Alicia will unravel the blurred line in their tale.

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First of all, as a whole I like the idea of the story, though it's not that much as mind blowing. It's written well to keep the suspense for readers -- at least for me. And I love psychological thriller story.

But as the plot progressed it became rather slow, and I feel like the thrill started to die down a bit. Until when the twist took place, and I was on the edge. All I want, then, was to finish the book. Yet then again, the tension died down in short time. I'd say it was rather quiet anticlimactic for me.

I watched so many psychological crime thriller television series in my life that made me just had another totally different outcome and storyline in my mind throughout my entire reading of this book. To say the least this book comes a bit below to my expectation.

Ove is a man with principals, he always thinks that things should be done in a certain order. Cars have been the very best concrete thing to describe his abstractness.

When his wife died, Ove seems to lose the part of him, the meaning of his life, and so he decided to end his life too. But not with several attempts where he failed. 

The day the new family moved into their street is the day marked Ove's new purpose in his life. And everyone in the neighborhood seems to be in need of Ove's favour.

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This book is a heartwarming story with pleasant and dynamic characters. The main character -- Ove -- becomes the centre of various storylines going on about in the other characters' lives, is definitely literary greatly written.

The only downside for me is that I found my reading was slightly slow and I feel like the narration was quite flat too. Perhaps a bit slow-paced. 

But as a whole I love this book. Definitely a character driven storyline that kept the reading succinctly interesting and enjoyable.

Beyah had lived her life building wall impermeable to guard her life, her heart. She had pulled through her way in this world, and about to set her foot out and away from her life now. And when her mom died, she had really had to get out of her current place and live with her dad in Texas. 

Where she then will discover a new family waiting ahead. New people, new person yet not less familiar and similar to her own self -- Samson -- mirrored the same damaged soul of hers. 

And where she will discover the new her that summer, as she grew heart bones; as they grew heart bones, only for them to be broken the next moment.

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I am skeptical, I have to keep reminding myself that I am reading a fiction, so this kind of romance and instant fling between Beyah and Samson is indeed possible. Perhaps it does happen in real life too, but I find it hard to grasp the whole idea even if it's possible -- how do people on such instant decide to love and have a love interest between them. That being said, made me love how the storyline turned out the next; as if now we can go through some regret, now we can ponder on a young age mistake. And yet, the best to  take place still for the next and until the very end. I love that the characters set about different choice, I had in mind, when a character put in such and such situation.

Somehow, I am not a big fan of the romance between Beyah and Samson, on the outside; the physical. But I love, love how they are internally connected, emotionally -- about everything untold between them yet told altogether with that bond on similar pain they bear, the same crack they have to slip out. I love their vulnerability.

On chapter 28 onwards, I started experiencing a breakdown, I don't know what triggered me, I cried then whimpered, I even shivered, cold sweat on my back. I guess the whole situation up to chapter 28 -- the damage that had happened to Beyah and Samson -- had caught up with me. Though this sounds like some exaggeration, but this did happen to me. Because in a tad bit I can relate to them, at least about how when the 'system' broke you and you got nothing that you can do to break loose of it.

It amused me how I went reading a romance novel, and to thinking about every kid all around the world, who have to grow up in a state similar to Beyah and Samson; broken and alone. No kids deserve to live -- and grow up -- in such conditions. Makes me reflect on, what have we human being gone wrong with in our life. 

I cried through the end, and it's not really because this a heartbreaking love story, it's because this is in a way, a heartbreaking life story.