The Teacher - Freida McFadden (#Review)

Date of Reading: 2/3/2025

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Publication Date: February 6, 2024

Rating: 3.5/5

About the book:

Lesson #1: trust no one

Eve has a good life. She gets up each day, gets a kiss from her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except…

Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye.

Addie can't be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that's what everyone says.

But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet.

From the New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a story of twisting secrets and long-awaited revenge.

Review:

        Freida McFadden comes up a lot on my feed lately and that is the primary reason why this review is being written. So why choose 'The Teacher' instead of her most acclaimed work 'The Housemaid'? That's a no-brainer. Being a teacher how could I resist a book with a title like that?

        The story is narrated through the eyes of Addie and Eve, two characters who are in no way similar. Or so it seems at first. Eve is a Maths teacher and known to be quite a disciplinarian at Caseham High. Her husband Nate, on the other hand, is charming and friendly and teaches English at the same school. Addie, a student who takes both their classes, is the figure of controversy in the narrative. Last year her Mathematics teacher was forced to resign because of the alleged secret affair between these two. Now others are wary of her and even her best friend Hudson seems to have deserted her.

        The cover blurb paints Addie as the bad gal but as the novel progresses we slowly start to realise that neither of these two narrators can be trusted. The fact that they are unlikable doesn't really help the case. Eve's supposed to be happy marriage is in shambles. Her husband's love is expressed with routine-like precision -- they have sex once per month on one Saturday. Even the kisses are counted and measured. So Eve gets her desires fulfilled through her affair with a shoe salesman. 

        Addie ruined the life of her former teacher because she was not brave enough to stand up for him. I was expecting to find some redeemable quality in her, but her indecisive and insecure nature just opens a way for everyone to use her, eventually causing irreparable damage to others also. 

        Better I stop my rant here lest I spill the entire story. The novel is totally addictive, no doubt, with lots of twists and turns (even if some are a bit far-fetched). The ending was not entirely to my liking but I don't regret having my first taste of McFadden. I will have to pick one of the popular ones next time.

Meet the author:

#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practising physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humour novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody can hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang (#Review)

Date of Reading: 6/10/2024

Author: Ann Liang

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Publication Date: October 3, 2024

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 2.5/5

About the book:

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice, and love against all odds.

Review:

        Guess I am going to be the minority here, but I just couldn't bring myself to give this book a higher rating. My disappointment can be attributed in part to the high expectations I held when I requested an eARC from NetGalley. And what did I get? An embellished replica of the Wikipedia page.

        Since the novel is based on the legend of Xishi, one of the four renowned beauties of ancient China, I did some background research to get a better idea. As someone who brought down the kingdom of Wu through her sexpionage operation, her story intrigued me. So could you fault me for expecting a story full of court politics, palace intrigue and unexpected twists? Unfortunately, this novel delivered none. 

         The characters, particularly Xishi and Fanli, are bland and failed to capture my interest. Unsurprisingly their doomed fate didn't create any ripples in my heart. The character that stood out the most and displayed some semblance of growth was the villain, Fuchai. Even Xishi herself comes to realize that not all individuals from Wu are inherently evil. Beyond this, I struggle to find any noteworthy aspects to comment on. The overall reading experience felt like flipping through a history book with some random dialogues thrown in, featuring characters that just didn't resonate with me.

Meet the author:

Ann Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn't Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up travelling back and forth between China and Australia but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to-do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.

The Brightest Star - Gail Tsukiyama (#Review & #Blogtour)

Date of Reading: 13/-8/2024

Author: Gail Tsukiyama

Publisher: HarperVia

Publication Date: August 1, 2024

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

Beloved bestselling author Gail Tsukiyama returns with a rich historical novel based on the life of the luminous, groundbreaking actress Anna May Wong—the first and only Asian American woman to gain movie stardom in the early days of Hollywood. 

At the dawn of a new century, America is falling in love with silent movies, including young Wong Liu

Tsong. The daughter of poor Chinese immigrants, Wong Liu goes to the local nickelodeons to escape the schoolmates who bully her for her Chinese heritage. By sixteen, Wong Liu had already chosen a stage name, Anna May, and left high school to pursue her Hollywood dreams, defying her disapproving father and her traditional Chinese upbringing—a choice that would have emotional and physical consequences. 

Anna May gets her big break—and her first taste of Hollywood fame—starring opposite Douglas Fairbanks in The Thief of Bagdad. Yet her beauty and talent aren’t enough to overcome the racism that relegates her to supporting roles as a helpless, exotic butterfly or a vicious, murderous dragon lady, while Caucasian actresses in “yellowface” are given starring roles portraying Asian women. Though she suffers professionally and personally, Anna May fights to become a star, financially support her family, and keep her illicit love affairs hidden—even as she finds freedom and glittering success abroad, and receives glowing reviews across the globe.

Review:

       Anna May Wong is not a familiar figure for a non-American like me. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the blurb to know more about the first Chinese American actress in Hollywood. What Tsukiyama covers here is not just biographical fiction, but the history of Hollywood through the eyes of a woman who refused to be constrained by the limitations of this industry.

        Born as the daughter of a laundry man, Liu Tsong developed a passion for movies at a young age. Her Chinese heritage, which caused a lot of bullying at school, haunted her film career too through the regulations of the Hayes Code and anti-miscegenation laws that criminalised interracial marriages even being depicted on a film screen. The story alternates between 1960 and the successive stages of her career which she has noted down and reflects on a long train journey. 

         As with all the life stories, we learn a lot from Anna's. Life was never a bed of roses for her and most of the time she was forced to play the villain irrespective of her wishes and talent. Still, she continued her fight to be acknowledged. When Hollywood refused to give her any leading roles, she found fame and recognition in Europe just like many Afro-American actors who suffered a similar fate in Hollywood. Anna lived long enough to see her name included in Hollywood's Walk of Fame, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire countless individuals.

Meet the author:

Gail Tsukiyama was born in San Francisco, California, to a Chinese mother from Hong Kong and a Japanese father from Hawaii. She attended San Francisco State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master of Arts Degree in English. She is the bestselling author of several novels, including Women of the Silk and The Samurai’s Garden, as well as the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize and the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award. She divides her time between El Cerrito and Napa Valley, California.

The Ballad of Never After - Stephanie Garber (#Review)

Date of Reading: 22/05/2024

Author: Stephanie Garber

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

Not every love is meant to be.

After Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, betrays her, Evangeline Fox swears she'll never trust him again. Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can...

Review:

           I am really glad that I waited for the conclusion of this series, otherwise the waiting would have been excruciating. What an agonising cliffhanger!!! How can you make your readers go through such torture, Garber?

         'The Ballad of Never After'  picks up right where the first book left off, with Apollo in a vegetative state and Evangeline reeling from Jacks' betrayal. If you, like me, craved more chapters with Jacks, you are in luck. They are practically together most of the time and the chemistry is off the charts. We haven't got any spicy scenes, but Garber sure knows how to tantalise us with many close-door, emotionally charged encounters. 

       As frenemies, Jacks and Evangeline evolve together neither one sure about the other's feelings. We delve deeper into Jack's mysterious past and some shocking secrets await you on the way. And that ending. . . didn't see that coming. There was no way I could take a breather before jumping into the next one. You might be wondering how I can write this review so calmly. Well, I finished the last book and I can assure you Garber doesn't disappoint.

Meet the author:

Stephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart, The Ballad of Never After, and the Caraval trilogy. Her books have been translated into thirty languages.

Bride - Ali Hazelwood (#Review)

Date of Reading: 8/3/2024

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: February 6, 2024

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Review:

       If you are considering hosting a book buffet, look no further for a dessert option; this book fits the bill perfectly. I must admit I practically devoured this book within a single day. Looks like, for once the hype is actually real.

       What did I love the most? Oh, that will be quirky dialogues and the slow-burn romance between Misery and Lowe. I love so many things about the book -- love between siblings, techno-savvy heroine, loyal friends and forbidden romance to name a few -- but these two definitely top the list. 

      The plot follows Misery's point of view with each chapter giving a short preview of what goes through Lowe's head at the beginning. I was drawn to Misery right from the start, particularly her ability to find humour even in the most dire situations. Lowe Moreland provides the perfect counterbalance and I loved the way the author included the idea of mates in this paranormal story set in a modern world. 

       The novel does include a mix of everything. It is part mystery, at times romantic and many thrilling scenes keep you at the edge. Only four months into 2024, I could already see this book becoming my favourite of the year. 

Meet the author: 

Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly less feline husband).

Rumours of Spring: A Girlhood in Kashmir - Farah Bashir (Review)

Date of Reading: 9/3/2024

Author: Farah Bashir

Publisher: Harper Collins India

Publication Date: April 23, 2021

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

Rumours of Spring is the unforgettable account of Farah Bashir's adolescence spent in Srinagar in the 1990s. As Indian troops and militants battle across the cityscape and violence becomes the new normal, a young schoolgirl finds that ordinary tasks - studying for exams, walking to the bus stop, combing her hair, falling asleep - are riddled with anxiety and fear.

With haunting simplicity, Farah Bashir captures moments of vitality and resilience from her girlhood amidst the increasing trauma and turmoil of passing years - secretly dancing to pop songs on banned radio stations; writing her first love letter; going to the cinema for the first time - with haunting simplicity. This deeply affecting coming-of-age memoir portrays how territorial conflict surreptitiously affects everyday lives in Kashmir.

Review:

        Granted, it has only 228 pages, it still took me nearly one month to finish this heart-wrenching memoir. Starting from her grandmother's death, Farah Bashir takes us through memory lane compartmentalized through each moment of that single night when the whole family sat vigil over the departed soul. It is, by no means, a pleasant journey and that makes it all the more hard to digest.

        The constant curfews, raids, the terror of reading newspapers filled with death and terror -- growing up as a girl in Kashmir is a never-ending struggle. Farah doesn't want to make headlines in the newspapers. She just wishes for a peaceful life followed by an uneventful death marked by a piece in the obituary column just like her grandmother, Bobeh. The things we take for granted find a new meaning here.

       As an Indian, I have often wondered what really goes on in this much-disputed area known for both its beauty and history of conflict. We know the military's version for sure, and Farah Bahir walks on a very thin line so as not to blame the military or the militants. None of them makes their lives easy. They are under constant surveillance and the pages of her memoir are filled with the fear and uncertainty that defined her childhood in Kashmir from 1989 onwards.

        This is a poignant tale of a once vibrant state and the resilience of its people in the face of daily challenges. Despite the adversities they endure, the spirit of the Kashmiri people shines through in Bashir's storytelling.

Meet the author:

Farah Bashir was born and raised in Kashmir. She was a former photojournalist with Reuters and currently works as a communications consultant. Rumours of Spring, published by Harper Collins, is her first book.

Shout Out to My Ex - Sandy Barker (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 18/02/2024

Author: Sandy Barker

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: February 14, 2024

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rache's Random Resources)

About the book:

Fashion designer, Elle Bliss, is unlucky in love.

She's still hung up on her first love, Leo, who ended things abruptly, then mysteriously disappeared – and a decade on, no one else can measure up.

But Elle's all-time dream of showing in Paris Fashion Week is about to become a reality, and she has no time to dwell on her dismal love life. That is until Leo – now going by Lorenzo – comes back into her life.

A celebrated up-and-coming shoe designer, ‘Lorenzo’ is nothing like the man she fell in love with. Rude, brash and with an ego the size of Paris, he’s too caught up in his own celebrity.

But as they constantly cross paths in the city of love, Elle begins to question how much of 'Lorenzo' is an act – a persona for the cameras. Because deep down, she can see glimpses of the man he was, and feelings from all those years ago become impossible to ignore…

Join Elle in the most romantic city in the world in this laugh-out-loud enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Emily Henry.

Review:

        'Shout Out to My Ex' is the second book in the 'Ever After Agency' series. It can be read as a standalone, still, I highly recommend reading them in order; one of the POVs follows Poppy, the protagonist of the first book, and even though we are been provided with all the necessary information, I struggled to connect with this character. This was like reading two love stories, one about the lovey-dovey scenes after the happily ever after and the other all about a broken love. As you can see, it is a bit hard to find the balance in the beginning.

        The story perks up halfway through as more revelations come pouring in finally convincing me of the utility of a match-making agency. Does that mean I was sceptical of the idea before? Oh, yes. I wanted Elle to move on from her first love who disappeared without trace. A reunion, if such a thing is possible, should have been orchestrated by Leo (who is responsible for all this mess) or by fate, if I indulge the romantic inside me.

        What changed my mind then? Well, not everything in our lives can be untangled by our own. That is what I learned from Leo. Sometimes no harm in asking some outside help. That is also part of being an adult, right? So by the end of the book, I became a full-fledged supporter of Ever After Agency. You go girls! Can't wait for the next instalment in this series.

Meet the author:

I’m a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list, and many of my travel adventures have found homes in my novels. I’m also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob. I live in Melbourne Australia with my partner, Ben, whom I met while travelling in Greece.

Zero Days - Ruth Ware (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 24/07/2023

Author: Ruth Ware

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: June 20, 2023

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

An adrenaline-fueled thriller that combines Mr. and Mrs. Smith with The Fugitive about a woman in a race against time to clear her name and find her husband’s murderer.

Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their suspect—her.

Suddenly on the run and quickly running out of options, Jack must decide who she can trust as she circles closer to the real killer in this unputdownable and heart-pounding mystery.

Review:

        I saw mixed reviews on this novel everywhere comparing it with the author's previous works. Since I am new to Ruth Ware, I didn't have that mental hurdle of high expectations to tackle. And it made me stick to my Kindle the whole day (in spite of the pending works) as a thriller should. So, yes, this one left me pining for more.

        Packed with actions throughout, the tension begins in the first chapter itself. Jack and her husband Gabe are pen testers tasked with identifying vulnerabilities in security systems. Unfortunately, it doesn't go well all the time. The last test doesn't go as planned and she is caught by the security officer. Exhausted and battered, she returns home only to discover Gabe brutally murdered. To make matters worse, the police suspect her involvement in the murder.

        Thus begins Jack's harrowing journey on the run, narrowly evading the authorities while relentlessly pursuing her husband's killer.  The real culprit is not hard to guess, but that doesn't prevent you from eagerly turning the next page. However, not everything is flawless. I would have loved it if Jack had a partner and was expecting that to be one of the detectives: DC Miles or DS Malik, to add a touch of girl power. Unfortunately, one was too kind and gullible and the other too blind to think out of the box. Habiba Malik and Jack become friends by the end of the story which I find somewhat distasteful. With the way she carried out the case, shouldn't Malik be rethinking her career choice? If it was anyone else other than Jack, they would be rotting in jail while the real killer roams free.

        Even though it all looked a bit superhuman, I loved how capable Jack is. Her anguish, devastation and unyielding desire for revenge make it a truly addictive story.

Meet the author:

Ruth Ware is an international number-one bestseller. Her thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game, The Death of Mrs Westaway, The Turn of the Key and One by One have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times. Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in more than 40 languages. Ruth lives near Brighton with her family. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ruthwarewriter or at ruthware.com.

The French Chateau Dream - Julie Caplin (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 3/7/2023

Author: Julie Caplin

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: June 30, 2023

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

You are invited to a summer of sparkling champagne, warm buttery croissants and a little bit of je ne sais quoi… 

With a broken heart and a broken spirit, Hattie is in need of a summer escape. So when an opportunity comes up to work at a beautiful, stately chateau in the Champagne region of France she books her flights quicker than the pop of a cork. Romance is the last thing Hattie is looking for but then she wasn’t expecting gorgeous Luc to stroll into her life. With picnics in the warm French sun and delicious foodie trips to the local market, Hattie starts to wonder if a holiday fling – or maybe even something more – might be just what she needs.

Review:

        I almost DNFed this on finishing the first chapter with its cliche dialogues and the insta love scene. Well, 'almost' is the keyword here and I am glad that my persistence paid off. Soon we are transported off to the Chateau in Champagne province and as expected we get to learn a lot more about wines.

        Hattie is taking a break from an unwanted relationship and her cousin's wedding gives her some alone time and also a career boost as a wedding planner. However, things are not as smooth as anticipated in sunny France as someone is trying to sabotage her wedding plans. Thankfully, things begin to perk up with the arrival of Floss, her friend in charge of food. Soon we see the indomitable duo breaking down obstacles and finding love amidst adversity.

        The vivid descriptions of delectable food and the accompanying wines are as tantalizing as they are mouthwatering. Caplin has once again crafted an unforgettable gem that will leave a lasting impression.

Meet the author:

Julie Caplin is addicted to travel and good food. She’s on a constant hunt for the perfect gin and is obsessively picky about glasses, tonic and garnishes. Between regular gin tastings, she’s been writing her debut novel which is set in just one of the many cities she’s explored over the years.

Formerly a PR director, for many years she swanned around Europe taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets) sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Copenhagen and Switzerland. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. These trips have provided the inspiration and settings for the trilogy, The Little Cafe in Copenhagen, The Little Brooklyn Bakery and The Little Paris Patisserie.

The Rose of Florence - Angela M. Sims (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 19/06/2023

Author: Angela M. Sims

Publisher: Romaunce Books

Publication Date: April 2023

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

1478: Gianetta and Matteo have a happy life, working in service to the wealthy Rosini family. They are used to entertaining rich and powerful members of Florentine society in Palazzo Rosini, where Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici and Botticelli are regular visitors. Even when the Medici brothers narrowly escape the Palazzo with their lives (an accident, surely?), Gianetta and Matteo can’t imagine that the growing unrest in the streets of Florence would ever spoil their happiness.

When a bloody conspiracy erupts in the heart of Florence, in the city’s beloved Duomo, nobody is left unaffected by the aftermath. When the family hear that Matteo is among the conspirators, Gianetta knows that her life will never be the same.

Review:

        Located in the heart of 15th-century Florence, 'The Rose of Florence' is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and history. The novel is uniquely styled in the form of an Italian meal, with each course tantalizing our appetite and the ending providing the satisfying conclusion of a memorable dinner. As a reader, I found myself intrigued by the Italian cuisine mentioned at the beginning of each part, and I would love to experience it all one day. 

        The story is set in Palazzo Rosini, the opulent home of the wealthy Rosini family and their loyal servants. The family caters to the powerful Medici brothers and the renowned painter Botticelli, who are frequent visitors to the palazzo. However, not everyone in Florence is content with the Medici's control over the city, and there are frequent attempts on their lives, even within the walls of Palazzo Rosini. The tension builds to a crescendo on Easter Sunday, culminating in a shocking uprising and blood bath that horrifies the entire city.

        The Rosini family also suffers a devastating loss, and Gianetta and Matteo find themselves at the centre of a web of conspiracies. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed with each passing chapter, and we are enveloped in a comfortable anxiety, confident that all will be resolved in due time.

        While Gianetta and Matteo are the central characters, the story does not revolve solely around them. Instead, it is a richly woven tapestry that explores the Rosini family's forward-thinking attitudes, particularly given the time period. The novel also features cameo appearances by historical figures such as Machiavelli and Leonardo Da Vinci, reflecting the Italian cities' high regard for art and artists.

        Overall, 'The Rose of Florence' is a masterfully crafted novel that transports the reader to a bygone era, immersing them in a world of intrigue, passion, and artistry. 

Meet the author:

Angela’s background is in healthcare, and she has been a university lecturer since 2010. Her writing experience was limited to a master’s dissertation, purely academic, but the research skills she learned during that process were soon used in researching her favourite topic, the Italian Renaissance. It didn’t take long before the seeds of a story began to germinate, and The Rose of Florence her debut novel blossomed.

Dust Child - Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 2/5/2023

Author: Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Publisher: One World

Publication Date: April 20, 2023

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

During the Việt Nam War, tens of thousands of children were born into relationships between American soldiers and Việtnamese women. Tragic circumstances separated most of these Amerasian children from their parents.

Many have not found each other again…

In 1969, two sisters from rural Việt Nam leave their parents' home to find work in Sài Gòn. Caught up in the war that is blazing through their country they, like many other young Việtnamese women, are employed as hostesses in a bar frequented by American GIs. Soon they are forced to accept that their own survival, and that of their family back home, might mean compromising the values they have always held dear. As the fighting moves closer to the city, the elder sister, Trang, begins a romance with a young American helicopter pilot.

Decades later, two men wander the streets and marketplaces of modern Sài Gòn. Phong is a ‘Dust Child’ – the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman, abandoned by his mother and ostracized all his life – and is looking for his parents and through them a way out of Việt Nam. Meanwhile war veteran Dan returns with his wife Linda, hoping to ease the PTSD that has plagued him for decades. Neither of them can escape the shadow of decisions made during a time of desperation.

With the same compassion and insight that has made The Mountains Sing a favourite of readers across the world, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai brings to life the interwoven stories of these four unforgettable characters and asks what it takes to move forward.

Review:

        After reading 'The Mountains Sing', picking this book was a no-brainer. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is a masterful writer when it comes to recapturing the images of a war-torn Vietnam and its people. Based on the interviews she conducted as part of her PhD, 'Dust Child' surpasses expectations, evoking both pain and hope in equal measure.

        Narrated in multiple POV, the story follows three lives. One is in the past during the war. Two sisters, Trang and Quynh, leave for Sai Gon anticipating a brighter future for their family and ends up working as bar girls. Back in 2016, Dan, a war veteran returns with his wife Linda to confront his past. Meanwhile, Phong, the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman, struggles to escape the discrimination he faces in Vietnam and make it to America. All the stories are connected . . . not in the way you imagine it to be.

        As the narrative moves back and forth from 1969 to 2016, we come face to face with the realities of war. Trang, Quynh and Dan commit mistakes but it is hard to judge them when we see the devastating impact of war on their lives. We all lose something in a war. 'Dust Child' is a reminder as well as a desire that no country should be subjected to such a disaster. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

Meet the author:

NGUYỄN PHAN QUẾ MAI is an award-winning Vietnamese poet and novelist. Born in the Red Delta of Northern Việt Nam, she grew up in the Mekong Delta, Southern Việt Nam. She is awriter  and translator who has published eight books of poetry, short stories and non-fiction in Vietnamese. Her debut novel and first book in English, The Mountains Sing, is an international bestseller, runner-up for the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and winner of the 2021 PEN Oakland/ Josephine Miles Literary Award, the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship, and others, and has been translated into fifteen languages. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, and her writing has appeared in various publications including the New York Times.

Quế Mai was named by Forbes Vietnam as one of the twenty most inspiring women of 2021. Dust Child is inspired by her many years working as a volunteer helping family members unite, and reflects the real-life experiences of Amerasians and

their family members.

The Books of Jacob - Olga Tokarczuk (Blog Tour & Review)

Author: Olga Tokarczuk

Translator: Jennifer Croft

Publisher: Riverhead Books

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the Wingate Prize blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

The Nobel Prize-winner's richest, most sweeping and most ambitious novel yet follows the comet-like rise and fall of a mysterious, messianic religious leader as he blazes his way across eighteenth-century Europe.

In the mid-eighteenth century, as new ideas -- and new unrest -- begin to sweep the Continent, a young Jew of mysterious origins arrives in a village in Poland. Before long, he has changed not only his name but his persona; visited by what seem to be ecstatic experiences, Jacob Frank casts a charismatic spell that attracts an increasingly fervent following.

In the decade to come, Frank will traverse the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires with throngs of disciples in his thrall as he reinvents himself again and again, converts to Islam and then Catholicism, is pilloried as a heretic and revered as the Messiah, and wreaks havoc on the conventional order, Jewish and Christian alike, with scandalous rumours of his sect's secret rituals and the spread of his increasingly iconoclastic beliefs.

The story of Frank -- a real historical figure around whom mystery and controversy swirl to this day -- is the perfect canvas for the genius and unparalleled reach of Olga Tokarczuk. Narrated through the perspectives of his contemporaries -- those who revere him, those who revile him, the friend who betrays him, the lone woman who sees him for what he is -- The Books of Jacob captures a world on the cusp of precipitous change, searching for certainty and longing for transcendence.

Review:

        After reading more than a dozen pages, I had the strange inkling I am out of my depth here. It was not the length, that didn't daunt me. I am used to devouring thick volumes of historical fiction and this looked like another adventure. But Olga Tokarczuk had other ideas. There is no wonder this is a favourite pick for the award committees. If literary criticism asks us to be active readers questioning the hegemony, then this novel makes sure that we go through the promise.

        The author always keeps us from getting immersed in the story. The moment we get attached to one character's viewpoint, another is introduced and the string is broken. Clearly, this is not a comfort read rather it takes up a large chunk of your brain and energy. The first hundred pages don't even make a mention of Jacob. Pace is restored once his story comes alive through other characters associated with his life.

        It is definitely a strange story, one we would have written off as the idiosyncracies of a creative brain, if not for its historical basis. Jacob Frank succeeds in creating ripples among Jews and Christians alike with his proclamation as Messiah, rejection of the Talmud and licentious rituals. Not a pleasant story and the author's use of magic realism just adds to the strangeness of it. 

        The novel in the end makes us wonder about history. Are we really learning lessons from it or does it only sow the seeds of discord?

Meet the author:

Olga Tokarczuk is one of Poland's most celebrated and beloved authors, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Man Booker International Prize, as well as her country's highest literary honor, the Nike. She is the author of eight novels and two short story collections, and has been translated into more than thirty languages.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night - Amélie Wen Zhao (Review)

Date of Reading: 1/2/2023

Author: Amélie Wen Zhao

Publisher: Harper Collins UK

Publication Date: February 2, 2023

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

Once, Lan had a different name. Now she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people’s magic. She spends her nights as a songgirl in Haak’gong, a city transformed by the conquerors, and her days scavenging for what she can find of the past. Anything to understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother in her last act before she died.

The mark is mysterious—an untranslatable Hin character—and no one but Lan can see it. Until the night a boy appears at her teahouse and saves her life.

Zen is a practitioner—one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom. Their magic was rumoured to have been drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Now it must be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.

When Zen comes across Lan, he recognizes what she is: a practitioner with a powerful ability hidden in the mark on her arm. He’s never seen anything like it—but he knows that if there are answers, they lie deep in the pine forests and misty mountains of the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime.

Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within—secrets they must hide from others, and secrets that they themselves have yet to discover. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.

Review:

        As a hardcore wuxia/xianxia fan, it was no surprise I was drawn to this story. Demons, qi-based magic and colonialism -- it has everything to keep you enthralled from the very beginning. The presence of Elantian colonisers will definitely give you some "Poppy War" vibes, but the similarity ends there. The grim dark milieu slowly changes as the plot moves onto the territories still untouched by Elantians and the mystery of an ancient force beckons us.

        Lan's life itself is the greatest mystery. A song girl with a seal on her arm that is only visible to her. The first book in this series is all about her quest to know her past, understand who she is and find her destiny. In Zen she finds an ally, a friend and a lover who can guide her to the world of practitioners.  With secrets unfolding one after another, we cannot find a dull moment in the story. 

        If I have to point out some drawbacks, then the first one will be the romance between Lan and Zen. That sizzling chemistry we imagine . . . that is not really there. Hopefully, the sequel will remedy that to some extent. The Demon Gods were another dilemma. I know the plotline supports Len's point of view, but it is hard to resist Zen's reasoning. Shouldn't the Demons be used against the Elantians? Why should their people suffer under foreign rule when they can be liberated by a power that may or may not cause disaster? Well, I guess the second instalment of the series has a lot to answer for. Can't wait to read it.

Meet the author:

Amélie Wen Zhao（赵雯）was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and a fantasy author by night. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family in China, where she’s determined to walk the rivers and lakes of old just like the practitioners in her novels do.