05/18/2020
Ambar’s denizens peacefully coexisted until King Lohar relegated non-maji such as Cavas, 17, and his father, Xerxes, to polluted tenements. The conditions are killing Xerxes, who has contracted Tenement Fever, but royal stable hand Cavas can’t secure new housing without becoming an army loadbearer—a veritable death sentence. A prophecy presages that a powerful female magus “marked with a star” will effect Lohar’s downfall, but while the prediction encourages some, it spells persecution for those with star-shaped birthmarks, like 15-year-old Gul. Two years ago, Lohan’s warriors executed Gul’s parents while hunting her. Gul doesn’t believe she’s the fabled Star Warrior—she can barely control her late-onset magic—but she’s determined to exact vengeance. When revolutionaries ask Cavas to help Gul infiltrate the palace, Cavas refuses to get involved; fate, however, has other plans. This Indian- and Persian-inspired duology opener from Bhathena (The Beauty of the Moment) explores questions of faith via a fully fleshed, predominantly brown-skinned cast and a thoughtfully conceived mythology. Gul and Cavas’s burgeoning attraction adds hints of romance, and after a dense start, escalating action catapults the tale to a thrilling close. Ages 12–up. Agent: Eleanor Jackson, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. (June)
A breath of fresh air in the fantasy adventure genre. . . Readers will be mesmerized by Bhathena’s vivid storytelling and the deeply felt connection between the two main characters. This fantasy adventure featuring protagonists of color will be enjoyed by fans of the Legacy of Orisha and Ember in the Ashes series.” —School Library Journal, starred review
"A novel of palace intrigue, supplication and resistance, romance, and betrayal. Bhathena takes her time unfolding the story, allowing the reader full immersion not only in the richly drawn characters but in the world itself—a world inspired by medieval India. The result is an intoxicating novel that is at once leisurely and keenly enthralling." —Quill & Quire, starred review
"This stunning novel is the first in a new fantasy duology set in a world inspired by medieval India, where girls and women not only have magical powers, but also have deep political ambition. Protagonist Gul has a single star-shaped birthmark above her right elbow because of a prophecy, hundreds of girls with such marks have been taken or killed — Gul is a target of the king who brutally murdered her parents. Cavas is resigned to join the king’s army to save his ill father, until he meets Gul and becomes entangled in her mission of vengeance. Hunted by the Sky is lush and vividly imagined, suspenseful, romantic, and adventurous." —Teen Vogue
“An amazing debut with badass females, Indian and Persian mythology, beautiful writing, and so much diversity.” —The Nerd Daily
“A stunning fantasy world.” —TOR.com
“While Bhathena may have previously been known for contemporary YA, her fantasy debut is already making waves and is one to watch out for come this summer.” —Den of Geek
"While Hunted by the Sky falls squarely into the genre of young adult fiction, it’s really for anyone who’s willing to let their imagination run free and immerse themselves in a world that is both familiar yet strange.” —Fezana
“A fast-paced romantic fantasy set in a thoughtfully built, diverse world.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Bhathena explores class struggles and the marginalization of social groups in a fully immersive setting inspired by medieval India. . .The plot quickly unfolds as we alternate between the distinct voices of Gul and Cavas, whose engaging dynamic promises further development in a sure-to-be gripping sequel.” —Booklist
“This Indian- and Persian-inspired duology opener from Bhathena explores questions of faith via a fully fleshed, predominantly brown-skinned cast and a thoughtfully conceived mythology. Gul and Cavas’s burgeoning attraction adds hints of romance, and . . . escalating action catapults the tale to a thrilling close.” —Publishers Weekly
“An epic adventure you don't want to miss.” —Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand
“This book not only left me breathless, it made my heart soar.” —Kristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara
“A fresh and intelligent fantasy.” —Megan Bannen, author of The Bird and the Blade
“A story exquisitely told, with magic on every page.” —Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of The Bloodprint
“A thrilling start to an exciting new series set in a fresh, magical new world... I couldn't put it down!” —S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper
“Captivating...a breathtaking adventure of a book that draws you in from page one.” —Sukanya Venkatraghavan, editor of Magical Women and author of Dark Things
“Perfect for fans of thoughtful world-building and fantastical mirrors to our own reality. A whirlwind of heartfelt storytelling.” —Jodi Meadows, New York Times–bestselling author of My Plain Jane and the Fallen Isles Trilogy
“Deliciously fresh, while giving us everything we love: a richly-imagined landscape, fascinating magic, and a tenacious young heroine pitted against impossible odds." —Elly Blake, NYT bestselling author of the Frostblood saga
"A dazzling, rich story with a complex heroine, intricate magic, and bone-sharp prose, Hunted by the Sky is the fantasy novel I've been waiting for all year." —Swati Teerdhala, author of the Tiger At Midnight Series
04/10/2020
Gr 7 Up—Ancient Persian mythology informs this novel set in medieval India, and it's a breath of fresh air in the fantasy adventure genre. Gul is born during the reign of the tyrannical King Lohar, who has terrorized his subjects for years. A prophecy states that a girl with a star-shaped birthmark will be somehow a part of the fall of the king's reign, so he has targeted any girl born with that kind of mark in an effort to escape his fate. As a result, Gul and her parents have been hiding from the king's warriors her entire life. When the secret of her star-shaped mark is uncovered, and she is orphaned, Gul finds solace and protection within a tribe of women who take her in and train her to connect with the magic that courses through her veins. Gul only wants vengeance for her parents' deaths until she forms an unexpected connection with Cavas, a poor stable boy, during a chance meeting one night. Cavas is secretly trading secrets about the kingdom to get money to treat his ailing father. The night his world collides with Gul's, their stories become woven together and their fates are joined. Readers will be mesmerized by Bhathena's vivid storytelling and the deeply felt connection between the two main characters. VERDICT This fantasy adventure featuring protagonists of color will be enjoyed by fans of the "Legacy of Orisha" and "Ember in the Ashes" series, and is recommended for middle school collections.—Erica Coonelly, Monroe Township Middle School, NJ
2020-04-05
After 15-year-old Gul watches Sky Warriors murder her parents, she vows to assassinate those responsible.
Her targets are King Lohar, the cruel ruler of Ambar, and Major Shayla, a ruthless commander of the Sky Warriors. Gul’s parents died protecting her: She is a magus—a human capable of wielding magic—born with a star-shaped birthmark on her arm. According to an ancient prophecy, a magus girl with a similar mark will someday kill the king. While Gul is convinced she isn’t the girl from the prophecy—she has been unable to perform magic since she was a baby—the world seems to believe otherwise. With the help of the mysterious Sisterhood of the Golden Lotus, Gul manages to get herself a job at the palace—and to fall in love with Cavas, a nonmagi with some dark secrets of his own. Weaving together Indian and Persian mythology, the story features a diverse cast of brown-skinned villains and heroes. The action is nail-biting, and the romantic scenes shimmer. At first, the intricately built world is so detailed that the story can be hard to follow; that being said, Gul’s and Cavas’ fascinating backstories and burgeoning relationship—all of which unfold in the final two-thirds of the book—make this initial effort worthwhile.
A fast-paced romantic fantasy set in a thoughtfully built, diverse world. (map, glossary, author’s note) (Fantasy. 13-18)
