Ash Mistry--thirteen, nerdy, just a bit on the chubby side--is spending the summer away from London with his little sister Lucky visiting their aunt and uncle in India. Before he knows it Ash is on the run being chased by demons, helping gods, and trying to stop an evil plot that just might end the world as we know it.
This book was so much fun! Take a pretty normal summer vacation in India, throw in a some demons, some monsters, just a few gods, and a sizable dash of Indiana Jones and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you are in for when you read this book.
While it is predominantly marketed to boys, it will definitely appeal to many girls as well. Ash is a great (if reluctant) hero: well developed, likable and very much a teenage boy. I liked the supporting cast as well and hope they continue to be developed as the series goes on. Don't worry about brushing up on your Indian gods before reading this (though it's a fascinating topic) the necessary mythological background is given in flashbacks, so even if you aren't too familiar with Indian myths when you start you won't miss out.
Adventure stories based on god and myths are nothing new--one of the biggest markets for this book in the shop where I worked was fans of Percy Jackson who had read all Riordan's books--but Indian mythology is rich, exciting and (until now) largely unexplored in children's adventure stories. The book is well writing and engaging; a fast, fun read that will delight fans of Percy Jackson and Skulduggery Pleasant.
Recommended age 9+
Published by Arthur A Levine Books (imprint of Scholastic)
