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Black Salt Queen

Samantha Bansil
Chapters (50)
  1. Praise for
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. City of Mariit: Capital of Maynara Map
  5. One
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Two
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Three
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Four
  31. By Order of General Ojas,On Behalf of Her Majesty Hara Duja
  32. Twenty-Three
  33. Twenty-Four
  34. Twenty-Five
  35. Twenty-Six
  36. Twenty-Seven
  37. Twenty-Eight
  38. Twenty-Nine
  39. Thirty
  40. Thirty-One
  41. Thirty-Two
  42. Thirty-Three
  43. Five
  44. A Coronation Prayer
  45. Thirty-Four
  46. Epilogue
  47. Acknowledgments
  48. Thank You
  49. About the Author
  50. Violetear Books x Bindery Books
Black Salt Queen cover

Praise for

Black Salt Queen

“Centered within a whirling battle between love and power, Black Salt Queen is an epic tale of female ambition, court intrigue, and betrayal that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Bansil is a writer to watch.”

—⁠O. O. Sangoyomi, author of Masquerade

“Richly immersive with political intrigue as sharp as a blade, Black Salt Queen is a triumph of a debut. This precolonial Philippines–inspired fantasy is a vivid portrayal of love and power and what happens when one is forced to choose between them. Skillfully epic yet splendidly intimate.”

—⁠Maddie Martinez, author of The Maiden and Her Monster

“Complex matriarchs in a vivid setting. A marvelous addition to the growing multitude of voices in Filipino fantasy fiction.”

—⁠K. S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro

“Black Salt Queen is a superbly gripping tale of love, mortality, and the intergenerational effects of trauma. With lush and evocative prose, Samantha Bansil brings to life a Filipino fantasy world of mythic proportions that is bursting with historical and cultural details. If you want intrigue, passionate romance, and a delicious dose of yearning, Black Salt Queen is a must read.”

—⁠Gabriella Buba, author of Saints of Storm and Sorrow and Daughters of Flood and Fury

“Samantha Bansil crafts the perfect storm in Black Salt Queen. Crackling with magic, the prose is as soft as a summer rain but packs the punch of an unrelenting monsoon. The plot⁠—steeped in equal parts love and betrayal⁠—is utterly addicting. Moreover, the three main characters offer a clever and varied exploration of femininity, motherhood, and power. This book kept me reading late into the night and [made me] never want to leave Maynara.”

—⁠S. Hati, author of And the Sky Bled

Title Page

Black Salt Queen title page

Dedication

For my father, who gave his goddesses everything.

City of Mariit: Capital of Maynara Map

City of Mariit: Capital of Maynara Map
crown fleuron

One

Two Invitations

Dear Luntok,

My sources have informed me that you arrived safely in Mariit, and that you were awaiting this letter with bated breath. They did not need to inform me of this latter detail. Seeing as over a month has passed since your last visit, I had assumed your impatience.

You will have to wait a while longer, darling. The feast days are about to commence, and my sister tells me there is an urgent matter at the port. She begged me to come immediately, but first I thought of you. Urgent matters to attend to, and all I can picture is you scampering to the palace without a worry in your lovely head. However excited you are to see me⁠—wait.