YA Fantasy based on Hindu Mythology: Yaay or Nay? Keep on Reading to know more!
Publisher : Penguin Ebury Press (26 September 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 298 pages
Order your copy: Here
This Book post is kindly sponsored by Penguin Random House SEA
ABOUT THE BOOK
WHAT IF YOU CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE KING OF THE GODS?
Phones stop working. Smartwatches die out. Arms start glowing with blue scars.
And training begins the very next day for Aman Chandra and ten other Souls of Samsara, who are kidnapped from modern-day India and transported to a hidden valley in the Himalayas. In this realm of magic, home to Hindu gods, immortal yogis, and mythical beasts, the mission is clear for the Souls of Samsara: to learn the ancient art of yogic sorcery and prepare within one year for a treacherous journey not many can survive.
But why must they go on this journey? And how are the gods connected to it all?
Before they get any answers, the Souls of Samsara realize that there is a larger scheme at play. The king of the gods has passed a controversial order. And Aman must make a tough decision that will change not just his life but the fate of an entire nation.
MY THOUGHTS
When we talk about YA fiction based on Hindu mythology, we majorly find books on Mahabharata and Ramayana, and Puranas. It’s a rare feast to see books on Vedic gods. Samsara is one such book.
Written in a beautiful manner, Samsara is a cerebral delight. As the story goes, Aman along with 10 others was kidnapped from modern India to be trained in a magical realm, tucked in the Himalayas. Vanyasa and its yogic residents preserved the Rig Vedic way of living and worshipping ancient gods like Indra, Varuna, and Agni.
In his book, Saksham Garg focused not only on the world-building factor but paid equal attention to the aspect of character-building. The detailed explanation of the events make the reading experience a cinematic one and kept me hooked till the end.
In the later part of the book, he talked about how religion is used as a tool to manipulate and yield power to the masses by selfish individuals. He brushed on the dualities of Gods and here I felt a bit deeper explanation would have been helpful and interesting.
Samsara is the first installment in the trilogy series and I am having a very high expectations already from the upcoming books. I am looking for the unanswered questions that arose in my mind while reading this book. Overall, it's an excellent read and a book I will recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Saksham Garg is an editor at Penguin Random House India. For seven years, he studied at Woodstock School, Mussoorie, from where he could see the snow-capped Seven Hills of this story. He currently spends his time between New Delhi and Jaipur, and, outside of work, is often found on the football field or practicing the violin.
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