I really wanted to like this one, the author is so lovely and it sounded great. Unfortunately it just wasn’t grabbing me I tried the earc I had first but as it seemed slow I thought it best to try the audio when it was available. The audio just wasn’t gripping me either, I can’t put my finger on exactly why, maybe just too slow paced for me

What a delightful and unique read! Though, at times, I struggled with the manner in which the author doled out information, I found this book easy to read overall. The characters and setting were so vibrant, and the story so memorable, that I could take a long hiatus and
come back without issue. I’d also like to remark that so rarely can an author create an entire cast of characters that are neither good nor bad, just human. I truly cannot wait to enter her world again with the next book. Bansil has cultivated a fan in me.

Amazing Debut! I have loved delving into different cultures and lore, and Black Salt Queen is a prime example of why I'm loving it. Bansil weaves a fabulous story that keeps you hooked to the last page.

I wasn't as into this book as I anticipated it being unfortunately. The combination of it being a romantasy and it being high fantasy was a combination that I wasn't into for this book.
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I was hoping to enjoy this story more, what with it being a queer novel, but it is what it is.
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Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book.

cool premise, representation, great world building, almost everything i look for in a fantasy, i just needed more connection to the main characters

This book was so interesting. The world building felt seamless. I was learning so much, but there wasn’t any info dumping. The characters were complex and different from each other so that the POV‘s were unique enough that you never confused yourself with who you were reading you can tell that this is the first book in a series as it was building towards a smaller conflict before the larger one, it is also hinting at a larger world outside of the one that we saw firsthand. The one weakness I would say is the flashback episodes while interesting and needed to understand the characters. I felt that there were a few of them that could have been edited down so that we didn’t get so many of them about the same situation a big thank you to Bindery books and Netgalley for an advanced E copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books | Violetear, i need more of those bitter sapphic queen exes. i don't care what happened.

The queen was absolutely my favorite part, and I hope we see more of her. Laya too-- I did truly like her, and her love for her siblings that felt so real. The way her older sibling was treated, because of when she was born (and how!), the way she had to fight to be taken seriously, and how her own sister viewed it.
I was not really a fan of Luntok but. his mother. oh god his mother i loved her so. The matriarchs really stole the show for me.

I look forward to reading the next books in the series!

This is a good kickoff to a new, full-of-lore series! Black Salt Queen follows Laya, her family, and her secret-ish boyfriend, Luntok, and his family, during days of feasts and fights that the kingdom is putting on in prep for Laya to pick a husband and thus begin her rule. But Laya's mom doesn't want to give up her throne for fear of Laya's power, Luntok is actually the son of an enemy, Laya's sister doesn't respect her, and and lots lots lots more.

Which leads me to my critique of this book-it could have, and maybe should have, been multiple books itself. There were soooo many things to be explored that hardly got touched, like the queen's brother, actually seeing Laya's power more than just in the opening exposition, the sisters' relationship, the background of the animosity between the two families (yes, there was a good bit of explanation there, but I think it needed even more time spent on it), who Ariel the scholar is, what the drug preciosa is and more about it, the magic system in general, etc. And then, at the end, well, obviously we're getting a second book, but I need sooooo much more explanation there too.

The pacing got good in the second half. The first half had me questioning if I wanted to keep going. It was just a lot of repetition with a little bit of plot movement. But then at about 50% I couldn't put it down, and the action and intrigue were well-done.

All that said, it was a good story, and created a world that I definitely would read more of.

In conclusion, I liked it. If I had to give a star rating, probably 3.5 rounded up. I can see this author growing and knocking fantasy books out of the park. Some of this book gave me Black Sun vibes, so if that is your kind of book, you should try this one out!

Thanks to Netgalley and Violetear for the e-ARC!

I enjoyed this at a steady pace for the first 40/50% or so. I hadn’t grown to like the characters yet but the pace was pleasant and there were enough hints at the world and magic to keep me interested. Unfortunately I didn’t keep this mindset for the rest of the book, because there was a lack of action happening in the majority of it. I’m not exactly a person who needs copious amounts of action to enjoy a book, but I do need interesting plot to keep my interest going. I didn’t grow to like any of the characters by the end, and I really disliked most of them. My favourite part were the flashbacks to when the queen was younger and interacting with her closest ‘friend.’ If there had been more focus on them in the present day then I may have enjoyed a bit more but we kept switching to POVs that did not appeal to me with annoying/unimportant characters.
I would’ve liked some more insight into the world as a whole, we know that the story is set on an island kingdom that has kept to itself for hundreds of years but we don’t see much of anywhere else. The magic was very interesting, but I also would’ve liked more of that as well. Delving into the gods and how the powers work would’ve definitely bolstered my enjoyment of the book, as well as some faster pace with the plot.

Black Salt Queen was an absolutely amazing story. Samantha Bansil has such a way with words as to not only draw you into the story but to make you feel as if you are there, standing on the edge of the Black Salt Cliffs, observing the goings on.

This is not just a beautiful story, rich with cultural expression and representation, this is a tale of love and heartbreak, loyalty and betrayal, and many of the protagonists are DEEPLY unlikable.

The story follows multiple characters but mainly focus' on Hara Duja, Dayang Laya, and Datu [Imeria] Kulaw, three strong women all broken in their own ways.

Duja must wrestle with the future as it relates to her past. Her heart, her love, has come back to take everything away from her and Duja is not ready to cede control of her kingdom to her daughter, a daughter she feels is not ready to be Queen.

Laya want more than anything to be Queen, the best Queen Maynana has ever seen. She wishes for nothing more than for her time time shine. Laya, however, is in love with the heir to the Kulaw Datus. And of all the Datus' sons, Luntok Kulaw is the only one off limits. Their loves burns brighter than that of a thousand suns, but can Maynara, and Laya, withstand the heat their love brings?

Imeria has fallen victim to bitterness and rage. For 22 years she has waited, she has stewed, and she has planned. When the love of her life, her heart and her soul, cast her away out of fear for what Imeria could do, Imeria was broken in every way. Now she finally has a chance to seek vengeance, and give her son what he so desperately wants, a crown and Laya, can she manage or will it all slip through her fingers.

This gripping tale takes place in a pre-colonial Filipino setting, is rich with cultural references and representation, and I implore you to take a chance and add this book to your TBR. This is the kind of story that will stick with you long after you close the book. My heart aches for these characters, my soul yearns for more. I will be talking about this book for a very long time.

6 STARS.
Minimal Spice (mostly closed door)
LGBTQIA+ themes (this was personally my favorite storyline) [star crossed lovers]

Many years ago, the island kingdom of Maynara expelled every foreigner on its shores. Since then, the kingdom has been peacefully ruled by the Gatdula family and their elemental magic. On the surface, that is. Underneath a veneer of courtly calm lies boiling court intrigue—heated by forbidden relationships, family rivalries, and a tired queen’s last-ditch attempts at maintaining the order of her kingdom. Queen Duja’s oldest daughter, Bulan, subverts her shame at lacking the family magic into becoming a great warrior. The middle daughter, Laya, is poised to reign, having inherited beauty, strength, and prodigious magical talent. Unfortunately, she’s also haughty, spoiled, and embroiled in a passionate affair with the only person in the kingdom she’s been forbidden to love. The youngest daughter, Eti, is too small to cause much trouble, but she is still training her own enormous magical talents in preparation to serve her family’s future. Throw in an evil banished prince, a mysterious foreigner smuggled into the palace, the queen’s closest frenemy, and a handful of petty minor nobles vying for favor, and soon Maynara, known for its peace, is ready to boil over.

Black Salt Queen is one of those books that completely immerses you in its world that is lush, political, and unapologetically steeped in pre-colonial Filipino influence. From the opening chapters, I was pulled into a kingdom shaped by elemental magic, divine bloodlines, and power struggles led almost entirely by fierce, complex women. The atmosphere is vivid and layered, with every court maneuver, betrayal, and secret laced with emotional weight and cultural depth. I absolutely loved the Filipino representation. It felt so grounded, powerful, and refreshing to see a fantasy world built on that kind of cultural depth.

We follow Hara Duja Gatdula, queen of Maynara who wields the power to move the earth, her daughter Laya, who commands the sky, and a rival queen who's just waiting to make her move. It’s all about power, legacy, secrets, and who’s willing to do what to survive. Add in some forbidden romance (including a super tender sapphic love story and a slightly unhinged young love plotline), and I was fully locked in.

The pacing worked for me. It’s a slow burn, but in a way that builds real tension. The worldbuilding is immersive and layered, and while the first half takes some focus (lots of POVs, cultural terms, and political setup), once you’re in it, you’re in it. It’s not here to spoon-feed you, and honestly? I loved that.

This book is messy in all the best ways—full of betrayal, longing, elemental magic, and women making impossible choices. If you’re into fantasy that’s rooted in culture, doesn’t shy away from complexity, and centers strong, emotionally layered female characters, this one is absolutely worth your time.

✨ Tropes you’ll find
👑 Queens in power
🌊 Elemental magic
💔 Forbidden love
🩶 Sapphic longing
💀 Political betrayal
🫣 Enemies with history
🧬 Mother-daughter tension
⏳ Slow burn
📖 Multi-POV

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Samantha Bansil writes next. Bring on book 2! I’m ready 💕

An enthralling beginning to a sweeping epic fantasy series by Samantha Bansil.

The island nation of Maynara has been ruled by the Gatdula family for generations. The reign of Hara Duja has not been without its challenges, but nevertheless peace has held steady over the island nation. But old betrayals run deep and threaten to rise to the surface once more. As the repercussions of past actions begin to shake to the surface, sending shock waves far into the future, the lives of some of the most powerful women in Maynara will be forever changed.

Black Salt Queen is an absolutely captivating debut from Samantha Bansil. Inspired by Filipino folklore, this is an epic fantasy that will rival all other epic fantasies. I was on the edge of my seat this entire read, especially towards the end. And what an ending it was. This novel has everything, heartbreak, passion, love, betrayal, loyalty, magic... Ms. Bansil has woven an intricate web and I cannot wait to see how the pattern grows with future installments.

This novel has multiple POVs, mostly female. We see through the eyes of some of the most powerful women in the kingdom of Maynara. We feel what they feel, we see what they see, we experience what they experience in stunning detail. Each additional POV adds a level of depth to this tale that would not have been achievable in a single POV. My favorite chapters to read were those from the eyes of Duja, Imeria, and Laya - arguably our three main characters for this installment. Duja, queen of Maynara, hesitant to step down from her throne all though it is quickly becoming apparent it is time for her to do so. Laya, princess of Maynara, spoiled and brash - untrained in the ways of ruling a kingdom but hungry for the throne and a chance to prove herself. Imeria, daughter of a traitor and spurned lover who seeks to claw her way to what she views as rightfully hers. Watching the progression and growth, especially for Laya, in relation to Duja and Imeria was a treat.

If you're looking for a fantasy that grabs hold of you from the beginning and doesn't let go, look no further. You've found it. I very much look forward to seeing where Samantha takes us in the future.

as a filipino, reading a fantasy set in a world inspired by precolonial philippines felt so personal and moving. i’ve read a lot of fantasy before, but this one really resonated with me on a core level because it felt like it was written with people like me in mind. the island nation of maynara is rich with details that reflect centuries-old filipino culture. the politics, the rituals, the ways people speak and move and love. even just the way the setting was described reminded me of stories i’ve heard. one of the main characters is even named laya, which means freedom, and as soon as i saw her name on the page i felt a little pang in my chest because of how meaningful that word is to us.

what also stood out to me is how much care the author put into crafting her characters. they’re powerful, literally blessed by gods, but they’re also painfully human. the two rival families are both led by matriarchs, each full of secrets, heartbreak, vengeance. they’re not just enemies fighting over a throne, they’re women shaped by love and grief and impossible choices. i really loved how the book explored different kinds of relationships within a family. hara duja’s fierce protectiveness over her daughters sometimes looked like distrust in their ability to lead. and the sisterhood between the three gatdula sisters was so raw and real. i thought it was so interesting that the middle child, not the eldest, was chosen to bear the mulayri’s power and become the heir. it made sense, but it also created this painful rift between the sisters at first. watching them grow into each other’s strongest support system after everything they endured… that part really healed something in me.

and then there’s the matriarchs. i was already excited knowing there was a sapphic subplot, but what i didn’t expect was that it would be them. their love story really cut me open. lovers to enemies. everything kind of started with them and their forbidden love. they couldn’t be together, but they also couldn’t let go of what they once had. the flashbacks to their youth were so soft and tender. even when they were at each other’s throats in the present, you could still feel all that love and hurt between them. and the ending… it destroyed me in such a beautiful way. it felt like something out of the old filipino folklores i grew up hearing, or as we call them, "alamat." bittersweet, haunting, but also so fitting. it made their story even more powerful and memorable to me.

this book is so special to me because it showed a world that felt both magical and familiar. it showed that our history, our women, our words, our stories are worth centering in epic fantasies.

thank you to @netgalley and @bindery_books for the e-arc!

eARC Review: Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil 👑

This was a great political fantasy inspired by a pre-colonial Philippines. I really enjoyed the machinations that the matriarchs of the group had going on during the book, and while there were some things that rather irked me here and there when it came to the decision making of certain characters, I still had a pretty good time with the book. ⛈️

The story follows numerous POVs, but the primary ones are that of Hara Duja and her daughter, Laya, and Duja’s spurned ex-lover, Imeria, and her son and Laya’s lover, Luntok. I found the dynamic between Laya and Luntok one that definitely has love in it, but also a rather toxic-like element to it on both sides. And when it comes to their mothers? . . . Oh boy is there some HEFTY baggage that needs to be dealt with between them. 😮‍💨

I really liked the side plots and political maneuverings of the matriarchs and the drama that went on between the two sets of lovers, but man did I just want them to make up with each other instead of dragging their families into their dramas. I found myself more drawn to the matriarchs’ drama simply because you can tell that there is so much lingering between them and how petty each of them could be. 😏

I don’t really want to talk too much about the plot itself because I think there’s a lot that goes on that really drives the story and will be huge spoilers if revealed. All I’ll say for the rest of the review is that despite me wanting to throttle the younger generation here and there for being so pigheaded, I still had a great time reading this book and getting sucked into the world. It probably helped that I had read another Philippine inspired book before going into this one. The only thing that I wished we could’ve gotten more of was a deeper dive into the magic system of the families and world, but I feel like that will be the driving point of the next book, so I will happily wait for that explanation. I would also suggest this book for those who are not super into romance since the slow burn is more for political fantasies since I felt like the romance part was more of a secondary plot than anything. 🦅

Thank you goes out to Bindery Books/Violetear Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review and to the author, Bansil, for writing such a wonderful political fantasy inspired by the Philippines! ❤️

Publication date: June 3!

Overall: 4/5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'll start by saying that I think this is a good fantasy book--it has a cast of characters with different intentions and interests, sometimes even very conflicting feelings that build the story and the plot. The world has a strong foundation with history that ties straight into the plot and builds it. The book has different points of view, depending on what serves the plot at each point, and while there aren't too many characters who get their own chapters, for me personally sometimes felt a bit distracting.

Unfortunately, I didn't get attached to any of the characters. I tried to think why as I was reading but I honestly couldn't find a reason nor anything I would have done differently if I was to write this book, so I truly think it's me who's the problem here. However, I would completely recommend the book to any fantasy readers.

This has been on my radar for a while so I was so excited to review this . I'm shocked that this is a debut! I really enjoyed this story. I adored the pre colonial Philippines setting. The story was so engaging and kept my attention the whole. time. I loved the feud between mothers and how it trickled down to the second generation. The main characters were all strong and i got a good sense of them.I will say that I had a hard time connecting to the characters because they were all unlikable to me. I'm not sure if this is on purpose and they go through more character development later on in the second book but for me, I disliked everyone. I would also be curious to learn more about the powers of the rulers and how they obtain them . I felt there wasn't much explanation on this or it wasn't clear. over all i enjoyed this and will pick up the second book when it's out!

I liked the premise and thought the book was okay overall. The beginning was a slow start and it took a while for all the pieces of the intrigue to come together. The main character was relatively unlikable at the start of the story, and although there was a good character arc, it was hard to be initially invested. I feel like there were lots of familial tensions that could have been more prominent throughout, since the first half spent so much time establishing the relationships among the Gatdula family and how those perceived weaknesses could be exploited. The second half of the book definitely picked up the pace, and had more suspense, drama, and character backstory. I do wish that there hadn't been so many characters narrating chapters. It felt like a lot going on with not enough of a connection. Similarly, I feel like less plot elements could have made the story tighter. With that being said, it could be that some of those elements will make more of an appearance in the next book. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a story with familial tension, a coming of age element, and palace intrigue.

This is a political fantasy that is rooted deeply in culture, with solid world building. This doesn't feel like a debut novel!
We get a front tow seat to history and the trials that 3 separate women go through. Betrayal, power, magic, love and a lot of struggle ensue and doesn't seem to resolve and in fact, ends in a crazy cliff hanger of an ending.
While I didn't love all the characters, I also couldn't stop reading. That's a very good sign.
I feel that book 2 will really up the ante and deliver on the promise of this first book.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. My thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

The worldbuilding in Black Salt Queen is gorgeous. The fierce elemental powers the Gatdula family wields ruins their bodies, fating them to an earlier death and weaker constitution. This shades the interactions between Duja and her daughter, Laya, with a sense of doom.

The character dynamics shine with a complexity that roots me to the page. With this tangled web of courtly intrigues building to an uncertain future, I am enthralled. Every moment lays the foundational tension. I'm excited for the next release!