Divining the Leaves

Disillusioned Atlanta teens enter a realm from Hindu and Buddhist folklore in this underdeveloped contemporary fantasy from Thakrar (The Dream Runners). Seventeen-year-old Ridhi Kapadia despairs upon learning that former friend Nilesh Batra will be staying with her family while his parents hash out their separation. Ridhi and Nilesh may have been close as kids, but now rich, popular Nilesh mocks “freaks” like Ridhi, who makes her own botanical perfumes, prefers trees to people, and believes in magic. Seeking refuge, Ridhi performs a complex ritual that transports her to a kingdom of yakshas, the mythical keepers of nature. She’s elated—until she encounters Nilesh, who has entered the enchanted land with a pretty yakshini he met at the grocery store. Happy to escape their respective realities, both teens strike deals that will allow them to remain. Neither bargain comes without consequences, however, prompting the duo to join forces and fight for the fates they desire. Scattershot plotting, two-dimensional characters, and haphazardly incorporated mythology hamper a promising premise. Nevertheless, readers fond of immersive storytelling will appreciate the sensate prose and worldbuilding. The cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 13–up. Agent: Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Mar.)