Ilustra:

Mika has just begun to understand her ability to wake ancient gods when a sudden attack forces her to travel to the underworld, where she's powerless, to save all she loves.

Book two in this middle-grade graphic novel duology, created by an award-winning Filipina artist and inspired by the folklore of the Philippines, is perfect for readers of Amulet and Percy Jackson.

“Amulet meets a Filipino Percy Jackson.”
—Melissa de la Cruz, #1 New York Times best-selling author

It's been three months since Mika Mirasol discovered her incredible ability to wake gods and spirits and harness the power of Hanan, goddess of the dawn. When she returns to Ilustra after a summer spent with her guardian, Raha, she reunites with her best friends and clashes with her new roommate, who turns out to be a deity trapped in human form.

But tragedy strikes immediately: Magwayen, goddess of the sea and underworld, sends a giant crocodile to kidnap Raha. Only Mika can stop the goddess from releasing the corrupted spirit bound within Raha and unleashing world-ending storms—but she'll have to travel to the watery depths of the underworld, where Hanan’s light can't reach. Powerless without the dawn's magic, Mika must cling to hope and rely on her friends . . . or lose everything she loves.

The mythology of the Philippine Islands comes to life in this funny, warm, and enchanting graphic novel about friendship, perseverance, and finding hope even in the darkest of places.

Story Locale: Manila, Philippines; rural Philippines; Filipino underworld

Series Overview: Ilustra, Book One: Daybreaker, Sept 2025
Ilustra, Book Two: Tidalrise, Sept 2026