Shveta Thakrar – författare

Sixteen extraordinary authors—including New York Times bestsellers Melissa de la Cruz, Renée Ahdieh, and Julie Kagawa—reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate. This exquisite paperback anthology includes an original bonus story from Ellen Oh. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called A Thousand Beginnings and Endings a “must-read.” A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place.Bestselling and award-winning authors explore the timeless themes of East and South Asian lore in sixteen original stories that will appeal to every reader. From fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge, these stories will beguile readers from start to finish. Edited by We Need Diverse Books co-founder Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, this anthology contains stories from sixteen Asian and South Asian authors, including New York Times bestsellers and award-winners. In a starred review, Kirkus called it an “incredible anthology that will keep readers on the edges of their seats, wanting more.”Featuring:Renée Ahdieh, Elsie Chapman, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, Alyssa Wong, and a new original story by Ellen Oh.This essential own voices collection reimagines timeless legends and features:Asian Mythology and Folklore: Discover reimagined tales from the Philippines, Korea, China, Vietnam, and more, written by celebrated authors from the diaspora.Gods, Spirits, and Demons: Meet nine-tailed fox spirits, vengeful ghosts, two sisters who transform into birds, and a mountain who loses her heart in these captivating fantasy and science fiction reimaginings.Epic Romantic Retellings: From the tragic star-crossed love of Mirza and Sahiba to the poignant tale of the Butterfly Lovers, explore epic romances that defy fate and family.An Exclusive Bonus Story: This paperback edition features a brand-new, original tale by We Need Diverse Books co-founder Ellen Oh, available nowhere else.

"Filled with beautiful and dangerous magic, this book swirls around you like irresistible perfume." —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The SpellshopFrom critically acclaimed author Shveta Thakrar comes a beautifully imagined contemporary fantasy about two teens, one a believer of magic who yearns to belong, the other a skeptic searching for an escape, who find themselves embroiled in a twisty world of court intrigue when they venture into a forest ruled by yakshas, mysterious woodland spirits drawn from Hindu and Buddhist folklore.Plant-loving Ridhi Kapadia and popular Nilesh Batra were friends once.Now, seventeen and alone, Ridhi blends natural perfumes, wears flower crowns, and wanders her local woods, listening for the leafy whispers of her beloved trees. Pleading for the yakshas to admit her into their enchanted forest kingdom, where she knows she truly belongs.After learning his parents’ perfect marriage is a sham and getting suspended from school, a heartsick Nilesh lands at Ridhi’s doorstep—the last thing either of them wants. So when a pretty yakshini offers him the distraction of magic, the same magic he mocked Ridhi for believing in, he jumps at it.Furious, Ridhi strikes a bargain with a noblewoman of the yaksha court. In exchange for helping restore her reputation, Lady Sulochana will turn Ridhi into the yakshini she yearns to be—and teach her to divine the trees’ murmurs.But when Nilesh ends up trapped in the yakshas’ realm, Ridhi realizes the leaves might be telling a disturbing story about the forest her heart is rooted in—one that, even if the two of them band together, threatens to shred the future like so many thorns.Portal Fantasy: Ridhi has spent her life searching for a door to the magical realm of yakshas. Nilesh just stumbled into it. Now, neither of them can find the way back.Court Intrigue: A bargain with a beautiful yaksha noblewoman seems like a dream come true for Ridhi, but in a world of ancient feuds and shifting loyalties, every promise has a price.Based on South Asian Mythology: Venture into a world of yakshas, apsaras, and the legendary wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha, drawn from the rich tapestry of Hindu and Buddhist folklore.Dual POV: Told from the perspectives of Ridhi, the believer who wants in, and Nilesh, the skeptic who wants out, as their paths collide in a world neither was prepared for.

*Chosen as a 2020 Kids’ Indie Next pick * A Locus Reading List recommendation * An Andre Norton Nebula Award Finalist*“Shveta Thakrar's prose is as beautiful as starlight.”—New York Times bestselling author Holly BlackThis gorgeously imagined YA debut blends shades of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and a breathtaking landscape of Hindu mythology into a radiant contemporary fantasy.The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him. A star like her mother, who returned to the sky long ago.Sheetal’s quest to save her father will take her to a celestial court of shining wonders and dark shadows, where she must take the stage as her family’s champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens—and win, or risk never returning to Earth at all.Brimming with celestial intrigue, this sparkling YA debut is perfect for fans of Roshani Chokshi and Laini Taylor. Daughter of a Star: Sheetal has always hidden her silver hair and the fire in her blood. But when a magical accident puts her father's life on the line, she has no choice but to embrace her celestial heritage.A World of Hindu Mythology: Journey from modern-day New Jersey to Svargalok, a celestial court of shining wonders, dark shadows, and ancient gods, inspired by a breathtaking landscape of Hindu myths.A High-Stakes Celestial Trial: To save her father, Sheetal must become her family's champion in a dangerous tournament. If she loses, she may never see Earth again.Star-Crossed Romance: Back on Earth, a boy with a secret of his own is winning Sheetal’s heart. But a journey to the heavens puts more than just distance between them.