Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 28

Snowblooded by Emma Sterner-Radley - Book Review

Publication Date: 09th May 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, LGBT  

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Too slow and clunky 

Valour and Petrichor are young but esteemed members of the Order of Axsten, an assassin guild in Vinterstock, Sweden. They were with the guild as children and hated each other, which continues even to date. 

The guild then gives them a job – to kill Brandquist, the mysterious leader of the city’s drug ring. No one knows who he is and how he looks. Valour and Petrichor are determined to deal with the job alone, but they may have to work together to stay alive. 

As if that wasn’t hard enough, Valour has to babysit Ingrid Rytterdahl, the beautiful daughter of an aristocrat. With Valour in love (lust) with Ingrid and the mounting danger, can the assassins stay alive and finish the job? 

The story comes in the Valour and Petrichor’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

NGL, I requested the book mainly for the cover. Just look at it! So gorgeous! The premise was intriguing, too, though I admit the execution is less than satisfying. 

First, the good points –

• The setting is dark, grim, and depressing. Given the premise, this works well to create a sense of doom, especially for the underprivileged. The snowy landscape adds to the atmosphere. 

• I also love the interpretation of the title. That’s a great touch! 

• Ingrid shines better than the main characters. There’s more to her than the mask she puts on. 

• A few scenes where the characters introspect their lives are well done. 

• I could guess one of the twists and like it. 

• The romance between Ingrid and Valour is okay. It suits Valour’s arc, so can’t complain. 

• A decent ending (and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief). 

Now, the not-so-good points – 

The characters are 20 (around mid-20s) but act like teenagers and kids. They have been through so much trauma, but it feels hard to empathize due to their behavior. The scenes between Valour and Petrichor tend to be annoying, even when they are being nice to each other. 

The narration is super slow. A lot seems to happen, but the % doesn’t move. And when you stop reading and consider the story that happened until then, it wouldn’t be much. There are many conversations; some are necessary, but some can be edited. Looking back, it doesn’t feel like the two are as efficient assassins as they are portrayed. Yeah, they can fight well and stab, et al, but an assassin has to be focused and precise. We are told they are very good at the job, but I couldn’t see it anywhere in the book (except once in Petrichor’s case). 

Instead, we get pages of hate-filled banter between V and P that’s supposed to be some sort of trauma-bonding sibling rivalry type thing (?) except on the extreme level. There are ten instances of V saying ‘stick up the arse’ with some variation.  

The last section is better than the beginning in terms of action and drama. Yet, not much of it is due to the MCs’ efforts. It doesn’t seem realistic that the villain would so easily share everything. It works in cozy mysteries, but the stakes are high here (think kingdom-level). 

And oh, that brings me to the vibes. Though this is historical, the feel is almost modern. Also, there really isn’t any magic or fantasy. While I appreciate the support for old gods and paganism, it is not well done. Make it a cohesive part of the plot (and not simply repeat the stuff in dialogues). 

To summarize, Snowblooded has a worthy premise and an intriguing setting but is weighed down by extras. Toning down the excess will give the characters more space to show their true selves. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Solaris, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #Snowblooded

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham - Book Review

Series: Skymar #3 

Publication Date: 14th May 2024 

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town 

4 Stars 

One Liner: So sweet! 

Luke Edgewood is not the rom-com type hero, or so he says. He is a builder who loves his work and a supportive brother to his sisters. When Luke goes to Skymar to work on a project, he doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with royalty. 

Elliana St. Clare (Ellie) is a princess in hiding after things went awfully wrong the last time, and the press is still hounding her for juicy news. She finds peace in working with the orphanage, the same one which Luke has to renovate. 

Ellie wants to keep her identity a secret and plans to do what her parents want. But meeting Luke puts her at a crossroads. Moreover, Luke wants nothing to do with fame or royalty, so Ellie isn’t sure what to do. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Luke and Ellie, with email and chat snippets between different characters. 

My Thoughts: 

While the story can be a standalone, I strongly recommend reading at least book #2 (like I did) to understand the character arcs better. 

You need to meet Luke in the previous book(s) to know that he is a cuddly teddy bear and a kind-hearted darling. Otherwise, he is more likely to annoy you with constant references to ‘manly movies’ and ‘hating romance’. 

Of course, since I was waiting for his book, I enjoyed this one a lot. Luke is so adorable, and his relationship with his sisters is perfect! In fact, the chats between the siblings are wonderful.  

Penelope is a side character here, but she is being herself, so it’s almost like she is one of the main characters; an extra dose of sunshine with a steady diet of Hallmark movies and romance tropes, which get constant references (this is a series thing) in their chats. 

The book has limited epistolary stuff, which works well for me. I know this is an ARC, but I hope they add appropriate scene breaks to indicate POV changes. The jumps will be too confusing to follow otherwise. 

Ellie’s dilemma is well done. She makes some wrong decisions but has the strength to acknowledge them. Her doubts, vulnerability, and hesitation come across clearly. Her dynamics with Luke are funny and cute. They do make a lovely couple! 

Naturally, there are a few faith-based elements that never overpower the story or sound preachy. This is exactly how I like faith in books (if it is present). 

We do have a sweet and happy ending. I did feel a little sad, but since there’s news that there will be a novella from the same series, I’m happy to meet the characters (Luke) again. Can’t wait for it! 

To summarize, Loyally, Luke beautiful, funny, sweet, and heartwarming read. It also has the flavor of a small-town community, so pretty much a package deal. No steam except for a few kisses and flirting. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #LoyallyLuke 

The Wrap-Up Post – Mahabharata Mash Up

Namaste, 

This is the final post of the year’s A to ZChallenge. 

A huge thank you to everyone who read, commented,and encouraged me during the month. I loved your input and theadditional snippets of information you shared with me. Lakshmi M and Lakshmi A, Ratna mam, Monica, Anshu, Sanjeeta ji, Aparna, Narayani, Preeti, Priya, and Soumya, thank you! 

Be it thediscussion about whitewashing Ravan’s crimes orthe wonderful symbolism behind the story of the Samudra Manthan, youropinions were a treat to read!

Despite my intentions, I couldn’t read many otherblogs as I wanted to. However, I managed to read the dailyepisodes of a novella on Tales of Suchita. It is a low-stakes romance set incontemporary India (Mumbai). Chiranjeev is such an adorable MMC! 

Another blog I followed was The Other Side by Tim Brannan. I admit I know nothing aboutthe Dungeons & Dragons game (except that there’s a tarot deck based on it).Now, I know a little more, thanks to the posts by Tim. He is a professionalgamer and a repository of knowledge about D&D.

Moreover, thanks to the #ReadTheNew initiative byBlogchatter, I found wonderful posts and 30 different blogsthroughout the challenge. Some shared lovely poems, some gave practicalparenting tips, and some bloggers talked about things they loved – food, music,or art. 

The month-long challenge has come to an end,and as always, I have bittersweet feelings about it. Hoping we can meet nextyear. I might do a season two on the same theme! In the meantime, hop over to the Draupadi Parashakti website for more write-ups about the Mahabharata. We are working on the character pages now. 

Here are the links to all the posts: 

 Day 1: A for Ashta Vasus

Day 2: B for Brahma's Sabha 

Day 3: C for Chitrasena, the Gandharva

Day 4: D for Dwaraka’s Description 

Day 5: E for A Year as Eunuch: The Story of Brihannala

Day 6: F for Forest Life of the Pandavas

Day 7: Sunday - Break 

Day 8: G for Gangavataranam

Day 9: H for Hidimba's Son, Ghatotkacha

Day 10: I for Indra's Sabha

Day 11: 

Day 12: K for Kubera's Sabha 

Day 13: L for Love Stories in Mahabharata

Day 14: Sunday - Break 

Day 15: M for Matali, The Charioteer of Indra

Day 16: N for Nahusha

Day 17: O for Omens in Mahabharata 

Day 18: P for Pasupata Astra: The Battle Between Shiva and Arjuna 

Day 19: Q for Queens in Mahabharata

Day 20: R for Ravana's Family History

Day 21: Sunday - Break 

Day 22: S for Samudra Manthan

Day 23: T for Takshaka, the Naga King

Day 24: U for Usinara's Test

Day 25: V for Varuna's Sabha

Day 26: W for Why the Vindhya Mountains Swelled

Day 27: X for X Marks the Spot: Jayadratha's Vadha 

Day 28: Sunday - Break 

Day 29: Y for Yamadharmaraja's Sabha

Day 30: Z for Zodiac and Mahabharata

Bing is getting better at generating images withtext. I’m not sure if it is a good thing or not! 

Of course, I cannot conclude the post without including a couple of videos. ;) 

Here are two scenes (in the technicolor version, the original was B&W) from my favorite movie, Mayabazar. 

This one is when Subhadra and Abhimanyu are sent to where Hidimba and Ghatotkacha live by Krishna (right after the Pandavas' exile). 

This scene is where Ghatotkacha marries Lakshamana (Dhuryodhana's son) in the guise of Sasirekha (Balarama's daughter). The real Sasirekha was getting married to Abhimanyu elsewhere. Savitri's acting is a masterclass! 
And bye! See you next year. :) 

Z for the Zodiac and Mahabharata - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaste, 

For the last post of the challenge, I chose anothertopic that interests me. The planetary positions, astrology, and tarot readingare fascinating. When I saw that the omens listed by Vyasa inBhishma Parva mentioned the elements of the zodiac, I dug around a little tofind more. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Planetary Positions  Sun – Scorpio Moon – Scorpio 

Rahu – Scorpio 

Ketu – Taurus 

Mars – Virgo or Leo (Retrograde)

Saturn – Libra (was in retrograde earlier, stayed here for a year with Jupiter in Vishaka star)

Jupiter – Libra (when the war began) and Scorpio (when Karna died)

Venus – between Virgo and Capricorn (not enough data, 2 steps behind or after Sun)

Mercury – no mention, but possible between Libra and Sagittarius (one step before or after Sun) (but possible retrograde based on my hunch)

Signs and Tarot 

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

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

The next major sign is Libra, which comes beforeScorpio. It is a cardinal air sign. It corresponds to Justice (11- Venusplanet) in tarot. 

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

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

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

Mars Retrograde 

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

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

Mercury 

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

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

Two Eclipses During the War 

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

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

***

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

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

I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z.

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

Y for Yamadharmaraja’s Sabha - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaskar, 

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

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

Yamadharmaraja’s Sabha was also designed and builtby the celestial architect Viswakarman. Narada said that the Sabha is over ahundred yojanas square (one yojana is ~8 kilometers) and as glorious asthe sun. However, it has an appealing temperature that’s neither hot norcold (it is not filled with red hot flames!). 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z.

The AI images are made on Bing.

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

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #7 

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

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

Publication Date: 02nd May 2024

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery, Italy 

4 Stars 

One Link: Summer, food, and dead bodies! 

Book Blurb

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

An ex-con…

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

A suspicious death…

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

A very revealing case!

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

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

My Thoughts: 

The story comes in Dan’s third-personPOV. 

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

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

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

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

The details are revealed in stages, giving us enoughtime to come up with our own guesses. The information is notdeliberately withheld, which is always a plus. Moreover, the inspector on thecase is a good guy and happy to work with Dan. I like it when this happens. Itshows them as sensible investigators. 

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

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

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

***

The Author, T.A. Williams Says

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

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

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

I've been writing since I was14 and that is well over half a century ago. However,underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster.My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Find the Author On – 

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

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

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

***

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

A Duke of One’s Own by Emma Orchard - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 22nd April 2024

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204364154-a-duke-of-one-s-own 

3.2 stars 

One Liner: Lighthearted and steamy (but clunkytoo) 

Book Blurb: 

Summer, 1816. A notorious rebel is aboutto meet her match...

Lady Georgiana Pendlebury is no stranger to breakingthe rules of polite society. But when a so-called ‘friend’ invites her to aclandestine party, Georgiana is shocked to discover the event is morescandalous than even she could have imagined. So when a mysterious strangeroffers help, she accepts, not realizing their encounter will turn her lifeupside down.

Later that summer, Georgiana is invited to attend ahouse party at an infamous castle in Yorkshire. The gathering is a looselyveiled effort to arrange a marriage for the Duke of Northriding, whodesperately needs an heir. Duke Gabriel Mauleverer has a terrible reputation asa rake, and Georgiana is happy to be a guest purely for entertainment, but uponarrival, she is shocked to discover that the Duke is none other than thestranger who rescued her weeks earlier.

As the other ladies vie for the Duke’s attention,Georgiana is desperate to avoid their shocking secret getting out. But shefinds herself caught, unable to avoid Gabriel’s gaze. Are they a threat to eachother? Or could they be the answer to each other’s greatest desires?

My Thoughts: 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Georgiana(more) and Gabriel. 

Firstly, why is this not marked as a series? Turnsout, The Runaway Heiress is the first book of the series.This is the second. What the Lady Wants will be the third. While it worksas a standalone, I couldn’t see the need for some details until I realized itwas a part of a series. Then, it made sense.

The premise is interesting. The book starts great.However, the narrative is weighed down by some fluff and continues to be slowthroughout. Lighthearted reads aren’t supposed to be this slow! 

Georgiana is a contradiction. Some elements make herappealing. But she can also get on your nerves. Gabriel is relatively better,though I wouldn’t have minded a bit more depth. 

Note that the book is very much a light read. Iliked this aspect. The bits and pieces of humor elevate the story, especiallywhen Georgiana rambles on. 

I also like that the characters communicate even ifthey talk in circles. There is still some presumption, but no unwanted drama.They can sit and talk, which is a plus. It’s okay if what they say doesn’talways make sense to the other person. The important aspect is that they arewilling to share it. 

There’s no third-act breakup, another plus. Ofcourse, there is some drama and attempts to cause a rift between the couple,but it is handled the way it should be. I like that it serves as a basis foranother plot development. 

There’s an unwanted chapter towards the end, whichcould have been shortened to a couple of paragraphs. Once the reader the end,they don’t want more fluff. They just need a nice rounded ending with anepilogue. We have an epilogue, but I could have done without the gossip andrumor chapter. 

The book is promoted as a steamy romance, and it is.I’d put it around 3.5ish steam. Think of Lisa Kleypas or Stephanie Laurens(though Laurens would be min 4). Never mind that the author calls GeorgetteHeyer her inspiration. 

To summarize, A Duke of One’s Own is an enjoyableread with a stronger second half. It would have been a 4-star with some of theclunks toned down. Still, I cannot deny that I was entertained by the book andam willing to more from the author. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and BoldwoodBooks, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion aboutthe book. 

***

Author Bio – Emma Orchard

Emma Orchard is the author of several well-reviewedRegency romance novels published by Allison & Busby. In her other life, sheis a literary agent. Her first book with Boldwood is a raunchy romp set inRegency London.

Find the Author Here: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555554601035

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaOrchardB

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

***

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

X for X Marks the Spot: Jayadratha’s Death - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaskar, 

This alphabet needed some thinking before I couldfinalize a topic. During the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu was killedby the Kaurava side when he penetrated the Chakravuyha formation. Arjuna wasdistraught upon hearing the news that evening. When Yudhistira told him thatJayadratha (king of Sindhu and husband of Dushala, the Kaurava sister)prevented the four Pandava brothers from following Abhimanyu into theformation, Arjuna was livid. 

He vowed to kill Jayadratha the next day before thesunset to avenge Abhimanyu’s death. Jayadratha had earlier (during the exile)lusted after Draupadi and abducted her. Bhima and Arjuna wanted to kill him,but Yudhistira let him go with a punishment (shaving his head andmustache). 

Jayadrathavadha is a Upaparva in Drona Parva and isdescribed in high detail. The Kaurava side did their best to prevent Arjunafrom getting closer to Jayadratha (and failed eventually). Arjuna was said tohave killed eight akshauhini of the Kaurava army that day. Imagine the carnage! 

(One Akshauhini = 21,870 chariots; 21,870 elephants;65,610 horses and 1,09,350 foot soldiers)

After much effort, Ajurna, with Krishna as hischarioteer, got at a shooting distance from Jayadratha (Arjuna’s arrowscould easily travel one krosa, which is appx. 3 KM, and hit the target).Right before Arjuna aimed, Krishna told him an important story aboutJayadratha’s birth. 

When Jayadratha was born, a voice spoke from heaven.It announced to King Bridhakshatra that his son would be a powerful ruler knownfor his prowess but would be beheaded by an enemy on the battlefield. Toprevent this, King Bridhakshatra cursed the (then unknown) enemy and said thatone who let his son’s head fall on the battlefield would die immediately as hisown head would shatter into a thousand pieces. 

Krishna then told Arjuna that Bridhakshatra hadlater left for a forest called Samantapanchaka and had been doing tapasya foryears. He advised Arjuna to shoot his arrow in such a way that Jayadratha’shead would not fall on the battlefield but into the lap of the old king(Bridhakshatra) in the forest. 

Arjuna nodded and charged his arrow with divinemantras. He aimed and shot it at Jayadratha. The arrow severed Jayadratha’shead and continued onward, carrying it on the tip. Arjuna shot more arrows in succession to support it. Everyone (including Bhima,Satyaki, and others) stared in amazement as the arrows and head traveledaway from the battlefield at high speed. The arrows reached the outskirts ofSamantapanchaka, where the old Bridhakshatra was sitting under a tree inmeditation. Jayadratha’s head dropped into his lap. 

After a while, Bridhakshatra finished his meditationand stood, not registering his son’s head on his lap. The head rolled to theground. He stared at it, aghast, and his own head shattered into a thousandpieces. Thus, the father and son died, making the prophecy and the curse cometrue. 

So, that’s how Arjuna avenged his son’s death andthe arrow reached the spot X. 

You can read a detailed summary of JayadrathavadhaUpaparva on Draupadi Parashakti's Facebook Page (a series ofseventeen posts). 

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Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday - Book Review

Series: #1 (couldn’t find the series title)

Publication Date: 23rd April 2024

Genre: Regency Romance 

3.7 stars 

One Liner: Slow-paced but entertaining 

1821

Archibald Fielding-Burton, the Earl of Harcourt, calls himself lucky for having two best friends who would do anything for him. Simon and Effie are his dearest friends and partners in crime. The trio plans an all-men trip every year and calls it the Earl’s Trip to unwind from the pressures of daily life. 

That year was no different until Archie got a letter from Sir Albert Morgan, an old family friend, begging for help. His daughter Olive has eloped with someone. His other daughter, Clementine, has rushed to rescue Olive. Now, Archie has to rescue them both and bring them back safely. 

Archie and Clem go back a long way. They were always good friends, but Archie finds the grown-up even more alluring. When Clem shares a proposal, Archie knows he would accept it. But where will this lead? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Archie and Clementine. 

My Thoughts: 

As the premise suggests, this is a fun book that deals with some serious topics. However, the overall tone is lighthearted and entertaining. 

The beginning is slow but in no way boring. We get enough laughs as the characters are introduced and established. At the same time, we get a glimpse of the deeper emotions these characters feel. 

Dementia/ early memory loss, found family, sibling relationships (between sisters), loss of a parent, dysfunctional families, etc., are some themes explored in the book. Not all of them are prominent, though. A few more tropes are modernish, but it has almost become a norm, so I won’t complain. 

Archie is surprisingly easy to like. He is lively, friendly, mischievous, understanding, supportive, and fun. Yet, he has his pain, uncertainties, vulnerabilities, and doubts. Clem is nice, though not as much as Archie. He is a gem. 

While it is good to have Regency FMC as a vegetarian, even if it doesn’t seem realistic for the period, Clem comes across as a bit too judgmental about others. (I’m a vegetarian, too, but I don’t go around wrinkling my nose at meat eaters). Moreover, she doesn’t seem to make the same effort to understand Archie the way he tries to get to know her thoughts and takes them seriously. 

The relationship takes time to progress. This gives space for enough scenes and conversation between them. Things don’t feel rushed, despite what the blurb states. 

The side characters are developed enough to go beyond what’s initially defined for them. There’s more than what meets’s eye applies here. Olive’s arc is very good. I did like her more than the FMC sometimes. 

The repetition slows down the pacing, which could have been trimmed a little. The chapter length also contributes to the slowness due to the extended length (I like short chapters). 

The book has some steam, though I don’t know why it changed toward the end and skipped over the scene (which was important). Didn’t make sense to me, but maybe they had a page limit to work with (?). 

To summarize, Earl’s Trip is an entertaining book with a loveable male lead and worthy side characters. It works well as a standalone. The last chapter could be considered a lead for the next book, which I would love to read. 

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Kensington Books, for eARC. 

W for Why the Vindhya Mountains Swelled - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaste, 

Mahabharata has many short stories from differentPuranas. This is one such story from Aranyaka Parva, shared with Yudhistira during the earlyyears of the Pandava exile. 

Rishi Lomasa presented the following story about whythe Vindhya Mountain started swelling and how the situation was handled. 

A long time ago, the Vindhya Mountain noticed howthe sun (Surya Deva) would do a pradakshina (circumambulation) around thedivine Mount Meru every day. After a few days, the Vindhya asked the sun why he did that only for Meru. 

The sun replied that it wasn’t his choice but howthe creator carved his path, which he followed every day without fail. 

This annoyed the Vindhya Mountain. It expanded insize and swelled large enough to block the sun’s path. The gods went to sootheand convince the mountain to get back to its previous size. However, no amountof pleading worked. The Vindhya Mountain continued to obstruct the path of the sun, moon, and stars to satisfy its ego. This also caused trouble for therishis and earth-dwellers in the region as the days and seasons went off cycle. 

A group of rishis went to Rishi Agastya and explainedthe situation, asking for help. He assured them he would take care of the matter. The rishi wentto the Vindhya Mountain and asked it to create a passage for him to travelsouthward. The rishi said the mountain could close again once he came back. Themountain agreed. 

Rishi Agastya went to the south but stayed there.The mountain had no choice but to keep the passage open, as per theiragreement. This resulted in the mountain shirking into its previous size. Itcould no longer obstruct the sun’s path or interfere with nature’s cycle. 

Interesting, isn’t it? 

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