danika's digital diaries

  heyy everyone, its been a while. here's my book review for Finale by Stephanie Garber (i will also be talking in reference to the first two books since this is the last in the series). But firstly i would like to say that while reading this book, i had VERY mixed emotions. i majorly liked the novel in only the second half, but honestly found it tedious in the first half and some parts of the second.  As i have already expressed before, i usually find romances cheesy and cringy (it might just be that i haven't read good romances), and this trilogy was no exception. but more on that later, i would like to talk about the world building, lore and the plot first. If you have read the first two books, you probably would agree with me that the lore of the world in these books is absolutely breathtaking. the fates, the history, paradise's life, all these elements were so beautiful and interesting to read, which is why i felt that it was a shame that we did not come to know more t...

  Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I posted anything (sorry about that). Between being occupied with my upcoming exams and the hormonal mood swings, I have been busy.   Anyway, I finished reading the second book in the Caraval trilogy and wanted to share my review for the same. The novel is titled ‘Legendary’ and it was written by Stephanie Garber.   First off, I would like to say that the novel did not live up to my expectations, especially after reading the first book. ‘Caraval’ had a certain charm which I think the second book lacked. Also, I much preferred the world building in the first book in comparison to the second. It felt messy and a bit confusing tbh, the whole mythological representation of the ‘fates’ felt unoriginal, a stark contrast to the first in the trilogy, it did add up to the lore of the world of Caraval tho.   But coming to a major point of dislike, I HATED the dynamic between Donatella and Dante. I cringed so much while reading their inte...

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day, I had finished reading a new novel yesterday and was very excited to share my thoughts on it. the novel is titled Caraval and it was written by Stephanie Garber. But first, let me express how wonderful and imaginative I found this book to be. Never before have I  read such an intriguing and unique way of writing prose. there was an abundant use of adjectives ( and it might feel overwhelming for some ), which made the story feel very immersive and magical. I felt as if I were transported to another world, it was like watching the Harry Potter movies for the first time as a wide eyed child. even through the grim starting of the book, we see just how intimately the protagonist, Scarlett Dragna observes and perceives the world. She is able to see emotions in different colors ( personally, I found this to be quite creative )  It was a sharp contrast with the thoughts she had. She believed that she no longer imagined herself ...

Hey there! Hope you’re all doing well. a few weeks ago, I issued a book from our school library– closed casket. I originally thought it was an Agatha Cristie work but quickly found out that it was actually penned by a British author Sophie Hannah. (I’ve only ever heard of Agatha Cristie, never read any of her works. Hence the misunderstanding.) anyway, here is my book review for the same.

  Almost every day for the past 4 years (would have been 8 if not for the gallantry of covid 19), excluding Sundays and holidays, I have gone to the same school and subsequently, the same bus route. Every day I see the paddy fields framing the vast cerulean sky, with its cotton like clouds being reflected on the field, and even though the road is pockmarked with dents, that route has a small part of my heart deep in its clutches. I know, “it’s not that deep” but it’s quite a bittersweet feeling when every day, I have gone about the same path and see new neighbourhoods slowly coming up in place of those familiar fields, I wonder how in a few more years, I might forget the remembrance of it altogether. Memory tends to fade with time and so will this part of my life. And I often dream about the life I have ahead of me, my goals, career, aspirations, the passion projects, the freedom, the…everything! It might be so that I’m heavily influenced by the romanticized versions of colle...

  Oh, how I love winters! The cool breeze in the afternoon, sun’s warmth peeking through. The textured coats and sweaters, with their woolly smell and darkened hues. But it might be not like this for everyone, you see. Everyday on my way home, I see little pups shivering, frost settled deep into their bones, and frustratingly, all I can offer is sympathy. But what about the fresh harvests of seasonal fruits and veggies? When other time will I get to indulge in such fresh fancies! The crunchy apples, guavas and carrots and peas, they wouldn’t taste the same other than in January! And I’m privileged to have a warm home, but through the terrace I see, so many little match girls also on their way to their roadside abode in january. Diwali! The festival of lights. While the glow of lights illuminate the streets, scent of burning diyas and sweets wafting through the neighbourhood boulevards and the other colonies. Floating laughter from the creaks of the doors and the iridescent ...

Influencers– in layman terms –are people who have the ability to influence a large group of people. “Do influencers have a moral obligation or responsibility toward their followers?” if I were to speak in a non-conflicting and peaceable way, then– yes, they do have a moral responsibility because they have the resources to persuade and sway the public sentiment (especially creators with a large fanbases) and thus, they need to be mindful of the effect their posted content will inevitably have on the common person– but if I were to express my true opinion, it would prove to be a bit unconventional. You see, I ardently believe that the internet and the social media platforms on this internet should be used in a true and righteous manner, but the problem which arises is that these terms such as “true’ and “righteous” are relative depending on each person. Everyone has their own definition of what is “right’ and what is “wrong’, thus, we cannot really blame the person (or in this case–i...

hey there! so i recently read this highly recommended book- Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. this article is about my views and thoughts on this book. book synopsis_ “The three blue sisters are exceptional—and exceptionally different. Avery, the eldest and a recovering heroin addict turned strait-laced lawyer, lives with her wife in London; Bonnie, a former boxer, works as a bouncer in Los Angeles following a devastating defeat; and Lucky, the youngest, models in Paris while trying to outrun her hard-partying ways. They also had a fourth sister, Nicky, whose unexpected death left Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky reeling. A year later, as they each navigate grief, addiction, and ambition, they find they must return to New York to stop the sale of the apartment they were raised in. But coming home is never as easy as it seems. As the sisters reckon with the disappointments of their childhood and the loss of the only person who held them together, they realize the greatest secrets they've be...

 i would identify myself as someone who pays a bit of extra attention to the inconsequential things in life. A lone pencil that has fallen on the ground, the reflection of the nearby buildings in a puddle (sometimes its holographic! we used call it unicorn piss), noses of people, texture of skin, earrings, the pleats of a saree ,etc.  maybe it's because i took my inspiration for my paintings from the real world instead of an aesthetically pleasing moodboard on Pinterest during my early years, but these kind of things really used to distract me until a few years ago. not in a bad way but like, in a distracting way (you get it). but now, I find this weird talent of mine gradually fading. i don't pay mind to the faded print of a bedsheet anymore like the way i used to. similarly, a shiny keychain doesn't make me excited like it used to.  and I accept that when life gets busy we don't have the time anymore to fixate on such things but it also makes me kind of sad, like I am...

hey there! so i recently finished reading a book titled - The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and i wanted to share my thoughts on that.