The Poison Palace by Shreya Ila Anasuya

Pre-order: Publishes 12 January 2027
 
An astonishing feminist debut fusing the Indian myth of the Poison Girls with the history and legend of Alexander the Great. 
 
Eka is a vishkanya, fed a diet of poison from a young age until she can kill with it, but it cannot kill her. She is commanded to be a weapon for her king, and when Alexander the Great threatens her homeland Eka is sent to stand in the way of his relentless conquest. Hidden within his court, Eka comes face to face with the threat Alexander's invasions pose to every person in his way, not least the woman she is falling deeper and deeper in love with.

Raised to do the bidding of one king, and faced with the terrible ambition of another, Eka must make a choice that will change the world . . .

The Poison Palace is a stunning blend of historical and speculative fiction that tells the story of Alexander's invasion of India as it's never been told before.
 
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'An exquisite and beguiling debut . . . An unforgettable retelling' - Victoria MacKenzie
 
'A wonderful, rich and evocative story that relegates Alexander to the margins and centres two fascinating women' - Jo Sharp
 
'Opens up an old story with the most surprising glints and insights' - Ruth Padel 
 
'Both intimate and mythic . . . It resounds in time and sings to the present with a singular voice' - Indra Das