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Stealing Thunder #1
Stealing Thunder
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.
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.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
49 people are currently reading
5424 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
November 12, 2025
Let's start off by saying something that absolutely blew me away - this story has a trans princess but her transition isn't the focus of the story.
How do you explain your soul to another person? How do you give them a glimpse of it?
Let me repeat this - her transition ISN'T the story.
Over the years, I have devoured all of the LGBTQ+ books I can. This was a subject that I sought out at my small local library ever since I was old enough to pick out my own middle-grade to YA books.
Why? It was a new perspective.
It was something that I didn't want to ask my family, the librarian and honestly I had questions that I didn't feel comfortable asking anyone in real life. I wanted to read about lives that were different from my own and learn from them.
I wanted to understand (even just a little bit) what someone else experienced and the way I chose to do that when I was a young teen was by patrolling the stacks of YA books, reading the back of every new one solely in the hopes that it will be something LGBTQ+.
I've watched the YA and other genres slowly go from including one (1) quirky gay tertiary character to a secondary character tragically dying young because of their identity to having a main character question themselves before slowly coming out to their family.
But what I haven't read very often where the transition isn't the focus. Where the "coming out" isn't the end-all be-all of the book.
What I mean is that I am overwhelmingly happy that there are now books (this one included) where the main character is already living their authentic selves AND STILL GOES ON ADVENTURES (with dragons!).
And while I don't feel educated enough to comment on every trans and demi aspect of the book - I am happy that there are more books representing these identities.
To me, this marks a wonderful transition in the literary world.
This book follows Razia - the former crown prince of the Nizam empire - as she lives her life as a hijra courtesan.
The name made my ears burn as much from humiliation as it made my insides twist from fear.
A hijra is what their country calls people who are assigned male at birth but due to surgery and essential salts are able to live lives as a transfeminine woman.
Her home (dera) is filled with others, who like herself, rent out their bodies - as a form of entertainment (both as the regular sort and as the under-the-sheets sort of entertainment).
Razia sees this as a necessary evil for living her authentic lives.
...though I wondered if he knew how much I wanted to escape the dera.One day, Razia entertains the local prince...and he takes a liking to her.
And while his patronage could be her ladder to climb out of the dera...the dangers begin mounting almost immediately.
Razia is responsible for a series of increasingly brash thefts, revealing her true identity would mean instant death...and yet...as much as she should stay away, there's something about this prince that keeps drawing her in.
There was no stopping it now. I had to tell him.So. As I said earlier - I am so happy that this book exists and Berkley is rolling it out with all the other fantasies for this year.
Razia was a spunky main character and Arjun was a wonderfully handsome (and understanding prince). The two of them fit together so well - and I am so happy by their relationship.
The setting was divine and despite not ever experiencing lands like the ones described, I was truly transported to them.
I really couldn't get enough of the zahhaks (feathery dragons) - I really couldn't! Every time they came onto the page, I couldn't read the words fast enough.
However, there were a few things that ended up affecting my overall rating.
There was quite a few fantasy terms that did make getting into the book a bit difficult, but flipping back and forth from the glossary did help with that (though it interrupted the flow).
But even with that, the pacing of the book felt a bit slow for about 3/4 of the book...though the last quarter definitely boosted it in my opinion. So much action and adventure - but it just took a while to get there.
The other thing that threw me out of the book (and this is honestly a personal pet peeve) but most of the plot happened because Razia can't keep her mouth shut.
Most of Razia's issues were self-made - aka - if she didn't let it slip every chapter that she was a former son of a king...then most of the plot disappears. Which is incredibly frustrating to me (as a reader).
If she was truly scared to death of anyone finding out her former identity - why even tease them with the "I was a former prince" line.
(I suppose if you want to get super technical, she lets it be known because she wanted the prestige for future clients...but at the same time...surely avoiding death is something to be prioritized over clients with deeper pockets?)
The last thing that was a bit tiring during this book was how often Razia repeated herself.
I think this was a major reason why the book felt slow to me in the beginning - she goes through pretty much the same explanation of her past and her life choices to just about every new person she meets and is constantly worrying over the same few things.
And while the having-to-explain-to-everyone is something that undoubtedly she experienced (and many transwoman experience), by the fifth time she said her soul was a woman's and she could not deny it - I just really wished the author would just summarize it so we don't have to go through the whole explanation/reaction/more explanations (again).
All that being said - I really did enjoy quite a bit of this book and it truly was a great debut novel.
It was different, it was exciting and it was memorable.
The author was so knowledgeable about the background and setting (after all, she did firsthand research for so many years and has spent equally long as a trans rights activist) that I truly am excited for more people to read this book.
I absolutely cannot wait to see where this author's career goes next!
A huge thank you to Berkley publishing and the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
April 30, 2021
Support trans Asian authors please I beg you
P.S. Don't EVER use food to describe poc. Even eye color!!!!
P.S. Don't EVER use food to describe poc. Even eye color!!!!
June 28, 2019
I was in a cab to the Paris airport when my data plan ran out, so I picked up the manuscript for Stealing Thunder. I figured I’d give it 25 pages as a favor to the editor, then watch Marvel movies on the flight.
The next thing I knew, we were landing in New York, and I was nearly finished with the book. I remember being resentful that it was too dark to read in the taxi home.
I get asked to read a lot of manuscripts, and as a result it has become increasingly difficult to hold my interest. Stealing Thunder was immersive from the very first page. Razia is everything you want in a protagonist. Having given up luxury and power as a crown prince to live life as a woman, the story begins with her in a hijra family with other transsexuals, working as a dancer, prostitute and thief in order to survive.
But Razia isn’t one to let the world dictate who she is. Despite living in a culture that abuses and treats trans women as one of the lowest castes of society, she finds a way to have agency and impact, rising to power again not through the privilege of her birth, but by dint of her own intellect, skill, and strength of will.
And I haven’t even mentioned the dragons.
Her father’s empire is built on the strength of his aerial corps of zahhaks—great serpentine beasts with vibrantly feathered wings, each breed possessing a unique and terrible breath weapon. Stealing Thunder has no shortage of handsome princes and passionate romance, but the greatest love is between Razia and Sultana, the thunder zahhak she raised from a hatchling but was forced to leave behind when she fled her abusive father’s palace to live on her own terms.
But as her confidence in her new life grows, Razia becomes determined to steal Sultana back.
Dragons, politics, fighting, chases, escapes, thrilling aerial battles, true love, and a kickass trans protagonist, Stealing Thunder really has it all.
Worth your time.
The next thing I knew, we were landing in New York, and I was nearly finished with the book. I remember being resentful that it was too dark to read in the taxi home.
I get asked to read a lot of manuscripts, and as a result it has become increasingly difficult to hold my interest. Stealing Thunder was immersive from the very first page. Razia is everything you want in a protagonist. Having given up luxury and power as a crown prince to live life as a woman, the story begins with her in a hijra family with other transsexuals, working as a dancer, prostitute and thief in order to survive.
But Razia isn’t one to let the world dictate who she is. Despite living in a culture that abuses and treats trans women as one of the lowest castes of society, she finds a way to have agency and impact, rising to power again not through the privilege of her birth, but by dint of her own intellect, skill, and strength of will.
And I haven’t even mentioned the dragons.
Her father’s empire is built on the strength of his aerial corps of zahhaks—great serpentine beasts with vibrantly feathered wings, each breed possessing a unique and terrible breath weapon. Stealing Thunder has no shortage of handsome princes and passionate romance, but the greatest love is between Razia and Sultana, the thunder zahhak she raised from a hatchling but was forced to leave behind when she fled her abusive father’s palace to live on her own terms.
But as her confidence in her new life grows, Razia becomes determined to steal Sultana back.
Dragons, politics, fighting, chases, escapes, thrilling aerial battles, true love, and a kickass trans protagonist, Stealing Thunder really has it all.
Worth your time.
not-gonna-happen
August 16, 2019its been months since I said I wasn't gonna read this book and y'all still keep coming at me like anything you say is gonna change my mind. go outside. take a nap.
Read
May 3, 2020
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
DNF @ page 50
Where to begin? Let me start by saying that I WON'T be discussing the trans and desi representations even though I have heard there are issues with them. I'm choosing not to comment on either of them because I am not trans and am not Desi and don't feel it is my place to comment on how those people should be represented. And because the issues I’ve heard about aren’t from sources I completely trust. Also, I don't want to attract the trolls that seem to be lurking around reviews of this book.
I aborted this book because it, simply put, boring. As I have said in other reviews, I struggle to read fantasy novels because they are always pretty chock full of jargon. Some more than others. There are generally three levels of jargon.
1. Little to none
2. Some - These types of books have jargon but generally use words that already exist and/or keep it to a minimum. (Narnia, Harry Potter, Divergent)
3. This book - This book made up SO many made up words. It literally had a glossary in the back.... A FREAKING GLOSSARY. I understand when you need to make words for things that don't already exist... (like diseases or countries) but why make words for things that exists?
For example, one of the words is (these quotes are taken from an ARC and are subject to change... etc. etc.) Subah - a province
And there were so many definitions that they all got wrapped up in themselves. For example...
Cela - A disciple of a guru living in a hijra dera
WHY?!
I'm not even kidding when I say that all this jargon was 99.99% of the reason I'm not finishing this. It was all so over the top.
I think that if the author cut down just half of the jargon (because almost none of it is necessary), the book would be so much easier to read.
Bottom Line:
[insufficient data]
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March 16, 2020
Stealing Thunder is a beautifully written tale of a former prince now in hiding with a backdrop of the orient doused in adventure delivering a highly readable plot.
Razia Khan is her name now and she climbs walls stealthier than anyone else, steals quietly and swiftly from the rich and dances most alluringly to captivate her audience. She is a transgender woman working in a dera along with sisters just like her who also have escaped a life of beatings and discrimination. Most of them have always known that they were born in the wrong body that didn't match their woman's soul.
Razia meets prince Arjun at one of her performances and she stands out immediately to him. Smitten with her whit and beauty, he begins to spend time with her, while she continues thieving right under his nose. As their infatuation turns to friendship and more, she almost gets caught by him climbing walls at night and jumping roofs.
With the continued interest of Arjun, Razia lets down her guard and tells him the truth. The two of them share a love for flying zahhaks, large feathered creatures that only the noble are allowed to fly and he is impressed by her abilities to control and maneuver them so well. Razia misses flying her own but soon finds the opportunity to do so when she becomes entangled with Arjun's family in a political war that brings her close to home and to her father who has hated and searched for her for years.
Not only did Razia endure a troubled childhood, but as she meets Arjun's family, she is being tested of her intentions towards Arjun until her tactics to pull strategic moves against the enemy pay off and she garners a spot as a concubine in his home. But the threat of her old life isn't over until she can save her little sister too and prove her loyalties in the biggest heist she has ever taken part in.
Will Razia finally defy the odds and earn the respect and happy life she deserves?
***
This novel was written by a transgender woman and it was my first experience to read a book with a transgender (main) character. I loved the backdrop of the orient and moments of adventure in it, while in all it was written full of heart. It reads swiftly and is one of those novels you can just get lost in. A bit of intrigue, foes, and enemies round this novel up perfectly and in all, it's a very engrossing story.
I liked Razia and Arjun's characters, and I love the way their relationship developed. Both of them are upstanding, nice people, but the concept is still foreign to me. There is no doubt that the author's voice is absolutely beautiful and this novel was written very well. I think it is a great way to be introduced to the subject without it feeling overbearing and I'm certain we will see more books like this in the future. I believe there will be a sequel to Stealing Thunder and I would definitely read it as well.
Cheers.
I received an Arc of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you kindly.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Razia Khan is her name now and she climbs walls stealthier than anyone else, steals quietly and swiftly from the rich and dances most alluringly to captivate her audience. She is a transgender woman working in a dera along with sisters just like her who also have escaped a life of beatings and discrimination. Most of them have always known that they were born in the wrong body that didn't match their woman's soul.
Razia meets prince Arjun at one of her performances and she stands out immediately to him. Smitten with her whit and beauty, he begins to spend time with her, while she continues thieving right under his nose. As their infatuation turns to friendship and more, she almost gets caught by him climbing walls at night and jumping roofs.
With the continued interest of Arjun, Razia lets down her guard and tells him the truth. The two of them share a love for flying zahhaks, large feathered creatures that only the noble are allowed to fly and he is impressed by her abilities to control and maneuver them so well. Razia misses flying her own but soon finds the opportunity to do so when she becomes entangled with Arjun's family in a political war that brings her close to home and to her father who has hated and searched for her for years.
Not only did Razia endure a troubled childhood, but as she meets Arjun's family, she is being tested of her intentions towards Arjun until her tactics to pull strategic moves against the enemy pay off and she garners a spot as a concubine in his home. But the threat of her old life isn't over until she can save her little sister too and prove her loyalties in the biggest heist she has ever taken part in.
Will Razia finally defy the odds and earn the respect and happy life she deserves?
***
This novel was written by a transgender woman and it was my first experience to read a book with a transgender (main) character. I loved the backdrop of the orient and moments of adventure in it, while in all it was written full of heart. It reads swiftly and is one of those novels you can just get lost in. A bit of intrigue, foes, and enemies round this novel up perfectly and in all, it's a very engrossing story.
I liked Razia and Arjun's characters, and I love the way their relationship developed. Both of them are upstanding, nice people, but the concept is still foreign to me. There is no doubt that the author's voice is absolutely beautiful and this novel was written very well. I think it is a great way to be introduced to the subject without it feeling overbearing and I'm certain we will see more books like this in the future. I believe there will be a sequel to Stealing Thunder and I would definitely read it as well.
Cheers.
I received an Arc of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you kindly.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Read
April 2, 2020This fantasy is written by a trans woman, with a trans woman as narrator, and it’s set in a fantasy version of the Mughul Empire. As such I was really looking forward to it.
And to a certain extent it pleases—the world building is full of vivid detail, especially the dragon-like critters that our heroine and hero ride at breakneck speed through the skies.
The problem is that Razia repeatedly hits the same note, explaining how important it was to become a hijra, a courtesan, and how miserable her life had been as a prince under a vindictive father. Once or twice would have been all right, but we get the same point over and over, in between which Razia proves to be amazing at whatever she does, whether it’s working as a thief, or being lover to the ultra-perfect, rich, handsome, and devoted Arjun. Oh yes, wrestling and strategy are also among her superlative skills.
The second half is more exciting than the first, once the plot gets going. And the dragon critters are very, very cool.
Copy provided by NetGalley
And to a certain extent it pleases—the world building is full of vivid detail, especially the dragon-like critters that our heroine and hero ride at breakneck speed through the skies.
The problem is that Razia repeatedly hits the same note, explaining how important it was to become a hijra, a courtesan, and how miserable her life had been as a prince under a vindictive father. Once or twice would have been all right, but we get the same point over and over, in between which Razia proves to be amazing at whatever she does, whether it’s working as a thief, or being lover to the ultra-perfect, rich, handsome, and devoted Arjun. Oh yes, wrestling and strategy are also among her superlative skills.
The second half is more exciting than the first, once the plot gets going. And the dragon critters are very, very cool.
Copy provided by NetGalley
March 14, 2019
As a (half) South Asian trans woman, I'm so excited for this 💖
March 26, 2022
1.5 stars, rounded up. Ho boy.
Three things before I start this review;
1) It is a Good Thing that this book exists. More trans exposure, trans authors, and trans heroes and heroines is only a good thing.
2) I am not going to go into the controversy surrounding the book's depiction of a Indian/Desi world and hijras. As a straight white CIS man I don't feel particularly qualified ti speak on it, but I acknowledge that this controversy does exist.
3) I listened to this on Audible audio, and while Deepti Gupta tells it very well and her voice is incredible, between her accent and the prolific use of Indian names and terms for places, objects, people, etc. I really struggled to keep track of some of the terminology. This is 100% subjective, but I can't say it didn't effect my enjoyment.
That out of the way - trans fiction deserves a better book than this.
Razia was the first-born son of a powerful emperor, but there's an issue - that issue being that Razia is a woman. She has run away from home and been 'cut', and takes salts that are slightly vague but the implication is that it assists with transitioning the rest of her body. This is fine, even interesting - but Razia herself is not.
Is "Mary-Sue" a dead term? I'm an internet geezer, so I'm not sure but I feel like I don't see it very often - however, Razia is without exception amazing at everything and literally the best person to exist. She is a strong female character in that plastic, fake sense where she is just good at everything.
I can't think of anything off the top of my head that she does within STEALING THUNDER that she isn't a) exceptional at, and b) exceptional at to the absolute Pika-facing ASTOUNDMENT of everybody.
The majority of characters outside of Razia and her close friends/sisters are introduced as follows.
Razia: "Hi I'm Razia"
Character: "A HIJRA?! WELL what can a FAKE WOMAN offer, REALLY?"
Razia: Excels at whatever happens to be the subject at hand - lapdancing, flirting, predicting the outcome of wrestling competitions, climbing 200 foot sheer cliffs, flying a zahakk, etc.
Character:
Her only possible character flaw is that she steals at the beginning, but it is very quickly clarified that the madame of her dera forced her to do this and that really, Razia is the victim after all.
She becomes an eyelash-fluttering catastrophe the moment she meets handsome, pretty prince Arjun of the local kingdom and he immediately falls for her - the tension of her secret identity as the runaway firstborn of the most powerful Empire in the region is dispelled when she tells him about it in the second chapter, but it's okay because true love and all that.
Her secret identity really isn't very secret, as she is constantly slipping up or revealing it to pretty much everyone who looks at her - but don't fret because despite her constant internal monologuing about how much danger she's in and how she'll end up with her head on a pike if anybody finds out, at no point during the novel is Razia in any actual danger.
Within two weeks of meeting her new handsome prince, Razia is making major political and strategic decisions that have peace-or-war ramifications for presumably tens of thousands of people - but this is explained away that she is a strategic genius, because when Arjun's dad says "We should just fly our zahakks straight at the ships with cannons", she says "But- what if we DIDN'T?"
The book also has a big issue with tone - about halfway through, Razia encounters Karim who she knew when she was still living at home, and he recognises her - it isn't totally clear unless I missed it being said explicitly, but the implication is that (CW: assault) This is played as seriously as it should be, though Karim doesn't take it seriously and jokes about it a lot - Razia and he have a fair amount of angry tension between them as a result. However, by the end of the book they're winking and joking with one another - oh Karim, you scamp, just don't do it again!
The plot takes a very long time to get going - the titular theft of Thunder comes at approximately the 75% mark of the book, and was only put into action shortly before that - and this doesn't seem to lead directly to anything major happening. However, literally in the last 15 minutes of the audiobook, following a fairly dull battle scene Razia and her father confront one another - he immediately dead-names and misgenders her, which leads to Arjun saying "HEY THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT". Razia's father then has a chat to her about how disgusted he is with her existence, but it's cool that she's still good at fighting and stuff. By the way, here's an entire province for you to rule.
Wow, what an incredible story of overcoming adversity and growth! Razia doesn't learn anything over her journey except that Arjun is really good at neck kisses.
The world is inspired by the Mughal Empire, and while interesting on the face of it, there isn't much meat to it. The characters, places and kingdoms just sort of run together into blur and I would struggle to tell you where anybody was from.
I was really, really excited for this when I read the description but I am deeply disappointed - if people enjoy it then more power to them, and if it helps get more trans fiction out there then more the better. Looking at the rating split, I am certainly in the minority, but I do wonder how many people are letting the fact that it is trans fiction influence their ratings. I did notice that on at least a couple of negative reviews there were very fresh accounts (very, very unsubtly appearing to be friends or fans of the author) leaping in to defend the book and the author, which is pretty scummy.
In the foreword, Boyden says that she had written 100 manuscripts before she got one published - having experienced Stealing Thunder, I can't say I'm surprised. I hope she improves, but I doubt I'll try the next one.
Three things before I start this review;
1) It is a Good Thing that this book exists. More trans exposure, trans authors, and trans heroes and heroines is only a good thing.
2) I am not going to go into the controversy surrounding the book's depiction of a Indian/Desi world and hijras. As a straight white CIS man I don't feel particularly qualified ti speak on it, but I acknowledge that this controversy does exist.
3) I listened to this on Audible audio, and while Deepti Gupta tells it very well and her voice is incredible, between her accent and the prolific use of Indian names and terms for places, objects, people, etc. I really struggled to keep track of some of the terminology. This is 100% subjective, but I can't say it didn't effect my enjoyment.
That out of the way - trans fiction deserves a better book than this.
Razia was the first-born son of a powerful emperor, but there's an issue - that issue being that Razia is a woman. She has run away from home and been 'cut', and takes salts that are slightly vague but the implication is that it assists with transitioning the rest of her body. This is fine, even interesting - but Razia herself is not.
Is "Mary-Sue" a dead term? I'm an internet geezer, so I'm not sure but I feel like I don't see it very often - however, Razia is without exception amazing at everything and literally the best person to exist. She is a strong female character in that plastic, fake sense where she is just good at everything.
I can't think of anything off the top of my head that she does within STEALING THUNDER that she isn't a) exceptional at, and b) exceptional at to the absolute Pika-facing ASTOUNDMENT of everybody.
The majority of characters outside of Razia and her close friends/sisters are introduced as follows.
Razia: "Hi I'm Razia"
Character: "A HIJRA?! WELL what can a FAKE WOMAN offer, REALLY?"
Razia: Excels at whatever happens to be the subject at hand - lapdancing, flirting, predicting the outcome of wrestling competitions, climbing 200 foot sheer cliffs, flying a zahakk, etc.
Character:
Her only possible character flaw is that she steals at the beginning, but it is very quickly clarified that the madame of her dera forced her to do this and that really, Razia is the victim after all.
She becomes an eyelash-fluttering catastrophe the moment she meets handsome, pretty prince Arjun of the local kingdom and he immediately falls for her - the tension of her secret identity as the runaway firstborn of the most powerful Empire in the region is dispelled when she tells him about it in the second chapter, but it's okay because true love and all that.
Her secret identity really isn't very secret, as she is constantly slipping up or revealing it to pretty much everyone who looks at her - but don't fret because despite her constant internal monologuing about how much danger she's in and how she'll end up with her head on a pike if anybody finds out, at no point during the novel is Razia in any actual danger.
Within two weeks of meeting her new handsome prince, Razia is making major political and strategic decisions that have peace-or-war ramifications for presumably tens of thousands of people - but this is explained away that she is a strategic genius, because when Arjun's dad says "We should just fly our zahakks straight at the ships with cannons", she says "But- what if we DIDN'T?"
The book also has a big issue with tone - about halfway through, Razia encounters Karim who she knew when she was still living at home, and he recognises her - it isn't totally clear unless I missed it being said explicitly, but the implication is that (CW: assault) This is played as seriously as it should be, though Karim doesn't take it seriously and jokes about it a lot - Razia and he have a fair amount of angry tension between them as a result. However, by the end of the book they're winking and joking with one another - oh Karim, you scamp, just don't do it again!
The plot takes a very long time to get going - the titular theft of Thunder comes at approximately the 75% mark of the book, and was only put into action shortly before that - and this doesn't seem to lead directly to anything major happening. However, literally in the last 15 minutes of the audiobook, following a fairly dull battle scene Razia and her father confront one another - he immediately dead-names and misgenders her, which leads to Arjun saying "HEY THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT". Razia's father then has a chat to her about how disgusted he is with her existence, but it's cool that she's still good at fighting and stuff. By the way, here's an entire province for you to rule.
Wow, what an incredible story of overcoming adversity and growth! Razia doesn't learn anything over her journey except that Arjun is really good at neck kisses.
The world is inspired by the Mughal Empire, and while interesting on the face of it, there isn't much meat to it. The characters, places and kingdoms just sort of run together into blur and I would struggle to tell you where anybody was from.
I was really, really excited for this when I read the description but I am deeply disappointed - if people enjoy it then more power to them, and if it helps get more trans fiction out there then more the better. Looking at the rating split, I am certainly in the minority, but I do wonder how many people are letting the fact that it is trans fiction influence their ratings. I did notice that on at least a couple of negative reviews there were very fresh accounts (very, very unsubtly appearing to be friends or fans of the author) leaping in to defend the book and the author, which is pretty scummy.
In the foreword, Boyden says that she had written 100 manuscripts before she got one published - having experienced Stealing Thunder, I can't say I'm surprised. I hope she improves, but I doubt I'll try the next one.
never-fucking-ever
September 23, 2019While this concept seems dope as shit, the only thing you have to do is listen to ACTUAL queer desi folk to see why this book is Y I K E S.
September 4, 2020
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Stealing Thunder is a character driven debut fantasy story with a heavy romantic element and a trans heroine, set in a world inspired by Mughal-era India. Before I get into my review I want to address a few things.
1) This book draws on South Asian history and hijra culture (the name for communities of transwomen in this part of the world) with a hijra main character. The author is a white transwoman who worked for years as a cultural anthropologist among the hijra. Especially right now, some people are questioning whether she should be the one to tell their story. I have mixed feelings on this, but I do think this is a valuable story to exist, it is own voices for the trans representation, and hijra eyes were on this text prior to publication. I cannot comment on how good that representation is as I am part of neither community and reviews seem mixed. It's especially tricky because of trolling behavior surrounding reviews of this title in particular. Wherever you land, I think it's important to address up front.
2) I would urge readers, especially trans readers to use caution and make themselves aware of content/trigger warnings for this book. They include transphobic language and experiences, talk of abuse and sexual assault, the MC having to interact with her childhood rapist, and deadnaming. Be aware and use care as needed.
3) Because it seems important for this title, I am reviewing this as a white ciswoman and will be partly talking about what this reading experience was like for me. I can't speak for others, but hope that my thoughts will be helpful for some.
With those cautions and caveats, I have to say I really liked Stealing Thunder. It was not what I expected (more on that) but I found it to be immersive and thought-provoking. As a cis-gendered person I've had the privilege not to grapple often with my own sense of gender identity, and as a fairly independent and strong-minded woman have sometimes struggled to make sense of celebrity versions of trans-femininity that are so dissimilar to my own sense of self. This book offers a more nuanced approach that I found to be helpful, not only for improving my understanding of and empathy for the trans community, but also for recognizing some of the elements that inform my own sense of gender identity.
The main character, Razia, knows herself to be a woman, but also does not like traditional constraints placed on women of the time. She works to make a place for herself where she can be feminine and also show strength as a good military strategist, among other things. I didn't expect the narrative of the book to so heavily focuse on Razia's gender identity (the path of getting there, what it means, and others responses to it) but in fact I would say those are the central themes of the book. This really pushes back, not only on transphobia, but on sexism and toxic masculinity in general. It addresses men who for some reason feel their masculinity to be threatened by transwomen, women who wonder why you would give up the privilege that comes with being a man, and demonstrates how early in life people can know who they are. I will say, being in Razia's head, she reads to me like a strong woman, not like a man and she questions why people can't just make space for everyone to live as who they are.
Another thing to be aware of, and I don't think the description adequately prepares you for this, is that after running away from life as a prince, Razia ends up becoming a courtesan (think high-end performer & sex-worker). She is taken in and trained by a hijra who runs a dera (a house of hijra who are trained as children to become courtesans as teenagers). And while the dera saved her life, Razia also struggles with the trauma inflicted on her through the process of grooming and allowing men to essentially rape her from a relatively young age. This is not a light story and there aren't easy answers for people experiencing abuse for not being masculine at home, then running away to experience a different kind of abuse while also being able to live as who they are at the same time. And as I mentioned above, Razia had also been raped as a young child in her father's home, and ends up having to work with her rapist. I'm not sure his plot arc is exactly redemptive, but I could see some readers being uncomfortable with the lack of consequence he faces and the improving of Razia's interactions with him.
But like I said, this is also a romance. Central to the plot is Razia falling for a prince who begins as one of her clients. So you could say this is kind of like a fantasy version of Pretty Woman if Julia Roberts used to be known as the son of an elite family. Also there are flying creatures that are pretty cool. Overall I found this to be a very compelling story with strong characterization. I loved Razia as a heroine and connected with her story. This won't be the book for everyone, but if you can deal with the content I think it's worth reading. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Stealing Thunder is a character driven debut fantasy story with a heavy romantic element and a trans heroine, set in a world inspired by Mughal-era India. Before I get into my review I want to address a few things.
1) This book draws on South Asian history and hijra culture (the name for communities of transwomen in this part of the world) with a hijra main character. The author is a white transwoman who worked for years as a cultural anthropologist among the hijra. Especially right now, some people are questioning whether she should be the one to tell their story. I have mixed feelings on this, but I do think this is a valuable story to exist, it is own voices for the trans representation, and hijra eyes were on this text prior to publication. I cannot comment on how good that representation is as I am part of neither community and reviews seem mixed. It's especially tricky because of trolling behavior surrounding reviews of this title in particular. Wherever you land, I think it's important to address up front.
2) I would urge readers, especially trans readers to use caution and make themselves aware of content/trigger warnings for this book. They include transphobic language and experiences, talk of abuse and sexual assault, the MC having to interact with her childhood rapist, and deadnaming. Be aware and use care as needed.
3) Because it seems important for this title, I am reviewing this as a white ciswoman and will be partly talking about what this reading experience was like for me. I can't speak for others, but hope that my thoughts will be helpful for some.
With those cautions and caveats, I have to say I really liked Stealing Thunder. It was not what I expected (more on that) but I found it to be immersive and thought-provoking. As a cis-gendered person I've had the privilege not to grapple often with my own sense of gender identity, and as a fairly independent and strong-minded woman have sometimes struggled to make sense of celebrity versions of trans-femininity that are so dissimilar to my own sense of self. This book offers a more nuanced approach that I found to be helpful, not only for improving my understanding of and empathy for the trans community, but also for recognizing some of the elements that inform my own sense of gender identity.
The main character, Razia, knows herself to be a woman, but also does not like traditional constraints placed on women of the time. She works to make a place for herself where she can be feminine and also show strength as a good military strategist, among other things. I didn't expect the narrative of the book to so heavily focuse on Razia's gender identity (the path of getting there, what it means, and others responses to it) but in fact I would say those are the central themes of the book. This really pushes back, not only on transphobia, but on sexism and toxic masculinity in general. It addresses men who for some reason feel their masculinity to be threatened by transwomen, women who wonder why you would give up the privilege that comes with being a man, and demonstrates how early in life people can know who they are. I will say, being in Razia's head, she reads to me like a strong woman, not like a man and she questions why people can't just make space for everyone to live as who they are.
Another thing to be aware of, and I don't think the description adequately prepares you for this, is that after running away from life as a prince, Razia ends up becoming a courtesan (think high-end performer & sex-worker). She is taken in and trained by a hijra who runs a dera (a house of hijra who are trained as children to become courtesans as teenagers). And while the dera saved her life, Razia also struggles with the trauma inflicted on her through the process of grooming and allowing men to essentially rape her from a relatively young age. This is not a light story and there aren't easy answers for people experiencing abuse for not being masculine at home, then running away to experience a different kind of abuse while also being able to live as who they are at the same time. And as I mentioned above, Razia had also been raped as a young child in her father's home, and ends up having to work with her rapist. I'm not sure his plot arc is exactly redemptive, but I could see some readers being uncomfortable with the lack of consequence he faces and the improving of Razia's interactions with him.
But like I said, this is also a romance. Central to the plot is Razia falling for a prince who begins as one of her clients. So you could say this is kind of like a fantasy version of Pretty Woman if Julia Roberts used to be known as the son of an elite family. Also there are flying creatures that are pretty cool. Overall I found this to be a very compelling story with strong characterization. I loved Razia as a heroine and connected with her story. This won't be the book for everyone, but if you can deal with the content I think it's worth reading. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2020
3.75*
A fantasy book featuring a transgender character, written by a transgender author, and based on the Mughal Empire, was something I was always going to want to read. Boyden brings tons of really good elements to this story, but some were more enjoyable than others.
On the plus side, I loved the setting, the tactics, and the action scenes, especially the flying combat ones. I hear the author spoke to pilots to get the details right, and it showed. Totally engrossing! The whole notion of zahakks, dragon-like creatures, was compelling too. What I didn’t like as much were the scenes where Razia behaved in her courtesan role, overly submissive. I understand this type of role and what it calls for, but for some reason, I couldn’t buy it. I loved that the author shows us the hardship of someone in the wrong body and that her choices weren’t to become submissive and ‘worthless' - those attributes given by the ruling patriarchs - but to have a body that fits her ‘soul’. However, the overly sentimental elements jarred somewhat. Still, a worthy read :O)
A fantasy book featuring a transgender character, written by a transgender author, and based on the Mughal Empire, was something I was always going to want to read. Boyden brings tons of really good elements to this story, but some were more enjoyable than others.
On the plus side, I loved the setting, the tactics, and the action scenes, especially the flying combat ones. I hear the author spoke to pilots to get the details right, and it showed. Totally engrossing! The whole notion of zahakks, dragon-like creatures, was compelling too. What I didn’t like as much were the scenes where Razia behaved in her courtesan role, overly submissive. I understand this type of role and what it calls for, but for some reason, I couldn’t buy it. I loved that the author shows us the hardship of someone in the wrong body and that her choices weren’t to become submissive and ‘worthless' - those attributes given by the ruling patriarchs - but to have a body that fits her ‘soul’. However, the overly sentimental elements jarred somewhat. Still, a worthy read :O)
September 28, 2020
I’m a little biased about this book, and I’ve tried to reduce that as much as I can in the review. This is a book set in Fantasy India, but its author is white. I’ve had bad experiences with white authors writing about South Asian culture before, so I was probably looking for an excuse for this book to screw up, which stopped me from ever fully getting into it. I found it very well-researched (Boyden is a literal anthropologist of South Asian culture so this makes sense) and coming from a good place, but Boyden didn’t get everything right.
Razia Khan is a hijra (a trans woman) in Fantasy India (it’s not really able to fit into a specific time in India - I’d say Fantasy Mughal India but the Mughal empire isn’t there so it doesn’t really fit). She used to be a dragon-riding prince, but now she’s a courtesan and a thief. When she meets a prince and proves her worth, she becomes the super coolest person of all time.
- This isn’t as bad of a book as this review is going to make it look. It’s just that all of its flaws are things that are my personal pet peeves in books.
- It also suffers from Everything Is About Me All The Time disease - no plots revolved around other characters and pretty much all everyone talked about was Razia the entire time. Also she keeps having very private conversations in real public places and making out with her boyfriend in front of everyone, which...cringe.
- Also, not setting up the narrative, which is a term I just made up to mean several of the most important characters and plotlines were introduced halfway through the story with no setup even in her internal monologue (one such example is her little sister who is a very important character in the last half showing up 30% of the way through without any warning she had a sister at all.) When the pacing is weird it just really bothers me.
- However, the thing this book is known for is trans Desi dragonriders. For trans rep: I'm cis myself so I can't speak definitively but I thought it was great. Razia gets a whole story and gets to be badass without ever erasing the fact that she's trans or making her whole story about it. Also, she gets solidarity with her trans sisters which was cool.
- For dragons: good good dragons. Seriously, just - fantastic dragons. I would have liked slightly more dragons, though.
- For Desi - like I said, coming from a good place. But Boyden got several things about food wrong, which bothered me - at one point she compares someone's skin to the colour of fresh jalebis...which are bright orange. And I noticed that the main character and her love interest are pale-skinned and green/'honey-coloured'-eyed (I have never met anyone with honey-coloured eyes and would like to know where they're all hiding). Also Boyden completely avoided any religion in this story, which kind of just made everyone feel Fantasy Lapsed Protestant.
- If you're reading this book for trans rep or dragons, you'll have a great time. Its Desi rep was kind of C-plus: I will not be tagging this book as Desi representation in my archives. Personally, I think that shouldn't stop anyone from reading it if it sounds interesting - not everything sticks the landing, but that doesn't make this book racist and unreadable just because it's bad. It just means it's not very good.
Plot: a loosely-held string tying together different opportunities for Razia to show off. Seriously - total wish fulfillment book. Nothing wrong with that - but personally I want a plot. Also, weird pacing - challenges were introduced without any foreshadowing and then we were dealing with them immediately - no waiting at all.
Characters: bad. Perfect Main Character and Perfect Love Interest aka Arjun, who kind of fall in love without any real romance - they sleep together and then go on three dates and she impresses him and he keeps her secret then they're in love without any real sort of communication. There weren't any issues between them, which would have been fine if their romance wasn't a main plot where there needs to be conflict. Secondary characters were bland and uninteresting - her sisters were vaguely supportive, her foster mother was bad and manipulative. Boyden did something really weird with her minor villains though - Arjun's father spends 300 pages being incredibly transphobic and then he starts saying she's impressive and hugging her and it's fine! A minor character literally raped Razia in the past but is now defending her as the most impressive person and Razia doesn't seem to feel too badly towards him! Also, stop writing books about 17-year-olds who act like adults. Just write about adults, it’s fine.
Setting: barring a few mistakes, very well-researched and well-realized. Would not have minded more specificity in culture though - it feels very much sometimes like Boyden took her vast anthropological knowledge and took the most interesting things from several cultures and pushed them together, in ways that were sometimes jarring.
Prose: fine. There was the fresh-cooked jalebi example from above that was Bad, but most of the description was uneventful.
Razia Khan is a hijra (a trans woman) in Fantasy India (it’s not really able to fit into a specific time in India - I’d say Fantasy Mughal India but the Mughal empire isn’t there so it doesn’t really fit). She used to be a dragon-riding prince, but now she’s a courtesan and a thief. When she meets a prince and proves her worth, she becomes the super coolest person of all time.
- This isn’t as bad of a book as this review is going to make it look. It’s just that all of its flaws are things that are my personal pet peeves in books.
- It also suffers from Everything Is About Me All The Time disease - no plots revolved around other characters and pretty much all everyone talked about was Razia the entire time. Also she keeps having very private conversations in real public places and making out with her boyfriend in front of everyone, which...cringe.
- Also, not setting up the narrative, which is a term I just made up to mean several of the most important characters and plotlines were introduced halfway through the story with no setup even in her internal monologue (one such example is her little sister who is a very important character in the last half showing up 30% of the way through without any warning she had a sister at all.) When the pacing is weird it just really bothers me.
- However, the thing this book is known for is trans Desi dragonriders. For trans rep: I'm cis myself so I can't speak definitively but I thought it was great. Razia gets a whole story and gets to be badass without ever erasing the fact that she's trans or making her whole story about it. Also, she gets solidarity with her trans sisters which was cool.
- For dragons: good good dragons. Seriously, just - fantastic dragons. I would have liked slightly more dragons, though.
- For Desi - like I said, coming from a good place. But Boyden got several things about food wrong, which bothered me - at one point she compares someone's skin to the colour of fresh jalebis...which are bright orange. And I noticed that the main character and her love interest are pale-skinned and green/'honey-coloured'-eyed (I have never met anyone with honey-coloured eyes and would like to know where they're all hiding). Also Boyden completely avoided any religion in this story, which kind of just made everyone feel Fantasy Lapsed Protestant.
- If you're reading this book for trans rep or dragons, you'll have a great time. Its Desi rep was kind of C-plus: I will not be tagging this book as Desi representation in my archives. Personally, I think that shouldn't stop anyone from reading it if it sounds interesting - not everything sticks the landing, but that doesn't make this book racist and unreadable just because it's bad. It just means it's not very good.
Plot: a loosely-held string tying together different opportunities for Razia to show off. Seriously - total wish fulfillment book. Nothing wrong with that - but personally I want a plot. Also, weird pacing - challenges were introduced without any foreshadowing and then we were dealing with them immediately - no waiting at all.
Characters: bad. Perfect Main Character and Perfect Love Interest aka Arjun, who kind of fall in love without any real romance - they sleep together and then go on three dates and she impresses him and he keeps her secret then they're in love without any real sort of communication. There weren't any issues between them, which would have been fine if their romance wasn't a main plot where there needs to be conflict. Secondary characters were bland and uninteresting - her sisters were vaguely supportive, her foster mother was bad and manipulative. Boyden did something really weird with her minor villains though - Arjun's father spends 300 pages being incredibly transphobic and then he starts saying she's impressive and hugging her and it's fine! A minor character literally raped Razia in the past but is now defending her as the most impressive person and Razia doesn't seem to feel too badly towards him! Also, stop writing books about 17-year-olds who act like adults. Just write about adults, it’s fine.
Setting: barring a few mistakes, very well-researched and well-realized. Would not have minded more specificity in culture though - it feels very much sometimes like Boyden took her vast anthropological knowledge and took the most interesting things from several cultures and pushed them together, in ways that were sometimes jarring.
Prose: fine. There was the fresh-cooked jalebi example from above that was Bad, but most of the description was uneventful.
July 5, 2020
In a fantasy version of the Mughal Empire, the former crown prince of a powerful kingdom has run away to another kingdom and is living as a transgender courtesan (hijra). Razia Khan lives in a dera, a hijra community where she received training, her transgender surgery and that suppliers her with the alchemical essential salts that have let her develop as a woman. But she not only earns money for her dera as a dancer and courtesan, but also as a highly trained cat burglar. After living for many years keeping her former identity secret lest her father send assassins to kill her, a chance encounter with the prince of the country she lives in develops into a relationship that threatens to expose her identity to the world and straight into an encounter with the powerful sultan she left behind.
Written by a trans American woman this one seems to have upset people who would have preferred that it had come from a queer woman from the culture depicted. That maybe would have been better, but the author is both an anthropologist who spends a lot of time in South Asia, and someone with friends in the real hijra community. Own voices matter, but this is what we have.
That being said, I quite enjoyed this. Trans representations in fantasy are becoming more common, but this is the first one I've seen that addresses South Asian culture. Yes, the themes can be repetitive, but that matches reality when prejudice is constantly needing to be overturned. The respect that Razia manages to build for herself, building on each success, is welcome and good to see.
Plus there's aerial combat on dragon-back based on advice from real-world fighter pilots as well as a daring heist where the protagonist is pursued by a dragon and its rider.
Written by a trans American woman this one seems to have upset people who would have preferred that it had come from a queer woman from the culture depicted. That maybe would have been better, but the author is both an anthropologist who spends a lot of time in South Asia, and someone with friends in the real hijra community. Own voices matter, but this is what we have.
That being said, I quite enjoyed this. Trans representations in fantasy are becoming more common, but this is the first one I've seen that addresses South Asian culture. Yes, the themes can be repetitive, but that matches reality when prejudice is constantly needing to be overturned. The respect that Razia manages to build for herself, building on each success, is welcome and good to see.
Plus there's aerial combat on dragon-back based on advice from real-world fighter pilots as well as a daring heist where the protagonist is pursued by a dragon and its rider.
February 29, 2020
**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.**
So, first things first: I am glad that this book exists. It is important for trans people to be able to see themselves represented in fiction (and by a trans writer no less), and if this helps someone out there feel less alone then that's wonderful.
But setting that aside and looking just to the plot of the book...yeah, I am still baffled at how this book managed to scupper so many chances at interesting scenes and conflicts - and at how early it started to do it! Razia's big secret? She reveals that to her bf in, what, chapter three? After knowing him for all of one night? And then, after that magnificent display of easily averted self-destruction I'm supposed to believe this girl is some genius strategist? Ah, but of course I am, right because the narrative keeps insistently telling me that she's brilliant and that Arjun is just the best. man. ever because he...what does he do again? Keep making promises (that he keeps for a whole week, wow!) and kissing her neck? Wowza, what a guy.
Here's something else the narrative kept insisting upon: recapping Razia's motivations for doing whatever she was doing at that exact moment (my memory's bad, but damn, it's not bad enough to forget what I read five pages ago, alright), and also, my favorite, recounting all the reasons her life was in danger when...she never actually seemed to be in that much danger. Scenes that should have had tremendous impact end with the antagonist shaking his/her finger in Razia's face, insulting her, but then...also giving her her due. And again, this starts EARLY on, so that you know, by the time you reach the big bad that nothing bad is going to happen to her, because why would it? The conflict's been diluted to the point of transparency everywhere else, so why not here too? And I could've dug a conflict-free book, honestly. Seeing Razia go about her day to day would've made an interesting book, because the world itself was so interesting on its own! And yet that ended up getting old too when I realized that this book had given walls - literal walls - more characterization than it had given most of these characters. I mean, I'm sorry but prejudiced men don't just flip mid-conversation because the plot needs Razia to be able to hang in a palace. The dragons felt more real to me than the possibility of that.
Even saying all this I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of all my issues with this book, because there was SO MUCH potential here and I don't think any of it was used to its best effect.
So, yeah, for me, this one's not a keeper. But again, I respect the representation it offers and the readers who may see themselves in its pages. Here's hoping this is only the beginning.
So, first things first: I am glad that this book exists. It is important for trans people to be able to see themselves represented in fiction (and by a trans writer no less), and if this helps someone out there feel less alone then that's wonderful.
But setting that aside and looking just to the plot of the book...yeah, I am still baffled at how this book managed to scupper so many chances at interesting scenes and conflicts - and at how early it started to do it! Razia's big secret? She reveals that to her bf in, what, chapter three? After knowing him for all of one night? And then, after that magnificent display of easily averted self-destruction I'm supposed to believe this girl is some genius strategist? Ah, but of course I am, right because the narrative keeps insistently telling me that she's brilliant and that Arjun is just the best. man. ever because he...what does he do again? Keep making promises (that he keeps for a whole week, wow!) and kissing her neck? Wowza, what a guy.
Here's something else the narrative kept insisting upon: recapping Razia's motivations for doing whatever she was doing at that exact moment (my memory's bad, but damn, it's not bad enough to forget what I read five pages ago, alright), and also, my favorite, recounting all the reasons her life was in danger when...she never actually seemed to be in that much danger. Scenes that should have had tremendous impact end with the antagonist shaking his/her finger in Razia's face, insulting her, but then...also giving her her due. And again, this starts EARLY on, so that you know, by the time you reach the big bad that nothing bad is going to happen to her, because why would it? The conflict's been diluted to the point of transparency everywhere else, so why not here too? And I could've dug a conflict-free book, honestly. Seeing Razia go about her day to day would've made an interesting book, because the world itself was so interesting on its own! And yet that ended up getting old too when I realized that this book had given walls - literal walls - more characterization than it had given most of these characters. I mean, I'm sorry but prejudiced men don't just flip mid-conversation because the plot needs Razia to be able to hang in a palace. The dragons felt more real to me than the possibility of that.
Even saying all this I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of all my issues with this book, because there was SO MUCH potential here and I don't think any of it was used to its best effect.
So, yeah, for me, this one's not a keeper. But again, I respect the representation it offers and the readers who may see themselves in its pages. Here's hoping this is only the beginning.
August 4, 2020
I knew I had to read this because it takes place in a fantasy Mughal Empire. Also, the main character is a transgender woman. (The author is a trans woman, who also has anthropological knowledge, as well as friendships within today's hijra community. While not someone actually from within the hijra community, she does have a sense of the community's situation within South Asian culture.)
So, we have a young woman, Razia Khan, who was a former prince and son of a neighbouring kingdom's Sultan, and who is now a courtesan and a thief. She becomes embroiled in the politics of her current kingdom, while also becoming romantically involved with its prince. And did I mention there are massive, gorgeously coloured, flying reptiley creatures, known as zahhaks, who have a tendency to chomp on people. And there are several, fun flying battle scenes in the story.
It’s fascinating to see a version of Mughal India and the struggles main character Razia goes through to gain legitimacy, despite her skills as a courtesan, dancer and thief. The men she deals with in the story are almost universally awful, except for Arjun, the prince she is desperate to secure to ensure a safer, more predictable life for herself.
The near constant doubt and insults thrown her way by most of the male characters is horrible, and Razia's near constant having to justify her existence, competence and place by the prince's side was a little repetitive, but probably something that had to be stated. Also, this might be because this is a first novel, but the prose was sometimes a little rough, and a few of the other characters, such as Arjun, didn't have much nuance to them.
I ended up enjoying this story, which moved along reasonably well, and had gorgeous colours in its terrific zahhaks.
So, we have a young woman, Razia Khan, who was a former prince and son of a neighbouring kingdom's Sultan, and who is now a courtesan and a thief. She becomes embroiled in the politics of her current kingdom, while also becoming romantically involved with its prince. And did I mention there are massive, gorgeously coloured, flying reptiley creatures, known as zahhaks, who have a tendency to chomp on people. And there are several, fun flying battle scenes in the story.
It’s fascinating to see a version of Mughal India and the struggles main character Razia goes through to gain legitimacy, despite her skills as a courtesan, dancer and thief. The men she deals with in the story are almost universally awful, except for Arjun, the prince she is desperate to secure to ensure a safer, more predictable life for herself.
The near constant doubt and insults thrown her way by most of the male characters is horrible, and Razia's near constant having to justify her existence, competence and place by the prince's side was a little repetitive, but probably something that had to be stated. Also, this might be because this is a first novel, but the prose was sometimes a little rough, and a few of the other characters, such as Arjun, didn't have much nuance to them.
I ended up enjoying this story, which moved along reasonably well, and had gorgeous colours in its terrific zahhaks.
June 9, 2020
CW:
A thoroughly enjoyable book. I loved the bond between Razia and her sisters. The connection they felt with each other through being hijra (assigned male at birth but have had an operation and treatments that allow them to live as transfeminine women) means the depth of love and understanding they have for each other makes them true sisters in their eyes. The relationship between Razia and Arjun developed naturally and was quite sweet but there was a bit of instalove and instatrust that did feel a bit off given that revealing her identity was life threatening. This is not a fantasy in the truest sense of the word as aside from the zahhaks presence (dragons), no magic existed (well not in the first book anyway). I thought Razia was an engaging main character and found her to be a strong, intelligent and confident woman. I think there were some pacing issues and there were a few points that were a bit laboured for me. The last quarter of the book was really exciting which elevated this book from a 3.5 to a 4 Star for me. I also think diversity is important as everyone should be able to see themselves represented in novels. I look forward to reading the next book.
A thoroughly enjoyable book. I loved the bond between Razia and her sisters. The connection they felt with each other through being hijra (assigned male at birth but have had an operation and treatments that allow them to live as transfeminine women) means the depth of love and understanding they have for each other makes them true sisters in their eyes. The relationship between Razia and Arjun developed naturally and was quite sweet but there was a bit of instalove and instatrust that did feel a bit off given that revealing her identity was life threatening. This is not a fantasy in the truest sense of the word as aside from the zahhaks presence (dragons), no magic existed (well not in the first book anyway). I thought Razia was an engaging main character and found her to be a strong, intelligent and confident woman. I think there were some pacing issues and there were a few points that were a bit laboured for me. The last quarter of the book was really exciting which elevated this book from a 3.5 to a 4 Star for me. I also think diversity is important as everyone should be able to see themselves represented in novels. I look forward to reading the next book.
August 14, 2021
Read because: friendly bookseller recommendation.
One word review: ........eh.
Multiple word review: This one was recommended to me as an own voices release, which I'm very much a fan of, but it somehow missed the mark with me. I won't get into whether a white person should write first person narratives about being a person of colour, queer or trans or not, because I'm also white and I'm not aware of the specifics of conversation happening around that topic.
Leaving aside the fact that I'm also queer and trans but leaning the opposite way (so all the talk about how Razia became more feminine and what she sacrificed to do it while I would love nothing more than to have femininity obliterated in me made me painfully, unbelievably uneasy), I just didn't.......like this. Razia is incredibly good at absolutely everything she does, and I know it's the result of training and practice, but it's just not enjoyable. She's just perfect and never makes any mistakes, so it's literally everyone around her that undermines her and thinks less of her.
Actually, I think she does have a flaw, and it's that she can't keep her mouth shut about who she is. How are you a runaway royal for four years and in that entire time you can't come up with one good fake identity to use when rich people ask you whose kid you are? How do you keep blabbing about how you used to ride a zahhak and think that no one is going to be too sus about it? How do you not have a series of lies prepared for that, so that everyone doesn't know who you really are within like, two weeks of meeting a prince? But I mean, it works out in the end because as another reviewer said, she's never in any real danger and in the end her father (soooooort of) accepts her.
Another thing that broke this read for me was the deliberate and constant misgendering, even by people who turn out to be sympathetic. I don't do things in my life that make me feel unsafe, but reading this book made me feel some real fucking peril. At every turn and by every character except her fellow hijra, Razia's current female state of being is compared to her previous state of being. She gets deadnamed left, right, and centre, and threatened with that deadname, and that's not even taking into account that she has to be courteous to someone who previously raped her and who continuously misgenders her and belittles her, and who continues to make her feel unsafe.
I understand why having a protagonist who is trans (or what I perceive to be trans-- my understanding of whether hijra is a third gender or whether the process is actually seen as a medical/chemical transition is lacking, and I'm not going to do a deep dive on this) is a power fantasy. I understand why a trans protagonist becoming powerful and respected after years of struggle is a power fantasy. But I just don't see the constant threat of violence as a rightful part of that power fantasy. I don't enjoy that in my power fantasies. My power fantasies include profuse apologies from anyone who misgenders me accidentally, and my boot crushing the throat of anyone who misgenders me deliberately, so that they never speak again. But at the end, Razia is back under her father's thumb (even she thinks of it that way) and she still has to deal with people who were deliberately cruel to her.
I also didn't like the character of Arjun, but I'm struggling to really put into words why that is. Maybe because I don't get what's so great about him. I get that first Razia got with him for safety and security and money. I get that she fell in love with him. I just don't get why. Just because he's rich and he's kind? He just never seems like a real person in any meaningful way. All he does is compliment and support Razia (which is good), and tell people who misgender her that she's good in the sack so they should butt out (which is...why?). I get that sexuality and sexual confidence can be confronting, and thus weaponised, but that should be Razia's weapon entirely, not the insult/provocation of the man who kind of owns her. The vibe from Arjun is not "She's a great woman", it's "You wouldn't know she's not an actual woman".
Also, to return to my earlier point, he's just not a real person. We never get to hear about any hobbies (other than zahhak riding, which is the only thing he's got in common with Razia), any interests, any opinions. For a book this painfully wordy and long-winded, there's nothing about his own dreams for the future or about himself. He's a cardboard cutout of the perfect man, and he's got the depth of a cardboard cutout, too.
Much like this entire book, if I'm honest.
1.5 stars rounded down.
One word review: ........eh.
Multiple word review: This one was recommended to me as an own voices release, which I'm very much a fan of, but it somehow missed the mark with me. I won't get into whether a white person should write first person narratives about being a person of colour, queer or trans or not, because I'm also white and I'm not aware of the specifics of conversation happening around that topic.
Leaving aside the fact that I'm also queer and trans but leaning the opposite way (so all the talk about how Razia became more feminine and what she sacrificed to do it while I would love nothing more than to have femininity obliterated in me made me painfully, unbelievably uneasy), I just didn't.......like this. Razia is incredibly good at absolutely everything she does, and I know it's the result of training and practice, but it's just not enjoyable. She's just perfect and never makes any mistakes, so it's literally everyone around her that undermines her and thinks less of her.
Actually, I think she does have a flaw, and it's that she can't keep her mouth shut about who she is. How are you a runaway royal for four years and in that entire time you can't come up with one good fake identity to use when rich people ask you whose kid you are? How do you keep blabbing about how you used to ride a zahhak and think that no one is going to be too sus about it? How do you not have a series of lies prepared for that, so that everyone doesn't know who you really are within like, two weeks of meeting a prince? But I mean, it works out in the end because as another reviewer said, she's never in any real danger and in the end her father (soooooort of) accepts her.
Another thing that broke this read for me was the deliberate and constant misgendering, even by people who turn out to be sympathetic. I don't do things in my life that make me feel unsafe, but reading this book made me feel some real fucking peril. At every turn and by every character except her fellow hijra, Razia's current female state of being is compared to her previous state of being. She gets deadnamed left, right, and centre, and threatened with that deadname, and that's not even taking into account that she has to be courteous to someone who previously raped her and who continuously misgenders her and belittles her, and who continues to make her feel unsafe.
I understand why having a protagonist who is trans (or what I perceive to be trans-- my understanding of whether hijra is a third gender or whether the process is actually seen as a medical/chemical transition is lacking, and I'm not going to do a deep dive on this) is a power fantasy. I understand why a trans protagonist becoming powerful and respected after years of struggle is a power fantasy. But I just don't see the constant threat of violence as a rightful part of that power fantasy. I don't enjoy that in my power fantasies. My power fantasies include profuse apologies from anyone who misgenders me accidentally, and my boot crushing the throat of anyone who misgenders me deliberately, so that they never speak again. But at the end, Razia is back under her father's thumb (even she thinks of it that way) and she still has to deal with people who were deliberately cruel to her.
I also didn't like the character of Arjun, but I'm struggling to really put into words why that is. Maybe because I don't get what's so great about him. I get that first Razia got with him for safety and security and money. I get that she fell in love with him. I just don't get why. Just because he's rich and he's kind? He just never seems like a real person in any meaningful way. All he does is compliment and support Razia (which is good), and tell people who misgender her that she's good in the sack so they should butt out (which is...why?). I get that sexuality and sexual confidence can be confronting, and thus weaponised, but that should be Razia's weapon entirely, not the insult/provocation of the man who kind of owns her. The vibe from Arjun is not "She's a great woman", it's "You wouldn't know she's not an actual woman".
Also, to return to my earlier point, he's just not a real person. We never get to hear about any hobbies (other than zahhak riding, which is the only thing he's got in common with Razia), any interests, any opinions. For a book this painfully wordy and long-winded, there's nothing about his own dreams for the future or about himself. He's a cardboard cutout of the perfect man, and he's got the depth of a cardboard cutout, too.
Much like this entire book, if I'm honest.
1.5 stars rounded down.
May 5, 2020
I started reading this book on Tuesday, which was an awful dysphoria day for me. Reading the authors note, where I and other trans readers were told our "transness is not a disability or a limitation, but a beautiful, natural, and normal part of the human condition, and one as worthy as celebration as any other" was exactly what I needed to hear and brought me to tears. This book was a masterpiece and Razia was unlike any other Trans character I've ever seen. She was feirce, beautiful, brave,clever, and so much more. Plus, this book brought in a new culture I've never read about, it seems nearly every queer book is set in America and from a western perspective. If you are someone who wants trans fantasy, a trans princess and warrior, an own voices mtf book, or looking for more diverse ethnicity in your queer fiction
November 11, 2019
If you loved Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass, Stealing Thunder is a must. Razia is a badass, living her life as a courtesan and thief in order to be herself. She meets Arjun, a prince, and Razia gets a taste of her old life, including riding zahhaks(dragons). I couldn't put the book down. The last three chapters of Stealing Thunder were intense. I had to force myself to breathe. Growing up reading fantasy novels with strong female characters, I am very thankful that trans women have a heroine of their own. I loved Stealing Thunder and cannot wait for a sequel!
February 7, 2020
One of my favorite 2020 reads and I have a feeling it will stay that way. Such a rich world with incredibly written characters that will have you rooting for everyone’s happiness. This book will have you raging in defense of its characters, falling in love and laughing all at once. A book about knowing what you’re worth and not accepting anything less. 150% recommend this book.
June 26, 2020
Read books by actual South Asian LGBT+ authors. Not this appropriative stuff.
July 30, 2020
Stealing Thunder is a tough book for me to review. I can't speak to the trans or South Asian representation portrayed within the story (though here is one written by a reviewer from India discussing her thoughts on the South Asian representation).
My issues with the book were due largely to the way in which the story was written. As some other reviewers have pointed out, there is a lot of repetition in this book. Razia discusses her life in the dera, how hard it was to leave her home, and how much she wants elements of her childhood back over and over throughout the story. The fact that these things matter to her makes complete sense but it felt like these elements were brought up every few chapters or so in lieu of any additional characterization or character growth. Razia at the end of the book felt almost exactly the same as she did at the beginning. Since the external conflict isn't really the main thrust of the book, I would have loved a bit more focus on Razia's internal growth.
Razia wasn't the only character who felt a bit one-dimensional. We're told over and over that her love interest, Arjun, is basically perfect. Yet he doesn't defend Razia when his father constantly refers to her by her deadname and is otherwise cruel about the fact she's a hijra nor does Arjun do anything to interfere when others within the palace are also disrespectful to Razia right in front of him. If Arjun really is perfect, wouldn't he intervene? I found it hard to believe that he really loved and respected Razia for who she is, something the book tells us over and over, when he doesn't do much to stand up for her. The lack of characterization for two of the main characters in the book was part of a larger trend of telling rather than showing, which seems to be a common issue for debut books but is definitely one of my biggest pet peeves as a reader.
I found myself skimming the last 100 pages or so of this book since the flat characters and repeating dialogue had gotten really tiresome. The concept is great and I love the ownvoices trans representation in fantasy but this book really could've used another edit or two to catch some elements that made for a frustrating reading experience.
C/W:
My issues with the book were due largely to the way in which the story was written. As some other reviewers have pointed out, there is a lot of repetition in this book. Razia discusses her life in the dera, how hard it was to leave her home, and how much she wants elements of her childhood back over and over throughout the story. The fact that these things matter to her makes complete sense but it felt like these elements were brought up every few chapters or so in lieu of any additional characterization or character growth. Razia at the end of the book felt almost exactly the same as she did at the beginning. Since the external conflict isn't really the main thrust of the book, I would have loved a bit more focus on Razia's internal growth.
Razia wasn't the only character who felt a bit one-dimensional. We're told over and over that her love interest, Arjun, is basically perfect. Yet he doesn't defend Razia when his father constantly refers to her by her deadname and is otherwise cruel about the fact she's a hijra nor does Arjun do anything to interfere when others within the palace are also disrespectful to Razia right in front of him. If Arjun really is perfect, wouldn't he intervene? I found it hard to believe that he really loved and respected Razia for who she is, something the book tells us over and over, when he doesn't do much to stand up for her. The lack of characterization for two of the main characters in the book was part of a larger trend of telling rather than showing, which seems to be a common issue for debut books but is definitely one of my biggest pet peeves as a reader.
I found myself skimming the last 100 pages or so of this book since the flat characters and repeating dialogue had gotten really tiresome. The concept is great and I love the ownvoices trans representation in fantasy but this book really could've used another edit or two to catch some elements that made for a frustrating reading experience.
C/W:
March 13, 2020
From the publisher: '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.'
What the blurb from the publisher fails to mention is that there's also feathered zahhaks, large flying quadrupeds that breath thunder, fire, acid, or ice. So, close enough to dragons for the imagination (hopefully there will be official artwork closer to the publication date), and large enough to be ridden by royalty. While dragon riders as a trope has been around for decades, the author consulted with a USAF Lt. Colonel for the aerial battle scenes and it shows. The action scenes are engaging and unmuddled.
The publisher's blurb, also, in my opinion, focuses a little too much on the romance aspect of the book. While the relationship between Razia and Arjun is a major plot point, there is also such a focus on being true to oneself and dreaming of reclaiming what has been lost, while struggling with surviving day to day and daring to plan for the future. Romance as a genre isn't my cup of tea, but this book is epic fantasy, just with a romance subplot.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and am very much looking forward to the sequel. It's nice to get away from a generic European setting for epic fantasy, and I look forward to reading more books like Stealing Thunder and Hunted by the Sky. Throughout the book, I was able to parse most of the unfamiliar terms through context, and there was a glossary in the back. At times, Razia's internal monologue could be a bit repetitious, and overall the story could do with a bit of tightening. There may be some times when things may work out a bit too simply or neatly for some readers, but I personally prefer my recreational reading to fall more on the happy ending side than gritty realism.
The author's note states: 'Now, I'm proud to say that Stealing Thunder will be the first adult fantasy novel with a trans woman main character, written by a trans woman, ever to be published by a mainstream press in the United States'. Author and trans activist Alina Boyden wrote Stealing Thunder while working on her PhD in cultural anthropology, focusing working with the hijra communities of India and Pakistan. Representation matters, and I hope Stealing Thunder will encourage publishers to bring us more voices to listen to.
I read an uncorrected proof of Stealing Thunder. It is scheduled to be published in May of 2020 and will be available in print at the Galesburg Public Library.
This review originally posted at Books You Can Die in the Middle Of: https://lookgoodifyoudie.blogspot.com...
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.'
What the blurb from the publisher fails to mention is that there's also feathered zahhaks, large flying quadrupeds that breath thunder, fire, acid, or ice. So, close enough to dragons for the imagination (hopefully there will be official artwork closer to the publication date), and large enough to be ridden by royalty. While dragon riders as a trope has been around for decades, the author consulted with a USAF Lt. Colonel for the aerial battle scenes and it shows. The action scenes are engaging and unmuddled.
The publisher's blurb, also, in my opinion, focuses a little too much on the romance aspect of the book. While the relationship between Razia and Arjun is a major plot point, there is also such a focus on being true to oneself and dreaming of reclaiming what has been lost, while struggling with surviving day to day and daring to plan for the future. Romance as a genre isn't my cup of tea, but this book is epic fantasy, just with a romance subplot.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and am very much looking forward to the sequel. It's nice to get away from a generic European setting for epic fantasy, and I look forward to reading more books like Stealing Thunder and Hunted by the Sky. Throughout the book, I was able to parse most of the unfamiliar terms through context, and there was a glossary in the back. At times, Razia's internal monologue could be a bit repetitious, and overall the story could do with a bit of tightening. There may be some times when things may work out a bit too simply or neatly for some readers, but I personally prefer my recreational reading to fall more on the happy ending side than gritty realism.
The author's note states: 'Now, I'm proud to say that Stealing Thunder will be the first adult fantasy novel with a trans woman main character, written by a trans woman, ever to be published by a mainstream press in the United States'. Author and trans activist Alina Boyden wrote Stealing Thunder while working on her PhD in cultural anthropology, focusing working with the hijra communities of India and Pakistan. Representation matters, and I hope Stealing Thunder will encourage publishers to bring us more voices to listen to.
I read an uncorrected proof of Stealing Thunder. It is scheduled to be published in May of 2020 and will be available in print at the Galesburg Public Library.
This review originally posted at Books You Can Die in the Middle Of: https://lookgoodifyoudie.blogspot.com...
February 10, 2020
Received an ARC from Random House.
PROs:
-Trans author and trans main character!
-Main character is super badass while still being super feminine (a rare combo)
-Dragons (I mean zahakks)
-Very cathartic. She is surrounded by hatred and men that constantly try to humiliate her but she outwits them. Her strength was inspiring
-I really enjoy the book being set in Northern India
-Main character is a prostitute: what a unique perspective!
So why only three stars?
-For me, there was a bit too much repetition. The reader is reminded way too many times of obvious things (why she's in danger, who wants to kill her and why, the stakes etc...)
-There was no romantic tension. I could not feel it.
-The end was a bit obvious (I still liked it)
Conclusions:
Read it! It's a good book and we need way more like it!
PROs:
-Trans author and trans main character!
-Main character is super badass while still being super feminine (a rare combo)
-Dragons (I mean zahakks)
-Very cathartic. She is surrounded by hatred and men that constantly try to humiliate her but she outwits them. Her strength was inspiring
-I really enjoy the book being set in Northern India
-Main character is a prostitute: what a unique perspective!
So why only three stars?
-For me, there was a bit too much repetition. The reader is reminded way too many times of obvious things (why she's in danger, who wants to kill her and why, the stakes etc...)
-There was no romantic tension. I could not feel it.
-The end was a bit obvious (I still liked it)
Conclusions:
Read it! It's a good book and we need way more like it!
July 21, 2024
Razia Khan has found a place where she can finally be herself. Unfortunately, the price of freedom is that she steals off the guru of her dera, a house for hijra courtesans. Not only does Razia have to steal from clients, she has to do it with a smile on her face, beautiful dancing, and negotiable affection. Stealing Thunder, by Alina Boyden, is the electrifying beginning of a series featuring Razia, a trans woman who was born as the crown prince of one of the most powerful empires in an Indian-inspired fantasy world...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
August 6, 2025
Picked up this book from my long term tbr on Libby. In Stealing Thunder, Razia fled her life as a crown prince and deep bond with her dragon-like zahakk in order to live as a trans woman in a different country. While living as a courtesan, she crosses paths with Prince Arjun, plunging her into a world of war and court politics.
The introduction mentions that this novel, published in 2020, was the first traditionally published fantasy novel featuring a trans woman main character, and it does show a bit. For instance, the introduction also takes the time to define the word "cisgender." Razia's transness, if not her years-earlier transition, is a major part of the plot. Other characters frequently treat her with sneering contempt because of who she is, and she generally has to forgive them instead of EXPLODING them with her DRAGON. But she does have consistent support from her fellow courtesans, who she views as her beloved sisters. Interestingly, the love interest Prince Arjun is not always supportive. Boyden takes a novel approach to the romance--Razia is excruciatingly aware that he's her path to better life, and that he could discard her at any time. Even as she's telling herself that she loves him, she's carefully building up a power base so she has something to fall back on if he leaves her. A nuanced, bittersweet approach compared to the usual youthful instalove I'd expect from the characterization style.
Razia herself is headstrong and a touch spoilt. She was raised as a crown prince of a powerful kingdom, and it shows. While she has genuinely suffered, she also tends make comments along the lines of that she only survived a FATE worse than DEATH (doing chores) due to the loving support of her sisters. Her world is a vaguely fantasy South Asia that isn't particularly elaborated, but is significantly more interesting than setting it in fantasy Europe (again). I did like the inclusion of the feathery, dragon-like zahakk, but I would have appreciated a touch more worldbuilding than their depiction as a combination of beloved flying horse and state-hoarded war airplane.
A solidly middle-of-the-road fantasy novel distinguished by its trans protagonist, which still isn't common even five years later. I liked this book well enough, but I'm not sure I was compelled enough to pick up the sequel.
The introduction mentions that this novel, published in 2020, was the first traditionally published fantasy novel featuring a trans woman main character, and it does show a bit. For instance, the introduction also takes the time to define the word "cisgender." Razia's transness, if not her years-earlier transition, is a major part of the plot. Other characters frequently treat her with sneering contempt because of who she is, and she generally has to forgive them instead of EXPLODING them with her DRAGON. But she does have consistent support from her fellow courtesans, who she views as her beloved sisters. Interestingly, the love interest Prince Arjun is not always supportive. Boyden takes a novel approach to the romance--Razia is excruciatingly aware that he's her path to better life, and that he could discard her at any time. Even as she's telling herself that she loves him, she's carefully building up a power base so she has something to fall back on if he leaves her. A nuanced, bittersweet approach compared to the usual youthful instalove I'd expect from the characterization style.
Razia herself is headstrong and a touch spoilt. She was raised as a crown prince of a powerful kingdom, and it shows. While she has genuinely suffered, she also tends make comments along the lines of that she only survived a FATE worse than DEATH (doing chores) due to the loving support of her sisters. Her world is a vaguely fantasy South Asia that isn't particularly elaborated, but is significantly more interesting than setting it in fantasy Europe (again). I did like the inclusion of the feathery, dragon-like zahakk, but I would have appreciated a touch more worldbuilding than their depiction as a combination of beloved flying horse and state-hoarded war airplane.
A solidly middle-of-the-road fantasy novel distinguished by its trans protagonist, which still isn't common even five years later. I liked this book well enough, but I'm not sure I was compelled enough to pick up the sequel.
May 25, 2022
This is the first book I read with a trans main character ,which is mostly why I enjoyed it. The book was easy to read for me but I was often aware of the plot being kind of messy, like how do you uncover your secret identity, something that might cost you your life, by episode two of the book,,,,,and get no real consequence for it?
Or tell your boyfriend that you are the famous thief the whole city has been searching for, and get absolutely NO consequence for it?
But anyways 3 stars because I had a good time watching Razia kick ass.
Or tell your boyfriend that you are the famous thief the whole city has been searching for, and get absolutely NO consequence for it?
But anyways 3 stars because I had a good time watching Razia kick ass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
Even as the crown prince of one of the most powerful kingdoms, Razia didn’t feel right in his own skin. He was meant to be a woman and stole away from the life that was never meant for her, leaving behind the wealth and privilege for a clandestine life as a consort. That she was good as a thief, as well as a seductress, made her even more valuable to her “handler.”
Razia never expected to find a man who would love her for herself, or that she would love in return. Acceptance was far from what she grew up with. It would be that relationship that would change her life in ways she could never have imagined and bring her a true joy for living while validating her existence.
STEALING THUNDER by Alina Boyden is a tale of being true to oneself, of acceptance and finding strength from within. Not a rapid-fire read, there is a beauty to the writing, although at times, things fell almost too easily into place. Wonderful descriptions bring the setting to life and the magical touch of dragons adds a sense of power to this tale.
An intriguing way to portray a transgender woman struggling to gain acceptance from both within and from those around her.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ace/Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Ace (May 12, 2020)
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Genre: Transgender Fantasy
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Razia never expected to find a man who would love her for herself, or that she would love in return. Acceptance was far from what she grew up with. It would be that relationship that would change her life in ways she could never have imagined and bring her a true joy for living while validating her existence.
STEALING THUNDER by Alina Boyden is a tale of being true to oneself, of acceptance and finding strength from within. Not a rapid-fire read, there is a beauty to the writing, although at times, things fell almost too easily into place. Wonderful descriptions bring the setting to life and the magical touch of dragons adds a sense of power to this tale.
An intriguing way to portray a transgender woman struggling to gain acceptance from both within and from those around her.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ace/Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Ace (May 12, 2020)
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Genre: Transgender Fantasy
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 12, 2020
Sometimes books not only provide the chance to reminisce and be nostalgic, stories also have the power to allow us readers to take a deeper look at our emotions and our situations. Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden is a book that took me down such a memory lane and reminded me of my homeland.
This book reminded me how magical India is. It honestly does not take a lot to feel magic in a place that is so rich in culture, colors and history of kings, queens and wars. As I walked with Razia on the streets of Bikampur, it was like being back home. I remembered the narrow alleys, the street markets, the sounds of the busy city… I was home. For once, I knew every reference being made and every food item and drink mentioned. That is what made me savour this world and want to stay in it forever. If you plan to read the book, I would highly recommend referring to the glossary at the back and maybe even google images of the items. It will absolutely enhance your experience.
What is the fantastical element in this book, you might ask? The answer is zahhaks. They are like dragons but smaller, probably horse size. The royalty in this world is trained to ride zahhaks and every region has its speciality. While Razia’s family had thunder zahhaks (yes, they can summon thunder), Prince Arjun rode fire zahhaks and another Prince had acid zahhaks. These creatures are an important part of military strategy and the story focuses on the human relationships with them as well as their use in war. Razia might be a woman but she grew up a man, learning to ride a zahhak, and receiving strategic training that honed her tactical mind that would be helpful to the lords of Bikampur and their allies.
I really enjoyed Razia as a protagonist. It was easy to follow along her point of view and feel a kinship to her. The story did a great job of highlighting not only the struggles of being a hijra as well as the reasons why she decided to give up her inheritance to embody who she really is. I have read stories about who we really are and roles imposed by society a couple times since I started book blogging but this one offered a perspective I did not have yet – the story of a trans woman.
Overall, Stealing Thunder is engaging and straightforward. I was immersed and lost in it from Page 1 and it felt like home. The author, not being from South Asia, still did an amazing job portraying my home country and giving me that feel of authenticity. At one point in the story, I was acutely aware about certain knowledge I had gained in the West which Razia could not know without that influence. After all the South Asian foods and drinks going unexplained, this conversion stood out to me and led me down a path that I never expected a book would. I disconnected from the world and could no longer perceive it as home again.
Stealing Thunder is a well-researched book and an example of a story done well about a different culture. There are, however, always going to be unspoken cultural nuances that will not be able to be represented if the author is not writing within their own culture, no matter how much research is conducted, and this book is a reminder of that. See full thoughts on that aspect on my book blog.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book reminded me how magical India is. It honestly does not take a lot to feel magic in a place that is so rich in culture, colors and history of kings, queens and wars. As I walked with Razia on the streets of Bikampur, it was like being back home. I remembered the narrow alleys, the street markets, the sounds of the busy city… I was home. For once, I knew every reference being made and every food item and drink mentioned. That is what made me savour this world and want to stay in it forever. If you plan to read the book, I would highly recommend referring to the glossary at the back and maybe even google images of the items. It will absolutely enhance your experience.
What is the fantastical element in this book, you might ask? The answer is zahhaks. They are like dragons but smaller, probably horse size. The royalty in this world is trained to ride zahhaks and every region has its speciality. While Razia’s family had thunder zahhaks (yes, they can summon thunder), Prince Arjun rode fire zahhaks and another Prince had acid zahhaks. These creatures are an important part of military strategy and the story focuses on the human relationships with them as well as their use in war. Razia might be a woman but she grew up a man, learning to ride a zahhak, and receiving strategic training that honed her tactical mind that would be helpful to the lords of Bikampur and their allies.
I really enjoyed Razia as a protagonist. It was easy to follow along her point of view and feel a kinship to her. The story did a great job of highlighting not only the struggles of being a hijra as well as the reasons why she decided to give up her inheritance to embody who she really is. I have read stories about who we really are and roles imposed by society a couple times since I started book blogging but this one offered a perspective I did not have yet – the story of a trans woman.
Overall, Stealing Thunder is engaging and straightforward. I was immersed and lost in it from Page 1 and it felt like home. The author, not being from South Asia, still did an amazing job portraying my home country and giving me that feel of authenticity. At one point in the story, I was acutely aware about certain knowledge I had gained in the West which Razia could not know without that influence. After all the South Asian foods and drinks going unexplained, this conversion stood out to me and led me down a path that I never expected a book would. I disconnected from the world and could no longer perceive it as home again.
Stealing Thunder is a well-researched book and an example of a story done well about a different culture. There are, however, always going to be unspoken cultural nuances that will not be able to be represented if the author is not writing within their own culture, no matter how much research is conducted, and this book is a reminder of that. See full thoughts on that aspect on my book blog.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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