The Granddaughter's Irish Secret by Susanne O'Leary - Book Review

Series: Magnolia Manor #2 

Publication Date: 05th June 2024

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Good drama; not enough romance 

Rose Fleury returns to Dingle to the family home, Magnolia Manor. The place is being renovated and converted into residential housing for senior citizens. Nursing heartbreak, Rose hopes to find a fresh start in a place filled with childhood memories and her grandmother Sylvia. 

When Rose realizes that her topaz necklace, a family heirloom is fake, she is worried the news will upset her dear grandmother. Rose begins to dig through the family archives to find out more about the necklace. With help from Noel Quinn, a local lawyer, Rose is determined to solve the mystery. Will this also give her a chance to build a relationship with the handsome lawyer? 

The story comes in Rose’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book should work as a standalone, though it seems to have elements from the first book (which I didn’t read). It is Lily’s story and also has elements related to the Magnolia Manor. Yet, I could understand the basics without much difficulty. 

Sylvia seems to be a great character, though she doesn’t have much role in this one. Whatever I saw of her is good. The side characters are definitely intriguing, more so than the FMC, which doesn’t work well for her. Henri, Vicky, Noel, etc., manage to make an impression. 

The book is quite short (200+ pages) and has a fast pace. This is an advantage and a disadvantage. The pace keeps the story moving and covers many days at a stretch. However, it doesn’t give the reader a chance to connect with the characters. This made it very hard for me to connect with Rose. I couldn’t get a hang of her. 

I loved the mystery of the necklace and the backstory behind it. I kept guessing where and how it would turn. Moreover, the conclusion for the mystery is also good. Not what I expected, but something I really liked. 

The setting is good, too. We get enough glimpses of the countryside and lush landscape with cliffs, sea, charming sunsets, etc. 

My main issue is with the romance between Rose and Noel. I just couldn’t feel their chemistry despite enough scenes between the two. Rose’s third-person POV somehow doesn’t give us the depth of her emotions. For a long time, she doesn’t want anything more from him, but then she is suddenly in love? Even afterward, she is tentative? Not convinced! 

To summarize, The Granddaughter's Irish Secret works better as a family drama than a romance. The book should be more enjoyable to fans of the author or those who liked the previous book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheGranddaughtersIrishSecret

The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror by R David Fulcher - Book Review - Book Tour

Publication Date: 19th August 2023

Genre: Horror Short Story Anthology 

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/pumpkinking  

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171681743-the-pumpkin-king-and-other-tales-of-terror 

Age Range: This is an adult book but would be suitable for mature older teens who are familiar with the psychological horror genre.

Trigger Warnings: Violence, murder, familial death, disturbing situations throughout

3.45 stars 

One Liner: A decent collection 

Book Blurb 

The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror represents twenty of R. David Fulcher’s best horror stories. Unlike slasher books, these stories create an eerie atmosphere of dread, letting the reader’s own imagination fill in the terrifying details. In the tradition of psychological horror and dark fantasy, they hint at sinister things lurking in the shadows without fully bringing them to light.

***

My Thoughts: 

I enjoy reading short story collections, so when this horror anthology was available, I wanted to give it a try. The horror levels are moderate and belong to the atmospheric category rather than outright gore. Of course, there are a few gory elements but not so much to make a reader uncomfortable (unless you have zero tolerance for horror). 

The book starts with a eulogy to Poe in a short poem. As I tend to do with anthologies, I’ve written my impressions of the stories soon after I read each one. 

Marienburg Castle: What happens when the survivors of the WWII American Army try to take shelter in an abandoned place? Nothing good for sure! Well, the story is atmospheric but lacks the punch. 3.5 stars 

The Pumpkin King: Ohhh… this is creepy! No detailed gore but enough for us to imagine. Wouldn’t mind if it was longer, but works as it is. 4.2 stars 

Heavenly Strains: Another chilly, creepy, and atmospheric tale. It deals with parental death and grief, which turn into something else. Many unanswered questions, too! 3 stars 

A Matter of Taste: A slightly longer story that follows the well-known trope of wishes and fallen angels. There’s a twist that I expected; a pretty average read. 3 stars 

My Days With Mahalia: A diary entry of a WWII soldier about an aircraft B-17 named Mahalia. 2.5 stars 

A Night Out With Mr. Bones: More like a twisty thriller/ suspense. A bit predictable. 3 stars 

Merry Are We of the Lake: Now, this is good! Atmospheric. Starts slow but ups the stakes gradually and ends on a high. 4.2 stars 

The Night Fighter: What happens when a mysterious man steals a fighter plane to take it on a night ride? Is it a mission? If yes, what? Another atmospheric tale with a couple of twists. 3.5 stars. 

Pumpkin Seed Spit: A middle-grade horror set during Halloween. Creepy and dark for the age group but works well for the adults, too. 3.5 stars 

A Night for Animals: This is nice. Yeah, it has some chills, but the overall vibe is ‘nice’. 3.5 stars 

The Man Next Door: Oh, this is good! A detailed story with a twist at the end. Atmospheric. Not gory or scary. 4 stars 

Extra! Extra!: What happens when a bored journalist gets a frantic call? Well, this has the chills, though it leaves many questions unanswered. 3 stars 

The Flight Dummy: Interesting! I’m now sure the author loves planes. A creepy, scary story with an open ending. 3 stars 

For the Children: Oh! A detailed story with a surprise twist at the end. 4 stars 

The Watcher’s Web: What happens when a robber goes on a heist? Who does he encounter? The story builds and ups the pace as it progresses. Just the right amount of horror and terror. Well done! 4 stars 

Dreaming, The Copper City: A sci-fi horror about a man on the Moon and what happens when he finds a piece of meteor. I think we lost each other somewhere in the last section. 2.5 stars 

The Huntress: Oh, this is good. A short and entertaining piece. Predictable ending, of course, but well-written. 4 stars 

The Faerie Lights: Another short piece. Good premise but needs to be longer to create a stronger impact. 3 stars 

The October Man: Woo! This is so good. The right touch of creepy and horror with a twisted ending. The best of the lot. 4.5 stars 

As you can see, most of the stories fall around the average line, with some above and below it. The writing is easy to read. Some pieces are on the slower side, though none are boring as such. 

To summarize, The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror is a decent collection with diverse topics and themes (aircraft is a recurring element). Anthologies are subjective, so try it based on your preferences. 

My thanks to Coffee and Thorn and the author of eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

***

About the Author – R David Fulcher

R. DAVID FULCHER is an author of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and poetry. Major literary influences include H.P. Lovecraft, Dean Koontz, Edgar Allen Poe, Fritz Lieber, and Stephen King. Fulcher’s first novel, a historical drama set in World War II, Trains to Nowhere, and his second novel, a collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories, Blood Spiders and Dark Moon, are both available from authorhouse.com and  Amazon.

FULCHER’S work has appeared in numerous small press publications including Lovecraft’s Mystery Magazine, Black Satellite, The Martian Wave, Burning Sky, Shadowlands, Twilight Showcase, Heliocentric Net, Gateways, Weird Times, Freaky Frights and the anthologies Dimensions and Silken Ropes. Fulcher’s work can also be found in the DPP collection Halloween Party 2019, available at Amazon and at the DPP online store. A passion for the written word has also inspired Fulcher to edit and publish the literary magazine, Samsara,(samsaramagazine.net), which has showcased writers and poets for over a decade. Fulcher resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife Lisa, and their rambunctious cats.

Find more at rdavidfulcher.com 

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour by Coffee and Thorn (Instagram). Thank you for stopping by!  

One Tuesday, Early by Annalisa Crawford - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th May 2024

Genre: Psychological Thriller

3.5 stars (rounded up) 

One Liner: Great effort but misses the mark 

It's early morning, 6.05 AM, when Lexi finds herself home, alone with absolutely no one anywhere around. She is stuck in time and has to find a way out. But what happened to her? 

Finn, Lexi’s partner, doesn’t remember much about the previous night. He realizes Lexi is not home. She vanished. Where is Lexi? What happened? As Finn goes deeper into depression and swims back to the surface, years pass by. Lexi is still not found. 

Can the two ever unite? 

The story comes in Finn’s third-person POV and Lexi’s second-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

After enjoying the author’s short stories, I was excited to read a longer piece by her. This thriller is of the right length, neither too long nor too short. 

It’s a bit hard to review this as there’s a risk of revealing a spoiler. 

The narration is on the slower side but doesn’t drag. Finn’s chapters are faster, given the POV and the events. Time is erratic, so you have to pay attention. It goes slowly at first and then jumps years. 

Lexi’s POV is tricky. I love the attempt at doing something different (it’s a brave decision). However, the results didn’t entirely work for me. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters but couldn't connect with it. The repetition doesn’t help, either. Removing a couple of these chapters and expanding on the main narrative might have helped. Reworking the chapters to provide more details about Lexi and removing some of the repetition would also have helped. 

I also like the reveal, though we can guess it from the beginning. There’s no attempt to hide the details from the readers or throw in an unbelievable twist. The twist is subtle but well done. 100% marks for this. It also brings a sense of freshness to the tried-and-tested plotline.

The atmosphere is terrific. This is something I expect from the author’s work by default. She is great with darkish and foggy settings, the kind where anything can happen. 

A few other elements aren’t convincing. I have many doubts about these aspects but cannot reveal them. I wish those got more attention as they are important in a thriller. This would have been easily 4+ stars otherwise. 

To summarize, One Tuesday, Early is a brave attempt to present a known story in a different manner. It could have been better, but it does offer an enjoyable reading experience. 

My thanks to BookSirens and the author for eARC. 

Freya’s Gold by Fiona Longmuir - Book Review

Publication Date: 06th June 2024

Genre: Middle Grade Adventure 

4.3 Stars 

One Liner: Wonderful! 

The seaside town of Edge flourishes in summer and goes into hibernation in winter. It is interesting legends about pirates, secret caves, and hidden treasures. A twelve-year-old Freya lives with her Granny Kate and runs a B&B in the town. She has a routine life and enjoys spending time with her best friend, Lin. Then, a mysterious stranger arrives that winter. 

Soon, Freya has to face her fears or lose everything she holds dear. When it seems that the hidden treasure could be the only solution, Freya has to embark on an adventure to find it. But does the treasure even exist, or is she going on a wild goose chase? 

The story comes in Freya’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m always ready for an adventure with the kids. The cover has many elements related to the plot and offers an exciting glimpse into what lies ahead. 

I like Freya’s characterization. Most kids in this genre tend to be brave (reckless) and jump into action without much thought. She is the opposite. She has many fears and struggles to even talk in front of a small crowd. This adds a layer to the narrative. I could empathize with her panic while urging her to give it a shot. The whole arc is kept quite realistic, which is a big plus. 

Lin is a wonderful best friend! She is vibrant, fun, and understanding. Some side characters are well-defined, even if they are not detailed. It works well since the story is fast-paced and moves steadily. 

The adventure has its share of risks, fears, danger, and panic. Yet, the kids do their best to overcome their fears and do what they can (the alternative isn’t good, after all!). There’s one worrying part with an injury (no details about how it was dealt with) that made me want to know more.

And there’s an instance where two friends fight. Quite common, obviously. However, only one of them apologizes when both are rude. That feels wrong. The other one also had to apologize for their behavior.

The setting is well done with a lighthouse, small-town charm, chilly winter winds, rain, and a generous hint of danger. There’s a nod to diversity too! I’m not surprised to find an Indian since our people do go to the remotest of places and live there. ;) 

To summarize, Freya’s Gold is a fast-paced adventure filled with emotions, vulnerabilities, and kids trying to fight for the good. You can easily finish it in a single sitting.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #FreyasGold

The Secret Life of a Lady by Darcy McGuire - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th June 2024 

Genre: Regency Romance (Spy Mystery)

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Works better as a romance 

Lady Hannah Simmons prefers to blend into the background and likes being a wallflower as it keeps her secret identity safe. She is a trained assassin of Queen Victoria and takes up several dangerous missions. Hannah also has many weapons on her most of the time. 

 Private Investigator to the Prime Minister and ex-war hero, Duke Robert Killian, knows he is a damaged man with a lot of weight on his shoulders. However, his latest job brings him face-to-face with Hannah (who seems to be in the same case). The spark between them is instant, but they need to get the heart of the case before things get complicated. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Hannah and Robert Killian. 

My Thoughts: 

This is primarily a romance with a bit of mystery and danger thrown in. Since I knew that’s how it would be, I enjoyed the book for what it offered. 

The books deals with themes like PTSD, past secrets, missing and dead people, etc. Despite the darkness of the subject, there’s enough light in the book to make it an easy and breezy read. 

The main characters have their pasts, which allows them to be much more than their looks. I quite liked how this is balanced and aligned with the genre’s specifications. 

Naturally, there is lust at first sight and a good dose of steam (almost 4, so be warned). It flows well with the narration and continues to keep the % moving (very important). At the same time, the pacing doesn’t make the characters feel distant. I think that’s because the filler content is kept to a minimum. 

The side characters come in varied colors and temperaments. This mix allows readers to easily track who is who and what role they play in the overall plot. 

However, the mystery element is super weak. I was expecting this, so I went with the flow. There’s some action towards the end, but if you read it solely for the thriller elements, you’ll be disappointed. 

There’s potential in the book and the characters. This is likely the first book in the series, as there are a few loose ends (and no epilogue!). I hope Drake gets the next book. That man needs to heal ASAP. 

To summarize, The Secret Life of a Lady is a steamy romance with some intrigue to spice things up. Read it as a romance to enjoy it more. I would definitely pick up the next book (whenever it is available).  

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheSecretLifeofaLady

One Long Weekend by Shari Low - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 01st May 2024

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/OneLongWeekendsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203098329-one-long-weekend

 4 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming! 

Book Blurb:

When all seems lost, hope remains...

Val Murray has mislaid her most precious mementos of the people she’s loved and lost. Can her family, the wonders of technology, and a little divine intervention somehow mend her shattered heart?

Sophie Smith had to take a rain check on a marriage proposal. Will her bid to turn back the clock lead her to her greatest love or yet another heartbreak?

Alice McLean stood by her husband, Larry, when a scandal cost them everything. When he hits the headlines again, Alice has an opportunity to leave – but can she find the strength to finally walk away?

Rory Brookes was forced to turn his back on his parents to save his career and marriage. Now, he’s lost his job and wife on the same day. Is it too late to make amends with the one person who never let him down?

Three days. Four broken hearts. Just one weekend to make them whole again.

My Thoughts: 

The story comes in Val’s first-person POV, and the third-person POV of Sophie, Alice, and Rory. The book follows the same template as the author’s previous works. The story takes place on a weekend when seemingly unrelated characters come together and help each other. 

This one is a little different as the content is more personal to the author. We have a note at the beginning and another at the end to explain certain things. Moreover, we also have a list of main characters with brief descriptions about them. It is quite helpful in tracking who is who. 

The individual POVs of the main characters allow the reader to understand their backstories and actions. Each of them is facing a battle and finds support in different ways. Rory’s POV was really helpful and enhanced the narrative. 

The story is on the heavier side and deals with themes like mourning, grief, parental death, domestic abuse, failed relationships, etc. It can be overwhelming if the reader has faced something similar in real life. However, the pacing is steady and keeps the story moving. 

We know how a book in this genre would end, but I much enjoyed the journey, watching the characters step out of their comfort zones, making tough decisions, and being kind to others. Naturally, you will also find a few lucky coincidences, but that’s done well too. 

There is some infodump, which is okay I don’t need a book to show me everything. The details are enough to get the picture. 

There are references to characters from other books (it is set in the same location and has the same Glasgow Hospital). It won’t affect your reading experience even if you don’t know the characters. 

To Summarize, One Long Weekend is a heartwarming story with warm characters. It can be read in a couple of sittings. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

***

Author Bio – Shari Low 

In January 2021, Shari Low celebrated 20 years as a bestselling novelist. In that time, she has published over 25 books, including A Life Without You, The Story Of Our Life, Temptation Street, My One Month Marriage, One Day In Summer, and her non-fiction collection of parenthood memories, Because Mummy Said So.

In late 2020, her first novel, What If? (originally published in 2001) was updated and re-released and became a best seller. In January 2021, the sequel, What Now? was released and joined What If? on the best-seller charts. 

In real life, once upon a time, she met a guy, got engaged after a week, and twenty-something years later, she lives near Glasgow with her husband and a labradoodle. Her two teenagers have now left home, so she spends an inordinate amount of time on video calls checking if they're eating well and keeping up to date with their laundry. 

For all the latest news, follow the author on her socials. 

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.sharilow.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharilowbooks

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/sharilow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharilowbooks/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/ShariLownews

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shari-low

***

This has been a stop on the #OneLongWeekend blog tour conducted by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!

  

Snowblooded by Emma Sterner-Radley - Book Review

Publication Date: 09th May 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, LGBT+ 

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Too slow and clunky 

Valour and Petrichor are young but esteemed members of the Order of Axsten, an assassin guild in Vinterstock, Sweden. They were with the guild as children and hated each other, which continues even to date. 

The guild then gives them a job – to kill Brandquist, the mysterious leader of the city’s drug ring. No one knows who he is and how he looks. Valour and Petrichor are determined to deal with the job alone, but they may have to work together to stay alive. 

As if that wasn’t hard enough, Valour has to babysit Ingrid Rytterdahl, the beautiful daughter of an aristocrat. With Valour in love (lust) with Ingrid and the mounting danger, can the assassins stay alive and finish the job? 

The story comes in the Valour and Petrichor’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

NGL, I requested the book mainly for the cover. Just look at it! So gorgeous! The premise was intriguing, too, though I admit the execution is less than satisfying. 

First, the good points –

• The setting is dark, grim, and depressing. Given the premise, this works well to create a sense of doom, especially for the underprivileged. The snowy landscape adds to the atmosphere. 

• I also love the interpretation of the title. That’s a great touch! 

• Ingrid shines better than the main characters. There’s more to her than the mask she puts on. 

• A few scenes where the characters introspect their lives are well done. 

• I could guess one of the twists and like it. 

• The romance between Ingrid and Valour is okay. It suits Valour’s arc, so can’t complain. 

• A decent ending (and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief). 

Now, the not-so-good points – 

The characters are 20+ (around mid-20s) but act like teenagers and kids. They have been through so much trauma, but it feels hard to empathize due to their behavior. The scenes between Valour and Petrichor tend to be annoying, even when they are being nice to each other. 

The narration is super slow. A lot seems to happen, but the % doesn’t move. And when you stop reading and consider the story that happened until then, it wouldn’t be much. There are many conversations; some are necessary, but some can be edited. Looking back, it doesn’t feel like the two are as efficient assassins as they are portrayed. Yeah, they can fight well and stab, et al, but an assassin has to be focused and precise. We are told they are very good at the job, but I couldn’t see it anywhere in the book (except once in Petrichor’s case). 

Instead, we get pages of hate-filled banter between V and P that’s supposed to be some sort of trauma-bonding sibling rivalry type thing (?) except on the extreme level. There are ten instances of V saying ‘stick up the arse’ with some variation.  

The last section is better than the beginning in terms of action and drama. Yet, not much of it is due to the MCs’ efforts. It doesn’t seem realistic that the villain would so easily share everything. It works in cozy mysteries, but the stakes are high here (think kingdom-level). 

And oh, that brings me to the vibes. Though this is historical, the feel is almost modern. Also, there really isn’t any magic or fantasy. While I appreciate the support for old gods and paganism, it is not well done. Make it a cohesive part of the plot (and not simply repeat the stuff in dialogues). 

To summarize, Snowblooded has a worthy premise and an intriguing setting but is weighed down by extras. Toning down the excess will give the characters more space to show their true selves. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Solaris, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Snowblooded

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham - Book Review

Series: Skymar #3 

Publication Date: 14th May 2024 

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town 

4 Stars 

One Liner: So sweet! 

Luke Edgewood is not the rom-com type hero, or so he says. He is a builder who loves his work and a supportive brother to his sisters. When Luke goes to Skymar to work on a project, he doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with royalty. 

Elliana St. Clare (Ellie) is a princess in hiding after things went awfully wrong the last time, and the press is still hounding her for juicy news. She finds peace in working with the orphanage, the same one which Luke has to renovate. 

Ellie wants to keep her identity a secret and plans to do what her parents want. But meeting Luke puts her at a crossroads. Moreover, Luke wants nothing to do with fame or royalty, so Ellie isn’t sure what to do. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Luke and Ellie, with email and chat snippets between different characters. 

My Thoughts: 

While the story can be a standalone, I strongly recommend reading at least book #2 (like I did) to understand the character arcs better. 

You need to meet Luke in the previous book(s) to know that he is a cuddly teddy bear and a kind-hearted darling. Otherwise, he is more likely to annoy you with constant references to ‘manly movies’ and ‘hating romance’. 

Of course, since I was waiting for his book, I enjoyed this one a lot. Luke is so adorable, and his relationship with his sisters is perfect! In fact, the chats between the siblings are wonderful.  

Penelope is a side character here, but she is being herself, so it’s almost like she is one of the main characters; an extra dose of sunshine with a steady diet of Hallmark movies and romance tropes, which get constant references (this is a series thing) in their chats. 

The book has limited epistolary stuff, which works well for me. I know this is an ARC, but I hope they add appropriate scene breaks to indicate POV changes. The jumps will be too confusing to follow otherwise. 

Ellie’s dilemma is well done. She makes some wrong decisions but has the strength to acknowledge them. Her doubts, vulnerability, and hesitation come across clearly. Her dynamics with Luke are funny and cute. They do make a lovely couple! 

Naturally, there are a few faith-based elements that never overpower the story or sound preachy. This is exactly how I like faith in books (if it is present). 

We do have a sweet and happy ending. I did feel a little sad, but since there’s news that there will be a novella from the same series, I’m happy to meet the characters (Luke) again. Can’t wait for it! 

To summarize, Loyally, Luke beautiful, funny, sweet, and heartwarming read. It also has the flavor of a small-town community, so pretty much a package deal. No steam except for a few kisses and flirting. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #LoyallyLuke 

The Wrap-Up Post – Mahabharata Mash Up

Namaste, 

This is the final post of the year’s A to Z Challenge. 

A huge thank you to everyone who read, commented, and encouraged me during the month. I loved your input and the additional snippets of information you shared with me. Lakshmi M and Lakshmi A, Ratna mam, Monica, Anshu, Sanjeeta ji, Aparna, Narayani, Preeti, Priya, and Soumya, thank you! 

Be it the discussion about whitewashing Ravan’s crimes or the wonderful symbolism behind the story of the Samudra Manthan, your opinions were a treat to read!

Despite my intentions, I couldn’t read many other blogs as I wanted to. However, I managed to read the daily episodes of a novella on Tales of Suchita. It is a low-stakes romance set in contemporary India (Mumbai). Chiranjeev is such an adorable MMC! 

Another blog I followed was The Other Side by Tim Brannan. I admit I know nothing about the Dungeons & Dragons game (except that there’s a tarot deck based on it). Now, I know a little more, thanks to the posts by Tim. He is a professional gamer and a repository of knowledge about D&D.

Moreover, thanks to the #ReadTheNew initiative by Blogchatter, I found wonderful posts and 30 different blogs throughout the challenge. Some shared lovely poems, some gave practical parenting tips, and some bloggers talked about things they loved – food, music, or art. 

The month-long challenge has come to an end, and as always, I have bittersweet feelings about it. Hoping we can meet next year. I might do a season two on the same theme! In the meantime, hop over to the Draupadi Parashakti website for more write-ups about the Mahabharata. We are working on the character pages now. 

Here are the links to all the posts: 

 Day 1: A for Ashta Vasus

Day 2: B for Brahma's Sabha 

Day 3: C for Chitrasena, the Gandharva

Day 4: D for Dwaraka’s Description 

Day 5: E for A Year as Eunuch: The Story of Brihannala

Day 6: F for Forest Life of the Pandavas

Day 7: Sunday - Break 

Day 8: G for Gangavataranam

Day 9: H for Hidimba's Son, Ghatotkacha

Day 10: I for Indra's Sabha

Day 11: J for Janamejaya's Snake Sacrifice

Day 12: K for Kubera's Sabha 

Day 13: L for Love Stories in Mahabharata

Day 14: Sunday - Break 

Day 15: M for Matali, The Charioteer of Indra

Day 16: N for Nahusha

Day 17: O for Omens in Mahabharata 

Day 18: P for Pasupata Astra: The Battle Between Shiva and Arjuna 

Day 19: Q for Queens in Mahabharata

Day 20: R for Ravana's Family History

Day 21: Sunday - Break 

Day 22: S for Samudra Manthan

Day 23: T for Takshaka, the Naga King

Day 24: U for Usinara's Test

Day 25: V for Varuna's Sabha

Day 26: W for Why the Vindhya Mountains Swelled

Day 27: X for X Marks the Spot: Jayadratha's Vadha 

Day 28: Sunday - Break 

Day 29: Y for Yamadharmaraja's Sabha

Day 30: Z for Zodiac and Mahabharata

Bing is getting better at generating images with text. I’m not sure if it is a good thing or not! 

Of course, I cannot conclude the post without including a couple of videos. ;) 

Here are two scenes (in the technicolor version, the original was B&W) from my favorite movie, Mayabazar. 

This one is when Subhadra and Abhimanyu are sent to where Hidimba and Ghatotkacha live by Krishna (right after the Pandavas' exile). 

This scene is where Ghatotkacha marries Lakshamana (Dhuryodhana's son) in the guise of Sasirekha (Balarama's daughter). The real Sasirekha was getting married to Abhimanyu elsewhere. Savitri's acting is a masterclass! 

And bye! See you next year. :)