Scan barcode
A review by magicalreads
Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena
4.0
4.25 stars
read on my blog
rep: ownvoices Indian-inspired world and characters, wlw side character
I really loved this author’s contemporaries (you can read my review of The Beauty of the Moment), and I was so excited for her excursion into fantasy. Thankfully, I really loved this! Hunted by the Sky enthralls the reader, with magic and fate and wondrous worldbuilding.
I loved our main characters! Gul is the supposed Star Warrior, blessed by the sky goddess and destined to take down the tyrant king and rule, yet she barely has magic. Cavas is a non-magi who works in the palace, keeping his head down, because he just wants to earn enough money to provide medicine for his ailing father. Their fates intertwine when they’re lured into meeting at the bazaar one night, and they are pulled into a plot as reluctant partners.
The supporting cast was also really great. Juhi, Amira, and Kali are part of the magical sisterhood that takes Gul in; they also function as mentors to her, whether she wants their advice or not. Malti is the little princess who takes a liking to both Gul and Cavas, and I loved her!
The plot is fairly simple. Gul seeks revenge on Major Shayla, the woman who killed her parents, and Lohar, the man who ordered the deaths of all the girls with birthmarks, aka her. However, she’s pulled into her destined fate as the aforementioned Star Warrior, along with Cavas. There’s not much more I can say without spoiling a lot of it unfortunately.
The worldbuilding was really interesting; it’s based on medieval India, and I’ve personally never read a book with that kind of setting. It also explores the power dynamic of those with magic (magi) and those who don’t have magic (non-magi), namely how badly the non-magi are treated. It didn’t used to be that way; rather, the current ruler grew scared of the non-magi rising up against the magi. There are also other countries that also have magic but have vastly different governing systems, and it was fascinating to see all of these differences.
There’s not necessarily that much romance in this book, mostly because Gul and Cavas are reluctant partners despite their obvious chemistry. There’s definitely the potential for more between them, and I can’t wait to see more of them in the next book.
Overall, Hunted by the Sky was a wonderful fantasy! I cannot wait for the next book after that ending. I highly recommend this book if you like A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi because they both have exquisite writing and reluctant partners with chemistry!
read on my blog
rep: ownvoices Indian-inspired world and characters, wlw side character
You are destined to live long and burn bright. To end all this.
I really loved this author’s contemporaries (you can read my review of The Beauty of the Moment), and I was so excited for her excursion into fantasy. Thankfully, I really loved this! Hunted by the Sky enthralls the reader, with magic and fate and wondrous worldbuilding.
I loved our main characters! Gul is the supposed Star Warrior, blessed by the sky goddess and destined to take down the tyrant king and rule, yet she barely has magic. Cavas is a non-magi who works in the palace, keeping his head down, because he just wants to earn enough money to provide medicine for his ailing father. Their fates intertwine when they’re lured into meeting at the bazaar one night, and they are pulled into a plot as reluctant partners.
The supporting cast was also really great. Juhi, Amira, and Kali are part of the magical sisterhood that takes Gul in; they also function as mentors to her, whether she wants their advice or not. Malti is the little princess who takes a liking to both Gul and Cavas, and I loved her!
The plot is fairly simple. Gul seeks revenge on Major Shayla, the woman who killed her parents, and Lohar, the man who ordered the deaths of all the girls with birthmarks, aka her. However, she’s pulled into her destined fate as the aforementioned Star Warrior, along with Cavas. There’s not much more I can say without spoiling a lot of it unfortunately.
The worldbuilding was really interesting; it’s based on medieval India, and I’ve personally never read a book with that kind of setting. It also explores the power dynamic of those with magic (magi) and those who don’t have magic (non-magi), namely how badly the non-magi are treated. It didn’t used to be that way; rather, the current ruler grew scared of the non-magi rising up against the magi. There are also other countries that also have magic but have vastly different governing systems, and it was fascinating to see all of these differences.
There’s not necessarily that much romance in this book, mostly because Gul and Cavas are reluctant partners despite their obvious chemistry. There’s definitely the potential for more between them, and I can’t wait to see more of them in the next book.
I don’t want to forget. Or forgive.
Overall, Hunted by the Sky was a wonderful fantasy! I cannot wait for the next book after that ending. I highly recommend this book if you like A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi because they both have exquisite writing and reluctant partners with chemistry!