Sinbad and the trumpet of Israfil by Kevin Missal

"Sinbad and the trumpet of Israfil" by Kevin Missal - Something is missing!

This book is published by Penguin Random House India in Jan 2021 and has 336 pages. This is Book 1 in the Sinbad series. 

Sinbad is a Seid (monster hunter), but lives in Baghdad as a commoner. He belongs to the Ninurta guild and is pupil of Master Reis, the eldest Seid of the guild. Something happened 4 years ago, when Sinbad was 12. He met Safeena Umair and lost his master.  Israfil, Mal'ak (angle) of music, gave the Trumpet to Nuhrad. If blown, it would put the Beast to sleep. It's stolen by Safeena Umair. Sinbad is on a quest and he has a babysitter.

What happened 4 years ago? Who is Safeena? Why did she steal the trumpet? Who is Sinbad's babysitter? Who will accompany him in the quest? What is Lord of Dawn's (Iblis) weapon?

Accompanying Sinbad on the quest are Husayn - Sinbad's friend and a sweet talker, Ashrafiyah - a lady vampire, Idris - a lady Seid, Markus - a mercenary and Pressa - a 13 year old Chinese girl seer. Their nemesis is Azrael, the fallen angle, doing bidding of Iblis. Between them is Safeena, a girl with great powers. Additionally there are otherworldly creatures like Jinn, Marid, Qutrub, monsters, witches, vampires, Ibbur, Dybbuk, Nephilim etc...

Author narrates two stories of Sinbad alternatively. One is the present day story and other is a story that happened 4 years ago. Needless to say that the two stories are intertwined, just like everyone's past and present. However when you deliver a story in two time periods you have to be careful not to mix events, one with other. Author and his team is not vigilant in this aspect. There are continuity issues like Azrael reminding Sinbad how he broke out of Cain's prison 3 years before the actual event happened or Sinbad undoing the bindings on his hands when they were not tied at all. 

In such an adventure, climax is expected to be an action packed thrilling event. Climax of this book has little action and even less thrill. As a result it appears anti-climactic and insipid.

All in all the seed of the story had a lot of potential but execution does not exploit the potential fully. Something is missing. I expected more!

The book is over, but not the story. Wait for next voyage. This should be a series. 

Author has dedicated this book to Rick Riordan and advance praise to this book is written by Anand Neelakanthan and appears on the cover. 

Why did I read this book? Sinbad.

What did I like? Use of myths from Arab and Jewish cultures. 

What I didn't like? Continuity, climax. 

Not a must read.