Ashok Vijayakumar: created first pg first draft...

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created first pg first draft...

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{{Short description|British author (born c. 1987)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sangu Mandanna
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|33|2021|7|14|slash=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Bengaluru]], India
| education = [[Lancaster University]]
| years_active = 2012–present
| notable_works = {{ubl|''[[The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches]]''|''A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping''}}
| website = {{url|sangumandanna.com}}
}}

'''Sangu Mandanna''' (born {{Birth based on age as of date|33|2021|7|14|noage=yes}}) is a British–Indian author of adult, [[Young adult literature|young adult]], and [[Middle grade literature|middle grade]] fiction. She is best known for her [[Romantic fantasy|fantasy romance]] novels ''[[The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches]]'' (2022) and ''A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waite |first=Olivia |date=5 December 2022 |title=The Best Romance Novels of 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/books/review/best-romance-novels.html |access-date=8 September 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Mandanna was born in {{Birth based on age as of date|33|2021|7|14|noage=yes}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite interview |last=Mandanna |first=Sangu |interviewer=Robert Lee Brewer |title=Sangu Mandanna: On Writing Her First Novel for Adults |url=https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/sangu-mandanna-on-writing-her-first-novel-for-adults |access-date=8 September 2025 |work=[[Writer's Digest]] |date=24 August 2022}}</ref> and raised in [[Bengaluru]], India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sangu Mandanna |url=https://sohopress.com/authors/sangu-mandanna/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Soho Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> At 18 she moved to England to attend [[Lancaster University]], where she studied English literature and creative writing before graduating in 2010.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Nick |date=14 July 2021 |title=Norwich author's children's novel blends art and adventure with anxiety |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20648212.norwich-authors-childrens-novel-blends-art-adventure-anxiety/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Eastern Daily Press]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
In 2012, Mandanna's debut novel ''The Lost Girl'', a young adult [[Dystopian literature|dystopia]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 June 2012 |title=The Lost Girl |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sangu-mandanna/lost-girl-mandanna/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Kirkus]]}}</ref> was published through [[Balzer & Bray]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=20 August 2012 |title=The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780062082312 |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref> Mandanna's subsequent novels for young adults include The Celestial Trilogy, a [[Science fiction|sci-fi]] retelling of the [[Mahabharata]], which began with the publication of ''A Spark Of White Fire'' through [[Sky Pony]] press in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lodge |first1=Sally |last2=Maughan |first2=Shannon |date=20 July 2018 |title=Fall 2018 Children's Announcements: Publishers R-Z |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/childrens-announcements/article/77559-fall-2018-children-s-announcements-publishers-r-z.html |access-date=15 July 2025 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |language=en}}</ref> The subsequent novels, ''A House of Rage and Sorrow'' and ''A War of Swallowed Stars'', were published in 2019 and 2021.<ref name=":0" /> In 2019, Mandanna edited ''Color Outside the Lines'', a young-adult [[anthology]] about teenagers in interracial relationships.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Coven |first=Tiana |date=1 October 2019 |title=Color outside the Lines |journal=[[The Booklist]] |volume=116 |issue=3 |id={{ProQuest|2299100816}}}}</ref> In 2025, Mandanna published the young adult novel ''Vanya and the Wild Hunt'', which describes a [[Neurodiversity|neurodiverse]] pre-teen who finds comfort with creatures from Southeast Asian mythology.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jensen |first=Kelly |author-link=Kelly Jensen |date=July 2025 |title=Books of A Feather: A Look At The Emerging Themes In This Year's Starred Titles For Young Readers |journal=[[School Library Journal]] |volume=71 |issue=7 |id={{ProQuest|3224235979}}}}</ref> ''[[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".<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 2024 |title=Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781250899835 |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deahl |first=Rachel |date=10 January 2020 |title=Book Deals: Week of January 13, 2020 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/82149-book-deals-week-of-january-13-2020.html |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite interview |last=Mandanna |first=Sangu |interviewer=Suma Subramaniam |title=Author Interview: Sangu Mandanna Reflects on her Publishing Journey |url=https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/2022/10/author-interview-sangu-mandanna-reflects-on-her-publishing-journey/ |access-date=September 8, 2025 |work=[[Cynthia Leitich Smith|Cynsations]] |date=October 5, 2022}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siegert |first=Mariela |date=20 September 2024 |title=Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic |url=https://www.slj.com/review/jupiter-nettle-and-the-seven-schools-of-magic |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[School Library Journal]]}}</ref>

Mandanna's first novel for adults,<ref name=":0" /> ''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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sangu-mandanna/very-secret-society-irregular-witches/ |title=THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES {{!}} Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}</ref> It was nominated for the 2022 [[Goodreads Choice Awards|Goodreads Choice Award]] for Reader's Favourite Fantasy,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Fantasy! |url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-fantasy-books-2022 |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Goodreads]]}}</ref> and described as a "hit" by the ''[[The New York Times Book Review|New York Times Book Review]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Waite |first=Olivia |date=August 24, 2025 |title=Delicious Payoffs |journal=[[The New York Times Book Review]] |id={{ProQuest|3242470408}}}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' included the book on its "Best Romance Novels of 2022" list.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waite |first=Olivia |date=2022-12-05 |title=The Best Romance Novels of 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/books/review/best-romance-novels.html?gws_id=nyt://interactive/282e0e20-6298-4c9f-818f-433645cc0fb9&gws_card=7 |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 8, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025, Mandanna released her second novel for adults, ''A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Eidhne |date=28 June 2025 |title=The Author Of One Of The Greatest Cozy Fantasy Books Of The Past 10 Years Has A New One Coming This Summer |url=https://screenrant.com/very-secret-society-irregular-witches-author-new-cozy-fantasy-book-summer-2025/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref> The book reached number six on [[the New York Times best-seller list]] for paperback trade fiction,<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 August 2025 |title=Books: Bestsellers: Paperback Trade Fiction |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2025/08/03/trade-fiction-paperback/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and number five on ''Publishers Weekly's'' trade paperback bestsellers list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juris |first=Carolyn |date=25 July 2025 |title=This Week's Bestsellers: July 28, 2025 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/98293-this-week-s-bestsellers-july-28-2025.html |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |language=en}}</ref> The book was nominated for the 2025 [[Goodreads Choice Awards|Goodreads Choice Award]] for Reader's Favourite [[Romantasy]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Readers' Favorite Romantasy! |url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/readers-favorite-romantasy-books-2025 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Goodreads}}</ref> and was included by the [[The New York Times|''New York Times'']] on their list of 100 notable books of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 24, 2025 |title=100 Notable books of 2025 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/books/notable-books.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 18, 2025 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Both ''The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches'' and ''A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping'' have been described as [[cozy fantasy|cosy fantasy]] novels.<ref name=":3" />

== Personal life ==
Mandanna lives with her husband and three children in [[Norwich]], England.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-25 |title='Reading has shaped who I am,' says Norwich author |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy8xz69wp1o |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> She has [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]], [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], and [[Anxiety disorder|anxiety]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

== Bibliography ==

=== Adult ===

* ''The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches'' (Berkley Books, 2022)<ref name=":0" />
* ''A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping'' (Berkley Books, 2025)<ref name=":1" />

=== Young adult ===

* ''The Lost Girl'' (Balzer + Bray, 2012)<ref name=":0" />
* ''Color Outside the Lines'' (editor; Soho Teen, 2019)<ref name=":0" />
* ''Vanya and the Wild Hunt'' (Roaring Brook Press, 2025)<ref name=":2">{{Cite interview |last=Mandanna |first=Sangu |interviewer=Amanda Ramirez |title=Q & A with Sangu Mandanna |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/95263-q-a-with-sangu-mandanna.html |access-date=8 September 2024 |work=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=11 June 2024}}</ref>

==== The Celestial Trilogy ====

* ''A Spark of White Fire'' (Sky Pony, 2018)<ref name=":0" />
* ''A House of Rage and Sorrow'' (Sky Pony, 2019)<ref name=":0" />
* ''A War of Swallowed Stars'' (Sky Pony, 2021)<ref name=":0" />

=== Middle grade ===
* ''Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom'' (Viking Children's, 2021)<ref name=":0" />
* ''Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse'' (Viking Children's, 2022)<ref name=":0" />
* ''Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic'' (graphic novel illustrated by Pablo Ballesteros; Viking Children's, 2024)<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mandanna, Sangu}}
[[Category:1980s births]]
[[Category:21st-century English novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century English women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lancaster University]]
[[Category:British women writers of young adult literature]]
[[Category:British writers of young adult literature]]
[[Category:English children's writers]]
[[Category:English fantasy writers]]
[[Category:English romantic fiction writers]]
[[Category:English women children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy writers]]
[[Category:Indian romantic fiction writers]]
[[Category:Indian women children's writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder]]
[[Category:Writers from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Writers from Norwich]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Writers of mythic fiction]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women novelists]]
[[Category:English women romantic fiction writers]]

Sangu Mandanna - Revision history

Ashok Vijayakumar: created first pg first draft...