My Book Reviews

Category: Indian Fiction

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of Indian Fiction genre.

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

Honor by Thrity Umrigar

Release: January 4, 2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Source: Alonquin Books
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, ibooks

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In this riveting and immersive novel, bestselling author Thrity Umrigar tells the story of two couples and the sometimes dangerous and heartbreaking challenges of love across a cultural divide.

Indian American journalist Smita has returned to India to cover a story, but reluctantly. Long ago she and her family left the country with no intention of ever coming back. And she follows the case of Meena, a Hindu woman attacked by members of her own village and her own family for marrying a Muslim man. Smita comes face to face with a society where tradition carries more weight than one’s own heart.

This is a story that threatens to unearth the painful secrets of Smita’s own past. While Meena’s fate hangs in the balance, Smita tries in every way she can to right the scales. She also finds herself increasingly drawn to Mohan, an Indian man she meets while on assignment. But the dual love stories of Honor are as different as the cultures of Meena and Smita themselves. Smita realizes she has the freedom to enter into a casual affair, knowing she can decide later how much it means to her.

This is a tender and evocative novel about love, hope, familial devotion, betrayal, and sacrifice. Thrity Umrigar shows us two courageous women trying to navigate how to be true to their homelands and themselves at the same time.

About the Author:

A journalist for seventeen years, Thrity Umrigar has written for the Washington Post, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and other national newspapers. And she contributes regularly to the Boston Globe’s book pages.

Thrity is the winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize, a Lambda Literary award and the Seth Rosenberg prize. She teaches creative writing and literature at Case Western Reserve University. The author of The Space Between Us, Bombay Time, and the memoir First Darling of the Morning. She was a winner of the Nieman Fellowship to Harvard University. She has a Ph.D. in English and lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Honor Review:

I loved this book so much! The first aspect that struck me was the beautiful and simplistic way the author narrated it. The author tells the story straightforward yet firmly that immediately connects to the characters and their situations. Right from the beginning, I liked Smitha and could connect with her. As she returns to Mumbai, you see how her roots impact her and wonder about her mysterious past. Similarly, Meena is also a strong character, and her story had me in tears. Meena is one of the best characters I have ever read and will etch in my mind for a long time.

As an Indian, I thought the author portrayed the country realistically. While there is so much beauty in the country, you also see the small-minded mentality of people, especially in rural areas where their thinking is backward and misogynistic. There are characters like Govind and Rupal, who you despise with a passion because of their smug mindset. The author touches on the imbalance between men and women, religion and fanaticism, and many things wrong in our current affairs. At the same time, she also shows how you can change your perception and move on, and stay strong amidst all this.

Moreover, there are some shocking twists that even I did not anticipate, which made the book so memorable. Some memorable moments in the tale are when Meena meets Abdul or when Meena and Radha talk about the colors. I loved how the author toggled the two storylines and merged them. On a side note, I also adored the relationship between Mohan and Smitha and felt it added nicely to the theme.

Overall, “Honor” is a beautiful piece of literary fiction that touched my heart, and I highly recommend it.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Honor by Thrity Umrigar Blog Tour hosted by Alonquin Books.

January 13, 2022
Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup

Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup

Release: May 5th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: One World
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

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A sweeping, lyrical debut about the love and longing between humanity and the earth itself, by a major new literary talent from India

A spellbinding work of literature, Latitudes of Longing follows the interconnected lives of characters searching for true intimacy. The novel sweeps across India, from an island, to a valley, a city, and a snow desert to tell a love story of epic proportions. We follow a scientist who studies trees and a fortune teller who speaks to them. Also a geologist working to end futile wars over a glacier. We come across octogenarian lovers. a mother struggling to free her revolutionary son. And a yeti who seeks human companionship. There is also a turtle who transforms first into a boat and then a woman. And finally there is the ghost of an evaporated ocean as restless as the continents. Binding them all together is a vision of life as vast as the universe itself.

A young writer awarded one of the most prestigious prizes in India for this novel, Shubhangi Swarup is a storyteller of extraordinary talent and insight. Richly imaginative and wryly perceptive, Latitudes of Longing offers a soaring view of humanity. Our beauty and ugliness, our capacity to harm and love each other, and our mysterious and sacred relationship with nature.

About the Author:

Shubhangi Swarup is a writer and educator. Latitudes of Longing, her debut novel, was a bestseller soon after its release in India. Besides, it won the Tata Literature Live Award for debut fiction. Also it was on the shortlist for the JCB Prize for Indian Literature, and on the longlist for the International Dublin Literary Award 2020 and the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.

She got the Charles Pick Fellowship award for creative writing at the University of East Anglia, and has also won awards for gender sensitivity in feature writing. She lives in Mumbai..

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Latitudes of Longing Review:

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You know how there are books that you hear rave reviews about and are dying to read it? But when you get to read it, invariably, there is some disappointment. “Latitudes of Longing” seems to be one of those books.

Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed the first half of this book a lot when it revolved around Girija Prasad and Chanda Devi. The story also progressed well as Devi grew up and Girija Prasad contemplates his life. The story yet continues nicely with Mary, Plato, and Thapa. However, post that part, I felt the story was all over the place. While I appreciate what the author was trying to portray, I thought she was trying to cover a lot. As they say, sometimes less is more. There are very few instances where I lose track of what is happening in the story, especially towards the end, but that is what I thought of the book.

Nevertheless, I do feel that this is an impressive debut. The author has a beautiful style of writing, where the characters contemplate their existence and actions as the story progresses. She has a beautiful writing style, which borders on lyrical with her exquisite methods of using symbolism and metaphors. The characters are also charming, and I loved some of them, like Mary and Girija Prasad. There were also difficult moments to read, like the miscarriage and how it affected the couple’s lives. Had the story stayed consistent with a good plot, I think this would have been a fantastic book to read.

Overall, I would recommend “Latitudes of Longing” if you are solely looking for a beautifully written story that makes you ponder, irrespective of the plot. However, this book turned out to be an average read for me.

August 6, 2021
The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind

The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind

Release: October 28, 2020
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Wild Pressed Books
Source: Love Books Tours
Find it at Amazon, Kindle, B&N.

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The Coconut Girl is a collection of poems written from the Indian, female perspective with an insight into Punjabi culture. We are also offered insight into the poet’s brain’s hallucinogenic state during cancer treatment and her life experience in multi-cultural Britain. The protagonist in the poems is both deeply vulnerable and strongly independent. Overall, her strength of character shines through. The Coconut Girl features poetry of deep imagery, not least in some of the poems exploring the experience of the female body post-operatively, such as in My Womb Is A Park Of Carnage.

About the Author:

SUNITA THIND is a Bedford born Derby-based published female, Asian British BAME poet, and writer. Her debut collection of multicultural poetry (Black Pear Press, 2020) focused on living between two cultures, British and Punjabi. Sunita is a workshop facilitator, speaker, and performance poet. She has had poetry and short stories published in various literary magazines, e-zines, and journals.

She has dabbled in many things, including being a model, primary and secondary school teacher, and trained as a make-up artist. Being an Ovarian Cancer survivor, she is grateful to have survived it. She is a campaigner and fundraiser for related charities.

She also loves to sing and take singing lessons and is married and has a beautiful, male platinum white Samoyed called Ghost.

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The Coconut Girl Review:

I don’t read much poetry, but “The Coconut Girl” intrigued me because of its theme.

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Firstly, I liked the concept of the book. Being an Indian, I could see a lot of issues that Indian women face, described poignantly. It’s no surprise that the Indian Society is very conservative and expects people to be a certain way. Unfortunately, there is a lot of pressure to appear ‘fair-skinned,’ stick to arranged marriages and lead a particular lifestyle to uphold the family values. The author did a lovely job of adding many such details, particularly of the Punjabi culture.

Moreover, the author narrates the tale in a personal, raw manner. The girl goes through a lot, from the racial slurs, prejudice from Society to experiencing cancer. There are many emotions in this story as the character lashes out at the trauma she has to face. Furthermore, some of the passages are a bit queasy and difficult to read. The author does not shy away from talking about cancer’s horrors and how it affects the protagonist. Another impressive aspect is how the author makes the passages sound crass and gross, yet beautiful and haunting at the same time.

However, while I enjoyed the story, I feel it would be challenging to resonate with a broader audience only because of the native words. There are a lot of Indian terms that non-Indians might not comprehend. Perhaps a glossary of sorts would have added more value to the book.

Apart from that, this was a fascinating book, and I enjoyed the author’s beautiful narration style. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Book Tour Schedule:

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours. Check out my post, and make sure to enter the giveaway!

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November 20, 2020
The Coffer Dams by Kamala Markandaya

The Coffer Dams by Kamala Markandaya

Release: September 30, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: HopeRoad Publishing.com
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

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Clinton is a founder and head of a firm of international engineers. He arrives in India to build a dam, bringing with him his young wife, Helen, and a strong team of aides and skilled men.

They face formidable challenges in the execution of he project. In the course, they face daunting mountains and terrain jungles and a hostile environment.
Above all, they need to complete within a time scheduled due tropical weather.

While the construction is in progress, setbacks occur in the implementation of the project. Also there are fundamental difference between attitudes towards life and death between the British Bosses and Indian Workers . This further adds to the difficulties in working together. It also reflects British contempt for Indian lives and for nature.

First published over 50 years ago, an ecological novel well ahead of its time.

The Coffer Dams is an absorbing tale about mechanical strength and spiritual weakness, physical certainties and moral doubts.

About the Author:

Kamala Markandaya (1924 – 2004) was born in Mysore, India. She studied history at Madras University and later worked for a small
progressive magazine before moving to London in 1948 in pursuit of a career in journalism. There she began writing her novels;

Kamala Markandaya was a pioneeramong Indian women writers who made their mark not just through their subject matter, but also through their fluid, polished literary style. Her first published work was Nectar in a Sieve, and its depiction of rural India and the suffering of farmers made it popular in the West. Dramatization of the Quit India movement in 1942, the clash between East and West and the tragedy that resulted from it were other themes of her fictions. . Her other interest included the problems facing ordinary middle-class Indians—making a living, finding inner peace, coping with modern technology and its effects on the poor

Reviewing the republication of The Nowhere Man in 2019,Booker prize-winner Bernadine Evaristo wrote; ‘For the last 20 years of her life, Kamala Markandaya couldn’t get published and went out of print. Generations of readers lost out in reading this gem.Now I hope it will find its place in literary history.’.

Goodreads

The Coffer Dams Review:

This is considered a classic in Indian literature and I am so happy to see it back in publication again.

The characters are interesting and well-drawn. My favorite character is Helen because she is complex with many layers. She mingles with the natives and is empathetic to their lifestyle. Moreover, I loved her interactions with Clinton and Bashiam. Bashiam is another complex character who stands out in the story. As someone not favored by both sides, it was interesting to see how he progresses with the situation.

Apart from the characters, I really like the unspoken tension between the two parties. The story takes place during the post-independence era of India, where the British and native Indians have to work together. Hence, it is enticing as we see the emotional conflict of the characters as they try to work together. The author intensifies the plot with the shocking deaths due to unplanned circumstances.

However, I loved everything about this story except the style of writing. Personally, I get am not a fan of long sentences that details intricate aspects that are not necessary. At times, I felt the author overly detailed the thoughts of the characters rather than progressing with the storyline. Moreover, I felt Clinton is a rather weak character for the lead. He allows others to influence him easily.

However, apart from this, I really liked how she paced the story and the environment that makes you feel like you are in the old days of India. Overall, this is a pleasant read if you like old-school, literary writing.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Coffer Dams by Kamala Markandaya Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

October 16, 2020
A Cut-Like Wound by Anita Nair

A Cut-Like Wound by Anita Nair

Release: July 8, 2014
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo, TBD,

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Nair writes big, brave descriptions of one brutal murder after the next, relentlessly describing each death even as sub-inspector Santosh loses his breakfast over them.”—Time Out

It’s the first day of Ramadan in heat-soaked Bangalore. A young man begins to dress: makeup, a sari, and expensive pearl earrings. Before the mirror he transforms himself into Bhuvana. She is a hijra, a transgender seeking love in the bazaars of the city.

What Bhuvana wants, she nearly gets: this elusive young woman attracts a passing young man—but someone points out that Bhuvana is no woman. For that, the interloper’s throat is cut. A case for Inspector Borei Gowda, going to seed, and at odds with those around him including his wife, his colleagues, even the informers he must deal with. More corpses and the spicy concoction includes Urmila, Gowda’s ex-flame of a mystery novel.

Most intriguing is the grim world of Bhuvana. Her chilling hijra fantasies, emotions, and hopes are there but oddly touching. Some mysteries remain till almost the end. For instance Bhuvana’s connection with the wealthy, corrupt Ravikumar is one. He is a corporator living in a mansion and controls whole districts of Bangalore.

About the Author:

Anita Nair lives in Bangalore and is a prize winning, internationally acclaimed author, playwright, essayist,
lecturer and literary personality.

Her novel Ladies Coupe, first published ten years ago, is a feminist classic published in thirty languages all over the world. The Daily Telegraph called it ‘one of the most important feminist novels to come out of India’. The movie adaptation of her previous book, Lessons in Forgetting, has just won the Indian national award for the best feature film in English language. Her another critically acclaimed novel was The Lilac House,

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A Cut-Like Wound Review:

This was a gripping tale with an eclectic cast, and I enjoyed it a lot!

Firstly, I really liked Gowda as the main character. The author balances Gowda’s personal life with the case beautifully. Gowda’s personal life is complicated while he reminisces old moments with Michael, forms a relationship with Urmila, distances from his wife, and feels his son might be a drug addict. That doesn’t stop him from trying to put his career on track as he tracks down a serial killer. The author wrote him in various layers, which made the story interesting. Similarly, the serial killer is wonderful as the negative character. I found the backstory, motives and methods for why the killer did what they did very interesting. Similarly, I enjoyed the supporting characters like Santosh and Urmila.

Moreover, the author keeps the story fresh and gripping with her style of writing. We learn who the killer is early on, but the fun is watching how far they would go in this cat and mouse game. Also, the author encompasses a bit of both worlds in the story. On one hand, the author tells the tale in a stylish westernized manner where we see detailed autopsies and thorough investigations. On the other hand, as an Indian, the story feels natives with the backdrop of Bangalore and the regional slangs in the dialogues.

However, I felt there were too many characters in the canvas at times. For instance, I did not know what Michael’s role was in the story. Also, I did not know this was the first book in a series, and did not anticipate the cliff-hanger ending. Apart that, this was very entertaining. I look forward to reading the next book. Overall, this is a very gripping Indian crime fiction novel.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A Cut-Like Wound by Anita Nair Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

October 15, 2020
Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India by Amish Tripathi

Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India by Amish Tripathi
Release: June 20th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Westland
Source: Amazon
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A Forgotten Hero. An Unforgettable Battle.

India, 1025 AD.

Repeated attacks by Mahmud of Ghazni and his barbaric Turkic hordes have weakened India’s northern regions. The invaders lay waste to vast swathes of the subcontinent—plundering, killing, raping, pillaging. Many of the old Indian kingdoms, tired and divided, fall to them. Also, those who do fight, battle with old codes of chivalry, and are unable to stop the savage Turkic army which repeatedly breaks all rules to win. Then the Turks raid and destroy one of the holiest temples in the land: the magnificent Lord Shiva temple at Somnath.

At this most desperate of times, a warrior rises to defend the nation.King Suheldev.
The ruler of a small kingdom, he sees what must be done for his motherland, and is willing to sacrifice his all for it. A fierce rebel. A charismatic leader. An inclusive patriot.

Read this blockbuster epic adventure of courage and heroism, a fictional tale based on true events, that recounts the story of that lionhearted warrior and the magnificent Battle of Bahraich.

About the Author

Amish is a 1974-born, IIM (Kolkata)-educated, boring banker turned happy author. The success of his debut book, The Immortals of Meluha (Book 1 of the Shiva Trilogy), encouraged him to give up a fourteen-year-old career in financial services to focus on writing. He is passionate about history, mythology and philosophy, finding beauty and meaning in all world religions. Amish’s books have sold more than 5 million copies and have been translated into over 19 languages.

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Legend of Suheldev Review:

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I was excited to read the new novel by Amish, one of India’s most famous authors. This book had its highlights and was a pretty breezy read. The story is short and simple to read, so even if you are not an avid reader, you can still pick up this book. There are also some moments which I really enjoyed in the story. For example, I liked the underlying theme of how united we are as Indians, irrespective of our castes and religions.

Some of the characters are very interesting, like Aslan and the monk Ashvaghosh. In fact, I really liked Aslan’s storyline and the whole mystery as to who he was. I also liked Vrishabh and thought the author wrote him well. Moreover, I liked how the author included the relationship of Maqsud and Kerim in the story. Though the author might have added it for controversial reasons, I think its about time Indian fiction started progressive towards same sex romance.

However, the story was average and didn’t have the same spark as the Shiva trilogy. When Amish wrote The Immortals of Meluha, it was something new and different to the world of Indian fiction. Since then, we have so many amazing talented writers who have surpassed even Amish’s levels. Hence, with expectations riding so high, this book just did not cut it.

Even main characters like Suheldev, Tomashi, Govardhan and Abdul are generic feel like a replica from the author’s previous books. Moreover, I also found Suheldev’s romance with Tomashi completely unnecessary! The romance seemed forced and random and didn’t add any value at all.

Overall, Suheldev is a nice read but not what I expected.

Video Review:

Watch my video review

July 3, 2020
The Sage’s Secret (The Kalki Chronicles #1) by Abhinav

The Sage’s Secret (The Kalki Chronicles #1) by Abhinav
Release: September 1st 2018
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:

What if the legend of Kalki, the tenth avatar of Vishnu, is an elaborate hoax created by Lord Krishna?

In the year 2025, twenty-year-old Anirudh starts dreaming of Krishna. But these visions that keep flashing through his mind are far from an ordinary fantasy-they are vivid episodes from the god’s life. Through these scenes, as Krishna’s mystifying schemes are revealed, Anirudh slowly comes to terms with his real identity . . .

He is the last avatar of Vishnu, sent to restore the balance between good and evil. But an ancient and powerful nemesis, burning with the fire of revenge, has already started assembling a clan of mighty sorcerers to finally be rid of the protector god and unleash depravity on earth.

Will Anirudh realize his potential before it’s too late? Or will the enemy destroy everything in their wake before the avatar finally manifests? This gripping read is the first part in the Kalki Chronicles, which unveils the greatest legend of the Kali yuga.

Video Review

Sage’s Secret Review:

I really liked reading this book. Firstly, this is the author’s debut book and I think he has done a wonderful job in narrating the tale. His style of writing is very simple yet so engaging so you never feel like there is a dull moment. Secondly, there are not a lot of characters, so it was like reading a fairy tale.

Initially I had concerns because generally in Indian Mythological Fantasy books, you have a plethora of characters with different sub plots that merge together as the story progresses. However, in this book, there were only 3 main characters who are Anirudh, Sage Dweepa and Kalanayaka. But after
reading the book, I kind of liked the simplicity and thought it was different and charming and it worked well with the author’s style of writing. Moreover, I really liked Sage Dweepa because the author wrote him so well. Honestly, I think he is my favorite character in the novel.

However, the author could have written a few things better. There are a few scenes that are hard to believe. For example, it was hard to imagine how Anirudh just happens to know how to play the flute fluently without ever having touched it before. Also, I had trouble visualizing the settings of the story. The Chennai part of the story takes place in our current times, but when they go to the serene forest for training, it seems like another era completely. But apart from these 2, I really enjoyed this story.

I would definitely recommend “The Sage’s Secret” if you are not an avid reader but like reading about Indian mythology This book is relatively short and easy book to read and is quite entertaining. I am keen to read book 2 to find out how this story continues.

April 7, 2020
Romantic Guerrilla by DS Kumar

Romantic Guerrilla by DS Kumar
Release: 2019
Format: Ebook
Publisher: NA
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:

Subash Bodhi is an entrepreneur who runs his startup in style. He gets into a power struggle with Prakash Bhasani, a billionaire investor and heir of a family-run business group. As the conflict escalates, Subash gets kicked out of his startup. He comes back for justice with a guerrilla army, consisting of a hacker, mimicry artist, MMA fighter and a call girl. His aim is to humiliate Bhasani group and family, using social and system hacks. This battle also features a pop star, Bollywood actress and a porn star.

Romantic Guerrilla Review:

I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for my opinion and review.

This was actually a fun book to read. I initially felt hesitant in reading a few chapters because I didn’t really like Subash as the main character. He came off as a very crass, uncouth fellow and it was hard to imagine him as a smart innovative entrepreneur. However, the story picks up after Subash gets thrown by the Bhasani family. After that, it is a rollercoaster ride of adventure and mayhem!

I also really liked DS Kumar’s style of writing. The plot is smooth, easy to follow, and fast-paced. There are prominent businesses in India that overthrow smaller companies headed by such families who can literally buy anything or anyone. So it was interesting to see how a common man would try to bring them down in a delightfully evil way. The characters are down to earth, and even though I would not want to be in their situation, I could still relate to them. Moreover, I even started to like Subash and how forms his new Guerrilla team to bring the Bhasani family down. In fact, I enjoyed the supporting cast more than Subash in certain areas, particularly Mohini and Vijay.

My only concern with this book is in its detailed explicit sex scenes. I am sure it will appeal to a certain set of readers who enjoy this. But personally I felt like it stepped away from the plot and was unnecessary, and could have been written in a more tasteful manner.

But apart from that, I really did enjoy this novel and would be interested in picking up the author’s future works.

March 5, 2020
Satyayoddha Kalki: Eye of Brahma (Kalki #2) by Kevin Missal

Satyayoddha Kalki: Eye of Brahma by Kevin Missal
Release: November 1st 2018
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Fingerprint Books
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:

After a defeat at the hands of Lord Kali, Kalki Hari must journey towards the Mahendragiri mountains with his companions to finally become the avatar he is destined to be. But the road ahead is not without peril.

Not only is he trapped by the cannibalistic armies of the Pisach, he is also embroiled in the civil war of the Vanars. And in midst of all this, he meets a face from the legends.

Meanwhile, Manasa, the sister of the late Vasuki, plots to overthrow Lord Kali by bringing a massive war to his kingdom. But Naagpuri, her homeland, has been infiltrated by their sworn enemy, the Suparns. Not only does she need to protect her kingdom from the Suparns, she must also protect her close ones from the league of conspirators at her own home. Who can she really trust? And will she be able to put an end to Lord Kali’s rule?

As the plot thickens and Lord Kali sees his ambition crushed right before his eyes, he comes to know about his race and its history that threatens to destroy the very fabric of this world’s reality.

Video Review

Satyayoddha Kalki Review:

This is one book that I enjoyed so much in some places, and really felt like it missed it mark in other places.

Let’s start with the positive. It picks up immediately where the first book ended. The author must has been in an adrenaline rush because each chapter has multiple plots taking place filled with action and adventure. It is even better in terms of the adventure and thrills than the first book! I loved the how complex some of the characters become in terms of their development. For example, in the beginning, you hate Kali so much for the way he is treating Arjan, However, after his downfall, you actually start to feel sorry for him and wish that things had worked out well. There are a wide range of villains who are so entertaining to read, like the cannibalistic Pisach, or the creepy Alakshmi with her hyenas, or the crazy Urvashi who has magical powers and knows how to use them too well.

Arjan is again one of my favorite character. There is just SO much that happens to him in terms of what he goes through. He falls in love, imprisoned, defeats a tyrant, gets superpowers and so much more! The reader also sees him slowly start to lose his faith with the world and how he leans to the dark-side. Moreover, I really admire the author for showing Arjan and Rudra in a gay relationship without being scared of what the public might feel. Also, I am very proud of the author for writing Arjan’s relationship in a normal and fluid manner. He depicts the characters as normal people, and doesn’t show them as effeminate, comical or degrading.

Again, similar to the first book, there are quite a few important characters who are killed off. I was extremely shocked when one of my favorite characters dies towards the end as I was hoping to see this person in the third installment as well. The Dandak battle is also very gripping in the second half and introduces some characters like Lord Bhajrang and Taar.

So here’s where I had trouble with this book. In the first book, even though there are various story arcs, there was some link that connected them all. However, in this book, the story-lines felt disconnected from one another. You have a separate story-line taking place between Kali and Arjan. Another parallel story between Manasa, Nanda and Kadru. A third parallel story-line taking place with Kalki, Padma with Lord Bajrang and the Dandak war. If I read this without reading the earlier one, I would feel that each plot was independent from one another. Manasa’s story-line in particular felt disconnected to the big picture of the dharm vs. adharm.

Some of the characters like Durukti and Manasa were very disappointing to read. In the first book, Durukti is this strong figure who fights a battle to save her brother. However, here, she is submissive and mousy and hides in Kali and Urvashi’s shadow. Hence, while I really loved this story in some ways, something just felt off about it. Overall, this book was very entertaining to read!

Purchase this book from: [Amazon]
Read my review of other books in the Kalki Series: [Book1]

February 24, 2020
Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu by Kevin Missal

Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu by Kevin Missal
Release: October 14th 2017
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Fingerprint Books
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:

Born in the quiet village of Shambala, Kalki Hari, son of Vishnuyath and Sumati, has no idea about his heritage until he is pitted against tragedies and battles.

Whisked into the province of Keekatpur, which is under the fist of Lord Kali, Kalki sees the ignominy of death trumping life all around him. He learns that he has been born to cleanse the world he lives in, for which he must journey to the North and learn the ways of Lord Vishnu’s Avatar; from an immortal who wields an axe.

But trapped in the midst of betrayals, political intrigue and forces that seek to decimate him, will he be able to follow his destiny before the Kaliyug begins?

Video Review

Dharmayoddha Kalki Review:

When I picked up this book, I initially gave up reading as the plot felt unbelievable. How do you disguise horses to resemble elephants? How does a bull not feel the fire burning on him? The author throws the reader into the plot directly and introduces a plethora of characters. I had no idea what was happening and felt it was all over the place! But I forced myself to continue and I am so glad that I did! Because, after the first 50 or so pages, once I adjusted to the pacing and the characters, I really started loving this book! I really got absorbed in the story once Kalki fights the Mlecchas and Kripa tells hims who he really is after Battle of Shambala.

One thing which I feel really works for this book is the length of the chapters. There are around 80 chapters in this book, but each of them are just 4-5 pages and short to read. Moreover, each chapter alternates between the plot and the characters that makes it exciting. The pacing was fast and consistent and did not drag at any moment. Each of the chapters ends in a cliffhanger where you don’t know what is going to happen. One scene that stands out is when Kalki is being executed, and how someone comes in a grand manner to save him.

Even though Kalki is the main character, I loved all the other characters. In fact, there are some scenes where I didn’t even like Kalki. I loved Durukti and the lengths she goes through to save her brother. Kali is a very interesting villain with many layers. I love how he turns so evil once the cure starts working and he becomes crazy with power. Padma is also a fascinating character and I cannot wait to see what happens with her. Arjan is my favorite character and I loved how he steps away from his comfort zone to save Kalki. Bala, Lakshmi, Ratri are all interesting but didn’t really have that memorable impact on me like the others. I am also keen to know what happens to Symrin, Manasa, and Urvashi in the sequel.

The story really did end with a bang! I think the author must be a fan of Game of Thrones, because he kills off many of the pivotal characters on the way. I loved this because it because brought a shocking element to the plot that stepped away from the norm.

On the downside, I felt like the book could have started off in a more gradual way. Like I mentioned, I had to force myself to get past the first few chapters to really start liking it. There are also quite a lot of grammatical errors that I wish the publishing company had fixed as it made this book look a bit unprofessional and tardy.

Overall, I LOVED reading this book, and I really feel it is one of those books that you need to sit patiently through for the first few chapters before things start falling into place. Kevin Missal has now become one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait to read some of his other works.

Purchase this book from: [Amazon]

February 18, 2020