#i abandoned my old tumblr bc it was exclusively fandom and look where I've ended up again

[hauntedpearl]

Book Recommendation #1

Goodreads | Book 1 Book 2 | Tanaz Bhathena

The Wrath Of Ambar Duology by Tanaz Bhathena is one of my most favourite YA fantasy series' ever!! This book series is set an Indian (& Persian) culture and Hindu mythology inspired world, and it is UNPUTDOWNABLE!

There is a distinct lack of books that are *not* retellings of the Mahabharata when it comes to books which take inspiration from Hindu Mythology, and to find this series when I was getting incredibly frustrated with Indian-inspired fiction was a boon, honestly!

Bhathena does an incredible job of building a world that's complex and does not shy away from talking about the more cruel parts of Indian culture. She touches on the atrocities of the cast system and the rampant misogyny, but at the same time, she does not demonize the "common man" as it were. Everyone has a responsiblity to be receptive to change, but the government has a duty to bring that change about, and this book does a great job of showing how sometimes governements keep opppressive systems in place for their own gain.

While all this political and social commentary is heavy and present throughout, there is also some really fun banter, a sweet romance and a very interesting magic system in this series! The story is pretty much your standard Chosen One narrative, but it really did not get the least bit boring for me! Not because of the plot itself, but because the setting and the characters make it so engaging that you just want to keep reading!

Bhathena has talked about how she took inspiration from The Gulabi Gang for the group of all-female rebels in this book called The Sisterhood of the Golden Lotus. Which is like. HELLO??? These women are The Coolest™ part of this series and I adore them so much!!!

I definitely liked the first book more, mostly because it is a story that's character driven and it lets you explore Ambar as a setting and ~feel~ it out a little. The sequel is very plot-intensive and super fast paced, and I felt a little disconnected to all these characters I had grown to love for a good quarter of the book. It didn't dampen the enjoyment of the series that much for me, but it did feel like a little step down from the first book, so....you know.

Overall, though, this series made for a super enjoyable reading experience and made me feel all warm inside because it had characters who looked like me and dressed like me and ate like me in it!! I genuinely forgot that I was reading a book in English, tbvh. Like I'd read a very angrezi word and then realize that 'oh, wait, this isn't hindi!' That's how immersive it was!!!

LASTLY, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THOSE COVERS, HELLO???

(I A M D E C E A S E D)

Definitely pick this lovely series up if you're someone interested in Young Adult fiction because you're gonna have a great time! Also hmu if you've read and/or are reading these books and would like to scream about events etc.,

Rising Like A Storm releases on the 22nd of June, 2021. Links to purchase Hunted By The Sky and pre-order Rising Like A Storm from book depository are up there, if you're interested!

PS: Do NOT read that first book when you're hungry because there is a lot of decadent Indian food described and it will make you want to just eat the book.

CWs: mentions of physical and sexual abuse, torture, death, mild gore, panic attacks, PTSD, casteist and misogynistic violence.

South Asian book recommendations (1/?)

I've been thinking about posting some book related content here for a while now so I just decided to kick things off with a recommendation series featuring books I would like for more people to read! So here we are! I hope you guys find a new favourite or two from this series! we'll see how it goes! Have a good one, y'all! Happy reading! ✨

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#FINALLY DOING BOOKISH POSTS LIKE I FIRST MEANT TO WHEN I MADE THIS ACCOUNT!! #i abandoned my old tumblr bc it was exclusively fandom and look where I've ended up again #anyway we are attempting to diversify content here so let's see how this goes #doe talks books #doe's south asian book recs #doe's book recs #book reccs #young adult fiction #young adult fantasy #hunted by the sky #rising like a storm #the wrath of ambar #tanaz bhathena #books #booklr #diverse books #indian inspired fiction #favourite books #books of tumblr #books you must read #book blogging #fantasy books #book photography #bookish #2021 releases #south asian books #not spn