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The Spice Gate

A Fantasy

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available

Delve into this debut fantasy and journey through the Spice Gates as Amir, a young man born with the ability to travel between the eight kingdoms, unravels the power that keeps the world in balance, perfect for readers of Ken Liu's Dandelion Dynasty, S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad Trilogy, and Andrea Stewart's The Drowning Empire.

The weight of spice is more than you know.

Relics of a mysterious god, the Spice Gates connect the eight far-flung kingdoms, each separated by a distinct spice and only accessible by those born with a special mark. This is not a caste of distinction, though, but one of subjugation: Spice Carriers suffer the lashes of their masters, the weight of the spices they bear on their backs, and the jolting pain of the Gates themselves.

Amir is one such Spice Carrier, and he dreams of escaping his fate of being a mule for the rich who gorge themselves on spices like the addicted gluttons they are. More important than relieving his own pain, though, is saving his family, especially his brother, born like him with the unfortunate spice mark that designates him for a life of servitude.

But while Amir makes his plans for freedom, something stirs in the inhospitable spaces between the kingdoms. Fate has designs of its own for Amir, and he soon finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that could disrupt the delicate dynamics of the kingdoms forever.

The more Amir discovers truth and myth blurring, the more he realizes that his own schemes are insignificant compared to the machinations going on around him. Forced to chase after shadows with unlikely companions, searching for answers that he never even thought to question, Amir's simple dream of slipping away transforms into a grand, Spice Gate–hopping adventure. Gods, assassins, throne-keepers, and slaves all have a vested interest in the spice trade, and Amir will have to decide—for the first time in his life—what kind of world he wants to live in...if the world survives at all.


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    • Library Journal

      April 1, 2024

      DEBUT Amir was born to a life of enslavement. He is gatecaste and branded with the spicemark, so his only purpose in life is to carry spices through the gates that connect the eight kingdoms. Passing through a gate is like being torn apart, and Amir will do anything to prevent his younger brother from suffering the same fate. In pursuit of this goal, Amir is soon caught between the machinations of the abovefolk and the outlaws. Myth bleeds into reality, and he stumbles upon a monumental discovery that will irrevocably upset the balance of power. Inspired by Indian myths, this is an engrossing and adventurous debut. The complexities of the spice trade contribute to Srivatsa's vast and rich worldbuilding, and the idea of spices as a source of power and magic is fascinating. Amir refuses to be bound by his caste and subjugation, and his struggle has significant emotional impact. VERDICT This is a sweeping, smart, and heartfelt tale that is perfect for readers who enjoy action-packed epic fantasy about family, survival, and the steadfast strength of the oppressed.--Andrea Dyba

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from May 13, 2024
      Srivatsa explores class discrimination in his lush and ambitious debut. Spice is king in the eight kingdoms involved in the Spice Trade, each of which produces one specific spice. To travel between kingdoms one must make the painful passage through a Spice Gate, a task relegated only to the lowest caste, the bearers of the spice mark. One such Carrier is Amir, of the saffron kingdom Raluha. Tired of being treated as society’s punching bag, Amir aims to abandon his duty and go rogue with his family. But for his mother, who does not bear a spice mark, to travel through the Spice Gate, he’ll need to obtain Poison, a rare liquid that allows for painless passage. During one of his trips to the turmeric kingdom of Halmora, Amir meets Fylan, a fatally wounded stranger who claims to be from the secret ninth kingdom of Illindhi. Before dying, Fylan entrusts Amir with an olum, the spice key to Illindhi, and a secret mission. Desperate for a better life far from Raluha, Amir sets out on an arduous journey to a kingdom that might not exist. Srivatsa’s worldbuilding is complex, captivating, and original. The result is a masterful fantasy epic bursting with flavor.

    • Booklist

      June 1, 2024
      In Srivatsa's debut, the Spice Gates connect far-flung kingdoms, with the Gates only usable by those born with a "spice mark" or by those who quaff the Jewelmaker's Poison. The kingdoms' physical distances are obstructed by their mysterious god's Immortal Sons. Amir is a Spice Carrier from Raluha, condemned by his spice mark to carry goods between the kingdoms, enduring whippings from the higher castes, the weight of the goods he carries, and the pain of traversing the Gates--a pain not shared by those who can afford the Poison. His dream of securing a single vial of Poison for his mother and escaping with his otherwise spice-marked family to a refuge where Carriers have become pirates is complicated by his forbidden relationship with Harini, the daughter of Halmora's thronekeeper, and her involvement in a larger plot to improve life for everyone. Against his better judgment, Amir finds himself on a Spice Gate-hopping adventure, supplanting his dream with the need to prevent genocide and discover the truth behind the Spice Gates. Srivatsa keeps readers engaged with rich worldbuilding and Amir's discoveries in each new location.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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