Usually, I am not the kind of reader who enjoys lots of mystical types of novels, however, Mala and the Mask of Gold has my heart.

From the first chapter, I was completely taken in by Jaime’s beautiful descriptions and the magic which they created. The book follows the journey of Mala, a non-binary teen living on the island of Zambo, to find a mask of gold and fulfill her destiny. Along the way, Mala meets many deities from Philippine mythology which help guide her to fulfill her quest and figure out her true identity. Jaime did such a wonderful job of encompassing some of the internal and external struggles that non-binary youth face, but also showing the beauty of self-acceptance. The journey was action packed and each chapter brought on new surprises. Everything about this novel felt so surreal, and every description so detailed and precise that the world Jamie created with his words really came to life.

I enjoyed every page of this novel and think it would be the perfect read for anyone interested in Philippine mythology, LGBTQ+ literature, action packed adventure, or anyone just looking for something new!