Showing posts with label Indian fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian fiction. Show all posts

Review: Midnight's Star: A contemporary friends to lovers romance by Shilpa Suraj



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I start my Saturday mornings by reading in bed, and this one made me wish I could be served breakfast in bed and not bother to do anything till I finish it. No wonder, that I finished "Midnight's star" within few hours and I loved it. Just the way I like my romcoms to be, and the reasons I love when Shilpa writes modern-day romances with not-so-perfect people. It is easy to like most of the characters in her book and not just the leads. Whether it is the good friends, support staff at work, or the family; you find a sense of reason, love, and humor in all the interactions. 

 This is a story of a passionate cafe owner and baker girl, Avni, who meets a successful blind author Bharat one of the sad days of her life. Making the best of the meeting and cheering each other, they start talking over desserts and it somehow becomes their thing - this friendship, sharing secrets, and finding comfort from each other's presence. The romance was so well written that it all felt believable. There were no grand gestures but more emphasis on intentions and the consequences of each action. Even the misunderstandings were not dragged but resolved by talking about it. There are some beautiful kisses and more hot scenes , some ending not so well though ;)

The book is a good mix of some drama, some humor, and a lot of love. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series soon.

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#BookBlitz : The Maharaja's Fake Fiancée by Alisha Kay

A scandal-averse Maharaja.
A free-spirited actress.
What do you get when you throw them together and add a fake engagement to the mix? 
Either a match made-in-heaven or a royal disaster...


Nivy Sharma knows exactly what she needs - the freedom to be herself and follow her passion. Guess what she doesn’t need? A tailor-made husband.

When her meddlesome mother tries to throw her into the arms of a mom-approved suitor, Nivy runs the other way. 

Right into the arms of the man who shattered her heart.

His Highness Veerendra Singh can recognize a pain-in-the-ass when he sees it. Especially when it falls into his arms.

Even if said pain-in-the-ass has legs that go on forever and lush lips that just beg to be kissed, Veer vows to run the other way. As he did once before...

But, when the marriage-minded princess of Tejpur sets her sights on him, Veer runs back into Nivy’s arms to propose a fake engagement.

When 'fake' starts to feel very real, Nivy and Veer have to decide what is important… long-held prejudices or the chance for a life with the only person they've ever loved.

Will this be their second chance at love or will their broken past ruin their hope for a shared future?

Goodreads * Amazon.in * Amazon.com

Releasing 10th March! PREORDER Today!

Read an Excerpt from The Maharaja's Fake Fiancée


His Highness Veerendra Singh looked at the girl lying unconscious in his arms and his heart skipped a beat. Once, he had dreamed of just such a moment, when Nivy would swoon into his arms and he’d rescue her from a monster. He wondered if he’d stepped into a time machine and travelled backwards, because the last time he had seen that lovely face had been five years ago. Nivy had since scraped the dust of Devgarh off her heels and never looked back.
“Veer, what did you do to her?”
He looked into the accusing eyes of his sister and scowled.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Zombie’s your dog, and if he scares someone to death, that’s your fault,” she argued.
Veer looked at the unconscious girl critically, and then he looked at his sister.
“She doesn’t look dead,” he said with a straight face.
“That’s Nivy, you dolt. I’m surprised you didn’t recognise her, considering how you watch every movie of hers from the first row.”
Veer shook his head at the utter lack of respect and wondered if he could get away with dunking her in the palace pond. Probably not, he thought regretfully. 
Sisters were a cross one had to bear with a smile, especially if one was the head of a respectable royal family. Even if he was sorely tempted to land Jessie a swift kick in the butt, he would grit his teeth and ignore the brat, for he didn’t like to distress his mother. 
Meanwhile, Nivy moaned softly, and to Veer’s horror, the sound went straight to his groin. To make matters worse, he realised where his hands had landed when she fell into his arms. The left one was directly under her breast, and the right one was on her curvy butt. He was aware of a sudden need to clench his fingers.
Veer took in a deep breath and tried to channel his thoughts into less lewd directions, but her citrusy scent invaded his senses. As he stared at Nivy, her lips parted and she moaned again. There was a tiny mole on her upper lip that simply begged for a closer inspection. 
Jessie cleared her throat.
“I don’t think she needs mouth-to-mouth,” she said, dryly.
Veer realised that he had been bending over Nivy’s prone body. Damn that trouble-making mole!
He jerked his head back, and nodded to the butler hovering discreetly.
“Munshi Ji, please bring us a chair,” he said, with a glare at his sister. 
“No, wait! You need to take her to my room,” squeaked Jessie.
Veer looked at her suspiciously. His sister had that look on her face which she got when she was up to something.
Also, why was Nivy not waking up?
As if on cue, she moaned again, and Veer gritted his teeth. He needed to drop this inviting little bundle right now, before he embarrassed himself.
“A chair will do, Jessie.”
His sister put her hands on her hips.
“And which medical university did you graduate from, Your Highness? Stop playing doctor and just carry Nivy to my room, if you please,” she snapped.
 Veer rolled his eyes.
“What’s going on, Veer? Is that Nivy? What happened to her?”
Veer stifled a groan, as he turned to his mother who had just walked out of the ballroom where she had been wooing some miserly royals into loosening their purse strings.
“Yes, that’s Nivy, Ma,” said Jessie
“And what is she doing in Veer’s arms?”
Veer opened his mouth to explain, but his pest of a sister beat him to it.
“He was just carrying her upstairs to my room.”
“You can’t expect me to carry her up three flights of stairs, Jessie. Unless you really want my spine to telescope. Is that your grand plan?”
Jessie drew in a sharp breath and stared at him in horror.
“Veer! Did you just call Nivy fat?”
An icy voice echoed her question.
“Yes. Did you?”
Veer looked down, right into a pair of furious brown eyes. Thickly lashed and luminous. But, furious.


Meet the Author:

Alisha Kay is a Delhi based writer, who writes romances set in India.
She doesn’t hold with the concept of damsel-in-distress, which is why her heroines are spunky women with a sharp tongue and the ability to rescue themselves. Her heroes are hot men who are woke enough to find that independence irresistible. 
The Maharaja’s Fake Fiancée is Alisha’s first book.

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Cover Reveal : Right Kind of Wrong by Shilpa Suraj


One of my recent favorite author for Indian romance fiction is back with a new book :)) 

 


He's dangerous, damaged and doomed but he's hers...

With no name, no medical history, multiple gunshot wounds and enough security to rival the Prime Minister’s, Dr Aria Dubey’s new patient is something more than she asked for. And everything she might just need.

Intelligence Officer Karan Bhatnagar has only vengeance on his mind. Nothing will stop him from seeking justice for his murdered parents. 

Not even almost losing his own life. And certainly not the doctor who healed but couldn’t save him. The woman he can’t afford to fall for. And the killer's next target.

There's only one thing left to do...find the killer and end him before he ends them. Will Karan and Aria risk everything for a love that is all kinds of wrong? And yet, is the right kind of wrong.


Releasing on 26th January!


About the Author:



Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.

An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.




Contact the Author:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Newsletter




#BookReview: A Barren Heart by Shilpa Suraj

A Barren Heart A Barren Heart by Shilpa Suraj
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aman and Rhea seem to have the perfect marriage. They are madly in love - with each other, with their own careers and the home and life they are building in a quiet Mumbai suburb.

What could possibly be lacking in their picture-perfect marriage? A baby. Like most women, thirty-plus Rhea Chakraborty wants to hold her own flesh and blood in her arms. And Aman too wants the same. Or does he? 

After another unexplained miscarriage that takes a severe emotional, physical, and psychological toll on them, Aman isn't sure if having a baby will complete them or destroy them.


Last month I read Shilpa Suraj's book - Love, Marriage & other disasters. What I loved in the book was how she had written a very heartfelt , simple yet much relevant story of characters that readers would relate to easily. So, when I was offered a chance to review her new work, I was very excited to see how she presented this story. Glad to mention that she did not disappoint with Barren Heart.


Barren Heart revolves around various stages/struggles women face while trying to get pregnant. What feels like a natural process, is too hard for some of the women and each one has her own "family planning" story. Some of the plot lines & conversations in the book felt very real and I could recall some friends sharing similar stories with me or their girlfriends. The pain, the confusion, the reactions of friends, and family were portrayed well and I felt a lot of empathy for Rhea. Both Rhea & Aman are successful, independent and loving persons who are pillars to each other. While Rhea has her own family drama, Aman's childhood wasn't good. Which binds them together but also makes them lonely without each other.

Sometimes, I felt that she & Aman took some of the arguments too seriously. Some of the fights and the eventual making up scenes felt repetitive and not too impactful to the rest of the story. Rhea's issues with her family were mostly unresolved which did not make much difference but I was left wondering still. Nevertheless, Reading this book felt like listening to my own heart's voices at times .. This is a beautiful story of a marriage that survives being hurt, the fights & differences between the couple. It is a happy ever after ending but with a very realistic picture that all marriages go through highs & lows and some low are literally rock bottom for one or both parties. How you build yourself from those moments is what matters in the long run.

This is a well narrated story that has roots in modern lifestyle , characters who you get attached to and a satisfying end.

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#BookReview : The Treasure Syndicate by Jatin Kuberkar



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When Kaliyug resolved to enter Aryavatra, and encountered the lats Pandav, king a curse gave the world it's first 'Nidhi-Palak' or The Guardian of treasure Troves in the form of Lord Kuber's mortal son, Suta. In time, the Guardian bloodline scattered all over the world. Acharya Agnihotri is an astrologer. He searches for hidden treasures, to fulfill his destiny as a 'Nidhi-Palak'. Dr. Mahesh secretly finances missions for Acharya. Kumar is favored by unfathomable luck.. Jabbar is a legendary digger, and Srikanth is just a common man. United, they form the Treasure Syndicate, always a team of five; a motley mix with an uncanny balance. Bound by the elaborate framework of coincidence, destiny, and fate, the mission of the syndicate is not a cakewalk. The danger is real, and the conditions are never favorable. A hunting past awaits Acharya's team, as the Kaliyug threatens to turn the mission upside down.


Every time I read thrillers that tie the present to the past, the science to mythology and stories from India's culturally rich heritage transcending centuries, I feel a different sense of pleasure and pride. This book gave me the same in abundance. The story hooks you from page one and made me wish I had a weekend to myself to read this much sooner than I did. It is narrated in a way that all stories and the layers of the mysterious Treasure Syndicate are revealed in a very timely manner to the reader and there is never a dull moment in the book. A treasure hunt is worth the thrill, joy & sense of satisfaction it brings to the person reading about it and this hunt had it all.


The story not only narrates the fears and doubts of every person who is bound to the treasure but also presents so many chances for the reader to observe and not to judge any situation or person blindly. there are so many social messages woven into the story in a subtle way that gives the story a very happy vibe. For some readers, it might not be an exact science, but all the methods and steps followed by the syndicate for finding the treasure and handling it were explained in a scientific way. The book clearly shows the research done by the author on the ways of the treasure syndicate and to present it to the reader so brilliantly with no loose ends. There is a lot of symbolism used in the book which enhances the depth of the plot. 

Though I felt the end reveal was a little rushed and the plot twist was not necessary, this is still one of the best Indian fiction I read this year and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My rating: 4/5 

Book Links: Goodreads * Amazon



About the Author:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwv4GiGTNrdKyVZaFgtjz7gOmUeNAob30AIPAI3p6dj-_2HMRww87DXN5a0RKS05hiZlnKrAZyzu2w1NqoWSBLJrSwFqCmA_dEcseJMgpyK-5LohzzE_ChS8hU2NtZQeqljAYZoP4xM1I/s1600/Jatin+Kuberkar.jpg For the mortal world, I pretend to be a Software Engineer who works hard (or hardly?) in the hours of a day. I am the guy next door, a hardcore Harry Potter fan and a movie buff. I literally ‘live’ every movie, I have strong opinions about its content and I hate it when a movie based on an interesting concept is messed up for the sake of commercial value.
But beyond the boundaries of this ‘cholesterol-rich’ coil, I am a rider of rapturous thoughts. I am a thinker, a philosopher, a seeker, a story-teller, a writer, a wanderer and every other thing that a thought can be. At times some of these figments fire out of my thoughtful bowl and command me to write, muse, create, recreate, destroy…EXPRESS!


Who am I?  I have been asking this question to myself for 33 years, and I got a different answer always. Sometimes I get confused and think, am I asking the right question to seek the correct answer? or maybe that am I missing the whole fantastic universal drama around me while I am busy finding an answer to an irrelevant question? Does the answer even matter?


Contact the Author:

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Review: The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya


The Speaking Stone
by Ratnadip Acharya
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya
~Book Tour~
11th to 17th November


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We all have heard stories from our grandparents or neighbors or random people about some of the little known places in our country or even state. If I think, I can at least recall one such story about the place I grew up in. And then there are the historical facts about every place. Imagining knowing such stories from a wonderfully written fiction book in a way that you end up feeling so familiar with the place and wanting to go there someday.

The speaking stone starts in Mumbai and introduces us to Saikat and one will immediately like this character. He comes across an interesting stone with a partial inscription on its back and gets obsessed with knowing its story and origin. Next, we meet Suvashini a historian whose search for a topic for her PhD, leads her to a mysterious book about a little known town. On a whim, to know more as the book disappears, she decides to visit the town and learn more about the history of the place. This quest leads them both to Tripura and particularly to Unakoti as they get engrossed in the story that the stones have to tell.

In parallel, we get to know the story of the people and the kingdom of Agartala in the 1900s as it was being written and played out in various emotions. soon both the stories seem to be a mirror image of each other and yet with their own drama and discoveries. The roots of these stories gave birth to the fantastical mystery in the current era and a befitting end for the star crossed lovers.

I enjoyed this story and the adventure a lot. The language was simple to follow, without any regional references and the interactions were very natural and easy flowing. I adored Saikat's character and would like reading another of his adventures again. I would have liked a little more depth to Suvashini's character since she had a great beginning in the story.

Overall a very enjoyable and informative book.

Book Links:



About the Author:
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Ratnadip Acharya is the author of two successful novels, Life is Always Aimless... Unless you love it
and Paradise Lost & Regained. He is a columnist for the Speaking Tree in The Times of India. He contributed many write-ups in different collections of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Sophia, and son, Akash.


Contact the Author:



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Best Seller By Ahmed Faiyaz


                     Indian writing in English (the popular/urban pulp kind) did get an enormous boost in the early 2000s, when Chetan Bhagat brought out his record breaking best seller, 'Five Point Someone'. It not only proved that there was a market for that kind of stuff (read urban fluff) but also paved way for many new publishing houses and revived quite a number of old ones.Best Seller from Ahmed Faiyaz is a satirical take on the new age Indian(English) Publishing arena and how things work out in the back end.
                    Akshay Mathur, is an out-of-work editor of a defunct literary magazine in UK.His debut work as an author has just flopped big time and he also has debt running to half a million in London.So when he is assigned to India to turn around Kalim, an ailing Indian Publisher, he is not left with too many choices.In a world of misfits and has-beens , Akshay has to work really hard to find his own voice. Also joining him in his mission are Anya Malik, the pretty lass,the practical and street smart Zorah Kalim , a Bollywood heart throb who wants to get his work published.Will Mathur succeed in his mission to turn Kalim into a leading publishing house?
                    Coming to the positives, Ahmed Faiyaz has written a fast paced,slick book which shows some light on the cut-throat world of Indian Publishing.There aren't too many characters and the overall tone of the book is largely light hearted.
                   On the downside,though the theme of the book had a lot of potential,for some strange reason,the author hasn't really bothered to go much deeper into the murkier world of publishing.The characters are quite shallow and one dimensional and for the large part of the book I couldn't fathom why the world was so seemingly obsessed with Mathur and his small publishing firm.

Overall I'm giving a 2.5 out of 5 for this book. It's a light,harmless read! 

-nikhimenon

Review: Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium by Rajamayyoor Sharma


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book blurb was exciting enough to catch my attention when I got the request to read this book. Plus , I am a fan of fantasy fiction so I am always on a lookout for good ones from indian authors. Overall, am really happy with this huge book.

The story opens with introducing us to the narrator and his little village that later becomes the centre of action in the book. The people of the village , the setting and the lifestyle is so amazingly explained in details that you feel like settling in this story. The isolated village sits on a huge reserve if Azmoq , a rare metal that's controlled by the rulers. The story takes our narrator out if his village ,making friends and returning with them to defend his village from the empire's wrath. We meet all characters one by one , know their stories and see them building this team together and learn about how the empire came into being.

What is interesting is that , while there is no clear villains here in terms of black and white , the whole narrative gives you enough questions to think about deeply. The moral delimna of warriors , rulers and even a common man are touched upon in this book.

And now to the things that bothered me - the jump from one person / year to other in the narration. The book is not linear which works well only if the distinctions are clear. I struggled at few places to see whose point of view was the chapter telling and even which year it is on. Second the font is very small. The book is much huge for the 400 pages it has been presented in. Oh yes , now I realize I read 400 amazing pages and did not feel like letting it go ever.

Hope the author works in the second part very soon as I am looking forward to it already.

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Review: Aqson Level I by Sreejib

Aqson Level I

Genre : Mythology , Thriller ,
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I started this book casually one day while in flight and before I knew I had reached my destination and I hated that I had to stop reading.

Aqson is a game played between Lucifer and God to claim each other's weapons and for general winning over each other, till next game. This particular game is for 30 years and the goal is to become the PM of the country, India . ( Ok, please accept it as fiction and move on)

The book starts setting the stage with this and then jumps 20 years ahead where Lucifer has declared his weapon - Yuvrani , pathos who is the youngest party chief of the ruling party and daughter of the current PM , along her angel Vanraj.  God is yet to make a move, and even when his team's angel Job ( why that name , I wonder ) makes an appearance in Kolkata, his weapon Life is no where in picture for most of the book. Interesting and wait when this mystery gets solved ..

Since the game is set in political context , we meet a lot of political players , see the rise of a student party and how it changes the political face of the state and country too. The author knows how to make the political scene relevant and not over preachy. I wish some of the youth is indeed working on the ideas discussed in the book. Meanwhile , don't forget that the game is on and how !

The writing is full of humor and I was actually laughing in some of the scenes. The political discussion was a brilliant part in my opinion. So was the bonding between the people behind the Student party and their interactions with each other are so fun.

I loved the way the author established the back story , the technology and the powers of Angels involved in the games. This is a very fresh take on mythology genre and a welcome break from the books that have flooded the literature scene in recent years. This helped me keep my faith in Indian fiction writing.


The plot , the characters , the build up and the twists in this book are superb !! I Can not wait for the next part.

This book review is a part of "The Readers Comsos Book Review Program and Blog Tours, for details log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.in

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Review: Memories of Fire by Ashok Chopra

Memories of Fire Memories of Fire by Ashok Chopra
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Memories of fire is a book about five friends in the 1950s who grow up witnessing or being affected by the political and economic changes in India and Pakistan. They meet not so frequently but have lot of letter exchanges and two of them are in habit of keeping a journal, through which we are told a major part of the story.

I have mixed feelings for this book. I think this book is more of a personal recollection of events and places mixed with a fictional story that is not linear at all. Even in flashbacks , there is not a clear flow. There are letters and paragraph that read like a wikipedia posts , so dry and to the point. While you may enjoy those nuggets at times as per your interest, area,  it takes away attention from the story. Some places I did not want to go back to the fictional part of the book at all , so good was the setting and details of the real events. I really could not add up the two in many chapters. The book appears to be inspired from true people and events from the author's life but the fictionalization is a little too sketchy.

It makes an okay read for people who do not like historical fiction at all.

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Review: Is It Maya ? By Saikat Baksi

Is It Maya ? Is It Maya ?


The book opens to the scene of interrogation of Maya ,a celebrity and media gaint. Mixed with the present proceedings is the past of Maya and people associated with her. She appears to be capable of doing anything to achieve her goals but those very goals were in a way thurst on her by events in her past.

Maya's sister is dead and she is accused of the crime. There is proof and a witness and motive ,all against her and yet she keeps screaming that she did not do it.  The story is a  little predictable in the second half but worth the build up of the plot. Totally admired Maya's character and the narrating voice of the book.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


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Review: The Woman Who Saw the Future by Amit Sharma

The Woman Who Saw the Future The Woman Who Saw the Future by Amit Sharma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the blurb when I first saw the book on kindle. And though I had the vague idea where the book headed as I started it, this was a ride I thoroughly enjoyed . One woman who started seeing  future deaths and thus began a decade of saving people, being famous and dealing with personal relationship that become a public trial.  One mistake and it never is the same again , but is it all worth the price ? This book raises some good questions about fame and relationships while never being too judgemental. All characters are well sketched and very realistic. There is no spare cast or scene and that keeps the book very entertaining till the end.

Brilliant writing and the plot was without loop holes.  The book is in multiple narration format that kept the book very interesting and varied voices gave it a unique feel.  This is the kind of book that makes me hopeful about the Indian fiction genre. One of the best thriller I read this year from Indian author.

My rating : 4/5

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#Review: Twice Blessed by Rani Ramakrishnan

Twice Blessed Twice Blessed by Rani Ramakrishnan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Twice blessed is a story of a suicide and the events leading to It explored layer by layer later. Its not the reasons of the suicide that matter 8n the end but how to convict the people responsible. While it deals with a sensitive issue , the author has managed to highlight other issues like caste , prejudice , education etc in the story line. I loved the central characters and the way the author picked a urban cool Muslim family. That was fresh characterization. The book is neither slow or too fast. It allows time to read and reflect on lot of things. No event is dramatized or feels forced while the story progresses.

 It has all the markings of a good thriller but fell a little flat in the end and how some of the characters evolved in the story. I will definitely try another book by the author.

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#Review: The Tree with a Thousand Apples by Sanchit Gupta

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This is my first book that is based on kashmir , the events surrounding the kashmiri pandits leaving the valley and what followed or follows that year till today. Deewan , Bilal and Safeena are best friends and neighbours as kids even though Dewana is an year older than the two. One night , Diwan bhat's family is forced to flee the city after attacks on the city by the people wanting azadi for Kashmir. The tragedy that marks a turn of events in all three families ties them till the end even when they stay out of touch for years. The other characters keep reappearing the timeline and that pushes the plot and the character development forward in the book.

This is a story of not just people who stayed , but also of those who fled and yet are still without roots and a home and doubts where they belong. The book is a little dreamy at places , the passages go on without a real need and the memories keep flashing here and there. Also the main characters are not consistent in their actions. I would have liked a little less side plots and more about them. The book has almost poetic feel but it is not easy to maintain the flow in reading. A good story that could be told a little better.

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Review: Empire by Devi Yesodharan

Empire Empire by Devi Yesodharan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am getting hooked to historical fiction genre , all thanks to books like Empire. Empire is the story of the Chola king who expanded his empire to cover all of the eastern coastline and reached to other countries too. The book takes that as the historical period and narrates the events in life of Yavani , a Greek female soldier given to the Chola king as terms of peace treaty. That's how her training begins as a Chola soldier. It is the story how she becomes the royal garud of the king and her duties. From the very first chapter till the last scene , the author left no emotion unexplored , no character like lose end , no scene without context. I specially liked the way the street scenes and the events were like visuals I could easily imagine. The language is so simple and detailed and the little nuisances of the central characters are etched in details. The end though, was a little abrupt and I felt incomplete , as in i wanted a welcome for Yavani, what happened to the traitors on land etc etc . But overall, the book was spot on with its emotional connect.

I have not researched the historical accuracy much so people who have interest in history should read it without a bias. Enjoy the story of a woman soldier trying to fit in a foreign land and a profession that she is envied for by even men.

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The Sacred Sword by Hindol Sengupta



This is the second book of Hindol Sengupta that I read and he is becoming a name to recommend for all mythology lovers.

This story is of course a fictionalized version of the last guru of Sikhs,Guru Govind Singh but it is a remarkably inspiring and awe worthy account. His life has great many lessons to learn from and more than that ,the conviction he showed in uniting the clan and fighting the Mughal on behalf of all is a story I was unaware of.

Hindol has beautifully added the poetry - Punjabi and Englisher both into this narrative . It also helps that Sikhism and the beginning of the khalsa was and has never been a fight for religious supremacy but of freedom from one such dular who wanted to convert all to his religion.

This book is a good way to know our traditions , the heroes and the sacrifice so many made to keep us a free community centuries ago. It is time to revive those lessons and this book does that job well. Even treating as fiction, the story hooks you right from the start.

Quite enjoyable read with a few unnecessary scenes probably.

My rating : 4/5



Songs of Stone by Sujata Sabnis



Neither romance , nor historical fiction as a stand alone interest me much. But something about this book made me pick this one and though i delayed it some days , once i started , it totally was worth the lunches I missed finishing it. Songs of stone is a story of Nilofer and Jagat who are childhood sweethearts , separated by unfortunate events. Nilofer is sent to Jahangir's harem while Jagat plans her escape. The clarity with which Sujata has painted the life of harem and its various nuances is a delight.Love , heartbreak , lust , power play and beneath all this a  longing to belong - all this comes out in the scenes that she created in the book. Absolutely amazing writing and such wonderful details that you can feel a part of some of the outlandish grandeur.

Jagat and Nilofer's love story is inspiring and setting it up in the time when Taj Mahal was being built lends it another level of approval. In so many ways , Taj Mahal though was an expensive burden on the ordinary folks, but such are the things that we need at times to put faith in. In love and its symbols and the epics that are associated to it.  The story and the all the plots in the book seamlessly keep moving forward in time and momentum , never letting my interest waver. The end was where you felt the story was fictionalized and that was some what predictable but still a good closure.

This is one of the best reads for me in the last month. I will surely be checking Sujata's previous books next year. Do read it for the warmth it gives to heart any day.

My rating : 4/5

Mornings After by Tharun James Jimani

"You are doing it out of love , you say, and they're concerned for you out of lov,and I hear a lot of talk about love but how do you even know they love you if everything they know about your adult life is a wildly fabricated lie ?"


Mornings After is the kind of book that will either interest you immediately or may take a few pages , but this is such a relevant book if you want to understand or know about what goes in the head of a random person walking around. Some days we are like Sonya , the rebel of the family yet so rooted for approvals from friends and her mother that she is part contradictory , part independent. Some days we want to be like Thomas , yet scared to be that reckless , without anchorage. In a way , Sonya and Thomas together are so predictable yet an enigma for themselves. There are numerous moments and ways they hurt and heal each other and when they finally part , it feels like a betrayal that was waiting to happen.

The author has revolved the story timeline around the Nirbhaya rape incident and has very accurately captured the ways it affected the general population of India - some remained unmoved , some showed online support but very few were vocal and did something about it. The juxtaposition of that incident  on the discussions and incidents in every woman's life are quite a scene. For a moment , i felt the same fear and anger as Sonya when she thought of the night of the incident. The story moves forward without many bumps but it is the writing at times that is uneven. Some thoughts of the author are without context at times or a little disjointed in the course of story. Yet , these are tied in the very end efficiently.

I liked this book in-spite of the time  I took to complete this.This book made me think of some of my friends in parts and sometimes made me wonder about the hypocrisy of each one of us on any given day.

My rating : 4/5

Losing My Religion by Vishwas Mudagal



The blurb and the cover pic did not intrigue me much for this book. but this book did catch whole of my attention within first few pages. The struggle , the doubts and the journey that Rishi embarks on is very close to reality that we do not wish for but is true for many entrepreneurs. I have been a part of some of these conversations with my friends and irrespective of the outcome , the passion and the loss of it at times is all so real. It is a sort of dramatic ride for Rishi once he meets Alex but the partnership they develop is a solid backbone to the story. Their experiences in search of meaning to their life and as Rishi says , rediscovering his religion , his mojo takes them from Bangalore to Malana to Gokarna.

I will not say that the most part of the story was something unexpectedly new , but the language , the flow and the scenes were sure fun and fresh. I liked Rishi's and Kyra's love story and the events of Haridawar weremost interesting twist in the story. The story kind of picked a lovely pace there onwards but the end was predictable.

I enjoyed this book for the way it portrayed the young of India as not just the bored / partying sort but it actually calls to the spirit of being your own boss and making a life worth remembering. It shows how our choices define our life and that it is ok to take a step back some times to look at the bigger picture.

This is a fast read that will leave you searching for answers within yourself.
Maybe it will inspire a few people to take a plunge into the unknown territory !

My rating: 3.5/5

Hedon by Priyanka

This is one of those books I do not want to rate or recommend lightly. This is a book that is both abstract and yet it leaves a definite trail in your mind. Hedon is about a girl of seventeen and her life till she reaches twenty four. And in those years , between different cities and many adventures , Hedon took me through some of my own friendships and heartache.

Hedon follows Tara through her kolkatta schooling , her American college days and then her stay in Delhi. There are things that come to her easily because of her money and status but even then she is as messed up as any one with imagination and a kind heart can be. She is fun, she is free , she is scared and also amazed to be living. No matter what direction the story takes , Even through the pages where I felt a disconnect with the character , i could not stop admiring the writing. Such brilliant strokes of poetry and prose is served in this book. I have narrated and noted some random passages over the last week to friends and totally enjoyed the feeling of "being young" along this book. This is one of the book that I will re read for personal reasons.

I am so much going to look forward to next book by the author. This is quirky , lovely , sad , colorful and equally heart-warming even when it talks of heartache , pain and loss - of innocence , of love , of friends and sometimes even places we loved the most.

Rating :4/5

Review: Iliana Xander's 'Love Mom'

  Iliana Xander is making waves globally in the crime fiction genre, and much like Freida Mcfadden and Coolen Hoover (though she is more int...