Title:
Kalki
Subtitle: Avatar of Vishnu
Author: Kevin Missal
Publishers: Kalamos Literary Services LLP
ISBN-13: 9788193503300
Number of Pages: 462
Genre: Fiction,
inspired by Mythology
The
Plot:
Whenever there is a decline in
righteousness and an upsurge in unrighteousness, at that time I take birth
again – Lord Govind
Born in the quiet village of
Shambala, Kalki Hari, son of Vishyunath and Sumati has no idea about his
heritage until he is pitted against tragedies and battles.
Whisked into the province of
Keekatpur, which is ruled by Lord Kali, Kalki sees the ignominy of death
trumping life all around him. He learns that he is born to cleanse the world he
lives in, for which he must travel to the North and learn the ways of Lord
Vishnu’s avatar; from an immortal who wields an axe.
But trapped in the midst of
betrayals, political intrigue and force that seek to decimate him will he be
able to follow his destiny before Kalyug begins?
The
Author:
Kevin Misal is a 21 year old
graduate from St Stephens College. He has previously written 4 books so far,
ranging from crime to mythology to horror.
He wrote his 1st book at the age of 14 (wow!)
and it was released by the then Chief Minister of Delhi. His 2nd book was
written at the age of 16 and was published by a British-Indie press.
Missal is also a pioneer in
writing the World’s First InstaRead (which
he kindly sent to me!) and is a bestseller on Amazon under the ‘Horror’
category. Kevin is also the co-founder and co-owner of Kalamos Literary
Services, who publish and promote fledgling writers and help make a mark in the
literary industry.
Review:
Before reading the book I was terrified
by its size. There are many books that are fat and have tons of pages which can make the reader doze off to sleep, as they pick it to read. But this book is a complete page turner. Each
and every page justified its reason of being a part of this book. The storyline is very addictive and keeps you glued. The author has done justice to all the characters and has
described each one perfectly.
Fiction inspired by mythology is
an interesting genre to read. And when you find out that it has
been authored by a 21-year old, you look forward to a fun ride, as it is bound to have a touch of wildness and freshness to it.
Dharmayoddha Kalki is Part
1 of a series of books to follow. It is about
the 10th and the final avatar of Vishnu known as Kalki who is said to appear
after the current epoch of Kalyug ends and will usher in the next epoch called
the Satayug.
The author, Kevin Missal, has let his imagination run free to fictitious villages and kingdoms, with multiple
characters and their colorful worlds. His descriptive writing is
so on point, that it shapes the characters and etches out their characteristics
for us, making them come alive, just like a movie.
My only little complaint is the
indulgent editing. The book could have been made a tighter read with
some clever editing.
This book talks about how the
son of a normal couple residing in the village of Shambhala who does has no
idea of his destiny. The book is divided into two chapters called the Battle of
Shambhala and The rise of Kali. The battle of Shambhala part deals with Kalki’s
life in Shambhala and the second chapter highlights the wrath of Lord Kali
who rules the kingdom of Keekatpur and is known for his atrocities and
political influence.
Kalki realizes that he has to put an end to these
atrocities, evilness and cleanse the foul world of the evil forces. He also
faces many betrayals in his way and learns to use his powers to help the world
become a better place. The story ended on a pessimistic note of suspense which certainly has made me look forward for the upcoming parts.
I particularly loved the
character of Kali who has a strong personality and stands out as a very bold heroic character throughout the story. Kevin has addressed many social stigmas of
the society and how they are still an integral part of the modern
world in different forms.
I loved this line from the
book: “Strength in a person doesn’t
define a hero. But where he uses his strength is what matters the most. A hero
isn’t born. He’s made. Through people, through journeys and most of all,
through tragedy.”
Verdict:
Kevin Missal is a gifted writer. I am sure he has thoroughly enjoyed conceptualizing this book and has lived the process of writing it. The cover of the book justifies the
theme of the book and gives a mythological feel. It was very easy to visualize the
events while reading as if they took place before my sight, which means the narration is bang on. The way he has
presented the story makes the book an addictive piece of mythological
literature. The win of good over evil and how the society functions as a whole
are some of the major takeaways from this book. Overall, it was a very
commendable, inspirational and blockbuster read. I highly recommend this book
to all those who have interest in reading mytho-fantasy thrillers. Nonetheless,
I am waiting anxiously for the other parts to be out, one by one! Kudos to Kevin!
Overall
Rating: 4/5
