AN EXUBERANT AND THRILLING FANTASY READ

Book Review: Inkredia Luwan of Brida by Sarang Mahajan

J. R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” are book series that are loved by their fans for their fascinating descriptions of fantasy and adventure fiction. The immense popularity of this genre stems from the elements of mystique, thrilling adventure, and the frequent plot turns. However, there are not much books by Indian authors in this genre. The author Sarang Mahajan comes up with such a book “Inkredia: Luwan of Brida”, which is an adventure cum fantasy fiction.
The storyline follows the adventures of the protagonists Luwan and Meg, his sister. They belong to a small village called Brida, which is in the empire of Inkredia. This beautiful village is a brewing pot of troubles. And Luwan plucks out of it a danger that will claim his life, unless he escapes to a safe place. But between him and safety lies a perilous journey.
As Luwan plunges into a thrilling escapade, he explores the wildly fantastical side of his country. As he travels, he learns about the fascinating places in Inkredia, about powerful relics and... about the dark side of Inkredia. He faces the great force of Ilmor that gives birth to incredible nonhumans, the demons he must face. What is the force of Ilmor? Will Luwan be able to save his sister? Will he find answers to all the mysteries? The storyline then goes on to answer these questions.
The narrative is weaved with an artistic flair and brilliant detailing, and the amiable characters revel with panache in the compelling storyline. The storyline is swift, and has many gripping plot twists and turns. Despite the many challenges that come their way, the protagonists face the challenges with élan and come out victorious. The language used in the book is simple and adorned, and some of the descriptions are poetic and lyrical. The dialogues also pack a punch. However, there are many similarities with the Tolkien universe, such as in the character build-ups.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and gripping read, and readers will love the charming characters in this clever yarn. This is an engrossing book that is enhanced by its intricate fantasy milieu, emotional astuteness, riveting adventure and a strong narrative voice. This is an unputdownable fantasy adventure fiction by an Indian author, and the book being part of a planned series, the readers will surely wait for the next book in the series given the exceptional storyline of the first book.