mousereads's Reviews (2.14k)


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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book genuinely took me by surprise. The summary had me somewhat worried that a forbidden romance plot would be frustrating, as I find they often are, but this was not the case. On their own, Alac and Mara stand as very strong characters. However, all the other supporting characters didn’t feel memorable, which led to my forgetting who was involved in what parts of this royal coup. There were moments when the pacing of this book felt a bit off. There are other moments where the general timeline seemed a bit drawn out unnecessarily. I appreciated that the rules around magic and such weren’t too complex and part of the process of the plot was discovering how it all worked. I think this worked well for this story and allowed for it to be understood easily. Overall, I found this story really fascinating, and the plot was genuinely much more interesting in action than the summary leads you to believe!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the bit in the work scene, because sometimes that's actually how it feels reading mindful self help things. As though they are not aware of office jobs and how they don't necessarily allow for mindful activity to relieve anxiety.

I also appreciated the explanation of the difference between sympathy and empathy with the humor aspect. Often these words are mixed up in people's language, and sometimes being aware of the best way to use them is really helpful!

"Sometimes words aren't enough. It's the act of showing up that makes a difference."

The various ways mindfulness can be applied in different circumstances looks different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way, as long as it makes you feel better and helps others around you as well. Taking care of yourself is something that can, in turn, help the people around you.

"I like that napping is a form of self-care. I will continue to do so...silently...and without interruption...alone."

This book is a quick read and would be beneficial to young people, but also many adults. The concepts are manageable and tangible, without feeling too much like you're being overwhelmed with "shoulds." Gudetama incorporates humor and self-awareness that not everything will work for everyone and you can only take it one day at a time.

I really enjoyed this and the art was true to the Gudetama style we know and love.