Of Light and Shadow

March 13, 2023
A spoiled prince and an infamous outlaw forge an unlikely alliance in this dazzling adventure by Bhathena (the Wrath of Ambar series), set, according to an author’s note, in a fantastical version of 17th-century India. Roshan Chaya, an orphan raised by the feared Shadow Bandit, has succeeded her adopted father as leader of the Shadow Clan, a gang of marauders fighting to reclaim their land from the oppressive regime ruling the kingdom of Jwala. When happenstance leads Roshan to inebriated Jwalian Prince Navin—who is half human and half mythological peri—Roshan kidnaps Navin. She believes, with him as her hostage, that she can force Jwala’s cold, indifferent ruler to meet the clan’s demands. But Navin, gifted with persuasive soul magic, proves a worthy match for Roshan’s own innate abilities. The two engage in a game of scheming and manipulation as they suppress their undeniable attraction for each other and test their individual allegiances. A heavy dependance on exposition and in-world, glossary-reliant terminology muddles an otherwise engaging plot, but enthralling action sequences, intricate magic systems, and steamy romance make for an urgent adventure. Characters read as having central Indian ethnicity. Ages 12–up. Agent: Eleanor Jackson, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner.

April 15, 2023
A teen bandit thrust into leadership of her clan fights for justice, dignity, and restoration of her people's rights. Orphaned at birth, adopted, and brought up by the leader of the Shadow Clan, Roshan's innate healing powers take a back seat to guerilla raids for their survival. One such raid leads to the capture of Prince Navin, a gadabout royal second in line to the throne. The clan hopes to barter his freedom to stop crushing blood tithes and reclaim their land. Atrocities by the governors' marauding army have turned once-fertile valleys into barren wastelands where villagers face starvation, violence, and displacement. While the prince tries to use his magic to secure his escape, the poverty and desperation he witnesses ignite a spark of awareness alongside growing attraction to his captor. The alternating voices of the prince and the rebel pit the power and corruption of the privileged against the hardship, steely determination, and hope of people fighting for their birthright. The evocative writing reveals a magical world of rugged landscapes, underground caverns, dark magic, political machinations, surprising plot twists, diverse peoples, and deeply seated prejudices that reflect contemporary times. While the quest for resolution takes a slightly na�ve turn, the historical inspirations of real-life bandits and Indian and Persian mythology create a spellbinding fantasy. An enchanting romantic fantasy weaving together history, magic, and inspired resistance. (glossary, author's note) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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April 15, 2023
Grades 7-10 Roshan has always relied on banditry to survive, using her healing magic to both mend and harm. As the new leader of the Shadow Clan since the murder of her adoptive father, the pressure to prove herself to her crew of desperate farmers-turned-outlaws is high. In stark contrast is the life of excess led by the peri (part-human, part-animal) Rajkumar Navin, who is gifted with the ability to manipulate emotions. When a chance encounter drops the rajkumar in her lap, Roshan kidnaps him as leverage to regain her people's land in an exchange with his grandmother, Queen Bhairavi of Jwala. Through distinct, alternating third-person chapters, Navin's selfsabotaging behavior is given reason and the growing attraction between him and Roshan mutuality-- making his untrustworthiness all the more painful. Roshan's kindness even in the face of blood tithes and numerous other political atrocities is the beacon that allows Navin to finally see the corruption his own family is complicit in. A worthwhile fantasy with a sobering reminder that those who write history don't always tell the truth.

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June 1, 2023

Gr 9 Up-Bhathena draws on Indian mythology in this fantasy to tell the love story of a bandit and a prince. Roshan Chaya is an orphaned, 18-year-old healer with deep brown skin and red-black hair. Although she is young, she leads the Shadow Clan, a group of bandits who are campaigning to right the wrong perpetrated against the poorest provinces of Jwala. Roshan knows to be cautious when she meets Jwala's golden-eyed Prince Rajkumar Navin-a soul magus-and yet she finds herself drawn to his song. The two teens exist on opposite sides of a political divide that they must cross if they are to bring about justice for Jwala while also finding happiness for themselves. As the author notes, this novel reimagines India's colonial past, incorporating elements of Zoroastrianism to fabricate a vivid and politically complex backdrop for the teens' story. While the romance in this book has a somewhat predictable arc, the author does a fine job rounding out the main characters by delving into their respective backstories. Overall, this book offers a vibrant new take on male-centric bandit myths like Robin Hood. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy strong heroines, romance, and political intrigue combined with fantastical worldbuilding.-Talea Anderson

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