Grim

Presenting Grim edited by Christine Johnson.

Here is the summary of the book:

Step into a world of dark and twisted fairytales, with stories by Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking and more...

In the days when fairytales were first spun, they weren't the sweet and cheerful stories we tell today. Back then, fairytales were terrifying. They were a warning to the listener to stay out of the night, to keep away from the mystical and ignore the mysterious.

Grim features some of today's best young adult authors, sharing their own, unique retellings of classic fairytales from around the world. These talented writers, many of them New York Times bestsellers or award-winners, have put their own spin on these magical worlds...

Prepare to open a treasure box of the unusual and the macabre.

Grimm fairy tales. Who doesn't know them...... The first books for children, either reading them or listening to it as an elder recites. Grimm fairy tales, a collection of fairy tales by the Grimm brothers are an important part of our lives and our cultures. And this anthology by Harlequin Teen is as brilliant as the original...... Just with one 'M' less than before *winks*.

Giving the classic fairy tales a new spin and roping in some pretty famous fiction authors like Julie Kagawa, Tessa Gratton, Sophie Jordan, Kimberly Derting, Myra McEntire, Sarah Rees Breenan, Amanda Hocking, Claudia Gray, Malinda Lo, Saundra Mitchell, Rachel Hawkins, and etc. Giving a new spin to the classics like Hansel & Gretel, The Snow Queen, Beauty & the Beast, Pinocchio, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and so many more.

"Grimm fairy tales with a new twist"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fairy tales, Re-imagining, Anthology

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 25th February, 2014

My Copy: Harlequin Teen

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

The Aryavarta Chronicles #2 Kaurava

Presenting The Aryavarta Chronicles #2 Kaurava by Krishna Udayasankar.

Here is the summary of the book:

Nothing left to fight for is nothing left to lose...

Emperor Dharma Yudhisthir of the Kauravas and Empress Panchali Draupadi rule over the unified realm of Aryavarta, an empire built for them by Govinda Shauri with the blessings of the Firstborn and by the might of those whom everyone believes long gone - the Firewrights.

Now the Firewrights rise from the ashes of the past, divided as before in purpose and allegiance - those who wish to use the knowledge of their ancestors for the greater good of the new empire and those determined to avenge the annihilation of their kin. Sinister plans are afoot, and no one, it seems, can stand in the way of the chaos about to be unleashed - not the Firstborn, not the kings of Aryavarta, and not Govinda Shauri.

As a plot to destroy Govinda's beloved city Dwarka takes an unexpected turn, and Dharma Yudhisthir gambles away his empire, the tormented empress is forced into a terrifying exile and Aryavarta teeters once again on the brink of destruction.

Condemned by his own failures, Govinda is left a broken man. The only way he can save Aryavarta and the woman in whose trusted hands he had left it is by playing a dangerous game: He must betray a terrible secret that the Vyasa has protected all his life. A secret that may well destroy the Firstborn, and the Firewrights with them.

Krishna Udayasankar vowed us with her demystified re-imagination of Veda Vyasa's epic Mahabharata in the form of the first book of her Aryavarta Chronicles, Govinda. Maintaining the same vigor as the first book, the plot spurns on to the epic fight of the ages. A flurry of political motifs, conspiracies, ancient cults, hidden agenda and haunting part in action, this proved to be a quick and an interesting read.

GOVINDA, ended with the formation of the Aryavarta Empire and KAURAVA focused it all on building conspiracies among the Kaurava lot and Dharma Yudhisthir's loss of his kingdom to his cousin in the game of Chess and their imminent exile. Couple it with plannings of the Firewrights and Firstborns toying and scheming to put things right and rogue Firewright, Devala Asita wreaking his own vengeance against Govinda Shauri and the late wallowing in angst and self-pity at the failure of his plans and wishes.

An epic sequel, I liked everything about Kaurava. Highlighting Govinda's struggles beautifully throughout...... It may have taken me a bit long to get into the first one but Kaurava was an almost quick study. I loved Udayasankar's through research and all the thoughts put into it. And how she dramatized the epic text and made it her own and exciting enough to be excited for the finale with the 'Kurukshetra' battle.

"An epic sequel and things are already heating up to a cresendo"

Genre :      Historical Fiction, Mythology, Indian Literature

Publisher: Hachette India

Release Date: 15th September, 2013

My Copy: Hachette India

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Books in the series (review links):
              #1 Govinda

Buy:           Amazon | Flipkart

The Aryavarta Chronicles #1 Govinda

Presenting The Aryavarta Chronicles #1 Govinda by Krishna Udayasankar.

Here is the summary of the book:

HONOUR. DESIRE. VENGEANCE.

Aryavarta – the ancient realm of the noble.

For generations, the Firstborn dynasty of scholar-sages, descendants of Vasishta Varuni and protectors of the Divine Order on earth, has dominated here. For just as long, the Angirasa family of Firewrights, weapon-makers to the kings and master inventors, has defied them. In the aftermath of the centuries-long conflict between the two orders, the once-united empire of Aryavarta lies splintered, a shadow of its former glorious self.

Now, the last Secret Keeper of the Firewrights is dead, killed by a violent hand, and the battle for supreme power in the empire is about to begin.

As mighty powers hurtle towards a bloody conflict, Govinda Shauri, cowherd-turned-prince and now Commander of the armies of Dwaraka, must use all his cunning to counter deception and treachery if he is to protect his people and those whom he loves.

But who holds the key to the fantastic and startling knowledge of the Firewrights, which in the wrong hands will bring doom upon the empire? And does Govinda have it in him to confront the dark secrets of his past and discover the true meaning of being Arya, of being noble?

Re-telling the great text of Mahabharata, in a new way, put in with some new twists & turns. Thus seems to be current trend among writers but while they all get published but somehow their stories son't seem to resound well with the readers. A lot of people have published their own re-telling of their saga but I have only read one other in that light, 'The Last War by Sandipan Deb'. A good attempt that one but Udayasankar's Govinda felt a lot more interesting and exciting.

There is so much in Mahabharata. So many stories intertwined in one. So many characters involved. So many instances. So much morals. The author in her own words tells a tale like no other. Set in the same era as the original. In layman's term you can call it a de-mystified Mahabharata.

She changes a lot of things but the essence remains the same. Govinda being the first book in the series and follows his involvement in the formation of the Aryavarta empire. Inclusive of the plot, the politics, the war, the strategies, the tragedies and the cunning, Krishna Udayasankar paints an epic start of the journey with her first book in the series.

"An epic re-telling and an epic start to a great trilogy"

Genre :      Historical Fiction, Mythology, Indian Literature

Publisher: Hachette India

Release Date: 10th August, 2012

My Copy: Hachette India

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon | Flipkart

The Accelerati Trilogy #1 Tessla's Attic

Presenting The Accelerati Trilogy #1 Tessls'a Attic by Neal Shusterman & Eric Elfman.

Here is the summary of the book:

Tesla's Attic is the first book in a brilliantly imagined and hilariously written trilogy that combines science, magic, intrigue, and just plain weirdness, about four kids who are caught up in a dangerous plan concocted by the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla.

After their home burns down, fourteen-year-old Nick, his younger brother, and their father move into a ramshackle Victorian house they've inherited. When Nick opens the door to his attic room, he's hit in the head by a toaster. That's just the beginning of his weird experiences with the old junk stored up there. After getting rid of the odd antiques in a garage sale, Nick befriends some local kids-Mitch, Caitlin, and Vincent-and they discover that all of the objects have extraordinary properties. What's more, Nick figures out that the attic is a strange magnetic vortex, which attracts all sorts of trouble. It's as if the attic itself has an intelligence . . . and a purpose.

Ultimately Nick learns that the genius Nikola Tesla placed the items-his last inventions-in the attic as part of a larger plan that he mathematically predicted. Nick and his new friends must retrieve everything that was sold at the garage sale and keep it safe. But the task is fraught with peril-in addition to the dangers inherent in Tesla's mysterious and powerful creations, a secret society of physicists, the Accelerati, is determined to stop Nick and alter destiny to achieve its own devious ends. It's a lot for a guy to handle, especially when he'd much rather fly under the radar as the new kid in town.

Fans of intrigue, action, humor, and nonstop surprises are guaranteed a read unlike any other in Tesla's Attic, Book One of the Accelerati Trilogy.

A story on Nikola Tessla's weird and mysterious experiments in a middle grade setting. Honestly, not the greatest but somewhat of a solid good fun. While the story was fun, it still felt a bit slow towards the middle.... But the sci-fi element was amazing here.

This is the story of Nick Slate who finds some of Nikola Tessla's old experiments in the attic of an old Victorian house they had moved into. Weird experiments that are a part of a large energy emitter and the group known as the Accelerati, the men in the white suits would do anything to get their hands on them all.Thus prompting Nick and his friends to round every other equipment he had unknowingly sold at the garage sale and out of the reach of the bad.

The plot was fun. The sci-fi elements were interesting enough. And Neal Shusterman & Eric Elfman's collaboration were very good and well done. But the interest in all there was not held constant. Although I totally loved them batting that giant asteroid away using Tessla's experimental bat..... WICKED!!!

"Awesome experiments of Tessla's coupled with the joys of the middle grade genre"

Genre :      Middle Grade, Sci-fi, Mystery, Adventure

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: 11th February, 2014

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Buy:           Amazon 

The Secret Diamond Sisters #1 The Secret Diamond Sisters [REVIEW]

Presenting The Secret Diamond Sisters #1 The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow.

Here is the summary of the book:

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton. 

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

After her YA Paranormal Transcend Time Saga author Michelle Madow presents her brand new and excitingly contemporary and invigorating of a tale of three sisters coming from an almost tough life and thrust into the throws of the sparkling high society life..... and this is just the first book of the series. 

Peyton. Courtney. Savannah. The Diamond Sisters. Also the protagonists of the series. They may have been as different as day and night but they are sisters and know how to take care of each other. Peyton came across as the hard ass rebel. She is the oldest of the lot and in all, is the negative thinker of the lot and speaks her mind. Courtney is the middle child and frankly much more responsible and manageable of the lot. And there is the youngest Savannah. Quite naive and rather optimistic of the three, sporting quite a happy disposition towards life and your typical teenager.

Together they are the Secret Diamond Sisters, daughters of Adrian Diamond, the elusive and mega rich entrepreneur. I liked that they each had a good head on their shoulders and didn't get blinded by the light and allure of the Vegas strip. They are like a tight knot group and support each other if they the situation calls it. Coming from such harsh conditions and out of the blue finding out that you are the daughter of a rich guy and being given a black AMX card can definitely turn the head of anybody. So I am definitely glad that they showed some perseverance.

Then there are the love interests. I liked Brett and Courtney..... they had some pretty real chemistry.... but poor them they are going to be step-siblings. Peyton and Jackson showed some real promise too. And Savannah and Nick as well, although Damien and Oliver and in the mic too.... but lets see how things go from here.... Definitely excited to see who ends up with who. 

Got to give it to Michelle. The Secret Diamond Sisters felt definitely a balanced, entertaining, engaging and lovable and real tale of three sisters in  a posh setting. The language is simple and descriptive and paints a colorful picture of Las Vegas and its lifestyle.... And very Gossip-Girl-esque too...... I LOVED IT!

"Michelle Madow spins a gorgeous tale of high society life with some well balanced gossip-girl-esque twists & turns in the mix"

Oh I took part in a special events organized by Tiffany @About to Read called "Seven Days of Secret Diamonds". Check them here - Makeup Favorites, If I Woke up in Vegas & Happy Release Day

Genre :      Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 25th February, 2014

My Copy: publisher & netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository