April felt like a quiet conversation between us and the books we picked up—some stories held us gently, some unsettled us, and a few lingered long after the final page. Here’s everything we read this month.
The Wax Child by Olga Raven
A brilliant fiction commentary that is inspired from 1621 witch hunts, a real life case from Alaborg is depicted here. 14 to 16 century ‘s Danish witch hunt is a grim period.
Witches, the woman who has independent thinking who has knowledge to heal are labelled as witches.
This is my second book on witch hunt and the author nailed it with a mixture of Nordic folk lore. The book is not only focused on witch hunt it also tried to cover other revolutionary thinkers, it has mentioned Galileo, it’s clear that how vigorously the Church tried to sabotage the voices that tells things differently, in every generation they tried to kill them who thinks out of the box.
Olga Ravn’s scintillating writing style makes it a significant read. Some may find it a difficult read because of disjointed narration style and poetic language gives it a bit spooky essence.
Rating – 4/5
She Who Remains by Rene Karabash
This book will make you think and re-think.
High in the Accursed Mountains, in a village ruled by the ancient laws of the Kanun, Bekija escapes an arranged marriage by becoming a sworn virgin, renouncing her womanhood to live as a man. Her decision sets off a brutal chain of events, destroying her family and separating her from the one she loves the most.
This is the best among all I have read so far from the Booker Longlist of 2026.
The story evolved around Bekija who turned herself into a sworn virgin Matija, the last sworn virgin in Albania, story unfolded seamlessly when a journalist came to know about the custom, the Kanum, and started taking her interview. The Kanun is a set of traditional Albanian customary laws, it has historically regulated Albanian tribal society, particularly in the northern regions of Albania and in Kosovo.
The writing is nonlinear, no period and no quote, it was hard to understand who is talking to whom, when the narration became dialogue and when it ends. It was difficult to read but it was poetic, it challenges readers. The lyrical story telling transforms Bekija’s heartbreaking story into a magnificent saga, it’s an ode to all hearts that suffers from love, it’s a tribute to all souls that longed love but choose to decline their own feelings.
At some point in the story, it will give you a real powerhouse jolt, you will feel dilemma to grasp the guilty, a shocking twist turns evrything upside down. First half of the story was like a poetic landscape that opens a patchwork of emotions and then the second half was full of twists and jaw-dropping revelation. You will be forced to stop reading and pondering over the story, it will make you re-think and re-adjust your thoughts and all the previous understanding.
In the end everyone received what they deserves.
For me it’s 4.5/5
On Earth As It is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia
Brutally honest, gory, and crispy story, a highly powerful narration that is disturbing and equally important to read. The book will easily navigate you towards its end, it was a gripping book with utmost lucid writing.
Crime, consequences, violence against a political backdrop, this book is very different among all the book I have read so far. Violence envelopes in every page, but you are already hooked to witness the ending, you are restless until you see the conclusion part.
A fictional land where enslaved people were once tortured and murdered, the state built a penal colony in the wilderness, where inmates could be rehabilitated, but never escape. Now, decades later, and having only succeeded in trapping men, not changing them for the better, its operations are winding down. But in the prison’s waning days, a new horror is unleashed: every full-moon night, the inmates are released, the warden is armed with rifles, and the hunt begins. Every man plans his escape, not knowing if his end will come at the hands of a familiar face, or from the unknown dangers beyond the prison walls.
Ana Paula Maia has once again delivered a bracing vision of our potential for violence, and our collective failure to account for the consequences of our social and political action, or inaction. No crime is committed out of view for this novelist, and her raw, brutal power enlists us all as witness.
The Alphabets of Africa by Abhay K
The book is an ode to the birth land of humans. It slowly opening the land of Pharaoh’s, enchanting history, and the tapestry of culture which is blended in desert and jungle. The book is Brimming in love with africa, it’s an exotic collection of poems, it evokes mystery with each beautiful line thorough and thorough.
Beautiful montage of words and expressions slowly shifted to its long history, the heritage of culture unfolded with each poem and the realisation felt like incantation, the land becomes mystical realm, a dream, a fairy tale. The way the author shows us how to see it, it’s a marvelous experience.
Poems here are alphabetically added to make reading more like a romantic song. With carefully chosen words, author perfectly captured the rhythms of the ancient land. These are not just poems, author is loving with each object, each strands of grass, with each leaf, with its winds, its rivers, its deserts, and the landscape he portrayed is full of love.
Rating:4/5
Stories from age old Epic now written like Manga.
This graphic novel reimagines the legendary journey of Parashuram, delving into the heart of his rage and the purpose behind his battles. With stunning visuals and a gripping narrative, it is a saga of wrath, redemption and the timeless struggle to protect what is sacred.
A perfect fit to introduce new readers to our age old Epic stories and it’s a gem for graphic novel lovers.
Graphic novel lovers shouldn’t miss this book.
Rating: 4/5
And that wraps up our April reads; each book leaving us with something to reflect on. As we step into May, we carry these stories with us, ready for all the new ones waiting to be discovered.
Happy reading! ✨