Book Review: Inside the heart of hope

Book name: Inside the heart of hope

Author: Rishab Puri

Genre: Contemporary

Standalone/Series: Standalone

Publishing Date: June 1st 2017

My ratings:

 Goodreads blurb:
We’re all a little broken, and that’s okay.
Or is it? Rick has a medical condition that makes his life different from the rest. But unlike others around him, he sees this not as a curse, but as an opportunity to cherish life and all the bitter-sweet gifts it brings with it.
Amidst frequent visits to the doctor, multiple surgeries that risk his life being, and a life that meant surveillance all the time, Rick has to fight for himself each day. But he pulls through, thanks to his family and friend Jacob, who become his pillars of strength.
And then, at a time when he is least expecting it, and with someone he meets by accident – love happens. It’s a new feeling for his heart and he is scared to lose it.
Will Lisa really understand the goodness of his heart or just walk away?
Inside the Heart of Hope is a story of strong will, perseverance and optimism which will make you wonder if sky is really the limit. 
Goodreads

MY REVIEW

This story is about a boy Rick who is suffering from a Heart disease because of which his life gets affected in all places and I believe that many people suffering with heart or any sort of disease will be able to relate to this short and amazing story of rick's life and journey and learn a lot from it. It is a must for people who feel that they are born different in any way and doubt their abilities, to not loose hope and always feel positive, have faith that God is with them and will guide them.
the name 'Inside the heart of hope" perfectly describes the main message of the book that one has to have preservence and if you have hope the things are going to turn out good and everything will be fine then it will be!
The story was pretty fast paced and I feel that a lot of incidents could've been more elaborated in a better way including more conversations and giving more details but nonetheless the book was on point and succeeded in conveying its message. Some moments were quite emotional but again could've been written in a much better way to enhance the emotions the reader feels during them.
The story was light hearted as well and I absolutely loved Rick! He is humorous and wants to enjoy life to the fullest and that is the only reason why he loathes his disability in the beginning and I feel that this 'want' it a must which mostly all 'normal' people lack because they are not thankful for all that they already have. Another thing I really liked about this journey of Rick is the huge difference during his down and up moments. This story reflects all the emotions and states of the human mind from elation to despair, from success to failure and what not.
The ending of the book was my favorite part of the novel. It sums everything up and you feel all the dots connecting and its surreal. In the end all the dots were connecting and one can actuakky feek one thing leading to another. The ending was very well written, summing up everything and It is something that needs to be read by literally Everyone!

Rick meets many people in his life who play a very important role in shaping him as a person and had it not been for those people then Rick's life might just as well have been very different. The side characters were very well portrayed and played very important roles and they were not just there, like in many other books, but actually had a say.
A thing I learned from this book and am thankful to it for making me learn is the importance of self love. In our life many times we feel that we are unwanted and that the world will be a better place without us but this thinking is absolutely wrong, because actually the world will a better place only when we do something to make it that way! we need to accept our flaws and if we are different then we should use them to our advantage and test our limits at what all it is that we can do that others can't. Everyone IS different and just imagine if the various infinite number of abilities of each person were developed, just imagine the possibilities!

A thing that bugged me though were the names, the family is described as Indian but I just couldn't get that Indian representation in this book and I think I know the reason, it is because of the huge western influence on us Indians. None of the names was of Indian origin and maybe it shouldn't bother me that much but it did because I have realized the need of representation in books after all thee wrong that has been going on in the world.
I will recommend this immensely beautiful narrative to everyone feeling low and unsure about themselves or I should say literally Everyone because we all need hope and positiveity at least once and this book is perfect for lifting your spirits and believe me when I finished the book I felt on top of the world and that I could conquer the world if only I dare and you will too when you read it whole.

Book Review: Harappa-blood of the curse river

Book name: Harappa- Curse of the blood river

Author: Vineet Bajpai

Genre: Indian Mythological thriller

Standalone/Series: Standalone

Publishing Date: June 4, 2017

My ratings:

Goodreads blurb:

The story oscillates from history to mythology, from occult to religion, from exorcism to gunfights, from taantrics to warriors, from love to ambition. It knits 3,700 years, powerful ancient and modern-day characters and a nail-biting conspiracy - all in one literary thriller. Harappa is the first among a series of four books.
2017, Delhi – Vidyut’s dying ancestor summons him to Banaras. The old Brahmin chieftain of the Dev-Raakshasa Matth, or the God-Demon Clan, bears a chilling secret. Their bloodline carries an ancient curse that will plague mankind - towards its own violent extinction.
1700 BCE, Harappa – Harappa is a magnificent city on the banks of the mighty Saraswati river. The darkness of treachery, taantric exorcism and bloodshed unleashes itself on the last devta, paving the way for his devastating revenge…and the horrifying truth behind the fall of the glorious civilisation.
2017, Paris – The world’s most powerful religious institution is rattled. Europe’s dreaded crime lord meets a mysterious man in Paris. A lethal assassin boards a train, as Rome fears the worst. The prophesied devta has returned.
connects Banaras, Harappa and Rome? What was the ancient curse and who was the last devta? What is the terrible secret behind the fall of the colossal Indus Valley? Read on as you travel through a saga of violence and deceit, gods and demons, love and ambition.
MY REVIEW

I am half human, half God

An amazing Indian mythological thriller which connects 1700 bce Harappa civilization to 2017 delhi with connections to Rome, paris and the whole world basically.
It was a page turner and kept me hooked till the end! It just kept on getting better and better and I loved how skillfully the connections were made. The story unfolds steadily and perfectly. All the characters were bought to life effortlessly and beautifully.
Plot
A curse given to this world during 1700bce which vanquished the first ever metropolis of the world Harappa is finally unfolding amd vidyut shastri, a modern man is actually a demigod, the last devta, from the bloodline of the mighty vivasan pujari. Through treachery and greed harappa mixed with ruble. What is now known to us as the Indus valley civilization is describes to be the sarasvati civilization. The story unfolds giving reasons that led to the curse and information about the curse itself.
Charachters of 2017
Vidyut Shastri, the main charachter from 2017, is a successful IT engineer to the rest of the world, but actually he is a demigod- Half Human, Half God, and the bearer of the ancient curse haunting mankind from centuries. I personally loved Vidyut! He is really sweet and noble and the perfect person to be a devta or God.

Another one of my favourite charachter was Damini, Vidyut's girlfriend. She is a journalist amd her curious nature is just lovable!
The side charachters are also very prominentky described in the book and I really loved Sonu, Naina and balwanta. They are not jusT present but also have a say in things and play a great role.
Another important charachter is Romi. The opinion I had about him from his initial description was really changed as the story progressed!
Charachters of 1700bce
Vivasan pujari, or the great mighty devta, is the most noble person I have ever read about but then again, he is actually a God. I really liked his charachter and his devotion to his 'home' which was harappa and its people.
Sanjana (vivasan pujari's wife) and Manu's (his son) charachters developed a lot by the end.
Priyamvada is the devil queen of this whole story and I didn't like her at all! Her nature amd some of her actions really disgusted me!
Pundit chandradhar's charachter I felt was not defined upto the mark and his actions could've been a bit diverse which would've added to the action ans drama.
My thoughts
The stories, speculations and element of fiction in history feels so real that I badly wanted to believe it but then its only fiction, who actually knows though :)
Throughout the book we go from 1700bce in one chapter to 2017 in the next chapter but you can barely feel the time lapse and the way the story evolves and ooscillates between the two huge time zones just adds to the interest of the reader and is an amazing example of the wicked and polished writing of the author.

Another thing I loved about this book was revealing the truths of hinduism. It is said by its own followers that hinduism is polluted, but this book removed many such illusions from my mind regarding hinduism by telling actual facts and not made up things.
Women empowerment was highly encouraged throughout the book and this book proved that women can do whatever they think of, buT I could also grasp the fact that women, or anyome in general, should not be respected because of their gender, there are bad ladies who have changed the course of mankind by their ill deeds and poisoned thinking and ought to be punished just like a man would've been, for doing the same. That's equality.
In the end it just felt a bit like the whole book was kind of an introduction to the upcoming sequel- Pralay-the great deluge'. I think the book could've been better if more happened during the whole story in the modern time rather than just recapitulating the incidents of the past but then again while reading it everything fit perfectly when it came and I really enjoyed it, though the sudden ending could've been improved. The ending is the only reason this book got 4 stars from me instead of a total 5. More Happenings of 2017 going to take place in the next book, and I hope they are just as captivating, and I can't wait fir it.
This book was a complete mixture of suspense, thrill, action, mythology, history and what not and I just loved it! If you love reading mythological thrillers and are looking for an Indian one to be specific then I'd highly recommend it.
This review is a part of the reader cosmos review program.
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New covers of 'An ember in the ashes' series

Recently the new covers of 'An ember in the ashes' came out. I haven't read the books but I felt proud and represented seeing people of my skin color on the covers as hero of a famouse novel, especially after the incidents of Charlottesville.
We need to spread love, kindness and keep up with the name with which we have seperated ourselves from other living beings- Humans, and show humanity rather than spreading hatred on any basis be it skin color, relegion, beliefs, culture, sexuality or any thing which can divide us. No one can live peacefully if the society is divided, nor the attakers or oppressors- trying to think of ways to oppress; and neither the victims- always living in fear. In such a society it is only natural that even people not attacking or being at the receiving end won't be able to live in peace if the world, which should be a family as a whole, is dividing and fighting. There are differences or should I say 'diversity' in every society, in the world, but it is not important for these differences to become divisions!
Never before the incident of Charlottesville had I actually felt the need of representation in books but now I understand why it is important. Books, articles and media as a whole play a great role in shaping people's mindset about the diversities in the world and see them as a blessing, to know so many different cultures, rather than a burden trying to 'pollute' the existence of a single community.
I appreciate this step by Sabaa Tahir and feel loved and cared for that I and people like me also have a stand in this world where even the existence of humanity is in question now. To be honest, these cobers are okayish and better covers could've been made WITH PoC representation but the step us worth appreciation and means a lot.Many people may not like the covers but it is important to people like me and cAn make a difference.
Here are the new covers and I think I know what my next read is going to be:

Tell me your opinions on the new covers? On this step taken by Sabaa Tahir? What do you think of them?