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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight, #1)The Lightning Horse by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, how I loved this book. I love historic fiction. I loved Troy by David Gemmell, and all Rick Riordan books. Any historic fiction entices me because more than the plot and the characters itself, it gives an insight into a culture which existed and flourished centuries before our times. We understand their way of living, their beliefs, their traditions, customs, rituals and their practices. There are many who attempt to write historic fiction, but despite having the setting, their plot gets lost in the complex shades of the characters. This book does not fail in that aspect. Though the characters are in plenty and each character has multiple layers, the background runs concurrently to paint the Hittite empire, present day-Turkey vividly to the eyes of the reader.
It was a little difficult to remember the characters (there are many), the king, his many wives, his offspring and other descendants of the royal family. The story revolves around a charioteer who seeks to solve the mystery behind the accident of his father. What is visible to the eye is not always the truth. The truth is hidden deep under layers and layers of treachery and deceit. The mystery runs through out the book, it is hard to suspect the culprit till the very end.
Overall, for historic fiction fans like me, it is a great read !

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The Abduction of Sarah Tarbell: As Her Soul Remembers by Stuart Ledwith – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Abduction of Sarah Tarbell: As Her Soul RemembersThe Abduction of Sarah Tarbell: As Her Soul Remembers by Stuart Ledwith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a completely different book than anything I have ever read. It is intense, heart breaking and at times difficult to grasp. It is written in the form of a person’s soul communicating her story to the author. The story takes place in 1700s where Sarah, along with her brothers, were kidnapped by the Mohawk Indians when they were children. Sarah, is adopted by a Mohawkan family, and later sold to a French family. She ironically falls in love with her own captor. Later, she converts into a nun and becomes a healer to the same Mohawkan families. This entire book was foreign to me, it took me a while to understand it. Perhaps people who knew this history before can do more justice to the book. It had a complex emotional story and the narration was also quite different. Overall, it was a good read.

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The Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Slaughter of Leith HallThe Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Slaughter of Leith Hall is a very interesting historic novel filled with mystery and suspense. I am a huge fan of outlander, and this book grabbed my interest as it is set in Scotland shortly after the Jacobites fight with the British.
John Leith is trying to gain social status by fighting for the British army shortly after the war between the Jacobites and the British. He is back in Scotland, and takes a fiercely determined and intuitive young man Charlie Rob under his wing. Charlie learns a lot shadowing Leith wherever he goes, and is content with his job, until one day, he is thrown in the middle of a murder mystery.
Charlie’s strong sense of justice urges him to get to the roots of the mystery and he finds himself obsessed with the murder.
It is a very gripping read and transports you into a different world. As I was turning one page after another, I could visualize Scotland and outlander before my eyes. It is a very interesting read which mixes fiction with historic facts together. The reader learns a lot about the Scottish history in this book.
A very good read, do not miss it.

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The Walls Between Us: A Borderland Love Story by Kate McGahan – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Walls Between Us: A Borderland Love StoryThe Walls Between Us: A Borderland Love Story by Kate McGahan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an emotional roller coaster ride of a love story across the border of US and Mexico, between two people with two completely different personalities and outlooks. It is a very intense read and keeps the reader hooked to the book till the very end.
Two different perspectives, one can see the beauty of the border and marvel at the sight, or weep bitterly when we understand the complexities of the lives of people who are affected by it. The impact runs deep, sometimes a little dark, but truth is always hard hitting.
I am a huge fan of historic fiction. This was the first time I am reading this piece of history and it was a huge revelation for me. The book is highly educational and poignant at many places when it deals with issues of human trafficking of the victims along the border.
I sincerely believe that a good book, transforms a reader to a better human. These types of books have to be promoted, and I sincerely wish the book and the author all the success.

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Breaking Traditions: The Shifter And The Mage by Madilynn Dale – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Breaking Traditions: The Shifter And The MageBreaking Traditions: The Shifter And The Mage by Madilynn Dale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In short, this book is a traditional love story of young love which blossoms and meets the scorn of the elders which is told in a different way in a different world. Natalie is a shape shifter who can transform into a wolf. She belongs to a traditional family who want her to follow the traditions. She is engaged to another shapeshifter, Theo, who is now her ex.
Everything is in order according to Natalie’s parents. Their obedient daughter is bright, helps them in the bakery and is about to be engaged. They want nothing but a happy predictable future for her.
But Natalie’s fate is entwined with a Mage, Alex whom she meets in college. They both meet at a party and sparks fly between them. They are drawn towards each other much to the disdain of Natalie’s parents.
Will Natalie and Alex be able to break traditions for their love? Would they be able to mend the broken relationship with her parents?
This forms the crux of the story. In Eastern culture, we come across this saga a lot more. Breaking the barriers of the society demands a heavy sacrifice. I could relate to the struggle of Natalie and Alex quite easily.
It is a very easy read and keeps the reader engaged till the end. Hope to see more from this author.

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Blessed: The Academy of Seraph by Brandi Elledge – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Blessed: Academy of the SeraphBlessed: Academy of the Seraph by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fantasy story woven around angels, demons, demis, immortals and magic, this book hooks the reader right from the first page. Many years ago, when a plague was causing human population to die, 15 archangels, who were not supposed to interfere, broke the law and saved few humans. These humans were considered blessed and possess special powers. Over centuries, as the bloodline progressed from one generation to another, the descendants still possessed certain special powers.
Hence, in the current world, it was mandatory that each human is tested whether they are blessed or not, at the age of 16.
One such blessed girl, Gabriella, despite being blessed, detests her super powers.
She is sent to one of the academies where the officials soon find out that she is blessed. Despising her situation, against her wishes, she agrees to get trained. she becomes an object of interest to her commanding officer. She makes few friends and many enemies in and outside the academy. As fate would have it, she finds herself in a pivotal position in an upcoming war as she tries to trace her own lineage.
It is a very fast paced book, with funny and interesting characters. I enjoyed it. I felt that the ending should have been more conclusive. But overall, a very enjoyable read.

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Calamity under the Chandelier (A Sleuthing Starlet Mystery Book 1) by Camilla Blythe – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Calamity under the Chandelier (Sleuthing Starlet Mystery #1)Calamity under the Chandelier by Bianca Blythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting and an amusing read, Calamity under the Chandelier is about two American actresses who find themselves caught in a tricky situation in England in 1940s amongst the British elite.
Veronica is a Hollywood actress who has eloped with an Earl, a would-be-duke and that does not go very well with his family. Her good friend Cora, who is also an actress, is having a bad time in Hollywood losing all her contracts. So, she decides to take a break with Veronica and travels to England. But things are not as rosy as it seemed to be. The two starlets dream of a countryside England where everything is green and they can get the coveted freedom of their own lives incognito, unbound by the chains of the showbiz.
But when they reach England, they enter the civilization of the British elite, who look down scornfully on foreigners. The two American girls cannot blend in with the characters they meet in the manor and seem to draw attention in whatever they do.
Things go worse when a chandelier drops from the ceiling and none other than the Duke is killed. All suspicions are pointed towards Veronica. But there is something which the family is withholding back. Cora dons into her film character of a lady detective and conducts her own little investigations.
There are numerous characters who could be suspects. Can Cora crack this mystery? That forms the crux of the story.
It is a very light and fast paced read. There were some loose ends in the end, but overall, the plot is captivating. I loved reading this book!!

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FALL: The Ragnarök Prophesies: #2 by A.K. Morgen – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Fall (The Ragnarök Prophesies, #2)Fall by A.K. Morgen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book filled with emotions, this book is about two lovers Arionna and Dace, who are willing to sacrifice everything for each other and for the greater good, to stop Hati and Skoll from freeing Fenrir, which means the end of the world. The story has all the elements in it, it brings back some of the famous characters from Norse Mythology. I love Norse Mythology and I picked up this book as it hinted about Ragnarök. I was a little disappointed as I had hoped to see more mythological characters showing up. But this book, make no mistake, is about the lead characters and their emotional ups and downs in their relationship. Dace doesn’t stop at anything trying to save his lady love. Arionna decides to leave him, so that he can focus on the job in hand for the greater good. Will they survive apart, forms the crux of the story. It fast paced and full of action, though it did make me a little sad at places, especially when their relationship gets strained. It is a good book, I enjoyed it, but as I said earlier would have been great to have more mythological characters in it to make it a lot more interesting.

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The Traveler: Chimera Revolution (The Book of Eleanor 2) by Shannon Nemechek – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Traveler: Chimera Revolution (The Book of Eleanor 2)The Traveler: Chimera Revolution by Shannon Nemechek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To start with, I had not read the first book so I did not have a stepping ground and got pulled into the middle of the action. It took me a while to figure out who is who, but once that is sorted, the book was rock and roll! The story transports the two main characters Katie and Colm to 1779 Savannah, where they are pulled into a world of deception, danger and lies, and an old enemy. There is a prophecy to be fulfilled and there is suspense in every step they tread on. Katie has to figure out whom to trust and whom not to. Colm is to make a choice, which will decide the course of history.
It is overall a very gripping read; I only wish I had read the first book so that I can understand this one better. I will surely pick up the previous book very soon!

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Eagle of the Empire (Relic Hunters) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Eagle of the Empire (Relic Hunters, #1)Eagle of the Empire by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At the onset, let me begin by saying this book reminded me of Indiana Jones movie series. It has so many elements in common with the movies, the suspense, the thrilling action, the adrenaline rush and the historic mystic element attached to it. Adam Hunter is in search of his brother, who has gone missing searching for a historic relic, which dates back to the times of Marcus Aurelius, one of the five good emperors and the last emperor to rule over a Roman era which bestowed peace and stability to the empire. In order to find his brother, Adam has to search for the relic.
Adam journeys with few of his quirky friends in British Museum from London to Scotland and from there the story takes us to the quest of the Eagle relic of ancient Rome. But it so happens that they are not the only one in search of the relic, they have an opponent with evil intentions whose eyes are set on the relic. It is the race of time for Adam and his friends against this evil adversary to get their hands on the relic.
The book keeps the reader on the edge of your seat till the very end. It is Young Adult fantasy but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn’t let go of the book and finished it in one shot! Highly recommended!

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A Book Signing To Die For: Beach Reads by Judy Moore – Review by Anantha Rusum

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A Book Signing To Die ForA Book Signing To Die For by Judy Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very neat cozy mystery book which I enjoyed reading thoroughly. It has all the elements of a good book in it, a solid plot, good characters, a murder and a hint of romance. Sometimes you pick up a book not knowing much about the author or the book itself and read it with an open mind, with minimal expectations, it is a very pleasurable feeling when the book starts growing on the reader as you flip it page by page. This is precisely the effect this book had on me.

Beck O’Rourke co-owns Beach Reads bookstore and coffee shop with her grandmother. They live in an apartment along with Beck’s sister above the bookstore. They have book signing events which happen very frequently where they get small time and relatively well-to-do authors to speak and then sign the books bought in their store. On one such book signing event, they invite a Cozy mystery author, Marcia Graybill to their bookstore. As people love her mysteries, they get an audience of over 50 that day and the event turn out to be very successful.

Shortly after, in the night, there is a dead body found behind the jewelry store, which is adjacent to the book shop. The police department, headed by a handsome police detective Devon, arrive on the scene of the crime and make their own conclusions, which Becky does not concur with. She heads off to investigate the murder on her own. The murderer does not like this intrusion and neither does the police department. Now Becky’s life is in danger and she has to go all out to crack this case by herself.
It is a brilliant plot and a very edgy read; I could not guess the murderer till the very end. There are times however when I did feel Becky was taking too much liberty and it was amusing that people did not mind her intrusions or her queries. She is not a hired detective after all. It was like reading one of Ms. Marple’s mysteries of Agatha Christie, but Ms. Marple would take an effort to acquaint herself with her suspects personally before extracting information from them. Becky goes a fast forward route and with one visit or one phone call, her suspects seem to disclose quite a lot to her, which I found slightly amusing. I was also expecting a slightly longer romantic liaison between the main leads, but considering it a cozy mystery, it is understandable that the inferences have to be subtle.

Otherwise I loved every bit of it, the characters were adorable. And as I said earlier, I read this book with a very open mind and as a reader, reaped the rewards. A very fine book and looking forward to read more from this author!

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Another Yesterday (Seashells and Second Chances Collection Book 2) by Angela Christina Archer – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Another Yesterday (Seashells and Second Chances Collection Book 2)Another Yesterday by Angela Christina Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an emotional story about two women, mother and daughter, their struggles and their ups and downs in life. In the year 1966 Maggie moves to a small-town Shadow Brook where she dreams of starting a family and a future. She leaves all her past behind, and rebuilds her life with a little inn. She hides her past behind in journals and letters, hidden in the attic of the inn. Thirty years after, her daughter, Rachel is a happy person living a successful life in New York. Suddenly her life turns upside down, and she is forced to seek solace in Shadow Brook again, where she has to encounter her past. As she renovates her inn, she finds those letters her mother had hidden long back. How does Rachel react to those letters? What do these both women do when life throws them a second chance? That forms the crux of the story.
This is a heartwarming story of hardships and forgiveness. It is a tale of two women and it is very easy to connect with their characters. The story is told from different perspectives, and it jumps back and forth from mother to daughter. It does have a dash of humor but there are emotional scenes which bring a lump in your throat. The story has all elements in it which makes it a gripping read, small town setting, love, heartbreak, forgiveness and a chance of a second love. Definitely a good book!

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Love Gaia: The Diary Directive by TL Clark – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Love Gaia: The Diary DirectiveLove Gaia: The Diary Directive by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love Gaia

A very neat dystopian Young Adult book based on the post-apocalyptic future, where the entire man kind has been wiped out, it is very thought provoking and an amazing story. Set in the future world, the story moves back and forth between the youth reading their harsh history lessons through the diary of Dr. Rachel, one of the survivors of the apocalypse. Aroha, a young woman reaching adulthood lives a peaceful life in an almost perfect world, an idealistic community where people believe in high values – Honesty, respect and fortitude. Aroha’s teacher walks them through a brutal history lesson about the founders of the community and the struggle they went through to form this society. She reads out a dairy of one Dr. Rachel, who is one of the founding members of this community. Dr. Rachel was one of the survivors who was kept underground for years together after the apocalypse which happened around the year 2069. Dr. Rachel loses everything, but she is determined to fight back for her freedom. The dairy talks in depth about Dr. Rachel’s struggle and her vision on the basis of which, the society of Aroha is formed. The book is indeed very though provoking and very unique book. It is a very short book, and very easy to read, do not miss this one!

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Summer’s Stolen (Seasons of Magic Book 2) by Sarah Biglow – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Summer's Stolen (A Seasons of Magic urban Fantasy Novel)Summer’s Stolen by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second of the Seasons of the Magic series and I find myself enjoying this series a lot. It is full of action, interesting characters and keeps the readers on the hook till the very end.
Ezri is on another case with her friend Jacquie, cousin Desmond and other members of the authority. There are children who are missing one after another. The video footage shows them disappearing. Ezri has to use all her magic, her power and her strength to trace these missing children. She pairs up with an FBI agent Cartwright to follow the trail of the whisperers who will eventually lead her to the people who have been kidnapping the children. We get to know about other magical communities in this book, like the African and the Hispanic people who follow magic in their own accord and the friction between different communities.
I love this book, which has both a thriller and a fantasy element to it. In fact, even without the fantasy element, this book and the characters would have been equally exciting. Ezri comes across as a strong-willed independent woman whom everyone can rely on, the savior which the western magic descendants need. Overall a very good read, full of twists and turns! A good sequel to the first book! I am hoping there will be two more in this series, and cannot wait to read the third!

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Grace’s Ghosts by Stephenie Wilson Peterson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Grace's GhostsGrace’s Ghosts by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a story about a twelve-year-old girl Grace, whose only friends are the spooky sweet ghosts including her cat, Midnight.
She starts enjoying the company of the ghosts till one day she finds out the reason why there are so many ghosts around her. There is a spell which was cast on these people three hundred years ago, which turned them into ghosts. Grace realizes that she has magical abilities and she is the one who is destined to break this spell. But breaking it comes with its own consequences, she will lose everyone who is near and dear to her, including Midnight.
Will Grace succeed in her effort forms the plot of the story. It is a sweet and a spooky story, especially meant for teens and middle grade students. When I read this book, I was reminded of this movie Casper, which is about a sweet little ghost which befriends a girl in the castle. This book is similar to the movie. It brings forth the emotions of Grace, her courage, determination and her turmoil all described really well. There are all types of ghosts, some friendly, some grumpy, and each character is unique. It is a fast paced, fun read with a spooky element in it. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

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The Labyrinthine Journey (Servant of the Gods Book 2) by Luciana Cavallaro – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Labyrinthine Journey (Servant of the Gods, #2)The Labyrinthine Journey by Luciana Cavallaro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second of The Servant of the Gods series, where the protagonist Evan, who is time travelled back in time has a mission to retrieve the second relic which is instrumental in wiping away the Greek Gods. It is about Evan’s journey to retrieve the relic with few of his companions and the high priestess. They encounter lot of dangers on their way and finally in the Labyrinth they have to face the fiercest of the beasts, the Minotaur.
I had not the read the first book, but nevertheless, the second book gripped me right from the first page. I love Greek mythology and I enjoyed reading each and every page of this book. Many familiar characters and names pop up in different parts of the book, the Greek Gods (major and minor), the Greek heroes (Jason, Herakles), mythical creatures like Harpies, minotaur, priestesses and queens and also the Titans.
It is very gripping novel and you can never even slip a page lest you miss a finer detail. It also moves back and forth in time, back to ancient Greece and forward to the 21st Century where Evan actually belongs. It is full of twists and turns. I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly. I am planning to read all the sequels. A great read !

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Love the Way You Dance by Allison M. Boot – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Love the Way You DanceLove the Way You Dance by Allison M Boot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the way you dance picks up where the previous book, Just the way you are finished. In this book, Kara, an orphan adopted by Misty and Derrick in the previous book, takes the center stage. What seemed like fairy tale with the prince and princess marrying and adopting an orphan isn’t happily ever after as it was supposed to be.
Misty gets pregnant with twins, leaving Kara with pangs of insecurities. The revelation of the family secrets and the magical powers of the royal family to combat the evil troll make Kara feel more insecure. She starts feeling out of place. She tries to focus all her energy and time in her passion she loves the most, her dancing. But unfortunately, things don’t turn out well when her dance instructor pairs her with a boy she does not like, Tyler. Soon, she gets an idea of pairing up orphans with their forever families in the kingdom. This is not taken very well with the royal family. Kara is now disheartened in all aspects of her life. To top it, the troll on the loose does not make her life any easier.
Now Kara’s loyalty to the royal family is put to the ultimate test and she has to prove herself to them.
It is a very heartwarming story for young readers and adults alike. The theater in the palace, lots of varieties of delectable chocolates, the flexible wheelchair which follows the command of the dancer sitting on it, are delightful episodes to read.
I felt that the book could have been a little shorter, but considering the depth in which Kara’s emotional turmoil and the upheavals are described, it is understandable.
I enjoyed the book overall. It is a delightful read.

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Saint Code: The Lost (Saint Code Book 1) by Megan Mackie – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Saint Code: Lost: Book Four of the Lucky Devil SeriesSaint Code: Lost: Book Four of the Lucky Devil Series by Megan Mackie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I picked this book, I thought this was the first in the series. I did not know that it is actually the fourth in the Lucky Devil series. So, the foundations are all laid prior, characters are well established and the plot jumps into action right from the first page. That being said, even with the lack of proper background, I found myself drawn to this book. There were some jargons which I did not understand, but the book is fully action packed and is filled with twists and turns, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Saint Augustina is a cyber-spy who is hired to do the dangerous tasks. She is approached by a person who calls herself Orange Lady to accomplish three tasks for huge ransom of money. She pairs up with another saint, a Saint Benedict whom she does not trust. But she does not have a choice, and has to work with him. Together they set forth for the missions. As the case unfolds, they find out that this case is not the same as the others. Someone is behind to get Saint Augustina and what started with a neo-Ninja fight and other fancy attacks in the beginning, starts getting more dangerous and personal as the case progresses.
I really enjoyed reading this book. As I had mentioned earlier, I did not read its prequels and so I am not aware of the evolution behind the characters. This the first time I have heard of certain genres like neon-dystopia and cyberpunk. I found it very interesting, all the elements were mysterious and very engaging! I hope to read all the books of this series.

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Spring’s Calling: A Seasons of Magic Urban Fantasy Novel by Sarah Biglow – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Spring's Calling (Seasons of Magic, #1)Spring’s Calling by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Spring’s calling is an urban fantasy novel which revolves around a cop, Ezri Trenton, who has magical capabilities. Unfortunately, she struggles alone to train herself to a control these magical powers and hurts herself in the process of self-training. Her mother’s mysterious death circumstances forbid her to approach the Authority, the council of magicians who govern the city.
Ezri wanders away alone from her family and her childhood friends. She trains hard and becomes a law enforcement officer. On the first case, Ezri is paired up with another officer to investigate a murder which has occurred in the public gardens. The moment Ezri reaches the murder scene, she senses strong magic in action. Within no time, she figures out that there are dark magical forces involved in this murder.
But things move at a faster pace than expected. Within three days, four innocent people are murdered at different parts of the city at public places. The evil is at large and the cops are running out of time and resources. FBI takes over the investigation, which makes the matters further complicated.
In parallel, runs an ancient prophecy that the world will see a savior combat a powerful evil magic which is destined to happen during the Equinox. Everyone is convinced that Ezri is the savior. With Equinox only few days around the corner and a serial killer at large, Ezri is forced to approach the Authority for assistance. Will the Authority help her solve the mystery? Will Ezri stop the evil magic force from rising?
This forms the crux of the story.
When I started reading the novel, I did not expect the story to be even half interesting as it turned out to be. I found myself turning the pages back to reread what I had read before to connect the pieces together. It’s a very engaging book, brimming with interesting characters.
It requires a lot of creative imagination to hold a reader’s attention in a fantasy book. The author has done a brilliant job constructing the different magical elements in the book. The characters are in plenty, there are lots of twists and turns and each and every page is captivating.
There is only one flaw I could find with this book, that it was easy to guess the antagonist of the book. It would have been really thrilling had the evil force been a very close ally to Esri and had moved in very close quarters with Ezri all along.
Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable book to read, I look forward to the sequels.

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Hansel & Gretel (Down the Rabbit Hole) Anthology – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Hansel & Gretel: Down the Rabbit HoleHansel & Gretel: Down the Rabbit Hole by Autumn Sand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hansel and Gretel: Down the rabbit hole is a collection of seven short stories based on the actual fairy tale deftly written by different authors. Each author unleashes their imagination a different way and it was interesting to see those fragments weave into seven lovely creations.
Each story has different flavors, romance, horror, fantasy, fear and conceit. I liked the first and the last one the best. The first is when the witch is more like a namesake guardian to the two children who are sent to Earth from another realm. The witch is also banished as the king’s son suspects that the witch loves his father. It has a fairy tale romance ending where the witch and the king are reunited and show children the happy way of life.
Another story which I liked was the Dragon and the Phoenix by Rachel Pudsey. In this story, the prince and the princess in a realm are expected to gain their super powers after a certain age. The prince gains it and shapeshifts into a dragon, but there are several side effects which occur because of this. This is supposed to be neutralized by the Phoenix, the shape shifting form of the princess. But unfortunately, the princess does not gain the powers which leaves the prince, the king and his kingdom in great misery.
One more story which strikes the chord in lieu with the current pandemic is The Surface by Cee Cee Elaine. People in this story wear masks and head to the bunkers for the lockdown.
Overall it is a very enjoyable read and I really liked it ! Looking forward for more such anthologies !

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Just the Way You Are by Allison M. Boot – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Just the Way You AreJust the Way You Are by Allison M Boot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the books where one celebrates the author more than the book itself. The book is about a princess on wheel chair, Misty miles who is locked in her room and has limited exposure to the world. Her parents love her but fear about her safety because of her disability.
But Misty is determined to follow her heart and win the love of her prince charming, Derrick, heir in line of the neighboring kingdom. Things are not rosy between both the kingdoms because of a past rivalry. Despite all these challenges, she runs away from her castle one day to meet a troll who has magical powers. The troll grants her a wish to make her walk for three full days, but demands something very dangerous in return, which could put both the kingdoms in peril. The troll connives and tricks her to put her tiara at stake. The tiara has magical powers with which the troll can control the kingdom.
Unknowingly, Misty trades the tiara for her new power and heads off to the neighboring kingdom in full gusto. She manages to meet the prince and also charm him. She also meets a young orphan with a disability and wishes to adopt her. As things were almost going as planned, the troll intervenes and sticks her evil head out. The two kings come face to face and the age-old rivalry surfaces back.
Now it is up to both Misty and the orphan girl Kara, both disabled people, to face the troll and also bring an end to the rivalry between both the kingdoms.
The book is a very breezy and enjoyable read. There are certain places where I did wish few more characters would have added more flavor to the book. It also follows a stereotypical Disney romance story. But as I said earlier, this is one of the books where we have to celebrate the author more than the story itself. The author, Allison M. Boot is a person with disability herself and has resolved to write books where the protagonists are disabled yet strong willed. The main message that is conveyed through her books is that their disability shouldn’t be a blocking factor for the lives they choose to lead and the dreams they dare to pursue.
And that objective is definitely achieved through this book. Misty Miles, the heroine of the book, comes across as a very strong resolved heroine who is not afraid to take on challenges. Her dreams are not inhibited by the fact that she is disabled. She sometimes takes rash decisions but when is not afraid to face the consequences of her own actions. She takes full accountability of her flaws and tries to correct them. I am sure Misty Miles is a symbolic personification of the traits of the author herself. These are all qualities which have to be lauded and learnt by all of us.
Keep it coming Allison M. Boot. Take a bow for what you are and what you aim to achieve!

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Be Brave with Me (Finding Love in Green Springs Book 1) by CA Miconi – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Be Brave With Me (Finding Love In Green Springs Book 1)Be Brave With Me by J.B. Havens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Be Brave with me is a romance story set in a small town of Green springs. Meg has had a tragic incident and is on a road trip to let go of the demons of her past. Drew lives in Green springs for a living, he has lost a leg in an accident and is also mourning a loss of a loved one.
When they both meet, sparks fly, they are attracted to each other. But Meg cannot let go of her grief so easily despite Drew time and again comforting her to be brave with him. She still wants to continue her road journey to reminisce her past. Both of them have to fight their internal battles to let go and start their lives afresh.
It is an enjoyable novel and I really liked the small-town details, especially how the people in the small town are so friendly and caring towards each other, the small restaurants which serve delicious food, the bar, the repair shop and the shops. Everyone goes about in good spirits and help each other which pulls up the spirits of the reader.
It is a good book, but I felt there were too few characters in the novel. More characters and more interaction in the small town would have made the story a lot more interesting. It has a very good storyline but certain twists and turns would have made the plot a lot more promising.
It is a breezy quick read. If you are looking for a light romance book, this book is for you.

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Torch (Lovelock Book 2) by Tricia Copeland – Review by Anantha Rusum

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TorchTorch by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This young adult dystopian novel is a fast paced read, second in the lovelock series and is heavily action based. 16 year old Jema along with her friends is faced with an almost impossible task to save the world, against a deadly virus. Her sinister uncle, who rules the government is against releasing the cure for this lethal contagion. So, in the middle of the desert, with limited resources, she has to battle against time to get the cure out. She and her friends are branded as traitors and are on the chase.
The most interesting part about this book is that we can relate it to what is happening around us now with the pandemic around us. The virus is up on the rise and if the cure is not found, the whole world is at risk. Rings a very familiar bell right? I enjoyed reading this page turner.
The only thing I thought was that the plot is so heavily action packed and dialogue oriented, there is a very little description of the setting of the story itself. The reader doesn’t miss it in the midst of all the action, but it would have been more interesting to read when more attention is paid to the little details around the setting, which most authors do, to enhance the beauty of the story.

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Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn: A Steampunk Faerie Tale by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn: A Steampunk Faerie TaleBaba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn: A Steampunk Faerie Tale by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fabulous little piece of treasure this book is!! We all grew up reading Alibaba and the forty thieves. And I never knew that there was a term called “steampunk” to describe a retelling of a fable or a story. I do not have any other word than “brilliant” for this book.
“Steampunk” means a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology. So, anything which is magical or ancient in the original fable is replaced by a work of engineering. A Djinn, instead of being a magical entity is a machine, an intelligent robot.
Ali is in London taking apprenticeship from his Ustaad, until one day, a falcon, with mechanical wings, leaves a box on his window sill. Troubles ensue once the mysterious box is delivered. There are thefts and attacks. Soon after, he gets the news that his father has expired and his brother Kasim commands him to come back home to take up family business.
Ali’s journey back home is filled with danger and adventure. At every step, he finds he is always on the run. Someone is on his heels to steal the box. He finds himself drawn into the world of magic and ancient secrets.
Unable to decipher the box itself, he also faces sibling rivalry with his greedy brother, who does not want even a single penny bequeathed to his brother. Ali rents a separate home, and slowly one after another, the mystery unfolds and he finds himself in front of the cave and we all get to hear the famous magic words “Open Sesame”.
And then we all know the story. There is treasure, there are thieves and there is a Djinn trapped inside the cave. Ali gets the treasure, goes back home. Kasim gets greedy and gets killed. The servant girl, who happens to be the Djinn whom Ali saves, is smart enough to fool the thieves.
And everything ends on a happy note! It is a beautiful retelling of the fable and I loved every bit of it!
We find very few books like this and I hope to read more from this author!

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All The Wrong Reasons (Serendipity Falls Novel Book 1) by Erin Bevan – Review by Anantha Rusum

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All The Wrong ReasonsAll The Wrong Reasons by Erin Bevan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a romance story between two childhood friends Max and Alex (Alexandra) who know each other for 20 years. The story is set in a small-town setting. Alex is a girl with lofty ideals, someone who is committed to her work and her partner. Max, on the contrary is a playboy and does not commit to any relationships. One fateful night, Alex goes to a pub, gets drunk and commits a big mistake. She is about to become a single mother. Her job and reputation are in peril. Max is contesting for the Mayor of the town in the upcoming election and is convinced that a family image will help him win the election. So, when he sees Alex in such a pitiable position, his heart goes out for her. He proposes a marriage of convenience to Alex. Alex isn’t very comfortable with this as she thinks that this is a marriage of compromise. If it remains a contract between them or love brews between the two friends forms the crux of the story.
The good part about this book is though the characters are facing some grave problems, it is portrayed in a funny way, so the seriousness of the issues is not highlighted at all. It is a romance book, if anyone is in a look out for a light romance breezy read, you can check this out.

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Jake the Growling Dog Goes to Doggy Daycare (Jake the Growling Dog Book 2) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Jake the Growling Dog Goes to Doggy DaycareJake the Growling Dog Goes to Doggy Daycare by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up out of sheer curiosity. I love children’s books, I read them all the time. My boys are older, but still it was great fun reading this book together. My older one really enjoyed it too.

This is a story of a dog Jake who has to go to a daycare for the first time, and he is very apprehensive about it. He is used to the comforts of his home and his little friends, whom he has befriended at home. One of his friends, the squirrel Neet, comforts him saying he will accompany him to the daycare. Jake is relieved and both Neet and Jake head off to the day care.

Jake finds new friends there and has lot of fun at the daycare. He is well fed and taken care of. He has a great experience. It is a very sweet story everyone can relate to. The apprehension and fear of Jake when he sets off to a new place and the comfort he finds when his friend Neet agrees to go with him are so simply yet beautifully explained. And this is not for Jake alone, isn’t it the problem each one of us face when we go to a new place? And think about the relief which sweeps over us when someone familiar accompanies us??
A beautiful book !!

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Forget Nico: Falling for the Wrong Italian (Italian Teens novel 1, The Italian Saga) by Gaia B. Amman – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Forget Nico: Falling for the Wrong Italian (The Italian Saga #3)Forget Nico: Falling for the Wrong Italian by Gaia B. Amman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Forget Nico is a coming of age love story of Leda, a tom boyish girl who is desperately in love with a cool boy at school. I did not know that the story is not the first in the series, so it took me a while to adjust to the pace of the book and the characters. The book predominantly deals with all the elements of adolescence, crushes, embarrassments, successes and failures.
The teens think they have figured it out all, but how they react to everything happening around them and their imperfections is very insightful. This is typically recommended for teenagers, who read books of the type of Adrian Mole.
The use of Italian words in the expression and conversation adds a flavor to the book. It’s a very fast read, but though they say this book is a standalone. I felt this book picks up from it’s prequels. The personality of the lead character is already well established, and this book defines her loyalty to someone whom she had liked a lot, and now he is in trouble and she is struggling with her emotions to believe it or not.
Overall, a fast pace light read !

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In Other Words (Boothbay Harbor Series Book 1) by Pamela Q. Fernandes – Review by Anantha Rusum

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In Other Words (Boothbay Harbor Series, #1)In Other Words by Pamela Q. Fernandes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Other words, is a sweet romance book by Pamela Fernandez. Trish Holt, a pianist is dealing with the demons of her past. Being from a Korean origin and adopted by Irish parents, she was subject to neglect and partial treatment since childhood. Her recent breakup from her three-year-old relationship puts her self-esteem to all time low. She feels unwanted and neglected by everyone around her. Her only solace is her music and singing to the tunes on her piano. When she moves to a new home in a quaint picturesque town of Maine, she finds herself falling in love with her neighbor, Michael Quentin, who is the local chef and a successful businessman. Michael also has had a wounded childhood and struggles with his own issues. The two try to find comfort with each other, but the blockages from the past keep surfacing between them repeatedly, making their relationship rocky and uncertain.

If and how they overcome these blockages form the crux of this sweet story. The plot by itself is a typical romance story, but I loved the way the author brought about the tender emotions of her main leads, right from their childhood. The effect of a bad childhood on a person and the impact it has in shaping his/her life is very subtly brought out. When parents either adopt or give birth to a child, they need to take care of the tender emotions of the little one on whom they have staked their claim upon. Any rash decision made by a parent impacts the child heavily, and that is something most adults do not understand. The story brilliantly portrays the struggle which both Trish and Michael go through, it makes them more conscious of their choices and they become responsible adults. They both have successful careers and appear to be well rounded individuals. But somewhere deep within, they are so insecure and unsure about themselves, that it sabotages them within, the closest bonds which they value and treasure are put through peril.

Very nicely written, the book is a fast paced breezy read. I sure will pick up more from this author.

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The Wicked Wolves of Windsor: and other fairytales by Byrd Nash – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Wicked Wolves of Windsor: and other fairytalesThe Wicked Wolves of Windsor: and other fairytales by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book caught me by a pleasant surprise. I did know that it had a dark twist to the fairy tales, so I assumed it to be more in the lines of the movie Snow white or Maleficent, where the plot is given a dark twist and the characters are made more intense. I was prepared to see Little Red Riding hood taking on the wolves bare handed or may be turn evil trying to kill her own grandmother and the good wolf comes to the old lady’s rescue. But what I did not expect is that this book is actually a series of unique fairy tales with a slightly dark twist. The novelty of the stories took me by surprise. There are witches, wolves, ravens, unicorns, knights and princes, each of them unique, though you can remotely relate them to some fairy tale characters you knew. This book is a real gem with some brilliant authentic fairy tales. There is no grandeur, but a dash of authenticity and simplicity in them which makes it so endearing.

A girl tending to a farm is actually a beautiful witch suppressed by her step mother, a fair queen seeks justice from her evil husband, the fierce king with an aid of a beautiful horse which talks to her, and a faithful knight who believes in her. A witch teaches a vain prince few good principles in life in her own way.

The book is mainly set in the regency era, except one story which is set in the more modern timeframe. The settings change from a farm to deep woods to a quaint town to a city so deftly that the reader is unaware of the switch from the fairy tale to the modern world. The characters do have a dash of “wickedness” and “darkness” in them, but when I finished one story to move on to another, I always did with a smile and content of a reader who’s just relished a good “dark” fairy tale.

I loved this book and would whole heartedly recommend to anyone to read. Kudos to the author and looking forward for more!!

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Journeys Through SpaceTime (Journeys Through Book 1) by James Talisman – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Journeys Through SpaceTimeJourneys Through SpaceTime by James Talisman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Journeys through SpaceTime is a collection of stories running through parallel universes. Each story happens in one realm, and each story has the protagonist, the antagonist and an invisible force connecting them all, encouraging the protagonist to believe or remember his/her powers to fight against the evil. The focus shifts from one realm to another, we come across kings and queens of Egyptian empire, the vassals of the Roman empire, people from the Utopian empire and then humans of the current Earth. The book spans across different characters in multiple universes and in each universe, there is this good character, trying to battle the evil forces in any way they can.
It is a very ambitious sci/fi project with lots of details, and definitely not an easy read. There are too many characters and too many worlds. To be honest, as a reader I felt it should have been more spread out. But as this book is the first in the series, I am hoping the author is going to connect all the pieces of the puzzle together and we will know the reason behind so many different characters.
Based on how he constructs the plot, it can definitely turn out to be an epic fantasy/ science fiction series. It is not easy to imagine and building one fantasy world, and the author does a very commendable job building up so many at one point of time. It is a work of excellent imagination from a very promising author. Hope to see more work from him!

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