WRITING STYLE: 4.5/5
CHARACTERS: 4/5
CLIMAX: 4/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 4.5/5
It’s not every day that you come across a great book but when you do, it is hard to pull yourself out of it and get back to your normal routine. Aroon Raman’s Skyfire is one such book which I just finished reading recently and which left me spell-bounded to the core.
“Skyfire” is a science fiction thriller which is based in the Indian subcontinent. It is May 2012 and the Indian subcontinent is suffering from abrupt and localised weather outbursts which are quite powerful and devastating. The Indian population is suffering and so are the civic and public amenities along with the government and administrative machinery. Nobody seems to have a clue about what it is and how to control or prevent it.
Amidst this chaos and mayhem, three close friends – a journalist, a historian and an intelligence operative, begin their search for a missing Delhi slum orphan who it seems was on the verge of uncovering something really big. But in the process of their investigations, they are courting death and evil.
So will this search lead to some big discovery? Will the three be able to save the orphan slum dweller? Will the ever-watching eyes of the great big evil bring doom to them or will they be able to evade its diabolical plans? To know this and much more, read this enthralling novel today!
Moving on to the review part, I simply don’t know where to start with. The positives are just too many for me to list out. The plot is a work of pure genius and so are the characters. The writing is fast paced and action oriented with the element of mystery and surprise maintained at all points throughout the book.
I liked the way the two different plots connect at the end as a cohesive whole and lends more credibility to the story. I loved the way Aroon has based the story in the Indian subcontinent – it makes the book all the more exciting and nerve gripping.
Judging from the level of sophistication of technology it is highly evident that a lot of groundwork and research would have gone into the book. I particularly liked the way Aroon has taken the pain to enlighten the readers about the real background and history of the technology. That sure made the book win extra brownie points from me.
The characters are engrossing. No matter whether they make you love them or hate them, they will surely make you brood on them. All of them. In my journey to the end, I particularly became fond of the indomitable spirit of Syed Ali Hassan and the nerve and wisdom of Meenakshi Pirzada.
The climax too was unpredictable but a lucky guess had me predicting it correctly towards the early end. With the element of surprise maintained throughout, the book overall is an exceptional read and Aroon’s writing helps to lend credibility to what Hindustan Times had once said about him being “India’s answer to Robert Ludlum”.
Needless to state, “Skyfire” comes as a highly recommended book from me and I end this review by rating it four and a half out of five stars.
Watch the YouTube review below:
