Sahi

More of a 3.5.

Has a little instalove but I loved the two main characters and their chemistry. The friendships and family dynamics are also very realistically portrayed. And the hospital work environment and the drama gave me total Grey's Anatomy vibes

I have to mention initially that I am not an ownvoices reviewer for any of the stories here, so it doesn't really matter what I have to say. As Lamar Giles mentions in the foreword, this book is for all those kids who love reading but are disheartened because they never see themselves represented as anything more than a sidekick or a stereotype. Here, you will find stories about Black, Native, Asian, Persian, Muslim, LGBTQ+ people, all written by ownvoices authors, who wish to bring marginalized characters to life, make them the heroes of their stories and show us a true reflection of of the racist, prejudiced and divided world that we live in today. Each story is powerful in it's own right and everyone needs to read this amazing collection. My reviews for individual stories are below:

- Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds

A sweet story about childhood best friends in love. One of them is moving away and they are unsure about the future but just want to enjoy their last moments together, while remembering the happy times.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

- Meet Cute by Malinda Lo

I loved the setting of this story at a Sci-fi fantasy convention. It beautifully captured the awkwardness of two queer girls who meet there during a blackout and are unsure of each other's orientation. There is also commentary about whitewashing of movie characters and less representation of LGBTQ+ people in the media and I think it's written very well.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Don't Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth

This was a very compelling story about a Native American boy who lives on the Reservation but has to go to a very majority white school, where he can't help but stand out due to his looks. We also see how difficult it is for a young boy when he is not even represented in his school literature because white is the norm.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi

The feeling of crushing so hard on someone that you invent excuses to talk to them is captured perfectly here. The concert setting is cool, I loved that the band is named after tragic historical queens including Rani of Jhansi and it also captured the feelings of kids from immigrant families – a Muslim American and another possibly Japanese American. Wonderfully written.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Tags by Walter Dean Myers

This is a story about systemic oppression and racism and police brutality and how this is a cycle that keeps on repeating and young boys lose their lives for nothing. And how we may remember their stories for sometime, but ultimately they become just a memory. A very powerful and poignant story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan

This was a cute story about a young Iranian American bisexual girl who isn't sure how to come out to her grandma. So, she decides to ask her grandma to teach her how to cook and then invites her girlfriend over for dinner. It's an endearing tale of love and acceptance.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older

This was a very different sci-fi kinda setting, so it was difficult for me to get into. I think the story had an underlying subtext but I wasn't able to grasp it.

Rating: ⭐⭐

- A Boy's Duty by Sharon G. Flake

Set during WWII, this is a story about a homeless black boy who has big dreams about being a sailor and then survive the war, to go to college and become a teacher of astronomy. But he has to deal with everyday racism that was the norm of the day while also encountering the generosity of someone like Ma Susie. And through it all, he has to try his best to keep his dreams alive. What a hopeful story even in a desperate situation.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

- One Voice – A Something in Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz

This was a very emotional piece of writing. We see a string of hate crimes being committed in the Stanford campus and how it's affecting the students of color through the eyes of our Filipino MC. She has to deal with the anxiety, how her own campus feels unsafe now and being scared to protest because of her DREAMer status. There is so much packed into this little story and it will resonate with anyone who is a minority and encounters racism and feels their voice will never be heard.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Paladin / Samurai by Gene Luen Yang

This is a graphic novel short and it wasn't actually easy to read in the digital format. And I also wasn't really sure what was happening.

Rating: ⭐⭐

- Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar

TW: transphobia, bullying

An ownvoices story written by the first openly transgender NCAA Division I swimmer, this is about a trans boy who just came out on Facebook and is about to face his first day on the men's swimming team. He has to endure a lot of hate and bullying, but his determination to win and prove everyone wrong is working and we get a hopeful message that he will be okay.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Super Human by Nicola Yoon

What a wonderful end to the collection. It is a story of how in the current world – when the media pundits talk about a post-racial society and some people wonder why POC always talk about race so much – even a black superhero can't escape police brutality, because he fits the vague description of someone who committed a crime somewhere in the country. And one rich black girl who comes to convince him not to go ahead with his plans, has her eyes opened to the reality instead. This is a story that packs a lot of punch in just a few pages and is definitely one of the best in the collection.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have mostly read novels and only a couple of nonfiction books about WWII but this might be the first memoir. It doesn't really talk about concentration camps and atrocities committed on the prisoners but about the human side of the survivors and people who helped them on the way.

Edith is from a loving Jewish family in Vienna studying to be a lawyer. When the Nazi's come, she is denied her degree, forced out of her home into a ghetto and finally sent to labor camp. She works almost eighty hour work weeks while starving and her only hope being the letters and packages that she received from her mom and Pepi. After her mother is deported to Poland, she refuses to report to the authorities and after managing to secure false papers, moves to Munich. There she meets a Nazi party member Werner who falls in love with her and they get married.

There were some comments about Edith's life that demeaned her for surviving as a German Nazi wife. But that's the whole point of this book. In times of war, when living is the only matter of concern, is it really worth it to judge a woman for setting up a false identity and surviving under the enemy's nose. Edith is a smart, intelligent woman who is deprived of everything – her education, dignity, a future, even basic food and shelter – and when all doors close for her freedom, she chooses the one way that she finds. She lives in constant fear of being caught, every minute of her existence, but still manages to carve out a life and family for herself. She suppresses her witty intelligent personality to become a meek submissive wife of a Nazi because all she wants is to live; because that's the only thing she has left. Finally, when the occupation ends, she gets a chance to resume her true identity, even become a lawyer and judge to help the people who have lost everything in the war.

But this book is not just about Edith. It's about all the people who chose to help her. Her friend Christl, a German who gave Edith her original papers at great peril to herself. Maria Niedarall, another German who provided her all the encouragement and resources to escape. Pepi, her eternal love whose letters provided her great relief and hope during the whole ordeal before her escape. Even Werner in some ways helps her because despite being his aggressive self and knowing Edith's truth, he never betrays her.

This book is about humanity – how seemingly good people can turn their backs on friends for personal safety and well-being while at the same time, people from unexpected quarters risk their lives to help their fellow citizens. I think this book is a must read for anyone who thinks living in wartime and surviving is a black and white. Because it is most definitely not.

May 8th, 2018 - Updated Review

I had to restrain myself from bursting into giggles every ten seconds. This book is hilarious throughout, with lots of cheese and OTT melodrama like a typical KJo movie and I loved every single word.

Winnie is a hard-core movie buff with a Hindi movie review blog, who wants to do Film Studies at NYU Tisch and pursue a career as a film critic. She (alongwith her parents) also believe in a prediction made by a Panditji in her childhood about meeting her soulmate whose name starts with ‘R' before her eighteenth birthday. But, when a few months before the D-day, her long time boyfriend Raj breaks up and she starts feeling something for Dev, she has to choose between believing in kismet or wanting to make her own destiny.

Winnie is a normal teenager who is angry and devastated by her breakup and confused about wanting to be with Dev (especially when Raj starts pursuing her again) but through it all, she is strong in her convictions, knows what she wants from her future and never lets anyone change her mind. Her parents and nani are some of the best parental characters I've ever read. They might be slightly pushy, maybe even embarrass her a little in front of others, but they love her unconditionally and fully support her in her choices without pressuring her. I loved the idea of Indian parents not worried that their kid didn't want to be an engineer or a doctor. They are also traditional, slightly superstitious but still progressive in their ideas and I admired them a lot.

Dev may look like a bad boy but he is the sweetest guy ever and so so precious swoons. Though Dev and Winnie's relationship felt a little insta-lovey, I totally got swept up in it and was rooting for them from the get-go. Every single one of their dates is very very cute and I always wanted more. Raj is probably an okay guy but I didn't like him from the moment he told Winnie that her career choices were silly and she should grow up and go to college with him. I could never warm up to him after that, and he probably only redeemed himself slightly towards the end when he helped resolve some misunderstandings. Bridget is Winnie's BFFL (Best Freaking Friend for Life) and their mutual admiration society of 80's movies and Jane Austen was very endearing.

However, for me, what makes this book so wonderful is that for the first time ever, I saw a part of myself on the page. Winnie's obsession with Hindi movies, her love for their romanticism, songs and dances, SRK – all felt like a reflection of myself. The writing is also very light hearted with so many funny moments making the whole reading experience very enjoyable and entertaining. SRK showing up in Winnie's dreams and giving her advice on her love life through his iconic movie dialogues was hysterical. The Hindi movie references are spot-on and the snippets from Winnie's review blog about the most notable movies of the last two decades are a highlight.

This is a very typical and predictable high school romance if you go by the plot, but the humorous writing and the completely filmi aesthetic make this one of the most funniest books I have ever read. Definitely recommend for readers of YA rom-coms but this is a must read for all lovers of SRK and Bollywood.

Special LOL spoilery moments from the book:
1. Winnie's favorite swear word – “Holy baby Shahrukh”2. Referring to the iconic Bachchan starrer Deewar as “that Wall movie”3. Every single translation of SRK's most famous dialogues4. “Pigeon, go, go, go, pigeon, go, go, go” – remember that song?5. Dream Winnie running in a “sarson ka khet” and falling into the arms of SRK6. Nani and her mom making food for the film festival because no movie experience is complete without samosas7. Dev performing a Bollywood dance routine with a whole set of background dancers to impress Winnie (even though he hates dancing... isn't he the best!!!!)
May 4th, 2018

This book ..... oh god this book... I would give it so many stars I wouldn't be able to count.

I haven't been able to stop laughing since I started it a few hours ago and I just abandoned everything I had to do at home to finish it. And I'm thrilled.. and excited... and super duper happy...

My insanely Bollywood and SRK obsessed self is feeling really seen and validated after reading this book.

Anyone who loves Indian movies, the corny, OTT and dramatic nature of our films, should definitely read this book. You will just love it and die laughing 😆😆😆

I know I'm rambling but I will need a lot of time to think and write a review for this one. Because, all I want to do is quote all the hysterical lines - which would essentially be most of the book.

This was a wonderful read. Not the kind of book that blows your mind away from page one but one that subtly worms it's way into your mind and heart. The blurb presents this book as Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights but I won't comment on that because I've never watched FNL. It's also not an exact retelling of P&P but the vibes are definitely present and the understated writing is very similar to the way Austen talks about issues without making a big deal out of them.

Devon is a very relatable teenager. She believes she is average and boring, doesn't have the talent for anything nor the work ethic to make up for it and is pretty apathetic towards most things. She knows she has to go to college but is not sure what she wants to do and doesn't seem very interested in working on the essays for her applications. Only when she is compelled, she decides to become a TA and an assistant photographer for the sports section of the school newspaper.

Devon is also slightly resentful of having to deal with her cousin Foster who is now living with them. He is a sweet, adorable, nerdy kid but is emotionally closed off and never talks about his issues, especially abandonment by his mother. He can be awkward, probably has some form of anxiety, goes to therapy and can be found sitting in the bathtub or under the kitchen table when he feels overwhelmed. Throughout the book, we see their relationship develop from being slightly thorny to a tentative closeness to deeply caring about each other and it's absolutely beautiful. Foster becoming a part of the football team also helps them bond and he gets to form friendships with his teammates.

Ezra is the new football star of the town, All-American, fawned on my everybody but also resented for his popularity, broody nature and not getting on well with others. Dev initially dislikes him, but when he befriends Foster, sort of like a mentor, she starts understanding how loyal, caring and sweet he can be. He is as awkward as her in putting his thoughts into words, but they form an unlikely friendship. Their feelings are obvious to us but misunderstandings, tempers and silences abound and it's a very slow burn before anything happens. But it's a lot of fun to watch it happen. The romance takes it's time to develop and it's sweet and has a very Austen feel. And Ezra is definitely a great Darcy-esque love interest whom I couldn't help falling in love with.

There are also many other kids at the high school who are all not very fleshed out but still play a significant role in Devon's personal growth throughout the book. Cas has always been her best friend and unrequited crush and theirs is a very easy dynamic - they live in their own bubble because it's convenient. But slowly, because of a slightly pushy Mrs. Wentworth, the effortlessly charming and very good at heart Jordan, highly ambitious and driven Rachel, the sweetest ever Lindsay, mysterious Emir and lots of others, she bursts her own bubble and is on her way to finding herself. Her college visit also gives her a sense of purpose and some confidence about her future.

The writing in this book is truly wonderful in a very effortless way. The story just flows through and you never want to put the book down. There are many instances where Devon compares what's happening in her life to the situations in Sense & Sensibility or other Austen books and this warmed my heart. There is even a nod to the infamous Colin Firth's swimming scene from the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This is a story of love and loss, friendship and family, the high school experience. It's also about a town and it's love for football and tradition. It's about the effects of drunk driving and addiction on the lives of those left behind. It's a beautiful story of a girl who becomes less judgemental, more assertive and finds love.

If you love YA or Jane Austen or Football or all of them, just read this book. I promise you will not be disappointed.

WOW!!!!! This book just left me speechless, with goosebumps and a lot of thoughts swirling in my head. I'm not sure if I can express anything properly in this review but I'm definitely going to try.

Grace is a white Christian girl who is new to the town of Prescott after her minister mother is forced out of her old church for preaching about a more progressive version of Jesus. Now, all she wants is to live her life in high school without making any waves and probably find some normal friends. Rosina is queer latina teen who wants more from her life than just working her ass off at her uncle's restaurant and taking care of her cousins. She also feels very invisible and insignificant for being a poor brown lesbian girl in a small town. Erin is a very smart socially awkward girl who wants to be a marine biologist learning about the numerous life forms living under the water. She has Asperger's syndrome and she follows her own rigid set of rules to get through every day and finds solace in watching Star Trek. She is very empathetic and hopes that she could be void of her emotions like her favorite android character because she wants to escape the emotional overload that she feels sometimes.

When these three girls come together to do something to bring justice to Lucy – a rape survivor who was bullied and shamed and denied justice – the “Nowhere Girls” are born. But this book and the group are not just about this one issue. Through the group, all the girls come together, have discussions about their lives and choices, their expectations, their need to be seen and valued and loved as equals. This book is about so much more:

A girl who believes in her faith and prays to find purpose in her life and do good.
A girl who wants to forget all the trauma that she has experienced and just get through the day in a normal way.
A girl who is conflicted about loving her family that is also suffocating her dreams.
A girl who is resigned to faking it while being with a guy because she believes she is worthless and her “no” means nothing.
A girl who enjoys sex and is confident enough to ask for what she wants.
A smart girl who wants to look and dress pretty but believes that she has to choose between beauty and brains.
A cheerleader with a love for dancing who can't get behind the idea of her body being on display and judged for it.
An athletic girl who is stereotyped as a lesbian and goes so unnoticed that she believes even being taken advantage of might be better.
A closeted trans girl worried if she would be accepted by the group of girls in her school.
A black girl tired of white feminism which is so indifferent to her struggles.
The patriarchy that treats women as second class citizens only good for serving men.
The culture that perpetuates the notion that women like being with a strong man, women dressed a certain way are asking for it and excuses the actions of boys “for being boys”.
The hypocrisy of being called a slut for enjoying sex while being named a prude for not putting oneself out there.
The men who don't call out the sexism and misogyny around them because they don't want to lose their friends.
The men and women who would do anything to maintain the status quo and not ruffle any feathers.
The parents who believe their kids and fight for the truth alongside them.
The parents who are complicit in furthering the misogynistic attitudes in their kids.
This book made me think a lot, question my own beliefs and attitudes and actions till date and what I can do better in my life. It also reaffirms the need for listening to the victim, stop blaming them and female solidarity. Though it is unfortunate that this book seems so realistic in this day and age, but this is the world we live in and I recommend everyone to read this book and introspect.

Ella Frank always manages to make me cry during her finales and this was no different.

What a wonderful and beautiful way to end the story of my favorite trio. This book is hot and sexy as usual but also very sweet and adorable. The absolutely loud and boisterous Bianchi clan is amazing and their acceptance of Priest and Julien into the family is so heartwarming. The ceremony brought so many tears to my eyes but it was so worth it. And that epilogue is the sweetest ever 😍😍

Also happy to see glimpses of Logan and Tate again.

This author writes such memorable characters whom I can never forget. Can't wait to read her next series 😃😃

I really liked and hated getting to know how Ethan had to face professional consequences for his relationship. The punishment was probably right but it also felt unfair and his insecurity and loneliness made me very sad. But when he does get together with Jack, those are some of the cutest moments of this book. I especially loved the Christmas decorations at the White House and I think the Secret Service Team is too wonderful and supportive.

I'm so glad the author wrote this novella.

Average Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.6

This anthology has been on my highly anticipated releases list since the exact day it was announced. And I'm so so glad that I finally got the opportunity to read it. This was powerful, nuanced, thought provoking, made me very emotional or enraged at times, but also gave me hope. We all need some hope in our lives.

As the world around us gets increasingly divided and marginalized people have to fight for their rights even harder every day, this is a very powerful collection of poems and stories about young people who are also fighting to get their voices heard. There are a lot of important themes and messages discussed in this book but the one thing I found very relevant and impactful was that protesting physically at a march or a rally isn't the only form of resistance, and everyone should try to do whatever they can in their sphere of influence; but sometimes, it's okay to take a break when you are exhausted and spend some time on self care without feeling guilty that you aren't doing enough. Every form of resistance counts.

Below are my individual reviews, wherever I was able to write one.

GRACE: A SHORT STORY BY DARCIE LITTLE BADGER

The story of a young indigenous girl, this is about her standing up for herself and not allowing anyone to disrespect her. It may feel like a very small thing but I thought what Grace does is very powerful and I loved it. There is also the underlying theme of wanting to find the one place you can call home and what it would actually feel like to have one. Very very moving.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SHIFT: A POEM BY JASON REYNOLDS

I'm not very good at understanding poems and that was the case here. It was very short and I didn't know what the author was trying to say. But I will leave it unrated because it's just not my thing and not a fault of the poem itself.

Rating: Unrated

THE HELPERS: A SHORT STORY BY L. D. LEWIS

I think this story really captured the guilt that some people might feel who want to fight the injustices they see everyday but are unable to participate in protests for whatever reason; it wonderfully depicts that anything you can do during adversity counts as resistance and you don't always have to put yourself in physical danger to show your solidarity and standup for your beliefs.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FIGHTING THE BLUES: A COMIC BY CONNIE SUN

This might just be a small comic strip but it's message is very universal - a lot of things that happen around you can bring you down but it's important to remember that you are not alone and you shouldn't give up. And the art really captured that essence of despair.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARE YOU THE GOOD KIND OF MUSLIM?: A POEM BY SAMIRA AHMED

As you can guess from the title of this poem, it was heartbreaking to read - how very young, brown, Muslim children are asked pointed questions about their faith which seem innocuous on the surface but are seeped full of racism and Islamophobia. And however old these young kids grow up to be and feel they are ready to handle these bad faith questions, it's never easy. This particular line from the poem just destroyed me

“Do you make your choices or do your choices make you?”

I was mesmerized by this book – that's the only word I can use. It's such a short novella but manages to touch your heart in a very unexpected way. The strength of the book is its prose – it's lyrical and beautiful and so full of meaning that I had to reread certain lines to imbibe them better.

“There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path. And happiness depends on what you can give, not what you can get.”

As the premise suggests, this is the story of three people – a millionaire, a widow and a monk. Radha, an adopted child adored by her parents has everything that she could ask for but senses something missing and decides to seek out answers. Mira, married off to a stranger is happy in her motherhood and finds fulfillment in her son and his family even after she is widowed. But sudden changes force her to evaluate her purpose in life. Gaurav has grown up poor with dreams of a rich life that stares at him right across his window. He has known a great love and thinks he is content with it until he has to make a choice between his dreams and reality. How all their lives come together forms the rest of the story.

“Faith is to believe that you do not see so that you may come to see what you believe.”

I love the way the three characters are interwoven in each other's lives. It's so subtle that even the reader may miss it. The descriptions of Mumbai city, the traffic, the rains, the food are so vivid that I felt nostalgic and reminded of home. The book is full of wonderful philosophical words of wisdom, especially the letters of Babaji – touching upon life, death, happiness, destiny, karma and most importantly choices. That's what this book is about. That's also what makes this book so authentically Indian.

“We are alive only because we love. Even if we love nothing else, we love our own Life. And Love is that which keeps us alive. But loving only your own life is such a waste of love and of life.”

PS: I thank Cameron Publicity and Marketing and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to review this amazing book.

As a woman who has always been interested to know more about how public service works in the US and more about how young people who are interested in serving their country and change policies go about achieving their goals, this book was a breath of fresh air. All the young women here are so passionate and love working towards the betterment of their country and I loved reading their stories and I admire them for participating in a field that is so dominated by men. They truly have paved the way for many more future young women and I commend them for their efforts.

I highly recommend this book to teenagers and women because I believe these stories are a great inspiration.

This one was really wonderful. Even though I knew Nick could possibly not win yet against Seiji, it was still thrilling to watch their match. It was just on another level and I felt that everyone was quite emotional about it. Nick's resolve to make Seiji not compare him to Jesse felt so visceral, it just reflected off the page.

It was nice to see all the families for the first time. Having everyone together shows how casually diverse this series is and most of the parents were so supportive. It was especially funny to see Tanner's whole family wear Team Kally shirts coz he made them. They are just such great friends. And it definitely wasn't surprising to see just Seiji and Nick's family missing. But what happened next will always remain my most favorite scene of this series 😍😍😍

”We're friends, aren't we?” has to be the sweetest thing Nick has ever uttered and Seiji's shock wasn't surprising 😂😂😂 And they were actually civil to each other. Even Coach realized that they are great for motivating each other and I think that final scene proves that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Finally, my binge has ended and I have to wait more than a month for the next issue and this is going to be very agonizing... Why did this have to end on such hope and anticipation 😲😲😲😲

When I read Shadow of the Fox a few weeks ago, I was just going by my dear friend's recommendation and wasn't sure what to expect. But to my pleasant surprise, I completely fell in love with it and my excitement doubled when I got approved for the ARC of this sequel. Second books of beloved series can always be tricky but I'm so delighted that this book exceeded all my expectations.

Just like in the first book, the world building in this one too is phenomenal. We get introduced to more creatures and monsters from the Japanese mythology, one more scarier than the other and it was such a joy to read. Some of them are so vividly described that imagining them really scared me and I think that's a great testament for an author. As the group is on another journey through the story, we get introduced to more new settings and I loved how masterfully the author brought them to life - whether it be the eerie palace of the Shadow clan or the guardians of the Steel Temple. I can only say that the way the world was expanded and given more detail in this book was very interesting and we also get enough clues to realize that we are going to encounter more terrifying things in the next book, and I can't wait for it all.

I didn't expect to fall more in love with the characters but I did. Yumeko is not the same naive little girl from the first book - the fight at the end and the loss of Tatsumi have made her more determined. She is still trusting and doesn't understand sarcasm yet (makes for a lot of hilarious conversations), but she also learns to accept her kitsune nature and develops her skills to have a fighting chance. She may not understand her feelings towards Tatsumi, but she still never wavers from her decisions and does whatever she can to protect her friends. 

I wasn't expecting to get a POV of Hakaimono but it is definitely fascinating being in his head. We know he is one of the greatest and most powerful demons and he is very confident about his abilities, but he has also been a captive in a sword for centuries in the company of humans. This definitely seems to have had some affect on his personality, which makes for some very sarcastic comments from him that had me chuckling. However, it is also painful to read because he keeps taunting Tatsumi, who is struggling with whatever will he has left to hold on to his soul. 

Daisuke and Okame are a pair of contrasting characters but I just loved their interactions. One who totally believes in the samurai code and wants to live and die by honor, the other who revels in being dishonorable - the two of them are just such unlikely companions but the development of their friendship is wonderful to read. I just wish we had gotten atleast one of their POVs so that I could know more about what they are thinking in their hearts. Reika may look like she just wants to fulfill her duty but she does like Yumeko and will do anything to protect her. The whole group just bickers throughout the book but I could only smile at their interactions because they genuinely care about each other. I was also surprised to see Suki's POV continue but she has some very crucial moments and I loved it. Seigetsu is still a mystery but I have a feeling he is gonna bring lots of troubles into the life of my favorite characters. 

While I loved the first book, it was mostly a slow paced journey with a bit of action in between and towards the end. In this book however, the author upped her game. We still have a journey but there are more dangers, the characters are more skilled and the monsters are more scary. There is a lot more action and some of those sequences are absolutely terrifying and exhilarating. The book also felt much more fast paced, probably because there was a lot more happening and the stakes also felt much higher this time. While most of the characters think Yumeko and Tatsumi love each other and we can guess that it's where the story is going, I'm glad that the author still left it at a point where they are unsure of their own feelings and figuring everything out. The development of another romance came as a bit of a surprise but I am totally there for it, and I'm actually much more excited to see what lies in store for them in the future. The whole illusion part of Yumeko's magic got a lot of page time in this book and the author showed a lot of imagination in these scenes, the one towards the end being absolutely mind blowing. I was also expecting the Tatsumi/ Hakaimono storyline to go in a predictable direction, but the twist the author gave towards the end was so surprising, I'm still recovering from it. The buildup towards the end was done amazingly well and I think the payoff was worth the wait. 

All I want to say is that if you loved the first book, you are gonna be very very happy with this one too. This sequel is darker and scarier, much more action packed and our characters have grown so much that we can't help but root for them. This is the perfect second book where the stakes kept getting higher and higher - which ultimately gave us a thrilling and unpredictable but very satisfying ending, while also leaving us many exciting clues for the much anticipated third book. That wait is gonna be long and excruciating.

The Divine Cities trilogy is one of my favorite reads from last year and probably one of the most impactful fantasies I have ever read. Though I never went back to reading RJB's earlier works, I knew I would want to check out his upcoming books. When I realized the ARCs for his latest were available, I had my fingers crossed and I can't describe the elation I felt when my request was approved. Foundryside is another amazing action packed new fantasy series with interesting characters, a corrupt city and a rich history full of almost godlike beings.

Sancia Garbo is a master thief in the city of Tevanne who is on her way to her latest job, which might just provide a solution to all her troubles. When she realizes the object she has stolen might lead to devastating consequences in the wrong hands, it's obvious that she might not be safe anymore. Captain Gregor Dandolo is a righteous war veteran who just wants to bring some law and justice to his city where none exist and wants to start that by bringing the thief who stole from his warehouse and burned half the waterfront to justice. What starts off as a typical cops and robbers type of chase turns into much more when assassins start looking for Sancia and Gregor is caught in the crossfire. Both of them join hands with an unlikely crew to dig deeper and figure out the conspiracy that might have far reaching consequences to their world.

The worldbuilding here is rich and masterful and it comes alive in the skilled hands of RJB. Tevanne is a city divided between the four merchant house compounds who are law unto themselves. Anyone who can't afford to live in the campos has to make do living in the slums between the compounds called The Commons where there is hardly any food or work and every day is a struggle to survive. The merchant houses have become all powerful and rich using the magic system called “scriving”, which is a way of writing sigils on objects that make them slightly sentient and change their reality – like making a carriage believe it's always going downhill so that it goes faster and without a driver (or) making an arrow believe it has been falling down from a much longer distance so that it hits with a very high velocity. As the story progresses, we get to know about more complicated scrivings, the scrivers who are responsible for imagining new possibilities while keeping ahead of the rival merchant houses and the washed out scrappers who work the underground market to provide some comfort to the poor people living in the Commons.

Sancia is an excellent protagonist. She is fiery, angry and pragmatic, her survival skills are top notch and she is extremely brave. Her past as a tortured slave still haunts her, leaving her with some form of PTSD. Her special talents also make her a unique being in the city, someone who could be used for nefarious purposes but the way her character is written is very realistic and likable and she never falls into the “special snowflake” trope. Gregor starts off as the stereotype of a soldier – proper, polite, righteous, thinks he can bring about a change by just instituting laws – but he quickly sees through the rampant corruption of the merchant houses, especially by listening to Sancia's history and resolves that the city needs a revolution. Orso is the master scriver of Dandolo house and comes across as a pretentious academic, but he is ultimately just a seeker of knowledge and has his heart in the right place. His assistant Berenice is talented and confident and can think on her feet even in dire situations rigging up scrived objects to get them out. Claudia and Gio are scrappers but are quick to help Sancia not just for the money, but also the opportunity to do more with their scriving talents. And most important and my favorite is Clef, the artifact that Sancia initially stole who is so much more than just a key and the one around whom much of the story revolves.

The story is full of action packed heists and chases, planning daring adventures and figuring out the history of the ancient hierophants, who did much more than just bending the reality of objects. The world and magic system is very original and unique and thoroughly detailed and I loved getting to know more about it. The writing is also very easy to read and not as intimidating or dense as other adult fantasies and I couldn't put it down once I started. Between all the life and death stakes that the characters are fighting, we also get some wit and humor – I especially enjoyed the conversations that Sancia and Clef had with scrived objects to make them do things they didn't want to.

Just like I expect from RJB, we get some subtle commentary on the effects of slavery, how rampant and unchecked capitalism concentrates wealth and power in the hands of the few and lets the ordinary people suffer, how the pursuit of knowledge run amok can blur the lines of morality. The parallels to our world are uncanny because these are all questions we do ponder on frequently, especially with the rising wealth gap and extreme advances in biotechnology and genomics. The magic system of “scriving” and the way Sancia uses her talents to get around the loopholes in scrived objects is also eerily similar to computer programming, hacking and artificial intelligence and how the creations might get ahead of the creators one day. The author actually calls it “the magic equivalent of database management” and I think that's a brilliant analogy.

The city of Tevanne is so dependent on scriving and rigged objects that even a minute failure in an essential component can bring down the whole infrastructure; this is a direct parallel to our over dependence on technology in everyday life and the constant threat of cyber warfare and collapse of our technological infrastructure. On the other hand, the slavery in the plantations is an essential component of trade and wealth for Tevanne and none of the merchant houses care for the conditions of the slaves or how they are tortured, which is again how our world works; in most cases, we live in our own bubbles while human rights are violated every day in other parts of the world and we believe that it would never affect us. The deft way that the author incorporates all these themes into a fantasy heist story just shows his amazing talent as a writer.

I'm so much in love with this book and it's characters and I'm definitely looking forward to reading it again. This would be a delight for all Robert Jackson Bennett's fans and anyone who enjoys reading about well developed fantasy worlds with unique scientific magic systems.

Thanks to Crown Publishing and Netgalley for proving me with the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

Everyone... I am in love!!! I already loved Where Death Meets the Devil, thought it was a very one of a kind romantic suspense action novel, but this book has truly cemented it's place in my heart. Wow what a journey this was. It was a roller coaster of feelings and I'm still trying to get down from the high, so I apologize in advance if I go on rambling here.

The author has a way of writing that keeps you on your toes for every single page and it's very difficult to even imagine putting the book down. This book follows the similar before/after timeline like the first one, but thankfully it's easier to get through this time around because we are already familiar with the style. The suspense is masterfully built up and I saw nothing coming and every twist was spectacular. Atleast half the chapters end on cliffhangers of their own and it just increases our curiosity as a reader, trying to guess what might happen next and feeling thrilled when the author goes in a whole other direction. The author skillfully blends suspense, action and chase sequences with an adorable love story and I have no words to describe how much I enjoyed this ride.

Jack and Ethan are finally living together and the awkwardness is off the charts. It's a struggle learning how to share a life, but as they slowly progress in their relationship, it was an absolute delight to watch. Though the story is still from Jack's POV, we get to know so much more about Ethan – his personality outside of his identity as an assassin, his quirks and compulsions and vulnerabilities, his insecurities and some much needed truths about his childhood. It's a heartbreaking story that only endeared me to him more and I don't think I've ever loved an assassin character this much before. Jack is also dealing with his insecurities, isn't sure if he can make his relationship work and his case of finding a serial killer is wreaking havoc on his mind. He did some very ridiculous things here, hurting Ethan in the process and I just wanted to shake him up and make him see sense. However, it's Jack and Ethan and I knew that despite all the odds, they will find their way back to each other and it's wonderful to watch that happen.

And that ending... it was GLORIOUS!!!! The “thing” that I have been waiting for to happen through two books and four novellas finally does, and it just blew my mind. The expression of their love for each other is so damn romantic and passionate and I just kept wishing that it would go on and on. After those two beautifully written final two chapters (the epilogue in Ethan's POV is just the BESTTTTT), all I want is more Jack and Ethan and it's so difficult not knowing when we'll get the next book.

If you like spy thrillers with a good dose of awesome romance, then this book is perfect for you. This series is a thrilling ride, with loads and loads of twists and turns, and two main characters whom you don't think you will like, but will eventually fall in love with. A masterful lesson on how to keep the readers hooked. Please make sure you read all the novellas in the order of release before this second book so that you don't miss the progression of Jack and Ethan's relationship.

This was a beautiful second chance romance about two people who have loved each other since childhood but separated due to circumstances. I loved the fact that both of them didn't ever doubt the love they had for each other despite not seeing each other for 10 years.

The friendship, love and family dynamics are written very well. It was also nice to see West and Nico again, being an adorable couple besotted with each other. The whole arson investigation was an interesting element to an otherwise romance novel. I really wish Otto and Seth would not be so ready to sacrifice themselves for the happiness of others and I am glad that they finally got the chance to be together.

The letters that Otto and Seth wrote to each other but never sent over the years were my favorite part of the book and made me so emotional. Those words just show how much these two guys are destined to be with each other.

I can't wait to read about Hudson next.

This is my first book by the author and it's also not very often that I read a series out of order these days. However, I just didn't feel like reading Syncopation and this book was exactly the kind of read that I enjoy with very relatable characters, despite one being a very famous rock god. I had also read enough reviews to know that this romance was on a kinkier side, and though I was unsure about it, the author pleasantly surprised me with the way it was written.

Dominic is a rockstar with a loud, larger than life personality but all of that is just a persona which he has created to be able to perform on stage, and hide his shy, nerdy, introverted self who gets panic attacks even at the idea of people getting to know about his true self. The way he struggles with his two realities, unable to understand how to reconcile them forms the crux of the angst and I thought his mental health issues were portrayed very realistically.

Adrian is an older computer engineer who has a well paying job, but has been alone for too long and wants more. He also has his own kinks which make it harder to find a suitable partner. He is also not much of a risk taker, which shows in the way he tolerates his toxic work environment and never thinks much about following his passions instead. But the best part I loved about him was that the entire third floor of his home is a library and I gladly wanted to jump into it.

Ray, Zav and Mish are great bandmates and friends and I loved how they were so supportive of Dom, even when he was unsure of himself. They are also very warm and welcoming to Adrian and their conversations were a lot of fun. Jackson is Adrian's best friend, colleague and trainer and it was such a fun dynamic to read about. I really wanted to read more about Jackson's own romantic exploits and I hope the author writes a book about him too. What surprised me most was Janelle, Adrian's friend and kind of mentor in the BDSM community. She gave such sage advice to him about following his heart, and then was also warm towards Dom when they meet unexpectedly – it was nice to see such non judgmental support in the community.

The author's writing style is very smart with interesting conversations between the characters. There is also very well done anxiety rep here with on page panic attacks, and it all felt so raw and real and painful to read. I also never thought I would like D/s dynamics in a relationship a lot, but the way it's written here is a more softer version of it while still being kinky and I really enjoyed it. The absolute seeking of consent in every sexual encounter also felt very refreshing and important and made the reading experience much better.

The romance does feel insta-lovey but that is not one of my pet peeves and I actually loved the instant chemistry between Dom and Adrian. The sex is very hot but what I liked more was the comfort they shared with each other. Going on dates to museums and galleries, spending their free time leisurely reading to each other, and Dom thoroughly enjoying food while Adrian loving feeding him all felt so perfect, and would be on my wishlist if I wasn't married already.

It was also nice to see their lives individually with their own friends which gives us much more insight into their personalities outside of the romance. We don't get to see much of how the band performs because they aren't on tour, but we still get great glimpses into the band dynamics and how much they care for each other. I love how important a role friendship played in the book and it just shows that great friends always enhance a book – even the romantic ones.

This is a very smart and sweet story of love and self-acceptance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It also holds up well as a standalone, but I'm sure it would have been a different experience if I had read the first one. If you love your nerdy or rockstar MCs, I would definitely recommend this one.

Updated review 6/14/2018
Sebastian is an awkward teenage soccer player whose whole life revolves around his favorite sport. He is the one with the cool head in the team, a peacemaker and negotiator, total captain material but at the same time, he is also feeling lost because he doesn't have a clue what to do after graduation. He also turns into a clueless idiot when having to talk to Emir – his British Pakistani once-childhood-best-friend-turned-noone – whom he wants to help with the game.

Their relationship is the sweetest part of this book. It takes time for them to uncover their resentments about becoming apart during their early teens and now slowly have to start building up the trust again. There are lots of hurdles in the way - Bastian has to deal with his insecurities and low self-esteem issues and the shy introverted Emir has to come out of his shell and try to open up to Bastian and also the team. While they have some trouble in navigating their newfound feelings for each other, their sexuality is never an issue. Bastian may be a little terrified of telling his family he is bisexual, but his friends know and it's all cool with the team. Emir is a practicing Muslim gay teen who is totally comfortable with his orientation while also being true to his religious beliefs. They both are so cute together and I absolutely loved their morning runs, rainy soccer lessons and the adorable summer dates. Their feelings for each other are so obvious even though they never talk it out but everyone around them can totally see it.

This book has some amazing side characters. Bastian's group of friends are super cool - I loved Willie and Hunter and Grey. Mason and Zach act like douches sometimes, but are also very supportive of everyone in their team. They are also a very diverse group of teens but their races or orientations are never an issue in their friendships or team. Coach Patrick is the best example of how a mentor should be - tough, dedicated, motivating and also very inclusive and encouraging of all his players. His belief that anyone should be able to play on his team, purely based on merit and irrespective of their sexuality forms the crux of this story and that's the attitude he inculcates in all the boys. The parents in this book are also very accepting of their kids and their support shines through.

There is obviously not a lot of plot here. It's just about a boy finding his footing in life, falling in love and accepting himself for who and how he is. The whole vibe of this book is very positive with wonderful messages about being okay with feeling lost, letting life take it's course, playing sports not just for the sake of winning but for being a part of a family based on mutual respect, parents being the biggest champions of their kids, and not judging anyone based on social constructs and inherent prejudices. 

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves character driven, wholesome and heartwarming stories. Perfect summer sports romance with beautiful friendships.

6/13/2018
This book was lovely and cute and so heartwarming... Definitely another perfect summer read with the perfect atmosphere..
RTC

I've followed Jason Kander on social media for years now, probably since he decided to run for the Senate in 2016. I didn't live in St. Louis by then but I had great memories of living in Missouri as well as visiting Kansas City, and I was quite excited to follow a progressive millennial politician from the very red state. The election night ended up being full of disappointments, including Kander's loss but he is still contributing a lot to the country through his organizations Let America Vote and Veterans Community Project. I was actually very excited to read his book when it released last year but somehow lost sight of it among whatever was happening in my life then. I was recently watching a YouTube video of his and decided it was time I picked it up. I managed to get the audiobook which is even better because he narrates it himself and it was very fun experience.

This is not a typical memoir where we follow his life in a chronological order. This is more of a list of lessons he has learned in his life, that he thinks will be useful for other too - especially ones who are aspiring politicians or want to be a part of public service in whatever way they can. However, don't mistake these life lessons to be told in any preachy manner because he is too cool for that. He lets us know through his self deprecating humor and signature bluntness how he arrived at those lessons, giving us anecdotes from his life in Afghanistan or the campaign trail or even his various interactions with politicians and voters. He really is very honest about whatever he wants to say, and it's clearly obvious that this trait of his has gotten him into hot water quite a few times with other politicians across party lines. But I guess this is what makes him apart from everyone else - he is not here just to win elections, he is here because he believes in his convictions and works hard to ensure that he is helping people in whatever way he can.

I particularly enjoyed listening about some policy fights he had with republicans during his stint in the Missouri House of Representatives and as it's Secretary of State. He is also not at all scared of naming and shaming people with whom he had these encounters, which I actually found a bit surprising but also refreshing. His anecdotes from Afghanistan are also quite funny in retrospect, but it's a little hard to read about the kinda of scary situations the soldiers had to navigate, oftentimes without a lot of protection. And even though the book jumps timelines a lot of times, he narrates it all in such an engaging manner that I didn't get bored for even a second. He even makes some situations feel very suspenseful and I was eagerly awaiting to know the outcome (like any fiction novel). I obviously can't not mention that his pop culture references really show that he is a true blue millennial even though I didn't get most of them. But he referenced particular scenes and dialogues from the tv show The West Wing and that brought a huge smile on my face.

On the whole, this was a very engaging memoir and I loved getting to know Kander better after just getting glimpses of him through twitter for years. If you like reading politician's memoirs and would love to know more about a progressive politician who also happens to be the first millennial to ever win statewide office in the country, you should definitely pick this up. It's full of hope and optimism and a sense of duty and I think you'll really enjoy it. I would also highly recommend the audiobook because Jason's narration is fun and honest and very engaging. And I'm very much looking forward to see what he does next in the political arena.

This was such a beautiful and sweet love story. Oliver is quite low on self esteem initially but slowly gains confidence and decides to take a chance on his writing with the help of his half-sister Liv and her father David. Then he meets the cute, shy and nerdy Blue and it's like his whole life changes. Their attraction is instant, the development of their friendship is very tenderly written and it was so obvious to me that they were in love even before they did.

It's a heartwarming tale of self belief, overcoming grief, first love and happily ever afters. The fact that Oliver works in a bookstore and is an author while Blue is a volunteer at the library and a bookworm were just a lovely bonus to my enjoyment. The ending is wonderful and brought a big smile to my face. My only gripe with this book is that it's a short story and I really wish the author writes a full length novel about these characters.

This is definitely a very hard book to rate. It's an eclectic mix of fascinating characters, lots of lies and double crossing and fast paced action sequences. The story is told on dual timeline - present and an year ago - and I think it really worked. The stories mirror each other quite closely in both the timelines and it was very interesting to read, while also being frustrated because I couldn't understand what the hell was going on and who was good and who was bad. The author keeps up the mystery for a long time and I found it very difficult to put the book down.

Jack is a great protagonist who has been through a lot in his career, still suffers from PTSD and has come to question what the point of all his life and work was. When there are traitors in his own office and his loyalty to his country is questioned while he doesn't understand his own liking for a murderer, he doesn't know who he is anymore and if he should be working as agent.

Ethan starts off as the deadly assassin but along with Jack, we start to realize he is much more than that. While being a ruthless cold blooded killer, he also has a childlike enthusiasm for his fast cars, is quite funny and his interactions with his pet camel were too cute. But you know what endeared me to him, he loves reading Matthew Reilly's books and that immediately makes him my favorite 😊😊😊

I can't even describe the way their relationship grows. It's enemies to allies to lovers to enemies to whatever. The strong UST is very palpable but they also can't get over their moral and professional differences but there is also an element of trust and this makes for a very interesting dynamic. I loved their interactions and how well they worked together when trying to save each other's lives. The ending left me wanting more and I really want to read more of them.

If you love action / adventure / mystery novels with a dash of forbidden romance, you should definitely give this one a try.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this short story but it was great fun and quite emotional to listen to. Below are some of the highlights that I loved:
- Jem's internal monologue
- His contemplation of his life as a silent brother
- Every time he remembers Will or Tessa made me so sad
- Raphael is his usual rude and arrogant self
- Lily is hilarious
- Little Izzy isn't sure if she wants a new brother
- Is 11 year old Alec really trying to flirt with Raphael 😉😉
- Jonathan is already a fighter
- He is scared to let anyone in or show any weakness
- Alec takes an instant liking to him which surprises Izzy
- He may be 10 but he is already sassy
- Cute little Max hugging and calling him “Jonathing” is precious 😃😃
- Maryse gives him the nickname “Jace” and that's so sweet.

This story may not be significant to the overall arc of the major series but it's always fun to know the little things about our favorite characters.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I loved this novella even more than the original.

Jack and Ethan decided that they would keep things between them physical whenever they cross paths but looks like that's happening way too often. Ethan can't seem to want to keep away and keep interfering in Jack's operations. It's also probably because he is concerned for Jack's safety and wants to make sure he is doing fine, but will never say it out loud. Jack knows that he is developing feelings for Ethan that are definitely more than sex and loves having him around but will never acknowledge that.

The way they both want to protect each other while also denying their true feelings is too endearing. Ethan shuts down and runs away quite a lot when things get intense but I love the fact that he always comes back and listens to what Jack has to say. His implicit trust in Jack is too sweet and it's nice to see more of the other side of the assassin Ethan Blade.

I can't wait for the next book to release because I'm sure it'll be another sexy roller coaster adventure.

This book was so enjoyable and funny and relatable and made me reflect on my own high school and college experiences. Unlike Peyton, I wasn't name called or bullied for being tall or had issues dating (coz you know.... you didn't “date” in high school in South India in the early 2000s), but I could find similarities with so many of her struggles - hitting the seat in front of you in the bus with your knees coz your legs are too long, not finding the right fitting clothes or size 12 shoes in the women's section, feeling guilty for blocking the view of others behind me.... and always peeved that none of my secret crushes were ever taller than me. So, it was great to read about an MC who reminded me a little about myself.

Peyton is a pretty amazing talented girl but is not confident enough to express herself and the secrets of her dysfunctional family have left her unable to trust anyone or show her vulnerabilities. Jay is a great looking tall guy who doesn't play sports and wants to be an actor and can dance very well - I was really impressed with this characterization because it is so different from the usual macho jock stereotype. It also helps that he is a nice, kind, trustworthy guy who is also very charming and really brings Peyton out of her shell. I loved her character growth and the way she comes into her own is amazing to see. The whole dynamic of the team in the drama club was very entertaining and I enjoyed their rehearsals for the modern day adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. But my favorite character was definitely Peyton's best friend Chloe, who is absolutely confident, sassy and takes no bullshit when it comes to her friend. She really reminded me of my childhood best friend and now I really miss her 😭😭😭

Overall, this is a fun entertaining read with very easy flowing writing and lovable characters but I definitely reveled in the nostalgic feelings it evoked in me.

Jane Austen's Emma is not an easy book to like, especially the protagonist who comes across as a little too full of herself. I also tried to read one modern adaptation of it before and abandoned it halfway because it was so boring. So, I am really not sure why I decided to read another adaptation. But I am really glad I did. This is a really well written book and the setting of 70s Kentucky horse country felt perfect for the plot.

All the major characters are obviously the same, just that some of them have professions suited to the time period. There is also diversity in the cast which was quite surprising but so subtly integrated that it didn't feel forced at all. Emma is still trying to play matchmaker for her friends, but her character in this book is much more defined. We get a much better back story for her, she is shown as quite intellectual and smart and a little naive, and we see how confident she is of her choices and not just make them out of obligation. We also get to know much more about George, his string of girlfriends, his concern and affection for Emma and also his emotional side. All the other characters also have original plots which make them quite enjoyable and distinct from Austen's Emma.

I especially loved reading the inner thoughts of Emma and George as it gave a special insight into their character. I also thought their conversations were well written and reflected their true friendship. The ending had a modern twist which made me quite excited. Also, my eternal wish of knowing what happens to them after the original ending, was fulfilled and I loved it – especially Emma's life story. On the whole, a thoroughly enjoyable read and I recommend it to all lovers of romance novels but especially Austen fans.

PS: I heartily thank the good people at Adalia Street Press and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.