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. :) 

Z for the Zodiac and Mahabharata - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaste, 

For the last post of the challenge, I chose another topic that interests me. The planetary positions, astrology, and tarot reading are fascinating. When I saw that the omens listed by Vyasa in Bhishma Parva mentioned the elements of the zodiac, I dug around a little to find more. 

I created a chart based on my very limited knowledge, but it was half-correct. However, a PDF shared by Jyotisha Journal helped. So, I combined astrology and tarot to interpret the events during the Kurukshetra War. 

• Three lunations meet twice in the same fortnight- the duration of the latter is shortened by two days (meaning the latter lunar cycle is just 13 days instead of 15)
• The Moon and the Sun have eclipses on the thirteenth day of the lunar cycle 

Two eclipses occurred during the Kurukshetra War. The first eclipse was likely lunar, while the latter was a solar eclipse. This (along with other pointers) indicates that Rahu was in Scorpio while Ketu was in Taurus. 

It's super strange for that to happen in eighteen days. However, reading Shalya provided new information (and also thanks to the review by Pradeep Bhattacharya added at the end of Shanti Parva for highlighting it). 

Balarama arrived right before Bhima and Dhuryodhana's duel. He said, “It is now forty-two days since I left when the Pusya constellation was in the ascendant; I have returned in the ascendancy of Sravana. I must witness this mace-duel of my students.” (Section 34, Shalya Parva).

Now, Balarama left for the tirtha yatra just before the battle began. He even visited the camp at Kurukshetra to talk to Krishna. That means the actual battle duration lasted for forty-two days though they fought for only eighteen days. The remaining days must have been for healing from injuries, clearing the battlefield, and maybe even mourning the deaths of Bhishma, Drona, Abhimanyu, etc. So, two eclipses in forty-two days is not unbelievable. 

Planetary Positions 

• 
  Sun – Scorpio
• Moon – Scorpio 
• Rahu – Scorpio 
• Ketu – Taurus 
• Mars – Virgo or Leo (Retrograde)
• Saturn – Libra (was in retrograde earlier, stayed here for a year with Jupiter in Vishaka star)
• Jupiter – Libra (when the war began) and Scorpio (when Karna died)
• Venus – between Virgo and Capricorn (not enough data, 2 steps behind or after Sun)
• Mercury – no mention, but possible between Libra and Sagittarius (one step before or after Sun) (but possible retrograde based on my hunch)

Signs and Tarot 

Scorpio is the main sign where planets seem to be. It is a fixed water sign. It corresponds to the Death card in the tarot (13-Mars planet) and represents the ending of something (automatically, the beginning of another). In this case, it can be the end of the Kauravas, the end of enmity, literal death (war), and the progress to the end of the yuga. 

The RWS (RaiderWaite Smith) deck shows the Death card with a skeleton knight riding a horse while holding a black flag, trampling on dead bodies as a king asks for mercy. There is a river and a setting sun in the background. A very direct representation of the Kurukshetra war. 

The next major sign is Libra, which comes before Scorpio. It is a cardinal air sign. It corresponds to Justice (11- Venus planet) in tarot. 

Justice represents karmic justice, truth, honesty, cause and effect, life lessons, and consequences for our actions. In this context, Justice is served to the Kauravas through death and defeat, while the Pandavas get justice through the win. However, they are not without flaws and pay for it through the death of all their dear ones. 

The RWS deck shows the Justice card as a man in red robes holding a sword upright in the right hand and a balance in the left hand. Someone/ authority who gives a person what’s due. 

Jupiter is a thinking planet (for knowledge, abundance, and learning) but also a judge and jury, though its role is mostly to help a person do the right thing. In fact, Jupiter moves from Libra to Scorpio when Karna dies on the 17th day of the war (though we don't know which actual day it would have been). Possibly signifying that it’s time he got the results of his actions (facing death after being judged by Justice as guilty). 

Mars Retrograde 

Mars is also called the God of War- a planet of action and energy. It is ruled by Scorpio. In retrograde, it increases stress, tension, and tempers. It makes a person lash out or strike blindly (Ashvatthaman butchering the remaining Pandava warriors and family in their sleep). Anger, frustration, trauma, feeling cornered, etc., are common signs during this period.

However, it also presents a chance to see things from a different perspective (Bhagavad Gita?) and understand things at a deeper level. 

Mercury 

While there is no mention of Mercury, my gut tells me it could also be in retrograde. Things are super messy, a trademark of Mercury retrograde- Failure of technology/ devices (Karna’s wheel getting stuck), miscommunication (the deliberate half-truth spoken to Drona about his son’s death), and so on. 

(We are just out of Mercury Retrograde that lasted from 1st April to 25th April and are currently in the shadow phase)

Two Eclipses During the War 

Historically, eclipses were seen as an indication of an upcoming war or military action. In certain cultures, an eclipse would indicate the death of a king/ ruler. If we consider this, it aligns with how Dhuryodhana died, and Hastinapura had a new king. Two eclipses may also indicate the opening and closing of the cycle (though it is calculated for the year). It rewrites patterns, ends the old, and makes place for the new, which also happened by the end of the war. 

That's a lot to process, I know! I fell into a black hole and wanted to drag you along. ;) 

***

With this, we end the month-long challenge. I hope you enjoyed the posts as much as I did when writing them. Add Draupadi Parashakti to your bookmarks for easy reference as we upload more content on the site. 

Stay tuned for the wrap-up post coming in the next few days! 

I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z.

The first and last images are AI and made on Bing. The cards are from the internet.

Y for Yamadharmaraja’s Sabha - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaskar, 

Yamadharmaraja is the son of Vivasvat (Sun God) and has a twin sister, Yami. He is the god of death and justice (hence the addition of Dharma Raja beside his name). In movies, Yama is presented as the ruler of hell (Naraka), where he orders punishments based on the crimes committed by humans when they are alive. Chitragupta is his trusted minister who keeps a record of all living beings spanning across the yugas. 

After Brahma’s Sabha, Dwaraka, Indra’s Sabha, Kubera’s Sabha, and Varuna’s Sabha, it’s time to get a sneak peek into Yama Sabha. 

Yamadharmaraja’s Sabha was also designed and built by the celestial architect Viswakarman. Narada said that the Sabha is over a hundred yojanas square (one yojana is ~8 kilometers) and as glorious as the sun. However, it has an appealing temperature that’s neither hot nor cold (it is not filled with red hot flames!). 

Contrary to the fictional representations, this Sabha doesn’t cause excessive emotions. In fact, it eliminates painful emotions like grief, distress, decay, ill feelings, etc. There is plenty of food and drink for everyone. Whatever people desire, they can find it in this Sabha. 

Many dead rulers like Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Nibhi, Bharata, Baghiratha, etc., are found in Yama’a Sabha. Many rishis from Brahma’s Sabha often visit this place to meet Yamadharmaraja. Narada told Yudhistira that even their father, Pandu, was present in this Sabha. Surprisingly, this is where people with mixed traits (good and bad) seem to go, and none of them are tortured (as shown in the movies). 

Apart from the dead and celestial beings, the Sabha also has the cosmic Wheel of Time (Kala Chakra) and spirits of various trees, plants, shrubs, and the kusa grass. People who die during the winter solstice period end up in Yama’s Sabha (which is why Bhishma wanted to die after Uttarayana began). 

The best feature of Yamadharmaraja’s Sabha is that it can travel anywhere and move from one space to another in the celestial realms. Narada added that Viswakarman built the Sabha after deep tapasya and filled it with garlands, sacred incense, and divine music. 

Death is inevitable and a part of life, something Mahabharata highlights several times throughout. 

How can I not share a video snippet after mentioning movies?

This scene is from the movie Yamaleela (1994), a socio-fantasy comedy directed by SV Krishna Reddy. Late Kaikala Satyananarayana played the role of Yamadharmaraja. He was the go-to actor for the role and brought Yama alive on the screen in many movies. 

I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z.

The AI images are made on Bing.

Murder on the Italian Riviera by T. A. Williams - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #7 

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204738476-murder-on-the-italian-riviera

Publication Date: 02nd May 2024

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Italy 

4 Stars 

One Link: Summer, food, and dead bodies! 

Book Blurb

A brand-new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany...It's murder in paradise!

An ex-con…

Private investigator Dan Armstrong is no stranger to working with criminals, but when he’s approached for help by Bianca Moretti, he’s on high alert. Bianca is intelligent and beautiful, and Dan likes her, but he also once sent her to prison…

A suspicious death…

Bianca explains that a guest has been found dead at her father’s luxurious and private retreat on the beautiful Italian Riviera. The police are sure the death is accidental, but Bianca is convinced the man’s been murdered. Dan’s sure he can get to the bottom of things…as long as Bianca is telling him the whole truth.

A very revealing case!

But when Dan arrives at the resort, he's in for a shock. He finds that the place is a naturist retreat, and everybody is walking around stark naked! Dan is determined to discover the truth, but this is going to mean revealing a whole lot more of himself than he expected.

Can Dan sniff out the truth about this case before Oscar's cold wet nose causes havoc?

My Thoughts: 

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

Well, what can I say? This is one of my top cozy mystery series. It has a beautiful Italian setting, many descriptions of good food, and a super adorable lab, Oscar. 

The book should work as a standalone since the personal track is limited to a couple of chapters, and Anna doesn’t have any role in the investigation. Reading one of two previous books will work even better. 

The mystery is well done, as always. This time, Dan has to do something he never did – be in his birthday suit when solving a crime! It sure results in a lot of laughs and some awkward situations. 

It is fun seeing Dan being a gentleman and keeping his eyes away from where they shouldn’t linger. Also, he has to make sure Oscar doesn’t end up poking his excited nose where he shouldn’t! 

The details are revealed in stages, giving us enough time to come up with our own guesses. The information is not deliberately withheld, which is always a plus. Moreover, the inspector on the case is a good guy and happy to work with Dan. I like it when this happens. It shows them as sensible investigators. 

Of course, there is good food and yummy gelato in various flavors. Some for Oscar, too! I don’t usually read summer books in summer (why go through with it twice?), but this year, it seems I have to bear summer in real life and in books. Sigh! At least, ice creams are common on both. 

To summarize, Murder on the Italian Riviera is a solid addition to the series. The pacing is steady and keeps the narrative flowing. Let’s get ready for the next book! 

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

***

The Author, T.A. Williams Says

I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that's why I like to inject some humor. I'm having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny Italy. They are all standalone books but if you really want to do it properly, start with the first one in the series, Murder in Tuscany. If my books can whisk you away to gorgeous locations, put a smile on your face, and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in southwest England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in many of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.

I've been writing since I was 14 and that is well over half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Find the Author On – 

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

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

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

***

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