All of us at The Winged Pen are excited to be a part of the cover reveal for a new middle grade fantasy: Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi.

The novel tells the story of Rea Chettri, a 12-year-old girl living a simple, if boring, life on the tea plantations of Darjeeling, India. Without warning, Rea’s life gets turned on its head when her twin brother goes missing. Determined to save him, Rea embarks on a secret, thrilling adventure into the enchanted world of Astranthia. There, Rea will make new friends, grapple with dark truths, learn the meaning of family and friendship, and discover her true self. Rea and the Blood of the Nectar is the first book in the series The Chronicles of Astranthia.

Payal Doshi has a Masters in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The New School, New York. Having lived in the UK and US, she noticed a lack of Indian protagonists in global children’s fiction and one day wrote the opening paragraph to what would become her first children’s novel. She was born and raised in Mumbai, India, and currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband and two-year-old daughter. When she isn’t writing or spending time with her family, you can find her nose deep in a book with a cup of coffee or daydreaming of fantasy realms to send her characters off into. She loves the smell of old, yellowed books.

Published by Mango and Marigold Press, Rea and the Blood of the Nectar is the independent publishing house’s eighteenth book and first middle grade novel ever.

And now, without further ado…

With each new book launch, Mango and Marigold Press is committed to helping not only bridge the diversity gap but also the accessibility gap in children’s literature. To do that, the company has established its #1001DiverseBooks program to raise funds to donate 1001 books to literacy and advocacy nonprofits that are working across the country to help those in need.

When you pre-order your copy of Rea and the Blood of the Nectar, you can also sponsor a copy for our nonprofit partner for only $10! Pre-order here!

For all pre-orders placed between September 15th through September 22nd, 2020 you will have an exclusive chapter to read as a sneak peek into Rea’s adventure as well as receive limited edition character buttons, a bookmark, sticker, and a signed bookplate from the author! (Expected Ship Date: May 2021)

We’re so excited to be a part of this cover reveal and we’re all looking forward to reading Rea’s story when it’s released. And because we’re always excited for debut authors, here’s a bonus photo of Payal holding her gorgeous cover!

Add Read and the Blood of the Nector to your Goodreads “to be read” list.