A review by sphynxreads
Ang Kapangyarihang Higit sa Ating Lahat by Ronaldo S. Vivo Jr.

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Aggressive in its honesty and brutal in its storytelling, Kapangyarihan is my first Ronaldo Vivo Jr. novel. And what an introduction this is to his work! Admittedly I struggled a bit with the language, but from what I was able to absorb, I was gripped by his casual yet intentional use of imagery and common Filipino idioms and expressions to convey the dark reality of police brutality even way before the war on drugs entered Filipino vocabulary in the mainstream. I especially liked his endnote where he details the importance of give the voiceless a medium through which to tell their stories. A stark reminder that many of our country's problems have deep roots in its flawed systems and corrupt institutions.