The Prince Without Sorrow

DEBUT Ashoka is the third child in line for the Obsidian Throne, and his nonviolence, especially against the loathed mayakari witches, makes him the least favorite. Shakti is a mayakari running from the burning of her village by the witch-hating emperor (Ashoka’s father). When Shakti breaks the sacred mayakari vow of peace by cursing the emperor, she kills him, sending both her and Ashoka deep into enemy territory as a consequence. Shakti flees to the Obsidian palace, hoping for safety in plain sight, while Ashoka is banished to rule a rebellious province ravaged by spirits that can only be calmed by the persecuted mayakari. Can either of them survive their predicament, let alone change the cruel rulership of the Obsidian Throne? Wijesekara’s debut examines political power and the sincerity of those who seek it. Inverting the personality types of the two protagonists, Ashoka and Shakti, against expectations, creates natural internal turmoil. Ashoka and Shakti both possess a ruthlessness that allows them to work against their personal convictions, which brings with it heavy consequences. Seeing one character make political moves that the other undoes naturally ratchets up the tension for the sequel.