Rudraman: The Battle For Earth by Vishwas Mudagal

Rudraman: The Battle For Earth by Vishwas Mudagal

"Rudraman" is a mythological book that made me dive into the era of 10000BC. It presents an imaginary map that makes you feel the real feel of the places and blends science with the mythological characters.

It vividly explores the untold origin of Rudra and the moment he entrusts the Rudragan with his divine knowledge. The short and fast paced story makes it quite easy to read.

It begins in 10,000 BC when a mysterious alien spaceship called a viman crashes in the Himalayas. This crash wakes up the powerful Lord Rudra, a strong warrior. The fight between the good Lord Rudra and the evil Taraak, along with the alien creatures, forms the basic plot. However, the story becomes even more interesting with characters like Shakti, her connection with Rudra, their journey together, etc.

I also liked the naming of each character in this book, as it was easy to read. So, in simple words, this is a simple and easily written mythological fiction that can be read by everyone, including those who are new to this genre. From the very start, the author builds a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.

𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒌 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒙. 𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚.
𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆.

One of the most memorable parts of the book for me was Princess Shakti’s fight with Bhimaraksh in the Valley of Bhutas. The scene was intense and gripping, clearly showing Shakti’s courage and strength. At the same time, it helped me understand the deep fear Bhimaraksh had created among the Gana clan over the years.

The questions like will Shakti find her equivalent, the other? Will Asurax destroy humanity? Will Shiva and Shakti stop the evil forces and save everyone from the unforeseen future? kept me going. 

The author has meticulously penned the character sketch and made this narrative very relatable. His simple yet evocative writing kept the suspense building throughout the story. He has presented vividly that every warrior has to take up difficult choices, and their decisions build up the future. So one should take wise decisions like the Rudra.

Overall, it is a thrilling read.

You, Me, and the Final List by Atul Mohite

 You, Me, and the Final List by Atul Mohite

"You, Me, and the Final List" is an intriguing and captivating read. It quietly talks about the pressure, timing, and choosing yourself over expectations of your loved ones. Many scenes felt palpable as they moved along the dreams and expectations of a person.

The story begins with Aarya, who keeps trying to stay focused on her UPSC preparation while her emotions slowly start changing things around her. Kabir is a struggling writer who figures out the hidden emotions lying deep beneath Aarya for years. Though their ideology about making lists and keeping to-do lists ready is entirely different.

I was intrigued to know about how their ideologies intermix with emotions to create a new bond. Though their chemistry grows gradually, which felt so believable. I also liked that the writing stays simple and easy to read. It focuses more on emotions and conversations. Some dialogues genuinely stay in your mind after finishing the book.

The writing is so simple and delightful that it adds to the warmth of reading. The author meticulously captures the pressure of ambitions and career expectations. The emotional turmoil and related loneliness that come with chasing big dreams. The small and dialogue based chapters add more to quick reading.

Overall, this is a heartwarming and cozy romantic read that stays for long.

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The Blind King by S. Deepanshu

 The Blind King by S. Deepanshu

As the name suggests this book talks about the blind king from Mahabharata. But what is so important or not so worthy about him that it needs to be acknowledged. It makes you ponder the both sides of a king who did his actions blindly in the love for his sons and not for the welfare of his kingdom.

The story explores the inner turmoil and regret over past decisions, making the king, a relatable & humanized figure. The story begins with Gandhari's curse for Krishna. In this book, I get to know a different perspective of Lord Krishna and Dhritarashtra's conversations are mostly with him. 

Through these conversations, Krishna confronts & guides the king about the consequences of his own actions. I loved how every chapter is balanced with past & present. The past is all about pre war, and the present is about post war. The book also highlights the struggle of the king's desires & duties.

We are all aware that Dhritarashtra was just physically blind, not mentally. He was mentally aware of everything. His character was both a spectator and a participant. And his lack of mental awareness made him a fool. However, if we look optimistically, we can see his unwavering love for his sons. 

He feared losing his son Duryodhana if he failed to acknowledge his inner thoughts. He was not only a king, but also a parent, and he ignored his instincts because he, too, knew Duryodhana was on the wrong path. He was stuck by his own insecurities. And his physical and emotional blindness forced him to listen to other people's voices rather than his own.

The author's writing is detailed and well-researched. He has vividly portrayed the aftermath of the war and how each character's action or inaction has led to loss and destruction. I found this unique and thought-provoking as it shares the fruit of what decisions we make on a personal level. Even the details of each character in depth adds to the knowledge and gives a better understanding of the scenario.

Overall, The Blind King left a lasting impression on me. It’s a fresh take on a classic epic, reinterpreting familiar legends through the lens of regret, responsibility, and ultimately, redemption. The reflective journey of Dhritarashtra, coupled with Krishna’s guiding wisdom, offers a thought-provoking narrative that encourages introspection about personal accountability and the ripple effects of our choices.

The Blood Twins | A Haunting Psychological Thriller | From the Author of The Girl in the House by Harshvardhan Rao

The Blood Twins | A Haunting Psychological Thriller | From the Author of The Girl in the House by Harshvardhan Rao

'The Blood Twins' is yet another Harshvardhan Rao's magic full of exciting rollercoasters. I was diving deep into the story from the prologue itself.

The story revolves around a duo – Ratan and Ravi – who start investigating a paranormal mystery. They discover a family that's torn apart by a curse. More than finding answers, there are more questions.

The village of Chandrapur feels mysterious, unsafe and filled with silence, as if something terrible is buried beneath the surface. The abandoned cottage and the strange energy around Abha create a sensation of darkness that prevails, and the suspense level is increased.

I also enjoyed the investigative flow brought by Ratan and Ravi. Their paranormal investigation slowly uncovers hidden truths, making the mystery more gripping with every discovery. The story constantly makes the reader question what is real, what is supernatural and what secrets people are still hiding.

Abha’s character adds emotional depth to the horror. Her connection to the curse and the abandoned cottage brings pain, tragedy and family history into the story, making it more than just frightening scenes. That emotional layer is what made the thriller stronger for me.

The author has well penned the emotions of a family and a bond of twins with the curse. The overpowering effect of the book and the curse together makes it a compelling read. The language is simple yet evocative and captivating.

Overall, it is a suspense-filled psychological thriller.

The Girls Are Not Fine: The cost of ambition, careers and becoming by Harnidh Kaur

The Girls Are Not Fine: The cost of ambition, careers and becoming by Harnidh Kaur

"The Girls Are Not Fine" is a thought-provoking read. I recognise daily that society assumes we are fine in every aspect. But when I read the detailed approach from every corner of our life, it made me spellbound.

This detailed approach to how girls are expected to be perfect and speechless, though in pain, is commendable. What stayed with me the most was how the book talks about being "fine".Women are taught from such a young age to hide their anger, sadness, and exhaustion just to keep everyone comfortable. 

The author explains these emotions in a very direct and unfiltered way, and that made the reading experience feel personal instead of preachy.I also liked that it talks about things people usually ignore: emotional labour, family expectations, marriage pressure, workplace inequality, and how women are constantly expected to give more of themselves.

What I liked the most was the refusal toolkit. She explains vividly where to use and how to interrupt the machine that depends on our silence. Even the invisible labour toolkit makes it accessible, as it is important to make other people realise that there is labour in every work that usually goes ignored.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking read.

Shadow Play Love and Blackmail by Nitish Bhushan

 Shadow Play Love and Blackmail by Nitish Bhushan

"Shadow Play" is a mind-boggling suspense thriller. It is the second book in the sequel to Love ... This made me revisit the characters, and the friendship is something I could envy.

The story begins with Raj being expelled from his job for ruining the company's reputation just because of his carelessness. He has no idea of who could be the possible hacker who tried to send a digital email and make him download the malware that takes away all the confidential data from his account.

Raj, Bhanu, and Ravi, continued from the first book, are buddies who stand for each other even in crisis. Their respective wives have brought more friendship, love, stability, and reliance to this. But someone has cast their evil eyes on them. And these guys, like always, are not going to take it lying down.

Amidst the whole revenge, hacking, and treason plot, I liked Raj's ill-timed and ludicrous dad jokes. Even the romance happening in the text is something to read.

The author has meticulously penned the techno awareness with possible threats to it. His blend of suspense with elements of trust and romance makes it a compelling read.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking and captivating read.

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Durga: The Baaghini: A Tattvaverse Saga by Krishnamurthy Shrikanth

 Durga: The Baaghini: A Tattvaverse Saga by Krishnamurthy Shrikanth

"Understanding life requires removing the fear of death." - Quote from the book

Talking about forest life is easy, but living in it and saving wildlife is not an easy job. This book is dedicated to a woman who is the savior of wildlife, and even the forest creatures are mingled with her essence and aroma as if they remember her from ages ago.

I was intrigued by the prologue itself to find out how the Sheshvan forest will be saved from the poachers. Is she going to be alive, or will she take rebirth? As the story progresses, the two girls have different attitudes and love for the forest. I was curious to unfurl who the real choti sherni is and how she will be the future savior of this forest.

I was shocked to hear the wordings of Virendra and Viraj when they said men are not meant to fear from blood. But they have something taken away from the Shesvan that was not meant to be. But how Durga will revive what was taken from them is a thrilling adventure. It is like turning pages to know how Durga seeks revenge and paves the way for justice in a true manner.

The author has meticulously penned the insightful lessons of life in a thought-provoking manner. His simple yet evocative writing is filled with love for nature. The short chapter added intrigue to the narrative.

Overall, it is a commendable piece of writing. 

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