Before I Bow
The Fearless Queen Duology Book 2
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Pub Date Apr 13 2027 | Archive Date Not set
Bindery Books | Boundless Press
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Description
Queen to a people. Mother to an heir. A reckoning to her enemies.
Five years have passed since Abbakka Chowta drove the monstrous Porcugi from the shores of her homeland, but she knows a strategic retreat when she sees one. Biding her time while raising her daughter in Ullal away from her husband's manipulations, she is resolved to keep her family and her homeland out of the Porcugi's grasp.
Negotiations with a neighboring kingdom soon reunite Abbakka with her husband, and even with the protection of her community of fierce women, Abbakka finds herself more vulnerable than ever. She now must balance strength, statecraft, and secrecy to protect them all from the Porcugi's rising tides . . . but when a long-lost friend reappears in the unlikeliest of places, the queen must decide whether the alliance can be trusted or her daughter's future will be plunged beneath the waves.
The stunning conclusion to Mona Tewari's historical fantasy of 1500s South India, Before I Bow is an unflinching exploration of allegiances of the heart, the blood, and the blade . . . and the sacrifices we make to uphold our fiercest beliefs.
Advance Praise
Praise for Burn the Sea, book 1 in The Fearless Queen Duology:
"A vibrant homage to the warrior queen that should win Tewari many fans."—Publishers Weekly
“Tewari's debut is fierce, vibrant, and emotional, and introduces a brave and intelligent heroine who would sacrifice everything for her people. Culture and spirituality permeate every aspect of the story, creating a breathtaking depth of world-building that will leave readers eager for the planned sequel.”—Shelf Awareness *Starred Review*
“Burn the Sea is a rich and beautiful debut, a gorgeous feminist epic with a ferocious heart.”—Tasha Suri, World Fantasy Award–winning author of The Jasmine Throne
“Burn the Sea is a gift of a novel filled with innovative magic, historical treats, and a maze of intrigue, with a truly satisfying spin on colonial narratives by making the Porcugi literal monsters. Tewari’s evocative prose transports you into a gorgeous world that feels like it has another secret around every corner. Best of all is Abbakka herself, crafted with such beautiful care into a protagonist by turns fierce and romantic, resilient and grief-stricken, loving and unyielding. A triumphant, standout debut!”—Vaishnavi Patel, internationally bestselling author of Kaikeyi
“Burn the Sea is a lush, vibrant, and compelling political fantasy with an unapologetically fierce and intelligent heroine. This is the sort of hold-your-breath storytelling that will keep you reading long into the night.”—Andrea Stewart, Sunday Times bestselling, award-winning author of the Drowning Empire trilogy and the Hollow Covenant trilogy
“Burn the Sea is a stunning political fantasy, a reinvention of history with a magical twist. Epic battles, duplicitous enemies, and rich secrets will keep you turning the pages as they did for me.”—Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Invisible College series, the Kingfountain series, and the Muirwood series
“In this reimagining of the life of Rani Abbakka Chowta, lyrical prose and gorgeous worldbuilding form a fantasy debut that is as unforgettable as it is inspirational. Abbakka is a warrior queen with or without a throne, reminding every reader that the strongest weapon of all is the heart.”—Kamilah Cole, Dragon, Lodestar, and Lambda Award–nominated author of the bestselling Divine Traitors duology
“With unforgettable characters and prose, Mona Tewari crafts a breathtaking fantasy that is as fierce as it is tender. Imbued with the power of a rallying cry, Burn the Sea is a stunning, not-to-be-missed debut.”—Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief
“Ocean-deep and scorching as the sun, Tewari’s tale sweeps us away into a vivid reimagining of history with monsters, guile, and sisterhood. Delectable and honest, ferocious and brave, Burn the Sea is a lush tapestry of a book, a searing arrow aimed true.”—Shen Tao, author of The Poet Empress
“Immersive and lush, Burn the Sea is a sweeping tale filled with political intrigue that examines the heartbreaking cost of duty and freedom.”—Elaine Ho, author of Cry, Voidbringer
“Burn the Sea is a blistering historical fantasy rendered in lush prose that will delight every sense. As remarkable as the queen whose life it paints, this book balances vividly researched details with fantastical elements, centering clever women at the heart of expertly weaved political intrigue. Mona Tewari’s debut is a must-read for fans of Tasha Suri and S. A. Chakraborty.”—S. Hati, author of And the Sky Bled and Morbid Curiosities
“Clever, romantic, and intricately plotted, Burn the Sea is an electrifying historical fantasy about decolonization featuring a South Indian queen whose mind is sharper than her blade. I flew through this book over the course of a day and can’t wait to see what Mona Tewari writes next!”—Tanaz Bhathena, award-winning author of Hunted by the Sky
"Beautifully written, hard to put down, Burn the Sea is a masterful debut, pulling you in with its lyrical prose and vivid, haunting imagery. Tewari breathes new life into the remarkable history of a fierce, forgotten queen, one parijaata flower at a time."—Kritika H. Rao, Internationally bestselling author of The Legend of Meneka
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781967967421 |
| PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 460 |
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Average rating from 20 members
Featured Reviews
Olivia G, Reviewer
First off 5 fucking stars easily omg!!
I was nervous going into Burn the Sea (book 1) because I’m not a big fantasy reader and worried I would struggle through it. Which I did lol but not because it was bad! It just took me a while to get into reading about the strategy and other world-building needed for this genre.
But Before I Bow? I was locked in from the first chapter and the ending was perfection. The story within the story (IYKYK) of the little girl became my favorite part by the time I finished reading.
I’m still trying to fully articulate my thoughts on this book but overall I will say this book and duology have easily become one of my favorites ever.
Reviewer 1902553
Abbakka is such a compelling character, and I loved seeing her strength and determination throughout the story. A fantastic read !
Reviewer 1905171
This was one of the most seamless duology transitions I've ever read. Mona Tewari does a beautiful job of picking up right where she left us in Burn the Sea. Within the first few pages it felt as though I'd never left the story. Additionally Tewari writes with such immersive language, the clothes, foods and traditions come to life.
Before I Bow is a continued tale of perseverance, resistance and the belief that community can overcome. Rani Abbakka is determined in her goal to resist the Porcugi, though it never feels like a power play. Her resistance is rooted in her care for the people of Ullal, and the knowledge that they can thrive without submitting to the manipulations of the Porcugi and their allies.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this duology and rate it among my top reads for 2026. I find it hard to separate Burn the Sea and Before I Bow in my mind because they are both so well written. I highly recommend them both to anyone looking for a historical fantasy retelling. Thank you to NetGalley, and Bindery for the ARC of Before I Bow.
Puja P, Reviewer
The last time I sobbed over a book was when I read Burn the Sea and Before I Bow did the exact same thing to me. Before I Bow was a stunning finale to the The Fearless Queen Duology. I felt equally immersed in this sequel as I did it's predecessor and felt the full spectrum of human emotion throughout this novel. I adored every character or loved to hate them and I appreciate the honest emotional toll of war and colonization that Mona Tewari brought to this novel.
Reviewer 1045350
WOW what an incredible duology and what a voice Mona Tewari brings to the work. The writing is so lush and vivid it's easy to fall in and get swept away. This series is so grand and so well executed, I can't imagine a more perfect ending to this story. It's hopeful, it's exciting, it's fierce, and it nails the ending for full satisfaction. I would recommend this story to anyone.
Shobha N, Reviewer
Mona Tewari has written two books which had me not wanting to put down once I started reading them. The plot, characters, the descriptions of scenes, food had me hooked. It moved seamlessly and as the reader wanting to know what came next! The plot twist was well thought and crafted.
The cover illustration is stunning too!
Loved Before I Bow and am looking forward to its release in April 2027.
Jasmyne H, Reviewer
Before I Bow is absolutely phenomenal! This is the second book in The Fearless Queen Duology, the followup to Burn the Sea and it is such a worthwhile read! Mona Tewari is such a gifted storyteller and within her books she creates such an immersive experience that it’s easy to get lost in them. She explains the food, the culture, the clothing, the weaponry so vividly and in such a captivating way that I was inspired to look them up and see real world examples. The character development is so well done I found myself deeply invested in their progression, trying to determine the different strategic angles ahead of time, and grieving the losses that they endured. Mona Tewari told Abbakka Chowta’s story in such a powerful way and I can not recommend this duology enough.
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