WHEEL OF WRATH

War rages on in this epic sequel to Spin of Fate (2024).

Following Malin’s invasion of upper realm Mayana, former allies Aranel, Aina, and Meizan navigate their war-torn world. Upper-born Aranel, who believed in the ruthless Balancer leader Zenyra’s vision of a new future, regrets following her and longs to redeem himself. Despite their volatile relationship, Aina struggles to endure without her mother—the only family she’s ever had—and is hell-bent on avenging her. Meizan faces opposition as chief of the Kanjallen and must decide whether allying with the Preservation, which upholds Toranic Law, or Zenyra, who defies it, will keep his people safe. A fourth protagonist enters the fray: nature-loving Princess Himalia of Kirnos, whose intensive study of chitrons (the minuscule particles that make up human souls) leads her closer to unimaginable discoveries that could alter the universe. Vora stretches her worldbuilding skills here—from the frantic race to soul-bond the right humans with the awakening seitarius (the planetary beasts who created the world) to the poetic scriptures providing believers and non-believers insight into their history, this middle volume is intense, intricately wrought, and fascinating. Even diehard fans of the trilogy opener may need to refer to the author’s website for recaps. Characters are diverse in physical appearance, although their individual stratum, whether upper or lower, is most significant.

A stellar follow-up fraught with political turmoil, violence, pain, and grief.