Book Review : Secrets of Zynpagua: Return of the Princess

2.5 stars rounded up to 3!!

This book wasn't bad. Not bad at all. But it is only meant for kids, I guess. it had all the elements a Children's book should have, but it lacked the execution and placement of its magical and paranormal elements. This book had a lot of loopholes, and hence I found it to be a little incomplete.

The book is about a cursed land, Zynpagua, where the evil king Drudan rules. The real Princess of the kingdom is in India. Her brother comes to take her to her land, so that she can end Drudan's rule and save her people. That's the gist of the book.

*Spoilers Ahead*

I found it incomplete because there were a few things in the book which weren't explained, like when lady carol was captured in the end, she didn't use her magic to run away, but then used it later in front of Leo. Now when she could escape earlier, then why didn't she do that???? Well, putting it aside, Sussaina, the real queen of the kingdom (who is a prisoner of Drudan) can talk to all her kids and Lady carol, and Leo and her nephew, but, she can't escape from the prison. And I have no idea why Sussaina couldn't do that. also Vivian could use his magic only for good deeds, and saving his people was a good deed, still he couldn't use it against Drudan. What's the use of such magic.

There were a few things which, I think, made this book incomplete but, since it is a children's book, it is for a kid's entertainment, it had all the elements to please a kid, I gave it 3 stars :) Recommended only for kids. Like really small kids who don't mind such loopholes and don't see the logical side of things :P :P


*I received a copy in a Goodreads Firstread Giveaway*

Book Review ~ The Girl On The Train

Book : The Girl On The Train

Author : Paula Hawkins

Format : eBook 

 

 

This story is about Rachel, the girl on the train. She is hopeless in every sense of the word. She's lost her job, her marriage is dissolved and she drinks the whole day. She takes the same train everyday to her 'work place' and observes the houses and people who live near the tracks. All those people who live away from the city at the end of the country. She watches Jess and Jason who are usually on their deck having dinner or drinking or simply sending time with each other. She sees her older life in them, when she was happy with her husband. They make her ideal couple. She is happy to see them happy.

While Rachel goes to meet her ex-husband. Something awful happens and she doesn't remember it. Someone hit her, attacked it, but she has no idea who did that because she was drunk. And Jess disappears on that very night. Rachel's Jess disappears the day Rachel is attacked. Rachel knows that her attack is related to Jess' disappearance, but her doesn't remember. The latter half of the story takes a lot of unexpected turns. The truth about Jess' disappearance, Rachel's attack and Rachel's ex are revealed, and the culprit is the most unexpected person. All the while he is in front of you but you won't judge him.

This book was AMAZING, seriously. I still gave it 3 stars because I am new to psychological thrillers and I found it a little stretched and boring. The former half just goes on and one about traveling in train, and watching the strangers and telling about Rachel's hopelessness. The book had 3 narrator, two narrating in the present, and one narrating in the past. So things get a little confusing when the narrators shift that fast and tell about their own lives instead of telling about the main problem, which is Jess' disappearance. But the story had some clues in between for us to guess the culprit. So it had both love and hate elements.

I am again saying, don't go by my stars, because this book is very nice and obviously I don't oppose those 5 star reviews by other readers. Only, psychological thrillers are not for me.

 3 Stars!!

Something Big : A Short Story

She was standing by the window. She always stood there, looking out at the oaks, mists or may be something beyond. And I knew she liked standing there, enjoying the music of silence. The light in her eyes told me that she liked being there, she liked dreaming. Dreams that transcended to an unreal horizon, dreams that were hard to reach out to. I let her dream.

But when I look at her, I see something else too. She is alone, in a world of her own. I want to make her happy. She never asked for any anything but I want to give her something… something big.

So I finally decided. I decided to give her the stars.

I travelled the world and beyond. To the gods and the demons. To get the brightest ones from the princess’ crown and biggest ones from the heaven’s thread. I want to see her smile after seeing those stars. Those stars which shared memories with her and added happiness to her loneliness.

She is still standing at the window. Her window. Peeping out. Watching the oaks, mists or may be something beyond. And she is lonely. She will be happy now. I give her the glittering stars held inside the glass jar. Her face reflecting the sweet light. But she wasn’t happy. I wanted her to be happy.

She opened the jar and the stars came out like free birds going up in the sky, decorating the night sky like a lamp in a dark room. She was happy. Now. Still standing at the window, telling her stories to her favourite audience. Looking at the oaks, mists or may be something beyond, enjoying the music of silence and the stars bringing happiness to her loneliness.

The stars look beautiful in the sky only. They keep secrets and share memories. Looking at these stars is like sharing good memories. We can take can give easily but sharing our happiness and someone's sadness is very difficult.....