Nagasravika's Book Reviews Blog

 The Time Traders  (Time Traders/Ross Murdoch #1) By Andre Norton  Published Year: 1958 Page Count: 220 pages  Medium Used : Oneplus Nord Ce6, Moon Reader  Genre: Fantasy, Time Travel, Aliens, First Contact, Science fiction, Adventure, Classics, 2026-read.  Rating : 4.5/5 😎 😄 😄 😄  This is my introduction to the author and she simply blew my mind. To club together elements of time travel, scientific war between USA and the soviets(called Reds here) and aliens with unknown, mysterious intentions towards humanity is no ordinary feat. And Andre Norton shines while describing jaunts and fight scenes which also is not an easy task. Despite being published in the year 1958, some scenes in the book are simply irreplicable and indelible. Like the scene where the main character manufactures an escape strategy to pull himself out from over a burning pyre. It gave me the shivers and proved once again how hostile - even into the past - time travel can be. ...

 Hekate -The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1) By Nikita Gill  Published Year: 2025 Page Count: 384 pages Medium Used: Oneplus Nord Ce6, Moon Reader  Genre: Mythology, Gods and Goddesses, Titanomachy, Poetry, Adventure, Greek Gods, 2026-read. Rating: 4.5/5 😎 😎 😄 😄  This is first person account of the coming of age story of a Greek Goddess, Hekate. As a child, she struggles to find the fates of her parents who are defeated gods in the titanomachy, then to learn her skills and talents. Then as a grown up, she puts her powers into action to bring peace to the world and humans,then relieve some burden for her imprisoned father. She defies her relatives and also Gods at every step to seek and get what she aims for. She is guiltless because what she does is listen to the strings of her heart and follow them. I liked the character and there seemed no break between the child and adult - like I could see the bold, inventive adult emerge from the child that she once w...

 The Obsession  By Nora Roberts  Published Year: 2016 Page Count: 453 pages Medium Used: Oneplus Nord Ce6, Moon Reader  Genre: Thriller, Romance, Suspense, Murder Mystery, Drama, Crime, Detectives, 2026-read. Rating: 3/5 😎 😎 😎  This is my introductory novel to Nora Roberts and it is very underwhelming. This book started off with a great promise and my interest started flagging off when the author introduced romantic angle and added other layers of yawning, small town drama into the mix. I was able to nail the identity of the serial killer, who is obsessively stalking the main character, about 70% into the story. It was obvious from the information that the author has divulged and kept off from the reader. I kept wondering why she was holding back when it suddenly dawned on me. And it took away all the thrill of revelation and left an unsavory taste, forcing me to rush through the last few pages. The romance between Naomi and Xander felt superficial and forced...

 The Buried Giant  By Kazuo Ishiguro  Published Year: 2015 Page Count: 362 pages  Medium Used: Paperback  Genre: Fatasy, Drama, Elderly People, Dragons and Warriors, 2026-read. Rating: 4.5/5 😎 😎 😎 😎  Towards the end of the book, there was a scene where the warrior warns the elderly couple - Axl and Beatrice - that their lands are going to washed with blood of their brothers and families now that the mist is cleared. But what really troubled and scared me more than this horrendous vision is that the couple getting seperated on their journey to the peaceful island. No matter what actually transpired in their past, they are all that's left for each other and that's all they crave. They were thrust into the path of warriors and knights and dragons and murder/slaughter but what did it matter to them, such simple and elderly souls they were? The language used and the treatment people conferred on one another is really lyrical, addictive and kept me going. It ...

 Hex  (Robert Grim #1) By Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Nancy Forest-Filer  Published Year: 2016( English version )  Page Count: 384 pages  Medium Used: Oneplus Nord Ce6, Moon Reader  Genre: Horror, Gothic, Supernatural Horror, Psychological, Thriller, witches, Gore and Macabre, Mob madness, Mystery, Fantasy, 2026-read. Rating: 5/5 😎😎😎😎😎  This is a strong, unwavering 5 pointer for me. I mean, gosh. This has all the elements that always raised my hair on end. I have always feared falling a victim to mass madness, mass hysteria. I have feared coming in touch and falling on the bad side of a supernatural,evil entity. I always feared being made to choose between those of my family. Its like this book is written by taking all my fears into a mortar and beating or churning out a psychological thriller that is not just addictive but unforgettable. This book is very immersive. The writing/translation from dutch is flawless and brilliant. This story places a hook i...

 The Miserable Mill  (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4) By Lemony Snicket  Published Year: 2000 Page Count: 197 pages  Medium Used: Oneplus Nord Ce6, Moon Reader  Genre: Children's Fiction,Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science fiction, Hypnotism, Horror, Humor, Psychological, Fantasy, Siblings, 2026-read.  Rating : 5/5 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎  Some people have comfort food to go to in case they are feeling unwell or in need of something soothing in their tummy. These books have become my comfort go-to series when I feel low or disconnected while reading something else. Although the overall logic and execution in the book remains the same, there are some interesting twists and addictive surprises added to make the story unmissable. This book has added some very memorable characters other than the main, recurring ones - like Sir the Boss, Charles, Shirley etc. Also the author has flipped the roles of Klaus and Violet - here, Violet reads and Klaus invents! Sunny jo...

The Wide Window  (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3) By Lemony Snicket  Published Year: 2000 Page Count: 220 pages  Medium Used: Oneplus Nord Ce6  Genre: Children's Fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy, Siblings, Adventure, Brilliant Prose, Middle Grade, Young Adult, 2026-read.  Rating: 5/5 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎  This is the third book in the sensational series that hasn't failed me yet. It kept getting better with each sequel. I mean the prose is simply rivetting and great. I like how the author inserts his voice into the narration at times to clarify some situation or add more meaning to it. It feels like the author is narrating the tale to each reader in a very cosy and comforting tone and setting.  This book has two important things going for it. One is the amazing plot and the second is amazing, humorous yet realistic characters. The character of Aunt Josephine is perhaps my favourite one in the series. She is afraid of everything and wants to dig herself i...

 The Reptile Room  (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2) By Lemony Snicket  Published Year: 1999 Page Count: 190 pages  Medium Used: Oneplus Nord Ce6 Genre: Children's Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Snakes, Adventure, Heroes and Villains, 2026-read. Rating: 5/5 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎  These books are turning into an incorrigible addiction for me. I was on four other books when I picked the first book in the series but set them all aside to forge on with these books 1 and 2. I think I am gonna continue this ride with the next books in the series too. The author has not only written these books with his reader - a young child of above 8-9 years - in mind but also blended it with novelty, imagination and great character development. The three children along with other characters Mr.Poe, Count Olaf and the hook handed man are back in the game bearing the hallmarks of their natures but also with subtly different personas - because they are playing at impersonation. There is o...

 Snakes and their numerous Virtues  Compiled By Asutosh Patnaik  (Using ChatGPT and other sources) Snakes are considered wise or intelligent in many cultures, but this is mostly a symbolic association, not because snakes are actually known for unusually high intelligence. A few reasons: 🐍 They are observant and patient. Snakes often remain motionless for long periods, waiting for the right moment to strike. Humans interpreted this patience as deliberation and wisdom. 🐍 They seem mysterious. Their silent movement, ability to disappear into hiding places, and unusual appearance made them seem like creatures possessing secret knowledge. 🐍 They shed their skin. This looks like a form of death and rebirth, so snakes became associated with renewal, transformation, and hidden knowledge. 🐍 They survive in difficult environments. Their ability to adapt and live in deserts, forests, water, underground, etc., contributed to the idea that they possess ancient wisdom. 🐍 They were...