Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel and Flowers | 2019 | Sangu Mandanna | N/A |
| 2 | A Spark of White Fire | 2018 | Sangu Mandanna | Buy |
| 3 | A House of Rage and Sorrow | 2019 | Sangu Mandanna | Buy |
| 4 | A War of Swallowed Stars | 2021 | Sangu Mandanna | Buy |
The Celestial Trilogy by Sangu Mandanna draws on the Mahabharata to tell a YA fantasy story set among warring royal families in space. A Spark of White Fire (2018) introduces Esmae, who has lived in hiding since birth and enters a contest to win a sentient, celestial warship. A House of Rage and Sorrow (2019) and A War of Swallowed Stars (2021) continue her story as alliances shift and the conflict escalates.
The series blends Indian mythology with science fiction concepts, creating a setting where gods interfere in mortal affairs and spaceships are living beings. Steel and Flowers, also published in 2019, adds to the trilogy. Mandanna’s willingness to put mythology and space opera in the same story gives the series a flavor that stands apart from most YA fantasy.