Tents and Trails: Wild Camping Chronicles-Ratheesh Menon

Book: Tents and Trails-Wild Camping Chronicles
Author: Ratheesh Menon
Publisher: Bluerose India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever done a trek or camped under the stars?

Tents and Trails is an evocative journey into India's untamed wilderness, blending adventure, discovery, and the spiritual essence of nature. Through the eyes of a passionate traveler, trekker, and explorer, the book transports readers from the dense jungles of Karnataka and Kerala to the rugged terrains of Uttarakhand and Himachal. Each expedition unfolds extraordinary encounters-wolves lurking in shadows, elephants crashing through the undergrowth, tigers moving silently, and cobras gliding along moonlit paths. Under star-lit skies at each campsite, survival skills intertwine with lessons from the forest, revealing the rhythms of animal behavior and the profound silence of nature. Beyond thrilling adventures, this collection captures the healing, teaching, and transformative power of the wild. Rich in wonder, mystery, and raw experience, Tents and Trails invites readers to feel the pulse of the jungle and rediscover the timeless bond between humans and the natural world.

Tents and Trails is a collection of 8 stories from Ratheesh’s camping and trekking journeys through Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Written as a travelogue, Ratheesh tells us the story of how he decided to plan the trip, how to reach that location, and some interesting trivia of the place. He also weaves in the flora and fauna that are found in that location and how his camping got interspersed with the call of the wild. Ratheesh’s writing is fresh, engaging, and honest, and it presents an interesting perspective on how connecting with nature can help us maintain a balance in our lives which are quite heavy with the city life that most of us are accustomed to. I loved the uninhibited way he tells us the story of meeting different people, connecting with them and making friends. Another aspect that shines out is the bits and pieces of facts that are sprinkled across the book where he covers the wildlife that he encounters. His love for nature also shines out from the fact that he has mentioned about collecting plastic for disposal on his treks, which I do believe is a very good practice to have. His photography skills also come out very beautifully in the way he talks about cameras and settings, but I would have loved to have seen some coloured inserts of the photos for each of the treks which would have elevated the overall reading experience.

I am quite inspired by the book, and having taken note of the locations, I might just plan a few trips taking his recommendations. The book scores a 4.69/5 for me, and is recommended for people who love to travel, trek and camp.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)-Dan Brown

Book: The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)
Author: Dan Brown
Publisher: Penguin India

What if a secret was so powerful that it could change the world of it was revealed?

Accompanying celebrated academic, Katherine Solomon, to a lecture she’s been invited to give in Prague, Robert Langdon’s world spirals out of control when she disappears without trace from their hotel room. Far from home and well out of his comfort zone, Langdon must pit his wits against forces unknown to recover the woman he loves. But Prague is an old and dangerous city, steeped in folklore and mystery. For over two thousand years, the tides of history have washed back and forth over it, leaving behind echoes of everything that has gone before. Little can Langdon know that he is being stalked by a spectre from that dark past. He must use all of his arcane knowledge to decipher the world around him before he too is consumed by the rings of treachery and deception that have swallowed Katherine. Against a backdrop of vast castles, towering churches, graveyards buried twelve deep and labyrinthine underground passages, Langdon must navigate a shadow city hiding in plain sight, a city which has successfully kept its secrets for centuries and will not readily deliver them.

Dan Brown’s books have already kept me interested, especially the way he blends the mythology, science, and secrets in all his books. The Secret of Secrets stands out in its writing which keeps you gripped till the last page. The storytelling is classic Brown and you are kept guessing the intentions of the characters as you see them in action. I loved how the author uses the city of Prague and its local legends as a plot point and introduces you to some hitherto unknown elements of the city. Another aspect of the book that I really loved was its science, and how Dan reveals it piece by piece, till you realise the enormity of the secret in the climax. The entire story arc taking place in the Penguin Random House Office was a wonderful surprise, and honestly, I loved that Dan breaks the wall between the reader and the publisher, giving us a peek into the publishing aspect. The plot moves at a decent pace and as a reader, you have enough time to read, absorb and contemplate the events as the occur in the book. Having read his previous books, The Secret of Secrets is almost at par with The Da Vinci Code with the level of thrill and intrigue that it brings to the fore. The climax is well written, and does full justice to the ride that the 600 odd pages in the book take you through.

Coming to the characters, Robert Langdon in this 6^th rodeo is the same old professor who manages to get himself into tight spots but is also able to get out of them. Dan retains the charm for Langdon that was there in the previous books, and keeps his problem-solving ability intact. Jonas Kaufman was a wonderful surprise, and I must say his character was very well written, and the sub-story that runs in the PRH office was wonderfully captured. Ambassador Nagel’s character arc was nicely written, and I liked that there was a complete curve in the way her character was written. The other characters were also wonderfully plotted and did complete justice to the story.

Overall, a definite recommendation if you are looking to pick up a thriller, and if you are a Dan Brown Fan, then do not miss the title. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a bookstore near you.

Bloodbath (The Empress of Indraprastha #4)-Sonali Raje

Book: Bloodbath (The Empress of Indraprastha #4)
Author: Sonali Raje
Publisher: Vishwakarma Publication

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Discover the science of war. Be enthralled by intense political debates and failed negotiations. Understand battle strategies from the mastermind, Krishna, and indulge in his philosophical and psychological mind-games with comrades and combatants alike. Explore the tenuous skill of intelligence-gathering and providing critical logistical support to the soldiers, along with the royal women of Indraprastha. Uncover the glories and horrors of war, of despicable cowardice and magnificent valour, of ethics and morals. Continuing with themes of women's empowerment, gender equality, and maternal support for married daughters, in this installment, recognize the importance of the inclusivity of differently abled individuals. Appreciate the unique skillset they bring to a task, in this modern-day fictional recreation of the Mahabharat, with lessons for current times. Continue the journey with the indomitable Empress of Indraprastha, as the warriors assemble at Kurukshetra in an annihilatory - Bloodbath.

Sonali’s retelling of the great epic continues and in this book, we see the events as they happen in Kurukshetra. Picking up from where she left off in Book 3, Sonali presents the story of the war in her own words. Throughout the book, we see the idea of ethics and morality being presented and questioned, repeatedly as the war progresses. Sonali’s writing is powerful, and the visuals that she presents are so intense that some of them bring literal tears into your eyes as you read them. Abhimanyu’s death scene is one of them. The sheer description of the scene and how Draupadi reacts to it was something I can never forget. Another scene that stayed with me was when she describes the tax Panchaal was supposed to pay to Hastinapur, and how she presents the payment in kind. Another aspect of the book that stood out for me was how Sonali writes the pettiness of the characters, and while this might seem like an odd part in a book review, that pettiness makes the book enjoyable. While the first half of the book was focused a bit more on the war, I loved how the second part of the book focusses on the horrors of war and how it impacts the people left in the aftermath of such a conflict. This book also features a few call backs to the previous books in the series, and the scene where Karna’s birth is revealed is one such scene which stands out as a brilliantly written one, specially with the emotions it draws out from the reader. Coming to the climax, the last line of the book is chilling, and knowing how Sonali is surprising with her writing, Book 5 promises to be even more gripping than this one.

Coming to the characters, we have met most of our primary characters in the previous books, and as an extension of the previous books, there is not much to talk about character development, however there are few instances that do deserve a mention. Abhimanyu’s character arc is something that has been told and retold many times, but I think the way Sonali’s presents his character was truly exemplary. Vrushali’s character arc also takes a wonderful turn in the book, and I think her presence in the scene under the tree was wonderfully penned!

Overall, Bloodbath is a wonderful addition to the series, and presents Sonali’s writing as one of the best retellings of the great epic. The book scores a 5/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a bookstore near you!

Check out my review of the previous books in the series:

Call It Coincidence-Nona Uppal

Book: Call It Coincidence
Author: Nona Uppal
Publisher: Penguin India

Meet Naina: a twenty-five-year-old with big dreams and a sceptical heart, searching for love that lasts and a job that doesn’t make her dread mornings. Enter Vatsal: a charming, unpredictable twenty-eight-year-old lawyer-to-be, interning in Delhi before jetting off to London for his master’s degree. Their worlds collide unexpectedly, leading to a whirlwind first date. Naina feels an instant connection, like fate brought them together. In days, they go from strangers to friends, best friends and then something more. Everyone thinks it’s just a matter of a few days until they make it official, call it love. How could they not, when it feels this right? But then comes the Diwali party―the best and worst day of Naina’s life. A devastating event shatters their bond, and they don’t speak. For three whole years. As fate would have it, Naina and Vatsal meet again. This time, Naina is cautious; Vatsal overfamiliar. Everything feels just as intense as it once did―but can Naina handle the pain that took her years to overcome, if at all? And can Vatsal fight his fears and stay to watch Naina overcome it?

Call It Coincidence is a story that explores the experiences we have growing up impact our perception of reality and our reactions to situations in life. The book explores the story of Naina and Vatsal, and how their paths keep crossing even after 3 years of being apart. Nona’s storytelling is quite gripping, and it is not difficult to imagine yourself in the shoes of either character. The writing is simple, easy to understand and contemporary in the way we see choice of partner, career and life choices. The romance between the leads is wonderfully written and the spark is nicely captured. What works in the book is the to and fro between Naina and Vatsal the first time around and how it ends, specially how it ends. When their paths cross again three years later, Nona recreates these meet-cute moments drawing parallels from the first time around. While Naina is cautiously optimistic, the author keeps Vatsal’s emotions a bit hidden till the very end. Another aspect that I loved was how Nona writes the relationship between Naina and Sarina. The climax was predictable, but the execution was interesting and I could feel a lot of inspiration from Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani in the climax.

Coming to the characters, Naina is wonderfully penned and her anxieties, character traits and relationships come out quite nicely. I loved how she is frank and her honesty come out with each scene. Vatsal’s character was also something I really enjoyed reading. A guy battling his own demons yet has the space to love unconditionally was quite refreshing to read. I also like the fact that until the reveal is done, you are mildly annoyed at Vatsal, and I think drawing emotions like that from a reader exhibits good reading. The best-friend-cum-big-sister relationship between Naina and Sarina is wonderfully penned. The one scene where Sarina and Nipun are sleeping, and Vatsal is the one waiting for her was quite visual, and that I think, established quite a bit of the relationships for me.

Overall, Call It Coincidence is a story of falling in love, falling out of love, and how you need to keep falling in love with the same person day after day for a relationship to work. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

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Navapashanam: The Quest for the Nine Magical Poisons-Nitya Neelakantan

Book: Navapashanam: The Quest for the Nine Magical Poisons
Author: Nitya Neelakantan
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you have any family heirlooms with an interesting story?

Two women...two hundred years apart. A story of magical healing, hidden treasure, betrayal, and murder. Mookambikai, the secret keeper of the Navapashanam, is being hunted and persecuted by nefarious factions until her trail goes cold after a confrontation with the vilest Aghora who wants the Navapashanam. 200 years later, Mookambika's great grandniece, Manimeghalai aka Megha, finds herself entangled in a maelstrom of events involving dark elements who are still on the hunt for the Navapashanam. Amidst near fatal accidents, an increasing count of dead bodies, and a missing fiancé, Megha, is pushed into looking for the lost Navapashanam. Will she find what she desperately seeks? Are Mookambikai's and Megha's destiny entwined? Will Megha save the day? Navapashanam takes you on a fascinating journey of passion and intrigue.

Nitya pens an interesting blend of mythology and thriller in this book where the genres do seem to blur. The plot is very well planned and as a reader, you are given hints of what might happen in the book, but you can never be too sure of the events that would unfold. The storytelling is gripping and fast-paced, especially considering the detailing done in the plot. The parallel timelines, running almost 200 years apart are coherent, and in both the timelines the reveal is slow and deliberate which keeps the interest alive in the story. Another interesting aspect of the book that stood out for me was that the clues for the reveal are hidden in plain sight, but just like a jigsaw, you don’t get the context until all the other pieces are in place. Using similar names for the characters and the part of the secret was quite ingenious and it added a good flavour into the story. While the general feeling was quite good, I did feel that the climax was a bit rushed, considering the build up to it. I do feel that a bit more of detailing in the latter part of the book could have done wonders for it. That said, the poetic justice in the climax was quite satisfying.

Coming to the characters, there are just the right number of characters in the story. Each character has been carefully plotted and placed into the story, entering and exiting just at the right time. I loved Megha’s character for her resilience, as well as her emotional quotient that drives the story forward. It was her grit that leads the story to the climax. Linking her name to the heirloom was a wonderful way of maintaining connection between the timelines and showing the importance to the reader. Mookambikai’s character was another which was written beautifully and with such devotion to her cause. I do feel that some of the characters, had they been provided more time, could have added more richness to the story. Saravanan was one such character that I felt could have added a bit of more complexity into the storytelling.

Overall, Navapashanam was a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading, and I must say that this sort of storytelling I have read either in a Dan Brown or an Ashwin Sanghi book. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a bookstore near you.

The Constitution of India-An Illustrated Children’s Book- Sutapa Basu

Book: The Constitution of India-An Illustrated Children’s Book
Author: Sutapa Basu
Illustrators: Shalini Soni Mazumdar & Shubham Lakhera
Publisher: Wonder House

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you have an idea of the basic tenets of the Constitution of India?

Ever wondered what makes India’s democracy work? This book is your ticket to exploring the Constitution in a way that’s fun, interactive, and easy to grasp! With vibrant illustrations and simple, engaging language, it breaks down complex ideas into bite-sized lessons, helping young minds understand their rights, responsibilities, and the power of their voice.  Why You’ll Love This Book-Democracy Made Simple: Big ideas explained in a clear, accessible way, Bright & Engaging Illustrations: Learning that’s as colorful as it is fun!,  Empowering Young Citizens: Know your rights, duties, and the pillars of democracy, Interactive & Thought-Provoking: Encourages questions, discussions, and real-world connections, and Your ultimate guide to democracy—made easy and exciting!

Most of our introductions to the Constitution of India have been through the Social Studies classes and text books. As Citizens, most of us have not actually taken out the time and read this book that forms the basis of our lives as citizens of the country. Sutapa takes out the essence of this bedrock of democracy and presents it in a compact, easy to read and understand way in this edition. Each of the founding blocks has been explained word by word. The book explores the various aspects of the preamble, the meaning of Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic. What I loved about the book is that it is filled with illustrations outlining the topic Sutapa is talking about in the book. Another aspect that stands out is that it is written in a simple language, keeping in mind the target group of kids and young adults. The topics which are usually complex to understand have been beautifully explained, and the food for thought that she has left in each chapter would encourage the young citizens to read more and explore. The section of the book where she talks about the history of the constitution, key people who were instrumental in creating the constitution and the brief introduction to them was a wonderful addition to the book.

This is an edition of the Constitution of India that should certainly be a part of the learning curve for every child and young adult to help them know more about the country they live in, and how our country is run and managed. The book scores a 5/5 for me.

 Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or a Bookstore Near you.

Whispers in the Mist-Prerna Dewan

Book: Whispers in the Mist: Tales from a Himalayan Hamlet
Author: Prerna Dewan
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you have stories in your hometown that have been prevalent since time immemorial?

A haunting plagues a sleepy hamlet in the mist-covered hills of Darjeeling. Gayatri's distraught spirit wanders about her husband and his new wife until she discovers a secret that unknowingly alters the trajectory of the nine lives she has touched. Whispers in the Mist weaves together ten interconnected stories, with Gayatri’s love and grief as the thread binding them all. From a grieving couple to a halfwit seeking meaning in life, from friends reunited after tragedy to a little girl’s lament for her broken family, each character faces profound struggles. An octogenarian caught between colonial rule and tradition, a shopkeeper torn between love and duty, and a rape victim fighting societal stigma—every life touched by fate. And Baini, a stray cat, discovers her own fate alongside them all. With a blend of Himalayan folklores, myths, and culture, Whispers in the Mist highlights the complexity of the human spirit, the resilience and strength of ordinary people to overcome life's adversities.

Prerna’s book is a book set in the mist-covered hills of Darjeeling, and the book gives you the feel as if you are reading something akin to Malgudi Days. The storytelling format of individual stories, set in the same town and connected by a common thread makes for a good setting. Prerna’s writing is engaging and you see the town and its stories through the eyes of different characters as you move along in the book, including non-human characters. The superstitions and the beliefs of the people have also been captured, as well as the rustic lives of the people in small towns. What works in the book is that the stories are short and descriptive, and you get to move to different perspectives in each story. Prerna’s writing is quite honest and that is evident in the manner she tells the story. What didn’t work for me in the book was the length and the number of stories. The charm of the town and the unearthly apparitions weans off after a few stories. Another aspect what could have been improved was reducing the number of characters and increasing the impact of the remaining characters. The last chapter was fresh, but till you reach that part, the complexity gets to you.

The characters in the book are well written, and the level of detailing, specially when talking about almost an entire town is commendable. I loved how the author introduces quirks in the characters, be it the English-obsessed Mr. Thapa, or the infatuated shopkeeper. Prerna creates her characters with ease and each of these characters become an important part of the storytelling.

Overall, the book is a good story of myths, folklore and culture of the hills. The book scores a 4.44/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a bookstore near you.