An enthralling start to this exciting new fantasy-duology.
I’m now impatiently waiting for my preorder to arrive so I can finish it!

From the sample I read of The Ivory Key, I love it! I find that in most books i read it’s quite rare to be enthralled by the first few chapters but I was captivated while reading this.
“The dead boy’s face was as gray as a cloudy sky moments before a storm.” Wow. The opening sentence alone had me hooked. I’m interested to see what will happen with all of the characters, especially Riya and Ronak, from what I’ve read they’re my favourites so far.
I’ll definitely be picking up a copy of this when I see it in store. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Amazing sample and it’s out today!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read a sneak peak.

The first part was an incredible start to The Ivory Key, with a gripping introduction into the complex family situation and a unique and captivating magic system. Raman's writing is incredible, intertwining the past and present lyrically and despite only being a short sample was intriguing and I can't wait to read the rest of her duology!

Oh wow I can't wait to read the rest of this book this month! A family divided with their country at risk, I am looking forward to getting to know the siblings and seeing how their agendas might conflict with one another's as they navigate the treasure hunt.

The Ivory Key has great character building from the start, artfully using the POVs of three of four siblings to create an image of their country, Ashoka and their characters’ individual stories. Raman has created an engaging narrative which manages to weave in history and scene setting without it feeling forced or dense.

There’s action and intrigue from the outset, balanced cleverly with the world building and glimpses of the past which make it easy to keep up and hard to put down! We’re introduced first to Vira, the Maharani, who has ventured into the forest outside Ashoka to investigate a murder. The mystery begins in chapter one and as Raman weaves Riya’s and Ronak’s voices into the mix, we gain both more questions and more answers.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been so gripped by the beginning of a novel and this book has gone straight onto my wishlist so I can find out what happens next. Nine chapters (even one, really) was enough to know that this was going to be a cleverly written tale filled with action and rivalry. The beautiful storytelling is paired with hints of romance, family troubles, friendships and of course, magic. And, not only is the cover stunning, the chapter page drawings are a beautiful touch.

I can see that Akshaya Raman is going to be featuring on my go-to author list and can’t wait to see how this debut duology unfolds.

Wow what a great start! So much going on in this sampler. I really want to read the rest of the book now…

4.75/5 so far!
I desperately want to get my hands on a copy of this book, even just the first few chapters were absolutely incredible. I was captivated from the very first paragraph and it only grew more interesting from there.
The world is so intriguing and magical and I cannot wait to discover more of it. The magic system is so unique, I adore the way magic is used and put into items, how one has to work hard to use it, and that every magical item is also unique to its maker. It's so cool.
Every character is so complex and I can't wait to get to know them further. The siblings differing positions and dynamics were so compelling to witness and I know it'll become even more complicated and exciting.
Every last chapter drew me further and further in and I cannot wait to dive into this world! Thank you Netgalley.

Oh wow, what a complex opening this was! There is so much going on that this sampler seemed a lot longer than it actually was, there are a lot of threads already in play and a lot of characters to try and remember.

Our main characters are the new Maharani Vira and her siblings who are all estranged from each other, and all on different paths. Vira is trying to prove herself to her Council, who see her as too young and weak to lead. Riya has been hiding away from her family whilst staying with a group called the Ravens, who had a Robin Hood kind of agenda - until she meets Vira again who exposes her real identity. Then we have the brothers Ronak and Kaleb. Ronak is desperately trying to get his brothe out of prison and Kaleb is in isolation for a crime he says he didn't commit.

There is a lot to take in here, even in the sampler and I can see how it could be confusing but Raman has a lovely writing style that draws you in and keeps you reading.

I'm definitely intrigued and can't wait for the book's release so I can read the rest!