REVIEW: Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Publisher: PenguinTeen

ISBN: 0374313091

Release Date: 23rd June 2020

Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo, B&N,
Book Depository 


Synopsis:

Gul 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.

Review:

**This book was sent to me by the publisher via NetGalley
in return for my honest review**

I first fell in love with this book when the cover was first released. Isn't it just stunning?

A large part of this book is an old prophecy foretelling that a girl born with a star-shaped birthmark will defeat the evil ruler of their land. Gul, the protagonist, has spent her life trying to keep her birthmark a secret. Her parents always warned her against allowing anyone to see it and she grew up in fear of anyone finding out.

Very early on in the book, Gul's parents are murdered at the hand of the King and she is forced into hiding to keep safe. Luckily for Gul, she meets a group of women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus who take her in and begin training her into using her warrior magic. But, the only thing Gul can think about is revenge for her parents.

Gul has gone through a lot as a young girl. She's watched people be killed for having a birthmark and has had to live with the same fear throughout her life. Then, she watches as her parents are murdered in front of her. Her drive for revenge keeps her going and she is determined to grow strong enough to defeat those who wronged her. Her strength made me fall in love with her as a character.

Cavas is the second protagonist that the book follows. It switches perspectives between the two characters in alternating chapters which I really enjoyed. I liked following a character that had magical abilities as well as one that didn't. Cavas has his own struggles he has to deal with. His mother passed away when he was a young child and he has been looking after his ill father ever since. I really admired his strength and his love towards helping his father as much as he can. Cavas had a big heart and I loved that he would do whatever he could to help those in need.

Gul and Cavas end up being drawn together and although at first they don't get on, they eventually come to an agreement with Cavas helping Gul gain access to the palace to enact her revenge. I personally was more drawn to Gul's story and past, but I did like the insight into Cavas's family (which I hope is dived into more in the sequel!)

It wasn't just the main characters that were strong though. All the secondary characters were very detailed and had such rich backstories that I just couldn't help but love them all. The Sisters of the Golden Lotus were particularly interesting and I enjoyed learning about them, their past and what they were aiming for.

The world-building was fantastic. There are four different kingdoms; Prithvi, Ambar, Jwala, and Samdura. The description and details about the world made it one of the strongest aspects of the book. I loved all the details and could really picture how the world was supposed to look.

I felt like some parts of the book were a little slow but I am beyond excited for the sequel! The intrigue of the prophecy, strong-willed characters and rich world-building kept me hooked. The ending of the book has only left me wanting more.

Definitely pick this one up!