Jason Tanamor

Author of The Legend of Sensei Tsinelas and Love, Dance & Egg Rolls

Vampires Of Portlandia

Horror/Folklore/Vampires/Thriller

When Marcella Leones relocates her family of aswang vampires from the Philippines to Portland, Oregon, she raises her grandchildren under strict rules so humans will not expose them. Her only wish is to give them a peaceful life, far away from the hunters and the Filipino government that attempted to exterminate them.

Before she dies, she passes on the power to her eldest grandchild, Percival. He vows to uphold the rules set forth by Leones, allowing his family to roam freely without notice. After all, they are aswangs.

However, when the aswang covenant is broken, the murder rate in Portland rises drastically. Who is behind the murders? And who is behind the broken covenant? Along with sensie Penelope Jane, Percival must find the truth.

It's then they discover that there are other breeds of aswangs—werebeasts, witches, ghouls, and viscera—who have been residing in Portland for years.

Based on Filipino folklore (aswang), “Vampires of Portlandia” is a fantastical tale of different monsters coexisting in the weirdest city in America.

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Reviews:

"Tanamor's Vampires of Portlandia is an entertaining vampire thriller with all the recognizable hallmarks of the supernatural genre, but two things distinguish this book from others: its focus on the aswang, a creature based on the author's research on Philippine folklore combined with his own inventions, and the book’s beating heart, the family of aswang fleeing state violence in the Philippines and seeking refuge in the sanctuary city of Portland, Oregon. As a page-turner full of gory action, it also manages to be a touching story about family, love, and legacy."
- Grace Talusan, author of The Body Papers
"Here's a novel from Jason Tanamor that rocks Filipino folklore, shape shifters, vampires, and quick moving, tricksy, balls-out adventure, and it's a helluva lot of fun."
- John Shirley, author of Black Butterflies: A Flock on the Dark Side
"There are moments of storytelling that stand out... Those who enjoy the 'Twilight' books or TV series 'Grimm' may find this entertaining. Portland enthusiasts will also appreciate the references."
- Library Journal
"...creative worldbuilding of Portland’s supernatural underworld...the most devoted vampire enthusiasts will find this rewarding."
- Publishers Weekly
"Full of thrilling, juicy suspense and fascinating cultural folklore, Vampires of Portlandia explores the bonds and obligations of family - both the good and the bad - while taking the reader on a paranormal joyride full of vampires, shape shifters, and other wayward characters... Jason Tanamor deftly combines Filipino cultural lore with modern-day hipster Portland and a good healthy dose of the macabre, and the end result is a funny, dark, delightful book."
- Lillah Lawson, author of Dead Rockstar
"Vampires of Portlandia reads like a Marvel Comics movie. And I think that's the point."
- Gully Books
"I love Vampires of Portlandia... I have no words for the insane pacing at the climax."
- Alpheus Remarks
"Tanamor’s style of writing is exquisitely good."
- The Filipina Bookish
"…a fantastical book shrouded in mystery."
- Celuna Maria, Asian Book Blogger
"Be that as it may, the story actually progresses in a very relaxed manner. Switching between perspectives from then and now, the story unfolds gently for you to get the hang of all these newly introduced “fantasy” creatures. (And I put fantasy in quotes because you never know, oops.) It lets you absorb the characters, their quirks, and other details for a better reading experience."
- The Youngvamp’s Haven
"…there are very few international novels that are published that tackles Philippine Mythology. I was worried it wouldn’t give out the best interpretation to Aswangs. Fortunately, Aswangs in this story fit the timeline and the world of today… the story follows Aswang, and they already have an established folklore and backstory yet, the author has shed the creature in a different light. And with that, the creature still remained to be intact to its roots."
- Grim Reader
"Filipino values and culture always at the heart of the story. Family means so much to Filipinos and the story always shines a bright light on that and what it means to respect your family members and being willing to do whatever it takes to help them and care for them and love them… Overall, I really enjoyed this story and it made my heart very warm…"
- Mel to the Any
"To some, a book like Vampires of Portlandia may seem overstuffed, but it does bear the burden of introducing a system of lore never-before seen in mainstream media… It’s rare to find diverse books that intersect horror and heart. On its surface, Vampires of Portlandia may seem like another penny dreadful to add to your stack of unread books, but underneath it’s monstrous exterior you’ll find a story with real heart. The book is an honest look at some of the struggles that immigrant families and other marginalized people face every day, and the Filipino community is better now that this story exists."
- Popculturist
"A rollicking urban fantasy.."
- Bookbub
"Not only does this novel give fantastic (by all means) insight into Filipino mythology but also offers a close look on immigration and assimilation. If you are interested in vampires or folklore or if you are simply looking for an entertaining and original read, this book is for you!"
- 24Stories, Best Books of the Moment
"...Tanamor came out with a novel that presents a unique perspective of the Filipino mythical creature."
- Esquire Philippines