Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra

Abstract

Reviewed by: Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra Amanda Toledo Mehrotra, Rati Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove. Wednesday/St. Martin’s, 2022 [352p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781250823687 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250823694 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 9-12 Katyani is a proud guardian of Chandela’s royal family, and she’s content in her life as the queen’s bondswoman. The soul bond is supposedly forbidden magic, but Katyani enjoys a position of respect and esteem; the princes are like her brothers and the queen like her adoptive mother. When the queen decides to send Katyani and the princes to study with a renowned guru at his gurukul, Katyani has misgivings [End Page 93] about leaving, given the recent assassination attempts. Nevertheless, she obeys and goes along to protect her brothers while they learn to fight monsters and gain spiritual power. However, time and distance from the queen provokes questions about the true nature of Katyani’s bond. Shortly after their return to the palace, the royal family is slaughtered in an attack by a neighboring kingdom, and the truth Katyani has only begun to question is bitterly forced upon her. Mehrotra’s novel is sensuous and action-packed but suffers from a slow beginning. While the world-building is masterfully presented, the first third of the book introduces the status quo of Katyani’s life with a lack of tension that drains any narrative energy. Eventually, however, the story that emerges is an intricate exploration of karma and unexpected salvation. Actions both good and evil lead to satisfying consequences, and readers with patience will be richly rewarded with a fascinating story of secrets, betrayal, and the devastating cycle of revenge. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois