Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 25

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

Series: Heaven’s Cove #7 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 08th July 2024

Genre: Small Town Contemporary Fiction 

3.8 stars 

One Liner: A sweet read 

Clara lives with her mother in the cottage on the grounds of Brellasham Manor. It has been her home all her life, with her mother being the housekeeper for the family at the Manor (and so was her grandmother).

River, the owner’s son, returns after fifteen years, still unsure about his relationship with his father and the Manor. He remembers his closeness with Clara, even if she doesn’t seem to want to. 

When Clara finds the diary of Audrey Brellasham, the missing, presumed dead wife and stepmother of the owner, she becomes obsessed with the past. Clara wants to know what actually happened. When the owner announces that the estate will be sold to the developers, Clara knows she is running out of time to find the truth. 

The story comes in Clara, River, and Geoffrey’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

This is a standalone book that shares the location with other books in the series. Heaven’s Cove is a picturesque village with a sea, cliffs, cute streets, and a small community. 

The triple POV works well to add depth to the characters. Surprisingly, I liked River and Geoffrey’s POVs more than Clara’s. While I was a bit frustrated with Geoffrey, I could also empathize with his position.

The pacing is steady and keeps the story moving even when we are yet to find the answers to some questions. 

The diary trope is creatively handled here. We don’t get pages and pages of stories. Instead, we get crisp content, which nudges the FMC to find out more. I like how the diary has a vital role but also doesn’t take up too much space. 

Now, Clara is 31 years old. I can see her situation with her family. Her mother belongs to the previous generation and follows the ‘rules’ way too much. I like that Clara doesn’t simply put her head down but asserts herself when necessary. However, I don’t particularly like it when the FMC becomes stupid in the case of a man. At least, the realization comes soon enough (or I’d have been even more annoyed at her). 

Comparatively, River’s arc and POV feel better. His internal conflict and vulnerability come out very well and make him appear more fleshed out than the FMC. Not something we often see in this genre, but I’ll take it! 

There’s no third-act breakup since the couple doesn’t get together until towards the end. Read this as contemporary fiction (men’s and women’s) rather than romance. You will enjoy it more that way. 

While there are a couple of triggering topics, they are handled with care. We get just enough details, though you may still want to be a tad careful (domestic violence). 

The ending (yes, there is an epilogue) is sweet and heartwarming. It shows things are a work-in-progress just like the characters. I like that it is not too neat but answers all questions satisfactorily. 

To summarize, The Diary at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming standalone set in a beautiful location and deals with second chances, moving on from past traumas, and becoming a better version of ourselves. 

The author’s note says she working on the next in the series. I’m excited to see what she’ll come up with. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheDiaryAtTheLastHouseBeforeTheSea

Murder at Traitors' Gate by Irina Shapiro - Book Review

Series: Tate and Bell Mystery #2

Publication Date: 24th June 2024 

Genre: Historical Mystery 

4 stars 

One Liner: Better than the previous book! 

Police Inspector Sebastian Bell is back on a new case. Someone had hung a dead body with a meat hook outside the Traitor’s Gate. The victim turns out to be a journalist Bell encountered in the previous case. Moreover, he was a war veteran. Bell realizes Gemma might help him find more information. 

After her brother’s death, Gemma Tate moved into a boarding house and got a new job. She is more than happy to leave the dark past of the war behind. But when Bell asks for help, Gemma knows she cannot refuse. 

Soon, they realize there’s a lot more than what’s known. Can Bell and Tate solve the case before it is too late? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Sebastian and Gemma. 

My Thoughts: 

So, I went into this book with a better understanding and it worked well. Despite the series title, this will be Bell and Tate’s investigation, with Sebastian getting more chapters. Gemma’s contribution is limited. 

The case and the setting are dark like the previous book. It deftly uses the local weather and living conditions to create a sense of discomfort and danger. 

This is a dark mystery but not too gruesome. It has a few graphic details, only to the necessary extent. I appreciate this since it keeps the focus on the plot. Not much humor, though. Don’t expect light-hearted stuff from this one. 

The pacing feels better this time. Though the page count is the same, the narration and action are steady. This keeps the plot moving even when there is little to no progress in the investigation. 

The mystery is solid with enough suspects. There aren’t many red herrings but it does take a while to guess the killer. I got it right based on certain clues, so the reveal aligns with the details provided. 

However, there are quite a few characters to track. Not all of them are major, so it is easy to ignore the ones that simply move the plot forward. 

Yet again, I’m not convinced by the chemistry between the lead couple but it is better than before. Hopefully, I can feel it more in book #3 or #4. There’s already a lead for the third book, so I am curious to see where it’ll go. 

To summarize, Murder at Traitors' Gate is an engaging mystery that’ll keep you wanting to read more. The main characters, especially Bell, make this a worthy read. While the book works as a standalone, starting with the first might be a better idea. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderatTraitorsGate

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 02nd July 2024

Purchase Link (US): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CF15XMF9

Purchase Link (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CF15XMF9

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195889383-the-love-of-my-afterlife 

Genre: Contemporary Women, Magic Realism

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Entertaining but a bit lengthy

Book Blurb:

What if the end of her life was justbeginning…

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie Bookham would bedying of embarrassment.

She’s woken up in the afterlife after choking on amicrowave burger, wearing the kind of pajamas you’d be mortified if anyone sawyou in, and has crashed headlong into the most handsome man she’s ever met. Whois also dead and smiling at her.

As they talk, Delphie starts to feel that elusivespark between them– something she’s waited her whole life to feel. Perhaps theafterlife won’t be so bad if she’s potentially found her soulmate to spend itwith… That is until someone comes running in, yelling something about a hugemistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth, leaving Delphiebehind.

Now the powers that be are offering Delphie a deal:go back down to Earth, find her mysterious maybe soulmate, and get him to fallin love with her. Or stay dead. The challenge? She only has ten days to findhim, and he has no recollection of them ever having met…

***

My Thoughts:

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

How can I ignore a premise like this? Imaginefinding love in your afterlife and having to come back alive for it (way toomuch work, IMO, but Delphie is game, so why not).

The book opens with a bang. We are right in thescene with Delphie choking on the burger. It shouldn’t be funny but it is.

The Afterlife will need some getting used to. Thebest thing to do is go with the flow and don’t compare it to other settings orwhat you know about the place. It sounds more like a corporate office (bewarned!).

Though the blurb makes it a romance, the book isalso about finding one's tribe, new friendships, coming out of the shell,closing past trauma, etc. That makes the side characters (some of them) quiteinteresting.

Delphie is a socially awkward twenty-seven-year-old.That leads to a lot of second-hand embarrassment, which went a bit OTT in themiddle. While it makes sense in a way, it sure isn’t easy to see the FMC make afool of herself. Thankfully, things change as the realization strikes.Moreover, we also notice that the FMC made her share of mistakes (which sheconveniently forgets), so she is not always easy to like or empathize with. Itmakes her real but also a tad annoying.

One character is a diehard fan of romance (punintended), which means other romance authors and tropes are also mentioned inbetween. This may or may not work for all readers. I didn’t mind it much but Iwouldn’t have felt their absence either.

The pacing is a bit uneven though not so much thatthe story drags. However, I would have preferred it if the ending didn’t try topack so much into it. The book is already 400 pages, so the narrative should besteady and evenly distributed. A lot happens in the last 20%, some of which doseem a bit excessive.

To summarize, The Love of My Afterlife is anentertainer that attempts to do something different with the tried and testedtropes from the romance genre. That said, you will like it more if you connectwith the FMC.

My thanks to Anne (Random Things Tours), NetGalley,and Penguin Publishing House, for the eARC. This review is voluntary andcontains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Kirsty Greenwood

Kirsty Greenwood is an internationally bestsellingauthor of funny, fearless romantic comedies about extraordinary love. Whenshe's not writing books she composes musicals and explores London where shelives with her husband.

Follow the Author here:

Twitter (X): @KirstyStories

Instagram: @kirsty_greenwood

Facebook: KirstyGreenwoodBooks

For publicity enquiries: Rachel Kennedy, PublicityDirector

Contact: rkennedy@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk|020 7840 8893

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour for#LoveofmyAfterlife by Random Things Tours (@RandomTTours on Twitter). Thank youfor stopping by! 

Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes by Cyril Liéron, Benoît Dahan - Book Review

Series: Dans la tête de Sherlock Holmes (#1-2)

Publication Date: 14th Nov 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel, Mystery 

4 Stars (5 for the artwork and 3 for the story)

One Liner: Terrific illustrations but needs a better storyline 

Ever wondered how it looks inside the mind of one of the world’s greatest (fictional) detectives? This graphic novel attempts to show us the inside of Sherlock Holmes’ mind when he is on a case. Do I need any other reason to grab this book? Of course not! 

The book deals with the Case of the Scandalous Ticket which Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate. 

There are two aspects to consider when reviewing the book – the plotline and the illustrations. 

Plot: 

Well, it starts well but somewhere along the way, it gets diluted. It does align with the tropes used back then, which makes the book dated and can be unappealing to readers who want modern views. Personally, I think it works enough to give the book the old British vibes with all the racism, classicism, etc. 

At the same time, there’s a modern touch where these aspects are ‘questioned’ (sort of), which doesn’t really work. It feels more like an attempt at damage control so that readers won’t be annoyed at the book for using stereotypes that are found in the original anyway. 

The whole thing gives mixed vibes.

Illustrations:

I requested the book for the illustrations, to see the inside of Holmes’ mind. The results are wonderful. The characters have sharp lines (pointed beak noses for many) and look like well-planned caricatures which bring out their traits. The color scheme is dark, and so is the artwork. It is complex, twisty, intricate, and detailed. Sinister is the word for it. Compelling would be another apt description. The detailing is meticulous and enriches the reading experience. 

We get quite a few insights into the workings of Holmes’ mind – the way he ‘stores the clues’, connects the dots, identifies patterns, and so on. All these re-establish just how fascinating Sherlock Holmes is and why he has billions of fans. 

I totally enjoyed lingering over the illustrations by zooming in and out to see the details and also consider the bigger picture. The use of maps, a red thread of thought, a setting within a setting, etc., seem to have been carefully planned. 

I did have a few issues with reading the digital copy (had to alter between single and two-page views) but the zoom allowed me to adjust the font size as needed. Read the book on a computer or grab a physical copy. 

To summarize, Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes has stunning artwork even if the story is mediocre. I can see why it is an award-winning book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books (Titan Comics), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #InsideTheMindOfSherlockHolmes

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th July 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Enjoyable as always but need an epilogue!

Sophie Taylor is a small-town elementary school teacher with popular figures as parents. Not just that, she is the mysterious Este Cox, the author of Butterflies, a book flying off the shelves faster than it can be printed. 

Joe Walsh is arrogant, annoying, overconfident, and way too handsome to be a good man. However, sparks fly between the two and intensify when they meet again. 

Sophie needs help when her bag with her laptop and the latest manuscript is lost. But is Joe the man to help her or will he take advantage of her situation? Let’s find out! 

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

My Thoughts: 

I was excited when I got a widget for the author’s latest book. While I have a few teeny issues with some aspects, no denying that I enjoy her works. And look at that cover. Isn’t it pretty? 

NGL, I was a bit surprised when the MMC entered the story right in the first chapter. I also forgot the premise and spent a while wondering if he was the one or not, lol. A quick look at the blurb cleared things up. 

As you can guess from the premise, this is an enemies-to-lovers trope with insta-love thrown into the mix. There’s no pretense about it, though. It starts as insta-lust which makes sense given how handsome the guy is. *swoon*

The book deftly deals with the bias against romance (never mind that it is one of the bestselling genres). The conversations are scattered throughout the book and raise many points I cheered for. I came across this post on Facebook, which aligns with what the book discusses. 

Considering the FMC’s family background, many authors get a mention. It can be a wee excessive for some readers. The names can get too many at times. 

The writing has a lot of humor, something the author does with ease. It is fun reading and chuckling at the banter between different characters. 

The side characters are distinct and do their bit to keep the story flowing. Charlotte is what we call a chota packet bada dhamaka (small in size but a huge impact). She brings a lot of drama and laughter to the plot. 

There’s one scene that is uncomfortable but is presented with a humorous touch. Just saying that if the roles were reversed, it would never be funny. At least, there’s an acknowledgment that it is not supposed to be funny, so that’s something. 

There is a dreaded third-act breakup, which did leave me with mixed feelings. I’m not a fan of this trope and feel it could have been better with an epilogue. This brings me to the next point – why is there no epilogue? 

When the book advocates the importance of romance reads, it makes sense to have an epilogue and provide readers with the full satisfaction of seeing the characters get their HEA. And if the author hates epilogues, why not extend the last scene to another page and let the happiness sink in. Some of us are fast readers. It doesn’t work well if the book ends before we fully feel the lead couple getting back together. Give us a little something to enjoy and then end the book. Ugh! 

The book has some spice but not as much as I expected. Somehow, the main scenes fade out despite it being (or supposed to be) an open door. So, I’d put it around steam level 2. 

To summarize, Love Story is an enjoyable read with many lighthearted moments and some emotional ones. It makes a strong case for the romance genre without shoving the theme into the readers’ faces. Naturally, I’m ready for the next book by the author. 

Thank you, Vicky Joss, NetGalley, and HarperCollinsUK, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #LoveStory 

A Murder at the Movies by Ellie Alexander - Book Review

Series: A Secret Bookcase Mystery #2

Publication Date: 19th June 2024 

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Nice! 

Annie gets a call from a Hollywood director to organize a movie screening for a thriller after her Mystery Festival weekend becomes a grand success. They are all excited, of course, and agree. 

 However, Annie realizes that the Hwood (even a small fragment) entering the small town may not be a good idea. When a narcissistic film critic dies during the movie premiere, it is up to Annie to find out what happened and who the killer is. 

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

My Thoughts: 

The advantage of reading books 1 & 2 back-to-back is that I could skim through the stuff I already know. That said, new details from Annie’s past are revealed, so it is better to pay attention. 

In a way, this book isn’t different from the previous one. There’s an event, and the most rude and annoying person gets bumped off. Then, we have a list of suspects coz almost everyone hates them. 

Annie is more involved in the investigation this time. While some of it is not realistic, I’ve seen similar stuff in cozies, so I don’t mind it much. 

I forgot to mention Professor Plum, Annie’s cat in my review of book one. The cat doesn’t have any role except to be the MC’s pet. It’s the same in the book but it did feature a few more scenes. 

There’s a slow yet visible shift in the dynamic between our MC and the potential love interest. Irrespective of what happens, I like how it highlights the difference in perspectives and the communication gap between them. 

Priya’s range of coffees is great fun to read (even if ‘turmeric latte’ coming from an Indian like her makes me wince), and the way she names them is too good! 

Yet again, the sleuthing is conversation-based rather than action-based. While conversations reveal details, it gets too much here. I do appreciate the little action in the climax. Give us more and make it a little hard for the MC, please. On the plus side, I can read this even when half-asleep. It is that easy. 

There is a sort of cliffhanger (for the overarching mystery) in this one. We’ll know the details in the next one. The main mystery is complete, though. 

To summarize, A Murder at the Movies continues the series at the same tempo. It is an easy book to read and should work as a standalone (but read the first anyway). The title for the next book is mentioned at the end, so I’ll grab it when a copy is available. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #AMurderattheMovies

Exploring our cultural past — Interview with Srivalli Rekha

An email interview by a fellow author from Shared Roots Anthology.

https://medium.com/@touchstonealice/e...

The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander - Book Review

Series: A Secret Bookcase Mystery #1

Publication Date: 19th June 2024 

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3.5 stars 

One Liner: Decent series starter 

Annie Murray has made the Secret Bookcase her home for the last eight years. Located in a small town in Northern California, the independent bookstore is struggling to attract enough customers. A chance comment sparks an idea in Annie’s mind. She plans an elaborate Mystery Festival weekend to bring people to her town. This is supposed to help every small business in the town. 

The event starts on a high but Annie is shocked to find a dead body hidden behind the bookshelves in the Secret Bookcase bookstore. Annie knows the victim too! When her professor in criminology arrives as the detective on the case, Annie becomes a part of the investigation. She is back doing what she does best. But can Annie find the killer before it is too late? 

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

My Thoughts: 

A new cozy mystery series for me to try! 

The opening is quite a hook. It starts with the overarching mystery and provides us an insight into the main character’s past. Her being a student of criminology certainly helps the arc. 

There is some repetition, but it helps understand how much the past weighs on the MC’s mind and how it changed her life drastically. 

The setting is beautiful. I love how cozy small towns are (at least in books). The descriptions of the bookstore make me want to go there. Such a lovely place! 

The side characters like Priya, Fletcher, and Hal are also well-etched. Though we don’t get a lot of information about them, there’s enough to imagine their roles in the story. Dr. Caldwell is also likely to be a recurring character. She could be interesting. 

The list of suspects is decent, making it an engaging read to guess who the killer could be. I did guess who it was but not the reason. It makes sense, though I wish we had more detail about the relevant events. 

The investigation could have been stronger. It’s mostly done through conversations where people reveal details without persuasion. Though it makes a little sense given how everyone in the town has a good opinion of Annie, it doesn’t really show us her skills as a criminology student. Mentioning spreadsheets is not enough. She needs to do more brain work. Since this is the first book in the series, I have hopes for some improvements. 

There’s a possibility of a love track with a guy. I know it is bound to happen. Just not sure if the transition will be seamless based on how things are now. I hope it works out well. Let’s see. As long as we don’t have any triangles to make it even more messy! 

To summarize, The Body in the Bookstore is a decent start to a new cozy mystery series. While it is not great, it has the potential to become better. I have a copy of book #2, so reading it right away. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley  #TheBodyInTheBookstore

The Riviera House Swap by Gillian Harvey - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 11th June 2024

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208517081-the-riviera-house-swap

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

3 Stars

One Liner: Good concept and themes but…

Book Blurb:

Would you swap houses with a stranger?

Nina has alwaysplayed it safe. But when her divorce papers come through on her fortiethbirthday she decides enough is enough.

She’s always chosen the sensible route, staying inher stable job and marrying her rather boring ex. In fact – she realizes –she’s chosen security over excitement for years. Ever since she refused toelope with her first love: beautiful, poetic, thoughtful Pierre, the manshe met aged 17, on her French exchange. The only man who ever made her heartrace.

Maybe it’s time to take a few risks?

Impulsively she goes online and finds another kindof French exchange… a house-swap. She can’t imagine what French businessman Jean-Lucwants with her terraced home in rural England, but she can’t wait to stay inhis beautiful, spacious, bougainvillea-strewn villa on the French Riviera.

She’s not just there for the house though. She’sdecided to find the love she missed all those years ago. But will Pierre stillbe the man of her dreams after all this time?

As two lives collide, will love bloom onthe French Riviera?

***

My Thoughts:

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

I enjoy lighthearted reads with some importantthemes. This book promises fun with a touch of romance and some introspection.While the premise is attractive, the results are sadly mixed.

What I Like:

The side characters are cool (except for oneperson). Nina’s best friends are the right mix of support and caution. Theyknow when to let her rant, when to tease her, when to encourage her decisions,and when to remind her to be careful.

Sabine is proper sunshine. She can be overwhelmingbut gives exactly what Nina needs. Moreover, the humor in scenes with her feelsmore realistic and natural.

Nina’s pros and cons lists are great. As a listmaker, I see the rationality of this approach even if her actions and decisionsaren’t great.

Some scenes with Nina’s fears and vulnerabilities arewell done. Her confidence has taken a hit, which makes her do some stupidthings but she does realize in time.

The hubby is not the bad guy (this is not aspoiler). Given how most ex-husbands are supposed to be jerks, I like that heis a decent human.

What Could Have Been Better:

For a light read, the pacing is a bit on the slowerside. While the plot doesn’t drag, it doesn’t sustain the tempo, either. I waseasily distracted during the first half.

This is not a romance. It is women’s fiction with barelya touch of romance. While I enjoy both genres, I wish the ‘love’ track wasbetter handled. I couldn’t feel any chemistry despite liking the character.

The track with Pierre was easy to smell from a mileaway. While predictability is a thing of the genre, I think the whole partcould have had a little more depth. It is not fun when the reader thinks theFMC is not using her brain cells even when we are 70% into the book.

The initial humor feels forced. It doesn’t becomeseamless until Sabine enters. That makes the FMC a weaker character. In fact, Inever laughed or chuckled when she tried to be funny. It was the others whomade me smile.

To summarize, The Riviera House Swap is an easy readwith some decent themes. I’d say your enjoyment will depend on how well youconnect with the main character.

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

#NetGalley

***

Author Bio – Gillian Harvey

Gillian Harvey is a freelance journalist and theauthor of two well-reviewed women’s fiction novels published by Orion. She haslived in Limousin, France for the past twelve years, from where she derives theinspiration and settings for her books such as A Year at the FrenchFarmhouse and A Month in Provence.

Follow the Author:  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillPlusFive

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillplusfive/

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

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gillian-harvey

***

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

Simha's Roar by Arun Krishnan - Book Review

Series: The Battle of Vathapi #3 (Not a Standalone)

Publication Date: 24th May 2024

Genre: Indian Historical Fiction 

4.5 stars 

One Liner: A fitting finale! 

7th Century, Bharat 

In the final installment of the trilogy, the Pallavas and Chalukyas are heading for a big war with allies supporting them on both sides. This is a game of cat and mouse where luck plays a role. The three Pallava captains are back in action, putting their lives at risk for the king they love. 

What happens when the clash begins? Who wins? Who losses? How many lives will the war take? 

The story comes in third-person omnipresent POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is NOT a standalone. The trilogy should be read in the same order for it to make sense. 

As with the previous two books, we get a list of the characters and their roles neatly categorized kingdom-wise. There are a couple of illustrations as well. 

The last book of the trilogy is also the smallest in the series and is packed to the brim with action. We jump right into the main plot with the initial chapters continuing the individual threads from before. 

There are many decisions to make, some harder than others but war demands sacrifices and they have to pay. Given how I’m invested in the lives of my favorite three Pallava captains, I admit to getting teary-eyed more than once. 

The narration does slack or dip at any point. We move on from one scene to another and from one setting to another at a steady pace. This keeps the momentum going (with loads of tension) and puts the reader in the right mood to anticipate the war scenes. 

The women don’t have much role in this one, though they do their bit. The leading ladies have to spend a lot of time waiting but that cannot be changed. That’s how it is. Since the aspect is more in the background, we can continue to focus on the plot development. 

The editing doesn’t seem to be at par with the previous books but it is not bad. A random repetition here and there. Nothing that should annoy the readers. 

I’ll be repeating myself but I have to mention how well the fighting scenes are executed. It is easy to visualize the moves and counter moves. The final sword fight between two kings is so, so good! Loved the whole scene. 

The discussions about war ethics – dos and don’ts yet again make the readers think. I cannot help but wonder if following some of these put us at a disadvantage and made the land more vulnerable to invasions. Sigh! 

Also, without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that the ending is bittersweet (more bitter and less sweet). As a writer, I know I’d do the same, but as a reader, I want something else. *sob*

Still, the ending lingers in the mind long after the reader closes the book. It leaves us with a semi-heavy heart. 

To summarize, Simha’s Roar is a satisfying and worthy finale for the trilogy. I heartily recommend the series for fans of Indian historical war fiction. Note that the cast is huge and can be confusing but don’t let that stop you! 

Thank you, HarperCollins India, for eARC.