Showing results by narrator "Nikki Patel" in All Categories

In the second instalment of Tara Sim's Dark Gods trilogy each heir walks a dangerous path, attempting to undo the damage the gods have wrought across the four realms. But they live on borrowed time. The divine will have their war - and not all of them will survive it.

Rani, the bright and spirited daughter of an Indian Crown Prince, leads a privileged if lonely life. Longing for freedom, she escapes the confines of her father’s palace and meets Prasad – a poor young man – with whom she falls deeply in love. But her plan to gain her father’s approval for the match disastrously backfires. Estranged from her family and haunted by guilt, Rani’s path takes her from Cambridge to Bletchley Park and a new world of intrigue and secrets. Against the backdrop of war, Rani finds comfort and a sense of belonging with fellow codebreaker William and his young son.

Nicki - 30ish, care worker living in Brighton - is scrolling for her next hook up. A difficult home life, a job that's going nowhere, she seeks solace in random encounters. Amber - 17, college student, lost - desperately needs someone to notice her. She creates 'Kevin', a fake dating profile for a man in his thirties. Neither Nicki nor 'Kevin' has any idea what they're about to get into. They quickly match, and an unlikely friendship develops, giving each other the validation both sorely need. But can you ever truly connect when one of you is a liar?

Prince Leander of Alinor boarded a ship to make his family’s traditional pilgrimage to the Isles of the Gods, to strengthen the goddess Barrica. The Mellaceans had other ideas. Only Selly, the prince and I survived from that ship. We fled from Laskia and her crew, were chased across the Crescent Sea, and arrived at the Isles with only moments to spare. There, at the Isle of the Mother, we believed we witnessed Laskia’s death. We were wrong.

In 16-year-old Abida's small Pakistani village, there are age-old rules to live by and her family's honour to protect. And, yet, her spirit is defiant, and she yearns to make a home with the man she loves. When the unthinkable happens, Abida faces the same fate as other young girls who have chosen unacceptable alliances - certain public death.

Orphaned Jenny and her chimney sweep brother Noah eke out life in a cellar dwelling in the heart of the slums. Noah is the main breadwinner, but he is treated horribly by his master. Worried for her brother's safety and health, Jenny resolves to put her talent for singing to good use and begins trawling the low inns and taverns at night entertaining the punters. When she catches the attention of a music hall manager and is offered a spot on the stage, it seems like a dream come true. But her newfound success can't include her brother.

1942. Nisha's Malayan home has been destroyed by war. She and her mother, Amma, flee to her father's ancestral house in England, perched on a cliff top on the cold Northern coast. When Amma falls gravely ill, Nisha is left to face her formidable grandmother alone. The old woman's rules are countless, including forbidding Nisha to climb the Weeping Tree - a claw of leafless, twisted branches jutting upwards from the crag. But when a ghost child beckons Nisha to sit under its boughs and promises her Amma's life in return for three truths, the tree's pull proves irresistible.

Selly has salt water in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails to adventure in the north seas. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician's marks on his arms commandeers her ship under cover of darkness. He is Prince Leander of Alinor, and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods.

For Khadija, the only escape from her arranged betrothal is the sky. When she spots a rogue hot air balloon fighting against its ropes, she leaps at the chance for adventure. She soon finds an unlikely ally in a poor glassmaker's apprentice, Jacob. But Jacob is a Hari, and Khadija a Ghadaean. The Hari are oppressed and restless and the ruling Ghadaeans brutal in their repression. The Hareef use forbidden magic, summoning jinn - wicked spirits made of fire - to enact their revenge, forcing Jacob and Khadija to choose what kind of a world they want to save.

Aarti has lived on the island with Aunt for as long as she can remember. Like the weather, Aunt rules her world with rare warmth. Aarti's only comforts are a book of Indian myths full of blue gods, a fox's friendship and a toy rabbit she finds in a locked room. Then, she learns Aunt has been feeding her lies. Fate intervenes when a half-drowned boy washes up on the beach. With his help, Aarti hopes to remember who she really is...and perhaps find a way home.

Tina wants to feel Indian. Really Indian. Not Indian in the sense of going to yoga in Brooklyn. She wants to know the real India – only whenever she visits, people take her to bars and restaurants and boutiques that could be anywhere in the world. So she jumps at the change to get to know the country when she heads to Delhi for her glamorous cousin Shefali's week-long wedding, with her best friend, her parents and her mother's all-American boyfriend in tow.

Aaliyah is an ordinary 13-year-old living in the Midlands – she's into books, shoes, K-pop, and she is a Muslim. She has always felt at home where she lives...until a terrorist attack in her area changes everything. As racial tensions increase and she starts getting bullied, Aaliyah decides to begin wearing a hijab to challenge how people in her community see her. But when her school bans the hijab, and she is intimidated and attacked for her choices, she feels isolated

Indu loves learning ballet at Shimmer & Shine, her local community dance school. Unlike her friends, she doesn't want to be a principal dancer when she grows up, and she's a bit scared of being on stage, but it's still one of her favorite hobbies. Until Miss Diamond announces that this term they'll be putting on a performance of Cinderella! Suddenly everyone's talking about what lead role they want and how fun it will be to dance for an audience, and Indu is feeling nervous and left out.

After the battle of Al-Shaam - where the invading jinn army was defeated - Khadija, Jacob and their friends are heroes. Then, Khadija receives a letter: her sister, Talia, has been kidnapped and stolen into the magical realm of Al-Ghaib. Accompanied by Darian - who has been different since jinniya Queen Bidhukh's parting blow - Khadija embarks on a quest to rescue Talia. But Al-Ghaib, where the sky is emerald green, is a place of trickery: Khadija will have to have all her wits about her if she's to outfox her sister's captor.

Separated when they were 6 months old, twins Ani and Riri couldn't be more different. Loud and adventurous Ani wants to be a sleuth when she grows up. Shy and quiet Riri prefers books to people, and just wants a safe, germ free job when she grows up. When they're forced to spend the summer together, Ani is convinced it's going to be another Great Twin War like the last time they tried family bonding. But this summer is different - there's a murder, and their dad is arrested as the prime suspect. Can they work together to protect their family and solve the mystery?

The Five have found a bottle with a message inside! It says that there's a hidden doll in the caves across from Kirrin Island, so the Five set off on a rescue mission. But the caves are dark and they soon lose their way ... Set in the world of Enid Blyton's best-loved series, this story follows Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog on a special new adventure. The story is broken down into short chapters - perfect for sharing or for newly confident listeners to enjoy independently.

While helping to clear up the beach, the Five find a dog's collar by the sea and are soon searching for the missing dog. And when they come to the new bakery, it's not just the smell of cinnamon buns that catches Timmy's attention ... Set in the world of Enid Blyton's best-loved series, this story follows Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog on a special adventure. The story is broken down into short chapters - perfect for sharing or for newly confident listeners to enjoy independently.

The Five are camping on Kirrin Island and hear a mysterious noise coming from the castle. And when they don't find anything in the dark, Dick tries to convince the others that it's the ghost of Kirrin Island. But ghosts aren't real... right? Set in the world of Enid Blyton's best-loved series, this newly created story follows Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog on a special new adventure. The story is broken down into short chapters - perfect for shared listeners or for newly confident listeners to enjoy independently.

Kamal's class is going to the woods and Kamal has promised to track down the infamous BEAST OF CRIGGILY WOOD. He throws himself into the wilderness with nothing but his two best friends, his wits and the mysterious Cheat Book. The Cheat Book promises its reader lifehacks for literally any occasion . . . But can it help Kamal to track down the beast lurking in the shadows, dodge all the poison ivy and make it home in one piece?

Selly has salt water in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails off to adventure. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician's marks on his arm commandeers her ship. He is Prince Leander of Alinor and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods. Selly has no desire to escort a spoiled prince anywhere, and no time for his entitled demands or his good looks.