Accidental fiancée by Zeenat Mahal

"The accidental fiancée" by Zeenat Mahal - Pakistani story!

This book was published by Indiareads incorporated in 2015. This book is a single short story. 

Akbar Rasul (bad boy) and Khayyam Zafar (firebrand feminist and socialist) were arch nemesis in architecture college. Years later their families arrange their marriage. Khayyam requests Akbar to scrap the engagement. Akbar won't let go the opportunity of lifetime to humiliate her. 

Why does Khayyam accept engagement with Akbar? Why does Akbar call her KK? Who has extinguished fire in Khayyam? How long will the engagement last?

Author develops the lead characters in a very short span. The story becomes instantly interesting. The tussle between the two is palpable. Akbar does what Akbar is expected to do. But why does Khayyam behave contrary to her personality?

The story reaches peak and then abruptly it ends. This sudden death is baffling. It wouldn't have mattered if author had used couple of pages more for smooth landing, but she chooses crash landing. Had this landing been a shock, it would have served its purpose. But it ends very predictably. It leaves a taste of dissatisfaction. 

Faiqa Mansab (Pseudonym Zeenat Mahal) is a Pakistani author from Lahore. She looks promising. Won't mind reading more of her works. 

Why did I read this book? Pakistani author, Indian publisher. 

What I didn't like? Predictability. Sudden death. 

What did I like? Lead characters. 

Recommend as a quick read. 

  

Cold springs by Rick Riordan

"Cold springs" by Rick Riordan - Ambling along!

This book is published by Bantam in 2004 and has 416 pages. 

Catherine, daughter of Chadwick, a school teacher, & Norma dies of drug overdose. Mallory, 5 year old daughter of John and Anne Zedman, was with her at that time. Time leap. Both marriages fall apart. Mallory starts using drugs and befriends Race Montrose, younger brother of Samuel who supplied drugs to Catherine years ago. Anne decides to enroll Mallory to Cold Springs. A dead man comes to life. 

Who killed Thalia? Who is blackmailing John?  Why did the marriages fail? What happened to the millions? What is Cold Springs? Who is behind all this?

The story has interesting characters. Chadwick, 6'8" gentle giant. Norma, his beautiful wife. Anne, childhood friend of Chadwick and Principal of school. John, her businessman husband. Perez, bodyguard and man Friday of John. Mallory, a drug addict frightened teenager. Race, a brilliant black boy whose family has a criminal history. Samuel, his elder brother. Hunter, head of Cold Springs and a man driven by his ambition of reforming kids. 

Concept of Cold Springs is interesting. A school that takes in spoilt, messed up, drug addict rich kids and breaks their ego, teaches them survival skills, discipline, accepting orders and reforms them, makes them fit to go back to the society. 

Rick's writing style is completely different as compared to humorous style of his more famous books based on various mythologies. The narration here is dark and atmosphere is mostly gloomy. There are no real happy moments or light moments. It's a slow burn.

That is the draw back of the story. Slow burn should not slow down. The story slows down considerably on multiple occasions. I was reading this book for a very long time.  Relationship between Chadwick and Anne is strange. 

Identity of the perpetrator is concealed very well. All my attempts with imagination failed to identify, until author zeroed on the real one. 

End of the book is stretched to the limit of reader's patience. It goes on and on. Readers start thinking if it's going to end at all. Title has nothing to do with the story. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Pace of story. 

What did I like? Successful concealment of identity. 

Not a must read. 

Rising Sea by Clive Cussler a Graham Brown

"The Rising Sea" by Clive Cussler a Graham Brown  - The thrill ride continues!

This book is published by Penguin in 2019 and has 464 pages. This is Book 15 of 'The NUMA files'.

There is an unprecedented rise in sea levels in last 6 months. NUMA investigations rule out global warming, melting ice caps and hollowing glaciers. China has a secret mine of Golden Adamant, a living meta material, in East China Sea. China-Japan friendship blossoms. Honjo Masamune, a legendary sword that disappeared around WW II reappears. How sophisticated Robots can be? 

What is causing the rising sea? Is it going to flood the world? How come China and Japan are becoming friends? What is the significance of automatons? Who are Kurt and Joe pitted against?

Book starts with a scene from feudal Japan. A fight between a Samurai wielding a katana forged by master forger Masamune against Shogun sporting a sword forged by Masamune's protégé and competitor Muramassa.

Kurt is investigating the rising sea levels when he discovers an international conspiracy. He has to literally race against a robot car, do wing boarding, fight automaton that moves and looks like real human and what not. Paul and Gamay are declared spies by China. Will they find an unlikely ally?

Story is interesting. It takes the reader from glaciers to America to Japan to China. Reader doesn't have time to relax. Story keeps you interested. It also has an unrelated adventure at the beginning, James Bond style. Chinese General from earlier book 'Nighthawk' makes an appearance. Cussler also drops a hint that one of the next book will unfold in China. 

 Clive Cussler has amazing attention to details, especially technical details. He doesn't disappoint. However there are two loose ends. Although no mitigating measures are taken, why do geysers stop? What is the importance of golden adamant? Cussler leaves these two questions unanswered. Rare loose ends from him, unless there is a use for them in subsequent books. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Loose ends.

What did I like? Everything else. 

Read, if you are reading the series.