The Archer at Dawn

Initial Thoughts I was so excited to be chosen for this tour. I absolutely loved The Tiger at Midnight for so many reasons and I couldnt wait to read the next arc of this story. Some Things I Liked Less mythology, more Hunger Games. The first book in this series laid the groundwork for an amazing Indian-inspired, mythology based setting and I loved that. The Archer at Dawn spent more time building the political plots and setting up the final book, as all good middle books should. I loved that this book had a tournament element as well as high stakes for all the characters. The mythology element was present, but I liked that we got to explore other themes in this book. The romance. The first book focused on that classic enemies to lovers flirting, that I love so much, but this book honed in on the relationship aspect been Kunal and Esha as well as a more developed love triangle. I really enjoyed the evolution we got to see. That ending. I am deceased. I am destroyed. I totally did not see that coming and I loved every second of it. The betrayal at the end cut me deep. I had flashbacks to Empire of Storms where I was literally screaming at Lorcan as I was reading. Major props to Swati Teerdhala for keeping me guessing and surprising me with those twists. Indian themes. As an Indian-American, I really loved the representation in this book. There were so many familiar words, names, and phrases and I just loved that. Furthermore, I really loved relating to the main character on another level. Every girl wanted to play with a Barbie doll that looks like her and I feel like, for me, books are no different. I love it when characters represent an aspect of my life, in this case, Indian (or Indian-inspired) heritage. Series Value I cant wait to read the next book in this series. I am completely and utterly hooked and will be eagerly awaiting ARC opportunities **wink wink Katherine Tegen** . Furthermore, this book has incredible re-read value. I actually re-listened to The Tiger at Midnight before starting The Archer at Dawn and the first book felt fresh (despite having already read it). Re-read value is huge for me. I watch the same episodes of The Office over and over and similarly, I read the same books that I love. I cant wait to re-read this series in the future. Final Thoughts I loved this book. I love this series. I really cant sum it up any more succinctly. In a nutshell, READ THIS BOOK. Recommendations for Further Reading Untitled (The Tiger at Midnight #3) by Swati Teerdhala obviously I havent read this one yet but I have 100% confidence that the last book in this series is going to be a must read. I am completely obsessed with series. We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal the main male and female characters in both of these books are super similar. There is also a strong element of hidden identities (Esha is the Viper and Zahira is the Hunter). The Darkest Bloom by P.M. Freestone if you liked the mythology and setting found in The Archer at Dawn, give this newer series by P.M. Freestone a try. The second book is set to come out later this year in the US but is already available from the UK on Book Depository

Theres not a lot I can say without spoiling The Tiger at Midnight, so let me just say that The Archer at Dawn takes EVERYTHING to the next level. The political intrigue is more tense, the characters have more dilemmas, the romance grows deeper, and the stakes are raised super high. I think I liked this book better than TTAM, especially the ending. Now Im not so happy I have to wait a year for the final book. Such a great series so far. One of my favorites!! I cant wait for more from Swati Teerdhala.

Absolutely loved it!

Great book!

THE ARCHER AT DAWN is a fantastic sequel in the THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT trilogy. This second book picks up where the first one left off, again giving us both Esha and Kunal\’s perspectives. Esha, the Viper, is torn between duty to her cause, her own desires for revenge, and her growing feelings for Kunal. She has little time to think of these personal conflicts, as she travels to the Sun Mela, a religious time of celebration and contest, and the time is nearing for the Crescent Blades (the rebellion led by her and Harun) to act. Kunal is now becoming central to a lot of the rebel plans, and he is finding himself torn between his loyalty to the soldiers, the family he did not know he had, and the rebels whose cause he has taken. His feelings for Esha are ever-present, but when she seems to keep things from him related to the cause, he wonders if she actually trusts him. He is also torn by his friendships with soldiers- one of whom is working for a rival rebellion (the Scales) and cannot seem to leave him out of the plots. The Sun Mela reveals Vardaan\’s new plots, as Harun and his father (rulers of Dharka) are there under the guise of a peace treaty, but Vardaan (disputed ruler of Jansa) is hiding Reha, the lost princess, and clearly has bigger schemes afoot. The timeline is shortened for the Blades\’ action, and they must free Reha and replace Vardaan. Vardaan is also running a contest of battle skills that Kunal will enter while they investigate to get closer to where they need to be. However, nothing is quite as it seems, and all sides are playing the others with potentially devastating consequences. What I loved: This book had me completely hooked on the contests, the mysteries, and the romance. This series is really unique, based on Indian history and Hindu mythology, and while the world-building is less in the sequel than the first, which laid everything out, we still get these connections and further information here. This did not feel like a filler book to flesh out a trilogy. A lot happens here, and the contest really keeps the pace fast. The character development here really shines, as we witness the internal conflicts for both Esha and Kunal. These result in some interesting discussions of loyalty, romance, trust, and revenge. For instance, Esha\’s need for revenge can hinder her progress and cannot correct the past/cannot bring back her parents. She debates over the value and need for it as well as the internal feeling of hatred that penalizes mostly herself. I also really loved the twist at the end that I did not see coming. I love being surprised, and this definitely surprised me. There are many political games being played, and it seems as though the bigger games are just beginning. It is going to be difficult to wait for the final installment in this trilogy. Final verdict: Atmospheric and unique, THE ARCHER AT DAWN is full of magic, action, and truly unique characters. This sequel really builds on the first book to create an engaging and captivating story that is well written in its own right. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

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