Decim

The Poppy War is not your usual fantasy story where the main character is overpowered from the start. Yes, Rin was destined for something greater, but she worked hard, struggled, and proved herself. She was born to be great, but her journey also shows what it means to be human. You follow her from childhood to becoming a child of war, and it is impossible not to empathize with her.

R.F. Kuang does not hold back in making her characters suffer, and it is both shocking and powerful. The book takes inspiration from real historical events, particularly the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Nanjing Massacre, which makes it even more haunting and unforgettable.

The book is great, but some parts can get overwhelming, which is why I postponed picking up the remaining books. Still, I know I will read them soon.

Convenience Store Woman speaks about the status quo and society. We are humans with unique personalities, syndromes, and traumas, so why must we hold another individual to standards of belonging when we ourselves have our own weird quirks?

This book blends odd and dark humor with sharp observations, and it makes you wonder what it really means to be "normal." That question lingers even after finishing, which is what makes the story so engaging and thought-provoking.

Hate it or love it, this book made me shed a tear.

At first, I found Gon obnoxious and unlikeable. He was impulsive, rough around the edges, and hard to sympathize with. But as I kept reading, it really sank in that he was just a child longing for love and understanding. Both nature and nurture shaped him, and the lack of both made him who he was.

Almond slowly seeps into you. It makes you think about what it means to feel, or to struggle to feel, and how everyone carries their own kind of pain. By the end, I didn’t just understand the characters. I understood myself a little more.

This book makes you feel human.

Para Kay B is one of the few Filipino novels I have read, and it might just be the first that truly stayed with me. Opening this book feels like stepping into the unknown, and it proves itself right away - it is not a love story, at least not in the way you expect. Ricky Lee's writing is beautiful, raw, and deeply human.

This novel pulls you through a whirlwind of emotions, but it also stirs something greater: a quiet call toward reflection and even activism, especially in the context of the Philippines today. It is the kind of book that makes you feel, think, and question all at once.

I cannot wait to dive into the sequel, and I have no doubt it will be another masterpiece.

Salamat, Ricky Lee.

Although not one of the OGs, it is the story that sparked my interest in RPG and MMO-style narratives. I loved every bit of it. The novel feels short and I honestly wish it had more, but the plot, the game mechanics, and even the touch of romance had me hooked from start to finish.