Markswoman

November 13, 2017
This enjoyably melodramatic science fiction and fantasy blend rings familiar sounds from slightly unusual bells. In a vastly depopulated Asia (here called Asiana) recovering from a long-past Great War that set civilization back to a medieval state, judicial executions are carried out by orders of trained, ascetic Marks-women who can read minds and are armed with psychically aware daggers. The blades, along with teleportation hubs, are gifts from mysterious visitors who “had come down from the stars.” Kyra, newly elevated to Markswoman status, makes her first kill, taking out a captured member of the outlaw gang that wiped out her village and left her to be raised by the Order of Kali. Fearing the order’s new headwoman, Kyra escapes and finds refuge with the shunned Order of Khur, the only all-male order. She plans to return and take command of the Order of Kali once she’s strong enough to duel the headwoman, a legendary fighter. One of the Khur members, Rustan, helps prepare Kyra for the duel despite his qualms over her moral stances. The setting is lightly sketched; though the Hindu goddess Kali is depicted with her typical attributes, the Order of Kali has few relevant rituals or observances, relegating a real-world religion to window dressing. Debut novelist Mehrotra ably paces her story, giving just enough hints and revealing just enough secrets, but the revelations won’t surprise any reader who’s familiar with fantasies with strong romance elements. Agent: Mary C. Moore, Kimberley Cameron & Associates.

December 15, 2017
Having just killed her first mark, Kyra is now a Markswoman in the Order of Kali. The oldest Order in Asiana, the Order of Kali is known for their great fighting skills and their wise Mahimata, Shirin Mam. All of the Markswomen fight with their katari, a telepathic dagger to which they are psychically linked. When Kyra discovers the body of Shirin Mam, she strongly suspects that Tamsyn, the Mistress of Mental Arts, had something to do with the death. Her suspicions put her in danger, and Kyra flees to the camp of the Order of Khur. Unlike other Orders, which are all female, this Order is all male. Kyra trains with them so she can challenge Tamsyn for the leadership of the Order of Kali. The author hits all the familiar beats of the chosen-one narrative as well as the romantic antagonists-turned-allies plot. Nevertheless, Mehrota's page-turning debut concocts a solid fantasy world with a strong heroine. Readers will look forward to the next in the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

Starred review from December 1, 2017

Kyra, the sole survivor after her clan was massacred, has sworn vengeance on the killers. Now, as the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, an elite sisterhood of female assassins wielding telepathic knives, she must renounce her former life (including her desire for revenge) and protect the land of Asiana. When her esteemed mentor dies mysteriously, and Tamsyn, the order's Mistress of Mental Arts, takes control with nefarious intent, Kyra escapes into the desert where she encounters the Order of Khur, the only order composed of men. Meeting troubled Marksman Drustan, she decides to challenge Tamsyn to save her order, which leads her to discover more than she ever thought possible had she not taken the journey. VERDICT Well-developed characters and intriguing worldbuilding that mixes remnants of technological transportation with magical elements will keep readers engrossed in this fast-paced, enchanting postapocalyptic fantasy debut.--KC

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