Bookish Indulgences

12 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 12, 2015 1

#BookReview :: Emotions Unplugged by Vishal Anand

Emotions Unplugged is a collection of 15 short stories based on different genres. Diksha travels through the roads of Mumbai a day prior to her divorce with her husband, Virain; Gauri steals the money from her master’s locker and runs to her village; Rizwan works as a laborer in construction sites at Dubai in spite of being the son of a rich man from Bangladesh; Samar gets last gift of love from his grandmother after her death; Patrick believes after visiting a state that he has visited a country, he still had to visit 27 more countries in India; Rajat spends the night in different bars with a friend to meet a lady, Palak; an old lady who believes in her religion and hates Muslims finds an indigestible truth when she visits her daughter’s home; Vinit falls in love with a veiled girl while travelling in Delhi metro to reach his office everyday and a lot more.

Numerous emotions pluck in to bring a thought provoking cocktail. Indeed pen is mightier than sword, and words have potential to bring the change. And surprisingly you never know when it does…

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In, ‘A day before my divorce’ two people decide to spend some time together before their divorce is finalized. It has a taste of romance in it and Diksha and Virain feel quite real.
In ‘Theft’ we meet Gauri who steals some money from her master’s locker and runs away. This story has a very important message that highlights the fact that nobody is born a thief.
In ‘Granny's Last Gift of Love’ Samar gets a surprise. This is an emotional one that will touch your heart. ‘The First Love’ explores the age old funda of a school boy with a crush. It lacked the depth and quality of the other short stories in the book.
‘The Improbable Truth’ gives us a look into Madhu’s life – the past and the present. This story has a kind of ‘draw your own conclusions’ sort of feel that made it interesting.
‘A Country with 27 Other Countries’ is about a foreigner’s experience in our country. This is a well narrated story.
‘After College’ is about how a girl’s life changes once she finishes college and gets married. A woman’s perspective is captured well in this story.
In ‘And God said yes’ the issue of caste system is captured well through a woman and her experiences.
‘The Veiled Girl’ tells us the story of Vinit who falls for a girl while commuting in Delhi Metro.

There are a couple of more stories in the book aside from those mentioned above. Overall, there are fifteen stories in the book. Each story is unique and offers something different to its reader. So no matter what the readers’ preferences are, they will find at least one story that they will surely love. Though I have to admit that one or two of them felt like old stuff in new packaging. For me it was ‘A Country with 27 Other Countries’ that takes the top spot in the book.

The best part of this book is the fact that the author being a man has captured women’s perspective really well. He has not only explored some of the issues of women in our society but also given us a look into the minds of some of them. Also, he has shared some messages through each and every story. It is upto the readers to decide how much they would like to take away from the book. The level of depth in most of the stories is admirable and the author has dealt us just enough emotions and sensitivity.

The writing style of the author and his language is simple and the book could do with another round at the editor’s table. It is his narration style that takes the stories up a notch. Another thing that I just have to comment upon are the titles of the story. The titles are too simple and mostly giveaway what the story is about.

Overall, this is a good attempt by a first time author. He holds some promise and I will be watching out for more from him.

Review copy received from the Author

11 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 11, 2015 0

#BookReview :: He's Gone by Deb Caletti

“What do you think happened to your husband, Mrs. Keller?”

The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone.

As the police work methodically through all the logical explanations—he’s hurt, he’s run off, he’s been killed—Dani searches frantically for a clue as to whether Ian is in fact dead or alive. And, slowly, she unpacks their relationship, holding each moment up to the light: from its intense, adulterous beginning, to the grandeur of their new love, to the difficulties of forever. She examines all the sins she can—and cannot—remember. As the days pass, Dani will plumb the depths of her conscience, turning over and revealing the darkest of her secrets in order to discover the hard truth—about herself, her husband, and their lives together.

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Dani had a bit too much to drink at a party and remembers very little about the previous night. When she wakes up to an empty house, she doesn’t think much of it at first. But as time passes, she gets worried and starts to analyze her relationship with her husband, Ian. Then the day turns into a week and Dani gets more and more worried about where her husband might be and if she has forgotten something that might lead to his whereabouts.

Dani is not very easy to like because of some of her sins. But eventually I fell for the protagonist of the story for Dani felt very real. And the author has done a tremendous job of making it easy to get into the character’s mind. Most of the novel is about Dani looking back and reliving memories and Dani and Ian’s story unfurls within these memories. There were a cast of other characters but none stuck with me besides Dani. The plot in itself is pretty much predictable because it took me a few chapters to realize the mystery behind Ian’s disappearance. But that did not stop me from reading the rest of the book. Simple language and easy narration style helps move the story forward. However, I did find the pace of the story bit slow and tiresome.

Overall, this makes for an average and light read.

Review Copy received from Netgalley

10 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 10, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Lacing Shadows: Anthology

Lose yourself in the Shadows.

Five young women each encounter a different supernatural force: seductive werewolves, shadowy vampires, dangerous fae, mysterious ghosts, and nightmare creatures.

Lace yourself in scintillating tales of fated meetings, undying love, and eternal life...

Lacing Shadows features New Adult paranormal tales from five talented authors.

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The story of Spirit of the Wolf by Andrea Stanet deals with the love between Asia and Jesse and the third element that Asia’s friend Nati brings in. It also is about self-discovery. In Eternal Guard by Tina Smith Farren is caught in between a fight where one is a protector and the other is trying to kill her. Ultimately she falls for one of them, but to what ending? Into the Dark by Laurie Treacy is the story of Holly and how she takes in a wounded warrior and takes care of him. He has a secret though. In The Unspoken Truth by Leah Ryder Lena takes up the case of a ghost and helps solve it. Spinining Scars by Alexia Purdy is the story of the love between an immortal Matthias and a mortal Ruby. But not all is as it seems…

This is a paranormal anthology with five different stories where each story is unique and has something different to offer. My favourite was the In Eternal Guard by Tina Smith. I loved the conflict in the story and that the author did not give it a traditional ending. I also liked the Story Spinning Scars by Alexia Purdy where the love and attraction practically seeps off the pages. I liked Spirit of the Wolf as it deals with the very important factor of life – the path to self-discovery and realization of hopes and dreams of a person.

Exploring the different worlds of werewolves, vampires, ghosts and fae with the different stories – all within a couple of hours, was an interesting experience. There were certain portions that felt a bit rushed. Other than that, this is one interesting book.

Review copy received from the Author

09 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 09, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Night Life: Paranormal Anthology

Join the Night for Life....Charismatic Aliens, Mysterious Werewolves, Vengeful Vampires, Haunted Houses and Timeless Obsession...

Ash, is starting her senior year in high school but she sees things that no one else does. Andi wants to finally belong but that means running away. Collin has an unrequited crush on the most popular girl in school. Amber is roped into vanquishing a ghost and Molly is haunted by dreams of the past...

Five stories of first love, jealousy and discovery...that will keep you up, well into the night.

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In Silver by Tina Smith, Ash sees things that no one else sees and that set her apart. When Carey and Cooper, her childhood friends move back into town, romance blossoms. But there are secrets that complicate things. In Coming Home by Melissa Frost, Andi is on a journey to discovering her past – a past that she has no memory of. And Devon seems to know a lot about her. In Only Darkness by S. W. Best, Colin takes up on a bet to make easy money and use Nathan’s connection to his crush, heather. But he may be in over his head. In Nonstop to Nowhere by Sherri Fulmor Moorer, Amber and Phoebe set aside their problems to put a common ghost from their past to rest. In Ouroboros by Alisse Lee Goldenberg & An Tran, Molly, Chris and Jackson form a love triangles that is more than a lifetime old.

Five different author have come together to produce this anthology. Each of them has their own style of writing and narration style. As a whole they put together five quite different yet similar stories together for the readers that make for an interesting read. Covering werewolves, Vampires, Aliens and Ghosts, the stories each bring in a different flavor. To add to that are the elements of love, jealousy, secrets and self-discovery. Together they blend in to offer suspense and drama. The common elements that all of the stories shares are well developed characters and certain twists that really take you for a ride.

Overall, this was an entertaining anthology that has encouraged me to look up the different authors and their work.

Review Copy received from the Author

08 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 08, 2015 0

#SpecialFeature :: #Excerpt from Wings of Courage

*** Special Feature - January 2015 ***

The Secret of a Neta

“I somehow could not figure what was wrong with that movement? If people want to work hard to improve things on their own, why not let them do it? Won’t it make our job easier?” Aslam asked his master, Robin Badri, with a curious face.
“Aslam, my friend, politics is a bitch!” Robin replied, in an alcohol-enriched slurring voice. “It is less about grabbing power, and more about staying there.”
Aslam merely gave a blank look.
“You know what is the first thing you need to do if you want to be a good leader?” Robin asked.
Aslam thought hard before giving a tentative answer, “Gain people’s trust?”
“Sort of, but how do you do that?”
“Help them, I guess.” Aslam shrugged.
“Yes, but just enough,” Robin clarified with a smirk, as he shared his secret, “help them just enough to make them dependent on you. Their dependence on you is the key.” He paused to take a sip, while Aslam tried to absorb the idea. “You have to create a star-shaped network where you are at the centre and everyone is connected to you, dependent on you for something or the other. If nodes start connecting to each other directly and begin to solve problems on their own, the centre would become redundant. And, as a leader, you don’t want that, do you?” Robin finished his drink and put the glass on table.
“Of course not.”
“Now, it is easy for corporates to make employees dependent on them, for they offer them monthly salaries. But, it is a tricky thing in politics.”
“But, we do give them stuff, at least once in five years – cash, booze, blankets,” Aslam chuckled.
“Yes, but see… that only makes us win elections. To stay in power, we must maintain that dependency so things stay under control for next five years. Otherwise, they will kick us out.”
“And, how do we maintain that dependency?”
“We sell hopes!” Robin shared another secret, his heavy eyes shining with confidence. “Mind you, hope is a powerful thing; and you need to keep it alive. If they turn hopeless, you are out again. You need to help people just enough so their hopes, and their dependency on you, both stay alive.” Robin looked for a quick example. “You have toured with me to the slums, villages and unorganized colonies. Remember, what people want there?”
“Oh, they want everything – water, electricity, better sewage, and what not.”
“Right, they have one big pile of hope – exactly what we need. While we promise them all that, we don’t need to give them everything right away. Just a little would do. Help them get their pension, BPL or Aadhaar card; give them some cheap ration; once in a while, give them potable water too,” Robin summarised his thought with a soft chuckle. “You see, it is a win-win situation.”
“Right,” Aslam was not fully convinced, “but is that enough to keep them dependent on you for five years?”
“Looks like you want to know all the political mantras tonight itself,” Robin smiled, and answered his confidante, “It is enough to stay in their good books, and maintain the dependency. After that, you need to keep them busy. Bring the number of cylinders down from twelve to nine and it will keep them busy for a while. After six months of commotion, increase it back to twelve, and you have become a hero. You won’t find a simpler way to be in their good books. After that, increase the prices of CNG, or onion, or tomato.” Robin laughed and got up to call it a day. “You see – just like religion, caste and poverty – inflation is an important tool a good leader must learn to use well.”

About the Book

You must act! Your dreams may look unachievable, but giving up without trying is cowardice. It is against evolution, for evolution is not the result of endless worries, thoughts or discussions. Evolution is in action.”

In those words, Saksham finds courage to step beyond his self-imposed ineptitude and begin a new life.

This is the story of Saksham, a bright young man, and his quest for a more humane world. On his journey, he meets a wise philosopher who helps him unravel the complexities of today’s civilized human world, and a young beautiful woman who rekindles his passion for life. Their belief in him empowers Saksham to launch an attack against organized evil.

As Saksham marches forward, he must choose between the comfort of his love and courage to follow his dreams. If he chooses the latter, he will need to adopt brutal ways to counter raw powers of evil. And… there will be no going back.

‘Wings of Courage’ is a moving tale of passion and courage, for without them, our dreams may never come true.

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2 Paperback Copies of Wings of Courage up for grabs. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

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07 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 07, 2015 0

#Interview with Prasun Choudhary, #Author of How Did it Go?

About the Author:
Currently working with a bank in New York, Prasun Choudhary is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, who spent a considerable amount of time as a consultant before switching over to Banking. Described by his friends and batch mates as a passionate person, who instils confidence in everyone he meets, the author is particularly fond of visiting new places and running marathons; he considers running to be the most liberating and satisfying of experiences.
The author's active involvement, in all sorts of student activities during his IIT days, has given him detailed insights into the lives and characteristics of the different types of students he came across during the years he spent at university, which he has put to good use in his first work of fiction, 'How Did It Go?'

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Interview With the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I first thought of writing around 5-6 years back. Whenever our group of college friends met we always discussed about the college stories and it was then that I decided to pen down all the stories. My second strong impetus came when a lot of people appreciated my blogs/writings on long distance running. A lot of them asked me to take writing seriously. I guess that was the motivation I needed.

What inspires you to write?
The impact it has on the readers. I wrote a long email (my thoughts) after running an ultramarathon. That email was circulated multiple times among many people. I got thousand emails from people who liked my writing and a lot of them actually took to running after reading that email. I realized the power of writing.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
This idea had been with me for a long time. I believe that our undergraduate / college life plays a very vital role in shaping our personality / character. The poignant moments, the failures, the success, the embarrassments all these shape us for bigger challenges in life. This is where I got the idea for my story.

Is there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
Yes. There are some stories. These stories are about the confusions of a person from a conservative society when he is exposed to the life of modern Indian societies in metro cities.

Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process followed the following sequence:
- Story collection: For two years I just kept on collecting stories. Always carried a notebook and a pen with me. After 2 years I had a notebook filled with stories about college life.
- Finalization of characters: It took some time for me to finalize the characters around which the story could be weaved.
- Actual writing: It took around 2 years for me to finally write the book, weaving the stories around the few fictional characters.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
My favorite scene is the Gymkhana. Working for the college fest was a big learning for all of us. The place where we were awake for the entire night finalizing the performers and the teams. This scene will always be close to my heart.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
Yes. “Percy” did inherit some of my traits.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
Nothing as such. It was a very hard work for me. Writing for the first time it really needed a lot of patience and self-assurance that it can be turned into a novel.

What is your usual writing routine?
I never had a routine and hence it took a long time for me to complete the book as I lacked discipline. But the story always remained in my subconscious mind. So the moment I remembered some story / event I started writing. Then there would be days when I totally stopped. Then suddenly one weekend I would wake up and continued writing for 2-3 days. I guess for me it depended a lot on my mood.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
Yes I do read a lot. Lately I have not been reading as I got too busy with my own writing. I don’t have any favorite authors. I read diverse topics – spirituality, autobiographies, romantic novels and others. None of the authors have shaped my writing. My first book is very simple and original.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
My writing is very original and stories are real life which anyone can co-relate.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Follow your heart. Don’t give up. It’s tough to write 200-250 pages but once you write, it gives you a lot of personal satisfaction. Don’t write for someone else. Don’t keep a time line but enjoy the process, and let it flow.

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?
Sharman Joshi, Shreyas Talpade, Purab Kohli, Rajkumar Rao and Sushant Singh Rajput

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
My running shoes, one laptop to write my thoughts (with unlimited battery) and a good bed to rest.

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
I don’t have a favorite place but there are few things which I do in my free time:
- I go for long runs. Running is my favorite pass time/hobby. It’s the best way to unwind/de-stress.
- Have a good meal with just few good friends (I don’t like to go for parties).
- I do enjoy going to a sunny beach.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
Some things on my bucket list:
- I want to run a marathon in all the continents of the world, marathon in the snow, marathon in the desert and marathon on the hills.
- Keep writing. Publish many more novels.
- Travel around the world (not bag packs / not hectic travels but easy and leisure travel).

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
I am not a funny person. That’s my shortcoming, I need to learn the art of humor.

What do you have in store next for your readers?
I want to write on the Indian youth and its conflicts in relationships.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
My first book “How did it go?” is a very novice/honest attempt at writing a novel. Don’t read it as a literary treasure but as a fun book. It highlights the learnings which we can take from everyday life/activities.

Percy and his friends are just like other university students – trying hard to toe line between having the time of their lives and keeping up with their academics. When the constant pressures of competition start to get to them, they figure that they’d rather be having fun instead. And that’s when everything starts to fall apart! Will they be able to find their way back again? Or will it be too late?

‘How Did It Go?’ is an account of how an average student goes about navigating the intensely competitive waters of IIT, but its messages are universal. The constant fight to stay afloat, the loss of hope and your drive to succeed, the internal politics – it can all be a bit much for one person to take on. If you think getting in was difficult, think again! But, as Percy rightly puts it, nothing is too intimidating as long as you find where you belong, pick up a few life lessons and good friends along the way, and just have fun doing it all!

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06 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 06, 2015 0

#BookReview :: The Kill Switch (Tucker Wayne #1) by James Rollins & Grant Blackwood

The mission seems simple enough: extract a pharmaceutical magnate from Russian soil, a volatile man who holds the secret to a deadly bioweapon. But nothing is as it appears to be. A conspiracy of world-shattering scope unravels as Tucker and Kane struggle to keep one move ahead of their deadly enemies.

From the frozen steppes of Russia to the sun-blasted mountains of South Africa and Namibia, a biological threat millions of years in the making strikes out at the heart of America. All that stands in the way from a global apocalypse: one man and his dog. But can even Tucker and Kane thwart an ecological menace out of the ancient past to save the world’s future?

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James Rollins’s Sigma Force series is quite interesting. Now here’s a new spin-off series featuring Tucker Wayne and Kane.

Tucker Wayne is a former Army Ranger and Kane is a military dog who understands over 1000 words. Together they form a team of formidable duo. They are roped in to extract a pharmaceutical magnate from Russian soil. This person holds the secret to a deadly bioweapon that could potentially destroy the world. It isn’t going to be easy what with a renegade General who is intent on getting things his way. From Russia to Namibia, this adventure takes its readers for a ride.

While I liked Tucker Wayne as a character, I sometimes expected more from him. He lacks the larger than life aura that I have come to expect from most international thriller’s protagonists. He seems a bit tame. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of action in the book but it is the fact that Tucker Wayne lacks the certain x-factor. Kane on the other hand is just awesome. I absolutely loved him and loved reading things from his point of view. The plot is straightforward an uncomplicated and I particularly like the bio-terrorism angle of the book. There are no unexpected twists that throw off the readers. I found the antagonist to be really below the mark. His character had been built up with a certain amount of hype that he failed to match in the climax.

The steady pace of the story, the action filled pages and the narration of the story from Kane’s point of view are the good and interesting parts that make this book overall an enjoyable one.

Review Copy from Hachette India

05 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 05, 2015 1

#BookReview :: Tracking Purnima by Usha Kathir

24-year old Aditi Sridhar is trying hard to establish herself as a newspaper reporter in Bangalore.

In her first major feature article, Aditi, with her never-say-die spirit, resurrects Purnima, the once celebrated singer and actress from the 60s and now a forgotten and missing star. Soon, Aditi is warned off by an unknown caller. Intrigued and defiant, the feisty girl ropes in her friend Reshmi, a photographer, to help her track Purnima. Her detractors become bolder and more violent.

Will Aditi solve the mystery that shrouds Purnima’s disappearance? Will she unravel the dubious identities and missing links as she gets closer to Purnima? Or does something more sinister await Aditi as she risks her own life to find Purnima, dead or alive.

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Welcome to Aditi Sridhar’s world, who is is trying hard to establish herself as a newspaper reporter in Bangalore. In her first major article she plans to resurrect Purnima, once celebrated singer and actress who seemed to have dropped off under the radar of everyone. But things get really interesting when her seemingly innocent questions disturb a hornet’s nest and she starts getting threatening calls. Things soon get heated, but with the help of a friend, Aditi is determined to crack this case.

First off, I love to see strong and feisty girl characters in a book and Aditi is just that. She is highly spirited and somewhat stubborn, yet she is street smart and relentless in her perusals. She is a perfect reflection of modern women whose career aspirations can rival that of any man. Aditi’s photographer friend, Reshmi, is also a strong character who plays an important role in both her life and in the story. There were handful of other characters who played had their own characteristics and added something to the story with their roles. The plot in itself is quite simple and predictable for most part. There are twists thrown in here and there to stir up the events of the story. Besides the main plot, there were certain sub plots that brought in different elements. For instance, Aditi’s mother and her matchmaking trick added to the drama and sometimes comic relief to the story.

The author’s language and narration style is quite dainty and I particularly enjoyed the extra little description of situations and people that the author has included in her way of storytelling.

Overall, an interesting novel that promises hours of entertaining reading hours.

Review Copy from Jaico Publishing House

Debdatta Dasgupta January 05, 2015 0

#CoverReveal :: Garden by Jane Yates

Inspired by the classic novel The Secret Garden, Jane Yates introduces us to a steampunk world of bio-domes, robots and mysteries. Eleven-year-old Aberdeen is so used to being by herself that all she has to fill her thoughts are stories of mighty dragons and grand castles. Aberdeen’s world is soon thrown into disarray however; her parents murdered.

Having no choice, Aberdeen is sent to live with her uncle back on Earth where her fascination into her new surroundings begin to take hold. Untrusting of new people at first, it isn’t long before Aberdeen comes across 3 other children, and taking a risk, befriends them as she tries to adjust to her new home. And yet, along with Maisy, Peter and Lenard, Aberdeen comes across a riddle – a set of clues to reveal the hiding place of a lost manuscript. A manuscript that forces more questions than answers.

Oh, and there’s Frank too, Peter’s robot dog, who completes this special circle of friendship.

Garden is a journey of self-discovery, of trials and friendship. With adventure boundless, Jane Yates follows up her acclaimed Paradox Child trilogy with a new tale for young fans of steampunk and science fiction.

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Book Trailer

About the Author

Jane lives in the historic city of Oxford, England with her two spaniels. She works at the Pitt Rivers museum there too and is amazed and inspired by its wondrous array of objects. Being a museum of anthropology and world archaeology, Jane often finds herself influenced by its exhibitions. And indeed it has helped Jane write a trilogy for children – the Paradox Child series.

Jane is not only a mother, artist and storyteller, but dyslexic too, which only highlights her success even more. Jane refuses to allow the disorder to halt her dreams and continues to enjoy her favourite hobbies. Jane is a lover of steampunk, adventure and children’s stories, which often play a huge role in her own books.

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03 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 03, 2015 0

#BookReview :: The Guardians of the Halahala (Vikramaditya, #1) by Shatrujeet Nath

The deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction.
But was the Halahala truly destroyed?
A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it. And both asuras and devas, locked in battle for supremacy, will stop at nothing to claim it.
As the forces of Devaloka and Patala, led by Indra and Shukracharya, plot to possess the Halahala, Shiva turns to mankind to guard it from their murderous clutches. It is now up to Samrat Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine to quell the supernatural hordes – and prevent the universe from tumbling into chaos!
A sweeping tale of honour and courage in the face of infinite danger, greed and deceit, The Guardians of the Halahala is a fantastical journey into a time of myth and legend.

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I have to admit at the very beginning that I accepted a review copy of this book from the author without even reading the blurb. The reason behind it is the Author’s debut novel “The Karachi Deception”. I had absolutely loved it for his writing style. Then again, once I accepted and realized that this is a fantasy / mythological book instead of a gritty thriller, I felt apprehensive… what if the author isn’t as good in writing in a different genre from what I have already read and appreciated. I need not have feared. Shatrujeet Nath follows up his stunning thriller with an equally enthralling fantasy book.

During the ‘Samudramanthan’ which produced a lot of treasure and ‘Amrit’ in the end, also produced a poison, Halahala, so potent that even the fumes of it dropped the bodies of devas and Asuras alike. Lord Shiva had swallowed it in order to save the universe from extinction. But what many people do not know is that a small amount remains and the owner of it could have a huge advantage in any battle. Both Devas and Asuras are in search for it. But Lord Shiva, who knows the potential of it, entrusts Vikramaditya and his Navaratnas to guard it with their life.

I found the plot quite engrossing and different from anything that I have read from an Indian author so far. We all know of the ‘Samudramanthan’ and Halahala, and we also know of Vikramaditya and his various tales. When put together, they indeed form something unique. Complimentary to the plot is its characterization. The author has taken the age old characters and presented them in a new avatar. The Gods, especially Lord Shiva, seem so human in the story that one can almost identify with them. But I have to say that Vikramaditya stands out among all of them. With a wide choice of Devas and Asuras available, I choose team human because Vikramaditya as the wielder of the Hellfires is really a formidable personality. The author’s style of writing is opulent and easy to get into at the same time. He has not only maintained quality in writing, but has also improved upon it.

I would recommend it to all mythology and fantasy lovers as it guarantees entertainment with its plot, action and twists.

Review Copy from the Author

02 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 02, 2015 0

#BookReview :: Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Sherlock Holmes is dead. Days after Holmes and his arch-enemy Moriarty fall to their doom at the Reichenbach Falls, Pinkerton agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe from New York. The death of Moriarty has created a poisonous vacuum which has been swiftly filled by a fiendish new criminal mastermind who has risen to take his place. Ably assisted by Inspector Athelney Jones of Scotland Yard, a devoted student of Holmes's methods of investigation and deduction, Frederick Chase must forge a path through the darkest corners of the capital to shine light on this shadowy figure, a man much feared but seldom seen, a man determined to engulf London in a tide of murder and menace.

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I had heard a lot about ‘The House of Silk’, the first book in this series. Unfortunately, I could not get my hands on it. When I received the review copy of Moriarty from the publishers, I was really excited to get into it.

The Story picks up from the Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes and his arch-nemesis meet their end. Pinkerton agent Frederick Chase and Inspector Athelney Jones of Scotland Yard join up to solve the case of the new mastermind who takes up the criminal vacuum left by Moriarty. From a scrap of paper with his name on it to the real person that Clarence Devereux is, the author builds up a new character for the two detectives to follow and take down. Will they succeed or will the loss of Sherlock Holmes give the criminal world to rise again?

A Sherlock Holmes book with very little about Sherlock Holmes! Yes, this book takes the canon world to a whole new level. Will Frederick Chase and Athelney Jones be able to fill in the very big shoes of Sherlock and Watson? Well read it and judge it for yourself.

My experience with this book was unbelievable. Once I realized the turn the author was taking with the book, I was in shock for most part of it. All of a sudden all my expectations had taken a whole new level and I have to admit that the book fulfills it all and then some.

The characters of Frederick Chase and Athelney Jones are well created and developed throughout the book. Athelney Jones, who has been following Sherlock Holme’s methods closely, brings quite a bit to the story. Frederick Chase on the other hand brings in a different flavor. Together they form quite a formidable duo. The plot on the other hand is something out of a Conan Doyle novel. The hardcore mystery buffs can play the Whodunnit game right along the 2 detectives and I have to admit that most of my guesses turned out wrong. Yes, this is a great mystery that had the better of me and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride it took me for.

This is certainly one of the best books that I have read this year (last year, in 2014 I mean) and this is certainly the best Sherlock Holmes cannon that I have read. Don’t be skeptical, go ahead and pick it up!

Review Copy received from Hachette India

Debdatta Dasgupta January 02, 2015 12

#BlogHop SignUps :: Spread Some Indie Love on 14th February'15

Let's show our love for Indie authors this Valentine's Day!

I am taking the initiative to arrange this blog hop in order to promote Indie Authors, because I absolutely love them. If you have read and enjoyed even one indie (Self-Published) book, I urge you to join in...

The Rules of the Blog Hop:

- Bloggers please register HERE.

- Feature an Indie Author & all their books or just one Indie Book. You can select your content according to your preference.
- Include a Giveaway.

- All posts should be live on 14th February by 9:00am EST.

- Visit, Follow and comment on other Blogs Participating in this Hop!

01 January, 2015

Debdatta Dasgupta January 01, 2015 0

#SpecialFeature :: Introducing #Author Sanjay Kumar

Under "Special Feature" every month I feature a Special Author.

During this month I put up 5 posts about the Author/Book, including Interview / Review / Excerpt / Guest Post / Author Bio / Fun Facts or whatever else we can come up with. Also on the first day of the month we will launch the Giveaway contest along with the first post and will announce the winner on the last day of the month.

So be sure to check out my blog every 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of every month for something new :)

*** Special Feature - January 2015 ***

About the Author

Born in a humble background, the youngest amongst six siblings, Sanjay feels extremely grateful that a series of favourable circumstances made a promising career opportunity possible for him. After graduating from IIT Kharagpur (Electronics), Sanjay worked in the Information Technology industry for fifteen years - working for various companies, from TCS(India) to Deutsche Bank(USA).

While his career and family life sailed smoothly on one side, his unabated interest in human mind and behaviour led him to read over a hundred books on behavioural psychology, self-help, philosophy and religion. Life in USA was convenient, organized and logical - the sharp contrast with life in India intrigued him persistently. He wondered why a developing country like India finds it so difficult to transition to a more cohesive society.

Sanjay abandoned his high paying job in North Carolina and returned to the by-lanes of New Delhi, to pursue his quest for meaning and his passion for writing. The questions he had in mind were simple, but extremely important:

- A farmer works just as hard (probably harder) as a white collar employee in cities, then why does he continue to live a life in poverty while the latter finds it relatively easier to secure a comfortable life?

- Why does Indian society expect women to be home before it gets dark - even in cities - while men can roam around freely all night?

- In a country that believes in the 'Law of Karma', why do courts take decades to deliver verdict, even for heinous crimes like rape and murder?

- Why is GDP considered a far more important criteria to judge government's performance than security of women (in the womb or on the streets), quality education, health facilities, and other social indicators?

Sanjay's debut novel "Wings of Courage" is a thriller that takes a fresh look at socio-political issues like above that face India, even decades after independence. While the book entertains the reader, it introduces a world that could be possible - a beautiful world where human trust flourishes and human virtues blossom.

In the end, despite the huge socio-political challenges facing India, Sanjay maintains a positive outlook about the country's prospects. He admires both Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal for he feels it is because of them that an educated Indian today is more patriotic and more involved with Indian politics than they have been in the recent past. With a responsible and committed populace, a big and persistent change should be just around the corner.

Sanjay's favourite quote - "I am a student of life, it teaches me every day!"

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About the Book

In those words, Saksham finds courage to step beyond his self-imposed ineptitude and begin a new life.

‘Wings of Courage’ is a moving tale of passion and courage, for without them, our dreams may never come true.

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Giveaway

2 Paperback Copies of Wings of Courage up for grabs. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debdatta Dasgupta January 01, 2015 2

2015 Reading Challenge: Indie Fever!

Welcome to a 2015 Reading Challenge: Indie-Fever!

'Read & Review as many Indie Books as you can!'

After the success of this Reading Challenge for the last 2 years, I have decided to continue Hosting this challenge.

Points to Know:

1. Read and Review as many Indie (Self Published) Books as possible during this year.
2. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. However, you have to post a review on some site in order to participate. It can be on Goodreads and/or Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble and/or Smashwords.
3. If you are a blogger link up your permalink to the review posts. If you aren't a blogger, then link up the permalink to your reviews from whichever site you have chosen to post the review on.
4. The books can overlap with other reading challenges.
5. Books read may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
6. Post your links to your reviews each month to share with other participants.
7. The challenge runs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Its never too late to Join In!

How To Sign-Up and Join In:
1. Choose a challenge level listed below.
2. Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (where possible) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of Authors/Books is optional).
3. Grab the badge and place it in your sign up post. Then link back to b00k r3vi3ws.
4. Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Linky List and enter your link.
5. Once you review a book it would be great for you to share them by submitting them on the Review List.
7. When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the completion/wrap-up List.

Challenge Level:
Amateur : Choose to read 1 - 24 Indie Books
Lover : Choose to read 25 - 49 Indie Books
Expert : Choose to read 50 - 74 Indie Books
Fanatic : Choose to read 75 or above Indie Books

When talking about this challenge on Twitter, please use the hastag (#IndieFever). It makes it much easier to keep track of the conversations, answer questions and/or tweet back!

Sign Up HERE!

Link up your Reviews in the Linky-List below:

Please Link up with Book Name, your name and your review number. For instance I will Link up my first Indie Book Review as : (BookName) @ Debdatta #1

Debdatta Dasgupta January 01, 2015 2

2015 Reading Challenge: First-Reads!

Welcome to a 2015 Reading Challenge: First-Reads!

After the success of this Reading Challenge for the last 2 years, I have decided to continue Hosting this challenge.

Do you remember the feeling when you read the first book by your favourite author? Yes well, its for that feeling that I have come up with this challenge. Also, there was a time when I would only stick to the books written by authors I had previously read and enjoyed. But soon I realised that I was missing out on a lot other books. So, readers & bloggers, come together to this challenge that will make you pick up books by authors that you haven't read before! You never know, you just might find another author to love and follow.

Points to Know:

1. Read & Review as many books as possible, by authors that YOU haven't read before.
2. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. However, you have to post a review on some site in order to participate. It can be on Goodreads and/or Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble and/or Smashwords.
3. If you are a blogger link up your permalink to the review posts. If you aren't a blogger, then link up the permalink to your reviews from whichever site you have chosen to post the review on.
4. The books can overlap with other reading challenges.
5. Books read may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
6. Post your links to your reviews each month to share with other participants.
7. The challenge runs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Its never too late to Join In!

How To Sign-Up and Join In:
1. Choose a challenge level listed below.
2. Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (where possible) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of Authors/Books is optional).
3. Grab the badge and place it in your sign up post. Then link back to b00k r3vi3ws.
4. Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Linky List and enter your link.
5. Once you review a book it would be great for you to share them by submitting them on the Review List.
7. When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the completion/wrap-up List.

Challenge Level:
Amateur : Choose to read 1 - 25 New Authors
Lover : Choose to read 26 - 50 New Authors
Expert : Choose to read 51 - 75 New Authors
Fanatic : Choose to read 76 or above New Authors

When talking about this challenge on Twitter, please use the hastag (#FirstReads). It makes it much easier to keep track of the conversations, answer questions and/or tweet back!

Please Sign Up HERE!

Link up your Reviews in the Linky-List below:

Please Link up with Author Name, your name and your review number. For instance I will Link up my first Indie Book Review as : (AuthorName) @ Debdatta #1