Starred Review ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Starred Review Since the murder of the maharani of Ashoka­ e country that controls all magic e relationships between the royal siblings have fractured. At only 18, Vira has ascended to the throne, a role few in her council believe her capable of. Meanwhile, her twin brother, Ronak, is plotting to break free from a tactful marriage and taking their half-brother, Kaleb, (wrongfully imprisoned for the maharani's assassination) with him. The siblings' unease comes to a head when their sister Riya returns to the palace after two years of running with a group of rebels. As Ashoka's quarry runs out of magic, the only option left is to find fragments of an old map leading to an ivory key rumored to unlock the lost quarries of Ashoka. Legend or not, all the siblings want a piece of it. Raman's Indian-inspired fantasy debut is a dream for seekers of character-driven stories. The third-person points-of-view of each of the four siblings artfully delivers distinct personalities who have the same aims but with entirely different reasons. Although the story progression is relaxed as readers acclimate to the main characters, the world building and backstories are intriguing and well thought out. Slow-burning romance, BIPOC and queer representation, family drama, and a country under threat of war e first in Raman's duology does not disappoint.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gr 8 Up Eighteen-year-old Vira is cracking under the pressure of her new role as maharani of Ashoka, appeasing a skeptical Council, suffering from a defeat by an encroaching enemy, raising taxes on a restless population, and desperately hiding that Ashoka's quarry of magic has run dry. So when the assassination of her betrothed reveals a missing piece of the map to the legendary Ivory Key, Vira seizes the chance to save Ashoka and reunite her estranged siblingsRonak, Kaleb, and Riyaall with their own reasons to seek the key. Deeply immersive with lush imagery, tense political intrigue, intricate puzzles, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation, this Indian-inspired fantasy asks whom can you trust if you can't trust your family when they are not around for you to lean on. A slow-burn setup to the treasure hunt gives each sibling room to grow through alternating POV chapters and allows for worldbuilding so impressively detailed that the moving parts are occasionally difficult to keep track of. The scattering of the main characters, the promise of new destinations, and the unexpected transformation of the magic system in the final hour will have readers eager for the sequel. VERDICT A complexly layered and vivid story, traversing themes of family, trust, duty, hope, and the price of both safety and progress, this coming-of-age adventure quest is a must for the fantasy shelf.Madeline Newquist

Kirkus Reviews

Four royal siblings reunite, seeking the Ivory Key, a legendary object that could unlock an incredible source of magic and rescue their country from impending war.For centuries, Ashoka has relied on magic to fuel its economy and protect its borders. But the magic is running out, and Vira, the newly crowned maharani, is desperate. A suspect in the murder of Lord Harish, Vira's betrothed, shows signs of ties to the Kamala Society, a secret organization that sealed all the magic quarries when Ashokan provinces fought to control the mining trade. To unlock them and save Ashoka, Vira must retrieve the Ivory Key, but she requires the help of her three estranged siblings, who each have their own reasons for obtaining it. Vira's twin, Ronak, wants to sell it so he can start a new life. Her half brother, Kaleb, who is accused of murdering his stepmother, the previous maharani, longs to clear his name. Her sister, Riya, who has not revealed her true identity as the rajkumaari to the Ravens, a rebel group she has joined, wishes to prove her loyalty to them. Raman's immersive, enchanting world is rich in Indian cultural influences. Alternating points of view allow every protagonist to shine, and the epilogue told from a fifth perspective offers a tease for the duology's next installment.Skillfully weaves together political intrigue, complex sibling relationships, and magic. (Fantasy. 13-17)