Book Review : The Lady Killer

"It was a land of seven kingdoms. Seven kingdoms, and seven thoroughly unpredictable kings."   

Middluns, Murgon, Estill, Sunder, Monsea, Lienid and Nander; the seven Kingdoms. 

An imaginative world with primitive lifestyle and Kings as supreme rulers reside in between the pages of this novel. We all love a place different yet similar to ours with the same yet entirely different faculties. Here, the adventure that the female lead traverses is a reminder of physical and mental fortitude.

   'The Lady Killer'. 'The Royal Thug'.  These were the whispered names that accompanied Katsa since her barely eight year old self killed a cousin from touching her. The Gracelings, identified by their two distinct eye colour from the others, have a gift or a curse in a particular activity. Graced as she is with killing, Katsa being the king's niece is forced to carry out her Uncle's whims of killing or maiming petty and foolish men who had dared to oppose him. The only rebellion that she raised against her Uncle is the Council, more like a Robin hood and his band of Merry men, whose main objective is to help those who face injustice from tyrannical and power hungry Kings. The first time she met Prince Po, she had no idea that her life is going to change dramatically. Po, with his silver and gold eyes, cheerful laughter and graced combat skills melted away the walls around her heart. Po and Katsa undertake a journey to reveal a dangerous truth about themselves and a powerful foe, with their strength and cunning, they must fight. Katsa is a growing and powerful character, she begins with baby steps to find herself and those around her. Po is the nice contrast to her in more ways than one. A charming and thoughtful companion with no issues in being defeated by a woman.

This novel by Kristin Cashore, in itself is simply written; the landscape, seasons and the food is so properly described that it leaves no question or confusion. The character of Bitterblue is admirable and I personally cannot wait to read her book which is, unfortunately, the third in the series, Graceling Realm  followed by the second book, Fire. If you have read or are aware of something like Poison Study, Uprooted, Throne of Glass or even Vampire Academy  then this is a book to try. I really like reading a good Fantasy novel once in a while. Besides the trend (I highly approve of this trend) of a strong female character, who needs no man's protection but accepts his company and just that, had risen and claimed the spot of the "damsel in distress" characters in many novels. So celebrate an independent woman in her decision to lead her life however she wants with a powerful Grace.

Read it. You won't regret.

Reviewed by :- Saisaa Ray.

Reviewed: Juliet by Anne Fortier

 

"For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo” 

                                                             -Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

 A weakness that most have towards this particular tragedy of star crossed lovers. But here the novel expands from that constricted plot of the Bard to a wider horizon where not only are we met with the Juliet of Shakespeare in a different light but also a modern day heroine who is the namesake.
Julie Jacobs, after the death of her beloved aunt is left with, surprisingly, nothing but an envelope, dictating her to journey to Italy, and a passport with her real name-Giulietta Tolomei.
So Julie a.k.a Giulietta before even arriving at her destination, Sienna, is met with truth that her family name, Tolomei, had a violent enmity with the Salimbeni.

Cover Illustration

 

Her beloved Aunt's directive leads her to the inheritance that would, hopefully, clear heavy debts. The disappointment happens when some books and a crucifix are the inheritance. But she soon delves into the book which presented her ancestor, Giulietta and her forbidden love, Romeo.
Now we can't forget Romeo! The enigmatic Romeo of both the Giulietta's is effective in creating the breathless dance of the forbidden love.
The double narrative of both of the characters Julie and Giulietta as the latter bravely fights her cursed faith while the former is focused on solving a mystery of her lineage.The enter lacing mode of these ladies and the magical words that the author used calls for appreciation.
I would say to definitely read the novel, to understand how faith and destiny works in life, to breath in the landscapes of dual time periods and lastly to feel the love that is undeniable.


Reviewed by- Saisaa Roy

 

TRUST IN ME

 

By Sophie McKenzie

Sophie McKenzie

A murder, a suicide, a killer, a best friend, a lost piece of faith, when all these  things get allied to Livy Jackson’s subsistence, all opinions she had about the world suddenly revolutionize. 

 Livy Jackson is just another middling European homemaker. Oops did I say is? Sorry, it should be she ‘was’ another run of the mill European homemaker until she found her husband Will Jackson cheating on her. Six years ago her life turned upside down. Conversely it was not that she had not confronted calamity before. During her college years she lost her exquisite, gullible, flaxen sister. No, no I don’t mean that Kara, Livy’s sister, died a natural death. She was raped viciously with a knife and then stabbed to death. This murder left Livy stunned. However by hook or by crook she muddled through to calm herself when Julia came into her life. Julia and Kara used to be best friends but after Kara’s death Livy and Julia got tied to each other. They shared the same grief, they shared the same sentiment and they even shared the same antagonism. For eighteen years they remained the closest friends and then Julia committed suicide. Livy saw red. She could not understand what had made the madcap, fun-loving friend of hers attain eternal peace. She just could not absorb the fact that Julia had committed suicide and with the help of Julia’s lover she plunges head first into a situation from where there’s no looking back. As the story goes on Livy Jackson finds out how true the quote from Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice is, “……..O what a goodly outside falsehood hath!”

Did Julia seriously kill herself or was it a cover for a murder? If a murder, who killed Julia? What was Julia hiding from Livy? Were they really best friends? Who could Livy trust now? To find the answer to all these questions one must read the book “Trust in me”.

Publisher- Simon & Schuster        

Price- Rs 299                                                    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Rupkatha Mitra.is a student of Calcutta Girls' High School, Class X. Reading books, day-dreaming, speaking her mind through her writings are the only things she enjoys doing. She is also the youngest writer at Express Magazine!