Book review- Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu (Book 1) by Kevin Missal

“I know it sounds abysmal…” he chuckled at the mere thought of it, “but I just want to be happy and content.”

“Do you not dream big? Do you not want to travel?”

Kalki rounded his arms around his little brother.“Perhaps I chose not to. Perhaps big doesn’t always matter. It’s also the little things, specks of happiness, that we go through in a day that we should look out for. It’s funny how grief makes you realise the good things you have overlooked in life.”

Yet another mythology read!!

Our country has a rich heritage, history, and mythology that we are unaware of, and the many tales often lost within archives are yet to be explored. Books on Indian mythology are my weakness, and I love to read and be amazed by all the stories these books portray in the vivid imagination of the writers. This long-pending to-read book from my list is the recent read Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu by Kevin Missal. It is the first book in the trilogy.

The plot's setting is (around 3600 BC) Indragarh, the capital city of Keekatpur (which belonged to the Illavarti kingdom). Along the border of Indragarh is a village named ‘Shambala’, a peace-loving village holding Soma caves and the home of Kalki Hari and his family. Kalki is born with enormous abilities to serve a bigger purpose.

Lord Kali has taken over Keekatpur, using his vile games and cunning nature to capture everything and everyone. Meanwhile, Kalki’s father has been kidnapped, and he, along with his brother Arjan, a friend Bala, childhood friend Laxmi, and a mysterious man named Kripa, is out to save his father. The story continues to move with surprising twists and tales.

The story unfolds following the journey of the two main characters, Kalki, the embodiment of good, and Kali, the epitome of evil. The plot, far from predictable, keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, never knowing what to expect next.

For me, this book was a delightful read, with its smooth writing style and the gradual, yet captivating, development of the two main characters, Kalki and Kali. It's important to note that this book is not a mere mythological retelling. The author has crafted a unique concept and built an imaginative world around it, making it a truly engaging experience.

“Goodwill is so rare that when one intends to do it, you think it's some sort of chicanery.”