The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Book Review

Series: Heaven’s Cove #8 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 24th March 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Fiction 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A bit repetitive but nice 

Heartbroken and sad after her divorce, forty-six-year-old Emma moves to Heaven’s Cove to make her dream of opening a pre-loved dress store come true. Someone leaves a bag full of lovely clothes outside her new shop, and Emma finds the most stunning wedding gown inside it. 

Leo and his father Robert own the shop next door, a bespoke suit store. Their grumpiness doesn’t make Emma a fan nor do they seem to like her. However, Robert is shocked to see the wedding gown but doesn’t want to talk about it. Soon, Emma and Leo try to find the truth. However, learning the truth comes at a price. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Emma, Leo, and Robert. 

My Thoughts: 

Though this is the eighth book in the series, it works as a standalone. You will meet some characters from the previous one, mostly Rosie, who owns the Driftwood House, and Maise, the teenage brat. 

The book is women’s fiction rather than romance since the focus is on finding the woman who owns the dress and the growth of the FMC’s arc. Initially, there is quite a bit of repetition about the wedding dress, the past, the secret, etc. 

As well as repetition in the FMC thinking about her dreams and her ex-husband’s attitude toward it. This is understandable to a point since her divorce is still fresh and she has pretty much lost the confidence to stand up for herself. 

Getting Leo and Robert’s POVs balance the story even if the latter is hard to like. He sounds annoying and snobbish but manages to make an impact. I like that there are no drastic changes in him by the end. There is some development that feels believable. Though Leo is grumpy when introduced, he shows his true side quickly. He also has a sad past, the poor guy. 

The characters seem to act their ages, so despite a bit of tension towards the end, they are mostly decent in handling what life throws at them, albeit after a short tantrum. 

To summarize, The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story about choices, self-worth, second chances, and family. It is always great to revisit the beautiful Heaven’s Cove and its cliffs (never mind the erratic weather). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheWifeAtTheLastHouseBeforeTheSea

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th March 2025

Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery 

3.2 Stars 

One Liner: Great atmosphere but... repetitive  

Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas 

A seventeen-year-old Dovie comes from a long line of women who could hear the dead bones sing. She doesn’t believe in magic until she begins to hear the songs. In the last three years, many people have gone missing from the trials in the Ozark Mountains. 

Some think it’s the Ozark howler snatching people, though Dovie doesn’t agree. She doesn’t listen when her best friend Lo says he is haunted by shadows. Her only focus is on leading the local sheriff to the dead bones. However, Lo knows the shadows belong to the dead people, and they want justice. Can Dovie and Lo find the killer before more deaths occur? 

The story comes in Dovie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a bang. We see Dovie hearing the ‘song of the bones’ and follow her. Right away, we also see the superstition and bias against ‘witches’ though even the police seem to wait for the bones to sing to her instead of actually doing their job. 

Dovie is your typical seventeen-year-old, meaning she thinks she knows the best, her emotions are intenseeeee, she is dramatic, and well… you get the gist. Despite the repetition, it wasn’t too bad being in her head. Though I initially sympathized with her, the constant ‘I don’t believe in magic’ got boring. After the initial quarter, I could increase my reading pace.That made the book quite enjoyable. 

I admit I liked Lo a lot more, though we don’t get a lot about him. There are only a few things the FMC has to say about him and those tend to go on a loop. The other guy is… I don’t know. He’s just there. 

The atmosphere is the biggest strength of the book. It is amazing! I could feel the dark forest, the stinky Lucifer Creek, the humidity, the weight of uncertainty and fear, and the presence of the howler. Still, I wish we got a wee bit more of the supernatural element. The setting is ripe for a proper horror mystery. 

Coming to the mystery, it is okay. Rather strange that the most important question doesn’t even occur to the FMC until someone points it out. Or maybe it aligns with her teen personality where she is the center of the universe. Anyhoo! 

The reveal is rather underwhelming. The topic is great. No doubts there. There’s even some foreshadowing but the focus is on the sub-mystery. The main one needs a bit more detailing and an extra touch of darkness to drive home the point. 

However, I did like the execution of Brother T’s role. It is quite stereotypical what with the Christian brother intent on converting ‘witches’ and ‘hill people’ but given how extensively such events occurred (and occur) around the world, I don’t mind it being shown in books. That said, he gets a lot more limelight than necessary. Maybe he was used as a smoke screen but not really needed. 

I would have rated this higher if not for the supposed ‘love triangle’ that had no place in the book. It is nothing more than exotification on one side and silly curiosity on the other. Imagine being surrounded by death and you prioritize kissing someone. How romantic (not)! Remove this attraction/ complication from the plot and nothing changes. My rating would have been higher. 

There’s an epilogue which I do like. It ties up the loose ends. Since mine is an ARC, there wasn’t an author’s note. I’d have liked to know about the forest and its local lore. 

To summarize, When the Bones Sing has a great premise and starts well but meanders into an average YA mystery with drama, romance, and a touch of supernatural. 

Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #WhenTheBonesSing

Late-Blooming Cherries: Haiku Poetry from India by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih, Rimi Nath - Book Review

Publication Date: 17th July 2024

Genre: Poetry

4.5 Stars!

One Liner: So beautiful!

As the title suggests, the book is a collection of heart-touching Haiku and Senryu poems by poets from across India.

Despite being a poet, I don’t read contemporary poetry books often. However, when I saw this one, I knew I had to try it. A Haiku is a three-line poem with a fixed syllable count (17). It is a traditional Japanese poetry form with a seasonal reference and a cutting word (usually in the second line). However, a simplified version involves only the syllable count – 5-7-5. Similarly, a Senryu is very much a Haiku except for the theme. It deals with human emotions, albeit using dark humor.

This book is a compilation of both types of poems, offering us a good variety of themes.

I remember the first time I wrote a Haiku. It was incorrect, lol. I counted words instead of syllables. Then, I figured it out (with help, of course). Luckily, I also found a free online Haiku syllable counter tool for verification. I still use the same tool for all syllable-related poems.  

Coming to the contents, the book has poems by 58 poets. As mentioned in the book, some poets have contributed five, while some have twenty pieces. We get the poet’s brief bio and their poems. This goes on until the end.

It starts with a foreword, an introduction (by the curator), and a detailed note about Haiku poems. These are informative and useful, especially if you don’t know about Haiku and still want to read the book.

In the introduction, the curator talks about the title and the story behind it. I love it when we get a sneak peek into the backend process. If you want a hint, google yae zakura. Furthermore, learning a bit about the use of the Haiku form in Indian poetry (English and vernacular) was exciting. I didn’t realize we had shows and books dedicated to it! Still, this poetry form hasn’t gotten much exposure.

In the note, I learned about the concept of Zen Buddhism behind Haiku’s simplicity. Don’t skip the initial pages if you read this book. The poems are important; sure. But the background information is equally important. That’s how you can fully enjoy the poems that follow. Think about it. We are told Haiku is not about philosophy but about being in the present. If you miss reading this, it will impact how you perceive the poems. (Sometimes the curtains are blue because it’s the only color left in the store.)

Though I loved many, I can’t mention them all here! Sharing only a couple of lines that stayed with me. Note that not all poems follow the conventional 5-7-5 format. Some use the shorter version of 3-5-3 syllables.

*

mulberry silk –

cocooned in the fragrance

of grandma

*

amavasya (a new moon night)

my scars eclipsed

for a night

*

two flowers –

a hand

takes away one

*

I have to mention the book’s design. It’s a cute little hardbound book with a pastel cover and a contrasting spine. What I loved was those little cherry branches from the corner of each page. So cute, right?

How can it be that I review a Haiku book and not write at least one of my own?

In my hands at last –

Little late-blooming cherries

Emotions brimming

To summarize, Late-Blooming Cherries is a heart-touching and poignant collection of Haiku poems from diverse poets. Some simple, some pleasant, some poignant, and some heart-breaking; but all expressed in a handful of words!

Thank you, Blogchatter and HarperCollins India, for a copy of the book. This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

A huge shout out to Nandini T from HarperCollins India. I was approved for the book sometime last year, but due to some logistics glitch, I didn’t receive it. When I remembered about it, I sent an email to the publisher explaining the issue. Nandini replied and offered to send a new copy, which reached me in three days. Thank you!

Buy the hardcover of Late-Blooming Cherries: Haiku Poetry from India.

 

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna - Book Review

Series: (not yet mentioned) 

Publication Date: 06th March 2025

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Love the setting… but the book ends on a cliffhanger! 

Eleven-year-old Vanya lives with her parents above their bookshop. As a British Indian with ADHD and an ability to converse with books, Vanya knows she cannot fit in at school or anywhere else. 

However, when her family is attacked by a monster, Vanya finds out she has special powers like her parents. She is sent to Auramere, a magical academy for training kids like her. But with The Wild Hunt on the prowl and mounting danger, Vanya has to find the master and stop the monsters before they destroy everything she holds dear. 

The story comes in Vanya’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I’ve read the author’s adult fiction, but this is my first MG book by her. 

Though the MC is a British Indian, her Indian identity is limited to skin color since she was born and brought up in Norwich. This plays an interesting role in her character arc (those one-liners are funny). On a side note, the illustrations make her look very much Indian (which I love). 

Vanya’s (Lavanya is a lovely name!) voice is quite authentic and a combination of sass, vulnerability, wonder, fear, curiosity, and recklessness. Yeah, she is stubborn too but it is necessary. Her ADHD is presented well alongside the insecurities it creates. All in all, we have a great narrator who can make us laugh and roll our eyes in the same paragraph. Her hair… my god! The long and thick braid reminded me of mine when I was the same age. Now? Don’t even ask! I’m grateful to have some hair left on my head. 

The author blends various folklore narratives and uses mythical creatures from different cultures. The more knowledge you have about these, the greater your enjoyment. I enjoyed this salad bowl since I knew many of them (including the ones from Hindu Puranas). 

The setting of Auramere is terrific. It has the potential to sustain a series (at least a trilogy). Heck, I hoped it would be a series until I realized (too late) that it is one. Moreover, the book ends on a cliffhanger! It would have been nice to know this in advance. I prefer starting a book with the right expectations. Wonder why there’s no mention of the series on Amazon, Goodreads, or NetGalley? 

The pacing is slow in the first 35% but picks up momentum and sustains it afterward. This works to establish the plot and the characters. The sprinkling of B&W pencil illustrations adds a nice visual touch. The illustrations are wonderful. Apart from Vanya’s hair, my favorite is that of Reya. It was just wow! 

The side characters are cool – diverse and inclusive. Some stand out more than others (not uncommon). The parents and adults do have a role though limited in some instances. Given the genre, you can expect kids to get into trouble by rebelling or doing things that put them in harm’s way. 

I love the nicknames Vanya’s dad uses. He rarely repeats the same thing! At one point, he calls her 'little Aardvark' and my desi brain read it as adrak (ginger), lol. Not the same at all! 

To summarize, Vanya and the Wild Hunt is an exciting and adventurous story with elaborate world-building and interesting characters. What with the cliffhanger, I can’t wait for the next installment and hope to get the ARC whenever it is available! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #VanyaAndTheWildHunt

***

Oh, the flowers on Nilgris that bloom once every twelve years are called Neelakurinji. 

A Comprehensive Guide to Indian Scriptures by Sunita Pant Bansal - Book Review

Publication Date: 21st Dec 2024 

Genre: Nonfiction, Hindu/ Religion 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A good beginner's guide 

As one of the oldest religions in the world, Hinduism has countless scriptures, notes, studies, philosophies, and frameworks. We have Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ithihasas, Shastras, etc., each dealing with diverse topics, themes, stories, guidelines, and much more. There is no single standardized rule book we are supposed to follow. So, what do you do if you want to know about Hinduism? Where do you start? 

A tricky question indeed! 

This short book attempts to present a comprehensive overview of Hindu scriptures without going into extensive detail. It aims to sort and categorize the content while briefly explaining what they mean. 

Let’s be honest. This is no small feat. Kudos to the author for attempting such a complex task.  

The book starts with a short author’s note and an introduction. Both more or less say the same, though the author’s note touches upon her experience in the field. 

Though the author mentions tentative dates, she emphasizes that those are not definite. I too won’t talk about the dates unless necessary. For example, she says Mahabharata was about 5000 years ago, which puts it around 3000 BCE. This doesn’t align with the (1700-1850 BCE) dates proposed by Jijith Nadumuri Ravi (a scientist and a researcher), who used multiple parameters to arrive at a more realistic time frame. Instead of getting into a debate about this, I will focus on the actual content. 

Right at the beginning, the author says Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) is not just a religion but a way of life. Many of you may have heard this statement. While it is true, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t give others a right to say Hinduism is not a religion. 

The author starts with Vedas, which are divided into four parts that align with the four stages of life – brahmacharya (student), grihastya (householder), vanaprastha (forest life, renouncing materialistic pleasures), and sanyasa (renouncing everything). 

The author also highlights character-based varna, the role of a guru, and numerous Upanishads that explain yoga. Giving it exotic names and calling yourself a yogi doesn’t make you one. What’s being taught today is not yoga. 

I like we get the significance of three lines of ash applied to the forehead (upper arms and wrists) and the context behind using the sacred ash (vibhuti) as bottu. Typically in our households, when kids cry or get cranky and refuse to settle down, an elder applies vibhuti to their forehead with a small prayer (it can even be a request to your favorite god to clear the negative energies around the child). And yeah, it works. Little ones do settle down and start to feel better. 

In the Puranas, the author provides an overview of what they are and a summary of each Puranam. For example, Garuda Puranam deals with death, last rites, and the concepts of the afterlife. Usually, when someone in the family dies, they play/ recite Garuda Puranam during the eleven-day mourning period. The Bhagavatha Purana is all about Vishnu and his ten avatars with a major focus on Krishna avatar (his childhood, etc.). 

Then, there are Vendangas, Upa Vedas, Vendata Sutras, Smritis/ Dharma Shastras, Agamas, etc. These include detailed instructions and frameworks about science, math, fine arts, behavioral science, language, magic, sports, law, warfare, medicine, gemology, geography, astrology, astronomy, architecture, sculpture, cooking, animal husbandry, farming, meteorology, transportation, etc. 

The Agamas are broadly divided into three – Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta. Depending on which sampradaya you belong to, you refer to the relevant texts in Vedas, Upa Vedas, Shastras, Puranas, etc. 

Despite the extensive nature of the texts, quite a few themes repeat – Brahaman, the importance of correct pronunciation of mantra, the union of divine masculine and divine feminine as the core of the universe, and how the five elements of nature are integral to everything and can be found everywhere. Most importantly, even when the texts seem like they contradict each other, they actually don’t. The ideas co-exist and complement each other. That’s why even atheism comes under the same umbrella (not the distorted ego-centric version but the actual concept).  

Needless to say, this is not a book you read and forget on your bookshelf. It works as a great reference or beginner’s guide. It’s useful to check which Veda or Smriti talks about the topic you want to learn so that you can go and find the full-length materials. 

To summarize, A Comprehensive Guide to Indian Scriptures is indeed a well-structured, compact, and reliable guide to getting an idea about Hindu scriptures. This can be your starting point. 

My thanks to the publisher Readomania for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions. 

A Sky Full of Stars by Fay Keenan - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 18th March 2025

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211081952-a-sky-full-of-stars

Genre: Contemporary Romance

3.7 Stars

One Liner: A bit slow but nice

Book Blurb:

Charlotte James prefers having her head in the stars to having her feet on the ground.

Moving around for her job as an astronomical archivist gives Charlotte plenty of opportunity to avoid putting down roots. When she accepts a post in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition, all that is on her mind is a chance to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and another summer without having to settle down.

Tristan Ashcombe is managing the development of Observatory Field and as far as he’s concerned, the sooner the observatory is razed to the ground the better. The building holds complicated memories for him and his family, memories he’s ready to put behind him.

But as Charlotte’s work begins to unravel mysteries from a complex past, she realizes that there’s more to Tristan and Lower Brambleton than first impressions would suggest. Will Charlotte discover more than she bargained for, will she manage to avoid losing her heart in the process or is her fate already written in the stars?

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Charlotte (more %) and Tristan’s third-person POVs.

The story started slow and had the same pace almost throughout. However, I did like the descriptions of the place so it wasn’t boring. Locals might find it excessive but I like it when I can visualize a new setting.

The FMC’s career and her approach to it are well-presented. I like that she tries to balance between documenting and digitizing the past but not getting too attached to it.

Comet, the cocker spaniel is adorable! Cute dogs are always a plus in books. There are cute kids too, though we don’t meet them much.

The MMC is a grump with a golden heart and past trauma. It doesn’t take long for him to show his softer side.

However, the romance between the couple doesn’t feel organic. It’s too fast, with not enough chemistry to create the impact it should. Maybe they felt it but I couldn’t see it. Also, this should have been a slow burn.

The sort of mystery about the past had my attention coz it seemed like it had better potential than the love track. Do note that the mystery is not in the thriller sense but in the family drama vibe.

While there is a third-act breakup, it makes sense here. The message that it’s not our responsibility to ‘heal others’ but they should make an effort for themselves is spot on.

We get an epilogue too, which gives us a nice HEA. Another aspect I like is how development is not always damaging. Here, it creates the required infrastructure and housing without damaging the surroundings. It’s all about finding the right balance.

To summarize, A Sky Full of Stars is an entertaining story though the romance could have been better. The family dynamics are well done, though!

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

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Fay Keenan

Fay Keenan was born in Surrey and raised in Hampshire, before finally settling in the West Country. When Fay is not chasing her children around or writing, she teaches English at a local secondary school. She lives with her husband of fourteen years, two daughters, a cat, two chickens, and a Weimaraner called Bertie in a village in Somerset, which may or may not have provided the inspiration for Little Somerby.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @faykeenanauthor

Twitter: @faykeenan

Instagram: @FayKeenanAuthor

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

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fay-keenan

***

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

The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst - Book Review

Publication Date: 11th Feb 2025

Genre: Magic Realism, Drama 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: An engaging read despite the flaws 

Elisa cannot stay in one place for longer than ten months. If she does, she’ll turn into a tree. It’s a curse that made her mother and her travel all over the US, taking new identities and leaving without a backward glance. 

After yet another move, Elisa is tired. She has been trying to break the curse but the first step is to find out more about her family. When she makes an impulsive decision to stay in Greensborough for the next ten months, Elisa is hopeful yet hesitant. After all, this small town in Massachusetts is a place where people cannot leave! 

As Elisa stays back and might be turning into a tree, she desperately needs to uncover the secrets of the past and break free of the curse. 

The story comes in Elisa’s first-person POV and third-person POVs of Rose and Lori. 

My Thoughts: 

Did you think I could resist a premise like that? No chance! 

Well, the beginning is strong but then we get into a sort of uncertainty where the FMC seems to be repetitive. The chapters from the past helped a lot by providing backstories and preventing the current track from dragging (it still did). 

The writing is pretty good even if the narration tends to go on and on at times. I didn’t need it to be that lyrical but okay. I was interested to know more, so it’s not too bad. Another round of editing would have sorted the issue and removed the repetition (especially about those kohl-rimmed eyes). 

I think the issue is that the reader knows a few things before the FMC and has to wait for her to catch up. This works in some plotlines. Here, I don’t think it fully helped. When the reader wants Elisa to catch up fast and it doesn’t happen, we are bound to be a bit irritated. 

Magic realism is an integral part of the storyline but I admit to being disappointed in this aspect. There’s a good atmosphere but the surreal part could have been stronger and a bit more prominent. Another scene with the three blue-haired ladies would have also helped. 

The side characters, though not fully developed, are interesting and add their share of intrigue and drama to the plot. I do wish the men were a little more developed to match the women, but this is quite common in this genre (women’s fiction). 

Since there is no romance as such, we have only one main lead, the FMC. This keeps the story within the required frame instead of adding unwanted tangents. That said, there are love and relationships and some of them play important roles. The focus is not on ‘lovey-dovey romance’. 

The book deals with many themes but the central one is choice. It shows various facets of choice and how giving someone a choice should not result in disregarding their choice. The book also deals with mother-daughter relationships, female friendships, expectations and acceptance. 

I guessed a good portion of the mystery at 45%. However, the author managed to give it a few twists in the last quarter. These align with the plotline and fit neatly, even if we don’t get detailed explanations for every question. 

There’s an epilogue of sorts, and I’d have liked it to be longer. Still, I can see why it ended at that point. It works for the book’s vibe. 

To summarize, The Warbler is a thoughtful read about choices, freedom, and mother-daughter relationships with a touch of magical realism. It has its flaws but it is still an engaging book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheWarbler 

The Red Fiend by Ranjit More - Book Review

Series: #1 (Cliffhanger) 

Publication Date: 08th Dec 2024

Genre: Hindu Mytho Fantasy 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Interesting! A decent debut with a cliffhanger 

Drumila, the king of daityas, wants nothing more than to kill the Creator to avenge his mother’s death. He needs to find a way to breach the wall protecting svarga to gain reach the Creator. However, Drumila should first deal with the attacks by Nagas. 

Arundathi, the daughter of the Creator, is chosen for a mission to weaken Drumila, which would lead to his demise. She is ready for her mission despite what she has to do to achieve it. However, when she gets to know her target, Arundathi is surprised. When there’s another attack on the kingdom by the Nagas, will she stand by him or use it to fulfill her mission? 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Shukracharya, Drumila, Arundathi/ Nandini, Ramishka, Havi, 

My Thoughts: 

Well, this has been my year so far for reading Indic fiction (#touchwood and hoping it continues). When the author contacted me for a review, I was a bit hesitant but curious. Indie Indic authors need support, so once I confirmed the book wouldn’t have anti-Hindu content, I was happy to read it. 

The book is fairly big (446 pages including the multi-page glossary at the end) and has a slow start. This makes sense since we are introduced to the setting and the characters. However, it’s far from boring. We have a short battle scene right in the beginning. There’s intrigue, danger, and drama! 

The heroine’s entry takes a while. She enters in the second part once the MMC’s story is fully established. The shift to her setting presents a good contract (and comparison) between the regions of the daityas and devas. Yet, we see similar underlying emotions and feelings. 

There’s much opulence with mentions of lavish gold, gemstones, and riches that can your head swim. Watching our pauranic movies has prepared me for all this, so it was easy to imagine the descriptions. 

A sudden shift to the earthly locations, especially the modern-day world, was unexpected. It pulled me out of the story for a while but I decided to go with the flow. The setting changed from full fantasy to a sort of urban fantasy a few times. I was prepared for it, so the subsequent shifts were seamless. 

While I liked the mentions of the delicious food, the word ‘chai-tea’ caught unawares. I mean, it’s the last thing I expected in a book by an Indian author. Also, I’m not sure why ‘u’ was used in place of ‘a’ in words like Maya and kanya. It sounds a bit off, TBH. 

The characterization is quite good. You can create a checklist of tropes as well – forbidden love, a sort of grumpy vs. sunshine, brooding alpha male who is gentle with his lady love, and so on! 

Though things are tense, I ended up chuckling at unexpected moments. This random sprinkling of humor makes the book more enjoyable. The writing is decent, though I feel an experienced editor or a woman editor would have made a difference. While physical attraction is a big part of the plot, the descriptions of the FMC are borderline comical (I can’t help but laugh and cringe at the mention of melon-like breasts). In short, you can tell this has been written by a man. At least the steamy scenes are not too descriptive. 

The romance is obviously insta attraction because it is the core of the plot. The FMC’s mission is to weaken the MMC through excessive lovemaking. Interestingly, this is a known concept in Hinduism. In Mahabharata, Vichitrariya was said to have died due to the same reason (but alas, without either of his wives conceiving). Bhyrappa used it to present a pattern in Parva (retelling of Mahabharata). 

By choosing to present the story from the daityas POVs, the author does a good job of creating the difference between good daityas and the unruly ones and providing a voice to those who often get clubbed together. Since we get the FMC and MMC’s POVs, we see both their sides and how they come to understand each other. 

Puranic war scenes have always been a favorite what with those powerful astras and the twangs of the bows. This book too details the scenes well. I love the mention of the various astras and how they work. These are easily the best parts of the book. 

However, the book ends on a cliffhanger. Yeah, something I figured out a bit too late. Hopefully, the sequel is in the works (I asked the author about it). 

Due to the large cast, I suggest adding a list of characters (and their roles) at the beginning. It would be easier to track them and refer them when necessary. 

To summarize, The Red Fiend is an entertaining debut novel presenting the conflict between daityas, devas, and nagas with a good rose of romance. Despite the flaws, the book would make an interesting read for those into this genre (desi readers are the target audience). 

My thanks to the author for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions. 

A Village Theatre Murder by Katie Gayle - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #7

Publication Date: 11th March 2025

Purchase Link: https://geni.us/B0DGQL9HZFsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218711555-a-village-theatre-murder

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery

4 Stars

One Liner: This was fun!

Book Blurb:

There’s nothing quite like a night at the theatre. But Julia Bird is expecting a night of sweeping drama, not an onstage murder!

At the end of Berrywick’s amateur theatre’s latest production, a shot rings out amongst the rapturous applause. But when Julia Bird peeks through the curtain, she sees lead actor Graham lying still on the stage, his co-actor Oscar looking down at his prop gun in shock. She knows that Graham has been murdered, but with nearly everyone in the village helping with the play, anyone could have tampered with the props. And why was a beloved family man the target?

Graham’s wife Jane collapses in a puddle of tears as Oscar is comforted and led away from the stage. But days later when Julia spots prim and proper Jane kissing Oscar, she wonders if the grieving widow’s tears were fake. Graham served Jane divorce papers the day of the tragedy – was he killed before he could spill the beans on his wife’s affair, and sully her perfect reputation?

Meanwhile, the aptly named director, Roger Grave, wants the show to go on. The play is up for a local award, and this might just be Roger’s big break. But when failed actor Hector is not assigned the lead role he assumed he’d get, the mood among the cast quickly turns sour. Could Hector have killed Graham out of jealousy for the leading role, Julia wonders?

Then another member of the crew is found dead and Julia discovers there’s a dark secret at the heart of Berrywick’s local theatre society. But who would kill to protect it? Can Julia find the murderer before it’s curtains for another victim?

A totally gripping, charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, and Betty Rowlands will absolutely love the Julia Bird Mysteries.

***

My Thoughts:

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

This seventh book in the series can work as a standalone. The official blurb reveals too much, so don’t read it beyond the first two paragraphs.

The mystery is decent and has quite a few suspects as more truths come out. This keeps the reader guessing, though if you are a fan of this genre, you’ll guess the killer after 50%. Still, there are a few surprising twists.

Things are steady between Julia and Dr. Sean even with the new development. In fact, I like the way Joan’s track progressed. Positive and hopeful.

As if Jake (the adorable bumbling chocolate Lab) and the hens with a bossy Henny Penny weren’t enough, Julia now has a cat named Chaplin. This cat is from the previous book. Though Chaplin doesn’t have much space, he establishes himself very well, in a way only cats can!

There’s a teeny development for Hayley too, though you’ll have to wait to know more. She is overworked as always, what with so many murders happening in the series, lol.

Despite the murder and stuff, the book has quite a few humorous moments. My favorite is the description of Hector’s audition; I laughed so hard at that one.

Nicky appears a few times since she’s a part of the theatre group but her cutie son Sebby doesn’t show up even once. I miss that kid and his interactions with Jake-y. Jake is his naughty self as always, though this might change a wee bit as he calms down. But where’s the fun in that?

To summarize, A Village Theatre Murder is an enjoyable and short mystery with a few laughs and some thoughtful themes. There will be another book, so I’m excited for it.

Thank you, Sarah Hardy, NetGalley, and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Authors – Katie Gayle

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg with their husbands, children, dogs, and cats. 

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

X: https://twitter.com/KatieGayleBooks

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Katie Gayle here: https://www.bookouture.com/katie-gayle

Sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour for #AVillageTheatreMurder by Bookouture (@bookouture). Thank you for stopping by! 

Girls: Life Isn't a Fairy Tale by Annet Schaap, Laura Watkinson (translator) - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th March 2025

Genre: Fairytale Retelling, Short Story Anthology, YA

3.9 Stars

One Liner: Darkish but suitable for YA readers

There are many fairytale retellings, right? This one, as the title suggests, focuses on the girls in these tales while pointing out that life is not a fairytale. Naturally, we can conclude that the collection of seven stories will have a darker note. However, the target age group seems to be young adults, so the content isn’t gruesome or graphic. There are some triggers (at the end) but nothing terrifying.

The book was first published in Dutch in 2021. Annet Schaap is an author and an illustrator. She included a few rough illustrations in the book. The sketches are in black and white (pencil or charcoal) and represent a character or an item in the story. Each story has about 3-5 illustrations. They don’t particularly add to the story but do create a sense of creepy vibe.

I reviewed each story after reading (as I always do).

Mr. Stiltskin – 3.5 Stars

(Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin)

The storyline is pretty similar to the Grimm’s version with a few changes. However, it’s the ending that makes all the difference. A rather good one; understated but good.

Wolf – 4 Stars

(Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood)

The story uses the core elements of the original and presents it with a fresh perspective. It is set in the future where technology is a bit more advanced than now. We get the girl’s and the wolf’s POVs, making it an interesting read.

Biscuits – 4.5 Stars

(Retelling of Hansel and Gretel)

Oh, this is really good! Another modern retelling set in a city but the presentation of human nature is terrific. The kids did what they had to, and the adults did… well what they are known for! My favorite from the collection.

Frog – 3.5 Stars

(Retelling of The Frog Prince)

It took a while to determine if this was historical or contemporary but I did find out! Here, the girl already has a frog that now needs to turn into a prince. She will soon realize that life isn’t a fairytale! It was good but not great.

Blue – 4 Stars

(Retelling of Bluebeard)

I didn’t read the original so I wondered what this was about (found it after finishing the story). This retelling has quite a few changes and works as a standalone as well. It’s the characters (Anne and Lisa) that stand out.

Sleeper – 4 Stars

(Retelling of The Sleeping Beauty)

It seems the book is also about sisterhood in various forms! What if Sleeping Beauty had a twin sister? Do parents love one child more than the other? Much to think about but it has a hopeful ending. I like this.

Monster Girl – 4 Stars

(Retelling of Beauty and the Beast)

This is the longest of the collection and quite detailed. It moves between the past and the present, showing many elements of social standards and expectations without being OTT. The ending is unexpected too and well done.

NGL, I finished the stories much sooner than I expected. The writing style is easy to follow and the narration flows well even between different POVs and timelines.

To summarize, Girls: Life Isn't a Fairy Tale is an interesting take on fairytales and leaves readers with much to think about. There’s a lot that’s unsaid but left for readers to feel. Despite the darkness, quite a few stories have hopeful endings. I like the overall vibe. Will definitely look up more books by the author.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Children's Books, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Girls

TW: Parental death, parental abandonment, body shaming, chronic illness, murder (non-graphic).

 

Divining the Leaves by Shveta Thakrar - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th March 2025

Genre: YA Magic Realism, Hindu Mytho Fiction 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Love the setting but the MMC was an idiot (this has a strong Hindu & desi vibe)

Ridhi Kapadia loves plants, trees, and forests. She’d do anything to meet the yakshas and become one of them. After all, she can already listen to the plants talk. Moreover, the forest understands and accepts her, unlike her classmates who bully her. Wearing flower crowns and making natural perfumes, she just wants to be accepted into the magical forest kingdom she belongs to. 

The rich and famous Nilesh Batra had everything handed to him on a platter and drifted through life skimming the surface. Until he finds out that his parents’ perfect marriage was a sham all along. Angry and lashing out at everyone, he wants nothing to do with anyone. Until he meets Kamini, a yakshini from the enchanted forests his annoying once-childhood friend Ridhi loves. Smitten beyond his senses, Nilesh enters the land of yakshas unbothered by the dangers or consequences of his actions. 

However, there’s more than what meets the eye. Ridhi and Nilesh might learn a few lessons as they go. 

The story comes in Ridhi and Nilesh’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

Firstly, the blurb makes it sound like it could be an enemies-to-lovers romance. It is NOT and I’m glad for it. By the way, just look at that cover! Oh, my! 

Secondly, I should no longer be surprised by the low ratings. Books with inherent Hindu framework don't appeal to the western audience. When readers say they like Hindu mythology (Puranas), they mean they like how THEY want it to be and not the actual one. So, books like Kaikeyi get high praise while books like this and Legend of Meneka have low ratings. Sure, this one has quite a few flaws but so did Kaikeyi and Goddess of the River. Still, those books were exotic and appealing for presenting our ithihasas in a western framework, totally removed from their roots and distorted beyond recognition. 

Anyhoo, rant over! 

I’ll talk about what could have been better before I discuss what I liked. So, 

The MMC, Nilesh. Yeah, he is a spoiled brat who needs a redemption arc. Yes, he is hurting and I tried to be sympathetic. But boy, if the yakshas were performing a human sacrifice, I’d immediately volunteer him and stand guard to supervise the ritual. The arc could have been great but the author lost control of it at some point. Maybe her focus was on the FMC and the setting and she realized a bit too late to salvage the situation. 

The hints of a queer angle almost went over my head until they were confirmed at the end. Subtle is good but you can’t be that subtle. Most of the readers can’t even see it. Heck, I missed it too but had a faint sense of ‘maybe’ which got confirmed on the last page. Why wait so long? Gosh, too little too late to blend into the plotline. A short paragraph when we get details of the past would have done the job. 

The pacing is not slow but the story is. That’s to say, not much happened until we reached the halfway mark and this is a big book, so that’s already 200 pages. As much as I loved the setting and wanted to join them in Alkapuri, not everyone feels the same. They need something else to keep them going, especially when the writing and setting are so desi. 

However, I cannot help but gush about the rest! 

The beginning is so lush and descriptive. The writing is evocative and pure poetry, especially the snippets at the start of each part. Yeah, the author relied on the thesaurus but I didn’t find it distracting (for a change). 

I’m so surprised that the blurb doesn’t talk about Holi given how significant it is for the plot. Instead of focusing on popular tropes, the blurb should have stayed true to the storyline. The book is set during spring when the colorful Hindu festival Holi is celebrated. There are quite a few descriptions of the preparations. The scenes of the actual event are vibrant and delightful. The festival has been seamlessly woven into the central plot and becomes the D-day where many things are revealed. 

Though it has American Indian families, the vibe is very desi. Think of saris, dupattas, chappals, kaju barfi, shirkand, dholka, kichidi, aloo sabzi, etc. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this. The cultural heritage takes on a new shape by blending with donuts and burgers instead of being replaced. The Indian communities come in all shapes, sizes, and types in foreign lands and are a unique blend of desi and videsi. That aspect comes out very well. 

Ridhi is a darling. Yeah, she could do with a dose of self-confidence and thick skin but that’s supposed to be her arc. Every single mention of her dressing up and wearing bangles, anklets, and bindi made my heart soar. You go, girl! Be unapologetic about who you are. Who cares what others say? Here, the others are also Indians, so this isn’t about external racism with idiots being idiots no matter who they are or where they live. 

The seamless blend of real and magical. The setting easily shifts between the regular world and Alkapuri, the kingdom of yakshas. However, this may be confusing for some readers. I like that there’s no clear separator as the worlds also exist together, but it’s a risky decision. Readers unfamiliar with the concepts will be confused. 

The range of scents, trees, flowers, flavors, etc. is mesmerizing. On the negative side, it can be overwhelming for some readers. I loved it because it aligns with the yakshas. Everything is extrasensory and doubly clear, so the whole vibe is not only atmospheric but also heady and hypnotic. 

The mentions of Uravashi, Savitri, or Damayanti and using their stories to create perfumes. Since I know who they are and what their stories are, I can breathe in the scents mentioned on the screen. There’s a difference between liking something, knowing about it, and being an integral part of it. You will have full experience when you are a part of the story and its intricacies. Otherwise, it’s just pretty writing with exotic-sounding descriptions. 

Quite a lot happens in the last quarter. It can give readers a whiplash if they’ve struggled so far. Of course, no way to avoid it since the whole thing had to happen in the same series. Worked well for me but it might be confusing for others. 

To summarize, Divining the Leaves is a proper desi fantasy. It is atmospheric, inviting, and delicious (all that food). However, the MMC and a slow plot don’t do it any favors. Anyway, I enjoyed the book. Thank you for using the word mandir. 

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Children, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #DiviningTheLeaves

Ram C/o Anandi by Akhil P. Dharmajan, Haritha C.K. (translator) - Book Review

Publication Date: 20th Jan 2025

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Family Drama

2.7 Stars

One Liner: This is NOT a romance

Aspiring filmmaker Ram (Sriram), a Malyali, arrives in Chennai to join a course at the film institute. There, he meets Anandi, the fierce receptionist who follows instructions to the dot. It is hate at first sight but neither is prepared for it to turn into love. However, the couple has many hurdles to clear before they can find a way to be together.

The story comes in third-person POV.

My Thoughts:

I liked the cheerful characters on the cover and the color scheme. The premise sounded good, so I requested a copy. While the beginning was great, the book soon spiraled into an OTT drama that got darker and darker (yet without any intensity).

So, the good things first:

Given the setting, you should know that this is a desi book for the local audience, especially those who are at least a little familiar with the traits of people from the city (Chennai). Though we are all Indians, each city has molded its people into certain types. A Hyderabadi is different from a Chennaite who is different from a Mumbaikar and so on! The land feels tangible on the pages and shows how much the author loves the city.

There’s a glossary at the end, though the meanings of most words have been provided within the same context. I referred to the glossary only once but it’s helpful for those who need it more.

The first 60-70 pages are entertaining. It has a light vibe with diverse personalities. Though there’s no depth yet, it’s easy to keep them separate.

Making the MMC a softer and mellow character gives the book a different appeal, which I hoped would work in its favor. The FMC seemed terrific and I was curious to know her backstory. Alas!

I appreciate the dry and detached tone when presenting dark scenes. This is not the genre for detailed descriptions of all that abuse, so it’s a relief to stay at a distance from the events.

However, soon, things started to get too cliché and OTT. So, here’s what didn’t work for me:

The Goodreads blurb mentions in capitals that this is the ‘most anticipated romance of 2025’. Based on the cover and premise, I thought this would be a desi love story with some masala. Even the author’s note at the beginning mentions he says he is more of a storyteller and the book has a cinematic feel. I went in hoping for a steady-paced filmy romance with drama and humor (the filmy kind, obviously). It got it in the first few pages but then… bam!

The book is not a romance read. There is NO romance, no chemistry, no connection, and no love story. In the acknowledgments at the end, the author mentioned the book was first titled Chennai Diaries. It should have been retained as it’s a more apt title. I don’t know whose idea it was to market this as romance.

This is a social drama with themes like friendships, found family, violence against the trans community, transphobia, child abuse, and more. There’s a sprinkle of some filmy-style scenes of chasing and attacks to add to the ‘thrill’ element.

I won’t talk about the narration as we have been warned already. The flashbacks come in multi-page dialogues (which would be accompanied by visuals on the screen). However, the overall vibe is superficial at best. The book was written to be made into a movie and has been stuffed with issues that needed better treatment. Some of the execution is outright disrespectful.

To summarize, Ram C/o Anandi is a social drama dealing with dark and triggering topics. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any romance here, but good if you do. You may like it better.

Thank you, Blogchatter and HarperCollins India, for a copy of the book. This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

You can buy the paperback of Ram C/o Anandi on Amazon. 

Murder at Mill Ponds House by Michelle Salter - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Iris Woodmore Mysteries #6 (Not a standalone)

Publication Date: 09th March 2025

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217973738-murder-at-mill-ponds-house

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Good

Book Blurb:

When murder hits close to home, Iris must fight to clear her name…

Spring, 1924. Reporter Iris Woodmore plans to move to London to avoid a shocking hometown scandal. Longtime enemy Archie Powell has been threatening to reveal her darkest secret – and she’s desperate to flee before he does.

But when he’s found murdered after a violent argument with her, there’s no escape. Iris must stay and clear her name even though the truth could ruin her reputation.

With the police closing in, Iris has to find the real killer if she wants to keep her secret. Can she prove her innocence without revealing the identity of the one man who can provide her with an alibi?

A gripping new mystery for fans of Verity Bright, Clara McKenna, and Helena Dixon.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Iris’s first-person POV.

Considering the premise, this book wouldn’t be effective as a standalone. You’ll have to read at least the previous book and preferably the last three books to have a better idea and understand the situation. There is enough background information if you want to jump right in.

The story starts four months after the previous book ends. It’s May Day and Iris is annoyed about her situation. The murder takes a while to happen but this delay is necessary to catch up with the changes.

NGL, I was pretty irritated with the FMC in the last book. She made it hard to empathize with her even in this one but finally, she showed some promise. I like her mystery-solving brain. It’s her taste in men I find stupid. Anyway!

The dreaded nemesis is dead, and not surprisingly, there are quite a few suspects. After all, the man, despite his charming and magnetic personality, made many enemies.

There’s quite a bit of repetition with the FMC risking everything for someone who couldn’t and may not do the same for her. It was starting to grate on my nerves. She has been stuck in the loop for too long. Okay, I understand… but TBH, I can’t say he deserves what she’s putting herself through to protect him.

The mystery is well done. They are grasping at any lead and many are dead ends until a random and unexpected lead brings things together to complete the picture.

Percy comes later on and we do see some of his antics. There are new additions to the character list, and I think they will reappear in other books too. I sure am excited to see how a certain track will unfold.

The ending gives a lead to the next setting, and naturally, something will happen for Iris to investigate. I can only hope she has learned her lessons by now. Making her repeat the same mistakes would affect her arc and make readers disinterested.

To summarize, Murder at Mill Ponds House is a good continuation of the series and might be the book that marks a definite change in the FMC (if we are lucky). The mystery is cool and the pacing is decent, so give it a go if you read the series before.

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

#NetGalley

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Michelle Salter Says

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. You’ll see all my books are classic murder mysteries – because golden age whodunnits are the stories I enjoy reading most.

I love to create memorable characters and devise intriguing plots with a focus on mystery rather than violence.

I live in Hampshire, England, and it’s the setting for many of my books. My standalone novel, Murder at Merewood Hospital, features Sister Helen Hopgood, the last nurse left in a military hospital in Hampshire at the end of the First World War.

I also have family connections to Devon, and the fourth Iris Woodmore Mystery, A Killing at Smugglers Cove, is set on the south coast of Devon in 1923. Iris is back in her native Hampshire for A Corpse in Christmas Close, set in Winchester over Christmas 1923, and Murder at Mill Ponds House, which begins on 1st May 1924.

You can read all of my books as standalone novels, even the Iris Woodmore Mysteries, as each is a separate story, although the characters develop as the series progresses.

I hope you enjoy reading or listening to my books.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @MichelleSalterWriter

Instagram: @michellesalter_writer

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

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michelle-salter

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