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Showing posts with label The Tale of the Curse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Tale of the Curse. Show all posts

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Book Review: Azrar and the Tale of the Curse by AKR | High Fantasy | Indian Author

Book Review

Azrar and the Tale of the Curse by AKR

Book Review: Azrar and the Tale of the Curse by AKR | High Fantasy | Indian Author | Dhiraj Sindhi | Indian Book Blogger
Azrar and the Tale of the Curse by AKR

Author: AKR (Ayush Kumar Rajput)

ISBN: 978-9385440540

Genre: Fantasy

Length:  232 Pages

Publisher: Petals Publishers (30th September 2018)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2WT19wX

About the author: 

Ayush Kumar Rajput writes under the pen name AKR. He is currently pursuing his MBA and has completed his graduation from KCMT. Besides studying, he loves reading about various mythologies of the world and wishes to present them with a seasoning of fantasy. AKR lives in Bareilly and is presently working on the next book in the Azrar series.

Book Review: Azrar and the Tale of the Curse by AKR | High Fantasy | Indian Author | Dhiraj Sindhi | Indian Book Blogger
AKR (Ayush Kumar Rajput)

Instagram: @i.am_a_k_r/
Twitter: @AKR8395
REVIEW

Summary

Azrar and the Tale of the Curse is a fantasy novel, set in the small village of the Leothe ─ perfect reflection of the Earth─ a world wonderfully created by the author, where the protagonist from the Earth becomes the guardian of Azrar; an ingenious and creatively plotted story about bravery and determination of the main character who selflessly sacrifices everything to protect Azrarians and reinstate power and splendor of the Azrar; that will fire your imagination and would excite you at times.

Narration

Azrar is actually a diary written by Henry Smith, containing his adventurous life story. It is narrated in first-person POV and follows the lead character, Henry. The writing style is pretty fantastic, which is compatible with the setting and the environment. The novel is divided into 21 chapters, where the reader gradually explores the world of Leothe. The language is simple and comprehensible including a lot of author-invented and strange-sounding nouns.

Location and Setting

Azrar is, well, set in a small village called Azrar, the residents of which are suffering from a curse. The story takes place in the year 2016 when Henry unknowingly travels from the Earth to the Leothe. The infrastructure and functioning of this kingdom are portrayed elaborately. Currently, it’s in ruins and indicates very little of what it used to be. Watchtowers, a cave protected with a password, enormous and beautiful castle, sculptures, royal gardens, ponds and a magical forest are some remarkable places you can find in this book. The Derindoras forest is visibly the source of magic for this land that possesses mystifying creatures and unfathomable structures and it is what sets Earth and Leothe apart.
Theme

It is commendable how seamlessly the author AKR has narrated the sequence about Henry finding himself in the whole new world. Indeed, it comes with shocks and surprises. As the story progresses, Henry comes to know about Azrar, the residents, their culture and most importantly, why he is supposed to be there. Every day is a new adventure for him until he sets Azrar free from the curse. Macwood, an important supporting character helps him through this. Henry learns fighting with the sword, gets familiarized with Azrar, fights massive saber-toothed cats called Narzies, becomes more knowledgeable about Azrarians and the curse, fights horned fiery monsters and gets to know more of the secrets concealed from him. Each chapter is packed with absolutely new things and a fresh adventure.

Plot

Children began to born dead in Azrar due to the curse. While some availed the privilege of life, but none could survive beyond the age of 20. There only remain 9 youngsters now who are waiting for their death. Although, when Henry came, Azrarians developed faith in him, as he could be the possible guardian according to the prophecy. He shares an intimate relationship with Meriul, daughter of Macwood. Meriul is one of those nine youngsters, which motivates him further to conquer anything that stood between them.

My Opinion

I personally loved this book and the world of Leothe. I have never read such high fantasy by an Indian author. The mechanism and functioning of this world are what captivated my attention, that not everything is magic-driven. You may find syntax errors here and there in this edition. Otherwise, it’s completely fine. The idea of this story becomes very clear after a certain point and delivers a strong message. The otherworldly setting and creatures don’t overshadow the human feelings and the accomplishment of the protagonist. Narzies are my favorites from Azrar.

Lastly, I would say, this could have been better. It lacks something. The bond between Henry and others seemed illusory. I wish there were other prominent supporting and opposing characters.

Happy Reading!

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Will see you in the next post. Till then buh-bye. Take Care. Peace. ☮

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