pen.books.and.scalpel

My experience with mythological fantasy books was not so great in the past, probably because I did not get my hands on the right ones. But fortunately, this book experience turned out to be pretty impressive. It’s a contemporary mythological fantasy focused on redefining religion and spirituality. Aman is among the eleven souls chosen (rather kidnapped) by Sanaka to undergo a mission in the hidden valley of the Himalayas. It is the house of Hindu Gods and is home to several other souls, including immortal yogis and mythical creatures. The King of the Gods passes a contentious order to the Eka (leader) to save the land. But will carrying out the command be as easy as it sounds? What’s the secret even the king of the Gods is unaware of? Will the eleven chosen souls be able to bring out the truth and save the land and get back to their real lives? PROS : A first-of-its-kind Indian fantasy adventure set in the contemporary world with its mythological roots intact. -I liked the way it tried

I will start this review a huge thanks to @_ebc.online_ book club for introducing me to this book. I received this book as a part of my book club discussion this month and it was so good that it turned out to be a revelation to me. From the title, I thought the story of the book will be same as any other thriller where there’s a villain and a damsel in distress who will either fight her way through or there is some hero for her rescue. But this book is not that simple. The book did have a villain who holds a young girl captive and people trying to rescue her. But the motives of each of them and the plots are twisted. This was definitely one of the books that I found very unputdownable and thought provoking. PROS: The book was very fast paced and it was never interrupted by any unwanted plot lines in between. A bold political thriller which shows the reality of communal and ethnic violence in India. This book is perfect for a weekend binge read. The dual POV from both the protagonist a

‘Winter is coming” got a all new meaning for me after reading this book. I was so nervous when I picked this book because I loved ‘The Nightingale’ and didn’t want to be disappointed with the author’s next book. But, my God, this book was too good in its own way though I wouldn’t compare it with the former. This is an historical domestic fiction which embraces romance and thriller as its subplots. A beautifully written coming of age story of 13 year old Leni. She is entangled in the web of her parents’ complex relationship and is resolute to break the chain. Her mother, Cora loves Leni as much as her husband, Ernt - a prisoner of war. Her love for Ernt takes them to the unknown land of Alaska to begin a new life which gets scary and secretive during the winter. As much as Alaska appears unwelcoming and cold, it also embraces its people with hope, love and strength. Leni meets Mathew at her new home which gives her a purpose to stay there. But what changes in Alaska changes Leni and Cor

Another self help book that is much needed for women surviving through the current period. This book has moved out of the conventional way of being a self help book. Instead, it has included some fun activities like writing down about oneself, colouring activities, this or that, yes or no etc. This book covers most of the problems faced during the teens by young girls and shares some valuable insights to overcome them mentally and physically. PROS: All of the above mentioned points plus this book is not just restricted to teens. Its applicable for any age group who love some fun self help book. The cover and the illustrations were good. Works well as a stress reliever too! CONS: The only disadvantage was that I had a soft copy and I missed all the fun. But it would work great as a paperback. My review: 4/5 (for the e reader because the purpose was defeated) otherwise a 5/5 #penbooksandscalpel I am participating in Blogchatter’s  #TBRchallenge

BOOK NAME: A Price to Love AUTHOR NAME: Smita Das Jain GENRE: Contemporary Romance PUBLISHER: Readomania BOOK BUY LINK:  Amazon BLURB: Do a stellar academic background, a well-paying job with ample recognition, and a loving life partner imply happiness? Sonia is an ambitious woman working in the country’s most prominent media company. Sameep, her husband, has loved her ever since their IIM-Ahmedabad days. Her direct report, Mehul, idolises her and her boss, Rishabh, acknowledges her intellectual prowess. But Sonia’s past interferes with the present, making her life-and the lives of those around her- lack balance. Time flies fast but leaves shadows behind. A Price to Love is a contemporary tale showcasing the struggles of making a thriving personal life and a successful career tango in the highly competitive corporate arena… especially if you are a woman. Sonia is a successful businesswoman working in one of India’s leading media company. She is married to the love of her life, Sameep

‘Happily ever after’ is the most sought out concept for many books because they give a sense of belief and affirmation to the readers. But what happens later is left for our imagination. What really happens after the main leads find their soul mates eventually? What happens after they fight the evil villain and cross all the barriers to get married or decide to live together? What happens after the ring is put on and the bride kisses the groom?  This is one of those few books which gives us a glimpse of the lives of those individuals behind the curtain. The book is a collection of short stories of couples and their struggles to hold on to their relationships. It explores the problems in compatibility, communication and decision making in a relationship to keep it going and when to call it quits for making it healthy. PROS : I enjoy reading anthologies because they explore various concepts in less number of pages. The language and the build up of each story was great. A quick binge read