Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 66
May 6, 2022
Once Upon a Winter by H.L. Macfarlane - Book Review
*****Once Upon a Winter is a collection of seventeen stories, a combination of fairytale retellings and originals. The stories range from lighthearted to dark, middle grade to adult, and fantasy to romance. Readers who like multiple genres will enjoy this book more than others.
The highlight of the book is that each story was unique. No two stories felt similar, despite the common thread of fairytale and folklore themes running through them.
Listing my favorites below (in the order as printed in the book):
• The Biting Cold by Josie Jaffrey: This is fantastic. The narration pulls you right into the story and keeps you there until the end (even if you can guess what will happen).
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bharat Krishnan: Read this more for acing the character’s tone rather than the storyline.
• A Pea Ever After by Adie Hart: This is probably the best retelling I’ve read in a long time. It’s just too good!
• The Snowdrop by H. L. Macfarlane: My heart went aww… reading this one. Such a sweet one, though the ending is predictable.
• The Best Girl this Side of Winter by Laila Amado: An adventurous MG fantasy. What's not to like.
• The Snow Trolls by S. Markem: Do not read this when eating or drinking. You’ll enjoy the narrative style and the execution.
• Lord of the Forest by Katherine Shaw: You can’t have a story with a mythical creature from a forest and expect me not to like it. Short yet powerful.
• Long Meg and the Sorcerer’s Stones by M. J. Weatherall: Almost made it to my best list. It should have been longer and more fleshed out.
To Sum up, Once Upon a Winter is a lovely collection of multiple genres, themes, and tales set in snowy white lands, castles, forests, and mysterious villages.
My thanks to Macfarlane Lantern Publishing and BookSirens for the digital review copy of the book.
May 3, 2022
An English Garden Murder by Katie Gayle - Book Review
*****
Julia Bird moves to a Cotswolds cottage in a small English town after her recent divorce and retirement. She feels a bit lost, not knowing what to do with her sudden free time. Julia soon decides on a pet project (raising chickens and taking care of the beautiful garden), only to end up with a dead body on the premises.
She has no choice but to put her plans on hold until the identity of the body and the killer are found. If only it was that easy! In the meantime, Julia tries to befriend the villagers, adopts Jake, the cutest Lab in the size of a small bear, and begins to get used to country life. But when she stumbles upon another body, she decides it’s time to do her own investigation.
Can Julia find the killer and prevent more dead bodies from creating feverish excitement in the little village?
My Observations:
• The book begins on a quirky note tinged with humor and sadness. The lighthearted tone continues through the rest of the book (a trademark of good cozy mystery).
• Jake is super adorable. Though I’m sure I can’t handle a pup like him, I love his antics in the book. Such a sweetheart!
• Being the first book in the series, the characters are revealed over time. This also means I continued to assess the information longer than I liked. Not a complaint, though.
• Julia is an interesting character and likable. She does a good job of keeping me engaged with the story. I like her teaming up with DI Hayley and look forward to reading more mysteries.
• The villagers are just as fun, even if some have been more of caricatures. Since this is the first book, I can’t dismiss character development yet.
• Little Sebastian is another cutie pie. I loved his scenes, even if he was a brat at times. That’s where the fun lies. ;)
• There is some rambling, but it doesn’t go on for more than a couple of lines. I’m almost used to it by now.
• It’s such a surprise to read that the book is authored by a duo, Katie and Gail. They have collaborated before, and it shows. No jerks in narration.
• As with every other cozy mystery set in the English countryside, we get to read about endless cups of tea. Oh, well…
To sum up, An English Garden Murder is a great start to a new cozy mystery series, and I intend to continue reading every subsequent release.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AnEnglishGardenMurder
April 30, 2022
Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor - Book Review
Jani and her younger sister, Zosa, are barely scraping by in Durc. Jani knows that the only way to escape fast and earn enough to back home would be by finding a job at the mysterious and magical Hotel Magnifique. Of course, no one really knows where the hotel comes from or how it travels. But no one denies its magic and allure.
Jani and Zosa do find a job as the staff. Jani is delighted and amazed until she realizes that Hotel Magnifique hides sinister seamlessly behind smiles and whimsical enchantments. It doesn’t help that her every step causes some or the other trouble for her and Bel.
Bel is the handsome doorman at Hotel Magnifique and the only ally Jani has. As things get complicated and dangerous, Jani has no choice but to risk everything to end the danger. That’s the only way to go home! Can Jani do what she needs to do to save her friends from evil?
My Observations:
The setting and world-building are wonderful. The hotel, its rooms, the enchantments, etc., are descriptive, detailed, and a treat to read. The fictitious setting matches the dark mood of the storyline.
Jani is the narrator of the book, and we get to see her do more than a few stupid things. I’m glad I went into the book expecting it. That made it easy to enjoy the flow rather than think too much about her actions. That said, I probably need to visit the hospital if I bite the inside of my cheek as many times to stay silent. (Kuch zyada hi ho gaya!)
Bel was a really cute character. I like how he has layers, though he needs more space to show his potential. In fact, almost every other character has the same issue. There isn’t enough to connect with them. The focus is on Jani stumbling through things she isn’t supposed to.
The pacing is a little uneven too. The story seems to go in circles from 25% to 55%. The major breakthrough happens at 60%, and things rush from there. Moreover, a crucial part of the story is ‘told’, which dampens the impact. The reveal has to be stronger. The scenes that follow it are, which almost make up for this, but not fully.
There’s some cute romance too appropriate for a YA book. I still think I like Bel more than Jani, but he loves her, so what can I say! He’ll survive (maybe).
The climax felt a little rushed. There’s one good decision Jani took at that stage, but still, it kind of left me wanting.
To sum up, Hotel Magnifique is a good debut with beautiful world-building and atmosphere. The characters and pacing need a little more work. It’s pretty much YA in narration, so be prepared for it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Pushkin Press, and Pushkin Children's Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #HotelMagnifique
April 27, 2022
Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Book Review
*****
Stewie is an adorable and hard-working eleven-year-old living with his older sister, Stacy, and brother, Theo. He sells farm-fresh eggs and prides himself on the quality of freshness of his eggs. During one such selling trip, he meets Marilyn, an elusive, rude old lady. She reminds Stewie of his dead Gam (grandmother), and he forms an instant attachment to her.
Marilyn isn’t looking for friends or family. She has secrets of her own. But how can she resist a young boy with soulful sad eyes and an honest face? Stewie feels everything deeply while Marilyn tries not to feel anything.
Their bond grows over the days, but the secrets are revealed. It can tear them apart or bring them even closer.
What I Like:
• Stewie is a cutie pie. I loved that kid. He is highly sensitive and feels everything a bit too much. But his heart is pure and innocent.
• It’s easy to connect to Stewie’s vulnerability, helplessness, fear, and pain. He may seem like a sort of perfect kid, but he is a work in progress (I’ve been using this term a lot).
• Marilyn does remind me a little of Ove, but she is her own person. The resemblance ends with them being grumpy yet kind.
• The book picks up pace after 45%. It goes even fast after 80%. Some of it seems more like it’s written for middle graders (in fact, I would recommend this book to MG readers) and uses an easy solution. But it doesn’t dilute the emotions.
• Oh, boy, I got teary-eyed and almost cried towards the end. Stewie’s vulnerability was heartbreaking and healing. Strange but true.
• Stewie and Theo have such clarity of thought and approach to their lives. Sometimes they appear older than their age. Yet, I kept thinking of Stewie as a nine-year-old. This is the second book where I picturized a pre-teen as an eight or nine-year-old, so guess my estimation is a little off.
• I relate quite a lot to Stewie’s thought process in certain aspects. Though he is a confused and sad little boy, he has great clarity about other issues. His concepts are specific and detailed (even if he goes a little overboard at times).
• The book has some touching quotes (though I didn’t mark them). It also tends to ramble, but the rambling suits the characters.
What Could Have Been Better:
• The book takes its own time to get going. It’s character-driven and makes sense that the initial focus would be on establishing the characters and the setting. That said, I finished it in 2.5 days (appx. 3 hours).
• There isn’t much detail about how Stewie took care of his hens. We know he loves them, but love doesn’t clean the coop or feed the birds. There are a couple of scenes, but I wanted a little more. (This is mostly because I happened to be researching chicken feed and found it rather funny. Do you know we can feed chicken pasta and scrambled eggs to chicken?)
• The book’s primary focus is on Stewie and Marilyn. That means Stacey and Theo pop in and out of the story. I wished there was more about them. They were just as beautiful, and getting to know them would have been a lovely experience.
To sum up, Dreaming of Flight is a heartwarming and sweet book with an adorable little boy. It’s not perfect but is a great choice if you want to read something that touches the heart. This is my first book by the author, and I intend to read most of her other works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #DreamingofFlight
*****
PS: The blurb needs trimming and rewriting. A fellow reviewer mentioned it, and I agree.
*****
PPS: I debated rating it 4 or 5 stars but went with 5 because the book did make me teary-eyed. I’m partial to books that move me. It doesn’t happen often.
April 25, 2022
One for Sorrow by Helen Sarah Fields - Book Review
*****Edinburg is under attack by a lone bomber who sets off explosions at random (or not). DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach have no clues to work with even as bodies pile up. Every tip-off by the mysterious caller pulls them further into his trap. He knows everything. They seem to know nothing. The only way to stop the killer is to find the truth. But what price do they have to pay for it?
The blurb is super small because any more details would mean spoiling the fun. This is my first book by the author (and the first in the series). Since I don’t know the characters from start, my review will focus on the plot instead of interpersonal relationships.
• Despite being 400 pages (the last 5% is for promotional material), the book reads very fast. There’s enough action to keep us glued to the pages.
• A few personal scenes are interspersed to continue the personal subplot and to give some breathing space to the readers.
• There’s a second timeline where the chapters are mentioned ‘before’. It starts as an independent track, but by 45%, we know how the tracks will merge.
• The second half of the book is where readers know more than the main characters and want to see how things unfold. (Needless to say, I started guessing around the same time and got it right).
• The forensic and criminal profiling scenes are my favorite. I love them when done well (I have a special love for forensics).
• There are plenty of characters but no confusion. That’s probably because I assumed that the ones from the force are recurring characters.
• One thing I found odd is the language and dialogues. Except for the places, the book doesn’t say Scottish thriller. It seemed more like something from the UK. Maybe Edinburg is that way (I wouldn’t know).
• The main plot ends with no loose ends (though one point is left for us to assume). The pace slows downs towards the end as the revelation is followed by introspection and some progress in the subplot.
• There is a cliffhanger, yes. Quite a brutal one (for those invested in the series), but I’m okay with it. My involvement is limited to the case. I’ll read the previous and next ones in the series, though.
To sum up, One for Sorrow is a good police procedural dealing with important social themes and manages to keep me hooked almost throughout.
Thank you, NetGalley, Harper 360, and Avon, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#OneforSorrow #NetGalley
*****
TW: Stalking, obsession, drugged rape, child death.
April 20, 2022
Blame It on the Brontes by Annie Sereno - Book Review
*****Athena Murphy is an assistant English professor and an authority on Bronte novels. When her university gives her an ultimatum to publish or leave her job, she decides to uncover the identity of the mysterious CL Garland and write her biography. No one knows CL Garland, who writes spicy (read erotic) retellings of classic literature. The mysterious author seems to be from her hometown, Laurel.
The trip back home leads her straight to Thorne, her love from her university days. Everyone thought they were a perfect match, but life didn’t work that way. Thorne has given up his lawyering career to become a café owner in Laurel. It’s the same café Athena was supposed to waitress as a part-timer.
She is determined to act mature and focus on finding that one person who will save her job. But when things don’t go the way she plans, professionally and personally, can Athena and Throne get another chance to rebuild their relationship?
What I Like:
• The writing is easy, even if the book isn’t fast-paced. That makes it easy to read faster despite the plot not really going anywhere.
• Some secondary characters were rather interesting. For once, I didn’t mind so many characters (nor did I keep track of them).
• I don’t, as such, look for deep or heavy stuff from romcoms. I want lighthearted fluff. This book gives me that despite dealing with a few themes.
• Some antics were OTT and made me roll my eyes at the characters, but it was mindless fun and entertaining.
• Some one-liners and dialogues were cheeky and made me chuckle.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The chemistry between the characters went hot and cold. There also wasn’t much romance per se.
• Some aspects were mentioned a couple of times but didn’t really make much difference to the overall plot.
• Athena’s determination to continue her job, which even she knew was in a toxic workplace, is confusing. She is obviously talented and passionate about teaching. She could find a better place that valued her.
• The miscommunication drags from the start to the climax. It was boring at times. I wish they acted like the adults they were (both are in their 30s).
• The chapters are too long. I’d have preferred a book with 35 short chapters to 17 long ones, especially in a rom-com. Makes it easier to stop reading for the day.
• Some actions in the second half seem contradictory to what’s presented in the first half. This could be because the plot needed to move ahead (eventually), but the tone needs to match.
• The friends with benefits part is such a bummer. It went nowhere except trying to create a sense of anticipation (that didn’t hit the mark either).
To sum up, Blame It on the Brontes is an entertaining rom-com with some funny moments. Go with no expectations and enjoy it as a light read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Gallery/Scout Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley
April 16, 2022
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon - Book Review
*****The story begins in 1978 in Vermont. Dr. Helen Hildreth is a psychiatrist who cares for the mentally ill at the Hillside Inn. She lives with her two grandkids, Vi and Eric. The duo is smart, intelligent, and loves their Gran. When Dr. Hildreth takes home a pale young kid, Iris, Vi takes the responsibility to help the girl come out of her shocked shell. But things go wrong when carefully hidden secrets are dragged into the open light.
It’s 2019, and Lizzy Shelley has earned her name as a monster hunter. Her podcast, Monsters Among Us, is popular with the public. Lizzy knows monsters are real and decides it’s time to tackle the monsters from her past when a young girl disappears from Vermont. Where does her monster hunt take Lizzy this time? Will she come out alive, and at what cost?
1. It’s more of a YA book (older teens) than adult horror, and I won’t call this horror despite the monsters.
2. The climax concept is wonderful, even if the execution didn’t sustain the intensity.
3. The narration is well-paced (at least for me), and the last third picks up more speed.
4. The characters didn’t feel as if they gave their full in the present track. The past was much better.
5. Still, the timelines blend very well and without any jerks or bumps.
To sum up, The Children on the Hill felt more like a YA novel and was enjoyable for most of it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Gallery/Scout Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley
April 14, 2022
The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon - Book Review
Chicago, 1923: Dani Flanagan comes home to find her parents dead and police handling the crime scene. It’s her tenth birthday the next day, and Dani is overwhelmed by the loss of her parents. A young beat constable, Michael Malone, is assigned to take care of her and keep her away from the scene.
Cleveland, 1938: Twenty-five years later, Dani is living with her aunts (her mother’s sisters). They are a family of seamstresses with royal connections. But the tough times have made it hard for everyone, including them. People are scraping by, and things would have been better if not for a mysterious Torso Murderer or The Butcher on loose.
It seems that the Butcher likes to kill people at random and chop them into neat pieces. Eliot Ness is on the case but with not much progress. When Malone goes to Cleveland on personal business, Ness convinces him to stay back and help solve the case.
Malone and Dani’s paths soon cross. Malone is attracted to Dani and her unexplainable connection with fabrics. He can’t help but notice that she is now a beautiful young woman with many talents. With the Butcher still hacking his victims, Malone takes Dani’s help to solve the case.
Will the duo be able to find the killer, or will they end up as victims? What does the future hold for Dani and Malone?
What I Liked:
• The book seamlessly blends history and fiction. Ness, David Cowles, Fronek, Dr. Edward Peterka, Al Capone, Mysterious Mike (our Malone), and a few other characters are real people. The Torso Murder is a true crime that was never solved despite so many people working on it for months.
• The characters are well-etched, no matter how small their role is. Derby is one such example. The setting, too, is clear and easy to visualize.
• Dani’s psychic talent has been beautifully presented. I loved the scenes where she 'feels' the clothes to read more about the people who wore them.
• The romance between Dani and Malone progresses over time and doesn’t feel rushed. The vibes of reading a historical romance are apparent. Despite the age difference, the romance works very well.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The book is slow… I mean, very slow. It feels like placing one foot in front of another and taking baby steps toward a far away ending. I finished it in 4 days because I speed-read more than half of it.
It’s not until 50% that things start to make little sense. Moreover, the murders (and bodies) are described in detail. That wasn’t a problem for me. I’m used to it, and the tone is a matter of fact. However, sensitive readers might have a hard time reading about so many hacked bodies as the list goes on and on.
The climax might feel a little disappointing for those who aren’t aware of the real story. The author did take a few liberties to provide a satisfying ending, but she still had to stay true to the details. Reading about the Torso Murders will prepare the readers to understand the ending. It fits if you know what happened. The author’s note is detailed and helps to a great extent. Since it comes after the book ends, better be prepared in advance.
Some reviews ask readers not to read about the actual crime before starting the book. That’s a valid point if you want to focus on the mystery element. The suspense keeps you hooked but only if you aren’t put off by the slow pace. You’ll have to decide based on how you feel after reading the first 40%. That’s what I did.
To sum up, The Unknown Beloved is a good book with interesting elements but fails to work its magic on me. It leaves me with mixed feelings.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheUnknownBeloved
PS: I love the details on the cover. They make more sense after reading the book.
April 10, 2022
Veer Savarkar by Uday Mahurkar & Chirayu Pandit - Book Review
*****Veer Savarkar has been a controversial personality in India for many decades. While the left cabal hates him, the non-left looks up to his values, and there are enough people on the fence who don’t know what to believe.
The partition of India and Pakistan has for long been a gut-wrenching topic. The generational trauma of the survivors of the partition and the subsequent Kashmir genocide (along with the Moplah massacre, the Direct Action Day) are hard to forget, no matter how many intellectuals want to brush them under the carpet.
This book focuses on the events leading to the partition and how Savarkar came close to preventing it from happening. The book isn’t an emotional appeal or an intense read. It has an easy conversational writing style and presents facts with relevant proofs and footnotes.
The book debunks various lies spread about Savarkar and presents the aspects that were hidden from being common knowledge. Do you know that Savarkar was a crusader for equal rights for everyone? He conducted camps to empower the so-called untouchables, organized inter-caste dinners and supported those who wanted to marry people from other castes. The only condition was that the marriage had to be for love and not forced or in the name of revenge. While Ambedkar got into the limelight (not without reason), Savarkar was conveniently pushed into the dark.
Savarkar was emphatic about equal rights, which meant he was dead against the appeasement politics by Congress. Nothing much has changed over the years. In fact, things have gone from bad to worse.
The role of Congress in partition, oh, well! The party has always been a bunch of narrow-minded, visionless politicians (except for a few noteworthy leaders) who never really related to reality, even if it hit them in the face.
When you read the predictions Savarkar made, you realize just how right he was. The book shows his visionary side, and I couldn’t help but admire his grasp of human psychology and the inherent differences in the thought processes of different communities.
The partition has been a psychological game, a manipulation of masses at its very best, which continues even today. Imagine a 500%+ explosion of the population of a community in one country and still the claims of being a victim. The platinum victim card was first invoked in the late 1800s, revived during the early to mid-1900s, and is still continuing even today.
What’s crucial to recognize here is that the ones who are hardworking rarely call themselves a victim. It’s almost always the ones with privileges that think they are entitled to special treatment. The sad truth is that we hardly know of the great Muslim leaders who truly worked for the nation rather than for religious dominance. Many of them fought lone battles, ousted by their own people. Those are the men (& women) we need to know about (the book mentions a few of them, and I couldn’t remember reading about any of them earlier).
Another (not-so) surprising aspect is that the two-nation theory was first proposed by Syed Ahmed Khan in the 1830s something and promoted by Jinnah. But the blame falls on Savarkar, who wanted to keep the country united. (And no, I didn’t get to know of this after reading the book. I found out about this around 4-5 years ago.)
I have to add a point that my heart stopped when I read that the great Mahatma thought there was no need to have an army for India after the partition. He didn’t want Indians to defend themselves from their ‘brothers’. Given the number of attacks we faced during the last 7.5 decades, this one statement was enough to show his inability to see the truth for what it is. Thank God, good sense prevailed in some of the then Congressmen who rejected his words.
I could write a lot more, but will instead leave you with a couple of quotes from the book.
Dr. Mukund Ramrao Jayakar said, ‘The word communalism has acquired a most extraordinary significance these days [even before the partition]. If I venture to speak for Hindu rights, I am a communalist, but if a Muslim with nationalist tendencies fights for Muslim rights, he still remains a nationalist.’ [This was about Jinnah.]
If nationalism means that the Hindus should cease to be Hindus, even culturally, racially, or religiously, while all other non-Hindu Indians despise to adopt that attitude in their own cases, then such a nationalism is the most criminal and dastardly betrayal of our true national soul and ancestral heritage.
Any nation who helps India or is friendly towards her struggle for freedom is our friend and the nation which opposes us or presents a policy inimical to us is our foe.
I respect his ability to see patterns by stripping away the disguises with such ease. How clear and precise his opinions were! Sure, he was far from perfect; but who is flawless?
The book has some repetitions and quite a few references to the current government (which might actually dilute the purpose of the book). However, it presents the partition from a broader perspective with emphasis on the political and personal ambitions/ ideologies of a handful of men who successfully messed up millions of lives for their benefit.
I received a review copy from Indica Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This review is posted as a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club 2022, an initiative by Indica and Indica Books.
*****
PS: I haven’t yet read any other books about Savarkar, and this is my first major reading.
April 6, 2022
Hidden in the Shadows by Imogen Matthews - Book Review
*****Sep 1944
The hidden village has been discovered and destroyed by the Nazis. Wouter, who should have been guiding the survivors to safety, panics and runs away to save his life. He feels guilty for his reaction and worries about Laura (his love) and others. Wouter manages to track some of them, though he has no information about Laura. He is determined to right the wrong and find her… if it’s not too late.
Laura is a Jew and knows that her chances of being alive are zero if found by the Nazis. She is moved from one place to another, hidden in the cellars and attics, and transported in the dark. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever get to stay in one place for long. Moreover, she wonders what happened to Wouter and if there’s any chance of having another chance at love.
Will Wouter and Laura find each other and be united? Can their love triumph in the bleakest of times?
What I Like:
• The book is less than 300 pages and has a decent page. It deals with Holland during wartime and how the locals did their best to hide/ save Jews from being caught by the Nazis.
• The side characters are more impactful and active in the book. They are the ones who take responsibility and get the job done.
• There is little violence in the book. What’s there is not graphic and is only mentioned. It was a relief, especially since this is my third book (back to back) in the WWII setting.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• Sigh! I know this book takes off where book one ends. I didn’t read it. That wasn’t a problem either. My issue was with the narration.
• The story moves between Wouter’s POV in the third person and Laura’s in the first person. Now, I should’ve connected to at least one of them. Instead, I liked Else, Kiki, Oliver, Dick, Bets, Henk, etc. Go figure!
• I hate to say this, but neither of the lead characters impressed me or made me worry for their safety. The distance between me and the lead characters was too vast and continued to grow wider. After a point, I just wanted the book to end.
• The timeline is also not smooth. The events happen before or after in one timeline, and we get to know if it is in the other. I don’t know if I would have felt differently if I read book one. The narrative style doesn’t seem to work for me.
• The saving grace was the network of the Dutch people who took a brave stance of defending the Jews in ways they could despite the dire circumstances and constant threat to their lives.
To sum up, Hidden in the Shadows uses an interesting theme, but the lead characters fail to make an impact. Those who read the first book loved this more, so you might want to pick that up before this one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #HiddenintheShadows
