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Engkantasia #1
The Girl Between Two Worlds
The day after Karina’s sixteenth birthday, supernatural things start to happen around her and she has no idea why. Her mother, who disappeared soon after they migrated from the Philippines to America, speaks to her in prophetic dreams. Stranger still is the old man who turns up at her house one day and claims to be her grandfather, even though Karina’s mother had told her he died a long time ago.
Karina discovers that her mother is an engkanto princess who ran away from Engkantasia. Karina is now of age to take the throne and must do so to prevent a war between Engkantasia and the human world. She must learn to control her powers and fight a range of weird creatures trying to kill her and her family. To make matters worse, she finally meets a boy she likes and there’s something about him she can’t quite figure out.
Karina discovers that her mother is an engkanto princess who ran away from Engkantasia. Karina is now of age to take the throne and must do so to prevent a war between Engkantasia and the human world. She must learn to control her powers and fight a range of weird creatures trying to kill her and her family. To make matters worse, she finally meets a boy she likes and there’s something about him she can’t quite figure out.
235 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2018
19 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Kristyn M. Levis
5 books46 followersDr Kristyn Maslog-Levis is an academic, communications officer and author with previous journalism experience.
She finished her masters degree in communication at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore under the ASEAN scholarship.
Kristyn completed her Doctor of Philosophy candidature with University of Technology Sydney for Creative Writing under the Australian Research Training Program, focusing on cultural diversity in middle-grade literature in Australia.
She finished her masters degree in communication at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore under the ASEAN scholarship.
Kristyn completed her Doctor of Philosophy candidature with University of Technology Sydney for Creative Writing under the Australian Research Training Program, focusing on cultural diversity in middle-grade literature in Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 27, 2018
I honestly, genuinely wanted to like this book. I mean, it's written by a Filipino author and is about the engkanto. Sure, the blurb at the back made the book seem like a relentless incarnation of literally every YA supernatural trope in existence (social outcast girl turns out to be the only hope for the magical world). And sure, the first few pages don't have the best writing. But I was hopeful. I wanted to give this book a chance.
Unfortunately, halfway through the novel, I realized that I simply couldn't like the book because there was nothing in the book for me to like.
SPOILERS ahead, I guess.
The Writing
The long and the short of it is... the writing is abysmal. Everything from the clunky way the sentences flowed, weird word choices, confusing tone, jarring transitions, sluggish pace, incoherent timeline - everything about it just kept me out of the story. It's just incompetent story telling, to be honest. There were even technical errors like misspellings (my favorite being "Vomiting blood or puss*") and several instances of violating the multi-paragraph quotation rule.
However, my biggest gripe with the writing is the mismanaged timeline. Probably the best example of this is on the opening few pages. The novel has a cold opening, jumping right into the action in the "present". Record scratch. Freeze frame. Yup, that's the MC. You're probably wondering how she and her friends got into this mess. Well, let's start at the beginning. Well, actually, let's start before the beginning for like a few paragraphs or something. Then we're back to the beginning, the night before MC's 16th birthday (because things always happen to teenagers). While we're in this flashback, let's flashback some more, flashforward a bit, flashback to a couple of years, then, after a song and a dance, we'll go back to the "present," where all the action is... which we'll resolved in a page or so. Then MC and friends go to sleep.
Confused? SO WAS I.
Usually, I'm all for non-linear stories but this was just ridiculous. There were flashbacks WITHIN flashbacks. And not even really necessary flashbacks, just to recall (in detail) how MC became friends with her friends.
Reality Violations
The story is set in San Francisco, USA (which doesn't really matter or anything but we'll get to that in a second) and the MC, like all YA heroines, still go to high school. The problem is, the book tells us that it's June. A quick Google search will tell you that American schools close for summer break at around that time. And the characters continue going to school weeks into June, with no indication of summer break coming soon. Plus, another weird thing about MC's supposedly American (and I'm going to assume public) school? THEY HAVE UNIFORMS. That's not a thing in most American schools.
To top it all off, a couple of chapters in, MC tells us that about six weeks after her birthday (in June) have passed yet when they found her mother later in the book, a "news report" tells us that it's STILL JUNE. I'm no mathematician but even I know that that doesn't add up.
The Setting and why it didn't matter
As mentioned, this story about engkantos and Filipino mythological creatures is set in the west. However, it could have happened in Mars for all we'd know. Absolutely nothing is affected by the foreign setting. Not the main character. Not her friends. Not her family. Not even the Filipino magical creatures. The story exists in a vacuum that resembles only the basic aspects of the real world.
It's obvious that the author is following the Philippine school year (June-April). The MC never really thinks about the Philippines and how different the culture is in the west. The MC's white friends are never confused about anything supposedly Filipino related. Heck, the Filipino magical creatures (including her lolo) don't even seem perplexed about the western world. And while we're at it, what language are these creatures speaking in? English? Why? How?
This concept of having Filipino creatures in a foreign country could have been really interesting if it was explored more. But it wasn't. What we did get was pages and pages of a stupid love story that was forced and bland. Priorities.
Worldbuilding
Just a short bit (edit: I lied. this is one of the longest bit) since this is mostly related to the previous bit. The Master Archetype, I mean, Lolo said that Engkantasia is a world that exists separate from the human world.
This has some... implications.
1.) By "world" does he mean actual world? like not just a country or an area or whatever? Because the way he described it (with clans and only one King to rule them all), it seems pretty small. And if it's really a huge world, why would there be only one king? Wouldn't clans break off from the monarchy and start their own country? Because I feel like other creatures wouldn't be too cool with following foreign authority. Also, it is kinda classist to only have engkantos rule. What would they know of the plight of the tikbalang? The duwende? The sirena? Those hoity-toity engkantos don't, that's what. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
2.) Assuming that Engkantasia isn't geographically located in the Philippines but is, as the Lolo says, an actual literal world as big as the human world, does that mean that... Filipino myths have always had a secret monopoly on the magical world? Or do other culture's myths have their own worlds too? Do they every overlap? Why not?
3.) If it's always been so, why are Engkantasia denizens spotted only in Philippine mythology? There's plenty of centaurs in other myths but not a lot of tikbalang. Same goes with the tiyanak. If their world isn't confined to just the Philippines, why don't they go somewhere else? Somewhere the royal family don't normally look? It can't be that hard. In the novel, clan leaders got to San Francisco without any problems, supposedly because their "portal" or whatever can take them anywhere in the human world, right? So... why have they just been popping up in the Philippines?
Characters
There's not much I can write about this section because the characters are just so... uninteresting. The MC has little to no personality. At one point, the MC tells us that she's super clumsy and uncoordinated and I was legit expecting something to come out of it. Well, nothing came out of it. And yeah, clumsy is like the worst non-character trait out there but at least it would have been something.
The Story
I firmly believe that no matter how weak or ineffective the writing is, a good story can still shine through. Unfortunately, this book doesn't really have a decent enough story to begin with so...
And do I really need to explain why? I mean, if you read the summary (and have seen or read anything with a similar premise), you can figure out what happens in the book. It's that predictable and cliched.
Seriously What Even Was This Book
Other reviewers have pointed out that for a Filipino novel that tackled Filipino mythological creatures, there just isn't anything very Filipino about this novel. Not the voice of the narrator. Not the characters. Not even the story itself. Which is a real shame because a story like this could have resonated with young migrant Filipinos trying to figure out their own identity. The MC being pressured to take on the role that her lineage forces on her could have been a great metaphor for Fil-am kids struggling to accept their cultural identity (especially those who've never set foot in their homeland).
Maybe the author didn't want to alienate non-Filipino readers and I can understand that. But by making a story for everyone, you kind of end up with a story for no one. This book isn't for Filipinos or for Fil-ams and I can't see how non-Filipinos could connect with the story either.
The epilogue teased a sequel and I think it's already out but I highly doubt I'd be picking it up any time soon. If it's anything like the first book, I'll pass.
Unfortunately, halfway through the novel, I realized that I simply couldn't like the book because there was nothing in the book for me to like.
SPOILERS ahead, I guess.
The Writing
The long and the short of it is... the writing is abysmal. Everything from the clunky way the sentences flowed, weird word choices, confusing tone, jarring transitions, sluggish pace, incoherent timeline - everything about it just kept me out of the story. It's just incompetent story telling, to be honest. There were even technical errors like misspellings (my favorite being "Vomiting blood or puss*") and several instances of violating the multi-paragraph quotation rule.
However, my biggest gripe with the writing is the mismanaged timeline. Probably the best example of this is on the opening few pages. The novel has a cold opening, jumping right into the action in the "present". Record scratch. Freeze frame. Yup, that's the MC. You're probably wondering how she and her friends got into this mess. Well, let's start at the beginning. Well, actually, let's start before the beginning for like a few paragraphs or something. Then we're back to the beginning, the night before MC's 16th birthday (because things always happen to teenagers). While we're in this flashback, let's flashback some more, flashforward a bit, flashback to a couple of years, then, after a song and a dance, we'll go back to the "present," where all the action is... which we'll resolved in a page or so. Then MC and friends go to sleep.
Confused? SO WAS I.
Usually, I'm all for non-linear stories but this was just ridiculous. There were flashbacks WITHIN flashbacks. And not even really necessary flashbacks, just to recall (in detail) how MC became friends with her friends.
Reality Violations
The story is set in San Francisco, USA (which doesn't really matter or anything but we'll get to that in a second) and the MC, like all YA heroines, still go to high school. The problem is, the book tells us that it's June. A quick Google search will tell you that American schools close for summer break at around that time. And the characters continue going to school weeks into June, with no indication of summer break coming soon. Plus, another weird thing about MC's supposedly American (and I'm going to assume public) school? THEY HAVE UNIFORMS. That's not a thing in most American schools.
To top it all off, a couple of chapters in, MC tells us that about six weeks after her birthday (in June) have passed yet when they found her mother later in the book, a "news report" tells us that it's STILL JUNE. I'm no mathematician but even I know that that doesn't add up.
The Setting and why it didn't matter
As mentioned, this story about engkantos and Filipino mythological creatures is set in the west. However, it could have happened in Mars for all we'd know. Absolutely nothing is affected by the foreign setting. Not the main character. Not her friends. Not her family. Not even the Filipino magical creatures. The story exists in a vacuum that resembles only the basic aspects of the real world.
It's obvious that the author is following the Philippine school year (June-April). The MC never really thinks about the Philippines and how different the culture is in the west. The MC's white friends are never confused about anything supposedly Filipino related. Heck, the Filipino magical creatures (including her lolo) don't even seem perplexed about the western world. And while we're at it, what language are these creatures speaking in? English? Why? How?
This concept of having Filipino creatures in a foreign country could have been really interesting if it was explored more. But it wasn't. What we did get was pages and pages of a stupid love story that was forced and bland. Priorities.
Worldbuilding
Just a short bit (edit: I lied. this is one of the longest bit) since this is mostly related to the previous bit. The Master Archetype, I mean, Lolo said that Engkantasia is a world that exists separate from the human world.
This has some... implications.
1.) By "world" does he mean actual world? like not just a country or an area or whatever? Because the way he described it (with clans and only one King to rule them all), it seems pretty small. And if it's really a huge world, why would there be only one king? Wouldn't clans break off from the monarchy and start their own country? Because I feel like other creatures wouldn't be too cool with following foreign authority. Also, it is kinda classist to only have engkantos rule. What would they know of the plight of the tikbalang? The duwende? The sirena? Those hoity-toity engkantos don't, that's what. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
2.) Assuming that Engkantasia isn't geographically located in the Philippines but is, as the Lolo says, an actual literal world as big as the human world, does that mean that... Filipino myths have always had a secret monopoly on the magical world? Or do other culture's myths have their own worlds too? Do they every overlap? Why not?
3.) If it's always been so, why are Engkantasia denizens spotted only in Philippine mythology? There's plenty of centaurs in other myths but not a lot of tikbalang. Same goes with the tiyanak. If their world isn't confined to just the Philippines, why don't they go somewhere else? Somewhere the royal family don't normally look? It can't be that hard. In the novel, clan leaders got to San Francisco without any problems, supposedly because their "portal" or whatever can take them anywhere in the human world, right? So... why have they just been popping up in the Philippines?
Characters
There's not much I can write about this section because the characters are just so... uninteresting. The MC has little to no personality. At one point, the MC tells us that she's super clumsy and uncoordinated and I was legit expecting something to come out of it. Well, nothing came out of it. And yeah, clumsy is like the worst non-character trait out there but at least it would have been something.
The Story
I firmly believe that no matter how weak or ineffective the writing is, a good story can still shine through. Unfortunately, this book doesn't really have a decent enough story to begin with so...
And do I really need to explain why? I mean, if you read the summary (and have seen or read anything with a similar premise), you can figure out what happens in the book. It's that predictable and cliched.
Seriously What Even Was This Book
Other reviewers have pointed out that for a Filipino novel that tackled Filipino mythological creatures, there just isn't anything very Filipino about this novel. Not the voice of the narrator. Not the characters. Not even the story itself. Which is a real shame because a story like this could have resonated with young migrant Filipinos trying to figure out their own identity. The MC being pressured to take on the role that her lineage forces on her could have been a great metaphor for Fil-am kids struggling to accept their cultural identity (especially those who've never set foot in their homeland).
Maybe the author didn't want to alienate non-Filipino readers and I can understand that. But by making a story for everyone, you kind of end up with a story for no one. This book isn't for Filipinos or for Fil-ams and I can't see how non-Filipinos could connect with the story either.
The epilogue teased a sequel and I think it's already out but I highly doubt I'd be picking it up any time soon. If it's anything like the first book, I'll pass.
January 10, 2018
The Girl Between Two Worlds makes use of Philippine mythology, with prominent figures in the pantheon as players in the fiction. However, given the attempt to revive an interest in Philippine mythology—emphasis on Philippine—whether it succeeds in establishing the Filipino given the setting it employs is questionable.
General/Writing
The story is set in the United States, and though the protagonist is part-Filipino and had spent most of her childhood in the Philippines, the novel doesn’t sound Filipino at all. In fact, the novel doesn’t sound like anything in particular. To say that the language is bland would be untrue, because it does attempt to sound like a girl, just turned sixteen and struggling to reconcile her non-magical routine with her magical nature. But save for a few dated pop culture references, the tone monotonous; it lacks character. The rare times it doesn’t, it sounds rather forced. An example of this reads:
Seemingly without a deeper purpose, the novel breaks the rule of “show, don’t tell”—without any payoff.
A possible reason for this is that the novel is an attempt to introduce Philippine mythology to more international readers, and relatively younger ones, too. However, this doesn’t justify the skeleton summation of the novel, and instead does Philippine mythology the injustice of being presented in a bare-bones light. More than anything, such an excuse for the poor narration just echoes the (false) notion that style being a weak point can be excused “because it is the content—the ideas and the story—that really matter” (Mandala 19) The Filipino reader might find the introduction of the creatures passable simply because they are already familiar staples in Philippine lore, but given the foreign setting that the novel employs, the space to make these creatures real is wasted.
Another problem I see with the novel in terms of genre is that the decision to have the story take place outside the Philippines compounds the distance between the primary world and the secondary world it is trying to set up. Engkantasia, the alternate magical world, becomes slightly more inaccessible than it should be, because the reader enters this world through a foreign land that wasn’t made familiar by the language that it was set up with. Given that most of the novel wasn’t contextualized to begin with, the obligation is heaped upon the reader to construct a space in which to place these characters.
What this novel has going for it** is that it makes it easier for the Filipino reader to sympathize with the mythological creatures thus transported to the United States, being the foreigners instead of the locals. However, this creates a disjunct because the real world to interact with is farther and less concrete.
Characters
Karina wasn't believable at all. The characterization was a pantomime at best, and an insult to sixteen-year-old girls at worst. The voice wasn't organic to the character, and the further you read, the more you feel inclined to disabuse yourself of the idea that it's worth suspending disbelief. She goes through the motions, and there's an attempt to rise above that and be a character, but it ultimately fails. She's forgettable. She's not someone I root for. That she doesn't redeem her, because I wasn't sympathetic.
The love interest/anti-hero/antagonist is so bland that I'd forgotten his name.
I had high hopes for this book prior to reading it, but I was disappointed with the way it was executed. The idea has merits, especially given the dearth of alternate worlds fiction in the Philippines, but it's a sad offering.
**although this begs interrogation
Mandala, Susan. Language in Science Fiction and Fantasy: The Question of Style
General/Writing
The story is set in the United States, and though the protagonist is part-Filipino and had spent most of her childhood in the Philippines, the novel doesn’t sound Filipino at all. In fact, the novel doesn’t sound like anything in particular. To say that the language is bland would be untrue, because it does attempt to sound like a girl, just turned sixteen and struggling to reconcile her non-magical routine with her magical nature. But save for a few dated pop culture references, the tone monotonous; it lacks character. The rare times it doesn’t, it sounds rather forced. An example of this reads:
When English finally ended, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I didn’t even notice I barely moved during the entire class so my leg fell asleep. It took me a while to get out of my seat, and by then, I only had a few minutes to spare before my next class. I resolved to just go through the day and focus on the tasks ahead of me.
Seemingly without a deeper purpose, the novel breaks the rule of “show, don’t tell”—without any payoff.
A possible reason for this is that the novel is an attempt to introduce Philippine mythology to more international readers, and relatively younger ones, too. However, this doesn’t justify the skeleton summation of the novel, and instead does Philippine mythology the injustice of being presented in a bare-bones light. More than anything, such an excuse for the poor narration just echoes the (false) notion that style being a weak point can be excused “because it is the content—the ideas and the story—that really matter” (Mandala 19) The Filipino reader might find the introduction of the creatures passable simply because they are already familiar staples in Philippine lore, but given the foreign setting that the novel employs, the space to make these creatures real is wasted.
Another problem I see with the novel in terms of genre is that the decision to have the story take place outside the Philippines compounds the distance between the primary world and the secondary world it is trying to set up. Engkantasia, the alternate magical world, becomes slightly more inaccessible than it should be, because the reader enters this world through a foreign land that wasn’t made familiar by the language that it was set up with. Given that most of the novel wasn’t contextualized to begin with, the obligation is heaped upon the reader to construct a space in which to place these characters.
What this novel has going for it** is that it makes it easier for the Filipino reader to sympathize with the mythological creatures thus transported to the United States, being the foreigners instead of the locals. However, this creates a disjunct because the real world to interact with is farther and less concrete.
Characters
Karina wasn't believable at all. The characterization was a pantomime at best, and an insult to sixteen-year-old girls at worst. The voice wasn't organic to the character, and the further you read, the more you feel inclined to disabuse yourself of the idea that it's worth suspending disbelief. She goes through the motions, and there's an attempt to rise above that and be a character, but it ultimately fails. She's forgettable. She's not someone I root for. That she doesn't redeem her, because I wasn't sympathetic.
The love interest/anti-hero/antagonist is so bland that I'd forgotten his name.
I had high hopes for this book prior to reading it, but I was disappointed with the way it was executed. The idea has merits, especially given the dearth of alternate worlds fiction in the Philippines, but it's a sad offering.
**although this begs interrogation
Mandala, Susan. Language in Science Fiction and Fantasy: The Question of Style
January 21, 2018
1.5 - 2 stars
✔️a book written by a Filipino author
I think I've emphasized enough that I'm not a fan of YA but there are times when I just want to read one. I just find myself in that mood, ya know? So I picked this one up because my bestfriend (Hi Beryl Andrea!!!) recommended it to me. She thought I'd love it because the book is all about Philippine mythology and I love, and I mean LOVE, Philippine mythology.
But I didn't enjoy it as much. For one, there were minor inconsistencies and several repetitions (esp with Karina's sentiments about the goings-on in her life). One inconsistency I can recall is the color of Jason's eyes. First, they were described as "piercing green with a hint of blue" (side note: I know it's such a tiny detail but how could Karina have observed the specifications of his eye color when she watched him from a distance? Unless she got up close and stared at him? I must have missed something? I don't know??). Later on in the book, his eyes had flecks of gold in them. What? Whaaat? Or maybe I'm overthinking this? It just bothered me. It wouldn't have if it wasn't such an obvious thing to me.
But anyway.
I also had problems with the transitions - one scene to another, one chunky dialogue to another. They weren't handled very well. Moreover, the dialogues felt a bit awkward and unnatural (?). Like no way people talk like this. Some of them are stiff or rigid, if that makes sense? And the jokes. Oh gosh, the jokes. They felt forced and weren't funny at all. At all.
Another problematic thing for me was how everything was just thrown at me right from the beginning. Sure there was a bit of tension but it made the what were supposed to be exciting parts anticlimactic. Like I wasn't even surprised of Karina's family background or Jason's big secret. I saw them coming. The details that were supposed to give life and magic to the story didn't live up to what they were supposed to do. The narration wasn't anything special, more telling than showing, the writing rather monotonous. The characters fell a bit flat as well. Everybody was forgettable. There was little distinction among characters especially with their dialogues. They all sounded almost the same. More importantly though is the fact that none of them seemed believable to me. They felt artificial and uninteresting which I guess was why I wasn't invested enough. Karina and Jason didn't have an ounce of chemistry between them; I didn't care about their relationship. Or anyone really.
I did enjoy the mythological aspects of this one. But not as much as Naermyth. I wish Levis explored and expounded the mythology instead of coming up with cardboard cutouts of the more prominent creatures. It's such a shame because Philippine mythology has such a diverse and fascinating bunch of creatures and monsters.
Last thing. I know the "Filipino-ness" of the book doesn't matter; but for this one, it kinda does. At least for me. I don't know why but the book didn't feel Filipino at all despite the various details that would make it Filipino. The setting didn't work; the mythology, although pretty good but scarcely detailed, seemed disconnected. And every time the Engkanto or the half-Filipino characters spoke, I hear them speaking the Filipino words in an English accent (Lolo sounds like low-low, manananggal sounds like me-ney-neyng-gall). My own doing, for sure, but it's annoying.
So am I going to read the second book when it comes out? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
✔️a book written by a Filipino author
I think I've emphasized enough that I'm not a fan of YA but there are times when I just want to read one. I just find myself in that mood, ya know? So I picked this one up because my bestfriend (Hi Beryl Andrea!!!) recommended it to me. She thought I'd love it because the book is all about Philippine mythology and I love, and I mean LOVE, Philippine mythology.
But I didn't enjoy it as much. For one, there were minor inconsistencies and several repetitions (esp with Karina's sentiments about the goings-on in her life). One inconsistency I can recall is the color of Jason's eyes. First, they were described as "piercing green with a hint of blue" (side note: I know it's such a tiny detail but how could Karina have observed the specifications of his eye color when she watched him from a distance? Unless she got up close and stared at him? I must have missed something? I don't know??). Later on in the book, his eyes had flecks of gold in them. What? Whaaat? Or maybe I'm overthinking this? It just bothered me. It wouldn't have if it wasn't such an obvious thing to me.
But anyway.
I also had problems with the transitions - one scene to another, one chunky dialogue to another. They weren't handled very well. Moreover, the dialogues felt a bit awkward and unnatural (?). Like no way people talk like this. Some of them are stiff or rigid, if that makes sense? And the jokes. Oh gosh, the jokes. They felt forced and weren't funny at all. At all.
Another problematic thing for me was how everything was just thrown at me right from the beginning. Sure there was a bit of tension but it made the what were supposed to be exciting parts anticlimactic. Like I wasn't even surprised of Karina's family background or Jason's big secret. I saw them coming. The details that were supposed to give life and magic to the story didn't live up to what they were supposed to do. The narration wasn't anything special, more telling than showing, the writing rather monotonous. The characters fell a bit flat as well. Everybody was forgettable. There was little distinction among characters especially with their dialogues. They all sounded almost the same. More importantly though is the fact that none of them seemed believable to me. They felt artificial and uninteresting which I guess was why I wasn't invested enough. Karina and Jason didn't have an ounce of chemistry between them; I didn't care about their relationship. Or anyone really.
I did enjoy the mythological aspects of this one. But not as much as Naermyth. I wish Levis explored and expounded the mythology instead of coming up with cardboard cutouts of the more prominent creatures. It's such a shame because Philippine mythology has such a diverse and fascinating bunch of creatures and monsters.
Last thing. I know the "Filipino-ness" of the book doesn't matter; but for this one, it kinda does. At least for me. I don't know why but the book didn't feel Filipino at all despite the various details that would make it Filipino. The setting didn't work; the mythology, although pretty good but scarcely detailed, seemed disconnected. And every time the Engkanto or the half-Filipino characters spoke, I hear them speaking the Filipino words in an English accent (Lolo sounds like low-low, manananggal sounds like me-ney-neyng-gall). My own doing, for sure, but it's annoying.
So am I going to read the second book when it comes out? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
December 14, 2018
I think this is an example of a book that I would have liked much, much better if I was younger.
I love the concept, that it's a girl of Filipino heritage finding out she's the "special one" of a fantasy world that's based on Filipino legends but. . . plotwise it's pretty cookie cutter and there's really nothing that makes it stand out or particularly interesting besides the fact that it uses Filipino mythology.
Also, the main character is. . . okay, technically it's in the point of view of a "teenage" girl so there is some appropriateness that it most of the time seems like your reading an angsty teens diary but. . . I dunno, the prose is either bland or overwrought.
I love the concept, that it's a girl of Filipino heritage finding out she's the "special one" of a fantasy world that's based on Filipino legends but. . . plotwise it's pretty cookie cutter and there's really nothing that makes it stand out or particularly interesting besides the fact that it uses Filipino mythology.
Also, the main character is. . . okay, technically it's in the point of view of a "teenage" girl so there is some appropriateness that it most of the time seems like your reading an angsty teens diary but. . . I dunno, the prose is either bland or overwrought.
August 20, 2016
I actually wanted a book or read a story with this kind of plot. So when i saw this on a bookstore shelf, I immediately picked it up and bought it. The whole story did not disappoint and it was an easy read. Will there ever be a sequel to this? :)
August 26, 2017
There are various things that I would like to say about "The Girl Between Two Worlds" by K.M. Levis. In this review, I would discuss everything that I liked about it, along with some of the issues that I encountered while reading.
The title of the book was intriguing. On the other hand, the book cover didn't appeal to me as much. When I started reading, I immediately enjoyed the first 3 pages that I found myself annotating. However, as the story progressed, I somewhat got frustrated with the writing style. It was too simple and cliche; but first, the "simple" part: I am not saying that the book must contain numerous metaphors or various wordplay, but something was missing. It was like the book was giving me everything directly, with not much descriptions or whatsoever. I needed to get into their world and to see that said world through the characters' eyes. At some point, I just needed more creativity in relation to how it was written. Now, the "cliche" part: There were some parts here that were just... cliche, like how the main character, Karina, described Jason in one part of the book. Most parts were also predictable, although still enjoyable (which I would elaborate on the latter part of this review). My last issue with this book was... "Engkantasia". The name of the other world was simply a disappointment for me. The name itself kind of ruined the "other world" for me, and I just wish that it had a different name other than "Engkantasia".
On the other hand, despite my issues with this book, I still enjoyed it very much. My favorite part includes the illustrations inside and the brief descriptions of mythological creatures. These illustrations and brief descriptions managed to bring more to the experience of reading about such creatures. It was nice to see illustrations of the creatures being talked about, as well as acquiring more information about their physical characteristics and how to defeat them. I failed to build a strong connection with the characters, but I did admire the friendship of the characters in here.
I really liked the premise of this book, since it talked about Filipino mythological creatures. Although I had a number of issues with this book, it still managed to entertain me. Therefore, I've decided to give this book 3.5/5 stars.
The title of the book was intriguing. On the other hand, the book cover didn't appeal to me as much. When I started reading, I immediately enjoyed the first 3 pages that I found myself annotating. However, as the story progressed, I somewhat got frustrated with the writing style. It was too simple and cliche; but first, the "simple" part: I am not saying that the book must contain numerous metaphors or various wordplay, but something was missing. It was like the book was giving me everything directly, with not much descriptions or whatsoever. I needed to get into their world and to see that said world through the characters' eyes. At some point, I just needed more creativity in relation to how it was written. Now, the "cliche" part: There were some parts here that were just... cliche, like how the main character, Karina, described Jason in one part of the book. Most parts were also predictable, although still enjoyable (which I would elaborate on the latter part of this review). My last issue with this book was... "Engkantasia". The name of the other world was simply a disappointment for me. The name itself kind of ruined the "other world" for me, and I just wish that it had a different name other than "Engkantasia".
On the other hand, despite my issues with this book, I still enjoyed it very much. My favorite part includes the illustrations inside and the brief descriptions of mythological creatures. These illustrations and brief descriptions managed to bring more to the experience of reading about such creatures. It was nice to see illustrations of the creatures being talked about, as well as acquiring more information about their physical characteristics and how to defeat them. I failed to build a strong connection with the characters, but I did admire the friendship of the characters in here.
I really liked the premise of this book, since it talked about Filipino mythological creatures. Although I had a number of issues with this book, it still managed to entertain me. Therefore, I've decided to give this book 3.5/5 stars.
March 28, 2018
This is the book that made me remember the saying, "Maturity does not come with age, but rather it comes with the acceptance of responsibility." Ever since her mother disappeared, she has been the one of full responsibility in their house wherein her dad was the only other person in there. She was the one who decides what to eat, what to buy for grocery, and other "adult" stuff that a teenager girl like her was not supposed to be worrying about. Take note: she was only around 13 years old when her mother disappeared and she started being the decision-maker in her family.
I can totally see the similarity of this situation in the real-life situation of some families wherein a child has to act as a parent just to make the family stick together and for them to be able to survive.
I can totally see the similarity of this situation in the real-life situation of some families wherein a child has to act as a parent just to make the family stick together and for them to be able to survive.
May 4, 2018
This was certainly a little different and though there were some obvious problems with the language it was still a most enjoyable book for the YA audience. Tightening up is often hard in the first book but freshness and an interesting story line is always welcome.
January 14, 2021
When Karina turns 16 her life changes. She manifests magical abilities and supernatural beings are hunting her down. She already had to deal with the loss of her mother who disappeared without a trace when she and her parents moved from the Philippines to America. When her grandfather shows up and tells her that she isn’t half Australia and half Filipino as she once thought. In fact she is half human and half Engkanto and her mother was a Princess from Engkantasia.
Her grandfather explains that warring clans are trying to take his throne as he has no heir apparent and that he needs Karina to come back with him to take her place as Queen one day. He also feels that these clans may have had something to do with her mom's disappearance. Karina, with the help of her two best friends, agrees to train, hone her powers and prepare to fight for her survival, find her mother and defend the throne.
I give the book 🌟🌟. I wanted to love this story as it had an intriguing premise and a mix of fantasy creatures with real characters from Philippines folklore but unfortunately the story fell flat for me. The timeline was very confusing and not only did it flit from the past (to explain Karina's mother's disappearance) to the present but also the present wasn't consistent and chopped and changed from chapter to chapter. The plot plays out over three months but it always stays June 2015. I didn’t feel like there was enough depth to the Karina and the other main characters so I never really connected with her or them. I did like the concept of the book and the descriptions and creativity of the multiple supernatural creatures were impressive and I would have loved to read more details about them. Overall the plot and dialog just let it down. It was clunky and disjointed at times - some scenes made no sense when a decision was made at the end of one chapter and it being reversed at the start of the next without explanation. This was almost a DNF book but I finished it hoping it would improve. Sadly I won't be reading the next book in this series.
Her grandfather explains that warring clans are trying to take his throne as he has no heir apparent and that he needs Karina to come back with him to take her place as Queen one day. He also feels that these clans may have had something to do with her mom's disappearance. Karina, with the help of her two best friends, agrees to train, hone her powers and prepare to fight for her survival, find her mother and defend the throne.
I give the book 🌟🌟. I wanted to love this story as it had an intriguing premise and a mix of fantasy creatures with real characters from Philippines folklore but unfortunately the story fell flat for me. The timeline was very confusing and not only did it flit from the past (to explain Karina's mother's disappearance) to the present but also the present wasn't consistent and chopped and changed from chapter to chapter. The plot plays out over three months but it always stays June 2015. I didn’t feel like there was enough depth to the Karina and the other main characters so I never really connected with her or them. I did like the concept of the book and the descriptions and creativity of the multiple supernatural creatures were impressive and I would have loved to read more details about them. Overall the plot and dialog just let it down. It was clunky and disjointed at times - some scenes made no sense when a decision was made at the end of one chapter and it being reversed at the start of the next without explanation. This was almost a DNF book but I finished it hoping it would improve. Sadly I won't be reading the next book in this series.
August 17, 2021
*2.5 STARS
This is the first Filipino Mythology Fantasy book I’ve ever read and I really had high expectations for this one. Upon reading the synopsis of the book, I instantly thought that I would love this book since I was starting to like fantasy. While reading, I also did notice the confusing timeframe of the story. The first chapter started at June 2015 and around Chapter 13 or 14 it was stated that there are 5 weeks left for her training (she had to undergo 3 months of training). But on the following chapters, it was still June 2015. Confusing right? Also, even if she was in the middle of training during the 1st Chapter, the setting should not be still “June 2015” for the latter chapters (if my calculations are right). In addition, the characters were residing in America but they‘re attending school in June, which should have been a school break.
The climax was very brief and it felt so rush. The love line was okay but I think it was not necessary for this book and hoped the author focused on the world build up instead. I hate to say it, but sadly, it did not lived up to my expectations and find it lacking in the world build up and character development.
This is the first Filipino Mythology Fantasy book I’ve ever read and I really had high expectations for this one. Upon reading the synopsis of the book, I instantly thought that I would love this book since I was starting to like fantasy. While reading, I also did notice the confusing timeframe of the story. The first chapter started at June 2015 and around Chapter 13 or 14 it was stated that there are 5 weeks left for her training (she had to undergo 3 months of training). But on the following chapters, it was still June 2015. Confusing right? Also, even if she was in the middle of training during the 1st Chapter, the setting should not be still “June 2015” for the latter chapters (if my calculations are right). In addition, the characters were residing in America but they‘re attending school in June, which should have been a school break.
The climax was very brief and it felt so rush. The love line was okay but I think it was not necessary for this book and hoped the author focused on the world build up instead. I hate to say it, but sadly, it did not lived up to my expectations and find it lacking in the world build up and character development.
December 27, 2020
I had a sudden interest in reading local Filipino books this year amid the pandemic situation when I accidentally stumbled upon this book. This book was also at the right timing because it's been a while since I’ve read a YA fantasy book.
I like the concept of this book: using Filipino myths and mysteries in a modern setup. The first half of the book took a while to build its plot and storyline, but it eventually turns into an interesting one in the second half. Not bad for a prequel, I look forward to more adventures and twists on the second book.
I like the concept of this book: using Filipino myths and mysteries in a modern setup. The first half of the book took a while to build its plot and storyline, but it eventually turns into an interesting one in the second half. Not bad for a prequel, I look forward to more adventures and twists on the second book.
September 23, 2018
I wanted to like this so much. It’s a great concept; however the writing was mediocre at best. The editing was nothing short of horrendous. The story felt disjointed and there were so many grammatical errors that wouldn’t get past an editor worth her salt. On top of it all, the ending is utterly predictable.
Shame. It had so much potential.
Shame. It had so much potential.
March 9, 2019
I've been wanting to read this for so long, and ugh...it exceeded my already high expectations. As tropey as it was, Levis managed to subvert them effectively. This book was a well-oiled emotional rollercoaster and I want to see this squad continue to thrive. We need more Filipino mythical creature stories in Fil-Am settings.
May 5, 2019
This was a good read. Positive points for building a universe where fantasy creatures from Philippine mythology exist but separated from humans. One thing I didn't like (and this is just my personal preference) is the teen love story which seemed forced.
I have the sequel book waiting and I'm going to read it next.
I have the sequel book waiting and I'm going to read it next.
August 18, 2016
One of the Fantasy Romance novels that I truly like!
Karina and Jason are LOVE!
More about these two and my opinion with the regards the story on my blog site soon.
Karina and Jason are LOVE!
More about these two and my opinion with the regards the story on my blog site soon.
March 9, 2018
From Baguio to Cebu <3
June 24, 2018
It was fascinating ^_^
December 14, 2019
3.75/5 stars
May 4, 2020
The book was really intense and awesome. It was so good that I finished it in 2 days.
December 13, 2021
It is a great book to start reading in the fantasy genre. Somewhere predictable. But easy reading.
Love the drawings of the creatures in the book.
Love the drawings of the creatures in the book.
March 29, 2019
As other reviewers have said, I wanted so badly to love this book. I liked it, certainly, but I can't say I loved it.
Let me start by saying it means the world to me to have a book that utilizes Filipino mythology and has a Filipina protagonist. I picked this up partially because I'm wanting to broaden my understanding of my heritage's folklore, and this offered a few more nuggets that I hadn't previously known. (I will have to check to see if those nuggets are truly based in the mythology or are made up for the purposes of the book, but that's another story.) I genuinely want Lewis to continue writing in this world and intend to read the sequel regardless of the fact I "only" liked it, as .I think much of my quibbles come from inexperience in novel writing more than anything else
That said, my quibbles:
1) A more personal, your mileage may vary sort of issue, but unless a book is written for middle school reading level or younger I really don't find it appropriate to write in first person perspective. It just feels more juvenile and I really dislike reading anything meant for older than that age range written in it. Although, as I reflect on the language used, maybe this was meant to be juvenile-- I thought at first that it might be meant more for a high school reading level, but with the word choice/way it read, it might be more middle school after all. Not certain if that's what Lewis intended, but at least in that case there might be more consistency
2) Keeping the timeline straight in the beginning of this book was a struggle. The "flashback" pages discussing things that happened before the novel starts would have been easy enough to adjust to on their own. However, the timing of , which the book opens with, confused me. As Karina caught us up on her background and how she discovered her powers/the aftermath of that, the way that those chapters were written made me think that event happened at a different point than it ended up being, and it was jarring. I got over it once we were moving more "in time" with her, though.
3) Pacing. Probably my biggest issue with this book. I genuinely can't tell you if it moved too slow or too fast overall because it just really was very off. On the one hand, the speed with which Karina excelled at her powers stretched my suspension of disbelief a bit too far. On the other, some of the plot elements like felt way too rushed. There were a lot of different threads throughout the book that, although they wrapped up decently, were a little difficult to feel entirely properly developed in the amount of time we had. Since Lewis was already planning on making this a series, it might have been more valuable to hone in on one narrative thread for the duration of this novel-- Perhaps . That would have given both the plot and character development more time to breathe and feel less odd.
All this said, the value I find in a book based in Filipino mythology was too much not to finish it regardless of the issues I had, and there were a great many things I did love. The devotion to family shown by Karina and her mother in particular rang very true to my own experience, and I loved what she did at the end of the novel as a result of that devotion. As I stated above, I'm still going to read the sequel, and I hope that maybe the responses Lewis has received from this book in addition to the experience she now has will help to clean up some of the issues I had with the first.
Let me start by saying it means the world to me to have a book that utilizes Filipino mythology and has a Filipina protagonist. I picked this up partially because I'm wanting to broaden my understanding of my heritage's folklore, and this offered a few more nuggets that I hadn't previously known. (I will have to check to see if those nuggets are truly based in the mythology or are made up for the purposes of the book, but that's another story.) I genuinely want Lewis to continue writing in this world and intend to read the sequel regardless of the fact I "only" liked it, as .I think much of my quibbles come from inexperience in novel writing more than anything else
That said, my quibbles:
1) A more personal, your mileage may vary sort of issue, but unless a book is written for middle school reading level or younger I really don't find it appropriate to write in first person perspective. It just feels more juvenile and I really dislike reading anything meant for older than that age range written in it. Although, as I reflect on the language used, maybe this was meant to be juvenile-- I thought at first that it might be meant more for a high school reading level, but with the word choice/way it read, it might be more middle school after all. Not certain if that's what Lewis intended, but at least in that case there might be more consistency
2) Keeping the timeline straight in the beginning of this book was a struggle. The "flashback" pages discussing things that happened before the novel starts would have been easy enough to adjust to on their own. However, the timing of , which the book opens with, confused me. As Karina caught us up on her background and how she discovered her powers/the aftermath of that, the way that those chapters were written made me think that event happened at a different point than it ended up being, and it was jarring. I got over it once we were moving more "in time" with her, though.
3) Pacing. Probably my biggest issue with this book. I genuinely can't tell you if it moved too slow or too fast overall because it just really was very off. On the one hand, the speed with which Karina excelled at her powers stretched my suspension of disbelief a bit too far. On the other, some of the plot elements like felt way too rushed. There were a lot of different threads throughout the book that, although they wrapped up decently, were a little difficult to feel entirely properly developed in the amount of time we had. Since Lewis was already planning on making this a series, it might have been more valuable to hone in on one narrative thread for the duration of this novel-- Perhaps . That would have given both the plot and character development more time to breathe and feel less odd.
All this said, the value I find in a book based in Filipino mythology was too much not to finish it regardless of the issues I had, and there were a great many things I did love. The devotion to family shown by Karina and her mother in particular rang very true to my own experience, and I loved what she did at the end of the novel as a result of that devotion. As I stated above, I'm still going to read the sequel, and I hope that maybe the responses Lewis has received from this book in addition to the experience she now has will help to clean up some of the issues I had with the first.
Read
June 1, 2023I’m not going to nitpick. The YA-ness was there and I was entertained and got invested. Hoping to read the rest of the trilogy sometime
September 18, 2023
how ru gna write a book about filipino mythology & have 0 filipino characters
December 6, 2025
my all time fav. one of reasons why I loved reading and why I started to read novels & fictions. easy to read
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