obscurepages's reviews
397 reviews

*There are some quotations from the book. Not exactly spoilers, but be warned.*

This has been an amazing read! I've heard so many good things about this book, and boy, halfway through it and it already surpassed my expectations!
I originally thought it was just going to be this simple historical, sort of coming-of-age story, but NO. It was more than that. So much more!

It tackled issues like sexism, racism and slavery, misconception towards medical illnesses, homophobia or simply the lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the attraction to same sex. There were also themes like family, friendship, adventure (this one was really unexpected for me but it has been absolutely amazing nonetheless!), and European history, and politics.
Despite the seriousness that these heavy topics/issues contribute to the story, it was balanced out by the humor and comedy that surround it. Reading the book through Monty's perspective was such a wild and fun ride. His thoughts and emotions conveyed in the book were so real and honest that I could almost grasp it with my own hands.
"Got to shut up that voice in my head telling me that I've just lost the only good thing I had because I couldn't get out of my own self. All this while I'd spent thinking we could never be together because we're both lads, but it's not—it's because of me."

Another thing I loved about this book is Felicity. FELICITY. She is brilliant; I'm convinced her character is a gift from the heavens. For the first few chapters, I thought she was just going to be that annoying little sister, but she became a character of her own—a fierce, intelligent, and independent woman who will fight against sexism in the most unexpected yet devious way:
"I've been stripping the covers off amatory novels and swapping them with medical textbooks for years so Father wouldn't find out. He'd rather I read those trampy Eliza Haywoods than study almanacs on surgery and anatomy."

I also loved the fact that kintsugi or kintsukuroi was mentioned here in this book, and was even the main topic that surrounds the last paragraph of the last chapter prior to Monty's letter to his dad.
"We are not broken things, neither of us. We are cracked pottery mended with lacquer and flakes of gold, whole as we are, complete unto each other. Complete and worthy and so very loved."

Also, let's protect Percy, and all of his adorableness at all cost! Oh and, Monty and Percy are my new OTP now.

All in all, this was such a great book! An amazing first read for the year 2018. Five stars and moooore! (Also, I just found out that this is going to have a sequel and will be released in Fall 2018, and well, there goes my money.)

(I was on a reading slump for a couple of days but I feel like this book saved me! A 4.5 for me!)

I LOVE THIS. Read the first chapter immediately after I bought it, and I was hooked. Murphy was able to portray the raw emotions of Willowdean (the protagonist) and those emotions really communicated with me. Reading through the perspective of Willow was both hard and easy at the same time. Her emotions and her thoughts spoke to me in ways I couldn't have imagined. Her thoughts are the same thoughts that have crossed my mind once in a while, but I never dared speak it out loud. Her insecurities, her doubts, everything. I resonated with those deep inside me. At the same time though, as I read through this book. I didn't feel so alone. Her words, her thoughts, they comforted me.

But the word fat, the one that best describes me, makes lips frown and cheeks lose their color.
But that's me. I'm fat. It's not a cuss word. It's not an insult.

Also, I'm beginning to realize that I am sucker for the friends-fighting-feeling-like-they-are-changing-and-drifting-apart-from-each-other-but-finds-a-way-to-make-up trope. Willow and El are no different. I love their friendship! And when they fought I really wanted them to make up as soon as possible. But alas, I had to wait for several chapters for that.

I also love how Murphy was able to portray this emotionally flawed character. Willow is confident and brilliant, but on the other side, there were moments where she was also selfish. The best thing about it is Willow trying to figure out all of that, she's trying to make her way out of all these new things, and new feelings to find herself and her happiness.

That ending though! I felt like there were a couple of loose ends. I wish there were more moments with Willow and her mom. I wanted to know more what will happen to her relationship with her mom after the night of the pageant. Will they be okay, will it be rocky? Will her mom ever be okay with her being fat?
And also with Bo! I really want to know what happens next. Will they be friends? Will they be more than friends?
Also that fiasco with Mitch! I wish there was a proper apology for him, and I want to know if he and Willow will be friends.

All in all, this was such a good book. It was all about embracing our differences and realizing that these flaws don't define what we could be capable of, they don't define what we should deserve or not. And most importantly, they shouldn't hinder us from aiming for our own happiness. Love this book, I'm so glad I bought it! Kudos to Julie Murphy!

"...you are beautiful. Fuck anyone who's ever made you feel anything less."

I definitely missed reading this book! The first time I read it was, I think four or five, years ago? I remember loving it and wondering why the hell isn't it known as much as the Percy Jackson series when it's also really good.

I'm really fascinated with mythology, so of course, it's no surprise that I would love it. 😂😂 But seriously, Rick has always manage to get me hooked in his books! This was a whirlwind of adventure, family, trust, and learning how to not fall into the chaos of immense power.

And even though I've already read it, the little plot twists still managed to shock me in some ways! (Or maybe my memory has been failing a little bit 😂 (I still love it though!))

This was my first time reading a graphic novel and I really loved it!

I do miss the detailed narration and the different in-depth perspectives of Carter and Sadie (along with Horus and Isis, of course), but the illustrations were really amazing! It was interesting to see how the illustrator sees the world that Rick Riordan built.

All in all, it was really good!

Now I'm craving for the other graphic novels of these series haha!

FIRST OF ALL: WOW. JUST WOW.
I didn't actually plan on buying this book on purpose. What I was planning to buy was Release (also by Patrick Ness), but this is what I found on the book fair.
And let me just say, man, I'm so glad I found this!

This book was gripping in a way that you're hooked with every turn of the page. The little twists and turns will take your breath away and will more likely stun you momentarily.
The writing style is one of my favorite thing in this book. Honestly, my mouth dropped open a couple of times as I progressed through the book. I applaud the author so much for such brilliant work. It was poetic, it was symbolic—breathtaking in every paragraph, in every chapter.

"Life does not have to go how you think it will. Not even when you are very sure what is going to happen."

The characters were so well written; their backstories were more than enough to stab you in the heart and hook you on their personalities. Tomasz was such a ball of sunshine; he's got so much hope and faith inside of him that it almost felt tangible for me. Regine's grief and anger serves as a sort of fuel that drives their little team together. And Seth, his loneliness and his pain serves as a reminder that there's more out there, and that sometimes we need to fall and be broken in order to realize that.

"...what I've learned is that there actually is more. There's you guys. You guys are my more."

I also really loved the concept of the "online" world and how everyone started preferring that over the real world. In a way, it reflects us, it reflects how people live nowadays—how we choose to browse over the internet for ridiculous amounts of time, use various social networks to create a new life for ourselves and hide behind those whenever reality becomes too much to bear.

"Maybe compared to how the real world was going, it was paradise. Maybe all we wanted was a chance to live real lives again, without everything fall apart all the time."

Overall, this book was truly amazing. I'm so glad I picked this book up, not really knowing what to expect of it. Then finally reading it, and experiencing just how amazing it is.
10 STARS FOR THIS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING BOOK.
10 STARS.
A HUNDRED.
A MILLION
IDK IT'S AMAZING OKAY.
NOW I'M EXCITED TO READ PATRICK NESS' OTHER WORKS.
GO AHEAD AND READ IT.

I would give this book a million stars if that's possible. This book is truly one of a kind, I swear.
Leigh Bardugo never fails to impress. I think there was one part of the book that I just stopped reading and almost cried because of how good the writing is. I AM SERIOUS.

Anyway. I'll try to post my full review on my blog today! 😄

This is one of my most anticipated April reads, and now that I read it, I am once again bombarded with feels. Honestly, everything Becky Albertalli writes fills me up with so much emotions. This book is no exception.

Buying this book and getting into it, I was really excited. I loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda; the characters, the message it was trying to portray to the dear readers, and the simplicity it shows, it's truly beautiful. I was so excited for Leah on the Offbeat because I know Leah has much more to say—she has a story and it needs to be heard. And of course, I was so excited to come back to Creekwood!

Okay, so, onto the story! I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT. My theory was right! (And I've had this theory ever since I've read Simon versus, hahaha!) It was just so good reading through Leah's perspective. I know sometimes she may seem really annoying, but I loved her; she was sarcastic and badass, but she was also shy and insecure, and sometimes even cynical (in those parts I could really relate to haha!)
I really got to see Leah and her struggle and confusion as she weaves her way through the last few months of her senior year. With tension between her friends, family, and her own self, it was good to see how she tried to cope with it and how the people around her dealt with it. 

I also love how I could feel Leah's longing and confusion for love and affection throughout Albertalli's writing...

"Imagine going about your day knowing someone's carrying you in their mind. That has to be the best part of being in love--the feeling of having a home in someone else's brain."

...and Leah's constant struggle with people making unnecessary comments about her weight (in which I could totally relate to.)

"I swear, people can’t wrap their minds around the concept of a fat girl who doesn’t diet. Is it that hard to believe I might actually like my body?"

I wanted a little more at the end though. It seemed a little too easy for me. I wanted to have more details about how the gang dealt with the truth and the outcome of all the tension that happened, and how did they moved on from it. The ending was short and sweet, and I guess I really craved for more, after everything that happened in Leah's journey. 

Al in all though, I really liked it and my heart is satisfied. I give this book 4 stars!

(ALSO CAN YOU JOIN ME IN FANGIRLING OVER THE COVER? IT'S GORGEOUS, AND MY FAVORITE COLOR IS POPPING!)

You can also find this review on my blog.

Reading this book really made me feel nostalgic—about my teen years and my fondness of anything related to mythology. And at the same time, this book got me thinking for the nth time, “Wow. The movie adaptation was REALLY different wasn’t it?”.

I love everything about this book; from Percy’s sass, to the well-thought out plot incorporated within the prophecies, to the normal conflicts that these twelve-year old characters are going through, it was so, so good.

And the characters! This is the book where I definitely came to love the trio, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Their characters just melded into each other, and through their little adventure, their friendship was forged.
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This is a reread! Been wanting to reread the PJO series for quite some time now, and yaayy this is it!
Check out my "Revisiting Camp Half-Blood" blog post! (I'll be making a blog post series about my PJO reread and this is the first part!)

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

Well. That was certainly a wild ride! A handful of my friends are big fans of this book and they have encouraged me tirelessly to read it. And after months of it being stuck on my TBR pile, I finally got the chance to pick it up!

Getting into the story, I felt a lot of Hunger Games vibes from it, so I really wanted to see what sets it apart. And as I read on, I really found their world very interesting; how they’re divided by Red and Silver, by power and weakness, and how Mare is really a mutation of sorts.

“I’m an accident. I’m a lie. And my life depends on maintaining the illusion.”

The plot is very interesting. A real-page turner, I had trouble setting the book down when I finally had the time to read it. It really kept me on my toes from the beginning until the end. The plot twists are either really frustrating or very shocking. I’m actually upset with myself that I didn’t see this one foreshadowing of the major plot twist at the end.

“Flame and shadow. One cannot exist without the other.”

“This was the shadow controlling the flame.”

The characters are good, but they’re not great. I had trouble trying to get a feel of Mare’s personality as I read through her perspective. I didn’t trust Cal and Maven one bit since the very start (I only started to like Maven in the middle of the story, oops I guess). Shade had such potential—the way he was portrayed through Mare’s perspective made it seem like he holds a lot of significance to the story. I hated Evangeline. I hated Maven’s mother. And I feel really sorry for Corriane, I feel sorry that I never got see more of her.

The writing style… Okay, now, I’m very conflicted about this. Although the author has her moments that seem to really capture me and entice me, there were also times that I found myself thinking that the writing lacked a little bit of finesse. The plot was great, yes, but I would have liked to see more in the execution of it.

This feels like a 3.75 stars for me. But because I’m a sucker for Fantasy, it’s a 4 haha! I am excited to see what happens in Glass Sword!