The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis - [Book Review]

 

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Book Details:

Title: The Stolen Queen

Author: Fiona Davis

Genre: historical fiction

Publisher: Dutton

Print Length: 352 pages

Source: A copy from the local library

Blurb:

*A New York Times Bestseller*

From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. That is until an unbearable tragedy strikes.

New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This is my second book by Fiona Davis. The Magnolia  Palace was great. 

This story is about a stolen antique from the Met Museum in Newyork, Charlotte's research in Egypt, her personal life, and many twists and turns. 

The story is engaging at least till 75% of the book, and of course, thrilling. The amount of research the author has put into this book is really commendable. I loved reading about the tomb extraction process and the excruciating work of the people who work on those digging expeditions. 

I loved the characters of Anne, Billy, Charlotte, and Mark. I was a little disappointed with the ending, though. 

The pace of the story is fine in the first part, but it seems to drag later. The second part became boring. I didn't feel it was realistic that all circumstances coincided perfectly to reveal secrets in Charlotte's life so easily. It surprised me that people like Anne, without real skills or knowledge in archeology, could help Charlotte by just accompanying her and being smart and brave. 

I wish the story had been crisp and shorter, not dragging at the end.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

FIONA DAVIS is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including THE STOLEN QUEEN, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, THE ADDRESS, and THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE, which was a Good Morning America book club pick.

Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and the Oprah magazine.

She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she's based in New York City.

Until next time,

What the Train Left Behind by Kalpesh Desai - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title: What the Train Left Behind 

Author: Kalpesh Desai

Genre: Historical fiction, short stories

Publisher: Kalpesh Desai

Print Length: 120 pages

Source: A review copy from the author

Blurb:

What the Train Left Behind is a literary short story collection set in the long aftermath of the Partition of India and Pakistan.

Rather than returning to the moment of rupture, this book listens to what followed: how ordinary people adjusted to borders drawn after lives had already begun. Across spare, interconnected stories, Kalpesh Desai traces how a single people, divided by lines, continued to live familiar lives, eating the same food, speaking the same language, while slowly drifting apart.

Set in everyday spaces such as homes, offices, ration queues, and courtyards, these stories follow the quiet decisions that shape destinies. A clerk delays a record. A mother teaches a safer sentence. A letter returns unopened. A song is lowered before the verse ends. What changes here is not loud or sudden, but persistent, settling into habit, language, and inheritance.

Written with restraint and moral clarity, What the Train Left Behind offers a deeply human portrait of Partition's legacy across generations.

This book will resonate with readers of literary fiction, diaspora communities, and anyone interested in how historical events continue to shape private lives. It is especially suited for book clubs, intergenerational conversations, and readers drawn to quiet, morally attentive storytelling.

This is not a book about borders being drawn.

It is about how they learned where to live.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This book is a collection of short stories about the impact of the partition of India and Pakistan on people and their emotions. 

The stories are very short and focus on feelings like resistance, hopelessness, and yearning. The partition changed the everyday lives of several people; the stories show subtle differences in their lives and how they cope with it. 

After each story, there are a few blank pages. I thought, those are to process our thoughts and journal them or think about similar scenarios in our lives. 

What is great?

The raw emotions and subtle changes in mood are portrayed well in each story. The stories linger in our minds and hearts for a few days even after completing the book. They touch your heart. There is also good poetry to read. It is a quick read.

What might have been better?

A few stories are excellent, a few are too short, and some are a few lines. A few are poems, whereas the majority are stories. I didn't like this combination. 

I didn't expect just a title with a single line. I didn't like this format. 

My Rating: 4/5

PS: I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Until next time,

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See - [Book Review]

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Author: Lisa See

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Scribner

Print Length: 368 pages

Source: A copy from the library

Blurb:

From “one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot” (The New York Times Book Review) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China—perfect for fans of Lisa See’s classics Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.

According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

First of all, this is a great book to read in the new year. This is my first book of the year. 

I love reading stories of women in ancient times. Nowadays, women get a lot of support from family and friends and we have a lot of opportunities to educate ourselves and do whatever we like. But, situations were not like that in ancient times. It is interesting to read about women of those times and how they achieved greater things with many restrictions from society and family.

The story is about Lady Tan's life from childhood, covering her family, education, marriage life, struggles, etc. This story represents a woman's life in the 15th century in China.

I would rate it 5/5 for many reasons. This story not only represents the everyday struggles of women in those times but also touches upon the solutions they chose and how they overcame the problems with their strength. 

There are a few scenes that touched my heart like:

• When Yunxian mixes her blood in the concoction to heal her friend. 
• Her love for her friend.
• The foot binding process and how hard it is for women.
• How the wives chose to live with their husband's concubines and made peace with themselves.
• How well Grandmother Ru trains Yunxian not only with practical medical skills but with important life skills

As the name suggests, this story is about women lifting each other, supporting each other, and growing together. This message is clear and is very relevant even to the modern woman. 

I would recommend this book to all readers who love women's Fiction and Historical fiction.

My Rating: 5/5

About the Author:

Ms. See was born in Paris but grew up in Los Angeles. She lived with her mother but spent a lot of time with her father’s family in Chinatown. 

Her first book, On Gold Mountain: The One Hundred Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family (1995), was a national bestseller and a New York Times Notable Book. 

The book traces the journey of Lisa’s great-grandfather, Fong See, who overcame obstacles at every step to become the 100-year-old godfather of Los Angeles’s Chinatown and the patriarch of a sprawling family.

Until next time,

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson - [Book review]

 Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: The House of Eve

Author: Sadeqa Johnson

Genre: Historical Fiction, Women Fiction

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Print Length: 384 pages

Source: A copy from local library

Blurb:

From the award-winning author of Yellow Wife, a daring and redemptive novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

The story is about 2 negro women Eleanor and Ruby who are smart, ambitious and want to get educated and settle well in life. The lives of women were not easy those days with no support or guidance from anyone in the family or friends. Both get pregnant before marriage and their lives change forever due to this.

This story is heart wrenching to me. Especially the episodes about the Christian home for unwed pregnant girls. It is depressing to read about how they are shamed in the name of God and how they are treated cruelly.

The narrative is engaging. The story is well researched and characters are portrayed in realistic way. Would love to read more from the same author. The ending is satisfying. The characters of Eleanor , Ruby, Aunt Marie, Rose, William and Shimmy are impressive.

My Rating: 5/5

Until next time,

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis - [Book Review]

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: The Magnolia Palace

Author: Fiona Davis

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Publisher: Dutton

Print length: 368 pages

Blurb:

Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, returns with a tantalizing novel about the secrets, betrayal, and murder within one of New York City’s most impressive Gilded Age mansions.

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter’s life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists’ models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City’s most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica’s financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

Loved the story. From author's note, I see that the story is not complete fiction.


All the art references and Frick family collection are real. The characters make this story wonderful.


It's interesting to see how Fricks family navigates through tough times and how each family member responds to the grief.


Lillian obviously is one amazing character. She adjusts to the roles and adapts quickly. She always does what's right. It's good that it ends well for her.


The book cover and title are apt.


I hated Helen's character at many points but she does good for all at the end. I would love to know about RJD and why he has to turn against Lillian.

My Rating: 5/5

About the Author:

Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Spectacular, The Magnolia Palace, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and O the Oprah magazine.

She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she's based in New York City.

Until next time,

The Unbroken Horizon by Jenny Brav - [Book Review]

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Book Details: 

Title: The Unbroken Horizon

Author: Jenny Brav

Genre: women's fiction, historical fiction 

Source : A free advanced review copy from the author

Print length: 422 pages

Publisher: Atmosphere press

Blurb:

What if the key to your wholeness lay in your wounding?

2011: Sarah Baum is a white humanitarian nurse who's worked in conflict zones for years. When recurrent nightmares of being a scared Black girl hiding in the forest cause her to make a near-fatal mistake, she's faced with her biggest challenge yet: how to heal from her past. And who is the girl in her dreams?

1914: Fourteen-year-old Maggie Burke flees the land where her family works as sharecroppers after witnessing the lynching of her brother and father. She eventually finds her way to New York and later Washington, DC, where her personal demons finally catch up with her. Will she have to give up everything she thought she wanted to follow the wild, poetic voice wishing to emerge through her?

Alternating between Sarah's deep dive into her childhood and ancestral wounds, and Maggie's journey from survival to forging her own path, The Unbroken Horizon explores the ways humans survive, heal, and even thrive in the face of individual and collective trauma.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Try Kindle Unlimited to access millions of books. 

My Review:

There are 2 parallel stories that run in the book - Maggie and Sarah's lives. These two women are from different timelines , and backgrounds. I usually love these kind of stories with strong women characters in different timelines. This blurb seemed interesting for me to pick this book.

I love how the author portrayed both the characters and their inner troubles. I liked reading about different concepts discussed in Sarah's counseling sessions with Patrick. I really enjoyed reading about how a therapist can guide people to positive thoughts and make their life better.

Maggie's life is full of problems and a lot of hurdles in each step. I really liked how she overcame her problems , gained knowledge, education and became a popular author. I love the poems mentioned in the book.

What would have been better?

The narrative might have been better. The author couldn't hold my focus till the end of the book. It became boring at some point. This might be due to the fact that I get bored with non-fiction. This book is not completely fiction, it portrays the times when racial discrimination was at its peak in US. This is not a fictional story with twists.
The switching between the 2 stories is little tough for me to follow. I felt like the story is going on a very slow pace.

My Review: 3/5

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

About the Author:

Jenny Brav was born and raised in Paris, France, to American parents who instilled in her a love of words, a sensitivity to the human condition, and a passion for travel. She did humanitarian work in Asia and the Middle East before settling in Oakland, California, where she practices holistic healing. 

In her spare time, she writes poetry, dabbles in vegan cooking, chases waterfalls, and caters to her calico cat’s whims. 

The Unbroken Horizon is her first novel. It brings together the themes that are close to her heart, especially how we find wholeness within our wounding.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak - [Book Review]

 Book Details:

Title : The Forty Rules of Love

Author : Elif Shafak

Genre : Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Publisher : Penguin

Print Length : 370 pages

Blurb:

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

* One of the BBC's '100 Novels that Shaped the World'*

"Every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven't loved enough . . ."

Ella Rubinstein has a husband, three teenage children, and a pleasant home. Everything that should make her confident and fulfilled. Yet there is an emptiness at the heart of Ella's life - an emptiness once filled by love.

So when Ella reads a manuscript about the thirteenth-century Sufi poet Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, and his forty rules of life and love, her world is turned upside down. She embarks on a journey to meet the mysterious author of this work.

It is a quest infused with Sufi mysticism and verse, taking Ella and us into an exotic world where faith and love are heartbreakingly explored. . .

'Enlightening, enthralling. An affecting paean to faith and love' Metro

'Colourfully woven and beguilingly intelligent' Daily Telegraph

'The past and present fit together beautifully in a passionate defence of passion itself' The Times

My Review:

First of all thanks to the fellow book review bloggers and bookstagrammers who suggested this book. Else I would have missed a gem in my life.

The forty rules of love is about the life of Shams, a sufi, his relationship with God, his friendship with scholar Rumi, his compassion and love. We get introduced to Shams by a novel written by Aziz. Ella is given this book by their publishing office to read, review and write a report on the book. It is interesting how the lives of Aziz and Ella are influenced by Shams in the novel.

The story flows smoothly covering 3 lives in parallel- Shams, Aziz, and Ella's. The narrative is very interesting. The whole book is full of beautiful quotes in the form of forty rules of love. I have never used the kindle highlight feature as much I used for this book.

This book in some way might change you, beware! We learn The principles of Sufism, the importance of selfless love, the feeling of oneness with God and other human beings, and a lot more.

I seriously think I cannot rate this book. Is there any option to rate more than 5 out of 5?

I suggest this book to readers who would like to understand the deeper meaning of life without getting bored by religious lectures. 

About the Author:

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published 18 books, 11 of which are novels. Her work has been translated into 54 languages. Her latest novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize; and chosen Blackwell's Book of the Year. Her previous novel, The Forty Rules of Love was chosen by BBC among 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow.

Shafak is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations). An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice TED Global speaker, each time receiving a standing ovation. Shafak contributes to major publications around the world and she was awarded the medal of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people "who will give you a much needed lift of the heart". Shafak has judged numerous literary prizes, and chaired the Wellcome Prize and is presently judging the PEN Nabokov Prize.
www.elifshafak.com
Twitter @Elif_Safak
Instagram @shafakelif

Until next time,

Train to Pakistan by Kushwant Singh - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title:  Train to Pakistan

Author: Kushwant Singh

Genre: Historical fiction, History

Publisher: Normanby Press

Print Length: 236 pages

Blurb:

“In the summer of 1947, when the creation of the state of Pakistan was formally announced, ten million people—Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs—were in flight. By the time the monsoon broke, almost a million of them were dead, and all of northern India was in arms, in terror, or in hiding. The only remaining oases of peace were a scatter of little villages lost in the remote reaches of the frontier. One of these villages was Mano Majra.”

It is a place, Khushwant Singh goes on to tell us at the beginning of this classic novel, where Sikhs and Muslims have lived together in peace for hundreds of years. Then one day, at the end of the summer, the “ghost train” arrives, a silent, incredible funeral train loaded with the bodies of thousands of refugees, bringing the village its first taste of the horrors of the civil war. Train to Pakistan is the story of this isolated village that is plunged into the abyss of religious hate. It is also the story of a Sikh boy and a Muslim girl whose love endured and transcends the ravages of war.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

Train to Pakistan depicts the partition days of India and Pakistan. It clearly covers that period,  the people, and the circumstances in rural Punjab.

I felt the story or depiction is raw without polishing or covering up the real circumstances and emotions during partition.  The writing style is easy to follow, but I find many Indianized English words (if I may say so) whose meanings we cannot find in Dictionary.

I love the way how the author depicts the normal life of rural people. The harmony between different religions, people respecting each other in villages, and their moral values are worth an appreciation. The book also brings in the reality of that period,  killings without logic, etc. The mass killings across the border and cruelty brought tears while reading the book.

The climax is unique and very satisfying. We see people like Iqbal and Hukum Chand in real life, who preach morals but don't dare to follow them completely. We also see people like Juggut Singh who shine bright against circumstances and sacrifice their lives for good when society least expects good from them. 

By the end of the book, I realized why this book is a classic. A classic is not only a great literary work but also which mirrors society,  people, culture, and complex human emotions.

My Rating: 5/5

About the Author:

Khushwant Singh,  born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.

An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.

Until next time,

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The Crown - Ponni's Beloved Volume 4: An English Translation by Sumeetha Manikandan - [Book Review]

“Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take action after clicking one of these”

Read Book Reviews of Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. 

Book Details:

Title : The Crown - Ponni's Beloved Volume 4: An English Translation by Sumeetha Manikandan

Author: English Translation by Sumeetha Manikandan, Tamil original version by Kaliki Krishnamurthy

Genre : Historical Fiction

Print Length : 314 pages

Blurb:

Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan is a masterpiece that has enthralled generations of Tamil readers. Many authors have written phenomenal books in Tamil literature after Kalki Krishnamurthy, but Ponniyin Selvan remains the most popular, widely-read novel. It has just the right mixture of all things that makes an epic – political intrigue, conspiracy, betrayal, huge dollops of romance, infidelity, seduction, passion, alluring women, unrequited love, sacrifice, and pure love.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

All Volumes : Amazon

My Review:

Part 4 of Ponni's beloved is fast-paced. More story is covered in this part and readers get to know the inner intentions of characters. Characterization is always a plus in all the parts of the story. 

I like that we get to see more of the deaf and mute woman and learn details about her past. It's good to read more about Crown Prince Aditya and the enchantress Nandini. The story has enough twists and interesting turns. I liked part 1 and Part 4 than other parts. I am eagerly waiting to read the next part and the climax. 

In a few places, I can find some typos. Editing might have taken care of those. 

My Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author:

Sumeetha Manikandan, a freelance content writer is an English literature graduate with a journalism and mass communication diploma. She lives in Chennai with her husband and daughter. After a decade long career in dotcom industry, she started working as a freelance writer from home. She wrote her debut novel, 'The Perfect Groom' as a script for a serial, which she converted into a novella for Indireads.

The Sword - Ponni's Beloved Volume 3: An English Translation by Sumeetha Manikandan - [Book Review]

“Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take action after clicking one of these”

Read Book Reviews of Part 1 and Part 2. 

Book Details :

Title: The Sword - Ponni's Beloved Volume 3

An English Translation of Kalki Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan

Author of Original Novel in Tamil: Kaliki Krishnamurthy

English Translation: Sumeetha Manikandan

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Print Length: 387 pages

Source : A Kindle copy

Blurb:

Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Ponniyin Selvan is a masterpiece that has enthralled generations of Tamil readers. 

Many authors have written phenomenal books in Tamil literature after Kalki Krishnamurthy, but Ponniyin Selvan remains the most popular, widely-read novel. It has just the right mixture of all things that makes an epic – political intrigue, conspiracy, betrayal, huge dollops of romance, infidelity, seduction, passion, alluring women, unrequited love, sacrifice, and pure love.

Purchase Link:

All Volumes : Amazon

My Review :

Volume 3 has less story covered when compared to 1 and 2. The story threw more light on some characters like The Prime minister, Prince Madhuranthakan, and Samudra Kumari (it's so tough to write the name of her character :p).

The respect towards the Prime minister character grew a lot after understanding the tactics people have to use in high positions in a kingdom. Even though Vandiya Devan has good intentions,  he always gets caught in some or the other trouble and gets rescued by Vaishnavan. So, I was doubting his capabilities while reading.

It's good to read about Kundavai pouring her feelings out to Vandiya Devan before sending him to Kanchi. This part also delved deep into Vanathi's character. The transformation from a faint-hearted girl to a brave lady is amazing.

The flashback of Madhuranthakan's mother, the plan revealed by Nandini to Ravidas, and, the meeting of Kundavai and Ponniyan Selvan are the highlights of this part.

The pace of the story is fine but thought this part has less story and more conversations. The English translation as usual maintained the nativity of the story. There are a few minor grammar mistakes and typos though which might have been avoided.

My Rating: 4.5/ 5

About the Author:

Sumeetha Manikandan is a freelance writer and an author who loves to write and base her plots on the tambrahm community of Mylapore, Chennai. She is the author of ‘The Perfect Groom’ that has been a bestselling ebook on the top 50 charts of Amazon India ever since publication.


An avid reader, she loves to read across different genres – romance, historical fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, etc. A history buff to the core,
she is currently translating Ponniyin Selvan – the evergreen Tamil classic epic history by Kalki Krishnamurthy into English.

Married to filmmaker K.S. Manikandan, Sumeetha lives in Chennai, along with her six-year-old daughter.
Until next time,

Gild the Weeping Lily by Manjula Variyam - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title : Gild the Weeping Lily
Author : Manjula Variyam
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Print Length : 227 pages
Source: A free e-review copy from the author

Blurb:

She has been known by many names: Tatkhipa, Tadukhipa, Tadu-Hepa, Kiya. She was a princess of the kingdom of Mitanni, who lived and died more than three thousand years ago. She was the royal consort of Akhenaten, the ‘heretic pharaoh’ of Egypt, who ruled alongside Nefertiti. Her life is shrouded in mystery. It is irrefutable that she existed; yet, although she was the consort of a pharaoh, and was honored very highly, she disappeared from Egypt sometime during the last year of Akhenaten’s reign. 

Her name and images were erased from monuments and replaced by those of Nefertiti’s daughters. Her life and her disappearance have remained elusively mysterious. During her lifetime, relations between Egypt and Mitanni deteriorated.

 After her disappearance, both kingdoms were embroiled in turmoil at the highest levels. Could she have been the cause? Could a woman have changed the course of the history of one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations?

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review :

I love reading historical fiction, but I rarely get to read good books in this genre. I love to know about strong women in ancient times, their problems and how they could solve the issues in those times. 

This story covers the life of the Mittani princess Tatkhipa from her teenage years to her old age. The story also gives us a glimpse of Mittani culture, land, Egyptian traditions, customs, people, beliefs, etc., It is clear that the author has done a lot of research on this subject and she provides very detailed information on Mittani and Egyptian traditions.

The story is narrated well and captures the emotions and turmoil in Tatkhipa's mind at every stage of her life. I loved the romance and companionship of the Egyptian King and Tatkhipa. Even though fate plays harsh on Tatkhipa's life, at last, she overcomes her fears and takes an important action for her life in the climax. I loved the climax.

I enjoyed the characterization as well. I loved reading the part when Tatkhipa is young and faces the problems with confidence by starting a jewelry business. I would have loved to read more about Queen Tiye. I was disappointed that there is not much conversation or communication between Tatkhipa and Tiye. 

Initially, it was difficult for me to get used to the names mentioned in the story, but it became easy after 3rd chapter or so. The narration and pace are good overall, but at a few places, it seemed confusing on whom the narrator is referring to. 

The book cover is appropriate and the title of the book makes sense when we read the story. 

I would recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction. It is a plus if you are interested in learning more about ancient cultures and people.

My Rating: 4.5/5

PS: I have received a free e-review copy from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

About the Author:

Manjula Variyam lives in Plano, Texas with her family. Her books span many genres: historical fiction, general fiction, children's books, YA fiction, and fantasy. You can contact her at manjula(at)variyam.com.

Until next time,