By Rafi Mehrotra
Wednesday Books, 2022. 338 pages. Young Adult Fantasy
Bound to the queen of Chandela by a forbidden soul bond that saved her when she was a child, Katyani has never fallen short of what's expected of her--becoming the best guardswoman the Garuda has ever seen and an advisor to the crown prince when he ascends to the throne. But when the latest assassination attempt against the royals leaves them with a faceless body and no leads to the perpetrator, Katyani is unwillingly shipped off to guard the Chandela princes in Acharya Mahavir's esteemed monastic school in Nandovana, a forest where monsters have roamed unchecked for generations. Katyani wants nothing more than to return to her duties, especially when the Acharya starts asking questions about her past. The only upside of her stay are her run-ins with Daksh, the Acharya's son, who can't stop going on about the rules and whose gaze makes her feel like he can see into her soul. But when Katyani and the princes are hurriedly summoned back to Chandela before their training is complete, tragedy strikes and Katyani is torn from the only life she has ever known. Alone and betrayed in a land infested by monsters, Katyani must find the answers to her past so she can save what she loves and forge her own destiny. Bonds can be broken, but debts must be repaid.
I always enjoy a good young adult fantasy novel, and this one was a great one! The author immediately immerses you in their magic-filled India-inspired fantasy world and takes you on an adventure with Katyani at a whirlwind pace. Even with the extremely quick pacing there are moments to slow down and process what’s happened before another plot twist gets thrown at you again. Katyani’s internal struggles were also very relatable as her view of herself crumbles around her. I especially appreciated that even when she didn’t know who she was anymore, she continued to keep her core beliefs strong. Her no-nonsense attitude when it came to her responsibilities yet her penchant for jokes and mischief was also very refreshing. All in all, a very fun read, I would highly recommend it!
If you like Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove, you might also like:
By Renée Ahdieh
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2015. 404 pages. Young Adult Fantasy
In this reimagining of The Arabian Nights, Shahrzad plans to avenge the death of her dearest friend by volunteering to marry the murderous boy-king of Khorasan, but discovers not all is as it seems within the palace.
By Tanvi Berwah
Sourcebooks Fire, 2022. 343 pages. Young Adult Fantasy
To ensure her family's survival, sixteen-year-old Koral cheats her way into the Glory Race, a dangerous chariot tournament using sea monsters meant for the ruling elite.
ERB
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