The Sage's Secret

The Kalki Chronicles #1

by Abhinav

What if the legend of Kalki, the tenth avatar of Vishnu, is an elaborate hoax created by Lord Krishna?

In the year 2025, twenty-year-old Anirudh starts dreaming of Krishna. But these visions that keep flashing through his mind are far from an ordinary fantasy-they are vivid episodes from the god's life. Through these scenes, as Krishna's mystifying schemes are revealed, Anirudh slowly comes to terms with his real identity . . .

He is the last avatar of Vishnu, sent to restore the balance between good and evil. But an ancient and powerful nemesis, burning with the fire of revenge, has already started assembling a clan of mighty sorcerers to finally be rid of the protector god and unleash depravity on earth.

Will Anirudh realize his potential before it's too late? Or will the enemy destroy everything in their wake before the avatar finally manifests? This gripping read is the first part in the Kalki Chronicles, which unveils the greatest legend of the Kali yuga.

Genres: Mythology, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2018

About the author

Abhinav based out of the Mumbai suburbs, works as a software developer.
An avid reader since his pre-teens, his journey in the world of stories began with reading comics, then he moved on to short stories and then eventually picked up full-length novels. Thrillers, comedy, historical fiction and mythology are his preferred genres when it comes to choosing a book to read.
His earliest sources of stories from the Indian mythology were his grandfather and mom. Amar Chitra Katha Comics, some articles he read about, and of course, some famous television series that aired during the time, added to it as he grew older.
His debut novel, 'The Sage's Secret', is based on Indian Mythology and is the first book in the series titled The Kalki Chronicles. The second installment in the series is 'Kali's Retribution'.

Reviews

[Mridula Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sage’s Secret starts with Krishna, talking to his favorite sage Dweepa about Kalki avatar and providing him with instructions that will later. travel through time and is meant for his Kalki self.

While the avatar is yet to be born, forces to destroy Kalki are already in place, gaining power and planning destruction.

When Anirudh starts to have dreams about Krishna, who coincidentally looks just like him, he decided to follow one such dream- a dream that starts his ascent as Kalki.

The first thing that impressed me what the narration. There are multiple narratives happening, yet each is distinctive and contributing largely to the plot. The past and present come together in an easy manner. The second would be the writing- extremely fluid and highly imaginative. If you are the type who loves being devoured by the plot, this book has some great visuals, that have been penned down impeccably.

While the climax gives us what to expect next, I feel it’s very little. In a series, it is important to anticipate the next book and the only way is to have a suspenseful climax, a high that won’t let you rest in peace. This was certainly missing. But I would like to read the final showdown because there are a lot of unexplained elements such as the destruction of the Earth and humankind etc.

Will I recommend the book? ABSOLUTELY!

[Sudarshan Wagh (swish_ndflick) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sage's Secret is an intricately woven blend of mythology and fantasy!
It is a legend of incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of last avatar - Kalki - and our protagonist Anirudh is the chosen one! With a series of mystifying dreams and events, the real identity of Anirudh is put forth before him. He is ths last avatar of Lord Vishnu, sent to restore the balance between good and evil. And as usual there's a powerful nemesis burning with the fire of revenge! What happens next? Is Anirudh able to know his potentials before its too late? Will the wrath of the nemesis overpower humanity? Is the human kind again on the verge of being perished by evil forces?
As the holy Bhagwat Gita says, 'Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O Bharata, And there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth ; For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, For the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.' - Human race has got their saviour!
Though it is not completely mythology based, imagination prevails as a major part of the book. So it must not be taken as a re-telling of a mythological story!
The plot and the storyline is really interesting and gripping.
The writing style indeed keeps the reader glued till the very end. Secondly, characters have been strongly portrayed. It's like watching a movie. All the scenes become live in front of the reader's eyes and thus it becomes an un-put-downable read! This is the best part of the book!
Cover illustration is extremely vibrant and marvellous!! The vivid imagination and spectacular narration gives the required charm to the book!!

[Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided via Penguin India in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.

This is the first book in the Kalki Chronicles – a book based on Indian Mythology; precisely the reincarnation of Lord Krishna in the Kaliyug; the age of demons; for those who aren’t familiar with the Indian Mythology.

This is a book that one needs to read to enjoy it’s intelligent plotting – the author has taken an all important question of what would it be like if Kalki actually was born now.

The author has quite expertly weaved the past, the present and somehow the future as well – but he, at times, is unable to tie the different threads he has introduced in the course of the plotline. There are some interesting and pertinent questions that, while keeps the interest of the reader alive in the story, but feels that at time, he lost the idea of the questions himself. But I am still gonna keep an open mind, since this the first book of a trilogy, I have hopes that everything will be resolved in the next two books.

The writing style of the author is simple, it would interesting to see how non – native (or non – experts in English) would like the writing style of the book (Keep in mind this is an uncorrected proof!) – there were times wherein I found the writing to be disjointed, and I couldn’t keep my concentration on the book – luckily, this was short enough for not to affect my interest.

This is quite a good attempt to generate interest in the Indian Mythology – and I am looking forward to seeing what the next two books bring!  



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[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Click here for my video review of The Sage's Secret: https://youtu.be/64g-l3C-W64

I really liked reading this book. Firstly, this is the author’s debut book and I think he has done a wonderful job in narrating the tale. His style of writing is very simple yet so engaging so you never feel like there is a dull moment. Secondly, there are not a lot of characters, so it was like reading a fairy tale.

Initially I had concerns because generally in Indian Mythological Fantasy books, you have a plethora of characters with different sub plots that merge together as the story progresses. However, in this book, there were only 3 main characters who are Anirudh, Sage Dweepa and Kalanayaka. But after
reading the book, I kind of liked the simplicity and thought it was different and charming and it worked well with the author’s style of writing. Moreover, I really liked Sage Dweepa because the author wrote him so well. Honestly, I think he is my favorite character in the novel.

However, the author could have written a few things better. There are a few scenes that are hard to believe. For example, it was hard to imagine how Anirudh just happens to know how to play the flute fluently without ever having touched it before. Also, I had trouble visualizing the settings of the story. The Chennai part of the story takes place in our current times, but when they go to the serene forest for training, it seems like another era completely. But apart from these 2, I really enjoyed this story.

I would definitely recommend “The Sage’s Secret” if you are not an avid reader but like reading about Indian mythology This book is relatively short and easy book to read and is quite entertaining. I am keen to read book 2 to find out how this story continues.

[Ronita Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name- The Sage's Secret
Written By- Abhinav
Published By- Penguin Random House India
Pages- 213
Ratings- 4.5🌟
Review-
"Whenever adharma threatens the dominance of Dharma, Lord Vishnu will himself descend to vanquish the evil from this world"
One of the most famous lines mentioned in the Bhagvad Gita, describes the promise that Lord Vishnu made in his Krishna avatar.
Keeping this in mind, most Indians still harbour the belief that Lord Vishnu will descend on the Earth one more time in his tenth avatar popularly known as "The Kalki Avatar". It is the most widely accepted concept that Kalki avatar would be the destructor of all evil and will put an end to the Kali yug.
Abhinav's unique take on the Kalki avatar is simply fascinating. Along with the knowledge of the myths about Kalki and by combining them with his imagination, the author managed to conjure up a different story about Kalki against the most popular theories.
The main aim of the book was to show the readers what if Kalki is not the all powerful God we believe him to be? What if he is just an ordinary human clueless about who he is and what he is meant to do?
The concept is totally new which the author managed to pull off with his well crafted plots leaving little to absolutely no loopholes. The secret that Sage Dweepa carried is the main theme of this story, and the plot completely justifies the title.
The author had my entire attention with the revelation in the last page, which was a trick he kept up his sleeves to keep his readers craving for more of Kalki's adventure.
Hence, I'm eagerly waiting to gorge on the next Kalki Chronicles, to find out whether Kalki manages to fulfill his destiny or not.

[Booxoul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read countless Mythology Fiction this year, but this book failed to impress me. Abhinav’s ‘The Sage’s Secret’ is a modern-day retelling of Kalki of Vishnu Avatar.

Review
The book has an excellent beginning. It sets the wheels in motion for upcoming chapters. Author Abhinav takes us on a journey of past and present in a smooth ride, intertwining both eras seamlessly. The best part of the book is how the Author creates vivid images in the readers’ mind, this clearly shows that the author is an excellent storyteller.

Abhinav has woven an excellent storyline but couldn’t do justice to the story. Maybe because this was sort of an Introduction to the upcoming books in the series, or maybe because Author gave a High spot to Sage Dweepa and Kalnayaka more than Anirudha the main protagonist of the book. At times I felt this was Kalnayaka’s story more than anything

The book has too many multiple narrations, and it is kind of a dampener to the storyline. The narration is smooth. Language usage is excellent. I so wanted to read this book in one go as it is a short read but the story lacked elements to keep the readers glued to the story. There were many loose ends and Author kind of didn’t know how to tie them. I just hope his other two turns out better than this one.

Verdict
Overall, ‘The Sage’s Secret’ is okayish read. In end the only thing that matters is entertainment quotient, and that is what is missing in it.
In the hope his other two books have more drama and zing, I say read it once that is, if you are a Mythological fan.

[Geeta Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two different timelines intertwined together seamlessly, to give an interesting and intriguing read is how I’d describe ‘The Sage’s Secret’. The first book in the Kalki Chronicles being brought out by the author, this one does pique the reader’s interest in not only the tenth and supposedly last avatar of Lord Vishnu i.e. Kalki who is sent to Earth to restore the balance between righteousness and depravity, but also in the ancient and powerful nemesis that is already in place to destroy him and unleash a reign of darkness. Will Kalki be able to take on the evil and win as did the previous avatars of the Lord or will he and with him the earth be doomed, is a question that’s yet to be resolved. ‘The Sage’s Secret’ in fact, has to do more with a secret passed down ages by Sage Dweepa the close confidante of Lord Krishna, to his disciples who incidentally too bear his name, than the action ground of Kalki. It also lays the ground for Kalki’s actual ascent to fame and his battle with the dark forces that are out to ravage earth.Replete with beautiful scenes, the narrative draws the reader to the scene of action.
The language though simple, has the power to draw up a vivid imagery. The reader also gets an insight into the high level of intelligence and craftsmanship prevalent in times of yore. (Though the book is based on mythological events that appear nothing short of fantasy, let’s not forget that the master craftsmen and people of ancient India displayed a high level of skill and intelligence even without the tools and gadgets available today. Our temples especially those in South India, are a testimony to the same).

Characterization! Yes, that’s where I felt the book wanting a little. I’d have loved to get to know Sage Dweepa and his disciple Annirudh better. I personally felt that Annirudh’s battle to come to terms with his new identity could have been characterized better. Hopefully this part i.e. the development of characters, will be taken care of in the next book in the series.

VERDICT
Overall, ‘The Sage’s Secret’ is nothing short of an engaging, entertaining and enlightening read. Engaging because you can’t help but look forward to where the story is headed to with bated breath, entertaining because it’s relaxing, and enlightening because it sheds light on the plight of Earth via a feminine literary personification named Bhoomidevi, as well as to the extent to which the wicked can go to achieve their end.

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story revolves around the prophecy which Krishna said to the sage Dweepa of his final avatar(kalki ,will be born as a common man)that will save the earth from all evils and their corrupt desires.This so called avatar is presented to us in the book as the 21year old Anirudh who oblivious to what destiny awaits for him,lives in Chennai with his family(was born in Gujarat).But his perfect life is soon to get unsettled when he knows who is he , what is purpose of his life from his ally.& Eventually grows into a avatar.
This story is bescially a modern day kalki retelling with touch of fiction.Title of this book is enough catchy to attract bookworms. The athor's narration of the story is very plain & lucid.he has made the effort to put in every single detail to create mythology into contemporary fiction.
I liked prologue how it started with the period after the great war of kurukshetra where Kalki is been introduced , & the initial conversation between Krishna & sage Dweepa is delighting to read.after Anirudha's birth story failed to catch tempo ,seem little bit draggy untill secret was untangled. All the characters are rightly placed.. have their purpose in their story, specially antagonist.one will find author draws inspiration not only from the Indian mythology but to focus on grave concern from today's world like slaughtering of animals in the name of God, deteriorated condition of Earth in the form of Bhoomi devi.Even the last chapter,where author has given a new synopsis on the 2nd book is wonderful doesn't look like an incomplete end.
Which I dont like is that protagonist would have been more Powerful than antagonist.I was expecting more from action scene between Kalki & kalanayaka,where Kalki would have been ultimate hero,also the conflict between them haven't been given the kind of plot indeed.It would have been more interesting to read clashes between them if author could add more messages through the words from kalki's mouth.
Overall the book is wonderful attempt,will recommend to all.I'm waiting for its sequel.. may be there will be more interesting concepts.
I will give it 3.7/5

[Barsha Roy Chowdhury · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Sage’s Secret’ by Abhinav narrates the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in his last avatar. Kalki as we all know, is the tenth avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu, born to bring an end to Kali Yuga and removing adharma. This book brings to you a unique take on the Kalki avatar by Abhinav.

The book opens up with Lord Krishna having a conversation with the first sage Dweepa, where he discloses his plans and tactics which are supposed to help the Kalki avatar. These instructions were to be passed along the various sage Dweepa, generation after generation, until the Kalki avatar is born. While Krishna plans on equipping his Kalki self with every possible help, there’s an upcoming force that plans on assassinating Kalki.

Somewhere in Chennai, a 21 year old boy is having weird nightmares and repeatedly seeing the same dream over and over again. Unaware of his identity, the boy named Anirudh tries to figure out the meaning behind his dreams. Little does he know that his life is going to change, or he is going to bring the change, for he is born as the last and final avatar of Lord Vishnu. Read the book to find out what lies ahead in Anirudh’s destiny.

My view- The author has framed the storyline very intelligibly with the two different timelines smartly intertwined together. The story telling is impressive. However, it failed to impress me for two reasons:

A) Few of the plot twists were predictable

B) Kalnayaka’s character seemed promising but with his very normal death, the book seemed like a dead-end to me. I wish we could see more of that character.

The language used is pretty simple and easily understandable even for a non-reader. The book is appropriate for all ages. It’s a good one time read. Will I recommend it? Yes, if you like mythological fiction.

[Diyali Bhattacharya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is indeed interesting to imagine what Kalki would be like if he takes birth now. The Sage’s Secret portrays it like that, as Kalki takes birth in the future and most intriguingly, not as Kalki, but as Anirudh. No wonder, the puzzles in the narrative have been framed intelligently, and sudden realisations and backstories send the readers reeling. The plot of the story is impressive and is pretty detailed. The readers hardly have difficulties in imagining scenarios, which is a very significant aspect of fantasy fiction. The element of mystery is kept alive. The author introduces numerous threads in the story and although he attempts to tie them together, fails to do it perfectly. The ending of the book did not leave me breathless(as a fantasy mythology rightfully should), it rather had an indifferent effect on me. The conclusion was quite bland. The author asks quite a number of questions throughout the book which indeed piques our interest, but again, in terms of execution, the book falls flat. The dialogues between characters could have been better. The book would have been a lot better had the narrative style been a bit more gripping. Characterisation, one of the most important aspects of any work of literature is hardly strong. Abhinav has failed to introduce the nuances that make a character come alive.

[Akash Maheshwari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought a lot about how do I start writing my views about this book but I am not able to think any artistic or proper way to write my thoughts.
That is the same thing happened with the writer. I mean if you read a lot of mythological fictions like Ashwin Sanghi, Ameesh, Anand Neelkanthan, Vineet Bajpayee, Ashok K Banker than just don't read it.
This book is based on Kalki Avtar of Vishnu and we have hundreds of book on this topic with a lot more research and depth. But this book lacks both of them.
The main protagonist of the book is having dreams half of the times.He knows that he is kalki because he had a dream about this. He knows all the secrets of Krishna's vault because he had a dream about it. His parents allowed him to go with a stranger because they also had a dream about that. The stranger meets the protagonist because he too had a dream about it. The protagonist producing fire, air, water with his hands in a combat.
There are so many silly and unwanted things that does not make any sense.
The author is new and this genre of mythological fiction is in trend. So he tried to cash this chance but seriously don't waste your time on this.
It looks like this book is written for children.
This is the first part of 2 books and I am not thinking about ordering it's second part.

[Dhiraj Sindhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sage's Secret by Abhinav is the first instalment in the series The Kalki Chronicles, an Action and Adventure book series for children based on Hindu Mythology. Set in the year 2025 and onwards, the book has several fantastical elements and a set of characters. The premises is far removed from the reality of the novel itself. The Kalki avatar is not 'all-knowing' like Krishna and so Lord Krishna had already arranged for Kalki's training in Kaliyuga before he died. The twenty-year-old protagonist, Anirudha receives communication and instructions from the lord via dreams, God' favourite mode of communication as is evident in Indian folklores. Sage Dweepa is going to teach Anirudha everything that he'll need to defeat his enemies and fulfil his duties as the tenth avatar.

The antagonist for this first book is Kalanayaka who is given the position in the army of Kalabakshakas, led by the lord of time—Kalarakshasa. It is said that the formation of this group can be traced back to Dvapara Yuga, although the author has not provided any explanation of the origins as to how they came to be or why. Sage's Secret includes the journey of Anirudha from being an ordinary boy to a well-equipped combatant.

Read the full review on my blog: https://bit.ly/3gM7V1y

[Enakshi J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The natural law of the world states that malicious people, who go out of their way to hurt others, end up being alone and broke. We call this Karma. It is the need of the hour that we realize our mistake as humans before it is too late. Even today debates on how to reimburse the damage that we have caused to our planet are doing rounds. But all solutions end up in a conflict. Activists are adopting various methods to make people aware of the consequences. One such means of awareness is books. Merging mythology with contemporary fiction, Abhinav does justice with ‘The Sage’s Secret’. He illustrates the sublime truth that every action has an equal and opposite reaction by using characters that are well structured and intense.
Read complete review here: http://aliveshadow.com/category-bookr...

[Karthik Kailash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Krishna, knowing that his avatar is coming to an end, seeks help of Sage Dweepa to assist his next avatar,Kalki, who shall be born without powers and realization.

Knowing that the age of Kali shall also create powerful enemies for his avatar, Lord Krishna instructs Sage Dweepa to a partial set of information, to be passed to his lineage, to help the avatar at the right moment.

In the present age, a powerful sorcerer seeks a path of vengeance. His focus is on destruction of the avatar. While he hones his dark arts, a boy is born amidst signs mentioned.

Will Sage Dweepa succeed in training the avatar for his quest. Or will the dark forces succeed. Read on.

Book moves on at a good pace, with good switching between past and present. The end is decent, makes you look forward to the next book for more answers.

[Pranav Pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book with a beautifully designed cover narrates the story of Kalki- the 10th and last avatar(incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, according to Hindu mythology.

Set up in modern times, it portrays Kalki as a common man, ready to embrace his identity and to eliminate the challenges that plagues our world. It follows the journey from aeons back and relates it smoothly with current period. Even those not following mythology will find it easygoing and will relate easily.

This is the first part in a new series called "Kalki Chronicles". It was a thriller and I'm definitely looking forward to the next parts.

[Jayati U S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best debut books I've ever read... It irresistibly pulled me towards it by the summary and once I got it, I was physically incapable of putting it down..... A great recommendation for those who love Indian Mythological fiction with relatable characters.. This series was my first read on The Kalki Avatar of Vishnu and it was a rollercoaster of feelings.... I was able to connect myself to the characters and I cried when the protagonist died which is saying a lot( I usually don't cry).. the plot twists in this series are incredible... I for sure will never ever forget this series nor will I get tired of reading the series again and again for the nth time.....

[Pavithra]

I started reading the book thinking that it was also an usual mythological book..but Iam completely disappointed happily..actually I completed the book in just a day..it was that much interesting..the point the author stressed with anirudh is mindblowing..iam eagerly waiting for the next book of the series to unveil many mysteries including who the villian is..iam sure the villain's identity will be revealed in the next book
Simply an excellent feast for mythology lovers
I thoroughly enjoyed it hoping urself too..

[Surya Dhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is way too straightforward.

The story just goes on. There is no explanation as to why things are happening and why they are happening that way. No back stories. Im not saying to include a lot of them but there are hardly any references. It just goes on and feels like a lot of information is missed just to make it a straightforward novel. The story just goes on without any twist or turn. Not even 1

[Alok · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is not intriguing. No where in nearly 200 pages you feel the hold of story over you.
Although there are certain instances which shows that the author has the capability, but then he fails to build on.

[Caterpillar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt little bland , for a mythological genre could have been more dramatic , emotions and spice in general . It feels like just a paragraph . This is the author's first novel , for that it's good still there are room for development .

[Srilashya Lavakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Sage's Secret” is a captivating and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of mythology, fantasy, and coming-of-age stories. Abinav's masterful storytelling, well-developed characters, and blend of genres make this book a truly unique and enjoyable experience.

[Ankit Pathak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

[Deepthi Sarikonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my view on mythology and may be this is a start into the world of mythology for me.

[Pujya Aggarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the most amazing book I have ever read. This book has everything I love- Mythology, thriller, fantasy, action etc. I had a great time reading it.

[Shravani Rangaswamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book different from the other kalki book I read of a different author. I'm waiting for the second part in the chronicles to know the ending.

[Sanket Gupte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intriguing story... Enjoyed a lot

[Siddhi Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fascinating

[Meghmala Biswas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a very good example of extensive imagery. Very good for a light read. The story ends rather weakly but is all in all a good mythological fiction

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its amazing totally brilliant

[thefictionfreak · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointment read