Book Review - Demons of Time: Race to the 7th Sunset (✩✩✩✩)

Even though I finished reading this book more than a month back, it is only now that I got the time to pen down my thoughts. Varun, apologies for this terrible delay!)

When one thinks of the sci-fi genre, we mostly end up thinking of foreign authors, Varun Sayal, in my opinion, is here to change that. The first book that I read by him (Time Crawlers), which also happened to be his first book, fascinated me so much that when Varun approached me with his second book, I just could not not accept the offer. In fact, it was an honour to be able to read the ARC of Demons of Time. Thank you, Varun, both for letting me read the ARC and mostly, for writing this wonderful book!

Plot: If I had to summarise the story in one line, I'd say it is a race against time story, topped up with fight between the good and the evil, with a slice of sci-fi, garnished with a squeeze of Hindu mythology - in short, a perfect recipe. (Even though that would be majorly simplifying the story-line.) While I am usually a fan of blurbs that do justice to the content of the book, for a masterpiece like this one, I do not think there can be any blurb to prepare you for the roller-coaster ride you're in for. In short, what I am trying to say is that the story has layers and layers that a reader will enjoy discovering right from page one.

Language: The language is the star of this book. If you have read my reviews, you would already know that I am a fan of simple language. Demons of Time is definitely one of those books. The language used is simple, yet very descriptive, and it surely paints a picture for the reader. There is no unnecessary jargon or use of random flowery language, just a crisp narrative that I enjoyed a lot. Further, the science part of the sci-fi has been broken down very well, for the ease of understanding of the readers. And the way the same has been blended with ancient Hindu mythology is commendable. Reading the intricate details of the blend of science and mythology is what set this book in a different league for me than most others. 

Characters: Most of the characters have been well-developed, especially the main ones of Tej, Rigu and the 'evil' brothers. However, there were still certain characters that I would like to know more about. I would like to read a prequel from the point of view of Tej's mother, for example. I think it would be interesting to have different takes coming together in one story. That is something I think the author can explore.

Climax: For me, the reason why I have given this book four stars and not five is the revelation that comes towards the end of the book. For me, even though the same was very predictable, it did not leave me very justified. As a reader, I would've wanted more juice towards the end. Since the plot was developed so well since the beginning, it ended up in me expecting much much more at the end. Since this is the first book in the series, I am looking forward to what happens next, and maybe that'll make me feel differently about the ending of this part.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves sci-fi, time travel, fantasy fiction, mythology - in short, anyone who enjoys reading beyond the realm of reality as we know it. You will not be disappointed. I, for one, am eagerly waiting for the next part!

*****

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My Solo Travels in Italy - Tips, Tricks, Hacks (Part 1 - Venice)

Venice 02/03/2019

First Sight @ Venice

Vezenia was my first almost solo travel in Italy. What initially started as a group trip ended up being me in Venice with just one more classmate. Nevertheless, Venice was remarkable and I am glad I started with this. 

Ferry Stop at Venice

Venice hosts a masked carnival every year from mid February to beginning of March. On initial enquiry, most of my European classmates, especially the ones from Italy, discouraged the idea of going to Venice during Carnival time. The reason being - it'll be too crowded! Well, I have lived in India all my life, so crowd was a challenge I was totally up for. In fact, it was barely a challenge!

I was out for a party on Friday night, which ended around 3am. My bus was scheduled at 4am, so I walked from the party place to the bus stop. The journey to Venice took about 7 hours, and I was in the land of Shakespeare by 11am. My first stop was Burano. My sister and brother in-law had been there a couple of years back and swore by it. Needless to say, I absolutely had to visit it. And Burano didn't disappoint! 

Burano is a very small island located 40 minutes away from Venice. One can easily catch a ferry and reach there in under an hour. I had my breakfast (sandwich that I'd packed a day before) in the ferry, brushed my teeth and got all set to discover Burano.

Burano was not only spectacularly beautiful but the fact that it was small and compact made it even more charming. I could really cover the entire island on foot in 1-2 hours. I took a short wine break at the port before heading back to Venice.

Burano!

By the time I arrived in Venice, the scene was even better than what I had seen when I had first arrived in the morning. Everyone was dressed up elaborately, even the dogs! (Nope, I am not kidding!) The whole city was like a Gatsby party, maybe even better, I'd say. The colours and the carnival in play made everything brighter and better. For lunch, I had another sandwich made by yours truly. (Yep, totally on a budget!)

                                                            

By evening time, I was in the main square (San Marco's) where a live band was playing. It was like attending a concert, minus all the crowd. But don't get me wrong, Venice was crowded, but not like what I am used to.

After a long walk in the city, I headed for dinner to this one pasta place recommend by a dear friend. If you know anything about me, you'll know that I'm absolutely in love with pasta. So much so, I end up having pasta even in places where you'd know for sure it'd be shitty. (Side note - I'd been craving pasta in Torino for over a month now, so my expectations were pretty high. Dan Moras, this little hole in the wall pasta place, finally came to my rescue. 

The pasta there was exquisite, so much so that my mouth is watering as I'm writing this! I had the regular white sauce penned with garlic and extra olives ad I swear I saw heaven when I took the first bite. Whether you're in Venice for an hour or for a month, you absolutely have to go to this place. The best part? It was relatively very easy on the pocket. I paid 7€ for my dinner, but the portion was so big, I packed some to eat later.

I headed back to the main square to enjoy the rest of the evening, which kept getting better with each passing moment. Finally, around 10pm, the concert ended. However, my bus was not leaving for the next two hours.

I followed the crowd and ended up reaching Hard Rock Cafe, where a full-power (Delhi slang) was taking shape. I spent the better part of next two hours dancing to random Italian (and English) songs. I was in a room full of strangers but I had never felt more at home (at ease?) at a party. Good vibes and smiles all round is sometimes all you need. Finally, at around midnight, I headed back to take the ferry to the bus stop. The next morning, I was back in Torino.

Tips:

• Must attend the carnival in Venice if you can.
• Take the day pass for the ferry. It's totally worth it.
• Go to both Lido and Burano if you have the time. Lido has excellent beaches, I've heard. However, since the weather was cold, I didn't make an effort to go there in my time there.
• Venice has no watering holes. Carry your own bottle, preferably a big one.
• You have to pay to use the restroom, so either use them in the ferry or while you're having coffee/eating.
• For Burano, every place has a cover charge, called coperto (2-3€). That's the money you pay JUST to sit in a restaurant, irrespective of what you order. Look for it in the menu before deciding on a place. If you're a big group, you could spend a whopping amount just on the cover charge

Tricks/Hacks

• Carry your own food and wine and water. You'll save a lot, trust me.
• Carry a light bag. There's only walking.
• Make most use of the washrooms on the ferry.
• If you want to buy magnets, don't pay more than 1€ for each. Anything more than that is stupid.

Budget

• Since I didn't spend much on food an drinks, I spent less than 40€ for food, ferries and souvenirs.

*****************************************Introduction 

Part 1 - Venice / VeneziaPart 2 - Florence / FirenzePart 3 - PisaPart 4 - SienaPart 5 - NaplesPart 6 - Ercolano and PompeiiPart 7 - CapriPart 8 - Amalfi and PositanoPart 9 - Baia

My Solo Travels in Italy - Tips, Tricks, Hacks (Intro)

I arrived in Italy on 25/01 for my masters that was due to start at the end of the month. Since the time it was decided that I'm coming to Italy, I'd made up my mind to travel whenever I could. However, what I didn't take into account was the amount of time I'll spend travelling solo. This series is a small snippet of my six months in Italy, when I was mostly from Torino to other parts of Italy. In the next few parts, you'll find tips, tricks, hacks and more for travelling solo in Italy on a budget.  

Are you ready?
*****************************************

Part 1 - Venice / Venezia

Part 2 - Florence / Firenze

Part 3 - Pisa

Part 4 - Siena

Part 5 - Naples

Part 6 - Ercolano and Pompeii

Part 7 - Capri

Part 8 - Amalfi and Positano

Part 9 - Baia

Book Review - Regular Porridge (✩✩✩)

I got an epub of this book as a Review Copy from the author.

*****

Regular Porridge is a short, decent collection of poems. While the content starts very strongly, with
powerful emotions being put forward in the harshest forms, the narrative quickly dwindles down. The initial poems on war and life are prose, each one telling a compelling story, or at least a part of it. 'Chottu' and 'Twinkle's Gone' were the other two pieces that held my attention.

However, post Life's Medley, I quickly lost interest. The number of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes also multiplied significantly, contributing to the loss of interest.

The content is good but deserves to be polished. There are some interesting pieces and concepts in there, but they are hidden by the lack of general proofreading which, for me at least, is highly distracting.

Recommended one time, but you could wait for the edited edition to enjoy it more.

*****


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Book Review - Tarikshir (✩✩✩✩✩)

I got the book as a part of the review program in Outset.

https://rakhijayashankar.blogspot.in

Took me a while to decide on the rating but I think I will stick to 5 because the book was, indeed, amazing!

When I read the blurb, I definitely did not anticipate what I am in for. The narration, the storyline, the execution of the plot - I loved every bit of it! And (bless the author!!) the book was edited. If you have read my previous reviews, you will know how this has been a big big big hindrance for me in the past. Congratulations on this beauty! Aapke khayaal kaafi behtereen

hain. :)

The cover: The cover design is beautiful. It is different and crisp and not screaming for attention, like sometimes cover illustrations do. The quality of the image is what makes the reader want to dive in the beauty, head first.

The blurb: I was a little disappointed with the blurb. While it is not inaccurate or lacking per se, it could have been made more exciting. The book is one hell of a roller-coaster ride and, for a reader who relies heavily on the blurb before picking up the book, the blurb does not do justice to what lies ahead. Spice it up, I'd say.

The plot: The plot is fresh and detailed. The story is, as the blurb says, of one Rudra, a newly crowned prince faced with the daunting task of saving his empire from the British army. In the process of unearthing secrets that led to his father's death/murder, Rudra uncovers some deep, dark ancient secrets that have the potential of reshaping his entire world. What follows is a nail-biting war between Rudra and dark powers, between the good and the bad, between peace and power.

There is an element of mythology in the book which gives it a unique flavour, a flavour that, in my opinion, should be introduced in the blurb as well. The fight between good and bad is age old, and placing this book contextually in the frame of Hindu mythology has rendered it a notch above your average good vs bad literature.

The execution: The plot had been executed commendably well. The author has left no stone unturned to make this book a definite page-turner. The editing is crisp and keeps the reader always on the edge, eager to know what's next. There are layers and layers to the book that keep uncovering every now and then. All the loopholes have been neatly tied the end, making this one satisfactory read.

The writing style: The author's got style (if you know what I mean). And damn, that style is thoroughly enjoyable. The imagination that the narrative is able to ignite in the reader's mind is commendable. The writing flows, along with the story, gently moving forward but still journeying like a bullet (geddit?). Oh, and the splash of humour here and there made me smile quite many times.

The characters: The characters are well-etched. The protagonist, Rudra, has been sketched fairly well, and is relatable. Burdened with the daunting task of running an entire kingdom under extreme circumstances, the young king is often faced with the same dilemmas we face in our lives. The choices may be difficult, but they still have to be made. There is a long list of supporting cast, who have been given their due place and time in the narrative.

The climax and end: The climax is exactly like it should be, unexpected yet plausible. This is not one of those "what the hell just happened?" kind of stories. Everything eventually makes sense, you just have to dig deeper.

The end is open, both in terms of interpretation and in terms of content. Maybe the end is an indication for a sequel, maybe it is a satire (that's not the most appropriate word but my vocabulary is failing me terribly in conveying what I want to say without giving any spoilers), a general remark on how the world functions. Read the book now to know more!

Definitely recommended! Looking forward to reading more by the author, and soon.

*****


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Book Review - DareDreamers (✩✩✩✩✩)

I got the book as a part of the review program in Outset.

I absolutely loved this book!
People who follow my reviews must certainly know how strict I am with my ratings. Hence when I give this book five stars, trust me that it certainly deserves it.

The book came to me as part of a review program, and I am very glad it did. I am certain that I would not have picked this up otherwise. And am also certain I would've definitely missed out on something great!

The story: The story is of one Rasiq, and his journey from being an MNC slave to being a part of a start-up of daredevils. The narrative opens with Rasiq's first day in Bombay, the city where dreams come true, as an investment banker. While the first part of the book discovers the struggles faced by Rasiq in an extremely hectic job, it also discovers the changes that money can bring in a man's life. The struggle to balance work with the rest of his life has been portrayed beautifully, along with the struggle of being in a difficult and unrewarding relationship.
In contrast, the second part of the book shifts gears as Rasiq decides to quit his job and invest in a start-up of super heroes. While the blurb details why exactly 'DareDreamers' a start-up of superheroes, the readers will also understand in the pages of the narrative that the service offered by the start-up is no less than that of heroes. Amidst competition and cheating and cunning competition, will the start-up survive? Will the dare-dreamers' dreams be crushed under the weight of politics and treachery? The narrative is one hell of a roller-coaster ride, leaving no time or space for the reader to get bored.

The stunts were OTT, but I think that was the fun part. They truly lived up to the description of 'superheroes'.

The language: The biggest plus point of the book was the fact that it was edited! And it is a shame for me to admit it, but most new books authored by Indian authors lose majorly on this ground. It was nice to read a well-edited, proofread book. The language is flowy and simple. No unnecessary fancy words thrown here and there for the sake of it.

The characters: Most characters are sketched well. The character of Rasiq's father is extremely endearing. He was my favourite background character. Even the character of the main villain had shades of grey to it, making him more believable. Narad Money, of course, was a man without any conscience.

The end: The end was satisfactory. This book made me feel quite happy.

Definitely recommended. The father-son duo have done a wonderful job and I hope more and more readers get to enjoy their work.


*****

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I am participating in the Thursday Thoughts challenge by Vidhya Thakkar.

Book Review - Chennai to Chicago (✩✩.5)

I got the book as a part of the review program in Outset.

I am very conflicted in my rating for this book. While it was definitely better than 'ok', I am not sure I can commit to the statement that I liked it. So, for me, this would be a 2.5.

The story is of one Sriram, and his journey across nations and his journey within himself. While I did not enjoy the first half of the book at all, there was something about the second half that held my attention. The narrative, however, was not very fluid and jumpy at many places. It was because of these reasons that I did not read the book in one stretch. Plus, this was a kindle copy, not my most preferred mode of reading.

The story: The narrative was slightly jumpy for me. There were too many things in one plot. While initially the blurb made me think that the story would revolve around the journey for an Indian from a city in south of India to the land of dreams, 'Merica, the beginning of the plot was quite different from my expectations. There was a flavour of heartbreak and romance in the initial chapters. And the detailing of the same, in my opinion, was very amateurish. Also, the romance (or the lack of it) between the characters named 'Sriram' and 'Madhuri' instantly made me think of Madhuri Dixit (a popular Bollywood actor) and her husband, Sriram Nene. What are the odds!

The story then moved on to the life of the protagonist in terms of his career and the set-backs he faces in that arena. This part was mildly attractive. The struggle that the protagonist faced in terms of his professional life is detailed but comes across as a diary entry/venting rather than a flowy narrative. The other area that the book explored was soul-searching. There are flashes of it throughout the narrative but it is mostly focused on towards the end.

My problem with the narrative was there was a mix of too many things, with no satisfactory conclusion to any part. Maybe there was a deliberate attempt on the part of the author to transition from romance to career to soul searching, but that transition did not work for me. When I pick up a book, I like to know what part of someone's life am I going to be privy to. Too much happening in too little always leaves me with a taste of dissatisfaction. The same was the case here. I would have, I think, preferred, if the story was categorically written in parts, or at least divided that way.

The language: At the very best, the language is poor. I am all for simple language. I firmly believe that the simpler the language is, the more the reader will enjoy it. However, the language used here seemed like an exact production of the thought process of the protagonist, with no effort made to add to the character of the narrative.

The book has not been edited. It is riddled with grammatical mistakes and spelling errors, so much so that I had to keep the book away for a few days as initially the bad editing was all I could focus on. The backbone of any piece of literature is the language used to narrate the story. This book lost out majorly in this criterion.

A major part of the book is on the lines of this happened, that happened and then that happened, with very little to portray the feelings/thought process of the character.

The characters: Apart from the character of Sriram, no other character is developed. May be that was deliberate, but a story (even of it is of a certain person's life) is wholesome when there is an interplay between characters. That was missing from the narrative.

All in all, the book has major potential if only someone would spend time editing and proofreading it. There is a story in there if you dig deep. In my opinion, the book needs some solid editing and, maybe, a bit of rewriting as well. Recommended if you want something light to read, probably in between books.

*****

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