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The Tara Trilogy #2
Silver Anklet
What if the only way to get rid of your worst enemy was to sacrifice your brother? When hyenas snatch Taras brother, Suraj, and two other children from the local fair in Morni, Tara and her newfound companions decide to rescue them on their own. Tara soon discovers that Zarku, her nemesis with the third eye, is back and intent on revenge. A deadly game of hide and seek ensues, and Tara and her companions must work together to survive. But it is soon clear that Zarku is only after Tara; the others are dispensable. Should Tara risk the lives of her friends? Or can she once again defeat Zarku and save her brother, armed only with belief in herself and a silver anklet?
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 19, 2022
Received as an ARC, I am leaving my honest review. Brilliantly written with nail biting scenarios and heartfelt moments will have you reading from beginning to end. The series continues as Tara, her brother and friends enjoy a day of fun, until there shouts of Hyena are heard. Her little brother and his friends are missing, and while a search party is gathered, she takes off into the woods with four of her friends and family. What she finds, chills her to her bones and has her fighting for her life. Zarka has returned, but is possessing the body of her little brother and is determined to find a way to become a powerful entity once again. Tara must be quick thinking in order to save her brother and vanquish Zarka for good. The perils are everywhere, plans go astray and she is running out of time. Help from the spirit world aids in her fight but will she succeed? Be prepared for a late night of reading.
March 8, 2019
The silver anklet
Tara trilogy part 2
Cover has been well designed. Title is catchy. Theme is of mystery, adventure, fights, warfare, struggle, magic, weapons, will, determination & many other factors which are essential for a fantasy book.
Language is simple & good. Narration is okay. A good fantasy book to read.
What if the only way to get rid of your worst enemy was to sacrifice your brother? When hyenas snatch Tara s brother, Suraj, and two other children from the local fair in Morni, Tara and her newfound companions decide to rescue them on their own. And Tara soon discovers that Zarku, her nemesis with the third eye, is back and intent on revenge. A deadly game of hide and seek ensues, and Tara and her companions must work together to survive. But it is soon clear that Zarku is only after Tara; the others are dispensable. Should Tara risk the lives of her friends? Or can she once again defeat Zarku and save her brother, armed only with belief in herself and a silver anklet?
Tara trilogy part 2
Cover has been well designed. Title is catchy. Theme is of mystery, adventure, fights, warfare, struggle, magic, weapons, will, determination & many other factors which are essential for a fantasy book.
Language is simple & good. Narration is okay. A good fantasy book to read.
What if the only way to get rid of your worst enemy was to sacrifice your brother? When hyenas snatch Tara s brother, Suraj, and two other children from the local fair in Morni, Tara and her newfound companions decide to rescue them on their own. And Tara soon discovers that Zarku, her nemesis with the third eye, is back and intent on revenge. A deadly game of hide and seek ensues, and Tara and her companions must work together to survive. But it is soon clear that Zarku is only after Tara; the others are dispensable. Should Tara risk the lives of her friends? Or can she once again defeat Zarku and save her brother, armed only with belief in herself and a silver anklet?
May 9, 2022
I didn't rate the third eye because it was a book I read a long time ago and is meant for kids. However, this I am rating because even if it is meant for like elementary kids, it's quite dark in my opinion. The book was really fast paced and full of suspense. I was very unsure of what would happen next (while with the first book you kind of expect everything to work out) but with this one it was a lot less predictable.
January 14, 2021
Tara is so effing annoying and actually quite cruel.
August 4, 2022
The adventure continues with another unexpected adventure. Terrifying encounters, enormous challenges, and a strong sense of place make this a fresh and fantastical children's fantasy.
January 27, 2010
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
Summary: Tara and her brother, Suraj, along with his friend, have gone to the local fair. There they befriend the Ferris wheel operator, an overweight yet very friendly boy and a performer who can dislocate all his joints to fit inside small containers along with his little sister helper, Sadia. While there, a scream rips through the fairgrounds and the girl, a fair person who can see as day in the night, who was looking after Sadia screams that Sadia was taken from her by a hyena into the jungle. Tara herself had earlier thought she had seen a hyena but shrugged it off as a trick of the sun as hyenas do not live in these parts. Men quickly start organizing a search party when Tara realizes that her brother and his friend are missing too and when a scrap of his shirt is found on a bush they know he was taken too. Thus the story is set up as Tara and her new found friends, along with a familiar face from book one take matters into their own hands and set off into the jungle to find the missing children only to find out that it is all a carefully orchestrated plan to lure Tara herself into the clutches of her evil nemesis, Zarku. Only this time her brother's life may be the sacrifice to rid the world of this evil once and for all.
Comments: The second book in this trilogy jumps right into the action and does not let go until the very end. A very fast-paced plot-driven novel that kept me reading well into the night. The book is not quite so dark as the first in the series but is, even so, still dark with death and imagery. After the brief beginning in the fairgrounds, the entire story takes place within the jungle which serves to add a heavy, broody, stifling atmosphere throughout as the teens deal with the heat and humidity, mosquitoes and thirst. The plot itself is what I call the "race against time" theme where the characters set off to save someone and event after event happens until the final climax. Thus, there is not a lot of character development in the new characters introduced in this book. The heavy set boy and the night seeing girl were the most fully realized and I developed feelings for them. On the other hand the boy who's sister was taken plays a more important role in the story, yet he felt flat to me and I didn't connect with him. But otherwise, I really enjoyed the band of teens and the various personalities make for great dynamics within the group.
Tara, herself, is given the most powerful characteristics. Along with how we've come to know her from book one, she is a strong girl, with family loyalty and honour high in her values along with responsibility, fairness and a willingness to believe in others. Tara is faced with many dilemnas such as choosing between: the one or the many, a life of evil or death and sacrificing herself or losing time by going for help. Choosing the right thing is not easy nor is it always obvious.
One can't help but write about a sequel and not compare it to the first and here I found that while "The Third Eye" was steeped in Hindu mythology, this book does not follow through with that though it is still present, just in a smaller degree. There is no mistaking though that the story takes place within a Hindu society as the culture is ever present throughout and this is one of the exciting things about this series, making it so different from the usual YA fantasy fare being written at the moment. There is even a glossary at the back for all the Hindi words used in the book. I wonder if I can get my sister to start calling me Didi?
The cover is also quite intriguing. I think it reflects the ethnic flavour of the story well and the picture reminds me of a simple henna drawing. While being the second in a series the story can hold up on its own. References are made to events in the first book but the story here is complete within itself having a beginning and an ending. I always appreciate when authors can make the second book of a trilogy a complete story of its own while continuing to be a part of the whole (no cliffhangers please!). Ms. Narsimhan does this very well by bringing this story to a conclusion and then giving readers a taste by setting up the direction the next book will take. The last few lines of the book left me with a gleeful chuckle and shiver as I look forward to the final 'showdown' in the last book.
Summary: Tara and her brother, Suraj, along with his friend, have gone to the local fair. There they befriend the Ferris wheel operator, an overweight yet very friendly boy and a performer who can dislocate all his joints to fit inside small containers along with his little sister helper, Sadia. While there, a scream rips through the fairgrounds and the girl, a fair person who can see as day in the night, who was looking after Sadia screams that Sadia was taken from her by a hyena into the jungle. Tara herself had earlier thought she had seen a hyena but shrugged it off as a trick of the sun as hyenas do not live in these parts. Men quickly start organizing a search party when Tara realizes that her brother and his friend are missing too and when a scrap of his shirt is found on a bush they know he was taken too. Thus the story is set up as Tara and her new found friends, along with a familiar face from book one take matters into their own hands and set off into the jungle to find the missing children only to find out that it is all a carefully orchestrated plan to lure Tara herself into the clutches of her evil nemesis, Zarku. Only this time her brother's life may be the sacrifice to rid the world of this evil once and for all.
Comments: The second book in this trilogy jumps right into the action and does not let go until the very end. A very fast-paced plot-driven novel that kept me reading well into the night. The book is not quite so dark as the first in the series but is, even so, still dark with death and imagery. After the brief beginning in the fairgrounds, the entire story takes place within the jungle which serves to add a heavy, broody, stifling atmosphere throughout as the teens deal with the heat and humidity, mosquitoes and thirst. The plot itself is what I call the "race against time" theme where the characters set off to save someone and event after event happens until the final climax. Thus, there is not a lot of character development in the new characters introduced in this book. The heavy set boy and the night seeing girl were the most fully realized and I developed feelings for them. On the other hand the boy who's sister was taken plays a more important role in the story, yet he felt flat to me and I didn't connect with him. But otherwise, I really enjoyed the band of teens and the various personalities make for great dynamics within the group.
Tara, herself, is given the most powerful characteristics. Along with how we've come to know her from book one, she is a strong girl, with family loyalty and honour high in her values along with responsibility, fairness and a willingness to believe in others. Tara is faced with many dilemnas such as choosing between: the one or the many, a life of evil or death and sacrificing herself or losing time by going for help. Choosing the right thing is not easy nor is it always obvious.
One can't help but write about a sequel and not compare it to the first and here I found that while "The Third Eye" was steeped in Hindu mythology, this book does not follow through with that though it is still present, just in a smaller degree. There is no mistaking though that the story takes place within a Hindu society as the culture is ever present throughout and this is one of the exciting things about this series, making it so different from the usual YA fantasy fare being written at the moment. There is even a glossary at the back for all the Hindi words used in the book. I wonder if I can get my sister to start calling me Didi?
The cover is also quite intriguing. I think it reflects the ethnic flavour of the story well and the picture reminds me of a simple henna drawing. While being the second in a series the story can hold up on its own. References are made to events in the first book but the story here is complete within itself having a beginning and an ending. I always appreciate when authors can make the second book of a trilogy a complete story of its own while continuing to be a part of the whole (no cliffhangers please!). Ms. Narsimhan does this very well by bringing this story to a conclusion and then giving readers a taste by setting up the direction the next book will take. The last few lines of the book left me with a gleeful chuckle and shiver as I look forward to the final 'showdown' in the last book.
October 17, 2022
After defeating the evil Zarku, Tara should be able to relax—but she knows something is not quite right. It is time for the annual village fair, and everyone else is having a great time while ignoring Tara’s claim of having seen a hyena in the woods nearby. Convinced to let her suspicions go, Tara permits her brother Suraj and his friend Rohan to explore the fair on their own. When the boys fail to return after a reasonable amount of time, though, Tara knows that her instincts were right. She must team up with friends—both new and familiar—to brave the dangers of the forest in an attempt to return everyone to safety. This second book in the Tara Trilogy begins shortly after the first book ends. Tara is understandably on edge, and despite having seen the evil Zarku vanquished with her own eyes, she can not shake the feeling that something ominous is due to arrive. Enemies from the previous installment reappear in this one, intensifying the stakes Tara faces as she dares to rescue the missing children. Dynamic dialogue propels the narrative, including several instances of conflict among friends and foes alike. Additionally, it is easy to fall into the world this story creates thanks to the detailed descriptions of Tara’s surroundings. Indian food, culture, and landscape are presented throughout this novel, amplifying both the setting and the reader’s understanding of it regardless of their own experience with India. A glossary at the end of the book helps to define potentially unfamiliar words, as well. This is an action packed sequel that will keep the pages turning thanks to the dramatic conclusions to most of the chapters, and it is a good choice for confident middle grade readers who enjoy stories about danger, adventure, and dastardly villains.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
March 8, 2023
THE SILVER ANKLET is a sequel to Mahtab Narsimhan's THE THIRD EYE, which won The Silver Birch award in 2009. For those who don't know, The Silver Birch Award is a province-wide honour given by Grade 3, 4, 5 and 6 Ontario students. Although administered by the Ontario Library Association and run by teacher-librarians and teachers in schools and by children's librarians in public libraries, the final choice is made by the young readers.
The trilogy follows the adventures of Tara, a young Hindi girl who lives in the village of Morni in India. When Tara's brother Suraj and two other children disappear from a local fair, Tara and her friends set off to find them.
I enjoyed THE SILVER ANKLET even more than the first book in the Tara trilogy. Like its predecessor, the story kicks off with immediate action and suspense, with a chase and a mystery, grabbing the reader and not letting go until the very end.
Mahtab's vivid descriptions add rich detail to the exciting story, weaving in Hindi colour and flavour that bring scenes to life for the reader. My mouth watered for biryani wrapped in banana leaves and spicy papads, and I shuddered as Tara and her companions trudged through the dark forest, batting away clouds of mosquitoes.
Tara is an appealing protagonist, fighting her private fears and insecurities to save her brother. This is a story full of secrets and discovery, betrayal and mercy. Fans of the first book will love THE SILVER ANKLET.
The trilogy follows the adventures of Tara, a young Hindi girl who lives in the village of Morni in India. When Tara's brother Suraj and two other children disappear from a local fair, Tara and her friends set off to find them.
I enjoyed THE SILVER ANKLET even more than the first book in the Tara trilogy. Like its predecessor, the story kicks off with immediate action and suspense, with a chase and a mystery, grabbing the reader and not letting go until the very end.
Mahtab's vivid descriptions add rich detail to the exciting story, weaving in Hindi colour and flavour that bring scenes to life for the reader. My mouth watered for biryani wrapped in banana leaves and spicy papads, and I shuddered as Tara and her companions trudged through the dark forest, batting away clouds of mosquitoes.
Tara is an appealing protagonist, fighting her private fears and insecurities to save her brother. This is a story full of secrets and discovery, betrayal and mercy. Fans of the first book will love THE SILVER ANKLET.
July 15, 2011
The Silver Anklet is the second book following the Third Eye. Just when you think turning someone to ashes will bring peace and assure everyone that his evil reign has passed, Zarku somehow manages to return by taking over Suraj's body, ready to have his revenge on Tara and her unlikely group of heroes. Instead of giant green monsters to do his bidding, he has crazed hyenas and a crazed woman named Kali, a welcome change I should think. (: So anyways, will Tara make the ultimate sacrifice to get rid of Zarku once and for all and end this deadly game of hide and seek? Or will she risk everything by listening to the voice of Zakru's mother to save Suraj? The stakes are higher this time but if anyone could defeat Zarku twice, it would be our favourite heroine, Tara!
November 29, 2009
A compelling sequel to The Third Eye. This fresh new adventure brings back all of our favourite characters from The Third Eye and introduces some new ones as well. I laughed out loud when I found out how Vayu got his name – a great moment of comic relief in a story filled with suspense and tension at every page turn. Fans of Narsimhan will devour this beautifully written second installment in the Tara Trilogy.
May 31, 2010
This book, the second in a series, does not really stand on its own. Full of unpleasant characters and loose ends, this tale can be left on the shelf.
May 29, 2011
was reli awesome... creepy without gore( well, there was some gore:P)
cant wait for the third one!!!
cant wait for the third one!!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews