Book Review : KARMA by Kevin Missal
Hi friends. Today I am back with a review of the world's first insta-read "KARMA" authored by Kevin Missal and published by Kalamos Literary Services.
Isn't the coverpage in itself an attractive one? Well then let's check it out.
ABOUT KEVIN MISSAL:
Kevin Missal, is a graduate from St. Stephen’s College who has been writing since the age of twelve. He published his first book at the age of fourteen titled “DAMIEN BLACK THE BATTLE OF LOST AGES” which was launched by then Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit. He wrote his second book titled “UNLOCKED” that was published by an Indie-British publishing. The third book published by the growing Half Baked Beans was titled “YAMA” was released with rave reviews. He’s an amateur filmmaker, a reader, and a part time co-owner of Kalamos Literary Services. He can be contacted on kevin.missal@gmail.com
BLURB:
Karman Malik a lonely man finds his wife standing outside his house.
But there are two problems.
One, she had died eight years back.
Second, she is not human anymore.
Can he love her again?
A BRIEF PEEK INTO THE BOOK:
A chilling but equally thrilling read...
"The girl's corpse was stinking now." The opening line itself is dramatic enough to immediately grasp the reader's attention. And trust me, once you start reading the book, your eyes shall be glued to the pages till you reach the end, which is equally thrilling. A crime fiction, peppered with scenes of supernatural horror, KARMA revolves around the life of a young couple Karman and Urvi, also involving three petty criminals Prashant, Yadav and Raju. What was intended to be a house theft turns into a grisly affair with Karman grievously injured and Urvi killed and her body dragged away by the criminals. What's bizzare is that the case has been closed with the woman reported missing and the story fast forwards to eight years after, where we see Karman musing over the crime, fully aware that Urvi was dead, not just missing; but he doesn't report to the police!
The author, through skillful use of language and diction, heightens the thrilling effect of the story where Karman, the male protagonist (aptly named according to the title of the book) is devastated by the loss of his wife, waking up to nightmares of that fateful day even after eight long years. But as the plot gradually unfolds, bit by bit, the reader initially starts believing that Urvi has returned from the dead, eight years post her murder as a man-eating vampire ("pisach" as Dr.Om calls her) to avenge the crime. The grotesque descriptions of Urvi swinging from the ceiling, jumping to the floor, her long nails that move swiftly over Karman's shoulders, her eerie smile, the innocence in her voice as she explains that she was hungry and that's the reason she ate the postman's brain, drinking the blood like an elixir, give you much more than just goosebumps! Yet the digressions that are skillfully woven in the midst of this horror narrative - the investigation into the murders of the police constable, Raju Srivastav and Prakash Shastri - tend to make the reading an enjoyable experience, wherein the reader becomes still more curious about the whole thing.
But the most spectacular part of the story is the ending, which brings a dramatic twist to the entire plot, leaving the unsuspecting reader completely spellbound. As the culprit aims for the final kill, we discover that the "woman" isn't Urvi. In a startling moment of realization, the entire narrative gradually begins to make sense after the sudden whirlwind of chaos the reader experiences in seeing Karman dressed as a woman, holding a knife! As the reality begins to sink in, the flabbergasted reader acknowledges that Karman, who had been collecting evidence of the murder for several years, now stowed away in a yellowing diary, has been so obsessed with it that with the rotating cogs of time and present circumstances (his grandma's demise) have turned him into someone with "dissociative identity disorder". The chilling truth is that Urvi has never returned from the dead; she is just a figment of his imagination. There is no Rakshas, no demon, no Pisach. Karman considers himself as Urvi due to a gross mental disorder.
In the early descriptions of Karman's talks with the imaginary Urvi, he tells her, "revenge is not the answer". But the bitter irony is that, corrosive hatred has turned Karman into a demon. To quote the author himself, "A rakshas is born out of hatred." Perhaps, at the end the reader feels that a strange sense of justice still prevails for two of the culprits meet the fate Karma has decided for them, owing to their sins. But again a question comes in my mind, what about Yadav; why doesn't he meet the same fate as the others and then the constable who was killed with no fault of his? But then these loose ends provide an aura of mystery to the story, letting the reader's imagination to soar. But then, as an observant reader, I wonder what Karma has in store for Karman for his crimes. And the prognosis is a chilling one. At the close, the reader too is left wondering along with the protagonist who murmurs at the blank walls, "Am I crazy?"
A deeper insight into the book reveals an underlying pathos of a man who is deranged after losing his beloved wife to the bitter parables of fate. His staunch belief that she is still alive and well becomes evident when he promptly tells inspector Chaubey that she is away on a business trip. Such an ardent refusal to accept the truth coupled with the evidences of the murder he has collected over the years, forms a queer contrasting mixture lethal enough to drive any mind crazy. And out of the seeds of hatred sown in his mind, a Rakshas is born.
The book reminds me of J Alchem's "The Highway Man", where in the short story "Catherine" an author falls in love with his protagonist, and he gradually turns into a schizophrenic. KARMA is indeed a story subtly different from the usual long, short stories. The plot, though meticulously knitted, is a complex one and it is in fact in the second reading that you get the real feel of the book. The plot is actually so exciting that in the first reading, you would most likely go on at a ceaseless pace, to discover the end. But the end is what leaves you flabbergasted. Disillusioned, you again return back to the story to read it and this time, the entire plot unfolds in such a way that you begin to actually admire the author’s imaginative skills. All in all, it is an engrossing read, a treat for every bibliophile. And the author has done a commendable job in crafting such an intriguing plot, one that takes you back to pondering over many emotions. The title is so very apt that for a moment, even I felt a chill running down my spine, at the thought of Karma getting back at me for my deeds, good or bad. And what’s really impressive about the story is that it leaves a lasting impression on your mind, something you won’t forget in a hurry. Kudos to Kevin Missal !!!
Grab your copy soon guys!!!
What I liked about the book:
1.The intricately woven plot with its twists and turns, with a mystical touch
2.The ending, an unexpected one, that made me read the book all over again
3.The simple yet lucid use of language and diction
4.The philosophical undertones in the story
5.The questions it raised in my mind, making it a book worth remembering
RATING:
Cover design: 5/5
Plot: 4.5
Language and Diction: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Check out on Amazon from 1st June, 2017.
ABOUT KEVIN MISSAL:
Kevin Missal, is a graduate from St. Stephen’s College who has been writing since the age of twelve. He published his first book at the age of fourteen titled “DAMIEN BLACK THE BATTLE OF LOST AGES” which was launched by then Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit. He wrote his second book titled “UNLOCKED” that was published by an Indie-British publishing. The third book published by the growing Half Baked Beans was titled “YAMA” was released with rave reviews. He’s an amateur filmmaker, a reader, and a part time co-owner of Kalamos Literary Services. He can be contacted on kevin.missal@gmail.com
BLURB:
Karman Malik a lonely man finds his wife standing outside his house.
But there are two problems.
One, she had died eight years back.
Second, she is not human anymore.
Can he love her again?
A BRIEF PEEK INTO THE BOOK:
A chilling but equally thrilling read...
"The girl's corpse was stinking now." The opening line itself is dramatic enough to immediately grasp the reader's attention. And trust me, once you start reading the book, your eyes shall be glued to the pages till you reach the end, which is equally thrilling. A crime fiction, peppered with scenes of supernatural horror, KARMA revolves around the life of a young couple Karman and Urvi, also involving three petty criminals Prashant, Yadav and Raju. What was intended to be a house theft turns into a grisly affair with Karman grievously injured and Urvi killed and her body dragged away by the criminals. What's bizzare is that the case has been closed with the woman reported missing and the story fast forwards to eight years after, where we see Karman musing over the crime, fully aware that Urvi was dead, not just missing; but he doesn't report to the police!
The author, through skillful use of language and diction, heightens the thrilling effect of the story where Karman, the male protagonist (aptly named according to the title of the book) is devastated by the loss of his wife, waking up to nightmares of that fateful day even after eight long years. But as the plot gradually unfolds, bit by bit, the reader initially starts believing that Urvi has returned from the dead, eight years post her murder as a man-eating vampire ("pisach" as Dr.Om calls her) to avenge the crime. The grotesque descriptions of Urvi swinging from the ceiling, jumping to the floor, her long nails that move swiftly over Karman's shoulders, her eerie smile, the innocence in her voice as she explains that she was hungry and that's the reason she ate the postman's brain, drinking the blood like an elixir, give you much more than just goosebumps! Yet the digressions that are skillfully woven in the midst of this horror narrative - the investigation into the murders of the police constable, Raju Srivastav and Prakash Shastri - tend to make the reading an enjoyable experience, wherein the reader becomes still more curious about the whole thing.
But the most spectacular part of the story is the ending, which brings a dramatic twist to the entire plot, leaving the unsuspecting reader completely spellbound. As the culprit aims for the final kill, we discover that the "woman" isn't Urvi. In a startling moment of realization, the entire narrative gradually begins to make sense after the sudden whirlwind of chaos the reader experiences in seeing Karman dressed as a woman, holding a knife! As the reality begins to sink in, the flabbergasted reader acknowledges that Karman, who had been collecting evidence of the murder for several years, now stowed away in a yellowing diary, has been so obsessed with it that with the rotating cogs of time and present circumstances (his grandma's demise) have turned him into someone with "dissociative identity disorder". The chilling truth is that Urvi has never returned from the dead; she is just a figment of his imagination. There is no Rakshas, no demon, no Pisach. Karman considers himself as Urvi due to a gross mental disorder.
In the early descriptions of Karman's talks with the imaginary Urvi, he tells her, "revenge is not the answer". But the bitter irony is that, corrosive hatred has turned Karman into a demon. To quote the author himself, "A rakshas is born out of hatred." Perhaps, at the end the reader feels that a strange sense of justice still prevails for two of the culprits meet the fate Karma has decided for them, owing to their sins. But again a question comes in my mind, what about Yadav; why doesn't he meet the same fate as the others and then the constable who was killed with no fault of his? But then these loose ends provide an aura of mystery to the story, letting the reader's imagination to soar. But then, as an observant reader, I wonder what Karma has in store for Karman for his crimes. And the prognosis is a chilling one. At the close, the reader too is left wondering along with the protagonist who murmurs at the blank walls, "Am I crazy?"
A deeper insight into the book reveals an underlying pathos of a man who is deranged after losing his beloved wife to the bitter parables of fate. His staunch belief that she is still alive and well becomes evident when he promptly tells inspector Chaubey that she is away on a business trip. Such an ardent refusal to accept the truth coupled with the evidences of the murder he has collected over the years, forms a queer contrasting mixture lethal enough to drive any mind crazy. And out of the seeds of hatred sown in his mind, a Rakshas is born.
The book reminds me of J Alchem's "The Highway Man", where in the short story "Catherine" an author falls in love with his protagonist, and he gradually turns into a schizophrenic. KARMA is indeed a story subtly different from the usual long, short stories. The plot, though meticulously knitted, is a complex one and it is in fact in the second reading that you get the real feel of the book. The plot is actually so exciting that in the first reading, you would most likely go on at a ceaseless pace, to discover the end. But the end is what leaves you flabbergasted. Disillusioned, you again return back to the story to read it and this time, the entire plot unfolds in such a way that you begin to actually admire the author’s imaginative skills. All in all, it is an engrossing read, a treat for every bibliophile. And the author has done a commendable job in crafting such an intriguing plot, one that takes you back to pondering over many emotions. The title is so very apt that for a moment, even I felt a chill running down my spine, at the thought of Karma getting back at me for my deeds, good or bad. And what’s really impressive about the story is that it leaves a lasting impression on your mind, something you won’t forget in a hurry. Kudos to Kevin Missal !!!
Grab your copy soon guys!!!
What I liked about the book:
1.The intricately woven plot with its twists and turns, with a mystical touch
2.The ending, an unexpected one, that made me read the book all over again
3.The simple yet lucid use of language and diction
4.The philosophical undertones in the story
5.The questions it raised in my mind, making it a book worth remembering
RATING:
Cover design: 5/5
Plot: 4.5
Language and Diction: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Check out on Amazon from 1st June, 2017.
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