Book Review: The Wrath of the Hellfires by Shatrujeet Nath

Title: The Wrath of the Hellfires

Author: Shatrujeet Nath

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

An impressive series closer! There, I’ve just summarised Shatrujeet Nath’s “The Wrath of the Hellfires” in a nutshell. But this one-liner will not do justice to such an elaborate and fascinating saga and that’s why let’s delve into the full review that this book deserves.

This final instalment of the Vikramaditya Veergatha series starts where the earlier left off. Vikramaditya is under attack from all ends and his council of nine is no longer the strong team that it once was, courtesy Shukracharya’s scheming.

With the Asuras and the Devas preparing to mount their final assault, Vikramaditya needs his trusted council backing him up. However, Ghatakapara is missing, Kalidasa has left Avanti to join the Hunas, and Vararuchi is laying his claim to the throne. Alone and abandoned by those dear to him, Vikramaditya is overwhelmed from all quarters.

Will the strife between the humans prove to be their downfall ultimately? Will Vikramaditya be able to fend off the Devas and the Asuras for good or will everything come crumbling down as the Devas and the Asuras leave the human world desolate in their quest for Veeshada’s dagger that seals within its hilt the potent halahal? Read this final chapter to find the answers yourselves.

Shatrujeet’s writing is like gold that keeps on shining. His characters have a life of their own and nowhere do they feel one-dimensional. His vivid imagery transports readers to the described setting. This book has heart-stopping action and intrigue from cover to cover. A must read definitely.

Shatrujeet Nath is the creator of the runaway national bestseller series Vikramaditya Veergatha, a four-book mytho-fantasy arc which comprises The Guardians of the Halahala, The Conspiracy at Meru, The Vengeance of Indra and The Wrath of the Hellfires. Described as “a new face to Indian mythology” by DNA, Shatrujeet writes for movies and web shows as well. He is also the author of The Karachi Deception, an Indo-Pak spy thriller.

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I'd like to thank the author for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in, Google

 

Book Review: Kumar Mangalam Birla by Drimi Chaudhuri

Title: Kumar Mangalam Birla
Author: Drimi Chaudhuri
Publisher: Jaico Books

Drimi Chaudhuri’s ‘Kumar Mangalam Birla’ is an engrossing portrait that reveals the titular business tycoon’s unstoppable passion and remarkable achievements in world business. The book expertly examines the unstinted growth of the Birla scion right from the time the family mantle was passed on to him till date. It is a richly detailed look at his contributions and triumphs.

With the untimely demise of his father Aditya Vikram, Kumar Mangalam was, in a way, forced to take up the reins of their massive empire that sprawled across three continents. Though armed with an impressive degree from one of world’s finest business schools, he had yet to learn the nuances of running a successful empire on his own. His father’s death had set him on an ambitious and challenging journey.

Written in simple language, the book is a storehouse of information on the legend that is Kumar Mangalam. The writer has divided the book into ten chapters that not only show ten different stages in the billionaire’s business journey, but also packs in each of the chapters a formula for success gleaned from his own trials and tribulations.

Simple and translucent in its sincerity, the book brings alive the evolving principles of the corporate culture. Though bland at times and strictly informative, this research driven book imparts useful business lessons to those aspiring to be entrepreneurs.

An engaging study of one of India’s leading business mogul.

Drimi Chaudhuri is a journalist with credits on a wide range of articles, from politics to films. After a career spanning two decades in top English dailies, he now steers corporate communications for a leading private healthcare group from Eastern India.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in

Book Review: The 5 am Club by Robin Sharma

Title: The 5 am Club
Author: Robin Sharma
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

Robin Sharma’s ‘The 5 am Club’ is a fictionalized self-help guide for achievers at every stage of their lives. The helpful tips to mend one’s life has been doled out in the form of tiny nuggets chiefly through three characters — the artist, the entrepreneur, and the eccentric tycoon — who, while living their own struggles, heed the advice that is meant to turn their lives around.

Sharma’s latest release brings together lessons for those who want to make something of their lives. A legendary leadership and elite performance expert, the author introduced The 5 AM Club concept over twenty years ago. This revolutionary morning routine, according to the author, has helped his clients maximize their productivity, activate their best health, and bulletproof their serenity in this age of overwhelming complexity. In his latest release he goes back to this concept and emphasizes its viability through a fictionalized story.

His prose is clear and easy to read, keeping the focus on observations, questions, and recommendations. He also provides an effective vision of what makes a true leader. Overall, Sharma has yet again produced a useful guide that will aid people of all ages.

However, what kept irking me was the dragging story-line. It kind of seemed superfluous to me and could have been done away with. Whatever the author chose to say, he could have done it in a non-fictionalized version in the form of a true self-help book. In addition, much of what he writes in this book is the amalgamation of all his theories given out by him thus far in his previous releases. There’s nothing new in this one per se. Of course, for the new initiates it holds some terrific suggestions and advice.

Overall, Sharma’s ‘The 5 am Club’ is an authoritatively written life manual.

Robin Sharma is a globally respected humanitarian. Widely considered one of the world’s top leadership and personal optimization advisors, his clients include famed billionaires, professional sports superstars and many Fortune 100 companies. The author’s #1 bestsellers, such as the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, The Greatness Guide and The Leader Who Had No Title are in over 92 languages, making him one of the most broadly read writers alive today.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in

Showcase: My Life's Journey by Jankidevi Bajaj

Title: My Life's Journey
Author: Jankidevi Bajaj
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

My Life’s Journey is the autobiography of Jankidevi Bajaj, who used fortitude and humility to overcome social evils that were prevalent in pre-independent India.

Born into a wealthy family in Madhya Pradesh, Jankidevi’s upbringing was steeped in tradition, with hardly any formal education. At the tender age of eight, she was married to Jamnalal Bajaj, the Bajaj heir. This book is the journey of a young girl who followed her husband’s footsteps and willingly gave up her luxurious life to adopt the quintessential Gandhian simplicity. She worked tirelessly towards India’s freedom struggle.

Her story, told in her own simplistic style, is laced with absorbing anecdotes that have the power to inspire any generation. There is plenty of wry humour as there are moving confessions about her own shortcomings. Every chapter is a quick-read but filled with the magnitude of her actions, which over time led to the abolishment of purdah and untouchability.

This is the story of a daughter of India who made the move from a mansion to an ashram, from silk to khadi, from a simple homemaker to a nationalist; a woman who went to jail for her country and marched many miles barefoot, alongside other stalwarts, to give us the freedom we enjoy today.

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Jankidevi Bajaj (1893 - 1979) was one of India’s prominent social change makers. She worked relentlessly to abolish purdah and untouchability alongside Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave. She fought for India’s freedom and endured imprisonment. She wished for a country that respected all women and was free from social evils. Her contribution was recognized with a Padma Vibhushan in 1956.

Book Review: The Silent Witness by Anuradha

Title: The Silent Witness
Author: Anuradha
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

The Silent Witness by Anuradha is set among large events: the fight between the Sammudris of Kozhikode and the Rajas of Kochi and their combined fight against the ever growing power of the Portuguese. In this mix is thrown the threat from the Dutch, who wanted to establish their trade centre and control the spice market under the banner of the Dutch East Indi Company. They tried to seize the opportunity to topple the Portuguese rule by joining hands with Kerala Varma and Samoothiri.

Translated by Nirmala Aravind from the Malayalam novel ‘Kottakochiyum Kadalum Sakshi,’ this is a tale of loyalty, deceit, love, and war.

The author does an excellent job delineating in detail the struggle of the South Indian kingdoms to maintain its independence at the face of foreign invasion. It’s interesting to note how the search for the lands of spice changed the face of the world and how the trade in spice affected places and people from Portugal to the native India s, who suffered under the brutal rule of both Dutch and Portuguese.

Anuradha has also included a sweet love story in this rivalry for power. It is the story of Veera Kerala Verma falling in love with Unnimaya. That the two come from opposing camps makes for an even beautiful read.

Aravind’s translation is smooth but it can’t be denied that much of the flavour gets lost when changing tongues. The book contains some illustrations by artist Namboodiri. These are line sketching and don’t add much to the story telling. That said, I was fascinated by this patently but beautifully told story.

A beautiful blend of factual and fictional narrative, The Silent Witness is a vigorous but restrained historical survey.

Anuradha is the pen name of Radha Narayana Menon, an eminent writer from Kochi, Kerala. She is the author of The Saga of Black Gold and has also published two short story collections and ten novels in Malayalam.

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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in