Sangu Mandanna

Sangu Mandanna
Born1987/1988 (age 37–38)
Bengaluru, India
EducationLancaster University
Years active2012–present
Notable work
  • The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches
  • A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping
Websitesangumandanna.com

Sangu Mandanna (born 1987 or 1988) is a British–Indian author of adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. She is best known for her fantasy romance novels The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (2022) and A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping (2025).[1]

Early life and education

Mandanna was born in 1987 or 1988[2] and raised in Bengaluru, India.[3] At 18 she moved to England to attend Lancaster University, where she studied English literature and creative writing before graduating in 2010.[4]

Career

In 2012, Mandanna's debut novel The Lost Girl, a young adult dystopia,[5] was published through Balzer & Bray.[6] Mandanna's subsequent novels for young adults include The Celestial Trilogy, a sci-fi retelling of the Mahabharata, which began with the publication of A Spark Of White Fire through Sky Pony press in 2018.[7] The subsequent novels, A House of Rage and Sorrow and A War of Swallowed Stars, were published in 2019 and 2021.[2] In 2019, Mandanna edited Color Outside the Lines, a young-adult anthology about teenagers in interracial relationships.[8] In 2025, Mandanna published the young adult novel Vanya and the Wild Hunt, which describes a neurodiverse pre-teen who finds comfort with creatures from Southeast Asian mythology.[9] Publishers Weekly commended the book's "nuanced depictions of neurodivergent characters and how they move within a magical society", but described the plot as "somewhat rushed and predictable".[10]

In 2021, Mandanna published her first novel in the Kiki Kallira middle grade fantasy series, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom. She followed it with Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse the subsequent year. Like some of Mandanna's other work, the series incorporates Southeast Asian mythology and discusses neurodiversity; the main character, Kiki, is coping with obsessive–compulsive disorder and anxiety, and explores a world inspired by Indian mythology.[11][12] In 2025, Mandanna published her first graphic novel, illustrated by Pablo Ballesteros. Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic is a middle grade graphic novel, and was positively reviewed by School Library Journal.[13]

Mandanna's first novel for adults,[2] The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, was published by Berkley Books in 2022. Kirkus Reviews described the book as a "magical tale about finding yourself" in a 2022 starred review.[14] It was nominated for the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for Reader's Favourite Fantasy,[15] and described as a "hit" by the New York Times Book Review.[16] The New York Times included the book on its "Best Romance Novels of 2022" list.[17]

In 2025, Mandanna released her second novel for adults, A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping.[18] The book reached number six on the New York Times best-seller list for paperback trade fiction,[19] and number five on Publishers Weekly's trade paperback bestsellers list.[20] The book was nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Award for Reader's Favourite Romantasy[21] and was included by the New York Times on their list of 100 notable books of 2025.[22] Both The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and A Witch's Guide To Magical Innkeeping have been described as cosy fantasy novels.[6]

Personal life

Mandanna lives with her husband and three children in Norwich, England.[2][23] She has obsessive–compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety.[4][12]

Bibliography

Adult

  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (Berkley Books, 2022)[2]
  • A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping (Berkley Books, 2025)[18]

Young adult

  • The Lost Girl (Balzer + Bray, 2012)[2]
  • Color Outside the Lines (editor; Soho Teen, 2019)[2]
  • Vanya and the Wild Hunt (Roaring Brook Press, 2025)[24]

The Celestial Trilogy

  • A Spark of White Fire (Sky Pony, 2018)[2]
  • A House of Rage and Sorrow (Sky Pony, 2019)[2]
  • A War of Swallowed Stars (Sky Pony, 2021)[2]

Middle grade

  • Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom (Viking Children's, 2021)[2]
  • Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse (Viking Children's, 2022)[2]
  • Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic (graphic novel illustrated by Pablo Ballesteros; Viking Children's, 2024)[24]

References

  1. ^ Waite, Olivia (5 December 2022). "The Best Romance Novels of 2022". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mandanna, Sangu (24 August 2022). "Sangu Mandanna: On Writing Her First Novel for Adults". Writer's Digest (Interview). Interviewed by Robert Lee Brewer. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Sangu Mandanna". Soho Press. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b Richards, Nick (14 July 2021). "Norwich author's children's novel blends art and adventure with anxiety". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  5. ^ "The Lost Girl". Kirkus. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna". Publishers Weekly. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  7. ^ Lodge, Sally; Maughan, Shannon (20 July 2018). "Fall 2018 Children's Announcements: Publishers R-Z". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  8. ^ Coven, Tiana (1 October 2019). "Color outside the Lines". The Booklist. 116 (3). ProQuest 2299100816.
  9. ^ Jensen, Kelly (July 2025). "Books of A Feather: A Look At The Emerging Themes In This Year's Starred Titles For Young Readers". School Library Journal. 71 (7). ProQuest 3224235979.
  10. ^ "Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna". Publishers Weekly. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  11. ^ Deahl, Rachel (10 January 2020). "Book Deals: Week of January 13, 2020". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  12. ^ a b Mandanna, Sangu (5 October 2022). "Author Interview: Sangu Mandanna Reflects on her Publishing Journey". Cynsations (Interview). Interviewed by Suma Subramaniam. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  13. ^ Siegert, Mariela (20 September 2024). "Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic". School Library Journal. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  14. ^ THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES | Kirkus Reviews.
  15. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Fantasy!". Goodreads. 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  16. ^ Waite, Olivia (24 August 2025). "Delicious Payoffs". The New York Times Book Review. ProQuest 3242470408.
  17. ^ Waite, Olivia (5 December 2022). "The Best Romance Novels of 2022". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  18. ^ a b Gallagher, Eidhne (28 June 2025). "The Author Of One Of The Greatest Cozy Fantasy Books Of The Past 10 Years Has A New One Coming This Summer". ScreenRant. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Books: Bestsellers: Paperback Trade Fiction". The New York Times. 3 August 2025. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  20. ^ Juris, Carolyn (25 July 2025). "This Week's Bestsellers: July 28, 2025". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Readers' Favorite Romantasy!". Goodreads. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  22. ^ "100 Notable books of 2025". The New York Times. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "'Reading has shaped who I am,' says Norwich author". BBC News. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  24. ^ a b Mandanna, Sangu (11 June 2024). "Q & A with Sangu Mandanna". Publishers Weekly (Interview). Interviewed by Amanda Ramirez. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
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