Black Salt Queen

Letters from Maynara #1

by Samantha Bansil

There can be no victory without betrayal.

Hara Duja Gatdula, queen of the island nation of Maynara, holds the divine power to move the earth. But her strength is failing and the line of succession gives her little comfort. Her heir, Laya, is a danger—a petty and passionate princess who wields the enormous power of the skies with fickle indifference. Circling the throne is Imeria Kulaw—the matriarch of a traitorous rival family who wields recklessly enhanced powers of her own—with designs to secure a high-ranking position for her son and claim the crown for her family. Each woman has a secret weakness—a lover, a heartbreak, a lie. But each is willing to pay the steepest price to bring down her rivals once and for all.

Filled with passion, romance, betrayal, and divine magic, Black Salt Queen journeys to a gorgeous precolonial island nation where women—and secrets—reign.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Fiction, Adult, Lesbian

416 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

Samantha Bansil is a Filipino-American fantasy author. She studied sociology and French at Boston University before earning a master’s degree at Institut d’études politiques de Paris. After trying on many a professional hat, she found her way back to her one true love: writing. Her stories often feature big feelings, lush settings, and unlikeable protagonists. A jet-setter at heart, she lives to travel worlds both real and imagined. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering bookstores and ricocheting between continents. She works in Paris, France, as a content marketer.

Reviews

[Kevin Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Salt Queen is a deeply introspective fantasy that focuses on the emotional and political struggles of its characters. The world-building is intentionally rooted in cultural richness, and the relationships reflect the complexity of love, power, and sacrifice.

When it came to publishing my second book under my imprint, Violetear Books, I knew I wanted to build on the themes we established with our debut. I love stories of power, corruption, love, betrayal, and discovery. I love unapologetic characters who will do whatever it takes to achieve what they want, even if it means betraying those they love most.

I’ve had the pleasure of reading Black Salt Queen multiple times throughout its journey from draft to completion, and each time I find myself discovering new layers to love. Samantha Bansil has created a story that feels alive in every sense of the word. Inspired by precolonial Philippine culture, this fantasy is steeped in rich history, vibrant traditions, and a matriarchal power structure where women and secrets rule. The world is so immersive, every inch beautiful and brimming with tension and magic, that you can’t help but lose yourself in its depths.

What truly hooked me, though, were the characters. Each one is so deeply complex, so unapologetically human, that they feel like living, breathing people. The multiple POVs weave together seamlessly, offering a mosaic of perspectives that highlight the intricate relationships and stakes in this lush, dangerous world. At the heart of it all are two romances: a sapphic love story between two rival mommies that is bittersweet and heartbreaking, and a heterosexual one that captures the fragility and intensity of young love. These relationships unfold amidst schemes and betrayals, weaving seamlessly into the broader narrative and reminding us of the strength and fragility of love.

From the fierce rivalries to the quiet, tender moments, Black Salt Queen explores themes of power, loyalty, and the blurred line between love and hate with incredible prose. Sam’s writing is electric, pulling you into a whirlwind of betrayal, passion, and ambition. Every time I finished, I found myself longing to revisit the characters, the story, and the vivid world that feels more real than the city I live in.

This is the kind of book that stays with you, the kind that you think about long after the final page is turned. The twist of an ending will leave your mouth agape. Sam has crafted something truly extraordinary, and I can’t wait for you to experience it. Black Salt Queen is a love letter to bold, complex women and the secrets they wield in a world brimming with magic and intrigue.

[CJ Alberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for work, last third of this book SLAPPED I love the lesbian mean mommies

[Althea ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

[11/13/25 Update] Sometimes I’m scared people will think I’m overreacting when I say that I genuinely do cry/get teary eyed every time I remember this book is out in the world. But Black Salt Queen healed the 10 year old version of me falling in love with fantasy, reading percy jackson, and scavenging for books that had the colorful and vivid island life of the matriarchal Babaylans. All these years I have been looking for a Fantasy book that stems from the culture of the Philippines without it feeling like I’m either being spoonfed my own culture or that the only stories about Filipinos is in its cultural trauma. Stories about BIPOCs living their lives and living their fantasies aside from their trauma is important too. I would tell younger me that she has to wait about 14 more years but it exists now 🥹🥹

This is the kind of book that younger me wanted. A fantasy book based on the culture I grew up in, islands that feel familiar, and not once making me feel like it was explaining all the cultural references to me. A story that is so deeply imbedded in the culture it pulls from WITHOUT FOCUSING ON ITS TRAUMA!! BIPOCs deserve to also have stories that celebrate life, joy, love, heartache, betrayal, and drama in their own cultural contexts. That doesn’t mean this book is free from tension or there’s no real world parallels of oppression from Western civilization. But it celebrates the vivid culture and life and familial dramas just as much as anything else. A story that trusts it’s readers to figure out what they don’t already know. This is the kind of representation we need.

(Preface: do not be fooled, my passion for this book is 5 stars. Goodreads is just forcing me to be technical.)

I do not think you can write a story that puts into Fantasy the matriarchal society of the Babaylans in pre-colonial philippines without catering to the “foreign” gaze while keeping it’s female rage central to the plot and not expect me to be obsessed about it. This feels like it was written for Filipinos in a way that I don’t know how to explain without spoiling. It doesn’t feel like it’s in your face when… it very much is in your face (in the best way possible). This book is eldest daughter syndrome in a fantasy

i can’t believe i finished this emotional rollercoaster back to back with blood over bright haven’s emotional rollercoaster.

this book started off insanely strong but i had an irk with how certain storylines were tied off and i was left wanting more from the fantasy battle scenes, especially since it promised a lot.

however, as someone who studied pre-colonial philippines from high school to college and is born and bred in the Philippines, this was (and probably still is) the most accurate Filipino representation i have ever read in a fantasy without feeling like the Filipino culture was being tokenized. I can tell that the author loves our culture. If i could rate it for that alone, it would be 5 perfect stars. I never felt like it was forced but instead was truly inspired of the culture and it’s mythology. I’m also not a fan of flowery writing so this matched my taste in writing style for an epic fantasy.

there is no big bad evil being to defeat.
there is no complicated magic system to decipher.
there is no wide and high intensity fight scenes.
it’s a bunch of imperfect people getting hurt and suffering the consequences of their actions while trying to do their best and what they think is right.

…and i wanted to drown in it.

adult epic high fantasy needs more of this level of care in it’s lore and pacing. respectfully, drown me in more of these. furthermore, the men in this story are all whipped for their respective significant others and i was living for it.

while i do think the fantasy battle scenes could have been more immersive, i think it made up for that in terms of political play. the pacing of the politics was on point, plus the added tension between the matriarchs in this story was so entertaining to watch. i loved that we saw queens battling for the throne while the males… were basically chilling. it was so refreshing.

i could make a whole essay on the Filipino rep but this review would be too long. In conclusion, while i do have my irks with how this story wrapped up and some plot points currently not up to the level it initially promised, i think this story and lore has a very strong foundation that it can easily make up for it in the next book. A lore that is so inspired and written with love from an author who I can tell from their writing, is proud of her culture… and readers will feel that. I felt that when reading. I can’t wait to read more from Samantha Bansil because you can learn how to write technically better over time but becoming a writer with heart is not something that can be taught.

In short: I love Filipinos and Filipino writers <3 ah this books makes me so proud *teary eyes*

I am DEFINITELY going to be reading the sequel. Thank you very much.

3.5

CONTENT WARNINGS: death, violence, some explicit scenes (very short)

*ARC sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! As a Filipino it’s nice to see my people’s culture represented in a work of fiction, that is NOT trauma or poverty porn (which has been the case for many years!) There’s so much beauty in our culture that we can offer to the world and this book is proof of that.

Samantha is a brilliant writer and her work shines through the pages! I’m so excited to read what she has in store for all of us! Solid 5 out of 5!

(I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

[fede ૮ ․ ․ ྀིა · Rating 4 out of 5]

⟢ 4.5 out of 5 ✮⋆˙

In the majestic city of Mariit, overlooking the deep Untulu sea, stands Laya, the princess about to be queen. In a land filled with magic and rivalry, the struggle for power is all-consuming.

Set in a Philippines-inspired world, Black Salt Queen explores many interesting themes such as the strength of women who don’t give up, how drugs can be perceived in different ways (tolls for power and/or for destruction), and how love makes us weak - but also brave.

The writing is beautiful, I really enjoyed the world-building and the magic. After the first few chapters, I was hooked. The pace is medium-slow and it works perfectly here. I loved the flashbacks between Imeria and Duja. These stories of love and betrayal touched me and I slowly began to care for each character and their journey.

I’m really looking forward to the sequel! If you like reading about complex women, betrayal and queer love, Black Salt Queen is the perfect book for you.

ARC kindly given by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

---------------------------

a Philippines-inspired fantasy world with political intrigue, love, romance and magic??? sign me upppp!!

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I'm on the fence about this one.

On the one hand, I really enjoyed the world-building and the elemental magic powers and the matriarchal system. I also liked Laya's character (weirdly enough lol). The first few chapters were phenomenal, and the letters before the chapters were also really cool—but it just kinda petered out for me, mostly with Duja and Imeria's POVs, which were just kinda...boring.

But overall it just felt both too rushed and too slow for me? The pacing just felt a little off and I felt like some of the characters weren't as developed as they could have been.

I'm glad I read it, but I won't be continuing with the series.

[Adelene Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐

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

[briar ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✧₊‧˚⁀➷ 3.93/5 .ᐟ

➺ i had so much to say about this ten days ago, but now all my feelings have mellowed, and i don't remember much. i do love the story, however.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ premise .ᐟ takes place on maynara, an island country based on the philippines. maynara is ruled by a family blessed by the gods, and most of the direct descendants have some sort of power. explores the political divide between the north, where the capital is, and the south, an overlooked rural region that formerly rebelled and thus lost whatever political sway they had before. follows duja, the current queen, laya, duja's brash heir, and imeria, southern delegate to the throne.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ writing .ᐟ i can't begin to describe the talent bansil possesses. every word in this book is emotionally charged; regardless of whether i loved or hated something, whatever i felt, i felt to the max.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ characters .ᐟ one thing i love is that all characters have strong backstories; you can see every step that made them who they are from their childhood to now.

➺ duja, i don't feel anything for personally. however, she's an excellently crafted character, and even if you might be against her decisions, it's so easy to sympathize with how she's had to rule and raise her children.

➺ laya, i loved after she dropped [redacted]. she's unlikable in the beginning due to her obsession with him, and her impulsiveness makes you think she'd be a terrible queen, but her development is insane. she's still not the most sensible person in the room, but she's definitely learning how to be a representative of her people, and she'll certainly be a better queen than her mother.

➺ imeria, the most awful boymom personality of all time. i don't understand how she's meant to be a sympathetic character—at one point, she was ready to traffick laya, and it was terrifying. politically, i lean toward her cause, but she's so blatantly male-oriented about it rather than doing it for her people, so it just ruins everything.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ plot .ᐟ i feel like the narrative was predictable in that it's like any other fantasy/historical ya novel about war. the filipino inspirations make the setting unique, but the plot itself was just okay. it's also very slowly paced; the first half of the book just gets into character dynamics and political background. the action all happens in the last few chapters, and while the cliffhanger makes me excited for the next installment, i also don't think i can stomach him in a larger role than what he had in this book.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ romance .ᐟ the tension between duja and imeria was off the charts; i just don't like imeria, so it didn't do anything for me personally. first time a lesbian relationship didn't hit, which is sad because that's the main reason i wanted to read this. as for laya and him, i'm simply not getting into that. however, i do hope laya starts something with the alchemist in the next book because he's adorable.

➺ some parts didn't live up to the potential, but still a fairly enjoyable read. thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

[❁lilith❁ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Violeteer for access to this eARC! All opinions are my own.
____________________

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.

[Kayla T (kaylabobayla) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Flickandherbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*

This sounded so interesting and with the author having a Filipino background I really thought I would enjoy this. But unfortunately this didn’t work for me.

The writing was my biggest issue. The book does a lot of telling instead of showing, especially when it comes to its characters. It was very boring to read, which is a shame because it could have been a great story but it felt so bland…

The pacing was a bit odd to me… but I could have gotten past it if the writing had been better.

I can see what the author was going for but it just didn’t work for me as a reader…

[Sachi · Rating 2 out of 5]

should’ve had more of the toxic lesbian mommies and less of the angsty teenagers

[Aila Krisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first 60% were okay. the last 40% were incredible.

4.5 / 5 stars

Black Salt Queen is one of those fantasy books that hits you with a ton of new vocabulary right out of the gate and doesn’t feel the need to immediately insert a relative clause explaining the term for the unknowing reader. Now, even though I myself have the working memory capacity of a piece of bread, I really love this type of world-building, because it feels so organic. But it did mean that the beginning of the book was a bit of a struggle for me, since it not only introduced loads of vocab, but also loads of characters. But I’m soooo glad I fought through that first little bit cause the book ended up being really good. I don’t know when I last felt such intense emotions over a book, I was so goddamn angry (but in a good way).

I also really appreciate the level of nuance contained in the story. It’s not really a situation where you can conclusively say that either party are the ‘bad guys’, but you’re still left rooting a bit more for one side over the other. It’s just really well set up, both sides have good points and also both sides act sorta asshole-ish at points. A lot of the political issues brought up in the book were not resolved by the end, so I’m excited to see how those are handled in the sequel.

Also, one of the few instances where I’m fine with the gays getting buried, probably for the best for everyone.
---------
Thank you to Bindery Books for the ARC

[sassafrass]

another one i could not finish, but this one is on me. if i had seen it was listed as 'new adult' (a fake genre for people unable to handle anything more complicated than the MCU) or published direct off tiktok i would never have read it to begin with! i was lured in by the beautiful cover and the blurb (whoever wrote the blurb should write the book, because that book sounds much better than whatever i struggled through), and did not check anything else.

the book is told in third person limited, which is a problem as each characters narrative voice is indistinguishable from another. laya, who is a vain, 18 year old princess, sounds exactly the same as her mother, a dying queen, who in turn sounds identical to ariel sauros, a doctor from overseas. the book is sometimes scattered through with letters from each of these characters, and if you shaved off the final sign off it would be impossible to identify who wrote what.

this is primarily because each character only has one character trait. laya is spoiled, duja is 'mother' and as far as i can tell luntoks is 'hot boy.'

the author also was clearly struggling to get across information without having to add new POVs. every so often, despite there being a core 3 women we are following, some random other person will get a perspective chapter. i presume because samantha was worried her readers were missing crucial information, like luntok being sad laya didn't want to marry him. an essential i am sure you will all agree.

these characters also feel so out of place in their own narrative. reading them bumbling about in the set dressing for an epic, high stakes political fantasy felt like i was watching one of those game of thrones walking tours in croatia where people dress up. none of you people are meant to be here, none of you would make it in an actual cut throat dynastic power struggle, but boy howdy arent the gowns lovely!

[aila ✧.* · Rating 3 out of 5]

“this better not be doomed yuri”
i was then shot 57 times 😩

look at me!!! finishing an arc before the book comes out???? wow 🤯

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come! 👑

(FINAL REVIEW:)

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 ⭐️

[Hillary (abookishmarriage) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovers to enemies but make it intergenerational.

I enjoyed this so much, and I’ll definitely be reading more. Everyone has the greatest mommy issues imaginable and you know I’m always a huge fan of that.

The beginning of the book starts slow but don’t let this fool you. It’s truly going somewhere, and the second half is all hits no skips. So happy this one got put on my radar!!!

[Ri]

DNF @ 6% (11/22)

May try this again another time. Not in the mood to read MF romance details with the FMC before the sapphic endgame.

[wornoutbookmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

What a wild ride! This had a little bit of everything that I enjoy reading: romance, magic, political intrigue, family drama, betrayal, and angst. The prose was so soothing and beautiful to read. The world-building was extensive that illustrated a lush and tropical setting. The plot was compelling and kept my attention throughout the story as it had a mix of political conflict, relationship dynamics, and consequences of a past event with hints of a lurking threat from a Western entity. The characters were diverse and complex who make very human decisions and mistakes and who each tug at your heartstrings in their own ways. The book depicted many different types of sexualities and they all felt very natural in relation to the characters. If you enjoy diverse fantasies with strong and ambitious women, queer characters, intense political plotting, family drama, and nuanced romance, this is the book for you!

Thank you to Bindery Books, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexx (obscure.pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I FINISHED IT AAAAAAHHHH

Okay, first of all, this was entertaining. It might lack a bit more action or adrenaline, but it definitely did not lack drama 😂 I was entertained all throughout. And while the book focused largely on the political aspects, I think love and humanity are at its core. Without spoiling too much of the book, I have to say that loving and being human was a big motivator for a lot of mistakes and decisions made by the characters. Love (whether it be toxic, wholesome, familial, romantic, guilt-based) fueled them to act—to betray, to protect, to exact revenge. Laya, Duja, Imeria...these characters were so obviously flawed, passionate, and hurting. And I rooted for them anyway. Because they were compelling, they were tragic, they were real.

The plot was not too complicated (two families vying for the throne, one forbidden romance in the past, one forbidden romance in the present, a betrayal and revenge forming, magic and gods are also involved). However, it was a page-turner for me. Again, I think this is largely due to the characters and their drama. There was a lot of history and secrets to uncover, and reading the journey of each of the characters was fascinating. Sometimes I did feel like some plot and character details were lacking, which can be confusing at times, too.

I also loved that there was queer rep in the book! Two of the main cast are bi and were in a sapphic relationship (which was a big part of the plot! Expect romance, tragedy, betrayals! Rhaenicent vibes!), and one minor character was ace! (the ace character happens to be my favorite, and it's a shame she didn't have her own chapters 😆)

I liked the precolonial Filipino setting. The writing of it was lush and rich, and I loved seeing bits and pieces of Filipino folklore and legends embedded into the world-building of this book. I do wish there was a bit more? Like maybe specific customs and food and tradition maybe? However, I know the author can't put everything in one book of course. So I liked it enough. I have to say though, southerners and capital people having a rivalry? That I can very much see in modern-day Filipino society unfortunately 😅 I've seen people from Manila (usually rich socialites) insult, look down on, and use harmful stereotypes against southern Filipinos (particularly Visayans [and I take offense too because my parents are from Visayas, we're Ilonggos]). It's this type of simple ignorance that divides modern-day Filipinos. And to see this particular detail reflected in Black Salt Queen was definitely interesting. Maybe if there's a sequel, this will be explored more? Fingers crossed!

Anyway, this is it for now. I don't want to ramble too much or spoil too much. I'm part of a book tour and a longer review will be posted on my blog on my tour date!

Thank you so much to Bindery Books and Colored Pages Book Tours for sending an e-arc my way! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.

Exact rating: 4 stars

[ Marking this book as part of my reading challenge: Read Queerly 2025.

Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Storygraph | Fable | Blog ]

[Read Love Irie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[blok sera szwajcarskiego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!

4,5⭐️

Black Salt Queen is a fantasy book, where it's hard to belive it's from a debut author, as the prose and story are a mature breath of freshness. Writing is so beautiful, it avoids clichés for the sake of characters expressions; it flows naturally, in a constant string of cause-effect. I really liked how Bansil connected elements of fantasy with a bigger, more nuanced plot.

In BSQ there are several characters who lead the narration. Young lovers, the son of a traitor and a daughter of ruling queen, who must answer the question how much can they sacrifice in the name of their love. Two mothers, who are intertwined by a common past. Voices from the revolution and royal court. And one alchemist, brought from outside the border, writing letters to his deceased love.

The plot focuses on the intrigue rising in the royal court, discussions of revolution, revenge and magic, as it lays deep inside each heart, yet doesn't manifest itself constantly. Bansil doesn't use it lightly, for her magic is not a plot resolution, it's a last resort eith consequences, and that settles the tone of the story. It's genius. Every each of the elements that build BSQ is well thought, precise like a cog in a machine. It's on such a high level of eloquence and preparation that I was truly surprised it was a debut. There is a bright future in writing in front of Bansil.

The only reason I've lowered my rating is the ending, as I am not entirely convinced with it. I liked many elements of it, especially the resolution at the very end (great twist and cliffhanger), but I wish a plot with Imeria and Duja was treated similarly. I understand why it was like it was, yet the feeling of it being rushed never left. But that's the only thing I am not sold on. The rest is truly brilliant.

[jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book transported me to a completely different world with a found family that I felt sucked into. There were adorable precious moments, and then plot twists you do not see coming. On top of it, the author sprinkled in a bunch of details, so much so that I feel I will totally need to buy a physical copy of this book and do an annual read of it, as I'll be able to gain something new from it each time.

This is truly a wonderful book. I did struggle to keep up with all the characters, but those that I was able to keep track of, I did already feel a bond to, which is impressive.

The writing style is also beautiful. You can tell the author put their soul into creating this work of art, and I am here for it. I definitely recommend this to fantasy lovers - no one is going to want to miss out on this book. It's simply too magical and too good of a story.

I'll be saving up to finish this wonderful book in person once it gets released so I can have the full experience.

I received a free ARC copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah Albrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 - I'm Still Emotionally Wrecked

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil absolutely wrecked me—in the best, most unforgettable way. This book is pure magic: rich, intense, and beautifully brutal. The island nation of Maynara is so vividly drawn, it feels like stepping into a dream (or maybe a nightmare, depending on which queen is winning).

Between Queen Hara Duja's crumbling strength, Laya’s chaotic power and heartbreak, and Imeria’s ruthless ambition, I was hooked from the first page. These women are fierce, messy, powerful, and real, and watching them circle each other with love, lies, and betrayal? Emotional damage. Actual emotional damage. I’m still thinking about it days later.

The politics, the passion, the magic—it’s all there. If you're into high-stakes power plays, divine elemental magic, and women who don’t flinch from hard choices, Black Salt Queen will absolutely own you.

I need a support group. Or a sequel. Preferably both.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I got such nostalgic vibes from this one!!!! Think Avatar: The Last Airbender’s magic system with political intrigue and family drama!! We experience the plot through the eyes of three different women with enormous power and equally devastating secrets! I loved how each of the FMCs had flaws which had significant implications for them—it felt real and added a layer of complexity that kept me invested even when things felt slow, plot wise.

With the story taking place against the backdrop of Pre-Colonial Filipino culture, I found the world building rich and beautiful in many ways. My curiosity was PIQUED. This was unlike anything I have read or seen before.

My only critique here was that, at times, I was being spoonfed plot-points and world building rather than reading to figure things out. It made the story feel a little clunky at times in places where I would have liked to see my girlies in action!! For me, that took away from the plot a bit but is also a personal preference of mine.

Overall, I am excited to see what Bansil will craft next (HELLO CLIFFHANGER?!!!). Definitely an author to watch in the fantasy space.

[Laura Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The middle lagged hard but the last 20% made up for the lull. Not sure I’ll read the next book…

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would never know that this was the author’s first book. Loved it and I’m excited for the rest of the series

[Lola May · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!! Loved the setting - pre colonial magical Philippines - loved the relationships, loved the complexity, loved the world building. Cant wait for book two!!

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang, Bindery. You’ve seriously got the magic touch this year. Yet another incredible author and story!

Black Salt Queen is an absolute powerhouse—lush, emotionally charged, and unapologetically complex. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The world-building is wonderful, the setting is vivid, and the story had me in a chokehold.

But where this book really shines? The characters and their relationships. They are forces: each driven by a mix of duty, passions, trauma, and very human desires. No one is good. No one is evil. They're all complicated people making impossible choices. Their relationships—fraught with tension, betrayal, love, and generational trauma —are incredibly well-written. They have been shaped by their experiences and you can understand why they make the decisions they do - even if you don't like them. These people feel real and they're as complex as we all are.

If you like your fantasy emotionally intelligent, female-led, and dripping with betrayal and power plays, this one’s for you. Truly unforgettable.

Thanks so much to Bindery, the author, and Colored Pages Book Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.