The Encanto's Daughter was a fun, quick YA fantasy read.

So, positives! It was really fun to pick up a fantasy that incorporated Filipino myth and lore into the worldbuilding. I'm always going to be excited about that because it's just so flipping cool to see parts of my culture reflected on the page. It's also very accessible - it's not difficult at all to understand what the terms included refer to, and in terms of getting acclimated to the world, it's easy enough learning about things organically alongside main character MJ (though it does feel like we're really only skimming the surface of things).

Next, what I'm neutral on. Now, for this, I do believe a reader's mileage may vary given their age, how much fantasy they've read, etc. I'm not the target audience for this (it's definitely for teens) and I've already read a lot of fantasy all across the genre's spectrum, so take it with a grain of salt when I say that I thought the plot was alright, if a little tropey and predictable.
I also didn't find any of our characters particularly enticing outside of their role in the story (and again, the tropes were definitely out to play for this element too), which did mean that I wasn't as interested in the romance (which is marked as a selling point). There's nothing particularly bad about either of these things, but since they didn't feel as developed, I personally didn't feel as invested overall.

The bottom line is that I thought The Encanto's Daughter was just fine. It was entertaining for what it was, and I certainly appreciated the Filipino touches (which really did elevate my reading experience on the whole).

“The Encanto’s Daughter” by Melissa De La Cruz is about MJ Rodriguez. MJ and her mother have been hiding in the human world her whole life until assassin’s attack them. MJ is the only child of King Vivencio of the Sirena Cort and now that he has died, she is the next in line from the throne. When she escapes back into the magical realm she must go to the magical elite school and prepare for her throne. Her father’s death though is suspicious at best. MJ is determined to find out what happened to her father, and she joins up with Sir Lucas of the Siabin Court and her new friends.

I really liked this book. I loved friendships and found family aspects. I liked the Filipino culture in the book but because the title Encanto reminded me of the Disney movie Encanto I was expecting it to be Columbian, but it doesn’t change my overall expectations and the depth of the book. I do wish there was more time to delve deeper into the world building because the magic realm is so cool, hope to learn more in future books of the series. I gave the book a 5 out of 5 stars. Can’t wait to see how I decide after it has a full series on whether I like as much or more than her other book series.

-Found Family
-Magic
-Fae
-Royalty
-Half Human

The premise is catching, the mythology is inviting and a breath of fresh air. The writing however, was lacking in overall excitement. It didn't draw me in and hold my attention the way I had hoped and it reads significantly lower than YA, more along the lines of young readers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS

Genre: YA Fantasy

I have read a few of Melissa’s books and really enjoy her writing! This is a Filipino inspired fantasy and liked learning about their culture.

Synopsis: A teen girl finds out she is the heir to a magical kingdom after her father dies. Transported to the magical world, she must learn what comes with ruling and suspecting that her father’s death was more than it seems.

This is a good quick, charming read. It reads a little younger YA. There is a lot packed into it: romance, murder mystery, politics, magic, coming of age but it all fits together really well. It is the first book in a duology and leaves off with a cliffhanger. I will for sure be reading the sequel!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC! 💜

MJ lives in the human world quite oblivious to who she really is until she was whisked away to a kingdom which was ruled by her father, the late king who was murdered. Only then does she realize who she really is, the rightful owner to the throne and the soon to be queen of the kingdom. As a hapcanto (half human) she has to earn respect and acceptance from the royal court while she’s also expected to discover her magical talents which will ultimately decide whether she’s the rightful heir to the throne. Meanwhile, she builds a budding friendship with Lucas, a handsome yet mysterious knight from another court which soon turns into a strong attraction. Alas, who can resist a dashing knight? While prepping for her coronation, dark things start to happen which not only puts her life in danger but also puts all courts into a perilous situation weaved by dark forces of magic and witchcraft…

Will MJ discover her magical talent in time to prove herself at the coronation? Will she together with her friends discover who’s behind the mysterious killings of her father and others?

This is my first Filipino inspired mythology read and I really enjoyed the story. The plot had some great unexpected twists which kept me turning the pages. World building and setting are great and not too complex and I loved the descriptions of the various types of creatures as well. The side characters were also intriguing. I’m looking forward to the next book to learn how the dynamics between MJ and Lucas develops as this book leaves us on a cliffhanger. The costume descriptions really made me want to see them live especially the illustrious gowns.

You’d love this if you enjoy,
-Adventure
-Mythology
-Fantasy
-Friends to lovers
-Kingdoms and realms

Thank you for the ARC Penguin Teen.

Oh, wow! i just that my younger self will love this start of a duology inspired by Filipino mythology.

Encanto's Daughter is the first book in a duet from Melissa de la Cruz following MJ Rodriguez, a half-encanto/half-human, who get swept into the encanto's kingdom after her father's, King Vicencio, sudden death.

The world of encantos is set in the island of Biringan which is a renowned setting in the Philippines dubbed as the lost island and has been a favorite among conspiracy theorists and legend discussions.

Even the ARC has a map so I can say that I had a full experience reading the galley.

What went well for me is how Melissa de la Cruz fleshed out MJ's character as someone who went from zero to hero. It rarely works for me since MC tend to be whiny and uncooperative given what's at stake but in this one, MJ had a full circle as she found herself being readied as Biringan's next in line.

The representation of Filipino myth, lore, foods, and culture is present. The magical characters in Biringan island were all derived from the Philippines' lore and legend. I guess the author in do more in terms of bending some of the characteristics of these creatures but that's something that I look forward in book two.

What can be improved is the pacing because it seems that there's a lot happening in this book alone that it wasn't able to take advantage of the momentum in certain parts. Encanto's Daughter has fantasy, adventure, romance, murder mystery, and coming-of-age elements which felt a bit crowded in my opinion.

Overall, this is an enjoyable first book and I'm looking out to read the next one hopefully by next year.

Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me an ARC!

**Book Review: "The Encanto's Daughter" by Melissa De La Cruz**

Release Date: March 5, 2024

I'm incredibly grateful to Melissa De La Cruz and the publisher for the advanced copy of "The Encanto's Daughter." This enchanting novel, releasing tomorrow, weaves a stunning tapestry of mystery and fantasy that will leave readers spellbound.

Melissa De La Cruz has a unique gift for storytelling, as evidenced in the compelling narrative of "The Encanto's Daughter." One of the book's standout quotes, "perhaps you believe the past doesn’t matter, when in fact, history is where we find future," beautifully encapsulates the journey of the protagonist, who delves deep into her heritage and destiny.

A word of caution for sensitive readers: there is a significant presence of bugs in the story, which added an unexpected edge to my reading experience.

The novel's strength lies in its character development, especially in characters like Jinky, who add layers of mystery and suspicion. De La Cruz masterfully crafts a labyrinth of intrigue, keeping readers guessing and second-guessing throughout. The story is not just about the unfolding of events; it's a psychological journey that questions trust and truth.

What I particularly admired about "The Encanto's Daughter" was its coherent plot amidst a complex weave of elements. The story isn't just a fantasy; it's a mystery at its heart, keeping you on the edge of your seat. As the tale unfolded, I found myself questioning every character's motive, especially as the enigma around the protagonist's powers deepened.

And just when you think you've figured it all out, the ending leaves you yearning for more. It's a revelation that this is just the first book in what promises to be an extraordinary series. Melissa De La Cruz has set the stage for a thrilling sequel, and like many of her readers, I am eagerly awaiting what comes next.

In summary, "The Encanto's Daughter" is a captivating read, rich in mystery and enchantment. It's a book that not only entertains but also invites readers to ponder the intricate connections between our past, present, and future.

I liked the premise, it had a bit of a Percy Jackson vibe. It's definitely meant for a younger audience thought so I lost interest quickly. I don't see this as a YA that can bridge the gap between youth and adult readers.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far from Melissa de la Cruz, and while I’m not an avid reader of her backlist or anything, I nonetheless had high hopes for The Encanto’s Daughter. However, I found myself rather underwhelmed. Granted, some of my issues could stem from the fact that I’m not the target demographic, as while all of de la Cruz’s books that I’ve read are YA, this one felt like it skewed more toward the younger side in particular. So, take my opinions with that in mind.
I love the unique Filipino cultural influences, as they are still incredibly rare in fantasy, although given the sheer amount of books de la Cruz has written, it’s wild to me that she hasn’t written a book that explicitly draws from her culture before. Biringan is well-rendered and immersive, as are the creatures, like the aswang and mambabarang, which are similar to vampires and witches, respectively.
MJ is your fairly typical YA fantasy protagonist, living a mundane life in the “real” world, although she’s much more than what she seems. However, that doesn’t make her less fun to follow, as she’s still fairly sympathetic, and she’s definitely out of her depth when she returns to the magical world. I also liked some of the friendships and other relationships she develops, especially with Nix, who accepts her and supports her in the cutthroat world of academia mixed with politics, rife with mean girls. The romance is pretty cute too, even if her developing relationship with Lucas is also overshadowed by some dated, misogynistic dynamics with a romantic rival.
Where the book lost me was that I wasn’t sure what I was meant to be getting. Was this a “school drama” book? Was it about the greater world politics? What purpose does the mystery serve? It felt like it was trying to be too many things at once. Knowing it’s meant to be the first in a series does add some context, but I would have preferred a more focused reading experience, as opposed to setting up a bunch of things that each got swiftly abandoned for the next thing.
While I was rather underwhelmed by this book, and am unsure if I’m planning to continue the series, I will repeat my acknowledgement that this book is probably just not meant for me. But I can see why this would appeal to others, especially younger readers who might be interested in a fun fantasy with Filipino mythology that has a little bit of everything, from high school drama to basic fantasy politics.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the gifted copy of this book!

THE ENCANTO’S DAUGHTER is a fun YA fantasy inspired by Filipino mythology. I really enjoyed binging this romantasy in one sitting. It’s got a little bit of everything - magic, romance, hierarchy, mystery, and culture. A great option if you’re looking for a fast read or listen with royalty and magic!

The Encanto's Daughter is so vibrant and imaginative. I was instantly drawn into the story.

I was captivated by the Filipino lore of Encantos, dark witches, and other magical beings and the intriguing similarities and differences to the stories I'm familiar with. The shared threads of stories across cultures always pique my interest, sparking thoughts about the universal foundations of these tales. For instance, this story features a distinct, fae-like realm within our world that you can access through a portal. Despite the characters being called by different names than I am used to, many can be easily related to those found in European lore, fostering a sense of cross-cultural connection.

However, the strikingly unique details offer a new and wondrous world to explore. The world-building is engaging and meticulously crafted. It drew me into its mysteries and the thrills that come with the political intrigue and old promises made.

While the narrative leaned toward the younger side of YA, despite the characters' near-adult age, I yearned for a more intense experience. Yet, the story's compelling nature left me eager to uncover what happens next, eagerly anticipating the release of book two in this series.

The Encanto’s Daughter is one of the few books I’ve read with Filipino roots, and the only one I have read based on its mythology. That was one of the major draws for me when starting to read this book. I also remember reading Blue Bloods when the books first came out when I was younger, so I was drawn to this because of the familiar author.

I will say right off that this book gave me whiplash. It starts out with this intense action, like a thriller. Then swiftly becomes a high school drama – but only briefly. We establish this odd rivalry in school, that kind of tracks though the book, but honestly feels like an abandoned thread for most of the story. It didn’t feel genre blended, but genre jumping. Very much “okay we’re doing this now.”

I did enjoy the story, but I felt it was predictable and clunky at times. It seemed to me like a bunch of big ideas, set side by side, and pieced together. I had a lot of questions, that while they were answered – I didn’t find those answers satisfying. Overall, I think it was a fun read, but it isn’t one that I will be thinking about much later.

Maybe it was too young for me, maybe it was something deeper.

Thanks so much to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the free e-arc of this book so that I was able to provide my honest opinion.

DNF at 85 pages

I really like the concept of this one, but it reads on the younger side of YA. Its first person POV, lost royalty type story. There's also supposed to be an enemies to lovers storyline but I haven't gotten to that part by the time that I DNFd. The writing just felt very juvenile and info-dumpy and the protagonist read more like a 12 year old than someone in their teens. I was hoping that the Filipino-inspired folklore setting would add something to the story, but at this point, it just didn't feel like it was doing anything new, and I was not interested in continuing.

When your father dies and you suddenly find yourself inheriting a throne... and only have one month to figure out your magic before your coronation and hopefully surviving until then. MJ Rodriguez has spent her life living in hiding in the human world, she is half-encanto and the only child of King Vivencio of the Sirena Court. She is the rightful heir to the throne and when her father suddenly dies she is pulled back into the world of Biringan. She has to figure out her magic (something that she should have known by now) and only has one month to do so before her coronation... and that also means she has to go to royal magic school and deal with politics as well as trying to figure out the murder mystery surrounding her father's death. With everyone out for the throne and her place being challenged, she'll have to forge alliances and friendships to survive. She finds herself striking up an alliance with Sir Lucas of Sigbin Court, a boy surrounded in mystery and who has found a way to win her heart, and Nix, her newfound friend. This book was suppose to be young adult and MJ is around 17-18 but she read and felt as if she were 14-15. The story itself felt on the younger end of the spectrum, along the lines of Descendants (Disney). Unlike Descendants however, this one did not work for me. MJ has to find her magic in a month but doesn't really work towards trying to find it at all and it just ends up being there in the lat 10%of the book. The book hits all the tropes of : royal magic school, she's not like everyone else, mysterious boy who falls for her, mean pretty girl who is her enemy. Honestly it felt like Descendants without any of the charm or actual moving plot of Descendants. I really wanted to like this because I am always about supporting AAPI stories and characters, and I think this one was just too young for me. This is the first book in a duet and definitely ends with a cliffhanger. I think if you are a young reader around 12-14 and like Filipino mythology, this would be a perfect read for you.

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed reading this! I flew through the pages and couldn't wait to read it all. This is a YA fantasy romance with a bit of a murder mystery mixed in. I have to say, it's a nice change to have the heroine be aware of her heritage before being brought back to her home world. The story has an ending but when you read the epilogue you know there's going to be another book for sure. This is a really good book and anyone who likes the author's other books, will probably like this too.

I am not sure I have ever read a Filipino centered fantasy story and I am glad this book exists.. I do think it read a little younger than I wanted it to given the main character was 17. I also didn’t find the mystery to be as complex as I would have liked. But the story was intriguing and the world building was excellent. I am looking forward to reading the next book and finding out what happens (even if I didn’t care for the “twist” in the epilogue. MJ has grown up hidden in the human world always on the move, but she has always known that she is half Encanto. When her father dies she is summoned back to his world because he was the King and she is the one true heir. But there is clearly a faction not happy for her to take the crown and she needs to figure out who has been killing people, including her father, as well as who wants to steal her crown before it is too late. The world of Biringan was wonderful and intriguing and it is a place I hope to visit again soon.

MJ Rodriguez has always hidden in the human world. However, she is half Encanto and next in line for the throne. When her father suddenly dies, it is her time to claim her place on this throne.

This is a ya romantic fantasy that is inspired by Filipino mythology.

I loved how it felt like a bit of a thriller/murder mystery mixed with this very sweet romance! I absolutely loved all the attention to Filipino culture in so many big and small ways. Bc, let's be real, this is what reading is about ya'll!!!!! I love learning about a different culture while reading a great story. This is not a really long book. It's a fairly quick and easy read, and I just really enjoyed it.

Out March 5, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

I have been a huge Melissa de la Cruz fan for many years and although this wasn't my favorite of hers it was still pretty good.
I enjoyed the Filipino mythology inspiration in this book. This book was pretty engaging and entertaining, it was never boring. But it did feel like a thriller at times but then also a murder mystery, I wasn't too sure what the overall vibe was supposed to be.
I do think the age of MJ was a little off, she was 17/18 but she read more 14/15 to me.
Overall I would say this book is a 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

A rich and fast paced fantasy, The Encanto's Daughter is a dive into a world of magical beings and a hidden princess recovering her birthright. It was an engaging read, although it is definitely aimed at a young audience (not necessarily a bad thing!) and I think would be perfect for anybody who needs a little magic in their life

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

I DNFed this book at 20%. I have read one other book by this author and wasn’t a fan so I was giving her a second chance and I sadly just don’t like her writing style.