Renganaton Books 1 & 2 by Obake – Review
Or Bookiesodes, as Obake refers to them. (I like it!)
The Renganaton series is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to come across when I started this Bookstagram journey. Without Instagram, I’d never have connected with Obake and discovered their books. They also seem like a genuinely nice person from the conversations we’ve had, which always makes discovering an independent author’s work that little bit more special.
I’m not even 100% sure what genre to pigeonhole this series into, but if I had to pick, I’d go with sci-fi, thanks to the advanced medical technology and the mysterious power possessed by our main character.
Speaking of our main character, he’s a teenage boy named Galdor. Galdor comes from an abusive household and has been beaten nearly to death on more than one occasion by his father. However, thanks to the aforementioned medical technology, the damage can often be repaired remarkably quickly, sometimes within a day. It’s a pretty disturbing concept when you think about it: technology that can repair the physical damage but does nothing to address the trauma behind it.
Galdor also has some kind of power, although after two books, it’s still something of a mystery. It seems a bit like astral projection crossed with telekinesis, but I’m still not entirely sure how it works or what its limitations are. For most of the first two Bookiesodes, you get the impression that Galdor is the only person with this ability, but towards the end of the second book, we get hints that his father might possess it too. Naturally, this leaves me wanting to know more.
So, let’s look at the books themselves.
Bookiesode 1 – Where Do I Go from Here?
At around 150 pages, this first Bookiesode introduces us to Galdor, his family dynamic and his group of friends, whom he calls his Taba. Galdor and the Taba spend much of their free time free running across rooftops. It sounds a bit like parkour to me, although I’m sure there’s a difference!
Galdor is also at an age where he’s clearly going through something of a sexual awakening, which leads him into some complicated situations. Between his home life, his friendships, his emerging sexuality and the mystery surrounding his powers, there’s quite a lot going on for one teenager to deal with.
Now, I should probably mention something about the writing style. If you’re looking for a refined, meticulously edited piece of literature, this probably isn’t it. This is what I’d call raw literature. Yes, there are typos, and some sentences go on a bit longer than they probably should, but do you know what? It doesn’t really matter to me, because the story keeps you invested and carries you along.
In fact, I think that rawness actually lends itself to the landscape of Renganaton. There’s something about the unpolished feel of the writing that fits the world Obake has created. It doesn’t feel overly sanitised or polished, and that works for me.
I really enjoyed this first book. It introduced me to a fascinating world, a troubled but intriguing main character and enough unanswered questions to keep me interested.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Bookiesode 2 – Ups and Downs
This Bookiesode continues Galdor’s journey as he enters into a relationship with Marmarie, a very broken and vulnerable young woman who seems to want something more from both herself and Galdor. Galdor, however, is very much a free spirit, and that creates its own complications.
Their relationship adds another layer to Galdor’s character. He’s clearly trying to navigate his own feelings and desires, but he’s not necessarily equipped to deal with the emotional needs of someone else. Neither character is perfect, and their interactions reflect that. It’s messy, complicated and, at times, uncomfortable, which feels appropriate for a story dealing with young people trying to figure themselves out.
This book also delves further into Galdor’s family dynamics. The origin story of his stepmother is particularly heartbreaking and was probably one of my favourite parts of the book. What could easily have remained a one-dimensional character is given much more depth, and I found myself becoming emotionally attached to her. It’s a good example of how revealing a character’s past can completely change how you view them.
If I had one criticism of this Bookiesode, it would be the number of sex scenes. I’m not a prude by any means, but every twenty pages or so, Galdor seems to be having sex with someone! At times, I felt it was a little excessive.
That being said, this is partly a story about sexual awakening, desire and the complicated process of growing up, so I understand where the author is coming from. I just think a little less might have gone a long way.
Despite that, I still found plenty to enjoy here. The deeper exploration of Galdor’s family, the emotional development of the supporting characters and the hints surrounding his mysterious powers all kept me turning the pages.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Overall thoughts
I’ve decided to review these two books together because of their Bookiesode nature, and because they feel like two parts of the same ongoing journey.
Individually, I’d give the first book five stars and the second four, leaving me with a solid 4.5 stars overall.
What I appreciate most about this series is that it feels different. It isn’t necessarily polished, and it won’t be for everyone, but there’s a certain personality to it that I really enjoyed. Beneath the rough edges, there’s an interesting world, some genuinely heartbreaking moments and characters who are more complicated than they might initially appear.
I’ve already picked up Bookiesode 3, Noodles, which is the length of the first two combined. I’m hoping to learn more about Galdor’s powers and, more importantly, where they come from. There are clearly still plenty of mysteries to unravel.
From chatting with Obake, I’m also aware that the fourth book is arriving soon, and based on what I’ve read so far, I’m genuinely excited to continue the journey.
If you’re interested in something a little different, with a personal story, a gritty sci-fi setting and a raw, unconventional style, then I’d thoroughly recommend giving this series a go. It might not be the most polished read out there, but sometimes a book’s personality and the story it tells matter more than a perfectly edited page.
And that, for me, is what makes discovering independent authors through Bookstagram so worthwhile.
Have you read anything by an independent author recently that you might never have discovered otherwise?
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