Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...
But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.
Review:
I got this book through Netgalley, which I've been neglecting like crazy due to life stuff. ><
First, this book is awesome if you like Middle eastern/south Asian settings and like tales of djinn, fairies, etc. I got this book because I crave South Asian Settings and strong female characters like a baby craves milk.
Maya did not disappoint. I read some reviews where readers were put off by Akaran's "lack of world building" but honestly, that was the point of Maya trying to figure out this strange new land that previously was a myth. Keeping the character perspective in mind, not a lot of world building is needed because it's presented, through Maya's eyes, as a land with no rules.
I was SO frustrated with Amar, like, how can you have a successful marriage without communication? The introduction to the action packed ending felt a little sudden as to how we meet the Villain, but it also kind of made sense. Maybe a little more foreshadowing would have worked out instead of everything coming to light at once.
Overall there's action, magic, and some steamy pg-13 descriptions in here, but this is not a relationship to envy. It does make for an intriguing read.
4/5
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