katonthejellicoe's reviews
168 reviews

Ang Suklam sa Ating Naaagnas na Balat by Ronaldo S. Vivo Jr.

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Hindi sapat na makita lang natin ang hinahanap natin, dapat lang na makita rin nila ang hinahanap nila." — Ronaldo Vivo Jr., Ang Suklam sa Ating Naaagnas na Balat

Aaminin ko, bias talaga ako sa Dreamland Trilogy dahil ang Bangin ay isa sa mga pinakapaborito kong akda. Pero, sa aking pagninilay-nilay matapos kong isara ang ikatlong libro, narealize kong akong-ako talaga ang target audience nito (medyo nag-expect kasi ako na hindi ko masyadong magugustuhan dahil sa iba't ibang rebyu ng mga kaibigan ko; buti na lang mali ako).

Ang Suklam sa Ating Naaagnas na Balat, tulad ng naunang mga nobela, ay sumasalamin sa reyalidad na kinakaharap ng ating lipunan mula sa iba't ibang porma ng karahasan. Ang pinagkaiba lang nito ay higit na malawak at malalim ang representasyon ng mga tauhan. Andyan si Sol na kumakatawan sa karanasan ng mga mamamahayag sa ating bansa; si Dondi na nagrerepresenta ng kayang gawin ng isang may posisyon at pera sa lipunan; at siyempre, si Boni Fly na nagpakita sa atin ng buhay sa piitan.

Sa samut-samot na mga kwentong ito na pinagtagni-tagni ng awtor sa katapusan, muli niyang binigyang-diin ang mga dahilan at puno't dulo ng ating mga daing, hinanakit, hinagpis, at higit sa lahat, ng ating mga suklam.

Pero sa huli, Bangin pa din talaga ako. Hehe :') 

Awit ng Bakwit by Vijae Orquia Alquisola

dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

Nalungkot. Naiyak. Nagalit. Nasuklam. Pero higit sa lahat, namulat. Ang Awit ng Bakwit ay mga tulang nagpapakita ng pagpapahirap at pagtanggal ng karapatang-pantao ng mga Lumad. Tunay ngang ang kalayaan ay tinatamasa ng marami, ngunit hindi ng lahat. #SaveLumad #StopLumadKillings

Si Janus Sílang at ang Labanáng Manananggal-Mambabarang by Edgar Calabia Samar

adventurous informative mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Ikalawang Pagbasa (8/14/24)
Sa palagay ko, mas nabagalan pa ako sa librong 'to kumpara sa unang beses ko itong nabasa. Hindi pa din matatawaran ang mundong ginawa ng awtor, ngunit mas maganda siguro kung ito ay mas maraming aksyon kaysa salaysay.

Unang Pagbasa (4/4/21)
Sa totoo lang, mas gusto ko ang unang libro. Mas mabilis ang mga pangyayari at mas nakakatakot ang mga elemento. Dito naman sa ikalawang libro, mas madaming pagsasalaysay kaysa sa pag-usad ng kwento. Bagama’t mas nakilala ko pang mabuti ang mga tauhan, mas nais ko sanang maranasan ulit ang takot na ipinaramdam sa akin ng unang libro.

NGUNIT DATAPUWA’T SUBALIT—

Ang huling kabanata.... ANG HULING TATLONG PAHINA. Nagtayuan ang lahat ng balahibo ko sa katawan. At ngayon, hindi ko alam kung paano ko pipigilan ang sarili ko na kunin ang ikatlong libro.

Maharlika Vol. 1, Volume 1 by John Ray Bumanglag, Rexy Josh Dorado

adventurous informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

"It's just a line, it can't possibly hurt you."

The line:
"Hey, Mal... It was... nice seeing you again."

*crying*
*sobbing*
*throwing up*

Disclaimer: I'm not a huge sci-fi nor comics reader, but i AM an intense consumer of any literary piece (or any forms of media, for that matter) that i come across and it is a very personal experience to me. so, i hope that you'd see this review as such.

In an overview, Maharlika is a Filipino sci-fi comic series about childhood friends, Mal and Yari, who are reunited by a mercenary mission to save their crumbling empire, the Maharlika Republic. as secrets unfold, their bond and their world hang in the balance.

Truly, this series was a pleasant surprise for me. With all the high praise and good reviews it has garnered from trusted bookish friends, I had already set my expectations high. Yet, I was shocked by how it exceeded them—I was mind-blown, to say the least.

The first thing that really impressed me was how the art style perfectly complements the storyline. It adds value and intensity to the storytelling—from the slow moments to the action-packed scenes—that made the plot more engaging and interesting from the very first page. Additionally, the world where the Maharlika Republic exists is one of my favorite aspects. Even though it was only the first volume of the series, it was intricate, well-thought-out, and still brimming with potential. Lastly, I. am. already. inlove. with. the. characters!!! Mal and Yari are already breaking my heart this early on, so imagine what’s to come in the next volumes, right? I thought that they were written with such complexity, and I'm so excited to see where their arc is headed.

Overall, I'll continue to repeat this until all of you listens to me—this is a sci-fi series that you don't wanna miss. It's definitely one of my favorites in the genre, so please DO check it out!

Check available copies of Vol 1 on @maharlika.komiks' page, or you can read all the released chapters/tracks at maharlika.substack.com — you're welcome!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own and have not been influenced by the author or publisher. 

Sudden Superstar by Claire Betita de Guzman

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book has everything I would love in a book: a female protagonist dealing with grief and healing from heartbreak, elements of reality TV and social media, and most importantly, the stunning locations she visits. But sadly, the lack of execution in the plot structure and depth bothered me throughout, including how misleading the blurb was. However, I understand why it would work for some readers and I truly wish that I was one of them. Nevertheless, I'm still very much looking forward to check the author's other books.

Ang Kapangyarihang Higit sa Ating Lahat by Ronaldo Soledad Vivo Jr.

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Alam ko naman kung gaano kagaling at kalupit ang awtor na ito sa pagsulat ng ganitong genre, pero nagulat, nandiri, nagalit, nalungkot, at halos masuka pa din ako. Mula sa kwento ni Dodong at Buldan bilang mga biktima ng kapalaran hanggang sa mapait na mga karanasan ni Butsok - dinala akong muli ni Vivo sa pasikot-sikot ng Dreamland at pinaunawa sa akin ang reyalidad na sa ating lipunan, may mga kapangyarihan nga na higit sa ating lahat.

Nightfall by Eliza Victoria

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

I know that at this point, no one's surprised that I loved this book - or any Eliza Victoria's book, for that matter. This is my fifth book from this author & again & again, she never disappoints. This one's equally creepy, mysterious, and unhinged as her other books, if not more. It also has a very fascinating world-building set in futuristic Manila; while still being timely & relevant to the Philippines' societal climate. It wasn't a perfect book I have a few things I wished were developed more and yet, it's one of the best sci-fi books I've read. Highly recommended!

Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

I don't have the right nor the brain power to review this book, but I'd say that it's one of the most heart-wrenching books I've ever read and one of my favorite poetry collections. This will stay with me for forever. #FreePalestine

Note: I don't do numerical ratings on non-Filipino books.
Here's my tier ranking instead - A (HIGH), FAVORITE

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Ever since this book came out, I've heard nothing but high praises from bookworms I trust. And so, I was highly anticipating to read it. I even thought that it's gonna be my my newest favorite bi romance.

Unfortunately, it wasn't. Part of it was this high expectation I've already set and another part was the elements of the book that didn't work for me - I found the romance lacking in chemistry; I wasn't endeared by the main characters; and the small town setting wasn't so cozy.

But I truly understand why it's on some people's favorites. I would even probably read the next book because Astrid Parker, surprisingly, was my most favorite character in the book.

PS. Crushing so hard on Delilah Green's visuals tho like...

Note: I don't do numerical ratings on non-Filipino books.
Here's my tier ranking instead - C (LOW)

Dust of Eden by Mariko Nagai

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

This is a short novel told in verse in the perspective of a middle grade Japanese-American as they were forced to be in internment camp after the Pearl Harbor was bomb in 1941.

This was a quick but extremely sad and heavy read. I can't imagine the horrors this family have gone through. Truly, no one wins at wars. Everyone loses. Everyone lives in hell.

Note: I don't do numerical ratings on non-Filipino books.
Here's my tier ranking instead - A (HIGH)