The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published September 30th 1999 by Scholastic, Inc. (first published August 30th 1999)
E-book, 192 pages

Blurb:

Dear Reader,

If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I'm afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don't be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that even pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.

In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the appearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.

I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Ulasan:

Buku ini lebih bagus daripada buku pertamanya. Akhirnya Baudelaire bersaudara dapat bernafas lega karena sudah terlepas dari Count Olaf. Mereka juga mendapatkan 'guardian' baru.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)
Published: 1999
E-book, English edition, 178 pages
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Blurb:

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Ulasan:

Aku membaca ulang seri ini setelah mendengar kabar bahwa seri ini akan dibuat serial televisinya. Pertama kali aku membaca kisah ini adalah ketika aku seumuran Klaus Baudelaire. Buku yang kubaca saat itu adalah versi Bahasa Indonesia. 

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi
Published: 2017
E-book, English edition, 369 pages
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sinopsis:

An ancient mystery. An unlikely union. For one young princess in a state of peril, a dangerous wish could be the only answer…

She is the princess of Bharata—captured by her kingdom’s enemies, a prisoner of war. Now that she faces a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. But should she trust Vikram, the notoriously cunning prince of a neighboring land? He promises her freedom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together they can team up and win the Tournament of Wishes, a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. 

It seems like a foolproof plan—until Gauri and Vikram arrive at the tournament and find that danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans, mischievous story birds, a feast of fears, and twisted fairy revels. New trials will test their devotion, strength, and wits. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

Ulasan:

Aku menyukai buku pertama yang ditulis penulis (A Star-Touched Queen) karena memberikan kesan fantasi yang berbeda. Karena itulah, aku senang ketika penulis membuat karya lagi yang melibatkan Gauri dan Vikram, dua tokoh favoritku. Gabungan fairytale, mitos, petualangan, dan romansanya diramu sedemikian rupa sehingga kesan magisnya terasa kental dan menyentuh. Memang, pace-nya agak lambat, tapi buku keduanya memiliki pace yang agak lebih cepat.

The Heroes of Olympus #5: Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 2014
E-book, English edition, 516 pages

Blurb:

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

Review:

Cerita sudah mendekati akhir. High-tension di buku sebelumnya mulai menipis. Bahkan guyonan Leo dan komentar aneh Percy bisa mulai bikin ngikik. Jason pun ternyata juga bisa ngelawak. Tapi suasana mulai serius dan kompleks.

The Heroes of Olympus #4: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 2013
E-book, English edition, 597 pages

Blurb:

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Review:

Yak, mari lanjut lagi maratonnya setelah rehat beberapa hari karena harus fokus ke ujian. Hahaa.. lumayan lah, jadi merasa segar lagi. Tapi tema buku keempat petualangan ketujuh demigod dan kawan-kawannya ini agak lebih berat dari buku-buku sebelumnya.

The Heroes of Olympus #3: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: 2012
E-book, English edition, 586 pages

Blurb:

Annabeth returns in the third installment of the biggest series yet from Rick Riordan, author of the #1 New York Times best-selling Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land--Greece itself--to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophecy remains a mystery...

With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

Review:

Oh wow. Ini bacaan panjang yang seru. Ramalan tentang tujuh demigod sedang berlangsung. Ketujuhnya akhirnya berkumpul untuk melaksanakan quest yang berbahaya. Cerita ini masih menggunakan multiple pov, dengan tokoh Annabeth, Leo, Piper, dan Percy yang masing-masing mengambil empat bab berurutan.

The Heroes of Olympus #2: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 2011
E-book, English edition, 521 pages

Blurb:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call, 
To storm or fire the world must fall. 
An oath to keep with a final breath, 
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

Review:

Sekuel ini sama panjangnya dengan buku pertamanya. Setting waktunya bersamaan dengan The Lost Hero, tapi menceritakan tokoh yang berbeda. Sama seperti buku sebelumnya juga, buku ini menggunakan sudut pandang orang ketiga dan multiple pov. Tokohnya adalah Percy, Hazel, dan Frank. Yeah, there’s Percy! [Aku kangen Percy! Woohoooo! *abaikan*] Bedanya, masing-masing mendapatkan empat bab berurutan.

The Heroes of Olympus #1: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 2010
E-book, English edition, 557 pages

Blurb:

Jason has a problem.
He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper, and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret.
Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare about his being in trouble. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits during the school trip, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools.
When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about, and some camper who;s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god. Does this have anything to do with Jason's amnesia, or the fact that Leo keeps seeing ghosts?

Review:

Setelah membaca seri Percy Jackson and The Olympians, aku jadi terkena book-hangover yang cukup lumayan. Jadi kepingin baca karya Pak Rick tentang para demigod lagi. Maka, aku mulai membaca seri ini, dengan kesadaran penuh bahwa tiap akhir bukunya akan membuat pembaca penasaran abis. Karena itulah, buku ini kukumpulkan dulu sebelum kubaca. Hehehee...

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Alih bahasa: Marcalais Fransisca
Penerbit: Bentang Pustaka (2014)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Paperback, Edisi Bahasa Indonesia, 508 hlm.

Blurb:

Allan Karlsson hanya punya waktu satu jam sebelum pesta ulang tahunnya yang keseratus dimulai. Wali Kota akan hadir. Pers akan meliput. Seluruh penghuni Rumah Lansia juga ikut merayakannya. Namun ternyata, justru yang berulangtahunlah yang tidak berniat datang ke pesta itu.

Melompat lewat jendela kamarnya, Allan memutuskan untuk kabur. Dimulailah sebuah perjalanan luar biasa yang penuh dengan kegilaan. Siapa sangka, petualangannya itu menjadi pintu yang akan mengungkap kehidupan Allan sebelumnya. Sebuah kehidupan di mana—tanpa terduga—Allan memainkan peran kunci di balik berbagai peristiwa penting pada abad kedua puluh. Membantu menciptakan bom atom, berteman dengan Presiden Amerika dan tiran Rusia, bahkan membuat pemimpin komunis Tiongkok berutang budi padanya! Siapa, sih, Allan sebenarnya?

Review:

Hufft… aku menyelesaikan buku ini dalam satu tahun. Lama amat ya? Aku mulai baca buku ini November 2015 di kereta api dalam perjalanan ke Bandung. Setelah sampai di rumah, aku nggak meneruskannya. Tapi setiap kali bepergian, aku selalu membawanya dalam tas, entah dibaca atau tidak. Dan sering kali buku ini kubaca kalau bepergian. Tidak pernah kalau di rumah. Di dalam kereta api, pesawat, di ruang tunggu, pokoknya kalau pas aku nggak di rumah. Buku ini kuselesaikan bulan November 2016 ketika menunggui adik yang sakit di rumah sakit. Tapi baru sempat di-review sekarang.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Published: 2009
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
E-book, English edition, 387 pages

Blurb:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Review:

Buku terakhir dari seri Percy Jackson ini adalah gongnya. Semua rahasia di buku-buku sebelumnya terungkap satu per satu di sini. Dan para dewa dan demigod harus menghadapi hal terburuk: perang dengan Kronos--sang raja Titan--dan para pengikutnya yang berniat menghancurkan Olympus. Judulnya agak ngeri, The Last Olympian. Apakah Olympus benar-benar hancur dan hanya menyisakan satu Olympian terakhir? Duh, aku ngeri membayangkan yang terburuk. Tapi, nikmati saja dulu ceritanya, menilainya nanti kalau sudah selesai. Heheheee…

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Published: 2008
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
E-book, English edition, 361 pages

Blurb:

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears at his potential new school, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

Review:

Wow. Just wow. Di buku ini, perkembangan para karakternya meningkat. Masing-masing karakter akhirnya makin kelihatan flaw-nya. Clarisse—rival Percy dan Percy suka sebel karena tingkahnya yang sok nge-bos—dengan kepribadiannya yang keras ternyata menyimpan sesuatu di baliknya. Percy sendiri mengakui Clarisse memang sangat berani—karena ia mampu kembali dari quest berbahaya—walaupun tidak secara terang-terangan. Jadi penasaran gimana jadinya kalau Clarisse team up atau versus dengan Thalia, tapi nggak kejadian di sini. Hehehee…

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Published: 2007
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
E-book, English edition, 320 pages

Blurb:

IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU FIND YOURSELF IN COMBAT WITH A HALF-LION, HALF-HUMAN.

But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.

Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive...

Review:

Karena akhir buku dan film keduanya bikin penasaran, aku jadi nggak sabar membaca buku ketiganya. Terutama setelah aku melihat Thalia di film yang kelihatan cool. Aku jadi penasaran dengan karakternya. Dan ternyata benar. Karakter Thalia sangat menarik.

Percy masih jadi narator ceritanya sebagai orang pertama. Petualangan Percy dimulai dari tugas pencarian demigod di suatu sekolah. Bersama Thalia, Annabeth, dan Grover, mereka ditugaskan untuk menjemput demigod dari sekolah tersebut untuk dibawa ke Camp Half-Blood. Dan tentu saja, ke mana pun demigod ditugaskan, pasti ada aksi seru di sana.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Published: 2006
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
E-book, English edition, 279 pages

Blurb:
The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series.

Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment.

In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

Review:
Masih dengan keseruan dan kelucuan khasnya, Percy Jackson kembali dengan petualangan baru. Buku ini menyajikan petualangan yang lebih seru daripada buku pertamanya dan konflik yang lebih kompleks juga. Di kisah ini aku jadi tahu kalau ternyata Percy ini bukan tipe hero yang egois. Dia lebih mendahulukan kepentingan bersama daripada kepentingan pribadi. Salut sama anak ini.

Pada mulanya, Percy pulang ke rumahnya setelah liburan berakhir dan hanya tinggal di Camp Half-Blood saat liburan. Jadi ia bisa pergi ke sekolah normal. Di sekolah barunya, ia mendapat teman, Tyson, yang bertubuh besar, tapi bertingkah seperti anak kecil. Selama bersekolah, ia aman. Tak ada serangan. Hanya tinggal beberapa hari sebelum liburan, Percy diserang monster. Lagi.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Published: 2006
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
E-book, English edition, 377 pages

Blurb:
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.

When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea.

Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Review:
Rasanya ketinggalan jaman ya, baru baca bukunya sekarang? Hahaa.. Biarin deh. Tapi aku sudah menonton filmnya lebih dulu, kok. Walaupun begitu, membaca bukunya rasanya beda. Lebih puas. Lebih detail. Lebih lengkap. Walaupun cerita filmnya mengikuti alur bukunya, tapi tidak semua bagian ditayangkan.

Percy Jackson tidak tahu kalau dirinya demigod. Dia hanya tahu kalau dia disleksia dan memiliki kecenderungan ADHD. Selain itu ada kejadian aneh tentang guru matematika yang menyerang dirinya dan tiba-tiba berwujud sangat aneh. Tapi tidak ada jejak dari gurunya itu.

Goodreads

Goodreads

Judul: Titik Nol