Written by contributor Uma Shankari
As an #ownvoices reviewer, can I take a moment to cry about just how happy it makes me to see an Indian inspired fantasy written an #ownvoices author in mainstream media? And it has a brown girl on the cover too and I’ll just be sitting over there fawning over this book!
“The sky will fall, a star will rise
Ambar changed by the king’s demise
Her magic untouched and unknown by all
Marked with a star, she’ll bring his downfall.”
Once there was Svapnalok, divided into four kingdoms, Ambar, Prithvi, Jwala, and Samudra with each standing for one of the elements of nature—sky, earth, fire and water. Once they used to be united and stood beside each other as friends would, but each Kingdom was corrupted in their own way, with Ambar the most corrupted. Now a tyrant rules Ambar and the other three kingdoms wouldn’t dare to go against him. However, the King of Ambar is rattled by the prophecy of the Star warrior and he has every girl with a star-like or even a non star-like birthmark hunted mercilessly, killing entire families to protect himself.
Gul hides her birthmark and after the loss of her parents, finds solace amongst a group of warrior females. She is driven by revenge against the man who ordered the death of her parents, but the fact that her magic is so temperamental makes things much harder for her. Cavas is a non magi boy and hence suffers having to live in the worst part of the city and be called a dirt licker by those with magic. He harbours a secret that could get him killed and has been leaking palace secrets to a mysterious man in exchange for money, which he needs for his sick father’s medicine.
While both Gul and Cavas sometimes really annoyed me with their decisions, I understood their confusion. The romance wasn’t my favourite, but it was still enjoyable even though it came together in a kind of insta-love manner, but there was still a lot of chemistry. There was such sweet banter, not being sure of their feelings, and a palpable attraction so I quite enjoyed seeing Gul and Cavas together.
I also enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters, especially Juhi, Amira, and Amar. Then there’s the ending, which has left me feeling very intrigued about other characters too. I liked that they all had a story and a life that did not have much to do with the protagonists, so the secondary characters were their own people and I definitely appreciate that!
“It wasn’t your fault, Rajkumar. You didn’t do anything.”
“No, I didn’t. And with my silence, I became an accomplice.”
The diversity could make one scream with joy about the amazing representation in this book. I recognised myself in how the characters looked, the clothes they wore, and the food they ate, plus I so badly want the chandaramas (moon shaped filigreed dough foiled with gold and garnished with honeyweed seeds) mentioned in the book! The world is inspired by medieval India and Persian mythology and I loved how within the book there are all kinds of diverse elements. Some characters pray to the sky goddess and some to Sant Javer, some to Prophet Zaal and there are also those who are atheists. They have all heard different stories and myths as a child and have experienced a variety of cultures. There was also casual queer representation and I hope we see more of that at the forefront in the sequel.
While I had some issues with the pacing, this book sets up the scene for a much more complex sequel. I have a few guesses about the ending and I can’t wait to read the second book to find out if I guessed right! I also cannot wait to know more about the world especially after what was revealed towards the end.
Hunted by the Sky is an amazing debut with badass females, Indian and Persian mythology, beautiful writing, and so much diversity.
Hunted By The Sky is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up Hunted By The Sky? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul’s mark is what caused her parents’ murder at the hand of King Lohar’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.
Cavas lives in the tenements, and he’s just about ready to sign his life over to the king’s army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl–Gul–in the capital’s bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance–and discovers a magic he never expected to find.
Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king’s domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.
