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obscurepages's Reviews (410)
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...
...and Leah's constant struggle with people making unnecessary comments about her weight (in which I could totally relate to.)
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.
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!)
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.
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.
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!
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!
(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.
And then Liam, no matter how brave he is, he's also insecure. Insecure of his mistakes, of not being there for his friends.
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!
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.
and...
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.
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!
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
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.”
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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!