alexalovesbooks's review
dark
mysterious
3.0
As with any collection of stories, this one is a mixed bag for me in that there were some I liked a lot and others that I thought were just okay. What I did like was the way it puts a modern spin on a lot of Filipino lore that I’ve grown up with, and how it’s set in a variety of locales as well for the backdrops. Glad to finally have read this collection overall!
brianharrison's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
kemuenz's review
5.0
One of the best short story collections I’ve ever encountered. Innovative and sharp and amazing.
squisheebee_'s review
3.0
All the stories are diverse in every sense of the word. From genre, rep, to level of spooky. Steeped in Philippine culture & lore, the novellas sometimes gave you what you wanted or left you wanting.
bhagestedt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
krammedshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
jawjuhh's review
3.25
Enjoyed individual stories but I put it down for like 5 months which is never a good sign about my interest in the book. I love the place based nature of these books and having a window into Filipino culture. I enjoyed the consistent themes of friendship throughout, and this was such a loudly queer collection. a spell for foolish hearts was such a cute story. I just feel like I often didn’t get a satisfying payoff , or I’d walk away not feeling I “got” some stories.
I would be interesting in reading a novel from this author.
I would be interesting in reading a novel from this author.
morcabre's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0