The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi

A haunting tale of mystery and tragedy, The Noh Mask Murders begins in the sweltering summer of 1946 when Akimitsu Takagi, our narrator, unexpectedly crosses paths with his old schoolmate, Koichi Yanagi. Koichi, well aware of Akimitsu’s passion for detective fiction and his amateur sleuthing skills, soon seeks his help with a chilling case involving the Chizui family—the very people who have given him shelter in exchange for his work in their lab. But before Akimitsu can intervene, tragedy strikes. Taijiro Chizui is found dead in his sealed bedroom, his lifeless body overshadowed by a sinister family heirloom: an eerie, cursed Noh mask said to bring doom to those who possess it.

As the investigation unfolds, catastrophe continues to grip the Chizui household. Taijiro’s death is not an isolated misfortune—ten years earlier, his brother also met an untimely end, reportedly from a heart attack. Coincidence? Or something far more sinister? Urban legends whisper of vengeful spirits, and with four more deaths following in the mansion’s shadowed halls, the line between folklore and reality begins to blur.

Despite his initial determination, Akimitsu is forced to abandon the case, leaving the authorities to untangle the web of deceit and superstition. But when public prosecutor Hiroyuki Ishikari later sends him a package—containing Koichi’s journal and a letter—the full, horrifying extent of the Chizui family's nightmare is laid bare. The confessions within those pages are staggering!

As I turned the final pages, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Chizui family’s secrets ran deeper than anyone dared admit. With its labyrinthine twists and unreliable narrators, this novel keeps you questioning everything. 4.5 ⭐ Thank you to @NetGalley and @pushkin_press for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sister Snake by Amanda Lee Koe

Another queer book during Ramadan—oops! Sorry! 😂 But beyond that, I found myself deeply invested in this story filled with Chinese folklore, sisterhood, and political intrigue set across different timelines and locations. The concept of immortal beings struggling with human limitations—especially addiction, identity, and survival—adds emotional depth, making it more than just a fantasy story.

Set in 1615, during the Ming Dynasty, two snakes—one green, one white—manifest in an underwater cave, securing a lilac lotus a hundred years before they can finally transition into human form. Though not bound by blood, they emerge into the world as sisters, utterly devoted to each other.

Bai Suzhen, the White Snake, embraces human life, eventually settling in Singapore. She marries Paul, a Minister for Education, and finds herself unexpectedly pregnant—an event that throws her carefully constructed life into chaos. Meanwhile, her estranged sister, Xiaoqing (now Emerald), struggles in New York, desperate for fast cash to survive as a "normal" human. But in a tragic twist, she accidentally gets shot.

Over the centuries, both sisters have fought against their primal instincts, resisting their need for human qi to sustain their immortality. But secrets have a way of unraveling, and theirs is no exception. Soon, Singapore itself is on high alert.

I also love how the author brought in humor and imagination (the idea of vipers attacking Parliament is such a fun mental image!). The book seems to balance mythology, dark themes, and humor, which makes it feel fresh. A solid 4.5 ⭐! 

Alternatif buku percuma

Aku rasa aku sorang je kot yang tak terkesan dengan polisi baru Amazon 26 Februari lepas. Sebabnya aku lagi suka download ebook dari Netgalley. Gila banyak buku yang aku download walau pun aku tahu tak baca.😅😅

Nasib baik kindle cuma 8GB je. Banyak je ebook yang bagu-bagus. Dan semalam aku saja gatal cuba Edelweiss. Pehh...kalau tak tahan, nasihat aku jangan cuba download apps tu ye. Aku tido pukul 3 pagi sebab banyak sangat ebook yang best. Ya Allah aku bersyukur aku ada kindle dan diberi kesempatan masih minat membaca walau pun duit takde sangat.😅😅

Karipap resepi sendiri

Nampak macam tak menarik tapi ok daripada yang minggu lepas. Padahal minggu lepas aku guna resepi popular tu. Hari ni guna resepi suka hati aku. Agaknya intipatinya kita tak payah bergantung harap ke orang ke?😅

Wander In The Dark by Jumata Emill

Amir Trudeau has no interest in the elite social scene at Truman Academy, and his strained relationship with his half-brother, Marcel, isn’t making his new school experience any easier. But Marcel is determined to fix things between them.

When Amir gets a text from Chloe Danvers—Marcel’s best friend and one of the school’s most popular juniors—inviting him to Marcel’s birthday party, he hesitates but decides to go. Later that night, he keeps Chloe company at her house. The last thing he remembers is hanging out with her before he passes out.

When he wakes up, Chloe is dead, her bedroom ransacked, and the evidence is stacked against him. Before he can even process what’s happening, Amir is arrested. Now, he’s out on bail, but the clock is ticking toward a trial that could end with his conviction—or worse, the death penalty.

Marcel is torn between grief for his best friend and loyalty to his brother, but one thing is clear: Amir is innocent. With his freedom on the line, Marcel must become his own detective to unravel the truth.

This queer YA novel is more than just a thrilling mystery—it’s a gripping exploration of family, friendship, and the fight for justice. It also sheds light on the realities of racial bias and the ongoing impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. While the ending might be a bit chaotic, the journey is an intense and compelling ride.

Daun pandan

Menjadi pulak daun pandan belakang rumah. Selalunya sendu je. Nak guna 3, 4 helai je buat bubur kacang buka puasa nanti. Yang lain nak buat bunga rampai.

Strange Pictures by Uketsu

This is yet another five-star read that I absolutely loved! Strange Pictures captivated me from the very first page. Uketsu's debut novel is a brilliant example of layered storytelling, expertly intertwining multiple narrators and shifting points of view. The various timelines keep you engaged until the final reveal in this compelling whodunit.

At the heart of the novel lies a chilling mystery: the brutal and unsolved murder of Yoshiharu Miura, an art teacher who was found stabbed to death on a mountainside. A lone sketch of the mountain was left at the crime scene, serving as an eerie, silent witness to the crime. Miura was not particularly well-liked; his students disliked him, and his family relationships were strained. But was that enough motive for murder? The police were unable to find an answer.

Three years later, Shunsuke Iwata, one of Miura’s former students, sets out to investigate. In a shocking turn of events, he, too, is murdered in the exact same fashion. A twisted pattern begins to emerge—one that suggests a serial killer is lurking in the shadows.

What makes Strange Pictures truly fascinating is its deep psychological undercurrents. Through the lens of childhood art, the novel explores how social alienation and suppressed emotions can fester into something much darker. The eerie, almost poetic way Uketsu ties artistic expression to the unraveling of the human mind adds a unique, unsettling dimension to the story.

The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven

In this gripping sixth installment, Washington Poe and his brilliant yet socially awkward sidekick, Tilly Bradshaw, are called to investigate a brutal and ritualistic murder—a man tied to a tree and stoned to death. Given Christianity’s fraught history with this form of execution, Poe suspects a religious motive.

The victim, Cornelius Green, was a founding member of the Children of Job—a secluded religious retreat offering conversion therapy with devastating psychological consequences. To some, Green was a devout "Christian soldier." To others, he was a zealot—a monster who justified his twisted practices in the name of faith. His death shakes the foundation of the group, but as Poe and Tilly dig deeper, they realize Green’s murder is far more than an act of revenge or fanaticism.

Green’s body, covered in cryptic religious tattoos, holds the key to a much darker mystery—one that stretches back sixteen years to the infamous Bowman family massacre. And in a chilling twist, the case is also linked to a corpse Poe unearthed months prior, buried under a coffin where it never should have been. The deeper they go, the more tangled the web becomes, leading to a breathtaking conclusion.

This book is an absolute masterpiece! The intricate plot, relentless suspense, and shocking twists left me reeling, and the ending—oh, the ending! I spent a week trying to process the horror that unfolded. If you love dark, intelligent thrillers, this series is a must-read. Now, I’m counting the days until The Final Vow! 5⭐