Book Review: The Historian and the Hunter by Zeenat Mahal (ARC)

Introduction

Source: Goodreads.com

ASIN: B079GY1YJR

Genre: Fiction/ Fantasy

Publishers: Amazon

Price: Rs. 319/- ( I got the book for review from the author)

Behind the Book

Laila and Shirin are ordinary girls living in the old city of Lahore just like millions of others...except they live in the Red-light District area, and they're identical twins. Also they hunt monsters no-one knows exist...Okay so, maybe not quite like millions of other girls...

About the Author

Zeenat Mahal is the #1 bestselling romance author of She Loves Me He Loves Me Not, Haveli, and The Contract. She has an MFA in creative writing from Kingston University London. She writes and teaches creative writing in Lahore. she likes to stay in touch with her readers via Instagram, Facebook and twitter.

Zeenat Mahal never fails to surprise me with her writing! And so when she approached me to review her next book's ARC there was no way I was going to let this chance go. I have been a huge fan of her romance novels, having devoured each one of them more than once just to bask in the magic of love and passion she creates with her words. But with this book, she totally blew my mind! She has tried a genre, never written before by her and has managed to do such a wonderful job.

Laila and Shirin, the two amazing characters brought to life by the author are so endearing, affable and most importantly relatable. By having Lahore as the main city where the story happens, the instant connect with it is huge.I have always enjoyed reading stories of magic realism, but they have always been based in foreign countries except a handful in last year which were based in India. I loved the minute detailing the author has given to the location to make it more exciting. She has brought alive the rich cultural heritage of the city in her words, transporting reader to the set up with her narrative.

Author Zeenat Mahal has a penchant for saying the complex of things in the simplest of manner and that is where she earns brownie points from my end for keeping it lucid and yet engaging. I don't wish to talk about the plot and end up giving spoilers, so will stick to the other things from the book that were equally magical.

Written in her inimitable style, The Historian and the hunter is one that gave me sleepless nights (in the good way ) as I was curious to know what happened next. At the end of the book, Laila and Shirin both felt like friends whose tale I had just witnessed and that made this story all the more special. Liberally sprinkling her intriguing plot-line with thrill, mystery, magic and adventure this book is a perfect companion for cozy winter afternoon when all you want to do is curl up with a book and expect its warmth to enter your heart and soul. She takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride through friendship, sibling rivalry, treachery, love and ofcourse magic.

Strongly recommended for all fantasy fiction fans!

Foodie Verdict

This book is like Jhangore ki kheer - you need to taste to know how magical it is!

Source:Veg Indian Recipes

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