“Delicate Sensibilities, my ass”, she deadpanned. “Start talking.”
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Book Details:
Publisher: TreeShade Books
No. of Pages: 255
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Price: 350/-
Amazon Buy Link: Click Here
Amazon Product Page: Click Here
Blurb:
Are your Spidey senses tingling?
At 17, Samira Joshi has only one dream in life. She wants to be a spy.
And why not?
Spying runs in the Joshi genes.
Her great-grandmother was famous for sticking her nose in everyone’s business. Her grandmother had a flourishing side-business of tracking down errant husbands and missing servants. Her parents are elite intelligence agents for RAW. Yet, they want their only daughter to become a doctor. When she sees a college friend being trapped by a pimp, Samira does some spying of her own, and discovers the existence of a secret sisterhood of teen spies — The Spyders. And, she wants in!
The question is, do they want her?
Book Review:
A homeopath-turned-author, Apeksha Rao’s debut novel, Along Came a Spyder (ACAS), is a fun-filled journey with spy thrills and chills delivered, cold. Let me show you what I felt when I received my copy of the book. The below elements warmed my heart:
- Cover
- Plot
- Writing style
- Humor
The cover is a winning element that works in favor of ACAS. The color combination, the font, the stylishly designed cover image add to the allure. I bet anybody would be able to resist picking up the book after noticing it on a bookshelf. Very catchy and stunning.
A plot about a spy is sure to raise expectations, a spy thriller with a teenager is a sure shot winner. To my mind, Apeksha has created an unforgettable character in Samira aka Sam. There are ample twists and turns to keep you from getting bored. Be it Sam’s parents or the Spyders, Sam’s fear of guns, the girls and their training sessions, you will want more. Apeksha has you craving for more in no time.
Writing style is fresh and clever. Seldom have I seen debut authors showing such command over the language and usage of apt words to convey the correct emotion. Sample this brilliant piece of prose…
“These tiny shops were a rabbit warren of mezzanine floors and tiny lofts.”
The visual imagery that Apeksha manages to invoke through her writing is hard to ignore. I sat and admired her work of art, chuckling at the misadventures of the protagonist and her band of girl spies, err…Spyders.
“Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing” ~ Mark Twain
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One of the strong points of ACAS is its rib-tickling humor. ACAS will make you chuckle, it will make you laugh out loud. I had a rollicking time imagining Krishna ji pulling Sam up. It was so darn real! The character arcs are well-defined and not once you would feel left out in the cold.
Why I recommend this book:
Trust me, when I say this, the few hours that you spend with the Spyders, you are going to love every second. And of course, come away with knowledge of spy technology like the advantages of a parabolic microphone or how to use a pair of bionic prehensile lips.
If you think, these are cool, you should grab this book!
About the Author:
Apeksha Rao fell in love with words very early in life. While other kids of her age were still learning to spell, she was already reading her older brother’s books and comics. She wrote her first story at the age of seven and submitted it to Tinkle, a very popular children’s magazine.
Writing took a backseat, as she established a thriving medical practice. But Apeksha rekindled her love affair with words, while on maternity leave. She would tap away at her keyboard while rocking her twin babies to sleep, as sleep deprivation stimulated her dormant creativity.
She wrote numerous short stories, that she published on her blog. Apeksha has been lauded for her taut and gripping stories, that always come with a twist at the end. In addition to Along Came A Spyder, she has written The Itsy Bitsy Spyder, a prequel novella to the Spyders series. A Mumbaikar, born and bred, Apeksha comes from a family of doctors.
At the ripe age of thirty-four, she wound up her practice and moved with her family, to Bengaluru. She is now a full-time writer. She is also a die-hard foodie, who’s still trying to find the best vada-pav in Bengaluru. She has twin boys, who keep her on her toes. Apeksha’s husband is her inspiration to write, as well as her biggest critic.
Website – https://apeksharao.in/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ApekshaRaoOfficial/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/apekshar
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rao.apeksha/
