A Call for Brighter Days

The Aeriel Trilogy #2

by Nupur Chowdhury

Tauheen is dead, and her followers have scattered. Some of them are now helping the vicious and deadly feather mafia hunt down their own kind.

Aeriels are being branded and killed, their wings hacked off and sold to the highest bidder on the black market.

But after a clash between the Aeriels and the mafia leaves hundreds of civilians dead, Ruban and his team must find a way to deal with this new, unfamiliar threat.

That might have been easier, if Ashwin wasn’t keeping secrets of his own – alternatingly fighting the mafia and protecting them.

As the bodies pile up and the line between ally and enemy gets further blurred, Ruban must make choices and sacrifices that will shape the lives of those he loves, as well as the world around them.

Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Dystopia, Angels, Thriller

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2021

About the author

Nupur Chowdhury is the author of The Aeriel Chronicles and The Brightest Trilogy. Apart from novels, she enjoys writing poetry and the occasional short story. She was four when she started writing. Now, over 20 years later, it’s more an addiction than a hobby.

Nupur likes coffee, street food, fanfiction, and sleep. She dislikes yogurt, slow internet, unnecessary cliffhangers, and being woken up in the morning.

You can find her on Wattpad, Facebook, and Amazon. And if you can’t, it’s probably because she’s busy sleeping.

For the latest bookish news, offers, and updates, you can join her mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/gHkO2j

Reviews

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Call for Brighter Days by Nupur Chowdhury is an absolute rollercoaster! Picking up right after the jaw-dropping events of the first book, it dives straight into the chaos following Tauheen's death. The Aeriels are in deep trouble with their wings being ripped off and sold by the shady Feather Mafia.

✧ Urban Fantasy 🌌
✧ Dystopia 🏙️
✧ Sci-fi 🚀
✧ Aeriels 🪽
✧ Thriller 🔍
✧ Bromance 🤜🤛
✧ Action-packed 💥
✧ Found Family 💕
✧ Young Adult

I was thrilled to snag a free copy for an honest review! 📚 The action is non-stop—Ruban and his team are racing against the clock with danger around every corner. Ruban’s character is still a bit hit-or-miss for me, but he’s definitely grown from the first book. Ashwin, though, remains the snarky, lovable charmer we all adore, and getting more of Hiya, Simani, and Vikram was a total treat. They’re just too cute for words! 😍

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The writing style took me a while to get used to, and the pacing felt a bit uneven—like the story dragged a bit despite its shorter length. The violence was more intense this time, adding a gritty edge. And Janek Nath, the villain, felt a bit too stereotypical for my taste. 🤔

On the plus side, the Ruban-Ashwin dynamic is pure gold! Their camaraderie and underlying tension make for some seriously engaging reading.

Content Warnings:
Intense violence
Dark themes
Graphic scenes

If you’re into action-packed urban fantasy with a mix of dystopia and sci-fi, this book will keep you hooked. The world-building is super cool, and while it wraps up nicely, it definitely leaves you craving more adventures! ✨

3.7 🌟

[Tina➹ lives in Fandoms · Rating 4 out of 5]

"ARC Provided By the Author in Exchange for An Honest Review"
Thank you


4 Silver Stars
with Golden Sparks

1) A Flight of Broken Wings: ★★★(★)/5
2) A call for Brighter Days:

since I finished book 1, I waited for book 2, checking frequently to see when book 2 is coming out, & about a week ago, I received the ARC

Supernatural (angels or as this series call them, Aeriels), Urban Fantasy, thriller, action

I liked this book more than book 1, the main plot started very soon, because there was no need to introduce the characters as we were in book 2. excitement & sudden events made my mind blown up.
thankfully, Ruban wasn't as stupid & close-minded as book 1.
Ashwin, graceful, funny, sarcastic & beautiful as always.
also more Simani & Vikram, lovely.

the writing style was still a bit hard for me, though now I was used to it & read it faster. (the excitements, I-want-to-see-what-happens-to-them anticipation had their special role on keeping me reading. nail-biting sort of thrills. I'm sure you're familiar with that.)

though, in this book, there is much Violence than the last (with that sadistic psychopath as the villain), but I quite like the turn of the events. couldn't wait to see how they were resolved.
-
Plot: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★/5 (I hated the villain though! sadist!)
World building: ★★★(★)/5
Written style: ★★★/5
general idea: ★★★★★/5

[Dana Ilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** This is a book kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. *****

When I received the book I reread the first volume in order to have the freshest information possible, and I found that I seemed to like it even more on the second reading, I discovered new nuances, things that probably escaped me for the first time ....
The first volume ends with a beautiful victory of the two protagonists (Ruban and Ashwin) who come from different backgrounds but make a perfect team. In this second book, the fight between the human hunters and Aerials continues and the friendship between the two solidifies. Ruban begins to trust Ashwin and this can be seen in the way he collaborates. During this series, sequences from the Dominion TV Series (2014–2015) kept coming to my mind and I really liked that I had a visual advantage when reading paragraphs with Aerials.

Nupur, you did a very good job and with this book, I'm waiting to see how the story continues. Thank you for trusting me with your work!!!

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Even more than the first book. This one is a lot more action packed and faster paced.

A year has passed since the last book. A new faction has appeared. The Feather Mafia. They are hunting Aeriels with Aeriels. What could make one side betray their own kind? Also what sins of the past will be uncovered?

A great continuation of the the series that left me hungry for more. I don't know if the next book will be as action pack or more political but I can't wait.

[Yeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

" thanks to the author for Providing the ARC in Exchange for An Honest Review"

~2.5 star~

Exactly a year after A Flight of Broken Wings, A Call for Brighter Days picks up strongly , after the death of Tauheen and Reivaa. Ruban is still working with Ashwin/Shwaan while keeping it secret from Simani, but she's getting suspicious of Ruban.this book wasn’t as good as the first book to me but I liked it in some ways.

I’m not sure that if this book is going to continue but as far as I know this was the ending and I’m glad this duology has a clear ending, and that being said, I still feel like I wasn't that satisfied with ending and that's mostly is my problem with endings in general, specially for a book less Than 300 pages because I have feeling it would be rushed and not satisfying .(though with this much depth and setting, there’s still so many potential here ).

After finishing last book, I didn’t have any idea what to expect from this book, but just like the last book, There was a great mixture of action, intrigue, love, and friendship. Although, my personal issue with this book is mostly the pacing and I really couldn't wrap my mind easily on how everything is going on and that’s why It took me longer than usual to read this , which again, considering this book is short, I felt like a lot longer than a 500 fantasy book. it’s my personal problem. So as much as I wanted to enjoy this after last book, it was a little let down.

I mentioned in my last review about hiya, and her adorable relationship with ruban, and I think one of the main highlights of this book was her, which caught me off guard. I’ve gone into detail about the characters in my last review for A Flight of Broken Wings and they were fine here, although I asked myself sometimes, why these character had done this action? Also, I wasn’t really a fan of the villain called Janek nath, the leader of one of the most prominent groups in the feather mafia.

The relationship between Ruban and Shwaan/Ashwin is great. sure, there were some moment of misunderstanding and am-I-supposed-to-trust-my-partner-on-this-matter, but I really enjoy getting to know them together. They’ve also formed a great camaraderie while fighting, which is really cool to read about since there aren’t many aerial and humans working together

Anyhow, I enjoyed reading this doulogy more than I expected, This is a really cool world Chowdhury has created filled with Aeriels and humans. She does a great job of ingraining the fantasy aspects of Aeriels and their history into what feels like our real human world. We learn even more of Aeriel history in this book especially from Simani’s husband Vikram who is an Aeriel history buff. I recommend this read to those that enjoy the fantasy genre with a lot of action.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a faster read than book one, since the world is already familiar and there aren't too many new things added. But, it's not as exciting as the previous one. Still, it was very enjoyable.

It starts a year after the events of A Flight of Broken Wings with a feather mafia, hunting Aeriels and stripping them of their wings. So naturally, our heroes get tangled up in that and poor Shwaan gets hurt...AGAIN.

I don't like seeing him hurt no no no. And it lasts such a long time. He's such a kind soul and doesn't deserve it, it's not fair.

The highlight of this book for me, was Hiya. I liked her before, but now she had a chance to shine and show us who she is. And who/what she is, is adorable.

I think Shwaan and Ruban (as much as I still don't like him) are good parental figures to her, so if there's another book in the future, I'm looking forward to seeing more cute scenes with the three of them in it.

And also more scenes with just Ruban and Shwaan, because I love their banter. And how in sync they can be.

There's more of Safaa (yay!) BUT STILL NOT ENOUGH!

Everything about the writing style and world building that I've said before still stands, so I don't have much else to add except that it's a bit smoother this time around.

And the ending is a nice wrap up, but I'm still cheering for book three.

*Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

The former Aeriel Queen, Tauheen, was killed. In the wake of her death more turmoil is impacting the world. Some of Tauheen's followers are now working with dangerous criminals called the feather mafia. They hunt and Aeriels for their feathers. Ruban and the IAW are working to stop the Mafia with Shwaan's help. However Shwaan is keeping secrets of his own which may have dire consequences.

A Call for Brighter Days revolves around the aftermath of the first book, mainly the death of Tauheen and Reivaa. Ruban is still working with Ashwin/Shwaan while keeping it secret from Simani, but she's getting suspicious of Ruban.

The story moves quickly and isn't afraid to jump from point to point. While this is a good for pacing, the characters suffer somewhat. Every character was focused on events that most of them don't have the opportunity to truly put their character on display. The point of view characters Ruban and Ashwin do display growth. Kaheen and Janak Nath also get the opportunity to grow and change throughout. Janak and Kaheen are nuanced individuals though Janak is somewhat of a villain for the sake of it.

A Call for Brighter Days was a solid sequel.

[Aarushi · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

(spoilers for first book in this review!)

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book!

Even though this series isn't from my favorite, I'm really impressed with this author and I really hope to see more of her works out soon :)

I actually preferred this book to the first book even though I am giving it pretty much the same rating for a number of reasons.

A Call for Brighter Days follows Ruban and Shwaan again in the events after A Flight of Broken Wings. Even though the queen is now dead, there's still the problem of the Exiles, the Aeriels that were locked out of Vaan all those years ago and now want retribution. And the person they have in their eyes are none other than Ruban, the infamous Aerial killer who killed the once-indestructible queen and their leader, and the queen's traitor son, Shwaan.

Shwaan and Ruban now have to work with their limited number of allies in order to stop the Exiles, because the Exiles have joined with a dangerous gangster with an even more dangerous vendetta against Ruban and Shwaan.

plot - I found the plot to be a great step up from the first book! One of the main problems I found with the first book was that it was way too long, but this book was just the right size. It didn't feel like it was dragging at any point, and was fast paced and fun to read. I'm not going to say that the plot was very unpredictable, because it wasn't, but I still thought it was better than the first book's. Start to end, I sped through this book. As a whole, way better than the first book.

characters -

Ruban- I'm not going to lie, Ruban pissed me off more than a little bit of the time. But considerably less than in the first book, something I consider to be good. He was indefinitely my least favorite of the two POVs, and it's safe to say that if I met him in real life, he'll probably catch my fists, but there's a possibly he will not 🤷‍♀️

Shwaan- I am Shwaan stan. He did everything he was supposed to. He gave everything he was supposed to do. This man is so nice and funny and I just really like him a lot. A bisexual king 👑

Safaa- We got literally one page of her in person, and I'm very sad about it since Safaa was one of my favorite characters in the last book. Nonetheless, such a queen, and quite literally, too. I love her and her brother.

Simi- I am, additionally, a Simi stan. She's actually the best. She is the reason I tolerated Ruban all. Simi hasn't done one thing wrong in this entire book. ONE THING. She's such a queen and deserves her own crown.

Vikram- Vikram appreciation because none of these characters would have been able to do anything without him!

And I just loved the kids so much. They were so minor and had no impact but they were so cute <3

world-building - This one is going to be fairly short, since I don't have much to say on it. The world-building wasn't as prominent in this book as it was in the last book, which was both a good and bad thing. I understood the world much more in this book than in the last, and it actually started to make sense! (shocker, I know) The castles were really cool, though, I have to hand it to the author. I'm not a fan of the magic realism or this world very much, but it was entertaining to read in this book.

writing style + relationships - The writing was pretty much the same as in the last book. I didn't really see any differences in that. There weren't really any noteworthy plot twists, either. It was pretty predictable, but the second half was quite fun to read. The battle WAS well-written, I think, but the other parts were pretty forgettable. I know I've already said this, but the castle background? GENIUS.

I loved Shwaan and Ruban's friendship. Especially during the first attack, because you really understand the logistics of it: they are friends, but also enemies. They are what the other has been trained their entire life to be vary of and to be their enemy. There was no romance, even though Shwaan x Ruban would be a great ship, ngl 👀(totally ship them fyi there's so much potential for them).

Also, Safaa and Shwaan as well as Ruban and Simi were really nice to read about. Especially with the entrance of Shwaan's past characters, I loved his relationship with them. Vikram x Simi is so cute too, though <3 I love everyone! The relationships aren't the best, but most of them are complex, like Shwaan's relationship with his mother. It was well-written in that sense. There were different facets and sides to their connections, something that was really realistic.

overall - A great sequel! I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series or if there are still more to come, but I think that there can definitely be more books in this series as there are more adventures to go on, seemingly, for Ruban and Shwaan. I'm totally interested in reading another book in this series without a doubt.

I recommend to everyone because in spite of the book's flaws, it actually is a good series and SO underrated!

3.5 stars!

[Sotiria Lazaridou · Rating 3 out of 5]

*a huge thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*

not as good as the first book, but still very enjoyable!!

[AziaMinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Rating : C+

I received an arc from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review



Not as good as the first book but I'm glad I got this early copy! This book picks up a year from A Flight of Broken Wings and it starts out strong, diving head on into the story.

The world and characters were more detailed and thought out this time around and it really opened up and brought some humanity(even to the Aeriels) in the story and its people.

Ruban- bless his soul - was still a little too flat and I wished he had more character development than he did. Way too much anger in one person! Ashwin/Shwaan and Simani really saved the day here. Shwaan being more humble and Simani just by having more screen time.

Plot was pretty iffy and a little clumsy but easy to follow once you got into it.

Ended pretty much the same as the first book. Meaning that it could end there, or the series could continue if so desired. Fingers crossed its the second one!🤞

[Jennifer (bunnyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*spoilers for first book may be present.

A Call for Brighter Days is the second book in The Aeriel Chronicles which picks up a year or so after the defeat of Taureen. New problems are arising for the IAW to tackle, in the form of a reinforced Sif-ore (the Aeriel version of kryptonite) and a reorganization of Taureen’s followers, most of whom are now backing the Feather Mafia (I love this name) a nasty bunch, who illegally sell the much sought after aeriel feathers, among other things on the black market.

*
Ruban and Ashwin are back! I fell in love with their odd-couple friendship in the first book and I couldn’t be happier to have this duo return.

*
Ashwin and Ruban have gained a respect for one another and have come along way in creating a working relationship and friendship from that base. But, when its obvious secrets are being kept from Ruban, and it appears that Ashwin is helping the other side, doubts begin to settle in Ruban’s mind. These uncertainties are hard for him to put aside so easily, because of his built-in distrust of Aeriels.

Joining Ashwin and Ruban this time around are some familiar faces from the first book: Hiya, Simari, Vikram, and Safaa.

And some new faces in Janak Nath, who has a past with Hunter’s Corp and Kaheen who has a past with Ashwin. With the introduction to Kaheen we get more of personal connection to the story for Ashwin in this book. Something I liked a lot because it balances the duology nicely, since Ruban had the personal slant to the story in the first book.

*
The first book A Flight of Broken Wings built on the history between the Exiles, and the Vankrai. Giving us details on how coexist in this world of humans, and the reasons behind the Aeriel’s departure.

A Call for Brighter Days relies heavily on that knowledge and does not delve in to their histories much in this story, making the first book a must read. Main points do get touched on throughout so, if you did happen to jump in here it would make sense but I think the nuances of their friendship/working relationship, and the world dynamics would be lost and it wouldn’t be as enjoyable of a read without that knowledge.

*
This story definitely feels like a conclusion to the main story arc of the Aeriels and the Exiles, giving us solutions to let all involved live harmoniously, while leaving space for possible stories later to jump-in check to see how those solutions worked out.

Because the characters and world are already established this is quite a bit faster paced and full of action; though we do slow down and have some intimate moments between characters. And I really loved all the family, and close-knit friendship scenes between them and the moments where we explore their regrets and their paths to forgiveness.

A Call for Brighter Days reads a little like a crime gang, turf battle with the war between these different factions intensifying in one plot point, while the big bad is a nasty piece of work that has gone a bit off the deep-end in his hatred for a certain Aeriel the other. The parallel stories story build and come together into this crazy fever-pitch of a grand finale, complete with firebirds descending from the sky!

I loved fight scenes and I am partial to the crazy off their rockers bad guys so I just thought this was a lot of fun!



ARC provided by the author. Thank you to Nupur Chowdhury for the ecopy and apologies for the lengthy wait.

[Jelena Milenković · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** Book kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***

Initial star rating: 3 stars.

Edited star rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The second part of this supernatural, urban-fantasy saga (YES, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE BOOK OR EVEN TWO BOOKS SERIES BUT RATHER A SAGA WITH WHO KNOW HOW MANY INSTALLMENTS!! Though I have to say that there is no major (or any, for that matter) cliffhangers at the end of either book 1 or book 2) started off soon after the ending of book 1 with almost entire cast from previous book. We were introduced to a couple of new characters (some of them awesome, some not so much), learned a lot about the past of two main characters (Ruban and Ashwin) and got a lot more of friendship and drama between the two.

So, why the initial "meh" feeling and rating? Simply put - Ashwin. Don't get me wrong, I still adore the guy, but he felt a bit...distant and changed...in this installment. The chemistry was definitely there but perhaps I expected more.

Despite that, A Call for Brighter Days definitely keeps your attention and drags you deeper into that world. You just have to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. And it is quite a ride, let me tell you that!

I don't know when the book 3 will be available but I think I will be one of those people who will keep an eye on that and try not to miss it!

So if you are looking for a quick read, love urban-fantasy genre, angel-like creatures and drama then this is a book that should be added to your TBR if not put near the top of it!

[Jimothy McTavish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this book substantially more than its predecessor (A Flight of Broken Wings)!! There was a notable tightening up on the word-count, resulting in an easier & more pleasurable read.

There were several times at key junctures, I found myself asking "why did [character X] do [action Y]?". Maybe I'd missed some critical piece of prior exposition, or maybe some important part had been excised by the editor, but whatever the reason, it was mildly disconcerting and detracted from the book as a whole.

The pacing was notably improved from the last novel, and while I found the action sequences to be a little confusing ("wait where did that thing come from, and how did they get to wherever the hell they're at now?), overall it was OK.

As I finished the read and lay back to languidly luxuriate in literary afterglow, I decided that on balance, it had been OK. Very light, but that's not a bad thing if that's what the author is aiming for.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of eBook

Tauheen’s death leaves the exiled Aeriels scattered; some seek revenge while others join forces with the feather mafias where they hunt down their fellow Aeriels for the humans to brand and kill, to sell their feathers on the black market. A particularly violent clash between the Hunter Corps and the mafia ends with the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians.

But the fight has changed for Ruban and the Hunter Corps. Although they their task of protecting the people from Aeriel threats remains the same, they no longer face Tauheen and her minions; now they fight the exiles who have aligned themselves with the human feather mafia. And with Aeriels aiding the human criminals, their ruthless hunt for Aeriels puts innocents in danger.

As the fighting intensifies, Ruban finds he must make difficult decisions while problematic sacrifices may change everything.

Following the events in “A Flight of Broken Wings,” the unfolding story focuses on the feather mafia involved in the illegal sale of Aeriel feathers. The core characters . . . Ruban, Ashwin [Shwaan], Simani, Vikram, and Hiya . . . return, joined by feather mafia leader Janak Nath and Aeriel Kaheen.

Anchored by a strong sense of place, the unfolding narrative focuses on the fighting between the Hunter Corps and the feather mafia, but at its core, this science fiction narrative is about friendship, sacrifice, and compassion. Despite some sadistically brutal events adding to the ever-growing grimness of the action-packed story, readers will find themselves pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset.

The relationship between the characters is a major highlight of the story; although the enmity between the immortal Aeriels and the humans drives the story, the developing goodwill between humans and Aeriels lifts the narrative from interminable malignity and imparts an underlying sense of hopefulness to the telling of the tale.

This book works as a stand-alone with no cliffhangers [although the ending clearly suggests that there is more to come in the story]; however, it is the second book in the Aeriel Chronicles series. Readers are encouraged to start with “A Flight of Broken Wings” to better understand the characters and the story being told.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the author.

[Maria Carmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Nupur surprises by dressing a scenario of incomparably interesting and vivid adventures, between two special Aerials and their favorite humans! I wonder if there is a sequel!
I normaly would not like tales of wars and battles, but the intricate bonds of loyal friendship established between Ashwin and his Human friends make the book appealing and enthralling.

Thank you, Nupur.

Maria Carmo

Lisbon, 7 February 2022.

[Joni Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Basic Details:
Book Title: A Call for Brighter Days
Subtitle: (The Aeriel Chronicles #2)
Author: Nupur Chowdhury
Genre: Urban Fantasy Thriller
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 2
Best read after earlier books in series? Yes
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This is the second book in the Aerial Chronicles. As I read the first book in the series quite some time ago, I read that one first to refresh my memory, and I was glad I did.
Just like the first book in the series, this is a great book. We meet up with Ashwin, aka Schwaan, and Ruban again. The unlikely team of Aerial and human work together to defeat the Exiled Aerials on earth and stop the Feather Mafia. And, of course, Ruban’s partner in the IAW knows nothing of Ashwin’s real identity. A real mixture of the fight of good against bad, action-packed and intrigue. I loved the second book as much as the first.
What I liked about the book:
There was a great mixture of action, intrigue, love, and friendship. And the lesson not to judge a book by its cover was included for free.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I really loved the book. There was nothing to dislike.
My favourite bits in the book:
How friends never give up on each other.
My least favourite bits in the book:
The fact the book ended. I would love to find out what’s next in store for Ruban, Ashwin and their friends.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the second book in the series and I feel there will be more to follow.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This fantasy novel is comparable to other books in this genre.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes

If you like your books full of action and with a hint of the paranormal, this book may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Tauheen is dead, and her followers have scattered. Some of them are now helping the vicious and deadly feather mafia hunt down their own kind.

Aeriels are being branded and killed, their wings hacked off and sold to the highest bidder on the black market.

But after a clash between the Aeriels and the mafia leaves hundreds of civilians dead, Ruban and his team must find a way to deal with this new, unfamiliar threat.

That might have been easier, if Ashwin wasn’t keeping secrets of his own – alternatingly fighting the mafia and protecting them.

As the bodies pile up and the line between ally and enemy gets further blurred, Ruban must make choices and sacrifices that will shape the lives of those he loves, as well as the world around them.
About the Author:
Nupur Chowdhury is the author of The Aeriel Chronicles and The Brightest Trilogy. Apart from novels, she enjoys writing poetry and the occasional short story. She was four when she started writing. Now, over 20 years later, it’s more an addiction than a hobby.

Nupur likes coffee, street food, fanfiction, and sleep. She dislikes yogurt, slow internet, unnecessary cliffhangers, and being woken up in the morning.

You can find her on Wattpad, Facebook, and Amazon. And if you can’t, it’s probably because she’s busy sleeping.

For the latest bookish news, offers, and updates, you can join her mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/gHkO2j

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Please note that while this review will be spoiler free for A Call for Brighter Days, it may contain spoilers for the first book in the series, A Flight of Broken Wings.

A Call for Brighter Days takes place a while after the first book. Since Tauheen’s death, the exiles have been looking for a new purpose. Some are intent on following through with her original plans, while others have chosen to work with the human mafia.

Janek is the leader of one of the most prominent groups in the feather mafia. They hunt down Aerials, kill them, and take their wings to sell the feathers for profit. They’re a thorn in the human government and Vaan’s sides, working in the illegal trade of feathers and killing off the scouts from Vaan.

This is where the story picks up, where there’s been more and more conflicts with the feather mafia and the aerials on earth who have decided to work with them. Shwaan is still on earth, and he and Ruban have their secret ways of working together.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot of the refinement I had hoped to see in the first book was done this time, I could definitely see an improvement in the author’s writing. I hope there will be more stories in this world, because I can see them getting better and better!

The relationship between Ruban and Shwaan/Ashwin is great. They’re friends, on the same side, but also have some things that they clash on because of their species. Still, they care for one another and understand the reasons behind the decisions that each one of them makes. They have a bond, and I really enjoy getting to read any of the scenes they have together. They’ve also formed a great camaraderie while fighting, which is really cool to read about since there aren’t many aerial and humans working together that know and trust one another the way these two do.

Shwaan especially seems to have really blossomed as a character. He’s feather-born, but I feel like the fact that he’s been living a life integrated with humans (as opposed to the exiles living away from them) has given him a wider and broader understanding of humans. He appreciates them in his own way and is more passionate than you would expect from your average aerial. He has a lot of character development that was interesting to see.

While reading from Shwaan’s point of view was my favorite this time around, I still enjoyed reading from Ruban’s point of view too. I really like the action scenes from his view, because you can really see how good he is at his job. The way he fights isn’t easy, but he’s smart and dedicated. I felt like there was a great balance in the action scenes. The author found a way to keep the pace up during the action while also giving us enough details to create a picture of the events in our heads.

One of my favorite things about the books in this series is that they have an ending. The way they are written makes it so that, if this was the end, it would be fine. This could end where it is. Still, there’s enough of an opening with each story, so if the author wants to continue, the option is always there. While I feel completely satisfied with the way this book ended, I still would love to return to this world in the future!

[Amanda Pagano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to A Flight of Broken Wings kicks off in full action mode as we enter the book mid-fight between Ashwin and the feather mafia aided by another Aeriel. That’s one thing book 2 of The Aeriel Chronicles highly delivers on; a whole lot more action scenes. I was provided with a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review and I can honestly say this book definitely improved on its predecessor. From book 1 we’ve already come to understand the world of Ragah, full of Hunters and Aeriels along with Ashwin’s home, Vaan, his sister’s kingdom high in the sky and close to the sun. So, in A Call for Brighter Days, fast-paced fight scenes far outweigh the need for exposition.

In Book 2, Ruban and Ashwin are up against the feather mafia, one main gang group, and unassociated side groups that are gunning down Aeriels for their feathers that sell for a pretty penny on the black market. The bigger issue is that these mafias are now working with Aeriels, mainly the Exiles that no longer have a leader thanks to Ruban’s and Ashwin’s efforts from the last book. This is causing issues for the Hunters as fights are occurring in highly populated areas and Ashwin is seeing his Aeriel friends who try to help the humans to safety in these areas gunned down for their feathers. This also puts a halt to the wishes of Ashwin’s sister to make contact with the humans and improve relations between humans and her people, The Aeriels.

Thanks to the many action sequences, Ruban-focused scenes were a lot more interesting than they were in the previous book. I feel like Chowdhury did a much better job on his characterization in this book as we see his anger and guilt play out through his actions in certain situations. We also got a whole lot more of Ruban’s partner Simani who I absolutely love. It’s always great to see strong female characters that hold their own or are even better than their male counterparts. The flips between Ruban and Ashwin scenes were well balanced in this book and made the story a lot more cohesive.

If you read the first book when it first came out, it may be a good idea to do a re-read before diving into book 2. There are some quick recaps to refresh readers of some of the first book’s happenings, but some of these refreshers don’t come until later within book 2 and you may have forgotten a key plot point or two without a re-read. I ended up remembering everything with Chowdhury’s brief recaps. They were mainly conversations between characters discussing the major happenings from the first book. I just wish some of these conversations happened a little early in book 2. However, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this book one bit.

This is a really cool world Chowdhury has created filled with Aeriels and humans. She does a great job of ingraining the fantasy aspects of Aeriels and their history into what feels like our real human world. We learn even more of Aeriel history in this book especially from Simani’s husband Vikram who is an Aeriel history buff. I recommend this read to those that enjoy the fantasy genre with a lot of action. One thing this book doesn’t have is content warnings, so do note that there are quite a few violent action scenes you’ll be reading if you pick up this book.

[Saphio · Rating 4 out of 5]

in exchange for an honest review, I received a free copy of the book from the author.

in my opinion, a call for brighter days was way better than the first book—and you can tell right away. NC immediately kicks off the book with action, gradually introducing us to the problem as it develops: the feather mafia. and dealing with the feather mafia would probably be a million times easier if ashwin actually committed to a side.

but he can't. why? oh, NC has a lot in store for you. the second half of the book, where we dive deep into ashwin's thoughts and experiences, was very impressively done. and that scene where ruban had to choose between ashwin and simani? OH MY GODS, I COULD FEEL THE TENSION LITERALLY COMING OFF THE PAGE. IT WAS SO GOOD. as this installment of the series had a lot more action and excitement compared to the first book, I enjoyed it much more. this one will keep you on the edge of your seat for sure.

very excited for book 3! " a walk to greater worlds"... ominous.

4 stars

initial comment
whoa—leagues better than the first book. review to come

[Toni Osborne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book #2, in the Aerial Chronicles

Genre: Fantasy series

The story picks up a year or so after the defeat of Taureen and her followers have scattered. Some are now helping the feather mafia hunt down their own kind. As the bodies pile up, the line between ally and enemy gets further blurred and the choice made will shape the lives of everyone.

This story brought me way beyond my comfort zone. Fantasy is one of my least favourite subjects. So in all honesty I must tell I did not enjoy this story as I should have. I struggled all through trying to keep focus and staying with the story so I can picture the scenes and understand what was going on. My brain couldn’t, it just wandered all the time till I had enough and I wanted to give up more than once.

What I took out of this story, it reads a little like a turf battle with war between different factions with body covered in feathers flying and setting havoc all over. You would say it is not fair to review a book I struggled to finish...maybe. But once started I need to write my thoughts and share my opinion.

The good and the bad:

The ways the author created a cool world of fantasy where Aeriels and humans try to coexist and how she painted action galore to please those with fertile imagination for that sort of thing is more than well-done. There is a lot of vivid dialogue between characters who love to share their feelings and problems with us. This may be overly done for my taste but nicely done just the same. This story packs many characters to keep focus and interest on it is challenging not to mix them up and follow them in their quests.

If you like a fantasy with Aeriels coming from another realm in the sky with beautiful wings waging on earth a century old war, this book is for you. For myself this story left me cold. Definitely fantasies are not for me...

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second novel in Nupur Chowdhury’s “Aeriel Chronicles” picks up where the first left off and takes the reader on a suspense-filled ride. I’m hoping for a third installment!

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing fantasy world where some of the most wondrous beings live. Nupur Chowdhury brings this world to life and draws the reader into her fantastic imagery and gifted writing skills.

[Maya Grimley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews.

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Thank you to Nupur Chowdhury for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

All quotes are taken from A Call for Brighter Days by Nupur Chowdhury.

// Content warning: death, violence, torture, mentions of sexual assault, mature content //

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// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Plot: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5 Stars
Setting: 5/5 Stars
Writing: 5/5 Stars
Memorability: 5/5 Stars

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// Quick Review //
A Call for Brighter Days is a magical return to the world of The Aeriel Chronicles. Following the beloved characters of A Flight of Broken Wings, I became entranced by the new problems Ruban and Ashwin have to face. I can only hope that Nupur Chowdhury continues writing her fantastic series.

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"...you expect me to keep your secret. To lie to my friends and betray my colleagues to do so. To risk their lives... For an Aeriel. An Aeriel who's been lying to me - making a fool out of me - all this while."

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// Other Information //
Publisher: Independently published
Page Count: 300 pages
Release Date: May 31, 2021
Series: The Aeriel Chronicles #2
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Urban fantasy, Science fiction, Mystery, Young adult, Thriller, Paranormal

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// Book Description (via Goodreads) //
Tauheen is dead, and her followers have scattered. Some of them are now helping the vicious and deadly feather mafia hunt down their own kind.

Aeriels are being branded and killed, their wings hacked off and sold to the highest bidder on the black market.

But after a clash between the Aeriels and the mafia leaves hundreds of civilians dead, Ruban and his team must find a way to deal with this new, unfamiliar threat.

That might have been easier, if Ashwin wasn’t keeping secrets of his own – alternatingly fighting the mafia and protecting them.

As the bodies pile up and the line between ally and enemy gets further blurred, Ruban must make choices and sacrifices that will shape the lives of those he loves, as well as the world around them.

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// Characters //
As with A Flight of Broken Wings, A Call for Brighter Days follows the new troubles of Ruban and Ashwin, the hilarious duo that makes The Aeriel Chronicles a mixture of tension, drama, and fun.

However, the novel also introduces new characters and villains that will send shivers down your spine. Instead of having to face Tauheen, the evil Queen of the Aeriel Exiles, the duo has to face Janak Nath, the leader of the Qawirsin. Which, the Qawirsin are a gang involved with the feather mafia, which profits off the illegal selling of Aeriel feathers. And even more perilous, the two discover the existence of Kaheen, an Aeriel out for revenge.

I loved how this novel discusses the relationship between Ashwin and Hiya (Ruban’s niece). Ashwin is essentially her uncle, and I loved how he became closer with Simani (Ruban’s partner) and Vikram’s son, Sri.

Speaking of Vikram, I have to say that since he was featured more in A Call of Brighter Days, I was able to learn more about him and he is now one of my favorite characters (besides Ashwin). Not only is he adorable and a good husband to Sim, but he also fangirls constantly over Aeriels. What a nerd. I say as if I wasn’t eating up all the new information on Aeriels too.

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"There was a time when I needed you... That time is long gone. I don't need your charity. The only thing I need from you now, is vengeance."

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// Writing and Setting //
As always, Nupur Chowdhury's writing sucked me in like a whirlpool. The time practically flew while I read, because all I could see was the world of The Aeriel Chronicles in front of me.

I am very happy to report that Chowdhury's world-building only gets better. She did not hesitate to give the reader even more information about the mystical yet modern world that Ruban and Ashwin navigate.
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"Now there was a sight he had never thought he'd see. Exiles working with humans to hunt down their own kind."

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// Plot //
As I mentioned, instead of fighting Tauheen, this time Ruban and Ashwin must hunt down gangs involved with illegal Aeriel feather trading and break down the collaboration between Exiles and humans to prevent the crashing of economies in the Mortal Realm.

The events also affect Ashwin and Ruban's relationship, not to mention Ruban and Simani's relationship (wow). In the high-stress situation the group finds themselves in, there is constant bickering and sass (I loved it).

This is completely random, but for some reason I imagine the characters and story as basically a fantasy Scooby Doo. Take that as you will.

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"He was probably minutes away from death. And yet, somehow, he hadn't felt so alive in a long time."

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// Overall Review //
I cannot wait for Nupur Chowdhury's future novels, and hopefully more of The Aeriel Chronicles. I'm dying over here, I have no patience whatsoever.

Overall, I absolutely loved A Call for Brighter Days; it is the perfect continuation of Chowdhury's excellent series.

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"It'd been a long time since he'd dared hope for anything so glorious. Tomorrow would bring it's own problems. But he was going to relish this - this moment - for all he was worth."

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Author's Website || Amazon

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FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts

[Richa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the final book in the series with some action-packed sequence that will make you hold your seat tight. It was fun reading this one. I really enjoyed the first one, A Flight of Broken Wings, but it topped that as well.

It takes further the connection between ariels and humans. You will see how things have changed over a while, for better or worse. The main characters are Ruban (Human) and Shwaan (Ariel). They don't like each other. But as the story moves forward, you can see two strangers becoming best of friends. The best part I liked in the book is anybody alive has a conscience. So no matter what, there will be a part of them that will always root for what is right.

Here, you will see a different side of Ruban, where in the first book, he was strict and a no-nonsense man. In this one, he is more empathetic and understanding but looks irritated most of the time. Shwaan is the coolest guy in the town. He has various conspiracy theories that always work in his favour.

If you love reading SciFi fantasy, you might love it. The story is sharp and fun. You might want to leave everything aside and immerse yourself in it.

I would like to thank the author for the ebook.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wartime choices

An excellent and surprising follow up to the first book! Happening fairly soon after the first book we find that the fall of Tauheen has created a good that has unexpectedly been filled in by the feather mafia, groups who hunt Aerials to sell their feathers. Most unexpectedly, there are Aerials helping these groups hunt down other Aerials. They have no compunction about where they hunt the Aerials and have started harming innocent civilians in the process, making them a main priority for the IAW, and of course Ruban and Ashwin, to deal with.

The shifting rides in this book really being to question what it is to have friends and allies during a war. Most especially, what it is like to have a friend who is across enemy lines during a war. While Ashwin and Ruban know they are in the same side, the world doesn't see it that way. They built up trust in the first book and very much seem like friends, but the invisible lines of the war they continue to fight drive them apart at times. Add in the fact that this is actually a three sided war, with the human, Aerials, and Exiles, and it is all the more complicated. When a connection to the Exiles comes up it brings to question what is more important, the live a of many and the side you fight for, or the friendship painstakingly built across unimaginable circumstances. There is no truly correct choice and Ruban and Ashwin find themselves trapped in this choice again and again as they are hunted by the feather mafia and both enemies and allies of old.

While there was once again plenty of action this story is very resounding emotionally as well. The first book have most of the history on Ruban, from the losses that drive him to the family that shaped him. Now we get to see more of Ashwin's history. Though he seems at times the pampered prince, he did not live an easy and smooth life either. As a child growing up in a world in turmoil and now as an adult living incognito in a world that hates his kind, he hides plenty about himself behind his cheery mask. Learning about his past and the choices he too had had to make made him a more complete character and have better understanding to what it is that drives him today.

This book ends with a change in the world once again. Much as the first book things have shifted between the Aerials and the humans and this time it seems certain that a reckoning will come from that. Though there is a plan in place it will be interesting to see how things all shake out in the next book!

[Derpa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got my copy from the author for free, in exchange for an honest review.

Tauheen, the Aeriel queen stuck on Earth, terrorising humans, is dead, leaving Safaa as the only ruler of their kind. You would think that solves everything, right? Well, not really, no. Her subordinates joined human gangs of criminals and things are getting confusing.

I will start out with pointing out the only thing that was a problem for me even in this book; so many names. I remembered the main people, but some of the minor ones were a bit confusing.

One of the greatest things about this series is the way the characters interact with each other. There are just so many positive relationships, like Simani and Vikram's marriage, Ashwin and Ruban constantly bickering, anyone else and Hiya. Nowadays many writers seem to think having healthy relationships is just not interesting enough, but this proves that a book can be satisfying and exciting without making everyone angsty and socially troubled.

With all that said, this had a bunch of action. You would think Tauheen was the biggest bad and there wasn't much to do after disposing of her, but the story is obviously far from over. The end game is not just getting rid of certain bad people, but Aeriels and humans somehow living together. At this point we are nowhere near there, so I think this will last a bit longer.

Ashwin/Schwaan is still the best character, not gonna lie. He is ridiculous and by now we can see he still has a huge heart. Superficially he can seem like a bit of a careless moron, but man, he is such a nice one.
Another one I was surprised to like so much was Vikram. Excitable nerd he is, which is kind of funny. Interesting to have the dynamic where he is so into Aeriel history when his own wife is supposed to hunt them. But they are such a great duo.

I would recommend this for people who enjoy mystery/detective stories and obviously, fantasy. The fantasy elements never get overwhelming, so it's great for people who are either new to the genre or not extremely into it at the moment. A solid urban fantasy read.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting magical world with some really really fun characters! I love Ashwin/Shwaan -- his personality is so fun, what a great character. His body language is great, his attitude is great. Simani is great too (Yes, I wish everyone was like a cat too... -sighs lovingly- ...) Additionally, overall the writing style is easy to follow, tight descriptions while still being pretty.

As a whole, what makes things a bit hard to get into plot-wise is just how much of this story is told through dialogue. We get an action-packed first chapter, which has great pacing and suspense -- and then, there's really just too much dialogue in the chapters after that, in my opinion. Once in a while we'll get a super-action-packed chapter like Chapter 6 -- this was probably my favorite chapter, or maybe Chapter 12 which was super suspenseful and action-packed too!! -- and then we get right back into a looooot of dialogue. Dialogue scenes are definitely necessary sometimes, and I do like that characters talk through their feelings and problems. But I think if a lot of this dialogue was streamlined, the plot would be much more natural to follow.

It's hard because just having dialogue makes things blur together and a lot of the time I couldn't connect plot threads and character motivations. Without spoiling too much, the conflicts and misunderstandings between Shwaan and Rubin don’t feel as built-up-to as they could be -- their friendship/partnership was really cool in the first book, and hearing him say “we’re not friends!” would be more impactful with more action buildup and less just..straight-up dialogue. I think if we had more characters really doing things/going places instead of talking back-and-forth, the stakes would stay high the whole time and it would help the pacing.

But overall this is a really cool magical world. I love the way the Aerials and their wings and the way their bodies, like, work is described. This book is also really funny! Lines like “he needs to reconsider his career options” made me laugh out loud. So there really is a lot of excellent stuff here!!

[Mirinda Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional Story; Finale,

Both books ran me through the roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, cried, sobbed, giggled, snorted, felt frustration and elation. That’s a sign of a truly exceptional book.
This 2nd book, A Call for Brighter Days, is just as stunning as the 1st book.
Ruban has a rough exterior however, he has a heart of a lion. He’s an honorable man. His life was threatened constantly, but he always put the safety of others above his own. We can say the exact same thing for Ashwin. The only difference is Ashwin shows more of his heart. It’s actually extremely funny that Ashwin and Ruban bicker like an old married couple. They are Hilarious!!!
One concept I noticed present throughout the two books; is a lot of the blame game and not taking ownership of oneself and choices. Even though the Rebellion was six hundred years ago it still has affected everyone. Many lives have been upheaved to where most are trying to sift through the pain. Especially with the newest Ariel attacks. Why we have to hurt others to try in vain to protect our own lives while we are engaged in the same atrocities we blame our “enemies” for. Yeah, sure makes a truck load of sense. Uh huh... Lots and lots of selfishness with only awareness of the atrocities being endured.
So, I find it fitting that my favorite quote from the book is from Ashwin- “We’re responsible for the consequences of our inaction, as much as those of our actions.”
Enjoyed the ending of the story. I very much enjoyed getting to know the characters and the roles they played, especially Ruban and of course our charmer Ashwin. Very much enjoyed seeing the growth of those individuals integral to core of the story. Excellent two book set. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

[Sarah Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tauheen, the Queen of the Exiled Aerials is gone. But now, a year later, Ruban and Ashwin have another problem on their hands. The Exiled Aerials have teamed up with a group of humans called the Feather Mafia, who brand and kill Aerials then sell their feathers. And the battles are not limited to the mafia and aerials, there are innocents caught in the crossfire. Ruban must now find a way to keep Ashwin safe and keep his secret from Simani, while still keeping him around.
Ruban is still trying to walk the thin line of working with Ashwin while hiding his identity. He has been having regular dinners with him and Hiya, becoming more than just someone he has to work with. We get more from Simani and Vikram as well. Simani is becoming a more prominent character as well. She is realizing Ruban is hiding something and is letting him know. She is a no-nonsense, by the book hunter but like Ruban, she is learning there is more gray in the world than she expected. Ashwin is his usual good natured self, but in this book he goes through a lot of emotional turmoil. We learn a lot more about his past as well.
Right from the beginning this book drew me in. I enjoyed the first book, but I liked this one even better. This was a bit faster paced than the previous book and I found myself reading it much quicker than the first book as well. There was a lot going on between the fights with the Aerials and everything that happened because of that. I don't want to give too much away, but there were darker parts of this book and Ashwin especially had a lot of traumatic times to deal with. There is a lot of emotions to deal with along with trying to figure out how to stop the Exiles and the mafias. There was also just enough questions left to have me wondering what else they are going to keep finding out in the next book.

[Gabrielle (belle.bookcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Book kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***

The second book started a year after what happen in the first book. The first one didn't end in a cliffhanger but this one makes me wondering what will happen next and how lovely would it be to get the next one immediately!

After defeating the evil queen of Aeriels, the problems for Ruban and Ashwin are far from over. Now, there are humans hunting for Aeriel's feather which worth millions. To be honest, the second book is much better compare to the first book. Don't get me wrong I still like the first book, but the plot and the pacing is progressing way more faster than in the first book.

Fighting scene, world building and characters are as great as the first book. There are more interactions among the characters, so we can find out more stuff based on what they're talking instead of being told in a narrative way. The chapters also don't feel as long as the chapters in the first book which is probably the reason why I like this way more than the previous book.

Unlike the first book, this one has a different ending. The ending promises that there will be more adventures to come for Ruban, Ashwin as well as other characters because they haven't really solve all the problems and I am excited to see the new role that Ashwin will play in the next book.

Overall, this is a really good sequel to the first book. Improvement on the writing style and an addition of the new character is a great change to the story.
Thank you Nupur for giving me this copy and I am looking forward to read the next book!