DareDreamers: A start-up of superheroes by Kartik Sharma and Ravi 'Nirmal' Sharma

"DareDreamers: A start-up of superheroes" by Kartik Sharma and Ravi 'Nirmal' Sharma -  Urban fantasy!

This book is published by Rupa publications in 2018 and has 288 pages. 

Rasiq, an IIT & IIM, is recruited in investment bank at enviable salary. He slogs like a machine and can't find enough time for his girlfriend Ruchika. Although he earns obscene salary, he is not happy. His heart is not in the job. So after a couple of years he resigns and starts a startup called Daredreamers, with a group of dreamers. What does the startup do? Emergency rescue. All kind of emergencies. 

Why does he leave his job? How does he get this startup idea? Will he succeed? Will he give up? Will they have competitors? What unconventional means will they deploy?

The idea of emergency rescue is interesting. Authors present various rescue missions ranging from failed breaks to sink hole to elephant poop. The rescue missions can make interesting thrilling scenes for a movie. The villain and his reasons for villainy are a bit lame. 

Rasiq the strategist and thinker, Natasha the daredevil, Nick the inventor, Halka the body builder, Arjun (you guessed it right) the archer & Vyom the doctor make the super heroes. They do not have super powers, just skills that they utilize with their quick thinking to rescue those in need. 

Authors spend half the book in Rasiq's life before start-up. That leaves little time for the venture and their rescue acts. The time Rasiq spends in France, though good, wasn't really necessary for the story. Another waste of page space. 

The sentence I liked most from this book is "Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life." Full of positivity. One should really implement it. 

Book cover is interesting. It shows a corporate guy hanging by one hand to the landing gear of a flying chopper.

Authors are a father-son duo. A rare combination with generation gap and all that. This is their second book. 

Why did I read this book? Sub title of the book.

What I didn't like? Time before start up. 

What did I like? Idea, though impractical.

Recommend reading.

Present danger by Stella Remington

"Present danger" by Stella Remington - Northern Ireland backdrop!

This book is published by Quercus in 2010 and has 336 pages. 

Liz Carlyle works for MI5 at Thames House. She and her boss love each other but have never acknowledged it to each other. When wife of boss dies, MI5 decides to transfer Liz to head counter terrorism desk in Northern Ireland. An Irish-American called Sheamus Piggot is running an organization that hasn't accepted peace accord in Northern Ireland. A French arms dealer is involved. MI5 collaborates with French intelligence. But everything goes haywire.

Will there be a threat to Northern Ireland peace process? What is Piggot's ultimate objective? What went wrong? Will Liz acknowledge love?

The concept of splinter IRA groups not agreeing to the peace process is not often used for fictions. It's an interesting angle. An action taken in the heat of the moment turns out to be a costly mistake. British and French intelligence collaborate. 

Liz is the central and only important character. She heads counter terrorism and is a confident woman. She loves her boss but has never confessed it. She cares for her friends and colleagues and doesn't mind putting her life in danger for them. However, in the matter of heart she acts on hearsay. This particular action goes against the grain of her character built by the author. This action also opens up possibilities that position the story for a sequel.

The graph of the novel, however, is not ascending. When the story moves out of Northern Ireland, it loses its USP and becomes like any other thriller. 

Why did I read this book? It was on hand. 

What I didn't like? Liz's acting on hearsay. 

What did I like? Northern Ireland backdrop.  

Not a must read.

Sniper's eye by Mainak Dhar

"Sniper's eye' by Mainak Dhar - Corporate, intelligence, action!

This book is published by 4 Hour Book in 2018 and has 225 pages. This book is Book 1 of 7even series.

Aaditya Ghosh is roaming in the R-city mall with his girlfriend, Zoya, when a man in front of him is assassinated by a sniper. Aaditya goes after the killer and kills his accomplice. This is just the first of the series of killings and now Aaditya's name is on the list.

Who is Aaditya? Why are ex servicemen being killed? How to stop the sniper? Who is the sniper?

The story starts with a bang. Aaditya appears enigmatic until his past is revealed. Series of killings adds to the mystery. Entry of IB thickens the plot. A solid twist turns the story around. The story has a flow and relatively small size of book makes it tidy. 

Character of Aaditya is hero. He becomes center of attraction. Zoya plays his love interest. Ravi and his wife are his friends and only family he has. Phadke is a rare honest cop. Thapa is typical bureaucrat. Aman, the sniper is a very interesting character. 

However, it's not then end. This is first book of 7even series. So it appears that 6 more are to come. If this book is the benchmark, subsequent books should be readable. Mainak is a well known author of reputation. 

Book cover of view through sniper's scope supports the title. However, the title is not an apt one. Yes, there is a sniper. But his eye is not exactly the subject of the story. 

A large part of the story happens in Powai. So there are many familiar landmarks. 

The sentence I liked most from this book is "Bleeding heart activists who crawl out of the woodworks at every opportunity, talking of how evil our forces are, and in the same breath not hesitating to glorify terrorists as innocents"

Why did I read this book? Author, title.     

What did I like? Story, twist.  

What I didn't like? Title. 

Recommend reading. 

Field of fire by Mark Cameron

"Field of fire" by Mark Cameron - Should have been field of snow!

This book was published by Pinnacle in 2016 and has 448 pages. This is Book 7 of Jericho Quinn series. 

Jericho Quinn and Veronica (Ronnie) Garcia, now a couple, are travelling through Alaska. Jericoh's plans to propose Ronnie goes for a toss when a deadly nerve gas called 'New archangel' goes missing from Russia and is used by Islamist terrorists in America, twice. Multiple casualties. The Russian scientist, who invented it, and his daughter run away from Russia and land in Alaska. 

Two teams are formed. Quinn and Tibido's cousin FBI agent go after the Russian scientist and his daughter who go missing in Alaska. Tibido, Ronnie and August Bowen go after son of the Russian scientist, who is a cage fighter in America. 

Quinn almost dies of hypothermia in cold Alaskan landscape. There is another party after the Russian scientist. Quinn has to fight on multiple fronts. Other team does not have it easy either. 

The story starts well, develops nicely. Backdrop of Alaskan landscape is a novelty. Readers expect the climax to too take them higher.  But the climax is not good. It's abrupt, lacks action, lacks tension and doesn't heighten the graph.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What did I like? Alaska. 

What I didn't like? Climax. 

Read, if you have spare time.

The Peshwa: War of the deceivers

"The Peshwa: War of the deceivers" by Ram Sivasankaran - Fight with scorpions!

This book is published by Westland in 2018 and has 496 pages. This is Book 2 of "The Peshwa" series. 

Book 2 starts 6 years after the end of first book. Now Bajirao is established as Peshwa. Emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi has hatched a grand plan with Nizam Ul Mulk and Maharana Ram Singh to finish Bajirao Peshwe and Maratha confederacy once and for all. Scorpions, the silent assassins of Mughal empire are unleashed. A man claiming to be dead Chimajiappa, younger brother of Bajirao, is accepted in Shaniwar wada. Anamik, basterd son of traitor Trimbakrao Dabhade, has gained Peshwa's confidence but many in Maratha confederacy distrust him. Anamik is also working for  Nizam.

Is Anamik on Bajirao's side or on Nizam's side? What is the grand plan of Mohammad Shah? Who will Bajirao lose? Will the Scorpions succeed? Will Bajirao meet Mastani?

This book takes the story forward. Bajirao has plans to conquer Delhi. But there is a truce between Mughal Badshah and Chatrapati Shahu of Satara. Both parties want to throw it in the dustbin. Who will do it first? Although Bajirao has established his reign, he is losing a number of men to the Mughal secret order of assassins, now reporting to Nizam. The die is cast. Nizam plays a very devious game. A game that will destroy Bajirao's reputation and then kill him and install Nizam's agent masquerading as Chimajiappa.

The story is interesting. It slows down on occasions but manages to keep reader interested. In this book, Anamik is the one who moves all the pieces. He is the double agent. He is the real deal. He is trusted by Bajirao despite contrary advise by his close ones. Anamik is the key. Bajirao, on the other hand doesn't appear decisive. He does not appear the supremely confident, brave and decisive like in Book 1. Why Nizam confirms allegiance to Mohammad Shah,  rather than remaining independent, remains unclear. Rasool, the Narban (eunuch) scorpion, is an interesting character, but it's exit is abrupt. Mastani appears in the story along with Chatrasal, but doesn't meet Bajirao yet. Apparently it's for next book. Author doesn't say how many books make this series. There is a big twist towards end of the book, but one can guess as it comes closer. 

Author's lack of knowledge about Peshwe customs is apparent. (I had made this remark while reviewing Book 1 as well). Fir example, author shows that Peshwe women take pallu over their head. They never did. Bajirao is called Rao, whereas he was really called Rau. Kashibai wears vermilion in parting of her hair, which is not a Maharashtra custom. 

In review of first book I wondered the relevance of 'The lion and the Stallion'. It becomes clear in this book. Lion is Mughal empire and Stallion is Maratha confederacy. All in all author had strung together a nice fiction on historical character. Look forward to next book. 

Why did I read this book? Book 1 was good. 

What I didn't like? Confrontation with scorpions.

What did I like? Last twist. 

Recommend reading.

Dark Justice by Jack Higgins

"Dark Justice" by Jack Higgins - Run of the mill!

This book is published by Putnam Adult in 2004 and has 288 pages. 

A plot to assassinate President of America is foiled, but the white assassin prefers suicide to capture and dies with warning 'Beware wrath of Allah'. Dillon, ex IRA, now works for 'Prime minister's army', a secret organization answerable only to the PM of UK. He is tasked to handle the situation. Major Yuri Ashimov, right hand man of billionaire Joseph, is behind this. Joseph has Putin's backing. 

Who is behind the attempted assassination? How come a white man is recruited by Islamist terror group? Are there Irish links? How will Dillon handle? What price will good guys have to pay?

The story is easy. The start is catchy. An attempt to assassinate POTUS is a good beginning. One expects the story to be a complex plot with many twists and turns. But the story is relatively straight forward. Involvement of Russians is not a secret, so it's a situation of 'we know and they know that we know'. The climax is a bit anticlimactic. It happens between 6 people in a house. One expects the climax of an international plot to be very exciting, but that's not what we get. 

Dillon is the enforcer, he is also a legend of IRA, now with the establishment. Greta Novikova is GRU, loves Yuri and also moon lights for Joseph. She shows some liking for Dillon. Yuri Ashimov is Joseph's goon and head of security. Joseph is ex KGB and now Oligarch. Salim is British imam of Iraqi origin,  has a PhD, & is trying to recruit young British muslims. 

However, readers don't understand a number of things. Why Joseph is trying to kill US President? Why a fine angle created by author of spark between Dillon and Greta is wasted. Why Salim tries to recruit? He is not even shown as a hard core jihadi. Why does Dillon act solo when he should have a considerable power of PM to apprehend the perpetrators? Why 'Wrath of Allah' becomes irrelevant for the story? Why does the assassin use silenced AK47 to take shot at the President rather than sniper rifle? Too many loose ends.

Why did I read this book? It was on hand. 

What did I like? Irish angle. 

What I didn't like? Climax. Loose ends. 

Not a must read.

Jaya by Devdutt Pattanaik - More than just a story!

"Jaya" by Devdutt Pattanaik - More than just a story!

This book is published by Penguin India in 2010 and has 372 pages.

Jaya, the itihas, is popularly known as Mahabharat. It's the story of Pandav's and Kaurav's, of Sri Krishna and Bhagwat Geeta, of victory of Dharm over adharm, and of the glorious 18 day war.

Popular Mahabharat starts from Shantanu, but author starts from Budha an Ila and continues to Dushyant Shakuntala then Yayati Devayani, Sharmishtha then Yadu and then Shantanu. Similarly story does not end with Yudhishthir reaching swarg but with him achieving Jaya.

Author tells us this known story in his style. He narrates the story chapter wise and then provides his commentary and analysis at the end of each chapter. This commentary is insightful. He  analyzes the events of the chapter from logical, social and philosophical point of view. (e. g. How the story of shakuntala changed from Mahabharat to Kalidas based on prevailing social practices or Edipus complex VS Yayati complex). Author refers to a number of folk tales across India and neighbouring countries like Indonesia as well as artistic literature to corroborate his deductions or to emphasize a point. 

Author makes some important points:

Philosophy of veda's was not to aspire or achieve but to introspect.

Dharma is not about defeating others but about conquering ourselves. 

India is originator of board games where only luck rules (snakes and ladders), where luck and intelligence rules (Chausar) and where only intelligence rules (Chess).

Disrobing of Draupadi represents collapse of a civilization, fall of Dharma.

In Mahabharat forests are not inky lands but the represent unknown, untamed part of mind. Rishis were the first to explore them. They created trails that connected caves and water bodies. Then it becomes safe for common man to inhibit. These are metaphors for taming of mind.

It's a good read that gives you knowledge about Mahabharat and more. However, you should have patience to read the known story again. 

Why did I read this book? Author and Story. 

What did I like? Commentary. 

What I didn't like? Nothing. 

Recommend reading so that you can look at it as more than just a story.