The Library of Fates

May 22, 2017
Princess Amrita of Shalingar, 16, lives a sheltered life within the palace walls. Her father, Chandradev, devastated by the death of his wife, has kept his only child far from the eyes of his people. But Amrita is forced to flee after Sikander, the emperor of Macedon and one of Chandradev’s former schoolmates, visits their home under the guise of solidifying a union between the two nations through marriage—and instead attacks her father and overthrows his regime. With an oracle named Thala as her guide and companion, Amrita endeavors to save her people from Sikander, as well as figure out who she truly is. Khorana (Mirror in the Sky) creates a beautiful and fantastical version of our world where gods and spirits walk among mortals. The fables repeated throughout foretell Amrita’s journey, seamlessly interweaving her past and future and mirroring a thought-provoking narrative that touches on weighty philosophical questions. This well-crafted novel leaves no questions unanswered, and although the path that Amrita eventually takes is unexpected, it’s very satisfying. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency.

May 15, 2017
Indian folklore drives the fate of a princess and her homeland.Raised in Shalingar, Princess Amrita has known a father who serves as a kind protector of his people, as well as friendship and first love through Arjun, who was raised alongside her in the royal palace, but never her mother. Now betrothed to Sikander, the ruthless dictator of Macedon, Amrita loathes the prospect of becoming part of his harem. When Sikander "gifts" the teen an enslaved oracle named Thala, who warns her of Sikander's scheme to overtake Shalingar, Amrita flees for her life, rescuing Thala in the process. Together, these two strong young women rely on their talents and each other as they search for a way to restore peace to the land, develop their true identities, and find the Library of All Things in order to access the stories of their lives and of loved ones. Along the way, ancient tales of magic, mythical entities, and everlasting love provide clues to the paths they must take. The rich, beautiful worldbuilding and thought-provoking questions on the power of experience, stories, and fate--and how they weave together--mitigate the occasional uneven pacing and jumps in Amrita's first-person narration. The complexity of the folklore and its romantic twists will engage fantasy readers on many levels. (Fantasy. 13-adult)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Sikander, the emperor of Macedon, arrives in peaceful Shalingar after conquering Syria, Phoenicia, Persia, and other places. Sikander asks Princess Amrita to become his bride as part of a peaceful treaty between the two nations, but the negotiations soon end in bloodshed. Haunted by the loss of her kingdom and everyone she loves, Amrita helps Thala, an enslaved oracle, escape imprisonment. Thala is certain that she and Amrita can find the Library of All Things and convince the Keeper of the Library to allow them to change their own fates. Eventually, Amrita realizes that her old life may be impossible to reclaim and that a new life can be found only through sacrifice. Khorana's sophomore novel is a stand-alone fantasy imbued with elements from Indian folklore and Hindu mythology. This story is hampered by anachronistic phrases and details that fail to coalesce into coherent world-building. As a narrator, Amrita exhibits an uneasy blend of naivete and impetuousness; she is also seemingly the only character in the book unaware of her true connection to a mythical goddess called Maya the Diviner. Despite the inherent tension of an early love triangle, relationships remain underdeveloped save for the endearing if abrupt friendship between Amrita and Thala. Intriguing concepts such as the Library of All Things are bright spots in this story where many of the most exciting moments are related in asides or flashbacks. VERDICT A serviceable though not well-realized fantasy for fans of Roshani Chokshi's The Star-Touched Queen.-Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
Princess Amrita's life is upended when circumstances force her to marry a neighboring kingdom's malevolent ruler. After Emperor Sikander lays waste to her homeland, Amrita quests to find a mythical library that will give her the power to change the past. Khorana makes deft use of symbolism informed by various world religions yet retains command of her own prose in this evocative fantasy.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)