“‘So what will you become then, Elena? Villain, hero, or conqueror?’
‘None. I will be greater than all three.‘“
this artwork by @searland_art for THE BURNING QUEEN makes me want to run though a freaking brick wall. the sari armor?! her jewelry?! the intensity of her expression?!! god, do I love writing powerful women.
if you want an intense epic fantasy with a strong female character, female rage—all rooted in Indian culture + mythology—then pick up The Ravence Trilogy.
She’s finally here, and she is GLORIOUS 🐉
I’m so excited to reveal the cover of The Burning Queen, the second installment of The Ravence Trilogy. @alexia.e.pereira knocked it out of the park & brought my vision to life with such vivid colors. And the dragon. Can we talk about the dragon?!
South Asian dragons often depicted as wingless serpents with a crown, whether it’s made of flames, antlers, spikes, etc. The Orbit art department took this under consideration and I love how she turned out!
THE BURNING QUEEN will arrive in Fall 2025 with all her brutish fury. Preorder links will be up soon aaaand there will be art prints, so save your receipts. You won’t want to miss it 🔥
“Slowly, he wrapped the anklet around her foot, his fingers deft and strong. He locked the second anklet, but instead of dropping her foot, he looked up, his eyes dark and endless as if to drink her in. Or drown her, as oceans do.
‘Are you pleased, my rani?’ he asked, his voice a low rasp.”
This gorgeous artwork by @yass.ngn for The Burning Queen showcases a Bollywood Easter egg of the classic payal (anklet) scene, except he’s her enemy and this is a contest of power. It’s hot, angsty, full of yearning AND tension.
I LOVE the coy, almost mischievous look in his eyes as he puts on her payal. The colors, the animated expressions of the crowd, her slight blush…. Ugh, it’s perfect. And you’re going to love it even more when you read it in The Burning Queen, which is out now! Link in bi0 to purchase 🐉
she did in fact come back and purchase the books 🤭
and you can too. 🖇️ in bi0 to buy a copy and support me directly
#thephoenixking #fantasybookrecommendations #theburningqueen #fantasybookstoread #theravencetrilogy
may they all bow to her fury 🔥
if you want an epic scifi fantasy with firebending, court politics, deeply fraught relationships, and female rage, you’ll love The Phoenix King & The Burning Queen. 🖇️ in bi0 to purchase!
the cast of The Ravence Trilogy will have you in a chokehold
if you want an Indian inspired scifi fantasy with deep, complex politics, morally flawed characters, and a love that grows between them despite of it, read The Phoenix King & The Burning Queen 🐦🔥🐉
art by @meofthoois@valeria_velaris / the Jaya artwork was something I found on Pinterest!
“He did not want to let her go. Of all things, he wished he could turn back time to that moment in the cabin, the moment when he had held her in his arms, and she had pressed her face into his neck. ‘Ravence needs you. Your people need you. Now go. Please, Elena.’”
yeah I decided to choose violence today because him begging her to leave him behind has ruined me and many a reader. and if it hasn’t, take this as your sign to pick up The Phoenix King 🐦🔥
gorgeous artwork by @valeria_velaris
“She was Elena Aadya Ravence above all else. And no man would ever take her birthright away from her.”
can we all take a second to stare at this gorgeous piece of true mastery by @chaaistheanswer ?! from the rendering of her armor to her jewelry to the sword, I am FLOORED.
Elena in her sari armor is the energy I hope you carry into summer. fierce, confident, deadly. may the world bend to you 🔥 books are The Phoenix King & The Burning Queen!
bringing back my series of vandalizing, I mean signing, at B&N before a bookseller catches me. fresh out of retirement and she’s still got it folks! your move @barnesandnoble
did I stay in my robe during most of the retreat and just write my heart away? why yes, yes I did. @lagom_retreat_atx is tucked away in the beautiful Texas hill country, and it was the perfect spot to wind down, cut off the noise, and focus on Book 3. I can’t wait to go back and hopefully celebrate once Book 3 draft is handed in!
his initials are SRK… iykyk 🤭
jokes aside, The Burning Queen is a sequel that is darker and more violent than its predecessor. it examines the legacy of colonial trauma, from the things we carry and the history we’re forced to let go. the book also questions who gets the right to be called a “freedom fighter” vs a villain, and how, more importantly, the distinction comes not from a judgement on moral violence but from the declaration of victors. Samson, or Ruru’s, story is a reflection of all these questions. I hope he makes you start to think deeply about them too 🐉
“They stood back-to-back, braced, to burn back the sea.”
THIS SCENE!!! THE COLORS! THE INTENSITY! the way they have each other’s back?!! 😭 @searland_art captured Elena & Sam perfectly where they fight a sea monster together to save their fleet. it’s one of the rare moments when the Butcher & the Burning Queen are working together, and you get a little taste of their combined power.
of course, chaos ensues. if you haven’t read The Burning Queen or seen this scene, pick it up at your local bookstore! 🐉
