Purely for Indian history and Indophile buffs, this is the story of Peshwa Bajirao in his pre-Mastani days (If you know about the story of Bajirao andPurely for Indian history and Indophile buffs, this is the story of Peshwa Bajirao in his pre-Mastani days (If you know about the story of Bajirao and Princess Mastani of Bundelkhand). The book charts Bajirao's life from his infancy under the tutelage of his father Balaji Vishwanath to his fatherhood and his first battle against the Mughals under Chhatrapathi Shahu's rule. When I first got this book in a kindle offer, I was expecting this to be another tome on the Bajirao-Mastani affair which had become popular due to the Hindi movie on the same folklore. But it was a refreshing change to read about Bajirao on his early life.
The author has written in a very simple and lucid manner which makes it much more enjoyable. I was transported back to my childhood days when I used to read more of such stuff. It deals mainly with the conflict between the Nizam-ul-Mulk of the Mughal empire and the Marathas, the military and political ramifications, time bound tradition of honour in the armed forces and glory for he brave. The book ends with the introduction of Princess Mastani which more or less would likely result in a sequel later life of Bajirao. I thoroughly enjoyed this break from thrillers....more
The book cover was beautiful. I picked it up the book from Net Galley when I found the average rating which was well above 4. I had huge expectations The book cover was beautiful. I picked it up the book from Net Galley when I found the average rating which was well above 4. I had huge expectations from the book but somewhere I could not connect with the characters.
This is about FBI agent Mercedes Ramirez working in the Crimes Against Children Dept who finds herself investigating murders when children are dropped at her home after being rescued from their abusive homes. She is aided by her colleagues Eddison, Vic and Sterling who, I guess, made an appearance in one of the previous book in the series. The agent herself has a dark history and mysteriously the killer trusts her to safeguard these children.
The book starts with a promise but it loses its pace with myriad characters flitting in and out of the plot. The narrative is dark and horrific. The crux of the plot is superb and the subject is quite macabre. However, I did not find it thrilling enough to keep me hooked. Maybe the earlier books in the series were far better. Also the characters from the Butterfly Garden (Priya, Inara and Victoria-Bliss) make an appearance without adding any value to the plot. However at some places it becomes quite emotional and disturbing to read about the sexual abuse faced by the children.
I thank Net Galley for a free copy of the book....more
It was a short story of about 14 pages. What started off as promising and interesting, tapered off with a straightforward ending. The author has writtIt was a short story of about 14 pages. What started off as promising and interesting, tapered off with a straightforward ending. The author has written a beautiful story about a boy who has gone missing and his parents' despair and the uncertainty that awaits their fate. The prose is good flows beautifully. However, due to the short length the author could not etch out the characters in depth.
PS: - Free copy in exchange for a frank review....more
As usual Victor Methos never lets you down. This is the second book that I have read and I loved it. Initially I was a bit skeptical after reading theAs usual Victor Methos never lets you down. This is the second book that I have read and I loved it. Initially I was a bit skeptical after reading the blurb about a mentally challenged boy wrongly accused of drug dealing and a lawyer who is forced to adopt him under strange circumstances, fighting to keep him out of jail. But as the story unfolds, it becomes a larger conspiracy involving the State and turns into a David v/s Goliath kind-of-a-fight, it becomes interesting and you don't want to put the book down.
I loved the character of Danni Rollins the almost drunk lawyer, who has a I-don't-give-a-damn attitude and Will, the rich private investigator who helps Danni in her investigations.
The author's note says that the story is drawn from the author's personal experience as a lawyer. For all ye legal thriller fans, one more author to watch out for. ...more
**spoiler alert** The story is pretty simple and uninteresting. I expected too much when I read the blurb and had high expectations.
The book is about**spoiler alert** The story is pretty simple and uninteresting. I expected too much when I read the blurb and had high expectations.
The book is about an engineer who is bored of his humdrum corporate life and wants to follow his passion. During the course of the story he loses his love, falls in love again, quits his job, finds his passion and finally success.
Here the protagonist, Keith, is bored of his job due to a bad manager and bad appraisals. One day he goes to see a cricket match - the 2011 World Cup Final. He is inspired by his cricketing idols and gets the BIG CALL. Now he is in a dilemma whether to pursue cricket or football. Somebody with a passion would know where his interests lie and what he would like to do in future. So he mulls over and makes a choice to play football. I mean, c'mon, he doesn't know what his passion is at age 24 ? And surprisingly when he realises that he wants to play football, he doesn't know the rules of the game ! I mean how many people have a hobby or a passion which they want to pursue but doesn't know the basics. Moreover, it is hard to believe that somebody from Kerala which is a football crazy state, unlike other states in India, doesn't know football ! Inspired by his colleague, Ramesh Singh, who has become a programmer after spending a few years as an accountant (I am wondering how a person with a bachelor's degree can be inducted into a firm as a chartered accountant !), he embarks on self-discovery road. Halfway through the book, Keith decides that he needs to quit his job and pursue football full time but to keep earning a steady income, he needs to find another job. And voila ! He decides to become a writer ! Now this is a truly incredible story.
The book holds interest for the first five chapters. Then it starts dragging and later it becomes predictable and uninteresting. The dialogues seemed immature at places, especially in the romantic scenes. The book is a motivational story and the author constantly drives the fact that one needs to follow one's passion. Many people would have faced the same situation in life and the author has taken up this subject and tried to tell a tale around it. The redeeming factor is that the prose was excellent and easy to read.
This being a debut, I wish the author success in his future endeavours.
On GR the punchline for this book is "A gripping emotional inspirational fiction about love, loss, and finding hope in the darkest of times". It was nOn GR the punchline for this book is "A gripping emotional inspirational fiction about love, loss, and finding hope in the darkest of times". It was not gripping, but it certainly lived up to its punchline - emotional and inspirational fiction. This is a decent book on human emotions of love, loss and a sense of hope. The main characters are Fiona and Soham who go through the lowest points in their life - losing loved ones. How they overcome their loss and find each other forms the main plot. Being fed on a heavy diet of thrillers for a long time, this looked like a breath of fresh air, when the author approached me for a review. And I don't regret it.
The setting is Gangtok and the author has beautifully described the place with its wonderful climate, the heavy rains, narrow roads and alleys, the tea shop, the local bookshop and Kanchenjunga at sunrise. Believe me, when I say that the Kanchenjunga at sunrise is one of the most beautiful sights to behold, it is an understatement. Also one gets a bit of an insight into the Nepali culture, traditions and language which I feel the author should have been more liberal with.
The main grouse is the author has spent too much time going into the details with a heavy dose of wordplay. Somewhere the story drags and the reader tends to lose interest. The author seems to have a very good vocabulary but I couldn't help notice a few grammatical mistakes (syntax errors ?) in some places. The first fifty pages, I was lost in the chronological order in which the author had written the book and couldn't keep up with it, having to turn the pages backwards a couple of times to check what was written earlier. Once you get used to it or maybe ignore it, it becomes easier to read.
Being a debut work, this was a decent one and I wish him all the best for the future.
This 12 page long book is a mix of suspense, romance and horror all mixed together. The author has tried to put in all the elements and tried to narraThis 12 page long book is a mix of suspense, romance and horror all mixed together. The author has tried to put in all the elements and tried to narrate a story. When i was approached for a review, I was intrigued by the fact that whether it can be interesting enough. While it did hold my interest, the story ended abruptly and I was a tad disappointed. This might be because the story was restricted by its length. Cannot comment on the characters as there was only so much matter in the book. This being a debut, the author holds promise and would hopefully write a full length book in the future.
PS: Honest review in exchange for a free copy....more
I am liking Scott Pratt. This book again doesn't disappoint. This is my second one, the first being Justice Redeemed.
Darren Street again comes into pI am liking Scott Pratt. This book again doesn't disappoint. This is my second one, the first being Justice Redeemed.
Darren Street again comes into play here. He is now out of jail. His pregnant fiancee Grace dies in the operation theater during delivery due to medical negligence by the doctor. This starts off the plot where he becomes involved in the shenanigans of corrupt officials from the sheriff to the offices of the DA and FBI. Finally, he gets an offer from Granny Tipton & family to run for the DA's office himself in order to get a foothold in Knox county of Tennessee with the backing of a powerful senator. How he plays vigilante and roots out the corruption forms the crux of the story.
Short at 250 pages, fast paced and easy writing nails the book and keeps one hooked....more
I liked the book. It is refreshing to read a thriller by an Indian author which keeps you hooked throughout. The plot is about a murder of a well knowI liked the book. It is refreshing to read a thriller by an Indian author which keeps you hooked throughout. The plot is about a murder of a well known film actor on a movie set and how his fiancee and her mother are the prime suspects in the case. Detective Vikram Rana is assigned to solve the case by the mother.
The climax is good and the plot keeps you guessing about the killer's identity throughout till the end....more
Short read about the traits and characteristics of Krishna. Lots of photographs of paintings and sculptures depicting Krishna. Nothing new to learn abShort read about the traits and characteristics of Krishna. Lots of photographs of paintings and sculptures depicting Krishna. Nothing new to learn about Krishna if you know the story of Mahabharata and Krishna's tales. ...more
This is the second instalment of Agni Prakash and his adventures. In the first book, we saw Agni Prakash battling Naganara the necromancer along with This is the second instalment of Agni Prakash and his adventures. In the first book, we saw Agni Prakash battling Naganara the necromancer along with his friends Minothi and Dharami. In this book too, they help him to overcome Nayima the stone witch who is unleashing terror on humanity. He is approached by Mara the agrami or the leader of the kimkaras to find the samayakalas (Vela, Pari and Vasana) keepers of time, to unwind and reverse the time to avoid humanity being decimated by Nayima. There is also a brief appearance by Naganara, his old adversary from the first book, who has changed for the good. All in all a very interesting read.
I liked it better than the first book. The writer has a good command over the language and the prose flows naturally. I have not come across another fantasy novel in the Indian context and the author has exploited this genre superbly. Readers better read her first book to get a hang of her language and more importantly, to familiarise with the characters, almost all of them are present in the sequel.
Thank you Anuja for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review....more
Another book (rather, booklet - considering the short reading duration ) by J. Alchem. The story is about a postman who forgets to deliver some letterAnother book (rather, booklet - considering the short reading duration ) by J. Alchem. The story is about a postman who forgets to deliver some letters one day. He finds it twenty years later at home lying forgotten in a corner and is filled with remorse on failing to do his duty. He decides to deliver the forgotten letters with predictable consequences. The book focuses on three stories with the feel-good factor and happy endings.
Book is an easy read and the prose flows beautifully. However the plot is tepid and not stimulating enough. The best thing is the author has found a niche format, not too long and not too short. Not too many have tried this before, I suppose. Hopefully, he should exploit this format and maybe come out with newer genres.
Note - Free copy from the author in exchange of a review. Thank you Anuja Chandramouli for the copy. I was intrigued by the title so I agreed to revieNote - Free copy from the author in exchange of a review. Thank you Anuja Chandramouli for the copy. I was intrigued by the title so I agreed to review this.
The book is a fantastically written (pun intended). It deals with a young lad Agni Prakash, a human being, who is anointed as Yama's lieutenant to fight the evil forces out to conquer the three worlds i.e. heaven, hell and earth with the help of a kritya, a divine woman with magical powers. Agni Prakash is heartbroken over his twin sister Varu's death and brooding over his sense of loss. One fine day, he is recruited by a goddess Taravarsha to save the three worlds from Naganara, a necromancer.
The plot flits between the mythical and the real world, weaving an interesting story of Agni Prakash and his travails in battling with the arakshas who have escaped the nether world and wreaking havoc on the earthlings. There is also another thread with a backstory of Yama in the form of a book written by Varu before her death. So little is known about Yama, the lord of death and the netherworld. This is like an eye-opener.
This was my first book in the fantasy genre by an Indian author. I am not a keen fan of books on fantasy, however I was not disappointed. Published by Random House India, you can expect a top-notch quality product, no less. After a long time, I have reviewed a book which is tightly edited and the language is absolutely superb. The author has a mastery over the language with a wide repertoire in vocabulary. The prose flows beautifully. However, I found the first hundred pages a bit of a drag with so many multiple characters flitting in and out that I almost lost track of the plot. However, Varu's book on Yama and his emergence as the lord of the netherworld kept me hooked.
Overall, I liked it and for those interested in fantasy / mythology, go grab it ! ...more
Two and a half stars for the book (if you can call it that) and half a star extra for the first story.
Got a copy in exchange for a review, courtesy STwo and a half stars for the book (if you can call it that) and half a star extra for the first story.
Got a copy in exchange for a review, courtesy Sidra Ahmad and the author.
The book is a collection of three short stories with a common theme - love. The first story "Catherine" was very good and the end was unpredictable. I liked the way the character of Dr. Rusenvelt was etched even better than the protagonist Nicholas Seium.
The second story, "Sidza", was the most boring one, with actually no story to talk about. It was actually supposed to be an emotional one with love oozing throughout the story. Maybe fans of romantic stories might like it. It was too mushy for my liking.
The third story is "Highway Man" which again could have turned out to be decent one had the author dwelt on main story than the relationship between father and son. He could have dwelt more on the backstory of the character Jihan but somehow the plot falls flat. But still it is a decent story to read.
The book is a light read and short, can be finished in about 45-60 minutes. More apt for readers of romance. ...more
This is not a story. The book starts with a prologue where a father narrates his school days to his kids. This is more like a memoir rather than a stoThis is not a story. The book starts with a prologue where a father narrates his school days to his kids. This is more like a memoir rather than a story. Everyone can relate to this book. However, there are a lot of shortcomings which I noticed while reading the book. Firstly, this could have been edited. It looked as if the book was published without a thorough editing job. Secondly, a story has to be engaging enough to keep the reader hooked and make them want to know what happens next. Here, the book fails miserably. Cuss words, first kiss, coming of age experiences, experiments with cigarettes and alcohol are all fine as it is given at that age. But where is the story ?
Coming to the story, Raghav meets Trisha in the 8th grade. He is a lazy and incompetent guy while Trisha is the exact opposite. Opposites attract. Spending 3 years together, circumstances change. Duffer boy becomes smart and hardworking. Passes school with flying colours. Both separate and they meet again. Lots of tomfoolery between them in those 3 years. That sums up the story.
There is a reference to surfing the internet by Raghav somewhere in the book. If you think a bit, Raghav is actually narrating his story to his kids who are 18 and 14 years of age. So he must be at least 45 given that he has two kids. It would have been at least 30 years back when he was in school, which may be circa 1987, if not earlier. India did not have the internet at that point of time..at least it was not accessible to kids. Another irritating thing which I came across was the word"awesome". It was used at least about 50 times in the entire 170 page book. Moreover, which Indian dad will narrate his love life and first crush in school to his kids just because they are pestering him ?
Bad editing or no editing spoils the book. The author has tried to delve deep into his four main characters, Raghav, Trisha, Dad and Mom but that's about it.
The climax is awful and unbelievable. One fine day, Raghav is suddenly sent to Mumbai to study and the day he lands he meets his lady love. That ends the story (sorry, there never was a story !). The one good thing I liked was how the author drew up the Indian parents' mentality of constantly pushing their child to study which is prevalent throughout.
Now comes the epilogue. Raghav's kids ask him to complete the story. He tells them that he will some other time. Is there a sequel to the book ?
The author being a debutante, I wish him success for future.
PS: - I thank the author who gave me the book for an honest review. ...more
I would like to thank the author Prashant Yadav, Vishnu Chevli & the publishers Fingerprint Publishing for providing me a free copy for an honest reviI would like to thank the author Prashant Yadav, Vishnu Chevli & the publishers Fingerprint Publishing for providing me a free copy for an honest review and feedback.
The book is a wonderful read and I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. Initially I was a bit skeptical about the book given its weird title. But as the saying goes, do not judge a book by its cover, pun intended !!
The story is about a sharpshooter who has quit the life of crime some 25-odd years back and is now running a grocery shop eking out a mundane existence with his wife and son. One fine day he decides to make his life purposeful with a singular motive of taking up his old profession. His target ? The Chief Minister ! The story is set in the Hindi hinterlands with state politics as a backdrop. It can be termed as a desi political thriller. The author seems to be inspired from real life incidents in Uttar Pradesh politics. The names of the characters are eerily similar to some of the political figures in the state. You can actually imagine and feel the politics being played out by the characters. The author also uses dry humour to engage his reader. Some of the scenes were so hilarious that I couldn't stop laughing. For example, the scene where the Chief Minister falls off the shoulders of his supporter after he is released from jail and is bitten on his foot.
I would wish the author success in his future endeavours and continue churning out such books. He might have found a niche in political thrillers. ...more
**spoiler alert** Thanks to the author to send me copy for review. It is a decent debut by Mr. Shibu.
The book is mainly about three people and their **spoiler alert** Thanks to the author to send me copy for review. It is a decent debut by Mr. Shibu.
The book is mainly about three people and their travails. The author has created the characters beautifully complete with a detailed past.
Nanda, an engineer by profession and kalari exponent, is running away from his past and comes to Dhauladhar to work at a hydro project.
Khusru, a terrorist joins the site with a motive to blow the dam apart.
Rekha is a doctor-dancer who comes along with Khusru as his companion.
The story is about a conspiracy by Al-Qaeda to destroy a dam which is being constructed in the Dhauladhar mountain ranges. Al-Qaeda sends Khusru for this, who is trapped more by circumstances than by motive to undertake this mission. He is accompanied by his companion / lover Rekha.
The author has beautifully brought out the daily lives of people living in the hilly areas in the North.
The plus points:
1) Detailed description of Kalaripayattu and its tradition.
2) Deeply etched characters with a detailed history - enjoyable to read.
3) Diversity - The author covers the life and traditions of people from Kerala to Kashmir.
4) The author brings to life the ways and traditions of the people living in the hills of Himachal Pradesh.
5) Dhauladhar mountain ranges - it evokes a sense of awe in the reader's mind.
6) The story was woven beautifully around the dam construction angle.
What I could not fathom was why the detailed description of the technicalities of dam construction? It might be interesting for some, but for me (as I am sure, many of the readers), it was a drag and could have been avoided. About 60-70 pages could have been cut down. The author might have incorporated this drawn by his personal experience to lend an authenticity to the plot. The climax was weak and predictable with NIA angle thrown in. One more grouse was the fact that women were weak characters in the story. Too many Malayalam phrases used which does not serve any purpose. To be fair to the author, the detailing was impressive but it spoilt the entertainment factor a bit. Also too many characters flit in and out of this small story which would have been justified if this would have been a magnum opus. But this story does not warrant it.
I know it becomes difficult to critique a book which the author has spent precious time, effort and money in bringing it out. However, I also believe a healthy and balanced criticism would only help him in his future endeavours. Would like to congratulate Mr.K. Shibu and wish him the best for the future. ...more
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