Manaia: Tamahine o Te Pō | Daughter of the Night
18 parts Ongoing MatureAt thirteen, Manaia of the Sea Tribes expects to receive the elemental blessing of her ancestors. Instead, she is marked by Hine-nui-te-pō, the guardian of death, night, and spirit. Feared and misunderstood, Manaia is exiled from her village, burdened with a power no one dares to name.
Years later, wandering between tribes and hiding her true nature, Manaia saves lost spirits in secret, still unsure whether her gift is a curse. When a pale, mist-wrapped patupaiarehe named Tawaroa saves her from a corrupted wairua, their paths entwine. Tawaroa agrees to guide her to Te Ao o Hine, the realm of spirits, where Manaia must finally face the truth of her power and the loneliness it brings.
As the bond between them deepens, Manaia begins to understand that death is not something to be feared, but guided. But something is wrong: the spirit realm is fading, and forgotten souls grow restless. Someone, or something, is twisting the old beliefs, severing the sacred ties between the living and the dead.
To restore balance, Manaia must embrace the darkness she was born to walk - or risk a world where no soul finds its way home.
Genre: YA Fantasy / Coming-of-Age / Mythical Adventure
Themes: Identity, ancestral connection, fear vs understanding, death as transformation, womanhood, sacred duty
Disclaimer: Image is taken from Pinterest (not mine)