eARC Review: Dance of Shadows by Gourav Mohanty 🐘

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! 🤯😳🥲😍

Okay, I got that out of my system so now for some coherent thoughts. This book exceeded and completely ANNIHILATED my expectations for a sequel. The action, the characters, the gore, THE PLOT?? Mohanty, you are a wicked genius for what you did here because my heart is deceased with something like depressed giddiness. 🤪

This plot runs parallel to the events of Sons of Darkness. There are new characters who join the already known cast of Duryodhan, Karna, and Mati. As with the first book, I loved all the characters in all their wickedly flawed glory, but the ones that stood out to me the most were the librarian princess, Vahura; the immature knight, Dantavarka; and again, poor Karna. 🏹

Karna is DRAGGED through the mud in this book and man I just wanted him to be happy for just one blissful second (and even that was viciously ripped from him). Vahura is a wonderfully naive but incredibly booksmart princess that I was cheering for the entire plot only to be cruelly reminded that this is a grim dark fantasy and happiness doesn’t exist. And Dantavarka. . . Oh you sweet summer child. His progression towards maturity was not only very well done in my opinion, but what he got at the end of the book? I’m gonna need a few days to just process it all. 😮‍💨

But seriously though, the last 35% of the book had me in a chokehold and I think I was repeatedly and distressingly saying “no” and “ah, what the hell man?!” the entire time I was reading and for five minutes after I finished the epilogue. As much as I would to recommend this to ALL readers out there, this is not for faint of heart or for people out there looking for a bit of “light/cozy reading.” If you’re looking for wonderfully flawed individuals, gore-core and an epic fantasy inspired by Hindu belief and the Mahabharata, then go pick this up NOW! 🗡️

Bowing at the feet of Head of Zeus and NetGalley for accepting my request to be traumatized with this INCREDIBLE sequel. And to Mohanty: WHEN IS BOOK 3 COMING?! 🥺

Shout out also goes to @lookmairead and @ladymairreads for being amazing buddies to scream with on StoryGraph. Here’s to trying to chase this high in another book. 🥂

Publication date: February 25!!

Overall: EASILY 5/5 ⭐️

Dance of Shadows is a dark and vivid reimagining of ancient India, weaving a tale of war, ambition, and fate. Packed with morally gray heroes, political intrigue, and a lush, atmospheric setting, it’s an epic where peace is but the prelude to chaos. Gourav Mohanty masterfully balances humor, heart, and havoc, delivering a story that is brutal, mythic, and utterly captivating. A must-read for fans of immersive, high-stakes fantasy.

This book was a wild ride. It’s one of those stories that throws you right into a sprawling world full of intrigue, danger, and complicated characters, and it doesn’t let up. The Tree Cities of the East, where most of the action happens, feel alive with their mix of politics, corruption, and desperate ambitions.

What I really enjoyed was how layered the story is. There’s a pirate-queen stuck in a cage (both literal and metaphorical), a temple-courtesan caught between duty and her heart, and even a librarian who decides stealing is the only way to save the world. Add to that a deaf swordswoman, lovesick princes, and immortal assassins—it’s a lot, but somehow it all fits together in this chaotic, fascinating way.

The pacing wobbled in places, especially with so many perspectives to follow, but once things clicked, I was hooked. The tension builds steadily, and when the stakes finally boil over, it’s worth it. There’s also something refreshing about how messy the characters are—not everything they do is noble or wise, and that makes them feel more real.

This is definitely a book for readers who love big, ambitious fantasy with plenty of twists and moral gray areas. The themes of love, loyalty, and ambition are woven throughout, and while the story doesn’t shy away from darkness, it’s balanced with moments of hope and humanity.

Overall, a solid 4 stars. It’s not a light read, but if you’re in the mood for something epic and a little unconventional, it’s worth picking up.

An excellent dark fantasy that puts a new and exciting spin on the Mahabharata! Definitely recommended to any fans of A Song of Ice and Fire and of Indian literary epics! Thank you to NetGalley and to Bloomsbury USA for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a big fan of SON OF DARKNESS I was absolutely thrilled to receive the ebook of this sequel! It was wonderful and everything I hoped, and I cannot wait for the opportunity to buy a hardcover with sprayed edges that will match the first one.

The magical heist, pending war looming on the horizon, and fantasy environment was so rewarding and fun to live in during this read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This series is vicious, bloodthirsty and I just love the ride. Definatly for the people whom like John Gwen or Christopher buelman I love the dark Fantasy