Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in March 2022. "Amba" by Andrew Hallman is a riveting mix of thriller, action and adventure, with just a touch of romance thrown in for good measure, and possibly the slightest hint of magical realism (although this last element is kept so ambiguous through the narration that it's really up to the reader to decide whether it is even there). On the surface, it's a story about the rewilding of two orphaned tiger cubs - which is an awesome topic to start with - and about survival in the unforgiving conditions of winter in the Russian taiga. On a deeper level, though, it's a story about grief, guilt, resilience and redemption, and all these themes make the novel extremely relatable to me, and I believe to anyone who will read it. I loved the complex, multi-faceted characters (my favourite was Khagan, and you know you're reading a 5-star book when even the non-human characters in it are given their own unique voice, distinct personality and credible motivations). I loved the action scenes, which were thrilling without being overdone (as is too often the case with this kind of scenes). Most of all, I loved the characters' growth arcs, and the psychological insight into PTSD recovery, which I found very realistically portrayed. Also, kudos to the author for creating such powerful feminist icons in Miko and Utiuki! It's refreshing to find a male author capable of writing such beautifully strong female characters. I can easily see this book being adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster, and I'm looking forward to watching that. Last but not least, the cover of this book is a stunning piece of art. If I could give "Amba" more than five stars, I would! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.