A review by ashton_reads_
Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena

3.0

The sky will fall, a star will rise.

3.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed all this book had to offer!! However, I do wish that some aspects were explored deeper.

Goodreads synopsis:
Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.

Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find.

Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

This book truly is a fun ride!! High-stakes is definitely the word for it; the action and the tension is non-stop as Gul infiltrates the palace and constantly has to hide her birthmark and her intentions from the people around her. The only person she feels she can trust is Cavas, but she’s not sure why, for he tries to avoid her at all costs in order to protect himself and his father. Despite his hesitations, he can’t seem to stay away either, as if they’re tied together by a force stronger than themselves. The tenuous peace between the kingdoms (if it can even be called that) is wearing thin, and there seems to be a divine hand stirring the pot as the prophecy is fulfilled. It all adds up to a whirlwind of a plot that is quite the adventure.

“Raja Lohar’s rule is coming to an end. What will follow will be more terrible than you can imagine – if you don’t accept your destiny. The king’s death will not save Ambar from destruction. Only you will.”

This book has the magic, mythology, and action to take it to the next level - but see, it never really gets there. As I puzzled through why, exactly, it never blew me away, I realized it lacks a solid story arc. You know, a beginning that increases steadily into a climax, then back down to a resolution and some level of a cliffhanger to keep you ready for the sequel. But this entire book feels like an introduction because the intensity level stays consistent (though there are a few slower parts), around the middle of the spectrum throughout the whole book. And the romance is always kind of middle-ground angsty: there is attraction since they meet, but there’s never a breakthrough where they get past the angsty, I’m-not-supposed-to-like-you phase. There is an identifiable climax, but it didn’t have the intensity it should’ve.

Basically, this book is worth the read if you’re looking for a binge-able duology (the sequel has been released) packed full of action, tension, and magic!!! It didn’t quite reach the potential intensity it could’ve achieved, but overall, it is a great fantasy read and a great introduction to the duology! I’m very excited to experience the rest of Gul and Cavas’s story!








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