#BookReview : Judgement Day (Seekers book 2 ) by Josie Jaffrey #BBNYA2021 #BlogTour

 

Two years back, I got a chance to read & review May Day ( Seekers#1)  and even though I liked the book, I had so many expectations from the sequel. Happy to report that the sequel totally delivered, and how! Judgement Day came to me on a week when I was really going through a phase of burnout from reading some average & pretty similar stories. And this was the exact reset I needed.

Jack Valentine finally has her shit together. She has a great job, great friends (well, one at least), and a girlfriend whom she loves, even if she can’t work up the courage to tell her that yet. Unfortunately, she also has an archnemesis who’s about to punish her crimes in the worst possible way: by making her spend time with him. Which she could cope with, maybe, if she didn’t have problems at work as well. When the body of a human judge is found in a locked library, there’s no denying that she was murdered by one of the Silver – by a vampire – and the evidence points worryingly close to home. If that wasn’t bad enough, some of Jack’s least favorite people are opening a new blood bar in Oxford with questionable motives. For Jack and her team, it’s becoming increasingly hard to separate allies from enemies. With conspiracies on every side, the simmering tensions in Silver society are about to come to a head. As usual, Jack intends to be right in the middle of it. She does like it when things get messy.

I had very few recollections from book#1 but, thankfully book#2 sets up the scene and old events well enough to follow the story. The book is in the first person from Jack's POV. Jack is the youngest, hot-headed & ever grumpy vampire detective working for Seekers. She would love to hate The Baron, Killian Drake but events keep throwing them together, mostly by Killian's manipulations and his interest in Jack. 

Picking from where the previous book ends, Judgement Day has a new mystery while a bigger conspiracy always looms on the horizon. The murder mystery and the new connections building in the city around the Blood Bar are intriguing and messy enough to keep the team occupied. But, what really kept me hooked in this sequel is the ever-evolving relationship between Jack & Killian. Theirs is set up as a fated, enemies-to-lovers relationship, so it was both fun & frustrating to see them do the dance. Jack especially, with her mistrust for everyone and fueled by some lies, makes a real good mess of the things before the truth comes out. 

Judgement Day is a really good police procedural fantasy fiction with a unique setup of the Vampire society, that seems to be on a brink of revolution wether they want it or not. The book sets the stage for the next book and the ending of the book leaves a lot to be wanting for Jack & Killian. I wish the next part of the story was already out. 

Rating : 4 star

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I received this book to read and review as part of the BBNYA 2021 tours organized by the TWR Tour team. All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest. BBNYA is a yearly competition where Book Bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or twitter @bbnya_official.

#BookReview: The Summoned Ones ( Book#1 Flight to Bericea) by Darryl A. Woods

My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars 

 
Book Blurb: The Bericean army was in Malabrim for the ninth straight fighting season. Over the past 9 years, Zybaro, the leader of a small band of unknowns, had evolved from his days as a minor usurper of a tiny kingdom. Now, almost the entire country of Malabrim was under Zybaro’s control. Still, Bericea continued its raids into Malabrim, hoping to stem Zybaro’s methodical progress and thwart his tyrannical means of control. 

This latest conflict with Zybaro had pushed General Darnon to a decision, one he had resisted making for over a year. Though he still held grave reservations about the Prophecies, he was willing to support the clerics who would attempt the summoning. The details of the ritual had recently been discovered in an ancient tome. The clerics were confident they could bring forth the Summoned Ones of Prophecy, those mysterious beings who would aid Bericea in its time of greatest need. Join the soldiers of Bericea and the Summoned Ones through a life-or-death struggle. 

The Summoned Ones was made up of a small college aged group of friends from a small Kentucky town near the Daniel Boone National Forrest, who find themselves somehow brought to a chaotic world through magic. Their epic journey will push the Summoned beyond the limits of their endurance. This unlikely group will discover many truths about themselves and experience another world beyond their imagination.

Review: The story starts on the battle ground introducing the reader to General Darnon and his most trusted soldier Kali fighting the enemy as they await for reinforcements. It was a good action scene to set the pace of the story and I already felt good about this book. 

Next, the author introduced "the summoned ones" - group of old friends who have spent every summer together since the age of 12 and together are closer to each other than anyone else. Within shared stories of their past and present banter, the author manages to set the character for each one of them different from each other. I was impressed by the fact that, that by the time this group is summoned to the world of magic and chaos, I could easily separate the names & behavior of each of them. Once summoned , the friends are divided into three groups - by a combination of chance and choice equally and they begin the journey from the heart of the enemy area to the safe lands of the neighbor country. Protecting and leading the way for the summoned ones are the best of scouts , soldiers, general and the magic wielding clerics who are usually not liked much in this world because of some old conflicts. 

Part 1 of the story is mostly the journey , growth and adaptation of the friends into the new world , with new people. Although their capabilities seem to have come to them overnight , it had already been established that some of their talent was evident in their world too. Like the best warrior , though a basketball player, he is as skilled in martial arts. Or the healer is studying to be a nurse and is good with horses because of her family being involved in the same business. 

The terrain and the people in the story are all uniquely described so they paint amazing visuals at times in the mind of the reader. I found the magic system quite unique as to be associated with music - singing or playing some instrument and channeling your thought into action. It was interesting and a little sad too, because fear of magic kept people away from singing or enjoying music freely. But the best part of the book for me were some of the battle scenes and the sparing scene between Kali & one of the summoned one was FANTASTIC. I love the author's attention to such details and creativity to rope in multiple skills & jobs , people , stories and geographical challenges in this quest. The book manages to grab attention with all the action taking place around.

Though one does understand the bigger picture of the conflict and the differences in the army size & need for the summoned ones in the war, I also wanted a little more about this world , the two nations and the people fighting for Bericea. I hope more of this is covered in the next part of the story and we have more growth and heroic moments for all our favorite warriors along with more details  on the political conflicts. 

I am looking forward to the next part of this story eagerly.

About Darryl A. Woods: Darryl Woods is a storyteller who hones his craft entertaining coworkers. He also enjoys regaling family and friends with stories of his upbringing in rural Ohio, of the motorized contraptions his father fabricated, and of the timber cutting and sawmill work he did with his father-in-law. With an appetite for reading fantasy, it was inevitable he would choose to write about an epic journey in a world dominated by magic and sword fighting.

Purchase Links: 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/31HTPbr 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Z1mLsY 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summoned-ones-darryl-woods/1133667482  

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Review: Kingdom Above the Cloud by Maggie Platt

What if the nine Fruit of the Spirit and the Seven Deadly Sins were locked in a battle for control? 

Abandoned as infants, Tovi and her twin brother were raised by an eclectic tribe of warm, kind people in a treehouse village in the valley. After her brother’s sudden disappearance Tovi questions her life and her faith in an invisible King. Ignoring her best friend Silas’ advice, she decides to search for her brother in the kingdom on top of the mountain. 

Above the cloud, the Council of Masters receive their orders. Tovi and her brother are the objectives. King Damien has a plan and Tovi is the key. The Council of Masters want her, but will she remain unscathed? Amidst the glamour of the kingdom above the cloud Tovi is torn between her own dark desires and unanswered questions.

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Allegory 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review: Kingdom above the cloud is categorized as a Christian fiction story but I did not feel it to have any influence on my reading experience. Perhaps the story has some references to old tales from the Bible but as a non-christian reader, I read this book as a fantasy fiction and I enjoyed it. 

The story starts with King Damien, ruling the kingdom from above the clouds (Mount Damien), trying to avoid a prophecy of his downfall be seeking a person from the world below the cloud (Adia) . His intention is to find his mentor turned enemy Adwin who is worshipped as a God in Adia and in the lower ring of Mount Damien too. There are old legends, stories, and rumors about Adwin but no one seems to know the true person or reasons for his disappearance from Mount Damien. There are places where you can draw the parallels between Adwin & God(s) you believe in, irrespective of your religion. This flexibility to interpret the story and to be able to like it was one of the unique things about this book.

The story pushes forward as we follow a lost young woman Tovi who has felt a lot of unhappiness in life and with no one to lean on, she has a lot of resentment towards Adwin. It does not help that in her stubbornness and naivety, she does not recognize the love and care she had received in Adia after being abandoned by her parents along with her twin brother. When she falls for the trap set by King Damien's council of masters and leaves Adia for seeking answers from Mount Damien, she will have to learn on her own whether to fall for the stories & lessons imparted to her by Damien or to seek strength from the stories taught to her by her adoptive parents and best friend. 

As pieces start falling in place for the prophecy to come true and King Damien trying to change it , we see changes in people's loyalty and how it is reflected in their appearance and thoughts. 

The world-building , the writing, the characters, and the various mysteries are all done beautifully in the book. I was able to finish the book in less than a day as the story was too intriguing from the beginning. I could relate to the thoughts on faith, pain & suffering and in unconditional love as it aligns with my personal beliefs but it is not too hard to ignore that and read it as a normal fiction. I am eagerly looking forward to meeting Tovi & Adwin again in next book.  

Book Links: GR | Amazon | Google Books | 


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Review: The City of Brass by S A Chakraborty

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The cover and the blurb , basically the mere mention of djinn took me back to the story of Aladdin. Such was the nostalgia with which I started reading the story of Nahri. Nahri is a con woman with some special skills - she can understand any language , can feel the aura of a sick person and can suggest cures for the same. The story starts in Cairo where she accidently and very unknowingly calls upon the warrior Djinn Deva. For someone who does not beleive in magic and the stories of the mythical creatures , it is a shock for Nahri to accept that she is the offspring of one of these creatures and Deva is the protector warrior for her tribe. From here, we travel along these two to the city of Devabad - once occupied by the powerful Nahid clan who were overthrown and now are believed to be extinct till Nahri turns up. In Devabad , we have various tribes , ruled by a single king. The two princess - Muntadhir & Ali are two main characters we meet first followed by some others from different tribes. Needless to say Devabad is a boiling pot of political chaos which is further stirred when Nahri & Deva are accepted into the palace.

The world building in the book is pretty stunning and mesmerizing in the grandeur - be it cities or some of the beasts. Also , the characters are very much realistic and interesting with their choices , thoughts and little ways of standing out. It is a little sad to see Ali the scholar trapped between political scenario and his own belief system. Nahri shows sparks of growth and maturity at places but most times I feel she acts out without much thought. Though I found Nahri & Ali a little naive through out the book, I was impressed with Muntadir a lot. Even though he appears to be a spoiled prince, he has lot more diplomacy and understanding of the politics than Ali. He is one of my favorite character from this book while I await to know more about Deva. I felt Deva's story has been planted well but i need to know lot more about his past and future now. Also, the love story of Deva & Nahri was not at all convincing for me. I am not sure if it was even necessary because I still feel bad for Deva's end in the book. I still am not too clear about all the inter-tribe history and the details of the palace politics but I did not find it too distracting in the flow of this book atleast.

The story and the dialogues of the book are written very well , with a good flow and enough humor to make one laugh quite a few times. There is a natural feel to all the interactions and the various plot twists. The banter between Deva and Nahri in the beginning and later with Ali are refreshing. The end of the book, though felt might be a decent closure, had way too many twists that have raised a lot of questions in my mind now. I am eagerly looking forward to read the sequel and luckily , the last part of the series is set to be released in June 2020.

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Review: Second Skin: Fractures: A litRPG Adventure by M Damon Baker

Second Skin: Fractures: A litRPG Adventure by M Damon Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book where the story is set up in a Role-Playing video game. It was a little difficult to get into the rules and calculations that go into score and capability measure [ i am still not too sure ] but once you read through it, the world and the people in the story capture all your attention. The way the various abilities are built in the game and measured starts making sense after a while and it is quite crafty. The game is well designed and easy to follow, even if it's not too easy for the players. The land description and the people of the land are intriguing, especially in the latter part of the story. The solo travel for the lead character is a little repetitive but the book is fun to read when she teams up with others. The main city, in the end, was quite interesting and hope it continues to be so since the little story that has been built up for the sequel is well crafted.

My only complaint was from the whole scorecard being pulled up again and again when I already had read the gist of it from the character point of view. Also, I am not too sure of the way her feelings about her transition from real to gaming world were handled. The struggle was believable, but the conclusion, not so much.

Still an enjoyable read out of my comfort zone and area of interest. Might try the sequel in a few months.


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Review: A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury

A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Six hundred years ago, humanity rose up in revolt against the Aeriels, who were driven from earth and back into their homeland of Vaan after a bloody and glorious war.

Eight years ago, Ruban’s home was destroyed and his family murdered by an Aeriel.

When a new Aeriel threat looms over Ragah, the capital city of Vandram, Ruban Kinoh must do everything in his power to avenge his family's past and protect the future of his country.


I have been a fan of fantasy fiction genre long before I realized that it is a genre of books ! And for a long time I read mostly foreign authors. So it is always a good feeling to see an Indian author do justice to the genre and good story in general. To say , that I read this book without expectations would be a lie and I am always a little too sceptical of the fantasy fiction books that seem to be part of a trilogy.


So , it was very fortunate for me to chance upon this book as this one totally lives up to its promise. Fantasy fiction mostly survives on the world you set for your characters  , the rules , the past , the present and tying them all in the near future.


Nupur set up a world that wasn't too far from reality and mixing it with her out of the world creatures, some of them,  I must say have such amazing sense of humor that I was immediately hooked to the book. The best thing about the book is the light banter that keeps flowing in the story keeping you smiling and engaged. The friendship and the loyalty that develops by passing some hard times together is amazingly shown as is the author's understanding of relationships in general. The action scenes are totally on point and do not lack the punches that are needed.


I would love to see Ruban and Ashwin together again if they promise to give me same dose of fun in every single book. And on that note , I must add that whether the author decides to write another part or not , this book in itself is complete and the reader would not be disappointed at the end.






     



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Review: Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book blurb was exciting enough to catch my attention when I got the request to read this book. Plus , I am a fan of fantasy fiction so I am always on a lookout for good ones from indian authors. Overall, am really happy with this huge book.

The story opens with introducing us to the narrator and his little village that later becomes the centre of action in the book. The people of the village , the setting and the lifestyle is so amazingly explained in details that you feel like settling in this story. The isolated village sits on a huge reserve if Azmoq , a rare metal that's controlled by the rulers. The story takes our narrator out if his village ,making friends and returning with them to defend his village from the empire's wrath. We meet all characters one by one , know their stories and see them building this team together and learn about how the empire came into being.

What is interesting is that , while there is no clear villains here in terms of black and white , the whole narrative gives you enough questions to think about deeply. The moral delimna of warriors , rulers and even a common man are touched upon in this book.

And now to the things that bothered me - the jump from one person / year to other in the narration. The book is not linear which works well only if the distinctions are clear. I struggled at few places to see whose point of view was the chapter telling and even which year it is on. Second the font is very small. The book is much huge for the 400 pages it has been presented in. Oh yes , now I realize I read 400 amazing pages and did not feel like letting it go ever.

Hope the author works in the second part very soon as I am looking forward to it already.

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Cover reveal : Children of Blood And Bone by Tomorrow Adeyemi

Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debutChildren of Blood and Bone.

They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us. Now we rise.

Zélie remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. When different clans ruled – Burners igniting flames, Tiders beckoning waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoning forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, anyone with powers was targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Only a few people remain with the power to use magic, and they must remain hidden.

Zélie is one such person. Now she has a chance to bring back magic to her people and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must learn to harness her powers and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where strange creatures prowl, and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to come to terms with the strength of her magic – and her growing feelings for an enemy.

The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with color once more? 

In Brandon Sanderson's intriguing tale of love, loss, despair and hope, a new kind of magic enters the stage — Allomancy, a magic of the metals.

I do not know when I left reading international fantasy fiction. This book was the Book of month  for December on the FB Broke bibliophile page and I think it was enough for me to make another dive into fantasy fiction. This is my first Brandon Sanderson book and if the genral opinion has to be trusted , it is not his best. I mean really ?? Çause for me , this was such a great read to end the year with.

The empire , the characters and the rules that govern the society were set up very elaborate and with a good logic to back it up. Once you understand it , you would feel like a part of it. Let me first talk about Vin , the central character who is not a born heroine , but rather comes to take her rightful place and direction in life after she is found by the troublemaker , the survivor of Hathsin ,  Kelsier. Kelsier has done some pretty unbelievable things already and yet , he thinks of the impossible this time - to overthrow the Lord Ruler.

Oh boy , Lord ruler is one of the few negative characters whom I loved. I would have so much liked to know more of him and yet the way he is shown in the book , it is awe-worthy.  he is ruthless , calm , patient and yet there is an air of indifference to him. One of my favorite scene is when he meets Kelsier in the end. And before I forget , i loved Elend more than Vin . He is the usual misfit sort of person who has a lot of ideas on how to run things. He is kind of man I would fall in love with easily and I did. There is charm and certain innocence to him that keeps you rooting for him even in the second book.

Kelsier, Vin and the crew together make for a fun filled adventure. There are elaborate tales , enchanting parties, lovable casts and courage that shines in every page. Fantasy fiction was what hooked me to books whenever my interest faltered. This book was a Savior. My reading slump of one month got cured with this. And how awesome !!

My rating : 5/5

“But you can't kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope.”

“I think given the choice between loving Mare - betrayal included - and never knowing her, I'd chose love. I risked, and I lost, but the risk was still worth it.” 

Read all reviews of this Triology  here

Untamed by Laxmi Hariharan

Untamed , the story of Leena opens with her travelling to the temple of Hugging saint to seek answers about herself. She is the only hybrid human in the city which confuses her about the way the city has kept itself pure blood since the great Tsunami. We see snippets of the background story through her thoughts and conversation with a fellow old passenger but what makes this an interesting read is the way her emotions and feelings are described so real. The clashes of two spirits inside her and the tragic guilt that she harbors in her heart makes Leena so much vulnerable yet there is a strength humming in her very existence. 

I picked Untamed to begin with as I liked the plot. This short read though left me wanting for more. Hence I am going to pick Feral next since that seems to be the choice by many readers and the author too. Each book in the Many Lives universe is a stand alone in the series hence I would try to finish rest of the books too.

This was a good sample of Laxmi's writing and her master-ship on this genre. 

Many Live Series - 
Feral (Maya's story)
Taken (Jai's story. Jai is Ruby and Vik's son. Mikhail is introduced in Taken)
UnTamed (Leana origin 's story. Leana is Maya's daughter)
Redemption (coming soon) Leana and Mikhail's story

Buy Laxmi's here

My rating : 4/5

Crucibles Of Sin ( Ranakrt Mythologies ) by Hitesha Deshpande

I have always liked Hitesha's writing , from the days I started as a follower and lover of her poetry oN twitter.  That she would one day surprise with a Fantasy fiction book , was beyond my dreams. Such an engaging tale she has spun in this book. I am a little biased when it comes to fantasy fiction books , and having read multiple of those over the years , I have not read any book by an Indian author this fast like I read Crucibles of Sin. There is a goddess who has created this warrior sect , there is a queen who chooses her partner based on his skills in swordfight , there is a cursed lover who talks and commands the creatures in forest and then there is the whole politically motivated set of kings and ministers vying to get hold of the power that Rankrt themselves have no clue of. This was a heady cocktail of good , evil , power , duty and revenge.

As much as the Ranakrt guys have a dark character , the development and the backstory of these people was handled very carefully as not to become a repetition and to keep readers in their favor and actually feel for them. The title - Crucibles of sin was well justified not just in the end ( mostly there )  but all along the story as you realize that the Ranakrt are all because of the sins they have faced and been through. Each and every character introduced has a role to play in this tale and it keeps your attention to the pages. the action sequences , the conversations and the locations all come alive while you read. A lot of wheels have been set in motion in this part and I am eagerly awaiting for the next part to take the story forward , to a conclusion like each epic is supposed to have. Fantasy fiction lovers will surely enjoy this one. 

My rating: 5/5

The book can be accessed only via the Juggernaut Books app.  Download Juggernaut App here - http://onelink.to/jgnt and download this book. You can even buy the book in parts. 

#BookReview : Faith of the Nine by Sachin Dev

In my previous review I talked of trilogies and how some ate easy to remember 'cause not much happens. Then there are books like this where so much happens and is developed in such circles that the key players are etched in your head.

Its man's nature to forget Gods and instead create facades in his name to serve the selfish interests. And it always comes down to miracle babies and the harsh realizations for all. Faith of the nine has a similar plot plus few characters whose destiny is linked to this boy.

The author is well read, visual and articulates each scenario in Details. The book reflects our past and preSent in a subtle way as much as it is a quest for truth - be it the characters in this book or yourself. The events and places somehow remind one of our roots. Like memories or stories heard long back and now being played out.

What i loved in the story is that there are no loopholes or shortcuts. The action sequences and the mystique is flawless and used well. The book is much engaging and is a treat to read for anyone who likes fantasy books. Even otherwise , this is an entertaining one for all.

Am eagerly awaiting the next part.

My rating : 4/5

#Bookreview : Divine command by Saranya Umakanthan

There are fantasy books and then there are trilogies. Problem with trilogies is that one has to remember what goes on in each part. Atleast that will not be much of a problem in this series. The plot is fairly simple to begin with- a hero dies fighting the asur god who is in possession of a rudra key that revives him more powerful than before. One half of same ,combined with mantras by the king makes way for the hero to be born someday with blessings and a goal to save the secret mantras and kill the asur king.

And after this, we gradually come to know more of both nations , the present tensions  since the comeback warrior is brought up in some remote city and is unaware of the legacy. But he is the typical good guy who is courageous , kind and intelligent enough to face any adversity.

One scene after another , the plot is a bunch of cliches though the writing lifts itslef in places. Some one who is an avid reader would be able to easily predict many of the twists. The comeback warrior's attitude is kind f so laid back - good or bad , he just acceots things as they come. There is not much convincing about his actions sometimes. The book is kind of YA and is more suitable for young teens and beginners. In that respect, i appreciate that the language is very simple and easy to follow. There is kind of innocence in the characters. I did not enjoy this much but I would reccomend it to some of my younger cousins.

My rating : 2.5/5 

The rise of Grey Prince by Arka Chakrabarti

This is a story of different nations that seem distant and independent in the beginning, but are tied by common prophecy.
This is a tale of prophecies that bind destinies and choices of kings and their closest men and women.
This is a tale of a man Agni who is the one to bear the burden of prophecies and his choices whether he runs or faces his destiny.

Hence the name of series, Saga of Agni.

The story has a well thought plot and enough twists and pace to make you keep reading as long as you can. In fact this is the kind of book that is best read in as few sittings as possible 'cause the reader is bound to get involved in the journey.

The characters are very well sketched and given their own space and roles to justify their presence. There is no single story line that is left untouched as the events unfold in multiple places. I liked the characters of Vrish and Yani the most since they are not just good or bad but are humans.

The title of the sequel is very apt since it traces the rise of two princes - one who was nothing but turns out to be a prince and other who being the prince turns out to be nothing. The story has taken some inspiration from other fantasy fiction stories but they are well modified to be a part of this adventure.

The sequel for me though was bit confusing, bit too short. The pace of the book and the questions that keep arising kept me hooked to the book but also left me wanting more. I guess I was expecting the details and the narration as it is in the first book. This part left me a little disappointed.  Nevertheless, the lovers of fantasy fiction will like this one from the basket of Indian fiction. I am much glad that such tales are being written by and for the Indian readers.

I hope the next part is out soon and the author spends time on building the scenes and not hurrying for the actions. Fantasy books are supposed to be fat after all ;) 

My rating: 4/5 for the series
                   3.5/5 for the book#2

PS : Though the sequel can be read as stand-alone , I personally recommend you to read the books in order. 


"This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours.  To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com" 

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Shatru by Vadhan , Kronikles Book 1

Shatru is the first part of the kronikles series by Vadhan which is basically the fight against evil. It isthe war of one human ( half breed actually ) against the darkness that's on rise again as it is forseen in the kaliyug.

SO what's new ?

The plot not so much but the writing totally wins. There is subtle humor and freshness to the action scenes at times. And that kept me glued to the book. That nagging feeling to go back to the book as soon as you can , the desperation to closr the last page and to be a little sad that you have to wait for the next part now.. this book gave me that.

Shatru is the best hunter in all worlds and that makes him become the focal point of war thats been fought before and will happen again too as soon as everyone realizes that darkness has begun creeping into their ranks and worlds. There are talking tree , devas , asuras , rakshas , gandharvas and a few more tribes that have their roles and tantrums within the world. All this is going to change and how !

I liked all the characters of the book and the fact that i could relate to the tribes describes since these are inspired from hindu mythology. Shatru and Kris together make a good team as well as the gaurdians that they report to. There was never a dull moment in the book nor any 30 page gap where i did not chuckle.

Go read this one for a good fun if you like fantasy fiction. Or even if you do not.

My rating : 4/5

Buy Shatru Kronikles Book-1

#BookReview : Sambhala: The Journey Begins (Sambhala Trilogy #1) by Shariful Hasan , Arindam Mukherjee (Translator)

In a small village somewhere in rural Bangladesh, an old man starts behaving in bizarre ways.
Rashed, an undergraduate in Dacca, comes under police suspicion: presumed guilty of murder.
A thousand year old book goes missing from a house in Shantinagar and a group of Satan worshipers are let loose by their leader to retrieve it.
Nikolas Carson, a world renowned archaeologist willingly steps in his kidnappers' car.

Who is this strange old man? Why was a boy-next-door like Shamim murdered? What is Nikolas Carson's interest in a legend that has no factual evidence? What is 'Sambhala'?

As the story unravels from France and Rome to India and Tibet, each of the characters cling on to their mission, unaware that their fates are mysteriously intertwined.

Nimue Says:  What intrigued me about the book was its name and the lovely designed cover. In case you are not already aware , Sambhala is supposedly the Buddhist Pure land , also referenced in old hindu texts as the birthplace of last Vishnu avataar Kalki. This trivia with the key on its cover , the book seemed to be a journey to reach this land of ultimate nirvana. But is it really possible for some one to undertake such a journey and attain such wisdom and spiritual power ? 

In another interpretation , writers emphasized on the concept of a hidden land inhabited by mystic monks who live and work for good of humanity. Imagine the knowledge these monks would have and the burden of the mistakes and mis judgments too !

The book traces not the journey in the book#1 , but more so the roots and footprints of the seeker and his interactions with various people who shape his choices and decisions over the years. In this regard , The setting and character development is immaculately done from the beginning to the(ir) end. there are no over the top action scenes thrown here and there and neither did I feel the disconnect in the visuals. 

Of all the characters that Shariful juggles with his able pen , the seemingly ageless old man is one of the most intriguing and charming character I have come to like among few other fantasy characters.

While Shariful deserves praise for the story , I liked the way Arindam has translated it in English. The language is easy and later part of the book is actually more fun reading , with some nice modern references added in the dialogues.

My only complaint from the author ( and translator) is that some chapters change too abruptly and jump a lot between locations. this makes it a little upsetting until you get a hang of it.

All in all , a really entertaining tale. Awaiting the sequel now.
My Rating : 4/5

Hilawi by Ritu Lalit

Fantasy fiction holds a special place in my heart as a reader, because through the genre, I escape into another world that is completely fictional and I don’t have to imagine that it may be real, the world may exist. I know it doesn’t, and I can enjoy it for that. Ritu’s books have been on my wishlist for a while now. I don’t quite know why it has taken so long for me to read her novels, but I found a copy of Hilawi recently and enjoyed reading it.

I’ve grown up reading or hearing tales from Indian mythology, and from other places as well. I think even recently, if you take books like the Harry Potter series, Spellweaver, Luwan of Brida etc. a theme common to most if not all of these books is the fight between good and bad, and in most cases, the triumph of the former against the latter. Hilawi is also such a tale. The first thing that intrigues you of course is the title. The cover is okay, when you compare it to what her book’s cover designs are these days.

Hilawi is the story of twins Gigi and Vir Ojha, and their friend, Vir’s girlfriend Madhur. They stay in London, but are summoned back to India. Their lives change when they realize they are the guardians of a shield, heavily guarded because of its nature.

Fantasy fiction warrants a quick, magical plotline which flows well. Hilawi has that from the get-go, but sort of slows down towards the end. It warrants interesting characters, and Hilawi has that too. The language is simple, and can be enjoyed by anyone. I’d say it’s a good travel book, because it keeps you engaged for a while easily. I’d say it warrants a sequel too. Hope Ritu delivers it!

In A Gist:

Positives: Title, characters, plotting

Negatives: Slow ending

About the author:

Ritu Lalit is a blogger-turned-author. Her desire to live in a dream world couldn’t be suppressed so she writes fiction now.

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Book Details:
Title: Hilawi
Author: Ritu Lalit
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN/ASIN: 9788179917190
Publisher: Popular Prakashan
Price: INR. 125

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Shared with
1) First Reads Challenge at b00k r3vi3ws
2) Indian Quills 2014 at Tales Pensieve.

Reviewed by Leo

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Succubus Dreams (Book Three): Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead

Original Picture from the Website

Best Selling version of the Cover.

REVIEW OF BOOK ONE

REVIEW OF BOOK TWO

SUCCUBUS DREAMS: Book Three, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Supernatural. 

AUTHOR: Richelle Mead

SUMMARY (From the Richelle Mead Website):

Some days, a girl just can't catch a break...

…especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there’s her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It’s not just that they can’t have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block. 

Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused—especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge—rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again…

EXCERPT:

My words were cut off as a tall, Amazonian blonde nearly barrelled into me.

“Oh! You must be Georgina! I’ve been dying to meet you.”

I raised my eyes past Spandex-clad double-D breasts and up into big blue eyes with impossibly long lashes. A huge set of beauty pageant teeth smiled down at me. My moments of speechlessness were few, but they did happen. This walking Barbie doll was a succubus. A really new one. So shiny and new, in fact, it was a wonder she didn’t squeak. I recognized her age both from her signature and her appearance. No succubus with any sense would have shape-shifted into that!!! She was trying too hard, haphazardly piling together an assortment of pseudo male-fantasy body parts. It left her with a Frankensteinian creation that was both jaw-dropping and probably anatomically impossible. 

MSM Speaks: When one makes a come back, they start with their best (or so they think!) performances and in my kitty, the best reviews (loaded with sarcasm and not-so-subtle double entendres) are of the Young Adult Urban Fantasy Fiction genre (Yes, I cannot avoid them. They are like unhealthy junk food, they stick to you and swear to take you down with them!). So, if you remember any of my previous reviews about my Succubus Georgie, you can forget them and start like Tawny (The New Seattle Succubus), all squeaky clean and new.

So the plot starts with Georgie and Seth in a romantic relationship (You can figure that part on your own anyway), when Georgina starts to have unrealistically real dreams of becoming a mother and doing dishes and waiting for her man, the father of her child, while Sweet home Alabama plays in the background. For a fact, Georgie cannot procreate since she is a demon and second, the dreams leave her incredibly drained of her acquired (from the other men) energies. She seeks help from her mortal guide and old human friend, Erik who sends her to this ludicrous con man Dante - very powerful and very Dark, but who doesn't believe that our Georgie is a succubus. Story spirals ahead with Georgina truly trapped in the shit-hit-the-fan scenario, when she is stood up by a whole bunch of people. I sometimes don't understand that why Georgie doesn't use her Awesome powers. She just mopes like a normal woman. I tell you, it gets annoying! 

Unlike the previous two books, I found myself skipping pages in this one to jump to when the mystery-solving-searching-clues start, because seriously, I know Y.As appeal the most, to the teens with raging hormones, they certainly at some point of time, make me want to gag, Y.As that is, and not the teens. Exactly like in this third instalment. Don't take me wrong, I love Georgie, but there's only this much that I can take of the whole mortal-immortal love story. SO, I skipped to the mystery solving, which is pretty crisp and fast paced! There is a new immortal love story that helps Georgina to get out of the freaky dream scenario - also, as Georgina witnesses, how an Angel falls and becomes a demon. I loved that part. Finally, towards the end, she is saved by a whole bunch of Angels, Demons and Nephilliams but at the daunting cost of her personal life. Tsk Tsk. Richelle herself got bored after solving the mystery in this book. 

Image source

Oh, and on a random note. I am in love with Carter. (Who you ask? He is an Angel and Literally, Georgina's guardian angel).

You can just read my reviews of the series and be happy. You don't necessarily have to pick up the book, but if you do, I will be happy! :D

My rating: 2.75/5 (I couldn't give more)

You will find e-book links in the previous reviews!

The Soulkeepers (The Soulkeepers, #1) by G.P. Ching

I totally love series. More so , I love the madness it inspires in me when I come across a good one. The old readers here would have witnessed my love for House of Night series ( which reminds me I have to check when the next book is due) .

Before that there were a few more TV series but after a long time I am hooked to some book.

I came across "The Soulkeepers" as a free book on amazon Kindle [ They have a top 100 free ebooks list which I scan and get the books from almost weekly ]

10 days after the download , I started the book and was so much hooked to it that i finished it in 2 days. [ I immediately bought the second part and finished it in less than 24 hours :D ]


Synopsis :

When fifteen-year-old Jacob Lau is pulled from the crumpled remains of his mother's car, no one can explain why he was driving or why the police can't find his mother's body. Made a ward of his uncle and thousands of miles from home, a beautiful and mysterious neighbor, Dr. Abigail Silva, offers to use her unique abilities to help him find his mom. In exchange, she requires Jacob to train as a Soulkeeper, a gifted warrior charged with protecting human souls. He agrees to her demands, desperate for any clue to the mystery of his mother's disappearance. But soon Jacob finds himself trapped in a web of half-truths, and questions Dr. Silva's motives for helping him.


My verdict : The book's plot though quite simple , is written in a way that is engaging and fast paced. The characters are so much believable and mostly lovable. I liked the way the author has made the characters feel so real to em while I read about their life. Dr Silva's garden is so amazingly described as her adventures. you know she is not pure goodness yet you enjoy the way she has fun with people around her. Jacob is the angry teenage looking for answers about his mother in a city where no one likes him except the Indian girl at school. Things turn bad for both when they break up but Love always has a way to return to the deserving.

while I will not say , the book has much twist and turns or any complex characters , the scenes and the settings are neat and concise. The feelings are genuine and the conversations are very real.

Few pages in the end look like some scene from Supernatural show but they do fit in.

Overall, I enjoyed waking up for this one.

I rate this 4/5.

Tantra by Adi

Fantasy fiction , supernatural , mythological .. you name it and I love this genre. since I good hooked to reading such books, I always been on lookout for Indian authors writing similar books. After Ishaan Lalit’s “the bracelet” and Kalika ( english translation of a famous Malyalam novel) , the wait has been too long.

Then I came across Tantra. Though the cover was decent , one look at the plot and my heart was on this book. I badly wanted this to be another good read and thankfully I was not disappointed.

Anu is a leather wearing, no-nonsense professional guardian with a reputation for killing the most dangerous vampires in New York City. But when her enemies murder the one person she truly cared about, all she wants is vengeance. The only clue points to New Delhi, so Anu puts in for a job transfer.

In India, she finds more than she expected. For one thing, her fellow operatives have made a truce with the vampires. For another, it’s way too hot to wear leather.

At first, it seems Anu’s biggest challenge will be evading the nice boys her aunt wants her to marry. But when children start disappearing, she discovers forces older and darker than anything she’s faced before. All of Delhi is in danger, especially the sexy stranger who sets Anu’s pulse racing.

To prepare for the coming battle, Anu must overcome her personal demons and put aside years of training. This time, her most powerful weapon will come from her mind, not her weapons belt.

After a long time I have come across an Indian female character who is in control of her head and heart ( mostly) . No giggles , no guy issues , no drama. Anu is a true professional vampire hunter [ Sigh! And I love vampires] , one of the best in her generation. But even she finds herself clueless and lost at first in capital city Delhi. The settlement , the relations made , unexpected friendships and unusual foes do make her life interesting and difficult at the same time.

Adi’s writing is  simple , clear and with lot of humor, which I must say is done with a class. The setting is realistic and relatable ,except maybe her night Auto travels. I actually envy her the liberty to sit on rooftops and enjoy the beauty of night. I liked her boss in Delhi , suresh but sadly not much light is thrown on his character. An obvious love for Chandra , the old and charming [ with looks of 25 yr old ] Chandra and total win for Amit , the vampire hunter and anu’s friend. We all love and need and should be such awesome friends and company for all times !

The dark forces in the book arise from use of Tantra and I enjoyed the way Adi sets its plot and unravels the extent of Tantra. Also the description of Maya and its power or hold on the world is a treat to read and imagine [ I will not say more in case I spoil the beauty of these scenes ]. On that note , Adi gets full score.

what I missed in the book was a proper background of Anu , of the vampire hunters , how and what made them different from rest , Chandra’s story and bit more of larger picture of the forces at work in the book. I know there is a sequel coming and I hope all these questions are answered in that.

Overall, I enjoyed the book.

My rating : 4/5