Books Barista

Mani Kumar R’s emergence as a fantasy novelist is rooted in an instinctive pull toward imagination and an unwavering commitment to growth as a storyteller. Beginning his creative journey in 2020, Mani entered the literary space with curiosity rather than certainty, allowing experimentation to guide his evolution. Over the past five years, he has consciously explored multiple genres, treating each project as both a narrative challenge and a learning ground. This period of exploration became the foundation on which his strengths in world-building, emotional resonance, and character-driven storytelling were steadily refined.  A defining milestone arrived in 2023 with the publication of Amaryllis , his debut fantasy novel centred on a flying mermaid. The novel marked a clear turning point in Mani’s creative path, signalling his commitment to fantasy as a long-term narrative domain. More importantly, it established his inclination toward blending wonder with emotional depth, rather than...

Book:  Hum Seerat Author:  Nivedita Roy & Sudeep Deshpande Publisher:  Puffins Publishers (2024) Genre:  Art & Poetry (Hindi) Total Pages:  100 Author Nivedita Roy and Sudeep Deshpande come together to create a tapestry of emotions and visuals in their collaborative work, "Hum Seerat." This unique collection of Hindi poems, accompanied by Sudeep Deshpande's captivating artwork, offers readers a multi-dimensional experience that delves into the depths of human emotion and expression. In "Hum Seerat," readers are invited into a world where poetry and art intertwine, creating a symphony of emotions that resonate long after the last page is turned. The collection, curated by Nivedita Roy and Sudeep Deshpande, offers a diverse array of poetic narratives, ranging from personal reflections to universal themes that touch the soul.   One of the standout features of "Hum Seerat" is the seamless integration of poetry and visual art. Sudeep Deshpande...

Book:  Saroh: The Rise Author:  Mani Kumar R Publisher:  Self-Published (2026) Genre:  Dark Animal Epic Total Pages:  624 This incredibly remarkable title, “Saroh – The Rise” by author Mani Kumar R is a fierce and unflinching dark animal epic that strips the idea of heroism down to its rawest instincts and rebuilds it through blood, ambition, and loss. Set against the unforgiving vastness of the Serengeti , the novel does not romanticise the animal kingdom; instead, it presents it as a brutal arena where legacy is inherited, power is enforced, and survival demands sacrifice. From its opening moments, the book establishes a somber, heavy atmosphere in which rule is maintained not by affection but by fear and order, and where the crown weighs heavily on both the king who wears it and the heir who must one day claim it.   At the heart of the narrative stands Ragnar , a formidable lion king whose reign is defined by strength, discipline, and an unyielding bel...

Book:  Nocturnal Frights: India's First Horror Poetry Collection Author:  Meera Bhansali Publisher:  Puffins Publishers (2025) Genre:  Horror Poetry Total Pages:  126 This incredibly remarkable title, "Nocturnal Frights — India’s First Horror Poetry Collection" by author Meera Bhansali is a bold and genre-defining work that dares to walk where Indian poetry has rarely ventured — with a steady gaze into the dark. Interestingly, this collection shifts the lens outward and inward at once, plunging the readers into a nocturnal landscape of fear, phantoms, and psychological unease. What makes "Nocturnal Frights" compelling is not its reliance on shock, but its atmosphere. Bhansali understands that true horror does not scream; it whispers, lingers, and settles slowly into the subconscious. These poems do not rush to frighten—they stalk the reader, page by page, line by line.  The collection explores ghostly apparitions, night creatures, and primal fears that ...

Book:  Hum Zaad Authors:  Sudeep Deshpande, Asha Singh Gaur &  Meera Bhansali Publisher:  Puffins Publishers (2025) Genre:  Art & Poetry (Hindi) Total Pages:  143 This book, "Hum Zaad" is a bold, imaginative, and genuinely groundbreaking artistic experiment that pushes the boundaries of what a poetry collection can be. Crafted by the exceptional trio — Sudeep Sudhir Deshpande , Asha Singh Gaur , and Meera Bhansali — this anthology brings together Hindi poetry and evocative paintings in a seamless symphony of words and visuals. The result is not merely a book, but a curated sensory journey that invites the reader to slow down, breathe in the art, and allow the poetry to echo within. In an era where literature often competes for attention, "Hum Zaad" stands out by creating an immersive experience — one that you don’t just read, but feel at a visceral level.  What elevates this collection is the interplay of three distinct creative minds w...

Interview Background :  Author Mani Kumar R whose book, “SAROH: THE RISE” which got published worldwide on 27th of January 2026, has been interviewed by Shubhangi Verma, who is a Literary Editor, Columnist and Book Reviewer. To check out this title on Amazon, click here 👉  SAROH: THE RISE Average Ratings on Amazon:  4.8  ⭐ /5 Stars Average Ratings on Goodreads:  4.8   ⭐ /5 Stars Books Barista Remarks:  A Reading-Worthy Novel  👍 Author’s Background :  Author MANI KUMAR R, a fantasy novelist, began his storytelling journey in 2020. Over the past five years, he has explored multiple genres, steadily refining his narrative craft, world-building, and character depth. In 2023, he wrote Amaryllis, his debut fantasy novel about a flying mermaid, which marked a turning point in his creative path. This was followed by The Trosses , Princess in the Chamber , and The Crystal Code , stories that helped define his voice through mystery, emotion, and laye...

Interview Background :  Author Nivedita Roy, whose book, “GALLERY DE' HEART” which got published worldwide on 15th of December 2020 by Puffins Publishers Private Limited, has been interviewed by Shubhangi Verma, who is a Literary Editor, Columnist and Book Reviewer. To check out this title on Amazon, click here 👉  GALLERY DE' HEART Average Ratings on Amazon:  4.8  ⭐ /5 Stars Average Ratings on Goodreads:  4.8   ⭐ /5 Stars Books Barista Remarks:  A sweet, beautiful & extremely emotional poetry collection  👍 Author’s Background :  Author NIVEDITA ROY is a teacher by profession. Presently she teaches in an American Curriculum school in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She belongs to the city of Lucknow. Her educational qualifications include M.A. in English Literature (Lucknow University) and B.Ed. (I.T. College, Lucknow). She pursues writing as a passion and loves to express herself through her writings and recitals. She is a b...

“NOCTURNAL FRIGHTS” —  India’s First Horror Poetry Collection      Darkness has always fascinated the human mind, and poetry has always been its most intimate language. In “Nocturnal Frights: India’s First Horror Poetry Collection” Mumbai-based author Meera Bhansali delivers a bold, genre-defining work that reimagines horror through verse. This book is not just a collection of poems — it is a carefully curated descent into fear, mythology, and the shadows that linger within the human psyche.   Nocturnal Frights  —  A Masterpiece of Dark Poetry:    Well, “Nocturnal Frights” is not your typical collection of verses; it is a profound exploration of Dark Poetry . This genre utilises dark and often negative themes to create a poetic experience linked to Gothic and horror traditions. Instead of capturing these haunting thoughts in a diary or a short story, Meera Bhansali has expertly turned them into verse. The book delves deep into the realms o...

“SAROH: THE RISE” — A Dark Animal Epic That Redefines Power And Legacy     Forget everything you know about gentle jungle fables. Prepare yourself for a visceral, heart-pounding journey into the unforgiving heart of the Serengeti with “Saroh – The Rise” by author Mani Kumar R . As this is not your familiar tale of noble beasts and moral certainty. It is a bold, unapologetically Dark Animal Epic that plunges the readers into the unforgiving heart of the Serengeti , where survival is dictated by strength, fear, and bloodline. Blending the raw intensity of epic fantasy with the primal instincts of the animal kingdom, this novel stands as a powerful reimagining of what animal storytelling can achieve — gritty, cinematic, and emotionally devastating.  The Serengeti as You’ve Never Seen It Before:   Set against the vast, ruthless landscapes of the Serengeti , “Saroh – The Rise” transforms nature into a battlefield of ambition and consequence. This is a world where ...