3.5 
 Maya's horoscope is cursed, which has made her a pariah in the harem she was raised. Still, she hopes this will protect her independence. Then her father, the Raja, decides to marry her off for political reasons--or at least that's what he says he intends. But Maya is soon whisked away to become the wife of the Raja of Akaran, a magical land that controls the balance of life and death. But while Maya is coming into her own, she is still forced to take a lot on faith. She makes a mistake that forces her to come to terms with her past and also claim her future. 
 This has definite tones of Cupid and Psyche or East of the Sun West of the Moon, both stories I LOVE for a starting point. I wish I had more non-Western comparisons, because I'm sure they are there. I am just sadly not well-read enough to see them. But the tone of this novel feels magical already, before any supernatural elements are added. This feels like a fairy tale. The language in this novel is really lovely. It paints a clear picture and is evocative. It also manages to make some romantic scenes that I wouldn't have expected to be particularly romantic kind of steamy. That is talent. 
 I would have liked to see more from the relationship between Maya and Amar. I get it. They're fated. There's some unspoken history. There is going to be a little bit of love at first site. And there is also the fairy tale-esque element of the book that makes me willing to go with a lot of this. Still, I would have liked to see that relationship grow and develop rather than relying on miscommunication and fate. Part of what I like about this trope is that it forces two characters together in an intimate space and they have to get to know one another. I don't know that Maya really knew Amar any better at the end, even after fighting to get him back. 
 Maya as a character was aces though. I loved that she didn't just trust Amar outright. That she questioned and fought for herself, even if sometimes she was wrong. She was strong but also compassionate. This is not a story about Maya needing Amar, but about Maya coming into herself and discovering her power. 
 This novel kept me engaged and reading. I whizzed through it because I wanted to know what was going to happen.