Author: Pratik Sahay
Publisher: Book Leaf Publishing
I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
In the peaceful town of New Delhi, a few tragedies befall Anugrah, a
devoted family man, a loyal lover and pillar of the friends. Malevolent
instances sweep through, leaving his family and friends brutally taken from
him. Consumed by grief and fueled by a thirst for justice, Anugrah descends
into the shadows, emerging as a vengeful force against the world that betrayed
him. Haunted by unanswered questions and a deep-seated anger, Anugrah adopts a
new identity – "GOD." Under this dark guise, he seeks answers not
from the earthly realm but from the divine. As Anugrah amasses power, his
actions draw the attention of a group of heroes called the ATF, determined to
stop the spreading darkness. Led by General Daksh and others, the ATF embarks
on a journey to save the world from Anugrah’s wrath. The novel unfolds as a
gripping exploration of revenge, redemption, and the blurred lines between good
and evil. "The Divine Duel" delves into the complexities of loss, the
fragility of the human psyche, and the consequences of unchecked power. The
novel weaves a tapestry of mysticism, morality, and the indomitable human
spirit, as Anugrah navigates the thin line between justice and vengeance while
confronting the gods themselves in his quest for answers. Will he find solace
in revenge, or will the light of redemption pierce through the veil of darkness
shrouding his heart?
Pratik’s attempt to mould mythology and science fiction together is a commendable attempt. He explores the idea of the circle of time in an interesting manner. The book explores the story of Anugrah, a boy with dreams and purity in his heart, forced by the actions of others to turn to the other side and turn evil. Pratik’s idea of showing the entire arc of a good guy turning bad was nicely penned and I liked that the transformation was explored in detail. Another aspect of the book that stands out was the science and how he weaves it into the entire plot of the book. The aspect of friendship, bonds and relationships is also touched upon nicely. What did not work for me in the book was the stark contrast in the first and the second half of the book. The “Too Good” turning “Too Evil”, while ideated nicely, was not executed well in the story. Another aspect of the book that did not work for me was the rushed storytelling, vague codes that seemed like afterthoughts and storylines that did not make sense. The climax, while in line with the theme, could have been explored a bit better and with the build-up, I was expecting a bit more of content.
Overall, the book is a good attempt at mythology and science fiction
which could have been treated better. The book scores a 3.75/5 for me.
Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.
