Review: The Angel of the Crows

Name -The Angel of the Crows

Pages -448

Author -Katherine Addison

Publisher -Macmillan/Tor-Forge

Genre -Historical Fantasy, Mystery

Rating -3.5/5

ISBN -9780765387394

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -39

Synopsis -

This is not the story you think it is. These are not the characters you think they are. This is not the book you are expecting.

In an alternate 1880s London, angels inhabit every public building, and vampires and werewolves walk the streets with human beings in a well-regulated truce. A fantastic utopia, except for a few things: Angels can Fall, and that Fall is like a nuclear bomb in both the physical and metaphysical worlds. And human beings remain human, with all their kindness and greed and passions and murderous intent.

Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of this London too. But this London has an Angel. The Angel of the Crows.

Review -

The Angel of the Crows is a wingfic (fan fiction which imagines one character with wings) of Sherlock Holmes with a supernatural twist where Sherlock (Crow) is an angel and Dr. Watson (Dr. Doyle) is a hell-hound.

Crow is an angel with only a piece of his habitat in his pocket because if angels loose their habitat entirely, they fall. And this fall is like when a dead bird falls off a tree. Instead, it is more like a nuclear bomb.

One such fall of an angel while tending to soldiers in Afghan, injures Dr. Doyle's leg and changes him into a hellhound. So, Dr. J. H. Doyle has no other option than to go back to London and live on his measly pension.

Unlike most of the historical fantasy novels, the language is lucid and easy to understand. The whole story is said through Dr. Doyle's perspective. The novel is divided into nine parts, each of which is based upon a new mystery/case. And some of these cases are pretty well-known, like 'The Hound of Baskerville', 'The Sign of the Four' etc. I love the way that the Whitechapel Murders and Jack the Ripper mystery were added to the story. I also admire the friendship bond between Crow and Dr. Doyle.

One of the major reason for giving this book a 3/5 is that the stories are just too predictable and familiar because storylines are exactly similar the original Sherlock Holmes except for the supernatural twists and Jack the Ripper part. I last read Sherlock Holmes two year ago but I was still able to predict at least seventy per cent of the mysteries. None of the names are changed except for Crow (Sherlock) and Dr. Doyle (Dr. Watson). I also felt that the whole system of the angels was very confusing and blurry.

Overall, the novel is engaging, entertaining and a wonderful retelling of Sherlock Holmes. I strongly recommend this book to all the Sherlock fans because although the novel is heavily based on it, the author has done justice by adding supernatural elements and plot twists here and there.

I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for giving me this wonderful opportunity to review this book. Also, this book has added 'The Goblin Emperor' (Katherine Addison's previous book) to my ever-growing list of TBR.

Review: A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians

Name -A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians

Pages -544

Author -H. G. Parry

Publisher -Orbit Books

Genre -Historical Fantasy, Politics

Rating -4/5

ISBN -9780356514703

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -38

Synopsis -

It is the Age of Enlightenment -- of new and magical political movements, from the necromancer Robespierre calling for revolution in France to the weather mage Toussaint L'Ouverture leading the slaves of Haiti in their fight for freedom, to the bold new Prime Minister William Pitt weighing the legalization of magic amongst commoners in Britain and abolition throughout its colonies overseas.

But amidst all of the upheaval of the enlightened world, there is an unknown force inciting all of human civilisation into violent conflict. And it will require the combined efforts of revolutionaries, magicians, and abolitionists to unmask this hidden enemy before the whole world falls to chaos.

Review-

Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, or to be precise, the Age of Enlightenment (1979-1994), 'A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians' is a sweeping, epic tale dripping with politics, history, magic, pain and darkness.

It is set in an alternate history where magic exists but is very strictly controlled, where people are allowed to use magic only for their self defense. Slavery exists and the slaves are spellbound, which means they are compelled to do any job that their masters want and their bodies move automatically to the orders given to them.

 

One such slave is Fina, who was plucked from her home and family and thrown into the horror of slavery. Many things were snatched from her but her strong magic wasn't one of those things because her magic was just too powerful to do so. So, one ordinary night, when she hears a voice inside her head to rise to the rebellion, she sets on a journey to achieve freedom for all the slaves, using her powers.  

France is in the middle of a revolution to achievement their motto of Liberté, égalité, fraternité. But as the revolution continues, it unveils a France that people had only seen in their worst nightmares.

In England, Prime Minister William Pitt is trying his best to legalize magic among commoners and abolish slave trade. But the situation in France and Saint Dominigue makes it not only harder, but almost impossible to pass these laws in the House of Commoners.

What I really liked about this book was that this book is a perfect blend of history and magic, that is, the book included real-life characters and instances but still magic was a very important element to the plot. Also, I highly appreciate the level of research that the author had done before writing this novel which is highly evident in the novel. The setting of the novel alternates between London, France and the Carribean islands. The words were crafted in such a manner that the reader would be able to feel for each and every character.

What I didn't like about this book is that it is really long (544 pages) and some parts felt downright boring and stretched on. I really wish it was edited to be shortened as it took me eons to finally finish reading this book. Also, there instances where I had no idea what was going on.

I recommend this book to history geeks (being a geek is a good thing) and politics lovers.

I thank Orbit books and NetGalley for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

 

Review: Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know

Name -Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know

Pages -320

Author -Samira Ahmed

Publisher -Orbit Books

Genre -Young Adult, Mystery, Feminism

Rating -3.5/5

ISBN -9780349003559

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -37

Synopsis -

It is August in Paris and budding art historian Khayyam should be having the time of her life - but even in the City of Lights she can't stop worrying about the mess she left back home in Chicago. Only when she meets a cute young Parisian - who happens to be a distant relative of the novelist Alexandre Dumas - do things start to get interesting, as she starts to unveil the story of a 19th century Muslim woman whose path may have intersected with Dumas, Eugène Delacroix and Lord Byron.

Two hundred years earlier in the Ottoman empire, Leila is the most favoured woman in the Pasha's harem. Her position is meant to be coveted; but she is struggling to survive as she fights to keep her true love hidden from her jealous captor.

Echoing across centuries, as Khayyam uncovers the scintillating truth of Leila's long-forgotten life, her own destiny is transformed forever.

Review -

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is a captivating story of two strong willed women, the first one is Khayyam, a French-Indian-Muslim American and a aspiring art historian and the second one is Leila, a 19th century woman, who was the favorite concubine of the king (Pasha) and whose path seems to mysteriously intersect with three great artists of all time- Byron, Delacroix and Alexandre Dumas.

The story unfolds in a very interesting manner, where the POV alternate between the two women. Leila's narrations are comparatively shorter so as to maintain the mystery about her in the reader's mind until the reader uncovers the mystery along with Khayyam. Character building was really nice too. In fact, the introduction for Khayyam was just wonderful and so powerful as it goes like this:

Others look at me and try to shove me into their own narrative to define who and what I am. But I’m not a blank page that everyone else gets to write on.

I have my own voice.

I have my own story.

I have my own name. It’s Khayyam.

What made me give this book 3.5/5 was the fact that I am not a fan of love triangles (my fault) and I felt that there is just too much boy-drama (love-drama to be precise). Also, to be honest, some parts felt a bit boring and some parts felt really sophisticated that it took a while to understand.

But still, I totally recommend this book. It is completely relevant to today's problem (#alllivesmatter and #ownvoice). It makes us realize that women and their voices are often overlooked and forgotten, making it an inspiring feminist read. Also, you could visit Paris even during this lockdown situation by just reading this book! Looking for books with love, betrayals, drama, mystery, adventure??? Well, all of these are there in this book.

I thank NetGalley and Orbit Books for giving me this wonderful opportunity. All opnions are my own.

Review: The Obsidian Tower

Name -The Obsidian Tower

Pages -448

Author -Melissa Caruso

Publisher -Orbit Books

Genre -Historical High Fantasy, New Adult

Rating -4/5

ISBN -9780356513195
Source -NetGalley

Review no. -36

Synopsis -

One woman will either save an entire continent or completely destroy it in a captivating epic fantasy bursting with intrigue and ambition, questioned loyalties, and broken magic.

'Guard the tower, ward the stone. Find your answers writ in bone. Keep your trust through wits or war--nothing must unseal the door.'

Deep within Gloamingard Castle lies a black tower. Sealed by magic, it guards a dangerous secret that has been contained for thousands of years.

As Warden, Ryxander knows the warning passed down through generations: nothing must unreal the Door. But one impetuous decision will leave her with blood on her hands--and unleash a threat that could doom the world to fall to darkness.

Review -

The story is narrated through a single, first-person point of view of Ryxander, the warden of Gloamingard, who is seen as an embarrassment by her own family because of her broken magic, which kills everything she touches instead of nurturing and shaping life.

The story starts with the Gloamingard castle all set to hold a peace agreement between two other domains. The first envoy arrives and things go awry when the envoy decides to unravel the secrets of the most peculiar yet confidential tower in all of Gloamingard, the black tower.

Ryx is determined to keep up the gloaming lore, that was made and kept up by her family for the past 4 millennium. And she is ready to go to any level to not break the gloaming lore, which leads her to accidentally killing the envoy.

With the envoy accidentally killed, the mysterious disappearance of her grandma who is a powerful witch lord, the rookery's investigation upon the black tower, right when we think matters cannot get worse, it surprisingly does, when Ryx and the rookery learn what the black tower has garded for 4 millennium after all.

The world building was mind-blowing, with it's unique magical system and political dramas. The character development was wonderful too and made me fall in love with almost every character. The story does feel boring at some parts but it turns out to be really captivating as we go forward.

I am really glad that this is the first book of a trilogy and I can't wait for the two books to be released!

I thank Orbit Books and NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity and introducing me to the wonderful world of Eruvia.

Review: The Passengers You Cannot See

 

Name -The Passengers You Cannot See

Author -The Behrg

Publisher -Pricks Like Thorn Media

Genre- Horror, Literary Fiction

Rating -3/5

ISBN -9798610030142

Source -NetGalley
Review no. -35
Synopsis -

Every story has its beginning and end. But some stories won’t let go. Some stories dig their claws into you. They infect your dreams. They carve out a residence in your mind. They become passengers . . .

Ones that never leave.

Within this collection of short stories by esteemed horror author The Behrg you will discover a haunted house that is not quite what it seems. A trophy collector who prefers living statues to cold ones. A truck driver who, with one good deed, finds more than he bargained for. And a world where happiness can no longer be felt. 

Light and darkness. Hope and despair. Depravities and humanity. These passengers and more await. And they’ve been sharpening their claws to greet you.

Review -

Well, I would give this book 3.5 to be precise. This is the first time I am reading a work of this author. 'The passengers you cannot see' is a collection of 15 horror stories. While some of them were bone-chilling gems, others were not so captivating and flat. My favorite stories are One Star, Scabs, Still Born and Happiness is a Commodity. Especially, happiness is a commodity which is the longest story in this collection. I mostly tend to not like collection of stories but this book was above average for me. Themes included in this book are dystopia, horror, mental health etc. The book ends in a happy and positive note while also retaining the horror factor of it.

Review: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Name -The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Pages -374

Author -Alix E. Harrow

Publisher -Orbit Books

Genre -Young/New Adult, Fantasy, Historical

Rating -5/5

ISBN -9780356512464

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -34

Synopsis -

ACCORDING TO JANUARY SCALLER, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO RUN AWAY FROM YOUR OWN STORY, AND THAT'S TO SNEAK INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S . . .

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr Locke, she feels little different from the artefacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored and utterly out of place.

But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Review -

I requested an ARC of this book in NetGalley to see what the fuzz was all about. And I got the answer as soon as I finished the first chapter. Because, I feel, that this book is one of the most unique releases of the year 2020. And of course, GOD, that cover is awesome!!

The story follows a teen girl named January Scaller, who is considered to be 'A perfectly unique specimen', that is, she is odd-colored but hardly colored. January's father is a dark skinned man from god-knows-where and January has never met here mother, nor does she remember her face and is presumably dead. January grows up as the ward of a wealthy collector and her father's employer, Mr.Locke, and so he is the nearest thing she has for family. She spends here childhood with the artifacts that decorated the halls of Locke House, Books, her friend Samuel and her loyal and loving pet dog, Sindbad. Her whole quiet existence is ignored until she finds a book in a crate, among the treasures that her father had sent for Mr.Locke.

Two stories run parallel to each other and merge towards the end, the first story is of January and the second story is of the intriguing book that she just discovered. As January reads the book, it unravels a tale of adventure, love, loss, quest and of course, other worlds. She discovers some power, truths and at last family.

The book takes you through an exhilarating adventure. I loved Alix E. Harrow's writing style which was soooo elegant. The 'book within a book' proved to be good. Also the theme that written words have power is unique and fitting. I just wanted to see more chemistry between Samuel and January. But the ending certainly brought tears to my eyes. Overall this is an amazing book that I recommend everybody to read.

I thank NetGalley and Little-Brown Publishing (Orbit books) for giving me this wonderful opportunity to read and review this book.

P.S.- I am praying seriously to get approved for Alix E. Harrow's next book, 'The Once and Future Witches' and that cover is awesome too!!!

Review: Chosen Ones

Name - Chosen Ones

Pages -432

Author -Veronica Roth

Publisher -Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Genre -Sci-Fi & Fantasy, New Adult

Rating -4/5

ISBN -9780358164081

Source -NetGalley

Review no. -33

Synopsis -

Fifteen years ago, five ordinary teenagers were singled out by a prophecy to take down an impossibly powerful entity wreaking havoc across North America. He was known as the Dark One, and his weapon of choice—catastrophic events known as Drains—leveled cities and claimed thousands of lives. Chosen Ones, as the teens were known, gave everything they had to defeat him.

After the Dark One fell, the world went back to normal . . . for everyone but them. After all, what do you do when you’re the most famous people on Earth, your only education was in magical destruction, and your purpose in life is now fulfilled?

Of the five, Sloane has had the hardest time adjusting. Everyone else blames the PTSD—and her huge attitude problem—but really, she’s hiding secrets from them . . . secrets that keep her tied to the past and alienate her from the only four people in the world who understand her.

On the tenth anniversary of the Dark One’s defeat, something unthinkable happens: one of the Chosen Ones dies. When the others gather for the funeral, they discover the Dark One’s ultimate goal was much bigger than they, the government, or even prophecy could have foretold—bigger than the world itself.

And this time, fighting back might take more than Sloane has to give.

Review -

Chosen Ones is a action and suspense-packed book with a unique, thrilling and captivating story. Every theme was new in this book, including the fact that there was no 'one-true-savior-of-the-world' thing. The world building was wonderful.

The book follows the story of Sloane Andrews, ten years after she and her 'chosen' friends collectively brought down the Voldermort-like 'Dark One'. But life isn't as sweet and rosy for them as one would expect. They attract all the media and public attention. Some of them still suffer from PTSD. And Sloane has some secrets of her own that alienates her from her own friends.

But when one of the 'Chosen Ones' dies, their lives turn upside-down, and it seems that the Dark One is not dead after all. They travel to an unimaginable place.

The Chosen Ones has the right amount of Sci-fi and Fantasy. The fact that the Chosen Ones are troubled by media, paparazzi and that some of them still suffer trauma makes the story realistic. And above all the twists were totally unforeseen.

The things that I didn't like in this book is that there were extracts, references and memorandums at the end of almost every chapter which made me forget were the last chapter ended. I think that the author wanted to explore the New Adult genre to its limit as she used the F-word a lot. Also, I felt the story was too slow-paced at some parts.

I thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me this amazing opportunity to read and review this amazing book.  

Review: Fractured Tide

Name -Fractured Tide

Pages -336

Author -Leslie Lutz

Publisher -Blink Publishing

Genre -YA, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating -4/5 (3.5 to be precise)

ISBN -9780310770107

Review no. -32

Synopsis -

Lost meets Stranger Things in this eerie, immersive YA thriller, thrusting seventeen-year-old Sia into a reality where the waters in front of her and the jungle behind her are as dangerous as the survivors alongside her. 

Sia practically grew up in the water scuba diving, and wreck dives are run of the mill. Take the tourists out. Explore the reef. Uncover the secrets locked in the sunken craft. But this time … the dive goes terribly wrong.

Attacked by a mysterious creature, Sia’s boat is sunk, her customers are killed, and she washes up on a deserted island with no sign of rescue in sight. Waiting in the water is a seemingly unstoppable monster that is still hungry. In the jungle just off the beach are dangers best left untested. When Sia reunites with a handful of survivors, she sees it as the first sign of light.

Sia is wrong.

Between the gulf of deadly seawater in front of her and suffocating depth of the jungle behind her, even the island isn’t what it seems.

Haunted by her own mistakes and an inescapable dread, Sia’s best hope for finding answers may rest in the center of the island, at the bottom of a flooded sinkhole that only she has the skills to navigate. But even if the creature lurking in the depths doesn’t swallow her and the other survivors, the secrets of their fractured reality on the island might.

Review -

The Fractured Tide is creepy, action-packed, and thrilling. I definitely do not recommend people to read this book now, during this pandemic, because the story scared the hell out of me as the story was all about surviving and hunger due to scarcity of food.

Tasia is a 17-something homeschooled girl, helping her mom run her family business (diving charter) as her dad goes behind the bars. After an unfortunate dive to a WWII wreck which results in the death of a fellow diver, weird events begin to unfold. They unite with a science club summer fun party only to be attack by a creepy octopus-like creature. When she opens her eyes again, Tasia finds herself stranded in a strange island with a lunatic with a gun. But soon, to her relief, she also finds her 7 year old brother, Felix, and two people from the science club, Ben and Steph.

But things are never normal when one is stranded on a strange island, isn't it? It doesn't take long for Ben and Tasia to discover that things appear to be going on like a loop.

 So, they are left in a island which is god-knows-where, with almost no food resources, a raging lunatic, ruins of their charters, the mysterious creature which wrecked their boats still looming around and secrets buried in the island (literally!). They need to escape. And first and foremost of all, they need to survive. Will they?

What I really liked about this book was that the story was fast-paced, thrilling and creepy. All the twists were interesting and unexpected.  I love the fact that none of the main characters died (oh, oh, did I just spoil something?). I also loved the way family was weaved into this sci-fi thriller.

What I didn't like about the book was that the diving scenes in the book were too technical. I felt my eyes spinning when I came to read such scenes. Also, the ending didn't really strike me, because it confused me.

Overall, it is a good book. But don't  read it now due to the reason that I have mentioned above. But if you do read, then remember that you've been warned!

 

Review: The Shaadi Story

Name -The Shaadi Story

Pages -228

Author -Amita Nigam Sahaya

Publisher -Pan Macmillan

Genre -Non-fiction; Sociology and Culture

Rating -5/5

ISBN -9789389109405

Review no. -31

Synopsis -

What makes the Big Fat Indian Wedding so central to our lives?

The wedding is the most celebrated event in Indian society. It forms the heart of a multi-billion-dollar industry driving fashion, food, music, entertainment and our desire for companionship.

In The Shaadi Story, social entrepreneur Amita Sahaya takes a fascinating look at the history, religious traditions, societal attitudes, industry and modern adaptations of the North Indian Hindu wedding and beyond. Across seven chapters structured like the traditional ritual of the saptapadi, this book illuminates the seven different aspects of the quintessential Indian wedding. Drawing on ancient Sanskrit scriptures, western philosophies, Bollywood movies and the voices of young Indians, this book is an in-depth examination of our evolving ideas of love and relationships through the prism of our society’s most elaborate celebration.

Enlightening and entertaining, The Shaadi Story is a remarkable exploration of Indian weddings and marriages and what makes them tick.

Review -

"What is it about our social and cultural background that makes marriage so central to our lives?" This question is just one of enlightening gems that the Amita Nigam answers in this book. Infact, almost the whole book revolves around this thought-provoking question.

Topping at just over 200 pages, The Shaadi Story unravels an eye-opening and deeply researched analysis about the 'Big Fat Indian Wedding(s)' backed by carefully handpicked references, anecdotes, researches, surveys, interviews etc., making this, by far, the best non-fiction book I had read since a very long time. The book is divided into seven chapters, corresponding to the Saptapadi or the seven Pheras (vows). Each chapter probes and investigates a particular aspect of the Indian Wedding using a pragmatic approach. And at last, there is the epilogue, which poses an optimistic circa 2040 in front of the reader, of 'a better world, a more equitable world to be precise, and a diminished patriarchy.' Last but not the least, the book ends with notes to make sure that the readers understand every single detail of this book.

What made me love 'The Shaadi Story' was the fact that the writing was so elegantly weaved that I never ever felt even a bit bored while reading it. I am not a fan of non-fictions because I get bored easily, but I wasn't bored even a bit while reading this book. Also, the book makes the reader ponder upon the crisis of gender inequality and ignorance.

Overall, The Shaadi Story is pragmatic and erudite as it renders a profound imputation of the ugliness that exists beyond the garish colors of the Indian Wedding. The author's literary artistry and perspicuous analysis propel this book to the top of my list of favorite non-fiction books (which is admittedly short). I recommend it to everybody, especially the millennials and youngsters as they would have to contribute the most for making tomorrow a better world.

Review: The Age of Witches

Name -The Age of Witches

Pages -528
Author -Louisa Morgan
Publisher -Orbit Books
Genre -Historical fantasy, Feminist fiction
Rating -5/5
ISBN -9780356512587
Review no. -30
Synopsis -
A young witch must choose between love and loyalty, power and ambition, in this magical novel set in Gilded Age New York and London.
In 1692, Bridget Bishop was hanged as a witch. Two hundred years later, her legacy lives on in the scions of two very different lines: one dedicated to using their powers to heal and help women in need; the other, determined to grasp power for themselves.
This clash will play out in the fate of Annis, a young woman in Gilded Age New York who finds herself a pawn in the family struggle for supremacy. She'll need to claim her own power to save herself - and resist succumbing to the darkness that threatens to overcome them all.
Review -
First of all, the cover is very appealing and appropriate for the story. The language is easy to under unlike most of the historical fiction novels. Life during of the different sections of the society during the Gilded age in New York has been elegantly described in the novel.
The story is interesting and alluring, told through four different perspective- Harriet, Annis, Frances and James.
A witch named Bridget Bishop was hanged 200 years ago in Salem. Her two lines of legacy through her two daughters, have different motives.
Annis is a strong, vivacious and independent girl who has immense passion for horses against her family's interests and the social taboos. But, her stepmother, Frances, has other plans for her that she wouldn't like.
Frances has always lived in poverty until she met a affluent widower, George Allington. After getting him under her control through some dark magic, she marries him and lives a wealthy lifestyle. She only has one more desire- she wants to climb higher in the New York society, that is, she wants to become one of the four hundred most prosperous families. And acquiring a title in the family would make the difference she had wanted.
Harriet is dedicated to use her power for good purposes like healing. She also keeps an eye on her cousin and her great niece. On seeing that her cousin is up to no good, she arrives to rescue Annis, her great niece.
James's father, the old marquess, has just died leaving James the title and also, debts. The whole estate is in danger due to the debts. James must find a solution quickly or lose them all. To make matters worse, his mother thinks the best way to get out of the problem is by forcing James to marry money.
As all of their lives intervene, the story takes us through a rattling journey of love, power, ambition, feminism and most importantly magic.
I thank NetGalley and Little, Brown Publishing (Orbit Books) for giving me this wonderful opportunity to read and review this book.
P.S.- I would love a sequel of this book.