renpuspita's reviews
1316 reviews

 *will contain spoilers from Magic Breaks

If I can sum Magic Shifts in a simple sentence, that will be..Daddy issues. Lol

While Magic Breaks is the finale of the first arc of Kate's battle against her dad, Roland, it's not the end of the series. Their war didn't happen and it's also not happen in this book. There's some turning event, primarily about Kate and Curran break from the Pack so they are no longer Beast Lord and the Consort. But if you think Magic Shifts will filled with mundane things or just a filler book, you're wrong.

While already separated from the Pack, didn't mean the shapeshifter will not go to them when they have some problems. George, Curran's adoptive sister frantically asking Kate's help to find her missing fiance, Eduardo. Kate and Curran's investigation will lead to a sinister being that they never encounter before. This being also somehow connected to Kate's ancestor (and Roland's as well). Meanwhile Kate and Curran now live among humans, and the Beast Lord no longer a lord, so what Curran will do? Become a model citizen among their neighbor while show how big his lion teeth are? The Mercenary Guild also in some hot water and need Kate's help. Just another cherry on top of many problems that Kate face. 

Contrary to Magic Breaks, Curran is now have many appearances and one of the main focus too while the story still told from Kate's PoV. There's no misunderstanding or unnecessary drama between our favorite couple like what happen with them in Magic Rises, but Curran almost lost control when Kate endanger herself (again). The scene when Kate asking sorry to Curran because she break their promise to no getting hurts is kinda hilarious to read but also endearing. We see that she really change from a loner to a woman who will move heaven and earth to protect those she loves. As for Curran, he's really a natural born leader and also business savvy. He totally can become a CEO of his own company and don't forget that he also make money when he still act as Beast Lord. His leadership and charisma is scary to read, complete with his manipulative and scheming skills lol. I like the scene when

he decide to take the Guild's matter to his own hand. Once a Beast Lord will always be a Beast Lord even Curran already left the Pack

. Kate's status as

"the city owner"

also come in handy when she got endangered but I know that she still hesitant about that. The hot tub scene is, hehehe, HOT TUB, indeed. Steamy, just the way I like it.

I said daddy issues in the start because some characters in this book have problem with their father. The most glaring is George with Mahon. Mahon didn't approve of George choice to be with Eduardo, just like he didn't like Kate to be Curran's mate. I did approve Mahon's support for Kate in Magic Rises because he feels that Kate's situation then was just like him in pre-Shift. They are both outsider. But that didn't mean that his views regarding Kate as Curran's mate will change. You can said that Mahon is more like a boomer, a conservative parent that expect their children to be what they want not what their children need. I feel like the relationship between Curran-George-Mahon and Kate-Roland is pretty much the same. The parent (aka the Dad) have expectation for their children, they want to shape their children to their own views and because children have obligation to the parents. But the children have a mind of their own. Just like George doesn't want Mahon to steer her life choice. Just like Curran realize that Mahon try to manipulate him to be a Beast Lord molded by Mahon's vision. And just like Kate that oppose Roland whenever her father want to claim the city for himself or build another towers.

For a main villain, Roland is still in his best behaviors. His "why no marriage yet, Daughter??" toward Kate is a crack. I will never imagine a term "living in sin" will come from Roland's mouth, lol. For a man with megalomaniac tendencies, he sure have some old views regarding marriage. Although the part when Roland describe Kalina might show that he truly loved Kate's mother despite all of his evil deeds. Of course not all his words can be trusted but for me, Roland is one of the best written villain I've ever read. He wore multifaceted face, he can be charming but also murderous next. No one know what he think and what he has for Kate in the future. Also his intels is scary since he know a simple things regarding his daughter. Like, what Kate and Curran want to eat in the restaurant, lel.

As for the mythology, IA dwell with some Arabian myth and Islamic element as well. As a Muslim myself, I feel that they write the Islam aspects of story with respect. LOL, I never expected to read about Ayat Kursi, Al Fatiha or Surat Al Falaq in this book! I might be grumbling about Dali's origin since I'm also Indonesian as well, but I don't have complaint about the way the write Qur'an verses in this book. The book is fantasy and I think they carefully write about my religion in Magic Shifts so I'm okay with that. Beside, I'm not that religious hahaha, and it's been so many years from the last time I read Qur'an, :3.

Sadly, there's no appearance from my favorite black Volvh, aka Roman. But we get to knowing more about Luther, the PAD mage that first introduced in Magic Slays. I still prefer Roman because he left an impressive impression and he was a cahoot in Gunmetal Magic. While Luther is...I don't know, he's Luther. He's okay, I guess. Nick also have some parts but it seems that he still got grudges toward Kate, maybe because he finally know that Kate is Roland's daughter. I don't know about the Order, maybe they are really fanatics and beyond saving in this points. The shapeshifters beside George also have some minor roles. I miss them already, but every scenes that have them is always a delight to read. While grumbling, Jim seems to accept his Beast Lord position while Dali did her best to become his Consort. Derek is still our boy wonder although I missed his bantering with Ascanio. Maybe because both already have major role together with Desandra and Robert Lonesco in Magic Breaks. This is the problem with a series that have so many interesting characters, you want all of them to have at least one or two scenes.

Magic Shifts is another winner (yeah, yeah, I know, I kinda repeat this words) from Kate Daniels series. Each book that I read is a winner and I always want to re-read. But I don't have all the time in the world. There are 3 books that I need to read (Magic Binds, Hugh's book and the anthology) before I read the end of Kate's journey. Will I ready to read the end? I think I will never be ready, sigh. 

 I'm in awe, sobs.

Also Hugh's status in my eyes just escalated from "interesting villain/antihero" to "SICK F*CK". I wholeheartly agree with Barabas, 🤣. Roland in the other side rather feel like a proud papa to Kate rather than the major villain 😆. The ending is just chef's kiss and already foreshadow from the previous books.

In the foreword, IA said that Magic Breaks is a book that finished Kate's arc but the book also not the end. Magic Breaks is more like a culmination about Kate's impending meeting (or demise, whichever you prefer) with her father, Roland. I stated in my previous comment that this is also the book that have a shifting format treatment from mass market to hardcover. I did wait for a year to buy the mass market and, ehm, 7 years later to read the book, lol. Magic Breaks begin with summary in the form of private journal written by our favorite Pack's lawyer and weremongoose, Barabas Gilliam. Heh, I like his voice, so full of sarcasm, witty remarks and dry humor, basically Kate in a male form, lel. I would love to read Barabas's own novella although the chance of its is low but girl can always hope.

Despite the "breaks" in the title, this book didn't have any break at all. A full action packed and high octane, our Kate seems like can't rest. She has her own hands full with Curran being away almost half of the book and the sick fuck, ehm, Hugh's obsession toward her is escalated through the roof. But, despite the grim situation, desperate and hopeless moment, IA manage to balance the book with humors as well. I liked that Desandra play some role and boy, she's so lewd and didn't ashamed to admit it, it's hilarious to read. I also liked that IA decide to give more spotlight to one of the Rat Alphas, Robert Lonesco. He and his husband, Thomas seems like interesting couple and I would love to read more about them. Ascanio still a crack and have some buddy cop joke with Derek although the boy wonder want to strangle the bouda every chance he got.

The actions is non-stop. We go from Kate try to prevents the war between Pack and People happen (courtesy of Hugh's sinister traps), so she go almost everywhere to solve the murder while also try to hold the Pack together because Curran is away. Then she got transported into magical prison and to finally face her own father for the first time in flesh. Finally. For 7 books we only got trivia and bits about Roland but in Magic Breaks, Roland is finally make appearance. He also have his father-daughter moment with Kate in civil manners but ofc it's happen after they try to kill each other. Heh. For a villain, Roland is way better than Hugh. Hugh was obsessed and want Kate for his bed, also he hate Curran. Roland is..difficult to predict compared to Hugh. Maybe that's what 5000 years live did to you. I looking forward to what Roland will bring to Atlanta and test Kate's patience. 

It didn't complete to review Kate Daniels series without at least discuss about some yellow flag characters, because this is the series that didn't bother to "kill your darling" as IA already implement in Magic Rises. So..

the casualties happen more to people that need to be killed. Like Ted Moynohan and Jennifer. For Ted, finally he got his comeuppance although his demise didn't left that much impact for me. More like, I don't care about him at all. Poor Nick the crusader, though. I would love to know how he become undercover to Hugh's Iron Dogs. As for Jennifer, I already see it coming just from Magic Slays. Daniel died in that book so Jennifer's position is already shaky to start with. Then, we got introduced to Desandra and her scene when she challenge her father already give a hint that there will be trouble for Jennifer especially when Kate decide to bring Desandra into the Pack. So her death is predictable. As for a villain, she is pretty sad characters and honestly she didn't have to become one of the antagonist if only she pick the right decision in Magic Bleeds. Kate was right that Jennifer's life is full of tragedy, but in the other side I like that Desandra now take Jennifer's place. She will become a better alpha compared to Jennifer. As for Mauro, his death is less hard to read compared to Aunt B's death in Magic Rises. Maybe because Mauro's appearance is just a few and his death scene kinda like to show how desperate and hopeless Kate was. I still think Aunt B's death is the hardest to read and accept. We don't get some of badass older female with questionable motive like Aunt B. Aunt B can totally make Victoria Tremaine from Hidden Legacy run for her money

.

While Curran is away for more than half of the book, but every scene he had with Kate is always a winner. Sure he fuck up in Magic Rises, so his support to Kate in Magic Breaks kinda amend that. It's nice to read that Kate is come for a long way regarding her feeling to Curran. She's totally in love and I guess that make her a better character in my eyes. Yes, Kate still kick ass but I also see that her love for Curran is what make her get going. The scene when Curran support Kate when Roland decide to test her power is still my favorite and maybe

while Kate claiming Atlanta for her own, it's not only from her power alone but Curran's magic as well. Without Curran to support her, chance that she can't deflect the power spear that Roland throw to her and all will lose.

Their sex scene is so hot, the hotter that I have read from IA books, lel. And this book is marketed as UF with romance element, but the smut didn't disappoint. I can gush more but it's official that Kate and Curran is one of my favorite alpha couple to date. Hugh can go to the side and cry more because he just didn't get it. Kate told him so many "NO" and he didn't get the memo. You can sulk in the corner, Sick Fuck.

Another winner from IA and Magic Breaks just established Kate Daniels series as one of Urban Fantasy series that I will always recommend to everyone I know. Also, this book have a mammoth donkey as a stead called Cuddles and she loved to prancing. Who doesn't love donkey, eh? 

 Magic Rises is..a book that sure evoke so many reactions and divide fans opinion, lel. For me, the series is going strong and IA didn't afraid to take a punch although some drama in this book feel unnecessary. I state in my review of Gunmetal Magic, for the novella Magic Gifts, Kate and Curran seems like in a happy bliss. They are work as a couple and enjoying their honeymoon phase. Like a calm before storm. Imagine that the storm happen in Magic Rises and not storm either. More like a hurricane. A mix of political bullshit from the shapeshifter, sickening obsession from Roland's warlord and emotional turmoil that Kate feels regarding Curran's decisions and plans.

Many spoilers ahead, you've been warned.

About Kate and Curran,

yes, I know that many reader were pissed off about Curran's plans regarding Lorelei. Yes, Kate's jealousy in valid and also hard to read because we know Kate is WAY BETTER and ABOVE the spoiled princess. But, to knowing and to experience it is a different things. IA show how shapeshifter behave and also throw some hints that in the future Curran and Kate will left the Pack because admit it, Kate endure the Consort role because she love Curran not because she want to lead the Pack. Their love and relationship were tested in this book and while Curran apologize and explain his plan because he just want to ensure Kate's safety,it's no wonder that Kate feel hollow and empty in the end. I will do the same if I in her shoes, because Kate has a big trust issues and commitments. We follow her journey from Magic Bites and how she slowly open to people around her while dreading the time when Roland will find her and kill everyone she hold dear. I can't blame Curran totally because his plan actually make sense, but he doing a suck job about it. I feel like Kate forgive Curran TOO easily and I need Curran to grovel more, lol. Contrary to their first big fight in Magic Bleeds that feel immature and juvenile, their conflicts in Magic Rises resolved in a calm and mature way. Oh, Kate still angry, Curran also throw some rocks and roar menacingly. But in the end, all is end well

About Lorelei,

I pity her. I don't think she can become Kate's rival and come on, she didn't hold the candle. She just a spoiled wolf princess and as much I want to bitch slap her, in the end the right way is totally ignore her. Desandra described that Lorelei is a sociopath while Curran said that she is a naive and totally sheltered in her own point of view regarding shapeshifter's politics. So her end seems fitting, she become forgettable in the end. Still want to see Kate bitch slap her in the end, tho. Not killing, just bitch slap. It's will be satisfying to read but alas, we can't have it all

About the yellow flag character

farewell Aunt B, you will be missed. I read one of my friend review that said someone beside the villain always end up died. Aunt B's death is painful to read. Bran's death in Magic Burns is kinda hard because Bran actually can make Curran run for his money and he seems like a good candidate for become Kate's love interest. I forgot who died in Magic Strikes and in Magic Bleeds, Erra's death didn't count because she was a villain. Daniel's death in Magic Slays more like a plot device to let Jennifer out from the page in the future so basically his death is just.. there. Aunt B is different. We know her from the Magic Bites, she is one of Pack Council and she also play big role in accepting Andrea to her Bouda Clan. I feel like her death is to pave the way for Andrea to become the alpha for the boudas. But, is death the only way? Sure we can see Aunt B retire peacefully so she can live to see her grandchildren? Aunt B's death is difficult, sure she died heroically because in the end she saved both Raphael and Andrea. I think maybe she didn't have regret because her husbands (both Raphael's dad and her late husband that play minor role in Magic Mourns) already dead but the future for Bouda Clan is secure. Still, her death is one of the most painful scene I read, more than Bran's death in Magic Burns

Regarding Hugh d'Ambray, he feel like an anti-hero rather than villain. If people ship him with Kate, I will just, umm nope, they are too much alike they won't work. Hugh's sick obsession with Kate is entertaining to read. He's cunning, manipulative, but he also a strategist and tactician, so I look forward to read more about him (and yeah, I know that IA already write a spin-off about Hugh).

The European shapeshifters are nasty and their political maneuvers suck. No wonder Kate's hands totally tied regarding Lorelei's act toward Curran. They constantly underestimated her but I'm glad our girl make from rock while I know her emotions was running high. I like the myth regarding the lamassu and I'm curious about 

Astamur the shepherd. Who is he? Astamur more like a name that he used like Roland using a new name so the original identity of Astamur is still in mystery. Atsany is more like a hobbit creature and apparently an original creatures that IA created because when I search for atsany myth, I got their blog, lol

. There's no memorable characters from Obluda, Volkodavi and Belve Ravennati pack because admit it, they are all sucks with their own agendas. Anyway, I really like Desandra! Sure she behave like a difficult person in the first but do not forget that she is heavily pregnant and Desandra actually is not what she seems to be. She's more than a dumb wolf princess and she hide some surprises that will revealed in the end.

What surprised me in Magic Rises is Mahon. From the start, it seems that Mahon is disagree about Curran's decision to mate with Kate but he still accept Kate as the Consort. But, when Kate is cornered to the back because she is the only human in a castle full of shapeshifter, it's Mahon who support Kate because he knows how it feel to be an outsider. My opinion regarding Mahon drastically change and I hope Mahon will become Kate's father figure too in the future. Derek is Derek, a boy wonder that will support Kate. We also got introduced to Jim's sister Keira that have interesting past with one of Mahon's subordinate in Clan Heavy, Eduardo. Saiman also play some roles and while still hate each other, both Saiman and Curran let go of their animosity and join hands to get the panacea. Poor Dr Doolittle, but I get to know his real name. Also I'm totally support Barabas and Christopher!

The start of the book is kinda slow and I agree that the story can go round and round but the last chapter is totally worth to read. I can said that chapter alone is the saving grace for Magic Rises although I know that some reader maybe feel that it's a little bit rush. Not an easy book to read and maybe not one of my favorite Kate Daniels book because you know.....CURRAN SUCKS!!!! (although he pack a mean home run), but still entertaining to the end.

Oh, how can I forget the weredolphin? WEREDOLPHIN, y'all. The more you know. But, they are pirates, so they are far from cute and adorable. You've been warned. 

 We take a break from Kate's adventure and now it's time for her bestie, Andrea Nash to take the spotlight. Her story also told from 1st PoV and while Andrea is ofc kickass and badass like Kate, their voice is different. Gunmetal Magic is pretty much Andrea's full story, about her growth, her acceptance of her beastkin nature and her relationship with her bouda lover, Raphael Medrano. Through Magic Bleeds and Magic Slays, reader get to know about Andrea's fallen from grace, not only she got "retired" (more like expelled) from the Order of the Merciful Aid, Raphael also disappointed because apparently Andrea choose the Order rather than the Pack. Can't blame the man, though. He really fallin in love hard especially shown from the novella Magic Mourns. But, we forget that he also spoiled brat, so what he did to Andrea in the first part of the book is pretty much mean and cruel. But, I'm glad that their falling out get resolved quick and no need to prolong the drama.

In Gunmetal Magic, Andrea finally embrace her beastkin and also relent to Aunt B's request for her to join Clan Bouda. The last part kinda feel a little bit anticlimatic knowing Andrea in the previous books is pretty gung ho to reject the Pack. Or maybe, just maybe by accept her beastkin nature, it's the way of Andrea to tell "Oh, I have enough!!". So, while her joining Clan Bouda seems a little bit of nowhere, I think Andrea also did it because of her relationship with Raphael. Speaking about relationship, I crack up when reading part of Kate tell Andrea that her relationship with Raphael is pretty much like Spanish telenovella. Complete with tortured glances and twin brothers comment, lel. But, yeah, both Andrea and Raphael are dramatic, drama queen is their middle name. Bouda hyenas sure love dramas and make a statement. Although, I like that Raphael is not uber jealous and territorial like Curran. It's shown that he didn't mean when Roman get closed to Andrea, although of course both men still bickering and punching each other. The breaking and entering between Raphael and Andrea is of course hilarious as hell and one of my favorite scene as well.

Speaking about Roman, a REALLY INTERESTING FELLA! Sigh, IA know how to make charming secondary male characters like Roman and Barabas. I cracked up reading Roman's comment "you shall not pass" and Andrea wry remarks about him now being Gandalf. This is why I love reading IA books, so many one punch liners that are witty, sarcastic and full of dry humor. The mystery itself pretty solid and I like the touch of Egypt and Slavic myth. I like IA's take regarding the origin of mythology, legend and god's worship. There are a hint about First, a mix of human and animal that apparently are more special than ordinary human. Erra already said that Curran is a First in Magic Bleed and in this book, the enemy also said that they avoid the Pack because the Pack is lead by Curran, a First. Pretty much intriguing, huh. 

Gunmetal Magic also have a bonus novella, Magic Gifts that back to Kate and Curran. The timeline of this novella apparently happen before and within the timeline of Gunmetal Magic and some part of the novella and the novel are intertwined. We get a glimpse into Neo Viking Heritage, a community that have Viking ways not Viking people, so even you are not born in Skandinavia or something as long you willing to embrace your viking way, you will get accepted. The situation about the Mercenary Guild also got solved and show the glimpse that behind all that arrogance and jealousy, Curran is a strategic thinker and really a manipulator to the core. The scene when Kate and Curran have a date is my favorite because it's rare to see them being relaxed and pretty much in love for each other.

A good book in Kate Daniels world that show glimpse into our favorite Bouda beastkin, Andrea Nash and her personal growth! 

 As an Indonesian, I'm almost dread the time when I start reading Magic Dreams, a novella about Dali and Jim. Dali is an Indonesian and while I'm surprised and appreciated IA to include Indonesian characters in their Kate Daniels world, I'm also skeptical as well to see how my nationality and also myth get interpreted by American author. I have a "WHY, ILONA ANDREWS, WHY??" moment when knowing Dali's full name is Dali Harimau. Harimau itself is a name of animal. It's Indonesian equivalent of "tiger". Naming your character as Dali "Tiger", I find it as weird. I can pass of Dali name, it's unique. The "harimau" part is what grate my nerves, lel.

Anyhow, I still rate this novella 4* because I really like Dali and Jim's relationship. While also ass-kicking in her own way, I appreciate that Dali is DIFFERENT compared to Kate and Andrea. She have self doubt and get easily jealous because apparently she feel that she's not that strong like Kate. I like that Dali fight the enemy that threat Jim's life with her own way and using her knowledge and brain rather than brawn. I like that IA insert some of "Asian Value" in Magic Dreams with making Dali's mother (she has no name, yet) act like how Asian Tiger Mom behave. Seeing Dali's mother neighbor house have some fengshui, I guess Dali is part of Balinese and Chinese-Indonesian. Maybe Dali's mother is the Chinese-Indonesian ones. If there's one name that IA make it right, it's Dali's uncle name whose name is Aditya. At least that Indonesian name that I know and familiar, lel. 

There's some of misspelling like the son of nine dragon supposed to be Suanni not Suanmi and the Balinese tree "Bunut Bolog" is "Bunut Bolong". I'm amused when reading Dali and her mother converse in Indonesian (that translate in English and in italic) and Jim chimed in "Mengapa". I think maybe IA want to translate the word "why", but "why" can be translate to "kenapa atau mengapa" depend of the meaning. Still I find it entertaining to read how Jim admit that he smitten by Dali and he learn Indonesian in order to get to know her. Now, that what I called "aww moment". Jim that I know is a snarky man that take Pack's security above all others. To know he have his soft and romantic side make me see him in the new light.

The case has some Japanese myth and beside that Dali might be an otaku herself, there's no explanation why she practice shodo magic at the first place. Why choose Japanese, since she admit that she's Hindu and why not using an Indonesian magic. But, since Indonesia is a religious country with majority of its citizen is Muslim and I'm also Muslim as well, the magic using is unheard of. This is me speaking as Indonesian, mind you. So I guess why IA make Dali using Japanese's curse magic is because its easier to write/research or what. Although they use "Keong Emas" myth that I'm embarrassed to admit this myself, I don't really familiar with it, lel.

With the complaining and the appraising (why can't I do both?), I still enjoy Dali and Jim's little story and I hope there's more about them in the future. 

Magic Mourns is a novella about Andrea Nash, Kate's besties and a member of Order of the Knight of Merciful Aid. The novella first published in Must Love Hellhound and actually I had read the anthology but only read Nalini Singh's Angel's Judgement because at that time I'm still not read Kate Daniels yet. My complaint back then about Angel's Judgement is the hound basically just a pet. That's not the case with Magic Mourns because the hellhound is the real deal. It's the Cerberus itself and so the Greek mythology play a big part of the story especially myth about Hades.

Told entirely from 1st PoV, we finally see the story through Andrea's lenses. The timeline itself happen after Magic Strikes, so better to read Magic Strikes first to have a better grab of the story. Because there's mention of Raphael's mischief that happen in Strikes and how he already pursue Andrea from the first time he meet her. But, Andrea being Andrea, and actually she's the same with Kate, so she reject him. At first. Don't fret, there's no need for many books to see Andrea and Raphael's relationship blooming because Andrea decide to give a chance. I also got insight about the bouda or werehyena clan and Andrea's original bouda clan (the ones that is not part of the Pack) is nasty and sick af. No wonder Andrea have a really big issues with her hyena part because the way she was conceived.

The story itself is pretty good for a novella and give satisfying conclusion. I don't remember if Teddy Jo already introduced in book 1 to 3 but in this novella reader will get the revelation of his original form. Andrea and Raphael is now an item, but I see a problem in the horizon that apparently will get explored more in Andrea's full book, Gunmetal Magic. Still a recommended novella in the world of Kate Daniels and if you like Hades myth that not focused in the relationship between Hades and Persephone. 

 Padahal jawabannya itu sudah JELAS BANGET DI DEPAN MATA, tapi KENAPA gue masih gagal aja nebak siapa pelakunya? Kalau Emily Trefusis bertanya - tanya mengapa si pelaku membunuh Kapten Joe Trevelyan, kalau gue hanya bisa geleng - geleng kepala karena salah nebak. Again 🤣

Kasusnya sendiri unik. Saat salju turun deras di Sittaford, Mrs Willet bersama orang2 yang dia undang mengadakan seance atau kalau diterjemahkan jadi meja berputar. Mungkin mirip2 juga sama papan ouija ya. Awalnya iseng, ternyata "roh" yang mereka panggil bilang kalau Kapten Trevelyan terbunuh. Mendengar hal itu, teman akrab kapten yaitu Major Burnaby nekat jalan kaki 9 km ke Exhampton, tempat tinggal Kapten Trevelyan dan menemukan sahabatnya sudah tewas. Pertanyaannya tentu saja, siapa yang membunuh si Kapten? Kok bisa itu "roh"nya bisa menebak kalau kapten sudah tewas? 

The Sittaford Mystery ini salah satu buku stand alone karangan Dame Christie, jadi tidak ada penampilan baik dari Hercule Poirot ataupun Ms Marple. Tapi menurut gue yang jadi detektifnya juga tak kalah menarik. Polisi yang menginvestigasi yaitu Inspektur Naracott cukup punya kapabilitas untuk melakukan investigasi. Tapi bintang utamanya sendiri adalah Emily Trefusis yang menjadi amateur sleuth karena tunangannya yang bernama James Pearson - yang kebetulan si James ini keponakan Kapten Trevelyan serta sedang kesulitan keuangan- ditangkap oleh polisi akibat tuduhan telah membunuh sang paman. Emily yakin kalau James bukan pembunuh, soalnya James terlalu lemah dan bodoh buat melakukan pembunuhan. Gue kalau misal jadi James mungkin kesel juga tapi Emily tampak seperti cewek alpha yang emang ga bisa dibantah dan rela melakukan apa saja untuk membuktikan James tidak bersalah. Jadi, ya James sebenarnya cukup beruntung walau gue bisa banyangin kalau James dan Emily jadi menikah maka James bakal jadi yang sering ngalah, hehehe. Dibantu dengan Charles Enderby, seorang wartawan koran setempat yang tampaknya menaruh hati sama Emily, Emily melakukan investigasinya dengan mendekati orang2 di Sittaford maupun keluarga Kapten Trevelyan.

Buku ini punya dua pertanyaan yang perlu jawaban. Yang pertama tentu saja siapa pembunuh Kapten Trevelyan dan gimana cara dia membunuh si Kapten. Sementara yang kedua, apakah Emily bakal ngebalas perasaan Charles dan meninggalkan James yang lemah tak berdaya karena jadi tertuduh pembunuhan. Untuk yang pertama, jelas gue ga bisa nebak dengan benar hahaha, padahal cara pembunuhannya sendiri cukup logis dan ga outlandish kayak beberapa buku Agatha Christie yang udah pernah gue baca. Bisa banget dipraktekkan lah di dunia nyata. Terkait Emily dan Charles, ya baca sendiri aja hehe walau gue cukup suka interaksi keduanya. Seperti karya2 Dame Christie, tentunya banyak red herring yang dilemparkan supaya bikin pembaca (baca: gue) bingung sendiri. Untuk alurnya sendiri cukup oke walau ada bagian2 yang cukup rasis, tapi mengingat buku ini ditulis tahun 1930an pada tahun itu kan rasisme emang masih ada. Nuansanya sendiri emang penuh salju jadi kalau mau cari buku bertema Natal, buku ini bisa sih dibaca. Gue baca - baca Wiki juga katanya ada kemiripan suasana dan setting antara The Sittaford Mystery dan The Hound of Baskervilles karya Conan Doyle. Menariknya, nama Sir Arthur Conan Doyle juga disebut di buku ini.

Bukan salah satu buku yang terbaik karya Dame Christie tapi bagi gue tetep menarik dan menghibur. Cocok juga kalau kalian baru pertama kali baca buku Agatha Christie karena ini juga stand alone ceritanya. Oh ya, kalau kalian baca buku ini dengan cover terbitan terbaru dari Gramedia yaitu nuansa putih plus merah

maka gambar di cover bakal make sense setelah tahu akhir ceritanya. Ngeselin banget sih, hahaha

 Pesan utama buku ini benarnya simpel saja yaitu...

 BACALAH Syarat dan Ketentuan yang Berlaku!!

Membaca Zenitendo mau ga mau mengingatkan gue sama komik - komik tentang toko ajaib yang menjual barang - barang ajaib dan juga ghoib karena hanya bisa ditemukan sama orang - orang tertentu. Sang penjaga toko bernama Beniko akan memberimu sebuah jajanan yang akan ditukar dengan koin atau uang Yen keluaran tahun tertentu. Ceritanya rerata episodik tapi temanya sama semua, tentang jajanan ajaib yang akan mengubah nasib orang yang memakannya. Bisa nasib baik, bisa nasib buruk. Yah, agak - agak mengingatkan gue sama premis manga XXXHolic lah ya.

Buku ini emang buat anak - anak banget, tulisannya GEDE-GEDE yang tentunya sangat ramah mata gue yang udah mulai uzur ini. Penerjemahannya oke dan renyah dibaca. Yang gue cukup terkejut meskipun buku anak - anak, tapi beberapa tokoh di buku ini tuh ada yang orang dewasa! Jadi Zenitendo pun bisa banget dibaca orang dewasa! Cerita favorit gue di buku ini itu Es Berhantu. Walau agak horor2 dikit, ternyata endingnya sangat menarik. Apalagi Miki, cewek 21 tahun yang dapat camilan Es Berhantu ini ga keberatan sama hantu - hantu yang muncul gegara dia makan Es itu. Sementara cerita Pohon Pemasak agak bikin terharu bacanya :').

Zenitendo sendiri series yang terdiri dari 20 buku tapi karena bukunya tipis - tipis kayak manga, jadi ga butuh waktu lama buat baca buku ini. Buku yang bisa dibaca dalam sekali duduk (atau kalau kamu lagi kejar setoran reading challenge) dengan tema yg unik dan pesan moral yang menurut gue bisa diterima semua kalangan. Moga2 KPG komit nerbitin semua buku2 Zenitendo ini yaaah 

 Sebenarnya mau kasih 4 bintang, tapi, hmmm...kayak ada bagian yang gue ga sreg dan itu cukup spoiler jadi review ini bakal banyak spoiler, you've been warned. Sama mungkin karena mood gue ga terlalu bagus waktu baca buku ini, hahaha.

Sebelumnya, applause dulu buat Yuu atau Ayu, yang gue kenal dari BBI, karena tulisannya rapi dan enak dibaca. Walau beberapa dialog mungkin agak kurang renyah, tapi ga mengurangi kenikmatan baca. Sayangnya, kelemahan buku ini adalah sebenarnya fokus genrenya mau kemana? Misteri? Atau malah magical realism mengingat ada bagian Kencana masuk "dunia nasib" saat dia melakukan pembacaan ampas kopi aka tasseografi? Ditambah dengan alur maju mundur antara tahun 2005-2006 dan 2013 kalau kamu ga fokus bacanya maka akan kejadian kayak gue dimana bakal bolak - balik halaman bukunya dan mikir "info apa yang gue lewat pas bacanya?" Selain itu dengan memasukkan element buku The Picture of Dorian Gray, gue juga agak jengkel karena jujur gue belum baca bukunya jadi ga dapet metafora - metafora yang mengacu sama buku itu. Tapi, itu gue doang sih. Mungkin pertanda juga habis ini setidaknya coba baca buku itu satu kali.

Plot twist untuk beberapa bagian seperti misteri di balik peristiwa bunuh diri Saras dan identitas Linda cukup oke. Social commentary Ayu terkait

kejadian pemerkosaan di kampus mungkin agak terlalu preachy buat gue tapi gue akuin ada benarnya meski bisa ditulis tanpa terlalu menggurui

. Gue agak tertegun juga karena dengan lini deTeens, issue - issue di buku ini cukup berat sebenarnya buat dibaca remaja dan juga tokoh - tokohnya sendiri semuanya udah dewasa dimana pada tahun 2005 Kencana itu mahasiswa awal semester sementara di 2013 dia udah umurnya mau 30-an. Konten LGBTnya menurut gue sangat subtil tapi seandainya eksplisit juga ga masalah. Gue udah bisa nebak kalau Linda itu emang suka Kencana sejak awal, hahaha.

Sayangnya, banyak bagian - bagian yang terasa penulisannya nanggung atau bahkan tidak jelas konklusinya seperti

bagian Farran menghilang. Ga jelas juga alasan Farran menghilang kemana bahkan sampai akhir cerita pun ga ada ditulis. Jadi fungsi Farran selain ngajarin Kencana tasseografi itu terus apa? Kenapa juga terus Kencana mau susah payah tetap membuka kedai Black Dreams? Karena berharap siapa tahu Farran balik? Sementara untuk bagian Linda, kalau udah sering baca thriller/mistery psikologis pasti udah ga kaget sih. Apalagi Kencana sendiri juga dibikin semacam kayak unreliable narrator gitu

. Pun saat bagian Kencana akhirnya tahu kenyataan di balik meninggalnya Saras dimana

dia memojokkan pelakunya, kenapa si pelaku dengan enteng dan mau - mau aja ngerekam pengakuan dia? Ini semacam aneh banget ga sih, lel. Atau Ayu emang pengen gambarin pemikiran seorang pemerkosa yang emang pas dibaca bikin ga nyaman, tapi apa ya perlu adegan sengaja ngerekam pengakuan itu?

. Gue juga ga bisa terkoneksi sama Kencana yang menurut gue terlalu "lempeng" walau emang ada alasannya kenapa Kencana seperti itu. 

Buku ini tipis, tapi menurut gue isinya cukup "berat". Bagian tasseografinya menarik buat dibaca dan misterinya juga cukup oke ditulisnya. Kalau ingin baca misteri yang tidak biasa dan sekaligus juga mengulik isu gender, seksualitas dan utamanya fakta gelap ketimpangan relasi antara civitas akademia di kampus, bolehlah coba baca Kahve ini. Sayangnya, gue ga suka kopi bahkan bau kopi aja bisa bikin gue pusing XD. 

  The premise and execution of My Best Friend's Exorcism remind me of Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampire. A female heroine vs a big baddie in the form of man. Although, I think Hendrix might use the basic of Exorcism for Southern since this book released first. However I reduce the star because

why the dog die? WHY and WHYYYY Hendrix? Is that scene necessary? IS IT????? .

Just like Southern and Horrorstor, I admit that Hendrix is one of few male authors that their book I'd read that can write female characters. Exorcism's heroine is literally a teenager and the 80's setting kinda bring nostalgia although the said nostalgia is more like songs that I know (Like a Virgin, Against all Odd). Reading this book test my patience, because the way Abby, Gretchen, Margaret and Glee written. Because, they ARE teenager. Teenager supposed to be annoying, I suppose. There are some scenes when Abby act so stupid I want to smack her head, but I remind myself, Abby is a teenager. I act stupid too in my teenager era, lel. 

The core of this book is ofc like stated in the title, is the friendship between Abby and Gretchen. Yes, their motto "I love you dearly but not queerly" is kind of problematic although in the end they amend that. The test that Abby and Gretchen endured, especially from Abby's side is extraordinary. Reading the scenes when Abby attacked by demon-Gretchen in which Abby shunned by her friends remind me when in Southern's BC Patricia's sanity also questioned when she accuse James Harris for being a vampire. To said my emotions doing a roller coaster is an understatement. Just like Horrorstor, this book also filled with many 80's things, such as band poster, radio logo, pamphlet, etc. 

As for the exorcism, we got the exorcism. BUT, not the way I imagine at first. The demon got banished by

the power of friendship and love between Abby and Gretchen

, it's so campy to read and left me dumbfounded. As per Hendrix's tradition, so many disturbing scenes to read. The scene when Margaret throw up something something disgusting will make me questioning any diet supplements and it's make me shudder just for imagining it. Contrary to Horrorstor and Southern BC, the creepiness factor is not much so if you don't like ghost, this book don't have ghost in it. Only demon, a nasty demon that love to bring discord and chaos. The 80's setting also mean there's racism like the scene when Abby tell Margaret that she look like Ethiophian because Margaret is so thin because of her sickness make me go WTF. Yeah, so many offensive things happen so proceed with cautions and please check the TW/CW list first.

If I ranked Hendrix's book that I had read, this book ranked the third. Southern BC still number one for me, followed by Horrorstor. If you want to read about horror that have possession on it with at least a decent exorcism scenes and the roller-coaster emotion that follow, My Best Friend's Exorcism might be right up of your alley.