Akshaya Raman author page

Akshaya Raman biography

Akshaya Raman is a Tamil American author and writer of young adult fantasy fiction. Born in Chennai and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she developed a passion for storytelling at a young age, penning her first story at ten. Although she graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a degree in biology, Raman transitioned from a potential career in science to pursue writing full-time. She resides in California with her cat and enjoys baking, traveling, and watching reality television in her spare time.

Raman’s debut novel, The Ivory Key, was published on January 4, 2022, by HarperCollins in the U.S. and Hot Key Books in the U.K. The book is set in the Indian-inspired world of Ashoka, where magic is a finite resource. The narrative follows four estranged royal siblings—Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya—as they embark on a perilous quest to find the mythical Ivory Key, which is believed to unlock a new source of magic. Each sibling has personal motives, ranging from political ambitions to proving loyalty, leading to complex family dynamics and a richly layered plot.

The novel received critical acclaim for its intricate world-building, character development, and incorporation of Indian culture and mythology. It was noted for its engaging blend of political intrigue, family drama, and magical adventure. The Ivory Key was recognized as one of the most anticipated books of January 2022 by several literary outlets, including Polygon, PopSugar, Book Riot, BuzzFeed, and Tor.com.

Raman continued the story with the sequel, The Crimson Fortress, published on November 14, 2023. The concluding book in the duology delves deeper into the siblings’ journey, exploring themes of redemption, betrayal, and the consequences of their choices as they strive to save their country from impending disaster.

In addition to her novels, Raman has contributed to the anthology Eternally Yours (2022), a collection of paranormal romance stories. She is also a co-founder and contributor to Writer’s Block Party, a group blog focused on writing and publishing, and has been involved in the planning of various book festivals.