The Phoenix King

May 29, 2023
Verma’s ambitious science fantasy debut, originally self-published as The Boy with Fire, kicks off the Ravence trilogy, introducing readers to a vast and fascinating world on the brink of war. Elena Aadya, heir to the desert kingdom of Ravence, must master her ancestral fire magic before her impending coronation. Leo Malhari, her father and reigning Phoenix King, wields propaganda and force to maintain his rule. Assassin Yassen Knight, seeking redemption after fleeing a failed assignment, returns to Ravence, his mother’s homeland, to serve the royal family. As Elena clashes with her father, and Yassen proves to be more than he appears, the princess uncovers a dark, generation-spanning secret about the origins of fire magic and learns the steep cost of power. Artfully blending high tech sci-fi elements with a magic system drawn from Indian culture and myth, Verma’s worldbuilding encompasses a sense of rich history and complex social dynamics. A satisfying slow-burn romance only enhances the political machinations. This exciting fantasy promises good things from the series to come. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

July 7, 2023

DEBUT This epic sci-fi fantasy debut (originally self-published as The Boy with Fire) follows multiple characters, each of them willing to face the flames for their own ambitions and regrets. Yassen the notorious assassin, longing for home and redemption, defects from the bloodthirsty Arohassin. Princess Elena is desperate to be worthy of the Eternal Fire but can't harness the power of her lineage. King Leo clashes with old religion to protect his kingdom and his daughter despite an ominous prophecy. And a threat looms over them all--that their vengeful gods will rise again. In this novel heavily influenced by Indian lore, the glories of a lively desert landscape come to life in a world that is somehow both ancient and futuristic. The worldbuilding is seamlessly woven into the plot, alongside the threads of love, sacrifice, betrayal, and greed. There's also a dash of enemies-to-lovers romance among the morally gray characters, who are both heartbreaking and inspiring. VERDICT This is elegant and intelligent storytelling that starts out as conniving and treacherous intrigue and transforms into an exhilarating adventure without losing that touch of mystery. Perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty.--Andrea Dyba

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2023
The time of succession has come for King Leo, monarch of the desert kingdom of Ravence. With the neighboring Jantari threatening war and the radical group the Arohassin plotting regicide, the Ravence heir, Elena, will come into a lot of responsibility. Fortunately, Elena shows much promise; she has political acumen, dazzling wit, an unshakeable love for her people and the peoples' adoration in return. On nearly all accounts she is ready to assume the throne; she need only learn the magic of holding fire without burning to prove she is worthy of it. But her father will not teach her and might not have plans to step down after all, as he is shaken by the return of the Phoenix's prophet, who will destroy everything in the desert and all the nonbelievers. As if that's not enough for Elena to navigate and King Leo to ponder, enter ambitious political player Samson and retired Arohassin assassin Yassen, who each have motives of their own. The various points of view make it hard to know who is really pulling the strings, though one thing is clear: There is power in the burning flames of the desert fire and in the secrets held dear. This desert world is well developed, with the intricacies of a society, including religion, culture, and race, and the mythology of a phoenix rising supporting the themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, and resilience throughout each character's point of view. The story is at its best when characters are faced with the edges of identity, colliding loyalties, and the unpredictable landscape of life. Settle into the morally gray areas of a king's broken heart, an assassin's twisted mind, and a prophecy of destruction.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 14, 2023
Verma's debut, originally self-published as The Boy With Fire, is a riveting page-turner that kicks off The Ravence Trilogy. Yassen is an assassin, a disgraced half-Ravani, fleeing from the Arohassin, an ideological criminal organization bent on destroying kingdoms and allegedly creating governments of the people. Elena is destined to become the queen of Ravence on her twenty-fifth birthday, when the Arohassin plan to attack and assassinate her family. Samson, Yassen's boyhood friend who escaped the Arohassin, brings them together, intent on protecting and marrying Elena, along with destroying the cult of assassins that trained and tortured him and Yassen. Political intrigue intertwines with fantasy as Elena struggles to understand the magic of her birthright to become the next Phoenix King, while her father, King Leo, actively hunts the Phoenix's next Prophet, who is destined to destroy Ravence on behalf of their deity. Yassen and Elena's love of the desert blend with Samson and Elena's bonding over shared governing interests to form a credible love triangle, all of which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next book.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.