#huntedbythesky

[jaanusbooktalk]

Hunted By The Sky by Tanaz Bhathena - Review

7/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TWs: murdered parents, violence, discrimination (classism, slurs), implied sexual assault, attempted assault, dying parent, animal cruelty, blood

(TWs are ranked in order of severity, please take them seriously!)

Before anything, take a moment to scroll back up and look at that beautiful cover 😍 I don’t normally buy books based on the cover, but seeing my culture represented in such a gorgeous way made this an insta-buy for me (not to mention it was already in my TBR).

I guess I could call this an “own voices” review, but let’s keep in mind that Indian culture is very diverse and changes depending on region, so my interpretation is not going to speak for anyone but myself.

The author was actually inspired to write this book by two time periods in Indian history - Vedic India and medieval India. There’s a cool combination of court drama and desi royalty versus magical powers and distant gods. Bhathena also included elements of her Persian culture as well!

Imagine fantasy meets Indian royalty/mythology in a mystical world after a war and a 16 year old has to overthrow a tyrant. (Also enemies to lovers, badass women, ✨culture✨ etc).

On to the review ☀️

The Summary:

“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 have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding 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, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find.

Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.”

TL;DR 16 year old Gul witnesses her parents’ murder by royal troops under order from a king terrified of a prophecy that spells his end, and she’s set on a path to revenge. Cavas is trying to save his father from a chronic illness and lives in the lower class of society just trying to survive, but when he meets Gul sparks fly and adventure ensues.

(It’s 1:30 am right now so please bear with me 😭)

Ok so on representation:

This is embarrassing - like really embarrassing especially considering I read the summary - that when I first started because of the switching perspectives I thought that Cavas was Gul for the first two chapters and that the main character was into women 😭 alas, this was not the case.

While the main couple is not confirmed to be LGBTQ+, much of the lore is. The story of the sun and the moon being lovers is so adorable and told in such a beautiful, simple way. There are queer background characters, and it’s not introduced in a weird way, it’s just a natural part of the world they live in (which was so great).

As someone who reads fantasy for escapism, reading this and knowing there was no racism or homophobia was a big plus for me ✅

Also Gul is dark skinned (from a fictional world but presumably Indian) with curly dark hair. I loved this because Indians with natural curly dark hair are not often represented in media, so this was great!!

I had trouble picturing what Cavas looks like, but I remember he’s also desi and has dark brown eyes and black hair. I didn’t know what “aquiline” meant before reading HBTS but apparently it means hooked or beak-like, and I think it’s a really pretty word for Cavas’s nose.

There was clear influence from Indian mythology and the Hindu gods, but also from traditional mythical creatures and foods. Even the outfits are fantastic- I can’t explain how it felt to read about a character getting ready for an event and pinning her dupatta in place. My heart felt warm and seen 💕💕

There is also (if I’m interpreting this right) a variety of religions present in the fictional world, some of which are similar to Islam, Hinduism, or Atheism today.

I loved how despite these different beliefs, people are able to get along. It’s more so the border disputes between rivaling kingdoms that cause trouble.

Imagining Gul running through the palace in a sari and her brown jootis just fulfills all of my childhood Bollywood dreams ❤️😭

What I Liked:

I didn’t think I was going to like this book as much as I did. When it first started, I had a hard time getting into it, and it felt a little slow. But about a quarter in things started picking up - and quickly. I really liked how HBTS avoided some of the typical pitfalls of YA fantasy when it comes to overthrowing governments/the chosen one trope.

Also the story just starts to pull you in and you can’t tell the writer is in her groove. I liked all of the references to desi culture and the clothing, and the imagery was really pretty. Diversity in fantasy means so much to me - more than just being represented in books we get to have magic and adventures and romance too, and I adore that.

I feel like it would make a really good movie, and also the WOMEN are so great. Every single woman in this book is very well written and what I would give to have Amira call me princess 😍 anyways… 👀

I’m actually about to read the second book (this is a duology!) because I’m way too invested in the plot now.

HBTS switches perspectives between Cavas and Gul, and I honestly found Cavas’s perspective more refreshing - maybe because he was more mature than Gul or because I related to him more, but he just had more interesting thoughts 💭

I also didn’t really like Gul at the beginning, but I stuck around to see if she got character development and Ms. Bhathena did NOT disappoint. I can’t wait to see how she changes from here.

Side note: Hunted By The Sky handles classism in a really interesting way, and it makes me so happy that it was printed in India because there’s an inter-class relationship & that’s a really important convo that needs to be had

Side side note: INDIAN MAGICAL GIRLS‼️

Why I couldn’t give it a ten:

I already mentioned this but I just had a hard time getting into it at first. There was a lot of lore specific/culture specific vocab that I wasn’t familiar with (but there is a glossary of terms at the back!)

This happens often when starting fantasy books, but the time it took to wrap my head around the world and who was who took longer than usual because new positions and groups kept being introduced.

Also, at the beginning Gul was kinda selfish and even though I really wanted to be on her side her actions were thoughtless. Her attitude when she was ten came off less as an actual ten year old and more as an older girl pretending to be a ten year old. She’s obviously not meant to be perfect however, and that’s okay. Her character development makes up for it.

Now this is a really big pitfall for YA fantasy romance and I can’t stand it:

Gul, the main character, has just turned 16. She never actually has sex but she gets into certain encounters that I felt uncomfortable reading about, knowing it was happening between two minors and written BY an adult.

Sadly, this is a common thing in YA fantasy (I’m looking at you, Sarah J. Maas). Oversexualizing minors in YA books needs to stop because it has a big impact on the kids reading - it wasn’t too bad in this book, so I still gave it 7/10. But please, do better.

Also tell me why enemies to lovers couples are always emotionally constipated 🙄 just tell each other how you feel already!! Communication, guys.

I sincerely recommend to fans of:

• The Shadow of the Fox series 🦊 by Julie Kagawa

• Tomi Adeyemi (Children of Blood and Bone)

• Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes)

• Jodhaa Akbar (Bollywood movie)

• Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim

Despite its faults, I sincerely enjoyed this book enough to check out the second. I’ll comment an update when I’ve finished but I don’t know if I’ll give it a review. This was one of those books that I wish I had liked more because of the representation it brought to the table, and I think that it’s a genuinely good book, that fell into some difficult traps. Still worth the read 🍵

And as always, read the acknowledgments and author’s note!! They’re usually really sweet or include things about the book you didn’t know when you finished. Because it’s spoiler free and I really liked it, I’ve included Tanaz Bhathena’s note below:

Kinda badass ngl

Also if you aren’t familiar with the Gulabi Gang, please search them up and watch the documentary because they are so cool!!! A group of older Indian ladies who go around wearing pink and beating up domestic abusers.

I also really like that she describes the story as a brief journey through her twisted imagination - it deals with some rough and violent themes, and I feel like that fits. Excited to see what happens in the sequel! It’s called Rising Like A Storm ⛈

[decoratingreader]

⚔️GIVEAWAY⚔️ . Predictive text: In Medieval times my weapon of choice would be __________. . Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Tanaz Bhathena's Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India. It will be hitting shelves on June 23rd 2020! . Thank you to @fiercereads for sending me a copy of the book and teaming up with me to giveaway a copy of Hunted by the Sky! . RULES: - follow me (@decorating.reader ), @bhathenatanaz @Fiercereads and @storygramtours - tag a friend you think will be interested For EXTRA entry - visit @somethingofthebook tomorrow and repeat these steps - Giveaway will end May 25th at midnight EST - US ONLY - not affiliated with Instagram -must be 18 or have parents permission -must be a public account so I can verify entries . . . #HuntedbytheskyArctour #HuntedbytheSky #TanazBhathena #FierceReads #storygramtours #shelfie #shelfiesunday #shelfies #homelibrary #fantasybooks #youngadultfiction #youngadultfantasy #homegoals #librarylife #metime❤️ #readingnook #readingisfun (at Memphis, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CASxJSfHDa6/?igshid=1g6jeis0pfjnj

[loveleighreading]

✴Favorite July Read✴ Hi my loves! This is my favorite book that I read for #AvengerinJuly for the book of choice prompt. The main character truly embodies Gamora in her determination, strength & compassion. . Title: Hunted by the Sky Author: Tanaz Bhathena Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The sky will fall, a star will rise Ambar changed with the kings demise Her magic untouched & unknown by all Marked by the star, she'll bring his downfall" Being a girl born in the Kingdom of Ambar with a star shaped birthmark is a curse, one that Gul knows all too well. Shortly after the brutal murder of her parents at the hands of a sky warriors, she is saved by the Sisters of the Golden Lotus. While the Sisters are determined to train her in warrior magic to be able to one day fulfill the prophecy, Gul can only think of revenge. Cavas is a lowly non-magi, who works in the palace stables for a measly wage. To help pay for the medication his terminally ill father desperately needs, he has taken on a rather risky side job of selling palace secrets. The initial meeting of these two was not at all tame, their tempers & the temperatures rising with each new encounter. Cavas cannot afford to get wrapped up in her schemes, & Gul cannot afford any distractions no matter how tempting. But fate or the Goddess seems to have other plans. The mix of Indian culture blending with a fantasy world was a wonderful reading adventure for me. There were so many things I was unfamiliar with, like items of clothing or food, but at no time did I feel removed from the story for my lack of knowledge. Bhathena's explanations and descriptions made it very easy for me to imagine this world & these characters. While I loved her found family in the Sisters & the colorful world of the palace, my favorite part of the story was the romance. Gul & Cavas lit up the page from their very first meeting & you could feel the heat between their every interaction. I cannot wait to get more of them in the sequel. Thank you to @Goodreads and @macmillanusa for the ARC I received in a giveaway in exchange for an honest review. . . . #huntedbythesky #goodreads #bookreview #bookstagram (at Addison, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDS3okBAZNp/?igshid=z3bpan50nwec

[hutchhitched]

Looking forward to this one. #huntedbythesky #thirdbook @bhathenatanaz https://www.instagram.com/p/B6LrWK7Jtt8/?igshid=15cbuqkg058uw

[kathrynpurdie]

TONIGHT! I’m so excited to join the #PenguinTeenSocial for a #FantasyFriday Zoom panel with amazing YA fantasy authors @whimsicalaquarian, @nickipaupreto, @elimpix, and @bhathenatanaz! This event is free. All you have to do is register to RSVP and join us! (Click the link in my linktree.) The online event starts at 4pm PST, 5pm MST, 6pm CST, and 7pm EST. Hope you can make it! 💫 . . . #bookstagram #bookaddict #yafantasy #yafantasyauthors #kathrynpurdie #patricecaldwell #nickipaupreto #elizabethlim #tanazbhathena #aphoenixmustfirstburn #heartofflames #unravelthedusk #bonecriersmoon #huntedbythesky #iloveya #yalit #yalovin #ireadya https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyJIi1gtbm/?igshid=1czq6fvejbbr0

[lmdurand]

Guest Post: Tanaz Bhathena, author of Hunted By The Sky + US/CAN Giveaway - FFBC Tours

Check out this guest post by Tanaz Bhathena, author of Hunted By The Sky. . Here is everything you need to know about the Story Behind The Story and The Cover. . Inside: US/CAN Giveaway + excerpt . Tour hosted by @the_FFBC . #HuntedByTheSky #YAFantasy

Today, I’m thrilled to host this guest post by Tanaz Bhathena. The author of Hunted By The Sky tells us about the story behind her story and cover. The book was released yesterday, June 23, 2020 and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Check it out!

Thank you, Tanaz Bhathena and the publisher, for gifting me a print copy and FFBC Tours for having me on this tour.

(more…)

[readingwithrendz]

Hunted by the Sky | Blog Tour Review // Socks? They've been knocked off!

#HuntedbytheSky | Blog Tour Review 5🌟 // Socks? They've been knocked off! @PenguinTeenCA

Greetings readers!

Welcome to the final tour stop for Tanaz Bhathena’s newest release: HUNTED BY THE SKY! I couldn’t have been more excited for today’s post! I am very pleased to be part of the blog tour for this amazing story that I am sure will knock your socks off, like it did to me!

Many thanks to Penguin Teen Canada for sending me an ARC!

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena

Pub Date: June…

[loveleighreading]

🎆July Reading Wrap-Up🎆 Happy Friday Lovelies! I a lot more books this month than I realized. How did this month seem so long but go by so quickly?? . - Hunted by the Sky ARC by Tanaz Bhathena ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Would I lie to the Duke ARC by Eva Leigh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Skyward by Brandon Sanderson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Shielded ARC by Kaylynn Flanders ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Twilight by Stephanie Meyer ⭐⭐⭐ . It was a pretty good reading month overall. You can check my Goodreads for additional reviews I haven't posted to Instagram yet. Now to get ready for @disneyreadathon for August! . #Qotd: What was your favorite read in the month of July? #Aotd: Mine was Hunted by the Sky, I absolutely loved it! . . . #julyreadingwrapup #julyreads #Goodreads #huntedbythesky #skyward #wouldilietotheduke #Shielded #withthefireonhigh #Twilight #shadowandbone #netgalley https://www.instagram.com/p/CDTvyJigjIB/?igshid=1v45j7bak7g2p

[loveleighreading]

🎉Happy Book Birthday🎉 Hi my loves! Im so excited that this book will be out in the wild today! . This is my first ever physical ARC and I won it as a giveaway on @goodreads. I started reading it this weekend and have been really enjoying it so far. . I'm only about 60 pages in, but I am definitely here for the romance between the main characters Gul and Cavas. Their first meeting was pretty cliche, but your girl is a sucker for it 🥰 . GR Synopsis: 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 have been disappearing for years. Gul's mark is what caused her parents' murder at the hand of King Lohar's ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding 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, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl--Gul--in the capital's bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance--and discovers a magic he never expected to find. Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king's domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India. . #QOTD: What book are you most excited about that has recently been released? #AOTD: Besides this one, I cannot wait to get my hands on Forest of Souls . Photo taken by my lovely friend @nutmeg1256 . #happybookbirthday #huntedbythesky #newrelease #newreleasetuesday #bookcommunity #bookfeature #bookstagrammer #fiercereads #goodreads https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxnCpxgp4C/?igshid=1q92rt7do7jya