Author: Anshul Dupare

Anshul Dupare Genre: Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction Paperback: 224 pages

224 pages Publisher: Rupa Publications India (20 November 2018)

Rupa Publications India (20 November 2018) Language: English

BLURB as on Goodreads

Ashok wandered amidst the corpses, helplessly, looking like a dead man walking among the dead. The wailing of people who had lost their loved ones on the battlefield cut into his soul, and it was then that he heard a cry for help…

As the realization of the devastation of war seeped in, Ashok decided to dedicate his life towards the betterment of society and try his best to prevent any destruction of life. Realizing he could not do so single-handedly, Ashok created a secret society comprising nine chosen members, who were known as the ‘Nine Unknown’, to help preserve knowledge that, in the wrong hands, could be used to destroy humanity.

Little did Ashok know that the safekeeping of such knowledge had a high price to it; that shadows walk amidst us; and that sometimes our actions unspool unimaginable consequences…

The first of two volumes, this book has the power to transform your idea of reality!

The hunger of power, when consumes you completely, wreaks havoc in your life and you are bound to be doomed. And it is the power that makes the focus of this book.

Ashok was immersed in the pool of grief after witnessing the devastation of Kalinga that leads to his transformation as a kind ruler. There is this man Amartya who has been at the receiving of the horrible aftermath of the Kalinga war. He is brimming with hatred and the air of vengeance is gushing through his veins. His madness knew no bounds and he reaches the land of Wizcraftry, Mayong, where yet another turn of events leaves him baffled.

To fulfill his task of preserving the knowledge of the past, Ashok has formed a group of the nine unknown. After immense deliberation, the representatives for the 9 fields of study are chosen. There follows a trail of murders of the respected nine unknown which finally ends at Egypt. The mystery interspersed in the story would leave you mesmerized.

I personally love the books which are fresh in their concept and follow no beating around the bush. This book has been written very well where the author has picked up a historical event, combined the facts with his imagination, and has woven a spellbinding tale full of action and suspense. An unputdownable and a sure shot page-turner, the book makes you wonder at the events taking place one after the other.

The fast-paced narrative and a gripping plotline are what that interest me greatly. The book under consideration has a gripping effect on its readers with the manner in which events present themselves to them. Along with this, an excellent characterization makes you connect with the characters as well the story. I was saddened by the description of the sufferings of the victims of the war, I was puzzled at the black magic and witchcraft, I was barely able to hold on the point when Amartya is transported to the land of the dead, I was left mulling over the whole history of Atlantis and the reason behind so much of clamor in the story.

The author has definitely put up a commendable amount of research into coming up with this plot. Couple it with is lucid writing style and no-nonsense narration, the book gives you the points of justice and power and humanity to ponder over. Everything has been handled well by the author and therefore, I finished it in a sitting.

At a few places, I came across a few typos which I would suggest removing by editing the book once.

The book leaves you at a cliffhanger and I am definitely wanting a lot more from the next in the series. Because I want to know if the immortals Amartya and Ashok tied together with a curse would ever be able to break it.

MY RATING: 4.25/ 5

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