A CAPTIVATING SCI-FI READ

Book Review: "I Am Shade" by Mayank Sinha

Sci-fi thrillers combine vivid imaginations of the authors with gripping narratives, and fans are drawn to this genre for a variety of reasons. The author Mayank Sinha has come out with one such book “I Am Shade”, which is a fascinating sci-fi mystery.

The narrative follows the protagonist Jayden Smith, who had been leading a very simple life, until he comes in possession of a mysterious dragon statue one fateful night. What is the purpose of him getting the dragon statue? What mystifying forces are at play? Will Jayden be able to fix things? The readers then join him in this roller coaster journey of deciphering the sci-fi happenings.

The book is fast-paced, and the frequent twists and turns will surely keep the readers engrossed. Since it is a short read, the first part seems somewhat rushed, and the storyline here could have focused more on character development and the back stories of the characters. However, the second half of the book gives clearer insights of the narrative, and the readers will enjoy when the mystery is getting solved.

There are elements of inexplicable supernatural occurrences, magical realism, and philosophical sagacity in the second half of the book. The elements of mystery keep the book riveting, and the climax definitely packs a punch. However, though the book’s ending doesn’t teeter much on the mystery and offers some definite conclusions, there are still some cliffhangers in the end, and a sequel of this book is definitely possible.

There are some editorial glitches, but the language used is simple and colloquial, and at 88 pages, this book can be completed in a single sitting.

This book should be read by readers who want to go for a short and easy read, with a unique storyline.