Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: Kaikeyi Author: Vashnavi Patel ISBN: 978-0-7595-5733-8 Publisher: Redhook Type of book: ancient India, godhood, Ramayana, Rama, Kaikeyi, politics, ACE representation, traditions old and new, women's roles in kingdom, supernatural, war, threads and bonds, rakshasa, asura, gods, Kosala  Year it was published: 2022 Summary: "Patel’s mesmerizing debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from the Ramayana….This easily earns its place on shelves alongside Madeline Miller’s Circe." –Publishers Weekly (starred review) “I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.” So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Y...

Name of Book: The Hunger of the Gods Author: John Gwynne  ISBN: 978-0-316-53992-0 Publisher: Orbit Part of a Series: The Bloodsworn Type of book: Fantasy, agenda, wars, fighting, gods and goddesses, northern Europe, devotion, cold stark world, adventure  Year it was published: 2022 Summary: The Hunger of the Gods continues John Gwynne’s acclaimed Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance. Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone agai...

Name of Book: Peach Blossom Spring Author: Melissa Fu ISBN: 978-0-316-28673-2 Publisher: Little, Brown Type of book: 1938-2005, China, Taiwan, ww2, travel, survival, bombs, Asian male/white female relationship, USA, racism, rape, marriage, family, heritage, stories, tales, culture, left out, identity crisis  Year it was published: 2022 Summary: A "beautifully rendered" novel about war, migration, and the power of telling our stories, Peach Blossom Spring follows three generations of a Chinese family on their search for a place to call home (Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author). "Within every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune, and so it goes, until the end of time." It is 1938 in China and, as a young wife, Meilin’s future is bright. But with the Japanese army approaching, Meilin and her four year old son, Renshu, are forced to flee their home. Relying on little but their wits and a beautifully illustrated...

Name of Book: Atomic Anna Author: Rachel Barenbaum  ISBN: 978-1-5387-3486-5 Publisher: Grand Central Type of book: Russia, Armenia, time travel, science, 1917, 1940s-1997, family, nation, Chernobyl, hideaway, art, expression, talent, mathematics, science, growing up, adoptive families, families, secrets, life, death, alternative timelines, changes  Year it was published: 2022 Summary: From the author of A Bend in the Stars, an epic adventure as three generations of women work together and travel through time to prevent the Chernobyl disaster and right the wrongs of their past.   Three brilliant women. Two life-changing mistakes. One chance to reset the future. In 1986, renowned nuclear scientist, Anna Berkova, is sleeping in her bed in the Soviet Union when Chernobyl’s reactor melts down. It’s the exact moment she tears through time—and it’s an accident. When she opens her eyes, she’s landed in 1992 only to discover Molly, her estranged daughter, shot in the chest. Molly,...

Name of Book: The Bladed Faith Author: David Dalglish  ISBN: 978-0-7595-5708-6 Publisher: Orbit Part of a Series: Vagrant Gods Type of book: fantasy, island kingdom, revenge, hidden prince, mask, motivations, religion, wars, destroyed gods, secrets, belief  Year it was published: 2022 Summary: A usurped prince prepares to take up the mantel of a deadly assassin and reclaim his kingdom, his people, and his slain gods in this epic fantasy from a USA Today bestselling author. Cyrus was only twelve years old when his gods were slain, his country invaded, and his parents—the king and queen—beheaded in front of him. Held prisoner in the invader's court for years, Cyrus is suddenly given a chance to escape and claim his revenge when a mysterious group of revolutionaries comes looking for a figurehead. They need a hero to strike fear into the hearts of the imperial and to inspire and unite the people. They need someone to take up the skull mask and swords and to become the legendary "...

 I almost forgot what it was like to read thick juicy novels. It can be good and immersive yet it can also be exhaustive, for it really depends on the authors style. I already have two novels waiting for reviews: THE BLADED FAITH by David Dalglish and ATOMIC ANNA by Rachel Barenbaum. I probably won't be getting some books as I desire, although not for the lack of trying. I had hoped for BIG GIRL by Mecca Jamillah Sullivan as well as few others, but yeah, no luck on that particular front. Without further adieu here are my plans.  Planned Reads  The Burgess boys by Elizabeth Strout  The room on rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel The lost girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff  Nine inches by Tom Perotta  Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel  The shadow of the gods by John Gwynne  The poison prince by S.C. Emmett  The bloody throne by S.C. Emmett  The five wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade  Killing time by Brenna Ehrlich Summer of reckoning by Marion Brunet  ...

The stardust thief- Chelsea Abdullah  SR: April 20th, 2022 FR:  THE bladed faith- David Dalgish SR: March 29th, 2022 FR: April 6th, 2022 THE throne of the five winds- S.C. Emmett SR: March 12th 2022 FR:  Peach blossom spring- Melissa Fu SR: March 29th, 2022  FR: April 20th, 2022 The hunger of the gods- John Gwynne  SR: April 6th, 2022 FR: April 30th, 2022 Kaikeyi- Vaishnavi Patel SR: April 20th, 2022 FR: April 30th, 2022 The five wounds- Kirsten Valdez Quade  SR: April 30th, 2022 FR:  The shore- Katie Runde SR: April 30th, 2022 FR:   Paradise close- Lisa Russ Spaar SR: March 31st, 2022 FR:  April 20th, 2022 Nonfiction: