srivalli's reviews
1563 reviews

 3.2 Stars

Eliza Baker has previously worked with the police. However, now she is forced to get a job as an assistant to Dorothy Sayers, the secretary of the Detection Club. Christie is a popular and regular attendee of the Detection Club, a place where mystery writers share ideas, swap notes, and enjoy their drinks. However, a writer falls dead during a meeting, and Christie disappears the next day. With too many clues and suspects, Eliza decides to solve the case and find the killer. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Eliza and Theo. 

Well, Christie’s eleven-day disappearance has been a thing of fascination for writers, readers, and the general public. There have been quite a few books based on this, and quite many conspiracy theories. 

This book too uses the same event but tries to make it a part of the central plot. While using Christie’s name in the title and blurb is a good marketing strategy, the book, as such belongs to the main character, Eliza Baker. 

There are various real-life persons in this one to the point where I decided not to bother cross-checking the details. Use them the way you want. I won’t complain for now. 

I like and dislike the FMC. The positives are that she is not a silly fan wanting attention from her favorite author(s). In fact, she dislikes mystery novels and thinks the writers are annoying. The not-so-positive part is the so-called lack of social cues. It’s a wonder people actually answer her questions considering how she interrogates them as if they are hardcore criminals. It is supposed to be a part of her arc, which means it is a deliberate choice. I can only hope, she finds a balance at some point soon. 

The mystery is pretty decent or as much as it can be with OTT suspects. However, I don’t think people would be so eager to answer the questions. Eliza only has to ask, and they tell her. Maybe make her work a little more. 

Chess is another major element in the book. Eliza and Theo are both great chess players. It’s not necessary to know the game to enjoy the book. While there’s some talk about pawns and strategic moves, it is limited to what’s necessary for the plot. 

The social conditions are also touched upon. We get a brief peek into the backstories of both main characters. There will be a love track too as it often happens in a cozy mystery series. The foundation has been laid with a good dose of suspicion, so the next book should be interesting. 

While it hasn’t been promoted as a series yet, the way it ends makes the intentions clear. The cover does say A Detection Club Mystery at the bottom (in red), something I saw after writing this point. 

The author’s note is informative and talks about the real-life events and people used in the book. 

To summarize, The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a decent new cozy mystery set between the World Wars. It’s a fast read and works as a palate cleanser. Nothing great but not boring either. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCaseOfTheChristieConspiracy 

 3.8 Stars

Frankie Turner has always loved mathematics more than everything else. When her family’s finances force her and her younger sister to find employment, she does her best to keep things going. 

However, Frankie’s sister is missing and the search leads her to a disturbing pattern among the ton. Seems confident and rich ladies are being found in compromising situations and are married off to men with heavy debts. The common element is the membership to Rockford, the famous gambling den run by Jasper Jones. 

Frankie joins Jasper’s house as a governess to his fifteen-year-old niece, Cecelia. She is determined to uncover the truth and prevent more such weddings (and find her sister). Dealing with Jasper is not easy but looks like both will get more than what they bargained for! 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Jasper and Frankie, with a few chapters from the Dove’s POV. 

This is a standalone second book in the series though it may have minor spoilers for the first one. I didn’t read the previous book but had no issues following this. 

I like to call this genre a contemporary historical romance since the stories are abundant in anachronisms. That’s okay since I read these for entertainment. Still, I was a little annoyed by the repeated ‘Holy Queen V!’ exclamations by the FMC. 

Though we have secret services, a mystery, and dangerous men, the book is predominantly romance. The other elements are present but support the romantic track. 

It has insta-lust and some scenes get hot and heavy. However, the act doesn’t occur until the last quarter which is a good move. There’s quite a bit of banter. Some of it is hilarious. While the main characters aren’t wow, they deliver what’s expected of them. 

Cecelia, the fifteen-year-old niece, deserves an entire point. She is easily the highlight of the book. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the story this much if not for her and her antics. Gosh, she never stops! 

Despite the descriptions and internal dialogues, the pacing is pretty decent. The dual POV helps too as we get a few insights into running gambling dens as well as the hidden lives of the ton (and their duplicity). 

While the book is mostly in a lighter vein, it deals with some heavy themes like gender bias, societal bias, bullying by the ton, parental expectations, snobbery, and the general inequality (hypocrisy) seen in the then society. 

There’s some danger as well but it doesn’t change the book’s tone. The situation is handled well with some (comic) relief immediately. 

There’s an epilogue which is not an epilogue. It is a teaser for book three. The only way it can be called an epilogue is why declaring it belongs to the overarching plot. I wish the MCs of this book also had a small role in the epilogue. 

The author’s note talks about the inspiration for the main characters and the plotline. 

To summarize, Never Gamble Your Heart is an easy and lighthearted read with thoughtful themes. It works well as a breather between heavy reads. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #NeverGambleYourHeart 

*** 

At one point, a carpet in a library was described to have the gods and goddesses of pagan religions on it (including Lakshmi Devi). My first instinct was anger (you do not walk over gods) but then I realized this suits the period. Heck, even today, we see brands printing our gods on innerwear and doormats. We have to run campaigns for them to withdraw the products only for another brand to do it a few months later. 

 3.5 Stars

Anne Murray is almost the co-owner of the Secret Bookcase Bookshop and is hopeful about her future. It’s Valentine's Day, and the bookstore is ready to celebrate lovers. When local philanthropist, George, asks Anne to host an event for a matchmaking company, she is excited.  

The D-day arrives and brings crowds as well a mystery package and a death. Anne now has to solve a murder instead of spending the day on a dinner date with Liam. And what about the case that has been haunting her for years? 

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

This is the fourth book in the series and may not work that well as a standalone. The overarching plot takes more space in the previous book and this one, so having some prior knowledge about the story will help. 

Since is this an easy cozy series (yeah, I came up with a new subgenre), the mystery is pretty straightforward despite the presence of multiple suspects. 

The characters are quite interesting, and the descriptions of the setting are beautiful to read. The pacing is great too (nothing like a short mystery with a quick pace). I like the growth in the main characters. It’s subtle but there. 

There’s a slight development in the personal/ love track, which is nice to see. We meet the side characters again. I do wonder if 90% of Indians have arranged marriages, that too in 2025? I think not! 

And oh, there’s a bit of danger in this one. As the MC gets closer to the truth, the threats seem to be increasing. Makes sense, right? 

I have to mention the crows here, especially Jekyll and Hyde. Flecther’s idea certainly has merit (even if it is not entirely legal, lol). In fact, a Telugu comedy movie has a similar scene. 

To summarize, A Victim at Valentine's is a quick and light read with a murder in a romantic bookish setting. The next book will be the last in the series, so I’m curious to know how the main case (the overarching mystery) will be solved. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AVictimAtValentines 

 3.8 Stars

One Liner: Quite a bit of funny drama and OTT moments

Nella meets Nick, an intriguing man she rates 9 before she ends up in the A&E. Too bad they live in different regions. However, when Nella loses her job, she takes up Nick’s offer to join his company, a Cotswolds holiday retreat. However, can she risk everything to explore their attraction?

Lizzie, a Hollywood star on the verge of burnout, arrives at the holiday retreat to unwind. She has sworn off men but may flirt with Nick. She also loves to hate the grumpy Matthew but hey, things are hardly that straightforward.

As more people arrive and meet each other, the retreat becomes the place for endings and new beginnings.

The story comes in Nella, Lizzie, Mauve, Nick, Matthew, and other character’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:

As you might have guessed by now, this is a fun-filled read with many characters and multiple tracks. We have not one but multiple pairings that happen throughout the book. Naturally, there are breakups and new bonds, leading to more drama.

Though the POV shifts between different characters, it is easy to follow the plot. It might help to make note of the names and relationships, though.

The 430+ pages are used fully to develop the subplots. However, the distribution is uneven. I expected Nella to get more space, which she did but also didn’t. Lizzie ends up in the limelight, true to her role as a film star. A couple of them get limited space but manage to make an impact. Others do what they are supposed to do for the plot. Nella was easy to like. Lizzie is a bit extra (she is a celeb, after all) but a genuine person and someone easy to like.

Though this is romance, it is not steady. For example, one track is a super slow burn. Another is pretty fast-paced. It shines brighter as women’s fiction since the characters make some worthy friendships (found family vibes). There are no descriptions either (totally closed-door).

Of course, we have some annoying characters as well. Thankfully, these traits have been distributed between men and women, so the scales are not entirely one-sided.

The pacing is on the slower side due to the constant drama and developments. There are many funny moments as well. The overall effect is lighthearted with a sprinkle of bittersweet moments.

To summarize, Almost Perfect Summer is an entertaining book with some OTT moments and a great choice for summer beach reading.

My thanks to the author and Random Things Tours for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 3.7 Stars

Elegy Thorne is a twenty-five-year-old woman living at her family estate, Thorne Hall, and its resident fourteen spirits. Nestled in the Berkshires, the estate has been home to fewer humans and more spirits than necessary for decades. Now, with her father’s illness and impending death, the responsibility of managing the place is on Elegy. 

She has long given up the desire for a life of her own. But when sabotage by a ghost results in renovation work, she meets Atticus, the son of the contractor (and her father’s friend). Elegy’s yearning for more and the weight on her shoulders suffocate her. It’s time to find a way to send the spirits back to the afterworld if she wants a chance at a normal life. However, the process will not be easy! 

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

So… this has a contemporary setting. Everything gives a historical vibe but there’s a proper reason for it. Even the writing style feels historical, with those long-winded sentences and the narrator’s voice dominating Elegy’s POV often. 

The paranormal part is the highlight. Since the story relies on spirits and ghosts in a house, the gothic element needs to be strong. The writing does justice to this. I could feel the creepy house, the stinky ghosts (who look like zombies), the dead garden, the oppressive weight on FMC, etc. 

However, this one needs patience. It is very slow. The beginning 30% was at a snail’s pace but I understood why. The stage was being set. Things improved after that but the last section was slow again. 

The FMC’s characterization was great. She’s a 25yo from this century living her life in the past because it’s her inheritance. She gradually becomes stronger but without losing her sense of goodness. NGL, I was annoyed at her a few times for giving in easily but the change in her arc is steady and believable. 

The side characters don’t get the same depth. That’s okay because there are fourteen ghosts and a whole bunch of humans. While it doesn’t matter for most of them, even the MMC ends up as a lever for FMC’s growth. He should have been more than that given the love track and romance. 

This is insta love but works from the FMC’s side. Since we don’t get much info about the guy, it’s hard to see why he fell as fast. There’s some steam but not much. The interaction between the two could have been better. The punch is lacking and so is the banter. 

There’s a twist or two in the climax. One of them was easy to guess due to the clues provided earlier. The other was a surprise; sad too! 

The detailed epilogue is quite satisfying to read. I like it when everything gets sorted and we get HEA. This does dim the atmospheric effect a little but by then I was ready for it to move to the background. 

To summarize, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a slow-paced atmospheric read with some chilly moments and a bit of romance. The writing style could take some time to get used to. High chances of zoning out if you aren’t focused. Still, a nice read. 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Alcove Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheSpiritCollectionOfThorneHall 

 2.7 Stars

One Liner: Nice!

Pippa runs her bakery in Brittany and spends her evenings with her gendarme boyfriend. She has a few friends like Jennifer, Meredith, and Gwen. As per her habit, Pippa goes to Derek’s house to drop a basket of fresh baguettes only to find him dead on the piano with blood and breadcrumbs around him.

Derek is a retired GP from Britain offering physical fitness training in his new home. Who could have killed him and why? Pippa joins hands with Jennifer to solve the case.

The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters.


My Thoughts:

Though this is the third book in the series, it can work as a standalone (I didn’t read the previous books). However, the town politics might be a bit confusing (even if it is easy enough to follow).

The murder happens fairly early so we are pretty much into the mystery from the beginning. Pippa and Jennifer are the sleuths, though the police (gendarme) have some role. However, neither lady follows the sleuthing template, so I was confused for a while.

The story moves quickly and is a short book (250-odd pages) that works in its favor. There’s an overarching plot with the local politics and dramas as well as the developments in the characters’ personal lives.

The writing is simple and easy to follow. There’s a fair sprinkling of French words and sentences that I didn’t bother to translate. I went with the flow.

There’s a list of suspects and more deaths happen. The case is easy to solve once the clues are in place. However, the reason I couldn’t enjoy the book more was my inability to connect with Pippa. She just doesn’t seem like someone who solves crimes. Cozy mystery is my go-to genre, so I read dozens of such books every year. She didn’t click for me. I think the book will work for those who already enjoy the series or can connect with Pippa.

Despite everything, I’m glad to read a book that discusses the impact of Britishers relocating to other European countries and disturbing the local infrastructure, pricing, etc. It’s not something I’ve read in fiction though I did see quite a few articles on the internet.

To summarize, The Baguette Murders is a quick and easy mystery with a large cast set in a French town. How you enjoy the book will depend on how much you like the main characters.

My thanks to the author, publisher Joffe Books, and Zooloo’s Book Tours for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 4.2 Stars

Indrani is a friend and a fellow poet I’ve met on social media. I’ve read many of her poems shared in writing groups and enjoy her style. So when she asked if I could read her latest release, I didn’t have to think twice. 

Brown Gal in the Rain (my brain is still autocorrecting it to Brown Girl in the Ring by Boney M) is a collection of around 82 poems neatly categorized into different themes/ topics. Each section has a varying number of poems (which is expected when we collect poems from everywhere and compile an anthology). 

The categorization is also beautiful (wish I could name my stories with such poetic titles): 

The poems are of varied length and some are written in different poetic styles. I like that the style is mentioned with the title even if we don’t get an explanation of it. Poets are likely to know some/ most of these, but other readers might have to do a bit of googling (or you can wing it). 

The writing is lyrical, alluring, soothing at times, melancholic the other times, and magical most of the time. The imagery is just as strong and appealing, be it moonlight nights, rainy afternoons, or fantasy lands. Great vocab too! 

Usually, there are two types of poets – one who writes personal poems and the other who writes poems for prompts. We belong to the latter group where personal poems are written if the prompt demands one. This book has a few personal poems, which were likely created the same way. 

My favorites are The Werewolf and the Princess (narrative poem ending in a cliffhanger), I Wish a Writer Loved Me, Dear Life, Paper Boats, Maa, Ode to Spring, Ode to Sparrow, What You Want to Be?.
 
To summarize, Brown Gal in the Rain is a beautiful collection of poems that invoke a plethora of emotions. Even if you feel nothing, you can enjoy the play of words and the poet’s command over her craft. 

My thanks to the author for an electronic copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
 

 3.8 Stars 

In a remote seaside town in Uchibo (near Tokyo), there’s a tiny restaurant that serves remembrance meals. The specialty of this place is that a person who lost their loved ones can meet them one last time during the meal. 

How does this place help people, including the owner? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters. 

This is another feel-good Japanese fiction with a touch of magic realism. The book has three inter-connecting stories. The recipe for the special dish in each story is provided at the end of the section. 

After enjoying Full Moon Coffee Shop, I was eager to read something along the same lines. This is a bit heavier as it deals with death and mourning. However, the vibe is the same – mellow, soothing, reflective, and hopeful. 

Though there’s a cat (a kitten), I felt it was more of a prop. Yeah, the kitten was a cutie but doesn’t have an active role as such. It just walks around and meows. Maybe there will be more of the cute kitten in the subsequent books. 

All three stories are distinct and deal with characters of different ages (which gives us a wide spectrum of backstories and emotions).  While I didn't particularly like kids have a love story of sorts, it was still sad. 

I like how we also get the backstory about the restaurant and sweet Kai. I particularly like how the book ends. It works as a standalone, though I am delighted there will be more books in the series. It would be lovely to see Kai and Kotoko’s characters grow. 

The setting is atmospheric and adds to the impact. We also get some information about the region, the past and the present, so there's something to learn as well. 

To summarize, The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen is a bittersweet and heartwarming book about finding solace and moving on after losing a loved one. It shows there’s hope and more to life than grief. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

 4.5 Stars (considering the average rating, I'm rounding up) 

Meneka is one of the apsaras of Indra’s court and a powerful weapon. Her power is the art of seduction – to use dance and illusion to defeat Indra’s enemies and prevent heaven from losing its magic. However, Meneka no longer wants to do this. She wants to stay in Amaravathi, Indra’s kingdom, and use her talents there. 

However, Indra offers her a deal – seduce Kaushika and prove her devotion to Amaravthi to get what she wants. Meneka agrees knowing the new mission is near impossible. Kaushika may have become a sage but he was a well-feared Kshatriya with warrior instincts. By channeling the same intensity, he became a sage with tremendous magic intent on waging war against Indra. 

Will Meneka be successful in her mission or will she get more than what she bargained for and at what cost? 

The story comes in Meneka’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

Though I’m wary of retellings exploring Hindu Puranic and Ithihasic stories, I did want to try this after someone recommended the author’s previous books. The lower rating scared and worried me. NGL, I postponed this to read closer to the pub date as I didn’t want a repeat of Kaikeyi. 

Patel’s Kaikeyi is nothing more than a distorted and colonized take on something sacred to my culture. All those comparing Legend of Meneka to that nonsense in a perfumed package have absolutely missed all the nuances that make this a Hindu book. The sad state is that even the official promotion does it! 

Moreover, marketing this book using popular tropes has done it a disservice. I know, readers need a checklist these days; the tags are important; the comparisons are important; even more than the book itself. But, a book is much more than its tropes. 

Enemies to lovers, romantasy, cozy fantasy, spicy, et al… well, the tags are right but only if you know the core context. Otherwise, these won’t make sense or feel incorrect. 

Legend of Meneka is not just lust, seduction, or spice. It is an exploration of sringara and Kama at physical, emotional, spiritual, and cosmic levels. It is the celebration of the union of divine masculine and divine feminine without which this universe wouldn’t exist. When it talks of Shiva and Shakti in terms of lingam and yoni, it transcends the mortal desire for flesh and sexual gratification. It is the pulsing life that ensures the universe thrums with neverending energy to prevent self-destruction. Without the union of Shiva and Shakti, there is no life, no prana, no jeeva, and no prakriti. Love is too small a word to encompass the relationship of Shiva and Shakti. They are two halves of a whole, the Ardhanareeshwara, the perfect balance of divine masculine and divine feminine.  

Though the author uses the word lust in the story, she switches to the actual term in her note –Kama. Lust doesn’t define Kama as it is only a part of it. Kama is one of the Purusharthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha) and a part of our lives. We have only reduced their true meanings with our incorrect translations to English. Lust might be a sin but Kama is necessary and has to be balanced with Dharma and Artha to travel the path to Moksha (Artha and Kama have to be discarded at the appropriate stage). Kama is not limited to physical and material aspects; it never has been. 

When something so intricate and integral to Hinduism is removed from its framework, the result is a diluted and surface-level narrative that limits the story to the physical realm. Those unfamiliar with the core details miss out on the nuance; it doesn’t exist for them. It’s much like how yoga became a billion-dollar industry of stretching exercises with fancy and exotic names. It has no soul. Similarly, when the Hindu framework is removed/ ignored/ avoided, this book ends up as a weak YA story of a whiny heroine and a grumpy hero.  

Before I dive into the details, let me share a short version of the original. This isn’t an individual story but is mentioned in different places as a part of the backstory. 

Kaushika aka Vishwamitra is a king who left his Kshatriya dharma to become the best rishi in the world. He wanted to become Brahmarishi (think of it as a topmost title) and be called this by Vashishta. Kaushika as a king once visited Vashishta’s ashram, and something happened. This makes him determined to be the greatest rishi (never mind that the concept of being a rishi is to denounce such traits, something he learns after a long time). He attains a higher state through penance but loses it when he helps a king called Trishanku by creating an exclusive heaven for him. He starts fresh again and wants to show Indra and others what he is capable of. 

Indra isn’t going to sit idle, right? He sends Meneka to disrupt Kaushika’s penance. If Kaushika had really given up worldly pleasures, he wouldn’t be swayed and might become worthy of the title he seeks. If not, well… 

Meneka goes to seduce Kaushika and the result is their baby girl Shakuntala. Meneka leaves the newborn outside Rishi Kanva’s ashram and returns to heaven. Kaushika starts his tapasya once again, finally proves his worth, and becomes Vishwamitra the Brahmarishi. 

The cookie-cutter version makes it seem like Kaushika and Meneka had a one-nighter or a fling. However, it was likely to be an affair that lasted a solid few months or years that ended with Meneka’s pregnancy/ Shakuntala’s birth. 

The second half dealing with Indra sending Meneka to Kaushika is provided as a backstory in Shakuntala’s story in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva). The first half can be found in the Ramayana.   

The author took different versions of this story and used creative liberties to spin a tale of magic, love, lust, seduction, and power strongly rooted in Hinduism. 

While her MMC retained the core traits of Kaushika, she gave her own spin to Meneka (which is where I believe things went a bit south). 

Characters 

Kaushika is a Kshatriya turned Brahmin. The blend of both has given him an advantage and a disadvantage. I don’t use the terms in the ‘caste’ sense. Not even varna or jati. I talk of them as gunas (personality traits). A Kshatriya is a warrior born and trained to protect, rule, govern, and spends most of his years as a grihasta (a married man). A Brahmin is leaner born and trained to study, acquire knowledge, gain wisdom, and attain a balance of mind that prevents partiality, pride, anger, and grief. It’s a life-long tapasya to constantly improve oneself; not for accolades but for the peace felt when one separates themselves from the rest of the world. 

Those who know Vishwamitra (even the movies/ TV version should be enough) can easily see Kaushika. The aloof grumpy hero with a temper is not an archetype. It is him. It is who he is, and has always been. The author retained his essence perfectly. I had zero issues visualizing him as I read the book. 

She did the same for Indra – who can be a hero, villain, or both. He is a complicated deva with an abundance of grey shades. After all, he is my god even if he is not my God. Rambha is much like how I expect an apsara to be. 

I think the issue lies with Meneka’s characterization. Since we don’t get much information about her, the author created someone vulnerable and naïve possibly to showcase her growth. A great idea. However, the execution makes her sound whiny at times. While I can see her conflict, I don’t think it makes much sense when you ignore the Hindu framework. She pales as a new adult who whines and cries and cannot decide what to do. But within the framework, she presents the conflict of dharma. I think using the word loyalty in place of devotion for Indra might have helped. 

The book deals with many themes like loyalty, love, friendships, devotion, dharma, etc. The core of it is finding oneself. I wouldn’t have minded if Meneka found herself earlier than she did. I prefer strong FMCs, so there have been instances when I wanted to shake sense into her. Still, when it happened, it was beautiful. Diversity is another theme that blends with everything else. The devas would hardly bother with the gender rules humans like to define! They accept everything as natural. Beautiful! 

The book has spice but only around 2.5. That may not be enough for those who want a spice romantasy. It works for me as I can see the elements of sringara rasa, which is integral to my culture. It is one of the nava rasas (nine flavors, to put it loosely). It blends romance, love, lust, desire, seduction, sensuality, and erotica but is a lot more than these. English really doesn’t do justice to the word. There’s no exact translation. For an apsara, sringara is in every fiber of her being. She is it. In the book, their interactions are a heady blend of everything with a good dose of vulnerability. Maybe more spice might have helped but it is not necessary. What we get here is a slow dance where every move is full of eroticism that stems from genuine feelings. 

The world-building is also Hindu. It is colorful, vibrant, rich, and full of life. Be it Amaravati or Kaushika’s ashram, opulence or earthiness, everything is inherent to my culture. Even though the choice of kurta-pajama as costumes took a while to get used to, the saris, jewelry, topknots, dhoti, etc., are familiar and comforting. 

I love the use of scents to describe the characters. I could feel and smell them. Star anise for Rambha – what a choice! Potent and spicy, exciting and mysterious, and a touch of sweetness with a bite that can draw blood; most importantly, best in small quantities or it will overpower the dish. 

Magic is inherent to our essence. It is the prana that keeps us hoping and living. In the book, magic comes from prana (the source of life). It is represented by the elements (fire, wind, water, and earth), the pancha bhootas that sustain life. 

While it may seem silly for ‘love’ to be the key, it is apt. It is the truth. For an apsara, it is the most vital differentiating factor. The key couldn’t have been anything else. Nothing would make sense other than love. It is this love that resulted in the birth of Shakuntala. 

I could easily visualize every scene in the book, be it the setting, the intimacy, the dance, or the magic. It helps that I know what a Kalpavriksha is or what Sri Yantra looks like. Not being familiar with these elements will make a difference to your reading experience. 

I’m not a crier when I read books. I read too many words a day for them to touch my heart. So, when a book makes me teary-eyed, I give it grace marks. But this made me cry; not for the characters, though. I was a little annoyed by Meneka by then. 

The tears had everything to do with Shiva in that one chapter. The tears are a response to the beauty of love for Shiva. The author must be a Shiv bhakt. You cannot fake bhakti like this (at least I think it cannot be). Words carry intentions that seep through at some point. All I feel here is love and devotion that comes from deep trust; not something we are expected to display but something that’s a part of our soul. I can only pray I’m right. If book two proves me otherwise, it’ll be a lesson I have to learn. 

The ending is open since the whole thing will conclude in the sequel. Meneka has decent growth, so I hope it sustains and increases in the next book instead of crashing to zero and starting again. The stakes are high, and I prefer we have a heroine capable of more transparency and self-reflection. Don’t turn her into a new adult again. Let her continue to bloom. And… give us a beautiful chapter with Shakti. 

To summarize, The Legend of Meneka is an unapologetically Hindu story filled with symbolism from my culture. Not many will understand the nuances. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

There’s a glossary at the beginning (a great idea) and the final version will have a map as well. Don’t miss the author’s note. It might help understand the book a little more (if you couldn’t). 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Harper Voyager, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheLegendOfMeneka 

 3 Stars

Emmie Brown knew her mum, Nellie Brown, adopted her as a baby and gave her the best life she could. Now, two years after Nellie’s death, Emmie is begging to feel the burnout of the routine she still follows. Running Parsley Pasties at the airport with the same menu and no inclination for a social life starts to weigh her down. 

An impulsive decision reveals a box in her mother’s wardrobe and a stack of letters from someone named G from Siskin. Emmie does the unexpected and travels to the Isle of Siskin, a beautiful island with around three thousand population. Pip Hawkins, the handsome agriculture student, and her crush may also be a reason for this trip, but Emmie wants to find out who G is. 

Can this trip help Emmie find her true self as well as some answers? 

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

This is my first book by the author. I quite enjoyed most of it, especially the descriptions of the island and Emmie’s growth up to a point. 

Though there’s some crushing and romance, this is not a love story. It is women’s fiction focusing on the MC making changes to her routine and learning to be herself. 

Despite the rigidity and routine, there’s no denying that Emmie’s mum loved her. It’s evident throughout the book (and there’s a valid reason for why she became this way). 

The way the letters were incorporated into the narration is beautiful and just right. The letters are spaced apart and provide character backstories and support the plot. 

Some of the side characters are cool. I just love the kids and their diverse personalities. We also see how not everyone being nice to someone is a good person and vice-versa. 

There’s a sort of mystery where the FMC is targeted by someone with a grudge. This blows up quite a bit, and therein lies my problem. 

The last 20% covers months of progress, while the first 80% deals with a couple of weeks. This doesn’t really help, but okay. I can see why it was necessary. 

However, the last chapter doesn’t sit right with me. It’s like all of Emmie’s growth has been overshadowed by a side character. Where is consent? What about setting boundaries? What about letting someone make up their mind even if it took them a few months? Ridiculous! 

This might have still worked if the drama wasn’t exaggerated in the middle. Acting like nothing’s happened after that level of unhingedness is insanity. How would she even feel safe with them? How to trust someone like that? 

The rating was close to 4 stars, but the way we reached the conclusion, I cannot rate it more than 3. I’m surprised no one (until now) found it odd. I love HEA more than anything else, but not like this. It needs to be better. And there’s no epilogue either, so we don’t know how they handled it afterward. 

To summarize, Have I Told You Lately has a lovely premise and some good themes to think about, but it left me dissatisfied with how the issue was handled at the end. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HaveIToldYouLately