starred review Booklist
★ "Nayak's characters are realistic, intelligent, and lively, and the plot is exciting, complex, and fast-paced. The creative brilliance in the lush storytelling is outstanding, especially with the concept of technomancy—bringing dead technological devices to life and imbuing them with personality and purpose is a fascinating magic system unlike most in the genre. Nayak meshes his characters, his plot, and varied genres of sf, fantasy, and cyberpunk with skill and aplomb."
Judy I. Lin
“A Magic Fierce and Bright is a wildly imaginative story that takes the reader from the lush jungle to a grand palace hiding many secrets. The action doesn’t let up from the explosive beginning to the triumphant end. The magical world contained within these pages is a pure delight. I’ve never experienced anything like it!”
Publishers Weekly
"[A] daring steampunk fantasy...[that] weaves an intricately built setting via plentiful sensorial description and sprawling worldbuilding. Ragtag found-family dynamics, discerning dialogue, tightly constructed action sequences, and all the explosive excitement of a Mad Max film further escalate this expansive tale about the triumphant bond of sisterhood."
George Jreije
"A Magic Fierce and Bright expertly blends science fiction and fantasy for an edge-of-your-seat adventure. I couldn't put down this debut, eager to follow Adya and her crew across India! Now that I have finished, all I can say is that I cannot wait for whatever Nayak gives us next, even if it means facing down colonialist vampires, terrifying mythic monsters, and a cat named Useless."
Kirkus Reviews
"This breathless techno-fantasy adventure abounds in terrifying and electrifying thrills; the nonstop action...will keep readers riveted.
An exhilarating ride."
Melissa Caruso
“An adrenaline-fueled, action-packed, nonstop ride full of magic and danger, family and friendship, loss and triumph—and one sentient motorcycle that will steal your heart and race it to the finish line. With brilliant pacing, fantastic characters, and a wildly creative world, A Magic Fierce and Bright is a true winner!”
Shelf Awareness
"A Magic Fierce & Bright is an adrenaline-charged fantasy steeped in Indian mythology with political intrigue, found family, and nonstop action...Hemant Nayak skillfully infuses fantasy with Indian folklore while deftly exploring the importance of community and the effects of war in his exhilarating debut. Suspenseful, tense action is effortlessly twined together with supernatural creatures, magical elements, and Indian mythology. Nayak also includes discussions of power (both magical and political) and the significance of working together. Whether it's Adya's mismatched crew becoming a found family as they help each other escape near-death experiences, or Priya wanting to join with other magical groups to defeat the British, community is at the forefront. This heart-pounding adventure is action-packed and entertaining."
SEPTEMBER 2024 - AudioFile
Shiromi Arserio narrates a fantasy set more than 400 years in the future. After a gangster destroys her home, Adya must work with a despised rival to save her sister--and the world. Adya has led a difficult life, and her anger, resentment, and general mistrust are highlighted in Arserio's portrayal. Princess Imral has led a sheltered life, and Arserio's portrayal is a believable arc from spoiled and bossy to willing to work as part of a team. Both Adya's brother, Mohan, and her rival, Dsouza, are more opaque, but Arserio does the best she can, making Mohan cheerful and optimistic, and Dsouza wry and brooding. Strangely, the most compelling character is the ancient Yamaha motorcycle, which is given a full range of emotion and surprising nuance by Arserio. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2024-04-20
In a future when magic dominates, a young woman’s search for her sister leads her to the frontlines of the war between England and India.
Centuries ago, meteors crashed into Earth, creating infinity wells of magical energy. Seizing the opportunity to expand England’s power and restore its imperial power, the queen first conquered France and then sent her forces to India, igniting a war. Four hundred years on, Adya Sachdev is a technomancer who possesses a rare ability to fix and awaken electrical machines. Her skills allow her to feed her family and pay off their debts to the cruel crime lord Huda, but they also make her a target of the British, who would use her to do their bidding. When Adya is captured by Huda’s men, she finds herself in the company of handsome thief Jagan Dsouza, whom she must work with to escape Huda’s clutches and continue searching for her twin sister, Priya. Priya left home to pursue their dead parents’ ambitions of awakening a machine powerful enough to expel the British from India. Accompanied by an unlikely team of allies, including Mohan (her optimistic brother), Dsouza, maharaja’s daughter Sonya, and a talking motorcycle, Adya navigates a complicated web of political intrigue, faces unimaginable dangers head-on, and discovers the truth of her power and who she could be. This breathless techno-fantasy adventure abounds in terrifying and electrifying thrills; the nonstop action hinders character development but will keep readers riveted.
An exhilarating ride. (Fantasy. 13-18)
