Skip to main content

Book Review: The Book of Gems by Vidya Math

Amazing magical mystical fantasy novel by Vidya Math, on the lines of Book of Stamps. This novel is profound, and as an author Vidya has superbly crossed her own narrative brilliance as reflective in the story. This novel is a breathtaking dive into a world brimming with magic, vulnerability, and ancient lands with secrets. From the very first page, the narrative of naïve characters pull you into the verdant, sprawling kingdom of Zohor through both the stories of past and present. The lead character is Othelia. She has grown up, but before that she lost her mother before moving to a new place. However, her quest to get again with Harry, a boy who appeared from wilderness when she was a child have had drastic influence on her memories.


As the book also takes a look at the aloof childhood of Othelia. Her father being a Chancellor was a busy man, and mother a simple home woman. She has had no one to play around. As she explores the faraway land of Zohor and their allied folklores with Harry, the novel totally turns into a fantasy magical experience. In addition to that readers will feel that it is a meticulously crafted tapestry of lore and adventure.

As in the present time Othelia craves for company and love of long-lost friend Harry. This novel also has a timeline where Harry is seen developing with foster parents. How did he land up from another world to nearby Othelia is another incredible tale. You got to read the novel to find out that. Yet the biggest theme in the novel is seamless integration of fantasy land from reality and vice versa. Also, how does a companion matter with age is prominently captured as you delve deeper in the heart of young Othelia.

The story centers on Othelia and Harry. Their journey takes them far beyond the familiar, through perfidious mystical realms, eerie & mist-shrouded swamps and forests. However verdant beauty never ebbs.

What truly sets this novel apart is its stand-along characterization of Othelia. She is a wonderfully relatable heroine who grows with every subtle challenge, learning to trust her instincts and embrace her own power. Her dynamic with Harry provides a much-needed balance of humor and heart, making their friendship feel genuine and earned. Their conversations are sharp, witty, and often heart-warming, keeping the reader invested in their personal stakes as much as the fate of their lives. The world-building is equally impressive; every new land feels distinct and fully realized, each with its own unique history and magical properties.

Overall, The Book of Gems is a must-read for anyone who loves magical fantasy with mystical depths. It’s an enchanting tale of courage, friendship, and the difficult choices we make when everything is on the line. The ending is a satisfying conclusion to the first leg of their journey, while leaving just enough mystery to make you desperately want the next book.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poem Summary: Where The Mind Is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore

Poem by Rabindranath Tagore: Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. Short Summary: This poem is written by Rabindranath Tagore during pre-independence days, when India was a colony of the British. The underlying theme of the poem is absolute freedom; the poet wants the citizens of his country to be living in a free state. According to the poem, we see that the poet is expressing his views there should be a country, like where people live without any sort of fear and with pure dignity…they should ...
68 comments
Read more

Character Sketch of Binya from ‘The Blue Umbrella’ by Ruskin Bond

The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond is a popular children’s story. It features Binya as the main character, though there are other important characters as well, but the story revolves around Binya and her little beautiful umbrella. The story is widely popular among children, thus it has also been included in the schools’ syllabus all across the country. Since it is often taught in the school, thus the character sketch of Binya is often demanded by students from year to year. Character Sketch of Binya from The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond Binya is the main character of the novel ‘The Blue Umbrella’ by Ruskin Bond. Her full name is Binyadevi. As in the hills or anywhere in India it is a kind of trend to call children with their short nicknames. Binya’s elder brother’s name is Bijju, whereas his real name is Vijay. Binya aged eleven is a hilly girl. She lives with her small family in the hills of Garhwal. Her father died when she was two years of age. For sustenance, the...
41 comments
Read more

Book Review: The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond

Among all Ruskin Bond books, The Blue Umbrella has, so far, gathered immense applaud from readers and critics alike.  This is a short novel, but the kind of moral lessons it teaches to us are simply overwhelming. This is a story of Binya, a poor little girl living with her mother and an elder brother, Bijju, in a small hilly village of Garhwal. One day while herding her two cows back home, she stumbles upon some city people enjoying the picnic in the valley. She is enthralled to see them well-groomed and rich. She craves to be one like them and among many other things of their, a blue frilly umbrella catches her attention. She begins craving for it. On the other hand, the city people get attracted by her innocent beauty and the pendant in her neck. The pendant consists of leopard’s claw – which is considered a mascot widely in the hills. Binya trades her pendant off with the blue umbrella. The blue umbrella is so much beautiful that soon it becomes a topic of conversatio...
65 comments
Read more