Thrilling fantasy book! The budding romance is precious and unexpected, as well as one character being asexual. The power of the witches and their ethics being tested by the currents prejudices and burnings enacted against them. The drama is intense and the mistakes aren't readily apparent, so I'm excited for the sequel to see what happens next!

The Prince Without Sorrow is a YA fantasy series opener which, unfortunately, leaves much to be desired in all aspects thereof.

The story follows the dual character arcs of Shakti, a mayakari with nature magic in her bloodline, who opens the story seeing her aunt and others of her kind ritualistically murdered by the soldiers of a genocidal empire, and Ashoka, the third son of said genocidal empire and embarrassment to his father (no room for a pacifist in a bloodline determined to wipe out a race of people!).

The opening of the story is slow, as Wijesekara opts to begin with an info dump on the world (Genocidal empire! Pacifist lady nature witches! Factionalism between the witches with some saying Traditional Pacifism and others saying No Fucking Way, We’re Fighting Back!), and telling character more than showing it. Shakti’s introduction as a Strong Female Character put me off at first, because I really feel that we’ve grown past the idea that the best way to show a girl is tough is by making her an adept fighter.
But despite those huge peeves of mine, I read on, because despite the dump I thought the world building was intriguing.
The mystery of the Collective and how it came to be drew me in, as did the promise of political intrigue with Ashoka’s governance in a city of strife and his dealings with the Mayakari resistance. The interweaving of Shakti and Ashoka’s stories was where my enjoyment peaked.

And it’s unfortunately where things went sour for me as the story went on. I’m disappointed in the “political maneuvering” of this story. Ashoka does treason, full stop. He invites a foreign army to march through his brother, the Emperor’s, lands without leave of his emperor in order to enact statecraft that goes directly against the orders of his emperor. Of course he’s right morally—Wijesekara leaves no room for nuance between the good and the bad guys here—but there’s very little forethought or consequences, which is necessary for demonstrating a story’s stakes. Without acknowledgement that this sloppy, dangerous plan is a huge risk, it ends up looking not noble and brave and thought out, but stupid. Especially when even his seasoned political advisor doesn’t call it out. It demonstrates incompetence instead of intelligence. If it works, the empire just looks even more incompetent than Ahsoka and Friends by comparison and shatters the disbelief that a nation this dumb on a leadership level managed to expand their borders this far.

I’m similarly upset at Shakti deciding to infiltrate the palace for… reasons, I guess? And having no concept of emotional regulation or going under the radar/not publicly showing off her fighting. Girl. LAY LOW. (Speaking of the fighting, how is a few stolen nights of sword work enough for her to get under The Best Guardsman Rahil’s guard? If he fought her halfassed and she surprised him, that might’ve been Ok. But the scene was not written that way, and I’m unable to suspend my disbelief enough to believe that degree of competence from her. Perhaps if Mayakari magic was shown to increase physical prowess? But that’s not the case on-page, and is just a reach on my part to justify this nonsense). Plus, most frustratingly, Shakti remains heedless of any of the lessons she learns re: the cruelty of the rulers, and is seemingly angry and surprised time and again by the same slights and ugly behaviors. Rather than underscoring the empire’s cruelty, this just made it repetitive, rote, and dulled its impact.

I might have been able to forgive the above if the story at least stood on its own as a complete work. It does not. Nor are the running/series-long mysteries built up adequately. We do not get clues as to the origin to the Collective. And if Ashoka’s increasingly erratic behavior and out of nowhere rudeness to his friends is meant to be the ghost of his dad or an ancestor haunting him that’s making him heel-turn? It is not signposted enough in this book to be a satisfying twist later.

If these gripes seem nitpicky, it’s because they are; the imaginative, rich worldbuilding and Wijesekara’s (mostly) clean and readable prose primed me to expect more from the characterization of the key players in a plot primed for political intrigue and familial drama. The sibling infighting of the emperor’s children is not given enough room to have depth and the characters are reduced to flimsy archetypes (reckless and stupid brawny eldest. Cunning yet erratic and crazy middle sister, and supposedly clever and kind youngest with a dark streak), and the context of literal genocide makes the non-revolutionary faction of the Mayakari outright fools with no leg to stand on re: these are our beliefs and traditions. There was so much room for nuance! And yet! As Adele once said, we could’ve had it all.

I’m of two minds about continuing with this story. Part of me thinks Wijesekara might be able to address my gripes and pull out a fabulous conclusion in book 2. The other part of me doesn’t want to risk another multi month slump where I feel guilty for reading anything except a book I promised a review for but just don’t want to keep going with a story I fear will disappoint me. We’ll see.
2.5/5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Set in an empire where witches are hunted and nature spirits are feared, this book introduces readers to a richly imagined world full of conflict, magic, and moral complexity. With dual POVs—Prince Ashoka, a reluctant pacifist heir, and Shakti, a vengeful witch in hiding—the story explores the messy path between justice and revenge, peace and survival.
There’s a lot to admire here. The world-building is ambitious and vivid, with hints of Princess Mononoke energy—particularly in the portrayal of spirits and the natural world. The political and spiritual tensions are layered, and the cultural influences offer a refreshing take on familiar fantasy tropes.
Ashoka is easily the stronger of the two leads. His inner conflict, growth, and eventual transformation make him a compelling character to follow. Shakti’s arc, on the other hand, feels less developed. While her motivations are understandable, her actions often lack reflection, and her character doesn’t evolve in the way the narrative seems to promise.
Where the book stumbles is in its structure. The frequent perspective shifts and rapid changes in setting make it a challenging read, especially for those who struggle with dense or fast-paced narratives. The plot is packed with twists, political intrigue, and magical revelations—but sometimes to its own detriment. There are moments when the pacing feels overwhelming, and the story doesn’t always give you time to process what’s just happened before moving on to the next major event.
For a first book in a series, it also leaves quite a few threads dangling—not unusual in fantasy, but here it felt more like lack of resolution than purposeful setup. That said, I’m still curious to see where the series goes next.
Overall, this is a story with massive potential, but its execution doesn’t always live up to its ambitions. If you enjoy morally complex fantasy with lush world-building and don’t mind a more demanding reading experience, this may still be worth your time.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

𝔻𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖. 𝔻𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕡𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖. 𝔻𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞. 𝔻𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝.

Words every mayakari, (pacifist witches) abide by, except for one. Maithree’s debut novel explores what happens when a person is pushed too far and forced to abandon their ideals, all in the name of vengeance, and the domino effect that results. From the world building, characters, magical elements, creatures and inspiration drawn from ancient India- this book transports the reader on a journey of the likes which they’ve never been on before.

If you like your fantasy with political intrigue and romantic angst, then this is the book for you.

I read this book over the last week. I haven’t seen it getting the hype that it deserves NEARLY enough.

First, this book is based on South Asian culture. It was so refreshing to read about a different type of world than traditional fantasy. This is the first book in a trilogy. We experience getting to see and understand the world, as well as each character.

Honestly, this was one of the most riveting fantasy stories I’ve read in a while. I loved the characters, their complications, and their growth. I loved how clear the mental images of each scene & spirit were.

I received a digital galley of this from the publisher, but I’m going to be buying a physical copy for my shelf. I’m so ready to read more!

In an empire where witches are brutally hunted down and hated thanks to the tyrannical emperor's decree, Prince Ashoka finds himself at odds with his family due to his pacifist beliefs. When his father's sudden passing results in Ashoka getting sent to the empire's most tumultuous region on a doomed assignment to end the area's terrorization by nature spirits, he'll have to make tough decisions and decide if his rigid beliefs will be enough to reach his goal or if he'll need to take more drastic measures. Shakti is one of those hunted witches, a mayakari bound by a pacifist code. But after witnessing her aunt burned alive and her village murdered at the hands of the emperor, she takes revenge with a forbidden curse that has unexpected consequences. Desperate to be free of them, she poses as a servant at the imperial palace and finds herself in a position to see all of the imperial family's efforts turn to ash. Will that power help her find her revenge or prove to be her final undoing?

There is so much going on in this story that I sometimes zoned out from information overload. It's all fascinating and needed for the overall plot, but I would have appreciated more room to breathe between bombshells and revelations. The fact that you jump between characters works to help with it a little, but it still feels like too much got packed into insufficient space.

Ashoka is a fascinating character and I enjoyed seeing his progression as the story forced him to make decisions and act. He gets a full story arc that feels complete despite the story having no resolution whatsoever, even for a first volume in a trilogy. Shakti is a tougher character to decide on. She's obviously in a very tough spot, but it never feels like she learns from what she's going through or even the consequences of her actions. There's not much growth to see despite her being in the optimal position for it.

Overall, it's not a bad story. It just left me feeling like I got too much and not enough at the same time.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the thought-provoking read!

The story is interesting overall, but the perspective changes and location shifts are hard to follow for struggling readers. Although we have chosen not to add the book to our collection at this time, I am looking forward to the next installment myself to see where the story goes.

I've had this on my shelf - started and stopped it multiple times. But for some reason I am not drawn to pick it up again. I'm going to DNF for now.

Dual POV peaceful Prince & Vengeful Ex-Pacifist witch both hoping for the same outcome, but with very different plans on how to get what they want. The world building in this book is fantastic! It felt like Princess Mononoke if the forest spirts were more wide spread and benevolent. I am eager to see where the story goes from here!

Mayakari (witches) are persecuted ruthlessly and looked down upon with fear and disregard. Shakti is a witch who would do anything to put someone just and fair on the throne. Even if doing so is going to require some violence on her part. Ashoka is the prince and is well and truly a pacifist. He hates the way that his father rules the kingdom and no surprise is family looks down upon him for his ways. Shakti and Ashoka are mirrors to one another. both having the push and pull of which one is right.

Thank you to #Netgalley for the chance to read #ThePrinceWithoutSorrow by #MaithreeWijesekara in return for a fair and honest review.

DNF @ 20%

I struggled with this one ... there was too much info dumping at the beginning, which I understand is important, especially for a fantasy novel. The more I read this genre, the more I am seeing how there's a delicate balance to successfully execute a fantasy world with the reader without it feeling bogged down by it all.

I think if I was a bit more patient, I would like this, but for now ... I'll be putting it down.

DNF @ 21%

look at me, finally learning to DNF!

i was lured in by the pretty cover and promises of a mauryan empire-inspired political fantasy with flying snakes (i was SO excited 😭), but unfortunately this lived up to none of my expectations. it’s just generic fantasy, and poorly written at that—clunky and repetitive, like we might not understand that ashoka is a pacifist if it isn’t spelled out for us 17 times. everyone seems to be wholly good or wholly evil, which doesn’t make for a particularly compelling story. maybe the characters become more nuanced later in the novel, but i don’t have high hopes based on what i read.

This book started with a massive info dump and a ton of sentences that used words in nonsensical ways. DNFed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

This book got me in my feels. I didn't expect it. I also didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I think I'm in my Witch era 😂

The first half of the book was a little hard to trudge through, but that is typical and a fantasy. I did enjoy the second half and did love the cultural spin on it. I will definitely be reading the next one. I also love the cover art so well done to the artist!

This book was a major disappointment. It had been on my TBR for a long time, so I was really excited to receive an ARC. Unfortunately, the wait wasn’t worth it. While the overall concept isn’t new, I was intrigued by the unique cultural twist, but even that couldn’t save it. Too many plot points were left unresolved, and the author didn’t seem to commit to any strong direction. It felt underdeveloped and unfinished. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.

Listen, I wanted to like this one so badly. I wanted to love it but the book made it so SO hard to do so.

The premise is interesting but the plotline is all over the place, as are the characters. I for one, love character driven books but the characters here are written to be really naive and no I don't mean it in a "They are innocent" way but rather a "They're hella dumb." way.

The characters have huge stakes. There's this character who if her secret is known could be killed but she KEEPS SHARING THE SECRET. Like in high school when someone spreads a rumor and tells it to 20 people but tells them all "Don't tell anyone else." Except their secret is probably about who broke up with who and not something that would get them painfully killed.

The characters' personalities are inconsistent. They keep doing things that make no sense to their personality and behaviour.

There was so much potential in the premise but it all falls flat and I am kind of mad about it because I was SO excited for this book!

This is the first book in a new series, and I’ll definitely be continuing. It took me a little while to get into—there’s a lot of world-building up front, and the action doesn’t really kick in until the second half. But once it did, I flew through it in one sitting.

Shakti is a mayakari—a witch who communes with nature spirits and follows a strict code of nonviolence. But as her people are mercilessly hunted by the emperor, her frustration grows, leading her to break their code and cast a powerful curse.

Ashoka is the emperor’s youngest son and a known mayakari sympathizer. He follows his own code of pacifism and wants nothing to do with his father’s legacy. But when the Obsidian Throne passes to one of his siblings, he begins to question whether violence can ever be justified in the name of justice.

Told in dual POV, the novel offers a rich setting, complex characters, and a compelling arc of power and morality. It’s also delightfully queer—Ashoka is in love with his best friend and personal guard, Rahil, though he struggles to admit it. The world itself seems queer-normative: there’s no angst around same-gender attraction, and his sister, the princess, is casually known to take both male and female lovers.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for the next installment!

Thank you Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC!

I wasn't sure how I felt about this book in the first half, but the second half had me hooked. I liked the way in which the relationship between pacifism and violence is explored, and how fast people will cave in their beliefs if they believe it is for a good cause. Both main characters are two side of the same coin, desperate to push their beliefs onto others. Granted, the FMC just wants to not die, and honestly I think that's a more noble cause and understandable.

The only thing I wish this book had talked about more, but perhaps will be explored in later books, is how dangerous or evil the past emperor was beyond the murder of witches. Yes, that's enough to hate them, but I think it is weird how they are implied to be a good ruler otherwise. How can one be a good ruler if they murder their subjects? I also wish we got looks into the Empress, she is an interesting character that is pretty under appreciated.

I am excited for book 2!

The Prince Without Sorrow is a promising debut novel drawing inspiration from ancient India during the Maurya dynasty. It follows Shakti, a witch from a pacificst order, Ashoka, the sweet youngest prince of the Empire, and the way their lives change when the Emperor's witch hunts murder the last of Shakti's family. Shakti seeks revenge, invoking a curse on the Emperor Adil and posing as a maidservant in the palace to sow discord between Ashoka's older siblings. Ashoka is sent to a distant province terrorized by rampaging nature spirits and has to find a way to heal the land while being spied on and obstructed at every turn by the shadow of his father's deeds.

This was a very interesting debut novel, and I enjoyed the subversion of "goodness" offered in this first installment. That said, some of the character motives felt one dimensional - in taking revenge, Shakti negates the pacifism of her people and invokes dark powers; once or twice she seems to feel guilty, but is very fixed on keeping a hold on power regardless of its consequence.

3.5/5, but I do look forward to reading the next installment and seeing what growth these characters have to come.