Review:

I am pretty picky when it comes to sci-fi books. But when I read this book, the futuristic reimagination of the Ramayana. Sounds interesting right? The storyline itself intrigued me and I couldn’t stop myself as I dwell into the book 77 of 2023, an intriguing read with layers of adventurous events.

“An Awakening: Book 1 of The Lanka Chronicles” by Shiva Kumar is a captivating and enthralling science fiction that reimagines the classic Hindu epic, the Ramayana, in a futuristic setting. The story follows the journey of Dharma, the leader of the Federation of Indian Planets, who receives a coded message from a cloaked planet that leads him to embark on a mission to rediscover the lost city of Lanka. He travels there on a sentient spaceship named Maya 1, who is seeking her own destiny.

I was impressed with the book right from its concept and the way it is executed is mind-blowing making it one of the best. As you discover Dharma’s journey, you‘ll come across various questions regarding the tale of Ramayana that will make you pause and think for a while. 

Shiv Kumar expertly blends themes of fantasy, science fiction, fiction, and mythology, creating a captivating narrative with many layers of adventure taking the readers to another world. One of the standout features of the book is its writing style. The author’s crisp descriptive narrative and compelling writing style make it an adventurous read with many events happening altogether.

The story gets exciting with each chapter, and the way the author describes Dharma’s journey and his struggles with constant nightmares, seeking to reunite with his wife who disappeared 30 years earlier under mysterious circumstances, and seeking her forgiveness for his past actions, is impressive. The author also shares detailed descriptions of planets and galaxies, adding a sense of realism to the futuristic setting.

The characters are well-developed, and their actions and motivations kept me curious throughout the story. They are complex and well-drawn, and their journeys are intertwined in unexpected ways as we witness the stories of three generations of one family. I liked Maya’s journey too. The way her character evolved with time.

While the story is a bit slow-paced but the element of suspense is well-maintained. It’s a heavy read with too many details about events which at times, becomes a bit tedious. But, I am excited to read the next book in the series and see where Dharma’s journey takes him next. 

In conclusion, “An Awakening: Book 1 of The Lanka Chronicles” is a unique and compelling science fiction novel that is highly recommended to fans of the genre. The author’s skillful blend of fantasy, science fiction, fiction, and mythology creates a captivating narrative that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Also Read: The Untold Tales Of A Sailor At Sea by L C Tang – Book Review

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