The Ivory Key

December 6, 2021
Four royals bound by blood but not loyalty meet in a tangle of conflicting agendas in the Indian-inspired world of Raman’s debut, a duology opener. In the Ashokan empire, magic is a physical resource, hauled up from a quarry to protect the realm from its enemies and drive the economy through exportation. Even with this asset, however, the empire’s ruling family has fallen into internal chaos: the previous maharani was murdered, the original quarries have long been lost, and Ashoka’s young scions are at each other’s throats. Eighteen-year-old Vira, the newly crowned maharani, needs to tighten her hold on the throne in the face of impending war; her twin brother Ronak is dabbling in illegal acts; their traitorous 17-year-old sister, Riya, has joined the Ravens, rebels who seek to depose Vira; and their half brother Kaleb lies in prison, accused of the murder. But when the magic begins to run out, the siblings must reunite to obtain a shared goal: the Ivory Key, a legendary artifact supposed to unlock the lost quarries. Though rapid perspective shifts between the siblings can produce a sense of disjointedness, characterization remains largely solid, as does the richly described worldbuilding, tight plot, and moderate doses of romance, making for a complex and layered narrative. Ages 12–up. Agent: Hillary Jacobson, Curtis Brown.

November 1, 2021
Four royal siblings reunite, seeking the Ivory Key, a legendary object that could unlock an incredible source of magic and rescue their country from impending war. For centuries, Ashoka has relied on magic to fuel its economy and protect its borders. But the magic is running out, and Vira, the newly crowned maharani, is desperate. A suspect in the murder of Lord Harish, Vira's betrothed, shows signs of ties to the Kamala Society, a secret organization that sealed all the magic quarries when Ashokan provinces fought to control the mining trade. To unlock them and save Ashoka, Vira must retrieve the Ivory Key, but she requires the help of her three estranged siblings, who each have their own reasons for obtaining it. Vira's twin, Ronak, wants to sell it so he can start a new life. Her half brother, Kaleb, who is accused of murdering his stepmother, the previous maharani, longs to clear his name. Her sister, Riya, who has not revealed her true identity as the rajkumaari to the Ravens, a rebel group she has joined, wishes to prove her loyalty to them. Raman's immersive, enchanting world is rich in Indian cultural influences. Alternating points of view allow every protagonist to shine, and the epilogue told from a fifth perspective offers a tease for the duology's next installment. Skillfully weaves together political intrigue, complex sibling relationships, and magic. (Fantasy. 13-17)

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Starred review from November 1, 2021
Since the murder of the maharani of Ashoka---the country that controls all magic--the relationships between the royal siblings have fractured. At only 18, Vira has ascended to the throne, a role few in her council believe her capable of. Meanwhile, her twin brother, Ronak, is plotting to break free from a tactful marriage and taking their half-brother, Kaleb, (wrongfully imprisoned for the maharani's assassination) with him. The siblings' unease comes to a head when their sister Riya returns to the palace after two years of running with a group of rebels. As Ashoka's quarry runs out of magic, the only option left is to find fragments of an old map leading to an ivory key rumored to unlock the lost quarries of Ashoka. Legend or not, all the siblings want a piece of it. 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.

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Starred review from July 2, 2022

Gr 8 Up-Eighteen-year-old Vira is cracking under the pressure of her new role as maharani of Ashoka, appeasing a skeptical Council, suffering from a defeat by an encroaching enemy, raising taxes on a restless population, and desperately hiding that Ashoka's quarry of magic has run dry. So when the assassination of her betrothed reveals a missing piece of the map to the legendary Ivory Key, Vira seizes the chance to save Ashoka and reunite her estranged siblings-Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya-all with their own reasons to seek the key. Deeply immersive with lush imagery, tense political intrigue, intricate puzzles, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation, this Indian-inspired fantasy asks whom can you trust if you can't trust your family when they are not around for you to lean on. A slow-burn setup to the treasure hunt gives each sibling room to grow through alternating POV chapters and allows for worldbuilding so impressively detailed that the moving parts are occasionally difficult to keep track of. The scattering of the main characters, the promise of new destinations, and the unexpected transformation of the magic system in the final hour will have readers eager for the sequel. VERDICT A complexly layered and vivid story, traversing themes of family, trust, duty, hope, and the price of both safety and progress, this coming-of-age adventure quest is a must for the fantasy shelf.-Madeline Newquist

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