I’ve been looking forward to Loka by S.B. Divya ever since I finished Meru last year, and much like its predecessor, it did not disappoint. For those who are hesitant about sci-fi because of the language or science-y aspect, never fear: Loka is very readable and the world-building is sprinkled throughout so you don’t feel overwhelmed. This novel has nice pacing and stakes and almost feels a bit like The Amazing Race lol. I appreciate how Akshaya’s journey with her chronic illness and disability is portrayed; there is no toxic “smile and keep going” narrative that is usually stuffed down the throats of those of us with a chronic illness, and I appreciated how she has to learn how to live day-by-day and how to manage the pain. Even though I do not have sickle-cell disease, I could relate to Akshaya’s journey with coming to grips with being chronically ill and navigating life being different than how you once thought it would be in relation to your body. Also, those around her are empathetic and make room for her illness, especially her bestie Somya. Speaking of Somya, the friendship between Akshaya and Sonya is beautiful; it’s full of respect, love, trust, and communication, and I was rooting for this pair to succeed in their endeavor the entire time.