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Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup
A warrior’s power lies not in his weapons but in his heart. Batu is just an ordinary kid in present-day Almaty, worried about bullies, school, and his mom’s new baby…until the day he meets Aspara, the Golden Warrior. Aspara steps straight out of Batu’s notebook cover―and out of Kazakhstan’s past. Aspara has been waiting hundreds of years to be summoned to the human world and to finally get his chance to search for the Golden Cup, a magical talisman sent down from the heavens. When the Golden Cup was lost, Aspara watched as many of his friends and family were killed or disappeared. Craving adventure and a sense of purpose, Batu sets out with Aspara and his own friends to find the Golden Cup, plunging them into an adventure through a world where myths come alive. But there are others looking for the Cup, and they’ll do anything to make sure the kids fail. Will Batu and his friends make it out alive (and make it home in time for dinner)?
318 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2023
299 people are currently reading
3037 people want to read
About the author
Zira Nauryzbai
2 books9 followersZira Nauryzbai is a writer and cultural anthropologist. She is the author of multiple books and of more than three hundred articles. She is also a translator from Kazakh into Russian. She is the coauthor, with Lilya Kalaus, of Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup (and its sequels), which was a bestseller in Kazakhstan. Her short story "The Rival" (trans. by Shelley Fairweather-Vega) was included in "Best Asian short story 2019".
She is currently based in Astana, Kazakhstan. In her free time, Zira volunteers in the search for petroglyphs, rides horses, and practices shooting from a traditional Turkic bow.
She is currently based in Astana, Kazakhstan. In her free time, Zira volunteers in the search for petroglyphs, rides horses, and practices shooting from a traditional Turkic bow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 8, 2023
As a participating title in July's Amazon First Reads program, "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" will undeniably kick off its English language literary journey quite nicely. It remains to be seen if U.S. children, in particular, will resonate with this most unique story from co-authors Zira Nauryzbai and Lilya Kalaus based on their bestselling Kazakh series of middle-grade adventure novels that weave together Kazakh myths and familiar elements of child-friendly adventures in the same tradition of Rick Riordan and books such as "Aru Shah and the End of Time."
Translated by Seattle-based Shelley Fairweather-Vega, "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" is a promising introduction into the series by Nauryzbai and Kalaus. It tells the story of Batu, an ordinary kid in present-day Almaty who does what ordinary kids have to do - deal with bullies at school, a new baby at home and, oh yeah, Aspara the Golden Warrior.
Aspara seemingly leaps straight out of Batu's notebook AND Kazakhstan's past after hundreds of years of waiting to be summoned into the human world and for the opportunity to search for the Golden Cup, a magical talisman sent down from the heavens. When lost, this Golden Cup led to the deaths or disappearances of many of Aspara's friends and family.
Batu sets out with Aspara and his friends in search of the Golden Cup. As we turn the pages, Kazakh myths comes alive and we are immersed in a vividly realized Kazakh culture along with a universal adventure story centered around Batu and his friends who have to each face their own fears and obstacles along the way including those who will do anything to make sure these kids fail.
While "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" has been translated into English, it's safe to say that it hasn't been overly "Americanized." Culturally significant details inform us throughout of the precious details of Kazakh life.
This means, of course, that "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" can be, at times, a difficult read for less than advanced English middle-grade readers. While the U.S. melting pot likely includes many children who can easily immerse themselves in the book, many others will struggle with the cultural lingo and details that are prevalent throughout the book. I picture a lot of children and adults saying "I don't know what that means" and having to look up such words as bauyrsaq (a traditional Kazakh dish) and others.
For those patient enough to surrender themselves to "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup," the rewards will be rich with both a satisfying adventure story and a journey through Kazakh childhood, culture, and daily life. As someone new to this culture, "Batu and the Search for the Golden Up" took some work and a willingness to learn but the reward was a beautiful story well told.
Translated by Seattle-based Shelley Fairweather-Vega, "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" is a promising introduction into the series by Nauryzbai and Kalaus. It tells the story of Batu, an ordinary kid in present-day Almaty who does what ordinary kids have to do - deal with bullies at school, a new baby at home and, oh yeah, Aspara the Golden Warrior.
Aspara seemingly leaps straight out of Batu's notebook AND Kazakhstan's past after hundreds of years of waiting to be summoned into the human world and for the opportunity to search for the Golden Cup, a magical talisman sent down from the heavens. When lost, this Golden Cup led to the deaths or disappearances of many of Aspara's friends and family.
Batu sets out with Aspara and his friends in search of the Golden Cup. As we turn the pages, Kazakh myths comes alive and we are immersed in a vividly realized Kazakh culture along with a universal adventure story centered around Batu and his friends who have to each face their own fears and obstacles along the way including those who will do anything to make sure these kids fail.
While "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" has been translated into English, it's safe to say that it hasn't been overly "Americanized." Culturally significant details inform us throughout of the precious details of Kazakh life.
This means, of course, that "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" can be, at times, a difficult read for less than advanced English middle-grade readers. While the U.S. melting pot likely includes many children who can easily immerse themselves in the book, many others will struggle with the cultural lingo and details that are prevalent throughout the book. I picture a lot of children and adults saying "I don't know what that means" and having to look up such words as bauyrsaq (a traditional Kazakh dish) and others.
For those patient enough to surrender themselves to "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup," the rewards will be rich with both a satisfying adventure story and a journey through Kazakh childhood, culture, and daily life. As someone new to this culture, "Batu and the Search for the Golden Up" took some work and a willingness to learn but the reward was a beautiful story well told.
November 6, 2024
3.5 stars
Well, that was a timely quote if I ever read one. 🙈
This was a fun, little story. I'm not sure what age the protags are meant to be, but since it's labeled as middle school and given the way the characters act so impulsively at times, I'm going with 10-11 year-olds. So keep that in mind if you decide to pick this up.
The writing is a bit simplistic, and I'm not sure if that's a product of the translation or just because of the target demographic it was written for. I got the sense they were going for that kind of fairy-tale like quality to the writing, and if so, they achieved it, lol.
Batu has a lot to learn, but so do all these kids. I liked that the one bully kid had a change of heart, and that this is a very easy way to approach the mythological history of Khazbkistan and that area. There are quite a few similarities to other mythologies I've encountered, probably because more than just goods were traded on the Silk Road.
I don't know if the other books in this series will get an English translation, or even how many other books there are. Trying to hunt down information on the original titles is difficult when I don't speak or read Russian and the books aren't in the GR database. Or if they are, I can't find them, lol, but I'd certainly be interested in reading another one if it ever comes out in English.
But, sadly, it's often not the noble warriors who win in the end. It's the people without mercy, without consciences.
Well, that was a timely quote if I ever read one. 🙈
This was a fun, little story. I'm not sure what age the protags are meant to be, but since it's labeled as middle school and given the way the characters act so impulsively at times, I'm going with 10-11 year-olds. So keep that in mind if you decide to pick this up.
The writing is a bit simplistic, and I'm not sure if that's a product of the translation or just because of the target demographic it was written for. I got the sense they were going for that kind of fairy-tale like quality to the writing, and if so, they achieved it, lol.
Batu has a lot to learn, but so do all these kids. I liked that the one bully kid had a change of heart, and that this is a very easy way to approach the mythological history of Khazbkistan and that area. There are quite a few similarities to other mythologies I've encountered, probably because more than just goods were traded on the Silk Road.
I don't know if the other books in this series will get an English translation, or even how many other books there are. Trying to hunt down information on the original titles is difficult when I don't speak or read Russian and the books aren't in the GR database. Or if they are, I can't find them, lol, but I'd certainly be interested in reading another one if it ever comes out in English.
July 26, 2023
As the only piece of Kazakh literature I have read, so I appreciate seeing a new cultural perspective. The eBook is currently free to Amazon Prime members as part of the First Reads program. It is a mediocre middle school level fantasy chapter book. There are many cultural references that could be better explained by in text footnotes because I discovered the detailed glossary at the end of the book far too late. For someone not accustomed to Kazakhstan the mythology and cultural reference were quite unfamiliar. This book could be worth reading to someone who likes Fantasy and has some interest in learning about Kazakhstan.
October 28, 2023
Free First Reads | Stilted, unnatural, and slow | I am really striking out with books I want to enjoy this week! Let me start by saying that I read and review a lot of books for the target age range, so this judgment is not based on an adult reader's preferences. I have no way of knowing how much the problems are exacerbated by the translation, but some of them are not language dependent. Basically, nobody talks like this, nobody acts like this, young heroes shouldn't be absolute jerks, and the action is interrupted in unnatural ways. In the beginning, our unpleasant protagonist watches the figure from the cover of his notebook come to life before his eyes and start discussing legendary magic, battles, and quests. Grandma calls him for tea, so he just matter of factly heads off to tea and calm conversation, goes back to his room after awhile and says 'oh, hey, magical warrior from ages past, you're still here, huh? Whatever, after we magically travel through time and space can I insult your winged horse and play with your knives while off-handedly assuming I know more than you do?'.
It's standard practice to use the original language within the text for things like food and family members, but in this case the balance is off and the explanation in text is lacking, so the young reader will start to skim. And I'm afraid there is some sloppy translation here. Right in the beginning a poem is shared and explained. But the same word is translated into two different English words: "the lonely tree" vs "the single tree". I understand that this is essentially synonymous, but in context it doesn't work.
It's standard practice to use the original language within the text for things like food and family members, but in this case the balance is off and the explanation in text is lacking, so the young reader will start to skim. And I'm afraid there is some sloppy translation here. Right in the beginning a poem is shared and explained. But the same word is translated into two different English words: "the lonely tree" vs "the single tree". I understand that this is essentially synonymous, but in context it doesn't work.
May 14, 2023
I absolutely love that this is a Kazakh story about Kazakh myth and history written by Kazakh authors. It's amazing to see this kind of thing get published in English.
That said, I hated almost everything about it. The plot was confusing, the dialogue was unnatural, the writing was amateurish, and the characters were awful (especially Batu, the sexist 12-year-old). Some of these could be issues with the translation, but they could also just be how it was written in Russian.
The magical transportation was poorly described, but it is unique in that you play a note on a certain instrument while standing in a doorway. I don't think I've ever read a book with any type of magic like that before.
While this did not work for me, I really hope that the rest of the series will be able to be translated into English.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for a free review copy.
That said, I hated almost everything about it. The plot was confusing, the dialogue was unnatural, the writing was amateurish, and the characters were awful (especially Batu, the sexist 12-year-old). Some of these could be issues with the translation, but they could also just be how it was written in Russian.
The magical transportation was poorly described, but it is unique in that you play a note on a certain instrument while standing in a doorway. I don't think I've ever read a book with any type of magic like that before.
While this did not work for me, I really hope that the rest of the series will be able to be translated into English.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for a free review copy.
September 29, 2023
Nauryzbai and Kalaus blend Kazakh myth with modern pre-teen concerns, creating a middle-grade fantasy about someone who isn’t the chosen one facing an epic quest.
Batu isn’t an especially skilled or especially brave boy. However, when Aspara, a hero from Kazakh myth, appears in his room believing Batu is a mighty warrior who will help recover an ancient artefact, Batu plays along. Unfortunately, while Batu is pretending, the villains, monsters, and other threats are very real, putting not only Batu but his friends and family in danger.
This review is based on a translation into English by Shelley Fairweather-Vega.
Nauryzbai and Kalaus create a world where the myths and legends of the ancient Kazakh peoples still exist in pockets between the cities and industrialised land usage of modern society. While, as befits a book aimed at a pre-teen audience, they do not delve deeply into politics, there are enough brief references to recent history of the area that more mature readers might see the supernatural threat as a metaphor for Russian-influenced government policies.
Filled with talking snakes, birds with brass claws, and music that draws forth magical effects if played on the right instrument, the legendary and mystical parts of the story echo the themes and structures of Western fantasy but utilise different symbols and cultural echoes; in addition to giving an insight into Kazakh myths, this creates a quest narrative that is fresh yet accessible.
The segments focusing on Batu’s ordinary life have a similar blend of the ubiquitously human and culturally different, showing that Kazakh children face the same issues of bullies, schoolwork, and arguments with friends and family that Western children do but also that their hobbies and social rituals are sometimes very different.
Although the book does reach a milestone in the quest to restore the Golden Cup to its rightful place, it is very much winning a battle rather than the war. Therefore, although not a cliffhanger, some readers might find the ending more of an abrupt chopping of the story between this and the next volume rather than a clear conclusion to an arc.
While the prose often errs more to the functional than the lyrical—except when referencing ancient prophecies and poems—this feels like the greater simplicity common in a middle-grade text rather than an issue with the translation or the original text. However, as one would reasonably expect of a story set in Kazakhstan, the book also includes mentions of non-Western creatures, food, and other items which are not always fully explained; therefore, while there is a glossary after the main text, readers unfamiliar with the area will need to infer some things from context.
Batu possesses grandiose imaginings and pride contrasted with average abilities and little real experience. Morally, he sways between decency and selfishness but lands more on the side of loyalty to family than not. Thus, he is a highly plausible pre-teen boy, emotions burning hot and shifting fast, and overwhelming his reason, but also occasionally displaying a precocious selflessness or sense. Although this passionate immediacy is likely to resonate with audiences of his age, some more mature readers might find him unsympathetic at times.
The supporting cast are similarly realistically nuanced, albeit with the clearer characteristics one expects of a middle-grade book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but do not feel I was the target audience. I recommend it to readers seeking non-Western fantasy or an non-academic glimpse of Kazakh legend.
Batu isn’t an especially skilled or especially brave boy. However, when Aspara, a hero from Kazakh myth, appears in his room believing Batu is a mighty warrior who will help recover an ancient artefact, Batu plays along. Unfortunately, while Batu is pretending, the villains, monsters, and other threats are very real, putting not only Batu but his friends and family in danger.
This review is based on a translation into English by Shelley Fairweather-Vega.
Nauryzbai and Kalaus create a world where the myths and legends of the ancient Kazakh peoples still exist in pockets between the cities and industrialised land usage of modern society. While, as befits a book aimed at a pre-teen audience, they do not delve deeply into politics, there are enough brief references to recent history of the area that more mature readers might see the supernatural threat as a metaphor for Russian-influenced government policies.
Filled with talking snakes, birds with brass claws, and music that draws forth magical effects if played on the right instrument, the legendary and mystical parts of the story echo the themes and structures of Western fantasy but utilise different symbols and cultural echoes; in addition to giving an insight into Kazakh myths, this creates a quest narrative that is fresh yet accessible.
The segments focusing on Batu’s ordinary life have a similar blend of the ubiquitously human and culturally different, showing that Kazakh children face the same issues of bullies, schoolwork, and arguments with friends and family that Western children do but also that their hobbies and social rituals are sometimes very different.
Although the book does reach a milestone in the quest to restore the Golden Cup to its rightful place, it is very much winning a battle rather than the war. Therefore, although not a cliffhanger, some readers might find the ending more of an abrupt chopping of the story between this and the next volume rather than a clear conclusion to an arc.
While the prose often errs more to the functional than the lyrical—except when referencing ancient prophecies and poems—this feels like the greater simplicity common in a middle-grade text rather than an issue with the translation or the original text. However, as one would reasonably expect of a story set in Kazakhstan, the book also includes mentions of non-Western creatures, food, and other items which are not always fully explained; therefore, while there is a glossary after the main text, readers unfamiliar with the area will need to infer some things from context.
Batu possesses grandiose imaginings and pride contrasted with average abilities and little real experience. Morally, he sways between decency and selfishness but lands more on the side of loyalty to family than not. Thus, he is a highly plausible pre-teen boy, emotions burning hot and shifting fast, and overwhelming his reason, but also occasionally displaying a precocious selflessness or sense. Although this passionate immediacy is likely to resonate with audiences of his age, some more mature readers might find him unsympathetic at times.
The supporting cast are similarly realistically nuanced, albeit with the clearer characteristics one expects of a middle-grade book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but do not feel I was the target audience. I recommend it to readers seeking non-Western fantasy or an non-academic glimpse of Kazakh legend.
August 2, 2023
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup takes readers on a fantastical journey into Kazakhstan culture and folklore. The stories blended in with the adventure the characters take made for fascinating reading, they were my favorite part of the book. The Kazakh words and phrases, while culturally accurate, make the book harder to read, especially since I had no idea how to pronounce them. The glossary at the end of the book helps with understanding the terminology, I wish I'd discovered it sooner, but a pronunciation
guide would have have been helpful.
While the overall story worked fairly well, there were several issues that confused me as I read. The character development didn't completely work for me. The main character, Batu, and his friends, Sasha, and Dana, sometimes behaved more mature than their years, but often much younger. Numerous poor decisions were made by the characters many of which didn't make sense. For example, it's clear from the get go that Batu is not the bravest person, he's terrified of these two boys who are bullying him. So why on earth would he go leaping into an adventure with the young warrior who leaps off the cover of his notebook?! Sasha, Batu's fantasy loving friend, expresses great doubt after Batu shares his adventures with him, wouldn't he be the most likely to believe him as a Harry Potter fan?
Frankly, the whole story felt disjointed with details popping up that aren't explained. I didn't realize until the end of the story that most of the 'adventures' take place in their own time, just a different location. They get to the site using magic, but go home by plane? And the whole search for the Golden Cup gets dropped with no resolution. There are apparently at least two more books in the series so I'm assuming it comes up again in future volumes, but just the way things worked out made the main quest take a back seat to something else altogether. Some of these issues may be related to the fact that the book was originally written and published in Russian. Sometimes things don't translate very well.
There is also a series of events at the end regarding one of the villains that's a bit disturbing, the villain faces the afterlife with all kinds of witnesses testifying about the horrible, murderous things he did. This won't bother some middle grade readers, but especially sensitive readers may be troubled by it.
Having said all that, for middle grade readers who enjoy an exciting adventure involving magical musical instruments, wise snakes, demonic bear spirits, and a touch of the afterlife, this may be an enjoyable book. Batu and his friends are likable and their cause is certainly a good one, and when they make mistakes, with some guidance from an informed adult, they try to correct them. The themes related to taking responsibility for your choices, friendship, and appreciating one's cultural heritage shine through nicely. All in all, I'd say this is a pleasant read for middle grade readers with more experience and a deep appreciation for all things fantastical.
guide would have have been helpful.
While the overall story worked fairly well, there were several issues that confused me as I read. The character development didn't completely work for me. The main character, Batu, and his friends, Sasha, and Dana, sometimes behaved more mature than their years, but often much younger. Numerous poor decisions were made by the characters many of which didn't make sense. For example, it's clear from the get go that Batu is not the bravest person, he's terrified of these two boys who are bullying him. So why on earth would he go leaping into an adventure with the young warrior who leaps off the cover of his notebook?! Sasha, Batu's fantasy loving friend, expresses great doubt after Batu shares his adventures with him, wouldn't he be the most likely to believe him as a Harry Potter fan?
Frankly, the whole story felt disjointed with details popping up that aren't explained. I didn't realize until the end of the story that most of the 'adventures' take place in their own time, just a different location. They get to the site using magic, but go home by plane? And the whole search for the Golden Cup gets dropped with no resolution. There are apparently at least two more books in the series so I'm assuming it comes up again in future volumes, but just the way things worked out made the main quest take a back seat to something else altogether. Some of these issues may be related to the fact that the book was originally written and published in Russian. Sometimes things don't translate very well.
There is also a series of events at the end regarding one of the villains that's a bit disturbing, the villain faces the afterlife with all kinds of witnesses testifying about the horrible, murderous things he did. This won't bother some middle grade readers, but especially sensitive readers may be troubled by it.
Having said all that, for middle grade readers who enjoy an exciting adventure involving magical musical instruments, wise snakes, demonic bear spirits, and a touch of the afterlife, this may be an enjoyable book. Batu and his friends are likable and their cause is certainly a good one, and when they make mistakes, with some guidance from an informed adult, they try to correct them. The themes related to taking responsibility for your choices, friendship, and appreciating one's cultural heritage shine through nicely. All in all, I'd say this is a pleasant read for middle grade readers with more experience and a deep appreciation for all things fantastical.
November 5, 2023
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is a great introduction to the mythology and culture of Kazakhstan and Central Asia for younger readers. Taking place in modern Almaty, it has the same feel as the many other middle grade fantasy novels like Percy Jackson and Aru Shah that are so popular right now. It's also the first novel I've encountered in that subgenre of books that explores the lasting effects of the Soviet Union, as well as the first one where nuclear testing plays a role.
This book has some great scenes, such as the journey to meet the snake king, and the role that traditional music plays in the magic of the story is really neat. Aspara is a likeable character and the parts of his backstory that you get throughout the book are interesting. The glossary of Kazakh terms and phrases at the end of the book is also very nice, though as some other reviewers have noted there are not pronunciations.
Like other reviewers, the biggest problem I had with this book was Batu. He is fine at the start of the book, but towards the end he becomes very annoying, rude, and overconfident. Usually the kids in these kinds of books gain maturity and understanding as they overcome the obstacles the supernatural world is throwing at them, but with Batu it almost feels like he gets worse, and he only redeems himself (which may even be debatable) towards the very end.
While the book is definitely in the same vein as Percy Jackson, there also some key differences. None of the kids are demigods, though I think it's implied that Batu and Dana have some divine ancestors farther back in their families. I think it's because of this that the kids' relationships with their parents are not very developed, and if I remember correctly the parents (and even the grandparents, who play a more important role) aren't even given first names.
This may be why they also seem to spend a much greater portion of the novel in their homes compared to characters in the other "demigod" novels. While they go on a few supernatural trips, you don't have any breaking into history museums for magical objects or discovering secret sections of town where the supernatural beings live, which are characteristic of many of those other novels.
It's good, but things just aren't as fleshed out as the other demigod books. So, if you just finished reading one or more of those books, I would recommend reading something of a different genre or type before moving on to this book, otherwise you might find it somewhat underwhelming in comparison.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and look forward to the next one. But it also seemed geared towards a slightly younger audience than the other Percy Jackson-type books.
This book has some great scenes, such as the journey to meet the snake king, and the role that traditional music plays in the magic of the story is really neat. Aspara is a likeable character and the parts of his backstory that you get throughout the book are interesting. The glossary of Kazakh terms and phrases at the end of the book is also very nice, though as some other reviewers have noted there are not pronunciations.
Like other reviewers, the biggest problem I had with this book was Batu. He is fine at the start of the book, but towards the end he becomes very annoying, rude, and overconfident. Usually the kids in these kinds of books gain maturity and understanding as they overcome the obstacles the supernatural world is throwing at them, but with Batu it almost feels like he gets worse, and he only redeems himself (which may even be debatable) towards the very end.
While the book is definitely in the same vein as Percy Jackson, there also some key differences. None of the kids are demigods, though I think it's implied that Batu and Dana have some divine ancestors farther back in their families. I think it's because of this that the kids' relationships with their parents are not very developed, and if I remember correctly the parents (and even the grandparents, who play a more important role) aren't even given first names.
This may be why they also seem to spend a much greater portion of the novel in their homes compared to characters in the other "demigod" novels. While they go on a few supernatural trips, you don't have any breaking into history museums for magical objects or discovering secret sections of town where the supernatural beings live, which are characteristic of many of those other novels.
It's good, but things just aren't as fleshed out as the other demigod books. So, if you just finished reading one or more of those books, I would recommend reading something of a different genre or type before moving on to this book, otherwise you might find it somewhat underwhelming in comparison.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and look forward to the next one. But it also seemed geared towards a slightly younger audience than the other Percy Jackson-type books.
January 22, 2024
Set in Kazakhstan, I was excited to read about a part of the world I know almost nothing about, however, to my disappointment there wasn’t much time spent giving a sense of the place and the culture. This is a translated novel, and I think it might have helped my understanding and enjoyment, if, in addition to translating the language, there had been more thought given to the fact that readers outside of Kazakhstan may need a little more information about the region, for instance, pretty early on Batu’s grandmother talks about each of her parents being taken away and there was no explanation as to why, it seemed like it was presumed that readers would know the history there, which the original Kazakh readers likely did, but those of us who are unfamiliar with the country were left with no context for it.
A glossary at the back of the book does provide some information, occasionally those definitions were paragraph length though, so by the time you flip to the back of the book and take in that dry paragraph, and then locate the place where you left off again, it’s kind of pulled you out of the story and I found myself wishing that whenever there was a wordier definition, maybe that information could have just been incorporated into the prose in a non-clunky sort of way.
It wasn’t just the glossary that sometimes felt disruptive to the flow, the overall structure did as well, there was less an arc to this and more just a pattern, often a brief bit of action followed by everything kind of stopping so someone could share a story or folktale, and again, like with those lengthier definitions, I wondered if maybe the stories/folktales couldn’t have been more woven in so it might have felt less like I was being told and more like I was being shown.
I did like that this friend group wasn’t perfect, they had a tendency to squabble with one another which has a ring of authenticity to it, but I thought there could have been a whole lot more emotion than there was, whether that was in reaction to the fantasy elements that were so new to these kids who for the most part took it all oddly in stride or when lives were in danger, people go missing, etc., and there just didn’t seem to be as much concern or feeling or whatever as you’d expect in such heightened circumstances.
Lastly, like many first books in a series, this does not wrap up in a particularly satisfying way, there was a meandering quality throughout the novel and it just never did find its way back to really taking care of the mission introduced in the set up.
A glossary at the back of the book does provide some information, occasionally those definitions were paragraph length though, so by the time you flip to the back of the book and take in that dry paragraph, and then locate the place where you left off again, it’s kind of pulled you out of the story and I found myself wishing that whenever there was a wordier definition, maybe that information could have just been incorporated into the prose in a non-clunky sort of way.
It wasn’t just the glossary that sometimes felt disruptive to the flow, the overall structure did as well, there was less an arc to this and more just a pattern, often a brief bit of action followed by everything kind of stopping so someone could share a story or folktale, and again, like with those lengthier definitions, I wondered if maybe the stories/folktales couldn’t have been more woven in so it might have felt less like I was being told and more like I was being shown.
I did like that this friend group wasn’t perfect, they had a tendency to squabble with one another which has a ring of authenticity to it, but I thought there could have been a whole lot more emotion than there was, whether that was in reaction to the fantasy elements that were so new to these kids who for the most part took it all oddly in stride or when lives were in danger, people go missing, etc., and there just didn’t seem to be as much concern or feeling or whatever as you’d expect in such heightened circumstances.
Lastly, like many first books in a series, this does not wrap up in a particularly satisfying way, there was a meandering quality throughout the novel and it just never did find its way back to really taking care of the mission introduced in the set up.
June 8, 2023
What worked:
The first unique aspect of the book is that it’s based on the culture of Kazakhstan. Kazakh vocabulary is introduced early on with Batu referring to his grandmother as his azhe, salemtsiz be is a Kazakh greeting, and bauyrsaq is a fried dough. Batu sits on the threshold of his apartment during the Kazakh new year called Nauryz which opens a doorway between worlds. That’s how he meets Aspara who’s been dead for over two thousand years and wants his help in finding the Golden Cup. Additional Kazakh folklore and history are a large part of the story that includes Kazakhstan’s past conflicts with Russia.
Batu is an interesting character as he struggles with self-confidence. A bully is extorting money from him and Batu is terrified to stand up for himself. Then, Aspara shows up and says Batu is a brave warrior. Batu lies when Aspara asks about his abilities while silently concealing his cowardice. This internal conflict lingers throughout the plot and is never far from Batu’s thoughts. Batu respects his elders and the traditions of his culture and these qualities, along with the bravery buried inside, will help him become an honorable warrior.
The plot offers unexpected twists to add new levels of complications. The bully pops up at school and at Batu’s apartment and he uses a large classmate as his muscle. It turns out there’s more to the bully’s efforts than what’s first seen and his henchman becomes a bigger part of the story than anticipated. In addition, Batu’s mother is in the hospital giving birth to a baby sister in what seems to be an unimportant side story. However, this event turns out to be more significant as Batu is forced to make some difficult decisions.
What didn’t work as well:
Batu’s character displays some conflicting behaviors that don’t always make sense. He’s transforming into a brave, honorable warrior in search of the Golden Cup but he then gloats and taunts a bully and later has angry, insulting outbursts toward his friends. Also, based on the book’s title, the ending will probably leave readers unsatisfied and confused.
The Final Verdict:
Using Kazakhstan as the setting and its culture as the basis for the story provides freshness in the middle-grade genre. The use of Kazakh folklore creates a familiar format to the plot with unique details sprinkled in. Despite the questionable ending, the overall book is entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.
The first unique aspect of the book is that it’s based on the culture of Kazakhstan. Kazakh vocabulary is introduced early on with Batu referring to his grandmother as his azhe, salemtsiz be is a Kazakh greeting, and bauyrsaq is a fried dough. Batu sits on the threshold of his apartment during the Kazakh new year called Nauryz which opens a doorway between worlds. That’s how he meets Aspara who’s been dead for over two thousand years and wants his help in finding the Golden Cup. Additional Kazakh folklore and history are a large part of the story that includes Kazakhstan’s past conflicts with Russia.
Batu is an interesting character as he struggles with self-confidence. A bully is extorting money from him and Batu is terrified to stand up for himself. Then, Aspara shows up and says Batu is a brave warrior. Batu lies when Aspara asks about his abilities while silently concealing his cowardice. This internal conflict lingers throughout the plot and is never far from Batu’s thoughts. Batu respects his elders and the traditions of his culture and these qualities, along with the bravery buried inside, will help him become an honorable warrior.
The plot offers unexpected twists to add new levels of complications. The bully pops up at school and at Batu’s apartment and he uses a large classmate as his muscle. It turns out there’s more to the bully’s efforts than what’s first seen and his henchman becomes a bigger part of the story than anticipated. In addition, Batu’s mother is in the hospital giving birth to a baby sister in what seems to be an unimportant side story. However, this event turns out to be more significant as Batu is forced to make some difficult decisions.
What didn’t work as well:
Batu’s character displays some conflicting behaviors that don’t always make sense. He’s transforming into a brave, honorable warrior in search of the Golden Cup but he then gloats and taunts a bully and later has angry, insulting outbursts toward his friends. Also, based on the book’s title, the ending will probably leave readers unsatisfied and confused.
The Final Verdict:
Using Kazakhstan as the setting and its culture as the basis for the story provides freshness in the middle-grade genre. The use of Kazakh folklore creates a familiar format to the plot with unique details sprinkled in. Despite the questionable ending, the overall book is entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.
August 14, 2023
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is the first book I've read that is based off of Kazakhstan mythology, weaving together the Asian and Russian influences of the region, Kazakh words and the historical elements of their conflicts with Russia. This reminded me a lot of Aru Shah and the End of Time with its brightly colored cover and promise of adventure. It also has strong themes of honor, bravery, kindness and courage.
I wish I was less conflicted with Batu's character; he was not entirely likeable and tended to behave in a similar manner to the boy that was bullying him. Batu also appeared at times to be indifferent to his friends attempts to communicate with him. Lacking patience, he even verbally lashed out at them. On the other hand, he does appear to sort of apologize and does seem to have a great respect for his family, elders and their traditions. I especially liked how protective he was about his sibling. But I also couldn't help thinking that he didn't really personify the character traits of a great warrior, despite Aspara thinking he was one. Batu instead played along, pretending that he could do all of these wonderful feats. Even though, Batu had never been properly trained and seriously lacked the self-confidence. So yeah, a little conflicted about my feelings towards him.
Despite this minor quibble, I quite enjoyed the adventure. Especially the use of the Dombya, a musical instrument that when played while standing in a doorway, opens doors between worlds allowing Batu to freely pass into the past. The inclusion of information about the frets on an instrument and how important they are to the stringing of the cords was interesting. And I enjoyed how the story emphasized the importance of storytelling and passing on these cultural myths. Overall, this was a very unique setting and a wonderful introduction into the Kazakh culture, their history and mythology. At times I would have liked a few more details as I wasn't familiar with the folklore, but it also encouraged me to look for the details online for things I wanted to learn more about. This is the first book in the authors series to be translated from Russian, and hopefully we'll see further books in the series in the future.
I wish I was less conflicted with Batu's character; he was not entirely likeable and tended to behave in a similar manner to the boy that was bullying him. Batu also appeared at times to be indifferent to his friends attempts to communicate with him. Lacking patience, he even verbally lashed out at them. On the other hand, he does appear to sort of apologize and does seem to have a great respect for his family, elders and their traditions. I especially liked how protective he was about his sibling. But I also couldn't help thinking that he didn't really personify the character traits of a great warrior, despite Aspara thinking he was one. Batu instead played along, pretending that he could do all of these wonderful feats. Even though, Batu had never been properly trained and seriously lacked the self-confidence. So yeah, a little conflicted about my feelings towards him.
Despite this minor quibble, I quite enjoyed the adventure. Especially the use of the Dombya, a musical instrument that when played while standing in a doorway, opens doors between worlds allowing Batu to freely pass into the past. The inclusion of information about the frets on an instrument and how important they are to the stringing of the cords was interesting. And I enjoyed how the story emphasized the importance of storytelling and passing on these cultural myths. Overall, this was a very unique setting and a wonderful introduction into the Kazakh culture, their history and mythology. At times I would have liked a few more details as I wasn't familiar with the folklore, but it also encouraged me to look for the details online for things I wanted to learn more about. This is the first book in the authors series to be translated from Russian, and hopefully we'll see further books in the series in the future.
September 14, 2023
Earlier this year, I read a book called Ring of Solomon, by Aden Polydoros. You'll recall in my review for it that I described it as "Gay, Jewish Percy Jackson." Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup, by Zira Nauyzbai and Lilya Kalaus is akin to a Kazakh Percy Jackson. Now, I've always known Kazakhstan was a real country, and not a place Sasha Baron Cohen made up for the Borat movies. (An alarming amount of Americans think that, BTW.) But Kazakh mythology was new to me. So, in that respect, Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup was a very interesting book. The copyright page of the book states that it is the English translation of a book that was originally written in Russian and published in Kazakhstan all the way back in 2014. I don't really know why it took almost a decade for there to be an English translation, but better late than never and all that. The reason I'm giving it a 3-star rating is that it felt like some of the pacing was lost in translation, if that makes sense. Also, while there is a glossy explaining the Kazakh terms used in the book, it doesn't include a pronunciation guide, so I was left to pronounce those words to the best of my abilities. Maybe I should look up how they're actually pronounced. This book kicked off a trilogy that was published in Kazakhstan. I hope the other books are eventually translated into English, because after this one, I am interested in reading them, to see how the story continues. All in all, I liked Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup.
August 3, 2023
In the 15+ years that I’ve been reviewing books professionally, Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is the first book to cross my desk set in Kazakhstan. That immediately makes it unique but also lets you know there’s going to be a learning curve.
And this is where some young readers could get lost.
Luckily, the book features a fairly extensive glossary as well as a diagram of the dombrya (a musical instrument with two strings and a long neck), which plays an important role throughout.
Once readers settle in, a lot of the unfamiliar becomes attainable through context, and that’s not so different from other fantasy novels like Aru Shah and the End of Time.
At the center of the story is Batu, a pretty average kid who dreams of being extraordinary. Aspara gives him the opportunity. And as the story progresses, Batu — and his friends — learn that by facing their fears and overcoming obstacles they’re pretty amazing as they are.
What really sets Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup apart, though, is the juxtaposition of contemporary life and the kids’ adventures inside Kazakh myths. This offers readers multiple layers of culture and tradition and also gives them sort of grounding points throughout the novel.
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is a strong fantasy/adventure that will appeal to kids who appreciate new and exciting stories from around the world.
And this is where some young readers could get lost.
Luckily, the book features a fairly extensive glossary as well as a diagram of the dombrya (a musical instrument with two strings and a long neck), which plays an important role throughout.
Once readers settle in, a lot of the unfamiliar becomes attainable through context, and that’s not so different from other fantasy novels like Aru Shah and the End of Time.
At the center of the story is Batu, a pretty average kid who dreams of being extraordinary. Aspara gives him the opportunity. And as the story progresses, Batu — and his friends — learn that by facing their fears and overcoming obstacles they’re pretty amazing as they are.
What really sets Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup apart, though, is the juxtaposition of contemporary life and the kids’ adventures inside Kazakh myths. This offers readers multiple layers of culture and tradition and also gives them sort of grounding points throughout the novel.
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is a strong fantasy/adventure that will appeal to kids who appreciate new and exciting stories from around the world.
August 15, 2023
Batu is tired of being bullied by Scorpion and Kaira but doesn’t quite know what to do about it. Then Aspara, the Golden Warrior, appears in his room and that is the start of Batu’s adventures. Along with his friends Sasha and Dana they join Aspara to search for the mythical Golden Cup traveling in alternate worlds that overlap our own.
While aimed at middle-grade readers, this adult found the story engrossing. Steeped in the folklore of pre-Soviet Kazakhstan and set in present-day Kazakstan, the authors do not gloss over the abuses of the Soviet era while introducing young Kazak readers to their heritage. Our young adventurers will be easy for readers to identify with as they find more confidence in themselves and learn the value of true friendship. Originally written in Russian in 2014 this translation will introduce a whole new group of readers to a wonderful world. Hopefully, the other two existing books will be translated into English and published in the US as I am eager to see where the next adventure takes Batu, Sasha, Dana and Kaira. Highly recommended for both young and adult readers.
While aimed at middle-grade readers, this adult found the story engrossing. Steeped in the folklore of pre-Soviet Kazakhstan and set in present-day Kazakstan, the authors do not gloss over the abuses of the Soviet era while introducing young Kazak readers to their heritage. Our young adventurers will be easy for readers to identify with as they find more confidence in themselves and learn the value of true friendship. Originally written in Russian in 2014 this translation will introduce a whole new group of readers to a wonderful world. Hopefully, the other two existing books will be translated into English and published in the US as I am eager to see where the next adventure takes Batu, Sasha, Dana and Kaira. Highly recommended for both young and adult readers.
November 11, 2023
I had mixed feelings as to how to rate this story. The story itself was good and engaging. I can imagine a middle grade reader being captivated. The characters felt real to me (I know that other reviews said otherwise). Batu gave me a similar feeling as Diaries of a whimmpy kid did. He wasn't appealing to me, but I've known kids like him and there is room for growth so I looked past his sometimes mean, reactive behavior.
The main reason I picked up this book was because it's from Kazakhstan. I've never read any stories from that region and was intrigued. The mythology is fascinating and that is what I enjoyed most about the story. The children came across as believable though the bad guys a bit too... convenient maybe.
The writing isn't great and I don't know if that's due to the author's craft or the transition. The language was stilted and took me out of the story often. This is the primary reason I would have given the story only 3 stars, but I enjoyed the spirit of the story so much that I gave it 4 to encourage people to give the story a chance.
It would be nice to see another story with these friends in it.
The main reason I picked up this book was because it's from Kazakhstan. I've never read any stories from that region and was intrigued. The mythology is fascinating and that is what I enjoyed most about the story. The children came across as believable though the bad guys a bit too... convenient maybe.
The writing isn't great and I don't know if that's due to the author's craft or the transition. The language was stilted and took me out of the story often. This is the primary reason I would have given the story only 3 stars, but I enjoyed the spirit of the story so much that I gave it 4 to encourage people to give the story a chance.
It would be nice to see another story with these friends in it.
March 27, 2024
"Be a warrior but never an executioner." Page 96
"A weapon is only an extension of your hand. A warrior's power lies not in his weapons but in his heart." Page 101
""The Heart of the Earth beat there. It used to give the people love and strength, part of its motherly embrace. And Baiterek connected the heavens with the earth. The men in black jackets wanted to make us forget that the earth was our mother and the sky was our father. And truly, the people did forget, and they became weak, sick, and unkind." Page 173
"Yes... there was time when thought, word, and deed were all one. Poets were warriors, learned scholars were craftsmen..." Page 242
"And if you feel that pain, Kaira, it means that all is not lost. Don't be afraid of the pain. Listen to it, and you will do the right thing. Sometimes we would rather not feel, not think for ourselves, and we want to listen to the Scorpions of the world. But that always ends badly. Every person must make their own decisions and answer for what they do." Page 250
"A weapon is only an extension of your hand. A warrior's power lies not in his weapons but in his heart." Page 101
""The Heart of the Earth beat there. It used to give the people love and strength, part of its motherly embrace. And Baiterek connected the heavens with the earth. The men in black jackets wanted to make us forget that the earth was our mother and the sky was our father. And truly, the people did forget, and they became weak, sick, and unkind." Page 173
"Yes... there was time when thought, word, and deed were all one. Poets were warriors, learned scholars were craftsmen..." Page 242
"And if you feel that pain, Kaira, it means that all is not lost. Don't be afraid of the pain. Listen to it, and you will do the right thing. Sometimes we would rather not feel, not think for ourselves, and we want to listen to the Scorpions of the world. But that always ends badly. Every person must make their own decisions and answer for what they do." Page 250
June 25, 2024
This book had some confusing parts, especially for being a middle grades book. It used a lot of Khazak words, and I just never remembered or figured out what half of them were. For example, something I thought was a drum turned out to play melodies in the last chapter leaving me a little confused. Other than that, it is simple, as middle grade literature tends to be, with good guys and purely evil bad guys who seem to do things just for the purpose of hurting people and without any kind of motivation that makes them seem like the heroes of their own story. That said, it was interesting and managed to make itself relevant to Western readers while telling us something about Khazak mythology and history, even including a bit about the purges under Stalin without directly talking about it. I enjoyed this, I just thought it could use a little more editing for clarity.
August 24, 2023
Unusual, thrilling adventure
This had me hooked! I knew practically nothing about Turkic culture or history before starting to read this book. But I really want to find out more now.
The narrative was well constructed. The characters were plausible. The descriptions of traditional Kazakh foods and traditions were really evocative. In fact, I spent a lot of my reading time getting distracted by side reading on internet rabbit holes because I was looking up things like bauyrsaq (a deep fried Turkic sweet yeasted cake), and dombyras (a stringed instrument a little like a sitar).
This is a great book to read if you want to learn something new, or get immersed in a completely different mythological tradition. I loved it.
This had me hooked! I knew practically nothing about Turkic culture or history before starting to read this book. But I really want to find out more now.
The narrative was well constructed. The characters were plausible. The descriptions of traditional Kazakh foods and traditions were really evocative. In fact, I spent a lot of my reading time getting distracted by side reading on internet rabbit holes because I was looking up things like bauyrsaq (a deep fried Turkic sweet yeasted cake), and dombyras (a stringed instrument a little like a sitar).
This is a great book to read if you want to learn something new, or get immersed in a completely different mythological tradition. I loved it.
December 13, 2023
It's great to see a story of Kazakh history, myth and culture translated into English. As a middle grade book though, it kind of falters - the characters seem suitably preteen/early teen-ish in behaviour, but in terms of accessibility to English-speaking preteens, it doesn't quite work. I as an adult with a passing familiarity with Central Asian history and culture was able to figure out from context what the Kazakh and Saka words meant, but for your average kid, I think more detail would be helpful, through directly connected footnotes (yes there is a glossary at the end, but with an ebook that really needs in-text links) or images or so on. Interesting and unique story though.
December 14, 2023
Khazakstan mythology comes to life in this children’s novel of young Batu who leads his friends Sasha and Dana into another world, at the request of the ancient warrior Aspara. The story’s told with great voice, and the characters are likeable and convincing, with home problems feeding consistently into their magical world. The adventure is fast and furious and thoroughly enjoyable, not just because it’s peopled in a different culture from my own. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I really enjoyed this book.
Disclosure: I really enjoyed this book.
August 22, 2023
Originally written in Russian, this is another modern-day adventure in a world of folklore and mythology. This time, it's that of Kazakhstan, which I didn't really know anything about. The story was okay, but I appreciated all the cultural and mythological references. Aspara, the ancient golden warrior of the Saka people, comes out of Batu's notebook cover, and joins him on an adventure that includes playing the dombyra and battling the brass-clawed Jeztyrnaq.
February 10, 2024
Fascinating introduction to an unfamiliar culture
Although a bit simplistic in its writing, I found the themes interesting and the cultural illumination inspiring. On par with many western morality tales. Young readers may have difficulty with many of the words and phrases that don't readily translate into English, but the meanings are clear and the glossary at the end is quite useful.
Although a bit simplistic in its writing, I found the themes interesting and the cultural illumination inspiring. On par with many western morality tales. Young readers may have difficulty with many of the words and phrases that don't readily translate into English, but the meanings are clear and the glossary at the end is quite useful.
July 14, 2023
Batu's adventure
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup reminds me of Northern African and Mid-eastern folk stories. I was a bit slowed down by the unfamiliar vocabulary. However, I enjoyed it because it was creative.
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup reminds me of Northern African and Mid-eastern folk stories. I was a bit slowed down by the unfamiliar vocabulary. However, I enjoyed it because it was creative.
October 26, 2023
My boyfriend has smooched me and I am sure that he loves me. I love how his poop tastes like my hand. I secretly adore his diarrhoea (his butt is so cute and pimpled)
This book has been ... good. I'm not sure if you are going to like it, but I can tell you it is great . Not my type , but great.
This book has been ... good. I'm not sure if you are going to like it, but I can tell you it is great . Not my type , but great.
February 3, 2025
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I can’t tell if the translation is bad or the writing is bad. Kazakh mythology is really interesting but the story itself was really disjointed and not fleshed out!
April 20, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
July 1, 2023
Different
July 7, 2023
DNF. The writing just didn't grab me, unfortunately.
July 18, 2023
Starts out with characters talking about Harry Potter books. If that's the hook, I'm not interested in continuing.
August 15, 2023
Central Asian Percy Jackson.
The book and premise has a lot of promise. But unless I missed something, the plot evolves and it's no longer about the golden cup.
I love the fact that someone is tackling a Kazakh story with Central Asian; just wish it was better executed.
The book and premise has a lot of promise. But unless I missed something, the plot evolves and it's no longer about the golden cup.
I love the fact that someone is tackling a Kazakh story with Central Asian; just wish it was better executed.
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