Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena Pages: 384
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on June 23, 2020
Series: The Wrath of Ambar #1
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy & Magic
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher
Also in this series: Rising Like a StormGul 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.
Hunted by the Sky is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series, called The Wrath of Ambar, by Tanaz Bhathena. Hunted By the Sky was a breathtaking adventure filled with magic, romance, and wonderfully complex characters. I loved this book and I am already anxious to get my hands on the next book in the series. I need continue reading right now. I think Hunted by the Sky will appeal to longtime fans of fantasies, as well as fantasy readers that are feeling a bit of fantasy burn out, and feeling like all the books they read are the same. Hunted by the Sky is NOT the same. The world feels fresh and nuanced in a really wonderful way. I loved the world building just as much as I loved the characters, which is saying a lot coming from a character driven reader.
In Hunted by the Sky we meet our main character Gul. The book starts out with Gul witnessing the murder of her parents. The first line of the story is literally her father being killed. Pretty intense stuff. The king heard a prophecy long ago that a girl with a specific birthmark will bring about his demise, and ever since he has been disposing of any and all girls who have these birthmarks. Gul and her family have been on the run for most of her life. Because of this, Gul is determined to get revenge. Gul is a super strong and interesting main character, not only because she has been through so much, but because she grows in so many different ways throughout the story. At the start of our tale Gul is 13, and then the plot jumps forward a few years to her as a young adult. Gul also grows with her magic. I am not going to be too spoilery, but in the world of Hunted by the Sky magic wielders (magi) and non-magical (non-magi) have a stark divide, right down to which schools they can attend. For most of Gul’s life, she believes that she has no power, so watching her powers develop and watching her be trained in warrior magic was so satisfying to me. I can’t wait to see what is in store for our characters in the next book. I am hooked!
We also meet our other main character, Canvas who is caring for his sickly father. I loved Canvas and seeing his plot intertwine with Gul is what made me fall in love with this book. The two of them were total fire. Right from their very first scene in the market place together. View Spoiler » Another facet of Hunted by the Sky that I totally loved was the magic system. There are so many different kinds of magic in this world, and it was so interesting to me. It was almost like x-men mixed with mages/wizards in a way, where people are born with certain abilities but they also have to practice and hone their craft or abilities to get stronger. Some people can tell the truth, others have death magic and some have the ability to whisper to animals, among many others. I loved every time we encountered a new ability because it was so interesting to learn about them all.
Overall, whether you are a die-hard fan of classic fantasy, or if you have been a bit bummed out that all fantasy seems the same lately, Hunted by the Sky is a fantastic story that is sure to engage and thrill you. I think you will fall in love with the magic, characters and world. I know I did. Release book 2 asap please!
Side note: I fall into the die hard fan category, but I do know many people have told me that they are put off of fantasy at the moment because everything feels the same or “been-done-before”.
Hunted by the Sky SUMMER HUNT PROMOTION
Original Link: https://tanazbhathena.com/summer-hunt-promotion/
Ends: August 31st 2020
Orders of a hardcover book will receive limited edition swag and be entered to win a $100 gift card. Open to residents of US and Canada.
Rules & Conditions on the link above.
To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below to win a Win a copy of HUNTED BY THE SKY by Tanaz Bhathena (US/CAN Only)
Note: Book Briefs Contest Policy applies. All of the prizes, terms and conditions of the giveaway should be contained in the rafflecopter below. No Purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2020 New Release Challenge
- Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge 2020
Denise Duvall
Interesting plot, great cover and added to my TBR list!
sherry fundin
i know it’s hard to come up with a twist that hasn’t played before, but that doesn’t turn me off. this does sound great. glad you enjoyed it so much
sherry @ fundinmental
Penny Olson
Hunted by the Sky sounds really interesting. Will definitely be adding it to my TBR.