Within the Heart of Wicked Creatures" by Rima Orie is a richly imagined YA fantasy that follows Priya Chkadhari, a girl cursed—or gifted—with the ability to manipulate souls. Forced to hide her powers, Priya’s life changes when she is accepted into an elite military school, where her 'curse' becomes a strength. Amid political intrigue, a centuries-old war, and a growing threat within the fortress, Priya must navigate her newfound identity and her role in the conflict.

Orie crafts a detailed world with a strong protagonist grappling with questions of belonging and power. While the themes of colonialism and morality are thought-provoking, the pacing sometimes falters, and certain twists feel predictable. Still, fans of character-driven stories with layered world-building will find much to enjoy.

A solid read for lovers of YA fantasy looking for something both introspective and action-packed.

within the heart of wicked creatures is a book that was previously published in dutch and is finally getting an english translation!

i had the pleasure of reading this book while on the eurostar to amsterdam. i finished it in one sitting (on the train) and couldn't recommend this book enough. 

my heart practically broke for priya in those first few chapters. she was the sister who could never do anything right. no matter what she did or what she wanted, it wasn't enough and someone else did it better than her or "deserved" what she wanted more. i felt so much for priya. she deserves the world.

the characters were complex and highly realistic. they did both good and somewhat questionable things. the rag tag team were easily the highlight of this book. i liked their found family vibes really hit the spot.

this book focuses heavily on colonisation. as someone who doesn't know a hell of a lot about the dutch history of colonisation, i found this book really enlightening. while it's a fictional account/interpretation, it's inspired by something that was real and encouraged me to do my own research into it.

the worldbuilding was really fun to read about. i felt the author did an excellent job developing such a unique and interesting world. the inclusion of various monsters was definitely my favourite. 

if you're looking for a new fantasy read that isn't a "booktok top 10", i highly recommend checking out within the heart of wicked creatures.

A new to me author gives us a story full of action, adventure and mystery with diverse characters aplenty to support the captivating storyline. A really enjoyable read!

Initially published in Dutch, WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES follows Priya Chkadhari, born during the blood moon and therefore cursed with the power to manipulate the souls of others - one of the feared and persecuted blood children, killed if their true natures are discovered. However, when Priya wins the competition to study at infamous military academy Kuwatta, she learns not everyone views the blood children as cursed. But alongside preparing to fight in the guerilla war which has overtaken the country of Awaran - by the colonists who killed her father - Priya soon discovers there is a secret lurking at the heart of Kuwatta, which might cost her and her friends her lives…

There was a particular trend of BookTok about a year or so ago in which adult readers began to recommend R.F. Kuang’s THE POPPY WAR as a YA novel, due to the way in which its own military academy was deemed comparable to some of the magical schools in the YA sphere. For reference, THE POPPY WAR is an adult fantasy inspired by the Sino-Japanese wars, and some of its most graphic scenes are reimaginings of both The Rape of Nanking and Unit 731. In other words, if you think THE POPPY WAR is appropriate to give to a fourteen-year-old, I think you need to be immediately rugby-tackled and have your recommendation privileges revoked. While based on real historical events in Suriname, WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES is a military fantasy which is specifically situated to be appropriate to teen audiences, and makes for a far better recommendation: there’s some really interesting discussions of colonisation and diasporas, and even for readers not of these backgrounds and viewing it from a sense of remove, it’s both a nuanced introduction and thorough exploration.

Due to the nature of the book as a translation, it would be remiss to discuss its merits without referencing the individual translator. When you’re translating a text, you interpret it through your own lens and word it in such a way that appeals in the target language, meaning that the translator is much more than a filter to pass the text through: it’s not merely a case of substituting words for others. While I couldn’t find her name referenced on Goodreads editions metadata, the English translator for WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES was Laura Watkinson, and she does a brilliant job with the text, especially since it’s a speculative one. As someone who doesn't work directly in translation, I can imagine it’s difficult enough to translate a text which doesn’t incorporate new imagined ideas, concepts and terminology.

As a protagonist, Priya is both compelling and understandable. Given her powers as a blood child, which she continually represses, she comes across as very quiet and reserved, but she’s also incredibly determined, motivated by both her father’s death at the hands of colonists, and the ill-treatment she receives at the hands of her mother, who has firmly relegated her to the role of Black Sheep within their immediate family. Her determination to leave her village of Disin and make it to Kuwatta, even at the risk of tarnishing her relationship with her Golden Child sister Ishani, also makes for some excellent emotional work and a thoroughly complex family dynamic. Her brother, Umed, on account of his illness caused by the blood moon at the novel’s inception, is mostly an external figure to be viewed through the perspective of other characters, but Priya’s determination to cure him - in part feeling the blame since the blood moon, which gives her power, is the thing to hurt him - is another aspect which gives her a nice amount of depth. The role of the older sister, especially in numerous cultures around the world, is one which is fraught with parentification and responsibility, and Priya makes for a nice depiction of this archetype in a relatable way.

The concept of the blood children - or the soul-singers, as they are renamed at Kuwatta in the second third of the novel - is also an interesting one. Since Priya’s focus on her powers extends as far as repressing them, we learn about the wider span of abilities at the same time that she does. Alongside Priya’s abilities to control other people through forcing them to do things telepathically, there are also soul-singers with the ability to see the dead - depicted through Priya’s diminutive but loyal friend Jupta - and those with the ability to form illusions - as depicted by Priya’s other friend, joker and pacifist Kwasi. Alongside creating different categories to encourage reader insertion - inevitably, readers end up trying to decide which of the powers they would want - this narrative technique is an effective one at placing Priya in a really tenuous position. Alongside her position as a Suryan, brought to Awaran by the colonists to work as indentured labourers, her position as a soul-singer ensures that Orie produces a maltreated and oppressed class within a group already being oppressed by colonial powers.

One of the biggest strength of WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES is its deuteragonists, who work to populate the narrative in both a compelling and realistic way. Kwasi and Jupta, in conjunction with Priya, make up a nicely functioning trio dynamic - plus, it’s one with two girls and a boy, which makes a nice change from the male-dominated trios which we see most often. They also allow for perspectives on how the different ethnic groups with Awaran interact with one another, and their own particular practises and beliefs: for instance, while gold is established to amplify soul-singer powers, Jupta as an Indigenous citizen of Awaran refuses to wear it due to the environmental destruction involves with harvesting it. Ishani, Priya’s gifted and scholarly sister, is also someone who undertakes an interesting arc of understanding and tolerance, which reflects really well on the dynamic of siblings who have been placed in conflict with each other throughout their lives. Also included in this collective is Reza, the soul-singer son of Kuwatta’s general, who becomes Priya’s eventual commander - and love interest. Many of the narrative choices here, including the third-person narration, are refreshing ones to see within YA, and included in this is the slow-burn relationship between Priya and Reza. The two essentially loathe each other for the majority of the novel, and it is only when it draws towards its conclusion that the two acknowledge their eventual attraction, ensuring that it doesn’t dominate the narrative and it moves at a steady pace. While the two are separated at the novel’s conclusion, Orie leaves it open for the two to reunite in a sequel, thus leaving the more romantically-inclined hooked.

If there’s one thing I love in fiction, it’s some evocatively evoked monster depictions, and WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES does not disappoint on this front. Even in the beginning, we are introduced to the concept of primordial beasts roaming Awaran during the blood moon, and from there, it only gets more intense. Key to the narrative are the rabidos, zombie-esque beings who feed on human flesh and who are immediately recognisable by their bloodied mouths, which form some effective but age-appropriate nightmare fuel, which also lend themselves to some great fight scenes. Dotted around the novel are also findings of human teeth in puddles of grey slime, and while I’m being careful to avoid spoilers, the horrors of colonialism also make themselves known in the process. Genre-blending is always fun to read, and zombie-fights in fantasy are a combination that I’m personally a big fan of.

My singular qualm with the book - while it’s hardly a big one - is the pacing. We spend a long time in Priya’s home village of Disin - understandable to establish stakes, the oppression of soul-singers, and her tumultuous home situation - meaning that the first third of the novel is dominated by prepping for, and undertaking, the entrance test for Kuwatta, and that the ensuing training scenes are somewhat rushed. Similarly, we are introduced to a lot of names during Priya’s introduction to Kuwatta, who don’t return until the near conclusion, while Priya’s soul-class teacher only really makes one key appearance prior to the novel’s climax. However, the other character work and worldbuilding are strong enough that this is only a minor issue as opposed to a dominating one, and in a sequel where this world has already been established, I imagine these chapters will be able to breathe far more easily.

Overall, WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES is a military fantasy which takes an accessible and nuanced look at colonisation and relations between ethnic groups, established within the context of Suriname: there’s an interesting author’s note at the end which introduces readers to a history of the region, and encourages young readers to research the nation’s history more if they are interested, and alongside this, it’s a genuinely entertaining and tense read. As the YA industry continues to diversify, it’s good to see translated fiction being given its shelf-space, especially in the speculative sphere - translated fiction is far more established in adult publishing, but still has an oddly elitist reputation among adult readers - and it’s a trend which I hope continues to grow in the UK trade.

*WITHIN THE HEART OF WICKED CREATURES was released by Ink Road Books on the 12th of September, 2024: remember to support your brick-and-mortar bookshops, particularly indies! Thank you to Ink Road Books for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

The world-building in this book is incredibly rich and captivating, as is its examination of various cultures. The fantasy elements are dark and unique, addressing significant themes such as colonization, war, and discrimination. The characters, especially Priya, are relatable, and their relationships feel authentic. The social issues presented are thought-provoking and provide depth without becoming overwhelming or confusing. Overall, this is a fantastic read.

From the start, you are thrown into this rich and fascinating world full of diverse cultures and characters. The beginning is quite slow as the world is being introduced so you can follow along and get acquainted with the characters and locations. This is slightly based on the history of Suriname which I knew nothing of and it was great to learn.

I really enjoyed this story and learning more about other cultures. It was original and dark which I thought was a breath of fresh air to YA fantasy.

I love the characters of Priya, Reza, Kwasi and Jupta! I hope there's more to come from them!

It was a really enjoyable read and I was a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers romance, even though that was just a small plotline.

Thank you to Ink Road Books for sending me this copy to review!

(4.5 stars)

I want a sequel asap!

Within the Heart of Wicked Creatures has an overarching theme of many groups with different cultures working together to defeat the colonists who are trying to take over control and view the indigenous populations as savages and monsters. This makes it beautifully full of differing cultures and is done in an understandable way so that the reader doesn't get confused - if you do mix up which group has which look or belief, it isn't imperative to the story and will get retold to you if it is even slightly important.

It is that style of writing that means the reader doesn't get lost or confused throughout the book, and they learn alongside the character in a way that doesn't feel clunky or forced.

The book follows Priya, who is a blood child, as she learns to accept herself and her powers. A blood child is someone who is born on the blood moon night when monsters roam and exposure to the moon on these nights has serious repercussions for those who aren't blood children. Blood children have powers too, which the others fear and therefore blood children are often killed. Priya survives because her mother hid the fact she's a blood child, yet she also favours her other children over Priya - demonstrating a complex love-hate relationship between mother and daughter, which Priya also has with her younger sister Ishani who is the family prodigy and hope.

There is a cute enemies to lovers romance, however it is not the main focus of the book. The main focus is defeating the mother of monsters.

Priya's story features strong friendships, sisterhood, and heartbreak, as well as war, discrimination, and horrors.

It is well-worth the read and I recommend it to everyone! There were points that made me laugh, cry, squeal, and moments where I had to set my kindle down for a few minutes. All this whilst also being a thought-provoking story of colonisation, forced relocation, and discrimination in a fantasy-setting.

I was really looking forward reading this book as I had heard great things from the Dutch book community. I had however some difficulties entering this fantasy world, I believe it's more a me problem than a writers problem as I had difficulties imagining the world that is Indian inspired, and that's not really my strong suit. I've so read many fantasy books that it really took me by surprise how difficult it was for me to really enter this world, which is why I only gave this book 3 stars. The plot was good, but something was missing for me.

Blurb;
Born during the blood moon and cursed with the dangerous ability to manipulate other people's souls, Priya has to hide her power or face death.
But when Priya wins a place to attend the country's elite military academy in Kuwatta, her curse is revealed to be a gift and everything changes. With a centuries old war still raging and strange dangers lurking, Priya must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for her people and her country. An electrifying and gripping story of belonging and survival.

OK this book was amazing. The characters where strong and believable with a range of relationships, skills and beliefs that added humanity and so much life. The world building was intricate and well thought out with real world ties that made it deeper and honed the message of the story. The plot, the pacing, the originality and immersive story telling is what makes this story incredible and I look forward to seeing more from this author.