Tag: Fantasy

Book Review: Name of All Things

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.

You can read my review of the first book here.

I loved this book

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.

Cover Reveal

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.

Unveiling my book title

I am excited to share the title of Book 1 in the Prophesied Prince series: Child of the River.

A year ago, a ship arrived on the shores of Magadha. In a declaration of war, the men Magadha had sent as emissaries to Kashgar returned as corpses on that vessel. King Jay sends Prince Atul to route out the rebels and seat Aggabodhi on the throne. Atul is prepared to wage war against men. What he encounters is curses and spells. How does Atul 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.

Excerpt of the Prologue:

On that dreary day, the sea was choppy and gray. Powerful waves crashed against the rocks, spraying water in a mist. The tall and steep cliffs at the ocean’s edge loomed large and dark. All day, her grandfather had seemed weary and distracted. Sugandha had wondered what troubled him. When he cautioned her to stay home and left hurriedly, Sugandha followed her grandfather to the beach and now stood partially hidden behind a sandstone boulder. She wriggled her toes, wishing she could be home, eating her meal. Her fingers grazed the rough edge of the rock. She shifted to one side to view the bumps on the surface and found a carving of a boat. It had weathered in time, but the image remained clear. With the sails fluttering in the wind, she could almost imagine the raft afloat. Did the sculptor use his imagination, or did a real craft loom in front of him like the one before her eyes? A large ship tossed on the waves, and she could see people moving on its deck. The howling wind sounded like a cry for help from the ship’s passengers.

Continue reading the prologue.

Book Review: The Song of the Marked

This is the first book I am reading by S. M. Gaither, and I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy novel.

Protagonist Cas survived fading sickness, an illness that killed nearly everyone else. The reason for her survival is a mystery, though the disease leaves its mark on her with her colorless hair and eyes.

She and her outlaw friends are returning from a mission when she meets Elander. Sparks fly between them.

Elander is the king’s captain and captures her in another encounter and seems intent on protecting her from the king. Cas, who is plenty capable of protecting herself, agrees to help the king find a way to cure fading sickness.

I loved all the world-building and the magic system. Powerful and mysterious God and Goddess are always a draw, and the author paints a dark and intricate picture of this empire.

The author peels the layer of mystery one by one, leaving the readers wanting more. The ending was a nice twist.

I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the other four books in the Shadows and Crown series.

Book Review – Fool’s Fate

Fool’s Fate concludes the Tawny Man series, drawing in threads from the Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogy. I loved the book for the emotional roller coaster and the very satisfying end to Fitz’s story.

The best character out of this series is the Fool. From his riddles to his love for Fitz, the author draws him in such bright colors. He jumped out of the pages into my heart. I loved the poem he penned.

In that last dance of chances I shall partner you no more.

Fool

Chade, another character from the Farseer Trilogy, plays a prominent role in this series. The ease with which Fitz fits into his life at Buckkeep after a decade of absence is mainly due to his old mentor. I loved all the scenes between the master and the student, though their roles were reversed at times.

To quote Fitz: It pleased me that the author accorded Lady Patience the storytime she deserved.

The magic, while well thought out, does allow the author to get her characters out of tough situations without paying for their foolishness. In that one way, this series differs from the Farseer Trilogy. In that earlier series, folks paid a steep price for their mistakes. This series is all about second chances.

I loved the Keppet easter egg.

Robin Hobb is a master storyteller, and she did not disappoint me.

Book Review – Golden Fool

Golden Fool is better than Book 1 of the Tawny Man trilogy. I felt like a skill user drawn into the skill current, forgetting food and sleep. Only in my case, Robin Hobb’s magical storytelling pulled me into the book, and I could not rest till I finished it.

So far, Nettle has only appeared in Fitz’s dreams, and yet, the author paints her in beautiful colors in each scene.

Fitz and the Fool – their relationship is portrayed beautifully. The author squeezed my heart with this line:

I set no boundaries on my love.

Fool

And this line at the end broke me:

Beloved, I have missed your company.

Fitz

Dutiful and Fitz – The boy’s longing for a father and Fitz’s yearning to tell him the truth is sheer poetry. This line is a perfect illustration of that:

he spoke as a prince speaks to a servant, not as a boy would address his father.

Fitz

Robin Hobb is a master in character-driven fantasy. I cannot wait to read the conclusion to this trilogy.

Book Review: Fool’s Errand

After two years, I returned to the magic world crafted by Robin Hobb. You can read my reviews of the Liveships Traders here. She is one of my favorite fantasy authors, and I read Fool’s Errand, no I gobbled this book in less than a week. Once I started reading, I could not stop wanting to know what happened to Fitz, Fool, and other beloved characters.

The story starts a decade or so after the Farseer Trilogy. Fitz leads a life of isolation, but not for long. Beloved characters from that trilogy, Chade, Starling, and Fool, appear in consecutive chapters to help us readers reorient with the story and offer a glimpse of what is to come.

Before long, Fitz is back in the action, looking for Prince Dutiful, and what an adventure it is. I loved how real all the magic feels. Best of all is the characters and how they leaped out of the pages into my heart.

Robin is a master at her craft. And I could happily live in the world of her imagination. I am off to read book two.

Let me tell you about my book

I am excited to introduce Prophesied Prince, my debut historical fantasy series. I have written 30,000 words so far, in book one of the Prophesied Prince trilogy.

Writing books set in medieval India, I don’t know why I have not written a scene involving a crocodile before. Good news for crocodile fans in the fiction world. There is a crocodile scene in book one of The Prophesied Prince trilogy. And no, I don’t have a title yet.

Atul, a familiar character from my Land of Magadha trilogy, is one of the lead characters. It has been fun to write chapters in his voice.

The other lead is a brand new girl called Sugandha who is mired in mysteries. I cannot wait to share this book with you next year.

Book Review – Ship of Destiny

Robin Hobb’s writing is marvelous. This third book of the Liveship traders trilogy concludes satisfactorily while leaving enough threads for us to meet these characters in a future book.

You can read my review of book one and two in my blog.

I read all three books in the last few months while editing and revising my book. That should tell you how this series captured my imagination. I am inspired to write a fantasy series after I complete the Land of Magadha series.

The author has written many books. What order to read the books is a question I asked myself. My answer is in the order she wrote them. I have read Farseer Trilogy and Liveship Traders Trilogy. I will be reading the Tawny Man trilogy next.

Highly recommend these books to any fantasy lover.