The Tiger at Midnight

February 11, 2019
A young warrior chases an assassin through jungles, towns, and wastelands in this vibrantly imagined South Indian–inspired trilogy opener by debut author Teerdhala. Esha, 17, the mythical Viper of Dharka, is sent to kill Gen. Setu Hotha of the kingdom of Jansa, while his nephew Kunal, 18, is one of four soldiers tasked with finding the mysterious Viper. The general is eliminated before Esha can strike—by someone who seeks to frame her—and she flees the Red Fort hoping to discover who seeks to blame her and why. Although Kunal catches Esha on several occasions, she continues to outsmart the softhearted soldier, and they gradually reveal close-held secrets and dreams to each other as their grudging respect for one another grows into something more. Everything is set against the backdrop of an ongoing drought in Jansa caused by the withdrawal of the gods’ favor following the violent coup and usurpation of the Queen of Jansa 10 years ago. Alongside context-building descriptions of Indian food and dress, Teerdhala adds plenty of surprises to her finely limned characters to produce a lush fantasy. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency.

March 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-Caught between rival kingdoms, an assassin and a soldier discover that they have a shared background of secrets and old magic. An abrupt coup means a change of leadership in the kingdom of Jansa and the breaking of the bonds that tie the monarch to the land, but for Esha, the coup is more personal-because of it, she loses her parents and her home. Adopted into the rival kingdom of Dharka, she trains in stealth and subterfuge, becoming known as the Viper, working with the rebels to topple the pretender king in Jansa. After the assassination of the king's general, Esha is on the run with a price on her head. Meanwhile, Kunal, the general's nephew and a soldier for Jansa, is on her trail. When their paths cross, they become drawn to each other. Caught up in games of intrigue larger than themselves, Esha and Kunal must decide whether they can trust each other or whether they truly are on opposite sides of the coming confrontation. Set in a fantastical South Asia, this combination of romance, action, and magic will appeal to fans of Sabaa Tahir and Renée Ahdieh. VERDICT A strong choice for YA fantasy shelves.-Zoë McLaughlin, Michigan State University

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
In an alternate ancient India, a rebel assassin and a reluctant soldier find forbidden love while they battle to save their lands from war and disaster.Dharka and Jansa were once twin countries, bound by the blood magic of demigods and blessed with a celestial river. But the younger brother of the Dharkan king broke that bond when he murdered the Jansan queen and took over Jansa in a coup. Now, the Southern Lands teeter on the brink of catastrophic drought in a fragile cease-fire. Kunal, the nephew of the ruthless Jansan Gen. Hotha, has just been promoted to the elite Senap Guard, feared and despised for their cruelty. But Kunal would rather make art than kill innocents. And why is he so drawn to Esha, a Dharkan rebel? Esha is the Viper, the masterful but merciless assassin who is driven by her need to avenge the usurper king's murder of her family. But what she longs for is a normal life and lasting love. Esha leads Kunal on a wild chase across borders where they discover secret plots, old bonds, and new perspectives. Debut author Teerdhala's prose can be convoluted and often purple. Still, the push-pull romance between the main characters and their struggle to define their own identities move the story forward.First in a trilogy, this lush blend of folklore, fantasy, and romance is a welcome antidote to South Asian stereotypes of toxic men and repressed women. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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Sneha Mathan narrates this dystopian fantasy set in ancient India and told in alternating perspectives, the first in a planned trilogy. Esha is the Viper, a vigilante with designs to avenge her murdered family and take down the usurper king. Kunal is a soldier, loyal to the king, who has been assigned the task of capturing the Viper. As Esha and Kunal encounter each other, an attraction develops, and Kunal begins to question everything he knows about his upbringing. Speaking in a proper English accent, Mathan delivers the narrative in a straightforward voice; for the dialogue she differentiates the voices. This becomes confusing since the narration shifts between Esha and Kunal for no apparent reason in the middle of chapters. S.P. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

January 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 A devoted soldier of Jansa, Kunal swears by duty and control. Esha, a wily vigilante known as the Viper, is a member of a Dharkan rebel group whose goal is to take down the usurper king of Jansa?starting with Kunal's uncle, the brutal General Hotha. On opposite sides of a strained relationship between warring countries, Kunal and Esha are well aware of whom their enemies are, until the events of one dire night throw them together. Kunal is set on the Viper's trail, and the two are locked in a game of pursuit across a land weakened by the shattering of an old bond. Teerdhala's debut, immersed in Indian fantasy, features two compelling protagonists who must question their loyalties and decide what they're willing to sacrifice for the chance at a new future. Fast-paced action and a budding romance between emotionally layered characters make this a promising start to a gripping new series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)