What do you think?
Rate this book
Burn the Sea
To 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 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 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.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Mona Tewari
1 book92 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
May 5, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
ok so i know i said i needed a palette cleanser BUT this is historical fantasy, NOT romantasy! and i also saw a really interesting unboxing video on socials, so i thought it was about time i dive into my arc, and whew boy am i glad i did!!
burn the sea was a fantastic historical fiction with a fantastic fmc abbakka, a strong side cast of characters, and excellent commentary on colonialism in the guise of sea creatures…
i don’t believe this is a standalone considering how the book ended, but i sure hope there’s another book on way!
i also listened to the audio through libby and the narrator did a fantastic job!
ok so i know i said i needed a palette cleanser BUT this is historical fantasy, NOT romantasy! and i also saw a really interesting unboxing video on socials, so i thought it was about time i dive into my arc, and whew boy am i glad i did!!
burn the sea was a fantastic historical fiction with a fantastic fmc abbakka, a strong side cast of characters, and excellent commentary on colonialism in the guise of sea creatures…
i don’t believe this is a standalone considering how the book ended, but i sure hope there’s another book on way!
i also listened to the audio through libby and the narrator did a fantastic job!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
4.25✨
« If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade. »
Wow, Burn the sea was such a marvellous debut! A reimagining of 1500s Portuguese attack on South India ; with a strong willed fmc.
Burn the sea manages to be both very unique & compelling. I couldn’t put it down ; the writing was incredibly addictive. The pacing wavered in the middle part but picked back up towards the ending.
I think this is a stand-alone but I wouldn’t be surprised if a follow up comes out. The ending left a few loose ends but it could also be left like this.
This novel’s strongest aspect was its heroine. The fmc went through SO MUCH in the span of this story. Her personality was incredibly well balanced and thus made for a very relatable character. She had her moments of weakness but she managed to bounce back with her resilience.
The side characters were important to the story and the author made sure you loved them as much as the fmc. They had distinct personalities and I grew very fond of each of them.
There’s a lot of things I didn’t quite see coming ; and this is something I always appreciate. I liked how some situations were never just straight forward… so many events had me feeling wary for no particular reason - just a gut feeling. I appreciated that the author was able to capture that ‘gut feeling’ into writing.
I really recommend this story! I will look forward to her future books.
4.25✨
« If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade. »
Wow, Burn the sea was such a marvellous debut! A reimagining of 1500s Portuguese attack on South India ; with a strong willed fmc.
Burn the sea manages to be both very unique & compelling. I couldn’t put it down ; the writing was incredibly addictive. The pacing wavered in the middle part but picked back up towards the ending.
I think this is a stand-alone but I wouldn’t be surprised if a follow up comes out. The ending left a few loose ends but it could also be left like this.
This novel’s strongest aspect was its heroine. The fmc went through SO MUCH in the span of this story. Her personality was incredibly well balanced and thus made for a very relatable character. She had her moments of weakness but she managed to bounce back with her resilience.
The side characters were important to the story and the author made sure you loved them as much as the fmc. They had distinct personalities and I grew very fond of each of them.
There’s a lot of things I didn’t quite see coming ; and this is something I always appreciate. I liked how some situations were never just straight forward… so many events had me feeling wary for no particular reason - just a gut feeling. I appreciated that the author was able to capture that ‘gut feeling’ into writing.
I really recommend this story! I will look forward to her future books.
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
April 19, 2026
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade.”
Dripping with vengeance and fury, Burn the Sea is a stunningly rendered historical fantasy drawn from the legacy of a formidable Queen whose bravery still echoes throughout all these centuries.
Inspired by Rani/Queen Abbakka Chowta of Ullal, the fearless queen "Abhaya Rani" who bravely faced the Portuguese invaders in the 1500's—this book is a beautiful homage to her legacy and iron spirit, even if sprinkled with a little fantastical elements, it celebrates the enduring strength of women throughout history.
A grief-stricken warrior who unexpectedly rises as the Rani of her strong-willed people, this is the tale of a woman who would not bow to fear of monstrous enemies or the political schemes of her foes, instead she forged her own path and her people's destiny—for she knew nothing was more sacred to Ullal and its people than freedom.
It is my absolute pleasure to get my first introduction to this incredible historical figure and the unsung warrior queen, for I am ashamed to not have learned about her before and now I'm held hostage by my fascination of her and eager to read more about her.
Big applause to the author for crafting such a story, I can feel the admiration and respect in every word written. Bravo!!
Note: it's a duology!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC.
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade.”
Dripping with vengeance and fury, Burn the Sea is a stunningly rendered historical fantasy drawn from the legacy of a formidable Queen whose bravery still echoes throughout all these centuries.
Inspired by Rani/Queen Abbakka Chowta of Ullal, the fearless queen "Abhaya Rani" who bravely faced the Portuguese invaders in the 1500's—this book is a beautiful homage to her legacy and iron spirit, even if sprinkled with a little fantastical elements, it celebrates the enduring strength of women throughout history.
A grief-stricken warrior who unexpectedly rises as the Rani of her strong-willed people, this is the tale of a woman who would not bow to fear of monstrous enemies or the political schemes of her foes, instead she forged her own path and her people's destiny—for she knew nothing was more sacred to Ullal and its people than freedom.
It is my absolute pleasure to get my first introduction to this incredible historical figure and the unsung warrior queen, for I am ashamed to not have learned about her before and now I'm held hostage by my fascination of her and eager to read more about her.
Big applause to the author for crafting such a story, I can feel the admiration and respect in every word written. Bravo!!
Note: it's a duology!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC.
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.
March 1, 2026
"A lush historical fantasy that reimagines the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s and the fierce real-life queen’s story,"
Amazing, right?? I was certain I would love this. It sounds right up my alley! A real historical badass queen I never learned about in school: check. Themes of resisting colonialism and the insidious dangers of complicity: check. Mythic elements: check. A fantasy set in India: check.
... I should have been--and wanted to be!--utterly into this.
But.
It is not marketed as YA fiction but it reads so, so loudly as YA. The hallmarks of a writer still developing her craft are there too: the pacing is choppy and a lot of events feel much too rushed. There is a fair bit more telling than showing. But it was the YA tropes that put me off it.
Despite ostensibly respecting that her sister, who is to be the future rani (queen), has skills in statecraft and diplomacy, there are some distinct Not Like Other Girls (TM) vibes from our tough MC, who is trained as a fighter. She implicitly insults that sister whom she supposedly thinks highly of when, as she is being commanded by her uncle to marry someone to cement a political alliance (as her older sister has already done), she melodramatically declares, "If you wanted a bauble, you should never have given me a blade." 🙄
Characterizing her sister as a bauble is unfair. Some readers... apparently love that line?? But it struck me as very teenagery and extra.
The MC is 19, which, okay, that is fine. Fine. But the YA tropes just abound and arrive rapid-fire: she is tough and doesn't do weakness, acknowledging grief, or other feelings; there's a completely unsuitable mutual crush that can never be realized because she's a rajakumari and he is just a common soldier (clue blushing and trying to keep it a secret--a lot of her behavior reads more readily as 14-16 than 19). Then, with painful predictability, the moment we see a male stranger whom the MC views with disdain & utter contempt (because he is inept at riding his fancy horse and is clearly a rich useless vain man), we know--because it is practically being announced to us in blinking neon letters--that by virtue of her contempt, according to rules of YA romance, he is the real romantic interest. And--would you believe the coincidence!--he just happens to be the man she's about to learn that her uncle has chosen to marry her to.
I'm not marking these as spoilers because they were too tropey and formulaic and I saw them coming well ahead of their reveals. Which, again, all happened too quickly. On their second meeting (the very next day, when she's *not* rescuing him from a runaway horse and covered in mud) she falls in insta-love on cue, and it immediately becomes clear to her that what she felt in her crush for the soldier was nothing compared with this, the Real Thing.
And why do they fall in love? Oh, *waves hand*... reasons. Mostly to do with his being easy on the eyes. But, in accordance with YA Fantasy rules, she must not admit this to herself right away and fights her feelings, convinced he is a terrible match. Then a lot of descriptions of his dreamy eyes ensue.
Reader, it is not for me. I feel *very* confident that there will be plenty of readers who are all in for this. I wish I could be one of them. I want to continue to see more stories published that do what this book purported to do and let more readers see themselves in SFF stories. Representation matters, and I love the number of #ownvoices books we're seeing now.
I appreciate the eARC I received in exchange for an honest review, but I could not with this book.
Amazing, right?? I was certain I would love this. It sounds right up my alley! A real historical badass queen I never learned about in school: check. Themes of resisting colonialism and the insidious dangers of complicity: check. Mythic elements: check. A fantasy set in India: check.
... I should have been--and wanted to be!--utterly into this.
But.
It is not marketed as YA fiction but it reads so, so loudly as YA. The hallmarks of a writer still developing her craft are there too: the pacing is choppy and a lot of events feel much too rushed. There is a fair bit more telling than showing. But it was the YA tropes that put me off it.
Despite ostensibly respecting that her sister, who is to be the future rani (queen), has skills in statecraft and diplomacy, there are some distinct Not Like Other Girls (TM) vibes from our tough MC, who is trained as a fighter. She implicitly insults that sister whom she supposedly thinks highly of when, as she is being commanded by her uncle to marry someone to cement a political alliance (as her older sister has already done), she melodramatically declares, "If you wanted a bauble, you should never have given me a blade." 🙄
Characterizing her sister as a bauble is unfair. Some readers... apparently love that line?? But it struck me as very teenagery and extra.
The MC is 19, which, okay, that is fine. Fine. But the YA tropes just abound and arrive rapid-fire: she is tough and doesn't do weakness, acknowledging grief, or other feelings; there's a completely unsuitable mutual crush that can never be realized because she's a rajakumari and he is just a common soldier (clue blushing and trying to keep it a secret--a lot of her behavior reads more readily as 14-16 than 19). Then, with painful predictability, the moment we see a male stranger whom the MC views with disdain & utter contempt (because he is inept at riding his fancy horse and is clearly a rich useless vain man), we know--because it is practically being announced to us in blinking neon letters--that by virtue of her contempt, according to rules of YA romance, he is the real romantic interest. And--would you believe the coincidence!--he just happens to be the man she's about to learn that her uncle has chosen to marry her to.
I'm not marking these as spoilers because they were too tropey and formulaic and I saw them coming well ahead of their reveals. Which, again, all happened too quickly. On their second meeting (the very next day, when she's *not* rescuing him from a runaway horse and covered in mud) she falls in insta-love on cue, and it immediately becomes clear to her that what she felt in her crush for the soldier was nothing compared with this, the Real Thing.
And why do they fall in love? Oh, *waves hand*... reasons. Mostly to do with his being easy on the eyes. But, in accordance with YA Fantasy rules, she must not admit this to herself right away and fights her feelings, convinced he is a terrible match. Then a lot of descriptions of his dreamy eyes ensue.
Reader, it is not for me. I feel *very* confident that there will be plenty of readers who are all in for this. I wish I could be one of them. I want to continue to see more stories published that do what this book purported to do and let more readers see themselves in SFF stories. Representation matters, and I love the number of #ownvoices books we're seeing now.
I appreciate the eARC I received in exchange for an honest review, but I could not with this book.
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.
April 7, 2026
an absolutely refreshing historical fantasy!! i was hooked from beginning to end and i need a second book IMMEDIATELY!!
April 25, 2026
a powerful debut and a story i wish i knew earlier. this was a book i truly loved reading, and made me so so proud to come from a long history of South Asian women who fought back
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!
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
“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.
May 11, 2026
I was not familiar with Rani Abbakka Chowta before reading this and now she's one of my favorite historical figures.
This is a love story to a larger-than-life woman. The romance and relationships are present and add a ton to the story, but they're not the point. Abbakka's intelligence, fierceness, and refusal to bend are. Her political marriage felt true to who she is and the world she's navigating. Abbakka is a leader first, and this story never lets you forget that. Soft, powerful, and so intelligent. I love this woman.
I loved how the colonizers are reimagined as monstrous half-man, half-snake creatures running a protection racket on the surrounding kingdoms. Most of the other rulers pay up because they believe it's the only option and want to keep their people safe. Abbakka is the only one who sees clearly that greed like that is NEVER satisfied and refuses accordingly. The villains here are quite a bit more nuanced than I expected, which is another win for me.
I also loved the magical and spiritual elements and the insight into her childhood time with them. This is a quieter, more thoughtful fantasy that takes its time. It's not without action, but it earns every moment of it rather than just reaching for spectacle just because.
Thank you to The Read Pages BT, the author, Bindery Books, and Boundless Press for the complimentary copy and for making sure this story got out into the world. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This is a love story to a larger-than-life woman. The romance and relationships are present and add a ton to the story, but they're not the point. Abbakka's intelligence, fierceness, and refusal to bend are. Her political marriage felt true to who she is and the world she's navigating. Abbakka is a leader first, and this story never lets you forget that. Soft, powerful, and so intelligent. I love this woman.
I loved how the colonizers are reimagined as monstrous half-man, half-snake creatures running a protection racket on the surrounding kingdoms. Most of the other rulers pay up because they believe it's the only option and want to keep their people safe. Abbakka is the only one who sees clearly that greed like that is NEVER satisfied and refuses accordingly. The villains here are quite a bit more nuanced than I expected, which is another win for me.
I also loved the magical and spiritual elements and the insight into her childhood time with them. This is a quieter, more thoughtful fantasy that takes its time. It's not without action, but it earns every moment of it rather than just reaching for spectacle just because.
Thank you to The Read Pages BT, the author, Bindery Books, and Boundless Press for the complimentary copy and for making sure this story got out into the world. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
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.
September 13, 2025
Read for work, I hate the scary snake people!!!!!!
Want to Read
July 19, 2025This cover is QUEEENLY
April 19, 2026
This was such a great time, but though I genuinely enjoyed the book I was left wanting a little more.
It’s very character-driven, restrained and focused on the political games of ruling a country and fighting a war against colonizers. And that’s why I enjoyed it so much, the bits where Abbakka had to navigate court were great because she’s very much an action-driven character and watching her play mind games and have to be careful and mindful with her words to gain power was such fun.
I really loved Abbakka as a main character, I empathized with her, I rooted for her, I agreed with her and I wanted her to burn it all down, so I was a little bit underwhelmed when we didn’t get a ton of action by the end of it, it just felt like this absolute badass warrior queen was put in a corner (understandably because she needs to be protected but ugh). Which is basically my only gripe with the story, I felt like I needed more payoff, and maybe Book 2 will deliver that satisfying sense of closure and resolution to some of the plot threads from Book 1.
I also struggled a bit with the fantastical aspect of it all, I thought this book was going to lean more towards fantasy but that felt very subdued and I feel like this is more historical fiction with a tinge of magical realism than it is a fantasy (?) I felt like I’m still not sure how the Spirits work and why Abbakka is favored by them and maybe that’s intentional because it’s not up to us to question the Spirits but considering this was recommended to me as a fantasy, that side of things felt a bit undercooked.
Overall, I still loved the story and I was super invested in it, I kept telling my friends about every little twist and turn in this because I was so excited about where everything was headed and I’m so hyped up for Book 2.
Thanks to NetGalley, Boundless Press and Bindery Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s very character-driven, restrained and focused on the political games of ruling a country and fighting a war against colonizers. And that’s why I enjoyed it so much, the bits where Abbakka had to navigate court were great because she’s very much an action-driven character and watching her play mind games and have to be careful and mindful with her words to gain power was such fun.
I really loved Abbakka as a main character, I empathized with her, I rooted for her, I agreed with her and I wanted her to burn it all down, so I was a little bit underwhelmed when we didn’t get a ton of action by the end of it, it just felt like this absolute badass warrior queen was put in a corner (understandably because she needs to be protected but ugh). Which is basically my only gripe with the story, I felt like I needed more payoff, and maybe Book 2 will deliver that satisfying sense of closure and resolution to some of the plot threads from Book 1.
I also struggled a bit with the fantastical aspect of it all, I thought this book was going to lean more towards fantasy but that felt very subdued and I feel like this is more historical fiction with a tinge of magical realism than it is a fantasy (?) I felt like I’m still not sure how the Spirits work and why Abbakka is favored by them and maybe that’s intentional because it’s not up to us to question the Spirits but considering this was recommended to me as a fantasy, that side of things felt a bit undercooked.
Overall, I still loved the story and I was super invested in it, I kept telling my friends about every little twist and turn in this because I was so excited about where everything was headed and I’m so hyped up for Book 2.
Thanks to NetGalley, Boundless Press and Bindery Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to bindery books and netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I really need to stop judging books by their covers, but I can't help it when I see a beautiful brown girl looking fierce AF. I honestly thought Burn The Sea was going to be epic but it fell a little flat for me. I was really rooting for Abbakka but she didn't live up to any of my expectations. To say she was raised as a warrior the fight scenes were few and far between. I was expecting a bad ass like Shae from The Green Bone saga but instead I was given an untested girl who was out smarted and outmanoeuvred at every turn. An idiot could have seen the big plot twist coming, and believe me I saw it about 30% through the book. I kept going hoping it would get better but I was just bored and waiting for the big finish. Which was unfortunately lacklustre and didn't leave me wanting more.
I really need to stop judging books by their covers, but I can't help it when I see a beautiful brown girl looking fierce AF. I honestly thought Burn The Sea was going to be epic but it fell a little flat for me. I was really rooting for Abbakka but she didn't live up to any of my expectations. To say she was raised as a warrior the fight scenes were few and far between. I was expecting a bad ass like Shae from The Green Bone saga but instead I was given an untested girl who was out smarted and outmanoeuvred at every turn. An idiot could have seen the big plot twist coming, and believe me I saw it about 30% through the book. I kept going hoping it would get better but I was just bored and waiting for the big finish. Which was unfortunately lacklustre and didn't leave me wanting more.
March 12, 2026
Rtc!!
Thank you to CJ Albert’s and the author for sending me this arc!
Thank you to CJ Albert’s and the author for sending me this arc!
May 11, 2026
I actually had to reach out to Mona after finishing this and just shriek with enormous love for the whole story.
For starters, Burn the Sea had one of the best openings I have ever, ever, EVER read. And it kept that momentum going the whole way through. Especially the scenes throughout of Matanta and Abbakka. I was swooning for those. The POV change for them was also beautifully done and just, yeah, SWOONING.
The way Mona took the story of Rani Abbakka Chowta and the real turns of history and weaved it into this incredible magic landscape was incredible. I loved getting lost in every minute of it, and in every line of the story. Her author's note also made me absolutely interested in learning the rani that inspired Abbakka's strong, determined, and utterly-human character.
I could talk about every single thing I highlighted. I could talk about the love I have to Abbakka, Parushi, Nallini, Matanta and the adaiman, and Thevan. I could talk about the magic, the family, the love. I could talk about all the familiar and new parts of Southeast Asian culture I loved. We would be here for another two years if I did all that. (Conveniently, that would take us through to the sequel which I am jumping out of my skin with excitement for.) But I will just summarise all my love for this book with this: Everything about this book, from cover to cover, is absolutely stunning.
Except Vishwajeet. He's awful and I hate him so much,
For starters, Burn the Sea had one of the best openings I have ever, ever, EVER read. And it kept that momentum going the whole way through. Especially the scenes throughout of Matanta and Abbakka. I was swooning for those. The POV change for them was also beautifully done and just, yeah, SWOONING.
The way Mona took the story of Rani Abbakka Chowta and the real turns of history and weaved it into this incredible magic landscape was incredible. I loved getting lost in every minute of it, and in every line of the story. Her author's note also made me absolutely interested in learning the rani that inspired Abbakka's strong, determined, and utterly-human character.
I could talk about every single thing I highlighted. I could talk about the love I have to Abbakka, Parushi, Nallini, Matanta and the adaiman, and Thevan. I could talk about the magic, the family, the love. I could talk about all the familiar and new parts of Southeast Asian culture I loved. We would be here for another two years if I did all that. (Conveniently, that would take us through to the sequel which I am jumping out of my skin with excitement for.) But I will just summarise all my love for this book with this: Everything about this book, from cover to cover, is absolutely stunning.
Except Vishwajeet. He's awful and I hate him so much,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!
3,25⭐️
I have greatly enjoyed reading Burn the Sea. The opening scene is a captivating masterpiece, that lures you into reading more and more. Mona Tewari's debut sets a clear path before her of becoming a really strong writer that mixes fantasy and historical genre. I admit, I expected the second half of the book to contain a bit more action, but it is understandable why it becomes more poignant. Overall, it was a great book; if you enjoy historical retellings with a side of fantasy, you should check it out. You won't be dissapointed.
3,25⭐️
I have greatly enjoyed reading Burn the Sea. The opening scene is a captivating masterpiece, that lures you into reading more and more. Mona Tewari's debut sets a clear path before her of becoming a really strong writer that mixes fantasy and historical genre. I admit, I expected the second half of the book to contain a bit more action, but it is understandable why it becomes more poignant. Overall, it was a great book; if you enjoy historical retellings with a side of fantasy, you should check it out. You won't be dissapointed.
January 17, 2026
4.75⭐️
Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari was absolutely incredible. I loved this book so much, especially Abbakka as a main character. She is fierce, thoughtful, and shaped by duty in such a believable way. Watching her step into power, not because she wanted it but because she had to, was so compelling. Her bond with her childhood friends added so much heart to the story, and Thevan in particular completely won me over. Their shared history, loyalty, and quiet understanding made every scene they were in together hit harder. Abbakka’s husband was so annoying and spineless. It lowkey gave Manchild by Sabrina ngl.
The writing is rich and immersive without ever feeling heavy. Tewari does such a good job balancing political strategy, emotional stakes, and action. The tension never really lets up, and I was constantly aware of what Abbakka stood to lose, not just personally but for her people. The Porcugi were genuinely unsettling antagonists, especially with how they mirror real-world colonizers, and the way the story explores power, resistance, and survival felt incredibly intentional.
What really elevated this book for me was the historical aspect. I knew very little about the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s, which honestly surprised me, especially as someone from Pakistan who shares so much colonial history with the region. Reading this made me think about how many stories like this have been sidelined or erased entirely by white supremacy and colonial narratives. It felt powerful to experience a reimagined history that centers indigenous resistance and female leadership instead.
By the time I reached the ending, I was completely invested, which is why that final chapter hurt so bad. What do you mean by that ending??? 😩 I need book 2 asap if there is one!
Overall, this was fierce, emotional, and deeply satisfying. Highly recommend.
Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari was absolutely incredible. I loved this book so much, especially Abbakka as a main character. She is fierce, thoughtful, and shaped by duty in such a believable way. Watching her step into power, not because she wanted it but because she had to, was so compelling. Her bond with her childhood friends added so much heart to the story, and Thevan in particular completely won me over. Their shared history, loyalty, and quiet understanding made every scene they were in together hit harder. Abbakka’s husband was so annoying and spineless. It lowkey gave Manchild by Sabrina ngl.
The writing is rich and immersive without ever feeling heavy. Tewari does such a good job balancing political strategy, emotional stakes, and action. The tension never really lets up, and I was constantly aware of what Abbakka stood to lose, not just personally but for her people. The Porcugi were genuinely unsettling antagonists, especially with how they mirror real-world colonizers, and the way the story explores power, resistance, and survival felt incredibly intentional.
What really elevated this book for me was the historical aspect. I knew very little about the Portuguese attacks on South India in the 1500s, which honestly surprised me, especially as someone from Pakistan who shares so much colonial history with the region. Reading this made me think about how many stories like this have been sidelined or erased entirely by white supremacy and colonial narratives. It felt powerful to experience a reimagined history that centers indigenous resistance and female leadership instead.
By the time I reached the ending, I was completely invested, which is why that final chapter hurt so bad. What do you mean by that ending??? 😩 I need book 2 asap if there is one!
Overall, this was fierce, emotional, and deeply satisfying. Highly recommend.
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!
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!
October 5, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
April 25, 2026
⭐️ Rating: 5/5
📚 Tropes: love triangle, women in war, feminist retelling, based in 1500s southern India, historical fictio, political scheming, Portuguese colonizers as snakelike sea monsters, duology, grief and loss, pregnancy & maternity
💌 Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
It took me a few pages to get into it, as the beginning reads more like a fairytale, but when the book gets started, it completely sucks you in. This is a retelling of the real-life Rani Abakka Chowta's resistance against Portuguese colonisers, reimagined here as sea monsters. While the worldbuilding wasn't overly complicated, it still really drew me in. The immersion in the historical Indian setting was done very well: characters' actions, attitudes, and dialogue, along with detailed descriptions of food, clothing, religion and action scenes, really helped shape the story and the mood while elevating this novel above your typical fantasy read.
With a plot as fierce as its heroine, Burn the Sea is a gripping tale of resistance in the face of subjugation. Abbakka defies those who would see her submit, both as a wife and as a rani, despite blinding betrayals and crushing losses. 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 this, she's caught between two men: a Raja who hides behind his advisors and a General she has yearned for her whole life but never dared to reach for.
I love how women are reclaiming the legacies of strong women in our history and reminding us they have always been ther, just maybe overlooked.
The themes of colonisation are woven in thoughtfully and without ever feeling pedantic. The fearsome Purcugi, who demand tithes in spices, are akin to a historical allegory reflecting the British who came to South India, and the author folds this narrative into a fantasy landscape in a way that is both thoughtful and refreshing.
Was this book perfect? No. Some character decisions felt naive or illogical at times, which clashed with how capable these warriors were meant to be. The grief, too, deserved more space on the page, but events moved too fast to let it breathe. But I was so fully immersed in the story and so invested in Abbakka's success that it never really pulled me out of it.
It's also important to note that while there is some romance in this book, it clearly isn't its focus.
Burn the Sea is the kind of debut that reminds you why you love fantasy. It's not flawless, but it's fierce, immersive, and important, and I will be anxiously counting down until 2027 when the conclusion of this dulogy is released.
Some of my favorite quotes:
📚 Tropes: love triangle, women in war, feminist retelling, based in 1500s southern India, historical fictio, political scheming, Portuguese colonizers as snakelike sea monsters, duology, grief and loss, pregnancy & maternity
💌 Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
“If you wanted me to be a bauble, you never should have given me a blade.”Burn the Sea is the debut novel of Mona Tewari. I've been very lucky with debuts lately, but this one really blew me away.
It took me a few pages to get into it, as the beginning reads more like a fairytale, but when the book gets started, it completely sucks you in. This is a retelling of the real-life Rani Abakka Chowta's resistance against Portuguese colonisers, reimagined here as sea monsters. While the worldbuilding wasn't overly complicated, it still really drew me in. The immersion in the historical Indian setting was done very well: characters' actions, attitudes, and dialogue, along with detailed descriptions of food, clothing, religion and action scenes, really helped shape the story and the mood while elevating this novel above your typical fantasy read.
With a plot as fierce as its heroine, Burn the Sea is a gripping tale of resistance in the face of subjugation. Abbakka defies those who would see her submit, both as a wife and as a rani, despite blinding betrayals and crushing losses. 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 this, she's caught between two men: a Raja who hides behind his advisors and a General she has yearned for her whole life but never dared to reach for.
I love how women are reclaiming the legacies of strong women in our history and reminding us they have always been ther, just maybe overlooked.
The themes of colonisation are woven in thoughtfully and without ever feeling pedantic. The fearsome Purcugi, who demand tithes in spices, are akin to a historical allegory reflecting the British who came to South India, and the author folds this narrative into a fantasy landscape in a way that is both thoughtful and refreshing.
Was this book perfect? No. Some character decisions felt naive or illogical at times, which clashed with how capable these warriors were meant to be. The grief, too, deserved more space on the page, but events moved too fast to let it breathe. But I was so fully immersed in the story and so invested in Abbakka's success that it never really pulled me out of it.
It's also important to note that while there is some romance in this book, it clearly isn't its focus.
Burn the Sea is the kind of debut that reminds you why you love fantasy. It's not flawless, but it's fierce, immersive, and important, and I will be anxiously counting down until 2027 when the conclusion of this dulogy is released.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Ullal first and foremost. Forever. We would not be a ship lost at sea.
My skin crawled as if I were covered in a mountain of spiders. I was not Abbakka anymore; I was the rani of Ullal. I was the fire that everyone could huddle around for warmth but that nobody could touch, let alone embrace. And now, more than ever before, I was alone.
I needed to stay in front. Leading. Standing strong for my people and mortaring their broken hearts with all the shattered pieces of mine.
“But sometimes we find those whose light brings out our own. And we are far stronger and brighter together than we ever could be alone.”
“You are not a small, shy star. You are not a speck in the night’s sky.” The entire hillside went silent and waited for him to finish. “Little one, you are the sun.”
When I found my voice, I spoke quietly and let the breeze carry my words to his ears. “I cannot love anyone more than I love Ullal.”
“Starting your marriage with realistic goals, I see,” Parushi said.
“You know, most people wait a little while before they start trying to make their husbands change. You’re plotting before you even set foot on the mandap.”
“Patience was never one of my virtues.”
He lifted me up as if I weighed nothing. As if I didn’t carry my nation’s hopes. As if I weren’t its shield and sword and scales of justice. As if the memories of my mother, uncle, and sister weren’t constantly reminding me that I couldn’t let myself fail. He carried me— all of me— with ease. Either Aru didn’t realize the weight of everything he bore so readily, or he didn’t care.
“You must control your time, or time will control you. You cannot rush to your destination or neglect it. If you do, time will have the upper hand and you will be trapped in the destiny she chooses.”
In that moment, I saw Aru for what he truly was: A man with all heart and no spine. I stared at him, wanting to see the shine I’d seen before, but I couldn’t. This man was filled with light because he’d never forced himself to confront the darkness. And as much as I wished I could, as much as I wanted to find a safe harbor in his arms, I could never love such a man. I could never trust a ship that left itself to the whims of the wind instead of using its rudder. It was up to me to steer my life— our lives— again. So I set to it. Quickly.
Power surged through me as I rebuilt myself and made myself stronger. This baby would not be born to a cowering mother. My child would be born in defiance; they would be forged by it, and resilience would be impregnated in their bones.
“Only a fool thinks peace is the answer to every problem.”
Matanta looked at me. “You are the sun, little one. When you shine, others should burn.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"You mean to tell me you think you are the smaller star? That dim little thing over there? You are not a small, shy star. You are not a speck in the night's sky. Little one, you are the sun."
Where do I even start with this one?
This is a reimagination of the real life Rani Abbakka Chowta, the first queen of Ullal that fought the Portuguese colonizers in the late 16th century. She was a fearless queen that never gave up on her country, and continued to fight the attacks of the colonizers for over four decades.
The fictional Abbakka is also incredibly strong and fearless. She ends up in a position of power that never belonged to her, and yet she fought through the grief to keep her people safe and the memory of her family alive. The colonizers in the book have been reimagined as sea monsters called Porcugi, which is an incredible touch of genius.
Tewari has done an incredible job at bringing back history that people probably don't know about. Sure, the book is not historically accurate for obvious reasons, but it definitely does the job because readers are left with a curiosity that takes them to the real history, to articles and books about what happened in real life. This is truly the beauty of art taking inspiration from real life.
The book is written beautifully, and I mean it. The author does an amazing job at showing and not telling. The way emotions are shown, relationships, the subtelties of the characters... Everything was shown through beautiful words, which made reading flow nicely. I could taste the food, feel the breeze of the beach, feel the sand under my feet. The culture is so intertwined with the story, it feels like you're there, like you're part of it.
And the worldbuilding? So amazing. The author was so clever with it, in a way that made if feel real an natural. I leave my houase and almost expect to meet an adaiman, or even go to a high mountain to find a cave where i can meet a giant green lion.
Our character, Rani Abbakka, has lost the only two people in her family she had left, and she can't even give herself time to fully grieve them because "there is much work to do". There is always work to do. Between saving her people and keeping them safe, securing a future for Ullal and an heir, she has to make choices for her people and not herself. And she does, she fights with all her strenght, she stays strong on her beliefs and never bends down to the demands of the monsters. Because she is not a coward, she will not let anyone make demands in exchange of fake protection.
She also faces subtle misogyny from some men that feel threatened by her, and I say subtle because while the characters don't insult her and her capacities directly, their words carry the hatred and prejudice, even using it willingly to manipulate people. Because for some, a queen is still a woman, and a woman is "always emotional". But Abbakka fights back, and that is her strenght; never giving up.
I also think that she might be an unreliable narrator, not in the "she's a liar and manipulator that wants to mislead us" way, but as in that of a character that has been through so much that her paranoia and grief make the narration more based on her perception of things. We see politics and spirituality through her own eyes. An example can be that of Spirits themselves. People are spiritual, they see signs everywhere, they have full trust in the judgment of spirits, but we are given a different view of them. We see them as Spirits that aren't always present, and not always trusted. Abbakka trusts her blade and herself more than she trusts Spirits in the beginning of the book. And the more we read through her narration, the more perspectives about thing change, because she changes her opinions. I might be reaching for this one, but I loved these details.
The romance part, which was very much subplot, had some issues that I didn't particularly like, but I didn't affect the book as a whole. And the pacing, although it was perfect in the beginning, felt like it slowed down halfway into the book, but then it picked up again and made me forget it even slowed. There are small things that could be pointed out but honestly they're not things that made reading this book any less enjoyable. I might be too in love with it to see, they do say that love is blind. But truthfully, this has been one of the best books I've read so far, and I don't have many. So this is an absolute pearl in my book.
I could talk about this book and it's characters for hours, but I'll leave it for you to find out how beautifully intricate they are when the book comes out (21 april 2026!!).
Thank you SO SO much Bindery Books, the author Mona Tewari and Netgalley for the eARC. And as for the second book... come (back) to me.
Where do I even start with this one?
This is a reimagination of the real life Rani Abbakka Chowta, the first queen of Ullal that fought the Portuguese colonizers in the late 16th century. She was a fearless queen that never gave up on her country, and continued to fight the attacks of the colonizers for over four decades.
The fictional Abbakka is also incredibly strong and fearless. She ends up in a position of power that never belonged to her, and yet she fought through the grief to keep her people safe and the memory of her family alive. The colonizers in the book have been reimagined as sea monsters called Porcugi, which is an incredible touch of genius.
Tewari has done an incredible job at bringing back history that people probably don't know about. Sure, the book is not historically accurate for obvious reasons, but it definitely does the job because readers are left with a curiosity that takes them to the real history, to articles and books about what happened in real life. This is truly the beauty of art taking inspiration from real life.
The book is written beautifully, and I mean it. The author does an amazing job at showing and not telling. The way emotions are shown, relationships, the subtelties of the characters... Everything was shown through beautiful words, which made reading flow nicely. I could taste the food, feel the breeze of the beach, feel the sand under my feet. The culture is so intertwined with the story, it feels like you're there, like you're part of it.
And the worldbuilding? So amazing. The author was so clever with it, in a way that made if feel real an natural. I leave my houase and almost expect to meet an adaiman, or even go to a high mountain to find a cave where i can meet a giant green lion.
Our character, Rani Abbakka, has lost the only two people in her family she had left, and she can't even give herself time to fully grieve them because "there is much work to do". There is always work to do. Between saving her people and keeping them safe, securing a future for Ullal and an heir, she has to make choices for her people and not herself. And she does, she fights with all her strenght, she stays strong on her beliefs and never bends down to the demands of the monsters. Because she is not a coward, she will not let anyone make demands in exchange of fake protection.
She also faces subtle misogyny from some men that feel threatened by her, and I say subtle because while the characters don't insult her and her capacities directly, their words carry the hatred and prejudice, even using it willingly to manipulate people. Because for some, a queen is still a woman, and a woman is "always emotional". But Abbakka fights back, and that is her strenght; never giving up.
I also think that she might be an unreliable narrator, not in the "she's a liar and manipulator that wants to mislead us" way, but as in that of a character that has been through so much that her paranoia and grief make the narration more based on her perception of things. We see politics and spirituality through her own eyes. An example can be that of Spirits themselves. People are spiritual, they see signs everywhere, they have full trust in the judgment of spirits, but we are given a different view of them. We see them as Spirits that aren't always present, and not always trusted. Abbakka trusts her blade and herself more than she trusts Spirits in the beginning of the book. And the more we read through her narration, the more perspectives about thing change, because she changes her opinions. I might be reaching for this one, but I loved these details.
The romance part, which was very much subplot, had some issues that I didn't particularly like, but I didn't affect the book as a whole. And the pacing, although it was perfect in the beginning, felt like it slowed down halfway into the book, but then it picked up again and made me forget it even slowed. There are small things that could be pointed out but honestly they're not things that made reading this book any less enjoyable. I might be too in love with it to see, they do say that love is blind. But truthfully, this has been one of the best books I've read so far, and I don't have many. So this is an absolute pearl in my book.
I could talk about this book and it's characters for hours, but I'll leave it for you to find out how beautifully intricate they are when the book comes out (21 april 2026!!).
Thank you SO SO much Bindery Books, the author Mona Tewari and Netgalley for the eARC. And as for the second book... come (back) to me.
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.
April 18, 2026
A brilliant, politically complex story of queendom, of love, of war, of betrayal, of labour, of sacrifice and strength. The MC is connected to the spirits, she is strong and well-trained, meant to be her sister, the heir's, protector. An old enemy resurfaces and brings the end of everything she knew, her position shifts dramatically, her hand is given in marriage, she is split between ruling her kingdom, doing what is best for her people and standing for the pride of her populace and being a wife to a king who has ceded nearly all his power to a wicked advisor, where she is not respected as a ruler but reduced to a carrier. She navigates it all with the help of a close few, trusted friends from childhood, her brother-in-law, an honest spy. Attacking forces continue from the sea, and fear leads to almost inevitable betrayal. She works to rule, to manipulate, to plant seeds, to solve the mystery of the enemy's near invulnerability.
The world is brilliantly built, the culture richly painted, the politics clearly established, the dynamics set up early. The battles are action-packed and dramatic, the political negotiations tense and full of cunning. There are moments of healing, the desperation tangible, the hope limited. There are moments of sharp pain, labour, betrayal, fear of the impossibility of it all, followed by joy, trust, hope. It is beautifully balanced to the end, hopeful and victorious yet ominous and haunted by loss.
A brilliant book. With the hints in the ending, I look forward to a sequel!
The world is brilliantly built, the culture richly painted, the politics clearly established, the dynamics set up early. The battles are action-packed and dramatic, the political negotiations tense and full of cunning. There are moments of healing, the desperation tangible, the hope limited. There are moments of sharp pain, labour, betrayal, fear of the impossibility of it all, followed by joy, trust, hope. It is beautifully balanced to the end, hopeful and victorious yet ominous and haunted by loss.
A brilliant book. With the hints in the ending, I look forward to a sequel!
April 27, 2026
oh. my. spirits. this book was phenomenal. this book was breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking. I laughed. I cried. I screamed. I gasped. I experienced ancestral emotions. I tasted the food of MY culture. I saw women who looked like ME. I read names in a language I UNDERSTOOD. I've never felt so seen in the way that Abbakka and Parushi made me feel seen.
read this. read this. read this.
read this. read this. read this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews