Nikhil Sampath (Author of Shadowbound)

Nikhil Sampath rated a book liked it Hooked by Asako Yuzuki	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I am honestly not sure how I feel about Hooked. There were stretches where I found it extremely engaging, even compelling. At other times, it felt weak, and in a few places, the characters came across as so exaggerated that they felt purely fictional ...more
Apr 21, 2026 06:26PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Hooked by Asako Yuzuki. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Hooked by Asako Yuzuki <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Nikhil Sampath and 1 other person liked Shruthi Jothsana's review of Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills: "This book has 15 researched retelling of alleged incidents relating to paranormal activity aka Ghosts in and around Shimla collected by the author. I liked a few stories especially "The Bhootwallahs" and "The Prince with the Red Rose." These stories " Read more of this review »
Apr 12, 2026 09:49AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills by Minakshi Chaudhry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills by Minakshi Chaudhry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Nikhil Sampath liked Manny's review of When Sakura Blooms: A Sweeping Multicultural Romance About Second Chances, Healing, and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip: "3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨ As someone who is not into second chance romance, this one actually surprised me in a good way. When a naive encounter turns into love which transcends between countries breaking barriers of culture, distance and language, every moment " Read more of this review »
Apr 12, 2026 09:49AM · see review
Nikhil Sampath is currently reading Babel by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 11, 2026 09:26PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Babel by R.F. Kuang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Babel by R.F. Kuang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Nikhil Sampath rated a book it was amazing The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Hogwarts Library, #3) by J.K. Rowling	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 10, 2026 01:20PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Nikhil Sampath is on page 22 of 105 of The Tales of Beedle the Bard The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Hogwarts Library, #3) by J.K. Rowling progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 09, 2026 02:43PM · like · see status · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Nikhil Sampath is now following The Book Critiques's reviews
Apr 09, 2026 02:42PM · like
Nikhil Sampath and 1 other person liked The Book Critiques's review of The Adventures of Lucky Singh: A Curious Urban Dog: " This book is written by Stefano Pelle, a consultant from Italy, in memory of his dog Lucky Kumar Singh. Lucky was a brave dog who was separated from his Canine Family while chasing the delicious food smell coming from a large building. Lucky had a ve" Read more of this review »
Apr 09, 2026 02:42PM · see review
Nikhil Sampath rated a book it was amazing The Adventures of Lucky Singh: A Curious Urban Dog by Stefano Pelle	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Adventures of Lucky Singh is exactly what it promises to be, a bright, wholesome, feel-good read. Going in, I knew it was a children’s book, but I had a small concern that it might include some form of animal cruelty, as stories involving strays s ...more
Apr 09, 2026 02:41PM · 1 like · like · see review
Nikhil Sampath rated a book it was amazing I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 by Lauren Tarshis	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Every now and then, you just have to give in to your inner child. That is what led me to pick up I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871. I went in expecting something simple and childish, but what I got instead was a fully engaging story that works j ...more
Apr 09, 2026 11:29AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 by Lauren Tarshis. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 by Lauren Tarshis <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Nikhil Sampath rated a book liked it

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I am honestly not sure how I feel about Hooked.

There were stretches where I found it extremely engaging, even compelling. At other times, it felt weak, and in a few places, the characters came across as so exaggerated that they felt purely fictional I am honestly not sure how I feel about Hooked.

There were stretches where I found it extremely engaging, even compelling. At other times, it felt weak, and in a few places, the characters came across as so exaggerated that they felt purely fictional rather than believable.

At its core, the story is simple. It follows two women who appear very different on the outside but are deeply similar within, and explores what happens when their lives intersect. For a while, I was genuinely invested in their bond and found myself rooting for their friendship, until the story takes a much darker turn.

The biggest issue for me was the characterization.

With the exception of maybe one character, almost everyone in the novel feels mentally unstable to an extreme degree. It becomes difficult to relate to anyone or even understand what to root for. When every character feels like they need serious help, the story starts to lose emotional grounding. It almost feels like the novel is suggesting that everyone is broken in this way and that this is simply how society functions. That perspective did not work for me at all.

Adding to this, there is a recurring sense that men in the story are uniformly judgmental towards women, without any nuance or variation. It feels one-dimensional, with no room for balance or complexity. Certain moments, especially towards the end where serious actions are treated casually, further reduce the emotional impact. Situations that should feel intense or disturbing are presented as if they are normal, which made it harder for me to engage with the narrative.

That said, there are definite positives.
The writing is effective and keeps you turning pages, even when the content itself is unsettling. The prose is simple and easy to follow, which makes the book accessible. Some metaphors, especially the comparison involving the Nile perch, were particularly striking and stayed with me.

The core idea behind the novel is strong. There is something interesting in exploring human psychology and relationships at a deeper level. But for me, the execution does not fully land.

In the end, this is not a bad read, but it is not a great one either.

What could have been a nuanced exploration of two individuals in need of understanding ends up feeling like a broader statement that everyone is fundamentally broken and that we simply have to live with it. The book remains engaging on a surface level, but it did not resonate with me the way it could have. ...more

Nikhil Sampath and 1 other person liked Shruthi Jothsana's review of Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills:

Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills by Minakshi Chaudhry

"This book has 15 researched retelling of alleged incidents relating to paranormal activity aka Ghosts in and around Shimla collected by the author.

I liked a few stories especially "The Bhootwallahs" and "The Prince with the Red Rose."

These stories " Read more of this review »

Nikhil Sampath liked Manny's review of When Sakura Blooms: A Sweeping Multicultural Romance About Second Chances, Healing, and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip:

"3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨

As someone who is not into second chance romance, this one actually surprised me in a good way. When a naive encounter turns into love which transcends between countries breaking barriers of culture, distance and language, every moment " Read more of this review »

Nikhil Sampath is currently reading

Babel
by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author)

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Nikhil Sampath rated a book it was amazing

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Hogwarts Library, #3)
by J.K. Rowling

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Nikhil Sampath is on page 22 of 105 of The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Hogwarts Library, #3)
by J.K. Rowling

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Nikhil Sampath is now following The Book Critiques's reviews

Nikhil Sampath and 1 other person liked The Book Critiques's review of The Adventures of Lucky Singh: A Curious Urban Dog:

The Adventures of Lucky Singh by Stefano Pelle

"

This book is written by Stefano Pelle, a consultant from Italy, in memory of his dog Lucky Kumar Singh. Lucky was a brave dog who was separated from his Canine Family while chasing the delicious food smell coming from a large building. Lucky had a ve" Read more of this review »

Nikhil Sampath rated a book it was amazing

The Adventures of Lucky Singh: A Curious Urban Dog
by Stefano Pelle

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The Adventures of Lucky Singh is exactly what it promises to be, a bright, wholesome, feel-good read.

Going in, I knew it was a children’s book, but I had a small concern that it might include some form of animal cruelty, as stories involving strays s ...more

Nikhil Sampath rated a book it was amazing

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871
by Lauren Tarshis

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Every now and then, you just have to give in to your inner child. That is what led me to pick up I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871.

I went in expecting something simple and childish, but what I got instead was a fully engaging story that works j Every now and then, you just have to give in to your inner child. That is what led me to pick up I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871.

I went in expecting something simple and childish, but what I got instead was a fully engaging story that works just as well for adults.

The story follows Oscar, a young boy trying to hold on to a promise he made to his late father, even as his life is turned upside down when his mother remarries and moves him to Chicago. He resents everything about his new life, the city, his stepfather, and the situation he has been forced into. But on the very night he arrives, the Great Chicago Fire breaks out. What follows is a survival story where Oscar navigates chaos, forms unexpected bonds with a young girl and her brother, and struggles to make sense of it all.

What really stood out to me was how well the book is structured. The writing has a clean narrative arc, with proper setups and satisfying payoffs. It never feels sloppy or overly simplified. In fact, it feels more refined than what you would typically expect from a book aimed at younger readers.

Oscar as a character is full of innocence and emotional depth. The small gang of thieving boys adds an interesting layer, and the supporting characters, especially the girl and her brother, are memorable in their own right. The depiction of Chicago also deserves praise. The city feels alive, both in its thriving state and in its destruction.

But the true standout here is the art.
The illustrations bring the story to life in a way that words alone could not. The style feels familiar yet distinct, and it captures both the beauty and the terror of the setting. The fire, in particular, is depicted with an intensity that makes it feel genuinely menacing. The contrast between a bustling city and one in ruins is handled brilliantly. The artwork is easily the MVP of this book.

As for drawbacks, I genuinely could not find any. Not even a minor nitpick.
If you are looking for a quick, pleasant read that still manages to deliver a full range of emotions, this is absolutely worth picking up. ...more

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	Shadowbound: An Indian Superhero Thriller 4.48 avg rating — 154 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When Sakura Blooms: A Sweeping Multicultural Romance About Second Chances, Healing, and a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip 4.34 avg rating — 29 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Nikhil’s Year In Books

Nikhil Sampath’s Followers (11)

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Nikhil’s Friends (157)

2026 Reading Challenge

Nikhil Sampath

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Preview — Hooked by Asako Yuzuki

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Preview — Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills by Minakshi Chaudhry

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Preview — Babel by R.F. Kuang

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Preview — The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

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Preview — The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

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