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agnesjlopez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
“All my futures wait beyond this moment and through it.”
“But I know that who tells the story also decides the hero. I know that stories are sometimes not what they seem, containing truths as slippery as snakes. I know that some stories are not just stories but are meant to tell us what to think.”
It is in these moments that we can feel the honesty and the urgency of Narra Jal’s journey of self-discovery in The Moonlight Blade, Tessa Barbosa’s debut YA fantasy novel. Steeped in pre-colonial Philippine culture and folklore, The Moonlight Blade follows Narra as she navigates the Sundo, a series of trials to select the next ruler of Tigang. Her true purpose in joining the Sundo, however, is to save her mother, who is imprisoned in the same fortress where the trials are taking place. In the process, Narra starts to uncover who she really is, after years of being told who she was.
The story layers mystery upon mystery with enough twists to make the story intriguing while not feeling gimmicky. In this journey, Narra befriends two fellow participants in the Sundo, Virian and Dayen. I enjoyed reading the development of their friendship. I would have loved to learn a little more of those characters’ backstories, as this would help us understand some of their motivations a little more clearly throughout the story.
The story takes place against a backdrop of Philippine culture and mythology. As a Filipina reader, I loved having many familiar cultural notes be a part of the story, while learning other aspects that were not as familiar to me. I would have loved to learn more about the different Diwatas, the sects, the Datus, as we only interact significantly with a few of them.
Overall I loved the way this story unfolded, with all of its twists, turns, and secrets, and how it reveals a love that spans lifetimes. There were many parts of this book where I felt I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! I’m not sure if this is meant to be part of a longer series; if it is, I would love to see some of the other characters and aspects of this world developed more fully. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!
“Nothing will ever be the same again, but I dare dream that it might not be so bad. After all, you cannot build something new without first taking something else apart.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Bullying, Death of parent, and Violence
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
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