Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress (Ash Mistry Chronicles, #1) by Sarwat Chadda

Apr 12, 2013 Kitty rated it 5 of 5 stars

'Ash Mistry' by Sarwat Chadda is a magnificent adventure story. Chadda knows what he's writing about - it is well researched. It is unique in that the demons are traditional Indian monsters and heroes and the story takes part in Varanasi - the holy city of the Ganges, India.

This is exactly the type of inspiration that a lot of pupils need. It breathes multiculturalism - east meets west in Ash/Ashoka. He conveys the complexity of roots versus modernism and somehow manages to show how his main ch...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Ibrahim Amankwah rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: favorites

Amazing but kind of jumping on the bandwagon because we have Greek mythology in the Percy Jackson series, Egyptian mythoogy in The Kane Chronicles, some Norse mythology in the Magificent 12, and Roman mythology in The Heroes of Olympus Series.

This book was a great read though and had an amazing storyline! The characters were well developed and I could picture them in my head, it was sad in some parts and funny in others. The Indian mythology had the main character, Ashoka,or Ash for short findin...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Booka Uhu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 9-12-reads, teen-and-ya-reads

It’s a book definitely aimed at older primary school children as sometimes it can be a little gory or violent (cue Ash walking through a demon. Yes, through.). That said though, it could appeal easily to both boys and girls, especially if they’re fans of Percy Jackson or Skulduggery Pleasant. It’s easy to get drawn into the action and even I could follow the fight scenes and picture them clearly in my head, despite usually finding that really difficult to do.

Chadda is particularly good at bringi...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-kayla

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A boy stumbles upon a mythical arrowhead and has to save the world.

Opening Sentence: “That is so not a cobra,” said Ash.

The Review:

You’ve probably heard of Greek and Roman mythology (Any Percy Jackson fans out there?) Or maybe even a bit of Norse mythology (Thor, son of Odin, a.k.a. Chris Hemsworth *sighs*). But have you even thought of India’s mythology? Sarwat’s The Savage Fortress gives you just enough information to wet your pallet in t...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animals, bullies, community, cultural-identity, death, fantasy, families, friendship, ncbla2013, strong-women, travel, urban-life

Thirteen-year-old Ash Mistry and his younger sister Lucky are on a trip to India with their uncle and aunt. Their uncle has been hired by an incredibly wealthy man to help translate pictograms, but it turns out that the translations may lead to the end of the world and immortality for Lord Savage. When Uncle Vik backs out of the deal, Savage sends his demons after the family. Ash ends up on the run, finding allies in unlikely places and forming an allegiance with Kali, the slayer of demons. Ther...more

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Oct 16, 2012 jv poore rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buried-under-books

It’s not easy being 13. Ash (Ashoka Mistry), a chubby boy of Indian descent living in England, knows this very well. He is teased because of his weight, his lunch money is stolen; he feels constantly taunted. Actually, this is the easy part. Ash believes that his summer visit with an aunt and uncle in India, accompanied only by his 10 year old sister, Lucky, holds promise. He is mistaken.

The Savage Fortress introduces middle-grade readers to some of the most fascinating Hindu gods and goddesses....more It’s not easy being 13. Ash (Ashoka Mistry), a chubby boy of Indian descent living in England, knows this very well. He is teased because of his weight, his lunch money is stolen; he feels constantly taunted. Actually, this is the easy part. Ash believes that his summer visit with an aunt and uncle in India, accompanied only by his 10 year old sister, Lucky, holds promise. He is mistaken.

The Savage Fortress introduces middle-grade readers to some of the most fascinating Hindu gods and goddesses. This quick-paced tale features the ultimate bad guy. Lord Alexander Savage, despite having learned the magic he’s used to live for thousands of years, wants more. He wants immortality. His determination to obtain his desire puts him on a quest to find the tomb of Ravana, the demon king. Savage is more than willing to become the demon king’s slave, in exchange for this small favour. He is very close now, nothing would dare intervene. He will not be stopped.

It takes only a short while in India for Ash to understand that things are not what they seem. His uncle’s boss, Lord Savage, seems odd beyond eccentric……..in a chilling, creepy kind of way. Savage’s staff is worse. They seem to stare at Ash and Lucky with eyes of reptiles, birds or furry jungle predators. Due to the exponentially increasing weirdness, Ash tends to stay as far away from Savage as humanly possible. Not a great plan.

Ash takes a tumble that will change him forever………..errrr, at least in this life-time. Accidentally uncovering the one thing Savage needs to proceed, Ash instantly has the weight of the world on his shoulders. As he begins to recall past existences, he begins to see things more clearly.

The unlikely associates that Ash befriends as he embarks on this journey add a dash of spice to an already hot story. The internal and external struggles that Ash must face bring in a bittersweet undertone. This is absolutely one of the best books, particularly for the genre, that I have ever read. I would have devoured this book when I was in junior high.
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Aug 31, 2012 Caitlin Marineau rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children, fantasy

Action-adventure fans have a new hero to root for: Ash Mistry. This new novel by Sarwat Chadda follows a young British Indian teenager who, while unhappily trapped in the heat of India visiting relatives, finds himself battling demons and encountering gods when he becomes entangled in the machinations of an old British aristocrat named Lord Alexander Savage, who is attempting to harness the forces of evil for his own gain by freeing the imprisoned demon Ravana. There is more to the young Ash tha...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Joe Humphreys rated it 4 of 5 stars

As anyone who works with, or writes for, young people knows, when it comes to YA fiction there's always something that's 'in'. At the moment it's dystopian fiction. Before that it was a bunch of sissy vampires doing a lot of navel gazing and talking in inspid cliches (no I'm not a Twilight fan). And so on, and so on. Just bubbling below the flavour of the month are certain genres of YA fiction that, arguably, have greater staying power and lasting appeal. One such is what I you could call fantas...more As anyone who works with, or writes for, young people knows, when it comes to YA fiction there's always something that's 'in'. At the moment it's dystopian fiction. Before that it was a bunch of sissy vampires doing a lot of navel gazing and talking in inspid cliches (no I'm not a Twilight fan). And so on, and so on. Just bubbling below the flavour of the month are certain genres of YA fiction that, arguably, have greater staying power and lasting appeal. One such is what I you could call fantasy action series: i.e. young hero finds themselves battling against otherworldly evil. Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is, I suppose, one such book. But far from being an identikit tale, Chadda has delivered a fresh, and very appealing story that is a very welcome addition to the genre.

The ubiquitous Mistry is a podgy hero, reluctantly spending his summer holidays in India with his annoying little sister Lucky and his archaeologist Uncle. But heat, flies, traffic and Delhi belly soon becomes the last of his troubles, as a job taken on by his uncle from the mysterious Lord Savage lands him in a whole new world of trouble. Soon, Ash and Lucky are involved in a deadly battle against demonic hordes. What can a geeky boy who prefers to spend his days in online gaming sessions do to stop them? Perhaps the mysterious golden arrowhead he stumbles upon at the archaeological dig has something to do with it...

Written in a witty, humourous style, Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress has an underdog protagonist you can't help but root for. Its appeal is far reaching: anyone who loves the likes of Skulduggery Pleasant is sure to dig this. But where this really comes up trumps is its subject matter, and how it deals with it. For someone who knows next to nothing about Indian mythology, I came away feeling slightly less ignorant and keen to find out more of the tale of Rama. But Chadda doesn't turn this in to a history lesson: he keeps the action, and the wisecracks, coming thick and fast. This is a cracking story well told, and best of all, more Ash Mistry adventures are promised for the future.
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Mar 19, 2012 Jongleuse rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda

What could possibly follow Harry Potter’s revolutionary effect on the children’s book world? The somewhat unexpected answer was: Greek myths.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and sequels by Rick Riordan, the adventures of a young American named Percy Jackson, half-human, half-Greek God and all hero, were a runaway hit: flying off the bookshelves, encouraging reluctant readers and leading many children to Greek mythology along the way.
Now, S...more Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda

What could possibly follow Harry Potter’s revolutionary effect on the children’s book world? The somewhat unexpected answer was: Greek myths.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and sequels by Rick Riordan, the adventures of a young American named Percy Jackson, half-human, half-Greek God and all hero, were a runaway hit: flying off the bookshelves, encouraging reluctant readers and leading many children to Greek mythology along the way.
Now, Sarwat Chadda, a British Asian writer has given us our very own Percy Jackson in the person of Ash Mistry. This is the first book of a trilogy and presumably his publishers are hoping for Percy Jackson levels of success, fandom and movie adaptation.
This raises two questions. Firstly, is the book any good?
Secondly, reworking Hindu mythology is not the same as reworking Greek mythology. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, whereas there are few followers of the Ancient Greek religion. Repackaging Hindu mythology for the internet generation then, is both a wonderful task, given the richness of the Hindu mythopoeia, and a difficult one.
Sarwat Chadda has certainly succeeded in writing a good book. Ash is a well drawn, spoilt, overweight, 13 year-old geek; more attached to his Nintendo DS than anything else. The Indian setting, in Varanasi is evoked skillfully and without sentimentality with its burning ghats, narrow alleyways, fakirs and snake charmers. The plot races along, there are excellent villains, from Lord Savage a (literally) crumbing English aristocrat with his fantastic henchmen who morph in and out of demon form, to the climax where Ash has to fight the biggest baddie of all, the one and only Ravana. Take that, Voldemort!
There is, undoubtedly, a great deal of violence in this book. The horrific acts of the demons, the portrayal of Kali and the super scary rakshasas may give parents of the more sensitive child cause for concern. The recent trend in children’s books, from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games has been to portray dark forces and extreme violence. This may reflect the new generation’s inoculation to violence via computer-games or, alternatively, their earlier understanding of the truth; that we live in dark times.
The unflinchingly violent depiction of demons and dastardly forces in this book did give me some cause for reflection. Hinduism, as well as being the religious home of rakshasas and the powers of Kali is also one of the world’s earliest philosophical movements. Hinduism, after all, via Mahatma Gandhi, gave the world ahimsa or non-violence. There is not a hint of this in the book. Given that Chadda has taken some liberties with the story of the Ramayana and the mythologies of Kali, I had hoped for a more nuanced portrayal.
I imagine these books will do very well, not only in the U.K. and U.S.A. but also in the growing Indian children’s books market, and that, like the Percy Jackson books, they will awaken interest in Hindu mythology. The fact remains, that for many children, these books will be their only exposure to Hinduism. I hope that in the future Ash Mistry Chronicles, Chadda allows himself the freedom to bring in the philosophical and spiritual aspects of the religion, while continuing to write a cracking adventure story.

Summary: Indian Percy Jackson fights and defeats the world’s baddest baddie, Ravana himself. 10+ boys and girls will love it
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Apr 17, 2012 Vishnu Brahmandam rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading all of the Percy Jackson series and series linked to that (still eagerly waiting for next books) I didn't know if I would like this book.
- The actual reason I picked this book was because it seemed like a Percy Jackson book but with Indian mythology and let me say I wasn't dissapointed :D
Okay so even though the book lays too much attention on the main character Ash as compared to his sister {who i thought should have had much much more attention(so much unlike Percy Jackson)} it w...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Kribu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, demons, childrens, young-adult, urban-fantasy, mythology

Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is one of those fun action-oriented kick-ass fantasy adventures, in a somewhat similar vein as e.g. the Percy Jackson series or the Kane Chronicles, although in the amounts of bloodshed and gore it's more in Skulduggery Pleasant's range (even if not quite as funny or multi-layered in other ways).

I enjoyed it, quite a bit, albeit in a slightly shallow way. Ash, the 13-year-old chubby Indian boy from England, visiting relatives in India, was a good enough main ch...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Stephanie Bibb rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Overall, not a bad read. I read a uncorrected (advanced reader copy) version, so it's possible some of the things I noticed were changed by the final version.

Note: Some spoilers included in the review.

My favorite thing about the book was the descriptions. I haven't read a lot of stories that revolve around India or Hinduism, so I found that a definite plus in reading this. There was vivid detail.

The downside about the book was that it took me a long time to get into it. I started reading it a wh...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Shanshad Whelan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, fantasy, mg, urban-fantasy, ya

I'm back and forth about this one as a children's book. People die in horrific and vivid ways--other people are described as tortured in even more horrific ways. The main character is 13, and some parts of this book are on target for that tween audience that loves Riordan's stuff. But I think this book may really cross a line. Unlike Riordan's stories that balance action and danger with humor, this book really doesn't have a sense of humor very often. It tries occasionally to do so, but I found...more

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Feb 17, 2012 u1124876 UEL rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this book Sarwat Chadda has merged real life with Indian mythology and I find that really thrilling. I borrowed this book from Alison yesterday and finished it this morning!

The publishers have recommended this book for children who are 9+ and I can see children’s imaginations running wild with this story. As I have not yet taught in KS2 I would seek advice on how to best use this book but I can imagine getting wonderful results from it including literacy, RE, geography, art, PE to name but a...more

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Apr 11, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ash Mistry and younger his sister Lucky are visiting their family in India during their school holidays. Ash had been excited about the trip, history geek that he is, but he is now ready to go back to London and resume his teenage life of gaming with his friends. But then his uncle is hired by Lord Savage, a rich mysterious man, to decipher ancient scrolls. These scrolls are connected to one of the most famous stories in India: the Ramayana, the epic story of the fight between the hero Rama agai...more Ash Mistry and younger his sister Lucky are visiting their family in India during their school holidays. Ash had been excited about the trip, history geek that he is, but he is now ready to go back to London and resume his teenage life of gaming with his friends. But then his uncle is hired by Lord Savage, a rich mysterious man, to decipher ancient scrolls. These scrolls are connected to one of the most famous stories in India: the Ramayana, the epic story of the fight between the hero Rama against the rakshasha (demon-like being) Ravana and Savage hopes to find Ravana’s resting place for nefarious purposes. Not that Ash believes in any of that of course- to him, they are merely stories of his ancestors. Until the supernatural knocks on his door and he realises that these rakshashas are totally real – and out to get him and his family. When tragedy strikes and his relatives are murdered, Ash finds himself alone with his sister and he will do anything to protect her against their enemies. Unfortunately for Ash, the stakes are much higher than that and the fate of the entire world might be on the hands of this 13 year old boy.

I love nothing more than to write reviews of books I loved and Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is SUCH a badass book in many ways, I don’t even know where to start. I’ve loved Sarwat Chadda’s Billi Sangreal books (and I think they were criminally underrepresented online) and was quite excited about his first foray into MG writing. It was so much more than I was expecting and so much fun too.

First of all: this is a story set in India, immersed on Indian mythology, with an Indian British hero and its focus never leaves its setting – so for example, you won’t find Western philosophies mingled with the Eastern stories and even though Ash’s British side is very much a huge aspect of his character, he sees himself as Indian. As such, there are traditional elements of Indian culture that are an intrinsic part of his life. I also loved his relationship with his family especially his relationship with his sister – he is very protective of her because that’s how he feels families must be like, their relationship mirroring that of his own father and his brother.

Another aspect worthy of mention is how the story takes the Ramayana as point of departure and expands on it. Hindu Gods and Goddesses are an effective part of daily life and Ravana now has a half-human daughter, who is an awesome female character named Pavarti and who becomes Ash’s ally. I also loved how the concepts of heroism, Karma and reincarnation are a huge side of this story and how these ideas are incorporated into the plot. This is actually kind of cool and it opens up the possibility of discussion on these topics. For instance: is Ash a hero because he MUST be a hero or is he a hero because it is his choice? Could it be a mixture of both? I hope that this is further explored in future instalments. My one nitpick comes here: Ash is a reluctant hero and there is a bit of repetitiveness in his internal monologue emphasising this reluctance.

This is also quite the dark story, quite bloody and inclement: Sarwart Chadda never shies away from killing people, even major characters and that’s awesome because when we are talking conflict in such a huge scale (the fate of the world is at stake, after all), the sense of danger needs to be real to make the story believable. There is real loss and real grief here.

And with all that, the book also manages to be simply fun and cool. From Ash learning how to fight, to the action sequences that are bloody awesome; from his realisation that he has a powerful ally on Pavarti to a cameo by the Goddess Kali, it’s all good stuff. And this is only the beginning of a series that has SO MUCH potential for growth it’s not even funny.

Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is definitely a great book for kids but it also has good crossover potential for adults. Brilliantly done and definitely a highlight of my reading year so far. (less)

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May 24, 2012 Tiffany rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-books

Ash and his sister, Lucky, are visiting their aunt and uncle in India when his uncle is invited to the Savage Fortress of Sir Alexander Savage. While at the party, Ash finds an unusual weapons room, but knowing that Savage is a collector of artifacts, he doesn't think much of it, until he overhears Savage offering his uncle a job with translating an ancient text with an outrageous payout. From there, Ash becomes very suspicious of Savage, and his suspicions are proven correct when a walk after a...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Janae Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The back of this book peaked my interest as it seemed to be like the Percy Jackson series but based off of Hindu religion and set in India. I quickly started to read the book, it started off quickly, but became slow or somewhat confusing in some places. I blamed this on my lack of background knowledge of India and of the gods and monsters. The author took the reader on a roller coaster of highs and lows as Ash the thirteen year old protagonist must fight against the demon monsters to save not on...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Gretchen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Savage Fortress is an excellent read. The story is an innovative twist in the fantasy genre, with India the setting and the inspiration for the magic and evil characters in the tale. Chadda writes well, and the story moves with great energy without sacrificing detail and authenticity. Ash and his sister Lucky are visiting their archaeologist uncle and aunt in Varanasi, India. Their uncle is offered a job working for Lord Savage translating his most recent find from an ancient city in the desert....more

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Jan 31, 2012 Alison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: confident-readers-chapter-books

Growing up in the 1970s, I was a big fan of fantasy and science fiction (Star Trek, Blake's Seven, Doctor Who) and loved reading The Hobbit and other fantasy books. It took me a while to realise that there was something a little odd about J.R.R. Tolkien's world. Simply put, where were the girls? Why was it only male dwarfs and wizards on the adventure? At secondary school we barely read any novels with girls in until Pride and Prejudice at O level.

I remembered this feeling as a teacher, and trie...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mykidbooks

The best way to nutshell this adventure story is to think about the Percy Jackson books, but replace Percy Jackson with Ash Mistry and Greek gods with Indian gods. Then increase some of the scary creature factor, the death toll and decrease some of the lighthearted humor and you've got a framework for "The Savage Fortress". Ash is fun character and the story allows the audience to be introduced to gods and heroes from India's mythology. The concept of reincarnation is a structural foundation for...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Sierra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like "Lightening Thief" and "Red Pyramid", this book is about Indian mythology. Unlike the other books, this one was more graphic & violent considering the main character was 13 & his sister was 10. I kept thinking how violent the movie would be for this audience. I can see young boys especially liking the action & gore. I appreciated how the main character often felt like a coward which seems true to the situation for a 13 year old kid. I liked the quote on page 290, "Being heroic w...more

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Feb 26, 2013 V.K. Finnish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

The book wasn't quite what I was expecting from reading the back cover, but I think 3 stars sums it up: it was a fine one-timer, but I probably won't read it again.

The Savage Fortress is an action book about 13-year-old Ash Mistry and his 10-year-old sister Lucky, who are on a holiday with their aunt and uncle in India. The kids are used to a life of plenty in their regular home in London, and Ash is quickly getting tired of the dust and heat in India. But his life takes a turn into craziness wh...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Kayla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, reviewed

See original review on darkfaerietales.com/reviews

You've probably heard of Greek and Roman mythology (Any Percy Jackson fans out there?) Or maybe even a bit of Norse mythology (Thor, son of Odin, a.k.a. Chris Hemsworth *sighs*). But have you even thought of India's mythology? Sarwat's The Savage Fortress gives you just enough information to wet your pallet in this enjoyable adventure-filled novel for middle-graders.

While in India on a vacation to visit his Aunt and Uncle, Ash Mistry accidentall...more See original review on darkfaerietales.com/reviews

You've probably heard of Greek and Roman mythology (Any Percy Jackson fans out there?) Or maybe even a bit of Norse mythology (Thor, son of Odin, a.k.a. Chris Hemsworth *sighs*). But have you even thought of India's mythology? Sarwat's The Savage Fortress gives you just enough information to wet your pallet in this enjoyable adventure-filled novel for middle-graders.

While in India on a vacation to visit his Aunt and Uncle, Ash Mistry accidentally comes across an arrowhead in the middle of a excavation site. But it's just an arrowhead, right? Only, when Ash first touches it, he saw a vision from the past--of the last battle against the evil demon king Ravana. The arrowhead holds in his hands is actually the blessed arrowhead of Kali--the goddess of death. But Lord Alexander Savage is also looking for the arrowhead in order to release Ravana from his iron prison. Now Ash has a sliver of the arrowhead in his thumb, a little sister that's been kidnapped and an immortal rakshasa that claims to be on the good side. Add the responsibility to save the world from a bloodthirsty demon king, and it makes for an eventful summer.

The Savage Fortress gives a creative twist to India's mythology. There are relatable characters and some absolutely cooky characters. Overall it's a fun (and really graphic, violence and gore wise, for a middle school book) fast-paced novel that has a lot of potential. I think Sarwat does a great job in creating the busy Indian streets and markets. The world building was great throughout. But the main highlight of the book was the characters.

By far my favorite character is Parvati. She's a rakshaska that has a secret--or more like nobody asks so she doesn't tell. Although she has a sketchy background, she helps Ash as he tries to save the world (but honestly in my opinion, Parvati is the heroine because she has the actual ability to Ravana and Ash just happens to be there at the same time). This strong, determined character has been reincarnated for thousands of years, failing each time she tries to help the hero. But this time, she's going to stop Ravana, with or without the destined hero.

Ash is a very normal character. He has no special powers or talents. In fact, he's a bit chubby and out of shape. He's a character that happens to be in the right place at the right time. This makes him very relatable, and his point of view is realistic. He's completely petrified when it comes to fighting an unstoppable demon. But he has a responsibility to his little sister that allows him to plow on to overcome his fear. He may not have the best fighting skills, but he has the perseverance to keep getting back up.

The humor in this book is probably my second favorite part of this book. It's focused toward a younger audience, so new adults and probably some young adults might get bored with this book. But overall it's great for middle schoolers. Also note: like I said before, there are very graphic blood-and-gore scenes in this book, but nothing rated R. Just a warning to parents.
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Aug 06, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-mt-bookpile

I had such hopes for this, because it deals with Indian mythology and archaeology. Sadly (and this might just be because I read an ARC, and this will be corrected in the final version) there are no "If you want to know more..." pointers.

Ash and Lucky are on vacation in India, staying with their Uncle Vikram and Aunt Anita. Vik is an expert on ancient Indian languages and as a result the entire group is invited to the Savage Fortress, a former palace in Varanasi. There Ash sees something that's a...more

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Sep 26, 2012 AshleyiSee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Arwat Chadda’s not a stranger to young adult fiction and Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is an exciting second novel. It’s got action, ancient Indian history and a fight of good versus evil between the great god Rama and Ravanna. For someone who isn’t well versed in the Indian myths and legends, it’s an excellent introduction to the fascinating culture that has shaped India.

Set in Varanasi, India thirteen-year-old Ash and his ten-year-old sister Lucky are spending the summer holiday with rela...more Arwat Chadda’s not a stranger to young adult fiction and Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is an exciting second novel. It’s got action, ancient Indian history and a fight of good versus evil between the great god Rama and Ravanna. For someone who isn’t well versed in the Indian myths and legends, it’s an excellent introduction to the fascinating culture that has shaped India.

Set in Varanasi, India thirteen-year-old Ash and his ten-year-old sister Lucky are spending the summer holiday with relatives. Initially thrilled at the idea of occupying the months surrounded by the treasures of the holy city, Ash struggles to adjust to the differences of London. After two weeks of reality he’s desperate to return home.

Dragged to an elaborate party thrown by wealthy English Aristocrat Lord Savage, Ash discovers there’s more to this millionaire’s love of historical artefacts. Surrounded by demon henchmen Ash overhears Lord Savage’s plan to find the Iron Gates. A long forgotten buried prison holding the reincarnated evil god Ravanna for over four millennia.

When trouble strikes it’s up to Ash to protect Lucky and do whatever it takes to return to England. Even if it means trusting strangers and coming to terms that demons in are in fact real. Unable to ignore his higher purpose, Ash discovers strength buried deep inside and the truth as to who he is really is. With a guide and help from the goddess Kali Ash must do whatever it takes to help the world prevail and defeat the army of demons of the Savage Fortress.

Fast paced and cleverly blended Chadda creates an exciting tale of a boy fighting for the survival of not only his sister as well as himself but also the fate of the world. Although over 300 pages the pace of the novel is perfect for eight to twelve year olds. With spirited characters and situations that the readers can relate to, the novel relays the importance of believing in oneself.

Arwat Chadda’s Ash Ministry: and the Savage Fortress is sure to strike interest for any young reader and keep them engaged until the very end. Arwat Chadda’s not a stranger to young adult fiction and Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is an exciting second novel. It’s got action, ancient Indian history and a fight of good versus evil between the great god Rama and Ravanna. For someone who isn’t well versed in the Indian myths and legends, it’s an excellent introduction to the fascinating culture that has shaped India.

This book was supplied by The South Asian Literature Festival for an honest review, many thanks!(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Ellie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-revels

Original review posted on Book Revels

Ash Mistry is over India. He longs to return to his home in London, but he still has a few weeks left visiting his aunt and uncle with his younger sister Lucky. His uncle is offered millions to translate ancient scrolls for the rich and mysterious Lord Savage. This could be his uncle’s big break, something that could change his career and all of their lives, but Ash just doesn’t feel right about it. Aside from Savage’s sinister staff, something more seems to...more Original review posted on Book Revels

Ash Mistry is over India. He longs to return to his home in London, but he still has a few weeks left visiting his aunt and uncle with his younger sister Lucky. His uncle is offered millions to translate ancient scrolls for the rich and mysterious Lord Savage. This could be his uncle’s big break, something that could change his career and all of their lives, but Ash just doesn’t feel right about it. Aside from Savage’s sinister staff, something more seems to be going on. When Ash accidentally finds an arrowhead with indescribable power, he’s forced to go on the run as Savage and his forces seek the arrowhead. Ash needs to become the hero he’s destined to be or all of reality will be lost.

Many familiar fantasy tropes can be found in The Savage Fortress: a boy destined for heroism, a power-hungry villian, the end of civilization. However, the mythology of India interwoven throughout the story made this a fresh take on the teenage-boy-fated-to-save-the-world plot. The Hindu gods and the rakshasas (demon shapeshifters) are really excellent. The gods are portrayed as above good and evil and powerful entities, but still afraid of the demon king Ravana. The gods require different sacrifices for humans to use their powers, and Ash discovers just how high a price he has to pay to save the world. The rakshasas are dangerous and violent, but not all are evil. Parvati, a serpent shapeshifter, joins Ash in his quest to stop the rise of Ravana.

While this is a MG book, reminiscent of Rick Riordan’s series, there is much more darkness in The Savage Fortress. Ravana can bend reality, and he tortures humans into grotesque creatures. The rakshasas working for Lord Savage kill and devour mercilessly. The frank violence and sometimes disturbing imagery actually surprised me, but I actually found it kind of refreshing from the usual PG versions of various myths that I’m used to. The author doesn’t shy away from the dark natures of the rakshasas and the gods.

Ash too discovers darkness inside himself as he takes on more and more of a god’s power. Ash is a likable hero, convinced that he can’t do anything to help. He struggles with his destiny, at times wanting to just return home and forget everything in India. But when the time comes, he rises to the occasion, and finds that it changes him. Whether the change will be good or bad will hopefully be explored further in later books.

Overall impression:
The Savage Fortress combines adventure with the mythology of India in a dark and thrilling story of a boy becoming a hero.
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Apr 09, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, for-review-read

Ash and his sister Lucky are spending the summer holidays visiting their aunt and uncle in India. As a bit of a geek and a history buff Ash has been looking forward to exploring the temples and learning more about the culture but when the family are invited to a party hosted by the eccentric Lord Savage Ash ends up seeing more than he was supposed to. His uncle is offered a job by Savage but Ash is suspicious - some things are just too good to be true and he doesn't trust Savage. After a series...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

i remember being very excited for this middle
grade novel ever since sarwat told me about it
at ALAN 2010--the first time we met. he was so
enthusiastic about this story with an indian boy
as a hero (ash mistry) and incorporating the culture
and mythos of india. it sounded fantastic. now, two
years later, it is wonderful to see the book published
and come to fruition.

chadda is a fantastic writer and he's really able
to immerse you into ash's world, india, and allow
us to see and feel the wonder of being...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Connor rated it 5 of 5 stars

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK! Except for one thing . . . the author wouldn't let the main character be awesome! I mean Ashoka, the main character was always being beat up or captured! Other than that one thing the book is pretty awesome. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart, there is lots of gore and since the others descriptions are pretty good it makes the gore scenes a lot more gorier. The book is a quick read despite its size.

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Feb 15, 2012 Dulwichbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ash Mistry, reluctant hero, faces ancient demons! and comes into an astonishing, magical inheritance. Fast paced, well-constructed novel with a James Bond like quality with demons and monsters from the past come to life. A great ending builds up and does leave you wanting the next book in the series. Excellent for 9+ I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it highly.

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Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress (Ash Mistry Chronicles #1)

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