khyue's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
inilalahad's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mabel_md's review
4.0
Speculative fiction short stories, some based on Filipino mythological characters, with a twist — e.g., Maria Makiling allowed the cutting of trees in a forest to give way to commercialism.
An interesting world, and its parallels, by Eliza Victoria.
An interesting world, and its parallels, by Eliza Victoria.
aries_1395's review
3.0
I like the concept of the book: using our own myths and gods as characters.
I also like how (I think), in every story, there's a hidden message. It made me think the stories through and read it between the lines, not taking the stories as it is.
What I don't want here is the confusing endings. There are some stories here that really drove me nuts, thinking what the hell does the story is all about.
But overall, I like it. :)
I also like how (I think), in every story, there's a hidden message. It made me think the stories through and read it between the lines, not taking the stories as it is.
What I don't want here is the confusing endings. There are some stories here that really drove me nuts, thinking what the hell does the story is all about.
But overall, I like it. :)
neil0rbleed's review
3.0
Unique, imaginative and totally intriguing, A Bottle of Storm Clouds will take you to a familiar and bizarre world at the same time. Every short story has it's own dash of fantasy, magic, sci-fi and magical realism. Eliza Victoria did a good job in blending and balancing the reality and fantasy in this book.
Anyway, I didn't like every short story in this collection. Some are just okay. Some are just so confusing. Maybe because of the wordy? and long narrative. Some didn't make sense or should I say, I just don't get it. Probably. Nonetheless, I still liked the majority of it. Because some stories shocked me (or frustrated me) with the reveals; some stirred emotions within me and some are just totally fascinating, I am in tears lol. And even they are open-ended and brought a lot of questions after.
I won't review every short story. I will just give my rating with each of them. Here they are:
Salot - 3.5 stars
Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St. - 3 stars
Intersections - 3.5 stars
The Man on the Train - 4 stars
Night Out - 4 stars
An Abduction of Mermaids - 3 stars
Sand, Crushed Shells, Chicken Feathers - 2 stars
Sugar Pi - 5 stars
Earthset - 4 stars
Parallel - 3 stars
Monsters - 3.5 stars
The Just World of Helena Jimenez - 2 stars
The Storyteller's Curse - 2 stars
Reunion - 2 stars
Siren Song - DNF
Once, In A Small Town - 2 stars
Anyway, I didn't like every short story in this collection. Some are just okay. Some are just so confusing. Maybe because of the wordy? and long narrative. Some didn't make sense or should I say, I just don't get it. Probably. Nonetheless, I still liked the majority of it. Because some stories shocked me (or frustrated me) with the reveals; some stirred emotions within me and some are just totally fascinating, I am in tears lol. And even they are open-ended and brought a lot of questions after.
I won't review every short story. I will just give my rating with each of them. Here they are:
Salot - 3.5 stars
Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St. - 3 stars
Intersections - 3.5 stars
The Man on the Train - 4 stars
Night Out - 4 stars
An Abduction of Mermaids - 3 stars
Sand, Crushed Shells, Chicken Feathers - 2 stars
Sugar Pi - 5 stars
Earthset - 4 stars
Parallel - 3 stars
Monsters - 3.5 stars
The Just World of Helena Jimenez - 2 stars
The Storyteller's Curse - 2 stars
Reunion - 2 stars
Siren Song - DNF
Once, In A Small Town - 2 stars
dee2799d's review
5.0
Before the actual review, I just have to say that this was great. No story was weak and I end up thinking, 'Oh this if my favourite' only to find a new favourite when I read the next one.
The stories, aside from being fantastical or horrific, are also about loss. Even the light-hearted 'Sugar Pi' is about the loss of a certain kind of innocence. And I think that loss is something that everyone has experienced, something that everyone can relate to. (The whole, 'Everyone has experienced falling in love' bullshit is bullshit. I've never fallen in love with anyone, thanks very much. But because I have loved--albeit not always romantically--I have experienced loss of some kind. And that's the fucking difference.) And because it's something we can relate to, that human experience anchors in our minds what are otherwise unbelievable things. They become real, somehow, because the emotions are real.
My favourite, now that I've read it all, has to be 'Siren Song'. All the grey areas of morality and what's right and wrong. 'Magic'. What's magic. It was beautiful.
(Added to my lgbtq shelf because there is enough representation for a mention.)
The stories, aside from being fantastical or horrific, are also about loss. Even the light-hearted 'Sugar Pi' is about the loss of a certain kind of innocence. And I think that loss is something that everyone has experienced, something that everyone can relate to. (The whole, 'Everyone has experienced falling in love' bullshit is bullshit. I've never fallen in love with anyone, thanks very much. But because I have loved--albeit not always romantically--I have experienced loss of some kind. And that's the fucking difference.) And because it's something we can relate to, that human experience anchors in our minds what are otherwise unbelievable things. They become real, somehow, because the emotions are real.
My favourite, now that I've read it all, has to be 'Siren Song'. All the grey areas of morality and what's right and wrong. 'Magic'. What's magic. It was beautiful.
(Added to my lgbtq shelf because there is enough representation for a mention.)
jengnarag's review
5.0
This has got to be my most favorite book of Eliza Victoria. Ana's Little Pawnshop, The Man on the Train, Sand, Crushed Shells, Chicken Feathers, Earthset, Parallel, Monsters, Siren Song, and Once, in a small town were among my favorites. Ikaw na, Eliza. Ikaw na talaga. 💕
What I realized about reading her books is that the endings were not meant to be satisfying. And I don't mean in a bad way. I meant not satisfying enough that you find yourself craving to read more of her works. Look where it got me. I've read four of her books in three days. Three days! And still I crave for more.
What I realized about reading her books is that the endings were not meant to be satisfying. And I don't mean in a bad way. I meant not satisfying enough that you find yourself craving to read more of her works. Look where it got me. I've read four of her books in three days. Three days! And still I crave for more.
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