Review- Meeting Yama by Manoj V Jain

  BOOK SUMMARY:

From the moment we are born, we start our journey towards death. Some walk slowly, others run towards it, some skip and dance their way there, while others crawl.

In his seventh book, author Manoj Jain dwells on the uncomfortable topic of death. Interspersed with stories from Indian mythology, Meeting Yama is set in the mystical city of Varanasi where all answers are given if one is willing to listen.

Amrit, Rajat and Surya, three visitors meet each other in this city and find resolutions to the issues that they carry within them.

If you are reading this, then there is probably something in the book that is meant for you.

Release date: November 9th 2020

Published by: Notion Press

Page numbers: 236

REVIEW: 

I won a copy of Meeting Yama by Manoj V. Jain in a giveaway hosted by @writingbuddha. I had no expectations from the book; in fact, I wasn’t even planning on picking it up anytime soon, but something about the book pulled me and I gave in. It was while reading that I realised I had previously read the author’s The B.N.O and even though I recall very little about it, I remember that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Speaking of Meeting Yama, it is the story of the spiritual journey of three different and relatable men, Amrit, Surya and Rajat, who find themselves in Varanasi, each there for a reason that even they aren’t aware of but each leaves with some much needed closure which was explained really well. The beautiful glimpses into the effervescent and pious city of Varanasi coupled with amazing and absorbing stories from Indian mythology and the fast-paced yet detailed glance into the lives of our three main characters made this book fascinating and delightful.

While spirituality and religion are quite complex, require immense understanding and contemplation, this book entwines the two in the world of fiction which makes it rather easy and simple to both read and understand. A few years ago, I would never have given a second glance to this book, but the interest I am developing in spirituality since the past few months made me want to explore it and this gave me a kick to delve deeper into it and embark on my spiritual journey.

Death has been a topic that somehow soothes me because of the immense reading I do on it, thanks to philosophy. This book takes it up in a simple manner that makes Meeting Yama a fantastic read. I would recommend this if you know little about spirituality and wish to explore- its a good start.

Blog Tour: Review- Immortal by Krishna Udayasankar

Summary-

'Death is certain for all who are born...or is it?

Professor Bharadvaj is more than just another whisky-loving, gun-toting historian-for-hire. Behind the assumed identity of the cynical academic is a man who has walked the earth for scores of years. He is Asvatthama - the cursed immortal, the man who cannot die.
When Professor Bharadvaj is approached by the enigmatic Maya Jervois to search for a historical artefact unlike any other, he is reluctant to pursue it. The object in question, the Vajra, is rumoured to possess incredible alchemical powers, but the Professor does not believe it exists. After all, he has spent many lifetimes - and identities - searching for it, in a bid to unearth the secret to his unending life.

Yet, as the evidence of its existence becomes increasingly compelling, the Professor is plunged into an adrenaline-fuelled adventure that takes him from the labyrinthine passages beneath the Somnath temple to the legendary home of the siddhas in the Nilgiris, and finally into the deserts of Pakistan to solve a confounding puzzle left behind by the ancients.

But who is behind the dangerous mercenaries trying to thwart his discoveries at every step? And is the Professor - a legendary warrior in a long-ago life – cursed to walk the path of death and bloodshed forever?

Release date: September 2016

Published by: Hachette India

Page numbers: 408

Review-

Though I am not a big mythology reader I was looking forward to reading Immortal by Krishna Udayasankar. The summary sounded good and something I hadn't read before plus I always wanted to read something by Krishna Udayasankar and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I did enjoy Immortal as a whole. The writing was amazing. But I did have some issues with it as well. So let's get to it.

So the story starts off with an introduction to Professor Bharadvaj. He is a historian who can find any historical artifact you want for a price. What only a few know is that Professor Bharadvaj is actually Asvatthama- an immortal being who was cursed a long long time ago. I found the Professor's character to be super interesting. Though Professor Bharadvaj was just one of the many identities of Asvatthama it was one he could relate to the most. Asvatthama had so many human qualities and emotions despite being an immortal.

The journey of Professor Bharadvaj starts when Maya comes to him for help in search of the Vajra. It is a historical artifact which may lead them to the discovery of immortality for humans. Joining them in their journey is Manohar, the Professor's friend who helps him in such missions. This journey takes them to several places with loads of action and adventure. They also have to face a ton of difficult enemies and obstacles in their way. I enjoyed the whole action adventure part of the book. Krishna Udayasankar has done a ton of research and it shows. Historical events are melded perfectly with science and reason and it was fascinating to see that.

I had also liked Maya's character in the beginning. She came off as a strong and dynamic woman who could hold her own against the Professor. But sadly for me, her character completely fizzled out for the second half of the book. It just seemed like she was present like a mannequin without a real purpose later on. Another issue I had was that the cover of the book gives away a major spoiler. It is not that difficult to figure out what's going to happen once you start reading because the cover gives it away so easily. 

Those were the two things which really bothered me while reading the book. Other than that the book moved at a steady pace. Like I said before, Krishna Udayasankar's writing is really good. Her research is on point and it is great to dive into this world. I enjoyed Asvatthama's adventures and felt like I was right there with him going through the ups and downs. Immortal was a good read for me.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Hachette India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- The Guardians of Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath

Summary-

THE PRICE OF A PROMISE. PAID IN BLOOD.

The deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction.
But was the Halahala truly destroyed?
A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it. And both asuras and devas, locked in battle for supremacy, will stop at nothing to claim it.
As the forces of Devaloka and Patala, led by Indra and Shukracharya, plot to possess the Halahala, Shiva turns to mankind to guard it from their murderous clutches. It is now up to Samrat Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine to quell the supernatural hordes – and prevent the universe from tumbling into chaos!
A sweeping tale of honour and courage in the face of infinite danger, greed and deceit, The Guardians of the Halahala is a fantastical journey into a time of myth and legend.

Release date: Decemeber 2014/Second edition:August 2016

Published by: Jaico Publishing

Page numbers: 428

Review-

Sarika and I had the pleasure of meeting Shatrujeet Nath at Pune International Literary Festival in 2015 AND 2016. Shatrujeet is an amazing person, great to talk to and  he was kind enough to send us a copy of his book, The Guardians of the Halahala. Now I have to admit, I have been procrastinating like hell to get to this book. It is just that mythology sometimes, well, bores me. But The Guardians of the Halahala has clearly changed that for me. I am kicking myself for not having picked this up earlier but I do get to read the next book, The Conspiracy at Meru right away so yay for me!

Now the gist of the book is that Shiva, the Omniscient One swallows Halahala, a deadly poison, to save the universe from extinction. But not all of it is destroyed and Shiva places the poison in the hands of Vikramaditya to protect it from anyone who might want to misuse it. And so begins the journey of Vikramaditya along with his Council of Nine to protect the Halahala while also protecting the kingdom.

I'm not sure how exactly to explain everything here, but I'll try and most things should be enjoyed while reading the book anyway. First of all, I loved how Shatrujeet sketched out all the characters. Vikramaditya along with the Council  were nicely fleshed out with their own unique personalities. Not only that but the remaining allies of Sindhuvarta, the kingdom, also had important parts to play. You'd think it would get confusing with so many people but somehow it didn't. New characters were introduced at a steady pace and I could actually keep track of everyone.

The next thing I want to mention is Shatrujeet's writing. It was amazing. Clear and precise and so very engaging. It kept me hooked and I kept flipping the pages to see what would happen next. I also loved Shatrujeet's portayal of women in the book. I can only imagine how hard it had to have been in the olden times but the ladies in the Council were treated as equals with just as much respect. Obviously, Shanku and Kshapanka are my favourites. But I really do like the entire council.

There is lots of action in The Guardians of Halahala. The battle scenes were thrilling. There are many enemies, some known and some unknown. Every player has intentions of his own and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will continue to play out. I am happy to say that I've sucessfully finished reading a mythology fiction book, one which I genuinely enjoyed. One whose sequel I'm looking forward to reading. The Guardians of Halahala was a great read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Goodreads Summary:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned--to her old life, her family, her boyfriend--before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

"Everneath" is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.



REVIEW:

The moment I laid my eyes on the cover of Everneath, I knew that I had to read this book. Without even bothering to read the synopsis, I added it to my TBR pile. 
Based on mythology, Everneath is the story of Nikki and how she is pulled into a whole new world of the Everneath by Cole. 6 months in the Everneath equals 1 century on the Surface. Technically, Nikki and Cole spend one century with each other and it is but obvious that this leads to feelings of attraction between the two. Cole is crazy about Nik and wants her to be his Queen in Everneath. Nikki, however, is already in love with quarterback, Jack and they are a couple.
Coming to the mythological aspect of it, the book revolves around the Daughter of Persophone and some really nice Greek tales of the Otherworld, Underworld or Afterworld and it's kings and queens and some really astonishing facts that end up relating to Nikki. 
Keeping aside the mythological basis of the book, I thought that the normal, regular life described it in was so well written. 
As for the two guys, I found it really hard to make up my mind as to whether I am Team Cole or Team Jack.
Jack and Nikki share a wonderful relationship. I thought Jack was superb and an extremely loving guy. Cole, on the other hand, is the hot guy and even his attitude towards Nik is so clean and full of care.
Author Brodi Ashton has done an excellent job with practically everything. The facts are straight and the characters extremely intriguing. The plot keeps the reader awake and makes you want to know more. This one was an amazing read. 

RATING:



Review- The Immortals Of Meluha by Amish Tripathi

Goodreads Summary:

1900 BC. In what modern Indians mistakenly call the Indus Valley Civilisation. The inhabitants of that period called it the land of Meluha a near perfect empire created many centuries earlier by Lord Ram, one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. This once proud empire and its Suryavanshi rulers face severe perils as its primary river, the revered Saraswati, is slowly drying to extinction. They also face devastating terrorist attacks from the east, the land of the Chandravanshis. To make matters worse, the Chandravanshis appear to have allied with the Nagas, an ostracised and sinister race of deformed humans with astonishing martial skills!

The only hope for the Suryavanshis is an ancient legend: When evil reaches epic proportions, when all seems lost, when it appears that your enemies have triumphed, a hero will emerge.

Is the rough-hewn Tibetan immigrant Shiva, really that hero? And does he want to be that hero at all? Drawn suddenly to his destiny, by duty as well as by love, will Shiva lead the Suryavanshi vengeance and destroy evil?

REVIEW:

I had been seeing Immortals Of Meluha (IoM)  in the number 1 spot of the National Bestsellers section at bookstores but I never even bothered to pick it up and read the summary because from the looks of it, it didn't seem like something I'd normally read. Then author Amish Tripathi came to my city to launch the third and final bool in the Shiva trilogy, The Oath Of The Vayuputras. After listening to him talk and getting my copy of IoM signed, I wanted to read the book but never got to it until a bunch of us Indian bloggers started an Immortals Of Meluha Read-along. We decided to read one chapter of the book per day for the entire month of June but it took me much more time than a single month to finally finish it. 
I will honestly admit that I know nothing about Indian mythology save for a few things here and there. I never really took an interest in it and I prefer it that way. So for me, The Immortals Of Meluha, the story of Lord Shiva, was a learning experience. I have no idea about the original story but author Amish's take on it was quite good, but trust me, I didn't understand much of it. 

Maybe it was my lack of attention while reading, maybe it was the slow pace at which I was going with the book or maybe it was just me. I don't know what to say about the story because it had me confused and I was very bored to flip back and get my facts straight. But like I said, this book has at least given me some information about Indian mythology. 
Now as for the characters, I did find many interesting characters here and there. Shiva was shown as a great man whom I admired. He is truly a hero and I love his humble and kind nature. He is very sweet. Even though everyone is in awe of the Neelkanth, Shiva still remains grounded. I was very eager to know what Sati had done to be deemed a Vikarma and I liked getting to know more about that. I like how Sati is fierce, strong and for her time and age, very brave and independent. The chemistry between Sati and Shiva is very visible. It's obvious the two have feelings for each other and they made for a great couple. 

It's too early to have a concrete opinion on the Naga King. Maybe, just maybe that is why the second book is called The Secret Of The Nagas. Only time will tell us, but I know for a fact that the Nagas will be good guys. 

Author Amish's writing was quite good but it was very "today" for a book set in 1900 BC. And that was because the author wanted to connect with the youth and make Shiva look like us normal beings. I would have loved a more literal style of writing. 

Overall, The Immortals Of Meluha was an interesting take and fans of mythology will enjoy it. Unfortunately for me, although a highly enlightening experience and a very interesting read, it was a bit dragged and the time I took to finish it says how hard it was to get into it. The book ended on a cliffhanger and it was such that although I want to know what happens next, the sheer time investment these book need has me worried about it. But I must say that I am proud of myself for having read this bestseller even when I was highly tempted to give up and sat through it, so yay me! 

RATING: