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A review by reading_rainbow_with_chris
Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
“Never Have I Ever” by Isabel Yap
A girl transforms into a monster at night. A festival reveals its magic to a family. A circle of friends struggle with their call to protect. A servant falls in love with the maiden she must protect. The stories of Isabel Yap’s collection simmer with the unknown, leaning into Filiipino lore as the organizing principle of the narrative.
I really wanted to like this collection; the summary holds a lot of promise and I know it is held in high regard. But I have to be honest: I struggled with this one. I like a lot of Yap’s style and their premises were incredible. However, for me stories with a haunting, magical, or horror element need to be carried by the mood and scene. Suspense is also a big issue for me. These elements were inconsistent. There were some exquisite bright spots, such as Milagroso, Only Unclench Your Hand, How to Swallow the Moon, All the Best of Dark and Bright, and Misty (which actually crossed the line to terrifying in the best way). But I felt there was such a distance between these gems and the other stories it was hard to stay committed.
Overall a good collection, and I acknowledge that this may work far better for others than it did for me. I will definitely check out more of Yap’s future work, but for me this one will likely land in my pile of books forgotten.
A girl transforms into a monster at night. A festival reveals its magic to a family. A circle of friends struggle with their call to protect. A servant falls in love with the maiden she must protect. The stories of Isabel Yap’s collection simmer with the unknown, leaning into Filiipino lore as the organizing principle of the narrative.
I really wanted to like this collection; the summary holds a lot of promise and I know it is held in high regard. But I have to be honest: I struggled with this one. I like a lot of Yap’s style and their premises were incredible. However, for me stories with a haunting, magical, or horror element need to be carried by the mood and scene. Suspense is also a big issue for me. These elements were inconsistent. There were some exquisite bright spots, such as Milagroso, Only Unclench Your Hand, How to Swallow the Moon, All the Best of Dark and Bright, and Misty (which actually crossed the line to terrifying in the best way). But I felt there was such a distance between these gems and the other stories it was hard to stay committed.
Overall a good collection, and I acknowledge that this may work far better for others than it did for me. I will definitely check out more of Yap’s future work, but for me this one will likely land in my pile of books forgotten.