ALA Booklist (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Kalinda, an orphan girl, is a ward of the Sisterhood temple in Samiya and has devoted her life to the gods. Because of a long, feverish sickness, Kali lacks the skills of other temple girls her age, and knows that her life will always be as a priestess. Her world is turned entirely around when a benefactor e rajah himself aims her as a wife. Chosen out of many, Kali is ripped from her temple life, thrown into a harem at the rajah's palace, and told to defend and prove herself against the rajah's 99 other wives. Fiery Kali finds one friend at the palace ard Captain Deven Naik d their friendship soon becomes more, if only in secret. This romance could mean their deaths, and they must count on each other to finally become truly free. This lush and lovely first novel brings a beautiful and brutal culture to life. The ending is left open for sequels, and readers will eagerly follow Kalinda and Deven on their future adventures.

Kirkus Reviews

Orphan Kalinda was left at a temple as an infant and has always been sickly with a fever, spending most of her childhood in the infirmary at Samiya Temple in this South Asian-inflected fantasy. Kalinda would have been content to spend her life there, but she is chosen to be the rajah's 100th rani—a dubious honor, as in taking a 100th wife the rajah is declaring himself equal to the gods. Her journey to the Turquoise Palace in Vanhi has its own trials. One of these is meeting a Burner: a supernatural being who can control fire. In Vanhi, Kalinda finds love and loss, and she uncovers secrets both personal and political. King writes multiple strong female characters, led by Kalinda, who has the loyalty and bravery of spirit to defend her friends even if that means facing death. Kalinda narrates in the genre-conventional present tense, revealing to readers her resistance to the rajah's cruel manipulations: "if the gods have indeed brought me here, then they know that I will not bend to him. Not now. Not ever." A prefatory note states that Kalinda's world is inspired by but not grounded in Sumerian mythology. Strong characterization, deep worldbuilding, page-turning action scenes and intrigue, as well as social commentary, make this book stand out. This outing opens a trilogy; readers will be eager to get their hands on the next installment. (Fantasy. 13-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A show of loyalty and unexpected strength leads Kalinda, a sickly 18-year-old raised in the sisterhood temple of the Parijana, to the rajah-s throne as one of his numerous wives. But an attack by a bhuta, a magical creature that can create fire, signifies Kali-s own hidden powers and may hold the key to her escape from the kingdom. First in a planned series, King-s debut is built on a solid premise that draws on Sumerian mythology for inspiration, but the execution is left wanting. Kalinda falls for the first man she-s ever seen in her life, the mystery of her lineage becomes clear well before it-s revealed, and Kali-s interactions with the lecherous rajah remain mostly chaste until a jarringly erotic finale. Despite these shortcomings, the tale maintains a consistent thread as King embarks on a deep examination of sisterhood, first between Kali and her best friend Jaya, and later when she must fight the rajah-s other wives to keep her place within the palace. Ages 13-up. Agent: Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary. (June)

School Library Journal (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 8 Up-n orphan girl becomes a fearless warrior and gains the courage to take down an empire. Kalinda, 18, has longed to find out where she came from and how she was brought to an orphan ward known as the Sisterhood. One day, the powerful Rajah Tarek comes to take her to be his 100th queen. Kalinda leaves her friend Jaya behind and journeys into a world where she is treated like a queen and threatened by the Rajah's 99 wives and courtesans. In order to become the next queen, Kalinda must fight to the death in a tournament against the other women who are competing for the crown. Along with her guard, Captain Deven Naik, she begins to uncover the many secrets and lies that she has been told throughout her life. It isn't until Kalinda loses someone close to her that she realizes how much power the Rajah has over the empire and what she will need to do to stop him from harming others. Filled with many action-packed sequences, forbidden romance, and unexpected surprises, this debut fantasy will appeal to teens who enjoy epic dramas with strong female characters. VERDICT Recommended for libraries where Kiera Cass's The Selection is popular.Adrienne Sayban, Peoria Public Library, AZ

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

This new fantasy series opens with Kalinda and Jaya, eighteen-year-old best friends, sparring in a courtyard of the Samiya Temple. The Sisterhood trains young women to spend their lives as the wives or courtesans of wealthy men known as the Benefactors, but Kalinda and Jaya would much rather remain together in their Temple home in the mountains than be chosen by a Benefactor and separated forever. In spite of their plan to perform poorly in their skills demonstrations, and thus be consigned to remain at Samiya, Kalinda is chosen to be the one hundredth queen of a powerful rajah. In accordance with legend, the one hundredth queen is to be his last, but to secure the position, Kalinda must battle to the death whichever of the rajah’s courtesans wants to challenge her. Mysterious magical rebels, known as the Bhutas, and a handsome, young imperial guard combine to complicate her path to the throne, as well as teach her about herself and her roots. This title offers a gripping plot with twists and turns, a unique setting, and strong female characters—a solid foray into the fantasy romance genre. Fans of Marissa Meyer and Leigh Bardugo will find this new series captivating.—Laura Lehner.