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Ilustra #1
Daybreaker
Mika always thought the gods and goddesses of the Philippines were no more than legend—until she wakes one and discovers a destiny she never imagined.
This middle-grade graphic novel series starter by an award-winning Filipina artist, inspired by the folklore of the Philippines, is perfect for readers of Amulet and Percy Jackson.
At Mika Marisol’s elite boarding school in urban Manila, classmates tease her for clinging to the stories of gods and goddesses her lola raised her on. But she can’t help it—those myths are all she has left of her guardian.
That is, until a year after Lola’s death, when a moth speaks to Mika in the old woman’s voice. Mika experiences a burst of inexplicable power, and in her panic, she accidentally casts a spell and binds herself to two eavesdropping classmates.
Literally stuck together, Mika, Halle, and Teo grudgingly set out to find a countercurse in ancient Filipino beliefs. But the more they learn, the more it seems that Lola’s tales were all true—and that Mika is destined to play a role in them.
The mythology of the Philippine Islands comes to life in this funny, warm, and enchanting graphic novel about making friends, learning to let go, and finding your place in the world.
This middle-grade graphic novel series starter by an award-winning Filipina artist, inspired by the folklore of the Philippines, is perfect for readers of Amulet and Percy Jackson.
At Mika Marisol’s elite boarding school in urban Manila, classmates tease her for clinging to the stories of gods and goddesses her lola raised her on. But she can’t help it—those myths are all she has left of her guardian.
That is, until a year after Lola’s death, when a moth speaks to Mika in the old woman’s voice. Mika experiences a burst of inexplicable power, and in her panic, she accidentally casts a spell and binds herself to two eavesdropping classmates.
Literally stuck together, Mika, Halle, and Teo grudgingly set out to find a countercurse in ancient Filipino beliefs. But the more they learn, the more it seems that Lola’s tales were all true—and that Mika is destined to play a role in them.
The mythology of the Philippine Islands comes to life in this funny, warm, and enchanting graphic novel about making friends, learning to let go, and finding your place in the world.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 8, 2025
Actual rating: 4.5
Genuinely such a delightful treat!! I had issues with the pacing because it felt too fast and I wanted the story and the introduction of the different creatures to have more room to breathe. But I was still so captivated by the art style and how colorful the characters were (both in the sense of how they were illustrated and how multi-dimensional they were). The story itself is so full of heart and whimsy—it drips with the childlike wonder many Filipino kids grew up with when we were told of these mythical creatures from our culture. Highly recommended!
Genuinely such a delightful treat!! I had issues with the pacing because it felt too fast and I wanted the story and the introduction of the different creatures to have more room to breathe. But I was still so captivated by the art style and how colorful the characters were (both in the sense of how they were illustrated and how multi-dimensional they were). The story itself is so full of heart and whimsy—it drips with the childlike wonder many Filipino kids grew up with when we were told of these mythical creatures from our culture. Highly recommended!
November 10, 2025
Once again, Tori Tadiar did a fantastic story telling with the Ilustra series and I think I found a new favorite trio!
We follow the story of Mika Mirasol, a scholar at Academia Ilustra. She’s been lonely ever since her grandmother passed away and many of her classmates find her eccentric and a trouble-maker. She had no friends and stays at the school for the rest of the summer along with two more students — Halle Santos and Teo Madrigal.
Mika is raised by her grandmother and she believes in superstitions. For example, if a moth or a butterfly appears, it means your departed love ones come to visit you. In Ilustra — Tori Tadiar incorporated Filipino myths and legends and as well as Filipino superstitions. Once again, she never disappoints with her art and world building of this series. I am really touched with Mika and her Lola. I actually teared up over them.
Overall, this is a great beginning of the series and I am sure there’s a lot more to tell. ❤️
We follow the story of Mika Mirasol, a scholar at Academia Ilustra. She’s been lonely ever since her grandmother passed away and many of her classmates find her eccentric and a trouble-maker. She had no friends and stays at the school for the rest of the summer along with two more students — Halle Santos and Teo Madrigal.
Mika is raised by her grandmother and she believes in superstitions. For example, if a moth or a butterfly appears, it means your departed love ones come to visit you. In Ilustra — Tori Tadiar incorporated Filipino myths and legends and as well as Filipino superstitions. Once again, she never disappoints with her art and world building of this series. I am really touched with Mika and her Lola. I actually teared up over them.
Overall, this is a great beginning of the series and I am sure there’s a lot more to tell. ❤️
October 13, 2025
Thanks to the publisher for the gorgeous copy of the book for The Filipino Shelf Book Tour.
Ilustra: Daybreaker is the first in a planned series of graphic novels about Filipino folklore and mythology that center on Mika, a Junior High School arts scholar at Academia Ilustra who discovers that she has magic powers as she accidentally casts a spell that binds her with two other students. By trying to undo the spell, she awakens an ancient deity who threatens to eat the sun and cast the world into darkness, which the trio has to find ways to prevent from happening.
Daybreaker is loyal to the middle-grade adventure story we’ve come to get familiar with. As promised, Filipino fans of Percy Jackson and contemporary mythology-centered books and comics will delight in this graphic novel filled with familiar superstitions, landscapes, food, and practices. Mika is your usual main character with a tragic backstory who has been experiencing unexplainable stuff from childhood, making her an outcast, and with an arc – as it is now – that follows the chosen one trope, complete with the two (sort-of) friends and (sort-of) mentor figures. Tori Tadiar fuses personal and Filipino twists and spins to the template that makes it really worth the read.
As with most of contemporary Philippine Myth fiction, the mythologies of different ethnolinguistic groups are not treated separately from each other. Deities and figures from the Ilongot,Tagalog, Ifugao, and Bagobo interact as if they are in the same realm and are not limited to the regions or provinces where their stories originated.
I wished that the story itself further emphasized that fact instead of stating it in the afterword but I appreciated the author’s advice to go beyond the book and explore more on the topic. I’m really excited to see which figures from folklore would be included in the next books. I also expect the magic system to be fleshed out further as the series goes since there are still things that are unclear such as the wider view of how magic works in this world.
Academia Ilustra, the setting for most of the story, is a private boarding high school different from the more recognizable public school system in the country. It being a boarding school with detentions allowed the plot to go off since it had to be in summer, the time when the magic is most active. I loved Ilustra: the uniforms, architecture, and environment in which the characters go around for research and experimentation. I’m curious to see how the school works in a regular academic year and have it play a larger role in the story since the book series is named after it.
The vibrant, warm, and cute art somehow reminiscent of both Disney movies and anime (but not exactly those) compliments the themes and setting of the story. I thought the usage of stylized baybayin script as spells was a clever advantage of the graphic novel form. Plus the small details that enhance the story such as the distinction of the three characters’ handwriting. Tori’s experience in serialized comics showed through the chapters that had an episodic feel to them and made it flow well.
Halle and Teo are refreshing side characters as they don’t fit the usual archetypes relegated to the friends of the protagonist. There is no obvious smart and nerdy figure that usually takes care of the info-dumping and there is also no obvious comedic relief. Halle is a varsity sipa team vice-captain while Teo is a choir member and both of their skills were utilized well. A large portion of the book is dedicated to building their personalities and chemistry that pays off in the end.
The opening scene is a memory Mika has with her grandmother with flowers and butterflies, setting up the role of her grandmother and her passing in driving the story, as much as, if not more than, the grand fantasy elements. Daybreaker is a journey of a child’s grief as much as it is a story of sun-devouring gods. And that makes the book really special. One defining trait of lolas in Filipino households is storytelling and value-building to her grandchildren. By reflecting this, the book becomes an ode to the first storytellers of our many people told through a really magical adventure filled with the values of friendship, sacrifice, and courage that many young and young-hearted readers will resonate with.
Ilustra: Daybreaker is the first in a planned series of graphic novels about Filipino folklore and mythology that center on Mika, a Junior High School arts scholar at Academia Ilustra who discovers that she has magic powers as she accidentally casts a spell that binds her with two other students. By trying to undo the spell, she awakens an ancient deity who threatens to eat the sun and cast the world into darkness, which the trio has to find ways to prevent from happening.
Daybreaker is loyal to the middle-grade adventure story we’ve come to get familiar with. As promised, Filipino fans of Percy Jackson and contemporary mythology-centered books and comics will delight in this graphic novel filled with familiar superstitions, landscapes, food, and practices. Mika is your usual main character with a tragic backstory who has been experiencing unexplainable stuff from childhood, making her an outcast, and with an arc – as it is now – that follows the chosen one trope, complete with the two (sort-of) friends and (sort-of) mentor figures. Tori Tadiar fuses personal and Filipino twists and spins to the template that makes it really worth the read.
As with most of contemporary Philippine Myth fiction, the mythologies of different ethnolinguistic groups are not treated separately from each other. Deities and figures from the Ilongot,Tagalog, Ifugao, and Bagobo interact as if they are in the same realm and are not limited to the regions or provinces where their stories originated.
I wished that the story itself further emphasized that fact instead of stating it in the afterword but I appreciated the author’s advice to go beyond the book and explore more on the topic. I’m really excited to see which figures from folklore would be included in the next books. I also expect the magic system to be fleshed out further as the series goes since there are still things that are unclear such as the wider view of how magic works in this world.
Academia Ilustra, the setting for most of the story, is a private boarding high school different from the more recognizable public school system in the country. It being a boarding school with detentions allowed the plot to go off since it had to be in summer, the time when the magic is most active. I loved Ilustra: the uniforms, architecture, and environment in which the characters go around for research and experimentation. I’m curious to see how the school works in a regular academic year and have it play a larger role in the story since the book series is named after it.
The vibrant, warm, and cute art somehow reminiscent of both Disney movies and anime (but not exactly those) compliments the themes and setting of the story. I thought the usage of stylized baybayin script as spells was a clever advantage of the graphic novel form. Plus the small details that enhance the story such as the distinction of the three characters’ handwriting. Tori’s experience in serialized comics showed through the chapters that had an episodic feel to them and made it flow well.
Halle and Teo are refreshing side characters as they don’t fit the usual archetypes relegated to the friends of the protagonist. There is no obvious smart and nerdy figure that usually takes care of the info-dumping and there is also no obvious comedic relief. Halle is a varsity sipa team vice-captain while Teo is a choir member and both of their skills were utilized well. A large portion of the book is dedicated to building their personalities and chemistry that pays off in the end.
The opening scene is a memory Mika has with her grandmother with flowers and butterflies, setting up the role of her grandmother and her passing in driving the story, as much as, if not more than, the grand fantasy elements. Daybreaker is a journey of a child’s grief as much as it is a story of sun-devouring gods. And that makes the book really special. One defining trait of lolas in Filipino households is storytelling and value-building to her grandchildren. By reflecting this, the book becomes an ode to the first storytellers of our many people told through a really magical adventure filled with the values of friendship, sacrifice, and courage that many young and young-hearted readers will resonate with.
October 12, 2025
If you’re a lola’s girl or lola’s boy, this graphic novel will feel like home.
Ilustra is a middle-grade graphic novel that explores the themes of grief, found family, sense of belongingness, accepting your fate, as well as learning when and how to let go of things that keep us from moving forward.
Mika Marisol grew up on stories told by her loving lola—stories of gods and goddesses, myths and legends she always believed were real—until she learned that not everyone shares her beliefs. That is, until her two classmates become literally bound to her after accidentally casting a spell. Suddenly, magic and myths are no longer *just* stories.
Here are the 4 things I loved about Ilustra:
1. The art - Having read only Sagala by Tori Tadiar, I can say that while it’s similar to her art style there, there’s a significant change in her visuals here, which may have to do with reading it in color. I love how the art helped me fully immerse myself in the story through its vivid colors and effects.
2. The plot - Reading Daybreaker, Book 1 feels like an adventure of a lifetime with Mika and her newfound family. They encounter spirits, gods, and goddesses—both the good and the bad. From breaking a curse to saving the world from a sun-eating creature, Ilustra is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.
3. The characters - I think it says a lot about a book when you, an adult, can relate to children’s juvenile struggles. While there’s still so much to unpack about each character, the book does a great job of highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in a relatable and realistic way. Mika’s connection with her lola is one of the main highlights of the story for me—it’s something that will resonate deeply with readers who grew up close to their grandparents. Reading this ultimately made me miss being a child—unburdened and unjaded by life’s inevitable harsh realities.
4. The representation - There is no shortage of Filipino representation through familiar folktales, culture, and beliefs that are uniquely ours. It even makes use of Baybayin, which I found very interesting! I had a Baybayin guide by my side to help me translate the text. There really is magic and power in seeing ourselves in the books we read—a book that makes you say, “Hey, that’s us!” or “I grew up believing that too!” This made Ilustra feel like home to me.
Since this is the first book in the Ilustra series, I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds because there’s still so much I want to explore—both in the plot and in its characters.
Ilustra is a middle-grade graphic novel that explores the themes of grief, found family, sense of belongingness, accepting your fate, as well as learning when and how to let go of things that keep us from moving forward.
Mika Marisol grew up on stories told by her loving lola—stories of gods and goddesses, myths and legends she always believed were real—until she learned that not everyone shares her beliefs. That is, until her two classmates become literally bound to her after accidentally casting a spell. Suddenly, magic and myths are no longer *just* stories.
Here are the 4 things I loved about Ilustra:
1. The art - Having read only Sagala by Tori Tadiar, I can say that while it’s similar to her art style there, there’s a significant change in her visuals here, which may have to do with reading it in color. I love how the art helped me fully immerse myself in the story through its vivid colors and effects.
2. The plot - Reading Daybreaker, Book 1 feels like an adventure of a lifetime with Mika and her newfound family. They encounter spirits, gods, and goddesses—both the good and the bad. From breaking a curse to saving the world from a sun-eating creature, Ilustra is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.
3. The characters - I think it says a lot about a book when you, an adult, can relate to children’s juvenile struggles. While there’s still so much to unpack about each character, the book does a great job of highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in a relatable and realistic way. Mika’s connection with her lola is one of the main highlights of the story for me—it’s something that will resonate deeply with readers who grew up close to their grandparents. Reading this ultimately made me miss being a child—unburdened and unjaded by life’s inevitable harsh realities.
4. The representation - There is no shortage of Filipino representation through familiar folktales, culture, and beliefs that are uniquely ours. It even makes use of Baybayin, which I found very interesting! I had a Baybayin guide by my side to help me translate the text. There really is magic and power in seeing ourselves in the books we read—a book that makes you say, “Hey, that’s us!” or “I grew up believing that too!” This made Ilustra feel like home to me.
Since this is the first book in the Ilustra series, I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds because there’s still so much I want to explore—both in the plot and in its characters.
October 3, 2025
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Sharing my full review next week!!
September 23, 2025
What an absolute delight to read. My inner child was over the moon reading this Filipino folklore-inspired graphic novel that incorporated so many different places, tribes, and pieces of Filipino culture throughout. The illustrations were captivating, with heartfelt attention to the small nostalgic things, and to the big beautiful things. I loved seeing baybayin incorporated so seamlessly. I loved the clothes, the food, the spirits, the colours flowing from page to page. Every moment was joyful. I can't wait for the next one.
April 18, 2026
Gorgeous illustrations and emotional story
October 9, 2025
A beautifully illustrated and well-written graphic novel that blends Filipino mythology with modern storytelling. The art was stunning and the narrative compelling, and I can’t wait to see what more Tori Tadiar creates in this world.
September 29, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s previous work "Twinkle, Twinkle", so when news broke that her latest story would be published by Disney Hyperion, I was beyond excited—especially after learning it would delve into Philippine mythology.
The story follows Mika Mirasol and her grandmother, Lola Belen, whose stories help guide Mika through her journey.
I loved how the story transported me to magical realms while staying rooted in Filipino culture. The inclusion of Baybayin was a delightful touch; as someone who understands it, I found joy in decoding each line.
The pacing was engaging—I couldn’t stop turning the pages, eager to uncover the mystery behind Mika’s unique ability. Her dynamic with Halle and Teo was charming and reminded me of the trio energy of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
The art style beautifully complemented the narrative, with rich colors and distinctly Filipino settings like the balete tree and rice terraces that added authenticity and wonder.
Tori Tadiar skillfully brought Philippine lore to life in a way that’s both fun and meaningful, supported by a memorable cast of characters. I became teary eyed at one point for both Mika and Lola Belen.
I’m thrilled to see where this series goes next and can’t wait to return to the world of Ilustra.
The story follows Mika Mirasol and her grandmother, Lola Belen, whose stories help guide Mika through her journey.
I loved how the story transported me to magical realms while staying rooted in Filipino culture. The inclusion of Baybayin was a delightful touch; as someone who understands it, I found joy in decoding each line.
The pacing was engaging—I couldn’t stop turning the pages, eager to uncover the mystery behind Mika’s unique ability. Her dynamic with Halle and Teo was charming and reminded me of the trio energy of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
The art style beautifully complemented the narrative, with rich colors and distinctly Filipino settings like the balete tree and rice terraces that added authenticity and wonder.
Tori Tadiar skillfully brought Philippine lore to life in a way that’s both fun and meaningful, supported by a memorable cast of characters. I became teary eyed at one point for both Mika and Lola Belen.
I’m thrilled to see where this series goes next and can’t wait to return to the world of Ilustra.
November 18, 2025
A wonderful read that really struck my heart. It opened up so much love within me for the main character. Although not everything is perfect, it still deserves all the raving reviews my friends gave it.
December 27, 2025
easy favorite and got a slot in my best reads of 2026 (i need book 2)
August 2, 2026
In a post-Harry Potter and Percy Jackson/Rick Riordan Presents literary landscape, some of the setup and plot points of this book will be extremely familiar (boarding school; kids from different houses thrown together and getting into trouble during detention; chosen one and her two besties on a journey to meet the gods and set the world right). The story is not earth shattering, though I grew to like the trio of kids and the different home lives they were struggling with as the story went on. I also enjoyed seeing the gods and locations the kids uncover over the course of the book. While I was underwhelmed at the plot, I think that the target age group would enjoy it a lot, not likely having dozens of other stories to compare it with. While Mika's obviously unrealistic (to the reader) desire to bring her grandmother to life drags on a bit, I think that every kid who has had a special relationship with their grandmother, especially one who passed down old stories and language, will be able to relate to Mika's grief and confusion.
What sets this book apart is the loving and thoughtful ways in which so much Filipino culture is incorporated. On one hand, I love the fact that the creator doesn't feel the need to explain and define everything for the audience. On the other hand, I fear that many of these details will be missed by readers not familiar with Filipino culture, which would, in my opinion, significantly flatten the reading experience. Then again, not everything has to be for everyone, and sometimes a book is just going to hit differently when it is representative of a reader's experience and heritage, especially when the influence of Filipinos has long been underadvertised, or even invisibilized, in many sectors, including comics and animation (because of complex sociopolitical and economic reasons) until recently, when Filipinos appear to finally be "trending" in the mainstream.
Some beautiful cultural details to keep an eye out for are the names of the houses in the book, which the author does make a note are pseudonyms used by Philippine national heroes, and the patterns on clothing that were inspired by traditional Filipino weaving patterns. The author incorporates the usage of honorifics in the text but does not feel it necessary to explain what they are, trusting that her audience will know what they are, figure it out from context, or look it up. The language of magic is baybayin, which makes so much sense culturally, but also because it is beautiful and calligraphic on the page. It was refreshing to see precolonial Filipino gods portrayed that aren't monsters (seen in popular fantasy/horror like the TV show *Grimm*, among others, and the Netflix adaptation of the comic *Trese*).
What sets this book apart is the loving and thoughtful ways in which so much Filipino culture is incorporated. On one hand, I love the fact that the creator doesn't feel the need to explain and define everything for the audience. On the other hand, I fear that many of these details will be missed by readers not familiar with Filipino culture, which would, in my opinion, significantly flatten the reading experience. Then again, not everything has to be for everyone, and sometimes a book is just going to hit differently when it is representative of a reader's experience and heritage, especially when the influence of Filipinos has long been underadvertised, or even invisibilized, in many sectors, including comics and animation (because of complex sociopolitical and economic reasons) until recently, when Filipinos appear to finally be "trending" in the mainstream.
Some beautiful cultural details to keep an eye out for are the names of the houses in the book, which the author does make a note are pseudonyms used by Philippine national heroes, and the patterns on clothing that were inspired by traditional Filipino weaving patterns. The author incorporates the usage of honorifics in the text but does not feel it necessary to explain what they are, trusting that her audience will know what they are, figure it out from context, or look it up. The language of magic is baybayin, which makes so much sense culturally, but also because it is beautiful and calligraphic on the page. It was refreshing to see precolonial Filipino gods portrayed that aren't monsters (seen in popular fantasy/horror like the TV show *Grimm*, among others, and the Netflix adaptation of the comic *Trese*).
March 7, 2026
I don’t usually reach for graphic novels since I tend to gravitate toward traditional novels, but I’m really glad I got the chance to read Daybreaker by Tori Tadiar through the Book Chickas PH National Book Relay. It turned out to be such a fun and memorable reading experience.🌷
The artwork is vibrant, colorful, and full of life, which made the story feel even more magical. What truly stood out to me, though, was how the story incorporates Filipino myths and superstitions that I grew up hearing about. It made the book feel both nostalgic and meaningful, like a piece of childhood folklore brought to life.♥️
I absolutely loved the dynamic between Mika, Halle, and Teo. Their adventures and little bits of chaos made me laugh out loud, and it reminded me how powerful friendship can be. Even when faced with something as huge as breaking a curse or stopping a sun-eating monster, they showed that challenges feel less overwhelming when you face them together.💕
The story also highlights courage in such a relatable way. These characters are still young, yet they step up despite their fears, which made me think about how bravery doesn’t mean being fearless, it means choosing to act anyway. I also loved how the book reminds readers that even kids can make a difference and take part in something bigger than themselves.🌷
One of the most heartwarming parts for me was Mika’s love for her lola. It brought back memories of my own grandma and made me feel a little nostalgic. There’s something so special about that kind of family love …it shapes who we are and stays with us.♥️
Overall, this book felt like a mix of adventure, culture, friendship, and heart. It’s a strong start to the series, and I’m really excited to see where the story goes next. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the sequel.🌷
The artwork is vibrant, colorful, and full of life, which made the story feel even more magical. What truly stood out to me, though, was how the story incorporates Filipino myths and superstitions that I grew up hearing about. It made the book feel both nostalgic and meaningful, like a piece of childhood folklore brought to life.♥️
I absolutely loved the dynamic between Mika, Halle, and Teo. Their adventures and little bits of chaos made me laugh out loud, and it reminded me how powerful friendship can be. Even when faced with something as huge as breaking a curse or stopping a sun-eating monster, they showed that challenges feel less overwhelming when you face them together.💕
The story also highlights courage in such a relatable way. These characters are still young, yet they step up despite their fears, which made me think about how bravery doesn’t mean being fearless, it means choosing to act anyway. I also loved how the book reminds readers that even kids can make a difference and take part in something bigger than themselves.🌷
One of the most heartwarming parts for me was Mika’s love for her lola. It brought back memories of my own grandma and made me feel a little nostalgic. There’s something so special about that kind of family love …it shapes who we are and stays with us.♥️
Overall, this book felt like a mix of adventure, culture, friendship, and heart. It’s a strong start to the series, and I’m really excited to see where the story goes next. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the sequel.🌷
August 10, 2026
A middle-grade graphic novel fantasy based on Filipino folklore and traditional myths.
Mika was raised by her loving grandmother, who told the girl stories from their Filipino heritage. Mika always thought her grandmother's tales were true, but the other kids at her boarding school laugh and think the stories are all make-believe.
On the last day of school before summer vacation, Mika is unfairly put in a weeklong special detention with two other students: Halle is a cool girl, and Teo is one of the best in the choir. The three are supposed to be taking a class in environmental sciences, but things don't go as planned after Mika inadvertently casts a binding spell, which makes it near impossible for three kids to be separated. What ensues is a series of adventures in which they have to figure out how to reverse the spell without causing further trouble, like awakening powerful gods.
By the end, all three students learn more about themselves and about acceptance of others. They gain respect for their cultural traditions and beliefs and learn the meaning of friendship. The book ends with the promise of a sequel.
The colorful drawings, though rendered in simple lines, depict the beauty of the Philippines as well as the characters' emotions. It was easy to sense the action and which supernatural beings were good and which were to be feared.
Author Tori Tadair is a native of the Philippines and based some of the story's locations on real places. The gods and tales come from a variety of Filipino cultural traditions.
The book was from the public library.
Mika was raised by her loving grandmother, who told the girl stories from their Filipino heritage. Mika always thought her grandmother's tales were true, but the other kids at her boarding school laugh and think the stories are all make-believe.
On the last day of school before summer vacation, Mika is unfairly put in a weeklong special detention with two other students: Halle is a cool girl, and Teo is one of the best in the choir. The three are supposed to be taking a class in environmental sciences, but things don't go as planned after Mika inadvertently casts a binding spell, which makes it near impossible for three kids to be separated. What ensues is a series of adventures in which they have to figure out how to reverse the spell without causing further trouble, like awakening powerful gods.
By the end, all three students learn more about themselves and about acceptance of others. They gain respect for their cultural traditions and beliefs and learn the meaning of friendship. The book ends with the promise of a sequel.
The colorful drawings, though rendered in simple lines, depict the beauty of the Philippines as well as the characters' emotions. It was easy to sense the action and which supernatural beings were good and which were to be feared.
Author Tori Tadair is a native of the Philippines and based some of the story's locations on real places. The gods and tales come from a variety of Filipino cultural traditions.
The book was from the public library.
October 17, 2025
such a beautiful, riveting, and action-packed story starring a main trio of hilarious and endearing characters! the illustrations are BEYOND gorgeous, and i loved this from front to back cover!! i’m so glad to be alive in a time in MG where Filipinos are writing and publishing stories centering our cultural mythology. it’s so inspiring and i love learning alongside our young readers!!!
November 18, 2025
Thanks to the publisher for giving away this copy at ALA in June.
It was kind of boring to be honest. I feel bad saying it because there's a lot of heart put into here but the characters and story just didn't grab my attention. The magic system was really confusing for me too which didn't help. Lots of anime-style references here and there. I'm sure a kid will like it more than me.
It was kind of boring to be honest. I feel bad saying it because there's a lot of heart put into here but the characters and story just didn't grab my attention. The magic system was really confusing for me too which didn't help. Lots of anime-style references here and there. I'm sure a kid will like it more than me.
May 13, 2026
Actual Rating: 4.5 / 5
March 3, 2025
This graphic novel kicks off a series steeped in Filipino mythology. After the loss of her lola, Mika finds herself in possession of powers beyond her control. In fact, she accidentally unleashes a creature who wants to devour the sun and destroy the planet. It's up to her and her unwilling new companions to find a way to save the world. But at what cost?
January 18, 2026
𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆: 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕.
𝙄𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙏𝙍𝘼: 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧 is the first book in a middle-grade graphic novel series about Mika Mirasol, a girl who doesn’t fit in at her boarding school and clings to the Filipino myths her late grandmother told her. When a mysterious moth speaks in her grandmother’s voice, Mika suddenly gains magical powers and accidentally binds herself to two classmates. Together — literally stuck together — Mika, Halle, and Teo embark on an adventure into Philippine folklore to find a countercurse. Along the way, they discover that the old legends are real and that Mika may have a special role in their unfolding destiny, all while forging friendships and finding her place in the world.
As someone who doesn’t read fantasy much, this was just perfect for me. You don't need to know anything about Philippine folklore or high-fantasy tropes to enjoy it. It’s a fast, beautiful read about three kids trying to figure out who they are when the world (and their own magic) starts getting loud.
𝙄𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙏𝙍𝘼: 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧 is the first book in a middle-grade graphic novel series about Mika Mirasol, a girl who doesn’t fit in at her boarding school and clings to the Filipino myths her late grandmother told her. When a mysterious moth speaks in her grandmother’s voice, Mika suddenly gains magical powers and accidentally binds herself to two classmates. Together — literally stuck together — Mika, Halle, and Teo embark on an adventure into Philippine folklore to find a countercurse. Along the way, they discover that the old legends are real and that Mika may have a special role in their unfolding destiny, all while forging friendships and finding her place in the world.
As someone who doesn’t read fantasy much, this was just perfect for me. You don't need to know anything about Philippine folklore or high-fantasy tropes to enjoy it. It’s a fast, beautiful read about three kids trying to figure out who they are when the world (and their own magic) starts getting loud.
June 24, 2026
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Dare I say, one of the best books I’ve read this year! The story instantly brought me back to childhood. The dream of encountering something magical (literally) in the woods near home. Getting powers and going on an adventure was something I have always wanted since childhood, which sadly did not happen at all AHAHAHA.
I absolutely adore all of the characters in this book! The characters dynamic is so cool and they are a group that has everything (the sporty and popular Halle, the introvert guy who loves to sing, and the weird one who gets even weirder the more you get to know her, Mika)!
The story is so whimsical and I love, love, love the art of this book.
As usual, for a children/middle aged book, I don’t really like reading that one topic (death) in books that is made for kids. However, I do understand the importance of this. There will be times that something can only progress if there is a heavy reason for it to progress. And this topic, is part of life, one way or another, everyone needs to accept it. (In reality sure, but can’t we skip that in fiction? Please??)
Would definitely purchase a physical copy for myself!!
Dare I say, one of the best books I’ve read this year! The story instantly brought me back to childhood. The dream of encountering something magical (literally) in the woods near home. Getting powers and going on an adventure was something I have always wanted since childhood, which sadly did not happen at all AHAHAHA.
I absolutely adore all of the characters in this book! The characters dynamic is so cool and they are a group that has everything (the sporty and popular Halle, the introvert guy who loves to sing, and the weird one who gets even weirder the more you get to know her, Mika)!
The story is so whimsical and I love, love, love the art of this book.
As usual, for a children/middle aged book, I don’t really like reading that one topic (death) in books that is made for kids. However, I do understand the importance of this. There will be times that something can only progress if there is a heavy reason for it to progress. And this topic, is part of life, one way or another, everyone needs to accept it. (In reality sure, but can’t we skip that in fiction? Please??)
Would definitely purchase a physical copy for myself!!
September 16, 2025
Papa, me want more Ilustra..
Note to those who are considering of buying this: GO AND BUY IT NOW IT IS SO WORTH IT PRAMIS. (I'm waiting for the fandom to start and more people talking about this)
This has been a book that I have been waiting for since I was in early jhs (I'm in shs now as of writing this) and I can say that it was really worth the wait. As a someone who is mostly a novel reader, this is one of the first comics that I have finished in one sitting and now I want more.
Though it may just be the first entry, I'm really excited for the future entries of this series since I found the characters and the story as a whole really interesting and I really hope to see more soon.
Note to those who are considering of buying this: GO AND BUY IT NOW IT IS SO WORTH IT PRAMIS. (I'm waiting for the fandom to start and more people talking about this)
This has been a book that I have been waiting for since I was in early jhs (I'm in shs now as of writing this) and I can say that it was really worth the wait. As a someone who is mostly a novel reader, this is one of the first comics that I have finished in one sitting and now I want more.
Though it may just be the first entry, I'm really excited for the future entries of this series since I found the characters and the story as a whole really interesting and I really hope to see more soon.
January 27, 2026
Mika Mirasol misses her grandmother and her Lola’s stories of Philippine legends. As summer approaches, she finds herself forced to stay at her boarding school with two classmates for a detention. When her grandmother appears in the form of a moth, Mika discovers the magical stories are true and she and her classmates end up tangling with the wrong kind of magic and have to work together to undo their mistakes.
February 5, 2026
The visuals are stunning. That alone sold me. It has the most eye-catching drawings. It spoke of stories that are so part of our growing up as filipinos. It spoke of family, community, adventures, magic. There are parts there where you need to translate baybayin to filipino. I’m like whaaaat. 😍 It is a part of our culture that is sadly slowly fading out due to lack of use. This book allowed us to slow down, carve out time and just enjoy as a family. What a fun time we had! ❤️
May 30, 2026
Such a sweet and whimsical story! Idk much about Filipino folklore, so it was sweet seeing a book about someone's culture and the magical world that they live in. It also taught me new words, which is pretty cool, too. I like our trio, especially Halle.
One thing I liked as well was the fact that Halle didn't reciprocate Teo's feelings and their friendship wasn't affected. It's a good lesson for kids reading this - that they're not entitled to reciprocation by their crushes.
One thing I liked as well was the fact that Halle didn't reciprocate Teo's feelings and their friendship wasn't affected. It's a good lesson for kids reading this - that they're not entitled to reciprocation by their crushes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
This was fantastic! There were lots of funny moments and the beautiful art matched those moments perfectly. The baybayin writing system used here kept me busy translating, and it was such a great interactive experience for me. The mythology in this and how it was rendered in the animation, was so good! My daughter and I enjoyed this a lot!
April 8, 2026
Enjoyed this!
This was an exciting read! Connecting the myths I knew growing up was like finding easter eggs all over the book. My 11-yr-old enjoyed this, too. She's always enjoyed any art or media that represents certain aspects of our heritage, and this became her gateway to learning more about the mythical creatures and stories of our homeland.
This was an exciting read! Connecting the myths I knew growing up was like finding easter eggs all over the book. My 11-yr-old enjoyed this, too. She's always enjoyed any art or media that represents certain aspects of our heritage, and this became her gateway to learning more about the mythical creatures and stories of our homeland.
July 6, 2026
Cute Filipino Representation
Very cute comic about a Filipina child navigating loss, found family, bullying, and isolation. I enjoyed reading this for the Filipino representation I wish I had as a child! 😊 As a person not as connected to my heritage it was nice seeing Filipino mythological deities and spirits that I now want to do my research on!
Very cute comic about a Filipina child navigating loss, found family, bullying, and isolation. I enjoyed reading this for the Filipino representation I wish I had as a child! 😊 As a person not as connected to my heritage it was nice seeing Filipino mythological deities and spirits that I now want to do my research on!
July 14, 2026
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. Even on my Kobo Libra's muted screen, every illustration was a joy to look at. It honestly made me want to own a full-color copy.
The story was a slower read for me, and it took me much longer than I expected to finish because the pacing didn't quite click. Still, the world has me curious, and I'm genuinely excited to see where Book 2 goes.
The story was a slower read for me, and it took me much longer than I expected to finish because the pacing didn't quite click. Still, the world has me curious, and I'm genuinely excited to see where Book 2 goes.
January 26, 2026
Heavy on dialouge and action without sufficient character development. I could easily seeing this be a movie, but it was not truly utilizing graphic novel format to tell the story. It reminded me of Wingbearer.
March 4, 2026
I love Mika!!! and Sir Y, hello?
Katatapos ko lang basahin ang aklat, lubos na nagpapasalamat sa kaibigan na nagpahiram ng kopya. Hindi ko akalain na maho-hook ako. Maghahangad din ng iba pang kuwento. At curious din ako 👀 sa mga susunod na mangyayari.
🪑seated for book 2
Katatapos ko lang basahin ang aklat, lubos na nagpapasalamat sa kaibigan na nagpahiram ng kopya. Hindi ko akalain na maho-hook ako. Maghahangad din ng iba pang kuwento. At curious din ako 👀 sa mga susunod na mangyayari.
🪑seated for book 2
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews