is an absolute gem—radiant with imagination, rich in cultural texture, and brimming with heart-pounding adventure. From the very first page, it casts an irresistible spell, sweeping readers into the mysterious town of Santo Cristo, where legends walk quietly alongside everyday life, and the shadows hold secrets waiting to be uncovered.

At the center of this tale are three unforgettable kids: Bayani, Isay, and Aaron—a trio as wonderfully flawed and vibrant as the world they find themselves lost in. Their dynamic is pitch-perfect: Bayani’s boldness, Isay’s fierce determination, and Aaron’s tender anxiety create a beautifully balanced group that readers will root for instantly. Their friendship, tested and transformed in the eerie land of Night, is the glowing thread that holds the story together.

The setting is nothing short of stunning. The forgotten island beyond the bridge pulses with dark wonder, populated by cryptids and creatures drawn from Filipino myth and folklore. The world-building is immersive and original, a fantastical landscape that feels alive with ancient magic and danger. And yet, for all its monsters and malevolence, the heart of the story is achingly human—about fear, courage, and the fragile strength of light in the face of darkness.

The writing dazzles with clarity and lyrical touches, painting vivid scenes without slowing the pace. Every moment feels purposeful, whether eerie, tender, or thrilling. And though the story delves into chilling territory at times, it never loses its warmth. There's a quiet, radiant message pulsing underneath: hold onto the light, especially when you’re most afraid.

If there’s any criticism to be made, it’s that readers may find themselves wishing for just a few more pages—more time in this vivid world, more space to linger with these beautifully drawn characters. But perhaps that’s part of the magic too: *The Land of Night* doesn’t overstay its welcome, instead leaving a lasting glow.

This is storytelling at its finest—bold, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable. A modern myth in the making, deserves to be read, shared, and cherished.

I was so excited about this book and I am glad I got to read it, I really enjoyed the story and the mythology behind it.

I’ll be honest there’s not many books with Filipino mythology at least not that I’ve found, being able to see the culture and mythology was an absolute delight for me as I love learning about different cultures and their mythologies.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone I really think you’ll enjoy it if you give it a chance.

Thank you netgalley Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the arc

Did Not finish this book. The story is good the characters are fine, I just didn't like the authors writing style. What is frustrating is that I can't even point to a particular reason why I didn't like the writing style it just didn't click with me. Not every book is going to be for everyone and this book just wasn't for me. However if the synopsis seems like this would be your jam then give it a chance!

*2.5 Stars*

This didn't really work for me. I didn't connect to the characters and it felt like the whole thing kind of stayed surface level for me. It was all a little confusing and the world didn't feel like it was very well described. It wasn't bad or anything, I just didn't connect with it. I've read so many great middle grades, this one just didn't feel as finished and deep as the others. I don't know. I was hoping for more I guess.

Okay so The Boy, the Mountain, and the Serpent Who Ate the Moon by Caris Avendaño Cruz totally surprised me—in the best way. I don’t usually get super into fantasy (it’s just such an overwatered genre, like how many ancient prophecies and chosen ones do we need?), but this one actually pulled me in. The writing felt lyrical without trying too hard, the world-building was lush but not overwhelming, and the vibes were just right.

What really sold it for me, though, was that the main characters weren’t white. It’s such a breath of fresh air to read a fantasy that doesn’t default to some medieval Europe blueprint. The cultural elements were woven in so naturally, and it gave the whole story this rich, grounded feeling that made the magic hit even harder. Plus, the character dynamics? Loved. A little strange, a little sad, a little hopeful—right up my alley.

If you’re into books like The Girl Who Drank the Moon or The Storm Runner, this one will probably be your jam. It’s got that dreamy, myth-meets-heartache vibe that lingers after the last page. 4 out of 5 stars from this not-usually-a-fantasy-girl.

This is my first contact with the works of this author and I liked the mood, the humor (bridge scene), and how it gets a bit darker but I had trouble keeping up with the Filipino lore, mythology, and references (it's probably my ignorance and not the book's fault, sometimes I don't know if a word is a term, a name or an expression). This slows down the reading.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

What a powerful book to kick off my 2025 reading year! I was moved in so many ways and I just knew that its impact will stay with me for a long time.

Special thanks to @netgalley for this digital ARC. I just couldn't wait for the official release because this book is written by one of my favorite Filipina authors, @carisavencruz !

It's Pistang Bayan, but our little hero is grounded. Still, Bayani always finds a way - he always does. Bayani loves chasing adventures, even when it lands him in trouble. And this time, he is about to experience one he never saw coming. Oh sure, Bayani found a way to join the festivities - thanks to his sister, Isay. They joined the prusisyon with their cousin, Aaron.

And so begins the tale of three children who went the wrong way, lost in the "hamog", and found themselves in a mysterious place of everlasting night. With only a candle each to guide them - its flame enchanted by a Kapre to never die unless someone huffs on it - they must find their way home through the unknown.

"...𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸... 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻."

This book is a masterful blend of eerie suspense and heartfelt warmth. It gave me hair-raising, spine-tingling moments that kept me on edge,yet at its heart, it radiated hope, the strength of community, and the power of believing in oneself.

"...𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗸 - 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 - 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗵𝗮 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 - 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘄..."

With familiar elements of Filipino culture, beliefs, and mythical creatures, this book weaves a story that truly lingers in the heart of every Filipino yet also holds an appeal that everyone in the world can connect with. May we all be Lightbringers!

This is absolutely a 5⭐ read!

From the author of Marikit and the Ocean of Stars, a magical middle grade adventure about three Filipino children who must find their way through a mystical land filled with monsters and gods from Filipino lore. The story is light and I find myself attract from beginning until the end.

I was a big fan on Cruz' previous book and while I liked this one, I found it less engaging and much more explicitly religious. I also felt like the work provided less contextual clues than the other for Filipino terms and creatures, which made it a little confusing from time to time. That being said, I would absolutely by it for my library and featuring it in various displays.

I’ve been really enjoying middle grade books lately and this was no exception! This story is about three Filipino children who must find their way through a mystical land filled with monsters and gods from Filipino lore.

The story follows Bayani, Isay, and Aaron who end up in the long-forgotten island of myth. There’s creatures and monsters and spooky things! They have to work together to find their way back home. The setting was intriguing, the characters loveable, and the plot was fantastic!