Book Review: Feral by Laxmi Hariharan (Many Lives Book 1)

Introduction

ASIN: B01GCWLDJG
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Publishers: Fighting Monkey Press
Price: $0.73 (I got this book from the b00k r3vi3ws for a review)

He was her destination. She just didn't know it.

When Maya leaves Luke to go in search of her blood family, nothing prepares her for the secrets she uncovers about herself. An intense, shifter romance, set in Bombay. A standalone novelette in the Many Lives universe.

Background to the Many Lives Universe

The Many Lives series begins in present day Bombay when a tsunami wipes away much of the city. Post-tsunami Bombay of the future is one of the most prosperous cities in the world. On the other hand, successive economic downturns have stripped most Western of its wealth, pushing many to seek a new life in the East. Refugees from Europe now pour into Bombay, into the camp nicknamed the Jungle. And no one is safe from the growing menace of the merciless human-wolf hybrids and vampires.

Each book in the Many Lives universe is a stand alone in the series. A possible progression is as listed below

Many Lives - Main Series
1. Feral
2. Taken
3. Untamed
4. Redemption

Many Lives Prequel Series
1. Awakened
2. Origins
3. Chosen

Many Lives inspiration novelettes
1. Exhale
2. Ugly

Join my newsletter to get my best three novelettes free here http://smarturl.it/Laxmi

Behind the book

Source: Goodreads.com

About the author

A near life experience told Laxmi Hariharan to write...She never stopped. Laxmi is the creator of the Ruby Iyer Series. London is where she writes. Bombay is what fuels her imagination.

Me thinks

Call it novelette, novella or a short story what doesn't change is the magic this story holds. Primarily revolving around Maya and her search for her roots this book is high on emotions and drama. The hurt she undergoes on knowing that she is adopted and then the quest to find her real biological family ensures that Maya embarks on an adventure which changes her life. By the end of the book you develop a deep bond with Maya so much that you just want to silently hug her for all that she has been through and appreciate her strength.

Maya's confusion as a teenager, her mannerisms and attitude towards people around her and lastly her gusty approach to it is something that makes you in awe of her. Having lived in Mumbai I love the way Laxmi manages to bring it to life in the futuristic world. Her imagination is vivid and ensures that I am enthralled beyond words. This book is a pure joy to read and Maya has now become one of the most endearing characters in the Many Lives series for me till now.

I would recommend NOT to miss this one!

Foodie Verdict

This book is like samosa chaat -so many distinct flavours packed into one powerful dish.

Source: MellownSpicy

Movie Review: If by Tathagata Ghosh – A Tender Portrait of Love, Loss, and Possibility

If , a 26-minute short film by acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Tathagata Ghosh, is a sensitive, evocative piece of storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll. Set against the everyday rhythm of life in Kolkata, the film delicately unpacks the story of a lesbian couple torn apart by the weight of societal expectations and dares to imagine a different future, one where a mother's love might just change everything. What struck me first was the film’s raw, grounded realism. The characters feel like people we know, middle-class families navigating a complex world with quiet resilience. The world of If is filled with silences, glances, and stills, rather than heavy dialogue. Ghosh masterfully uses these moments to speak volumes, allowing viewers to sit with discomfort, interpret the unspoken, and feel deeply.

Book Review: Palestine Wail - Poems by Yahia Lababidi

In Palestine Wail: Poems , Yahia Lababidi creates a profound and unflinching exploration of the ongoing Palestinian crisis, drawing from his own heritage and heartbreak to reflect on a political and humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded across decades. This collection, imbued with personal history, political outrage, and spiritual contemplation, serves as both a witness to injustice and a call to humanity. The work’s origins lie deeply in Lababidi’s own roots—his Palestinian grandmother, Rabiha Dajani, was forced to flee Jerusalem at gunpoint, a traumatic event that reverberates throughout Lababidi’s poetry. As an Arab-American writer, Lababidi is uniquely positioned to speak on the intersection of identity, politics, and human rights. His poetry, both personal and political, draws a clear line between the suffering of the Palestinian people and the complicity of global powers in perpetuating that suffering. Through his words, Lababidi eloquently counters the equation that Z...

Book Review: Butterflies of Success by Ranga Iyer

ISBN: ‎ 978-8196920951 Genre: Personal Transformation Publisher: Highbrow Scribes Year of Publishing: 2024 About the Book "Poverty is relative term" Lack of money alone cannot stop someone from succeeding in life. The social evil of poverty can be defeated with a determined mind, courage, mental strength, and education. Butterflies of Success follows the compelling journey of Mukta and Prem, a couple with four daughters who leave their village in search of a better life in Thakurli, near Bombay. Facing numerous challenges, including living in a small, unsanitary dwelling, financial struggles, and health issues, Mukta leads her family of six in a fight to improve their situation. She starts by selling boiled chickpeas and gradually expands to open a diner and a tailoring unit with Prem's help. As the business progresses, the family strives to educate and marry off their daughters, which brings new challenges, including mounting debts. Not oblivious to her parents' da...

Reviews & Musings

Search This Blog