Sahi

This was a much anticipated finale, especially after the ending of The Crown of Embers. And I have to say, this starts off with a bang. Elisa has friends with her but none to guide her anymore. She is the one they look up to and she uses all her intelligence and smarts to make plan after plan to find Hector. We get a few chapters with Hector's POV and I loved knowing how he thinks and strategizes. I really understood what they meant to each other and how they were so perfect together. Elisa becomes a formidable Queen and Hector is her perfect partner, not at all intimidated at being her subject and trusting her implicitly. The revelations of Storm's history and his growth here is tremendous. He and Elisa become friends and partners in magic and it was great to see them help and save each other.

There was a lot of action, the plot was very engaging and very fast paced. The ending felt a little rushed but it was still the exact ending I wanted for Elisa and all her friends. This has been a great series with wonderful storytelling but I will remember it most for its fierce heroine who doesn't need anyone to save her – she is the one doing the saving – and the healthy relationships throughout of all kinds – Love, female friendships and also male female platonic friendship. There are very very few YA books that handle all relationships so well. I definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in YA fantasy.

I have been procrastinating on this book for a long while, so I was quite happy for our Indian Lit Readathon 2020 because it finally made me add this to my tbr and get to it. And while I won't deny the brilliance of it, I also think I was not in the right headspace to appreciate it completely.

I read Empire of Sand too fairly recently, so the world of Ambha is still fresh in mind and it was nice to be back here. While EoS was more about one of the main pillars of this world - the faith in the Maha and the exploitation/genocide of the Amrithi people; this companion novel takes on the other major pillar - the Emperor and the politics of his court, and the role women play in this world. The Mughal inspiration is very much visible in the representation of the women - from the power the women closest to the Emperor wield in the household and influence his decisions behind the scenes to the courtesans who have their own secret influence across the court to the forgotten women - the widows who are expected to be ghosts because they are nothing after the death of their husbands. And just like we got to know more about the daiva in the first book, here we get to navigate the realm of the dead and how the knowledge they possess can be used to save the world.

It is in this world that we follow the story of Arwa who is a 21 year old widow. She has never been the kind of person a noblewoman of their land is expected to be, but she has suppressed her inherent nature, made herself small and tried to fit into the expected mold of a useful daughter and wife. But when her whole world is upended, she just doesn't know what to do anymore. She is full of grief and rage, but no way to channel it. And when she learns how the empire she has grown up revering is built upon lies, her self loathing only increases. She throws herself into finding a cure for the curse affecting the empire, to be useful for something and not just waste away without purpose. In this endeavor, she gets to team up with Zahir who is the Emperor's illegitimate child, unwanted in his own way. This is a tale of two people who are not valued in this society because of their lineage and circumstances, trying to do something useful so that they can survive, even if it means putting their lives on the line because they have no other choice.

The reason I say I couldn't appreciate the book enough is because being in Arwa's head throughout, we get to experience her immense grief and loss in close quarters and that really made me more depressed (I don't think I would've been so affected if not for the pandemic and lockdowns). But I also loved the friendship that develops between her and Zafir based on mutual respect and their quest for survival and knowledge. It's a very slow burn romance that is beautiful to watch unfold.

The best part of the book (and the series in general) is the themes the author tries to discuss and make us think about. Especially in Realm of Ash, we get to question if an empire whose centuries of prosperity is built upon the backs of an oppressed people, their exploitation and genocide, is worth saving. And we can't help but see the parallels between this story and the history of US/UK built upon slavery and colonialism. We also see a whole group of people completely cutoff from a part of their heritage and forced to conform/assimilate to the majority culture, and how much trauma this can lead to. And finally, the one theme which is the major source of grief for Arwa is how much love can hurt; how even when we act based on love and kindness, these actions may cause long time harm on our loved ones.

To conclude, I feel like I've just rambled incoherently and this has been the case for a while. I seem to have lost my touch in being able to articulate my thoughts about books, so please excuse my ramblings. Just go and read this series because the writing is beautiful, the world building is amazing while also having so many parallels to our real world, the characters are unforgettable and the romances are just the most evocative and emotional. The pacing can be slow, so be prepared to savor these books instead of binging them. And I also recommend the audiobooks because the narrator Soneela Nankani has such a lilting and soothing voice that you will get lost in her storytelling.

CW: pandemic, virus affected animals, violence, pet injury, destruction of nature.

It's always fun getting back to a new installment in this series and while I couldn't read it immediately upon release, I'm glad I caught up soon.

I usually never even bother reading the summary of a Sigma Force because I will read it anyway, so imagine my surprise when I open it and realize it has a pandemic. I'm actually pretty astonished that this is my third or fourth book with a pandemic and it's aftermath premise since Covid started and I'm willingly reading them. I didn't think I had it in me. But this is also not the first pandemic story in this series, so I somehow felt it easier to read because I can kind of guess the beats of this story.

I'm not gonna talk much about the writing or action because they are always fun to read when written by Rollins and this is no different. I however, liked that the author brought his veterinarian experience into this book which features many many different creatures, both real and genetically different, and it was all quite terrifying to read. The author also throws light on the colonization of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the two wars which devastated it, and how even now, other countries and corporations try to exploit the country for its rich natural resources while its people suffer under the atrocities of warlords, poachers, militias and many more.

But the one thing I will take away from this book is how the author manages to describe Mother Nature as a sentient force who won't always remain silent in the wake of unfathomable destruction, deforestation, pollution and exploitation of natural resources conducted by human beings. We as a species have only been part of this world for a tiny amount of time and when we tip the balance too far, it won't be surprising if Mother Nature decides to retaliate and wipe us off. It's undeniable that we are seeing some forms of her indignation in how climate change is ravaging the world, maybe only in its nascent stages with more devastation to come; and how the havoc Covid caused across the world, helped along by incompetent governments and illogical responses by people, has wiped off millions of people in just a couple of years.

We have many scientists and intellectuals warning us that things will get worse in the future unless we do something and I feel this book is one among many fictional stories urging us to consider the same. If we continue with the take, take, take attitude, we'll have nothing but ourselves to give up in the future.

CW: bullying, public outing of a character

Definitely a solid 4.5.

I have been waiting to read this book for so long now that I've lost count. And it didn't help that I always seem to get rejected for ownvoices ARCs. But I was delighted to finally get my library copy so that I can join in with my friends who have all loved it so much.

The one thing I could tell right from the first page is that I was gonna smile through the whole book. The writing is light hearted, fun, with lots of awkward and silly and adorable moments and on the whole, just some thorough entertainment. I thought the author's idea of combining the traditional Indian style of matchmaking with modern and technologically advanced dating apps was genius and it made for a very lovely story - while giving us the pros and cons of both methods. The setting of the high school was pretty realistic too and I liked that the author didn't try too much to get the teenage voice right. The pacing is very fast and I flew through the book so quickly that I didn't even realize it was almost the end. Each chapter also has a lovely mehendi design and a quote from the MC's family's matchmaking guide, which I thought was excellent symbolism for the book as a whole. I think the only problem I had was with the main bully in the high school (I'm so over the mean girl trope) and while I'm sure that every school might have someone like that irl, I'm not sure we need more girl on girl hate in YA novels.

And obviously I thought the desi representation was amazing - right from the slightly nosy moms and aunts, the slight obsession with engineers and doctors, the descriptions of yummy food, the importance of wearing a turban as a Sikh, the differences between how the elders feel about mehendi being something sacred whereas the youngsters finding it unique and fun, the rituals and ceremonies - there are just so many little things which I may not even have noticed, because they were organically part of the story and the characters and I loved being in the middle of it all. And come on, the multiple mentions of samosas and pakodas and Limca just made me hungry, but unfortunately I didn't have any handy to munch on.

I adored Simi from page 1. She is a sweet but clumsy high school sophomore, who has this habit of falling over at inopportune times. She is an amazing artist and I loved that her parents didn't seem to have too much of a problem with that. Her friendship with her BFF Noah is total goals and I loved how they encouraged and motivated each other all the time, but also gave space when one needed it. Noah is gay and it isn't really mentioned how many in the larger context of the school know about him, but I liked that whoever did were very supportive. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the acceptance of Simi's family because homophobia in Indian families is quite common. Simi's family is also appropriately intrusive but very fun loving as well as dependable, and I loved all of them.

I'd read in a couple of reviews there are two boys in the books and Simi chooses one. I kept hoping it wasn't a love triangle situation and I loved the way the author managed to navigate Simi's feelings for the two. I could totally feel all the awkwardness and tingles that Simi was feeling and it was sweet watching her get to know them better and make a decision. There are also many other classmates of theirs who meet and start going out due to Simi and Noah's app, and I thought all of it was done very nicely without any drama. It was refreshing to see a fun group of diverse couples.

I think the main theme of this book was about finding what we want to do in life. Simi doesn't feel interested in her family's matchmaking business or the boy her family may like, because she doesn't want to do what's expected. But her journey of realizing that it's not bad to like doing something that also meets her family's expectations, or not having to choose between her various interests - this was all written very well and in such a subtle manner that you don't even realize it. And due to the whole concept of matchmaking, there is a lot of emphasis on compatibility, but also about the fact that two people may seem perfect on paper but they might not be good together because deeper values and motivations are much more important for a successful relationship. I think the overall message of the book that whether traditional Indian style matchmaking or modern dating apps, what makes two people click remains the same is something that comes out beautifully and I think we can all agree with that.

To conclude, I just wanna say that if you love fun YA contemporaries and want to smile for a bit, pick this book up. If you particularly love desi books like I do, then I promise you can't go wrong with this amazing debut. And while I'm very very excited to see what the author comes up with next, I'm also a bit sad that this book is already done and I can't experience it all over again.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. After the ending of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Elisa is a Queen trying to rule. But she is only seventeen and her age and her place of birth undermine her authority. The Lords of her Quorum try to outmaneuver her at every step, trying to prove her incompetence, coaxing her to consider appointing a regent or marry for an alliance. On the other side, there are multiple assassination attempts on her in her own capital, and the question remains if the enemies are outside or within. Amidst all this, there is also the pull towards fulfilling her destiny as God's Chosen One. Will she be the Queen she wants to be? Will she survive? Who should she trust?

The character development of Elisa is amazing in this book. Most of the first half, lots of things are happening around her and she is young and vulnerable and not in control. The intrigue and betrayals and politics of the court stifle her confidence but she starts asserting herself once she is out of the capital. She makes plans, decides what she wants to do, proving to herself that she can be the Queen she is meant to be. Her growth is remarkable and the ending was awesome.

Hector – I didn't see this coming. He was Elisa's good friend in the first book but it grows into so much more. They trust each other, want to keep each other safe and respect each other immensely. I can't speak much more without spoilers but their romance and their conversations are just intense, angsty and so full of love, it's adorable.

I also loved Mara's character. She and Elisa develop a great friendship and I want to appreciate how both of them discuss their personal lives and are so confident about their bodies and sexuality. I really really adore female friendships and this bond is special. Storm was a surprise. I was skeptical about him for the most part but I might just have started to like him towards the end. I hated Ximena in this book. I couldn't believe that she refused to see Elisa as anything other than the God's vessel here to fulfill her destiny. She really got what was coming to her.

The ending is both terrifying and exhilarating at once and I am very excited to see Elisa kick some ass in the next book and finally achieve what she deserves.

CW: depression, homophobic comments (mostly challenged)

It took me exactly an hour after I was approved for this arc before I started reading it even though it was almost ten in the night. There was no way I was gonna sleep without knowing more of Ilya and Shane's story. So that's exactly what I did - stayed up late night to finish it in one go.

I have to say, I didn't expect to cry so much while reading this but I did. I used to be a very frequent crier while reading romance novels but in the past couple of years, I've become way too cynical and nothing makes me cry anymore (except ofcourse wangxian fanfics on ao3 but they are an exception). But this book - wow did I just sob and sob at so many moments. Not to say this was a painful read. It was just such a beautiful love story of two people who were forced to be apart for long periods of time due to circumstances and them trying to handle that loneliness was heartbreaking. While Heated Rivalry was all about hot and sexy (and this one doesn't compromise on that), this was more about love and the emotions associated with it. I love this whole series but this probably has the best writing because the author handled so many sensitive things with care and I adore her for it.

I remember the author mentioning once that while Heated Rivalry was more Shane's book, this is more Ilya's book and I think that is a perfect description. While in the first one, we get to see Shane come to terms with his sexuality and the person he wants to be with, this book is mostly Ilya trying to find his path in life, navigating the joys and sorrows, trying to do things for himself and figuring out how to get his HEA.

I was so impressed by Ilya this time, and I didn't think that was possible because he is already my favorite character in this world. His personality is so out there that no one would think he is lonely, depressed and unhappy even with his hockey because he isn't on a winning team anymore. It really really broke my heart when he felt insecure that Shane might leave him for a more uncomplicated relationship. But he has always been a fighter and I was so glad to see him take the initiative to get help, figure out what he needed to do and believe in his love.

Shane on the other hand felt like he has become more uptight, being all about self control and discipline. His whole “performance diet” was a running gag throughout the story and I found it hilarious. I also wanted to shake him sometimes because he wouldn't try to understand Ilya's pov but then he was always a bit clueless, so I knew he would get there, even if he needed some nudges.

I was also pretty surprised by how the various side characters played out. It was nice to see all the familiar hockey players and their reactions to Ilya and Shane's relationship. There were ofcourse some assholes and some supporters and I was glad it was more on the positive side. I was actually sad to see what happened in the aftermath but I think the ultimate consequence was just perfect.

What more can I say about this book which was my most anticipated romance release of this year. I have loved Ilya and Shane's characters for years now and it was a joy reading more of their story and seeing them find happiness and togetherness in the best way possible. It was the perfect book and I'm ecstatic, but also sad at the prospect that we might not get to see them anymore. I don't know if there are more books in this series but I hope there are, and even if it's a new couple, I hope we'll get to see more of this amazing couple's snippets alongwith the many accomplishments that I can't wait for them to achieve. Even if I never get to know what happens next in their story, I'm just happy I got to meet them and I will always come back for more rereads whenever I need some joy.

I didn't even know Lindy had a new book coming, but when I saw the audio advance copy available through Libro.fm this month, I immediately felt like listening to it. Each chapter in this is Lindy rewatching one of her old favorite/popular movies and critiquing them based on how well they hold up now, or just how not great they actually are. As someone who didn't grow up on Hollywood, I didn't know many of these movies and hence share no nostalgic memories of them, but Lindy makes the narration a lot of fun and I haven't laughed so much in the middle of a book in recent times. Definitely recommend the audiobook if you need something lighthearted.

I may have been a software engineer until a few years and a graduate in it, but I've never actually been much of a tech nerd. So, the subject matter of this book is not particularly something I would gravitate towards. But the author of The Ivory Key, Akshaya Raman mentioned that this was one of the books that she used for research for her debut and I was immediately interested because TIK was a fun YA fantasy with lots of puzzle solving. I knew I had to read this one.

This one took a while to finish because while it's very fascinating, it's also not the binge reading kind. One chapter a day to read and process all the information was the perfect way to get through this one. And I was amazed at how the author framed the whole narrative. This is not a technical book about cryptography but there are good enough explanations to understand the various ciphers he talks about. But I loved the history part of this book, from the earliest substitution ciphers that were developed to the recent RSA /PGP encryption that revolutionized the discussion about the importance of digital privacy. The chapters on the trail of Mary Queen of Scots, Vigenère Cipher, the creation and breaking of Enigma during WWII, the many people who especially worked under the guise of secrecy and never received credit for their many contributions to their countries, and the still unbroken Beale ciphers (and it's corresponding unfound treasure), were all super fun to read about and I thought the author explained them in a very engaging manner.

However, the little diversion the author took from cryptography and talked about the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs as well as the Pre-Hellenic language Linear B were my favorites. I've always been very interested in reading about archeology and the art of finding clues about history through the artifacts found on digs. So the complete process of how the Egyptian language was first thought about and how long it took to be deciphered was very cool. But the story of Linear B and how many decades and people from different backgrounds it took for it be deciphered was engrossing and I loved it. Even though this part of the book wasn't related to codemaking or codebreaking, it was enthralling to see how ideas of cryptography were used to finally crack the mysteries of these ancient kingdoms.

To conclude, this was a very engrossing read. I think anyone interested in the topic of codes and ciphers would enjoy this book, especially the readers like me who are more fascinated by the history of this technology as well as the people who are responsible for the advances we have made in cryptography, rather than the highly technical aspects of it. The author does include a huge reading list and bibliography at the end, so I'm sure every kind of reader will find something they like in this well researched and excellently narrated book.

This was a good book but there was something missing which stops it from being great. I found Elisa to be a relatable character with her lack of confidence, stress eating and unable to bear the burden of being the chosen one. She grows a lot through her journey to come into her own and be able to protect those she loves. I also liked that she is a sort of bookworm and uses all her knowledge to plan the best ways to attack and defend. Alejandro was so indecisive and unsure despite being the King but he is a good person and I liked that he got a chance to prove his bravery.

The strength of this book are the side characters – Ximena, Cosmé, Humberto and Hector. They are all brave and loyal and fierce and I really loved all of them. The whole concept of praying to God for everything and justifying all actions as God's will was a little difficult to get through but I understand it's going to be the main theme throughout this series. I just hope the next book is better and I definitely would like Elisa to overcome her grief and find her true love.

This is my first review for an ARC received through Netgalley and I was very excited to read the book. I remember reading the author's books a couple of years back and I recollect them as feel good romance novels. I was expecting a similar kind of experience from this book as well.
Even though I haven't read the other books in this series, it was easy to get into the details and figure out most of the characters within the first couple of chapters. Though the story is set immediately after WWII, most of the characters are women from the English upper class who are working in various different professions and fairly independent for the time period; this was the best part of the book. However, the book doesn't offer much in terms of plot or conflict. Everyone is gorgeous and good looking, most of them are very good people, most of the romances are love at first sight, all problems get solved by applying the first idea that comes to the character's minds. Even the suspense and murder mystery was quite expected. Everything just feels too easy.
On the whole, this book is good for a breezy read when you have no expectations or for anyone who likes the Cavendon Hall series. It just wasn't for me.

It always feels good to read Indian authors because it is so much relatable but what is the most exciting is reading thrillers. I only took up this book because it was part of a book club but I ended up enjoying it. There were multiple plot points going through which all come to a head at the end and give us a reasonable conclusion. The background of the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple and its vaults of wealth gives a very authentic feel to the story. The book also gives us an understanding of the subtle corruption that possible goes on in high profile cases in our country. There are a lot of characters here who we get to meet here but there is no big growth or development that we see. The only characters we get to know closely are the officers investigating the case and its good to see them hating each other at first which grows into mutual respect in spite of their differences. The suspense is kept up till the end and each of the involved ones look like the culprits at any given point of time. The only problem I had is that what I felt was the main thread in the story was never resolved and the epilogue only hints at some speculation. The book would have seemed more complete if the ending was detailed. However, the book was enjoyable overall and thrilling in parts.

Other than Jane Austen and the Bronté sisters, there are very few Victorian romances that I have read. I have been put off by romance novels for quite some time now; probably age has made me think of them as frivolous. But I do pick them carefully now, ones which have a little more than just romance. I was not disappointed with this book as it dealt with one of the themes that I really like reading about – Second Chances.

Sylvia was a baronet's daughter and quite popular in society with lot of suitors but her heart only belonged to Colonel Sebastian. He too felt the same but they never did communicate their feelings and ultimately got separated. It's been three years, Sylvia is working as a governess after her father's suicide and Sebastian has been scarred brutally by the war in India. When his well meaning but meddlesome sister Julia decides that it's time they marry, both of them are thrust into each other's company unexpectedly. What follows is a tale of past memories, betrayals, paranoia and unforgettable first love. Will they be able to reconcile with their past and love each other again?

This is a well written book with a heart touching love story. It shows us again that we should all give each other a chance before making our own assumptions and wallowing in misery. The book is also sized like a novella and can be finished in a single sitting. A nice read for a bright and sunny day along with a hot cup of coffee for company.

PS: I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's the winter of 1940 and two weeks after Pearl Harbor. America has finally joined the war and PM Churchill is coming to DC to meet President Roosevelt. His entourage includes the usual folks – Maggie, John and David. Maggie is back as his secretary but is mostly there to make sure that there are no impediments to the war effort. When Mrs. Roosevelt's temporary secretary allegedly commits suicide, Maggie steps in to ensure that any conspiracy afoot to disgrace the First Lady and in turn the President and Prime Minister's alliance is nipped in the bud. There is also the execution of a young black sharecropper which the First Lady is trying to get pardoned and Maggie starts to investigate how the two things are related and how deep the conspiracy goes.

The book is as breezy and enjoyable as I have started to expect from this series. I really like that I can finish it in a single setting and have fun along the way. Maggie continues to amaze me with her courage and confidence. As I haven't read anything after the first book in the series, I did miss some references but I will read all the books as soon as I get them from my library. Even though it's a fun read, there were some heavy discussions about the futility of the death penalty and the wrongful occupation of the colonies by the empire which I really liked. Segregation, Jim Crow and unfair jury trials are discussed which bring to light the ugly reality of the times. It also showed that you can vehemently disagree politically but still be best friends who love each other. I think that's a good takeaway for the current over-sensitive world.

Note: Everyone in the book gifts each other books for Christmas. I totally loved it!!! How I wish people would gift me books too 😉😉😉

The third installment in this series is a little less fun and a little more dark than expected. That's only because it exposes one of the most gruesome operations of the Nazis. The story revolves around how this exposé affects the lives of Maggie, Elise and Father Licht. Even on a broader level, this book describes how the actions in war might seem relevant during the situation but are more harder to accept in hindsight. Maggie's character grows a lot in this book; she is courageous and able to quickly think on her feet in dangerous situations but she is still sensitive and finds it hard to reconcile with the evil in the world and her own actions. Even though there was hardly any mystery in this book, I think it's a setup for character development and hopefully, better mysteries in the next books.

I didn't know about Merle Oberon before I started reading this. So, I can't attest for the validity of any of the incidents described in this book. I only read this as any other historical fiction novel. The book follows Estelle Thompson, an Anglo-Indian young woman aspiring to become an actress. After some unforeseen heartbreak, she lands up in London hoping to find any acting job. She luckily finds a small part in a production, impresses the director so much that she gets the part to play the famous literary heroine Cathy in Wuthering Heights. She also finally finds the love that she has always been looking for even though the reveal of her family secrets are devastating. And then – the book was over. I was surprised when I reached the last line because I didn't expect it be over so soon. Not because I was engrossed in it but because the book just didn't feel complete yet. The writing is good and I was not bored. The story was a little simplistic but still enjoyable. The aspect I really found interesting was the plight of Anglo-Indians in India before our independence. I wasn't aware that they were treated with such apathy by both the communities and it was fascinating to get to know something different about India's history. Finally, this is a good book that can be enjoyed if you go in without many expectations.

PS: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has the typical YA storyline – orphaned young girl Henrietta is living a dull and occasionally tortured life until she is told by the sorcerer Agrippa that she is the Prophesied One who can destroy the Ancients and bring an end to the war. She travels with him and her childhood friend Rook to London Proper to train formally and receive a commendation from Queen Victoria. She joins with the other young boys under Agrippa's tutelage and all of them train together. There are many who don't like a woman with magical abilities and she has to fend off a lot of attacks – both physical and verbal. When she is rocked by the truth of her lineage and betrayal from unexpected quarters, she is forced to make choices that might change the fate of England forever.

The story was okay and I was able to get through the book. I didn't really like Henrietta's character because she I felt she was too selfish sometimes and would do anything for Rook, the whole world be damned. I think I expect a little more from the main protagonist. Rook was not a very steady presence in the book, so I don't know if have formed any opinion about him yet. I really liked the characters of Agrippa, Magnus and Blackwood. They are almost always there for her and are ever ready to fight to protect her. The loyalty of all the boys is commendable but I especially liked Magnus, the charming flirt and Blackwood, the eternal brooder. I think I will read the next book in the series for their sake. I am usually a big fan of fantasy world building and it was missing here, so I still don't know a lot about the world and its villains. My final verdict – the book is fairly enjoyable due to some good characters.

After reading three books in this series, I have to confess they have become a sort of guilty pleasure. They are fast paced, adventurous, can be completed in a single sitting and make me like Maggie more. She is so feisty, courageous and intelligent. I love how gives back to anyone who thinks she is just a beauty without brains. In this book too, she goes undercover as a tutor to Princess Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, initially apprehensive because she thinks her talent isn't being utilized; but readily agrees when made aware of the dangers lurking around the Royal family. As always, wherever she goes, murder follows. Now, it's upon her to find out the truth and uncover the conspiracy. In between all this, she is also teaching the Princess to make codes, preparing for a performance of the Sleeping Beauty by the Princesses and finding out damaging information about her own family. She is also very upset because John is missing, presumed dead but she will not let it prevent her duties. She and her new beau Hugh show great bravery to prevent the catastrophe at the end and it was really thrilling till the end.

This book had some great dialogue which I loved – Maggie describes Schrodinger's Cat and Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem to her friends who don't understand a word – it just shows her level of intellect. It's good to read about a female protagonist's smarts rather than her beauty. I also loved a couple of references to Holmes; especially the new spy organization being called Baker Street Irregulars. On the whole, this is a fun read and has renewed my interest in reading the next books of the series.

When your protagonist is a badass spy who manages to make her way through high society Berlin during the war and brings back one of the most notorious German spies, you tend to expect so much more from her next adventure. And that's why this book failed the expectations game, at least for me.

Maggie has returned to Scotland as an SOE instructor and is seemingly suffering from PTSD after having killed a man in self-defense. She is hard on her trainees but it's understandable because she just wants them to be tougher. When she travels to Edinburgh to watch Susan's play, she finds that two women are killed and Susan is critical. Her investigation into this and the catching of the culprit takes just a few chapters and it was so quick, I thought how was this even possible. Wasn't this the plot of the book, at least according to the blurb. Most of the remaining book deals with the circumstances preceding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. There was also another plot line of Clara Hess imprisoned in the Tower of London, her regression and some insight into her past.

I read these books because I like Maggie. That's also the reason I was disappointed here – there was so much less of her. The murders were hardly a mystery and I felt they were not up to Maggie's standards. The mystery should at least be complicated enough for her to deploy her skills. The plot dealing with the Pearl Harbor attack is fiction of course, but it did make for an interesting perspective of how the imminent attack was planned and the intelligence failures that prevented from anticipating it. I was a bit confused about the whole Clara story and it didn't make me feel any sympathetic towards her. On the whole, this book wasn't bad, just not enough.

This was a fun hate-to-love romance with enjoyable moments. I liked the character of Dana who was seemingly strong and smart and witty but could still get affected by the behavior of Asher. I started liking Asher after they start their “relationship” arrangement but I still think he treated Dana pretty awfully before that. However, the natural progression of their relationship and falling in love was written very well and the romance did get TOO HOT to handle !!!!! I also liked the friendship between Dana and Zoe because they are very supportive of each other and completely understand without being judgy. This was a very good change because its difficult to find strong female friendships in fiction generally. Overall, I had fun reading this book and would recommend to anyone who wants to read a hot breezy love story.

I would like to thank Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC of this book through the First to Read Program.

It's been a while since I have one of Durjoy Datta's books and I really thought I would enjoy this but I was quite disappointed. Though the premise sounds interesting and I could feel the struggle that Deb was going through in the aftermath of the bomb blast, I couldn't really empathize with him after a point because all he spoke about was how beautiful and good in bed Avantika was. It just became too much after a certain point. The diary entries also seemed a little creepy at the beginning but they were what I liked the most in the second half of the book. The relationship between Shrey and Tia also seemed a little forced and insta-lovey which I couldn't connect with. On the whole, the only reason for my 3 stars are for the mystery of the diary and their love story.

I really liked Easton a lot in the previous books so I was quite excited to pick up this one but I probably shouldn't have. While I thought he was cute and sweet and protective towards Ella despite struggling with his addiction issues, this book shows him in a totally different light. He comes across as arrogant, entitled, even stalkery coz he won't leave Hartley alone though she has told him no multiple times. I also thought all his feelings towards Ella sounded very creepy and I really couldn't reconcile the East from the previous books with the one here. Hartley comes across as an interesting character but I still couldn't connect with her a lot. The absolutely crazy twists and cliffhanger at the end made me mad because it's become the authors' trademark to make the readers continue with the series. But I don't think I will. I was really disappointed with the change in Easton's character and I am not sure if I am ready to get sucked into his story anymore.

This book starts off in a very Pretty Little Liars-esqe way. Ten years ago, Ruby, Ally, Emmett, Murphy and Danny were best friends called “The Crew” who made a pact to always be honest with each other. Now, Ruby is forced to return home after a decade to attend Danny's funeral and confront all the issues that made her leave Chatwick in the first place. But Danny's surprise will force all of them to acknowledge that they have never truly been honest with each other.

The story unfolds in two timelines - ten years ago and now, told in multiple POVs. This gives us a chance to know the truth about what happened decades ago in small bursts and I liked the anticipation of figuring out their secrets. Ruby is kind of the main protagonist here and it was difficult to read about her struggles in teenage years with a bipolar mother and an absent father and I could empathize with her need to escape from the stifling life of her small town and get lost in a big city. Her relationships with Murphy and Danny were messy and complicated but also relatable. Ally feels like this typical small town girl happy with marrying her high school sweetheart and leading a quiet life but as the book goes on, it was interesting to see more facets of her and she rediscovering her friendship with Ruby. Murphy may seem like an indecisive coward who doesn't want to step out of his comfort zone and fight for what he wants but we later realize that there is more to him.

The characters are not all very likeable at first glance but slowly we start looking at them in a different light. But the author always keeps us on our toes - just as we start liking someone or feel like we have figured them out.. BAMMMM they go do something totally out of whack. The plot has all the entertaining elements - friendship, love, drama, secrets but also the tough topics of parental abuse, drug addiction, mental illness, murder and how all of these affect our relationships. Even though this book is essentially a mystery, I think it's most important message was that sometimes, we keep secrets from our best friends too because we want to show them only the best version of ourselves but that doesn't make us bad. This might even create distances between friends and we should probably communicate better with them because, ultimately our friends love us and only want the best for us.

I think the epilogue was a very nice touch and though the ending is tad bittersweet, it's also hopeful with a sense that everyone will be okay.

PS: I received the review copy of this book through Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark but it has no way affected my opinion.

As a devoted Janeite who has read all the Austen novels many times over and watched the TV shows and movies endlessly, I sometimes like to indulge in adaptations by other authors as well. This book is one such attempt but it is more like additional storylines within the plot of Pride and Prejudice. The pivotal character here is Anne de Bourgh who we just know as this frail woman totally under the thumb of Lady Catherine. Here, we see a more genuine side of her when she is not near her mother. She may be ill of health but is strong of mind who adores her cousin Darcy and wants to see him happy. When he confides in her about his affection for Elizabeth, she makes it her mission to unite the two. She also enlists the help of Georgiana in this matter and they plot out ways to get Darcy and Litzy together. We get to meet the endearing Georgie who has grown into a smart eighteen year old waiting for her society debut. We also see a whole different side of Mr.Bennet after Lydia's elopement. There are also some additional conversations that we see happening during the all too familiar scenes and it makes for some interesting moments. Ultimately, the story ends the same as Pride and Prejudice, but would have had the pleasure of knowing more about our beloved characters. This is an enjoyable read if you love all things Austen and want to spend more time in her world.

I loved the whole idea of the book, it's slow burn romance and some swoon worthy moments. I especially enjoyed the fact that Stella and Dane develop a good friendship and mutual trust before they fall in love or move onto a sexual relationship. But there was just something missing for me. I couldn't connect with the characters a lot. It's still an enjoyable read when in need of a light breezy romance.

Matilda is a very unique and quirky character and I enjoyed being inside her head. It was fun seeing the extremely organized person having to face unexpected and unplanned messes and learning to eat with them. Amy and Evie are well written characters and I enjoyed their friendship dynamic with Tilly. Even though Silas has this convoluted plan to win back his ex, he is still charming and cool. I definitely understood the development of a friendship between Tilly and Silas but I just couldn't get invested in their romance. I really didn't see the chemistry.
But I did finish this book in a single sitting and it was fun. It's written in a very entertaining way that keeps you hooked till the end even if you can guess what's coming.