Absolutely speechless!!! what a resplendent tale from the talented and quote worthy Marie Lu!!! This book was a Magicians meets Kane and Abel meets Into the Badlands vibes!! a lethal, explosive and ruminative, resonant experience of a read!! The Macmillian audiobook team comprising of André Santana, Eunice Wong, Natalie Naudus and Sid Sagar vividly bring out the character nuances and enhances the feel and ambience of the chapter. A modern ballad which weaves drug infused alchemy, syndicates and the race for power an dominance and the repercussions of aforesaid pursuit on the soul... a beautiful , moving ode that soaks in the cultural undercurrents of migrants and their drive to work hard and aim for the stars...
First things first, the descriptions in this book are simply stupendous, like drowning in a kaleidoscope of normal and finding the innate beauty of little things. The quotes and missives at the start of each chapter are also fabulous - my favorite being biochemistry can flood your body with dopamine and yet cannot successfully reproduce love (kudos to the narrators for bringing this random yet elusive gems to life!). This book accompanied me on my morning walks, made me notice the clumps of grass growing in the pavement and also infused the sense of loss at their transitive nature and the ease with which they disappear.
The books revolves around Ari Rathod and Samantha Lang, two migrant kids who each face a difficult challenge in meeting parental expectations, with one hating the limelight thrust on him and the other yearning to be seen - they are a perfect yin yang couple and the notes they pass in class could be a book on its own. The cryptic and elusive childhood exchange that rambles on everything and nothing at all, It builds to a cymbal crash as they realise they are on opposite sides of a power war that engulfs them, teetering blurring lines of loyalty to an organization that built them to the all consuming love of someone who knows them best. I loved the pseudonyms assigned to the various characters and the training and heartache through building their craft. The ending was symphonic and worked like a Mozart interlude! Brava!!! Can't wait for more form Marie Lu and Tor!
The book absolutely deserves 5 stars and my thank yous to Netgalley and Macmillian audio for affording this superb opportunity!!!
This is a review of the audiobook.
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