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Burn the Sea
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26To protect her homeland, one queen must fight her people’s historic enemy―once and for all.
Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal’s two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister’s blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka’s world―and fate―are upended.
The Porcugi―giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea―haven’t been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they’re back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka’s definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test. Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?
A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen’s story, Burn the Sea is an electrifying exaltation of female power and the value of freedom.
Abbakka Chowta never expected to be queen. The youngest of Ullal’s two rajkumaris, Abbakka has spent years in rigorous combat training to become her sister’s blade. But when the monstrous Porcugi attempt to lay claim to Ullal, Abbakka’s world―and fate―are upended.
The Porcugi―giant half-men, half-snakes who attack from the sea―haven’t been seen in Ullal since their failed invasion more than fifty years ago. But now, they’re back with vengeance and a choice: pay their tithes or suffer total devastation. Soon, Abbakka’s definitions of strength, subterfuge, and statecraft are put to the test. Will marriage to a neighboring king give her the resources she needs to protect her people . . . or will she watch her homeland be crushed beneath the waves of would-be colonizers?
A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen’s story, Burn the Sea is an electrifying exaltation of female power and the value of freedom.
450 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
5382 people want to read
About the author
Mona Tewari
1 book40 followersMona Tewari has long been fascinated by the ways in which narratives of legends and histories shape our views of the present. A graduate of Caltech and UCSF, Tewari practiced as a pediatric dentist for years before turning to writing fiction. As the daughter of two immigrants from India, she didn’t see herself represented in popular media while growing up and became determined to show her daughters they belong in every world. Tewari lives with her husband, daughters, and dogs in New England.
Burn the Sea is her first novel.
Burn the Sea is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 11, 2026
I've secured an arc, and I can't wait to scream about this book.
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade.”
Have you ever come across a book that feels like it was meant to find you? As if the universe conspired to place it in your hands at the exact moment you needed it? That’s how Burn the Sea felt for me.
We’re living in a powerful literary moment where authors are reclaiming the legacies of forgotten queens and warriors. Women who defied empire, patriarchy, and erasure. Burn the Sea stands tall among them. In this evocative reimagining, Tewari breathes fiery new life into Rani Abbakka Chowta, the legendary queen who resisted Portuguese colonizers. But in Tewari’s world, the threat is mythic: the Porcugi, half-snake, half-human invaders descend on Ullal, lusting after its riches and sovereignty.
At the heart of the novel is Abbakka: a young woman grieving, ascending, and resisting not just foreign invaders, but the crushing weight of duty, the cost of power, and the treachery within her own walls, and heart. She is both blade and balm, burdened and simply brilliant. Her journey isn’t just a fantasy epic, the novel showcases the importance of resistance, resilience, and reckoning.
What sets this book apart is Tewari’s fearless commentary on complicity, a theme rarely touched in fantasy. While Abbakka fights tooth and nail against the Porcugi, others are quick to sell her out for profit, glory, or self-preservation. These moments were well planned and the emotional punches hit.
I’m endlessly grateful to Bindery Books for championing authors like Mona Tewari for uplifting stories that are unapologetically fierce and culturally rich. As I close this review, I leave you with a line that will be ringing in your head for a while “Come back to me.”
More book reviews on my Instagram
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade.”
Have you ever come across a book that feels like it was meant to find you? As if the universe conspired to place it in your hands at the exact moment you needed it? That’s how Burn the Sea felt for me.
We’re living in a powerful literary moment where authors are reclaiming the legacies of forgotten queens and warriors. Women who defied empire, patriarchy, and erasure. Burn the Sea stands tall among them. In this evocative reimagining, Tewari breathes fiery new life into Rani Abbakka Chowta, the legendary queen who resisted Portuguese colonizers. But in Tewari’s world, the threat is mythic: the Porcugi, half-snake, half-human invaders descend on Ullal, lusting after its riches and sovereignty.
At the heart of the novel is Abbakka: a young woman grieving, ascending, and resisting not just foreign invaders, but the crushing weight of duty, the cost of power, and the treachery within her own walls, and heart. She is both blade and balm, burdened and simply brilliant. Her journey isn’t just a fantasy epic, the novel showcases the importance of resistance, resilience, and reckoning.
What sets this book apart is Tewari’s fearless commentary on complicity, a theme rarely touched in fantasy. While Abbakka fights tooth and nail against the Porcugi, others are quick to sell her out for profit, glory, or self-preservation. These moments were well planned and the emotional punches hit.
I’m endlessly grateful to Bindery Books for championing authors like Mona Tewari for uplifting stories that are unapologetically fierce and culturally rich. As I close this review, I leave you with a line that will be ringing in your head for a while “Come back to me.”
More book reviews on my Instagram
January 24, 2026
Burn the Sea completely swept me away. This is a powerful, emotionally rich historical fantasy with a protagonist I instantly adored.
Set in a reimagined 1500s South India, the story follows Abbakka Chowta, the younger sister who never expected to rule, but is forced into queenship when the Porcugi — monstrous sea invaders — return and threaten her homeland. Faced with impossible choices between tribute, war and political alliances, Abbakka must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her people.
Abbakka is the absolute highlight of this book. She’s a fierce, strategic warrior queen, but also a thoughtful and capable leader who understands the importance of unity. She brings people together across religions, social classes and political divides, and you can really feel the weight of leadership on her shoulders. She’s brave, determined, deeply proud of her people and carrying a lot of grief she doesn’t always have time to process.
This story is a reimagining of the real-life Rani Abbakka Chowta and while some parts are fictional, it’s clear how much care and research went into honoring her legacy. Knowing that the real Abbakka led her people against colonisers in the 1500s — and even left her husband when he refused to stand with her — made this story hit even harder.
The world and culture felt incredibly rich and grounded, without ever feeling overwhelming. The Porcugi, portrayed as monstrous, snake-like beings from the sea, are a deliberate and effective choice that reinforces the story’s anti-colonial themes. Even when certain plot points are hinted at early on, the emotional impact never fades — this book still managed to really get to me.
I flew through this and was left wanting more. While the ending works beautifully for the story being told, I’d absolutely read a follow-up to see what happens next and to spend more time with these characters. That said, it doesn’t feel incomplete — just the kind of book that lingers with you.
Overall, Burn the Sea is bold, immersive and deeply moving. If you love strong female leads, historical fantasy rooted in real history and stories about resistance and freedom, this is one to keep your eye on.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing myself with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
Set in a reimagined 1500s South India, the story follows Abbakka Chowta, the younger sister who never expected to rule, but is forced into queenship when the Porcugi — monstrous sea invaders — return and threaten her homeland. Faced with impossible choices between tribute, war and political alliances, Abbakka must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her people.
Abbakka is the absolute highlight of this book. She’s a fierce, strategic warrior queen, but also a thoughtful and capable leader who understands the importance of unity. She brings people together across religions, social classes and political divides, and you can really feel the weight of leadership on her shoulders. She’s brave, determined, deeply proud of her people and carrying a lot of grief she doesn’t always have time to process.
This story is a reimagining of the real-life Rani Abbakka Chowta and while some parts are fictional, it’s clear how much care and research went into honoring her legacy. Knowing that the real Abbakka led her people against colonisers in the 1500s — and even left her husband when he refused to stand with her — made this story hit even harder.
The world and culture felt incredibly rich and grounded, without ever feeling overwhelming. The Porcugi, portrayed as monstrous, snake-like beings from the sea, are a deliberate and effective choice that reinforces the story’s anti-colonial themes. Even when certain plot points are hinted at early on, the emotional impact never fades — this book still managed to really get to me.
I flew through this and was left wanting more. While the ending works beautifully for the story being told, I’d absolutely read a follow-up to see what happens next and to spend more time with these characters. That said, it doesn’t feel incomplete — just the kind of book that lingers with you.
Overall, Burn the Sea is bold, immersive and deeply moving. If you love strong female leads, historical fantasy rooted in real history and stories about resistance and freedom, this is one to keep your eye on.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing myself with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
September 3, 2025
unwell thanks
- immediate thoughts from 9/1/25
--
Ohhhhh I love this. I love this I love this I love this. Burn the Sea checks all the boxes for me: a determined young heroine; themes of anti-colonialism, the cost of war, and grief; and a smattering of friendships, romances, relationships, and politicking that work so well with the main plot.
The novel is a fantastical retelling of Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s, where the Portuguese are depicted as monstrous, snake-like beings from the sea (Porcugi) who would rather make demands than fair trades. Who’d rather stoke the flames of war than negotiate peace. Abbakka Chowta, a real life queen of Ullal, is portrayed as a younger sister who never intended to rule. When an attack from the Porcugi changes everything, Abbakka is forced into political positions she never imagined, including a strategic marriage with a neighboring king. But will it be enough to save her people?
Like I said, I loved basically everything about this. Abbakka is everything I love in a protagonist. She’s bold and brave and strategic and unyielding. Fiercely protective. Unendingly proud of her people. Full of grief but unable to process it in the face of everything she’s dealing with. I so enjoyed getting to know her and I immediately looked up the real life Abbakka to learn more about who she was.
While Abbakka was for sure my favorite character, the other supporting characters in this are no less lovable. I really enjoyed the multiple dynamics in here, in particular Abbakka’s friendship with her friends from childhood, Thevan and Parushi, as well as her friendship with a monk who appears later in the book. And although a good 30% or so of this book is revealed in its synopsis, I still found myself emotional as events played out, and there were some moments that really Got To Me. You know what’s coming based on the blurb, yet the way Mona Tewari writes ensures you don’t lose any of that emotional weight. The characters, the prose, the plot... everything is just so good. Truly.
I was so engrossed in this story that I finished it in a day, which I haven’t done in several months, if not years. Every chapter just made me want to read more, and I’m so very excited for its release in April 2026.
Thank you to CJ Alberts, Bindery, Boundless Press, and NetGalley for inviting me to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
- immediate thoughts from 9/1/25
--
Ohhhhh I love this. I love this I love this I love this. Burn the Sea checks all the boxes for me: a determined young heroine; themes of anti-colonialism, the cost of war, and grief; and a smattering of friendships, romances, relationships, and politicking that work so well with the main plot.
The novel is a fantastical retelling of Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s, where the Portuguese are depicted as monstrous, snake-like beings from the sea (Porcugi) who would rather make demands than fair trades. Who’d rather stoke the flames of war than negotiate peace. Abbakka Chowta, a real life queen of Ullal, is portrayed as a younger sister who never intended to rule. When an attack from the Porcugi changes everything, Abbakka is forced into political positions she never imagined, including a strategic marriage with a neighboring king. But will it be enough to save her people?
Like I said, I loved basically everything about this. Abbakka is everything I love in a protagonist. She’s bold and brave and strategic and unyielding. Fiercely protective. Unendingly proud of her people. Full of grief but unable to process it in the face of everything she’s dealing with. I so enjoyed getting to know her and I immediately looked up the real life Abbakka to learn more about who she was.
While Abbakka was for sure my favorite character, the other supporting characters in this are no less lovable. I really enjoyed the multiple dynamics in here, in particular Abbakka’s friendship with her friends from childhood, Thevan and Parushi, as well as her friendship with a monk who appears later in the book. And although a good 30% or so of this book is revealed in its synopsis, I still found myself emotional as events played out, and there were some moments that really Got To Me. You know what’s coming based on the blurb, yet the way Mona Tewari writes ensures you don’t lose any of that emotional weight. The characters, the prose, the plot... everything is just so good. Truly.
I was so engrossed in this story that I finished it in a day, which I haven’t done in several months, if not years. Every chapter just made me want to read more, and I’m so very excited for its release in April 2026.
Thank you to CJ Alberts, Bindery, Boundless Press, and NetGalley for inviting me to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 22, 2025
If your man doesn’t bring you a shit ton of turmeric as a cute reference to your meet cute, is he even your man?
With a plot as fierce as its heroine, BURN THE SEA is a gripping tale of resistance in the face of subjugation. Abbaka defies those who would see her submit both as a wife and as a rani, despite blindsiding betrayals and crushing losses. Tewari's homage to the warrior queen of Ullal does her full justice.
With a plot as fierce as its heroine, BURN THE SEA is a gripping tale of resistance in the face of subjugation. Abbaka defies those who would see her submit both as a wife and as a rani, despite blindsiding betrayals and crushing losses. Tewari's homage to the warrior queen of Ullal does her full justice.
October 22, 2025
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Time is a cruel mistress."
I love this story so much, I can't believe it ended.
Burn the Sea is about Abbakka, a woman who will do whatever it takes to protect her kingdom from the Porcugi, the monsters that attack their shores. It's a reimagining of the arrival of the Portuguese on South India in the 1500s, told through the perspective of a queen who led her nation in a war against the would-be colonizers.
This book made me feel so many emotions. It's so culturally and spiritually anchored that I couldn't bring myself to let go even after I read the final page. The worldbuilding was cleverly woven into the plot. This book had so much identity. I appreciated the cultures and beliefs mentioned. It's so rich in detail.
Although it had its slow moments and unresolved subplots, I appreciated the length of each chapter. It was easy to flip through the pages and keep going. I think my biggest issue was how the romance was handled. There were problems in the relationships that went unacknowledged, which was frustrating, to say the least.
The politics also relied on slippery slope reasonings and didn't offer much nuance, making it hard for me to believe in the realism of the diplomacies and wars. But then again, this was told from the perspective of a deeply troubled, very biased main character, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
In addition, the author's note mentioned that the colonizers were "othered" in a way that European historical records alienated non-European territories to justify occupation, so I think this was a deliberate choice.
Overall, I am so looking forward to the next book, if there's a possibility for it. I would love to know what happened to the characters I grew to love. And I would love to see Abbakka rise from this war in triumph.
"Time is a cruel mistress."
I love this story so much, I can't believe it ended.
Burn the Sea is about Abbakka, a woman who will do whatever it takes to protect her kingdom from the Porcugi, the monsters that attack their shores. It's a reimagining of the arrival of the Portuguese on South India in the 1500s, told through the perspective of a queen who led her nation in a war against the would-be colonizers.
This book made me feel so many emotions. It's so culturally and spiritually anchored that I couldn't bring myself to let go even after I read the final page. The worldbuilding was cleverly woven into the plot. This book had so much identity. I appreciated the cultures and beliefs mentioned. It's so rich in detail.
Although it had its slow moments and unresolved subplots, I appreciated the length of each chapter. It was easy to flip through the pages and keep going. I think my biggest issue was how the romance was handled. There were problems in the relationships that went unacknowledged, which was frustrating, to say the least.
The politics also relied on slippery slope reasonings and didn't offer much nuance, making it hard for me to believe in the realism of the diplomacies and wars. But then again, this was told from the perspective of a deeply troubled, very biased main character, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
In addition, the author's note mentioned that the colonizers were "othered" in a way that European historical records alienated non-European territories to justify occupation, so I think this was a deliberate choice.
Overall, I am so looking forward to the next book, if there's a possibility for it. I would love to know what happened to the characters I grew to love. And I would love to see Abbakka rise from this war in triumph.
Want to read
July 19, 2025This cover is QUEEENLY
September 13, 2025
Read for work, I hate the scary snake people!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari is a vivid historical fantasy that reimagines the 1500s Portuguese attacks on South India through the fierce eyes of Abbakka Chowta, a princess trained as a warrior who is thrust into leadership when monstrous sea invaders called the Porcugi threaten her kingdom of Ullal. As queen, Abbakka must balance warfare, diplomacy, political betrayal, and alliances, including a strategic marriage that could save or doom her people. Tewari weaves mythic elements into a richly textured world rooted in real history, exploring resistance, power, sacrifice, and the cost of freedom.
What gripped me most was Abbakka’s complexity: she is both razor-sharp strategist and deeply human, battling internal grief while carrying her people’s fate, and that made her journey feel both epic and emotionally intimate. The worldbuilding is immersive with layered cultures, political intrigue, and evocative imagery; pacing evolves from measured to irresistible as stakes rise. While some emotional beats might have landed stronger with more room to breathe, the blend of myth, history, and fierce leadership left a lasting impression.
Rating: 4 out of 5, because its bold heroine and lush storytelling made this a compelling and resonant fantasy.
What gripped me most was Abbakka’s complexity: she is both razor-sharp strategist and deeply human, battling internal grief while carrying her people’s fate, and that made her journey feel both epic and emotionally intimate. The worldbuilding is immersive with layered cultures, political intrigue, and evocative imagery; pacing evolves from measured to irresistible as stakes rise. While some emotional beats might have landed stronger with more room to breathe, the blend of myth, history, and fierce leadership left a lasting impression.
Rating: 4 out of 5, because its bold heroine and lush storytelling made this a compelling and resonant fantasy.
September 3, 2025
“If you wanted me to be a bauble you should have never given me a blade”
Rajkumari Abbakka is headstrong, loyal, and trying her best to cope with the shitstorm she finds herself in. Thrust onto the thrown by circumstances beyond her control, she grasps at pieces of lessons from her tutors, family, and the spirits themselves to protect her people from enemies that have been plotting her demise long before she knew they were not 50 year old rumours. She is far from a bauble and is deadly with a blade.
“Burn The Sea” is an epic story steeped in tradition, fantasy, and political intrigue. From the prologue to the final sentence which sets the tone for an enticing sequel, this book transported and grounded me to the shores of Ullal. I could smell the incense and turmeric in the air, feel the flower garlands settle around my neck, and hear the battle cries of the soldiers who fought against the fearsome Porcugi.
Against the backdrop of tremendous loss, our main character, Abbakka is asking how can she best serve her people. Trying her best not to fold to the pressures of politics, she’s trapped between negotiating with murderous monsters or taking up arms and risking the lives of her subjects. In the midst of all of this, our Rajkumari is caught between two men, a Raja who hides behind his advisors and a General who hides behind his duty.
To me, this book was perfectly paced and well written. The themes explored, particularly in the context being immersed in an Indian fantasy-scape, were also incredibly important. The fearsome Purcugi who demand tithes in spices and attack without question are akin to a historical allegory reflecting the British who came to Hindustan and ripped the spices from the land in “exchange” for modernity, and does so without ever feeling pedantic. The author’s clever storytelling intricately folds the narrative of colonisation into a fantasy landscape in a way that is thoughtful and refreshing.
I am anxiously waiting for the continuation of this epic story and look forward to seeing just how far Abbakka is willing to go Burn the Sea. I am grateful to the publishers Bindery Books for sharing this advanced copy with me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rajkumari Abbakka is headstrong, loyal, and trying her best to cope with the shitstorm she finds herself in. Thrust onto the thrown by circumstances beyond her control, she grasps at pieces of lessons from her tutors, family, and the spirits themselves to protect her people from enemies that have been plotting her demise long before she knew they were not 50 year old rumours. She is far from a bauble and is deadly with a blade.
“Burn The Sea” is an epic story steeped in tradition, fantasy, and political intrigue. From the prologue to the final sentence which sets the tone for an enticing sequel, this book transported and grounded me to the shores of Ullal. I could smell the incense and turmeric in the air, feel the flower garlands settle around my neck, and hear the battle cries of the soldiers who fought against the fearsome Porcugi.
Against the backdrop of tremendous loss, our main character, Abbakka is asking how can she best serve her people. Trying her best not to fold to the pressures of politics, she’s trapped between negotiating with murderous monsters or taking up arms and risking the lives of her subjects. In the midst of all of this, our Rajkumari is caught between two men, a Raja who hides behind his advisors and a General who hides behind his duty.
To me, this book was perfectly paced and well written. The themes explored, particularly in the context being immersed in an Indian fantasy-scape, were also incredibly important. The fearsome Purcugi who demand tithes in spices and attack without question are akin to a historical allegory reflecting the British who came to Hindustan and ripped the spices from the land in “exchange” for modernity, and does so without ever feeling pedantic. The author’s clever storytelling intricately folds the narrative of colonisation into a fantasy landscape in a way that is thoughtful and refreshing.
I am anxiously waiting for the continuation of this epic story and look forward to seeing just how far Abbakka is willing to go Burn the Sea. I am grateful to the publishers Bindery Books for sharing this advanced copy with me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
August 28, 2025Thank you to CJ Albert’s and the author for sending me this arc!
October 5, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
October 23, 2025
Thank you to the publishers for a free ebook arc received through Netgalley.
Burn the Sea is a new Indian-inspired fantasy, that takes a historical figure and reimagines her story and struggle against colonizers in a fantasy world and I AM HERE FOR IT!
Abhekka never expected to become the rank of her country, but when tragedy arrives on shore in the shape of the porcugi would-be-colonizers, she must step into this role, even if it means marrying a foreign Raju, to save her people from oppression.
Only her marriage is not what it seemed, and the political opponents are everywhere, and soon Abekka must learn who to trust, to figure out how to fight opression.
I enjoyed this story thoroughly, and was easily swept away into the world and politics, and would definitely recommend it to other readers.
I do, however, still have some criticism. My main critique is, that I didn’t find the big emotional scenes to fill enough, which I think also correlates to the fact, that I believe the story starts a scene or two too soon. In the overall experience, it doesn’t matter much for enjoyment, but I would have liked to see the emotions of the characters get more screentime.
Another minor critique from me (which may be completely down to personal taste), is that the characters speaks with modern slang from time to time, replying with saying such as ‘same’ or ‘fair’ to statements.
Nevertheless, this books was a lot of fun, it showed me a new perspective on colonialism, and was overall just a great time. I particularly like the scene just before the birth (iykyk), where all the women come together and give their advice. That was beautiful.
Overall, 4/5 stars and a warm recommendation.
Burn the Sea is a new Indian-inspired fantasy, that takes a historical figure and reimagines her story and struggle against colonizers in a fantasy world and I AM HERE FOR IT!
Abhekka never expected to become the rank of her country, but when tragedy arrives on shore in the shape of the porcugi would-be-colonizers, she must step into this role, even if it means marrying a foreign Raju, to save her people from oppression.
Only her marriage is not what it seemed, and the political opponents are everywhere, and soon Abekka must learn who to trust, to figure out how to fight opression.
I enjoyed this story thoroughly, and was easily swept away into the world and politics, and would definitely recommend it to other readers.
I do, however, still have some criticism. My main critique is, that I didn’t find the big emotional scenes to fill enough, which I think also correlates to the fact, that I believe the story starts a scene or two too soon. In the overall experience, it doesn’t matter much for enjoyment, but I would have liked to see the emotions of the characters get more screentime.
Another minor critique from me (which may be completely down to personal taste), is that the characters speaks with modern slang from time to time, replying with saying such as ‘same’ or ‘fair’ to statements.
Nevertheless, this books was a lot of fun, it showed me a new perspective on colonialism, and was overall just a great time. I particularly like the scene just before the birth (iykyk), where all the women come together and give their advice. That was beautiful.
Overall, 4/5 stars and a warm recommendation.
September 27, 2025
◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ burn the sea.
ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4.5/5
i received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating, and all opinions expressed below are my own.
the way i flew through this book was insaaaane i don’t think i’ve read a book this fast in a while! i absolutely loved abbakka, the main character. her devotion to her country, her bravery, her determination to be the best leader she can be—she is such a beautiful character who has brought justice to her real-life self. going into this book, i had no idea about the inspiration behind this book—portugal’s attacks against south india—which was very interesting to see a glimpse of in such a unique way. there better be another book coming soon because i don’t think i can handle waiting so long to find out what happens next 😭🤍 thank you for blessing us with this amazing story!!
thank you to netgalley and bindery books for this arc!
ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4.5/5
i received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating, and all opinions expressed below are my own.
the way i flew through this book was insaaaane i don’t think i’ve read a book this fast in a while! i absolutely loved abbakka, the main character. her devotion to her country, her bravery, her determination to be the best leader she can be—she is such a beautiful character who has brought justice to her real-life self. going into this book, i had no idea about the inspiration behind this book—portugal’s attacks against south india—which was very interesting to see a glimpse of in such a unique way. there better be another book coming soon because i don’t think i can handle waiting so long to find out what happens next 😭🤍 thank you for blessing us with this amazing story!!
thank you to netgalley and bindery books for this arc!
September 17, 2025
Quick very high level summary.
A retelling that takes place in 16th century South India where the Porcugi (half-men, half-snakes) who attack from the sea and Abbakka Chowta, a trained warrior princess does all she can to protect her people.
My take.
We have a strong female MC, moral ambiguity, mythical monsters, political intrigue, masterful imagery and a bit of romance. This story was immediately immersive for me. The author does and amazing job of creating a vivid depiction of the world and the creatures with narrative. Abbakka is everything you have to have in an MC. She is strong, resilient, vulnerable and relatable. There is a lot of symbolism throughout this story and I really enjoyed it. We have of compromise, sacrifice and personal growth that are intertwined with mythology that makes for beautiful imagery and vivid world building.
The blending of mythic monsters and historical colonial themes made this a really intriguing read that help my interest the entire time. So much so I could not put it down. There are twists that I did not expect and was left in shock after reading. I do wish there was more about the Porcugi of course but I do understand the direction the author was trying to go. Overall this was an amazing read that was well written and engaging. Absolutely enjoyed the blend of history, mythology and fantasy this book offered!
A retelling that takes place in 16th century South India where the Porcugi (half-men, half-snakes) who attack from the sea and Abbakka Chowta, a trained warrior princess does all she can to protect her people.
My take.
We have a strong female MC, moral ambiguity, mythical monsters, political intrigue, masterful imagery and a bit of romance. This story was immediately immersive for me. The author does and amazing job of creating a vivid depiction of the world and the creatures with narrative. Abbakka is everything you have to have in an MC. She is strong, resilient, vulnerable and relatable. There is a lot of symbolism throughout this story and I really enjoyed it. We have of compromise, sacrifice and personal growth that are intertwined with mythology that makes for beautiful imagery and vivid world building.
The blending of mythic monsters and historical colonial themes made this a really intriguing read that help my interest the entire time. So much so I could not put it down. There are twists that I did not expect and was left in shock after reading. I do wish there was more about the Porcugi of course but I do understand the direction the author was trying to go. Overall this was an amazing read that was well written and engaging. Absolutely enjoyed the blend of history, mythology and fantasy this book offered!
December 3, 2025
(4.5 rounded up)
A reimagining of Rani Abbaka Chowta's fight against the Portuguese invading Ullal in the 1500's, this story is compelling, rich, complex and oh so full of wonderful writing.
In this fantastical retelling, the Portuguese are depicted as Porcugi, giant half man half snake creatures hell-bent on causing destruction and overtaking kingdoms.
Through a series of unfortunate events, our main character Abbaka finds herself to be the new Rani of Ullal and she is immediately thrust into the throes of marriage and political machinations.
Abbaka is fierce and beyond loyal to Ullal and her people. She was so refreshing to read about, as she never backed down from a fight, but also had the discernment to realize when it was time to use her words or pick up the sword. She was strong despite everything that was thrown her way, and all the losses she endured. Truly an admirable character.
The side characters were also fleshed out very well and each had their own distinctive voice. Parushi and Thevan are the true definition of ride or die and I love that Abbaka has them in her corner.
Vishwajeet, on the other hand, was infuriating and I can't wait for him to get what he deserves.
Abbaka 's husband was very charming but beyond spineless. I wanted to shake him but I understood why she had to marry him.
The political intrigue, the Porcugi, the betrayals, the deaths, the longing between Abbaka and a certain character - all of it made for a book that I am now obsessed with.
I need everyone to pick this up asap so we can all collectively gush about how good it is. Definitely excited to see what else Mona Tewari will bring to the table.
[Thanks to Netgalley and Boundless Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
A reimagining of Rani Abbaka Chowta's fight against the Portuguese invading Ullal in the 1500's, this story is compelling, rich, complex and oh so full of wonderful writing.
In this fantastical retelling, the Portuguese are depicted as Porcugi, giant half man half snake creatures hell-bent on causing destruction and overtaking kingdoms.
Through a series of unfortunate events, our main character Abbaka finds herself to be the new Rani of Ullal and she is immediately thrust into the throes of marriage and political machinations.
Abbaka is fierce and beyond loyal to Ullal and her people. She was so refreshing to read about, as she never backed down from a fight, but also had the discernment to realize when it was time to use her words or pick up the sword. She was strong despite everything that was thrown her way, and all the losses she endured. Truly an admirable character.
The side characters were also fleshed out very well and each had their own distinctive voice. Parushi and Thevan are the true definition of ride or die and I love that Abbaka has them in her corner.
Vishwajeet, on the other hand, was infuriating and I can't wait for him to get what he deserves.
Abbaka 's husband was very charming but beyond spineless. I wanted to shake him but I understood why she had to marry him.
The political intrigue, the Porcugi, the betrayals, the deaths, the longing between Abbaka and a certain character - all of it made for a book that I am now obsessed with.
I need everyone to pick this up asap so we can all collectively gush about how good it is. Definitely excited to see what else Mona Tewari will bring to the table.
[Thanks to Netgalley and Boundless Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
November 5, 2025
WOW. EPIC FANTASY LIVES AND BREATHS AGAIN BECAUSE WOW. This book perfectly blends and interweaves the story of the real Queen Rani Abbakka Chowta and the Portuguese colonisation of India into an incredibly, lush, captivating fantasy story and after reading it I immediately went to look up the real history behind Rani Abbakka Chowta and the Ullal people and I think that is truly what historical fiction is meant to do as not only you enjoy these stories, they're meant to inspire you to learn about the stories of incredible historical figures and wow was I both entertained and enthralled by this story.
If the Dandelion Dynasty was about the colonisation of India from Portugal and had women at the centre of the story, it would be this book and oh my god it feels like it was meant to be read by me. It reminded me of the Dandelion Dynasty in that HEAPS happens in one book, like the book traverses YEARS but the story unravels in a way that doesn't feel rushed and feels natural but SO MUCH HAPPEN and you're left with 'what on earth is there to come'. There is also an INCREDIBLE discourse and commentary on colonisation and the erasure of native people through gifts and bartering and I feel like this is a part of history that I personally did not know a lot about but now I'm so invested in finding out more.
The characters are just so complex and interesting, Rani was an absolutely incredible main character her life was kinda horrific and traumatic but god she has got to be one of the most powerful and inspiring and just STRONG characters and to find out she's inspired by a real life queen? INCREDIBLE. Nallini and Parushi and the little girl gang they created that started as almost complete betrayals? ICONIC. Vishwajeet...you knew where it was going but you didn't know how bad it was going to be and honestly I'm really intrigued to see where his story goes especially his relationship with Aru...like I don't really trust either of them but also I need to know who is actually 'moral' or 'good'. Anyway I HIGHLY recommend this book it was incredible and genuinely cannot wait for book 2.
If the Dandelion Dynasty was about the colonisation of India from Portugal and had women at the centre of the story, it would be this book and oh my god it feels like it was meant to be read by me. It reminded me of the Dandelion Dynasty in that HEAPS happens in one book, like the book traverses YEARS but the story unravels in a way that doesn't feel rushed and feels natural but SO MUCH HAPPEN and you're left with 'what on earth is there to come'. There is also an INCREDIBLE discourse and commentary on colonisation and the erasure of native people through gifts and bartering and I feel like this is a part of history that I personally did not know a lot about but now I'm so invested in finding out more.
The characters are just so complex and interesting, Rani was an absolutely incredible main character her life was kinda horrific and traumatic but god she has got to be one of the most powerful and inspiring and just STRONG characters and to find out she's inspired by a real life queen? INCREDIBLE. Nallini and Parushi and the little girl gang they created that started as almost complete betrayals? ICONIC. Vishwajeet...you knew where it was going but you didn't know how bad it was going to be and honestly I'm really intrigued to see where his story goes especially his relationship with Aru...like I don't really trust either of them but also I need to know who is actually 'moral' or 'good'. Anyway I HIGHLY recommend this book it was incredible and genuinely cannot wait for book 2.
November 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Burn the Sea is the kind of book that reminds me why I love historical fantasy. Mona Tewari has written something bold and cinematic — a story that feels like standing at the edge of a roaring sea, with history and myth colliding right before your eyes.
Inspired by the legendary Queen Abbakka Chowta, this novel paints her not just as a warrior, but as a woman fighting for her people, her land, and her legacy. The writing is lush, almost poetic at times, and the atmosphere is so vivid that I could practically feel the humidity of the southern coast, hear the crash of waves, and smell the salt and spice in the air.
What I loved most was how Tewari reimagines colonial invasion through the lens of mythology — the Porcugi as monstrous invaders was such a creative and powerful touch. The worldbuilding felt rich and alive, grounded in real history but tinged with magic and menace.
That said, the pacing dipped a bit in the middle, and there were moments I wished for more emotional depth between certain characters. But those are small notes in what is otherwise an impressive debut.
If you love stories about fierce women, lush prose, and historical retellings that feel both grounded and otherworldly — Burn the Sea deserves a spot on your TBR. 🌊👑
Favorite quote:
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you should have never given me a blade.”
Burn the Sea is the kind of book that reminds me why I love historical fantasy. Mona Tewari has written something bold and cinematic — a story that feels like standing at the edge of a roaring sea, with history and myth colliding right before your eyes.
Inspired by the legendary Queen Abbakka Chowta, this novel paints her not just as a warrior, but as a woman fighting for her people, her land, and her legacy. The writing is lush, almost poetic at times, and the atmosphere is so vivid that I could practically feel the humidity of the southern coast, hear the crash of waves, and smell the salt and spice in the air.
What I loved most was how Tewari reimagines colonial invasion through the lens of mythology — the Porcugi as monstrous invaders was such a creative and powerful touch. The worldbuilding felt rich and alive, grounded in real history but tinged with magic and menace.
That said, the pacing dipped a bit in the middle, and there were moments I wished for more emotional depth between certain characters. But those are small notes in what is otherwise an impressive debut.
If you love stories about fierce women, lush prose, and historical retellings that feel both grounded and otherworldly — Burn the Sea deserves a spot on your TBR. 🌊👑
Favorite quote:
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you should have never given me a blade.”
October 15, 2025
Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
What an absolutely fantastic, mind-blowing read. I loved this so much.
Rani Abakka Chowta has always trained to be her sister’s blade, the protector of Ullal and its people. But when the monstrous Porcugi refuse to play fair, Abakka must rise beyond duty, beyond fear, and claim her place as Rani, to fight for her kingdom and her people.
The plot covers such a wide range of themes-power, betrayal, colonial greed, and the heavy weight of leadership and yet it never feels scattered. Tewari’s writing is lush and cinematic; her worldbuilding bursts with vivid imagery that makes every battle, every wave, every heartbreak feel alive.
I’ll admit, the start felt a little slow, but once I got pulled into Abakka’s story, there was no going back. The pacing tightened beautifully, and by the end, I was just sitting there, wrecked.
Abakka herself is a phenomenal lead fierce, loyal, and unwilling to bow to anyone’s version of who she should be. She’s not written to be likable all the time, and that’s what makes her real. Her strength and flaws balance each other so perfectly.
Burn the Sea is a story of resistance and remembrance of a woman who refused to let her story be erased. It’s a searing, feminist, and culturally rich retelling that deserves every bit of attention it gets.
And the cover!!!! IT IS MAJESTIC
🌊🔥⚔️👑📖
Thank you to CJ Alberts, Bindery, Boundless Press, and NetGalley for the eARC!
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
What an absolutely fantastic, mind-blowing read. I loved this so much.
Rani Abakka Chowta has always trained to be her sister’s blade, the protector of Ullal and its people. But when the monstrous Porcugi refuse to play fair, Abakka must rise beyond duty, beyond fear, and claim her place as Rani, to fight for her kingdom and her people.
The plot covers such a wide range of themes-power, betrayal, colonial greed, and the heavy weight of leadership and yet it never feels scattered. Tewari’s writing is lush and cinematic; her worldbuilding bursts with vivid imagery that makes every battle, every wave, every heartbreak feel alive.
I’ll admit, the start felt a little slow, but once I got pulled into Abakka’s story, there was no going back. The pacing tightened beautifully, and by the end, I was just sitting there, wrecked.
Abakka herself is a phenomenal lead fierce, loyal, and unwilling to bow to anyone’s version of who she should be. She’s not written to be likable all the time, and that’s what makes her real. Her strength and flaws balance each other so perfectly.
Burn the Sea is a story of resistance and remembrance of a woman who refused to let her story be erased. It’s a searing, feminist, and culturally rich retelling that deserves every bit of attention it gets.
And the cover!!!! IT IS MAJESTIC
🌊🔥⚔️👑📖
Thank you to CJ Alberts, Bindery, Boundless Press, and NetGalley for the eARC!
December 25, 2025
I enjoyed this historical fantasy. It flowed well and the characters were worth getting to know! Some major plot points felt somewhat rushed or underdeveloped but it didn’t take away from the story itself. I’m unsure if I will read the second book, but I am glad I read this one!
Want to read
January 6, 2026***why?***
I saw the cover and immediately thought of Calypso of Pirates of the Caribbean Sea. This is not that kind of story. The blurb sounds way more interesting though so now I want to read it.
I saw the cover and immediately thought of Calypso of Pirates of the Caribbean Sea. This is not that kind of story. The blurb sounds way more interesting though so now I want to read it.
October 10, 2025
Abbakka Chowta is the nuanced kick-ass heroine I didn't know I needed. I found this book utterly transportive - beautifully written and really well plotted. Even in the quieter moments, I was fully invested and not racing ahead to the next action beat. I really admire how the author was able to make something fantastical out of the historical record of colonialism in a way that felt true and fresh. I enjoyed her characterizations and the complex relationships in this story, and was fully invested in the romantic subplot (although be aware: if you're showing up for spicy romantasy, this is not that book). Absolutely cannot wait for book 2. Publishing industry: More of all of this, please.
February 10, 2026
This book was amazing!! I loved it so much and enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the character development and the story line. Everything ran beautifully throughout the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, WOW! This book was a whirlwind. I thoroughly enjoyed our protagonist Abbaka and I really liked how she toes the line between being occasionally childish/stubborn yet fierce and smart and strong. Admittedly I had never heard of Abahya Rani before this book, but I thought this was an amazing introduction to her story and history. I loved the representation of the Porcugi and the way that betrayal and grief were interwoven so deeply into the plot, alongside themes of colonisation and womanhood.
Each character was fleshed out so well, and on both sides of the main argument you find yourself questioning whether one side or the other are actually right.
Every character holds a special place in my heart, except Vishwajeet. Fuck that guy.
The only criticism I have is that there were moments where our main character was unable to do anything, which I understand has to be expressed, however these moments did sometimes drag and I found myself wanting to skip forward - however the action scenes and political intrigue are astounding. The world was described so beautifully, and let me tell you, my mouth was watering the entire read.
Thank you to Mona Tewari and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC, I can't wait to see what happens next.
First of all, WOW! This book was a whirlwind. I thoroughly enjoyed our protagonist Abbaka and I really liked how she toes the line between being occasionally childish/stubborn yet fierce and smart and strong. Admittedly I had never heard of Abahya Rani before this book, but I thought this was an amazing introduction to her story and history. I loved the representation of the Porcugi and the way that betrayal and grief were interwoven so deeply into the plot, alongside themes of colonisation and womanhood.
Each character was fleshed out so well, and on both sides of the main argument you find yourself questioning whether one side or the other are actually right.
Every character holds a special place in my heart, except Vishwajeet. Fuck that guy.
The only criticism I have is that there were moments where our main character was unable to do anything, which I understand has to be expressed, however these moments did sometimes drag and I found myself wanting to skip forward - however the action scenes and political intrigue are astounding. The world was described so beautifully, and let me tell you, my mouth was watering the entire read.
Thank you to Mona Tewari and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC, I can't wait to see what happens next.
November 4, 2025
If you read 1 debut novel this year it must be this one!
October 9, 2025
I was invited to read this from NetGalley and after reading the description I was excited to read this and it sounded right up my alley!
I was a big fan of Abbakka and Ethka’s relationship, those two would do anything for each other.
Aw my guy Thevan deserved better.
Vishwajeet is a loser, I was so over any interaction with him in this book.He drove me insane!!!! I needed my girlie free from this manipulator.
Aru started off strong, he has a way with words and he almost got me, but he’s pathetic really. What do you mean you’re a ruler and have some other man whispering in your ear telling you how to rule your lands! Grow a back bone PLEASE.
Overall, marry for love, men in power suck. Abbakka really is the best ruler.
Thanks NetGalley!
I was a big fan of Abbakka and Ethka’s relationship, those two would do anything for each other.
Aw my guy Thevan deserved better.
Vishwajeet is a loser, I was so over any interaction with him in this book.He drove me insane!!!! I needed my girlie free from this manipulator.
Aru started off strong, he has a way with words and he almost got me, but he’s pathetic really. What do you mean you’re a ruler and have some other man whispering in your ear telling you how to rule your lands! Grow a back bone PLEASE.
Overall, marry for love, men in power suck. Abbakka really is the best ruler.
Thanks NetGalley!
October 21, 2025
I think this is a really solid debut, and the story itself made me want to learn more about Rani Abbakka, her reign and everything surrounding it. But I felt like something was lacking in the pacing of the story. After being off to a good start, it was dragged for the majority of the plot, only to be rushed in the last few chapters. We didn't get to know a lot of the side characters enough for them to be that important to the overall story, and the falling in love was so immediate that it seemed the tension between Abbakka and her enemies wasn't really genuine. I couldn't care less about the love interest, if I'm being honest, I will consider reading the second book if this turns to a duology, though.
October 23, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
I nearly didn’t read this book because of technical issues, managed to get it working five days before the arc expired and ended up with one of my favourite books of the year.
Life’ll do that to you.
BURN THE SEA is a gorgeous read and bonkers levels of ambitious for a debut reader. If you adored the court politics and sprawling mythos of The Priory of the Orange Tree with the badass main characters and religious undertones of something like The Jasmine Throne or even The Unbroken, this will be so up your alley you can call it your neighbour. I cannot understate how breathlessly in love this book left me. Not to mention just how brilliantly Tewari writes serpent backstabbers (possible the best pun I’ve ever written.) This debut is thick with lore, monsters and tension and I truly couldn’t have loved this more.
We follow Abbakka, who is unexpectedly forced onto the throne of her kingdom Ullal after a tragedy that kills the heir to the throne and the reigning Raja. To secure that throne she must marry into the neighbouring kingdom, whose ear is pulled many directions including their marriage. She faces threats from the sea and the people who claim to be her closest ally.
To put it bluntly Abbakka was one of the best main characters in a fantasy novel I think I’ve read this year. Considering the books on my 2025 roster that is one hell of a compliment. She’s genuinely funny and brilliantly intelligent, and sitting in her mind while she strategises and moves all the pieces of her great chessboard was absolutely thrilling. Watching that arc from soldier/weapon to Rani was poetic and addicting. How she keeps her friends close and her enemies closer is a core theme of Burn the Sea, and beautifully done.
Where Tewari absolutely shines is in the moments she lets Abbakka stray from her moral compass. They’re dripped into this book, but there’s one or two moments where she lets our Rani really be evil for the sake of her kingdom. And it just works so beyond well. There’s no moral greyness here. Our MC does what she needs for her people, and Tewari doesn’t shy from letting Abbaka get her hands dirty
Warning to take note on: the love interest is a WET BLANKET. Give it sort of fifty pages and you will realise this is a feature not a glitch. I pinkie promise it’s worth it and the surrounding plot is absolutely worth the man with the jellyfish spine. Aru is cute, but very much a, “lovely now go read in the corner while the women do the real work dearie,” kind of character. There’s mild red herrings otherwise but that’s about the extent of his character arc.
Fine, let Aru be the distant star in the night sky that is my baby Abbakka. I don’t mind. Their relationship is a bit Peter and Catherine from the tv show the great, if Peter was 98 times less psychopathic for reference.
The surrounding cast is stunning. Abbakka’s relationships across the board are done great service, from her relationship with her sister and uncle, which only strengthened the impact when tragedy strikes. To the relationships we see her build with her close circle. I adored Chaaya and Parushi, the mothering/mentor figure done at two different spectrums but both really well. Thevan acts as a tertiary love interest and I neither took nor left him.
I don’t know if Tewari meant to leave me shipping Parushi and Nallini, but I absolutely did. The gen z in me yearns for the enemies to lovers and they were cute as hell.
Personally so much more could have been done with the Porcugi and the spirits at large. That’s my only real disappointment with this book. At the core of this is really the court politics and not the war ground the blurb more or less promises. I adored the politics, which isn’t something I’ll easily admit. It’s not tea parties and gossip like Bridgerton, but Sansa surviving King’s Landing with more knives. However, the actual war scenes, while well done, are more sparse than the blurb will lead you to believe.
I’d be pained not to mention our villain, not the core bad guy but a beautifully horrendous side piece that adds so much flavour. I adored the back and forth between Abbakka and Vishwajeet as they fought for the loyalty and ear of Aru and their kingdoms. The deceptiveness on both sides of the boards was so well done. And how Tewari gives Vishwajeet enough moral greyness in his motives and wanting to keep the kingdom safe was just chefs kiss.
Worldbuilding was spectacular here, and I love how much we saw of the kingdoms of Ullal and Banghervari. In very little space in terms of a very big book we learn so much about the different cultures, ways of life and how their histories intertwine, Tewari does it so organically that it stays with you easily. And everyone’s motives from the core group to minor individuals like the maids or the florist are clear and beautifully thought out. On the wider level I really enjoyed the mythos here especially the spirits. It’s fairly simplistic but I think it shines in that more ephemeral space. The writer absolutely nails the ancient tone and sort of sass that comes with characters like Matanta and even the Porcugi. Burn the Sea really drips with magic and intrigue and is set in a fantastical world that I was dragging my feet through leaving.
The ending hints at a book two and Ms Tewari get on that pronto please I need it more than air.
I nearly didn’t read this book because of technical issues, managed to get it working five days before the arc expired and ended up with one of my favourite books of the year.
Life’ll do that to you.
BURN THE SEA is a gorgeous read and bonkers levels of ambitious for a debut reader. If you adored the court politics and sprawling mythos of The Priory of the Orange Tree with the badass main characters and religious undertones of something like The Jasmine Throne or even The Unbroken, this will be so up your alley you can call it your neighbour. I cannot understate how breathlessly in love this book left me. Not to mention just how brilliantly Tewari writes serpent backstabbers (possible the best pun I’ve ever written.) This debut is thick with lore, monsters and tension and I truly couldn’t have loved this more.
We follow Abbakka, who is unexpectedly forced onto the throne of her kingdom Ullal after a tragedy that kills the heir to the throne and the reigning Raja. To secure that throne she must marry into the neighbouring kingdom, whose ear is pulled many directions including their marriage. She faces threats from the sea and the people who claim to be her closest ally.
To put it bluntly Abbakka was one of the best main characters in a fantasy novel I think I’ve read this year. Considering the books on my 2025 roster that is one hell of a compliment. She’s genuinely funny and brilliantly intelligent, and sitting in her mind while she strategises and moves all the pieces of her great chessboard was absolutely thrilling. Watching that arc from soldier/weapon to Rani was poetic and addicting. How she keeps her friends close and her enemies closer is a core theme of Burn the Sea, and beautifully done.
Where Tewari absolutely shines is in the moments she lets Abbakka stray from her moral compass. They’re dripped into this book, but there’s one or two moments where she lets our Rani really be evil for the sake of her kingdom. And it just works so beyond well. There’s no moral greyness here. Our MC does what she needs for her people, and Tewari doesn’t shy from letting Abbaka get her hands dirty
Warning to take note on: the love interest is a WET BLANKET. Give it sort of fifty pages and you will realise this is a feature not a glitch. I pinkie promise it’s worth it and the surrounding plot is absolutely worth the man with the jellyfish spine. Aru is cute, but very much a, “lovely now go read in the corner while the women do the real work dearie,” kind of character. There’s mild red herrings otherwise but that’s about the extent of his character arc.
Fine, let Aru be the distant star in the night sky that is my baby Abbakka. I don’t mind. Their relationship is a bit Peter and Catherine from the tv show the great, if Peter was 98 times less psychopathic for reference.
The surrounding cast is stunning. Abbakka’s relationships across the board are done great service, from her relationship with her sister and uncle, which only strengthened the impact when tragedy strikes. To the relationships we see her build with her close circle. I adored Chaaya and Parushi, the mothering/mentor figure done at two different spectrums but both really well. Thevan acts as a tertiary love interest and I neither took nor left him.
I don’t know if Tewari meant to leave me shipping Parushi and Nallini, but I absolutely did. The gen z in me yearns for the enemies to lovers and they were cute as hell.
Personally so much more could have been done with the Porcugi and the spirits at large. That’s my only real disappointment with this book. At the core of this is really the court politics and not the war ground the blurb more or less promises. I adored the politics, which isn’t something I’ll easily admit. It’s not tea parties and gossip like Bridgerton, but Sansa surviving King’s Landing with more knives. However, the actual war scenes, while well done, are more sparse than the blurb will lead you to believe.
I’d be pained not to mention our villain, not the core bad guy but a beautifully horrendous side piece that adds so much flavour. I adored the back and forth between Abbakka and Vishwajeet as they fought for the loyalty and ear of Aru and their kingdoms. The deceptiveness on both sides of the boards was so well done. And how Tewari gives Vishwajeet enough moral greyness in his motives and wanting to keep the kingdom safe was just chefs kiss.
Worldbuilding was spectacular here, and I love how much we saw of the kingdoms of Ullal and Banghervari. In very little space in terms of a very big book we learn so much about the different cultures, ways of life and how their histories intertwine, Tewari does it so organically that it stays with you easily. And everyone’s motives from the core group to minor individuals like the maids or the florist are clear and beautifully thought out. On the wider level I really enjoyed the mythos here especially the spirits. It’s fairly simplistic but I think it shines in that more ephemeral space. The writer absolutely nails the ancient tone and sort of sass that comes with characters like Matanta and even the Porcugi. Burn the Sea really drips with magic and intrigue and is set in a fantastical world that I was dragging my feet through leaving.
The ending hints at a book two and Ms Tewari get on that pronto please I need it more than air.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Burn The Sea is a decent debut, an #ownvoices tale about would-be colonisers and strong female rebellion, a fantasy take on a real life figure Rani Abbakka Chowta who was a queen of South India during the Portuguese attacks in the 1500s. I've read several similar real-figure-turned-fantasy-anti-coloniser stories lately, and while Burn The Sea was a step above many others, it doesn't quite stick the landing for me.
The novel had an excellent start. I loved the prologue, which establishes the mythological beasts in this world, and "the Spirits" as part-god part-ancestors religion. Abbakka is relatable and likable from the get-go, both as a child and as an adult. She's hard-working and cares deeply about others, and I could instantly foresee problems when duty and love started demanding opposing sacrifices. But while Abbakka remained sympathetic and likeable throughout the novel, and was joined by several other strong female characters, the plot didn't live up to my expectations. There was too much focus on Abbakka being sold into an unwanted marriage by her family, and Abbakkha having to negotiate the toxic, unwanted marriage by pandering to her husband despite supposedly having negotiated a stronger standing for herself in their marriage contract/alliance. I wanted the anti-coloniser, rebellious war-queen the blurb promised me.
As a long-time lover of political fantasy, I was disappointed by this novel, which gives royal court politics too much focus for how unsubtle they are. Every twist was obvious to me from the 10-20% mark, with Abbakkha only "unravelling" these plots at the 70-86% marks. It was tiring to watch the protagonist take so long to uncover plots that were so obvious to the reader from so early on. The villains aren't smart, they're just winning because everyone else is operating with negative IQ! The main villain also brags too much, shows his hand constantly, and is the most cartoonishly evil advisor since Disney's Jafar, but I'm meant to believe he's some political mastermind. (He is not.) Political novels need to have more subtlety than this, with the ability to hide things from the reader and more moving parts than just one single man cackling and twirling his moustache every time he wins. When machinations are this blatant, there is no enjoyment in watching it unfold. There is no mystery or surprise. Perhaps readers unfamiliar with political fantasy will be more forgiving, but for those used to more complex machinations this will quickly get tiresome.
Overall, Burn The Sea has many individual aspects I love. There are snippets of prose so beautiful I had to copy them down, I adore the fantasy creatures, Abbakka is a wonderful (if too dense for politics) protagonist. Yet they never come together together to make a whole that I care about. As much as I liked Abbakka, it was hard to care about her plights when her goals and desires kept changing, and she sat on her few wins like circumstances would never change again. This novel wants to be about duty (aka. what you choose to sacrifice) versus being sacrificed by your family, about colonisation (that we never really see even the threat of), about war (that doesn't actually feature much), about surviving a bad marriage, about court politics (so blunt its cartoonish), about a forbidden love and a love triangle (but the forbidden love interest disappears for huge chunks of the book whenever it wants to do politics instead). It feels like a case of doing too many things to do any of them well. I wish the author had pared back in order to let one or two things properly shine and be developed fully.
Rating: 3 stars - Intriguing worldbuilding and some lovely prose, but not complex enough for how much it focused on politics, to the detriment of other plot threads.
The novel had an excellent start. I loved the prologue, which establishes the mythological beasts in this world, and "the Spirits" as part-god part-ancestors religion. Abbakka is relatable and likable from the get-go, both as a child and as an adult. She's hard-working and cares deeply about others, and I could instantly foresee problems when duty and love started demanding opposing sacrifices. But while Abbakka remained sympathetic and likeable throughout the novel, and was joined by several other strong female characters, the plot didn't live up to my expectations. There was too much focus on Abbakka being sold into an unwanted marriage by her family, and Abbakkha having to negotiate the toxic, unwanted marriage by pandering to her husband despite supposedly having negotiated a stronger standing for herself in their marriage contract/alliance. I wanted the anti-coloniser, rebellious war-queen the blurb promised me.
As a long-time lover of political fantasy, I was disappointed by this novel, which gives royal court politics too much focus for how unsubtle they are. Every twist was obvious to me from the 10-20% mark, with Abbakkha only "unravelling" these plots at the 70-86% marks. It was tiring to watch the protagonist take so long to uncover plots that were so obvious to the reader from so early on. The villains aren't smart, they're just winning because everyone else is operating with negative IQ! The main villain also brags too much, shows his hand constantly, and is the most cartoonishly evil advisor since Disney's Jafar, but I'm meant to believe he's some political mastermind. (He is not.) Political novels need to have more subtlety than this, with the ability to hide things from the reader and more moving parts than just one single man cackling and twirling his moustache every time he wins. When machinations are this blatant, there is no enjoyment in watching it unfold. There is no mystery or surprise. Perhaps readers unfamiliar with political fantasy will be more forgiving, but for those used to more complex machinations this will quickly get tiresome.
Overall, Burn The Sea has many individual aspects I love. There are snippets of prose so beautiful I had to copy them down, I adore the fantasy creatures, Abbakka is a wonderful (if too dense for politics) protagonist. Yet they never come together together to make a whole that I care about. As much as I liked Abbakka, it was hard to care about her plights when her goals and desires kept changing, and she sat on her few wins like circumstances would never change again. This novel wants to be about duty (aka. what you choose to sacrifice) versus being sacrificed by your family, about colonisation (that we never really see even the threat of), about war (that doesn't actually feature much), about surviving a bad marriage, about court politics (so blunt its cartoonish), about a forbidden love and a love triangle (but the forbidden love interest disappears for huge chunks of the book whenever it wants to do politics instead). It feels like a case of doing too many things to do any of them well. I wish the author had pared back in order to let one or two things properly shine and be developed fully.
Rating: 3 stars - Intriguing worldbuilding and some lovely prose, but not complex enough for how much it focused on politics, to the detriment of other plot threads.
February 11, 2026
Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari is a historical fantasy novel that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s. This is Tewari’s debut, and it follows a fictionalized version of Abbakka Chowta, the youngest of the two rajkumaris in the nation of Ullal as the monstrous Porcugi attack her homeland and the lengths she will go to save it. Teeming with rich history, inventive spirituality, combative romance, and a propulsive plot, Burn the Sea is one you will not want to miss.
I received an ARC of this book in September, but I was unable to give it any attention until now, which is both a good and bad thing—good because I waited until I could completely focus on it, but bad because I should’ve read it sooner! Perhaps it is better, though, that I waited because I have a shorter waiting time until the sequel comes out in 2027.
There is much to love about this book, but I think the concept itself is the shining star out of all the other elements. I’m Indian, but I’m often lacking in my knowledge of Indian history, specifically dates relating to the Mughal Empire. I knew about Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese in India, but Burn the Sea truly reimagines this colonial power in an effective and striking way. There is a great strength in recharacterizing the Portuguese as these massive, snake monsters. It aids in the world-building of Ullal and the conventions of these nations as they contend with outside forces. Creating fantasies from real-world events can be dicey, but I think it was handled well here, and there was a constant reminder of its historical ties because the snakes are known as the Porcugi, the origin never far from the fantasy.
I appreciated the burst of colors that came through from these pages because even though I was reading black and white words, I could see the inherent vibrance of India through the language. The spices frame much of the color in this world, but there is also the green from Matanta and the adaiman, and purple from the paarijaata flowers. I could close my eyes and see the ocean of endless colors, and this made the book sing to life.
The last thing I want to note doesn’t come from the story itself but rather the author’s note. As a writer, I try to read all parts of the book, including the author’s note and acknowledgements because it helps shape my understanding of the story. Tewari explains the background for this piece and how she came across Rani Abbakka, but the point that stuck out to me the most was the note of othering. Tewari writes that as she researched about Abbakka, “there was often a tone of alienation,” or othering. Thus, she reimagines this story with a different way of othering. Rather than othering the colonized, as Abbakka and her people were, she others the colonizers—the Porcugi. Reading this gave me an even deeper appreciation for the story, and Mona, I respect you very deeply for your commitment and craft with this piece.
Thank you to Boundless Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Would absolutely love to reread this book with a physical copy, and I can’t wait to see what the sequel brings in 2027.
Burn the Sea is out on April 21! Find it at your local bookstore or library.
I received an ARC of this book in September, but I was unable to give it any attention until now, which is both a good and bad thing—good because I waited until I could completely focus on it, but bad because I should’ve read it sooner! Perhaps it is better, though, that I waited because I have a shorter waiting time until the sequel comes out in 2027.
There is much to love about this book, but I think the concept itself is the shining star out of all the other elements. I’m Indian, but I’m often lacking in my knowledge of Indian history, specifically dates relating to the Mughal Empire. I knew about Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese in India, but Burn the Sea truly reimagines this colonial power in an effective and striking way. There is a great strength in recharacterizing the Portuguese as these massive, snake monsters. It aids in the world-building of Ullal and the conventions of these nations as they contend with outside forces. Creating fantasies from real-world events can be dicey, but I think it was handled well here, and there was a constant reminder of its historical ties because the snakes are known as the Porcugi, the origin never far from the fantasy.
I appreciated the burst of colors that came through from these pages because even though I was reading black and white words, I could see the inherent vibrance of India through the language. The spices frame much of the color in this world, but there is also the green from Matanta and the adaiman, and purple from the paarijaata flowers. I could close my eyes and see the ocean of endless colors, and this made the book sing to life.
The last thing I want to note doesn’t come from the story itself but rather the author’s note. As a writer, I try to read all parts of the book, including the author’s note and acknowledgements because it helps shape my understanding of the story. Tewari explains the background for this piece and how she came across Rani Abbakka, but the point that stuck out to me the most was the note of othering. Tewari writes that as she researched about Abbakka, “there was often a tone of alienation,” or othering. Thus, she reimagines this story with a different way of othering. Rather than othering the colonized, as Abbakka and her people were, she others the colonizers—the Porcugi. Reading this gave me an even deeper appreciation for the story, and Mona, I respect you very deeply for your commitment and craft with this piece.
Thank you to Boundless Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Would absolutely love to reread this book with a physical copy, and I can’t wait to see what the sequel brings in 2027.
Burn the Sea is out on April 21! Find it at your local bookstore or library.
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