Dear friend,

I can’t believe we’re just six weeks from book 2’s launch date. Are we excited? Yes. Are we emotionally prepared for my debut fantasy duology to be complete? Far from it!

BIRD KING RISING comes out on October 13, 2026. If you haven’t already, sign up for the preorder campaign today for the chance to win exclusive goodies!

✏️ Authorly musings:

In the Letters from Maynara duology, magic is intended to inspire awe—and, at times, dread. Similar to how book 1 explored the destructive potential of love, book 2 wrestles with the corruptive influence of power. It asks not just if power corrupts, but why and how.

Readers searching for a purely benevolent monarchy in the Gatdula line may, unfortunately, be disappointed. For much of history, monarchs have been humans who cast themselves as gods. And, both in Gatdulas’ world and in ours, it would be naive to assume that the gods are on our side.

I wouldn’t describe Bird King Rising as cynical, per se. However, it is a product of our current zeitgeist. A reaction to the feeling of helplessness against the establishment, as well as the unprecedented concentration of wealth and power among the ruling elite.

Meditations over power matter even more within the context of Filipino fantasy. The Philippines is a country where power is monopolized by the same political dynasties and corruption persists generation after generation.

Over and over, we ask ourselves why power corrupts, why history always seems to repeat itself. To this, there are many answers, none of them simple—but some of them can be found in fiction.

My duology reminds us of a few hard truths: Rebellions can be co-opted for political gain. Rulers will often abandon their ideals to maintain control. Complex, morally gray characters don’t necessarily turn “good.”

In writing Laya’s arc over the past two books, I wasn’t interested in seeing another woman in power get punished for her ambition. We’ve seen that arc before. Rather, I was interested in exploring what a queen like her would do under threat of deposition.

I doubt this kind of arc will appeal to everyone. And I don’t know if this duology will ever become a bestseller. But, at the very least, it will provoke some thoughtful discussions.

So, if the ending of this duology leaves you feeling a bit unsettled, and perhaps with a few unanswered questions, then I will have achieved my mission.

Can’t wait to share Bird King Rising with you all soon <3

🔗 Links:

• Request an ARC of BIRD KING RISING on Netgalley (coming out October 13, 2026).

• Add BIRD KING RISING to your TBR on Goodreads, Storygraph, and Pagebound.

• Preorder BIRD KING RISING via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and wherever books are sold!

• Sign up for the BIRD KING RISING preorder campaign via this form for the chance to win exclusive goodies.

All my love,

S.B.