Ch1 of Kāma: Liberation (Vol-I) by Shivran86

STOP If You Want To Read This Book. Spoilers Ahead.

For those new here, I strongly recommend reading About Frankly Speakin' before diving into my thoughts.

Great! Let's get started :)

The cover. It looks so appealing.

Also, the tags sound promising (I'll get to the blurb in the next section). Vampires and werewolves in India are a fresh concept. I mean, we have our own version of vampires and shapeshifters, but it's the second or third time I've heard of this blend of Western and Eastern components in fantasy stories. So, I'm intrigued.

I'm not surprised.

Okay, hear me out before you leave. The first chapter is actually good. I could totally see the royal court and the authority the main character, Rajan Rudra, holds. It was a LOL moment when Arundhati spoke to the Rajan. I just wished I knew her position, since I couldn't grasp it in the chapter, nor am I well versed in the Indian royal courts (I've seen them on the telly, but not enough).

Back to my point. You've got a strong main character with an equally compelling cast. You've even got the popular trope of arranged marriage, a cursed king and werewolves. But this chapter was so predictable, including the cliffhanger. Why?

It was the blurb.

Frankly, the blurb got me really confused (Who's the MC again? Where did the curse go?). It's because the logline and first chapter scream Rajan as the main character, while the blurb is more confused than I am. So, I think the blurb should focus on his POV, rather than all four. I like many protagonists (and many couples), but there should be one that stands out the most - it makes it easier for me to follow.

Yep.

It's because I don't know why a powerful king needs to set up a marriage for his general/Senapati of all people and even find a bodyguard for the bride. That's when the logline hit me. Is it because of the curse? There might be enemies waiting to pounce on Rajan's kingdom too. And the fact that the bride has secrets under her sleeve? Also, a second chance romance?

Oooh, that makes me want to stay.

Check out Chapter 1 of Kāma: Liberation (Vol-I) by Shivran86. I'll be back with thoughts on Chapter 2 same time next week.

Until next time,

Ruki