Divyastra | Nimish Tanna | Mythological Fiction Book Review

PLOT: 4/5
CHARACTERS: 3.5/5
WRITING STYLE: 4/5
CLIMAX: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 4/5

My Musings

A self-proclaimed mythological fiction fan, it is not without a hint of disappointment that I realize that this year has so far been a dry spell for me when it comes to all things mythological.

Kamadeva: The God of Desire was the only mythological fiction that I have read in 2019 but recently I did get an opportunity to pick up yet another fiction inspired by our mythology.

Though Divyastra isn’t a mythological fiction in the strictest of sense, it does have a story that takes inspiration from our mythology.

Read on to know more about my thoughts on the book.

What to expect?

Divyastra is an easy and quick read not because it has a simple cliché plot but because it manages to hook the reader right from the very beginning with the help of a racy narration and an enticing plot.

Expect a book that promises adventure cloaked in mystery; expect a book that is as much about science as it is about our ancient Vedic body of knowledge.

Finally, expect a book that is high on entertainment and adventure.

Let’s talk about the storyline

Shankar is an average boy of modest means who is quite disappointed with the way his life is going. He has a mediocre job, a life that can hardly be called aspirational and a love that will probably never be reciprocated.

Shankar also has a lot of anger – anger against the mediocrity of his parent’s life, anger towards his father and his boring self-indulgent wisdom. But all that is soon bound to change.

In the heart of the busy city of there lies a dense forest that is far detached from the chaotic ways of the city that it is a part of. It is in this protected forest area that a 13-year-old boy finds himself lost.

It is also in the same forest that the boy comes across a force that is outwardly and as mystical as the fables that he has grown up listening to.

An elusive mystical man who goes by the name Guruji is in possession of to obtain the weapons of the gods. But such knowledge can only be passed on from a guru to his disciple through the word of mouth.

Guruji happens to use this knowledge to empower a young man but is it really empowerment or is it a part of a dark conspiracy?

To connect the dots and know more about the weapons of gods, read Divyastra by Nimish Tanna, a book that is high on both entertainment and action.

How good is the author’s writing style?

I like how the author makes use of innovative storytelling skills.

He makes use of a lot of subplots to add to the complexity of the narrative and to give the story just the right kind of edge. Many of the subplots are for mere ornamental reasons but it is nevertheless entertaining to one’s way through them.

I also enjoyed how the author spins and incorporates stories within stories adding to the overall appeal of the book. That the book is well researched is quite visible from the list of references the author mentions at the end.

Intelligent use of mythological texts and legends to narrate a modern-day thriller is something that Nimish has managed quite well.

Let’s talk about the characters

Perhaps, the characters are the only part of Divyastra that weren’t as impressive as the rest of the book.

They are above average but they do not manage to wow the reader in me. They aren’t as dynamic as I would have wanted them to be. In the end, there is a lot left to be desired when it comes to the characters.

Is the climax good enough?

The climax of the book surely comes as a surprise but I am afraid if I disclose anything else it might result in giving away spoilers.

It will be safe to say that the climax is unpredictable and comes with a huge question mark – whether or not there will be another book to take the story forward?

It is conclusive in its own ways and yet there is scope for yet another tale. So yes, I am as much in the dark as any other reader.

It all boils down to the entertainment quotient

Decent characters, a well-conceived plot, racy narration, mythological references, mysterious undertones and a promise of thrill and adventure – all of them together make for a heady cocktail which is very high on entertainment.

Pick the book