Incubus Rising

"Incubus Rising" by Mira Aswang begins in 1574 in Manila Bay with Ligaya, an abused wife living under Spanish colonial rule. In desperation, she summons a demon of judgment named Maruz to enact justice. Through him, she learns ritual practices that allow her to claim her own power, giving rise to a hidden lineage of sisterhood.

The story then shifts to the present day, where we meet Lina, a woman trapped in a toxic marriage with her husband. At a local market, she encounters an old witch who notices Lina’s bruises and quietly offers her a different path. As we follow Lina through the turbulence of her abusive relationship, the reader is drawn into her growing need for justice. 

The novel explores themes of female agency across generations and the line between justice and vengeance. The author’s attention to detail and her ability to engage the senses bring the story vividly to life, leaving readers with the unsettling truth that once power is learned, it cannot be unlearned. This is a haunting tale of channeling female anger into the courage to overcome fear—empowering, striking, and lingering long after the final page.