Category: lower myths

‘lower myths’ review on cerebralcap

Angelo Ancheta (CerebralCap and former reviewer for Philippines Graphic) reviews Lower Myths:

Test Cases

Eliza Victoria’s debut e-book of two-novellas titled LOWER MYTHS demands readers'(especially those who are following her work)dedication as she leads them inside her labyrinth of magic and madness.

Trust Fund Babies reeks of gangster, power lust, whodunit gases diffused in a cloud of biting rivalry between two supernatural clans: the mambabarang (witches) and the diwata (fairies) minus the expected display of sorcery or magic wands and spell casts that are all too common in a traditional fantasy. TFB’s twists-and-turns are comparable to modern day whodunits that could knock a Sue Grafton or a Michael Connelly potboiler off the bestseller chart. In the conflict between supernatural families, it is easy to tell which side Victoria is on. On another level, Victoria’s subtle commentary on rich scions is hardly refutable.

The Very Last Case of Messrs Aristotel and Arkimedes Magtanggol, Attorneys-at-Law is a head-spinner. Victoria’s switching POVs and alternating between two narratives could trigger a migraine. But she is too quick to offer a ticklish balm that makes a reader hesitate between raising an eyebrow or stifling a guffaw or do both. Is her antic a sheer sweet dream or a delicious nightmare?

Victoria tackles and compresses themes so intricately interwoven: duality in nature, catatonia, angst (toward a certain kind of father), brotherhood, ravages of war, crime, violence. The Very Last Case of Messrs. Aristotel and Arkimedes Magtanggol: Attorneys-at-Law is a highly-textured novella and is not an easy read yet full of surprises for the patient reader. Moreover, taking down notes could be helpful so as not get lost as there are traps so subtly implanted in the mansion of many rooms but with doors locked.

Lower Myths is an incontestable showcase of Eliza Victoria’s storytelling range, depth, dexterity when mixing together elements of magic, suspense, horror and crime in a cauldron exclusively for her.

***

LOWER MYTHS e-book is published by Flipside Publishing and is available on Amazon Kindle and Flipreads.

flipside spotlight

My interview with Charles Tan is on On the Flipside!

Every Monday, we’ll have a blog entry focusing on one of Flipside Digital Content’s titles.
Lower Myths

Eliza Victoria is the author of Lower Myths.

What made you decide to combine speculative fiction with the other genres like crime and mystery?

I am fond of crime and mystery stories, and I am fond of speculative fiction (horror, fantasy, sci-fi), so I saw no reason not to mash them together! One of my favorite authors, Donna Tartt, writes murder mysteries with horror undertones, and her novels are very unsettling reads. One of my own murder mystery stories that recently appeared on Philippine Genre Stories (“Needle Rain”) contains elements of fantasy and horror. It can be surprising what you come up with, when you mix genres.

Read more.

I have an interview with Rocket Kapre about Lower Myths over here. The cover looks pretty cool with the colors inverted, no?

“Lower Myths” can currently be purchased at Amazon or Flipreads.

Photo credit: Karen Lucero of the National Book Development Board.

A first review! Krysty Choi talks about Lower Myths:

 On Diwata, Barang, and Mysterious Lawyer Almost-Twins: Eliza Victoria’s “Lower Myths”

There’s something entirely delicious about stories that swathe the ancient and magical in the humdrum drabness of modernity. For some reason I feel like I’m given a rare opportunity – a sneak peek into a world I have no right to see. It also gives the modern world – something that gets a little too adult and responsible and tiring at times – a bit of glamour and mystery.

I admit to wondering if every third person I meet on the street is some kind of secret engkanto, working at the call centre because it’s funnier to answer irate calls than hang around a rainforest.

This is also why some of my favourite graphic novels (or comic books; I’m not that good with labels) are Fablesand Trese.

Eliza Victoria’s Lower Myths does just that, although it interestingly visits both sides of the fence, so to speak. To elaborate is to give away far too much, but suffice it to say that the rising star of Philippine speculative fiction (I prefer to call her the Apocalyptic Star, because 2012, bitches) does a fine job weaving magic into this humdrum world. It’s not her first attempt, too. Her short story in the Alternative Alamat collection is both chilling and nostalgic.

That said, it is entirely personal preference that leads me to say that the first story is my favourite. (There are only two stories in this collection, so get back to work, author!) The story is entirely too short, true, but the presence of magic and magical beings in a scenario far too human (so much guns, Eliza, but this gangster movie addict isn’t complaining) cannot be described as anything other than wicked. Fairies versus warlocks sounds like a very Michael Bay movie, but she pulls it off with aplomb and the story never strays from its slightly humorous, slightly askew nature.

It’s notable that despite the very Filipino roots, Lower Myths never feels alienating. In other words, this is my very transparent attempt of encouraging friends (Filipino or otherwise) to get a copy. On Amazon and Flipreads, go.

‘lower myths’ launched

We interrupt this program for a quick announcement.

My book, Lower Myths, is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Below are the details, which can also be found on this page. Feel free to share the link or re-post! And do buy and read the book, if you are so inclined. Excerpts are over here.

Thank you!

Lower Myths features two compelling novelettes of contemporary fantasy from Eliza Victoria, one of the most talented young writers in Asian speculative fiction today.

In “Trust Fund Babies”, children of two warring witch and fairy families face off in the final round to a centuries-old vendetta.

In “The Very Last Case of Messrs. Aristotel and Arkimedes Magtanggol”, an aristocrat and his daughter consult a famous lawyer-sibling pair about a mysterious crime. But in the lawyers’ hilltop mansion by the sea, they uncover sinister hints that their reality may not be what it seems.

Eliza Victoria’s fiction and poetry have appeared in various publications including High Chair, The Pedestal Magazine, Expanded Horizons, Usok, and the Philippine Speculative Fiction series.

Publisher: Flipside Publishing

 Release Date: March 27, 2012

Now available for online purchase

Amazon.com (MOBI)

692 KB

 English

B007PC2XF6

sneak peek: lower myths by eliza victoria

I am proud and happy to announce that my two-novelette collection, Lower Myths, which won in the 2009 Pinoy Story Writing Contest for the Horror & Crime/Suspense category, will (very) soon be published as an ebook by Flipreads under Flipside Publishing Services.

Many thanks to Flipside VP and General Manager Honey de Peralta for approaching me about the possibility of partnering with them, Acquisitions Editor Kristine Reynaldo and Online Marketing Specialist Charles Tan for their invaluable comments on the manuscript, and Production Editor Adam David and his team for their work on the beautiful cover and interior art.

Let’s have some excerpts, shall we?

Continue reading sneak peek: lower myths by eliza victoria