srivalli's reviews
1560 reviews

 4.3 Stars 

Lady Theodosia Balfour aka Theo is out of options. Her stepsister, Beatrice, the newly crowned princess who married Prince Duncan is telling everyone that Theo, her sister, and her mother are evil. Though Theo knows this isn’t the entire truth, she can do nothing as her life becomes a mess. Her mother forces her betrothal with an aging and pompous Duke to save them from bankruptcy. 

A desperate Theo does the only thing she can – summon a fairy godmother to help her. If a fairy can help her stepsister, she sure can help Theo, right? However, the fairy (Cecily) is less of a godmother and more of a stunning vision in yellow with a cunning attitude. The fairy is willing to help Theo, but only after seeing the proof of Theo’s goodness. With assistance from the fairy’s assistants – Phineas, a flirty human-turned-mockingbird, and grumpy Kasra, a fox shapeshifter, Theo has to complete three tasks and prove she is worthy of the fairy’s help. 

Well, it should be easy enough, right? 

The story comes in Theo’s third-person POV. 

I knew I had to read this the moment I saw the cover. The premise made me even more curious to find out how the author spun Cinderella’s plot and enhanced it.  

For me, a retelling/ spin-off loses merit when it simply flips the good as bad and vice versa or when the so-called evil characters are made squeaky clean, and whitewashed beyond recognition. A good re-creation should add depth to the characters and freshness to the plot while retaining the essence of the original. Though this book sometimes straddles the line, it settles comfortably on the right side, thanks to the FMC. 

I guessed the book would have a slower pacing and adjusted my expectations. The first quarter is indeed slow as we meet the characters and explore the settings. However, it picks up pace once the fairy enters. 

The highlight of the book is how it sustains sassy humor (even if it feels a bit excessive at times but necessary for the character arc). Theo is a lot of things and though she is supposed to be the wicked stepsister, I could see her vulnerability almost from the beginning. She is a flawed character learning to become a better person as she has new experiences. 

The book deals with themes like toxic family relationships (mother & sister, between sisters), bullying, societal expectations, presumptions, greed, jealousy, main character syndrome, etc. 

This works well as a cozy fantasy, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more detail about the fairy world. The tone borders on YA (probably coz Theo is a teenager). There isn’t much romance as such, though we do see some ‘moments’. 

Cecily is a terrific fairy. Need more of her in the next book! The supporting characters are pretty much one-dimensional but do the job. Maybe some of them will get more depth in the next book. 

A few dialogues are longish, though we can see these are necessary and have to be said. The last 20% packs a punch with more reveals, twists, and developments. It also shows how the plot had been planned and structured to reach the desired endpoint (I won’t be surprised if the author worked it in reverse). A couple of triggers too. 

While I didn’t expect the story to continue in the next book (I hoped it would be standalone spinoffs), I can’t complain. The book ends just the way it should – a good conclusion to the first part but leaving out enough to wonder where it would go from here. 

To summarize, How to Summon a Fairy Godmother is a solid debut and an entertaining read with many introspective moments. Can’t wait to read the sequel (please don’t keep me in suspense for long). Just hope there won’t be any triangles (or if present, they are handled well). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HowToSummonAFairyGodmother 

 4 Stars 

Harriet White decides to stick to her job as Holmes’ secretary, sending the same standard reply to the countless letters received by the Baker Street building society. However, curiosity gets the better of her when she receives a cryptic telegram about the famous writer St John. 

Turns out, Philip St John has been seeing ghostly apparitions and is inching closer to his demise. Some of the residents at the Thurmwell Manor believe it’s the curse. Harry (Harriet) takes up the case on behalf of the famous fictional detective. With Oliver helping her, she needs to save Philip before it’s too late. However, danger lurks everywhere! 

The story comes in Harry’s third-person POV. 

I like this better than the previous one! 

The book should work as a standalone but it would help to read the first in the series since there’s a definite improvement overall. However, the little snippets (some repetition, which is necessary for new readers) provided whenever necessary do the job. 

The story starts almost immediately after the previous case ends (maybe a few days later). The beginning (~10%) is a little slow but soon, we get into a steady pace. 

The mystery doesn’t start right away, though we get some information about it. I like that the culprit is not immediately obvious but is easy to guess once you get some clues. It is well-handled for the genre and there’s no info dump. 

There are two side tracks. Both take the lead from the previous book. While one is easier to follow, the other can cause a few questions if you haven’t read the book. I like the developments here. More will come (I hope), and we get what we’ve been waiting for! 

The arcs of both characters (Harry and Oliver) are getting better, so my expectations from the series have climbed up a couple of inches. Romance hasn’t occurred yet. It will, so just have to wait and watch. 

The book ends with a teeny yet strong lead for the next one. I am excited! After all… nope. Won’t reveal anything. ;) 

To summarize, The Cursed Writer is a solid second entry in the series and feels much better than the previous one. Can’t wait for book three! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCursedWriter 

 

 3.5 Stars

Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her brother’s best friend after he rejected her love and broke her heart. Now, Charlotte is on her way to attend her brother’s bachelor party. It’s Christmas too, the most favorite time of the year for the Calhoun family. Charlotte tells herself she would do whatever possible to act normal around Hayden. 

Hayden is a single dad to an adorable little girl and a sports coach at a college. He has no time for romance or love. However, he cannot help but want to be with Charlotte. His feelings for her haven’t been casual for a long time. 

With the impending Christmas and the wedding, Charlotte and Hayden also have to navigate their feelings for each other and decide what they want from life. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Charlotte and Hayden. 

Well, I wanted to like it more than I did! 

The Calhouns are crazy about Christmas. The Christmas-obsessed family is also C-centric – Christopher, Claire, Christian, and Charlotte. Thank god, Christian’s girl is named Penny. Though I don’t like it when more than one character has names starting with the same alphabet, I found this cheeky. Also, the parents don’t have a major role, so less confusion all around. 

The blurb makes it clear about what to expect from the FMC. Her love for the guy shines throughout the book. Her POV was enjoyable with genuine emotions. Her reactions feel appropriate since her feelings for the MMC are a (major) part of her. 

Fortunately, in the very first (second) chapter from the MMC’s POV, we know about his feelings for the FMC. I liked it as it wasn’t some ‘oh why didn’t I see you this way before’ which doesn’t always work well. 

However, I’m not a fan of Hayden. I liked him enough initially even if the repetition got on my nerves. But well, let’s just say he needed to be a lot better. Not impressed, dude! We have some great book boyfriends out there. He is not on that list. 

I also feel the characters could have had a little more depth since they have been crafted to carry the book. There’s potential but somehow a majority of it is limited to surface-level stuff aka lust. I don’t complain about steam in books. However, this one needed less steam and more genuine interactions. Scenes where they truly deepen the bond (like that conversation about how much he hurt her years ago).  

The middle drags. Yep. Though there’s some plot progress, we seem to go in circles with the MCs circling each other. I would have loved a couple of more scenes with the family. After all, the side characters (Christian, Penny, & Garrett) were great. Heck, give us some scenes with Gwen instead of telling us about it. 

I could guess what would get messed up in the last quarter. There are clues to it. However, the execution made me dislike the MMC even more. Flawed characters are okay but I think I’m over this kind of hero. They no longer appeal to me. 

There’s an epilogue of sorts, which is good. Somehow, I wasn’t that impressed. In fact, my favorite scenes in this quarter were the ones with the family members. Go figure! 

To summarize, Christmas Sweater Weather has great potential and shines in parts but doesn’t meet my expectations. While it is a cute read with fun Christmasy things, it could have been so much better! 

Not sure if the problem is because the characters are in their mid to late 20s. They are projected to be mature beyond their age but don’t act like that often. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #ChristmasSweaterWeather 

 3 Stars

One Liner: Could have been better!

 1885

A young woman is on the run from authorities for the murder of a young man. She plans to escape to London but collides with a stranger and ends up breaking her ankle. The stranger claims she is his wife and saves her life. The young woman is thankful and agrees to act as his wife. However, she soon realizes that the stranger's wife was branded a witch. 

Being the mistress of Ravenswood Manor is not easy, with strange events happening around her. Whom should she trust? Did she end up in a worse place than before?  

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

I enjoyed the author’s previous two books (No. 23 Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight) and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the terrific premise was given an average execution. 

Firstly, what I liked about the book – 

The setting delivers the Gothic vibes it promised. It is dark, dirty, and suffocating. There’s a bit of animal cruelty as well, though the mentions are limited to what is necessary for the plot. The atmosphere is spot on. 

Bran is such a terrific pet. The crow ends up with more personality than some of the characters (take what you will from this statement). 

The beginning is great and hooks the reader right away. It establishes the conflict and sets the stage for drama and intrigue. 

The romance is not explicit or excessive. While I still wish for a few more interactions between them, it doesn’t overpower the plot most of the time. 

However, things started to go downhill pretty soon. Here’s why – 

We get extensive snippets about the past from another character’s third-person POV. This could be the young woman or not. While I was initially curious, by the halfway mark, I had enough of it. All this is filler content and unwanted. 

A better approach would have been to provide the backstory in three chapters – one to establish the details, the second to deal with the conflict, and the third for the reveal. That way, we would have saved around 50 pages (or more). 

Marcus and Real Luna could have gotten a chapter or two each to add depth to their arcs. Except for being the brooding, handsome, heartbroken man, Marcus doesn’t do much. The real Luna is worse since we don’t even get to see her. 

A lot of space has been wasted on a character that pretty much went nowhere. Not to mention the repetition that weighed down the pacing and made this move slower than a snail.  

The side characters like Mr. and Mrs. Webber also could have gotten some detailing. A couple of more scenes in the village would have made it easier to support the sudden developments at the end. Right now, it sounds strange and out of character. 

For books with paranormal and witchy themes, it is better to go full into the vibe. Going this way and that doesn’t help much. Sustaining the effect is important, irrespective of the characters’ opinions. 

To summarize, The Ravenswood Witch has immense potential but ends up underwhelming and slow, with more fluff than substance. However, it will suit your needs if you want an atmospheric read for the season. 

Of course, I will read the author's next book. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

 3.7 Stars

Hecate Goodwin aka Kate lives in a cozy cottage near the Ipswich forest in the same compound as her family house, Goodwin Manor. As a hedge witch, she prefers solitude and the company of her black cat, Merlin. 

Suddenly, Kate is bombarded by nightmares, strange messages, her older sister Miranda, and Matthew Cypher, a man who once tricked her. Kate has to host the annual Halloween gathering while dealing with what would occur on her birthday (the same date). Matthew’s arrival complicates things as he comes from a coven that practices forbidden magic. 

However, Matthew may be the only one to help her when the truth of her dead mother’s dark magic practices comes to the front. Turns out, Kate’s mother hid many secrets. Whom should Kate trust? What should she do? 

The story comes in Kate’s first-person POV. 

Isn’t that an adorably cozy cover? Despite the word dark in the title, the book doesn’t get too dark or dive deep into scary elements. It has a few scenes and some danger but the overall vibe is pretty much comfy. 

The setting is atmospheric, be it the forest, the cottage, the manor, or the little bits of village we get to see. I could feel the mist and the darkness of the shadows lurking around and waiting for the FMC. 

A lot of space is taken up by routine activities like cooking, eating, etc. This is another reason for the cozy vibe. The story progresses a little during these scenes but not all readers will enjoy it. 

Kate’s arc is decent (she has her flaws) but the others are pretty straightforward. Matthew gets some sort of grey shades but then we know he is the hero, so it’s only Kate and others doubting his intentions. I do wish at least the main side characters had a little more depth. 

This is a romance with some paranormal danger thrown in. While I did like the possibly enemies-to-lovers (at least for Kate) trope, the love happens too fast and some of it feels unbelievable. 

The blurb calls this a celebration of the Halloween season, which is an apt description. Shaman is a big day for the witches, and the preparations start early. There’s a lot of pumpkin as well (carving, latte, etc.). 

The pacing is steady. It may feel slower at times but I think the momentum sustains pretty well. 

An epilogue would have been nice too. It was needed as I had a few questions about some motives, etc. 

There are recipes at the end (yay) for the various dishes mentioned in the book. I like a couple of those and might try them one day. 

To summarize, A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy witchy romance with a touch of darkness and danger. It is a good debut work (and no kitchen sink). I look forward to reading more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #ADarkAndSecretMagic 

 3.3 Stars (almost an outliner) 

1987 

Augusta Stern had to finally retire from her job as a pharmacist. She moves to Florida upon her niece’s advice. However, not having a busy routine makes her restless. Add to it the reentry of Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy she knew in her teenage years, disturbs her peace of mind. 

As a young girl in the 1920s, Augusta was proud of her father’s pharmacy and wanted to follow in his footsteps. Her great-aunt Esther’s arrival brings many changes in their lives, including the biggest one that leaves Augusta with many regrets. 

Sixty years later, can Augusta find a way to move on with her life and spend the remaining time in peace? What happened back then? 

The story comes in Augusta’s third-person POV in both timelines, with Irving and other POVs at random. 

I’m more of an outliner for this. I wish I could have liked it more. 

Firstly, there is no magic realism here. There’s possibly an attempt made but it is just fancy descriptions and wishful thinking. Every healer woman is not a witch nor does she work with magic even if people think otherwise. 

This is mainly a second-chance romance for characters in their 80s. While it is great to read books with senior citizens where they lead active lives, seeing the MCs act childish doesn’t really feel heartwarming. I did empathize with the FMC’s resentment to an extent. 

The side characters like Esther and Shirley could have had more development. Esther especially could have been a lot more than what she ends up here. It would have also helped create a more definite setup for magic realism. And a special yay to Jackie. Love her! 

I do like the topics chosen – women in medicine, gender bias, parental death, medical advancements, bullying, mafia, etc. However, when I realized the core of the plot rests on miscommunication (or the lack of communication), I lost interest. It’s bad enough to read 30 and 40-year-old characters making a mess of relationships. These people are in their 80s and still cannot have a decent conversation until the end! 

Also, the 1987 (present timeline) feels like it is set in the 2000s. My guess is that the age was calculated from the 1920s to decide when the present timeline should be. However, the rest of it feels more contemporary (like after 2010) except for the lack of mobile phones and social media. 

The pacing dips in the middle. Though we see both timelines, there isn’t much movement in the present one. 

Also, we get the first chapter from Irving’s POV around 35% or so. By then, I was sure this would continue in Augusta’s. The sudden change pulled me out of the story. We also get a few scenes from the omnipresent third-person. The changes should have been introduced earlier. For example, having the first Irving’s chapter at 10-12% would have set the pattern for the rest of the book. 

The Jewish rep is well done without providing too much detail but making it stand out just the same. 

To summarize, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a cozy read about first love, second chances, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and women in medicine. I wish I liked it more but it is not a bad book by any means. Guess I wasn’t in the mood for it. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

 3.5 Stars

Tilly Farriday (with her dog, Smoosh) has camped in one of the properties her company deals with. Being recently divorced, broke, and out of home doesn’t help with Christmas around the corner. 

George Holloway wants nothing to do with the house inherited from a dead uncle. He arrives at the house to see what needs to be done to sell it. Moreover, George needs time away from his successful girlfriend, Vanessa, who is ready for a grand engagement. 

Tilly becomes the hidden resident of the house as George plans to stay back for a few days. What kind of Christmas miracle can help them? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Tilly and George. 

I’ve wanted to read the author’s works for a while, so this short story seemed like a good start. The main characters have some depth, which makes it easy to empathize with them. 

The story is split into day-wise chapters, with some development occurring each day. 

Since everything takes place in less than 50 pages and the initial setup takes around 35% of the book, the ending feels rushed. 

It appears to be a standalone, but I won’t be surprised if there’s a series with the setting. If there isn’t, it's time to write one, author! 

There is not much to say except that the story does what it should do. No romance as such, though. Just some banter. Squeaky clean. 

To summarize, Holiday Hideaway is a short and cute story about two people becoming unexpected housemates, even if one of them doesn’t know of the other’s presence. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HolidayHideaway 

 4 Stars

Sixteen unlikely people are gathered and called the heirs of the elusive and eccentric Samuel W. Westing. However, they have to play a game of clues, questions, suspicions and lies to win the challenge and inherit the millions. Sam Westing will make sure he has the last word. 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

Well, how can I resist a book with a mystery? My copy (printed 25 years after the first) has an editor’s note talking about her connection with the author. In this, she said the author didn’t write for children in adults; rather she wrote for adults in children. 

I can see why. While this is still a middle-grade mystery with a thirteen-year-old Turtle as the main protagonist, the others are also important. Moreover, there’s no explanation of things. We are shown the characters and left to make inferences and connect the dots. All characters are flawed in one way or another but also have some good traits. 

It has many themes like discrimination, racism, prejudice, etc., These are woven into the plot without any lecturing or preaching. It’s up to the readers to decide what they want. The book was written in 1978 or earlier and doesn’t feel dated except for the lack of technology. 

The mystery as such is intricate and well-plotted. The editor said the author never planned it but created the clues and puzzles on the go. Imagine that! It’s not a common talent for sure. 

The pacing is slow which cannot be helped due to the various characters involved and the complexity of the mystery. However, it never feels boring. Something keeps happening, even if it is Turtle kicking yet another person for daring to touch her braid. 

The writing style is funny but not comical. It has dry humor and witty observations with a touch of sarcasm and shows the underlying insecurities and vulnerabilities of the characters. 

The ending will appeal to readers like me who love a nice epilogue or two with HEA (and a touch of bitter-sweetness). 

To summarize, The Westing Game is a slow-paced yet intriguing mystery and a worthy winner of the Newberry Medal. I think it’s a book one will appreciate more as an adult or upon a reread. 

 3.7 Stars

The Silvers and Andersons of Tinsel, a small town in Michigan, have an intense family feud going on for decades. No one really knows the reason for the continuing feud. However, the younger generation is tired of it. 

When Amanda panic-blurts about being engaged to Dane Silver, the duo decides to continue the charade. Why not use a fake engagement to end the feud forever? 

It sounds great until things start to feel a bit too real for comfort and they have to make some major decisions. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Dane Silver and Amanda Anderson in alternate chapters. 

The premise makes it clear that there will be some toxic family drama for the main characters to deal with. Some of them are quite decent and actually make an effort while others are idiots. Of course, the intention is to show the toxicity of the situation, so we have to have annoying but necessary scenes. 

While the dual POV helps know what the main characters think, having both in the first person makes it confusing at times. The voices are not always distinct. Also, I’m not sure of this new trend of addressing the readers at random or breaking the fourth wall. I’m tired of it already. 

Though the whole story takes place in a week, it is not really insta love, for one character. We know in the first chapter itself that the MMC had a crush on the FMC. Until around 60%, it is a question of what he’ll do about it and the growing awareness between the two. 

The small-town setting plays an integral part of the plot. Turns out this town sees high temperatures in summer and is a Christmas tourist destination with the festival being celebrated around the year. 

The side characters don’t get much depth. A couple of them are sweet. Everyone does what is expected of them, so the plot keeps moving. 

There’s a mystery too, about the feud and its origins. The varied reasons stated for it are hilarious and crazy, though the actual one might be a little serious. Is there anyone who even knows what it is? Why aren’t they revealing it? 

There’s a sort of third-act breakup which is not a breakup but you get what I mean. They need that space to sort things out in the head. 

The ending is HEA with a bonus epilogue from Chili’s POV. Chili is Dane’s dog, a super lazy one! So, the doggy’s POV adds a quirky touch and brings more smiles. 

To summarize, The Fake Wedding Project is a lighthearted read about family, relationships, small towns, and love. While it does have a few unsavory moments, these are essential for character growth. 

This is my first book by the author but I can see why she is popular in this genre. The writing style is easy to read, and the main characters are well-developed. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheFakeWeddingProject 

 3.5 Stars

A loose retelling of the love story of Manik Raitong and Lieng Makaw acts as the central point to weave a multitude of tales about people, community, culture, and nature in the Khasi region. 

Set in the past, the book brings together various socio-cultural, interpersonal, and earthly elements woven with an array of emotions. 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

Unfortunately, not many of us know a lot about the cultural history and lore of the Northeastern part of India. So, when I saw this was based on a real story from the region, I searched for the original (links at the end). The actual story is quite small, so the 400+ page count here resulted in many questions. 

The author’s note at the beginning establishes the expectations from the book. He mentions that the book is more of a presentation of the ancient Khasi world with people and nature at its center. This helped adjust my expectations. I realized it would read like a collection of interconnected stories that make sense only when together. 

The omnipresent third-person POV acts as the storyteller’s voice, providing information about the local customs, rituals, conditions, etc. For someone who knew almost nothing about the setting (those 3-4 episodes of food shows don’t count), this detailing provided a wealth of knowledge. There are a few triggers, but none of these events are detailed. 

There’s a liberal use of local terms and phrases, and translation provided alongside. This may or may not work for everyone. I like it since it brings authenticity to the English narrative. (It’s only in recent times I realized how hard it is to present regional stories in English. The feeling is just not the same without the presence of native words.) 

However, the dialogues are a bit jarring. They are a strange combination of modern-day terms, semi-translation, and a sort of ancient vibe. It took more than a while to get used to this blend. 

The beginning is slow as expected. There is a lot to know and new characters are introduced often. Moreover, the main lead is nothing more than a random character until the first 150+ pages (part one). We spend all our time reading about others. 

The setting, Hima Mokkhiew, is a village in Nongboh of Ri Bhoi. The geographical elements are described on the first page. However, a map would have done a better job. All those routes, hills, forest lands, and flat lands in different directions can get confusing without a visual representation. [The Khasi lands are spread over Meghalaya and a part of Assam as well as Bangladesh (the neighboring country).] 

We finally get to our MMC’s story, and it presents a range of social and political situations. However, right when the plot thickens, we end up with ~60 pages of stories about animals by animals. I didn’t mind the first two or three stories but then my interest level crashed to the lowest. These went on for too long and pulled me out of the mood. I’d have preferred for the tales to be spread across the book instead of being dumped together. That way, we would have also seen the MMC’s past in tiny flashbacks. 

At last, the core love story begins… but ends up in a few pages! While I appreciate the backstories provided for the characters and the foundation for their love, I wanted more. We see two or three scenes of the couple interacting before there’s a time jump and drama begins. The actual part of their ‘love’ is not even shown. If only the other stories were trimmed to make space for at least another 10 pages of their interactions! 

The ending brings the different threads together and provides the necessary conclusions for each track. A little more about Nem would have helped. 

To summarize, The Distaste of the Earth has much to teach about the ancient Khasi culture while exploring the basic human traits and the power of love. However, I cannot help but wish for a better focus on the true and tragic love story that inspired this book. 

Thank you, Blogchatter and Penguin, for a copy of the book. This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book.