It’s been a while since I’ve done an update on what I’ve borrowed from the library so I figure today was the day! My local library only just reopened a couple of weeks ago after being closed for 2 months due to covid, so I went straight in and borrowed some fresh books to read! I’m trying to catch up and get into some of the cult favourite fantasy books that have been out and beloved for ages now and my library actually holds a lot of these books which works out perfectly for me!
This book is a fun contemporary about a girl named Dimple who has just graduated high school and is going to a 6 week course at San Francisco University where she meets Rishi. They have been brought together by their parents to hopefully get married one day, Dimple is very much opposed to the union and Rishi wanting to appease his parents has agreed.
This seems unrealistic but I have a feeling this kind of situation probably happens often. I think the fact that Dimpleās parents didnāt warn her first was a little problematic especially when they feigned innocence when she called and confronted them. But they do end up apologising and supporting Dimpleās decision in the end.
Dimple came across a little arrogant at times for me. She can be quite dramatic and doesnāt really take into consideration other peopleās thoughts and opinions. She writes Rishi off pretty quickly and then once she gets to know him realises how wrong she is and then pushes him away again. It was a little frustrating and I thought it was a little ironic that she called Rishi the coward.
Ā I actually really enjoyed Rishi, I found him adorably naĆÆve when it came to Dimple and their first meeting was hilariously cute. The respect he has for his parents was honourable and even though he disagrees with them in the end he was able to work it out maturely. I loved that he has a backbone and calls out inappropriate behaviour from those around him, not caring if he made people uncomfortable!
Culture really means a lot to both Dimple and Rishi and I loved that it was explored throughout the course of the plot line. Their beliefs had an impact upon every decision that they made and we see them both reflecting a lot on what their parents would think and how they would be perceived in their community.
I just thought the relationship progressed too quickly and felt a little rushed to me. I would have liked if they would have more time to cultivate their friendship before jumping straight into a quite serious relationship in the course of a month. Even though they met when they were younger it wasnāt as if they were ever friends.Ā Just a tad too insta-lovey for me personally!
āļø3/5 Cute, fun, didn’t blow me away by any means!
It’s time for another WWW Wednesday update!
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
The Devouring GrayĀ by Christine Lynne Herman
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is the books I plan to read this Winter! I’ve gone over my previous seasonal TBR’s and I found I haven’t really been sticking to them a whole lot, I do however have a lot of fun compiling the list of book I am excited to read!Ā
The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence
Blood Heir by Amelie Wen Zhao
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
Heart of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto
Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
The Red Queen’s War Series by Mark Lawrence
*Spoilers Below*
This book is about a girl named Nora Walker who comes from a long line of Walker women who are rumoured to be witches. They have always lived on the edge of a haunted wood named the Winterwood that only Walker woman can traverse as finders of the mysterious objects thatās appear there.
I absolutely loved the overall premise and atmosphere of this book. I think it is definitely one of Shea Ernshawās strengths in her writing, I felt like I was actually there on the mountain experiencing the freezing cold along with Nora.
The history of the Walker women was super fascinating and I absolutely loved the fact that we got inserts from their history and their recipes theyāve come up with over the years. It added much needed depth and a sense of history that really reinforced the whimsical nature of these women and how each of their stories impacted Nora throughout the plot.
Nora at times I thought was a little naĆÆve and unprepared for the situations that she walked into. Going to that party and trying to confront those boys and ending up stranded and locked in the room unable to help herself was a little frustrating at times. She definitely had the best intentions, especially when they built the fire too close to the trees, but she lacked a bit of assertiveness. Even when she was leading them to the Winterwood even though she knew they shouldnāt go in there she didnāt really do anything to prevent the situation.
The romance was a little too insta-lovey for me as well. They didnāt really know each other for that long and the fact that this girl literally went back in time to save him demonstrating how much she loved him was a tad much for me to be really convinced. If they had maybe spent a little more time together and actually cultivated a relationship I would be more inclined to believe it.
Other than that I was swept away into the story line and I just kind of enjoyed myself. The few plot twists that were thrown in there were entertaining, a few I predicted a mile away and others, especially Noraās magical ability I didnāt see coming at all!
āļø4/5 stars A quick, fun, kind of spooky, ominous read!
Amy Leigh Reads 