Meet Shirin: strong, courageous and determined. Meet Laila: smart, sensible, and a scholar. They’re identical twins. One is the hunter. The other is a historian. They’re part of the Majlis-e-shameer, the Secret Council, and together they protect the city of Lahore by fighting evil and slaying monsters.
The Historian and the Hunter by Zeenat Mahal is an urban fantasy novel about two young girls, Shirin and Laila, who have sworn to protect their city from age-old monsters, and anything that can be a potential threat to the lives of the people. They lost their parents when they were young, and have been brought up by Madam Ara, who has been looking after the girls. Living in the Red-light District Area, both Shirin and Laila, live not-so-normal lives.
In the beginning of the novel, we find Shirin, who is the Hunter of the Secret Council, fight and kill a nau-guzza(monster) that emerged after 50 years. She is accompanied by Emir, who is not just her companion but more like a mentor. Laila, on the other hand, is the Historian who unearths several hidden mysteries, and guides and helps her sister to deal with the monsters. She’s a recluse, often finding solace in the written word. The world around her doesn’t make much sense but when she’s surrounded by books, she feels powerful and strong. Whereas Shirin is more physical and outdoorsy and extremely protective of her sister, Laila finds comfort in a book.
Shirin and Laila, soon find themselves amidst chaos as monsters keep attacking their city, and they realize that the council has been compromised. At the same time, the existence of a werewolf starts haunting Laila, and she makes it her mission to discover the truth.
The novel surprised me in ways more than one. To start with, I was completely blown away by the concept of a fantasy novel based in Lahore. The setting of the book made me want to dive deeper into the story. The characters in the book are unique in their own way. Both Shirin and Laila, are strong and empowering. They don’t back down nor compromise on their values. They’re direct and not afraid of demanding for what’s rightfully theirs.
The author has crafted the novel intricately, making the readers be at the edge of their seats throughout. The light banter among the characters makes one laugh and flip through the pages easily. I personally feel it’s really hard to pull off conversations between characters without making them forced. But here, the author made the camaraderie and jibes look effortless. I really love the author’s writing style. The descriptions are beautiful and they make you want to visit the city of Lahore. That’s what good writing does; it makes you abandon the life you have and embrace the one in the book.
I am incapable of appreciating novels that have romance in them but Zeenat Mahal’s book made me think otherwise. I might have also developed a slight crush on one of the fictional characters and I have no regrets.
If you’re into fantasy novels, The Historian and the Hunter by Zeenat Mahal is right up your alley. Even if this isn’t your genre, I would urge you to give it a read. You won’t be disappointed.
There is no evil worse than a human heart that is corrupt.
The book is available for pre-order. Click on the link to get a copy: Amazon
Author: Zeenat Mahal
Pages: 272
Rating: 4.6/5
Format: ebook
Source: ARC by the author
Blurb:
Laila and Shirin are ordinary girls living in the old city of Lahore just like millions of others…except they live in the Red-light District area, and they’re identical twins. Also they hunt monsters no-one knows exist…Okay so, maybe not quite like millions of other girls…
Get to know the Author:
Zeenat Mahal is the #1 bestselling romance author of She Loves Me He Loves Me Not, Haveli, and The Contract. She has an MFA in creative writing from Kingston University London. She writes and teaches creative writing in Lahore. she likes to stay in touch with her readers via instagram, facebook and twitter.
