February 26, 2024
Toranic Law determines which of the four hierarchal realms a person belongs in, based on the weight of their soul. As such, 16-year-old Aina has lived in Malin, the lowest of the realms populated by “souls steeped in sin,” since she was born, until she inexplicably ascends to the idyllic realm of Mayana. Dissatisfied with the decadence of her new home, Aina determines to return to her mother in Malin. When she’s invited to join the Balancers, a secretive group seeking to aid the inhabitants of the lower realms, she takes the opportunity to descend once more. Among the Balancers she meets Malin native Meizan, whose clan was all but shattered by the rise of a powerful warlord, and Mayana-born royal guard Aranel, who was tasked with infiltrating the Balancers by the powerful Preservation organization. The three form an uneasy friendship as they become embroiled in a complicated struggle for control of the entire cosmos. Debut author Vora’s trilogy opener is sprawling, energetic, and complex, featuring memorable characters, dynamic magical feats, and bizarre monsters. With a premise based on aspects of Japanese and Indian beliefs surrounding karma and philosophy, this is a wholly original and engaging adventure. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jonathan Cobb, HG Literary.
April 1, 2024
Three teens questioning their own beliefs of the universe challenge a system of stratification. During Kal Ekana, there existed one realm in which all humans were mortal and given equal chances. Then came the Great Toranic Separation, which divided the world into four realms: two upper and two lower. People believe that the path to ascending realms relies on good deeds and a soul cleansed of sin. Aina, a lower who unexpectedly ascends to Mayana, yearns to reunite with her mother, who must remain in their treacherous home realm, according to Toranic Law. After several failed attempts to reach her, Aina is recruited into the Balancers, a rebel group of uppers who purposely descend into Malin to provide aid to lowers. She's joined by Aranel, a Mayana royal guard who's spying on the Balancers for his superior, and Meizan, a fierce Malini who may be the last surviving member of his clan. Impending war looms in the distance as all three recruits discover confounding truths about Balancer leader Zenyra, the Preservation of the upper realms, and the universe they live in. Vora lends equal weight to each protagonist's purpose and point of view. Despite their differing origins and motivations, their stories intricately converge, and their choices affect one another and the fate of the realms. Epic battles, a distinctive magic system, and moral ambiguity will engage fantasy readers seeking a new high-stakes adventure. The characters are varied in physical appearance. An exhilarating series opener. (glossary) (Fantasy. 13-18)
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April 15, 2024
Grades 10-12 In a world governed by magical Toranic Law, the goodness of one's soul is the ticket to higher and more beautiful realms of existence. Aina, born into the tormented lowest world, Malin, has been allowed entry to idyllic Mayana, but all she wants is to return below to her mother, whom she hopes is still alive. After spending a year trying to tarnish her soul for a one-way ticket back to Malin, Aina tries something harsher: joining the rebel group called The Balancers, who seek to destroy Toranic Law and make all realms available to all people. She's joined by Meizan, a hard-nosed fighter trying to save his clan from the King's vengeance, and royal guard Aranel, who is spying in hopes of making his own soul pure enough to ascend to Paramos, to where all his family has risen. Vora is a debut author, and while the general setup of Toranic Law and many worlds is intriguing, it requires some explanation, as does the ""chitronic magic"" system.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
June 1, 2024
Gr 8 Up-This action-packed epic fantasy immerses readers from prologue to finish. Readers met Aina and her mother before the first chapter, living in Malin, where a harsh world hones survival instincts and hunting skills. After a flash of bright light, Aina's soul reverses its spin, and she is allowed to step through to Mayana: a heavenly place; to Aina, it is a cesspit of abundance. Aina meets two friends in this realm: Meizan and Aranel, both with their own stories and goals for the future. As the three friends face danger, adventures, and battles between possible gods, they will need to keep their own paths clear without destroying their friendship or their very different goals. Vora offers an amazing look at the book's Toranic Law society, with four realm levels and based on an arbitrary spin of fate. Readers will love being immersed in the beautiful worldbuilding Vora has successfully created, but will also begin to question the characters, their actions, and a society adhering to laws that may not be best for all. Fans of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, and Alison Goodman's Eon and Eona will be captivated by this new world. VERDICT A must-have for upper tween and teen libraries.-Cathleen Ash
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