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The Infernal Guard #1
Emergence
Grade 9 and up: Seventeen year-old Asha's days are spent training in martial arts, attending homeschool classes, and helping in the kitchens of a luxurious Miami resort which she seldom leaves. Until the night her grandfather arrives home mysteriously injured, accompanied by a terrifying stranger. Asha begins to suspect that nothing is what it seems when she is abruptly sent to Punjab, India to live with relatives she never knew she had.
Joined by her best friend, Lexi, and her newfound cousin, Nidhan, Asha is soon drawn to an unusual place where the three of them learn that our World is much more than it appears. And there is a good reason people are afraid of the dark.
Meet The Infernal Guard: Shape-shifting Jodha warriors, Seers of various psychic Talents, Healers, Illusionists, and weapons-creating Tvastars. They are the gifted few who fight to protect our realm from demonic Underworlders escaping the seven lower dimensions of Hindu Mythology's Fourteen Worlds.
As the next generation of heroes from around the globe gathers to begin training, Asha discovers true love and a family in her friends and instructors. But something in the darkness knows that she alone possesses the rarest Talent of all. Now Asha must find the courage and strength to risk everything she has gained before a devouring evil like no other The Infernal Guard has ever faced destroys our realm's very existence.
Joined by her best friend, Lexi, and her newfound cousin, Nidhan, Asha is soon drawn to an unusual place where the three of them learn that our World is much more than it appears. And there is a good reason people are afraid of the dark.
Meet The Infernal Guard: Shape-shifting Jodha warriors, Seers of various psychic Talents, Healers, Illusionists, and weapons-creating Tvastars. They are the gifted few who fight to protect our realm from demonic Underworlders escaping the seven lower dimensions of Hindu Mythology's Fourteen Worlds.
As the next generation of heroes from around the globe gathers to begin training, Asha discovers true love and a family in her friends and instructors. But something in the darkness knows that she alone possesses the rarest Talent of all. Now Asha must find the courage and strength to risk everything she has gained before a devouring evil like no other The Infernal Guard has ever faced destroys our realm's very existence.
493 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2016
49 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
S.G.D. Singh
12 books119 followersAuthor of The Infernal Guard Trilogy, I live between New Mexico and Punjab with my husband, two daughters, and extended relatives, traveling around Asia and Europe reluctantly as those who get nauseated in modes of transportation will understand. I grew up attending boarding school in Northern India and always dreamed of being a writer. Thanks to Amazon and self-publishing, dreams really do come true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 26, 2016
First of all I want to thank the author of this amazing book for sending a copy my way.....second I want to just say I really enjoyed reading it. If your a person who likes action, romance, humor, monsters (vampires, zombies etc.) and tearing up when you read a book. Then you should really pick this book up since it has everything....am just warning you do not I repeat do not get overly attached to any character ;-) ....only problem I have is that now I have wait passionately for the next book....and Lexi and Nidhan so darn cute :-)
May 17, 2016
Where to start...
Very awesome world building, character building and story building. I was sucked in right from the beginning. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series!
If you enjoyed The mortal Instruments series or Throne of Glass series, you will love this story and the characters in it!
This book allowed me to come out of my book hangover from ACOMAF. Action packed, funny jokes, and cute relationships!
Very awesome world building, character building and story building. I was sucked in right from the beginning. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series!
If you enjoyed The mortal Instruments series or Throne of Glass series, you will love this story and the characters in it!
This book allowed me to come out of my book hangover from ACOMAF. Action packed, funny jokes, and cute relationships!
July 30, 2018
Emergence is the first book in S.G.D. Singh’s The Infernal Guard series, and it’s a book that offers us an interesting start to what promises to be a refreshing series. In fact, I’m more than a little bit curious to see what else is to come in this exciting new world.
With there being so many young adult urban fantasy books on the market, it is always difficult to find a book that will stand out as different. This is especially difficult with how so many authors seem to be sticking with the popular trends. I cannot fault them for doing such a thing (it’s how they make their living, after all), but I often find myself more intrigued by those who take a step away from the norm. Sure, I continue to pick up the popular books – I fall victim to bookish peer pressure all the time – yet I much prefer finding something different, taking a chance with something that does not follow the current trends.
With Emergence, we’re given elements that are in line with what is popular in the young adult fantasy genre. However, at the same time, it’s given a spin that makes it entirely unique. You see, we have aspects of the supernatural world that are really popular – certain supernatural creatures, specific events that play out in teenagers’ lives, and the way in which the world opens up to those teens – yet they are given a spin I have not seen before. You see, we get a different mythology to usual.
I adore it when authors take a known mythology (even when it is those I do not know much of) and put their own spin on it, mixing it in with elements of the genre I love so much. This is exactly what S.G.D. Singh does: we’re given a unique spin on the supernatural world, providing us with something new and entertaining to fall in love with. I really enjoyed watching the way the details came to life, I had fun watching the way things were mixed together, and I’m excited to see what else is brought to us in the future books.
If you’re looking for a book that takes the known and makes it the unknown, then this book is for you – S.G.D. Singh leaves you turning the pages, desperate to see how things play out, and more than willing to read more.
With there being so many young adult urban fantasy books on the market, it is always difficult to find a book that will stand out as different. This is especially difficult with how so many authors seem to be sticking with the popular trends. I cannot fault them for doing such a thing (it’s how they make their living, after all), but I often find myself more intrigued by those who take a step away from the norm. Sure, I continue to pick up the popular books – I fall victim to bookish peer pressure all the time – yet I much prefer finding something different, taking a chance with something that does not follow the current trends.
With Emergence, we’re given elements that are in line with what is popular in the young adult fantasy genre. However, at the same time, it’s given a spin that makes it entirely unique. You see, we have aspects of the supernatural world that are really popular – certain supernatural creatures, specific events that play out in teenagers’ lives, and the way in which the world opens up to those teens – yet they are given a spin I have not seen before. You see, we get a different mythology to usual.
I adore it when authors take a known mythology (even when it is those I do not know much of) and put their own spin on it, mixing it in with elements of the genre I love so much. This is exactly what S.G.D. Singh does: we’re given a unique spin on the supernatural world, providing us with something new and entertaining to fall in love with. I really enjoyed watching the way the details came to life, I had fun watching the way things were mixed together, and I’m excited to see what else is brought to us in the future books.
If you’re looking for a book that takes the known and makes it the unknown, then this book is for you – S.G.D. Singh leaves you turning the pages, desperate to see how things play out, and more than willing to read more.
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September 3, 2020S.G.D. Singh Where can I find this?
December 5, 2018
I was so thrilled to see a setting in India! The cover drew me in but the descriptions made me stay! I loved this unique take on Urban Fantasy!
There were scenes that had me laughing! I’ve said numerous times that I get annoyed with a lot of female MCs but I loved Asha and being inside her head!!
This books was full of emotions and romance and wonderful world building! Can’t wait to read book 2!
There were scenes that had me laughing! I’ve said numerous times that I get annoyed with a lot of female MCs but I loved Asha and being inside her head!!
This books was full of emotions and romance and wonderful world building! Can’t wait to read book 2!
August 12, 2017
This book was so much fun! Fast-paced, gory, and wonderfully original, there wasn't a dull moment in the entire book!
This story follows seventeen year-old Asha, as she's introduced and recruited to the Infernal Guard, a group dedicated to protecting civilians by ridding the world of the underworlders of Hindu mythology. The story takes place mainly in India, and I absolutely loved learning about the culture. Though I didn't know much about the culture going in, the writing style was lovely, and made everything so easy to read; I never felt overwhelmed by all of the new terms. There were so many crazy scary, unique monsters in this book! The author also took some classic monsters like vampires, werewolves, and zombies into the book and made them completely her own while also managing to seamlessly connect them to the world and mythology. The whole paranormal system was so well thought out and believable. I wouldn't be surprised to find out the Infernal Guard is real!
My favorite thing about this book is its diversity culture, world, and characters. Reading this book felt so right. None of the diversity felt forced or out of place at all. Throughout the book, I kept expecting the tropes that have become a sort of YA standard to appear but, I was so, so, pleasantly surprised. Unlike most YA books, the main characters (and the background characters, for that matter) are entirely independent. Asha enters the Guard in a trio, and I was expecting that trio to be the "special" ones, practically glued at the hip, and isolated from the other trainees, but each member branches off from the others, forming their own relationships and schedules, while still maintaining their original friendship. Every character in this book is completely their own person, with unique skills and mannerisms (not to mention background and ethnicity!). Individuals are not without their conflicts, of course, but what sets this book apart is the fact that the characters actually make an effort to resolve their conflicts and work out their differences, not holding petty grudges or becoming enemies. An example being in the beginning of the novel, when the main characters are introduced to two beautiful, talented girls. The characters didn't quite get along, so I expected them to be the mean girls. But, for what could quite possibly be the first time in YA, the girls don't bully the main character for no other reason than they're pretty and that's what pretty people do. I cannot stress how much I loved the sense of kinship in this book. The characters grow to genuinely care for one another and become an amazing team, which was a beautiful thing to read. I also particularly loved how present the adults are in this book. When the trainees break the rules, there are actual consequences! They aren't oblivious to what's going and take the lead when problems arise. That dynamic made the Infernal Guard seem so realistic.
This story follows seventeen year-old Asha, as she's introduced and recruited to the Infernal Guard, a group dedicated to protecting civilians by ridding the world of the underworlders of Hindu mythology. The story takes place mainly in India, and I absolutely loved learning about the culture. Though I didn't know much about the culture going in, the writing style was lovely, and made everything so easy to read; I never felt overwhelmed by all of the new terms. There were so many crazy scary, unique monsters in this book! The author also took some classic monsters like vampires, werewolves, and zombies into the book and made them completely her own while also managing to seamlessly connect them to the world and mythology. The whole paranormal system was so well thought out and believable. I wouldn't be surprised to find out the Infernal Guard is real!
My favorite thing about this book is its diversity culture, world, and characters. Reading this book felt so right. None of the diversity felt forced or out of place at all. Throughout the book, I kept expecting the tropes that have become a sort of YA standard to appear but, I was so, so, pleasantly surprised. Unlike most YA books, the main characters (and the background characters, for that matter) are entirely independent. Asha enters the Guard in a trio, and I was expecting that trio to be the "special" ones, practically glued at the hip, and isolated from the other trainees, but each member branches off from the others, forming their own relationships and schedules, while still maintaining their original friendship. Every character in this book is completely their own person, with unique skills and mannerisms (not to mention background and ethnicity!). Individuals are not without their conflicts, of course, but what sets this book apart is the fact that the characters actually make an effort to resolve their conflicts and work out their differences, not holding petty grudges or becoming enemies. An example being in the beginning of the novel, when the main characters are introduced to two beautiful, talented girls. The characters didn't quite get along, so I expected them to be the mean girls. But, for what could quite possibly be the first time in YA, the girls don't bully the main character for no other reason than they're pretty and that's what pretty people do. I cannot stress how much I loved the sense of kinship in this book. The characters grow to genuinely care for one another and become an amazing team, which was a beautiful thing to read. I also particularly loved how present the adults are in this book. When the trainees break the rules, there are actual consequences! They aren't oblivious to what's going and take the lead when problems arise. That dynamic made the Infernal Guard seem so realistic.
Thank you so much to the author for picking my contest entry and for sending me this book! I can't wait to see where this series goes!
January 15, 2018
Loved it!
This isn't the type of book I usually read but I loved this book and shall now be seeking out more books like it. From start to finish I was hooked... from the beautiful descriptions of the surroundings to the mouth watering descriptions of the food and drink (seriously, it had my stomach grumbling at me!!)
I'm not going to give any spoilers and I'm not great with words but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone...
Why did I give this book five stars? It's simple really... I laughed, I cried, I even grinned like an idiot! What more could I possibly want from a book?
I am so glad the author had this story to tell and I thoroughly look forward to reading the next book!
This isn't the type of book I usually read but I loved this book and shall now be seeking out more books like it. From start to finish I was hooked... from the beautiful descriptions of the surroundings to the mouth watering descriptions of the food and drink (seriously, it had my stomach grumbling at me!!)
I'm not going to give any spoilers and I'm not great with words but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone...
Why did I give this book five stars? It's simple really... I laughed, I cried, I even grinned like an idiot! What more could I possibly want from a book?
I am so glad the author had this story to tell and I thoroughly look forward to reading the next book!
November 2, 2017
Great read highly recommend 👍🏼👍🏼
January 3, 2018
Rate: 5/5 stars
Song Choice: Wild Things by Alessia Cara
*I received a physical copy of Emergence from the author in exchange for a review. It doesn’t change my opinion at all.*
Review
How do I put my love for this book into words.
Like this; askjgahaskallfwhsakhvasajaslasflfqniljj. Lol, no.
This book is seriously one of my favourite reads… Ever. you could read this review or you could stop wasting your time and just buy this book because it’s the (real word) bestestestestest.
So, at the beginning we meet Asha Sandhu (who is such an awesome character) who’s home educated (go team!) and basically, she’s been secluded from the outside world so she only has one friend, Lexi Hewitt (who’s the best) and they live together and are both home educated. They live with her grandfather Bapuji, in Miami. Asha and Lexi train a whole bunch every day (I swear they’re ninja masters) and learn about a whole bunch of stuff (I don’t want to give anything away but, go edumacation!) What’s really awesome is that Asha and her family are from India, except because of what happened to her family in the past, they decided it was best for Asha to grow up in the States. So she doesn’t know her other family in India at all. Oh, and Asha is like the Jimi hendrix of all harp players. So there’s that too.
So, in chapter one it’s pretty calm for like, two pages. And then, BAM! We jump straight into action. After all that drama happens (I can’t say, because, spoilers!) She jumps on a plane to India and meets her Cousin, Nidhan Sandhu, and he’s is just such a lovable character, I mean they all are written so well, and they all have distinct personalities and you fall in love with each one! Oh, and there’s also a mysterious boy *wiggles eyebrows* and once they get together it’s the most adorable thing ever. I ship them so, so much. The You also learn a lot about Indian, Chinese. Colombian and a few other cultures. It has such a beautiful blend of characters, language and culture. You also learn new about different kinds of weapons… Oh, and foods too. Warning, this book will make you hungry! I mean, c’mon Hindu mythology is amazing and I can’t wait to learn more about it in book two! Let me tell you about this dialogue, okay. IT IS AMAZING!
This is just one of my favourite moments;
“Nidhan said, “At least you don’t look like a billionaire Barbie anymore. That was dangerous in so many ways, you have no idea.” Turning to him, Lexi fixed her sunglasses with her middle finger.”
Singh’s writing style is just so gorgeous. No, really, it seriously is. I was instantly taken on this amazing adventure with Asha. I mean I got so lost in this book i actually didn’t use my phone for a full 24hrs. So that says a lot about how much I enjoyed it. I loved reading every minute of it. It made me smile, laugh, cry and at one point I wanted to throw the book at the wall (not in a bad way) because I cried at the end. It was just so, so, so, so, so good! I feel so honored to have had the chance to review this amazing, amazing book. Filled with action, adventure, love and hilarity. I really hope you can pick up this book ASAP, because it’s freakin amazing, and it deserves SO MUCH LOVE! So yes, I’d like to thank Singh for sending me a copy of her wonderful, wonderful book. And for writing a wonderful, wonderful book!
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed!
Feel free to follow me for more reviews!
Song Choice: Wild Things by Alessia Cara
*I received a physical copy of Emergence from the author in exchange for a review. It doesn’t change my opinion at all.*
Review
How do I put my love for this book into words.
Like this; askjgahaskallfwhsakhvasajaslasflfqniljj. Lol, no.
This book is seriously one of my favourite reads… Ever. you could read this review or you could stop wasting your time and just buy this book because it’s the (real word) bestestestestest.
So, at the beginning we meet Asha Sandhu (who is such an awesome character) who’s home educated (go team!) and basically, she’s been secluded from the outside world so she only has one friend, Lexi Hewitt (who’s the best) and they live together and are both home educated. They live with her grandfather Bapuji, in Miami. Asha and Lexi train a whole bunch every day (I swear they’re ninja masters) and learn about a whole bunch of stuff (I don’t want to give anything away but, go edumacation!) What’s really awesome is that Asha and her family are from India, except because of what happened to her family in the past, they decided it was best for Asha to grow up in the States. So she doesn’t know her other family in India at all. Oh, and Asha is like the Jimi hendrix of all harp players. So there’s that too.
So, in chapter one it’s pretty calm for like, two pages. And then, BAM! We jump straight into action. After all that drama happens (I can’t say, because, spoilers!) She jumps on a plane to India and meets her Cousin, Nidhan Sandhu, and he’s is just such a lovable character, I mean they all are written so well, and they all have distinct personalities and you fall in love with each one! Oh, and there’s also a mysterious boy *wiggles eyebrows* and once they get together it’s the most adorable thing ever. I ship them so, so much. The You also learn a lot about Indian, Chinese. Colombian and a few other cultures. It has such a beautiful blend of characters, language and culture. You also learn new about different kinds of weapons… Oh, and foods too. Warning, this book will make you hungry! I mean, c’mon Hindu mythology is amazing and I can’t wait to learn more about it in book two! Let me tell you about this dialogue, okay. IT IS AMAZING!
This is just one of my favourite moments;
“Nidhan said, “At least you don’t look like a billionaire Barbie anymore. That was dangerous in so many ways, you have no idea.” Turning to him, Lexi fixed her sunglasses with her middle finger.”
Singh’s writing style is just so gorgeous. No, really, it seriously is. I was instantly taken on this amazing adventure with Asha. I mean I got so lost in this book i actually didn’t use my phone for a full 24hrs. So that says a lot about how much I enjoyed it. I loved reading every minute of it. It made me smile, laugh, cry and at one point I wanted to throw the book at the wall (not in a bad way) because I cried at the end. It was just so, so, so, so, so good! I feel so honored to have had the chance to review this amazing, amazing book. Filled with action, adventure, love and hilarity. I really hope you can pick up this book ASAP, because it’s freakin amazing, and it deserves SO MUCH LOVE! So yes, I’d like to thank Singh for sending me a copy of her wonderful, wonderful book. And for writing a wonderful, wonderful book!
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed!
Feel free to follow me for more reviews!
August 7, 2017
Where do I even begin.
I finished reading Emergence two days ago, and I'm still suffering from the book hangover it's left me in!
In this beautiful, action packed story, we follow the tale of a girl named Asha. She is introduced to a whole new world, The Infernal Guard, where she learns about all the creatures of the underworld who would try and destroy humans. Asha and her new friends learn to fight evil, and also how to grow up together while dealing with this strange new world!
The dialog in this book is probably my favorite part. The back and forth between Lexi and Asha reminds me of so many of my friends. It's effortless, and even in the beginning of the book I felt like I already knew Lexi and Asha. Lexi is the kind of character you want to pull right out of the book and insert into your circle of friends. She's smart and sassy, beautiful and loving, and a total bad ass. I'm such a sucker for powerful female characters who don't need rescuing, and the female characters in Emergence are bad ass chicks. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire slayer like me, you'll enjoy how these girls dominate.
World building is so important in a good fantasy, and the descriptions in Emergence make me feel like I'm right in the middle of everything. I have such a vibrant picture in my mind of Nidhan's home, and the headquarters, the classrooms, the restaurants, etc. I learned so much about Indian culture, exotic food and clothing, weapons created for specific monsters, monsters I could never even imagine! I absolutely love how much detail went into explaining underworlders and how they're killed, how they hunt, what their weaknesses are. When Uma talks about the history and folklore, I found myself completely enthralled. In Emergence, you're not just introduced to new creatures, you get a full, rich backstory.
The relationships built in this story gave me all the mushy feels. The friendships are deep and meaningful. They respect each other and want to see each other succeed. Even when there's a hint of jealousy, or misunderstanding, they work through it. When they fell in love, I fell in love right along with them. My heart was swelling with that love-at-first-sight feeling we all experience with our first real love. There's so much more I wish I could say, but I don't want to ruin anything!
The struggle of writing reviews where you can't gush about every little detail, love, death, and plot twist is killing me!
This book grabbed a hold of me and refused to let go. It's enchanting, haunting, action packed, and heartbreaking. I need the second one right now!
If you haven't read this book, go read it right now. And then tell everyone else! Because this deserves all the hype!
I finished reading Emergence two days ago, and I'm still suffering from the book hangover it's left me in!
In this beautiful, action packed story, we follow the tale of a girl named Asha. She is introduced to a whole new world, The Infernal Guard, where she learns about all the creatures of the underworld who would try and destroy humans. Asha and her new friends learn to fight evil, and also how to grow up together while dealing with this strange new world!
The dialog in this book is probably my favorite part. The back and forth between Lexi and Asha reminds me of so many of my friends. It's effortless, and even in the beginning of the book I felt like I already knew Lexi and Asha. Lexi is the kind of character you want to pull right out of the book and insert into your circle of friends. She's smart and sassy, beautiful and loving, and a total bad ass. I'm such a sucker for powerful female characters who don't need rescuing, and the female characters in Emergence are bad ass chicks. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire slayer like me, you'll enjoy how these girls dominate.
World building is so important in a good fantasy, and the descriptions in Emergence make me feel like I'm right in the middle of everything. I have such a vibrant picture in my mind of Nidhan's home, and the headquarters, the classrooms, the restaurants, etc. I learned so much about Indian culture, exotic food and clothing, weapons created for specific monsters, monsters I could never even imagine! I absolutely love how much detail went into explaining underworlders and how they're killed, how they hunt, what their weaknesses are. When Uma talks about the history and folklore, I found myself completely enthralled. In Emergence, you're not just introduced to new creatures, you get a full, rich backstory.
The relationships built in this story gave me all the mushy feels. The friendships are deep and meaningful. They respect each other and want to see each other succeed. Even when there's a hint of jealousy, or misunderstanding, they work through it. When they fell in love, I fell in love right along with them. My heart was swelling with that love-at-first-sight feeling we all experience with our first real love. There's so much more I wish I could say, but I don't want to ruin anything!
The struggle of writing reviews where you can't gush about every little detail, love, death, and plot twist is killing me!
This book grabbed a hold of me and refused to let go. It's enchanting, haunting, action packed, and heartbreaking. I need the second one right now!
If you haven't read this book, go read it right now. And then tell everyone else! Because this deserves all the hype!
June 19, 2018
I've heard so many good things about this book so I was excited to to finally get to read it (since I got the second and last books last week). So yeh I had really high expectations when going into this book.
And... Wow... Just wow. This book is definitely as advertised. I absolutely loved it. The characters are all amazingly well written. I'd have loved more about Ranya, but beggars can't be choosers.
I love Lexi and Nidhan they are so bad at the denial thing 😅 and Asha and Aquila are just so darn cute! Mia! I adore Mia! And Himat was so lovely.
Honestly I didn't like a lot of the adults... I mean I know it's supposed to few that way but being an adult myself I kind of wanted to connect with them... And i mean I did with a couple but the majority weren't really a part of the story and we didn't really get much chance to connect... Maybe that will change in the next books...
The world building is so intense... Taking old lore and myths and weaving them into a new story based in the 'normal' mortal world, it makes it so easy to slip into the story and be taken away to mystical land that isn't really there... So fascinating...
There is a name pronuciation key at the back... Turns out I was pronouncing a few names totally wrong 😅 but hey it didn't detract from the story... I knew from the beginning when we met all the characters that I was pronouncing some wrong...
I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Thanks Siri!
And... Wow... Just wow. This book is definitely as advertised. I absolutely loved it. The characters are all amazingly well written. I'd have loved more about Ranya, but beggars can't be choosers.
I love Lexi and Nidhan they are so bad at the denial thing 😅 and Asha and Aquila are just so darn cute! Mia! I adore Mia! And Himat was so lovely.
Honestly I didn't like a lot of the adults... I mean I know it's supposed to few that way but being an adult myself I kind of wanted to connect with them... And i mean I did with a couple but the majority weren't really a part of the story and we didn't really get much chance to connect... Maybe that will change in the next books...
The world building is so intense... Taking old lore and myths and weaving them into a new story based in the 'normal' mortal world, it makes it so easy to slip into the story and be taken away to mystical land that isn't really there... So fascinating...
There is a name pronuciation key at the back... Turns out I was pronouncing a few names totally wrong 😅 but hey it didn't detract from the story... I knew from the beginning when we met all the characters that I was pronouncing some wrong...
I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Thanks Siri!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2016
Everything I wanted it to be and so much more
This book was just EVERYTHING. Touching, inspiring, entrancing, surprisingly hilarious, devastating, restorative, and so much more. The vivid descriptions and character building had me spellbound. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, supernatural, beautiful weaponry, and food described so well you can taste it! I can't wait to get my hands on the next volume. SGD Singh, thank you for your artistry and attention to detail, your lovable and interesting characters, and the hope that the light will burn forever despite the darkness.
This book was just EVERYTHING. Touching, inspiring, entrancing, surprisingly hilarious, devastating, restorative, and so much more. The vivid descriptions and character building had me spellbound. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, supernatural, beautiful weaponry, and food described so well you can taste it! I can't wait to get my hands on the next volume. SGD Singh, thank you for your artistry and attention to detail, your lovable and interesting characters, and the hope that the light will burn forever despite the darkness.
July 6, 2016
Emergence is like The Mortal Instrumets, Harry Potter, The Grisha Trilogy, a touch of divergent all mixed together and set in India. And it's as awesome as it sounds. Fast paced, fun, good characters, surprisingly gory at parts, touching friendships and awesome super powers yo!!! It also sparkled a curiosity for Indian culture, always a plus!! Lexi is a hilarious character and I need her in my life :P
Currently reading
May 1, 2016Unto my next adventure.. :-)
January 7, 2019
I enjoyed this story so much! I just couldn't put it down and when I did have to put it down because I was working, I kept thinking about it. The story was so engaging and even though it had 491 pages and a ton of characters I flew through it. There was enough mystery throughout the story to keep my guessing about one thing or another. There were one or two clichés, but there's hardly any book that doesn't contain one. I would've liked it if the clichés weren't there but they didn't really bother me and didn't take away anything from the story. The plot wasn't super unique but the world was unique enough and the characters were great!
The characters were probably the best thing about the whole novel. Asha was a great heroine and I loved that she wasn't the best fighter or the best singer (they sing a ton!) of the bunch. She was quite relatable, a really nice person and although she was a bit stubborn (she is a teenager after all) she was definitely willing to learn. Most relationships were well developed in this book and I loved reading about them. The relationship between Asha and her love interest was a bit cliché but I still enjoyed it. I adored Lexi and Nidhan and love their banter. They were both great characters. Apart from these main character there were a ton of sidecharacters! I must admit I got a bit confused every now and then, sometimes I didn't even know if someone was male or female haha. But this was mostly because of all the (to me at least) exotic names. I loved that all names had a meaning too and this was ethnically speaking probably the most diverse cast I've ever read about. I really enjoyed it and what I liked most is how natural it felt. Lately there have been a lot of discussions about diversity and while I agree we need more diverse books, I can't stand books where characters are diverse just to be diverse and have them included. I absolutely loved the diversity here and thought it was done beautifully. Tying in with this is also the setting, most novels take place in the USA, some in Europe but hardly any in Asia. But more about that down here!
There was a lot of detail in the book and the world felt super realistic to me. I loved that Hindu mythology was used in the story. I didn't know much about it but that was okay, enough was explained for me to understand it without it being an infodump. I visited India last year so I had some pictures in my head of Indian places but even if I hadn't I think the world was still very clearly described. Most of the story took place in headquarters and at Nidhans familyhome. There were some interesting creatures from the underworlds and they were well developed. I absolutely loved that part, as well as all the shapeshifters! They were so awesome and well described. Asha had a lot to learn during training but I'm happy the author didn't use those instances for infodumps, the info we got was incorporated really well and none of it was unnecessary. All in all I was very happy with the world building, I mentioned the diversity above and this setting made the book stand out from all the USA and Europe based books I've read.
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4,5 stars! Review will follow soon on http://wordpress.thebookdutchesses.com
The characters were probably the best thing about the whole novel. Asha was a great heroine and I loved that she wasn't the best fighter or the best singer (they sing a ton!) of the bunch. She was quite relatable, a really nice person and although she was a bit stubborn (she is a teenager after all) she was definitely willing to learn. Most relationships were well developed in this book and I loved reading about them. The relationship between Asha and her love interest was a bit cliché but I still enjoyed it. I adored Lexi and Nidhan and love their banter. They were both great characters. Apart from these main character there were a ton of sidecharacters! I must admit I got a bit confused every now and then, sometimes I didn't even know if someone was male or female haha. But this was mostly because of all the (to me at least) exotic names. I loved that all names had a meaning too and this was ethnically speaking probably the most diverse cast I've ever read about. I really enjoyed it and what I liked most is how natural it felt. Lately there have been a lot of discussions about diversity and while I agree we need more diverse books, I can't stand books where characters are diverse just to be diverse and have them included. I absolutely loved the diversity here and thought it was done beautifully. Tying in with this is also the setting, most novels take place in the USA, some in Europe but hardly any in Asia. But more about that down here!
There was a lot of detail in the book and the world felt super realistic to me. I loved that Hindu mythology was used in the story. I didn't know much about it but that was okay, enough was explained for me to understand it without it being an infodump. I visited India last year so I had some pictures in my head of Indian places but even if I hadn't I think the world was still very clearly described. Most of the story took place in headquarters and at Nidhans familyhome. There were some interesting creatures from the underworlds and they were well developed. I absolutely loved that part, as well as all the shapeshifters! They were so awesome and well described. Asha had a lot to learn during training but I'm happy the author didn't use those instances for infodumps, the info we got was incorporated really well and none of it was unnecessary. All in all I was very happy with the world building, I mentioned the diversity above and this setting made the book stand out from all the USA and Europe based books I've read.
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4,5 stars! Review will follow soon on http://wordpress.thebookdutchesses.com
July 27, 2017
I had to take some time after reading this book to even find words to say how amazing it was. I still can't seem to do it, but this book needs the world to know everyone needs to read it!
This is the first urban fantasy that I have read and I am now sucked in. This book takes place in Punjab, mainly at headquarters, you'll find out more about that as you read! The writing of the world is so descriptive and detailed that i felt i was right there next to the gang the whole time.
This book is so full of so many emotions it will keep you on the rollercoaster of life even until the very last page. Suspense, fear, happiness, confusion, romance, and just pure love for the characters will course through as you read. I can't even pick a favorite character, there are so many that steal your heart you want to be friends with them all. I am so glad this is a trilogy because i am definitely not ready to let them go just yet!
This book would be great for anyone, doesn't matter the age or gender. The story can suck anyone in. You get wonderful descriptions of food that make you want to jump into the pages and eat with them, to solid friendships between the characters, some sweet romances, and of course some warrior skills to round it all out! If you haven't read this book, I suggest you purchase it right now and get ready for a long night of no sleep until you get the very last page!
This is the first urban fantasy that I have read and I am now sucked in. This book takes place in Punjab, mainly at headquarters, you'll find out more about that as you read! The writing of the world is so descriptive and detailed that i felt i was right there next to the gang the whole time.
This book is so full of so many emotions it will keep you on the rollercoaster of life even until the very last page. Suspense, fear, happiness, confusion, romance, and just pure love for the characters will course through as you read. I can't even pick a favorite character, there are so many that steal your heart you want to be friends with them all. I am so glad this is a trilogy because i am definitely not ready to let them go just yet!
This book would be great for anyone, doesn't matter the age or gender. The story can suck anyone in. You get wonderful descriptions of food that make you want to jump into the pages and eat with them, to solid friendships between the characters, some sweet romances, and of course some warrior skills to round it all out! If you haven't read this book, I suggest you purchase it right now and get ready for a long night of no sleep until you get the very last page!
October 1, 2017
Somewhere 3.5 from me.
A fine work, a unique work and reasonably brilliant work in its own genre in its own way.
I confess that I am not much of a fan of fantasy or young adult books but there are certain reason I liked this book.
First of I'd say that the book is written beautifully. It is not too difficult to read nor too dumbly written is was just the kind of thing one expects from post modernism book. I loved the comedy at places and the amiable environment in the story.
The concept of the book was the over all forte according to me. I am quite a fan of studying mythologies of almost every religion and this book is purely based on a certain mythology. I dont want to spoil it, but I dont think any book has ever been written with such deep understanding of that typical mythology. (Edited: I am not sure but I guess Perter Jackson series might have same touch but it was very different)
The story line was good. It progressed slowly but elegantly handled. I dont feel that it was rushed at all, and further on the there are more series on the way to inspire us. At point I was a but vexed because of come cliches. All the vampire and werewolf is something I personally dont like. I feel that it is something used to many times that I wont like read anything more related to them, but that just me. Another very very annoying thing was the romance...LOL i just hate romance, but if you like romance go for this book.
The characters were good, but frankly non of the character was like...strong, mysterious or anyone i felt connected to. Bapuji might be a bit mysterious, but not exactly that much. I know that somewhat Young Adult stories have very bold character, as for example in Six of Crow, the character were very rich and intense, but in this book the characters were like simple.
Another things that I really like about this book is whole set up of Punjabi location. I am myself a Punjabi (half) maybe. I dont think i have ever read a book that follows my own culture in anyway.
All in all, I will be pleased to welcome all the young adult and fantasy lover to read this book.
A fine work, a unique work and reasonably brilliant work in its own genre in its own way.
I confess that I am not much of a fan of fantasy or young adult books but there are certain reason I liked this book.
First of I'd say that the book is written beautifully. It is not too difficult to read nor too dumbly written is was just the kind of thing one expects from post modernism book. I loved the comedy at places and the amiable environment in the story.
The concept of the book was the over all forte according to me. I am quite a fan of studying mythologies of almost every religion and this book is purely based on a certain mythology. I dont want to spoil it, but I dont think any book has ever been written with such deep understanding of that typical mythology. (Edited: I am not sure but I guess Perter Jackson series might have same touch but it was very different)
The story line was good. It progressed slowly but elegantly handled. I dont feel that it was rushed at all, and further on the there are more series on the way to inspire us. At point I was a but vexed because of come cliches. All the vampire and werewolf is something I personally dont like. I feel that it is something used to many times that I wont like read anything more related to them, but that just me. Another very very annoying thing was the romance...LOL i just hate romance, but if you like romance go for this book.
The characters were good, but frankly non of the character was like...strong, mysterious or anyone i felt connected to. Bapuji might be a bit mysterious, but not exactly that much. I know that somewhat Young Adult stories have very bold character, as for example in Six of Crow, the character were very rich and intense, but in this book the characters were like simple.
Another things that I really like about this book is whole set up of Punjabi location. I am myself a Punjabi (half) maybe. I dont think i have ever read a book that follows my own culture in anyway.
All in all, I will be pleased to welcome all the young adult and fantasy lover to read this book.
October 7, 2017
*I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review*
What did I just read?! All I can say is WOW! I really really really loved this book. The world building was spectacular, the characters were amazing, I just didn't want to put it down!
The action starts right at the very beginning when Asha's grandfather comes home severely injured in the arms of a big scary man who turns out to be a healer. Asha, who was raised Innocent in the U.S., is then sent to India to stay with family she never knew existed. From there, a whole other world is formed! Asha, her best friend Lexi and her new cousin Nidhan find out that there is more to the world than what they could ever imagine... and they're about to become part of the Infernal Gaurd. (an elite group that hunt creatures like vampires, zombies and other from Indian/Hindu Mythology and make the world a safer place for humans)
I will say that this book has A LOT of characters, and with all the uncommon names it gets a little confusing. Also, a lot of information to take in on each creature and how to kill them. I really enjoyed the humor that the author threw in throughout the book, and the romance was very sweet, yet didn't take over the story. I felt the story was very original and it was a lot of fun to read! I'll definitely be diving into the second book, and looking forward to the third!
What did I just read?! All I can say is WOW! I really really really loved this book. The world building was spectacular, the characters were amazing, I just didn't want to put it down!
The action starts right at the very beginning when Asha's grandfather comes home severely injured in the arms of a big scary man who turns out to be a healer. Asha, who was raised Innocent in the U.S., is then sent to India to stay with family she never knew existed. From there, a whole other world is formed! Asha, her best friend Lexi and her new cousin Nidhan find out that there is more to the world than what they could ever imagine... and they're about to become part of the Infernal Gaurd. (an elite group that hunt creatures like vampires, zombies and other from Indian/Hindu Mythology and make the world a safer place for humans)
I will say that this book has A LOT of characters, and with all the uncommon names it gets a little confusing. Also, a lot of information to take in on each creature and how to kill them. I really enjoyed the humor that the author threw in throughout the book, and the romance was very sweet, yet didn't take over the story. I felt the story was very original and it was a lot of fun to read! I'll definitely be diving into the second book, and looking forward to the third!
June 8, 2019
book by @sgd_singh
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A mythological, super-natural fantasy set up in Hindu culture.
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I love the interaction between chracters and the way they work together.
............................
The diversity of cultures and especially the description of Hindu culture made it 10x better.
............................
Her writing style is mind blowing.The development of story is very good
It unfolds slowly page after page. Writer use the simile and words of native indian language that just totally embellish the book.
............................
The writer build up a diverse world. It is YA series full of adventure, romance and mystery.
....................
I can not give it less than 5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 because it is fast-paced, action-packed and fantasy book
........,..............
Highly recommended to the lovers of romance and fantsy.
......................
A mythological, super-natural fantasy set up in Hindu culture.
...........................
I love the interaction between chracters and the way they work together.
............................
The diversity of cultures and especially the description of Hindu culture made it 10x better.
............................
Her writing style is mind blowing.The development of story is very good
It unfolds slowly page after page. Writer use the simile and words of native indian language that just totally embellish the book.
............................
The writer build up a diverse world. It is YA series full of adventure, romance and mystery.
....................
I can not give it less than 5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 because it is fast-paced, action-packed and fantasy book
........,..............
Highly recommended to the lovers of romance and fantsy.
December 23, 2017
First of all, thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy.
I really enjoyed this story, but I cannot give it four stars. I think this is for a more young readership and I felt like I could not identify with the characters. It is a fast pace reading, it is brilliantly written and the writer has such a wild imagination, I cannot help but appreciate Singh's first work.
Mixing together vampires to Sikh and Hindu culture, the author definitely makes this story an original urban fantasy and I strongly recommend this Mortal Instruments-meets-Hogwarts story for the fans of the genre.
I really enjoyed this story, but I cannot give it four stars. I think this is for a more young readership and I felt like I could not identify with the characters. It is a fast pace reading, it is brilliantly written and the writer has such a wild imagination, I cannot help but appreciate Singh's first work.
Mixing together vampires to Sikh and Hindu culture, the author definitely makes this story an original urban fantasy and I strongly recommend this Mortal Instruments-meets-Hogwarts story for the fans of the genre.
January 15, 2018
Grab the book, grab the tissues, sit down, and get ready for a rollercoaster of a ride. This book is amazing and had me laughing, crying, and feeling the character's emotions through out the whole book. Exquisitely detailed and well worth the late night reading. I felt as if I was with the characters, experiencing their happiness and their pain. I can't wait to read the next one.
September 17, 2017
Fabulous intro into a fantastic world. Full of amazing wonderful character that leap off the page.
Was pulled in on the first chapter. Taken in by the beautiful and complex characters as they begin their mythical adventure.
If you enjoyed Percy Jackson then you will enjoy this story.
Was pulled in on the first chapter. Taken in by the beautiful and complex characters as they begin their mythical adventure.
If you enjoyed Percy Jackson then you will enjoy this story.
January 16, 2018
The Infernal Guard series will grasp you in its claws, and unlike the monsters you’ll find in the books, you won’t want to escape its clutches.
“Emergence” follows Asha, as she is thrown into a world her parents made her grandfather promise to keep her from when they died, so that she might have a semi-normal childhood. When her grandfather is attacked and nearly dies, Asha is sent to learn about her destiny earlier than intended and with her destiny comes the knowledge of all the things that go bump in the night.
Using Hindu culture and religion to explain the multiple realms Asha and her fellow Infernal Guard trainees must protect, the story is fast paced and full of diversity. It is also full of monsters, like holy crow there are so many beasties. What I loved about this book is that Singh doesn’t hold back, there is some gore though I felt like it was tasteful. There’s a sense of kinship in this book despite the competitive atmosphere the students are in, I loved that characters actually worked through their differences and conflicts and the characters have real teenage thoughts and feelings: fear, disgust, lust, and jealousy.
I also loved that the adults in the books play a huge role: this isn’t a series where you question where the teenagers are getting their training or who put these kids in charge of saving the world. The writing and plot is consistent and believable and I found myself just as attached to the adult characters as the children.
The only negatives I could possibly have about this book is that there are A LOT of characters initially. I found myself having a hard time keeping track of who was who, but as I kept reading I found that though there were a lot of characters they were all completely different and each held their own throughout the narrative. The only trigger warning I would throw out there would be infanticide, there was one part of the story where I had a hard time because of how descriptive Singh’s writing is, I understood where she was going with it and agree it was necessary but YIKES.
I would recommend this for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The Mortal Instruments series, there’s a lot of bad ass female characters and the sense of a Scooby Gang with Giles like mentors- and also gory monster deaths in a training school like atmosphere. Give this one a read because I’d love to talk to you about this series and hear your thoughts! (And also gush about Aquila.)
“Emergence” follows Asha, as she is thrown into a world her parents made her grandfather promise to keep her from when they died, so that she might have a semi-normal childhood. When her grandfather is attacked and nearly dies, Asha is sent to learn about her destiny earlier than intended and with her destiny comes the knowledge of all the things that go bump in the night.
Using Hindu culture and religion to explain the multiple realms Asha and her fellow Infernal Guard trainees must protect, the story is fast paced and full of diversity. It is also full of monsters, like holy crow there are so many beasties. What I loved about this book is that Singh doesn’t hold back, there is some gore though I felt like it was tasteful. There’s a sense of kinship in this book despite the competitive atmosphere the students are in, I loved that characters actually worked through their differences and conflicts and the characters have real teenage thoughts and feelings: fear, disgust, lust, and jealousy.
I also loved that the adults in the books play a huge role: this isn’t a series where you question where the teenagers are getting their training or who put these kids in charge of saving the world. The writing and plot is consistent and believable and I found myself just as attached to the adult characters as the children.
The only negatives I could possibly have about this book is that there are A LOT of characters initially. I found myself having a hard time keeping track of who was who, but as I kept reading I found that though there were a lot of characters they were all completely different and each held their own throughout the narrative. The only trigger warning I would throw out there would be infanticide, there was one part of the story where I had a hard time because of how descriptive Singh’s writing is, I understood where she was going with it and agree it was necessary but YIKES.
I would recommend this for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The Mortal Instruments series, there’s a lot of bad ass female characters and the sense of a Scooby Gang with Giles like mentors- and also gory monster deaths in a training school like atmosphere. Give this one a read because I’d love to talk to you about this series and hear your thoughts! (And also gush about Aquila.)
March 8, 2021
Imagine if Buffy was set in Hogwarts and written by the folk who adapted The Vampire Diaries for television. That would barely be the tip of the Emergence iceberg, but it'll give you a rough idea to be going along with.
The first instalment of Singh's Infernal Guard trilogy hits the ground running, with the reader left knowing as little as our heroine, Asha, about what was happening. I felt compelled to keep reading just to find out what did happen next. I had to shed some light!
I very much enjoyed the humour and the constant back-and-forth between some of the characters - it kept the pace up in those occasions where even the thousand-mile-a-minute action needed to sit back and take a breather. In both these cases - packed with action and not - I found myself taking every moment I could to get even a snippet read (I even finished the book while walking home today, and I'm terrible at doing other things while walking).
One thing I absolutely loved was one character's description of vampires: "Their true form is, in fact, a white, scaly, bat-like creature about the size of a Pomeranian. They have red-veined wings, and glowing blue eyes. So no. There will be no romance, true love, uncontrolled teen-angst desires. That's all bullshit, okay?"
As it turned out, there was plenty of the above...it's just that the vampires didn't get a look in! I loved the cheeky little swipe Singh made at...a certain other popular supernatural YA series.
I really don't want to spoil the book for anyone wishing to read it but with its humour, pace, action and many twists and turns, it's a hugely enjoyable read. I'm already looking forward to moving on to the next one!
The first instalment of Singh's Infernal Guard trilogy hits the ground running, with the reader left knowing as little as our heroine, Asha, about what was happening. I felt compelled to keep reading just to find out what did happen next. I had to shed some light!
I very much enjoyed the humour and the constant back-and-forth between some of the characters - it kept the pace up in those occasions where even the thousand-mile-a-minute action needed to sit back and take a breather. In both these cases - packed with action and not - I found myself taking every moment I could to get even a snippet read (I even finished the book while walking home today, and I'm terrible at doing other things while walking).
One thing I absolutely loved was one character's description of vampires: "Their true form is, in fact, a white, scaly, bat-like creature about the size of a Pomeranian. They have red-veined wings, and glowing blue eyes. So no. There will be no romance, true love, uncontrolled teen-angst desires. That's all bullshit, okay?"
As it turned out, there was plenty of the above...it's just that the vampires didn't get a look in! I loved the cheeky little swipe Singh made at...a certain other popular supernatural YA series.
I really don't want to spoil the book for anyone wishing to read it but with its humour, pace, action and many twists and turns, it's a hugely enjoyable read. I'm already looking forward to moving on to the next one!
January 12, 2018
First it is recommended to grade 9 and up (13yrs old) but, The infernal Guard trilogy are delightful books to initiate any teens to the fantasy world. It contains everything a great fantasy book should, monsters, hero’s super power, love, first kiss, architectural details… so many beautiful details, training, war, saving the world... The story is fast paced, easy to read and you will not have to wait to page 99 to know if you like it 😉
It seems everything in this book was written to anchor great fundamental values. The characters are smart and respectful. They are all individually amazing I with roots going deep from generation to generation.
I would recommend this book to any teenager, and teachers/parents could really get into helping their students/kids find the values to be learn in every page.
OK. As an adult I was devouring every word and my imagination went wild with details. I finished this trilogy feeling as if somebody had finally understood the true nature of life and transcript it into an amazing fantasy world.
This book is definitely worth a reread! I want a perfect picture of everything from headquarters, to Zen Garden, to other dimension. I need these books to be imprinted in my memory and stay there lol.
It seems everything in this book was written to anchor great fundamental values. The characters are smart and respectful. They are all individually amazing I with roots going deep from generation to generation.
I would recommend this book to any teenager, and teachers/parents could really get into helping their students/kids find the values to be learn in every page.
OK. As an adult I was devouring every word and my imagination went wild with details. I finished this trilogy feeling as if somebody had finally understood the true nature of life and transcript it into an amazing fantasy world.
This book is definitely worth a reread! I want a perfect picture of everything from headquarters, to Zen Garden, to other dimension. I need these books to be imprinted in my memory and stay there lol.
July 26, 2017
I just finished Emergence. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book as much as this one. Emergence is a fast paced book that keeps you in the world of the Infernal Guard from the first page until the last. I loved the characters and the detailed descriptions of the underworlders. The pictures of the weapons, character descriptions, and Punjabi words index, all help build your image of this world. I would recommend Emergence to anyone that likes fantasy. I'm looking forward to the next book in this trilogy, Descent.
September 18, 2017
Just finished reading Emergence. I was skeptical on reading it. I am so glad I did read it. It was fast paced, lots of action and didn't drone on like some books do. I did not find a part in the book that I didn't enjoy. The only con I have to the book is there were to many names. I had a hard time keeping track of who is who. But that could just be me. If you want a fun, fast paced, and keep your interest book this is one to read. I am off to book 2 of the trilogy now!
August 2, 2017
What a fantastic, different book! It's so refreshing to read an urban fantasy set somewhere other than the US of UK! I learned a lot about the Punjab, Sikh & Hindu culture, which was fascinating, but the book is highly entertaining as well, as a fantasy - a perfect combination! I'm really looking forward to reading the next book!
June 4, 2016
I truly enjoyed Emergence and look forward to the next book in the series. It's a great book for high school students to read to learn about diversity and a culture different from theirs. Adults will want to read Emergence, as well.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of this book.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of this book.
May 29, 2016
The author very kindly sent me this book so I could review it
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jriV5...
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