What do you think?
Rate this book
Alipin Trilogy #2
Orphan Price
Gilas and Liksi accompany Tuan to investigate the death of a Maginoo in a neighbouring barangay. What they discover forces them reflect on the part the Alipin pay in keeping the Maginoo in power and to examine how their actions will affect their future and the future of Ma'I.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
231 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Joel Donato Ching Jacob
10 books18 followersJoel Donato Jacob, aka Cupkeyk, is a member of Linangan ng Imahen, Retorika at Anyo, the Philippines’ longest standing literary organisation. He hikes up at least one mountain a month and plays role-playing games or board games with friends weekly. He is an advocate of reproductive health, ethical veganism and fitness.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 11, 2022
Joel Donato Ching Jacob comes back with a bang in his latest book, a more intimate, engrossing, and action-packed sequel of award-winning ‘Wing of the Locust.’
Orphan Price highlights the master vs. slave dynamics adeptly, capturing the nuances that entail in such complex relationships. More than that, the story also appreciates the value of emancipation—the freedom after being fettered by social constructs and the ultimate release when we attune to the holiest virtue of altruism.
The story also didn’t shy from reminding the reader how life can be so raw. There are micromoments of a certain character that imply that they (might) have beatific affection for another character. Romantic or platonic intimacy, albeit purposefully vague, is woven between the lines, which adds allure and excitement to the reader, keeping them at the edge of their seat. You’ll keep guessing how it will turn out, whether the emotions shown become fruitful or not. And the chain of events gives you hope, especially when there is this one scene that gives the reader a picture of how love, in all its chances to be abused because of utility, can be pure and self-giving, radical and unconditional.
Moreover, this sequel has more action than its predecessor. Imagining those scenes is a piece of cake because Jacob’s writing style is so descriptive. I’d like to point out the elaborate integration of culture as well. As a Filipino, reading it felt like I was truly immersed in an ancient, familiar world. That said, I can’t recommend this book enough!
Here are my favorite quotes:
“Slavery loomed over everyone's head like a constrictor on a branch, but most people just wanted to live a happy life; live their day to day with no aspiration to freedom. No one talked about it. It was just not polite to speak one's mind because what was there to talk about if everyone agreed that they were all equally mired in the same swamp of poverty.”
“Gilas understood they as Maharlika were expendable, the bulisik and the sagigilid even more so. Protecting the wealth of the community and its Maginoo meant that individual sacrifices must be made, and often that sacrifice came from the ranks of the Alipin.”
“Those people would not think twice about my happiness; they don't care if I live or die. We were sold, Liksi. We are dead to society because of [the Maginoo], and we can't even be free to choose to do this much? To do no harm?”
“What if I were cruel all my life, but I was just too weak to do anything about it.”
"Then I would remind you of the times when you had to be kind because you were weak, how that needed strength too. That kindness gave you strength too.” Gilas couldn't say how those times also made him feel.
Orphan Price highlights the master vs. slave dynamics adeptly, capturing the nuances that entail in such complex relationships. More than that, the story also appreciates the value of emancipation—the freedom after being fettered by social constructs and the ultimate release when we attune to the holiest virtue of altruism.
The story also didn’t shy from reminding the reader how life can be so raw. There are micromoments of a certain character that imply that they (might) have beatific affection for another character. Romantic or platonic intimacy, albeit purposefully vague, is woven between the lines, which adds allure and excitement to the reader, keeping them at the edge of their seat. You’ll keep guessing how it will turn out, whether the emotions shown become fruitful or not. And the chain of events gives you hope, especially when there is this one scene that gives the reader a picture of how love, in all its chances to be abused because of utility, can be pure and self-giving, radical and unconditional.
Moreover, this sequel has more action than its predecessor. Imagining those scenes is a piece of cake because Jacob’s writing style is so descriptive. I’d like to point out the elaborate integration of culture as well. As a Filipino, reading it felt like I was truly immersed in an ancient, familiar world. That said, I can’t recommend this book enough!
Here are my favorite quotes:
“Slavery loomed over everyone's head like a constrictor on a branch, but most people just wanted to live a happy life; live their day to day with no aspiration to freedom. No one talked about it. It was just not polite to speak one's mind because what was there to talk about if everyone agreed that they were all equally mired in the same swamp of poverty.”
“Gilas understood they as Maharlika were expendable, the bulisik and the sagigilid even more so. Protecting the wealth of the community and its Maginoo meant that individual sacrifices must be made, and often that sacrifice came from the ranks of the Alipin.”
“Those people would not think twice about my happiness; they don't care if I live or die. We were sold, Liksi. We are dead to society because of [the Maginoo], and we can't even be free to choose to do this much? To do no harm?”
“What if I were cruel all my life, but I was just too weak to do anything about it.”
"Then I would remind you of the times when you had to be kind because you were weak, how that needed strength too. That kindness gave you strength too.” Gilas couldn't say how those times also made him feel.
March 25, 2023
Orphan Price begin when Tuan, Gilas, Liksi and Fangren continue their journey to a neighboring barangay, Pinagwagian in order to investigate the death of a matriarch of a ruling clan, the Maginoo. To clarify, Tuan is a mambarang, a person who practices the art using insects for healing, Gilas comes from large giants while Fangren comes from a race of traders. And I saved this for the last, my favorite, Liksi, who is the only female warrior in the group.
If you are already familiar with Philippine folklores, it will be easy for you to get into the book. It was quite hard at first but then you’ll enjoy all the adventures involving five of them. Deeply rich with cultures, I was swayed away by all the details especially when the authors are describing the environment in their world. Such amazing and moving writing makes me feel like I'm the one fighting with others.
In this book, you will explore everything from the leadership of a clan to a curse of incurable diseases. It was really fun exploring the cultural practices especially about pre colonial Philippine society. This sequel to Wings of The Locust is certainly engraved in my mind forever, and it teaches you how a group of people could change the direction of your life forever.
Thank you Scholastic Asia for this copy. This book is now available at all good bookstores.
If you are already familiar with Philippine folklores, it will be easy for you to get into the book. It was quite hard at first but then you’ll enjoy all the adventures involving five of them. Deeply rich with cultures, I was swayed away by all the details especially when the authors are describing the environment in their world. Such amazing and moving writing makes me feel like I'm the one fighting with others.
In this book, you will explore everything from the leadership of a clan to a curse of incurable diseases. It was really fun exploring the cultural practices especially about pre colonial Philippine society. This sequel to Wings of The Locust is certainly engraved in my mind forever, and it teaches you how a group of people could change the direction of your life forever.
Thank you Scholastic Asia for this copy. This book is now available at all good bookstores.
September 28, 2022
Orphan Price is richly rooted in Philippine history, set during pre-colonial times. The context is familiar to us but is also becoming distant, like memory details that fade over time, preserving only the main gist. Reading this book provides the best view of that fading memory, reimagined into a story that Filipinos can easily identify with.
As a fan of Lord of the Rings, this book is reminiscent of that genre. But the worldbuilding, plot, and characterization deeply originated in Filipino myth and folklore.
I learned about Orphan Price, not knowing that it is a sequel to Wings of the Locust, an award-winning book. When I met the author for the first time during the 2022 Manila International Book Fair, I asked if I can read it without the sequel. “Yes of course,” he said in a matter of factly while signing my copy.
Orphan Price narrates the story of four characters: Tuan, Gilas, Fangren, and Liksi. Tuan is a mambabarang, someone who practices the art of using insects for espionage, sabotage, and healing. Gilas is a half-kapre, a race of large, sulphur-smelling and tobacco-smoking giant. Fangren is an angat, a race of traders; while Liksi is a batibot, a trained warrior, and the only female in the group.
These four are sent to a neighboring barangay called Pinagwagian to investigate the death of a mother of the ruling clan, the Maginoo. Did she really die of a natural death or of kulam (a curse that manifests as an incurable disease)? With her death, the leadership is passed on to her child, Bingkan who is only 10 years old.
From here on, readers will witness the power dynamics between the ruling clan and the slaves. This power struggle will come into play as the four characters discover this community, this formed friendship, that is well embedded in rich culture and tradition.
The descriptive style of writing makes it easy to imagine and reimagine, whether the author is narrating a ritual, describing a scenic environment, or preparing food. The way he brews words and minces them into detailed scenes just blew my mind away.
There were times when I had to stop and think it over and reread the narrative, checking if my own “reimagination” was close to what the text was feeding me. I wonder if a non-Filipino reader will have the same appreciation. It is a good thing that the book provides a glossary of foreign words, it becomes easy to contextualize. There might be some effort in processing this book, but it will be worth the reader’s while.
The author was right, it can be a stand-alone book. But reading it, I feel like I am missing a few parts, some gaps and nuances in the characters or dynamics in the group’s relationships, that perhaps I can understand better if I have read the prequel. Still, it was a good ride.
As a fan of Lord of the Rings, this book is reminiscent of that genre. But the worldbuilding, plot, and characterization deeply originated in Filipino myth and folklore.
I learned about Orphan Price, not knowing that it is a sequel to Wings of the Locust, an award-winning book. When I met the author for the first time during the 2022 Manila International Book Fair, I asked if I can read it without the sequel. “Yes of course,” he said in a matter of factly while signing my copy.
Orphan Price narrates the story of four characters: Tuan, Gilas, Fangren, and Liksi. Tuan is a mambabarang, someone who practices the art of using insects for espionage, sabotage, and healing. Gilas is a half-kapre, a race of large, sulphur-smelling and tobacco-smoking giant. Fangren is an angat, a race of traders; while Liksi is a batibot, a trained warrior, and the only female in the group.
These four are sent to a neighboring barangay called Pinagwagian to investigate the death of a mother of the ruling clan, the Maginoo. Did she really die of a natural death or of kulam (a curse that manifests as an incurable disease)? With her death, the leadership is passed on to her child, Bingkan who is only 10 years old.
From here on, readers will witness the power dynamics between the ruling clan and the slaves. This power struggle will come into play as the four characters discover this community, this formed friendship, that is well embedded in rich culture and tradition.
The descriptive style of writing makes it easy to imagine and reimagine, whether the author is narrating a ritual, describing a scenic environment, or preparing food. The way he brews words and minces them into detailed scenes just blew my mind away.
There were times when I had to stop and think it over and reread the narrative, checking if my own “reimagination” was close to what the text was feeding me. I wonder if a non-Filipino reader will have the same appreciation. It is a good thing that the book provides a glossary of foreign words, it becomes easy to contextualize. There might be some effort in processing this book, but it will be worth the reader’s while.
The author was right, it can be a stand-alone book. But reading it, I feel like I am missing a few parts, some gaps and nuances in the characters or dynamics in the group’s relationships, that perhaps I can understand better if I have read the prequel. Still, it was a good ride.
August 29, 2024
decent follow to Wing of the Locust series and in this book, we follow our newly-formed group that I dubbed as TGLF (Tuan-Gilas-Liksi-Fangren) as they are tasked to visit a neigboring barangay to investigate a mysterious death of their official
i like that this book was written in the point of view of Gilas as we saw more of his perspective and being one of Tuan’s closest childhood friends, it made sense that now that they’re reunited he is the one that acts as Tuan’s right hand
here are some of my favorite lines
“if civilization is built on keeping others poor, keeping them mired in the mud, while others reap the benefits of their hard work, then that is a society i do not want to live in.” -Gilas
“the human mind is frail. memory changes facts regardless of how hard we try to stick to the truth until opinion becomes the truth.” -Lato
Solid 4stars. Excited for book 3
i like that this book was written in the point of view of Gilas as we saw more of his perspective and being one of Tuan’s closest childhood friends, it made sense that now that they’re reunited he is the one that acts as Tuan’s right hand
here are some of my favorite lines
“if civilization is built on keeping others poor, keeping them mired in the mud, while others reap the benefits of their hard work, then that is a society i do not want to live in.” -Gilas
“the human mind is frail. memory changes facts regardless of how hard we try to stick to the truth until opinion becomes the truth.” -Lato
Solid 4stars. Excited for book 3
May 31, 2023
Jacob’s series is apparently focusing on one member of his ensemble of young early Filipinos with special powers. Gilas, the protagonist of this book, turns out to have a fascinating power besides his strength and intimidating appearance, though it takes us a while to discover it. A lot of time is taken in building the rich details of this world. Descriptive paragraphs can go on for some time uninterrupted by action and dialog. This may try the patience of some younger readers. If the book is taken up in the classroom, though, these descriptions, especially those of the way of life of the people, can be used to start a discussion on culture and history. There are a few puzzling details like how crops from the Americas, from pineapples to potatoes, arrived in a world with no Galleon Trade. But as with the fact that the cover depicts a T’boli and the people involved don’t seem to be, with the delights offered, it’s not a big deal in the end (though there is a missed opportunity to showcase the richness of our true native fauna).
The mission here is laid out directly from the start. It is an absorbing puzzle with the most intriguing thing about it how the class system comes to play in it. How the early Filipino class system of wealthy freemen and poor slaves relates to our culture today is fascinatingly illuminated. For this adult reader who immediately recognized the parallels with the rich and powerful’s treatment of the poor in our time, that is the most amazing part of the book. Though the chapter starting Liksi’s adventure promises a very beautiful and magical third book, as she interacts with people who have power over sea creatures!
The mission here is laid out directly from the start. It is an absorbing puzzle with the most intriguing thing about it how the class system comes to play in it. How the early Filipino class system of wealthy freemen and poor slaves relates to our culture today is fascinatingly illuminated. For this adult reader who immediately recognized the parallels with the rich and powerful’s treatment of the poor in our time, that is the most amazing part of the book. Though the chapter starting Liksi’s adventure promises a very beautiful and magical third book, as she interacts with people who have power over sea creatures!
September 2, 2023
“orphan price” begins with tuan, gilas, liksi, and fangren as they are sent to another city to investigate the death of a maginoo. a time jump occurs between the two books, which would have been better for me if it had continued where we left off in the first one. nevertheless, the adventure, woven together by descriptive writing, kept me focused on the story. apparently, it was more of gilasʼs perspective; itʼs his story after all because the first one was about tuan alone. this seems like gilasʼs journey, and the third book will probably be about liksi, which iʼm excited about.
“orphan price” was more action-packed and had more tension compared to the first book. in this one, we get numerous fight scenes, characters hopping to different places, plenty of appearances by banig-banig, and what i loved most was the politics within the existing hierarchy. the plot focused and revolved around that aspect, which i thoroughly appreciated.
the friendship between these youths was strengthened here and proved that theyʼre willing to sacrifice for each other. tuanʼs turmoil before and even after he became a mambabarang was also expressed in this book. suffice it to say, the second installment was full of character and added depth to the story. however, the conflict near the end somehow dissipated quickly—fizzled out just like that—then the story shifted to liksiʼs perspective. it became messy for me starting at that point. hence, their journey failed to leave me with something solid as it wasn’t properly concluded.
but again, iʼd look forward to witnessing the continuation of whatʼs at stake from the conflict they had in the first book!
“orphan price” was more action-packed and had more tension compared to the first book. in this one, we get numerous fight scenes, characters hopping to different places, plenty of appearances by banig-banig, and what i loved most was the politics within the existing hierarchy. the plot focused and revolved around that aspect, which i thoroughly appreciated.
the friendship between these youths was strengthened here and proved that theyʼre willing to sacrifice for each other. tuanʼs turmoil before and even after he became a mambabarang was also expressed in this book. suffice it to say, the second installment was full of character and added depth to the story. however, the conflict near the end somehow dissipated quickly—fizzled out just like that—then the story shifted to liksiʼs perspective. it became messy for me starting at that point. hence, their journey failed to leave me with something solid as it wasn’t properly concluded.
but again, iʼd look forward to witnessing the continuation of whatʼs at stake from the conflict they had in the first book!
August 24, 2025
"I was lying but now I am trying my best to live up to that lie."
I'm so happy about Liksi's character development in this book. She's definitely one of the well-written female characters I've read so far, wise, strong, has her shortcomings and limitations, and knows how to recognize and learn from mistakes. I also love that the author defied the typical depiction of "the only girl in the group" through Liksi. I only wished that the last chapter had been expounded a bit more because everything happened so fast, I had to close the book a couple of times to pause and contemplate whether I actually read the passage right.
I also feel for Gilas throughout the book. The boy has a lot of emotional struggles, and the subjects of the struggles are either physically or emotionally absent. He is also very consistent, which is good, as the other two in the OG trio are going through changes. In a way, Gilas is their anchor, pun intended.
As for Tuan, he is often one inconvenience away from snapping throughout the book. I don't blame him really. I think his perspective mirrors what the readers should feel for the slaves in the book, the minority in real life, and the world today in general. This is me saying that while the book is set in pre-colonial Philippines, it is very much relatable as it mirrors today's reality, albeit with different names. Tuan poses the question: how much suffering can make vengeance justifiable? and will it be worth it?
I realized I cannot say anything about Fangren and Muhen without spoilers, so I'll settle for saying they are very much present in this book, along with new, interesting characters.
I'm so happy about Liksi's character development in this book. She's definitely one of the well-written female characters I've read so far, wise, strong, has her shortcomings and limitations, and knows how to recognize and learn from mistakes. I also love that the author defied the typical depiction of "the only girl in the group" through Liksi. I only wished that the last chapter had been expounded a bit more because everything happened so fast, I had to close the book a couple of times to pause and contemplate whether I actually read the passage right.
I also feel for Gilas throughout the book. The boy has a lot of emotional struggles, and the subjects of the struggles are either physically or emotionally absent. He is also very consistent, which is good, as the other two in the OG trio are going through changes. In a way, Gilas is their anchor, pun intended.
As for Tuan, he is often one inconvenience away from snapping throughout the book. I don't blame him really. I think his perspective mirrors what the readers should feel for the slaves in the book, the minority in real life, and the world today in general. This is me saying that while the book is set in pre-colonial Philippines, it is very much relatable as it mirrors today's reality, albeit with different names. Tuan poses the question: how much suffering can make vengeance justifiable? and will it be worth it?
I realized I cannot say anything about Fangren and Muhen without spoilers, so I'll settle for saying they are very much present in this book, along with new, interesting characters.
May 1, 2025
A sequel to Wing of the Locust
Tuan, the young mambabarang apprentice, together with his friends Gilas the half kapre, Liksi, the batibot, and Fangren an Angat, a race of traders, continue their voyage to investigate the death of a Maginoo in the neighboring barangay.
This unfolds the fate of Alipin, Maharlika, the entire caste system, and the complexities of the feudal system in the precolonial Philippines, which hit closer to home.
The storytelling also didn’t hold back in allowing the reader to understand just how raw life can be. Honoring the recent celebration of our nation’s independence, the present state of events that currently confront us, and a clear understanding of how societies and daily life functioned in that period. Any reader will immediately recognize the parallelism with the rich and powerful’s treatment of the poor in our time, and for me, that is the most amazing part of the book.
This also explores more of Gilas and Liksi’s characters, and I enjoyed reading the story from multiple points of view, which gave me a better understanding of the narrative as a whole, from friendships and societal expectations to survival and the desire to make things right. This novel also focuses on folklore, debt of the inside, slavery and death.
Tuan, the young mambabarang apprentice, together with his friends Gilas the half kapre, Liksi, the batibot, and Fangren an Angat, a race of traders, continue their voyage to investigate the death of a Maginoo in the neighboring barangay.
This unfolds the fate of Alipin, Maharlika, the entire caste system, and the complexities of the feudal system in the precolonial Philippines, which hit closer to home.
The storytelling also didn’t hold back in allowing the reader to understand just how raw life can be. Honoring the recent celebration of our nation’s independence, the present state of events that currently confront us, and a clear understanding of how societies and daily life functioned in that period. Any reader will immediately recognize the parallelism with the rich and powerful’s treatment of the poor in our time, and for me, that is the most amazing part of the book.
This also explores more of Gilas and Liksi’s characters, and I enjoyed reading the story from multiple points of view, which gave me a better understanding of the narrative as a whole, from friendships and societal expectations to survival and the desire to make things right. This novel also focuses on folklore, debt of the inside, slavery and death.
May 31, 2023
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Things that I like about this book:
🍃The familiarity of Philippine folklore. One should not be intimidated to read this because the dictionary at the end of the book is absolutely helpful.
🍃It tackles the unending disparity between the rich and the poor.
🍃Friendship that exhibits loyalty and honesty.
🍃Do I need to say more about the vibrant and exotic cover?😍
This was my second read for Asian Heritage Month. I finally finished this book, the sequel to Wing of the Locust. But I think there's going to be another book. That's just how I see it on the way the story ended.😉
When I read the first book, I was already drawn to Gilas and Liksi. Gilas was a good friend to Tuan even if Tuan thought of him as weak. Gilas showed his respect for Tuan as a friend and as a mambabarang. Tuan somehow became cruel when he became a mambabarang. But in this book, I quite missed Muhen.😉
Things that I like about this book:
🍃The familiarity of Philippine folklore. One should not be intimidated to read this because the dictionary at the end of the book is absolutely helpful.
🍃It tackles the unending disparity between the rich and the poor.
🍃Friendship that exhibits loyalty and honesty.
🍃Do I need to say more about the vibrant and exotic cover?😍
This was my second read for Asian Heritage Month. I finally finished this book, the sequel to Wing of the Locust. But I think there's going to be another book. That's just how I see it on the way the story ended.😉
When I read the first book, I was already drawn to Gilas and Liksi. Gilas was a good friend to Tuan even if Tuan thought of him as weak. Gilas showed his respect for Tuan as a friend and as a mambabarang. Tuan somehow became cruel when he became a mambabarang. But in this book, I quite missed Muhen.😉
June 13, 2023
There’s a bit of a time jump from the ending of Wing of The Locust. The book briefly explains what happened, but I would’ve loved to have read more about their time at Muhen’s hut as they were being hunted by Datu Mauban.
I also wish there would’ve been a conclusive ending to the original conflict of the plot before jumping into Liksi’s part. I felt like the story was reaching its climax during the fight with Banig-banig and then it fizzled out abruptly.
Also, I was confused as to how the balbal suddenly came under Muhen’s protection. I assume it was Banig-banig’s doing? (Correct me if I’m wrong, but the book didn’t really say.)
I still liked the book overall. It retains the vivid descriptions of pre-colonial Philippine culture - which I love. It’s also very action-packed and I enjoyed the characters’ new skills.
Hopefully the next book will tie a few loose ends. I wouldn’t mind more pages, honestly. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I also wish there would’ve been a conclusive ending to the original conflict of the plot before jumping into Liksi’s part. I felt like the story was reaching its climax during the fight with Banig-banig and then it fizzled out abruptly.
Also, I was confused as to how the balbal suddenly came under Muhen’s protection. I assume it was Banig-banig’s doing? (Correct me if I’m wrong, but the book didn’t really say.)
I still liked the book overall. It retains the vivid descriptions of pre-colonial Philippine culture - which I love. It’s also very action-packed and I enjoyed the characters’ new skills.
Hopefully the next book will tie a few loose ends. I wouldn’t mind more pages, honestly. I’m looking forward to reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
Its pace, like the previous novel in the series, reads like a D&D adventure: thrilling quests with interesting mythical creatures, but the adventure becomes a backdrop for serious questions about Social Justice, and the very real moral tradeoffs that necessarily occur in pursuit of it. The message of this book, about how the laboring class are the overwhelming majority, and how the system is rigged to keep us squabbling amongst ourselves to prevent us from actually fighting the ruling class, is much, much, much stronger in the sequel.
I feel this sequel allows me more a chance to feel endeared towards these characters than I did in the first book. I loved Gilas' observations, his protectiveness over Tuan. I loved Fangren, surprisingly! And the last chapter with Liksi on a solo mission was probably too exciting to be the ending. I'm so glad the third book is available for pre-order now, as of writing this review!!
Most of all I am in awe of the way the author is able to "world-build" a fantasy setting with indigenous Philippine culture. The description of food makes the place familiar. The mythical creatures borrowed from local folklore lends a unique freshness to the story. The importance of poetry from the beginning to the end of the story, and overall the clever use of language—the misunderstanding of manggagaway? So smart!—makes it a fantasy adventure that is so uniquely Filipino.
As consequence, the book can be a little difficult to read because my brain constantly codeswitches from English to Tagalog in order to accommodate the rhthym of the words. But a lot of fantasy stories are dense with lore and unfamiliar language. Sitting with Orphan Price and taking the time to absorb its use of language was well worth it.
I feel this sequel allows me more a chance to feel endeared towards these characters than I did in the first book. I loved Gilas' observations, his protectiveness over Tuan. I loved Fangren, surprisingly! And the last chapter with Liksi on a solo mission was probably too exciting to be the ending. I'm so glad the third book is available for pre-order now, as of writing this review!!
Most of all I am in awe of the way the author is able to "world-build" a fantasy setting with indigenous Philippine culture. The description of food makes the place familiar. The mythical creatures borrowed from local folklore lends a unique freshness to the story. The importance of poetry from the beginning to the end of the story, and overall the clever use of language—the misunderstanding of manggagaway? So smart!—makes it a fantasy adventure that is so uniquely Filipino.
As consequence, the book can be a little difficult to read because my brain constantly codeswitches from English to Tagalog in order to accommodate the rhthym of the words. But a lot of fantasy stories are dense with lore and unfamiliar language. Sitting with Orphan Price and taking the time to absorb its use of language was well worth it.
August 4, 2023
Reading a sequel can be a hit-or-miss but I’m pleased to report that I enjoyed seeing Tuan, the young mambabarang, and the rest of his friends—Gilas, the half-kapre; Liksi, the batibot (trained warrior; only girl in the group); and Fangren, the trader—in Orphan Price once again. Here, they went on yet another dangerous, nay, thrilling adventure: to another barangay to probe the death of a matriarch from a ruling clan.
Read full review on Bookbed.
Read full review on Bookbed.
November 19, 2024
Hmmm although this has been more action or adventure field. Now that Liksi and Gilas are back BUT cannot go back to their town and have to pretend dead. Fangren has also become Tuan's apprentice. Tuan is now a mambabarang and sent by Muhen to Pinagwagian to settle an issue asked by the Maginoo.
However, it felt lacking to me though. I mean, is there where the story of this group gonna end? Or is this a good second book?
Because the cover says "sequel to..."
Their personalities have know shown in this book so I do want to read more of their growth or acceptance of what they have become.
However, it felt lacking to me though. I mean, is there where the story of this group gonna end? Or is this a good second book?
Because the cover says "sequel to..."
Their personalities have know shown in this book so I do want to read more of their growth or acceptance of what they have become.
October 8, 2025
Amazing cultural read
This is truly an interesting read for me since there are a lot of cultural aspects that are expounded on in this book. In the same vein, because there are a lot of explanations, sometimes it becomes an info dump and I found myself reaching for a different book midway. That being said, this is definitely a remarkable story. Love the charater growth as well! That cliffhanger!!!
This is truly an interesting read for me since there are a lot of cultural aspects that are expounded on in this book. In the same vein, because there are a lot of explanations, sometimes it becomes an info dump and I found myself reaching for a different book midway. That being said, this is definitely a remarkable story. Love the charater growth as well! That cliffhanger!!!
May 2, 2023
This book really rekindled my love for fantasy and the supernatural! This book took me to a very colorful place in my imagination filled with adventure made rich by culture and history. The storytelling was really captivating. I can't wait for the next book!
January 6, 2024
The author is really gifted with the ability to write lush prose. This sequel however, is even more of a slow burn than the first book.
June 5, 2025
Kind of difficult to read due to the deep tagalog terms. But it was a good adventurous book. I keep wondering what will happen next.
August 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews