The Twist of Fate by Anjum Awasthi Malik - Book Review

Book Name: The Twist of Fate

Author: Anjum Awasthi Malik

Publisher: Invincible Publishers

Blurb:

A young and vivacious girl, Raahi is all set to live her dream in a big city. A cruel twist of fate and her world starts collapsing around her. Aadit, a business analyst in New York, is effervescent and full of life. Or at least that's what he shows to the world, but deep down he is still struggling with his own demons. The fate interweaves their lives together and just when a bond is about to bloom, life throws another curve at them. They start drifting apart completely oblivious to what fate has in store for them. The Twist of Fate is a heartfelt and enamored tale of the entangled emotions of love that promises to keep your eyes glued to its pages.

Story in a nutshell:

'If you love someone, set them free. If they return, they are yours else they were never.' - These lines from the story gives you a vague idea about what the plot could be. A romantic story about a girl whose heart has been broken. Isn't it? Yeah, the story is similar to those love tales but there is some magic to this story which will make you love it.

Raahi, a young girl, comes to Noida for her career. She stays put at her father's friend. She is in love with her college mate, Abhimanyu. Their long distance relationship is like a fairytale come true for her until the day her man breaks up with her. Heartbroken Raahi finds a true friend in Aadit who has already fallen for her. Will he propose marriage to her? Will Raahi give love another chance? Why is this story of Raahi, Aadit and Abhimanyu titled 'A Twist of Fate'?

Review:

Reading the blurb of this novel, I thought that it would be another tale of love with cheesy dialogues with lot of emotions that could make one cry. I started the book with an intention that I would finish it in another three-four days. But the book is so interesting that I hardly took four hours to complete reading it. I was hooked on to the book.

As the blurb read, it is a love story (Read ordinary love story which is made extraordinary with the characters and their chemistry). The story has been plotted well by giving equal importance and part to all the characters. The story majorly revolves around Raahi and Aadit, the two protagonists while their respective families also have a fair role to play. The characters have been crafted well. Each character is given a good part in the story (which doesn't usually happens in most love stories). You feel connection between all the characters. The chemistry between the protagonists have been protrayed really well. You begin to believe that they are for real. The story plays like a movie in front of your eyes and trust me, you will enjoy watching it.

The story has been narrated from the point of view of Raahi. However, there are some three chapters where in Aadit shares his thoughts. It is in first person narrative, something that was indeed required for this kind of story. It created a nice reader experience. The language is simple. I found a few new words here and there but they kind of appeared stuffed. The lucid narration is the main reason why this book keeps your interest up. The incidents in the story are rightly placed. I found the transition from the present to the past a bit confusing though. I also found that some chapters seemed a bit exaggerated. The book is over 250 pages and every page is a page turner. The book will keep you stuck on to it.

I loved the following from this story-

• Aadit's unconditional love for Raahi.
• Raahi's belief that true love exists in modern days
• Aadit and Raahi's chemistry.

I rate-

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 4/5

Story: 4.5/5

My overall rating for 'A Twist of Fate' is 4/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

Hacklyf by Vijay Poudel - Book Review

Book Name- Hacklyf

Author- Vijay Poudel

Publisher- Invincible Publishers

Blurb-

Hacklyf is an honest attempt to help people who want to live an exceptional life but is clueless amidst all the chaos. It`s an unchallenged fact that "Motivation never lasts", and that is where this book will come in handy. It will provide you with continuous motivation through simple reasoning. A mélange of stories inspired by real-life events and short write-ups which will leave you inspired. There are plenty of activities dispersed throughout the book to help you grasp the ideologies and methodologies better. The writing is simple, crisp and enjoyable even for those who aren't an avid reader. Unveil it and let it transform you.

Review-

I enjoyed reading this book for two reasons-

1. Real-life incidents are given to make you understand the essence of certain things.
2. An interesting quote towards the end of each chapter which summarises each chapter in a few words.

I read this book in one day. It is that time of the year when one makes resolutions and tries to improve himself/herself. I am glad that I chose to read this book now.

I can very well implement some things from this book in the coming year.The narration is done in simple English. I felt like the author is conversing with me. It has been done well. Some chapters have an activity mentioned towards the end. These activities make you ponder about your dreams, your goals and your plans to achieve them. I believe such exercises are necessary for self-introspection.

I have read many self-help books. But I can say that this particular book has made a special place in my heart. I am looking forward to follow some lessons from this book.

I rate Hacklyf with 4.5/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

She was the story ~ of my untold story by Yashvardhan Awasthi -- Book Review

Book Name- She was the story ~ of my untold story

Author- Yashvardhan Awasthi

Publisher- Invincible Publishers

Blurb-

"Don't give up. It is going to hurt but if you give up now, it is going to hurt forever!"

This story is about RV, who started his career as a novelist but found his calling as an actor along the way, finally becoming a superstar within a short period of time. He is odd, arrogant and alcoholic. Some people think that he has an ego problem while the others are curious about his past. What has his past really been like? No one knows. Find out who RV actually is. Where did he come from? What is his secret? 'She Was The Story' is an inspirational love story, presenting a subtle critique on the ills of society that we have learned to live with. Is love worth fighting for till the end? Is death the greatest loss? Come find out in between the pages of this book.

Review-

'She was the story' is a romantic tale of an author turned actor. I found the story to be quite common and predictive. I could guess what the next page would bring in for me. And I guess, this is the reason why I did not really enjoy reading this book. 

The characters aren't many. And I believe justice has been done to each character. They have contributed significant enough to this story. The narration is done in first person narrative. The language is simple. Both the language as well as the narration has been done well. However, the use of Hindi at many places seemed to turn me off. My trance was broken and reading seemed a little bit difficult. 

'She was the story' is overall, a one-time read. 

I rate- 

Cover- 3/5 

Characters- 3/5 

Story- 2/5 

My overall rating for this novel is 2.5/5 stars.

You can book your copies on Amazon.

Jeet Lo Marathon by Aryan - Book Review

Book Name - Jeet Lo Marathon

Author - Aryan

Publisher - Invincible Publishers

Story in a nutshell -

Every person born on this earth is born with some talent. The only difficult thing is that you need to identify that talent and take a leap towards it. Raj, the protagonist, is also born with one such talent. He is blessed with running skills. He doesn’t recognize his skill. He has turned into a lazy person.. a person whose life revolves around his work and his wife. His wife considers him to be an absolute loser. He is someone who desperately wants to seek attention and love from his wife.

She leaves him one fine day annoyed with his behavior and lifestyle. He goes out in her search and finally, finds his calling. What does he find? Who is Aaliya and how does she help him?

Review -

'Jeet Lo Marathon’, as the name suggests, is an inspiring novel. The moment I started reading this book, I was reminded of the movie – Bhag Milkha Bhag. The cherry on the cake was that the book is being made into a movie. My interest for this book increased manifold. 

The story is a simple and engaging one. The author has crafted the plot well. However, I wasn’t very happy about the book initially. I found the incidents like that of a Bollywood movie… in few words..cheesy. But as I proceeded, I discovered that I had a wrong notion about the book. The story indeed was fresh and kept me hooked until the last page.

The main characters – Raj, Manasi and Aaliya are developed well. I loved the transformation of Raj from a timid, aimless fellow to a guy having a goal in life. Aaliya’s giving nature makes you love her. The story has been narrated in third person narrative. The language is simple. The narration has been done well.

Why should you read this book?

• It tells you how having a goal in your life changes your life for good.
• It’s inspiring. It tells you how being focused on your goal will help you overcome any obstacles.
• It tells you that love is all about giving.
• Lastly, it tells you that a HERO resides in every individual.

I rate-

Cover- 3/5

Characters- 4/5

Story- 4/5

Overall, I rate ‘Jeet Lo Marathon’ with 4/5 stars.

You can book your copies on Amazon.

Two Angels by Nivedita Vedurla - Book Review

Book Name- Two Angels 

Authoress- Nivedita Vedurla 

Publisher- Invincible Publishers 

Blurb- 

Do you know the love story that the sea shares with the sea shore? The mighty sea travels with his companions; boats, sailors and the sea creatures together visit many destinations. When he gets tired from all his travels, he comes to the sea shore, and crashes down onto her, surrendering everything that he has. The sea shore keeps her arms wide open when he reaches for her, to soothe his tired body and take away his pain. The moment he is relieved of his pain, he longs to go back, and the seashore lets him go. The love that Arun and Esha share is just like that between the sea and the sea shore. Their relationship is short and leaves Arun devastated. Could he have found love only to lose it all to fate? Will he survive the loss? The answers take him back to Esha, and to the realization that love comes in many forms. This story is a journey to love through friendship, from loss to hope.

Review- 

'Two Angels' - the story is as simple and innocent as its name. The story is about Arun and the love of his life, Esha. They meet each other at school and soon, turn out to be best friends. It is during this time they fall in love only to realise it later.You never know you are in love until the time that person goes away from you. A similar thing happens with Arun and Esha and they realise their immense love for each other. They get married after facing a zillion hurdles. Life is strange. It knocks you down when you least expect it. What incident happens which knocks Arun down? Does he come out of it? 

The simplicity and innocence of this story touched my heart. The story is presented in a simple way, without any twists and turns, without any masala. It appears as if the author has written it all by her heart. There's a personal touch to every word that has been written. You'll be overwhelmed with emotions by the time you reach the end of this story. 

The language is simple and so is the narration. The story has been crafted well. It teaches you many things about love and life through the protagonists. 

Two Angels is a good treat for romance lovers. 

I rate 

Cover: 3/5 

Characters: 3/5 

Story: 3/5 

My overall rating for 'Two Angels' is 3/5 stars.

You can book your copies on Amazon.

Karna's Celestial Armor by Surendra Nath - Book Review

Book Name- Karna's Celestial Armor 

Author- Surendra Nath 

Blurb- 

We all know that in MAHABHARATA, Karna had, on his body, his Kavach-Kundal (set of armor and earrings) which rendered him invincible in battle against any foe. God Indra tricked Karna and took away the divine set. So, in the final battle Arjuna killed Karna.

That’s the back-story. After that, what did Indra do with the all-powerful Kavach-Kundal? Did he hide it somewhere? What if someone can find it today? That’s what this novel is about. Vasu, from the present time, sets off to find the set. The spirit of Karna guides him through the search.

Indra always knew someone would come looking for it. So he used all his ingenuity to hide it in most impossible of places. That makes Vasu’s task so much more challenging. And he is not the only one who is interested in this quest. There are others trailing him.

Join Vasu in this thrilling adventure through mysterious locations in India to know why the armor was all that potent, and if it still is.

Review- 

Surendra Nath's 'Karna's Alter Ego' book had stolen my heart. I grew a lot excited when the author announced to me that he has published his next book. Like his previous book, I loved reading this book of Surendra Sir as well. 

The name of the book will make you believe that this book is a mythological type of a book. You might also wish to skip reading this book because of its title and cover. But trust me, it isn't anything of that sort. The book is a combo of mythology, travel and inspiration. It is packed with adventure and thrill with some pinches of love and romance. 

As the blurb says, the story is about Vasu's quest for the celestial armor. The story has been perfectly plotted as the author has taken care of all minute details into consideration. The author has divided the story into different sections and brought out a connection between them skillfully. 

The story is being narrated in first person narrative with Karna, himself being the narrator. The lucid language with this engaging narration and awesome story will get you hooked on to the book. The narration is so realistic that the story begin to play like a movie (you, of course, need an eye for imagination). 

The central characters - Vasu and Karna are just the way they were in the previous book. There has been introduction of few more characters. The author has portrayed them well. Each character plays a short role in the story but is potent enough to etch his mark in your mind forever. 

I guess I had written this for the previous book as well. Here are the few things which I loved about the book. 

1. Vasu's passion and love for Karna. 

2. Vasu's intelligence in finding every part of the armor. 

3. Vasu's 'Don't give up' attitude. 

Karna's Celestial Armor is an interesting read. It will keep you hooked onto it until the last page. 

I rate: 

Cover: 2.5/5 

Characters: 4.5/5 

Story: 4.5/5 

Overall, I rate Karna's Celestial Armor with 4.5/5 stars.

Razor Sharp by Abhinav Kumar - Book Review

This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours.  To know more log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.in

Book Name: Razor Sharp

Author: Abhinav Kumar

Blurb:

In my debut collection of short stories, I explore relationships and friendships, bits of the past and the present, and changing times. Each story explores a world, a relationship or an incident unto itself: while they are disjointed, my sole purpose is to touch the reader's mind and enhance his or her pleasure. Too many short stories, I believe, aim to befuddle and confuse, and in the process, lose sight of what is most important. Having been in this position several times in the past, in this collection, I present little bits of myself in the hope that you, the reader, feel happy or sad, laugh or despair - but never feel cheated. Happy reading!

Review:

I love reading short story collection as they are quick reads and you do not have to remember the story. Just the number of the story in that collection and you're good to go. 

Reading Razor Sharp was an enjoyable experience. The stories are short and make a place in your heart. They are about the common thingswhich happen to common people like you and me. Some stories make you ponder while some leave you surprised. They leave a mark upon the reader. They stay with the reader.There are 13 stories in this collection. My favorite ones are Razor Sharp, Prejudice, Memory and 13(1)(vii). 

At times, we have to take tough decisions about our lives. We are usually confused about these decisions. Pondering about it in a cool place and with a calm mind can help us a lot. A similar kind of situation happens with the protagonist of the story, Razor Sharp. I could very much relate to him. 

The second story that I loved the most is Prejudice. Marital rape is something that not everyone speaks about. I've seen some women suffer. I could understand the feelings of the girl. 

Revenge is something which most of us like reading. I don't know why but this story reminded me of the movie Table No. 21 

And lastly, 13(1)(vii). When I read this title, I couldn't understand what the story could be. And that made me grow my interest in this story. Love can walk into your life at any point of time. And you've to take a step towards that love. This is what this storu taught me. 

The narration and language is excellent. I loved the way author has narrated the stories. There's a personal touch to each of the story. 

I noticed a peculiar trait about this author. When you start reading a story and believe it, it is during this time that the story surprises you with a twist. This has happened with me while reading all the stories of this collection. I came across many new words which enhanced my vocabulary. The author's note towards the end of the story is something I've seen for the first time. He says that his stories were not published and rejected. I wonder who wouldn't want to publish such interesting tales.

I rate Razor Sharp with 3.5/5 stars.

You can buy your copies on Amazon.

Madhumati by Anshuman Rai – Book Review

Book Name: Madhumati

Author: Anshuman Rai

Publisher: Invincible Publishers

Blurb: 

In pre-colonial India, a land of empires ruled by the Simhas, the Ashwas, the Chandras, the Suryas and the Meenas, a beautiful young girl Madhumati blossoms and learns music, dance and various other arts from her gurus. She is not alone in her journey, for she is blessed with learned sisters who are skilled in the various arts of magic, illusions and lovemaking. When Sibu, the charismatic dancer, dances his way into their hearts, a battle ensues to win over his love. Will Madhumati succeed in winning her love? As the story unfolds, a parallel tale entwines with the saga, the story of the majestic Pashupati, his passion for Ritu and her sisters, and their trials and tribulations as they try to placate the enigmatic Prakriti. Lose yourself in the torrents of antiquity, on an enigmatic epic journey into the past to witness how creation itself unwinds, time ages and love germinates.

Review:

Writing a story in the form of poem is something that not many authors can do. Narrating a mythological story in the form of a poem is worth all praises. The author has to consider all aspects when writing one. And I think the author of Madhumati has done a commendable work by writing this novel, Madhumati.

The story narration, as it is narrated in the form of a poem, is done very well. The vivid descriptions of the places, the manner in which the characters are portrayed and the way the story has been developed in the form of a poem is exemplary.  The author makes you paint a faint picture of the scenes in the story and makes your reading an interesting experience.

The book is rich in vocabulary. The poetry has been written excellently.

This book is surely a treat for al mythology lovers. 

I rate:

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 4/5

Story: 4/5

My overall rating for ‘Madhumati’ is 4/5 stars.

You can book your copies of this book on Amazon.

It happens only in love by Amit Singh – Book Review

Book Name: It happens only in love

Author: Amit Singh

Publisher: Invincible Publishers

Blurb: 

Love makes you smile, Love makes you cry, Love drives you crazy.
But, Do you believe that love could be inspiring too?
Something that gives you strength to do the impossible.
A spoiled and aimless person, Aditya, suffers from suicidal instincts due to his failures in life.
Ananya is a beautiful, bold and courageous girl. She is a successful journalist with a striking personality.
What happens when Aditya meets Ananya?
"It Happens Only In Love" is an inspiring story of success with love by its side.

Story in a nutshell:

Love is something that motivates you to be a better person. It is something that makes you look forward to success.

‘It happens only in love’ is a story of Aditya, a boy without any aim in life. He wanders around doing nothing and thinks that life is a piece of cake until the day reality hits him hard. He realizes that he is good for nothing and decides to do something worth appreciating in his life. It is during the same time that he sees Ananya, a reporter on his television. He falls in love with her at the first sight. Does Aditya succeed in telling Ananya about the feelings he has for her? Does he make something out of his life? Will Aditya’s love story have a happy end?

Review:

‘It happens only in love’ is a simple and sweet love story of Aditya and Ananya. Plain and clear stories are turning extinct these days for everyone loves to read stories that have masala in them. This book can be very well compared to Rajshri Productions films. It is a simple story which has a twist towards the end. You go all ga-ga over the good things and feel super emotional towards the end.  The story isn’t something very interesting but is good enough to keep the readers hooked on to it until the end. The story isn’t predictable either. I love reading books of such kind. It makes me look forward to read the next page.

Aditya and Ananya are the main characters. There are many others but their role in the story is limited. I believe that the author could have done more justice to those characters as well. He has developed the characters of Aditya and Ananya well. There’s a saying that opposites attract. Well, it proves true in the case of this story.

The story is being narrated in first person narrative. The simple and casual language makes this book an easy read. The story has been plotted well. The incidents do not seem out-of-place at any instance.

This story tells you that love can overcome any obstacles. It is your true love which gives you strength that makes you face all problems with determination and confidence.

I rate:

Cover: 2.5/5

Characters: 3/5

Story: 3.5/5

My overall rating for ‘It happens only in love’ is 3.5/5 stars.

You can book your copies of this book on Amazon.

Rooh se rooh tak by Vineet Bansal – Book Review

Book Name: Rooh se rooh tak

Author: Vineet Bansal

Publisher: Nine Books

Blurb: 

गर ना समझें तो यह महज़ एक कहानी है, एक किताब है... बाकी और किताबों की तरह, जिसे आप पढ़ते हैं और भूल जाते हैं। समझें तो एक कोशिश... उस शय के सबसे सच्चे और सुच्चे स्वरूप को जानने की जिसे हम सभी प्रेम कहते हैं। कहानी की शुरुआत होती है नील से। किस तरह से एक छोटे से शहर का सीधा-सादा सा लड़का यूनिवर्सिटी में आता है और उसकी चकाचौंध में खो जाता है। पहले ही दिन उसकी मुलाकात होती है रणदीप से- यूनिवर्सिटी का सबसे रुआबदार लड़का। दोनों दोस्ती से कुछ आगे बढ़कर एक-दूसरे को भाई समझने लगते हैं। इसी बीच नील को प्यार हो जाता है- सच्चा प्यार, अदिति से। प्यार रणदीप को भी होता है- रिया से, लेकिन एकतरफ़ा प्यार। परिस्थितियाँ कुछ यूँ करवट लेती हैं कि रिया आत्महत्या कर लेती है और जाने से पहले अपनी हत्या का इल्जाम लगा जाती है नील पर। क्या नील रणदीप को अपने बेगुनाह होने का यक़ीन दिलवा पाता है? क्या होता है जब आपका सबसे अच्छा दोस्त आपका सबसे बड़ा दुश्मन बन जाता है? क्या होता है जब प्यार सनकपन की सभी हदें पार कर जाता है? क्या होता है जब आपको प्यार और ज़िन्दगी में से किसी एक को चुनना पड़ता है? क्या नील और अदिति प्यार की उस ऊँचाई को हासिल कर पाते हैं? क्या दोनों एक हो पाते हैं? जवाब आपके हाथों में है- 'रूह से रूह तक''।

Review:

Rooh se rooh tak by Vineet Bansal is the first Hindi novel that I’ve ever read. I was a little skeptical about reading a Hindi book as I had stopped reading and writing Hindi since 2008. I was doubtful whether I would be able to finish reading this book on time and review it.

I would say I had a pleasant time reading this book. The typesetting and overall presentation of this book is awesome. Not even for once did I feel any visual difficulty. The book is presented well.

This story is about love, friendship and deceit. It is about what you can do for your partner. It teaches you the value of true friendship and love. True love always has to stand out in an acid test and that is what exactly happens with the characters of this story. The author has nicely penned down this tale of love.

The book has been written in Hindi. It is written well. The characters aren’t many and the author has done included all the characters in most of the part of the book. He has given a proper place for every character. You do not wonder as to what a particular character is doing in the story.

I found the story to be a bit predictable at many places. The story teaches you many lessons for life. I enjoyed reading this novel.

I rate:

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 3/5

Story: 3.5/5

My overall rating for Rooh se rooh tak is 3.5/5 stars.

You can book your copies of this book on Amazon.