Review: Fire and Shadow by T.G. Ayer
Normal people sneak out to a party and have fun. Maya Rao ends the evening by incinerating the guy who attacks her.
Nik Lucas, sexy, new in town and totally forbidden, happens to walk in on her. Normal guys would run for the hills. Nik knows a whole lot more than he’s telling.
Maya doesn’t believe the gods are real, doesn’t waste her time with mere mythology. But when gods, demons and hellhounds become the new normal and wielding fire becomes her new skill, she must decide what it is she really believes.
Can Maya accept that normal is something she will never be because it isn’t normal to be…
The Hand of Kali.
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Linda’s Review:
3.5 STARS
Short version of this review…I liked the story, but had a hard time liking Maya. As the main character, I expected more from her and she whined or was angry at everyone for 75% of the book.
Maya is a teenager of Indian descent. And yet, her life was not a typical Indian upbringing. Although her parents were strict, they were not overbearing. For one, her father was teaching her martial arts instead of how to be the obedient daughter and second, they did not enforce their religious beliefs on her. One day she may be expected to marry the appropriate boy, even one chosen for her, but in the meantime, she had more freedoms than her friend Ria.
Ria is the “typical” Indian daughter. Her father dictates her life and her mother is meek in his presence. He believes she is chattel and only good for marrying off advantageously. Joss on the other hand is not of Indian descent and one of my favorite characters. Her parents are distant, and just not there. Yet she is fun, outspoken, and loyal. Then there is Nik. Nik isn’t who he portrays himself to be, but then again, he couldn’t just tell Maya who he was.
After going to a party with Joss, Maya is drugged and almost abused by a boy who is possessed. After killing him, and helped by Nik to get Joss and herself home, she learns that her parents were not exactly honest with her about who and what she is. Once she learns this, she becomes angry and resentful of everyone. I can understand that at first, but after a while, I wanted her to own up to her fate and quit whining about “why me”. It takes almost the entire book before she gets close and even toward the end, she still has issues with believing her life is what it is. She has been gifted by a goddess she never believed in, she has a purpose she needs to fulfill…one she requested in a previous life. Perhaps she is too much of a product of her surroundings, times, etc. but who would not also see the potential good she could do?
She goes through some trials, nearly loses her best friends, and finally realizes that she is not normal and needs to deal with it with the help of Nik and others. She is still learning, but she is powerful and just needs to embrace that. By the end, I was definitely looking forward to reading the next book, it just took me 80% of the way before I got to see the potential in Maya.
About the Author
I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves – it works wonderfully…
My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain crosseyed.
I love talking to my readers so email me if you have any questions or even if you just want to chat…
Email: tgayer@xtra.co.nz or tgayerauthor@gmail.com
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