The Cinderella of Karnal-Reecha Agarwal Goyal

Book: The Cinderella of Karnal
Author: Reecha Agarwal Goyal
Publisher: Self Published

Do you think the stigma around mental health still exists?

The Cinderella of Karnal by Reecha Agarwal Goyal explores the story of Diya, who is considered inauspicious by the people around her, and blamed for her father’s death. She endures the barbs of the society, facing them all as she makes her way into the world. Faced with an impossible decision one day, she decides to run away from home to Chandigarh where she enrolls herself in a college to pursue her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. She dreamt of learning how to manage mental health, and come back to her hometown to repair things. However, in life, things are not what they seem, Diya finds herself entangled in a web of murders, mysteries, secrets, deceits, and life. Would she be able to fulfill her purpose, or is there something that can change the lives of the people around her?

The storyline is quite well crafted and there are multiple red herrings that keep the climax of the book hidden till the last page. The book brings to fore the stigma attached to mental illness and how society perceives them to be. The book also explores the social evil of child abuse that forms a critical aspect of the book. The incidents in the book are detailed, and the fillers in the book are kept to a minimal. Reecha has also brought up the importance of friendships in a person’s life, and how that can help a person stay mentally as well as physically healthy. The climax of the book was chilling, and yet seemed very apt for the plot.

Coming to the characters, the protagonist Diya is one of the most complex yet well-defined characters I have seen in a while. There are multiple shades to her, and her will to face life as it comes, and never ducking down despite all the resistance and the barbs of the society was fascinating. Kanika as a character embodied the true spirit of friendship, and from college to life, she was one support system for Diya who never wavered, and this is something to be truly admired.

Overall, it is a recommendation of you love a well-crafted psychological thriller. It scores a 4/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.