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readsbylaura's review against another edition
DNF @ 58%.
I received an ARC and I tried my hardest to read it all before the release date and that was the biggest fail ever.
I understand that fantasy is a lot of of world building and all that shit, but when over 50% of the book is just the two main characters playing cat and mouse it gets very tiring and boring. Like who the hell wants to read 60% of a book of absolutely NOTHING happening? It was a complete waste and I never felt so damn bored in my life and I finally came to the conclusion that I am never going to go back to this book and put myself through another game of a cat and mouse. Tom and Jerry is much better than this.
I received an ARC and I tried my hardest to read it all before the release date and that was the biggest fail ever.
I understand that fantasy is a lot of of world building and all that shit, but when over 50% of the book is just the two main characters playing cat and mouse it gets very tiring and boring. Like who the hell wants to read 60% of a book of absolutely NOTHING happening? It was a complete waste and I never felt so damn bored in my life and I finally came to the conclusion that I am never going to go back to this book and put myself through another game of a cat and mouse. Tom and Jerry is much better than this.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
Ten years ago nearly the entire royal family of Jansa was killed in a coup that put a pretender on the throne, divided the Jansan and Dharkan nations, and has started taking a toll on the land itself.
Like many, Esha lost her family in the coup, barely escaping with her own life. In the intervening years, Esha has honed her abilities, and her need for revenge, by forming the persona of The Viper—a mysterious assassin working for the rebels. She’s worked in secret for years, only a select few know of her true identity. On a mission to assassinate Jansa’s ruthless General Hotha, she finds him already murdered, and The Viper framed for the deed. Esha will need to figure out the traitor in her midst while thwarting the pursuit of Jansan soldiers who would see her answer for her crimes.
Kunal is one such soldier. Beyond that, however, he’s the nephew of the murdered General. He’s got a more personal stake in finding The Viper. But when he comes face-to-face with Esha, he begins to question everything he’s been taught while in the Fort and starts remembering a past he long ago buried.
With Esha and Kunal on opposing sides of a brewing war, is common ground possible?
I don’t know where I was when this was released last year. Obviously sleeping because I don’t know how I let this awesome story elude my book radar.
I truly loved everything about The Tiger at Midnight. From the opening chapter, through the cat-and-mouse between Esha and Kunal, I was hooked. I loved the short and to-the-point chapters, I think these lend themselves well to the quick pacing and the continuous revolving of point of view between Esha and Kunal. Their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the heated moments while they still weren’t sure if they even liked each other, but couldn’t stop chasing after one another.
The way that Swati Teerdhala really puts into focus the conflict that arises within Kunal between wanting to see justice served for his uncle’s murder and coming to realize that the life he was living was full of injustices to the people of Jansa comes across so clear. The one constant that Kunal comes to know is Esha even though she too has taken lives for the cause she supports. The pretender to the throne is still painted as the main villain of the piece, but you get views from both sides, and you see that while one may be more justified in their actions than the other, you see that they’ve both committed atrocities. No one’s hands are completely clean.
Of course a book with spies and assassins is going to have its fair share of twists and turns and revelations thrown in and I think all of these are handled well and remain plausible to the plot. I still feel like we’re building up for a more monumental reveal down the road though. There is a bigger mystery unfolding in the background regarding a rumor surrounding the coup a decade ago which I’m excited to see how that is carried over to the next book which, thankfully is out and the end of this month.
I will say I’m happy that this one doesn’t end on some kind of gut-wrenching cliffhanger although the story is by no means wrapped up. You can bet this time around I won’t be letting the next book pass me by.
Like many, Esha lost her family in the coup, barely escaping with her own life. In the intervening years, Esha has honed her abilities, and her need for revenge, by forming the persona of The Viper—a mysterious assassin working for the rebels. She’s worked in secret for years, only a select few know of her true identity. On a mission to assassinate Jansa’s ruthless General Hotha, she finds him already murdered, and The Viper framed for the deed. Esha will need to figure out the traitor in her midst while thwarting the pursuit of Jansan soldiers who would see her answer for her crimes.
Kunal is one such soldier. Beyond that, however, he’s the nephew of the murdered General. He’s got a more personal stake in finding The Viper. But when he comes face-to-face with Esha, he begins to question everything he’s been taught while in the Fort and starts remembering a past he long ago buried.
With Esha and Kunal on opposing sides of a brewing war, is common ground possible?
I don’t know where I was when this was released last year. Obviously sleeping because I don’t know how I let this awesome story elude my book radar.
I truly loved everything about The Tiger at Midnight. From the opening chapter, through the cat-and-mouse between Esha and Kunal, I was hooked. I loved the short and to-the-point chapters, I think these lend themselves well to the quick pacing and the continuous revolving of point of view between Esha and Kunal. Their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the heated moments while they still weren’t sure if they even liked each other, but couldn’t stop chasing after one another.
The way that Swati Teerdhala really puts into focus the conflict that arises within Kunal between wanting to see justice served for his uncle’s murder and coming to realize that the life he was living was full of injustices to the people of Jansa comes across so clear. The one constant that Kunal comes to know is Esha even though she too has taken lives for the cause she supports. The pretender to the throne is still painted as the main villain of the piece, but you get views from both sides, and you see that while one may be more justified in their actions than the other, you see that they’ve both committed atrocities. No one’s hands are completely clean.
Of course a book with spies and assassins is going to have its fair share of twists and turns and revelations thrown in and I think all of these are handled well and remain plausible to the plot. I still feel like we’re building up for a more monumental reveal down the road though. There is a bigger mystery unfolding in the background regarding a rumor surrounding the coup a decade ago which I’m excited to see how that is carried over to the next book which, thankfully is out and the end of this month.
I will say I’m happy that this one doesn’t end on some kind of gut-wrenching cliffhanger although the story is by no means wrapped up. You can bet this time around I won’t be letting the next book pass me by.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Ten years ago nearly the entire royal family of Jansa was killed in a coup that put a pretender on the throne, divided the Jansan and Dharkan nations, and has started taking a toll on the land itself.
Like many, Esha lost her family in the coup, barely escaping with her own life. In the intervening years, Esha has honed her abilities, and her need for revenge, by forming the persona of The Viper—a mysterious assassin working for the rebels. She’s worked in secret for years, only a select few know of her true identity. On a mission to assassinate Jansa’s ruthless General Hotha, she finds him already murdered, and The Viper framed for the deed. Esha will need to figure out the traitor in her midst while thwarting the pursuit of Jansan soldiers who would see her answer for her crimes.
Kunal is one such soldier. Beyond that, however, he’s the nephew of the murdered General. He’s got a more personal stake in finding The Viper. But when he comes face-to-face with Esha, he begins to question everything he’s been taught while in the Fort and starts remembering a past he long ago buried.
With Esha and Kunal on opposing sides of a brewing war, is common ground possible?
I don’t know where I was when this was released last year. Obviously sleeping because I don’t know how I let this awesome story elude my book radar.
I truly loved everything about The Tiger at Midnight. From the opening chapter, through the cat-and-mouse between Esha and Kunal, I was hooked. I loved the short and to-the-point chapters, I think these lend themselves well to the quick pacing and the continuous revolving of point of view between Esha and Kunal. Their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the heated moments while they still weren’t sure if they even liked each other, but couldn’t stop chasing after one another.
The way that Swati Teerdhala really puts into focus the conflict that arises within Kunal between wanting to see justice served for his uncle’s murder and coming to realize that the life he was living was full of injustices to the people of Jansa comes across so clear. The one constant that Kunal comes to know is Esha even though she too has taken lives for the cause she supports. The pretender to the throne is still painted as the main villain of the piece, but you get views from both sides, and you see that while one may be more justified in their actions than the other, you see that they’ve both committed atrocities. No one’s hands are completely clean.
Of course a book with spies and assassins is going to have its fair share of twists and turns and revelations thrown in and I think all of these are handled well and remain plausible to the plot. I still feel like we’re building up for a more monumental reveal down the road though. There is a bigger mystery unfolding in the background regarding a rumor surrounding the coup a decade ago which I’m excited to see how that is carried over to the next book which, thankfully is out and the end of this month.
I will say I’m happy that this one doesn’t end on some kind of gut-wrenching cliffhanger although the story is by no means wrapped up. You can bet this time around I won’t be letting the next book pass me by.
Ten years ago nearly the entire royal family of Jansa was killed in a coup that put a pretender on the throne, divided the Jansan and Dharkan nations, and has started taking a toll on the land itself.
Like many, Esha lost her family in the coup, barely escaping with her own life. In the intervening years, Esha has honed her abilities, and her need for revenge, by forming the persona of The Viper—a mysterious assassin working for the rebels. She’s worked in secret for years, only a select few know of her true identity. On a mission to assassinate Jansa’s ruthless General Hotha, she finds him already murdered, and The Viper framed for the deed. Esha will need to figure out the traitor in her midst while thwarting the pursuit of Jansan soldiers who would see her answer for her crimes.
Kunal is one such soldier. Beyond that, however, he’s the nephew of the murdered General. He’s got a more personal stake in finding The Viper. But when he comes face-to-face with Esha, he begins to question everything he’s been taught while in the Fort and starts remembering a past he long ago buried.
With Esha and Kunal on opposing sides of a brewing war, is common ground possible?
I don’t know where I was when this was released last year. Obviously sleeping because I don’t know how I let this awesome story elude my book radar.
I truly loved everything about The Tiger at Midnight. From the opening chapter, through the cat-and-mouse between Esha and Kunal, I was hooked. I loved the short and to-the-point chapters, I think these lend themselves well to the quick pacing and the continuous revolving of point of view between Esha and Kunal. Their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the heated moments while they still weren’t sure if they even liked each other, but couldn’t stop chasing after one another.
The way that Swati Teerdhala really puts into focus the conflict that arises within Kunal between wanting to see justice served for his uncle’s murder and coming to realize that the life he was living was full of injustices to the people of Jansa comes across so clear. The one constant that Kunal comes to know is Esha even though she too has taken lives for the cause she supports. The pretender to the throne is still painted as the main villain of the piece, but you get views from both sides, and you see that while one may be more justified in their actions than the other, you see that they’ve both committed atrocities. No one’s hands are completely clean.
Of course a book with spies and assassins is going to have its fair share of twists and turns and revelations thrown in and I think all of these are handled well and remain plausible to the plot. I still feel like we’re building up for a more monumental reveal down the road though. There is a bigger mystery unfolding in the background regarding a rumor surrounding the coup a decade ago which I’m excited to see how that is carried over to the next book which, thankfully is out and the end of this month.
I will say I’m happy that this one doesn’t end on some kind of gut-wrenching cliffhanger although the story is by no means wrapped up. You can bet this time around I won’t be letting the next book pass me by.
celera's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Suspenseful but a bit repetitive and predictable. Will read the next book in the series.
Suspenseful but a bit repetitive and predictable. Will read the next book in the series.
ennitsud's review against another edition
5.0
hoooollyyy cow that was amazing and adventurous and wonderful!! the adventures through jansa and the fighting and trapping and the cat and mouse-ness of it wowowowowowowow where’s the next books folks ;-;
aubreyerin411's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
belockwood's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent world-building and characters that are fun to follow. I really enjoyed reading a fantasy book where the setting and lore wasn’t based on European culture. Some of the choices the characters make are predictable, but that doesn’t make them less interesting. I actually found it made them more relatable. Teerdhala also allows her characters to grow and change in realistic ways. And while it’s not a focus of the book, I enjoyed how inclusive it is. Of course a strong female main character is awesome too!
bookrecsplease's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the foundational ideas of this book and the cat-and-mouse aspect, but then got less and less engaged as the story went on. The characters have the growth you expect from them from literally the VERY beginning of the book and don’t go anywhere deeper. And the two random internal fear la the FMC had partway through the book?? So weirdly contrived and utterly unfounded.
For me, it overexplained the big things and underexplained the little things.
For instance, we hear over and over that the viper’s core attribute is that she’s the most skilled assassin/fighter/etc. and broad statements like how an entire city still talks about the time she went there “in a job” (overexplained), but we NEVER are shown any smaller details of what her missions were, what made people quake at the mention of her name, or any way of showing that supposed prowess. Honestly, I was usually underwhelmed by her abilities. And then there was (I’ll be vague to avoid spoilers) the eagle scene, where she said she was wrapped in wings but then being flown upwards? How could that happen if the eagle’s wings were being used for flight?? Then she fell and then was caught, but, like, how? Did its talons grab her clothes? I think they would have fallen right off and had huge holes from the talons afterwards. Did it grab her arm? Again, major puncture wounds. There’s just so much political/historical stuff that’s repeated a ton, but then scenes like that that just don’t make sense and I want to understand but it truly seems like the author didn’t have a concrete plan of how things would actually happen.
For me, it overexplained the big things and underexplained the little things.
For instance, we hear over and over that the viper’s core attribute is that she’s the most skilled assassin/fighter/etc. and broad statements like how an entire city still talks about the time she went there “in a job” (overexplained), but we NEVER are shown any smaller details of what her missions were, what made people quake at the mention of her name, or any way of showing that supposed prowess. Honestly, I was usually underwhelmed by her abilities. And then there was (I’ll be vague to avoid spoilers) the eagle scene, where she said she was wrapped in wings but then being flown upwards? How could that happen if the eagle’s wings were being used for flight?? Then she fell and then was caught, but, like, how? Did its talons grab her clothes? I think they would have fallen right off and had huge holes from the talons afterwards. Did it grab her arm? Again, major puncture wounds. There’s just so much political/historical stuff that’s repeated a ton, but then scenes like that that just don’t make sense and I want to understand but it truly seems like the author didn’t have a concrete plan of how things would actually happen.