Book Review – Page 7

Has a book chosen you?

I read this book in two days. Like the wand chooses the wizard in Harry Potter, this book called out to me from the shelves.

Two nurses swap places: one lives in London, the other in a remote part of Scotland. The nurses are male and female, and their romance happens on a sloooow burn. They don’t meet till the last few chapters.

Loved seeing London and Scotland through their eyes, the people, the culture, and the land. Reading this left me content and happy in a grinning-from-ear-to-ear way. Kudos to the author for tackling trauma in such a healing way.

Recommend it for clean romance and women’s fiction readers.

Book Review – Baptism of Fire

Baptism of Fire – this series is for readers who don’t mind twelve named characters appearing on a single page. I have to state that first because this series is not for everyone.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in the series here.

Book three mainly follows the witcher’s storyline with glimpses at Ciri and Yen.

I am amazed at how easily the author moves from one POV to another. And each character is richly developed so that by the end of the story, you could almost call them your (one-sided) friend. And encountering mythological creatures is like going on an adventure. You never know what is going to turn up.

I loved how the author peeled the layers to reveal Ciri’s origin story. I am already itching to read the next book in the series.

I love reading fantasies because it allows me to experience a world beyond my imagination. This series has everything I love about epic fantasies.

Book Review – The Vibrant Years

This book is a story of three generations of women supporting each other as life throws them a curveball. The book starts at a slow pace and picks up speed in the second half when the twist and turns come fast and furious at you.

Bindu, the grandmother in her sixties, is a study of conflicts. A housewife, a mother, and a grandmother, who puts her family before herself as an atonement for her deeds as a teenager, discovers freedom in a retirement community. Her modern attire and outward appearance are in constant conflict with the traditional values she unconsciously holds.

Alisha, whose relationship with her mother-in-law is a highlight of the book, is putting her career ahead of her marriage and paying the price for it.

Cullie, the genius daughter, does not want to deal with the vulnerability that comes with opening one’s heart.

You cannot read a Sonali Dev book hungry because her vivid food descriptions will assault all your five senses.

As in her other books, family plays a central role in this novel. Their love and support for each other is the life vest that keeps them from floating in this ocean of unpredictability. Recommend this book for readers who love reading about women of all ages struggling with understanding their desires.

The Lady of the Rivers

I start and end May with a book by Philippa Gregory. I purchased a used copy of The Other Boleyn Girl at my library book sale. After reading that book earlier this month and falling in love with Philippa Gregory’s writing, I decided to start that series at the beginning with The Lady of the Rivers.

There is magic between these pages which brings Jacquetta alive though she lived six centuries ago. If Philippa lived in the 15th century, she will be accused of witchcraft for seducing the readers with her writing.

I love how the story starts with the young Jacquetta, and we get to witness her growth on the pages. Meera, my protagonist in Heir to Malla is a similar age in that book, and that trilogy spans three decades of her life.

The story is told from Jacquetta’s perspective which is wonderful because you can get a glimpse into the domestic lives of the royals. The author portrays her realistically with very human fears and flaws. The only drawback to having a female point of view is all the battle scenes are narrated secondhand. In a few instances, the author places her in the middle or sidelines of the battle actions. I overcame this challenge by using a male protagonist in my novels who provides a firsthand view of the battles.

I enjoyed learning about the history of this period through this medium of storytelling. My goal as an author would be to evoke the feelings Philippa evoked in me as a reader. Such powerful mastery of her craft. I look forward to reading the next book, The White Queen. Highly recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction.

Book Review – A Train to Moscow

This book will linger in my memory for many years. I read Crime and Punishment as a teen. There are echoes of Dostoevsky’s writing in this novel.

There are some tales where the pursuit of happiness is a given. In others, penance and suffering are the norm. This book falls into the latter category.

Sasha, the protagonist, is a stubborn, wilful, and short-tempered creature. Her raw emotions drenched me as I read this book. Her anger and guilt come in waves, and kudos to the author for giving us a realistic portrayal of a girl, human and flawed. This book follows Sasha’s journey from eight years to twenty-five, and what a roller coaster ride.

I loved the glimpse into Moscow and Leningrad in the 50s and 60s. I enjoyed the sprinkling of Russian in the novel. Andrei, the boy she loves, what a heart-wrenching story there. The last two chapters, narrated from his point of view, were magnificent.

When it comes to reading, I crave a literary feast: a blend of awe-inspiring tales, a sprinkle of poignant sadness, a generous helping of courageous journeys, and a dose of happily ever afters.

Highly recommend this book to meet your quota of unexpected twists and heartfelt moments tinged with sadness.

Book Review: The Other Boleyn Girl

This is the first book of Philippa Gregory I read, and it will definitely not be my last. Based on the true story of the Boleyn Siblings, the author weaves a masterful tale, gripping from start to finish.

Some of Philippa Gregory’s readers go on to read my books, and I understand why. Our books depict royal intrigue, a world where women are powerless unless a man bestows them with it. In these historical times, women were like the moon with no light of their own. However brightly they shined, it was a reflection of a man’s power.

In The Other Boleyn Girl, the lack of a male heir plays a central role, and this is a recurring subject in my trilogy as well. One distinction in my novels based on medieval India is the ability of the male royalty to marry many wives. In Tudor England, that was not possible and resulted in deadly rivalry.

I love the choice of Mary as the narrator of this novel, so we can see her progress from her a naive young girl to a woman who understands what will bring her happiness. The author breathes life into this period of Tudor history, and I look forward to reading her other books. Highly recommend to all fans of Historical Fiction.

My top three books for 2022

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

One of the books I read early in the year remains a favorite. If you read one book on writing, make it this. Or read it as a memoir of one of the greatest writers of our time. An authentic voice is such an elusive thing. Stephen King does it so effortlessly.

To imagine him facing near death halfway through his writing and still producing such a great book speaks to his skills as an author.

I learned a lot from this book and wholeheartedly recommend it.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

This is the first book in her trilogy, and I loved this tale about the legendary Merlin and his twin sister. Medieval Scotland comes alive with the author’s vivid descriptions. As I read the story, I could picture the majestic mountains and simpler abodes. I saw the trees that reached the sky and flowers growing underfoot. I could smell the leather and herbs. As a vegetarian, I did not imagine tasting the food, but she described them in detail. The protagonist, Languoreth, is introduced as a young girl in a magical land.

This quote defines her life: “We may not always have the choice we would like. But we always have a choice.”

Her passion and love bring her momentary bliss, followed by worry and grief. She is headstrong and flawed and took me along on an emotional rollercoaster.

The brother-sister relationship depicted here reminded me of my trilogy Land of Magadha, where the siblings are the protagonists. Good to see more stories explore this beautiful relationship.

I look forward to reading the next book in this trilogy. Recommend for historical fiction and historical fantasy readers.

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

This book is a slow read. That said, brilliant writing by Amy Tan. Each chapter is immaculate in bringing us into the characters’ lives. The way the story unfolds is masterful.

It is a tale of two sisters, Chinese immigrant Kwan and her American-born sister Olivia. I can still picture Kwan in my head, calling her little sister Libby-ah. As an immigrant, I could relate to many things this immigrant from China does. I don’t have ghost stories to narrate like Kwan, but the tales my grandmother told me as a child inspired me to write.

The relationship between the sisters is raw and real. It simultaneously broke my heart and brought a smile to my face. It is a story of identity, one we are born with, one we show to the world, and the true self that is hidden even from ourselves. We all need a sister like Kwan to be our voice of reason.

What are your favorite books that you read this year?

Perfect book for a cold winter night

Book Review – The Love That Split the World

Reading Emily Henry’s book is like drinking hot chai on a cold rainy day. It warms your insides. Her debut novel is full of tenderness and warmth.

This book is about a teenager with an abandonment crisis. To be young and to feel so deeply is a gift. One we don’t recognize till our senses have dulled. You can feel Nat’s emotions like a tide swell.

I did not pay much attention to all the multi-verse and parallel universes. I love Sci-Fi, but that is not why I read Emily Henry. I read her books for the emotional punch. I loved all the Native American tales in this book. I can easily imagine a grandmother narrating them under the night sky, sitting in front of a mellow fire.

If you want to experience life through the eyes of a teenager where every problem is earth-shattering, and every pleasure is a god’s gift, this is your book.

Book Series Review: The Raje Series by Sonali Dev

I finished the Raje series by Sonali Dev. These books are a Jane Austen-inspired Indian American retelling. First off, the brilliance of Austen and her stories are something to marvel at. Centuries after she wrote, the stories still resonate with us. Sonali’s writing brought me joy, and I highly recommend it to fellow contemporary romance readers. Don’t read the books on an empty stomach. You will be raiding your pantry from the mouth-watering food in the book.

Emma Project review (Rajes # 4)

Forget about the Jane Austen adaptation part and enjoy the novel for itself.

Author Dev has written a delightful ending to the Raje series. I enjoyed the dynamic of well-meaning family members trying to break up and dissuade the couple. Ultimately, it comes down to the protagonist accepting she deserves a happily ever after ending. If you are a fan of Austen and the romance genre in general, this book is for you.

You can read my reviews of Recipe for Persuasion (Rajes #2) and Pride, Prejudice and other flavors (Rajes # 1) on my blog.

I am reading the Witcher series

I started with The Last Wish.

This book surprised me in a good way. Short stories compiled cleverly into a novel. Sprinkling of old fairy tales retold in clever ways. Recommend for fantasy readers.

Next, I read Sword of Destiny.

I loved that ending. For a story told from the POV of an emotionless witcher, this book (and series) packs quite the emotional punch. Fantastic world, larger-than-life characters, and a narrative that is a feast for all our senses—this is fantasy as it ought to be.

I watched Season one of the Netflix Witcher series after Sword of Destiny. The show has three different timelines (Geralt’s story takes place over a few years, Yennifer’s over a few decades, and Ciri’s is the present), and the books helped me make sense of it all.

Most recently, I finished Blood of Elves.

This is officially the first book in the Witcher series, but this is the third book I have read after the Last Wish and the Sword of Destiny.

I loved the Ciri training montage as it unfolded on paper. What a great way to showcase it.

The letter from Yennifer revealed a mountain of feelings and emotions without Geralt and her meeting.

I cannot wait to read the next book and watch Season 2 of the show.