moonspire's reviews
176 reviews

TJR really knows how to rile up my tear ducks, im a nina riva kinnie now eldest sister rights

4.5/5

House of Hollow is an otherworldly tale of three sisters and how the world feasted on their strange, seemingly unnatural disappearance when they were children. I’ve always preferred the dark, twisted versions of fairytales—haunting yet enchanting, they have a way of demanding attention that will leave you wanting for more. This book is exactly like that, it’s definitely laced with something, I can’t put it down. As the mystery behind the Hollow sisters’ disappearance and the madness behind their ethereal beauty unravels, the more I was drawn to the story.

It kind of reminds me of cosmic horror and magical realism at the same time—two of my favorite genres, that’s why I adore it so much. The Halfway also reminds me of The Upside Down from Stranger Things, both places are devoid of life and harbors the scent of decay and death. The writing in this book elevated my experience of reading, the vivid descriptions made me feel like I was actually inside of the settings. The descriptions, particularly of scents, were also done so well to establish the otherworldly atmosphere of the book.

As much as I love it, I couldn’t give it a 5-star rating because some of the narrative got a little repetitive, and some points weren’t exactly stitched in properly. Aside from that, I can find no more fault in this book, maybe I’m also quite biased because I love it so much!

It’s hard to pull off a story like this that will grip your readers from start to finish. The ending wasn’t what I expected but it was still enough to conclude the story. I like how it ended on a mysterious note, because it leaves space for speculation, but I’m also not opposed to a sequel (if there is one).

This has been a very mystical and at some point kind of emotional read for me, I also have 2 sisters like the main character, Iris, and I can empathize with what they’re feeling. Overall, House of Hollow is surely one of my favorite books for this year, and I’ll surely read it again. Highly recommended if you want to venture into a mysterious, dark, and mystical genre!

What a ride.. this book had me screaming internally with all the hurdle Tali went through. Even with authority and power as queen, she is still gullible to betrayal and ill intentions—her heart being the culprit of her own demise.

Also Rayyel can choke, that man is too intelligent that he can't even feel empathy for what Tali went through. I hope all of the people that wronged my queen will grovel upon her feet and get the karma that they deserve.

This is my first time reading K.S. Villoso's work and I deeply admire that the premise of this book is based on Filipino culture. It's rare to see it represented in the perspective of a Filipino writer, especially in fantasy books. I will surely read the rest of this series, as well as her other works

I'm starting this review by saying that Brother by Kodaline and Epiphany by Taylor Swift are songs written for the Kaul siblings (including Anden ofc). Listen to it and cry with me :((

One of the themes that deeply resonated to me in Jade War is the discourse about culture and how it thoroughly affects our national identity.

“Should we compromise our morals on account of foreign pressure?”

Having lived in a country that suffered decades of oppression and manipulation under foreign rule, it means so much to me that issues concerning foreign influence are a resonating theme in this book. Maintaining traditions and practices are significant to uphold the integrity of cultural identity, which in turn is representative of a country’s morals and characteristics. Jade War has effectively portrayed the resolve, strength, and conviction of the clans when it comes to protecting their own.

“We women claw for every inch we gain in this world….”

The character that mostly stood out to me was Kaul Maik Wen. I admire her passion, her empathy, her strength as a wife, mother, sister, and as a member of the No Peak Clan. Wen is the glue that binds them all together, without her the Kaul family would be in shambles–lost in their grief and consumed by their guilt.

I also admire Ayt Madashi whose resolve is so strong that nothing could break them, and who is willing to make sacrifices that she deems good for her clan and for her country.

I’m happy that Anden finally returned to Janloon and has found his calling. He has grown so much and evolved as a character. I cannot wait to see more of him in Jade Legacy.

Fonda Lee is so good at weaving stories about family, culture, and the unrelenting journey to self-discovery. I’ve rarely encountered a book that explores the turmoil of a family so well and articulately as The Green Bone Saga. Jade Legacy is now one of my most anticipated reads for this year.

P.S. I cried so much in this book, especially when Hilo showed Niko Lan’s jade.
P.P.S. What do I need to sacrifice to get a Jade Legacy Arc :(