Quirky Cat
I've been hearing SO MUCH about Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra. Naturally, it got me curious, so I had to pick it up the first chance I got. This is one of those delightful books that blends fantasy with historical fiction.
Katyani owes her life to the Queen of Chandela – quite literally. She is bound to the royal family through magic and loyalty, making her one of the best guards around. This is only partly why she's so annoyed to be shipped off with the young princes.
Yes, she must protect them. But must they stay in a monastic school in the middle of nowhere? The presence of another, Daksh, isn't helping matters. That man sees more than he lets on, for better or worse.
I have been craving a few good standalone fantasy novels, and Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove delivers on that promise! It's a solid and fun read, offering so many surprises along the way.
When I first read the description, I was worried that it would end with a cliffhanger and the promise of a second book (despite what I had been told), so imagine my delight when everything got wrapped up with a neat little bow. Okay, it wasn't quite like that. Every plot arc got resolved, proving that this is the self-contained novel I had been hoping for.
There's a lot to love about Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove. Personally, I loved the characters (especially Katyani), the worldbuilding, and the writing in general. I would happily have read several hundred more pages set in this world. (Ironic since I was specifically looking for a standalone when I picked this up).
I can't wait to see what Rati Mehrotra comes up with next. I will add her to my list of authors to watch because I can't miss out on whatever it will be!
Thanks to Wednesday Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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