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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
The magic system is quite literally built on poop and pee I can’t do this
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read fantasy genre after a long while, and I rather liked it!
slow-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I realllllly wanted to like this book I’m not sure why it never grabbed me. I think there was sometimes just a little too much extra in backstory or description. It also hinged for a while on “I won’t tell you this because I can’t” which I hate. Ugh, I feel like I could’ve liked it but I just wasn’t in the mood or something. Maybe I’ll give it a reread at some point.
I just finished The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa, and it was an intense, immersive experience! This debut fantasy takes us into a world where eight kingdoms are connected through mysterious spice gates, which only a marginalized group, the gatecastes, can traverse. The catch? Every passage through these gates inflicts excruciating pain, both physical and emotional. The story follows Amir, a young spice carrier who dreams of escaping this brutal cycle and finding freedom for himself and his family.
One of the novel’s strongest points is how it weaves real-world issues like caste discrimination and class oppression into a fantastical setting. The spice carriers, like Amir, are treated as subhuman despite their crucial role in maintaining the trade that the upper classes are obsessed with. Srivatsa uses this to explore themes of power, freedom, and the cost of rebellion. Amir’s journey is full of deep emotional struggles as he confronts not only the cruelty of his world but also his own desire for escape and justice.
The world-building is exceptional, rich in detail, and deeply rooted in Indian cultural and historical elements. The descriptions of the spices, the pain of crossing the gates, and the complex social hierarchy are all so vivid that I could almost smell the spices and feel the oppressive weight of Amir’s burden .
At times, the pace slowed down, especially with the heavy focus on food metaphors and cultural details, which occasionally felt overdone. Also, the romantic subplot between Amir and Harini, a princess, felt underdeveloped compared to the rest of the story. However, the emotional depth and the strong themes kept me hooked till the end.
Overall, The Spice Gate is a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching read that blends fantasy with real-world social issues in a way that feels both epic and personal. If you enjoy layered characters, rich world-building, and stories of resistance, this one’s for you!
I loved this unique fantasy world setting with kingdoms created by different spices and the spice trade being at the core of civilization. I always love to explore new worlds, especially when they provide settings and lore based in other cultures. And Srivatsa was able to vividly paint this world in my mind as I read through the book. He was especially good at evoking more than just visual sense as we traveled thorough a world full of spices that smelled really good.
Amir is our MC and he has such a great character ARC, starting as a member of the gatecaste, who are marked and forced to be carriers of spice between the different kingdoms. Like any in a lower caste, he wants to rise above his station and get away from this servitude that is imposed upon him. His fight to do this while balancing how his actions could affect the world as a whole made for some very interesting scenes!
Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Amir is our MC and he has such a great character ARC, starting as a member of the gatecaste, who are marked and forced to be carriers of spice between the different kingdoms. Like any in a lower caste, he wants to rise above his station and get away from this servitude that is imposed upon him. His fight to do this while balancing how his actions could affect the world as a whole made for some very interesting scenes!
Thank you to @harpervoyagerus for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Have you ever imagined a world entirely centered around spices—where flavors and varieties hold power and dominance?Well, this book introduce you to such a world where The weight of spices is more than you know.
In this debut fantasy novel, we come across eight kingdoms, each distinguished by their unique spice, connected through gates that only a selected few can travel through—those born with a special birthmark.
The story follows Amir, a poor gate carrier with dreams of escaping a life of servitude. He's determined to forge his own path, not just for himself but for his mother and brother too. And Along the way, Amir finds himself entangled in a massive conspiracy, with the balance between the kingdoms on the verge of collapse. He must decide what kind of world he wants to live in—if the world survives at all.
As someone who doesn't usually read fantasy, I found the setting of this book fascinating. The idea that everything revolves around spices, with balance maintained through trade and spice carriers, was so unique. And while the story isn't directly about caste distinctions, it does touch on societal injustices and the misuse of power.
For newcomers to the genre the add on is, the detailed mapping of the kingdoms and the notes provided to keep track of all the characters were incredibly helpful. I highly recommend checking those out first because the sheer number of characters can feel overwhelming.
One of the things that made this book even more engaging for me were those subtle Indian references—whether be it the dishes or the occasional slang. As the plot mainly focuses on the characters' attempts to maintain balance and the escaped in the spice world, it made it hard to connect emotionally with them. also There's not much of a evident romance, but the tension definitely rises in certain situations.
Personally, I enjoyed the secondary characters more than Amir, but it's Amir's story that drives the narrative—his quest to escape reality and find a place he can call home.
If you're intrigued by the idea of a world where spices determine your fate, I definitely recommend The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa. As it's a fresh take on fantasy that’s worth exploring
In this debut fantasy novel, we come across eight kingdoms, each distinguished by their unique spice, connected through gates that only a selected few can travel through—those born with a special birthmark.
The story follows Amir, a poor gate carrier with dreams of escaping a life of servitude. He's determined to forge his own path, not just for himself but for his mother and brother too. And Along the way, Amir finds himself entangled in a massive conspiracy, with the balance between the kingdoms on the verge of collapse. He must decide what kind of world he wants to live in—if the world survives at all.
As someone who doesn't usually read fantasy, I found the setting of this book fascinating. The idea that everything revolves around spices, with balance maintained through trade and spice carriers, was so unique. And while the story isn't directly about caste distinctions, it does touch on societal injustices and the misuse of power.
For newcomers to the genre the add on is, the detailed mapping of the kingdoms and the notes provided to keep track of all the characters were incredibly helpful. I highly recommend checking those out first because the sheer number of characters can feel overwhelming.
One of the things that made this book even more engaging for me were those subtle Indian references—whether be it the dishes or the occasional slang. As the plot mainly focuses on the characters' attempts to maintain balance and the escaped in the spice world, it made it hard to connect emotionally with them. also There's not much of a evident romance, but the tension definitely rises in certain situations.
Personally, I enjoyed the secondary characters more than Amir, but it's Amir's story that drives the narrative—his quest to escape reality and find a place he can call home.
If you're intrigued by the idea of a world where spices determine your fate, I definitely recommend The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa. As it's a fresh take on fantasy that’s worth exploring
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pacing was too slow for me and, while I think the magic system is interesting, there were a bit too many bodily fluids for my taste.