“Important things remain important things, no matter how much the world changes. Their essence doesn’t change. If you keep them, they’re bound to bring you something in return.” The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa originally written in Japanese, first published in 1994, and translated by Stephen Snyder in 2019 is a book with a unique …

Review: It’s Also About Mynah by Rucha Chitrodia
It’s Also About Mynah is an urban contemporary tale of over a dozen people whose lives happen to cross paths with one another in the hustling bustling city of Bombay. As the title suggests, this book isn’t just about Mynah but is also about her. She moves to Mumbai to join an ad agency to …

Review: Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
Fireheart Tiger by Aliette De Bodard is a sapphic romantic high fantasy novella. But it’s also so much more than that. Adding to that, the cover of the book is exceptionally beautiful! Set in a Vietnam-esque world, our main character Thanh is the youngest princess of Bình Hải who was kept as a captive princess …

Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Have you ever had a hard time reviewing a book? Have you ever read a book you can’t make up your mind about? The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang is that book for me. The Poppy War is set in a world inspired by 20th century China and is based on the second Sino-Chinese war. …

Review: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
“My girl, some boats are for the river and some are for the ocean. And there are some who can go anywhere because they always know the way home.” Firekeeper’s Daughter is a coming-of-age story about a geeky bad*** girl – Daunis. It’s one of the most amazing YA debut novels I’ve read in a …

Review and Author Interview: The Wall by Gautam Bhatia
“There is a world to discover, isn’t there?” Gautam Bhatia’s debut fictional novel is what I’d like to call a masterpiece in the making. A story of a walled city – Sumer – which knows nothing of the world beyond it and of curious minds who feel caged up inside. A story of revolution, of …

Review: Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer
“It would be their evidence that would decide the length of the sentences, not the courage of the foot soldiers.” Hidden in Plain Sight is the second instalment to the Detective William Warwick series and if I may say, it’s a damn good instalment. To give you some background, the first book in the series …

Review: The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner
“Women, children are the biggest victims of war…” while rightly said by many, it is a debatable phrase. Not to make light of the sacrifices of the soldiers (mostly men) who fight on the frontlines but there is an undeniable trail of collateral damage in every army’s wake. It’s the other side of the metaphorical …

Review: The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett
I have to begin by saying that I have been jumping to read this book since June this year and if you’ve been a regular customer of the wordsmith who is Ken Follett, you know you will not be left disappointed! I am glad I chose to re-read The Pillars of the Earth (click here …

Review: Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
“People had to grow on their own, make their own decisions, good and bad. It was those mistakes and the choice or refusal to learn from them that gave life—and art—their texture, their meaning. It had to be a choice.” Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar is a beautiful coming-of-age story about a girl – Sheetal …