Melody's Reading Corner: Buddy Read

Showing posts with label Buddy Read. Show all posts

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | 29 August 2023 | 432 pgs

Source: Purchased

This is a spin-off prequel of the Six Crimson Cranes duology and having read them and enjoyed Elizabeth Lim's writing, I can now say that I'm a fan of her.

The setting of this story was different from the SCC duology but still there was a connection between a few characters. This is a story about two sisters who are polar opposite of each other yet their love for each other is boundless. Channi's world is turned upside down after the birth of her sister, who was born with a light in her chest. To save their mother's life, their father offers Channi as a sacrifice to the Demon Witch instead of Vanna, the beautiful and radiant newborn. In the midst of the chase, Channi is bitten by the Serpent King and thus her blood is poisoned. Angma, the Demon Witch then cast a curse on Channi with a serpent's face and vowed to get Vanna on her seventeenth birthday. While both girls are safe at the moment, Channi is no longer the same since she is now viewed as a monster. Despite Channi's appearance, Vanna is the only person who trust her and love her as who she is; alongside with Ukar, a snake whom Channi has become friends with (he's my favourite character among all).

When Vanna is approaching seventeen and is to be married off in a vulgar contest, Channi sees herself as Vanna's protector but the biggest threat lies in the inner light in Vanna's chest; for this will unleash a battle not only with Angma who's been eyeing for it since Vanna's birth but also the rightful owner of that radiant light.

I enjoyed this story and was impressed by Elizabeth Lim's writing and her storytelling once again. Her descriptive writing, her intriguing cast of characters and the plot drew me in as always. And in this book it also evoked an emotion in me as the author deftly weaves a story not only about loyalty and courage but also about sisterhood and unconditional love. Channi's narrative was engaging and I rooted for her from the beginning till the end. Her determination and her perseverance, as well as her love for Vanna never fail to amaze me and that last few chapters even had me teary-eyed. I'm sure fans of the SCC duology will appreciate this prequel and for readers who have not read any of this series, I think it'd be a good start to begin with this book.

Finally, I want to thank Lark for going through this fantastical journey with me (read her review here). Reading is fun, but it's a lone pleasure/experience to the reader herself and that's why we've buddy reads! Here's to another great (buddy) reading year, Lark!

© 2024 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Fantasy, Young Adult 5 comments |

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

Melody

Berkley | 1 August 2023 | 400 pgs

Source: Purchased

Lauren Fox and Asa Williamson work at Cold World - a winter wonderland located in Orlando, Florida. Lauren is a bookkeeper while Asa's work range from managing the gift shop to helping out at the skating rink. He's been working at Cold World for ten years and although the career advancement seems a bit stagnant, he doesn't really mind because he just enjoy working there. He's also easygoing, friendly and helpful so it's no surprise that everyone working at Cold World likes him, well except for Lauren who thinks he's a bit of a goof.

Lauren, on the other hand, is practical and an organised person. She's also quiet and reserved and doesn't have many friends, but that may be her coping mechanism after she was abandoned by her mother when young. While Asa is easygoing, he finds it difficult to get along with Lauren. He has the notion that she's a loner and she's too uptight. So what are the odds that these polar opposites work together? Possibly none until their boss ask them to propose ideas of raising more revenue for the park. As if this isn't enough, their boss's son, Daniel, is also tasked to brainstorm any ideas and his involvement creates quite a havoc between Asa and Lauren. Lauren has a secret crush on him while Asa thinks he's simply a charmer who could get anything done through his authority.

As Asa and Lauren try to think of ideas to beat each other, unexpected circumstances arise along the way that make them get to know each other better and gradually change the perspective they've of each other. But there are also obstacles that come between them, such as self-doubt and miscommunication and of course, the fact that Cold World may have to go if there's no solution of saving it.

Ah, I loved how this romance gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling despite the cold setting (never mind if it's artificial). I enjoyed reading everything about the two lead characters; from their differences to their interactions and watching their relationship grow as the story progresses. There's also a topic about parental abandonment which I thought written with sensitivity without being too heavy. And the secondary characters about Asa's roommates and their interactions added some entertainment to this story. Overall, it was a great and a heartfelt rom-com fit for holiday reads. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark (read her review here) for reading this book with me for our buddy read. 😊

© 2023 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Contemporary Romance 6 comments |

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

Melody

Forever | 19 January 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Purchased

Love finds its way through a mixture of tradition and modernity in this debut romcom by Lauren Kung Jessen.

Olivia Huang Christenson, a mixed-race Chinese American, is elated to take over her grandmother's matchmaking business known as Lunar Love. Through Chinese zodiac, they make thoughtful and personalised matches based on their clients' compatible animal sign traits. Because of Olivia's grandmother's legacy and the successful rates over decades, Olivia has high expectations of herself and she'd see that the matchmaking business would continue to strive under her lead.

But with today's information technology and various social platforms, it didn't take long for someone like Bennett O'Brien to take matchmaking business to another whole new level - a dating app with the traditional Chinese zodiac approach. When Olivia finds out that ZodiaCupid is making the headlines and views as a threat to their family business, she is ready to meet head-on in a deal with Bennett. The rule is simple: they'll find a match for each other and whoever falls in love loses. But it seems like fate has already found these two people despite their differences and their zodiac incompatibility for they'd already met each other way before learning their real identity.

This enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favourite setups for a romcom and mixes with the Old meets New concept (traditional matchmaking vs online dating), I know it'd make a fun read. I also loved the diverse cast of characters and read more about the Chinese American living lifestyle, the Chinese culture/traditions and even their foods. Olivia and Bennett are both interesting characters and it was always fun to read their banter and see how they fall for each other eventually. The story was sweet and predictable, but it also made a good escapism so different from the other books I usually read. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark for putting this book on our buddy read list. Now go check out her review here and see what she thought of this book.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Contemporary Romance 12 comments |

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

Melody

Sceptre | 5 March 2020 | 320 pgs

Source: Library

In a rural Nigerian village, there lives a 14-year-old girl named Adunni. Despite poor and being the oldest in school, Adunni remembers her late mother's words on the importance of having an education so that she can find her "louding voice" and be a teacher - a job she has always dreamed of. But life is tough and cruel and being the only girl in the family, her father decides that it's best for her to stop schooling and to marry off to an old man as his third wife.

As if being a third wife isn't bad enough, Adunni has to endure the abusive behaviours of the first wife as well as her demanding husband, Morufu. It is only through Khadija, the second wife, that Adunni manages to find some solace but Khadija's understanding and her limited assistance is not enough to ease Adunni's misery from the household until something bad had fallen onto Khadija, leading Adunni on the run.

Adunni thought she's found someone along the way who could help her in her dire situation, but it turns out that she's being secretly sold into a wealthy family as a domestic servant in Lagos. Once again, Adunni finds herself being bullied and abused by Big Madam and Big Daddy, the couple who's so preoccupied by their own issues (narcissism, greed, lust... you name it). As Adunni struggles to get by, she is also intrigued by the disappearance of her predecessor, Rebecca; and wonder why no one wants to mention about her. As Adunni tries to find out about Rebecca's disappearance, it is also at this time that she comes to know Tia Dada, a woman who would help her through the obstacles in her path as Adunni continues to find ways in pursuing her dreams. And this time around, she won't be silenced as she'll make sure her voice is loud and crystal clear.

This book wasn't an easy read. Through Adunni's narrative, the author depicts the harsh reality of life and how poverty, gender and class differences as well as superstitions in certain countries (in this case, Nigeria) often lead to discriminations and mistreatments. However, this story triumph over the despair of humanity and show the reader that that rugged course of path could be overcome through determination, courage and of course, having your (louding) voice heard!

As always, I want to thank Lark for all our fun buddy reading journeys and please check out Lark's blog for her review/Q&A of this book. Below are my answers to her questions:

1) Why do you think Big Madam, who started from nothing and had to work so hard for her own success, was so unsupportive of and mean to Adunni?

In short, Big Madam was simply a calculative woman and lacks of empathy towards her subordinates. Her narrow-mindedness as well as her relationship with her husband also play a part in her behaviorism, although this isn't an excuse for her unfair treatments towards Adunni.

2) And what does having a 'louding voice' mean to you?

To me, having a 'louding voice' means not afraid of being yourself and voicing your opinions despite knowing that judgemental minds are everywhere.

© 2021 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Buddy Read, Literary Fiction 10 comments |

The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

Melody

Century | 19 March 2020 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

Decades ago, a boy was found living alone in the woods. He had no recollection of his past, who his parents were, or how he ended up in the woods. His only friend was David, who's about his age and lived nearby the woods. After the police found him and with no one to come forward to claim him, this boy who is then named Wilde, was turned over to the foster system and later becomes a private investigator after spending some years with the military taking part in secret missions. Despite having a normal life now like the others, Wilde still prefers to live alone in his Ecocapsule house in the woods (which is fully high-tech and reminds me so much of a setting in a sci-fi movie) and has issues with intimacy and connecting with others. He still misses David, who died in a car accident years ago, though he's in touch with David's mother, Hester Crimstein. Hester may be a widow in her seventies, but she is a famed defense lawyer and a TV personality on cable news, Crimstein on Crime.

Naomi Pine, a high school girl, often gets bullied in school until she goes missing one day. Matthew, who's Hester's grandson, approaches Hester for help, who in turn seek for Wilde's expertise. But before they have any findings, Naomi is found hiding at her home basement a few days later. No one knew her reason for doing so, though they all point to peer pressure in school or being abused at home. Everything seems back to normal for a while until she disappears again. It may seem like "the boy who cried wolf" fables, but when another of her classmate, Crash Maynard, is missing, things become complicated as Crash's family belongs to the rich and the privileged and they have a vast connection behind them, including a politician campaigning to become president. Now Wilde has to find the two missing teenagers but what he unravels later would go far beyond the missing cases.

To begin with, the blurb is a little misleading as it had me thinking that the plot would revolve around Wilde. After all, as the title suggests, he's the boy from the woods. Now that I'd this issue put behind me, I thought I could focus on the missing cases but well, it seemed there's a much bigger picture behind the missing persons mystery and this took a while for the reader to finally work out where the direction goes because there are threads and layers surrounding the core of the story, alongside the various issues of today's society (such as the influence of social media, school bullying, the difference among social class and even political play). Back to the characters, while Wilde is the lead character, the superstar of this book was Hester in my opinion. She's feisty and kickass but yet behind that strong personality, she's actually a sentimental person who still mourns for David and is drawn to police chief, Oren Carmichael. There are a few other interesting characters too, such as Naomi and Ava (the school's art teacher), which I felt their roles are underrated. And then, there's Wilde's past which was never fully explained (perhaps there's plans for Wilde in Coben's future books? I can only hope.) In a nutshell, this was a compelling page-turner with some twists that I didn't see coming.

Last but not least, I'd like to thank Lark for this buddy read. Please do visit her blog for her review and our Q&As. Here's my answers to her questions:

1. If you could change anything about this book, what would it be?

I'd like to have a more detailed feature on Wilde and Naomi. I'm curious about Wilde's past and would love to learn more about that missing part. As for Naomi, she entered the scene first but yet there's actually very little focus about her. I get it that she was a missing person, but then it'd be good to know her more in-depth as a person rather than a missing high school girl.

2. Coben focuses a lot on the powerful influence social media can have on society in this book. Do you agree with him, and do you think that influence is mostly positive or negative?

With social media platforms everywhere in our world today, it's hard not to take notice or to be swept away by the flow. I think there are both good and bad sides of social media influence, depending on the context and motive and how they're portrayed (positively or negatively). The social media could bring people together, but they could also be seen as a malicious tool to destroy given a purpose. There are certainly both sides of influences and it all depends on one's mindset and how strongly one believe or disbelieve.

© 2020 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.