Winds of War

Seed Mage Cycle #1

by Mica De Leon

THE MALICE OF GODS,
THE CRUELTY OF FATE ,
AND A GIRL, TEARING THE WORLD APART TO FIND HERSELF

Set in a sprawling world of inspired by Philippine mythology, Winds of War follows the wind mage Yin whose magic may save the world—or destroy it.

 The forgotten gods are returning.  

Before the exodus of kings to Kayumalon, seedmages were revered, their magic reserved only for the bloodlines the gods deemed worthy. But what used to be an age of peace and prosperity is now just myth. In this day and age, seedmagic is cheap—the power of the gods reduced to a bottle of oil; mass-produced on magic plantations and coveted by enemies within and without.
However, divinity refuses to be trapped in vials, and vengeful, angry gods have set their eyes on Kayumalon.

  A new god will be born in a girl who holds the kingdom's fate in her hands.  

All Yin wanted was a home that she did not have to abandon. Fate, however, has other plans for her. Now, she has more power than anyone in the kingdom, and nobody can tell her what to do with it.
     
 Will she choose to save those who have robbed her, and her people, of a chance at a free life? Or will she turn her back on them, choosing instead to become a vessel for destruction?  

Genres: Fantasy

242 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2024

About the author

Mica De Leon is the author of six books published by Penguin Random House SEA. Her first novel, Love on the Second Read, is a rom-com set in the Philippines about two Filipino book editors. She is also the author of the Seedmage Cycle Trilogy books—Winds Of War, Veins Of Power, and Seeds Of Conquest—which is an epic, high fantasy trilogy inspired by Philippine myths and folklore.
She is a Filipino author of swoony romance comedy novels and epic fantasy novels, and she has won the Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature in 2019 and 2022 for her essays on romance, feminism, history, fantasy, and the Filipino identity. She is also the Executive Editor of one of the leading publishing houses in the Philippines and has produced over 200 books in her ten years there.
She likes walking on the beach, dogs, cats, swoony and spicy romance novels, epic, sci-fi-fantasy novels, Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere books, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, and Taylor Swift. She is still trying (and failing) to meet all the impossible deadlines she gave herself five years ago.
Connect with her on Instagram and Tiktok at @micadeleonwrites and on Threads and X at @micadlwrites.

Reviews

[Althea ☾]

Filipino Fantasy and the author learned how to write long form stories from Brandon Sanderson. I recently learned about this series and I think it should be brought to all of yalls attention too :)

[Paula M · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can also read my review here: The Paper Reels

“Piece the heart, fuse the soul.”

I want to share a little secret: I’m not typically a big heavy fantasy reader. In fact, I’ve probably only read fewer than 50 of the many fantasy books out there! That gives you a bit of context about me. So, you can imagine my delightful surprise when I found myself completely enchanted by Yin and Kalem’s world.



Winds of War is the wonderful first book in a captivating trilogy, and I just took a little break from diving into Veins of Power, the exciting second book, to share my thoughts with you! Drawing inspiration from Philippine Mythology and touching on elements of our politics, this story feels truly refreshing. It beautifully portrays a brother longing for his father’s affection, a son striving to heal and learn more about their shared history, and a girl on the brink of discovering her own strength and capabilities. Winds of War really swept me away!

I am truly impressed by the depth and substance of this book. The world-building is exceptional; it’s clear that De Leon conducted thorough research to craft her fictional realm. The detailed explanations of geography, history, culture, and social structures are all well-articulated. While fantasy books often risk becoming overwhelming with information, this author successfully presents the world in a clear and engaging manner.

I’ll be honest— at first, I struggled a bit. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of fantasy, I was worried that the first chapter might be too much for me. But it turned out to be the exact opposite. I was immediately drawn into the world and the characters, and I just couldn’t put the book down.

The characters are complex and realistic, and one thing I really loved is that the story doesn’t just revolve around a single protagonist. Each character feels fully realized, and I found myself genuinely invested in all of them. De Leon has a gift for writing compelling, layered personalities, and I can’t wait to follow them further on their journey.



Set in a world where mortals and gods coexist, Winds of War feels like the beginning of a breathtaking new fantasy universe that’s bound to captivate readers. This is actually the second book I’ve read by Mica De Leon— the first being a contemporary romance I also really enjoyed. That said, this is my open letter to Miss Ma’am Mica De Leon: please don’t ever stop writing fantasy.

Links: Instagram | Blog

[bookiishreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winds of War (Seedmage Cycle #1) by Mica De Leon — ★ ★ ★ ★

“Love without duty is an empty promise. Duty without love is vanity.” Datu Patas

In a world inspired by Philippine mythology, “Winds of War” follows Yin, a wind mage whose magic could either save everything or totally wreck it.

I’m honestly blown away by how good and interesting this book is. Yeah, it was a bit of an information overload at first, but hey, that’s fantasy for you! I’m really glad there’s a glossary at the beginning to help explain the world, gods, and characters. 💛

The world-building can be a lot, especially the politics, but it’s done so well that it all makes sense as you go along. The book gives you three different POVs—Yin, Kalem, and Dakila—and you'll be surprised at how connected they all are.

At first, I was confused about why there were three POVs, but seriously, when everything clicked, I couldn’t stop reading. I literally finished this book in one sitting!

The twists and reveals toward the end totally shocked me. I even had to go back and re-read some pages. It ends on a cliffhanger too, so you’ll definitely want to grab the next book! 🌬️🍃

If you’re looking for your next fantasy read, I highly recommend this series. 💛✨

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, I won't spoil any details about this series by Mica De Leon. You just need to know that it fits the palate of someone like me who would always choose playing Street Fighter versus Capcom in Quantum Gaming Arcade instead of the public library. I am not a bookworm. I am the kind of reader who sits in the fine lines between children's books and complex fantasy fiction. I have a short attention span and the hook of a book, specially an English one, should really reel me in. The first few chapters must tickle my inner child for me to keep reading. The Seed Mage Cycle is just that. It was written like a mash cooked enough for my delicate jaw, interesting enough to keep me chewing, and succulent enough for me to digest.

[Rahdika K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing read. This is my first time reading a fantasy inspired by Philippine mythology. Kudos to the author for the fantasy debut.

The premise of "Winds of War" revolves around Yin, a wind mage in a world inspired by Philippine mythology, where gods and magic intertwine with the fate of kingdoms. Once revered, magic now lies commodified, leading to unrest and the return of vengeful gods targeting the kingdom of Kayumalon. As Yin grapples with her newfound immense power and a desire for a permanent home, she faces a crucial decision: to use her abilities to save those who oppressed her people or to embrace destruction as a vessel of divine wrath.

The world-building was adequate, creating a solid and immersive setting that drew on rich cultural elements and mythology to enhance the narrative. The pacing of the story was well-managed, maintaining a good balance between action and character development, which kept the plot engaging and the reader's interest sustained. The character development was particularly strong, with well-rounded and evolving characters that added depth and emotional resonance to the story.

I really appreciated that the author provided a glossary as a guide to the kingdom names and other terms. This extra resource was incredibly helpful, as the numerous names and specific terminology could sometimes be confusing. The glossary allowed me to easily reference and understand the context, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable reading experience.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read the next one soon. If you are looking for an invigorating fantasy read based on Philippine mythology, look no further-this will be the perfect book.

Some of my favourite lines:

✨ ‘Marriages were no different than contracts- simple transactions between partners with mutual or complementary needs.’

✨’Love without duty is an empty promise. Duty without love is vanity.’

Thank you to Times Reads and Miss Putri Fariza for the review copy.

[Mika ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of fantasy, of course I was intrigued when I saw this in our local bookstore. A fantasy set in a world that was based from my country + Filipino mythology? Sign me the eff up!!!

Winds of War is the first of the Seed Mage Cycle trilogy. This book mainly has 3 perspectives - Yin, a sheltered half-Kayuman/half-Dayo raised by an overprotective father; Dakila, the closeted 2nd born Prince of the country searching for his missing brother, the crown prince; and Kalem, an academic next-in-line as the Datu to succeed his dying father.

The worldbuilding was interesting, using seeds as the primary source of power for the mages. Different colors mean different types of power. It took a awhile for me to understand the whole magic system, but it was easier to grasp since again, it was based from Philippine mythology. It even reminded me of one of the famous shows in the Philippines during the early 2000s, Encantadia (which I absolutely loved!)

I believe Yin was the main character in this book, but due to shifting POVs, I wasn’t sure anymore. I had an inkling she was the daughter of Dangal, but I was expecting that the father she knew all along was indeed Dangal. What I didn’t expect was Dakila having contact with Dangal all along as they conspire to bring their father down. I’m excited to read how all their paths would cross in the future books.

My only gripe was the timeline jumped too much and I got a little lost. Nonetheles, I enioyed this a lot and will surely read the next 2 books!

[Julia Azarcon]

Fun fast paced fantasy read in an ancient Filipino inspired world where datus with sick tattoos and magic reign, with interesting political turmoil and class structures. I didn’t want it to end because then I’d have to wait for the next books. Really only just the beginning of a much larger story I’m excited to follow.

[Yumi Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winds of War has great world-building! It had lots of information to be told at first, but it's really understandable. I love that there's notes at the start so we can keep track of all the terms and other things that could be confusing. I didn't know how Yin was connected to Kalem and Dakila at first, but I'm glad we figure it out in this book. Can't wait to pick up the next book! 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Bibliophilic Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 / 5

[Maj · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5