Lilibeth

Taking place over three distinct acts and with a found document wrap around this feels very much like other vampire stories (Dracula especially) but the cultural elements make it stand apart and I found it was always interesting.

Rory is a white American who is adopted by Filipinos and he is grateful for this but he doesn't take their fables very seriously. On his journey to the village in the Philippines, he is told many stories about various myths in the area and everyone seems afraid. He also encounters quite a lot of religious talk and he becomes unnerved by the atmosphere at times and although not a religious man he finds that he is making prayers as well.

During this, the tension is also built up well due to Rory's increasingly violent thoughts he doesn't understand. He does his best to push all these things away and enjoy the company of his Aunt, Uncles, and just generally settling into the life in the village. This is just as fun as the vampire parts as the author clearly has a great love for this and it shows.

Soon he meets a young woman in the rain and seeing her without an umbrella he chases after her to offer her a spare one. She runs away and doesn't answer his calls, but upon returning to his family home he finds a note asking him to meet her at night. This begins a romance that while great at first goes horribly wrong setting off a fast-moving tale of love and violence...

It is never boring and it is never bogged down by anything unnecessary. The story takes us to many places and really gets into the aswang myth and shows us all their powers and their awful uses. Rory is also a great main character who must deal with loving Lilibeth while she slowly reveals her cruel nature to him throughout.

As usual from the author, it is also incredibly character-driven and no character is there just to be there. And as usual, it gets very dark and gory! Apart from that though, it is a bit different otherwise than his other work and I found that refreshing.

As I said at the top the cultural themes are just so well done and felt authentic. They make what could have been just another vampire story so unique and fun. Hard to talk about this one without heavy spoilers as the three acts it takes place in see the story change so much and well. It's definitely worth the read.