January 7th, 2023
Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of powerful magic – but is now little more than a decaying ruin.
Priya is a maidservant, one of several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to attend Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, as long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides. But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled . . .
I covered a more in-depth review on my blog, but TBK is a south Asian-inspired fantasy with a fantastic cast of characters and an interesting leading romance.
The books are ~500 pages each, but the prose makes for pretty quick reading.
Recommend if you:
- Want to read some fantasy that is not culturally European/Western
- Want a F/F relationship where the characters feel genuinely for each other but struggle with "duty vs. love"
- Enjoy multi-POV stories that cover several plotlines simultaneously
- Want female-centered fantasy
Do not recommend if you:
- Are turned off by in-universe homophobia
- Want an action-heavy story (there is action but it usually is not described in depth)
- Want an uncomplicated "fluffy" romance