obscurepages's reviews
397 reviews

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

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was hooked! And then I found out that it was going to be a movie this 2018; that got me even more excited! (I then vowed to read the whole series before the movie comes out haha!)

I just finished reading it and wow! It was really amazing!

The plot was really good. I liked how there aren't just two sides in the dystopian world, and it kept me wondering what's going to happen next, what will the characters do, what other secrets will they find out. I can't wait to read the other books and know how the story will progress (also that ending wrecked me so I really need to read the next one AAAAHHH). I'd also love to know just how the disease started, and why those who survived woke up with powers they can't control. That's a really interesting part of the story, I hope I get some sort of explanation in the next books.

I loved the characters! Brainiac Chubs, precious Zu, brave Liam, and sweet Ruby. I love how the author was able to show their personalities, the nightmares that haunt them and the individual inner battles they all fight.

I love how I also saw flaws within the characters. I got to witness Ruby's struggle with her powers. She knows she's dangerous—far dangerous than anyone else—and she's scared of it, terrified even.

"I'm a monster, you know. I'm one of the dangerous ones."
"No you aren't, he promised. You're one of us."

And then Liam, no matter how brave he is, he's also insecure. Insecure of his mistakes, of not being there for his friends.

"He's so busy looking inside people to find the good that he misses the knife they're holding in their hand."

Clancy was an interesting character for me on the other hand. (I'm not gonna say anything else because I'm afraid it would be spoiler, sorry!) I think his character will have a bigger part in the rest of the series. Also his interactions with Ruby had me feeling some sort of Alina/Darkling vibes from the Grisha trilogy. He's letting Ruby know that they're both different and that they will never be like the others. That sounds a lot like the Darkling to me haha!

The writing style is so good. The author was able to hook me in the story and keep me wanting for more. There were also parts that made me so curious and invested, and I wanted more details immediately, but the author knew just when and how she was going to reveal those secrets and enlighten me with plot twists.

This was such a good read! I can't wait to see the movie in a few months, and see how the director will give life to this wonderful story. 5 stars for this one!

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

Alternate universe? Time travel? Oohhh sign me up!

Upon reading the synopsis of this book, I was immediately intrigued! The idea of a parallel/alternate universe or time travel is something that I really like. And so I went ahead and read this book!

This book has a blend of romance, historical fiction, and science fiction that I quite liked! Although there were parts that I was not exactly fond of, there were aspects that really delighted me!

Let’s start with the parts I was not fond of.

Insta-love. Don’t get me wrong, the story of Elisa and Claudio was romantic indeed, a love that surpassed space and time, but I’m afraid insta-love is a trope I’m not really fond of. I just felt like it happened all too quickly. The next one is the sort-of-cheating aspect in the story. I am all for unconditional love and all, but cheating is one thing I won’t be able to embrace. (Also, I’m trying so hard not to spoil anything AAAHHH)

But let’s go to the parts I really liked!

The writing style of the author and how she talked about Italy is amazing! There were certain passages in the book that really left me in awe because they were so beautifully-written it’s as if I am within the story, witnessing the beauty of Italy myself.

“She forced herself to live in the moment—in her favourite time of day, twilight. She listened, noting the turtle doves in the nearby trees, chirping and cooing to their young, settling them in for the night. Alice could see the last little bit of the sun peeking out from behind the horizon in the west, slowly sinking down to a tiny brilliant sliver. The rolling hills were the most incredible shade of green against the lavender sky. Off in the distance, she could make out multiple tiers of grape vineyards, sculpted into the faces of the gentle mountains with olive trees tucked in between. Everything was so calm, so serene, so peaceful.”

and...

“The ancient Etruscan ruins stood just ahead in all their splendour. Standing steady as sentinels of an age past, they bore witness to an untold number of stories of the people who had taken refuge in their inviting space.”

And of course, I also liked the parts of the book where it talked about the history, specifically Renaissance Italy. Plus I also liked how this story challenges the fate and destiny of a person.

“You make your own destiny. But sometimes you may be placed in a situation where there was only one possible outcome, no matter how much you thought you were in control of your own life.”

The characters were also interesting! I love the character of Leonardo da Vinci and how the author portrayed him. Bruno and Enzo back in Renaissance Italy, oh how I hated them. But it is understandable since we’re talking about the time where men were ultimately superior (it sucks, I know). Claudio was a gentleman who was filled with so much love for Elisa, and it was nice to see Elisa grow into a brave woman.

All in all it was a good read for me! A whiff of something new as my previous reads were epic and dark fantasies haha! This will be really perfect who love romance and adventure in one! I give this one 3.5 stars!

This one is a page-turner—a story full of secrets, pain, love, fear, and plot twists. Now, I need to watch the movie adaptation of the first book! AAAAHHHHH

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

This book is brilliantly written, eerie, haunting, and just so, so good. At the end of the book, my heart was scattered all over the place, and my mind was reeling, thinking about just how brilliant it was!

The writing
When I read the first few chapters, I was immediately intrigued. There was something about the author’s writing that is both alluring and haunting; the way she described the town of Sparrow, the curse, the people, the way she conveyed the thoughts and emotions of the main character Penny Talbot, and other characters as well.

I also loved the flow of the book, the way the author told the whole story. It did not just focus on Penny’s perspective, it revolved around other characters and past events as well. So throughout the story, I witnessed multiple past events unfurl, and saw how it came down to the present story.

The characters
I also love the characters in this story, not just the main characters but the other characters involved as well. The characterization was so good, it seemed like every character in the book has their own story to tell—Penny, Bo, Penny’s mother, Penny’s dad, the Swan sisters Marguerite, Aurora, and Hazel, Rose, the townspeople, everyone. I truly felt like every character was involved in the story and that they all had their own significant parts.

The plot
I absolutely loved the plot of this book! It was haunting and truly intriguing. There were times when I would express my reaction out loud because I didn’t see a plot twist coming or that the current situation was getting frustrating and I didn’t know what would happen next.

The plot kept me buried in the book. I wanted to know what happened two centuries ago with Marguerite, Aurora, and Hazel, and I also wanted to know what will happen next in the present-day story and how will Penny and Bo and everyone in Sparrow will survive the curse, if they survive the curse. The plot made me crave. I think that’s the right word for it! It made me crave for a conclusion that will satisfy the hunger I felt throughout reading the book haha!

Also, there were certain points in the plot which I have sort of predicted, but still the author’s writing left me in awe and shocked. I swear it was so, so good!

Quotes from the book

“Love is an enchantress—devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

“We wait for death. We hold our breath. We know it’s coming, and still we flinch when it claws at our throats and pulls us under.”

“We’re deadlocked in a strange battle of secrecy. Neither of us is willing to tell the truth. Neither of us is willing to let the other one in.”

“Even her grief can’t keep her from kindness.”

“But how do you let yourself unravel in front of someone, knowing your armor is the only thing keeping you safe.

So I don’t say anything. I keep my heart hidden deep and dark in my chest.”

This was such a refreshing read! These little stories do not only touch your heart, but they also stimulate the mind in the most entertaining ways. I loved it!

Just like the first volume, this was an amazing read as well! The tiny stories were interesting, and for me it really it shows the thoughts and emotions of the various contributors in different, little ways.

Out of all the three volumes, this one was the best for me. All the tiny stories were great! It was refreshing, it was emotional, it was touching, it was stimulating. I'm so glad our editor gave us a copy of this book and I got the chance to read it! I really really loved it!

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

The author gave me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review! The synopsis was intriguing, and the story was just enough to keep me on my toes.

The writing
The writing style was okay for me. There were some parts that did not entice me enough, but there were also scenes and lines that made me think about humanity and the world, and I really liked that. 

The characters
The characters were really interesting, especially the Essences. The author truly captured their personalities and showed their "Essences" well. I also liked the fact that the Essence of Good was a man, and the Essence of Evil was a woman. In a way, it defies the norm/trope that women are the innocent ones, and men are the malicious ones. It was a nice change in the story. I would love to know how the author is going to continue that arc, and that story.

I liked the protagonist enough. Although, there was little that made me feel for her or connect with her. When I read, I try to relate myself to the narrator of the story but with Abbey Shader, I feel like I didn't get much feel of her personality. I saw her emotions, that was for sure, but her personality was a miss for me. 

Zac, the other protagonist, was okay for me as well. There's a lot of story in his past, but I feel like it wasn't explored enough. Maybe the author will revisit that in the future installments of the series, and give it more significance, who knows?

The plot
The plot was interesting enough, although I found it a bit lacking. It was intriguing and fascinating, but I needed more. I needed something that will truly get me hooked and leave me craving for more.

It was simple, and that's good, there is nothing wrong about that. But it didn't captivate me enough like I thought it would. Maybe they will be more action and plot in the second book once we dive in deeper to their world.

The world-building
The world-building was also good. I liked the concept of the erodosphere and how the Essences move and exist and function in these different worlds and in different people. I would really love to know more about them and their system. And I'd also love to meet other Essences!

This was a good read, and my first for the month of September! I give this 3.5 stars!

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

I got approved of a DRC (Digital Review Copy) of this book from Edelweiss! With a gorgeous cover and an intriguing concept and theme, this book immediately caught my attention the first time I saw it. 

The writing
I really like the writing style of this book. Though the story mainly revolves around the fragility of life and the difficult situation of having a terminal illness, the writing style was light, easy, moderately-paced, and so, so relatable! It was relatable in a way that it shows several aspects of how a modern teenager lives—the use of smartphones, making apps, the use of social media, and the likes.

I also liked the tones of the different narrations. The point of views in this story alternate between the two main characters, Stella and Will. I loved that within these two perspectives, I was able to get a view of their situations and their emotions. With Stella, it was hopeful, and hurting, and guilty. And with Will, it was cynical and reckless. But as the story progresses, the tone turns hopeful and trusting. I loved that.

I also love that this book is very educational. I am familiar with Stella and Will's illness (cystic fibrosis), though I cannot say that I am fully equipped with knowledge about it. As I read the book, I realized that the authors did not neglect to inform readers about this kind of illness. It made me feel like the authors did a lot of research about this illness, and I am really thankful for it.

The characters
I really liked the characters in this story as well, despite the fact that it was a little cliche for me. The main characters' personalities are a trope I always see among girl-and-boy pairings—a reckless boy who does not do what he's been told to do, and a good girl who does everything right. However as I read on, I realized that these characters go beyond these cliche characteristics (and I am really thankful for that!). Will is an artist who craves to see and experience the world, and Stella is a programmer/developer who just misses her family and how they were. These little things made me like them and their chemistry in the story.

I also liked the minor characters. I felt Julie and Barb's love for Stella, Stella's parents and their struggles. Stella's friends, Will's friends, and Poe, although they only had little parts in the book, they completed Stella and Will's worlds.

The plot
The plot was also good, but it was a struggle. I struggled because I did not know what will happen to these two main characters, and what will be the end game for them. I did not know if it will be a melancholic ending, or a hopeful one, and that really frustrated me (in a good way haha!). The plot also showed me that there is a fine line between want and need, and the main characters realized that, too.

There were some subplots that have been opened near the ending of the book, and I wished the authors took the time to delve into that much further. These subplots were interesting and I really wanted to know more about them. Also, there is one plot twist that did not sit well with me, and it's both frustrating and saddening at the same time.

All in all, the plot was good and I can't wait to buy a physical copy of this! I loved this one, and I really can't wait for its release on November 20th this year! Also, this book is soon to be a major motion picture starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson in March 2019 and WOW WOW WOW. I am beyond excited!