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Ash Mistry Chronicles #1
The Savage Fortress
Ash Mistry finds himself in deep danger when he spends a summer in India, encountering hideous demonic creatures and Lord Savage’s ultimate plan to destroy the world!
Ashoka Mistry – better known as Ash – is a 14-year-old Londoner. And he hates India. Which is a problem since his parents have sent him (with little sister Lucky) to spend the summer with family in Varanasi. It seems like a dream come true when mysterious Lord Savage offers Ash’s uncle the job opportunity of a lifetime, deciphering some ancient scrolls – and hands over a cheque for £2 million in advance. But Ash already knows something is very wrong at Savage Palace and that the aristocrat’s sinister henchmen are not quite what they seem. After all, do bodyguards generally sprout claws and fangs - or have a nasty habit of transforming into massive crocodiles? These guys are rakshashas – aka demons – and the Mistry family is in deep trouble.
Ash wants to believe all will be fine - the imagination can play strange tricks, right? But when he falls into an unexcavated hole in the desert, hurting his hand on a ancient, golden arrowhead, Ash begins to realize the stakes are even higher than he thought. Touched now by Kali, the goddess of death (whose arrow it is), and with his relatives murdered, Ash finds himself in a desperate battle to stop Savage’s masterplan – the opening of the legendary Iron Gates that have kept Ravanna, the demon king, at bay for four millennia. With Parvati – a beautiful demon cobra-girl who just happens to be Ravanna’s daughter (she never did get on with her dad) – by his side, Ash’s journey will not only take him into the heart of darkness, but also on a quest to understand his own identity and the hero within himself.
Ashoka Mistry – better known as Ash – is a 14-year-old Londoner. And he hates India. Which is a problem since his parents have sent him (with little sister Lucky) to spend the summer with family in Varanasi. It seems like a dream come true when mysterious Lord Savage offers Ash’s uncle the job opportunity of a lifetime, deciphering some ancient scrolls – and hands over a cheque for £2 million in advance. But Ash already knows something is very wrong at Savage Palace and that the aristocrat’s sinister henchmen are not quite what they seem. After all, do bodyguards generally sprout claws and fangs - or have a nasty habit of transforming into massive crocodiles? These guys are rakshashas – aka demons – and the Mistry family is in deep trouble.
Ash wants to believe all will be fine - the imagination can play strange tricks, right? But when he falls into an unexcavated hole in the desert, hurting his hand on a ancient, golden arrowhead, Ash begins to realize the stakes are even higher than he thought. Touched now by Kali, the goddess of death (whose arrow it is), and with his relatives murdered, Ash finds himself in a desperate battle to stop Savage’s masterplan – the opening of the legendary Iron Gates that have kept Ravanna, the demon king, at bay for four millennia. With Parvati – a beautiful demon cobra-girl who just happens to be Ravanna’s daughter (she never did get on with her dad) – by his side, Ash’s journey will not only take him into the heart of darkness, but also on a quest to understand his own identity and the hero within himself.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
59 people are currently reading
3779 people want to read
About the author
Sarwat Chadda
60 books596 followersSarwat Chadda has lived and traveled throughout the world, from China to Guatemala. He’s been lost in Mongolia, abandoned at a volcano in Nicaragua and hidden up a tree from a rhino in Nepal. Not to mention being detained by Homeland Security in the US and chased around Tibet by the Chinese police. Maybe he just has that sort of face.
Anyway, now he’s trying to settle in one place and stay out of trouble. Hence his new career as a writer. It’s safe, indoors and avoids any form of physical danger.
Throughout his travels, Sarwat has soaked up the myths, legends and cultures of far away places. Now, with the Ash Mistry series, he aims to bring these unfamiliar tales of ten-headed demons and blue-skinned heroes back home and put them beside the exploits of Achilles and Thor. His heroes are Prince Rama and the demon-slaying Kali. Isn't it about time you met them too?
Anyway, now he’s trying to settle in one place and stay out of trouble. Hence his new career as a writer. It’s safe, indoors and avoids any form of physical danger.
Throughout his travels, Sarwat has soaked up the myths, legends and cultures of far away places. Now, with the Ash Mistry series, he aims to bring these unfamiliar tales of ten-headed demons and blue-skinned heroes back home and put them beside the exploits of Achilles and Thor. His heroes are Prince Rama and the demon-slaying Kali. Isn't it about time you met them too?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
April 28, 2014
Sarwat Chadda does a fantastic job bringing Hindu folklore into the modern world, especially the most famous tale, and my personal favorite: the Ramayana. Ash Mistry travels with his family from London to India to stay with relatives while his father consults on a strange archaeological dig. Soon, Ash discovers that demons and gods are alive and well, and he is called upon to save the world from the rise of the Demon King Ravana. Super fun adventure story where myth meets modern, Indian style!
July 31, 2023
It’s not easy being 13. Ash (Ashoka Mistry), a chubby boy of Indian descent living in England, knows this very well. He is teased because of his weight, his lunch money is stolen; he feels constantly taunted. Actually, this is the easy part. Ash believes that his summer visit with an aunt and uncle in India, accompanied only by his 10 year old sister, Lucky, holds promise. He is mistaken.
The Savage Fortress introduces middle-grade readers to some of the most fascinating Hindu gods and goddesses. This quick-paced tale features the ultimate bad guy. Lord Alexander Savage, despite having learned the magic he’s used to live for thousands of years, wants more. He wants immortality. His determination to obtain his desire puts him on a quest to find the tomb of Ravana, the demon king. Savage is more than willing to become the demon king’s slave, in exchange for this small favour. He is very close now, nothing would dare intervene. He will not be stopped.
It takes only a short while in India for Ash to understand that things are not what they seem. His uncle’s boss, Lord Savage, seems odd beyond eccentric……..in a chilling, creepy kind of way. Savage’s staff is worse. They seem to stare at Ash and Lucky with eyes of reptiles, birds or furry jungle predators. Due to the exponentially increasing weirdness, Ash tends to stay as far away from Savage as humanly possible. Not a great plan.
Ash takes a tumble that will change him forever………..errrr, at least in this life-time. Accidentally uncovering the one thing Savage needs to proceed, Ash instantly has the weight of the world on his shoulders. As he begins to recall past existences, he begins to see things more clearly.
The unlikely associates that Ash befriends as he embarks on this journey add a dash of spice to an already hot story. The internal and external struggles that Ash must face bring in a bittersweet undertone. This is absolutely one of the best books, particularly for the genre, that I have ever read. I would have devoured this book when I was in junior high.
The Savage Fortress introduces middle-grade readers to some of the most fascinating Hindu gods and goddesses. This quick-paced tale features the ultimate bad guy. Lord Alexander Savage, despite having learned the magic he’s used to live for thousands of years, wants more. He wants immortality. His determination to obtain his desire puts him on a quest to find the tomb of Ravana, the demon king. Savage is more than willing to become the demon king’s slave, in exchange for this small favour. He is very close now, nothing would dare intervene. He will not be stopped.
It takes only a short while in India for Ash to understand that things are not what they seem. His uncle’s boss, Lord Savage, seems odd beyond eccentric……..in a chilling, creepy kind of way. Savage’s staff is worse. They seem to stare at Ash and Lucky with eyes of reptiles, birds or furry jungle predators. Due to the exponentially increasing weirdness, Ash tends to stay as far away from Savage as humanly possible. Not a great plan.
Ash takes a tumble that will change him forever………..errrr, at least in this life-time. Accidentally uncovering the one thing Savage needs to proceed, Ash instantly has the weight of the world on his shoulders. As he begins to recall past existences, he begins to see things more clearly.
The unlikely associates that Ash befriends as he embarks on this journey add a dash of spice to an already hot story. The internal and external struggles that Ash must face bring in a bittersweet undertone. This is absolutely one of the best books, particularly for the genre, that I have ever read. I would have devoured this book when I was in junior high.
June 23, 2023
Ash es un joven de 13 anos de vacaciones en casa de su tio en la India, un pais con el que ha estado obsesionado desde que tiene memoria. Pero ahora que ya tienen casi 1 mes aqui, todo comienza a parecerle aburrido, quiere volver a sus videojuegos, a sus amigos en Londres y no tener que estar pendiente de su hermanita todo el tiempo. Pero cuando una extrano millonario le ofrece el trabajo de sus suenos a su tio, Ash se siente incomodo, siente que ese hombre no es lo que parece y cuando se da cuenta de porque es muy tarde para sus tios. Pero ahora Ash debe salvar a su hermanita y quizas a todo el mundo, si solo supiera como llegar a ser lo que todos esperan. Solo su corazon y su fuerza de voluntad podra llevarlo a cumplir con su destino, sino muere en el intento.
No puedo negar que este libro tiene mucho de Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Legend, con el tema de un joven normal, rechoncho, con mas curiosidad que cuidado, que es capaz de lograr un poder tan grande como para defender al mundo. Me gusto mucho Ash, como prota, aunque hubo momentos en que se pasaba de tonto o que cambiada de "heroico" a "cobarde" tan rapido que te recordaba que solo tenia 13 anos. Ahora, en cuanto a los secundarios, me gusto Lucky, Rishi y Parvati, pero el que mas me intrigo fue John, de verdad quiero saber mas de el, ver que tenga mas protagonismo mas adelante. Ahora los malos, todos son demasiado estereotipados, incluyendo al demonio Ravana y a Savage, tan tipicos malvados que hubo momentos que parecian ridiculos, y en esos momentos tuve que recordarme que es un libro para middle-grade, que los malvados deben ser asi.
En fin, fue un libro divertido, entretenido, lleno de accion y mitologia, sin exagerar, que vale la pena leer, asi que voy a continuar con la saga, a ver a donde nos lleva Ash en sus aventuras.
No puedo negar que este libro tiene mucho de Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Legend, con el tema de un joven normal, rechoncho, con mas curiosidad que cuidado, que es capaz de lograr un poder tan grande como para defender al mundo. Me gusto mucho Ash, como prota, aunque hubo momentos en que se pasaba de tonto o que cambiada de "heroico" a "cobarde" tan rapido que te recordaba que solo tenia 13 anos. Ahora, en cuanto a los secundarios, me gusto Lucky, Rishi y Parvati, pero el que mas me intrigo fue John, de verdad quiero saber mas de el, ver que tenga mas protagonismo mas adelante. Ahora los malos, todos son demasiado estereotipados, incluyendo al demonio Ravana y a Savage, tan tipicos malvados que hubo momentos que parecian ridiculos, y en esos momentos tuve que recordarme que es un libro para middle-grade, que los malvados deben ser asi.
En fin, fue un libro divertido, entretenido, lleno de accion y mitologia, sin exagerar, que vale la pena leer, asi que voy a continuar con la saga, a ver a donde nos lleva Ash en sus aventuras.
January 15, 2014
Fast paced action and good writing. A bit gory near the end, but not awful. My one complaint is the hyper irritating transformation of the main character from chubby to skinny, and the way that's portrayed as him losing his weakness and growing into a fierce hero. Cause fat kids can't be heroes or anything. He even says something like "I guess I just had to diet and exercise" to lose weight. Ugh. I just... chubby or fat kids don't need to hear that more than they already do. I don't know why he couldn't just get stronger, and not have to discuss how "easy" it is to lose weight when "you put your mind to it." For some kids, no, it's not easy. And they shouldn't have to feel ashamed of that, but this message that weight is really simple to control pops up all the time. It's a small part of the overall book, which is partly why it bugged me so much. It would have been VERY easy to leave out completely, and the story wouldn't have been altered.
Anyway. I think kids will enjoy it, I was just annoyed.
Anyway. I think kids will enjoy it, I was just annoyed.
April 21, 2015
I finished this book a little while ago and simply forgot to mark it, but on the whole? This was an excellent MG book, and reading it gives much more context for events for the second book "The City of Death." I love the Ash Minstry series and can't wait to read more of it. The mythology, action sequences, humor - all of it really intrigued me throughout the story.
Review to come.
Review to come.
January 31, 2012
Growing up in the 1970s, I was a big fan of fantasy and science fiction (Star Trek, Blake's Seven, Doctor Who) and loved reading The Hobbit and other fantasy books. It took me a while to realise that there was something a little odd about J.R.R. Tolkien's world. Simply put, where were the girls? Why was it only male dwarfs and wizards on the adventure? At secondary school we barely read any novels with girls in until Pride and Prejudice at O level.
I remembered this feeling as a teacher, and tried very hard to have a variety of fiction representing the children in my class. Malorie Blackman was a big hit, as fantasy (post The Golden Compass and Harry Potter) became the most popular genre in children's fiction. I wish Sarwat Chadda had been published then!
Ash Mistry and the Savage Palace (Fortress in the UK) opens with the slightly podgy and geeky Ashoka (Ash) Mistry and his little sister Lucky on holiday visiting their aunt and uncle in Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges. He and Lucky accompany his aunt and uncle to a party at the home of the wealthy and eccentric Lord Savage. While there, Ash witnesses some creepy events, and his uncle being offered a huge sum to do some translation of ancient texts.
However after a terrible accident befalls his aunt and uncle, Ash and Lucky find themselves on the run from Lord Savage and the demons in league with him. Helped by a sadhu and a shape shifting girl called Parvati, they must stop Lord Savage before he unleashes a terrible evil.
I loved this book. It reads very well, with vivid descriptions and plenty of excitement and peril (and gore!). Ash is a likable character, not as smart-alecky as characters like Artemis Fowl and Otto Malpense from the Mark Walden's H.I.V.E, but I think Ash would appeal to fans of those series, as well as to Skulduggery Pleasant's. I can see readers 8-12 eagerly reading Ash, and longing for more! Highly recommended.
I remembered this feeling as a teacher, and tried very hard to have a variety of fiction representing the children in my class. Malorie Blackman was a big hit, as fantasy (post The Golden Compass and Harry Potter) became the most popular genre in children's fiction. I wish Sarwat Chadda had been published then!
Ash Mistry and the Savage Palace (Fortress in the UK) opens with the slightly podgy and geeky Ashoka (Ash) Mistry and his little sister Lucky on holiday visiting their aunt and uncle in Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges. He and Lucky accompany his aunt and uncle to a party at the home of the wealthy and eccentric Lord Savage. While there, Ash witnesses some creepy events, and his uncle being offered a huge sum to do some translation of ancient texts.
However after a terrible accident befalls his aunt and uncle, Ash and Lucky find themselves on the run from Lord Savage and the demons in league with him. Helped by a sadhu and a shape shifting girl called Parvati, they must stop Lord Savage before he unleashes a terrible evil.
I loved this book. It reads very well, with vivid descriptions and plenty of excitement and peril (and gore!). Ash is a likable character, not as smart-alecky as characters like Artemis Fowl and Otto Malpense from the Mark Walden's H.I.V.E, but I think Ash would appeal to fans of those series, as well as to Skulduggery Pleasant's. I can see readers 8-12 eagerly reading Ash, and longing for more! Highly recommended.
December 31, 2014
This is an Indian version of Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods, and Rick Riordan's GR review of the book is excellent. 13-year old Ash Mistry discovers he has extraordinary power and finds himself trying to defeat the reanimation of the demon king Ravana, battling a wealthy British businessman and his demon helpers. I liked Ash best when he was being trained by the beggars, and when he was lusting after the serpent woman because it made him feel like a normal person.
April 20, 2018
Fast-paced and fairly enjoyable, Nice to see a fantasy series based on Indian myths and gods, specifically the Ramayana. I remember being captivated by this story when I was very young, and rather a lot less so when I found out what happened to Sita some years later.
Ash and his sister Lucky are thrown into peril and adventure after the sudden deaths of their uncle and aunt while the the siblings are visiting India. Ash and Lucky become involved in a plot to bring back Ravana, that swell fellow, by a twisted and evil man called Savage (as this book is aimed at the 9-early teen crowd, characterization isn't subtle.) Ash and Lucky are aided by Rishi and Parvati, both of whom are a lot more capable than they initially appear.
Going back to the not subtle, Ash goes from pudgy, kind of self-centred, to a young man who must protect his sister and save the day.
Ash and his sister Lucky are thrown into peril and adventure after the sudden deaths of their uncle and aunt while the the siblings are visiting India. Ash and Lucky become involved in a plot to bring back Ravana, that swell fellow, by a twisted and evil man called Savage (as this book is aimed at the 9-early teen crowd, characterization isn't subtle.) Ash and Lucky are aided by Rishi and Parvati, both of whom are a lot more capable than they initially appear.
Going back to the not subtle, Ash goes from pudgy, kind of self-centred, to a young man who must protect his sister and save the day.
April 11, 2012
Ash Mistry and younger his sister Lucky are visiting their family in India during their school holidays. Ash had been excited about the trip, history geek that he is, but he is now ready to go back to London and resume his teenage life of gaming with his friends. But then his uncle is hired by Lord Savage, a rich mysterious man, to decipher ancient scrolls. These scrolls are connected to one of the most famous stories in India: the Ramayana, the epic story of the fight between the hero Rama against the rakshasha (demon-like being) Ravana and Savage hopes to find Ravana’s resting place for nefarious purposes. Not that Ash believes in any of that of course- to him, they are merely stories of his ancestors. Until the supernatural knocks on his door and he realises that these rakshashas are totally real – and out to get him and his family. When tragedy strikes and his relatives are murdered, Ash finds himself alone with his sister and he will do anything to protect her against their enemies. Unfortunately for Ash, the stakes are much higher than that and the fate of the entire world might be on the hands of this 13 year old boy.
I love nothing more than to write reviews of books I loved and Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is SUCH a badass book in many ways, I don’t even know where to start. I’ve loved Sarwat Chadda’s Billi Sangreal books (and I think they were criminally underrepresented online) and was quite excited about his first foray into MG writing. It was so much more than I was expecting and so much fun too.
First of all: this is a story set in India, immersed on Indian mythology, with an Indian British hero and its focus never leaves its setting – so for example, you won’t find Western philosophies mingled with the Eastern stories and even though Ash’s British side is very much a huge aspect of his character, he sees himself as Indian. As such, there are traditional elements of Indian culture that are an intrinsic part of his life. I also loved his relationship with his family especially his relationship with his sister – he is very protective of her because that’s how he feels families must be like, their relationship mirroring that of his own father and his brother.
Another aspect worthy of mention is how the story takes the Ramayana as point of departure and expands on it. Hindu Gods and Goddesses are an effective part of daily life and Ravana now has a half-human daughter, who is an awesome female character named Pavarti and who becomes Ash’s ally. I also loved how the concepts of heroism, Karma and reincarnation are a huge side of this story and how these ideas are incorporated into the plot. This is actually kind of cool and it opens up the possibility of discussion on these topics. For instance: is Ash a hero because he MUST be a hero or is he a hero because it is his choice? Could it be a mixture of both? I hope that this is further explored in future instalments. My one nitpick comes here: Ash is a reluctant hero and there is a bit of repetitiveness in his internal monologue emphasising this reluctance.
This is also quite the dark story, quite bloody and inclement: Sarwart Chadda never shies away from killing people, even major characters and that’s awesome because when we are talking conflict in such a huge scale (the fate of the world is at stake, after all), the sense of danger needs to be real to make the story believable. There is real loss and real grief here.
And with all that, the book also manages to be simply fun and cool. From Ash learning how to fight, to the action sequences that are bloody awesome; from his realisation that he has a powerful ally on Pavarti to a cameo by the Goddess Kali, it’s all good stuff. And this is only the beginning of a series that has SO MUCH potential for growth it’s not even funny.
Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is definitely a great book for kids but it also has good crossover potential for adults. Brilliantly done and definitely a highlight of my reading year so far.
I love nothing more than to write reviews of books I loved and Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is SUCH a badass book in many ways, I don’t even know where to start. I’ve loved Sarwat Chadda’s Billi Sangreal books (and I think they were criminally underrepresented online) and was quite excited about his first foray into MG writing. It was so much more than I was expecting and so much fun too.
First of all: this is a story set in India, immersed on Indian mythology, with an Indian British hero and its focus never leaves its setting – so for example, you won’t find Western philosophies mingled with the Eastern stories and even though Ash’s British side is very much a huge aspect of his character, he sees himself as Indian. As such, there are traditional elements of Indian culture that are an intrinsic part of his life. I also loved his relationship with his family especially his relationship with his sister – he is very protective of her because that’s how he feels families must be like, their relationship mirroring that of his own father and his brother.
Another aspect worthy of mention is how the story takes the Ramayana as point of departure and expands on it. Hindu Gods and Goddesses are an effective part of daily life and Ravana now has a half-human daughter, who is an awesome female character named Pavarti and who becomes Ash’s ally. I also loved how the concepts of heroism, Karma and reincarnation are a huge side of this story and how these ideas are incorporated into the plot. This is actually kind of cool and it opens up the possibility of discussion on these topics. For instance: is Ash a hero because he MUST be a hero or is he a hero because it is his choice? Could it be a mixture of both? I hope that this is further explored in future instalments. My one nitpick comes here: Ash is a reluctant hero and there is a bit of repetitiveness in his internal monologue emphasising this reluctance.
This is also quite the dark story, quite bloody and inclement: Sarwart Chadda never shies away from killing people, even major characters and that’s awesome because when we are talking conflict in such a huge scale (the fate of the world is at stake, after all), the sense of danger needs to be real to make the story believable. There is real loss and real grief here.
And with all that, the book also manages to be simply fun and cool. From Ash learning how to fight, to the action sequences that are bloody awesome; from his realisation that he has a powerful ally on Pavarti to a cameo by the Goddess Kali, it’s all good stuff. And this is only the beginning of a series that has SO MUCH potential for growth it’s not even funny.
Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is definitely a great book for kids but it also has good crossover potential for adults. Brilliantly done and definitely a highlight of my reading year so far.
April 10, 2020
Just wonderful finished it one sitting, one sitting with TTS :), wonderful adaptation of Rick Riordan's formula to the Indian folklore and Mythology. Of course it as different from Rick's book as possible except for the age of the protagnist who is 13. Meet Ash Mistry, Indian Origin English resident who is in Varanasi visiting his uncle who is a history professor and archeologist and then they meet an English billionaire Alexander Savage. Then there's Parvati a rakshasha who is good and in Ash's support.
And then things begin to go to hell quickly, very quickly. Well there are Rakshshas or demons. There are good guys too and a kind of training school too nothing cool like camp half blood. But still there is lot of action and humour. This was a fun read and it was nice to read the familiar tales from Rick's universe set in India.
Sarwat has done a wonderful job in the first book and now it's time for me to go onto the next part in the series while you should try and give this one a chance and then Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
And then things begin to go to hell quickly, very quickly. Well there are Rakshshas or demons. There are good guys too and a kind of training school too nothing cool like camp half blood. But still there is lot of action and humour. This was a fun read and it was nice to read the familiar tales from Rick's universe set in India.
Sarwat has done a wonderful job in the first book and now it's time for me to go onto the next part in the series while you should try and give this one a chance and then Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
October 28, 2017
Ash Mistry Chronicles Book 1
*Ash Misty and the Savage Fortress* by Sarwar Chaddha
It’s been so long since I read an Indian Mythology series and this one has been just way beyond expectation. Its about 320 pages and I easily finished it within 3 days. It is addicting if you have some basic knowledge about Indian Mythology.
Ash Mistry Chronicles follows the adventure of a young European 13 year old Ash Mistry who along with his sister, Lucky and his uncle Vik has arrived in India for an educational tour with the prupose to explore its historical roots. The pace of the story is quite good, slow and quick as per as necessary. Also, battle scenes are quite frequent, in fact Mr. Sarwat has managed to add all the elements that need to be present in a book for a whole lot of entertainment. This book is underrated. As one progresses through the book, one comes across beautiful narration, buildings, the atmosphere in India, brief descriptions about towns and cities through Ash’s narrative. It talks about the struggles of an Indian origin boy who hates India. Things turn out to be really bad when his Uncle Vik has been given a 1M$ Cheque by Mr. Savage who is an ambitious researcher in terms of Geology and wants to discover the truth of things about the Harrapan Culture. Ash finds out that Mr. Savage is actually a powerful mage/sorcerer and his minions are a hoard of Demons. He discovers thee inner class of the town Varanasi, about the magical sages and the constant war between the Gods and the Demons happening throughout the world and trains in the field of battle to seek vengeance against Savage for the murder of his Uncle. The first half of the book serves as agood introduction and as it is by the narrative of a teenage child, YA readers can surely relate to the experience. The Fandom about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek and other popular entertainment sources has been constatnly mentioned. Along with this the characters are powerful. I like the character of Parvati, who plays a key role in the future, she is the Demon Princess. The most intresting thing about the book is Ash’s journey in India and his grim discovery of supernatural things and his possesion of the Kali astra which change the story completely. I promise you, the story is simple but insuspectible. Also, some flashbacks about Lord Rama and his conquest against Ravana are seen frequently. Very similar to Percy Jackson, though not that good. Parvati, Ash, Lucky, Ravana, Savage are some of the protagonists, antagonists and stong supporting characters that will amaze you. Family bonds, human emotions, love,etc are highlighted throughout. The book has humour which made me laugh and relate to. Action Scenes are frequent and do not fail to entertain. The author has also thrown in some high vocabulary to fascinate the readers. The ending was good, but Ravana was defeated to easily. There are no flaws in the book but some arcs/parts may seem childish, lame. Still, a well balanced book which deserves more attention. It’s a trilogy, so two books more to go. Nice Reading!
*Ash Misty and the Savage Fortress* by Sarwar Chaddha
It’s been so long since I read an Indian Mythology series and this one has been just way beyond expectation. Its about 320 pages and I easily finished it within 3 days. It is addicting if you have some basic knowledge about Indian Mythology.
Ash Mistry Chronicles follows the adventure of a young European 13 year old Ash Mistry who along with his sister, Lucky and his uncle Vik has arrived in India for an educational tour with the prupose to explore its historical roots. The pace of the story is quite good, slow and quick as per as necessary. Also, battle scenes are quite frequent, in fact Mr. Sarwat has managed to add all the elements that need to be present in a book for a whole lot of entertainment. This book is underrated. As one progresses through the book, one comes across beautiful narration, buildings, the atmosphere in India, brief descriptions about towns and cities through Ash’s narrative. It talks about the struggles of an Indian origin boy who hates India. Things turn out to be really bad when his Uncle Vik has been given a 1M$ Cheque by Mr. Savage who is an ambitious researcher in terms of Geology and wants to discover the truth of things about the Harrapan Culture. Ash finds out that Mr. Savage is actually a powerful mage/sorcerer and his minions are a hoard of Demons. He discovers thee inner class of the town Varanasi, about the magical sages and the constant war between the Gods and the Demons happening throughout the world and trains in the field of battle to seek vengeance against Savage for the murder of his Uncle. The first half of the book serves as agood introduction and as it is by the narrative of a teenage child, YA readers can surely relate to the experience. The Fandom about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek and other popular entertainment sources has been constatnly mentioned. Along with this the characters are powerful. I like the character of Parvati, who plays a key role in the future, she is the Demon Princess. The most intresting thing about the book is Ash’s journey in India and his grim discovery of supernatural things and his possesion of the Kali astra which change the story completely. I promise you, the story is simple but insuspectible. Also, some flashbacks about Lord Rama and his conquest against Ravana are seen frequently. Very similar to Percy Jackson, though not that good. Parvati, Ash, Lucky, Ravana, Savage are some of the protagonists, antagonists and stong supporting characters that will amaze you. Family bonds, human emotions, love,etc are highlighted throughout. The book has humour which made me laugh and relate to. Action Scenes are frequent and do not fail to entertain. The author has also thrown in some high vocabulary to fascinate the readers. The ending was good, but Ravana was defeated to easily. There are no flaws in the book but some arcs/parts may seem childish, lame. Still, a well balanced book which deserves more attention. It’s a trilogy, so two books more to go. Nice Reading!
January 4, 2017
This is not an easy book to review. I should start by saying that I really enjoyed it; the challenge is more how to classify it within our classroom libraries and who to recommend it to.
At the moment we have it classified as a “Gateway” book for Primary to Middle School but I think this is a mistake. “Ash Mistry” is certainly a grand adventure in the vein of of Percy Jackson, but it also has themes and complexities that might make it more suited to upper Middle School. The violence and emerging relationship between the two main characters makes me think this book might be more suited to Grade 7 or 8 students but I’m in a dilemma here because there’s also a strong mythological element to the violence. Part of the charm and power of the narrative is it’s ability to work between the “real” and mythological realm. When violence and death is caused by mythical beasts it somehow softens the impact but Chadda writes more like the Brothers Grimm than a Disney film and I found the violence sometimes confronting.
This raises a broader question about what kinds of violence are appropriate for children at what ages. It's a complex issue and I know a number of Middle School parents and probably a smaller number of students would not be comfortable with the levels of violence in this novel.
Further complicating this issue is the mythological element to the violence. The novel is set in India amid the rich complexity of Hindu mythology. I found this fascinating. The horror of death is softened by the prospect of reincarnation and this cultural complexity was new to me - it subtly shifts the ground beneath the societal values that shape the character's actions. Kali, the goddess of death, is depicted not as the terrifying destroyer that I am used to from Western narratives, but as a cleanser whose actions can reinstate equilibrium when things are out of kilter.
The tales of the Brothers Grimm come from a world where half of all humanity died in infancy; everyone was acquainted with death because to lose a sibling was normal. In our modern sanitised world death is a stranger most of our children have yet to meet. It is good to protect children from sadness and pain but Chadda's novel has me thinking again about what death can teach us about ourselves and our humanity. Kali is not a hero, but nor is she a villian; she's a challenging character who might have more to teach us about ourselves as we sort our way through our modern lives.
"Ash Mistry" is clunky in places and seems sometimes to struggle to find it's momentum, but its exploration of the human relation to fear and death through Hindu mythology was, for me, fascinating.
At the moment we have it classified as a “Gateway” book for Primary to Middle School but I think this is a mistake. “Ash Mistry” is certainly a grand adventure in the vein of of Percy Jackson, but it also has themes and complexities that might make it more suited to upper Middle School. The violence and emerging relationship between the two main characters makes me think this book might be more suited to Grade 7 or 8 students but I’m in a dilemma here because there’s also a strong mythological element to the violence. Part of the charm and power of the narrative is it’s ability to work between the “real” and mythological realm. When violence and death is caused by mythical beasts it somehow softens the impact but Chadda writes more like the Brothers Grimm than a Disney film and I found the violence sometimes confronting.
This raises a broader question about what kinds of violence are appropriate for children at what ages. It's a complex issue and I know a number of Middle School parents and probably a smaller number of students would not be comfortable with the levels of violence in this novel.
Further complicating this issue is the mythological element to the violence. The novel is set in India amid the rich complexity of Hindu mythology. I found this fascinating. The horror of death is softened by the prospect of reincarnation and this cultural complexity was new to me - it subtly shifts the ground beneath the societal values that shape the character's actions. Kali, the goddess of death, is depicted not as the terrifying destroyer that I am used to from Western narratives, but as a cleanser whose actions can reinstate equilibrium when things are out of kilter.
The tales of the Brothers Grimm come from a world where half of all humanity died in infancy; everyone was acquainted with death because to lose a sibling was normal. In our modern sanitised world death is a stranger most of our children have yet to meet. It is good to protect children from sadness and pain but Chadda's novel has me thinking again about what death can teach us about ourselves and our humanity. Kali is not a hero, but nor is she a villian; she's a challenging character who might have more to teach us about ourselves as we sort our way through our modern lives.
"Ash Mistry" is clunky in places and seems sometimes to struggle to find it's momentum, but its exploration of the human relation to fear and death through Hindu mythology was, for me, fascinating.
September 21, 2012
I'm back and forth about this one as a children's book. People die in horrific and vivid ways--other people are described as tortured in even more horrific ways. The main character is 13, and some parts of this book are on target for that tween audience that loves Riordan's stuff. But I think this book may really cross a line. Unlike Riordan's stories that balance action and danger with humor, this book really doesn't have a sense of humor very often. It tries occasionally to do so, but I found it didn't work.
It's not a bad book, mind you. It's a very good stab at taking on the Hindu mythologies in an urban fantasy style adventure (complete with a reluctant chosen one). There's little enough out there that touches upon this brand of mythology, so it's fascinating to read in that regard.
Strangely enough, I've had Rakshasas come up twice in the last few days, since they feature prominently in an adult urban fantasy I just finished by Benedict Jacka. The next up and coming bogeyman? Hard to say . . .
It's not a bad book, mind you. It's a very good stab at taking on the Hindu mythologies in an urban fantasy style adventure (complete with a reluctant chosen one). There's little enough out there that touches upon this brand of mythology, so it's fascinating to read in that regard.
Strangely enough, I've had Rakshasas come up twice in the last few days, since they feature prominently in an adult urban fantasy I just finished by Benedict Jacka. The next up and coming bogeyman? Hard to say . . .
June 22, 2021
Finally someone understands that you can't just write books about "progressive" third generation Indian immigrants. BECAUSE there is a country called India where Indians are originally from...*gasps* hOw? Don't all 'Indians' live in southall? Or america? Aren't they the poor illiterate brown skinned people who monopolise your jobs?
Nope. 1.4 billion people actually fking live here so we also need representation of our country. Not just immigrants of Indian descent.
Nope. 1.4 billion people actually fking live here so we also need representation of our country. Not just immigrants of Indian descent.
Read
March 9, 2016Something about the writing really turned me off right away.
Needed to make a snap decision about what to read for my elementary outreach promotion, so put it down. Didn't give it a proper chance. But probably won't pick it up again. There are so many great books.
Gonna try refraining from giving stars and see how that feels.
Needed to make a snap decision about what to read for my elementary outreach promotion, so put it down. Didn't give it a proper chance. But probably won't pick it up again. There are so many great books.
Gonna try refraining from giving stars and see how that feels.
November 1, 2014
I learned a lot about indian folklore while reading this.
Indian folklore is TERRIFYING.
Indian folklore is TERRIFYING.
December 11, 2021
Quite enjoyed this book that integrates Indian mythology into an adventure story. Ash and his sister Lucky are British-born Indians who are spending time with their uncle and aunt in India. He likes Indian Mythology which his uncle is an expert on, but life in India is quite different from what he's used to. Then his uncle got a "too-good-to-be-true" offer from Lord Savage to translate an ancient unknown text. Then things got weird and Ash found out that the creatures in Indian myths might just be real. Lord Savage wants to bring back Ravana, the demon king and ultimate essence of evil.
If you enjoy Rick Riordan's books, this book is right up that alley. I enjoy learning more about a different culture. We are with Ash as he deals with personal tragedy and does his utmost to protect his little sister. Great book to start a series.
If you enjoy Rick Riordan's books, this book is right up that alley. I enjoy learning more about a different culture. We are with Ash as he deals with personal tragedy and does his utmost to protect his little sister. Great book to start a series.
April 17, 2014
I first became acquainted with Sarwat Chadda when I read Devil's Kiss, and I knew he was an author I wanted to follow. Chadda has switched gears slightly, writing for the MG/Juvenile group with this series, and with a male lead. He has also set his book in India, I believe that he was drawing in some degree from his own heritage. With The Savage Fortress, Mr. Chadda has written an involving read quite full of darkness and danger, and incredible heroism at its center.
General Synopsis
Ash Mistry is an English boy of Indian descent. He gains the opportunity to explore the land of his parents' birth when he goes to stay with his aunt and uncle in India. Ash doesn't care much for India, despite his romantic hopes. It's hot, dirty, and basic in amenities. He'd rather be at home in England, with his videogames and his friends. I could identify with Ash in that I hate being hot and dirty, and the descriptions of India in that sense make me question whether I would enjoy my first experience with it any better than Ash does. However, Ash finds his destiny and comes to life in a way that staying in England never would have provided.
When his uncle gets the opportunity to translate a scroll for the very rich Englishman, Lord Alexander Savage, Ash encounters evils right out of Indian legend and folklore. For Lord Savage is a wicked magician cursed with immortality in a decaying body, and surrounded by blood-thirsty rakshasa creatures (rakshasa is a general term for demons who can have a variety of animal/human forms). Ash begs his uncle to have nothing to do with the man and his dark enterprises, but his uncle doesn't believe him. Ash falls in a deep hole at an archeology site funded by Lord Savage, and pricks his finger on an ancient arrow that connects him to the power of an ancient god, whose power belongs to the wielder of the arrow, which is called an astra.
Things go downhill from here and tragedy results in Ash and his young sister Lucky being on the run for their lives. An ancient holy man and his strange companion intervene, and guide Ash closer to his destiny as the wielder of the astra, and the only person who can stand in the way of Lord Savage's wicked intentions.
My Thoughts
Mr. Chadda is definitely in touch with the child part of himself. He understands that kids want adventure and wonder, but don't always have awareness of what comes along with that fun parts. Ash is like a stand-in for the thirteen-year-old self of older readers, or the young readers who read this book. It's a case of "Be careful what you wish for." We can't even know how dark our world is until we face it head on. Ash encounters things that made my hair stand on end. And the author is almost gleeful in describing the gore and violence. Not too much for a MG book, although I think the age restriction should be 13 or older, honestly. I could see this book causing nightmares to a younger reader. I was hesitant to read it late at night, just in case.
There is no lack of adventure and danger, and Ash's character undergoes desired and necessary growth in character. At the end of his harrowing experience, he is not unchanged. He realizes that we are accountable for our actions and we do have responsibilities in our lives to do what's right even if it's hard. While some readers might not be as accepting of the polytheistic elements of this story, I think this content can still be enjoyed as a fiction work, and I would recommend that parents investigate this book before letting their younger children read it. Even though I don't subscribe to the Hindu beliefs, I do think there are some good lessons to be learned about accountability and personal ethics. As a lover of folklore and mythology, I thought the world-building was fascinating, and Chadda describes India vividly. I felt as though I was there. He shows a lot of textures in the different peoples in this book, and I think it's good for readers to be exposed to multicultural characters and the diversity of our big, wide world.
Bruce Mann is an excellent narrator. He utilizes a variety of tones and accents that fit this book very well. I especially liked how he speaks Ash's part. Ash has a very distinctive way of speaking and he comes to life for me. I liked the kid a lot. I'm glad my library had this in audio, even if took me ages to finish listening to it (not out of boredom, just time issues).
I'd recommend The Savage Fortress to 13 or older children (with parental approval) and older readers who enjoy MG/Juvenile fiction with folklore. I'm looking forward to more of Ash's adventures.
General Synopsis
Ash Mistry is an English boy of Indian descent. He gains the opportunity to explore the land of his parents' birth when he goes to stay with his aunt and uncle in India. Ash doesn't care much for India, despite his romantic hopes. It's hot, dirty, and basic in amenities. He'd rather be at home in England, with his videogames and his friends. I could identify with Ash in that I hate being hot and dirty, and the descriptions of India in that sense make me question whether I would enjoy my first experience with it any better than Ash does. However, Ash finds his destiny and comes to life in a way that staying in England never would have provided.
When his uncle gets the opportunity to translate a scroll for the very rich Englishman, Lord Alexander Savage, Ash encounters evils right out of Indian legend and folklore. For Lord Savage is a wicked magician cursed with immortality in a decaying body, and surrounded by blood-thirsty rakshasa creatures (rakshasa is a general term for demons who can have a variety of animal/human forms). Ash begs his uncle to have nothing to do with the man and his dark enterprises, but his uncle doesn't believe him. Ash falls in a deep hole at an archeology site funded by Lord Savage, and pricks his finger on an ancient arrow that connects him to the power of an ancient god, whose power belongs to the wielder of the arrow, which is called an astra.
Things go downhill from here and tragedy results in Ash and his young sister Lucky being on the run for their lives. An ancient holy man and his strange companion intervene, and guide Ash closer to his destiny as the wielder of the astra, and the only person who can stand in the way of Lord Savage's wicked intentions.
My Thoughts
Mr. Chadda is definitely in touch with the child part of himself. He understands that kids want adventure and wonder, but don't always have awareness of what comes along with that fun parts. Ash is like a stand-in for the thirteen-year-old self of older readers, or the young readers who read this book. It's a case of "Be careful what you wish for." We can't even know how dark our world is until we face it head on. Ash encounters things that made my hair stand on end. And the author is almost gleeful in describing the gore and violence. Not too much for a MG book, although I think the age restriction should be 13 or older, honestly. I could see this book causing nightmares to a younger reader. I was hesitant to read it late at night, just in case.
There is no lack of adventure and danger, and Ash's character undergoes desired and necessary growth in character. At the end of his harrowing experience, he is not unchanged. He realizes that we are accountable for our actions and we do have responsibilities in our lives to do what's right even if it's hard. While some readers might not be as accepting of the polytheistic elements of this story, I think this content can still be enjoyed as a fiction work, and I would recommend that parents investigate this book before letting their younger children read it. Even though I don't subscribe to the Hindu beliefs, I do think there are some good lessons to be learned about accountability and personal ethics. As a lover of folklore and mythology, I thought the world-building was fascinating, and Chadda describes India vividly. I felt as though I was there. He shows a lot of textures in the different peoples in this book, and I think it's good for readers to be exposed to multicultural characters and the diversity of our big, wide world.
Bruce Mann is an excellent narrator. He utilizes a variety of tones and accents that fit this book very well. I especially liked how he speaks Ash's part. Ash has a very distinctive way of speaking and he comes to life for me. I liked the kid a lot. I'm glad my library had this in audio, even if took me ages to finish listening to it (not out of boredom, just time issues).
I'd recommend The Savage Fortress to 13 or older children (with parental approval) and older readers who enjoy MG/Juvenile fiction with folklore. I'm looking forward to more of Ash's adventures.
December 14, 2012
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A boy stumbles upon a mythical arrowhead and has to save the world.
Opening Sentence: “That is so not a cobra,” said Ash.
The Review:
You’ve probably heard of Greek and Roman mythology (Any Percy Jackson fans out there?) Or maybe even a bit of Norse mythology (Thor, son of Odin, a.k.a. Chris Hemsworth *sighs*). But have you even thought of India’s mythology? Sarwat’s The Savage Fortress gives you just enough information to wet your pallet in this enjoyable adventure-filled novel for middle-graders.
While in India on a vacation to visit his Aunt and Uncle, Ash Mistry accidentally comes across an arrowhead in the middle of a excavation site. But it’s just an arrowhead, right? Only, when Ash first touches it, he saw a vision from the past — of the last battle against the evil demon king Ravana. The arrowhead that he holds in his hands is actually the blessed arrowhead of Kali–the goddess of death. But Lord Alexander Savage is also looking for the arrowhead in order to release Ravana from his iron prison. Now Ash has a sliver of the arrowhead in his thumb, a little sister that’s been kidnapped and an immortal rakshaska that claims to be on the good side. Add the responsibility to save the world from a bloodthirsty demon king, and it makes for an eventful summer.
The Savage Fortress gives a creative twist to India’s mythology. There are relatable characters and some absolutely cooky characters. Overall it’s a fun (and really graphic, violence and gore wise, for a middle school book) fast-paced novel that has a lot of potential. I think Sarwat does a great job in creating the busy Indian streets and markets. The world building was great throughout. But the main highlight of the book was the characters.
By far my favorite character is Parvati. She’s a rakshaska that has a secret — or more like nobody asks so she doesn’t tell. Although she has a sketchy background, she helps Ash as he tries to save the world (but honestly in my opinion, Parvati is the heroine because she has the actual ability to kill Ravana and Ash just happens to be there at the same time). This strong, determined character has been reincarnated for thousands of years, failing each time she tries to help the hero. But this time, she’s going to stop Ravana, with or without the destined hero.
Ash is a very normal character. He has no special powers or talents. In fact, he’s a bit chubby and out of shape. He’s a character that happens to be in the right place at the right time. This makes him very relatable, and his point of view is realistic. He’s completely petrified when it comes to fighting an unstoppable demon. But he has a responsibility to his little sister that allows him to plow on to overcome his fear. He may not have the best fighting skills, but he has the perseverance to keep getting back up.
The humor in this book is probably my second favorite part of this book. It’s focused toward a younger audience, so new adults and probably some young adults might get bored with this book. But overall it’s great for middle school readers. Also note: like I said before, there are very graphic blood-and-gore scenes in this book, but nothing rated R. Just a warning to parents.
Notable Scene:
“You don’t feel fear, do you?” he asked.
She blinked her slow reptilian blink. “What is it you’re afraid of?”
“What else? Death.”
“No. You’re afraid of what you’ll miss, being dead.”
“Yeah, that too.” He looked around, lost. “I’m not even fourteen. I’ve never kissed a girl. Not been to first base, let alone anywhere beyond that. Not one decent kiss, and here I am, trying to save the world!”
“Look, I’ll kiss you if it’s so important,” said Parvati, flicking her hair out of her face. “But then can we get a move on, please?”
“Stop right there,” said Ash. “A charity kiss wouldn’t count. Anyway, knowing my luck, you’d bite my tongue and kill me.”
Parvati shrugged and began walking. Ash, after a moment, hurried up and fell into step beside her. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
“We could hold hands, if you like,” she said.
“Just shut up, Parvati.”
FTC Advisory: Arthur A. Levine Books / Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Savage Fortress. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A boy stumbles upon a mythical arrowhead and has to save the world.
Opening Sentence: “That is so not a cobra,” said Ash.
The Review:
You’ve probably heard of Greek and Roman mythology (Any Percy Jackson fans out there?) Or maybe even a bit of Norse mythology (Thor, son of Odin, a.k.a. Chris Hemsworth *sighs*). But have you even thought of India’s mythology? Sarwat’s The Savage Fortress gives you just enough information to wet your pallet in this enjoyable adventure-filled novel for middle-graders.
While in India on a vacation to visit his Aunt and Uncle, Ash Mistry accidentally comes across an arrowhead in the middle of a excavation site. But it’s just an arrowhead, right? Only, when Ash first touches it, he saw a vision from the past — of the last battle against the evil demon king Ravana. The arrowhead that he holds in his hands is actually the blessed arrowhead of Kali–the goddess of death. But Lord Alexander Savage is also looking for the arrowhead in order to release Ravana from his iron prison. Now Ash has a sliver of the arrowhead in his thumb, a little sister that’s been kidnapped and an immortal rakshaska that claims to be on the good side. Add the responsibility to save the world from a bloodthirsty demon king, and it makes for an eventful summer.
The Savage Fortress gives a creative twist to India’s mythology. There are relatable characters and some absolutely cooky characters. Overall it’s a fun (and really graphic, violence and gore wise, for a middle school book) fast-paced novel that has a lot of potential. I think Sarwat does a great job in creating the busy Indian streets and markets. The world building was great throughout. But the main highlight of the book was the characters.
By far my favorite character is Parvati. She’s a rakshaska that has a secret — or more like nobody asks so she doesn’t tell. Although she has a sketchy background, she helps Ash as he tries to save the world (but honestly in my opinion, Parvati is the heroine because she has the actual ability to kill Ravana and Ash just happens to be there at the same time). This strong, determined character has been reincarnated for thousands of years, failing each time she tries to help the hero. But this time, she’s going to stop Ravana, with or without the destined hero.
Ash is a very normal character. He has no special powers or talents. In fact, he’s a bit chubby and out of shape. He’s a character that happens to be in the right place at the right time. This makes him very relatable, and his point of view is realistic. He’s completely petrified when it comes to fighting an unstoppable demon. But he has a responsibility to his little sister that allows him to plow on to overcome his fear. He may not have the best fighting skills, but he has the perseverance to keep getting back up.
The humor in this book is probably my second favorite part of this book. It’s focused toward a younger audience, so new adults and probably some young adults might get bored with this book. But overall it’s great for middle school readers. Also note: like I said before, there are very graphic blood-and-gore scenes in this book, but nothing rated R. Just a warning to parents.
Notable Scene:
“You don’t feel fear, do you?” he asked.
She blinked her slow reptilian blink. “What is it you’re afraid of?”
“What else? Death.”
“No. You’re afraid of what you’ll miss, being dead.”
“Yeah, that too.” He looked around, lost. “I’m not even fourteen. I’ve never kissed a girl. Not been to first base, let alone anywhere beyond that. Not one decent kiss, and here I am, trying to save the world!”
“Look, I’ll kiss you if it’s so important,” said Parvati, flicking her hair out of her face. “But then can we get a move on, please?”
“Stop right there,” said Ash. “A charity kiss wouldn’t count. Anyway, knowing my luck, you’d bite my tongue and kill me.”
Parvati shrugged and began walking. Ash, after a moment, hurried up and fell into step beside her. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
“We could hold hands, if you like,” she said.
“Just shut up, Parvati.”
FTC Advisory: Arthur A. Levine Books / Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Savage Fortress. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 12, 2013
'Ash Mistry' by Sarwat Chadda is a magnificent adventure story. Chadda knows what he's writing about - it is well researched. It is unique in that the demons are traditional Indian monsters and heroes and the story takes part in Varanasi - the holy city of the Ganges, India.
This is exactly the type of inspiration that a lot of pupils need. It breathes multiculturalism - east meets west in Ash/Ashoka. He conveys the complexity of roots versus modernism and somehow manages to show how his main character is able to balance the two - both with different demands and expectations of him.
Descriptive writing that places you at the scene: 'Thud. Thud. Thud. Each blow threatened to shatter him...He closed his eyes and screamed, but his cries vanished in the echo of the drum.'
Italics, short staccato sentences...every sentence is constructed to have impact.
I am eager to introduce this novel to KS2. I heard Chadda talk in a recent presentation and he gave us trainee teachers some good advice on how to get children reading..."Find their inspirational book"
This is a strong contender for the title of 'inspirational book'.
This is exactly the type of inspiration that a lot of pupils need. It breathes multiculturalism - east meets west in Ash/Ashoka. He conveys the complexity of roots versus modernism and somehow manages to show how his main character is able to balance the two - both with different demands and expectations of him.
Descriptive writing that places you at the scene: 'Thud. Thud. Thud. Each blow threatened to shatter him...He closed his eyes and screamed, but his cries vanished in the echo of the drum.'
Italics, short staccato sentences...every sentence is constructed to have impact.
I am eager to introduce this novel to KS2. I heard Chadda talk in a recent presentation and he gave us trainee teachers some good advice on how to get children reading..."Find their inspirational book"
This is a strong contender for the title of 'inspirational book'.
did-not-finish
July 18, 2016DNF at 40%. Invoked my newish rule: If you don't really like the book, you don't need to spend your limited reading time on it. Here the setting and premise were cool, but the voice was the kind of MG that just doesn't work for me these days.
November 1, 2017
****SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!****
Just to start off I would like to say that I extremely disliked this book!! Was not a good book in my opinion, it may just have been that it was childish book for an 8th grader but seriously, it sucked. This novel was about Ash Mistry a teenage boy with a ten year old sister named Lucy Mistry who go on an adventure in India that quickly turns in to a fight between good and evil. Most of it (99.9) was all about Indian mythology, which was well explained in the book but some parts were not. In one chapter Ash I believe is dreaming about being the one of the gods and has a whole conversation with other gods which I found interesting and kind of stupid at the same time. The book really did not interest me as a whole, but I did find somethings interesting like characters and settings were very well depicted. My favorite character is for sure Lucy Mistry. She is a very kind and smart girl but can sometimes have some smart remarks like any 10 year old girl. I feel that Sarwat Chadda did a great job with all of the settings as well, she was very explicit and made it clear what was going on in that part of the book. **SPOILER ALERT!!!** My favorite part of the book most definitely when the aunt and uncle die because of how intense that scene is and how well it was explained. It couldn't have been any better. She describes very well how they died and what they looked like when they died(which I did enjoy). All the characters had pretty good human like emotions but sometimes I couldn't feel the fear they had or the anxiety they had. At other times I could obviously tell exactly what was going to happen next. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 3 it wasn't that good at all. Though I would most definitely recommended it to any young reader who wants a challenging read involving Indian mythology.
So altogether I did not like it that much but is was okay in some areas and pretty good in others so for anybody reading this I would not recommend it if you were younger then 10.
Just to start off I would like to say that I extremely disliked this book!! Was not a good book in my opinion, it may just have been that it was childish book for an 8th grader but seriously, it sucked. This novel was about Ash Mistry a teenage boy with a ten year old sister named Lucy Mistry who go on an adventure in India that quickly turns in to a fight between good and evil. Most of it (99.9) was all about Indian mythology, which was well explained in the book but some parts were not. In one chapter Ash I believe is dreaming about being the one of the gods and has a whole conversation with other gods which I found interesting and kind of stupid at the same time. The book really did not interest me as a whole, but I did find somethings interesting like characters and settings were very well depicted. My favorite character is for sure Lucy Mistry. She is a very kind and smart girl but can sometimes have some smart remarks like any 10 year old girl. I feel that Sarwat Chadda did a great job with all of the settings as well, she was very explicit and made it clear what was going on in that part of the book. **SPOILER ALERT!!!** My favorite part of the book most definitely when the aunt and uncle die because of how intense that scene is and how well it was explained. It couldn't have been any better. She describes very well how they died and what they looked like when they died(which I did enjoy). All the characters had pretty good human like emotions but sometimes I couldn't feel the fear they had or the anxiety they had. At other times I could obviously tell exactly what was going to happen next. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 3 it wasn't that good at all. Though I would most definitely recommended it to any young reader who wants a challenging read involving Indian mythology.
So altogether I did not like it that much but is was okay in some areas and pretty good in others so for anybody reading this I would not recommend it if you were younger then 10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2018
Hmmm
Not sure what I think about this one. On the one hand, it's enjoyable, and the Indian mythology woven through is far more than just flavor. On the other, it's a story about a thirteen year-old boy, that would've been gorgeous about a young man on the edge of 21.
Fans of Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase will love it, but I'm troubled by a number of elements. Especially a 4000 year-old demonness as a love interest for a child.
Still, it does a good job on important things like colonialism and being of two worlds. It doesn't exorcise or romanticize, and I imagine it's a blessing to Indian readers to see themselves in Ash and Lucky.
Worth reading, but not...what I wish it was.
Not sure what I think about this one. On the one hand, it's enjoyable, and the Indian mythology woven through is far more than just flavor. On the other, it's a story about a thirteen year-old boy, that would've been gorgeous about a young man on the edge of 21.
Fans of Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase will love it, but I'm troubled by a number of elements. Especially a 4000 year-old demonness as a love interest for a child.
Still, it does a good job on important things like colonialism and being of two worlds. It doesn't exorcise or romanticize, and I imagine it's a blessing to Indian readers to see themselves in Ash and Lucky.
Worth reading, but not...what I wish it was.
March 19, 2012
Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda
What could possibly follow Harry Potter’s revolutionary effect on the children’s book world? The somewhat unexpected answer was: Greek myths.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and sequels by Rick Riordan, the adventures of a young American named Percy Jackson, half-human, half-Greek God and all hero, were a runaway hit: flying off the bookshelves, encouraging reluctant readers and leading many children to Greek mythology along the way.
Now, Sarwat Chadda, a British Asian writer has given us our very own Percy Jackson in the person of Ash Mistry. This is the first book of a trilogy and presumably his publishers are hoping for Percy Jackson levels of success, fandom and movie adaptation.
This raises two questions. Firstly, is the book any good?
Secondly, reworking Hindu mythology is not the same as reworking Greek mythology. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, whereas there are few followers of the Ancient Greek religion. Repackaging Hindu mythology for the internet generation then, is both a wonderful task, given the richness of the Hindu mythopoeia, and a difficult one.
Sarwat Chadda has certainly succeeded in writing a good book. Ash is a well drawn, spoilt, overweight, 13 year-old geek; more attached to his Nintendo DS than anything else. The Indian setting, in Varanasi is evoked skillfully and without sentimentality with its burning ghats, narrow alleyways, fakirs and snake charmers. The plot races along, there are excellent villains, from Lord Savage a (literally) crumbing English aristocrat with his fantastic henchmen who morph in and out of demon form, to the climax where Ash has to fight the biggest baddie of all, the one and only Ravana. Take that, Voldemort!
There is, undoubtedly, a great deal of violence in this book. The horrific acts of the demons, the portrayal of Kali and the super scary rakshasas may give parents of the more sensitive child cause for concern. The recent trend in children’s books, from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games has been to portray dark forces and extreme violence. This may reflect the new generation’s inoculation to violence via computer-games or, alternatively, their earlier understanding of the truth; that we live in dark times.
The unflinchingly violent depiction of demons and dastardly forces in this book did give me some cause for reflection. Hinduism, as well as being the religious home of rakshasas and the powers of Kali is also one of the world’s earliest philosophical movements. Hinduism, after all, via Mahatma Gandhi, gave the world ahimsa or non-violence. There is not a hint of this in the book. Given that Chadda has taken some liberties with the story of the Ramayana and the mythologies of Kali, I had hoped for a more nuanced portrayal.
I imagine these books will do very well, not only in the U.K. and U.S.A. but also in the growing Indian children’s books market, and that, like the Percy Jackson books, they will awaken interest in Hindu mythology. The fact remains, that for many children, these books will be their only exposure to Hinduism. I hope that in the future Ash Mistry Chronicles, Chadda allows himself the freedom to bring in the philosophical and spiritual aspects of the religion, while continuing to write a cracking adventure story.
Summary: Indian Percy Jackson fights and defeats the world’s baddest baddie, Ravana himself. 10+ boys and girls will love it
What could possibly follow Harry Potter’s revolutionary effect on the children’s book world? The somewhat unexpected answer was: Greek myths.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and sequels by Rick Riordan, the adventures of a young American named Percy Jackson, half-human, half-Greek God and all hero, were a runaway hit: flying off the bookshelves, encouraging reluctant readers and leading many children to Greek mythology along the way.
Now, Sarwat Chadda, a British Asian writer has given us our very own Percy Jackson in the person of Ash Mistry. This is the first book of a trilogy and presumably his publishers are hoping for Percy Jackson levels of success, fandom and movie adaptation.
This raises two questions. Firstly, is the book any good?
Secondly, reworking Hindu mythology is not the same as reworking Greek mythology. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, whereas there are few followers of the Ancient Greek religion. Repackaging Hindu mythology for the internet generation then, is both a wonderful task, given the richness of the Hindu mythopoeia, and a difficult one.
Sarwat Chadda has certainly succeeded in writing a good book. Ash is a well drawn, spoilt, overweight, 13 year-old geek; more attached to his Nintendo DS than anything else. The Indian setting, in Varanasi is evoked skillfully and without sentimentality with its burning ghats, narrow alleyways, fakirs and snake charmers. The plot races along, there are excellent villains, from Lord Savage a (literally) crumbing English aristocrat with his fantastic henchmen who morph in and out of demon form, to the climax where Ash has to fight the biggest baddie of all, the one and only Ravana. Take that, Voldemort!
There is, undoubtedly, a great deal of violence in this book. The horrific acts of the demons, the portrayal of Kali and the super scary rakshasas may give parents of the more sensitive child cause for concern. The recent trend in children’s books, from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games has been to portray dark forces and extreme violence. This may reflect the new generation’s inoculation to violence via computer-games or, alternatively, their earlier understanding of the truth; that we live in dark times.
The unflinchingly violent depiction of demons and dastardly forces in this book did give me some cause for reflection. Hinduism, as well as being the religious home of rakshasas and the powers of Kali is also one of the world’s earliest philosophical movements. Hinduism, after all, via Mahatma Gandhi, gave the world ahimsa or non-violence. There is not a hint of this in the book. Given that Chadda has taken some liberties with the story of the Ramayana and the mythologies of Kali, I had hoped for a more nuanced portrayal.
I imagine these books will do very well, not only in the U.K. and U.S.A. but also in the growing Indian children’s books market, and that, like the Percy Jackson books, they will awaken interest in Hindu mythology. The fact remains, that for many children, these books will be their only exposure to Hinduism. I hope that in the future Ash Mistry Chronicles, Chadda allows himself the freedom to bring in the philosophical and spiritual aspects of the religion, while continuing to write a cracking adventure story.
Summary: Indian Percy Jackson fights and defeats the world’s baddest baddie, Ravana himself. 10+ boys and girls will love it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2022
"I'm not a hero."
"Then we will make you one, Ashoka.”
This is a book that Rick Riordan himself recommends for his readers when they ask him for an Indian version of Percy Jackson. And it is, in a way. The most important difference is, I think, that Ash Mistry immediately puts the stakes a bit higher than Percy Jackson (at least in the first book), and that - as a result - there is less humour present. There's still enough of it, don't worry, and it's some good humour too, but it's clear that this book is more serious than Riordan's works.
In fact, it reminds me more of Anthony Horowitz's The Power of Five. After all, it's set in our world, it's about the end of the world, about a gate, and about some very evil and creepy-looking demons. This book, however, is better.
What really stands out for me in this book (and the other two), though, apart from the fun and the thrill, are Ash and Parvati and the two of them together. They're fun, and sarcastic, with dry humour, and brave. Most notable is Parvati - a four-thousand-year-old demi-demon girl who gets reborn each time after she dies. You'd think that, as a half-demon/half-human who has seen a lot in her lives, she'd behave differently, and she can… but then, other times she just acts like a normal teenage girl. Dead on target, really.
Ash, then, is the other providing intertextual and pop culture fun, such as Star Trek (I should really start watching that, actually, after all this time) and Doctor Who . So that's nice too.
And sure, you can see from a mile off that Ash and Parvati destined to become more than friends, and it may seem like insta-love at first, but when you start thinking about it... it isn't. There's much more behind it than that. That's what makes their chemistry, in all its ways, so good. As it does their behaviour and their character on their own. The mythology and history behind this book (both in a narrow and broad sense), which is what drives them as characters, works in very good and original ways. In Book 1, not much of that is visible, but a lot of hints are already given.
Several times, things happen that you never see coming. They're not even necessarily plottwists as much as they're elements that drive the story onwards, and you only then understand that you have misunderstood the story up to that point. Sometimes, a character will do something and you're like, 'Man, you're not supposed to that', but then ten pages on, you get that (s)he must do that because otherwise the story doesn't evolve (or in the right direction).
8.4/10
"Then we will make you one, Ashoka.”
This is a book that Rick Riordan himself recommends for his readers when they ask him for an Indian version of Percy Jackson. And it is, in a way. The most important difference is, I think, that Ash Mistry immediately puts the stakes a bit higher than Percy Jackson (at least in the first book), and that - as a result - there is less humour present. There's still enough of it, don't worry, and it's some good humour too, but it's clear that this book is more serious than Riordan's works.
In fact, it reminds me more of Anthony Horowitz's The Power of Five. After all, it's set in our world, it's about the end of the world, about a gate, and about some very evil and creepy-looking demons. This book, however, is better.
What really stands out for me in this book (and the other two), though, apart from the fun and the thrill, are Ash and Parvati and the two of them together. They're fun, and sarcastic, with dry humour, and brave. Most notable is Parvati - a four-thousand-year-old demi-demon girl who gets reborn each time after she dies. You'd think that, as a half-demon/half-human who has seen a lot in her lives, she'd behave differently, and she can… but then, other times she just acts like a normal teenage girl. Dead on target, really.
Ash, then, is the other providing intertextual and pop culture fun, such as Star Trek (I should really start watching that, actually, after all this time) and Doctor Who . So that's nice too.
And sure, you can see from a mile off that Ash and Parvati destined to become more than friends, and it may seem like insta-love at first, but when you start thinking about it... it isn't. There's much more behind it than that. That's what makes their chemistry, in all its ways, so good. As it does their behaviour and their character on their own. The mythology and history behind this book (both in a narrow and broad sense), which is what drives them as characters, works in very good and original ways. In Book 1, not much of that is visible, but a lot of hints are already given.
Several times, things happen that you never see coming. They're not even necessarily plottwists as much as they're elements that drive the story onwards, and you only then understand that you have misunderstood the story up to that point. Sometimes, a character will do something and you're like, 'Man, you're not supposed to that', but then ten pages on, you get that (s)he must do that because otherwise the story doesn't evolve (or in the right direction).
8.4/10
October 24, 2012
i remember being very excited for this middle
grade novel ever since sarwat told me about it
at ALAN 2010--the first time we met. he was so
enthusiastic about this story with an indian boy
as a hero (ash mistry) and incorporating the culture
and mythos of india. it sounded fantastic. now, two
years later, it is wonderful to see the book published
and come to fruition.
chadda is a fantastic writer and he's really able
to immerse you into ash's world, india, and allow
us to see and feel the wonder of being in a country
so steeped with history. he also truly brings the
demons and monsters to life (i love demons!) while working
with indian lore, and doesn't flinch from descriptions
of pain or loss or fighting for your life. it's what
i appreciate from chadda in his storytelling.
also, what i loved *most* about The Savage Fortress
was the love for family. and chadda really drove that
home with the relationship between ash and his younger
sister, lucky. it was a thread that tied the entire
storyline together beautifully.
highly recommended!
grade novel ever since sarwat told me about it
at ALAN 2010--the first time we met. he was so
enthusiastic about this story with an indian boy
as a hero (ash mistry) and incorporating the culture
and mythos of india. it sounded fantastic. now, two
years later, it is wonderful to see the book published
and come to fruition.
chadda is a fantastic writer and he's really able
to immerse you into ash's world, india, and allow
us to see and feel the wonder of being in a country
so steeped with history. he also truly brings the
demons and monsters to life (i love demons!) while working
with indian lore, and doesn't flinch from descriptions
of pain or loss or fighting for your life. it's what
i appreciate from chadda in his storytelling.
also, what i loved *most* about The Savage Fortress
was the love for family. and chadda really drove that
home with the relationship between ash and his younger
sister, lucky. it was a thread that tied the entire
storyline together beautifully.
highly recommended!
February 17, 2012
In this book Sarwat Chadda has merged real life with Indian mythology and I find that really thrilling. I borrowed this book from Alison yesterday and finished it this morning!
The publishers have recommended this book for children who are 9+ and I can see children’s imaginations running wild with this story. As I have not yet taught in KS2 I would seek advice on how to best use this book but I can imagine getting wonderful results from it including literacy, RE, geography, art, PE to name but a few.
This is a modern day tale of a 13 year old boy, Ash, and his 10 year old sister Lucky, going to visit their family in Varanasi. I really enjoyed their relationship and I found it real and very honest. Varanasi is hot, humid and having been to India myself brilliantly descriptive of the everyday in an Indian city. This story combines so well with the ancient story of Rama, his kin Lakshmana and the demon king Ravana. I found the link with Indian mythology as opposed to pure fantasy really enticing and interesting and it made me want to read more.
The publishers have recommended this book for children who are 9+ and I can see children’s imaginations running wild with this story. As I have not yet taught in KS2 I would seek advice on how to best use this book but I can imagine getting wonderful results from it including literacy, RE, geography, art, PE to name but a few.
This is a modern day tale of a 13 year old boy, Ash, and his 10 year old sister Lucky, going to visit their family in Varanasi. I really enjoyed their relationship and I found it real and very honest. Varanasi is hot, humid and having been to India myself brilliantly descriptive of the everyday in an Indian city. This story combines so well with the ancient story of Rama, his kin Lakshmana and the demon king Ravana. I found the link with Indian mythology as opposed to pure fantasy really enticing and interesting and it made me want to read more.
October 28, 2012
Thirteen-year-old Ash Mistry and his younger sister Lucky are on a trip to India with their uncle and aunt. Their uncle has been hired by an incredibly wealthy man to help translate pictograms, but it turns out that the translations may lead to the end of the world and immortality for Lord Savage. When Uncle Vik backs out of the deal, Savage sends his demons after the family. Ash ends up on the run, finding allies in unlikely places and forming an allegiance with Kali, the slayer of demons. There is quite a bit of violence, action, and suspense in this title, and many readers will like Ash since he is not at all heroic and behaves in a courageous way simply to save his sister. It's likely that many readers will see themselves in Ash with his self-deprecating humor and moments of fear. Still, he manages to do what needs to be done, and the author hints of his own possible problems adjusting to the changes in his life as the book comes to an end. I'll be looking forward to the next title in this series.
August 4, 2014
After reading all of the Percy Jackson series and series linked to that (still eagerly waiting for next books) I didn't know if I would like this book.
- The actual reason I picked this book was because it seemed like a Percy Jackson book but with Indian mythology and let me say I wasn't dissapointed :D
Okay so even though the book lays too much attention on the main character Ash as compared to his sister {who i thought should have had much much more attention(so much unlike Percy Jackson)} it was interesting to read.
After reading about Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology by Rick Riordan this book was a slight change to my perception on authors writing styles.
-I could also connect to this book on an emotional level because it portrays exactly how I felt (and still feel)after coming to India from the U.S.
I felt the storyline was enjoyable with good witty remarks and enjoyable conversations between the characters. Putting aside minor flaws, it was alright. A good read :)
- The actual reason I picked this book was because it seemed like a Percy Jackson book but with Indian mythology and let me say I wasn't dissapointed :D
Okay so even though the book lays too much attention on the main character Ash as compared to his sister {who i thought should have had much much more attention(so much unlike Percy Jackson)} it was interesting to read.
After reading about Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology by Rick Riordan this book was a slight change to my perception on authors writing styles.
-I could also connect to this book on an emotional level because it portrays exactly how I felt (and still feel)after coming to India from the U.S.
I felt the storyline was enjoyable with good witty remarks and enjoyable conversations between the characters. Putting aside minor flaws, it was alright. A good read :)
May 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this – a classic adventure story in the tradition of Indiana Jones. Apart from the superb sense of location, believable characters (both good and truly evil) what I liked most, and what set this book above so many other adventure stories, is the way that Ash stayed rooted in reality. Even fighting demons, he still managed to react, and for the most part behave, like a normal, slightly overweight, teenage boy! Great stuff.
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