renpuspita's reviews
1355 reviews

 Mrs Morris and the Witch is the second of Salem B&B Mystery, featuring Charlene Morris as an owner of B&B in Salem with her charming ghost, Jack Strathmore and adorable cat named Silva. I had read the first book, Mrs Morris and the Ghost; and while its have some weakness there also some good things that make me want to read the next book. If book 1 have ghost in it, then in this book just like the title suggest, Charlene now dealing with witches and they are the real deal. Although they are more like Wiccan witches. The murder itself happen in the Halloween, almost in witching hours when the veil between worlds was thin. The question is of course, who killed the witch named Morganna and why they want her dead? 

Didn't take time too long for Charlene to start sleuthing despite the local detective, Sam Holden's worry that Charlene will endanger herself. Turn that he right, heh. But of course that didn't stop our heroine to stick her nose to the Wiccan community in Salem. Salem itself have dark history regarding witch trials, but the witch coven in Salem also flourish in the modern time. Charlene herself is pretty gung ho to sleuthing not because for herself but for Dylan, her young guest that apparently become a person of interest because his jacket was found in Morganna's shop. Charlene will do anything to prove Dylan's innocence, but this is when thing begin grates my nerves because Dylan himself was written as ungrateful brat. I got the reason why Charlene want to protect Dylan and in the process also endanger herself, but Dylan didn't deserve it in the first place!

Another thing that annoyed me was for Charlene to cohabit the B&B with ghost, she seems skeptical with the Wiccan community in Salem. She always said she willing to broad her mind, but she also skepticism when it come to the witches abilities. Like, you live with ghost, lady! Why you don't accept that witch also exist in the first place? However, I do like the way the author try to describe the Wiccan's beliefs and practice and how Charlene interact with her guests in the B&B. Sadly, not much appearance by our resident ghost, Jack. I admit I prefer Charlene's platonic interaction with Jack, rather than with Sam. Especially after Sam always written as disappointed, angry or sarcastic while I also know why Sam behave like that because Charlene always try to insert herself to investigate Morganna's murder. I guess in the end Charlene will end up with Sam, because Sam is living while Jack is...you know, dead.

The cover feature Silva still have wrong eyes color, but eh, I have resigned my fate in complaint about it. This book have its charm but also frustrating to read because how Charlene is so kind to people and some people actually didn't deserve her kindness. I'm not saying that Charlene supposed to act jaded or bitter, I just want her to become a better judge of characters. Still, Mrs Morris and the Witch was entertaining to read, especially if you search for anything witchy and book to read in the time of the Halloween. 

 Kasus pembunuhan dimana pelakunya sebenarnya cukup mujur karena kalau saja seandainya Poirot waktu di pesawat Promotheus yaitu tempat terjadinya pembunuhan itu ga mabuk udara dan tidur, pasti bakal ketahuan. TAPI, bahkan meski sempat tidur pun, dengan kemampuan deduksi dan '"sel - sel kelabunya", Poirot berhasil menebak si pelaku dengan tepat. Bahkan masih sempat-sempatnya "ngadalin" pelakunya 🤣. Misteri kenapa ada lebah di pesawat (apakah buku ini yg menginspirasi filmnya Samuel L. Jackson yang Snake on a Plane?) terjawab sudah.

Death in the Clouds atau Maut di Udara ini bagian dari series Poirot tapi penceritaannya dari sudut pandang orang ketiga serba tahu. Kali ini tokoh selain Poirot yang hadir adalah Inspektur Japp, walau gue lupa apa dia pernah ada di buku tertentu dan ternyata dia ada di The ABC Murders. Maklum saat baca buku itu gue ingetnya Hastings doang, hehe. Walau kasusnya sendiri terjadi di ruang terbatas dan uniknya lagi, di pesawat, kali ini Poirot tidak memecahkan kasus di kejadian perkara. Ada persidangan yang menyelidiki kasus pembunuhan Madame Giselle dan kasusnya menjadi sensasional, mengubah nasib beberapa penumpang yang juga masuk list tersangka pembunuh Madame Giselle. 

Dari buku ini aja, Dame Christie sudah menantang pembaca. Hayoloh, gimana caranya ngebunuh Madame Giselle tanpa ketahuan semua penumpang di kabin? Ada 11 orang (termasuk Madame Giselle) di kabin itu dimana posisi Madame Giselle ada di pojok paling belakang. Siapapun yang membunuh Madame, minimal setidaknya ketahuan. Apalagi ada dugaan Madame dibunuh dengan jarum beracun yang ditiup dari seruling. Bahkan sampai ada percobaannya segala! Dari sini juga Poirot berkata pada Fournier, polisi Prancis yang juga menyelidiki kasus pembunuhan, bahwa jangan cuma mengandalkan mata saja alias penyelidikan visual, tapi juga "mata otak". Dengan petunjuk - petunjuk itulah, Poirot akhirnya berhasil mendeduksi siapa pelakunya. Suatu deduksi yang menurut gue cukup briliant dan agak sedikit ngetwist, karena ya lagi-lagi gue ga kepikiran kalau ternyata howdunnitnya begitu! Mungkin agak lebih bisa dipraktekkan daripada howdunnit di Death on the Nile, apalagi kalau melihat bagian dalam pesawat Prometheus yang cukup gede itu. Jangan dibandingkan sama pesawat komersil lah ya.

Salah satu fakta yang unik dari buku ini, selain jarum beracun dengan racun dari bisa ular dll, adalah bagian dimana Dame Christie "balas dendam" ke suaminya saat itu yaitu Max Mallowan dengan menulis bagian dimana ada seorang suami yang meninggalkan istrinya yang lagi sakit di sebuah hotel di Suriah (atau Syria) hanya untuk mengejar kepentingannya di Irak. Bisa jadi kejadian ini sangat berbekas juga buat Dame Christie sampai dimasukkan ke dalam buku, lol. Bagian itu ga ada hubungannya sama kasus pembunuhan karena semacam intermezzo saja, tapi tetap menggelitik dibacanya. Kayak emang jangan main - main sama penulis, bisa jadi antara kamu dimatikan di bukunya atau malah diejek ga karuan :P.

Death in the Clouds menjadi salah satu buku dengan kasus misteri yang cara pembunuhannya cukup unik. Tentu saja twistnya pun cukup lumayan dan sejatinya agak memuaskan juga pas tahu pelakunya ternyata sempat dikerjai oleh Poirot tanpa si pelaku sadar. Khas Poirot juga, selalu ada yang akhirnya jadian di ending cerita. Mungkin kalau Poirot bosan jadi detektif, ada baiknya karir sebagai mak comblang perlu dipertimbangkan. 

 With a tongue-in-cheek title, the story of A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking was indeed humorous although its have some darkest moment near the end. This is the first book of T. Kingfisher that I'd read and will not be the last since I like her writing style and her voice. 

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (quite a handful title, isn't it?) is about a wizard (or witch) named Mona, a 14 year old girl with magic connected to bread and everything baking that live in the bakery in city surrounded by canal called Riverbraid. In the morning, she discover a dead body. Not a very good condition to start the day since she also accused of murder. While she free of any charge, Mona then find herself to be target of assassin that targeted magicker, aka people with magic. Running for her life, Mona's fate will change when she must defend the Riverbraid with only her magic. Now, what the bread wizard can do to defense her city from upcoming attack and siege? 

While this book can be categorized into YA or middle grade, at first I find Mona's voice sounds like adult, lol. Well, maybe she comment everything with sarcasm and skepticism, also Mona always think that her magic is a minor ones. Actually I praised T. Kingfisher to write such a unique magic system. Yeah, Mona's magic might be minor because all she did was enchant dough, flour or bread. But, the way Kingfisher described how Mona's magic work is the highlight of this book. Imagine my surprise when reading about carnivorous and homicidal sourdough starter named Bob! Bob is such a delight, although its just a sourdough starter, its can be used as a weapon to attack people! Another Mona's invention was the gingerbread man cookies. Sadly, these gingerbread didn't have name, but its sentient and have intelligence as well. Kingfisher also explain that with some of ingredients, Mona was able to make gingerbread act like what she instructed, such as causing mischief in the middle of enemy camps. Also, gigantic gingerbread as golem. 'Nuff said.

Not only Mona, but others characters also have their spotlight. Mona's aunt, Tabitha is a force to be reckon with because not only she love Mona unconditionally, she also support Mona in the upcoming siege against Riverbraid. Spindle, the 10 years old street orphan, maybe start as a brat, but he also become Mona's sidekick and thanks to him, Mona can meet the ruler of the Riverbraid, the Duchess and appeal her case, therefore saved the Duchess from the upcoming coup d'etat. The story of this book is pretty straightforward and simple. Black and white too, because the good and the evil already defined from the start. There's no "oh, no, top ten anime betrayal" scene, except from the villain side. However, while the story feels cozy for about 60-70% mark, it turn almost depressing in the end. Mona don't want to be a hero and she think that the Duchess should be protect her citizens, magickers included. So, while the story have good and cozy feeling, Kingfisher also try to balance its with some touch of reality.

I have a blast reading a Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking. I also like the message that Kingfisher imbued her story, like great things can be start from mundane or little things. Mona's magic might be minor or insignificant at first, but I will read more about carnivorous sourdough starter or sentient gingerbread that can beat Mona in the card game. Really recommended if you want a fantasy that simple, straightforward, completed with unique magic system, a heroine with sarcasm and wittiness but also show some reality especially about the aftermath of the war/siege. 

 I rarely give book 1 star. The last 1 star book I read was 10 years ago and usually the lowest star that I give is 1,5 to 2 stars. However, Moorewood Family Rules kinda break the pattern. I think the biggest letdown about this book is because its marketed as Knives Out meet Ocean's Eight (or Eleven or whatev). I watch Knives Out and the mystery that surround dysfunctional family was totally my forte. Even Ocean's Eight also fun to watch and the only similarities that Moorewood Family Rules have with that movie is both the heroine just come out from prison.

This book is not fun to read.

Usually I don't mind to read about dysfunctional family, but that not the case with Moorewood. I admit the introductions and the family interactions at first was interesting and funny. But then, I just don't really care. TStory was boring and the plot seems jumbled. Jay and his daughters are more compelling compared to Jillian. The mystery is nowhere to be seen. The family drama was insufferable to read. The romance? Blah, a little to almost none chemistry between Jillian and her bodyguard, Beck. I don't mind insta-lust or the fade to black sex scene, but they really have no chemistry or zings whatsoever. Their bantering just feel flat. I feel that Beck's characterization also flat and I don't really care about him at all. The big reveal about who make Jillian go to prison also not that big at all. The culprit who targeted Jillian's life also laughable. The ending is too simple. For all the wuss and fuss also ultimatum that Jillian give to Jay and his daughters, the lack of drama in the end was disappointing

Conclusion: This book is boring. With capital B.

The only good thing about this book is the cover, lol. And I also buy the e-book in sale version, so I'm happy I didn't waste money to buy the physical copy. 

Fun, warm and cozy, Books and Broadswords is exactly what I need when my body so hurt because of period cramps, lol. 

I'm already familiar with Jessie Mihalik's work especially her space opera series, Consortium Rebellion. Her books is fun, complete with ass kicking heroines and badass heroes that love them. This is the first time I discover that Mihalik write fantasy romance (still refuse to call it romantasy). Books and Broadswords consist of two novellas that loosely connected in the end. Apparently, Mihalik publish the short story first to her web and then publish it in 1 book and add some epilogues.

Personally I like the second novella, Rocks and Rapiers compared to Books & Broadswords. Books & Broadswords remind me of some fantasy shojo manga that I'd read although it less juvenile. Both novellas are low stake, with Rocks and Rapiers is more fleshed out and longer than Books & Broadswords. Characters in both novellas are charming. Ansel, a beta cinnamon roll knights with his Lady Dragon, Feora, their story might be little simple but I still enjoy their relationship and how their story end is full of warm feeling. While sassy and feisty Hearth Witch Zenira charm the sulky manor owner called Baldric with her insistence to clean his huge manor. Oh, Baldric also a dragon, and like Feora, he can shapeshift into human. I think Zenira's hearth witch ability also unique because she feel restless if she discovered dirt and dust in the home. A handy ability to have for sure.

While the novellas's steaminess mostly just fade to black with hints of sexyyy times here and there, the bonus epilogue is when the smut happen. Explicitly of course. With details. So if you don't like a detailed smut scene, you can skip the bonus epilogue. Me? Heh, it will be crazy if I skip it and Mihalik did deliver. Not only the bonus epilogue have smuts, its also written from Ansel's PoV and Baldric's PoV. We will see that dragons are jealous and possessive af. A little bit control freak, but still bearable to read. IMHO, I like Ansel & Feora bonus epilogue rather than Baldric and Zenira, maybe because their novella written shorter.

Books and Broadswords is a anthology that I can see read it again in the future. Since the book have "volume one" of its title, I wonder if Mihalik will write about more dragon. Especially the story about Malaki, the mysterious dragon that also know Feora and Baldric. If you in the mood for fantasy romance with veryyy low stake, focus more on romance and have warm also cozy vibes, Books and Broadswords is a must read. 

I agree with reviews that state that Cackle is not a horror. Nope, not a horror. Not even that scary although in the first few chapters the book have some creepy vibes with ghost apparition, but it's just that. There's some body horror but pretty tame compared to what I've read. Cackle is the first Rachel Harrison's book that I read and I intent to read this as my 100th book read in 2024 but the fact that I find it okay maybe a little bit disappointing

Rather than a horror, Cackle is more like a cozy and low stake read with witchy elements. Funny enough, the term of witch only mentioned once in this book if I remember it correctly. Annie Crane was heartbroken. Her 10 years relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Sam, is now ended, yet Annie still cling in hope that maybe she and Sam are meant to be. I think at first Cackle is dealing with a different kind of grief. Annie was depressed and spiraling in self-loathing because she still can't get over Sam. She always think what's wrong with their relationship. It's not hard to guess that Annie also a pushover and have daddy issues. I can see how Annie always have this self doubt and think maybe she's too clingy because her Dad abandon her emotionally.

Then, come Sophie. A beautiful, wonderful, charming Sophie. She looks like an ordinary woman, yet why the Rowan citizen fear her? It didn't take a long time for Annie and Sophie to become friend. Or more like Sophie insist that she think Annie as her friend. It's also didn't take a hard guess that Sophie is a witch. But the question that still nagging me to the end is what kind of witch is Sophie? What's the history between Sophie and Rowan's citizen because all of it kinda left vague. I think Sophie's magic seems connected to nature with how she like to cooking and make one or two potions, but she also can feel when Annie was distress and curse people who mean to Annie. As for Annie, she's too apparently have power. But I also feel that her power is not clearly described and I'm not entirely sure from where her magic comes. Is it hereditary or what, I don't have slightest idea.

I said that Annie is self-loathing, constantly doubt herself, doormat and whiny. At first, I kinda tolerate her because while I never feel heartbroken, I did try to sympathize with Annie. However, this self-loathing phase going on and on about 60% mark or more, I just finally didn't give a damn. I also shout "come on girl??" when Annie get hopeful after Sam call her again despite I can see that he kinda a jerk. Sam dumped Annie first, you know! So when Annie finally come into her senses and embrace her magic, it kinda late and feel rushed. Also, while Sophie might seems like a good friend to have, I can see that she was toxic. I feel like she was too patronizing, proved by her constantly called Annie with "pet", before Annie ask her to stop. I guess, maybe Annie's fate is already doomed from the start. Sam take her for the granted, but when she finally stand up to herself, Sophie too is kinda of a toxic friend. But, eh, Annie got her happy end. If she didn't mind with how Sophie behave, then who am I to judge?

The good thing about this book is maybe Ralph, the cute spider that once Sophie's familiar but now become Annie's friend. He looks cute...if you don't have arachnophobia. I don't get it why spider? Is witch usually associated with black cat? Or maybe Sophie just built different? Otherwise, Ralph is adorable, in the furry-and-eight-legs way. I'm trying so hard to not imagine Ralph as a spider, lel. The citizen of Rowan were barely there and there's no meaningful interaction between them and Annie, except that they wary of Sophie. So scratch that cozy small town feeling, because Cackle is mostly focus to Annie's journey to heal herself. Or, out from her jerk ex-boyfriend and go to form everlasting friendship with a toxic friend that apparently also a witch. Her choice.

A cozy read, but not sure I want to recommend it if you search for a witchy read in time of Halloween or Spooktober. 

Jika pernah baca Zenitendo, maka Restoran Terkutuk ini premisenya mirip - mirip Zenitendo. Hanya lebih horor, lebih gore, dan jelas-jelas bukan buat anak kecil. Menceritakan sebuah restoran bernama Restoran Bisa, kalau kamu ada sesuatu yang ingin dikabulkan, maka datanglah ke restoran ini tepat pada pukul 11.11 dan ucapkan permintaanmu pada sang penunggu restoran bernama Ro. Permintaanmu dikabulkan, tapi di dunia ini ga ada yang namanya makan siang gratis. Semua ada konsekuensinya.

Restoran Terkutuk terdiri atas 13 cerita pendek dengan beberapa intermezzo dimana intermezzo ini menceritakan tentang masa lalu Ro, ibunya dan makluk gaib bernama Karkata yang nantinya nasib ketiga orang ini saling berkaitan sampai akhirnya Ro menjadi pegawai penunggu tetap di Restoran Bisa. Tiap cerpen punya struktur yang hampir sama, si X datang menyampaikan permintaan, Ro mendengarkan sambil sesekali mengingatkan jika permintaan yang bisa dikabulkan hanya satu saja, dan permintaan si X pun terkabul. Tapi akibatnya pun juga beragam. Ada yang balasannya datang langsung, ada juga yang setelah sekian lama. Entah kenapa kok bisa beragam.

Dari kumcer yang ada, karena cerpen - cerpen awalnya seragam semua premisenya sehingga hampir memantik rasa bosan, ada juga beberapa cerpen yang gue suka. Seperti kisah "Lukisan" yang menurut gue paling seram dan "Konten" yang termasuk cerpen yang unik karena penceritaannya yang cukup lain. Hampir semua cerpen diceritakan dari sudut pandang orang ketiga, kecuali cerpen berjudul "Gadis Populer" yang diceritakan dari sudut pandang orang pertama dan cerpen terakhir berjudul "Ro" yaitu cerpen ketiga belas, seakan ingin menambah vibes creepy di kumcer ini. Cerpen "Ro" sendiri menceritakan kenapa Ro mau jadi penunggu di Restoran Bisa meski ga menjelaskan banyak hal yang jadi pertanyaan gue. Menurut gue pun, beberapa cerpen ini endingnya agak ngambang, terutama setelah "kesialan" terjadi ke orang yang pergi ke Restoran Bisa. Padahal gue kan cukup penasaran juga ya, apa bakal ada kelanjutannya kayak misal di cerpen "Lukisan" atau "Tuduhan". Walau ada juga cerita dengan vibes yang cukup hangat, tapi ya cuma sedikit. Ga peduli permintaan ke Restoran Bisa awalnya dari keadaan yang terhempit atau bukan untuk kepentingan pribadi, seperti misal ingin lepas dari mantan pacar yang posesif atau mengadili ayah tiri yang melecehkan adiknya, balasan selalu datang pada orang yang meminta. 

Menurut gue ide Eve Shi untuk Restoran Terkutuk ini bukan ide yang baru karena toh ide tentang bangunan atau sihir pengabul permintaan itu udah sering banget dipake apalagi kalau kamu suka baca manga Jepang kayak XXX Holics, Tales from the Dark Side atau Petshop of Horror. Tapi eksekusinya sendiri patut diapresiasi meski juga meninggalkan banyak pernyataan. Gue akui jempol buat horrornya karena ga cuma perasaan kurang nyaman, tapi ada juga beberapa adegan jumpscare yang bikin gue merinding dan jadi takut pergi ke kamar mandi XD. Kumcer yang menurut gue potensinya besar hanya perlu beberapa hal yang butuh penjelasan lebih lanjut. 

 How to Fail at Flirting seems like a fluffy read in the first glance, but actually this book is very hard to read and reviewed. In the moment I read this book, I (with some of my book friends) just currently canceling a book club because they are enabler of sexual harassment's perpetrator that apparently still active in the bookish environment despite he already outed by another book clubs. So, the things that happen in this book kinda resonated me. Always, always side with the victim.

Naya is a survivor of years of emotional abuse from her ex. The abuse affect her confidence and it's hard to trust a man again. She also afraid to start a relationship. After her best friend and best friend's husband dare her to at least try to flirting in the night club, Naya relents and there she meet Jake, who also shamelessly flirt with her. Their flirting turn to more serious entanglement but Naya just found out that Jake is part of a company that auditing her university and her teaching career in the university is hang in balance. To make matter worse, Naya's ex, Davis also comeback to the university and try to harass her again. While Naya, know that she is in love with Jake and vice versa, still afraid to taking chance with their growing romance because she think she already broken because of David's emotional abuses.

This book written in simple manner and easy to follow. The early parts are fluff and kinda low in angst, but Williams begin gradually escalate the story's tension especially when Davis start to threaten Naya. Naya and Jake's blossoming relationship is a delight to read and I really love their bantering, chat and joke, although some jokes can be to dry or maybe it's just me. Jake is totally a cinnamon roll, but he also have some emotional baggage. Although, he's really fallin so hard for Naya. Their sex scenes were steamy af, but I also like to read tender moments between them. One particular scene when Naya got cold when they meet in their attempt to do long distance relationship, in which Naya already imagined the sweaty sex with Jake but all of it got canceled because she was sick so Jake tend to her health instead warm my heart. 

Williams didn't sugarcoated Naya's anxiety and I like that she portrayed Naya's brokenness in trusting man in a humane way possible. Reading from my lenses, I feel frustrated when reading Naya and Jake's fight but if I put myself in Naya's shoes, of course it's not easy to switch the flip, to let go of horrible memories after years being emotionally abused with the person you loved. At that moment, I really hate Davis's guts and he remain despicable to the end. A low human being, man like Davis did exist. Constantly belittle woman to rise themselves above other, make them look good while demeaning the others. A scene when Davis try to assault Naya give me dreadful feeling but I like that Naya finally stand up and fight. The scene is not easy to read but I feel that it was necessary because this book is about Naya to fight for herself and try to figure herself while also learn to love again.

This book told in Naya's first point of view, but I would love to see some of Jake's voice too. Just like Naya, Jake also suffer from some of self doubt because of his failed marriage. While he's very blatantly in love with Naya, I want to know what he think when they are fighting and away. One thing that I like for this book is, after Naya and Jake reconciled they didn't directly jump into each other. It take some times for them to process and try to accept each other. Don't worry, the story end in a happy note.

I will recommend this book if you want to read about the heroine's journey to find herself again after years of emotional and domestic abuse. However, this book have some triggering contents like I stated in the start of my review so please proceed with caution. 

A promising start but end in lackluster ending, The Year of the Witching is the debut of Alexis Henderson. A story about a girl named Immanuelle Moore who live in secluded settlement with religious fanatics just to find that maybe she's the reason of the curse that suddenly plagued her hometown. Some of reviews dubbed this book as The Handmaid's Tale with touch of Salem's Witch Trial but since I'm not read Handmaid's Tale yet, I can't really compare it. 

I think Henderson is successfully writing the suffocating vibes with the way Bethel was cut out from the outside world. But, the setting is also the weakness. I don't have slightest idea where Bethel located. Is this America? Or another made up country? When is exactly the time frame of the story? Is it happen in the 17th century just in the same time with Salem Witch Trial? The religion itself don't have particular name, only a believe that Father Light is good while Dark Mother is bad. Yeah, this book pretty much scream "patriarchy sucks!"

Immanuelle life already horrible from the moment she born. Her father was burn in the pyre because his forbidden relationship with Miriam, Immanulle's mother. Miriam then dwell in witchcraft while she pregnant with Immanuelle, only to die later in the childbirth. Moore family also seems bleak. The entire of Bethel citizens can be categorized into two category, bleak and fanatics to the core. They also shunned people who they deemed as witch and burn them in fire. Girls and women were the major victim, while the men reign supreme with their leader called Prophet have so many wives. Prophet's brides were considered as blessing. With that kind of setting, you already know that living in Bethel sucks with capital S. But, Immanuelle live there for her entire life and she already indoctrinated with Father's Scripture. So when a chance encounter in the Darkwoods (aka evil forest) make Immanuelle meet with the four witches, her old live become untangled and the dark evil inside Bethel become unraveled.

I can't count how many things in this book make me rage. The fanaticism, the unjust and unfairness that especially women in the Bethel endure. I also annoyed with the way Immanuelle still try to save Bethel's citizens because majority of them either crazy with religious fervor then they become complicit and pretend that the "evil" that happen between them didn't exist. The views of the religion is pretty much white and black, there's no area in between. What make me sad is, the practice of the Prophet to take young girl as their bride still common to this day. I can say that The Year of the Witching maybe written as a commentary and critic especially to the religion fanaticism.

While I like Immanuelle's characterization and especially her relationship with Ezra, or when Immanuelle finally met her other grandmother, Vera; I agree that her naivete can be hard to read. I agree that this book feels like YA and I already said that the ending was lackluster. Near the ending, I'm dreading with what will happen to the Bethel, especially Immanuelle and Ezra's fate because the part named Slaughter only to find it that the chapters that followed feel flat. Also the conclusion feel meh. After raging so much because of the unfairness that Immanuelle endured to ensure Bethel's safety, the ending is just....that.

The horror aspect actually pretty tame. Only blood and gore and some of little body horror that still bearable to read. The real horror is the way of Prophet and his apostles threat their subjects, especially toward girls and women. The Way of the Witching is promising although the ending is meh, but with the way epilogue written there's more to come for Immanuelle and Bethel in the future. I wish that in the next book (if it will come out) will explore more about Dark Woods and the other settlements that Bethel's citizen called heathen city. 

I read plenty of cozy mystery titles this 2024 and still add some more because of cozy reading challenge that I'd be part of. Take the Honey and Run is the first Jennie Marts's title for me and actually also her first foray into cozy mystery. I read this one for cozy mystery that take setting in the farm/ranch. While the heroine, Bailey Briggs's grandmother have a bee farm, it's more like setting since the place of the murder happen elsewhere. BUT, the weapon to murder the poor (or maybe not) victim was a hot spice honey that Bailey's grandmother aka Granny Bee produced. Granny Bee also have some little fiasco with the victim a day before he died with she will kill him if he dare to go near her again. Now, you will know what's followed. Granny Bee become a person of interest, so Bailey try to clean her grandmother's name. Apparently, the local sheriff, Sawyer Dunn also happen to be Bailey's old flame aka the one that got away. Awkward.

I did enjoy Take the Honey and Run. While the book have some cozy trademark, it was also focused more into the relationship between characters. The highlight is the relationship between Bailey and her best friend, Evie, shown with the way they did some investigations that sometimes also become source of comic reliefs. The Hives, aka Granny Bee's book club that consist of Bee's sisters and friends also joining hands to clean Bee's name. I like that Bailey also have a healthy relationship with her daughter and how Daisy behave like a teenager but she also smart and far from annoying brats. The romance aspect was one of strong points and I liked that Marts feature romance between Bee and her farm manager, show that people in their 60-70's deserve to find happiness in the love departments. As for Bailey and Sawyer, they once was lover when they still in high school but Sawyer then move out from town because of some reasons that will be explained in the book. I think there's will be hint of love triangle between Bailey, Sawyer and Evie's brother, Mateo, but I hope Marts will focused more to Bailey and Sawyer. There's also a hint of relationship between Evie and Griffin, a private investigator who also Bailey's friend. I think romance play an important part because Marts also a romance author, but actually the romance itself was well written and didn't override the mystery.

The mysteries were solid and Marts use some of red herrings, although some of the red herrings can be hilarious to read or just amusing. Didn't want to spoil much, but the mystery keep hidden until the end and when the perpetrator comes into light after Bailey finally find the clue that connects all the mystery, the reason behind the murder was quite sad to read. To sum it up, the victim deserve his fate because he was a womanizer and scumbag. Of course what happen to him was wrong, but I can understand why the killer did it in the first place. However, my pet peeve is why almost everyone in the town read Bailey's books? Is her books that famous or what, lol. It will be nice if there's any mention of the title of Bailey's books

Take the Honey and Run is a fun cozy mystery set in small town with interesting ensemble cast and adorable interactions. There some secrets that still left open like who the identity of Daisy's father since Bailey still lip-tight about that although I kinda have guessed who is it but better to know it later since it's not that important. This book also have some recipes in the back of the book that I want to try it sometimes. Looking forward for more Bailey's investigation and The Hives's shenanigans in the next book!