Yamini

Cobra Orchard by Terveen Gill 📖

There is quite a bit to unpack in this story. Through Deepshikha and the people around her, we get to see a family where relationships aren't always as straightforward as they appear. Affection, resentment, and old wounds all find their way into the dynamics, and you can see how differently people experience the same family. The strained relationships and the things left unsaid add another layer to the events unfolding in the story. Deepshikha's doubts about the explanation behind the tragedy also keep the questions coming, especially when there seems to be more to the past than anyone is willing to acknowledge.

I went in knowing there were some heavy themes, but I wasn't quite prepared for the reading experience. For once, when the characters entered the ashram, I genuinely thought we were walking straight into one of the scenes mentioned in the trigger warnings. Thankfully, it passed without a hiccup, but I did find myself approaching the rest of the book with some apprehension.

This is definitely not for the faint-hearted. There were occasions when I felt I was one of those readers who couldn't handle what was coming next. It is triggering, but it also makes you anxious enough to keep reading because you need to know what happens. I wouldn't call this a book you can binge-read either. I took several breaks just to let the story sink in before returning to it. It affected me more than most books do, and I needed those pauses.

The author does provide strong trigger warnings, so please don't skip them. This one asks for a little patience, and perhaps a little emotional preparation too.

💭💭💭 Whats the last book you read that left you circling back to it?