BOOK REVIEW: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

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My rating: 2.5/5

‘The eighth story, 19 years later’ This phrase when associated with Harry Potter is more than enough to get any reader, any person who grew up with the Boy Who Lived excited.  I vividly remember when the first announcement about the play came out because I was equal parts excited and heartbroken, knowing that my chances of seeing the play live in London was as good as Umbridge being known as the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts.  And then, as if my prayers were answered, the news about the script book came out and I was over the moon. Never mind the fact that it wasn’t an actual novel but the fact that I’d be getting to go back to my favorite fantasy world and seeing the new generation as well the old was enough for me.

So on the day of the release, I rushed to the nearest bookstore and snagged myself a copy. Despite having read the books when they came out, I was never lucky enough to experience a HP book launch so this occasion was doubly exciting for me. The whole day was something special as I got to interact with so many fellow Potterheads, all strangers initially but united by our shared love of the magical world. It felt like hanging out with some good old friends.

After reading this book, (there were several times where I just had to stop and take a break because the things happening were utter madness), I was left feeling quite conflicted and disappointed. There was this sense of nostalgia but it wasn’t enough for me to look past the flaws.

There are so many reasons to justify my low rating. I can blame it on the stiff writing that I’m praying did not come from Jo. I can blame it on the awkward play format that made it difficult to emotionally connect to the story and the characters.But I won’t because I was expecting these things. I knew beforehand that this was just a script and not entirely Jo's work.

My disappointment comes from the flimsy plot and the carelessness with which our precious characters were handled.

The grown up version of the trio seems to be deprived of their magic (not literal magic) and authenticity. People change all the time and I get that but there were times when I couldn’t even recognize some of the characters because of their actions. Taking away the basic foundation of a person’s character was a low blow. Take Harry for example. I simply refuse to believe he would ever be a bad or inattentive father. Sure their might be a few bumps along the road but Harry in this book was unbelievable. As someone who grew up an orphan and often mistreated by the rest of his family, I’m sure he would know the kind of damage that could do to a child and would never inflict it upon his own children. Dumbing down Hermione and Ginny, using Ron as nothing more than a comic relief, all this will never sit well with me. I guess that’s all there is to say about the characterization without getting into major spoilers.

Moving on to the plot, I don’t even know where to start. I get that this is just a play but that is no excuse for the lack of thoughtfulness and gravity that I associate with all the Harry Potter books. Do the writers even know how much planning Jo did for this series? She had the whole thing mapped out way before she even got to writing the final book and it shows. Comic one-liners are forced into scenes where they do not belong, making it awkward and there were way too many convenient solutions by resorting into deus ex machina.

Also, this book basically contradicted everything we’ve learnt about time-travel in the Wizarding world. Jo had the time turners destroyed for a reason because dealing with time travelling is a messy business. It’s like the writers here never read Prisoner of Azkaban and conveniently tweaked all the laws of time travel for their own benefit. What even… :/

Don’t even get me started on the origins of Delphi. What do they take us readers for? Stupid and gullible?

Moving on to the new generation, Albus Severus Potter you troubled child. Albus made my heart ache in the first few pages. I could see how being Harry Potter’s son isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world but his impoliteness, his self-absorbedness and teenage angst started infuriating me by the time I was halfway into the book.  Albus feels this need to prove himself so he plans to do so by correcting one of the many wrongs done by his dad and from there on, madness (not the god kind) ensues.

The only saving grace about this book was Scorpius Malfoy. He is literally the only likeable character in the book. Who would’ve thought, right?  He is kind, compassionate, troubled, a wizarding geek, brave, funny and just a sweetheart.

There’s so much more I’d like to talk about but I want to keep this review spoiler free so I’m gonna stop now.

All in all, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child works more as a fanfiction (and not a good one) than an actual continuation to the series. For me, Harry Potter ended with ‘All was well’.

Book review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Retelling, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

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“Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.”

I have to be honest, when this book first started getting hyped up, prior to its publication even, I wasn’t interested. But lately, I’ve been in the mood for books set in the Middle East, retellings of the Arabian Nights, so I had to pick this one up. Suffice to say, this one actually lived up to the hype. Everything about this book, the plot, the writing, the characters, and the world-building was fantastic.

Each day, the Caliph of Khorasan; Khalid weds a new girl and at dawn, she is executed. When Shahrzad’s best friend falls victim to this, she volunteers as the next bride and vows to kill the Caliph and avenge her friend’s death. The night of her wedding, Shahrzad extends the date of her execution by telling stories to the Caliph. This way, she manages the impossible feat; she lives to see the next day. And the next. And the next. Quickly, Shazi realizes that nothing is what meets the eye and Khalid is more than what the world thinks him to be; a ruthless, cold-blooded killer, who has his own skeletons in the closet.

"This boy-king, this murderer . . . she would not permit him to destroy another family. To rob another family. To rob another girl of her best friend–of a lifetime filled with memories that had been and never would be."

I absolutely love the setting of this book. It's a Middle Eastern/Arabian setting that's wonderfully depicted. Renee incorporates such rich culture and customs into her book from the food to the decorum, the speech to the costume, and the tales to the geography. This book is big on sensory details. And her writing style makes it all the more colorful and enticing. I felt as if I were transported to another place, another time, where golden sands buried powerful secrets.

Shahrzad (Shazi); the Calipha of Khorasan

She has made it my list of favorite female protagonist. She’s feisty, smart, bold and reliable. You can always count on her to not do something stupid. Her sarcasm, bravery, stubbornness and lack of indecisiveness made her a refreshingly wonderful main character.

Khalid, the Caliph if Khorasan, the King of Kings

To me, it was clear from the beginning that Khalid wasn’t mindlessly murdering girls so I didn’t out rightly hate him like Shazi did. Khalid is enigmatic and elusive. He's thoughtful and caring behind his icy facade. His closed off and standoffish attitude made it hard to relate to him but once we get a glimpse behind that icy facade, you can’t help but adore him.  Khalid is the kind of character that grows on you as more about his past is revealed. He's a well-rounded and complex character that I really loved by the end of the book.

The romance in this book is beautiful. It develops slowly, from hate to grudging acceptance to love. Their relationship is that kind that transcends all odds and I was rooting for them despite everything being against them.  Khalid had a bleak childhood and Shazi is the perfect contrast to that and Khalid in turn checks Shazi's reckless nature and they just fit like puzzle pieces. 

“What are you doing to me, you plague of a girl?” he whispered.
“If I’m a plague, then you should keep your distance, unless you plan on being destroyed.” The weapons still in her grasp, she shoved against his chest.
“No.” His hands dropped to her waist. “Destroy me.” 

The other characters that I really enjoyed seeing were Despina, Shazi’s haindmaiden, Jalal; the captain of the guard and Khalid’s cousin whom I absolutely adored. His unwavering loyalty to his family was inspiring.

There was just something really special about the story. This one mainly focused on Khalid’s secret and the romance and yet the plot was unique. Not much of action takes place but there were lots of hints here and there that I’m sure will be addressed in book 2.

This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I do suggest giving it a try if you’re looking for something unique with a strong heroine and some good romance. 

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS BY CRISTIN TERRILL : SCI-FI - THEME OF THE MONTH

 GENRE: Sci-fi, Young Adult, Dystopia

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All Our Yesterdays, is a sci-fi novel mainly based on the concept of time travel. To say that the concept was stunningly executed, is an understatement. It was not just the concept, but the plot, the characters and the writing also, equally contributed to the book's success in being the best sci-fi book.
To begin with, let me talk about the plot. Without revealing much, this book revolves around Em, who is currently held captive by Doctor who is ruining this world one by one. When one day, Em finds a note saying she has to complete a final instruction in the note, she finds herself fighting against the Doctor, and killing her one and only love. I am not a big fan of romance, and I never even look towards sci-fi novels, and when I find a book with romance AND sc-fi together, I knew I shouldn't pick it up. But I did. And, boy was I surprised! I literally breathed the book, taking everything like wind. Writing a proper review is still very difficult for me, because I'm still inside that book, and I refuse to come out of this.
The characters of this book were mind-blowing. The protagonist Em living in the future, is everything from badass to caring. She is definitely my favorite literary hero. On the other hand, Em's past self, Marina, is a very different, though not opposite of Em. Like every other girl, who cares about her looks, and wants to fall in love with the perfect guy, Marina is everything Em is not. But, what is strikingly similar about them is their caring nature, their love, and their strong personality. The male leads, James and Finn, love interests of Marina and Em, respectively, are pure awesomeness. And what is strangely beautiful, is the love triangle which seems to grow out their their relationships.

“I've been scared of so much stupid crap in my life. Making a bad grade or not fitting in. God, I was scared of you. And it was all such a waste. None of it matters now that the real scary shit is here.”

Lastly, what stood out for me is the writing. No matter how great a plot is, and how striking the characters, what binds a story together is its writing. I often find myself bored when the writing is not good. and if the writing is good, I'll love it no matter what the story is like. In this case, the writing was so good, that it was a cherry on the top, for such a powerful story and such amazing characters. Cristin Terrill writes beautifully, yet powerfully. It makes a lasting impact, and even when the story ends, you'll find yourself wanting for more.

“The truth is, the world is a f*cked up place sometimes.”

 What are your Sci-Fi reads this month, tell us about it with the hashtag #ficfortressreads on any social media.

Varsha's Top 5 Reads of 2015

2015 was a wonderful year for me in terms of reading. Even though I couldn't read as much as I wanted to (thank you Uni), I enjoyed almost all the books that I did read and also discovered so many new authors.

1. THE LUMATERE CHRONICLES BY MELINA MARCHETTA

Genre: High Fantasy

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The amazing series tops my reading list for 2015. Melina Marcehetta has this way with words that just leaves me awestruck and having read her contemporaries, I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this series but boy was I wrong. This series is full of real characters, mystery, action, adventure and hope. 

What's the first book about? It starts with three friends, a prophetic dream and a blood pledge, 

Followed by an invasion, a terrible curse and the struggle of one people to take back what they lost. 

This series deserves all the love in the world so go read it, ya'll :)

“Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?” 

-Melina Marchetta 

2. Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Genre: Fanstay

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A book centered around a heist? It has to make my list :P I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up loving this book because I am not a fan of Leigh Bardug's Grisha trilogy. But this one blew my mind. In this book, six misfits come together to pull off an impossible heist and I loved every page of it. The plot was epic and crazy and adventurous and just grabs your attention and does not let go till the very end. The world building is done beautifully and what I loved the most about this book is the characters. All of them were so incredibly well fleshed out and the interactions between them was so entertaining. 

Highly recommended. 

"“A gambler,a convict,a wayward son,a lost Grisha,a Suli girl who had become a killer,a boy from the Barrel who had become something worse.”

-Leigh Bardugo

3. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fantasy

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One of the best sequels I've ever read. Blue Lily, Lily Blue is the 3rd book in The Raven Cycle quartet and is one of the most unique books I've ever read. I was mesmerized by the complexity and ingenuity of the story. Blue Lily, Lily Blue took my breath away. It was everything I wanted it to be and so much more.

Seers, clairvoyance, Welsh kings, dreamers, all this sets up this vivid, palpable atmosphere that I could feel deep in my bones.  The last book, The Raven King is my most anticipated release of 2016.

". . . what she didn't realize about Blue and her boys was that they were all in love with one another. She was no less obsessed with them than they were with her, or one another, analyzing every conversation and gesture, drawing out every joke into a longer and longer running gag, spending each moment either with one another or thinking about when next they would be with one another."

-Maggie Stiefvater 

4. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas

Genre: Fantasy

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Besides Winter, QoS was my most anticipated releases of 2015 and it also turned out be the best in the series so far. I love how this series keeps getting better with each book and the characters, they grow stronger and deadlier, more fierce and passionate. We see in QoS how they're a far cry from the characters we met in the fist book, hardened by blood and betrayal.  Maas is a genius for the way she went about the character and plot development. The plot in this one was constantly changing and Maas' writing was fantastic. I loved the changes of mood and atmosphere, how quickly it happened and yet it did never left me unbalanced.  Cannot wait for the next book. 

“They joined hands.
So the world ended.
And the next one began.” 

-Sarah J Maas 

5. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Genre: Fantasy 

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A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a touch a Greek mythology. It's everything a fantasy lover could ever ask for. It had everything I look for in a book; an imperfect heroine, unpredictable mystery, fascinating setting and backstory, characters that are as real as you and me and beautiful writing. This wasn't a light read but I liked that it showed the most evil aspects of human nature and the dark and twisted side of fairy tales. This book was truly mesmerizing.

"He is a monster, I said. Maybe I m a monster to pity him.”

-Rosamund Hodge

Stardust Watch-Along Party

Hiiiii book people!

We've come up with a fun plan that we think you guys are going to LOVE!

As you might already know, we're reading two books this month-

1. The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh
2. Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

Stardust was adapted into a movie so it's quite obvious that we should watch it after reading the book, right?

How about watching it together?

Yes, a movie watch-along party is what we have on our mind.

Here's how it's going to work:

1. Read Stardust by September 26, 2015 (Saturday)

It's a quick 250-page read. If you have any troubles getting the book, send us an email and we'll do what we can to help you out.

2.Watch the movie, Saturday 

Time:
9PM IST
3:30PM GMT
11:30AM US Time

We'll live-tweet through the movie, You'll live tweet through it.
We'll gasp, drool, fangirl and have a helluva time.
Don't forget to use the hashtag #stardustwithff while tweeting.

3. Month end book (and movie) discussion of "Stardust" on September 27, 2015 (Sunday) on Goodreads and Instagram

Leave a comment if you're planning to join us.

If you have any questions, drop in an email or comment below :)

So, it's a date.

BOOK REVIEW : SCION OF IKSHAVKU

   

Title : Scion of Ikshvaku

Author : Amish Tripathi

Publisher : Westland Publication
Published on : May 13th 2015 

SYNOPSIS

Ram Rajya. The Perfect Land. But perfection has a price. He paid that price.

3400 BCE. INDIA
Ayodhya is weakened by divisions. A terrible war has taken its toll. The damage runs deep. The demon King of Lanka, Raavan, does not impose his rule on the defeated. He, instead, imposes his trade. Money is sucked out of the empire. The Sapt Sindhu people descend into poverty, despondency and corruption. They cry for a leader to lead them out of the morass. Little do they appreciate that the leader is among them. One whom they know. A tortured and ostracised prince. A prince they tried to break. A prince called Ram.
He loves his country, even when his countrymen torment him. He stands alone for the law. His band of brothers, his Sita, and he, against the darkness of chaos.
Will Ram rise above the taint that others heap on him? Will his love for Sita sustain him through his struggle? Will he defeat the demon Lord Raavan who destroyed his childhood? Will he fulfil the destiny of the Vishnu?

Begin an epic journey with Amish’s latest: the Ram Chandra Series.

REVIEW

Amish Tripathi, famous for his best-selling trilogy, the Shiva Trilogy, yet again takes your breath away with his astounding writing and stunning imagination. He writes stories that can leave you wanting for more. Only Amish can make you forget the difference between fiction and reality. And yet again, with Scion of Ikshvaku, we get an idea about the present India. 

Ram, lives in a society of corruption, where rules play no role in the socirty. Ram, a believer of rules, wish to change the society, but the journey to the perfect society as desired by him is far, far away. Every Indian can relate to this scenario, as India today, is somewhere at that point. Any crime can be forgotten through loopholes and corruption. Will we ever find the perfect society driven by rules and truth? That is answer we need to find. 

What I loved the best about the book is the way everything connects to the present society as well as the mythological times. I do not have words to describe the imagination used to write such an amazing story and only a true genius can weave words to blow your mind away. 

The characters are too amazing to ignore. Lord Ram and his wife Sita, are the perfect couple, who believes in the establishment and exercising the rules of the society. Nothing and nobody is higher than rules. 

Bharat and Lakshman, the much loved brothers of Ram, who are the most blessed souls and who can go to any lengths to protect their brother. 

Every other characters adds to the beauty of the story. 

All I want is the second book in the series! 

HAVE YOU READ SCION OF IKSHVAKU?

Book Review: The Deep End Of The Sea

Title: The Deep End of the Sea
Author: Heather Lyons
Publisher: Cerulean Books
Publication Date: February 5, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Greek Mythology, New Adult

SYNOPSIS

What if all the legends you've learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.

REVIEW

Most of you who are familiar with Greek mythology are aware of Medusa. A woman cursed by Athena and turned into a snake headed monster whose eyes could turn anyone to stone.

Heather Lyons has taken this same Medusa's legend and has turned it into a wonderful and heartfelt story of redemption, hope, love and friendship. And I love this book

"I am a monster. The worst kind of monster. The kind that people have told stories about for thousands of years. The kind that daredevils.. seek out, even though many believe I'm nothing more than a myth. I am the Gorgon Medusa. And my eyes can turn anything living to stone."

THE CHARACTERS

1. Medusa

Medusa might have been a monster in appearance but her heart was gentle. Right in the beginning of the story, we see her wallow in guilt because of the people who have lost their lives due to her curse. For about two thousand years she's lived alone in a remote island haunted by gruesome memories. She has two friends who visit her occasionally, the blind old man Mikkos and Hermes(yes the god Hermes) who doesn't seem to care about the risk of death but for her and only her.

Just a few chapters in and all I wanted to do was hug Medusa and tell her everything would be alright. I wanted to put her in a safe bubble and protect her. She's so strong, yet unaware of it and so hesitant to trust and love again and that's completely understandable. She struggles to come to terms with her past and learns to trust other people.

2. Hermes

Hermes is Medusa's best friend and oh man do I love him. He's that sort of a person who goes out of his way to make other people happy but he doesn't trust easily. After seeing Medusa suffer for centuries, he finally decides it's time to change that and brings her case to the Assembly. Thanks to him, and a few other gods(mainly Hades) Medusa is given a second chance at living.

Its clear to the readers that Hermes is hopelessly in love with Dusa (Hermes' name for her) but it takes sometime for her to realize that. I loved how their friendship blossomed into love and Medusa learnt to trust someone else. What I liked a lot is the fact that Hermes was initially attracted to Medusa's personality; her kindness and compassion long before her curse was removed.

"What kind of so-called monster weeps like her heart had shattered and never would form whole again?... I knew from that very second I heard your anguish. I'm afraid I was lost to you from that moment on. I had to discover all that made you you."

THE MYTHOLOGY

I loved how the Greek gods were portrayed in this book. They're human by nature and many mortals have suffered at their hands. As much as I loved their portrayal, I truly hated Athena and Poseidon and for most part of the book, I just couldn't understand why these two couldn't let go of something that happened two thousand years back. I've read many books based on Greek mythology and this is the first time I've hated some of the gods.

In contrast to those two, we have Hades and Persephone and I loved them. I loved how these two supported Medusa and were trying to right the wrongs of their crazy siblings. I also loved their back story. Aphrodite and Hephaestus too were charming together.

Until this book, I never really gave much thought to Medusa because she was always the villain but now, seeing her as the victim has changed my perception of her. I absolutely loved her character in this book and never will I ever be able to see her as anything other than the Medusa Heather Lyons has created.

Have you read The Deep End of the Sea?

Book Review: An Ember In The Ashes

Title: An Ember In The Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin Random House)
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian

SYNOPSIS

Laia is a slave.
Elias is a soldier.
Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They've seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.



PLOT

The story describes a Dystopian society called Empire, which is divided into Martials, the ruthless soldiers who show no mercy to the Scholars who were overthrown by the Martials, some five hundred years ago. Events are shown through the perspectives of Laia, a Scholar and Elias, a Martial.

MAIN CHARACTERS

1. Laia, an orphan who saw her grandparents killed and brother Darin, taken into custody by the Martials, vows to bring back her brother and thus begins a series of events which leads her to get into the Blackcliff Military Academy as a spy for the Resistance, which is a group of Scholars fighting against the Martials.

2. Elias, a Martial, who was brought into Blackcliff to be trained into a Mask (a soldier) but secretly hates it. She finds him enslaved by the rules of Blackcliff and was going to run away from them, when he was made a candidate for the new Emperor. He finds himself fighting against his own people to become the Emperor, a title which he doesn't even care about.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

There are some amazing characters who want to help Laia, even if it means it will kill them; Izzi and Cook, Keenan, Sana and others. There are some ruthless characters who want nothing but power and they can go to any lengths to torture others and establish their superiority, like the Commandant, Mazen and Marcus. And then, there are some characters, who are not happy with their situation, yet they remain loyal, like Helene, Dex and Faris.

REVIEW

There are books which make you smile. There are books which fills you up with emotions. And there are books which will drive you mad with fury, and An Ember In The Ashes is one of them. I did not feel happiness or fluttering butterflies when I read this book, only rage uneasiness and fear, and hell, I loved it.

I couldn’t put this down even for a minute; the story pulls you deeply into the lives of the characters and you can almost feel like living inside the story and witnessing everything with your own eyes. Such is the detail with which Tahir has written this book. You forget what is real and what is not, and you’ll find yourself getting more and more drawn with each passing page.

I loved it how the characters aren't perfect in any way and how they hate their situations. The characters develop eventually, into some badass people who are determined to change their lives, along with those they can help with. They know how to find happiness even when they are suffering the worst.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the two love triangles. Helene and Elias had a very beautiful friendship which was compromised when Helene started falling for him. Laia and Keenan had quite an interesting relationship, and I don’t really like their chemistry, yet I can’t make myself to hate it, either. Laia and Elias have something which cannot be explained. It’s complicated. There are sparks of love, sympathy and even empathy in their relationship. And again, I cannot hate it or even love it, either.

“Nan always said that as long as there is life, there is hope.”

Then there are characters which make you dread for life, which makes you relieved that you don’t live in the Empire. The Commandant is an arrogant creature, who can go to any extent for power and dominance. You can feel yourself fret whenever Laia sneaks out or even gets up late. You get Goosebumps every time Commandant is in the scene and you feel yourself standing beside her. Then there is Marcus, whose thirst for authority can be seen when he kills his own twin. He is another character for whom establishing his authority is the only life goal.

I can only say, that I need a sequel to this or I’ll cry myself to death, I swear.
As J. K. Rowling says, “There are stories which live with you forever”, and when you turn the last page of this book, you know that this story will live with you forever and beyond.

Have you read An Ember In The Ashes?