Customer Reviews

India's Story

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This was a pretty good book. The main character was likeable, and the story, once it really gets going, is pretty compelling. The problem is the time it takes for the story to get going. The first few chapters jump around in time and space which is very confusing for the reader. We have never met this character before (the book is a stand alone) and the author makes it difficult for us to sympathise with her. It is difficult at first to know if India is a child, an adult, or a ghost. The author goes to great lengths to disguise the identity of two of the characters and the payout for that effort isn't that great.

The Bad: The book also creates a semi-fantasy world but gives it no real substance. There is nothing to make us believe this world is real or possible. Apparently some members of the human race have psychic powers (telepathy, telekinesis, etc). It is easy to interpolate that this story takes place in the future (humans have colonized other plaets) but much of the technology is similar to what we have today (or will have in the near future). Characters somehow cross dimensions while meditating, others are able to reach levels of awarness that are both "above" and "below" the concious level but how this came about is never really explained. The reader must take this on faith. Some of the places have cutesy names like "Shark Tooth Path" for the place between Level One and Level Two (the levels are never really explained. One must assume that they are dimensions or something).

The Good: Once the story really gets going (around page 22, so not *that* late) and the reader is finally understanding what is going on with the main character (and who the main character actually is), the story turns into a quest story. India must find out who she is and who is harming her. She makes friends with other characters in the book and goes on her journey. The journey is a bit silly at times (won't spoil it for you) but through it, the main character grows until she is smart enough and brave enough to reach her goal. The goal/resolution is a bit of a letdown but still pretty good. No deus ex machina--the resolution was hinted at from the beginning.

Final Thoughts: So, in conclusion to this windy review, the books is a good read. Not a page turner, but a solid, entertaining story. If you can find a copy, it will be worth your time. The storyline is pretty loose in the beginning (it seemed like the author was trying to be too clever) but it tightened up in the middle, and if it lost some momentum at the end, it wasn't enough to destroy the good will the rest of the book had built up. Check it out!