srivalli's reviews
1557 reviews

 3.5 Stars

Thirty-two-year-old Nikhil has never sat, spoken, or moved. His mother, Jaya, spent the past three decades nursing and caring for him. After her sixtieth birthday, Jaya’s anxiety began to overwhelm her. What will happen to her son after she’s gone? 

Her health issues and mounting concerns lead Jaya on a search for alternative care options or any solution she can find. As she plunges deep into it, her estranged husband and daughter are forced to reconsider their decisions and perceptions. 

The story comes in omnipresent third-person POV. 

Before I begin, let me say I am not a mother. I am a daughter. 

The book starts with a poem of couplets. While it introduces the conflict in brief, a few rhymes feel forced. A free verse would have worked better. 

The perspective of death is interesting. Initially, it acts as the omnipresent narrator establishing the plot for the readers. There are a few snippets by Death scattered throughout. Over time, these lose the philosophical element.  

The characters are flawed, which makes the story feel realistic to a point. No one is perfect. They made decisions based on what they think is right. Factors like ego, irritation, stress, anger, etc., make their presence felt more than once. 

In a way, they are quite typical. People who cannot and will not communicate. People who make decisions for others. People who want things done their way. People holding grudges. All this works well to sustain the conflict. 

However, the biggest drawback for me was the constant reminder that Jaya was right. Somehow, the book’s tone overemphasizes Jaya. She is supposed to be this strong single mother of a specially-abled child who does nothing wrong. All her mistakes are justified because she made them out of her love for her son. 

As a reader, I do not prefer being told which character to support. That’s a decision I make. When the narration insists I need to root for Jaya, my mind invariably does the opposite. Sure, I can see nothing has been easy for her. But I can also see she is responsible for some of it. 

Most importantly, I cannot not see Divya. I started the review by stating I’m a daughter. My heart bleeds for Divya. She is collateral damage that cannot be fixed because Jaya suddenly decides she wants to. 

Moreover, the repetitive omnipresent statements about how Divya misunderstood her mother or had a wrong perspective got on my nerves. Let’s be honest, Jaya made her choice and it wasn’t Divya. This story belongs to Jaya and Nikhil, and the dear boy can’t even speak for himself, so it belongs to Jaya. It tried hard to establish Jaya as ‘the mother’. I understand but I don’t agree. 

I appreciate the focus on the emotional, social, familial, and monetary pressure of being a parent to a specially-abled child. I would have liked it better if we got a little more focus on the lack of proper care facilities and the anxiety parents constantly face. 

There are quite a few side characters that seem to blink in and out of the narrative as necessary. Maybe giving them a more meaningful presence would have enhanced the impact. There’s only one central male character, Suraj. As it happens with this genre, he is the weaker person, leaving everything on Jaya. But… yet again, being told that he is supposed to be so-and-so makes me look at things from a different perspective. Not that I elevate his character (nope) but I can see him better than I’m supposed to. 

Frankly, I thought the book would end differently. I would have preferred if it stayed with the track it began. Of course, the idea provided has merit and is necessary. But so is the other one. Maybe it would have hit harder that way. 

To summarize, Not Before You is a melancholic story of a woman doing her best to ensure the dignity of her child with special needs and how her choices affect her and others’ lives over the years. 

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion. 

 4 Stars

One Liner: A solid read

When Drew’s brother Frank died in a climbing accident, they were surprised but assumed it was an accident. However, when his much younger and highly ambitious wife, Stella, arrives to demand a share in the Hopgood Hall, they are immediately suspicious. Drew and Cheryl ask Alexi and Jack to take up the case. Alexi and Jack already planned to work on it and were happy to dig deeper.

With new truths emerging, it becomes clear that there are a handful of suspects, and nothing everything is as it seems. With Drew getting into an unwanted complication, can Alexi and Jack save their friends in time?

The story comes in Alexi and Jack’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:

Though this is the sixth book in the series, it should work as a standalone (unlike the previous two books that focused on Alexi and Jack’s personal lives). While this deals with Drew’s personal life, it is pretty independent.

As if Cosmo wasn’t enough, A & J now have Silgo, a huge doggy of mixed breed. Needless to say, these two have taken over the backseat of their car and are ready to save Alexi if necessary. Cosmo is, of course, not going to let people walk away without looking at him.

Given the premise, this one combines a bit of family drama and a good load of mystery. As always, the plot starts simple but develops into something layered and intricate. Yet, nowhere does it feel confusing. It is not unbelievable either and ties well with the character arcs. Different threads come together to create a complete picture.

There are enough suspects, so it took me some time to guess. Some of them are a bit flat but do the job they are supposed to do. I wish we see Stella in action a little more rather than just read about her.

There isn’t any new development in the personal track between Alexi and Jack but it is not necessary here. They have an understanding and already work well as a team.

It gets a bit repetitive when Alexi is the only one rushing into danger, so maybe we could change that next? Give Jack some action and a chance to showcase his moves. ;)

To summarize, A Deadly Legacy is intriguing and is a good mystery to read when traveling or relaxing. The pacing is not fast but settles into a good rhythm.

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

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 3.7 Stars

2006 

The book is the story of three girls from Tali village in Afghanistan – Kowsar, Geesu, and Simin. It is inspired by true stories. 

Told from multiple POVs, it showcases how the lives of innocent and not-so-innocent villagers change as power corrupts those in authority and the Taliban takes over. Most importantly, it shows how girls and women are the ones who suffer yet display courage, hope, and love. 

I kept postponing the book as I knew it would be a triggering read. I wasn’t wrong. This is dark, disturbing, and brutal. 

TW:

child rape, child abuse, child murder, murder, domestic abuse, violence, murder. 

 

I wish I could say this doesn’t happen. 

I wish I could say the author wrote for the Western audience. 

I wish I could say the author exaggerated the brutality. 

I wish I could say this is just fiction. 

I wish I could say I don’t believe any of it. 

I cannot. I will not. 

This is a hard book. There is very little hope much like the situation in present-day Afghanistan where new laws are imposed on women. Still, there are a few scenes that fill our hearts with love and make us pray the characters get what they want. 

It presents the life of villagers, the threats they face, the decisions they make, the momentary lapse of judgment, the goodness that pays the price, etc. The Baluch also have minor yet important roles. 

Despite the gut-wrenching situations, I couldn’t help but love the descriptions of the land, the open space, the clean air, the valley, the hills, and the beauty that slowly got tainted by human greed and lust for power. 

The references to the role of the US in the country have to be mentioned. What did the big brother do? Well, we know what they didn’t do when they should have! Now, they are focusing on Bangladesh. The Nobel Peace Prize winner as prime minister is actively encouraging the genocide of Hindus. Great job, guys! 

The only drawback is the way the book has been formatted and structured. I hope they structured the final copy properly. 

I’m not sure about the translation since some sentences sound odd. With no chapter titles, there is no way to know which POV we are reading and whose. Kowsar, Simin, Geesu, and another character get first-person POVs. The others get third-person POVs. The shifts are random and without proper headers, it is hard to track the narration. Moreover, with parallel storylines, the narrative sometimes shifts between timelines. 

I was surprised when the book ended the way it did. But I reread the last dialogue and found it apt. This story only pauses before it continues. 

To summarize, Tali Girls is not an easy read and has many triggers but it does tell the story you need to know. If you want something hopeful or gentle, stay away from this one. 

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

#NetGalley #TaliGirls 

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Entertaining!
 

It has been six months since Flora and Jack married. They settled into married life, and things seem to be going well. The couple, along with friends, attends the rehearsal of the re-enactment of the Battle of Lewes to support another friend. The Abbeymead Historical Society seems to have a great done job. The castle ruins serve the purpose well. 

However, one of the actors and Society members, Alex Vicary, falls to his death during the rehearsal. Everyone thinks it’s accidental. However, Hector is determined that it is murder and someone pushes his dear friend. 

As the sleuthing reluctantly takes up the case, they realize that quite a few people have reasons to see Alex dead. Anyone could have killed him. As things get complicated, Flora and Jack need to find the killer before they become victims. 

The story comes in Flora and Jack’s third-person POVs. 

Though the book works as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the previous two books to get a better idea of the characters and their friendship with others in the story. 

Flora and Jack have gotten into a rhythm, dividing their days between Lewes and Abbeymead. While it is not all flowers and roses, things are decent and soon they can go on their honeymoon to Venice (possibly the next book). 

The recurring side characters in the series do their bit here too. Alice is grumbling but efficient. Kate is busy with her baby girl and the diner. Inspector Alan has too much paperwork and not enough time. 

The side drama is handled without too much conflict or unwanted displays of emotion, though we can feel the tension between the characters. There’s just enough to make things a bit uncomfortable for some of them. All a part of life! 

The mystery begins right away with the murder in the prologue. The details are revealed in stages and the suspect list grows/ changes accordingly. It’s Flora who does the majority of the work this time. Jack is less involved though he does manage to step in when absolutely necessary. Maybe in the next book, he’ll get back to proper sleuthing. 

To summarize, Murder in an English Castle is an easy cozy mystery with some history, secrets, danger, and dead bodies. As always, the book is fairly short and has a steady pace. Looking forward to the next one! 

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

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 4 Stars

Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain lost her parents and ended up in a wheelchair when their Firehawk crashed. With the Skyfleet base repeatedly attacked by mutabugs and villagers mysteriously disappearing in the colonies, Amberley and her friend, Ricardo Lopez (Ric), must do their bit to help their people, even if it means going against the rules and reviving the damaged Firehawk. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Amberley and Ric with snippets from other characters as letters, notes, and journal entries. 

My Thoughts:  

I admit I didn’t fully read before requesting to join the tour for this book. I saw the cover with a dashing plane shaped like a bird, noted the names of the kiddos, and jumped to grab a copy. (Also, my friend, Rosh, read a few books by the author and liked them, so I wanted to try this one). 

Dystopian is not my thing. I am cynical but I don’t like the morose undertones in the genre. However, this one is quite refreshing. The story is set in the New World where a group of people (those who left the Old World looking for a better life) live in settlements. With the talk of radiation and how toxic waste has resulted in mutabugs, it’s evident that the timeline is futuristic. 

The book starts slowly as it establishes the setting and the dangerous situation right away. Though the world-building is not detailed, there is enough to imagine the scenario. Also, all the fighter jets (like Firehawk and Dogstar) are clearly described with an illustration and notes (make, model, pros, cons, pilot, etc.). 

Amberley and Ric are easy to like though they have traits one would not want in children – stealing, breaking rules, sneaking out, etc. They do get caught and are reprimanded by elders but that doesn’t stop them. Moreover, we actually empathize with the kids instead of the adults in this case. I could feel their frustration, fear, and grief at how things were being handled. 

Also, the rep is great. Amberley is in a wheelie chair due to paralysis from the accident. Ric cannot see and wears a special eye device with IR vision. However, these limitations are not a hindrance. Amberley was born to be a pilot and trained by her parents since a baby. Similarly, Ric was trained to be a mechanic and is such a smart lad that he can convert any piece of scrap into something useful. 

Of course, the adults aren’t bad. Here, the enemies are mutabugs, cockroaches, and other dangerous creatures that have become near-invisible by absorbing the radiation over the years. A scary situation, right? 

Screwball Sydney is such a fab character. She’s eccentric and the kind of person you would want in your corner, of course, with an assurance that she won’t do something reckless. Rafe is another interesting character. Skipper Maddox was good too but Sydney wins hands down (and so does her pet wombat, Mascot). 

As with most MG fiction, this one too relies on kids putting themselves in risky situations (even if it is for the greater good). We can see both (adults and kids) perspectives and know they did what they did. 

I don’t know much about mechanics and jets so can’t say if the technical details are accurate. But then, this is set in the future with advanced technology, so anything is possible! On this note, I found it cheeky that a certain jet gives Steampunk vibes (no points for guessing who it belongs to). 

The ending is hopeful and positive on different levels. I like how this is presented and balanced with the note at the beginning. 

To summarize, Skyfleet is a pacy adventurous, exciting, dangerous, and heartwarming story about two kids trying to prove their worth and helping their community during adversity. 

Thank you, TheWriteReads, Tiny Tree Books, and author Victoria Williamson, for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

 2.5 Stars (outliner)

Lyta is a notorious thief but she’ll do anything for her little big brother, Kit. 

Kit wants nothing to do with his sister and leads a respectable life until he is arrested on sedition charges for printing a pamphlet in his press. 

Lyta makes a bargain with the king to save Kit. She will steal The Book (the one with mysterious magical powers) in exchange for Kit’s life. 

Sylvain is a reformed pirate and the king’s bodyguard. He wants nothing to do with Lyta after what she did to him. However, he seems to have no choice but to be with her for this heist. 

Things will have to get dangerous before they are sorted. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Lyta, Kit, and Sylvain Chant. 

Yep, it’s me, once again falling for a pretty cover and an intriguing premise. This is supposed to be adult fantasy romance even if the main characters act like teens. 

The book starts with a list of characters and their roles as well as the list of gods and their domains. Given how the characters are introduced in the first 20%, I’m glad to have this list in advance. 

The three POVs (thanks for the third-person narration) give us the story and backstories from different perspectives. This helps since I didn’t (almost) always like the FMC and the other two balanced it out well. 

Kit was a pretty decent character. Ben and Beatriz are intriguing (I wanted more of her). The king and queen are mysterious and mercurial. Sylvain was okay too. In fact, I empathized more with him as the plot progressed though I cannot figure out why he loves Lyta. Love is brainless, at least in this case! 

Now, what do I say about Lyta? In theory, she is a great character. However, in execution, she is 200% cocky and has 10% substance. I don’t understand why we are hyping the fantasy FMCs only to make them act as if all their brain cells have turned charcoal. She is supposed to be a great thief. Guess what? It’s the opposite. None of her plans and attempts go without a hitch. Worse still, she put herself and others in danger. Also, she is too reckless and impulsive to be a pro-thief. Can anyone tell me why it is such a bad thing to do as someone else says when it is a better plan? Quite a few times, I was reminded of Until We Shatter (and not in a good way). 

This is a plot-driven book, which means the characters don’t stay true to their arcs. That affected Lyta the worst. Even her love for her brother, Kit, doesn’t always show her in good light. 

However, the plot isn’t executed well either. It is all over the place. In fact, I assumed this was a debut author’s work only to realize the author has written more books in the same genre. Moreover, I read two of her books under the pen name Jessica Throne. I’m surprised! While those books weren’t perfect, they were much better written. Three possible reasons for this:  

It wasn’t until after 60% that the story started to be gripping. There were many gaps even then, but I could feel the tensions and danger rising. By the way, calling it a ‘heist for the ages’ is silly. It is not; nowhere close. 

The world-building is patchy too, though I don’t know if it’ll be better in the coming books. While I like the premise of old gods being targeted by the Church, I also feel authors are using this as a go-to trope but not doing justice to it. I cannot feel the indigenous flavor or the emotion, which rather defeats the purpose. After reading the author’s note at the end, I felt she should have stuck to the original bit instead of bringing in old gods. 

It seems fantasy authors like to ‘use’ old gods but have no real respect or understanding of them. Most of them look at it from the same western Abrahamic framework which does not help the cause. 

There’s an ending but it is a semi-cliffhanger. Plot-wise I’m tempted to know more, but unfortunately, I do not like Lyta. I mostly won’t continue with the series. 

To summarize, The Book of Gold has an intriguing premise but ends up underwhelming due to various reasons. It will work better for readers who like YA fantasy (even if this is an adult book). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheBookofGold
 

Mahabharata Unravelled II: The Dharma Discourse is a compilation of the various dharma sutras (guidelines) mentioned in the ithihasa by different characters. The author not only structured them in a neat order but also simplified the lessons/ rules to make them reader-friendly. 

Additionally, the author provided comparisons and explanations wherever necessary. I love the multiple references and examples of Chanakya’s works and how his lessons (as well as the ones from our scriptures) are useful even today. If only the governments were sensible enough to follow them properly! 

Even if you haven’t read the Mahabharata or the first book, I would recommend reading this one, especially if you are interested in the various forms of dharma and want to know what the term actually means. Moreover, the book would be useful for those in corporate/ entrepreneurship/ politics/ and just about anywhere in life. 

A ranger’s job is to protect but the position isn’t given to anyone. When proving herself worthy results in the injury of the winged horse, Rose is given another job. Helping the lazy Leone seems like a punishment until Rose realizes some lessons are yet to be learned and it comes from understanding who she is. Along the way, Leone might learn something too! 

Firstly, I’m not sure about the blurb. The Rowan part doesn’t come until later and is a part of character and plot development. Not revealing it might have been better maybe. 

After loving the Tea Dragon Society trilogy, I was delighted to get approved for this book. The author’s illustrations tell the story with a few words to ease the narration. I also love how seamlessly the author includes gender identity in the work. 

As a middle-grade fantasy, this one is pretty low-stakes and super cozy. It is soothing, gentle, mellow, and heartwarming. However, it also tends to rush through some scenes while lingering on others. 

Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that the book subtly and deftly shows the wannabe ranger’s dilemma about identity. The solution is simple acceptance, which fits the cozy and utopian-ish vibe of the book. 

I love the Pegasus. It looks so majestic and beautiful! There are many frames without text. These effortlessly advance the plot. The silence feels peaceful and respectful (like how we don’t speak in scared sites). Every character is distinctly drawn, so there will never be any confusion about who’s who. 

Why did I not rate it higher? Leone needs more backstory. The focus is on Rowan but also on Leone. This didn’t work as well as it should have. A few more pages would have helped. 

To summarize, A Song for You and I is a beautiful, sweet, and lovely book about identity, nature, and friendship. The book has a few sample practice sketches at the end. These are my favorites! Is there anything better than getting a sneak peek into the illustrator’s drawing book? 

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

#NetGalley #ASongForYouAndI 

 3.7 Stars

There is much more to Mahabharata than the cookie-cutter versions or the extensive creative takes (which invert and distort the intent of the original). 

This book by Ami Ganatra is an attempt to explore the ithihasa, the characters, and the themes while also debunking a few myths. Kudos to the author for attempting such a massive task. Though the book doesn’t fully justify the tagline, it does provide something to the readers. 

I recommend this book to readers who have little idea about Mahabharata but want to know more without having to read the eighteen Parvas. Not that this book acts as a substitute. But it does a better job of discussing the characters than fictional retellings. 

Note that there will be repetitions (the author acknowledges it in the introduction). The book is not without a few flaws but it does the job. 

 3.3 Stars 

One Liner: A decent timepass read

Raffe and Gaby are best friends and work in the same team for a marketing company. When his passion for baking brings him the title of Britain’s Best Baker, it seems like a good time to help him find the love of his life. Enter, Ever After Agency, a matchmaking company run by friends. 

Gaby is happy to help them find the right woman for Raffe but soon she realizes her feelings for him might be more than just friendship. However, when Raffe falls for one of the selected candidates, Gaby has to decide if she wants a chance at love at the risk of ruining her friendship. 

The story comes in Gaby and Poppy’s first-person POVs. 

My Thoughts:  

This should work as a standalone (I haven’t read the previous books). However, I was unprepared for Poppy’s POV in a story that didn’t belong to her. 

Firstly, the premise of friends-to-lovers with some supposed third-party drama is not only interesting but has much potential to explore the MCs’ friendship and the realization parts. Unfortunately, the book succeeds only to a point. 

The second half is decidedly better and more entertaining than the first. Once the setting changes, the story ups the ante with ease. The main reason for this is the focus on Gaby and Raffe even though there are a bunch of people around them. 

The first half takes time to establish the dynamic, which is good but I was so annoyed by Freya (until she redeemed herself to an extent). Also, I needed more of Aunt CiCi. She sounds wonderful! 

  All of it could have been condensed and told to us in a couple of paragraphs. Her POV should have been in the third person. 

Instead of limiting Raffe’s POV to the prologue, it should have been included more (at least 3 chapters) in between by replacing Poppy’s home scenes. That would have given us more insight into his feelings and the exact moment of realization. This part has been settled in a single sentence. 

I enjoyed meeting Gaby’s family a lot (even the aunt, lol). Seeing how this ended, I feel they will feature in one of the upcoming books as well. I might try that one just to meet them again. Lovely family vibes with chaos, banter, love, and laughter. 

Though the book explores another trope (forced proximity), it doesn’t do much except make one of them feel sadder. This is where Raffe’s POV would have elevated the narrative and later too in the supermarket. 

I wouldn’t really call this a romance read. It’s more of a women’s fic with a bit of romance. The wait is long (which I don’t mind) but the journey could have been better. 

To summarize, Someone Like You is a sweet story about not just love but also about family, friendships, and being there for those who matter to you. 

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

#NetGalley