Second books in a series/trilogy/duology usually fall in one of two categories: exceeding the magic captured in the first book or falling short of expectations, leaving readers unsatisfied. Unfortunately, When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles lands in the latter category. Look, my friends, I adored Where Dreams Descend, but I can’t say the same about When Night Breaks. The final book in the Kingdom of Cards duology disappointed me. So now I’m left asking: Where did it all go wrong? Title: When Night Breaks Author: Janella Angeles Publisher: Wednesday Books Publication Date:&nb ..read more

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix does not live up to its predecessor, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. It pains me to say this because I enjoyed the previous book. But the book deities weren’t kind to me in this round. I had to force myself to finish this book. Why didn’t I DNF it? I needed to know what happened to Xifeng. But aside from that? I could care less. So, what went wrong? Title: Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix (Rise of the Empress #2) Author: Julie C. Dao Publisher: Penguin Books Publication Date: September 17th, 2019 TW/CW: Mentions of cannibalism ..read more

After reading She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, I stopped and wondered if I read the same book as everyone else. I thought, “Something is wrong with me.” So many people whose reviews I trust had enjoyed the book. Me, on the other hand?  I can’t deny that She Who Became the Sun is an ambitious novel that captures the atmosphere of fourteenth-century China. However, I often found myself lost, bored, and frustrated. In short? I’m bitterly disappointed. Title: She Who Became the Sun (The Radiant Emperor #1) Author: Shelley Parker-Chan Publisher: Tor Books Publication Date: 20 J ..read more

A flash from the past! I read this book back in August 2020 for Wikathon and never uploaded the flash review to the blog. Whoops? But this is a great opportunity to share my love for Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay once again. Look, have you ever read a book so good that it left you numb afterward because your brain legitimately cannot process how amazing the book was? That’s me right with this book. Title: Patron Saints of Nothing Author: Randy Ribay Publisher: Kokila Publication Date: 18th June 2019 TW/CW: Drug abuse, addiction, police brutality, racism, gun violence Syn ..read more

Thrilling. Bewitching. Marvelous. Astounding. Those are just a few words that I can use to describe K.S. Villoso’s The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng, which concludes the epic trilogy known as Chronicles of the Bitch Queen. I cannot believe that this book blessed my eyes. Just when I thought that K.S. Villoso’s writing couldn’t get better; she proves me wrong by knocking my socks off with this phenomenal book.  Thank you so much to Angela Man and Orbit for sending me a free copy. My views are my own.  Oh dear, where do I even begin?  Title: The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng (Chronicles of the B ..read more

B | This is the sort of book that — if I was an ethics professor — I’d want my students to read. It will not only force you to examine your own beliefs on the immigration experience, parenthood, surrogacy, a surrogates rights, and wealth, but it will also anger you and make you uncomfortable. It is a reflection on our society, class, reproductive rights, parenthood, the American dream, and on the Filipino immigrant experience. The book is solid. However, Ramos’ execution could have been better. Now, before I get into the rest of this review, please note that this is an #ownvoices review. I ma ..read more

Even though it’s been a few days since I finished this book, Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan has stuck with me. I was transported back home to Manila thanks to Batacan’s prose. I could vividly imagine every single scene. If I shut my eyes for a moment, I could hear the characters’ voices even now because they felt so alive. Batacan not only analyzed the criminal justice system in the Philippines, but she also shined a light into the Catholic Church’s corruption and misdeeds. Where do I even begin with this love letter to this book? Title: Smaller and Smaller Circles Author: F.H ..read more

A+ | Lush, breathtaking, show-stopping, splendorous, marvelous, decadent, exquisite. These are just a few words that I can use to describe Janella Angeles’s debut novel. Many of the reviewers I trust have described this book as something akin to a dessert. You know what? I agree. It’s a salted caramel cheesecake. It’s that Bake Cheese Tart from Japan that I adore so much. I have not fallen in love like this with a book in a long, long time. There are some things that I hope Janella improves upon in the second novel. However, these issues did not take away from the fact that I absolutely ..read more

A+ | Thrilling, intricate, phenomenal. I genuinely don’t think I will ever be able to describe how much I adore The Ikessar Falcon by K.S. Villoso. Every single detail is ornate and elaborate. This book is a grand cathedral wherein every single element — from the stone to the artwork to the chandeliers to the pews — were carefully selected and lovingly crafted to bring this world and these characters to life. Like its predecessor, this adult fantasy succeeds in being so full of life and being so unapologetically Filipino by reflecting those good and bad aspects of Filipino society. Warning: I ..read more

A | I usually don’t start reviews like this but I feel the need to warn any potential readers of what you’ll see in this book, especially since I know a number of people who are reading this for Wikathon. This book is not for the faint of heart. It’s not for people looking for a warm, fuzzy, and cozy mystery/thriller. No. This book is brutal and gut-wrenching. It doesn’t hold back at all. There is abuse, violence against women, murder, and multiple rape scenes. Please remember to take care of your own mental health. Now, I enjoyed the book a lot. From the start, the book gripped me and refuse ..read more