Book Review 18: Dharmayoddha Kalki by Kevin Missal.

'Dharmayoddha Kalki' by Kevin Missal is a beautifully written mythological fiction. It is the first book in the series. The book tells the story of Kalki, who is believed to be the final incarnation of Lord Vishnu on the Earth.

Kalki Hari, is a boy from the village of Shambala. He lives a simple life there with his brother Arjan, mother Sumati and father Vishnuyath. The course of his life changes when certain sudden events take place. Vishnuyath is kidnapped by the Mlechhas, outcasts from surrounding forest area, and later killed. Amidst all the chaos, he comes across Kripacharya who knows that him that he is the 'chosen one' and possesses special abilities. He tells him that all his deeds are supposed to be for the 'greater good'.  The antagonist of the story is Kali. He wants to be supremely powerful and expand his sphere of influence.

Will Kalki be able to save the world from the clutches of the evil?

All the characters are well developed. Each of the characters has entirely different trait and mannerisms. I especially loved the fact that the story has the presence of strong female characters. The plot is well designed. The author has successfully produced a fresh and unpredictable plot.

Lately, a lot of literary works have been produced under the genre of 'Mythological Fiction'. And in this book, I found a resemblance to Amish Tripathi's style. However, the book has some drawbacks. The starting could have been a bit more interesting. At some parts, it could have been a bit less draggy and descriptive. It would have shortened the length of the book. But the book gets interesting as the story proceeds. Also, the book has a map which makes it all the more interesting. And the cover art is great too.

If you are a lover of mythological fictions, you can give this book a read.

About the author : Kevin Missal is a 21-year-old graduate from St. Stephen’s College, who has written four novels till now ranging from crime to mythology to horror. He had written his first book at the age of 14, which was released by the Chief Minister of Delhi. His second book was written at the age of 16 and was published by a British indie-press. He is a pioneer in writing the World’s First InstaRead and is a bestseller on Amazon under horror category. He is also the co-owner and co-founder of Kalamos Literary Services, which publishes and promotes fledgeling writers to make a mark in the literary industry. He currently lives in Delhi.  

My rating : 3 of 5 stars.
Publisher : Fingerprint Publishing.
First Published : October 2017 (by Kalamos Literary Services)
Pages : 463
Price : ₹250/-

Thanks to the publisher, Fingerprint Publishing, for the review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.