THE IVORY KEY is a great debut that's part messy family drama and part Indiana Jones-esque adventure, wrapped up in an Indian-inspired world.

This is a book that can best be described as an "Action and Adventure Fantasy." After years of working in a library and shelving kids books under "Action and Adventure" where kids solve puzzles and go to abandoned sites to find treasure (particularly the "solve it yourself" puzzle books which I'd devour) but not finding a YA equivalent, I think it's safe to say that THE IVORY KEY fills that gap.

There are lots of puzzles for the siblings to solve separately (and then together) in order to find where the key is. And then once they get to the resting place, we have a truly Indiana Jones-esque hidden temple sequence. Traps and sneaky architecture galore! (Is this the only bit I remember of the films? Yes. Am I thrilled that this is not a white bloke there to pilfer but siblings trying to save their own country? Double yes.)

It was a very rich world, and a lot of care had clearly been taken with the details. From the magic point of view, there are all sorts of little mentions of how magic affects daily life (for the rich!) from magically warmed baths to lights and prisons.

I really appreciated that, on the linguistical side, the author simply uses the actual term for the object/concept rather than using an English one that won't be so accurate. She trusts readers without a background from the region to work it out from context. I have no knowledge of any language in that region, but I could still follow along easily. Yes, I am a nerd with linguistical world building, but it really does add depth to the world.

As for the siblings... well, there's enough drama between them to make a soap opera writer run back to their writing desk to get their script up to the same level. Every single sibling has a rough relationship with the other three. I mean, one put another in prison and is arranging a marriage for a third. The fourth ran away from them all.

I really liked how they all had their own reasons for wanting the key that tied back to their disagreements with their siblings. It made both their personal reasons for distrusting each other and their "professional" need to keep secrets deeply interlinked. Thus them working together felt like a much trickier goal to achieve (and also more rewarding when they did.)

A lot happens at the end, setting up several interesting conflicts for the next book, which I will look forward to next year.

If you like National Treasure, 4 different characters you root for equally and want to all succeed despite their opposing goals, magic, and messy families then boy do I have a book for you. Knowing that The Ivory Key is part of a duology (and not even out yet) I knew what I was getting myself into when I started reading and I still couldn't help it. Do I wish I had book 2 right now? Yes. Did I thoroughly enjoy this first book in the story and not regret reading it? Also yes.
I'm usually not a fan of puzzles but I loved the mysteries and clues in this book. I hope that the next book goes more into the history of Ashoka because those were some of my favorite parts and I can't wait to learn more. I also thought the magic was really unique and LOVED all the descriptions of food.

4.5

This was a fantastic debut novel and although it was a slow burn, I enjoyed reading it slowly over the course of a few days. While the pacing could have been better, I never lost interest and each time I came back to the story, I felt like I was returning to a fascinating world. This is a pure fantasy novel inspired by Southasian/Indian culture. The story revolves around 4 siblings in the ruling family. Vira has just been crowned the new Maharani after her mother was killed and her half-brother Kaleb was accused of the murder. Her twin brother wants nothing more than to leave everything behind, and her younger sister has run away to join the Ravens, a rebel group that wants to overthrow Vira, who wants nothing more than to live up to her beloved mother's rule. The problem is that the magic in their country seems to be running out, and the council is pressuring Vira to make advantageous marriages, first for herself, and then for her twin brother.

Although the story develops quite slowly as we get to know each of the siblings and learn about their individual motivations, I enjoyed how the author pulled all the various threads together. Ultimately, the siblings end up on a quest for the mythical Ivory Key, each of them hoping it will help them with their own problems. There were points during the story when I felt like I was in a good computer RPG, especially when they tried to solve puzzles or figure out the next clue, and there were a few action scenes that had me hanging on the edge, and even the minor bit of romance worked for me. Without revealing any spoilers, there was one big plot twist that I did not expect, but it foreshadows (for me) what is to come in the second book.

I am so happy I received this book as an ARC, but I am sad that this means I have longer to wait for the second book. But I will be waiting for what I hope to be an amazing conclusion to this story!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really fun and enjoyable read, the beginning of the book was quite slow, but eventually the story picks up and becomes really exciting, with all of the puzzles and adventures. Heist stories in ya fantasy have been done a lot this year, but The Ivory Key was well written, had a lot of cultural influence and history and really stood out in a unique way. The world building and description was very vivid, but I feel like the characters could have been a little more developed, and the tension between the estranged siblings could have been stronger, as it was kind of disregarded, and not the main focus like the blurb suggests. Regardless, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the second book, and will strongly recommend this for my local library to add to the shelf.

Vira is the new maharani of Ashoka, a kingdom of magic, magic that serves the basis of all of their trade and commerce. But no one but her knows that magic has dwindled to dangerously low levels. Without it, the borders aren't safe and the kingdom may fall. When her betrothed is killed, she finds a piece of a map to the mythical Ivory Key on his body. The key, is said to unlock the mines where the magic naturally occurs. She decides to follow in her father's footsteps and find the key to restore magic and save the kingdom.

Sounds like your typical YA fantasy, right? It is in some ways but to be honest while the magic forms the point of the quest, the family relationship dynamics drive the story. Vira has three siblings each with their own crosses to bear. Her sister has been MIA for years living with a band of rebels, her brother is stifled in the court and looking for an escape and her other brother is imprisoned for the plot that killed her mother, the original maharani. Talk about drama! The four are brought together for this amazing quest to find the Ivory Key and the journey is fabulous. The adventures, puzzles and peril along the way bring the siblings together and threaten to pull them apart in all new ways. While the magic itself isn't front and center until the end, the action is non-stop and there is a stunning betrayal toward the end that had me yelling, "WHAT?!" Oh and there's an actual ending with allusions to the next book, no annoying cliffhanger. I'm all about that.

Thanks to Netgalley for access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved The Ivory Key! This is an Indian-inspired fantasy about four estranged royal siblings whose paths cross back together during a magic shortage in their kingdom, which is also on the brink of war. Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya are the four narrators (the book is written in third person with the four different POVs), and I adored how each sibling has their own motivations, and that each motivation evolves as the plot progresses. Every aspect of the story-motivation, plot, worldbuilding, conflict, political intrigue-was woven together seamlessly to create an entirely engaging read. The Ivory Key is a phenomenal debut from author Akshaya Raman, and I am already looking forward to the sequel as well as any other books she writes in the future.

Buy, Borrow, or Bypass: I will definitely buy a copy of this for my collection! Anyone who is a YA fantasy reader will want to buy one, too. I have a feeling this series will be a top shelf favorite for me and others with similar tastes.

Getting a galley of The Ivory Key was one of the best things to happen to me. I am in love with this story about power, betrayal, magic, and royalty! With a little spice on top! It has everything I love in a story. The standout element is the wonderful and complicated sibling relationships Akshaya writes into the fabric of the plot. Each character has their own thread and incredibly important stakes. It's definitely one of my favorite split perspectives I've read.

The ending is beyond fun and unexpected. I felt shocked, betrayed (by Akshaya), vindicated in my first love, and absolutely ready for the next adventure. You're just at the beginning of unraveling this incredible story. The more you trace the details back from moments, the more clues you think you've found. I am unbelievably excited for the next book and this one isn't even out yet. I already pre-ordered my personalized copy!!

I liked the blurb on this book, however I did find it hard to get into, it was not until I was half way through the book that I felt the story really got going. The character development took too long and could have been told is short flashbacks as they were trying to find the key.

It has set the series up well and I do want to read the others in the series when they come out.

Four siblings pulled apart, on different paths come together to save themselves. Each one has a piece to the puzzle. And they have to learn how to work together to get what they want. They form new boundaries and memories that might just save them all.

after looking forward to an indian inspired ya fantasy, i really hate that i didn't like this better. my main issue is that there's not a lot happening in the story. it didn't pick up until at least 60% when the quest finally starts and the end of the book becomes interesting. but by that time i'd lost interest in the characters, their motivations fell flat and the tension between these estranged siblings just didn't hold.

that being said, i really liked the magic system and the worldbuilding inspired by ancient india. secret societies, lost temples, hidden secrets, all of them formed a solid foundation for the story. and as always i felt so good to read about a world with elements familiar to me. i will be looking out for the sequel to see what's in store for the characters!

i do think the younger audience would be invested in the book. though, please feel do check out this south asian fantasy 2022 debut, it might not be for me but it *could* work out for you! especially if you like a decent multi-pov story, about siblings on an adventure.

“‘Pretty words woo councilors, not angry demands,’ Vira recited. Another saying her mother had drilled into her head. But frustration laced her voice. She wasn’t her mother. She didn’t have the gift of pretty words.”

After the death of their parents - Maharani of the kingdom of Ashoka and royal mayaka (magic weilder) - the fates and decision of raajakumaaris and rajakumaaras (princesses and princes) of the kingdom have led them in different directions - seemingly to never meet again.

Kaleb, once on the fast path to being the most skilled mayaka in the kingdom and set to inherit his father’s position as Royal Mayaka, is now trapped in a dungeon. Arrested by his own sister for a crime he didn’t commit, he lives his life in isolation, blamed for his own mother’s murder and declared a threat to the new Maharani of the kingdom.

Riya has always been a rebel, drifting away from the royal life even while her mother was still alive, and now she has found a place she can call home among the Ravens - a band of Robin Hood thieves out to help the poor in the face of Ashoka’s constant war and growing taxes. But what will happen to her when her new family discovers that she is the sister of the Maharani they protest and fight against? And what will happen when her siblings discover that she’s made a life out of opposing them? Will Riya be left with any family at all?

Ronak is the Maharani’s twin. The most powerful man in the kingdom - supposedly. So why does he feel so powerless? Living in a lonely tower far above the palace, he tries to live in as much isolation as his brother, trying to save the only family member who hasn’t yet abandoned him before running away, as far from his sister as possible.

Vira has had to step into the role of Maharani, filling shoes that are several sizes too big for her as she tries to gain the trust of a council of elders who see her as a baby and stave off a war that threatens to decimate her kingdom all while keeping the biggest secret of all - that Ashoka, the kingdom of magic, has no magic left to mine! Her only hope is to complete her father’s quest to find the Ivory Key and unlock the remaining magical mines of Ashoka. But to do so, she’ll need to get through the clues left behind by the ancient Kamala Society - a task her father had trained his kids for for their whole lives. But Vira is only one piece of the solution. Can she earn back the trust of her siblings in her quest to save the Ashokan people.

Fortunately for us, unlike her heroine, Akshaya Raman most certainly does have the gift of pretty words.

Ivory Key brilliantly leads us through the story of these four siblings in a tale of political intrigue, sibling love (rivalry?) and a quest to save the world all set against a beautiful South Asian cultural backdrop. Raman’s prose is a breath of fresh air, beautiful, with witty twists that are bound to make you crack a smile. Her world building will make readers itch to jump straight into it with a magical system with endless possibilities, a palace with rich decadence and characters that are infinitely relatable. 

This is a book for lovers of Fantasy, Historical Fiction and Adventure alike and perfect for fans of The Gilded Wolves and The Tiger at Midnight. This debut author will certainly be one to look out for and my only complaint is that there isn't more of this story to read, so I for one cannot wait to read the sequel. 



I’d like to thank NetGalley, Clarion Books and Akshaya Raman for giving me access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Vita inherited a huge problem when her mother died. The country of Ashoka is running out of magic, so Vita decides that she must look into her father's passion of a story regarding the Ivory Key. If she can find the key, according to the legends researched by her late father, then she will be able to open more quarries of magic to protect the country and her family. With her siblings, each of whom has their own strengths, Vita sets out on a dangerous journey to find the Ivory Key. Told with shifting narrators (Vita, her sister Riya, and her two brothers Kaleb and Ronak), this is a powerful story of love for country and for family. This is a beautiful story set in an Indian-inspired world. I loved every minute of this book and can't wait to read the next part of the story!

I definitely want the next one in this duology right now! That twist had me reeling. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Sadly, this one I am DNFing. I am just bored and confusing and I hate everyone in this story. I didn't really connect with anyone while reading this one. Although the world is lush and amazing it just didn't work for me at all.

An absolute standout debut that delivers as both an individual story and a series opener.

From the beginning, this book drew me in. While it features some familiar YA fantasy themes, it differentiates itself through its focus on four very different but equally compelling siblings. I loved how fiercely they fought for what the believed, how deeply they cared about each other, and how competing their agendas were. Such great stakes, conflict, and, most of all, character growth. I was particularly impressed that this book just got better and better as it went,

Overall, I am very impressed by Raman’s debut and eagerly await the sequel.

i really wanted this to be my fav book (because im desi) but the characters and plot were super hard to connect with. nonetheless i loved the south asian fantasy world akshaya raman has created and i am curious to know about any other book she writes. i wish her the very best.

thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

The Ivory Key offers readers an immersive world and a complex story full of twists, secrets, and revelations. The multiple points of views are four siblings, with different ambitions and views on how to help their struggling country, and the mix of magic, politics, and family dynamics make the book feel fresh.

The story opens a bit confusingly, as readers must meet a variety of characters with different agendas, while also learning about the fantasy world’s geography, politics, magic system, history, etc., but once this all becomes relatively established, the story is easy to enjoy. Different players all come together in search of a way to replenish the magic of their country. The only question is how much they trust each other and what they will do with the magic if they find it.

My favorite part of the book, however, is that it features four siblings, once relatively close but now not as much since their parents are dead and the oldest sister has ascended to the throne. The choices she has made as ruler of her country are not popular, either with her people or her own family. As the story progresses, the siblings must see if they can find any common ground, if they still value family, or if they will continue to pursue to work in their own interests. I didn’t think all the complexities of their relationships were fully explored or resolved by the end of the book, even when they were apparently supposed to be resolved, partially because there is just SO MUCH going on in the book that the author might not have felt she had time to deal with everything in detail. Overall, however, I liked the way the siblings interacted.

The book is ambitious, tackling multiple points of view, a complex fantasy storyline, and even codes and puzzles. While some of it could have been expanded upon, and I’m sure it would have been if this were an adult book and was allowed a larger word count, it works well enough, and I’m excited to eventually read the sequel.

The story was enjoyable. I liked some of the characters a lot, but others felt flat or underdeveloped. This felt like it had a lot of telling and not showing. There were scenes with what felt like unnecessary amounts of detail and description. Lots of tropes, but that’s not a terrible thing.

I did like the setting and the story. Some of the relationships were cute and I was rooting for them - speaking of which. The last 10% or so really got me invested! I’ll definitely be reading the sequel whenever it comes out, as this magic system and world are interesting. I think this book set up a lot of very interesting storylines for a sequel!

Besides this stunning cover, I liked the idea of four estranged siblings having to work together to save their country. That it’s Indian-inspired was just a bonus.

For several reasons, these siblings grew apart, and one was even imprisoned for killing their mother, the former maharani. A couple years later when this story begins, each has formed an opinion of the others and made assumptions about them based on their actions. And each of them is wrong. Vira, Ronak, Riya, and Kaleb are all hiding secrets and have their own reasons, honorable or not, for needing to find the Ivory Key. I always enjoy sibling dynamics in novels and movies. In spite of their differences and suspicions, these four are still protective of each other. Like most siblings, they have their squabbles and hurl cutting remarks, many of which made me laugh. Strained as it may be at times, their family bond remains intact.

Their father was obsessed with finding the Ivory Key, but died before he could locate it. He passed on his knowledge to his children in a journal, but also trained them from an early age to solve riddles and puzzles. The siblings had no idea how valuable that training would become until their journey to find the Ivory Key had an Indiana Jones-esque feel with its booby traps and brain-teasers. All four had to rely on each other’s knowledge and memories to get them closer to their ultimate goal.

Four POVs may put off some readers, but I found the characters to be very distinct and was never confused about who was narrating. Each viewpoint is necessary to get a more accurate picture of the family dynamics and challenges each character faces. I didn’t see the shocking twist at the end coming – I actually had to back up a couple paragraphs – but when it happened it made perfect sense. Now I’m even more anxious for the second book.

If you’re a fan of character-driven fantasy, magical settings, puzzle-filled quests, and combative, humorous family dynamics, this is a book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this YA Indian-inspired fantasy that focuses on four siblings who are, quite frankly, all messed up in one way or another. Vira has inherited the title of Maharani of Ashoka from her mother, who was murdered, and definitely has some PTSD that her councilors seem to use to try to get her to do whatever they want her to. Kaleb, her older half-brother, has been imprisoned by Vira at the behest of those same councilors, after (probably faked) evidence turns up that he was involved with the former Maharani's murder. Ronak is enraged that Vira would do such a thing to their brother and he ignores her and spends all of his time trying to earn enough money to leave Ashoka and going to visit Kaleb. Riya, the rebellious younger daughter, left home after constantly clashing with their mother and has been working with the Ravens (a guerilla, Robin Hood type group that is working against the Maharani) for a few years. Their paths all collide when they have to work together to look for the Ivory Key, a legendary key hidden for centuries that their father spent most of his life seeking. They need it because Ashoka is running out of magic, their main export and the source of their power, and the Ivory Key is said to be the key to unlocking all of the hidden magic quarries in the land. There's a lot of fantasy here, but really this is at its heart an adventure story that brings together four siblings who don't really want to be brought together, and who all have their own motives for seeking out the Ivory Key. I'll definitely read the sequel!