Daughters of the dawn

Gr 7--9--In this fantasy sequel to Sisters of the Snake, twins Ria and Rani embark on a quest to save their world from destruction. Ria and Rani are just settling into their lives as reunited princesses when disaster strikes again. Amara, a woman with dark eyes and red hair who once advised the raja, has set off in search of the talismans that once belonged to the Masters of Fire, Tide, Earth, and Sky. With these and the Bloodstone in her grasp, she will plunge the world into Eternal Night unless the twins can stop her. Racing against time, Ria and Rani must learn to balance the good and bad--love and hate--in themselves even as they uncover dark secrets about their past and the snake magic that unites them. The authors, twins themselves, have taken on an ambitious task in bringing Ria and Rani's world to life. They've composed a high-speed adventure in the same vein as Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series while also threading in details from South Asian culture, such as honey-soaked pastries, crisp pakoras, gold-embroidered kurtas, and brightly colored saris. By and large, the authors succeed in drawing these details together, although this novel feels at times overcrowded with characters and mythologies that would gain in dimensionality if given more space to develop. VERDICT Recommended for those who appreciate fantasy incorporating high-speed adventure and vibrant settings.--Talea Anderson

Princess Rani and Princess Ria embark on new adventures when a prophecy warns of impending calamity in this follow-up to 2021's Sisters of the Snake. Under the magical influence of the vengeful Amara, the queen and king of Abai lost their memories of their daughter, Ria, who grew up in the streets as a thief. Ria and Rani, her identical twin sister, managed to restore their parents' memories, but Amara remains a threat as she gathers the talismans of the Masters of Magic in order to become the Soul Master and gain power over life and death. Ominous visions, a new prophecy from the Fountain of Fortunes, and the appearance of the Blood Moon, a portent of doom, compel the two princesses to take action: Rani travels to Retan to consult with the desert kingdom's scholars, while Ria heads north to snowy Amratstan, where Amara was last spotted. As the sisters work with old and new allies to put an end to Amara's scheme, they each struggle with self-doubt and the weight of royal expectations, with these issues affecting their respective romantic relationships as well the fate of their world. This sequel picks up from the conclusion of the previous title and expands on the Indian-inspired fantasy world that it introduced. The prose is unsophisticated but vivid, filling the pages with more original mythology, lavish descriptions, and a suitably grand showdown. Sure to please fans of the series. (list of the Masters of Magic) (Fantasy. 12-17) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.