Myth, Rage, and Rebellion: Maloles Returns as a Dark Filipino Fantasy Epic

Hot Tropiks is releasing a new edition of Maloles: The Reckoning Vol. 1 – Keeper of the Underworld by Filipina American artist and Air Force veteran Ebony Soy. The book officially launches on October 18, 2025 at the Las Vegas Book Festival and marks the return of a powerful Filipino dark fantasy story that sold out in its original independent run.

Maloles is a dark Filipino fantasy art narrative that blends pre-colonial mythology with psychological horror. It follows Maloles, a divine weapon created to serve the Underworld. Built for obedience, she chooses defiance instead and wages war against the gods who forged her. This is not mythology meant to comfort. This is mythology sharpened by rage, rebellion, and purpose. It is a story about reclaiming power and destroying the systems built to control you.

“Maloles was born from my Lola’s last words: ‘Follow your passion. Don’t worry about what others think.’ She walks her path with raw conviction—even when it’s brutal or isolating,” says creator Ebony Soy.

Ebony Soy is a self-taught writer and artist whose work explores identity, ancestry, and resistance through bold visual storytelling. Her artwork has been exhibited across California and Hawai‘i, including Gallery Nucleus, Hive Gallery, and TAG Gallery. She currently serves as the Justice + Equity Chair at 11:11 A Creative Collective. Her comics work includes Jemini #2, Lumpia With a Vengeance, and collaborations with Kwento Comics. Maloles: The Reckoning is her first published book.

“We’re excited to publish Maloles because Hot Tropiks is all about culture and connection. When Ebony told me she was working on a book inspired by pre-colonial headhunter tribes from the Philippines, and how that pushed her to dig deeper into our myths, I was sold. Her art makes it even more powerful,” says Angelo Mendez, Publisher of Hot Tropiks.

This new edition is being published under Hot Tropiks, which focuses on bringing fresh, original stories from the Philippine tropiks and its diaspora to readers around the world. Maloles continues that mission: a story that confronts grief, ancestry, and liberation with brutal honesty.

Book Details
Title: Maloles: The Reckoning Vol. 1 – Keeper of the Underworld
Author/Artist: Ebony Soy
Publisher: Hot Tropiks
Format: 6x9 softcover, full color
Printed in the USA
ISBN: 979-8-9901079-1-5
Release Date: October 18, 2025
Launch Event: Las Vegas Book Festival
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Mythology / Horror

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Experience the world of Maloles now and discover why this book is one of the most compelling new voices in Filipino fantasy.

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