Tag: Desi Author

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.

Don’t make my mistake: stay up late to read this book

I normally don’t read psychological thrillers, but when Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar was offered as part of Kindle First Reads, I decided to make an exception. I’ll admit—I don’t know much about Jinn folklore, but after reading this book, I’m definitely interested in learning more.

The story opens with Dunia, our protagonist, narrowly escaping death at a subway station. From there, the narrative flips between three threads: her five-year-old self, her present, and a podcast set in the future (that’s how I kept track, at least). The podcast narration was crisp, engaging, and if the author’s goal was to make them sound like slightly obnoxious true-crime podcasters, she nailed it. I’ve never listened to a podcast like this, so I can’t say if that’s the norm, but it felt authentic.

The sections with five-year-old Dunia and the podcast held the most reveals and kept me turning the pages. My only nitpick: present-day Dunia sometimes felt like she had less agency. Maybe that was intentional, a reflection of her cultural upbringing, but I wanted her to be more active in uncovering the truth about the folklore and the accidents.

“How do you grieve someone who hated you? I wasn’t sure how to, but I was trying.”

Overall, this was a gripping tale—creepy, layered, and unsettling. Just don’t make the mistake I did: stay up late, reading it in the dark.

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.

My first book by this author

This is my first book by Trisha Das, and it definitely won’t be my last. The story begins with a charming meet-cute between Samara and Sharav at a wedding Samara is photographing. Their paths cross again when Samara moves in with Sharav’s family—her diplomat father is posted overseas, and they graciously take her in.

Sharav is already engaged, but Samara, an only child with an often-absent father, quickly becomes a ray of sunshine in a family still grieving the loss of their own patriarch. She brings warmth and change: helping the mother rediscover her passion, guiding the sister toward love, and giving the brother a much-needed confidence boost.

But the real question is—can she help Sharav see what’s truly in his heart?

Set against a beautifully modern Indian backdrop, this was a fun and heartwarming read. I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author!

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!

https://stuffwithfantasy.com

From My Heart to Yours: A Glimpse into Prince in Exile

Writing a book is one thing. Sharing it with others—that’s something entirely different. Every time I release a new story, no matter how many I’ve written before, I feel a familiar nervous flutter. Publishing a book feels like opening a window into my soul and hoping that what you see resonates with you.

That vulnerability is real. But so is the joy—especially when I get to share characters like these with you.

Here’s a little glimpse into the hearts of my two protagonists, Prince Giri and Princess Suri:

Prince Giri:
He had stumbled upon two of Poet Ravi’s poems and fallen in love with the shattered hearts depicted in them. Their sorrow mirrored his broken self, prompting him to write a play.

Princess Suri:
Her eyes settled on the man standing beside the stage, silently mouthing the words along with the performer—the playwright who had somehow discovered her poem and woven it into his play.

Prince Giri:
He had longed for friendship with a like-minded man. He imagined going back and forth over the merits of a phrase while crafting their next play. Joy, of the kind he had never experienced before, heightened his senses.

Princess Suri:
The playwright had already given her a monumental gift by bringing her poem to life. She should be content with just that. But she wanted more—to write more and see him weave her poems into his tales.

Their words connect them before their names ever do.

Prince in Exile is a story of hidden identities, longing, and the healing power of art. It’s about finding connection when you least expect it and discovering your voice—even when you cannot speak.

Preorder now and be among the first to meet Suri and Giri when their story arrives. I can’t wait to share their journey with you. 💛

✨ Prince in Exile is Now Available for Preorder! ✨

I’m thrilled to announce that Prince in Exile is officially available for preorder!

This historical romance is a little different from my previous stories—it features a protagonist who is mute, unable to voice the depths of her heart. Poetry is her refuge, the only way she can give shape to the emotions swirling inside her. But marriage to the wrong man would take even that away from her, silencing her in the only way that truly matters.

What hope does she have of finding someone who will cherish not just her, but her creativity? Her only choice seems to be the man her mother has chosen—a safe, acceptable match. A gilded cage instead of freedom. But how can she clip her own wings when all she longs for is to fly?

Step into her world and experience her journey—preorder Prince in Exile today! ✨📖

Preorder

My Inspiration

 In Prince in Exile, my latest historical romance, Princess Suryavati is a mute poet who must hide her verses under a man’s name. Her character was inspired by the rich legacy of female poets in ancient Tamil lands, where women were not denied education and their literary contributions were highly valued. The title Avvaiyar (also spelled Ouvvayar), meaning “the elderly lady,” was bestowed upon multiple renowned female poets whose works have survived to this day. 

One of the legends surrounding Avvaiyar tells the story of a young woman who longed to be a poet but feared that marriage would strip her of her freedom as an artist. Determined to live life on her own terms, she prayed to the gods to take away her youth. Her wish was granted, and as a gray-haired poet, she roamed the kingdoms freely, composing poetry to her heart’s content. Her story reflects one of the central themes in Prince in Exile—how marrying the wrong man could become a cage for Suri, silencing not only her voice but also her soul. 

During the Sangam period and beyond, women flourished under the patronage of Chola and Pandiya kings, who respected and supported their artistry. These remarkable poets paved the way for me to create Suryavati—bold, brilliant, and determined to be heard, even in silence. Don’t forget to check out an exclusive excerpt from the novel.

கற்றது கை மண்அளவு, கல்லாதது உலகளவு

What you have learned is a mere handful; what you haven’t learned is as vast as the world – Avvaiyar

Where can I sign up for this tour?

Do they take middle-aged moms?

I love books where the setting is almost a third character, and this was one such book.

Tara, after a traumatic senior year, has graduated from high school and is ready to wipe her slate clean. Silas wants to connect with his roots by tracing his moms’ journey through India. Both are junior guides for a pilgrimage tour with rising high school freshmen.

Tara and Silas’s relationship is fairly mature for two eighteen-year-olds. The food they eat throughout the trip is one of the highlights of this novel. I can almost smell the fragrance of ginger and other spices as the author describes the delicious street food. Warning: do not read this book while you are hungry.

One tiny nitpick: I wish we learned more about Tara’s mother’s motivations and the reason for her father’s lack of support for his girls.

Recommend for lovers of YA contemporary romance.

Book Review: SciFi novel by a desi author

I finished reading Unearthing Idyll, debut SciFi novel by Dhara Parekh, and my first question is, when is book two coming out? I cannot wait to read what happens next.

I met the author at a local book event. After hearing about her book, I purchased a signed copy, excited to read a SciFi novel by a fellow desi author.

The story unfolds in the future. About 7,000 human beings live on an asteroid orbiting Earth. One of them, Lyra, wants to escape her home, where she feels caged in the small society.

Aryabh, a man born on Earth who finds no future on the planet, thwarts her efforts to travel there. The author serves a gourmet meal, one that should be savored slowly.

I loved Kenai and Sagan, able sidekicks to our main protagonists. The way Aryabh’s email to Lyra is spread throughout the chapters is a nice touch. Don’t miss the Earthler news sprinkled under the chapter heading.

The author explores what it means to be part of a community and how it shapes us. Most importantly, she has created a fantastic world and realistic characters. Looking forward to spending more time in her world.