Sinbad and the Trumpet of Israfil-Kevin Missal

Book: Sinbad and the Trumpet of Israfil
Author: Kevin Missal
Publisher: Penguin India

Have you read the story of Sinbad the Sailor?

Sinbad and the Trumpet of Israfil is the first book in the Sinbad series by Kevin Missal which is a reimagination of Sinbad-the fabled sailor from the classic One Thousand and One who faces a myriad of mythological creatures. This book introduces us to the young Sinbad as a young hunter who fell in love. Like all stories, Sinbad had his share of troubles, and to top it up Armageddon is round the corner, and Sinbad has only seven days to save the world, and to kill the only girl he ever loved. As Sinbad sets sail to do the impossible, he has to hoodwink a Greek God, crash a vampire wedding, mollycoddle a giant and face a fallen Angel. Can he save the world, or would emotions overtake him in the decisive moment?

The story has been told exceptionally well with parallel storylines, set 4 years apart as we meet Sinbad as an apprentice, and as a master hunter. Setting the stage for the reveal towards the middle of the book, Kevin maintains the suspense of the cat-eyed girl. The language is simple, and apt for the story as it is told. The author has also taken his time to set the stage for the main plot of the book to unfold and reveal the Trumpet of Israfil and I loved the scene when that happens, and I could almost visualize Ja’far. The description of places and people is quite vivid, and the author is successful in painting a picture of events as they unfold. From the runes on Sinbad’s tunic to the sword, and the “dancing captain”, each of the moments has been beautifully described. Each of the trials that Sinbad and his motley of followers face has been well crafted and well executed, so much so that there is breathing space between events and a reader is able to process the same. Kevin, in his signature style, has added some interesting elements that make the story fun like the scene between the Greek God, or the Baron. The climax, however, was something I did not expect, and specially from Idris.

 Coming to the characters, Sinbad as a character is a wonderfully crafted one, and with his origin story in place, I am now excited to see how he develops over the series. His arc is very well crafted, with proper time being given to events that preceded the book to establish the story and the character. Another character I loved was that of Safeena, and the message the Kevin portrays through her character is very powerful and magnetic. Husayn is another character that surprised me, specially with the events that unfold on the island, given his starting point. Overall, the characters are the essence of this book, and they have been their time in the book to express themselves and tell their story.

The review of the book cannot be complete without due credit going to the team behind the team who designed the cover and the artwork inside the book. The essence of the Arabian Nights, and the idea of Sinbad just jumps out from it.

Overall, a definite recommendation to go and read this tale of a hunter who becomes a sailor!

The book gets a 4.38/5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Lotus Land (Konark Secret Book 1)-Bhuban Patra

Book: Lotus Land (Konark Secret Book 1)
Author: Bhuban Patra
Publisher: Leadstart Inkstate

Have you even wondered about the secrets many monuments hold?

Lotus Land by Bhuban Patra is the first book in the Konark Secret Duology which is a fictionalized account set in 1200 CE when a small kingdom in the Eastern part of India was entering its golden period. While being a maritime superpower, Kalinga remained secluded and reclusive to the other nations in the subcontinent. The book tells us the tale of Bishnu Maharana, the chief architect of the Konark Temple. The story traces his journey as he became a master architect, and the various hurdles he had to overcome. Not a simple take of creation, but the story explores the idea that behind the temple. The techniques used in the construction were not that were not common, and this raises a number of questions. Was Bishnu Maharana just an architect, or was he something more, and what is the secret that hide behind the walls of the temple?

The book is an interesting tale which chronicles the mythology of one of the most famed temples of India. Bhuban has taken the story and penned a plot that is rife with secrets, one that can interest people who love mythological retellings as well as people who have a keen interest in the field of architecture. The details in the book, be it human or structural, are well crafted and explained and that helps in visualizing the scenes as they unfold. The element of mystery in the book has been well preserved, and the things revealed are quite interesting as well, with enough left over for the second book. however, this detailing also became a negative aspect of the book, as a lot of details seemed irrelevant in the context of this book and could have been reduced. There are a couple of places where the plot actually lost pace because of the details. The grammar also needs one round of editing as there were issues, though nothing that cannot be sorted after a round of proofreading. The climax is interesting, and I would wait to read the second part of this duology.

Coming to the characters, Bishnu’s character is quite interesting in the manner it is told. I loved the aura of mystery that he carries, and how various aspects of his character, both strengths and weaknesses, are shown. Another character I admired was of Guru Silpy, and I hope to see more of him in the second book as he presented an interesting character in terms of plotline. Nara was a surprise element for me and the way his arc panned out was quite interesting and specially the reveal in the end was astounding!

Overall, a book with a potential to be more, and I await the second part of the book to unravel the mystery! This book scores a 3.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Tarikshir (The Awakening)-Khyaal Patel

Book: Tarikshir-The Awakening

Author: Khayaal Patel

Publisher: Westland India

A fresh retelling finding in its roots in the Ramayana, Tarikshir (The Awakening) is the story of a boon that could make the holder powerful beyond anyone’s imagination.

The book opens with the plot starting from Lanka, just after the events of Ravana is slain. We see a monkey, Valikesh, roaming around in the Palace, looking for spoils of war, when he comes across a stone that catches his eyes. Instinctively, he picks it up and we get a glance into the powers that stone carries. Cut to the present times, we come to a small princely state in Rajasthan, Devangarh, who is led by Raja Ravindra and is facing a confrontation by the British and their army. Hugely outnumbered, the king maintains his pride and opts for war rather than succumbing to the British rule.

We are also introduced the other prominent characters of the story. Prince Rudra, who is the heir apparent, is not exactly what the king wanted him to become. He is a fierce warrior, but deep down resents killing of a person. Having being influenced by both his father and mother, his conflicting conscience becomes a crucial part of the story. The King’s brother, Shamsher Singh Chauhan is another crucial character of the plot. Being a rebel, he goes into a self-exile and builds his own guerilla army that becomes a pain for the British in India. When the peace talks between Devangarh and the British fail, Shamsher offers his support to the king which he haughtily waves away. We are also shown different characters such as Duryadutta, Rudra’s teacher who plays the voice of reason in his life, Shen-Zou, A Chinese traveler who taught Rudra martial arts, and Rudra’s mother who gives him his conscience.

With the kingdom in turmoil due to the incoming attack, another blow hits the kingdom. King Ravindra dies suddenly. Suspecting the death of the king to be an assassination, he starts digging into the possible causes. One day in the library, he discovers his grandfather’s old diaries and he stumbles upon the legend of Tarikshir. Adding to this, the kingdom sees a spate of murders in which the bodies have been drained of blood.

What is the legend of Tarikshir? 

Is the death of the King really accidental?

What is the significance of the stone Valikesh Found?

The book answers these questions adeptly. The plot of the book is engaging and cohesive. The subplots are properly defined and can be inter-related without much difficulty. The climax of the book is wonderful and interesting with the entire plot coming to focus on one point. The way the plot has been treated is commendable. With just the right amount of mystery, thrill, mystery and science, the book makes for an engaging read.

The epilogue of the book is certainly the cherry atop the cake.

I would give the book 4/5.