The Library of Fates

Gr 9 Up—Sikander, the emperor of Macedon, arrives in peaceful Shalingar after conquering Syria, Phoenicia, Persia, and other places. Sikander asks Princess Amrita to become his bride as part of a peaceful treaty between the two nations, but the negotiations soon end in bloodshed. Haunted by the loss of her kingdom and everyone she loves, Amrita helps Thala, an enslaved oracle, escape imprisonment. Thala is certain that she and Amrita can find the Library of All Things and convince the Keeper of the Library to allow them to change their own fates. Eventually, Amrita realizes that her old life may be impossible to reclaim and that a new life can be found only through sacrifice. Khorana's sophomore novel is a stand-alone fantasy imbued with elements from Indian folklore and Hindu mythology. This story is hampered by anachronistic phrases and details that fail to coalesce into coherent world-building. As a narrator, Amrita exhibits an uneasy blend of naïveté and impetuousness; she is also seemingly the only character in the book unaware of her true connection to a mythical goddess called Maya the Diviner. Despite the inherent tension of an early love triangle, relationships remain underdeveloped save for the endearing if abrupt friendship between Amrita and Thala. Intriguing concepts such as the Library of All Things are bright spots in this story where many of the most exciting moments are related in asides or flashbacks.