The 8 kingdoms are each known for their distinct spices, but access is limited to a few, born with the mark. Rather than being treated as gifted, theyThe 8 kingdoms are each known for their distinct spices, but access is limited to a few, born with the mark. Rather than being treated as gifted, they are doomed to the eternal cycle of slavery and carrying spices. Our protagonist wants to taste freedom, not just for himself, but also for his family. But every time he reaches for it, something beyond his control stirs up fate in a different direction. Toggling between danger and essential paths, he has a journey to conquer, before he even gets to decide the kind of world he wants.
Here are a few captivating things that kept me hooked throughout the story: • The multi-layered world buildup • The way the author delivers bite-size morsels to readers so that they don't get overwhelmed with the complexities • Non-romantic, adventurous and chaotic in the best way • The messaging: even the most insignificant living being can change the course of the world
I did find the beginning a tad bit slow, but considering the layers, I understand that it was necessary. If you are looking for a non smutty fantasy book to quench your thirst for enigma and magic, give this one a try.
A coffee shop that appears out of nowhere, attracting people who need just a push to get their life back on track. But the catch is, the cafe takes noA coffee shop that appears out of nowhere, attracting people who need just a push to get their life back on track. But the catch is, the cafe takes no orders! With a mix of astrological approaches & magical realism, guiding people to help them discover their lost charm it a sweet story.
The book has a calm narrative, despite the troubles of life it speaks of & it makes a really good cozy book to read when you feel low on a gloomy day. It's surely not a reread type, but the aspects of magic amalgamated so well into the story that you will enjoy the journey. ...more
Experimenting with new books always comes at a cost!
Sometimes we enjoy them, but other times I feel I am not so sure. This is the story when the worldExperimenting with new books always comes at a cost!
Sometimes we enjoy them, but other times I feel I am not so sure. This is the story when the world is about to end and the next generation may not live their entire lifespan. Toppled in this situation is a family whose elder daughter has been missing for 3 years & they finally think it's time to go & find her. The journey starts with a homely neighbour accompanying them & a cat who loves attention.
It unfolds into a tightly knit world with few main characters that carry their own emotional baggage. On this journey, we understand the power of letting go, forgiveness & what really matters when the end is so near. The writing style was simplistic but I felt a few added layers would have made the story much more impactful to an avid reader.
It felt like a travelogue of family reconciliation which needed a little more exuberance to outshine the inevitable doom. ...more
The life of Medusa has forever been told by the perception of her gruesome end at the hands of a demi-god. So the book brings forward a story that covThe life of Medusa has forever been told by the perception of her gruesome end at the hands of a demi-god. So the book brings forward a story that covers her life and the major incidents that played a vital role in pivoting her life to the one we all know.
While reading the book, I got to know innumerable aspects about Medusa that otherwise were never mentioned at such lengths. Her childhood, her on & off chemistry with her two sisters, her role as a priestess and more. As a character, she has always fascinated me, so I was looking forward to an in-depth exploration of her character.
One thing that I did appreciate as a reader was the author did not alter the ending but did however add her own touch to it, which made the experience a little emotional and attached. ...more
I read the new edition of the debut work by the Author that integrates magical realism seamlessly into the everyday lives of characters.
Meche has alwaI read the new edition of the debut work by the Author that integrates magical realism seamlessly into the everyday lives of characters.
Meche has always had a special connection with music. In her teenage, she discovers how to cast spells using these musical tapes along with her two friends. But when she returns decades later to her father's funeral, all the ties she once broke to be free from the memories of this town string together. But what about the magic, is it still a possibility?
The lukewarm sensation that the author maintains throughout the story with musical influences is carved beautifully like a tattoo on the characters. More than hope, reality or justice, I found myself simply rooting to know what happened next without a bias towards any situation. I wasn't really attached to any particular person in the book, but what unfolded had a firm grip on my attention.
With another inspired character from Ramayana comes this riveting tale of Tara - the Queen of Kishkindha.
The author does a fine job of selectively piWith another inspired character from Ramayana comes this riveting tale of Tara - the Queen of Kishkindha.
The author does a fine job of selectively picking the characters of history that yet remain a mystery to us, beyond some basic knowledge. Exploring the life of Tara from an unventured angle we discover so much about her inner strength and unwavering willingness to shape her destiny along with the kingdom into a vision.
When you read a book and your whole perception of a character changes, it means the author has worked wonders. The book felt so well researched & particularly the development of the characters (which even though I knew from the past, felt like a new version). I recommend this to readers who enjoy FMC with strong suits flavoured with ancient stories that remain evergreen with time.
Following the life of Lavina and Aeneas, the story is narrated in 3 different timelines. The current state where Lavina was promised to Turnus, but heFollowing the life of Lavina and Aeneas, the story is narrated in 3 different timelines. The current state where Lavina was promised to Turnus, but her father has now changed his mind and decided to marry her to a better suitor coming from across the sea (Aeaneas). This triggers yet another war, that Lavina wants no part of but is now stuck as the centre-piece.
Aeneas(Son of Venus) has survived Troy but refuses to discuss his past & his secretive nature only compels her to dig more as she comes across a storyteller from a foreign land who knows it all. The tale is woven across prophecies and the lives of humans dangling in the direction of God's plan.
This one is for the fans of Greek Mythology, who would enjoy discovering characters and their stories beyond the Troy Heros. The world back then left little freedom for women, but that never seems to have diminished their will to play a key role following the significant events of history.
Willa is now a great child psychologist, but an interview turned into a viral video, and there seems to be little to hold on to. Wonderfully narrated!
Willa is now a great child psychologist, but an interview turned into a viral video, and there seems to be little to hold on to. Her past is calling her back to Broken Bayou for closure, though this feels more like an uprooting rather than a wind-up. Random barrels are being excavated from the water and with that, the shreds that tie Will to this murky place are also strengthening. Coming here was a mistake, the only choice in hand is to survive this series of killings and mysteries and stay afloat.
I was listening to an audiobook of this mystery thriller book. Initially, I was hooked by the plotline, although the confusion and unhinging plot twists are what kept me going. The narrators went surfing through the story, exchanging points of view in between & yet everything made sense as the baton of the suspect passed from one to another. I have enjoyed a thriller after a long time with almost nothing to complain about (except the narrow-minded residents of that town).
When the FBI starts a classified program & goes around recruiting teenagers with special skills to solve cold cases, Cassie is selected for her abilitWhen the FBI starts a classified program & goes around recruiting teenagers with special skills to solve cold cases, Cassie is selected for her ability to read people like paper. But the group she is going to stay with is as peculiar as herself. With the killer on roll again these random kids need to put all their skills to work together & survive before they end up becoming a case themselves.
The plot is heavily invested in the abilities of the teenagers, which adds a complex layer to the story. Each characters is developed in a different angle of light, making it tad bit difficult to pick favourites. There was definitely scope to add in multiple PoVs, though what we have is also good.
There is just one thing that wasn't to my liking & that was the love triangle. I am not very interested in that aspect though Cassie's analyzing skills were simply top-notch. Loved reading about the way she breaks down things into morsels of information. N now, I need to read the book 2!...more
As the title suggests, this was indeed a very strange story.
It's a compilation of 12 chapters that discuss the 12 significant days of Isaac's life anAs the title suggests, this was indeed a very strange story.
It's a compilation of 12 chapters that discuss the 12 significant days of Isaac's life and take you deeper into his memoir. It's notable to see that this is a commendable work at the age of 96, where you have surfed your way through life and can now share the magical essence of life.
The author does mention that no life is an ordinary one and if we pay close attention we all have those stories to share (which I absolutely agree with). The book starts with young Isaac and the story of 1st survival that rolls down into a snowball of incidents shaping his life. It is a one-of-a-kind book, where i got glimpses of his life in a distilled manner. I would love to have a chance to discover more about his life and everything that shaped him into this version.
Read this book if you enjoy memoirs with a zest of survival instinct and a will to live each day to the fullest. ...more
No one in the village has seen a giant since the last war. But when a giant body falls through the sky and is found dead. To avoid any further troubleNo one in the village has seen a giant since the last war. But when a giant body falls through the sky and is found dead. To avoid any further trouble Anwen (the meadow witch) & Cerys (the best at High Magic) decide to send a plea for help to the giant kingdom by planting a beanstalk. Little did they know this would result in them being transported to that very kingdom.
Astonished to find that the person who died is a King, the two have to stay at the palace until the giants develop a non-magical way to transport them back to their homeland below. It's a chance for Anwen to put her itching brain to the test and solve this murder mystery with a few obstacles and a few new friends in the foreign land.
I enjoyed this short and crisp adventurous mystery and the unique style of investigation. Because the pacing was fast & the characters had a real touch to them, it easily turned into a favourite. If one had to pick this book up just for 3 reasons, I would say the plot, the pacing and the characters. For anyone looking out for a cosy mystery not based in a cafe/bakery, yet having the sparks, check this out....more
To me it felt like the book had 2 main themes, one of mythical fantasy, the other of gothic. The prose is surely immersive and the story is largely inTo me it felt like the book had 2 main themes, one of mythical fantasy, the other of gothic. The prose is surely immersive and the story is largely influenced by Chinese folktales. There is music, mystery, myth, romance, danger and spooky vibes that check all the boxes of my fictional preferences.
Though the pacing is a little slow, there are multiple storylines going on parallelly under the main plot which keep you entertained. Towards the end, however, it appeared to be quite fast-paced as everything happened in quite a small time frame.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the story with a few hiccups and I wish a few things that occurred at the beginning were thoroughly explained to make it a more wholesome end that ties all the loose ends together....more
First in the series, the book follows 2 main storylines. One focuses on Krishna and Bhanumati trying to save the fate of people in Mathura with an altFirst in the series, the book follows 2 main storylines. One focuses on Krishna and Bhanumati trying to save the fate of people in Mathura with an alternate strategy. On the other Karna's character emerges with his own set of challenges that mixes his destiny, past life and future into an adventurous ride.
The prologue surely invested me into the story. I was excited to see how the Mahabharata-inspired tale spans out into its own epic fantasy. The main characters certainly had a depth to them with multiple angles developed and introduced to readers (their intellect, emotional baggage & strengths).
While the book did have so many layers to it, I did have a few concerns. The character names & a few relationship dynamics were borrowed from the original, but they often played a different role and interest areas, which confuses whether to live with the image in mind or with the partially developed side characters who we may or may not understand. Another turn-off was that the female characters were explained in a stereotypical way. And lastly, it is not exactly a clean read!
Hence, I had hard time deciphering if I loved it or had too many issues with it, which leaves my rating to somewhere in the middle. Given the length of the story, I feel at least a few of the muddles could be cleared up. ...more
A tale that weaves across generations, Evan has finally found an anchor at NYU after being on the move constantly with his mother. It's a clean slate,A tale that weaves across generations, Evan has finally found an anchor at NYU after being on the move constantly with his mother. It's a clean slate, but past ties keep popping up in his life, making him wonder if it's just a coincidence or fate that brought him here face to face with the tragedy he desperately wants to avoid.
There are several instances that interlink the connections from one life to another. The same fate has befallen them & the character's reluctance to come to terms with it added all the more pull to the story. Now as much as I was a fan of this plot, the timing of twists and the pacing felt a little off track. I continued reading just to know the end, but I can’t say I enjoyed the journey much....more
The way things ended in book 2 was, we couldn't think there would be more left to unfold - but I am so glad to be wrong! Trapped in a cage on a foreigThe way things ended in book 2 was, we couldn't think there would be more left to unfold - but I am so glad to be wrong! Trapped in a cage on a foreign ship, Zélie discovers, they haven't really won, the iron skulls are back and King Baldyr is the true player behind the scenes who destroyed civilizations in search of her. Her destiny and fight to be free forever drive her to unknown shores, as she understands what it will take to break Baldyr.
People who enjoyed the first two books in the Orïsha series will love this. I loved the world buildup, fast-paced narration, the characters (so happy to see Amari finally acting up) and the constant urge to survive even when everything seems lost. The antagonist's hunger for power and the blood moon ritual tie up this part beautifully.
One thing that's tricky in here is a constantly evolving plot and the twists, which will be very subjective to readers - I enjoyed it for the most part except for the abrupt end. Also, there isn't much romance but I am totally fine fuelled by revenge too. Just wanted to put this out there for people looking for a romantasy section. ...more
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