Between Pages

THE SNOW QUEEN BY MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱. 💭💭💭

Just nope.

Maybe I’m just too used to books with a strong story buildup, because I really didn’t like this at all. But I don’t DNF books, so I pushed through to the very end hoping for some kind of plot twist. Unfortunately, as the story moved forward, it just never gripped me.

So much for the shiny cover.

Reading this felt like forcing yourself to hang out with friends who just aren’t your circle. But in a way, it also opened my mind to the idea that, just like people, there are stories that are meant to feel uncomfortable and difficult.

If cozy stories have an opposite, I think this might be it.

I won’t rate it, though. You can see (or read) for yourself.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱. 💭💭💭

Amazon. Themyscira. Hekatombaion.

I love Greek mythology and all the stories that come from it, whether it’s deconstruction, adaptation, or whatever form it takes and I just knew now that Wonderwoman has strong Greek mythology elements. This is my first book from this author and I think I want to read her other books too.

Surprisingly, the teenagers here aren’t insufferable or whiny (which is rare, honestly). It only has a bit of resemblance to the movies, but the story is completely different. I could actually imagine this as Diana Prince’s teenage years.

Every chapter was gripping, even the early ones, and it just kept getting more intense as the story went on.

All the usual YA themes are there—friendship, loyalty, betrayal, first love—but the way they’re presented didn’t feel dragging or cringe at all.

The only downside for me is the size. It’s a large paperback, so it’s kind of bulky to bring around in a shoulder bag.

This even made me revisit the Wonder Woman movies.

Overall, 4/5 ⭐

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱. 💭💭💭

Picked this mini book up for the aesthetic and the story did not disappoint. I wanted to gift this to a kid but I changed my mind.

SOPHIE TAKES TO THE SKY is a children's story that follows Sophie as she grows curious about her surroundings, courageous on the things she thought she cannot do, and imaginative in exploring.

I now found myself starting to appreciate childrens lit over YA because of the life lessons hidden in simple moments and everyday experience that we tend to overlook as an adult.

A perfect read for kids who are just beginning to develop a love for reading and imagination. This is only a short read that you can finish in less than an hour. I hope to find more books like this.

4/5 ⭐

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱. 💭💭💭

Long time no post as I entirely got busy few months back but here we go.

Silent Nights and Happy Ever After is a collection of Chrismas stories written by Filipino authors.

Although most of the stories are not set on the town where I grew up, reading this hits home and it brings back a lot of my childhood memories during the busy yet fun holidays (insert Jose Mari Chan's Xmas playlist).

It paints a picture of local sceneries and flavors. I love how it feels like you are on a time machine when reading this.

To those who are missing home, get yourselves a copy of this.

5/5 ⭐

VIVA PIT SENYOR!
VIVA SENYOR SANTO NIÑO!

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱. 💭💭💭

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a story that gently reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. It takes us back to a time when Christmas was simple--when our biggest worry was whether we had made it onto Santa’s nice list. Reading it feels like stepping into a softer past where wonder came easily and joy was uncomplicated.

I once came across a social media post asking why Christmas doesn’t feel the same anymore. This book quietly answers that question. Like the ever-changing tides of time, Christmas evolves as the world does. Christmas itself does not lose its magic—it catches up. What truly changes is our perspective.

Perhaps Christmas feels different now because we have lost someone we loved. Perhaps it is because we can no longer be with family, or because work demands our presence even on holidays. These realities shift how we experience the season, but they do not erase its essence.

No matter the perspective, Christmas always finds a way to catch up with us.

At times, we are our own Ebenezer Scrooge—though we do not always need ghosts to remind us of what truly matters. Despite everything, we still find ourselves looking forward to glossy decorations, twinkling lights, and Jose Mari Chan’s songs playing as early as September.
The anticipation remains, quietly persistent.

As I read, I felt as though I was time traveling—back to evenings filled with excitement, when my siblings and I eagerly waited for the dishes our mother prepared for Christmas Eve. I remembered accompanying her on last-minute Christmas shopping trips around Downtown Cebu, passing by the now-defunct Dimsum Manokan across Wu Trendy Salon, nestled among rows of ukay-ukay shops.

These memories surfaced gently, like old photographs brought back to life as I was reading.

This is the feeling I hope my child will carry with him someday, the kind of Christmas he will remember with tenderness when he looks back on his childhood. Reading this story feels like a salve to the soul, a quiet reminder that while time moves forward, the heart of Christmas remains.

5/5 ⭐

゚