Sisters of the Snake (Ria & Rani #1)

Pickpocket Ria has grown up in an orphanage within the kingdom of Abai, stealing food from street vendors to survive. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Princess Rani Singh, Abai’s future ruler, lives in suffocating luxury, surrounded by courtiers and cruelty. When Ria breaks into the palace to steal some jewels, the two girls are stunned by their identicality, and Rani immediately recognizes the potential uses of a doppelgänger. Haunted by the knowledge that her kingdom is on the verge of conflict, Rani persuades Ria to take her place while she searches for a magical stone that could change the tide of the coming war. Though Ria accepts, neither can foresee the far-reaching consequences that the deal will have—not just for them, but for the fate of Abai itself. In their traditional publishing debut, the Nanua sisters (the Pendant Trilogy), maintain distinct voices throughout for their dual narrators. Rich descriptiveness of food and setting plus inventive magical details paint a glamorous high-fantasy world, steeped in intrigue and bolstered by Punjabi cultural touches. Though the swiftness of the plot occasionally sacrifices character development, its pace leaves little room for boredom in this immersive series starter. Ages 12–up. [em]Agent: Peter Knapp, Park & Fine Literary and Media. (June) [/em]