*all opinions are my own* *minor spoilers ahead*
I requested this book so long ago that by the time I finally had time to read it, I had totally forgotten what it was about, which I thought would be fun, so I went in essentially blind. And I'm glad I did, because when I went back and read the summary, I think it was a bit too nondescriptive of the actual story. The summary doesn't give the book enough credit for its worldbuilding and background, which could be a nice surprise to some, but to others who may be expecting a bit more of a standard trope story, it could definitely be a bit jarring getting into such detailed storytelling.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, though. The first half was kind of slow in my opinion, a lot of buildup and worldbuilding, which makes sense for this book since the world is soooo detailed and there is so much background info necessary to the story, but even still, I thought it was a bit slow with few truly substantial events happening until about the halfway point... About halfway through though, the story began really getting interesting, with the main issue from the summary finally coming into play and seeing more of Ridhi and Nalesh spending more time in the yaksha kingdom instead of their own world and seeing the consequences of that. The ending also seemed to come quite quickly, so I wish there had been more consistent buildup to it throughout the story rather than most of it coming at latter end of the book. However, the ending was quite good and even without as much buildup as I hoped, it was a good ending and quite enjoyable to read. Overall, I think the pacing could have been done a bit better, but the story as a whole was quite good.

I should've just dnfd this. I thought that once it got to the magic part of it, it would got better. But, if anything, it.got worse. I really hated Nilesh.

This book is phenomenal!!! I got sucked into it right off the bat. The imagery is just stunning. It really felt like I was in this whimsical night market right alongside the characters. I really enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about the yakshas’ realm.

Nilesh had a particularly moving character arc. His journey is great. I really loved Ridhi as well. Very great!

Cover is beautiful and the story was good but had potential to be more.

I was on Ridhi's side like what do you mean, the asshat that makes fun of you and mocks your love of nature and magic gets pulled into that world. I would be mad too. However, I understand why, he was vulnerable due to his family situation and sometimes I feel magic/magical creatures sense that and make them more alluring or easy to seek.
While the world and magic and FMC were very lovable and interesting (I will say Nilesh's family life and feelings were understandable and kept my interest in his story and path), it felt a little long or like it was just missing a little more pull to the story that would have kept my interest longer.
I was surprised this was set in our world and not full on fantasy like I got a vibe- my assumption was a little off, but that isn't a bad thing.
I also have to point out that a few moments felt .. out of place.
I am all for representation but you can't just mention it once or at the end and never have it come up again. It's pointless and means nothing done that way. It needs to be more consistent or feel less like it was just thrown in for the sake of it.

Overall the concept of this was very captivating. I loved all the imagery and the world. I had a great time reading this.

I was very excited to read this book when I read the description. Like Ridhi, I am a nature lover, so the promise of this story was exciting. The idea of being pulled into an enchanted forest kingdom was very intriguing. However, I ended up being a bit disappointed by the story.

I enjoyed the world of the enchanted forest the author creates. The forest was painted in a beautiful picture and the author's love of nature is very clearly seen through her descriptions. While I enjoyed the character of Ridhi and could relate to her and her love of nature, as well as being called "weird" myself when I was her age, there were other aspects of the story I did not enjoy. The character of Nilesh was very annoying for the first half of the book. And by the time he wasn't quite as bad, I did not have any stake in his character or interest in his story. While the story of his family's situation is one readers can relate to, he himself is not a character you latch on to; he is very mean to Ridhi and just annoying in the way he speaks to her and in how he acts.

Despite the above, there were some good plot points and unexpected plot twists. And, again, the world of the enchanted forest is intriguing. But overall, I did not fully enjoy the book and found myself skimming through quite a bit of it.

“Magic, at long last, was coming.”

Divining the Leaves is a contemporary fantasy that shares the story of two teenagers who only want something to go their way. Ridhi is an outcast to everyone but her family because she still believes in magic. She is positive that she belongs among the forest kingdom, and spends her time waiting for the woodland spirits to whisk her away. Nilesh has all the friends he could need, but then he discovers his father’s infidelity, and his family falls apart. After getting suspended, his mother sends him to live with Ridhi—who he doesn’t get along with—and her family. As they both tumble into the world of magic, one with the hope of becoming a part of it and the other looking for a distraction, they learn that spirits aren’t always what they seem, and that they must trust each other.

Shveta Thakrar’s novel is an interesting mix of magic, Hindu and Buddhist folklore, and dual perspectives, but I found myself dissatisfied with other aspects of the book. The magical system is definitely unique, and having a mortal girl, Ridhi, learning how to turn her perfume business into something more was a great idea. I also really liked how opposed the two characters were to each other, which was established with a dynamic change in the writing style. Ridhi’s perspective has lively descriptions of the world, while Nilesh’s is sharp and lacks the vibrancy that Ridhi sees. I was genuinely relieved that this is not a love story between the two characters, and I think it did appeal to me more than I expected it to. But my difficulty with the story lies with the pacing. The first half is almost entirely exposition, and I found myself struggling to continue. I was rather confused about where the plot was going, as the description of the book says that Nilesh ends up trapped and I was expecting Ridhi to spend much of the story trying to rescue him, but this doesn’t happen until closer to the end of the story. I was presented with many different things happening at the end, and it felt hectic compared to the slower plot present throughout the rest of the story. I genuinely liked many moments throughout the novel, but the misleading synopsis and drawn out plot were not things that I enjoyed.

This one captivated me with its immersive atmosphere and vibrant descriptions of nature and Holi. Ridhi, a delightful character, embraced her heritage beautifully. The blend of real and magical worlds, rooted in Hindu mythology, was seamless but was really confusing at times. While the writing was evocative, the pacing was slooow, and Nilesh's character arc felt underdeveloped and left me wanting more. Subtle queer representation felt like an afterthought. Despite flaws, I enjoyed the cultural blend and magical elements.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

Good stuff first!

The writing is lush and lyrical, the descriptions of Alakapuri was brought to life vividly by the lush prose. The atmosphere was magical.

I loved Ridhi as a protagonist, I found her very wholesome and earnest, which is very refreshing to read. At times she comes off as a little too naive, but it's fine, I get it. If I was trying to get into the magic stuff I would be ignoring red flags too.

On the other hand, I did NOT like Nilesh. He was soooo annoying, and he did not deserve his romance, she was out of his league and he's a mid bf.

The plot got very convoluted towards the climax. Maybe this is a skill issue, but I have no idea what was going on. I think the plot threads got a little tangled, maybe if a few of them were taken out it would have been clearer.

My favorite thing about this book are all the descriptions of flowers, trees, and plants. I also love the way that the author incorporates dance into this story so centered on nature and plants. In one scene, Ridhi dances so that her body tells the story of the forest she’s standing in. Because of the lush descriptions of the woods and magic, I that description really came to life. I’ve never seen anything like that so well-captured in a scene before. It’s something I think I’ll remember for a long time.

I also enjoyed the unfolding of the relationship between Ridhi and Nilesh. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I had certain expectations when I started the book, and for a minute, I was not sure I was going to like the way things unfolded. It took longer for him to grow on me as a character, but eventually, I felt like I understood him more and appreciated him. Ultimately, I love where the author took the story and the hints at new relationships in the ending. (Also hooray for the reference to tabletop games there at the end!)

So, yeah. I’ve got Star Daughter on my shelf, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Divining the Leaves is the first book by this author that I’ve read, and I am sure I will read more.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Love the setting but the MMC was an idiot (this has a strong desi vibe)

Ridhi Kapadia loves plants, trees, and forests. She’d do anything to meet the yakshas and become one of them. After all, she can already listen to the plants talk. Moreover, the forest understands and accepts her, unlike her classmates who bully her. Wearing flower crowns and making natural perfumes, she just wants to be accepted into the magical forest kingdom she belongs to.
The rich and famous Nilesh Batra had everything handed to him on a platter and drifted through life skimming the surface. Until he finds out that his parents’ perfect marriage was a sham all along. Angry and lashing out at everyone, he wants nothing to do with anyone. Until he meets Kamini, a yakshini from the enchanted forests his annoying once-childhood friend Ridhi loves. Smitten beyond his senses, Nilesh enters the land of yakshas unbothered by the dangers or consequences of his actions.
However, there’s more than what meets the eye. Ridhi and Nilesh might learn a few lessons as they go.
The story comes in Ridhi and Nilesh’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
Firstly, the blurb makes it sound like it could be an enemies-to-lovers romance. It is NOT and I’m glad for it. Just look at that cover! Oh, my!
Secondly, I should no longer be surprised by the low ratings. Books with inherent Hindu framework don't appeal to the western audience. When readers say they like Hindu mythology (Puranas), they mean they like how THEY want it to be and not the actual one. So, books like Kaikeyi get high praise while books like this and Legend of Meneka have low ratings. Sure, this one has quite a few flaws but so did Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River. Still, those books were exotic and appealing for presenting our ithihasas in a western framework, totally removed from their roots and distorted beyond recognition.
Anyhoo, rant over!
I’ll talk about what could have been better before I discuss what I liked. So,
The MMC, Nilesh. Yeah, he is a spoiled brat who needs a redemption arc. Yes, he is hurting and I tried to be sympathetic. But boy, if the yakshas were performing a human sacrifice, I’d immediately volunteer him and stand guard to supervise the ritual. The arc could have been great but the author lost control of it at some point. Maybe her focus was on the FMC and the setting and she realized a bit too late to salvage the situation.
The hints of a queer angle almost went over my head until they were confirmed at the end. Subtle is good but you can’t be that subtle. Most of the readers can’t even see it. Heck, I missed it too but had a faint sense of ‘maybe’ which got confirmed on the last page. Why wait so long? Gosh, too little too late to blend into the plotline. A short paragraph when we get details of the past would have done the job.
The pacing is not slow but the story is. That’s to say, not much happened until we reached the halfway mark and this is a big book, so that’s already 200 pages. As much as I loved the setting and wanted to join them in Alkapuri, not everyone feels the same. They need something else to keep them going, especially when the writing and setting are so desi.

However, I cannot help but gush about the rest!
The beginning is so lush and descriptive. The writing is evocative and pure poetry, especially the snippets at the start of each part. Yeah, the author relied on the thesaurus but I didn’t find it distracting (for a change).
I’m so surprised that the blurb doesn’t talk about Holi given how significant it is for the plot. Instead of focusing on popular tropes, the blurb should have stayed true to the storyline. The book is set during spring when the colorful Hindu festival Holi is celebrated. There are quite a few descriptions of the preparations. The scenes of the actual event are vibrant and delightful. The festival has been seamlessly woven into the central plot and becomes the D-day where many things are revealed.
Though it has American Indian families, while the vibe is very desi. Think of saris, dupattas, chappals, kaju barfi, shirkand, dholka, kichidi, aloo sabzi, etc. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this. The cultural heritage takes on a new shape by blending with donuts and burgers instead of being replaced. The Indian communities come in all shapes, sizes, and types in foreign lands and are a unique blend of desi and videsi. That aspect comes out very well.
Ridhi is a darling. Yeah, she could do with a dose of self-confidence and thick skin but that’s supposed to be her arc. Every single mention of her dressing up and wearing bangles, anklets, and bindi made my heart soar. You go, girl! Be unapologetic about who you are. Who cares what others say? Here, the others are also Indians, so this isn’t about external racism with idiots being idiots no matter who they are or where they live.
The seamless blend of real and magical. The setting easily shifts between the regular world and Alkapuri, the kingdom of yakshas. However, this may be confusing for some readers. I like that there’s no clear separator as the worlds also exist together, but it’s a risky decision. Readers unfamiliar with the concepts will be confused.
The range of scents, trees, flowers, flavors, etc. is mesmerizing. On the negative side, it can be overwhelming for some readers. I loved it because it aligns with the yakshas. Everything is extrasensory and doubly clear, so the whole vibe is not only atmospheric but also heady and hypnotic.
The mentions of Uravashi, Savitri, or Damayanti and using their stories to create perfumes. Since I know who they are and what their stories are, I can breathe in the scents mentioned on the screen. There’s a difference between liking something, knowing about it, and being an integral part of it. You will have full experience when you are a part of the story and its intricacies. Otherwise, it’s just pretty writing with exotic-sounding descriptions.
Quite a lot happens in the last quarter. It can give readers a whiplash if they’ve struggled so far. Of course, no way to avoid it since the whole thing had to happen in the same series. Worked well for me but it might be confusing for others.

To summarize, Divining the Leaves is a proper desi fantasy. It is atmospheric, inviting, and delicious (all that food). However, the MMC and a slow plot don’t do it any favors. Anyway, I enjoyed the book. Thank you for using the word mandir.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Children, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The book is unnecessarily lengthy. I liked the concept but could have been explored more.

The writing was a bit off and made it difficult to get into the book initially.

The plot was dragged and took half the book just to create a major change in setting

Actual rating 3.5 stars

This book is like a dreamy forest - it’s got magic, yakshas, and trees that whisper secrets. I adored Ridhi, the plant-loving protagonist who makes perfumes and wears flower crowns. I'd love to channel this aesthetic please!

Despite my love for Ridhi and her world, the pacing was just a bit too slow and it made it hard to truly stay within the story as I read. What kept me engaged, though, was the Indian mythological elements, which was PERFECTION like the delicious icing on a well-made muffin. It added such a unique touch and made me crave more.

Overall, it’s a beautiful read with stunning descriptions of nature, magical realism, and Indian mythology.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Divining the leaves follows Ridhi and Nilesh, who become involved in an enchanted forest kingdom where the trees speak, and the residents hide a disturbing secret.

I think there was a lot of interesting stuff going on in this book. It blends Indian folklore with the modern world and with an interesting magic system, and for me the whole thing read pretty quickly. Nilesh and Ridhi felt like fully realized characters, though the remainder of the supporting cast didn't really leave a lasting impression on me. The enchanted world of the yaksha that they entered was also spectacular to read about, and something I'd like to see more of.

Despite reading quickly for me, though, the book does take awhile to get where it's going. A slow pace is never the end of the world, but frequently it felt like we were still standing in the same spot when we should have been going somewhere ten pages ago. The atmosphere didn't entirely make up for an arguably thin plot, and though the characters at the start of the book are rounded and interesting, their arcs were something of a letdown for me.

I think this book is great for readers who are looking for good vibes and to sink into a magical world. It also makes me want to pick up more of Thakrar's work, especially for the way Indian mythology and folklore were woven into this story. I just think there were some elements that could have been stronger overall.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Divining the Leaves follows a dual perspective of two cousins, Ridhi and Nilesh, as they navigate through a mystical realm of yakshas and yakshinis. Once friends, the two cousins come together after Nilesh’s family falls apart. When the magical realm becomes open to the cousins, they must work together to decipher the forests’ whispers and find their way back to their family.

While the writing was beautiful and captured the mythical feelings the author was trying to describe in the novel, unfortunately the story never felt fleshed out and was terribly slow to start. What should have been read as a new world with magic beings, immortals, and magic in the air came off boring. The synopsis was also slightly misleading, as I thought I was going to be reading more about mythology set in India, and not modern; instead, the story takes place in Atlanta, GA, with very modern technology (that does not elevate the novel in any way). There was folklore, which should have been interesting, but without a glossary, it felt like more work to sit there figuring out what different terms and beings were.

Reading from Ridhi’s perspective was a highlight of the book. The way she described everything she saw and smelled was beautiful and managed to slowly pull you into the story; but then the POV would switch to Nilesh, who could only talk about “how hot” another character was and had very little character growth.

Lastly, there felt like a need to include different representations of people. One character is only referenced along with her wheelchair, and limited mobility, while not explaining any more about her personality. There is mention how she used to not have limited mobility, but never any back story. There is not one point where her disability plays into any storyline and could have been removed with 0 change to the novel. The main character was also suddenly bi on the last page of the book. Both cases did not elevate the story in any way and pulled me from the story.

A generous 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3), because the descriptions of places, smells, and foods were beautiful.

“Her beloved trees must have sensed her frazzled nerves, reviving her, their presence as reassuring as a river of sunlight. if only she could sink into their comforting embrace.”

Divining the Leaves is a very whimsical book. It left me with a sense of wonder as I wandered through the pages, completely dreamy. Filled with beautiful descriptions, the story follows Ridhi and Nilesh (in a dual POV narration), who once were friends and are forced to reconnect when Nilesh has to spend a few days in Ridhi’s house.
Even though their beliefs are quite opposite, as Ridhi feels her connection to Nature –and to the folklore she comes from– contrary to very skeptical Nilesh, they have pretty similar reactions to the magical world (in which Nature rules) they enter and they bring the reader with them. Between their need of attachment and their ambitions, they discover that new world, and themselves during the journey, which makes of Divining the Leaves a great coming of age story, weaving personal growth by finding roots through their inherited culture. I loved to dive in all this folklore and court intrigues and how the author chose to do that, immersing the reader.

Thank you to the author, ColoredPages tour and HarperCollin children’s books for the eARC sent via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Rate 3.5/5

Not really for me, and im really sad about it. i wish it was but the plot was slow and nilesh was annoying making me want to drop this book every time i read his pov.

This is a unique story with portal magic and meddling gods. I love that the story is a dual POV but it's two separate lives that overlap but they aren't love interests. It's very refreshing. It shows the FMC and her love the earth and the magic that comes from that and the MMC who's just trying to find a way to escape his current life situation. I love that this is very "teenager" and it's nothing to explicit in romance or violence. The side characters are wonderful. The differences between the 2 family situations is very real to many people. Overall a pretty good story would definitely recommend for tweens or younger teenagers.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book.

[3.5 stars]

I have to start off by saying the world building in this book is incredibly enchanting and immersive. The care with which each detail is described is breathtaking. It was like stepping into a fairytale world steeped in Indian mythology and folklore, filled with otherworldly flowers and trees and delicious foods. I wished I could stroll through the Nigh Market and partake in its magical wares. Dance with the yakshinis adorned in their saris and lenghas crafted from flowers.

But the plot was very drawn out and the first half was so slow it didn’t really hold my attention. And Nilesh was pretty annoying and rude even before his family fell apart. Sure he finally had an epiphany in the last like 50 pages of the book that took some drastic measures. But the way he’d treated Ridhi before? There wasn’t enough apologizing or recognition that of how harmful his actions were. I enjoyed Ridhi’s character, she spoke to that part of me that yearned to run away to a magical realm when I was a teenager. I loved that she was unapologetically herself. The way her perfumes were described, I want one for myself. The overall message of connecting more with nature and the peace that it can bring really resonated with me.

Overall, I loved the nature focused world building but the plot was too dragged out for me.

Cue this, you have felt lost being around people due to being the odd one out, even possibly bullied, like don't we all introverts feel this at moments, and what if you have a true calling for something, which is worth more than any other thing in your life, what if you get an opportunity to leave all else for this calling, will you grab it with all your might then ?

For context, Ridhi (FMC) feels at home with nature, is a master perfumer at a young age, and believes in the magic of nature - tales of yakshinis and yakshas from folklore from her Mom, really hopes to become a yakshini herself and, in turn of surprising events, finds her way into the world. And there is Nilesh (MMC), usual playboy, ex friend of Riddhi, but is heartbroken and angry due to some family stuff. Nilesh comes across a yakshini, Kamini mysteriously triggering his entry into the same world of nature.

The story follows their journey into the world albeit with a lot of twists and turns. The writing was beautiful just like the subject of the author, flowery and earthy. As a fellow Indian, I could really connect with a lot of folklore parts which really brought fantasy to life, especially the beautiful descriptions of nature elements like flowers, trees, and fruits, setting up the background of the story.

The book had a lot of heart and layers which kept me hooked till the end, despite a few confusing twists and turns, because Nilesh could be easily misunderstood in the earlier chapters as he was just plain angry, but then as the story kept going, I could get him, his growth arc made the reading experience edgy but satisfying. Ridhi's character was a bit flawed too, which added even more depth to the story.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this one, got a good fantasy fix out of it.