“Stone Seeds” is a work of art. But, unfortunately, a work of art is not always what a novel needs to be. In New Bavarnica, the novel’s world, every aspect of life – food distribution, weather patterns and even when the sun rises and sets – is under the control of one mysterious figure: The […]
Author Archives: Umbreen Ali
Book Review: ‘The Abyss Surrounds Us’
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the union of sea monsters and pirates makes for a great fantasy novel. “The Abyss Surrounds Us” by Emily Skrutskie confirms this truth. The first of a planned duology, the novel follows Cassandra Leung, a 17-year-old who has been taught all her life to train Reckoners, genetically-engineered beasts […]
Book Review: ‘Wuthering Heights’
Young adult fantasy author Lena Coakley will release “Worlds of Ink and Shadow” Tuesday, a fictional novel with historical characters: the Brontё siblings, classic literature authors. In Coakley’s new book, Charlotte, Emily, Branwell and Anne dive into a fictional world they created. Daily Bruin senior staff Umbreen Ali reviews both Coakley’s meta book and Emily […]
Book Review: ‘Worlds of Ink and Shadow’
Young adult fantasy author Lena Coakley will release “Worlds of Ink and Shadow” Tuesday, a fictional novel with historical characters: the Brontё siblings, classic literature authors. In Coakley’s new book, Charlotte, Emily, Branwell and Anne dive into a fictional world they created. Daily Bruin senior staffer Umbreen Ali reviews both Coakley’s meta book and Emily […]
Book Review: ‘Olivay’
In large, boldfaced text at the top of the back cover of “Olivay” by Deborah Reed are the words, “We don’t believe that our lives can change in an instant – until they do.” It is an elegant statement that, at first glance, promises depth and profundity. However, upon a closer look, its meaning is […]