Review: Don't Turn Back

Name -Don't Turn Back

Pages -331

Author -D. S. Butler

Publisher -Amazon Publishing UK

Series -Detective Karen Hart
Genre -Mystery & Thriller, Suspence

Rating -4/5

ISBN -9781542017565

Review no. -29

Synopsis -

You can cover up the truth but it won’t stay buried forever.

A man is found bludgeoned to death in woodland by the village of Canwick, and the close-knit community is sent into shock. Detective Karen Hart, still haunted by the tragic loss of her husband and daughter nearby, is brought in to investigate the horrific murder.

It soon becomes clear that dark secrets lie behind Canwick’s unspoiled appearance. When Hart begins to suspect that a modern-day slavery ring has been hiding in plain sight among the villagers, she faces a race to find proof before the culprits slip from her grasp. But when key witnesses start disappearing, it’s obvious that there’s a deep-rooted conspiracy to keep prying eyes away from the truth.

But in a village where everyone knows everyone, who knows more than they are letting on—and who can Hart really trust? She’s in deep and she’s never been more alone. She must confront the tragedy of her own past if she wants to catch the killers before it’s too late. Because one thing’s for certain—there’s no turning back…

Review -

DC Karen Hart is still getting over the death of her husband and daughter when she’s brought in to investigate the death of a man found in the woodlands near the picturesque village of Canwick.  But as Karen digs deeper into the village and its inhabitants she uncovers secrets including slavery, people trafficking and police corruption.  Karen will have to put aside her own grief for the time being and find the answers with the help of her loyal team.
The novel basically follows two threads, the murder/slavery angle and Karen’s re-awakening belief that it was not an accident that killed her family. I liked the way these two gradually came together. It should be noted that this novel is entertainment so there is not much detail on the way these people are treated, in fact they seem remarkably healthy, given their living conditions. This is not a criticism as I prefer to get this kind of information from the news rather than in my lighter moments when I’m seeking escapism.
I thoroughly enjoyed Don’t Turn Back which is a gripping read with plenty of twists and turns. It is mostly told from the investigative point of view so the reader knows as much as the detectives throughout the course of the novel. This is my favourite approach as it allows me to try and work out the solution alongside the detectives, not that I had much room for reflection as it is one big reveal after another with twists thrown in for good measure. There is never a dull moment.

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Review: You Let Me In

Name -You Let Me In

Pages -256

Author -Camilla Bruce

Publisher -Macmillan/Tor-Forge
Genre -Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy
Rating -5/5
ISBN -9781250302045

Review no. -28

Synopsis -

You Let Me In delivers a stunning tale from debut author Camilla Bruce, combining the sinister domestic atmosphere of Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects with the otherwordly thrills of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane.Cassandra Tipp is dead...or is she?
After all, the notorious recluse and eccentric bestselling novelist has always been prone to flights of fancy—everyone in town remembers the shocking events leading up to Cassie's infamous trial (she may have been acquitted, but the insanity defense only stretches so far).
Cassandra Tipp has left behind no body—just her massive fortune, and one final manuscript.
Then again, there are enough bodies in her past—her husband Tommy Tipp, whose mysterious disembowelment has never been solved, and a few years later, the shocking murder-suicide of her father and brother.
Cassandra Tipp will tell you a story—but it will come with a terrible price. What really happened, out there in the woods—and who has Cassie been protecting all along? Read on, if you dare...

Review -

Wow!!! What did I just finish reading? I literally have goosebumps right now.
To start with, the cover is very creepy and attractive, exactly how the cover of a mystery/horror novel should be. The title is a crucial part of the story. In fact, it is the starting point of all the events happening in the book.
The story is about Cassandra Tipp, a famous and reclusive romance novelist, who disappears all of a sudden, leaving everyone to wonder what happened to her. But she still leaves a will before she disappears which states her niece and nephew, Penelope and Janus as her sole heirs of her immense fortune but with one condition, they have to go to her home and read a manuscript she left on her desk. And that manuscript contains the story of her life.
Cassandra had never been a normal child, at least not after meeting Pepper-man. He introduced her to the faerie world, the mound. She was the black sheep of her family, torn between her real world and the faerie world. To make matters worse, her past is even more creepy. Her husband was found brutally murdered in the woods and her brother and father died shortly after as aa result of a murder-suicide.
This book is engrossing , intense and horrifyingly dark, filled with mysteries, horror, emotions, family drama and last but not the least- nightmares.
I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for introducing me with this wonderful book.

Review: North! Or be Eaten

Name -North! Or be Eaten

Pages -352

Author -Andrew Peterson
Publisher -WaterBrook & Multnomah
Genre -Children's Fiction, Fantasy
Series -Wingfeather Saga
Rating -4.5/5
ISBN -9780525653578

Review no. -27

Synopsis -

Now in hardcover for the first time, featuring all-new illustrations! First they found themselves On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. Now they must make their way North! Or Be Eaten . . Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they're really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.
In order to survive, the Igibys must flee to the safety of the Ice Prairies, where the lizardlike Fangs of Dang cannot follow. First, however, they have to escape the monsters of Glipwood Forest, the thieving Stranders of the East Ben, and the dreaded Fork Factory.
But even more dangerous are the jealousies and bitterness that threaten to tear them apart. Janner and his siblings must learn the hard way that the love of a family is more important than anything else.
Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, North! Or Be Eaten is a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers' groups are sure to enjoy discussing for its many layers of meaning. Extra features include new interior illustrations from Joe Sutphin, funny footnotes, a map of the fantastical world, inventive appendices, and fanciful line art in the tradition of the original Frank L. Baum Wizard of Oz storybooks.

Review -

I am going to make this review really short. The book 'North! Or Be Eaten' is the second book of the Wingfeather Saga. This book is a good sequel but I personally felt that the first book was a bit better. The are loads of bad things happening in this book. By the time I finished this book, I was filled with mixed emotions- anger, happiness, sympathy, sadness etc. The illustrations and the world-building was wonderful. The character-development was also great as most of the characters mature as the story goes on. But this book, unlike the first one, was filled with adventures right from the start. Another thing that I personally liked in this book is the ending which is filled with hope.
Overall, this is a great saga, which would be loved by both adults and children, filled with adventure, fantasy, family drama etc. I am eagerly waiting to read the next book!
I thank NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for giving me this amazing opportunity to read and review this amazing saga.

Review: We of the Forsaken World...

Name -We of the Forsaken World...

Pages -178
Author -Kiran Bhat
Publisher -Iguana Books
Genre -Literary Fiction
Rating -5/5
ISBN -9781771803663
Review no. 26
Synopsis -
In a distant corner of the globe, a man journeys to the birthplace of his mother, a tourist town destroyed by an industrial spill. In a nameless remote tribe, the chief’s second son is born, creating a scramble for succession as their jungles are being destroyed by loggers. In one of the world’s sprawling metropolises, a homeless one-armed woman sets out to take revenge upon the men who trafficked her. And, in a small village of shanty shacks connected only by a mud-and- concrete road, a milkmaid watches the girls she calls friends destroy her reputation.
In we of the forsaken world… Kiran Bhat tells the stories of four worlds falling apart, through the structure of four linguistic chains, comprised of the accounts of four people witnessing the decline of these worlds, in four acts. Like modern communication networks, these sixteen stories connect along subtle lines, dispersing at the moments where another story is about to take place. they flow together and disconnect. Each story is a parable of its own, into the mind of a distinct human being. These are the tales of not just sixteen strangers, but many different lives, who live on this planet, at every second, everywhere.
Review -
We of the Forsaken World... tells us the story of four main characters living in four geographically separated places. The world-building in this book is beautiful and elegant. The story proves to be successful when it comes to making us realize the effect of digitalization,globalization and industrialization. Another lesson that I learned through this novel is that we need to realize our potential.
Initially, the book seems to be a collection of short stories but due to some recurring characters, we realize that there is a common thread between them and it is a clear-cut novel.
The story is narrated through 16 different view points, who live in four different place although the story revolves around four people -the journalist, the chief's son, the milkmaid and the one-armed women.
The story very relatable and is written in a poetical manner which leaves an everlasting effect on the reader. The book makes us realize the problems of the modern world. The character development is also elaborately done in such a way that the reader is able to feel the pain of the characters in this book.
Overall, I loved this book and I think that it is a book that everyone of today's world must read.

Review: The Empress of Salt and Fortune

Name -The Empress of Salt and Fortune

Pages -112

Author -Nghi Vo

Publisher -Macmillan/Tor-Forge

Genre -Historical Feminist High Fantasy, LGBTQA

Rating -4/5

Source -NetGalley

ISBN -9781250750303

Review no. -25

Synopsis -
With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama, Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.

A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully.

Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for.

At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, this evocative debut follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece.

Review -

The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a short (I mean incredibly short, its just 74 pages) but strong and powerful read. At first the world building and the language seems kind of confusing, but then I got used to it. All the characters were well-built but still it me more than a day just to realize that Almost Brilliant is the name of Chih's pet bird.
Chih is a cleric who is cataloguing household items as its her duty. During her stay at Thriving Fortune, a place beside the supernatural lake scarlet, an elderly women nick-named as Rabbit recounts the story of the Empress who was exiled here, In-yo, better known as the Empress of Salt and Fortune. In-yo was the princess from the North, who was sent away to get married to the Emperor of the South just to bring peace between both the kingdoms. After her days of usefulness are over, that is after she provided an heir to the emperor she is forced into exile. But she doesn't go into silence and depression like the other empresses. Instead, she decides to fight back.
Each chapter begins with an elaborate description of some objects that Chih finds in the house, unravelling its past which involved the Empress in some way or the other.
The story is weaved very elegantly with strong strings of feminism. As it is said in the book,"Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves.” In short, it is a short but thrilling read full of friendship, love, anger, joy, revenge and victory nonetheless.
I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for giving me the amazing opportunity to read and review this awe-inspiring book.

Review: The Glass Magician

Name -The Glass Magician

Pages -288

Author -Caroline Stevermer
Publisher -Macmillan/Tor-Forge
Genre -Historical Fantasy, Teens & YA
Rating -5/5
Source -NetGalley
ISBN -9780765335043
Review no. -24
Synopsis -
Reminiscent of The Golem and the Jinni, The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer is a magical and romantic tale set in New York’s Gilded Age.
New York 1905—The Vanderbilts. The Astors. The Morgans. They are the cream of society—and they own the nation on the cusp of a new century.
Thalia Cutler doesn’t have any of those family connections. What she does know is stage magic and she dazzles audiences with an act that takes your breath away.
That is, until one night when a trick goes horribly awry. In surviving she discovers that she can shapeshift, and has the potential to take her place among the rich and powerful.
But first, she’ll have to learn to control that power…before the real monsters descend to feast.
Review -
First of all, the cover is just sooooo beautiful. The title and the cover are apt for the book. The title 'The Glass Magician' occurs only once in the book, but it proved to be really strong.
The story is set in 1905 New York (although the story started Philadelphia). The story revolves around Thalia Cutler, a stage magician, known on the stage as lady of the lake. She lives along with her late father's friend and her stage manager, David Nutall. One night, one of her act goes horribly wrong which could've have resulted her death. But something even worse happens, she realizes that she is a trader. To make matters worse, she is fired from her job, she and Nutall unknowingly get involved in the murder of their arch-nemesis/business competitor, and worst of all, she is being chased by a manticore. Meanwhile, Thalia meets some really generous and genuine friends who remain by her side throughout the story.
The magic system in this book was really nice: Solitares, Traders and Sylvestri. The character building is done beautifully. The chemistry between Ryker and Thalia was really nice. But I wanted more of them. Overall, it a great mixture of historical fantasy and murder mystery. I wouldn't think twice giving this book a 5/5, because this book is exactly my cup of tea!
I sincerely thank Macmillan/Tor-Forge and NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity! I am eagerly waiting for further books by Caroline Stevermer, because now, I am her fan.

Review: The House Guest

Name -The House Guest

Pages -287

Author -Mark Edwards

Publisher -Amazon UK

Genre -Psychological Thriller, Mystery

Rating -4/5

Source -NetGalley

ISBN -9781542094030

Review no. -23

Synopsis -

A perfect summer. A perfect stranger. A perfect nightmare.

When British twenty-somethings Ruth and Adam are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York, they can’t say no. Young, in love and on the cusp of professional success, they feel as if luck is finally on their side.

So the moment that Eden turns up on the doorstep, drenched from a summer storm, it seems only right to share a bit of that good fortune. Beautiful and charismatic, Eden claims to be a friend of the homeowners, who told her she could stay whenever she was in New York.

They know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers—let alone invite them into your home—but after all, Eden’s only a stranger until they get to know her.

As suspicions creep in that Eden may not be who she claims to be, they begin to wonder if they’ve made a terrible mistake…

The House Guest is the chilling new psychological thriller from the three million copy bestselling author of Here to Stay and Follow You Home.

Review -

The title, the cover and the blurb themselves are spooky, intriguing and mysterious. The House Guest is a chilling psychological thriller. The story is about a British couple, Adam and Ruth, who take up the job of house sitting a wealthy couple, Jack and Mona in New York City for the summer. A few days before Jack and Mona return, a stranger shows up at their doorstep, fully drenched in the rainstorm outside, claiming to be a friend of Jack and Mona. Adam and Ruth let her stay on believing her words. Everything goes normal until one night, all three of them get really drunk. When Adam wakes up the next day, he realizes that Ruth and Eden (the stranger) are nowhere to be found. The story turns even spookier when Jack and Mona return and reveal that they have no idea who Eden is.
It is a fast-paced novel with thrill, twists and turns here and there. The ending was perfect for a psychological thriller like this. The only con of this book is that I  found some parts to be comical and unrealistic.
I thank NetGalley and Amazon UK for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

Review: Theodore the Unfortunate Bear

Name -Theodore the Unfortunate Bear

Pages -33

Author -Cory Q Tan

Publisher -The Luminous Cat

Genre -Children's Fiction, Family and Relationships

Rating -5/5

Source -LibraryThing

ISBN -9811414769

Review no. -22

Synopsis -

Theodore was an unfortunate bear.
Exquisite, knowledgeable, well-mannered and immaculately dressed (with his impressive red bow tie), he was what you would call a ‘gentle-bear’.
For a teddy bear of his distinguished pedigree, one would expect nothing but the best of what life has to offer. But luck should have it that he would end up in the worst possible place on earth- the Chow family!
The most terrible kind of family imaginable, his days were miserable.... to say the least. Every day he wished that the horrible family he's living with would disappear from his life.
One day, the family went out for what seemed like a normal outing... But they never came back...
Theodore's wish had come true....  

Review -

I just love this book! In fact, I am now a fan of Cory Q Tan's writing. The story is about a very rude and pessimistic teddy bear named Theodore, who just hate the Chows. But when one day, the Chows go away and don't return, Theodore realises his mistake and goes on a search for his family.
The illustrations were awesome. The story is mixed with right amount of humour and adventure. The story teaches a great lesson that family and love are the most important things in the world, no matter whether you hate them or love them. I would recommend it for both children and adults because it teaches a great value to the children and it awakens the child inside every adult.

Review: A Song Below Water

Name -A Song Below Water

Pages -269

Author -Bethany C. Morrow

Publisher -Macmillan-Tom Doherty Associates (Tor/Forge)

Genre -Urban Fantasy, Teens & YA

Rating -5/5
Source -NetGalley
ISBN -9781250315328
Review no. -21
Synopsis -

Bethany C. Morrow's A Song Below Water is the story for today’s readers — a captivating modern fantasy about black mermaids, friendship, and self-discovery set against the challenges of today's racism and sexism.

In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers.

Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school’s junior year.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment.

Soon, nothing in Portland, Oregon, seems safe. To save themselves from drowning, it’s only Tavia and Effie’s unbreakable sisterhood that proves to be the strongest magic of all.

Review -

First of all, I must say, the cover of this book is awesome and goes along with the title and the story of the book.
The story is about two sisters- Tavia and Effie (Euphemia). Tavia is a black siren who is taught by her family to hide the power of her voice as sirens are feared, discriminated and locked away in the society. Effie has lots of questions about herself and about her biological family as her mother passes away and her grandparents leave her to live with Tavia's family. Also, a tragic incident from her past keeps haunting her.
The story is set in Portland, where normal people live alongside mystical creatures like sirens, elokos, sprites, gargoyles etc. The world-building is wonderful which makes it a perfect YA Urban Fantasy novel. The character-building in the books made me feel as if I was in the characters' shoes. The story is told from both Tavia and Effie's perpective alternatively. The pacing is perfect except some spots where I found them slow.
But I think that was because there where so many things going on that the story needed to slow down in order to let the reader understand the story without any confusion. The story is full of twists and turns, especially the second half.
Overall, this book is the right mix of Urban Fantasy with strong and subtle themes such as #myvoicemypower, sexism, racism, discrimination and other common themes such as family and relationships, teenage drama etc.
This book has secured the spot as one of my favorite books. So, I highly recommend it to everybody, no matter what their favorite genre is.
I sincerely thank Macmillian-Tor/Forge for giving me this wonderful opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

Review: Sisters of the Perilous Heart

Name -Sisters of the Perilous Heart

Pages -324

Author -Sandra L. Vasher

Publisher -Mortal Ink Press, LLC

Genre -Sci-fi & Fantasy, YA

Rating -4/5

Source -NetGalley

ISBN -9781950989010

Review no. -20

Synopsis -

What would you do to save a sister?

As the last mortal kingdom of Kepler resists the Immortal Empire, its young queen faces a devastating attack. Queen Vivian is two minutes into her reign when an arrow pierces her heart and infects her with the Immortality Virus. But she has too much magic to become immortal and not enough to survive. She must find more magic fast, or she’ll die.

Meanwhile, another young mortal faces an uncertain future of her own. Carina is fleeing for her life, but her magic is a tracking beam for immortals. She must learn to harness and control it, or she’ll be captured and killed. Then she meets the queen of South Kepler.

Vivian needs Carina’s magic, and she can offer safe haven in exchange. But can Vivian trust this common girl? Carina isn’t on the kingdom’s registry of magicians. What if she’s a Northern rebel? A spy for the Immortal Empire? And will the truth be revealed in time to save them both?

Sisters of the Perilous Heart is Book One of the Mortal Heritance.

Review -

The story is set in a planet named Kepler, where people from Earth travelled to many years ago. The world building and character building was excellent. The two main protagonists of the novel are - Vivian, an 18 year old newly coronated queen, who was attacked by immortal assassins, which resulted her being infected by the immortality; and Carina an orphan girl who was brought up by the sisters in a convent.
The story is a mix of science fiction and fantasy. So, it may seem confusing at the beginning. But as on reading more, the reader get immersed in the book. Also, the story is somewhat slow-paced. However, on reading me, he story picks the reader's curiosity. Especially the second part of the story is very interesting as it gains more speed and there are numerous twists and turns. In short, this book exposes us to a new world full of adventure, fantasy, science, problems, betrayals and heartbreaks.
I am really looking forward for the next book in the series to know what happens next. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

Review: The Vanishing Sky

Name -The Vanishing Sky

Pages -288

Author -L. Annette Binder
Publisher -Bloomsbury Publishing

Genre -Historical fiction, Family & Relationships

Rating -3.5/5

Source -NetGalley

ISBN -9781635574678
Review no. -19

Synopsis -

For readers of Warlight and The Invisible Bridge, an intimate, harrowing story about a family of German citizens during World War II.
In 1945, as the war in Germany nears its violent end, the Huber family is not yet free of its dangers or its insidious demands. Etta, a mother from a small, rural town, has two sons serving their home country: her elder, Max, on the Eastern front, and her younger, Georg, at a school for Hitler Youth. When Max returns from the front, Etta quickly realizes that something is not right-he is thin, almost ghostly, and behaving very strangely. Etta strives to protect him from the Nazi rule, even as her husband, Josef, becomes more nationalistic and impervious to Max's condition. Meanwhile, miles away, her younger son Georg has taken his fate into his own hands, deserting his young class of battle-bound soldiers to set off on a long and perilous journey home.
The Vanishing Sky is a World War II novel as seen through a German lens, a story of the irreparable damage of war on the home front, and one family's participation-involuntary, unseen, or direct-in a dangerous regime. Drawing inspiration from her own father's time in the Hitler Youth, L. Annette Binder has crafted a spellbinding novel about the daring choices we make for country and for family.
Review -

I downloaded this novel because the of the catchy title and the beautiful but a bit depressing cover. The novel is about the story of survival of a German family, the Huber family, towards the end of World War II. Etta, a mother of two sons is the main protagonist of the novel. Her husband Josef is desperate to fight the war and tries to mix up with the young soldiers when he rejoins the army. Her elder son, Max, returns from the war at Stalingrad with severe PTSD. Her younger son ,Georg ,is in the Hitler's Youth.

Positives:

1.The story is descriptive.

2.This means that it is successful in delivering the pain to the readers.
3. The story is cinematic which reminds me a lot of Jojo Rabbit.

Negatives:

1.The story is depressing. Only strong people could read this stuff as terrible things happen in almost every page.

2. The story is flat and confusing. I had to go back several pages to understand what was happening at a particular scene.

3.I am not able to classify it as historical fiction.

Recommendation: I recommend it to strong-hearted history enthusiasts.

I thank NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me this wonderful opportunity.