The Dragon and The Sun Lotus - Mythically moving ode to fallen love

 If your heart wanders realms - from the mortal kingdom, to the dark sinuous kingdom of the Night and even farther into the crystalline beauty embodied in the Immortal realm, then this is one gem of a duology I would recommend, fellow traveler! Amelie Wen Zhao dazzles again with her mellifluous descriptions of zephyrs and blossoms and the transcending beauty that echoes in the simplest of wishes. In this conclusion, we follow An'ying, as she discovers her true heritage and claims her destiny by making the choices between a love grown in shadows and another sustained by sunny skies and stormy oceans. 

Brace yourself for bargains and twists with the nefarious Sansiran, Queen of the Mo, and the even more nebulous pathways to crown the Emperor of the Land. Amelie's is truly masterful at crafting the morally grey hero - whom you doubt at every turn, while also bringing to life Hao'yang's insecurities and his drive to prove his survival to those suffering in his Kingdom - her ability to transform these complicated emotions into lyrical prose is simply unparalleled!

Allowing An'ying to grow into her own with a clear vision for what she wishes to achieve and the slow burn conversations with both her loves are the stuff legends are made of - soul stirring and tear gushingly moving! The ending, in my opinion, was divine - epically and magnificently rendered, I cannot find fault with it!!

A million thank yous to the Dragons at the helm of Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for granting my wishes to read this arc! i am truly in your debt!

The Ruins beneath Us - A chase for truth in a society where magic is outlawed

 Sasha E Sloan takes us on a journey with the half-elven waif Lyria, who lives with her healer mother in the deserted Ironwoods. Sheltered, protected and made to feel wholly inadequate, and unsure about her powers... until she meets Finn, a troubadour of sorts, whose life her painful magic itches to save. Upon discovering him to be one of the princes of Verdine - the very same kingdom whose King Rodrick outlawed elves and magic, she gets summoned to the palace to help cure a plague, and clashes with the head healer, Cygnus (Cygy - giggle!).

This series opener was fast paced, with the opening of labyrinth realms, political maneuvering, friendships, royal alliances and all seen through the eyes of the protagonist Lyria - her rawness and naivety makes her unsure as she fumbles around the tale - you can't help but feel for her youth and growth through the tale. With time running out, Lyria needs to scramble to unearth the true intentions of the royals, her long missing mother, her heritage and magic and finally her traitorous heart!

This is a great start, which I managed to complete in the weekend - if you love unsure protagonists, challenges and a struggle for the truth - this book would be right up your alley!

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for this unique opportunity! i cannot wait for more....

Her Hidden Fire - Dark academia with Scottish flair

 For fans of the Assassins trilogy and Robin Hobb's dark routes to power, this book will mesmerize you and hold you firmly in its eloquent grasp!

Power borrowed from living fodder to fuel those who see the power lines makes for an incredible premise, and Eadha is a perfect heroine, submissive and loyal, sacrificing her power to Ionain the Lord's heir at Ailm.

She believes she can loan him her power and follows him to school - and learns that there are the haves and have nots. With a host of interesting characters, the enigmatic and seeing Gry, a powerless heir of the first family, Senan, the sadistic channeler who lives on power gluttony, Eadha melds her way through apathy, hardship and accepting that she is also of power, even though she isn't noble born. There is much darkness in the book, but it is handled very very adeptly and leave you stunned and incites your rage for Eadha. The handling of class divisions and the status of the highborn are also brilliant. The final chapters were the real cherry to this broody novel!

I can hardly wait for the sequel to see where Cliodhna will take us in this journey. Mahera! I see you dear author - brava!

My sincere thankyous to Netgalley and Penguin Yound Readers group for this gorgeous eARC!

A Most Unsuitable Suitor - Victorian caper with clandestine roots

 Emma Orchard has penned another stunner!!

Dearest reader, welcome to London, a neo-cosmopolite city which is still sticking to its mores and fashions; rife with prejudice and rumor mongering a la ton. Allegra Constantine, the middle child, whose mother is determined to see her engaged, has three prospective suitors and the annoying and observant Mr Max Severin laughing and mocking her gauche attempts at securing a proposal. 

An inadvertent outing in the garden turns into a smoldering kiss and sparks a flurry of furious ripostes between these ill suited protagonists. The drama is brought on by blackmail, ancestral  mystery and rigid societal norms! This was one book where Max's charatcer arc matched that of his lady loves - her mother shone in all the proceedings (I love the strong maternal figure!). With excited siblings, an absent father and a mysterious grandfather playing god-grandfather, this tale comes to life!

Thank you to Boldwood books and Netgalley for sharing the ARC! This book is best accompanied with victorian sandwich cake, a strong  pot of  Earl grey tea with a side of cucumber sandwiches!

The Bewitching Miss Blair - Darcy McGuire but witchier

 Dearest reader, this book is an ode to Bridgerton flushed with swathes of Practical Magic!

The amazing Darcy McGuire delivers again - if you aren't acquainted with her Queen's Deadly Damsels, then wow! are you in for a glorious exercise in witchiness with fire sparking and familiars, rife with broody, dark heroes with tragic pasts who are drawn together like moths to flame. 

What I absolutely adore about Darcy is the heat she builds with her character interactions which leaves you breathless, hot and bothered. The electricity is palpable between the two protagonists who try to hide their inner turmoil, instead wielding their wit, to injure their ruthless, and yet, gorgeous adversary! The scathing contests between the straight laced lieutenant general Thomas Grey and the free spirited, yet peerless (see what i did there) Clio Blair are the stuff legends are made of..

With homage to the covens based on magical powers, and cousins with familiars residing and managing an apothecary aptly named All Things bright and beautiful, the story delves into the murder of Viscount Bletchley and his missing wife Violet... Each character has a unique quality and brings more to the tale than just a random placement. In true Darcy McGuire fashion, there is a heady twist at the end!

Delve into the streets of London and make your way through the mystery and imbibe in the magic and social experience that colors regency! A tale best enjoyed with crumpets and tea!

My sincere gratitude to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for furnishing the ARC. I breezed through the tale in a day!

#TheBewitchingMissBlair #Netgalley

Trident and the Pearl - suffused with slowburn romance and evocative writing

 An ode to the stormy sea and the salty tears flowing from the broken heart of an ousted queen...

If you loved Circe and Games Gods Play - this book reads like a grown up version - full of self-doubt, growth and over arching imbalances. Sarah K. L. Wilson draws us into Coralys' world - one where she is queen and yet needs to maneuver for power plays. In order to save her people she pledges herself to wed the first man to wash ashore; a humble fisherman... And so begins her foray into a world of Gods, myths and impossibilities, all the while, the guilt of losing her mortal husband plagues her. The tale is haunting in its imagery and delves into the savageness of hurt and the taunt of happiness when your guilt hacks at your ability to smile when, surely, the world should come to an end. This slow burn was one of the most mature and tantalizing fantasy reads this year.

Hachette audio does a fabulous job in bringing this evocative shifting spectrum of human angst to life, narrated by the epically talented Ell Porter - her rendition of Coralys' emotions, leave you breathless, hollow and carves sorrow into your soul...

My impossible thank yous to the Hachette Audio, Orbit and Netgalley for furnishing the ALC of this warm tale, wafting with the salt spray and foaming like the turquoise waters lapping a seaweed ridden shore... I was gutted when the book ended and look forward to seeing the Fisher King revive and rejuvenate in the soon to come sequels for this riveting romance!

#thetridentandthepearl #Netgalley

Enchanted to Meet You - Grumpy x Sunshine amysement park escaoe for fans of Lynn Painter

 What do you do when you favorite fairytale, your favorite romcom trope and your favorite narrators combine in a uniquely gorgeous and moving young adult novel!?!? You grab your headset and escape into the narration of Fairy Tale Gardens! 

My heartfelt gratitude to Netgalley, HarperAudio Children's for this beautiful rendition! 

The story deals with sunny Princess Arden err, I mean, the indefatigable Imogen Rogers, lands herself fired from yet another job. Her bosom buddy Divya ropes her into investigating a charity embezzlement at Fairy Tale Gardens.. Imogen expects to be in charge of the turkey stall, but instead finds herself in the limelight as Princess Arden, a face character, opposite the broody and swoonworthy Tristan Walsh , err, Prince Winthrop.

While Imogen finds a job she loves, the disenchanted Prince Winthrop, and discontent Prince Winthrop discover magic, meaning and marketing by her side.

Brittany Pressley does an absolute fantastic job giving voice to the ray of sunshine that is Imogen, tinged with insecurity, yet brimming with energy at the opportunity to nake the FTG experience spectacular! Alex Knox provides the stormy, reticent and angry young man, who revisits guilt, anguish and pain at the memories of his late mother, that the park evokes. The chemistry between them is palpable and exquisite!!! Well done! Brava!!

I completed my ALC in a day, and if you can beat that... definitely try!