The Ascendance of Evil (Book #3 in the Kalki Chronicles)Author: AbhinavPublisher: Penguin Books Here comes the final book in the Kalki Chronicles that concludes the battle between good and evil, leaving the readers more hopeful and enlightened. Anirudh’s mysterious death and his revival help in the progression of the story. In this book, Anirudh’s character is explored with greater intent and that brings life to this avatar of Lord Vishnu. With satire in place and personification of Prakriti playing the right role, the author meticulously crafts the details that conclude the long lost battle. Deriving the protagonist’s learning from Bhagwad Gita, the story touches upon the spiritual aspect as well.…

Kali’s Retribution (Book #2 in the Kalki Chronicles)Author: AbhinavPublisher: Penguin Books The Kalki Chronicles is part mythology and part contemporary fiction that traces Anirudh’s journey of retrospection and realization as the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu. This is one of those book series where the author deftly shuffles between two timelines and piques the interest of the readers with enough cliffhangers. Kali’s Retribution is the second book in the series and it focuses on the duel between Anirudh, who has now accepted his new reality and identified his purpose too, and Kali, the lord of Evil. The battle to conquer the mortal world is something to look out for in…

The Sage’s Secret (Book #1 in the Kalki Chronicles)Author: AbhinavPublisher: Penguin Books Activists are adopting various methods to make people aware of the consequences. One such means of awareness is books. Merging mythology with contemporary fiction, Abhinav does justice with ‘The Sage’s Secret’. He illustrates the sublime truth that every action has an equal and opposite reaction by using characters that are well structured and intense. With an objective atmosphere, ‘The Sage’s Secret’ is the first part of the trilogy. The story dates back to Dwaparyug– when Lord Krishna was born. Krishna prophesized that his tenth avatar (Kalki) will be sent to restore the balance between the good and the…

Let’s Go Time Travelling AgainAuthor: Subhadra Sen GuptaPublishers: Puffin Books A sequel to ‘Let’s Go Time Travelling’ that was released in 2012, ‘Let’s Go Time Travelling Again‘ is another brilliant attempt and bringing forth the glorious past of Indians who thrived and excelled in various spheres of life. This book is important as it throws light on the contributions of the Indians in various facets of life and their success stories that, to date, remain buried under the influence of the West. Let’s Go Time Travelling Again takes an extremely innovative route to teach history to the children. With no dates to remember, no mention of royal names and no…

Shyam- Our Little KrishnaAuthor: Devdutt PattanaikPublisher: Puffin Books I am a huge fan of Devdutt Pattanaik and when this book was announced over social media, I was as happy as Larry! Known to be a mythology expert who doesn’t shy away from bringing out the essence of mythology in the current times, Devdutt Pattanaik has always experimented with different age groups and this time, this read and colour book for young children is the result. Shyam, written precisely and concisely with the intention of reaching out to the younger generation, is a book that will not only help introduce the children to the world of Krishna but also help them…

The Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Good NewsAuthor: Meghna PantPublisher: Penguin IndiaRating: 2.5/5 Who doesn’t like fast-paced dramas that have quirky dialogues, colourful characters and action-packed storyline? I surely do. But the only turn off for me in such dramas is the dilemma of humour overkill! Meghna Pant’s The Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Good News is just about that! Using witty dialogues, the author definitely aces the test when it comes to classifying her book as a complete pot-boiler yet the predictable plot and over-the-board characters, time and again, make it unbearable for the readers (or at least, for me) to sit through their comical (or so they are supposed to…

That NightAuthor: Nidhi UpadhyayPublisher: Penguin PublishersRating:3/5 Weaving a paranormal account into a thriller is no ordinary feat. Hence, when I first chanced upon the blurb of ‘That Night’, its relation with the occult and the element of surprise seemed quite promising. Revolving around the lives of four friends who end up playing a game of Ouija one night and the death of one of the participants the same night, this story is a total roller coaster ride, for it never gives you a chance to predict what happens. This quality just won me over. Katherine, Anjali, Natasha and Riya were busy in their own personal struggles when someone from the…

The ArcherAuthor: Paulo CoelhoPublisher: Penguin VikingRating: 3/5 Paulo Coelho is known for his allegories and insightful stories that emphasize finding the real purpose of life and giving your life meaning. Whether it is The Alchemist or The Pilgrimage, each of his books has the potential to touch the heart and make the readers introspect. However, his new work, The Archer, is not everyone’s cup of tea. Why- you might ask! Well, for two reasons: one, it is repetitive and offers nothing that we don’t know in our sub-conscious mind already; two, it comprises umpteen analogies which need time and patience to be understood. The Archer is mainly focused on finding…

10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange WorldAuthor: Elif ShafakPublisher: Penguin UKRating: 4.5/5 Elif Shafak is one such author whose simple language pierces the heart so brutally that one cannot avoid but think of the overwhelming setting of the plot and the injustice meted out to her characters. ‘10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World’ is Shafak’s 11th novel which addresses the grave issue of sexual violence in Istanbul. Deftly dealing with the aftermath of fighting for freedom and searching for a life devoid of misery and slavery, the author uses a bold narrative to highlight the stereotypes and notions that are perpetuated in the society right…

White BirdAuthor: R J PalacioPublisher: Penguin PublishersRating: 5/5 Graphic novels were once my favourite when they used to be sold for cheap and were called as comics. Now, these novels are sold under a fancy name. White Bird is a graphic novel that is set during the time of the second world war. Narrated by Sara Blum, Julian’s grandmother, this story takes you on a visual roller coaster ride of love, hope, loss and kindness. With beautiful illustrations, crisp story-telling and less number of characters, the author deftly portrays the sorrowful plight of the Jews who were discriminated and hunted to be shot during the time of the war. The…