Prophesied Prince – Page 2

Character Spotlight: Prince Atul

Meet Atul — the Heir to Malla… just not by blood.

I feared that the men who revered me as the Heir to Malla would abandon me if they knew the truth about my birth. That was the reason I had urged my uncle, King Jay of Malla, to send me on this mission. Uncle Jay wanted me to wait until our soldiers had secured Kashgar, but I itched to prove myself.

Atul’s journey in Child of the River is a tangle of identity, duty, and the quiet ache of wanting to be enough. When his ships crossed the Nira Sea, he didn’t just bring soldiers—he carried the weight of his own questions about who he is… and who he desperately hopes to become.

One of my favorite moments to write is his exchange with the fake prince in Chapter 26 (Spring, Year 2). Those scenes crack Atul open a bit. The fake prince’s doubts mirror Atul’s own, and you see him slide into that big-brother role so naturally—steady, protective, and sometimes wiser than he realizes. And then, just as quickly, he’s unmistakably a teenager again: impulsive, earnest, and brave in ways that don’t always make sense but feel undeniably true.

Being Meera’s son (yes, that Meera from the Land of Magadha trilogy) gives me a chance to explore the complicated corners of his heart—respect tangled with resentment, admiration overshadowed by old hurt. His mother’s secrets shaped him, and in many ways, he’s still deciding what parts of that legacy he wants to claim.

Through Atul, I get to return to one of my favorite questions: What truly makes a good ruler? Birthright? Choice? Sacrifice? Something quieter and harder to name?

Atul doesn’t have the answers yet—but he’s determined to earn them.

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🌊 A curse. A death. A prophecy begins.

On a storm-lashed shore, young Sugandha watches her grandfather call upon the god of fire to curse a ship of enemies. The sea roars, the sand trembles—and when the ritual ends, her grandfather lies motionless.

That night, he opens his eyes one last time.

“I have enough life force left to offer you a blessing… Conceal her from Ori. Your uncle poses a grave danger to your very existence.”

As the bells of her uncle’s cart echo in the distance, Sugandha flees the only home she has ever known—her journey entwined with a dying man’s curse and a prophecy that will shape the fate of kings.

⚔️ Child of the River — Book One of the Prophesied Prince Trilogy — is a sweeping medieval fantasy inspired by ancient India, filled with curses, rival kingdoms, and a destiny born of the river’s depths.

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https://annabushi.com/books/prophesied-prince-series/

Enter the prophecy before it consumes them all.

Back to Kashgar: Legacy, Magic, and New Dangers

Book Two of the Prophesied Prince series is inching toward 50,000 words! In the latest chapters, we encounter descendants of characters from my Land of Magadha trilogy—members of the Malla army who came to Kashgar with Atul. Writing those scenes felt like coming home. After ten years in the world of Magadha, revisiting its legacy through new generations has been deeply satisfying.

Meanwhile, Sugandha is beginning to uncover the truth about her family and her powers. Something tells me she won’t be happy with what she learns.

Magical creatures continue to hunt our protagonists—but as always, the real danger lies in human heart.

Here is a snippet from Chapter two written in Atul’s POV:

“The rumor of your death has reached our ranks. The commander… he neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he told us—your five guards—to find you.”

I nodded. “Clever of him. That gives you a reason to follow me north.” I kept my voice steady, calm, though the thought of the others—young men who had followed me across the sea—believing I had fallen before even drawing my sword unsettled me. Still, I had to trust the commander. Trust that he’d keep them loyal without revealing the truth. That I was alive. For now.

If you haven’t yet read Child of the River (Book One), now’s the perfect time. The audiobook, narrated by two incredible voice actors, brings Kashgar vividly to life. Book Two is slated for release in 2026.

What have I been up to?

I’ve just crossed 40,000 words on Book Two of the Prophesied Prince series (title still a mystery for now!). For the first time in years, I actually let myself take a break from writing while on vacation—wandering through a few national parks at the end of August was exactly what my creative well needed. Now I’m back in Kashgar, walking beside Sugandha on her journey, and the words are flowing again.

Here’s a little snippet from Chapter One, in her point of view:

“Nanda, tell me what you know about Purohit Parivan,” he asked again, and I blinked, as if surfacing from a dream.

Purohit Parivan. The name pulled me straight to my grandfather. I used to think his death was the hardest part. I hadn’t realized living without him would be worse.

“In his final moments, my grandfather told me to find Purohit Parivan. But the priest… he perished in a fire just ahead of my arrival.”

The priest appeared to me in a vision shortly before his death, but I kept that detail to myself. I didn’t know this prince well enough. Not yet.

This is just a glimpse of what’s to come, but I’m so excited about where Sugandha’s path is leading her—and the secrets waiting to be uncovered.

📖 If you haven’t yet read Book One, Child of the River, now’s the perfect time to dive into the series and meet these characters from the beginning. That way, when Book Two arrives in 2026, you’ll be ready to journey alongside Sugandha as the stakes rise even higher.

A Sneak Peek at Book Two

I’m deep in the world of Book Two of my Prophesied Prince fantasy trilogy, and I’ve officially crossed the 24,000-word mark! Every day, I sink deeper into this story where secrets run as deep as the rivers, and ancient magic stirs just beneath the surface.

This book picks up in the aftermath of Child of the River. The world has shifted—alliances have fractured, old prophecies are awakening, and danger looms on every path. At its heart is a girl grappling with powers she never wanted and a prince still haunted by choices he cannot undo. Together, they must navigate a land teetering on the edge of war, where every truth hides a shadow, and nothing is quite what it seems.

One of the wild joys (and occasional headaches) of writing fantasy is juggling a sprawling cast of characters, their tangled motivations, and all the rules of magic—so yes, I find myself flipping back through Child of the River constantly to make sure I’m not accidentally breaking the universe I created!

Here’s a glimpse at the current draft—the opening lines of the book (subject to revision, of course—I’m still on the fence about including “sweat glazed his muscles” so early on).

For most of that first day on the river, Prince Atul rowed like a man expecting trouble. His gaze swept the banks, searching for signs of pursuit. Whenever he spotted someone—fishermen, travelers, too far to tell—he quieted his strokes and steered us farther from shore.

Sweat glazed his muscles, as he rowed with the strength of three men. Then his head snapped toward a thicket of trees by the water’s edge, eyes sharp, jaw set. A hunter watching for movement. I studied him in that moment, still unsure if I’d been brave or foolish to ask him to come.

I’ve loved returning to Kashgar and imagining new regions of this medieval world—wilder lands, colder truths, deeper betrayals. There’s so much I’m excited to share with you in this next installment: forbidden magic, political intrigue, unexpected friendships that will reshape the course of prophecy.

📚 Book Two is coming in 2026—so if you haven’t yet read Child of the River, now is the perfect time to start! Meet the characters, step into their world, and get swept up in the first part of this epic journey.

More updates coming as I write, revise, and (hopefully!) survive drafting this book. I can’t wait for you to journey back into this world of danger, destiny, and hidden truths.

What is Anna Writing?

I’m loving being back in Kashgar with some of my favorite characters. Writing Book 2 of the Prophesied Prince Trilogy has been both a challenge and a joy—especially walking alongside Sugandha. I’m not making her life easier (she wouldn’t let me!), but I need to make sure she’s ready for what’s coming. And trust me, what’s coming will change everything.

Secrets buried in silence. Loyalties tested by blood. As Sugandha searches for answers about who she truly is, she finds herself entangled in a world where every truth has its price.

If you’ve read Child of the River, you’ve only glimpsed the surface. The next book delves deeper—into hidden pasts, shifting identities, and a power that refuses to be forgotten.

Get ready to lose yourself again. Coming in 2026.

Stuff Your Kindle with Fantasy

Mark your calendar for Stuff Your Kindle with Fantasy—a one-day event on June 14 where you can grab incredible fantasy reads for just $0.99 each!

📚 Child of the River, the first book in my Prophesied Prince series, will be featured under the Medieval Fantasy category on StuffWithFantasy.com.

In Child of the River, Prince Atul arrives in the kingdom of Kashgar seeking vengeance for the Malla envoys, whose mission ended in slaughter. But his path takes an unexpected turn when the river whispers the name of a girl—Sugandha—urging him to find and protect her. A girl he didn’t know existed. A girl he doesn’t know how to find.

Start your journey into the world of Prophesied Prince and fill your Kindle with magic, mystery, and unforgettable characters this June 14!

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Charting the River’s Next Course

I’m back to outlining Book Two in The Prophesied Prince series! That means re-reading Child of the River, going through my notes to track the timeline, character ages, and all the minor characters—where they were last and what threads need to be picked up.

Right now, I’m creating a rough outline of what happens in Book Two. Of course, as always, my characters tend to have their own ideas, and the final book often takes an unexpected path—much like a river carving out a new course. But that’s part of the fun! I love getting into my characters’ heads, understanding their motivations, and, most of all, throwing obstacles in their way. After all, a hero’s journey is nothing without persistence, endurance, and sacrifice.

This book will take my characters to new parts of Kashgar that we didn’t explore in Child of the River, so I’m excited to build out more of this medieval world. My goal is to capture enough vivid details so my readers can see it as clearly as I do.

The outlining should be done in about a week—then it’s on to writing! Looking forward to sharing the finished book with you in 2026.

🌊✨ Preorder Now on Audible: Child of the River – A Fantasy Adventure Like No Other! 🎧

Will Prince Atul be able to guard what matters most?

When an exiled Kashgar prince seeks refuge, Prince Atul agrees to help—but their mission quickly turns deadly. A ship shrouded in shadows returns with lifeless emissaries, signaling a sinister war. Determined to restore the prince to the throne, Atul journeys to Kashgar, prepared for battle. But instead of soldiers, he finds a land cursed with arcane powers. How can he fight what he doesn’t understand? 🌀

Voices whisper to him, urging him to protect a mysterious girl named Sugandha—someone he’s never met. But why is she so important?

✨ Preorder Child of the River on Audible today and get ready to be swept into an epic tale of magic, mystery, and fate. Will Atul succeed in a world that defies all logic? Find out in this gripping fantasy adventure!

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Audiobook Coming This November!

I have some thrilling news that I just couldn’t wait to share with you! The journey through the enchanting world of Child of the River is about to get even more immersive. I am excited to announce that the audiobook version, narrated by the incredible duo Nikita Mirpuri and Shawn Jain, is coming this November!

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the release date. Thank you for being such a passionate part of my reader community!