Four siblings. A country in ruin. One quest to save them all.

Vira is desperate to get out of her mother's shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country's only quarry running out of magic - a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict - she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they'll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic.

Vira's only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumoured to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by broken relationships and the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key - and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political and unwanted marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani, needs it to clear his name. And Riya, the runaway sibling who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who took her in.

They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harbouring secrets and their own conflicting agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family - and their world - for good.

First in a duology from an incredible new talent, this Indian-inspired fantasy debut is epic, fierce and magnetically addictive, taking you on a thrilling journey where magic, a prized resource, is the only thing between peace and war.

Four siblings. A country in ruin. One quest to save them all.

About the Author
Akshaya Raman is a Tamil American writer born in India and raised in California. She fell in love with writing when she wrote her first story at the age of ten. Though she graduated from UC Davis with a degree in biology, she gave up pursuing a career in science to write books. She lives in California with an actual scaredy cat, and in her free time she enjoys baking, travelling and watching too much reality TV. She is the author of The Ivory Key duology. You can find her on Instagram @akshraman.

Reviews
Raman's Indian-inspired fantasy debut is a dream for seekers of character-driven stories. The third-person points-of-view of each of the four siblings artfully delivers distinct personalities who have the same aims but with entirely different reasons. Although the story progression is relaxed as readers acclimate to the main characters, the world building and backstories are intriguing and well thought out. Slow-burning romance, BIPOC and queer representation, family drama, and a country under threat of war-the first in Raman's duology does not disappoint. * Booklist, starred review *



Book Information
ISBN 9781471410734
Author Akshaya Raman
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint Hot Key Books
Publisher Hot Key Books
Weight(grams) 281g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 22mm