DNF… for now.
I really struggled with this book. I kept picking it and putting down after 15mins. I made it 50% through. I think there’s more world building and mythology that needs to developed.

The cover art and the description caught my eye but the story fell flat for me. I love a slow burn, but without complete context to the lore,I felt lost.

Thank you NetGalley & Union Square & Co

I really love the infusion of south Asian mythology and lore into this demon and paranormal world. The romance is a slow slow burn but it is so worth it.

I received an e-arc copy of this book from Netgalley and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I like this book and I had such a good time reading it. I will rate it 3.5 stars. I don’t think this book is meant to be taken seriously based on the writing style, which is totally okay; I’m down with that. We have two-ish POVs from Laila and Karan (I’m glad it’s in third person because I’m tired of first-person POV), and Laila is really funny; I like her a lot. Sometimes she’s cringe, but my humor is broken, so she made me laugh a lot. Most of the time, she’s also realistic, which is really cool of her.

Laila’s three demon aunts were also dope, as they reminded me of Sleeping Beauty’s fairies. I’m sad we didn’t see more of them. There’s also a random character who comes in for some infodumping, but he’s chill and weird; I like him.

I’m not familiar with the Mahabharata, except for my one-month study of Indian art history in university, so I’m not sure how accurate it is, as that myth really drives the book. I can say that it’s easy to follow, but there are too many info dumps in the story.

What I don’t like about this book is probably Karan, because he did almost nothing and made Laila’s life miserable (I’m sorry, I love my girl. She was literally just chillin’ before he came). It’s not his fault that his presence brought misfortune, and he wasn’t necessarily a bad person. I just want him to contribute more after the climax.

I like the romance concept, but I can’t stress it enough that the forbidden romance feels a bit forced. Like, I know you’re eighteen, but like 🙏😒 move on 🙏. I’m just glad this is not a love triangle.

Since the book is unserious, I didn’t feel attached to the side characters and when bad things happened to them… I just don’t care. Which I know the author didn’t intend to happen

The villain is really freaky. Like f*** him. That’s all.

Solid four stars! I love books that explore mythologies and I think the best compliment I can pay this book is that it made me want to go out and do a lot more reading and research. I really liked the two main characters and I found their romance compelling and believable.

First, I want to say Thank you to Union Square & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am not new to Nisha Sharma’s books and I have loved her romance books! Nisha Sharma diving into Fantasy definitely did not disappoint!!
This book has dual POV’s, Laila who is such a strong FMC who was raised to fight and save the world. Karan is a demon hunter trying to find his parents or something about what happened to them. This perfect Slow-Burn follows their journey as they both uncover secrets and mysteries between both of their ancestors.

Has a great story-line!! Slow-Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Dual POV and does have some action in it!!!

Would definitely recommend for anyone looking to dip their toe into some fantasy!

Illusions of Fire caught by attention but its mythology and beautiful cover. It had a ton of potential, some which it hits but the misses feel huge and affected the story in a lot of ways for me.

I really enjoyed Laila as a character, in so many ways her quips reminded me as Buffy when I was growing up. She makes mistakes, but she does her best. I also loved the mythology, it’s not one I know much about so I really liked that.

Now for the cons. The writing in the first few chapters is very clunky and awkward. Almost stilted in parts especially in the dialogue and I almost put in down early because of it. I’m glad I didn’t because the story was so interesting but had it not been an ARC, I might have in all honesty. Karan as a character I liked but his chapters sometimes didn’t bring anything to the table. At all. It was just a rehash of previous events.

I’m a bit torn on it. I liked it, but didn’t love it as a whole.

Thank you Netgalley and Union Square and Company for an advanced copy of this book!

Illusions of Fire delivers exactly what I was hoping for: a thrilling South Asian cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel that had me hooked from the first chapter. Sharma wastes no time diving into the action, creating an easy, engaging read that introduces readers to fascinating South Asian lore and mythology. I genuinely learned something new about gods and monsters I’d never encountered before.

The standout element is absolutely the strong female minority protagonist. It’s so refreshing and exciting to see this representation in urban fantasy. The character voices are distinct and compelling, and the enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance adds the perfect tension throughout the story. Sharma excels at foreshadowing and weaving plot details together in satisfying ways.

That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. Characters seemed to trust each other too quickly, which felt unrealistic given their circumstances. The much-anticipated guardians were disappointingly unhelpful when our protagonist needed them most. The unedited version I read had some distracting typos, including a jarring name mix-up during a crucial action scene that pulled me right out of the story. The romantic scenes felt a bit juvenile, though I understand the appeal of keeping content accessible to broader audiences.

Despite these issues, I’m genuinely excited for the next installment. The world-building and mythology are rich enough to keep me invested, and I’m eager to see where Sharma takes this series.

DNF, 65%

This is not the first Nisha Sharma book I’ve read, but I always love mythology and especially Hindu mythology. Being of South Asian heritage, I always love to see a unique spin on it. However, I’m not Hindu, so I do realise that approaching this from a mythological perspective rather than a living, breathing religion perspective is different. In this respect, my critique may differ than that of others. To me, I wished that a little bit more was being done with the mythology: I get that it’s hard to strike a balance between those who are familiar and want puritan interpretations vs those who want all the creative takes on it, but I felt that the potential was there for a little bit more.

Laila and Karan are fascinating characters, and their journey is gripping. Since I didn’t have the time to finish the book, I cannot necessarily comment on the plot progression etc but they are both characters that I want to know more about, and follow their journey through. I will be grabbing a copy post-release to finish up for sure!

𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹.

This was a nice & refreshing book from Nisha Sharma. She's usually known for her romcoms but this is a really great addition to her published works!

Illusions of Fire is inspired by Hindu Mythology's greatest epic — the Mahabharat. The protagonists, Laila and Karan are respectfully the descendants of Draupadi and Karna, who also played major roles in the original epic.

As someone who is decently well versed with the tales of Ancient India and Hindu mythology, there were something that did hit me wrong but alas, this is a fictional work and not a retelling in entirety.

The protagonist are both deep rooted with secrets and mysteries that they are trying to solve. The setting is urban and quiet. The concepts of magic and demigods here comes from Hindu mythology and a subtle nod or refrence to their ancestors in this book.

Both Karan and Laila are facing dangerous legacies in a short time. They had good chemistry and went from enemies to lovers to enemies again to lovers again. This story has a lot of angst and suspense with hilarity and emotional arcs that make everything worth it!

I was thrilled to receive an ARC and huge thanks to the author for the opportunity to dive into this incredible story! The chemistry between Karan and Lalia was absolutely captivating, and the plot had everything I enjoy in a great read to me most was the bold choice to explore romance without the typical explicit scenes it was a refreshing twist I haven't encountered often, and it didn’t take away from the emotional depth or intensity of the story. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who loves action paired with a strong, well-developed plot. I enjoyed it so much that I’ll definitely be adding the physical copy to my shelf once it’s released.

This was a great young adult fantasy story. There is a few unlivings. And have having to battle with demons . I enjoyed it.

This book is so immaculate, I wish I discovered this before and I would have talked more about it to my friends. Because the theme of the book is so interesting. About Hindu gods? It awaken the geek mythology in me. And the tension between Leila and Karan, you just can feel it. Would reread again!

DNF @60%

Sadly, I don’t think this book is for me—at least not right now.

First of all, I really struggled with the mythology. It just wasn’t explained clearly enough. I’ve read Indian rep before and really enjoyed it, but with this book, I just didn’t understand what was going on.

From what I think I gathered: he’s some sort of witch hunter, she’s not a witch or a demon but a human with powers, and she’s the daughter of Draupadi (who, honestly, I don’t know much about). They’re supposed to be soulmates or fated mates? That’s about all I could make sense of.

Maybe if the mythology had been introduced more gradually or explained better, I would’ve loved it. So for now, it’s a soft DNF—I might come back to it later when I’m in the right headspace.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. For approving my request for the eARC 🫶🏻

ARC Review – 3.5 Stars

Great Concept, Decent Pacing — But a Shallow and Westernized Take on Indian Mythology

I’m an Indian reader, deeply familiar with the cultural, linguistic, and mythological roots from which this book claims to draw. So while I found the premise of Illusions of Fire interesting and the pacing engaging, I have to say: the representation of India and Indian mythology felt profoundly off-mark and superficial.

The story follows the fictional daughter of Draupadi and a fictional descendant of Karna as they attempt to protect the world from destructive supernatural forces. On the surface, it’s a fun premise — with a solid plot structure, competent action scenes, and a flow that keeps the pages turning. If I were rating only the story, this would probably land at 4 stars.

But once you look beneath the surface, the issues begin to pile up — especially when it comes to cultural authenticity.

⚠️ Cultural Representation: Shallow and Sanitized

Rather than immersing the reader in the richness of Indian mythology or setting, the author sprinkles in Hindi words like chai, billi, masi, and bhai as if that alone can stand in for meaningful cultural texture. It's not immersive — it's tokenistic. It reads like someone trying to "Indianize" a Western fantasy without doing the real work of understanding or representing Indian culture in its complexity.

More glaringly, the book seems to actively avoid the word “India” itself, constantly defaulting to vague references like “South Asian culture” or “South Asian mythology.” This flattening out of cultural identity feels disingenuous — especially when the story clearly draws from Indian epics, not a pan-South-Asian canon.

Strange Choices That Break Immersion

There are specific moments that are especially jarring for anyone familiar with Indian academia or naming conventions. For example:

“University of India” is used as a name, which is not how Indian universities are named at all. It’s the kind of placeholder name you’d expect from someone who hasn’t researched Indian institutions — a red flag for shallow worldbuilding.

The protagonist’s father is named Vasudev Singh, and he is a descendant of Karna — a choice that makes no mythological or cultural sense. Vasudev is Krishna’s father, and Singh is a North Indian surname often associated with Rajputs or Sikhs. The combination doesn’t align with Karna’s lineage or context. It shows a lack of sensitivity to the deep symbolic meanings in Indian naming traditions.

Everything Happens… in the U.S.?

Most of the mythology-related events happen in the U.S., not India. It’s as if the author wants to borrow Indian mythological power while keeping it firmly planted on American soil — a bizarre creative decision that only adds to the sense that this story is more for Western consumption than authentic representation. Even the mystical aspects of India are treated vaguely, as though the author is more comfortable imagining India as a distant exotic origin than a real, living culture.

Final Thoughts

It becomes very clear that this book was written by someone likely disconnected from the lived Indian experience — probably a second-generation Indian-American trying to tap into mythology as a storytelling trend rather than as a sacred inheritance. And that might fly with readers unfamiliar with Indian history or epics, but to someone who knows and cares, this is frustratingly hollow.

Despite a solid fantasy framework, the book suffers from what can only be described as a whitewashed, diluted approach to Indian culture and mythology. Representation means more than just using the right buzzwords — it’s about integrity and respect for the roots you’re borrowing from.

Rating: 3.5 stars. I’m docking half a point for the surface-level cultural treatment. If the final copy corrects some of these glaring issues, I’d be willing to revise my rating. But in its ARC form, this feels like a missed opportunity — mythological gold reduced to a decorative gloss.

I have been super interested in other regions and cultures mythology and retellings, and this scratched that itch so well. Our main character, Laila, is the descendent of the daughter of Draupadi in Hindu mythology.

The author does feed us bits of information about the original myth throughout the story without feeling educational or drawn out. I really enjoyed the romance in this story, but I felt like we got there too fast. Karan, another descendent, tries to kill her in the beginning, believing her to be a something different based on information and instructions from his uncle. It was very soon after this incident that they develop feelings for each other.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advanced copy!

4 stars (with the potential to be 5 if this becomes a series)

I received this as an ARC, and I am genuinely so glad I did. This felt like a Desi version of Percy Jackson, and I was completely drawn in from start to finish.

While I am not usually someone who gravitates toward mythology and did not catch every deeper reference, the plot, the characters, and the overall atmosphere were incredibly engaging. It took a little time for me to get into the story, but once it clicked, I could not stop reading. The pacing was quick, the world felt fresh, and the blend of mythology, action, and romance worked beautifully.

The aunts were absolutely iconic. I need more of them immediately. And Laila was a fantastic protagonist. She came across as strong, loyal, and intelligent without being overly perfect. I would follow her into battle any day.

Karan was a compelling character as well. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between him and Laila. It created a smooth rhythm and helped me connect with both perspectives. The mix of family dynamics, ancient magic, and subtle romance was well balanced and added emotional depth to the fast-moving plot.

Now about the ending. It left me wanting so much more. If this is not part of a planned series, I will be genuinely disappointed. This world has so much more potential, and I truly hope there is a sequel in the works.

Final rating: 4 stars. If this becomes a series, it could easily become a 5-star favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC.

Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Strong female leads
- Mythology blended with modern fantasy
- Dual POV storytelling with action, emotion, and a hint of romance

When I saw this marketed for lovers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I knew I’d enjoy it - and was right! Laila is a fantastic, badass FMC who was raised to save the world. She and Karan, the MMC demon hunter, meet and instantly become rivals. But their relationship becomes romantic as the book goes on, and it was so fun to read. This book gets pretty dark at times, but overall I loved it. Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the eARC!

I applied for the ARC yesterday and got approved fast, but when I opened it today, I realized I had already read it months ago when it arrived in my Faecrate box. I totally forgot I had read it, which feels on brand for me lately.

This book blends Hindu mythology, slow-burn romance, and magic rooted in family and legacy. Laila is fierce, stubborn, and carrying way more than she lets on. I loved how her culture was deeply tied to the magic system, and the Rakshasi lore gave the world a darker, grounded edge.

Karan brought that classic “you’re my problem now” energy, and their bond developed slowly with plenty of tension. I appreciated that it wasn’t rushed, and that their connection felt earned by the end.

It did read a little younger than I expected. Some of the pacing and dialogue leaned more YA than I usually go for, but it didn’t take away from the heart of the story. I still found myself pulled into the characters and invested in where it was all going.

If you like mythology-based fantasy, complicated heroines, and slow-burn romance with real emotional stakes, this is worth picking up.

Modern YA Fantasy/Romantasy: Buffy meets Supernatural!

About the story:
Laila was raised as a fighter and must save the world. Karan must fight evil and finds himself face to face with Laila. Their worlds collide and they question everything they ever believed in.

What i liked:
- mythology and folklore
- funny and strong main characters with sass
- found family

What i didn’t like that much:
- the pacing
- repetitive scenes
- sometimes felt flat to me

(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital review copy!)

Did you read the likes of Percy Jackson and other books by Rick Riordan and/or other mythologies growing up?

For fans of mythology incorporated into current contemporary world where the kids have to save the world - this is for youuu!!

Nisha Sharma is one of my favorite authors and she brings the same seamless brilliant storytelling to this YA novel. Plus for fans of the If Shakespeare was an Aunty series - we follow the same theme and we have a wonderful group of aunties in this as well!

I absolutely loved reading this and couldn’t put it down. I love a good mythology set in a contemporary world. Just like in Percy Jackson series you get to track these amazing YA’s connected to the myths and lore of the culture as they find themselves instrumental to saving the world and fighting demons/bad guys and forge new friendships and fall in love too.

This particular mythology is focused on the Mahabharata and I had so much fun tracking the different ways the lore is weaved into the story.

Really loved reading this start to finish and I’m so so glad author was able to get this picked up for publishing after years of rejections. As someone who LOVED Percy Jackson series that led to my love for Greek mythology I would have been over the moon to have this book growing up.

Also a moment for the romance - very enemies to lovers and their first date - my oh my their first date. Just go read this amazing book and get ready to eagerly pine for the sequel.

So grateful to have gotten this ARC in exchange for an honest review.