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God is a Gamer

Ravi Subramanian (Goodreads Author)

3.72 · Rating details · 2,205 ratings · 271 reviews

Aditya runs a gaming company that is struggling to break even. A banker slips off a highrise building, plunging to her death. The finance minister has made some promises that he is finding hard to keep. The LTTE has unleashed terror in America that sends the FBI on a wild goose chase, bringing them to Mumbai.

Enter Varun, parttime drug dealer and fulltime genius. He turns ...more

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Paperback, 324 pages

Published September 12th 2014 by Penguin Books India

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Oct 09, 2014 Prity Malhotra rated it it was ok

I never Dare give my Favourite Author Ravi Subramanian's Books anything less then a 5 Stars but like Ashwin Sanghi's Private India, God is a Gamer turns out to be a Cold Turkey. Ravi Subramanian introduces a new writing style where he gives the reader short snippets/chapters which span upto 2-3 pages. This is what made me Cringe about reading this Book. I felt as if I am reading a Timeline of events occuring across the globe rather than reading a Novel. The Drawback of this was that even after r ...more

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Aug 14, 2015 Guttu rated it really liked it

I have no idea why this book is titled "God is a gamer"? It should have been something related to bank. Just like any other Ravi Subramanian books, this book is speedy. But unlike the previous books, It's very tough to guess who is the culprit? Who committed crime? And what crimes EXACTLY did he/she commit? There is so much information flowing through this book that there is very less scope for characters to develop. There is not a single character you would attach to. And yet this book keeps yo ...more

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Sep 12, 2014 Meghant Parmar rated it liked it

A lot has happened in one of the most prestigious banks of India i.e NYIB and the honchos are at loggerheads and the departmental heads completely down and out. There is no clue as to what hit them hard and fast. Meanwhile in U.S somebody is trying to meet the President and finish off an unfinished business. But there's a lot more for him in store. So what will happen from Mumbai to U.S when complexities in life will add up and come to haunt them forever? Will the guilty be guilty or will take d A lot has happened in one of the most prestigious banks of India i.e NYIB and the honchos are at loggerheads and the departmental heads completely down and out. There is no clue as to what hit them hard and fast. Meanwhile in U.S somebody is trying to meet the President and finish off an unfinished business. But there's a lot more for him in store. So what will happen from Mumbai to U.S when complexities in life will add up and come to haunt them forever? Will the guilty be guilty or will take down the entire system? Who's got the poker face and who's truly innocent is to be seen and who's the mastermind of all? That's what the story is all about.

The author has offered the first bitcoin thriller and rightly so. The expertise of the author in penning down banking thrillers comes handy in the latest one too. As a thriller book manages to pull out all stops to keep it tight and high on drama and numerous banking suspenses which keeps the readers busy most of the time. The book has got a new touch to it with smaller chapters and fluent narration which gives it an extra edge while keeping it all under wraps. The book towards the end comes back in good measures and saves the best for the last. The banking saga continues with good real life connections. The vivid imagination of the author taking story to great lengths should earn him some positive credits too.

The downside of the book is the lack of bitcoin hype in the story. The bitcoin takes a back seat in a number of other smaller plots and twists and turns. The number of characters in the story are one too many and could have been kept to a minimum. The numerous characters makes it clumsy at times and involvement of some fizzles out which does't quite looks to be clean. The book dulls in the middle and doesn't quite delivers the entire bitcoin scenario convincingly instead manuvers around other parallel plots bit too much. The gaming bit in the book eats up a lot of bitcoin space and proves to it's nemesis too. Probably toning down the story by few chapters would have helped as it gets dragged along too much.

All in all the book turns out to be more of a gaming thriller rather than a bitcoin affair. The bitcoin holding up true for sometime but not a glamorous deliverance unlike the previous works. The term bitcoin proving to be a good and bad in equal measures for the book. It's point blank thriller experience if something you are looking forward to but at the expense of some distractions. It all comes packed in one and gives a good experience of getting glimpses of the life of high profile banks and gaming industry. It's a good story but not a great one. ...more

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Sep 20, 2014 Pooja Jeevagan rated it really liked it

I now feel that Ravi is fast becoming a serial novelist...a novel a year or lesser...that puts him in the Jeffrey Archer kind of league...and while Jeffrey brings series of novel, Ravi follows the same backdrop...banks (always there, but never so much so that non-finance people are turned off...or so insane as to offend the real finance ones)...off late credit cards included in them...and some good dose of terrorism or technology...

This one is different from rest for each chapter was just a coup ...more

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Nov 13, 2014 Maria rated it it was amazing

Hi Ravi Subramanian. I was eagerly awaiting your latest, GOD IS A GAMER. It finally arrived and I was so pleased. So as I eagerly took the time to find a nice, quiet spot where I could read your thriller undisturbed. It took some doing, as I'm a busy mother with three teens and a preteen and they all need Mom now at some time or another. Yeah, they're all grown up, but they sometimes need someone to give them undivided attention, to listen to them and give encouragement - and that can be more in Hi Ravi Subramanian. I was eagerly awaiting your latest, GOD IS A GAMER. It finally arrived and I was so pleased. So as I eagerly took the time to find a nice, quiet spot where I could read your thriller undisturbed. It took some doing, as I'm a busy mother with three teens and a preteen and they all need Mom now at some time or another. Yeah, they're all grown up, but they sometimes need someone to give them undivided attention, to listen to them and give encouragement - and that can be more intense than taking care of youngsters. Then there's the MIL, the nemesis of the Indian wife. But the less said about that the better. The husband is no trouble at all, but I guess I'm lucky. So there I was, turning page after page. Bitcoins? A new, virtual internet currency? Wow, I had no idea. An American bank with branches in India and an ATM heist, excuted in an army type operation?? Wow, could it be possible. A US senator assassinated on his way to meet Obama? Chilling! You know what, Raviji, you are a game changer when it comes to the writing of thrillers. I mean, who needs crazed serial killers when you have high finance? Seriously. I can't look at an ATM machine anymore without a quiver of anticipation running up my spine. I'll never think of the boring old bank down the road in quite the same way again. Who woulda thunk, as the Americans say? Well, some of them. And as for gaming? There's a virtual universe in itself. My experience in gaming hasn't really gone beyond Tetris and Pac Man, but I do know that gaming is going extremely sophisiticated. In fact, it's a type of storytelling now. An online university, Iversity, ran a course ont he future of storytelling last year and the basic conclusion was that gaming is the new storytelling method. Are you sure you didn't do that course, Ravi Subramanian?

Your method of storytelling is something rather innovative and I have seen at least one other Indian thriller writer using it. It reads like a movie script. The chapters are short, just one scene at a time. One scene gives way to another and the story proceeds seamlessly. It's action all the way, no meaningless meandering. In fact, reading a Ravi Subramanian, any of them, is a viable alternative to watching television or a movie.

Yes, Ravi Subramanian, your book ticks all the boxes when it comes to fulfilling the requirements of the most discerning thriller reader. Suspense? Tick. Excitement? Tick. Characters for whom the readers can feel and with whom they can identify? Tick. A compulsive storyline? Tick. Tick. Tick. Double tick. In other words, my message to readers is: get this book.

And you know something else? Your book was educational. Yes! I found myself Googling bitcoins and the onion router. Just imagine that there's, like, an alternative world wide web where people with dark desires hang out without fear of exposure. Shivers up the spine again...... What a bold move, revealing the identity of the bitcoin founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. That's a real person and, like, no one knows who he really is.

Complaints? Nope, not too many. Apart for the fact that the narrative is sometimes so fast paced that it leaves me breathless, not a complaint when it comes to suspense thrillers. But Ravi Subramanian, you need to talk to some of your characters. Some of them have multiple personalities. Take Tanya, for example. She starts off as a bechari with a problem mother and ends up as a very black character indeed who is nonetheless more sinned against than sinning. And that Nikki Tan has to be the worst mother I've ever come across, giving her daughter carte blanche to use the Onion Router for criminal activities, however soft. And Varun? Don't get me started on Varun! He makes my blood boil and that is just about as nice as I can be. Tell me, Ravi Subramanian, why did you create a paranormal monster in what is so obviously a contemporary suspense thriller? Frankenstein has nothing on this guy. Varun is like a freaking Dracula. Be you in Brazil or in Goa, he will step out of the shadows into your life and sweep you off your feet. And then he will make mad, passionate love to you on the beach and .....well, I'm not the reviewer who will provide spoilers for the readers. But I tell you, I have severe difficulty with Varun and some of his escapades. Is he black or is he white? Is he good or is he bad? I'm still not quite sure what the heck Varun is supposed to be, but if I ever run into that guy, I will give him a piece of my mind for sure. He's a most amoral character and all I can say is, the man is surely endowed with multiple personalities.

But Raviji, I want to thank you for a great read. Do keep them coming. But go easy on the multiple personality type characters. They freak me out, somewhat.

I received a complimentary copy of htis book in return for an honest review.
...more

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Aug 22, 2015 Shravanthi rated it it was amazing

God is a Gamer:

An excellent, unparalleled plot coupled with amazing story-telling!
Truly, I did not expect this from an Indian author. It was a pleasant surprise.

A thriller that managed to make Sidney Sheldon and Dan Brown look like kiddos scribbling random stuff.

I’m not going to give anything away in the name of spoilers. Everybody who reads this book deserves to go into it without having any preconceived notions. If you think that Indian authors don’t cut it as Thriller authors – then take th God is a Gamer:

An excellent, unparalleled plot coupled with amazing story-telling!
Truly, I did not expect this from an Indian author. It was a pleasant surprise.

A thriller that managed to make Sidney Sheldon and Dan Brown look like kiddos scribbling random stuff.

I’m not going to give anything away in the name of spoilers. Everybody who reads this book deserves to go into it without having any preconceived notions. If you think that Indian authors don’t cut it as Thriller authors – then take this! In your face ! (Yep, that’s my experience literally. I am sorry Ravi Subramanian, I should have picked up your book earlier. I was judgmental and wrong.)

The author clearly knew what he was doing. He has done his research and his home work perfectly. He is an exemplary, masterful, superlative story crafter in the Thriller genre.

The story took off like a rocket. Not a single line was wasted in preamble. The story kick started with a scam, hooking the readers on. Reading the book was like watching a commercial Kollywood (Like Hollywood but in South India) movie. It had politics, affairs, drugs, murder, sex, greedy money launderers and slander. It’s nothing we haven’t seen or heard of before, in the way of story; but there was something different about ‘God is a Gamer’. Even with these classic themes of crimes, Ravi Subramanian has managed to deliver a fresh plot.

The biggest plus point is that, the story takes place in two parallel lines, across nations. Events are happening simultaneously in India and the US. The Governments and the Intelligence agencies from both the countries are flummoxed. Neither of them can solve the mysterious murders and cyber thefts that have taken the nations by storm. Bringing together these two disconnected plotlines is the overall script.

The plot progresses in breakneck speed; there is a twist after twist. It maintained the suspense all throughout its 300 odd pages, without ever succumbing to lag even once. The clues are so subtly given that even the most experienced, self-proclaimed mystery-solver, reader cannot break it.

One tiny detail that I felt was far-fetched was the seamless operation of a huge online network. If running a government is tough, running an incognito cyber network of criminals is tougher. Gathering bitcoin-laundering, prostitution, pedophilia and pornography under the same umbrella wasn’t very convincing. I think he could have limited the crime rate for these goons and stuck to one of these.

And of course don’t go looking for deep characters with meaningful backgrounds. This book is about racy story and high from thrills. I was honestly lost when trying to figure out who the bad guys were. I couldn’t eliminate anybody, while people I truly suspected were murdered!

This is a huge success for an Indian author. I am so glad there are people like him among Chetan Bhagats and Durjoy Duttas and Ravinder Singhs. I finished it in one day, so that should be testament of how good this is. And yes, that was my Sunday that was sacrificed. No regrets.
...more

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Sep 16, 2014 Seemita rated it really liked it

Its a racy thriller which is taut and zippy. Not a dull moment. I read it in one sitting and yes, it does keep you hooked! The characters have been well sketched and one doesn't struggle to keep pace with the narration and names. The subject is interesting. Keeping the average reader in mind, a lot of bitcoin theory has not be thrown into it, which would be relief to many. It does just about its work, keeping you guessing! And yes, I did let slip a victorious grin when the climax was revealed... ...more

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Oct 26, 2014 Jaideep Khanduja rated it really liked it

http://pebbleinthestillwaters.blogspo...

Book Review: God Is A Gamer by Ravi Subramanian: A Journey of Scandals, Murders, Heists and Money Laundering

God Is A Gamer by Ravi Subramanian is a crime story plotted in an international arena involving political leaders of the United States and India; investigation agencies of both the countries and some high level banking professionals. There are many interesting characters in the story. Their journey starts in isolation in the beginning chapters of the http://pebbleinthestillwaters.blogspo...

Book Review: God Is A Gamer by Ravi Subramanian: A Journey of Scandals, Murders, Heists and Money Laundering

God Is A Gamer by Ravi Subramanian is a crime story plotted in an international arena involving political leaders of the United States and India; investigation agencies of both the countries and some high level banking professionals. There are many interesting characters in the story. Their journey starts in isolation in the beginning chapters of the story but later all the links between them come into light gradually. Story starts with an international bank NYIB (New York International Bank) with its operations in India. Three friends - Aditya, Swami and Sundeep. Aditya and Sundeep move out of the bank and start their own organization eTIOS to handle banking operations as an outsourced agency. NYIB is the first bank to outsource them for their operations. Aditya and Sundeep are also engaged in running their gaming industry launching online games from time to time.

Swami was aspiring to become overall operations head in a short time until he gets a big jerk in his career, when Malvika (his boss) sends a confidential negative report about his performance to the Asia Pacific Headquarter of the bank. This all resulted from a heist that takes place in the country and customers lose money in fake money withdrawals through ATMs from their account. Then there are murders, more heists on a larger scale, involvement of many international names in scandals, murders, heists etc.

My View:
I became a die hard fan of Ravi Subramanian when I first read his book The Bankster (reviewed here) in November 2012. This is fifth fiction novel from Ravi and all of his stories revolve around crime related to banking in one way or the other. Having a large amount of his career spent in various portfolios in banking, he is probably aware of in and out of banking business. He also has a non fiction to his credit. Overall story is quite interesting and keep you hooked to the plot throughout 300+ pages. The virtual money floating over the internet in large amounts is an interesting bit in the story.

Somewhere in the story, Varun visits Tanya's residence and is stopped abruptly when he is taking a bottle of wasabi nuts from one of the shelves in the kitchen to taste some nuts. Varun likes Wasabi Nuts and hence could not stop himself for this action. Tanya immediately stops him with a reason that the bottle has crossed its expiry date and hence let him not take nuts from this bottle. She brings another bottle for him. This is something that Ravi would have kept as a point to be talked about at the end when the suspense is being disclosed, but probably forgot it or skipped it.

You will feel it a quick read and running the book faster as each chapter is not more than 2-3 pages. Otherwise also story has been kept crisp and moving at a right pace to keep you engaged throughout. The story is about good and bad, crime and investigation, law and violations. Bigger the crime, more is the research and analysis required to reach to the crux of crime and criminals. Ravi might have plans to come out with a sequel to tackle Varun later. As far as title is concerned, more than God, it is the human mind that is behind all crime related plannings and executions. The crime becomes so big that law is forced to crack it but still a criminal with a different bend of mind is still able to play with the law and give a twist to the final outcome. ...more

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Sep 19, 2021 Satya Balakrishnan rated it really liked it

Good pop fiction!

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Nov 12, 2014 Namrata Ganti rated it really liked it

I received this book via Blod adda in exchange for an honest review and I really enjoyed this book from the moment I started reading it. This is the second book I have read by Ravi Subramanian and I believe this book is as different from the previous as it is wonderful to read.

God is a Gamer is a story of revenge, a story that touches upon the various emotions of betrayal, trust, lies, love and family. The story starts off with the murder of a high profile person in America. The prologue introdu I received this book via Blod adda in exchange for an honest review and I really enjoyed this book from the moment I started reading it. This is the second book I have read by Ravi Subramanian and I believe this book is as different from the previous as it is wonderful to read.

God is a Gamer is a story of revenge, a story that touches upon the various emotions of betrayal, trust, lies, love and family. The story starts off with the murder of a high profile person in America. The prologue introduces us to a discussion between the President of Mastercard International and the CEO of Visa International followed later by the emergence of Wikileaks and its impact on the US Government. The author then talks about the existence of virtual money called bitcoins, slated to be the future of money and thus is formed a plot that will turn the world upside down. An explosion that kills an American Bureaucrat has the FBI running around trying to solve the case as soon as possible.

In India, a prominent banker, Malvika dies by falling off a rooftop at a party held in her house which raises quite a few doubts. Aditya Rao owns a small gaming company that suddenly becomes well known all around the world once Varun joins the team. There is a lot of internal politics that arises within the Bank where Malvika worked and the author has drawn this out beautifully. The concept of virtual money turns out to be a part of a darker plot and the internet doesn’t seem to be such a safe place anymore.

Ravi Subramanian has woven a master plot that will keep you hooked till the end. Throughout the story, he will keep the reader guessing, wondering what is going to happen next. The author manages to keep the suspense till the very end when the entire plot unravels in a brilliant ending. This story is as much an expose on how various agencies around the world function as it is an in depth analysis on how people think. The base plot is strong and the sub-plots help in strengthening it.

The style of writing is wonderful and the author keeps up a good pace throughout the story without losing track. I particularly enjoyed all the information he has incorporated regarding Bitcoins which shows just how much research has gone into writing this story. I love the characters he has created and the way each one has an important role to play. In the end every loose thread is tied up and the whole plot is laid as the author ends the story in style.

All this boils down to a fast paced thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat reading until the very end without a moment’s pause. The reader will keep turning the pages of the book just to know what happens next. The way the author has indirectly said that God is indeed a gamer and we are all just a part of his game is a brilliant take on how this world functions This is a must read for all fans of thrillers and mysteries. ...more

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Jan 14, 2015 Jay rated it liked it

Ravi Subramanian has perfectly carved out a niche for himself in the fiction category. A smart move which is bearing him fruits, considering the fact that he has a long legacy in the banking industry. Although, don't get misguided by the word 'fiction', for a lot of the subjects talked about and mentioned in this book have their origins in real life people, technologies and scams.

Ravi works like a master craftsman working at high levels of accuracy and agility to keep the story moving forward. H ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Swathi Kiranmayee Manchili rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: indian-fiction

Amazing story telling by Ravi Subramanian!

Story links Indian politician, CBI, banking sector, FBI, US senator and technology students. Author links them in an interesting way. The author keeps the reader engaged through out the book. There was no point in the book where I felt it to be boring or something which sounded redundant. I liked the short chapters format and it was a quick read.

I would definitely recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading more of Ravi Subramanian.

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Sep 15, 2014 Soumi Homeroy rated it it was amazing

A very smart fast-paced thriller. Got the ebook on the release day itself. Visa, MasterCard, bitcoins, facebook, gaming and their strategies on FB....so many interesting topics. Now I understand why I used to get stuck in some levels while playing Candy Crush or Pet Rescue saga. I recommend that anyone who loves smart intelligent thriller should read this.

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Dec 27, 2014 Ishani Malhotra rated it it was amazing

Good job Ravi. Congrats for the book once more.

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Nov 20, 2014 Afshan Khan rated it liked it

God is a gamer is the first book by Ravi Subramanian which I read and I must say I am impressed. I don't read many books of this genre specially written by Indian authors but this one took me by surprise. Ravi truly felt like the John Grisham of banking. All in all the book is good and I wish Ravi comes up with many more interesting plots in future and entertains his readers. My detailed review is below.

Story line , characters and my Review:

The story starts with two big shots Vijay Banga, Presid God is a gamer is the first book by Ravi Subramanian which I read and I must say I am impressed. I don't read many books of this genre specially written by Indian authors but this one took me by surprise. Ravi truly felt like the John Grisham of banking. All in all the book is good and I wish Ravi comes up with many more interesting plots in future and entertains his readers. My detailed review is below.

Story line , characters and my Review:

The story starts with two big shots Vijay Banga, President of Mastercard International and Joseph Saunders, the CEO of Visa International discussing business and the amendments , profits and the losses, followed by the mysterious murder of Gillian Tan. Initially when the characters get introduced one by one it gets tough to connect the dots but slowly as the story gets unfolded one can put all the pieces together and solve the puzzle. The episodes happening in Newyork , Mumbai and Goa seem disconnected but by the end of it it everything makes sense. The element of surprise and the essence of suspense are intact in the story. The central plot of the story is based on author's creation of "Bit coins" which is the virtual currency and can revolutionize the world. Like pros and cons of every great invention, this has loop holes too and gives scope for illegal activities. The chance to hide one's identity is like a boon to the criminals and helps them to do money transactions using bitcoin wallets and private keys easily which other wise would be tough.

I am truly amazed by the author's imagination here. The technical jargon he used is not that tough as I am aware of banking and computing. It increased my knowledge and I learnt many new things. Kudos to the research he has done to pen down various aspects of the entire plot. He explored the gaming business, made us aware of the fact- how dangerous phishing can be, made us aware of many nuances of banking and much more. As the story picks pace two more murders happen and open the can of worms for Tanya who is the daughter of Malavika. The entire plot is about connecting the dots - Gillian Tan's murder , the murders in India, the illegal businesses handled by "Cotton Trail" so on so forth. The book definitely kept me glued. I rarely read this genre and the story for sure didn't disappoint me.

Characters and things I liked: I loved the character Aditya Rao the founder of eTIOS and Indispace (the gaming company). His passion , perseverance and his desire to stick to ethics is inspiring. I liked Varun's quick witted brain. I liked the way the author tried to strike the chords of almost all who use social media (Facebook) and who play games. Knowing how the gaming business works was the most interesting part to me. The various episodes which seem haphazard are seamlessly blended once the mystery gets resolved.The "Bitcoin" idea was fresh and innovative. I loved the cover page with a Bit coin symbol and the silhouette of a man. It is stylish. The title is apt too. The ending was a surprise which gets disclosed once Kabir Khan and Adrian Scott assemble every one to interrogate. It was not that easy to guess who the actual culprit was! Most of the characters portrayed felt realistic.

Few minuses :

There are few stories and episodes which definitely were needed but were not connected strongly to the actual plot and hence got compromised but I was willing to know more :)

Even if it kept me glued there was too much to take in and the pace of the book slowed down after completing almost half of it.

Few dialogues and descriptions of few characters seemed repetitive.
There are 2-3 words which were spelled wrong but you will observe them only if you have a keen eye to find mistakes :)

Other than these minor glitches which can almost be ignored, I loved the book, the plot and the fresh feeling I got after reading few crap books penned down by any one and every one these days. My rating would be 3.5/ 5.

If bollywood has guts the film makers should try making a movie of this book by executing it correctly. It would be wonderful to watch the movie adaption! All the best to the author Ravi Subramanian. I will definitely try reading his other books starting with Bankster first as I already own it. Thank you Blogadda for sending a good book to review :)

Icing on the cake is the author signed copy I own now !! Thank You :- ) ...more

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Oct 21, 2014 Pallavi Kamat rated it liked it

Let me confess, at the outset, that I am a huge fan of Ravi Subramanian's books. His 'The Incredible Banker' remains one of my favourite books till date. I also happened to win an autographed copy of 'Devil In Pinstripes' in one of the contests on Twitter.

The blurb of 'God Is A Gamer' states: What happens when you cross gamer, banker, politician and terrorist with virtual money? From the bestselling author of If God Was a Banker comes the first ever bitcoin thriller. God Is a Gamer is a world wh Let me confess, at the outset, that I am a huge fan of Ravi Subramanian's books. His 'The Incredible Banker' remains one of my favourite books till date. I also happened to win an autographed copy of 'Devil In Pinstripes' in one of the contests on Twitter.

The blurb of 'God Is A Gamer' states: What happens when you cross gamer, banker, politician and terrorist with virtual money? From the bestselling author of If God Was a Banker comes the first ever bitcoin thriller. God Is a Gamer is a world where money means nothing, martyrs are villains, predators are prey, assassination is taught by the ancient Greeks, and nothing is as it seems. Moving from Washington's Congress to Delhi's finance ministry, the beaches of Goa to the corporate boardrooms of Mumbai, this is Ravi Subramanian's most gripping novel yet.

The premise of the novel is definitely interesting – a thriller that connects an ATM heist in New York with a website Cotton Trail which enables transactions in bitcoins to the addictive world of online gaming and the workings of multinational banks and the hacking risks they are exposed to. The story connects the murder of a senator in Washington with the suicide (?) of the CEO of a MNC bank in India to a hit-and-run case and laptop users getting burnt due to overheating of their machines. It is quite unusual in the sense that it moves effortlessly across seemingly disparate incidents and distinct locations (Washington, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Ukraine, New York City, Sangamner, Stanford, etc.)

The book is certainly a page-thriller and I finished it in almost one sitting; the chapters are shorter and crisper compared to his earlier novels and make for easier reading. I liked how he has incorporated into the story the tale of how Socrates died; I also liked the way John Keats' 'Ode to a Nightingale' appeared in the narrative. All the characters such as Aditya, Varun, Tanya, Swami, Malvika, Sundeep,etc. were developed quite well with their mannerisms and intricacies told in a detailed fashion. Ravi has quite intelligently given the characters real-life names: Vijay Banga (President, Mastercard International) sounds similar to Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard; Aditya Rao (pioneer in banking in India) sounds similar to Aditya Puri, MD of HDFC Bank; Malvika Sehgal, CEO of New York International Bank could be any of the leading female bank CEOs in India currently – Chanda Kochhar, Shikha Sharma, Kalpana Morparia, etc.

Ravi has done quite a bit of research while writing this book – explaining the intricacies and technicalities of bitcoins (digital currency which not many are familiar with yet) and online gaming (including advertising it on Facebook and the manner in which it generates revenues). However, sometimes it got too technical for me and I had to re-read entire paragraphs to try and understand what was being said.

I felt the author has tried so hard to write about multiple elements that it has become quite a mish-mash. At times, it became quite difficult to keep track of who was who and what role that person had played so far in the story. Combining so many elements into a single story meant that no story really grew on its own; it seemed as if all of them were stretched liberally to connect in the end.

Also, there were quite a few grammatical and spelling errors in the book. For instance on Page 36, the sentence reads as “It was only on her mother's insistence that had she come back to India in the intervening period.” The word deposition is misspelled as depostion on Page 196. On Page 219, the sentence reads as “She couldn't take her eyes of the glittering diamond ring.” Towards the end, it appeared as though the author was in a rush to finish the book – the last chapter seems to be written hurriedly, almost in bullet points-like sentences.

All in all, the book makes a good read but I would not call it one of the author's best works till date. Read it to enlighten yourself about the intricate web of online gaming, bitcoins and banks' security systems.

I received a review copy of this book as part of the Book Reviews Program of blogadda.com. This review first appeared on my blog www.pallosworld.blogspot.in. ...more

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Oct 18, 2014 Ava rated it really liked it

I got this book as a review copy from Vivek Tejuja, though the book is signed by Ravi Subramanian himself. I must confess that Indian writers disappoint me more often than not. Hence I approached the book with trepidation.

It started well. The book was well written. The language was clear and simple. There was no attempt to be 'witty' or 'smart'. This was a relief. Many a good book has been ruined for me because the writer tried to be funny in every sentence. Big Mistake! Not everyone can pull of ...more

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Feb 23, 2015 Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws rated it liked it

Shelves: review-copy, books-i-own, iwe-2015

On one hand we have the death of Malvika, a banker, who falls off a high rise building. On the other hand we have Arjun, a struggling entrepreneur, whose business seem to get a strong foothold once Varun, a part time drug dealer, joins him. Meanwhile, a meeting between the President of Mastercard International and the CEO of the Visa International is underfoot while another meeting in the US could have a huge impact on the global market. And how does the world of bitcoins, virtual money, fit in On one hand we have the death of Malvika, a banker, who falls off a high rise building. On the other hand we have Arjun, a struggling entrepreneur, whose business seem to get a strong foothold once Varun, a part time drug dealer, joins him. Meanwhile, a meeting between the President of Mastercard International and the CEO of the Visa International is underfoot while another meeting in the US could have a huge impact on the global market. And how does the world of bitcoins, virtual money, fit in the whole plot?

The first thing about this novel is its plot and sub-plots. There is a lot going on to keep the readers going. Spanning over different continents, from India to USA, the story is a rollercoaster ride. Finely woven into tangles, the reader has to work with the author to untangle all the threads and reach the conclusion. The narration of the story has been broken into short chapters, taking us from one end of the world to another, are really not as effective as the ones that James Patterson produces. It did feel a bit abrupt as sometimes a chapter would all of a paragraph leaving me thinking – ‘wait, I want to know more there’.

Another aspect of any book is its characters. ‘God is a Gamer’ has a whole bunch of them while none of them actually stand out. It was hard for me to connect to any of the characters sometimes because of the lack of background and sometimes because of the style of narration. They are there to give the plot a certain direction, yet none of them really makes an impression. Neither the protagonist, nor the antagonist made me want to root for them. And even after finishing the whole book, I cannot say I know even one character completely.

I have loved Ravi Subramain’s previous works, and have been looking forward to this one, especially what with the concept of bitcoins being promoted so much. But I was sorely disappointed this time. This book has a lot of action, thrills and keeps you turning the pages. Yet overall it fails miserably if you have read the author’s previous works.
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Oct 22, 2015 Salesh Fernando rated it it was amazing

It’s time for my pen to speak up yet again. It’s a fresh start after a month in wilderness and I begin with my first ever book review – Ravi Subramanian’s God is a gamer.

I bumped into his If God was a Banker by accident and I was glad I did. Here was an Indian author who understood the sensibilities of his target audience. The end though left me a touch disappointed. I felt it could have been a lot more than what it was. Little did I know that a sequel was in store.

There are three things I look ...more

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Oct 09, 2014 Hemant Jain rated it really liked it

Pretty awesome I would say !!

There are times when you find it difficult to hold all the different threads of the story in your head. But eventually Ravi ties them all together (a few were tied in unconvincingly though) and alls well that ends well.

The clincher is the climax where you are not only surprised but shocked !!

The multiple threads are pretty interesting ... Bitcoins, drug trade, ATM heist, money laundering, politics, banking, gaming world and facebook, various relationships and char ...more

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Sep 20, 2014 Amit Das rated it liked it

The book is fast paced and like Ravi's other books, this one too has multiple stories running together in different geographies. Probably he does it to increase suspense and create a kind of intensity.
He has done in depth research on bitcoins and thus the book is also quite informative for readers who are not so exposed to this part of the world.
However, somehow you would be able to identify the real culprit midway. Here Ravi could have avoided giving too many clues. He also could have avoided ...more

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Sep 21, 2014 Usha rated it really liked it

A fast and an easy read.. The author has surely grabbed the attention of the reader till the end. The world of gaming and the virtual money was all new to me and interesting. The book is with lots of twist and turns. Having read all of Ravi Subramaniam's books, this one for sure is not on banking and with a different theme. I enjoyed the book. The ending could have been better. But definitely worth a read into mystery. ...more

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Sep 23, 2014 Veturi rated it liked it

Thanks to Vivek Tejuja, I got an autographed copy of Ravi Subramanian’s latest book “God is a Gamer”. Having read Ravi Subramanian earlier, I know what to expect and he does not disappoint in any way and delivers an easy to read, impossible to put down, pointless to criticize, globetrotting thriller that adds another feather to his already glorious repertoire.

Read the full review here

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Oct 01, 2014 Mansi Udeshi rated it it was amazing

When you pick up a Banker Series, there is no way you keep it down until you are done start to finish. God is a gamer is another one of your writing, I did not feel like putting down. Very well woven book. Thanks for giving us exciting reads but be like Akshay Kumar who comes with many movies during the year and not like Aamir Khan, just one a year.

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Oct 19, 2016 Gurnam Sodhi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Simply Awesome!!!!! This is the second book of the author which I have read and I am already a fan of his writings. The best part is that you always know who the culprit will be in the end, but still the story grips you with equal measure.

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Dec 08, 2016 Aditya Lahoti rated it it was amazing

This was my first experience of crime fiction by an Indian author. And boy, it was quite a ride. Wonderful, exciting and most importantly connecting the right dots in the right time. No phase does the novel come to a standstill. A worthy read. Well Done Mr. Subramanian. Nailed it!!

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Feb 14, 2017 Naveen N. Bhat rated it it was amazing

That moment when you are reading a book at the bus stop and the bus arrives but you don't want to shut the book yet. Pretty much sums up God is a Gamer for me. ...more

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Sep 10, 2016 Rajat Arora rated it really liked it

its a really good book for a crime novel lover.

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Sep 02, 2017 LuvLaw rated it it was amazing

Shelves: awesome-books

Very Rarely I review books and if I do, it's only if I truly loved them.

This is my first book of Ravi S. and I asked my usual book seller, do you recommend this? He enthusiastically said yes and I gave it a try and I must say what a try it was. I was hooked to his way of writing from the start.

Let me start with Bitcoins.

Being a Lawyer I had some knowledge about what they are but not in detail.

I googled a little bit about them and then it was a go for me.

Amazing plot. Kept me thinking who is ...more

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Oct 20, 2014 Soumya Prasad (bluntpages) rated it liked it

What happens when you cross a gamer, a banker, a politician and a terrorist with virtual money?

I had never read any book by this author before. I was told that he is good. The gist of the book and the intriguing cover piqued my interest. But having read some horrendous Indian author books in the recent times, I was really skeptical about this one. But somehow the interest remained on this one and I applied for the review. This book introduced me to bitcoins or virtual money. I was not aware of t What happens when you cross a gamer, a banker, a politician and a terrorist with virtual money?

I had never read any book by this author before. I was told that he is good. The gist of the book and the intriguing cover piqued my interest. But having read some horrendous Indian author books in the recent times, I was really skeptical about this one. But somehow the interest remained on this one and I applied for the review. This book introduced me to bitcoins or virtual money. I was not aware of this concept of currency until I read this book. Either this is a new concept or either I was too dumb. Anyway, I have to thank this book for this new found knowledge of mine. This novel is said to be the first ever bitcoin thriller and I couldn't wait to read it. Having grown up reading Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie, mystery always excites me. And I was waiting to plunge myself in the book and finish it as soon as possible.

Gillian Tan, the senator of the United States Of America is murdered and FBI agents Adrian Scott and Tony are investigating this case. Malvika Sehgal, the chairman of New York International Bank (NYIB), plunges to her death one fine day. Media believes this to be a suicide but her daughter Tanya thinks otherwise. And Malvika's affair with a high profile minister only adds fuel to the fire. Aditya, the head of a gaming company is battling his own beliefs as his prodigal son, Varun, is set to change all the rules of the company. Josh, the terrorist who is responsible for a series of ATM heists that rocks the whole of NYIB and the USA. All these plots move around in a fast pace making this an interesting read. The element of mystery is high and it sure evokes a thrill in the reader. There are other subplots too as part of this story. An illegitimate daughter, a drugs trail, a hooker, phishing attacks and a BPO company. This was too much to take at times, but the mystery still remained and so does the interest in the book.

The story is fast paced and moves back and forth from Mumbai to the USA. The characters are strongly etched (except Tanya) and each one holds on its own. The entire story revolves around a web of love, sex, drugs, power, deceit and revenge. Although the revenge part is not clear until the climax. The execution of the scenes is brilliant and the language used is perfect. No typos and no out of place words. The English used is layman and it can be read without a handy dictionary. Politics is already an interesting genre, add to it the thrill of murder and conspiracy and you have a winner in hand. Bitcoins form the crux of the story and it stealthily shows the greed of the rich and famous. The author has used real names of companies here like Visa, Mastercard and Facebook. Indiscape, the gaming company also sounds real and hooks the reader by talking about real addictive games like Farmville, Townsville and Mafia Dons. The author however chooses to show the Indian police force in poor light, with a lame and rusty ACP Shome assisting the two FBI agents in their investigation. The story definitely has the potential to be a good one, but it falls short towards the end.

I guessed the climax half way through the book, but I read on to know how it unfolds. At one point the story gets so overloaded with talks of politics, money, terrorism and bitcoins that there was chaos in my mind for a good few hours. Individually, each topic is brilliant. But when put together it becomes too much to take. If the story only revolved around bitcoins, this one sure would have been a winner. An assassination is understandable but the murder of an innocent victim somehow did not make sense to me. That angle was not required at all especially when the idea was to convict a person who had committed various other crimes too. The actual brain behind the plan is kept hidden until the end of the story. The story actually completes only after the epilogue, which I quite didn't understand why. The book at 310 pages is not that long, but the 98 chapters were not required. Most of the chapters end in a page or two. And each chapter shifts from one parallel story to another. Racy, yes. Easy for the reader, no.

The story could have been more compact and solid if it was condensed to around 20 chapters with great detailing in them. The sexual abuse angle which is revealed in the climax, makes sense but there is no build up around it. It suddenly is revealed and it almost immediately forms the actual motive of the entire book. Tanya on whose shoulders the book rests, is the weakest character. Nothing about her is detailed and she seems very lost and out of place throughout the story. Even when minute details of her life are ripped apart by the FBI, her reaction seems to be denial and confusion. This is not what a heroine is supposed to be like. The story then ends on a false note. Why false you ask? The cops arrest someone who is set up by the actual culprit. When the cops realize their folly, they do nothing about it thinking that if they reopen the case they might be thought of as idiots. The actual culprit gets the revenge and the happily ever after. Funnily for a thriller, the actual cause of the entire revenge and the soul of the book remains love.

Verdict: Chaotic. But worth a read. The mystery is gripping and hooks you to the book.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books! ...more

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About Ravi Subramanian

Ravi Subramanian

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Ravi Subramanian's latest book - IN THE NAME OF GOD - a thriller, releases on June 26, 2017

Ravi Subramanian, an alumnus of IIM Bengaluru, has spent two decades working his way up the ladder of power in the amazingly exciting and adrenaline-pumping world of global banks in India.

He is the award winning author of eight bestselling books :

If God was a Banker (2007),
I Bought the Monks Ferrari (20 ...more

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“success is not always measured in terms of dollars earned or turnover. It is measured in terms of the difference you have made to the people around you.” — 8 likes

“Find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with and hold on to her forever.” — 1 likes

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