The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner - [Book Review]

    

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Book Details:

Title: The Amalfi Curse

Author: Sarah Penner

Genre: Romantic fantasy, Science fiction

Publisher: Park Row

Print Length: 336 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb:

“This intoxicating story blends old-world magic and modern-day mystery with a delicious dash of amore.” —People

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This novel is set in the beautiful coastal town of Positano, and the story unfolds across two different time periods, cleverly running in parallel while connecting the past and present of the same region.

In the present timeline, we follow Haven, a nautical archaeologist who arrives in Positano to uncover a mysterious treasure discovered by her father during his final dive. While there, she meets Enzo, the charming local dive shop owner, and sparks fly almost instantly. As Haven digs deeper—both literally and figuratively—she stumbles upon intriguing legends surrounding an ancient Amalfi curse and the Streghe people who once lived along the coast.

The second storyline takes us back in time to Marie, a Streghe woman living in Positano, gifted with the extraordinary ability to control ocean currents. Her story adds a mystical layer to the novel and beautifully complements Haven’s journey.

What I Loved

I wouldn’t categorise this as a thriller, but it definitely kept me hooked right until the final page. The way the author weaves together the lives of two women—Haven and Marie—across different eras is done very thoughtfully and keeps the narrative engaging.

The romance in the book is another highlight. There are several touching moments, especially the emotional conversations between Holmes and Marie, which really stood out to me. The character development feels authentic—Haven comes across as real and relatable rather than overly fictional, and Enzo is simply lovable.

I also enjoyed the myths, legends, and beliefs tied to the Amalfi Coast. The folklore adds depth and atmosphere to the story and makes the setting feel alive.

That said, I did expect a bit more from the climax. The ending felt somewhat abrupt, leaving me slightly disappointed after such a well-built journey.

Overall

A fascinating and immersive read with a strong central theme, rich storytelling, and a beautiful setting. Despite the rushed ending, it’s an engaging novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

My Rating: 5/5

Until next time,

Kaikeyi - A Novel by Vaishnavi Patel - Book Review

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Book Details:

Title: Kaikeyi: A Novel

Author: Vaishnavi Patel

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Mythological Fiction

Publisher: Redhook

Print length: 496 pages

Blurb:

“I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.”

So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the worthy. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, and listens as her own worth is reduced to the marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.

Desperate for independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With it, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen.

But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

The unforgettable tale of a woman determined to leave her mark in a world gods and men dictate the shape of things to come. "Patel's mesmerizing debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from the Ramayana"
(Publishers Weekly, starred review).

My Review:

Kaikeyi is a novel about the character 'Kaikeyi' in Ramayana. Kaikeyi is the third wife of King Dhasaradh, ruler of the Kosala kingdom and the mother of Bharatha. This story is not the representation of Valmiki Ramayana which is popular and widely known by most in India. 

This novel is a fiction/ fantasy and an imaginative interpretation of the author. The story is based on her research of the other versions of the Ramayana.

Being an Indian and having deep respect and belief in the epic Ramayana, it becomes tough for me to read this book. It's disappointing to read the character of Rama in a negative shade. 

Authors can take liberty with their imagination and show us more context and details regarding a certain action of the character but they shouldn't tweak the epics favoring a negative character for a good story. 

This book does exactly the same. It shows Ravana as a good person with good intentions which I cannot imagine. This seems like retelling Ramayana in a completely different way which hurts the readers' feelings. This also talks about Rama as a mortal human with follies. Mind you, I am not talking about minor follies but jealousy, anger, abuse, and so on.

I wanted to stop reading this book many times in the middle but I only completed it as it's not right to opine on the book without reading it fully.

I gave a rating of 3 due to the above tweaking of the Epic in a way hurting readers' sentiments but when it comes to the writing, I will rate it 4/5. It is a really good book with a great narrative. It is interesting to read Ramayana from a woman character's perspective. The book cover is really amazing. The design is eye-catching. Being a debut novel from the author, she proved she is one of the good writers and has a long way to go.

On a final note, if you know Ramayana already, you might not like this book and even you might feel bad completing reading it. If you don't know Ramayana, you might like it as a good mythological fiction.

Purchase Link:

My Rating :

3/5

About the Author:

Vaishnavi Patel is a law student focusing on constitutional law and civil rights. She likes to write at the intersection of Indian myth, feminism, and anti-colonialism. Vaishnavi grew up in and around Chicago and, in her spare time, enjoys activities that are almost stereotypically Midwestern: knitting, ice-skating, drinking hot chocolate, and making hotdish. Kaikeyi is her debut novel.

Until next time,

Halloween Book Blast

WELCOME TO THE HALLOWEEN BOOK BLAST! 

Click on any of the below book covers to be taken to the page that has more information on the novel as well as the Buy Links!

Before you leave, don't forget to enter the Giveaway!

Young Adult Fantasy - $2.99 + KU

Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Paranormal - $2.99

Supernatural Mystery / Suspense - $4.99/$2.99 + KU

Paranormal Mystery - $1.99

Dark Fantasy - $4.95

Fantasy - $0.99 Pre-Order

Romantic Suspense Horror - $4.99

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Hallowed Ground: The Mystery of the African Fairy Circles by Paul Twivy - [Book Review]

This magical story is inspired by the most haunting and least explored country in the world - Namibia - with its foggy Skeleton Coast, buried goldmines, shocking secrets and awe-inspiring sand dunes.

Spread across the face of its deserts are hundreds of miles of ‘fairy circles’ : vast enough to be seen from space.  They grow and die with the same lifespan as humans, yet no-one has been able to explain why or how they appear.

Then one day, three teenagers and their families arrive from different parts of the globe. Helped by bushmen, the buried possessions of a Victorian explorer, and a golden leopard, they solve the mystery of the African Circles. What will be discovered beneath the hallowed ground? And how will it change the future of the planet above it?

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hallowed-Ground-mystery-African-Circles-ebook/dp/B07YDY9LF2/

Com - https://www.amazon.com/Hallowed-Ground-mystery-African-Circles-ebook/dp/B07YDY9LF2/

My Review :

4 teenagers from different countries and places meet at Augustineum, a boarding school in Namibia and become friends. Fred, Joe, Hannah and Selima are curious, intelligent and brave. They are curious to know about the Fairy circles in South Africa, which are expanded hundreds of miles and are vast enough to be seen from space. 

As part of the school science project, they dig deep into the matter and fortunately their parents' backgrounds help them in the discovery. 

The story is a fiction, but it is written so well that we feel every thing mentioned in the book is true and relevant to today's world. I like how the author has maintained the suspense till the end by simultaneously giving a message about the environment sustainability and the connection of humans to the nature. 

The plot is a big plus. This book also gives us a brief about the African culture, the place, weather, their food habits, their problems etc., I am impressed to read about the places in Namibia like the largest sand dunes, the crates, the caves with drawings etc., The book mentions research facts about fairy circles, the previous findings from scientists which made me read more on this topic. 

The title of the book is apt and the book cover is amazing. I have really enjoyed reading this fiction. The author's writing style is impeccable.The pace of the book is perfect.

My Rating : 5/5

PS: I have received this book from Rachel's Random resources for free in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Author Bio –

Paul Twivy studied English at Oxford University and became one of the most famous British admen. He has written comedy and drama for the stage and radio.  He edited the bestseller Change the World for a Fiver. He is married with five children. He was inspired to write Hallowed Ground by his first-hand experiences of the extraordinary landscapes and culture of Namibia.

www.thefairycircles.com 

https://hallowedground.co.uk

https://twitter.com/paultwivy

Until next time,

Shiva Stone: Hampi's Hidden Treasure by AJinkya Bhoite - [Book Review]

check out the schedule here



Shiva Stone: Hampi's Hidden Treasure


by


AJINKYA BHOITE









BLURB

Mithila is a senior archeologist on the Hampi site along with two other UNESCO scientists. They decide to open some secret vaults in the underground Shiva temple. Treasures and artifacts from the 18th century make the headlines but the Shiva Stone was kept a closely guarded secret.

When a RAW officer hires Mithila on a secret mission to safely transport an ISRO professor and the Shiva Stone to Bangalore, she knows something is up.

Why is the stone called the Shiva Stone? Why are archeologists, UNESCO, ISRO, and RAW interested in a discovery at Hampi? Why is Mithila working for RAW? Is she the only agent on the mission?

Shiva Stone will take you on a thrilling adventure through the historical site of Hampi. Buy it now!

Grab your copy @

Amazon.com | Amazon.in



My Review:

The Story is about a team trying to find out more details about the Shiva stone found in Hampi archeological site which is made of specific metal which is of global interest. Mithila, a senior archeologist is teamed with 2 ISRO professors for this mission but they find out that the stone is not what they expected it to be and there is a malicious strategy behind this mission.

The blurb definitely seemed interesting and so, I had more expectations on this book. The initial part knowing about Hampi, the Shiva stone, the architecture of Hampi temple, etc., is very good. But, gradually when the story veered away from Hampi episode, I lost my interest.

I usually don't like reading books which are part of a series. This book ends very abruptly. I can understand that the author is planning the next part but the ending might have been better to have a smooth transition to the next part and also give a feeling of satisfaction.

The characterization is good, especially the professor and Mithila. The book cover is great and apt.

The narration is good but in some places, the story seems to miss the flow. It is confusing as the story is said in the perspective of different characters changing in every chapter. If the story is narrated from a single person's perspective, it might have been better. The pace of the book is good, not very fast/ slow. There are still some links missing/ logic to be explained, but I think, these will be covered in the next series.

I loved the book cover but I think, the title is slightly misleading.

My Rating : 3/5

PS: I have received this book from the book club in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author




I am an Electronics and Telecommunication Engineer with an inclination towards reading and writing. Besides, being Engineer, I enjoy running.

My first novel is Shiva Stone which is self-published on Kindle.

I was born in a small town called Wai, near Panchgani, Maharashtra. Moved to Satara for High School.

Under-graduation from Pune University and Masters from California State University, Long Beach.

Currently, working as a Cloud Support Engineer for Amazon Web Services.

You can stalk him @




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The Book of Hidden Things by Francesco Dimitri - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title : The Book of Hidden Things

Author : Francesco Dimitri

Genre : Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy thriller, Crime thriller

Length of the book : 385 pages

Publisher : Titan Books

Source: A library book

Blurb :

From "one of the most significant figures of the last generation of fantasy", comes Francesco Dimitri's debut novel in English, an enthralling and seductive fantasy following four old friends and the secrets they keep.

Four old school friends have a pact: to meet up every year in the small town in Puglia they grew up in. Art, the charismatic leader of the group and creator of the pact, insists that the agreement must remain unshakable and enduring. But this year, he never shows up.

A visit to his house increases the friends' worry; Art is farming marijuana. In Southern Italy doing that kind of thing can be very dangerous. They can't go to the Carabinieri so must make enquiries of their own. This is how they come across the rumours about Art; bizarre and unbelievable rumours that he miraculously cured the local mafia boss's daughter of terminal leukaemia. And among the chaos of his house, they find a document written by Art, The Book of Hidden Things, that promises to reveal dark secrets and wonders beyond anything previously known.

Francesco Dimitri's first novel written in English, following his career as one of the most significant fantasy writers in Italy, will entrance fans of Elena Ferrante, Neil Gaiman and Donna Tartt. Set in the beguiling and seductive landscape of Southern Italy, this story is about friendship and landscape, love and betrayal; above all it is about nature of mystery itself.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

 It is not very often that I get a chance to pick up an interesting book from the library and finish it. I get a lot of review copies but I don't usually get time to read the books that I pick. I am glad that I chose this book and I really loved reading this.

'The Book of Hidden Things' is a fantasy story of 4 friends Tony, Fabio, Art, and Mauro. These friends from a small town Casalfranca in Italy, make a pact to meet every year. When Art doesn't show up this year, Tony, Fabio, and Mauro decide to check what happened to him. 

While they search for him, they learn mysterious information about Art, his life, his research, and things become more complicated and confusing. When Mauro gets fired by Art's ex-girlfriend, they all step back thinking about the risk they are taking to find Art. At last, Art shows up, reveals information about his research and forces them to trust him and take an important decision with their lives.

There are no words to explain how good this book is! The narration is very gripping and the mystery lingers till the end of the book and even after finishing the book. Characterization is simply superb. While Art is a unique character, Tony is a wonderful mate, Mauro, a responsible husband and friend who is guilty of leaving behind his favorite hobby of playing guitar and Fabio is a person with his insecurities and money problems. 

I could get a glimpse of Southern Italy, the weather, the scenery, and the cuisine as well through this book. The book cover and the name are apt. 

If you love mystery and fantasy, you will like this book. But, fantasy and mystery feel very real. 

My Rating: 5/5

About the Author:

Francesco Dimitri is an Italian magic realist author living in London, a business story-teller, and a lifetime searcher for wonder. He has written in many different forms (nonfiction, fiction, comics, cinema, digital media, essays, magazines) and worked for top business clients. In his quest for wonder he has shot documentaries about UFO cults, slept deep into the forests of Transylvania, conversed with mathematicians, artists, chefs, psychologists, stage magicians, and strangers in crowds.

Until next time,

The Hidden Children by Reshma K Barshikar - Cover Reveal

~ Cover Reveal ~

The Hidden Children (The Lost Grimoire #1)

by Reshma K.Barshikar

‘What price would you pay to be extraordinary? What would you do to speak to a butterfly? 

Shayamukthy cruises through life: shooting hoops, daydreaming and listening to her favourite books. Even moving from the US to India, to a new school, a new culture, hasn't really rattled her. But something isn't right anymore and it begins when 'New Girl' joins the school. 


She pulls Shui into a world of magic and wonderment, a world she has been hidden from all her life. What starts as a quest to look for a lost book, hurtles Shui into a world where people live in trees, talk to the dead and speak to butterflies. 


But like all power, magic comes at a steep price, and under all things wondrous lie demons waiting to crawl out. The more Shui learns, the more she doubts everything and everyone around her.   


Will she be able to master her powers, or will they devour her and everyone she loves? 

Releasing on 10th November

About the Author:

Travel writer and novelist Reshma K Barshikar is
an erstwhile Investment Banker who, as she tells it, ‘fell down a rabbit hole
and discovered a world outside a fluorescent cubicle.’ As a travel and features
writer, she contributes to National Geographic Traveller, Harper’s Bazaar,
Grazia, The Sunday Guardian, SilverKris, The Mint Lounge and The Hindu. Fade
Into Red, published by Random House India was her debut novel and featured in
Amazon Top 10 Bestsellers. She also holds well renowned workshops for young
adults at both BDL Museum and Kala Ghoda and is keen to build a strong Young
Adult reading and writing community to fill the desperate lack of young adult fiction
in the Indian Market. Her new Young Adult novel, The Hidden Children, will be
launching at the Vizag Junior Literary Festival. Reshma is from the ISB Class
of 2003. She calls both Mumbai and the Nilgiris home. 

Contact the Author:

Website I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads

Until next time,

The Unity Game by Leonora Meriel - Book Spot Light

About the Book:

WHAT IF THE EARTH YOU KNEW WAS JUST THE BEGINNING?

A New York banker is descending into madness. 


A being from an advanced civilization is racing to stay alive. 


A dead man must unlock the secrets of an unknown dimension to save his loved ones. 


From the visions of Socrates in ancient Athens, to the birth of free will aboard a spaceship headed to Earth, The Unity Game tells a story of hope and redemption in a universe more ingenious and surprising than you ever thought possible. 


Metaphysical thriller and interstellar mystery, this is a 'complex, ambitious and thought-provoking novel' from an exciting and original new voice in fiction.


Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon

Meet the Characters:

The Setting: Earth



New York City. The 1990s. One of the world’s leading investment banks.


The Setting: Space


A distant planet. A dry surface orbited by three red moons and circling a distant sun. An advanced civilization living in underground chambers.


The Setting: Death


An open door. A library. A room of knowledge. A garden of dazzling color. The answers to every question that has ever been asked on Earth.



Meet David


A brilliant scientist and wildly ambitious, David abandoned an academic path to follow the glow of Wall Street money. From a small town in Canada, he is now determined to make the riches he has given up his scientific talents for. He is always on edge, he must prove he is better than the other bankers, he has to win the best deals. However, he is easy pickings for the multi-million dollar bosses who see how they can use a greedy, naïve young man for their own purposes. David falls further into risk, mistakes and desperation, clutching at anything around him as his dreams and world falls apart.



Meet Noe-bouk


Dry dust. Three red moons. A member of one of the most advanced civilizations in the universe, taught to believe that all the answers come naturally from the incontrovertible logic of the greatest good. Now, facing death, Noe-bouk decides to find out if there is something more than what he has been taught. Accepting a place on a space ship, the further he gets from the moons of Home Planet the more he understands that he knows nothing at all…



Meet Alisdair


A respected lawyer. An adoring grandfather. Alisdair collapses outside his law offices in London and finds himself standing beside his unmoving corpse. He feels wonderful! He spots some wide open doors and bounds through them to discover a library, a garden, and his dead wife. All his life he has burned with the questions of the universe: what is the purpose of existence? What is good and evil? How far does the infinite stretch? With an afterworld guide and his wife at his side, his only limits now are to come up with new questions as all of his horizons expand beyond imagination…


Meet Elspeth


Beautiful, young, angry. Apart from her beloved grandfather Alisdair, Elspeth has been let down by everyone in her life. She’s rejected her parents and their easy choices, she sees no meaning in the structures of society. She has always felt lost, and now the death of her grandfather is forcing her to make choices. With some money he has left her, she decides to follow a feeling and go on an adventure.


Meet Socrates


Legendary philosopher, pion of bravery and morality, a figure so strong his ideas and presence pervade the centuries and the dimensions of time and space. Who else would Alisdair call upon in the afterworld to help his granddaughter Elspeth, than the man he has revered his entire life, and whose teachings guided him? Yes, Elspeth can be helped, but she must be brought together with another soul – one who has truly lost their path.

Reviews for The Unity Game

 “A complex, ambitious and thought-provoking novel.” ~ Kirkus Reviews


“Elegantly written, expertly crafted and a moving message. I found this book very hard to put down. Moving and poignant.” ~ Lilly, Amazon US reviewer



“An engrossing, unique, and totally bizarre tale! I could not stop reading it once I started. Such a beautiful take on the afterlife, and its connection to those still living. A unity game, indeed!”~ Brenna, Goodreads reviewer

About the Author:

Leonora Meriel grew up in London and studied literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Queen’s University in Canada. She worked at the United Nations in New York, and then for a multinational law firm.

In 2003 she moved from New York to Kyiv, where she founded and managed Ukraine’s largest Internet company. She studied at Kyiv Mohyla Business School and earned an MBA, which included a study trip around China and Taiwan, and climbing to the top of Hoverla, Ukraine’s highest peak and part of the Carpathian Mountains. She also served as President of the International Women’s Club of Kyiv, a major local charity.

During her years in Ukraine, she learned to speak Ukrainian and Russian, witnessed two revolutions and got to know an extraordinary country at a key period of its development.

In 2008, she decided to return to her dream of being a writer, and to dedicate her career to literature. In 2011, she completed The Woman Behind the Waterfall, set in a village in western Ukraine. While her first novel was with a London agent, Leonora completed her second novel The Unity Game, set in New York City and on a distant planet.

Leonora currently lives in Barcelona and London and has two children. She is working on her third novel.

Contact the Author:

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Until next time,

Daughter of the Sun by Zoe Kalo - A free copy available - Book Spot Light

Daughter of the Sun

~ Cult of the Cat Series Book 1 ~

About the Book:

Title: Daughter of the Sun

Series: Cult of the Cat Series, Book 1

Author: Zoe Kalo

Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy / Paranormal

Word Count: 93,000 words

No. of Pages: 330

Mystery, adventure, a hint of romance, and the delicious sweep of magic...

Sixteen-year-old Trinity was born during a solar eclipse and left at the doorsteps of a convent along with a torn piece of papyrus covered with ancient symbols. Raised by nuns in the English countryside, she leads a quiet life until she’s whisked away to the Island of Cats and a grandmother she never knew. 

But before they can get to know each other, her grandmother dies. All that Trinity has left is a mysterious eye-shaped ring. And a thousand grieving cats. As Trinity tries to solve the enigma of the torn papyrus, she discovers a world of bloody sacrifices and evil curses, and a prophecy that points to her and her new feline abilities. 

Unwilling to believe that any of the Egyptian gods could still be alive, Trinity turns to eighteen-year-old Seth and is instantly pulled into a vortex of sensations that forces her to confront her true self—and a horrifying destiny.

Get Your Copy of this Book. Available for FREE for a LIMITED TIME ONLY! 

About the Author:

Storyteller at heart...


A certified bookworm and ailurophile, Zoe Kalo has always been obsessed with books and reading. The pleasure of writing and sharing her fantasy worlds has remained. Today, Zoe passes her stories to you with lots of mystery, adventure, a hint of romance, and the delicious sweep of magic.



Currently, she balances writing with spending time with her family, taking care of her clowder of cats, and searching for the perfect bottle of pinot noir.



Contact the Author:

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Until next time,