Magic Square

by Salini Vineeth

Amudha is a Ph.D. scholar, practically living in her research lab, leading an uneventful life. Amudha’s life takes an adventurous turn, when she finds a puzzle in an old Mathematics book. Surprisingly, the puzzle has nothing to do with Mathematics. Amudha embarks on a journey to solve the enigma. Every twist and turn in her journey is filled with suspense and surprises. The journey challenges and threatens Amudha. Whenever Amudha solves a part of the puzzle, a new one presents itself. Will Amudha solve the puzzle? How far does the rabbit hole go? What awaits her at the end of it? Will Amudha be the same person if she comes out of it? Read on Magic Square for answers.

Genres: Fiction, Indian Literature, Short Stories

82 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2020

About the author

Salini Vineeth is a fiction writer based out in Bangalore, India. Her latest book is Everyday People - a short story collection. Her previous work, Magic Square has sold over a 1000 copies on Amazon. She is an engineering graduate from BITS Pilani, Goa. She later completed MTech from IIIT-Bangalore. Along with fiction, she writes technical blogs for start-ups. She also takes up freelance writing assignments.
Salini is a history buff and ardent fan of mystery novels. One of her proudest achievements is completing the entire Shelock Holmes works by Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle. She adores Sherlock Holmes.
She also has travelled across India, visiting most of the historical destinations. She also takes a keen interest in ancient Indian architecture and philosophy.

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Square by Salini Vineeth is a short novel. Coincidentally, I see a trend of many short novels or long short stories (however we want to refer to them) under 100 pages over the past year. While I would have thought that it would be difficult to build depth of characters in such short novels, this book does disprove that view. Magic Square does this with only a few characters and a very focused story. The story is different and holds your interest, well till the end.

Amudha and Dheeraj are doing their PhD and not quite by choice. Dheeraj, her senior is finding the going tough with Prof Murthy and isn’t quite sure when he will complete his PhD. Amudha grows to hate job interviews and the puzzles which have become an inherent part of the selection process, and settles to do a PhD. They grow to be good friends and the incidents around their lives in the lab is good fun to read.

As Dheeraj struggles with a tough assignment, Amudha suggests they visit a bookshop which has many old and less known books which might help. A book finally comes to Dheeraj’s rescue – it has all the questions which Dheeraj has to answer with the solutions scribbled by one “L V Sreenivasan”. Amudha is fascinated by Sreenivasan, as he comes across a brilliant person based on the solutions he has scribbled. Sreenivasan has also written a very short poem in the book. Amudha goes in search of Sreenivasan – and that is the rest of the story. Where & what did he study, and what is he doing now?

The story is different, original and flows smoothly. The book would have benefited with better editing, though it is a minor issue. While the build up of the story is excellent, it had far greater potential. A lot of the discoveries are very lucky coincidences (quite a few of them) and the last section could have been far better.

An impressive debut novel which I recommend for its good story, and for being a short & easy read.

My rating: 3.75 / 5

[Aparna Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with Amudha's futile attempts at job search leaving her impatient and restless. She managed to breeze past the initial and technical rounds but had a meltdown when puzzles were thrown at her during the personal interview. She settles for the role of a Ph.D scholar under the grumpy professor, Dr. Moorthy consoling herself that she was meant for research. Her days were spent amidst whirring CPUs and a fellow research scholar, Dheeraj who constantly abuses Dr. Moorthy for being hard on him every time. Their professor was notorious for striking their assignments with his signature red pen. Dheeraj is driven to his wit's end when the professor gave him some discrete mathematics problems and asked him to come up with simplest solution. Amudha and Dheeraj find their solution in an abandoned book store. What catches Amudha's fancy is a Tamil poem scribbled behind a Discrete Mathematics text book written by the author L V Sreenivasan. The issue manifests itself as an intriguing puzzle and Amudha is determined to find answers to its existence.

'Magic Squares' is a fast and a racy read that will play games with your mind. The journey towards the end transformed Amudha to a confused person to one who has found a purpose in life. As the story moves forward, lots of twists and turns are thrown your way for you to rack your brains. I liked the analogy of life to an optimisation problem. Amudha's uncertainty in life is relatable. At one or the other point we find ourselves in her shoes. She emerges as the winner after conquering her fears and innermost inhibitions.

[Sahitya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a novella and of the mystery genre – two things I usually don’t gravitate towards. So, why am I reading this one? Because this is the debut English fiction book by the author Salini, who happens to be my batchmate from college. There is no way I would not take an opportunity to read a book written by someone I know and promote everywhere that I am an author’s friend 😉😉😉

Amudha is a Ph.D student who is wallowing day after day in her research lab, but doesn’t seem to have any genuine interest in it. She has grown up being the invisible child, never living up to her mother’s expectations and overshadowed by her siblings achievements – this has left her feeling insecure and she isn’t sure she will do well outside of her sheltered lab. I was pleasantly surprised when she decides to chase the mystery because it seemed out of character, but it also felt like the exact kind of push she needed to find herself.

Dinesh is a colleague of hers who is also dissatisfied with his life because his thesis hasn’t been accepted for a long time. But he is her good friend and I loved their banter. There was this familiarity in their conversations which comes from knowing everything about your best friend and it reminded me of my friends too. He goes on rants when he gets frustrated but she finds it amusing and I admired that despite being protective of her, he also realized that Amudha needed this adventure for herself and made sure he could help her in anyway possible.

As a reader, I wasn’t sure how much the author would be able to tell in a story that is just over 60 pages but as each page unfolded, I got caught up in the mystery and it was such a great feeling. The setting of Amudha’s university and the city of Bangalore evoked some great nostalgia in me and made me want to revisit those places again. The mystery is cleverly written, with Amudha uncovering it bit by bit and we see first hand how much this journey is changing her. There is also a hint of the history of Chennai's college politics which I thought was a deft touch. The ending was very well done and I liked the message that Amudha learns from the adventure, which you have to find out for yourself. The author’s note at the end also left me slightly weepy because I realized how much I related to her – I lost my love of writing too somewhere along the way and only discovered it again last year when I decided to start my blog.

This is a great debut novel and I think anyone who loves flawed heroines trying to solve mysteries would enjoy this a lot. This book is also available to Kindle Unlimited, so do give this one a try and let me know your thoughts. I can’t wait to see what more adventures my friend is going to take me on in her next books.

[Jae · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having previously read Salini Vineeth's book of short stories, I thought I'd try this novella of hers. At only 62 pages it's very short and yet it's a good story; I enjoyed the writing style and the use of a puzzle to keep the reader interested. I'll be checking for further books from this author. 3.5

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: Magic Square
Author: Salini Vineeth
Format: Kindle edition

Book Title:
The title of the book is ‘Magic Square’ and it is different.

Book Cover:
The book has the faded magic square which gives an idea to the reader that the book is something to do with the puzzle. On the magic square puzzle, we can see two intersected heads facing opposite sides.

Plot:
Amudha is the protagonist of this story who pursues her Ph.D. at Prof.Murthy’s lab along with Dheeraj, another main character of the story. She leads a hopeless and boring life and decides to join the Ph.D. program and both of them accidentally finds out a discrete mathematics book at her favorite place, the old library.

The book fascinates both Amudha and Dheeraj and learns that the book belongs to L V Sreenivasan. Dheeraj finds the puzzles in the books and finds the solutions to the issues which he faces in his life and praises the unknown person with huge admiration. Amudha also takes time to check the book and finds some poetic lines written in the book. It fascinates her and starts searching for LV Sreenivasan.

What are the puzzles in that book which solved Dheeraj’s issues? Did Amudha found the unknown owner of the book? Did she able to reach her? What changes did she face in her life and did they make any impact on her?

Well, read this excellent debut novel by Salini Vineeth.

  What I like:

The new way of approaching the reader by using the puzzle background
Unfolding the story in an unusual way
What I didn’t like:

As a debutant, the author Salini Vineeth has done a great job which makes the flaws negligible. The book is mind gripping and the reader will complete it in one go.

Characters:
The character of Amudha and Dheeraj are very well portrayed and the person named L V Sreenivasan also played an invisible important role in this book.

Narration:
The narration of all the story is very well done and it will grasp the minds of the readers

Language & Grammar:
A clear language with neat and uncomplicated grammar is used in the book

My Final Verdict:
The reader will end up having a great experience of reading a fantastic book.

Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5

[Diksha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read that could be completed in a day. The start of the story seemed quite slow to me. Takes time to catch up to the main part. The author could have made it more engaging by mentioning more about the background of both the main characters. But the character and thought process of Ananya was relevant in many ways to me.
Talking about the flow of the story, it was quite to the point. The second half was interesting as it kept me curious about what's going to happen next.
The title of the book 'Magic Square' might have been used in the context of the shape of the book and also interestingly to the concept of 'squaring' used in mathematics.
It could have been proof read as there were a few grammatical errors. But in all, a good effort by the author.
Rating - 2.5/5

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzles are a fascinating thing if you could bear with their tantrums and sail through the challenges they pose right at your face. But, they could be very demanding and thus, you need to be patient in order to solve them correctly without suffering a severe mental breakdown.

Amudha's story is the focus of this debut novella Magic Square. After facing multiple rejections at placements, she decides to slog day and night in a depressing lab to complete her Ph.D. Dheeraj is the only thing she finds good in the grim atmosphere of her research lab. One fine day, perhaps due to sheer serendipity, she stumbles upon a mathematics book which opens new gates for her. And there begins her journey of solving a complex mystery. 

Amudha is a sincere character who is depicted to a runner. She loves to escape from things, from obstacles. But the challenge a book throws at her accidentally brings out the best of her. She goes to every possible extent to unravel the mystery lingering around a discrete mathematics book found in a petty old-fashioned library. In the due course of time, her character comes across the most enlightening truth -

Life is an optimization problem. It has constraints and conditions. The important thing is to differentiate between hard and soft constraints.

One could not tame the hard constraint but one can surely control the soft constraint. You cannot chase your comfort by running away from challenges. This won't take you anywhere. It is your mind you have to control with patience and perseverance. 

1. The plotline is fresh and welcoming.
2. I liked the development of Amudha's character. The author has played around her psyche very well. The gradual building up of her strength is fantastic.
3. I loved the narrative which is not very deep but has the ability to strike its reader. 
4. The language and expressions used in the book enhance its charm. The book is, no doubt, an engrossing one. 
5. The writing style of the author is good. In the end, comparison of life with computer algorithm techniques was amazing. 

In a nutshell, if you are looking for a new storyline and a pretty short book with no compromise on quality, go for this book! 

[Sanya Goel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic square is a short, thriller novella, that makes a perfect read on a breezy Sunday Evening with some coffee.

The book is compact and well written. The best part about the book is its brevity, and the author’s ability to wrap up everything, without leaving any loose threads.

Amudha, the protagonist is a reflection of the majority of Indians in their 20s, trying to figure out their life. Her character feels like an old acquaintance, who has a lot to offer, in terms of life’s lessons and philosophies. The male protagonist, Dheeraj, who might not necessarily be termed as a protagonist is a quirky, fun and relatable character. He chimes in at various moments and makes the book a worthy read. The bickering between the two friends is the highlight of the book.

The plot is a decent setting, with an adequate mixture of thrill and humour, at the right places. Amudha’s quest to search for a person who owned a mathematics textbook, around 50 years back, makes it an enthralling read. Her journey is intriguing and the connections make sense, mostly. The escapade during her vacation proves to be fruitful for Amudha and the readers, alike.

The author’s vision of highlighting an important event in India’s history is certainly praiseworthy. The book is unconventional and emerges as a fresh, welcoming plot.

If you like short, compact books, this is the perfect pick for you! If you love mathematics and understand optimisation, you might find a profound mantra to live life and cater to challenges!

[Akshaya (shae_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and my book club, Himalayan Book Club for the copy in exchange for an honest review

Magic Square by Salini Vineeth, to me, is a coming-of-age story of Amudha, a PhD student by chance, as she tries to understand herself and find her ground as an young adult. On paper, it follows Amudha as she goes on a trail to find the mystery owner of a mathematics book.

Technically speaking, the plot was neat, characters were fleshed out well and conflicts were clear. The first 25% of the book was pretty solid, with cool observations, snarky remarks and monologues from Amudha, as she set the backdrop and tone of the story. Dialogues.. Well, I'd say the dialogues were Indianized - how to feel about it though, is always subjective.

Personally, I enjoyed the references to Tamil culture scattered through the book. Be it Thamizhukku amudhendru song or the paniyaram, there're hidden treats to Tamil readers.

Overall, the novelette is full of soul and potential. It could be an entertaining read during tea time or on a sunny spring afternoon

[Arun Thirtha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my wife. Excellent read on a rainy evening in Bangalore. Kudos to Salini!!👍👌

[Sindhu Vinod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, if you are looking for a short read with an intriguing mystery to be unveiled, you can definitely give this a try. Magic square is a debut Novella by Salini, but stands out good with very minimal characters. As the name sounds, it isn’t deep into mathematical knowledge or concepts but mathematics does play a role.

Amudha the protagonist is a PH.D scholar. After being rejected by umpteen interview panels. She finally decides that Ph.D is the destiny for her. And she also made it to the list of candidates chosen by Prof. Murthy. She practically starts living in the lab, since she feels ignored at home between an elder sister and a younger brother who take away all the attention from here. Dheeraj is also one of the research candidates, but has practically been longer in Murthy’s lab than Amudha.

Amudha had gotten used to being with Dheeraj that she is confused if she is in love or it was just like how she was attached to every table and chair. Dheeraj hopes on every submission that he would be called by the professor to intimate that he would graduate the next year, but it just doesn’t seem to happen.  One fine day hes given a list of problems to be solved. HE together with Amudha search google in all possible ways but couldn’t find even those questions online.

That’s when Amudha decides to take Dheeraj to her favorite place next to lab, an old library. The place is not organized with books lying around on all corners. She tells Dheeraj to help himself to find the solutions to the problems and not to divert himself to other areas.

Dheeraj while going through random piles of books uncovers a discrete mathematics textbook from the year 1965. It belonged to L V Sreenivasan. The book had solutions to all the problems he was puzzled with. HE began to worship this unknown person. Amudha also takes time to see the book where she notices a tamil poem of few lines written to a person named Harini.

While Dheeraj goes to spend his Christmas vacation in north India, Amudha decides to go in search of L V Sreenivasan. Thanks to the name of the college written on the book, she first calls the reception, then to the records department; only to know that she has to go in person to Chennai; to meet the registrar to gather that information.

Does Amudha find the unknown L V Sreenivasan immediately or what are the situations she is put through, does Dheeraj help her is the rest of the story.

A wonderful gripping read, I finished the book at one go. The writing style is simple. Characterizations are given very much importance. With just few characters each doing a critical part does give the plot a heads up. I found few editing mistakes at places. For a debut novel the choice of plot and writing style is appreciable.

[Aryan Sarath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What should I say about this book? My rating to this novella would pretty much convey as to what I wanted to.

Yes. It is a brilliant story where I could see the reflection of the long lost love(in this case, it is the love of writing) where author has used very minimal characters but has still kept a reader like me hooked to it till the end.

Amudha & Dheeraj we’re enrolled as PhD students after their M.Tech under the guidance of Prof.Murthy. Though Amudha wasn’t as excited to pursue it, she did it as she could not find solace let alone job, anywhere. I would say that she never had any goals until one day she gets some details about a book where one L V Sreenivasan has scribbled something in the back of the book along with a tamil poem. She decides to trace him as he might be helpful to them in their studies but she ends up with an unforgettable journey.

Who is he?
Did she manage to trace him?

Read the novella to know more and I’m sure that you wouldn’t be disappointed. An incredible writing and a real good read for me.

[Krutika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Square.
🍁
Thank you for the review copy @half_baked_beans.
🍁
Being a small read, this was an impactful one. When Amudha, a PhD student stumbles upon a mathematics textbook in the iconic Blossom bookstore in Bangalore, she gets curious about the book's previous owner. Amudha has always been a neglected middle child never receiving enough attention as a kid. When she finds the book, she knows she has to solve the mystery.
🍁
L. V. Sreenivasan, the previous owner would have penned down a poem to a woman called Harini on the cover of the book which piques Amudha's interest. She decides to take a break from her routine research job and goes to Chennai in search of him. Her friend Dheeraj plays an important role in helping her out by giving her details from the internet. Post reaching Sreenivasan's college, she reads the termination letter of him and her curiousity increases a notch. Why was he termed a criminal?
🍁
The journey then leads her to Pondicherry where she finally meets Sreenivasan. Throughout this expedition, Amudha gets time to dwell upon her choices both personally and career wise. Read this book if you'd like to know what deemed Sreenivasan as a criminal? Will he meet her expectations of being scholarly? Pick up this book to know about both Amudha as well as Sreenivasan's life.
🍁
The book is merely of 60 pages but it will not let you keep it down even for a second. The characters are very well developed and the plot gets interesting with every page. If you're looking for a gripping yet small read, this is the one for you. There were however few grammatical errors in the book but you may overlook them considering how intense the story is.
🍁
I would rate this book 4.5/5.

[Harshita Nanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Square by Shalini Vineeth is the first book I have read of the author, though i have read a couple of short stories from her.
Amudha is a PHD aspirant and Dheeraj is her friend. When Dheeraj is handed a set of complex problems to solve by their PhD mentor, Amudha and Dheera, in looking for the solutions stumble upon a second-hand book mathematics book. While Dheeraj is elated to find the solutions to the problems in the book, Amudha is mystified and intrigued by the Tamil couplet that is written at the back.
Thus starts Amudha's quest to find who wrote the couplet and why.
The story jumps from Bangalore to Chennai to Pondicherry and it brought a smile to my face and it was all familiar grounds. The unspoken relation between Dheeraj and Amudha is heartwarming.
Magic Square was an engrossing read. The mystery of the couplet and Amudha's desire to find L.V. Srinivasan keeps the reader hooked. Amudha's search for L.V.Srinivasan becomes a metaphor for her own life. Amudha who is not a risk-taker suddenly has this urge to do something daring. She herself is not able to explain why she wants to find L.V.Srinivasan, but in her gut, she knows if she doesn't do it, she will regret it her entire life.
Magic Squares is about serendipity, about finding clues in life which if solved can change the course of life. Just like it did for Amudha.

[Akhila Nagendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I read any of Salini Vineeth's works. I must admit, I was captivated by her narration all along. The spread of many ingredients - PhD life, a typical South Indian set up, the glimpses of mathematics here and there, curiosity factor thanks to L V Srinivasan and the fast lane zip zap zoom from one city to another have all woven an intricate plot that keeps the readers on their toes, at all times. The right throw of emotions, in the right measure at the right moment caught my attention. I enjoyed visualizing every bit of intricate detail, be it the Vinolia company or the the journey from Chennai to Pondicherry. The author kept pushing me to read through pages till I reached the last one, in one go! I would however have loved to know if Amudha's take away learning from L V Srinivasan actually helped her and Dheeraj in more solid ways or did it just come handy for a switchover from PhD to a job hunt. Being a Bengaluru native, I could very well relate to most of the South Indian references in the whole work. Great job!

[Ruchi Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

t’s a small book basically a novella, thr protagonist is Amudha, she is a Ph.D. Student. But basically disinterested in it. Dheeraj is her friend and helps her in pursuing her education as well as he gives well support in her personal issues also. Amudha is basically tends to run away from the things like, when she lost her first job, she decided to go for M.Tech. The it was time to go for better job, she decided to go for Ph.D. One day she found a book of L V Shreenivasan, and she decided to trace him unknowingly whether he is alive or dead. Read further to know whether she will be able to find him, and what is the mystery behind it.

➡️It’s a short book. So can be read easily.
➡️Well written mysterious plot.
➡️ Page turner.
➡️ Good use of vocabulary and language.
➡️ Story takes time to enter in the plot, so initially it’s like routine story but then story takes a turn.
➡️ Unpredictable end.
➡️ Good one!

[Sonika Mamgain · Rating 3 out of 5]

• Magic square is a debut novella of the author. The story revolves around a character named S.L.Srinivasan.
The other two important characters Amudha and Dheeraj plays an important role in finding the puzzle and later going through different situations to solve it.
• It all started when Amudha, a pHD student, who lives in her own trapped world, always trying too hard to improve herself awakes a sense of curiosity to solve the puzzle which leads to series of events which were thrilling of their own kind in her boring world.

• ‌I personally liked the conversation between Amudha and Dheeraj. They both were so simply written that they really felt like people next door.
• ‌The way Author has described the sensitivity of such an important event without any rush or chaos is I think appreciable.
• ‌Book consists of 62 pages so it can be finished in one sitting

[Krishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to congratulate @salini.sasidharan.37 on her first book ... and all the best for many more to come .
Magic square is a short novel and a quick read . The plot is quite interesting and the twist was exactly opposite my imagination. The protagonist in the book is quite relatable and the story is short and crisp. I quite enjoyed reading the book and look forward to many more from Shalini.

Booksandexperiences gives it 🌟🌟🌟🌟rating
Thank you @mysecret.bookshelf for recommending it 🥰
Krishna
Bae 💞

#booksandexperiences #bookstagram #mysecretbookshelf #books #bookshelf #bookseries #mumbaibookstagram #experiencelifethroughbooks #indianauthors

[Gurleen Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read with a captivating mystery to be unveiled, you can definitely give this a try. Magic square is a debut Novella by Salini but stands out well with very minimal characters. As the name sounds, it isn’t deep into mathematical ideas but mathematics does play a role.
Its language is lucid and the characters are rational and quite relatable in their unique pattern.
The added fact of the person who's a mystery is to be discovered turning out to be a businessman wasn't even in my wildest imaginations.
A decent, brief read!

[Rehana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Square is a compelling, breezy novella on finding the right purpose at the right time, sometimes even by chance, just like how I stumbled upon this book. The time I took to finish this book since the discovery was hardly an hour—an hour that I am very glad to have spent this way.

This story starts with Amudha’s not-so-interesting PhD life, where her colleague Dheeraj turns out to be the only reason she continues the grind. Pursuing a PhD degree was never Amudha’s dream, but she took it up for lack of better options. One day, while helping Dheeraj with his project, she comes across a book owned by a certain L.V. Sreenivasan decades ago, who turns out to be not just a mathematics genius but also a literary enthusiast and a romantic at heart. A poem on the back of the book addressed to someone else piques her curiosity, and she sets out to do the unthinkable. Thus begins a journey of adventure, mystery, love, loss and more.

What starts as a breezy, light-hearted tale quickly transforms into an adventure mystery that is sure to keep the readers on the edge of their seats, before ending on a heavy, heartbreaking note. I especially loved the vivid descriptions of the streets of Pondicherry, Chennai, and Bengaluru. This picturesque tale is too good to be missed, particularly if you’re familiar with the language politics and cultural struggles of the 1900s.

The protagonists are also deeply admirable, with ‘opposites attract’ energy adding a romantic dimension to the plot. So, even if you’re not a fan of mystery, read it for the romance, because so many books marketed as romance these days aren't really one anymore.

[Annamma Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Novella has a natural flow of events from the beginning to the end. Each part of the story is logically connected . We feel like the characters live among us. The emotions of each character is being depicted very clearly and it help the reader to understand their personality deeply.The reality and imagination are logically connected with the accurate support of history.

The keen determination of Amudha to find the mathematical genius Sreenivasan is maintained throughout. Her sincerity is very touching. The reader also runs with her. The support form her friend Dheeraj also highly appreciable. All the scenes are so realistic and the narrations are natural. The detailed description of all the indoor scenes are excellent, especially Martin's House. All the characters appear in correct place and time for the development of the story .

The innocence and reliability of Tamil people are depicted very accurately . The tempo of the story is maintained throughout and the reader would like to complete reading in one stretch. The unexpected twist of the story to the climax is wonderful. For the first time I completed in one stretch and read detailed in second time and went deep into it for the third time. I feel a bit of technical knowledge of IT and Maths are needed for easy reading.

The Novella thrills people who like history, investigation and Maths. Moreover it attracts both the average and seasoned readers alike. In Magic Square the mathematical qualities speed, accuracy and preciseness are blended in correct proportion. My heartfelt congratulation to Salini for her hard work and effort to present us such a wonderful Novella.

[Mamata | _booksandtealife · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very short read but keeps hooked on till the end. I finished it in one go!
Debut by Salini Vineeth, and I must say the minimal number of characters, the language and the expressions used have only enhanced the charm.

The story is about a Ph.D. student Amudha, basically disinterested in what she is doing and trying to run away from everything. Her friend, Dheeraj, a senior fellow research student from the same lab, is always there to support. And it is through him that she comes across a puzzle in a book and starts her expedition to unveil the mystery behind the book.

The rest of the story is how Amudha finds about the puzzle and the person behind it. And at the end how she comes out as a new person.

To be precise, if one is looking for a new and pretty short storyline, this can surely be picked up.

[Ghayathry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent and light read.

It is a very breezy and light read.
The pace of the story didn't drop anywhere. The writer has kept it simple yet straight.
Although twists in the incidents could have been made more tastefully.
(Spoiler alert) All those mentions about early days of Madras was my favorite part!

[Nandini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet read that quickly engulfs you to learn more about what happens next. As a debut novella, it's incredible. The storyline is usual but captivating. You can't put it down.
I look forward to reading more work by the talented author.

[Toolika Wadhwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

One sitting read. Mystery. Fairly well written for a first writing. The story revolves around the life of a young PhD scholar trying to find purpose in life and jumping in on a mysterious search for a stranger. She finds herself in the end.

[Nithya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am part of a book reading/reviewing group. This book was introduced there. Curiously, I searched for the title in Amazon. Read the blurb, found it very interesting. Went ahead and downloaded the book on my Kindle though the norm is to wait for the go-ahead by the admin.

Here is what I thought about the book:
--> Plot is well written
--> Characters are well-etched: Amudha is the best.
--> Story moves fast, there are a few loose threads but they are not deterrents.

What I didn't understand:
--> Connection to the title. Is it because the protagonist is a Math scholar?

Salini's debut novel is a promising one. I wish the author a lot of luck in her writing career.

[sayantan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of my college time.

Simple writing yet interesting. And I wish to have a sequel . Please write it soon and all the best.

[Ayush Ayush · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very good read. I liked this book because the mystery that Amuda, the protagonist, solves actually dates back to time of 1965. Imagine a modern and current-generation girl has to assemble all clues all by herself to reach that riddle. In mystery novels, it is always tough to handle the cases of yesteryears.

How Amuda gets into this puzzle and what actuated her to solve this that too all alone is worth commendable. I would love to read this book again and again. Imagine a young college girl hops from Bangalore to Chennai to Pondicherry, solving one riddle after another, is enticing. To know the story in detail I would advise you to grab this book fast and complete reading it in one sitting…it is just 62 pages. Short but gripping! Highly recommend.

[Sowmya N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic square is indeed a great read. I started reading the book and could not stop till I finished it. Every element is well taken care and it keeps the readers in the grip of suspense. Good first attempt by the author. Waiting for more. All the best.

[Sanchari Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-touching adventure story that begins with a puzzle in an old mathematics book...