Smorgasbord Fantasia

It's that time of the year! Yup. When we look back and choose from among the pile of books that you have ploughed through to pick up the very best. Again - this year, I think two stellar debuts feature on my list. And a debutant author from 2017, whose books I read back to back, features here with her second in the series. Some usual suspects. And hey possibly the first year when I read a B randon Sanderson which didn't turn up on the list. [ Skyward was all sorts of fun, a definite 5-star book but there were other heavy-hitters who deserved more!] Without much ado, then. In no particular order! The Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence Nona continues to enthral us in this explosive trilogy (Book of the Ancestor) - spinning the larger conspiracy wheels even faster. A masterful exploration of detailed magical systems, strained friendships and shifting loyalties, Mark Lawrence's genius is at full display in this intellectually thematic YA story - full of top notch action,...

Trail of lightning will possibly be among my top five books of the year. Period. Navajo legends, mythical monsters, Gods and wicked men - all of this comes to life in Rebecca Roanhorse 's urban fantasy debut that will rock the socks off you, by the time you are even half-way through. For me, the experience was a double joy as this was my first audible title and the breathtaking Sixth World , ravaged by the apocalyptic floods known as the Big Water in the near future, is so wonderfully depicted by Rebecca's sprightly writing and brought to life by narrator, Tanis Paranteau's amazing rendition. Set in a completely immersive native world that begs for more exploration, headlined by a native young woman as the kickass protagonist and written by Rebecca, who herself is from the Navajo area in the US. Refreshingly original, did you say? Oh yes. Dinetah is a Navajo region surrounded by vast magical walls cut off from the rest of the world (that has seen massive economic,...

The Marvel universe within Netflix is hinged around this blind man, who knows no fear and is fighting tooth and nail everyday to save his city, Hell's Kitchen, either from mysterious ninja-gods or larger-than-life villains orchestrating moves from within prison walls. And I daresay, Season 3 is a welcome comeback for Daredevil , possibly the best outing yet. In many ways - bringing us back to the streets of Hell's Kitchen that becomes the bloody chess-board for a game of cat and mouse, between the Devil and hold your breath, the Kingpin [ The villain we love!] and the introduction of Bullseye as the King's daring key-piece to upset the whole board. See, apart from Daredevil, the other "superheroes" haven't really set our pulses racing quite like Matt Murdoch 's alter-ego. There's something heart-breaking and immensely loveable about Charlie Cox 's brilliant portrayal of this vulnerable man, questioning his faith in God and his own abiliti...