Gifting Fire by Alina Boyden – a Review

Gifting Fire by Alina Boyden – a Review

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Description:
The battle has been won, but the war is just beginning.

Although at long last Razia Khan has found peace with herself and love with her prince, Arjun, her trials are far from over. In order to save her prince and his city from certain destruction, Razia made a deal with the devil–her father, the Sultan of Nizam. Now the bill has come due.

Razia must secure the province of Zindh, a land surrounded by enemies, and loyal to a rebel queen who has survived her father’s purge. But when her old tormentor Prince Karim invades her new home and forces her into a marriage alliance, Razia finds herself trapped in the women’s quarters of a foreign palace, with her beloved Prince Arjun exiled from her side.

Now, in order to free herself, and her province, from Karim’s clutches, she must call upon all of her training as a royal princess, a cunning courtesan, and a daring thief to summon new allies and old friends for a battle that will decide her fate, and the fate of an empire.

 

 

Review:

Gifting Fire by Alina Boyden is the second book in her Stealing Thunder fantasy duology.  I am happy to say Gifting Fire was another excellent read.  Razia Khan, continues to be the wonderful heroine in this story.  When we left off in Stealing Thunder, her father, placed Princess Razia, to lead the province of Zindh, with her love Prince Arjun and her two sisters, joining her.  Soon Razia finds herself with new allies, such as Hina, whose brother was murdered by Razia’s enemy Karim.  Hina brings all her girls and their zahhaks to help Razia, and hope to defeat Karim, who she wants to kill for murdering her brother.   In a short time, things drastically change when Razia’s father comes and brings with him Karim, as they have agreed on an alliance; Razia to marry Karim.  Despite her desperation and deviance, she will agree in order to save her sisters, as well as Arjun. She manages to get Karim, with her father’s insistence, to allow her sisters to join her, as well as Hina and her maidens (who are warriors in their own right).

They travel back to Karim’s home, where Razia is trapped and pretending to be willing to marry Karim, especially with his evil parents watching her every move.  She works closely with Hina, to find a way to get help to rescue them, and playing safe for now.  We learned in the first book how smart and cunning Razia was, with her amazing ability and skills to create ways to win these wars.  Will she survive Karim and his family?

What follows is an exciting and at times tense story, with Razia using her climbing ability to get free during the wee hours to send messages to possible allies; and get back in time before she is discovered.  I really hated Karim, his mother and father, as they were truly evil.   At the same time, Boyden gave us some fantastic secondary characters that I loved, such as both of her two sisters, Hina, Arjun, as well as all those allies who were willing to risk their lives to fight the enemy.  I loved her wonderful dragon, Sultana, who was amazing, and the other zahhaks.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and you really need to read and enjoy the wild and climatic ending.  

The last half of Gifting Fire was very exciting, tense, nonstop action, with flying dragons, aerial battles, and a heroine who stood up to the challenge.  This was also a sweet romance, as I really liked Razia and Arjun together.  Alina Boyden did a great job writing this wonderful fantasy.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – a Review

Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – a Review

 

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Description:
Protecting her identity means life or death in this immersive epic fantasy inspired by the Mughal Empire.

In a different life, under a different name, Razia Khan was raised to be the Crown Prince of Nizam, the most powerful kingdom in Daryastan. Born with the soul of a woman, she ran away at a young age to escape her father’s hatred and live life true to herself.

Amongst the hijras of Bikampur, Razia finds sisterhood and discovers a new purpose in life. By day she’s one of her dera’s finest dancers, and by night its most profitable thief. But when her latest target leads her to cross paths with Arjun Agnivansha, Prince of Bikampur, it is she who has something stolen.

An immediate connection with the prince changes Razia’s life forever, and she finds herself embroiled in a dangerous political war. The stakes are greater than any heist she’s ever performed. When the battle brings her face to face with her father, Razia has the chance to reclaim everything she lost…and save her prince.

 

 

Review:

Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden is the first book in her new fantasy series with the same title.  When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but upon completion of this story, I am happy to say Stealing Thunder was an excellent read.  The story did start a bit slow, which is normal for any worldbuilding in fantasy; but the second half was very exciting and awesome. 

Razia Khan is our heroine throughout the entire book, and she is a trans gender woman, who gave up life as a crown prince to live her life as a woman.  Razia escaped from her evil father, to become a hijras in Bikampur, where she lives with other girls who are dancers, some also being transgenders.  She is one of the finest dancers, a courtesan, as well as being a thief to help her leader pay bills.   Over time, Razia has become the best at everything she does.

During one of her performances, Razia meets Prince Arjun and both become attracted to each other, as they begin to spend a lot of time together.  He also discovers that she is stealing expensive items for her leader, and arranges for her to leave her dera, bringing along two of her ‘sisters’ to become his concubine.   When Razia left her family, she missed her zahhak (dragon) and Arjun allows her to ride his zahhak, bringing back her memories of her long lost dragon,  Sultana.  When Razia goes to live with Arjun’s family, his father puts her down, even though his son cares for her, but with war on the horizon against a powerful enemy, Arjun’s father will quickly change his tune.  Razia’s background as the young heir to the family throne, gives her amazing knowledge and skills that will push her into the forefront of this war.  Those who look down on her, such as Arjun’s father, her cousin, and others, will begin to see how smart she is, as well as being able to know how to stop and defeat their enemies. 

I loved how Razia finds her lost dragon, Sultana, and uses her abilities to climb a mountain, and get the help they need to defeat the enemy.   But that will bring her face to face with her father, who is determined to kill her.  Can Razia be able to use her savvy, smarts and Sultana to help her win the battle for her life?  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and you really need to read and enjoy the wild and climatic ending.   

The last half of Stealing Thunder was very exciting, nonstop action, with flying dragons, aerial battles, and a heroine who stood up to the challenge.  This was also a sweet romance, as I did like Razia and Arjun together.  Alina Boyden did a great job writing this wonderful fantasy, and I for one cannot wait for the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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