"Irinya’s perilous journey is studded with unpredictable characters and heartbreaks, sparingly honeyed by fortitude and a slow-burning romance. An excellent recommendation for fans of Hafsah Faizal's We Hunt the Flame." - Booklist, starred review
"Mehrotra reimagines India’s history using beautiful, detailed worldbuilding and well-developed characters. [...] A well-realized fantasy world full of both beauty and danger." - Kirkus on Flower and Thorn
"A lush fantasy adventure [and a] fascinating reimagining of events that ruminates on themes of colonialism, environmentalism, greed, and power dynamics." - Publishers Weekly on Flower and Thorn
"Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is ambitious and filled with grisly battles, sinister monsters and forbidden magic. The novel's brisk pacing and escalating stakes create a gripping read, while Katyani's journey of self-discovery adds a universal coming-of-age element to the epic narrative. Fans of Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes and Kristin Cashore's Graceling should enjoy this high fantasy adventure." - Shelf Awareness, starred review
"In her YA debut, Rati Mehrotra deftly weaves medieval India into a compelling high-fantasy world brimming with cunning spirits and blood-soaked betrayal. [...] Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove thrives on the fact that true monsters might not have fangs or claws but bear the faces of friends instead." - Quill and Quire, starred review
"Engaging storytelling and characters mix with intense, high-stakes political games in this imaginative portrait of high society in a medieval India beset by monsters. [...] Readers will root for this strong-willed, energetic heroine through the action-packed ending." - Booklist on Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
"Mehrotra smoothly incorporates worldbuilding into the atmospheric narrative, highlighting themes of family and justice with a timeless blend of adventure, mystery, and romance. A satisfying stand-alone with classic appeal." - Kirkus on Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove:
"[A] fluidly plotted, medieval India–set fantasy. [...] Katyani’s bold, vivacious personality and a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance imbue this tense, action-packed narrative with wry humor." - Publishers Weekly on Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
"Mehrotra has created a lush, atmospheric story with interesting worldbuilding and stakes." - School Library Journal on Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
"A satisfying, thoughtfully plotted...sprawling fantasy set in a world inspired by medieval India and effortlessly balances themes of justice alongside genuinely thrilling adventure." - Paste Magazine on Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
“Sensuous and action-packed…the world-building is masterfully presented. [A] fascinating story of secrets, betrayal, and the devastating cycle of revenge.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
“A dazzling and intricately woven story that bites as fiercely as it dazzles. From its complex cast to its decadent world building, I couldn’t put this book down.” - Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth
"A sweeping adventure set in a lush world, full of political intrigue and relationships found and lost. I loved it!" - Lauren Blackwood, New York Times bestselling author of Within These Wicked Walls
"Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is the high fantasy novel I’ve been hungering for. An exciting, richly drawn world grounded in ancient Indian lore and tradition? Multifaceted monsters both human and otherwise? A sword-wielding heroine who must discard everyone else’s stories in order to find her own? Um, yes, please! Read this book." —Shveta Thakrar, author of the Andre Norton Nebula Award finalist Star Daughter
"Vividly imagined, lushly written, and bursting with memorable characters led by the stellar Katyani, Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is an essential addition to the India-inspired fantasy library." - Samit Basu, writer of the Netflix film House Arrest and author of The City Inside
"Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is a captivating, richly drawn fantasy story, full of twists and turns. It gripped me from the opening pages and never let go with a fantastic mix of palace intrigue, unique magic, action, and romance. It's everything I'm looking for in a fantasy novel." - L. Penelope, author of Song of Blood & Stone
“Rati Mehrotra’s Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove pulls you into an enthralling and perilous world on page one and doesn’t let you go until the very end. Captained by an unapologetically fierce heroine and sharp, page-turning dialogue, this tale about faith in one’s family and oneself is a must-read.” - Kylie Lee Baker, author of The Keeper of Night
12/01/2023
Gr 8 Up—Only the brave, desperate, or foolish venture into the salt flats of Rann in search of flowers. But these rare, expensive plants give their owners magical abilities. With her caravan deep in debt, Irinya uses the tricks her lost mother gave her to find the flowers and survive the wastes. However, when her friend and fellow hunter finds a spider lily, capable of conquering the invading Portuguese army, she must decide: save her caravan or save the country. When a charming traveler promises she can do both, she defies the caravan's debtors and gives the flower to him. But when the riches never come, it falls on her to make things right. Set in historical India, this tale weaves in plenty of lore and tackles themes of sexism and systemic poverty with excellent worldbuilding and political machinations. A Portuguese invasion, while out of sight, adds a touch of true history for readers to explore in further reading. The feisty protagonist doesn't shy away from the gravity of her mistakes but handles them with determination and heart. However, the story suffers from a slow start and would have benefitted from more developed secondary characters, particularly Irinya's fellow flower hunters. While Irinya's romantic exploits are a bit dizzying, the final friends-to-lovers relationship will lead readers to happy sighs. VERDICT A magical, political standalone packed with Indian mythology that will please those who stick with it.—Elisha Sheffer
2023-08-11
A teenage girl in India faces a dangerous journey to recover a rare, powerful flower.
Seventeen-year-old Irinya Dewa has grown up hunting for magic flowers in the salt flats of the Rann of Kutch. When her childhood friend Fardan finds the bud of a silver spider lily, a plant not seen in decades, Irinya dreams of the possibilities. They could sell it to get their kul, or band of nomadic families, out of debt—and with its magical capabilities, the flower could turn the tide on the war with the Portuguese. Irinya initially promises not to take the flower, but an attractive man persuades her to give it to him, promising a generous financial reward. By the time she realizes she was cheated, it’s too late—the vicious baniya, or moneylenders, learn what she did, and a beloved elder from her kul is killed. Vowing to make things right, Irinya sneaks off to the capital of Ahmedabad. Tigers are the least of her worries on the dangerous journey, where she gets involved with the wazir of Gujarat and the politics of the sultanate. Using her magic flowers, her blowpipe, and carefully harvested poison thorns, Irinya tries to set things right. Mehrotra reimagines India’s history using beautiful, detailed worldbuilding and well-developed characters. The story explores family, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and love, beginning slowly but quickening in pace as the action increases.
A well-realized fantasy world full of both beauty and danger. (glossary) (Historical fantasy. 13-18)