Parvatibai-Sutapa Basu

Book: Parvatibai
Author: Sutapa Basu
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you heard the story of Parvatibai before?

Parvatibai was the brilliant and dynamic Baisaheb and wife of Sadashivrao Bhau who commanded the Maratha forces at the Third Battle of Panipat. She was the witness as well as survivor of the entire siege and battle at Panipat between the Marathas and Afghan invaders led by Ahmad Shah Abdali. Observed through Parvatibai’s eyes, this historical narrative counters some common controversies… Why were the valiant Marathas defeated at Panipat? Was it treachery of the Maratha sardars or a nefarious infiltrator that stabbed them in the back? Despite losing the battle, how did the Marathas succeed in their mission? Unprecedently told from the perspective of the vanquished, this tale explores the causes, strategies, and consequences of this great endeavour to safeguard India for Indians.

Sutapa’s book explores the life and times of Parvatibai and how her life shaped up. She has beautifully captured the development of a young woman into the fierce warrior and astute strategist that we come to know her as. The storytelling in the book is quite captivating and keeps you hooked and interested in the events that are occurring. The research in the book is also quite detailed and the descriptions of the places and events is quite accurate which helps you understand and relate to the book as well. The writing is emotive and quite easily manages to convert a historical story into a gripping narrative that keeps you interested. Another aspect of the book that was interesting was the fact that it is not a one-sided narrative, rather each character is given their own space and you get to see a wholesome narration of the events as they occur. The language of the book is easy-to-understand and Sutapa has retained the conversation in Marathi in places along with the English translations which adds to the overall reading experience. The climax of the book has been treated well and the manner in which she leaves it open to pique the reader’s interest to research further and read more about Parvatibai is the true mark of a storyteller.

Coming to the characters, Parvatibai’s story has been explored in detail, right from the struggle of childhood to the challenges of her marital home, Sutapa has taken her time to build her story and give due credit to the valiant nature that she possessed. The other characters are also given due time and space to develop so that it does not feel like glorifying one person. Another aspect of the character development which I liked what that the strengths and weaknesses, both, have been explored and rather than a historical enigma, everyone is shown with their virtues and flaws.

This is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes to read historical fiction and is interested in the modern Indian history. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!

Heartstrings and Harmonies-Manali Desai

Book: Heartstrings and Harmonies
Author: Manali Desai
Publisher: Self Published

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Have songs inspired some important moments in your life?

Think of a time when a song made your life easy. Was it when you wanted to confess your love? Was it when you were at a low point in your life, and that song worked as a balm? Was it a song someone dedicated to you, or vice versa? Is there a song you associate to a person or a memory? Do you have a specific song set as a ringtone for the special people in your life, and a story behind doing so? For music lovers, there would hardly be a day that goes by without listening to their favorite tunes and melodies. They travel, they work, they workout, they cook, and do almost every activity imaginable, with their best friend, music, by their side. Heartstrings and Harmonies is a book for such souls, written by one such soul. Each tale in this collection is woven around a song. So how many such tales are we talking about? Since it’s a Valentine’s special book, that too released in a leap year (2024), that number is significant as well. Did you guess it yet? Yes, it’s 29.

The book is a collection of 29 interesting stories which are divided into 4 sections-Romance, Friendship and Hope and Revelation. Each story has been paired with a song that plays a crucial role in the storytelling. Manali’s writing in the book is quite fast paced and as a reader, you are compelled to keep turning the pages. Another aspect which I loved about the book was that the songs have been memtioned in the text in Hindi and then translated which gives a nice experience as you start humming the songs while reading, adding to the experience. The stories have are quite crisp and yet the message that she wants to send across is duly received, partly because of the audio-visual jugalbandi and partly because of the short yet expressive narrative. There are stories that would make you laugh and there are a few stories that would definitely wet your eyes with emotion. Manali’s twists at the end of each story is something I did not expect in a few of them, and to be honest, were the highlight in some of them.

The characters in the stories are very common people you might encounter in your lives (except for Aman, Anjali and Rahul) and that relatability plays a crucial role in the overall experience of living the stories as Manali tells them. The characters are not detailed out, presumably because of the shorter format, however you don’t feel the need of much descriptions as the plot itself suffices and you visualize someone you know into that story.

My favourite stories from the book are:

• The Rain Falls Pitter Patter
• Don’t Go Just Yet
• Oh, Something Strange is Happening
• O Mates, I’m a Wanderer

Overall, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who is skeptical of reading because of the long form and for aficionados of music and fine storytelling. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India

Also, if you want to enjoy the music with the reading, check out the Spotify Playlist here!

The Wandering Star (The Shifter's Trance Series #1)-S.P. Mittson

Book: The Wandering Star (The Shifter's Trance Series #1)
Author: S.P. Mittson
Publisher: NuVoice Press

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What if you had the power to travel between realms?

Eloise Hector, the princess of Murkwood, who has always been hidden and suppressed was born with a mysterious glitch. When her mother dies in an accident, she loses control over her powers. Unintentionally, she shifts her friends to Shadowland— a moonless realm of hallucinations, with shadows lurking in the clouds of mist—clueless about how to rescue them. Kayden Parsons is an obnoxious jerk who thinks of himself as the King of the Murkwood. When he finds Eloise in trouble, he offers his help, knowing she considers him her nemesis. As they join forces, sparks fly, aiding Eloise in harnessing her powers during a thrilling and mystic adventure filled with tension and flirty banter. Together, they must find a way to thwart the Forsaken and rescue her friends from the darkness of Shadowland before it’s too late.

The author has created a wonderful world where the light and the dark exist together, with a chosen few having the power to travel between them. Mittson’s storytelling is quite powerful and keeps you hooked as you keep turning the pages. The plot is quite engaging and the author has used the idea of love, family and relationships to build the narrative and how it becomes the strength of the characters. The author has drawn a few concepts from Hindu mythology and strategically placed them in the centre of the narrative. What I liked about the book was that the storytelling does not lax at any point and the pace is maintained right till the end. The climax of the book is very well written and the epilogue puts the entire storyline into a different perspective.

The characters are the centre of focus in this book as Mittson introduces her world to us and shows us the people who inhabit it. Eloise as a character impressed me with her grit and feisty nature. Her character has been nicely penned and the character arc is beautifully spread across the book. Coming to Kayden, I liked the shades of him that she has created and how his chemistry with Eloise shapes out in the book. The other characters in the book are also quite detailed and I am excited to see how their stories play out in the upcoming books.

Definitely recommended for anyone who likes to read fantasy and is looking for a new world to delve into. Overall, this is a wonderful start to a fantasy series and this book gets a 4.63/5 for me.

Get a copy on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore! 

Traitors Gate (The William Warwick Novels #6)-Jeffrey Archer

Book: Traitors Gate (The William Warwick Novels #6)
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Publisher: HarperCollins India

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you think that there is a perfect crime?

THE TOWER OF LONDON…Impenetrable. Well protected. Secure. Home to the most valuable jewels on earth. But once a year, the Metropolitan Police must execute the most secret operation in their armoury when they transport the Crown Jewels across London. SCOTLAND YARD… For four years, Chief Superindendent William Warwick – together with his second-in-command Inspector Ross Hogan – has been in charge of the operation. And for four years it’s run like clockwork. THE HEIST… But this year, everything is about to change. Because master criminal Miles Faulkner has set his heart on pulling off the most outrageous theft in history – and with a man on the inside, the odds are in his favour. Unless Warwick and Hogan can stop him before it’s too late…

Jeffrey is back with another adventure of William Warwick and this time the stakes are higher than even before. Also back is his old nemesis Miles Faulkner with a renewed vigour to bring Warwick down. The book is quite pacy and the storytelling keeps you hooked right till the end. The book opens with the scene when the Crown Jewels are transported across London and the context of the story is set about the operation and the stakes that are involved. As we move ahead, the intentions of our characters start getting clearer and the real story emerges from the pages. What I loved about the book was Jeffrey’s storytelling and the attention to detail which keeps the reader turning the pages. Another aspect that stood out for me was the way the planning of the heist was shown and the way the various aspects of the crime were explored, questioned and answered. The language of the book is easy to understand and the plot is fairly paced which ensures that no dull moment is present in the book. The sub-plot about the painting was an interesting touch that provided another layer to the story that enhanced the overall experience. The climax of the book is brilliantly written and I loved how he has used the history of the city to leave crumbs in the story that lead to the climax.

Coming to the characters, I loved how crafty he has made Miles Faulkner and they way he reacts to various situations in the story was quite fun to read. Christina’s character was another one I loved because of the way she took decisions and how they impacted the story multiple times. I also liked the way he sketched the other characters such as Danny and Phil. Also noteworthy was the way he has woven The Tower of London into the storyline to make it blend into it.

Overall, this is a book highly recommended to fans of crime fiction and to readers of Jeffrey Archer just for the storytelling and the detailing. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.

Also check my review of Over My Dead Body (The William Warwick Novel#3)

Spellcasters-Rajat Chaudhuri

Book: Spellcasters
Author: Rajat Chaudhuri
Publisher: Niyogi Books

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What if you wake up in a strange location one day, without any idea how you reached there?

Chanchal Mitra wakes up in a far-off desert town, sharing a dingy hotel room with the flamboyant Mr. Kapoor, who is planning to abduct a billionaire. Kapoor insists that the billionaire tycoon is an impostor. Chanchal is unwittingly drawn into the plot. Soon they are joined by the mystery woman Sujata, her eyes dark like murder; and then a crutch-clutching ex-sailor, who is quick with a gun. In the smog-swathed capital city of Aukatabad, an organic chemist engaged by the tycoon to design a mind-altering drug, is found dead from an overdose. Elsewhere, the billionaire industrialist's chocolate factory is contaminated by salmonella while Sujata fights a fiery death at the hands of hired killers.

Spellcasters has been set in the fictional cities of Aukatabad, Anantapur and Bhaskarnagar. The book explores multiple angles where we see three genres-psychological thriller, climate adventure & occult- cross paths. While there is chaos in the first part of the book, the second part of the book is equally sorted and once the threads come together the storytelling keeps you hooked. As the story moves progresses, events start making sense and the discrete events weave into a cohesive plot that keeps you hooked in the rest of the story. The book blends the question of rapid economic development with a question on its sustainability which is served to you with a side of mythology. Another thing that works for this book is the fact that the things are revealed in parts and while you guess about one aspect of the story, something happens which will make you change your mind. The storytelling is quite engaging and Rajat keeps the reader glued into the book and guessing about the next events. The climax of the book is very well executed and the little surprise in the end is something I really hope gets solved sometime in the future.

The characters in the book are quite interesting. Chanchal Mitra’s character and his quirks are explored in detail. I loved how his past has been explored in detail which forms the basis of the storyline. I also liked the character arc of JRK and how his life gets entangled with that of Chanchal Mitra. Sujata’s character was also a surprise as to how her character turns out, specially towards the end. There is a surprise character which appears a few times, but is a pivotal one.

Overall, a definite recommendation if you like to read a book that is exciting. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.

Night at The Medical Campus-Siddharth Nirwan

Book: Night at The Medical Campus
Author: Siddharth Nirwan
Publisher: Book Street Publications

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever heard about a horror story about your college or the place you’ve lived in?

Brutally murdered by the one she loved and her body dumped in a well on the medical college campus, Sanya’s bright and promising life is extinguished in a second. And it’s only the beginning as her body goes missing from the mortuary, never to be found again. Legend grows and the medical college students believe that Sanya still haunts the well where she was found. No one dares venture too close. No one dares to disturb her. Years later, notorious seniors force five first-year students into going to the haunted well and calling Sanya’s name thrice. No one is prepared for what happens next. Is the story of Sanya’s ghost true, or is it just a fabricated rumour to scare the juniors? Why is no one on the medical campus ready to talk about Sanya? What is the mystery behind Sanya’s missing body? Night At The Medical Campus is a never before told story of the terrifying haunting that shook the medical college campus and has been kept a secret from the rest of the world. Until now.

Writing a good horror story is not just about the spooks and the creeps, but to explore the unexpected and surprise the reader. Siddharth has set the events of the book in a medical college which adds another layer of dread into the story. The storytelling is quite immersive and the plot sucks you in right from the first page. Developing the myth of Sanya in the initial pages of the book, there is tension as you move into the main story. Using the campus setting and the dynamics of a senior-junior interaction, Siddharth then rekindles the ghost of the past, setting in motion events that are out of anyone’s hands. The language of the book is simple and the author has used a linear narrative that keeps you focused on the events occurring without keeping track of the timeline. What I loved in the book, however was the twist that plays out in the end. The manner in which the author unravels the truth and tells us Sanya’s story can send shivers down anyone’s spine. The climax has been wonderfully plotted and written and brings the story to end perfectly, bringing closure in ways more than one.

Coming to the characters, I was mighty impressed by Professor Chandrashekhar and his antics in the book. right from the first page, he is shown as a force to be reckoned with. A wonderfully written character, he is an integral part of the story. The other characters have been well written as well and it is these characters who drive the plot and keep the story moving.

Overall, this a wonderfully penned horror story that should appeal to the fans of the genre. The book scores a 4.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

The Fast and the Dead-Anuja Chauhan

Book: The Fast and the Dead
Author: Anuja Chauhan
Publisher: HarperCollins India

I was provided a Media Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you become a prime suspect in a murder investigation?

All of Habba Galli, Shivajinagar, is disturbed when eccentric Dondi Pais empties her double-barreled shotgun to scatter a pack of noisy mongrels on Karwa Chauth night. But their distress turns to shock the next morning when it is discovered that one stray bullet has ploughed into the skull of a sour, spiteful jeweler, leaving him quite definitely dead. The more devout residents immediately recall how, the previous afternoon, the jeweler’s wife of thirty years had broken her fast well before the appearance of the sacred Karwa Chauth moon. 'Aiyyo,' they whisper, 'she's gone and angered the Goddess!' But several mere mortals have motives too--including rising Bollywood star Haider Sait, back in Shivajinagar to visit his widowed mother and still eager to charm Habba Galli hottie Jhoomar Rao, now newly poor, newly single and a veterinary surgeon. By a happy coincidence, ACP Bhavani Singh is on hand to investigate. But as corpses start piling up in the bustling bazaar, will the canny old policeman be able to prove his powerful hunch--that these deaths are not accidents, or by the hand of the goddess, but a sinister case of murders-most-meticulous?

Anuja brings back ACP Bhavani Singh after the events of Club You to Death and this time he moves out of the posh localities of Delhi to the hustle-bustle of Bengaluru. Written in Anuja’s classic style, the emotions and accents of our characters play a crucial role in setting the mood of the plot. I loved the fact that the story is set in an old-fashioned mohalla and the interconnectedness of the residents plays into the plot as she tells us the story. The storytelling is captivating and keeps you turning the pages as the investigation progresses and facts come to light. Another aspect I loved about the book was that Anuja balances the whodunnit as well as the romance perfectly and it adds a wonderful flavor to the story. The description of the places and people is quite vivid and you can imagine the scenes as they play out by painting a mental picture. The investigation has been explored in detail and when the reveal happens, you realise the depth of the planning that the author did while writing the book and the prowess that Anuja has in storytelling.

Coming to the characters, ACP Bhavani Singh once again stands out for me because of his quirkiness, distinctive manner of speaking and the tidbits of trivia that comes out. Another interesting character for me was that of Jhoomar Rao and how the author uses her life and profession as a critical part of the story. Anuja’s characters seem to stem from real-life people as you see a local loudmouth who prides herself in gossipmongering to the helmet-wearing filmstar to the just-married couple who bring a modern twist to the classic customs. The relatability factor plays a critical role in the book and as a reader you are sucked into the story and move around with Bhavani Singh as he unravels the threads of the events that night.

Overall, the book was a wonderful read and is a definite recommendation to anyone looking to pick up a whodunnit with a side of old-school romance. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book from your nearest bookstore or on Amazon India.

Read my review of the previous book in the series Club You to Death.