On The Jacket:

“Even death is afraid of the White Mask…”

1700 BCE, Harappa – The devta of Harappa has fallen…tortured and condemned to the dungeons of the dead. His murdered wife’s pious blood falls on the sands of the metropolis, sealing the black fate of Harappa…forever.

2017, Banaras – A master assassin bites into cyanide, but not before pronouncing the arrival of an unstoppable, dark force. A maha-taantric offers a chilling sacrifice.

325 AD, Bithynian City (modern-day Turkey) – Unable to foresee the monster he was untethering, an extraordinary monarch commissions a terrifying world-vision spanning millennia.

1700 BCE, East of Harappa – A mystical fish-man proclaims the onset of Pralay - the extinction of mankind. The Blood River rises to avenge her divine sons.

What happens to the devta of Harappa? Is Vidyut truly the prophesied saviour? Who are the veiled overlords behind the sinister World Order? What was the macabre blueprint of the mysterious emperor at Bithynian City? Turn the pages to unravel one of the world’s greatest conspiracies and the haunting story of a lost, ancient civilization."

Now, Review Time –

Experimentation with mythology is something new in popular Indian English writing. Every time I pick up a mythology/historical fiction, I try to gain knowledge as much as possible from that particular book and about that particular time in which book is set. Last time when I picked up “Harappa – Curse of the Blood River,” I had only one question in mind what this had to offer me and when I was done reading it, I was blown away with the storyline and I was left with expecting more. This is the only time after Amish, I was waiting eagerly for the second book in the series.

The book starts well with a glimpse of the previous book where the first book ends. It takes some time to get the pace right initially as sometimes you need to keep going back to the story. But after that point, the story hardly lose the grip on the reader. The story keeps switching between different timelines like from 1700 BCE to 325 AD and finally to the Banaras in 2017 AD. Sometimes, it was hard to keep track of everything happening all at once.

Summing Up:

Plot researched in depth and solid characterization worked for both books in series. It trips forward without any amazement and lots of twists that you cannot pick well before. Some characters are flat and not well developed. But some characters are sketched very well, and they make book and plot more interesting. The plot reveals all the cards on the table and ties all the characters and story very well together. It will definitely surprise you at times. We recommend that you should read this book if you are mythological/historical fiction lover as it will take you on the new journey itself.

Mythological books require a lot of research and the author has done complete justice in this department. The book is almost error-free. Narration skills of the author are awesome. The author’s grip is steady throughout the narrative, feeding only those facts that he wants the readers to lap up.

To be honest, the author has built a lot of expectations for me for his next book as well. I would like to rate it 4 out of 5. If you like mythologies, you surely should give it a shot. It definitely worth a read.

This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours, for details log on here. 

On The Jacket –

You’re the Password to My Life is the heart-warming story of Virat and Kavya. Although both of them do not share common interests and have starkly different personalities, Virat and Kavya are best friends. While Virat is reserved and shy, Kavya likes to live on the edge and take chances in life. But when they have to deal with an unforeseen incident, their friendship is put the ultimate test. Will Kavya and Virat continue to remain best pals or will this spell the end of an amazing relationship?

Now, Review Time –

You’re Password To My Life, when I heard the title, I wanted to buy the book and read it immediately as I’ve read all of his books. This is Sudeep Nagarkar’s fifth book and all the previous books are bestseller. Author have a story to tell and it’s a great one. You’re Password To My Life is a tale about friendship  which gives you goose bumps, and will make you jump out of your skin while reading it. This book is a little slow in starting and takes its own time to pick up the pace but once it picks up the pace, it’s unstoppable. The story is very fluent and gripping. It trips forward without any amazement and twists that you cannot pick well before. All characters are sketched very well and they make book and plot more interesting. None of the character feels like out of story. But, I want author to work on this part. On characterization. I want something fresh, not like the every book. It feel repetitive. While certain descriptions, sub plots and bonding they all share in the friendship, and few romantic scenes were mesmerizing. The story is very different, refreshing and unpredictable. It is written in very easy language and is simple to read. The twists will blow your mind off. 

Author’s language is really fresh and the narration is entrancing. The simple words and simpler narration keep the read interesting and the clear context of events doesn’t break the flow. But I wanted more from the author. I read it cover-to-cover in six hours and do not regret the time spent. It would be hard for you to put down the novel before it finishes and when it will finish, you will definitely say, ‘I want to read more books from the author!’ I will rate this novel 4/5 and will recommend to everyone who are waiting to read something new from Indian authors. Indian authors are now someone to look out for.

On The Jacket –

He has no voice, no face, no name, no identity. 

But he has an intention.

I’m Rivanah Bannerjee, a young and independent girl living alone in Mumbai. My parents love me, my boyfriend adores me and I have a great job. But here’s the thing-my life is in danger. Someone’s been following me around, watching my every move, trying to get control over my life. At first I thought it was a silly prank to gain my attention. My roomie suggested he must be a secret admirer. Is he? What he doesn’t know is the police have set a trap to nab him. Soon I’ll know if it’s simply a lover’s obsession or there is more to it. BTW, I call him stranger.

From the bestselling author of EX, how about a sin tonight? That kiss in the rain and a thing beyond forever comes a racy tale gravid with emotional twists, relationship quirks and mind-numbing revelations.

Now, Review Time –

Marry Me, Stranger is Novoneel Chakraborty’s fifth book. Now days, I have been very choosy when it comes to reading books as every book have the same story and eventually it disappoints me. And it’s a good thing that now a days many authors are coming with different stories instead of repeating mushy love stories. And this book serves you everything which you need in a book. 

I would not like to go to story as it will spoil the charm of reading it. Author has amazed me with his writing style. His narration skills are awesome. Good thing about book is it unfolds twists one by one. And with every turning page, I was excited to know what is going to happen on next page and who the hell this stranger is. Till the last page, I kept on guess who can be this stranger but again in the end, when I thought now he would be caught, things took U-turn and I was left flabbergasted. And it never seems like author is stretching the story. 

Like every book of his, the best thing about the book is the story. Story is breath, heart and soul of the book. There are thought-provoking quotations which will blow your mind and take your heart away. And these are not only quotes, these are the things which we all know but never dare to accept as human beings. This book will redefine what love, loss and betrayal means. One of the things I liked the most about this book is how many perspectives about everything it offered. Author has captured the pain, the sense of betrayal, and suspense, perfectly. Suspense in the book will give you orgasm. You will keep guessing who the hell this stranger is. But I have to wait for next book to find out about this stranger as the author has left me in lots of confusions about the stranger with a new twist which turned the whole story upside down. 

Book is divided in short chapters which made book easy read. This book is like an addiction. Once you’ve done reading it, you would like to read few parts over and over again. Author’s writing style is magical. Characterization can’t be any better than this. Hats off!

Verdict –

Some stories stay with you forever and this one surely is of that kind which will remain within you. Marry Me, Stranger will heal all your pains like it did mine as it will give you insight about relationships and a lot more. This book is honest work of Novoneel Chakraborty which will keep you engross in the book till the last word of the novel. 

I recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a good story. I am sure you will enjoy reading it. If I’ve to select best book of the year by any Indian author, then I would pick up this book, without giving a second thought.

On The Jacket –

We are brought up listening to and reading stories, which makes us form a clichéd framework of expectations and concepts about life. Café Latte takes you on a tantalizing foray into the unusual with some refreshing and some startling narrations. The stories cover a broad spectrum of people and events and will have you turning the pages eagerly for the twist in the end.

So shed the mundane, become a fearless traveler and savor a fresh approach towards the enigma called Life.

Now, Review Time –

Café Latte is a collection of eighteen short stories. Plus point of this book is that every story is different and unusual. Each story is more overwhelming than the last based on different genre. Each story is written in more perfect way than the last one.  What makes these love stories unusual? Writing style? No! A story never told before? No! Subject? Maybe, yes! Let’s find out.

Each story has a different setting, different way of telling the relationships. Market is being flooded with anthologies every day and I was so fed up with the reaction and content of those anthology. But After reading this, I can say this is a different anthology after a very long time. Through each story, author has tried to explore different shades of human relationships, which happens around us in daily life.

If someone ask me to pick up my favorite stories out of eighteen, than would be tough call. But I personally enjoyed reading each page of the book. “The Black Widow”, “26 Down Express”, “Code of Honor”, “The Jazz Player”, and “The Other Side” are one of the perfectly written stories and these stories shook me from inside. Even after reading them, I couldn’t take them out of my head for a very long time. Each story seems like it is happening in front of your eyes and that’s the best thing about the book. The language is simple and comprehensive. Narration style of the author is awesome. 

On the whole, stories are very engrossing which makes the book a perfect page turner. Book holds the attention of reader from the page one to the last one. Once started, then it is impossible to put down the book until you finish reading it. It has all the elements in this which a good book should have. Best part about book is conversation part in each story. Every story is very well written and compelling. In each story, there will be a moment for sure when you’ll be excited as hell guessing what you will happen next and you will think of skipping the few pages and read the climax directly.

A Gripping book which doesn’t allow the reader to keep the book down until you finishes reading it. A complete page-turner. I would like to rate this book 4.5/5. This book worth reading as it have something different to offer. “Café Latte” stands out recommended by Read In Park. You will enjoy it.