Review of 'Bizarre Emotions' by 'Piyush Naik'

Title: Bizarre Emotions
Author: Piyush Naik
Publisher: Red Ink Publishers
Page Count: 174
My rating: 4.5/5

Blurb: The principal of St. Georges school, Rao, announces his retirement. He declares the school will remain off during the new year and a farewell / new year party will be held for three days. On hearing this, every student is happy except Nik, Neha and Sam who are deeply angered. An anger, whose secret is only known to four hearts.
Nik Arora, 19.
Cute, witty and a topper. Yet he failed in 12th grade.
His love is stolen from him.
Sam Mahajan, 18.
Handsome, humorous and a flirt. Yet he fell in true love.
His love betrayed him.
Neha Pathak, 18.
Gorgeous, kind and smart. Yet she believes in true love.
Her love was never true.
The new year of 2010 changed their lives forever and the reason behind it was one man - Rao! now, exactly a year later, the trio decides to change his life forever. They decide to take revenge!
Will the burning past change into a dark future? Will their friendship last forever? Will they be able to take their revenge? Or will the cunning principal outwit them?
Bizarre emotions is a dark tale about love, friendship, heartbreaks, betrayals and vengeance.

Verdict: ‘Bizarre Emotions’ is the second work of fiction by author Piyush Naik. The name suits the content perfectly, the book has indeed bizarre emotions and will have a lasting effect on the readers.

Starting from the cover of the book, I loved it. White is always a gorgeous color to be used on the book cover and here The Book Bakers, the designer has done a great job. I always fish for elements on the cover which will reflect the content and the blood, the revolver, the black rose perfectly does the job. A story of this genre should have a design like this, which will grab the eyes of the readers and will give a hint of the flavor of the content. The blurb is good but it could have been written in a more interesting way which would've attracted more readers. Because I felt the book has a lot more than the blurb offers.

This book has a fresh story line and thrilling ending which helps the book to stand apart from the crowd. The start of the book is wonderful and will instantly hook the readers. I loved the start specially because the author hasn't wasted much time and has jumped directly into the story. The story revolves around three friends Nik, Sam and Neha and the Principal of their school, Mr. Rao. The author has very efficiently jumped into flashback to tell the story of these three friends and why they are seeking vengeance from Mr. Rao. One should always save the best for the end and the author has done the same here. The readers can’t drop the book when it is heading towards the end and the end will leave them awestruck.

There are few scenes which will make the reader’s eyes moist and few scenes which will boil their blood and few which will make them laugh and that is why the name is perfect. My personal favorite though, was the ACP Abhijit and Officer Daya part. The writing style is trendy and goes with the flow of the story. The author has efficiently kept the thrill till the end by his experienced story telling skills. All the chapters ends with a quote and sometimes there are few quotes which will leave the readers thinking about the next event. There are few poems in the book too written by various authors but my favorite one was by Barun Bajracharya.

Talking about the flaws, there are very few things to point out as the drawback of the book. A few printing and editing mistakes is all I can find in the book. And the blurb could have been better. Apart from these the book is a thrilling journey which the readers will enjoy on the edge of their seats.

Available At –

Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/bizarre-emotions-english/p/itme37k5m6xgwbym?pid=9788192982779&ref=L%3A-3471456668925933276&srno=p_1&query=bizarre+emotions&otracker=from-search

Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/Bizarre-Emotions-Piyush-Naik/dp/8192982777/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427899100&sr=1-1&keywords=bizarre+emotions

Review of 'Rapescars...: They Never Heal...' by 'Gaurav Sharma'

Title: Rapescars…: They Never Heal…
Author: Gaurav Sharma
Publisher: Petals
Page Count: 150
My Rating: 3/5

Blurb: A girl is raped! Her parents insist to report. Police tries to scuttle the case. Her fathers influence works! Doctor, the fourth man, sees her bare. The defense lawyer encounters with obnoxious questions. As if, she had inveigled the innocent boys. As if, shes the one accused and her violators are seeking justice against her. She feels & experiences being raped in public again. Her lawyer manages to seek conviction! Akriti wins the case but refuses her culprit to have imprisonment.

Why does she do this?

What does she decide then?

Is this the decision of her or raped mind?

Rape Scars is the voice of a rape survivor who thrives to stand against the violation of her persona.

Verdict: ‘Rapescars…: They Never Heal…’ is the second successful novel by Gaurav Sharma. ‘Love@Air Force’ was his first novel and I must say I loved reading that book and that raised my expectations for this book. This book is a brave attempt of the author on a sensitive use of current times.

The cover is one of the finest designs I have seen in recent times. I quite obviously don’t judge a book by its cover but now a days the cover looking good has become one of the mandatory requirement for a book to be hit among the readers because of the huge options they have in a single genre. The front cover of this book is a pure head turner. One thing I have to mention is the sheer callousness of the publisher or the designer for not translating the text on the cover to English. The blurb of the book is average and doesn't raise much urge among the readers to buy the book. Overall the first impression is good.

Coming to the storyline, the author has chosen a sensitive topic for his second novel. Rape, the word itself is enough to tingle the sensitive chord among the readers. The book starts with Akriti, a girl in her college life, being brutally gang raped by her boyfriend and his friends. And then follows the aftermath. The readers will love reading the court scenes. I loved what Akriti demands as the punishment to his rapist. The characterization was good and the author has described them efficiently which helps the readers to visualize the scenes better.

The narrating style is average and doesn't match the level of the author’s previous book. The chosen words are not good enough and disturbs the feel of the scenes. I was expecting a lot on the rape scene but the description was not up to the mark.

The storyline is good but could have been framed in a better way. The narrating style and the chosen words are also one of the flaws of the book. Apart from this, the book is one good attempt to raise an important question to the society. I would love to read more books from this author in future and hope he will work on the mentioned flaws in his future endeavours.

Available at:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/rapescars-they-never-heal-english-1st/p/itme2y9ttqf6fpak?pid=9788192982748&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=rapescars&ref=b3e66745-fe87-481c-8c54-e60e25e256ff

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Rapescars-GAURAV-SHARMA/dp/8192982742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425733676&sr=8-1&keywords=rapescars

Review of 'Orphan of the Storm' by 'Ravi Dhar'

Title: Orphans of the Storm
Author: Ravi Dhar
Publisher: Blackbuck Publication
Page Count: 227
My Rating: 3/5

Blurb: Countless griefs ago, When the ‘veth’ went red…

The air is thick with rumors. Reports speak of the molesting Pundit girls and the killing Pundit men. There is talk of Nizam- -Mustapha. Kashmiri Pundit families are fleeing the valley in wave after wave. But, one man stands unmoved, refusing to give in to this mass frenzy.

Towards the middle of one night, Nund Pundit’s house resonates with a deafening crescendo. He must pay for his faith. The fury of the mob must be quenched. He must suffer the ignominy of his daughter’s barbaric slaughter. He must suffer the dishonor of his wife and young daughter. He must suffer the mysterious disappearance of his elder son.

The December sky looks too ominous as the School Bus, carrying Siddhartha and his friends, noses down the valley. The queer sequence of events that follow inspire no confidence.

Siddhartha must outgrow his youthful sportiveness to realize the gravity of the calamity that had struck his family.

He must find answers to the barbarity of man as he struggles to build a new world of hope and comfort for his bereaved and shell-shocked parents. He must come face to face with deceit and danger in the hinterland of Nagaland. He must see the barbarity of the civilized and the civility of the so-called barbaric in the petty squabbles of the teachers at Medziphema and the murder of the Dean. In the midst of this maelstrom of events blossoms love not once but twice.

Verdict: ‘Orphans of the storm’ is the debut novel by Dr. Ravi Dhar. This story talks about the struggle of a Pundit family in Kashmir and the unhospitable atmosphere of Jammu and Kashmir.

Like almost all Blackbuck publication books this book also has similar size and nice paper quality. Starting from the cover, I felt the cover could have been designed in a better way. The blue effect is looking good but the man on the cover was making the whole look amateurish. The blurb is pretty big. One who has the time to read the whole blurb after picking it, might buy the book because it’s interesting and gives a good outline of the plot.

The story starts with Nund Lal pundit of Kashmir. One fateful day they are forced to leave Kashmir and have to live like migrants in their own land. Soon the story changes its way and the focus shifted towards Siddhartha, the youngest son and carefree son of Nund Pundit. Siddhartha was burdened with the responsibility of his family and yet he manages to complete his masters and finds a job of a lecturer in the Nagaland University. The atmosphere of Kashmir was described by the author wonderfully. The story doesn’t end there. After creating the perfect satire, the author introduces love in Siddhartha’s story. After getting almost back stabbed by the university politics and the abrupt end of his love story had hit him hard. The end was good but it could have been better. One thing I can say is that the readers will close the book on a good note.

The author hasn't described his characters well. Only the dialogs were the rescue for the readers to help them visualize the characters. There are a few characters who I think have lacked the lime light. After focusing on Siddhartha’s life, the condition of Nund Lal Pundit took a back seat, even the disappearance of the elder brother of Siddhartha wasn’t cleared to the audience till the end. The narrating style was good and goes with the flow. Short chapters always helps the readers to enjoy the book more.

Talking about flaws, the editing could have been better. There are grammatical errors which disturbs the flow of the story. The story line was good and but could have been framed in a better way. I didn't quite like the way the book has ended. Being a full time reader, I don’t think readers will like loose ends or unanswered questions at the end. Being from Kashmir himself the author has done total justice to the description of Kashmir. Overall a nice attempt of a debut author.

Available at:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/orphans-storm-english/p/itme27k8jhavxnbd?q=Orphans+of+the+Storm+%28English%29&as=on&as-show=on&otracker=start&as-pos=p_1_orphans+of+the&pid=9781630410100

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B00QXTMUMS/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_in-21&linkCode=as2&camp=3626&creative=24790

Review of 'When a Lawyer walks down the aisle...' by 'Amrita Suresh'

Title: When a Lawyer walks down the aisle…
Author: Amrita Suresh
Publisher: Radiance Publications
Page Count: 164
My Rating: 4/5

Blurb: “There is someone in the car…!!” Ankur said,his voice thick with terror.Vyas who would normally scare easily, seemed surprisingly calm.Perhaps due to his stint abroad, Vyas was somehow familiar with car hijackers.

“Listen Anks….don’t panic,I’ll just check…” Vyas said.They were standing a few feer from the car and Vyas a bit hesitantly strode up v peeked into the black Honda City. And sure as day, there was an elderly lady seated inside.For a few seconds,even Vyas was a bit comfused, and even as he turned to confirm to Ankur the possibility of being kidnapped by a frail octogenarian, he noticed a rather strange thing. The elderly being seemed to have left the car.

Even as the doors were securely shut.A chill ran down Vyas’s spine.Meanwhile a lot worse things , were happening to Ankur’s spine as the elderly ‘ghost’ made an appearance before him.

“Ankur….run!!” Vyas almost yelled as he saw the ghostly figure inching towards his best friend from college.Without further encouragement, Ankur simply took to his heels and his pudgy frame run as fast as his feet could carry him.And even as he ran, Ankur realized that this was by far the best advice ever to him.”

Well,don’t you find blurb quite interesting and good enough to catch your attention? Yes, the blurb is fascinating, and is a part of first chapter, from where the life of two friends take a twist.Also,the title and cover design seems intriguing with the blurb.So,this book eventually passed the first stage of picking it up.

Verdict: Author Amrita Suresh has come with another wonderful heart whelming story with the Lawyer touch. After the success of ‘When a lawyer falls in love…’ this is her second novel named, ‘When a lawyer walks down the aisle…’

The readers who have expected a penguin on the cover of this book too, are up for a surprise because this time the author had two penguins on the cover and that also in marriage attire. The blue color, the snow everything gives the cover a soothing effect which perfectly reflects the soothing quality of the content. The blurb doesn’t give a proper outline of the plot and the missing author bio and acknowledgement is also a bit disappointing.

The story starts with Ankur Palekar aka Anks, a talented lawyer who meets with a ghost of an aged lady, Mrs. Shireen Lakdawala. The lady asked then to believe that she was ferociously killed by the Mazumdar builders. After quite delay Anks decides to take the case and ropes in her friends and fiancé. Then the story starts to takes the speed. The author have introduced limited number of characters and mingled their stories wonderfully. All the characters have a particular role to play and a different story to tell.

I loved the way the author has injected the humor in the story. It not only makes the whole journey of reading the book interesting but forces the readers to complete it one go. The short distribution of chapters goes in the author's favor and helps to hook the readers.

The narrating style and the forming of the plot is the main usp of the book. The quite different and easy going plot can come like a breeze of fresh air to the readers. The narrating style has a soothing effect which the readers can enjoy while relaxing in a weekend. No one needs to think while reading it and can enjoy this book as a wonderful light read.

There are quite a few errors to point out, which could have been ignored. The editing could have been better and the grammatical errors can be omitted. There are punctuation errors too which were annoying and can lose the grip on the plot.

Apart from these errors this book is overall a nice and enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to all those who were searching for an interesting and refreshing light read.

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/lawyer-walks-down-aisle-english/p/itmdw6ckqgz5pykk?affid=ambarishga

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/When-Lawyer-Walks-Down-Aisle/dp/9351372502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423107052&sr=8-1&keywords=When+a+Lawyer+walks+down+the+aisle...

Review of 'What She says? What he meant?' by Richa Sharma | Aamir Khursheed

Title: What SHE says? What HE meant?
Author: Richa Sharma | Aamir Khursheed
Publisher: Dream House Publications
Page Count: 248
My Rating: 4/5

Blurb: After 2 years of school completion when school friends sit for fun, playing, ‘Truth & Dare’, the unexpected happens. The epitome of Friendship and Love could not have taken any other worst path. The friend could never be so ingenious and the lover could never be so heartfelt deeply in love. Still, the crowd hears the story of laughs, love, lust changing into cries and yells. As a Beast of Lust, Vivaan ends up losing his best friends and love. Can Angad, his best friend save the relations?? Hear from a girl, ‘What SHE says’ about a boy’s life, ‘What HE meant?’

Verdict: ‘What she says? What he meant?’ is a novel by Richa Sharma and Aamir Khursheed. This book is one surprising package. This book has the capability to entertain all types of readers and teenagers could find the plot and scenes very much relatable.

The cover of the book is pretty average looking and could have been designed in a better way. Though the original models on the front instead of designs or sketches is quite different. I liked the name. It’s different, goes with the content and the name itself is always a problem. The blurb is written in a good way and gives a nice outline of the plot. After seeing the cover and reading the blurb my expectation was quite low and that is why I have said that this book is a surprise package.

The story starts with unrestricted friendship. The way the author narrated the details is appreciable. The story changes its gears after the chapter ‘Game’ and after that there is twists for the readers in almost every chapter. This story has everything from unconditional friendship, true love, lust and of course hatred and the author has mixed everything in the right proportion to make the reading experience entertaining. There are scenes where the readers will throw their heads back in laughter and there are scenes where they will smile with teary eyes. I find the ending a bit odd but not unanticipated.

Sometimes, in some books, which are co-authored, I have seen a common error that the difference in the narrating style of the two authors, were visible in the book and that is, at times, irritating for the readers. I would say this book is wonderfully planned and narrated. The narrating style is easy-going and trendy and goes with a light read like this.

The characterization was good and almost all the characters were described with clarity that helps the readers to visualize scenes in a better way. The author has introduced quite a few characters in this story which I think could have been ignored and the character of Angad was lacking the lime light at times.

There are few printing and editing errors spotted here and there which the publisher should have taken care of. Apart from this I find this book error free and all types of readers can enjoy this book with a cup of coffee in a weekend. Because this book needs less involvement but guarantees entertainment. A nice book in the genre of light reads.

Available At:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/she-says-he-meant-english-1st/p/itmey3997vamykha?pid=9789384180041&srno=b_2&ref=4ecadd26-bacf-48a1-8fac-cf4d8e18bb67

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/What-SHE-Says-HE-Meant/dp/9384180041

Review of 'Wisdom of the White Mountain' by Kandathil Sebastian

Title: Wisdom of the White Mountain
Author: Kandathil Sebastian
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing
Page count: 210
My Rating: 4.75/5

Blurb: Some powerful men—including performers of black magic, underworld gangsters, sleuths, extremist zealots, and sellers of spirituality—chased a powerless, low caste man from a Kerala village through Mumbai, Karachi and Delhi till he finally escaped into the mountain ranges of Himalayas. All of them wanted to capture this man alive and keep him with them! However, none of these men could catch and keep this elusive man, as he always found his way to freedom. In the process of working out his escapes this man also unearthed some important mysteries of human life!

Why did some powerful men continuously chase a low caste man? How did the man always find his way to freedom? What are the riddles he solved while he was trying to escape from his captors?

Wisdom of the White Mountain is a suspenseful and adventurous story told in the cultural, spiritual and philosophical context of the South Asia. It is also about Karma, Kama and Jihad! It ultimately unravels greed and selfishness of powerful men who mix religion and politics to manipulate common people for advancing personal interests.

Verdict: ‘Wisdom of the white Mountain’ is the second installment of the mountain trilogy. After reading the first book of the trilogy ‘Dolmens of the blue mountain’, the expectation from the second part was high and I must say the author has made it up to the mark.

The cover looks quite same like the cover of the previous book which is acceptable because these books are a part of a series. The name perfectly goes with the story and the presence of a white mountain on the front supports the name too. I loved the blurb. It gives a perfect outline of the story and attracts the readers to sneak inside the book.

 Those who have already read the first book can easily anticipate that this story is also going to be another unusual story. This story is about Thomas, a boy who finds it tough to survive in the small village of Kerala when he decides to flee to the city. The crisis of Thomas aka Thoma was shown in a delightful way. The author has shown how tough it is for a powerless, low cast Christian, whose biological father conspires against him, whose foster father hates him, to survive. After dodging death, Thoma runs away with his friend Balu, and reaches Kochi. His life takes a different turn when he lands up in the lap of a gang of goons and they adopt him. At almost every chapter the book has a different twist to offer. How Thomas left the gang? How he met the Islamic fundamentals? And how he reached Pakistan? It is this that the book has in store.

The narrating style is appreciable. I can’t say that the author has chosen a very simple narrating style which is in the trend, but the narrating style which the author have chosen goes with the story. An unusual story like this always comes with an unusual narrating style which complements each other. The continuous turn of events of Thomas’s life and the adventure the readers experience through the eyes of Thomas is what will keep the readers hooked till the end.

The characterization is good. All characters are described in a well maintained way. But I felt there were quite a few characters introduced by the author which can confuse the readers a bit. Apart from these minor flaws I find the book error free. In the review of the first book I had mentioned that there were a bit editing errors, it is good to see that the author has worked on it and made it flawless.

This is one wonderful book with a different approach to the audience. I would recommend this book to all those who are looking for a rich narrating style and meaningful story line. After reading the second part I am eagerly waiting for the third installment to come.

Available at:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/wisdom-white-mountain-english/p/itme3f665v83fn34?pid=9789384207588&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Wisdom+of+the+white+mountain&ref=c720e4a9-caba-467e-a726-bcbfb1fc554a

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Wisdom-White-Mountain-Kandathil-Sebastian/dp/9384027588/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423389473&sr=8-1&keywords=Wisdom+of+the+white+mountain

Review of 'Nirbhaya & others who DARED' by Kusum Choppra

Title: Nirbhaya & others who dared
Author: Kusum Choppra
Publisher: Vitasta
Page Count: 274
My Rating: 4/5

Blurb: In a culture described as 'punctuated by question marks', what is the role of women?
Is she a meal ticket? A punching bag? A caretaker for old parents, offspring etc.? A business deal maker? The working partner ? The third wheel?
Or a person in her own right—holding on to her space, her identity while countering intimidation?
Kusum Choppra's hitherto untold stories, tongue-in-cheek or serious, offer insights into the functioning of women's minds:
Of different approaches to life after a divorce;
Of the greedy exploitation of the widows of Kargil's martyrs;
Of a sister fighting for inheritance to protect her mother from
her brother;
Of a burnt bride fighting her way back—to life and emotional
freedom;
Of a simple village woman protecting her aged in-laws from the
greed of her husband and his new wife;
Of widows grasping at their slices of life. And why not?
Of a challenge to Pati Parmeshwar's right to select surrogates!
The stories are of women surviving their ordeals to move on in life

Verdict: ‘Nirbhaya & others who dared’ is the third book of Kusum Choppra. As the name suggests, this book is obviously on women but the author has a totally different approach.

The name of the book speaks for itself. After getting the book the first thing that grabbed my eyes is the wonderfully designed cover which perfectly goes with the content. I hate those books which have glossy and attractive covers but doesn't have any connection with the content. Nirbhaya, a name that always remains in a corner of our heart, is possibly the best name for a book like this which talks about how strong a girl could be. The tag line ‘the others who dared’ is perfect too because the stories are indeed of those who dared to take a stand against all the wrongs.

This book is a collection of twenty two short stories. All stories are different but only one thing that remains common is a strong woman character. Unlike other books of this genre in the market, which talks about the helplessness of a woman, author Kusum Choppra has chosen to show what should today’s woman do. The author has portrayed through this book that, this is not necessary for a woman to remain silent every time, it is ok to say that a woman is not sexually satisfied, divorce is not all times a woman’s fault, a wife should always take a stand against an alcoholic and abusive husband. The readers will witness how a woman should behave in today’s circumstances and after reading these stories the readers can find a lot of answers of why women are at the wrong end every time.

The narrating style is lucid and simple. There are no unnecessary descriptions which can bore the readers. I loved the way the author has written the end of each stories, it left me speechless. The women of these stories are from different backgrounds, different age groups, different culture which makes all these stories all the more interesting.

Only one thing which I will point out as the flaws of the book, there are few stories which could have been started in a better way. The author has tried to jump into the story straight from the very first line which could confuse a reader. Apart from this I found this book wonderfully edited and framed.

Few of these stories are based on real incidents, few are fictional but I would request each and every one to read this book, especially to those women who are still sitting idle and searching for the push to stand up. Overall a must read.

Available at:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/nirbhaya-others-dared-english-1st/p/itmef9bpp5ksr9vr?pid=9789382711490&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Nirbhaya+%26+others+who+dared&ref=d6bd3090-9c17-419e-a657-fd575908f332

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Nirbhaya-Others-Dared-Kusum-Choppra/dp/938271149X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423212967&sr=8-1&keywords=Nirbhaya+%26+others+who+dared

Review of 'Scarred for life, healed forever' by 'Ashwati Menon'

Title: Scarred For Life, Healed Forever
Author: Ashwati Menon
Publisher: Gargi Publishers
Page Count: 126
My Rating: 3/5

Blurb: What are these strange visions? What is wrong in her head? Why does she get strange feelings before incidents happen?

Nishtha Vaidya is a survivor of a terrible natural calamity. Not only does she live on with survivor's guilt, her mind is still there, on the ill-fated day and she could never come out of it. Just when things are beginning to settle slowly in the safe and cozy life in a vibrant lifestyle of Gujarat - Nishtha is getting strange visions and headaches. Life is taking her back two years in time and she finds she is running around the state, saving different and unknown lives from mortal peril.

Will Nishtha get answers to these mind boggling questions? Will Nishtha be able to pay tribute to her friends whom she lost? Has her untold love story got anything to do with it at all? Will Nishtha Ever unburden herself?

Verdict: ‘Scarred for life, Healed Forever’ is the first book by Ashwati Menon. This is an unusual story with an equally unusual ending.

The first thing that catches the eye of the author is the cover, which is quite efficiently designed. The illusion image of a girl on the front will raise questions among the readers. But I think the cover doesn't go with the story and could have been designed in a different way. The blurb was good and gives a good outline of the story. Overall the first impression was good but doesn't say much about the content.

This story is of a Nishtha Vaidya, a girl from Ahmedabad, fighting with her super natural powers. Nishtha had a happy and caring family and a good paying job thanks to her academic skills. After going to Australia for the Foreign Student Exchange Programme, she faced Tsunami and became the only Indian to survive. That incident changed everything in her life. She lost her friends and the love of her life. Nishtha realized that she had got some super natural power and sometimes can see what is going to happen next. How she manages to cope up with this power and uses it to save lives? How these visions made her life tough? And how she came out of this trauma? That is the book all about.

The author has chosen a different story for her debut novel which is commendable but the execution is not up to the mark. The narrating style was simple and was unable to keep the reader engaged. There are scenes which could have been described in a better way. The grammatical errors were dropping the speed of the book.

The characterization was good. Almost every characters has a different role to play in the story. There is one character in the story which I think could have been ignored by the author that is of Dnyaneshwar uncle. One thing where the author needs to work is on the description of the characters. Apart from the main protagonist and the few main characters all most all characters had lacked the lime light.

The author had tried to pen down something different than the regular but the framing of the plot could have been better. I like those frequent jumping of the scenes from present to past and the end. The author has the capability of describing scenes and could do a way lot better than this. Overall a nice brave attempt by a new author.

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/scarred-life-healed-forever-english/p/itmefyyhb8hqwqbt?pid=9788192960999&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Scarred+for+life%2C+healed+forever&ref=b3e2ee1a-408c-4fb3-b03b-c7513beb4dd8

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Scarred-Healed-Forever-Ashwati-Menon/dp/8192960994/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423105915&sr=8-1&keywords=scarred+for+life+healed+forever

Review of 'Choked!' by 'Bharath Sarma Rejeti'

Title: Choked! Fight Until You Win

Author: Bharath Sarma Rejeti

Publisher: Partrige

Page Count: 191

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb: What will you do when someone chokes you off?

It happened to him, a victim of a conspiracy. He was all alone, vulnerable, and pitted against the mighty and juggernaut, but being strong was the only option he had. He knew that it would be difficult to win, but quitting the fight would be devastating. He had too many things at stake – a non-negotiable promise, his land, life, and livelihood.

Unrelentingly, he began the revolt with just an indestructible desire to win. It was indeed a war between two unique men – one preferred to confront head-on, and another chose to be invisible. The war was also one of its kind – the victory was not in plotting violence but in terrorising the enemy.

This is the story of a small businessman who was pushed to fight with a corporate gorilla. For more clues on the conspiracy and war.

Verdict: ‘Choked! Fight until You Die’ is the first work of fiction by Bharath Sharma Rejeti. This book has a thrilling journey to offer to the readers which they will enjoy at the edge of their seats.

The first thing that crosses my mind after holding the copy is the cover. I loved the way the name is written on the front. After reading the blurb any reader can easily guess the reason behind the presence of a factory, a setting sun and a bunch of workers on the cover. The blurb gives a perfect outline of the plot and will tempt the readers to read the book.

Aditya Kulkarni, the main protagonist of the book, was living a successful life with his happy family until he finds himself as they prey of a huge conspiracy. He had taken his father’s business to a new level and was doing well and suddenly in one fateful day he finds out that his factory has been taken over by a corporate giant. How Aditya stands up to fight against the ‘corporate gorilla’ as the author says to reclaim his business is what the story is all about. I loved the way the author has strategized the war and slowly moved to his goal. The author successfully keeps the suspense alive till the end and the readers will experience a thrilling read.

The story does total justice to its tagline ‘fight until you die’. The narrating style is easy and very much in the trend now a days. There are few grammatical and editing errors spotted here and there which could have been ignored. I appreciate the author for distributing the story in small and crisp chapters which helps the readers to complete the book in one go.

Talking about the downfall of the book I would say, characterization remains a problem till the end. The author has introduced quite a few characters but hasn’t described them well. The description of the main protagonist, Aditya, was good but the readers will face slight difficulties in visualizing other characters.

Apart from these minor errors, this book has a wonderful plot to entertain all types of readers. A remarkable effort from a debut author and I will surely wait to read the next book of this author for his delightful story telling school.

Available at –

Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/choked/p/itmdz6t3suweqjz6?pid=DGBDRZVQPDFGSUFW&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=choked%21+fight+until+you+win&ref=91df2a95-3a39-493c-8faa-8f174081b528

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/CHOKED-Fight-Until-You-Win-ebook/dp/B00HIHH1D2

Lord of Darkness by Vikrant Shukla: Review

Title: Lord Of Darkness
Author: Vikrant Shukla
Publisher: YS Book International
Page Count: 267
My Rating: 4/5

Blurb: Arpita, a studious, grade seeking student from Pune University, finds it really hard to get a replacement for her old hard disk under a thousand bucks. But, when she finally finds a second-hand disk through the help of her friend, Shipra, she couldn't help but notice that things in her life are no more as they used to be-  the horrifying death of Anwar, the one who installed the disk, the presence of a mysterious, password protected folder in that disk, named ‘Billycan hill’, and a presentation that vaguely mentions a location where one can travel through past and future. After numerous efforts, they finally locate this bizarre spot and decide to visit Moghal Empire to sell a few electronic items to these ancient people to make some money. But, Dobler, an ardent follower of Satan, bullies them to change their plans at the last moment. Finally, Arpita and her chaps end up in the Satanic era near the ‘Church of Satan’ in the pursuit  of the mighty  Ring of Beelzebub, and this is where the deadly game of lust and power begins.

Verdict: ‘Lord of Darkness’ is the third novel by Vikrant Shukla. This plot of the book is different from the regular with spine chilling thrill and twists.

The first thing the reader will notice the wonderfully designed cover. The black theme and the blue face generates and eerie feeling among the onlookers. I loved the name not just because it suits the cover but it goes with the content too. The page quality was good but the book is pretty heavy to carry.

The forwards has a lot of eminent personalities praising the book which will raise the bar of expectations among the readers and gave the book a well needed start. The start of the book was a bit hazy and was looking like an unsolved puzzle. Several plots are running simultaneously and each plots has its own excitement. The thing I loved the most is the way the author linked the plots.  

The author very efficiently distributed the story in small and crispy chapters which keeps the flow alive and force the readers to complete the book in one go. The change of scenes in every second chapters maintains the buzz among the story. When the readers starts to get the missing part of the jigsaw puzzle the book becomes unputdownable.

The narrating style is not very good and remains in the down side of the book. The author has chosen a very simple narrating style, which is very much in the trend but the misplaced words or the average sentences disturbs the flow of the plot. I could have call the book a perfect if the narrating have been a bit more mature.

The characterization is exceptional and executed in a well-disciplined way. Almost each characters have a specific role to play. The detailing of the dark characters and the magic hexes makes this book all the more interesting.

The readers will appreciate the author for the amount of research he have done to frame such a delightful plot. This book is wonderful blend of science, history and imagination. There are few editing and proof reading errors are spotted but the twists in almost every page makes the readers overlook the errors. Overall a nice effort by the author and kudos to him for showing courage to come with something different.

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/lord-darkness-english/p/itmdzndx87gtg9hf?pid=9789383793242&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Lord+of+Darkness+by+Vikrant+Shukla&ref=76bc50f4-9b86-469b-8aa1-d54a8ee3ef3c

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Lord-Of-Darkness-Vikrant-Shukla/dp/9383793244

Review of 'Warrior' by 'Olivier Lafont'

Blurb: JOIN SAAM, LAST SON OF THE DESTROYER, ON HIS EPIC QUEST TO SAVE ALL EXISTENCE.

In Mumbai, driven to its knees by a merciless blizzard, Saam the watchmender is corneres into an intolerable position. As Shiva’s only earthly demigod child, it falls upon him to stop his indomitable father.

Bred to war, the son of destruction Saam rides with six extraordinary companions into the horro of a crumbling world to face Shiva. He is forced to join hands with Ara, his half-brother he can never fully trust, and take with him his own mortal beloved, Maya, on this desperate attempt to stop the End of Days. But his path is littered with death, danger and betrayal.

Interweaving mythology, epic adventure and vintage heroism, this enthralling novel will change the way you see gods, heroes and demons.

Verdict: ‘Warrior’ is the first work of fiction by Olivier Lafont. This book is a nice thriller with a touch of Hindu mythology, history and fantasy.

The cover looks different and catchy. The sketch of a well-built guy holding a sword in hand gives this book a perfect action thriller look. The cloudy back ground and the grey flavor in the cover makes this book looks more appealing to the readers. The label of ‘Shortlisted for the Tibor Jones South Asia Prize’ will also tempt the readers to sneak a peek inside the content. The blurb is wonderfully written and gives a nice outline and start for the story. Overall the first impression of the book is impressive.

The author hasn’t wasted a time with boring introductions and has jumped into the story from the very first page. The first chapter is enough for any reader to judge that this book is going to be a roller coaster ride which they will enjoy on the edge of their seats. Snow and blood is falling from the sky in Mumbai city to indicate the end of the times when Saam (the main protagonist), the son of the destroyer, rises to the occasion to fight with the enemy to save the world. Saam commences his quest with a team of two more demigods and two mortals. The readers will love the whole story because this book has everything, from action to romance, from the unusual special power of the demigods to the wonderful touch of Hindu mythology. As the story heads towards the end the book becomes unputdownable because of the authors' efficient skill to maintain the thrill and speed. The readers will close the book with a satisfying sigh.

The narrating style is eloquent and goes with the story perfectly. The characterization is fascinating and the way the author has described all his characters with utmost clarity, they become visible to the readers quite easily. It is not easy to make the readers believe a character leaping a building or taking ten trained men single handedly or piercing through his gaze, but the author has done this effortlessly. There was not a single character which I can point out to be created unnecessarily, all characters has a special role to play in the plot or a special task to complete or an important clue to deliver.

At times I felt the author has exaggerated a few scenes with the descriptions to make them more clear to the authors, which I think could have been avoided. Apart from these scenes, there is no more error to talk about. The book is wonderfully edited and for that all the credit goes to the editorial team of the publisher. I would recommend this book to everyone who are looking for a thrilling and speedy read.

Final Words: The prompt narrating style and the way the author has framed the whole plot is a remarkable job by a new author. Such a story framing ability will take this author to a notable height.

Title: Warrior
Author: Olivier Lafont
Publisher: Penguin
Page Count: 375
My Rating: 4.5/5

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/warrior-english/p/itme2cfq3eg5ybuf?pid=9780143423638&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Warrior+by+Olivier+Lafont&ref=9fe1a615-450d-490f-8431-65edb9ef5d50

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Warrior-Olivier-Lafont/dp/0143423630/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1418655568&sr=8-1

Review of 'Letters from an Indian Summer' by 'Siddharth Dasgupta'

Blurb: A love story between an Indian photographer and a French artist, Letters from an Indian Summer is suffused with a strong sense of serendipity and spiritually liberal doses of the things Arjun Bedi and Genevieve Casta hold dear in this world. The past, though, lurks constantly around every chosen corner. Will the secrets they harbour end up destroying them, or will the unspoken belief in their entwined cosmic paths be much too strong a force . . . ?

Verdict: ‘Letters from an Indian Summer’ is the debut work of Siddharth Dasgupta. The most unique thing of this book is the author’s story telling skills.

After holding the book physically the first thing that left my mouth was the word gorgeous. It is one of the best cover I have seen for a story like this till date. The font in which the name is written, the color of the back ground, the dry rose and leaves scattered all over the cover, makes this look blissful. The name is different as the cover and will invite the readers to grab it. The blurb is small but gives a glimpse of the plot. The first look of the book is so good that it will definitely attract the reader’s eyes.

The books starts with Arjun Bedi (the male protagonist), an Indian photographer, meeting a French artist Genevieve Casta (the female protagonist) in a café in Pune. The first thing the readers will notice is the author saying Pune as Poona, but as soon the author describes why, it starts to sound perfect. The story moves on with their first meeting in Kathmandu and with describing exotic places like Kathmandu, Paris, Istanbul, Banaras and of course Pune, in small and charming chapters. The readers are going to like the way the author has framed the whole story and specially the end.

The thing that takes this book to a new height is the effortless describing style of this debut author. The narrating style is poetic and expressive. From describing scenes to conversations all through the story, the delightful words will keep the readers hypnotized. The chosen words are a treat to the reader’s eyes and they will appreciate the author for the rich literary touch. When the author describes outlandish scenes the readers will feel an urgent urge to visit the places or witness the beauty. The author has the ability to mesmerize the readers by his beautiful and calm narrating story telling style.

The way the author created his characters is perfect for a story like this. I loved the names of the characters because those names suits their personality and doesn’t confuse the readers.

There are a few scenes which can make the readers feel a bit bored because of the continuous descriptions and the slow speed. The speed being the one and only drawback of the story and I would say a story and a narrative like this should be enjoyed slowly by sinking himself totally under the author’s brilliantly created atmosphere. A story that will be loved by all those who can appreciate good literature and are in search of a wonderful and pure love story controlled by fate.

Final Words: The serenity and the composure of the author's narrating style and the author's command over the language will enthrall the readers to the core. Kudos to the writer for writing such a book in his debut attempt.

Title: Letters from an Indian Summer
Author: Siddharth Dasgupta
Publisher: Fingerprint!
Page Count: 317
My Rating: 4.75/5

Available at:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/letters-indian-summer-english/p/itmefgecsxgmxeyh?pid=9788172345495&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Letters+from+an+Indian+Summer+bu+Siddharth+Dasgupta&ref=b7b64bff-c32b-4c37-8034-f1bd31a0f2ce

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Letters-Indian-Summer-Siddharth-Dasgupta/dp/8172345496/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418398949&sr=8-1&keywords=Letters+from+an+Indian+Summer+by+Siddharth+Dasgupta

Review of 'Life in a Rectangle' by 'Sujit Sanyal'

Blurb: Author Sujit Sanyal rambles down the memory lane in his candid memoir and narrates some revealing, some intriguing and other wacky stories about the advertising world from his Clarion days, his first agency, which he joined as a trainee and whose Kolkata branch he later went on to head.

Verdict: ‘Life in a rectangle’ is a yet another wonderful novel by Sujit Sanyal. This book has a charm of its own which makes this special to the audience.

Any reader are bound to fall for the book at the very first glimpse. The hardbound cover with a colorful jacket looks fascinating. The mention of the compliments this book has got from various eminent personalities on the cover completes the look and will attract the readers. The thing I loved the most is the feeling which one will get after opening the copy, lasts till closing of the book.

Only the author with such credibility can narrate a story like this. The author has narrated a story of that time which created history. Being a memoir of his own life, the author’s detailed description of the condition of advertising industry in seventies and eighties and the life of people of Calcutta is appreciable. Sujit Sanyal’s journey from an employee to the head of the company is definitely worth reading. The mention of the Bengali words inside the story and the constant presence of Calcutta in the backdrop helps me connect with the book but I can very well say that any reader with the urge to read something different can connect with the book.

The narrating style chosen by the author is not a trendy one but goes with the flow of the story. The words are wonderfully chosen and added to the charm of the book. The chapters are short and delicate which will help the readers complete the book in one go. Being a non-fiction, this book makes its way to the reader’s heart because of the flawless narrating style.

The characters are equally well described and came alive at times. The mention of well-known persons of that time will entice the readers to read more.

The eloquent descriptions and the way the author framed the whole plot, reflects the authors command over the language. The book is error free and there is not a single thing to point which disturbs the flow. The teenagers might not like the book because of its different content but apart from that this book is definitely one fascinating read.

Final Words: This book will take the readers to a journey down the memory lane filled with nostalgia. An absorbing read.

Title: Life in a Rectangle
Author: Sujit Sanyal
Publisher: Fingerprint!
Page count: 260
My Rating: 4.75/5

Available at:

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/life-rectangle-world-around-55b-mirza-ghalib-street-english/p/itmdepn4rbgahrcf?pid=9788172343989&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=Life+in+a+rectangle&ref=26b8856e-37e5-42cc-932b-acb9996335a8

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Life-Rectangle-Sujit-Sanyal/dp/8172343981/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418202359&sr=8-1&keywords=Life+in+a+rectangle

Review of 'He Fixed the Match She Fixed Him' by 'Shikha Kumar'

Blurb: Shreya – I'm a highly qualified Delhi girl earning an enviable salary. My parents are having a tough time finding a suitable groom for me. However, recently they have a proposal from this very interesting guy from Mumbai. I almost get mesmerised when he starts talking to me. I think I like him very much.

Kunal – I'm owner of a textile company in Mumbai. My Mom wants me to get married. Again. She has recently suggested a suitable girl from Delhi. What my Mom doesn't know is that I've met Shreya before once in my life and I've been looking for her ever since. I have a vendetta to settle.

The author takes you along on a journey via roads of revenge, agony, remorse, attraction, titillation, tantalisation and romance. Do Shreya and Kunal make it, or do they fall prey to their past?

Verdict: ‘He fixed the match she fixed him’ is the debut work of author Shikha Kumar. The author has attempted to pen down a fresh story in the genre of love story.

After giving a single look at the cover, the first thing that came in my mind is, cute. The cartoon characters, the pink heart and the pink flavor on the cover gives this book a much needed feel  and will indicate the readers that this book is going to be yet another love story. If you hear the name without looking at the cover, you may guess this book is on match fixing but it is not and this name suits the content perfect. The blurb seems interesting too and I can say the readers will pick the book by its appearance.

The story starts with introducing the female protagonist Shreya and her family. Her recently retired father was searching for the perfect groom for her beautiful, elegant and intelligent daughter when the Kharbanda family form Delhi knocked their door. Just after Shreya’s marriage with the charming KunalKharbanda, the author landed up with a grand twist which will left the readers awe-struck. The story moves on with Shreya trying her best to cope up the challenges thrown by Kunal. But the main essence of the story lies under the way the hatred between these two transforms into love. The author hasn’t shown any hurry while portraying the transformation which makes this story different. There was a wonderful message for the readers at the end.

The narrating style is lucid and engaging. The simple words and the witty conversations will make the readers entertaining till the end. At times the readers might feel the narrating style is a bit slow but it goes with the story.

The characterization was good and to the point. I would appreciate the author for not dragging scenes and for not introducing unnecessary characters to make the story lomg. But apart from the main characters like Shreya, Kunal, Mahesh, Anuradha, Astha, Vineet, who have come alive by the description style of the author, other members of the two families lacked the lime light at times.

This book has a good story line and the author has narrated the whole story in an easy going language. The book has started with a regular note and hadn’t promised anything bigger in the first few chapters.The speed of the story is a bit slow and I felt the constant use of Scavin Eyewear instead of spectacles or sunglass is pretty annoying. Apart from this minor drawbacks, I felt this book is good and any type of readers can enjoy the book.

Final Words:  The debut writer has done a commendable job in jotting down a different love story and successfully dodged the chic-lit tag. A story that tells how divine the relationship of Husband and Wife is.

Title: He Fixed the Match She Fixed Him
Author: Shikha Kumar
Publisher: Vitasta
Page Count: 284
My Rating: 4.25/5

Available At –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/he-fixed-match-she-him-english-1st/p/itmef9bprgwj3c3g?pid=9789382711506&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=He+fixed+the+match+she+fixed+him&ref=01d3c14e-3c1d-459c-831d-50e392cd6bbe

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/He-Fixed-Match-She-Him/dp/9382711503/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417013695&sr=1-1&keywords=He+fixed+the+match+she+fixed+him

Review of 'Of Course, We Are Best Friends' by 'Sonia Bansal'

Blurb:  Aditya and Aditi, both bid adieu to their sheltered existence and walk in the world loaded with challenges.
When they began to sketch their perfect ending laden with joys and smiles then all of a sudden…
BOOM!!
Destiny gifted them another picture.

Have you ever fallen in love with your best friend..??
If yes, then fasten your seat belts and get ready to experience the most thrilling ride of your life, ride from the love to out of it, from school corridors to college campus blended with a maze of swirling emotions.

A true yet unusual saga of Aditya and Aditi imbued with traces of pleasure crunchy moments of happiness and togetherness.

Beaware!! It may change your definition of love and friendship.

Verdict: ‘Of Course, We are best friends!’ is the debut novel of author Sonia Bansal. The book is yet another tale of friendship and love in the backdrop of high school and college.

The cover looks very simple to me but goes with the title. The cover is not gorgeous enough to drag the reader’s eyes and I feel the book can easily be lost in the crowd of numerous romantic novels by Indian authors. The name sounds good but not intriguing and doesn’t help the book to stand out from the rest. I would say the first appearance of the book is pretty ordinary and nothing remarkable.

As the blurb suggests, the book starts on a regular note with the Aditi (the female protagonist) joining a new school and soon finds out a good friend in Aditya (the male protagonist). Without understanding the depth of the emotion, it was love at first sight for Aditya. An introvert guy at nature Aditya, can feel butterflies in his stomach whenever he talks to Aditi. Soon they became friends and started sharing every tiny details about each other. Like always, after few days Aditi starts to like him and soon they were dating. Their relation faces the problem when they were promoted to college and have to part ways. Can their relation survive the long distance? Can Aditya, who was more involved in the relation, find a solution to save his love? All these answer lies inside the story.

The narrating style is the main force behind the story which will keep the readers engaging. The author seriously got some skills to narrate a story but she have to work on framing a better plot. The narrating style is simple and very much in the trend. The narrating style helps the readers to understand the point of view of both of the protagonists which I like the most. Apart from Aditi and Aditya, the other characterization is not that impressive and would not be able to create any effect on the readers.

The book has few silly spelling mistakes and few grammatical mistakes too which disturbs the flow of the story. The story is not new and very much similar to the high school romance book available. The narrating style is remarkable for a debut writer. I will definitely be looking forward to read from this author in the future. Those who have experienced a school crush or teenage love, can enjoy this story. I would recommend this book to those who are in search of a light and refreshing read after a tired day. 

Final Words: This is a teenage love story with a sweet and simple narrating style. Kudos to the author for her wonderful skill of describing emotions. A light read.

Title: Of Course, We are Best Friends!
Author: Sonia Bansal
Publisher: Blackbuck Publishers
Page Count: 200
My Rating: 3.5/5

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/course-best-friends-english/p/itmdyz7gegzyrncf