Kavithri by Aman J. Bedi
Blurb:
Meet Kavithri. Outcast. Underdog. Survivor.
Kavi is a Taemu. Her people, once feared berserkers and the spearhead of a continent-spanning invasion, are the dregs of Raayan society. Their spirits crushed. Their swords broken. Their history erased.
But Kavi has a dream and a plan. She will do whatever it takes to earn a place at the secretive mage academy, face the Jinn within its walls, and gain the power to rise above her station and drag her people out of the darkness.
Except power and knowledge come at a cost, and the world no longer needs a Taemu who can fight. So they will break her. Beat her down to her knees. And make her bleed.
But if blood is what they want, Kavi will give them blood. She will give them violence. She will show them a berserker's fury.
And she will make them remember her name.
An no-holds-barred progression fantasy and empowering South Asian epic - featuring necromancers, djinn and visceral action sequences. An underdog story like no other, Kavithri is perfect for fans of Fonda Lee, Tamsyn Muir and John Gwynne.
Review:
A truly heart-wrenching tale that explores the furthest depths of trauma and survival, Kavithri is rife with suffering and bloody determination. For those with the stomach and mental fortitude to delve into an unrelenting level of darkness and gore, Kavithri offers a raw look into the hard truths of human nature.
The cover is enough to generate a thrill, but this book reeled me in from the very first page and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. It’s important to note that the world-building heavily draws from the rich and vibrant Indian culture, often using language and terms that may likely go over the heads of many readers. However, despite this minor language barrier, Bedi does an impressive job of immersing the reader in the world through a POV character steeped in authenticity and intrigue. For fans of dark, brutal fantasy, Kavithri would most likely be a worthwhile read, allowing for a moderate serving of cultural enrichment, if nothing else.
The level of bloody brutality is enough to rival the grimmest of grimdark, something that is not for the faint of heart. With that said, it serves a vital purpose. Speaking as someone who is no stranger to adversity, the story shines a glaring light on the ugliest humanity has to offer. It’s effective not because of the unfathomably gut-wrenching content, but because of where that content originates. Strip away the fantasy elements and what you’re left with is the blinding truth of what people are capable of. Kavithri can be a difficult read, but it is indeed a necessary one for understanding history and cultural dynamics.
Through a mix of engaging character work and plot development, readers will no doubt be cheering, bawling, and raging as they delve deep into the life and perception of our sole POV character. Bedi ensures that exposition either flows seamlessly or is kept to a minimum, giving ample time to paint a visceral picture of abuse and trauma response (themes that take centre stage for the majority of the book).
It’s true that life’s path is full of twists and turns, and this story is one of the best examples of unpredictability and subverted expectations. Our beloved heroine makes decisions that both give cause for relief and make your head spin. However, Bedi ensures that the emotional investment only continues to grow, giving serious weight to the climax and even evoking a sense of catharsis near the end.
This incredibly dark, steampunk fantasy tale is one that will have readers breathless and anxious, and one that is steeped in the darkest dregs of reality—but reality, nonetheless.
