aamna_theinkslinger's reviews
628 reviews

I read this book throughout my first week of college, and somehow it felt like Biddy’s emotions and tumultuous feelings as she enters this new world, the “real world” for the first time, echoed my own feelings of starting college. Most of you would know that the first ever week or so of college is quite overwhelming. 

This was one of those books that I just found at the right time. I was extremely overwhelmed and confused during my first month of college. A lot of the things were up in the air. I had no set routine. There is so much to take in. College seemed like a beautiful and unpredictable monster, and somehow I found a reflection of all those uncertainties, fears and doubts in Biddy- the main character of this book, The Magician‘s Daughter. 

Having lived a blissful yet lonesome life secluded on a magical island with only Rowan, her guardian and his familiar, Hutchincroft for company, relies on a library, her companion in books and reading. 

I can’t tell you how much solace and camradrie I found reading about Biddy’s experience as she goes out into the outside word for the first time she is left to for herself in a completely unfamiliar and in hospital environment, it’s a coming of each story at its finest. 

Biddy is such a genuine character. She feels all the unreasonable frustration and anger of a teenager. She rebels when she’s left out by the adults, but she has also grown up a lot. She subconsciously can still rationalise and understanding the mess of emotions she feels. Innately, she was raised to be kind, forgiving, and living among the wildness of nature and magic, she’s considerate. 

As her life is constantly under threat, her character matures and aware of her emotions, even more, perhaps then her guardian Rowan, who is very similar to the eccentric, introvert genius stroke, despite being an flawed character, I got all the more attached to Roman‘s character . 

Then there was Morgaine. The first ever, like, adult woman Biddy gets to know closely, and that is a very significant aspect of the story. 

Biddy oscillates between trying to decide if she should look up to Morgaine, try to emulate her or see her as an example of why she should or should not do. 

A lot of themes are discussed through her Morgaine, a woman among an entire system dominated by men. Someone who firmly believes in making changes from inside the systems. Her belief clashes with Rowan’s, who had never enjoyed being constrained by an authority anyway. 

The Magician‘s Daughter creates miniature version of a corrupt system, complete with a leader who is charismatic leader, a bunch of old men who were too comfortable in their power with a hunger to hoard resources. It’s such a well-crafted story that combines an extremely character-centric narrative with an engaging, high stakes plot. 

It’s notoriously hard for me to get to a sequel if there’s a long gap between two instalments. After absolutely loving the first book and being left on a devastating cliffhanger, I was surprisingly buzzing to get to the second book. 

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White is an exceptionally well-done conclusion, building on its strengths from the first boo: the lyrical prose, the striking and vibrant setting descriptions that absorb the reader into the story. 

The beginning is a little slow, but it’s always a good pace. We’re constantly moving towards something. 

Lan and Zen continue to have a burning chemistry that intensifies, even more with grief, anger and love entangled. Every scene they have together is drenched in bittersweet heartache. 

It has some incredible, dark and hair-raising scenes in the book, where the true gravity of the risk and danger of what Zen is trying to do sinks in for the reader. 

The last few chapters leading up to the climax and then the epic battle at the end is phenomenal. It’s cinematic in its visuals. It is massive in scale and magic. It is dramatic with its magic. It’s a full circle back to the moment where the story had begun. I had my heart in my throat afraid to reach the inevitable, but it’s an ending worthy of the story. 

The Tainted Cup was an incredibly unique and addictive murder-mystery set in a fantasy world. 

The story follows our main character Din, who is the assistant to an eccentric but renowned government detective, Ana Dolabra. When you read the synopsis, it implies that the main character is going to be Ana, but it’s actually Din who is the highlight of the story. 

<b>CHARACTERS</b> 

Due to the said certain eccentric habits of the detective Ana, it is Din who goes out and conducts the investigation, observes the crime scenes, etc. He is her eyes and ears. 

Din is witty, earnest and kind. He’s an easy character to relate to. Underneath his clean-cut demeanour though is a touch of recklessness and curiosity, as well as strength and determination. His relaxed banter and witty back-and-forth with Ana will remind you of Sherlock and Watson.  

You’ll also find certain distinct habits of the characters in the writing style, such as Din’s habit of comparing everyone he meets to birds. It’s hilarious! 

On the other hand, Ana is a genius who devours books at the speed of light. She connects threads that you would not think are in the same universe as each other. A random fact will be mentioned in a seemingly insignificant conversation and turn out to be pivotal later. She’s an enigmatic character who will amuse you and keep you hooked in equal measure. 

There’s incredible representation of dyslexia and autism in the story, though I don’t want to reveal where, to avoid spoilers. 

<b> MAGIC SYSTEM </b> 

The magic system is related to making modifications to human beings that give them unusual abilities like super strength, a flawless memory, a heightened sense of smell or sight- but at a cost. 

Din has been magically altered to have a perfect memory. Anything he observes or makes note of is stored in his memory forever. The most interesting part is how he uses specific scents while memorising things so that the scent is associated with that particular memory and he can then use that scent later to induce that memory and recall it quicker. 

As for themes, topics like corruption, privilege and the exploitation of the backbone of society- the common people- is the focus of the story. 

<b> WORLDBUILDING </b> 

At first I assumed that due to the magic system and the world being so exceptional and complex, the writing would be bogged down with long descriptions and info-dumps. But that was not the case AT ALL. 

Robert Jackson Bennet flawlessly weaves the information about the world and magic in little bits and pieces throughout the narrative, quite subtly so the reader isn’t overwhelmed. It makes it very easy to visualise the world, as it is described in simple words; I think this skill of his has only improved with the number of works he’s written. (I’ve read Book 1 and 2 of the Foundryside trilogy). 

Two of the concepts were quite reminiscent of the anime, Attack on Titan. Firstly, the concept of the Leviathans- giants that rise out of the sea and cause destruction- as well as the Empire being structured like a series of concentric circles, with the most elite being in the innermost circles, thus being the safest. It is certainly not the exact same thing but Bennet puts his own spin on things. 

</b> PACING </b> 

Apart from the worldbuilding, the author turned the book into an addictive page-turner through the innumerable little clues and revelations expertly placed throughout the story. The narrative maintains a strong, steady pace that is constantly moving. No chapter or event is boring or irrelevant to the plot. As the reader, you are constantly made to wonder what significance this little detail is going to have, or how that person is going to change the plot. 

Despite being around 400 pages long, it took me just 2 days to finish the book because I couldn’t put it down. 

In conclusion, I highly recommend this one!

In the second book, we see Emily working on a map of faerie doors and borderlands. 

This book shows just how much Emily has grown as a character from her experiences with the fae as well as how Wendell has given her a new perspective on life. 

It’s an interesting contrast the author creates where somehow Wendell is great at socialising and is more approachable, despite being a fae who doesn’t actually care about humans; while Emily, who has trouble interacting with people, being an extrovert and even seems detached and bothered by people’s opinion of her or their concerns, she’s actually more of an empathetic person than even she herself realises. 

The addition of the character of Ariadne, Emily’s niece and assistant, was also an intentional way of moving forward Emily’s emotional growth. Ariadne becomes another person in Emily’s close-knit circle of people she genuinely loves, as well as someone who is as passionate, curious and driven as Emily about dryadulogy 

With her niece tagging along. Emily is now responsible for another person‘s life. She has to be mindful of how she works and what danger she chooses to risk. 

We also see the deepening of the relationship between Emily and Wendell throughout the story. As much as she tries to sideline the thought, Emily ruminates on the big decision she has to make regarding Wendell (ifykyk). We also realised just how much she has grown to love and care for him. How far she will go to protect him. 

This expedition in a way was also crumbling of Emily’s hubris. After publishing her own encyclopedia, going to Faerie and escaping the clutches of the Winter King of the Fae, and living around Wendell, she grows overconfident and imprudent. She overestimates her ability to deal with the cunning features, often landing into trouble facing and dire consequences. I think it was a fascinating angle to take with her character 

Apart from Emily’s character, the other elements like the overall plot, stakes, the burst of humour in conveyed through a sarcastic and sardonic tone of Emily as she journals as (that definitely got a lot of troubles out of me), remained strong throughout the story. 

The tone overall, despite the juxtaposition of certain gruesome events taking place, maybe because Emily as narrator doesn’t dwell on them a lot, allowed it to remain a blend of cozy, whimsical and sinister . 

 "Your Blood, My Bones" by Kelly Andrew is an absolutely gut-wrenching and hair-raising read. From the very beginning, the persistent feeling of doom sets the tone, enhanced by Andrew's gorgeous and visceral writing. As a writer, I found myself continuously highlighting paragraphs because the prose was so impressive—dark, vivid, and masterful in intertwining the setting with the characters' emotions.

Set on a farm beside a haunted forest, the book is rich in unique and imaginative imagery, making it a visual delight. The magic system, which lies somewhere between eldritch horror and witchcraft, is intriguing without being overly complex. It serves the story well without bogging it down with unnecessary details.

What stands out most is Andrew's unflinching willingness to put her characters through horrifying experiences, making their journey both brutal and compelling. One particular character’s backstory is truly gruesome and brutal. Despite seeing the tragedy unfold from a distance, I held out hope for a happy ending, which speaks volumes about how deeply invested I became in the characters. The events are disturbing and the tone viscerally dark, and yet the connection to the characters renders you feeling like your heart has been torn apart. In less than 300 pages, Andrew manages to make the reader desperately root for them, making this book a truly gripping and emotional ride.
This definitely reignited my love of reading horror, especially YA, and I can’t wait to read more of what Andrew writes.

 

The main character was the first and most amazing thing about this to me. Zephyr’s character is a fascinating morally grey character, who would've straight up seemed like a villain if we had not been reading her perspective. She’s not some impulsive, rage-fueled rebel with a righteous cause- the kind we typically see in fantasy stories. She’s not the one being manipulated, but rather the one unapologetically moving people like pawns across a chess board. A fact about her past explains her personality we discover later in the book, which I consider a stroke of genius. So much of the book was just me being bewildered at how fascinating and rare her character was. Far from one-dimensional- Zephyr is equal parts unserious, funny, logical and ambitious. She does grow more empathetic as time goes by, caring deeply for the people around her, but it takes time for her to get there. Some would argue that she goes almost too far to get what she wants, and is remorseful in the face of the consequences of her actions.

The person who gets on her nerves the quickest and yet also through the walls she puts up is, surprisingly, her rival- Crow, the advisor to the enemy kingdom.

His character captures the readers despite his page time being relatively shorter than I expected. He’s the perfect other half to Zephyr, like a missing puzzle piece. Despite her refusal to acknowledge it, Crow is one of the people who renders her vulnerable and uncertain. Making her dream of a life she will go against the odds to fight for. 
Yet their loyalties lie in different places, and that’s one thing they can’t simply give up on, even for each other. 

From the moment the book starts, it’s one scheme and manoeuvre after another. The plot is constantly moving, not through elaborate scenes of battle (though those exist as well) but rather through a series of alliances, lies, betrayals and fragile trust. It’s startingly riveting. The book concluded with an interesting twist, immediately leaving the reader wanting more 

 True to its marketing slogan, the author has described it as a K-drama in book form and I can now safely attest to it being true after watching a total of 4 K-dramas. I concede I’m no expert yet. But there’s a certain pattern you begin to notice after watching a couple of shows, as every form of media follows some quintessential beats, especially ones that are meant to cater to the mainstream audience.

The God and the Gumiho is that well-balanced blend of romance and murder mystery that will hit that sweet spot for many readers. The book's first half is dedicated to firmly establishing the characters and the thrilling mystery plotline, while the romance picks up in the second half, along with the dangers and stakes.

The character of the gumiho or the nine-tailed fox, called Kim Hani is a unique and unapologetically flawed main character.

The morals and understanding of right and wrong of the mythical creatures in this book, like goblins, gods, reapers, and foxes are very different from normal humans. And that becomes clear immediately as you get to the first chapter and Kim Hani basically admits to committing a massacre and being quite blasé about it. The only thing she regrets about going on a cannibalistic spree is that this resulted in eating human liver was prohibited for gumihos.

She’s mischievous, willful, and deceitful by default. Her conscience has a lot of growing to do, throughout the book, is what I’m trying to say.

Seokga on the other hand, despite looking down on all creatures as being beneath him, and having a special loathing for humans, also does not feel the need to be anything less of himself to make himself more palatable, even for efficiency’s sake.

Fans of My Demon and K-dramas like The Godblin will certainly enjoy the book because of these aspects.

The story thrills and entertains, as well as engrosses you into this world of mythical beings. The world is so immersive and well-developed.

The story also has an adorable grumpy x sunshine trope, executed to its best. 

 I’ve been on such a good streak of YA Fantasy lately. I had started to think that maybe I had grown out of that phase, but it’s just that I’m slowly becoming not part of the target audience anymore. I’m almost 18, and so it’s kinda understandable that I’ve become more picky with the kind of books I tend to like now from that age range. 

For instance, a book like Tempest of Tea should’ve been right up my alley, but sadly, despite being interested in the plot, the writing style didn’t click with me. 

On the other hand, I think the last two books that I read, that is, Darker by Four by June C.L Tan and Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan are books that will appeal to both- the older YA audience and Adult fantasy readers. 

For instance, readers looking for something a step up from Six of Crows would enjoy Darker by Four and Summer Queen a lot. 

Specifically talking about Summer Queen, I had completely forgotten just how amazing of a writer Rochelle Hassan is. Last year when I read the first book in the series, The Buried and the Bound, I had not expected it to get as dark and violent as it did. On the surface, it seems very adventurous and campy, a story about a teenage witch and a best friend that she makes along the way trying to solve a mystery of unexplained disappearances in their small town. There’s found family and an angsty romantic subplot to mislead the reader into getting real comfortable and emotionally invested in the characters. But right when the reader has taken the bait, the author will raise the stakes and the events will go in an unexpectedly gruesome direction. 

As always, with her impeccable worldbuilding, Hassan expands the setting from the small town of Blackthorn to a much more deadly environment. In this second book, we discover more h about the fae world, and their magic and meet various other magical creatures. Unlike the super hot, sexy fae-type creatures that are popular nowadays, the fae in this book is more like actual dangerous mythical creatures who are cruel and mischievous. Along the lines of the kind in Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, or Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. 

The focus shifts slightly from Aziza to Leo and Tristan a bit, I feel, but I didn’t mind that at all. We still have enough of Aziza. It wasn’t like she was sidelined, but Leo and Tristan had a lot of growing up and facing their feelings to do, in a way. I can’t say too much here because it’s the second book, and anything can be a spoiler. But just drop me a dm or comment below if you’d like to discuss them and scream about this book with me! 

There are also a few new side characters that are introduced that I am starting to adore as well. 

It was a perfect book in terms of character development as well. There is so much that our characters have to go through, so much they suffer, and it is all inexplicably tied into the magic of the world.