Enlightenment

Dorothy meets the mysterious Adrian her senior year as she researches the mystery on her family's connection to the hidden history of the Philippines. Adrian knows more than he's willing to reveal other than his alluring knowledge of Filipino history. Their lives intersect and their choices ultimately affect the people they love, leading them to the brink of a new enlightenment they never expected. Enlightenment, Book One of The Bathala Series is a fantasy-vampire novel that explores the history of the Philippines through first-person perspectives of characters on the precipice between friendship and love. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW by Kristyn Dorfman of The Nightingale-Bamford School, New York City March 01, 2019 Dorothy Dizon is a Filipina American living in Las Vegas focused mostly on her graduation and her mother's liver cancer diagnoses. All of that changes after a night out when a man gets too close and she is stronger than expected. Her surge of power lets supernatural beings in the Philippines know that she must be protected and brought to their ancestral land. This is a readable and unique series opener. Filipino history, culture and mythology is woven throughout. This narrative is told in alternating perspectives between Dorothy and her Timawa protector, Adrian. There are many footnotes, some necessary for readers unfamiliar with Filipino culture, but sometimes they distract from the narrative flow. The "Terms of Consequence" at the beginning of the book serve as a better reference. A mix of Tagalog, Visayan, and English is peppered throughout, adding authenticity to the storytelling. The plot moves quickly and will keep readers engaged, but the dialogue feels unnatural and the relationship between characters forced. The female perspective also feels less natural than the male voice at certain points in the story. Brandi name dropping feels over detailed and unnecessary, taking away more from the characters and story than it adds. There are also some mild discrepancies toward the end. However, the author's cultural connection to the story resonates, making this tale more compelling. VERDICT A general purchase for most, but a first purchase for collections lacking Filipino or Asian mythology-based fiction.