srivalli's reviews
1580 reviews

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 

 4 Stars

A young bride is found dead at the country house of her would-be husband. People claim that she is a victim of the Withington curse which affects all women who marry into the family. However, Dr. Spilsbury is sure the cause of her death is a human and not some curse. With help from Violet and Charlie, the famous forensic pathologist is ready to find the killer. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Dr. Spilsbury and a few other characters. 

While the book works as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first. Violet’s introduction is necessary to understand her character (and she is still my favorite). 

Yet again, we start with something that seems pretty simple at the beginning only to realize there’s much we don’t know. There is much more than a curse, which gets only a teeny space as Dr. Spilsbury is not the one for such stuff. 

The victim was a force to reckon with and a stickler for rules. We know such people make a lot more enemies than they should simply because they don’t know where to draw a line. 

The list of suspects is pretty long, though a certain clue cuts it down by half. The mystery is intriguing as we get multiple flashback scenes from the past (involving the victim). I did guess the killer, though I had to wait for the reveal to find the reason. It comes together well. 

The war is once again one of the prominent players in the plot. However, there are other themes like bullying, PPD, mental illness, old money vs. new money, and a few more. 

The dynamics between the trio are shifting even though Dr. Spilsbury is determined to ignore the changes and be his useful self. The next book should be more interesting! 

Though the pacing is a bit uneven (again), it doesn’t hamper our enjoyment. I did miss Annie but Charlie is proving himself to be a worthy addition to Scotland Yard (even if he can be annoying at times with his little rants). 

To summarize, Dr. Spilsbury and the Cursed Bride sustains the momentum established in the previous book and provides good entertainment in the process. I’m quite surprised this series has such few reviews on Goodreads. It’s a solid historical mystery with the right amount of dark. It deserves more readers. 

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

#NetGalley #DrSpilsburyAndTheCursedBride 

 

 4 Stars

A woman’s body is found dragged from the Regent’s Canal one night. Famous forensic pathologist and criminal sleuth Dr Bernard Spilsbury sees that it’s a case of foul play. Soon, a second body washes up and the police have their hands with a possible killer bumping off women for some reason. Dr. Slipbury steps into action to solve the case before more bodies turn up. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Dr. Spilsbury and a few other characters. 

I did basic googling about Dr. Spilsbury before reading the book. Things are a bit different here since the fictional version seems to have a few traces of Holmes (lack of social cues and no family parts). The real one was married and had four children (or three) but the character is single and a loner by choice. Anyhoo, it didn’t affect my reading experience (though I am not fond of such changes to real people’s lives). 

The beginning is a bit slow (though this book has 400+ pages) as it introduces the main characters and establishes the situation. 

WWI might have ended, but it still had a strong impact on many lives. The war backdrop has a major role in the plot even if it doesn’t seem that way. 

While Dr. Spilsbury didn’t make the mark as I expected, I love Violet Malone. Her character is wonderful, so it makes me super happy to see she will continue to be in the next book (and the others). 

Charlie is another interesting character and will have a role in the subsequent books. His backstory and arc are also well done, making him an easy one to like and support. 

The pacing is pretty much steady with some new developments happening frequently. As the plot became more complex, I realized I didn’t want to stop reading (though I had to). The various tracks kept me hooked and wondering how it would all come together. 

I admit it took me a little while to guess the killer. I did figure out a few other things. The reveal is not highlighted which may make the whole thing seem a bit dull to some readers. However, I felt it was in tune with the rest of the contents and there were some loose ends to tie up afterward, so it fits on the whole. 

To summarize, Dr. Spilsbury and the Camden Town Killer is an interesting mystery that also deals with various other themes like prejudice, class differences, bias against women, the effect of war on soldiers, family relationships, lack of money, privilege, etc. 

Off to read the next in the series. 

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

#NetGalley #DrSpilsburyAndTheCamdenTownKiller 

 3.7 Stars

I don’t read autobiographies or biographies as such. However, when the author approached me for a review, I wanted to give this a try. It’s the story of an Indian immigrating to the US and his experiences on the journey. How could I not read it? 

Ask an average middle-class Indian, and you will see that we know at least one person who has immigrated to another land. Based on the demographics and age, the same person could know a bunch of such people (more than 70% of cousins could be across the oceans). 

This is what I’d call an informal or a casual memoir. It reads more like a series of blogs, which is why I liked it as much. The tone is light, humorous, self-deprecating at times, and introspective and thoughtful at other times. 

The images and maps were a good addition. Saved me time from having to look up some of the details. 

Being a programmer, the author presented some confessions, trivia, etc., structured like snippets of code between regular texts. This worked most of the time but was also distracting in a few instances. 

I appreciate the attempt made to include extra information for non-Indians about our diverse cultures, customs, languages, food habits, etc. It’s quite impossible to generalize these aspects about Indians. Similarly, there is enough detail about the places and things in the US for Indian readers. 

The pacing is on the slower side due to the snippets scattered throughout but I wouldn’t say it dragged. I enjoyed reading the author’s personal experience and loved how he highlighted the role of various friends and dear ones who helped them when necessary. 

To summarize, Confessions of an Indian Immigrant is a heartfelt memoir about an Indian young man experiencing and adjusting to a new lifestyle in another land. 

I received a complimentary electronic copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion. 

 3.7 Stars

Jonara has been a good girl all her life, which makes her a perfect choice as the village’s sacrificial offering to the dragon. Luckily for her, the dragon doesn’t eat virgins. Using this chance and the dragon’s help, Jonara rallies an army to fight Asphodel who had been destroying one town after another to claim the throne vacated by the death king. 

However, the dragon has its own secrets and Jonara could play a vital role. What does the future have in store for this feisty good girl?  

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

I quite enjoyed the first book in the series, though I don’t remember much about the details. However, it’s not necessary. This works well as a standalone. The characters and the setting are different though the universe is the fantasy land of Lucitopia. 

While book #1 was YA, this is NA bordering on adult fiction. The lead characters are twenty and above, and there’s a fair bit of… *ahem* Still, it is closed-door romance. 

Jonara is quite a personality. She can order anyone around like a military commander. Is it any surprise that she plays a vital role in building an army to fight the villain? 

The Dragon is a sweet guy but also a sort of confused alpha. I rather like him. Also, I wouldn’t mind having such a dragon of my own. Scratch him and get gold! I’d be rich in no time. ;) 

The world-building is pretty basic but it doesn’t affect the reading experience. We can visualize the scenes as there is enough information. 

The writing style is casual which may not work for everyone. Jonara’s instinct to boss around might annoy some readers. I wasn’t bothered since I expected something like that (based on my experience from book one). 

A certain scene in the first half might put off some readers, especially if they haven’t guessed it would happen. I knew what to expect (it’s a trope-y thing, and there are enough clues) so I wasn’t the least bit surprised. 

The ending provides a short glimpse into the future (as in what’s to come in the next books). I noticed book #4 added to the list and read the blurb. Do NOT do that.  

The pacing is a little off in this one but I wasn’t bored at any point. The book was exactly what I wanted to remove the traces of annoyance at my previous read. 

To summarize, The Tinker's Daughter is what a GR friend calls brain candy – it is fluffy, lighthearted, cheeky, a bit dangerous, and has a good dose of romance. Ready for book #3! 

Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

 

 1.7 Stars 

During a trip to IKEA, Emma blurts that she wants space from Rob and their twenty-six years of marriage. Rob is not sure what the problem is but he agrees to Emma’s condition –a year of separation with no contact between them. 

As they go their separate ways for a year, both realize a few things and make some decisions. Can their marriage survive the Gap Year? 

The story comes in Emma and Rob’s third-person POVs. 

NGL, I’m not the target audience for the book, but the premise was so good that I had to read it! I went expecting two outcomes—they would realize their mistakes, recognize their love, and get back together, or accept that they grew apart too much and end the relationship as mature adults. What I got was a mess with a WTF ending. 

The first chapter has the IKEA scene from both POVs. It establishes the setup right away and the gap year starts soon afterward. So far good. It seems like both have made mistakes and need to sort things out. 

Then, we get alternate chapters from Emma and Rob’s POVs. Guess what? It took very little time to dislike Emma and the feeling worsened as the story progressed. Did she make even one right decision about her life? No! 

Rob sounds like a typical complacent middle-aged man happy with his stagnancy and would rather be an ostrich than have a meaningful conversation. However, he starts to accept his flaws and makes an effort to become better. Moreover, he loves Emma (and stays loyal). 2 stars coz his arc was at least a bit realistic, and the cover is the best part of the book. 

Now, our heroine… what do I say about her? I don’t know if she is supposed to be an inspiration or an example. We sure could learn what not to do and how not to be. For someone who claims to have standards and integrity, she doesn’t display them even once throughout the book. In fact, she thinks she’s some flawless perfection and refuses to even acknowledge that she may also be responsible for the dampening of her marriage. Twice her friend tries to make her see her truth but nope. How dare someone judge her when she is the only one supposed to judge others? The audacity of it! And there’s infidelity as well. 

Despite the slow pacing and the unsuccessful attempts at providing backstories, I continued to read hoping for a decent ending. 

Nope, cheated again! What the heck is that even? What’s the purpose of the story? Where is the FMC’s growth? Whatever little changes she made could have been done even when she was with the hubby. Makes no sense! The whole thing reminds me of badly written Reddit AITA posts. *shudder* 

The best way to define the FMC would be a pre-menopausal judgmental woman who wants the perks of being single without losing the status of being married. Wonder what she has against divorce? 

 

To summarize, The Marriage Gap Year should have been an introspective and heartwarming read about character growth, self-discovery, and love. However, it is none of these (and definitely not hilarious as stated in the blurb). You might like it better if you belong to the women-can-do-no-wrong-and-men-are-always-wrong category. 

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

#NetGalley #TheMarriageGapYear 

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Fun!
 

Rodolfo Argento, Italy’s greatest opera singer had died in a terrible car accident. Except that his mother doesn’t think it was an accident or a suicide. She knows it was murder and wants Dan to investigate the case. Rodolfo may be kind, generous, and a natural treasure. However, he was also a womanizer who liked women a little too much. Though, he was happily married for a year, there’s no saying who might have wanted him dead. Was it a revenge murder or a crime committed for money? 

Dan and Oscar need to solve the case but they first need some solid clues! Dan also needs to prevent Oscar from joining the singers with his heartfelt howling. 

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

 My Thoughts:  

The ninth book in the series works as a standalone (and so do the previous books). However, you will enjoy it more if you read at least one of the earlier books. 

This time, Dan and Oscar, along with Anna, go to Verona to enjoy an opera show and solve a crime. Dan is not a fan of opera nor does he know anything about it. Will he be a convert by the end of the book? 

Oscar meets another black Lab, Elektra, and falls in love. Of course, he still has his priorities right – food comes first; always! 

The mystery is decent but doesn’t have the same tension as some of the previous ones. Of course, each case is different, so we can’t really compare. This one is on the slower side with a lot of questioning and trying to find the clues (makes sense since the death occurred almost a month prior). 

However, it took me a while to guess the killer, so that’s good. I was weighing my options when a certain detail made me wonder and connect the dots. 

As always, we get a tour of the region, though this time, it’s not much. Dan spends his time on the case, so there isn’t much left for exploring. But… there is enough food and gelato to make you happy! 

A few interesting themes are addressed using the plot and the characters. While there are quite a few suspects/ characters involved, it is easy to track them. Some of them have strong personalities. 

To summarize, Murder in Verona is another entertaining installment in the series and might appeal even more to opera fans (as it mentions quite a few leading singers and tracks). 

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

#NetGalley 

 3.5 Stars

When local bakery owner, Sugar, asks Annie to host a gingerbread competition at the Secret Bookcase Shop, everyone is excited. A famous influencer baker, Lily Hawthorne, is the guest and is supposed to promote their small town, Redwood Grove. 

However, things take a different turn when there’s a death on the site and everything indicates it was a murder. Can Annie, with help from friends, solve the case and save the day for her town? 

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

I didn’t realize this had an influencer (the official blurb is rather vague). While it’s not my favorite topic, the book tackles the theme well. We see the real and fake sides of social media fame, as well as the threats that come with it. 

Set during the Holidays, the book brings the Christmas vibe alive with gingerbread, spiced teas, seasonal flavored coffees, cakes, cupcakes, and more! The weather is cold, which adds to the atmosphere. 

The pacing is fast just like the previous books in the series. We get enough backstory about the characters and the overarching subplot for this work as a standalone. Though, note that you’ll find it repetitive if you’ve read the previous books. 

Annie makes some major decisions and is excited about the future after a long time. While I like her love story with Liam, she tends to go off-tagent and daydream like a teenager. That doesn’t always work. 

The main mystery was easy enough to guess though there are a few suspects to consider. There is a little progress on the Scarlet track. I wish it would start to pick up pace and become a central mystery in one of the upcoming books. 

The recurring side characters like Priya, Fletcher, and Hal are adorable as always. I like how they are so supportive and care for Annie. Their thoughtfulness gives the story a warm cozy vibe. Too bad we get to meet Professor Plum only once. 

To summarize, A Holiday Homicide is a light mystery with some likable and unlikeable characters. Though it doesn’t have any dark vibes, it does talk about the grief of losing a loved one. 

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

#NetGalley #AHolidayHomicide