A Spark of White Fire: Book One of the Celestial Trilogy

Sangu Mandanna

Sep 2018 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Named one of the best 25 space opera books by BookRiot!

The first book in a scifi retelling of the Mahabrahata. When Esmae wins a contest of skill, she sets off events that trigger an inevitable and unwinnable war that pits her against the family she would give anything to return to.

In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back.

Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali.

It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart.

Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle between jealousy and love.

Ratings and reviews

Bought this pretty much 2 pages into the sample. It was on special, and the premise was enticing... and actually seeing the writing style (I'm picky) made me go hmmm, this could be awesome (it was). So for one, I don't normally care much for fiction, and two, I'm pretty quick to roll my eyes at female protagonists... but despite those two big personal hangups I stayed up late to finish this the next day. I really, really enjoyed this ride. The genre tags for it are all true (space opera! Epic! Fantasy! Scifi! and I'm sure there are more) but I think that kinda shows how unique this story is, and most importantly it just flows. The author is a legit story teller. Lots of details just all came together in a highly satisfying way... and it's honestly self-contained and ends, to me, in a bad-ass kind of way. But I'm happy that, hungry for, and excited that there is a part 2 (even better, of 3!). You really feel what Esmae does :D Very unique world, loved that there are gods in play. You can sorta figure out stuff about Max but dammit, it just makes him all that sweeter and authentic in my eyes. I'd say if the sample grips you, tear into it because it stays consistently that "flavor" and energy.

excellent!!!

Good

About the author

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. She is the author of The Lost Girl, A Spark of White Fire and its sequels, and has contributed to several anthologies. She lives in Norwich, in the east of England, with her husband and kids.