Maria Lunurin, Sister Maria to most, appears to be a devoted servant of those who have colonized her island. However, Maria has been living a double-life for as far back as she has memory. Maria is the chosen daughter and Stormcaller for the goddess Anitun Tabu. The problem is, she can’t exactly be a devoted follower of her island’s goddess when the colonizers host regular witch hunts on the island and threaten the lives of both her and her family. It also means she has to keep herself out of the eye of her goddess as well to avoid her wrath. She’s created her own little found family in the convent, doing her best to keep quiet, but when she makes a devastating discovery she turns to a powerful family for help, and she may not be able to keep the colonizers or her goddess from wreaking havoc.
Using inspiration from Filipino culture and stories, the book Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba is definitely a departure from the predominantly Anglo-based fantasy books on the market. Gabriella Buba includes terms and language that become second nature as the book progresses but may not be something a reader has come across before. Filipino culture is no stranger to colonizers and forced conversion, and that history is felt in this book. In short, Saints of Storms and Sorrow is not only entertaining, but it also teaches you along the way.
Saints of Storm and Sorrow is now available from Titan Books.
