The Prince Without Sorrow

Wijesekara debuts with this riveting dark fantasy, the first in her Obsidian Throne series. Shakti is a mayakari, or witch, and her people are unfairly hunted and punished by cruel Emperor Adil Maurya of the Ran Empire. After the emperor burns a couple of mayakari, including Shakti’s aunt, at the stake, Shakti seeks revenge. The mayakari aren’t supposed to cause harm, but Shakti curses Emperor Adil with “living misfortune,” hoping to prolong his suffering instead of offering the mercy of a swift death. Something goes wrong, however, as the emperor dies soon after and his demise is blamed on the mayakari, inciting even more rage against them. Shakti is shocked to then discover that the emperor’s consciousness is trapped within her mind. To free herself from his presence, she infiltrates the palace in search of Prince Ashoka, who, in a parallel story line, struggles with his father’s legacy and seeks peace. The lush magic system draws on Buddhist beliefs, and Wijesekara’s tense court politics captivate. The result is an electrifying story of betrayal, ambition, and vengeance. This is a great start. (Mar.)