Sunday, October 06, 2024

Pop-Up Blog Hop & Giveaway: The Duchess of Kokora by Nikhil Prabala

The Duchess of Kokora
By Nikhil Prabala


LGBTQ+ / YA / Humorous Fantasy / Romantasy
Publisher: Grand Press
Pages: 442
Publication Date: August 8, 2024


SYNOPSIS
The Duchess of Kokora, Phera Ylir Mdana, has entered the marriage games of the neighboring kingdom of Ryene. But she’s not there to woo the dashing Prince Dominic.

Her true objective? To win back one of the other contestants, Lady Rocelle Virae—Phera’s true love and ex-fiancée.

Love proves to be a game like any other when Phera must not only mend matters with her childhood sweetheart, but conceal her true intentions in order to earn votes and stay in the competition.

And as long-brewing political tensions simmer beneath the surface, the playful veneer of the competition begins to crack. In the end, Phera, Dominic, and Rocelle find themselves united in a desperate bid to prevent a duel that threatens the integrity of the kingdom, the stability of the continent, and any hope for a happily ever after.

This novel is the first in a planned series.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From playing the DM in Dungeons and Dragons to writing fantasy novels, Nikhil Prabala loves storytelling, delighting in fantasy fiction from the epic to the cozy and everywhere in between. The Duchess of Kokora is his first published novel.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, he graduated from Stanford in 2019 and is currently based in the Bay Area. In his free time he enjoys ballroom dancing, singing, playing the guitar, tabletop games, and spending time with friends and family.


 




ENTER TO WIN!

REVIEW

5 stars!

Good young adult fantasy and second-chance romance, filled with heart and humor. 

The Duchess of Kokura by Nikhil Prabala is a new young adult romantasy filled with heart and humor. From the very first scene, I was hooked by the main character, her witty sarcasm, sense of what’s right, and gutsy attitude. I was a quick conscript to Team Phera. 

Phera Ylir Mdana, the titular duchess, is a kick-ass heroine with a sense of humor and a bit of a temper. She is in the neighboring country of Ryene to participate in the “Rounds,” a marriage competition with Prince Dominic as the prize. Her real goal, though, is to last long enough and score high enough in the game without winning. She hopes that the results will increase her marriageable status (and value) in the eyes of the parents of her true love, Rocelle Virae – another contestant. She and Rocelle had been on the verge of an engagement when a marriage proposal gone wrong left Rocelle’s parents unimpressed and both girls disappointed in the other. 

The plot follows the progress of the marriage game, but there is also political intrigue, a fight over Ryene’s class system of the elite “Signed” (magic users) and the lower class “Unsigned” (those without magic, a love triangle, and, of course, the second-chance romance. The author’s world-building is impressive and immersive, with a fully visualized fantasy world and a well-developed system of magic from the start. The storytelling is engaging, and I laughed out loud at the many gems in the sparkling dialogue. Thank goodness there is mention that this book is the first in a planned series because there is a cliffhanger ending. Hurry, Book Two! 

With its engaging main character, robust plot, and rich world-building, I recommend THE DUCHESS OF KOKORA to readers of young adult romantic fantasies.



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