Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove

Gr 8 Up–A standalone, atmospheric fantasy for fans of Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes and Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame. Katyani doesn’t mind the forbidden soul bond that saved her life; she loves the queen and would follow her commands anyway. The soul bond lets her know the queen’s emotions and location, and lets her control Katyani’s actions in turn. Raised alongside the royal family as a guard, a string of attacks forces Katyani to accompany the crown prince and his cousins to the Acharya Mahavir’s school for military arts, which is located in the middle of monster-infested territory. While Katyani chafes against the rules of the monastic academy, she excels in combat, honing her considerable skills while teasing the Acharya’s handsome and straight-laced son Daksh. When potential war calls the royals and Katyani back to court, shocking betrayals and political games put Katyani on the defensive and her world in peril. Mehrotra has created a lush, atmospheric story with interesting worldbuilding and stakes. Bharat is inspired by medieval India, full of creatures from Hindu mythology and all the dangers they entail. The adventure is light on romance, heavy on vengeance, with Katyani’s wry wit and strong personality carrying the narrative to a satisfying conclusion.