The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons - Book Review

The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons
By Paras
Review By Ila Garg

‘The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons’ by Paras is an anthology of 13 short stories. Each story covers a different aspect—the highs and lows of relations are explicitly described. From the struggles in the life of a prostitute to the dynamics of a mother-son relationship, all are given space in the book.

Mythological Monologues - Book Review

Mythological Monologues
By Purba Chakraborty
Review by Ila Garg

You must have read a lot of mythological stories and seen them presented as television serials as well. This book ‘Mythological Monologues’ by Purba Chakraborty is an attempt to change the narrative. The book has twenty-six monologues by twenty-six such epic characters who remained unheard in the course of mythology. These characters could never express their viewpoint as the stories were panning out.

Vitamin H - Book Review

Vitamin H: Volume 2
By Abhishek Vipul Thakkar
Review By Ila Garg

Have you come across the concept of affirmations and the power of manifestation? This book ‘Vitamin H’ by Abhishek Vipul Thakkar gives the much-needed dose of motivation to all the readers while playing on the concept of daily affirmations that do change lives.

The book has a collection of quotes covering topics like mindful living, life journey, faith, compassion, confidence, acceptance, success, gratitude, happiness and forgiveness. These are presented day-wise for daily stimulation.

The Speaking Stone - Book Review

The Speaking Stone
By Ratnadip Acharya
Review By Ila Garg

‘The Speaking Stone’, a novel by renowned author Ratnadip Acharya is published by Aksora Publications LLP. The cover is quite interesting. It shows some ancient ruins and a couple holding hands, walking in its direction. The dark colours used are apt to represent the book as a thriller.

It will be interesting to note here that the author's earlier book reviewed by me, Paradise Lost & Regained, had the same colour combination. The cover designer, Gokul Ram Singh, remains constant as well.

The book begins with a WARNING, insisting the readers to not flip through the pages beforehand as the pictures inside the book might kill the suspense. It's therefore, advisable to read the book page by page to stay with the plot and let the climax come through.

Treasure Within Dreams - Book Review

Treasure Within Dreams
By Shetall Ramsinghani
Review By Ila Garg

‘Treasure Within Dreams’, a novel by Shetall Ramsinghani is published by Revolt House Publishing. The cover is beautiful and reveals the fact that the readers are going to meet a fortune teller "psychic". It seems like a mystic novel at the first glance.

One Enduring Lesson - Book Review

One Enduring Lesson
By Jamal Merchant
Review By Ila Garg

‘One Enduring Lesson’, a novel by Jamal Merchant is published by Rupa Publications. The cover at once makes it look like a book on positivity or life lessons. With a couple letting go a dupatta in air which forms a heart shape, the novel does hint on being a love story too.

The Talion Tale - Book Review

The Talion Tale
By Rahul Apte
Review By Ila Garg

‘The Talion Tale’, a novel by Rahul Apte, is published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. The cover at once makes it look like a book on terrorism or Jihaad or something on those lines. With a man looking like a terrorist in a gun radar, the book has a very apt cover.

A Life to Die For - Book Review

A Life to Die For
By Nilay Shah
Review By Ila Garg

A Life to Die For, a novel by Nilay Shah, is published by Zorba Books. The cover totally grabbed my attention. The amazing use of shades from red to orange to yellow is amazingly spectacular. Somehow the book seems a thriller; red symbolising death.

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After - Book Review

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After
By Urvashi Pahwa
Review By Ila Garg

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After is a series of short stories by Urvashi Pahwa, published in a kindle format. The cover has a nice gold font for the title and combined with black, it looks really rich and exotic just like love is. There’s a heart shaped pendant reflecting love and of course the sutra—love ties. Overall, the cover has a royal feel to it. It looks impressive to me.

Singapore Under Attack - Book Review

Singapore Under Attack
By Uzi Ellam
Review By Ila Garg

Singapore Under Attack, a novel by Uzi Ellam, is published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. The cover is so apt. The men with guns represent some shooters and can be the attackers. Backdrop shows the city of Singapore. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

Razor-Sharp - Book Review

Razor-Sharp: 13 Short Stories
By Abhinav Kumar
Review By Ila Garg

Razor-Sharp is a collection of 13 short stories by Abhinav Kumar. The author himself has published it as a kindle version. The cover has a very simple feel to it. With the yellow backdrop and just the title and author’s name on it, not much can be inferred about the stories from the cover. But I like how the colour is bright and the cover is minimalist.

You Never Know - Book Review

You Never Know
By Akash Verma
Review By Ila Garg

You Never Know, a novel by Akash Verma, is published by Penguin Random House India. The cover is so apt; you will realise this after reading the book. With a backdrop of red—which is a colour of love, rage, fury, blood and hell. It’s tagline—sometimes love can drag you through hell—says a lot about the plot. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

The Colours of Passion - Book Review

The Colours of Passion
By Sourabh Mukherjee
Review By Ila Garg

The Colours of Passion, a novel by Sourabh Mukherjee, is published by Readomania. The cover totally grabbed my attention. The amazing use of shades from red to orange to yellow is amazingly spectacular. The knife and blood drops further make it a captivating cover. The sub-title—Unveiling Dark Secrets behind the Limelight—further adds to the mysterious outlook of the plot.

The Writer's Bloom - Book Review

The Writer’s Bloom
By Neha Katyal
Review By Ila Garg

The Writer’s Bloom, a novel by Neha Katyal, is published in Kindle edition. The cover is quite a sight. The blend of colours is attractive. The night glittery sky is amazing! I loved the colours and the concept. A writer is blooming from within the flower in a free flow. One of the best covers I have seen lately…

The Quest of the Sparrows - Book Review

The Quest of the Sparrows
By Kartik Sharma and Ravi ‘Nirmal’ Sharma
Review By Ila Garg

The Quest of the Sparrows, a novel by Kartik Sharma and Ravi ‘Nirmal’ Sharma, is published by Rupa Publishers. The cover looks apt with a faceless man and silhouettes of sparrows taking their flight. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me. The subtitle—Explore the joy of freedom—adds to the intrigue.

The Fallen Angels of Karnataka - Book Review

The Fallen Angels of Karnataka
By Hans M Hirschi
Review By Ila Garg

The Fallen Angels of Karnataka, a novel by Hand M Hirschi, is published by Beaten Track Publishing. The cover is quite a sight. One of the best covers I have seen lately… The colour is a soft shade of blue, blending towards grey. It gives the feel of an emboss. Sad part is this book is available only in kindle edition as of now, so I can’t treasure the cover and flaunt it in my book shelf. But I totally loved it.

Harappa - Book Review

Harappa
By Vineet Bajpai
Review By Ila Garg

Harappa, a novel by Vineet Bajpai, is published by VB Performance LLP. The cover is quite a sight. The blend of colours is attractive. The intermixing of day and night on a single cover is amazing! I loved the colours and the concept. One of the best covers I have seen lately… The sub-title—Curse of the Blood River—adds to the thrill element.

Love Has Many Faces - Book Review

Love Has Many Faces
By Lisa Morgan with Naula Giblin
Review By Ila Garg

Love Has Many Faces, a novel by Lisa Morgan, is published by herself. The cover has a subtle shade in the backdrop and shows a woman with her head lying low—maybe she is depressed, tired of struggling, crying, saddened, or a combination of all these emotions. The sub-title—Spectacular True Story of Love, Lies, the Ultimate betrayal and Escape to Freedom—further points out at its autobiographical nature.

The Three Psychos - Book Review

The Three Psychos
By Yash Pawaskar
Review By Ila Garg

The Three Psychos, an anthology of three short stories by Yash Pawaskar, is published by Dimple Publications. The cover is quite simple, with no illustrations, nothing. It’s just black with a red frame. It is a little disappointing; the author could have chosen a better cover—something crazy or maybe illustrations of the three psychos that the stories are about.

Spirit Flows Power Glows - Book Review

Spirit Flows Power Glows
By Keerthi Singhe
Review By Ila Garg

Spirit Flows Power Glows, a novel by Keerthi Singhe, is published by Notion Press. The cover is quite simple, with no illustrations, nothing. It’s just shades of saffron. The sub-title—Success starts in your heart—is so eye-catchy and relatable. So is this a book on success mantra then? Or a self-help sort of guide? Let’s look at the author’s bio and blurb before we venture further.