I absolutely fell in love with this book from the very beginning. It's fresh and new. Sapphic nuns, angry gods, crisis of faith, slow burn golden retriever romance all wrapped up in one package. This book took me on a emotional roller coaster and had so many relatable subplots. There were characters i fell in love with immediately, others I immediately despised and a few I thought I'd love but irked me by the end of the book haha I cannot wait for the next book in this series. It's been a long time since I've anticipated a new book in a series this much. I hope the author releases the next book as soon as possible!!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this. The world building was not good even though the premise sounded promising. Maybe it was not my cup of tea.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

I still don't know how I feel about this story.
At first I didn't understand anything, it was very difficult to get involved with the story, I was confused by the book but as I found myself in the story I started to like it a little more, I think this is a book that could have been simplified, I often thought that the author just couldn't explain the events and the world itself properly so I was quite lost.
It's not a bad book, just confusing, even when I understood the main plot and what the author wanted to convey and say, sometimes it would get confusing again.
I think there was a lack of explanation of the world and mythology, a lot of things were just thrown in and we as readers have to understand it through the context what does that mean.
I don't know that if because English is not my first language somehow affected my understanding of this book, I'm used to reading fantasy books with unfamiliar terms but they are usually explained, here I felt there was a lack of explanation, during the story I only understood a few things and I accepted that it would be that way.
The plot of the story itself captivated me a lot, I liked the allegories, metaphors and analogies that the author brought to the story, and also the discussion about religion and colonization that the story has.
It's a book that if it had been a little better worked on the creation of the world and mythology it would have been 5 stars, because even the characters I liked, I'm a little sad that I didn't like the story more and I don't know if I recommend this book to everyone, I think it's a book I recommend for anyone who wants to read a fantasy where the characters and plot are good but the world and mythology are not, so if you don't care about poor world building this book could be for you.

This was an amazing fantasy debut from Gabriella Buba! Absolutely phenomenal. There's so much to gush about in this book. Taking inspiration from Filipino culture and history, specifically under Spanish colonial rule, I absolutely adored the worldbuilding here. It's so rich and immersive and all-encompassing, especially the magic system and how religion intertwines with it. It's clear that the author has done so much work on this and paid so much attention to even minor details to make them come back to life. The plot is super engaging, I never felt like I wasn't interested in turning the page to see what comes next. There's so much action, but also with a vivid and steady emotional centre so it doesn't feel like all moving plot and nothing else. I also really loved Lunurin as a protagonist and her entire characterisation with so much burden on her shoulder, and the external and internal cages preventing her from acting out for so long until she's able to find some agency for herself. Love a powerful bi woman! I feel like there's so much here that I need a reread and a notebook beside me just to keep track of all of the little details that I'm sure fit into a much bigger piece. If you're looking for a diverse, zealous, powerful fantasy read, this is the one for you!

A friend told me about this book and after reading the premise I looked forward to exploring this world's fantasy take of a 16th century Philippines under Spanish colonial rule. The magic system was also something that seemed to have great potential and I started reading the moment I got my hands on an ARC. Unfortunately, it's been a chore trying to get through this book. It got to a point where I had to force myself to read one chapter at a time, followed by timed reading sprints just to get more reading done… which leads me to dnfing the book at chapter 11. It's a soft dnf though! Because I want to give this story another try on a later date. It’s so strange because I didn’t hate what I was reading. In fact, once I could get past the teen pregnancy and abortion scenes, the book started to really pick up for me. With that being said, a content warning would have been nice for what I just read. I suppose I could have assumed a book set in this time period would have said subject matter but I walked into it blind and my discomfort had permeated the scenes that come after. I soon realized that I was reading without absorbing any new information which then led to me having to reread a lot. I was just not having the best time.

There was something about the writing style and pacing that made the story feel so inaccessible to me. I don’t mind looking up terms and historical context in order to understand what I’m reading but I also think that this book could have gone through a few more rounds of editing for clarity’s sake. There were far too many sentences I had to reread, reread out loud, and even showed to others to see if I was the one who couldn’t understand. But they also confirmed my thoughts.

I want to buy a physical copy now so I can interact more closely with the text with my notes in the margins and sticky notes. It just seems like the kind of book I need to do that with as to get the most out of my reading experience… so there's that going for it. I feel like there are other reviews that sum up the pros and cons in a more useful and informative manner than I can in this review. Maybe upon my reread, I will return with a more compelling commentary.

4.25/5

I was immediately obsessed with this cover and description and for a debut book, it really didn’t disappoint!

This Filipino-inspired fantasy was an action-packed read from start to finish. If you love morally grey characters, especially women, this is definitely one to add to your TBR. I’m not sure how I felt about the dual POVs, but I thought all of the characters were very complex and well thought out. The magic system was very interesting and unique and was definitely one of my favorite parts. I also loved that the MC was bisexual and it was actually explored/discussed a lot in the book!

Overall, I recommend to anyone who loves angry women and LGBTQ+ fantasy full of action, adventure, and elemental powers!

As someone with religious trauma this was difficult to read but I love when we turn abusive systems on their head. The bi panic love triangle, marriage of convenience, and coming into her power were what I was most excited for. It was really well written and I would recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds good.

We could always use more of queer, especially bisexual, bipoc books.
I liked reading this Filipino-inspired queer fantasy. I also liked the theme of anti-colonization. The fantasy elements were intriguing. I especially enjoyed the sapphic goddess couple though they were only mentioned a few times.

The author described this story as ATLA but if the avatar wasn't a pacifist and Lunurin doesn't contradict those words.
Her rage and unhingedness was satisfying to see.

Spoilers ahead.

The thing which wasn't satisfying was the romance. Lunurin hadn't even let go of Cat but here she was extending an arm towards Alon. Lunurin was so inconsistent throughout the romance. It was disappointing. The romance felt rushed and I believe it would have been better if Lunurin had taken her time with it all.

Some more things I'd like add:
I loved Sina. She was such an enjoyable character.
But you know who wasn't enjoyable? Catalina. Oh, I absolutely hated her.
I'd have loved to see more of Biti and Inez for sure.

To conclude, this was a good read with a beautiful prose, a compelling and gripping story of fighting against colonization starring MCs of colors with interesting fantasy elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC.

DNF

Unfortunately I could not get into this, I just kept getting lost and nothing was really gelling together for me

This book was all alright. It was hard to follow at places, and I had to keep going back and referencing my notes as to who was who. The pacing was a bit everywhere, and I didn't feel very engaged or pulled into the story. The author has potential, though, and I'd love to try to read other works by them in the future.

I really enjoyed the setting of this story! Felt well-developed/researched.
Unfortunately I did not feel fully engaged with the story.. Some parts were a bit too dramatic and it felt more YA than adult to me.
I was also a bit confused with the magic system and how it worked. It seemed to me as if we had a system, but it worked differently for the main character?! Or maybe I just misunderstood..

thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for a review!

equal parts politics and romance (give me all the morally gray bi characters PLEASE), all set in this rich world of the spanish/catholic colonization of the philippines. the magic system and gods were intriguing and heartbreaking, seeming to "bless" people with powers that run wild and out of control, further diminished by what seems to be witch hunts by colonial settlers. super interesting power dynamics and character relations. loved it.

Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba
 
“It’s worth weathering even this storm to stand by your side.”
 
4⭐️
 
🌊Fantasy
⛈️Elemental Magic
🔥Filipino Mythology
🌊Bisexual FMC
⛈️Love Triangle
🔥Vengeful Goddess
🌊Marriage of Convenience
⛈️Colonisation
🔥Cultural Identity
🌊Personal sacrifice
⛈️Dual POV
 
“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 Codicían colonisers. But behind closed doors, she is a stormcaller, chosen daughter of the Aynilan goddess Anitun Tabu. In hiding, Lunurin does what she can to protect her fellow Aynilans and the small family she has created in the convent.

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, who has been in love with her for years. But this choice sets in motion a chain of events beyond her control. Torn between the call of Alon's magic and her duty to both her family and her people, Lunurin can no longer keep Anitun Tabu's fury at bay.

The goddess of storms demands vengeance. And she will sweep aside anyone who stands in her way.”
 

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC copy of Gabriella Buba’s great debut fantasy novel. Drawing heavily from Filipino history and mythology, ‘Saints of Storm and Sorrow’ was an original, rich and immersive story that weaves together mythology, magic, and political intrigue.
 
At the start, I found the intricate world building a little hard to follow as you’re given a lot of information very quickly along with a lot of words and terms that I had to google which took me out of the story a little. However, once I’d wrapped my head around it all it made for an original story with a detailed and vivid setting. The start was a little slow for me due to all the intricate information, but then it picked up and became such a page turner – balancing action, magic, loss and love.
 
I really enjoyed the magic system within the book, with the idea of storm callers, tide-touched and fire tenders, who have the ability to draw power from their surroundings with their own goddess that helps protect their people. At times, the limitations to their powers fluctuated making it a little inconsistent, but I enjoyed the use of elemental magic and felt it was weaved throughout the story well. Moments like Lunurin using her powers with DeSoto was incredibly satisfying…
 
The majority of characters had great complexity to them along with great character development, however, there’s one character in particular I found very hard to like from the start and found myself questioning their relationship with the main character. I felt they didn’t have any redeeming qualities from the beginning and came across quite two dimensional. I really enjoyed Lunurin, the FMC and her journey of self-acceptance and strength. Even if she wasn’t a storm caller, she’s a force to be reckoned with.
 
Overall, this debut novel was filled with complex characters and was rich in both culture and folklore, while exploring themes of magic, cultural identity, rebellion and self-acceptance. While the detailed world building may require patience, it gives way to an immersive and original story.

(Also, how gorgeous is this cover!)

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, and after feeling some disappointment with Hurricane Wars, I kept my expectations for a Filipino fantasy low. But Gabriella Boba DELIVERED!!! This was everything I was looking for, featuring a fierce but complicated FMC fighting colonizers with the power of the gods of old. Not only that, but the world was RICH and blatantly Filipino! No whitewashing done to try and make it palatable for a mass audience. There are Tagalog phrases throughout, the traditional words used for cultural clothing, foods, and more!

This is a rather obvious retelling of Spain's colonization of the Philippines, where Buba offers Filipinos a chance to see a world where they fought back - and won. It is a painful yet hopeful story to experience if you are Filipino. Knowing the amount of lived history that went into this fantasy hurts. It hurts a lot. But getting to experience a world where our history is flipped on its head is also empowering. I'm so grateful Gabriella brought this story into existence!

Thank you to NetGally and Titan for sending me an arc !! This book was so captivating I truly got lost in this filipino inspired world every time I opened it. The magic system was fascinating and the way the characters used it made me keep thinking ‘wow this author is so talented how did they even think of this’. There were some parts where i struggled with it cause English is not my first language but my enjoyment was still very high. I loved the rage in the book, it felt so real and everything that the characters did was deserved and satisfying, i wanted to see them thriving. I loved Alon and thought he was perfect for Lunurin ( who i also loved) they complemented each other so well, don’t get me started on Catalina tho ….

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.

In the past ten years, Lunurin has seen the colonization of her island, the destruction of her culture, and the murder of her people by the Codicíans. She has watched as their healers, gifted with powers, were whipped to death by the Christian church. Her people have been sold into slavery, forced into work camps, forbidden their own religion, and forced to convert. Even now, the Codicían Governor lives in the Palisades, a walled city that stands where her people once celebrated and prayed to their goddesses. And through it all, Lunurin keeps her head bowed and her hair bound.

As the child of a shipwrecked Codicían priest and her Anyilan mother, Lunurin holds a special place. On the one hand, she is a Stormbringer, sworn to the goddess Anitun Tabu, goddess of vengeance; on the other, she is the unacknowledged daughter of a man about to be named Archbishop of the Codicían holdings in the east. She is granted respect and a modicum of safety; she has even found a bright light in all of this darkness: Cat, her lover, and Inez, Cat’s sister and the sister of Lunurin’s heart. With them she is happy.

When Inez is hurt, Lunurin’s thoughts are filled with vengeance and, as if summoned, Anitun Tabu’s voice returns to Lunurin’s thoughts. Anitun Tabu is a goddess of vengeance and storm, and she is angry. Her statue has been taken and locked away in the Christian church, and her people now make offerings to it in the name of Santa Maria of the Drowned, lessening her powers, causing her people to forget her name. But Anitun Tabu has not forgotten her people.

When Lunurin is possessed by her goddess, her childhood friend Alon saves her. He claims she was only drunk, that all of this was only an act to break free of the church so that she could be married to him; he says they have been promised to one another for years. Cat supports Alon’s story, and so Lunurin is married. Alon is the only voice that quiets Anitun Tabu. His strength keeps her magic calm, and his love for her is as boundless as the sea. But Anintun Tabu is angry, and she will have her vengeance.

This is a book that deals with dark subject matter … and I love it with my entire heart. There are trigger warnings for religious abuse, child pregnancy, abortion, toxic relationships, and torture. While these elements are present in the book, they are not the focus; the focus is love. About learning to love yourself, which — when you have been warped and twisted to hate everything you are — can seem almost impossible. It’s about the love and support of community, the grief of loss, and the balance between vengeance and justice. It’s about finding someone who loves you for who you are, not who they want you to be.

This book is a fictionalized — fantasy? — retelling of the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Philippine Islands and the forced conversion of its people to Christianity. Lunurian, for all that she is living in a convent, is not Christian. She does not believe in the Christian god; how can she when she hears the voice of her sworn goddess in her darkest thoughts? But to save herself, she hides her power. She keeps her hair tightly bound, her head bowed, and holds onto Cat with all of her strength. Having lost her mother, her aunts, and her family, Cat is all Lunurian has left. Cat is her guiding light, and Lunurin does her best to please Cat, to keep her happy, even while she lies to her.

Cat believes. Cat is pious. She wants to be a nun, even while she sins with her relationship with Lunurian. And Cat doesn’t like it when Lunurin acts against the Abbot, protecting the servants and Aynilan children forced to live at the school. Lunurin works hand in hand with Alon in an effort to mitigate the damage the Codicíans are doing to their people, while Cat would prefer they not.

Cat has taught Lunurin to distrust herself, taught her that she wasn’t worth of love — that she is dangerous, rebellious, lying and sneaking and never good enough, never pious enough, never pure enough for Cat. Because of this Lunurin is always apologizing, always in the wrong, always the one who must prove herself and her love. Cat wants to see Lunurin bow her head, to be less than she is … because when she is small, and hurting, and afraid she turns to Cat for comfort, for protection and strength. Cat emotionally manipulates and twists and berates Lunurin; in sex she is violent, leaving scars and wounds and blood behind. Cat is selfish, cruel, and afraid, and with her, Lunurin holds herself back, afraid to be herself, afraid to be truly seen and judged by Cat, and found wanting. And all of this feeds into Anitun Tabu; all of this darkness and rage, all of this fear and guilt. Lunurin doesn’t want to call the storm, afraid of killing more than just the Codicían, of killing her own people. She is constantly afraid … until there is Alon.

Alon is his father’s scapegoat, bearing all the emotional weight of his father’s unhappiness, hatred, and crippled pride as the token native lord under the thumb of colonizer conquistadors and priests who stripped away his culture and whipped his wife near to death for witchcraft. Alon lives his life walking on eggshells, doing his best to keep his father happy, the governor happy, everyone happy while working himself to exhaustion and — in his spare time — trying to save his people, to help witches escape, or servants, or girls who need to get away from their rapist masters. And yet, even living like this, Alon’s determined to keep his rose colored glasses on in order to keep his own sanity, hoping that diplomacy and patience will win out, that his father will see sense, that by playing by the rules no one will get hurt, even as he has to acknowledge, however unwillingly, that the Codicíans keep changing the rules to suit themselves, lying and cheating and happily ignoring what they promised only a day ago.

And Alon loves Lunurin, has always loved her. He hates himself for having forced her into this marriage, for having taken liberties by cutting her hair and making a mock of her to the Abbot and the Governor. When she turns to him for comfort, he gives it, and knowing that she loves only Cat, he refuses to put pressure on her. He is trying so hard to be what everyone else needs that he doesn’t see his own pain; Lunurin does, though. She sees his rage and his anger, his sorrow and heartache, and when he is brought to his knees by it, she is there to shelter him, to comfort him, and to simply be with him.

Cat is an excellent foil for Alon; one takes, one gives. One would have Lunurin throw away her goddess for a Christian god, while the other would accept her regardless of her faith. One hurts, one heals; one listens, one lectures. And yet I never doubted Cat’s love. It’s a twisted love, a broken love, a codependent love as Cat, without Lunurin at her side, has no one. She chases people away and is shocked when she finds herself alone. She loves with the ease of someone who knows they are loved, while Alon loves with pain of someone who thinks they will never be good enough. Cat wants Lunurin to look at her; Alon wants to look at Lunurin.

And then there’s the story. I’ll touch on it only briefly because I’ve waxed on too long already, but you don’t understand how much I love this book. Anitun Tabu is a force of nature; there are three goddesses in this world, three magics. A goddess of the sea and healing, a goddess of fire and the volcano, and Anitun Tabu. When Lunurin argues with her goddess about how she doesn’t want to be the cause of death, her goddess points out that this isn’t just about Lunurin and what she wants. This is about everyone. Her people are dying; they are raped and tortured, murdered and locked into slavery ,and they and their souls call out for vengeance. The storm Lunurin is to summon isn’t for Lunurin’s pain, it’s for Aynila.

The reluctant hero is an ancient trope, and Lunurin’s desire to not cause death and destruction is a good one. But she’s lived a safe life, protected by the church. She has been hurt, she has suffered, but hers is not the only voice Anitun Tabu hears. It’s a glorious moment. And the climax of the book where so much happens is wonderful and cathartic. Everything comes together so well, all of the elements that were sprinkled into the story.

The writing is beautiful and elegant, never overwritten. The pacing is perfect. I didn’t notice the time at all while reading, never felt like one moment lingered to long or that a scene went by too fast. The romances — both of them, the toxic and the healthy — feel so real. Lunurin is a character that it is easy to empathize with. She’s scared, she’s angry, she’s kind and loving, and in her rage she is everything. The world building, the magic… everything is perfection.

For me, this is a six-star book, one of those books that you read at just the right time, that has just the right characters, just the right arcs, just the right emotions and elements that resonate with every part of you. You will see this book again in my year end wrap up where I will beg you — as I am begging you now — to read this book. This is the author’s debut book and I cannot wait to see what more they write in the future.

I read that this was a Filipino-inspired queer fantasy and I was immediately sold. Lunurin, our main character, is the chosen vessel/daughter of the storm goddess. But she must hide such power and suppress the vengeful tendencies of her goddess in order to protect herself.

*Saints* is an ambitious debut. I loved the rage and grief and the anti-colonial sentiments woven into the story. It’s meticulously researched and it’s unapologetically Filipino. The casual use of Filipino terms as well as the several references to our history and mythology and indigenous culture set further context into the story. I must admit, however, that this made the book easier for me to read, but I understand how this might be difficult for others to understand.

There were, however, a few things I had qualms with. First was the romance between Lunurin and Catalina. I don’t understand their romance—how Lunurin was so in love with Cat (and how Cat returned such affection), but Catalina refuses to acknowledge Lunurin’s roots and culture and constantly rebukes it. I feel like it might be framed as toxic sapphics, but in our culture, this feels more like *gugmang giatay*. Catalina is an interesting character, though; it’d be interesting to see her development.

Second was the pacing. The first 30% or so was captivating and fast-paced, but the plot and direction petered out during the middle. The last 25% was action-packed, though, but after the lackluster middle portion and buildup, the climax didn’t seem like much anymore. The plot and worldbuilding could have been better solidified.

Overall, *Saints* has potential. It’s heavy on politics, history, religion, elements and experiences with colonization. It’s still a fantastical homage to the Filipino culture and mythology.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for the ARC! :>

This book is an out and proud bisexual of a book. I loved how it showed strong relationships between both two females and a female and a male. Though I felt that the love triangle between them didn’t quite work, as it was late into the book before I saw the relationship between Lunurin and Alon as anything but one sided. I still appreciate the effort though and if it had worked, it would have been fantastic.

I also appreciate that the author showed a toxic relationship between Cat and Lunurin. It was good to see the back and forth between the two of them and how they really loved each other but were being pushed apart by Cat’s faith in the church and Lunurin’s role in the coming struggles.

I loved how the basic of this story was goddess is angry about colonialism and wants to tear the world down around the invaders. I loved how Lunurin could summon storms with anger and just the pure rage of it all. I think this was a really strong plot.

Overall, if the romance had been better, I would have marked it higher, but it was still good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Saints of Storm and Sorrow.

On paper, this book was everything I wanted! Neat magic system, bi MC, fighting puritanical religious systems. I love all of that!

Unfortunately this book ended up being just fine. I really struggled to find my footing in the story because there was so much going on with a lot of new terminology being thrown around. And I’m used to fantasy books where I’m trusting the process for the first quarter before it all clicks. I never quite understood how the magic works, and I’m not sure if that is because it was relying on a cultural understanding that I lacked or if it was underdeveloped fantasy worldbuilding. But at every turn I found myself having to reevaluate how the magic was working and that made it harder to get sucked into the story.

I’m glad I read it even though I didn’t end up loving it!