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Stormbringer #2
Daughters of Flood and Fury
In this powerful sequel to Saints of Storm and Sorrow, Lunurin and Alon struggle to unify the archipelago against the returning Codícians, while Inez embraces her power and makes new allies among the ruthless pirates of the South Sea.
Enthralling Filipino-inspired fantasy for fans of The Hurricane Wars, R.F. Kuang and Tasha Suri.
Several years after the defeat of the Codicíans in Aynila, Lunurin and Alon are fighting to solidify their alliances across the archipelago. But petty rivalries, suspicion and conflicted loyalties threaten to undermine their efforts.
Inez has been training as a tide-touched healer with Alon, but the gentle side of Aman Sinaya's gift does not come naturally to her. When she hears a rumour that her sister Catalina is living among a group of missionaries on a nearby island, Inez embarks on a dangerous journey over the sea. Aboard a pirate ship, she meets Umali, the boat's fierce fire-tender captain. Umali has never been gentle, and she burns brighter than anyone Inez has ever known.
Lunurin and Alon are desperate to follow Inez, but the Codicíans are closing in with a powerful armada to retake Aynila. To stand any chance, Lunurin must unify the disparate factions of her forces before the festival of the eclipse, when the world's magic will be at its strongest.
Three goddesses stand behind them. But without human allies, even that power may not be enough to save their islands and the people they love.
Enthralling Filipino-inspired fantasy for fans of The Hurricane Wars, R.F. Kuang and Tasha Suri.
Several years after the defeat of the Codicíans in Aynila, Lunurin and Alon are fighting to solidify their alliances across the archipelago. But petty rivalries, suspicion and conflicted loyalties threaten to undermine their efforts.
Inez has been training as a tide-touched healer with Alon, but the gentle side of Aman Sinaya's gift does not come naturally to her. When she hears a rumour that her sister Catalina is living among a group of missionaries on a nearby island, Inez embarks on a dangerous journey over the sea. Aboard a pirate ship, she meets Umali, the boat's fierce fire-tender captain. Umali has never been gentle, and she burns brighter than anyone Inez has ever known.
Lunurin and Alon are desperate to follow Inez, but the Codicíans are closing in with a powerful armada to retake Aynila. To stand any chance, Lunurin must unify the disparate factions of her forces before the festival of the eclipse, when the world's magic will be at its strongest.
Three goddesses stand behind them. But without human allies, even that power may not be enough to save their islands and the people they love.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 22, 2025
9 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Gabriella Buba
2 books123 followersGabriella Buba is a writer and chemical engineer who likes to keep explosive pyrophoric materials safely contained in pressure vessels or between the covers of her books. She writes Filipino epic fantasy for bold, bi, brown women who deserve to see their stories centered.
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August 23, 2024Is it just me, or are the book covers in this series giving AI because what is going on with the face, the left hand, the flowers???
July 19, 2025
A lot of fun, and lovely return to this world, but I do have a few concerns. Closer to 3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
A lot of things really worked here. I loved the further additions to the magic in the world, like the laho and the crocodiles. I also really like stories set after the revolution that deal with the struggles of rebuilding a society and getting people to work together after you fight off the common enemy, so I was interested right off the bat in how Lunurin et al would manage that. I was not disappointed, particularly by Alon's politicking and management of his brother. I also loved watching Lunurin working through her thorny relationship with her family, and I did clap and cheer at a few particular moments. Inez's storyline was also engaging; I loved watching her get more comfortable with herself as the story went on. I think it was a bit of a bold choice to include Inez as a main protagonist in this novel for adults when she reads as such a YA protagonist (her arc being about coming to terms with herself and having other people see her for who she is, not who they wanted her to be), but it works. I wasn't annoyed by her, and I understood why she did what she did, even when it was stuff that I thought wasn't the best move. Umali was neat too! I loved the idea of them being two people who use their magic in unconventional ways and finding each other. It's sweet.
With that being said, I do have some complaints. I think the pacing on this novel as a whole was a bit rough. I think splitting this into two novellas might have been the move, or honestly just one focusing on Inez, because the blurb makes it sound as though Inez is the Main Character TM, when it felt a lot closer to 50-50 at best. This then makes the romance between Inez and Umali suffer, because there's less time for it all to play out, so Buba has to focus on just the key moments between them. It doesn't feel like it had any chance to breathe. It worked on a paper and pencil level, logically I understand that they make sense as a couple, but I didn't feel it on an emotional level so much. It was never unpleasant to read about, it just felt like checking off items on a list.
As for our other two POVs, I just did not give a damn about Alon's personal life in this book. The conflict in his relationship with Lunurin was the kind of concealing information bullshit that I personally detest. I guess I can see how he got there, and maybe if I had read this book a little sooner after the first it wouldn't have pissed me off so much, but alas, it did. Lunurin was doing amazing; I love her.
In general, neither of the romances matched the messy, toxic love triangle from the first book. That was a big part of why I liked book one so much, and now that we have two relatively healthy relationships, there's just no spark for me here. Alon and Lunurin have the aforementioned stupid conflict that really is barely a conflict in their relationship, and Inez and Umali are basically fine. I miss you toxic yuri, come back to me.
If you really liked the first book, I'd give this one a read as well, but it didn't quite have the magic of the first one.
A lot of things really worked here. I loved the further additions to the magic in the world, like the laho and the crocodiles. I also really like stories set after the revolution that deal with the struggles of rebuilding a society and getting people to work together after you fight off the common enemy, so I was interested right off the bat in how Lunurin et al would manage that. I was not disappointed, particularly by Alon's politicking and management of his brother. I also loved watching Lunurin working through her thorny relationship with her family, and I did clap and cheer at a few particular moments. Inez's storyline was also engaging; I loved watching her get more comfortable with herself as the story went on. I think it was a bit of a bold choice to include Inez as a main protagonist in this novel for adults when she reads as such a YA protagonist (her arc being about coming to terms with herself and having other people see her for who she is, not who they wanted her to be), but it works. I wasn't annoyed by her, and I understood why she did what she did, even when it was stuff that I thought wasn't the best move. Umali was neat too! I loved the idea of them being two people who use their magic in unconventional ways and finding each other. It's sweet.
With that being said, I do have some complaints. I think the pacing on this novel as a whole was a bit rough. I think splitting this into two novellas might have been the move, or honestly just one focusing on Inez, because the blurb makes it sound as though Inez is the Main Character TM, when it felt a lot closer to 50-50 at best. This then makes the romance between Inez and Umali suffer, because there's less time for it all to play out, so Buba has to focus on just the key moments between them. It doesn't feel like it had any chance to breathe. It worked on a paper and pencil level, logically I understand that they make sense as a couple, but I didn't feel it on an emotional level so much. It was never unpleasant to read about, it just felt like checking off items on a list.
As for our other two POVs, I just did not give a damn about Alon's personal life in this book. The conflict in his relationship with Lunurin was the kind of concealing information bullshit that I personally detest. I guess I can see how he got there, and maybe if I had read this book a little sooner after the first it wouldn't have pissed me off so much, but alas, it did. Lunurin was doing amazing; I love her.
In general, neither of the romances matched the messy, toxic love triangle from the first book. That was a big part of why I liked book one so much, and now that we have two relatively healthy relationships, there's just no spark for me here. Alon and Lunurin have the aforementioned stupid conflict that really is barely a conflict in their relationship, and Inez and Umali are basically fine. I miss you toxic yuri, come back to me.
If you really liked the first book, I'd give this one a read as well, but it didn't quite have the magic of the first one.
July 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Daughters of Flood and Fury is a wonderful and powerful continuation of Saints of Storm and Sorrow. The worldbuilding is even richer in this second book, and the characters are more fully developed. I especially loved following Ines as she grows from uncertain and afraid to more confident and self-assured. She starts out hesitant and full of doubt, but slowly begins to take up space, make her own decisions, and walk her own path. Her inner journey is written with care and honesty, and I found myself really rooting for her.
The relationship between Ines and Lanurin also deepens in a beautiful way. It truly feels like a mother-daughter dynamic, mutual respect, and unspoken understanding. Their connection adds so much heart to the story, and I appreciated how it was built slowly, with trust and emotional depth.
Gabriella Bubas writing is amazing. I love how she combines rich worldbuilding with deeply personal characters. Her storytelling feels intimate and epic at the same time.
It truly has been a pleasure reading this!😍
Daughters of Flood and Fury is a wonderful and powerful continuation of Saints of Storm and Sorrow. The worldbuilding is even richer in this second book, and the characters are more fully developed. I especially loved following Ines as she grows from uncertain and afraid to more confident and self-assured. She starts out hesitant and full of doubt, but slowly begins to take up space, make her own decisions, and walk her own path. Her inner journey is written with care and honesty, and I found myself really rooting for her.
The relationship between Ines and Lanurin also deepens in a beautiful way. It truly feels like a mother-daughter dynamic, mutual respect, and unspoken understanding. Their connection adds so much heart to the story, and I appreciated how it was built slowly, with trust and emotional depth.
Gabriella Bubas writing is amazing. I love how she combines rich worldbuilding with deeply personal characters. Her storytelling feels intimate and epic at the same time.
It truly has been a pleasure reading this!😍
June 29, 2025
Wow!! I loved this so much. My review will come out when it’s closer to the book’s release date. ⛈️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a fantastic conclusion to an amazing duology inspired by Philippine history and mythology. I had a fantastic time with being back in this world and with the returning characters as well as with the new ones that were introduced in this part of the story. 🤫
The plot picks up about five years after the events of the first book. Lunurin and Alon are now Aynila’s power couple as they navigate the region’s politics and the archipelago’s future. I really don’t want to go into too much detail about this book’s plot because I really think everyone should go and read Saints of Storms and Sorrow. But what I’ll say for now is that I loved the even deeper dive into Lunurin and Alon’s relationship and how they both find comfort in each other during times of crisis. 🥹
The new POV of Inez I thought was a fantastic addition to the bunch even though I was a bit annoyed with her character here and there. She’s still healing from the events of the first book and while I understand that the way in which she was brought up and the traumatic events that have defined her formative years, I still couldn’t grasp why she was so reckless half the time. Again, this is more of a personal take on the character that I thought Buba did a wonderful job characterizing and working into the plot, so do take this with a grain of salt (no pun intended with this book). 🐊
Other than that though, while the plot did take some time to settle into my brain (I blame the fact that I don’t have access to my physical copy in which to reference past events and characters to) and I was left wondering if Umali and Inez were more connected to their respective goddesses like Lunurin is, I had a fantastic time with this sequel. The build up to the ending was done very well and I’m honestly so sad that Lunurin and co.’s tale has come to an end. I’m really hoping that there might be some spin-offs in the future centering around a certain lesbian couple that had a lot of prominence in this sequel, but I do understand if it’s not in the cards for now or even in the future. 🤞🏼
An HUGE thank you goes out to the author, Buba, for sending me an eARC and letting me be a part of the incredible street team for this sequel. I can’t wait for everyone else to read this! Again, if this series has been on your radar or this is the first time that you are hearing about this political Philippine mythology-inspired political fantasy, then I would HIGHLY recommend picking up Saints of Storm and Sorrow now that the sequel is readily available! ❤️
Publication date: July 22!!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a fantastic conclusion to an amazing duology inspired by Philippine history and mythology. I had a fantastic time with being back in this world and with the returning characters as well as with the new ones that were introduced in this part of the story. 🤫
The plot picks up about five years after the events of the first book. Lunurin and Alon are now Aynila’s power couple as they navigate the region’s politics and the archipelago’s future. I really don’t want to go into too much detail about this book’s plot because I really think everyone should go and read Saints of Storms and Sorrow. But what I’ll say for now is that I loved the even deeper dive into Lunurin and Alon’s relationship and how they both find comfort in each other during times of crisis. 🥹
The new POV of Inez I thought was a fantastic addition to the bunch even though I was a bit annoyed with her character here and there. She’s still healing from the events of the first book and while I understand that the way in which she was brought up and the traumatic events that have defined her formative years, I still couldn’t grasp why she was so reckless half the time. Again, this is more of a personal take on the character that I thought Buba did a wonderful job characterizing and working into the plot, so do take this with a grain of salt (no pun intended with this book). 🐊
Other than that though, while the plot did take some time to settle into my brain (I blame the fact that I don’t have access to my physical copy in which to reference past events and characters to) and I was left wondering if Umali and Inez were more connected to their respective goddesses like Lunurin is, I had a fantastic time with this sequel. The build up to the ending was done very well and I’m honestly so sad that Lunurin and co.’s tale has come to an end. I’m really hoping that there might be some spin-offs in the future centering around a certain lesbian couple that had a lot of prominence in this sequel, but I do understand if it’s not in the cards for now or even in the future. 🤞🏼
An HUGE thank you goes out to the author, Buba, for sending me an eARC and letting me be a part of the incredible street team for this sequel. I can’t wait for everyone else to read this! Again, if this series has been on your radar or this is the first time that you are hearing about this political Philippine mythology-inspired political fantasy, then I would HIGHLY recommend picking up Saints of Storm and Sorrow now that the sequel is readily available! ❤️
Publication date: July 22!!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Read
June 13, 2025Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
June 29, 2025
I received an eARC from the author. This review is based on my thoughts and my opinions of the book.
To all the ones who survived, but healed wrong. They broke our halos so we grew teeth.
If you have ever been told you are too much, that you need to tone it down, that you need to make yourself small to either fit in or be safe or make other people comfortable, this book is for you.
Daughters of Flood and Fury picks up a few years after the end of Saints of Storm and Sorrow. Despite the fall of the Palisade, the Codicians are still a threat and are assembling an armada to take over Aynila. Lunurin and Alon are fighting to build alliances against the Codicians, but find themselves struggling to convince others that together, they can be strong enough to withstand the attack. This is complicated by disagreements about how best to handle converts and spies.
A new voice emerges in this book. Inez has been taken under Lunurin and Alon's protection. Tide-touched, she is being trained as a gentle healer, but discovering that perhaps gentle is not her nature. When she hears rumors that her sister has returned, she seizes the opportunity to leave Aynila and find herself in a different way.
I was a little worried when I started reading this book that I wouldn't remember enough of Saints and that I'd be lost, but Daughters tells a different story. There's obviously enough reference and foundation that it's not a standalone book, but it takes the characters and brings them in a new direction. Lunurin is no longer afraid of her Stormcaller abilities, but now she has to play a new role as a leader and diplomat. Inez is older and learning who she is after the trauma she experienced at the Palisade and the betrayal of her sister. And Alon, for all that he is the support system and backbone, finds himself unexpectedly grappling with fear and insecurity about his role in Lunurin's life.
My favorite part of the book was the running theme that it is okay to be extra. It is okay to take up space. It is okay to be unapologetically and unmistakably who you are, even if it's not who people expect you to be. Lunurin confronts her family over their desire to keep her small and contained, but also has to deal with it herself on the other side with Inez. Even when done out of fear and a desire to protect, trying to hold women back only causes pain and destruction. Once the women in Daughters embrace who they are, they are unstoppable. And I would be remiss if I don't mention Umali, who is an absolute joy and shows Inez that she is strong and perfect on her own, as she is.
Other thoughts:
- Catalina's story was heartbreaking, but honestly, probably the only way it could really have ended.
- The final battle scene kept me on the edge of my seat. (Okay, maybe also because I was on a long plane ride and getting fidgety.)
- Alon was a surprisingly weaker character here, but I still loved him. He loves his family so much.
- I would love some Umali novellas. Just saying.
To all the ones who survived, but healed wrong. They broke our halos so we grew teeth.
If you have ever been told you are too much, that you need to tone it down, that you need to make yourself small to either fit in or be safe or make other people comfortable, this book is for you.
Daughters of Flood and Fury picks up a few years after the end of Saints of Storm and Sorrow. Despite the fall of the Palisade, the Codicians are still a threat and are assembling an armada to take over Aynila. Lunurin and Alon are fighting to build alliances against the Codicians, but find themselves struggling to convince others that together, they can be strong enough to withstand the attack. This is complicated by disagreements about how best to handle converts and spies.
A new voice emerges in this book. Inez has been taken under Lunurin and Alon's protection. Tide-touched, she is being trained as a gentle healer, but discovering that perhaps gentle is not her nature. When she hears rumors that her sister has returned, she seizes the opportunity to leave Aynila and find herself in a different way.
I was a little worried when I started reading this book that I wouldn't remember enough of Saints and that I'd be lost, but Daughters tells a different story. There's obviously enough reference and foundation that it's not a standalone book, but it takes the characters and brings them in a new direction. Lunurin is no longer afraid of her Stormcaller abilities, but now she has to play a new role as a leader and diplomat. Inez is older and learning who she is after the trauma she experienced at the Palisade and the betrayal of her sister. And Alon, for all that he is the support system and backbone, finds himself unexpectedly grappling with fear and insecurity about his role in Lunurin's life.
My favorite part of the book was the running theme that it is okay to be extra. It is okay to take up space. It is okay to be unapologetically and unmistakably who you are, even if it's not who people expect you to be. Lunurin confronts her family over their desire to keep her small and contained, but also has to deal with it herself on the other side with Inez. Even when done out of fear and a desire to protect, trying to hold women back only causes pain and destruction. Once the women in Daughters embrace who they are, they are unstoppable. And I would be remiss if I don't mention Umali, who is an absolute joy and shows Inez that she is strong and perfect on her own, as she is.
Other thoughts:
- Catalina's story was heartbreaking, but honestly, probably the only way it could really have ended.
- The final battle scene kept me on the edge of my seat. (Okay, maybe also because I was on a long plane ride and getting fidgety.)
- Alon was a surprisingly weaker character here, but I still loved him. He loves his family so much.
- I would love some Umali novellas. Just saying.
Read
July 20, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Daughters of Flood and Fury by Gabriella Buba is a third person mutli-POV fantasy sequel to Saints of Storm and Sorrow. Years after Lunurin and Alon have beat back the Codicíans, their work to uniform their home is still not done and the Codicíans are coming back. Inez, the younger sister of Lunurin’s former lover Catalina, has become part of Lunurin and Alon’s family but can’t forget her anger and resentment at the people who hurt her.
This book feels more like Inez’s book whereas the last book felt more like Lunurin and Alon’s story. We see the impact of the abuse Inez faced and how the religion that was forced upon her has created a tug-of-war within her as some of the values within it were something she believed in but the people who hurt her in the name of that religion go against those values. Without a doubt, this book is about religious and sexual trauma even if there isn’t anything super explicit on the page and it goes a step further than Saints did.
Whereas Saints was a romantic fantasy, this is definitely not. It’s a family story. It’s still about love, but it’s about a different kind of love (the love Alon has for Inez as her teacher and brother-in-law and Lunurin and Inez’s sisterly love) and the rage manifests in different ways. The juxtaposition of love and rage is done very well. Alon and Lunurin are struggling to find common ground in what they think is the right thing for Inez in regards to her magic and her needs while Inez is trying to keep the peace between them while trying to do what is right for her.
Besides the character arcs, where this book really shines for me is in the worldbuilding. Names and places are used often and the use of the world’s mythology impacts everything. Inez can hear crocodiles and she’s technically a tide-bound magic user but she’s terrible at healing. It’s this sort of Avatar: The Last Airbender bending element but taken to a whole other level by ending in the religious trauma and aspects of Filipino mythology.
Content warning for depictions of religious trauma, racism, and mentions of sexual assault at the hands of a religious figure
I would recommend this to fans of family love and rage-focused fantasy and readers of fantasy looking for a fantasy that doesn’t shy away from the impact of colonization and how it’s related to the Catholic Church
Daughters of Flood and Fury by Gabriella Buba is a third person mutli-POV fantasy sequel to Saints of Storm and Sorrow. Years after Lunurin and Alon have beat back the Codicíans, their work to uniform their home is still not done and the Codicíans are coming back. Inez, the younger sister of Lunurin’s former lover Catalina, has become part of Lunurin and Alon’s family but can’t forget her anger and resentment at the people who hurt her.
This book feels more like Inez’s book whereas the last book felt more like Lunurin and Alon’s story. We see the impact of the abuse Inez faced and how the religion that was forced upon her has created a tug-of-war within her as some of the values within it were something she believed in but the people who hurt her in the name of that religion go against those values. Without a doubt, this book is about religious and sexual trauma even if there isn’t anything super explicit on the page and it goes a step further than Saints did.
Whereas Saints was a romantic fantasy, this is definitely not. It’s a family story. It’s still about love, but it’s about a different kind of love (the love Alon has for Inez as her teacher and brother-in-law and Lunurin and Inez’s sisterly love) and the rage manifests in different ways. The juxtaposition of love and rage is done very well. Alon and Lunurin are struggling to find common ground in what they think is the right thing for Inez in regards to her magic and her needs while Inez is trying to keep the peace between them while trying to do what is right for her.
Besides the character arcs, where this book really shines for me is in the worldbuilding. Names and places are used often and the use of the world’s mythology impacts everything. Inez can hear crocodiles and she’s technically a tide-bound magic user but she’s terrible at healing. It’s this sort of Avatar: The Last Airbender bending element but taken to a whole other level by ending in the religious trauma and aspects of Filipino mythology.
Content warning for depictions of religious trauma, racism, and mentions of sexual assault at the hands of a religious figure
I would recommend this to fans of family love and rage-focused fantasy and readers of fantasy looking for a fantasy that doesn’t shy away from the impact of colonization and how it’s related to the Catholic Church
July 23, 2025
ARC Review
Daughters of Flood and Fury brings the conclusion of the Stormbringer Saga, following Inez, who now has grown and is learning to embrace her powers, as she goes on a journey with Captain Umali to chase after rumors of her sister's return. We also get to see more of Lunurin and Alon as they navigate the aftermath from the events from book 1.
I was so excited to see that there was a sequel for Saints of Storms and Sorrow. Although we still get to see Alon and Lunurin. our main focus is Inez. I loved the development of Inez since we got to know her from the first book. I appreciate how realistic she was and how her inner dialogue is relatable.
The pacing of this was pretty steady and action packed like the first book but I found this book so much more adventurous and loved Umali! She is so cool! I loved the relationship between her and Inez and how they compliment each other.
I think my favorite part of all of this is seeing Lunurin and Inez grow into new roles. It felt like passing of the torch because we got to see Lunurin grow from Saints to being that matriarch figure and having others rely on her. Inez going through her own journey to embrace her powers and to heal from her past.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Daughters of Flood and Fury brings the conclusion of the Stormbringer Saga, following Inez, who now has grown and is learning to embrace her powers, as she goes on a journey with Captain Umali to chase after rumors of her sister's return. We also get to see more of Lunurin and Alon as they navigate the aftermath from the events from book 1.
I was so excited to see that there was a sequel for Saints of Storms and Sorrow. Although we still get to see Alon and Lunurin. our main focus is Inez. I loved the development of Inez since we got to know her from the first book. I appreciate how realistic she was and how her inner dialogue is relatable.
The pacing of this was pretty steady and action packed like the first book but I found this book so much more adventurous and loved Umali! She is so cool! I loved the relationship between her and Inez and how they compliment each other.
I think my favorite part of all of this is seeing Lunurin and Inez grow into new roles. It felt like passing of the torch because we got to see Lunurin grow from Saints to being that matriarch figure and having others rely on her. Inez going through her own journey to embrace her powers and to heal from her past.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 5, 2025
"We will not be made tame and small, for I am no gentle goddess. We are a reckoning. We are the storm. We are vengeance and none shall forget it."
"Heavy rains may smother fire. But lightning may also spark the first flame, and a strong wind awakens long-banked calls. We will find our own way."
"Our was a perfectly impersonal collective for a captain toward her crew. Harder to ignore was how much [she] wanted to be needed, to be someone who could be relied on."
"I am a Stormcaller and you should be ever so grateful that I hesitate. A goddess of vengeance weighs my hand and whispers in my ear—ever urging death, destruction, and retribution. Hers is a fury that knows no hesitation."
"At last, she met [her] burning, bright gaze—who had seen all of her, followed her down to the black, blood thirsty depths and loved her for them."
"Heavy rains may smother fire. But lightning may also spark the first flame, and a strong wind awakens long-banked calls. We will find our own way."
"Our was a perfectly impersonal collective for a captain toward her crew. Harder to ignore was how much [she] wanted to be needed, to be someone who could be relied on."
"I am a Stormcaller and you should be ever so grateful that I hesitate. A goddess of vengeance weighs my hand and whispers in my ear—ever urging death, destruction, and retribution. Hers is a fury that knows no hesitation."
"At last, she met [her] burning, bright gaze—who had seen all of her, followed her down to the black, blood thirsty depths and loved her for them."
August 10, 2025
I was so so so excited to read this one - and i have to say, that other than a few small things here and there, it did not disappoint.
Honestly, my only complaint is that the mess and toxic love triangle from the first book is gone, but the newer conflicts are resolved slightly too easily. What made the first book work was the way the messy interpersonal relationships matched the messy conflicts, paralleling it - however even though that wasn't the case here, the paralell story lines of Inez , alon, and lunurin were incredibly compelling. The politics alon dealt with, lunurin's power, and everything else was so satisfying
Honestly, my only complaint is that the mess and toxic love triangle from the first book is gone, but the newer conflicts are resolved slightly too easily. What made the first book work was the way the messy interpersonal relationships matched the messy conflicts, paralleling it - however even though that wasn't the case here, the paralell story lines of Inez , alon, and lunurin were incredibly compelling. The politics alon dealt with, lunurin's power, and everything else was so satisfying
July 30, 2025
This was not the one for me. Maybe I left it too long from reading the first book, but I didn't enjoy the first book very much anyway, and so this one really didn't do it for me. I couldn't get on with the characters and the plot didn't engage me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 28, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed my reading of this book. Daughters of Flood and Fury follows Alon and Lunurin, and adds Inez's POV. I liked Inez best of all. Her adventures were intriguing, and I loved the relationships she formed. Overall, I found this book to be a significant improvement from the first. While Saints of Storm and Sorrow had some moments that read as melodramatic and forced, and the magic was occasionally hard to follow, this book was engaging, easy to follow, and significantly more emotional in a way that really affected me. I also loved the queer representation from many of the characters. Their relationships were so sweet. I would rate this book 4.5, and highly recommend the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book
Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book
August 2, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
3 Stars! But I am definitely in the minority on this one.
I really, really loved the first in this series Saints of Storm and Sorrow, and I was not expecting to have a sequel. It was a welcome surprise, as this one takes place 5 years after the first and really deepens the story from the original.
You really do have to read the first, as this second one is really dealing with the emotional fallout from the previous. Inez, just a child in the first is now 18 and learning and failing the healing arts alongside Alon and Lunurin.
Alon and Lunurin are dealing with the infiltration of Codician's and their religion on the island after they were pushed out years before, while also navigating an upcoming festival where many of the other island's leaders will be in attendance. There is also the threat of a coming armada.
One day Inez hears rumors of her sister, Catalina alive and venerated as a saint. She escapes alongside a captured priest and eventually climbs aboard a pirate ship on a journey to find her sister and learn more about herself. Umila was a cool new character as well as some of the new magic, since in the first everyone was trying to suppress their magic. I still hate Catalina's character though.
I'll be honest, I really wish I loved this as much as I loved the first. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Inez's story of coming to terms with her identity and the mistakes of her sister, but the colonization aspect of the first really hit home for me. This is almost a coming-of-age and political war story instead. I just found Lunurin and Alon's storyline's boring and I just didn't really have as much invested in them this time. I kept thinking "why on earth are young people with no impulse control in charge of this entire island?"
3 Stars! But I am definitely in the minority on this one.
I really, really loved the first in this series Saints of Storm and Sorrow, and I was not expecting to have a sequel. It was a welcome surprise, as this one takes place 5 years after the first and really deepens the story from the original.
You really do have to read the first, as this second one is really dealing with the emotional fallout from the previous. Inez, just a child in the first is now 18 and learning and failing the healing arts alongside Alon and Lunurin.
Alon and Lunurin are dealing with the infiltration of Codician's and their religion on the island after they were pushed out years before, while also navigating an upcoming festival where many of the other island's leaders will be in attendance. There is also the threat of a coming armada.
One day Inez hears rumors of her sister, Catalina alive and venerated as a saint. She escapes alongside a captured priest and eventually climbs aboard a pirate ship on a journey to find her sister and learn more about herself. Umila was a cool new character as well as some of the new magic, since in the first everyone was trying to suppress their magic. I still hate Catalina's character though.
I'll be honest, I really wish I loved this as much as I loved the first. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Inez's story of coming to terms with her identity and the mistakes of her sister, but the colonization aspect of the first really hit home for me. This is almost a coming-of-age and political war story instead. I just found Lunurin and Alon's storyline's boring and I just didn't really have as much invested in them this time. I kept thinking "why on earth are young people with no impulse control in charge of this entire island?"
August 12, 2025
Five years after the fall of the Palisade in Aynila, the Codicíans will arrive with an armada. Lunurin and Alon have tried to make alliances across the archipelago, but it's increasingly difficult due to rivalries and suspicion. They hope to solidify all of the factions into a single unit during the festival of the eclipse, when magic is at its strongest. In the meantime, Inez has been training as a healer even though the gentler side of her goddess's gifts is difficult for her. There are rumors that her sister Catalina is back, so Inez searches for her by sea. Once aboard a pirate ship, Inez meets firetender Umali, who isn't afraid of her powers. Inez still fears the intensity of her magic, as well as the incoming Codicían armada threatening them all.
This is the sequel to Saints of Storm and Sorrow, where we first met Lunurin and Catalina in the convent. There, Catalina's faith in the Codicían god and belief in the harm of native traditions led her to actively harm her sister Inez, who had magic, and Lunurin. There were those of Aynila who had worked with the colonizers for privileges or advantages over native factions, ultimately leading to the battle at the end of the book, which destroyed the Palisade.
The fallout of the first book means there are multiple factions. There are some who trust in the gifts of the gods, those who don't, those who still believe in the God of the oppressors, and plenty who struggle to gain power in the midst of that. Lunurin is trying hard to be Alon's wife, a stormcaller, and help the people if Aynila heals. Alon's brother is suspicious of all mixed heritage people in the city and thinks nothing of starting militant responses without consulting Alon. The two work at cross purposes a little, and Inez is frustrated with them not listening to her needs, treating her as a child, or dismissing her. I can see how all of them react based on their assumptions of what's going on; communication is hard, even with all of their good intentions. It unfortunately leads to misunderstanding the gifts that are actually wielded, hurt feelings, and even more problems as they try to gather allies.
The threat of the Codicían fleet intensifies as the height of God touched power approaches. Of course, all of their problems will hit around the same time and get even more complicated along the way. Fixing one problem creates so many more, and the few alliances Lunurin and Alon have are stretched thin. I was just as disappointed as she was in her family's response, and Catalina's presence weighed heavily throughout the novel. There were so many details and so much going on with the different threads of the story. Even in the final quarter, there were continued shocks and battles. The finale was a grand and bloody battle not only for Aynila, but for the soul of the people themselves. It's very well done, with continued hope for the future.
This is the sequel to Saints of Storm and Sorrow, where we first met Lunurin and Catalina in the convent. There, Catalina's faith in the Codicían god and belief in the harm of native traditions led her to actively harm her sister Inez, who had magic, and Lunurin. There were those of Aynila who had worked with the colonizers for privileges or advantages over native factions, ultimately leading to the battle at the end of the book, which destroyed the Palisade.
The fallout of the first book means there are multiple factions. There are some who trust in the gifts of the gods, those who don't, those who still believe in the God of the oppressors, and plenty who struggle to gain power in the midst of that. Lunurin is trying hard to be Alon's wife, a stormcaller, and help the people if Aynila heals. Alon's brother is suspicious of all mixed heritage people in the city and thinks nothing of starting militant responses without consulting Alon. The two work at cross purposes a little, and Inez is frustrated with them not listening to her needs, treating her as a child, or dismissing her. I can see how all of them react based on their assumptions of what's going on; communication is hard, even with all of their good intentions. It unfortunately leads to misunderstanding the gifts that are actually wielded, hurt feelings, and even more problems as they try to gather allies.
The threat of the Codicían fleet intensifies as the height of God touched power approaches. Of course, all of their problems will hit around the same time and get even more complicated along the way. Fixing one problem creates so many more, and the few alliances Lunurin and Alon have are stretched thin. I was just as disappointed as she was in her family's response, and Catalina's presence weighed heavily throughout the novel. There were so many details and so much going on with the different threads of the story. Even in the final quarter, there were continued shocks and battles. The finale was a grand and bloody battle not only for Aynila, but for the soul of the people themselves. It's very well done, with continued hope for the future.
August 24, 2025
Highlights
~don’t mess with the crocodiles
~the storm-goddess is Not Happy
~dragon out to eat the moon
~the girlfriends that slay together, stay together
~sometimes you’ve just got to bring the typhoon
:implicit spoilers for Saints of Storm and Sorrow ahead!:
The first book in this duology, Saints of Storm and Sorrow, freaking rocked! Daughters isn’t quite up to the same standard – ‘just’ great, rather than gasp-out-loud phenomenal – but I had a wonderful time with it, and strongly recommend it for everyone who loved book one!
In Saints, our POV characters were Lunurin, a rare stormcaller, and Alon, one of her love interests; in Daughters, Inez gets a POV too. In the last book, Inez was a child; in this one, five years later, she’s just barely an adult, struggling to find her place in the world. Like Alon, Inez is a tidecaller, and in their society that means she ought to be a healer. But she can’t seem to work her magic like other tidecallers, with the result that she hasn’t progressed to the point other tidecallers her age have. Given that, like Lunurin, she’s biracial, on an island that is fighting hard to cast out the ways of the Codicían colonisers (half Inez’s heritage), she’s in a pretty uncomfortable position. And it was pretty heartbreaking, seeing her try so hard to Not Be A Problem – since Lunurin and Alon adopted her, and their family is the one ruling their island, Inez knows that everything she does reflects on them politically, which only adds to her fears and stress. She doesn’t understand why she isn’t like other tidecallers – and unfortunately, Alon and her other teachers all seem to think the issue is a lack of practice, or that Inez just isn’t trying hard enough. It reminded me of chronic illness, actually – the growing certainty that there is Something Wrong With You, but no one will listen because no one understands.
Inez is a spiky, difficult character, largely due to the trauma she went through in her early life, and the events of Saints particularly. Buba says in her dedication that Daughters is for those who ‘healed wrong’, everyone who went through hell and didn’t come out the other side Nice – everyone whose trauma makes them Difficult. IT WAS SO UNBELIEVABLY GREAT TO SEE! I can think of literally one other series where I’ve encountered a deeply traumatised character who was really, genuinely Difficult because of it (Hollow Folk by Gregory Ashe, if you’re curious). We need a lot more rep like this, honestly.
And even aside from that, I just loved that Inez gets to be vicious. One of the things I dearly loved about Saints was the utter rejection of ‘violence is never an option’, and in Daughters Inez gets to be as monstrous as she wants – murdering, quite awfully, Codicíans and slavers and anyone else who wants to hurt her, her friends/family, or her people. IT WAS GREAT. A++ revenge fantasy, very cathartic, 10/10 for Inez getting to feed slave-traders to hungry crocodiles! Like – even if she HADN’T had trauma, I would have been delighted to get a heroine (anti-heroine?) who gets to be this angry and powerful and murderous!
Buba’s messaging re violence and trauma and survivors, specifically with regards colonisation – and also healing, and rebuilding/recreating, because you can never get the past back but you can build a future – isn’t just powerful and well-done: it’s woven into the worldbuilding! Tidecallers are almost universally healers – but Inez isn’t, and that feels extremely important in a world where magic comes from being chosen by a goddess. What does it mean, that Inez is a tidecaller, but more crocodile than healer? Is the ocean goddess sending a message to her people? Very possibly! I especially loved how this was woven into the myth of the laho, an ocean-dwelling serpent-dragon being who tries to eat the moon every once in a while. This is a real Filipino myth (specifically Tagalog, according to Wikipedia) and it was just so freaking COOL that Inez’s arc brought her to the laho – the laho is a real being in Inez’s world, but it was also a symbol, a different way of relating to the sea and to Inez’s tidecalling powers. Through the laho (and a badass fire-tender girlfriend) Inez learns that there’s nothing wrong with her – that she doesn’t have to be gentle. That she is what she’s supposed to be. I WAS SO VERY HAPPY FOR HER!
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
~don’t mess with the crocodiles
~the storm-goddess is Not Happy
~dragon out to eat the moon
~the girlfriends that slay together, stay together
~sometimes you’ve just got to bring the typhoon
:implicit spoilers for Saints of Storm and Sorrow ahead!:
The first book in this duology, Saints of Storm and Sorrow, freaking rocked! Daughters isn’t quite up to the same standard – ‘just’ great, rather than gasp-out-loud phenomenal – but I had a wonderful time with it, and strongly recommend it for everyone who loved book one!
In Saints, our POV characters were Lunurin, a rare stormcaller, and Alon, one of her love interests; in Daughters, Inez gets a POV too. In the last book, Inez was a child; in this one, five years later, she’s just barely an adult, struggling to find her place in the world. Like Alon, Inez is a tidecaller, and in their society that means she ought to be a healer. But she can’t seem to work her magic like other tidecallers, with the result that she hasn’t progressed to the point other tidecallers her age have. Given that, like Lunurin, she’s biracial, on an island that is fighting hard to cast out the ways of the Codicían colonisers (half Inez’s heritage), she’s in a pretty uncomfortable position. And it was pretty heartbreaking, seeing her try so hard to Not Be A Problem – since Lunurin and Alon adopted her, and their family is the one ruling their island, Inez knows that everything she does reflects on them politically, which only adds to her fears and stress. She doesn’t understand why she isn’t like other tidecallers – and unfortunately, Alon and her other teachers all seem to think the issue is a lack of practice, or that Inez just isn’t trying hard enough. It reminded me of chronic illness, actually – the growing certainty that there is Something Wrong With You, but no one will listen because no one understands.
To all the ones who survived, but healed wrong.
They broke our halos so we grew teeth.
Inez is a spiky, difficult character, largely due to the trauma she went through in her early life, and the events of Saints particularly. Buba says in her dedication that Daughters is for those who ‘healed wrong’, everyone who went through hell and didn’t come out the other side Nice – everyone whose trauma makes them Difficult. IT WAS SO UNBELIEVABLY GREAT TO SEE! I can think of literally one other series where I’ve encountered a deeply traumatised character who was really, genuinely Difficult because of it (Hollow Folk by Gregory Ashe, if you’re curious). We need a lot more rep like this, honestly.
And even aside from that, I just loved that Inez gets to be vicious. One of the things I dearly loved about Saints was the utter rejection of ‘violence is never an option’, and in Daughters Inez gets to be as monstrous as she wants – murdering, quite awfully, Codicíans and slavers and anyone else who wants to hurt her, her friends/family, or her people. IT WAS GREAT. A++ revenge fantasy, very cathartic, 10/10 for Inez getting to feed slave-traders to hungry crocodiles! Like – even if she HADN’T had trauma, I would have been delighted to get a heroine (anti-heroine?) who gets to be this angry and powerful and murderous!
she murmured her way through an Ave Maria. Silence. Nothing. Only the nagging feeling Catalina would be disappointed in her for not saying at least ten, with how long it had been since she’d attended confession. They sat on her tongue, waiting for her to finish her penance.
Penance for what? She’d always wanted to ask. They should be asking penance of her, begging on their knees, and it would never be enough.
Buba’s messaging re violence and trauma and survivors, specifically with regards colonisation – and also healing, and rebuilding/recreating, because you can never get the past back but you can build a future – isn’t just powerful and well-done: it’s woven into the worldbuilding! Tidecallers are almost universally healers – but Inez isn’t, and that feels extremely important in a world where magic comes from being chosen by a goddess. What does it mean, that Inez is a tidecaller, but more crocodile than healer? Is the ocean goddess sending a message to her people? Very possibly! I especially loved how this was woven into the myth of the laho, an ocean-dwelling serpent-dragon being who tries to eat the moon every once in a while. This is a real Filipino myth (specifically Tagalog, according to Wikipedia) and it was just so freaking COOL that Inez’s arc brought her to the laho – the laho is a real being in Inez’s world, but it was also a symbol, a different way of relating to the sea and to Inez’s tidecalling powers. Through the laho (and a badass fire-tender girlfriend) Inez learns that there’s nothing wrong with her – that she doesn’t have to be gentle. That she is what she’s supposed to be. I WAS SO VERY HAPPY FOR HER!
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
July 6, 2025
Did they think they'd find a girl still hiding from her own strength?
Synopsis:
This is the second book in the duology and may contain spoilers for the first book.
A few years after the events in Saints of Storm and Sorrow, Lunurin and Alon struggle to teach Inez to heal as a tide-touched. Aside from that, Lunurin and Alon must also unite the country to have a stronger front against the Codicíans.
When there was a rumor that Catalina, Inez's sister and Lunurin's former lover, is still alive on an island somewhere living as a saint, it drives Inez to the sea to look for her.
Thoughts:
3.5 stars
What I loved:
- The crocodiles
- A firetender who lives on water as a pirate
- A healer who doesn't heal
- The food!
Book 2 had less of Lunurin and Alon and more of Inez and Umali, a new character. As for Catalina, I absolutely hated her in the first book, and still highly dislike her in this one, even though for most of the book, they were just chasing a rumor about her.
I really appreciated how Inez's trauma was shown here. It showed that trauma isn't easy to get over. It can really, really mess you up even after many years have passed. I enjoyed how, because of this, a different side of being a tide-touched was explored.
For the writing, I thought there were some beautiful lines, but it could have flowed better. For the plot, I honestly don't even remember the Codicíans that much. Maybe because I was reading it too fast? But most likely it was because the plotline where Inez was looking for Catalina was much more interesting the the plotline with the Codicíans.
I liked the first book just a little bit better, I think because I'm more interested in the topic of colonization and the effect on religious beliefs.
This duology has its fair share of pros and cons, but overall, I thought the ideas presented were important and I'd still be interested to read more from this author.
-
Other quotes I like:
"Wishing desperately this was a wound he could heal as easily as a broken bone. But hearts were different."
"What was blood but saltwater to one blessed by Aman Sinaya?"
"She'd felt herself broken and she'd wanted the whole world to sunder with her."
September 15, 2025
A Satisfying Second Installment to the Stormbringer Saga
(Spoiler Free:) Gabriella’s masterful use of descriptives immerses the reader into a world reminiscent of home (Philippines), except amplified by elements of magical divine powers, this time, unlocking more areas of the archipelago. And in this book, Buba brings the Stormbringer Saga to a satisfying close, tying loose ends and allowing for captivating character growth since the first novel Saints of Storm and Sorrow.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Lunurin is no longer torn between her love for Catalina and who she truly is and has to be. She is no longer in constant denial of the storm goddess’s wrath that must channel through her for her to lead, protect, and avenge her people. Her stress in facing relatives who have different beliefs and expectations is so high key relatable.
Lunurin’s relationship with Alon has also matured into so much more than a marriage of convenience and other fun stuff *wink, wink* in the first book. It’s become a partnership with aligned goals to look after their community, strengthened by shared values, and not easily shaken by old ghosts.
Inez, however, is the absolute star of this book for me. From the helpless victim of SA as a child to a seemingly hopeless healer to a kicka** saltwater crocodile and dragon whisperer, taking the meaning of “tide touched” to another plane of ocean-court advantage. Her transformation is a beauty to behold. Pirate Captain Umali, the coolest most levelheaded firetender ever (No offense, Sina) is a great sexy addition and a complementing character to Inez. I was so glad they came to Inez’s rescue, breaking free from the pattern of betrayal in the first book’s love story.
Lastly, Catalina’s wretched fate saddened me. Based on reviews for the first book, she was not a favorite character for most and probably deserved what befell her. But I could see why Lunurin loved her due to their history growing up together as isolated mestizas, despite the toxicity of the relationship. I guess what saddened me was the love and strength Inez had to hold in her heart for her sister to do what she had to do.
Overall, an excellent sophomore release. Congratulations, Gabriella on another amazing memorable book representing powerful angry brown, biracial, bisexual women. Looking forward to reading more of your work.
(Spoiler Free:) Gabriella’s masterful use of descriptives immerses the reader into a world reminiscent of home (Philippines), except amplified by elements of magical divine powers, this time, unlocking more areas of the archipelago. And in this book, Buba brings the Stormbringer Saga to a satisfying close, tying loose ends and allowing for captivating character growth since the first novel Saints of Storm and Sorrow.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Lunurin is no longer torn between her love for Catalina and who she truly is and has to be. She is no longer in constant denial of the storm goddess’s wrath that must channel through her for her to lead, protect, and avenge her people. Her stress in facing relatives who have different beliefs and expectations is so high key relatable.
Lunurin’s relationship with Alon has also matured into so much more than a marriage of convenience and other fun stuff *wink, wink* in the first book. It’s become a partnership with aligned goals to look after their community, strengthened by shared values, and not easily shaken by old ghosts.
Inez, however, is the absolute star of this book for me. From the helpless victim of SA as a child to a seemingly hopeless healer to a kicka** saltwater crocodile and dragon whisperer, taking the meaning of “tide touched” to another plane of ocean-court advantage. Her transformation is a beauty to behold. Pirate Captain Umali, the coolest most levelheaded firetender ever (No offense, Sina) is a great sexy addition and a complementing character to Inez. I was so glad they came to Inez’s rescue, breaking free from the pattern of betrayal in the first book’s love story.
Lastly, Catalina’s wretched fate saddened me. Based on reviews for the first book, she was not a favorite character for most and probably deserved what befell her. But I could see why Lunurin loved her due to their history growing up together as isolated mestizas, despite the toxicity of the relationship. I guess what saddened me was the love and strength Inez had to hold in her heart for her sister to do what she had to do.
Overall, an excellent sophomore release. Congratulations, Gabriella on another amazing memorable book representing powerful angry brown, biracial, bisexual women. Looking forward to reading more of your work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
This book is for all the individuals who have been harmed by a church or religion established by colonizers, the kind that told us we were evil simply for our culture or our beliefs. Gabriella Buba captures this pain and resilience beautifully, even opening the story with a dedication that says: “To all the ones who survived but healed wrong. They broke our halos so we grew teeth.”
Set five years after the events of the first book, Lunurin and Alon may have defeated the Codicians in their home, but devoted followers of the Codicians’ church still linger, determined to regain control of Aynila. With the training of new tide-touched underway and the threat of another attack looming, Lunurin and her allies must prepare for war while also protecting their people.
Gabriella does an outstanding job of showing how the Codicians used religion and faith to manipulate individuals into doing their bidding. At one chilling point, she even gives us a physical representation of how blind faith and misplaced trust in these religious leaders can not only harm an individual but utterly destroy them.
What I admired most is how Gabriella shapes her characters from their fractures: messy, aching, and imperfect. The main female character, Lunurin, struggles with the heavy mantle of being the Stormbringer, trying to balance her duty to protect her community without becoming the very harm she fears. Her fierce protectiveness of Inez, whom she considers a sister, shows both her love and her guilt over the trauma Inez has endured.
And then there’s Inez. Written with such vulnerability, Inez is a girl desperate to prove herself to Lunurin, the only family she feels she has left. Yet she constantly battles the shame of not being the “ideal” tide-touched healer. Burdened by her past, she must go on her own journey, one that forces her to face her ghosts and ultimately discover self-acceptance.
Daughters of Flood and Fury is powerful, layered, and unflinching. It shines a light on the ways colonizers used faith to manipulate and control, while reminding us that survival, found family, and self-acceptance are acts of defiance and healing. Go grab this book and thank me later. :)
Set five years after the events of the first book, Lunurin and Alon may have defeated the Codicians in their home, but devoted followers of the Codicians’ church still linger, determined to regain control of Aynila. With the training of new tide-touched underway and the threat of another attack looming, Lunurin and her allies must prepare for war while also protecting their people.
Gabriella does an outstanding job of showing how the Codicians used religion and faith to manipulate individuals into doing their bidding. At one chilling point, she even gives us a physical representation of how blind faith and misplaced trust in these religious leaders can not only harm an individual but utterly destroy them.
What I admired most is how Gabriella shapes her characters from their fractures: messy, aching, and imperfect. The main female character, Lunurin, struggles with the heavy mantle of being the Stormbringer, trying to balance her duty to protect her community without becoming the very harm she fears. Her fierce protectiveness of Inez, whom she considers a sister, shows both her love and her guilt over the trauma Inez has endured.
And then there’s Inez. Written with such vulnerability, Inez is a girl desperate to prove herself to Lunurin, the only family she feels she has left. Yet she constantly battles the shame of not being the “ideal” tide-touched healer. Burdened by her past, she must go on her own journey, one that forces her to face her ghosts and ultimately discover self-acceptance.
Daughters of Flood and Fury is powerful, layered, and unflinching. It shines a light on the ways colonizers used faith to manipulate and control, while reminding us that survival, found family, and self-acceptance are acts of defiance and healing. Go grab this book and thank me later. :)
November 15, 2025
I would rate this book about a thousand stars if I could. The first book in this duology made me cry on an airplane, and this incredibly powerful sequel did NOT disappoint in any way. Gabriella Buba writes characters with such richness you feel like they'll step of the page and look you in the eye at any moment. Speaking of characters, Inez and Umali have stolen my entire heart, I think Inez is now one of my all time favorite characters out of anyone in this duology. I was so excited to see how her identity, and her relationship with Lunurin had changed in the multi-year interlude between books. I was blown away by the woman she'd become. The fact that she and Lunurin are now sisters, and the fact that one book focuses on Lunurin's POV while the second one focuses more on how Inez has grown over time and how she came to stand alongside her sister and new family is making me so-
Speaking of sisters, Catalina's end was magnificently tragic and unfortunately deserved. As a reader, I can understand how/why Catalina got so brainwashed that she became the wretched, awful woman that she did, so I pity her in that regard. As an older sister, however, I spent a significant portion of both books mentally screaming "THIS MOTHERFUCKER CAN JUST DIE ALREADY." So when she actually died, it was both gut-wrenching, schadenfreude-inducing, and eerily perfect. I'm not sorry. (I was kind of hoping we'd get a Catalina POV chapter at some point, but after what happened to her, I'm kind of glad we didn't...)
Anyway. This book made me love Lunurin, Alon, and the world they and their loved ones inhabit even more. I didn't think the worldbuilding of this duology could impress me even more than it did the first time around, and I am so happy to have been proven wrong. It's so expansive and fascinating and makes me want to learn more about some of the real-world history it loosely draws from, even if that history is often very painful.
All in all, Daughters of Flood and Fury is an epic fantasy read in the purest sense of the word, and a sequel just as good, if not better than the first. It will destroy you and then wipe the tears off your face. It cements the Stormbringer duology as a must-read for anyone looking for richly developed adult fantasy.
Speaking of sisters, Catalina's end was magnificently tragic and unfortunately deserved. As a reader, I can understand how/why Catalina got so brainwashed that she became the wretched, awful woman that she did, so I pity her in that regard. As an older sister, however, I spent a significant portion of both books mentally screaming "THIS MOTHERFUCKER CAN JUST DIE ALREADY." So when she actually died, it was both gut-wrenching, schadenfreude-inducing, and eerily perfect. I'm not sorry. (I was kind of hoping we'd get a Catalina POV chapter at some point, but after what happened to her, I'm kind of glad we didn't...)
Anyway. This book made me love Lunurin, Alon, and the world they and their loved ones inhabit even more. I didn't think the worldbuilding of this duology could impress me even more than it did the first time around, and I am so happy to have been proven wrong. It's so expansive and fascinating and makes me want to learn more about some of the real-world history it loosely draws from, even if that history is often very painful.
All in all, Daughters of Flood and Fury is an epic fantasy read in the purest sense of the word, and a sequel just as good, if not better than the first. It will destroy you and then wipe the tears off your face. It cements the Stormbringer duology as a must-read for anyone looking for richly developed adult fantasy.
July 18, 2025
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
DAUGHTERS OF FLOOD AND FURY is a sequel that explores more land and also the complex emotions of the previous book.
This is a sequel to SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW, which I think was originally conceived of as a standalone. This entry does not, unsurprisingly, stand on its own as the characters' guilt and reactions to the events of the previous book weigh on them here. However, it does well to look at the aftermath of a rebellion and the struggles to unite even in the face of an external threat.
I really liked getting to see Inez's perspective in this book. She's caught by her guilt and frustration. Her power seems great but she cannot use it, despite all the expectations. It feels like Lunurin, whom she idolised as a child, has no time for her and is disappointed. She's lonely and upset and watching her handle (or not!) that complicated set of emotions was really engaging. It leads to some truly spectacularly bad decisions!
It felt like there was more magic this time! Now the Codicians are gone, there's no need to hide the magic, so the characters can use it far more freely. It's certainly not easy sailing using it just because it's no longer a secret. I liked getting to see more of other magics through Inez.
We also get to see more of the world through her (and there is a map!) She (and Lunurin) travel to other islands, rather than staying close to home, which meant more time on ships and also pirates! I do like pirates in books.
In all, this was a satisfying follow up to a book that I hadn't expected a sequel to but was very pleased to get one!
DAUGHTERS OF FLOOD AND FURY is a sequel that explores more land and also the complex emotions of the previous book.
This is a sequel to SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW, which I think was originally conceived of as a standalone. This entry does not, unsurprisingly, stand on its own as the characters' guilt and reactions to the events of the previous book weigh on them here. However, it does well to look at the aftermath of a rebellion and the struggles to unite even in the face of an external threat.
I really liked getting to see Inez's perspective in this book. She's caught by her guilt and frustration. Her power seems great but she cannot use it, despite all the expectations. It feels like Lunurin, whom she idolised as a child, has no time for her and is disappointed. She's lonely and upset and watching her handle (or not!) that complicated set of emotions was really engaging. It leads to some truly spectacularly bad decisions!
It felt like there was more magic this time! Now the Codicians are gone, there's no need to hide the magic, so the characters can use it far more freely. It's certainly not easy sailing using it just because it's no longer a secret. I liked getting to see more of other magics through Inez.
We also get to see more of the world through her (and there is a map!) She (and Lunurin) travel to other islands, rather than staying close to home, which meant more time on ships and also pirates! I do like pirates in books.
In all, this was a satisfying follow up to a book that I hadn't expected a sequel to but was very pleased to get one!
July 24, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Daughters of Flood and Fury is not a book that should be read alone. In order to understand the importance of Catalina — Inez’s sister, Lunurin’s first love — in order to understand the growing pressures and fears that weigh on Alon and Lunurin as they prepare to face down the Codician navy approaching their archipelago with the intent to reconquer them, the pressures of the Christian Church demonizing their gods and trying to plant the seeds of their own religion, in order to understand Inez’s pain and the reasons for her crippling self doubt and fears, you really need to have read the first book in the Stormbringer Saga, Saints of Storm and Sorrow. (That, and it’s an amazing book.)
This book is amazing, especially if — like me — you like seeing wounded and broken characters pulling themselves together, finding someone who loves their sharp, brittle edges, as well as their gooey centers, someone who will support them without stealing their agency, someone who will let them go and be ready to welcome them back, or who will go through fire and flood to get to their side.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Daughters of Flood and Fury is not a book that should be read alone. In order to understand the importance of Catalina — Inez’s sister, Lunurin’s first love — in order to understand the growing pressures and fears that weigh on Alon and Lunurin as they prepare to face down the Codician navy approaching their archipelago with the intent to reconquer them, the pressures of the Christian Church demonizing their gods and trying to plant the seeds of their own religion, in order to understand Inez’s pain and the reasons for her crippling self doubt and fears, you really need to have read the first book in the Stormbringer Saga, Saints of Storm and Sorrow. (That, and it’s an amazing book.)
This book is amazing, especially if — like me — you like seeing wounded and broken characters pulling themselves together, finding someone who loves their sharp, brittle edges, as well as their gooey centers, someone who will support them without stealing their agency, someone who will let them go and be ready to welcome them back, or who will go through fire and flood to get to their side.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
July 6, 2025
Lunurin's story, which began in Saints of Storm and Sorrow, continues as Lunurin and Alon have been working hard to bring their allies together against the Codicians. Lunurin is not only mastering and embracing her powers, but must make choices that ensure that the Codicians stop being a threat to her people once and for all.
Meanwhile, Inez goes searching for her sister, Catalina (grrr) who is rumored to be alive. Inez herself is struggling with her trauma, with betrayal, and with her powers, and I so appreciated that her own healing is not taken lightly. Many times in fantasy I see characters getting over major life issues in a few pages, or addressed lightly by simply having them snap at others to show their pain, but here it is so well done.
And the food. Having lived in California for thirty years, I was privileged to have Filipino friends and many Filipino restaurants around, and man, the food descriptions will make your mouth water.
Come for the fantastic story of women claiming their power and space, and stay for the yummies.
Meanwhile, Inez goes searching for her sister, Catalina (grrr) who is rumored to be alive. Inez herself is struggling with her trauma, with betrayal, and with her powers, and I so appreciated that her own healing is not taken lightly. Many times in fantasy I see characters getting over major life issues in a few pages, or addressed lightly by simply having them snap at others to show their pain, but here it is so well done.
And the food. Having lived in California for thirty years, I was privileged to have Filipino friends and many Filipino restaurants around, and man, the food descriptions will make your mouth water.
Come for the fantastic story of women claiming their power and space, and stay for the yummies.
October 9, 2025
Not as compelling as the first book. While I understand why Lunurin and Alon are still main leads, I was under the impression that Inez was the focus of the story, based on the synopsis as well as social media posts. Instead, she had to share considerable time with the other couple, and thus the development of her romance with Umali suffered. If anything, it felt like insta-love. I didn’t care about Lunurin and Alon’s relationship anymore in this book, and yet here we are with a dragged-out miscommunication issue with gratuitous sex scenes.
Perhaps the most difficult thing to get around in this book is the pacing, and that’s thanks to the writing. I felt I had to read sentences more than once to fully understand what was going on.
Perhaps the most difficult thing to get around in this book is the pacing, and that’s thanks to the writing. I felt I had to read sentences more than once to fully understand what was going on.
December 30, 2025
My favourite thing about this series has got to be the worldbuilding. I absolutely love how rich and immersive it is- the lore, the culture, the magical creatures, and the godly powers. Gabriella Buba really excels at worldbuilding and she's expanded the world from the first book beautifully. I also quite enjoy her characters and their arcs, and I especially appreciated Inez's POV in this book. I think Buba writes internal conflict and personal struggle very well. The plot was a little thin in some areas, but I was personally having way too much fun with the side plot to be too bothered about it. Some of the chapters are suspiciously thin but again, I didn't mind that too much. All in all, this was a lovely read and a very solid way for me to close out my 2025 reading.
June 13, 2025
The writing in this book is a melody that shifts from the calm calls of the sea to the hunger of scaly beasts to the desperation of storms. Not only is this a sequel that outshines the first book but it is a story that balances between 3 very different individuals who love each other very much. I was cautious about the addition of a new perspective, since the first book is a dual perspective, but Gabriella Buba is very talented and allows the sometimes oppositional voices of her characters speak for themselves.
July 15, 2025
Eeep, really I thought that I couldn't be happier to have Saints of Storm and Sorrow as a stand alone but I love seeing Inez all grown up in this book. That doesn't mean that Lunurin didn't develop either. They both totally triumphed over their struggles with sweeping victory. That last sea battle was so much epic! TBH, I was just so happy to be back in this universe; I love the archipelagic setting, the magic system, and just underdogs being strong and true to themselves. I can't recommend this duology enough; please read them x
My thanks to the author for gifting me copy of eARC
My thanks to the author for gifting me copy of eARC
September 9, 2025
Another very good and unique piece of fantasy. It picks up in the middle of some intense action and I had some trouble following for the first few chapters but once I got into it, what a ride! The addition of Inez' point of view is great, and her arc is amazing. I thought Lunurin was angry but Inez is the real embodiment of female rage and it is so SATISFYING. I never thought I would get attached to crocodiles either but Gabriella Buba did it. I hope we get more from her in the future.
October 20, 2025
First of all, I have to acknowledge the depth and care that this author put into her research to make this series come to life. While I thought the world-building dragged the story in parts of the first book, I think it pays off in this second one. The pacing and scale are both more fitting for the story overall, and it's a wonderful, satisfying conclusion to what the first book began. Highly recommend.
October 8, 2025
I could NOT get into this. OK, I didn't read the first book, but this was definitely not a stand-alone and almost nonsensical at times- only my view, bit I DO read a lot of fantasy and this was so chock full of 'in' folklore that I don't think I would ever go back and try to read it again. Sorry
January 1, 2026
Loved Daughters possibly more than Saints! Inez’s journey was well done and exciting to read. I loved the crocodiles. I liked the combination of elements with animals because if humans can have connections with elements why wouldn’t other animals? Catalina’s demise was shocking and also completion of a circle it felt necessary.
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