The Savage Fortress

by Sarwat Chadda

Overview

After three weeks of vacation, Ash Mistry is ready to leave the heat and dust of India behind him. Then he discovers a gleaming gold arrowhead hidden in the sands---a weapon used to defeat evil King Ravana in legend.

At least, Ash is pretty sure it's only a legend . . .

But when Lord Alexander Savage comes after Ash, the legends are suddenly way too real. Savage commands an army of monstrous shapechangers called rakshasas, who want only to seize the arrowhead and restore Ravana to power. As they hunt Ash through magnificent fortresses and brutal deserts, he must learn to work with a powerful rakshasa girl named Parvati, and find the strength within himself to fight on no matter what. Because this isn't just a battle to stop the end of the world. It's a battle to stop the end of reality as we know it.

No pressure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545385169
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Sarwat Chadda is the author of the YA novels DEVIL'S KISS and DARK GODDESS. A former engineer, he is very glad to now be constructing stories and not ductwork systems. He lives in London, England, with his family. Visit him on the web at www.sarwatchadda.com and @sarwatchadda.

Editorial Reviews

“Plot-driven, fast paced, exciting, and sometimes terrifying, The Savage Fortress is the ideal next step for readers who loved Rick Riordan’s books about the Olympian heroes and Anthony Horowitz’s “Gatekeepers” series...Make time for this novel, because it is very hard to put down.” -- School Library Journal, starred review

"A knock-down, drag-out adventure… A rousing and breathtaking climax supports the tied-up threads of the ending. Nonstop action and likable teen characters will attract fans of fantasy quests such as the Percy Jackson books and the saga of Nicholas Flamel." -- Kirkus Reviews

“A classic hero’s quest, this action-packed story has its protagonist making the transformation from portly, brainy everyday kid to courageous, physically strong warrior with relative ease.... The incorporation of the Ramayana legend serves as a basic introduction to Indian deities; fans of Riordan’s Kane Chronicles, Indiana Jones, and the like will appreciate this non-Western take on fantasy adventure.” -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

This fantasy riffs on events from the Ramayana--the takeoff point for a knock-down, drag-out adventure that draws a 13-year-old into the unfinished business of the Indian gods. A Londoner visiting his uncle and aunt in India, Ash Mistry's first mistake is picking up an ancient gold arrowhead that involves him and his younger sister Lucky in business left from India's legendary past; his second mistake is refusing to surrender the ancient weapon to the (very obvious) villain, Alexander Savage, and his rakshashas (demons). As is often true in fantasy quests, characters appear and disappear after helping or hindering the hero. The narrative arc is carried forward at first by the direct unfolding of Ash's discovery and Savage's hunt for the arrowhead. In addition, there are flashbacks that key readers in to Rama's story. These provide vital information in a highly palatable way but also take some liberties with the original legend. A rousing and breathtaking climax supports the tied-up threads of the ending. Nonstop action and likable teen characters will attract fans of fantasy quests such as the Percy Jackson books and the saga of Nicholas Flamel. There are hints that Ash may have unfinished business with India and its gods--let's hope so. (Fantasy. 11-14)

Kirkus Reviews

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 than meets the eye though, and he soon discovers that he is the reincarnation of a legendary warrior king, and battle may be his eternal destiny. The novel has the feel of an Indiana Jones tale, but rather than Nazis attempting to harness the power of the Judeo-Christian god through lost artifacts, Savage is searching for objects related to the Indian gods (notably Kali, the goddess of death), that he can use to further his own power. A dramatic action-filled book, kids and teens will be immediately engrossed in Ash's adventures, and Chadda writes with a fresh and creative voice. For many students, this book may be their first introduction to the culture and legends of India, as well as the Hindu gods, and might serve to inspire kids to pick-up a few nonfiction books on the topic after this book ends. Reviewer: Caitlin Marineau

Children's Literature - Caitlin Marineau

Gr 8 Up—On vacation in India with his aunt, uncle, and younger sister, pudgy Ash Mistry can't wait to get back home to his video games and London friends. But when his uncle is offered a million pounds to assist mysterious Lord Savage with translations from an archaeological find, Ash becomes embroiled in an overwhelming and deadly real-life battle. He realizes that Lord Savage is not an ordinary mortal and that his minions are rakshasas (demons). Determined to save his uncle, Ash unwittingly betrays himself and becomes the rakshasas's target. When he falls into a collapsing pit, he discovers a golden arrowhead-the aastra (weapon) of the ancient goddess Kali. With a splinter of it lodged in his thumb, Ash is able to channel Kali's power. But it is not enough to save his uncle and aunt, and, when they are killed, he sets out to save his sister-and the world-from Ravana, the all-powerful demon king, and his gruesome forces of evil. Chadda weaves Hindu mythology into an engrossing story of a shy, overweight gamer who becomes transformed into one of his own comic-book superheroes. Plot-driven, fast paced, exciting, and sometimes terrifying, The Savage Fortress is the ideal next step for readers who loved Rick Riordan's books about the Olympian heroes and Anthony Horowitz's "Gatekeepers" series (Scholastic). Vivid descriptions of contemporary India and flashbacks to the mythological battles of Rama and Ravana enrich this tale of a nerd's metamorphosis. Make time for this novel, because it is very hard to put down.—Jane Barrer, United Nations International School, New York City

School Library Journal