Review: Mahimata by Rati Mehrotra (Asiana #2)

Mahimata (Asiana #2)
Rati Mehrotra
Published: March 5, 2019 (Harper Voyager)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will reference the previous book. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Markswoman.

After killing the usurper who murdered the former Mahimata and seeing justice served, Kyra Veer has returned to the Order of Kali to rest and recuperate. Unfortunately, Kyra must acknowledge how much has changed since she’s been away: her teacher is still dead, one of her best friends went missing and is still unaccounted for, and Rustan, the Marksman who trained her in preparation for her duel is gone—they had formed a much deeper bond than just trainer and trainee.

Rustan, after questioning the killing of an innocent man—as well as shaken by his developing feelings for Kyra—has imposed a penance upon himself. He’s left the Order of Kuhr to travel Asiana looking for answers to questions he doesn’t yet understand. This leads him to discovering and ancient sect tied to the mysterious Ones that left the world eons ago.

Before either Kyra or Rustan can settle themselves, it becomes apparent that the time to fight for Asiana is now. And the time for Kyra to avenge her murdered family is quickly approaching as the man responsible for their deaths, Kai Tau, is the same one who is leading an army to desolate the land of Asiana. How much of themselves will Kyra and Rustan have to sacrifice in order to ensure that Asiana lives on?

I don’t typically get a chance to do a reread before delving into the next book in any series, so I really appreciated how easy is was to slide right back into the very complex and interesting world created by Rati Mehrotra here.

I struggled a bit trying to figure out where the story was going to take us and I think, for the most part, this is an apt description of how the characters felt as well for a good majority of the book.

I felt like both Rustan and Kyra are struggling with what happens next. Where to go from where they’ve been, so to speak. Of course the main conflict on the horizon is the inevitable battle with Kai Tau. But before that both Rustan and Kyra have to find peace in what their futures hold. For Kyra, this is the mythical “door” she has seen at various times in visions and dreams. It’s been a background fear for Kyra for a while now, and I think it’s one of those things where once you conquer your fear then you reach enlightenment.

I really loved how Rati Mehrotra built up the relationship between Rustan and Kyra. Their star-crossed love of sorts is sweet, but I really enjoyed seeing how often their goals didn’t align yet they still hold love for each other even with the opposition. In the end, they’ll still fight on the same side even if they’re each getting to that side by different means, means which they each might not understand, but still encouraging one another even if it takes them away from each other. It’s bittersweet, yet beautiful all at once.

In reading Mahimata I didn’t really find the ending to be too surprising. I think if you’ve read the first book, and as you’re reading this one, it’s built up in a way that the ending is expected, but it’s seeing the journey that’s the real treat. At the start, it felt like the beginning of the end, and Mahimata definitely provides an ending to this duology. I would love if Rati Mehrotra revisited this world because it’s certainly full of history and mystery I’d love to have explored more.

Sexual content: kissing, references to sex, references to assault