NEST OF TONGUES

Siblings with a supernatural secret and a hunter on their trail must fight to survive.

Living in the fictional town of San Salvador in the San Francisco Bay area, mixed-race Filipino American siblings Lily and Caleb Abadiano have a secret: They’re manananggals, or Filipino vampires, who transform into winged creatures and hunt by night. Fiery Lily feels most at home in her manananggal form, while timid Caleb feels uncomfortable with this supernatural side of himself—he’s always secretly feared the Bayani, a fabled Filipino monster hunter that Lily assures him isn’t real. But when the Bayani shows up and marks Caleb as his next victim, the siblings must race against the clock to save Caleb’s life. As they investigate the Bayani’s powers and seek a way to defeat him, Lily grapples with her role as an older sister—and therefore, Caleb’s protector—while Caleb confronts his own insecurities. Together, the siblings navigate the complexities of family and strengthen their own bond. Told in Lily’s and Caleb’s distinct alternating voices, the novel’s fast pace and the mystery surrounding the Bayani will keep readers engaged, leading up to the action-packed conclusion. The Abadiano siblings’ relationship and a generous dose of sardonic banter anchor the story, with Filipino folklore and culture masterfully woven in.

A riveting, unputdownable contemporary take on Filipino folklore with a deliciously sharp bite.