Along the shores of the Lingayen Gulf lies the kingdom of Kaboloan, the richest kingdom in the northern lands. Though the kingdom had been blessed with wealth and prosperity for many generations, it is about to be plunged into a war greater than any in recent memory. A war brought about by the greed and ambitions of a few yet nonetheless suffered by many.
In the gradual build-up to the oncoming war, a young princess will find herself caught amidst chaos, political intrigue, betrayal, and murders. Her name is Urduja; the daughter of the king of Kaboloan and a Lakandian. But unlike the other Lakandians in the Alamat Book Series, the tale of Urduja is quite unique. Due to circumstances outside her control, Urduja was born and raised as a normal human would. Yet unlike other people, she was gifted with wit and intelligence unparalleled anywhere in the known lands.
But when the secrets of her past come to light, Urduja embarks on a quest to regain her birthright as Lakandian and champion of the immortal realm of Kaluwalhatian. Together with her friends from different tribes and peoples, they will battle their way through mythological beasts and monsters as they find a way to rid Kaboloan of the evil invaders that threaten not just her home but all those she holds dear.
Set a few years before the events of Lam-ang, this book covers the untold origin of Urduja. A woman destined to be the Great Warrior Queen that the legend speaks of, as well as the Lakandian that will lead all others in the Kanibusanan; the great war that will determine the fates of the three realms.
This book was soooo looonnngg! But it was well worth the read! Just like how he wrote the first 3 books, Sir Herbert wrote another lakandian story in a completely different style that sets it apart from the others.
Urduja is the 4th lakandian in the series and is all about the legendary warrior queen of Tawalisi aka modern day Pangasinan. It's an origin story and reads like a political thriller mixed with fantasy and adventure. Urduja is an exceptionally gifted young woman from the beginning with probably one of the most unique superpowers I’ve ever read about. Even how she becomes a lakandian was quite different from Lam-ang, Lumalindaw, and Taguwasi.
This book has everything from political intrigue, martial arts action, magical elements, an adventure style quest, LGBTQ representation, military battles, Asian history, and most of all, an excellent story that seamlessly brings all of these elements together. It even has mythological creatures that I’ve never even heard of before. This book is a must read and in my opinion, elevates the entire series. After reading the epilogue, I can’t wait to read the next book... Tala!
A must read book that tells the story of one of the greatest woman warrior in the Philippine mythology. If you’re not familiar with Urduja, you must read this book and get to know her character. This does not only tell her story but also the story of ancient Filipinos, the culture, the livelihood, and how rich Filipinos are in terms of literature.
Spoiler Free: I haven't been this invested in a world beyond our own in a long time. I've read many mythologies and fantasy novels that have captured my interest but none quite like this. Though my opinion as a Philippine Mythology nerd gives me a lot of bias, this novel I believe is a grand introduction to the world of Philippine folklore and myth. I also confess I am reading this series out of order, only because Urduja is a figure I've been trying desperately to research for a long time now. Overall I really enjoyed reading this, I don't mean to make comparisons but the combination of this being something akin to a superhero origin along with a fantasy drama made my heart pound through most of the readthrough!
In the most concise and affectionate words possible: holy shit. Lord of the Rings and Percy Jackson be damned, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. It makes me wish I had something similar growing up to read.
I'm going through this series so fast! We finally get a woman Lakandian and she doesn't disappoint!
This 4th book is like a Tom Clancy novel with hints of GoT. So much political intrigue but set in a fantasy world with monsters and magic. I can't wait to see how this series turns out.