'10 years from now I hope to be a good mother' says Neelam Chandra Saxena and much more in a talk with Vanya's Notebook

Neelam Saxena Chandra…. Well, I am sure the name needs no introduction! The authoress of unlimited books- both fiction and for children, a brilliant poet, an engineer, a wife and a doting mother; above all, she is a wonderful human being who counts writing as a part of her existence. Who always takes out time from whatever she is doing, setting an example for all in every possible field. I was glad to have been able to have a chat with this charismatic personality. So, here is a snippet for all you readers of my chat with her!

Vanya’s Notebook- Engineer by Profession, writer by passion! How did this seed of writing get sown into you?

Neelam—Writing has always been a part of my being, right from the time when I was a child. I used to scribble poetry even when I was in school. Engineering and creativity are complimentary. I think, writing completes me.

Vanya’s Notebook- More than 600 of your stories/poems along with many books for children and fiction have been published. How is the feeling to be a nationwide known writer?

Neelam— It is an amazing feeling. I used to write because I felt good, but had never thought that I will make a name for myself someday. I hope to keep giving quality books in future too.

Vanya’s Notebook- Your award shelf must be filled with awards among which one has been given to you by the great Gulzarji. One look at all those awards and what is the reaction that you give?

Neelam—I feel overwhelmed as well as humbled. The awards came as a confidence booster and I hope that I do justice to those who gave me these awards by writing better and better.

Vanya’s Notebook- You have written lyrics too. So, short stories-poems-children books-fiction and lyrics, what’s your choice and why?

Neelam—It actually depends upon my mood. I love to try different genres at different point of time. I just cannot say that I like this or that.

Vanya’s Notebook- The best compliment that you have got till date? By whom and when?

Neelam—Well, the best compliment I received was from one of my fans. After reading my novel ‘Can I have this chance’, she asked me how I could comprehend her emotions so well. That she could feel connected was a real compliment.

Vanya’s Notebook- How do you want the world to know you as? Neelam Chandra Saxena the authoress? The poetess? The lyricist? Or the woman?

Neelam—A very tough question. I would love to be known as my daughter’s mother.

Vanya’s Notebook- You are a Director (IT) at the Indian Railways, how do you juggle between the two entirely different things?

Neelam—I love both the things. I struggled hard in life to be an engineer. And writing is my passion. Since both were my heart’s calling, the internal energy keeps me going.

Vanya’s Notebook- What is Neelam as a person? Your hobbies? Or how would you describe yourself?

Neelam—I am essentially a person in love with life and its hues. I love each and every tint of life and I enjoy it to the brim. There is a long list of my hobbies which includes writing, painting, cooking, anchoring, dramatics and much more.

Vanya’s Notebook- If you look back in time, anything you want to change?  Any regret? And where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Neelam—I do not regret anything, nor do I wish to change anything for everything happens for a reason – whether good or bad. And no, I have no regrets. I am in peace with myself, my decisions and all that almighty gifted me.

10 years from now? Well, I hope to be a good mother and wish to see my daughter well established. And if I make a name for myself as a writer and present some good literature to the readers, it will be an icing over the cake.

Vanya’s Notebook- What about your future work? Where can we get more of you?

Neelam—At present, the books under publication include a novel and a short story collection by LiFi Publications, a short story collection by Authorspress, another short story collection by Omji Publishing, a Hindi poetry collection and a children’s novella by Vituous Publications and eight illustrated books with RajkamalPrakashan. Besides this, one more short story collection and a novel are complete and I shall be entering into contracts with publishers soon.

Vanya’s Notebook- Your poems have all aspects of life in them knitted in very heart touching words. What’s your inspiration? Can you just sit for writing and write or do you have to feel to write?

Neelam— My muse is everyone and everything around. I am born with a very sentimental mind and I have an opinion about everything. I get touched by every little deed of happiness and I feel sad seeing anyone’s grief. These feelings are my inspiration.

I naturally have to feel for writing. But it need not be the feelings at that particular moment. It can be something which happened with me in the past, it could be something which I anticipate to happen in future or it could even be my thoughts on what a person’s feelings would be at that moment.

Vanya’s Notebook- I hope I didn’t bore you much with my questionnaire. I would like to request you for a few words on my blog and of course, for your readers!

Neelam—Of course not, the questions were very interesting and it was fun answering them.

For your blog – you are doing a marvelous job. Keep it up!

For my readers – I express my gratitude since I am there because of them.

Vanya’s Notebook, personally, loved interacting with Neelam Saxena Chandra and we are glad to have had the opportunity to do so! Wish you loads of luck for your future endeavors!

Buried Echoes by Marta Franceschin: a review

Doesn’t the name ‘Buried Echoes’ strike a bell? For me, it does. Imagine all those pain you have once endured quietly, echoing back to you when you are alone? Buried echoes are one book which will show you just that.

As a reader, (not being biased) I have been very much fond of the quality of books by Vitasta Publishing. Starting from the cover quality to paper quality till the designing. Even the matter inside the book keeps me till the end.

Buried Echoes is one such book which is unique in its own way. Two stories in one book. Two names- Agafia’s Suitcase and Dear Father who art in heaven; even two covers. The presentation is something with which I had fallen in love at first sight.

Coming to the first story—Dear Father who Art in Heaven

A girl grows upon a nightmarish world of abuse, neglect and loneliness. With a dying mother and a tyrant father, life has very little to offer. But for how long can one be a mute victim? While a desire for avenge is natural some questions remains to be unanswered. What if this relationship of abuse & domination is the only relationship she has ever known? Being a victim has been her only identity so far and violence has become an inextricable part of her. How will she ever emerge from this? Or will she ever at all?

The authoress has described the pain so well that I had goose bumps throughout the book.  The narrating style, the wonderful mesmerizing way of description can keep anyone hooked to it.

The pain, the anguish a girl feels from her father since birth is described in an inspiring way. What happens when that endured pain bursts? The story is all about that. A perfect end to a perfect story.

The next one- Agafia’s Suitcase

Jilted by her lover on her eighteenth birthday, Agafia decides that she will “go far away to start a new life.” That is when she gets her first suitcase. From being a laborer in a tobacco field to working as a domestic help in Italy, life is a continuous struggle for Agafia. But surprisingly, her story is not merely an endless saga of pain; what shines through, apart from her incredible capacity to endure, is her zest for life. Pain, deception and even violence are not enough to prevent her from falling in love yet again. But will this love be any different from the ones she has known in the past?

Agafia… well she is just like everyone else yet she is so someone very different. The way the story has been etched; the characterizations, the descriptions. It has been a treat to the eye.

Love, pain, destruction, life, rebounds- the story is perfect in every sense. To all readers, I’m sure; Agafia would have an uncanny similarity making them more relatable.

Saluting the authoress for Buried Echoes and hoping to read much more from her. I would rate this perfect book a 5 out of 5.

The Reluctant Messiah by Hettie Ashwin: a review

The Reluctant Messiah! What will you feel or rather how will you feel when you see Jesus Christ in front of you? A reincarnation if I may say. How will you react when you see all omens supporting the fact that the person in front of you is J.C. the wonderful book by Hettie Ashwin says all about it.

On the back cover- What can one man do in the face of mounting evidence? James Caldecott is just an ordinary man who has an extraordinary set of circumstances. Born to Joseph and Mary, he lives an unblemished life. Is it such a coincidence he lives on Jerusalem Drive? With the media hungry for what’s hot and what’s not James is catapulted into the spotlight as the reluctant Messiah. It will take more than someone to deny him three times for James to get his life back. It will take a miracle.

The blurb and the cover support the fact of reincarnation. The facts, the circumstances that James Caldecott have to face all knitted together leads to only one result, of him being JC or Jesus Christ.

The parents of James Caldecott are Joseph and Mary, he lives in Jerusalem Drive and he is caught in the maze of extraordinary circumstances which double up the fact that James himself is JC.

Though he doesn’t agree to it but he denies it neither. Going with the flow, the media decides to keep a day to day track on James.  What they see is extraordinary and they exaggerate it to the ultimate level.

The life of James after the miracle, how James Caldecott became JC is what the book is about. The book is about the Reluctant Messiah. Written wonderfully, linking different aspects of JC’s life to the life of James Caldecott the book is a must read.

It gives the readers a lot about the characters, of JC and of much more. It is an enlightening read. Once the book ends, the readers are left with a smile on their faces and that is one great achievement for the writer.

Written in a very easy to understand and lucid language, I salute the writer for bringing up such a topic in front of the readers. Though exaggerated a few parts, for this attempt and many more to come I would like to rate the book a 4.5 out of 5.

'Hold on to your love to the last moment if your love is pure and true' - Rikky Bhartia answers Vanya's Notebook about love, life and books

A handsome author, a Chartered Accountant, now ‘bestselling’, often also termed as the ‘love-guru’ of today’s time in social networking, with coverage in ‘n’ number of newspapers, first edition sold out, second in print and only one book old; here I present a chit chat with Rikky Bhartia, of Me ‘n’ Her A strange feeling fame!


Vanya’s Notebook- According to you what does it take to be an author, or should I add that what does it take to be a 'published' author?

Rikky-- To be a published author all it takes is a beautiful and interesting script, which has the capability of drawing attention and interests of publishers towards it, and of course makes a place of it in the hearts of readers.


Vanya’s Notebook- How did the idea of writing a full manuscript come in your mind? Did you have any certain objective you wanted your novel to achieve?

Rikky-- Writing a full manuscript was never in my mind, I never thought to be an author or a published author, and it all happened with the course of time, the first time when the wish of getting published and get read hit my mind, half of the first draft was written and came out to be beautiful. Yes I want my novel to get the message delivered to the teenagers about crush, infatuation, friendship and true love and to teach them to hold on to their love till the last moment if their love is true and pure. 

Vanya’s Notebook- In the huge crowd of teen-age authors, where do you place yourself?

Rikky-- First I am not a teenage author so I don’t place myself among them, neither my story is of teenage love nor do I believe in teenage love. Love is a very complicated and matured feeling, which generally today’s teenagers are not capable of understanding.


Vanya’s Notebook- What was your reaction when you were approached for the first interview? When you got your first review and when your name first appeared in the news? And which was your much awaited review?

Rikky—The most awaited review if you say by reader was the first one which filled me with smile on my lips and tears in eyes. As an expert review, first by Himani Gupta was most awaited and when I received that with  smashing 4.5, I was just in some other world. I read the full review at least 3 times unable to believe such words written by her for my book. Called her and thanked her and had a good talk. First interview was also by her only pre release and I was very scared as to what the questions will be sent and what will I reply. First news was featured by Hindustan Times, and I felt, I did something really big today. My entire family congratulated calling me and said ‘Rikky ab bohot bara aadmi ban gaya and jald hi itna popular ban jaega ki appointment leni hogi’ nothing can compare this.

Vanya’s Notebook- Are there any certain styles of writing you were hugely attracted to? Any inspiration?

Rikky-- Well to be frank, I didn’t read a single book before I started writing this book, but yes after I started writing I read few books and Chetan Bhagat and Ravinder Singh are my inspirations among Indian authors.


Vanya’s Notebook- Tell us something about your personal life, other than the pen and paper fight!

Rikky-- Well even my personal life also have a background of pen and paper fight, pen and paper have been my best companions since childhood, I loved my studies and always had them in hands, and since I am a Chartered Accountant you know well how much both these are important to me. Though I like listening to soft music in my loneliness and ‘hum’ songs when I’m alone and to be heard by none.


Vanya’s Notebook- Who is your best friend, pillars or support in life and in the industry?

Rikky— In life unfortunately now I don’t have any best friend. But my pillars are my parents. And I had one best friend during my CA student life and one best friend, well you all know the girl behind this novel.

Vanya’s Notebook- What are you promising your readers before they buy a copy of your manuscript.

Rikky-- Just that there next 6-8 hours of reading this book are going to be awesome when they are going to become a part of a unique, sweet yet complicated love story, which is a blend of love, friendship, sacrifice, passion and much more...


Vanya’s Notebook- What are your plans about your career? Are you going to establish yourself as a permanent writer?

Rikky-- Not planned anything about this as of yet, as it will too early to think anything, but yes if destiny and life gives me opportunity I would love to nourish my writing and creativity more and make people read more of me.


Vanya’s Notebook- Tell us something about your publishing company hunt, if it was any.

Rikky-- Hunt for Publishing House was scary at the scratch, as I had heard a lot that to get a publisher for your script especially without having any background is really tough, many rejections later finally Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd accepted my book after three rounds, though after signing the agreement I received two more acceptances.


Vanya’s Notebook- What is writing to you?

Rikky— Writing to me is something which gives me lot of peace, happiness and the way to let out my feelings. And it’s the mightiest weapon to change the world and society and I want to do that.

Vanya’s Notebook- Being a bestselling author now, how do you feel when you look back in time?

Rikky— Aah it feels nice. Obviously it will, who won’t like success and gets his work loved. I see a lot of changes in me. I am becoming polite and my patience level has increased. I even see myself more confident and extrovert now. I mean previously I was scared of sharing my pics and now I want to be everywhere. I am no more worried about my looks and people comments.



Vanya’s Notebook- We will be glad to have a message by you, for our blog.

Rikky-- Your blog is doing good job Sharanya, by reviewing lot of new books, and you know it well too as you receiving two books a day from authors desperate to get your review on them, and you as a person are very sweet, I like your innocence and straight forward attitude. Keep it up.


“It was great talking to you too Rikky! All the best for this one and many more to come!”
We surely had a great time interacting with Rikky Bhartia and I hope you guys too have had a wonderful time getting to know your favourite author more! For knowing more about Me ‘n’ Her, you can scroll down my blog, for it has a review on it too!

You can also contact the author at--
Facebook : Rikky Bhartia and Me “N” Her – A Strange Feeling.
https://www.facebook.com/rikky.bhartia
https://www.facebook.com/me.n.her.astrangefeeling
Twitter : @rikky_bhartia
https://twitter.com/rikky_bhartia
Mail : rikkybhartiabooks@gmail.com
Website : www.rikkybhartia.com

Book available at -
http://goo.gl/EJHR5U - homeshop
http://goo.gl/eY28LL - flipkart
http://goo.gl/HCCVkm - infibeam

Murdered to Moksha by Rohit Shetty: a review

The name; doesn't it send chills down the spine? Murdered to Moksha? Keeping the name and the cover in mind people would expect it to be a thriller but is that the only thing in the book? The end to the book surely reveals why this book is named so.

On the back cover- ‘Wife’s murderer or a victim of fate?’ This headline flooded the news channels. A 35yr old guy killing his wife at City Hospital and then trying to jump off the same building. A selfish, ruthless murdered who took away a 10yr old girls’ mother and then attempted a suicide. Why? Financial problems? No. Disputes with wife? No. Mentally unstable? No. Then, why? Only person who had an answer to this question. He,himself. His silence even at the court sessions added to the twists of the case. He said nothing in his defense neither hired a lawyer. He seemed heartless, cold blooded killer, a murderer, a maniac, mentally unstable to the world. Every medium spoke bad for him but no one really cared to know the reason why he killed his wife. He was a murderer until….

Looks like a thriller from the cover. The book turns out to be a love story at the beginning. The story of a successful entrepreneur, of Aarav Rathore, can keep any kind of reader interested.

As the story gets the flow, the mystery unfolds, it becomes interesting. The book has been written in such a way that the characters come to life. One could feel the situations the characters are in.

The research at the end of the book comes of huge help and is of great interest to every reader. The way the story ended keeps the reader dazed for a very long time. The grammatical errors of the book at times disturb the flow of the reader.

Aarav has been misspelled at places and at places it clearly shows that the book is co-authored. Proper proofreading could’ve taken the book to some other level. All in all, a wonderful read. Perfect end, would rate the book 3.75 out of 5.

The Devil's Gate by Deepak Kripal: a review

The perfect tagline given to the book by debutant author Deepak Kripal; ‘an impossible journey’. Well, after reading the book, one would surely agree with the tagline. A book with a difference I must say. Interesting cover, black surely defines the book.

According to the back cover- Plundered by humans of their habitat, animals take a drastic step when they decide to send a team of a cat named as Katy and a dog named as Dug, to an invisible island known as the island of ‘five hundred graves.’ The island becomes visible only for a short time on the night of the full moon. Legend has it that the island is inhabited by the demons. Katy and Dug are supposed to negotiate a deal with the demons, convincing them to allow the animals to inhabit the island. Majority of the animal community believe that tinkering with the other would could bring their wrath to the animals. The team is send to the island nevertheless. But can a deal be materialized with? Are there really demons on the island? Is there any conspiracy involved? Will Katy and Dug be able to negotiate, or will survival remain their only question in the deadly island?

Perhaps, one of the best fantasy fiction novels I have read till date, the Devil’s Gate keeps you attracted to the book from the very beginning. The flawless writing style of the writer makes this book a page-turner.

A perfect piece of imagination! For any reader of any age group, the book is a must read! Perhaps, one of the first of its kind, the book deals with not humans, but animals as the centralized characters.

It makes us believe that animals do have a life of their own and what an animal feels when humans vacate their homes for living. The wonderful dosage of laughter added in a few conversations between Katy and Dug from the time they met, throughout the travel makes it a fun read.

It rekindles faith in God, teaches us the most difficult of things with such ease. A wonder in itself, the book teaches us a great deal. I wanted more of the book when the book ended and I am very sure of it being a bestseller. Only a few grammatical errors were spotted, making me rate the book a 4.75 out of 5.

Jivaka by Malavika Kapur: a review

Excellent, marvelous, enriching, enlightening… I don’t think I need to say more about this piece of art by Malavika Kapur. The soothing cover art adds to the effect of the book. The whole book in itself is mesmerizing.

On the back cover- Jivaka’s fifteen year old mother, Vatsayani, seduces the scholar sage Richika to father her child,. The child becomes a disciple of Kashyapa, who is a renowned healer of children. To prove his merit, the five year old Jivaka is forced by veterans to enter the River Ganga. Jivaka emerges from the water as a great healer himself. The story connects seamlessly to a modern day Jivaka who is training to be a pediatrician. The novel attempts to bring to life childcare in ancient India- developed around the Kashyapa Samhita, the only text of Ayurvedic pediatric medicine in existence today.

 To begin with, the concept of Jivaka is something that contended me to the core. The simplicity in the description style of the authoress brings to life the characters. Enlightening facts, turns every readers interest towards the book. Ayurvedic way of childcare- not many know about this branch of science.

The book does its best to enrich people with wisdom and knowledge about the same. The way the authoress has mingled 2 lives turns the reader in a state of awe. The end to the book makes anyone want more.

The birth of Jivaka, his life, pilgrimage, adversities, how people have thought him to be just a mere mortal is what the book is about. For me, the only flaw of the book were a few spelling mistakes and the fact that the initial chapters seems a bit unnecessary. Apart from that it is a fabulous book and I would love to rate it 4 out of 5.

Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya by Rahul Marar

Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya

(Lead me from Darkness to light)

Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya, three words but a treasure full of wisdom. The feel, realizing of moving closer to one’s own self conveyed by these three words is indefinable yet attainable. If you understand this then you will also understand that Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya is a journey from Darkness to Light, from Ignorance to Knowledge and from Untruth to Truth.

But what does this exactly mean? What is light?  Yes, there are these Roti, Kapda aur Makan, the so called basic needs of a man. Then in the next step there are some like success, glory, fame; etc. Even if the man gets all of these things, he goes on wanting for some more in abundance and thus starts this endless saga. So light here is not entirely an emission. Light here means finding a way to rise. Rise from all those negatives to positives. Rise from wanting all those useless immaterial things to relevant things, rise to find your true self. Ignorance obscures real understanding and for that you need light i.e. true knowledge. Staggering Ignorance radically impedes our ability to choose rightly and that is why we need to move to its opposite-knowledge and with this we should also understand the way to move from despair to hope and yes this will help you not to lose the reason for living. Like Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” 

There are times when others think about you as no one, you too feel that you don’t even exist in this world. These thinking are bound to come to our mind and we cannot stop thinking that but we can indeed arrest the very growth of that thinking. As Cassandra Clare has said, “Whatever you are physically...male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside.” Because there may come much darkness in our life but somewhere there are some lights and we should understand that it is our life and we’re the only light that will drive all those darkness away.

Though losing oneself, hurting oneself can occur very quietly in the world, but if we understood the real meaning of Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya then it will make a loud thud within our conscience, and we will scream and get hurt about losing our oneself and like every time, we will surely get up and walk towards light, towards truth, towards knowledge and thereby we can heal our oneself, thereby we can rise-AGAIN. It is not very easy to follow this, not at all but if we want to conquer the world, the world that is I, Me and Myself then we have to do this. Someone said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”  So every time you come across roads filled with darkness and despair, then before embarking further just remember this line and then you will see a new road filled with light. ‘Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya’

About our writer -

He’s a Dreamer. An Engineer in making. Cannot live without books. Passionate about writing. Writes for a newspaper. Huge fan of Farhan Akhtar, Kamal Hasan, Azim Premji, Agatha Christie, Sir Conan Doyle, Jeffrey Archer, Sudha Murthy and Ruskin Bond. He co-founded The WordBite .

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Four Corners of the Circles by Mohit Jain with Amrita Sood: a review

A perfect book for MBA aspirants, a self-help book just what the doctor ordered before stepping into the shoes of MBA. A book by debut authors, wonderfully crafted makes it a must read.

On the back cover- Ever heard about the four corners of the circle? Since childhood, t has been taught in schools that the circle has no concern. Life is a never ending marathon. It keeps on revolving in circles and everyone is in search of a final destination, a corner that they never reach. This book is a small initiative to throw light on different aspects of the education system and how could we join hands to make it more productive. It guides the aspiring students to follow a right approach, take correct decisions, and overcome distractions in their career. It advocated that the educational institutions should focus on enlightening the lives of the students by providing quality education, quality learning ambiance, practical grounds to implement class room theories, and by helping students convert their black cat into a white one. The book is neither biased toward students nor educational institutes; the sole purpose is to provide their individual perspectives and reach to a common conclusion. The book contains five theories, which Mr. Mohit Jain has discovered in his sixteen years of teaching experience and which would help the youngsters reach closer and closer to their goals. This book is about us.

A queer name for a book as such, I found (and I am sure all the readers would find) the book to be a productive, engaging and wonderful read giving insights on everything a student’s life needs to know about.

The Nine Point theory © Mohit Jain is one of the best theories I have read till date and I so strongly wish that I had it when I needed it the most. It is mostly like bible for the students, showing the students new rays of hope for their future.

The way it has been written, communicating to the readers throughout is splendid. The diagrams, stories and facts written very much relatable to every student who would read it. The author’s have very well chosen their target audience and their style of writing and thoughts reflecting the same.

But by the time I was on the verge of finishing the book, I felt the book was a bit fast paced, according to me (or rather for me) I think a bit more lengthy descriptions, or maybe more facts composed in a compact way would've done the trick for the book.

The wonderful diagrams inside the book were much needed, helping every student to understand the facts even better. I would, personally, recommend the book to all students who are thinking for a greater career move. On this note, I would like to rate the book 4.5 out of 5, awaiting many more such enlightening books in the future.

Lucifer's Lungi by Nitin Sawant: a review

Lucifer’s Lungi, the name itself sounds eerie. A chill runs down the spine reading the name and the cover adds up to the imagination of the reader to the fullest! A novella, having a book jacket surely seems wonderful to read!

On the back cover- An atheist city-slicker unleashed on a medieval holy village… a simpleton village priest’s boy who blindly worships and guards a pantheon of Gods and their traditions… strange things happen when their worlds collide! This is a tale of that turmoil on a lonely night in a jungle when the ghosts you never knew till a few hours ago are let loose on the ghosts that you always carried within, unknowingly. Welcome to the unholy clash of beliefs, fears and frailties with unknown Gods and demons. A clash that will test your convictions. A clash that will rabidly claw and unmask your subconscious, leaving you naked and paralyzed in front of your demons-in a climax that is as ambiguous as it is certain… welcome to the madness of ‘Lucifer’s lungi’… where what-you-see-is-NOT-what-you-get…

Starting with the presentation of the book, as a debut writer, I loved it. The narrations, very good. The characterizations, even better. I, personally, loved the chapter names and its divisions. For a novella, I seriously liked the content of the book.

Bringing into limelight the blind belief of the villagers in stories like good and evil, Lucifer and god is a brave attempt by the writer. The narration has been done so wonderfully that the reader is forced to believe that the writer has actually faced it in real life.

The way the story goes on, is a treat to the eye. Though I felt a bit more of descriptions could’ve done the trick in some places. The places, the elements are made to seem real giving the readers an enjoyable read. The story questions your belief and that is the plus point of the story.

I would've liked it more if the writer would've let flow of the pen at some places which might leave the readers with a feeling that the story is too short. Nonetheless, hoping to read more from the writer, I would like to rate it 3.5 out of 5.

The Prophecy of Trivine by Pulkit Gupta, Srivatsan Sridharan and Tnahsin Garg: a review

The Prophecy of Trivine by three debut writers namely, Pulkit Gupta, Srivatsan Sridharan and Tnahsin Garg is a book of purity. Stunning revelations, truth about human beings and their existence makes this book a must read for everyone.

According to the back cover- An emissary of an advanced alien race travels to the Earth to undertake responsibility of an experiment that has gone out of control. The outcome of this fateful experiment, which was conceived millions of years ago by her species, now rests in her hands. As she prepares to deliver her final judgment, she comes across three young men in a sacred forest who change her life forever. These three men- a scientist, a hacker and an artist-happen to take refuge in that forest, trying to escape from the oddities of their own unfair lives. Struggling with their dreams and demons, they begin to explore the dark and paranormal behavior of the forest by forging a companionship. From the rare flora and fauna breathing alive on the ground to deadly wide expanse of the whimsy black sky, everything they find is yet another puzzle unsolved. Little did they know that four of them hold in their hands the future of mankind, and much beyond imagination, they are connected through an ancient Prophecy that was long lost in the sands of time.

Coming to think of it, the twists and turns of events throughout the story keeps the reader turning pages until the book finishes. The way the story has been told and the way the narration has been given, doesn’t even leave a speck of error in the book.

In no way can a reader say that the book is co-authored by three people. The writers play with the imagination of the readers through the way they have fantasized their storyline giving loads of spaces for the reader to explore.

The explanations, the storyline does their best in capturing the readers attention from the time it takes speed till the end. The end is such that the reader wants to read more of it, expecting a sequel maybe of the book.

For the first few pages, 50 or so, the explanation seems a bit haphazard but then the reader gets a pace of the writing and then the book doesn’t leave the reader till the end. The effects of the revelations are so much in the minds of the readers that the reader is left to think ‘why didn’t I think of it before?’

All in all, a capturing read, I would like to give the book 4.75 out of 5, congratulating the immense efforts by the team they have put into the book in writing, researching and revealing.

The Emperor's Riddles by Satyarth Nayak: a review

The catchy cover of debutant writer, Satyarth Nayak’s The Emperor’s Riddles becomes an instant hit among the readers. The green on the cover gives the eyes a very soothing effect that lasts till the end of the book. It makes it stand out in the crowd. The name has very beautifully supported the cover and the story.

According to the back cover:More terrifying than the savage murder of historian Ram Mathur on the ghats of Ganga, are the questions that follow. The letter carved on his face…the cryptic mail he sends his daughter Sia after he dies…more murders piling up. Desperate for answers, Sia turns to esoteric writer and fiend Om Patnaik. But what begins as a hunt for the killer, becomes an extraordinary trail of riddles strewn across the country that must end at the gates of an enigma… An ancient enigma so powerful that even gods would kill for it!!! In another time and space, rules an Emperor who plays with phenomenal forces that make him supreme…who faces these very forces when they threaten the survival of the human race. An Emperor who must ultimately pay homage to the enigma… As Patnaik and Sia race from one riddle to another, towards a royal secret that has remained alive for centuries…will the final truth save them or destroy them forever? The path beckons. Can you solve The Emperor’s Riddles?

As a debutant writer the author had done a great job. The flawless narrating style will make readers occupied from the very first page till the end of the book. The way the writer copes up with the Old Indian time and the current time is commendable.

The story unfolds around nine riddles which will lead the main two protagonists Om Patnaik and Sia Mathur towards a royal secret. After reading the very first page, readers are going to understand that this book is going to be a roller-costar ride. I appreciated the amount of research and the amount of effort the author had given for this book.

How they solve the riddles and why the number nine comes in use in every scene of the book, is why readers are going to love it. The heart racing thrill and interesting explanations makes this book a must read. The mystery of the eye in the cover also gets solved at the very end.

Though the end is something every reader looks forward to. The book is full of surprise elements and a much faced paced read but sometimes I felt or the readers might feel that few scenes are bit exaggerated. Especially at the end, where the author’s effort of keeping the suspense is visible and could’ve been much better if not stretched so much.

I loved the whole book and I’m surely going to recommend this book to all those readers who are searching for a fast paced, thriller teamed with the elements of fantasy. I would like to give this debut book a 4.5 on 5 for this magnificent read and would hope for many more books to come from the writer.


P.S.: This review is a part of the Readers Cosmos Book Review Program. 

It's for you MIHI by Md. Asif: a review

The name in itself gives in the immense love that is given to write the book. And after reading the book, I can very surely say that the book is surely meant for Mihi. The two rings in the cover also hold huge importance throughout the book.

According to the back cover- Have you ever fought for a friend who was bashed badly while running nude on the way? Have you ever climbed up a building through a mango tree, just for catching a glimpse of her? Do you have such utterly romantic girlfriend who follows your words as that of the God? Have you ever given your girlfriend a sheer surprise on the bank of a pond outside the town at 12am? Have you ever travelled about 1000km for a girl who broke up with you around 270 days ago? Have you ever get caught stealing diary of your berthmate in a train? Have you ever attempted suicide? How would you react when the reason of the traumas you suffered, which had resulted in a failed suicide attempt, proves to be a fake one? It’s for you MIHI will take you on a journey filled with an overwhelming love story where the pit of your stomach will be sacked by all the emotions known to human world. You will get goosebumps in the due course of experiencing joys and sorrows. You will eventually become an invisible and impulsive part of this romantic saga. Join Asif in his encounter with the love of his life and the heedless experiences that came along with the package.

Giving out a lot about the book, the blurb surely guarantee’s a fun read. Basically a love story, the book also has elements of friendship, family along with it. Asif and Mihi, their love story is great to read.

In the beginning, I was a bit confused about the storyline. But then when the story picked the speed, I couldn’t keep the book. It was a very engaging read. The emotions were bang on. The feeling of hatred, of love, everything was very much visible to the readers giving it a wow feel in reading the book.

I loved the characterizations of the book; the elements used in it gave out a feeling of reality which is very much commendable. The storyline was nice and the way the author has put it forth the readers is even better.

The few things I wanted to say about the book are the editing errors! The book could’ve been edited a bit more properly giving it a better finishing and an enriching storyline would’ve done the trick. I would like to rate the book 3.5 out of 5 waiting for more to come from the writer.