obscurepages's reviews
374 reviews

For me, this falls somewhere in between 3.5 stars and 4 stars! There were some things that didn't sit well with me, but there were other things that I really liked, too. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this one! (Might be able to publish a book review for this one in my blog!)

Although the cover is really beautiful, it was the synopsis that really lead me into buying this book. I was a literary writer in college so I wrote a lot of poems. Reading the the book's synopsis, I was just so intrigued and excited to read a story that involves poetry. 

The writing
Okay, imagine my surprise when I open the book for the first time, and see that the whole book is actually written and told in poem form! That was truly exciting to me! I want to know just how the author will tell the story in verses, how she will take it to different levels.

When I finally read the book, I was not disappointed. At all. There is beauty in poetry, I know that. But in this book, this is where I truly felt the power in poetry, as if I could almost feel it in my very hands. I felt like power is something tangible, and Acevedo's writing and poems are the ones that are handing it to me. It felt amazing.

Every poem was laced with emotions—anger, love, confusion, determination, passion. There were also lines that made feel winded and breathless because of how beautiful the writing and the message is. The author is truly brilliant, her poems weaved a very beautiful story, and I was amazed from the first page until the very last.

The characters
The characters were also really good, especially the protagonist Xiomara. Her personality shone bright in this book; she was passionate, she was loving, she was fierce and protective. I loved reading the story through her perspective.

I liked the other characters as well, and I have to give kudos to the author again because she was able to project great characterization through the different poems. Even though Xiomara is the protagonist and the story is told through her perspective, the other characters were not definitely not neglected. They had their own moments in different poems and I really loved that. 

The plot
The plot was also amazing! I love how this book did not just focus on one thing, it had other subplots with other themes that truly added more impact on the story. There was something about family, about friends, about religion and Xiomara's own faith. There were also feminist themes, issues about love, and problems within the society. 

I guess the only thing I did not like about the plot was how the subplot regarding Twin did not have a definite ending. I wanted to know more about what will happen to him and his own battle, but there weren't any more details at the end of the book. I craved for more  of his story. Apart from that, everything else is great!

Five stars for this incredible book! Can't wait to read more of Elizabeth Acevedo's future works!

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This review was first published on my blog! Find it here!

(You can also find this review on my blog!)

Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera! Two of my favorite authors! It’s safe to say that when I heard about this book, I was over the moon. Instantly, I called it as one of my most anticipated reads of 2018! And two months after its release, I finally read it! (And it just so happens that it is the fiftieth book I read this year!)

Okay, so. Here’s the thing. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t blow my mind either (which is really surprising because I was so hyped about this book, everyone was so hyped about this book!). My parabatai has already read this a month ago and he warned me of certain things, and I guess, I see them now.

The writing
It’s Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, so the classic Albertalli and Silvera writing was prominent to me, especially because I’ve already read all their past works. Becky’s character, Arthur, was awkward and fun, and his perspective was really entertaining. While Adam’s character, Ben, was a bit brooding.

The writing style was easy and light, however, I feel like I was missing something. I adored Becky’s writing and Adam’s writing on their individual works, but in a collaboration? Not so much.

The characters
The characters were likeable enough, but unfortunately, I didn’t fall in love them—they didn’t captivate me enough.

I think Dylan is actually my favorite character in this book. He was loud and a bit obnoxious, but he was very loyal, straightforward, and very entertaining.

Arthur was really fun in most parts of the story, but there were moments when he really irked the hell out of me. I’m not going to go on to detail, because I do not want to spoil you guys! Just know that there were parts where I didn’t really get his actions.

Ben had the tendency to be self-centered in this story, I noticed that much. He was bitter and insecure, and maybe scared of committing into a relationship once again.

The plot
Love at first sight is really a hit or miss for me, especially since it’s a trope I’m not exactly fond of. That’s the case for Arthur and Ben in this story, they fell in love at first sight. And their love spanned a measly two weeks, which for me, is very unrealistic.

I kept waiting for something big for the climax, something that will really test Arthur and Ben’s feelings for each other, and shock me as a reader. However, I found myself underwhelmed and unsatisfied with their supposed fallout. It just seemed a little bit childish for me, and it doesn’t seem fitting for the climax of the story.

*semi-spoiler; be warned*

I did, however, like the ending a bit. Arthur and Ben need more time getting to know each other, and if the universe really means for them to be together, they will end up with each other.

Another thing, I feel like the subplots were messy. The thing with Arthur’s friends, and the thing with his parents, also Dylan’s hospitalization? What’s up with that. I feel like the subplots were all over the place, and they didn’t come together for me. I loved the part about Ben’s friends, though. It showed the ugly aftermath of a broken relationship and how it can affect friendships. I liked that part.

And that's it! Three stars for my 50th read of the year!

I first read The Hunger Games back in high school. That was four to five years ago, so I was really up for a reread! Now that I've finished it, I can say that I appreciate it more now.

This book is just brilliant! I have read it years ago, watched the movie adaptation several times already, but wow, wow, wow! I still keep getting shocked and excited over plot twists and major scenes! The writing is just so, so good. That first person point of view really gives the reader an amazing perspective towards the people, towards the world, towards their imperfect country. Katniss is such a great character for me. She has no filter, she's straightforward, she's brave, and she can also be hostile, and yet she is so full of compassion to those who are close to her. Peeta, this sweet, honest, and precious person, I love him! He has been nothing but supportive. The minor characters are also really good. You get invested in them as well, not just the main character, not just the story. Some of my faves are Haymitch, Rue, and Cinna! Also, ahhh. That unrequited love. It makes my heart clench and makes me think of how it has been incorporated to the story and to the character really well.

Anyway, that was such a good read! looking forward to reading the rest!

This was an exceptional read. I remember reading this in high school and thinking these books were so good, but man, that was like, 8 years ago. Rereading it now is so much fun!

The first few parts were a bit of a drag though, but once I got past that, it was so great! It was sarcastic, it was provoking, heartbreaking, funny, basically IT WAS EVERYTHING. As usual, Katniss' perspective was really good. I love reading the story through her eyes. Her dry humor was there, her confusion, her hatred for the Capitol, her determination to save Peeta. It makes the storytelling better. I loved it!

Also, can I just say that I LOVE PEETA. MY SWEET, PRECIOUS BOY. And Finnick as well! AAAAAHHHHHHHHH

And one last thing. I usually root for the best friends when it comes to love interests because bestfriends-to-lovers is a trope I really love. But wow, Gale? It's a no for me.

Anyways. 5 stars for this one!

There were so much emotions in those last few chapters. Anger. Guilt. Sadness. I don't know how the author did it, but those emotions, Katniss's perspective, really resonated with me.

I also loved how this book played around with the philosophy of war. It just makes you think about people's actions and thinking towards war. Are they justified or not? Is it right or not? I loved that. And I loved how each of the characters has different views towards these things.

I feel like mental health/psychology is also big thing in this book. We see Katniss struggle all throughout the book, we see Peeta struggle to grasp the concept of reality. Haymitch, Finnick, Annie. All these people dealt with their inner demons in their own way, and it's both beautiful and melancholic for me.

The first half of the book was a drag though. I liked the second half better. Also I would have loved more details about Coin. She fascinated me the first time I read this book, and she still fascinates me now. How did she became this kind of leader? What was her past, what did she went through? What goes on through her head? She is a fascinating, complex character, and I would have loved if those questions were answered.

Still loved this conclusion though. It was symbolic and ironic for me. 4 stars!

(You can also find this book review on my blog.)

This book was a rare find. I've had my eyes on this book for a while (the whole series/ poetry collection of Amanda Lovelace, to be honest), but our local bookstores do not have stocks of it. But then, I did find one! A single copy. I was so, so thankful! It was unfortunate that I only found the second book in the series, but I was still so happy.

Last week, I finally read it, and fellow book nerds, I am amazed! This book is fierce, provoking, and oh so lovely in every way.

The poems were easy to read, easy to follow. Other pieces were a bit too short for me (or rather structured too plain and short), but I understand that that structure is the writing style of the author. Every piece holds so much emotion and experience that it just sucks you into the perspective of the narrator. I also love the imagery conveyed in some of the pieces, it just makes it more powerful. I also love how all of those poems and prose depict different aspects of a woman's life. We have poems that talk about weight, poems that talk about toxic relationships, poems that talk about traumatic experiences, poems that talk about women being judged because of their emotions, poems that talk about the struggle of women being treated unfairly just because they are women, just because they exist.

I believe this poetry book succeeded in empowering us, women, inspiring us, and encouraging us to stay fierce and vigilant, and to show people what we're made of and what we're capable of. That for me, is beautiful and powerful, and I loved it. This is the feminist book that I needed. Now, I really want to read the rest of this poetry series.

(You can also find this book review on my blog.)

This book has been sitting on my shelf for almost a year now and it's only this week that I decided to read it AAAAAHHHHH. I liked Dumplin'. It was okay for me, it definitely has a special place in my heart but it didn't blow me away. Puddin', however, blew my mind and captured my heart. This book is all sorts of amazing.

The writing
The writing style was light, comedic, relatable, and just punches the air out of you from time to time. It was so damn relatable for me, because yes, just like Millie, I am fat. The author was able to convey her struggles, her worries, her doubts and insecurities. And as the reader, I was able to connect with all of those.

I loved the alternating point of views. In this book, we have both Millie and Callie narrate the story, and I liked that because these two girls both have their own stories to tell. It's not just about Millie, it's not just about Callie, it's so much more.

I also loved how it was easy to grasp the emotions and the thoughts of the characters. That was really good for me. It just makes me more interested with them and see more of their perspectives.

The characters
I absolutely adore the characters.

Millie, as I've established earlier, was so relatable for me. I see her in myself. All throughout the book I rooted for her, I felt her pain, I felt her giddiness, and most importantly, I saw her strength and her growth. I loved how she slowly started to get comfortable her weight and grew confident with her capabilities. She also didn't let that simple thing, her weight, stop her from finding love and reaching her dreams. I absolutely loved that. (Also, can I just say that she is the fat rep my high school self needed! AAAAAHHHH)

Callie, on the other hand, annoyed me at first. But as I read more of her perspective and the story she was trying to tell, I started to love her. She was fierce, smart, passionate, and I loved that I got to see her mature and try to use her fierce outlook in life in the right way.

The minor characters were all so lovely as well. I loved how each one of them represented minorities that we never get to see in some books. There is an Asian character, a biracial character, lesbians, and even an asexual character. Kudos to the author for including these awesome characters in the story!

The plot
The plot, though it seems plain and simple, was incredibly fun and heartwarming. Somehow, the plot was able to show us various stories: how a girl lost everything but came to realize she found real friends, how another girl worked her way to achieve her dreams and let people know that she is worthy, how teens try to figure out just what they want to do in their lives and their careers, how teens are with their families. This story was truly everything.

And there you go! 5 stars for this awesome read. I wish there was a book like this when I was still in high school. This is definitely the book I needed in those times. But nevertheless, it's here now and it's perfect. I will forever treasure this one.

(You can also find this review on my blog!)

I had high hopes for this book, and I am telling you now—it did not disappoint. From UFO's, to friendship, to family, to awkward teens, to a cute dog, and to some self-realizations, I adored everything about this book.

This is a DRC I received from Edelweiss.

The writing
The writing style is wonderful! It's light and easy, but it was also beautiful and melancholic, and at times, even poetic. For me, it has the same style as Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (which is one of my favorite books out there!). When I read it, I didn't want to put it down (but I had to because of work *cries*), I just wanted to read and read.

I also loved how the narration of the story slipped between the present happenings to these sort of flashbacks in Charlie's life. It's like he's zoning out, and I, the reader, zone out with him and I get to relive his memory. Kudos to the author, because that for me, was brilliant. (*slow caps*) In a way, this also connects to the title of the book. Because apart from the fact that Charlie wants to be taken away by aliens, he also keeps zoning out into his own little bubble of thoughts and emotions.

The characters
I loved the characters! The protagonist Charlie is really damn relatable, and I guess this is the reason why I had so much fun reading this story. His thoughts and emotions were just so pure and genuine, and awkward. I could really see that he was just this high school outcast, struggling with emotions and is trying to cope with his mother's disappearance.

Seth was likeable, too, although I really wanted more of his personality, more of his story. (And I did get some of his story, but it was only revealed near the end of the book.) He was a genuine character who contributed greatly to Charlie's life and view on certain things. I also loved the interactions between him and Charlie, because it shows just how much of a teenager they are. They're awkward and shy, and their friendship is so pure. I loved that. 

Geoffrey, though he was only a minor character, has a special place in my heart. He was Charlie's 600-pound neighbor, and I loved getting to know his character and his whole story. And in the end, I was really happy that he had a wholesome character development.

Charlie's dad, on the other hand, makes me have conflicted feelings. I wasn't fond of him at first but as the story progresses, I see his character developing and changing. There's something about him that still irks me, though. (But I won't be telling you anything as I do not want to spoil you, book nerds! You just have to see for yourself. *winks*)

The plot
The plot was uncomplicated, and yet the story is so poignant and real. Maybe because it was about a teenager who yearns to disappear, maybe because it's about trying to cope with something so terrible and sad. Or maybe because it was also about finding yourself, and recognizing your dreams and your wants, and embracing the life you have. Whatever it is, it definitely worked for me (I think I cried three times reading this book *sniffs*).

There were two things in the plot though, small details, that raised some questions for me. And I hoped that it would be answered before the story ends, but it wasn't. (Yeah, I'm a little bummed about this). But despite that, I still loved this book, I loved how the story went, and who knows maybe I will get answers on the official release.

I’m giving this book 4.5 stars out of 5. Congratulations in advance to Justin Olson for this debut novel, and I can’t wait to finally have a physical copy on my hands!
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5/24/2019

I finally have a physical copy in my hands and devoured this in a day! There are still some unanswered details, but I just adore this book with my heart.

(You can also find this book review on my blog.)

I have been wanting to read something from Schwab for quite some time now, and I finally got my hands on A Darker Shade of Magic! So many of my friends from Instagram keep hyping me up about it, and so many readers are in the fandom. The exclusive collector's edition looks gorgeous—fitting for such a great story!

The writing
The writing style was great! Although the author uses deeper words/vocabulary from time to time, it was so easy to read. It was fantasy fiction, but it doesn't feel all to complicated for me as a reader.

I love how the author told the story. She jumped from various point of views, settings, and stories. For me it just made it more mysterious, and of course, that just made me curious for more.

I also love the dialogues in this book. They were witty, sarcastic, and they really helped shaped the characters. I really love that.

Despite all of these though, I still feel like it's missing something. It was great, a solid read for me and I loved it. However, it didn't entirely take my breath away. I was waiting for something that will really shock me or hook me as a reader (and I guess the world-building did, but I was expecting something from the story line itself).

The characters
The characters were awesome! I really loved Kell. He can be ruthless and cold, but he was also very passionate about a few things and a few people. I particularly loved how he didn't shy away from his flaws. He admitted to himself that he was scared; he was quite insecure about his past; and he was also uncertain about his place in royal family. Kell's character was built well and written carefully, and I really applaud the author for this.

I also loved Lila! She can come off as annoying (a little bit haha!), but she was brave and fierce, and above anything else, she craved adventure, she craved to see the world.

Holland was a very interesting character for me and I just wanted to know more about him and his situation. The Dane twins frustrated me and scared me, I'm not gonna lie. And Rhy, oh I want more of Rhy's charm! I wish I could see more of him in the next book.

The plot
The plot was fairly easy to follow. It was interesting and mysterious, and just enough to make me turn the page. We see Kell get trapped and tricked. We see him discover this powerful magic that could just destroy everything in their world. We see him and Lila reluctantly team up for this impossible quest. (I'm going to stop talking so I don't spoil you! Hahaha!)

I really was looking for something shocking though, some sort of plot twist or just a part of the story that will really take my breath away. Hopefully, I see what I'm looking for in the next book!

The world-building
The world-building is enthralling! It's perhaps my favorite part in this book! It was just so intricate, and beautiful, and magical—I'm positive I'm in love with it. I loved how the author built this world, the magic system, and every part of it. I also loved how the author also took the time to really craft the Arnesian and Antari language. It was beautiful!

I'm also very fond of parallel universes/alternate universes, so the idea of four Londons just really excited me the very first time I've heard of this book. I just knew that the world-building will be awesome!