"Black Salt Queen" is an engaging story that interrogates how a desire for power influences love. This book takes place within a world where one family, the ruling line of a small nation, possess god-like powers which they can use to protect their people from the threat of imperialist forces which are expanding in the region. The book follows three main perspective characters. Duja is the queen, and is reckoning with declining health, doubt in her daughter Laya’s ability to take the throne, and growing tension with Imeria, her childhood lover and greatest enemy to her reign. Laya, a princess of Maynara and heir to the throne, is navigating both the judgement of her mother and a desire to be with Luntok, the son of Imeria whom she is forbidden from marrying. Finally, Imeria seeks the throne for her son, questioning the power of the ruling line. The story interrogates how a desire for power shapes the relationships between these and other characters, and how this intertwines with the politics of the nation.

This book is the first of a series, a does a great job setting up the world. I enjoyed the magic system a lot—while the royal line are thought to be the only family with otherworldly powers, other families are said to have once possessed their own, and seek to reawaken their lost abilities. The characters and their dynamics are also really interesting: Laya, Duja, and Imeria are all strong characters with unique views on power and relationships. There are also a cast of strong side characters with really interesting stories and motivations. I really enjoyed the world this book developed and look forward to reading more within the series.

My main issue with the book is that the scope is so broad that some characters and ideas felt unexplored. Bulan is the oldest princess, but was born without power, making her ineligible to rule; her relationship with Laya and anger at a world which denies her her birthright is super interesting but just not able to be explored in much depth in this book. Ariel, an alchemist from a neighboring land which has been conquered by foreign enemies is similarly super interesting but underdeveloped simply because this book is doing so much. There are many other ideas like this; characters with really compelling plots that the book just doesn’t have the time to explore. While this does help set up future books, it leaves this lacking some impact because so many ideas are not given as much depth as I would have liked. Moreover, by covering so much, even the main three characters’ stories lack some depth. It felt to me as though this book tried to do too much.

I am giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. I strongly suspect that I will love this series as more books come out. I am definitely hooked—the characters and their unique perspectives and goals are all super compelling and definitely motivate me to read more. However, this book suffered a bit from doing too much, and thus felt a bit surface-level at times. I look forward to reading more from the author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Black Salt Queen paints a beautiful fantasy world in bright colours, though ultimately I struggled to connect with it in the way I had wanted to. There were elements that worked very well – the world building, some of the characters that are not given regular chapters from their POV – but ultimately they were weighed down by one POV in particular. Laya as a character reads exactly the way that her mother Duja describes her: immature, impulsive, and a bit of a know-it-all. We don’t really see her grow, and her character is described as smart and alluring, when we see nothing of this in action.

Conversely, I found Duja and Imeria incredibly compelling characters and their deep bond and its severing was fascinating to follow!

The end definitely had me curious to see where things go, so I’m definitely open to reading a sequel.
Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC!

Very interesting premise and I enjoyed the story.
I just felt I didn’t really connect with the characters.

3.5, stars! certainly a unique and rich fantastical world, but one that i didn't truly fall in love with, unfortunately. maybe this is more for young adult audiences than for me? the writing felt a little clichéd at times, too, but maybe it's just not my cup of tea. overall, i did enjoy this (and i especially related to bulan at the start of the book), but it just wasn't for me!

[thank you to netgalley for a free copy of this book! my opinions are my own.]

4,5⭐️

"Black Salt Queen" is a fantasy book, where it's hard to belive it's from a debut author, as the prose and story are a mature breath of freshness. Writing is so beautiful, it avoids clichés for the sake of characters expressions; it flows naturally, in a constant string of cause-effect. I really liked how Bansil connected elements of fantasy with a bigger, more nuanced plot.

In BSQ there are several characters who lead the narration. Young lovers, the son of a traitor and a daughter of ruling queen, who must answer the question how much can they sacrifice in the name of their love. Two mothers, who are intertwined by a common past. Voices from the revolution and royal court. And one alchemist, brought from outside the border, writing letters to his deceased love.

The plot focuses on the intrigue rising in the royal court, discussions of revolution, revenge and magic, as it lays deep inside each heart, yet doesn't manifest itself constantly. Bansil doesn't use it lightly, for her magic is not a plot resolution, it's a last resort eith consequences, and that settles the tone of the story. It's genius. Every each of the elements that build BSQ is well thought, precise like a cog in a machine. It's on such a high level of eloquence and preparation that I was truly surprised it was a debut. There is a bright future in writing in front of Bansil.

The only reason I've lowered my rating is the ending, as I am not entirely convinced with it. I liked many elements of it, especially the resolution at the very end (great twist and cliffhanger), but I wish a plot with Imeria and Duja was treated similarly. I understand why it was like it was, yet the feeling of it being rushed never left. But that's the only thing I am not sold on. The rest is truly brilliant.

“I’d follow you anywhere. I’ve been chasing you since the moment we met.”

This book had me absolutely mesmerized from the first page. Sam’s ability to create such a unique and intriguing world and magic system will capture your interest and keep you coming back for more. The characters are so complex and multi-faceted that they feel more realistic than your average book. They are flawed, obsessive, and power hungry in a way that is unlike anything I’ve ever read. The entire time I was begging to switch POVs so I could get into the heads of all the characters and pick apart their motivations.

This story was so refreshing and different from your average coming of age or love stories. The relationships between families, lovers, and enemies are so intertwined and unexpected. You find yourself rooting for couples while simultaneously wishing they would part ways. I can’t even put into words the way this book made me feel from start to finish. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Sam is an incredible storyteller that will snag your attention from the first page. She has been added to my list of authors that I will automatically read anything they create. The cliffhanger at the end really got me and I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you so much to Sam and Bindery Books for trusting me with reviewing this amazing story!

Black Salt Queen was not my cup of tea. The premise, magic system, and political manuevers were great, but I didn't like the characters. Most of the characters hated/disliked each other and from their POV it was hard to find anything good in the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay. I wasn't particularly wowed, though I can appreciate the usage of the author's cultural heritage for the world building, but I am not much of a romantasy fan, so I wasn't as invested. All the best to the author on this because the market is definitely there!

This was a fresh, lush, powerful new fantasy—I loved Bansil's world-building and character development. A truly stunning debut and I cannot wait to read more!

I absolutely loved this book! As a Filipino it’s nice to see my people’s culture represented in a work of fiction, that is NOT trauma or poverty porn (which has been the case for many years!) Samantha is a brilliant writer and her work shines through the pages! I’m so excited to read what she has in store for all of us! Solid 5 out of 5!

Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up for Netgalley)

Black Salt Queen is a multi-generational tale of power, magic, and love in a kingdom inspired by precolonial Filipino culture. The Gatdula clan has been the ruler of Maynara for several generations, but their hold on their power is rapidly slipping. Hara Duja, the current queen, is hiding her fading strength from the rest of her council and especially from the rival Kulaw clan. Laya, the most powerful magic holder in years, has yet to gain her people's trust in her ability as the next queen. Imeria has a decades-long axe to grind against the Gatdula family, and she will stop at nothing to fulfill her quest,

This is a solid read for people who like more action and political machinations in their fantasy and/or more imperfect, flawed women characters in positions of power. Duja, Laya, and Imeria all make decisions that are self-serving, unnoble, and sometimes wildly off-key, but their personalities are so alive that you can follow the consistency of their logic. They are best viewed in terms of their relationships: Duja, an uncertain queen and even more uncertain mother; Laya, a lover who acts before she thinks; Imeria, a partner who follows her loyalties to the end.

However, good characters can only take a book so far before they get hampered by other aspects of storytelling, specifically in the pacing and worldbuilding. The plot is dragged too long. promising big reveals and larger setups, but ultimately ends in a single coup that could have been set up and resolved a hundred pages earlier. There could have been more space to explore how magic plays a role in their economy, or how King Aki deals with the court. Much of the flavor is simply explained away, and I would have loved to live more fully in Maynara. The precioso could have been more fleshed out: maybe show its trade? its history? its whispers? These details could have been baked into a more complex plot, and while I am confident that Bansil could weave these in, there isn't much left happening in the timeline to justify their page space.

Other voices are also conspicuously absent here. For a story that hinges heavily on public perception in a Filipino society, the public is not often heard. Even the council elders are just there for set dressing and do not carry enough weight in the minds of the main characters. It's not chismoso or pakialamero enough. There isn't enough of *noise* to feel like the protagonists are drowning in the weight of their expectations, which is the case for a lot of Filipino families and neighborhoods. Just take a look of r/ChikaPH or sit in a noche buena with extended family and you'll know what I mean: everything from the way you tuck your hair to how you hold your spoon is under scrutiny and whispered about in the biting, joking passive-aggressiveness only a Filipino can muster. While I do appreciate the author's efforts in making sure that the elements from precolonial history are not merely aesthetic filters nor used in Orientalist gaze,

I think I'm hard on this book because I know it has the potential to be more. Right now, it's a good, solid genre read that I enjoyed on vacation.

Thank you Netgalley and Bindery for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The ending of this book saved it. While I LOVED the precolonial setting of a country very similar to the Philippines culture and the general settings, that wasn't enough for me to completely enter the mood of the book. The main reasons being the pacing and the main characters in general.

While the writing is genuinely amazing, the author is this case when for book where tell overshadows the show part, that was one of the main reasons that didn't make the book click to me. The second being mainly angry at how 3/4 of the characters in this book behaved throughout the book. I do realize that she (Laya) had to have a character growth as it would have been impossible for the book to end in such a way (ending that by the way slapped) but still it's just unreal to think of her like someone that took so much to actually clear her head. Taking out that once again the toxicity in this book was way higher that I realized (the mean lesbian mommies should have just talk the whole thing out instead of waiting 22 years and a coup later).
Last thing being the pacing of the book, the for the first 2/3 or still the 65% of the book felt off, even if all the events contained in these pages happened in less than 2 days.

Still, do I want Laya to end up with Ariel? Hell yes.
Am I scared of book 2 now thanks to that ending? Again hell yes.

Do I think this was a good debut? Yes, I still think this is a decent debut, especially since we know the author can write such works.

3.25/3.5 ⭐️ 2.5🌶️ (there are quite few scenes but none go too much into focus)

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this eARC for the purpose of review.

The idea of this book was so intriguing that I couldn't wait to get started . I loathe long reviews so I will be brief. The pacing for the first two third of this book was rough for me. It felt like everything and nothing was happening all at the same time. The last third was phenomenal and made me so happy that I finished it! The characters are so toxic in the most compelling way and the world building was great. My biggest complaint is that the book is set in a pre colonial Filipino inspired island but all the dialogue and a lot of the descriptions feel...well colonized. While it wasn't perfectly suited to me, I'm sure that it will receive many 5 star reviews and I would be happy to explore the world again

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery (Violetear!!!) for this eARC!! This book was actually the reason I became a subscriber of Kevin’s.

I will preface this review by saying I am a Filipino-American woman who absolutely adores fantasy featuring female coming of rage stories. And it felt so GOOD and validating seeing one inspired by pre-colonial Philippines, written by a fellow Filipino-American! It also released on my birthday so the stars truly aligned for me for this book. Anyway, on to the review.

We mainly follow 3 women in this story, with a few minor POV changes throughout. Laya, the heir to the throne; Duda, the current queen; Imeria, the scorned ex-lover of the queen who wants the throne. All three of these women are very power-oriented, and want the throne/want to cling to the throne for a variety of reasons, but when you break it down to the basics, it’s all about control. The three of them have incredible powers, which is the reason the current family even has the throne, but some powers are more secret than others. This three-way battle for the throne leads to all sorts of alliances, betrayals, and extremely toxic relationships.

These characters are so toxic, and I mean that in the best way. It gives us the drama, it gives these characters depth and nuance. You honestly don’t know who to root for a lot of the time! With the exception of my beloved king Aki and little Eti, these characters are just one bad, selfish decision after another. They try to mask it like it’s the best option for everyone, but we know it isn’t. We know they just want to be in charge. And I love that for them.

Luntok was an interesting character. Have I ever seen a more delusional man? He is in love with Laya. Laya is in love with him. He’s the descendent of a traitor to the throne, so they can’t be together. But he’ll do anything to be with Laya - even if that “anything” is something that Laya expressly does not support. His character is so compelling because he acts like he’s driven by love, but really at this point, he’s driven by obsession.

The cultural representation was subtle but there! In the names, in the clothing descriptions, in the food. I’m not an expert in Filipino culture since my mom was so assimilated into the US at such a young age, but I always love to see it in books and other media.

And gosh what an ending!!! Samantha, you sure know how to hook a reader and leave them hanging off a CLIFF waiting for the sequel!!!!

This book is a stunning story featuring complex characters, all with differing and sometimes conflicting motivations. The island setting was beautifully descriptive and key element in the story. The inclusion of magic and Filipino mythology added such beautifully complex layers to the story as a whole. I found myself often seeing motivations from each characters perspective, and really enjoyed that each character was very multidimensional. Overall this was a very enjoyable read with a number of twists and turns!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil is a mesmerizing dark fantasy brimming with intrigue, power, and sacrifice. Set in a richly imagined world where the sea holds deadly secrets, the story follows a fierce heroine as she navigates betrayal, ancient magic, and her own destiny. Bansil’s lush prose and gripping plot twists keep readers enthralled, while the morally complex characters add depth to this haunting tale. A captivating read for fans of atmospheric and emotionally charged fantasy.

In a world of fantasy books, Black Salt Queen stands out. I love the setting and culture Basil created with this novel. It is rich and interesting and realistic in ways that sometimes feel painful. The characters are nuanced and complex. Precolonial Philippine culture is not something I was familiar with, but I feel like this novel genuinely taught me something, as well as telling an incredibly satisfying story. Upon finishing it, I had an in-depth conversation with my husband about some of the larger issues and topics addressed. Even now, I am still thinking about it. I believe this book will be a stand out- amongst the best of 2025.

I loved this book!

1. Great Worldbuilding
2. Great Character Development
3. I loved how it is different to what I have read before, this is a great read!

I think it is great to see more south Asian fantasy and this doesn't disappoint. Everything was beautifully written, the characters, the plots...everything! I loved the three perspectives, it really added to the story and the character development. The characters were really, really well written. I thought that despite there being heaps of characters, they were still well written - which can be hard! I also enjoyed the pacing of this novel, I felt like the plot was well developped throughout the story. I loved the political parts of the story, I found that interesting as well.

While the start of the book was on the slower side (world building often is, lots of exposition to squeeze in at the beginning) once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down! What a story of desire, power, sacrifice, and consequence — absolutely beautiful and haunting. I’ve been thinking about it for days since I finished it!