The Song of Our Bond-Pinki Bakshi

Book: The Song of Our Bond
Author: Pinki Bakshi
Publisher: Ukiyoto Books

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

Do you have an old friend with whom you have lost touch?

1970s, Eastern India. Meena, a nine-year-old Bengali girl, moves with her family to Khurda Road in Orissa. Everything feels unfamiliar: the food, the people, the language and the culture; until she meets Kasturi, a 10-year-old local Oriya girl. In Kasturi, she not only finds a true friend but also a confidante. With Kasturi, Khurda starts to feel a little like home. But life has its own way of testing bonds. The two friends are eventually torn apart and overwhelmed by the grief of separation. Matters get even worse for Meena, who soon finds herself caught amidst the crossfires of communal flare-ups in her new hometown. Her childhood becomes marred by memories of loss, fear, and insecurity. Years pass. Both girls grow into women, carrying their scars quietly, with grace. Time seems to have helped them carve their own separate paths. And yet, does the bond they once shared still linger deep within them, like an unfinished melody? Will Meena ever make peace with her traumatic past? Will she and Kasturi ever find each other again? Or is the song of their bond destined to fade away in a whimper? The Song of Our Bond is a tender tale of childhood friendship, separation, and hope that never truly dies.

Pinki’s book explores how the friends that we make during our school days are the ones we remember the most. Through the story, the author beautifully captures how Meena is initially intimidated by changing surroundings, only to find an anchor in Kasturi, a girl in her neighborhood. The story then moves on to how life separates them, each charting her own path, each of them looking for the other. The writing in the book is interesting and the first half of the book keeps you hooked because of a lot that is happening, both in the lives of our characters as well as the changing social landscape. I liked the fact that the author weaves in the political turmoil of the times into the plot to add a layer of intrigue. What did not work for me in the book was that the book focuses entirely on the childhood, and virtually nothing of their teens or the adult life is captured to show their yearning for each other. Secondly, the book is written from Meena’s perspective, but the same scenario from Kasturi’s POV would have also added a wonderful layer to the storytelling. The climax is well-written and I liked the call back to the childhood and the link with the title of the book.

Overall, a book I would recommend if you would like to read a short novella on female friendship, and how they can stand the test of time. The book scores a 4.25/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

Shadowbound-Nikhil Sampath

Book: Shadowbound
Author: Nikhil Sampath
Publisher: Self Published

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

What would you do if you could hide in the shadows?

In the forgotten village of Kattur, shadows carry old stories—and some are far more dangerous than legend. Kadhir, a withdrawn college student, wants nothing more than to stay invisible. But when he and the fiercely determined Surekha stumble upon whispers of an ancient legend, they are drawn into a web of hidden scrolls, strange disappearances, and a legacy that refuses to stay buried. At the center of it all lies the Nizhalvaazhveeran—the Shadow Protector—once believed to have saved Kattur from destruction. But as the line between folklore and reality begins to blur, Kadhir and Surekha find themselves confronting truths that are as unsettling as they are inescapable. What begins as a quiet investigation soon spirals into a night of betrayal, transformation, and tragedy—where friendship, loyalty, and courage are tested against forces older and darker than they could ever imagine. Slow-burning, atmospheric, and haunting, this is a thriller where the shadows don’t just hide secrets—they awaken them.

Shadowbound is a book that sits perfectly between mythology and a superhero story. Nikhil creates a wonderful world where a protector from the past comes alive. What I loved about the book was that the origin story of the Nizhalvaazhveeran has been built up, slowly and steadily. We see him understand, learn and use his powers to save Kattur in times of need. Nikhil takes his time to unravel the secret and while he does use a standard superhero formula, I loved that the story and the character is inherently local. Another aspect of Nikhil’s storytelling that stands out is that you are led into the story bit-by-bit and there are certain scenes that truly break your heart, specially 2 deaths which form the core of this book. The writing is quite fresh, and while you see some aspects of the story that show the author’s love for superheroes and all things magical, the idea to use local folklore and elements, along with a dash of science was a stroke of masterful storytelling. The light-vs-shadow was a wonderful play that he does in the book, and to flip the conventional color connotations was something I really loved. The climax is wonderfully penned and the visual aspect of it is quite descriptive which almost helps you visualize the scene, rather than just read it.

Coming to the characters, I loved the way Kadhir’s character has been written. A young college student, considered as weak by the others, a loner who suddenly has the power to change things. His journey from understanding to harnessing his potential was plotted nicely. Surekha’s character as a headstrong woman who will stop at nothing to fulfill what she has decided was the one I admired the most. Her relationship with Kadhir and how their equation changes was written in a very interesting manner, and specially when she realises that the person she was looking for is Kadhir, that scene does wonders for the story.

Overall, Shadowbound is a series that I am looking forward to reading, specially with more books in the pipeline. We might just have a superhero universe in making. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

12 Years: My Messed Up Love Story-Chetan Bhagat

Book: 12 Years: My Messed Up Love Story
Author: Chetan Bhagat
Publisher: HarperCollins India

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

How do you know when the person you are in love with is “The One”?

He's 33. She's 21. He's a struggling stand-up comic. She's a rising star in private equity. He's divorced. She's never had a boyfriend. He's Punjabi. She's from a conservative Jain family. They shouldn't be together. But they can't stay apart. Welcome to 12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story. Saket and Payal couldn't be more different—age, background, beliefs. Yet, they're drawn to each other in ways they can't explain. Is it just chemistry, or something deeper? Is it madness and lust, or is it love? Unputdownable and thoroughly entertaining, 12 Years tries to answer the eternal question: How do you know if someone is the one—especially when everything says they're not? From India's top-selling writer Chetan Bhagat comes a powerful new love story that will make you laugh, cry and rethink everything you know about love.

Chetan’s interpretation of love and romance is something I have always admired. Right from his first book to this one, I have always liked the relatability and the simplicity in the way he presents the idea of love. 12 Years as a book has his signature writing that is simple, yet catchy. When the book came out, I thought that the title of the book references the age gap, and that this is an “age gap romance,” and I went into the book with that thought, but the actual context of the title comes to light in the climax, and that, for me, is why I still choose to pick up his books even after all these years. The plot is simple and straightforward, and is told from Saket’s eyes. The story explores his life as he experiences lows and then how he rebuilds his life overseas. The storytelling is easy to comprehend and while there are some aspects of the plot that I did not like, especially Saket and his lifestyle in Dubai, but then that gave the context to the climax as it plays out. Another thing that did not work in the book was the fact that it was a lot from Chetan’s perspective, and not a lot from Payal’s perspective. In hindsight, you feel a lot for both characters, but while reading the book, you sort of get tired of Saket after a while. I loved the serendipitous meetings that he arranges between the two, just to show context and the timelines. The climax was something I really enjoyed, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, the whole circle of life aspect that comes out from the story, and second the growth that you see in Saket is something that is commendable.

Coming to the characters, I really liked the way Chetan has sketched Saket’s character. A guy in his mid-30s, recently divorces, pursuing his passion, jumps out perfectly in the way he pens him. The character descriptions are vivid and it was quite easy to visualize him. Similarly, Payal’s character is also wonderfully penned, but I did feel that we saw a bit less of her to make more deductions about her. Mudit as the devoted and dedicated friend was again penned perfectly.

If you love to read a nicely written romance, the it comes highly recommended. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

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

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Happiness Happens-Robin Singh

Book: Happiness Happens
Author: Robin Singh
Publisher: Penguin India

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

What does happiness mean to you?

Robin Singh had everything he wanted and more—well-settled in the US, financial freedom, married to the love of his life—except he was not happy. It was in his pursuit of happiness that he stumbled across purpose. It eventually took giving up on happiness and pursuing purpose before he realised that he had finally found what he had been looking for. This is a book about what happened between him exiting his tech company and starting Peepal Farm—an animal rescue centre. It is a compilation of all the answers he got along the way and the questions he asked to get those answers. He still can't tell you what is life or why is life . . . but he can answer why to live and how to live. Happiness Happens is ultimately an exploration of what really makes us happy. It is Robin’s journey told simply, with the hope that it will reach people who are dissatisfied with how they have been living but haven't yet been able to answer how else to live.

Happiness Happens is a book that is quite different from the usual self-help books that are currently available. Robin does not impart a lot of jargon or tips to achieve happiness, rather he explains his journey of self-realisation and how in his quest in finding the answer to the question of “What is happiness” he explores various things and finally arrives on the concept of Peepal Farm. The book is essentially his story of what he did through the years and how his perspective on life changed as he started looking at it from a completely different lens. What I loved about the book was that there is nothing right or wrong that is classifies, rather his idea is only to understand what is your own understanding of happiness, and then how you chart your way towards it. Another thing I really liked was that he does not deal in absolutes. His writing does mention that as an individual, you get to choose how you pave your way towards your own happiness. One of the key takeaways from the book for me was to ask the right questions, and to have the courage to take actions once you decide what you want to do with your life.

This book might not give you the answers to what you are looking for in life, but at the same time, it does help you find the right perspective towards life, and how to walk towards your own definition of Happiness. The writing in the book is simple and easy to understand. There is no jargon or words coined to explain the meaning of life, but rather it is the story of the experience of Robin as he goes through life. The book is a simple read, and the focus is on the message which makes it even more interesting.

The book is a definite recommendation and scores a 4.81/5 for me.

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

The Daughters of Shantiniketan-Debalina Haldar

Book: The Daughters of Shantiniketan
Author: Debalina Haldar
Publisher: Readomania

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

What happens when tradition suffocates love and freedom? Shantiniketan is the abode of one of Kolkata’s most revered aristocratic families, where Rabindranath Tagore's legacy is upheld as a sacred doctrine, untouched by modern thought. However, patriarchal ideals reign supreme and the men of the family dictate the rules, women's voices are suppressed, controlled or punished. But when the obedient granddaughter falls in love with a Bohemian singer who dares to modernize Tagore’s work, a storm of rebellion brews. Love clashes with tradition, and the family’s perfect façade begins to crack, revealing dangerous secrets and hidden truths. Will the daughters of Shantiniketan break free, or will the weight of the past crush their hopes? The Daughters of Shantiniketan is a riveting tale of forbidden love, generational struggles, defiance, and the fight for self-expression in a world defined by tradition.

Debalina’s book is wonderful insight into what happens when tradition becomes suffocating and to maintain the façade of being “honest” to a belief, we start expecting everyone to fall in line, regardless of what the individual wants in life. Through Charulata’s eyes, we see how each member of the Roy family struggles with their own ambitions against maintaining the image, purity and the traditions that the family stood for. Right from Gora not being able to pursue his dream of being in a band, to the daughter-in-law of the family not being able to write, just because she wanted to use her maiden name, each of the members have their own stories to tell which come to the fore. I loved how the author uses Charulata as a metaphor for the change that happens in Shantiniketan and how her clothes signify the change that takes place in the house over the course of the book. The storytelling is quite engaging and keeps you hooked. While in the initial part of the book, one might feel that the stories feel a bit disconnected, the climax brings each of them together in a wonderful fashion. The use of Rabindra Sangeet to express emotions in the book is a very nice touch and is perfectly in sync with the theme of the book.

Coming to the characters, I loved how the author creates this family that looks perfect from the outside, but is just as dysfunctional from the inside, and each member of the family is struggling silently from the inside. Charulata as a young member, who is technically a conformist tries to justify the actions in the first part of the book, but comes to realise the injustice of it all as the stories come to light. Her transition is extremely well written, and the climax scene perfectly completes the story arc. While Nikhilesh is a character that comes in the very end, I liked how he turns the entire story around with his actions. Bolai as a fresh voice in the book was something I really enjoyed reading.

Overall, a book that is a definite recommendation for its themes and ideas. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

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

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.