A touch of blood

A prophecy foretells that Eshani, a nagin who can bend flora to her will, shall open the portal between the war-torn mortal realm and the plague-ridden underworld should the Gatekeeper Hiran, an asura prince, rescue her from the clutches of the Shadow King and guide her to the realm of amrita. Faced with a ravished homeland and the doomed lives of her fellow naga, Eshani bargains with the shades to survive the Fire Wars and save her people. In exchange, they deliver her to the underworld, where the Shadow King captures her, transforming her quest from one of mere survival to a struggle in which she and Hiran must decide the fate of every creature in every realm. Patel expertly blends Indian lore with the foundational narrative of Persephone's sojourn in this equally dark and cyclical take on the myth. Readers will find Patel's descriptions intense and as nightmarishly immersive as the underworld they describe. An author's note prefaces the story, providing backstory regarding the myth of Persephone and Hades and its connection to the novel.

In this twist on the story of Persephone, a young woman makes a life-altering bargain to save her loved ones. Years before Manisha, the protagonist of 2024'sA Drop of Venom, met monster slayer Pratyush, her older sister, Eshani, made a secret trade with the shades, exchanging her life to ensure the survival of her fellow naga. Hiran, the brooding Gatekeeper of the Nightmare Realm, whose spirited sister, Holika, can manipulate dreams, has repeatedly appeared in Eshani's dreams, though she believes she's simply imagining him. When the shades finally demand repayment, Eshani must locate the underworld's Gatekeeper--unaware it's Hiran--to fulfill a prophecy. Instead, she finds herself in the clutches of the nefarious Shadow King, Hiran's sadistic half brother, who believes that Hiran died on their father's funeral pyre. Patel carefully establishes the initial worldbuilding, which unfolds gradually, before pulling the characters together in a thrilling third act that blends action and introspection even as Eshani and Hiran confront their destinies and their growing romantic bond. The dual perspectives reveal each protagonist's personal struggles--Eshani's with mastering her power over plant life and Hiran's with keeping his shadow self, the Gloom that "made him crave violence and darkness," in check. Grounded in Indian lore, the story features brown-skinned human characters and offers a fresh cultural perspective on themes from Greek mythology. A riveting companion novel that will leave readers eager for more. (author's note)(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.