obscurepages's reviews
397 reviews

November has really hit me hard bc wdym this is the first book I finished this month 💀😂

But anyway, yes. This is another 5 stars, sorry but this is another incredible installment 😂

10x more intense, funny, entertaining. I think a highlight for me is Sesshomaru's character development and then seeing the vision that is Sesskag 😂 I hate to think that Kagura's death was only done for Sesshomaru's development (and also bc it was so fucking sad, she wasn't my favorite, but I was rooting for her freedom). But it definitely felt like there could have been something there between them. Even Totosai has said it, and Tenseiga has acknowledged it (the difference in Sesshomaru's soul). I don't know, it just makes me sad and happy at the same time.

Meanwhile, Tetsusaiga leveled up AGAIN. And the battle between Naraku and Moryomarubis getting more complicated omfg.

Also, we see Inuyasha's human form once again. And after quite a while, Kagome was actually back home. I can never understand how she's not kicked out of school yet 😭😂

Keeping this short because it's almost 3 AM, I need to sleep, and have to wake up early 😭😂 But omg this was so cute?? A bite-sized queer paranormal read that's equally funny and atmospheric!

Exact rating: 3.5

WAIT A MINUTE WHAT. Wtf did I just read?? And what was that ending 😭

On one hand, the art is absolutely gorgeous. Like overall, it's haunting and visually stunning.

On the other hand, there are a few confusing parts (especially the first few parts of the book). Add to the fact that this is more of a psychological horror that explores mental illness, grief, and married life—yeah it's going to get trippy.

Still this was an interesting read. Would probably make a good A24 movie 👀

Exact rating: 3.75

Okay, yes, this is a good read for Halloween season! This was wildly entertaining, campy, and still emotionally wrecking.

This book caught my attention because of its similarities to the 2018 psychological horror movie, Cam (basically an evil doppelganger tries to take over a cam girl's account and identity). I loved watching this movie! I thought it was original and atmospheric. Glad to report that reading Such Lovely Skin is also an enjoyable experience! Instead of a cam girl though, we have a teenage girl coping with her sister's death through Twitch streams and horror games. And instead of a mysterious AI-like clone, it's a demonic mimic that enters her life.

While I found some of the scenes predictable (especially since I already watched Cam) and questionable (

the EMTs never noticing that a child actually drowned and didn't, in fact, just choke on a button

), the story overall was still enjoyable. It was fast-paced, creepy, funny in specific moments, and somber in others. Grief, of course, was a big part of the book. With Viv dealing with her sister's death, the guilt eating her up, and her need for love and validation from her parents and friends, there was definitely a heady mix of emotions that led to a lot of bad actions and choices. I think Viv's character arc was good enough though, and that ending was captivating.

On the other hand, I would have liked it if some of the subplots were wrapped up nicely. I'm talking particularly about Viv's identity crisis. She receives microaggressions from viewers/classmates/past boyfriends just because she's Japanese-American; there's also a touch of generational trauma from her dad's side as a Japanese descent trying to assimilate into the US. It just felt like a big thing reading the story from her perspective, so it would have been nice to see a proper closure to that element in the story and her character.

The internet slang acronyms were also a bit distracting? I just feel like we don't really say those acronyms out loud in our heads. But hey, maybe this says a lot about Viv and her perspective. She clearly has some addiction tendencies when it comes to Twitch and streaming. And while being a streamer/gamer can be an actual profitable job, I think this book does a good job of reminding people that getting in touch with the real world and our inner selves is still necessary.

Overall, I thought this was good! An entertaining yet eerie YA horror, perfect for horror gamers and readers.

CW: child's death, manipulation, violence, blood, fatal injury/injury detail gore, a bit of body horror, depression, grief, racism/racial microagressions

5 STARS BECAUSE I WAS BLUSHING AND LAUGHING 80% OF THE TIME OMFG 

Okay so I found this on Libby after finding out it's by the same author who wrote Shoestring Theory (which I really enjoyed) 😆 Now this is wildly different from Shoestring (it's YA sapphic contemporary graphic novel), but the enjoyment I got from reading is prettying much the same.

This was so cute and wholesome, and yes this was also a little bit messy 😆 but it's high school teens figuring themselves out, figuring their relationships out, and what it means to be a in relationship.

Belle and Chloe are so cute, and they might have made me realize that maybe I like the lost childhood friends trope?? 😂

These characters are in now way perfect, of course. It took a while before i liked Chloe and Regina. There's also some moments where the vibe immediately shifted, and those kinda felt jilted sometimes. The art though, was so good??? And I loved the pink shades and hues all throughout the book 🥹 (Now I'm wondering if the author really likes pink? Because Shoestring Theory also has a gorgeous pink cover lol)

CW: bullying (minor), cheating, alcohol consumption

Finally finished! This was a fairly short book, but the last few weeks have been tough and I can't concentrate on a physical book that well 😭😂

Anyway okay. The good:

1. It shows that grief and healing can be rocky and messy. It's definitely not a walk in the park, and we get to see the MC, Kali, navigate this.

2. It shows the intricacies of families. Like, Kali has a complicated relationship with her family. And Luca also has a different situation with his own family. I think it's interesting to get to know this about the characters, and how it resonates with a lot of Filipino teens and families as well. 

3. It shows a small side of growing up and having dreams. Especially with Filipino families and culture that usually value more STEM-related or practical paths in college.

4. You realize that living in the present isn't just about living in the present. You try to hope for the future, too.

5. It pairs well with homemade Thai Milk Tea! Source: me 😂 Trust me okay? I've been making DIY Thai Milk Tea and maybe it's the book, maybe it's just my craving? But it's good 😂

The setbacks for me (and this is for me only):

Overall, this was still a good read. I think the highlight for me was really Kali and Uncle Drew's grief and journey of healing. That specific storyline was beautiful and I have to be honest that I could relate to it a little bit.

Exact rating: 3.5

Omg okay so this volume was so intense 😭 Lots of subplots and main plot were covered, characters saying their goodbyes, more subplots uncovered... like for a moment there I thought this was the last volume or something 😭😂 So much drama and action!

Kagura dying is painful. I'm not her biggest fan, but she's such an interesting and complex character. I wanted her to have a happy ending but I guess that's not happening. And yes, I definitely ship her and  Sesshomaru now. Like yes, I see the vision! 😂

Kohaku's arc still breaks my heart. If he is going to die soon, I will be wrecked 😭 The boy went through so much at the hands of Naraku, and yet his love for his sister and his family still shines through.

Kudos to the Inugang though, for standing by Sango. Like they're not letting Kohaku die if they can. Even Inuyasha who's usually emotionally constipated showed his support for Sango in his own way. I really love that 😭

Also Kikyo, will she really be able to kill Naraku? And her connection to Midoriko kinda makes sense. But I still don't know if her plan will work, like there's so much to lose 🥲

Anyway this is so good. And I have to be honest now. These past few volumes, I think starting from 11, these are the parts that I haven't watched in the anime 🫣 As in, I didn't officially finish the anime when I was a kid... Until now.... So yep, technically I don't know how this will end??? If that makes sense 😂

Exact rating: 5

Okay I finally understand why this always comes highly recommended. Mooncakes is so cute and wholesome and atmospheric!! 😭

Nova and Tam are amazing MCs. Both so different yet so compelling in their own ways. The two of them together (as characters and as budding romance) is such a lovely pairing! I've come to love individual arcs and their journey as whole.

The minor characters were also not overshadowed. The grandmas are absolutely funny and even Tat was such a great friend/addition to the story.

The plot was easy to follow and I don't know, but I didn't really see the plot twist coming? Which is good 😆 I was surprised but it also made the storyline exciting.

Also loved the representations in this story. Both Nova and Tam and Chinese-Americans with different lifestyles and family background; Tam being nonbinary and telling people about their new pronouns; as sell as Nova being hard-of-hearing and learning how to be a witch despite her disability.

And of course, the colors and the art style of the authors are just amazing. I think they fit perfectly in a fall/Halloween aesthetic and that's just so good 🥹

My only complaint would probably be the world-building? Like I wanted to know more about Nova and her grandmas being a witch and the magic system. Same for Tam being a werewolf and everything. Still, this was so so good 🥹

Exact rating: 4.25

 Finished this today! This was definitely a great, short read. And a good choice for horror season 🫣

There were a few standouts (creepy and disturbing) and some that are just okay. But overall, loved the way the author can build suspense and fear in a few paragraphs. Like this is 50 short stories/flash fiction! That's actually already impressive for me 😭

One favorite is the Balete Drive. Balete Drive is a street here in the Philippines known/mostly associated with the "white lady" urban legend. But here, the author was able to subvert that. I found that so interesting and effective 👀 

Kagura is about to die in the next installment isn't she? I actually want her to have a happy ending, damn. She's just a victim of Naraku 🥲 And yeah, that little moment with her thinking she wanted to see Sesshomaru before she dies?! Like okay yeah, I ship it 😂

Also Naraku is getting pretty annoying now 😭😂 How many tricks does he have up his sleeve?!? He keeps creating new monsters and finding a way to evade Inugang AND Kikyo 🫠

And speaking of Kikyo, Inuyasha really has a lot of nerve getting jealous when Koga is there to woo Kagome 😭😂