I was given a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. The banter between characters, the development, the world building, all of it is gripping and interesting. It was very well done. It ends nicely too and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment. This once, I will copy the synopsis:
She would hate her third eye less if it actually gave her special powers.
When her secret is threatened, she may be the only one who can save the kingdom.

Sixteen-year-old Kira puts on a show about having empathic abilities, but she miraculously wakes a highborn boy from a coma after a near-fatal accident on mountainous slopes. When his father threatens to expose her “magic” to the queen, she attends the kingdom’s most elite academy as a bodyguard.

Soon, she’s immersed in a strange new life—one of being a simple student trying out for the school’s skyboarding team. Her fake life becomes the life she’s always wanted, but Kira cannot escape who she truly is. Nothing in the court of the Raj is as it seems…

Will she risk her freedom to unmask a killer before the crown falls?

Girl with Three Eyes is a young adult fantasy series. If you like strong female protagonists, futuristic fairy tales, and epic tournaments, you’ll love this blend of Hindu lore and political intrigue in Priya Ardis’s academy fairy tale.

I recommend getting this one as soon as it is published!

First of all, thank you Priya Ardis and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the unique quality to the story. A snowboarding psychic with a third eye. I would give this a 4 but at times it did feel a bit clunky however, there was no swearing and the book was very fitting fir a young teen. All in all an enjoyable read for a young teen. A very solid 3.5

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an odd mix of old time feudal classes (highborns vs. lowborns) and magic and very high technology (skyboards, biowatches connected to your mind, etc.). That actually kind of threw me at first and took a bit to get used to. Not to mention that Kira has an actual third eye!

Kira Shine has a third eye and it does weird things and she tries to keep it hidden since it could be used as a weapon in the wrong hands but Sir Lyon takes her to the city to be a bodyguard for his son Trace after she accidentally heals him when he was injured. There is more going on though but Kira does her best to protect the friends that she has made. There is much excitement with the skyboarding and jousting (that makes it seem like Harry Potter a bit) but also unrest in the kingdom and rebels trying to take over. And though it does state that Kira is six and ten, sometimes she and the others act younger. It definitely feels more middlegrade fiction than YA. I still enjoyed the story though and would not mind reading more since the ending leaves quite the cliffhanger!

I did like the addition of the Hindu culture references. That helps it to stand out a bit from the standard girl hero stories. There need to be more of these types of books with different cultures from other countries in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Kira, a 16 year old girl with a third eye that can sense the feelings of other people and a whole lot more. And Kira didn't even know it worked until she saved the life of a highborn from an accident. She is then sent to be Trace's personal bodyguard, forcing her to move to a new city where she has to face new enemies.

The plot of this story has many of the same tropes seen in other YA books, with a little bit of Hindu folklore thrown in for extra measure. The writing style is great, especially because the world-building wasn't overcomplicated, making this a quick and easy read for me. I did wish the author went a lttle bit more in detail on the specifics of society, like the class system and how technologically advanced it really is. But here is no dump of expository information, and the author does a good job of naturally guiding the reader through the plot. The cliffhanger at the end was an especially nice touch.

While the characters were interesting enough, they were a little bland. Nothing overtly shocking or intriguing about their backstories to make me want to know more. They fell a little flat, especially because I couldn't connect to them at a deeper level. I did enjoy reading about Ajay though. All in all, it was good for a one-time read, but that's about it.

“You will feel little in life. Somedays you will feel small. But it will pass. Be brave. Be strong. Be my sunshine.”

I started reading this book forcing myself because I was not in the mood to read when I grabbed it, but because it’s an advanced readers copy I had to, so that’s what I did, I forced myself into it. But once I started I couldn’t stop and I ended up reading it in one. Single. Day. I guess this should be enough review for you to add this book in your TBR. But I really want to explain you why I couldn’t let go of Girl with Three Eyes.

Priya Ardis’s writing style is easy, fast, light and completely enough to create a good intricate story, with which you’ll laugh and probably cry too. The most important thing is that you won’t lose the thread of the story and your mind will be blown up with every plot twist –maybe you’ll think some of them are obvious but trust me, there’s a huge plot twist you won’t expect at all.

What I liked the most is that Ardis doesn’t get lost in details, which gives the story a fast pace and won’t let you get bored. But even so, you’ll be able to imagine the really well built world she has created, not only the country, the character’s stories and relations, but the whole society, the different social classes, what they contribute, what they need and what they wish. And for the very first time I’ve seen a fictional monarchy that listens to their subjects, that acts to build a fairer society and that, even the differences between the monarchs and the people, they want to make life easier for everyone. That’s really hard to find, not only in fiction but in real life too, honestly. So I’m delighted to see that Ardis has been able to picture such a fair monarchy, because yes, it is possible to be in power and still be altruistic.

I don’t know how to talk about this part without spoiling any part of the story, so I’ll just say that if you’re looking for a great love story, I’m sorry but you won’t find it here. “Thank Guides!” as Kira would say. That’s really satisfying if you’re not a huge fan of romance–just like me. And because of this, I could fully enjoy the relationships between the main characters, which are real and filled with emotions that go from love to mistrust. Also the fact that they all listen to each other, letting everyone explain why they act as they do, which I think is the basis for any good and healthy relationship.

Listen, future reader, if you loved Harry Potter and always wished you could have gone to Hogwarts, then you’re going to enjoy Girl with Three Eyes so much. Here you’ll find another school with houses, called Mahal, since it’s based in a dystopian South Asia.

Finally, I don’t know if there’ll be more books about Kira Shine and her adventures in Rajekstan, or in the Five Kingdoms, but I really hope there will, because I can’t wait to discover more things about this incredible world.


Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am hoping, crossing my fingers and toes, that there will be a sequel. I was rooting for the characters the whole book. There was tension and mystery and world building that sucked you in and tossed you on a mountain. Truly incredible. I need a sequel ASAP!

*Received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review*
I did not care for this book at all. It was a little.. dry for my taste and I couldn't seem to find a connection to the main character.

I had really high hopes for this, the plot sounded amazing, the writing was great, but unfortunately in the end it ended up just not being a book for me. I really would have liked to enjoy it, but the book and I just weren't connecting.

I super loved this book! It's definitely a YA/middle grades read, but it packs a lot of cool themes and world building into a really readable story. I loved Kira, she was bold and driven, she knew what she wanted and needed to be safe, but was brave and kind too. There were a lot of really relateable 'normal kid' moments in the midst of the whole saving-the-world fantastical things. It kind of felt a little like Harry Potter with the school setting, and I wish I'd had a better grasp of which houses were which but I'd imagine that'll sort itself out in the sequel(s).
One thing that did strike me as a little off (though the end of the book made it kind of seem more fitting) were the crown motifs on the cover and the chapter pages. The cover is very Red Queen or a Selection novel sort of look and this is definitely not a novel of princessy themes or sweeping romances. Kira's a sporty badass with a fair bit of a tomboy streak, I sort of wish the cover reflected some more of that. But that's hardly a negative when the novel itself is so entertaining.

Girl with Three Eyes follows a girl with (you guessed it) three eyes with various awsome skills that include but are not limited to: snowboarding, empath abilities, bodyguarding,  espionage, and good, old-fashioned nerve. Kira's plucked from a life of obscurity to pose as a long lost cousin for an upper class family and protect her sponsor's son from assassination attempts. All of her skills will come into play as she navigates school, high society, and the slopes.

My favorite part of the book was the banter between Kira and Trace, who grew from an "oil and water" dynamic to "peanut butter and jelly." They went from fake cousins to siblings in all but name. Found family tropes get me every time, people!

The plot was also fast paced with a lot of action, big reveals, and even some compelling twists. I think the flipside of all the action was that I didn't get the depth of world-building I wanted. I appreciate not getting bogged down in detail, but I love when a fantasy world leaps off the page and invites you in. The same goes for characters. I enjoyed them but didn't feel I knew their ins and outs to the degree I wanted.

There was a delightful cliffhanger at the end, so I hope these layers of depth are developed in a sequel.

I enjoyed this book in a weird way.

The plot was typical, like there is “the choose one” and she has special powers she does not understand. It was also different, with the sky boarding and the female MC understands her own strengths and weaknesses and uses them in an intelligent way. It was refreshing that the character did not just demolish everything she touched without understanding how she was so powerful.

The characters and well written and developed overtime. Overall, it was a well written transition for all of them and that was nice.

The reason why I only gave three stars is because this book was not advertised as a middle grade book, but it really is. I think this is a good stepping stone for teenagers around 13-14 to transition from younger books into the YA world. Priya wrote something that is truly fit for that age group. Unfortunately, I am not in that age group and so it was a bit hard for me to love this book.

All in all, I would recommend this book to that specific age group and I think they would really like it. If you’ve got a new teen looking for something to bridge the gap then this would be my go-to!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

-Stone

4.25 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. This a really great fantasy with likeable characters and great pacing. I'm pretty sure I could have read this in one day if I didn't have to work and have other things to do other than reading.

Kira Shine hides away her third eye and has no idea the powers it holds. She lives with her addict father in a small village and after she saves a highborn son she is "recruited" (more like blackmailed) into being his bodyguard by his father and sent away to Raj Academy, an elite academy for highborns. Something dark and dangerous is on the horizon and Kira has to piece together these mysterious attacks and uncover the truth before more students are attacked.

Yes, Kira is the "chosen one" with special abilities. Yes, she has powers she doesn't fully understand and can control. It does sound a little cliché but I really liked Kira and seeing what her powers could do. She is very likeable and capable. She is clever and a quick learner. I was a little worried I would find her annoying and her fellow characters because they are fourteen years old but I actually found them all to be super cute. Like when you were fourteen and had crushes on your classmates and it is all very adorable. Kira is incredibly determined and really only wants to get away from her father and skyboard all day (which is like snowboarding but with hovering boards). I was rooting for her and was glad to be on this adventure with her.

Trace is super snobbish and a total brat at the beginning of the book but he really grows on you. He turns into a helpful ally and friend to Kira. Sarita is so sweet and a really great and loyal bff to Kira. Prince Ajay, you guessed it, is her crush and she calls him "His Royal Hotness" and again, so precious. Ajay is a prince that I can see being a great king when he is older. He cares about his classmates and his kingdom. All of them working together make a really great team.

The pacing was fast paced and I loved that. The writing was smoothed for me. The world-building tied in really well with the story. There is a lot of high tech like skyboards and bio-watches which are like super phones in your arm. Sounds kind of gross but I think it would be cool to have. I think this is a good book for those just starting to read the fantasy genre as there isn't a lot of crazy details to know. Just enough to build a picture in your mind and it goes well with the overall story.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable fantasy and I'm super excited for the next book because I have questions after that ending. Not a super cliffhanger but I want to explore more of this world and see what is in store for Kira and her friends.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I loved it, well, most of it. It was a tad futuristic for me, and I am not into snowboarding, but I found the story to be really engaging and diverse. I love stories that include diverse folklore, this book fit the bill. I also love that the author "finished" the story, but still left me looking for more (when does book 2 come out??). I will definitely add this series to my "to read" list.

Thank you NetGalley & publishers for a free e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This one was bogged down by the sport Skyboarding. Which really made the story much slower than it needed to be as well as making me just wanting to finish it. I did enjoy the characters and the story at large. I just wished that the parts about the sport would have been cut down.

This was a fun and unique read mixed with the standard elements of YA fiction that I love. Kira is a lowborn, making her way through life with her deadbeat father by using her third eye to “heal” and “help” others. That is, until Sir Lyon and his son, Trace, come into her life. Sir Lyon blackmails Kira, forcing her to attend a Royal school with highborn students in order to protect them. Kira is thrust into a new world with new responsibilities…and perhaps a new crush?

I think the story line is unique and fun. The main character’s third eye (a literal third eye, y’all!) isn’t something I’ve read before. Our heroine is fun and sassy but also independent and smart. The story doesn’t have many twists and turns. However, I definitely thought I knew how it was going to end, and I was dead wrong.

My main complaint is that I wish there had been more world building. I think the world so interesting, but I would’ve liked more backstory regarding the rebels, the kingdom, the politics, and the class system. It seemed pretty rushed in that regard. I also would’ve liked to see more development in the character’s relationships, although I think that was shown well with Kira and Trace. I would’ve liked that development with all the characters!

Overall, I would recommend this as a fun, quick read. I think the ending is satisfying and leaves you asking questions, which will undoubtedly be answered in the next book.

Girl With Three Eyes by Priya Ardis is a fantasy novel that feels like Harry Potter meets The Black Witch Chronicles. 16 year old Kira has what she feels is a curse, and others feel is a secret gift- or also something that may make her a bit terrifying. A third eye. Literally, a third eye on her forehead not just some metaphor for seeing more than meets the eye. When this is discovered by Lord Lyon, he takes her away from her alcoholic father and her small village, to an elite school for the highborns- all to protect his son, Trace.

A Game Once Seen Cannot Be Unseen…

The world building in this book is incredibly solid, and you have a good understanding of how the kingdom works. There is Hindu culture woven in and out of both the school and the kingdom, from the houses they are placed into to the clothing that they wear. I thoroughly enjoyed the workings of the kingdom of Raj. The book is a good meld of that age between middle grade and YA, never going too uncomfortably into the romance tropes to take away from the story. Additionally, the conflicting relationship with a family member as an addict was well done, and the way we unintentionally enable them as well as the way they truly do want to do right by the people they love- it’s just hard.

Also, without spoiling anything, the plot twist during the peak of the book genuinely made the book for me. It was honestly shocking and I didn’t expect it whatsoever- and I’ve read a lot of YA and can predict most twists! The snowboarding (skyboarding) and the tech in a more or less 18th century feeling era was an interesting concept, however, I personally didn’t love it. That’s more of a preference, though. It was well written and important to the plot, I just don’t care for “sports” plot points.

Additionally, Trace, Lord Lyon’s son, was supposed to be the same age as Kira. However, he felt more like a bratty twelve-year-old rather than a popular 16 year old boy. While I understand people being raised differently, and some privileged people seeming “brattier” than others, Trace just genuinely felt so much younger than all the other characters in the book.

Sarita and her mom, as well as the Queen, were my favorite characters in the book- as well as being incredibly well rounded side characters. I feel like that isn’t found often, and I really appreciated it.

Overall, Girl With Three Eyes was incredibly enjoyable, and I cannot wait for the next one to come out. I gotta know what happens with the Oracles!

This book was not for me. I felt that I was disconnected from the story. The book did not have a clear indication of modern day or fantasy. Or if it was a combination of both.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Kira Shine has a gift, she just doesn't know it. Kira has a third eye in the middle of her forehead, but she believes it is useless until she wakes a boy from a coma and finds that she does indeed have some sort of powers. Her third eye allows her to sense the feelings and intents of people in three word snippets.

As a result of this new found power, Kira is whisked away to the country's capital. She's living with a "highborn" family and going to the Royal School. She's asked by the man who has taken her in to be a secret bodyguard for his son. Like a lot of stories lately, the school has "four houses" that students are assigned to. While in school, she makes new friends, and saves a few lives in the process!

The story definitely had some fun twists from the normal. There's a new sport we're all introduced to that appears to be a cross between jousting, flying, and snowboard! It sounds super fun and interesting, and I wish that I could participate.

This book would make a great movie.

I feel like the story ended on a cliffhanger, and now I can't wait to see if there's a sequel!

**I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.**

3 stars

I wanted to like this book. I want to like most books that I read. However, I didn't. It wasn't that the character was a "Mary Sue" the story just didn't do it for me. It was super heavy on the sport "skyboarding." Which seems to be a mix of snowboarding, skateboarding, hoverboards and medieval jousting. There are so many pages of this sport that after a couple of chapters I started just skipping pages. It doesn't add anything to the story. It's just fluffy fillers. And I'm not that big on sports. The timing of the story was off. The first I noticed was in the very beginning. The school term went from starting in a week to the very next day with nothing in between. There's this mystical third eye that has never worked before that suddenly works now and she knows how to use it... See that Mary Sue thing I was talking about? I did like that she made a legitimate friend. Sarita was a nice addition to the story, even though they only talked about boys. But I guess since they are 16 it might be acceptable. The villain in this story was meh at best. He's this tyrannical man set on overthrowing the monarchy by killing everyone...and he somehow has followers? I don't see how that is realistic. Anyway, I wouldn't persuade people to throw this book away, but it wouldn't come to mind as a recommendation either.