“Black Salt Queen is a superbly gripping tale of love, mortality, and the intergenerational effects of trauma. With lush and evocative prose Samantha Bansil brings to life a Filipino fantasy world of mythic proportions that is bursting with historical and cultural details. If you want intrigue, passionate romance, and a delicious dose of yearning, Black Salt Queen is a must read.” –Gabriella Buba, author of Saints of Storm and Sorrow and Daughters of Flood and Fury

“Complex matriarchs in a vivid setting. A marvelous addition to the growing multitude of voices in Filipino fantasy fiction.” —K.S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-yaro

“Richly immersive with political intrigue as sharp as a blade, Black Salt Queen is a triumph of a debut. This precolonial Philippines-inspired fantasy is a vivid portrayal of love and power, and what happens when one is forced to choose between them. Skillfully epic yet splendidly intimate.” —Maddie Martinez, author of The Maiden and Her Monster (Tor, 2025)

“Samantha Bansil crafts the perfect storm in Black Salt Queen. Crackling with magic, the prose is as soft as a summer rain but packs the punch of an unrelenting monsoon. The plot—steeped in equal parts love and betrayal—is utterly addicting. Moreover, the three main POV characters offer a clever and varied exploration of femininity, motherhood, and power. This book kept me reading late into the night and never wanting to leave Maynara.” —S. Hati, author of And the Sky Bled

• Social campaign with over 5M direct reach plus paid promotions
• National print, broadcast, and online media campaign including radio and podcast interviews
  
• Extensive review copy mailings to booksellers, media, and influencers
  
• Netgalley and Goodreads promotions
  
• NYC launch event with broad influencer and media attendance