By Megan Lord
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This book will leave you patiently waiting for the second one, but knowing you are for sure going to read that second one. If you’ve followed me in the book world at all, you’ve probably noticed I’m drawn to cover art.. And keys for some reason. I’ve talked often and highly of The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy, which I was drawn to by the intriguing keyhole cover art,
and then was in awe of everything about it and have deemed it a top 3 favorite, likely forever. This book drew me in the same way – cover art and title. Once those got my interest, I read the synopsis and I knew I had to read it.
Okay, so think a little along the lines of Indiana Jones meets complex family relationships and drama. The premise, magic and this key need to be acquired to save Ashoka from it’s enemies completely taking over. Vira has to recruit the help of her other 3 estranged royal siblings to help her in the conquest for the key. But they all have secret agendas and reasons to agree and want the key. This means the thing bringing them together could ultimately be the thing that tears them back apart unfortunately.
You’ll journey with Vira and her siblings through some intricate puzzles, wild plot twists and turns, and vividly described settings. I could picture it all. And I LOVE the family dynamic, and how it shows independence, but also familial bond and inevitable loyalty mixed with dramatics and realism.
As always – my reviews will NEVER give too much away – but if you liked Indiana Jones, if you like books that have more complex family relationships and you like books in vivid settings with immersive writing styles – you want to check this one out. And don’t be surprised when you see me review the second one once it’s released!
The Ivory Key
Vira is desperate to get out of her mother’s shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country’s only quarry running out of magic–a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict–she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they’ll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic.
Vira’s only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumored to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key–and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani needs it to clear his name. And Riya, a runaway who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who want to strip the nobility of its power.
They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harboring secrets and their own agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family–and their world–for good.
Article originally published in the February / March 2022 Issue: New & Upcoming.