• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 7 to 12

A riveting story of discovery, forbidden romance and idealism against all odds, set in a fantasy world inspired in part by Indian history and myth. For fans of Sabaa Tahir and Tomi Adeyemi.

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul’s mark is what caused her parents’ murder at the hand of King Lohar’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.
Cavas lives in the tenements, and he’s just about ready to sign his life over to the king’s army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl—Gul—in the capital’s bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance—and discovers a magic he never expected to find.
Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king’s domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

Tanaz Bhathena's profile page

• Winner, White Pine Award
• Short-listed, Snow Willow Award

TANAZ BHATHENA writes books for young adults. Her latest book, Hunted by the Sky, is the first of a YA fantasy duology set in a world inspired by medieval India, with the sequel Rising like a Storm releasing on June 22, 2021. Her novel, The Beauty of the Moment, won the Nautilus Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction and has also been nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen, and The Times of India. Visit her at tanazbhathena.com or follow her on Instagram: @bhathenatanaz.

One of CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens Fall 2020
One of CBC Books' Best Middle-Grade and Young Adult Books of 2020
One of Canadian Children's Book News’ Best Books of 2020
One of the Ontario Library Association's 2020 Best Bets selection, Young Adult Fiction category

PRAISE FOR Hunted by the Sky:

“A breath of fresh air in the fantasy adventure genre. . . . Readers will be mesmerized by Bhathena’s vivid storytelling and the deeply felt connection between the two main characters. This fantasy adventure featuring protagonists of color will be enjoyed by fans of the Legacy of Orisha and Ember in the Ashes series.” ―STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"A novel of palace intrigue, supplication and resistance, romance, and betrayal. Bhathena takes her time unfolding the story, allowing the reader full immersion not only in the richly drawn characters but in the world itself ― a world inspired by medieval India. The result is an intoxicating novel that is at once leisurely and keenly enthralling." ―STARRED REVIEW, Quill & Quire

“This Indian- and Persian-inspired duology opener from Bhathena explores questions of faith via a fully fleshed, predominantly brown-skinned cast and a thoughtfully conceived mythology. Gul and Cavas’s burgeoning attraction adds hints of romance, and . . . escalating action catapults the tale to a thrilling close.” ―Publishers Weekly

“A fast-paced romantic fantasy set in a thoughtfully built, diverse world.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Bhathena explores class struggles and the marginalization of social groups in a fully immersive setting inspired by medieval India. . . . The plot quickly unfolds as we alternate between the distinct voices of Gul and Cavas, whose engaging dynamic promises further development in a sure-to-be gripping sequel.” ―Booklist
“Fantasy lovers who love to see Own Voices diversity in their secondary worlds will love Hunted by the Sky for its well-fleshed-out characters, gorgeous setting and fascinating mythology.” ―CM Reviews

“A mythical tale of love, sisterhood, vengeance and hope, Hunted by the Sky is an epic adventure you don't want to miss.” ―Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand
“With Hunted by the Sky, Tanaz Bhathena pens a story that is as fierce as it is tender. Her girls are beautifully complicated. Her world is lush, intricate, and unique. This book not only left me breathless, it made my heart soar.” ―Kristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara

“Hunted by the Sky plunges readers into an original and imaginative world that is both beautifully brutal and brutally beautiful. Tanaz Bhathena’s writing crackles with visceral detail and pointed metaphor, creating an immersive reading experience. Readers are certain to fall for Gul and Cavas as they find their own value in a world that tries hard to devalue them. A fresh and intelligent fantasy.” ―Megan Bannen, author of The Bird and the Blade

“As deeply enthralling as a dream, the world of Ambar lures you in with its rich mythology and fiercely tender romance. A story exquisitely told, with magic on every page.”
―Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of The Bloodprint
“Hunted by the Sky offers YA fantasy readers something deliciously fresh, while giving us everything we love: a richly-imagined landscape, fascinating magic, and a tenacious young heroine pitted against impossible odds." ―Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of the Frostblood saga
"A thrilling start to an exciting new series set in a fresh, magical new world. . . . I couldn't put it down!" ―S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper
“Captivating. . . . Steeped in medieval Indian magic, Hunted by the Sky is a breathtaking adventure of a book that draws you in from page one.” ―Sukanya Venkatraghavan, editor of Magical Women and author of Dark Things

“Filled with magic, prophecy, and ancient goddesses, Hunted by the Sky is an engrossing novel that will keep the reader up long past bedtime. Tanaz Bhathena's fantasy is perfect for fans of thoughtful worldbuilding and fantastical mirrors to our own reality. A whirlwind of heartfelt storytelling.” —Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling author of My Plain Jane and the Fallen Isles Trilogy

"A dazzling, rich story with a complex heroine, intricate magic, and bone-sharp prose, Hunted by the Sky is the fantasy novel I've been waiting for all year." ―Swati Teerdhala, author of the Tiger At Midnight series