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Stormbringer #1
Saints of Storm and Sorrow
In this an enthralling Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, a nun concealing a goddess-given gift is unwillingly transformed into a lightning rod for her people's struggle against colonization. For fans of R.F. Kuang, Tasha Suri, and The Hurricane War . Maria Lunurin has been living a double life for as long as she can remember. To the world, she is Sister Maria, dutiful nun and devoted servant of Aynila's Codician colonizers. But behind closed doors, she is a stormcaller, chosen daughter of the Aynilan goddess Anitun Tabu. In hiding not only from the Codicians and their witch hunts, but also from the vengeful eye of her slighted goddess, Lunurin does what she can to protect her fellow Aynilans and the small family she has created in the her lover Catalina, and Cat's younger sister Inez. Lunurin is determined to keep her head down - until one day she makes a devastating discovery, which threatens to tear her family apart. In desperation, she turns for help to Alon Dakila, heir to Aynila's most powerful family and a gods-blessed healer who has been ardently in love with Lunurin for years. But this choice sets in motion a chain of events beyond her control, awakening Anitun Tabu's rage and putting everyone Lunurin loves in terrible danger. Torn between the call of Alon's magic and Catalina's jealousy, her duty to her family and to her people, Lunurin can no longer keep Anitun Tabu's fury at bay. For the goddess of storms demands vengeance. And she will sweep aside anyone who stands in her way.
480 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2024
97 people are currently reading
4923 people want to read
About the author
Gabriella Buba
2 books124 followersGabriella Buba is a writer and chemical engineer who likes to keep explosive pyrophoric materials safely contained in pressure vessels or between the covers of her books. She writes Filipino epic fantasy for bold, bi, brown women who deserve to see their stories centered.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
November 17, 2024
Filipino American History Month
100% here to support a Southeast Asian Texan queen. While I'm not Filipina, I am Southeast Asian and originally from Texas. I have plenty of self-diagnosed Catholic trauma and guilt that this book exacerbated. Do I add a lol here, or nah?
Maria, like the author, is biracial. She lives a double life as a nun, but beyond that, she is a stormcaller, Anitun Tabu's chosen daughter. I found the magic system very captivating. It felt new, which is extremely hard to do these days. Maria has a lover, Cat, and together they take care of Cat's younger sister, Inez.
I spoke with a couple of friends who weren't aware that the majority of the population in the Philippines is Catholic. Colonization, y'all. Blame the Spanish. Blame the colonizers. Blame the white people.
Now for more things that are horrifying about the Church, fictional or otherwise. Just kidding, this also exists in reality. Inez, a preteen, is found pregnant. It takes a while for her to name her aggressor, but I immediately knew it was the old white priest.
So while I didn't love Cat, or her relationship with Maria, I found softboi Alon a little more up my alley. We have a bit of forced proximity and a fake marriage which begins to turn into something more, which I heartily enjoyed.
Eager to see where Gabriella takes the sequel. It was lovely to finally meet her at the B&N in Marina del Rey. If you don't already follow her on social media, she cosplays the best Filipina fits with matching makeup. Salamat, friends!
Side note: If we're mutuals and you're unlucky enough to be able to comment on my posts, don't leave sad boohoo notes about how white men are being bullied. You will be blocked.
100% here to support a Southeast Asian Texan queen. While I'm not Filipina, I am Southeast Asian and originally from Texas. I have plenty of self-diagnosed Catholic trauma and guilt that this book exacerbated. Do I add a lol here, or nah?
Maria, like the author, is biracial. She lives a double life as a nun, but beyond that, she is a stormcaller, Anitun Tabu's chosen daughter. I found the magic system very captivating. It felt new, which is extremely hard to do these days. Maria has a lover, Cat, and together they take care of Cat's younger sister, Inez.
I spoke with a couple of friends who weren't aware that the majority of the population in the Philippines is Catholic. Colonization, y'all. Blame the Spanish. Blame the colonizers. Blame the white people.
Now for more things that are horrifying about the Church, fictional or otherwise. Just kidding, this also exists in reality. Inez, a preteen, is found pregnant. It takes a while for her to name her aggressor, but I immediately knew it was the old white priest.
So while I didn't love Cat, or her relationship with Maria, I found softboi Alon a little more up my alley. We have a bit of forced proximity and a fake marriage which begins to turn into something more, which I heartily enjoyed.
Eager to see where Gabriella takes the sequel. It was lovely to finally meet her at the B&N in Marina del Rey. If you don't already follow her on social media, she cosplays the best Filipina fits with matching makeup. Salamat, friends!
Side note: If we're mutuals and you're unlucky enough to be able to comment on my posts, don't leave sad boohoo notes about how white men are being bullied. You will be blocked.
June 4, 2024
I applaud the author for doing the research and writing a story that feels really authentic. The author's note at the end is definitely a must-read if you're interested in religious syncretism and colonization's effects on Indigenous beliefs.
Within the first few chapters, you can feel yourself immersed in Aynila's lush tropical island setting while also feeling constricted by the Codicían's oppressive society. I was really impressed with how the world felt lived-in, with its cast of characters from different backgrounds and their respective positions within this colonized society.
There's definitely a wide gulf between the Indigenous Aynilans on their side of the island vs. the Codicían colonizers in their Palisade, but I think the author did well with showing how the Aynilans have been forced to live with the Codicíans and adhere to their beliefs and way of life.
Praise aside, I really wish this had been a more engaging read for me. I would've rated this much higher if it hadn't read so melodramatic and even YA at certain parts. There were some odd phrasings here and there. And some aspects made zero sense to me.
I honestly didn't understand the magic system.
"[...] a tide-touched needed their tongue to pull waves, and a firetender their hands to calm a volcano or shape flame."
Okay, makes sense.
"'I'm a stormcaller!" Lunurin exclaimed in frustration. 'Unless you keep my hair shaved, I will call storms with it!'"
But it turns out that Lunurin, a stormcaller, uses her hair to create storms??? And letting even one strand loose meant that a breeze will blow, while letting her entire hair down meant a thunderstorm???
There was a scene between Lunurin and Alon, her male love interest, where he washed her hair. And it started to rain because... her hair was down?? Lord, I was so lost.
Points for creativity, I guess.
There was a scene where Lunurin asked Alon to safeguard her mutya, a mother-of-pearl comb and hairstick that she uses to put up her hair to... lessen the effects of her magic(?) (I think?) or maybe control her magic(?) idek.
Anyway. So, because she didn't have her mutya, the goddess, Anitun Tabu, goes out of control and... possesses her???
If she grew up with this magic power, then shouldn't she have known that that would happen??? Sure, that entire scene/plot arc was a lot **SPOILERS** , but giving up the one thing that would control her powers/put her goddess on mute made absolutely NO sense to me.
And another thing...
I was under the assumption that the marriage of convenience trope applied to Lunurin and Alon. But there was a point where Lunurin was unhappy that Alon was busy governing his community and wanted him to spend more time with her. Before that entire scene where she complained that he left her alone for an entire week, I didn't get the vibe that she actually wanted this marriage.
And Lunurin kept implying that she was still in love with Cat, but she also wanted to take this marriage of convenience with Alon seriously.
And this wasn't a poly situation either. It was all so messy and I was so lost.
This is why I'm aromantic. I hate this stuff. Truly.
And lastly, the queer rep...
Cat was the only other fully fleshed out queer character, and for her character arc to go the way that it did felt really... off to me. Idk. I'm waiting to see what other reviewers will say.
Anyway...
If you've made it this far, here are a couple of things that confused me and made me chuckle (and not in a good way...):
There was no lead up to this random rough sex scene, so I was left feeling confused more than anything. Did Cat eat Lunurin? What in the world...
And this one:
What in the Harlequin mass market paperback romance novel
Anyway.
If you like melodrama and stories about oppressed peoples with magic, then this is definitely for you. I just wish it was less melodramatic and more cohesive. It was all over the place and at times, it felt like it was trying to take on way too much all at once.
Thank you to Titan Books for this arc.
Within the first few chapters, you can feel yourself immersed in Aynila's lush tropical island setting while also feeling constricted by the Codicían's oppressive society. I was really impressed with how the world felt lived-in, with its cast of characters from different backgrounds and their respective positions within this colonized society.
There's definitely a wide gulf between the Indigenous Aynilans on their side of the island vs. the Codicían colonizers in their Palisade, but I think the author did well with showing how the Aynilans have been forced to live with the Codicíans and adhere to their beliefs and way of life.
Praise aside, I really wish this had been a more engaging read for me. I would've rated this much higher if it hadn't read so melodramatic and even YA at certain parts. There were some odd phrasings here and there. And some aspects made zero sense to me.
I honestly didn't understand the magic system.
"[...] a tide-touched needed their tongue to pull waves, and a firetender their hands to calm a volcano or shape flame."
Okay, makes sense.
"'I'm a stormcaller!" Lunurin exclaimed in frustration. 'Unless you keep my hair shaved, I will call storms with it!'"
But it turns out that Lunurin, a stormcaller, uses her hair to create storms??? And letting even one strand loose meant that a breeze will blow, while letting her entire hair down meant a thunderstorm???
There was a scene between Lunurin and Alon, her male love interest, where he washed her hair. And it started to rain because... her hair was down?? Lord, I was so lost.
Points for creativity, I guess.
There was a scene where Lunurin asked Alon to safeguard her mutya, a mother-of-pearl comb and hairstick that she uses to put up her hair to... lessen the effects of her magic(?) (I think?) or maybe control her magic(?) idek.
Anyway. So, because she didn't have her mutya, the goddess, Anitun Tabu, goes out of control and... possesses her???
If she grew up with this magic power, then shouldn't she have known that that would happen??? Sure, that entire scene/plot arc was a lot **SPOILERS** , but giving up the one thing that would control her powers/put her goddess on mute made absolutely NO sense to me.
And another thing...
I was under the assumption that the marriage of convenience trope applied to Lunurin and Alon. But there was a point where Lunurin was unhappy that Alon was busy governing his community and wanted him to spend more time with her. Before that entire scene where she complained that he left her alone for an entire week, I didn't get the vibe that she actually wanted this marriage.
And Lunurin kept implying that she was still in love with Cat, but she also wanted to take this marriage of convenience with Alon seriously.
And this wasn't a poly situation either. It was all so messy and I was so lost.
This is why I'm aromantic. I hate this stuff. Truly.
And lastly, the queer rep...
Cat was the only other fully fleshed out queer character, and for her character arc to go the way that it did felt really... off to me. Idk. I'm waiting to see what other reviewers will say.
Anyway...
If you've made it this far, here are a couple of things that confused me and made me chuckle (and not in a good way...):
She bit back every hiss and grunt of discomfort as Catalina tried to devour her, a memory, a sacrifice, one final time to lie together in sin. The freshly knit edges of Lunurin’s skin, where metal bars had gouged her flesh, gave. She bled sluggishly onto the pallet, but at last, Cat lay over her, drenched with sweat, panting, and smiling as she only did when she’d finally sated her appetite.
There was no lead up to this random rough sex scene, so I was left feeling confused more than anything. Did Cat eat Lunurin? What in the world...
And this one:
Goddess but he was so much, like wet silk wrapped around a furnace.
What in the Harlequin mass market paperback romance novel
Anyway.
If you like melodrama and stories about oppressed peoples with magic, then this is definitely for you. I just wish it was less melodramatic and more cohesive. It was all over the place and at times, it felt like it was trying to take on way too much all at once.
Thank you to Titan Books for this arc.
Want to read
January 15, 2024
unreleased
April 15, 2024THAT COVER + FILIPINO INSPIRED + MORALLY GREY BISEXUALS RAHHH OMG.
arc acquired and i’m so excited!
arc acquired and i’m so excited!
June 25, 2024
3.5 (rounded up)
Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a wonderfully lush, evocative, and beautifully raw Filipino-inspired fantasy debut that explores the harsh realities and nuances of assimilation, of faith and its deconstruction, and the role of the Church during the Spanish colonialism in the Phillippines.
Lunurin, a stormcaller blessed by her goddess, hiding as a nun with her lover Catalina and Catalina’s sister, Inez, until one day events pushes her to enter into a marriage with her childhood friend, Alon, who has been in love with her for years. Here, Buba weaves together a compelling tale of anger, grief, and ultimately healing as Lunurin soon becomes a symbol of rebellion for the Aynilan people against their colonizers. I really appreciated how Lunurin and Catalina become representative of the different elements of colonialism and assimilation through their mixed-blood heritage and how Buba delicately explores these different intertwining perspectives through their rocky relationship.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the themes examined, I did feel that it was a bit hard to get into the story at first as the prologue and first couple of chapters did little to explain the magic system outside of a few mentions of the tide-touched, and it wasn’t until about a third into the book that I managed to get a grasp onto Lunurin’s power and the existence of the different goddesses.
Overall, this was a great debut full of well-written prose, albeit with some small structural issues. All in all, I am definitely looking forward to what Buba will write next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a wonderfully lush, evocative, and beautifully raw Filipino-inspired fantasy debut that explores the harsh realities and nuances of assimilation, of faith and its deconstruction, and the role of the Church during the Spanish colonialism in the Phillippines.
Lunurin, a stormcaller blessed by her goddess, hiding as a nun with her lover Catalina and Catalina’s sister, Inez, until one day events pushes her to enter into a marriage with her childhood friend, Alon, who has been in love with her for years. Here, Buba weaves together a compelling tale of anger, grief, and ultimately healing as Lunurin soon becomes a symbol of rebellion for the Aynilan people against their colonizers. I really appreciated how Lunurin and Catalina become representative of the different elements of colonialism and assimilation through their mixed-blood heritage and how Buba delicately explores these different intertwining perspectives through their rocky relationship.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the themes examined, I did feel that it was a bit hard to get into the story at first as the prologue and first couple of chapters did little to explain the magic system outside of a few mentions of the tide-touched, and it wasn’t until about a third into the book that I managed to get a grasp onto Lunurin’s power and the existence of the different goddesses.
Overall, this was a great debut full of well-written prose, albeit with some small structural issues. All in all, I am definitely looking forward to what Buba will write next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
November 4, 2024
TL;DR: Lazy, sloppy, and frustrating.
All I’ll say is that “Lunurin” is not a Filipino name that means “she drowns in blessings”; instead, it is a Filipino verb for “to drown”. No blessings are involved, I fear. (Moreover, culturally, we don’t wish for people to “drown in blessings”, especially as we’re a country that frequently faces destructive typhoons and floods. As discussed with my friend Kate, the closest approximation would be “overflowing” (“umaapaw sa biyaya”). Yip yip.)
I will also share that I immediately clocked that I was in for a literary shitstorm when, in the first few pages of the book’s prologue, Lunurin went “tabi, tabi po” to a bakunawa of all ridiculous things. I’m really tired of seeing sloppy misrepresentations of my culture. Plus, the writing and character choices tested my patience.
Speaking of choices being Choices, I personally found it incredibly distasteful for the author to inject flood-summoning orgasms into her magic system canon (i.e. storm callers like Lunurin can cause floods while having sex). Not only is it unnecessary, but it also feels like the kind of goofy joke attempt that can only be made by someone who’s never lived through an actual super typhoon.
Absolutely not recommended.
All I’ll say is that “Lunurin” is not a Filipino name that means “she drowns in blessings”; instead, it is a Filipino verb for “to drown”. No blessings are involved, I fear. (Moreover, culturally, we don’t wish for people to “drown in blessings”, especially as we’re a country that frequently faces destructive typhoons and floods. As discussed with my friend Kate, the closest approximation would be “overflowing” (“umaapaw sa biyaya”). Yip yip.)
I will also share that I immediately clocked that I was in for a literary shitstorm when, in the first few pages of the book’s prologue, Lunurin went “tabi, tabi po” to a bakunawa of all ridiculous things. I’m really tired of seeing sloppy misrepresentations of my culture. Plus, the writing and character choices tested my patience.
Speaking of choices being Choices, I personally found it incredibly distasteful for the author to inject flood-summoning orgasms into her magic system canon (i.e. storm callers like Lunurin can cause floods while having sex). Not only is it unnecessary, but it also feels like the kind of goofy joke attempt that can only be made by someone who’s never lived through an actual super typhoon.
Absolutely not recommended.
July 16, 2023
I beta-d this before the author was agented. So I’m aware that there have been revisions with their agent and their editor. However…
THAT VERSION WAS ALREADY SO GOOD AND HAD ME BY THE THROAT. LUNURIN IS SO UNHINGED IN THE BEST WAY AND I WOULD SO ANYTHING—ANYTHING—FOR HER. AND DO NOT GEG ME STARTED ON ALON. OR THE THEMES AND THE NARRATIVE (avoiding spoliers here).
This is a book of my dreams. It deals with colonialism and the visceral ways it impacts us and our relationships and our beliefs.
I can’t wait to see how it got EVEN BETTER and for everyone, especially Filipinos, to see a narrative that is so teleserye coded.
THAT VERSION WAS ALREADY SO GOOD AND HAD ME BY THE THROAT. LUNURIN IS SO UNHINGED IN THE BEST WAY AND I WOULD SO ANYTHING—ANYTHING—FOR HER. AND DO NOT GEG ME STARTED ON ALON. OR THE THEMES AND THE NARRATIVE (avoiding spoliers here).
This is a book of my dreams. It deals with colonialism and the visceral ways it impacts us and our relationships and our beliefs.
I can’t wait to see how it got EVEN BETTER and for everyone, especially Filipinos, to see a narrative that is so teleserye coded.
May 26, 2024
This was an interesting book with a good setting and a good premise, but ultimately it didn’t work for me.
The books are set in the Philippines in the 16th century, under Spanish colonial rule. (The author gives them different names, in the same kind of way Guy Gavriel Kay does, but I’m going to ignore that for purposes of this review.) The main character is Maria Lunurin - Lunurin her name from birth, Maria the name she took when she accepted baptism and became a nun. Her mother was a native Filipino woman; her father was a Spanish priest.
Lunurin is an avatar (Priestess? Saint? I’m not sure what the best term here is) of the native goddess of storms, something she has to keep carefully hidden while in the convent unless she wants to be burned as a witch. The goddess she serves is an elemental being of instincts and feelings, and she is *angry*. An idea that comes up frequently in the book is that the storm doesn’t heal, and it doesn’t build, but it can avenge. She is angry over the deaths and indignities her people have suffered at Spanish hands. She is angry that her statue has been renamed “Saint Mary the Drowned” (with a story spun about a Filipino woman who converted and drowned in sorrow when her husband and son wouldn’t renounce their heathen ways) and put into a cathedral. She is angry that her chosen people are burned as witches. And she wants Lunurin to use her power to destroy the Spanish and drive them into the sea.
Unfortunately, a typhoon is a blunt instrument, and Lunurin is unwilling to unleash a once-in-a-thousand-years storm on Manila - it would certainly destroy the Spanish, but it would also destroy her friends and family and many innocents. The goddess doesn’t care - she just wants her vengeance, and Lunurin has to work very, very hard to keep the goddess from working her will.
The other main character is Alon, the son of the chief Filipino official under the Spanish governor. He is in the position of wanting to please his father (who wants power and authority under Spanish rule) and protect his people from Spanish demands, while also preserving his people and their culture. He’s also been in love with Lunurin since they were kids, and himself is an avatar of a different member of the native pantheon, so to say he’s conflicted would be an understatement.
It’s a good set-up, and I’m always a sucker for books that are rooted in cultures I’m unfamiliar with. It didn’t work for me for two reasons. One is that the Spaniards were too villainous. Obviously this is an anti-colonial book, and I don’t want to seem like I’m defending colonialism, but none of the Spaniards in this book had any redeeming features. Colonialism is an evil system, but people are people. A kind Spanish friend to Lunurin, or a monk or nun of genuine faith who wanted to save the Filipino souls but not burn witches or stamp out their culture, would have gone a long way to fixing this. But there’s no one of the sort, and the book feels unbalanced for it. The other problem is that I *hate* it when tension in a story comes from when two people who are on the same side and have good will towards each other refuse to talk to each other. I hate it, hate it, hate it. And there was a lot in here.
Ultimately a decent book, but a flawed one.
My blog
The books are set in the Philippines in the 16th century, under Spanish colonial rule. (The author gives them different names, in the same kind of way Guy Gavriel Kay does, but I’m going to ignore that for purposes of this review.) The main character is Maria Lunurin - Lunurin her name from birth, Maria the name she took when she accepted baptism and became a nun. Her mother was a native Filipino woman; her father was a Spanish priest.
Lunurin is an avatar (Priestess? Saint? I’m not sure what the best term here is) of the native goddess of storms, something she has to keep carefully hidden while in the convent unless she wants to be burned as a witch. The goddess she serves is an elemental being of instincts and feelings, and she is *angry*. An idea that comes up frequently in the book is that the storm doesn’t heal, and it doesn’t build, but it can avenge. She is angry over the deaths and indignities her people have suffered at Spanish hands. She is angry that her statue has been renamed “Saint Mary the Drowned” (with a story spun about a Filipino woman who converted and drowned in sorrow when her husband and son wouldn’t renounce their heathen ways) and put into a cathedral. She is angry that her chosen people are burned as witches. And she wants Lunurin to use her power to destroy the Spanish and drive them into the sea.
Unfortunately, a typhoon is a blunt instrument, and Lunurin is unwilling to unleash a once-in-a-thousand-years storm on Manila - it would certainly destroy the Spanish, but it would also destroy her friends and family and many innocents. The goddess doesn’t care - she just wants her vengeance, and Lunurin has to work very, very hard to keep the goddess from working her will.
The other main character is Alon, the son of the chief Filipino official under the Spanish governor. He is in the position of wanting to please his father (who wants power and authority under Spanish rule) and protect his people from Spanish demands, while also preserving his people and their culture. He’s also been in love with Lunurin since they were kids, and himself is an avatar of a different member of the native pantheon, so to say he’s conflicted would be an understatement.
It’s a good set-up, and I’m always a sucker for books that are rooted in cultures I’m unfamiliar with. It didn’t work for me for two reasons. One is that the Spaniards were too villainous. Obviously this is an anti-colonial book, and I don’t want to seem like I’m defending colonialism, but none of the Spaniards in this book had any redeeming features. Colonialism is an evil system, but people are people. A kind Spanish friend to Lunurin, or a monk or nun of genuine faith who wanted to save the Filipino souls but not burn witches or stamp out their culture, would have gone a long way to fixing this. But there’s no one of the sort, and the book feels unbalanced for it. The other problem is that I *hate* it when tension in a story comes from when two people who are on the same side and have good will towards each other refuse to talk to each other. I hate it, hate it, hate it. And there was a lot in here.
Ultimately a decent book, but a flawed one.
My blog
June 27, 2024
I just finished this book and I am in shambles.
(see content warnings at the end)
This is an intense, dark, anti-colonization, queer fantasy set in a Filipino-inspired land during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Lunurin, storm bringer and lightning wielder, hides that she’s goddess blessed.
A novel overflowing with vengeance, grief, and primal rage, this is a story of a woman, one of the last of her kind, who tires of making herself small to endure the whims of white men.
As the last chapter came on and sat there staring at the wall like: “so how the fuck do I review this?”
Saints of Storms and Sorrows is in no way perfect. I see its flaws and yet Buba is an author with something to say and her voice echoes loudly over a century after the Spaniards pillaged our home land.
The Philippines is known as the only Christian nation in Asia with close to 80% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic. The current collective Filipino identity is so closely associated with Catholicism but its origins are brutal- Columbus came to a flourishing, native land with its own beliefs, languages, and culture, but deemed us uncivilized heathens only fit to be exploited, converted, and used as goldmine for resources.
Just knowing how much lived Philippine history went into this fantasy world hurts so much. I feel open and raw. My wounds weeping with scabs picked off and bleeding. Knowing my people were subjugated and forcefully civilized and converted to Catholicism under 333 years of Spanish colonization instead of having had Lunurin save them has me struggling to breathe.
Buba takes the historical narrative and flips it on its head offering freedom from the success of Spanish conquest that we know today and offers Filipinos their freedom, even if it’s just in a fantasy world.
Honestly, my biggest gripe with this book was that the male audio narrator was absolutely terrible. I feel like he didnt coordinate with the female narrator on how to pronounce words as most of the names he pronounced a DIFFERENT way. He also had a heavy American accent which when pronouncing Filipino-inspired words triggered me, most especially since this is an anti-colonization novel.
This is not a book meant for everyone. But if it is for you, I highly recommend picking up a physical copy.
READ THIS IF YOU LIKE: Sword of Kaigen and Blood over Bright Haven by ML Wang, To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, The Poppy War by RF Kuang, A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso, So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
CONTENT WARNINGS:
(see content warnings at the end)
This is an intense, dark, anti-colonization, queer fantasy set in a Filipino-inspired land during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Lunurin, storm bringer and lightning wielder, hides that she’s goddess blessed.
A novel overflowing with vengeance, grief, and primal rage, this is a story of a woman, one of the last of her kind, who tires of making herself small to endure the whims of white men.
As the last chapter came on and sat there staring at the wall like: “so how the fuck do I review this?”
Saints of Storms and Sorrows is in no way perfect. I see its flaws and yet Buba is an author with something to say and her voice echoes loudly over a century after the Spaniards pillaged our home land.
The Philippines is known as the only Christian nation in Asia with close to 80% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic. The current collective Filipino identity is so closely associated with Catholicism but its origins are brutal- Columbus came to a flourishing, native land with its own beliefs, languages, and culture, but deemed us uncivilized heathens only fit to be exploited, converted, and used as goldmine for resources.
Just knowing how much lived Philippine history went into this fantasy world hurts so much. I feel open and raw. My wounds weeping with scabs picked off and bleeding. Knowing my people were subjugated and forcefully civilized and converted to Catholicism under 333 years of Spanish colonization instead of having had Lunurin save them has me struggling to breathe.
Buba takes the historical narrative and flips it on its head offering freedom from the success of Spanish conquest that we know today and offers Filipinos their freedom, even if it’s just in a fantasy world.
Honestly, my biggest gripe with this book was that the male audio narrator was absolutely terrible. I feel like he didnt coordinate with the female narrator on how to pronounce words as most of the names he pronounced a DIFFERENT way. He also had a heavy American accent which when pronouncing Filipino-inspired words triggered me, most especially since this is an anti-colonization novel.
This is not a book meant for everyone. But if it is for you, I highly recommend picking up a physical copy.
READ THIS IF YOU LIKE: Sword of Kaigen and Blood over Bright Haven by ML Wang, To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, The Poppy War by RF Kuang, A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso, So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
CONTENT WARNINGS:
dnf
June 17, 2024dnf @40%
i really wanted to like this, but unfortunately, it missed the mark for me.
i'm almost halfway through and... not a lot has happened for what feels like is supposed to be an epic fantasy.
the characters didn't feel very strong to me except for the fmc's girlfriend, who's bought into all the christian rhetoric, so i found it really weird for the fmc to be paired up with her.
the magic system was confusing to figure out and despite taking place in the 15/16th century, one of the characters uses the phrase "pathological liars" which... i'm pretty sure were not a thing yet.
i was excited for the rep but i would've dnf'd even sooner if it wasn't an arc read, but i'm going to be true to my reading tastes and dnf now.
also i don't know if i'm just missing it bc it's an arc, but considering is a large piece of the book and pretty detailed, there should definitely be trigger warnings somewhere in here.
i really wanted to like this, but unfortunately, it missed the mark for me.
i'm almost halfway through and... not a lot has happened for what feels like is supposed to be an epic fantasy.
the characters didn't feel very strong to me except for the fmc's girlfriend, who's bought into all the christian rhetoric, so i found it really weird for the fmc to be paired up with her.
the magic system was confusing to figure out and despite taking place in the 15/16th century, one of the characters uses the phrase "pathological liars" which... i'm pretty sure were not a thing yet.
i was excited for the rep but i would've dnf'd even sooner if it wasn't an arc read, but i'm going to be true to my reading tastes and dnf now.
also i don't know if i'm just missing it bc it's an arc, but considering is a large piece of the book and pretty detailed, there should definitely be trigger warnings somewhere in here.
November 30, 2024
I was excited for the Filipino representation, but ended up kind of disappointed. I was trying to give it some benefit of the doubt, thinking if this was from other SEA countries that I wont be as familiar with, I won't be nitpicking. But those minor inaccurate details that jumped out through out the story just made me cringe because it didn't feel like true representation. While I am no expert in my own culture as it is vast and varies from region to region, there are just so many inaccuracies here that are hard to ignore.
romanticizing storm and flood in a country that suffers from its devastation yearly, I wonder if the author has ever experienced the horrors of it.
romanticizing storm and flood in a country that suffers from its devastation yearly, I wonder if the author has ever experienced the horrors of it.
dnf
August 1, 2024DNF @ 21%
Sister Maria Lunurin lives her life under the thumb of the colonial empire that has taken over her country. Her people have been stripped of their magic and culture, and are now forced to convert to the religious beliefs of those they now serve. Lunurin plays the role of the dutiful nun, but behind closed doors, she is a powerful Stormcaller - hiding, not only from the colonizers’ witch hunts, but also from her own vengeful goddess.
I am so sad to be DNFing this book right now, since I’ve really been looking forward to this release, but I need to put my mental health first. Sadly, this book contains triggering content that is worsening my anxiety (like religious trauma and the sexual assault of a minor).
From the 100 pages that I have read, I do think this will be a book that many people can enjoy. It is well written (from what I can tell), and deals with interesting real-world topics like colonization, discrimination, and religion.
I’ll maybe give this book another try when I’m feeling better mentally, but until then…
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Sister Maria Lunurin lives her life under the thumb of the colonial empire that has taken over her country. Her people have been stripped of their magic and culture, and are now forced to convert to the religious beliefs of those they now serve. Lunurin plays the role of the dutiful nun, but behind closed doors, she is a powerful Stormcaller - hiding, not only from the colonizers’ witch hunts, but also from her own vengeful goddess.
I am so sad to be DNFing this book right now, since I’ve really been looking forward to this release, but I need to put my mental health first. Sadly, this book contains triggering content that is worsening my anxiety (like religious trauma and the sexual assault of a minor).
From the 100 pages that I have read, I do think this will be a book that many people can enjoy. It is well written (from what I can tell), and deals with interesting real-world topics like colonization, discrimination, and religion.
I’ll maybe give this book another try when I’m feeling better mentally, but until then…
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 11, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley & Titan for sending me an arc in return for an honest review!
Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a captivating Filipino inspired fantasy following a bisexual nun who has powers that she can’t control
The magic and world in this were incredible, i had so much fun learning and seeing the different powers explored and how they could work in tandem/be a part of the world. The magic system/powers in this are used to combat the colonisation of her people, and as such also the christianism that is being pushed against them. By having the powers have a god-given sense it really helped to add complexity to the characters as well as the world itself. However i do feel that the magic system was a little unclear at times and i never fully understood what was happening.
From the beginning of the book Cat and Lunurin have been dating for a while, but the book explores the breakdown of their relationship, and Cat’s obsession with religion is used to represent unmoving christian beliefs (i assume). i hated cat, she was such a whiny character to read about and everything she did was so annoying. i get why she’s there and the love that Lunurin has for her is a large part of her growth, but cat treated her horribly and never even tried to accept Lunurin’s identity and help her. It’s literally said that Cat does bad things when she’s angry - like why even bother stay with her?!?? it just really bugged me how they stayed together because they ‘loved each other’ even though cat was manipulative and horrible to Lunurin, and what she did at the end just consolidated that i was right to never like her.
Alon and Lunurin’s relationships begins as a marriage of convenience, but then grows into a real relationship which i did enjoy and was sweet but the lack of communication for a while was definitely annoying.
The amalgamation and moment of climax were well done, the lead up poised the story as one of revenge and whilst we did see the revenge, the characters didn’t lose everything about themselves as is sometimes done. The ending was dramatic and wrapped things up really nicely!
Overall a fun and revenge filled fantasy story with interesting character dynamics and a filipino inspired world commenting on religion and colonisation
Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a captivating Filipino inspired fantasy following a bisexual nun who has powers that she can’t control
The magic and world in this were incredible, i had so much fun learning and seeing the different powers explored and how they could work in tandem/be a part of the world. The magic system/powers in this are used to combat the colonisation of her people, and as such also the christianism that is being pushed against them. By having the powers have a god-given sense it really helped to add complexity to the characters as well as the world itself. However i do feel that the magic system was a little unclear at times and i never fully understood what was happening.
From the beginning of the book Cat and Lunurin have been dating for a while, but the book explores the breakdown of their relationship, and Cat’s obsession with religion is used to represent unmoving christian beliefs (i assume). i hated cat, she was such a whiny character to read about and everything she did was so annoying. i get why she’s there and the love that Lunurin has for her is a large part of her growth, but cat treated her horribly and never even tried to accept Lunurin’s identity and help her. It’s literally said that Cat does bad things when she’s angry - like why even bother stay with her?!?? it just really bugged me how they stayed together because they ‘loved each other’ even though cat was manipulative and horrible to Lunurin, and what she did at the end just consolidated that i was right to never like her.
Alon and Lunurin’s relationships begins as a marriage of convenience, but then grows into a real relationship which i did enjoy and was sweet but the lack of communication for a while was definitely annoying.
The amalgamation and moment of climax were well done, the lead up poised the story as one of revenge and whilst we did see the revenge, the characters didn’t lose everything about themselves as is sometimes done. The ending was dramatic and wrapped things up really nicely!
Overall a fun and revenge filled fantasy story with interesting character dynamics and a filipino inspired world commenting on religion and colonisation
August 5, 2024
Steeped in Filipino culture and mythology, Saints of Storm and Sorrow is a somewhat messy yet very promising fantasy debut full of female rage, queerness, hard-hitting themes, and just so much stirring emotions.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I read "a bisexual nun hiding a goddess-given gift is unwillingly transformed into a lightning rod for her people's struggle against colonization", I was sold. Buba's imagination and passion truly bursts off the page, which is exactly what gave the story so much heart and authenticity.
While the beginning chapters were a bit hectic to me, I really enjoyed how the tone and stakes were immediately set so high. Lunurin quickly proved to be a very compelling protagonist, despite (or maybe because of?) the fact that she is so flawed and messy throughout this harrowing journey. The way that her inner conflict is interwoven with the external conflict was quite powerfully done, and I loved exploring the core themes of cultural identity, religion, faith, and colonisation through her complicated relationship with her own cultural heritage and her unwilling goddess-given gifts.
To me, the refreshing and authentic world building was absolutely the highlight of Saints of Storm and Sorrows, but I did find myself wanting a lot more on the character front. Large parts of the plot hinge on the characters' interpersonal relationships, and unfortunately I just didn't get the time to feel invested in any of them. Especially Lunurin's girlfriend Cat absolutely drove me up a wall with her toxicity and religious zealotry, which I found very unfortunate because I am always here for the ladies loving ladies; though to be fair, the new love interest (a cutthroat cinnamon roll?) was way more interesting and loveable, even if his POV wasn't nearly as engaging as Lunurin's to me.
Ultimately I did really enjoy how this story wrapped up, even if some parts felt a bit rushed and none of the emotional beats hit for me personally. While this is absolutely an adult novel with very dark and mature themes, I'd say that it has the wonderfully addictive pacing and emotionally-driven storytelling that makes YA so appealing to such a wide range of readers, and I think that is a beautiful thing. Buba absolutely knows how to write a damn engaging story, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next thing she puts out.
While Saints of Storm and Sorrows might have some awkward (though maybe also charming) debut quirks, I would absolutely recommend it if you want a diverse and imaginative take on our beloved fantasy genre. It's bold, it's fierce, it's unique, it's addictive, and it definitely feels like a breath of fresh air.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I read "a bisexual nun hiding a goddess-given gift is unwillingly transformed into a lightning rod for her people's struggle against colonization", I was sold. Buba's imagination and passion truly bursts off the page, which is exactly what gave the story so much heart and authenticity.
While the beginning chapters were a bit hectic to me, I really enjoyed how the tone and stakes were immediately set so high. Lunurin quickly proved to be a very compelling protagonist, despite (or maybe because of?) the fact that she is so flawed and messy throughout this harrowing journey. The way that her inner conflict is interwoven with the external conflict was quite powerfully done, and I loved exploring the core themes of cultural identity, religion, faith, and colonisation through her complicated relationship with her own cultural heritage and her unwilling goddess-given gifts.
To me, the refreshing and authentic world building was absolutely the highlight of Saints of Storm and Sorrows, but I did find myself wanting a lot more on the character front. Large parts of the plot hinge on the characters' interpersonal relationships, and unfortunately I just didn't get the time to feel invested in any of them. Especially Lunurin's girlfriend Cat absolutely drove me up a wall with her toxicity and religious zealotry, which I found very unfortunate because I am always here for the ladies loving ladies; though to be fair, the new love interest (a cutthroat cinnamon roll?) was way more interesting and loveable, even if his POV wasn't nearly as engaging as Lunurin's to me.
Ultimately I did really enjoy how this story wrapped up, even if some parts felt a bit rushed and none of the emotional beats hit for me personally. While this is absolutely an adult novel with very dark and mature themes, I'd say that it has the wonderfully addictive pacing and emotionally-driven storytelling that makes YA so appealing to such a wide range of readers, and I think that is a beautiful thing. Buba absolutely knows how to write a damn engaging story, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next thing she puts out.
While Saints of Storm and Sorrows might have some awkward (though maybe also charming) debut quirks, I would absolutely recommend it if you want a diverse and imaginative take on our beloved fantasy genre. It's bold, it's fierce, it's unique, it's addictive, and it definitely feels like a breath of fresh air.
October 29, 2024
I'm so sorry but I didn't enjoy this and honestly don't really know what it was going for.
Aside from a fake marriage of convenience (that is also, confusingly, a real marriage that they're both invested in??? though the wedding itself is such a farce that even the characters aren't sure it'll pass muster), nothing really happens in the first half of the book. It's pretty thoroughly an allegory for Spanish conquest of the Philippines, they use the term "empire" a few times, and there's some shitty clergymen who take advantage of the authority of their position to sexually assault teen and pre-teen girls in their care.
The main character is their only stormcaller, which has to do with how her hair is positioned and sometimes she accidentally makes it rain because she's washing her hair. (Though also this appears to be something she's managed to keep as a secret for decades while being a nun, and I have no idea how.) Her girlfriend/wife seems to be a native but doesn't understand the native magic system and goddesses and maybe is buying into the conquerors' religion? I didn't see enough of their relationship to find it believable or view it as anything other than antagonistic/as a foil to the relationship she forms in her straight marriage.
There's both not a lot going on (plot) and too much going on (messy and complicated relationships) and if I hadn't already decided to use this book as a Reddit bingo prompt for 2024, I would've DNF'd early.
ps I thought the female narrator did a good job, but the male narrator made my shoulders slump every time he came on.
pps When you make only one of the theoretical love interests a POV character, it's pretty clear whose side the author is going to take.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an audio arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Aside from a fake marriage of convenience (that is also, confusingly, a real marriage that they're both invested in??? though the wedding itself is such a farce that even the characters aren't sure it'll pass muster), nothing really happens in the first half of the book. It's pretty thoroughly an allegory for Spanish conquest of the Philippines, they use the term "empire" a few times, and there's some shitty clergymen who take advantage of the authority of their position to sexually assault teen and pre-teen girls in their care.
The main character is their only stormcaller, which has to do with how her hair is positioned and sometimes she accidentally makes it rain because she's washing her hair. (Though also this appears to be something she's managed to keep as a secret for decades while being a nun, and I have no idea how.) Her girlfriend/wife seems to be a native but doesn't understand the native magic system and goddesses and maybe is buying into the conquerors' religion? I didn't see enough of their relationship to find it believable or view it as anything other than antagonistic/as a foil to the relationship she forms in her straight marriage.
There's both not a lot going on (plot) and too much going on (messy and complicated relationships) and if I hadn't already decided to use this book as a Reddit bingo prompt for 2024, I would've DNF'd early.
ps I thought the female narrator did a good job, but the male narrator made my shoulders slump every time he came on.
pps When you make only one of the theoretical love interests a POV character, it's pretty clear whose side the author is going to take.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an audio arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 4, 2024
2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Unfortunately, this just didn't engage me. I didn't understand the magic system, and I struggled to understand whether this was YA or Adult, because it read very young at times, but at other times it was very much an Adult book, and it was very jarring. I liked the foundations of the book, set in Filipino-inspired mythology and with themes of colonialism, I quite liked the two main characters and the kind of marriage of convenience they're involved in, but I didn't feel invested in the relationship or the plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Unfortunately, this just didn't engage me. I didn't understand the magic system, and I struggled to understand whether this was YA or Adult, because it read very young at times, but at other times it was very much an Adult book, and it was very jarring. I liked the foundations of the book, set in Filipino-inspired mythology and with themes of colonialism, I quite liked the two main characters and the kind of marriage of convenience they're involved in, but I didn't feel invested in the relationship or the plot.
June 4, 2024
This was a compelling read with a fascinating storyline, but I wish there was another round of edits to clean up some structural issues.
I loved the Filipino culture explored in this, but because I'm not familiar with many Filipino terms I couldn't tell if my ignorance was due to it being a fantasy book term, or an actual Filipino cultural staple. In general, there was a lot of confusion in the first quarter of the book. I was trying to decipher how powers are distributed, what the mutya was, and why Lunurin was being sent away from her family. Most of this important background was glossed over to rush us into the present day. It was a critical need to understand that there are three goddesses, that 13 year olds dive for oysters and some are granted blessings from the goddesses and therefore have abilities. I also was initially confused on what the mutya had to do with using the abilities, and why Lunurin was an outcast.
It took far too much time to explore that Lunurin was unable to control her abilities and killed scores of people at the behest of her goddess. I had a vague idea, but no details. She's just suddenly sent off on a ship to another island where she meets Alon.
However, there was so much to love about this. I loved seeing Lunurin's internal struggle as she tried to reconcile her past as a stormcaller, and her present relative safety as a nun. Her pain trying to stifle her abilities in order to avoid the witch hunting catholics was so well written. On top of her being forced to essentially renounce her heritage, she is in love with another nun, Cat. They are everything to one another, but even that relationship is forbidden by the church. This relationship was incredibly interesting because of Cat's contradictory nature. She is truly devoted to God and her faith is her anchor, and because of this she shuns everything that makes Lunurin unique. Cat cannot accept that her lover would not denounce her abilities, she truly believes that Lunurin could stop having abilities if her faith was strong enough. It was a fantastic glance into the aftereffects of colonization, and the devastation that the Christian religion wreaked on many countries. Religious extremism is a strong theme throughout the book and it shows that religion and colonization go hand in hand to control native populations.
As evidenced by the above, Cat was unbearable. She claimed to love Lunurin, yet she betrayed her over and over again. She tried to make her change her basic nature, and constantly degraded her attempts to keep them all safe. She couldn't see past her own fear and the propaganda being fed to her by the church. It was incredibly difficult to watch Lunurin continue to be infatuated with her when Cat treated her like trash.
Alon was everything you could want in a MMC. He was always there for Lunurin, he never tried to overstep in her relationship with Cat, and he always believed that she could be more than destruction. That being said, there was an odd dynamic shift midway in the story where she became distrustful of Alon and his kindness even though they've been friends for 10 plus years. She has always known him to heal those who come to him, even though it endangers his position. He has water based powers and his people have been hunted down ruthlessly by the colonizers, so every risk he takes to help others is extreme. That being said, it was hard for me to believe that she didn't trust that he was helping her without strings attached. They've been healing and arranging escapes for gifted people on the DL for ages, but she can't trust him? Her anger at him for saving her life by cutting her hair was odd, as well as the anger for his father- she knew what she was getting into and he is nothing like his father?
In general Lunurin comes off as rather fickle. One moment she's incredibly proud of her gift, the next she's cursing the goddess for the destructive nature of it. Her anger comes out of nowhere, and she loses control. She's trying to hide from her goddess, then the next second she's calling a storm and nearly killing the Lakan. She's angry at Alon and others for a situation she created. All he has done is clean up every single one of her messes without complaining.
Overall, this was a fast paced and interesting concept, but I wish the execution was a bit better. I was left with questions for too long, and wanted more from Lunurin. I absolutely loved the dive into colonialism and religion; it was honestly the best part of the book! Such great looks into Christian guilt and corruption between the church and state. I think this will be a huge hit with lots of readers, and can't wait to see their thoughts. :)
Thanks NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!
I loved the Filipino culture explored in this, but because I'm not familiar with many Filipino terms I couldn't tell if my ignorance was due to it being a fantasy book term, or an actual Filipino cultural staple. In general, there was a lot of confusion in the first quarter of the book. I was trying to decipher how powers are distributed, what the mutya was, and why Lunurin was being sent away from her family. Most of this important background was glossed over to rush us into the present day. It was a critical need to understand that there are three goddesses, that 13 year olds dive for oysters and some are granted blessings from the goddesses and therefore have abilities. I also was initially confused on what the mutya had to do with using the abilities, and why Lunurin was an outcast.
It took far too much time to explore that Lunurin was unable to control her abilities and killed scores of people at the behest of her goddess. I had a vague idea, but no details. She's just suddenly sent off on a ship to another island where she meets Alon.
However, there was so much to love about this. I loved seeing Lunurin's internal struggle as she tried to reconcile her past as a stormcaller, and her present relative safety as a nun. Her pain trying to stifle her abilities in order to avoid the witch hunting catholics was so well written. On top of her being forced to essentially renounce her heritage, she is in love with another nun, Cat. They are everything to one another, but even that relationship is forbidden by the church. This relationship was incredibly interesting because of Cat's contradictory nature. She is truly devoted to God and her faith is her anchor, and because of this she shuns everything that makes Lunurin unique. Cat cannot accept that her lover would not denounce her abilities, she truly believes that Lunurin could stop having abilities if her faith was strong enough. It was a fantastic glance into the aftereffects of colonization, and the devastation that the Christian religion wreaked on many countries. Religious extremism is a strong theme throughout the book and it shows that religion and colonization go hand in hand to control native populations.
As evidenced by the above, Cat was unbearable. She claimed to love Lunurin, yet she betrayed her over and over again. She tried to make her change her basic nature, and constantly degraded her attempts to keep them all safe. She couldn't see past her own fear and the propaganda being fed to her by the church. It was incredibly difficult to watch Lunurin continue to be infatuated with her when Cat treated her like trash.
Alon was everything you could want in a MMC. He was always there for Lunurin, he never tried to overstep in her relationship with Cat, and he always believed that she could be more than destruction. That being said, there was an odd dynamic shift midway in the story where she became distrustful of Alon and his kindness even though they've been friends for 10 plus years. She has always known him to heal those who come to him, even though it endangers his position. He has water based powers and his people have been hunted down ruthlessly by the colonizers, so every risk he takes to help others is extreme. That being said, it was hard for me to believe that she didn't trust that he was helping her without strings attached. They've been healing and arranging escapes for gifted people on the DL for ages, but she can't trust him? Her anger at him for saving her life by cutting her hair was odd, as well as the anger for his father- she knew what she was getting into and he is nothing like his father?
In general Lunurin comes off as rather fickle. One moment she's incredibly proud of her gift, the next she's cursing the goddess for the destructive nature of it. Her anger comes out of nowhere, and she loses control. She's trying to hide from her goddess, then the next second she's calling a storm and nearly killing the Lakan. She's angry at Alon and others for a situation she created. All he has done is clean up every single one of her messes without complaining.
Overall, this was a fast paced and interesting concept, but I wish the execution was a bit better. I was left with questions for too long, and wanted more from Lunurin. I absolutely loved the dive into colonialism and religion; it was honestly the best part of the book! Such great looks into Christian guilt and corruption between the church and state. I think this will be a huge hit with lots of readers, and can't wait to see their thoughts. :)
Thanks NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!
August 8, 2024
I enjoyed the setting: a fantasy retelling of the Philippines (and its active gods) under colonial rule, and a main character hiding her connection to her goddess while eking out a survival as an almost-nun. I give the author major kudos for the But I found that the story faltered after the set-up was complete. The plot became a loop of losing control-regaining control over her powers, or injury-healing, whether her or someone else. And then the romance part of it... I was kinda with it, but then Lunurin had this habit of just thinking the absolute worst of Alon's intentions and taking it out on him, which lost me. And then there were some certain scenes that took place in quite the inopportune moments. Lastly, by the end, I thought Catalina was treated poorly as a character - she's a victim, too, and could have been a more complex exploration of colonized people who take up their colonizers' faith, but her ending doesn't really recognize that.
did-not-finish
October 25, 2024dnf @ p. 38 | 7%
sadly this is failing to hook me. i think something about the writing is making it hard for me to feel immersed in the story, and i don't feel any motivation to keep reading. a lot of the exposition just confuses me. also idk what a dugong is so i'm just imagining the pokémon dewgong lol
sadly this is failing to hook me. i think something about the writing is making it hard for me to feel immersed in the story, and i don't feel any motivation to keep reading. a lot of the exposition just confuses me. also idk what a dugong is so i'm just imagining the pokémon dewgong lol
August 10, 2025
Reading “She writes Filipino epic fantasy for bold, bi, brown women who deserve to see their stories centered,” along with the description of a “Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, where a nun concealing a goddess-given gift is unwillingly transformed into a lightning rod for her people's struggle against colonization,” plus that stunning cover, I knew I had to give this a try.
There’s a lot to appreciate here, especially when it comes to representation. The protagonist is bisexual, and her identity is treated as a natural part of who she is. I really liked that. However, I was disappointed with how the story turned out for her female love interest, who is also the only other openly bi character. Her arc felt frustrating and a little disheartening.
In general, the romance didn’t work for me. There is a lot of emotional push and pull between two love interests: the devout partner, deeply shaped by colonial religion, and the soft and loving man, married out of necessity, or more?
Who follows my reviews knows, I'm not a fan of romantic tension, so this storyline fell totally flat for me. But I can see how it might appeal to readers who enjoy emotional complexity and characters caught between love and loyalty.
There are some quite steamy scenes, which again didn't add much for me, but were much better written than a lot of other similar scenes I read recently. They definitely added to the character growth and deepened the relationship, instead of just being there to tick a box, because “sex sells”.
The characters overall felt a bit too familiar. The bitter, devout "wife" stands in for internalized oppression. The husband is the classic cinnamon roll love interest. And the main character follows the chosen one path, discovering her hidden powers and growing into her role. While these types can still work well in the right story, they didn’t fully come alive for me here.
Still, the writing style is smooth and easy to follow. It almost reads like YA in tone, which made it a quick and accessible read. Even when I wasn’t fully connecting with the characters, I found myself turning pages easily.
What really made the book worth reading was the worldbuilding and magic. This part of the story is excellent. The setting draws deeply from Filipino culture, mythology, and pre-colonial traditions. You can feel the weight of a world shaped by its own gods and rituals, now buried under layers of Catholicism brought by colonizers. That tension between old and new, native and imposed, plays out in the setting, the belief systems, and the magic itself. The result is a story that feels grounded in lived history, with a clear sense of cultural pride and resistance. The magical elements feel real and rooted.
The handling of colonization is also strong. It doesn't shy away from the violence and trauma involved, and it doesn't try to soften the impact for the sake of a more comfortable story. It has a darker tone in places, but it earns that tone by telling the truth. Definitely check content warnings if you’re sensitive to heavier themes.
In the end, this wasn't a perfect read for me. The characters and romance didn’t fully land, but the worldbuilding and cultural depth made it worthwhile.
Rich in magic, rooted in Filipino history, and unafraid to challenge the legacy of colonization, this is a bold fantasy that gives voice to stories too long silenced.
There’s a lot to appreciate here, especially when it comes to representation. The protagonist is bisexual, and her identity is treated as a natural part of who she is. I really liked that. However, I was disappointed with how the story turned out for her female love interest, who is also the only other openly bi character. Her arc felt frustrating and a little disheartening.
In general, the romance didn’t work for me. There is a lot of emotional push and pull between two love interests: the devout partner, deeply shaped by colonial religion, and the soft and loving man, married out of necessity, or more?
Who follows my reviews knows, I'm not a fan of romantic tension, so this storyline fell totally flat for me. But I can see how it might appeal to readers who enjoy emotional complexity and characters caught between love and loyalty.
There are some quite steamy scenes, which again didn't add much for me, but were much better written than a lot of other similar scenes I read recently. They definitely added to the character growth and deepened the relationship, instead of just being there to tick a box, because “sex sells”.
The characters overall felt a bit too familiar. The bitter, devout "wife" stands in for internalized oppression. The husband is the classic cinnamon roll love interest. And the main character follows the chosen one path, discovering her hidden powers and growing into her role. While these types can still work well in the right story, they didn’t fully come alive for me here.
Still, the writing style is smooth and easy to follow. It almost reads like YA in tone, which made it a quick and accessible read. Even when I wasn’t fully connecting with the characters, I found myself turning pages easily.
What really made the book worth reading was the worldbuilding and magic. This part of the story is excellent. The setting draws deeply from Filipino culture, mythology, and pre-colonial traditions. You can feel the weight of a world shaped by its own gods and rituals, now buried under layers of Catholicism brought by colonizers. That tension between old and new, native and imposed, plays out in the setting, the belief systems, and the magic itself. The result is a story that feels grounded in lived history, with a clear sense of cultural pride and resistance. The magical elements feel real and rooted.
The handling of colonization is also strong. It doesn't shy away from the violence and trauma involved, and it doesn't try to soften the impact for the sake of a more comfortable story. It has a darker tone in places, but it earns that tone by telling the truth. Definitely check content warnings if you’re sensitive to heavier themes.
In the end, this wasn't a perfect read for me. The characters and romance didn’t fully land, but the worldbuilding and cultural depth made it worthwhile.
Rich in magic, rooted in Filipino history, and unafraid to challenge the legacy of colonization, this is a bold fantasy that gives voice to stories too long silenced.
June 29, 2025
A Filipino-inspired fantasy that I could not put down. I loved how Gabriella seamlessly weaved in Filipino terms, history, and mythology here. The characters and their complex relationships, the magic system, and the unforgiving anti-colonial narrative made the story all more compelling. Immediately starting book 2!
Want to read
June 20, 2024Just learned from Gabriella Buba herself, that Dante Bosco, THE Prince Zuko himself, will do part of the audiobook narration.
April 25, 2025
“lunurin had broken vows to multiple gods for her and would break a dozen more if it meant her safety”
TW: child sexual assault, abortions, bodily torture, genocide, torture and more
I’m going to put this in the sapphic category of my lists bc the main character is bi and has a relationship with a woman for the majority of the book but this does not end with a sapphic relationship
I think this had a really interesting plot, I liked the idea of a girl filled with a goddess so angry that she nearly died. I love the idea of a double life, our main character was living as a nun in a covenant of her colonisers whilst secretly working to protect and save her people, the ones who are being tortured and burned at the stake for witchcraft. whilst doing this she has to balance her love, in a secret relationship with a woman of the church who truly believes the colonisers god is the one true one and our main character simply needs to work harder and repent to be accepted, but doing so would mean giving up her culture, heritage, gifts and goddess. she has to make a choice between the woman she loves and the community she belongs to.
I think my issue with this book was it felt a lot longer than it needed to be, hitting 464 pages and it could’ve easily have been 350. I think the plot took a little too long to develop, a fantasy book with a storm filled angry main character and there were so many chapters that felt like a drag. the ending was absolutely stunning, it gave me everything I had been craving & I adored the characters, I just wish there were better plot placing
TW: child sexual assault, abortions, bodily torture, genocide, torture and more
I’m going to put this in the sapphic category of my lists bc the main character is bi and has a relationship with a woman for the majority of the book but this does not end with a sapphic relationship
I think this had a really interesting plot, I liked the idea of a girl filled with a goddess so angry that she nearly died. I love the idea of a double life, our main character was living as a nun in a covenant of her colonisers whilst secretly working to protect and save her people, the ones who are being tortured and burned at the stake for witchcraft. whilst doing this she has to balance her love, in a secret relationship with a woman of the church who truly believes the colonisers god is the one true one and our main character simply needs to work harder and repent to be accepted, but doing so would mean giving up her culture, heritage, gifts and goddess. she has to make a choice between the woman she loves and the community she belongs to.
I think my issue with this book was it felt a lot longer than it needed to be, hitting 464 pages and it could’ve easily have been 350. I think the plot took a little too long to develop, a fantasy book with a storm filled angry main character and there were so many chapters that felt like a drag. the ending was absolutely stunning, it gave me everything I had been craving & I adored the characters, I just wish there were better plot placing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2024
3.75
So this is how it feels like to read your history and culture in a YA novel 🥰 I enjoyed every small use of words that I also use/hear my family say, the delicacies that I grew up with, and most importantly my birth country’s oppression while under the Spanish rule.
The thing is, as much as I enjoyed it, I am thinking about the ones who would read this and have zero background about the Philippines and its culture. I wouldn’t know how they would perceive it because I know about these things all my life.
Would they be lost? Is it too much information? The use of foreign words (to them) that are injected into sentences - would they get the context clues or they wont be able to follow?
I have read other asian inspired novels and most do use terms and words that are native to that specific country, but not as much as I found in this one.
If you are interested in learning about the Philippines under Spanish rule with a hint of fantasy, this book is highly recommended- but you might need chatgpt to assist you in understanding local vernacular.
So this is how it feels like to read your history and culture in a YA novel 🥰 I enjoyed every small use of words that I also use/hear my family say, the delicacies that I grew up with, and most importantly my birth country’s oppression while under the Spanish rule.
The thing is, as much as I enjoyed it, I am thinking about the ones who would read this and have zero background about the Philippines and its culture. I wouldn’t know how they would perceive it because I know about these things all my life.
Would they be lost? Is it too much information? The use of foreign words (to them) that are injected into sentences - would they get the context clues or they wont be able to follow?
I have read other asian inspired novels and most do use terms and words that are native to that specific country, but not as much as I found in this one.
If you are interested in learning about the Philippines under Spanish rule with a hint of fantasy, this book is highly recommended- but you might need chatgpt to assist you in understanding local vernacular.
October 22, 2025
3 Stars
The fantasy part was great. It’s something new, something fresh. A Philippine fantasy with a rich culture to draw from. This part easy to love and easy to sink your teeth in.
My negative take from the book: the female lover (Catalina) was obviously painted in a negative light compared to the male lover (Alon). Breaking this down - I understand that based on the female lover’s upbringing she may have clung to the religious propaganda and has been brainwashed completely. This could have easily been a realistic outcome for Catalina. However, there was nothing positive a reader could draw on to feel anything but negativity towards Catalina. She was cast as a nag, ultra religious, and ultimately horrible to the main character.
On the other hand, Alon, the male counterpart was the most understanding, most helpful, most supportive of the people surrounding the main character. It’s not hard to pick who the reader would prefer for the main character, even I was endeared towards a MAN (me, a misandrist!)
Maybe the author was playing the bisexual card hard? You could highlight the torn-between-two-lovers and pick the man even, if that soothes your preference. What doesn’t sit right with me is the demonising of the lesbian lover. We have turned a new leaf when it comes to sapphic stories. It took years before “kill the gays” in literature etc was finally overrun by HEA. I don’t mean the author should have picked the lesbian lover for the main. I’m saying, one does not have to play towards the old ways and have the queer relationship be plagued with red flags. It has been a tumultuous ride for the queers to get where we are with literature and everything else. Don’t overlook the progress and regress when you write queer characters. Regardless of what the author’s plan was, the queer story not the main event, it still needs to be pointed out that the queer relationship in the story was poorly depicted.
The fantasy part was great. It’s something new, something fresh. A Philippine fantasy with a rich culture to draw from. This part easy to love and easy to sink your teeth in.
My negative take from the book: the female lover (Catalina) was obviously painted in a negative light compared to the male lover (Alon). Breaking this down - I understand that based on the female lover’s upbringing she may have clung to the religious propaganda and has been brainwashed completely. This could have easily been a realistic outcome for Catalina. However, there was nothing positive a reader could draw on to feel anything but negativity towards Catalina. She was cast as a nag, ultra religious, and ultimately horrible to the main character.
On the other hand, Alon, the male counterpart was the most understanding, most helpful, most supportive of the people surrounding the main character. It’s not hard to pick who the reader would prefer for the main character, even I was endeared towards a MAN (me, a misandrist!)
Maybe the author was playing the bisexual card hard? You could highlight the torn-between-two-lovers and pick the man even, if that soothes your preference. What doesn’t sit right with me is the demonising of the lesbian lover. We have turned a new leaf when it comes to sapphic stories. It took years before “kill the gays” in literature etc was finally overrun by HEA. I don’t mean the author should have picked the lesbian lover for the main. I’m saying, one does not have to play towards the old ways and have the queer relationship be plagued with red flags. It has been a tumultuous ride for the queers to get where we are with literature and everything else. Don’t overlook the progress and regress when you write queer characters. Regardless of what the author’s plan was, the queer story not the main event, it still needs to be pointed out that the queer relationship in the story was poorly depicted.
May 21, 2024
Ooh, where do I begin. How about this—I’ve been in a slump for most of May and this pulled me right out. I started this last night and couldn’t put it down, basically devouring it for most of today. I’m a sucker for Filipino-rep fantasy, and this—with all its cultural references and representation—was an actual fever dream for me. Even the snippets of language included (Tagalog) made me so giddy and actually laugh out loud (happy to translate for those of you who pick this up when it comes out in June!).
I think the magic really stood out here—so intricately linked to the variety of pre-colonial religion practiced then. I loved that women were central to indigenous religion here, and the play on female “priestesses” (witches)—because this was such a defining point for my own culture. I loved that there was a big focus on the colonizer vs colonized vs mixed blood/mestizo (a thing here) politics, and even more so—the integration of Catholicism in the story! I have a lot to say that won’t fit this mini review (watch out for a full one closer to pub date)—but the comp for this was really accurate. If you liked The Hurricane Wars for its cultural references, you are going to absolutely d!e with how culture rich this is. If you liked the more political, grimdark-aspect of The Poppy War trilogy (and liked the Hesperian angle!!!), you’re going to absolutely fall over your feet with this one.
I also liked that there was a really good balance of romance and politics here—I never really felt like one was overwhelming the other. Overall a really engaging, action-packed fantasy novel with your requisite hijinks and drama. No sampalan (slapping scene in English) but we do get a variety of equally treacherous betrayals here 🤭 please do NOT sleep on this gem. I loved it so much.
December 15, 2025
i found cat SO objectionable and deeply annoying, and because it felt like so little else happened in the first half of the book, the focus on their relationship made it an even slower read for me. also, as i was reading, i was distracted by the fact that i only felt like i understood the world and what was happening in it bc i’m filipino and i understand the culture. yeah, it was made for me, i’m the target audience, but i wish this were more accessible to people who aren’t filipino or even to fil-ams who don’t speak tagalog. the choice to explain small things like puto and tumbang preso but not translate “Punong-puno na ako sa’yo!” doesn’t make sense to me. google translate doesn’t even convey the full meaning of it, and maybe a reader shouldn’t have to use google translate to read a book published by an american publisher. i wish i could share this book with my american friends and let them enjoy the magic and mythology of my culture without worrying that they can’t keep up with the story bc of sloppy editing and a lack of translation. that said, i love a well-researched novel and this one was, at least when it came to representing our native religions. many of the characters also felt really fleshed out, especially alon and lunurin. i enjoyed their complexity and how they navigated their respective senses of duty with their moral compasses. the writing was also very vivid; i had no trouble picturing in my mind’s eye the walls of the palisade, the lush jungle around the entrance of the lakan’s palace, the hidden village. i’m glad i read this, and especially glad to have the opportunity to connect with my native roots, but i probably wouldn’t recommend it to non-filipinos, and i don’t know if i’ll read the next book in the series.
July 1, 2024
My thanks to Titan Books for sending me an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way.
A Saints of Storm and Sorrow is in its first official week on the shelves! This Filipino-inspired new adult fantasy book is a perfect book that sends an amazing fuck you to the Spanish settlers that erased the indigenous Filipino identity in the name of Christianity.
Check CWs/TWs before reading: Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Abortion, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Rape, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Colonization, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
The characterization in this book was done well, especially in the manner of how religion can be so destructive to its followers. It was reflective of the accounts from the Spanish colonial times, specifically since the Catholic church was established in the 1600s and Animism was eradicated for “witchcraft”. This book discusses toxic faith, which is a trait that remains prevalent in the Philippines and has significantly halted societal progression. The writer was trying to show the difference between a hurtful, manipulative relationship and a reassuring, safe one and gives readers, especially queers, a chance to both relate to it and form their own judgement. Moreover, it gives insight to how my country would’ve looked like without white colonizers and if indigenous culture was sustained.
I would’ve truly loved this if the pacing wasn’t messy, if not a bit all over the place. So much was happening, and at the same time, nothing. The lack of direction in the storytelling eventually lessened its appeal. There were highs and lows, which should’ve made this book exciting, but it fell flat to me. However, I would still recommend it because there are enjoyable parts and is overall very informative, centering on the dynamics of the church and state.
A Saints of Storm and Sorrow is in its first official week on the shelves! This Filipino-inspired new adult fantasy book is a perfect book that sends an amazing fuck you to the Spanish settlers that erased the indigenous Filipino identity in the name of Christianity.
Check CWs/TWs before reading: Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Abortion, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Rape, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Colonization, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
The characterization in this book was done well, especially in the manner of how religion can be so destructive to its followers. It was reflective of the accounts from the Spanish colonial times, specifically since the Catholic church was established in the 1600s and Animism was eradicated for “witchcraft”. This book discusses toxic faith, which is a trait that remains prevalent in the Philippines and has significantly halted societal progression. The writer was trying to show the difference between a hurtful, manipulative relationship and a reassuring, safe one and gives readers, especially queers, a chance to both relate to it and form their own judgement. Moreover, it gives insight to how my country would’ve looked like without white colonizers and if indigenous culture was sustained.
I would’ve truly loved this if the pacing wasn’t messy, if not a bit all over the place. So much was happening, and at the same time, nothing. The lack of direction in the storytelling eventually lessened its appeal. There were highs and lows, which should’ve made this book exciting, but it fell flat to me. However, I would still recommend it because there are enjoyable parts and is overall very informative, centering on the dynamics of the church and state.
January 25, 2025
Very very good, though it starts a bit slow
Number one, I loved Lunurin and Alon’s relationship, yes everything happened fast, but the rough spots in their relationship felt real and not just some bullshit that the author made up. The sex scenes made me want to scream and throw things, really good. Caterina and Lunurin’s relationship was also awesome! Who among us hasn’t been in toxic yuri with someone? It was a toxic relationship involving a toxic person, which is really neat for me specifically.
The prose was solid (not too many passages that made me weep at their beauty, but nothing that made me beg for another editing pass either (aside from one exclamation point, but I’ll let it go)). I wish some of the world building had been a little better explained, but I also don’t know a whole lot about the Philippines and Filipino culture, so this might be a me issue.
I don’t think this really fits as romantasy, but if you’re jealous of the romantasy girlies (gender neutral) and want to sink your teeth into a fantasy novel that has readable prose, logical world building, and wonderful characters, you could do far worse.
Number one, I loved Lunurin and Alon’s relationship, yes everything happened fast, but the rough spots in their relationship felt real and not just some bullshit that the author made up. The sex scenes made me want to scream and throw things, really good. Caterina and Lunurin’s relationship was also awesome! Who among us hasn’t been in toxic yuri with someone? It was a toxic relationship involving a toxic person, which is really neat for me specifically.
The prose was solid (not too many passages that made me weep at their beauty, but nothing that made me beg for another editing pass either (aside from one exclamation point, but I’ll let it go)). I wish some of the world building had been a little better explained, but I also don’t know a whole lot about the Philippines and Filipino culture, so this might be a me issue.
I don’t think this really fits as romantasy, but if you’re jealous of the romantasy girlies (gender neutral) and want to sink your teeth into a fantasy novel that has readable prose, logical world building, and wonderful characters, you could do far worse.
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