Anything Goes Book Reviewers discussion

Title : From Ashes To Dreams
Author : Rashmi Trivedi
Publisher: Bluerose Publishers

Thank you so much for the review copy Ghazala Anjum

The story mainly revolves around three friends Naina, Kusum and Raghav who grew up in the same orphanage after being abandoned by their biological parents. Though the three had shared a special bond since childhood they were all distinct in their very own nature. Naina is a shy, sensitive and much of a reserved type. Kusum, on the other hand, is a self centered one. Raghav is a very caring and a protective person.

Though all the characters had been given equal importance, Naina took the centre stage. To love and to be loved back was all a dream to her until she met Sid. Now, he meant the world to her, maybe because of that her world collapsed when he left her. People whom she had known all her life left her in one way or the other so she decided to take on her life. But little did she know that option had been already taken away from her hand.

Well, to start with it I should say that I'm emotionally connected with this book because of the real life characters the author had presented here. The author had touched upon various themes such as friendship, love, possesiveness, jealousy, despair which was well described and deserves an appreciation. It might be easy to express your feelings/emotions into words but making the other person feel it, is totally a different story and the author had done a great job in making the reader feel the emotions expressed in this book.

Language is simple and easy to understand. The book had been divided into five parts and was presented in pov, which gives us better understanding on each characters perspective. One thing I don't like in this book is the love part between Naina and Siddarth. I felt it was unrealistic. But I liked the way how the author presented the protoganist (Naina) from an introverted girl to a much determined and a matured women. I would love to recommend this book for the most important message it had delivered i.e "Nothing is worth taking on your life for."

My rating: 4.5/5

Title : The Near Witch

Author : V.E.Schwab

Publisher : Titan Books

Genre : Fantasy

My rating : 4.5/5⭐

Storyline:

The people of Near had never seen a stranger in their life before. Until one day a mysterious boy showed up in the town. The day after his arrival young childrens were started disappearing and the council accused him (the stranger) and wanted him to be gone for the good. Lexi had her own doubts on him too,but soon she discovered that Cole (the stranger) has nothing do to with the disappearance. Something dark and more powerful was luring the childrens out of their bed and deep into the moor without leaving any trace. To save her little sister Wren, Lexi has to find who was actually doing this and why?

My take:

This was my first V.E.Schwab book and “The Near Witch” turned out to be my very first fantasy read too. What interested me to read this book was the gorgeous cover and the title. Who wouldn’t love to read about witches, magic and an action packed adventurous female centric story?atleast I would. Schwab’s writing is magical. It sure has the enchantment that will draw the readers into the fictional world that she had so brilliantly and atmospherically created. The tale has a strong protagonist and a strongest antagonist which really made this book an interesting read.

Coming to the character development, Lexi was my favorite amongst others. She was strong, rebellious and adventurous. The sibling bond between Lexi and Wren (her little sister) was so beautifully shown. While reading and after completing “The Near Witch” I felt that Cole’s character could have been shaped in an even better way. But later on, after reading the short story i.e “The Ash-born boy” which is the backstory of Cole, I understood why the way he was in “The Near Witch”.

The book has been mentioned as part fairy tale and part love story. But it also has the equal amount of Suspense and mystery. The romance part was neat and I’m happy that it didn’t spoil the storyline. I can talk about this book all day long, but I’m afraid that it might be a spoiler. Schwab is a born storyteller and one couldn’t agree less if they had read any work of her. Right from the beginning till the end I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Near Witch is an unputdownable work with an unique plotline filled with magic and mystery.

My rating: 4.5/5

Thank you Bloomsbury India for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Title : The Good Thieves 
Author : Katherine Rundell
Publisher : Bloomsbury

'A group of children who will do anything to right a wrong. A heist as you've never seen before.'

"The Good Thieves" by Katherine Rundell is a middle grade novel filled with action, adventure, fun, hope, friendship and all. The story takes off with our protagonist Vita Marlowe who was on her way from Liverpool to Newyork with her mother Julia to meet her grandfather Jack who had been cheated out of his ancestral home by a greedy Newyork millionaire Victor Sorrotore. On seeing the injustice done to her grandfather, Vita was determined to set things right. So she devises a plan to outwit her enemy (Sorrotore) along with her newly found friends Arkady (an animal tamer), Samuel (a trapeze artist) and Silk (a lockpicker). Together the four set on an adventure to reclaim Hudson Castle from the evil hands of Sorrotore.

Rundell had so vividly presented the 1930's New york. I liked the setting and the narration. What I loved most about this book was the characters. Vita Marlowe was one of the strongest female protagonists I have ever read in a fiction. Rundell had very strongly registered a message through Vita's character that with determination anything is possible despite the physical disabilities. Samuel's character had set an example that with dedication and hardwork one would be able to acheive his/her dream despite the limitations. More than the plot, I liked the moral this book carries. Overall, reading Rundell's writing was an absolute pleasure.

My rating : 4/5

Thank you so much Bloomsbury India for the gorgeous ARC of The Good Thieves! All opinions are my own.

Title            : Love in the Time of Affluenza
Author       : Shunali Khullar Shroff
Publisher    : Bloomsbury
Genre         : Contemporary
Source        : Review copy
Rating        : 4/5

Blurb (as on the book):
‘He never wants to touch me any longer, Natasha! It’s like he’s impotent or something.’
‘That’s not impotence, that’s just what being married is like.’
Raising three children in her elegant Mumbai home with her aristocratic husband of 15 years -every bit the prince you read about in fairy tales – Natasha Singh has it all. But when her closest friend drops the bombshell that she’s having an affair, Natasha beings to ask some difficult questions about her own life.

My Take :

Love in the time of Affluenza gives us an insight into the lives of Mumbai’s rich Indians and their luxurious lifestyles and lavish parties. The story focuses on the three women Natasha Singh, Trisha and Nafisa. Natasha was a columnist and a homemaker who had sacrificed her career to raise her three children. It was her best friend Trisha’s loveless marriage life that made Natasha to question about her own seemingly perfect life.

Being a homemaker is the toughest job. Sadly, not many acknowledge or appreciate it and Varun (Natasha’s husband) is no exception. A married women’s day to day life and responsibility as a wife, mother and most importantly as a homemaker had been very realistically delineated through Natasha’s character.

All a woman wants from her man is respect, understanding and a little bit of appreciation. But men mostly devotes himself to work and fails to give his time and attention to his woman which often results in discontentment and a loveless marriage life. That’s what happened in Trisha’s life. But aren’t woman supposed to be proud of her responsible husband and supports him by taking care of the family while he works around the clock instead of betraying him behind his back?

Among the three kids of Natasha, Ria was my favorite and the sibling fights between Sumer and Ria reminds me of my little sister and our old days. How we used to fight and how she whines and complains about me when our dad comes late at night after work just like how Ria did. I think it’s the real life incidents and situations that the author presented here made the characters more relatable.

It seems most of the people liked the email conversations shared between Natasha and Riyad. Maybe I could have enjoyed it too if Natasha was a 20 years old, but unfortunately she was 40 and a mother of three which made me dislike their part.

The write-ups at the beginning of every chapter was quite  impactful. Natasha’s inner voice is one thing that would make you laugh out loud without being conscious of the surrounding. The relatable characters, simple language and the author’s brilliant narration made this book an interesting read.

I would like to thank Bloomsbury India for providing me a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Title           : The Queen Of Jasmine Country
Author       : Sharanya Manivannan
Publisher  : Harper Collins India
Genre         : Fiction
My Rating  : 4.5

Blurb (as on Goodreads):

Tonight, under this arena of starlight, I take up my stylus and press it by the glow of a clay lantern into dry Palmyra leaves. It is on this night that I dedicate myself – to my self, to who I truly am, to what is invincible and without bondage of time, that predates me, that will outlive me.

Ninth century. In Puduvai, a small town in what we now know as Tamil Nadu, young Kodhai is taught to read and to write by her adoptive father, a garland-weaving poet. As she discovers the power of words, she also realizes that the undying longing for a great love that she has been nursing within her – one that does not suppress her desire for freedom – is likely to remain unfulfilled. Then, she hears of a vow that she can undertake that might summon it to her.
In deepest winter, the sixteen-year-old begins praying for a divinely sensual love – not knowing that her words will themselves become prayers, and echo through the centuries to come.


My Take:

“The Queen Of Jasmine Country” is the story about our primeval poetess”Kodhai” who was also called as Andal. She was abandoned by her birth parents and was later found by the court poet named Vishnuchittan in a tulasi grove who was a garland weaver. He then adopted that baby and brought her up with immense love and care. This story describes about the long journey of Kodhai who was in search of her true love. Amidst all the challenges, curiosity, womanhood, curtailments and search how she became the divine poetess Andal is the actual story.

I am in love with the author’s magical writing. This tale is an absolute package of devotion, religion, family, faith and love for god. It holds a lot of true devotional emotions. Even though each characters here were unique in their own way, Kodhai stole the whole show effortlessly. Beautiful rendition by the author in expressing the endless love that kodhai had for all,especially the Lord. With her magnificent writing, the author had showed us some flashback of our childhood days in many ways. Kodhai’s character was really fascinating and was filled with the same charisma till the end. The author’s brilliant narration with so much deep feelings makes this book unputdownable.

I would like to thank Harper Collins India for providing me a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Title : The Case that Shook the Empire
Author : Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat
Genre : Non fiction
Publisher : Bloomsbury

My take :

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 talks about a case that was marked as a turning point in India's freedom struggle and about a man who had fought for it. To know what the case was about one has to flip through the pages of history to know what Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is and in short here it is

About a century ago, on 13th April 1919, a large number of people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to peacefully protest for the arrest of two leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew, many of them were villagers who was there to celebrate the sikh festival Baisakhi. The British troops under the command of General O'Dyer opened fire on those unarmed civilians without any warning. Thousand people were killed, over thousand were wounded. However, the brutality didn't end there. It continued in the form of Crawling order, Salaam order and the flogging of innocents.

Sir Sankaran Nair, an advocate, former President of Indian National Congress and a member in Viceroy's council resigned from his post in protest to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. In his book "Gandhi and Anarchy" Sir Nair referred to the atrocities caused by the British Raj in Punjab to which the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Sir Michael O'Dwyer filed a defamation case against Sir Nair in the Court of King's Bench in London. The verdict of the case was a turning point in Indian freedom movement.

It's incredibly important to know about the event that had changed the course of history. I remember learning about Jallianwala Bagh Massacre at school. However my knowledge about the Massacre was limited. It was after reading "The Case that Shook the Empire" I have not only got a clear understanding of what had triggered the protest that led to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, but also about this unsung hero Sir Sankaran Nair who had fought for the truth about it.

My rating : 5/5⭐

Thank you so much Bloomsbury India for the copy! All opinions are my own.

Title            : Dear People, with Love and Care, Your Doctors
Author       : Debraj Shome and Aparna Govil Basker
Publisher    : Bloomsbury
Genre         : Non-Fiction

My Take:

"Dear People, with Love and Care, Your Doctors" is a collection of emotional and heart touching experiences shared by Doctors and patients alike. In this 34 distinct stories you will get to know an unseen side of Doctors that will sure change your perspectives towards them.

I felt the need of these stories to be told as assaulting doctors had been increasing in recent times. Recently two doctor were assaulted by the relatives of a patient who had died at the hospital in West Bengal which had triggered a seven days strike of Doctors.

Sometimes despite the best efforts, a Doctor may not be able to save a person's life. Nothing could be done in such cases. This book has been written not to defend anyone but to regain the trust that is lacking in today's Doctor patient relationship and to maintain a healthy rapport.

There are Doctors who have gone the extra mile in savings his/her patients life. Even after 15 years of her patient's death, a Doctor still thinks of the possible life her patient could have, of the family she could have, of the career she could have.

Amidst the riot, there were Doctors who risked their life to save a patient's life. Another Doctor despite her ailing mother was reluctant to leave his clinic, giving full priority to his patients than his emotions.

Reading Manu's story was inspirational. I don't know that a hand transplant surgery is possible until reading this book. And Manu's was the India's first hand transplant surgery. Stories like this creates awareness on organ donation.

Like any other profession, Medical profession too has both positive and negative sides. While there are other sources including media are bringing the darker side of this profession to light. Here is a book that has brought the fragile and emotional side of the medical profession to our knowledge.

"Dear People, with Love and Care, Your Doctors" is an informative, emotional and a heart warming read.

Title: Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Author: Gary Bell
Genre: Legal Thriller
Publisher: Raven Books
My rating: 5/5

My take:

Beyond Reasonable Doubt is undoubtedly a phenomenal work of Gary Bell which falls under the category of a legal thriller. This is the first book in the Eliot Rook series which has also been optioned for a Tv series.

A sixteen-year-old anonymous girl of Middle Eastern origin was brutally murdered and dumped in an abandoned railway track in the town of Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire. Billy Barber, a racist who has been previously charged with so many criminal cases, was charged for this murder. Billy coerces Eliot Rook, a barrister to defend him by threatening to expose his past. The past, that would shatter Rook's career which he has spent his life building.

The book was divided into four parts. The first two parts were the groundwork of Rook and Zara Barnes. I loved the duo untying the knots in the murder mystery and the life-threatening moments that Rook encountered in the process of unearthing the truth as Billy refused to say his whereabouts at the time of the murder.

The third was the most anticipated and the nail-biting part of the book which has the courtroom scene. The trail was one thing to look up for. I thought everything was over after the verdict but then comes the fourth and the final part with a totally unpredictable twist and the climax that will leave you flabbergasted.

Bell's personal as well as his professional experience worked as a perfect background for this story. Though this is a legal thriller, the author had given a detective touch to it. The mining life and how the end of a coal mine had greatly affected the life of the people in Cotgrave leaving in poverty and unemployment was well projected.

Over all, it's a brilliant start of a new legal series. A completely engrossing narrative kept me hooked until the very end. I'm already looking forward to the second book in the series. This book is a treat to all thriller fans. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I'm grateful to Bloomsbury India for providing me with the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Title: The Curse of Gandhari
Author: Aditi Banerjee
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Published: 10 September 2019
Genre: Mythological fiction
Source: Review copy
My Rating: 4/5

My Take:

Among the two great epics of Indian mythology, it is always Mahabharata that fascinates me. Aditi Banerjee's The Curse Of Gandhari is naught but a retelling of the great epic Mahabharata. What made this book different from any other retelling is that it was said in Gandhari's standpoint. For those who don't know who Gandhari was, I would like to start with saying a bit about her. Gandhari was the princess of Gandhara, wife of the blind prince Dhirithurastra and the mother of the Kauravas. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.

The story started off with Gandhari, Dhirithurastra and Kunti spending their last day of life on earth in the forest. While Dhirithurastra and Kunti had prepared themselves to embrace the afterlife, for it will put an end to all of their sufferings and will offer them the peace that their earthly life had failed. Gandhari, a grieving mother who had lost one hundred of her sons in the Kurukshetra war, was not yet ready. Thus she had taken a trip down memory lane from the princess who had vowed to blindfold herself, to the Queen who cursed the God.

Unlike her treacherous brother, ambitious husband and her evil sons, she was a noblewoman who was good at heart. One can see how she always insisted her sons follow the path of dharma yet had failed drastically as she had no control over neither her husband nor her sons or her brother. The author had done justice to this remarkable character by laying stress on her emotions rather than justifying her actions and that's what I liked most about this book.

This book has also made me think how different it would have been if Gandhari had not been vowed to blindfold herself. One hundred of her sons would not have met the fateful death if she had not relied on her treacherous brother Shakuni to look after them. Sometimes I had even thought that after all, it was a family feud for the throne of Hastinapur that had caused the great war, Kurukshetra.

Overall, "The Curse of Gandhari" is truly a page-turner and a treat to all mythology lovers. I would like to recommend this book to everyone. I'm extremely grateful to Bloomsbury India for providing me with a copy of this book. This had no way affected my review. All opinions are my own.

Title: The Monster Who Wasn't
Author: T.C. Shelley
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication: 19 Sep 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Review Copy
My rating: 5/5

My Take:

The Monster Who Wasn't is a beautifully written story of family bond and belonging. I liked the concept behind how monsters come into a being. It was something I never heard or came across. I don't remember the last time I loved the characters of a book unanimously. Be it Daniel, Sam (the imp boy), the adorable gargoyles or the Kavanaghs I loved each one of them. The way Daniel took care of the imp boy made him an absolute favourite. Despite giving shelter to the imp boy, Bladder wasn't quite happy in welcoming the imp into their pack, but this paved the way for the turn of events that made the imp boy question his own identity and where he actually belonged.

The arrival of the Banshee, Pixies, Brownies, Goblins and the arduous journey of Sam to the underworld to save Beatrice made the latter part of the book even more interesting. The author through her eloquent writing and vivid descriptions will teleport you into the world that she has so exceptionally created where you cannot help but believe the very existence of the creatures of the dark. For the family who Sam (the imp boy) risked his life made it all worth in the end.

Overall, its an interesting read with great world-building, wonderful character development, and a completely engrossing narrative. I'm eagerly waiting for the second instalment in this trilogy. A definite recommendation from my side if you love middle-grade fantasy fiction.

I would like to thank Bloomsbury India for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Title: Bone China
Author: Laura Purcell
Publisher: Raven Books
Publishing date: 19 September 2019
Genre: Gothic/Historical Fiction
Source: Review Copy
My rating: 4/5

My take:

Bone China was my first Laura Purcell's book and my first ever Gothic fiction read. I loved Purcell’s atmospheric writing and flamboyant narrative. As a reader, you would be able to feel the coldness in the air and the numbness in your feet. Such is her narrative. Her skillfully woven story with the essences of Cornish Folklore, Science, History and suspense evokes the unsettling fear with each and every passing chapter.

The story was told in three different timelines. Hester Why's past in Honcover, Hester Why's present where she nurses the now paralyzed Lady Pinecroft in Morvoren house and the another in which we had been taken 40 years aback to Lady Pinecroft's early life where she and her father tries to find the cure for Consumption, the disease that ravaged her family. The switch over of these three different timelines was smooth and each part was good on its own however it didn't come well together.

Though our protagonist Miss Why was not very reliable as she always banked on Opium and Ladanudum, I found her part quite interesting than Lady Pinecroft's. During the late 18th and early 19th century, people were largely affected by phthisis/consumption, known today as tuberculosis and Purcell has perfectly blended this part of history into gothic fiction. It was also interesting to learn about the fact that one of the main ingredients for making bone china pottery is bone ash which I'm completely unaware of until reading this book.

Creeda's weird behaviour and all her talking about the fairies and changelings, the uncanny array of Bone China in Lady Pinecroft's room (for whatever reason had the Lady of the house transfixed), the images in the pattern of the porcelain changing its shape, all these elements are enough to stir the eerieness as well as the anticipation of what was about to happen but sadly all the tension the author had built leads us to nowhere and that's where I got disappointed.

Bone China is undoubtedly a spine chilling read but certain things were not given proper closure and that left with an unsatisfactory ending. Maybe I'm not a person who loves open ending but that's not going to stop me from checking out Purcell's other works. I just loved her atmospheric writing and brilliant narrative. I would definitely recommend this book but I suggest you read without any high expectations.

*Thank you Bloomsbury IN for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Title: Dar Al Salaam
Author: Douglas Blackburn
Publisher: Olympia Publishers
Source: Review Copy
My rating: 4/5

Dar Al Salaam is definitely an action-packed thriller that can't be put down for sure. It describes the relationship and interconnections between the most powerful countries of the world. The United Nations Organization created a strong six-member team for their subgroup called the Centre for Technology and Culture (CTC). Mr Li who was the head of this crew searched, filtered and brought these intelligent peoples together who all are experts in their respective fields across the globe.

On the other side, there was a family in the place 'Baghdad', who has the last heir of the Arab Caliphate was working on a powerful secret mission to get back their Caliphate and seek revenge for their family's loss by creating an international crisis. How these two powerful sets of peoples are interrelated and what they are going to accomplish at the end is the rest of the story.

The story mainly focuses on significant protocols and strategies that the world countries possess in their every move. Technology, Science, military weapons, secret missions everything was described with a lot of keen information. The writing style was impressive and informative that got me hooked into the plot in depth. The story was moving at a fast pace with so many detective internal affairs that made it even more intriguing.

Lot more facts about how countries all over the world work for their nation's safety are very well known after reading this book. This book also talks about the religious differences, economic and political chaos between the world countries. Characters were well developed and each one of them was portrayed effectively. Only thing I personally felt was that the book is a bit lengthy but not once I felt bored. I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for a unique storyline.

*Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Title: A Heart So Fierce and Broken
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: YA Fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: 7 Jan 2020
Source: Review Copy
My rating: 4/5

The first book in the curse breaker series "A Curse So Dark and Lonely", the modern retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale was released last year. Following that, the most anticipated sequel of the year "A Heart So Fierce and Broken" has released now. I had the privilege of reading an ARC for which I'm grateful to Bloomsbury IN. Recently, I had finished reading "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" and I loved it so much. Without further ado, let's get into the review.

Prince Rhen has found his true love and had finally broken the curse. But one cannot build trust in a lie, not for so long and that came true in Rhen's case. His people had turned against him as they doubt his alliance with Disi was a lie. There is a half brother who might claim his right for the throne but what's worse than that is, he is a magesmith, the very word that kindles fear in Rhen. After all, that Lilith did to Rhen one cannot blame him for his fear.

Kemmerer is a master storyteller and one couldn't agree more. There is magic in her writing that brings characters to life. I loved the world-building, character development and alternate point of views that give a better understanding of each character. Grey is one of the characters I loved most in book one and "A Heart So Fierce and Broken" follows the story of him. We are also introduced to new characters like Lia Mara, Nolla Verin, Tycho and Iisak.

Lia Mara is a compassionate, brave and intelligent princess of Shyl Shallow, an exact opposite of her sister Nolla Verin who is as fierce and ruthless as their mother Karis Luran. We are also given more insight into the Shyl Shallow Queendom, it's people, customs and infrastructure. You could also see Scary Grey's romantic side but I'm not very fond of this pair. Maybe it was because of the suspicious eye I had on Lia Mara in the beginning that she would somehow betray Grey. Even though she didn't I couldn't bring myself to trust her.

I expected to read more Rhen and Harper's point of views but there was only one chapter in Harper POV and a few scenes of Rhen. There is no denial that Rhen's actions had worsened the situation but the epilogue made clear of who is behind his actions and that twist was totally unexpected. Now we will have to wait for the third book in the series which is the hardest part. Overall, this is by far the best retelling I have ever read. If you are a fan of "Beauty and the Beast" then you would love this series more than any other retelling even the Disney movie. I strongly recommend this series.

*A special thanks to Bloomsbury IN for providing me with the gorgeous ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Title: Legitimacy of Power: The Permanence of Five in the Security Council
Author: Dilip Sinha
Publication date: 1 Jan 2019
Genre: Non-fiction
Source: Review Copy
My rating: 4/5

My take:
Non-fiction is not my cup of tea but I find this book very helpful because as an aspirant of civil service exams the topics this book has covered is a part of my syllabus, so reading this book is like gaining the more in-depth knowledge. The book describes in details about the birth of UNSC, how it works, it's numerous successful peacekeeping operations and also the failed efforts of UNSC.

After the failure of the League of Nation, the UN Security Council came into existence in order to maintain world peace. The Security Council has five permanent members Russia, France, UK, US and China who are the victors of the Second World War. These five permanent members have the right to veto which allows them to block any resolution. There is a lot of new information I have learned in this book which I don't know before like wars that have escaped the Security Council which was discussed briefly in chapter 15.

"Legitimacy of Power" is indeed an informative read which is suitable for academic purpose and would be very helpful to those who are preparing for competitive exams as it gives a detailed study in the structure of UN Security Council, and the internal struggle of the permanent five. The author's deep knowledge and thorough research are evident in this book. As I'm already familiar with the subject I find it interesting to learn more about it but I doubt anyone without basic knowledge of these topics would find it interesting.

*A review copy of this book was given to me in exchange of an honest opinion.*

Title: A Touch of Death
Author: Rebecca Crunden
Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopian
My Rating: 4/5

My Take:

A Touch Of Death is the first book in the Outlands Pentalogy by Rebecca Crunden. This book is the perfect blend of dystopian and sci-fi. Nate Anteros and Catherine aka Kitty are the main protagonists. The story was set in the place "Cutta" ruled by the terrifying Crown and the Council kingdom under King "Markas".

Any crime was chastised only by execution or brutal torture. Nobody was allowed to break any of the King's law, that mainly includes being complemented with a life partner at a very young age against their will. Due to an uninvited situation, both Nate and Kitty absconds from the Kingdom as they were affected by a deadly infection, where other's touch could cause severe burns throughout their body.

This book was beyond my expectations and was unputdownable. Reading this book gave me a renewed feeling after a short reading slump. The plot was so fast-paced and engrossing with no time to guess the next move. I loved the bromance between Nate and Thom. Each and every incident they shared together was heartwarming because of their inseparable bond.

I admired Kitty for her inner strength, love and support towards Nate. Their relationship was beautiful and their bond grew gradually that made me love their pair more. Also, I found her character more interesting than Nate because of her funny trust issues with him. I so badly wanted them to be the endgame. My most favourite part was their horse riding journey to different places and I personally felt the western touch in it. There was mild usage of technologies then and there in this story which was nice.

Well developed characters, author's amazing writing style, the perfect storyline would definitely make us want more about this book. The climax ended with a cliffhanger and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series. If you are a fan of dystopian fiction or sci-fi then make sure to pick up this series as soon as possible.

*Thanks to the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.*

Title: The Search for Synergy (Book #1)
Author: Brett Salter
Genre: Middle-grade Fantasy
Publication: May 31, 2017
My rating: 4/5

My take:

The Search For Synergy is a middle-grade fantasy novel by Brett Salter. It's the first book in the Talisman series. Rome and Julian are the two main protagonists of this story, with special superpowers within them. They attend the same school and their friendship begins when Julian sighted Rome accidentally creating a fire in his backyard.

Later, Julian introduces Rome to an old man named Jones, who helped Rome recognize his power and trained him after discovering that he can transform into a dragon. The real purpose of their special abilities is to save the world from some evil creatures in the void. Together their powers create a great Synergy that will help take down those evil monsters.

The book was fast-paced with well-developed characters. The latter part of the book was action-packed with gruesome attacks and adventure scenes. Above all, I loved the brotherly bond and the strong friendship between Rome and Julian. After knowing each other's power they formed a perfect duo. Julian's humour throughout all the chaos made this book more entertaining and engaging.

Although this book falls under the category of Middle-grade fiction, it can be read and enjoyed by adults as well. I felt the cover of the book could have been better. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Search For Synergy and I can't wait to follow Rome and Julian's journey in book two. I highly recommend this book.

*Thanks to the author for the review copy! All opinions are my own.*

Title: Riders of Fire and Ice
Author: Brett Salter
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy

My take:

Riders of Fire And Ice by Brett Salter is the second instalment in the Talisman Series. After loving the fraternal bond between Rome and Julian in the first book, I was so excited to read more about them and their dark adventures in this book. This book is about their research on the Darkbrands in the UK and their mission to eradicate them with the help of Mr Jones.

Apart from Julian and Rome, there were only a few additional characters in this book. Julian's sister Camela and her friend Krysta's character was the most exciting of all. I loved Camela for her courage and candour. Although Julian and Camela had differences of opinion, they both were there for each other in times of trouble which I loved the most.

The pace of the book was neither slow nor fast. The author's writing style was simple and the language is easy to understand. I was expecting more adventure scenes in this book, but there weren't enough compared to the first one. Also, the descriptions about the Talisman objects was brief and I felt there could have been more detailed content about it.

Overall, it's an interesting read with great world-building, well developed characters and a completely engrossing narrative. The climax was satisfying and it ended with a promise of yet another adventure in the next book. I hope it would be filled with more twists and turns. A definite recommendation from my side if you love middle-grade fantasy fiction.

*Thanks to the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.*

Title: A History of Madness
Author: Rebecca Crunden
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi/Dystopian
Publication: 14 July, 2017
My rating: 5/5

My Take:

A History of Madness by Rebecca Crunden is the second book in the Outlands Pentalogy series and one of my favourite reads of the year. Last year I read the first book, A Touch of Darkness, and was very excited to read the second book, A History of Madness, as the first book ended with a cliffhanger. I must say that I loved this book more than the first one.

The story begins with the prison hangman of Cutta educating some of the local children about the horrific punishments of their Kingdom and the importance of not violating their law. The two main protagonists, Nate and Kitty, covered most of the plot and their characters were well described.

I liked how the author made the character Tommy ( Nate’s brother) alive throughout the book without his presence in any of the scenes. Nate was not very expressive in the first book, but we got to see his emotional side in this book. You can feel his unconditional love for his younger brother Tommy in his every conversation.

There are so many unique secondary characters in this book and their part was also equally intriguing. Each of their backstory helped me understand why and how they are connected with Nate’s life. I also liked Engus chapter where we get to know how Radiants see humans. Like her previous book, this one also ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series which I’m sure is going to be in Tommy’s point of view.

In short, Rebecca Crunden’s Outlands series is an underrated gem and the best dystopian fiction I read till date. It has adventure, slow burn romance, sibling bond, travel trope and everything that can be expected of a good novel. If you love dystopian fiction, then do yourself a favour and pick this up. I highly recommend this series.

*Thanks to the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.*