My grandfather raised me in a modest home filled with love.
My world shattered on that dark day when my uncle coerced my grandfather into cursing a ship from Malla. With his last breath, my grandfather cast a protective spell around me, shielding me from the clutches of my uncle.
For the first time in my life, I found myself alone, fleeing from the only home I had ever known, with danger lurking around every corner. My uncle’s relentless pursuit and the deadly intentions of a princess plunged me into a whirlwind of peril. I can’t fathom why they’re after me.
But the most bewildering discovery comes when I uncover my deep-rooted bond with the whispering river.
All the Light We Cannot See – I don’t know how Anthony Doerr can move us so profoundly with mere words on a page. A soulful book that transported me to France and Germany during WW2.
Marie Laure and Werner, the two protagonists, are depicted so beautifully that you cannot help but fall in love with them, flaws and all. A radio transmitting lectures on science forms a thread between the girl and the boy.
The story hops between three timelines, revealing the threads so skillfully while squeezing our hearts. The senselessness of wars displayed through haunting imagery broke my heart.
Even in dire circumstances, we can choose to do the right thing. Doerr places his characters in life-threatening situations to depict this moral choice. All the characters are so well drawn. In a book that features a blind girl, color plays a key role in setting up the scenes.
Favorite quotes: There are so many to choose from, but I liked these two in particular.
That something so small could be so beautiful. Worth so much. Only the strongest people can turn away from feelings like that.
Anthony Doerr
I have been feeling very clearheaded lately and what I want to write about today is the sea. It contains so many colors. Silver at dawn, green at noon, dark blue in the evening. Sometimes it looks almost red. Or it will turn the color of old coins. Right now the shadows of clouds are dragging across it, and patches of sunlight are touching down everywhere. White strings of gulls drag over it like beads.
It is my favorite thing, I think, that I have ever seen. Sometimes I catch myself staring at it and forget my duties. It seems big enough to contain everything anyone could ever feel.
All the Light We Cannot See
This is one of the novels that should be a must-read for all of us. I am now ready to watch the movie.
The author managed to pull off a miracle and gave us a fabulous conclusion to this epic fantasy series. Tyentso is amazing in this novel with her no b.s attitude. Thurvishar and Senera’s footnotes are really cute. Those two have come a long way.
If you love epic fantasy, immersive world-building, multiple POVs, grey characters, dragons, gods, and queens, this series is for you.
There is so much material in here for another series or two, so I am hoping the author visits this universe again.
Minor nitpick: the main trio achieving this brilliant equilibrium in their relationship happens through their past lives or off pages. Wish some time was devoted to this complex relationship dynamic and how they are going to avoid jealousy and other very human emotions. Especially given how the antagonist was driven by jealousy over several millennia.
The author mentions writing this book during the COVID pandemic. While it is an apt metaphor for most of us being stuck within our four walls, as the fourth installment in the series, I found this book to be the weakest.
Several people (some we have not seen since book one) are gathered at the lighthouse to rescue Kihrin, and the entire story is told through flashbacks/visions.
In a book with a dozen or so characters, it is hard for me to care equally about all of them. In this book, all the side characters are given prominence, and in the fourth book of a five-book series, I just don’t have the energy to invest in all these romantic entanglements of side characters. And the fact that most of these people assembled in that lighthouse have had relationships with one or more of the others makes it messy.
I hope book five is less focused on all the love stories and more on the plot.
This book was better than the last one. It is great to see the four volunteers together in this novel. Thurvishar is a phenomenal character, and I totally ship him and Senera.
Unlike book two, the story moves forward at a fast clip. That ending had me reach for book four immediately.
Like the first two books, this book is not for the faint-hearted. The world is immense, the cast is massive, everything is interconnected, and most of us cannot remember that many things. Don’t worry if you don’t remember who the dragons are related to or what their cornerstones are, etc. Just enjoy the ride.
In the continuation of this epic tale, “Name of All Things” whisks us away to the captivating realms of Jorat and Janel. The appearance of dragons adds a thrilling dimension. Similar to its predecessor, the narrative introduces a myriad of characters, demanding either a keen memory or an easy-going spirit when you lose track of what Tya is the guardian of.
The story, predominantly relayed through flashbacks, flows serially, making it easier to follow.
The introduction of Qown, the Vishai priest, and Senera enriches the already extensive cast, and the inclusion of footnotes by the narrator adds an extra layer of enjoyment.
The author’s ability to weave a complex, interwoven narrative continues to impress me. While the majority of the novel aligns with the timeline of the first book, the plot takes a significant leap forward toward the conclusion. For enthusiasts of epic fantasy, this installment holds a plethora of delights.
One minor critique pertains to the cultural norms of Jorat, where effective rulers are expected to embody predominantly male qualities. I do wish that feminine attributes like empathy, compassion, and the possession of a kind heart were not looked down upon.
Child of the River is not my only book coming out in 2024. I also have a short story in an anthology: ‘Queens in Wonderland’—an LGBTQ+ Alice in Wonderland themed collection.
My short story is set in contemporary California. Don’t worry, though; Medieval India makes a guest appearance. I am looking forward to sharing this story with you next month.
Robin Hobb is my favorite fantasy author, and Jenn Lyons is now a very close second.
The Ruin of Kings is complex, rich, and completely enthralling. What an amazing world this author has built.
Kihrin is the protagonist. At the start of the story, he is a captive. The events leading up to his capture are narrated by his guard and Kihrin. I really enjoyed the alternate timelines between the chapters. And the footnotes by our scribe provide some colorful context, so don’t skip reading those.
When Kihrin goes to rob a mansion, he witnesses two men and a demon torture another. As the demon comes calling, Kihrin has to flee. As his world is upended, Kihrin slowly learns why gods and demons are meddling in his life. And meddle they do. Throw in a few prophecies, and you cannot stop reading.
Brilliant twists and turns, a fantastic magic system, incredible weaving of multiple threads together, and wonderful characters make this a great read.
This book is for fantasy lovers who are not fazed by keeping track of a dozen main characters and a similar number of threads. I am off to read the next book in this series.
I am excited to share the cover of Book 1 in the Prophesied Prince series: Child of the River. I love this cover. From the tree motif in the crown to the golden-tipped feather swan, this art brings together the elements in my novel in a beautiful way. Please let me know your thoughts on this cover.
Child of the River:
When an exiled prince seeks refuge in their land, Malla dispatches emissaries to Kashgar. In a declaration of war, the men they had sent as envoys to Kashgar returned as corpses on a ship.
Prince Atul travels to Kashgar to route out the rebels and seat the exiled prince on the throne. When he arrives, Prince Atul is prepared to wage war against men. What he encounters are curses and spells. How does he defeat what he does not understand? Especially when he hears voices urging him to protect a girl he has never met. A girl named Sugandha.
Kindle Vella:
I will be publishing this novel in serialized form on Kindle Vella. This will offer an interactive experience for my readers because you will get to read my notes for each episode and comment on them.
For busy readers, Kindle Vella allows you to access stories conveniently, reading episodes in bite-sized portions, perfect for breaks or commutes.
You can provide immediate feedback on each episode, helping me shape the story. You can read the first three episodes for free. Please follow the story so you can get notified when I post the next episodes.
Anna Bushi 