Defiant Dreams - Tales of Everyday Divas - Edited by Rhiti Bose and Lopamudra Banerjee

I am very proud to be part of this dream time, and to have my story. 'The Journey of Two Women' published in this incredible anthology titled 'Defiant Dreams'.

DEFIANT DREAMS

Tales of Everyday Divas

EDITORS

RHITI BOSE

LOPAMUDRA BANERJEE

CURATED BY: Incredible Women of India

PUBLISHED BY: Readomania

The Stories in the Anthology are...

1. Built From The Ashes – Radhika Maira Tabrez – Life brings widowed Nikita at the doorsteps of her estranged in-laws where she finds a new meaning to life.

2. It’s Not The End – Kirthi Jayakumar – A fresh start changes the foundation of what might have been the beginning of a bright future. But it’s not the end. 

3. She Chose To Live – Debosmita Nandy – She shines even when she is betrayed by love, uprooted from home and misunderstood by all.

4. Bidisha – Paulami DuttaGupta – Insurgency tore her life apart, will Bidisha be able to forget her past?

5. The Drug Addict – Santosh Bakaya – A 19-year-old turns to drugs after her parents' death in a mine blast. This story shows how she turns over a new leaf.

6. Safe Passage – Sanghamitra Bose – She survives extreme betrayal and is determined not to let it happen again.

7. The Bride – Esha Chakraborty – ‘The Bride’ toasts to a new beginning!

8. Dear Rangama… – Sutapa Basu – An 18-year-old bereft of family and friends, navigates her own and her unborn child’s life, defying all malignant forces. 

9. Unfound: Searching For Home – Vasudha Chandna Gulati – Can a child with two sets of parents still feel alone? This is Riddhi’s search for a place to belong.

10. The Journey of Two Women – Deepti Menon – Two Divas on divergent paths dare to dream, defy the world and carve out their entwined destinies!

11. A Second Chance – Arpita Banerjee – A girl pays for her innocence once, but becomes strong enough to avenge a betrayal, the second time around.

12. Dharmambhal – Bhuvaneswari Shivakumar Shankar – Can one ever recover from the trauma of domestic violence? A namesake finds courage from an inspirational story. 

13. The 40s – Ramaa Sonti – The story of a woman craving for love and attention, one who falters, yet takes the situation in her stride with the virtue of her wit and determination.

14. Amlanation – Anirban Nanda – An acid attack, a play of fate, the emotional trauma of both the attacker and the victim. 

15. Please Leave Your Sex Outside – Aashisha Chakraborty – What made a woman a top automobile entrepreneur of the country?

16. Tara – Geeta Negi – A simple girl from a remote hilly village discovers her womanhood while standing firmly against patriarchy.

17. Anjali Chakraborty – Tanushree Ghosh Dhall – A woman who is neither a mother nor a wife epitomizes love, sacrifice and support. 

18. Yamuna Maa’s Hand – Mahesh Sowani – Two patrons, one rich, another poor, use their funds to support poor women to be independent. 

19. Once, For a Change – Moinak Dutta – A fashion designer proves her mettle by taking up a challenge. 

20. Pregnant Dreams – Sridevi Datta – A woman’s dreams and desires face trials in the real world.

21. Second Innings of Ma – Namrata Chauhan – An exceptional bond between a mother in law and a daughter in law, proving women are soft, but never weak.

22. Here I Come Benaras – Avanti Sopory – Is marriage the only identity of a woman? A widow in Banaras finds her identity amidst strangers.

23. To Be Or Not To Be – Paromita Mukherjee Ojha – An act of crime, a betrayal rips her life apart,and now she must rise up to the test and face the realities of life. 

24. Some Porridge and an Education – Sreesha Divakaran  – Shanta leaves behind her village and her drunken husband to earn a livelihood for herself and provide an education to her son.

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Meet The Editors 

Rhiti Bose 

Rhiti Bose is a writer/blogger/reviewer who is also the founder and Chief Editor of the e-zine Incredible Women of India. She has a first class Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Madras. She has done her Teacher’s Training, PGCE from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK and holds a Child Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling Post-Graduate Diploma from The School of Natural Health and Science, London, UK. She has 6 years of experience in Education/Training. She has spent two years working with The Refugee Council, Sheffield, UK mentoring and counseling Bangladeshi and Liberian refugee children.

Her works have been published in Femina, feminafastfiction.com, learningandcreativity.com, redomania.com and she is also a part of short story collection, An Atlas of love, published by Rupa. Her poems are a part of poetry collections Kaafiyaana and Umbilical Chords: An Anthology on Parents Remembered.

When not reading, writing or curating stories for IWI, you can find Rhiti watching Bollywood masala movies, baking or playing with her children. She believes in kindness and love and hopes to spread the same through IWI. She currently resides in Bhubaneswar with her husband, daughter and son.

Rhiti also blogs at The Scattered thoughts of Mrs.Bose.

   

Lopamudra Banerjee 

Lopamudra Banerjee is a writer and translator, currently based in Dallas, USA. She has a Master’s degree in English with a thesis in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her unpublished memoir Thwarted Escape has been First Place Category Winner at the Journey Awards 2014 hosted by Chanticleer Reviews. She is an editor of Learning and Creativity, an e-zine for the literary and creative souls.

Her poetry, stories and essays have appeared at many print and online literary journals and anthologies both in India and the US. Her poetry has recently appeared in The Significant Anthology, Umbilical Chords: An Anthology on Parents Remembered and Kaafiyana, published by Readomania. Her English translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s novella The Broken Home is being serially published at Café Dissensus. She has received the Critics’ Award at Destiny Poets International Community of Poets, UK and also a Certificate of Merit as part of the Reuel International Prize 2015 for Writing and Literature. Her husband is an IT professional and they have two beautiful daughters, Srobona and Sharanya.

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Sands of Time - Guest Post - Neelam Chandra Saxena

Guest Post: Neelam Chandra Saxena - Sands of Time Tour

Dear Neelam Ma'am,

 You have proved to be a very prolific writer and author, having written more books already than most writers have written in a lifetime. What is it that keeps you going, and where do you find your topics from? How long does it take to write one book?

Thanks for the interesting question, Deepti. All I can say is that my mind is extremely fertile. It can travel anywhere and imagine anything and everything.

At times, I imagine myself to be a child and enjoy the colours in the canvas of a child’s mind. I wonder what a child would love to listen to. Often, I also travel back in time and connect to that. I love the child's world, full of adventure and amusement. These are the times when my children’s stories are born.

At other times, I believe that I am a teen, full of dreams, living in a world of fantasy. What would happen to those dreams as I grow up? Having seen life from close quarters, I can very well comprehend a teeny mind, and during such moments, fantasy stories are created.

I love to be a youth too. I certainly was very romantic and I let this romance permeate my mind and love stories are coloured by my pen.

Then, there are moments I wish to remember forever and paint them with words. These are the poems, which are often small stories in themselves.

At times, I have seen my stories erupting from some newspaper items also. For example, one of my novels titled In the flickering of an eye, which shall soon be published by LiFi Publications blossomed this way. I was reading the newspaper and came across a news item in which the father desired to kill his daughter, since she had fallen in love with a boy of the same gotra. This amused and petrified me at the same time and this novel was crafted.

Basically, my stories are always woven from incidents and anecdotes in and around me, but in a world of my imagination and characters from my fancy.

 Thank you for your detailed and interesting answer, Ma'am!

Soul Warrior by Falguni Kothari

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Soul Warrior: Age of Kali 

by 

Falguni Kothari

Blurb

Fight fate, or succumb to destiny? 

In the dark Age of Kali, the Soul Warrior alone stands guard over the Human Realm, protecting its denizens from evil-willed asuras or demons. When a trick of fate appoints him guru to a motley crew of godlings, he agrees to train them as demon hunters against his better judgment. Suddenly, Lord Karna is not only battling the usual asuras with sinister agendas, but also rebellious students and a fault-ridden past. 

Spanning the cosmic realms of mythic India, here is a tale of a band of supernatural warriors who come together over a singular purpose: the salvation of Karna’s secret child. 

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Excerpt

Kuru Kshetra Battlefield. 

Day 17 of the Great Kuru War, seven thousand five hundred years ago.

Death is hot. 

That surprises me. I’d imagined death as cold and brutal. Merciless. But in truth, death is hot as blood, and constant like a heartbeat. 

Thrum. Thrum. Thrum. My lifeblood ebbs to the rhythm. My head ripped from its torso by Anjalika, the arrow of death that burns even now with the energy of the sun. Struck from behind like some novice. Felled in battle by that lily-livered usurper the Heavens smile upon—Prince Arjun. Brother Arjun. 

What have I done? I harness the thought. Cease all reflection and wrench free of my mortal body. I soar up, up into the gloaming, snapping the ties that tether me to life. Dead, I have no use for ties. 

“A matter of perspective, Karna, O son of my godsire.” The unearthly words strum through the air, and I quiver like a plucked bowstring, overcome as much by the voice as its blasphemous claim. “Bonds of devotion nourish the soul, brother.” 

There is that word again. Brother. Unpleasant laughter wells up in me. Alive, I am abandoned, denied my birthright—Celestial or royal. Death, it seems, changes everything. 

A bright, nebulous light brings forth Lord Yama, the God of Death, atop his divine mount. His elephantine thighs ripple beneath a silken dhoti, ochre and crimson of color, as he guides the mammoth water buffalo to a halt. An iron medallion sways against the God’s powerful cerulean torso, its center stone an ethereal blood orange. 

Hypnotic. Pulsing with life. I am drawn to the stone. 

“Piteous waste,” Lord Yama mutters, surveying the carnage of war far below us. 

I trace the trajectory of his gaze and behold the battered remains of my army drenched in the evidence of its mortality. Is it true? Have we died in vain? 

Words form inside me and I will them out. “Shall we go, my lord?”

 “Ha! Impatient to be judged, are you? Anxious to have your fate revealed?” asks the Judge of the Hell Realm. His red-black eyes burn with intelligence and compassion in a blue-tinged face that is long and lean and hard. “Rest easy, brother-warrior. You are not bound for the Great Courtroom.” 

Not bound for Hell? Where then? Fear has eluded me for so long that I take a moment to recognize it. A hollow-bellied feeling it is, as annoying as a bone stuck in my throat. 

“My lord, I have done bad deeds…terrible deeds in my life. I have waged wars, this horrendous bloodshed, and all because my pride could not—would not abide rejection. I have sinned. I must atone for my actions.”

Lord Yama smiles in a way I do not like. “You have redeemed yourself admirably, Karna. You forfeited your life for the greater good today. The deed far outweighs any misguided ones. Be at peace, brother, and enjoy the fruits of your karma.” 

There is but one place to enjoy such fruits—the Higher Worlds. 

I’d rather burn in Hell for eternity. I say so. “I won’t live amongst the Celestials.” Coexisting with the very souls who’ve spurned me is unthinkable. Watching her—for she would surely reside in Heaven soon—will be eternal torture. 

Yama shakes his head, the horns on his crown slashing to and fro. “I thought you might say that. Relax. Your destiny lies elsewhere.”

 “Am I to be reborn then? Am I to begin a new life, and forget the past?” Pain, sharp as a blade, lances through me at the thought. Forget my past? My family? Even her? Was that my punishment? To forget all that made me human? It must be so. For have I not betrayed them as surely as I’ve betrayed my prince regent? 

“Human rebirth is not your destiny, either. You are chosen, brother. Your war skills are needed for a higher purpose.” The God slips off his mount, his garments rustling in agitation. “This unjust war has pushed the Cosmos to the vortex of a cataclysm. Tomorrow, the Kuru War will end. Fearing its outcome, the Celestials rolled the Die of Fate and have unwittingly bestowed on Demon Kali untold powers.” Lord Yama bares his fangs in disgust at the foolish gamble. “Imagine the havoc that asura and his minions will wreak on the weak if left unchecked. The Human Realm must be safeguarded during Kali’s dark reign.”

 I can imagine the horror only too well as I have battled with evil all my life. But I am done with wars. I am done with defeat. I won’t waste another lifetime fighting. 

“With due respect, my lord, I am not the man for this task.”

 “You are not a man at all,” Yama thunders, fists shaking. “You are the son of Surya, the Sun God. Accept that you are no ordinary soul.”

 I say nothing. I think nothing. I feel something but I squash it down. 

Lord Yama’s thick black brows draw together. “Demon Kali will try to pervade every particle of good that exists in the Cosmos, beginning with the corruptible Human Realm. Once he obliterates all of humanity, he’ll set his sights on the Celestials. Kali will not stop until he’s destroyed our way of life. But you can stop him. You are light to his darkness. Do you understand now why you had to betray him? Your beloved humans need you, Karna. I need you. Our father believes in you. Claim your rightful place in the Cosmos.”

 Impatiently, Lord Yama removes the iron medallion from his neck and holds it out. The vermillion sunstone glows as if its soul is on fire. Nay! It is my soul that is on fire. 

Indescribable energy curls through me. I gasp, though not in pain. I shudder and feel myself grow large, grow hot. Was this rebirth? 

I am strong, full-bodied and lethal once more. Then I roar as light bursts forth from my very core and I throb with glorious, blinding power. When I come to myself, my world has changed again. Bubbles of color shimmer all around me: cobalt and saffron, azure and rose. By karma! They are souls. Infinite floating souls.

“Behold the spectrum of life: the worthy, the notorious, the righteous and the sinners.” The God of Death’s soul was a worthy sapphire blue with a tinge of silver. “Your duty, should you choose to accept the office of the Soul Warrior, is to hunt down the red-souled asuras and crush them. Whatever you decide, I wish you a long and successful Celestial existence, Karna,” Yama booms out and vanishes into the purpling sky.

The parley has stunned me. The world of color holds me in thrall. I was dead. Yet, now I am not. A new path lies before me. Unwanted, unwelcome, I insist on principle. I close my eyes. Open them to stare at the medallion cupped in my hand—a golden-hued hand at once familiar and not—and know myself for a fool. I do want this. It’s what I am. 

Bastard-born. Rebel. Son. Husband. Father. Warlord. And protector. I fist the talisman, buoyed by its concrete warmth. This is who I am. 

I am the Soul Warrior.

About the Author  

Falguni Kothari is a New York-based hybrid author, and an amateur Latin and Ballroom dance silver medalist with a semi-professional background in Indian Classical dance. She writes in a variety of genres sewn together by the colorful and cultural threads of her South Asian heritage and expat experiences. She is published in India in contemporary fiction with global e-book availability, and launches her mythic fantasy series, the Age of Kali, with SOUL WARRIOR. When not writing, dancing or being a domestic goddess, she fools around on all manner of social media, and loves to connect with readers.

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Dangle – Sutapa Basu

The very title ‘Dangle’ is, in itself, a bit of a dangle. The talented Sutapa Basu knows exactly what she is doing when she writes a tale that leaves her readers dangling in curiosity, in bewilderment, in excitement and finally, in realization.

Ipshita , the intriguing and vulnerable heroine, hears voices. She is the confident news anchor, but as the story progresses, it is clear that she is a puppet in limbo. There are deft touches throughout that show her harbouring uncertainties, especially with the chance encounters in her life. But life doesn't happen by chance.

Ipshita slowly begins to come across as a scarred soul who carries much baggage. The first hint comes when she opens up her mind a bit and lets go of the first horrific experience back in the past. Little hints come through, as the can of worms is opened out. There are umpteen hints about Ipshita's mind not being at rest, all well expressed. "Something skittered across her mind..." "Whirlpools swirled". "Snakes in her mind" and the like. However, the whole horror is unleashed only much later, as, right through, the reader is allowed only tiny glimpses to whet her curiosity.

Amar Seth, Akash Nag and Steve D'Silva are all men Ipshita is attracted to, under different circumstances. Her parents are keen to get her married, but certain horrific  experiences have coloured her own opinion. Marriage to her is akin to being handcuffed.

The one constant in her life is the adorable Aditya Rao. I love the way his character also develops through the story... from being practical and unromantic to keenly sensitive, a poet and Ipshita's Prince Charming. He is instrumental in making her exorcize her demons, as he knows everything that she has gone through. "I think you have finally decided to exorcise the demon that has been haunting you since you were a child." This provides a light at the end of the tunnel.

She decides to visit her sister and her  brother in law, Vikram (Viki-da) in Manipur. Life in the Army has been described in loving detail, “a lifestyle of grace and dignity", with terms like Road opening patrol, Army QRTs, jonga, bashas and references to Leimakhong and the INA Museum at Moirang.

It is there that she senses the beauty and the danger in Manipur. "Ipshita was stunned. This means, in Manipur, people are being squeezed like toothpaste; everyone demanded their pieces of silver; for promises of a land flowing with milk and honey offered by both, insurgents and security forces. And all that they want is what ordinary people anywhere want: safety and freedom to make choices."

The author offers an explanation for the title at various levels… there are dangles in every situation that she describes, and as the novel progresses, the reader feels more and more comfortable with the term.

The language used in the book is fluid, the narration masterly, as Ipshita goes through highs and lows, meeting many interesting characters who influence her thinking. What is the secret that she has hidden away deep within her heart? Why does she shut her mind and refuse to allow light to enter? There are many questions that get answered in the course of the book. The twist at the end leaves the reader wondering,

 “Were thoughts so strong that they took over your body and emotions?”

Readomania comes out with yet another winner,  a book that will leave you in deep thought even after the last word has been read.

Do use the link below to order your copy of 'Dangle'.

http://www.amazon.in/Dangle-Sutapa-Basu/dp/9385854011

Vengeance - A Sting in Every Tale - Edited by Sonia Rao

 It has been a pleasure to go through this anthology put together by the talented Sonia Rao, who has not only written a story for the collection, but is also a Municipal Liaison for NaNoWriMo in India. The Wrimos have crafted stories in myriad genres around the theme 'Vengeance - A Sting in Every Tale'. The cover, striking in its shades of black, red and white, piques the interest even before the book is opened.

"When everything you've had is stolen from you, all you have left is revenge."

                                                          Emily Thorne

1. The Beautiful Ratio by Shweta Rao Garg

Shazia has an "undying infatuation with prime numbers" and a romance with Mathematics and the golden ratio. After the Godhra tragedy, she loses the constants in her life, striving "to hold on to the flickering moment of mathematical genius before it faded away", by deriving the perfect Maths formula to avenge the death of a loved one. A poignant, well written tale that touches the heart!       

                                                         

2. The Murder of a Dying Man by Archana Sarat

The atmosphere of an Agatha Christie novel is recreated, in which ACP Anton Pinto investigates the murder of the homeless Lalit, a dying man with severe liver damage, slated to donate his kidney to a celebrity, Abdul Khan. Numerous interesting characters float in and out as "A dying man's death was hastened", and a fascinating investigation reveals the astute murderer. Quick paced action and short pithy dialogues make this story by Archana Sarat a riveting read.

3. That Which Does Not Kill You by Neil D'Silva

There are some stories in which the readers tread warily through overwhelming twists. Neil D'Silva's story is one such shocker. Anay Joshi finds himself in the hospital after a suicide attempt, and tries to pick up the pieces of his life with Nurse Aditi Kelkar, after the death of his girlfriend, Ipsa. Abuse, mistrust and betrayal cloud the atmosphere, as a warped villain makes his presence felt. This is a tale masterly in its narration, with a twist that leaves the readers with a sense of disbelief. 

4. I Will Teach You Yet, America by Balakrishnan Rajamani

Srinivasa Sastri does his Graduation and his Masters in America, but succumbs to the strain and returns home to Delhi for rest and recuperation. How his Mind Voice takes this so-called rejection, and devises a plan to take revenge on America, is the stuff this tale is made up of. An unusual theme, indeed!

5. Karmic Vengeance by Shail Raghuvanshi

This masterpiece by Shail Raghuvanshi starts with a bang. Why does Yaani shoot Angel Thomas in her bridal finery? When he meets Kashish, how does he react? her? The story moves on to a blood-chilling climax when the Karmic Vengeance, which has come full circle, begins all over again, making this one of the most suspenseful and skillfully woven stories in this anthology.   

6. The Sting by Sini Mathew

Veena is dominated by her dictator father. She thanks her stars for her perfect husband, Vinu. When she finds her world turned upside down, she mourns, "Inside I was broken glass. Every fragment was piercing me sharp". As she moves away from her life of ignorance, of filth, the story ends on a note of hope. "The venom of the sting must not overpower." The language shines, but is marred due to a few punctuation woes.

7. Priya Praneshwari - Mahesh Ramani

A young girl, Priya goes missing, and her distraught husband. Pranesh, files a 'Missing Persons' complaint. She is found poisoned in the Park Hotel. Mahesh Ramani obviously has a penchant for clean, well-etched mysteries, and this comes across in his rendering of this story, that deserves to be savoured.

8. Liberated in Love - Piorre Hart

At which point does love turn liberating? Superstar Rajiiv Khanna and his pretty girlfriend, Geethika, have the ideal romance. What happens when he decides to propose to her in a TV studio in front of his adoring public? Geethika watches him from the confines of her home, and the manner in which she decides to reply to him is truly unique. "She decided to reply. Her reply. His style." Piorre Hart turns out a well crafted tale that cannot be put down.

9. Song of the Broken by Prashant Srivatsa

A beautiful writing style is the strong point of this tale that describes a caravan journey led by Daga with nine interesting passengers. Janavi who sings songs in praise of the gods, suspects that there is treachery afoot when she hears the Song of the Broken, the song of the enemy. Why do the others decide to leave her behind and go on to their destination? This intriguing story leaves the reader with a sense of curiosity and ends on a note of anticipation.

10. Music of Death by Neelesh Inamdar

Reminiscent of the Lucknowi style, this tale describes Shehnaz of the mellifluous voice, the Koh-i-noor of Rukhsar Apa's kotha, who falls in love with Aftab, as "the fragrance of love lingered on." What is the aftermath of the affair and what role does Rukhsar play to set the events rolling? Neelesh Inamdar weaves an emotional tale whose beguiling fragrance lingers on in the reader's mind long after the last word has been read.

11. It Is Somewhere around You by Sreeja Harikrishnan

Nikitha and Shikha are drawn into the memories of a horrific train incident where Shikha and her fellow passengers could have saved a life, had they reacted in time. What does this have to do with Shikha’s wedding to Anirudh? A story that leaves the reader a trifle confused, as it ends too abruptly.

12. The Singers by Destination Infinity

Classical singers Balaji and Vani have a fairytale marriage till the latter becomes more popular. Balaji urges her to have a child. When she refuses, they turn into pure rivals, bringing each other down on every occasion. What is her secret that he uses to keep her from singing? Does his ploy serve his purpose or is there a deeper reason behind it? This story ends with an intriguing twist that tugs at one's heartstrings.

13. The Vengeful Bride by Mamatha Kamireddy

One of the most heart-wrenching stories in this book! Aarti marries Bhushan, but the reason why she abhors him, and the revenge she has come as a complete shock as the tale unfolds. The wonderful narration by Mamatha Kamireddy leaves one with a sense of intense pathos, along with a feeling of triumph at the ways the tables are turned on the villain.

14. The Sneaky Blogger by Sudha Gopal Nair

A story that has an Enid Blyton touch to it, with a blogger who posts mean pictures of events on her Hate Blog. Around ten girls who have all been victims form the V for Vengeance Team, a neat touch, and set out to trap the sneaky blogger. However, the plot is weak and could have done with a more plausible reason for vengeance.

15. Shadows of the Past by Pritesh Patil

This story reminds one of Perry Mason, and then goes on to cover the whole gamut of magic realism with Godslayers, Beastmasters, Devourers and Djinns, as Arquin sets out to rescue a maiden captured by the Shadebringers. It does hold the readers’ interest, but is marred by lapses in spacing and punctuation.

16. The Game Changers by Ruchi Singh

In this taut and highly charged tale of cuckoldry, the main players are Amit Raghuvanshi, his wife, Maya, and a couple in love, Keira and Samar. A wilful murder committed due to envy, an attempt of a frame up, and a totally unexpected twist in the tale make this a tale with all the right ingredients for a classy whodunit.

17. Alheims - Icelandic for Universal by Dola Basu Singh

The protagonist deals with an eve teaser, taking us through all the different steps she uses to disarm him. The steps are as impressive as the words denoting her feelings as she goes through the whole gamut, only to come through victorious. One of the shortest and most unusual stories in this collection, but it certainly packs a punch.

18. The Hunt - Debashis Deb

Purnima proves the dictum that there is no fury like that of a wronged woman after having been captured by Salva Judum volunteers, because she dares to voice her opinions against the government. She turns into a rebel herself, for the purpose of taking revenge on the men who had abused her. The story, steeped in the ground realities faced by the state, has a social twist which the readers can relate to as well.

19. Let There Be No Guilt by Smriti Verma

Smriti Verma's love of language and description is revealed in this tale of a young soldier, Michael Truman, who grows up too fast after his older brother dies. The stress overcomes him, and he wreaks vengeance on those who had snatched away his childhood, so that the balance may be restored. Beautifully narrated, this story has many shades to it, as the young man's emotions bring him to the brink.

20. Damned for Eternity by Kartik L

Dr. Moreau is imprisoned for conducting human trials for his 'Elixir of Life' experiment. Kellor, the power-hungry First Citizen wants him to revive his experiments years later. Who is behind the disappearance of Moreau's wife, Clarissa, a scientist herself? A cryptic sci-fi tale in which vengeance subtly makes its presence felt!

21. The Shattered Melody by Sonia Rao

This is the ideal story with which to end this anthology, a tale of betrayal that causes a wife to fling off her blinkers and take revenge on her philandering husband. The skilful way she does this, and the decisions she takes after, make her a strong admirable woman. Sonia Rao proves that she is a consummate writer as she spins a tale that is devoid of melodrama, which makes the story sparkle all the more.

Verdict: Highly readable!

    

The Fire trilogy - Devika Fernando

Three brilliant fiery books by ace writer, Devika Fernando, highlighting tempestuous relationships and the unlikely combination of Fire and Ice! 

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BOOK ONE : PLAYING WITH FIRE 

If you’re playing with fire, prepare to get burned – or to fall in love.

Sparks fly when Felicia and Joshua meet. Discovering her inner fire and unleashing unimaginable powers makes her realize that all her life, she has been hiding her true self. When buildings burn and people are in danger, the tempting game of playing with fire becomes serious. Will their love and desperate struggle for control save her life, or will the fire magic turn itself against its mistress?

Available Free at Amazon.com 

BOOK TWO : DANCING WITH FIRE

When a fire witch and an ice wizard flee to Iceland to build a new life, they never expect the one thing that could tear them apart – Kyle, adding his own magic into the mix. Felicia starts questioning everything they have. She is torn between the man who loves her but is her polar opposite, and the man who attracts her but means nothing but trouble. 

As if her confusing emotions weren’t enough, Felicia finds her life turned upside down when a terrifying natural disaster threatens the end of the country and the entire world. 

Will she be able to control her gift and play the part that is expected of her? Will she give in to temptation or will she save the world? 

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BOOK THREE : LIVING WITH FIRE

When a fire witch and an ice wizard flee to Iceland to build a new life, they never expect the one thing that could tear them apart – Kyle, adding his own magic into the mix. Felicia starts questioning everything they have. She is torn between the man who loves her but is her polar opposite, and the man who attracts her but means nothing but trouble. 

As if her confusing emotions weren’t enough, Felicia finds her life turned upside down when a terrifying natural disaster threatens the end of the country and the entire world. 

Will she be able to control her gift and play the part that is expected of her? Will she give in to temptation or will she save the world? 

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AN EXCERPT - FROM LIVING WITH FIRE

Joshua was gaping at her, his mouth opening and closing silently like a fish out of water. There was a sudden increase in icy coldness, and he froze into a statue, his face now expressionless and his eyes drawn and unfathomable as always when he was deeply distressed or too emotional for his own good. “Can you hear yourself? You sound like some fatalistic, maniacal sect member or the leader of a dangerously foolish occult movement,” he said with that unnerving, neutral calm of his. To cover up the disappointment and hurt and anger at his reaction, Felicia threw her head back and laughed coldly, mirthlessly. She tossed her hair over one shoulder, stood up straight and stared into his eyes. “Thanks for the suggestion. I think I’d rather like that. An occult movement revolving around the power of fire. I’ll be the terrifying fire goddess ruling mercilessly, with everyone falling at their feet and offering me their heart on a platter. I’ll make the world burn until it puts the sun to shame. Want to stick around and watch, snowman?” As soon as the words had left her mouth, she wanted to take them back. What had she just said? This wasn’t her, this wasn’t normal, this wasn’t right! This was her Joshua she was wounding and repelling…and yet, she would not take the words back. Didn’t she have every right to behave like this? The choice is yours. Rise and shine. Go out and rule! The voice inside her mind was so powerful she half thought she had spoken the words out loud. Beside her, Kyle was cackling and clapping his hands, and her fire dragon was turning cartwheels a little ahead. There was so much heat around her, inside her. It needed out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds - something that influences her writing. Her trademark is writing sweet and sensual, deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust.

What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, Devika is a faithful servant to all the cats and dogs she has adopted. When she's not writing, she's reading or thinking about writing. 

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