It is my personal favorite when a MC has to figure out that nothing is as it seems. For me, that feeling of the world falling out beneath your feet, everything called into question is such a rush. Don’t ask me why! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
To learn what she can become, she must first discover who she is.
Katyani’s role in the kingdom of Chandela has always been clear: becoming an advisor and protector of the crown prince, Ayan, when he ascends to the throne. Bound to the Queen of Chandela through a forbidden soul bond that saved her when she was a child, Katyani has grown up in the royal family and become the best guardswoman the Garuda has ever seen. But when a series of assassination attempts threatens the royals, Katyani is shipped off to the gurukul of the famous Acharya Mahavir as an escort to Ayan and his cousin, Bhairav, to protect them as they hone the skills needed to be the next leaders of the kingdom. Nothing could annoy Katyani more than being stuck in a monastic school in the middle of a forest, except her run-ins with Daksh, the Acharya’s son, who can’t stop going on about the rules and whose gaze makes her feel like he can see into her soul.
But when Katyani and the princes are hurriedly summoned back to Chandela before their training is complete, tragedy strikes and Katyani is torn from the only life she has ever known. Alone and betrayed in a land infested by monsters, Katyani must find answers from her past to save all she loves and forge her own destiny. Bonds can be broken, but debts must be repaid.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Not only do we love a good body guard character, we love a determined and protective MC. Katyani is that! As the bodyguard to the prince, when he is sent to a monster hunting school meets meditation center, she goes too. In those two sentences alone is so much love. Immediately when she arrives sparks of frustration and maybe more fly with a mystery figure. But what I love about Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove is that this premise only becomes more complex and rich.
I feel like once we get used to the training and lesson montages, Mehrotra turns the tables on us. Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove becomes a story about history, perspective, and loyalty. About the ways in which history changes to suit ideologies and victories. Promises and punishments. The bond that was once between family, descends into shadows as the entire world is flipped. This YA fantasy develops into a story about what people will do to each other, for magic, allegiance, and love.
Overall,
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Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove examines the lies and illusions we have hung on to and perpetrated. This is one of those books where I never knew what would happen on the next page. It’s a fabulous stand alone that is packed with action. At its heart it’s a story about finding out what family and home truly mean. Find Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.