First of all, a big thanks to Simon and Schuster India for providing me with a hardcopy of this book as a part of the blog tour.
PiActual Rating - 3.5
First of all, a big thanks to Simon and Schuster India for providing me with a hardcopy of this book as a part of the blog tour.
Pitched as an epic retelling of Mahabharata and as the Indian Game of Thrones, I was intrigued by this book and the prologue which is kind of long but captivating. I finished reading this book last night and have a LOT of thoughts.
↠ The world building is phenomenal. It's so detailed and the author's descriptions are extremely vivid. Right from the prologue I could picture the setting beautifully which drew me into the novel. The world is diverse and there are tons of different empires and civilizations. The story is mainly set in patriarchy but in this world there exist matriarchal kingdoms too and I really was interested to see more of that.
↠ The characters are multi dimensional. And whatever feelings I had towards different characters from the prologue changed a LOT by the time I turned that last page. There were times when i did not agree with the things the main characters did and there were times when I agreed with the evil villains. This makes for a very interesting group of characters and while I was intrigued by them, I didn't really like any of them much. The character I hoped to see after the prologue wasn't even there for the rest of the story.
↠ The action scenes are so well-written. And so are the supernatural aspects. They were vivid and had me deeply engrossed in the scene.
↠ The writing is captivating and the descriptions gave me such good imagery of the scenes. The dialogues were a bit stilted at times though. The very first line of the book is intriguing and captivating though.
“They came to watch the children burn.”
↠ I wasn't a fan of the time lapse. Suddenly in one chapter Adri is a young boy and in the next chapter he's married and leading a mission and these time jumps jarred me out of the story multiple times.
↠ I liked how I could draw parallels between the story here and that of Mahabharatha and yet the author has retold it with his own twists.
↠ There are a couple cliffhangers in the character arcs and I'm interested to see how the author takes these characters forward.
↠ I didn't like how certain things are repeated throughout. Every time Vrath is a part of the scene, there is a long paragraph about his abilities as a demi-god. The extra descriptions at certain places also felt unnecessary.
↠ A strong start to the series making me look forward to the next book and see how the story progresses....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author and publicist in exchange for an honest review.)
This was my first LitRPG book and it was very, (I received a free copy of this book from the author and publicist in exchange for an honest review.)
This was my first LitRPG book and it was very, VERY different from the regular dystopian/sci-fi genre. I say that because after reading the blurb I figured it was a regular post-apocalyptic novel but it turned out to be quite different from my expectations.
It took me a while to actually get into the story. The world the author has created is complex and I'd have liked to know about it slowly throughout the book rather than the info dump at the very beginning that overwhelmed me.
The premise is interesting! I liked learning about the dystopian world, the idea of nanites that protect against the radioactivity (or so everyone thinks) and the idea of dragons in a post apocalyptic world. The starting of the book is extremely fast paced as the author jumps right into the story. Although the first half was fast paced, the info dumps put me off a bit as there was an overload of details in every page and that slowed me down.
I liked it much more when our main characters, Jared the human and Scarlet the dragon start with the actual quest. There were no longer info dumps and the action scenes were written extremely well. Although I must say that while some fight sequences were incredible, some were bizarre (giant bunnies anyone? Buffy fans?)
Despite the info-dumps, the information itself was interesting to read about. As a biotechnology student, I was really intrigued by how the nanites could aid in keeping radioactive degeneration at bay and also cause mutations in the host. Learning how the world worked and the idea of dragons being prehistoric beings alongside dinosaurs was also an interesting thought!
I really liked Scarlet although at the beginning I found the dialogues between Jared and Scarlet to be a bit affected. They became much better as the story progressed and I found them engaging. I wished there had been more focus on Scarlet as the story progressed but somehow the focus shifts solely to Jared most of the time.
Radioactive Evolution is an interesting take on post-apocalyptic world with a well thought out world-building and engaging action sequences. As a traditional reader I had a hard time with the storytelling style but for those who enjoy gaming and are familiar with the elements of gaming experience, this might be the perfect book for you!...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
I read Into the Between by Anna Web years ago as part of a re (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
I read Into the Between by Anna Web years ago as part of a review group on Goodreads and boy was I glad I did! I really loved the book; connected with the characters, loved the world building and it was just a really wonderful experience. Now recently the author gave me a chance to read the sequel- Beyond the Between and honestly I was so freaking happy!
As you can see from my 5 stars, I absolutely adored the book and here's why -
1. The characters are SO interesting! The story changes back and forth between two PoVs- Allyra and Jamie. They're both characters I really liked in book one and it was so nice to see the story from both their eyes. I love how the author writes the characters uniquely so that I never got confused as to who's PoV I'm currently reading. Also all the secondary characters - Jason, Eva, Chi and even characters who didn't really have many scenes in the book; all had a voice of their own that was unique and interesting.
2. I loved learning more about how magic works in the world that the author has created. The magic systems, powers of different people were all well-written and while I still have some questions, I loved how there wasn't any info dumping and yet there's so much information throughout the book.
3. The writing is captivating and the book absolutely sucks you in. I couldn't stop reading. I'd definitely have read it in a single sitting had it not been for college and other mundane chores. It's not everyday I come across a book that I can't put down.
4. Descriptions. I know i already talked about the writing but the descriptions are a whole other thing. SO BEAUTIFUL. I feel in love with people and places just by reading the author's descriptions. That doesn't happen everyday either.
5. Twists everywhere. There were some twists I kind of guessed at but there were some that I absolutely didn't see coming. I was left shell-shocked and probably the only negative thing i could say about the book is - OMG THIS CAN'T HAVE ENDED LIKE THIS. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT AWAYYYYY.
It's safe to say this series is one of my faves and I would recommend it to pretty much everyone. It's a hidden gem among YA fantasies and I can't wait to push more of my bookworm friends to read it!!...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author and Rupa publications in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
The thing i love about (I received a free copy of this book from the author and Rupa publications in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
The thing i love about Anuja chandramouli's characters are that they're so relatable. She writes in such a way that even the great Goddess Ganga feels so relatable and we understand her feelings. intentions and ideas so well. Although the holy river is seen as a Goddess, there are so many versions of her that the author explores. Each version is depicted so wonderfully; Ganga's confidence taking the lead in one version while another is noted by her loving nature and another version sparkles with her benevolent nature. It's captivating to see how Ganga flows through mythology, changing and adapting with every era, holding the land together. if you enjoy mythological retelling with mythical characters written in a highly relatable manner, this book is for you.
PLOT
So many stories within this book, all revolving around Ganga. Stories of her origin, her games, how she helps other Gods and Goddesses and so many more. More important is the abundance of satire in every story which I immensely enjoyed! Every story has something to tell us, something to make us think - could be about ourselves, the current state of the world, the environment, feminism and an idea of what is right and what is wrong. Also I learnt so much about Hindu mythology I didn't know before!
WRITING
I've been reading the author's books for quite sometimes and if there's one thing that always astounds me, it's how beautiful the writing is. And it only seems to be getting better and better! The writing is mesmerizing and it's hard to stop reading. it feels more like poetry and flows easily, taken the readers along with it. While it is beautiful, the language is also simple which adds to the easy flow when reading.
CONCLUSION
If you love reading richly written, modern retellings of Hindu mythology, this is THE book to read. With captivating characters, well-woven plots and poetic writing, Anuja Chandramouli quite captures the reader's attention!...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author and publicist in exchange for an honest review.)
BLURB
When a teenage girl witnesses a carj (I received a free copy of this book from the author and publicist in exchange for an honest review.)
BLURB
When a teenage girl witnesses a carjacking gone bad, she is marked for death by a crime boss with no apparent motive. A black lawyer and a white enforcer with an unlikely history forge an uneasy alliance to protect the girl from a hit man with an agenda of his own.
After they find out that the crime boss is the father of the black teenage carjacker, Paul Elliott - lawyer and close friend of the witness’s family - begins counseling them.
As the long-simmering feud between Rico and John D'Angelo reaches boiling point, bodies start to pile up in rapid succession... and old scores will be settled.
REVIEW
One of the things i liked about Pigeon Blood Red and this book is how the author brings together various unrelated characters with the plotline. The story starts off having two different plotlines until you realize they were moving towards each other from the beginning. It was nice to see the familiar characters like Rico and Paul and then there are new characters like Sandra who do a great job in driving the story forward.
I really liked how there are these amazing plot twists and the authors throws them at you all of a sudden like BAM and you're flipping back the pages to see Okay now how did that happen??
Every character is unique. Rico is one of the best anti-heroes ever written. The author doesn't downplay his dark side but the author doesn't hide his good side either; the one where he takes care of his people and wants to protect an innocent man. Paul Elliott lives in a world apart from Rico's and although they crossed paths in the previous book, Paul is in no hurry to visit Rico's part of the world; the one with the guns and hit-men. When Paul is unwittingly pulled back into this world as he tries to protect Sandra, him and Rico meet again.The awkward friendship growing between the two men was interesting to read about.
It was also interesting to see more of how Paul and Evelyn are working with their relationship and how Rico and Jean interact in their relationship. I always like it when stories are driven by the characters and their relationships with other characters.
CONCLUSION
Ed Duncan has written a thrilling mystery with characters the reader would grow to love. You needn't have read book one to understand this story but it definitely would give you a better understanding of the characters....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
BLURB
Hounds of Shiva is a treasure house of tales with i (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
BLURB
Hounds of Shiva is a treasure house of tales with impassioned, heroic acts of sacrifice, devotion and service in the lives and times of the Nayanmars – the sixty-three Shaivite saints who were exemplars of bhakti.
REVIEW
It's not everyday I come across books that celebrate south Indian Hindu mythology and scriptures. The thirty seven stories in this book are about the 63 Nayanmars, staunch devotees of Lord Shiva. I absolutely enjoyed reading about the stories i'd heard as a kid from the older relatives in my family. The author's narrative is whimsical and has a way of pulling in the readers. She sticks true to the original mythology stories and the book is as informative as it is entertaining.
The repetitiveness in the plot curve could make the stories a little monotonous but the rich writing helps to stay enraptured. I do like how this is different from the 're-tellings' we usually hear. They are generally retold in a different way by the author with new twists. But in this book the authors stays true to the original lore with it's interesting philosophies and ideas.
One of my favourite things about the book were the little knowledge boxes in every story with some kind of interesting information from old time words to information about temples.
Despite being short stories, each story captures it's main character (a Nayanmar) so beautifully, letting the readers feel their emotions and thoughts. The writing definitely has to be my most favourite aspect of it all. The writing flows naturally and has a poetic feel to it that keeps one turning the pages.
REVIEW
The author is definitely someone to keep an eye out for if you’d like to read about the lesser known Hindu mythological myths written in beautiful poetic prose....more
(A huge thanks to the publicist and the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
REVIEW
Kitty Hawk's adv (A huge thanks to the publicist and the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
REVIEW
Kitty Hawk's adventures continue and now she's in Iceland. What is something I ought to talk about right now is how gloriously the author describes Iceland in the book. If you've ever thought Iceland is like a boring place with not much to do or see, FRIEND I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU> It has -- wait, *Shoves book in you face* READ IT.
But honestly, I loved getting to know about the culture and the ways of the people of Iceland too. I always love the wonderful people Kitty comes across due to her traveling. As with the other books, especially the first one, I really liked the family who Kitty stays with. They were kind and provided so much knowledge about the people and the places in Iceland.
As always what I loved the post about Kitty were the inner monologues. I just love how she talks to herself. For me, it makes her ten times more relatable because I do that. A LOT. I'm not sure if it's weird for others, but I absolutely have conversations with myself in my head.
And Kitty has grown from the past two books. The way she deals with the adventure and the mystery she is thrown into shows how much she has grown. She deals with panicky situations with a cool headed, rational thinking. Also the mystery! It was SO good. The author had me guessing till the last moment and I was absolutely flabbergasted by the reveal.
Overall, what I love the most about this series is it's as informative as it's entertaining. It's the kind of book you can read in one sitting. Although there's a LOT of information in the story, - about the places, people, the mystery aspects - I love that there's no info dumping. I also love that the information is provided in a way that we don't forget either. If only my geography books in High school had taken a leaf out of this series!!
CONCLUSION
Those who have already read Kitty's adventures in books 1 and 2, book 3 is just as amazing, if not more. This is the perfect book that can be read my middle graders as well as adults. It's fun, informative and my favorite part is it focuses on environment conservation and sustainable development. I see this is all Kitty Hawk book sand I applaud the author for talking about these important issues....more
(I received a free print copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Actual Rating - 3.5
(For my friends who do not know the H (I received a free print copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Actual Rating - 3.5
(For my friends who do not know the Hindu mythology, Kalki is to be the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu who will appear at the end of Kaliyuga, the present epoch, destroy all that is bad and usher in the next ‘Golden Age’)
REVIEW
So what were my thoughts as I read this book? And I generally have a lot of thoughts which is why I’m a reviewer and also why my reviews are so long you’re probably falling asleep right now. (I’ll give you chocolates if you stay up.) (#notbribing)
* Mythology, Science Fiction and dystopian blend done right! I haven’t read ANYTHING like this before so full points for originality. Bringing mythology and technology together isn’t the easiest thing. Mythology by itself has a rustic, antique-y feel that we love and to bring it together with science fiction could go incredibly wrong if the magic of mythology is no longer there. Author Naveen Durgaraju stays true to the mythology while bringing in his uniquely scary and creepy dystopian world. * Hy I’m Uma. I like dark fantasies and lots of blood. And no I’m not a vampire. This book is so BLOODY! And just so creeptastic at places. 100% recommended for readers like me who are just evil dark queens at heart. * I wasn’t very onboard with the romance? It was a combination of insta love and love triangle that I found annoying. It felt pretty unnecessary for the plot? Like it was just there for the sake of a romantic subplot in the novel. * The writing was rad. I mean this book is totally quotable! Also if you like quotes and poetry you should totally follow the author’s instagram where he posts AMAZING quotes. I absolutely enjoyed having the writing give me goosebumps every now and then.
"Forgiven, Forever We do not bleed... for we are not men We do not weep... fir we are not troubled We do not bow... for we are not bound We are the living and we are the judged But we do not die... for we are the forgiven Forgiven, Forever"
* Multiple PoVs - I’m on the fence about this one. I generally like them because they give us the whole picture and I definitely wanted the whole picture with this book what with the numerous questions that pop up. But I think it could have been edited better. At the very beginning, when the PoV first changed it was so abrupt I was like huh? * World building was absolutely on point. There is a sect of people who call themselves “The Sinless” and have built their own little city with their own culture, rules and such. In a similar way “The Forgiven” have brought together people in the caves and built an establishment there. I loved how the author builds these little cities and how he draws parallels between the different ways of living. * Different kinds of characters is my jam. But in books with many characters I’m always afraid they’ll all gonna sound the same and then I won’t be able to tell them apart. I didn’t have to worry about that in this book. Each voice was unique and every person had a unique personality that made them stand out.
CONCLUSION
This is such a unique read that mixes various genres like mythology, science fiction and horror. I did have trouble with the romance but it doesn't deviate from the main storyline too much. The book has a cinematic quality to it and while I felt the writing could have been more edited, it is nevertheless an entertaining story that leaves readers asking for more. Looking forward to book 2!...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Seeing as the story is historical in nature a (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Seeing as the story is historical in nature and of a much older time, I’m not sure how to comment upon the characters but I must say the author does a great job of portraying these historical figures as everyday people. When reading about historical figures in a history book we often forget that they were actual people with feelings, desires and a life other than the ‘big picture’. In this book, the author shows us these characters in such a way that we can understand them.
PLOT
The story follows that of Padmavati, who went on to become to Queen of Chittor. To those who are well versed with Indian history, she is also in many books referred to as Padmini. Queen Padmavati is famous for having committed Jauhar (Self-Immolation) rather than being captured by the invader Alauddin Khalji who had taken over Chittor. This particular historical fiction focuses more on the love between the Queen and her Husband, King Rawal Ratan Singh. More than the actual war itself, the story focuses on what goes on within the palace walls; the scheming of those in power, those scorned and those envious.
I also liked how the story was not just from Queen Padmavati’s point of view. It’s also from Alauddin Khalji’s perspective and gives a glimpse into what sort of a man he could have been.
WRITING
The author writes in a simple language that flows beautifully. I enjoyed her wonderful descriptions that didn’t deter the flow of the story in any way. I did find it a little annoying that we’re constantly told how beautiful and clever and wonderful Padmavati is. I wished we could have seen more depth in her personality through her actions and not the descriptions by the author.
Throughout the various problems of the society that existed back then and still do now are brought out; like sexism, discrimination and such. She brings it all out in a such a way that we can truly understand the plight of those affected.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
-The writing -The plot flow -Seeing the story from the antagonist’s PoV too
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-There was more tell than show when it came to characterisation
CONCLUSION
Beautifully written and wonderfully presented, this book is perfect for those who love learning about historical figures but not through a history textbook....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
I extremely enjoyed reading about the feisty (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
I extremely enjoyed reading about the feisty and driven Sorcha who is the main character in the book. She’s a midwife but wants to be a proper healer. Living in a man’s world, her opinions on the plague ravaging their world is ignored and her ideas fall on deaf ears. It was wonderful to see our driven heroine constantly challenging this, a trait that stands out among other characters in the book.
Eamonn, our beast is quite the intriguing character with a temper to match his gigantic form. While I found him an intriguing character and wanted to know more, I wasn’t the biggest fan of him. He’s been through a lot but how he keeps clinging to the sadness and his anger towards Sorcha was something I couldn’t quite get past. I would like to see more development of him in the sequels! I know there’s more to his character than the angry and wistful beast, and I want to see it.
I loved LOVED all the different types of fae in the book. It made the world so rich. I’m in love with the blend of Irish mythology into the book which results in so many wonderful kinds of fae all over the human world and the Otherworld.
PLOT
The story loosely follows the Beauty and the Beast story. Sorcha is a midwife looking to cure the plague that is killing people in hordes including her father. When she’s given a mission in exchange for a cure, she jumps at the chance. This part of the story felt a little rushed to be but her travel to Hy-Brasil is nevertheless eventful and one of my favorite parts of the book.
It is at Hy-Brasil, the isle on the edge of the Otherworld that she meets the beast, a brooding man, disfigured and angry at the world at large. The rest of the story follows Sorcha convincing the beast to come back from his exile, which was the mission bestowed upon her.
I needed a little more plot. Towards the end especially. Certain events happened that felt slightly random and I’d have loved to see them more detailed. Although I believe we will see more reasons for why things happened the way they did in the sequel.
WRITING
Holy mother the writing was glorious. I’ve read Emma’s previous books and her writing has always been gorgeous. In Heart of Fae it reaches a whole new level. I loved the descriptions of the Ireland inspired world of the book and wanted more. There is so much diversity among the fae and this is described beautifully by the author. I also enjoyed the dialogue a lot and the wonderful lines that Sorcha delivers. The writing made sure I couldn’t put down the book at all.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The writing - The Irish connect - The different kinds of fae - The overall outline of the plot
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The slightly forced feminism at certain points - The certain abrupt happenings in the plot
CONCLUSION
If you love Beauty and the Beast and would like to read a more diverse, complex and darker retelling with fae, Heart of the Fae is for you. I absolutely can't wait to know what happens next because cliffhanger!...more
Note - Explicit content warning. This book contains explicit content and triggers for rape, murder and brutality.
CHARACTERS
This is an unusual boNote - Explicit content warning. This book contains explicit content and triggers for rape, murder and brutality.
CHARACTERS
This is an unusual book and therefore I'm not quite sure what to talk about the characters in it. All I can say is that every single character is complex and not what they seem at first glance. I've never read about a more complex set of characters in any book. This book despite being supernatural in nature, is rooted in reality; rooted in the base nature of humans; rooted in greed that drives many a people to insanity.
Although, Siobhan is the main character of the book in many ways, we see less of her as the story is all about her mother. Throughout the book, we along with Siobhan learn what happened to her mother on one fateful night; a night that has caused a cascade of events to happen that would affect the world. In this process, while the story was undoubtedly interesting, I wished to know more about Siobhan herself.
PLOT
Like I said before, we learn more about what has already happened than what is happening around Siobhan. We learn about the horros of a particular fateful night and the horrors it would unleash. The tale is dark and the author holds nothing back when describing the horrific scenes in the book. This is definitely not for people who do not like to read about the details of horrific crimes. I do admit it's the raw descriptions that make the story so realistic and makes us realize just the depth of hatred and jealousy that could lurk within humans.
The historical facts in the book are fascinating, so is the author's take on The Devil's Prayer. I enjoyed the way Luke Gracias spins a tale so unique and dark that one can't help but be pulled into the pages entirely. I do wish the descriptions had been a little less raw but this isn't really a complaint but a personal preference.
WRITING
It was wonderful. I loved the writing so much and it was one of the contributing factors that had me hooked to the book. The descriptions of the places and historical events were done in a manner fit to be called glorious. The author has a way of writing that bring forth emotions. I found myself angry, surprised and shocked constantly. This is one of the few books that actually make me angry; angry because of the injustice brought upon the characters. The writing gives readers a connection to the characters and events that make the story more interesting.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The plot with so many unexpected twists
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The fact that we don't learn as much about Siobhan as we do about her mother
CONCLUSION
This is definitely not a book for the faint of heart. This book has a lot of violence depicted brutally that might give the horrors to some people but at the same time, it's also a book so masterfully crafted and brought together with great precision. I'm dying to get my hands on the sequel because the book ends in quite a shocking cliffhanger....more
(A huge thanks to the publicist and the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
I'm really (A huge thanks to the publicist and the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
I'm really loving Kitty and she's fast becoming one of my favorite female characters in fiction. Like I said with book 1, I sometimes feel like Kitty is younger than she is but in truth, that has more to do with the kind of protagonists I normally read than with Kitty. Kitty reminds me of Nancy Drew, a more adventurous and relatable Nancy Drew actually. I love how driven she is and a how wonderful a role-model for those who read the books. I personally love the coneversations she has with herself the most! It's great to know i'm not the only person who does that.
Also this book deserves all the A+++++ for great parents. I love how her parents support her decision to fly around the world and how her dad helps her come up with a proper route. I enjoyed seeing her parents take active part in preparing her for the journey and the wonderful relationship they have with their daughter.
PLOT
Kitty decides to take a little vacation at Florida Keys before she starts her Amelia Earhart inspired flying trip around the world. This is the land of Ernest Hemingway, where Kitty discovers his books, his residence and probably his ghost! I love how Kitty's mysteries are always complex. I loved how in book 1 the plot unraveled slowly, twists where you would least expect to see them. I'm pleased to say book 2 has been the same. The plot was complex and I loved how things were revealed slowly, making us mull over the mysterious happenings along with Kitty herself.
The one little problem I have in the series is that I didn't worry about my characters. Like when Kitty is getting into trouble I get excited but never worried because I know everything's going to be okay. I'd like to care more for her as the series progresses.
I love that we learn so much through these books, geography, history and so much more. I've learnt so much about Spaniard ships and Fort Jefferson in this book that I so enjoyed. Also another thing I love about these books is that, there is always a small mystery left unsolved; mostly of a supernatural nature. In book one it was the curse and here....read and find out!
WRITING
I absolutely love the vivid descriptions of the places; the Fort, Ernst Hemingway's house, the coral reef, the boats in the story and basically just about everything. I feel the inner dialogue that Kitty has with herself has improved from book 1. I loved the dialogues in book 1 too but sometimes felt they were choppy. In this installment, I found that it flowed seamlessly along with the rest of the text.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- All the wonderful descriptions - The knowledge in the book - geographical, historical and more - The intriguing plot
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The fact that I can't myself caring much about my characters because I know it's all going to be fine.
CONCLUSION
While this is the second installment of the series, this works pretty great as a standalone too. This is the perfect read if you want a fun filled mystery that also has loads of knowledge within....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author and the publicist Kelsey Butts in exchange for an honest review.)
Actual Rating - 3.5
CHARAC (I received a free copy of this book from the author and the publicist Kelsey Butts in exchange for an honest review.)
Actual Rating - 3.5
CHARACTERS
While the story isn't a long one, we still get to see the personality of each character come through. I enjoyed getting to know Evelyn. She's a woman who believes in herself and at the same time isn't scared to accept her own mistakes. While the summary of the book on Goodreads talks of Rico as the main character, for me it was Evelyn. Through our glimpses into her past, I enjoyed getting to know the person she used to me and the person she'd grown into.
Paul too was an equally interesting character with a past that haunts him. It was interesting to see how he lets go of that and learns to move on even while they're caught up in a dangerous plot. Rico sure is not the kind of character we normally see in books. He is not really a bad guys but not really a good guy either. He's one of those gray characters who always make interesting decisions.
PLOT
Truth be told, I expected the plot to be a lot more complex but I do understand that's not possible when the book isn't long enough. For me the best twist was around the middle of the story when we learn about a certain someone. But I think the little blurb on the backcover would give away this little twist and make readers guess before they get to the part. Thankfully I read the blurb only after finishing the story. The most interesting parts of the story for me was learning about each person through their past. I also liked how the plot was character driven most of the time. It's the kind of book you know would also make for a good gangster thriller movie. At the beginning of the story, I felt a little confused as to what was happening but the author clears up things soon enough
WRITING
The writing is clear and to the point, making this a really fast read. At certain points, I felt the dialogue wasn't natural enough. I think the best part of writing was when we learn about Paul's backstory. The dialogue between him JoAnne was written wonderfully.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The character driven plot - Evelyn and Paul - The fast pace - The cover
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- how the story feels confusing at first - certain characters whose personalities weren't explored much.
CONCLUSION
A noir drama that is character driven and fast paced making sure to keep readers interested till the very last page....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author and Penguin Random House India in exchange for an honest review.)
(NOTE - The book has some expl (I received a free copy of this book from the author and Penguin Random House India in exchange for an honest review.)
(NOTE - The book has some explicitly violent scenes and gory descriptions)
CHARACTERS
First off, I missed not having enough Mino in this book. In book 1, while the story starts off with Agni as the main character, Mino comes to play a crucial role and I absolutely enjoyed her interactions with the other characters. But here we see more of Agni than any other characters. We also see many new characters who while adding a lot of dimension to the story made me miss the original cast.
“Not every story is about a girl who dreams of romance, waiting impatiently and dramatically for a tall, handsome, strong man to fall hopelessly in love with, in the foolish hope that he will protect her from all harm and give her the happily ever after she has always wanted.”
The stone witch intrigued me so much. I did guess a couple things about her as I was reading but not the entire picture. I quite enjoyed her unique way of getting what she wants done. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Dhumorna's past. While Yami had been the one I sympathized with in book 1, the decisions made by herself and her brother that we learn of in this book irked me to no end. In this book it was Dhumorna I sympathized with and enjoyed reading about.
PLOT
Like with book 1, book 2 had me guessing till the very end. One of the twists at the end took me unawares and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how it all turned out. Not everything is neatly wrapped up in a bow and things are bittersweet but I quite liked the way things worked. I did feel there were times when the plot was moving too slow but it always got faster before I could feel distracted.
What I love about these books is the fact that the author brings in those parts of Hindu mythology that aren't well known. I've grown up listening to Hindu mythology stories and yet as I read these books I realize there's a lot I don't know. The world Anuja Chandramouli shows us is complex, fascinating and utterly entertaining.
I really hope there is a book 3 because I still have so many questions and would love to see what Agni does with his life after the events of this book. I'd like to see somewhat of a "happily ever after" for our moody hero.
WRITING
The writing is truly the best part of the book. The author has a way with words that invokes thought and emotion in the readers. This book is so quotable and at many points the words put a smile to my face.
"No, you pessimistic fool, I am saying that if we can find it in ourselves to be miserable even when things are actually pretty good then there should be no difficulty being happy even when there is gloom and doom all around us.."
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The mythology - The characters - The plot - The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The slow parts - The fact that we see less of some characters
CONCLUSION
A wonderful sequel that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I would heartily recommend this series to all lovers of dark fantasy....more
(A huge thanks to the author for providing me with a kindle copy in exchange for an honest review)
CHARACTERS
Starr Bishop is an overachiever who (A huge thanks to the author for providing me with a kindle copy in exchange for an honest review)
CHARACTERS
Starr Bishop is an overachiever who believes in diving into stuff and seizing opportunities. I liked how driven she was about accomplishing all that she wanted. She's also very hardworking and all this shows when she runs from the organization. She manages to get away from them with sheer will power and strong personality. In the beginning I loved that whenever she had problems, she'd make a mental list of what she knows, what are the unknowns, and how to tackle the unknowns. I loved this strategy of hers that she uses whenever she's in trouble or is trying to figure things out. That being said, I wasn't sure how much I liked her after she teams up with Christian. Suddenly there was so less of the problem solving girl and more of the girl who's fallen in love with the unexpected boy. I wanted to see more of the girl who was fighting the organization and looking for justice.
Christian started of as quite the interesting character - the broody guy who keeps to the back of the class. Then he takes a 180 degree turn and becomes this wonderful protective guy. I liked him at that point. He was sensible and caring though I still don't truly get why he teamed up with Starr. But then towards the end he became too possessive for my liking. He was getting Starr to shut up by kissing her, refusing to let her out of his sight for even a minute and stuff like that. I really hope Starr knocks some sense into him in book 2. But I loved the diversity him and his cousins bring into the book as they are part Cheerokee and readers get to learn many things about their culture and beliefs.
I loved Sami, Jody and Di even though we saw them only for a little while. I am hoping to see more of Di in the sequel and I'm pretty sure she'll be there kicking ass. I loved what a wonderful friend she was and so willing to help when Starr was in trouble. She was kind, smart and so collected even when Starr shocked her. I even liked Frank who I thought was kinda goofy and cute (Like Joey from the TV show Friends!)
PLOT
I absolutely loved the premise and how the story started off. The author literally dove headlong into the plot. Right after the introduction of our characters and protagonist, we're introduced to the antagonist and the story kicks off. The first few chapters were fast and thrilling. The second half was slower compared to the first part and had more romance than any adrenaline pumping scenes. Don't get me wrong, I like me some romance and I liked it art first but then Christian became possessive and kept stopping Starr from fighting for justice and then I wasn't so onboard with the romance. I didn't really get how they were just hanging out when so much horrible stuff had been done by the Organisation. As for the actual plot with the organization trying to get to Starr, there wasn't much of it. I just read the blurb of book 2 and I'm excited to see Starr's team kick the organisation's ass. There were also these questions raised in book one about Christian's parents, Starr's family and such that I'm really curious about.
WRITING
The writing flows quite well and I enjoyed the fast paced narration. I also loved the descriptions in the book and the dialogues between the girls at the beginning of the book. I loved reading their chatter as they got ready. I also personally loved the mental lists that Starr makes in order to keep herself organized and ready for stuff. I'm quite the list-maniac and can totally relate.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- Starr and her skills - The girls in the book - The diversity
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- Christian during the second half of the book - The lack of thriller-value in the second half - The derailing of the plot from mystery to romance
CONCLUSION
The author has built up the premise wonderfully in book 1 although I hope to know more about the thriller aspect of the story in book 2. There are so many questions and the end of book 1 and I'm eager to know the answers in the sequel. This would be an exciting read for those who love books in the romantic-thriller genre....more
(A huge thanks to the publicist and the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Kitty is th (A huge thanks to the publicist and the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Kitty is the star of the book and the entire story is from her perspective. The thing I loved the most about Kitty is that she has these conversations with herself which was so relatable! She argues with herself which is something I do a lot! Also it was wonderful to see a main character who liked geography and biology. It's not everyday that YA books have such a protagonist. But I must say that Kitty sounded a little younger than a young adult! While the fact that she's flying a plane around the world reminds me that she is an adult, the way she talks and behaves made me feel that she was a lot younger. I felt like she was a younger Nancy Drew who loved adventures!
Every character Kitty meets have an important role both in the book and Kitty's life. It was nice to see her interactions with her parents and friends. I loved that the starting chapters focused so much on Kitty's relationships with the most important people in her life. I feel this gives readers a very good idea about Kitty's personality before diving into the actual adventure!
'Wherever we are in this world, we are not alone. We are not the only creatures who find life in the sky and water and land. We are not the only creatures who need it. And we cannot just take and take and take. We have to give. And we have to respect.'
PLOT
The plot is basically the adventures Kitty faces as she studies whales. When Kitty is suddenly pulled into a gold rush adventure, things get worrisome. While normally the pace with which the plot unfolded would have been slow for me, I liked it here because even before the actual plot starts, we learn a lot about other things such as flying, the whales, the geography and culture of Alaska etc. I found all these quite interesting to know about and there wasn't a single boring moment in the book.
WRITING
The writing flows quite effortlessly even when the chapters aren't in chronological order. Sometimes the chapters weren't continuous and there are time gaps between them; but this never hindered me during reading. I loved the internal conversations Kitty has with herself and also the vivid descriptions of the places she visits and the sights she sees. At times there was a lot of information to absorb in a single page and I had to reread things a bit which is pretty much the only complaint I have about the writing style.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- Kitty's conversations with herself - All the Biology, geography and history facts - The slow but steady plot - The writing for the most part
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The fact that Kitty seemed a lot younger for her age at times - Too much information at times
CONCLUSION
If you're looking for a fun filled adventure along with a lot of scientific facts, this is a must read. The story has a wonderful MC, a fun plot, a light romance and loads of adventure!...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
In Red Blood. looking at things through Lyra' (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
In Red Blood. looking at things through Lyra's perspective was a bit hard. Her being a Siren and therefore being selfish, mean and vain gave me a really hard time trying to connect to her but Blue Blood was Jasper's perspective which I find I enjoyed from the start. Jasper's troubles are more relatable and I quite enjoyed his sass. Bluebell is the fairy inside him and she is sweet and talkative and at the same time, also extremely possessive. I expected her making Jasper get all possessive over people would make me angry but I think it was more funny that infuriating for it's hard to take Bluebell seriously. With her childlike demeanor and mischievous attitude she comes off more like a child than an adult fairy. When she gets possessive she's like a one year old unwilling to share their favorite things. When Wolfgang was possessive in Red Blood, it made me quite a bit mad, like dude seriously? but Bluebell acting in a somewhat similar way made me laugh and want to chide her like one would a child.
Mercy is...well, the definition of a morally grey character who is a shade bit closer to the darkness than the light. At the end of the day I'm not sure I 'like' her. she's quite a complex and interesting character and I enjoyed her dialogue immensely; especially when she flirts and tries to make things uncomfortable for Jasper. But that person is suddenly gone and replaced by a colder person who is not even human.
PLOT
The things we learnt in the first two books were undone and made anew in this book. We learn shocking things about the world and what happened when the realms combined. New creatures are revealed and far from the city, in the woods we get to see how much the world changed when the realms combined. The plotline itself was quite fast paced and I enjoyed the couple travelling from maxes and prisons to forests and cities. I think I like journeys in books! I had certain doubts about the ending but otherwise enjoyed the ride a lot! i think while Silver Blood will always be my favorite in the series, Blue Blood is a close second.
Also the epilogue has left me with SO many questions It features the one character who is always in the shows, helping himself by helping others but we still don't know what exactly he wants; although I have a faint idea.
WRITING
Emma Hamm always does wonderful imagery and Blue Blood is no different. The world she has created is brilliant and filled with colors that the readers can visualize from the writing. The worl building is on point and the descriptions, alluring.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- Jasper - The plot - The writing - The epilogue
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- Certain plot points, mostly regarding Mercy
CONCLUSION
Now at Book 3, the series continues to be strong and the author spins the story deftly, keeping readers entranced and awed. I immensely enjoyed the story of jasper and looking forward to book 4. I have an inkling who the book will be about....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Agni Prakash is grieving the death of his twi (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Agni Prakash is grieving the death of his twin sister Varu and there's nothing anyone can do about it. He feels empty without his sister who was like a part of him. The emptiness leads him to waste away his life, until he is given a task. 'The Chosen One' is a trope I enjoyed in Harry Potter but it has been so oft repeated that it's hard to get excited about it and I was a bit wary when Agni is 'the chosen one'. And while I was not-so-thrilled about this aspect and the way the mission finds him, I quite enjoyed Agni's narration. he is a realistic character in the sense that he isn't perfect. He makes mistakes and assumes the wrong things and it's those things that make him a likeable character readers can relate to.
Even though we don't see as much of Varu as we do of Agni, I liked her more than her twin. Her dialogue stands out in Agni's memories of her and even when she's dead, she takes the spotlight. I enjoyed the chapters that had Varu's book about Yama and Yami. It's was ABSOLUTELY amazing to learn about these two characters from the Indian mythology who are to be honest, not much talked about. I honestly don't know why as they are so interesting!
I loved how the characters Yama and Yami were brought into the story! For those who are new to Indian Mythology, Yama is the King of hell and Yami is his sister. They are both mythological characters who even in India, people don't talk much about and I LOVED that they are a major part of this story!
PLOT
Though the story at first seems like a predictable 'The Chosen One' story, it definitely is not. The author deftly spins a complex plot that keeps readers on their toes, wondering what will happen next. There are actually two storylines in the story - One with Agni fighting the arakshas from hell as a part of the mission given to him and the other of the story of Yama and Yami from Varu's book.
The interesting thing is how these plots seem unconnected and yet there are these parallels that can be seen. The two storyline entwine in a delicate manner, bringing together the past and the present quite beautiful. Each twiast in the story is unexpected and will make reader grin in delight!
WRITING
The author does imagery quite beautifully. Her descriptions allowed me to envision the story in my head quite clearly. while at times the description made me impatient for I wanted to know what happens next, the writing is hauntingly seductive, pulling one into the story and not quite letting go even after the last page!
Also I loved the underlying commentary of the present society. Many instances we see in the book show the corruption and the illness that plagues our world and which we hear about everyday. This social dialogue gave a very realistic ring to the story!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The unique plot - The knowledge of Indian mythology - The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- Certain tropes characteristic of YA novels
CONCLUSION
A wonderful and fast paced story with Indian mythology woven into it in such a way that it would appeal to readers young and old! The plot is as enchanting as the writing and this keeps the readers turning the pages!...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on th (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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Tegan Lockwood’s dreams were dead, sacrificed on the noble altar of duty before they ever had a chance to live. Her entire existence was disappearing into the abyss of apathy as she labored her days away keeping her family’s struggling business alive. There would be no emotion, no color, no beauty in her life. That is, until a mysterious visitor begins to draw her out of the darkness of her past towards something that will challenge the boundaries of her world, and unlock the most deeply held secrets of her heart.
CHARACTERS
Tegan Lockwood is one of the most realistic and relatable characters I've read about in a while. She is scared, haunted by the past, and makes stupid decisions with the best intentions. She's doubtful and suspicious most of the time but once she gets past it, she trusts people with everything she's got. I enjoyed watching the story unfold from her point of view. Also she has the most wonderful family ever! I always love to see family be a part of YA books! Her parents are amazing and I absolutely enjoyed her banter with her sister and brothers.
Mason I felt at the beginning was something of a cliched character. The boy who is not what he seems; the boys with the secrets. But I can't deny I liked him. I thoroughly enjoyed the person he was, his way of talking (how it sounded in my head) and the silly but cute things he did. He was quite the interesting love interest who captivated me just like the songs in the book (more on that later)
I also really liked Simon! I wish we could have seen more of him. He's Tegan's gay best friend who is epicly sweet and had captured my heart within five pages of his introduction. He's sweet and kind of shy. I'd love to read a story of his own sometime!
PLOT
It's a love story with oodles of romance. To tell you the truth, I've probably read only 4 or 5 contemporary novels in my life. Any literary romance I've seen was forged while fighting vampires, battling dark wizards and other such fantastical settings. Melody's Key is THE first contemporary YA romance I've read and guess what? I really enjoyed it. Even though the romance was at times a little too sweet for me, I overall found the book to be interesting and entertaining. The story has twists everywhere and the best part of it is, I found myself laughing and crying with the characters.
I loved the love letters that Tegan discovers in the attics and what they mean to her. I love the cute little name the main characters make up for each other. I loved how awesome Ry (Tegan's sister) was and the wonderful bickerings she had going on with her sister.
WRITING
The one thing I loved more than anything else in the book was the writing. It was so expressive and beautiful that I was pulled in at page one. The first scene is of Tegan waking up to a prank by her sister; such a simple scene but the writing makes it oh so magical.
Also there are a couple of amazing songs scattered throughout the story that are lovely! And guys do yourself a favor and please listen to the songs while you read them! Yes, the author has sung them all and you can find them on his YouTube channel. He sings the songs with so much feeling and the experience is plain wonderful!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The Characters - Most of the plot - The writing - The songs!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- Certain plot points that were predictable
CONCLUSION
If you love romance and music, this book is definitely for you! It makes you laugh, smile and cry and I for one am looking forward to more books from the author....more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Irisya, the protagonist is a non infected liv (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Irisya, the protagonist is a non infected living among the infected. She knows that if her secret comes out, she'd be killed by the hordes of infected. She is scared and worried but throughout the story she is loyal and faces fear in the eye. This was what I liked about her the most. Her love for her brother and subsequently her new friends is what drives her throughout the story.
Gem, Cillian and Irisya's brother Memphis are characters I loved but can't really talk about without giving away aspects of the story. They all played important roles in the story and every character was three dimensional
Gabriel is a little boy and a minor character but captured my heart so wonderfully. He doesn't talk but conveys his feelings through his art. He's misunderstood by many but despite everything he has faced in life, he's a sweet kid with a huge heart. The author has portrayed him so beautifully and he will definitely leave a lasting impression on readers.
PLOT
The plot was complex and I really enjoyed the world building. There were parts when I was confused but things were explained real soon. The world is split in two after The Red Plague - The infected and the non-infected. Irisya and her brother are non-infected living among the infected. They could be killed or worse if the people around them found out who they truly are.
When Memphis goes missing, his sister decides to look for him. The story is about the path that Irisya takes to get back her brother. It is not an easy path and there are adventures and horrors happening on every page.
WRITING
The writing was descriptive but confusing at parts. At times I had to reread certain sentences to understand what was happening. Other than that, I found the writing quite expressive. It was good that any mistakes in writing did not hinder the progression of the story in any manner.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters - The Plot - The diversity
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The writing at some parts
CONCLUSION
Wonderful and flawed characters who come together to form a complex and intriguing story set in a harsh post-apocalyptic world....more
(I received a free eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Zayne Shah is the servant boy who along with his mother w (I received a free eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
Zayne Shah is the servant boy who along with his mother works for the Peerzadas; an affluent family in Saidpur, Pakistan. His character is well written and relatable at most part but I can't say he was a character I loved. I disagreed with him at many points, especially his obsessiveness with Asiya which was basically stalking. He doesn't mean any harm but his stalking her at all times didn't sit well with me.
I have mixed feelings about Asiya too. At some points she seemed like a well put together mature person and at other points I wasn't a huge fan of her thoughts or actions.
My favourite character in the book was Gapoori. She adds so much liveliness to the story with her personality! I loved every scene with her and found her to be extremely relatable and wonderfully written. She's kind, bossy, sweet and level-headed and once can't help but smile every time she is mentioned.
PLOT
I really enjoyed Zayne's rags to riches story and the small mysteries that keep happening around him. The fantasy part of the story absolutely had me hooked but I wasn't completely happy with the ending. I had so many questions and wanted to know more.
I enjoyed how the story moved at a relaxed pace but never bored me once. The story is more than a rags and riches novel. Set in the wonderfully colorful Saidpur, the story is about human character, love and friendship. They may not be a part of the bigger plot but they are what give the story it's cozy feel. I enjoyed reading about the culture of Pakistan, with the gorgeous weddings and colourful kite festivals!
WRITING
I absolutely enjoyed reading the author's description of life in Saidpur; the weddings, festivals, fairs and what not. The writing was even paced and the imagery was wonderful.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The Diversity - Most of the plot - The Writing - Gapoori
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- How the fantasy plot line ended - Certain actions/thoughts of some characters
CONCLUSION
The Servant Boy while being a rags to riches novel is also a wonderfully diverse and well written book about friendship, love, family and loss....more
(I received a free eBook from the author via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
G is a mysterious character who's (I received a free eBook from the author via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.)
CHARACTERS
G is a mysterious character who's past is unknown even to her. She is an oddity among others around her. She is quite the cliched heroine but Iturrioz does a good job making the character work. I enjoyed seeing her dreams at the very beginning and how her memories come back to her.
My favourite character was Priyam who is sassy and pretty much awesome. It makes me happy to see an Indian character who is important in the story. She is lively and adds so much personality into the story!
Edan was a slightly complex character and I honestly don't know what to think of him. He's sweet at times but at times he acts like a total arrogant jerk.
I enjoyed the entire group as a whole and loved reading the interactions between the different characters and the couples.
PLOT
The story has a lot of tropes - protagonist with a missing memory, the odd protagonist, love triangle etc but the author takes the story in a wonderful manner with twists where we least expect them. The plot is entertaining and quite magical. It all leaves us asking for more.
The plot deals with G trying to unravel her past and unlock her earliest memories. In the way she encounters numerous adventures with a really fun group and also has her first taste of romance. I enjoyed that the romance wasn't the focus of the story but rather the mystery was.
WRITING
I had trouble getting into the writing at first as there are quite a few grammatical and spelling errors. I learnt later that this is because the author is actually Spanish. But I was glad that these mistakes did not distract me much from the overall story. The imagery is wonderful and G's dreams shown vividly.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- Most of the characters - G and Priyam's friendship -The plot
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The tropes and cliches - The writing to an extent
CONCLUSION
This book despite having some cliches tropes offers a wonderfully unique story. ...more
We met Lyra in Silver Blood where she was a secondary character. Even while reading silver blood, readers could see that Lyra was a mysterious being with dark secrets. Red Blood is where she is a main character and we are told more about her. In the beginning I found it a bit hard to connect to Lyra. I was used to the quirkiness of Wren in the first book and Lyra is so much different from her. As the story went on, I began to enjoy Lyra's narration. I enjoyed her love for materialistic things and personally thought the opening with her trying out boots at a shop was hilarious. This is not to say I enjoyed the decisions she made throughout the story. More often than not, I was shouting at her in my head!
The Graverobber is someone I can't really talk about without giving away major plot points. I'll just say he is a man of magic and quite the anti-hero we all love reading about! I absolutely enjoyed his character development throughout the book. Again it's not that I completely liked him. I didn't. I had problems with his ideas, his way of thinking at his possessiveness but considering the kind of being he is, all that while not too nice, seems only natural.
PLOT
The plot was even more complex than the plot of Silver Blood; and that's saying something considering how much I loved the first book! Red Blood deals with multiple plots that join up to give us these absolutely unexpected and amazing plot twists.
In book 1, Burke follows the clues in the prophecy to find Wren. Now Lyra follows the next segment of the prophecy and tries to find the next person. Throughout the story many things about Lyra are revealed and more questions answered.
This book leaves me waiting anxiously for book 3! The ending had me asking for more and hoping that the next book would be about Jasper.
WRITING
When creating a fantasy world which is in a lot of ways different from ours, world building has an important role. Emma Hamm totally nails it. She creates this vibrant world where magic and prophecies are real and does an amazing job explaining everything to us. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of various places and the banter among the characters a lot.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters - The plot - The writing - The dialogue - The Cover
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- Certain things about Wolfgang
CONCLUSION
Go ahead and pick up this series if you love original fantasy stories with three dimensional characters! I LOVED THE BOOK !!
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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On the road to Zen enlightenment, homicide detectiv (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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On the road to Zen enlightenment, homicide detective Will Mansion takes a seductive detour down the path to perdition. When a bust goes terribly wrong, Paradise City detective Will Mansion nearly dies while saving his partner. On leave, Will seeks relief from post-traumatic stress disorder through Zen meditation and abstinence. He responds to the plea of the cryptic Sister Clyde to find a man missing from her soup kitchen, a man who may provide a lead to the vicious drug dealer who nearly killed Will. The search seduces Will away from the healing he seeks and he finds himself on the smarmy Miracle Mile. Alcohol, sex, and the potent drug “Nearvana” numb Will’s pain better than his infant Zen practice. He slips further and further into an underworld of the lost and hopeless only to find himself facing death—again.
CHARACTERS
Will Mansion, our Zen Detective is a really interesting character to read about and I personally enjoyed his narrative. There was a dark humor in his narrative that was very appealing to me as a reader. I enjoyed looking at the other characters through his eyes.
Other characters like Sister Clyde, Grady and others add so much dimension to the story. There is so much you learn about the characters that leaves you dumbfounded.
PLOT
It's intricate and quite intense. It is quite dark and much different from the author's other works I've read. While the book starts with a single main plot, I was intrigued by the various mysteries that present themselves to the protagonist and reader as the book goes on. The plot is taken at a perfect pace. The story starts right at the beginning but the pace is slow. Then there are these adrenaline pumping scenes as the story moves forward that were highly interesting. The ending is quite unexpected and I loved the fact that the mystery element stayed till the very end. I must point out though that the plot is quite gritty and deals with dark elements like drug addiction and such.
WRITING
I've always enjoyed the author's writing. She gives the reader all the details without making them feel overwhelmed. There is no info dumping and the emotions of the characters are well conveyed. I enjoyed hearing the story from Will's perspective as he is a really good protagonist.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
-The characters -The plot -The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-Nothing
CONCLUSION
If you like dark gritty novels with suspense and mystery around every corner, The Zen Detective is for you.
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
My review of the first book (Concealed) can be found here.
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
My review of the first book (Concealed) can be found here.
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The safety of the underground bunker is left behind. Elaan and her friends are out in the open, exposed to the world above. Exposed to a world that has been ravished by the virus. Can they make it to the one person they've been told can provide them safety?
CHARACTERS
The story picks up immediately after the events of the first books and it is easy to see the character development through the book. I liked the main characters Elaan and Josh though at times they seemed so mature I kept getting confused about their age! New characters are introduced in this book and in a way everyone's personality traits play a big role in plot development. There are many things revealed about the characters that to an extent provide answers to the questions that popped up while reading Concealed.
PLOT
Concealed dealt more with science while Exposed deals more with human character and people's reactions to different circumstances. Most of the story goes into the journey of the main characters. The starting chapters of Exposed are fast and set the tone of the story. The story once again ends with new revelations, questions and a cliffhanger. While I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning and the end there were parts in the middle where nothing much seemed to be happening. But the story gives a very realistic idea of how people can change during the time of disasters that I found really interesting. The entire environment of Exposed is darker than Concealed.
WRITING
As with the first book, the imagery is quite clear and I really liked the descriptions that helped me visualize the whole story in my head.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters - The plot - The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The parts in the middle where there wasn't much happening
WILL I BE READING THE LAST BOOK OF THE TRILOGY?
Of course! There are so many questions and doubts I need answers to!
CONCLUSION
A really good sequel to Concealed. The character development and plot-line gain a better footing in Exposed. Quite an enjoyable story!
(I received a free copy of this book on Kindle from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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Set in the backdrop of 1990 Calcutta, Sh (I received a free copy of this book on Kindle from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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Set in the backdrop of 1990 Calcutta, She is a story about finding one’s own identity in spite of all odds. The story spins around the life of Kusum, a brave heart whose identity is often untitled and blurred; it does not belong anywhere, definitely not under the ‘he’ or ‘she’ bracket, thanks to our social conditioning. Will she be successful in her mission? Find out in She, an utterly absorbing read that derives inspiration from Tagore’s “Ekla Cholo Re” song, which urges everyone to move on despite the fear of abandonment from others.
CHARACTERS
Kusum is an incredibly strong character and the main character in this story. Her pain and suffering show through her words and makes the readers understand the hurdles transgenders are facing in this world.
The other character Dr. Raj also adds a three dimensional look to the story and plays a pivotal role.
PLOT
It is a topic that is not discussed by people; a topic that people choose to ignore; a topic that people are embarrassed to talk out aloud about. She talks about identity and how the third gender is often misunderstood. People are afraid of or disgusted with things they see as 'not normal'. The story is that of Kusum, a transgender who talks of the challenges she has faced and continues to face just because she doesn't fall under either 'she' or 'he'. She has been abandoned by her family and her lover but rather than give up, she is embarking on a new journey. I really liked the ending.
WRITING
The writing is simple and clear though not as descriptive as I would have liked it to be. It was fast paced and a really quick read!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The plot - The characters
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- Nothing much (I would have liked it to be more descriptive)
CONCLUSION
It is a quick but powerful read. It is thought provoking and a must read for everyone.
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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They said it was extremely hard to get. They said (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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They said it was extremely hard to get. They said it wasn't airborne. They said there was nothing to fear. They were wrong. Seventeen-year-old Elaan Woodson was supposed to be one of the lucky ones. She got one of the few spots in the subterranean protection unit designed to keep select scientists, military officials and their families safe from the deadly virus ravaging the world above. But, how lucky are you really when the people in charge and those you love keep secrets from you? While Elaan has heard that what you don't know can't hurt you, she's beginning to think otherwise. And she should...
CHARACTERS
Elaan makes for an interesting character. Being in the subterranean protection unit means she's away from the rest of the world. There are only a handful of people in the unit and there are times when she feels extremely lonely. To top it all off, everyone around her seems to be keeping secrets from her. Truthfully speaking she's more cool headed than me or most people I know about that. While she'd like to know the secrets, she doesn't fight with her friends and family to know.
Elijah did get on my nerves at the beginning. He seemed a little too big-brotherly to Elaan. He came off as being controlling but I got to understand his actions as the story went on.
Josh has these typical guy-nest-door vibes but he too has a secret that tells us more about his character as the plot progresses.
PLOT
As a student of Biotechnology, I really enjoyed the plot. I cannot comment much on it without giving it away but it's not an average dystopian book. I did go into the book expecting a lot of action but the book is more of mystery and science. But that did not make the book any less interesting. My only qualm is that the book was small. I'd have liked to know a little more about what happened before Elaan and her friends got to the unit. It would be awesome if the author wrote a prequel!
WRITING
The writing was clear and descriptive enough. The book has good imagery and I NEED imagery to be able to enjoy a book. The writing was was engrossing and I finished the book in a single sitting.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The Plot (Especially the Scientific part) - The characters - The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- It's length maybe..(Not much of a complaint truthfully)
WILL I BE READING THE REST OF THE TRILOGY?
Definitely! Can't wait to know what happens next!
CONCLUSION
Definitely pick up this book if you're looking for a unique Science Fiction and enjoy well written characters.
(I received a free print copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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Pandora's Box got stolen from heaven... ---- (I received a free print copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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Pandora's Box got stolen from heaven... --------------------- She whispered, "How did you get me back?" "I stole you from heaven," he replied with a faint smile. Her answering smile was dazzling. --------------------- The oldest game of this world was played for acquisition. It still is. Lucifer has commenced a game called Aqson, raised the most enigmatic weapon of Nature against Team God and, he has set the Indian Prime Minister's position as the goal of this game. Now, a completely unknown species will collide with humans to play a game where losing is not figuratively losing. Angels will rise, politics will surge, identities will perish and familiarities will elude when God raises a counter weapon to try and win Level I of Aqson.
CHARACTERS
Beautifully portrayed well rounded characters! Yuvrani is intelligent, confident and has a presence that is hard to ignore. Like her or hate her but you just cannot ignore her. Toya is my favourite, probably because I can relate well with her. Yuvrani is already there, she's ready and waiting. Toya is just starting out and that makes her relatable to us mortals!
I am completely in love with Goenka, Ollie, AJ and Appy. They are the group of friends any and every girl could ask for. I loved how their personalities mean so much more in the story; how their unique characters gives such a three dimensional look at the plot. Take my word for it, you'll love the characters. It also helps that they are freaking hilarious and can make you look at a serious situation with oodles of humor.
Sky is the absolutely perfect mix of comical, crazy and caring. I personally laughed like a loon at almost every dialogue of hers.
PLOT
It seems so that of late almost all the novels I've been reading have a unique plot-line. Aqson Level 1 is no exception. The plot is brilliant. The author has thought of literally everything. Greek mythology is pretty common with many fantasy novels but this book uses it differently.
There were parts where I wondered OK what does this have to do with the plot? By the end my question had been answered. I loved how everything came together at the end like a jigsaw puzzle. Every single scene in the story plays an important role in the overall plot. Every scene shows the reader something new and vital. But that doesn't mean all the questions are answered at the end! The end leaves you with new questions. It leaves you with wanting to read the next book ASAP.
I believe I looked like this way too many times when I was reading the book-
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WRITING
The writing was so much fun. I spent a good amount of time laughing! The seriousness of the story is well mixed with humor. At certain points, Bengali words are used but everything is explained in English.
There were times when I felt there was a tad too much description going on but I think it was mostly because of my impatience of wanting to know what happens next!
The writing is clear and smooth. The story moves at a steady pace; neither skipping stuff nor over-detailing them.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters - The plot - The humorous take on stuff
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-NOTHING (I like everything about this book! )
CONCLUSION
Everyone pick up up the book and read it already! You're missed out on so much. Loved the book and waiting for the sequel!...more
( I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)
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It's February, 1993, and trucker Archie “Super Man” Harla( I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)
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It's February, 1993, and trucker Archie “Super Man” Harlanson is traveling to New York's Hudson Valley with misgivings. He's eager to see his girlfriend Debbie, but her elitist parents? Not so much. When he ends up at the family home, he figures the hardest part will be surviving the onslaught of relatives arriving to celebrate the birth of Debbie's nephew. That is until the US President announces his plans to hold a campaign event nearby and the town is caught up in the media frenzy. When Archie stumbles on a deadly plot against the nation's leader he finds himself butting heads with skeptical local law enforcement, the FBI, and the White House security team, and dodging the would-be assassins who now have him in their sights, all while trying to keep his head down in a household crazy with new-baby fever.
CHARACTERS
I loved Archie. He makes for a great protagonist. His character, attitude and way of talking pulls the reader in and holds their attention.
All the characters in the story are well structured and three dimensional. The Stenowitz family made me laugh so much! Each character has a unique personality that makes them stand out and they all have problems that we can totally relate to. While I read the book I could actually see the hustle and bustle in the Stenowitz home.
Even the smaller characters like Bonnie and Cheryl give us these great moments that adds character to the setting and the story.
PLOT
Yes, the book comes under the 'Mystery' genre but I can assure you it doesn't stop there. The plot touches upon a variety of things. I learnt a lot about Jewish traditions and customs along with Archie as the Stenowitz family prepared for a Brit. The book shows friendship, happiness, bravery and such simple but important things through the plot. The plot also deals with Archie's time understanding the Stenowitz family and vice versa.
WRITING
The writing made me sit up and take notice. As I read the book I became more pulled in because the author makes the writing simple but beautiful. Archie's comments on the people and his surroundings are funny, realistic and honest. The choice of words are clear and non-fussy. I smiled through many parts due to the humor infused into the writing.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters - The plot - The writing, especially the humor - Knowing about Jewish culture
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- What's there to not like?
CONCLUSION
Go ahead and pick up the book. It's a fun and satisfying read that definitely lives up to the expectations. ...more
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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A PROPHECY TO FULFILL
Two hundred years ago, our wo (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
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A PROPHECY TO FULFILL
Two hundred years ago, our world changed forever. Two realms combined in an explosion of magic. One morning everything was normal and the next? Every human body was host to another magical creature who had thoughts and a mind of its own. However, with power comes darkness. Someone wants to wipe this earth clean and will stop at nothing to consume it.
SHE IS NOT A HERO
Or so she thought. Wren had grown up with another voice in her head but had never considered herself magical. She doesn't have the talents other people have. She certainly doesn't have the abilities anyone else has. But she is charming and manages her business quite well. She deals in emotions and makes people happy. It's a simple life, but it's hers.
HE THINKS SHE COULD BE
Burke was a bodyguard first and always. He had been sent to collect her and deliver her in person to the most powerful creatures in their world. But the moment he steps through the broken door of her shop, his world changes forever. She's strange. She's uncomfortable. And she's so damned beautiful. He is convinced she is part of a prophecy that can save their world.
But how to convince her?
Before I begin with my professional review, I kindly ask anyone reading this to excuse me for a couple of moments so I can fan-girl over this AMAZING BOOK!
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Okay, now that I've gotten that out, Let's get down to the professional review.
CHARACTERS
I love Wren. She has such a realistic character that it's hard not to relate with her. She doesn't pretend to be anything she isn't and certainly doesn't take any bullshit from anyone. I love the fact that she stays strong to her beliefs and doesn't crack under pressure. You know the type of YA heroine who listens to the guy just 'cause he's hot. Wren is not her. Wren is steadfast and doesn't listen to people and do what they want unless they give her a good reason. She is strong, caring, kind and smart. What's there to not like?
E is a mysterious being and I wanted to know more about it. I like the humor and snarkiness E brings to the whole story.
Jiminy Burke is pretty much awesome. I like how he tries to convince Wren with words and reasoning than by brute force. He respects her wishes and doesn't force her to comply to everything The Five say.
I even liked Jasper and Lyra. They are what makes the story whole. I'd have been disappointed if the story had focused on just Wren & E, Burke and The Five. Jasper and Lyra added a well rounded quality to the story.
Am not sure how I feel about The Five as of yet. Right now, am feeling indifferent towards them.
PLOT
Holy mother of AWESOMENESS!
The plot is perfect. It's unique and it pulls you in the moment you start reading the book. The world in the novel has been crafted elegantly and then showcased to the reader in all its glory. The plot is fast paced and extraordinary and it kept me turning the pages. There are so many questions in the end and I will be very eagerly waiting for the sequel! Suddenly February 2017 seems soooo far.
WRITING
This is book that you see as you read. The imagery is on spot. I could see every detail as I read it. Emma Hamm creates a word so vivid and bright you'd have to be blind not to picture it. Her descriptions are beautiful but aren't overtly descriptive. The writing is such that is puts the readers into the story... in the midst of the action.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters - The plot - The writing - The humor and snarkiness of Wren and E
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- What's to not like? The book is perfect!
CONCLUSION
I recommend this book to every fantasy lover. Read it so we can fan-girl about it together!
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