Hunt for Rama's bow by Suhail Mathur

"Hunt for Rama's bow" by Suhail Mathur - Illogical! 

This book is published by Om Books International in 2017 and has 310 pages. This is Adventure 1 of 'The Vishnu Chronicles'. 

Mohan, a final year history student and an orphan, gets mysterious letters informing that his non existent grand father is dying in Sahastapur and he should visit him before it's too late. When he reaches there, accompanied by his best friend Raj, they enter an alternate world and a sequence of events send them on a quest to the kingdom of evil king Dasavanakoka, in the realm of unknown. He collects a number of men on his way. Raj- his friend, Jayadev- Servant of his grand father and their guide, Rannvijaya- the cartographer, Pawan- a low cast Vedic scholar, Nagarjuna- a sorcerer. Back home his girlfriend Samaira, his Professor Suryamurthy, his guardian Dr. Chandra, who is researching Ram Setu, are very worried. 

What is this alternate world? Why does Mohan go there? Why does he take up the quest? How will his friends help him? Where is Rama's bow?

Villains have interesting names Drohakaal, Vinashkale, Vipareet Buddhi etc.. There is a traitor but the identity of traitor is very poorly concealed. I realised it as soon as it was (cryptically) revealed. Obviously not cryptic enough! Tasks with Jyeshtha and Tambadevi are so simple that it appears like a child's play. They end so quickly that you don't even begin to enjoy. War between Mohan and Dasavana is anti-climactic.

Bhavani talvar of Chatrapati Shivaji was the odd thing out. All other weapons were mythical. Bhavani talwar was the only historical artefact. Although the book is titled hunt for Rama's bow. The bow (Kodanda) is found half way into the book and the rest is for war with Dasavanakoka.

Whenever one writes a fiction, it's author's responsibility to provide logical justification, reason for what happens, even if it's magic. In this story author doesn't bother with such travails. He simply states what happens. As a result there are holes in the story. So many holes, that it appears like a sieve. Why did author do it? I will enumerate some examples here. Mohan starts the journey in the mythical world very easily, without questions. The team is assembled too easily, they just keep adding up within a span of less than a day. How come Mohan suddenly becomes confident and starts to dole out promises? Justification for Pawan's theft is laughable. How can Shabari's ber be bitter? How do they cross poisonous river? Why was it not possible to revive the king? The list is long....

Character of King Mukutveer appears to be inspired from a similar character in TV show Merlin. Tambadevi appears to be a pale imitation of Medusa. 

Although this Adventure 1 was published 4 years ago, there is no news of Adventure 2 (Krishna's Sudarshan chakra) yet. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity

What I didn't like? Many things. 

What did I like? Umm.... 

AVOID.