The First Reviews of Rajah Versus Conquistador

I was bracing for brutal critiques, but it's all been warmth and appreciation

There’s a genre of viral videos where foreigners relay how they fell in love with the Philippines. It’s always because of the hospitality and warmth of Filipinos.

Being Filipino, I never thought I’d experience this, but I just did. Before releasing Rajah Versus Conquistador, I didn’t know about reader communities on the internet. I was a foreigner to this world. I’m also in the middle of an MA in Anthropology, where critique and deconstruction are the default modes of engagement—where every text is a puzzle, a power play, or a symptom of some flaw in society.

So I braced myself. I expected sharp takes, structural analysis, maybe even a bit of dismantling.

Instead, what I found was appreciation and support. Thoughtful, generous, emotionally intelligent readers—some quiet, some vocal—welcomed the book not as a problem to solve, but as a world to enter. And me, not as a thesis to be interrogated, but as a fellow traveler.

So, like the foreigners in those viral videos, I found myself unexpectedly embraced—this time by readers. And like them, I just want to say thank you.

Here are some excerpts from those reviews:

As someone who enjoys historical fiction and fantasy, I was hooked from the start. I loved how the story reimagined pre-colonial Cebu, bringing its culture, politics, and everyday life to the forefront. It was eye-opening to see how rajahs managed their cities and tribes, giving me a glimpse of what life might have been like during that era. The mythology and belief systems woven into the story added so much depth, influencing decisions and conflicts in ways that felt authentic and meaningful. —@mikbookreads

I just want to say, WHAT A DELIGHT THIS BOOK IS! My history geek heart flutters, reading this wonderfully crafted piece that tells the story of Rajah Humabon on the days when the Magellan first set foot on Mactan. It's so interesting how @kahlilcorazo writes it in a narrative that literally IMMERSES you AS Rajah Humabon. You ARE Rajah Humabon as you read it! —@jef.reads

Told in second person, it immerses you directly into the mind of Rajah Humabon, blending historical events with fiction. The narrative is incredibly alluring— it felt to me like someone was talking to Humabon on his deathbed or that I was roleplaying his character— following his journey from his realization of that raw might isn't only power, to carefully strategizing his chess pieces and ultimately to his demise. Haunting, immersive and strangely intimate. —@the_ velarhys_archives

RVC is beautifully written; despite its plot being soaked in deceit, dirty politics, and bloody conquests of colonization and indoctrination. Yet what I truly enjoyed was how the historical characters were each given distinct personas. As I read, they came alive with faces, distinct personalities, and layered backstories. These characterizations made history easier to relate to. —@_.biancaboodle

Even though history wasn't always my favorite subject, this book was different. it felt personal, like i was finally getting to know the deeper story of the land i live on. it made me look at cebu with a whole new appreciation, understanding that the vibrant culture i experience every day has roots that run so deep and are filled with such compelling stories. —@iamteteroo

RVC awakened my geeky side for this kind of lore. It broadened how I see my own culture and faith as a Bisaya. The vivid imagination that unfolds inside the payag of one of the great rulers of the Philippines is so well written that you might accept it as fact-especially because it's told as if you are Humabon. He was intuitive, and so are you. The writing is deeply persuasive. —@litfaerie

For the story itself, the second person POV was a really interesting choice. It made me feel as though I was looking through the eyes of Rajah Humabon himself… I also enjoyed learning about the women in this story, especially the comparison of the baylan (shamans) versus the binukot (secluded women), and how each has their own kind of power. —@banaazbooks

The first few chapters eases the reader into the world, with character backstories that made me itch to go right ahead for the action. I mean, this IS supposed to be action-packed, right? But nope, this book knows how to build the tension and set the stage. And I am all paws for it! —@_pusang.gala_

It's not just a retelling. It's a powerful reimagining - where every alliance is a risk, every ritual holds meaning, and power is the only truth that matters. —@moonfacedreader

As a big historical fiction girlie, this book is perfect for me and this is also set in Cebu where I am from. This is a must read especially for those who would want to read about the Rajas and Magellan. This should be placed in schools too! —@emmyatreads

The quotes above are from the “bookstagram tour” organized by Book Chickas PH. I thank all the participants of the tour, as well as its organizer, Fritz (@readloveirie).

I’d also like to mention a couple of reviews outside the tour. The one below is from Franz, who was probably the first person outside of RVC’s editor and alpha readers to have read the novel in its entirety.

I was absorbed by this book, like literally. I didn’t expect to feel like I was part of the story, but the way it was narrated made me feel like I was right there among the characters… Personally, I love the 23rd chapter. It felt like I was present during the Battle of Mactan. It created an entirely new scenario with a deeper understanding and a broader perspective of what happened, far beyond what was taught in books or in history class. —@franzfriesreads

The one closest to a traditional book review is this post by Gabi Francisco of Ex Libris Philippines.

Rajah Versus Conquistador by Kahlil Corazo is that rare thing: a literary fiction novel that not only retells a historical truth, but reframes it entirely, while being thoroughly entertaining. What Hilary Mantel has done for Thomas Cromwell, Corazo has done for Humabon, elevating him from turncoat historical footnote into a cunning and complex ruler, the mightiest in an alliance of kingdoms whose world collided with the new one brought over by Ferdinand Magellan’s ships.

[…]

While Corazo has written other books, this is his first novel, although you’d never know it. The tone is assured, the words ringing with the weight of historical research and profound understanding of the psyche of a leader. We all know what happened, but Corazo manages to wring out why.

My first goal for RVC was that it should be a fun read. It seems to have achieved that. My ambition, however, was anthropological. Most reviews mention the experience of entering the mind and the world of Humabon. A few also mentioned how it humanizes Magellan, who tends to be depicted as a cardboard villain in nationalist narratives. I never really thought of my writing as “literary,” so for RVC to be considered as literary fiction feels both humbling and generous to me. It feels so self-indulgent to entertain this thought, but perhaps I made something really actually truly good!

There’s a layer of Rajah Versus Conquistador that no reader has mentioned so far. The world of the novel is heavily influenced by the work of René Girard, particularly the scapegoat mechanism. I’m hoping my subscribers familiar with Girard will take a look. Writing this story has brought my scholarly exploration to places which felt inaccessible to my usual tools of close reading, discussion, and writing essays. For instance, the chapter titled “Apollo Versus the Crucified” brought some clarity to the question of violence and order within a Christianized world, and the novel’s ending has opened a possible resolution to the “problem” of the Austronesian Big Man.

I wrote RVC with the hope of making something fun, something thoughtful, something that might last. I didn’t expect it to feel this communal. In every review, post, and message, I’ve felt the presence of readers stepping into this imagined world—not just as observers, but as participants. And like the foreigners who fall in love with the Philippines, I’ve been surprised by how deeply seen and supported I feel in this space. Thank you for reading.