I just had to preorder this book when I saw that gorgeous cover and I actually started it pretty soon after it had arrived. Just before I go into this review there are a couple of things which I think are going to effect it. First, I have been feeling pretty slumpy most of this year. August and September have been very welcome exceptions. I started this book however in July so definitely in my slump. The second thing is the reason is it took me two months to read this book is because I did a readathon in August and took a break with it anticipating I would struggle to read five books (and I was right for the first two weeks). So just keep those factors in mind.
I’m going to put the goodreads summary in because it’s been a while since I read the first half of this book.
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.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book. It has Indian and Persian influences and that’s quite a novel setting for me. I’ve read quite a few Arabic inspired books, but I think the only one I’ve read similar to this is Girl, Serpent, Thorn which has Persian influences. Anyway, I really enjoyed the novel setting!
I remember the book starting really strong, I was quite quickly sucked in, especially considering the reading mood that I was in during July.
The main characters are Gul and Cavas. I liked both of them though I sometimes had to remind myself who the narrator was of each chapter. I would have liked the romantic relationship between the two of them developed a little further. It seemed vaguely insta-lovey and Cavas’ continual battling against it got really irritating by the end. I’m hoping this might improve in the second book.
As for the actual plot it definitely took a few unexpected turns for me, especially the last two sections are a whirlwind. I’m interested to see where this story goes.
This has been a super short review and that’s why its really not good for me to read a book over such a long time. I gave this book 4* because I did really enjoy it. But I do think there was something about it that was missing for me. Whether I just wasn’t in the right mood or the book didn’t contain enough romance for me I’m not sure. I’m definitely interested in reading the second though. I just think that there was something missing for me with this book because I didn’t mind putting it down for a whole month.
The London Faerie 