Eighteen-year-old Katyani feels as if her life is not entirely her own in this fluidly plotted, medieval India--set fantasy by Mehrotra (Markswoman, for adults). When Katyani was three, Queen Hemlata of Chandela saved her from death by creating a soul bond between them; their tie means that she always knows the queen's location and feelings, making Katyani the perfect bodyguard. Now one of the Garuda, elite royal protectors, she's responsible for the safety of the entire royal family and serves as an adviser to Crown Prince Ayan. After a barrage of assassination attempts jeopardizes Ayan's safety, a reluctant Katyani must accompany him to an ethics and military arts school. There she's tasked with protecting him from the dangerous creatures who inhabit the surrounding area while he learns from a monster-fighting sage. Katyani and the teacher's son, 19-year-old Daksh, are immediately and openly hostile toward each other, but when war breaks out and secrets from her past are revealed, she realizes that her loyalties may lead her to betrayal. Katyani's bold, vivacious personality and a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance imbue this tense, action-packed narrative with wry humor. Ages 14--up. Agent: Mary C. Moore, Kimberly Cameron & Assoc. (Oct.)

Engaging storytelling and characters mix with intense, high-stakes political games in this imaginative portrait of high society in a medieval India beset by monsters. Katyani's life is dedicated to serving as a guardswoman for the Kingdom of Chandela's Prince Ayan. Following an attack on the royal family, Katyani and Ayan are whisked away to Acharya Mahavir's monastic school, where Ayan and his cousin Bhairav must complete mandatory royal training. While making sure Ayan is completing this task, Katyani meets Daksh, the Acharya's son, and begins to develop complicated feelings for him. While readers might expect romance between these two, there are only hints at it, but their banter-filled scenes steal the show. When tragedy descends upon Chandela, the group must return to face its literal monsters. Readers will relate to Katyani's anxiety over the sudden changes in her life and will root for this strong-willed, energetic heroine through the action-packed ending. Pair this with other fierce reads, like Melissa Grey's Valiant Ladies (2022).

Gr 8 Up--A standalone, atmospheric fantasy for fans of Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes and Hafsah Faizal's We Hunt the Flame. Katyani doesn't mind the forbidden soul bond that saved her life; she loves the queen and would follow her commands anyway. The soul bond lets her know the queen's emotions and location, and lets her control Katyani's actions in turn. Raised alongside the royal family as a guard, a string of attacks forces Katyani to accompany the crown prince and his cousins to the Acharya Mahavir's school for military arts, which is located in the middle of monster-infested territory. While Katyani chafes against the rules of the monastic academy, she excels in combat, honing her considerable skills while teasing the Acharya's handsome and straight-laced son Daksh. When potential war calls the royals and Katyani back to court, shocking betrayals and political games put Katyani on the defensive and her world in peril. Mehrotra has created a lush, atmospheric story with interesting worldbuilding and stakes. Bharat is inspired by medieval India, full of creatures from Hindu mythology and all the dangers they entail. The adventure is light on romance, heavy on vengeance, with Katyani's wry wit and strong personality carrying the narrative to a satisfying conclusion. VERDICT This fantasy includes a little bit of everything, and refreshingly stands alone. A worthy purchase for most collections.--Emmy Neal

A young warrior seeks revenge after suffering terrible loss. As a child, Katyani was saved by Queen Hemlata of the Chandela kingdom, who used soulbinding magic that grants her control over Katyani's actions. But Katyani, now 18, loves the queen, who raised her alongside the Crown Prince Ayan and his royal cousins, Bhairav and Revaa. She willingly obeys Hemlata's commands, even if it means accompanying Ayan and Bhairav to be taught by the Acharya Mahavir, a reclusive spiritual warrior known for his monster-fighting abilities. Though Katyani dislikes the gurukul's strict rules, she finds enjoyment in honing her combat skills and in teasing 19-year-old Daksh, Acharya Mahavir's younger son, who is as handsome as he is uptight. When war threatens to break out between Chandela and the kingdom of Paramara, Katyani and the two princes are summoned back home only for disaster to strike the royal palace, revealing a long-hidden secret about Katyani's identity. Betrayal and false accusations set Katyani on the path of vengeance, but in the process, she must face her fear of losing the few remaining people she loves. The book is set in the country of Bharat, an India-inspired world, where fearsome creatures from Hindu folklore lurk in forests and shadows. Mehrotra smoothly incorporates worldbuilding into the atmospheric narrative, highlighting themes of family and justice with a timeless blend of adventure, mystery, and romance. A satisfying stand-alone with classic appeal. (glossary, tree descriptions) (Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.