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A review by kimjamlee
The Girl Between Two Worlds by K.M. Levis
2.0
1.5 - 2 stars
✔️a book written by a Filipino author
I think I've emphasized enough that I'm not a fan of YA but there are times when I just want to read one. I just find myself in that mood, ya know? So I picked this one up because my bestfriend (Hi Beryl Andrea!!!) recommended it to me. She thought I'd love it because the book is all about Philippine mythology and I love, and I mean LOVE, Philippine mythology.
But I didn't enjoy it as much. For one, there were minor inconsistencies and several repetitions (esp with Karina's sentiments about the goings-on in her life). One inconsistency I can recall is the color of Jason's eyes. First, they were described as "piercing green with a hint of blue" (side note: I know it's such a tiny detail but how could Karina have observed the specifications of his eye color when she watched him from a distance? Unless she got up close and stared at him? I must have missed something? I don't know??). Later on in the book, his eyes had flecks of gold in them. What? Whaaat? Or maybe I'm overthinking this? It just bothered me. It wouldn't have if it wasn't such an obvious thing to me.
But anyway.
I also had problems with the transitions - one scene to another, one chunky dialogue to another. They weren't handled very well. Moreover, the dialogues felt a bit awkward and unnatural (?). Like no way people talk like this. Some of them are stiff or rigid, if that makes sense? And the jokes. Oh gosh, the jokes. They felt forced and weren't funny at all. At all.
Another problematic thing for me was how everything was just thrown at me right from the beginning. Sure there was a bit of tension but it made the what were supposed to be exciting parts anticlimactic. Like I wasn't even surprised of Karina's family background or Jason's big secret. I saw them coming. The details that were supposed to give life and magic to the story didn't live up to what they were supposed to do. The narration wasn't anything special, more telling than showing, the writing rather monotonous. The characters fell a bit flat as well. Everybody was forgettable. There was little distinction among characters especially with their dialogues. They all sounded almost the same. More importantly though is the fact that none of them seemed believable to me. They felt artificial and uninteresting which I guess was why I wasn't invested enough. Karina and Jason didn't have an ounce of chemistry between them; I didn't care about their relationship. Or anyone really.
I did enjoy the mythological aspects of this one. But not as much as Naermyth. I wish Levis explored and expounded the mythology instead of coming up with cardboard cutouts of the more prominent creatures. It's such a shame because Philippine mythology has such a diverse and fascinating bunch of creatures and monsters.
Last thing. I know the "Filipino-ness" of the book doesn't matter; but for this one, it kinda does. At least for me. I don't know why but the book didn't feel Filipino at all despite the various details that would make it Filipino. The setting didn't work; the mythology, although pretty good but scarcely detailed, seemed disconnected. And every time the Engkanto or the half-Filipino characters spoke, I hear them speaking the Filipino words in an English accent (Lolo sounds like low-low, manananggal sounds like me-ney-neyng-gall). My own doing, for sure, but it's annoying.
So am I going to read the second book when it comes out? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
✔️a book written by a Filipino author
I think I've emphasized enough that I'm not a fan of YA but there are times when I just want to read one. I just find myself in that mood, ya know? So I picked this one up because my bestfriend (Hi Beryl Andrea!!!) recommended it to me. She thought I'd love it because the book is all about Philippine mythology and I love, and I mean LOVE, Philippine mythology.
But I didn't enjoy it as much. For one, there were minor inconsistencies and several repetitions (esp with Karina's sentiments about the goings-on in her life). One inconsistency I can recall is the color of Jason's eyes. First, they were described as "piercing green with a hint of blue" (side note: I know it's such a tiny detail but how could Karina have observed the specifications of his eye color when she watched him from a distance? Unless she got up close and stared at him? I must have missed something? I don't know??). Later on in the book, his eyes had flecks of gold in them. What? Whaaat? Or maybe I'm overthinking this? It just bothered me. It wouldn't have if it wasn't such an obvious thing to me.
But anyway.
I also had problems with the transitions - one scene to another, one chunky dialogue to another. They weren't handled very well. Moreover, the dialogues felt a bit awkward and unnatural (?). Like no way people talk like this. Some of them are stiff or rigid, if that makes sense? And the jokes. Oh gosh, the jokes. They felt forced and weren't funny at all. At all.
Another problematic thing for me was how everything was just thrown at me right from the beginning. Sure there was a bit of tension but it made the what were supposed to be exciting parts anticlimactic. Like I wasn't even surprised of Karina's family background or Jason's big secret. I saw them coming. The details that were supposed to give life and magic to the story didn't live up to what they were supposed to do. The narration wasn't anything special, more telling than showing, the writing rather monotonous. The characters fell a bit flat as well. Everybody was forgettable. There was little distinction among characters especially with their dialogues. They all sounded almost the same. More importantly though is the fact that none of them seemed believable to me. They felt artificial and uninteresting which I guess was why I wasn't invested enough. Karina and Jason didn't have an ounce of chemistry between them; I didn't care about their relationship. Or anyone really.
I did enjoy the mythological aspects of this one. But not as much as Naermyth. I wish Levis explored and expounded the mythology instead of coming up with cardboard cutouts of the more prominent creatures. It's such a shame because Philippine mythology has such a diverse and fascinating bunch of creatures and monsters.
Last thing. I know the "Filipino-ness" of the book doesn't matter; but for this one, it kinda does. At least for me. I don't know why but the book didn't feel Filipino at all despite the various details that would make it Filipino. The setting didn't work; the mythology, although pretty good but scarcely detailed, seemed disconnected. And every time the Engkanto or the half-Filipino characters spoke, I hear them speaking the Filipino words in an English accent (Lolo sounds like low-low, manananggal sounds like me-ney-neyng-gall). My own doing, for sure, but it's annoying.
So am I going to read the second book when it comes out? Perhaps. Perhaps not.