Deathsworn by H. K. Oby

Overall Rating: *** (3 stars)

Deathsworn is the first novel in a planned series called The Mahasiddhi Chronicle, an urban fantasy drawing on the rich tapestry of Hindu legend.

Amin is a young man living on the streets of modern India. From youth, he has been forced to struggle for survival. This has driven him to become a superb thief and confidence artist, specializing in posing as a sadhu (a religious ascetic) in order to swindle valuables out of devout but gullible victims.

At the beginning of the story, Amin carries off one such scam, but before he can enjoy his gains he is double-crossed and apparently killed. At the very moment of his seeming death, he is snatched out of danger by a mysterious force called “the Pulse.” He learns that he is to serve as a “Deathsworn,” a holy warrior trained in the martial arts, pledged to defend the world against evil rakshasas (demons) who threaten it. He is sent to a school for new Deathsworn, where sages and figures out of Hindu lore will train him as a superhuman warrior with siddhis (superpowers) that will help him face the rakshasas.

Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned. Amin is rejected by his teachers and his fellow students. He fails to display any of the siddhis normally granted to all Deathsworn. Worst of all, it seems that the Hindu gods have it in for Amin, and they are doing their best to kill him before he can complete his training!

The story that follows is reminiscent of the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson novels: a modern character dropped into a fiercely demanding school that’s grounded in some flavor of the supernatural, forced to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of his success. It’s a familiar formula, but it works, and H. K. Oby applies the common tropes well.

Deathsworn is a debut novel, and it shows. Every character’s dialogue, and the author’s narrative voice, all use the same colloquial language even in moments where a different style might be more in keeping with the premise. It’s a little jarring to hear figures out of the Mahabharata using chatty, conversational English even at a point of high drama. The novel needs the attention of a copy editor as well; the basic prose mechanics (word choice, spelling, capitalization) are noticeably rough.

Despite those criticisms, I found the story worked well and kept me engaged. Amin was a charming protagonist; his supporting cast, less fully developed, were believable as his allies, friends, and rivals. The core of the story is about Amin’s growth as a person, and the discovery of honest virtue beneath his armor of cynicism. Watching his evolution through this fast-paced story kept me turning the pages.

The backdrop of Hindu myth, given a modern slant, was intriguing as well. I found myself recognizing elements from my own past reading, and l was driven to look up more details that I didn’t immediately recognize.

All in all, Deathsworn is a flawed first effort, but I found it a quick and enjoyable read. If you have any interest in a “school for heroes” story, set amid the complexities of Hindu myth, this novel and its sequels are worth watching.