I-Tigress: A letter to humans: A Tribute to Fighting Mothers

I had read 2 books by Syd K before I took I-Tigress. Those who have read the author have taken the best traits from his first book and built his next book based on that. His brilliance in writing stories with animal POV was remarkable. And I am happy that instead of writing about a completely new domain, he went ahead in animal territory again. Last time he wrote about the most respected animal of the jungle, an elephant. And this time he brought out the most feared animal of the jungle, a tiger. 

The book talks about the story from the POV of a tigress, which is very closely followed by a real-time tigress. The story starts with the birth of the tigress to her death. Each stage of the tiger's life their upbringing, their survival as adolescents, their constant battle for dominance of their area, etc. I don't want to spoil readers' experiences.

My observations about the book

1) The book is not just written with Tigress POV, the author has invented vocabulary for the animal kingdom used by tigress

2) You will feel like watching discovery episodes on tiger's life while reading the book

3) Easy language usage makes a smooth experience

4) A read for all above 12 years old

5) Shows harsh realities that affect wildlife due to human interventions

This book deserves 4.5 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Teaching a Horse to Sing: Tales of Uncommon Sense from India and Elsewhereb by Delshad Karanjia

I selected Teaching a Horse to Sing: Tales of Uncommon Sense from India and Elsewhereb by Delshad Karanjia due to the following reasons

1. Attractive cover design and hardcover format

2. Collection of witty and wisdom-filled short stories

3. Recollection of stories of Mulla Naseeruddin & Birbal

4. Introducing these wonderful characters to my kid.

I finished the book in few sittings. Though short and sweet stories can be finished within 3 sitting with ease. 

The book is divided into three segments: Mulla Naseeruddin, Akbar & Birbal, mixed section. In the last mixed section, you will find stories from multiple cultures, countries, mythologies. There are 150 stories, each story is a page long except a few which were also 1-3 pages long. The stories deliver different messages or learnings to us. My personal best is the first story of 3rd section covering emotions-related stories. 

Lot of learnings, happy moments, and smiles were delivered to me by this book. I know my kid is not mature enough to understand all witty jokes (especially covered in the Mulla Naseeruddin section) but I can read this book to him once a year.

A must-buy, must-have, and recommended read.

I will give 4.5 or 5 to this book.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

Murder at the Mushaira by Raza Mir

"Murder at Mushaira" by Raza Mir has attracted my attention the moment I saw the cover photo. I was attracted to the Detective nature of Mirza Ghalib portrayed in the book. 

As the name suggests, the story is based on a murder investigation that happened after a mushaira. Let me give you a little gist. One of the royal houses in Delhi had a tradition of holding mushaira during the month of Ramazan. The royal house is Iftikhar, and Miya Iftikhar had an unspoken grudge against Ghalib as Iftikhar's wife had a crush on Ghalib before her marriage. Murdered entity here is Khairadabaadi, who was a spy for Angrez and was killed just before he was supposed to give his report on newly introduced Kartoos. The story is strongly linked with the 1857 independence movement, and murder was making things more mysterious. Multiple people's lives and wealth were at stake if the case was not solved within a week. Readout how Ghalib with his unique style works on the case.

I was expecting a thriller based on simple historical fiction. But the book has much more to offer, it presents cultural fit, socio-economic scenario, slow death of Mughal Empire and rise of English rule, people's state, etc. e

Everything is portrayed wonderfully. The language is appropriate for the culturally-driven novel. The pace is medium too fast based on the plot's demand. Characters like Iftikhar & his wife, Umrao (Ghalib's wife), Inspector were given good space to get mature. You will find a strong flavor of historical facts while reading. The mystery behind the killing will keep you to edge. 

I will say the book is a masterpiece. One may give time to enjoy this book. If you are a ghazal or poem lover you will find multiple stanzas throughout the book.

This wonderful book deserves 4.75 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

The Wrath of the Hellfires - Vikramaditya Veergatha Finale by Shatrujeet Nath

Before I start the review, I would like to apologize not only to the author, Shatrujeet but also to the eager fans of the Vikramaditya Veergatha series for delaying my review. I know when I got the book, I had planned to finish it within a week. But due to some unforeseen reasons, it took me around 3 weeks to finish it and another week to complete the review of the book. For a regular person, my apologies look like a drama but only a true fan can understand my gesture. 

The last part ended with Vikramaditya cornered on multiple ends, his council of 9 was divided, his family was shattered, his city was almost crumpled, still the Samrat was strong-willed. He didn't budge on any duty. His unnerving loyalties to his subjects and his promise to omniscient gave him fruits in the finale. Read the book to know how multiple attacks on the city were handled by Vikrama & his counselors. The book brings us new characters some as allies and some as foes to the king. Read the book to know how Vikrama dealt with Devas, Asuras, Human (including his vessel kingdom as well as Huna & Saka), and finally Veshaada's Dagger.

I recommend reading previous books before taking this one. This book should not be read independently. Even I refreshed few things from previous parts. Coming to the storytelling as the finale, Shatrujeet has woven all loose threads in tight nodes to make a grand platform. They say even the smallest gesture of kindness can bring unexpected help to you, the same way the author has sprinkled multiple virtuous deeds of Vikrama over 4 parts which came back as a blessing. 

The writing style was as usual smooth and intriguing, and randomness in plot jumps always hooks you to the page. I can remember multiple instances where I was determined to read till a certain incident get finished, but due to jumps, by the time that indecent was concluded my mind was tracking another one. 

The usage of language is easy, and it can cater to a larger reading population. Though the plot demands multiple characters (more than 100 given in index only) I was able to track them through out the story. 

I feel that books should be translated into vernacular languages and also should be adapted for series. If I get time I will make a video on the series covering why it should be adapted. 

I am concluding my review with ratings of 5/5 and a tag of must-reads.

A Must-read - The Cowherd Prince by Krishna Udayasankar

If you have read my review of books based on Mahabharata, you must be aware that I rarely skip book that is remotely related to epic. The very first retelling I read was from Krishna Udayasankar, and I was delighted. Unfortunately, I missed a chance to get two more books from that series. The God was gracious; I got 3rd party of that trilogy and was impressed by the author's work. And when I came to know that prequel to the series is about to get released, I didn't want to miss the chance. I like to thank the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Those who have read Mahabharata or any book on Krishna avatars knew most of the author either stretch Krishna's childhood days or after he met Pandavas. Rarely you will find a book which talks about what happened during his younger days, how he became a prince from a common cowherd. Thanks to Krishna (author), I got a chance to read a novelty. This book is more focused on that part of Krishna's life. 

As usual, the book started with the background/prologue of firstborn v/s firewrights. Those who have read the series are aware of the concept. For first-timers, the author has shown two knowledge sects, which makes the building block of the plot for 3 books. As I mentioned, the story covers the part of Govinda's life that gave him the title of a great leader and politician. The author has introduced suspense and thrill by bringing Govinda's missing family and his revenge into the story. Few major characters apart from Govinda, who has shone brightly, were Balbhadra, Yuyudhana, and Nanda. Each chapter brought a new set of characters or plot; you won't find repetition. Throughout the book, you will enjoy changes that come with a new chapter.

There are thousands of authors trying to recreate or Hindu mythological stories. But only a few got success. It requires a good combination of plot conceptualization, political inclusion, connection with original epics, theological or philosophical aspects. I have read more than 100 books on mythological fiction, but if I have to recommend the top 5 books series, Aryavarta Chronicles has made its place along with Meluha by Amish & Ajaya by Anand. 

Coming to writing style, the story progresses at a medium to fast pace. Krishna's usage of language is mixed type, I mean not too plain at the same time not too difficult. If you are a fan of such books, I strongly recommend this book to you.

The series is good enough to be adopted. I think I saw the news that screening rights were auctioned to Sonam Kapoor, but I haven't seen any further news. If time permits, I will make a video for this series.

Overall 4.75 out 5 to this wonderful book.

Book Series Review - 4MK Killer by JD Barker

I have read the first part of "4MK Killer" "The Fourth Monkey" by J D Barker three years back. That time, I have received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. But later on, I missed applying for the second part's "The Fifth to Die" review copy. During the lockdown, I found that a half-year back, I have applied and have received a review copy of "The Sixth Wicked Child". But I couldn't read that last part without reading the 2nd part. So I took the help of Storytel, there I found 2nd part as an audiobook. And finally, I read the 3rd part on Kindle Unlimited. I took 3 different sources for 3 parts: Netgalley, Storytel, and Kindle Unlimited. 

When I read the first part, I was under impression that the 4MK killer was a serial killer like the Dexter series central character. Somehow author has changed that impression in the 2nd part. The 2nd part shows a completely different pattern of a serial killer, it also introduces a new character apart from Anson Bishop. Along with this new character, Anson spread chaos. At the same time, Sam Porter came under FBI radar. The FBI takes over the case from Sam's team and strictly forbade Sam to interfere. But Sam goes against the FBI's wishes and went ahead. By the end of the second part, we came to know about know things turn out completely different. The third part started with the FBI and metro team doubting Sam also behind the 4MK murders. Along with tracking Anson and Sam, Central hospital is supposedly infected with the SARS virus. How will special agent Poole and Sam will sort out things, is the climax for readers. Throughout the series, Anson's diary has provided equal suspense factor. 

The book is written in a very peculiar style, Barker reveals the only fraction of information at a time, leaving rest for future endeavors. This style keeps suspense and thrill intact. The complete series is more than 1600 pages, but I never felt reading so many pages, instead, I felt traveling the journey. Even when I applied for the first part's review copy, it was written that screening rights for the series are sold, but I haven't heard about the production of the same yet. I request to whichever party has got the rights, please work on the series, it would be a great show.

The choice of the word is easy to apprehend and to facilitate smooth gliding through the story. I suggest the book is strictly for the 15+ age group, due to violence.

Overall a must-read for thriller lovers. I will give 5 out 5 to the series and all the books.

Fix it with food by Kavita Devgan - Book Review

The author Kavita Devgan is a nutritionist and her books are not mere some textual content, but properly designed training material. I have read and reviewed both of her past books "Ultimate Grandmother's Hack" and "Don't Diet". She preaches healthy habits and nutritional food and strongly opposes dieting and other harsh measures. Her books are like a pedagogy where she covers every aspect of a said topic using only food. Starting from the selection of food to prepare and schedules etc. In our home, many of her suggested recipes are taken under regular food items. So when I saw the book, "Fix it with Food" I didn't wait for a moment and I selected it.

As usual, Kavita has divided the book into segments. There are three segments in this book

1. 40 superfoods to get super insights. List of superfoods, their nutrition level, benefits, and usage. Not just the myth of fasting, in this part author, has also explained myth around these foods. These chapters cover more than 75% of the book. The good part is "fun facts" and "at glance" pointers. If you feel lazy to read the whole book, you may point down these pointers and that's also enough. This segment also contains mini-chapters and covering 100 fixing tips for various conditions.

2. 10 Tools - I would say confusing titled but cleared with the subtitle "foods to become healthier" Again eye-opening section for me.

3. 40 quick and healthy recipes that you should add in your daily diet plan. This section will be found in most of Kavita's books and one for which I look forward the most.

Not just physical ailment that Kavita has covered, but problems related to mood swings, mental stress, hormonal imbalance, fighting pollution, and the hottest topic immunity boosting. Read the book to know more.

The ingredients covered in this book don't burn your pocket instead most of the ingredients are available to the majority of the population with minimal cost. The language is simple and straights. Advice is practical and easy to use. The structure of the book will make you engaged until the last page, rarely a self-help book deliver such content.

I will give 5 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Must-read Scientific Book in Layman's Language - Clues to the Cosmos by Shohini Ghose

Shohini Ghose that was the word I catch when I saw this books detail. I googled about her and came to know she is a TEDx speaker. Then I went through the blurb of the book and I came to know that this book is an effort to explain facts of the universe in simple language, something that a normal person can understand, something which is full of both the equations and theories. So I had high hopes when I received this book. Unfortunately due to lock down the book review was delayed and I am really sorry for the delay. Unlike normal fiction where my expectation from the book was to entertain me or lighten my mood, from this book, I was expecting more information that I can understand or grab faster. I am from a science background and I have been introduced many of these theories during the studies, I always wanted an easy explanation of the concepts so that if someone, who is not from a science background, asks me about them then I can explain it with ease.

The content of the book is divided into eight chapters. Each chapter covers the aspects of the proper methodology. The author has started with early beliefs about the existence of the universe. And how those beliefs were broken down by different theories with different methodologies with different measurement tools how everything unravels to your mankind. It explains how a various scientist has explored these facts and brought us the modern day's knowledge to us. If you want to read these points from the scientific view you will find a book on each of these topics and a lot of theorems but when it comes to getting crux in layman language then this is the book. The author has taken chronological order of various inventions and facts. She has also shared many hidden faces behind these discoveries whose recognition is still due or recognized after years of the invention. 

Those who are reading this book, take my advice and give time to read this book. Don't rush towards the end. If you like to write down facts then take a marker and keep noting points after each chapter as there are many things to note down. The author has used plain English to reach the maximum audience. Still, the topic related scientific discussions so maybe many souls find it difficult to digest, not due to complexity but due to the nature of readers. 

I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Must-read Mythological Fiction - Firekeepers of Jwalapuram by Vamsee Juluri

I had finished "Saraswati's Intelligence" almost a year back. I was completely awestruck by Vamsee Juluri's imaginations. The first part of the book shows how civilized monkeys and other animals actually fought barbarism humans. And help them civilized. This novel concept itself made me liked the book. Though the book started in some cryptic ways once I got grip on the story it was a smooth story. I think in February I saw the post of WritersMelon that review copies of the book are available in exchange for an honest review. I was glad that I had finished the first part a few months back at that time. I instantly applied for the review copy. Keeping finger crossed I came to know that I was selected to review the book, but then COVID happened and started a long wait. I think after a long long wait of 4 months, I got my copy in the last week of July. And I finished it within 2 weeks. And here I am discussing my experience.

The sequel "the Firekeepers of Jwalapuram" started after 7 years from the war with Creatures. Creatures (human) were taken as new Kishkindhans under the care of Kamdhenu's. Hanuman and Vaishnavi were about to enter their third ceremony when nature took its destructive form. A gigantic volcano erupted somewhere in the depth of the ocean, which brought Tsunami and black clouds with it. Following which came sticky and polluted rain. This rain was followed by sickness not just within animals but in trees as well. Hanuman and Vaishnavi took things in their hand and divided rishis into groups and went to Fire temples. On the other side, Riksharaja who was already was depressed volatile due to loss of Vali, took extreme steps and went on unknown adventure after prisoning her own son Sugreeva. Things were becoming scarier each day with a scarcity of food. For many following Parma Dharma became imminent death. How will Kishkindha survive? Read the book to know more.

I loved the story, not words to describe it. I liked this part more than the first one. It took me 1 month to finish 1st part but I finished this part within a week in just 4 sittings. 

I will give 4.75 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Grumpy due to Lock down - Cheer up - Read the Laughter Riot called Scoundrels

I have been a regular member of NetGalley till Sept 2018. Later on my visits to their site reduced, I think one of those visits I applied for "Scoundrels 1 & 2". I got the approval for both the volumes. I think I checked the first volume and read a few pages. But somehow I forgot about those two books and found them during COVID Lockdown. I wanted some good books which can lighten the mood and stress level during these trying times. And Scoundrels gave me that peace of mind. I am grateful to NetGalley and authors for providing such a wonderful book in exchange for an honest review. And I would like to apologize for the delaying review. Still, books needed it's pending praise and here I am delivering duty which was due for almost a year and a half.

Before we discuss the plot let me tell you my first impression of the book cover. I was going through NetGalley shelves when two funny covers came into the view. They reminded me of my favorite childhood tv show "Laurel and Hardy". The title was equally funny, "Scoundrels". I knew the books will be a fun riot. I applied to them immediately. I think they were the last books I applied within those 12 months. I am glad I have these books with me to enlighten my mood. As I applied books in combo and got approval for both, I am posting a combined review. 

"Scoundrels" & "Scoundrels: The Hunt for Hansclapp" are the first two volumes of adventurous, fun-filled & thrilled journey of Major Cornwall and Major Trevelyan. The word scoundrels are not specifically for majors but rather a secretive club dedicated to great Britain. But the name does signify their activities which can not be done through political dialog or war. They do the nasty jobs.

The first volume started in recent times where Major Cornwall pushed Major Trevelyn to work on a combined memoir of their adventures. After much cooing and pushing around Major Trevelyan reluctantly accepted Cornwall's request. And thus started a rollercoaster of comedy. The very first incident they mentioned was "Race to Dakor desert". After that followed, their encounter with the Chinese Emperor. After giving a brief of what is to be expected (if you continue reading the book) both major took sequential narration of their memoir. The first part covers both major's school lives, how they entered the Scoundrel club, how they brought a secret weapon from Nazis, survived as prisoners of war in the Japanese army's captivity. The first part ends with Majors making enmity with Gruber Hansclapp.

The second volume starts with Major Cornwall getting poisoned by Hansclapp, and then went to Istanbul to destroy his plans. On their mission to Istanbul, Major Trevelyan met a lovely 8 years old girl named Anais and adopted her. Same way Major Cornwall adopted a gorilla named Titus. In this part, Major Trevelyan got married and got himself stuck knee-deep problems. Check out both the books to know more. I haven't given any spoilers. So don't worry. 

Major Cornwall is shown smarter of the two always get stuck in the problem and later on saved by Major Trevelyan. Both of them, or I would say most of the club members, were shown as super-rich and their lifestyle is shown with comic style. The way Majors use a variety of liquor and specially made tobacco for various situation/place/moods bring a smile to your faces.  

Now coming to characters & storytelling, I must have mentioned fun quotient more than 7-8 times, and you will find multiple styles of comedy. There is a black comedy, blue comedy, situational comedy, physical comedy, character comedy and whatnot. The selection of words is time appropriate. The first volume was around the second world war, and the second volume covers a decade after the second world war. 

Language is not age-appropriate, it is strictly 16+ material. 

My advice is not to read the book in public, you may end up laughing out loud and may embarrass yourself. 

With this, I will complete the review. Talking about ratings

1) Scoundrel - 4.25/5

2) Scoundrels: The Hunt for Hansclapp - 3.75/5

Book Links - 

Amazon - Volume 1 & Volume 2

GoodReads - Volume 1 & Volume 2

A Must Read Psychological Thriller - The Coast-to-coast Murder by J D Barker & James Patterson

"The Coast-to-coast murder" by J D Barker and James Patterson. It was my second read from J D Barker and the first from James Patterson. The first book I read by J D Barker was "4MK Killer". It was a completely new kind of experience for me. I may have read few psychological thrillers in past but 4MK had completely blown away my mind. So when I saw this book I gave a chance to Coast-to-Coast. Another reason was that James Patterson has written so many books and I haven't read a single book by him. So I wanted to explore his style of writing as well. I would like to thank NetGalley and publishers to provide me an early review copy of "the coast-to-coast murder."

As genre suggest it is a psychological thriller but one that you may not have seen or read yet. Our major characters are Michael Kepler, Megan Kepler, Michelle Kepler, and FBI agents. Michael Kepler got a call from his neighbor that there was water leakage from his flat and it has overflown from his flat to others' property as well. He came back running and found a body in his bathtub. He called LAPD and reported the death of a stranger. He also informed his sister Megan regarding this. Michael was a hundred percent sure that he saw that lady first time. Things that the LAPD team found were completely in contrast. The pieces of evidence they found were indicating that the murdered lady was the girlfriend of Michael. On top of it when Michael was taken to LAPD for questioning someone help him escape the jail. And from there detective Dobbs from LAPD joined hands with FBI agents to solve the case. FBI agent brought in new information that Michael might be the person behind not just one murder but more than 16 murders. Michael had asked his sister Megan to help him out and his sister was on the way to help Michael. They were both adoptive children of a psychologist couple and both had trouble passed before and after adoption. Read the book to know how killings happened and how it was related to human psychology.

I'll give you four reason why thriller genre lovers must read this book

1) Awesome plot building

2) Simple narration style and easy to read language usage

3) Minimal characters and maximum exposure to each character's to get a proper stage

4) Unexpected twist and turns to keep you engaged till the last page

Coming to the writing style, the book is written with multiple POVs making it more interesting as narrative jumps from one person to another. My only complain was cover design, I think a better cover may attract more readership.

Overall I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this wonderful thriller.

Book Links - Goodreads & Amazon

Shibu is back with "Faith and the Beloved"

In 2016, I had read "Men and Dreams: In the Dhauladhar" by Shibu Kochery. Though the book was only 280 pages in length it was too deep in terms of technical information. I survived that book because of good character and story building. So when I came to know about "Faith and the Beloved", Shibu's latest book, I wanted to make sure that it should not cover lengthy technical information. I read the sample provided by Kindle and once I was certain that the author has given respect to the readers of the first book by avoiding unnecessary technicalities, I bought the book. And trust me 185 pages of "Faith and the Beloved" has more storylines and thrill then 280 pages of "Men and Dreams: In the Dhauladhar" taking twice.

To give you a brief of the story, a sleeper cell guy called Tony was killed in his apartment, while his wife Naithy was hospitalized due to head injuries. His body was found with two other guys who belonged to the underworld gang. Naithy's daughter Alice was on run from multiple organizations. Prem Rollands a Kalari expert, a hacker, and an intelligent strategist wanted to avenge his brother's encounter and people linked to the case. An underworld gangs were after rare diamonds that were missing from Tony's place. A CBI officer working on the case found a deep history of 10-15 years behind the crime. Are you thrilled to know these pointers? Don't worry I haven't given any spoilers. You will find way more than these points if you read the book.

Coming to the writing style

1) Pace - Fast

2) Language usage - Very easy. Even beginners can enjoy it.

3) Age group - preferably 15+

4) Plot Development - Complex style. Will discuss in the next paragraph

5) Character Building - Details to the core

6) Content Amount - 250% than normal thrillers

7) Cover - So so. Needs more attractive cover.

You might be thinking why I have given just pointers above, but why to waste more words when I can convert the same with just bullet points.

Now coming to what is changed from Dhaulandhar to this book. The author has reduced technicalities drastically. He focuses more on storytelling than engineering/technical discussion. The plot of this book is more interesting as we were unearthing new facts with each chapter. The reason I said the plot is complex is plot is divided between 6-7 major characters. You will get to know only the portion known to that character. You won't get a full picture without reading until the last chapter. The character building is still heavily information-driven, mostly dating back to the character's parents or grandparents' background. I enjoyed the information about the main characters but when too much information about someone meeting your characters just once (like a couple from the Gambia) was actually too much. I feel that could have been avoided.

Overall a wonderful read. One that can make a good visual content of converted in web series or movies. I may take a review on our BookTube channel as it fits our theme.

I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this book.

Book Links - Goodreads and Amazon

Crime Thriller - The Tech by Mark Ravine

After romance, the second most loved genre would be a detective/crime thriller. In the last 6-7 weeks of lockdown, I have devoured a couple of such books. I was out of said genre book when a friend from the publishing industry sent me the blurb of "the Tech by Mark Ravine". I instantly got a liking for the book. I accepted the book in exchange for an honest review. I am glad that I accepted it, because it landed on my list of this year's favorite.

The story goes something like this. An FBI officer Alexandra, our protagonist, recently shifted to her new office with a recently transferred team. Her first impression when she checked her subordinates' files was that her teammates were either looser or victims. Being a workaholic she joined the office the moment she landed in the city. She solved the first case within 24 hours even before she went to report her boss about her joining office. Surprisingly, various cases kept coming in front of her team. And each case connected with the previous one. Her team kept solving these cases, though Alexandra found their success clouted, as in each case there was some kind of hidden help to them from unknown tips or mishaps. There are more than 7-8 cases to keep the reader engaged. I don't want to reveal much to avoid giving away spoilers.

The book is lengthy, more than 450 pages. Well it is bound to be a lengthy one, because it covers so many cases and linking between these cases. Having said that, you will not find a single page with tempo going down. The author has maintained a speedy pace while maintaining interest quotient. If you want you may read one case per reading, that is how I have taken the book. While reading the book, I was visualizing that a series was playing in front of my eyes. The language used is simple, written for an audience of 14+. The characters who got the maximum stage were Alexandra, Mike, Gabriella, Nancy, AD Khan, Hollywood. Other side characters have also served their purpose. 

The technologies shown around Mike & Aisha were far fetched but gave the feeling of sci-fi along with crime thriller. Another complaint was cover and title. I feel the book can have better cover and title to match its content. 

Talking about ratings

1. Cover - 3.5/5

2. Concept - 4.5/5

3. Content - 4.5/5

4. Characters - 4/5

5. Overall - 4.5/5

Book Links - Goodreads and Amazon

HARAPPA: Curse of the Blood River by Vineet Bajpai

I have been seeing this book on the Internet for the last 4 years. I was yearning to read it so badly. We were not able to get our hands on this book series earlier. And if we had bought these books, we might have to postpone reading due to a long list of review requests. Recently we have declined multiple requests as we are being choosy now. So now I am getting enough time for reading. This means I can take long-awaited books, and Harappa is the front runner in the queue.

The story of Harappa runs in two parallel. One in current time 2017 and another in 1700 BC (of course in Harappa metropolis). So it would be obvious we will have two protagonists. The protagonist of the current time is Vidyut and Harappa's time is Vivasan Pujari. Both are considered and worshiped as half-human & half god. In 1700 BC when Vivasan was about to become a head priest one of the highest titles of Aryavarta, a sinister plan was being hatched by the wife of Vivasan's brother-in-law's wife. Things became sinister as plan rolled into the action. To add the complexity in the situation river Saraswati (called Maa Saaraa by people of Harappa) was coming to Harappa with never heard of the flood. In recent times, Vidyut a well established digital age entrepreneur got a call from Purohit Ji (a person who had raised Vidyut). Vidyut went to Kashi to meet his dying grandfather Dwarka Shashtri Ji. This incident rolled the dies for a great war. And dark forces came into the action. Read the book to know more.

I am glad I got a chance to read this book. The book has matched my expectations exactly. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Starting from the first page to the last one I kept swiping pages (I was reading on Kindle so - swiping) Writing style is a mix of action, thriller, suspense, drama & fantasy. All these ingredients were mixed with historical facts to make a perfect Indian recipe. Well, I don't mind agreeing with the author's Idea of British propaganda of holding back Indian history, possibilities are high that this might have happened. This has created a bug of curiosity in me to check any literature or documentary available on these controversies or not.

Coming to plot visualization, Vineet has done a fantastic job. He has knitted wonderful characters in both timelines around a plot to grip his readers. As I have read in social media rights for the movie production for this series are sold and maybe Hritik Roshan will play the lead role. I am anticipating that we can see tall, muscular Hritik as Vivasan & Vidyut.

A perfect read for vacation, holiday, work or any free time. Because if you read it while work is going on, you may not be able to concentrate on your work properly. :)

Ratings

1. Cover - 3.5/5

2. Concept - 5/5

3. Content - 4.5/5

4. Characters - 4.75/5

5. Overall - 5/5

Book links - Goodreads, Amazon & Flipkart

Book Review of Vineet Bajpai's Latest Book - Mastaan: The Fallen Patriot of Delhi

I have recently read the Harappa series by Vineet Bajpai. I was completely fascinated by his writing style. He got placed in my favorite Indian author. Just like Amish Tripathi or Ashwin Sanghi Vineet has brought a gripping tale in and around Hindu Mythology & other conspiracy theories. When I first saw the cover release of Masaan, a thought occurred to me how a Mythology-action style would blend in historical action. But the job was nicely done.

Book Blurb

An imperial monster masquerades as a mercantile company. From gunpowder to opium, the East India Company uses every weapon to bring an entire sub-continent to its knees. Even Tipu, the fearsome Tiger of Mysore, falls prey to British military might.

As a century of deceit and cruelty unfolds - the oppressed thirst for retribution.

Delhi is the first to drown in blood, as a violent sepoy uprising engulfs all of Hindustan. The seat of the crumbling Mughal empire emerges as the epicenter of the ghadar.

An unforgettable poet laments the destruction of his beloved city and a senile Badshah’s eyes gleam with unreal hope, as both sides of the Laal Qila witness terrifying bloodshed and historical battles.

And amidst all the cannon-roars, brutal duels, intoxicated mushairas, ravishing courtesans, haunted treasures and bloody battles – unfolds the immortal love-story of the magnificent Mastaan & the beautiful Fay.

Did one man really change the course of history’s greatest war for freedom?

The story started with the mysterious death of Tipu Sultan and curse related to his treasure. Then it switched to Mastaan and his troops. Working under the East India Company's infantry, Mastaan was a hero of his region. Known as Bandookbaaz, Mastaan was true to the name given, can alone take down a gang of thugs easily. He was loyal to company Bahadur (East India Company) till he came face-to-face with atrocities of the company done on India. Things became bitter when his cousin Mangal Pandey was hung for revolting against his senior. But at the same time, Fay, the sister of his superior took his heart. How would he maintain his revolt along with his love life? What was the relation of Mastaan's story with Tipu's treasure & its curse? Do read to know these facts.

The good parts of the book

• Gripping storytelling
• Focus on storyline & characters
• Wonderful linking of historical events
• Easy language usage
• Good for any age group
• Nice cover

I have to wait for the next part though, that's the only sad part. Ratings

1. Cover - 4.5/5
2. Concept - 4.5/5
3. Character - 4/5
4. Overall - 4.25/5

Book links - Amazon, Flipkart & Goodreads

Murder Mystery - the Secret of the Palamu Fort - Book Review

I was attracted to the book, ever since I saw its cover almost 4 months back. At that time book was yet to publish, but the cover was damn good and I just wanted to read it. I would like to thank Author Razi for providing me the review copy in exchange for an honest review. I have read stories based on many states of India, the secret of fort Palamu is my first read on Jharkhand state. So I was excited to read it.

Book Blurb

Someone has risen from the dead and is haunting the sinister ruins of the Palamu Fort, situated in the mystical land of Jharkhand.

A few hundred kilometers from the fort, in the capital city Ranchi, a History Professor of St. Xavier’s college is murdered at his home. The witnesses claim he was killed by a ghost! 

The police is clueless. Inspector Patrick Minj ropes in Detective Robin Horo, who unearths a clue which indicates that the murder has a bloody trail running as far as 350 years in the history of Jharkhand. A poisonous conspiracy was plotted centuries ago in the Kingdom of Palamu that designed the downfall of an empire and forced the king to hide his legacy in the unforgiving and indifferent womb of time. 

The ghost is leaving behind a trail of dead bodies and to solve the case Robin has nothing but an Artifact that is said to have an ancient curse over it and a centuries old riddle that if solved, could lead to an Elixir. 

Witness the conspiracy unfolding that spans 350 years in the making and takes Robin and his companions on a labyrinthine adventure involving deadly secrets, dangerous threats and a lethal encounter with a beast in the jungles of Palamu.

As the title suggests the story is linked with historical references, it even contains a certain portion of historic events. The protagonist of our story is Robin Horo, a private detective, acknowledged by the state's chief minister. Robin is well-known in media. The story started with the murder case, where police came to Robin for consultation. As per police and alibis murder was done by a Ghost. And they cannot work on an entity which didn't exist. Robin readily agreed. His involvement didn't stop further crimes, one more murder happened along with a few more attacks. How will Robin solve the case when everyone except him wanted to avoid further investigation.

On the other side, 350 years back, Raja Medini Ray recruited a boy name Satyabhama in his royal guards. Later on, he gave Satyabhama a task. In current time, the ghost attacking people has same name Satyabhama. Do read the book to know what is the mystery behind the Ghost of Satyabhama.

As mentioned earlier, this is my first read on Jharkhand, so the only strange thing I found was the names of characters. (though they are Indian, I found many of them unheard of) Else the book is as smooth as butter. I have finished it in 3 days (total reading hours less than 6 for 250 pages). Language usage is simple, you won't face vocabulary issues. The plot & suspense is well maintained. You will keep turning pages till the end. Even the climax is wonderfully portrayed.

Along with the story, the author has done a wonderful job of bringing the face of Jharkhand to its readers. Believe it or not, the state is full of natural beauty but ignored by the majority of people. If a movie or series can be planned on this book, it can promote tourism for Jharkhand.

Ratings

1. Cover - 5/5
2. Content - 4.5/5
3. Characters - 4.5/5
4. Concept - 5/5
5. Overall - 4.75/5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - Narasimha - The Mahaavatar Trilogy 1 - Author Kevin Missal

Kevin Missal has created 3 mast pieces in last 4 years. I have included Narasimha in the calculations. Just like Amish Tripathi who has created his universe were normal human reached the title of Gods. Kevin has taken alternate storytelling. Unlike Amish, who shows things either based on science and non-magical, Kevin has taken the support of myth and magic. In his Kalki series, Kevin is talking about the story of Kalki avatar. Again before finishing that he has started a new series. And this time he has taken an avatar which is not touched in details except as a tormentor of Hiranyakashipu.

Book Blurb

Narasimha, once a brave soldier, has left the war and lies low as a physician in a village. But a familiar face from his past seeks his help to stop the tyranny of the blind usurper Andhaka. If Narasimha refuses, the world might just end. What will he do? And why did he leave the war in the first place? Prahlad, the interim king of Kashyapuri, is torn between the ideals of his unrighteous father and his love for Lord Vishnu. Whom will he choose? Hiranyakashyap, the ruler of the Asura Empire, wants to avenge the death of his wife. To do that, he must go through the Trials and get the ultimate weapon - the Brahmastra. But the Trials have sent so many others to their death. Can Hiranyakashyap survive?

The story started with Indra's attack on Kashyapuri capital of Asura kingdom when king Haranyakashipu was away in Pataal. Indra broke truce that he made with Asura king. During the attack one of the Simha killed Kayadhu, Hiranya's wife. This started never-ending fights between Asura & Deva once again. This made the situation worst for whole Bharatvarsha. In a distant village, a Simha, named Nara, was approached by Indra to rejoin Deva camp. This Nara is our protagonist, avatar Narasimha. Nara joined Bhairav current Shiva. Shiva and his Gana's were being attached by lunatic Andhaka, son of previous Asura king Hiranyaksh. There was something sinister about Andhaka, Shiva's army had killed him a couple of times and whenever he was killed two of them arose. Andhaka asked help from the king, who sent his elder son Anuhard for help. Hiranya left his younger son Prahalad to handle matters of the kingdom and made him active king. Prahalad liked the idea of hope and had the second mind in joining a rebellious group called Vishnusena. Read the book to know more.

Just like Kalki Narasimha is also full of subplots. Each side has a certain group of important character which runs the flow. You will get multiple characters to plug yourself. I think you will put this book into "Unputable" category. The narration style is parallel in multiple plots, which contains suspense and thrill level intact. You can read it like cutting a cheese case. You won't stick to a page, you will keep turning them. 

Kevin has linked many real-world problems in his fiction. Like the concept of the extremist terrorist group called Vishnusena. You may relate their ideas to today's world terrorist groups. Written for 15+ age group, with easy language. No flaunting of literary prowess. All that matters for Kevin is the interest of readers, which is intact from Prologue to Epilogue. 

Well, nothing less would be expected after reading two parts of Kalki series. He has touched the same level of Kalki in Narasimha.

Ratings

1. Cover - 4.5/5
2. Concept - 4.5/5
3. Content - 4.5/5
4. Overall - 4.5/5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

The Body Nirvana - More Than Just a Weight-loss Book by Garima Gupta

I have read "Let your kid learn to loose" by Garima Gupta. I was thoroughly impressed by the idea. Well, the content of the book was very short as the book turned out as just a booklet or pamphlet-sized. So when I saw "The Body Nirvana" by the same author, I checked other's reviews and book size. The book turned out as a full size 230 pages long, so I thought of investing my efforts in the book. I would like to thank Garima to provide the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Blurb

Winner of The International Book Awards, 2019 The body listens, remembers and speaks to us. We receive the body's messages all the time, although we seldom recognize them. Our body expresses its unmet needs and calls for attention in many ways. And so it is with weight. This is a puzzling matter only because some pieces of the puzzle are not in the box you were handed. Your weight is not a body issue. Excess weight is really a multi-dimensional problem showing up as an oversized body. Popular media is still full of diet and exercise advice that is based on sacrifice and punishment. Too few books use this research to show how weight can be reduced in a happier and healthier way. The Body Nirvana is about gradually letting go of everything that literally and metaphorically weighs you down. It is time to rejoice in your body's vitality and its capacity to take you towards your life's goals!

Talking about the content, I loved the book the moment I read the first chapter which shows 14-15 facts that affect our body and weight. The author has taken a straight approach and showed us our misconceptions. I was so into the book that from parallel read, the book became single read. These eye-opening facts followed by 3-4 chapters where the author has shown us ways to bring positive attitude towards weight loss. Each of these chapters covers activities where the author has shown us what small-small changes needed in our lives, behaviors, habits, and attitude. Along with that, she has talked about "Mind Game". These are the excuses we give for not working towards a healthy life. Later chapters talk more on mental and psychological levels to bring overall positiveness towards weight loss concept. Read the book to know more.

I would say whether you are fat or thin, whether you are looking for weight gain or weight loss you must read this book once. The way the author has shared topics I started feeling positive even though I have extra pounds around my belly. 

Good points about the book

• Novel concept. No doubt about the novelty.
• Scientific support of content
• Full with activities to apply these concepts
• Myth breaker
• Good/humourous artwork at the beginning of each chapter
• Ample use of quotations
• Easy language and to the point
• Not much theory. Full of examples. 

Ratings

1. Cover - 3.5/5
2. Concept - 4.5/5
3. Content - 4.25/5
4. Overall - 4.25/5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

A Must Read - Malhaar/मल्हार: Sangram Sindhu Gatha - Part 2

A must-read.

Almost one and a half hear back I have read and reviewed "Arthala" by Vivek Kumar. At that time I have read only 3-4 Hindi novels and I found writing of Vivek better than those books I have read. I was thoroughly impressed by the "Arthala" and its complete fantasy world. Today when I have finished the second book in "Sangram Sindu Gatha" - Malhar, I am confident that book can give good competition to Amish Tripathi Meluha's Hindi translation, as no other current Hindi books in this genre are competent enough. I would like to thank Vivek for providing review copy in exchange for an honest review, else I wouldn't have been aware of such a hidden gem. Those who didn't find Hindi novels as good as English must-see/check this book.

Book Blurb

‘मल्हार’ की कहानी ठीक वहीं से प्रारंभ होती है, जहाँ प्रथम भाग की समाप्ति हुई थी। दूसरा भाग असुर देश, मुंद्रा, सौराष्ट्र तथा ऊसर की रोमांचक यात्रा करते हुए आगे बढ़ता है, और कई नई घटनाओं के माध्यम से अर्थला के कल्पनातीत संसार को विस्तारित भी करता जाता है। संग्राम-सिंधु गाथा का यह खंड असुरों के व्यापार, उनकी राजनैतिक स्थिति और आगामी युद्ध में उनकी भूमिका के पीछे के कारणों पर प्रकाश डालेगा। अकल्पित युग की यात्रा जारी है|

The first part Arthala was finished with Vidhan and Dhananjaya successfully obtaining Kundala's from Danava nation (Santhar). From that point, the second part is resumed. Vidhan fainted on the border of Santhar near Danubans patch, from there they were rescued by mysterious Siddhidharak (Super Power). On returning to Arthala Dhananjaya started working on strategies to avoid a clash with Santhar. On the other hand, Dakshan new ruler of Santhar wanted to take control of Bharat Varsha, so he was also working in the line of his goals. These known characters of Arthala makes only 25% of the second part. In Malhar, completely new territory and relations were revealed. Malhar was the part of Kanji Pradesh controlled by Asura clan. Half of the book is written in and around characters that belonged to the Asura nation. This part shows the political and economic situation of the country. The kingdom was in turmoil. It shows how the trading community (mainly two groups) had handled the whole country indirectly. Along with that, this book has also revealed more "Siddhidharak" and created curiosity to know further. The book is finished in such a high tempo that I wish I had read when the next part will be with me.

Coming to writing style, when you are writing a series author has to cultivate multiple characters, plots, and subplots. Without which the series becomes dull. The first part was majorly dedicated to Vidhan but the second shows other important characters as well. There are more than 5-6 subplots and 7-8 important characters in series now. With these complexities, you have multiple fronts to guess what will happen next. 

Good points about the book

• Good narration style. Juggling between plots and characters was optimum
• Balanced suspense and thrill 
• Proper characterization of newly introduced characters
• The mix of super power, war & political fiction
• A light read for the general age group with easy to follow language usage.

Talking about ratings

1. Cover - 4/5
2. Characters - 4.5/5
3. Concept - 4.5/5
4. Overall - 4.5/5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - How to Finish Everything You Start by Jan Yager

No matter who you are, where you are and at which place/position you reached. There must be at least one thing in your mind or past which you had started or want to start which never happened or finished. Before reading this book I was mostly blaming situations/circumstances. I always thought "if that had not happened I would have achieved this" When I first saw this book, its title got my attention and I picked it up instantly. Maybe many of you have found cover dull or simple but I think it must have been kept that way intentionally.

Book Blurb

Habits to transform your life how to finish everything you start is just the book you need to get more done! This book will help you in understanding the causes of the unfinished epidemic, its cures, and when choosing not to finish something is okay. By focusing on this one key issue that is sabotaging so many today in their quest to be more productive at work, and to have a more satisfying personal life, you are more likely to: understand what is behind your occasional or chronic reluctance to finish apply the authors unique brf-i-n-i-s-h systematic approach to get more done complete priority projects or tasks be more confident if you do put something aside it is for the right reasons and lots more

The content design of the book is nice. The author has started with examples (classing ones) like publishing a book, exercising, new project, etc which is relevant to many of us. From that author takes us to 22 reasons why the thing is the way which prevents us from achieving what we started for. This chapter along with the next 3 chapters are sectioned together under "Cause" by the author where she has explained mental, physical and psychological aspects of various reasons. Once that is discussed she takes us towards the "Cure" section which starts with "F-I-N-I-S-H" approach.

She has also shared other good practices for better goal achievements. At the end of Cure section, she has given an example and step by step application of points discussion till that point in the book. The last section discusses things to ponder upon. Read the book to know more.

Good points about the book

1. Ample of relevant examples
2. Simple language usage.
3. Topics are divided into micro-categories for example 22 reasons
4. Proper space provided for the exercise
5. You can read it as a textbook as a self-help book or just an informative book
6. A catchy title and simple cover design

Those who think they are not getting enough time to finish their unfinished tasks must read this book. I am giving 4.5 stars out of 5 to this wonderful book.

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads