Academic and author Manizey Ibrahim Rahman unveiled the cover of her debut novel Aries: The Beginning (2022) with a book-themed scavenger hunt held at Bookworm Bangladesh on February 25, Friday. The event was organised by Talespeople, the popular social media group who organise the Sehri Tales series during Ramadan, with several artists and bookstagrammers present at the venue. The cover launch was an exclusive 'invite-only' event.

Guests were welcomed by a newly revamped Bookworm. Attendees got the first look and enjoyed the freshly inaugurated section of the bookstore—the reading cafe. 

Beginning at 3:30 pm, the scavenger hunt was played in every round by two pairs. Each team had 20 minutes and a set of clues to work with; they had to look for star symbols placed within the bookstore, hidden among shelves and books.

The second section of clues involved figuring out book titles from riddles and locating them concealed across the bookstore. The team with the most guesses would win. Each pair walked away with a poster of the book as a prize for participating. 

Some of the fun riddles included references to "a book with three sisters" (Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen), "a book with the most popular American president's face" (A Promised Land by Barack Obama), and more. 

Author Manizeh Ibrahim Rahman with Vutung Cartoonss artist Abdullah Al Zunaed. PHOTO: USRAAT FAHMIDAH

Ariz Hoque, social media coordinator of Bookworm Bangladesh, stated that they were very excited to organise the cover launch and decorate the store for this event. "We want to arrange more of these fun events for readers in the future", he said. 

When asked about the inspiration behind her cover launch, author Manizey Ibrahim Rahman said, "It was during one of my visits to Kinokuniya Singapore, where I saw a beautiful girl dressed in a white gown with long hair playing the harp in the middle of the bookstore. She was completely engrossed and unaware about her surroundings. Little did I know that there was a huge backdrop with a book's cover placed behind her which had a similar looking girl playing the harp! When I saw it, I was stunned. 

Rahman was also inspired by the literary events she had the chance to attend in Malaysia during the three years she lived there, and it was something she wanted for her own book launch in Bangladesh. "The aim was to be heard, seen, and celebrated", she added. 

It was Talespeople, however, who came up with the idea of an exclusive scavenger hunt in which participants would take part in the contest to reveal the cover. 

Of her debut novel, Manizey Ibrahim Rahman says, "I have always been a fan of crime, thriller, and fantasy genres. It is therefore no secret that Aries: The Beginning is an urban crime thriller where the story revolves around the enigmatic Aries Ashton, who has been given the name 'The Corpse Whisperer' for certain abilities. Expect gruesome murders, intense investigations, twists beyond imagination." 

Readers can pre-order copies of Aries: The Beginning exclusively on www.manizey.com. 

Usraat Fahmidah (she/her) is a wannabe globetrotter, freelance journalist and writer. Find her talk about all things literature, philosophy, pop culture, and education on Instagram @usraatfahmidahh.