#Review - Mahimata by Rati Mehrotra #Fantasy

Series: Asiana # 2
Format: Hardcover, 480 pages
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Epic

A young female assassin must confront the man who slaughtered her family, risk her heart, and come to terms with her identity as a warrior and as a woman in this exciting fantasy from the author of Markswoman.
 

 

Mahimata is the second and final installment in the Asiana series by author Rati Mehrotra. Filled with terrific characters, expansive world-building, a tough heroine, a formidable hero, and thrilling action, Mahimata has everything fantasy readers want. The story continues where Markswoman left off. The series focuses on two main characters: Kyra a Markswoman from the Order of Kali which happens to be the oldest Order of Peace in Asiana, and Rustan, a Marksman from the Order of Khur, the only Order of Peace composed of men. 

Unlike the previous installment, Kyra and Rustan are on two separate courses that will see them parted for most of the story. In her duel with Tamsyn, the Order of Kali’s dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, Kyra emerged victorious. Yet, Tamsyn left her mark on the young assassin. Deeply wounded by Tamysn’s blade, Kyra struggles to recover and reclaim her old life. Her return to the caves of Kali is bittersweet, for she no longer feels as though she belongs. Her beloved teacher is dead and she's about to get lifted to a prestigious position.

Her best friend Nineth is missing. Gone, too, is Rustan, the Marksman who helped her train for the duel--and became far more than a teacher and friend. Kyra must not only take on the leadership role of her Order, but she must also work with the remaining Orders of Peace (Valavan, Zorya, Matsu, and Khur) in order to fight back against the man who is responsible for the slaughter of her entire family. She also forms an unlikely alliance with the wyr-wolves who the Orders have been hunting to near extinction. Kyra has a singular goal of removing all Kalashiks from the world.

Rustan, too, has changed. Shaken by his feelings for Kyra and the truth about his parentage, Rustan exiles himself from the Order of Khur and sets off on a quest for answers. His odyssey leads him to the descendants of an ancient sect tied to the alien Ones. They promise to share their knowledge of Asiana’s past if Rustan will apprentice himself to them. To do so, though, means he must renounce his Order—and forsake Kyra. I am just going to come out and say that Kyra's story was a whole lot more fun to read about. Rustan has major issues.

In the end, I was a bit thrown off by the ending. I do believe that there are things that need to be said without actually spoiling what happened. That being said, I liked the action of this story. I liked seeing a different side of Kyra. She becomes much stronger and much more open to working with others who don't have the same goals. It was nice to see the friends, Kyra, Elena, Nineth, and yes, even Akassa back together again even if it was for a brief time in the story.

Markswoman and Mahimata are catnip for sci fi and fantasy authors who bring a great element of action to their stories, such as Sarah Beth Durst, S. A. Chakraborty, Marie Lu, and Sabaa Tahir, and are ideal for fans of authors such as Emily R. King, who mix magic and romance brilliantly.

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