Blog tour [Review]: The Archer at Dawn

Title: The Archer at Dawn
Author: Sawti Teerdhala
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 449
Release Date: May 26th, 2020

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Where to Buy: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| iTunes | Book Depository [Audiobook]| Google Play Book

Synopsis

The Sun Mela is many things: a call for peace, a cause for celebration, and, above all, a deadly competition. For Kunal and Esha, finally working together as rebel spies, it provides the perfect guise to infiltrate King Vardaan’s vicious court.

Kunal will return to his role as dedicated Senap soldier, at the Sun Mela to provide extra security for the palace during the peace summit for the divided nations of Jansa and Dharka. Meanwhile, Esha will use her new role as adviser to Prince Harun to keep a pulse on shifting political parties and seek out allies for their rebel cause. A radical plan is underfoot to rescue Jansa’s long-lost Princess Reha—the key to the stolen throne.

But amid the Mela games and glittering festivities, much more dangerous forces liein wait. With the rebel Blades’ entry into Vardaan’s court, a match has been lit, and long-held secrets will force Kunal and Esha to reconsider their loyalties—to their country and to each other. Getting into the palace was the easy task; coming out together will be a battle for their lives.

Review

This thrilling sequel leaves off where The Tiger at Midnight left us, so if you have read The Tiger at Midnight, stop here, grab a copy and then read The Archer at Dawn. Trust me, you won’t regret it! Swati continued to grace us with backdrop full of rich scenery and culture, strong plot points, great action scenes, and a romance we were asking for. It is a great YA fantasy that managed to balance so many parts of a novel while still continuing to surprise and amaze us.

The Archer at Dawn follows the continuation of Kunal’s and Esha’s story. Kunal, back as a solider and Esha, advisor to Prince Huran. Both work together in figuring out what is basically going on and learn such palace shifting secrets that question their loyalties. The story follows a dual POV and I honestly love storytelling where you hear multiple pints of view.  I was glad to see the author continue that route because Both Kunal and Esha are so different n how they speak and think and it adds on the excitement you’ll get when reading it.

I also enjoyed the romance in this story. A hate-to-love trope I was kind of routing for was confirmed in this sequel. Now, Swati knew what she was doing with this slow burn romance. During The Tiger at Midnight, I kept turning the pages wondering, wow “Kunal and Esha is a couple I would ship,” hoping after each page turned I would have that confirmation. When it showed more in The Archer at Dawn, I was here for it. Both Kunal and Esha’s personalities compliment each other in many ways. Because their personalities are different and because the relationship felt more developed along the way, I was happy to see when it finally came to fruition.

Throughout The Archer at Dawn, you are given such warrior-esque battles, terror fueled competitions and questions of one’s moral values. It wasn’t the action I was expecting, but I welcomed it because so much of the action made sense with the overall story-line. Add the beautiful story backdrop and the thrilling page turning moments the authors add, this sequel was well baked and ready to serve. I Enjoyed reading a novel about two divided nations and tow people from those nations who worked together against a sinister plotter[s]. It has a budding romance, amazing dialogue and great heavy inspiration of Indian and Hindu mythology. Speaking of inspiration, the mythology and inspiration of the book was so fascinating, I have been looking up Hindu mythology and basking in how awesome it is.

The Archer at Dawn is a sequel that you do not want to miss reading. An underrated series worth every page turned.

 

Swati Teerdhala

About the Author

Swati Teerdhala is the author of The Tiger at Midnight series, which has appeared on both Barnes and Noble and Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Novels lists.

After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BS in finance and BA in history, she tumbled into the marketing side of the technology industry. She’s passionate about many things, including how the right ratio of curd-to-crust in a lemon tart. She currently lives in New York City.

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Giveaway!!

Win a copy of THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT and THE ARCHER AT DAWN by Swati Teerdhala (USOnly)

Starts: 26th May 2020

Ends: 9th June 2020

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Blog Tour – Death of A Painter

Title:Death of A Painter
Author: Matthew Ross
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Pages: 364
Release Date: January 2nd, 2018

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Where to Buy:  mybook.to/DOAP | http://www.reddogpress.co.uk/shop 

 

Synopsis

IN THE BUILDING GAME TIME IS MONEY AND MONEY IS EVERYTHING. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MARK POYNTER, HE’S RUN OUT OF MONEY AND HE’S FAST RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

When Mark Poynter discovers a murder on his worksite all of his financial problems suddenly seem a lot closer to home: was this a warning his debts are overdue?

Suspected of being the killer and worried at being the intended victim, the murder only makes Mark’s money problems worse, leading him to turn to the local villain, Hamlet, who has his own unique repayment plan in mind for Mark.

When two more deaths plunge him even further into debt, Mark finds himself faced with a choice – help the police and clear his name or help the villain and clear his debt.

Set in the Medway Towns on the grey margins of criminality, where no job’s too big, no dodge’s too small …

Death Of A Painter is the first in a new series of darkly comic crime fiction novels featuring the beleaguered builder Mark Poynter, aided and hindered in equal measure by his trusted crew of slackers, idlers and gossips, and the lengths they go to just to earn a living.

Review

A murder and a man suspected. Mark finds his friend and talented painter murdered in one of his work sites and with one of his tools. But Mark is an innocent man, with a debt the size that could commit a crime. Was the hit for him and his friend just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time? Is this the sign the debt collectors are giving to Mark? Death of A Painter follows the story of Mark, a man considered a suspect in his friend’s murder and his journey to pay his debts and prove his innocence.

Mark is like-able character; He is witty, can talk his way into more time and works well with is crew of fellow builders, well idlers and gossipers first, builders second. Overall, he’s a decent guy in a bad situation. The friendship and crew bonding in this story was a selling point to me. Also, the relationship[s] Mark had to build with an enemy really showed that he was able to st aside his differences to help coin his innocence. Mark soon learns that the job he is taken on will cost him more if more dead bodies start popping up and has to work against time.

The story is a great builder’s jargon filled was a quick and interesting read. Mark’s adventures keep you turning the page to figure out what will happen next. His conversations with authorities were laced with half comedy/half tragedy because Mark is a guy who unfortunately cannot catch a break. The dark comic fiction in this novel added both levity and suspense to the overall plot. The plot leaves you asking questions, hoping the next book answers them but in a way where you wouldn’t give up on the series.

If you want a quick read packed with dark comedic effort, than Death of a Painter is the book for you!

 

About the Author

Matthew Ross was born and raised in the Medway Towns, England. He still lives in Kent with his Kiwi wife, his children and a very old cat.

He was immersed in the building industry from a very early age helping out on his father’s sites during school holidays before launching into his own career at 17. He’s worked on projects ranging from the smallest domestic repair to £billion+ infrastructure, and probably everything in between.

A lifelong comedy nerd, he ticked off a bucket-list ambition and tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Whilst being an experience probably best forgotten (for both him and audiences alike) it ignited a love for writing, leading to various commissions including for material broadcast on BBC Radio 4 comedy shows.

Matthew moved into the longer format of novel writing after graduating from the Faber Academy in London in 2017.

‘Death Of A Painter’ is his first novel and the first in a planned series of stories featuring Mark Poynter and his associates.

Matthew enjoys reading all manner of books – especially crime and mystery; 80s music; and travelling and can’t wait for the next trip to New Zealand to spend time with family and friends.   

 

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