Thank the gods there will be a fourth book!
If you’ve been following the bouncing Llama when it comes to reviewing this series, you’ll already know I’m madly in love with Jacquelyn Benson’s work. I devoured Arrow of Fortune with pure delight, a perfect addition to what I thought was going to be a trilogy.
I’m glad I was wrong!
In this series, Ms. Benson has created unforgettable characters —from Ellie and Adam to Constance and Neil to the ever-mysterious and wonderful Padma. I confess the latter is my favorite. (I’m curious to hear who your favorite will be!)
Her world-building is unforgettable, and I loved revisiting all the sights and sounds as the ever-talented Alex Picard brought them to life in the audiobook!
I won’t go into details about the story in this review. After all, you are quite capable of reading the blurb and have already probably read a few reviews before mine. In fact, all I shall say is: grab this book (or the audiobook, if you prefer) if you’ve read the first two, or pick up all of them. You are in for a treat!
Release Date Tuesday, 11/18/2025
It can be found here on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. (among other wonderful booksellers!)
NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
From Goodreads:
A well-behaved lady historian ought to avoid haunted Indian forests… not plunge into them seeking an invincible weapon of the gods.
Ellie Mallory didn’t exactly volunteer to prevent the most dangerous artifact of the Ramayana from falling into the wrong hands—but if one has been coerced into an adventure, the least one can do is bring along a few friends.
Constance Tyrrell has new daggers stuffed in her garters, a thirst to discover everything India has to offer… and absolutely no interest in Dr. Neil Fairfax, Ellie’s scholarly stepbrother. Meanwhile, Neil finds himself wrangling a magical sword along with his increasingly tangled feelings about a certain doe-eyed danger gnome.
Then there’s Adam Bates—handy with a machete, perpetually shirtless, and about to face some unsettling ghosts of his past.
Together, they must follow the footsteps of an ancient hero from the festivals of Puri to the shadowy depths of a legendary forest, racing a brutal colonial administrator with allies of his own—including the complicated and mysterious Mr. Jacobs.
It will take all Ellie’s resources—from a working knowledge of practical chemistry to a highly excitable dog—to beat a new sort of demon to the place where a holy power has lain hidden for two thousand years… alongside the secret history of the woman at the heart of India’s greatest story.
One Crafty Llama 
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