3 Stars

One Liner: Interesting but a mixed collection 

Ninetails is a collection of short stories re-imagined and based on the fox spirit in Chinese mythology. It is a feminist anthology dealing the misogyny, immigration, racism, and different types of abuse against women, especially Asian women (by fellow Asians and Westerners). 

Apart from the individual short stories, there’s an overarching story set on Angel Island where the Chinese people land in the US. The immigration office decides the fate of these people after the men and women are separated and made to stay in different buildings. The conditions are pathetic and deplorable. 

As always, I made notes for each story (presented below with only grammatical edits): 

Arrival: Tye arrives at the island for her new job as an interpreter at the immigration office. We get her past and a glimpse of the mythical fox. The beginning of the overarching story. I’m curious! 

Love Doll: What happens when a love doll (a human-sized s*x toy) starts to have feelings? In the first-person POV of the doll, the story takes us through her life and that of its new owners. Falls flat when it should have hit the high note. 

Beasts of the Chase: What happens when a woman decides to turn back into a fox (vixen)? How does her ethnicity affect her life? Okay! 

More events at the immigration office. Different women, several stories, and different fates.

Turtle Head Epidemic: Meng Li was an eighteen-year-old student when the turtle head epidemic swept Singapore. Was it because of a dead pig, a woman, or a fox spirit? This should have been better.

The Fig Queen: What happens when a woman with a troubled life becomes tiny and someone else takes her place? A story of metamorphosis in many ways. Kafkaesque almost! 

The overarching story continues as more women arrive and await the decision of the immigration officers.

A Huxians Guide to Seduction RevengeImmortality: The longest story in the book with a first and second-person narration. Well-written and better than the previous ones.

The Girl with Flies Coming Out of Her Eyes: Started great but I soon lost interest! The title says it all. Won’t reveal anything else. 

More women, ghosts, spirits, and opposite faiths; believe your God or the White God?

Lotus Stench: The story of a fox spirit and a ghost (woman, obv.), and that ties them together. An interesting read.

The Crush: Another lengthy story about love… or as the title says crush. How do crushed manifest? What to do with them? Feels more mellow than the other stories.  

Tye is the focus again as the connecting storyline comes to an end.

Departure: What kind of departure can this be? After all, there are many ways to depart! Surreal… (which is the aim of the collection). 

Thanks to a review by Sarah, I went into the book with fewer expectations. This helped since most stories didn’t have much impact and felt they couldn’t reach their potential. A couple of stories were above-average but most were the kind I forgot a day after reading (the notes saved me). 

Fortunately, the overarching piece is a lot better. And, I now know some random information about figs, wasps, bees, foxes, etc. 

To summarize, Ninetails has its moments with poetic prose and surreal situations. However, the stories have a varied impact, which dilutes the overall enjoyment. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Books, for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #Ninetails
 

 3.5 Stars

Millie knew her boss, Freya was a psycho. How else can she explain the woman’s behavior at work? Nevertheless, even Millie didn’t think the boss could actually be a serial killer. But when people die during Freya’s trips to other cities, all of them can’t be coincidences, right? 

Figuring out the truth might help Millie in more ways than one. Of course, she needs to ensure the target doesn’t end up on her back! 

The story comes in Millie and Freya’s first-person POVs where they also break the fourth wall at times (plus another character’s first-person POV at the end). 

I stopped reading thrillers or domestic/ psychological dramas due to the similar-sounding plotlines and tropes. While this one also leans heavily on the Devil Wears Prada’s evil boss trope, I wanted to give it a try (I didn’t read the mentioned book anyway, so worked in my favor). 

The beginning was great. Millie’s POV is sarcastic but with some rambling and exhaustion. It gives a good idea of her character and sets the stage quickly. Almost right away, we know something is wrong with the boss. Soon, we are rooting for Millie. 

Then, we switch to Freya’s POV, which I liked to an extent. A good thing is that the switch in POVs goes on for a solid set of chapters. A not-so-good thing is that the boss didn’t need as many chapters. Millie should have gotten more since this is supposed to be her book. Also, since both women have snarky voices when they talk to the readers, it is sometimes easy to forget whose POV we are reading. 

Lissa was a decent side character. The guy was making progress but tanked towards the end. Since we don’t know what’s true, we have to accept whatever we read. Don’t know enough about Sam to say anything. 

The reveal and the shift in the story midway through did the necessary job to keep the reader hooked. However, Freya’s POV went a bit too long after that. I wanted to get back to Millie’s and see the story progress from her perspective. 

Despite a few issues, I was quite enjoying this until the twists came one after another in the end. A couple of them were too close with no space for the readers to process it. Regular thriller fans will take it in stride (they are used to unwanted twists) but I feel one of those should have come earlier. With no space for explanation, this could lead to more questions than what we already have. 

Nevertheless, I don’t think this is a complete thriller either. It’s a strange mix of office-based chick-lit and a psychological thriller. 

Also, a couple of scenes (though they depict reality) weren’t related to the plot. I really hoped these would in some way be connected to the central track later, but that didn’t happen. Moreover, with the book being careful not to openly use the abuse trope, that scene in the public transport was off. It didn’t serve any purpose but it should have! 

To summarize, How to Slay at Work is fast-paced and enjoyable but could have had a better ending. I’m almost an outliner, so read other reviews before you decide. Many readers have enjoyed it a lot more. 

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

#NetGalley #HowToSlayAtWork 

 3.7 Stars

Ophelia has just taken over the family role as a Necromancer after her mother’s death. Less than a few hours later, she realizes their ancestral home is under debt and at risk of being taken from her. Her younger sister, Genevieve, decides to participate in the dangerous Phantasma challenge by entering the Devil Manor. The one who clears the nine levels gets huge prize money. 

Ophelia follows her sister into the manor intending to take her back home. However, there are rules to follow and deals to make before it can happen. When Blackwell, a long-lasting resident of the manor offers help (for a bargain, of course), Ophelia wonders what it would cost her. With the attraction between them getting stronger, there’s a lot more at stake for Ophelia. 

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

Well, I don’t often take big books (anything over 400 pages is a big book). This one combines horror, gothic house, and romance, so I thought, why not? 

I don’t bother with the tags and comparison, so can’t say if this is like the other books or not. I prefer to read a book for what it is. 

This is historical fiction set sometime when women still wore cumbersome corsets while the mode of transport included horse carriages and automobiles. A mention of the timeline would have helped. 

The premise is highly intriguing. The book starts on a high, establishing that this will be a dark read. Not for the squeamish! The main characters seem interesting too. 

Ophelia takes time to get used to. TBH, it’s a miracle she managed to survive so far. Since this is openly discussed by the characters, I can see it is a deliberate character arc (can’t complain). Let’s just say there is a loooot of blood. 

Blackwell is your typical handsome and quirky hero with enough darkness inside. However, he manages to endear himself (faster than the FMC). 

The banter between the two is fun, despite the deadpanning (more on this next). Though the love story is on a fast track, it doesn’t feel that way due to the page count and the multiple interactions between the couple. 

Now, the steam is high here. 4.5+ (or more) and a fully open door. That means we have more than a handful of such scenes, with many in the middle of the book. It messes with the pacing. 

While the beginning is not fast, it is not slow either. The middle, however, drags. The % doesn’t just move between 40 and 70%. After that, it picks up a steady momentum until the end. I wouldn’t mind if a couple of steamy scenes were edited out to tighten the middle. 

I know some dialogue tags have to be reused but some tend to grab my attention more than others and it becomes a nuisance. The characters deadpanned seven times, which even in a 460-page book feels excessive. Unfortunately, the word caught my eye the second time, so I noticed it every damn time after that. The same with insidious which was used seventeen times (yeah, I checked). It’s not a problem if my brain misses the recurring words but it does become an issue when I spot things. Since my book is an uncorrected proof, I hope the final copy is better. 

There’s a bit of mystery but the focus is mainly on steam and the horror house game. Some levels were cool! 

There is an array of characters (other participants and Devils). They do their job to advance the plot and bring a change in the FMC’s arc. 

The FMC’s character development is a bit wobbly but still aligns with the plot. I wish we got to see her in her actual role as a Necromancer. The MMC’s arc doesn’t have much, TBH. Once we feel who he is, nothing really changes (not even the big reveal). 

Anyway, this isn’t a book to read if you want proper character development or an intricate plot. It’s what I call a masala read but with an extra dose of chili. 

Did I enjoy it? Oh, yes! And don’t forget to read the author’s note. 

To summarize, Phantasma is a steamy romance-filled set in a gothic house. It had quite a few triggers and descriptions of gore. However, it is not an intense read or even scary (at least for me). I intend to read the next book in the series. 

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

#NetGalley #Phantasma 

 4 Stars

One Liner: A sweet Christmassy romance 

We are back on the Ever After Street for Christmas. This time, it’s a competition between Franca Andrews (a ballet dancer turned nutcracker maker) and Raphael Dardenne (the owner of magical snow globes). Fran hates Raff and his late grandfather as she thinks their snow globes are fraud and there’s no such thing as finding true love with it. She is determined to expose him and get the shop closed. No way would she let her nutcracker business be evicted from Ever After Street. 

However, presumptions can be incorrect. Franc has some major realization when she needs help, and Raff is the one to provide it. With Christmas magic at work, maybe the two of them will find common ground and something more. 

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

 My Thoughts:  

The fourth book in the series can be read as a standalone. It has an enemies-to-lovers trope where two business owners and artisans fight to retain their spot on Ever After Street. 

As always, the characters are layered and flawed, making it easy to empathize with them or want to cheer for them. They are in their late 30s, with enough issues in the past. 

I love how the author creates such perfect book boyfriends. Raff is warm, kind-hearted, compassionate, talented, and cheerful. His relationship with his family is beautiful but not perfect. He has an unwanted burden on his shoulders and doesn’t know how to deal with it. 

Franc is a disillusioned and cynical character who slowly reconnects with her soft side. Her argument does feel immature but not unrealistic (it makes sense given her childhood). She is a good person and willing to admit her mistakes. Her arc is encouraging and reassuring. 

The ‘enmity’ doesn’t last long. Things start to thaw rather early in the book but I like it since we see the natural progress of their relationship (something the author excels in writing). I absolutely love how their interactions change both of them for the better but gradually. 

Do I have to repeat how the author writes the best hugs? Makes me go awww every single time! 

There is a sort of third-act breakup but more of a resigned move than due to miscommunication or a fight). Think of it as a short lull where they take a deep breath and resume the story. The ending is, of course, hopeful and heartwarming. 

We also get the background details about the processing of making a wooden nutcracker. The details are woven into the plot and presented in different scenes to enhance the narrative. The ideas for future projects (nutcrackers and snowglobes) are so cool! 

Ever After Street is a magical place, but with some ‘strict’ owners who tend to cause some or other issues for the shop owners. Well, we need conflict and some of their concerns are legit, so no complaints. 

The side characters this time are mainly Raff’s family and a couple of shop owners. Sofia (7yo) is such a doll! Adorable. 

To summarize, Christmas Ever After is a heartwarming and festive addition to the series. The pacing is slow (there’s some repetition in the first half). Settle down with the book and a cup of hot chocolate to enjoy the story of finding love and rediscovering the magic of Christmas. 

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

 3.5 Stars

Shreya Ved, an investigator in the commission probing on match-fixing in the MCL (Mega Cricket League) is found dead with her head bashed. The commission was almost done with the investigation which would put many top names in hot water. 

With an increasing number of suspects each passing hour, Inspector Vichare and Constable Lobo need to find the killer. Russi Batliwala is a one-eyed retired umpire with years of experience on the cricket field. Detection is his latest obsession and thankfully, he has the brain for it. Russi offers his help to the police to find the killer. 

Soon, it’s a game off the field where the stakes are too high and the players are not limited to cricketers. Can the trio of investigators solve the crime? 

The story comes in the third-person omnipresent POV. 

I’m a crazy fan of cozy mysteries, though most of the books I read and read (past and present) are set in other countries. Needless to say, I was excited to see this available. 

Cricket is a huge thing in India (yet another colonial hangover but at least it makes money), so for a mystery set around the game was bound it to be entertaining. 

What I love is the lack of caste and religion nonsense in this one. We have a diverse cast with characters from different backgrounds. However, there’s no drama about their identity. The focus is on what they do. Such a relief! 

The book starts slowly and takes a few pages to establish the characters and the premise. Then, it picks up a steady pace until the end (somehow the last chapter felt a bit stretchy). 

Set in Mumbai, it uses the local lingo and a liberal dose of Hindi terms/ phrases/ idioms/ etc. Some of them went over my head since I’m not that familiar with it (been a while since I watched CID so lost touch with the language). No idea if the local details (places and distances) are 100% accurate. The author lived in Mumbai for many years, so that’s there. 

The mystery offers enough twists to keep the reader engaged. However, it does follow a known template which made it easy to guess the culprit. Also, the last reveal is typical of the genre (thankfully with dialogues to break the monologue). You will enjoy the book more if you are new to this genre. 

The conversations could have been better though. As I said, the dialogue aims for a quirky and light tone, which is common in cozies. However, on the whole, nothing stands out and makes an impact. There’s an attempt in the last chapter to give some social commentary which also doesn’t make a mark. (Thankfully, it’s a short chapter, so I wasn’t bored) 

The main characters – Russi, Vichare, and Lobo were quite entertaining. Each of them has a distinct yet stereotypical personality. Still, it works in a standalone. (Now, if this would become a series, there needs to be more character development) 

Another plus point is that the police duo is easy to like. It’s actually refreshing to read about an average but honest overweight police officer wanting to do his duty and admitting that he needs help. 

To summarize, A Murder is Fixed is a worthy debut mystery blending cricket, politics, drama, murder, and a bunch of suspects who stand to gain from the murder. It’s an easy read though not a memorable one. 

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

 4.5 Stars

Aww… such a cuddly, cozy, cutesy book! 

This is the fifth book in the Maddie and Mabel series and works as a standalone. I missed a couple of books (sad, I know) so I was delighted when my friend pointed out the latest was available on NetGalley. 

Since the book releases in mid-Nov, it is winter-themed with snow as the central plot. Of course, the core of the book and the series is sisterhood and the warm relationship between Maddie and Mabel. 

Each page has around 10-25 words in short and neat sentences. They tell the story in the simplest terms for kids to understand. 

The illustrations are super adorable and align with the content on each page. The artwork is whimsical and cozy; be it the matching onesies, the plush bunny toys, or the bunny footwear around the house. The colors are pastels (softer) but still stand out against the white background. 

The story is divided into neat little chapters where the sisters take up a different activity in each one. The book ends with three short discussions encouraging kiddos to discuss the types of snow and how they can connect to the story (characters). 

To summarize, Maddie and Mabel Ready for Snow is a delightful and lovely little book about winter, sisterly bonding, and being kind to each other. 

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

#NetGalley #MaddieandMabelReadyforSnow 

 3 Stars

Iliad is a young woman who loves books. She is a snatchword, a person who can snatch words from paper/ stories and make them come alive as images (think of historical-style holograph). She is happy in the library where she works but is delighted to get an invite from the Queen of Esmeria to be her personal storyteller. 

However, this commoner also gets a marriage proposal from a mysterious member of the royal family. Iliad goes to the capital to meet the queen and find out who her suitor is. For a girl used to simple life and bookish fantasies, the life and rules of the royals are overwhelming and exhausting. Of course, what’s a trip to the capital without getting involved in some royal coup? 

The story comes in Iliad’s third-person POV with random bits from Lord Tarlyn’s POV (third). 

This is a translation of a French book, L'Arrache-mots, first published in 2019. No idea about the original language but the translation (by Madeline S. White) seems to be decent. The sentence flow is poetic and whimsical where it should be and normal at the other places. 

It’s a short book (200-odd pages), which means the world-building is not elaborate. There’s enough information to imagine the setting but no real explanation of what, why, and how. It didn’t bother me much as I could go with the flow. 

Iliad’s family is large, so they take up some space but have bare minimum roles (except for a couple). I wish there was more character development.  

Iliad is a typical bookish character – wishy-washy, living in a fantasy world, temperamental, naïve, etc. She is not always easy to empathize with due to her random reactions. Also, she is supposed to be 24 but reads more like a 17-18 year old. 

The MMC doesn’t enter until after 30% and is your grumpy, brooding but good guy (think of the Beast) with secrets, et al. His arc could have been great if he got enough space to prove himself. 

Grandma Cassandra (Iliad’s granny) is a fun character initially, though she does feel stereotypical after a point. The same complaint applies to all characters. I did like the King and Virginia more than everyone else. 

Despite having adult-aged characters, the book is aimed at the younger audience. This doesn’t allow for a detailed plot (though some YA books are quite elaborate). While it is good for the pacing, everything remains surface-level. 

There are quite a few snippets from classics that have clear footnotes (I read footnotes together at the end), though skipping the notes shouldn’t make any difference. The chosen snippet does the job well. 

To summarize, The Storyteller's Tale has an interesting premise and string bare bones but needs more development to reach its full potential. Right now, it’s a nice little palate cleanser to pick up between heavy reads. 

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

#NetGalley #TheStorytellersTale 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Heartwarming and sweet
 

Libby Jacobs just lost her job as a flight attendant. She doesn’t miss the job but worries about having enough money to support herself and her father. Can she turn her chocolate-making hobby into a living? But for that, she needs a kitchen big enough to accommodate her work. 

Ethan had been running away from family and relationships since he saw his parents’ marriage fail. The recent love stories in Cranfield may have warmed him a little but his first instinct is to up and leave. However, he needs to make better decisions if he wants more from life. 

With Christmas challenges looming overhead, Libby and Ethan need to sort a lot more than their careers. They have a shared past that went sour. Can they find a way forward? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Libby and Ethan. 

I’ve been waiting for Libby and Ethan’s story since I read the first book in the series. It makes sense to wait until the end to write theirs. They needed to let go of a lot to move on. 

The book covers autumn and winter (starts sometime in August and the main story ends at the end of Jan). 

The focus is not just on the couple but their families and the community as well. The MMC had to learn to step up and take responsibility, while the FMC had to learn to ask for help when she needed it. I could understand Libby’s determination to do everything on her own. 

Despite being a cozy read, it covers themes like broken families, secrets, health concerns, lost jobs, career risks, and second chances. The MMC has much learning to do, mainly about himself and getting rid of the toxicity dumped on him by his mother. 

The side characters are, as always, quite involved in the plot and play an active role. Paddington is back too, showing his silent furry support whenever necessary. 

The setting is, of course, beautiful. I think this series covered the lovely village in all major seasons. I could relocate there maybe… if it existed and someone sponsored a ticket. ;) 

The pacing is steady and keeps the story moving. I like how all relationships come under the spotlight. It’s not just about Libby and Ethan realizing they are meant to be. It is also about mending their relationships with their family and allowing their people to provide support when necessary. 

Dodgy Del also has a bigger role this time. I won’t say what he does. It’s for you to find out! 

To summarize, Winter Magic on Railway Lane is a beautiful conclusion to the series and a satisfying read if want a cozy read. While the book works as a standalone, those who read the series can see the growth of the main characters. 

I look forward to the author's next series. 

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

#NetGalley 

 2 Stars

One Liner: Works more like an index 

So, the blurb says that the book is a collection of beautiful images and fascinating tales about fairies from various lands and cultures. 

Hardly surprising that I requested it right away. I love reading about fairies and mythical creatures (good, bad, and ugly). When I saw the long list in the table of contents, I was delighted. Given the page count and the extensive work involved, I knew it wouldn't be in-depth. I don’t need it to cover everything. 

However, the content is really sparse. Moreover, the focus is more on pop culture usage or appearance of the creatures than their original tales. 

Each fairy gets this - One para about the creature. A short snippet (3-5 lines) about where it was used in fiction, origin in one line, presence in popular culture and an illustration/ photo, and a quote by the authors, actors, etc., about fairies. 

That’s it. Rinse and repeat for all of them. 

While the list is lengthy and includes flower and plant fairies, tinker bell, ariel (not mermaid Shakespeare’s from Tempest), fairies from folklore, leprechauns, and even plant devas and yakshas from Hinduism, it doesn’t do anything else much. 

We at least get a visual representation of the said fairy – sometimes a painting, some pencil sketches, and some pictures (photographs). I didn’t mind the lack of consistency as it seems that they picked the best possible option available on the internet. However, I did very much mind the lack of detail. The ‘tales’ are not even tales, TBH. I’d find more content on online blogs (and I did too). 

I’m not annoyed (just disappointed) since I got the ARC for free but I don’t think people would be too happy if they paid for it and found barely any useful information. 

To summarize, Fairies is an index of the mythical creatures that broadly come up under the tag of the term fairies. It might work as a starting point (to find a fairy or see if it is what you want) but does nothing beyond that. 

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

#NetGalley #Fairies 

 3.7 Stars

Twelve-year-old Charlie (Charlotte) moves to Florida with her dad and hates that she has to leave their little New York home. The Winklevoss Manor might be huge but is filled with dirt, unwanted items, and ghosts. Soon, Charlie finds out the house is cursed as well. 

Ada, Arthur, and Gruff are three ghosts living in the Manor (and not by choice). They are stuck inside for stealing a dead man’s diamond which is still somewhere in the house. 

Charlie, struggling to settle in a place and dealing with bullies, tries to find the diamond. Selling it would allow them to move back to NY. However, things are hardly that simple. 

The story comes from Charlie’s first-person POV and third-person POVs of the ghosts (Ada, Arthur, and Guff). 

This is a fast-paced book that combines many elements like ghosts, greed, bullying, loss, regret, mourning, etc. I think it would have benefitted from some illustrations of the interiors of the house, the diamond, Charlie, and a couple of important scenes. 

Charlie is a flawed character with typical thoughts and actions of a pre-teen. She is not easy to like but we also cannot help but feel sad for her. Her arc is quite decent and realistic. 

The father is present but doesn’t really make an impact (this seems to be a common element in MG books). Surprisingly, another older character does better despite having only four scenes or so.  

The chapters alternate between the MC’s POV (present) and the ghosts’ POVs (present and past) which provide the backstory and their thoughts about the current developments. 

While Ada and Arthur are easy enough to read, Guff is exactly the kind of ghost you want to avoid. His antics induce laughs and frowns. An annoying ghost but very much true to the character. 

The mystery isn’t that well-developed but should work for the kids. A few reveals come together in the climax. I’d have it if these were spaced out a little more. 

The difficulties of relocating to a new place, making new friends, being guilty, etc., are well done. The bullying track is decent too but we don’t have a definite ending. In fact, the ending is not neatly tied up and leaves space for interpretation or a sequel (not sure we need one but let’s see). 

Florida is known for being a vibrant setting. However, since the MC hates the place, we don’t get much of the good stuff. 

The ghostly aspects and the explanations are well done. I enjoyed these details (and would have liked to know more about the whys and hows of the curse). 

To summarize, The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond is a quick entertainer with ghosts, a secret diamond, and a girl determined to go back to her home no matter what. It’s a decent read but doesn’t exactly stand out (the cover and title are fab though). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Children's (Delacorte Press), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCurseOfTheDeadMansDiamond