This a debut novel of the author. The entire novel focuses on the lives of six childhood friends. Their names are Charu, Ananya, Neha, Avantika, Raihana and Yami. Together these friends are called CANARY in the book. The story is set on the background of the Naivedya Boarding School, in Kerala.

The book begins with an incidence of a rape victim coming forward and denying to hide her identity. However, there is no immediate reference to this plot in the book. It is important to understand the past of Canaries to understand this plot.
The Canaries were very good friends in the boarding school but an unfortunate incidence drives them apart after their tenth.

The story develops further with different plots focusing on each of the friends’ life. With different plots and subplots, the story becomes one big jigsaw puzzle. But I must compliment the author for putting all pieces together to develop a beautiful picture. After every character struggles through their share of bad luck the story ends on a slightly positive note.

Because of too many things happening at the same time, it was difficult for me to keep a track of who’s who and it became slightly confusing. It appears that the author has tried to put everything in the first novel. Therefore, the novel looks little cramped.

In my view, introducing too many characters in the story gave little chance to the author to develop them. More descriptive narration can make this novel a definite page-turner.

Overall a good effort as a debut novel. I will give 3 stars to the novel.

This book is a part of the review program in Outset.

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