Review by Kirkus Book Review
Impulsive choices once again rake fire demon Pinki over the coals just as revolution flares in this sequel to Force of Fire (2021). Taking a (somewhat) more earnest tone in her latest entry into the Kingdom Beyond, DasGupta pitches her young rakkhoshi into an unwilling competition for Demon Queen or King that not only pits her against newfound friends Aakash and Kumi, but entails picking rival consorts and then killing all but one if she wins. Naturally, rather than getting her first choices for consorts, events force her into promising to name smarmy, stupid Prince Rontu and all-too-clever but equally smarmy ("Pinki, my dear darling demented dumpling! My murderous and dangerous future Demon Queen!") Sesha, son of the dominant Serpentine Empire's cruel Governor-General. Meanwhile, in a plotline drawn from India's struggle to win independence from British colonizers, resistance leaders (wearing homespun rather than imported fabrics and talking of a future salt march) stage a peaceful demonstration that empire police meet with horrifying violence. In line with her demonic nature, Pinki's first impulse may be to blast foes into ash, but as she receives instruction in the principle of ahimsa, or active nonviolence, she reluctantly begins looking for less harmful ways of resolving conflicts…particularly after the outcome of the competition leaves her far more powerful and knowing than before. The author closes with notes on the Bengali context in which her story is steeped. Illustrations not seen. Fired up with wild action and vivid worldbuilding. (Fantasy. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
