Soak yourself in these top-shelf page-turners

Delhi: City of the Blood Gates
Author: Vineet Bajpai
Publisher: Treeshade Books

This long-awaited third part of celebrated author Vineet Bajpai’s Delhi trilogy, Delhi: City of the Blood Gates is packed with all the action and hidden secrets like the previous two reads. The author deftly interweaves the shrieks of human suffering, smoke billowing through Delhi’s sacred places, and the forgotten heroes of the 1857 War of Independence. There are fables cleverly wrapped within stories as characters fleet through the pages. As the massive force of Company legions sweeps across the Mughal capital, the wrath of Nikhaal-bhagvaan descends on the freedom army. All that stands between the plundering garrisons and a savage genocide — is Mastaan. The writer breathes a soul into every character and brings them to life in this wonderful book.

Truly Enough
Author: J.J. Hale
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books

Friendships turning into a fiery romance can be a knotty affair. Gen-Z’s adored author JJ Hale’s Truly Enough follows the lives of two independent flatmates. Robyn Moore is a daredevil firefighter and a lesbian lothario. She is determined to honour her father’s legacy. While Lexi Lynch is a talented painter who has taken commission from clients but has missed deadlines. Her career is in the dumps. The only bright spot in Lexi’s daily routine is when she is with her roommate Robyn. The two housemates don’t just share an apartment but are also each other’s support anchor. As they share their ups and downs, creative sparks fly between them and they are drawn towards each other. Lexi starts leaning on Robyn for emotional and mental support, but only time will tell if their proximity will lead to a budding romance or mar their friendship.

ONE: The Story of the Ultimate Truth
Author: Mansoor Khan
Publisher: HarperCollins

It’s not unusual for strangers or rather oddballs to come across each other and kindle lasting friendships. In author Mansoor Khan’s ONE: The Story of the Ultimate Truth, two strangers (Sonal and Abhay) meet in a park by chance. Sonal, a former professor of sociology cum social activist is reeling under memory loss and bad depression. Abhay, a lauded genetic engineer is now hiding from a scientific firm whose innovation he had challenged. He now leads his life like a nervous fugitive. His only solace is the book in which he jots down all his doubts and fears. He shares his secrets with Sonal. To the world, they are both a bit loony, but between the two of them, they try to reason reality and myth. Right from climate change to the extinction of species, from dwindling forest cover to diverse cultures, they ponder over Civilization. They want to share their views and findings but life and reality have other plans.

The Little Village of Book Lovers
Author: Nina George
Publisher: Random House Large Print

Whether you believe in supernatural love stories or not, Nina George’s feel-good novel, The Little Village of Book Lovers takes you to a young girl Marie-Jeanne’s picturesque village in the south of France. Marie-Jeanne has the extraordinary power to bring soulmates together. As years pass by, Marie-Jeanne helps her foster father (Francis) roll out his mobile library. Marie-Jeanne and the library-on-wheels traverse through the hamlets and mountain towns of Nyons. The young girl notices the glow and innate happiness over a couple’s face when they are truly in love. Nina’s writing is brilliant. The imagery is outstanding. Every line has a lyrical grace. While Marie-Jeanne makes people fall in love via her books wherever she goes, she is unable to find a soulmate for herself. Will the matchmaker Marie-Jeanne ever find Love?

Tropicália
Author: Harold Rogers
Publisher: Atria Books

Old family secrets tumble out before New Year’s Eve party amidst the hustle and bustle of Copacabana Beach, Brazil in acclaimed author Harold Rogers’s Tropicália. There is trial and triumph, heartbreak and hope in this novel. Daniel Cunha is bogged down with worries. His pregnant girlfriend has dumped him, his grandad has kicked the bucket, and his absent mother is returning home after fleeing to marry a Yankee. But life showers fortune and misfortunes in equal measures. There is jealousy between sisters and greedy relatives who will do anything for money. In this one-upmanship, what the family doesn’t realize is that they are missing out on love and togetherness. Amid all the cacophony and din, one wonders whether the family will mend ways to do some damage control to give love and peace a chance in their lives.