Sahi

CW: suicide, pregnancy.

This book was nowhere on my radar and despite it being a desi author, literary fiction is not my thing and I don't think I would have specifically looked it up and decided to read. But surprisingly, I got the advance audiobook of it and then felt, why not.

First and foremost, I decided to give it a try mostly because Sneha Mathan is the audiobook narrator and she is a favorite of mine, her beautiful and husky voice giving life to even dull descriptions in her previous works which I enjoyed. And in this debut novel, the author writes with a kind of stream of consciousness style, which I thought really worked in the audio format. As someone who isn't comfortable with that style of writing or with the heavy use of metaphors in language, I didn't think I would like this one much either. But Sneha makes it a bit easier to digest as well as better appreciate the cadence of the author's words. But despite understanding that there is a wild kind of beauty in these words, it didn't wow me in any way. It was only in the scenes where the author describes the kathak dance form as well as how much the main character Vidya feels while performing - these were the parts of the story that mesmerized me. The way the author integrates stories from our mythology into the dance performance, describing it in lush and lyrical detail, really left me impressed. However, these words also evoked a deep longing in my heart for my younger days when I thought I could learn singing before I realized my dreams couldn't come true.

But I could never put my finger on what I felt about Vidya. I didn't understand what she actually wanted from her life other than the joy of dancing and I didn't find myself much interested in anything that she did. And this maybe going into spoiler territory, but the fourth part of the book is all about her experience through the pregnancy and the delivery in graphic detail - and it made me very uncomfortable due to my own personal reasons. I was also hoping for a much different ending but what happened didn't surprise me at all; I think it was the safest way to end the book and maybe I was disappointed...

Anyways, I feel like I'm only rambling some nonsense here instead of writing a coherent review, so please take my words with a grain of salt. It's just that the book left me feeling a bit unsettled. However, if you are a lover of the literary fiction genre , or lyrical and beautifully written stories about women, or even just a fan of the amazing Sneha Mathan's narration, you might like this much more than I did.

I was supposed to have read this book a long time ago but I'm still not very comfortable with sci-fi and I need to be in the right mood to appreciate it. I finally felt it was time and I'm glad I did.

This one took a while to get into, not that it's the book's fault - it's just me always needing some extra time to get used to the sciency and techy stuff in a sci-fi novel. But the characters more than made up for the initial hiccup - the author has created an amazing found family here, some old friends and some newly made, but seeing this wonderful group of women and non-binary folks kick ass was pretty satisfying to read. Also the whole idea of good mercenaries helping an indigenous species defend themselves against a greedy corporation and it's maniac head is very fascinating, and the unexpected help that our main group of characters receive was so cool. The pacing wasn't always consistent, with a more exciting beginning and ending alongwith a languishing middle - but the last 20% full of tense and nonstop action made up for any lack previously.

I don't know why but I didn't actually expect to enjoy this much, but I'm so happy I turned out wrong. Maybe if the book was only mercenaries and crime lords fighting against evil corporations and an artificial intelligence capable of empathy (and believe me all of this is present), I might not have liked it so much. But the strength of this book lies in the bonds these characters share with each other and the cause for which they are fighting. Definitely an interesting addition to my read pile.

I enjoyed the whole concept of different kinds of vampires with unique powers and weaknesses and how they coexist as well as treat the humans in this alternate version of Mexico City. I thought the female MC was pretty cool and badass. The author's signature writing style also works very well in describing this mysterious city as well as its inhabitants. But the overall story didn't wow me much.

I'm not much into reading translated fiction not because I don't like it but probably coz they aren't the popular ones any day and I don't go actively seeking them out. But it has been really fun reading fan translations of Chinese web novels whose drama adaptations I am loving. With the exception of Qi Ye, I have only read the books in the middle of my binge watch or after finishing the drama. But in this case, I was very intrigued by the premise of both the shows One and Only, and Forever and Ever and decided that I would love to read the book first before I start watching. And I'm so glad I did.

The first thing I have to say is that the writing in this book is beautiful. This is kinda ironic because I'm reading a translation and I don't know Chinese but the translator does an amazing job giving us detailed footnotes, her English translation is equally lovely and her notes on the author's writing style is very detailed and impressive. I just felt the writing to be very lyrical and poetic and very metaphorical at times. There are two particular scenes which are captured in my mind - one describing an act of painting and the other describing an act of making tea - they are so exquisitely written that I could see them happening right in front of my eyes. We have also a little part of the story set in ancient times and due to the nature of the plot, the author liberally uses literary and poetic references, mentions many famous poets and calligraphers of ancient China, and describes the past story with a melancholic and dreamy tone - which makes for a very unique and mesmerizing reading experience. There is also a mystery element to the story and the whole ancient traditional mafia family vibe took me by surprise.

I'm having a hard time describing the main character Shi Yi. So much of her personality in the present timeline is shaped by the memories of her past life and there are many moments where she seems out of place. But it also makes her single minded devotion towards Zhousheng Chen feel realistic because in any other book, she would come across as naive and a pushover. Her trust in him is complete and it's nice to see her love succeed this time and be reciprocated in the way she deserves. The Shi Yi of the past, or Eleven is a much more sheltered and innocent child whose love for her teacher is shaped by his righteousness and loyalty towards his people, and the utmost care he shows towards her because that is the only kind of love permitted between them.

We only get to see the Zhousheng Chen of the past through her eyes which does make him seem like the best person to exist and his presence is just very towering, but it is also undeniable that he dedicated his life for his country without expecting much in return. The Zhousheng Chen of the current time is very different in many ways but also the same where it counts - “beautiful bones” as Shi Yi calls it - he is aloof and mysterious and basically a geeky scientist who doesn't know socializing much, but is also very thoughtful about the greater good and wants to do something to help the people and the country.

Their romance is also pretty unique. Firstly, it takes time for us to be sure that Shi Yi is actually in love with the present Zhousheng Chen and not just the him from her memories, but her utter love and belief in him is something we wish we could ever feel for someone. Zhousheng Chen on the other hand takes time to get to know her and works to show her how he feels. I always see this line that “love takes hard work” but this maybe the first time I saw that in action in the way he worked to learn to love her the way she deserves and appreciate her for the kind of person she is and the trust she has in him. It's technically a slow burn romance and is definitely very time taking on his side, but I also can't deny that her love is always overflowing through the author's words.

There are also quite a few characters whom I enjoyed even though we don't really get to explore their relationships with the main characters deeply. But Shi Yi's childhood best friend Hong Xiaoyu was such a fun presence and it was nice to see how much she cared for Shi Yi. Zhousheng Chen's young cousin Xiao Ren was sweet and loving, and very supportive of Shi Yi which I thought was refreshing in their family full of mysterious people. Zhousheng Chen's best friend Mei Xing was also another interesting personality who I thought could have been a great friend to Shi Yi in other circumstances. There are a few characters other than our MCs who are also reincarnated versions of their ancient selves but I don't wanna spoil who they are because it was a surprise, but also equally heartbreaking.

To conclude, this was really a very engaging and mesmerizing story. I usually take a while to read translations on blogs but I couldn't put this one down until I finished it in a day. I don't think I've read a reincarnation story before so this felt unique and interesting and very very lovely. However, the past life storyline is truly tragic and now I'm not sure if I even want to watch One and Only. I'll probably just enjoy the present love story in Forever and Ever and hope it'll live up to my love of the book.

It's more of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.

I have never been much of a classics reader and I probably don't even remember all of them which I did manage to read, and Treasure Island seems to be one of those which I can't recollect at all. So I couldn't approach this as a retelling and more like any new YA fantasy. And it was definitely quite fun.

The first thing that makes an impression in this book is the prose. It's beautiful and lush and there were so many moments where I wanted to linger and savor the descriptions, as well as the atmosphere the author managed to create. The other highlight of the book was the setting, and it's inspiration from the story of the Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih. I loved how the author incorporated her legend into this tale while also giving a commentary on the corrupt empires of both China and Vietnam. The story itself on the other hand is a fairly standard YA adventure fantasy with the usual tropes, a cute f/f romance subplot and a twist that was quite predictable. But nonetheless, it was quite entertaining and I managed to finish it in a single sitting.

Xiang is also a typical YA protagonist - ignored by her successful independent but absent mother whose love and attention she craves; and is obsessed with reading adventure stories and dreams that one day she could have her own. But she is ultimately an innocent village girl who sees the vibrant city life of Canton with stars in her eyes and just wants the option to experience it all. There is an innocence to her privileged bookish existence, but it doesn't make her arrogant in anyway and she is very capable of compassion, humility and hard work.

Anh on the other hand knows the reality of poverty and the struggles of living on the sea, which has made her cynical as well as practical, giving more importance only to things which can provide meals and shelter and not frivolous experiences like poetry and books. But she can't escape the sweet charm of Xiang, in the same way Xiang can't help but fall for Anh's mischievous nature. It may not be insta love but there's definitely a bond that's formed in their first meeting, which slowly develops into love. It's sweet and endearing and a nice addition to the story.

There were quite a few side characters but the ones who made the most impression were Xiang's formidable mother who is a force to reckon with and not easy to understand at all; Master Feng who was more of a caring parent to Xiang than anyone else in the world; and Captain Hoa, Anh's mother who is good natured and caring while also being a brave leader of her crew.

In the end, this one was basically fun. It has a cool on the sea setting, a fascinating backdrop of pirate legends, two young women who may have different motives but ultimately want to have an adventure together and prove themselves, and an ever elusive long lost treasure that forms the fulcrum of the story but ultimately it isn't what this book is about. This is a tale of love and family and I think it will delight any lover of YA adventure novels, and I also feel that it will be perfect for younger readers as well.

I'm still hedging between a 3 and 3.5.

This is not the kind of book that would usually be on my radar but I added this to my TBR as well as requested the arc because I saw how much my favorite reviewer and booktuber Petrik loved it, and wanted to give it a try myself. Now after finishing it, I'm unsure how I feel about it.

I have to start by saying the prose is very very good and you really don't feel like it's a debut while reading it. There's a very engaging quality to the writing and even when I was apprehensive about my enjoyment of the story, I still kept going. The relatively fast pace also helped, but it also had its disadvantages because there were a lot of time jumps in the story, some of which I felt hindered any relationship development. I had read reviews about this one very long ago, so I didn't remember much, but I was pleasantly surprised to realize that this world and part of the cultures were Asian inspired and that always makes me happy. The magic system is elemental but also involves tetragrams and patterns in the world as well as a war between gods and witches, so it was all fascinating to read about but there were some explanations I didn't understand, and I couldn't truly wrap my head around what happened at the end.

This year has seen a lot of books published with empires and colonialism as the norm as rebellion as the core of the story, and this one is no different. But we get to see this story through the eyes of a biracial young man, who has to make a choice between following his mother's heritage and be ostracized for it or take the oath that is laid out to him by his father and become a tool of the empire. This is a coming of age story and we see Alder grow as the book goes on, but this journey was definitely bumpy. He is a petulant child who grows up in privilege, even if deprived of love, and basically wants to do what he wants instead of others dictating his choices. He hardly understands right from wrong, doesn't try much to know the world beyond his bubble, and acts impulsively that lead to drastic consequences. He never thinks first before acting and only learns from his mistakes. I did however understand his hunger for knowledge, but at the same time it also manifested as a hunger for unbridled magic. It wasn't till almost the end that I finally saw that he could be more than his ambition, and can use his magic to fight the oppressive empire.

There are many characters who come and go from his life, but he remains the center of this story. There were only two characters who left a good impression one me - his grandmother who taught him the ways of her people and developed the curiosity in him; his tutor Koro Ha without whose diligence Alder would never have set on his path towards the empire. Both these characters had his well being in their hearts and were deeply responsible for shaping his personality. The only friend he makes Oriole, and his first love Atar, could have been written with more depth, but I felt that ultimately they both came across as plot devices, who taught him things he needed to know and pushed him onto the path of his destiny. The book would have surely been better if these two relationships were written with more depth.

Finally, I think this is an interesting coming of age story which spans almost a decade of the main character's life. While the world building, prose, and magic system found me fascinated, I found the character and relationship development lacking which ultimately left me dissatisfied. However, it might still be the the book for you, as evidenced by the many glowing reviews this debut has received.

This one is more of a 4.5 but ofcourse I'm rounding up.

Despite having the advance copy, I'm late by a week in writing this review but I just couldn't read this book when I wasn't in the mood, because one of my most anticipated sequels of the years deserved my full attention. And listening to this audiobook gave me all the joy I needed.

Raybearer was a book that was never on my radar until I received the audiobook as part of a promotion and I decided to give it a try - not realizing that it would enchant me completely, becoming one of my top 3 favorites reads of 2020. Redemptor is not much different, plunging us into a tense situation right from the first page and letting us feel a lot of things through the course of the story. The author is great at exploring issues of oppression, poverty, and rebellion, as well as themes of self worth, guilt, grief and despair - all through the eyes of Tarisai. The narration of Joniece Abbott-Pratt heightens the emotions such that we feel what Tar is going through in our heart, and just like Raybearer, the audiobook definitely makes this story even better. The plot took unexpected turns at places but was also predictable at times, but the pacing was just right and I never felt bored. I did go into this book expecting it to be five stars and I can't say exactly that I'm disappointed to reduce a half star, but the ending kinda felt a bit anticlimactic and rushed than what I thought it would be - it's satisfactory enough but just falls a little short.

Tar is an amazing protagonist just like in the first book and it's so fascinating to see her growth. She may be a young and unexpected Empress who was not trained from childhood for this role, but accepts the responsibility with all dedication. Not having the same privileged background and upbringing as Dayo and the other nobles, she is unable to close her eyes and turn away from the status quo of centuries of oppression by the elite families on the common people, where the poorest experience all kinds of tortures and indignities while the nobles hoard their coffers. When everyone around her chides her for trying to do too much and advises her to go slowly and incrementally, she is ready to make sweeping changes because it may be difficult but it's also the right thing to do. In a bit of a parallel to our real world, the author shows us how some people are always ready to overlook the injustices of the past because they haven't committed them in the present, despite the consequences of said past still having an effect; and how there are always people like Tar and Zuri who can't stomach the atrocities, either the past or present, and just dedicate their lives to make the world better.

Zuri was probably the most fascinating new addition to this world. His dialogues filled with riddles, his charming demeanor and a slightly wicked streak hide a much more empathetic person and I really enjoyed how the author revealed parts of him bit by but. I probably would have liked to see him more but in this book which has two councils, each with twelve members, there were just too many characters. Even when the focus is on Zuri or the ruthless queen Min Ja, we only get to know them for a short while which I thought was unfortunate, coz these two were definitely very compelling characters. We also see Tar's relationship with her first council, especially Dayo and Jeet and Kirah and I really enjoyed seeing them again. Dayo in particular was a delight and I absolutely adore his platonic relationship full of love with Tar, and how supportive he is of her choices and decisions. The romance did take a backseat this time but I didn't feel anything missing because this story was about much more.

To conclude, this was a worthy finale to one of the best YA debuts of last year. With masterful storytelling, compelling group of ensemble characters and the most stunning audiobook narration, the author creates a memorable world and explores a very important question - what is the duty of a ruler? This duology has strong heroine, a extremely compassionate emperor, a found family which shows us all the forms that love can take, an empire full of different kingdoms with their own traditions and cultures, and a story that keeps you hooked throughout - don't give this a miss.

Probably more of a 3.5.

I think it's been a long while since I've read a proper dystopian novel, so this one took me some time to finish. Not that it wasn't interesting, but I couldn't find the pacing engaging enough. But I really did find the themes of climate change as well as the whole idea of future generations trying to piece together details about their ancestors' technologies very fascinating. There is also a lot of translation, researching and archiving that goes on here and that was cool, because these are some fields which are very underrated despite being important and it's quite rare that we find characters with these occupations in fiction. The plot was also interesting but what left the most impression on me was the question it leaves in our mind throughout - are we as humanity capable enough to learn from our mistakes, not let capitalist greed drive our decisions, and do something substantial to prevent our planet from further destruction. It's definitely a very timely novel in this aspect, and I think anyone who enjoys the dystopian/ cli-fi sub genre would surely enjoy this one.

Definitely more of a 4.5 but I'm rounding up.

Until a month ago, I didn't know who the author Gu Man was or her work You Are My Glory. Of course I had heard about the very famous drama Love O2O but didn't know that it was also based on a book by the same author. But here I am a few weeks ago, having read both the books and watched the dramas as well. What an utter surprise (not) that I neglect my huge never ending ARCs tbr to just go with my mood.

To start off, I never know how to talk about writing in these cases because I'm reading translations done by fans. But this was such an easy breezy read for the most part. Childhood friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine and while this is a bit of a subversion of that, it was also interesting with the addition of a second chance romance/ blast from the past tropes. I also thought the author's depiction of the characters' lives and struggles was very realistic, and I could really relate to some of them which made for quite an emotional reading experience for me. However, I know nothing when it comes to mobile games, so I can't tell how well the gaming chapters were written - they seemed pretty confusing in the drama too. I have also watched the drama till the latest episodes and it's such a faithful adaptation, that I could almost picture every scene in the book happening right in front of my eyes with Reba and Yang Yang.

The main characters are definitely the strength of this book and I was so impressed with how they are written. Jingjing is a charming, mischievous and beautiful woman, and despite the kind of stereotypes we are used to about actresses and celebrities and her falling into some of them, the author also shows us that she is very mature and empathetic and very considerate about all the people in her life. She may seem materialistic due to the necessities of her profession, but she is utterly dedicated to her work as well as anything that she puts her mind to. But she is also a romantic girl at heart and I could totally understand her feelings.

On the other hand, Yu Tu can seem like the typical intelligent, nerdy, good looking aloof guy we see so often in fiction - and he is all this - but there is just so much depth to this character. The conflict between chasing our dreams vs being more pragmatic in a money obsessed world; loving someone dearly but feeling unable to give them all the care and time they deserve; the struggle to choose between the selfishness of ambition and filial piety; realizing that being the best in our own little bubble isn't enough when it comes to the real world - every single of these themes was explored so sensitively and realistically by the author through Yu Tu's character and it was hard not to feel sad for him because so many of his situations felt very similar.

And the way a beautiful romance develops between these two - just wonderful. It's not exactly a slow burn but it's definitely very organic, and the small ways in which we realize that their friendship is turning into something more is written very effectively and tugs at our hearts. There's very little angst in the story but whatever there was, was pretty heartbreaking and some of the dialogues and lines just brought instant tears to my eyes.

The side characters may not have prominent presence but they are definitely memorable and I loved seeing so many supportive people around our main characters.

To conclude, this was a beautiful but realistic contemporary romance, which thoughtfully showcased the normal work and love struggles of people in their early 30s. While I adored the Love O2O drama and feel that this drama is very good too, I think that the book is superior in this case. The translation was also excellent and very seamless, so maybe I will checkout the other things they have worked on by the same author. Now, I'm just waiting to see the last set of episodes of the show and hoping it is as lovely as the book.

I have actually not read any of the author's books before, maybe just a few short stories. But I love her podcast with Annalee called Our Opinions are Correct and when I saw the idea of this book, I was very intrigued.

I don't even know if I'm the right audience, because other than writing reviews, I have no other writing background or aspirations. I'm also not much of a creative or imaginative person - so I feel no way eligible to judge this book for it's content, specifically all the wonderful craft related ideas and messages the author gives. But I loved the theme of how writing a story that one really wants to tell, channeling our fears and concerns and rage into characters and stories, can really help us deal with our issues or maybe just feel a bit better for a while. I found so many quotes and lines in this book that would apply for many troubling situations, not just for a writer but for any person, and I think that's the beauty of this book - how universal it is in its messaging while also catering to the specific needs of writers trying to put forth their work in times when the world around us is going to hell. And I thought even though the book is for writers and other creative people, it was quite helpful for me as a reader and reviewer as well, and I feel it will definitely have a positive impact in the way I consume and analyze stories from now on.

I think this will be a book I will look towards many times in the future, especially when I'm feeling a bit down. Hopefully I'll buy the paperback when it releases and highlight it a lot.

CW: foot binding, scenes of violence and abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault (though no on-page depictions), alcohol addiction, and torture.

This book has been one of my most anticipated releases of this year and I was so excited to finally get to it. However, this turned out to be a surprisingly bumpy ride but ultimately, I think it was worth the wait.

I definitely had too many expectations from the book, probably a bit different than what the book actually was too. But truly understanding the author's words about her book helped in tempering my idea of what it was gonna be and I went in with an open mind. I still can't believe that this is YA because while it had the coming of age element, the story is brutal in many ways. The writing is very fast paced but it does take some time to get going, and I kept putting it down after reading a few chapters. But once the halfway mark passed, I got through the whole thing in a single setting. The plot itself is pretty straightforward and simple, and has lot of action sequences involving mecha fights - which were quite new for me because I'm totally unfamiliar with manga or anime. I can't say the world building was a strong point here, but the ending has a pretty unexpected revelation, and I think we'll get more of this world's history in the sequel. The author also sprinkles the text with many popular names from Chinese history and classic literature, so if you're familiar with those, you might find the references a lot of fun. I had read about Tang Dynasty a little when I watching the drama The Long Ballad and I had also gotten some background about the only empress of China, so finding those characters here and understanding how the author interspersed their real life events with her plotline felt very interesting.

But what stays through after finishing or even while reading the book is this utter feeling of rage, especially as a woman. The author has mentioned multiple times that the patriarchal society in this book is inspired by the social classes and customs of ancient China, and while knowing that history might make us feel better for having made progress, reading about the fictional life of a poor young woman of the time from her own POV is devastating. The way women are expected to be submissive and brainwashed about their inferiority and duty since being born doesn't at all feel ancient, because haven't we all experienced some milder form of it even in our lives. So when the heroine of this book wants to destroy this world that has brought nothing but pain to her, I only wanted to cheer her on.

Wu Zetian is basically a young ball of rage. She is anger personified - anger at her family who don't actually care about her, only what honor or money or shame she can bring to them; anger at her society which forces her to live life in a predetermined box with rules and regulations, where she doesn't even have an illusion of choice. But I liked seeing her transform from someone only wanting revenge at the cost of her life, to someone who understood the nuances of people's actions, as well as using the limited power she has gained for the greater good. She is not the chosen one savior heroine we are used to seeing in YA fantasy - maybe she could have been in a kinder world - but here she is a destroyer and you can't actually fault her for her decisions.

Li Shimin and Yizhi are the two love interests and wow it's such a relief not being bogged down by a love triangle. Shimin's backstory is truly tragic and all his struggles and feelings of guilt really tug at your heartstrings. Yizhi on the other hand is a privileged young master, who probably hasn't encountered a lot of troubles in life despite not being the preferred son of his filthy rich father, but him turning out out to be a compassionate young man with a determined heart is a wonder. I found him to be the actual center of this poly triad and he really impressed me with everything he did. The romance doesn't feel out of place at all in this bloody vengeful story - more like the only good thing keeping the main characters tethered to their humanity.

There frankly aren't any other characters whom you can remember fondly in this book. You only feel emotions ranging from pity to loathing to fury depending on who it is, and it gives you immense satisfaction when some of them get their comeuppance.

In the end, this was a violent but entertaining read, maybe even a bit visceral and cathartic in how it left me feeling after I finished it. While taking down the patriarchy seems to be a common theme across many fantasy novels these days, I thought the abundance of historical and mythical figures, as well as the East Asian folklore inspired mechas were a unique and fun touch. And if you like it when women characters are allowed to express their most extreme feelings unapologetically, then you can't go wrong with this book.

More of a 3.5.

This is one popular series that everyone among my mutuals seems to have read, and while it's always been on my radar and I knew I would eventually get to it, I just was never in a rush. But this August I found myself adding this book as part of the readathon tbr (believe me, it's not the first time) and surprisingly, I have gotten around to reading it.

I definitely picked it up while I was already in the middle of two more books because I wanted a quick read - and it delivered. I finished it in just a couple of hours and it was interesting enough that I didn't wanna put it down. I was fascinated by how much the author was able to incorporate in such a short novella - a world full of portals which lead to many more magical and dangerous worlds, special kids who are able to find these portals but are forever changed by their experiences, the joy of finding the one place where we belong and the trauma we suffer when we are ripped apart from that place, and the lengths to which some might go to find that home again. Add to all this, we also have a murder mystery and a whole host of eclectic characters who are suspicious of each other, and it makes for a compelling read. The author also tries to be inclusive and accepting, and it was nice to not only see asexual and trans protagonists but also understand their inner thoughts about themselves.

Overall, this was a fascinating little read and definitely for fans of portals as well as quirky ensemble characters. Ofcourse due to its length, it feels a bit simplistic and the resolutions are fairly quicker. But it has definitely piqued my interest. And who knows, I might pick up the rest of the series sooner rather than later.

This was short and cute and a lot of fun, but I did enjoy the drama more. I think Yang Yang's presence just made it more exciting

CW: one of the POV is a KKK member, so expect lots of racism, antisemitism, usage of slurs etc.

Probably more of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.

I actually started reading this a while ago but abandoned it after a few pages coz I wasn't in the mood. But it's also one of the few longest series I have been following for a while, so I didn't wanna totally give up and decided to read it for the readathon in August.

This was not an easy book to read, not because of the writing at all, but because of the time period it is set in. 1940s America, and specifically Los Angeles maybe outwardly glamorous because of Hollywood, but the other side of it is full of Nazis and fascists and racists fighting for their so called white America. So, the author uses some of the events that took place during those trying times to create an engaging murder mystery with large scale implications. I was actually surprised to know how many of the little subplots or people involved in the book were inspired by reality. While the book itself was fast paced and very interesting to read, I can't say I liked reading the POV of a Klan member. But the author does manage to cover up the distaste we might feel at that POV by peppering the book with a lot of popular names of the times - Hollywood superstars and directors, musicians, singers, ballet artists, authors and playwrights - if you know your American movie/artistic history, I think you'll find all of the references very enjoyable but unfortunately I'm a noob when it comes to this area, and I skipped the names coz they didn't mean anything to me.

Maggie remains one of the bravest historical women I've read in the past few years and it's always nice to return to read about her new adventure. I liked that we get to see more sides of her this time - the born American whose relationship with her birth country is troubled because she can't reconcile the glamour and patriotism with the racism; the woman unsure about meeting the most love of her life; and the British service member who needs to make choices about her future while contemplating the various betrayals by her own superiors.

However, I'm not sure what I feel about John yet. He seems like a nice guy and does like her a lot, but I can't make up my mind if he is good enough for Maggie. Sarah as always was a bright spot and I loved her friendship with Henri. The less I talk about the other POVs, the better. I definitely did miss David and the rest of the London gang.

To conclude, it was nice to be back among familiar characters. The murder mystery itself was pretty interesting but straightforward, and I thought the strength of the book was the vivid setting the author was able to create. The books ends on quite a surprising note and it looks like the proceedings will again move more into the Nazi territory, so I'm quite looking forward to that.

I've been waiting for this book because this is one of the very few contemporary series I'm still reading, and I was frankly disappointed not to get the advance copy. Not that it stopped me because I got it soon after release and it felt like the perfect one for my august readathon prompt.

And this turned out to be as fun as I expected. When the author mentioned in the acknowledgements that she didn't plan on writing a book for the Russian, I was surprised because he truly has been a fan favorite since the beginning. But I'm glad she did write this book because it was so much fun. Childhood best friends to lovers is my favorite trope and it was nice to find it in a book after a long time. But it was also equally angsty because there were so many misunderstandings and self-worth issues, but thankfully everything got resolved nicely. The whole idea of the hockey playing hero writing a romance novel was so unique, and perfect for the Bromance book club. The author used the process of writing of this book to highlight some of very tropey but wonderful little moments that we find in most romance novels, and also how much this writing process and the story helps in resolving the issues between the main couple in real life. The pacing is perfect, the humor very endearing and the depiction of friendships heartwarming, which made for a happy read.

Vlad is just such a nice guy. We are very used to seeing stereotypical depictions of jocks and American media's representation of Russian people always skews towards the negative, so it was lovely to see Vlad depicted as just a king, compassionate, emotional man who loves everyone with all his heart, but is unsure if he is worthy of receiving the same. Elena on the other hand has gone through a lot in her life and is chasing the void left by her journalist father, wants the love of her best friend and husband but also doesn't want to be a burden on him. Both of them stay away from each other despite the love they have, and it was nice to see them fight their vulnerabilities and conflicting feelings to finally get to be with each other.

The book club is always a delight and I thought they were amazing here as well, helping and pestering Vlad to open up about his problems as well as nudging him on his writing journey. The Loners is another group of women who may not have a man in their lives but are full of cutting insights about relationships. And then there's another special appearance whose name I don't wanna spoil, but adds a lot of intrigue and hilarity to the proceedings.

In the end, I was thoroughly entertained while reading the book and I'm glad this series has been equally fun since the beginning. While the various conversations in the book about romance and masculinity and body shaming may feel a tad bit superficial, but I think even such normal talks can help dispel some of the myths and stereotypes associated. I don't know if this series is gonna continue, but if it does, I know I'll be ready to read.

I rarely buy physical books but I couldn't resist a Mahabharata one, especially one which promises untold stories. Either I know too much or it's just unfortunate, I knew most of the stories in this one and only learnt a couple of new ones. But the writing easy to follow and the stories were written well.

I actually never read the previous books in this series but had fun watching the movie. So when I got the email if I was interested in this book, I immediately took the chance. And this turned out to be fun.

If you checkout my earliest posts on this blog a few years ago, you'll know that I'm a huge Sherlock fan. So even if this is the story of his sister, just having him tangentially in the story is enough of a draw for me. Firstly, I have to appreciate the author for giving a good recap of everything that's happened before, I so wish all authors would do that for their sequels. And this was such a quick read - I finished it in just a couple of hours and was quite entertained throughout, though I have to say that I found some of the vocabulary tough to follow. But that's probably because I don't read a lot of historical fiction.

The mystery was interesting but a tad bit predictable - it wasn't at all hard to guess what had happened to the missing young woman. But I think it was the characters who made up for any shortcomings in the plot. Enola is a fun, eccentric and impulsive young girl who is way too different and independent for her times. But she didn't lack courage or creative ideas on how to solve the questions troubling her. I thought she got great company in Tish who was quite ready to go along with these crazy ideas, if only to save her sister. It was nice to see some female bonding. Sherlock seemed like a reluctant participant in his sister's activities, but he can never let a mystery go unsolved and I loved how supportive he was of the girl's plans.

To conclude, I'm glad I got to read this book. It probably fills a hole in my heart left by all the Sherlock books I've read many many times. However, it wasn't too special and I think my enjoyment was very much related to the nostalgia factor. But I probably will continue the series because why not.

I have only heard great things about the author's debut novel and this prequel novella and while they don't feel like the exact kind of books I enjoy, I still felt compelled to give this one a try first. And I'm glad my attempt wasn't in vain.

Sitting at less than 100 pages, this novella is pretty small but it's very surprising how much of the story the author is able to tell in such few pages, without losing the essence of this series - which is very traditional epic fantasy with dragons and Mages. I'm not someone who gravitate towards these books despite loving fantasy with all my heart, mostly because I prefer more emotionally engaging fantasies written by women and/or queer authors. However, I found this very action packed right from page one style of storytelling a bit refreshing, because I haven't read something like this for a long while now. The action, the tension, the sense of loss and despair and betrayal - none of these let up right from the beginning of the story, just making us feel one thing after another, letting us sink into this very gritty world on the day it's whole foundation crumbles - it's the end of an era and the beginning of a new empire, but we are left to wonder who is on the right and was it all worth it.

I throughly enjoyed this short tale giving us the devastating truth behind the origins of this world, and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the first book of the series, which is set a few centuries later. I'm definitely excited for more action and ofcourse, dragons.

As far as I remember, the advance copy of this book was one of the earliest copies I ever received on Netgalley, during my initial days of blogging in 2017. But I was also overwhelmed by the many arcs I had gotten due to my enthusiastic and impulsive requesting, and I quickly lost interest in this one. I never expected to encounter this book again, with a new cover and rerelease and more importantly, the now popular name of the author behind the book. I was also lucky enough to receive this one as a gift recently, so I was finally interested to see what it was all about.

As someone who is very rare in my picks of historical fiction, it was nice to delve into a new fantasy world, albeit with very similar societal structures and expectations to that of the various romances I have encountered with dukes and viscounts. That's why this world felt very familiar and easy to get into, just with a tad bit of magic (or is it science?) added into it. I have always felt the author excels in writing lush and vibrant descriptions, and I think that was very evident in this type of story and definitely made it more richer. It was so easy to get lost when the author wove enchanting tales about the billowing dresses, the opulence of the city, the rustic country and more importantly, the raw and gritty emotions that drive people to do hurtful things. The pacing was also just right, always enticing me through some new crumb, whenever I felt my interest lagging.

And what fascinating characters the author has managed to create. I really loved Nina for her sweetness and innocence, but also for trying her best to be herself in a world that wanted to mould into a box she couldn't fit in. Her enthusiasm for her beetles and butterflies, the easy way she could give her affections without expecting much, her desire to be able to want more than just a proper marriage - it all dug deep into my heart and I know she'll remain quite a memorable character for me. On the other hand, Hector wasn't easy to like to start with but I enjoyed getting to know him better and slowly fall for him as well. It was so easy for him to be perceived as a bad guy after the first half of the book, but the author deftly captures the turmoil within him and takes us on a journey with him, where he pieces back together his broken heart and embarks on a new but scarier phase of his life - to try and love again. Nina and Hector's relationship starts off with lies but it truly develops into something full of love and understanding and particularly, respect, which I absolutely adored.

Valerie is a character who I suppose some readers might feel sympathetic towards because of the circumstances of her upbringing and the insurmountable expectations on her shoulders placed by her family, and maybe there was some goodness in her when she was younger - but in the present, I only found her to be spiteful and obsessive and vindictive, who just couldn't tolerate anyone else's happiness because she wasn't happy herself. I'm not usually prone to hating characters, but my mom has been subjecting me to a daily Hindi tv show where there is a very similarly vindictive woman whom I hate and I suppose I may have projected all that loathing onto Valerie's character as well. But I don't think I'm wrong in this case.

There were also a good number of side characters, but only a few make a significant impression. I was indifferent towards Etienne in the beginning but it was nice to see him value his friendships, across social classes. I still don't know how I feel about Luc, probably more pity than anything but I definitely can't say I like him. Nina's family as a whole seemed to be a good support to her and it was nice to see that.

Overall, this was quite an entertaining fantasy of manners, with gorgeous descriptions, very in-depth characters, a boatload of angst, and a delicious slow burn romance that made the experience worth it. The author does a singularly good job of evoking all kinds of emotions in the reader, and I really appreciated that. This probably has to be my favorite book by Garcia, but I have one more arc to go and I really hope Certain Dark Things will give me all the vampire content I want.

Another day, another genre of book that I don't usually read. Frankly, I don't think I've ever read a noir, pulp fiction type book before. But this was Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I couldn't resist getting a review copy.

For almost a third of the book, I was bored and annoyed with the characters and just couldn't see what was the point of everything that was happening. But then, I will not say it got terribly interesting, but I got used to the writing style and decided to quickly finish the book. The author captures the atmosphere of the times very well - the authoritarianism of the political leaders and the police; the dirty work by gangsters; the students who are fed up with the messed up situation and have become activists, but are themselves a target now; and a young woman who doesn't care about any of this happening around her because she is too busy thinking about her drab and boring life. The author is really good at showing the murky reality of Mexico during different times in history through each of her books, and this was no exception. The story was also fast paced with quite a bit of action and suspense, with one twist towards the end that I never saw coming.

Elvis was an interesting character, trying to find the place where he can finally belong to and maybe make a name for himself. He may have been working for a gangster, but there was a naïveté about him that made him a sympathetic character. Maite on the other hand completely frustrated me - on one hand because I was annoyed by her fixation on good looking guys and making tall tales about everything to feel like something was going on in her life; on the other hand, there were some characteristics of her life that hit too close to him and I didn't want a reality check. But I liked how both of their storylines followed each other and intersected and diverged, but never actually met. The only other character whom we get to know somewhat is Ruben but he was a typical young guy who romanticized revolution and none of his actions truly surprised me. Elvis's teammates were also stereotypical sidekicks and didn't leave much of an impression.

To conclude, this was a quick read, probably as expected from pulp fiction. It was also engaging enough but I don't think it's something I'll remember after a while. I could have liked it more but the ending (which was quite unexpected) just felt like the whole point of the book was a waste and that left me dissatisfied. But it's just my opinion. If 1970s Mexico at a time of student protests and government overreach, and a noir story about two completely different people whose paths collide in a twist of fate feels like something that'll interest you, go for it.

To say that this was one of my most anticipated books of this year is an understatement. Since an year ago when I first got to know about and added it to my TBR, this book comped as Mulan meets The Song of Achilles has been making me excited, which only increased as my fascination with Chinese costume dramas grew during the pandemic. So, when it was ultimately time for me to start reading (or listening in this case), I had such high expectations that it took even me by surprise, but I was also confident that it would live up to everything. And wow how it did.

I have no words to describe how I feel after finishing this book. The author's prose is exquisite and lyrical and how they managed to tell such a ruthless and expansive story in such a poetic manner will always keep me wondering. The pace is also relentless, not just because we are covering more than a decade's worth of story, but also because the circumstances are always dangerous and every chapter feels like the characters are on a precipice and any decision they make will alter their path in significant ways. The audiobook by Natalie Naudus is also perfectly narrated, evoking the right feelings in me at the apt moments.

The major strength of this book though, comes from the characters. Zhu Chongba starts off as a starving peasant who loses her family to bandits and famine, but if there's one thing she isn't lacking, it's the will to survive and defy the fate that's written for her. Her determination to want and desire and then act to get what she wants, unfolds beautifully across these pages, but at no point does this tale of ambition and power put us off from rooting for her success.

Ouyang on the other hand is the eunuch general for the empire which decimated his entire family and mutilated his body, and his conflict between wanting to get revenge for his ancestors while trying to stay loyal to the man who has been his master and best friend and commander is utterly heartbreaking. He is no less ruthless in achieving his goals but the yearning and angst the author infuses in his internal monologues makes him someone we feel very sympathetic towards.

There are also a whole host of side characters, some whose POVs we do get to read, and we see how the powerplays of Zhu and Ouyang are affecting the lives of the ones closest to them. Xu Da starts off as an irreverent playboy monk but his undying loyalty to Zhu is endearing, while at the same time, seeing the empathetic and compassionate Ma Xiuying navigate the grief of losing one person after another whom she cares about to the incessant betrayals of her own people, makes us want to cry alongwith her and give her a hug. There are many others who leave an indelible impression on us while reading but getting attached to anyone is such a scary prospect because we never know who will die at the sword point of whose schemes.

While the characters are the flesh and blood of this book, it's the themes the author explores that form it's backbone. As this is a reimagining of the founding of the Ming dynasty, it is interesting to retell this story from the perspective of a character who is not born a man and eschews any female characteristics in her lived experience, deciding to topple the very patriarchal empire of her time. I loved how the author shows us Zhu's relationship with her gender - she takes up the life and fate of her brother but slowly comes to realize that she can't be him completely but nor can she ever be a woman. The fear that she feels about the exposure of her truth felt so real that I was petrified during some of the scenes, and I can only wait with bated breath to see how any revelations will affect her plans in the future books.

Ouyang on the other hand is full of self hatred because while born a man, he is treated as less than because of what was done to his body, and he hates himself for having made that impossible choice. He also hates women with a passion because he is frequently treated like them. This contempt that he feels for his body as well as those men who he considers whole, while also envying them for their ability to have desires and families, is a duality that the author perfectly captures. And it's the idea of these characters who are outside of the gender binary existing and fighting and winning in a sexist patriarchal empire is what makes this book special.

I also loved how the author depicts ambition in the story. When characters become hungry for power and grow ruthless in their ambitions, it's easy to hate them but I admire how the author deftly navigated these themes without ever making us feel like the characters were wholly wrong in their choices. Yes, they are ambitious and they are relentless and heartless in the pursuit of their goals, but they are also doing it for honor and family and survival, and how can we judge that. And the whole idea of a person's fate being defined and the possibility of humans either defying their fate or succumbing to it forms the core of this story and I can only wait and see what fate awaits these characters.

In conclusion, this book was everything that I thought it would be and more. An unrelenting tale of survival and aspiration of characters who otherwise would have no power in this world, this book is evocative and bold and ambitious and will leave you breathless with anticipation at the end of most chapters, and especially towards the end. It's also beautifully Asian and queer and if you enjoy genderbent and queer retellings of historical events, you cannot miss this book. It is totally shooting towards the top of my favorite books of 2021 list and joining the other two of the sapphic trifecta. While everything is going horribly in the real world, I feel I've gotten to read some of the best books ever this year and I'm glad for authors like Shelley who are keeping me and many readers like me sane during bad times. All I can do now is wait for the next book in The Radiant Emperor series and maybe listen to the spectacular audiobook again and again in the meantime.

Another desi fantasy trilogy comes to an end. I probably don't consider this series to be one of my all time favorites, but I can't deny it's been fun to read so far, so I was pretty interested to see how it was gonna end.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm feeling after finishing the book. I don't think it's disappointment, because I didn't go in with much expectations in the first place. But I guess I still wanted more, and it just ended up being ok. The plot was just interesting enough, pacing quite fast which was probably why I even finished it pretty quickly, and it was definitely aided by a very well narrated audiobook. However, it wasn't engaging enough and every time I put it down, I wasn't dying to pick it back up. The events that took place felt repetitive at times - the build up about the reforging of the Janma bond being such an essential part of the first two books - and while it was still the most significant part of this finale, it didn't feel like such an ominous task anymore, and once the book was over, it just felt very anticlimactic.

The characters also didn't seem to have left much of a mark on me, and I really missed that intense chemistry between Esha and Kunal from the first book, which is what hooked me onto this series. While the tension between the two was palpable, it also felt annoying at times and the resolution of their issues was too simplistic. The bit of love triangle scare we got also didn't endear me much. Princess Reha, who was such an imposing but invisible presence in the first two books, couldn't wow me with her existence this time around. I could obviously empathize with her struggles because she was thrust into a significant role suddenly and her entire life was upended, but we never got to see how she reconciled her feelings with the expectations put upon her, and that was a miss. I think the best part was just the camaraderie between all the characters and how well they worked together, and I'm glad they managed to keep me wanting to read more.

In the end, this finale was not particularly surprising or thrilling, but it was an overall fine conclusion. The audiobook is definitely the way to go because I loved how well the narrator was able to convey the emotions of the characters. And despite whatever gripes I have with the way this story ended, I'm glad to have a YA desi fantasy trilogy inspired by medieval India in existence and I can only hope I'll get to read wonderful stories by the author in the future.

CW: suicide, mention of a suicide attempt, body mutilation, foot binding

I've only read one short story by the author before but I was so profoundly moved by it, that I had to add this novella to my tbr as soon as I got to know about it. And was doubly excited when I got the arc.

I will be honest and say it took me a few pages to get into this story and it was pretty slow going until then. Biocyberpunk is not a genre I would willingly pick up if not for being excited about the author's work, and it's also my shortcoming for not being aware enough about neopronouns that extensive usage of them in this story hindered my reading a bit at the beginning. But the author employs a story with the story kind of narrative device in this book, and by the time I was done with the first narrated “story”, I was totally hooked. Rooted in Asian history and culture, the author deeply explores themes of grief and oppression and trauma, and how they affect us, sometimes even without us knowing that we are experiencing the effects. Another thing that really connected to me was the subtle discussion about borders and immigration, and how this has a disparate impact on one's core identity as well as relationship with family.

Amina is a fascinating character. Æ became an extrasensory human to watch over the city of Ora because ær circumstances didn't leave Amina many choices. But new traumatic experiences has ær questioning if æ are truly protecting the citizens and if ær choices are correct. Meeting the enigmatic Vessel and ser cabinet of curiosities also opens up a whole new world of stories and possibilities to Amina, finally letting ær feel comfortable enough to make life altering decisions for ærself. We also meet many amazing characters within the narrated stories, who give us glimpses into understanding what having agency and being able to make choices means, and questioning us if we have the strength to face the consequences.

Overall, this was a very unique, one of a kind book which even if confusing at times, is something to be experienced. This queernormative Asian inspired futuristic world and it's deeply moving characters have left an impression on me and I would definitely want everyone to dive into it as well. Just remember that this novella is more on the profound and thought provoking side, and not a fast paced sci-fi adventure.

It's definitely more of a 4.5 though.

I got the arc of this little middle grade mystery novel on a whim, because I hardly pick up MG these days. But I do remember seeing it a few times on Yali Books's Twitter account and thought why not.

And this turned out to be so fun and entertaining. I think this book is a perfect crossover for Children's and Middle Grade readers, providing the innocence for younger readers as well as the adventure elements for budding teenagers. And as an avid reader of Enid Blyton's Famous Five series in my childhood, I couldn't resist reading this one. Though it felt younger, the vibes were very similar to FF and I enjoyed it so much, as well as kept wishing I had these kind of desi books when I was that age. The writing is simple and fast paced, and the author immerses us so deeply in the story that we completely believe in the talents of the little child detectives. Just in such a short book, I could feel the atmosphere of Elathoor, get to know the whole cast of quirky characters better, and also fall in love with the three tenacious cousins who were so brave and determined to find the truth, even if a tad bit reckless.

To conclude, this is a cute and interesting little mystery novel that I think kids will really enjoy, and I would definitely recommend to any desi parents who have kids in this age range. It's a cool change instead of always going for the Enid Blyton or Nancy Drew classics. There is a hint at the end that this might turn out to be a series with the three cousins turned sleuths, and I couldn't be more excited for the next installment.

More of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.

CW: burning of people, reference to past suicide(sacrifice)

I've been eagerly awaiting this book since the first time it showed up on my Twitter tl, because I'm always excited for a desi author debut and the cover with my favorite color was very enticing. And it turned out to be quite fun.

The writing of this book was quite easy to get into, though finding myself grounded in the world took a bit of time. The author is pretty good at descriptions, and I particularly gasped at the feeling of the desert heat and sand dunes, as well as the painful nature of fire. It took me a while to see where the story was going but I never guessed the most important twists and betrayals, so that was quite fun. But the one surprise which took me a while to get over was realizing that this is a technologically advanced fantasy world - with both hoverpods and tanks and pulse guns, as well as staunch belief in gods and prophecies and Fire magic - I don't always encounter such worlds and I'm still not sure if I'm completely in love with it, but the author made the blend of the two feel seamless which was pretty cool.

Wow is this a book where I don't know what to feel about the characters, but not exactly in a bad way. All three of the main POVs really skirt the line between black and white and it's upto us as readers to decide what we feel about them. One is a king who probably wants his daughter to have a better kingdom to rule, but he is also consumed by his need for power and control and can't accept that his actions maybe wrong. The Princess and Queen to be loves her people and wants everlasting peace, but worries more about mastering the fire until she realizes this power is all she has left if she wants to fight for her people's survival. And finally we have a traitor, an assassin, a broken man torn between two homes both of which never accepted him, who yearns to be free but truly doesn't know what it means. There were a couple of very memorable side characters whom I really enjoyed getting to know, but don't want to spoil anything by talking more about them. The romance element is barely there but I was glad for it because the circumstances of the story didn't make for ideal conditions for love to bloom, but I'm sure we'll get more of it in the sequel.

On the whole, this was an entertaining story with compelling characters and an underlying theme of the greedy nature of power and what it can lead to. I will be very honest, I'm not sure this is something I will wanna reread, but I definitely wanna know what happens next and will look forward to the next installment.