The current COVID situation has forced everyone to find ways to kill time. Binge-watching TV shows and movies became tiresome. I turned towards the books and read up to a point that it became boring as well. I was craving for some trilogy or some series of books, let us say some series like the Shiva Trilogy or Hunger Games Series or The Ram Chandra series or something like The Harappa Trilogy. I was failing to find one because I was looking up for books, based on ratings until I eyed on Dharmyoddha Kalki - Avatar of Vishnu and saw there are 2 more books to this series. The way Indian authors have rewritten mythology has always impressed and inspired me. I remember it was released around the same time when the first book of Harappa Trilogy(which is also of the same genre) came out but somehow I skipped to check on this book.
The story starts off from a battlefield where Kali who's a genius war tactician and believes that every form of a human entity, be it a Manava, Rakshasa, Yakshasa, etc. should live together in peace and harmony. In the current battle, he wins and takes that one big step towards his utopia. Parallelly, we're introduced to Kalki who's a village boy and lives according to his own way along with his happy family. Kalki is not a normal human being and has enormous strength known only to his father and her friend Lakshmi, who came back from the city for some time. We're also familiarized with the Somras from the Soma Caves and the divine power that they behold. On the other side of the story, as it unfolds with some ups and downs, Kali succumbs illness for some unknown causes. As his medical condition deteriorates there's a lot of politics and killing behind his back and several, eye for his position. The only person to care for Kali, is Durukti, his sister. When Durukuti learns of the Somaras and its effect, she wants it at her disposal, for which she heads for Shambala (Kalki's Village). At Shambala, things are not great, as Kalki and the villagers have lost someone dear to them. We have introduced to a new team of Arjan: Kalki's Brother, Bala: Arjan's & Kalki's friend, Lakshmi, and Kripa: an Acharya, who informs Kalki the purpose of his birth. Upon learning the intentions of Durukti, the villagers try to resist the request by Durukti and plan to stop them at any cost under the leadership of Kalki, but they fail miserably. Kalki realizes the loss of lives and is taken into custody by Durukti and they head towards Indragarh. When Kali consumes the Somaras, he becomes well and powerful instantly. According to Kripa, Kalki should prepare himself to end the Adharma and the evil, which is none other than the Kali whose mind becomes corrupt slowly and he intends to kill everyone whom he considers a threat. Kali upon learning the whereabouts of their new prisoner, Kalki, especially knowing of his capabilities, wants to kill him but instead chooses to behead him publicly. While at some corner of the castle, a man with some delusional power has plotted all the events that took place till the date, his identity is still unknown. For what happens to Kalki and his friends, I suggest you read the book :)
In his foreword to his readers, Kevin has mentioned that he took inspiration from the epics and various TV shows. Each and every character of this book has been defined very well, let its role be big or small. I have always liked the parallel narration of stories and its the same suit that this book follows. However, in this book, I didn't find a moment where it surprised me as a reader for that "wow" thing, but yes on certain aspects, the story was left over a cliffhanger. I found the turn of events inside the book especially the manslaughter and deaths highly inspired by Game of Thrones, but yes with its own flair. Overall the book is a great read for those have never touched any of the above-mentioned series or any other mythological fictional series, especially from the Indian authors. The book is an adventure on its own, let us see how the story unfolds in his other book: Satyayoddha Kalki - Eye of Brahma.
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