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angeliq_star's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alyssia_reads's review
4.0
Set mostly in the Punjab, in the city of Amritsar in 1919, this YA novel does not soften its edges for its younger readers. Nearing the end of British colonial rule, Amritsar is a city teeming with rebellious revolutionaries. Gurdial and Jeevan are orphans, and still boys at 16, but not too young to be swept up by their own desires; the first to marry the daughter of a wealthy tyrant, the latter to find a family of his own even if that means choosing violence as well. Meanwhile, Bissen Singh is an injuries Sikh soldier who risked life and limb for the British, left his heart in Brighton and returned to Amritsar a shell of a man.
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Rai’s story telling is compelling. This is a very quick read, not because it’s easy but because you won’t want to leave the characters behind for a minute. As a YA novel, it really does not shy away from harsh realities, depicting violence and brutal beatings with the honesty this history deserves. The magical realism Rai weaves through the story is seamless and you won’t stop for a second to question Amritsar’s ghosts.
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I often get a bit choked up by books, but rarely do I shed actual tears. Well this one got me in it’s final pages, and I applaud Rai for breaking my heart.
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Rai’s story telling is compelling. This is a very quick read, not because it’s easy but because you won’t want to leave the characters behind for a minute. As a YA novel, it really does not shy away from harsh realities, depicting violence and brutal beatings with the honesty this history deserves. The magical realism Rai weaves through the story is seamless and you won’t stop for a second to question Amritsar’s ghosts.
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I often get a bit choked up by books, but rarely do I shed actual tears. Well this one got me in it’s final pages, and I applaud Rai for breaking my heart.
16rdehan's review
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I gave it a low rating as I found it so difficult to read for the first half. I felt like I was dragging my feet through the whole think but the second half was a lot better. I'm glad I read it but I would not read it again.
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