The Timingila - Reviews

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The Timingila, is officially designated as part of the  Book List (2023 onwards) at Woodlawn School. USA

Review by Perry:

"The Timingila" is an absolute disrupter of current trends in fantasy fiction. Although a fantasy book, it has no magic element in it. The story is inspired by ancient Indian culture, but it is not a retelling of Indian mythology.

Compared to the narrative style fantasy novels, The Timingila is an extremely fast read. You can complete whole book in three to four hours. Its complex story line keeps you invested the whole time.

The story takes place in the ancient land of Jivavarta. It is about survival of a small capital kingdom and its prince/warrior. It is about a monk who wants "betterment" of the people at all cost. It is about a king who wants to keep his old religion/traditions relevant in the changing times.

The novel has well thought-out war scenes, exotic locations and good dialogues. The novel is also one of the most quotable books I have read in the recent past.

It is a complete entertainer.

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Review By Rita:

What attracted me to this book is its cover and tag line "Maybe I am a villain in your story, but I am a hero in mine".

This is not a typical fantasy book, although it takes place in a fictional world named Jivavarta inspired by ancient India, there is no magic in this story.

The young hero /villain character makes his way through a complex and realistically imagined world complete with different religions, social hierarchy, and surreal locations.

As he struggles for survival he faces questions such as; what to believe? who to trust? What is right and wrong.

The author has very unique narration style. The novel is full of quotes which one can relate to. I loved novel for its plot and quotes.

It is a must read of 2018.

Thanks to netgalley for providing me ARC.

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Review by Ashwini Abhyankar:

I read this book in almost a single sitting and it's such a fresh take on fantasy. I am not saying it's never been done before but to read it in today's time is a good thing, you know. It is a fantasy, and it's fast moving. The characters are all varied and with their own voices. I loved the way the main character grew as the time passed. From a shunned young man to the heights of glory and his journey there.

If there's one thing I have against it, it's the lack of connection with some of the characters that were supposedly close to the main character. I never really saw the relationship develop between Tasvak and his wife, yes, they fell in love as the time passed but where were the important moments, the ones that make a relationship worthwhile? Those tender moments were sorely missed and I wish there had been at least a few of them.

The author's writing is good, I think with the way the characters acted in their lives and the way the plot evolved, it could be directed at a younger audience than I? Or maybe that's just my feeling of the book. in general. However, all of this does not negate the fact that it is a really good book to read, something new in a way. For one, it is not a typical high fantasy, it's not set in an eerily similar 'Western-minded' world. For once, the set up and the people seemed familiar and I loved that. The lack of magic made it even more tempting to me, if I am being honest. I love reading about magic, trust me but sometimes, it's also such a pleasure to read something without it.

I loved the fact that the main character wasn't a proper, traditional hero. He might have started out that way but during the journey of life, some things happened and the character wasn't all glowy and righteous. He was flawed and was manipulated and manipulative. He grew and maybe not for the best but he wasn't the worst either. I really liked that. The supporting characters were all equally awesome, some that seemed good were good and some weren't quite there yet.

Overall, a lovely book that should appeal to those who want to read something different, something that has a fast pace and at times, odd developments that leave you wondering.

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Review by Myrth:

This is a surprisingly fresh read for me. It doesn't follow the conventional styles of writing I have been reading recently as every chapter feels like a summary but I like it. Would definitely read more from this author.

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Review by Rettah:

This is a fantasy on steroids. The author had a story to tell and she tells it in her own unique and original way.

The book is different in style and background than other fantasy books.

It uses its fantasy world cleverly, to take on charged issues such as racism, religious fanaticism, and power without responsibility.

It's a quick and easy read with a great storyline. I recommend.

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Review by Jennifer:

A Breath Of Fresh Air.

I just finished reading the ARC of "The Timingila", and am blown away by it.

I love fantasy, but many fantasy books are too descriptive for my taste.

This book is not a typical high fantasy, as there is no magic, and there are no magical creatures. Based in the ancient world of Jivavarta, the story narrates the journey of three underdogs towards greatness; a fallen kingdom, a nascent faith, and a fugitive prince.

The crisp banter between the characters is delight to read. My favorites being:

"Maybe I am a villain in your story, but I am a hero in mine."

"Don’t underestimate the power of weapons. A novice with a powerful weapon is deadlier than a warrior with a stick.”

Twists in the plot with grey but believable characters compels you to keep reading further. I have never become so immersed in a book before.

If you like descriptive magical fantasies, this book is not for you. However, if you are looking for fast-paced entertainer with gripping characters and a storyline based in an ancient exotic world, this is must read.

Rating 4.7/5 Rounding up 5

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