The mists of Brahma by Christopher C. Doyle

"The mists of Brahma" by Christopher C. Doyle - Nothing to do with Brahma!

This edition of book is published by Westland in 2019 and has 462 pages. This is Book 2 of 'The Patala Prophecy" series. 

Shukra's army of Nagas attack another gurukul in Corbett national park. Maya is taking training from Satyavachan trying to demonstrate that she is not a Sadh. The Saptas (Tanveer, Agastya, Varun, Maya, Adira, Amyra and Arjun) are separated as reward for valour of some of them. Maya enters into the mists of Brahma. Something is pulling Maya. She is sentenced. Raman Kapoor, the investigating officer, is still investigating and slowly but surely he is getting somewhere. Saptas take a decision. 

Why is another Gurukul attacked? Can Maya save this one? What does she find in the mists of Brahma? What is pulling her? What decision do Saptas take?

Author launches into story directly, this being a sequel of 'Son of Bhrigu'. The adventures are interesting. The story flourishes nicely. It doesn't become uninteresting at any time. In fact, it becomes a page turner. What is Shukras plan and what is the counter plan still remains to be revealed, wait for sequel. Death of an important member makes the matters even more interesting. 

Maya takes center stage. She is capable of Atma travel, learns instant travel from Satyavachan, but still struggles with normal mantras and is considered Sadh (one with no special abilities) and is on borrowed time in the Gurukul to prove that she can be a Rishi. She goes through five adventures, second and fifth being Mists of Brahma. Although the book is titled after it, the adventures last only few pages. Also, there is no apparent connection with Brahma. It could have been Mists of Vishnu, Mahesh or simply only Mists; and it would have made no difference.

Shukra's plans are not known. The counter plans of the good guys are not known. Where will the police investigation go is also not known. Author has opened up numerous possibilities. They should now converge in next book. Looking at where the story stands at the end of Book 2, I think this may not complete in a trilogy and if it does, third part will be a big one. 

Although author presents the story as an authentic Indian fiction, the basic ideas are lifted from Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. E.g. Gurukul like Hogwarts, One or two word mantras like spells, Sadhs like muggles, Saptas like Percy and friends etc. Detailing, however, is Indian mythology and history based and authentic. A lot has been inspired by various parvas of Mahabharat, Upanishads and Vedas.

Christopher is an author of various historical and mythological fictions and all his works are somehow related to Mahabharat.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? No relation to Brahma. Lifted ideas. 

What did I like? Story. Narration. 

Recommend reading.

Mahabharata Quest - The Alexander secret by Christopher C. Doyle

"Mahabharata Quest - The Alexander secret" by Christopher C. Doyle. This book is published by Westland Ltd. in 2014 and has 355 pages. This is Christopher's second book.

Vijay, Colin, Imran and Radha (who featured in the previous book Mahabharata Secret) are drawn into a new mystery. A medical facility conducting unauthorized trials on patients is discovered near Delhi. An ancient Greek tomb is excavated in Greece. Directors of excavation try to kill all involved, but a lady archeologist survives and reaches India to join hands with Vijay and team.

In 391 AD Alexander the great decides to conquer Persia. After his victory he decided to invade India. Troupes are told that Sindhu river is the end of the world and they will conquer the world. But Alexander has a mission, a secret quest.

Are the unauthorized trials and excavation in Greece related? What is Alexander's quest? What is it's relation to Hindu mythology in general & Mahabharata in particular? What is the objective of the organization known as 'The Order'? What is Alexander's secret?

Since the last book by author was a very good book, one can not help but compare the two. I think this book is not as good as the previous one. Some of the tricks and ideas from previous book are used here again. The clues that people could not decipher for 2400 years are deciphered by Vijay and team easily.

The story keeps you interested but does not entice you. Pace of the story is on a slower side. Narration is good with lots of medical, geographical & mythological details. It shows efforts and research that has gone into making of the novel.

The story has all the ingredients to make it interesting. It has ancient riddles, kidnappings, lost documents, an ancient secret order, cavern full of snakes, bacteria and viruses, cave with two openings etc.

The book ends without conclusion of the story. At the end of book, there is author's note saying this is the first book of the series. I felt cheated. It is unfair of author to declare this after reader had read 348 pages. The book cover does not say that it is first of the series. Whether to read a series or not should be the decision of reader, not author. Unfair !!!!

Avoid; because, dear reader, author has deceived you.