Witch of the Wolves - witchy wolfy and wholly delectable!

 Bridgerton x Twilight x Practical Magic

This was the most apropos tag I could come up with for this spellbinder of a story. It justifies being turned into a series for sure!! Fast paced with pragmatic yet stubborn leads - you can't help but root for.

The wonderfully sarcastic and analytical Cordelia and the rough but diamond at heart Bishop are the perfect foil for a tryst on the wild side. Throw in women subjugation, rights and found family, you've got yourself a full fledged furious adventure set with hairpin twists and sharp turns that keep you guessing..

I loved this madcap caper with its sizzling entrees, various accompaniments and a finale that leaves you craving for more!

Toothy thank yous to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for fulfilling my wish!

The Rise of the Celestials - poetic justice forlove, devotion and Shakti drawn from Indian mythology

If you are a fan of high fantasy and enjoy new cultural perspectives and relearning a new version of mythology, then this sequel is for you!

With the Rise of the Celestials, Kritika takes us back to her jewel hued, golden toned Amaravati or city of the immortals and the twists in the struggle for power between the Lord of the skies Indra and his Queen Shachi. The book opens in surprising fashion with an intimate moment between the bold Meneka and her lover, the warrior sage Kaushika. In the last book, Meneka, an apsara redefined her prana or power by weaving together the Mortal or Tapasvin magic and the Celestial or Immortal magic to weave a stronger power source of Infinite prana, the essence of the Universe. 

The melding of the realms, the duality of nature and the primordial source of power are beautifully drawn out as we journey with Meneka to try and find out who wishes to harm Amaravati. This journey sees the introduction of Matali, Indra's mahout or elephant driver in the myths but a Gandharava or a musical weaver, the opposite of the Apasaras, the celestial  dancers. I loved how the streams of consciousness and the concept of Shakti was discussed between Vashishta and Meneka - this section was one of my highlights from this sequel!

The enmeshing and trinity of the power lore and the interaction between realms and the simplicity with which she approached the concept of a universal femininity and the ending was simply astounding, as someone who grew up in the culture and heard the stories, the baselining of devotion, love and definition of self were mesmerizing in logic and evoked a wonderful sense of meditative contemplation...

All in all, absolutely loved the storyline and spinning of Meneka and Vishwamitra's love ballad with cosmic interplay!

My sublime gratitude to Avon and harper Voyager and Netgalley for blessing me with the ARC, and my humble namastes to Kritika for a well sung ode to the cosmic confluence of Shakti...

A Bird among Wolves - Beautiful worldbuilding and stunning series opener!!!

 Imagine, if you will, that you are dropped into a world as a sheltered fledgling, unaware of the political machinations, inter species revulsions and even gawk at common celebrations, but with deadly assassin level skills! What a brilliant premise and refreshing start to a series!!! Welcome to the world of Wren - the little bird whom everyone wishes to ensnare. The book starts with an epic opening which is built up with various characters whose actions are explained in later chapters for context.

Wren, finds her father killed in their remote hut, and sets off as she promised him. In escaping, she gets arrested and the prison is attacked by a Nagendron (dragonish creature) - and from here she stumbles across disavowed princelings, Elven healers, Wolf pack twins, makes a family with the warriors, reconnects with an old friend and a lot of adventures as she tries to piece together the truth and falsehoods dealt by her father's shuttered upbringing.

I LOVED this tale - no slow burn romance, just fast paced adventure and a truly world building novel where each character's motivations are not clearly stated. The book definitely builds the suspense and is reminiscent of wheel of time in its treatment of certain characters (Marshall Aderlain especially...) The unfolding of social stigmas, emotions and past hurts is gut wrenchingly amazing! A breath of fresh air from all the romance infused heroines matching towards destiny by choice. The lack of knowledge makes Wren seem like Fitz from the assassin trilogy by Robin Hobb, as she tries to trust and finds herself in sticky situations by virtue of omission.

I cannot wait for the sequel - to unpack the mysteries of the guardian and what Marshall Aderlain and the deposed heir Marius have planned... and of course, the trouble a Wren can get into when she discovers her claws... Absolute magic!!!

My lupine gratitude to Three Amigas Press and Netgalley for the ARC and curtsies to Tracy Leonard Nakatani for penning this brash, upturned and massively immersive experience of a story!!! I devoured this read in two days and am howling for more!!

Say yes to the nemesis - Reality TV rom com crush!

 Dreamscape media have done a phenomenal job with bringing to life this full feature film (or 4 part series) plot based on reality TV bachelor settings to life in the best way possible.

The following tropes are covered in this romcom - geeky younger sister x troubled hockey star , overshadowing big brother, esteem issues, broken homes, and a not to be taken seriously plot with a gorgeous slow burn...

Raven Wildewood is spectacularly good at giving voice to the shy Wren and bringing her dormant sassiness to life and David Lane captures the conflict and insecurities plaguing Ryan to a T! Fabulous reading by both narrators which really helped move the story along.

This is a book I would recommend for a break from a Netflix binge session! Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC!

Empire of Flame and Thorns - sassy fae x broody dragonshifter!

What if you had a magical fae power, but it was misunderstood and made you a mistrusted villain, what if your only opportunity to escape was a hunger games themed battle with three victors at the end, what if you are part of a secret rebellion trying to prove your worth to the leadership?

Weaving together all the above is Selena Hale, or Selena Soulstealer - a fisherwoman fae who signs up for the Atonement Trials - think hunger games with a dash of magic, add in a broody dragon shifter commander who's looks are more lethal than his disdainful or was it a smoldering glare.. you are left breathless with anticipation, and read with a fervor!

I polished off this intriguing and exciting series opener from the pen of Marion Blackwood in a single day! She hones the I-want-to-be-liked-but-also-win duality of Selena's heartache to a spearpoint and her contrast in her dealings with Draven make it an absolutely spectacular read!! Armed with her wits and will, Selena embodies the best of heroines like Feyre and Violet in her ability to sass the enemy making it seductively sensational!

My thank yous to Scarlett Press and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to enjoy the ARC - I relished it thoroughly! I CANNOT wait for the sequel...

Queen of the Night Sky - Spellbinding and starstruck finish to an endearing Persian inspired fantasy

For lovers of ACOTAR, this book is a persian influenced duology along those themes but with a vastly different ending - seductively so, read at your own peril, my lightbreakers! Amalie Howard pens an incredible ode to love, betrayal, forgiveness, sorrow in this web of akasha, azdahas and realms. The flow from the last book continues uninterrupted as we are thrust head first into the courtly intrigues and the bane placed upon the Star-blessed Suaraya.

As her first love Roshan turns cold and calculating and places her in shackles, Sura escapes into the realm of the Nightmare King and faces Darrius Nightsong, her midnight dream-lover in person. The sizzling there-but-not tension, the suspense around his heritage, the azdahas and magical abilities and masteries are covered in quick succession as the tale flows into an arc of redemption and love conquering all.

If you love dragon like beasts, a sexual reckoning and are a die-hard first love forever fan, then please add this book to your TBR ; you will LOVE it!!

My starry, shadowed and sunshine thank yous to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the gorgeous Amelie Howard for allowing me the pleasure and insane opportunity to read the ARC! This was a big, gorgeous and bold ending to the series - splendorific, majestic and blindingly dazzling!!! 

The Fox Hunt - Breeze through the Night City and bargain your with your life in this adventure!

Maddy Lenny lends more than her voice to this ALC written by the talented Caitlin Breeze!

Walk, if you will, in the hallowed streets where many a genius and national figures have been birthed, stroll awhile in the wild and lush grounds that surround this sanctorum of learning, dabble your feet in the babbling waters and watch the pontoon sail off, rowed by the strength of the student cadre, brush shoulders with the next generation of the rich and famous, all the while wondering at the shadows that seem to loom..

Emma is excited, exhilarated and anxious to prove herself at this seat of learning, and when she finally meeting Julia, her research plans seem to be destined for funding and sponsorship. She unwittingly runs into Jason Balfor and finds herself drawn to the couldn't-care-less rich kid with sensitive tastes. All until the Trunchbull society invites her to their fox hunt... 

It becomes a fall to wonderland after that, a fast paced run, replete with bargains, fox maidens, boars and a slew of occupants who thrive in the Night City! The ending was my absolute favorite and the supporting cast lend a strength to the narrative. 

Maddy Lenny's accent and timbre makes the tale come alive, especially in the tense moments - an absolute joy to listen on a rainy day!

My thank yous are owed to Hachette Audio, Little Brown & Co as well as Netgalley for this opportunity!