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511
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| 3.82
| 4,112
| Nov 08, 2016
| Nov 08, 2016
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liked it
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It’s definitely more of a 3.5. This book has been on my radar for almost 2 years now I think and I always thought I’ll read it someday, but never It’s definitely more of a 3.5. This book has been on my radar for almost 2 years now I think and I always thought I’ll read it someday, but never actually picked it up. Finally I couldn’t avoid anymore when our Stars and Sorcery Book club chose this as our first BOTM of 2020 and I’m happy I finally got the chance to dive into this world. The best part of this book is definitely the world building. It’s not always fully explained but I just loved the idea of clock towers and spirits and time being so interconnected to the cities, and the whole mythology behind it. It felt pretty unique and it’s nice to be surprised. I also loved the alternative historical London of the late 19th century, old in some ways, but modern and more industrialized in many others. What faltered for me was the overall pacing of the book. While I have really come to appreciate slow paced books which give the characters the time to breathe, it just made me feel a bit disconnected here, atleast for the first third of the book. Once the plot picked up a little and more events started to occur, then the book felt much more fascinating and I didn’t wanna put it down. The ending felt a tad bit too convenient but I hope it’s explored more in the rest of the trilogy. I thought the author depicted Danny’s character very well - his melancholy about his dad, his panic attacks due to his own accident and just the effort it takes to go through life day to day feeling so lonely - I could totally feel his despair and kudos to Tara Sim for that. Colton’s character suffers from a different kind of loneliness, being almost immortal and stuck in a place and while I could empathize with him too, we didn’t get enough of his POV for me to feel really connected to him. Their relationship is almost instalove but considering the kind of lives they were living, I thought their relationship development felt realistic. The separations really heightened their emotions and I could really feel their desperate need to be together whenever they could. There were also some amazingly sweet moments between them, especially in the beginning of their friendship and it was just nice to see them smile and talk and not feel so alone. Cassie is a great side character and best friend to have and I loved how much she cared for Danny, but showed her worries only by always asking about fixing his auto. She is also immensely supportive of him and I was glad he had her in his life. On the other hand, Danny’s mom felt very disconnected from life in general which pissed me off in the beginning but I slowly came to realize how debilitating her grief must be. Brandon and Daphne were interesting additions to the cast as well and I hope we’ll get to see more of them in the future. At the end, I can say this was an interesting beginning to a different kind of fantasy which didn’t completely blow my mind, but kept me engaged enough to continue. It has great world building, a lovely cast of characters, a cute but forbidden romance and a fascinating mystery that’ll keep you guessing. I might not be rushing to pick up the next book yet, but I’m very interested to continue the series - particularly because the sequel takes place in a British occupied India and I really want to know how the author weaves India’s colonization into this story. ...more |
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none
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1
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Jan 02, 2020
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Jan 11, 2020
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Jan 01, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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508
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| 1534439862
| 9781534439863
| 3.82
| 2,948
| Nov 05, 2019
| Nov 05, 2019
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really liked it
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It’s definitely a 3.5 but I’m rounding up. I got the advance listening copy of this book a couple months ago and while I was very fascinated by its It’s definitely a 3.5 but I’m rounding up. I got the advance listening copy of this book a couple months ago and while I was very fascinated by its premise, I didn’t have any plan as to when I wanted to read it. But when I was thinking about with which book I should start my 2020, I just decided to pick this up on an impulse. And woah what a choice for the first day of a new decade. There’s just no easy way to describe the writing in this novella. It’s a bit too flowery for my taste, so it took me sometime to get acclimated to it, but it’s also hauntingly beautiful and emotional and made me feel a lot. Discovering the history of the wajinru, their ancestry tracing back to the pregnant African slaves thrown overboard slave ships, and how they grew to communicate and build their own world in the depths of the sea is a very interesting read. We could have definitely benefited from a little more world building but I think it’s slightly vague on purpose, going along with the story’s underlying themes of the importance of history and memories - how valuable it is to carry forward memories even when generational trauma can be painful, alleviating the pain by sharing the burden with the community, and understanding our history so that we can move on and build a better future. The story really rips out your heart at times and you can feel the pain and anguish and loneliness that the main character Yetu is feeling; on the other hand, you can also feel all the tenderness and flutters of a newly formed connection when Yetu encounters someone. It’s such a beautiful exploration of an unlikely relationship and I was amazed at how well it was captured in so few pages. The other relationships of her life are also well developed and we see her changing dynamic with every one of them, including her understanding of her history and her responsibility towards her people. In conclusion, I truly can’t tell whom I want to recommend this book to. If you enjoy fantasies which are unique and beautiful and probably weird, and leave you with lots of thoughts and emotions, maybe this one is for you. I alternated between the book and the audio and both formats worked well for me. I don’t know if I’ll ever reread it but I have a feeling I might discover something more in its words if I do. ...more |
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1
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Jan 2020
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Jan 2020
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Jan 01, 2020
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Hardcover
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514
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| B082Z76MNR
| 4.52
| 73
| Jan 17, 2020
| Jan 17, 2020
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it was amazing
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I don’t follow the author on social media and this is also not a very popular series, so as usual I didn’t even know until a month ago that the final
I don’t follow the author on social media and this is also not a very popular series, so as usual I didn’t even know until a month ago that the final book in this beloved series of mine was coming out in the new year. I was so so excited and immediately preordered it because there was no way I was gonna wait to read it. And wow am I happy that I did on release day itself. One of the signature writing style of the author has been the then/now multiple timeline alternate chapters, with almost every chapter ending on a cliffhanger making my blood pressure high and just at the edge of my seat right from page 1. Thankfully, the author takes a bit of a step back from that - mind you, we still have multiple timelines and many cliffhangers but it’s a tad bit less anxiety inducing this time around and I actually enjoyed it. We also get both Ethan and Jack’s POVs in the same book and that was a riveting experience. As a finale, I would have expected this book to be more action packed and exciting, and while it had its fair share of thrills, this was a very introspective book in some ways and I thought that was a brilliant choice. But that never affects the pacing of the book, with something unexpected happening all the time and me left wondering who is gonna survive and who is the traitor. If I had to nitpick, my only complaint would be that quite a few things happened outside of the pages and we are told after the fact, and I thought I would have enjoyed reading about them while they happened. But the best part for me was finally seeing a good portion of the story take place in India and watching Jack navigate this side of his heritage. I also particularly loved the chases through the streets of Mumbai, the descriptions of Dharavi, the road trip to Goa and the nostalgia inducing overnight train ride to Kerala. Though the author decided not to include the actual words, even knowing that Jack was communicating in both Hindi and Malayalam delighted me a lot. As I mentioned before, we get both POVs here and it was awesome. Just reading about Jack and Ethan being vulnerable towards each other, fighting through their intense traumatic pasts (particularly horrifying in Ethan’s case) and just doing whatever they can to protect each other - it was beautiful to watch. They have changed so much over the course of three books, becoming more trusting, open and loving, and Ethan particularly trying his best to live a normal healthy life is such great character development and kudos to the author for making us care for them so much. And just like their first kiss, the first time the “three magic words” are said between them was a special moment and made me all kinds of emotional. We got to know many side characters more personally in this book and I thoroughly loved that. Getting to finally see Jack with his family, Ethan becoming friendlier with their neighbors and also Jack’s best friend and family, and even exploring his unique but frustrating dynamic with his remaining siblings and the Doctor was fascinating to read about. To conclude, this book was everything I wanted it to be and more. It’s full of action packed thrills, car chases and helicopter crashes, great character development and lots of love. If you’ve already read the previous books in the series, then what are you waiting for....??? And if you’ve never read this series but love spy thrillers with an epic romance which will make your heart race and terrify you with cliffhangers, then this series is perfect for you. I was actually hedging on giving this book a 4 or 4.5 star but then the author gave me that amazing epilogue with a killer last line and I just had to make it a 5. I’m just sad thinking this is the end, and hoping that maybe the author will gift us with a short story in the future. I’m gonna miss you Jack and Ethan. ...more |
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1
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Jan 17, 2020
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Jan 17, 2020
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Dec 19, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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501
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| B082316KGL
| 3.88
| 3,217
| Nov 26, 2019
| Nov 26, 2019
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it was amazing
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I only read the last short story in this collection - EPIC by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy - because it’s about my favorite fictional couple ever
I only read the last short story in this collection - EPIC by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy - because it’s about my favorite fictional couple ever #WESMIE ❤️❤️ It’s absolutely adorable and sweet and the love Wes and Jamie have for each other makes me so happy. I won’t say why but the hockey match was thoroughly delightful. And it was very refreshing to see Jaime be so confident and sure about what he wanted. And it’s obvious that Wes will do anything for him ...more |
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1
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Nov 28, 2019
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Nov 28, 2019
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Nov 28, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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498
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| B081XN2R8B
| 4.31
| 743
| Nov 23, 2019
| Nov 23, 2019
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really liked it
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Since the day Eden announced that there would be a final short story collection for the series, I have been very excited for it and spent the last two
Since the day Eden announced that there would be a final short story collection for the series, I have been very excited for it and spent the last two days checking my kindle to see if the ARC dropped. And once it did, I had to read immediately though it was late in the evening because there was no way I was gonna wait. Noah and Matt are amazing together and it was wonderful to see Noah become such a different person from how he started. But this story was more about Matt coming to accept that he would never have a relationship with his parents and he did a great job taking care of his siblings. They were not my favorite couple when I read Trick Play but I have really come to love them so much. Damon and Maddox’s story is sweet and hilarious and I would have expected nothing less when Maddy is present. Damon is really the rock supporting this friend group and it was nice to see him finally deciding to invest more time for themselves than his work. And I never expected Maddox to become so happy and content with commitment. Ollie and Lennon are one of my favorites in this series but their story here didn’t live up to my expectations. But they are happy and that’s all I want. However, I absolutely adore the surprise gift that Lennon gave Ollie. And then come Miller and Talon - my top favorite couple and they will forever remain so. The story starts off with a mature behaving Talon which was a total surprise but ends with their usual shenanigans and I couldn’t stop laughing. The ending of their story when the whole gang is present almost brought tears to my eyes. And finally, it’s Jet and Soren’s turn. It was very lovely to see Jet making thoughtful decisions about both his career and life and Soren is the perfect partner for him. And their story ends a bit in the future and we get to know a lot more about the lives of the “Gay brigade” and it made me immensely happy. I’m so so happy that this short story collection exists because I definitely wasn’t ready to be done with the amazing characters from this series. Found families is one of my favorite tropes ever and this series has one of the best friend gang/found family ever and I’m so glad I got to read about them. I maybe sad that it’s the end but I know I can always reread. Very satisfying conclusion to such a fun series. ...more |
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none
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1
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Nov 16, 2019
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Nov 16, 2019
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Nov 16, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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497
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| B07Z6P2944
| 4.27
| 342
| Nov 11, 2019
| Nov 11, 2019
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liked it
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Maybe more of a 3.5. This was a good finale with lots of drama and angst but it was also pretty predictable (not that I minded it much). I raced Maybe more of a 3.5. This was a good finale with lots of drama and angst but it was also pretty predictable (not that I minded it much). I raced through it in just a few hours and had fun. I have somehow never felt very connected to these characters like I did with the characters from the Irish and Whiskey or Trouble Brewing trilogies by this author. So, the best part in this book was seeing my favorites from those older series showing up for little cameos or just being mentioned. Totally made me wanna reread them. Also couldn’t stop laughing at the dedication page of this book. I love my lovable assassin Ethan too ...more |
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1
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Nov 11, 2019
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Nov 12, 2019
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Nov 11, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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496
| 
| 4.06
| 11,430
| Jul 16, 2019
| Jul 16, 2019
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really liked it
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This is how you lose the Time War is not what you would call my usual kind of book. It’s so far out of my comfort zone that it shouldn’t have even
This is how you lose the Time War is not what you would call my usual kind of book. It’s so far out of my comfort zone that it shouldn’t have even been on my radar. But I read Max Gladstone’s debut Three Parts Dead recently and completely fell in love with how unique a world it was. So, when I saw this latest novella collaboration by him and kept reading rave reviews about it, I just wanted to give it a try. I’m also trying to expand my reading into sci-fi, so I thought a shorter book would be the way to go. And wow did I make a great choice. On first glance, I should hate this book. This is pure 100% purple prose. It’s actually poetry masquerading as prose. I can’t even say I understood all the sentences that were on the page. But even when I didn’t exactly get the literal meaning, I could totally feel the emotion behind it all. This is probably what beautiful writing looks like - I was sitting in a bookstore reading this book and as it went on, I struggled so hard to choke back my tears. It’s sublime and poignant and lyrical and utterly romantic. This is also not the kind of book you can race through - it requires patience and effort and really needs to be savored very slowly. As you can glean from the title, the main part of the world building is time travel. The two main characters travel through strands of time, make changes that alter the courses of past and future, and leave each other letters through these strands. The epistolary format works perfectly to show us development of the relationship between the two MCs and as a huge fan of love letters in novels, I was totally charmed by them. The only world building we can be sure of is that there are two factions fighting a time war and our MCs are on opposite sides of the conflict - everything else is left vague and while that would usually put me off in any other book, I didn’t mind it here at all. There was just enough for me to feel it, a sprinkling of foreshadowing to keep me going and an ending that comes together so perfectly that it made my heart soar. To wrap it up, I just want to say that this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. This is genre bending at its finest - it’s a literary fiction novel with a time travel backdrop featuring a romance for the ages. If you like books that are unique and won’t fit into any boxes, you should definitely give this one a try. This may be a little novella but it demands attention, and I implore you to give it its due and savor it. Don’t try to understand it, just feel it. It just might surprise and capture your heart. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Nov 11, 2019
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Nov 11, 2019
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Nov 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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494
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| 1641081007
| 9781641081009
| 3.69
| 714
| Apr 23, 2019
| Apr 23, 2019
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liked it
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More of a 3.5. Has a little instalove but I loved the two main characters and their chemistry. The friendships and family dynamics are also very More of a 3.5. Has a little instalove but I loved the two main characters and their chemistry. The friendships and family dynamics are also very realistically portrayed. And the hospital work environment and the drama gave me total Grey’s Anatomy vibes ...more |
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none
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1
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Oct 25, 2019
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Oct 25, 2019
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Oct 25, 2019
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Mass Market Paperback
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488
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| B07MDRX81L
| 3.69
| 1,283
| Sep 30, 2019
| Oct 01, 2019
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liked it
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I remember owning a couple of books from this author’s Abhorsen series years ago but I never read them. Even this book wasn’t on my radar, but when I
I remember owning a couple of books from this author’s Abhorsen series years ago but I never read them. Even this book wasn’t on my radar, but when I happened to read the synopsis around the time of its release, I thought it was a bit different from my usual reads and wanted to give it a try. I can’t say I was blown away by it, but it turned out to be a good read. I liked the idea of this world, each kingdom having its own archangel with their own host of lesser angels, and the mages of the kingdom being able to summon them using icons. I particularly loved the way the icons are described in detail and it would be very interesting to see some artwork related to it. But we are never given any details of the world itself, beyond the basics. It’s almost not until the end that the Doom of Ystara is revealed, and while it made for a nice mystery, I just wasn’t sure the revelation was worth the wait. There are also too many names of people we care nothing about, a hierarchy of the angels which I couldn’t remember at all, and so many different angels who could be summoned that I stopped who was capable of what magic. The only part of the world that I could remember atleast a little was the top most power players in the kingdom of Sarance and their archangel. The best part of the book was that it was fast paced right from the get go, with the readers being thrown in the middle of the action in the prologue itself. As there are too many characters introduced to us in the beginning, it took a while for me to realize who the important ones are and then try to remember them. This book is told through third person (I think) and had a level of detachment in the narrative style which prevented me from getting to know any character closely. I found the dialogue also to be a bit repetitive and annoying at times. There are only a few action sequences but I thought they were described very well. But on the whole, I was very interested to know what the end goal was and how it would be achieved, and that’s what sustained me to keep going. I’m also a bit conflicted about the ending - it felt underwhelming but also appropriate, so I don’t know what to say about it. Whenever there is an ensemble cast, I’m always excited to get to know them all but unfortunately, that didn’t happen here. Lilliath is probably the only one we spend a significant amount of time with, and she was very much a mystery throughout. All I could understand was that despite her promises to her followers, she really seemed very selfish and had her own motives, without any care to protect those around her. Among the other four main characters, the only one I really got to know a bit was Dorotea. She is a scholar and has powers that no one understands but I loved how confident she was in herself, and just wanted the opportunity to continue her education. Her quest for knowledge and her belief that books are the biggest treasure really endeared me to her. Henri, Simeon, Agnez and Dorotea’s instant connection and friendship was also lovely to read about, but it would have been nice to know a bit more about them individually. To conclude, I think this was a book that had a lot more potential but not all of it worked on page. If you have read the author’s previous books and enjoyed them, then the writing style might work for you. If you like books which focus more on the plot but not a lot on characterization, then this might be the right book for you. It has an interesting world and magic system, but there was just something missing. And I also feel it could have been better fleshed out if it was a duology rather than trying to compress it all into a standalone book. ...more |
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1
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Oct 08, 2019
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Oct 09, 2019
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Sep 30, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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512
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| 1250213584
| 9781250213587
| 3.89
| 94
| Feb 04, 2020
| Feb 04, 2020
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really liked it
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I think it was a few months ago that I first saw the cover for this book, which while it looked interesting with an equally intriguing title - it was
I think it was a few months ago that I first saw the cover for this book, which while it looked interesting with an equally intriguing title - it was the blurb talking about “queer librarian spies on horseback in future American Southwest” that sealed the deal that I had to read this one. I never expected to get the ARC but I did request on a whim, so imagine my surprise when I got approved for it. And I just had the urge to read it immediately and it was so much fun. It’s kinda difficult to describe much about the book without giving a lot away because it’s less than 200 pages. It has a very Wild West feel to it, with lots of traveling on horseback in the deserts of Arizona but I actually haven’t read any westerns, so I mostly got the vibe based on whatever movies I’ve watched. The world building is also kept very vague and we mostly get to know nothing about why this America seems to be divided, just that there seems to be a lot of dissemination of propaganda and conservatism on one side. Nevertheless, the plot is extremely fast paced and it was an adventure ride that didn’t let up for even a moment. It was hella fun with a lot of banter and cheeky dialogue, a couple of great action sequences and lots of female bonding. The characters are definitely the X factor in this book. Esther is a little naive, who wants to become a librarian because she thinks she doesn’t deserve a good life as she is queer and just wants to do some good things in life before gets her bad ending. But she is extremely resourceful and observant and brave, and it was nice to see her discover through the course of the story that there are others like her and she is allowed to find happiness and purpose. Bet and Leda are a badass power couple and though we get few interactions with them, they were awesome. Cle is a great companion and right from the beginning, watching their developing dynamic with Esther was delightful and I thought the author captured the attraction between them very well. Amity was a total mystery for the most part but she also gave Esther some much needed advice, so I really couldn’t fault her slightly devious machinations. To conclude, all I want to say is I had fun reading this book. If you like reading adventurous westerns and some lovely queer representation, then this charming little novella is perfect for you. It’ll delight you and make you think and also fill you with hope, just like it’s very hopeful ending (or beginning), full of promise of more adventures to come. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Jan 09, 2020
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Jan 09, 2020
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Sep 26, 2019
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Hardcover
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484
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| 1694429350
| 9781694429353
| 4.16
| 676
| Sep 26, 2019
| Sep 20, 2019
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really liked it
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This is a collection of three short stories and I’m glad it exists because I’ve been waiting for the next book in this series for way too long and it’
This is a collection of three short stories and I’m glad it exists because I’ve been waiting for the next book in this series for way too long and it’s still more than a month and a half away. Aron and Wyatt’s story is something I had already read before but I didn’t mind getting a refresher. But I was never a fan of either of the characters due to the way they treated Noah in book 2, so I was okay with this story but didn’t feel attached to it much. It’s finally good to see Ash and Max together because it was really obvious in Deke. Their story was definitely very emotional and made me weep, but the Stromberg family was always on hand with their inappropriate jokes to lighten up the mood. However, I was mostly just very happy to get another glimpse of Ollie and Lennon because I really love them so much. Marty and Luce’s story was interesting, very sweet and adorable with a bit of angst and I really enjoyed it. It actually took me a while to realize that the lead singer Jay of band Radioactive is actually Jet and then I couldn’t believe that I didn’t recognize the smartass. However, it only makes the wait for Hat Trick more excruciating and I just want his book in my hands already ...more |
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1
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Sep 26, 2019
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Sep 26, 2019
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Sep 25, 2019
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Paperback
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487
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| B07YKNQKHY
| 4.22
| 1,741
| Oct 03, 2019
| Oct 03, 2019
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liked it
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 03, 2019
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Oct 03, 2019
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Sep 25, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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483
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| 3.92
| 531
| May 21, 2019
| May 21, 2019
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really liked it
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CW: homophobic comments (challenged) I was actually very excited to read this book before it’s release but I somehow lost sight of it among all other CW: homophobic comments (challenged) I was actually very excited to read this book before it’s release but I somehow lost sight of it among all other new releases. When I was browsing my list of books to be read (which actually aren’t on my Goodreads tbr), I realized I had completely forgotten about this one and immediately decided to pick it up. And I’m so happy that I did. I really loved the author’s The Brightsiders last year, so I was pretty sure I was gonna enjoy this book too. Imagine my surprise when I found this to be even more amazing. The pacing is quick and the writing so easy to get through that I literally flew through this book in just a couple of hours. I thought the author did a great job describing the awe that an aspiring artist might feel after arriving at Hollywood and all the scenes related to shooting and show running felt very authentic. The story is full of fun and heartwarming situations, the beginnings of first love and beautiful friendships while also tackling some very serious issues - I felt that the author did a brilliant job of perfectly balancing the fluff and social commentary. The book is also unapologetically queer af but I also expected nothing different from the author. Bex is a great character to follow. She has anxiety and always overthinks everything, but she also has big dreams and works hard through her panicky feelings to achieve what she wants. From being embarrassed about her poverty and scared about coming out, to someone who stands up for herself and her community and owns her identity proudly, Bex has the best character development. Shrupty is her love interest and I can’t describe the happiness I felt reading about a queer Indian girl on page. She is from a wealthy family and understands her privilege, but has made a mark for herself as a YouTube star and wants to be an actor. She is uber confident and never lets anyone get away with any offensive talk and I was completely in awe of her. I mean I have read many female characters like her but it’s just nice seeing a desi girl being shown that way. I thought the development of their relationship was beautiful. The little flirtations, being unsure if the other girl likes you, getting to know each other and all the silly moments between them were a joy to read about and I had a smile on my face all the time. They are adorable together and I just had this feeling that they would be a badass power couple in the future. The ensemble cast is amazing too. Parker is Bex’s cousin but they are as close as siblings and I loved their bond. Parker might call her out when she does something wrong but he is so supportive of her and it’s always nice to have someone who has your back. The actors on the series that Bex is working on, Will and Alyssa are wonderful friends too. Jane is an EP and the only woman in the production team, so I liked that she took Bex under her wing. It’s always lovely to see women is a good position mentor young women. There were other cameos from the cast of The Brightsiders and Queens of Geek and that’s always a lot of fun. I obviously can’t not talk about the many important issues the author managed to talk about in such a fun and entertaining story. The one thing that really resonated with me was the importance of representation on the screen - how important it is to be diverse in the cast of characters, diversity is not a trend and it is just to ensure that what we see on screen or the cast and crew we hire should reflect the real world, and specifically the joy or watching queer actors play queer characters on screen. The author also manages to showcase the positive power of social media and fandom in the present day, and how they can be used to call out wrongdoings and hold people accountable, particularly those who are in a position of power. The sexism and homophobia in the entertainment industry is also depicted very realistically and it was actually painful to watch people be openly dismissive and smug in their power, because they have always gotten away with bigotry before. We’ve only heard about instances like women having to compromise to be able to work, or their credit being stolen, but reading about how blatantly it happens was awful. And I think the author put this message across perfectly through the cast of characters that if we want change to happen, we all should stand up for ourselves or be allies to those who are fighting against bigotry and discrimination. As long as we tolerate it, nothing will change and people will get away with kinds of wrongdoing. And I think the best part of this book was that these people faced consequences for their actions - it might not always happen irl but hopefully the future will be better. Finally, I have to say that if you’ve read and enjoyed Queens of Geek or The Brightsiders before, you are going to love this book. If you enjoy books which are entertaining while also tackling very important issues, then this is perfect for you. And if you happen to be a fan of books with a badass ensemble queer cast who are living their best life, then I promise that this has been written just for you. Going Off-Script is fun and fluffy and important and I really recommend it to everyone. ...more |
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Sep 24, 2019
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Sep 24, 2019
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Sep 23, 2019
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Hardcover
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481
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| B07F68M9YQ
| 3.78
| 465
| Sep 10, 2019
| Nov 05, 2019
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really liked it
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CW: bullying, public outing of a character Definitely a solid 4.5. I have been waiting to read this book for so long now that I’ve lost count. And it CW: bullying, public outing of a character Definitely a solid 4.5. I have been waiting to read this book for so long now that I’ve lost count. And it didn’t help that I always seem to get rejected for ownvoices ARCs. But I was delighted to finally get my library copy so that I can join in with my friends who have all loved it so much. The one thing I could tell right from the first page is that I was gonna smile through the whole book. The writing is light hearted, fun, with lots of awkward and silly and adorable moments and on the whole, just some thorough entertainment. I thought the author’s idea of combining the traditional Indian style of matchmaking with modern and technologically advanced dating apps was genius and it made for a very lovely story - while giving us the pros and cons of both methods. The setting of the high school was pretty realistic too and I liked that the author didn’t try too much to get the teenage voice right. The pacing is very fast and I flew through the book so quickly that I didn’t even realize it was almost the end. Each chapter also has a lovely mehendi design and a quote from the MC’s family’s matchmaking guide, which I thought was excellent symbolism for the book as a whole. I think the only problem I had was with the main bully in the high school (I’m so over the mean girl trope) and while I’m sure that every school might have someone like that irl, I’m not sure we need more girl on girl hate in YA novels. And obviously I thought the desi representation was amazing - right from the slightly nosy moms and aunts, the slight obsession with engineers and doctors, the descriptions of yummy food, the importance of wearing a turban as a Sikh, the differences between how the elders feel about mehendi being something sacred whereas the youngsters finding it unique and fun, the rituals and ceremonies - there are just so many little things which I may not even have noticed, because they were organically part of the story and the characters and I loved being in the middle of it all. And come on, the multiple mentions of samosas and pakodas and Limca just made me hungry, but unfortunately I didn’t have any handy to munch on. I adored Simi from page 1. She is a sweet but clumsy high school sophomore, who has this habit of falling over at inopportune times. She is an amazing artist and I loved that her parents didn’t seem to have too much of a problem with that. Her friendship with her BFF Noah is total goals and I loved how they encouraged and motivated each other all the time, but also gave space when one needed it. Noah is gay and it isn’t really mentioned how many in the larger context of the school know about him, but I liked that whoever did were very supportive. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the acceptance of Simi’s family because homophobia in Indian families is quite common. Simi’s family is also appropriately intrusive but very fun loving as well as dependable, and I loved all of them. I’d read in a couple of reviews there are two boys in the books and Simi chooses one. I kept hoping it wasn’t a love triangle situation and I loved the way the author managed to navigate Simi’s feelings for the two. I could totally feel all the awkwardness and tingles that Simi was feeling and it was sweet watching her get to know them better and make a decision. There are also many other classmates of theirs who meet and start going out due to Simi and Noah’s app, and I thought all of it was done very nicely without any drama. It was refreshing to see a fun group of diverse couples. I think the main theme of this book was about finding what we want to do in life. Simi doesn’t feel interested in her family’s matchmaking business or the boy her family may like, because she doesn’t want to do what’s expected. But her journey of realizing that it’s not bad to like doing something that also meets her family’s expectations, or not having to choose between her various interests - this was all written very well and in such a subtle manner that you don’t even realize it. And due to the whole concept of matchmaking, there is a lot of emphasis on compatibility, but also about the fact that two people may seem perfect on paper but they might not be good together because deeper values and motivations are much more important for a successful relationship. I think the overall message of the book that whether traditional Indian style matchmaking or modern dating apps, what makes two people click remains the same is something that comes out beautifully and I think we can all agree with that. To conclude, I just wanna say that if you love fun YA contemporaries and want to smile for a bit, pick this book up. If you particularly love desi books like I do, then I promise you can’t go wrong with this amazing debut. And while I’m very very excited to see what the author comes up with next, I’m also a bit sad that this book is already done and I can’t experience it all over again. ...more |
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1
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Sep 22, 2019
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Sep 23, 2019
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Sep 18, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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482
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| 1984812203
| 9781984812209
| 3.87
| 8,124
| Sep 10, 2019
| Sep 10, 2019
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really liked it
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CW: Gun violence, Cancer, Racism (challenged) I first noticed this book because there was so much hype during the release week, but I somehow didn’t CW: Gun violence, Cancer, Racism (challenged) I first noticed this book because there was so much hype during the release week, but I somehow didn’t really feel interested in it. But then my friends started saying wonderful things about it, and I received the audiobook, so I just thought why not give it a try. And I’m not exactly sure what I’m feeling after finishing it but maybe I will by the end of this review. The first thing you’ll notice about this book is it’s writing style. It’s very unique, almost like the main character is having a conversation with the reader. There are a lot of broken sentences, hyphenated sentences, very current teenage lingo and a lot of gaming references. All these things would be perfect for the right audience, but I unfortunately I am not one of them. I found it a little difficult to follow in the beginning, but once I decided to not overthink everything and go with the flow, it became a much easier read. In parts it felt like the author was trying too hard to sound like a teenager, but there were parts where it felt really authentic. Its a slice of life kinda story, exploring the life of our main character in his senior year, but the pacing was always fast and I never got bored. The author also manages to bring lots of laughs, makes us think and ultimately also made me cry. The narration by Raymond J. Lee is awesome, him bringing a lot of authenticity and uniqueness to the various characters. My only quip is that his voice sounded a little old for a teenager. I’m an Asian immigrant too but I’ve only lived here for a little less than a decade, so my experiences are vastly different from either the parents in this book or the kids. But it’s just all so relatable in a way that I can’t explain. The author does a great job exploring the lives of immigrants like Frank’s parents - who come to America to make something good of their lives but never want to lose that connection to their homeland, and they keep at it by socializing only with their fellow countrymen, hoping that their kids date others of the same race and essentially live in their own bubble, which ignores the rest of America. And I can’t deny that most of us Asians do this, including me and everyone else I know. The author also doesn’t shy away from discussing the deep rooted prejudices and racism in the Asian community, particularly regarding the African-American community or the Hispanic community - and how this is a bone of contention between the older generations and their much younger Americanized kids who also happen to be more educated and progressive. And this feeling of not belong to either their parents’ homeland or America, and how much this looking for belonging and identity can affect the lives of these first generation immigrant kids was depicted very thoughtfully by the author. We also see stark differences between the kind of relationships that kids and parents have with each other across communities, and this was another aspect of the writing that I felt was done very realistically. And along with all the important themes of identity, racism and privilege, the author also gives us an authentic look at how crucial the senior year is to the kids. The unending expectations of excellence from the parents regarding SATs and college applications, the fear of disappointing them, the joy of going to a dream college and the utter sadness of losing all our close friendships - it was written so beautifully that it made me very nostalgic and emotional. It’s really been a while since I’ve read such an authentic and relatable high school experience that it really impressed me. I absolutely loved all the kids characters in this book. Frank is a smart, hardworking, responsible and respectful young man and I just wanted all the happiness for him in the world. I felt every single emotion that he felt, particularly towards the second half of the book. He really feels everything with all his heart and it made me very sad whenever something not so nice happened. Brit is a very woke and progressive young lady, and I admired her being so thoughtful and sweet. Joy is a real spitfire, extremely smart and ambitious, but like a normal teenager doesn’t want to disturb the status quo a lot. Q is Frank’s best friend and gaming nerd and adored their friendship so much. They were just there for each other without any expectations and it reminded so much of my best friend whom I haven’t seen in years. Their last scene together made me sob (and I’m also crying right now while typing this) and I just wish we could have gotten more of their scenes together. There are other high school kids as well with whom we only get a few scenes, but they were all written with a lot of care and it shows in the writing. Finally, I just want to say that this book has taken me completely by surprise. It’s beautiful and poignant and very resonant in a way I haven’t felt in a while. If you love YA contemporaries where everything is not always hunky dory but it hits you right in the feels, then this is the book for you. If you are an Asian immigrant or a first generation American, you will definitely find something very relatable in these pages and I highly recommend this book to you. I just realized there is going to be another book in the series and I really really hope we will be following the same set of characters because I don’t feel done with them yet. ...more |
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1
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Sep 19, 2019
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Sep 20, 2019
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Sep 18, 2019
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Hardcover
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480
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| 0374304904
| 9780374304904
| 4.00
| 2,960
| Sep 12, 2017
| Sep 12, 2017
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really liked it
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CW: Parental death and exploration of grief, racism and colorism (both challenged), aftermath of 9/11. When I attended the NOVATeen Book Festival in CW: Parental death and exploration of grief, racism and colorism (both challenged), aftermath of 9/11. When I attended the NOVATeen Book Festival in Virginia in early 2018, I was ecstatic because it was my first ever book event. And I had the amazing opportunity to have some lovely conversations with YA authors. One such convo was with Jennifer Matthieu (the author of Moxie) and when she realized I was an Indian immigrant, she recommended me this book by Mitali Perkins with the idea that I would be able to relate to the characters’ experiences. While the book has remained on my radar since then, I never added it to my tbr because I thought it was too close to being a lit fic. However, recently I just had this urge to read the author’s works because I’ve only heard great things and I’m so glad that I decided to pick it up. The first thing I have to mention is that this is a completely character driven novel, which not much of a plot. And it definitely worked for me because I could care less about a plot if you give me amazing well written cast of characters. This book is like a slice of life story of three generations of women across a span of four decades, and their varying experiences as immigrants as well as naturalized citizens - and I thought it was written brilliantly. The prose is riveting right from the get go; it captivated me on page one and didn’t let me go until I was done in a mere couple of hours. I can’t believe how fast paced it was for a story about the daily lives of characters, and how the author managed to convey so much in such a short book. I felt every single emotion that the characters did - Sorrow, joy, helplessness, frustration and ultimately love. The five women in this book are the pillars of this story and anything I can say about them will not be enough. An immigrant mother of two girls who wants a respectable future for her kids in America but still wants to preserve her conservative Bengali identity, a young woman who is frustrated with all the restrictions that are placed upon her and uses her writing as catharsis for venting out her frustrations, her older sister who is burdened by the responsibility of being a dutiful pretty eldest child having to suppress her desire to be on the stage and not an engineer or doctor as she is expected, a biracial young woman who is frustrated with having to choose between both sides of her heritage when all she wants is to belong, and her cousin who maybe an American citizen by birth but feels much more connected to her Bengali and Indian heritage and doesn’t understand why the West is considered a paragon of all things progressive - the story of all these five flawed, strong, resilient women is told in such a seamless manner that you feel connected to them and very invested in what happens in their lives. This book is full of thought provoking themes and while some are forceful in the way they are discussed, some are too subtle and nuanced - but that’s the beauty of this book. The main theme that’s very pronounced is how immigrants want to preserve their culture and identity even in their new home, but their kids want to assimilate and adopt the ways of the new country much faster. This distinction is particularly visible in instances where Ranee is always sad that her youngest daughter Sonia is of a darker complexion and living in a prominently Black neighborhood might mean that others would see her daughter as one of “them”; and Sonia is appalled at this discrimination and uses her writing as well as involvement in her school’s Equal Rights Club to fight back. However, it was the other subtle themes that resonated with me a lot because there were things I felt too at some point of time after moving to America, and I was stunned by how realistically the author portrayed it all. Tara is an actor and the way she tries to fit in the new country and school is by watching American tv shows and listening to the popular music, trying to mimic the mannerisms and accent and hoping that it’ll make her feel more American. While I didn’t exactly do it for the same reasons, my basic American education was through TV shows as well and it felt a bit like seeing myself on the page. And I suppose it is true for many people who are in India or other countries, watching Hollywood movies and tv shows to learn more about the West. Anna was another character I related to quite a bit because she is very Indian at heart and doesn’t understand why she has to completely change herself to fit among her American schoolmates. There is one very telling episode in the novel with Anna when she feels extremely uncomfortable changing in the locker room of her school because there is no privacy, but when she questions about it, she is told that we shouldn’t be ashamed of our bodies. I loved how this matter is resolved over time and the message that not wanting to be naked in front of others has nothing to do with being ashamed of our body, and that wanting to be modest is not wrong and just a different choice. This hit very close to my heart because I have faced similar situations. To conclude, I don’t think I have been able to explain very well in my review why you should read this wonderful book but know that I highly recommend it. If you love books featuring the trials and tribulations of women of different generations and how being an immigrant shapes people’s lives, you should definitely give this one a try. It’s a very nuanced outsider vs insider perspective of both America and India and I thought the author did a brilliant job. However, if you like plot driven books, you might have to give this a miss. This is all about characters whom I could relate to so much, and I don’t think anyone can help but fall in love with them. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Sep 15, 2019
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Sep 15, 2019
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Sep 15, 2019
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Hardcover
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489
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| B07MCRLR6V
| 4.05
| 9,954
| Sep 03, 2019
| Sep 03, 2019
|
it was amazing
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Definitely a solid 4.5. I read very few historical romances in general but this debut might just be one of my top favorites in the genre, and I’m so Definitely a solid 4.5. I read very few historical romances in general but this debut might just be one of my top favorites in the genre, and I’m so glad and delighted that I didn’t ignore it when it came onto my radar. This book takes place in late 19th century Britain set against the backdrop of the suffragists movement and I absolutely loved it. The way the author was able to show us the struggles of all the women who wanted to fight for freedom of women (particularly the amendment of the Married Women’s Act) is just brilliant and I can’t believe this is a debut. The politics of the Tory Party and the Queen herself, how powerful people want to quash the movement and how those in the aristocracy view the common folk is shown with amazing clarity and I loved that the author never pulled her punches. The beautiful locations of Oxford are also described very well but also contrasted with how the facilities for female students were completely different/ very discriminatory when compared with those of their male counterparts. The plot was also a lot of fun and entertaining to read and I just didn’t wanna put it down at all, not even to sleep. The slow burn romance is extremely passionate and the attraction between the two main characters just sizzled right from their first meeting. And what an explosive (not) meet-cute that was... just the idea is so ingenious. There is a strong push and pull between the MCs, a possibility of a scandalous romance and reputations at stake - the author manages to capture all these emotions extremely well and I could feel every moment of it. And while I was pretty worried how these two stubborn people from very different stations in life would ever agree to be together, the author brought about quite a flashy ending. While it didn’t feel entirely realistic, I thoroughly enjoyed it and wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything else. Annabelle is a commoner with very low prospects but high intellect, not the most admirable quality needed for a woman during those times. Her yearning to be educated at Oxford, and belief about the need for the woman’s right to vote is presented wonderfully. She could be a bit impulsive but I guess her actions weren’t always unwarranted. Sebastian on the other hand is the Duke of one of the largest holdings in the country, a shrewd political advisor and someone who never does anything that could be construed as inappropriate for his station. He comes across as arrogant and cold in the beginning, but behind the perfect facade is a great and passionate mind in need of a challenge. Sparks fly between them since the very beginning and it was highly entertaining to watch their interactions play out. Even when they are arguing or flirting, the conversations range from politics and philosophy to reasoning and logic, and I particularly loved this way of developing a relationship. They also exchange witty exchanges through notes and books and I found it personally very swoony. And despite all this fun I had wondering how and when they would get together, it also made me cry when they tried to hold off on their feelings because of the forbidden nature of their relationship. The author managed to twist my heart so many times, making me all kinds of emotional and I obviously loved feeling that way. Though this is a romance novel, the author also takes time to develop the other important side characters, and I thought it was done perfectly. Hattie, Lucie and Catriona, all women whom Annabelle meets at Oxford and who are fighting for the same cause, quickly become friends and confidants despite being from varied backgrounds and it was very endearing to read about this group. And it was actually fantastic that the author managed to give each of these ladies their own purpose and motivation in life, while also striving for a common goal. The other important character was Sebastian’s brother Peregrin who is present for a very short time, but in quite a significant role. Their sibling relationship was pretty fraught but I liked that we get some sort of resolution to their issues. I’m in love with everyone here and I can’t wait to see them all again. To conclude, I just wanna say that this book was fun, sexy, witty and intelligent and I had a gala time reading it. If you love historical romances with a dash of feminism, then I promise you can’t go wrong with this debut. It has equal parts passionate romance and political commentary about the plight of women, and the author strikes a perfect balance between the two. I’m very very happy that this is going to be a series and after that little snippet towards the end, I’m doubly excited to read Lady Lucie’s story next. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 11, 2019
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Sep 11, 2019
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Sep 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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509
| 
| B07WDLS4PJ
| 4.04
| 395
| Jan 13, 2020
| Jan 13, 2020
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liked it
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Definitely more of a 3.5. Heated Rivalry was one of my favorite romances of 2019 and I loved it so much that I read it more than once :) So, when I Definitely more of a 3.5. Heated Rivalry was one of my favorite romances of 2019 and I loved it so much that I read it more than once :) So, when I found that there was going to be another book in the series, I was very very excited and so glad when I received the ARC. The author’s writing style is very easy to read and once I start, I just don’t wanna put it down despite whatever I’m feeling. Because I thought Game Changer was an okay read but Heated Rivalry was excellent, I didn’t exactly know what to expect from this book, but this turned out to be a good one too. There were quite a few moments which were heartbreaking and touching and made me very emotional - there may have been tears involved. I also thought the author did a good job of representing the difficulty of being a professional sportsperson while also suffering from mental health issues - the stigma attached to it, undue pressure to conform to certain masculine stereotypes which don’t include talking about mental health, playing through pain and maybe even getting addicted to the pain medication - I truly didn’t expect so much commentary on such important issues from a romance novel and I think that’s great. We only met Ryan very briefly in Heated Rivalry, so I wasn’t sure if I would like him as a main character, but I almost fell in love with him instantly. He is an enforcer on the ice, a big intimidating presence but in reality, he hates flying, has severe anxiety and panic attacks, is in therapy and is very very awkward and shy. He is such a sweetheart and even though I’m probably a foot and a half shorter than him, I wanted to give him a hug and protect him. It was heartbreaking to see him struggle with not finding anymore joy in his sport, and also unable to talk about his feelings and issues, but still try very hard to overcome them all. He deserves the world. I can’t say I liked Fabian a lot. I initially loved that he was very considerate towards Ryan and his shy nature, slowly trying to get him out of his shell. But as the book gradually went on, I just couldn’t get past his hatred of hockey and not trying to understand Ryan’s perspective at all. I understand he had baggage of his own from his unsupportive parents, but I thought it was unfair to judge Ryan because of that. While there were so many beautiful moments between them, Fabian’s insensitive behavior really made me forget about them. Thankfully, the conflict between them was predictable and was resolved nicely, but it went on longer than I liked. I really liked the friend group in this book. Fabian’s three best friends are a delight, always teasing and being over the top but also giving solid advice even when he wasn’t ready to listen to them. Ryan on the other hand has never had friends because of constantly being traded, so it was heartwarming to see him make a close friend on the team in Wyatt. He was such an understanding and caring friend and I absolutely loved their conversations, and the time they spent teaching hockey to kids. And last but not the least, I was so happy to see the extremely short cameos of Ilya and Shane. It’s such a nice feeling to see them be happy and do good with their foundation. To conclude, this was a nice romantic read but also a bit darker in tone and definitely more angsty. But just keep in mind that it’s very different from the previous books in the series. It’s also great to see some good mental health rep and discourse in a sports romance. If you like reading love stories where the hero is a gentle giant, this one is perfect. While I didn’t always like the love interest, Ryan was an absolutely wonderful MC and I would totally recommend this book just to get to know him better. And I have no clue if the author has started writing the next book, but I know it’s rest of Ilya and Shane’s story and I’m already extremely excited for it. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Jan 2020
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Jan 02, 2020
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Sep 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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475
| 
| B07WRQGVDH
| 4.24
| 252
| Aug 30, 2019
| Aug 30, 2019
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it was amazing
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I have been looking for the next book in this series intermittently, but maybe it’s been a while and I completely missed that this novella was
I have been looking for the next book in this series intermittently, but maybe it’s been a while and I completely missed that this novella was releasing at the end of August. Thanks to some of the author Facebook groups I follow for reminding me of it and I knew I had to read it immediately. I was actually surprised to know that this novella is the story before and during the events of Why the Devil stalks Death from the POV of Ethan. I was a bit worried that it might get repetitive because I already know what happened, but I was also excited because I was going to get to be inside Ethan’s head the whole time. But the author really managed to surprise me. There are a lot of things that happened in Ethan’s life during the same time as the investigation in Book 2, and it was fascinating to read about it all. The pacing was very quick and it felt like I was piecing together a puzzle, trying to find answers to some of the lingering questions from the previous book. I also think it was nice to finally read a book in a single timeline, though I suspect we won’t be that lucky in the next installment. And of course it was wrong of me to expect a relatively peaceful ending, because a couple of things that happened here seem like an indicator of much more personal dangers coming the way of our protagonists in the future - and I can’t wait to read them about them all. We never really get to know Ethan a lot, so it was a joy to read this book. His POV lays bare all his insecurities, his craving for affection, his unusual relationship with all his siblings, his desperation to want to be with Jack but also worrying if he is keeping the other man from true safety and happiness. The love that he feels for Jack is reflected in his every thought and action, and it made me very emotional to read his thoughts. Every time he felt that Jack might want to be with someone else, or he was endangering Jack’s life, I teared up and just wanted to give Ethan a hug. How far have I come from being scared of this ruthless assassin to being utterly and helpless in love with him. Their relationship is just perfect and the way the author described all the myriad feelings that Ethan felt during the “kiss” was wow!!!! What an amazing moment that was... Finally, this was a novella I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without. Getting to know Ethan better is wonderful and I adore the author for making us care about this couple even more. I really hope the next book comes out soon, and maybe the author will take pity on us readers and give us a dual POV this time. And for anyone out there wondering if you should read this series - If you love reading about emotionally closed off lethal killers finding love, chapters full of cliffhangers that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat, and the refreshing setting of Australia, this series is perfect for you and I think you should start reading immediately. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Sep 2019
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Sep 02, 2019
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Aug 24, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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473
| 
| 0525539948
| 9780525539940
| 3.02
| 372
| Aug 17, 2018
| Aug 20, 2019
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liked it
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I’ve been on a roll for almost the past year, trying to read as many modern Jane Austen retellings as I can. So when I found that there was a new
I’ve been on a roll for almost the past year, trying to read as many modern Jane Austen retellings as I can. So when I found that there was a new version of Emma set in Delhi, I just had to get my hands on it. Emma is one of those books that’s not easy to like, especially because of our titular character. The retellings which stay close to the original tend to have similar concerns, so I really wanted to see how the author would manage to make me like the story here. I think the author’s decision to set it among the uber rich elite class of Delhi was perfect for this story. The pretentiousness of this group of people really comes through and one can’t help but wonder how far away they are from the country’s reality. The book really feels like a satire and I could enjoy it because of that. The first half of the book does a neat job of establishing the characters, giving us a look into their backgrounds and motivations and the general culture among this crowd. However, it’s the second half where it really faltered for me. We follow many characters and I thought it’ll be fun to see where they all end up, but it felt like the story meandered a lot and we never got any proper resolution to most of the characters’ arcs. The ending felt very abrupt and open ended and I’m not really a fan of those. Another problem I had was that some of the English vocabulary used was completely unfamiliar (with some French words also thrown in the mix) and I found it all a bit tough to follow - it’s totally a me problem and others would probably enjoy it too. This book has a huge ensemble cast but I didn’t end up connecting to anyone. No one here is written to be likeable, so that’s not the issue - it’s just that I felt a huge divide between them and myself, so I couldn’t find myself invested in any of their issues. I’m not even a fan of Emma from the original but she manages to redeem herself a bit towards the end, however I didn’t feel the same about Ania. She is a snob and a creature of privilege, always sure that she is doing the right thing and feels herself to be superior to other mere mortals. But I did sympathize with her when some unfortunate incidents happened, but we never see her actually contemplate or learn anything from them so it didn’t make any difference. Even towards the end, I don’t think that she realized any of her faults - just that things didn’t go her way. So, I was pretty disappointed with this missing character development. And that’s the case with most of them in the book. Things just happen to the characters in their life and they move on to something else, but we never really see anyone reflect or try to change or even empathize with others. In the end, I thought this was mostly a faithful retelling of Emma (atleast all the characters of Emma’s family and Harriet). It has a well written satirical tone which made the book interesting to read, and I also absolutely adored the narrator Deepti Gupta whose voices for each character was unique and beautiful. But the lack of character development and unresolved arcs left me feeling dissatisfied. If you like desi Jane Austen retellings or previously have enjoyed reading The Windfall by Diksha Basu, you probably will enjoy reading this one too. I also recommend the audiobook because of the wonderful narrator. ...more |
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none
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1
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Aug 23, 2019
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Aug 24, 2019
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Aug 16, 2019
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Hardcover
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502
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| B07NLDZ5GS
| 3.94
| 308
| Aug 06, 2019
| Aug 08, 2019
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really liked it
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This is more of a 4.5 and I really can’t articulate why I’m not giving it a full 5 stars. As someone who reads adult fantasy very rarely, I usually This is more of a 4.5 and I really can’t articulate why I’m not giving it a full 5 stars. As someone who reads adult fantasy very rarely, I usually only pick up books which my friends have already loved and are sure I would too. But this is a book I didn’t see anyone within my small group talk about but since the first time I saw it mentioned in a booktube video, I was totally fascinated and I knew I had to take a chance. And I’m so so happy that I stuck to my instincts because I was completely engrossed from start to finish. The world building in this book is just perfect. As you can guess from the series title (Dragons of Terra), this is a world which has lots and lots of dragons, all different kinds with their own characteristics and habits and strengths. Almira is the main kingdom we follow which is bogged down by its issues like infighting between the various lords for more power, people who are very superstitious and would rather depend on their totems and prayers than go to an alchemist who can solve their problems, and there are multiple areas in the kingdom which are affected by some sort of plague for which no solution has been found. On the other hand, Balaria is the enemy kingdom which has made a fortune by killing off most of its dragons and using the oil to build a technologically advanced city. I loved this dichotomy of a medieval and steampunk like kingdoms existing in the same world. And the travel between these two kingdoms takes us through various kinds of landscapes and I loved the descriptions of the mountains, rivers, barges, dragon warrens etc. The best part of the world for me was how the environment and ecology was described. Through discussions between characters ( and not info dumps), we come to realize how important each living creature is to the overall health of the land, including the super predators like the dragons. And while killing dragons for oil can provide for short term prosperity, it’s long term consequences like drought and famine and other devastation to the ecology is never considered except by few people who care but are dismissed. I think this is a great parallel to our world and how we exploit the nature and resources we have in the name of capitalism and development without realizing what we are doing to our future. I’m always scared when I start an adult fantasy that it might be too complicated, or the language very lyrical/metaphorical for me. I like my books to be straightforward which is what I love the most about YA fantasy novels. Thankfully, this book was exactly how I wanted it to be. The third person multiple POV writing style was very easy to follow, and the author did such a brilliant job of being able to distinguish between the characters’ voices that I never got confused who we were following. It did get gory at times which I’m not used to, and some scenes were just brutal to get through. The feeling of dread when a dragon attacks or the adrenaline pumping action sequences are written excellently as well and I really enjoyed reading them. Among all these action sequences, we also get a journey and this whole year has been me discovering my love for fictional journeys, and this was no different. The author uses the journey and the conversations that happen during it to develop the relationships between the characters and give us more insight into their motivations, and that was amazing. However, this also leads to the pace of the story being a bit on the slower side, which didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. This is also not a very twists and turns kinda book, but does have a few mysteries and betrayals that the characters are trying to unravel, and I had so much fun figuring them out correctly just before the actual revelation happened. But there was one thing which I didn’t see coming at all and that left me very bereft and in tears. The author also ends the book in such a way that there are enough plotlines resolved to work as a standalone, while also leaving us with so many exciting possibilities in a sequel. While I keep harping on about the excellent world and writing, it’s still the characters who are the strength of this book. Silas Bershad, the Flawless and the acclaimed dragon slayer of the land is an exile who is just going through his life with lots of regrets, always prepared to die. Fourteen years of slaughtering has changed him a lot and he doesn’t think he deserves any good things, but deep down he is so compassionate and will do anything for the ones he loves (who are very very few). His shield is Rowan who has followed him since the beginning and their loyalty to each other is just beautiful. They may bicker and admonish each other, but ultimately it’s a deep friendship and I was so glad they had each other. But the third entity in their trio is their donkey Alfonso, and I promise you I don’t remember ever seeing a donkey in a book before but I loved him. These three are just awesome and the way Silas and Rowan care for Alfonso is heartwarming. Felgor the thief, and Vera the bodyguard who lost her charge are the other two people who make up the group which goes on the journey from Almira to Balaria for their task. They are all basically outlaws who have nobody, and there is a lot of friction initially, but as they face dangerous situations and fight them together, they all form a bond and I was thoroughly impressed by the way the author developed these relationships in a believable manner. It’s very hard not to get attached to them all. Ashelyn is the princess crowned Queen of Almira and I thought it was so refreshing to see a very scientific ruler on the throne, who loves conducting her research into how everything is connected in nature and take steps to ensure that her world is not destroyed due to poor short term decisions. We also have an assassin who is hell bent on creating chaos in her kingdom, an apprentice alchemist who just wants to conduct his experiments and many others who will do anything to harness the power in this world. To conclude, I just want to say that if you love to read about a world full of dragons, you should totally pick this book up. If you enjoy books with equal parts extensive world building and excellent plotting, this is perfect. And if like me, you are a fan of a very unlikely group of flawed people coming together for a quest and start caring for each other, I highly recommend this book. The author has written a great debut fantasy balancing all the elements perfectly, full of thrilling and emotional moments and characters you can’t help but fall in love; and in the process setup a great sequel which promises to be full of more dragons and definitely a lot more magic. I already can’t wait for Sorcery of a Queen. ...more |
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1
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Dec 03, 2019
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Dec 03, 2019
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Aug 12, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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515
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| B07VK8H5Z4
| 3.98
| 164
| Apr 21, 2020
| Apr 21, 2020
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it was amazing
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CW: Extreme social anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, talk of past parental abuse More of a 4.5 but I’m definitely rounding up. I wasn’t gonna read this CW: Extreme social anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, talk of past parental abuse More of a 4.5 but I’m definitely rounding up. I wasn’t gonna read this book until nearer to its release date, I just wasn’t feeling interested in diving into a new epic fantasy world right at the beginning of the year, so obviously I decided to go for my other favorite genre - romance. As of Jan 6th when I’m writing this review, RWA has been going through shit for almost a couple of weeks and many many authors of color have been relentlessly voicing their opinions about the structural issues regards to racism in the organization and how hard they’ve been working to make it inclusive but it just all seems like for naught. While I can’t contribute much because I’m only a reader of romance, I decided I can atleast read the latest romance novel by my favorite author of color Alisha Rai. And as always, this book was excellent. The Right Swipe was one of my favorite romances of last year, and because I really liked Katrina in it, I definitely had high expectations from this book. But Alisha completely hit it out of the park this time. The story captured my heart right on the first page and then never let it go till the end. It’s an engaging love story of two people who’ve been through a lot in their lives and the I can’t describe the joy I felt when they were able to finally express their feelings for each other. This is a story about hope and kindness and I’m so glad I got to read it. My only slight niggle is that a couple of subplots didn’t feel completely resolved, but I guess it’s ok if we consider that the characters are still a work in progress. This book has so many important themes that are discussed and I loved how sensitively the author manages to explore all of them. The PTSD, extreme anxiety, panic attacks - everything is dealt with honestly- how difficult it is to live with them but also how they can be managed with access to therapy, medication and a support system. I particularly loved the importance the author places on having a supportive friend group, people who are unconditionally there for you whenever you need them and how family is whatever we make it to be. The author also talks about how it’s very easy to get cynical in our current world but sometimes, keeping hope alive in hearts and being kind to each other might help us move on. But definitely the most important theme of the story is about privacy in our world of social media and viral videos. We’ve really seen this happen many times - someone takes a video or photo of someone else in a public place and talks about the conversation they are having or spin a tale about a probable meet cute or just about anything else - and these tweets go viral. While they make for some fun when we read them, we never really do think about how the person who has been photographed and whose private conversation has become a social media trend actually feels about it all. Even if the whole situation played out in a public place, what right do we actually have to expose someone else to the toxicity of the internet without caring anything about their boundaries and privacy issues - there is absolutely no consent in this situation and it’s truly horrifying when we carefully think about it. I’m glad the author decided to talk about this issue in the book. The characters are always memorable in Alisha’s books but this book is just at another level. Katrina may have a lot of mental health issues but she has done a lot of work to devise her coping strategies, design her life in a way that minimizes possible triggers, and tries everyday to push her boundaries a little more. But despite everything, she is an extremely kind hearted person who wants the best for everyone and maybe, finally is ready for some happiness herself. As the story progressed, it was wonderful to see her assert herself more, talk about her needs and expectations and trying to not let her past hold her back. Jasvindar may fit the typical romance hero trope of a grumpy bodyguard with a tragic past with his own issues of PTSD, he is also an extremely nice and considerate guy and hates talking about himself, but will do anything for the sake of Katrina. They both really are the perfect couple and it was amazing to see them finally open up and talk to each other about themselves and also just be a bit silly. This is a very slow burn relationship with many years of friendship behind them and I really loved their dynamic. I also love how much emphasis there is on consent throughout. The side characters in this book are absolutely wonderful. Rhiannon and Lakshmi make appearances again and they are their usual badass selves. Rhi and Jia are such supportive friends and it was so nice to see all these women take care of each other. Jasvindar’s family was a delight to get to know. They are so warm and loving but also stubborn and their bickering and arguments felt very familiar. Sam and his friends Dean and Harry also make an appearance and it was nice to see Jas trying to make new friends and try to build a support system of his own. To conclude, this love story is sweet and beautiful and there’s no way you won’t love these two softhearted characters. It’s an amazing slow burn with deep friendship and also pretty tame, so don’t expect Alisha’s usual sexy and angsty times. But this book also tackles a myriad of important issues with a lot of sensitivity and I think I’ll definitely recommend it more because of them. I know Jia is getting the next book and I’m really excited for it but I also badly want Lakshmi’s book. Please make it happen Avon !!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Jan 06, 2020
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Jan 06, 2020
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Aug 12, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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464
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| B07VKG1ZSL
| 4.30
| 495
| Aug 05, 2019
| Aug 05, 2019
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liked it
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I was obviously eagerly awaiting for this sequel because Price of Killers had a monster cliffhanger and I just had to know what happened next. And it
I was obviously eagerly awaiting for this sequel because Price of Killers had a monster cliffhanger and I just had to know what happened next. And it was (and wasn’t) what I was expecting. It was both exciting and very different to completely shift to Dante’s (Chris’s) POV in this novel and it finally gave me the chance to get to know him better. He has lost a lot in life and is single minded in his dedication to find justice for his partner. I could totally empathize with his struggle to keep his feelings for Hawes in check while also being able to do his job. Hawes on other hand seemed to handle it all reasonably well. The chemistry and angst between them was scorching hot. But the story also quickly moved into a bit of instalove territory - which was a little unrealistic but also kinda understandable because of all the high stakes and adrenaline fueled situations they find themselves in. The writing is fast paced and full of evolving situations where we can’t guess what’s gonna happen next and that was a lot of fun. There’s not much action this time around though and I really wanted some of that. We also hardly got to know the Madigan siblings more and I thought that was a missed opportunity. The main suspense throughout the two books has been about finding out who is the person ultimately pulling the strings and I think it was pretty easy to guess this time around and I think I’m right, which was actually disappointing because I wanted to be devastated by the revelation. The ending was kinda unexpected but cool and I can’t even guess what’s gonna happen next. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did the first book but it was still fun and interesting and I’m very much looking forward to more explosive shenanigans in the finale. ...more |
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none
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1
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Aug 06, 2019
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Aug 06, 2019
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Aug 06, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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503
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| B07VF1X1QY
| 4.29
| 1,311
| Nov 12, 2019
| Jan 07, 2020
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really liked it
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Every new book in the Invisible Library always brings me delight and it was no different since the time I got to know the series would be extended.
Every new book in the Invisible Library always brings me delight and it was no different since the time I got to know the series would be extended. And obviously receiving the ARC made me very happy. What a great way to have some fun on a weekend. The one thing guaranteed in this series is that the story moves at a great pace, throwing one sticky situation after another at the characters, not giving them time to get complacent. This ensures that we as readers are always on our toes as well, worried what’s gonna happen next and never wanting to keep the book down. As always, there is another heist this time but involving a larger crew and I enjoyed seeing the typical heist tropes used so effectively. We get a 80s style Bond villain who is the mastermind, a master thief, a muscle, a hacker and the one running the show on the ground. It felt like watching a movie with lots of twists, not being able to guess initially who might betray whom, but ultimately figuring it all out and delighting in the knowledge. We also get us a bit more allusion to the dragon’s history which has been going on for the past couple of books now. And while I was enjoying an entertaining and predictable ride, the author completely blew my mind with the epilogue and I can only wonder what the long term consequences of those revelations are going to be. Irene has always been a favorite character of mine and reading more about her only made me happy. While she is her smart, witty and resourceful self when trying to get out of tricky messes, I liked getting to know her a bit more personally this time around. Her dysfunctional relationship with her parents and being involved in a task which means something personal to her showed us a bit of introspective and vulnerable side to her, and it definitely made me appreciate her more for being the kind and loyal person she is. We see that her relationship with Kai is going well but as we’ve come to expect, it’s the slowest burn romance ever and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. We also get quite a few Fae and Dragon cameos from the previous books, so that was fun but I missed having Vale again. The rest of the heist crew was fun to follow as well, but mostly I enjoyed watching Irene try to work with such a diverse team and figure out how to handle each of their idiosyncrasies. Finally, this is a thoroughly entertaining and sometimes predictable heist novel with an explosive ending and I promise you’ll have fun reading it. If you’re a fan of the series, then I would obviously recommend you to continue on this journey. If you have never read the Invisible Library series, but you love novels full of adventures and heists, supernatural creatures and an extremely smart Librarian protagonist, you should totally check this out. From the way the story ended, I hope we’ll get to know a lot more about the Library’s origins in the later books and I can’t wait. ...more |
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none
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1
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Dec 06, 2019
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Dec 08, 2019
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Aug 05, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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490
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| B07NF2BDFZ
| 4.13
| 6,898
| Oct 07, 2019
| Oct 07, 2019
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it was ok
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It’s probably more of a 2.5. CW: Suicide attempt I have been so excited for the release of this book because it’s been a long wait for Hunter’s book, It’s probably more of a 2.5. CW: Suicide attempt I have been so excited for the release of this book because it’s been a long wait for Hunter’s book, so I probably had too many expectations. Or maybe I’ve just become too old to enjoy these college age love stories - because reading this book didn’t go as well as I expected it to. Like every other Elle Kennedy book, this one too is a breeze to read and I finished it in just a few hours. The author’s signature humor is present, but only sparingly and I didn’t have many laugh out loud moments this time around. I liked the way the author used the main characters’ Abnormal Psychology final project as a way for them to get to know each other better, it’s definitely not something I’ve seen before. There is a whole side plot of the Briar hockey team taking care of their “egg” mascot which I thought was absolutely hilarious. There is also a cheating boyfriend subplot which I thought dragged on for a bit too long. But the worst part was the author trying to include POC characters and completely stereotyping them. Maybe authors shouldn’t write marginalized characters if they aren’t interested in doing the appropriate research instead of just wanting points for diversity. And then came the suicide attempt which completely threw me off. I was in a particularly bad place and that was the exact reason why I decided to read this book, because I was so sure Elle Kennedy would make me feel better with her writing atleast for a few hours. So when that dreaded scene happened, I had to take some time for myself to make sure I could continue. Other than the fact that there are no content warnings anywhere (I know it’s too much to ask for in books but many authors do mention atleast on their twitter these days), I hate that the suicide attempt is used as a plot device to resolve a particular conflict between three of the characters. Depression and suicide are too important and I just think it’s disingenuous to use them as plot devices in such a reckless manner, and also not give the readers any heads up. I’ve only always seen Hunter as a bit of a playboy like Dean, but it was nice to see a much more sweeter and bit vulnerable side to him. And while I thought his celibacy vow was a bit funny to read for a while, I just didn’t think it was so necessary to show him as perpetually horny. Demi on the other hand is a very straight shooting, no nonsense taking would be therapist and I really liked her a lot (initially). I thought the development of their friendship was written very well and their chemistry really reflected off the page. However, every time Demi tried to manipulate Hunter to make him break his celibacy vow, it just made me uncomfortable. Even though both of them seem to be okay with everything that happens, I just couldn’t get on board with it. The best part of the book for me was getting glimpses of my favorite characters from Off Campus series. Garrett, Logan, Allie, Grace and Dean make appearances and I was so delighted to get to know more about their lives after Briar. They are as amazing as ever. While I was so interested in seeing Brenna and Summer again, I thought their characters felt too different from the previous books and I just couldn’t reconcile what I knew about them with these new personas. Mike and Rupi make appearances too and they may be over dramatic, but I’ve gotten used to their antics now and find them sweet in their own way. But I hated how Summer and Brenna made fun of Rupi (which is so unlike them from The Risk where they were so supportive). There were many new hockey players in the team this time and while only Conor stood out, I thought they all seemed like a fun bunch. But it’s the other new characters like Demi’s ex boyfriend or her father whom I really didn’t like because none of them really seemed to take any of her opinions or choices seriously. They are shown as good people doing unkind things, but I just found their behavior appalling. There are some other friends of Demi who were introduced but none of them really left a mark on me. To conclude, I just don’t know what I have to say about this book. I liked the main characters for the most part, but the other elements of the story just weren’t for me. If you have enjoyed the previous books of this series, you might still enjoy it, so take my review with a pinch of salt. I have still not decided if I’ll continue if there’s another book in the series, but we shall see. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Oct 09, 2019
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Oct 10, 2019
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Jul 18, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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472
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| B07Q4JLDFD
| 3.91
| 482
| Sep 23, 2019
| Sep 23, 2019
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liked it
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It’s probably more of a 3.5 but I don’t feel like rounding up. I can’t say that I’ve been a huge fan of this series since the beginning, but I’ve It’s probably more of a 3.5 but I don’t feel like rounding up. I can’t say that I’ve been a huge fan of this series since the beginning, but I’ve enjoyed the Alaskan setting enough to want to continue. And I’m glad I did because I found this book to be much better than the previous installments. The writing in this book took me a while to get into and I was a bit bored initially. But once the winter season started in the story, it was interesting to get to know more about how the volunteers work along with rangers, what are their responsibilities and what kind of incidents should they be equipped to deal with. There was always this sense of danger, especially related to avalanches which felt real and visceral and gave me a real appreciation for the work all of them do to keep the tourists safe. On the flip side, this book doesn’t showcase the beauty of the Alaskan backcountry but concentrates on the issues travelers might face - but I didn’t mind this shift. I had enough of the picturesque locales in two books and it was nice to see the other side too. The last third of the book was also quite emotional and I ended up crying a lot (it could have just been my mood too though). It’s probably one reason I liked this book more despite not connecting with the characters a lot. Quill wasn’t an easy person to like. Not that he is bad, but he has so many internalized issues about relationships and being out as gay that sometimes I wanted to give him a hug, but other times I wanted to give him a good shake. But he was great at his job and I really liked that he didn’t shy away from talking about all the dangers, even if his audience didn’t appreciate it. Owen on the other hand is a cancer survivor, who now has a bucket list and wants to get through it all because he doesn’t want to waste any time. He is also a very social, talkative and extroverted person which makes him an exact opposite of Quill. And I totally understood his wish that Quill be more open, but I don’t think he completely empathized with Quill’s hangups. They are so different from each other that I couldn’t understand why they liked each other in the first place, but there was a lot of friendship and relationship development which I enjoyed. It felt very domestic and adorable and I liked those quieter moments. However, there was also a lot of back and forth, especially on Quill’s part and while I could feel where he was coming from, it got frustrating after a while. When the conflict happened, it seemed inevitable but I was also so upset that I kept sobbing for quite some time. However, the ending felt a little rushed but also earned and very very sweet. Overall, this was an enjoyable read despite some of the issues I had with the characters. I loved following the rangers and getting to know their daily life, and that’s one main reason this is probably my favorite of this trilogy. This book also has the hurt/comfort trope - so if you enjoy these themes or the setting of Alaska, you should definitely check out this book. Even if you have been disappointed by the previous books in this series, I have a feeling you might enjoy this better just like I did. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Aug 19, 2019
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Aug 20, 2019
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Jul 12, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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467
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| 1984830171
| 9781984830173
| 3.85
| 13,879
| Sep 03, 2019
| Sep 03, 2019
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it was ok
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I’ve never read this author’s The Thousandth Floor series, especially because it has a lot of mixed reviews and I didn’t feel like investing my time
I’ve never read this author’s The Thousandth Floor series, especially because it has a lot of mixed reviews and I didn’t feel like investing my time in it. But the alternate reality version America in this new book felt very interesting and I thought it’ll be a great foray into the author’s works. After really adoring RWRB (which is also like an AU version of America), I thought this book will be equally fun, but it’s very unfair to even try to compare the two books. I’m actually not sure what I’m going to say below in my review coz I’m very unsure about my feelings and really playing by the ear. Let me start off with the positives. The writing is very compelling and easy to follow, I never got bored and didn’t exactly wanna put it down either - which is kind of an accomplishment because I didn’t actually like the characters or the story but I still wanted to know what was going to happen. Now for what I didn’t like.... I definitely wanted to know a little more about the history of this alternate America, why Washington decided to become a King and how has the monarchy shaped the country - but we don’t get any of that. The main characters are the descendants of GW and current rulers, and that’s all we get to know. We get a little about the various Dukes and Earls and Viscounts that make up this America, and some references to previous Royal scandals, but that’s about the extent of the worldbuilding. I’m probably expecting too much from a YA romance novel, but I found it rather jarring that there’s no mention of the history of slavery and how it was abolished (because there’s no civil war and obviously no Lincoln in this world). Out of the four POV characters, one is a commoner who also happens to be a Latina with lesbian parents - her whole family felt like the token diverse part added to this novel. The only other POC character is a Japanese-American teenager who is in a coma throughout the novel. So you can guess why I’m a bit disappointed at how tone deaf this novel seems to be. I understand that the author wanted to write a teenage drama but that doesn’t mean the book can’t have depth or should necessarily only be superficial and frivolous. There are four POVs in this novel which actually surprised me because it’s not easy keeping track of so many storylines. It took me a while to remember who was who but it got easy gradually. The only character who seemed atleast a bit developed and had some depth was Beatrice, the heir to the crown and first future Queen of America. She struggles with always trying to be perfect and never having the choice to make any decisions for herself because her whole life is tied to the crown and country. I could truly sympathize with her when she couldn’t even fall in love with the person she wanted. Her younger sister Samantha came across as a mostly entitled privileged girl who was jealous of all the attention her sister got. Sam’s twin Jeff seemed like a clueless teenager whom I got to know nothing about except that he has two girls fighting over him. Nina is the only commoner POV we get and I liked that she was a grounded character for the most part, not at all swayed my the trappings of royalty despite being the twins’ friend since childhoood. I just wish she had more to her story than just revolving around the royals. Daphne is the final POV, who is from a noble family and will do anything to marry Jeff. She is the villain of the story and the source of a lot of girl hate and meanness (which I don’t like). I especially hated her parents because I’m sure they are responsible for her being that way. There is a lot of drama and romantic entanglements throughout the story, but I frankly could care less who ended up with whom. Ultimately, this book can be summed up as American royalty version of Gossip girl - full of drama and love triangles and backstabbing mean girls. If that premise interests you, then this is a perfect book for you. It’s fast paced and entertaining and pretty easy to finish in a single sitting. But if you like your YA romances to have a bit more depth and be less superficial, then I don’t think this one is for you. This is also not a standalone and ends with a cliffhanger, so keep that mind when you decide to pick it up. But even that predictable ending is not enticing enough for me to continue with this series. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Aug 11, 2019
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Aug 12, 2019
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Jul 08, 2019
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Hardcover
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461
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| B07PN4JJPV
| 4.13
| 143
| unknown
| Mar 29, 2019
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liked it
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Definitely a 3.5. I never would have read this book if not for the author contacting me and letting me know of this contemporary romance with desi Definitely a 3.5. I never would have read this book if not for the author contacting me and letting me know of this contemporary romance with desi characters set in South Africa. As I’m always excited for more diaspora stories, I was glad to have the opportunity to read this one and while I have a few conflicting feelings about it, it was an overall enjoyable experience. I really really liked Varini as a character. She was warm, kind and compassionate, with lots of love in her heart. She is also an accomplished doctor and I loved what little we got of her interactions with patients and colleagues, and her dream about creating a pediatric oncology wing in the hospital. Her only weakness was Aariyan and I totally understood her conflict over feeling all the love towards him even when he kept hurting her repeatedly. On the other hand, Aariyan was a frustrating mess and I really wanted to shake him up for the most part. I hated how much he gave Varini a bit of hope but then crushing her spirit, never ever apologizing for his appalling behavior or ever communicating anything. I could sympathize a bit for his past but I just couldn’t accept the way he treated her. I absolutely adored the whole cast of side characters we got in the book. My favorites were obviously Divya and Eri, but the whole gang of friends were very entertaining and I loved their banter. I also liked that all the elders in the book were sweet and gave sensible advice to the main characters, but were never stereotypically nosy like I usually see depicted in other books. We even had a couple of delightful kids who brought a lot of laughs and emotional heft to the story. While I really liked the characters for the most part, I think it was the writing where it faltered a bit for me. Firstly, I have to mention the desi elements because the author managed to bring a very familiar South Indian feel to the book and I absolutely loved it. I also thought the family dynamics and some of the romantic moments between the couple were written beautifully, but at other times, the writing felt disjointed and wasn’t going with the flow. I also thought many side characters were all introduced at once and it felt very infodumpy, and I could hardly keep track of them. Even the way the wedding rituals were described felt more informational rather than an organic part of the story. There were also places where I felt there was more telling rather than showing, but thankfully those moments were few and far between. While second chance romance and marriage of convenience are some of my favorite tropes and I have read many books with such plot lines, I think the author did a reasonable job subverting them enough to make it feel fresh and different from the usual. However, the way the story is written towards the end and how Aariyan realizes his true feelings was very very cliche and I was slightly disappointed. Overall, I can say that I enjoyed this book enough despite some of its flaws. If you like second chance romances or arranged marriage based stories, you can give this a try. It is slightly predictable and the hero might frustrate you a lot, but I really loved everyone else. And despite being set outside India, it is very South Indian at its heart (specifically Tamil) and that familiarity definitely made me enjoy the book a lot more than I expected to. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Jul 02, 2019
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Jul 02, 2019
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Jul 02, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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466
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| 0525620753
| 9780525620754
| 3.90
| 9,616
| Jul 23, 2019
| Jul 23, 2019
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liked it
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It’s a solid 3.5 but I didn’t love it enough to garner a 4. This book was not at all on my radar until I read some lovely reviews recently. And then It’s a solid 3.5 but I didn’t love it enough to garner a 4. This book was not at all on my radar until I read some lovely reviews recently. And then the gorgeous cover enticed me with its beautiful shades of purple and turquoise, and I couldn’t resist purchasing it. I was also fascinated to get to know a bit about Mayan mythology because it’s always such fun discovering new myths and legends. This book is written in a style that I didn’t completely get - some sort of an omnipresent or omniscient way of writing which made it feel like the story was happening at a distance and I couldn’t get emotionally connected to it. But it is also very beautiful and poetic and has a very mythical, fairytale feel to it, which can make it a wonderful reading experience for someone who can appreciate it better than me. The author does a great job of describing the setting of 1920s Jazz Age Mexico with its new trends in fashion, fast paced automobiles and fancy rail transportation, the clash between modernity and religion. The author manages to excellently combine the mythological elements of the Gods and the underworld and various creatures with a journey through Mexico and I enjoyed it all a lot. However, it’s a bit slow paced and despite dealing with the God of Death, I never particularly understood the high stakes, so the journey didn’t feel very urgent or impending. But it all came together very well towards the end and I thought the climax was just perfect. Casiopea is an endearing protagonist. She has suffered a lot at the hands of her family and longs for freedom and adventure, but none of her hardships have been able to harden her or lessen her kindness and compassion. She is also proud and defiant and clever and I thoroughly enjoyed following her journey, watching her discover herself and what she wants and desires most in life. Hun-Kamé is a God of Death who starts off as someone sure of his powers and destiny, but due to his association with a mortal, he starts to see her and the world and humanity through new eyes, feeling things like emotion and love, and wanting to be something more than just the ruler of Xibalba. I enjoyed seeing this change in his character even though I couldn’t always relate to him. I thought their relationship was written very beautifully, but I’m not sure I was completely convinced with the romance. I guess it just needed a bit more page time to feel realistic. The ending made me pretty emotional though, because I didn’t expect it go that direction, but it was definitely completely in character for the protagonists. If you love reading fantasies inspired by different cultures and mythologies, you should definitely check this one out. This is a fascinating tale of adventure and self discovery set in the beautiful landscapes of Mexico, and if you particularly like poetic writing style, this might just be the perfect read for you. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Jul 25, 2019
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Jul 26, 2019
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Jun 28, 2019
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Hardcover
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495
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| 0062942913
| 9780062942913
| 3.92
| 403
| Dec 03, 2019
| Dec 03, 2019
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really liked it
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The only classics I really loved are Jane Austen’s books and I’ve read them many many times, so these days it’s much more exciting for me to find
The only classics I really loved are Jane Austen’s books and I’ve read them many many times, so these days it’s much more exciting for me to find contemporary authors reimagining her books or characters. And this book fascinated me right from the time I saw it on Edelweiss, because when have we ever thought more about Charlotte’s life after her marriage to Mr. Collins. I was very happy when I received this advance copy and I devoured this in just a few hours. This is the author’s debut novel but you probably wouldn’t be able to guess that because the prose is absolutely beautiful and lyrical and so many other adjectives which I don’t even know. While I couldn’t put the book down at all, it is by no means a fast paced novel. It’s slow and languid and has a melancholic aesthetic to it, and you can feel every single feeling that the author wants you to. Days go by and the seasons change and that atmosphere is so perfectly captured that it amazed me. I also thought the author wrote about Charlotte’s loneliness in a way that deeply resonated with me. It also helps that the author knows her P&P characters well and even though she is writing her own backstory and future story for them, you feel that these are the same people whom you have known since you first read the original and you are just getting to know them better now. I think it’s difficult to create a new story with familiar characters without being too disruptive, and I love that the author managed to create a perfect balance. I’m pretty sure most of us pitied Charlotte for choosing marry Mr. Collins, maybe even looked down on her for compromising - but she knows what she did and why she had to make those choices. We get to know her so much more better in this book - her childhood dreams, the moment she realized she was never going to be a catch, and her decision to choose comfort and security over love. She is a very kind hearted woman who is trying to make the best of her life, but there are also moments of self reflection, pain and loneliness, of thinking about what-ifs and wondering what more she can do. And the time when she realizes what emotional intimacy can feel like, what does it feel like to be seen and heard - her heartache and confusion was very poignant and beautifully written. I have to say I really empathized with her a lot and only wanted her to be happy. Mr. Collins is the same person we know, giving his long winding opinions on everything and being extra deferential towards Lady Catherine. And while he can be annoying as ever, seeing him through Charlotte’s eyes brings a certain humanity to his character. He is not someone who is expressive or good at communicating true feelings, but she manages to get little glimpses of his true self and I thought that was done so sensitively. Lady Catherine is her usual obnoxious self and I don’t think anyone can make her seem more sympathetic. I loved the two newly added characters Mr. Travis and Mrs. Fitzgibbon and the lovely friendship and companionship they brought to Charlotte, who was so starved for affection. And I was totally delighted to see her daughter Louisa grow up within the pages of the book. And I won’t deny that getting to meet Lizzy and Mr. Darcy was amazing, even if just for a couple of scenes. To conclude, if you love Austen retellings or spinoffs, you should definitely try this book. It’s beautiful and evocative and completely captured my heart. I was probably in a fragile emotional state while reading it (and needed some catharsis it looks like) because I wept and wept through most of the second half. It’s not a sad book per se, but it does have a bit of that feeling permeating throughout - and while it made me cry, I don’t think it’ll elicit the same reaction in everyone. I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to read this book and I’m very much looking forward to see what the author writes next. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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Nov 07, 2019
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Nov 07, 2019
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Jun 26, 2019
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Paperback
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my rating |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
511
|
| 3.82
|
liked it
|
Jan 11, 2020
|
Jan 01, 2020
| |||||
508
|
| 3.82
|
really liked it
|
Jan 2020
|
Jan 01, 2020
| |||||
514
|
| 4.52
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 17, 2020
|
Dec 19, 2019
| |||||
501
|
| 3.88
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 28, 2019
|
Nov 28, 2019
| |||||
498
|
| 4.31
|
really liked it
|
Nov 16, 2019
|
Nov 16, 2019
| |||||
497
|
| 4.27
|
liked it
|
Nov 12, 2019
|
Nov 11, 2019
| |||||
496
|
| 4.06
|
really liked it
|
Nov 11, 2019
|
Nov 05, 2019
| |||||
494
|
| 3.69
|
liked it
|
Oct 25, 2019
|
Oct 25, 2019
| |||||
488
|
| 3.69
|
liked it
|
Oct 09, 2019
|
Sep 30, 2019
| |||||
512
|
| 3.89
|
really liked it
|
Jan 09, 2020
|
Sep 26, 2019
| |||||
484
|
| 4.16
|
really liked it
|
Sep 26, 2019
|
Sep 25, 2019
| |||||
487
|
| 4.22
|
liked it
|
Oct 03, 2019
|
Sep 25, 2019
| |||||
483
|
| 3.92
|
really liked it
|
Sep 24, 2019
|
Sep 23, 2019
| |||||
481
|
| 3.78
|
really liked it
|
Sep 23, 2019
|
Sep 18, 2019
| |||||
482
|
| 3.87
|
really liked it
|
Sep 20, 2019
|
Sep 18, 2019
| |||||
480
|
| 4.00
|
really liked it
|
Sep 15, 2019
|
Sep 15, 2019
| |||||
489
|
| 4.05
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 11, 2019
|
Sep 05, 2019
| |||||
509
|
| 4.04
|
liked it
|
Jan 02, 2020
|
Sep 05, 2019
| |||||
475
|
| 4.24
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 02, 2019
|
Aug 24, 2019
| |||||
473
|
| 3.02
|
liked it
|
Aug 24, 2019
|
Aug 16, 2019
| |||||
502
|
| 3.94
|
really liked it
|
Dec 03, 2019
|
Aug 12, 2019
| |||||
515
|
| 3.98
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 06, 2020
|
Aug 12, 2019
| |||||
464
|
| 4.30
|
liked it
|
Aug 06, 2019
|
Aug 06, 2019
| |||||
503
|
| 4.29
|
really liked it
|
Dec 08, 2019
|
Aug 05, 2019
| |||||
490
|
| 4.13
|
it was ok
|
Oct 10, 2019
|
Jul 18, 2019
| |||||
472
|
| 3.91
|
liked it
|
Aug 20, 2019
|
Jul 12, 2019
| |||||
467
|
| 3.85
|
it was ok
|
Aug 12, 2019
|
Jul 08, 2019
| |||||
461
|
| 4.13
|
liked it
|
Jul 02, 2019
|
Jul 02, 2019
| |||||
466
|
| 3.90
|
liked it
|
Jul 26, 2019
|
Jun 28, 2019
| |||||
495
|
| 3.92
|
really liked it
|
Nov 07, 2019
|
Jun 26, 2019
|
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