“Mythology is funny. Many quarrel over it, of what is right or wrong, even though they know there is no correct answer to it.”

Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu

Author: Kevin Missal

Publisher: Kalamos Literary Services

Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Blurb (as on Goodreads):

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 Vishnuyath and Sumati, has no idea about his heritage until he is pitted against tragedies and battles. 
Whisked into the province of Keekatpur, which is under the fist of Lord Kali, Kalki sees the ignominy of death trumping life all around him. He learns that he has been born to cleanse the world he lives in, for which he must journey 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 forces that seek to decimate him, will he be able to follow his destiny before the Kaliyug begins?

My Take

“But instead of fear in the boy’s eyes, there was something else. There was hope. And then, the boy did the unthinkable.

He Smiled”

Kalki is the avatar of Lord Govind. He has immense strength, which has been proved time an again by events like defeating enemies twice his size, faster healing of wounds and very sharp fighting skills. He doesn’t have a decent explanation about the skills he possesses until he meets Kripa aka Kripacharya- a guru who had been a part of the biggest battle against evil- the Mahayudh.

Kali is the descendant of a clan known for their evil and cunning nature. He has sacrificed innumerable things to rise to the position of ‘Lord Kali’ – a position that demands respect and effuses fear.

Their paths cross in the city of Keekatpur but in an extremely unfortunate way. Kali wants Kalki dead and Kalki is on his mission to find adharm and rise as the avatar of Visnu. A path that is arduous and challenging. Will Kalki save the world from the clutches of evil (adharm)?

What a read! 100 points for the vivid and grand imagination the author holds. The elements have been placed perfectly-timing and location. This is what makes it an extremely interesting read. Now, please don’t think of this as a mythological retelling. The author has chosen a concept and woven an imaginary world around it. The concept of this book is a very common one.

For a 500 paged book, the pace was pretty decent. The chapters are small, hence giving us only a glimpse of the multiple worlds the plot focusses on. The author’s knack for details is also seen throughout the plot, hence making the events more realistic. There are a few ideas and events borrowed from here and there, but as mentioned, they have been placed with precision. The portrayal of each character is satisfying in context to the plot and each character has his/her own depth and story.

The concept of Dharm and Adharm has been the inspiration for many books. Maybe that’s what disappointed me a bit. The blurb mentions the motto, and I was expecting a bit of a variation. However, that is compensated by the writing and narration skills. The plot tends to get boring sometimes because there are too many characters involved. So there are multiple events happening and which are extremely descriptive, which shifts the focus from Kalki and Kali.

A story of a hero who needs to find his mission in life for:

“A hero isn’t born. He’s made. Through people, through journeys and most of all, through tragedies”

Captivating, picturesque, compelling and adventurous, Dharmayoddha Kalki is all set to be the beacon of light in the dark times ahead, popularly known as Kalyug.

Rating

Purchase link:                                     Amazon Paperback

Do you love Historical fiction? Does mythology feed your soul, the way it feeds mine?