Of Light and Shadow

Gr 9 Up–Bhathena draws on Indian mythology in this fantasy to tell the love story of a bandit and a prince. Roshan Chaya is an orphaned, 18-year-old healer with deep brown skin and red-black hair. Although she is young, she leads the Shadow Clan, a group of bandits who are campaigning to right the wrong perpetrated against the poorest provinces of Jwala. Roshan knows to be cautious when she meets Jwala’s golden-eyed Prince Rajkumar Navin—a soul magus—and yet she finds herself drawn to his song. The two teens exist on opposite sides of a political divide that they must cross if they are to bring about justice for Jwala while also finding happiness for themselves. As the author notes, this novel reimagines India’s colonial past, incorporating elements of Zoroastrianism to fabricate a vivid and politically complex backdrop for the teens’ story. While the romance in this book has a somewhat predictable arc, the author does a fine job rounding out the main characters by delving into their respective backstories. Overall, this book offers a vibrant new take on male-centric bandit myths like Robin Hood.