The house that spoke by Zuni Chopra

The house that spoke has a beautiful cover and some how , I had an equally warm feeling as I opened the book. There is something very charming , very vintage feel to the whole setup of the house , how it is built and the magic that flows through it. A welcoming house set hidden from the world , there were so many childhood tales and scenes that filled my head and heart as I continued reading the initial chapters. That is perhaps the best thing about Zuni's writing - the way she describes the scene , any scene for that matter. She makes the place come alive in your head and you will feel like knowing it.

The story is of a magical house that is entrusted with keeping the darkness in check and assisting the appointed guardian in that quest. Generations of the family have spent their lives in saving the nation from the darkness and now finally it is on the soon-to-be-fifteen year old that this responsibility is going to fall, no choices given. It is a coming of age story of this girl and the house together as they adopt / adapt to her life and adventure.

The book let's you down in the end as it seems a little rushed and a little dry in sense of emotions and drama. Yet, it is a wonderful fantasy / YA book. This is perfect inspiration for any teenage girl and an entertaining read for all ages.

My rating : 4/5 

Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton

Blood Magic, I picked up this book because I was highly intrigued by its title and book cover. It is a fantasy fiction with magic, love, hatred, adventure, spooky stuff between two protagonists of the book Nick and Silla, but more about them later. I won't compare it with Harry Potter, but yes, those who have liked Twilight series might like this one. There are spells, secrets and much more stuff to look out for. The story is definitely intense and gripping. This is Tessa Gratton's debut novel and trust me, she must be looked out for. 

The book opens with Nick after having an argument with his father and step mother steps into a cemetery near his house. The family has recently shifted into Yaleylah, Missouri, a small town. All Nick wants is to finish his high school and run away from this place. He hates his mother but there was no option with him. While strolling in the cemetery, he sees Silla performing some kind of magic in which her blood was also ingredient. This psyches out Nick completely and he walks up to Silla and hence begin their friendship. Silla, lives near the cemetery with her brother Reese and her parents had died recently. It is being said that her father was a creepy person and he killed her mother and them committed suicide. Silla never believed this story and one day, she received a journal, written in her dad's handwriting, with some spells and methods and all of the magical stuff written in the journal had one common ingredient - Blood. There is a lot more to the plot which binds the reader. 

Tessa Gratton has made sure, that if someone picks up this book, he reads it till the very last page. The book gets a bit narrative at times but there is no point where you would feel bored or would feel the story has been dragged unnecessarily. Linked together by magic, the protagonists find themselves on a hunt for answers, the answers that could be deadly. Although eerie and gruesome at times, I enjoyed getting inside the heads of these characters. All and all it was a fun reading and those who liked  twilight series should give it a try. 

Book Source : Random House India

Genre : Fiction

ISBN : 978-0375867330