Book excerpt: Here, you will find moon-eaters learning for the first time that they are fearsome monsters, a Salamangkero living with the knowledge of both gods and man, and mortal men winning over the hearts of otherworldly beings. In these pages, Ian Sta. Maria, along with other talented storytellers, has created a world where men walk free among monsters and myths. But these stories bring neither fear nor torment. Instead, they tell only the stories that are worth telling—that of the heart in conflict with itself. They say that through stories, we bring out the best and the worst in all of us. Most important of all, stories bring out acceptance— of who we are, who we were, and who we want to be in the deepest parts of our hearts. These stories invite you to be a part of this world. Welcome. Come as you are.