renpuspita's reviews
1316 reviews

 Premise is good and the haunted house with its quirky residence is a delight to read. However, after 50% mark, the story pace become weird and the villain's motive in the end is very sad to read. The romance itself is okay, it's not everyday you read a male librarian. Usually the librarian that I read in romance novel are women. Although, too many vomit inducing scene in the first chapter so you've been warned. Third act breakup scene make me rolling my eyes because of the drama ensues and the conclusion also very easy. Do I want to read the next? I don't know. If the e-book version is on sale maybe I will give it a chance :P. 

 PER.FEC.TION

Okay, call me exaggerated, but well, the last Guild Hunter book I read was in 2022! For me, Guild Hunter is one of my favorite series that I still read when there's so many new books released. Elena and Raphael will always be one of my favorite power couple and reading Archangel's Lineage is akin to meet an old friend and ask them "hey, how do you do??". 

I know that Elena and Raphael can be so lovey dovey and their love declaration feels sappy, but heh, I need sappy. I need their romance! After the war with the Creepiness Lijuan in Archangel's War, three books that follow mostly feels like filler for me. More like dealing with the aftermath of the Cascade of Death. We got the pairing that "welp, I don't see that coming" in form of Titus and Sharine. We got the pairing that most fans want who are Illium and Aodhan, but for me their story can be delivered better rather than make them like kindergarten child and throwing a woman in the mix (did we need that???). We got that pairing that is so toxic from the get go, Alexander and Zanaya. I think, that's enough. I need my Elena and Raphael's fix. They are the bread and butter of this series, the core. And I'm glad that Nalini didn't disappoint with Archangel's Lineage

I know that in my initial response, I make a joke about this one with mention about Lijuan. But, don't fret, there's no trace of Lijuan other than only mentioning here and there. Nalini also show that Lijuan's crimes was so severe that vampires and angels alike tend to don't want to speak her name. At all. Kinda like Voldemort with his "you-know-who" moniker. Just like another Elena-Raphael's book, major events also happen in Archangel's Lineage. The war is ending and the time flash forward to 15 years later. But, The Refuge's protective shield is falling, Qin abandon his duty as archangel because he can't fathom to be apart from his beloved,Cassandra; The Cadre is now just 8 and they need another Archangel to hold Qin's territory, the mark of the Legion in Raphael's temple suddenly blazing and to make matter worse, Jeffrey just got heart attack and in the verge of death.

For me, Archangel's Lineage tied up some loose end strings. The continuous fight between Elena and Jeffrey finally come to an end, with maybe nearing death Jeffrey change his mind therefore giving chance for father and daughter to mend their relationship. Nalini also further mend Elena's relationship with both her stepmother, Gwendolyn, and her stepsiblings, Amy. I think this book is all about wound mended. Not all wound will heal fully, but at least Elena finally take step forward to let go of her grief and also her anger toward Marguerite's decision to suicide, therefore put a nail in the coffin that is broken relationship between Elena and Jeffrey. I know that the "drip, drip, drip" part might be annoying, but it also show that some nightmare was difficult to disappear. Elena know that and she must live with that for eternity. What I also like is how Nalini portray the price of the immortality and eternity. Lineage show that Elena is now in her 45-ish but her appearance is still the same when she first become angel in Archangel's Kiss. While her sister, Beth already in middle age and also her best friend, Sara. How Elena must face that in the future, her mortal family with long gone. It adding some melancholy feeling to this book, together with how finally Jeffrey and Elena become father and daughter again.

I'm glad there's no talk about baby, lel. The lineage itself come from Raphael and the new archangel that also have connection to the Legion. After 16 books, Nalini finally try to explain the origin of the angelkind although she still not revealed it fully. For certain, they are not alien from space, explained by Raphael's embarrassing moment when he and Uram try to fly to the moon and failed (and begged for Jessamy to not record his young stupidity). The mechanic behind the Refuge's shield also explain, BUT, the origin of angelkind some of it still shrouded in mystery. I don't know for certain if they are will be explained at all.

I have a guts that Archangel's Lineage may be the final arc of Elena and Raphael story, BUT, NOOOO, I WANT MORE OF THEM, sobs. I don't know who the next will be featured if Nalini write about Guild Hunter again. Maybe Vivek with his lady vampire, Katrina. Maybe Andreas with his lady vampire (see a pattern here?). I just hope if there's any future Guild Hunter books, Nalini will again feature my favorite couple!
 

 Setelah baca beberapa buku Dame Agatha Christie, gue baru sadar kalau belum pernah baca series beliau yang Miss Marple. Digadang - gadang sebagai cozy mystery, setelah baca Murder at the Vicarage sebenarnya ga cozy banget sih, walau settingnya emang iya di kota kecil dimana setiap orang minimal saling kenal. Plus yang paling mencolok, ibu - ibu (atau nenek2) yang hobi bergosip, salah satunya tentunya Miss Jane Marple. Tapi bukan sembarang gosip murahan, beda dengan tetangga2nya, Miss Marple dikaruniai observasi yang tajam dan kemampuan deduksi yang tentunya ga kalah dengan detektif partikelir yang juga karangan Dame Christie, yaitu Hercule Poirot.

Buku ini ditulis di tahun 1930, jadi beberapa tokohnya membahas kemerosotan moral setelah WW I. Menariknya lagi, berkali - kali disebut Sherlock Holmes dan Arsene Lupin. Mungkin ini homage kali ya atau mungkin juga siapa kira kalau di masa - masa setelahnya Poirot dan juga Miss Marple disejajarkan sama Sherlock Holmes juga. Murder at the Vicarage sendiri diceritakan dari sudut pandang pertama seorang pendeta bernama Leonard Clement atau yang lebih akrab disapa dengan nama Len. Jadi bisa dibilang tokoh utamanya ya Pak Pendeta ini dengan Miss Marple sebagai tokoh sampingan. TAPI, pada akhirnya justru Miss Marple lah yang berhasil memecahkan misteri kasus pembunuhan Kolonel Protheroe. Cuma gara - gara apa? Ya gara - gara observasinya yang teliti dan juga gegara pelakunya melakukan hal yang mungkin menurut si pelaku remeh banget tapi bagi Miss Marple itu aneh!

Tentunya gue sekali lagi berasa bego pas tahu siapa pembunuhnya, padahal baru beberapa minggu lalu baca bukunya Dame Christie yang sebenarnya motif pelakunya sama wkwkwk. Tapi disitulah menurut gue kehebatan Dame Christie dalam menulis cerita misteri. Dikasih banyak red herring sampai - sampai gue ragu sama kemampuan deduksi sendiri dan cuma bisa tepok jidat pas Miss Marple bilang siapa pelakunya. I'll be like "ASTAGA!!" dan geleng - geleng kepala, karena ya sejelas itu sebenarnya hehehe. Beberapa hal yang menarik adalah seksisme yang luar biasa dari bbrp tokoh di buku ini, termasuk antara lain meremehkan kemampuan Miss Marple dan memanggilnya "perawan tua". Ya, mengingat novel ini ditulis tahun 1930, masa - masa itu memang sikap seksis dan misoginis memang kentara.

Jujur secara personalitas, gue sukaan Miss Marple ketimbang Hercule Poirot. Mungkin karena gue dan Miss Marple itu sama2 perempuan yang juga hobi bergosip dan kepoan, walau masih lebih tajam sikap keponya Miss Marple. Pastinya akan baca buku2 Miss Marple lainnya dong :D. 

To quote Horatio, " I do love a happy ending!" and amended what Bassareus said while he wept in the end "F*cking beautiful."

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (quite a handful title, eh?) is my first book by Megan Bannen. The cover hooked me up. The premise of enemy to lover that become secret pen pal without realize each other identity at first sold me out. Nope, I don't watch You've Got Mail and while other readers said the vibe is like Ghibli, I admit I also never watch their anime movie. For me, I have a warm and fuzzy feeling reading about Hart and Mercy. Especially Hart. Bannen seems like want to incorporate grumpy x sunshine, although while like a yellow color, Mercy is not that sunshine, lel. Her struggle to maintain the family undertaking business seems plausible. Her first fight with Hart that lead to their animosity for 4 years maybe a little bit silly at first and you can said that Mercy was overreact facing Hart's barbed venom, not knowing that Hart was grieving after his dog died. Not an excuse for Hart, tho. I admit, he was a jerk too. But, what can you said about hate and love is the different side of same coins? Although 4 years is a LONG time to hold a grudge, lel.

I'm very sure that the MVPs of this book must be granted to both the nimkilim, Horatio the Owl and Bassareus the Rabbit (he's my personal favorite with his unapologetic cursing toward Hart, lel); and also to the unfortunate drugde (aka zombie like creature that roams Tanria) whom attack Mercy so Hart can be her knight (or Marshal) in shining armor, therefore giving chance to their blossoming romance. My favorites scene is of course the letter exchange between Mercy and Hart, cute but also endearing to read, although I read it with a sense of dread knowing that finally they will know their real identity. Sure their fighting in the "enemy phase" can be too tiring to read, but well, that 4 years of grudge did to you. While reading their budding romance make me grinning from ear to ear and said "awww" for many times. The angst also well written and boy.. the scene when Hart crying after he thought that his chance to have a romantic relationship with Mercy vanishing when Mercy finally knowing that Hart is her secret pen pal make my heart feel a little bit pained. I did like with the way Bannen write about Hart, his hard personality in the surface is seems pretty hard to crack, but deep inside he's a softie. His emotions were well written, show that even it's okay for a man to crying and show his emotions.

The family theme is a delight to read, especially from Birdsall family. I can't emphasize how much well written the struggle that Mercy had. She love the undertaking business but her family think she deserve other and well, what a surprise that it was Hart that understand her. Yep, I know, this is a romance written by woman author, lel. But, hey, I read romance for escapism! The secondary romance between Mercy's brother, Zeddie and Penrose Duckers whom happen to be Hart's apprentice is so CUTE, with capital C. And its funny to read how different Zeddie and Duckers compared to Hart and Mercy, but they also help our MCs in their own way. 

If I have a complaint, then it's the fantasy setting. THERE'S NO MAP. That, I said it! No map whatsoever so I don't know where is Tanria, where is Bushong, or Eternity? Is it England? But, there's no queen??? I think maybe Bannen didn't want to info dumping in the first and my patience got rewarded after hundred pages of so when through Mercy I learned the mythology behind the world. A little explanation in the first will be nice. A MAP will be better. The fantasy time setting also seems like mismatched. I got a modern feeling, since there's a cab called autoduck but also have a medieval feeling too? Lol, I can't explain well so I assume the time setting happen in modern times but with fantastical elements. Though, Hart said there's no dragon in Tanria, I think otherwise!

If you like your fantasy light with a pretty much low stake (heh, if drudge attacks can be categorized into low stake) and heavier on romance, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a must read! Also, it make me grinning and sad, also have adorable nimkilim, although the fantasy settings is a little bit weak. 

 

 Vinyl Resting Place is the first book of Record Shop Mystery series and the first Olivia Blacke's book that I'd read. I pick it up because..well, I like the cover and the premise of coffee shop that also sold vinyl is unique. Story told entirely from Juniper Jessup aka Juni's first PoV but she also share some spotlight with her sister, Tansy and Magnolia aka Maggie. Yep, all the women from Jessup family were named after flowers including their mother, Begonia aka Bea. The murder happen almost immediately in early chapter with Juni discovering a dead body in a supply close when the Jessup sister hold grand reopening of the Sip and Spin. To make matters worse, the victim hold Juni's uncle business card. Said uncle, Calvin Voight are famed for being a troublemaker in the town. When cop arrest Calvin because of some unpaid ticket bills, Calvin decide to disappear and the fate of the Sip and Spin is in peril.

This book tick some of the cozy mysteries trademark (amateur sleuth, small town, an effort to clean a family relative's name who become a suspect) with a solid mystery until the end. Just like Juni, I wrongly guess the culprit, lol. Imagine the shock that Maggie and her husband, J.T, when Juni accused J.T of murder but in the other side I'm relieved to find that the culprit is not one of Juni's family so yeah, Calvin is of course not the murderer although his business kinda shady and not forget that he disappear for almost weeks. The sisterly bond between Juni, Tansy and Maggie is a delight to read, also how they are also very close with their mother. I like the way they navigate their business in selling vinyl and their drinks have some unique names that have music or lyrical puns. Although, from romance department, there's a hint of love triangle. The detective that investigate the case, Beauregard Russell aka Beau is Juni's ex, while Juni also getting close again with her high school best friend, Teddy Garza. Personally speaking, I prefer Juni to be with Teddy because I think Beau kinda annoying since he and Juni break up via text and it was Beau first that text Juni. Coward.

Looking forward to read book 2, Fatal Groove! 

 BAGUS..dan emang pantes jadi juara dua Lomba Novel Thriller GPU walau bikin gue jadi penasaran juga yang juara satu apa bakal lebih bagus dari Jejak Balak ini.

Kalau baca sekilas dari blurb buku, mau ga mau gue keinget Sisi Liar karya Tsugaeda. Sama - sama membahas tentang pembalak liar, perburuan dan juga fokus sama si raja rimba. Bedanya, kalau di Sisi Liar banyakan jalan-jalannya, maka Ayu Welirang memilih untuk memfokuskan cerita di satu daerah aja yaitu Pasaman Barat. Jujur gue belum pernah ke daerah Sumbar karena selama di kantor gue cuma dinas paling jauh ke Prabumulih dan Palembang untuk daerah Sumatra. Tapi karena di proyek sekarang salah satu manajer gue orang Padang dan banyak juga orang Padang (sama Batak) di kantor, jadi gue cukup ngerti apa yang diomongin beberapa tokoh di buku ini dan juga bisa membayangkan logat mereka.

Menurut gue penulisan Ayu Welirang untuk Jejak Balak sangat rapi dan memang dia udah banyak nulis ya. Dialognya pun jauh dari kata kaku serta penempatannya juga pas. Kalau lagi di Jakarta ya wajar Dima ber-loe gue atau saat ketemu orang Jakarta waktu di Padang. Tapi setelah ketemu Timur, Teti dan Agam ya dia pakai aku. Uniknya, untuk memperlihatkan kedekatan Timur sama Dima, Timur yang awalnya pakai "kau" beralih jadi "kamu". Ini mungkin kayak remeh ya, tapi bagi gue penulisan dialog di novel bahasa Indo itu penting mengingat bahasa kita ada formal dan informalnya. Bakal aneh lah kalau sepanjang novel Dima sama Timur ngomongnya kaku banget bak lagi baca pidato. Kerenyahan dialog yang digunakan semua karakternya ini yang menjadi nilai tambah buat Jejak Balak karena gue ga harus mengernyit baca buku ini. Meski saat Mahzar manggil Dima "Mbak" gue agak terkekeh sih, apa mungkin di kantor Mahzar banyak orang Jawa jadi dia ga segan manggil Dima "Mbak" yah?

Dari segi cerita, banyak yang ingin dibahas oleh authornya walau tetap fokusnya adalah pada lingkungan. Mulai dari pembalakan liar, penjualan tanah adat untuk perluasan lahan sawit dan perburuan hewan - hewan yang dilindungi. Gue dapat insight baru juga terkait tradisi suku Mentawai karena Timur asli Mentawai dan tak lupa diselipkan perlakuan Orba sama suku Mentawai. Orde yang ga ada bagus2nya emang orba ini, heh! Gue juga suka sama interaksi Timur dan Dima yang walau awalnya berbeda bak kutub utara dan selatan, akhirnya malah kerja sama dan bahkan saling menyelamatkan saat mereka akhirnya bertemu sama si Inyiak Balak yang sudah membunuh beberapa pekerja perusahaan sawit setempat. Hubungan mereka berdua sih platonik ya, walau emang ada hint romansa sedikit tapi ga lebay. Halah, Timur aja ngasal ngomong pengen nikahin Dima di akhir cerita cuma biar ga ngekos, jadi gue anggap seandainya mereka jadian bakal cocok tapi untuk temenan pun cocok juga.

Karakter-karakter selain Dima dan Timur juga ditulis cukup baik dan karakter penjahatnya pun juga punya alasan kenapa menjadi Inyiak Balak. Dari judul sebenarnya juga jelas dimana Balak berarti belang, yaitu hitam putih. Bagaimana tersirat bahwa apa yang dilakukan si Inyiak memang terkesan hitam putih walau kemarahannya karena perusakan hutan di daerah Pasaman memang valid, tapi tentunya ada cara lain kan? Endingnya sendiri walau ditutup dengan rapi menyisakan beberapa kemungkinan - kemungkinan yang tentunya ga mungkin gue bahas, entar spoiler wkwk. Kalaupun ada yang kurang, gue ga sreg sama pengulangan deskripsi karakternya terutama Dima. Sering banget ditulis "gadis berambut bob" atau "wartawan/gadis ibukota itu". Yaelah, tulis aja "Dima" atau cukup gadis itu. Apalagi Timur juga ditulis "cowok gondrong". Diulang - ulang terus jadi agak kesel bacanya :P.

Jejak Balak jadi salah satu novel yang akan gue rekomen kalau nyari thriller karya author Indo yang seru, rapi penulisannya dan bener -bener ngajak kamu deg2an pas baca nasib Dima dan Timur saat mereka berhadapan dengan si Inyiak Balak. Gue juga ga keberatan kalau nanti ada kisah lanjutan Dima dan Timur saat investigasi kasus - kasus lain soalnya chemistry mereka tuh, top banget! 

 Ah, this. This is the G.A.Aiken that I know! After The Blacksmith Queen and The Princess Knight that feel awkward, The Heretic Royal have all the Aiken trademark that I know. Less bantering dialogue that somehow not that funny to read, more description and political machinations. MORE DRAGON!!!! I think the appearance of Anwyll the Bloody and the rest of the Cadwaladr dragons is the saving grace of this book although the Smythe sisters still one of the main focus of the story. But the Scarred Earth centaurs? Hmm, for a series named after their clan, not only the hero of this book is from their branch (Torn Moon Clan) that holding grudge after them for 7 thousand years, the amount of the centaurs also kinda overshadow with dragons. But, hey, I love dragons. I will take the antique Cadwaladr dragons every time.

The stake is higher and unlike book 2, we will get glimpse into Beatrix's machination. From other perspective, reader always told that Beatrix is soulless, cruel and cunning. In The Heretic Royal, Aiken prove that Beatrix is actually, yes cruel and cunning. But about the soulless part, I don't know if Aiken will make Beatrix redeemable in the end or end up despised because her cruelties is still in the tame level. More like she's determined to be on power and I think what she did is just your usual tyrant's machinations. 

If you had not read Dragon Kin series, chance you will get confused. For me, this book feels like a nostalgia. A moment to catch up with beloved characters from Dragon Kin. Sure that Anwyll might overshadow Keeley a bit, but I like how Aiken portrayed Keeley's fear toward Anwyll and unsure of being queen. Also how Anwyll didn't mince words when she pointed to Keeley's weakness because Keeley still hesitant to kill Beatrix and end up her reign. However, Gemma is a lil bit annoying toward Ainsley because she just love being mean. Speaking of Ainsley, yeah, I know the Heretic Royal is her book but she sharing spotlight with so many characters! Although she find companion with one of the war monk and the nun also got a new ride from the spawn of the unholy horse that is Gemma's war horse. As for Gruffyn or Gruff, I'm surprised to find he has personality and better than Caid. Sure Quinn is my favorite of centaurs because of his easy going attitude but Gruff himself is not bad. He's like to grunt but become chatty when it comes to Ainsley and while their romance is just a few it's still better written compared to Keeley and Caid. Poor this couple, I don't think Aiken write their romance to be believable and work as couple since their chemistry is a little bit bland compared to Gemma-Quinn and Ainsley-Gruff. What make me surprised is the amount of the steam this book has! Wow, an entire chapter (a LONG chapter and not one or two pages!!) dedicated to Ainsley and Gruff having sex, also very hot and show how much they want each other!! Yowza!

Aiken herself adding some new characters and there's still a fast change of PoV but the change now is more bearable. Less slapstick humor compared to the previous although some characters behave crazily like usual. The banter not only between Ainsley or her siblings, but also the Cadwaladr, from Gwenvael that still has his mischievous and narcissistic side, Briec that love to put fight with Anwyll , Fearghus that always ready to remind Anwyll together with his sister, Morfydd. Also, some of surprise appearance by Bram and Ghleanna also one of Gwenvael's son, Unvarr Reinholdt. Oh, how I miss their antique! Also, it's funny how the Smythe sisters have dangerous animals as their pet. Keeley with her demon dog/wolves, Gemma with her undead war horse and Ainsley also have a predatory bird also one of Gemma's war horse magickal spawn. The never ending children of Smythe family also got introduced like Isadora that excel in managing Anwyll and her envoy, then the adorable Endelyon (or Endolyn. Idk, the names keep changing!) that got pampered by Anwyll. For now from the 12 children of Smythe, there was 8 child that have their name introduced (Keeley, Gemma, Beatrix, Ainsley, Isadora, Rexie, Duncan, Endelyon) and I'm curious about the rest. There's just a minor appearance of Keran, the drunken cousin of Keeley but I don't mind since she's not one of my favorite characters and usually written just for comic reliefs

Sadly, there's no information about when book 4 will be released since Aiken maybe busy writing her Shelly Laurenston's titles. The epilogue show that Beatrix will finally unleash her attacks since she is now have new unholy allies and I wonder how the alliance between Keeley and Anwyll will hold. Maybe the next book will be about Isadora, although Isadora is still in her 17-ish so maybe another characters? Either way, I feel that the end of the war between Keeley and Beatrix is near (or maybe not) so I hope the next book will be released in 1 or 2 years in the future! 

 As chaotic and full of snarky humor like The Blacksmith Queen, The Princess Knight is book 2 of Scarred Earth Saga featuring Gemma Smythe, the second oldest Smythe sister and a war monk. The story itself happen 2 years after Keeley become the queen from the prophecy and going to war with another Smythe's daughter, the soulless Beatrix. To be honest, I enjoy Gemma's story more compared to Keeley's, maybe because the world building already established although Aiken keep adding new characters. The constantly changing PoVs can be too exhausted or confusing to read although all of them written from 3rd PoV. As for me, I know that the fast changing PoV is one of Aiken's trademark, together with snarky female heroines and back and forth comedy between its characters. 

Gemma herself is snarkier and grumpier compared to Keeley. I think I prefer reading about Gemma, because in this book Keeley kinda like become Anwyll ver. 2 bit by bit although Keeley still maintain her love for animal. But, sigh, do we need another Anywll while one Mad Queen is already enough? I like that despite her warmongering, Gemma loves her brotherhood and devastated when said brotherhood got annihilated by one of Old King's son. As for the romance, just like book 1, more like an afterthought. BUT, I prefer Gemma and Quinn's gradually romance, from friends (or allies) to lover compared to Keeley and Caid in book #1. Goodness, it's like the romance in book 1 written just so the book can be considered as fantasy romance and I don't get the chemistry between Keeley and Caid. While for Gemma and Quinn, their friendship already happen from the beginning, their witty banter is funny and the romance is more believable so they work as a couple. Quinn himself also have a more lively personality compared to Caid in book 1 that barely there. Also the steamy scenes are written well.

Plot wise, the ever growing characters make it hard to follow, together with constantly changing PoV. But the fast pace kinda amend that. Compared with book #1, book #2 deal with religious sect in the Black Hills since they become target to be annihilated by Cyrus since Cyrus only want one religion to be accepted in Black Hills. Heh, feels familiar already. After introduced to war monk, we will get characters that are temple virgins (I don't know what differentiate them from shrine maiden. Because they are virgin?), war priest (no, don't know what make them different with war monk), divine assassins, truce vicar (basically, a peacemaker?), Abbess nun that love to smash her enemy regarding her meek appearance and many others. The centaurs also still one of the main player and the gods make cameos. The gods part kinda irked me because Keeley is just like Anwyll with both of them greeted by gods despite they are kinda didn't believe in gods at the first place.

The epilogue will be hilarious if you had read Dragon Kin series and a sign that Aiken will continue Dragon Kin story with incorporated them into Scarred Earth saga. For a series that called Scarred Earth, the centaurs kinda not the main spotlight so I don't get why use their clan name if the story focused more to Smythe's sisters? The next book, The Heretic Royal will be about Ainsley, the fourth oldest daughter (Keeley have 11 siblings after all), that just got introduced in book 2. Funny thing about Ainsley is, she's so invisible her siblings forget about her! While the humor about Keeley and Gemma always forget Ainsley's existence can be too tiresome to read, I want to read Ainsley's story just because the Cadwaladr dragons will be part of her story as well! 

Just like your usual Aiken's book, although if you new to her works then her writing style especially the PoV's changing can be too overwhelming. Also, full of dialogue, but there's some narrative too. If you had read her Dragon Kin series, chance you already familiar with the world building though Scarred Earth saga took place in Black Hill and I don't have slighthest idea where is it. There's no map. A map will be nice, especially there's mention of Dark Plain which is Anwyl's territory and one of the Daughter of the Steppes with their ridiculous long name make appearance.

So..new characters, new places, new power dynamic, same family focused theme, sisterhood, female rage, over the top fighting between siblings (still fun) and light romance. The romance is SO LIGHT it's more like an afterthought. So if you want to read romantic relationship between Keeley and Caid, you will be disappointed because their romance more like...err..lukewarm? They have sex just once, but if there's no sex that okay too. Didn't affect the story at all. I think Aiken try to focus to so many things, so the romance got sacrificed. For fantasy aspect and action also violence you get plenty, just like your usual Aiken's trademark.

Even The Blacksmith Queen is about Keeley that come to term with her being a queen from the prophecy and face her little sister, Beatrix's betrayal, the end of the story seems like Keeley's journey is not end yet. The next book, Princess Knight will be about Gemma Smythe, another Keeley's sister whom already suspect Beatrix's evilness while Keeley remain oblivious (or choose to oblivious at first and want to protect Beatrix until Beatrix stab her in the stomach). Just like Dragon Kin, I think Keeley's story will be continue in Gemma's book and there will be many new players to introduced. 

A good book if you had read Aiken's works before and worth to try if you new to her books. Also recommended if you like your fantasy romance is heavy on fantasy rather than romance 

Female rage and friendship, all in one package. What's not to love?

Told from dual PoV, Vivian or Viv Delaney in 1982 and Carly Kirk, her niece in 2017; The Sun Down Motel is a mix of horror and crime investigation. Honestly, I liked to read Viv' PoV because beside told from 3rd PoV, it also told her desperation regarding the ghost of the Sun Down Motel and her determination to unravel the mystery behind a serial murder that happen in Fell. While Carly's PoV, told from 1st PoV mostly told about the truth behind Viv's sudden disappearance that happen 35 years ago. Was Viv dead when she follow the serial killer's path? If yes, where's the body?

Like I said in the start of the review, Simone St James write female rage masterfully in the form both of Viv and Carly. But mostly, to Viv. How she feel how unfair the victim to met their demise and also her determination to find their killer. The female friendship also happen not only to Viv in 1982 but also to Carly in 2017. There's a little bit of romance happen but not as a main focus. However, the ending regarding The Sun Down Motel and its ghost resident feel anti-climatic.

I will recommend The Sun Down Motel if you like your horror creepy with a sprinkle of female rage and friendship. Female rage for the win!!!