Fun treasure-hunting adventure with a strong focus on sibling relationships. More character-driven than plot-driven, with a slow start and perhaps too fast pace once the action actually kicks in. The worldbuilding was excellent, with an interesting magic system and socio-political conflict. The characters were relatable with clear motivations and arcs. The twist at the end was telegraphed a bit too strongly to come as a surprise, but was still enough to encourage reading the next book.

I loved this book! I particularly liked how food was used as part of the world-building. The tensions between Vira, Riya, Ronak, and Kaleb were explored beautifully. The big twist near the end surprised me. I can't wait for book 2 of this duology!

Vira, Riya, Ronak, and Kaleb are siblings in name only. They are wildly different, have separate goals and go about life their own way. The royal siblings have a broken relationship: Vira is the kingdom's new maharani, the entire fate of the kingdom is on her shoulders. She makes questionable decisions that her siblings to not agree with in the name of improving her kingdom's odds against the rest of the world; Riya ran away from home and ended up joining a rebel group called The Ravens that steal from the rich to give to the poor; Ronak is Vira's twin, but he hates her ever since she decided to support the council in jailing her other brother Kaleb on suspicion of plotting to murder the old maharani (their mother). Ronak does a lot of shady things in the name of rescuing their brother, not actually taking into consideration his brother's feelings on the matter. Kaleb is a prisoner; he was framed for the murder of their mother. He is mainly treated unfairly as he is half Lyrian and half Ashokan, and his people have been on the edge of war with Lyrians for a very long time. He has to navigate a lot of racism and suspicion due to his heritage, even though he was raised Ashokan and considers himself Ashokan, that is not how others treat him. He is the most compassionate of the siblings, while Ronak is quick to anger.

The Ivory Key has its strengths and its weaknesses. I did love the nuances of the relationship between the siblings. I enjoyed how the issues were addressed in a different way. For example, Ronak. I disliked his character for the most part, because he is very self involved and keeps telling himself he is helping others without actually taking others feelings and choices into consideration. I did enjoy however that the author addressed this because we often get the hero who wants to save, and everybody goes along with it, but in this case people get to make their own choices and Ronak has to deal with it. Riya was another character who could have fallen into the YA protagonist two dimensionality but there is character development in which she faces her assumptions about her kingdom and makes smarter choices. I liked this!

I did think that were The Ivory Key fell flat was in the development of every other character outside of the siblings relationships. The council was supposed to be all powerful and mighty but I didn't get the sense of it. More like it was said but not shown. There are also a lot of open ended questions that were brushed off and that weren't taken very seriously by important characters. For example, who framed Kaleb? Who paid the assassins to kill the maharani? I guess these are questions that can be answered in the future, but we got so involved in the hunt for the treasure that we let a lot of important world building aspects fall to the side. A stronger link between books could have been forged. The ravens is another thing that kind of stop mattering as much as the book progressed. I also saw some betrayals coming a mile off, and was annoyed nobody else seemed suspicious (view spoiler)

The first 50% of the book is very slow as we build up the siblings characters, their relationships, ambitions, etc. I really started enjoying myself more about the 60% mark when we really start looking for the Ivory Key. I wish we started that a lot sooner because that was fun and kept the story moving along. Overall I think I want to read the second book as things are starting to get good and I am interested where the author is taking the story. I wish it hadn't had taken me so long to get into it, but I enjoyed myself by the end.

The Ivory Key, the first in an Indian-inspired duology by debut author Akshaya Raman is a captivating YA fantasy, filled with amazing South Asian representation in the fictional Ashoka, which is inspired by India. From complicated family dynamics, power struggles and sibling rivalries, to romance, political and moral conflicts and one important quest; this thrilling novel is definitely one to add to your ever-growing tbr piles.

Four siblings who have grown apart set off on a quest for a legendary artefact to restore magic to their country. Each has their own motivations but can they come together to save their country from ruin?

This book was an absolute joy, there's no other way to describe it. The world building was expertly done(and in a debut!!), no infodumps but just so easy to immerse yourself in and understand. It was vivid and beautiful and made this such an enjoyable read. On top of that you've got a magic system that feels so fresh in YA fantasy while being so grounded in the story it could be real.
The portrayal of sibling dynamics in this story resonated with me and the rotating POVs perfectly portrayed how varied sibling interactions can be and how they feel from opposing sides. While establishing each sibling's narrative voice and motivations for the story going forward did make this a bit of a slow starter for me, it gave each of them the depth they needed to be compelling characters and drive the story forward as the stakes rose.
The quest was so clearly deeply thought out and well crafted, once I was invested I couldn't put it down. There were twists I absolutely did not see coming and perfectly set the stage for the sequel.

Overall this is a beautiful fantasy that I would recommend to YA and adult readers alike, it will not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion books for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

This book has so many amazing things going for it. It has uncountable layers of secrets and betrayals, an amazing sibling story, magic, rich history and atmosphere, and a compelling plot.

The cast of characters is great. We get alternating POVs from each sibling: Vira, Riya, Ronak, and Kaleb. Each character has his/her motivation for finding the Ivory Key, goals, mindsets, and personality. I was so giddy at the beginning because their family relationship was so broken and I was so ready to see those awesome sibling bonding moments and watch them come closer. That was hands down one of my favorite parts of this book; not only seeing these character grow individually but seeing them come together in the wake of being so distant from one another and living in their parents' shadows.

I found the plot to be slower in the beginning and then by the end it was very fast-paced, and then it ended and left me sad on a cliffhanger. The beginning of this book has a lot of exposition with the characters and their relationships, the world and its magic system, and the status of the economy and society. This is all vital information to have in order to truly understand the characters' motivations and why they all feel so strongly about finding the Ivory Key. It made the beginning slower but helped draw me more full into the world, and it made me all the more anxious to keep turning the pages to get to the really juicy stuff.

And boy, does it get juicy or what! The siblings, along with Vira's head guard/love interest Amrit, are forced to work together after finding the clues that will lead them to the Ivory Key. Their journey is treacherous and brings them into mercenary territory, the jungle, dangerous ruins, and enemy land.

There were a few things that held me back from that fifth star in my rating. The biggest thing that that I wanted more details from their journey. Like I said, I do think that the beginning needs to be a little slower to really help the reader feel the brokenness in the family, the absolute need to find the Ivory Key, and really set up the world. But I do think that the ending suffered a bit because of this. There were a few times that I found myself trying to remember how much time had passed between one scene and the next. It also seemed like some parts were really meant to get the reader's heart rate up or make them feel the pressure of their journey but I just didn't really feel that. It was a lot of telling how the characters went through various challenges without really showing how it affected the characters and how it played into the timeline of their journey.

I would definitely recommend giving this a read. I loved the character arcs and the adventurous feeling of this book. Foodies out there will also like this book because I swear, the descriptions of all the delicious food in this book was making my mouth water. This is a richly-woven story that will make you feel all the feels while you're reading, all the way to the heartbreaking end.

A sibling reconnection and journey sounds like an amazing premise, and I was so excited for this one! I will say, that in some ways, it fell a bit flat for me? But it also had some definite good parts, so that’s a plus!

Basically, the story just started out slowly for me. We’re reading from the viewpoints of four siblings, which can make it tricky to get to know each character individually. Add to it, not a ton happened in the first half of the book. And while it did pick up and become more exciting, I still wasn’t super connected to it. I couldn’t help but wonder why everyone was so separated and angry to begin with, which probably made it even harder to feel for their plight.

After the first half, things really did get more exciting. And I started to at least be able to decipher the siblings a bit better. And while some of the events felt a little easy, it did become much more readable and entertaining after the midway point. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you much about all that without spoiling stuff, but the action definitely picks up. And the ending really delivered- to the point where my jaw was on the floor. So, it definitely does get better, but the first half was rough for me.

Bottom Line: A very strong backhalf makes this one worth it despite its slow start.

The Ivory Key follows four estranged royal siblings, each with their own secrets and motivations. They live in a world full of magic, but it's dying out. They embark on a quest to find the Ivory Key, which is rumored to lead to more magic and could save their world.

This book was so good! It had amazing world building and everything felt so real, from the clothing to the food. There was incredible character exploration and development throughout the story. The quest doesn't happen until around 50-60% into the story but I was never bored in the beginning. The dynamics of the siblings and how they reacted to each other fascinated me, as I'm am older sister with one younger sister. The ending was very good and left me wanting more, and there was one twist I slightly wondered about. Overall I loved the book.

OKAYYY I LOVED THIS?

I was initially interested because of the Indian setting of this story, and it was so well done (from my outsider's perspective anyway!). The mythology and history of the world presented was fabulous.

What I wasn't expecting was to fall so in love with the characters!! A few reviews have said they have trouble connecting with each perspective, and I often have that problem with more than 2/3 POV's, but here I truly fell in love with each character and felt that they were so well done and very individual. It did take me about 50 pages to figure out who was who and how they were connected, but once I was there I was there.

The plot was reminiscent of the Gilded Wolves in that it had puzzles to solve and you got to try right along with the characters. The writing was lyrical but not in quite a Gilded Wolves way - a little bit more approachably and balanced.

I finished this book already excited to reread it in preparation for the sequel, which is ALWAYS a sign of a five star read to me! The epilogue particularly gave me CHILLS.

The Ivory Key is the first of a two part duology by debut author Akshaya Raman. In this epic YA fantasy, magic, a prized resource, is the only thing between peace and war. When magic runs out, four estranged royal siblings (Vira, Riya, Ronak, and Kaleb) must find a new source before their country is swallowed by invading forces. The first in an Indian-inspired duology that’s perfect for fans of There Will Come a Darkness, The Gilded Wolves, and We Hunt the Flame. Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya are all POV characters.

Vira is the newly crowned maharani of Ashoka after the murder of her mother 8 months ago. She's also had the unfortunate failure of losing a part of her country for the first time in 400 years and nobody is happy about it. Her only hope is to complete her father’s quest to find The Ivory Key and unlock the remaining magical mines of Ashoka. But to do so, she’ll need to get through the clues left behind by the ancient Kamala Society - a task her father had trained his kids for for their whole lives. But Vira is only one piece of the solution. Can she earn back the trust of her siblings in her quest to save the Ashokan people?

2 years ago, Riya had an argument with her mother which lead to her running away. Instead of admitting that she ran away, her mother let everyone know that she's dead. After seeing the poverty and suffering in the kingdom, she quickly became disillusioned with the monarchy and the excesses of the ruling class. Riya joined a rebel group known as Raven's that hates Vira and her rule, intent on toppling the monarchy they perceive as corrupt. Riya wants to prove to the Ravens that she's all in when it comes to removing Vira.

Ronak is the Maharani’s twin. Supposedly the most powerful man in the kingdom. So why does he feel so powerless? Living in a lonely tower far above the palace, he tries to live in as much isolation as his brother, trying to save the only family member who hasn’t yet abandoned him before running away, as far from his sister as possible. Ronak plans to sell the Ivory Key to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political marriage. He gets himself deeply involved with a mysterious woman who also wants the key and was working with Vira's betrothed to get the Ivory Key for herself.

Kaleb needs it to clear his name. Kaleb, once on the fast path to being the most skilled mayankar in the kingdom and set to inherit his father’s position as Royal Mayaka. 8 months ago, he was arrested by his own sister at the behest of the Council for a crime he didn’t commit. He lives his life in isolation and declared a threat to the new Maharani of the kingdom. Of all the characters I lease hated, it is Kaleb because of his dual Lyrian heritage citizenship thanks to his mother and father being different from Vira, Riya, and Ronak's.

All 4 siblings have their own flaws and even their own motives by going on a journey to achieve an artifact called the Ivory Key. Each of them is inherently selfish in their own ways when it comes to what they each want to do with the Ivory Key, but all come to realize eventually that their bond as siblings and the greater good of their kingdom is more important than what they individually want. There is nothing easy about this quest even though at times it seems as though it is. You have betrayal, you have foreign enemies who also want the Key, you have a mysterious woman named Ekta who seems to know as much about the Key as the siblings themselves. You also have a distinct Indiana Jones feel about the quest itself which is why I ended up giving this story a 4 star rating.

I loved how this was an Indian-inspired fantasy that heavily relied upon sibling dynamics (which, in my opinion, isn't a common plot tool used in YA nowadays). This is an impressive debut! The writing was beautiful and lyrical while still easy to understand. The detail and world-building are well balanced. It allows for readers to understand and appreciate the world without being bogged down by heavy details. Furthermore, the queer aspect of this novel wasn't tokenized but rather normalized into the world, which I as a reader enjoyed and appreciated this . Unfortunately, the one qualm is that some of the twists are predictable and that when faced with challenges, the MCs seemingly were well prepared enough and were able to overcome said obstacles relatively easily. I personally, would have liked for the challenges to require more out of the characters.

Phew! The Indian inspired #TheIvoryKey was a bit of a slow burner at first, bringing all the siblings together with a magical mystery, but then the 2nd half raced by like an Indiana Jones adventure! I neeeed to know what happens next @akshraman @HotKeyBooksYA (read on #NetGalley)

A riveting treasure hunt, The Ivory Key follows four siblings as they traverse enemy territory and solve puzzles to find a key to unlock magic to save their kingdom.

Excellent Storytelling
The Ivory Key begins by establishing four siblings, all with a strained relationship with one another. Vira is now queen, living in the shadow of her mother, who was assassinated months before. Riya ran away and joined the Ravens, an organization that steals from the rich to give to the poor while Kaleb sits in prison framed for the murder of his stepmother, the queen, and Ronak is determined to find a way out of the royal court with his brother with him.

However, events bring the four siblings together, and together they embark on an adventure connected to the legacy of their long-dead father and ghosts of the past.

I loved the storytelling, loved the way The Ivory Key shifted between characters, building up the history and complexities of a family. Together they balance each other out, one good at one thing, another good at another. They are four pieces of a puzzle, and without one another, they have no hope of finding what they desire.

Seeing those puzzles come to life was amazing. It added to the development of the plot and the characters. Plus, it highlighted the incredible imagination of Raman. The detailing with the traps and the puzzles was engaging and intricate, perfectly placed, reflecting the characters’ tension, differences, and similarities.

Excellent Characterization
The characterization in The Ivory Key is another part of what makes the story so engaging. The story could not have developed as well as it did without the strong character growth.

Once again, shifting between the characters gives the reader insight into the world here. We, the reader, see different sides of the country, and it put something into perspective: not one character has the whole story. Each character sees bits and pieces of their actions, but they do not see the whole. As mentioned above, they are each a piece of a puzzle, and when they are together, working together, they see the whole picture.

Through the challenges and puzzles, as the big picture becomes clearer, the characters are growing. Furthermore, it is incredible, see the characters grow together and repair those fractured bonds that kept them at odds. They are a family; for better or worse, they are. They are not always perfect; they make mistakes, but their love for one another, their willingness to admit their mistakes, and the effort they make to redeem themselves to one another and themselves keep the reader engaged.

Again, they are each lost, lost in their desires, grief, and anxieties, but they grow together and grow stronger together. These characters, these siblings, propel the story forward in an engaging way.

Final Thoughts
The Ivory Key is a fantastic opening to a great duology. It has tension, fantastic world-building, good plot twists, and, above all, fantastic characterization and growth.

Magic is everything in Ashoka. Vira, the Maharani, has been left with the impossible task of saving her country, which means saving its magic from the neighbouring land of Lyria – a secret society with mercenaries and internal politics. If being the new young Maharani wasn’t hard enough, Vira must fight for (and with) her family. The journey to save Ashoka will be one that will push her and her siblings to the edge.

In Akshaya Raman’s Indian-inspired fantasy duology, she takes us on an exhilarating adventure; a hunt for a magical key that will solve Vira’s problems. However, Vira isn’t the only one who can be saved by the titular Ivory Key. The story weaves together four perspectives, including Vira’s. Joining the hunt for the Ivory Key is Riya, the sister who escaped the castle, Ronak, the brother who wishes he has escaped already, and Kaleb, the half-brother locked up for a crime he didn’t commit. These royal siblings have a myriad of problems, and with each step bringing them closer to the key, the more trouble they seem to get into. The story is beautifully woven to create a complicated tapestry of great characters, devious plots, a dangerous treasure hunt, and political drama. At the heart of the story is the power and magic of familial bonds, as these royal siblings feel the pressure and support of their deceased parent, and the legacy they are meant to contribute to.

Raman’s writing is precise and to the point. The novel reads like a very effective pitch for an epic film or TV series. Her writing transports you to Ashoka with descriptions that not only give you a sense of what the environment looks like, but what each character feels at any given moment. Raman’s words breathe life into every room and every character. There is a vibrancy to the way Raman crafts the story that gives readers the feeling that they are experiencing this journey with the characters, literally. Raman’s writing in one word is: energetic. There is no moment of rest; you feel compelled to keep reading ahead to see what twists and turns Vira, Riya, Ronak and Kaleb will face next.

While Raman has written a truly enthralling first part of this epic duology, the one slight complaint I have is that the characters could use a bit more fleshing out. The story is told in the third person and while Raman leaves no detail behind as she crafts these very engaging protagonists, there lacks that connective tissue that gives us insight into what they are actually feeling and experiencing internally. With four central characters and points of view, it could be too much to include their first-person perspective, but with the writing being overwhelmingly thrilling and exciting, the added layer of personal narration and perspective would have further strengthened an already excellent book. However, as I am more prone to liking first-person narratives, I do see the benefit of Raman’s choice here. With so much to work through and the family dynamics always shifting, Raman manages to balance effective character building, world-building and an epic adventure. It is a feat not many can accomplish, especially in their debut work.

The Ivory Key is stunning. An epic adventure with equally brilliant and engaging characters and world-building. There is nothing The Ivory Key promises that it does not fulfill, it is in every sense of the word, magical. Raman’s inspirations are vividly realized, her vision is uncompromising and her ambition is deeply felt. And with the final chapters and epilogue setting us up for a truly devastating and riveting conclusion to the duology, the anticipation feels well worth the wait.

The Ivory Key is the first book in an Indian-inspired duology that transports readers to a world full of mystery, adventure and magic. It’s full of atmosphere and electricity, but it’s not without its faults.

The beginning is a bit confusing. Readers are thrust into an unfamiliar world with few clues as to what’s going on. It’s not until about a fourth of the way in that things really start to coalesce. And that’s where the story really takes off.

Once the siblings are forced to work together, the pacing, storyline and worldbuilding become captivating. Each sibling has their own agenda and initially come across as self-absorbed. As the story advances and their goals somewhat align, they each become more compelling.

The Ivory Key is definitely worth reading. You may need to push through the beginning, But I promise it will be worth it. The other three quarters of the book are rewarding enough that it got to the point where I didn’t want to put the book down, and I was frustrated when it ended. I really, really hope we don’t have to wait too long for the book’s companion.

This book! Wow! I couldn't get this world and these characters out of my head for days after finishing. This story pulled me in from the very beginning and I was so disappointed when I reached the final page and had to stop.

Four siblings, four very different problems and one quest for a magical key that could save either themselves, or their realm. Vira wants the key to be a good leader, Riya wants to take it back to her 'real' family - the revolutionaries working against her sister - Ronak wants to escape and Kaleb wants to be free. When everyone has their own secret agenda even family becomes impossible to trust.

This novel is filled with excellent sibling rivalry, which made for such interesting and complex interactions between the characters. I loved the multiple view points and they way everyone had their own agenda and way of seeing the world.

The Ivory Key is fast paced with lots of puzzles, danger and excitement. There are some great twists too. The world building is fantastic, with a rich history and fascinating magic system, including secret societies and long lost magical treasure - it really does have everything you could possibly wish for in a YA fantasy. I can't wait to learn more in book two - the ending has left me with so many questions!

Deeply engaging, Raman crafts a magical world filled with political intrigue, intricate sibling relationships, unexpected betrayals, and a slow-burn romance that makes for a debut that will thoroughly enrapt readers.

Fans of Roshani Chokshi and Hafsah Faizal will be completely immersed in Raman’s lushly crafted novel. Reunited royal siblings go on a treasure hunt in order to save their country from crumbling into ruin. Though, each sibling has an ulterior motive for what the seek, this character driven story is a page turner. Having alternating POV’s, each sibling burns bright in the constellation that is The Ivory Key, giving them each a moment to shine on the stage as they race across the lushly envisioned world to find a treasure that could save them all.

Plus, after the final pages prior to the epilogue, readers will be brimming with questions. Wondering about the consequences of the siblings choices and how will it reshape their future and their relationship with each other. I am really looking forward to Vira’s character development. If she will be more ruthless and cynical at the beginning of the book, but have a character ARC that will have her fully changed by the end, and perhaps a tad bit more steam between her and certain captain of the guard??? And Kaleb!!! I didn’t want the book to end! I wanted him to find his own footing, his place, and someone who would appreciate him for all of his quiet brilliance.

There’s so much to gush over secret societies, the magic, the betrayals, the mythology, the romance (more more more).

With an epilogue that will have readers desperate for the final book, I’m trying not to think about the fact I’ll have to wait another year.

Nope…

Not thinking about that at ALL.😂😭

Happy Reading ~ Cece

“All happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” (Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, 1878). The Ivory Key tells the story of four siblings divided by their family’s own unhappiness. The family is forced back together in a quest to find the mysterious ivory key, long sought by their studious and eccentric father. While they must work as a unit to find the key, each individual has their own reason for discovering the relic. Ronak, in trouble with a criminal mastermind, must find the key in order to ensure his escaper from the mundanity of palace life; Riya is on a quest to prove her worth to her chosen family; Kaleb’s freedom is tied to finding the artifact; and Vira must save her beloved Ashoka and prove her worth as a Maharani. This YA Fantasy is an entertaining read from the colourful start to the shocking ending. I would highly recommend this for personal enjoyment and as an addition to a classroom library.

This Indian inspired fantasy was a good read and will be popular with some of my fantasy fans. I found it to be a good read, but it was a lot to keep track of and I struggled with that for much of the book. Overall, I will recommend to my students, but I won't rush to read the sequel.

Akshaya Raman is obviously a talented writer. THE IVORY KEY is beautifully written with some gorgeous lines throughout, like, "That's the thing about battling ghosts, Vira. The living always lose." There are so many truly quotable lines like this throughout the novel to match the stunning cover. While the story itself and representation itself are important and wonderfully done, the story just wasn't for me. That being said, I think there are plenty of readers who will fall head over heels in love with this story. I really liked that each sibling had their own POV, but I did not connect with all four of them. Vira and Riya were the most compelling to me.