Mates, Dates and Double Takes-Milan Vohra

Book: Mates, Dates and Double Takes: Three First-Love Stories
Author: Milan Vohra
Publisher: Self Published

What is the most interesting date you have had?

Mates, Dates and Double Takes is a collection of three stories that explore how people meet their first love and how significant minor things can be at times. Sandwich Soulmates is a heartwarming story of how Mahira and her friends bunk college to go see a mushy movie on V-day, and sees a guy at the food court ordering the same sandwich she likes, and something clicks when Prithvi hears Mahira’s phone ringing. Since their tastes match, both in Sandwiches and Music, are they just mates, or something more? A Double Blind Date is a story that unfolds entirely in text messages between Mihika, Raina, Shlok and Pranav. With none of them having met each other before, this string of messages is the only key to unlocking the fate of the blind date. Its Not Fiction is Shayari’s story of a chance encounter with a Hungarian guy Matus on a train from Brussels to Paris, enroute her internship. What begins as a coffee in the train encounter might just pave way to a larger scheme of things, that no one could have predicted.

All the three stories are wonderfully crafted and explore the idea of first love in an interesting manner. The storytelling is quite vivid, and the imagery as well as the words are able to paint a virtual picture of the things as they happen. In the first story Sandwich Soulmates, I loved the way food and music were used to depict the idea of soulmates, and how things tumble out one after the other. Slow dance of exploring each other through their choices was done exquisitely by Mahira and Prithvi and the scares in between kept the story realistic. The climax was quite interesting, and I would love to see them come together to see how their lives pan out some day. In Double Blind Date, the idea of using only text messages is an interesting way to give an insight into the characters mind and their idea of love and a blind date. The text messages seem quite organic with emojis and non-stop texts and angry texts, and the way the last text pans out defines the true spirit of a date and V-day. It’s Not Fiction is a story that was quite fresh, and while it dealt with an interesting subject that defies logic, it somehow felt relatable, and I think that’s the best thing about this story. Overall, the stories imbibe the idea of love in a manner that a reader can relate and feel a part of the story in some part or the other. the climaxes of all the 3 stories are heart melting, and make for an excellent closure for the idea they wish to portray. There are some minute issues with the editing, but nothing that hampers the overall experience of reading the book.

Milan has crafted some amazing characters in Mahira, Prithvi, Mihika, Shlok and the rest, and each of them is worthy of telling their own story, and it is interesting to see that in a short story, the individuality of each characters jumps out as the story flows. I loved the fact that the characters have their space to come out and none of them feels artificial. It is but natural to actually get excited and feel that this character is eerily similar to someone we know and can relate to.

As is with Milan’s stories, the music that flows through the pages is an absolute delight, and I would suggest you create a playlist while you read which can enhance the experience of the story.

Overall, a definite recommendation if you are a romantic, and it scores a 4.19/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Also, you can check out the playlist I created from the songs and bands referred in the book here.

Dark Retributions-Jemimah Jonah

Book: Dark Retributions
Author: Jemimah Jonah
Publisher: Invincible Publications

Do you read stories with paranormal elements?

Dark Retributions by Jemimah Jonah is the story of Victoria Brooks, a homicide detective in the Westhill Police Department, who is called in to solve a brutal murder. A body of a woman was found in an unnatural situation and violent situation in a place that has a bad feeling around it. Victoria, however, has a secret. She can see the dead, and that is what sets of a series of events that are quite out of the world. Accompanied by paranormal investigator Jonathan Steele, she races against time to find out the perpetrators of the crime, and as the threads unravel, she realises that the key to solving the case lies in her past. Would she be able to face her demons and solve the case, or fall victim to the supernatural elements?

The plot of the story is quite interesting as it is not just another horror story, but a murder mystery with paranormal elements. The storyline is engaging as well as keeps the reader hooked to turn the page. Jemimah has actually kept the murder mystery as the central plotline, while using the paranormal activities as a way to propel the story ahead, and in my opinion, this is actually a USP of the book. The horrors in the book are chilling, but not grotesque as to scare away the reader, but the fear builds up as the story progresses. Another thing that works for the story is that it has shades of humour, and I loved the part where a ghost has a “quarter-life crisis”. However, there are some grammatical as well as editing errors that are there which can be corrected in the subsequent drafts. These do not affect the plot much, but do distract a reader. There are no plot holes, and the general flow of the story is quite smooth. The climax had a truly surprise element, and the buildup to that is great.

Coming to the characters, Jemimah has created a good detective who I would love to see solve some more cases in Victoria Brooks. She has been shown as a tough cop, but one who has her own share of troubles and secrets. Her humanity is very well explored in her ups and downs as well as her need for companionship and how that plays out as an arc. David as a character surprised me, and his love towards Victoria adds to her humanity as well. Coming to our paranormal friends, Jeremy, Harley and all the others have been given distinctive identities, and they have their own story that adds to the plot, rather than them just floating around and scaring people. The characters in the story do drive this story, and all their backstories actually form a critical part of the plot as a whole.

Overall, a good read, and recommended if you love reading murder mysteries with a tinge of horror. The book scores a 4.06/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here. 

Shadow in the Mirror-Deepti Menon

Book: Shadow in the Mirror
Author: Deepti Menon
Publisher: Readomania

Do you believe perceptions can alter a person completely?

Shadow in the Mirror by Deepti Menon begins with Nita’s death, a pregnant woman who falls from her balcony, which becomes the string that unravels a sinister plot that is afoot. As the story progresses, a shadow is cast over many lives, her father, husband, and Vinny, a young journalist drawn in by the allegations of foul play and murder. This leads to a riveting telling of stories within stories that tell the tale of splintered relationships, and some aspects of life that come together, and go away, only to come back together. Would the mystery of Nita’s death come to light, or would the secret be buried in the past in diary entries and letter?

The story does not have a straightforward and simple narrative that takes us through an investigation. It tells a deeper story about the human psyche and how events of the past can affect a person and leave scars so deep that they can never heal. Starting from the present of 1990s, it goes back to the 1970s as it explores the lives of all our characters as they happen. The language is easy to understand, and it is able to convey the emotions that Deepti wanted to portray. The mystery in the story is maintained till the very end and the core idea of the book jumps out of each page, but only in hindsight. I loved the manner in which the author structured the book and how each piece of the puzzle comes out and comes together in the end to show a complete picture. The climax was quite imaginative and unexpected, and I loved the way how everything culminates in that.

The story is quite character driven, and the narratives move ahead along with the progress of the character arcs. Each of the characters have been given due importance and they have been sketched keeping in mind the big picture that the author wants to show us. The deep dive into the lives of Kavita, Roma, Vinita and Krish is an important part of the book that establishes their purpose in the story and helps the reader connect with them, and experience the story in its entirety.

Overall, a story well told that scores a 4.38/5 for me. A Definite recommendation if you prefer a thriller genre.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Be Better Bit-By-Bit-Nishith Goyal

Book: Be Better Bit-By-Bit
Author: Nishith Goyal
Publisher: Quignog (A Pirates Imprint)

Have you ever tried implementing the concept of “Continuous Improvement” in your lives?

Be Better Bit-By-Bit by Nishith Goyal is a book that basically emphasizes on the idea of small but continuous improvements to one’s lives to make it better. Implementing the idea that doing things “bit-by-bit” can bring about big changes in a person’s life in the long run. Focusing on aspects such as mindfulness, meditation, reading etc. the book is a guide to improve one’s life, one small step at a time. If you wish to stay on the course of high productivity, success, and happiness, this book is for you. 'Be Better Bit-By-Bit' will have a revolutionary effect on your career, your relationships, your finances, and your overall life.

The book is a very interesting read in the manner it is written and structured. Not just a book that preaches, Nishith has made the concepts he explains quite practical, and provides milestones in the book that he encourages the reader to practice and develop as the book proceeds. Told in a simple and effective manner, the book actually makes a reader want to inculcate the things the book is trying to tell. Another thing that makes the book interesting is the presence of anecdotes, both from the author’s life, as well as from the books he has read. While the book talks about self-development, it emphasizes equally on discovering one’s own pace and developing it. Divided into multiple sections, each section deals with a specific aspect, and the author focuses on working on that aspect before moving ahead. The concepts are simple, yet powerful, and I loved the manner in which each of them has been dealt with, and some good recommendations of books and apps have been given. I would recommend that this book be read over a period of time, sipping it in bits, absorbing the concepts it gives for the maximum impact.

One tip for the potential readers, grab a notebook and a pen, as they are a must companion for this book!

Overall, a self-help book that I enjoyed, and would definitely recommend. It scores a 4.5/5 for me.

Grab a copy here.

One & A Half Love Story-Vishal Anand

Book: One & A Half Love Story
Author: Vishal Anand
Publisher: Moments Publishers

Do you believe college romances can turn into serious relationships?

One & A Half Love Story by Vishal Anand explores the story of what happens when a girl tells you that she had a great time with a person you love and wants to spend her entire life with him, and the worst part is the fact that you have no inkling about her. Nimisha takes a trip to Bengaluru to celebrate the Valentine’s week with Viraj and they have a great time, until she stumbles upon the Shriya, and Viraj’s past. In the quest of love, we experience the tangled loves of Viraj, Shriya and Nimisha.

The concept of the story is quite interesting with it being told in parallel timelines, converging in the end. Vishal has plotted the story well in terms of various events that influence the lives of the main characters, and how they get intertwined. Stepping away from the run-of-the-mill romances, this book actually talks about the importance of friendships and how each relationship in our life has a need and that one cannot be substituted with another. While the plotting is good, the storytelling on the other hand lacks a certain charm. Both the timelines seem quite forced and drab, and that the idea of love does not jump out at the reader. The scenes between Viraj and Nimisha, though planned nicely, do not resonate with the idea of the book and it seems that it was completed in a hurry. The climax, though cliché, is well executed and wraps up the story well.

Coming to the characters, Vishal has focused on the story and not much of the characters, though some detailing has been done in terms of descriptions, but the character sketches are not too detailed. While Shriya does get her character arc developed, however both, Nimisha and Viraj, exist as standalone characters with the past being hinted upon. This, however, does not impact the story much, though I would have liked to read a bit more about the accident that keeps being referenced.

Overall, a good read on the idea of love and relationships that scores a 3.44/5 for me.

Grab a copy here.

Love Knows No Boundaries-Sujay Kantawala

Book: Love Knows No Boundaries
Author: Sujay Kantawala
Publisher: Pblishing.com

Do you think love transcends boundaries?

Love Knows No Boundaries by Sujay Kantawala is the story of Rithambara and Shaquille, a couple no one could have thought existed. Separated across race, religion, and continents, they would have not met under normal circumstances, but fate had different plans. Shaquille, son of a Governor in Chad, and Rithambara, a swami in an Indian ashram cross paths in Dubai in the unlikeliest of circumstances, and then love blossoms. But as all love stories go, this is also not an easy ride. With Rithambara being part of an Ashram will they be able to sustain their story?

The story is very well-crafted with the concept of a love that transcends social and physical boundaries being explored. Told in past tense, the storytelling is powerful and suffers from no plot holes as such. The language is simple and easy to understand, as well as suits the characters. The idea that explores an open relationship is quite rare, and Sujay has woven a powerful narrative around it. Being a narrative that is told by Rithambara and Shaquille alternately shows us 2 perspectives on the concept, and how things actually work out. The climax was quite powerful and gave an interesting message to the reader.

Coming to the characters, the book primarily focuses on Rithambara and  Shaquille and the other characters come and go but do leave their mark on the plot. Shaquille as a character impressed me with his grit and determination to achieve the things he wants, despite the adversities that come in his way. Rithambara, on the other hand, is a character that is made of nothing less than iron will. There are multiple instances where we see her resolve being tested, yet she comes out unscathed every time.

Overall, a great read on love that scores a 4.13/5 for me.

Get a copy here.

The Relic-Ashwin Karthik & Madhava Sharma

Book: The Relic
Author: Ashwin Karthik & Madhava Sharma
Publisher: Pblishing.com

Have you come across a mythological story that you had trouble believing in?

The Relic by Ashwin Karthik and Madhava Sharma revolves around the Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, the treasures and mystery that surround it. The story begins with the government trying to investigate if there had been any misappropriation of funds. As the story progresses, we meet Vijay, an Intelligence Bureau officer who is sent with the orders to open the secret vaults and chronicle his findings. While investigating, he finds a pot and is fascinated with the secrets it might hold. As he decides to unravel the mystery behind the pot, he finds himself undertaking the journey of his life. The question remains, will he find the answers he seeks, or get waylaid by the puzzles?

The premise that the book explores is quite interesting and imaginative. The plot is well planned, and various aspects are incorporated into the story, right from the legend of the Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple to the Aghoris of Banaras. The authors have done a fair bit of research, and historical references have been interestingly made a part of the plot. The story runs smooth, but towards the end becomes a bit repetitive and dull. There was a great potential to explore a bit more, but the travels from Banaras to the upper reaches of Himalayas seem a bit rushed. The language of the book is simple and easy to understand, however the book needs a second round of editing as a lot of grammar issues and language errors were noticed. Another aspect that I would have loved to have read about was more about Vijay’s lineage and how his grandfather figured in the scheme of things. The climax was interesting, and a bit unexpected, and teaches an important lesson for life, and that is why I loved the ending.

This book is interestingly focused on a single character, Vijay and he is the one who actually drives the story forward. His past has been explored in detail, and his motivation of doing what he does is well justified. The other characters, such as Dr. Raman, Bade Baba, and Jogi Baba, though appear briefly, have their own roles, and I liked the manner they were not forcefully given too much of space, but were a part of the story as long as the plot demanded it.

Overall, a good read and a recommendation if you like reading mythological fiction. The Relic gets a 3.5/5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book here.