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ceraphimfalls's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.25
The first 100 pages were slow and tough to get through, frankly. But once our hero returns home... good god. The book blows up in a spectacular way and had me gasping for the breath through to the end. Gorgeous and lush and delightfully of itself and in its world. It's going on my keeper shelf and I cant wait to read it again in a few years.
missannejello's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Vernacular doesn’t match the time period of medieval India (ie ‘spill the beans’). Times passes quickly within a few sentences and lacks strong emotional storytelling but was a memorable journey with many twists.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
raconteur_recs's review
4.0
3.5/5
This book was a warm hug from all of the Indian mythological stories and lore I grew up hearing. So many paranormal beings and such beautiful world-building.
An ode to Hindu mythology, and the days of the past. Honestly, I've never seen books where the gurukul setting is included, and this one does it quite well. The last time I ever read one, was as part of my Malayalam literature reading. Anyways, if someone told me this was actual lore, I would totally believe them, cause that's how well, the author has weaved the plot into the story setting and time period.
Katyani was a character that at first I didn't like. I mean her blind trust in Hemlata was quite concerning, and that Queen I will never like her. But as the story progresses, we can see the changes in Katya, and how she starts to question things rather than accepting them as a default.
Daksh now is a character who is an enigma, of sorts (?). He gives off the typical Indian father vibe. What with his unusual methods of showing his love, force-feeding medicinal soups, quietly protecting you, and obviously mountains of misunderstandings due to lack of communication .
Katya & Daksh is the ultimate power couple. But their relationship also showcases how everyone is human, and how emotions like pride and anger can mislead people.
This book was a warm hug from all of the Indian mythological stories and lore I grew up hearing. So many paranormal beings and such beautiful world-building.
“I see one who is doomed. Lady, you will suffer so much. Why not let me take away the pain before it comes?”
“You will lose all you love,” it rasped. “You will long for death. You will forget who you are. You will remember me then.”
An ode to Hindu mythology, and the days of the past. Honestly, I've never seen books where the gurukul setting is included, and this one does it quite well. The last time I ever read one, was as part of my Malayalam literature reading. Anyways, if someone told me this was actual lore, I would totally believe them, cause that's how well, the author has weaved the plot into the story setting and time period.
Katyani was a character that at first I didn't like. I mean her blind trust in Hemlata was quite concerning, and that Queen I will never like her. But as the story progresses, we can see the changes in Katya, and how she starts to question things rather than accepting them as a default.
Daksh now is a character who is an enigma, of sorts (?). He gives off the typical Indian father vibe. What with his unusual methods of showing his love, force-feeding medicinal soups, quietly protecting you, and obviously mountains of misunderstandings due to lack of communication .
Katya & Daksh is the ultimate power couple. But their relationship also showcases how everyone is human, and how emotions like pride and anger can mislead people.
bibliophilicjester's review
adventurous
emotional
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i don't have much to say about this book either, except i absolutely adored it!! yet another author whose books just work for me in some inexplicably delightful way. i loved katyani SO SO much. i also really loved daksh! he was given his own struggles and personality, and their interactions just felt real to me. not just clever banter and flirting because authors feel like they NEED to throw it in. all the clever remarks made sense because that's how katyani was with everyone. she just threw it at daksh a little extra because it flustered him, which delighted her (and me, lol).
i also really enjoyed markswoman and mahimata by this author, and that had a bit of romance. so maybe i just like the way mehrotra writes it? i enjoyed seeing katyani and daksh get to know each other and interact the same way i enjoy seeing it unfold with friendships. their relationship added to the story and made it what it was. when romance bothers me, it's either because it's toxic or it slows down the pace/interferes with the plot.
admittedly, there was a bit that made me uncomfortable where daksh plays up the whole "i'm your teacher and this is what i'm saying to do" and...yeah. that always makes me uncomfortable. but he doesn't really have that dynamic with people throughout. he's more like a graduate assistant (or whatever they're called). someone who is more advanced than the rest of the class, and shows up to join in and help whenever the actual teacher needs. which is why him playing up the whole teacher/student labels bothered me so much. i choose to think of it as him trying and failing to flirt...bc i loved their relationship so much and absolutely did NOT get that feeling from it. and it was only about a page. i'd be happy if that page was just removed and i could give this five stars lol but that bit just made me question a little. it's just a personal preference/triggering sort of thing for me (just as a former teacher who finds the thought horrifying, not as someone who has experienced that situation).
another underrated book/author that i wish everyone would read and love like i do = )
others on that list: melissa albert, h.a. clarke, nafiza azad... others i'm sure i'll be upset later for forgetting.
i also really enjoyed markswoman and mahimata by this author, and that had a bit of romance. so maybe i just like the way mehrotra writes it? i enjoyed seeing katyani and daksh get to know each other and interact the same way i enjoy seeing it unfold with friendships. their relationship added to the story and made it what it was. when romance bothers me, it's either because it's toxic or it slows down the pace/interferes with the plot.
admittedly, there was a bit that made me uncomfortable where daksh plays up the whole "i'm your teacher and this is what i'm saying to do" and...yeah. that always makes me uncomfortable. but he doesn't really have that dynamic with people throughout. he's more like a graduate assistant (or whatever they're called). someone who is more advanced than the rest of the class, and shows up to join in and help whenever the actual teacher needs. which is why him playing up the whole teacher/student labels bothered me so much. i choose to think of it as him trying and failing to flirt...bc i loved their relationship so much and absolutely did NOT get that feeling from it. and it was only about a page. i'd be happy if that page was just removed and i could give this five stars lol but that bit just made me question a little. it's just a personal preference/triggering sort of thing for me (just as a former teacher who finds the thought horrifying, not as someone who has experienced that situation).
another underrated book/author that i wish everyone would read and love like i do = )
others on that list: melissa albert, h.a. clarke, nafiza azad... others i'm sure i'll be upset later for forgetting.
sxcpixie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
inkylink's review
2.0
I wanted to like it. It had the fast pacing of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and the monsters were wild and fun--a fresh taste to YA. But I still found myself disappointed overall by a certain lack of character depth, particularly from the antagonist, though certain aspects of many major characters kept falling flat to me, developments or changes in posture feeling unearned, rushed, or generally convenient. The ending is what sold me in my disappointment and what bumped me down from 2.5 to two stars.
seryuginan's review
4.0
the last chapter is so important to me it was only filled with soft and fluff moments which are necessary given the traumatic and gory sequence rati mehrotra has put us through all this time. katyani is a fun mc i enjoy her banter and how she loves to scandalize thee airya daksh. best girl
books_with_becki's review against another edition
5.0
**I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from NetGalley and the publisher for my opinion.**
I enjoyed reading this book. Female bodyguard? Set in an alternate Medieval India? High Fantasy? Sign me up. This book had everything I could want in a good story: adventure, a fierce female bodyguard, great worldbuilding and romance. This story captured my attention from the first page and I was invested until the very end.
I found Katyani to be a great character. She was straightforward, loyal and very protective.
I have no complaints about the story and I will be keeping an eye on the author for more upcoming books.
I feel this is a book I would definitely re read and highly recommend to fantasy readers.
I enjoyed reading this book. Female bodyguard? Set in an alternate Medieval India? High Fantasy? Sign me up. This book had everything I could want in a good story: adventure, a fierce female bodyguard, great worldbuilding and romance. This story captured my attention from the first page and I was invested until the very end.
I found Katyani to be a great character. She was straightforward, loyal and very protective.
I have no complaints about the story and I will be keeping an eye on the author for more upcoming books.
I feel this is a book I would definitely re read and highly recommend to fantasy readers.