Reviews & Musings

  Namrata talks about  Anuja Chandramouli’s  latest book,  Mohini: The Enchantress  ( August, 2020) calling it an attempt to paint a fresh image of Mohini in the reader’s mind . “Elusive as a fragment of a forgotten dream, fragile as a figment from fantasy, Mohini is perfection made possible. Distilled from the essence of Vishnu, Mohini the Enchantress is a part of him and yet she revels in the autonomy and extraordinary powers of beauty, magic and enchantment that are hers to wield. She is loved and desired by all in existence and yet, she is elusive tantalizing temptress, traipsing her way across the topsy-turvy terrain of fable and myth.” Anuja Chandramouli Anuja Chandramouli’s Mohini is a beautiful ode to the Goddess of Beauty and Fertility. Considered to be the only female avatar of Vishnu, created by Vishnu and Shakti, this book traces her life through sands of time. As an author Anuja Chandramouli has been known to explore lesser known aspects of differen...

Introduction ISBN:978-9353332686 Genre:  Fiction / Mythology Publishers: Rupa Publications Price: Rs. 295/- (I got the book for review from the publisher)

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is one of the authors who has the magical ability to leave her readers mesmerized with her writings. Her characters are strong and inspiring. Needless to add, her mythological re-tellings have been loved across age groups. Her ' Palace of Illusions ' continues to be a favourite even after a decade of its release. Reading her is a treat for every book lover and with a lot of giddy excitement we all are looking forward to her upcoming release ' The Forest Of Enchantments ' which is up for pre-orders now. Don't miss checking out this video on this beautiful book!

Introduction Source: Amazon.in ISBN :  978-9386-8675-75 Genre:  Fiction / Fantasy Publishers: Jaico Publishing House Price:  Rs. 350/-  ( I got the book for review from the  b00k r3vi3ws )

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN:  978-9386228529 Genre:   F iction  Publishers: Juggernaut Price:  Rs. 299/-  ( I got the book for review from the  author )

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN:  978-8129149114 Genre:   F iction / Mythology Publishers: Rupa Publications Price:  Rs. 295/-  ( I got the book for review from the  autho r )

Introduction Source: Amazon.in ISBN:  978-8129149039 Genre: F iction / Mythology Publishers: Rupa Publishing Price:  Rs. 295/-  ( I got the book for review from the publishe r )

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN:  978-8193432006 Genre:   Non-Fiction / India  Publishers:  Westland  Price:  Rs. 275/-  ( I got the book for review from the   publisher )

Introduction ISBN:  9781509882557 Genre:  Fiction Publishers:  Pan Macmillan India Price:  Rs. 299/-  ( I got the book for review from the  publisher ) "The Haters are coming to destroy all life on Earth. It is not a question of if, but when. The Brahmaand has already rung the warning bell and the awakening of the Preservers has begun. Kiara unexpectedly finds her skin covered with golden fur and her sense of smell extraordinarily enhanced; Saumya is suddenly able to go from Ahmedabad to New York in just a step; and Sia’s songs have the power to do things she had never imagined possible. First in the thrilling Shakti Trilogy set in contemporary India, Ashok Banker’s action-packed and brilliantly imagined Awaken introduces our unlikely heroes who must discover and harness their superpowers before they can protect and preserve the Earth from the wrath of a menacing alien invasion." Behind the Book Source: Amazon.in

New look, new month, new beginnings!Life of a book reviewer is always full of excitement. Starting from what to read next to what happens next in that book - the thrill is never ending. So, I thought of sharing that excitement with you as well.  Sharing a glimpse of some of the beautiful reads that adorn my shelf this month:

Introduction ISBN:  9780143428503 Genre:  Fiction / Mythology Publishers:  Penguin Random House Price:  Rs. 299/-  ( I got the book for review from the  author ) As Yama's Lieutenant, Agni Prakash, has diligently been tracking down demons and spirits that threaten peace on earth and dispatching them to his lord's thousand hells. Danger is a constant in his job, but this time an apocalypse threatens his entire world. Agni must go up against a terrifying sorceress-adept in the ancient art of stone magic-and her bestial army of demoniacal creatures who used to be humans before they were transformed into willing killing machines. The witch has a nightmarish vision for a new world that involves large scale culling of the humans-and it falls to Agni to stop her. He must find the Samayakalas, the mysterious keepers of time and reset the clock before all life is destroyed. However, any contact with the Samayakalas is forbidden to mortal and immortal ali...

Introduction ISBN: 978-8129147950 Genre: Non-Fiction/ Mythological Publishers: Rupa Publishing Price: Rs. 295/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) Reflecting on one of Hinduism’s most popular prayer for positive energy, acclaimed mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik demystifies the Hanuman Chalisa for the contemporary reader. His unique approach makes the ancient hymn accessible, combined as it is with his trademark illustrations. Every time we experience negativity in the world and within ourselves, every time we encounter jealousy, rage and frustration, manifesting as violation and violence, we hear, or read, the Hanuman Chalisa. Composed over four hundred years ago by Tulsidas, its simple words in Awadhi, a dialect of Hindi and its simple metre, musically and very potently evoke the mythology, history and mystery of Hanuman, the much-loved Hindu deity, through whom Vedic wisdom reached the masses. As verse follows verse, our frightened, crumpled mind begin...

Introduction ISBN:  978-81291453451 Genre: Fiction /Poetry / Mythology Publishers: Rupa Price:  Rs.595/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) ‘S ri Krishna, I am being put through an ordeal, the foolish Acts of your cousins are burning me up, save from these wicked ones Who are stripping me of the cloth I am clad in! You alone can save me, the saviour of the helpless; If I lose my honour, can I stay alive? ’ She vowed to never tie her hair till the day the Pandavas avenged the humiliation she had been subjected to by the Kauravas. That her hair would be left untamed and wild till the day Bhima would kill Dushyasana and smear her hair with his blood. This is an epic poem narrating the saga of one of the most important, intriguing and complex female characters of Hindu mythology—Draupadi of Mahabharata.The Flaming Tresses of Draupadi traces the life and journey of Draupadi from her birth from the sacrificial fire—whereupon she was named ‘Ya...

Introduction ISBN: 9788129144515 Genre: F iction / Mythology Publishers: Rupa Price:  Rs.295/- ( I got this book from the publisher for a review ) Surpanakha, Ravan’s infamous sister—ugly and untamed, brutal and brazen. This is how she is commonly perceived. One whose nose was sliced off by an angry Lakshman and the one who started a war but was she really just perpetrator of war? Or was she a victim? Was she Lanka’s princess? Or was she the reason for its destruction? Surpanakha, meaning the woman as hard as nails was born as Meenakshi—the one with beautiful, fish-shaped eyes. Growing up in the shadows of her brothers, who were destined to win wars, fame and prestige, she, instead, charts up a path filled with misery and revenge. Accused of manipulating events between Ram and Ravan, which culminated in a bloody war and annihilation of her family, Surpanakha is often the most misunderstood character in the Ramayana. Kavita Kané 's Lanka’s Princess tells the story...

Introduction ISBN: 978-8184956382 Genre: Mythology / Fantasy Publishers: Jaico Price:  Rs.350/- ( I got this book from the author for a review ) "A good work of mytho-fiction" -- Anand Neelakantan THE PRICE OF A PROMISE. PAID IN BLOOD. The deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction. But was the Halahala truly destroyed? A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it. And both asuras and devas, locked in battle for supremacy, will stop at nothing to claim it. As the forces of Devaloka and Patala, led by Indra and Shukracharya, plot to possess the Halahala, Shiva turns to mankind to guard it from their murderous clutches. It is now up to Samrat Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine to quell the supernatural hordes – and prevent the universe from tumbling into chaos! A sweepin...