Review - Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl by David Barnett

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Fantasy

Edition : Paperback, Snowbooks Ltd

Pages : 351 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 3.69 ☆

My Ratings : 3.5 ☆

Set in Victorian England. Gideon Smith who had lost his father and he was to find why his father was killed. Gideon was determined to follow Captain Lucian Trigger, his favourite hero and avenge his father's death.

It's cool! Victorian England setting. Indiana Jones style. There's vampires, mummies, pyramids and sky pirates! I can say it is a great idea. I was at first afraid to read sci-fi steampunk genre but this book really changed my views. The story is smooth, the idea is great but the writings is not enough to intrigue me. What fascinates me most about this book is the story line and the urge to know more of the adventures of Gideon.

I start to like it when meeting the mechanical girl, Maria. I must say that I dislike the opening or so to say the writing itself. Maria is a likable, mysterious character. Although Gideon and Maria's journey is different but somehow it suits and brings you to the unlikely relationship. But I loveeeee the ending. The graph is descending smooth towards the end and the unexpected twist makes me want to move to the second book.

I think I can recommend this book to the readers who want to try on this type of genre, for beginner.

Review - Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Fantasy, YA

Edition : Paperback UK, Published November 17th 2016 by Macmillan Children's Books 

Pages : 450 pages 

Goodreads Ratings : 4.09 ★

My Ratings : 4.1 ★

I love this cover! Sorry I just need to say that.

Heartless, is a stand-alone novel, spin on some familiar characters from Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. It's an epic retelling focuses on the Queen of Hearts. 

Before Lady Catherine Pinkerton became the Queen of Hearts, she was just a girl who enjoys baking and sharing dreams of opening a bakery with her close friend, Mary Ann whom also Pinkerton's maid. Her mother however, Marchioness had a different ideas on her daughter's future, pushing her to marry the King of Hearts. As Cath struggles between pursuing her own dream and fulfilling her parents's dream, she finds herself falling for a complete stranger; new court joker of Hearts, Jest.

I really love the idea. We widely know that the Queen of Heart is the most hated character in Alice, who knows, she turned out to be just a girl who wanted to be loved. Meyer's characters are all familiar yet brand new. She successfully capture all the madness, the nonsense and the magic of the story we all know as a child years ago. She beautifully put on the spotlight on places and characters we never caught up before.

Heartless is told through Cath point of view, makes me really understand how she feels toward her dream and her love for Jest. Not to mention the heart pounding adventures she went through. I have to say that this is a slow-paced novel (I'm not very fond of slow-paced story), not until the Jabberwock second attack does the novel had my heart rate increased. All begins to unravel after that which makes it exciting. But credits need to be given. This slow-paced is where Meyer got to build her characters and places well. She really really takes time to build it!

From simple, nice, good-willed girl, Catherine Pinkerton changed to a Queen of Hearts full of fury. Off with their heads!

Review - Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Assalamualaikum and Good Day!

Genre : Fantasy, YA

Edition : Paperback, Published January 31st 2017 by Flatiron Books

Pages : 402 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 4.11 ☆

My Ratings : 4.1 ☆

I am thrilled to read and review this book! My first thought when seeing this book in a bookstore, "Oh wow! Circus story! Does it involve magic? mystery? or murder crime?". I definitely have not read any reviews or heard of the rumours and hypes. But I'm a fan of magic of course.

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . . 

Story about two sisters, Scarlett who lived in fear - fear of their abusing father, fear of her sister, Donatella's well-being, fear of the past and the future for both siblings. Despite that, after seven years of determination of letter writings to the Caraval Master, three invitations arrived, for Donatella, Scarlett and her betrothed count she never met, to join and experience the magical caraval.

Though excited, Scarlett cannot risk to miss her wedding, one and her only chance of safety and security from her father, never to know Donatella has her own plan. Soon, both sister and a sailor boy Julian find themselves enmeshed in Caraval. Only to find the motive of the game is to find Donatella, Scarlett who fear of her sister's safety will not stop to free Donatella from the game. The longer she plays the game, her true heart desires and future begins unraveling.

I don't really like the characters though. The sisters bond shown is just not quite there. I cannot feel it enough. Scarlett keep thinking that she needs to get back to get married, but then she cannot because she has already involved in the game - she has to find her sister before get back home. It annoys at one point. She keep forgetting "Remember, it's only a game.", and rely on Julian, her fake fiance to snap her back to reality. But, I don't blame her of course, I felt like it's real too, judging by how many times my heart rate increased. 

I have to mentioned, Stephanie Garber's debut has its highlights. Caraval has strong opener and very 'shocking' ends. I love how the sentences strung together, creating the world for Caraval, deftly depicted in description and brilliant plot twist. Well, the type of book that I can finish in one sitting. 

Harry Potter Series Collection

Assalamualaikum!

I start off with my favourite childhood readings..well, not exactly a child by that time hahaha! I was 12 years old...okay, yeah a child. I read Malay translated for first two books and moved on straight for 4th book (English) and confused myself in the middle. That would explain why I have 2 sets of 3rd and 4th books.

These are my precious. 

not going to do any review on it because 10 years past :') Some of them aged 12 - 13+ years old and it's gathering dust and yellowing on the shelf. 

I starred them 5 on Goodreads mainly for the reason of the story line and a touch of magic. But gosh! I was a child back then, I don't even know about reviewing a book. All I know was that the story was so good I sacrificed my TV time for it. Who doesn't like magic?

I must say that the eight story was a bit not J.K Rowling's. But it has to be because of the screenplay and only dialogue. It fits however, the story. Why it has to be a play rather than a novel.

Definitely going to pass down to my future child.