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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Bloom: A Young Adult Clean Paranormal Romance inspired by Indian Mythology by Sudha Kuruganti is the first book in the Elementals of India series. Samantha is spending the summer in India with her grandmother and she has no intention of making friends during her visit. Her only plan is to bide her time until she can return home. Then she meets Vikram when she goes to order flowers for her grandmother and their first meeting is a strange one. Vikram is spending his summer in the flower shop, trying to prove himself to his father. The two share an immediate connection but Vikram has secrets and a mysterious enemy seems determined for them not to be together. A stunning love story is brought to life through a prophecy, a love that's waited for centuries, and a sweet romance that's ready to bloom.
In writing Bloom, Sudha Kuruganti delivers moments that range from magical to suspenseful, with comedy, while each element creates a breathtaking romance. The meet-cute is a delightful and humorous moment straight from a rom-com as Samantha misinterprets Vikram's charming of the flowers she's buying and the argument that ensues. Samantha is a multi-faceted character who has hardened herself since the loss of her parents and believes she has more important things than cute boys in her life. The grief over that loss is present throughout with her losing her parents a year apart, and Sudha Kuruganti is honest in how this will affect you. A sense of loneliness has grown from this grief with her hiding herself away but through her bond with Vikram, she begins to bloom again and this is at the heart of this enchanting love story. The incorporation of mythology, magic, and romance creates a unique story that will be hard to put down. At the end of each chapter are interludes that tell the love story of Meera and Michael which reflects Samantha and Vikram's own story, including getting caught using powers and an enemy trying to tear them apart. Magic is subtly woven into the realism of the world with vivid touches throughout from a prophecy to nature-influenced abilities. Bloom is rich in details that breathe life into the storytelling and delivers a lovely love tale inspired by Indian mythology.
