One of the most brutal and vivid underdog stories I’ve ever read!
Kavithri is nothing. A poor Taemu, looked down upon for her people’s part in the war many years ago. Her kind were once feared, their berserker rage boiling inside of them something to be revered. Now, she can’t walk down the street without someone reminding her she is the lowest rung in the food chain. Nothing but dirt on the city of Raayan’s streets.
But Kavi has a plan. She is going to take the trials, become a mage and bring her people out from the shadows. The Taemu will no longer need to hide.
Her plans are quickly thwarted and it seems her dreams of the mage academy are not ready to be fulfilled. That is, until she saves a mans life and her world changes forever.
The world will remember her name, even if she has to write it in blood.
Kavithri is one of the most vivid books I have ever read. This South Asian inspired fantasy is sure to sweep you up in its arms and have you rooting for our main character by the turn of the last page. The world, the magic, and Kavi herself were all fantastic.
The first thing I loved about this book was the world. It is brutal and unapologetic in showcasing the classism that tears this population apart. Whether it was the upper class with rooms to spare or the dirt ridden slums, Bedi makes them come alive. We are invited to explore each section of the world offering the reader insight to the vast cultures, beliefs and ways of life our characters face each day. From street food vendors looking to haggle with the poor to make an extra dollar, rickshaws rushing past on busy roads or dimly candle lit housing, you can feel it all.
The second thing I will mention is Kavi herself. This poor girl is spat on, shunned and degraded for nothing more than her bloodline. She falls into pits of despair, believing these things about herself, making herself small until one day she decides that she too, deserves respect. She is in constant battle with her worldview and building her and her people up while often putting her life on the line. We see her grow, fight with those inner voices and become someone who builds others up along with her. If you want to talk about a strong female character fighting against the odds. Look no further, Kavi is your girl.
I will briefly mention that I had some issues (very much a me thing) with repetition in dialogue throughout book. There were moments where one character would say a line then Kavi would repeat either the full line or a word from it in a question format. I felt at times this delayed moving the story forward and kept me sitting in a repetitive cycle waiting for the next goal to be revealed.
Overall, I fell for Kavithri. Watching her become as ruthless as the world around her to survive was a real pleasure. The first book in the Ghosts of Ethuran packs a punch and, I am very much looking forward to seeing what Kavi does in book two!
