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The Blood Prince of Langkasuka
'Meet a prince racing against the clock to solve a string of palace murders in medieval Malaysia...' Bustle magazine. The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a reimagining of an ancient Southeast Asian vampire legend; the coming-of-age story of Raja Bersiong or the Fanged King. The monster is not always who you expect it to be - seventeen-year-old Raja Perita Deria, a carefree, self-centred young prince who descends into despair, as he turns into an angst-ridden vampire, while confronted with a chilling series of murders in the palace of Langkasuka. Will he find the strength to save himself and his kingdom? Described by Gerakbudaya Bookshop, Penang as, 'A strongly told tale, reworking one of the earliest surviving legends of Nusantara (maritime Southeast Asia)... what follows is thwarted love, plots and deaths, the presence of the supernatural in everyday life, and a seemingly unstoppable path to doom and destruction.' The Blood Prince of Langkasuka was picked by K.W. Colyard as one of 'The 35 Best Vampire Books to Read Now,' in the April 2022 issue of Bustle magazine. It was also picked by Emily Hughes of Nightfire Newsletter as the February pick in 'All The Horror Books We're Excited About in 2021' - A vampire novel set against the political landscape of 12th Century Southeast Asia, following a prince whose chance encounter with an irresistible woman leaves him craving blood.
180 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2021
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338 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 15, 2021
The first thing that struck me when I read this story was how much nostalgia it raised inside me. When I was still in school in the 70's and 80's, I was so excited each time I come across the name of a Nusantara hero or legend in my history books. But in those days, there was no world wide web. My search was restricted to small bookstores and a library which would be called a reading room in this day and age. Ah, the joys of growing up in a small town.
The legend of Raja Bersiong has tickled my interest since my early teens, so I was stoked to get my hands on 'The Blood Prince of Langkasuka'. I highly recommend this work for the young historian in you. True to the folklore style of storytelling, there are mythical creatures and superstitions, and the author provides background details to many of them.
I consider this book a rare treasure because it can be enjoyed by both adults and teens, so do get a copy for your family. Since the author also gives a detailed list of food and kuihs, you can also enjoy this work gastronomically. I've always liked gulai bayam. Now I love it because I have a story to which I could link it.
The legend of Raja Bersiong has tickled my interest since my early teens, so I was stoked to get my hands on 'The Blood Prince of Langkasuka'. I highly recommend this work for the young historian in you. True to the folklore style of storytelling, there are mythical creatures and superstitions, and the author provides background details to many of them.
I consider this book a rare treasure because it can be enjoyed by both adults and teens, so do get a copy for your family. Since the author also gives a detailed list of food and kuihs, you can also enjoy this work gastronomically. I've always liked gulai bayam. Now I love it because I have a story to which I could link it.
November 22, 2020
Thanks to Times Reads for sending this review copy to me! The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a retelling of the story of Raja Bersiong, a popular Malaysian historical myth though I am not exposed to it until I read this book. In essence, the story revolves around the Prince's (Raja Perita Deria) encounter with a "pontianak" (a mythological creature in Malay folklore which is comparable to a vampire in Western mythology) or a "vetal" (a creature in Hindu mythology which is also comparable to a vampire) and the aftermath of such encounter.
What I love about this book is that it is so full of Malay and Hindu folklore. I would categorize this under the fantasy genre albeit from the Malaysian mythology perspective. There are a lot of references to Malay/Hindu culture, superstitions, and beliefs. There are mentions of the rice spirit, "yakshi" (a female earth spirit from the Hindu folklore), the "orang laut" (the Malay term for sea people), and the practice of blood sacrifice. The incorporation of such elements into this story definitely made it more interesting and it is an eye-opening experience to me even as a Malaysian as I am not familiar with the Malay or Hindu myths. The author is also able to recreate the 12th-century atmosphere with the description of the architecture, the landscape of the kingdoms, the cultural practice of the society as well as the different ethnic groups which existed during that time. With the addition of the murder mystery element into this story, it becomes more intriguing.
What I thought is lacking in this story is the complexity of the plot and characterization. This is just a personal preference as I enjoy reading stories with solid and complex characterization. The relationship between the characters, the character arc, and their internal struggles could be examined in greater detail and if this is done, this would definitely be a strong read. This is currently a 3.5/5 star rating. I would still recommend this to readers who are interested in retellings of folklore or mythologies.
What I love about this book is that it is so full of Malay and Hindu folklore. I would categorize this under the fantasy genre albeit from the Malaysian mythology perspective. There are a lot of references to Malay/Hindu culture, superstitions, and beliefs. There are mentions of the rice spirit, "yakshi" (a female earth spirit from the Hindu folklore), the "orang laut" (the Malay term for sea people), and the practice of blood sacrifice. The incorporation of such elements into this story definitely made it more interesting and it is an eye-opening experience to me even as a Malaysian as I am not familiar with the Malay or Hindu myths. The author is also able to recreate the 12th-century atmosphere with the description of the architecture, the landscape of the kingdoms, the cultural practice of the society as well as the different ethnic groups which existed during that time. With the addition of the murder mystery element into this story, it becomes more intriguing.
What I thought is lacking in this story is the complexity of the plot and characterization. This is just a personal preference as I enjoy reading stories with solid and complex characterization. The relationship between the characters, the character arc, and their internal struggles could be examined in greater detail and if this is done, this would definitely be a strong read. This is currently a 3.5/5 star rating. I would still recommend this to readers who are interested in retellings of folklore or mythologies.
May 7, 2021
The premise for this book was very intriguing and compelling, yet the execution was not quite what I expected.
Even though I'm a Malaysian, I've never heard of the tale of Langkasuka - the description of the environment and lore was interesting. The first half of the book was an enjoyable, easy read, yet it lacked the worldbuilding and depth that I initially expected from this book. To be frank, I expected a book revolving vampires to be written more romantic/lyrical, yet this book does not do that at all.
The writing is frank and does not hold many allusions - the buildup of the plot was rushed, which may come from the fact that it is a rather short book (I finished it in 2 hours), but the murder mystery itself felt very... not mysterious. For a premise that promised a murder mystery entwined with vampires and other supernatural beings/beliefs, it was rather disappointing.
It was interesting to hear more about Malaysian folklore, yet the plot itself did not deliver on the intrigue and excitement that I had expected from the blurb. Overall, it makes for an easy afternoon read - but if you are looking for a compelling plot, I'd rather you look elsewhere.
Even though I'm a Malaysian, I've never heard of the tale of Langkasuka - the description of the environment and lore was interesting. The first half of the book was an enjoyable, easy read, yet it lacked the worldbuilding and depth that I initially expected from this book. To be frank, I expected a book revolving vampires to be written more romantic/lyrical, yet this book does not do that at all.
The writing is frank and does not hold many allusions - the buildup of the plot was rushed, which may come from the fact that it is a rather short book (I finished it in 2 hours), but the murder mystery itself felt very... not mysterious. For a premise that promised a murder mystery entwined with vampires and other supernatural beings/beliefs, it was rather disappointing.
It was interesting to hear more about Malaysian folklore, yet the plot itself did not deliver on the intrigue and excitement that I had expected from the blurb. Overall, it makes for an easy afternoon read - but if you are looking for a compelling plot, I'd rather you look elsewhere.
January 2, 2021
I enjoyed reading this soooo much. It is thinner than I expected. Nonetheless, the universe in the book is fascinating. I know that it is inspired by the lore of Raja Bersiong. For me, I deem it a historical fantasy. I took only a few hours to finish it. The plot is easy to follow and the descriptive language is excellent.
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The story has a very fairytale feel to it. Our hero, Raja Perita is a young rebellious prince who loves to have fun. One day, he was attacked by a creature on his way back to the palace. The curse made him crave for blood. He has loyal friends and a devoted mother who help him throughout his recovery. At the same time, a series of murders in his kingdom caused great unease. The supporting characters are abundant - the palace advisors, cook, handmaidens and foreign dignitaries. The plot moves quite fast and there is no dull moment at all.
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4/5. Highly recommended if you love fantasy and mystery. Still, I sort of wished for the book to be longer. I'd love to read more on the lores and legends around us.
.
The story has a very fairytale feel to it. Our hero, Raja Perita is a young rebellious prince who loves to have fun. One day, he was attacked by a creature on his way back to the palace. The curse made him crave for blood. He has loyal friends and a devoted mother who help him throughout his recovery. At the same time, a series of murders in his kingdom caused great unease. The supporting characters are abundant - the palace advisors, cook, handmaidens and foreign dignitaries. The plot moves quite fast and there is no dull moment at all.
.
4/5. Highly recommended if you love fantasy and mystery. Still, I sort of wished for the book to be longer. I'd love to read more on the lores and legends around us.
April 5, 2021
As a child I would devour all the folk tales and fairy stories I could find. I read all the stories I could find, many of them stories from European, Greek, Norse or British traditions. How pleased I would have been to have found a book that featured my country and my peoples, and how lucky the young of today are to have this wonderful story in their lives!
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka not only draws together many of the folk legends of Malaysia, but also grounds it in some of the ancient history of the land. It plays an important role in reflecting the cultural and political history of this country that is sorely lacking in the limited story schoolchildren are given of the past.
Read this fascinating story, then listen in to an interview with the author where she shares interesting nuggets about the way this story came to be on this Two Book Nerds Talking podcast: https://bit.ly/3unzfIk
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka not only draws together many of the folk legends of Malaysia, but also grounds it in some of the ancient history of the land. It plays an important role in reflecting the cultural and political history of this country that is sorely lacking in the limited story schoolchildren are given of the past.
Read this fascinating story, then listen in to an interview with the author where she shares interesting nuggets about the way this story came to be on this Two Book Nerds Talking podcast: https://bit.ly/3unzfIk
September 21, 2021
Kedah, one of the northernmost states of Malaysia, has a rich and deep history, one that is much older than even Malacca itself.
Besides its history, the state of Kedah is also rich in folk tales and legends. From the widely known story of Mahsuri and the Tasik Dayang Bunting from Langkawi, there are also the tales of Puteri Lindungan Bulan and the myth of Gunung Keriang.
Of course, the most intriguing of all the stories to come out of the state has got to be that of Raja Bersiong (the Fanged King). This intriguing tale, which is recorded in the Kedah Annals (or known as Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa) does contain historical facts, though it is largely to be taken as a work of literary fiction with many incredible assertions.
Tutu Dutta’s "The Blood Prince of Langkasuka" deftly reimagines the tale of Raja Bersiong into a thrilling account of love, betrayal, and mystique set in the backdrop of an old Kedah.
Incidentally, the author is a writer of children's and young adult books, with 10 books published to date. Many of these books were written overseas, as she is also the wife of retired Malaysian diplomat Yean Yoke Heng. She has also worked as a research fellow at Universiti Malaya.
The book, at 172 pages, is an easy and quick read but crafting it would have been anything but and it shows every time the author steps back and describes the world in which the events unfold.
The story is told in a linear fashion, even though it is peppered with some flashbacks and transports the reader into a world filled with superstition and magic.
This is a bygone era in which aspects of daily life were governed by the whims of nature, which in turn were believed to have been influenced by spirits (or, rather the semangat).
It is customary to tempt these mystical beings with offerings and prayers in exchange for promises of bountiful harvest.
Such glimpses into the past that the author provides throughout the story indicates research of that period in time which would have taken some effort in itself but coupled with potent imagination and skilful storytelling abilities helped in elevating this retelling of the legend into an unforgettable journey.
Origins of Raja Bersiong
For those who are not aware of the legend of Raja Bersiong, the story goes that the king (named as Raja Ong Maha Perita Deria in the aforementioned Kedah Annals) develops a liking to human blood after consuming food prepared by the royal cook who was accidentally injured and spilt his own blood into the dish.
Noticing the different but improved taste of the dish, the king compels the cook to divulge the secret ingredient. This then sets in motion a series of events in which the king soon becomes addicted to the taste of blood, develops fangs, and starts killing people for blood.
The king was then chased off into the jungles in the vicinity of the Bujang Valley where he vanished, or at least that is one version of the tale that’s familiar to the people in the area.
The version that is presented in The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is much more nuanced. It reaches deep into the mythology of the land at the time and throws in political intrigue, romance, and a murder mystery to boot.
The most enjoyable aspect of the book though, has got to be the exploration of the relationship between the main character (here named Raja Perita Deria) and his mother, as well as his three friends.
The character of the mother is very well developed but more background of his friends (Chula, Satra, and Yala) would have been good especially as each of them plays a significant role in the plot. One can imagine the antics and trouble these boys from affluent families would have gotten into, and these were hinted at and explored albeit briefly.
Quick pace into the thick of the action
For someone hailing from the Nusantara (or the Malay language-speaking world), it is also entertaining to discover local concepts and words that are familiar and woven into the tale. The book does not lose much time in getting the reader into the thick of the action. Within the first 15 pages or so, the stage is set for the exciting story to unfold.
While the pace is quick, the style and language deployed is poetic enough to beautifully convey the actions of the characters, their struggles, and thought processes.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a fun exploration of an old Kedah that was rich in tradition influenced by traders and scholars from India, Persia, China, and Arabia which can be seen in descriptions of its customs and politics.
It is also the kind of tale grandmothers would weave as wide-eyed children gather around her with rapt attention, eager to find out what happens next. In short, it is an engaging book that is quite the page-turner.
With so much going on for the book, one can’t help but feel there are more details that want to slip through what’s being presented here as a tightly woven narrative. That may not necessarily be a bad thing, but it does feel like lots of minutiae which could have enriched the story were held back.
Could the author have traded those details off for a faster-paced storyline?
The ending, while extremely satisfying does leave the readers wanting more. One aspect that the book could have truly benefited from is further world-building because there is more to be explored, something that perhaps could be addressed in a sequel. Dare we hope?
Besides its history, the state of Kedah is also rich in folk tales and legends. From the widely known story of Mahsuri and the Tasik Dayang Bunting from Langkawi, there are also the tales of Puteri Lindungan Bulan and the myth of Gunung Keriang.
Of course, the most intriguing of all the stories to come out of the state has got to be that of Raja Bersiong (the Fanged King). This intriguing tale, which is recorded in the Kedah Annals (or known as Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa) does contain historical facts, though it is largely to be taken as a work of literary fiction with many incredible assertions.
Tutu Dutta’s "The Blood Prince of Langkasuka" deftly reimagines the tale of Raja Bersiong into a thrilling account of love, betrayal, and mystique set in the backdrop of an old Kedah.
Incidentally, the author is a writer of children's and young adult books, with 10 books published to date. Many of these books were written overseas, as she is also the wife of retired Malaysian diplomat Yean Yoke Heng. She has also worked as a research fellow at Universiti Malaya.
The book, at 172 pages, is an easy and quick read but crafting it would have been anything but and it shows every time the author steps back and describes the world in which the events unfold.
The story is told in a linear fashion, even though it is peppered with some flashbacks and transports the reader into a world filled with superstition and magic.
This is a bygone era in which aspects of daily life were governed by the whims of nature, which in turn were believed to have been influenced by spirits (or, rather the semangat).
It is customary to tempt these mystical beings with offerings and prayers in exchange for promises of bountiful harvest.
Such glimpses into the past that the author provides throughout the story indicates research of that period in time which would have taken some effort in itself but coupled with potent imagination and skilful storytelling abilities helped in elevating this retelling of the legend into an unforgettable journey.
Origins of Raja Bersiong
For those who are not aware of the legend of Raja Bersiong, the story goes that the king (named as Raja Ong Maha Perita Deria in the aforementioned Kedah Annals) develops a liking to human blood after consuming food prepared by the royal cook who was accidentally injured and spilt his own blood into the dish.
Noticing the different but improved taste of the dish, the king compels the cook to divulge the secret ingredient. This then sets in motion a series of events in which the king soon becomes addicted to the taste of blood, develops fangs, and starts killing people for blood.
The king was then chased off into the jungles in the vicinity of the Bujang Valley where he vanished, or at least that is one version of the tale that’s familiar to the people in the area.
The version that is presented in The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is much more nuanced. It reaches deep into the mythology of the land at the time and throws in political intrigue, romance, and a murder mystery to boot.
The most enjoyable aspect of the book though, has got to be the exploration of the relationship between the main character (here named Raja Perita Deria) and his mother, as well as his three friends.
The character of the mother is very well developed but more background of his friends (Chula, Satra, and Yala) would have been good especially as each of them plays a significant role in the plot. One can imagine the antics and trouble these boys from affluent families would have gotten into, and these were hinted at and explored albeit briefly.
Quick pace into the thick of the action
For someone hailing from the Nusantara (or the Malay language-speaking world), it is also entertaining to discover local concepts and words that are familiar and woven into the tale. The book does not lose much time in getting the reader into the thick of the action. Within the first 15 pages or so, the stage is set for the exciting story to unfold.
While the pace is quick, the style and language deployed is poetic enough to beautifully convey the actions of the characters, their struggles, and thought processes.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a fun exploration of an old Kedah that was rich in tradition influenced by traders and scholars from India, Persia, China, and Arabia which can be seen in descriptions of its customs and politics.
It is also the kind of tale grandmothers would weave as wide-eyed children gather around her with rapt attention, eager to find out what happens next. In short, it is an engaging book that is quite the page-turner.
With so much going on for the book, one can’t help but feel there are more details that want to slip through what’s being presented here as a tightly woven narrative. That may not necessarily be a bad thing, but it does feel like lots of minutiae which could have enriched the story were held back.
Could the author have traded those details off for a faster-paced storyline?
The ending, while extremely satisfying does leave the readers wanting more. One aspect that the book could have truly benefited from is further world-building because there is more to be explored, something that perhaps could be addressed in a sequel. Dare we hope?
March 28, 2021
The story is based on the Legend : Raja Bersiong (King of Fangs)
The book is about the author’s version of Raja Bersiong (Raja Pelita Deria) who accidentally ate some blood in his food and later he had to consume blood to stay alive. Then people started to go missing.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a combination of a few Malay and Indian legends ( Pontianak , Orang Bunian , Yakshi, Vetal...etc) I learned a lot about the legends. It really made me want to learn more about other legends in Malaysia.
Cultures. From the book I get to read how TeaHouses were the place to relax and hang out. How the cook and others in palace respected the Royals. When important individuals visited the Royals, there would be a dance performance. Before one enters a jungle, one needs to ask permission from the Penunggu Rimba. Till today, anyone who wants to enter a jungle they need to do so too.
I like it that the author used the original Bahasa Melayu (BM) words in this book. This makes the book very special. Only readers who knows BM will be able to understand how the words were used and why is it is not translated .For example , “I sensed that this place is keras...”
Raja Pelita Deria is a very interesting individual. The author wrote on how he learned about his heritage, how he fell in love ( falling in love back then is definitely different that it is now! ) and also about his relationships with his mother (She is very protective ) , friends and people in his palace. He also accepted his fate straight away.
The book is actually very short but it took me awhile to finish it. Why? Simply because I did not want to finish it too fast. I wanted to slowly read it and enjoy the book. Which I did and I would definitely reread it.
Wishful Thinking :
1. How I wish that my History Books used in my history classes during my school days were written this way - Historical Fiction maybe? So that I would not be so sleepy reading when I read history text books!
2. I really hope that the author would write more books about the other legends and folklores in Malaysia.
Congratulations Tutu Dutta. I am looking forward for your future books.
The book is about the author’s version of Raja Bersiong (Raja Pelita Deria) who accidentally ate some blood in his food and later he had to consume blood to stay alive. Then people started to go missing.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a combination of a few Malay and Indian legends ( Pontianak , Orang Bunian , Yakshi, Vetal...etc) I learned a lot about the legends. It really made me want to learn more about other legends in Malaysia.
Cultures. From the book I get to read how TeaHouses were the place to relax and hang out. How the cook and others in palace respected the Royals. When important individuals visited the Royals, there would be a dance performance. Before one enters a jungle, one needs to ask permission from the Penunggu Rimba. Till today, anyone who wants to enter a jungle they need to do so too.
I like it that the author used the original Bahasa Melayu (BM) words in this book. This makes the book very special. Only readers who knows BM will be able to understand how the words were used and why is it is not translated .For example , “I sensed that this place is keras...”
Raja Pelita Deria is a very interesting individual. The author wrote on how he learned about his heritage, how he fell in love ( falling in love back then is definitely different that it is now! ) and also about his relationships with his mother (She is very protective ) , friends and people in his palace. He also accepted his fate straight away.
The book is actually very short but it took me awhile to finish it. Why? Simply because I did not want to finish it too fast. I wanted to slowly read it and enjoy the book. Which I did and I would definitely reread it.
Wishful Thinking :
1. How I wish that my History Books used in my history classes during my school days were written this way - Historical Fiction maybe? So that I would not be so sleepy reading when I read history text books!
2. I really hope that the author would write more books about the other legends and folklores in Malaysia.
Congratulations Tutu Dutta. I am looking forward for your future books.
November 27, 2024
There are sadly very few books featuring Nusantara tales during the Sri Vijaya Empire and I always jump at chances to read books like this.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a spin on the myth of Raja Bersiong, the Fanged King, a cannibal monarch in Malaysian mythology. Raja Perita Deria, prince and heir of the kingdom and his three close friends, ventured into a teahouse one day and fought with a ‘vetala’, a demon-like creature in Hindu folklore. The consequences of such an encounter led to Raja Perita being bitten in the neck and developing vampire-like traits and the consequences of such including a murder mystery thrown in!
I had heard the tale of Raja Bersiong and this is such a refreshing take on it. I enjoyed elements of the worldbuilding where there are introductions to many Malay and Hindu myths, culture and superstitions such the ‘orang laut’, known as the Sea Gypsies, the ‘yakshi’, a female earth spirit from Hindu folklore, the ‘pontianak’, a female vampiric ghost, shamans and medicine people and the hierarchy during the ruling of the Sri Vijaya Empire The vivid descriptions of the architecture, culture, food and scenes definitely brings me back to the Nusantara times.
The plot starts out simple enough but with the murder mystery element thrown in and the intriguing visits from the neighbouring kingdom makes it more interesting. For a short story, it definitely gives you hints of Malaysian history. I do appreciate the author’s factual writing style for this book and the walk down memory lane taking me back to my fascination with Malaysian history.
Many thanks to the author, Tutu Dutta for sending me a copy of this ebook.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a spin on the myth of Raja Bersiong, the Fanged King, a cannibal monarch in Malaysian mythology. Raja Perita Deria, prince and heir of the kingdom and his three close friends, ventured into a teahouse one day and fought with a ‘vetala’, a demon-like creature in Hindu folklore. The consequences of such an encounter led to Raja Perita being bitten in the neck and developing vampire-like traits and the consequences of such including a murder mystery thrown in!
I had heard the tale of Raja Bersiong and this is such a refreshing take on it. I enjoyed elements of the worldbuilding where there are introductions to many Malay and Hindu myths, culture and superstitions such the ‘orang laut’, known as the Sea Gypsies, the ‘yakshi’, a female earth spirit from Hindu folklore, the ‘pontianak’, a female vampiric ghost, shamans and medicine people and the hierarchy during the ruling of the Sri Vijaya Empire The vivid descriptions of the architecture, culture, food and scenes definitely brings me back to the Nusantara times.
The plot starts out simple enough but with the murder mystery element thrown in and the intriguing visits from the neighbouring kingdom makes it more interesting. For a short story, it definitely gives you hints of Malaysian history. I do appreciate the author’s factual writing style for this book and the walk down memory lane taking me back to my fascination with Malaysian history.
Many thanks to the author, Tutu Dutta for sending me a copy of this ebook.
March 28, 2021
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka is a retelling of the legend Raja Bersiong with a twist. It is such an intriguing and fast paced story centered around the crown prince and heir to the throne of Langkasuka, Raja Perita and through his journey of fleeing from a curse, discovering who he really is and figuring out who he can and can't trust.
I honestly am not so familiar with this tale but I was hooked right from the very first page. Its just so Malaysian and very beautifully written that I am just so captivated most of the time. I wish this story could be a bit longer and there was more to it because I just need to more set in this lyrical world building. It has mystery, folklore, royalty and I just really love it.
The flow of the story is really smooth. I think everything was explained well. From the suspense of what's happening to the prince, the curse, the murders and how it was all wrapped up. It's an easy read and not so complicated which is exactly what I needed.
This is definitely a read-in-one-sitting kind of book. It's very easy to follow as a fantasy book but still so interesting. I think it was really well plotted and it just have everything I could hope for and I hope more people would pick up this book. Trust me, this is a book that everyone should pick up and read.
I honestly am not so familiar with this tale but I was hooked right from the very first page. Its just so Malaysian and very beautifully written that I am just so captivated most of the time. I wish this story could be a bit longer and there was more to it because I just need to more set in this lyrical world building. It has mystery, folklore, royalty and I just really love it.
The flow of the story is really smooth. I think everything was explained well. From the suspense of what's happening to the prince, the curse, the murders and how it was all wrapped up. It's an easy read and not so complicated which is exactly what I needed.
This is definitely a read-in-one-sitting kind of book. It's very easy to follow as a fantasy book but still so interesting. I think it was really well plotted and it just have everything I could hope for and I hope more people would pick up this book. Trust me, this is a book that everyone should pick up and read.
June 19, 2021
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka transports the reader to the ancient kingdom of Langkasuka, where the lands teem with life both mundane and supernatural. Our protagonist, Raja Maha Perita Deria, is a self-assured and dauntless prince who, after a midnight misadventure in the ruins of a forgotten temple, unfortunately finds himself developing irrepressible urges outside of the norm for your typical male youth. As the story progresses, the reader is also drawn into the web of murder mystery as the young prince learns of his true antecedents, comes to terms with his “affliction,” acquires a love interest and is ultimately forced to overcome sinister threats from sources both preternatural and close to home.
One thing which immediately distinguishes this book from the milieu of other Fantasy reads is the profound insight into Southeast Asian, and specifically Malaysian, folklore it affords. Throughout the story, fabled characters from local myth and legend make appearances and enrich the plot. Aside from this, the book will also appeal to history buffs as it contains detailed (and, as far as I am aware, historically accurate) descriptions of the culture and customs observed during the period, including down to the food which was eaten!
Having said this, the plot reaches its climax and concludes a bit too hastily, leaving the reader wanting more. In this regard, the book would certainly have benefitted from additional chapters and/or a lengthier word count, which would have allowed for both greater plot and character development. I would have liked in particular to see the author explore the palace murder/ intrigue subplot as well as the blossoming romance between the main character and foreign princess further, and to learn more about the “backstories”, motivations and desires, as it were, of the select group of men forming the prince's coterie. Be that as it may, the book remains an engrossing read and I would certainly recommend it to fans of vampire fiction looking for a diverse, Southeast Asian take on the genre.
One thing which immediately distinguishes this book from the milieu of other Fantasy reads is the profound insight into Southeast Asian, and specifically Malaysian, folklore it affords. Throughout the story, fabled characters from local myth and legend make appearances and enrich the plot. Aside from this, the book will also appeal to history buffs as it contains detailed (and, as far as I am aware, historically accurate) descriptions of the culture and customs observed during the period, including down to the food which was eaten!
Having said this, the plot reaches its climax and concludes a bit too hastily, leaving the reader wanting more. In this regard, the book would certainly have benefitted from additional chapters and/or a lengthier word count, which would have allowed for both greater plot and character development. I would have liked in particular to see the author explore the palace murder/ intrigue subplot as well as the blossoming romance between the main character and foreign princess further, and to learn more about the “backstories”, motivations and desires, as it were, of the select group of men forming the prince's coterie. Be that as it may, the book remains an engrossing read and I would certainly recommend it to fans of vampire fiction looking for a diverse, Southeast Asian take on the genre.
February 26, 2021
When I was a teenager, I remember coming across the story of The Raja Bersiong. The unfortunate prince who had accidentally tasted human blood in his food and craved for it thereafter. His appetite for blood was unsatiable and he was finally banished from his own kingdom.
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka revolves around the story of The Raja Bersiong, but delves deep into why he becomes dependent on human blood for his sustenence. The author has brought life to this ancient folklore that has been in our history, but never really tapped into. The ancient kingdom of Langkasuka had its traces back to the land of Bharat, that is now known as India. The authors writing shows that there has been adequete research done about the legends and folklores from India and how it reached the lands of Langkasuka.
Besides this, the themes of friendship and loyalty as well as maternal love is strongly present in this book through its well defined characters. We hear the voice of Raja Perita who eventually becomes the Raja Bersiong and we can empathize with him, as he is caught in the webs of betrayal and curse by no choice of his own. We can see his character evolving from a pampered prince to a caring king. Nobody is perfect. Not even the king.
The author develops each character well and her writing style is simple yet it can evoke intense emotions tbroughout the book. While reading some chapters, i actually felt like i was in the palace or the rice fields myself. The language used by the author in this book was authentic with vocabulary like gulai and vetal peppered through the book. These vocabulary cannot be replaced by English words as it would take the essence out.
I won this book through a contest set by the author on social media and that makes this book all the more special ♡ Thank you Tutu Dutta
The Blood Prince of Langkasuka revolves around the story of The Raja Bersiong, but delves deep into why he becomes dependent on human blood for his sustenence. The author has brought life to this ancient folklore that has been in our history, but never really tapped into. The ancient kingdom of Langkasuka had its traces back to the land of Bharat, that is now known as India. The authors writing shows that there has been adequete research done about the legends and folklores from India and how it reached the lands of Langkasuka.
Besides this, the themes of friendship and loyalty as well as maternal love is strongly present in this book through its well defined characters. We hear the voice of Raja Perita who eventually becomes the Raja Bersiong and we can empathize with him, as he is caught in the webs of betrayal and curse by no choice of his own. We can see his character evolving from a pampered prince to a caring king. Nobody is perfect. Not even the king.
The author develops each character well and her writing style is simple yet it can evoke intense emotions tbroughout the book. While reading some chapters, i actually felt like i was in the palace or the rice fields myself. The language used by the author in this book was authentic with vocabulary like gulai and vetal peppered through the book. These vocabulary cannot be replaced by English words as it would take the essence out.
I won this book through a contest set by the author on social media and that makes this book all the more special ♡ Thank you Tutu Dutta
March 2, 2021
First up, thank you Times Reads for this review copy!
I'm not much into descriptions but the author painted a vivid picture of the world around Langkasuka. From the royal culture to the intricate palace features, they all came to life. Imagine watching a documentary. Now imagine watching a thriller movie with such details. Get it?
Usher in the protagonist. Raja Perita is introduced as an arrogant prince but behind that exterior, I sensed a demeanor that's very much human. Above all, I resonated with his take on friendship, making him a very likeable character.
This is a retelling of the Raja Bersiong legend and Tutu Dutta crafted it in a way that makes me want to try more folklores moving forward. Her details are extensive but not overloaded. Simple but not dull. This is an example of narration that works.
The idea of a vampire prince is intriguing in itself. Coupled with the details I mentioned, this story is a good blend of thriller, drama and cultural elements.
This is a great choice if you're into Asian literature/folklore. Love vampires? Go for it! If you like horror/thriller with a twist, this may be your pick but if you're looking for something thicker, you may want to really consider before picking this up.
I'm not much into descriptions but the author painted a vivid picture of the world around Langkasuka. From the royal culture to the intricate palace features, they all came to life. Imagine watching a documentary. Now imagine watching a thriller movie with such details. Get it?
Usher in the protagonist. Raja Perita is introduced as an arrogant prince but behind that exterior, I sensed a demeanor that's very much human. Above all, I resonated with his take on friendship, making him a very likeable character.
This is a retelling of the Raja Bersiong legend and Tutu Dutta crafted it in a way that makes me want to try more folklores moving forward. Her details are extensive but not overloaded. Simple but not dull. This is an example of narration that works.
The idea of a vampire prince is intriguing in itself. Coupled with the details I mentioned, this story is a good blend of thriller, drama and cultural elements.
This is a great choice if you're into Asian literature/folklore. Love vampires? Go for it! If you like horror/thriller with a twist, this may be your pick but if you're looking for something thicker, you may want to really consider before picking this up.
April 12, 2021
Finished this book the other day and I really enjoyed reading it as it was an easy read and quite fast-paced. The book may be short but it is packed with actions and events that aren’t overwhelming and it feels perfectly proportional to the length of the book. The writing style is lyrical and I like how each sentence transition perfectly into the next. This book perfectly captures how the livelihood of ancient kingdoms went about in their daily activities. The character development especially in the main character is something I truly enjoyed seeing cause we love it when a character flourishes and change for the better.
Significant events in the books are well described that it gives the readers a clear direction of where the book was heading and a backstory of how certain events came to be. Reading this book reminds me of the hikayats that I’ve read when I was younger which I found fascinating and enjoyed a lot.
I’ve always had a fondness for historical fiction books and this is no exception. If it wasn’t because of this book, I wouldn’t even know about the Langkasuka Kingdom which is part of Peninsular Malaya history. If you guys enjoyed reading about the story of Parameswara, I feel you would enjoy this underrated book.
Significant events in the books are well described that it gives the readers a clear direction of where the book was heading and a backstory of how certain events came to be. Reading this book reminds me of the hikayats that I’ve read when I was younger which I found fascinating and enjoyed a lot.
I’ve always had a fondness for historical fiction books and this is no exception. If it wasn’t because of this book, I wouldn’t even know about the Langkasuka Kingdom which is part of Peninsular Malaya history. If you guys enjoyed reading about the story of Parameswara, I feel you would enjoy this underrated book.
April 21, 2021
WHY DID HAVE TO END SO EARLY! THIS BOOK IS RATHER SHORT HAIZ~
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Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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This was somewhat a great fairytale story . The hero Raja is a young bad ass rebellious prince who just want to live the way he is. Suddenly, he was attacked by a weird creature while he was on his way home It turned out to be a curse which made him crave for blood. GOD DAMN THAT GOT ME HOOKED 🙇♀️
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I usually don't read any fanstasy books because there is so many characters in play but i have to say this it was an enjoyable malaysian read which i did not regret on picking up.
I wanted more of it though like it will be so cool if it was a series.
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Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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This was somewhat a great fairytale story . The hero Raja is a young bad ass rebellious prince who just want to live the way he is. Suddenly, he was attacked by a weird creature while he was on his way home It turned out to be a curse which made him crave for blood. GOD DAMN THAT GOT ME HOOKED 🙇♀️
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I usually don't read any fanstasy books because there is so many characters in play but i have to say this it was an enjoyable malaysian read which i did not regret on picking up.
I wanted more of it though like it will be so cool if it was a series.
January 31, 2021
I’d say abt 3.5 for me. Mainly because just as you r getting into it, the story ends. It’s a good primer for people who are not huge fantasy readers and the prose is easy and flows well.
March 15, 2022
The Blood Price of Langkasuka by Tutu Dutta
It hit all the right spots - mythology/folklore, bit of a thriller/whodunit n friendship tropes all meshed into one appetising sunday Nasi Lemak (this ref is possibly influenced by the fact that I read this on a Sunday n had 'nasi lemak' for lunch that day😁). These are the kind of stories I ABSOLUTELY loved reading growing up n so it was a bit nostalgic for me. But unlike those stories, this was more complicated n had more layers to it. I really liked the whodunit aspect of the story (I didn't correctly guess the culprit at all - all of my guesses were wrong)..lol. The references to both Hindu n malay culture/beliefs were such a pleasant surprise n it was painlessly meshed ( makes one think doesn't it🤔😉). I very vaguely remember the Raja Bersiong folklore from my childhood reading but this story was a nice spin on it. it was such an enjoyable read !! Go pick it up n see whether it reaches your Nasi Lemak standards ..or any other fav meal of choice -becoz we Asians are serious about our food n our stories😊😋👍🏾 ..4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It hit all the right spots - mythology/folklore, bit of a thriller/whodunit n friendship tropes all meshed into one appetising sunday Nasi Lemak (this ref is possibly influenced by the fact that I read this on a Sunday n had 'nasi lemak' for lunch that day😁). These are the kind of stories I ABSOLUTELY loved reading growing up n so it was a bit nostalgic for me. But unlike those stories, this was more complicated n had more layers to it. I really liked the whodunit aspect of the story (I didn't correctly guess the culprit at all - all of my guesses were wrong)..lol. The references to both Hindu n malay culture/beliefs were such a pleasant surprise n it was painlessly meshed ( makes one think doesn't it🤔😉). I very vaguely remember the Raja Bersiong folklore from my childhood reading but this story was a nice spin on it. it was such an enjoyable read !! Go pick it up n see whether it reaches your Nasi Lemak standards ..or any other fav meal of choice -becoz we Asians are serious about our food n our stories😊😋👍🏾 ..4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 28, 2021
Actually enjoyed this book. Being a native of the SEA region, reading about the infamous legend of the Raja Bersiong was certainly intriguing. It was a light reading with lots of reference to the local culture, tickling my preference for historical fiction and generally triggered my curiosity about the Langkasuka kingdom.
Also loved imagining the Southeast Asian-esque descriptives of the food, Malay vocabularies for subjects with no real English translations and also the local plants among others.
Learned lots of new words here too, would say a lot of big words were used though I liked it. Not entirely sure of the accuracy against the actual legend but got an unpleasant surprise for an inaccurate description of Orang Laut towards the end.
Plot is easy to follow and quite simple, could definitely see the YA style here too. Would love to see this being made into a movie just to enjoy the southeast Asian aesthetics, though plot gets a little cheesy at some points. The action and romance parts do feel a tad cringey.
Also loved imagining the Southeast Asian-esque descriptives of the food, Malay vocabularies for subjects with no real English translations and also the local plants among others.
Learned lots of new words here too, would say a lot of big words were used though I liked it. Not entirely sure of the accuracy against the actual legend but got an unpleasant surprise for an inaccurate description of Orang Laut towards the end.
Plot is easy to follow and quite simple, could definitely see the YA style here too. Would love to see this being made into a movie just to enjoy the southeast Asian aesthetics, though plot gets a little cheesy at some points. The action and romance parts do feel a tad cringey.
March 23, 2022
Since I was a little girl ,I have been reading about Dracula and vampires but nothing about our own .Its a very interesting book .I like the way the author narrates the story about the young prince turning into a vampire and his thirst for blood.
November 5, 2020
The monster is not always who you expect it to be.
A reimagining of an ancient legend; a coming-of-age story of an angst-ridden young man turning into a vampire, while confronted with a chilling murder-mystery.
After an incident involving the cook and a dish of bayam tainted with blood, he discovers that he needs blood to heal and for sustenance.
As heir to the throne of Langkasuka, the prince is also caught in the larger political struggle surrounding the kingdom which is being watched by the two powers of 12th Century Southeast Asia – the Sri Vijaya Empire and the Khmer Empire.
However, a spate of violent deaths in the palace of Langkasuka point towards the prince and his close friends and Raja Perita is slowly driven to breaking point.
When the most powerful shaman in the kingdom is murdered while attempting to commune with the Rice Spirit, the countryside is in an uproar. Her death sets off a witch hunt for a killer who could be a vampire.
Could it be one of the prince’s beloved friends, or perhaps Raja Perita himself?
--
The Blood Prince Of Langkasuka is a reimagined of a classic story from an ancient times.
The retelling of Raja Bersiong was being told in a very detailed and précised way as possible in this book.
Not only the author will connect you with many other dots that was left untouched whenever people wanted more from this story, you will also be able to understand the whole “reasons and whys” subjects that’ll resulted the whole story, sounded much more sense.
If you have read or heard the famous story about Raja Bersiong somewhere else before this, then you might have lots of questions about the origin of the story, more in-depth elaboration about the whole tale, then this book might just be for you.
I mean, I only heard about this story while growing up, but I have never watch any related videos/movies regarding this tale.
But I can say that this book managed to keep me on my toes. As each chapter was a page turner indeed.
Suspense, mystery and occult all together.
--
This book covers it all.
Well, at least in a “retelling” kind of way. Because it could be anything else besides what has been told.
Right?
From the timeline, the before story, the after story, the plots, the story building, the people and the overall guide of an ancient Kingdom of Langkasuka.
As we all know, the Malay Archipelago was once a great country of vast and noble Kingdom. An old word called it Langkasuka, but we knew it as Kedah Tua.
As related as it seems, the author tried to reimagining the event occurred hundred of years passed.
I’m a fantasy, folklore, mystical and mythical hunter. Thus this book got my attention straightaway.
--
This book might differ a bit from what the original stories was set about or based on what we’re being told, but the original content were there and the core elements were presence in the book. Etc; the blood, the gulai bayam, the siong.
A few other plots were added and few famous yet familiar names were added as well, like Puteri Buluh Betung, Raja Merong Mahawangsa, Kingdom of Khmer and Srivijaya.
Like I said, many parts were improvised to make this book sounded more surreal, sensible while still retaining the initial story of the famous local Vampire.
I would only love it if we will get an in-depth story and strong reasoning for why the main villain acted like how he did as for me it seems like it lacked some kind of firm background story to it.
I won’t say it was random, but it sounded like it was “escalating quickly” kind of plots.
Moreover, I think this book will be a great opportunity if the author would explain, elaborate and expand more about the history of Mount Jerai. It was not just a mountain, but it served also as an ancient monument, a guide to sailors, a checkpoint for travelers and many other legendary stories and events that circles around the Great Mount Jerai. The proud of the North.
Nevertheless, The Blood Prince Of Langkasuka got a total of 4/5 stars and as I’m liking this book so much, I really recommend this book for those folklores and mythical lovers out there!
--
Thank you Times Reads for sending me this early Review Copy in exchange for an honest and transparent review. This book will be available in all bookstores starting from February 1st 2021!
p/s : The monster is not always who you expect it to be…
A reimagining of an ancient legend; a coming-of-age story of an angst-ridden young man turning into a vampire, while confronted with a chilling murder-mystery.
After an incident involving the cook and a dish of bayam tainted with blood, he discovers that he needs blood to heal and for sustenance.
As heir to the throne of Langkasuka, the prince is also caught in the larger political struggle surrounding the kingdom which is being watched by the two powers of 12th Century Southeast Asia – the Sri Vijaya Empire and the Khmer Empire.
However, a spate of violent deaths in the palace of Langkasuka point towards the prince and his close friends and Raja Perita is slowly driven to breaking point.
When the most powerful shaman in the kingdom is murdered while attempting to commune with the Rice Spirit, the countryside is in an uproar. Her death sets off a witch hunt for a killer who could be a vampire.
Could it be one of the prince’s beloved friends, or perhaps Raja Perita himself?
--
The Blood Prince Of Langkasuka is a reimagined of a classic story from an ancient times.
The retelling of Raja Bersiong was being told in a very detailed and précised way as possible in this book.
Not only the author will connect you with many other dots that was left untouched whenever people wanted more from this story, you will also be able to understand the whole “reasons and whys” subjects that’ll resulted the whole story, sounded much more sense.
If you have read or heard the famous story about Raja Bersiong somewhere else before this, then you might have lots of questions about the origin of the story, more in-depth elaboration about the whole tale, then this book might just be for you.
I mean, I only heard about this story while growing up, but I have never watch any related videos/movies regarding this tale.
But I can say that this book managed to keep me on my toes. As each chapter was a page turner indeed.
Suspense, mystery and occult all together.
--
This book covers it all.
Well, at least in a “retelling” kind of way. Because it could be anything else besides what has been told.
Right?
From the timeline, the before story, the after story, the plots, the story building, the people and the overall guide of an ancient Kingdom of Langkasuka.
As we all know, the Malay Archipelago was once a great country of vast and noble Kingdom. An old word called it Langkasuka, but we knew it as Kedah Tua.
As related as it seems, the author tried to reimagining the event occurred hundred of years passed.
I’m a fantasy, folklore, mystical and mythical hunter. Thus this book got my attention straightaway.
--
This book might differ a bit from what the original stories was set about or based on what we’re being told, but the original content were there and the core elements were presence in the book. Etc; the blood, the gulai bayam, the siong.
A few other plots were added and few famous yet familiar names were added as well, like Puteri Buluh Betung, Raja Merong Mahawangsa, Kingdom of Khmer and Srivijaya.
Like I said, many parts were improvised to make this book sounded more surreal, sensible while still retaining the initial story of the famous local Vampire.
I would only love it if we will get an in-depth story and strong reasoning for why the main villain acted like how he did as for me it seems like it lacked some kind of firm background story to it.
I won’t say it was random, but it sounded like it was “escalating quickly” kind of plots.
Moreover, I think this book will be a great opportunity if the author would explain, elaborate and expand more about the history of Mount Jerai. It was not just a mountain, but it served also as an ancient monument, a guide to sailors, a checkpoint for travelers and many other legendary stories and events that circles around the Great Mount Jerai. The proud of the North.
Nevertheless, The Blood Prince Of Langkasuka got a total of 4/5 stars and as I’m liking this book so much, I really recommend this book for those folklores and mythical lovers out there!
--
Thank you Times Reads for sending me this early Review Copy in exchange for an honest and transparent review. This book will be available in all bookstores starting from February 1st 2021!
p/s : The monster is not always who you expect it to be…
March 6, 2022
this book reminded me of the adventure novels i read and enjoyed so much when i was younger. it's a wonderful act of the imagination and a pleasure to read because of the author's story-telling ability. i wasn't ready for it to end, which is always a good sign.
December 17, 2022
This is a mixture of historical, fantasy and supernatural genre book. I am not familiar with the Legend of the Fanged King or Raja Bersiong until I read this book. Hence, it was pretty intriguing for me.
I did went on to search about Raja Bersiong afterwards.🫣 It really gave me a different perspective as the author took an immense role to shift the gaze on this king turned vampire. It has been almost negative about this king. But in this story…it was…I will leave that to you to figure that out. 🙃
It’s fast paced and have the right amount of suspense, mystery and thriller in it. Also some sprinkle of romance thrown in.
The language used is simple but there are use of local language, which I enjoyed reading as it gave me an authentic Malaysian experience. The description of food (not the one served to the Prince🫠) was lovely as well.
I basically dived straight into the book as soon as I got it. As I am not particularly fond of horror genre, there were mentions of ghostly stuff..which of course threw me into a blue funk. However, it wasn’t as spine-chilling as I had imagined. Thank the heavens for that. 🥲🙏🏽
I was just particularly irked by this one thing in the book where the cook remarks ‘Men are such girls…’ when one of the Prince friend winces in pain. I felt that could be avoided or phrased it differently. Given that this book would most certainly appeal to the younger readers, reading such phrases may imply that one is weaker just because of their gender. The feminist in me…found that to be a little exasperating. 🥲 (I know the story is set in ancient times…but the book is being read now…there is always room for improvement) 😌
Overall, would totally recommend this book as an appetiser to the Southeast Asian folklore especially to the younger readers. If you like fast paced stories with supernatural and thriller elements, this is for you. And hey, fellow Malaysians, this is our own vampire story here. 🤩
*This book was gifted to me by the author.
I did went on to search about Raja Bersiong afterwards.🫣 It really gave me a different perspective as the author took an immense role to shift the gaze on this king turned vampire. It has been almost negative about this king. But in this story…it was…I will leave that to you to figure that out. 🙃
It’s fast paced and have the right amount of suspense, mystery and thriller in it. Also some sprinkle of romance thrown in.
The language used is simple but there are use of local language, which I enjoyed reading as it gave me an authentic Malaysian experience. The description of food (not the one served to the Prince🫠) was lovely as well.
I basically dived straight into the book as soon as I got it. As I am not particularly fond of horror genre, there were mentions of ghostly stuff..which of course threw me into a blue funk. However, it wasn’t as spine-chilling as I had imagined. Thank the heavens for that. 🥲🙏🏽
I was just particularly irked by this one thing in the book where the cook remarks ‘Men are such girls…’ when one of the Prince friend winces in pain. I felt that could be avoided or phrased it differently. Given that this book would most certainly appeal to the younger readers, reading such phrases may imply that one is weaker just because of their gender. The feminist in me…found that to be a little exasperating. 🥲 (I know the story is set in ancient times…but the book is being read now…there is always room for improvement) 😌
Overall, would totally recommend this book as an appetiser to the Southeast Asian folklore especially to the younger readers. If you like fast paced stories with supernatural and thriller elements, this is for you. And hey, fellow Malaysians, this is our own vampire story here. 🤩
*This book was gifted to me by the author.
April 25, 2022
The Blood Prince of Langakasuka is a return of the vampire mythos, perhaps to its origins. A reimagining of the Raja Bersiong (the Fanged King) from ancient Kedah, a state in present-day Malaysia - in the legend, the king was a vampire with an appetite for human blood. This is a story I've heard about as a child, growing up in Malaysia, but the book reframed the legend as a coming-of-age story plus murder mystery. I was also surprised to learn that it was set in Langkasuka - a vassal of Sri Vijaya, and the references to both Malay and Indian folklore is intriguing. In terms of writing, the pacing is fast, but there is adequate character development. However, I would have loved a more detailed world building and a more in-dept exploration of the motivations driving both the protagonist and the antagonist.
September 23, 2022
A 12th century paranormal court intrigue.
The Blood Prince is a well-written and gripping narrative in the fairytale style about the adventures of the blood prince, Raja Perita, in an ancient kingdom in South East Asia interwoven with vampire legends. I totally was immersed and lost in the world that Tutu Dutta took me into, the lush forest and palace settings, the courtly dance scenes, the local cuisine and the traditional outfits. The characters especially the queen and the prince, were well-fleshed out and realised. Most of all, I enjoyed the richness and the depth of author's storytelling. Although I saw the twist coming, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of paranormal historical murder mystery which will keep you enthralled until the last page.
The Blood Prince is a well-written and gripping narrative in the fairytale style about the adventures of the blood prince, Raja Perita, in an ancient kingdom in South East Asia interwoven with vampire legends. I totally was immersed and lost in the world that Tutu Dutta took me into, the lush forest and palace settings, the courtly dance scenes, the local cuisine and the traditional outfits. The characters especially the queen and the prince, were well-fleshed out and realised. Most of all, I enjoyed the richness and the depth of author's storytelling. Although I saw the twist coming, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of paranormal historical murder mystery which will keep you enthralled until the last page.
April 24, 2021
With a tell-don't-show style and a multitude of distracting errors, this is the first book to which I've had the displeasure of awarding one star.
I'm shocked that Penguin would place their seal on a piece of such substandard writing.
My apologies to the author, but readers: the two hours it takes to consume this will be utterly wasted. Consider yourselves warned.
I'm shocked that Penguin would place their seal on a piece of such substandard writing.
My apologies to the author, but readers: the two hours it takes to consume this will be utterly wasted. Consider yourselves warned.
February 3, 2022
The concept and setting are both interesting, but the writing itself is poor. There are also moments where the book was clearly not proofread well enough, with misspellings and misplaced punctuation. Really disappointed because this sounded really intriguing!
October 3, 2025
1.5 stars
it pains me to give it such a low rating but it just didn't work for me. the premise was interesting, but the writing and flow were just messy. the writing felt stilted somehow, akin to a poorly, awkwardly translated folktale rather than an English book. I tried to imagine how the story would work as it is in melayu and it honestly seems more compelling. the plotting and pacing also messy- the story jumps from one to the other plot with barely any buildup. the beginning was ok, but then we got rawan being infatuated with the prince, the sriwijayan princess coming in, maharaja Lela being Chula father, etc etc. no build up, a lot of insta love, a lot of speedrunning thru the storyline.
I see the vision, but this story needs more revision before it's published :\
it pains me to give it such a low rating but it just didn't work for me. the premise was interesting, but the writing and flow were just messy. the writing felt stilted somehow, akin to a poorly, awkwardly translated folktale rather than an English book. I tried to imagine how the story would work as it is in melayu and it honestly seems more compelling. the plotting and pacing also messy- the story jumps from one to the other plot with barely any buildup. the beginning was ok, but then we got rawan being infatuated with the prince, the sriwijayan princess coming in, maharaja Lela being Chula father, etc etc. no build up, a lot of insta love, a lot of speedrunning thru the storyline.
I see the vision, but this story needs more revision before it's published :\
January 27, 2025
The setting was very atmospheric and immersive. I felt like I was in some kind of mythological dream. I loved the writing but the ending ruined the good vibes I was having with this book. I get that the book reads like either middle grade or children's literature but the ending was instalove which disgusted me. Backwards thinking? BUT maybe that was how shallow love was in those times? I really don't know anymore. Anyway, good book that'll get one out of a slump. I like the lore and the adventure this book brings.
February 11, 2024
A good read for fantasy/folklore lovers, especially if you enjoy reading about Malaysian folklore + historical retellings. Wish the characterisation & relationship between characters were more in depth, especially that between the young prince and his friends, and found that the reveal of the ‘traitor’ was a little sudden and rushed. Still glad I picked this up tho!
August 13, 2025
Appreciated the details about Langkasuka court life, old Malay mythology, and creatures that haunt the night in this fantasy reimagining of the possible origins of Kedah’s Raja Bersiong. A map, a staple of all fantasy novels, would have been a welcome addition. The narrative is straightforward and highly accessible making this ideal for YA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2025
After the stinker that was Nirnama, reading this showed how beautiful ancient Nusantara can be portrayed as. Surprisingly readable retelling of Raja Bersiong. Honestly I love the worldbuilding more than the actual story.
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