The Temple of Avinasi - The Legend of Kalki by Ayush Pathak

The Temple of Avinasi -
The Legend of Kalki by Ayush Pathak
#BookReview

From the ashes of Epic Wars shall the great Lord of Dark rise,
So terrible his wrath, every protestor shall demise…
Ripped apart would be the Shield and the protecting forces,
A whole world shall fall, mortal or otherwise…

When I started with this book, I was not really expecting too much. For the first couple of pages, I was having problems getting used to the terms like Light Seekers, Dark seekers, Devs, Asurs, Nashwar, Nishachar, etc. But, as I delve a bit deeper, things got clear and I started enjoying the book and there was no looking back! The story in the book takes you into a magical world. At the end of the book, I was simply amazed by the author’s vivid imagination and the way he has weaved a fantastic story. One will find that the author draws inspiration not only from Indian mythology but also from those from around the world.

The story revolves around the prophecy of the final avatar that will save the Earth from all the evil aliens and dark forces. This so-called avatar is presented to us in the book as the fourteen-year-old child – Angel (I know such a clichéd name), who oblivious to what destiny awaits him lives in the valley with his friends and father. But, his perfect life is soon going to get unsettled. We will know about that in the book. There is too much happening in the plot that it is difficult to summarize in a review.

Although I admit that I loved reading the book, I do wish the author had named the characters differently. This book is supposedly based on the Kalki avatar from Hindu mythology. But, when you hear that he is named ‘Angel’ – it doesn’t quite sync well. Also, I found Angel’s father name funny - Mr Betterclouds! Also, I felt the author had only the Indian readers in mind when he wrote this book because words like Nishachar, Nashwar, etc., won’t really go well with readers who do not have much idea about such Hindi words.

The language used in the book is simple. The author has made the effort to put in every single detail of the world he talks about in the book. You can imagine each and every scene as it if is happening right before your eyes. The story moves forward smoothly and swiftly, keeping the readers on the edge. There are many layers of the story and each of them gets unveiled at appropriate times throughout the story and it builds the tempo.

This book is the first one of the six book series that the author has in mind to write. With this book, he has raised the bar quite high and I am hoping he lives up to the mark in the rest of the books in the series. I will certainly look forward to them.

I received this book from Leadstart publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

Kairi Panna Recipe | How to Make Kairi Panna | Green Mango Mint Cooler | Summer Drinks

Kairi Panna #Recipe

Kairi Panna or Panha is a sweet and tangy Indian summer drink made primarily from green mangoes, mint and some spices. It is one of the most popular drinks preparation using raw mango in India. With mint as one of its main ingredients, it is said to be very cooling and soothing for the body.

Summers are already here in India and the mercury doesn't show any signs of relenting. What can come to our rescue in such times are obviously chilled homemade drinks. This summer it is time to stay away from bottled high sugar drinks and go for homemade thirst quenchers like this mango mint cooler, a.k.a Kairi Panna. 

The Sour Faced Moon by Rohini Lall - A Book Review

The Sour Faced Moon by Rohini Lall
#BookReview

Quoted from the blurb

Oscillating between the families of Imroz Agha Khan, who resents his prosperous Afghan forefathers and his perennial outsider status in his own homeland and Danielle Anderson, who returns to seek refuge in the truth and dreams she had so abruptly fled from twelve years ago.

A story spanning three generations with the malleability of rules as people try to break the bondage they have created all on their own. Rohini Lall s debut novel, The Sour Faced Moon is the saga of intertwining cultures and generations.

It has been quite a while I read this book- The Sour Faced Moon by Rohini Lall, but somehow I could not gather my thoughts on it. Today, finally I decided to pen down what I think of this debut book of the author. The title of the book is catchy and pretty innovative; to start with it can really pique the reader’s interest. However, the cover of the book which is a hazy picture of two beings probably staring at the moon didn't impress me at all. A better job could have been done there.

The story started quite nicely where we know about Zaamir Agha Khan as a kid and his hopes and dreams, but as we proceed to the second chapter we jump generations and know about his grandson Imroz Agha Khan. Slowly many other characters are introduced like Danielle, Bryan, Joshua, Nicholas, etc., but it is done is a very confusing and haphazard way. It seems like the author started to weave a story, but went on to leave many threads dangling. I am especially not a fan of stories with too many loose ends  – it leaves me unsatisfied as a reader. From what I read in the book I gather that Danielle had left the valley where the story is set twelve years ago, but no reason for the same is cited. What is her story? What about Bryan and why has she come back with Bryan after twelve years? All these questions were running in the head by the time I was halfway through the book and I was hoping that somewhere, in the end, the author will satiate my curiosity. But, I was wrong.

The story in the book, just moves on – everyday things are happening, people are contemplating on the past, present and future; things are just moving on without any concrete direction; everything in the novel evokes a sense of sorrow. To add more loose threads in the story there are the characters of Emma – Danielle’s mother, Nicholas, Joshua and Deborah. To me it seemed like 2-3 separate stories were going on together but, I could not fathom their place in the larger picture. It was sort of confusing, to say the least. Also, how the title of the novel fits in the book I don’t understand.

I like the author’s writing style – she vividly paints the picture of the things happening in the novel through her writing. However, I do feel that the story should have had a bit more substance. As I have said before, as a reader, I don’t like to be told a story with too many loose ends.

I received this book from Lead Start Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

Funfetti Cake Recipe with Buttercream Icing | How to Bake Funfetti Cake | Eggless Baking

Funfetti Cake with Buttercream Icing
#Recipe

This funfetti cake is a simple eggless vanilla cake embellished with cute and colourful funfetti. I have made it more indulgent by covering it up with buttercream icing. Given that the cake can be quite colourful, it is sure to be a hit with kids.

It has been quite a while since I updated this blog with a cake recipe. It is not that I am not baking these days, it is just that I am not experimenting too much; I am sticking to my tried and tested recipes most of the times.

The cake I am sharing today is a simple vanilla cake adorned with cute little colourful sprinkles. This one got a thumbs up from DH. So, it makes perfect sense to share it here. Initially, I didn't plan to blog about it. So, I didn't take proper pictures of the full cake. But, since it was a hit at home, I decided to blog about it. the slice in the picture was only left, so I made good use of it in clicking the picture.

Without much ado lets check out the recipe for my 'funfetti cake with buttercream icing'.

PIN IT FOR LATER

If you ever try this recipe, do share your feedback and photos with me on my Facebook Page, Twitter Handle or tag me on Instagram @jyotibabel using the hashtag #jyotispages 

Funfetti Cake with Butter-cream Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

1½ cups all-purpose flour/maida
1 cup thick hung yoghurt
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp baking soda
1¼ tsp baking powder
½ cup minus 2 tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

3-4 tbsp milk or water, add as needed

¼ cup multi-colour funfetti

Butter-cream Icing

1½ cup icing sugar

¼ cup + 3 tbsp butter

1-2 tbsp cream

With an electric beater, beat the butter until soft and fluffy. Add the sieved icing sugar little by little, beating all the time. Add cream and beat till the icing is well incorporated. Set aside in refrigerator till needed. 

Sugar syrup

3 tbsp powdered sugar

¼ cup water

Mix to form a thin sugar syrup

Process:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Grease a 9'' round tin and dust it with flour.

2. Sieve flour and keep aside. Cream the powdered sugar and yoghurt until sugar completely dissolves.

3. Add baking powder, baking soda to the creamed mixture and mix well. Leave aside for 5 mins and till bubbles appear in the mixture and it slightly increases in volume

4. Now add in vanilla essence and oil and whisk. Slowly add the flour little at a time and blend with wet ingredients. Beat well till creamy and thick. Add water/ milk as needed to form a dropping consistency batter. Stir in the funfetti.

5. Pour the batter prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes at 180 C. Then reduce the temperature to 160 C and bake it for another 30-35 mins. 

6.  The cake is done if a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool down for 10 mins then, invert it onto a plate. When the cake has completely cooled down, it is ready to be iced.

Slit the cake in half horizontally and place one half on a cake stand. Brush half of the syrup generously. Spread a thin layer of the icing. Cover with the other half and brush with sugar syrup. Spread the rest of the icing over the cake. Decorate the top by sprinkling some more funfetti sprinkles.

Slice, serve and enjoy!

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The Mughal Intrigues - Mistress of the Throne by Ruchir Gupta | A Book Review

The Mughal Intrigues -
Mistress of the Throne by Ruchir Gupta
#BookReview

The Mughal Era is one of the intriguing and fascinating time periods in the Indian history. And it is also one of the least explored when it comes to historical fiction novels. One of the most famous emperors of this era is undoubtedly Shah Jahan. The monument – Taj Mahal, he built in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal is touted as the 7^th wonder of the world. We have all read about him and his wife and their love, in textbooks during our school days. However, there is little mention of their daughter – Jahanara who was anointed the queen of India after her mother’s death. Ruchir Gupta's book, Mistress of the Throne explores this fascinating period of the Indian history through the eyes of Jahanara.

Narrated in the first person in the voice of Jahanara, the novel dwells on the ups and downs during the reign of Shah Jahan, it gives us an account of Mumtaz Mahal’s death and the incidents that followed her death, the tension that brewed between the sons of Shah Jahan and much more. We also get insights into Jahanara’s own life – her emotions, her relationship with her mother, father and siblings, her yearning for love, her vulnerabilities and weaknesses. The book is an epitome of fiction and history entwined beautifully and seamlessly.

The blurb of the book gives an idea to the readers what to expect in the book and I am quoting it here. It says:

1631. The Empress of India Mumtaz Mahal has died. Yet, rather than anoint one of his several other wives to take her place as Empress of India, Mughal King Shah Jahan anoints his seventeen-year-old daughter Jahanara as the next Queen of India.

 Bearing an almost identical resemblance to her mother, Jahanara is the first ever daughter of a sitting Mughal King to be anointed queen. She is reluctant to accept this title but does so in hopes of averting the storm approaching her family and Mughal India. Her younger siblings harbour extreme personalities from a liberal multiculturalist (who views religion as an agent of evil) to an orthodox Muslim (who views razing non-Muslim buildings as divine will).

Meanwhile, Jahanara struggles to come to terms with her own dark reality: as the daughter of a sitting King, she is forbidden to marry. Thus, while she lives in the shadow of her parent's unflinching love story, she is devastated by the harsh reality that she is forbidden to share such a romance with another. 

Mistress of the Throne narrates the powerful story of one of India’s most opulent and turbulent times through the eyes of an unsuspecting character: a Muslim queen. It uses actual historical figures to illuminate the complexity of an era that has often been called India’s Golden Age.

This book is a boon to lovers of historical fiction. It is an immensely satisfying read – one of the kinds that linger in your mind long after you have read it. That the author has done an extensive research for writing the book is easily visible. The narration in the book is impeccable and doesn’t let your concentration falter. The characters are vividly sketched – you can almost imagine everything in your mind as your turn pages after pages of this engaging novel. I had an instant liking for Jahanara – she is sensible, strong and inspiring. One can understand her dilemma when she has to decide between her love and duty; it does take a lot of character to be able to sacrifice one’s own happiness for the greater good of the family and the kingdom.

This was also the first time I came to know that daughters of the Mughal kings were forbidden to marry. It was a law imposed by Emperor Akbar and was called off during the reign of Aurangzeb. The author also shares this and some other details in a Q&A section at the end of the book – like what inspired him to write this book, why he chose Jahanara as his protagonist and much more.

I was kind of sad when the book ended – I wished it could go on a little more. Looks like my wishes were answered – the good news is that the author is working on a sequel to this novel – The Hidden One. It will continue from where this book ended and will be focused on the life of Aurangzeb’s daughter – Zebunissa. I am already looking forward to it.

As said by Stephen King - 'Books are uniquely portable magic', this book lives up to this saying. As you read it you will be transported to an era gone by.

Mistress of the Throne by Ruchir Gupta is one book that I will highly recommend to all book lovers especially those who like historical fiction. This book is the kind that will have you turning its pages in the middle of the night in the hope that you could read a little more before you sleep. One of my best reads in recent years.

I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.