What is your opinion?
Absolutely loved it!
"As someone who's a fan of reincarnation romance and very sweet protagonists, I think this story was beautiful. The way it develops the romance, the culture, the comedy, the sad moments, everything is beautifully written and spot on! I love it!"
mythology comes alive
"A very intriguing book. I'm not familiar with Filipino mythology but the decolonizing aspect of the novel's approach is pulling me inward. We need more authors telling the stories of their own people and their histories."
Love it!
"I loved reading this story! I enjoyed the non linear history and weaving of current and past plot, but did occasionally become confused when it came to knowing what characters were involved, when, and who was speaking. I like the dreaming aspect though, as dreams often are hard to distinct from reality and interweave with waking moments. I love the characters involved, and how each character has their own identity and place in the story. No one feels tacked on or misused. Each character seems to have their own life that happens to interweave with the protagonists and we learn so much about them just from their speech and actions. No one seems one dimensional even if they aren't featured in the story for long. We get a sense that everyone has a greater identity and life outside of this story. I adored Haik and Marisol, and their relationship. I like how they are a good fit, not necessarily because they're just "magically destined for each other," as is often done in stories that involve past lives and romance through the ages, but that they truly do understand and care for one another. As someone who is unfamiliar with much of Filipino history and culture, it was nice to be introduced to so many stories and some of their origins. I also personally just really enjoy seeing people write about their history and culture. As someone who often wrestles with exploring and getting into their own past, I'm very familiar with the theme of longing for historical, cultural, and religious knowledge that is now lost to you thanks to colonisation and imperialism. I can't really relate to stories where someone is confronted with their people's gods or spirits and run from what can only be thought of as destiny and duty. I'm tired of, "No, I just want to be a regular *insert nationality here that only exists because of colonisation*" stories. I like that Marisol has always been, if not a spiritual leader herself, then someone who is connected to and interested in maintaining her spiritual connection and beliefs. Or at least is open to it. That's a reality for many of us, even if we find ourselves worshiping in new ways, something always brings us back home. Someone from home comes back to us. That's very beautiful, and I love this aspect of the story the most, that even when we're far from home, home still comes to us, whether we want it to or not. XD Haik's trauma and pain was something difficult to face as a reader, but difficult because of how real it is. I love that this is a story about those who love you not giving up on you, allowing you your pain, but also pushing you towards healing when you can't always make the move yourself. It's a really lovely story I wish I had better words for describing how much I loved it. Thanks for sharing it! I can't imagine how much work must of been put into writing something so lovely!"
So far so good
"So far, so good. Read a few chapters. Don’t know if I left a review before, but I appreciate how the characters are fleshed out. Its interesting and wants me to keep reading more. "
This is unique and is going to be amazing.
"I'll be honest. I only read two chapters of your book. But already I feel that you are in fact speaking with the divine realms as you create your own story here. And that this story can have a transformative effect on those who will read it in all it's mature glory. As you downloaded this novel and interpreted it in your own special way with its character and stories, it's like you're plucking fruits of the divine, diwa, spirit, ideas, concepts from an unseen realm, a dreamworld, and conveying it to this one. You are co-creating something beautiful and it's an honor to witness it. So, I agree with all the previous positive feedback and constructive criticism. I hope what I have to add below will be helpful in bringing about more depth in your wonderful novel. Babaylan. At babaylan.com five power roles are espoused. I encountered and worked with these archetypes and roles in my own life and I channeled and created the words and art found there. These power roles were recognized by Sister Mary John Mananzan of Manila. She saw these patterns in her life and work, so she wrote an essay on these power roles and it was included in two feminist, babaylan anthologies published and edited by Fe Mangahas (Philippines) and Leny Strobel (United States). At babaylan.com, four of the archetypes —warrior, healer, sage and teacher— were adapted directly from Angeles Arrien's The Four-Fold Way. The fifth power role of priestess was introduced, the ritualist, the bridger between Heaven and Earth, Seen and Unseen. These 5 roles are both interior and exterior for a babaylan leader of the past and also in living tradition today. A babaylan must have her own personal practice and at the same time administer and service her community. Babaylan is not a privileged role—you will do a disservice to your readers and to the Spirit of the Babaylan if the role of babaylan is mistakenly told in a way that speaks of privilege. A babaylan is in a servant-leader role—she administers to a community. it is a selfless role. It is a difficult one! Babaylan women aren't necessarily nobility—they may be the outcast of the village who is the woman (or man—Baylan) weird, fierce and maybe a little feared, because they walk between two worlds, they talk with the spirit world, sometimes they channel spirits (that's scary for a lot of people). If a babaylan is asked something and she doesn't have an answer, then she consults with the spirit world for answers... How do you relate that through the characters, their dreams, thoughts, words and actions? The babaylan is a mystic—her service is to spirit and the souls of her community. She is not in service to her ego, her lifestyle or her image. She serves the people. Language. Think of how language indicates signs of colonization and decolonization. Currently, your protaganists and characters use a lot of swear words. Alright, someone pointed out previously that this will rule out your young adult readers. But I see something here... The use of swear words may be part of a culture that indicates being anti-institutional or subversive. It's definitely an indication about people embodying oppression and trauma from one's lifetime or about inheriting ancestral trauma. So yes, f* this and motherf* that. But what if the way your characters talk begins to change as the story unfolds. What if their words and articulation begin to evolve even as the characters evolve? What if the characters begin to speak and think more and more in a way that invokes their roots and their ancestors in subtle ways, and the sign of trauma, cursing, begins to abate. Also, the name Mirasol has a beautiful meaning "look at the sun" in Spanish. How have you made this purposeful? It is universal among spiritual traditions around the world that people are given new names as they grow up or experience initiation into wisdom, in order to capture the soul purpose of a person. Explore this more... what would be names, Philippine-based, that might capture soul purpose of your characters? Mirasol is on a hero's journey. What are the devices that show she's gained gifts from the gods along this journey. There are many beautiful secrets within Philippine, Tagalog or visayan words. How do those secrets get revealed. Maharlika means free man. Kalayaan means freedome. Boundaries. Powerful people have strong boundaries. They have personal and moral standards. High standards. How does this show in your protagonists? Energy. Powerful people are masters of their emotions and of how they focus and expend their energy. How does character development show this in your protagonists? Divinities. Perhaps you must distinguish between gods and demigods. Lumawig (Philippines) and Mawi (New Zealand) are Austronesian demigods. Perhaps this is an underlying aspect of your tale, but Lane Wilcken has written about how these two demigods are actually one and the same, a common ancestor of long ago who traveled up and down between the Pacific Islands (see The Lost Children of Mawi by Lane Wilcken). Mysticism, sacredness, magic and myth. The beauty of a story is how it can reveal to the reader their own beauty through the mystical and mythological aspects. Does this story reveal to the reader their own wondrous potential? Magic is when one works with the elements to create what would be like miracles to ordinary people. Kapwa and pakikipagkapwa are a beautiful essences to weave in as the worldview of your ancient Filipinos and your modern-day protoganists. Symbolism and metaphors. Do symbols speak of something deeper. Do literary metaphors relate to something deep that can be explored by the protagonists and the readers. These are literary devices that speak to the soul of your readers. Readers pick those up at subjective levels and not intellectual levels. This is what can add depth and layers to your storytelling. Land of Gold. Many recent documentaries and museum artifacts reveal that the Philippines had the most beautiful gold craft. Volume 33 of Pigafetta's chronicles of colonizers in the Philippines recorded that the natives of the islands wore gold, and that gold was so abundant in the land that even the servants and slaves wore gold. Awakening. In the plot, there's an opportunity for the protagonists' inner development to reveal itself through a journey towards radical authenticity—in other words—decolonization, pagbabalikloob (coming home or return to within), pagbabalikari (return to self-posession, a person unto oneself). In the Philippines there's a word—bangon—it means to rise up, usually to rise up from sleep. How does awakening look in this novel? Readers want to get a sense of triumph over internal and external challenges... I'm very excited for how your novel comes out in the end for publication. Be well. Be blessed. Mabuhay."
An impressive mix of romance and Filipino mythology
"I read the first chapter of your book Jamie Legaspi and I loved it! I thought it was wonderful how you had the character of Haik as Filipino Australian. I am Australian myself, retired and married to a beautiful Pinay lola from Mindanao and living with her there. It's true that Filipinos are both Asian and Pacific Islander, and yes there are both many Filipinos and Pacific Islanders in Australia! The languages of native Australians, the Maori in New Zealand, and others like the Fijians and Tongans are all Austronesian languages like those here in the Philippines. Thank you very much for your art, at sa Ingles na lang, from someone who loves to write poetry in Tagalog and Cebuano! My poetry is not published, but your story deserves to be! Maraming salamat po sa Bathala! Daghang salamat sa Magbabaya! The above was a post that I left on a Facebook group page the author belongs to.. I think the style of the writing would certainly appeal to a young adult readership, and it is refreshing to see mythology apart from the usual European types. Instead of witches, vampires and werewolves, here we have the traditional babaylan and a god from the Tagalog tradition. who are the focus of the romance. It was easy to read, and I will continue to read the remainder of the book. The author obviously has put a great deal of research into her material. Particularly impressive was the mention of a Maori deity. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. A well-written and nicely paced story, with so much interesting mythology included. Or is it mythology? I'm Australian like Haik in the story, and living in the Philippines. I feel the power of the Otherworld just as Mirasol does in the story. Like many Filipinos, I was born and raised Catholic, but I've always thought everything has spirit. Living here in Mindanao confirms this, and I think it's wonderful to see a novel like this that speaks so much of what most Filipinos have lost. Lakapati is still at the door between worlds. This novel deserves to be published and read by as many people of Filipino ancestry as possible!"
Philippine mythology
"I like that this is not a normal/cliché love story. The plot summary is good. Tagalog Sea-God and Filipino human nature peak my interest. I will definitely read this once it's finished. Goodluck & Godbless."
Great Characters
"I've just begun reading, but I love the characters and learning about Filipino Mythology and culture. The characters are easy to enjoy and connect to, the writing reads colorfully, it's like watching a movie in my head. Truly enjoyable thus far "
Absolutely stunning
"The amount of research and cultural history within this story is amazing! I love Haik and Mirasol and the entire vision for this piece. Salamat! "
So delighted to see a story like this being told!
"I've only just started reading The Crocodile God but I haven't completely finished it yet. As a fellow Filipino American myself, it's a very interesting concept that made me realize how much of our culture have many hidden gems that can be created to tell beautiful stories. I was always so used to being enamored by European and East Asian fantasy stories that it's absolutely refreshing seeing a Filipino one. I would say that I'm not quite used to the pacing yet as I feel that the plot and relationship in the beginning was a bit rushed and writing has a little clunk but it definitely has a lot of potential. I think Jaime's writing truly shines through her passion, research, and understanding of the culture and I look forward to reading more of it!"
An Imaginative Work of Passion still in Progress
"Jamie Legaspi, is a young author who’s passion and love for this tale’s themes, setting, and characters, is abundantly clear, from the opening paragraph of the first chapter. While the Crocodile God can be categorized as Urban Fantasy/Romance, it is a story that strives, and mostly accomplishes, far more than what these genres would suggest at a glance. This is a story that exist in layers. Some subtle, and others more overt. The Crocodile God explores loss of personal, cultural, and spiritual identity, the lasting pains of colonization and diaspora, the erasure of people, the fears and hardships of immigration in the U.S, and several other sensitive topics. Crocodile God does this through a creative mixture of Filipino legends, myths, and spirituality, mixed with a creative blend of Legaspi’s own imaginative lore building. Without going into spoiler territory; Haik washes up on a beach. He is a forlorn, defeated, and lost soul, barely clinging to life when Marisol discovers him. Through sheer kindness, and fear for this stranger’s life, she helps him receive medical care, and then offer him a place to recover. Haik, is far more than he initially appears to be, and through this revelation, Marisol soon learns the same about herself. Crocodile God is a work in progress. It is still rough in some places and need attention in others. However, this is an inventive, heartfelt, piece of literature that is still being nurtured and shaped by Legaspi’s imagination, as well as her clear love of the craft, and clear passion for the subjects this story explores. I genuinely believe, given more time, patience, and energy, this will shape into something unique. One aspect, I enjoyed the most, while reading the Crocodile God, was feeling moments of intensity in her writing. There are these moments, where Legaspi hits her stride, that potential shines brightest, and it reveals how much she loves writing this story. When it does happen, there are passages, or parts of the story that stay with me for a while. One such example being, “The problem is, there’s nowhere to go. There will only be more Spaniards at the coast in Manila, and they do not know which tribes were already bought by the foreigners.” It feels so bitter in its sorrow. It forgoes any elaborate, or flowery prose, and cuts to the heart of this awful pain this tribe of people are experiencing. I hope she continues to write, develop her talent, and keep her passion for the craft. I learned so much by Chapter 5, and re-read, or looked up some of the folk tales later."
Thoughtful premise, narration, and dialogue
"I really enjoyed the rough and vivid poetic tone of the narration in the first chapter, alongside the practical and thoughtful details revealed in the dialogue as Dr. Hideki tries to care for a Tagalog god, and as Mirasol forms a relationship with him and dreams his history while they live and eat together. It is good that the conversations in this chapter begin to explore what it means for Haik to be present in this time also, continuing despite colonization's erasure of his stories. I have only read the first chapter so far. As a reader who is not very familiar with history and culture of the Philippines, I appreciated the chance to learn through what Haik explains to Mirasol. The use of bold text was confusing; it seemed to me like it was meant to differentiate between Haik in the present and Haik in the past, or to emphasize poetic repetition. There were also different conventions used for when dialogue was cut off: it would sometimes be done with ellipsis and sometimes with dashes."
Awesome
"I love a story that has a great backstory and keeps me engaged and guessing. This book is intriguing, inspiring and provides great insight into the culture of the people. Anything involving culture, history and folklore captures my attention but "The Crocodile God" kept my attention. Creative enough to give my imagination great visuals and plain enough for me to not have to figure everything out. I love this. Kudos to the Author Jamie Legaspi!"
Diggin it
"I like the plot, pacing, and dialogue so far. Not gonna lie, it feels like the ancestors led me to your story with my recent batok ritual and the crocodile scoots (cuz of course they're scootin along underwater with roller skates), as a hilot, and the fact that my daughter Nina's nickname is Neneng. The only thing that I wonder about is referencing one month of food left. I'm not familiar with how we tracked time in the pre-colonial days but if we didn't use a month system then I'd suggest phrasing it as X days of food left. Lookin forward to the completed work!"
Utterly enchanting
"This book is stunning. As a Filipino-American it resonates deeply, but even those with no connection to the culture will enjoy this wonderfully unique story. "
Binging
"I found this story through the author's social media, and wow. I love this story! When I found it, I sat down and spent that afternoon binging all 12 chapters. The integration between the "now" and the flashback memories is really unique and interesting. The pre-colonial myths are so smoothly interwoven, and fascinating; a myth set I know nothing about. I eagerly await more!"
Great Story!
"Highly recommended. You should read this right away."
Unique and engaging!
"This is an absolutely unique and engaging storyline. I think it wonderfully alludes to the ravages of colonialism while simultaneously breathing life into a beautiful and woefully underrepresented cultural history. That being said, the plot is current and relatable to all audiences, tying together the whimsical intrigue and excitement we all love about folk-lore and fantasy-based stories. The author has a similarly unique writing style. I would have loved to see more variation in the tenses (changing it up from simply present tense) to add more depth to sentences. This may also help with transitions in the story itself, making it clearer as to what is happening and when. While I appreciate the terse and quick sentences, I find myself wishing I could hear more of the character's inner dialogue as well! It's a wonderful storyline that needs just little bit of sprucing to reach perfection! Five stars!"
Creative and fascinating
"This is an entirely unique story. There are not a lot of myth stories about Filipino culture and the style of writing shows a deep love and appreciation of Tagalog history. I shall eagerly await each chapter."
The gods would be proud
"This story started out with a slightly confusing back and forth in time and dreams but once I got into the authors rhythm, it moved quickly and smoothly. It was so engrossing that I want to know how our characters story finished. The end felt a bit abrupt and I want more. The supporting characters were great, giving us just enough of their personality to care about them without overshadowing the story. Now I want to know more of the real history of the islands."
