Takod

Penumbra Novellas

by David Hontiveros

"Mapayapa is built of blackened bone and rotted fresh, dripping skins stretched over skeletal foundations and armatures."

Something peculiar, foul and dreadful is afoot in Mapayapa. And now is the time for journalist Mike Lasombra to uncover and face the evil that throbs beneath the sinister, paranormal veil that hangs over this once-sleepy town.

Genres: Horror

90 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Alden · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a horror/dark fantasy type of novel but for me, it was not scary. In fact, the book Tragic Theater by GM Coronel (which I've read and rated with two stars) was a little bit scarier than this.

Takod by David Hontiveros was actually first of the Penumbra trilogy. But honestly, it could have been better if the trilogy were included in just one novel. It was really, really short, and the oversized fonts and wide spaces just made it much longer. If not, it could have been less than 60 pages instead of 90. In fact, you could actually read it in just one sitting.

I'm glad that I didn't buy the other two novels, Parman and Craving. And yes, I guess I've just wasted my money on this book.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as Craving, in my opinion. Kinda felt hurried, would have liked to find out more about Mapayapa and what exactly are the weird rumours going around there.

Mike's meager preparations for his confrontation with the Mayor also resulted to some eyebrow raising in my part. A person powerful enough to bring about drastic changes in a sleepy old town and change their destiny, the person who killed your mum whom you're thinking of eliminating... and that's your plan, man? Well, technically it worked, but it kinda lacks panache. (Unless Mike was planning on dying there, as well.)

[Tito Quiling, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the more riveting Filipino works that use the supernatural and horror elements, Hontiveros takes the reader from the normal, daily businesses that usually fall into the humdrum of standardness, into the fantastic when the day ceases to show itself for a few hours. I remember being fearful of the night after reading this work as an elementary student and the cover itself merits a commendable effort in heightening the representations of fear in this book--hidden and silent.