Vira as the newly-crowned queen of Ashoka, is desperate to prove her worth as ruler after her mother’s untimely murder. Kaleb, falsely accused of planning said murder, is wasting away in the palace dungeons. Ronak, determined to break his brother out of captivity, is in far over his head after getting mixed up in some shady deals with the criminal underbelly of Ashoka. And Riya, having run away from palace life years ago, finds herself swept back into palace life in an effort to prove her loyalty to the Ravens, the gang that despises everything the monarchy stands for.

The four siblings find themselves having to work together to retrieve the Ivory Key, the mythic object rumored to restore magic to the land, but each has their own motives and plans. With Ashoka quickly running out of magic resources, and the siblings at each others' throats, what could possibly go wrong?

The characters are everything here. The plot itself is admittedly not the most intricate but nevertheless wholly engrossing as bonds are broken and rewoven between the four siblings – and a couple of other main players. The prose and story-weaving is masterful, the author pulling me in from the very first line and keeping me attentive from beginning to end. The story moved quickly because I could not put this book down.

The atmosphere and aesthetic are spectacular; I love reading fantasy that is non-white centric and feel like I (a very white woman) learned a lot about Indian culture through the beautiful scene painting. I appreciated the lack of explanation for certain things, the author assuming the intelligence of her audience, and providing such detail that explanation is unnecessary.

I CANNOT WAIT for the sequel, to see what becomes of each of these standout characters, to follow up that cliffhanger twist that I did NOT see coming, and to return to this gorgeous fantasy world. I can honestly say I haven’t read a fantasy quite like this one and that is quite a feat.

Trigger warning: graphic descriptions of dead bodies, in-depth descriptions of grief and loss, death of family members, recovering from trauma, blood, violence, emotional manipulation, discussion of identity policing/microaggressions towards a biracial character, allusions to human experimentation, and discussions of war/invading country.

I was given this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

The story follows four royal siblings that cannot see things from the others POV. They live in a world that is supported by magic. The trouble is magic is running out and causing their kingdom to suffer. They go on a mission to find magic via the Ivory Key and save their kingdom along with the head of the palace guard.

The journey to the key and back is mildly eventful. The siblings all continue to have their own motives for finding the Ivory Key. The plot takes the obvious troupe of working together for a common good through hard work and dedication(the hunt for the key). There is a plot twist which I saw coming pretty early on.

Over all the book is good, the plot moves along quickly despite the mild voyage. There is a decent amount of charter growth for the siblings and an obvious set up for at least a second book. It was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it. 3.75 ⭐

As with most books with a multitude of perspectives, I found it a bit challenging to get into. Overtime I got to enjoying three out of the four perspectives. Unfortunately I could not get into the fourth one at all. I just did not like Ronak. He is selfish and spoiled and one track minded. But that’s not always bad that gives the character more room to grow.

Overall it is an interesting adventure with shifting perspectives. But to me the reveals are very obvious and predictable. To the point where I was doubting the main character and why the heck she didn’t figure it out. It was rather on the nose.

I would say it is aimed more at the younger readers, and has a very simple progression of the story.

The Ivory Key touches on some of my favorite tropes: friends-to-lovers-to-enemies, sibling competition, and learning to heal after traumatic experiences. And that's not even beginning to touch on the magical adventures and lush Indian-inspired setting.

Smart, clever, and beautiful, Akshaya Raman creates a world in which it pays to study, be active, and learn from your mistakes. Each of the four siblings brought their own unique skills to the table in a hunt for a lost artifact their father obsessed over — and all had to learn it's okay to be who you are and to ignore others' expectations of you.

And while some characters felt unlovable (you'll see who I mean), this book perfectly sets up their redemption arc for the next book. This is a series I'll be recommending!

I know the saying goes that we’re not supposed to judge books by their covers - but I have to admit it was the beautiful cover of this book that first caught my eye. Luckily, the story matched the cover. I enjoyed this book and read it in three days. The main characters were likeable and well-defined. The author did a great job of portraying their growth as they overcome hurdles both internal and external. The book contains an engaging, easy to follow plot with well written (and diverse!) characters that I quickly found myself invested in the world.
Full review to come on YouTube.

I really enjoyed the world building of this book. The setting was so lush the characters almost felt flat

Vira is the queen of Ashoka, a country kept safe by a magical barrier wall. This magical barrier wall is made of and reinforced with magical ore, mined from the country's only quarry. The quarry, regrettably, is much less magical of late. War is on the horizon, and Vira has just established her rule. Her only hope now is to find the mythical Ivory Key, which purportedly offers a way to find more magic. Ashoka's future hangs in the balance, and Vira gathers her estranged siblings to assist her in the quest for the Ivory Key. Yet, each sibling also needs the key for their own ends, and none of those align with Vira's goal, to save Ashoka from war, destruction, and ruin.

Siblings band together to save the world by finding mythical magic?! Well, not so fast, as the bonding is begrudging and for, well, personal reasons, and none of the siblings want what Vira wants. I think we all know that siblings don't always agree, right? Stories with multiple points of view are often interesting, and normally I don't see a book tackling four different perspectives, but in this story, that totally happens. Does it succeed? I think so, and it lends authenticity and personality to each sibling as they maneuver for their own ends to be the final owner of the desired magical Key.

Because this is the first story in a duology, there is a fair bit of setup with siblings being gathered together, before the adventure really takes off. Yet, there's plenty of action throughout, and the magic system allows for some fairly entertaining situations to occur. While the magic system and plot itself aren't overly unique, the characters, descriptions, and South Indian culture inspiration really bring the story to life. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel to this story! The Ivory Key is the story of magic running dry, a queen desperate to protect her people, and her siblings "helping" for their own reasons. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories told from multiple perspectives, full of Indian culture, with plenty of sibling squabbles, and brimming with mythical magical mischief.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy of the book in exchange for honest feedback.***

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Ashoka has always been known for its magic--a prized resource mined from the quarry beneath the kingdom's palace.

But the magic is running out.

Newly named maharani after her mother's sudden death, Vira won't let losing the kingdom's magic be her legacy. Not when following a trail of ancient riddles and clues to find the mythical Ivory Key could unlock more magic quarries.

Ronak, Vira's twin brother, has always been more interested in studying the past like their Papa than in preparing for his future. With royal expectations closing in around him, Ronak will do anything to get away. Even promising to secure the Ivory Key for a dangerous mercenary.

Kaleb has never felt like a half-brother to any of the royal siblings. But his Lyrian birth mother is enough evidence to imprison him for the previous maharani's assassination. Helping Vira find the Ivory Key could clear Kaleb's name. But that still might not be enough to reclaim his old life.

Riya has been happy in the two years since she left the palace behind. Now, drawn into the hunt for the key with her siblings, Riya will have to choose between her obligations to her family and her loyalties to the Ravens--the group of rebels that took her in when she had nothing and no one.

Four siblings, one magical artifact, centuries of secrets in The Ivory Key (2022) by Akshaya Raman.

The Ivory Key is Raman's first novel and the start of an India-inspired duology. The main characters are all brown skinned and Ashokan (a name commonly associated with ancient India) while the neighboring Lyrians are described as fairer skinned. The story alternates between close third person perspectives following the four siblings.

Raman takes her time building out the world of The Ivory Key dropping hints about each character's backstory alongside details of the political landscape that threatens Ashoka's future. A well-developed and unique magic system underscore the urgency of Vira's search for the Ivory Key although that part of the plot is slow to start.

Balancing four points of view is challenging and something that makes the first half of The Ivory Key drag as characters are introduced and tensions build. Once the four royal siblings reluctantly begin working together to find the key, the story starts to pick up and feels more like the adventure promised in the synopsis.

Hints of romance add dimension to the story and drama to one of the book's biggest reveals although most of the story is squarely focused on the fractious relationships between Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya. A rushed final act introduces new twists and obstacles for all of the siblings as their paths once again diverge leaving each primed for an exciting conclusion to this duology in the next installment.

The Ivory Key is a sweeping, politically charged adventure where adventure and the search for magic are balanced by court intrigue and maneuvering; a dramatic story that isn't afraid to take its time to draw readers in.

Possible Pairings: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi, We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faisal, Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim, Sisters of the Snake by Sarena Nanua and Sasha Nanua, There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool

The world Raman created is incredible and I loved every moment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this advance reader copy.


Description from NetGalley:
Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya may be siblings, but they've never been close or even liked each other that much. Torn apart by the different paths their lives have taken, only one thing can bring them back together: the search for the Ivory Key, a thing of legend that will lead the way to a new source of magic. Magic is Ashoka's biggest export and the only thing standing between them and war with the neighboring kingdoms—as long as their enemies don't find out that the magic mines are nearly depleted.

The siblings all have something to gain from finding the Ivory Key, and even more to lose if they don't. For Vira, the Ivory Key is the only way to live up to the legacy of her mother, the beloved former maharani. Ronak plans to get out of his impending political marriage by selling the Ivory Key to the highest bidder. Kaleb has been falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani, and this is the only way to clear his name. And Riya needs to prove her loyalty to the Ravens, the group of rebels that wants to take control away from the maharani and give it to the people. With each sibling harboring secrets and conflicting agendas, figuring out a way to work together may be the most difficult task of all. And in a quest this dangerous, working together is the only way to survive.

First of all, I love the cover and the writing style. I did have to make myself a list of characters to keep them straight; however, this is typical for me with more than two POVs. We do get all four siblings’ POVs in this first half of the duology. Each sibling has their own motivations and has their own paths. I think the author did this so that we were not biased as to one character over the other with what happened before and during the book.

It does take awhile to get going, but a lot happened before the start of the book that the siblings must work through.

Overall: 4/5

The world building in this book was absolutely dynamic and truly incredible. I was hooked throughout its entirety and found myself absorbed in this delightful experience. The dynamics between the siblings was powerful and encompassed a wide variety of emotions and thoughts provoked in my head and in my heart with the incredible shifts of what I learned through each chapter. I recommend this to the fullest and know that it will be a joy for all who pick it up and take on the adventure!

4.25 STARS

The complexity and emotional turmoil between the siblings and their morals and choices was DIVINE!
This book has the most realistic sibling relationship. I will applaud the author because every POV had me entirely on board with their choices and path even though each sibling had somewhat conflicting options - and I agree with each was hypocritical. I love them all!
This book gave the plot twist of the century that I didn't see coming even though it had been hinted at!
In the end, I cannot thank Clarion Teen enough for the arc to review, and I PATIENTLY AWAKE BOOK TWO The Crimson Fortress!

I was excited to read The Ivory Key even though fantasy is not a preferred genre for me. It took me a long time to get into the book because there was so much exposition and world building. (Maybe fantasy lovers will like that more than I did.) The last half of the book was much better with lots of action, but then the book ended. Now I have to wait until the next book comes out to find out what happens.

I really wanted to love this book, but for some reason I just couldn't get hooked by it. However, I can tell that it's incredibly well written and thought out, and I know there are many readers out there who will truly enjoy it.

"The Ivory Key" is the first book in an Indian-inspired YA fantasy duology about four slightly estranged royal siblings as they try to find a new source of magic for their country, all while learning to trust and respect each other again. Magic is their prized, unrenewable resource, but the legendary Ivory Key could lead them to a new source. Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya are well developed characters all seeking to do the best for their country. Fun and adventurous, I look forward to its conclusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm quite excited for the sequel. I believe the pacing was appropriate as well as the character development. There could have been more background set up to understand all the characters and their respective relationships from the beginning. Overall I would recommend this book to high school fantasy lovers and others who enjoy YA.

Included the book in the New Releases Roundup on The Young Folks In January. Blurb: I’m totally judging this book by its gorgeous cover. My judgement says it’s going to be a lush and incredible read. And I’m always up for a book about sibling relationships, especially when they’re estranged and have to work together to survive. The angst and emotional journey these characters will go on are sure to make the pages fly.

I absolutely loved this book. Were there a few too quick transitions that caused me to get confused for a second, sure. But this debut novel still deserves all the stars. I am a sucker for fantasy books that start where there’s not as much magic as there used to be (Over the Moon, Ember in the Ashes, etc.). I am also all about well developed and complex characters, which this book has plenty of. The back story of the siblings and their childhood is fascinating. Four siblings estranged and then reunited, court intrigue, hidden motives, forbidden romance, secrets, an ancient secret society, and so much more. It has everything.