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The Avatari
A Mythical Kingdom: Legend has it that only those chosen by destiny can gain entry into Shambhala, the mythical kingdom believed to hold the ancient wisdom that humanity will need to resurrect itself from the inevitable apocalypse. They are the Avatari.
An Ancient Artefact: When Henry Ashton, a retired British Army officer settled in the Yorkshire dales, receives a letter from a monk entreating him to prevent a hidden treasure stolen from a Laotian monastery from being misused, he finds himself honour-bound to respond. Assisted by a retired Gurkha Sergeant, a high-strung mathematician from Oxford with a Shambhala fixation of her own and an American mercenary on the CIAs hit list, Ashtons mission leads to an ancient map that dates back to the time of the great Mongol, Kublai Khan.
A Secret that Must Not be Revealed: The group follows the trail, risking the perils of the inhospitable deserts of Ladakh, turmoil in Pakistan and the rugged mountains of Northern Afghanistan, where the Afghan War is at its height. But they are up against a deadly adversary with seemingly unlimited resources, who will stop at nothing to get possession of the anicent secret a secret that, if revealed, could threaten the very fabric of human civilization.
An Ancient Artefact: When Henry Ashton, a retired British Army officer settled in the Yorkshire dales, receives a letter from a monk entreating him to prevent a hidden treasure stolen from a Laotian monastery from being misused, he finds himself honour-bound to respond. Assisted by a retired Gurkha Sergeant, a high-strung mathematician from Oxford with a Shambhala fixation of her own and an American mercenary on the CIAs hit list, Ashtons mission leads to an ancient map that dates back to the time of the great Mongol, Kublai Khan.
A Secret that Must Not be Revealed: The group follows the trail, risking the perils of the inhospitable deserts of Ladakh, turmoil in Pakistan and the rugged mountains of Northern Afghanistan, where the Afghan War is at its height. But they are up against a deadly adversary with seemingly unlimited resources, who will stop at nothing to get possession of the anicent secret a secret that, if revealed, could threaten the very fabric of human civilization.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
13 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Raghu Srinivasan
5 books7 followersRaghu Srinivasan is a serving officer in the Indian Army. His tenures have seen him patrol leech-infested tropical jungles, stare across the expanse of the African savannah and spot snow leopards in the Karakoram ranges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 23, 2014
It was not an easy read... given the print size and back story... confusing at times but it captured my imagination. My eyes did reach my brows :-) time to time but then given it is "fiction" one can have creative license...
Overall i enjoyed and would really like to see the author write moire. But his exhaustive research and back stories would indicate a longish haul in producing a book. A rarity in today's fast spaced mass production.
I appreciate that the author took time to develop the characters so that the reader felt comfortable around them and could possibly anticipate certain actions.
Well done! Looking forward to your next story Mr. Srinivasan!
Overall i enjoyed and would really like to see the author write moire. But his exhaustive research and back stories would indicate a longish haul in producing a book. A rarity in today's fast spaced mass production.
I appreciate that the author took time to develop the characters so that the reader felt comfortable around them and could possibly anticipate certain actions.
Well done! Looking forward to your next story Mr. Srinivasan!
September 28, 2014
It is hard not to like a book like Raghu Srinivasan’s debut novel “The Avatari”. For once, the thriller genre of Indian literature finally has something to show for - something that can be hailed as ‘world-class’ when it comes to writing, having been disappointed before by the works of Ashwin Sanghi, Amish Tripathi & the like. A book that doesn’t read like a rough first draft fast-tracked into publication and full of the usual suspects - hackneyed clichés and bad dialogue.
Mostly set in 1986, the story opens with the murder of a Buddhist lama in a monastery. We are then transported to Yorkshire, England where an Oriental messenger immolates himself while on his way to deliver a letter to retired British Army officer Henry Ashton. Urged on by his friend and companion Durga Bahadur, a retired Gurkha sergeant, Ashton decides to honour a promise he made years ago and respond to the pleas of a Laotian monastery to prevent the hidden treasure of the mythical kingdom of Shambala from falling into the wrong hands. This ‘hidden treasure’ is believed to contain the knowledge of the Kaalchakras – the ancient wisdom that humanity would require to resurrect itself from inevitable apocalyptic times.
Assisted by Susan Hamilton, a mathematician from Oxford and Peter Radigan, a young American mercenary on the CIA’s most-wanted list, they set out on a trail left by the great Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, traversing through the inhospitable terrains of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Ladakh at the height of the Afghan War. But they are not alone – monitoring their movements are a powerful adversary with unlimited resources, who would stop at nothing to get their hands on this secret.
Despite getting a mention at the start of this review, it seems inevitable that the focus returns to the most glowing positive of this book – the writing itself. While Aroon Raman (of The Shadow Throne and The Treasure of Kafur fame) and Neeraj Pandey (author of Ghalib Danger) have done a fairly good job in this respect, Srinivasan raises the bar a notch above. “The Avatari” boasts a huge cast of characters and Srinivasan tries to do justice to all of them and succeeds to a reasonable extent.
One point to be noted here is that none of the protagonists or the antagonists are Indian, which is quite uncommon and the fact that the colloquialisms do not seem out of place at any point is praiseworthy. The setting of the tale in the mid-1980s (albeit with the use of occasional flashbacks) also makes the whole thing much more believable.
The only aspect where the plot falters a bit is its thrill quotient. The story moves at an even pace throughout and something is always happening, but the moments of action – very good when they happen, like most of the book – are too few and far between for a novel that is around 500 pages long. While no part in the narrative seems as if the writer could’ve done without, the amount of thrills on offer would’ve worked better for a more compact book.
Nevertheless, Raghu Srinivasan’s “The Avatari” counts among one of the better debut novels by an Indian writer in recent years and so readers of the genre should definitely not give it a miss. Recommended.
P.S. I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway & I solemnly maintain that my review was in no way influenced by the same.
Mostly set in 1986, the story opens with the murder of a Buddhist lama in a monastery. We are then transported to Yorkshire, England where an Oriental messenger immolates himself while on his way to deliver a letter to retired British Army officer Henry Ashton. Urged on by his friend and companion Durga Bahadur, a retired Gurkha sergeant, Ashton decides to honour a promise he made years ago and respond to the pleas of a Laotian monastery to prevent the hidden treasure of the mythical kingdom of Shambala from falling into the wrong hands. This ‘hidden treasure’ is believed to contain the knowledge of the Kaalchakras – the ancient wisdom that humanity would require to resurrect itself from inevitable apocalyptic times.
Assisted by Susan Hamilton, a mathematician from Oxford and Peter Radigan, a young American mercenary on the CIA’s most-wanted list, they set out on a trail left by the great Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, traversing through the inhospitable terrains of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Ladakh at the height of the Afghan War. But they are not alone – monitoring their movements are a powerful adversary with unlimited resources, who would stop at nothing to get their hands on this secret.
Despite getting a mention at the start of this review, it seems inevitable that the focus returns to the most glowing positive of this book – the writing itself. While Aroon Raman (of The Shadow Throne and The Treasure of Kafur fame) and Neeraj Pandey (author of Ghalib Danger) have done a fairly good job in this respect, Srinivasan raises the bar a notch above. “The Avatari” boasts a huge cast of characters and Srinivasan tries to do justice to all of them and succeeds to a reasonable extent.
One point to be noted here is that none of the protagonists or the antagonists are Indian, which is quite uncommon and the fact that the colloquialisms do not seem out of place at any point is praiseworthy. The setting of the tale in the mid-1980s (albeit with the use of occasional flashbacks) also makes the whole thing much more believable.
The only aspect where the plot falters a bit is its thrill quotient. The story moves at an even pace throughout and something is always happening, but the moments of action – very good when they happen, like most of the book – are too few and far between for a novel that is around 500 pages long. While no part in the narrative seems as if the writer could’ve done without, the amount of thrills on offer would’ve worked better for a more compact book.
Nevertheless, Raghu Srinivasan’s “The Avatari” counts among one of the better debut novels by an Indian writer in recent years and so readers of the genre should definitely not give it a miss. Recommended.
P.S. I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway & I solemnly maintain that my review was in no way influenced by the same.
April 3, 2014
Amazing read, loved the art of a master story teller with an eye for detail.Also loved the way the author effortlessly weaves the story across varied landscapes and across time periods.a great weekend read,junk that TV remote and pick up this volume to rediscover fiction and lose yourself to a delightful yarn.You owe it to yourself
August 14, 2014
You know how they say “the journey is more important than the destination”? Well it seems like the writer took it quite seriously. Although the plot was pretty interesting, after a point, the story lost its momentum and became monotonous because it stuck to a flat plotline: the whole “journey to Shambhala” charade. With some fairly predictable twists, the book stays true to its genre. And like any other mystical adventure, the book has a hero who needs to save the world in his own way, a sidekick with the real skills, a man and a woman who initially hate each other but later end up falling in love, several masala action sequences, a few “not at all relevant to the plot” fights, some fairly irreparable damage to a rich side-character and deaths of some others.
The story is set in the year 1986. The protagonist, Henry Ashton, is a retired British Army officer who lives in Yorkshire Dales with Duggy, a retired Ghurkha Sergeant, receives a letter from a monk he had befriended while staying at a monastery in Laos, requesting him to retrieve “a treasure” that has been stolen from the monastery and has fallen into the wrong hands. Thus along with Duggy, he looks for people who can accompany him on this mission and comes across Susan, a mathematician from Oxford obsessed with Shambhala for some personal reasons of her own. They also hire Peter, a mercenary on the run from the US government and the best guide possible, who was aware as to how to tackle situations in warzones and other possible obstacles that they’d find. They travel from one warzone area to another, facing various hindrances, defeating the bad guys on their way in search for Shambhala based on clues that Susan helps to decipher.
Although the plot is interesting, the story seems a little stretched at various points. There was way too much back story for all the events that took place and the lack of a linear time line made the story look more than just a little abrupt. Random characters were given too much airtime.
Normally, meticulousness is a very good aspect in a book but you have to know when it gets more than required. At a lot of war sequences, the details about the weapons, the scenario, and the bad guys became unnecessary padding for the book.
Summing up, though the plot was engrossing, it wasn’t enough to keep the reader glued to the book.
Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com
The story is set in the year 1986. The protagonist, Henry Ashton, is a retired British Army officer who lives in Yorkshire Dales with Duggy, a retired Ghurkha Sergeant, receives a letter from a monk he had befriended while staying at a monastery in Laos, requesting him to retrieve “a treasure” that has been stolen from the monastery and has fallen into the wrong hands. Thus along with Duggy, he looks for people who can accompany him on this mission and comes across Susan, a mathematician from Oxford obsessed with Shambhala for some personal reasons of her own. They also hire Peter, a mercenary on the run from the US government and the best guide possible, who was aware as to how to tackle situations in warzones and other possible obstacles that they’d find. They travel from one warzone area to another, facing various hindrances, defeating the bad guys on their way in search for Shambhala based on clues that Susan helps to decipher.
Although the plot is interesting, the story seems a little stretched at various points. There was way too much back story for all the events that took place and the lack of a linear time line made the story look more than just a little abrupt. Random characters were given too much airtime.
Normally, meticulousness is a very good aspect in a book but you have to know when it gets more than required. At a lot of war sequences, the details about the weapons, the scenario, and the bad guys became unnecessary padding for the book.
Summing up, though the plot was engrossing, it wasn’t enough to keep the reader glued to the book.
Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com
February 17, 2017
This is another explosive debut book that has the strength to keep its readers glued to the pages.
A retired British Army Officer, a retired Gorkha Sergeant, an Oxford mathematician and an American mercenary come together for an adventure of a lifetime. When a treasure is stolen from a Laotian Monastery, these people come together to track it and stop it from being misused. The story is fanned out from England to the United States to Tibet to Laos to Africa to India and Pakistan, covering a major part of the world. And that is not all… The story also spans over different timelines.
The characters of the story are well fleshed out. Each character has a distinct trait that makes him/her stand apart from their counterparts and gives them a unique identity. Even some of the supporting characters come out strong in the story. The plot is a rather intricate one that plays over different continents and over different timelines. Yet the author has managed to paint a very clear picture of the story. It would have been rather easy to get lost and confused but the clarity with which the author has narrated the story not only makes it easy for the readers to follow it but is also easy to get engulfed in this world where Shambala exists. The dialogues, the action and the detailed description of the settings and the background are well done and all of them add different flavours to the story.
It is really difficult for a reader to accept that this is a work from a debut author because such seamless spinning of a tale is usually expected from a much more seasoned author. I will be keeping an eye out for the next book from this author while you guys go and pick this one up.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/05/The...
A retired British Army Officer, a retired Gorkha Sergeant, an Oxford mathematician and an American mercenary come together for an adventure of a lifetime. When a treasure is stolen from a Laotian Monastery, these people come together to track it and stop it from being misused. The story is fanned out from England to the United States to Tibet to Laos to Africa to India and Pakistan, covering a major part of the world. And that is not all… The story also spans over different timelines.
The characters of the story are well fleshed out. Each character has a distinct trait that makes him/her stand apart from their counterparts and gives them a unique identity. Even some of the supporting characters come out strong in the story. The plot is a rather intricate one that plays over different continents and over different timelines. Yet the author has managed to paint a very clear picture of the story. It would have been rather easy to get lost and confused but the clarity with which the author has narrated the story not only makes it easy for the readers to follow it but is also easy to get engulfed in this world where Shambala exists. The dialogues, the action and the detailed description of the settings and the background are well done and all of them add different flavours to the story.
It is really difficult for a reader to accept that this is a work from a debut author because such seamless spinning of a tale is usually expected from a much more seasoned author. I will be keeping an eye out for the next book from this author while you guys go and pick this one up.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/05/The...
September 27, 2014
I started reading Avatari with high expectations….since the book had received many positive literary reviews. The book gripped me totally and as I finished the leafing through the last page, I found myself applauding the book and the author. In fact I would be inclined to say that this is the best Indian mystical thriller I have read. The competence and maturity of Mr.Srinivasan’s writing, the plot, the narrative & pace can match the thrillers by famous English and American writers.
The characters are well developed and I didn't find any flab in the book...the pace is tense and tight. There are many subplots, all of which are relevant to the story. I liked the way Mr.Srinivasan ended the book...he did not try to share the secret of the mystic land and the mysticism, the secret of Shambhala had to be maintained.
As I finished reading the book, it was hard to believe that this was Mr.Srinivasan's first book...I now eagerly look forward for his second venture.
The characters are well developed and I didn't find any flab in the book...the pace is tense and tight. There are many subplots, all of which are relevant to the story. I liked the way Mr.Srinivasan ended the book...he did not try to share the secret of the mystic land and the mysticism, the secret of Shambhala had to be maintained.
As I finished reading the book, it was hard to believe that this was Mr.Srinivasan's first book...I now eagerly look forward for his second venture.
March 28, 2014
Amazing book! A compelling read!
April 3, 2014
Amazing story telling by Raghu Srinivasan. I was hooked from the first page...could not put it down. Looking forward to more writing by Raghu!!!
March 28, 2015
Original Link to the review at my blog Le' Grande Codex - here
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Finally a book by an Indian author that begs attention. I can count on one hand, the many modern Indian thriller that I like and it is not much. But I am pleased to proclaim that Raghu Srinivasan's The Avatari makes the quota for the well liked and the well developed thriller it is. Although the plainness of the cover did much to dissuade me, seeing as there are many books that sport much better looking eye-catching covers ...... but I persisted and was well rewarded.
Majorly set in 1986 and spanning across all of time. Following the death of a Buddhist lama in a monastery, retired British Army Officer Henry Aston is asked to honor a promise made many years ago and prevent the hidden treasure of Shambala from falling int the wrong hands on the pleas of a Laotian monastery. Assisted by companion Durga Bahadur, a retired Gurkha Sergeant, Susan Hamilton, mathematician from Oxford and Peter Radigan, an American mercenary on the CIA's most wanted list. Together they must traverse the journey made by the great Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan through the inhospitable terrains of Ladakh, Pakistan and the rugged mountains of North Afghanistan where the Afghan War is at its heights to save the mystical knowledge of the elusive Kaalchakras.
But the enemy is not far behind with their unlimited resources and their fell desired .... Spanning across three timelines and through numerous perspectives, The Avatari tries to do justice to all of it with the help of a well maintained plot and a well crafted background. And the irony of it all, aside from an Indian author none of the cast are of Indian descent but it doesn't feel out of place at all. Although this is a 512 paged book, it still felt way too long in places and the actual thriller part felt far and too few in between. It is understandable that the author tried to create a solid base but going to such lengths wasn't really necessary.
Nevertheless, it was 'Shambala' that drew me in and did not let go till the end. So as far as a debut thriller is concerned, this is a great beginning for Srinivasan and I would not mind returning for a re-read of this marvelous adventure in the future either.
"A well crafted debut and the promises of Shambala. I recommend"
April 12, 2014
The Avatari by Raghu Srinivasan is a sign of coming of age of Indian Thriller Fiction. Indian writers have either dabbled in regular human lives, college tales and more recently, reinterpreted mythology.
And while they have gained a fair amount of respect and acclaim, with all due respect, we haven’t really had anyone who could take the place of India’s Robert Ludlum, Dan Brown, Fredrik Forsythe etc etc.
Is Raghu Srinivasan that man? One novel is too early to tell, but it speaks enough of his ability to weave a tale and keep his audience hooked on through page after page of suspense, action and intrigue.
Srinivasan tackles the vast landscape around him with aplomb, from the description of the ancient Mongols to the Tom Clancy like knowledge of terrain and weapons to the reality of the “Afghan Conflict” in the 80s.
You can almost imagine the author sitting by a campfire, getting the details first hand from the characters themselves. Hard to imagine how else could they all be so vivid.
There are so many things going on, but you never lose sight of the clock ticking down on our heroes, as the “Book of the Dead” is so close to falling in the wrong hands.
You find yourself trying to decipher the clues before our heroes, something which an Indian author has rarely pushed us to do before.
And the characters themselves, led by Henry Ashton, the distinguished hero (would love Sean Connery to play him), crackle with both heroism and weaknesses.
That makes them human, not cardboard cutouts whose reactions you can predict a mile away.
It’s possibly the fanboy in me that has me gushing over this book so much.
More often than not, when you read a “Bourne Identity” or a “Da Vinci Code” , you marvel at the story, and then perhaps in a small corner of your mind, you wonder: Damn, I wonder if I could have written that.
I guess Raghu Srinivasan found the answer.
And while they have gained a fair amount of respect and acclaim, with all due respect, we haven’t really had anyone who could take the place of India’s Robert Ludlum, Dan Brown, Fredrik Forsythe etc etc.
Is Raghu Srinivasan that man? One novel is too early to tell, but it speaks enough of his ability to weave a tale and keep his audience hooked on through page after page of suspense, action and intrigue.
Srinivasan tackles the vast landscape around him with aplomb, from the description of the ancient Mongols to the Tom Clancy like knowledge of terrain and weapons to the reality of the “Afghan Conflict” in the 80s.
You can almost imagine the author sitting by a campfire, getting the details first hand from the characters themselves. Hard to imagine how else could they all be so vivid.
There are so many things going on, but you never lose sight of the clock ticking down on our heroes, as the “Book of the Dead” is so close to falling in the wrong hands.
You find yourself trying to decipher the clues before our heroes, something which an Indian author has rarely pushed us to do before.
And the characters themselves, led by Henry Ashton, the distinguished hero (would love Sean Connery to play him), crackle with both heroism and weaknesses.
That makes them human, not cardboard cutouts whose reactions you can predict a mile away.
It’s possibly the fanboy in me that has me gushing over this book so much.
More often than not, when you read a “Bourne Identity” or a “Da Vinci Code” , you marvel at the story, and then perhaps in a small corner of your mind, you wonder: Damn, I wonder if I could have written that.
I guess Raghu Srinivasan found the answer.
July 9, 2014
Phew , that is the literal reaction which i had after I finished the book.
A long long book..
The Books starts by the Teacher getting killed by a disciple in a monastery , Another Monk killing himself while delivering a note to Henry Ashton.
The journey taken by Ashton and duggy to the mythological place.
Enter Susan and Peter the accomplice of ashton in the adventure.
Josh Wando taking the same adventure for is redemption , CIA getting involved .
With CIA enters operatives , Hamilton and lots and lots of people.
The adventure takes us through , London to Africa to India to Pakistan to Afghanistan and ends up near Afghanistan-china border.
what i liked
1) The great details with which the author has built up major characters.
-- the story of Ashton from malaya to vietene to laos and the techings he has in laos.
-- Susan and the reason why she gets involved
-- Peter and his history and operative and his nature and experience.
-- Josh wando and his motive
2) The details with which each encounter has been explained .
-- the Afghanistan dera border event
-- the climax and the fight
3) Each character has been explained and built up properly.
4) The places have been described beautifully (I am tempted to take the trek myself :))
5) The language is simple and nice.
what i dint like
1) There are lots of subplots which were not required.
2) Lots of diversion from the main story and could be avoided.
3) The length of the book and difficulty to move on from irrelevant parts.
4) The name of the book does not have any relevance till the end.
Overall a good debut by the author , who has done good research and makes be believe lots of rituals and events. Just that i got bored of subplots and the length i give it 3.5 / 5
Devil D
A long long book..
The Books starts by the Teacher getting killed by a disciple in a monastery , Another Monk killing himself while delivering a note to Henry Ashton.
The journey taken by Ashton and duggy to the mythological place.
Enter Susan and Peter the accomplice of ashton in the adventure.
Josh Wando taking the same adventure for is redemption , CIA getting involved .
With CIA enters operatives , Hamilton and lots and lots of people.
The adventure takes us through , London to Africa to India to Pakistan to Afghanistan and ends up near Afghanistan-china border.
what i liked
1) The great details with which the author has built up major characters.
-- the story of Ashton from malaya to vietene to laos and the techings he has in laos.
-- Susan and the reason why she gets involved
-- Peter and his history and operative and his nature and experience.
-- Josh wando and his motive
2) The details with which each encounter has been explained .
-- the Afghanistan dera border event
-- the climax and the fight
3) Each character has been explained and built up properly.
4) The places have been described beautifully (I am tempted to take the trek myself :))
5) The language is simple and nice.
what i dint like
1) There are lots of subplots which were not required.
2) Lots of diversion from the main story and could be avoided.
3) The length of the book and difficulty to move on from irrelevant parts.
4) The name of the book does not have any relevance till the end.
Overall a good debut by the author , who has done good research and makes be believe lots of rituals and events. Just that i got bored of subplots and the length i give it 3.5 / 5
Devil D
April 3, 2014
Weaving a story through the annals of history, history both ancient and recent, across continents and inserting ones imagination to create a story is the hallmark of a story teller. Raghu has done justice to what can be considered a great story and his research to ensure historical and geographical correctness is noteworthy. The unraveling of the plot and slow osmosis of the characters, their thinking as well as the personal prejudices keep the reader intrigued and compelled to keep turning the pages to see where the author is going next. Shift in time periods in the story highlight the essence of the oriental mystique that has been intertwined with modernity and western culture. The characters stand out as individuals and the plethora of emotions have not been overplayed, except in some places. Given the different characters who flit in and out through the book, punctuated by varying time periods, Raghu could have mentioned the list of characters in the beginning. Just a suggestion for the next edition.
September 7, 2014
Explosive debut book
Firstly I'd like to thank Goodreads and Hachette as I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This book was quite a treat - a very well-written, well researched action-adventure-thriller. Though its lengthy, i savored every bit of it.
I
t's a story of British Ex-Army man making an expedition to find the mythical land of Shambhala Possibly due to the author's experience as a serving army officer, the war and action sequences are realistic and gripping.
It is really difficult for a reader to accept that this is a work from a debut author because such seamless spinning of a tale is usually expected from a much more seasoned author
I loved the book and would keep an eye on the next ones yet to come.
Firstly I'd like to thank Goodreads and Hachette as I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This book was quite a treat - a very well-written, well researched action-adventure-thriller. Though its lengthy, i savored every bit of it.
I
t's a story of British Ex-Army man making an expedition to find the mythical land of Shambhala Possibly due to the author's experience as a serving army officer, the war and action sequences are realistic and gripping.
It is really difficult for a reader to accept that this is a work from a debut author because such seamless spinning of a tale is usually expected from a much more seasoned author
I loved the book and would keep an eye on the next ones yet to come.
July 6, 2014
This was quite a treat - a very well-written, well researched action-adventure-thriller by an Indian author. In keeping with other bestsellers in this genre, the 'quest' is for the secrets Shambhala is supposed to hold. The book begins with an intriguing murder sequence and the suspense and action build up very well against the backdrop of the history, legends and mystical aura surrounding Shambhala and the Kalachakra. Possibly due to the author's experience as a serving army officer, the war and action sequences are realistic and gripping. Hopefully, this is only the first in a series of such books. Look forward to more from the author!
October 23, 2014
Finally!! After all of my disappointed hikes through "thrillers" by Indian authors, I've found one that is actually well written. This book would definitely rate four or five stars if it wasn't populated by military actions (which I don't care for or really understand). Otherwise, I was just blown away by the quality of the writing. None of the awkward phrasing and unfortunate character depictions that usually pepper this genre. Just lovely crisp writing. Maybe I could have lived with a few fewer characters, especially since towards the climax I started forgetting names and confusing teams, but for a fan of the genre, this is a highly recommended read!
May 4, 2014
4.5 Stars
Review at A Bookworm’s Musing: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2CL
Read this book for a well-knit, brilliantly narrated mystery thriller that has the works, right from a very interesting cover design! Well-fleshed characters, interesting plot, historical elements and wavering timelines. The thing that may feel confusing is that there are so many characters in different timelines and countries that you have a little hard time keeping track of them. But it doesn’t bring down the quality of the story at all.
Review at A Bookworm’s Musing: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2CL
Read this book for a well-knit, brilliantly narrated mystery thriller that has the works, right from a very interesting cover design! Well-fleshed characters, interesting plot, historical elements and wavering timelines. The thing that may feel confusing is that there are so many characters in different timelines and countries that you have a little hard time keeping track of them. But it doesn’t bring down the quality of the story at all.
October 26, 2014
This books spins quite a lovely yarn about a trio of hesitant adventurers who get together to fulfill an old promise made by one of them more than two decades ago; to answer a call for help from an old monk when asked to do so.
What starts off as a mission to find a mythical kingdom high up in the clouds, becomes more than quite an eventful journey through war-torn Afghanistan and the desolate mountains in the Sino-Afghan border so high up that the group literally feels closer to heaven.
A lovely read, especially for all those Indiana Jones fans out there.
What starts off as a mission to find a mythical kingdom high up in the clouds, becomes more than quite an eventful journey through war-torn Afghanistan and the desolate mountains in the Sino-Afghan border so high up that the group literally feels closer to heaven.
A lovely read, especially for all those Indiana Jones fans out there.
April 6, 2015
A fast paced thriller that keep its readers glued to the book. A work of fiction which deserves a chance to be placed in the same bookshelf where some of the best international fiction works has been kept.The story starts with a Teacher murder and moves from one country to another and will keep you hooked with different yet interesting characters taking shape on regular basis. A very well researched and beautifully penned down work of fiction.
April 19, 2016
It was a struggle literally to plough through this novel. The action seems so random, all the characters seems to go through same motion. I liked the way one particular character background was brought out i.e. Susan and as for the rest it feels so hazily sketched.
I stopped the novel at the place where the President of U.S.A comes in as that is when the whole plot becomes more ridiculous than it already is.
I stopped the novel at the place where the President of U.S.A comes in as that is when the whole plot becomes more ridiculous than it already is.
April 19, 2014
Though the story is a little formulaic, the amount of research that would have gone behind this action thriller is unprecedented in Indian authors... Fast paced story... Wide spread canvass ..... and interesting plots... A good one time read..
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June 1, 2015I started with this book with great expectations but unfortunately this doesnt raise up to my expectations. I ried really hard to complete this book only because I started this at the first place. A whole month!
April 9, 2014
An engrossing read though slightly meandering at places and the ending seems a little hurried. But otherwise well plotted and well set in time and place
April 3, 2014
Fabulous book......a must read for everyone !!!
April 22, 2014
Long but interesting
July 6, 2014
Great debut! Very well written from start to finish. But for a few stereotypes and a somewhat abrupt end, five-star stuff. Looking forward for more from Raghu.
September 19, 2014
Wonderful book , finished in one go....one of the best action Indian novel read
April 21, 2019
The one genre that I love to read is thrillers and mysteries intertwined with mythological settings. I am attracted to a book almost instantly if it is written by an Indian author, or has an Indian setting. The author Mr. Raghu Srinivasan is a serving army officer in the Indian Army. The book talks about many things, but the most loud among them is about the mystical place of ‘Shambala’.
Though the author is Indian, his selection of main characters in the story is totally not Indian. The story follows a retired British Army officer, his Sergeant - a Gurkha, An Oxford mathematician and A trained mercenary as they embark on a journey to reach the mythical kingdom. Which again cannot be accessed by everyone only by a chosen one ‘the avatari’ who happens to be our main protagonist – the retired Army officer, Mr. Henry Ashton. He’s got to save the world by ensuring to reach the kingdom and make sure that ‘the book of time – the kalachakra’ doesn’t fall into the hands of the bad guys. Which I don’t think he’s supposed to know how to accomplish!
This novel has done remarkably well in terms of characters and their backstories, taking the reader to various places as the story unfolds, from England, US to Africa and then India, Afghanistan, Tibet even further east to Laos. The description of the places can make the reader feel the place and the scenarios. The author’s take on linking the work to history and names like Genghis Khan and Marco Polo seems smooth. The author has a recommendable command over the language and narrative of the novel. The language is simple and nice which not every Indian author thinks of. The details with which the various encounters have been explained, maybe the authors career being an Army Officer helped, are such that you are transported to the encounters itself.
Though the character and their backstories have been build up with great details, sometimes the story-line seems to be diverted multiple times. Because of various subplots, which I felt were not required and could have been avoided. This could have reduced the length of the book making it more appealing.
I would rate ‘The Avatari’ 3.5 stars out of 5
December 26, 2019
An impressive read, that keeps you involved in the plot with numerous sub-stories and historical alleyways as well as myths that lay the foundation to the origins of the quest. The life-like protagonists that carry this adventurous thriller fantasy are linked in their own past sub-stories to the mythical Shambhala through passion, profession or mere confluence of paths. This voluminous thriller does a great job of knitting diverse regions as the Altai highlands, the capital of the Great Kubalai Khan - Khaanbalik, contemporary English countryside, Texas- US, Malaya jungles, Zambian Hinterland, the Karakoram and Tibet into a tight plot with an amazing ending.
At times, it reminds us of the hypnotic narrative of Dan Brown and at other times the novel plunges into the familiar territory of the recent Netflix series - Marco Polo.
Personally, I loved the author’s research and how he ties the mysticism of Buddhism with more antiquated animist practices of probably the Denisovans who once throve in the Highlands of Tibet (as more recent anthropological research seems to suggest). The plot itself seamlessly ties those myths with legends of the mythical birthplace of the great Mongol - Chenghis Khan thus creating the lure of legendary treasures from that kingdom into present-day Tibet.
The lust for Immortality, the author explains through one of the characters of his novel “is a mistress sought out in the shadows of our own fantasies and rejected in rational thought.”
As a familiar visitor to many of the places the author connects in his debut novel, I can vouch to the authenticity of his portrayal of the people and the places.
All in all, a compulsive narrative that, despite a few stray dives into details of lives not contributing to the overall storyline, keeps you hooked till the end.
At times, it reminds us of the hypnotic narrative of Dan Brown and at other times the novel plunges into the familiar territory of the recent Netflix series - Marco Polo.
Personally, I loved the author’s research and how he ties the mysticism of Buddhism with more antiquated animist practices of probably the Denisovans who once throve in the Highlands of Tibet (as more recent anthropological research seems to suggest). The plot itself seamlessly ties those myths with legends of the mythical birthplace of the great Mongol - Chenghis Khan thus creating the lure of legendary treasures from that kingdom into present-day Tibet.
The lust for Immortality, the author explains through one of the characters of his novel “is a mistress sought out in the shadows of our own fantasies and rejected in rational thought.”
As a familiar visitor to many of the places the author connects in his debut novel, I can vouch to the authenticity of his portrayal of the people and the places.
All in all, a compulsive narrative that, despite a few stray dives into details of lives not contributing to the overall storyline, keeps you hooked till the end.
August 27, 2020
2.5 stars... Took a very long time to complete this.. Not much entertaining.. Most of the subplots are kind of imposed and that made me start and stop throughout
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