The lore and magic in this book feels really different and refreshing. I liked that a lot. I liked that it was contemporary but brought in a lot of myths.

I didn't feel connected to the characters. And I am not sure why? I didn't particularly enjoy the beginning setting it up as a gotta get pregnant/gotta kill her plot. I wish the characters had some more depth put into them and more chemistry was built between all characters.

Loved this YA fantasy with Hindu mythology! It follows Laila Bansal, a descendant of Draupadi. Laila lives with three aunts, who are actually rakshasi (demonesses) who have been granted immortality by Lord Krishna to protect the descendants of Draupadi. Laila is so well-protected by her aunts that she has never been able to live like others and yearns for a normal life. However, her life takes a turn when she meets Karan. Karan is a descendant of the warrior demigod, Karna. He has been trained by his father and his uncle, Satyapal, who isn't related to him by blood. His family's legacy is to kill the asura. Laila meets Karan when he mistakes her for a darker creature, and through the enmity and misunderstandings, they end up becoming partners in a situation that is more dire than they could have ever expected.

The plot and inclusion of Hindu mythology is done so well! As a Hindu myself, I definitely had some background knowledge going into this book, but I loved learning more in detail about the names I grew up hearing. I also loved how the author combined different stories into a unique narrative of mythology. The mythology was weaved into the plot seamlessly and led to some great twists. I only wish the climax had been more fleshed out. Considering the entire conflict was leading up to this point, I would have loved to see more suspense. I also would have loved to see the reveal of the antagonist be more of mystery. From the beginning, we as readers could easily guess who the villain was, even if it wasn't as obvious for the protagonists. I feel like if I were also in the dark about the villain's identity, the reveal would have been more epic mind-blowing.

The romance was really cute. I loved the relationship, and the secrets and reveals about their ancestry helped developed the romance really well. Laila and Karan were both really strong individuals, both physically and mentally, so I loved the vulnerability and comfort of their relationships. I also loved the side characters, especially Boo. She was the cutest, smartest, wittiest, most precious girl ever! And her dynamics with both Laila and Karan are so heart warming. The side characters helped push the plot and introduce conflicts and mysteries so well.

The ending wrapped up the story ell, but it also introduced more ideas for a potential sequel. I would love to see a sequel with different protagonists, perhaps taking place elsewhere at the same time as Laila and Karan's story, or maybe right after the events of this book, with Laila and Karan as side characters or co-narrators. There's so many different directions this could go, and I am definitely excited to see what's next!

I loved the premise of the book but it did grip me like I thought it would. It’s a soft dnf for now. I think I will pick it up again in the future. I’m a mood reader and this sounded so good when I applied for the arc but I’m unfortunately wanted something else to read at the moment.

3.75
i love mythological retellings, specially hindu mythological ones, because the characters and the stories are already so known to me, and with this books that's exactly what i got, it was a fun, fast paced book, which had a heavy and beautiful Mahabharat backdrop, laila was a strong, independent girl, she was someone draupadi would be so proud of and karan was an incredible love interest.
i really hope the author makes it into a series because i'd like to read more of this universe

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It had all the things I love in a fantasy; mythology, strong female characters, and found family.
We follow Laila as she navigates a complicated family legacy that forces her to not pursue the life that she would ideally want.
This is further complicated with the arrival of Karan, who brings danger to her door.
After a rough start, the two of them have to work together to stave off threats that hit close to home.
I loved that the action in this was fast paced and the plot moved along nicely. The characters were interesting and I was invested in their story.
I would definitely recommend this one.

Move over Buffy, we have a new slayer in town.

Ok, fair warning here, I LOVE:
YA Hero Books based on Mythology, Folklore or Religious Deities
Demon Slaying tough girls (I have the Buffy series playing in the background most days while I work)

So when Nisha Sharma's Illusions of Fire hit the NetGalley options I scrambled to hit request.

This surpassed all my hopes. Laila is far from your average teen. She lives with her adopted aunts, who have been training her in hand-to-hand combat from a young age. Why? Laila was born into a mythological bloodline and happens to need to these skills to slay magical villains.

The inclusion of Hindu Mythology was done SO WELL! I loved every minute and learned a ton of their background.

This comes out February 4th and I cannot wait to own a physical copy- look at that cover- PLEASE PLEASE let there be a sprayed edge special edition!

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC of Illusions of Fire by Nisha Sharma! This was like reading a late 90s, early 2000s fantasy tv show in the best way possible! If you liked Buffy the vampire slayer, charmed or practical magic then you need to pick this up!

I loved the mythology and fantasy lore that was throughout this book. The integration South East Asian creatures, gods and legends was fantastic. I thought the fantasy lore was explained and distributed through the plot so well. I never was lost or confused. And the fact there was so much archery had my heart soaring! Add in that this is a modern fantasy! Amazing!! I have no notes because I loved every moment of this.

I adored Laila and Karan so much and loved following their stories in this book. I appreciate that this book is a continuing story, but it didn’t leave us on a cliffhanger of suspense. I’m definitely going to pick up the next book if this turns into a series because I’m so hooked on this world.

This is a beautifully written fantasy perfect for lovers of a sweeping, epic mythology and smart teens facing perilous stakes. Based in tales from the Mahabharata, the characters are descendants of Hindu gods, making it a perfect read for slightly older readers who grew up on Percy Jackson and seek that same kind of demi god drama, epic fights, and romance. Laila is also a bad ass and a character you will root for with your entire chest. She is literally fire, and the underlying messages about history and the perspective of the storyteller shaping the story are powerful here!

Thank you so much to Nisha Sharma, Union Square and Co, and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

So, I didn't know that Sharma was a well established author before picking this up; the cover and description sold me instantly. I also didn't anticipate this being really, really amazing.

I know jack-squat about Hindu mythology, much less the Mahabharata, but from Sharma's worldbuilding and writing, I was able to understand and absorb this book's world so easily. The gods, the creatures, the stories, it all enthralled me so much because of how rich and deep it was. I'm even considering picking up India's grand epic myself just to understand more. It really goes to show what incredible worldbuilding and writing skills Sharma has!

The characters are also so delightful. Laila is an incredible protagonist with intelligence and snark, but the isolation and loneliness she had experienced for the majority of her life shows so much in her to, especially when it took over 200 pages for her to trust Karan (Not Ahvi. His name seemed to have changed, but I dunno why they didn't change it in the Goodreads description) once he (wrongfully) tried to kill her, and I don't blame her in the slightest. Her flaws are raw and believable, and I loved that about her. Karan is also a wonderful deuteragonist, as a guy who was misguided by ill intentioned familial figures who comes to accept he was wrong and loves Laila completely. Plus, their banter is very cute. I especially love the dialogue when Boo, Karan's cousin, comes into the picture; she is very much a delight.

I'm not Hindu or Indian, so I won't speak to the accuracy or faithfulness of this book from its inspirations, but I can say Sharma's passion and love for what she created here sincerely comes across. She revealed in her acknowledgements that it took over a decade for this story to be even considered due to racism, in plain speak. I loved that Sharma refused to give up on this story despite all the obstacles she had to face, and the fact it is going to be published, that I and many others, finally get to read it is something really special. That really ups this book's uniqueness in my eyes.

All in all, this was a great fantasy, and I very much love forward to whatever else Sharma has in store for this world!

Okay, this was SO MUCH FUN. It was everything I wanted from a Hinduism-inspired paranormal romance with Buffy vibes. Truly gave me the feeling I had the first time I watched Charmed. Can't wait for Laila and Karan's next adventure!!

Illusions of Fire is a banger of a fantasy romance novel from Nisha Sharma! Of course, Nisha kills it when it comes to contemporary romance, but this book convinced me even further that she's all-around a fantastic writer. The fantasy elements of this novel were written so well! Illusions of Fire is set on our contemporary world, but includes various magical creatures, legends, and lore from Hinduism. This book really reminded me of the magic and spunk of the 90's teen supernatural shows and movies like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Practical Magic, and Charmed. In these shows, you always have the teen main characters running around their town and fighting monsters and dem0ns at every corner, like a ghost child appearing in your locker room. (These types of scenes were so creepy and I found myself actually getting scared.) Then of course, the main characters are pressured to save the world without any adult supervision. I loved following Laila, Karan, and Boo as they plotted to stop Karan's uncle.

My favorite aspect of this book was the integration of Hindu creatures, gods, and legends into the story. It was done so seamlessly, and it made the fantasy world even more interesting for me as a Hindu reader. I've always read and watched media with contemporary fantasy worlds with western mythical creatures, so Illusions of Fire was very refreshing to read about.

Overall, I think YA fantasy lovers and fans of Nisha's previous works will definitely enjoy Illusions of Fire! (If you were a fan of the aunties in the If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series, get ready for Laila's aunties in this book LOL.) I'd rate this book 4.5 stars rounded up!

4.5 stars rounded up

Buffy meets a more mature, South Asian Percy Jackson!

Illusions of Fire is a cool YA fantasy romance following the descendants of Hindu gods and divine figures. Laila has been raised by a gaggle of women who are really a kind of demon, and everyday she trains for combat to stay safe and fulfill her destiny.

Ahvi has been raised to hunt demons and protect the balance of good and evil in the world. When he's sent on a mission to hunt down a supposed asana (demon) he finds Laila instead. And their meeting was never supposed to happen...

Both of them are the descendants of figures from the Mahabarata and there is evil coming for them. But also the sparks between them are undeniable.

While this gets a bit dark at times (people die, there's a creepy guy planning sexual assault etc.) overall I found it to be really fun and it draws on interesting mythology. I've enjoyed other books by Nisha in the past and this is something different, but really great. You should have it on your radar! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC of Illusions of Fire by Nisha Sharma!

Absolutely loved the fresh take on the story of Draupadi in this fast-paced and super fun contemporary YA with rich mythology woven throughout. It's got enemies to lovers, badass women who can take care of themselves, enemies to lovers, secrets and mysteries, and a semi-slow burn romance. Perfect for fans of mythology, strong female leads, and adventure!! We need more mythology remixes and this book delivers!

“Egypt had Cleopatra”…”Greece had Helen of Troy. And India had Draupadi. Know how powerful you are”.

Many readers know Nisha Sharma for her romance novels, but in Illusions of Fire? She’s incendiary. Pardon the fire pun, but it just works so well in this scenario. This book is just badass goodness. For majority of the book we follow Karan and Laila, and the duo are dealing with an indescribable bond while also fighting off some unsavoury mythological creatures and an icky villain (seriously a major creep). Throw in some eccentric Massi's, skilled sidekicks, and meddling gods and you're in for a treat. Gopal and Boo, I know everyone's going to LOVE them.

Ever since I read Percy Jackson as a kid, I always wondered if an author would ever dive into the stories I heard and learned growing up. Illusions of Fire is rooted in Hindu mythology and I’m so glad authors are exploring stories and sharing them with audiences. It stuns me that Nisha just gets it. She’s finding those gaps that readers of colour have been yearning for, and then just causally writes an amazing book. It’s something l’ll never get tired of no matter what.

Yes, this is a high energy book. But I like the little details. The Jasmine and incense scents, the chai machine, the slight crunch of an onion ring...sometimes I need the sensory descriptions in novels to ground me. It’s a balance that Nisha does perfectly. Overall, I know this book is going to connect massively with readers. The best part? We’re off to more adventures, and I can’t wait.

Throwing in one more quote that I loved “history is written by the victor. Interpretations have truth because they’re written by the quietest characters, right?”

Thank you so much Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the ARC. Out in February 2025 you don’t want to miss this.

OKAY MYTHOLOGY! This was such a fun read!
I was so excited to see the Nisha Sharma had announced her fantasy debut and it did not disappoint!

The romantic tension/connection between Laila and Ahvi!! Off the charts! Nisha Sharma has a knack for weaving a beautiful storyline! One of my favorite parts of this story was actually the characterization of Laila. Maybe one of the most well-written YA main characters I've read!

You will LOVE this book if you like the monster-slayer aspect of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the magical aunties in The Chilling Adventure of Sabrina, some really fascinating mythology, and healthy dose of heartfelt romance. I can't wait to read the next one!

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

Oh what a delightful read this was! I read and loved several of Nisha’s books. I was super excited to read this one when she announced it. I love mythology of any origin. This is right up my alley. It did not disappoint. It appears to be set up for many more book. I wait with bated breath for more.

I voluntarily read an early copy.