Illusions of Fire
Written by Nisha Sharma
Published by Union Square & Co.
Every morning Laila Bansal wakes up before dawn—hours before her job at the family winery—and trains in hand-to-hand combat with her adopted aunts who, when not tending to their thriving vineyard, are immortal demons sworn to protect Laila’s mythological bloodline. Despite the whole “descendant of Draupadi” thing, Laila leads a peaceful, protected life. That is until Karan, the mysterious and gorgeous new archer in town, tries to cut off her head. Like Laila, Karan and his family are connected to the world of gods and demons. He’s on a mission to save his parents, but with him he brings an influx of immortal beings, and mortal ones—all of whom are ready to, you guessed it, destroy the world.
Primary ISBN: 9781454947776
Publication Date: October 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult , Age 14 or older
Community Represented: Indian/Indian American
Themes: Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Family Relationship: Extended, Format: Audiobook, Genre: Fantasy & Folklore, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Religious Background: Hindu
Setting: United States (New York)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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