Tanaz Bhathena (Credit: Nettie Photography)

Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena is a dual-perspective, stand-alone, young adult epic fantasy that tells a propulsive political tale of magic, the attraction of opposites, and chosen family. Roshan Chaya, the Shadow Bandit, capable of disguising her face through magic, is the leader of the Shadow Clan, a group of farmers and villagers turned masked outlaws. Forced to loot, raid, and often kill, just to have enough to eat and to share with the other villagers in the valley, the clan’s motto is “When they don’t give us our birthright, we steal it.” Abused, displaced, and starved by ruthless blood tithes of the corrupt governor of their province, the people of Ashvamaidan have been suffering for years, nearly powerless but for the Shadow Clan.

When Roshan comes upon Prince Navin, second in line to the throne, she decides to kidnap him as leverage to avenge her adoptive father’s death, regain her people’s land and dignity, and remove the governor. The hostage situation, however, turns into a budding romance when Roshan and Navin connect over shared emotional wounds. Despite their status and magical powers, with Roshan possessing healing magic and Navin soul magic, both are constantly underestimated. Roshan is doubted as the rightful leader of the clan, and Navin, an illegitimate prince who is half-human and half-peri, a species of winged humanoid, has never been taken seriously.

Roshan and the clan justify their brutal actions to the prince and try to convince him of their people’s horrors, but this proves difficult as the royals have a history of  ignorance. Thus, the book adds elements of realism by showing the real cost of change, and demonstrating the consequences of lack of political will and bureaucracy, where “[j]ustice doesn’t happen on our terms.”

With an eclectic and endearing cast of characters, the novel’s world-building and magic system is rich, set in the same universe, inspired by medieval India, as Bhathena’s The Wrath of Ambar duology. Here, magic of different types is commonplace (one is able to silence another with a snap of a finger), emotions are colours, years are 360 days long, and even seasons have different names.

In reading Of Light and Shadow, one can draw interesting parallels to issues of climate change, and food and housing insecurity. The novel is a relevant and refreshing fantasy that will inspire readers to consider their own agency in agitating for social change.