The Devil's Gate: An Impossible Journey - Book Review

Title: The Devil's Gate: An Impossible Journey

Author: Deepak Kripal

Publisher: Frog Books

ISBN: 9789383562060

Number of Pages: 248

Price: 175 [INR]

Genre: Thriller

Blurb on the Book:

Sidelined by man, animals turned to demons.

Plundered by humans of their habitats, animals take a drastic step when they decide to send a team of a cat named as Katy and a dog named as Dug, to an invisible island known, as the Island of 'Five Hundred Graves'. The island becomes visible only for a short time on the night of the full moon.

Legend has it that the island is inhabited by the demons. Katy and Dug are supposed to negotiate a deal with the demons, convincing them to allow the animals inhibit the island. Majority of the animal community believe that tinkering with the other world could bring their wrath to the animals. The team is sent to the island nevertheless.

But, can a deal with the dead be materialized?

Are there really demons on the island? Is there any conspiracy involved?

Will Katy and Dug be able to negotiate, or will survival remain their only question in the deadly island?

My Review:

The book is about Katy, the cat and Dug, the dog travelling to a mysterious island to negotiate with the demons. But there is much more to the story than just negotiating with the demons. The island is full of demons fighting to possess a living body, monsters who are designed to kill and mysteries that will demand Katy and her team to display extreme courage, even if it means risking their lives or even death! Will they be able to cross all these hurdles and succeed in their mission?

When I read the blurb, I developed an instant interest in the book as supernatural stories have always been my cup of tea. But I was fairly disappointed, for the first few chapters didn't quite hold my interest. The plot kind of seemed to drag on with too much explanation. And the ending is something that leaves you puzzled. There is no conclusion; only a mystery that hangs in the air even after you finish the novel.

But after the first few chapters, the book became interesting again as the adventures of Katy and Dug begin in the Island of 'Five Hundred Graves'. Once you get over your initial shock of the highly developed intelligence of these animals, you will start enjoying the book to some extent. The plot gets interesting from here. The imagination of the author to think beyond the ordinary is something I liked a lot. Also his ability in providing minor details about this unseen land is also quite appreciable.

There were many quotes which I liked and here are few of them:

• Playing with danger is a child's play. Real game starts when the danger starts playing with you.
• When others develop an aversion to your version, you are probably going in the right direction.
• Bravery without sword is like slavery without lord.
• Even the smallest creature can cause your downfall if you are driven by power and arrogance rather than by your mind and heart.

All in all, the book was OK with a subtle message about how human ways have forced animals to take the extreme step! I will suggest this book for those who love mild super natural stories, most probably for teens!

My Rating: 3/5 Stars!

Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)