𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡.

Samantha writes a captivating political fantasy in Black Salt Queen, introducing us to the richly imagined island nation of Maynara. This debut novel weaves together divine magic, political intrigue, & family rivalries in a story that kept me thoroughly invested from beginning to end.

The story centers on three compelling women locked in a deadly power struggle. Each woman harbors secrets that could be their undoing, creating a tense web of vulnerability beneath their displays of power.

What sets Black Salt Queen apart is its foundation in precolonial Filipino culture, which Samantha brings to vivid life with gorgeous worldbuilding that feels both authentic and fantastical.. The political maneuvering reminded me of the intricate family dynamics in Jade City, while the elemental magic system evoked Avatar: The Last Airbender. There are even touches of Romeo and Juliet in the romantic entanglements that complicate the already fraught political landscape.

Samantha intricately balances passion, romance, and betrayal, showing how each character's greatest strength often becomes their most dangerous weakness.

The pacing occasionally stumbles, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag. More significantly, I found myself wanting to see the characters' divine powers in action more frequently. But that cliff hanger ending (!?) definitely hints we'll be getting more of that in book 2, which I'm already eagerly anticipating!

Black Salt Queen is a promising debut that explores power, family, and sacrifice. Samantha is definitely a voice to watch in this genre!

Thank you to Bindery Books & NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Read if you love:
⛈️forbidden love
☁️political intrigue
⛈️complex family dynamics
☁️elemental magic
⛈️multiple POVs

This is a fantastic debut focusing on the power struggles of both ruling a kingdom and the heart.

I enjoyed the magic, world building, and the fantastic trio of women who make up our MCs. The tension between the two families is very star-crossed lovers with a dark twist and my goodness was the last 30% a race to the finish!

The first 20% did take a while to get through but I could see the potential!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Much love to Bindery and Violetear Books for bringing this BIPOC queer work into the world!

A beautiful and brutal story of love, politics, and power in a magical land inspired by pre-colonial Philippines. BLACK SALT QUEEN is extremely well written, thrilling, and gutting. Cannot wait to read the sequel!

I really had high hopes for this book based on the description but unfortunately I don’t think it lived up to my expectations. This is the author’s debut novel and while it had some incredible moments of intrigue throughout I found the pacing to be off putting in several places, so much so that I debated stopping the book several times.

While I didn’t love this one I still enjoyed the incredible imagery the author created and the complexity of the characters in the story.

Even though this book wasn’t my favorite you might enjoy it if you like books written in multiple POV and if you like fantasy!

Thanks to NetGalley and binderybooks for the e-arc!

This is a story set in a vivid precolonial Philippines-inspired world where women who wield elemental magic vie for power. Surrounding this is a web of court intrigue, young love, sapphic heartbreak, and the impacts of colonialism, all of which were explored so beautifully through the gorgeous prose and intensely relatable and fascinating characters.

The characters in particular were such a highlight of this book and set it apart from other fantasy stories. The author has created such strong, complex women, giving the reader just enough insight into their motivations, hearts, and histories to keep them all so interesting and understandable. Throughout all the political dramas, revenge, and betrayals, the characters remained at the centre of the story and I found that no matter what happened I cared so deeply for all of them. Even side characters were written with such depth and made the world of this story come to life, adding the tension and layers that many fantasy novels focused on politics lack.

While the pacing may be a little slow for some, I loved how it allowed so much introspection and thoughtfulness and, in my opinion, it worked well for the story. If you are looking for a lush fantasy world to get lost in and complex female characters of all ages who will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading, I would highly recommend this. And with the sapphic lovers-to-enemies plotline of my dreams on top, this is a perfect pick for pride month!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this eARC in return for my honest review.

Black Salt Queen is a dramatic, messy, epic, and beautifully tragic tale of power, legacy, and survival. Set in a Southeast Asian inspired island kingdom, this novel swept me away with its tangled web of political intrigue, family loyalty, and the consequences of inherited power. After the first few chapters I was expecting high-stakes drama for drama’s sake story—but what I got was so much more: a deeply layered narrative that skillfully explores generational trauma, tradition, and identity.

The story centers on a brutal competition for the royal throne, but what truly elevates it are the unforgettable characters. Every relationship—from siblings, lovers, allies, to enemies—is rich with complexity, pain, and longing. Their storylines are intricately intertwined, rooted in the past and shaped by choices that echo across generations. Though some characters wield godlike powers, Bansil never lets us forget their humanity. They fall in love, make mistakes, and wrestle with the burden of legacy.

If you love court politics, chaotic family dynamics, and sapphic romances woven with angst and passion, this book delivers. The romantic arcs are tragic in the most beautiful way, adding emotional depth to the already high stakes.

The magic system isn’t overly complex, but it’s compelling—especially the hauntingly dangerous bloodline that grants mind control. Elemental and healing powers also play a role, but it’s the psychological and emotional consequences of these gifts that steal the spotlight.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I never knew where it was heading, except that it would be wild—and it absolutely was. Original, bold, and deeply engaging, Black Salt Queen brings a new and exciting story to the fantasy genre, and I’m already eager for the next installment.

4.5/5⭐️

I received a digital review copy from NetGalley, and I was absolutely thrilled to dive into this book. Having previously read one of the Fall 2024 Bindery titles, I’ve been eagerly anticipating their new releases, and this one did not disappoint.

The story unfolds on the enchanting island of Maynara, where the ruling family, the Gatdulas, wields divine power. However, their reign is under threat as the queen’s once-mighty strength begins to diminish. Her heir, Laya, grapples with her destiny, lacking the enthusiasm to ascend to the throne despite the weight of her lineage.

Into this turbulent mix steps Imeria Kulaw, a formidable woman determined to secure her son’s place beside Laya on the throne. As the leader of a rival family, she stands ready to risk everything to see her ambitions realized. The intricate web of relationships unfolds as we follow the intertwining paths of the queen, Laya, and Imeria. Each character grapples with their own broken hearts, unfulfilled desires, and dreams that hang in the balance.

This book is a captivating ride, filled with twists of betrayal that keep me hooked page after page.

THIS IS FEMALE RAGE COOKED TO PERFECTION!

𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 -- 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘴' 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘪 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.

Happy Pub Day to 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙩 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣 by Filipino-American author @sam_bansil ! Special thanks to @netgalley @bindery_books for this e-ARC! This book truly is a gem.

A multiple POV story rooted in pre-colonial Philippines, Black Salt Queen spotlights powerful female voices as they navigate the challenges of love, obsession, secrets, betrayal, and power struggles.

A queen slowly fading, consumed by her godly powers.
A headstrong princess gifted with the power to control wind and rain.
An old flame burning with vengeance.

Every twist and turn in the story unfolds with a rich blend of elements, masterfully balanced to create a powerful tale that leaves you breathless and longing for more.

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 -- 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥.
𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘢 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series. The ending was jaw-dropping! Some scenes keep replaying in my head even now. They were just so intense! This was definitely a 5⭐ read!

I instantly fell in love with this author's writing style, from the minute I started reading this book. Her words kept me engaged the entire time.

Samantha Bansil’s debut novel, where powerful women blessed with godlike powers are faced with their own ambition, duty to their nation, and callings of the heart. Black Salt Queen is set in a precolonial Philippines-inspired nation where female ambition, star crossed romances separated through generational strife, and divine magic are at the forefront. Told between multiple POVs of captivating and complex characters as they inch closer to taking control of their fate, and reckon with the potentially grave consequences of taking what they want.

If you are a fan of political intrigue, sapphic yearning, headstrong and complex characters / relationships, and a good serving of spice, look no further! Black Salt Queen is steeped in all of it and so.much.MORE!

This book made me feel the full breadth of emotions from having my eyes wide and holding my breath during tense moments, to kicking my feel and giggling during particularly spicy bits. I adored the characters as flawed and complex people and both hoped for their dreams and mourned their losses during the gripping, ever emotional ride that Bansil takes us through in her debut novel. I am just THRILLED that this is just the first installment of this amazing story, because Black Salt Queen certainly leaves you wanting more!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wowzas, what an ending.
I was immediately sold on the premise of this book. A fantasy set in pre-colonial Philippines, magical powers, and political scheming.

This had Romeo and Juliet vibes, the Gatdulas (the ruling royal family) vs. the Kulaws (a rival, powerful family). Both families are led by powerful queens that have a very scandalous history. Lots of twists, betrayals and mystery in this.

The multiple POVs were done just right. We get POVs from Queen Duja who manipulates the earth, Laya, the Gatdula's heir. She's a powerful, self centered princess who controls the sky. She's not the eldest though, her older sis Bulan does not have any super powers... And is bitter about it. Eti, her younger, clever sister can manipulate metal. I loved Eti's chapters and she reminded me of Arya Stark.

The other POVs belong to Imeria Kulaw, the rival queen who has interesting powers of her own, no spoilers, but they're awesome. And her son Luntok, Romeo himself, who woos Laya and wants to marry her, though it's forbidden. Man, did I feel for poor Luntok.

This was a very character driven story, with the plot slowly moving along. It doesn't really hit until about 60%, but when it does, it delivers. Bansil took her time with the lush landscape and meticulous world building. The prose takes a bit to get used to, but gets better as the book progresses. I really liked the addition of the letters in the beginning of each part, they helped build the mystery/plot between the two queens.

It's a slow burn debut and I hope the second book focuses on building a stronger, action filled plotline.

Rating: rounded up to 4⭐'s

4.75⭐️ Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I was immediately drawn to this fantasy romance set in pre-colonial Philippines with its vibrant cover and promises of rich Philippine mythology based lore. But the real beauty of this book lies within its complex female relationships and strong portrayals of female leaders. There are strikingly accurate depictions of the bonds between sisters, the struggles between a mother and her strong-willed daughters, and some surprisingly emotional toxic lesbian mothers moments (lol). I was chatting with Kevin, whose imprint is publishing this book through Bindery, on Instagram about those who have left more negative reviews on these female characters, and I suggested that they want more cookie cutter characters (i.e. grumpy vs. sunshine) and tropes. If that's the case, then this book is not for you! These relationships, chefs kiss. The political intrigue, chefs kiss. The world building, chefs kiss. The romance, CHEFS KISS. If you want a unique romantasy and one that may challenge your own ideas of what constitutes strong female characters (they're complicated! they're morally grey!), then this is absolutely for you. And what a perfect way to end my AAPI focused reading month, and enter into Pride month! We need to celebrate and uplift more diverse authors and works just like 'Black Salt Queen' which deserves all the love and recognition.

It took me a while to get into but once I was in it, I loved it! It's definitely one that is for everyone who loves a mix of the classic enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies slow burner!

What a debut! I would recommend Black Salt Queen if you enjoy slow burn character development, court intrigue, complicated feelings and relationships - along with enemies to lovers AND lovers to enemies! To sum up this fantasy, borrow the pacing and number of characters and POV changes from Jade City, but locate it in a pre colonial inspired royal Philippine landscape, and throw in the magic of Avatar the Last Airbender.

All that being said, I would not recommend if you’re looking for a fast paced read. The story is relatively slow moving, but manages to not be overly meandering as you learn the depth of the characters. The final quarter of the book is very intriguing and I quickly finished once it hit a groove! I will be preordering the sequel when it’s announced! Thank you to Samantha Bansil, NetGalley and Bindery Books / Violetear for a copy of this eARC!

It was an interesting story. I was intrigued by it but it took me some time to get into it. I appreciate receiving an advanced copy.

Black Salt Queen has drama, politics, and succession, all wrapped in one very powerful family. 💫💫💫💫💫

Princess Laya has her work cut out for her. She is the strongest of the sisters. She is the next heir to the throne, and she has found love in the wrong place.
Luntok loves Laya, but he belongs to the Kulaw, a family that is beneath Laya. Her mother, Hara Duja, has other plans for her. The future queen will need a powerful husband from a great family. Laya and Luntok love each other, but family, duty, and the future will dictate what happens with them.

A powerful read full of love, magic, old wounds that never healed, and a matriarch with a secret that doomed them from the beginning.

Thank you, Netgalley and Bindery Books/ Violetear, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

This had all the ingredients of something I’d love: a lush fantasy world, political drama, and a cultural backdrop that isn’t often explored in mainstream fantasy. And there are parts of the book that shine: particularly the setting, which is inspired by Filipino traditions in a way that feels refreshing. Some of the imagery and magic had real spark, and there were scenes that made me stop and appreciate the potential here.

But for me, the story struggled to deliver on that promise. The pacing felt uneven—very slow to start, then suddenly picking up too quickly near the end. It left little room to develop key moments, which meant the emotional arcs never really landed the way they should have. Plot threads were introduced, dropped, then picked up again without much momentum, making the story feel more disjointed than deliberate.

The characters, unfortunately, didn’t pull me in either. There’s an emotional distance in how they’re written, like being told what their relationships are supposed to mean rather than feeling those dynamics unfold naturally. I wanted to care, but there just wasn’t enough substance behind their connections to make me invested. Even the more dramatic turns felt muted because I didn’t have a strong sense of who these people really were beyond their roles. The romantic subplot, in particular, didn’t work for me. It felt abrupt and shallow, and I struggled to connect with the pairing emotionally. There was more potential in the political intrigue and court tension, but those threads often took a backseat to less compelling interpersonal drama.

By the final chapters, the story did start to find a bit more energy, and the closing moments hinted at a broader, more ambitious narrative. But by then, I felt like too much had been rushed or glossed over to leave a lasting impact.

There’s definitely a strong imagination behind this book, and I think the author has something interesting to say. I just wish it had been more fully realised, with more attention to character depth and a tighter grip on the pacing.

Check the TWs before reading.

From the first page, I was hooked on the political intrigue and the family DRAMA. It felt so messy, in the best ways, and I loved every second of it.

The intergenerational perspectives added depth to the story without slowing the plot. And the magic was unique and full of actual risk which added an extra layer of stakes that made this stand out.

It took me on an emotional rollercoaster and I was fully along for the ride. But y’all. That last third of the book SLAPPED.

If you’re into romantasy with heart, culture, high stakes, and a bit of pain, go grab Black Salt Queen.
Thank you NETGALLEY and publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you like political intrigue books, you might enjoy this one 🥰

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I think I had the hardest time with one of the main characters, the Princess Laya, who is intentionally unlikable. She has a superiority complex and makes brash decisions. It wasn't until I hit the 46% mark that I feel like the plot picked up. A lot of time was focused on the main characters finding out what the others were doing, which felt a little repetitive to me as the reader who knew what was going on.

I enjoyed the magic system and the other princesses very much! There is some good queer representation and some enjoyable banter. This may have not hit a home run for me, but I think it's worth you checking out to see if you might enjoy it more 😊

Bindery truly doesn't miss!

I often find Romeo and Juliet-style relationship set ups to be overwrought and overdone, but Black Salt Queen was *swimming* in delicious interpersonal tension that carried all the relationships - Laya and Luntok's included. I ended up loving all the characters in their complex glory. Very few of them could simply be reduced to likeable or unlikeable. Bansil did an amazing job crafting characters that felt real, steeped in their own motivations and understandings of their world.

I've been in a reading slump and this just got me out of it. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down! I finished it in about 2 days and I can't believe I'm going to have to wait for the sequel after that cliff hanger at the end. If you enjoy diverse fantasy, strong and complex female characters, multi-POV, political intrigue, queer fantasy, and family drama, you have to pick this one up!

Thank you to Bindery and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.