The Hundredth Queen

A show of loyalty and unexpected strength leads Kalinda, a sickly 18-year-old raised in the sisterhood temple of the Parijana, to the rajah’s throne as one of his numerous wives. But an attack by a bhuta, a magical creature that can create fire, signifies Kali’s own hidden powers and may hold the key to her escape from the kingdom. First in a planned series, King’s debut is built on a solid premise that draws on Sumerian mythology for inspiration, but the execution is left wanting. Kalinda falls for the first man she’s ever seen in her life, the mystery of her lineage becomes clear well before it’s revealed, and Kali’s interactions with the lecherous rajah remain mostly chaste until a jarringly erotic finale. Despite these shortcomings, the tale maintains a consistent thread as King embarks on a deep examination of sisterhood, first between Kali and her best friend Jaya, and later when she must fight the rajah’s other wives to keep her place within the palace. Ages 13–up. Agent: Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary. (June)