floatinthevoid's reviews
220 reviews

I think what really pulls me in is that we get a glimpse of each of the characters' humannes. How behind an unpleasant exterior lies a really sad, lonely, and hurt interior that has been shaped by leading very harsh lives.

Well, isn't that eerie. Reading this book feels like the dark is crawling your skin, you try to hold your breath so as to not make any sound...

I love the writing. Not many books use second person pov, but this one does, and it is done well. It's so atmospheric too, almost a hazy dream-like imagery that pulls you along...

This novella is a good choice if you're looking for a quick read that has some vibes and good writing. 

You know, at first it feels repetitive because the author keeps narrating how this Franco guy is obsessed with his neighbor. What he would do to her and what he thought of her. But slowly when it's becoming clear that Polo is the one narrating the story, it grew on me. I am impressed with the author mastery on writing an extremely bitter, depressed, and rude character like Polo. The whole book is Polo ranting spitefully about his shitty and miserable life—with creativity, of course. 

This book is the kind of book that'll get you in jail for just knowing about it, if it were to be published during book banning era. 

But even then, Polo's characterization has depth to it, despite the same things that he vented the whole book. There's always more to the story. And believe it or not, life can be absurdly shittier so fast. 

I'd recommend this if you love character study and don't get bothered with long sentence and no direct dialogues.

 I love books about monsters. Whether it be metaphorical or literal. This is why I am intrigued to pick up this book. Honestly, I have high expectation before starting this. I heard about this last year, and this has been sitting in my TBR for quite a while. The story starts off dark. Gruesome. Introducing the reader about Johann, a being who was born unlike others. How he learned about the world around him by relying on himself, until how he came to embrace the label "monster" for himself.  Then he met Florian. A nobleman that to him appears delicately perfect, yet there's a darkness seemingly lurking behind his perfect facade.  I admit, they have good banters. But it was a bit too fast to develop a good chemistry for my liking. This will be an exciting read for those of you who love bold gestures and instant love.  Other than that, yes, they're toxic to each other, and what they have is so messed up, just not messed up enough to my standard. It's still a really great dynamic that has a dark taste, tho. I enjoyed that.  Because the worldbuilding is a bit complex, towards the ending, there are so many hanging questions that are cut short unexplored. I found myself wishing it was a longer book. 

 Nonetheless, The Monster of Elendhaven is a short fantasy book that is worth the try. A solid read. 

"Monster was the best, his favourite word. The first half was a kiss, the second a hiss."

Poignant collection of poems about leaving home, coming home, love and loss, life and death, parents and child, most importantly, about possibillities. Chen's title suited what this anthology succesfully portrayed: endless possibilities to see anything in any way. 

You have to read this period.