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Showing posts from November 10, 2024

Folklore Friday | The Huma Bird: A Mythical Creature of Fortune, Freedom, and Timeless Inspiration

The Huma bird, also known as the "bird of paradise" in Persian and South Asian folklore , is more than just a myth. Described as a creature of profound grace, it represents freedom, enlightenment, and the touch of divine blessing. Unlike many legendary creatures that capture human imagination, Huma is a symbol of both hope and transformation, often depicted as a figure whose touch or shadow can bring kingship or enlightenment to anyone lucky enough to encounter it. Stories and beliefs about the Huma bird can be found across Persian, Islamic, and Indian literature, where it emerges as a potent symbol in art, poetry, and tales of ancient spirituality. Origins and Characteristics of Huma Bird Huma bird’s roots lie deep in Persian mythology, dating back to centuries of cultural and religious significance across the Middle East and Asia. Persian literature portrays it as a creature of the heavens, a guardian spirit that never lands on earth, making it elusive and unattainable. Th...

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson | A Review

   What's Up, Readers!! Welcome to Quills and Pages. Today, I am reviewing one of my top five reads of the year: A Tribute to Fire, book 1 in Sariah Wilson's The Eye of the Goddess series. BLURB The fate of a cursed nation depends on a princess who must outwit a mortal enemy and outlast the trials of a death-defying ritual in a thrilling adventure by USA Today bestselling author Sariah Wilson. Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess—one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion. Every year, Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple. In a millennium, no maiden has made it out of Ilion alive. This year, Lia is one of the hunted. An education in battle gives her a fighting chance, but the challenges are greater than she feared: Lia’s beloved but untrained sister Quynh has been put in the path of danger. The winding streets of ...

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A Critical Lens on 'Hunting Adeline' by H.D. Carlton: Exploring the Disturbing Themes | A Review

I kept delaying writing the review because I had to remember it and didn't want to do that. This 2nd book of Cat and Mouse duet is the story of a human trafficking survivor. This book is a huge  TRIGGER WARNING . Kindly proceed with caution. I even got traumatized after reading it. So to explain the synopsis; Adeline (the main character) got kidnapped at the end of the first book and sold to some people who groomed her for some very rich and powerful clients.  Almost half of the book is based on Adeline surviving the worst situations possible for a woman. Adeline had one advantage someone was fervently searching for her, and eventually, Zade managed to rescue her after four agonizing months. The scene when Zade finds her and she just could not believe it. She crumbled to her knees thinking she was hallucinating. After Zade brings her home she struggles so hard to process her trauma. She learns to fight to take control of her life. She gets close to her mother. She hates h...

Best Audiobook Apps for books | Part 1: Subscription based apps

So, do you love audiobooks.....well, I do. I recently listened to one or two audiobooks and could not stop falling in love with them. They are so convenient to listen to especially when you have a lot of work to do besides reading books. They come in handy don't you think. In recent years audiobooks have emerged as a beloved companion for people like me i.e. book enthusiasts and multitaskers alike. With the surge in audiobook consumption, a lot of apps have flooded the market, each targeting the top spot in delivering exceptional listening experiences. So, to navigate this sea of options, I have researched and curated a list of 10 subscription-based apps for you to try: 1. Audible Audible stands at the top of the list. It is backed by Amazon and has an extensive library containing every title that is out there. It also analyzes your listening history to offer personalized suggestions There are also subscription plans; Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus, which cater to diverse re...

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn | A Review

What's Up, Readers!! Welcome to Quills and Pages. I just finished On Wings of Blood arc....and now I am here to write the review. the book is written by Briar Boleyn and Thank you to Netgally and the author for this arc. iSo, let's start the review BLURB I didn't sign up for this. A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment. I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games. But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like h...

The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn | A Review

What's Up, Readers!! Welcome to Quills and Pages. I finally got myself to sit down to write this review for the second book of Bloodwing Academy series. Today is a good day because it's cloudy and windy with a chance of slight rain....and nothing puts my mood better than a chance of rain and wind. anyway let's get started!! BLURB At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon's legacy is priceless–and as dangerous as fire. I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing's deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong. I accidentally woke a dragon–a creature of myth, of death, of fire. Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon's legacy I carry. But here's the I have no control. I'm bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I'm not the one pulling the dragon's strings. And then there's Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he b...

Jenny Hickman's 'A Cursed Kiss': A Love Story Wrapped in Magic and Curses - Are You Up for the Ride?

I started reading this book because of the audiobook of the third in the Myths of Airren series written by Jenny Hickman . I got the audiobook from Netgalley and wanted to read the first book first. This book was really amazing.  GENRE Romantasy, Fantasy THEME AND TONE The tone is quite beautiful. The start of the book was gripping. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE Easy to read  CHARACTERS Mysterious, Morally grey MMC Goody two shoes FMC (not that good but she was a good girl with her own standards of morality) TROPES ☙ Our Hero is Morally grey and he is just ❤😅 ☙ Enemies to Lovers ☙ Magical  Curses ☙ Magical  beings and Species. ☙ Forced Proximity ☙ Slow Burn ☙ FMC is on a quest to save her sister MY REVIEW Okay SO started reading this book in the last week of December and I got sidetracked by work and other duties. I resumed it this week and got right into this beautiful magical world. The world-building was not very deep ...