This is a fantasy book, and the world-building is inspired by the history and epics of India. Here, a captive princess and a maidservant become unlikely allies to save the empire from ruins.
Malini is imprisoned by her dictator brother on the Hirana—an ancient temple that used to be a source of forbidden magic. Priya is a maidservant who prefers to stay in the background so long as it keeps her dangerous secrets hidden.
Priya, along with other maidservants, makes the treacherous journey up the Hirana each night to clean Malini’s chambers. One fateful day, Malini witnesses something that reveals the true nature of Priya’s forbidden power.
Malini, determined to use that as leverage, forms an alliance with Priya. One is a princess who wants to free the empire from her brother’s cruelty; the other is a priestess in possession of magical powers seeking to find her family.
The world-building is appealing, and the magic system is unique. There are many secondary characters here who are also well-developed. The character Bhumika even outshines the two main characters. She is a thoughtful and clever character and an integral part of the story. This book has queer representation and an engaging storyline. The characters are compelling.
One slight downside of the book is that it tells too much rather than showing the action in some parts. Nonetheless, it is an interesting tale of a princess and a priestess trying to change the fate of an empire.

-Ariana