Showing posts with label Pratibha Pandey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pratibha Pandey. Show all posts

The Muse by Pratibha Pandey

Sometimes, for any bibliophile, a single short story can be a wonderful getaway after long books. At least, I'd like to believe so. Having read Pratibha's work since years before this short story was released, I can honestly say that I was actually looking forward to reading this!

When the "book" itself is only 18 pages, it's a bit hard to write a detailed review without giving away spoilers. The story is the interaction between two friends, one of whom is a poet who finds The Muse. Reading it brought a smile, and I suppose that's the biggest positive a story can get. It makes the reader happy. The friendship is portrayed that beautifully you see.

I wish P had made it a part of a bigger collection, because after finishing the read in under half an hour, one does feel like reading more from her. Oh well. Maybe next time, eh?



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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#Podcast : We only talk books - Ep 1 : Favorites



Three book lovers and endless conversations = Podcast.
Because why not!

I have a new podcast with two of my favorite book bloggers - Leo & DDS. Check the first episode about us here -





Review: A Dead Man's Trials by Jagadesh Sampath

A Dead Man's Trials
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story of Mr December who is sent to hell after death. Since he questions it, he is given a chance to judge five cases to decide whether the person needs to be sent to heaven or hell. If he correctly decides the case result, he is promised to be sent to heaven.

Through these five stories, the author has raised some questions on human nature, beliefs, and intentions behind an action. In the end, Mr December realizes that he had been correctly sen to hell, even though he had always thought himself to be on the right path. This is a short and powerful collection of stories that make one look at yourself and the world with a new light. I would have liked to know more about Mr December and the reason he was sent to hell. But, perhaps in the next book. This 58 page long (or short) book is one of the most memorable ones for me this year.

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Review: Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Beyond All Dreams Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“After all, everything in here is just pieces of paper with words and lines on them. 
They're not even very valuable. Pieces of paper with words and lines on them have the ability to change the world...They always have.”

Beyond all dreams introduces us to a librarian Anna who lost her father and has never been able to accept the official explanation for her father's death on the ship that disappeared in the sea. During her work in the library of Congress, she meets Luke Callahan who was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until he picks fights with the speaker and is eventually sent to the house of commons. Though opposite to each other in many ways, they strike a friendship easily. Luke wishes to impress Anna so he joins forces with her to solve the mystery of the lost ship. Set against the backdrop of Spanish-American war , the story showed many aspects of peace efforts and how the price for peace is sometimes too high on the people responsible for it.

I have always liked a story that could add people's view of some of the famous historical events. I have always wondered about normal folks impacted by wars, peace talks and some of the unexplained events in history. This is one of those stories where the hunt for truth by Anna leads her to make unexpected alliances and the truth is not easy to keep a secret. This is also a story of troubled families struggling for generations to fix themselves and be better for the kids. There was an easy comfortable friendship, some romance and a lot of mystery and passion for the ideals to keep this book going.

Such stories with a strong female cast also shows the paths our ancestors have taken to break out of the norms and open opportunities for generations to come. 

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Review: The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Library Book The Library Book by Susan Orlean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"In total, four hundred thousand books in Central Library were destroyed in the fire. An additional seven hundred thousand were badly damaged by either smoke or water or, in many cases, both. The number of books destroyed or spoiled was equal to the entirety of fifteen typical branch libraries. It was the greatest loss to any public library in the history of the United States.” 


The Library Book, tells the story of the fire in April of 1986 that damaged or destroyed more than one million books in Los Angeles' Central Library.  It is a sad account to read in the beginning as the author catalogs all that is lost in the fire - the manuscripts , the first editions , the music, and the theater plays recorded in the library that are lost forever. But as I read the book, it also shows the power of books to bring people together and to make a real difference. The book starts with the author first listening about the fire on a tour of the library and she then starts reading more about it. So we get to read about a usual day at the library and what happened on the day of the incident. We get to know of the prime suspect in this case and how the case finally ends. 

The book goes into many tangents - how libraries are run, history of the LA library, its prominent librarians and their contributions to the library, different times when the books were destroyed and burnt as acts of terror or attempt to prove one culture's power over the other. It is like a collection of stories that revolve around books, reading and the growth of LA library from its inception to where it stands today. Along with all this, we also witness some historical lessons and how all systems stand on the shoulders of visionaries who have toiled to make the world a little better. Some of the librarians were inspiring and I felt my admiration for them grow immensely.  

The book might get a little boring in places but then the very next chapter hooks you back to the story. It is not a casual read but it will definitely interest many readers who like to read about books and reading. I had only heard of libraries as a place where we could find books to borrow but before coming to Canada, I never knew what a heaven the library system in Western countries is and how it is a safe community space for all - readers or not.  This book has made me more resolute to build something similar one day in India - even if it starts with a personal library first. 

Here is a youtube video on this fire and the events after that transpired. 

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#BookReview: The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly

The Wrong Side of Goodbye The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Some stories mean a lot to you just the way they span generations and way it changes the course of someone's life. "The Wrong side of Goodbye" starts with Bosch being hired by an old guy, almost on his deathbed to find his heir that he abandoned about 60 years ago. And so starts a search that leads Bosch to revisit his time in the Vietnam war and in parallel search for this heir and any other family that the Old guy might have. Also, Bosch is working as a reserve for the Police department and a case of a serial rapist is taking shape and getting a lot of traction. With these two cases running in parallel, this book has no dearth of action and revelations.

This is by far my favorite of all the books I have read in the Bosch series. It had the same intensity that Bosch has but there was something about him being on his own that showed how he has made connections over the years and how he has this other side outside his old job. The investigation was laid out very systematically and engaged the reader at every turn. Once you start this one, I bet you won't take much time finishing it.

It also had the other Connelly character - Mickey Haller [ Bosch's stepbrother who is also a really good lawyer] whom I liked so I would now read the books in the Lincoln lawyer series based on him.


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#BookReview: Justice Gone by N. Lombardi Jr

Justice Gone by N. Lombardi Jr.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


About the Book:
When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.
A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran's counselor, is caught up in the chase.
Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa's patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield's dramatic capture.
Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine.

Review: The book is not just a thriller but it actually packs a lot of observation about American society and highlights a lot of issues that have no resolution currently but need understanding from everyone. The story actually starts once the cops are gunned down because that is the true polarising event for everyone. The author has not gone into defending any action but through a brilliant set of characters, he has shown how such events impact everyone.

The writing is really good and the book is fast-paced without losing the focus on people and their emotions. I had not expected to read a detailed discussion of the jurors but it surely works for the best as it engages the reader too to dissect all evidence and statements by all parties called in court.

Tessa is a strong lady with her heart and head at right places and too much reference to her past without much clues was intriguing. But I also felt that she was also too judgemental and suspicious of even her best friend and colleague.

The courtroom scenes were amazingly crafted, so much that I laughed loud two or three times reading that section. The combination of Nat Bodine and his daughter iis brilliantly executed in the scenes. I would want to read more stories that involve this pair and not just Tessa alone.

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon


  




Winner of Three Awards:
2019 American Fiction Award
National Indie Excellency Award - Best Legal Thriller of 2019
Silver Medal Winner 2019 - Readers' Favorites Awards
Chosen by Wiki.ezvid.com among their list of 10 Gripping and Intelligent Legal Thrillers


About the Author:
N. Lombardi Jr, the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. In 1997, while visiting Lao People's Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years.
His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya.
His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police.
Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia


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Review: The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

The End of Your Life Book Club The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of the author and his mother Mary who is diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. While visiting the hospital for various rounds of treatment, he asks her what she is reading at the time and thus starts this book club where they discuss books read before , exchange more books and after a while even read same books to discuss as and when they talk. So this book is also a collection of all the books, their discussions, and their life stories. It is a wonderful book and though I did not keep track of the books they talked about, I learned so much about life lessons, human bonds and how stories help make things happen.

My favorite lesson from the book was that one must never stop asking about other's stories and also share the word about a good cause you believe in. You never know when you might find help or be able to provide help to someone. Then there is a point where the author asks his mother how to help and how to know you are doing enough to which his mother says, when you want to know more about the world and how to help - You Read.  At every other turn, Mary shows how books are the ultimate safe haven for everyone and also the only way we can know how to be better.

This book inspired me to work harder, read better and help more and more people in every little way and most importantly, to be kind and to always show my love and respect when I have time. I liked the book so much that I gifted it to friends and have bought my own copy so I can mark my favorite passages in the book.

Some quotes from the book -

“This, I finally realized, was how Mom was able to focus when I was not. It was how she was able to be present with me, present with the people at a benefit or the hospital. She felt whatever emotions she felt, but feeling was never a useful substitute for doing, and she never let the former get in the way of the latter. If anything, she used her emotions to motivate her and help her concentrate. The emphasis for her was always on doing what needed to be done."

“How can you be lonely, Mom said, when there are always people who want to share their stories with you, to tell you about their lives and families and dreams and plans?”

Mom talked to everyone and had no hesitation approaching people who were crying, in pain, or in distress. (“If they don’t want to talk, they’ll tell you so, but how can you ignore them?”)”


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Review: Second Skin: Fractures: A litRPG Adventure by M Damon Baker

Second Skin: Fractures: A litRPG Adventure Second Skin: Fractures: A litRPG Adventure by M Damon Baker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book where the story is set up in a Role-Playing video game. It was a little difficult to get into the rules and calculations that go into score and capability measure [ i am still not too sure ] but once you read through it, the world and the people in the story capture all your attention. The way the various abilities are built in the game and measured starts making sense after a while and it is quite crafty. The game is well designed and easy to follow, even if it's not too easy for the players. The land description and the people of the land are intriguing, especially in the latter part of the story. The solo travel for the lead character is a little repetitive but the book is fun to read when she teams up with others. The main city, in the end, was quite interesting and hope it continues to be so since the little story that has been built up for the sequel is well crafted.

My only complaint was from the whole scorecard being pulled up again and again when I already had read the gist of it from the character point of view. Also, I am not too sure of the way her feelings about her transition from real to gaming world were handled. The struggle was believable, but the conclusion, not so much.

Still an enjoyable read out of my comfort zone and area of interest. Might try the sequel in a few months.


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Review: The Redgrave Murders by A. L. Sowards

The Redgrave Murders The Redgrave Murders by A. L. Sowards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes it is not the big picture but what is happening within that frame that makes a story work for the reader. This is a story of two people with different past working for a common future - a future together.
Evie and Gary are an unlikely couple for the 1950s and coupled with Gary's past it was not easy for him to be the kind of boyfriend he would have liked to be. Evie's father is murdered and the blame falls on Gary. Evie works on finding the alibi for him and clearing the blame and along the way she gets a better picture of the man she is dating. This is actually the core of their evolving relationship and their struggle to make it work.

The murder mystery is well crafted and easy to follow as they together go through the list of possible suspects. It reveals the bias and the struggle the minorities face in society and how love can heal it.

An easy read that has a lot of heart in it.


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Review: This Savage Song [The monsters of Verity] by Victoria Schwab

This Savage Song
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Savage Song is a Young Adult fiction set in a city full of monsters and human. The city is divided into two sections - one ruled by Harker who has made monsters his slave and now sells his protection to humans, other section ruled by Flynn who saves the humans by fighting the monsters and the evil humans alike and keeping them out of his part of the city. There are three kinds of monsters - and one of them is August - the boy who loves music but can not play at his will as his songs can steal a human's soul. Harker has a daughter - Kate who he keeps away from the city as much as Kate struggles to return home and eventually succeeds too.

“She cracked a smile. "So what's your poison?"He sighed dramatically, and let the truth tumble off his tongue. "Life.""Ah," she said ruefully. "That'll kill you.” 

This is a story of these two and how one saves the other from acting like a real monster and ultimately saving the city, perhaps temporarily. Maybe this is about choices we make - to be the monster or not and to shape our own destiny even in the bleakest times. But what moves the story forward so seamlessly is the dialogue and the pace of the story. Supported by some really amazing cast on August's side and the conflicts on Kate's side, this is a really good quick read.

I did not love the book, but I did like it enough for one of the main characters - so that I am curious about the second part of the book to know the story further.

“I read somewhere," said Kate, "that people are made of stardust."
He dragged his eyes from the sky. "Really?"
"Maybe that's what you're made of. Just like us."
And despite everything, August smiled.” 

The story ends at a point where it is satisfying to be left without reading the sequel.


Here is the link to the audiobook from youtube.

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Review: A Mango Tree in the Courtyard by Shweta Gour

A Mango Tree in the Courtyard: Fifteen comforting stories of nostalgia, humour, irony and macabre. A Mango Tree in the Courtyard: Fifteen comforting stories of nostalgia, humour, irony and macabre. by Shweta Gour
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


"Always be aware of men who make you feel miserable, who always put their needs above your wishes and stand for yourself, without hurting anyone; but, also be wise enough never to become the woman who compensates for their suffering by instilling the same onto others."



This book is a collection of short stories divided into two sections - 1. Nature and Nostalgia and 2. On the dark side. As the name shows, the first one has stories of the author's childhood and growing years coupled with a love for nature. These are the stories that appealed more to me as it clearly shows that the author is passionate about these memories and the way nature has left an imprint on her life. There is certain warmth in the stories, even if sometimes they fail to have a proper closure. 

My favorite story is the first one which is also the name of the book. A dream in a dream is a really sweet story that has inception like feels but thankfully not that twisted. Misfortune is another story I liked a lot in the book.


In my more rational days, the polarities between the existence of wildlife and those of humans come forth clearly. The former in its very process of just being in making this planet worth living while the latter in all its intelligence is only making it ugly. The view of trails of trees and plants rejoicing with various avians and squirrels against the high concrete blocks, standing sullen strengthens my conclusion.

The second section has some interesting plot and moments that make you think of creepy moments you have encountered. The perfume is one of my favorites stories in this section while the last one could have been a little better plotted. It leaves you with wanting for more. 


Overall the book has some misses but most of the stories can make you a little bit nostalgic and think of the simpler times of summer vacations, train journeys, and some spooky tales. A good debut attempt by the author. 


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#BookReview: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This year, I accidentally picked The uncommon reader from my library on my first ever visit. This book then led me to explore more books in the genre - Books about Books/reading. And surprisingly the second book I picked was "I'd rather be Reading" I was vaguely aware of Anne Bogel's name but I had not matched it to her very famous podcast - What should I read next till I started reading the book.

This book was like a trip down memory lane - through Anne's life in reading and surrounded with books, I traced my own as I read through each chapter.

From the time books come into a reader's life , to early influences on the reading habits , managing to get hands on the books within your small town (for me) or within your pocket money , exploring new genre, reading classics and to actually like them, passing the love for reading to others (friends in my case, kids for Anne),  Book Clubs, book twins, book meets and dilemma of not liking a popular book - Anne wrote about it all in a warm, loving yet really fun way. I really can not think of any aspect of the reader's life that Anne missed writing about.

Though the concept of the library was unknown/starkly different from my imagination until I moved to Canada, knowing about it and reading about it in her book gives me a goal to have a library someday that can boast of introducing literature to some young ones and inspire this blessed habit.

I am also glad of the names of books added in the end, of the ones that were referenced within the different chapters. The book is a delight to read. It is what it is - a reader's life. There is nothing too flashy about it or a message to readers. It just feels more like a guide to non-readers how readers operate in the world. And we are sure, a little crazy bunch! This book describes us perfectly.



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#Review: We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

We Contain Multitudes We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.75 / 4 to be precise ;)

I actually did not read this one but listened to the audiobook version and I must mention that it is one of the books that perfectly done in the audio. The book is written in the form of letters exchanged between the two characters. what starts with an assignment for English class between two strangers, become a friendship that saves them both from their fears and results in a relationship that's is a beauty in itself to see grow. This was also the first time I read a book where one of the characters is not sure of his sexuality and it made for a different experience for me to see the struggle and the mental stress it creates for the person and the partner too. 

The other characters in the book are not mere caricature and fleshed out well, especially Jo's family and friends. The story of his parents made for a good twist but nothing to justify the reaction of Jo's sister. On the other hand, I felt that Kurl was handed the raw deal in terms of family and history though it kind of turns out good in the end?

The book does ask for a certain amount of belief from the reader for certain plot points but overall it is an engaging and entertaining read even when it is not a purely happy read and has its own share of flaws and troubled parts. Finishing this book over a solitary dinner at my favorite restaurant was a perfect Friday evening for me. The writing is really beautiful and at times I paused to really admire the observations and the metaphors that the author used were awe-inspiring. Plus point for this book introducing me to Walt Whitman in a completely new and personal way and leading me to explore his poetry.

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#BookReview: Physical: The catastrophe of desire by Mari.Reiza

Physical: The catastrophe of desire by mari reiza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Some times you begin a book with little expectation and find struggling to identify with the character, any character actually. This happened for me with Physical as I just could not empathize with Kiki - whose breakup has left her a little mad and the lonely craziness is just eating her up. I felt her hurt and understood her true self behind the angry mask but she still made me feel frustrated with her. Then the story flips to Fatima, Kiki's best friend, a new mother of twins who is stuck at home after pregnancy and feels her worth fading away. Now that's a feeling I so very well know - by thinking of a time when I simply slip out of others memories and left alone. And gradually I got engrossed in the book. I wanted to see what breaks / makes these two ladies and their friendship evolve.

At a certain point in the story, it became my story. I could feel this play out between me and a friend of mine wondering together, where we walked our own way and this book showed how we can miss the signs even in our closest friends.

A short read, this is emotioanl, fun, beautifully true and so relatable story of Love and desire i  in modern times.



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Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

I started this book and my initial thought was that this is another happy go lucky adventure story of a rich spoilt kid with his best friend who he also loves romantically. Within three chapters, something about Henry "Monty" Montague gave me a feeling I was in for good fun. Yes, this book is a fun ride but it has a good handle on the emotional side of the trio (Monty, Percy and Monty's sister Felicity) who accidentally get veered towards this adventure.

Set in the 1700s it takes inspiration from the society's belief at the time about gay love, rights of the black folks and of women. As we travel across cities, it beings the beauty and culture of the cities to surface, even if briefly.  I totally adore Felicity in this story as the girl who has dreams and the brains to match but is being forced to go attend a school where her talents would go waste. She is the voice that actually helps the readers connect to Monty along with the story.  It is a coming to age kind of story that has a bit of predictable end but its the journey to reach there that is worth your time.

I am interested to read the next part of the book now to know of the story from her eyes and perhaps just to see her make her dreams happen.

It is a quick , funny , crazy and sweet tale which is even more fun as an audiobook, narrated by Christian Coulson (sample here)


 
My rating: 4 of 5 stars






     



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Review: A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury

A Flight of Broken Wings A Flight of Broken Wings by Nupur Chowdhury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Six hundred years ago, humanity rose up in revolt against the Aeriels, who were driven from earth and back into their homeland of Vaan after a bloody and glorious war.

Eight years ago, Ruban’s home was destroyed and his family murdered by an Aeriel.

When a new Aeriel threat looms over Ragah, the capital city of Vandram, Ruban Kinoh must do everything in his power to avenge his family's past and protect the future of his country.



I have been a fan of fantasy fiction genre long before I realized that it is a genre of books ! And for a long time I read mostly foreign authors. So it is always a good feeling to see an Indian author do justice to the genre and good story in general. To say , that I read this book without expectations would be a lie and I am always a little too sceptical of the fantasy fiction books that seem to be part of a trilogy.


So , it was very fortunate for me to chance upon this book as this one totally lives up to its promise. Fantasy fiction mostly survives on the world you set for your characters  , the rules , the past , the present and tying them all in the near future.


Nupur set up a world that wasn't too far from reality and mixing it with her out of the world creatures, some of them,  I must say have such amazing sense of humor that I was immediately hooked to the book. The best thing about the book is the light banter that keeps flowing in the story keeping you smiling and engaged. The friendship and the loyalty that develops by passing some hard times together is amazingly shown as is the author's understanding of relationships in general. The action scenes are totally on point and do not lack the punches that are needed.


I would love to see Ruban and Ashwin together again if they promise to give me same dose of fun in every single book. And on that note , I must add that whether the author decides to write another part or not , this book in itself is complete and the reader would not be disappointed at the end.






     



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Review: Just Haven't Met You Yet by Cate Woods

Just Haven't Met You Yet Just Haven't Met You Yet by Cate Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a story that tries to seek answers for the quest we have to find our soul mate. What if technology can accurately match you to your soulmate ? Does it really have to be a romantic link up always ? and what it takes to find love otherwise ?
 
Percy is in a steady relationship when she is made aware that she has a soulmate and if she wishes , she can meet the persona nd decide what to do about it. Finding herself a little bored and in need of an adventure , she goes for the date and her life changes after that.    

A really fun read , part relatable and part wise yet fun enough to make you smile. This book made me read till 2 am just to know the end and to see where the heart actually fits for Percy. I liked the friendships , the moments of connections with a stranger or the ways our heart and inner voice lead us to right decisions , only if we keep our heads clear. This is a very current time read and without being preachy , it's a wonderful story.


Later when I reflected on the title and the story , it also felt that perhaps its about finding yourself in a new light. Maybe You haven't met the better version of you yet !





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Review: Guardian Angel by Ruchi Singh

Guardian Angel      
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Nikhil is a person captured wrongly and for no reason apparently. And that does not go well with Ayesha who is told to nurse his woulds so he can be tortured for information.

Ayesha is a girl who would be soon married to the guy who tries too hard to earn name and money from the so called holy war against the Indians.

These two are star crossed lovers from the moment they meet and it is their story that Ruchi has penned down so beautifully.



Guardian angel is a real good story with a plot that's sorted and feels complete. Every string of this web is tied beautifully and there is a human touch to even the extreme violence that you feel throughout. I enjoyed the clarity in the writing which reflects that the author has spent due time and diligence on the characters and overall feel of the story.



A short and yet engaging read.




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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...