nadiamasood's reviews
248 reviews

Though this is a timeless tale of forbidden love between a prince and a commoner, what sets it apart is the blend of real-life history, India's rich culture, the thrill of cricket, and the glamour of Bollywood.

This book took me by surprise. I expected the typical prince-and-commoner love story, but it delivered so much more! The characters are beautifully flawed, the circumstances feel realistic, and the ending is imperfectly perfect. Did I mention that I enjoyed Abhishek Bhatt's writing style, too?

Our main characters' journey is one of love, duty, and heartbreak. Both are strong and passionate, and I loved how they brought out the best in each other. Abhimanyu chooses family and duty above all else (which is what a prince in real life would do), and Meera stays strong and pursues her dream. She's young yet I like how sensible she is despite her circumstances. She's strong, protective, and loyal.

Cricket is a huge part of Abhimanyu's story. I'm not a fan of cricket and have limited knowledge of the sport, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. I would advise not to skip those sections entirely because crucial, life-altering scenes unfold during those games!

I found the Bollywood aspect of the story particularly fascinating! It provided a glimpse into how soundtracks are created and the behind-the-scenes of recording songs for films. We get to see Meera's transformation from an Indian classical prodigy to a sought-after playback singer.

The Indian politics and history in the story might not appeal to everyone, but they provide context for the time our characters lived in. It was a period right after India gained independence, formed a new parliamentary government, and stripped the royals of their powers. Elections were held for the first time, yet many people were still illiterate.

This book was an easy read with characters you can easily connect with and a realistic conclusion. I enjoyed its straightforward language and well-balanced pacing. The poetic verses in Hindi/Urdu sprinkled throughout added a delightful touch.

If you're in the mood for a genuine love story featuring flawed yet relatable characters, and if you're interested in exploring India's rich history and culture, this book is worth picking up.

Yep, that's the opening line, and I knew that I was going to love this book!

Persevere. The story takes off at an incredible speed after the first quarter, taking you on a wild, twisty ride. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, brace yourself because you don't. The twists are twisting!

I lost track of the "NO WAY!" moments while reading this book, and it kept me up way past my bedtime because I couldn't put the book down!

Do NOT give in to the temptation to read the spoilers unless you want to ruin your reading experience. I just wanted to share my thoughts on certain scenes and characters.

The opening scene at the subway. So Amanda's plan to shoot and murder Wallace Crone is thwarted, and she "dropped the gun, unnoticed, into the half-open golf umbrella of the businessman beside her." The police intervene and issue her a restraining order. But I kept wondering why the businessman didn’t report the gun when he found it in his umbrella. If the police had known about the gun and her intent to kill, they might have charged her with more than just assault.

Amanda trying to murder Quinn. I was surprised by how incredibly intense and graphic this particular scene was! “She felt like her eyeballs were going to pop right out of her skull. Even the skin on her cheeks burned – as if the tiny blood vessels in her face were rupturing under the strain. Her sight darkened.” And yet she had the strength to stick a screwdriver into Quinn's (a much bigger and stronger man) bicep and BURIED AN AXE IN QUINN'S CHEST!

Billy turned out to be the biggest surprise twist for me! I never expected him to be Mr. Blue Eyes, the man who attacked Ruth! Even though his character was introduced later in the book, his cover was so convincing and his story so believable that I never suspected him as a killer. Plus, he seemed genuinely kind to Amanda! But why did he attack Ruth in the first place?

Billy's letter to Amanda. In the letter, he hints at killing Wallace Crone as a return favor for her help in finding Ruth. His tone is polite and grateful, almost portraying him as a good guy! It's confusing—is he a serial killer with a kind heart? And he never gets caught, so he's still out there, possibly targeting the next unsuspecting woman to kill?

Overall, I had a blast with this book and would totally recommend it to anyone in the mood for a crazy, page-turning thriller with writing that hits all the right notes!

I would describe this book as a compilation of essays and poems about Palestine that captures the essence of both heartbreak and hope.

A group of authors embarked on a journey to occupied Palestine, each sharing their unique experiences. However, despite their diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, their narratives ended up feeling repetitive as they all recounted the same events from slightly different angles.

Though it took me much longer than usual to finish, I still feel the slower pace was well worth it.

Asian-inspired YA fantasy where the slow-burn romance gives C-drama vibes! There's murder, revenge, Mulan-esque disguise, dangerous trials, political intrigue, and engineering.

I love our female protagonist! Ying's quite young and I understand some of the choices she makes, but she not only shatters gender barriers by infiltrating an all-male engineering guild but also excels at it, all the while secretly plotting revenge for her father's murder!

The story's worldbuilding is okay-ish. I mean, we mostly learn about "The Guild" but not much about the world beyond its walls. However, I did appreciate the steampunk silkpunk elements, including a weaponized fan and a cyborg fox with mechanical eyes.

Chen adeptly captures the essence of Chinese history, language, customs, and societal norms. Her writing is effortlessly accessible, and having watched a historical C-Drama before reading this enhanced my reading experience. The author recommends "Scarlet Heart" and "A Long Ballad."

Why this book didn't quite make it to 5 stars:

The plot slowed down significantly once Ying became an apprentice at the engineering guild. It felt like too many events were happening at once, with more telling than showing.

We never get Ye-yang's perspective. He's the male lead: an enigmatic, handsome prince who appears just in time to help the female lead, then conveniently goes off to war or elsewhere so she can remain the center of the story. He has a LOT of potential and I hope to find him more developed in book 2!

The romance between Ying and Ye-Yang fell flat for me until the last few pages. I just didn't feel the chemistry. In fact, I enjoyed Ying's relationship with Ye-Kan, the youngest prince and her fellow apprentice, much more. Their best-friend dynamic was everything, and it felt like Ye-Kan wanted more than just friendship. I wouldn't mind seeing him as the main male lead in book 2!

Will I read book two?

Yes! After THAT ending, let's say I'm eager to see the conclusions to Ying, Ye-Yang, and Ye-Kan's story.

Who is this book for?

You'll enjoy this book if you like Asian-inspired fantasy, women in STEM, or political intrigue in fantasy. 

What a lighthearted and charming story! It provided the perfect respite from the thrillers and darker-themed books I’ve been reading.

"Ghostly" follows a predictable storyline, based on its cover and blurb. A cynical lawyer and a peppy ghost meet in a Victorian house, and events ensue that draw them closer, resulting in them falling in love and living happily ever after. Despite this, it was such a delightful read!

I enjoyed the witty banter, their funny interactions, and also the interesting side characters. Serzenta's writing style is easy to read and the pacing is perfect, the story kept me interested till the end.

The contract and rituals needed to bring Ida back to life added an interesting element to the story.

While it was clear she would be resurrected for the main characters' "happily ever after," I still found the idea of reviving a 136-year-old ghost a bit strange. An alternative could have been helping her move on to "rest in peace," with our male protagonist getting his career back on track while cherishing their shared memories. But that's just my personal preference.

This book is perfect for readers of lighthearted, humorous, and heartwarming stories.

Thank you Hidden Gems Books and Kate Serzenta for the digital ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book whisked me away to Valparaíso, where I imagined myself riding a colorful cable car down the hills overlooking the ocean, as a pod of pelicans flew gracefully overhead. In my hands, I could almost feel the warmth of a bag filled with freshly baked empanadas from one of the charming bakeries just down the road.

This is a beautifully written realistic fiction for middle-grade children about the military takeover of Chile through the eyes of a young girl. It explores the themes of loss, displacement, and the power of hope and resilience. I learned that the author had escaped the terror of the Pinochet dictatorship with her family and drew heavily from her experience in this book. 

Celeste, the protagonist, is smart, imaginative, and compassionate. She lives a privileged life and deeply loves her family, friends, and home. I particularly loved her bond with her grandmother. I love it when children are close to their grandparents.

What didn't work for me, however, were the length of the book and the pacing of the story. At 464 pages, this book is quite long! While I enjoyed and breezed through the first part of the novel, the second part dragged on to the point where I found myself getting bored and skipping pages, and the third part felt overly fantastical and rushed.

Despite these shortcomings, I find "I Lived on Butterfly Hill" a thought-provoking novel that sheds light on a dark chapter in Chilean history. Anyone interested in historical fiction or stories of resilience will enjoy this book. 

This is an incredibly fast-paced sci-fi horror novella featuring a female-driven cast. This is a new-to-me genre, and this book kept me captivated.

The premise centers on the possibility of bringing someone back from the dead. It explores the natural human desire to resurrect loved ones, despite knowing that doing so defies the laws of nature and the ethical boundaries of grief. This book offers a compelling exploration of human emotions wrapped in a thrilling narrative.

This was such a quick and captivating read! The story is both emotional and scary, and Nico Bell's writing kept me in suspense. I also thought the plot twist was brilliant.

I highly recommend it for fans of twisty endings and a mix of horror and sci-fi elements.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to take control of their health.

As someone with a medical background, I am truly impressed with this book. The explanations are clear, making it accessible and easy to understand for most readers.

"Lies I Taught in Medical School" is an eye-opener! Dr. Lufkin thoroughly explains how modern medicine has often missed the mark, particularly by failing to recognize that chronic diseases share common root causes that the medical system largely overlooks (or misunderstands).

This is a brave attempt: calling for a significant shift in how we approach health and disease. His critique of traditional medical practices, particularly chronic diseases, is enlightening and empowering, inspiring readers to question and rethink established norms. I only hoped there was a chapter on thyroid-related diseases as well, as we see that a lot in our practice.

I appreciate that Dr. Lufkin offers practical advice on how lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress management can effectively target the underlying causes of chronic diseases.

Thank you NetGalley and BenBella Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Missing in Mumbai delves into the complexities of contemporary India. Akrivou's writing is immersive, bringing Mumbai to life with vivid descriptions and rich detail. The city's pulse can be felt on every page. The characters are well-developed and multifaceted, each with their own hidden depths and motivations.

Although the pace is slower than what I typically prefer my mystery/thrillers to be, Akrivou skillfully builds suspense, maintaining a sense of urgency and anticipation throughout.

Okay, so first of all, I checked the reviews that gave this book a low rating. Most of them complain that the story was predictable and that it was easy to surmise who committed the crime. Well, I mean, isn't it already obvious from the book title itself?

For me, this fast-paced thriller isn’t mainly about <i>“who did it?”</i>. It’s more about a minor going through the unthinkable pain and trauma of sexual assault - feeling hurt, angry, confused, and extremely alone. It’s about perfectly happy and brilliant children doing bad things and lying to their parents. It’s about dealing with the shock of finding out that the crime is committed by someone you love with all your heart and soul and finding the strength and courage to do what’s right.

Prepare yourselves before diving in. The content this story centers on is brutal, and the author—a former childhood trauma specialist—does not shy away from the darkness involved here. The story is loosely based on her personal experiences with clients. It explores heavy themes such as suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault. So while labeled a thriller, this is a real-world horror!

Despite its brevity, the audiobook manages to skillfully develop its characters within a span of less than 4 hours. What stood out to me was the deliberate choice to avoid dwelling on the specifics of Chloe’s trauma. Instead, the narrative prioritized clinical sensitivity, emphasizing the support and empathy provided by Felicia.

The part that hit the hardest for me was Felicia’s relationship with her son. I can’t begin to imagine how devastating it must be to fear the child you’ve loved with your entire being.

Narrators A.J. Cook and Tessa Albertson truly breathed life into the content. Rather than merely reading the story, they acted it out, allowing listeners to experience the fear and devastation through their voices. The inclusion of the phone call voice was a brilliant choice, intensifying the impact of the narrative.