3.5 Stars

Keane Stone has been in therapy to rebuild his life and overcome his demons. If only it were as easy as saying it. 

Julianna has moved away from the corporate rush to become a yoga instructor. She thinks she finally found peace only for it to be disrupted by the news of her estranged sister’s death. Julianna is now the guardian of her sister’s six-year-old daughter Rayne. 

When Keane and Julianna’s paths intersect, neither of them is in a position to handle anything else. However, it seems like they met for a reason and can help each other find a way towards a better future. 

The story comes in Keane and Julianna’s first-person POVs. 

While I disliked The Fault in Forever, I knew I would read this one. That’s because my issue with the first book was Ophelia (I loved Haydn). Since this book is about Keane’s redemption, I was hopeful it would be better (and it was). 

The book primarily focuses on grief, mourning, and rebuilding life after a major trauma. The author writes these parts well, so the first half is quite intense but meaningful. 

While I did enjoy the slow burn and the bonding between the characters, I felt some of it had been brushed off easily.

I wanted to see the moment Rayne softened towards her aunt. I also wanted to see Julianna meet her father and rebuild their relationship. These happened off-page, reducing the impact. 

 

Instead, we get more monologues about the main characters’ feelings for each other. Also, knowing more about the sister would have helped. Maybe even an on-page scene between the FMC and her brother? These little things can make a nice book better and make it wholesome. 

 

One thing I’m relieved about is the lack of Ophelia in this one. NGL, I was worried that there would be some unwanted interaction for Keane to get proper closure but thankfully, she stays off with her guy. 

 

To summarize, The Sound of Forever is an intense book but also hopeful. Could it have been better? Absolutely! However, it is still a worthy book, especially if you read the first one (The Fault in Forever). 

2.5 Stars (Outliner)

(1.5 for the book and 1 star for Haydn)

One Liner: Okay, I'm disappointed!

(NGL, the review wasn’t supposed to be this long)

Ophelia thinks she has moved on and found love in Haydn, a handsome and kind hockey goalie. However, she is still weighed down by her past and the man she loved with her everything.
Keane, the rockstar, was supposed to be dead. But turns out he was in a coma for five years and woke up just when Ophelia takes the next step in her life and looks at her future with Haydn.
Haydn found love and everything in Ophelia but if her happiness means she needs to go back to Keane, he’ll give her that.

The story comes in the first-person POVs of Ophelia, Haydn, and Keane.

My Thoughts:

So, I grabbed this one only because I liked the excerpts the author shared in the newsletters. I hate love triangles but ended up reading two books with them in the same month (talk about planning). 

Anyway, here are a few good things about the book: 

The FMC has fibromyalgia. This is neither over-utilized nor under-utilized. Since the author has the same condition, she did justice to it by incorporating it naturally but the condition doesn’t become the only highlight of the character. 

Haydn is a gem. Sure, he has a few issues. But he is so caring, consistent, supportive, and loving! Perfect book boyfriend material. His pretty words always align with his actions. 

Lots of angsty quotes about love, forever, heartbreak, etc. If you enjoy quotes more than character development, you will like this one. 

No real opinion about Keane. He was in a coma for five years, so naturally, he is struggling to make sense of everything. We are told a lot of things but see only a little. 

Now, to what didn’t work for me: 

I said I liked the excerpts. However, I realized the book has mostly pretty words and repetition. Essentially, it uses a lot of tell. The scenes that should have been shown are also told. Haydn gets the ‘show’ part so we naturally gravitate towards him. 

Ophelia’s character is tricky. She’s got a shitload of trauma and survivor’s guilt is always living with one foot in the past even when with her current guy. I wonder why she thought she didn’t need therapy (until the end). She needed it like seven years ago. 

When I should have been empathizing with her dilemma and confusion and feeling her heartbreak for the pain she suffered, I felt nothing but annoyance at her.

I can’t see her love for Haydn because it’s not shown. Haydn tells us she sees the real him and understands him like no one else and that she is his best friend. Does her POV show us anything to support this? Nope. Moreover, her POV makes her sound selfish.

All her love declarations mean nothing because as a reader, I only saw that she needed what he gave her rather than the man himself. And that is where the book tanked. If I’m not convinced, I’m not satisfied with the results. 

When Haydn tells her words should be followed by actions, I don’t see her doing anything for him.

When another character says Ophelia is using Haydn, I should be offended on her behalf. Instead, I agree with him and say yes.

What we need is her POV showing how much she loves Haydn rather than how much he does things for her and cares for her. 

It’s like a drip. Haydn drains himself to charge Ophelia who drains herself to charge Keane. Poor Keane doesn’t even know what to do with all of it! 

When reading the excerpts, I decided I’d read the ending to see who the FMC would choose and then the rest if I liked the ending. Well, after reading the whole book, I feel Haydn deserved better.

The FMC claims to want to meet him halfway but even by the end of the book, I don’t see it. It’s still him giving her his everything and being deliriously happy that she is taking it. Weird dynamics, I tell ya. It’s still not an equal relationship.

Now, it could have been better if we got a couple more chapters from Ophelia’s POV about her and Haydn’s life together and the love she feels for him. But she is too busy loving her past

almost throughout and needing her present to sustain her so that she can continue to love her past. After a point, I could no longer empathize with her. Also, we need a chapter to see why and how her relationship with Keane was toxic. Dialogues are not enough. There isn’t enough emotion.

Keane’s epilogue works because we are told on the next page that his book will be out in Feb. So, ending the story with his POV is like a connector between this and the sequel. A similar approach didn’t work in another book I read because that one doesn’t need a sequel. And yeah, I’ll read his book and hope the girl he finds is better written. 

To summarize, The Fault in Forever could have been a great angsty romance but ends up being a pile of lovely quotes (and Haydn; he saved the book). There are loose ends and unanswered questions, likely to be addressed in the next book. 

 4 Stars

Twelve-year-old Caspia is not a fan of cities. She lives in Maine and doesn’t want to move to Brooklyn with her parents even if it is for just three months. However, she discovers a bundle of letters with riddles about plants and finds herself exploring the Green Kingdom, staying connected to her best friends, and making new friends in Brooklyn. Soon, Caspia realizes that home can be more than one place if you are brave enough to let the roots grow. 

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

This is my first book by the author (though once upon a time I DNF’d book one of the Ink Heart trilogy). This is a standalone and a short read filled with the beauty of plants, friendships, and hope. 

Caspia is an interesting main character. She is almost thirteen and happy in Maine. Naturally, the temporary move to Brooklyn that summer doesn’t make her happy. Her character grows from being set in her ways to becoming adventurous while worrying about ifs and buts. She also learns a lot about plants (from not knowing how an onion grows to caring for her little garden, it’s quite a progress). 

Our MC’s best friends, Laryssa and Elle, have distinct personalities and are fun in their own ways. It is easy to see the bonding between the three girls and how they support and tease each other. 

The new friends Caspia makes in Brooklyn are also lovely, be it Jemila, Mrs. Wahid, or Ado. There’s good diversity without making it the focus but also not limiting it to a checklist. The balance is just right. 

Since the book’s core is Green Kingdom, we learn many intriguing facts and myths about different plants. The riddles in the letters are entertaining. I had a great time guessing them before Caspia. I got more than 60% right, so that’s a win. ;) 

That said, there were two clues with Hindu gods, and I have never heard of those… like ever! These are not commonly known. In fact, I’m not sure if these bits really belong to our Puranas or were fabricated over the years through random retellings. I’m curious where the author found them. 

There are black and white illustrations (pencil sketches) of the plant/ flower and a few important settings. The sweet illustrations elevate the content and make it easy for young readers to visualize the details. Of course, I still had to google a few plants (and realized one of them is a common plant in India but I had no idea about its name). (Clue: Some people partly consume that flower to taste its nectar.) 

The pacing is steady, and the book is the right length for the target audience. However, I wouldn’t have minded seeing Caspia’s efforts to figure out the clues. Thanks to technology, she gets the answers easily. That reminds me how well technology is used in the book. We see the positive usage of technology in providing knowledge and helping people stay connected. 

I have to mention Caspia’s parents, especially her mom. Boy, she loves to experiment with food! As a picky eater, I won’t be eager to try her dishes but I’m glad to see her determination and success. The adults on the whole are pretty responsible and good. 

To summarize, The Green Kingdom is a lovely read about plants, friendships, and letting one’s roots grow. It is a cozy and charming read. Not much of adventure or danger but something on the emotional/ personal level. 

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

#NetGalley #TheGreenKingdom 

 3.8 Stars

So what if it is Valentine's Weekend? Charlotte and Seth are not here for romance. However, with a stalker setting his sights on Charlotte, and a disaster putting her and Seth together, they will have to navigate the situation in more ways than one. 

The story comes in Charlotte and Seth’s POVs. 

This is my first work by the author and I can see why she has such a fan base. Despite the limited page count, the author gave us two romance tracks (yeah two) and tackled a social situation – stalking. 

The dual POV works well to give us insights and backstories about the main characters. They are both sweet people, and it’s easy to like them. I liked Gabe and Izzy too! 

We can see how a stalker’s presence has changed the FMC’s life. While she has great help from friends, there’s no denying that she has to live in constant fear. 

The romance is of course fast-tracked but it still feels organic enough. The meet-cute and other interactions are entertaining and fun. I like the orange theory. Might try it in real life even if I don’t like the fruit. 

Not really a fan of the old women but they can bake so okay! 

To summarize, The Fall Risk is a steady-paced short story/ novelette with interesting characters. Time to check out a full-length novel by the author. 

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

#NetGalley #TheFallRisk 

 3 Stars

Evelyn Seaton needs to find a way out of their financial situation. She finds an advertisement for an assistant in a little bookshop. She just wants a job and to keep people away from her personal life. 

William Morton is an aspiring writer with secrets of his own. Turns out, Evelyn and William’s paths are destined to keep converging. However, the way to the future is filled with secrets and lies they need to sort out. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Evelyn and William. 

This is yet another case of falling for the cover and ending up with a mixed read. Sigh! 

The first 2-3 chapters were terrific. They establish the FMC’s current situation, her family, and her character attributes. It’s easy to empathize with her and root for her to handle the situation. 

The said bookshop doesn’t appear for a while, so when it was first mentioned, I was truly excited. However, it is just one of the places where the story takes place. Yes, it has more importance but would it have been different if books were replaced by something else? Only a little! 

The side characters come in all types. My favorites have to the aunt and Naomi. Both are quite different but the kind we need around us. 

Despite being a romance, the book is more of a family drama. That’s still okay. We can’t really separate family from individuals, right? 

However, my major issue is with the MMC. It’s good to have a guy with flaws. But I couldn’t find anything worthy of him to be a hero. Getting support from others and having someone else literally step in and save the guy from trouble are different. Also, there isn’t anything enterprising about him. 

Of course, the FMC is a bit better but all those lies, omissions, secrets, and whatnot made me dizzy. Angst is nice but not when it is unnecessary for the plot. All they needed was a proper conversation which eventually happened (after I got bored). 

While I enjoyed the writing initially, it got a bit too excessive at times. This affected the pace along with all that miscommunication. The book would have been better with some experienced developmental editing to get rid of (some of) the fluff. 

Also, there’s a mention of possibly something magical about the bookshop but we never know what it is. Was that element removed at some point? If yes, then I have to say it’s a bad decision. Removing the unwanted drama and keeping the bookshop parts would been a better choice. 

The ending is nice but by then I was glad to reach that point. I do like how it presented the attitude and snobbery of the ton as well as the importance of having a title. 

To summarize, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop has a worthy premise that got lost in too much drama. It reads like a debut book and would have benefited from strict editing. 

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

#NetGalley #TheLamplightersBookshop 

4.5 Stars

One Liner: This was so much (in a good way)!  

Paisley, Scotland, 1697 

An eleven-year-old Christian Shaw’s accusation of witchcraft led to the death of thirty-five people. 

Bargarran House, 1722 

Christian returns home, intent on perfecting the bleaching process to revive her family fortune. She also hopes her attempts will purify their past sins. However, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the witch hunt approaching, Bargarran House seems to have become a center of dark forces. This affects her sanity and safety to the point where she wonders if she can get what she wants. And what cost? 

The story comes in Christian’s third-person POV in 1722 and first-person POV (in present tense) in 1697. 

I remember my friend Rosh reviewing this book last year. Later in 2024, I read and enjoyed the author’s MG Dystopian Adventure. When this was available on NetGalley, I didn’t even think and requested it right away. 

This is a novella of 185-195 pages that packs quite a lot. Almost from the beginning, I disliked the MC (there’s a strong reason for it). As the book progressed and more details were revealed, I couldn’t stop reading even for a breather. This was intense in many ways. 

I wanted a certain ending but felt unsatisfied with how it was resolved. However, the author’s note at the end explained the reason. The MC is based on a real person, so the author couldn’t deviate from the overall trajectory. Still, a part of me feels assured that the future wasn’t easy. 

The atmosphere gets 100/100. I love it! The ravens, darkness, madness, the house, and just about everything add to the narrative. 

The way the narration spirals aligns with the character development. Quite a few dark themes are used but without making things unnecessarily graphic. 

My heart bled for the witches. But then, this is just one story. The reality was a thousand times worse. All of it was presented in these few pages – Christian domination, pagan hatred, suppression of women, class differences, social hatred, and much more. 

What do I even say about the MC, Christian? Man, I tried my best to feel sorry but… Her obsession with perfecting the bleaching process to get the whitest thread is much more than entrepreneurship. 

The side characters, be it the family or the dutiful Meg, are so well developed within the limitations. Terrific! 

The title and the cover are clever. I love the title a lot more (wish I was this talented in naming my stories). If only the ending was a wee bit more detailed. I can see why it ended that way, I do! But I also want a little more from it. What happens doesn’t feel enough considering the events. 

To summarize, Red Runs the Witch's Thread is a gripping, dark, and atmospheric novella about witch hunts. It is best read in a single sitting (you can finish the book in 60-80 minutes). That said, the writing style may not work for everyone. 

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

#NetGalley #RedRunstheWitchsThread 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Touching!

Laura Gilchrist makes sensible choices and follows the rules. She doesn’t have time for fun and is wary of love after having to grow up fast. However, the laidback and irresistible Noah Dufour, the real estate agent who handles their inherited property makes her a little more impulsive. 

Laura decides a weekend romance fling would get it out of her system. Back home, she tries to return to her routine only to find out that the fling led to an unexpected pregnancy. Now, Laura goes back to South France to see if there’s more to their connection and whether it can survive the new developments. 

The story comes in Laura (more %) and Noah’s third-person POVs. 

This is the second book in the series. Though it works as a standalone, reading the first book might help. 

It is divided into three parts. The first part and a solid portion of the second occur parallel with the first book. They share the same timeline but here the focus is on the other sister. There might be a bit of repetition but since we see it from Laura’s POV, it works (and fills the gaps for those who didn’t read book #1). 

I love, love the description of the setting. South France sounds so beautiful with its old-world charm and nature's bounty. The scene at lavender fields is my favorite; the descriptions were so vivid that I could feel myself breathing in the scent of lavender. While we also get details of food which I liked, the location takes the spotlight. 

Laura’s arc in the first book, especially at the beginning doesn’t do her much favor. We see her soft side later but this one reveals her layers wonderfully. Seeing her love for her little sister is like a warm hug. Her vulnerability is well presented, making it easy to empathize with her. 

Noah is easy enough to like though he does make you want to whack sense into his head at times. However, he is a good guy and he steps up when necessary. He has a sad backstory which shows he is not an idiot; just someone afraid. 

While the romance is a bit insta, there’s no pretense about it. Moreover, enough emotions are woven into the scenes to slightly slow the pace. I appreciate this decision. 

I’m a bit surprised that there’s no real progress on the overarching plot. I thought there would be some development. Maybe it’ll have more focus in book three. Also, we know almost nothing about the other sister, Fiona, so her book will be interesting. 

To summarize, From Provence, With Love is a heartwarming story set in a beautiful location. While it is primarily a romance, the parts that appealed the most to me were family bonds and personal growth. 

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 

Jane O. suffers a few strange episodes in the year after her son’s birth. She has blackouts, hallucinations, amnesia, and a sense of dread that doesn’t leave her alone. She visits a psychiatrist, Dr. Henry, who tries to understand her case in vain. 

As Jane’s situation seems to be getting worse, they need to find out the reason. Is it due to the overwhelming life as a single mother or the result of a long-buried and unresolved trauma from her past? Why did the dead man’s vision warn Jane of a disaster? Is her mind playing tricks, or is it something beyond science and human knowledge? 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Dr. Henry and the journals of Jane O. 

Firstly, thanks to Shelley, whose terrific review made me request the book immediately even though this is not really my genre. 

The writing style can be a deal breaker. Despite getting two POVs, both have a detached sense of style. The psychiatrist’s POV is clinical despite his borderline obsession with the case. Even Jane’s journals carry a dry and matter-of-fact tone which aligns with her character arc. 

The tone couldn’t have been better, if you asked me. It prevented the story from getting overly emotional or falling into pieces all over the place. I enjoyed the book as much because I liked the narrative style. 

Since there’s no garnish or seasoning (descriptions), the story is focused on the plot. The pacing is great too even if it feels like nothing much has happened. In fact, that’s the point. Something is happening even when it appears as if everything is good. The sense of unease lingers in the background without distracting the reader from the events. 

However, I feel the suspense (for the lack of a better word) went a bit too long. I’d liked the reveal and the explanation to come a bit earlier so that we’d have more time for the story to move ahead. 

While some questions have been answered, a few are left untouched. Also, I’m not sure about a particular development on a personal level. It may or may not work for everyone. I don’t mind it but I won’t say I liked it. 

The concept is actually cool. It’s exactly the kind of stuff that appeals to me. That’s why, I wanted it to be explored a bit more. 

However, the book has a massive trigger for the pandemic. This occupies around 30% of the content in the second half, so please be careful. 

Also, at one point, I was confused enough to go and check the news reports. Of course, the reveal explained the situation, but as an Indian I can’t say I particularly like the developments, especially considering what happened a year later, through a neighbor. 

To summarize, The Strange Case of Jane O is an interesting read with what some might call unreliable narrators (I don’t think so). Not sure who I can recommend it to. I did enjoy it though! 

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

#NetGalley #TheStrangeCaseOfJaneO 

 4 Stars

Inspector Sebastian and Nurse Gemma didn’t expect their trip to a theatre would end up with a case on their hands. The lead couple playing Romeo & Juliet dies on stage. Sebastian is sure it was murder but solving the crime isn’t easy. 

Gemma wants to be involved in the case (as always), and Sebastian is worried for her. With no one being trustworthy, he knows the risk of trusting the wrong person. Can they find the killer before it’s too late? 

The story comes in Gemma and Sebastian’s third-person POVs. 

As the fourth story in the series, this still works as a standalone. However, I’d suggest reading at least the previous book to get an idea about the relationship dynamics and main character arcs. 

The mystery is actually interesting since it involves death by poison (not me making notes). Moreover, the killer is a cool cucumber given the murder happened, so the MCs know they’ll have to work extra hard. I admit it took me a long time to guess the killer. I could get it only a few pages before the reveal happened. 

We need an array of characters and see the social conditions of the times. It is dark and has triggers (domestic abuse) but the details are not overly graphic. We see only what is necessary for the plot development and the injustice of the times stays true to the era. 

Since the theatre is the primary setting, we also get insights into the lives of the actors, running the showbiz, etc. Since I’ve read other mysteries with similar settings, I didn’t actually learn anything new. Still, I enjoyed the descriptions of the theatre. There’s something about the stage and the backend work that makes theatres feel larger than life. 

The MMC’s professional life also sees a shift. While I’m not sure yet, I feel hopeful about the situation (much like the guy himself). 

There are teeny developments in the personal track. At this point, I can’t wait for the FMC’s mourning period to be over. I also appreciate how a certain aspect has been considered but not directly addressed by the FMC. No unwanted drama. That said, the lead couple had very few scenes together. 

Maybe we can have a time jump for the next case? There’s a new entry too, and I hope she’ll become a permanent addition to the group. Everyone needs HEA if you ask me! 

To summarize, Murder at the Orpheus Theatre is an intriguing mystery with enough suspects and red herrings. The pacing is decent, though I wouldn’t call it fast. I’m glad I didn’t give up on the series. Have liked it better with each new release. 

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

#NetGalley #MurderAtTheOrpheusTheatre 

 This review contains spoilers. 
 

I won’t bother with the summary. The book is supposed to be a retelling of Mahabharata from Ma Ganga’s POV. However, calling it a mockery of the original would be more apt. 

 

***

Gangavataranam (the arrival of Ma Ganga) is one of the most beautiful events detailed in Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is my favorite event. Each time I read or watch the scene, I end up teary-eyed. 

Ma Ganga is power. Ganga is life. Ganga is a blessing. She symbolizes divine feminine. Shiva plays her counterpart, the divine masculine, the much-needed equal to balance the equation. When Ma Ganga rushes from heaven to earth, it’s like being hit by an asteroid ten times the size of the planet. That’s her power. Shiva absorbs her impact so that it doesn’t shatter the earth. He eases her arrival on the earth, that too at her demand. Ma Ganga knows her power. She knows she can destroy the planet she is supposed to nurture. Her strength is her ability to let Shiva stand in her path to prevent destruction. 

Instead, we get a victimized Ganga ranting about Shiva binding her, chaining her, and whatnot. Mahabharata has many instances where feminism is necessary. This is NOT one of those. This is a celebration of power and balance; of Ganga’s power and Shiva’s balance. 

I see no bhakti for Ma Ganga. Rather, she has been demeaned and insulted by making her sound pathetic. Such a shame! 
 

Read more here: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2024/04/g-for-gangavataranam-arrival-of-ganga.html 

The Vasus are called Godlings (cringe max pro) in the book. They are described as a blend of Celtic creatures like puca and brownies. 

The Vasus are not Godlings. They are gods. They are not mischievous kids who need Ma Ganga’s protection. They control the elements. They are fully grown adults (with life partners) and immortal who live in heaven and visit earth for entertainment. 

Read more here: https://sri-lovenature.blogspot.com/2024/04/a-for-ashta-vasus-mahabharata-mashup.html

***

Hindus are nature worshippers. We don’t follow the Western Abrahamic concepts like, 'man is greater than nature' or that man should take care of nature. For us, it is the other way around. Nature is our nurturer. Nature takes care of us. She is our mother. 

However, this book repeatedly superimposes colonial concepts on indigenous beliefs. Over and over, they are shown as people who abuse nature. 

In fact, at one point in Chapter 14 – “…To achieve dominion over man and nature.”

Apparently, this aligns with a Biblical quote from Genesis 1:28 (Thanks to Kundan for highlighting this). 

Chapter 9: “We serve the gods and they serve us. Surely you do not think otherwise?”

Absolutely not! Gods don’t serve us. They bless us. We don’t subscribe to this form of worship. 

Chapter 22: Arjuna gave a nasty laugh. “Now I understand your matted hair, your dirty clothes. You are a tribal! You should not be here.”

The Pandavas were born in an ashram at the Himalayan foothills. They lived their first ten+ years in a forest (like the tribals) until their father died. After escaping the House of Lac, they lived in a forest again. After losing the dice game, they were in exile and lived in a forest for twelve years. They literally were described with matted hair and dirty clothes. Why would Arjuna use it as an insult to Ekalavya? It makes zero sense! 

Chapter 12: … Even though I did not deserve it, my child loved me. I repeated this mantra to myself as I rose to my feet”.

A goddess wouldn’t mean the word mantra by using it causally like this. A mantra is powerful and not whatever nonsense the New Age people preach everywhere. (Thanks to Kundan for highlighting this). 

***

Chapter 7: “After a few too many miraculous births, the village began to gossip. They decided I was more likely than not a dayyan and cast me out.”

Chapter 9: Kavita rubbed a hand across her eyes. “I grow tired of this place. Lately I have been harassed by claims I am performing witchcraft. I am thinking of leaving here.”

Where did the witch hunt originate? It started in Europe and spread to colonies in the Americas and other countries between the 14th and 18th centuries. It is rooted in hatred for indigenous gods and beliefs. The Church started it. 

Shall we talk about the Portuguese Saint Xavier and the use of European torture devices (the ones used on ‘witches’) to torture Hindu women in Goa because they refused to convert? 

Hindus are indigenous. Our existence cannot be separated from magic and nature. Moreover, midwives are cherished and respected in our land. A midwife with such powers would have people flocking to her house for help. 

My ancestors were faith healers in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were not cast out. Their skills were in demand, especially to save people from snake bites. 

***

Long story short, Shikandin was a reincarnation of Amba, the princess who vowed to take revenge on Bhishma (Ganga’s son). Shikandin was born a FEMALE and transitioned into a male. Shikandin is one of the earliest examples of FTM (female-to-male). 

In this book, the author chose an obscure ‘oral version’ to make Shikandin a male by birth. There is no mention of his trans identity or the story related to it. Shikandin before the sex change had a ‘she’ pronoun. Afterward, Shikandin was addressed only as ‘he’. Why was this erased? Is it not necessary to acknowledge trans people? 

Also, Ganga didn’t make Bhishma promise not to fight Shikandin. Bhishma himself was adamant about it since he knew Shikandin as a woman before the transition and it went against his code to raise a weapon at him. 

Arjuna became Brihannala, a trans woman, for a year (the thirteenth year of exile). Throughout Virata Parva, Arjuna was referred to as he, and Brihannala was addressed as she. The pronouns were specific, highlighting gender fluidity. Why is there no mention of this? 

***

Time and again, Kurus were called destroyers, savages, animals, monsters, and demons. Even the king is shown as a barbarian and heathen, the terms colonizers used to justify their savagery on us (the same template was followed in India, across Africa, the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and more). All the native people were dehumanized as barbarians who needed to be civilized by the colonizers. 

Even today, Hindus are targeted as Satan worshippers, our temples demolished and our identities shamed. How is the book any different from those attackers? 

Chapter 9: “I did not care if he might try to burn me alive and claim it an accident or poison my food and punish the cook…” 

Chapter 14: Shantanu raged at my banks. He screamed and shouted, sent soldiers out to my waters, but he could do nothing to harm a river. In one inspired moment, he ordered oil to be poured into my water and set aflame... 

Chapter 18: The rest of the Kurus… They are like animals. 

Chapter 23: “Perhaps Yudhishthira would listen to my claim if I did so, but Arjuna and Bhima would slay me in my sleep…” 

These are such shameful statements and characterizations of our ancestors. 

After demonizing the Kurus multiple times and reinforcing the idea that they are the worst people on earth, this is what the book says. How is this not different from the colonial superiority complex in that they decide who gets to live? 

Chapter 24: Would the world be better off without the Kuru line? If my son died, he would come home to me. And the rest of them… I did not believe them worth saving, worth ruling.

In Kaikeyi, Rama was called a warmonger. In Goddess of the River, Shantanu was said to be always at war. 

The Kurukshetra War happened when peace talks failed multiple times. Krishna himself tried his best to prevent the war.  

***

Our Vedas and Shastras have several guidelines for administration, law & justice, warfare, medicine & healing, livelihood, etc. 

We have Nyaya Shastra for law and justice, Dhanurveda for archery and weaponry, Yudh Dharma (guidelines for war), and more. Ayurveda (traditional natural medicine) is also a part of our ancient scriptures. 

Chanakya’s Arthashastra and Chanakya Neeti were based on these guidelines. 

However, the book shows Hindus as primitive barbarians with bloodlust and power lust when they spent years of their lives studying and gaining knowledge. 

The Bhagavad Gita, the most important part of Mahabharata, was mentioned only in passing as if it is an inconvenient item she is forced to talk about. 

Chapter 18: The foreign soldiers were at the far end of the village by now, but his friends and neighbors had not been spared. He saw his uncle slumped in the street, the top of his skull missing.

The author seemed to have gotten confused about invaders butchering Hindus. According to Yudh Dharma, one cannot attack villages. Only bandits attacked helpless people (heck even some of them followed dharma by taking care to not harm children, women, and seniors). 

If soldiers violated the rules, they were punished by the generals. Ethics were important even in war. (If you want to know more about war in ancient Bharat, read the Battle of Vatapi trilogy by Arun Krishnan). 

The author has doubled down and reinforced the negative idea that Hindus were savages. What happened was the opposite of it. By making Ganga a victim of everything, she is falsely accusing others of being villains. She did the same in Kaikeyi by calling Rama a manipulator, and warmonger, and hinting that he was an abuser who hit his wife. In the same breath, she whitewashed a rapist like Ravana. An asura who raped countless women was portrayed as a gentle and intelligent king who respected women. 

So what does this do? 

People who have no idea about the original wonder why Hindus glorify Shiva and Rama and burn the effigy of Ravana. They are not aware that we burn the effigy of a kidnapper and a rapist. They jump to conclusions and attack us for being who we are, all because they can’t even be bothered to separate fact from fiction. The author gets away calling it her right to creative liberty while painting big targets on our backs. 

***

Shantanu DID NOT insult Ma Ganga or take the baby. In fact, Ganga left with the child promising to reunite Shantanu with his son at the right time. For the first sixteen years, Ganga had her son with her. She decided he was old enough to be prince and let him go to his father. During those years, Ganga made sure her son was trained by two of the best rishis – Vashishta and Parasurama. (And oh, she villainized Vashistha and reduced him to a fake godman without naming him). 

Is it feminism if you take away this choice someone already had and make them a helpless victim? 

***

Chapter 16: “… He could be the child of a latrine cleaner, cursing us all with his presence, but we bear that insult because we bow to your judgment, Raja Yudhishthira. But this—this is too much.”

While Sishupala hated Krishna, the deliberate and malicious use of the word ‘latrine cleaner’ reinforces the harmful caste stereotype as integral to Hinduism. This is beyond vile! 

Chapter 23: “Now you too would betray me?” Duryodhana demanded. “Perhaps it is your low birth, your shudra mother, that makes you feel such affinity for—”

Duryodhana was bloody bully but he never abused Vidura using his mother’s birth. In fact, Vidura called Duryodhana a lowborn for his jealousy and greed. There was no caste. It was varna and not birth-based but guna-based. That’s why Vidura was an advisor and minister of the Kuru kingdom and was acclaimed as a well-learned man. 

Chapter 30: Why valor was the domain of only Kshatriya, and menial labor the domain of only shudra, and whether he had been wrong to believe birth mattered all along.

This is a back-projection of the caste narrative into an era when it was a guna-based hierarchy. There are many valorous Shudra kings in our history. 

***

Creative liberty should never come at the cost of ruining the core of the original. Unfortunately, many events (apart from the above discussed) were distorted. 

It wasn’t Karna who fell into a pool in Indraprastha. It was Duryodhana. This matters because Duryodhana was so jealous of his cousins’ wealth that he wanted to destroy them at any cost. 

Karna was NOT his birth name. Karna was named Vasusena (the one born with wealth since he had armor and earrings since birth). He became Vaikartana and Karna later on. This is the bare minimum knowledge one needs to have when retelling an epic. 

When Draupadi was disrobed in Kaurava sabha, Karna called her a harlot for having five husbands and said she deserved to be stripped naked. Also, Draupadi wasn’t meek. She didn’t mind knocking sense into her husbands’ minds. She loved them sure, but she was never blind to their flaws. 

Karna NEVER won a challenge/ duel with Arjuna. He was called an equal to Arjuna but was never his superior. The hate for Arjuna in this book is unreal and nauseating. 

Ganga had no role in ALLOWING Shiva to give a boon to Amba. In fact, Ganga advised Amba to stop thirsting for revenge as it would destroy her. A classic example of Main Character Syndrome where Ganga in this book wants all the credit for things she didn’t even do! 

Krishna’s birth and timeline are WRONG. Krishna was decades younger than Bhishma. He was in his 40s like Arjuna when Bhishma was in his 100s. It makes no sense for Krishna to be 25 years older than Bhishma and yet look like a young man (and no one bats an eyelid). 

The soap opera between Bhishma and Shikandin DID NOT happen. I don’t think even Ekta Kapoor would make it that cringe. Also, Bhishma wasn’t killed by a single arrow. His body was so riddled with arrows shot by Arjuna that they created an arrow bed when he fell from the chariot. Bhishma was very particular that he wanted to be killed by Arjuna, his favorite grandson. 

Ganga’s (author’s) delulu reaches the next level when she shoots from the earth and quenches Bhishma’s thirst. Wanting the spotlight for everything makes her character so immature and pathetic. Bhishma wanted pure water and asked Arjuna to do something about it. Arjuna understood and shot an arrow into the earth. Once again, Bhishma didn’t want anyone except Arjuna for this. 

Karna never looked up to Bhishma or respected him. He always hated the old man for taking the Pandava side and called him a traitor openly in the Kaurava sabha many times. Also, Karna decided to put his ego over his best friend. Karna CHOSE not to fight until Bhishma either stepped down as the commander or died. 

Bhishma did not kill the Gandhara princess to get Gandhari married to Dhritarashtra. Shakuni’s brothers were healthy and alive. They participated in the Kurukshetra war and got killed on the battlefield. 

Arjuna did not send a beggar to take Karna’s flesh armor. Heck, the Pandavas were in exile when this happened. Arjuna’s birth father decided on this, and Karna’s birth father tried to prevent it. But then Karna was like, ‘I’d rather die than say no to a request’. Even then, Karna got a celestial weapon in return. He saved it to kill Arjuna (Krishna foiled this plan). 

This is just a summary of what all is wrong in the book. My original review was three times long. Yeah, I could get a PhD just by submitting the review as a thesis. 

Anyhoo, there really isn’t anything worth mentioning in this book. Ma Ganga has been reduced to a whiny and petulant teenager with an inflated sense of self-righteousness while everyone else is a villain. All that hate for Shiva is just sad.