Manu | Darshan Desale | Book Review

Manu by Darshan Desale is a fictional account of a lesser-known character in Hindu mythology. Its protagonist Manu is usually found biding his time reading mythology. His life takes a turn after he sees unbelievable things. A character from the great epic, Mahabharata, calls him to accompany him to a magical world. Is this an illusion or reality or maybe, a nightmare?

Manu is a fresh retelling of Indian mythology, bringing in some different characters and their perspectives to the table. It is about Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The book seems to outshine its contemporaries because of its candor and unique storyline. It started with the young protagonist shocked at his unbelievable sight. However, what follows thereafter takes us by surprise. Manu is taken to Shambala to fulfill his purpose which comes to light as we go ahead in the book. It ends on a cliffhanger and the next part shall reveal what’s to become of Manu as he treads his journey of self-discovery, revenge, and possibly, redemption.

I liked the concept of the book that focuses on Manu and also brings in Ashwathhama. The dialogues between the characters reveal tidbits that might help one in finding themselves. In a nutshell, the idea behind this book is new but its execution wasn’t up to the mark. As much as the story was good, its narration had unavoidable flaws. A lack of editing was visible as the paragraphs were too long and the information, a bit overwhelming. With that, the story might disappoint because of its presentation. However, if you’re seeking a lucid writing style and a significantly unique story, you may go ahead with this.

Manu is an interesting story that could be better with a more refined narrative and better plot treatment. After all, mythology is one genre that fewer people experiment with and it is one genre that does need a lot of work to grab readers’ attention.