Author: Deepak Dalal
Publisher: Penguin India
Have you experienced trekking in the Sahyadris?
Sahyadri Adventure (Koleshwar’s Secret) takes the reader on a journey to the Sahyadris in the second and concluding
part of this riveting tale where history meets adventure in one of the most
beautiful locales of India. Far out in the Sahyadris rises a mountain called
Koleshwar. Amidst its caves and rumbling streams lie many secrets, secrets that
Anirudh discovers when he wakes from a strange dream. Vikram, Aditya, Chitra
and Anirudh are now tasked with trying to make sense of his dream. How does
Anirudh inexplicably recognize not just every contour and ridge of the lush,
monsooned hills but also know every minute detail of the vanished Fort of Mumbai?
Will this group of budding adventurers decode the forgotten legacy, buried in
the ancient slopes of the Sahyadris, before tips goes over the edge?
The book takes off from the exact moment the first book ends and tells us
what happens after we explore Anirudh’s dream. The storytelling is even
crispier in this book, specially as the events are fast paced and have to be
correlated with the ones explained in the first part. The book stays true to
its theme of love, family and friendship and how the people we meet in our
lives shape our past and present. I liked how the author uses the history of
Mumbai and the Sahyadris to set the tone of the book, and the details are so
vividly explained that I could actually picture myself along with Vikram and
Anirudh as they trace the events of Anirudh’s dream. The revelations made in
this book were quite awe inspiring and while reading the first part, I did not fathom
that the ending could be in the manner that Deepak executes. The last patrt of
the book is emotional and brings the true essence of the story to light
perfectly. The climax is well done and is a wonderful close to the story.
Coming to the characters, while I did talk about them in detail in the review
of the first part, and most of it stands true in this book as well, I want to
highlight that Deepak’s idea of a true friendship is quite amazing and I loved
how he shows it through multiple people in the story. Another thing that is
unique to the book is that Deepak has used the landscape of the Sahyadri’s as a
character itself and there are plot points that actually hinge on the very
manner in which the Sahyadri’s are created and located. My best moment from the
book is not something I can reveal in the review, simply because it would be a
spoiler, but believe you me when you read this book, you would get what I am
hinting at.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this pair of books for anyone who
is looking to read a well crafted young adult story. The book scores a 4.94/5
for me.
I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Read my review of SahyadriAdventure (Anirudh’s Dream) here.
Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!
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