The Reading Bud

Book Blog by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

Book Review: Strands of Existence 1: Island Girl by Aino Lahteva

Author: Aino Lahteva
Release Date: 26th August 2020
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: Strands Of Existence (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 272 pages
Publisher: 
Blurb:

*New linguistically revised version*

As an opportunist, Istrae yearns to get off her home island and visit Kerth, the City of Light and Abundance. Her preferred method of travel, however, didn’t include drowning. And she didn’t expect the city to be so dirty. Her memories are as broken as her body. She begins to piece them together with the help of a spirit bound to a statue and an ambitious army captain called Rime she enjoys teasing.

As Rime guides Istrae in her new life, it becomes evident the rigid rules of society and the city’s Temple do not welcome those who seek to shake the established rules, which is something Istrae is incapable of resisting.

Book Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Island Girl by Aino Lahteva is the first book in the new epic fantasy series Strands Of Existence. It is a very fresh take on fantasy grounded in religious beliefs and I was really surprised by the realistic feel of this amazing fantasy world.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the characterisation, the world-building was superb and the concept and plot were great too. The only problem that I can point out, and that too if I am being extremely picky, is that the dialogues felt a little different at some places. But that wasn’t a big issue because I am aware that this is a book by an author whose first language is not English, so for that alone, I’d like to compliment the author. Other than that the writing was pretty impressive and I was really enthralled by this amazing book.

I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy lovers and to those who are looking to explore a fantasy series by a promising new author.

You can also read this review on Amazon and Goodreads.

I love reading your comments, so please go ahead…

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I’m Heena

Welcome to The Reading Bud, my cosy corner of the internet dedicated to all things books and authors. Here, I invite you to join me on a journey of discovering under-represented books, independent and small press authors, and all things book with a touch of love and loud purrs. Let’s get Reading!

Book of the Month

Read this captivating story on the adventures and hardships of Frank Knightlite, a man who strives to illuminate darkness with his lantern in search of answers to life’s questions.
You can get it here.
December 2020
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Reading is like breathing to me.

Recent Posts

  • Book Review: Le Fay (A Life Out There #2) by Brian McNatt

    Book Details: Author: Brian McNattRelease Date: 19th November 2021Series: A Life Out There (Book #2)Genre: New Adult FantasyFormat: E-book Pages: 237Publisher: Blurb:In the cold, remote north, Eishaven waits. Home of refugees and outcasts. Home of Candida the princess-no-more, making…

  • Graphic Novel ARC: Harry Rides the Danger by Lancelot Schaubert

    Book Details: Author: Lancelot SchaubertRelease Date: 10th October 2023Series:Genre: Children’s Fiction, Graphic Novel, DarkFormat: E-book Pages: 36Publisher: —Blurb:Harry woke at night: in his doorway stood THE DANGER. Harry learns first to face and follow Danger, then to court Danger.…

  • Author Interview: Junis Sultan

    Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome the author of Brothers and Strangers: A German-Iraqi Memoir —Junis Sultan for an author interview with The Reading Bud. About The Author Junis Sultan studied in Frankfurt am Main,…

  • Book Review: AfterStrike by L.J. Sellers

    Book Details: Author: L.J. SellersRelease Date: 4th May 2023Series:Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense Format: E-book Pages: 276Publisher: Spellbinder PressBlurb:What if, without warning, you had to run for your life and leave everything behind?Remi Bartell faces that terrifying moment and takes…

  • Excerpt Reveal: Brothers and Strangers: A German-Iraqi Memoir by Junis Sultan

    Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome author Junis Sultan who’ll be sharing an excerpt from his latest release Brothers and Strangers: A German-Iraqi Memoir. About the Book Brothers and Strangers Born in Mosul, Iraq,…