Rich world with lots of magic and political intrigue. ( )

Specifics:

Book: Hunted by the Sky

Author: Tanaz Bhathrna

Published: 22nd June 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

LGBTQIA pro literature: Yes

Publisher: penguin Books

Series: The Wrath of Ambar #1

Pages: 374

My rating: 4/5


Blurb:

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks happen disappearing for years. In fact it is this very mark that led to her parents' murder at the hands of king Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding in order to protect her own life. So, when a group of rebel women called the 'Sisters of the Golden Lotus' rescue her, take her in and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.

Cavas lives in the tenements, and he's just about ready to sign his life over to the king's army. His father is terminally ill, but Cavas will do anything to save him. Sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl - Gul - in the capital's bazaar. As the chemistry between them grows undeniably, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances bring Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar fort - a world with secrets deadlier than their own.

Inspired by medieval India, this is the first in a stunning fantasy duology by Tanaz Bhathena, exploring identity, class struggles and high-stakes romance against a breathtaking magical backdrop.

Review:

It's the most refreshing fantasy that I got to read this year. I finished it in a day and I am so glad I picked it up.

I love magic and when a desi touch was added to the never ending fantasy reads on my tbr, I feel like I am ready to take more on again.

Hunted by the Sky is a very well written story about a girl named Gul who seems to be the only hope to restore order between the folks that have magic and the ones that don't ( dirt-lickers as they call them). In her journey, she is helped by a lot of people pushing her towards the right direction but it's only her will and choices that will lead her to acclaim the prophecy which she was apparently born to fulfil.

The premise is alluring and the characters are strong. The writing is very smooth and relatable probably because of the use of desi words. The book is fast paced which was expected since it's a YA Fantasy but that is also helped with the amazing twists that hit us from time to time.

The introduction of new characters is not confusing at all. Infact, it happened at the right times and in the right ways. We get to know the story from two POVs. One of Gul and the other is of Cavas, the protagonists.

Having read a lot of fantasies, I couldn't help but recollect a few scenes from the Grisha trilogy, Harry Potter and serpent and dove. I also couldn't help but link the story to a lot of dramatic scenes seen in the bollywood movies like the meeting of Gul and Cavas to a scene in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. But, that only made the book more interesting for me.

I cannot stop myself from imagining this story being picked up to be a movie with someone like Deepika or Anushka Shetty as Gul.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly. My only disdain is that I didn't go through a range of emotions while at it. I didn't form an emotional connection with the characters or the story.

The book, being the part one of a duology also ends on a cliffhanger and a lot of unanswered questions. While it gets me anxious, I also cannot wait for part 2 to be out.

I rate the book 4/5 stars.

Spoiler alert:

The subtle surprises and shocks that the author gives us through out the story are mind blowing.

The ones that kept me wanting more were: Cavas being a seer which I totally called when I learned about them, Juhi being an ex-wife of the king Lohar being tortured by him, Latif being a spirit and the biggest of them all, Major Shyla being the daughter of Queen Megha!

I am also really intrigued by Pashu King Subodh being alive and the new city of Tanaz showing up. I have so many questions and I really want to know who the real father of Cavas is. I can't help but wonder if it's Latif.

Coming to the characters:

Gulnaz: Our protagonist lost her parents at a tender age of 14 for being born with a star shaped birthmark as there is a prophecy which mentions that the king's rule will be overturned by a girl born with such a mark. He takes it upon himself to capture such girls and drain them out of magic and kill them. Gul's parents die trying to save her. (Major Harry potter vibes) Gul has always had trouble on controlling her magic but her desire to get revenge helps her learn to wield it. She is a very driven and motivated woman who sees her goals and tries to do everything she can to achieve them. She is also very passionate and loving which is obvious by her reactions to other girls being killed or taken away for being born with a mark.

Cavas: The stable boy who's father is sick with tenement fever is doing everything he can to keep his father alive. He is nudged by his father to get Gul into the palace. He hates the Magi folks because of the discrimination he receives and is unable to muster the courage to accept the fact that he is half-magi when he finds out about it. He is what you could call an ideal son. He would do anything for his father which does not change when he finds out that his father is not his birth-father at all.

Sisters of the Golden Lotus: Formed by Juhi, the sisters protect all the girls and women in need. The first two members are Amira and Kali, both with birth marks leading to them being tortured and rescued by Juhi. They continue to rescue and train helpless or abandoned girls, with or without magic and provide them with a home. They play a vital role in helping Gul reach her potential and also help her escape her in the end. Juhi and Amira are caught in the process and I really hope they won't see an end in part 2.

What I liked about it:

1. Amazing fantasy with a unique desi touch
2. Good writing with a good pace
3. Fast read
4. Strong female characters
5. LGBTQIA pro literature
6. The character development is great
7. I want a star tattoo already!
8. It has a map!

What I did not fancy:

1. A lot of unanswered questions
2. Ends with a cliffhanger
3. I couldn't connect with the book emotionally ( )

Book Title: Hunted by the sky
Author: Tanaz Bhathena
Format: Kindle

My Thoughts:
Of late I have been really liberal in my choice of choosing the books. Maybe, due to COVID times, books are really helping me out to scrap off the pressure. At this juncture, I have been reading a lot of non-fiction and Fantasy genre books. This book ' Hunted by the sky ' by Tanaz Bhatena did not disappoint me. The book is a perfect choice for the readers who are more onto fantasy fiction mixed up with mythologyhistory. It was way back a decade ago when I first read The Shiva Trilogy and after that, it is observed that myth-fiction has been the happening genre in Indian authors. Likewise, though not an Indian author, but this book by Tanaz reminded me of those fantast fiction ones.

In this book, what I really liked is the story. Normally, the story is taken a back seat but the narration is always the best when it comes to such fantasy fiction. Likewise, here I really enjoyed the fantasy world creation. This book, 'Hunted by the Sky' is inspired by medieval India and is very overwhelming. The readers can easily be lost in the wonderful world created by the author in the story. The descriptions were so rich and amazing, especially the food descriptions. It is no doubt that the reader reading would actually feel hungry.
The mythology and the history mentioned in the story is captivating and amazing. The mystery and the magic world and the subplots related are very well described.

A quick look into the story
The book, Hunted by the Sky, set in a medieval India-inspired fantasy world. The story begins with a murder. The protagonist, Gul watches the murder. Being helpless, as her parents are slaughtered by the king’s warrior, Major Shayla, who has been assigned to hunt down girls born with star-shaped birthmarks—like Gul, just watches the mayhem. Girls with such birthmarks are to be killed as there is a prophecy that those girls will kill the king.
Meanwhile, Gul is rescued by an underground sisterhood that trains her to learn and use magic. She swears she will take revenge against Shayla and the king. Then Gul meets Cavas, an ordinary boy who works in the palace stables and helps Gul pose as a member of the queen’s staff. Gul’s vengeance might bring down a king, but it could also destroy the kingdom and everyone she has come to care about.

What to expect from the story?
The story has all emotions including compassion and vengeance.

Who can read the story?
This fantasy story is a treat to YA ( Young Adults ), children, and fantasy genre lovers.

My take on ¬the characters
The characters are probably the best part of the book. They all manage to create a good and able impact on the readers. I particularly liked the way the character of Gul is written. Also, the King's character is one of the most entertaining once.

How good is the Author's writing
Author Tanaz is known for interesting narrative skills. This my first book of hers, and I absolutely liked her narration and writing style. Though the book is a work of fantasy fiction mixed with culture and mythological aspects, the story seems to be engaging and entertaining.

Language, Grammar & Vocabulary
The language used in the story is simple and non-complex. Also, the vocabulary and other Grammar elements used are rich and uncomplicated. Because of the simple yet fascinating language and storytelling the book can be read by readers of any age.

How entertaining is the book?
With a fascinating story that oscillates between cultures and characters, the story of ' Hunted By The Sky' by Tanaz is extremely entertaining. It is not so often that readers like me who are inclined mostly towards realistic fiction find fantasy fiction an entertaining genre. I will look forward to reading other books from Author Tanaz.

About book title and the book cover
The book title 'Hunted by the sky' is intriguing and enchanting. The cover image of the book is a picture of a young woman draped in silk and jewels with a courageous look on her face. The tattoo on her shoulder is very captivating.

Final Verdict
An extremely entertaining fantasy action story

Rating: 3/5

( )

Definitely a 4.5.

I was initially pretty disappointed when I got rejected for the ARC, but I guess that ended up being a good thing because I had one less book to feel guilty about for missing the release date. And then I was pretty excited to get to it because all my friends loved it so much and now I know exactly why.

This book is so fast paced that it starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. The plot does have some quieter and somber moments where the characters get to show their softer or vulnerable sides, but otherwise this story is relentless and we as readers are on our toes for most of it, wondering eagerly what’s gonna happen next. The prose is easy to follow, just how I like it and I got through it in just a few hours.

And coming to the desi elements, this world was so steeped in them that I was completely lost and absolutely gleeful about it. The medieval India based kingdoms, their customs and traditions, the gods and goddesses bearing so much similarity to Hindu mythology, the delightfully described food and clothes and setting - it was all utterly perfect. But ultimately what really made me emotional was the abundant use of mostly Hindi language vocabulary - sometimes explained, sometimes not - and I just loved the author for doing that.

Gul and Cavas are such amazing characters to follow. Gul is defined by what happened to her parents and wants revenge, prophecy or not; on the other hand, Cavas is shaped by the prejudices of this world which keep his father ill and himself unable to do anything but survive despite being capable of so much more. They can feel like impulsive teenagers at times, but we also understand where they are coming from and root for them every step of the way. And right from their first meeting, their destinies feel connected and I think the author captured that push and pull between them very effectively. The story is also about them coming to think beyond themselves and concentrate on the big picture, and take actions for the sake of the greater good.

There are many other side characters here and I really enjoyed every one of them. Whether it’s Juhi with her strategic mind and motherly concern, Amira with her sharp tongue, Kali with her soft strength, Xerxes with his secrets, Amar with his mysterious actions in the shadows, Malti with her delightful disposition or ultimately Shayla with her pointed cruelty - every single character leaves a mark on us and I can’t wait to see what happens to each of them further in the story.

In the end, this was an action packed YA fantasy based on a medieval India filled with gods and magic, with a chosen one trope executed very well, an excellent ensemble of characters, and a story that wraps up nicely while leaving enough breadcrumbs that we crave for the sequel. If you are an ownvoices desi reader and haven’t read this yet, I promise you are missing out. ( )

Contains spoilers!!!

A girl, Gul,born with a star birthmark on her arm is destined to be the saviour of a group of people, though she doubts her self. Her magic, which includes being able to talk to animals, does not seem very strong to her.
She meets a stablehand, Cavas, who does not know who he is at the time of their first meeting, but it is important that the two of them stay together. ( )