The Third Eye: Tara Trilogy

This is a fantasy novel set in India, bringing to many North American readers a description of mythology and cultural traditions that might otherwise be unknown. Narsimhan crafts her story with rich descriptions of environment and sensory detail, particularly her insightful descriptions of light and its varied qualities that seep into each scene, infusing the entire book with an air of mystique and magic.

I really enjoyed reading the first book of the Tara trilogy. I usually never leave reviews, but in that case I have to say that the story is absolutely fascinating. I have never read something as unique and thrilling as that book. The story is educational, since the mythology of India has been described in very understandable and easy way. Reading that book took me to completely different world of magic and miracles. I have really really enjoyed it!
I really recommend this book to the children and adult reading as well. I've almost finished the second book of the trilogy and can't wait to get the last one.

This is a fairy tale, a myth, and a quest fantasy, set in an Indian village, all rolled into one. Tara and her younger brother's mother leaves them suddenly one night with only a hushed whisper that one day she will return. A year later her father is nothing but a walking shell who lets their stereotypical evil stepmother treat them like servants. Tara's grandfather also disappeared the same night as her mother and he was the villages' healer; now a new healer has arrived and some think he is evil but the men in town either turn to his side or disappear. Then one night Tara overhears a plan that involves killing herself and her brother and she decides she must go find her mother and face the forest and the Vetalas (which a google search compares to vampires but the descriptions both on the net and in the book remind me more of zombies) which roam within. Thus begins a journey and a quest filled with Hindu mythology to save Tara's family and villagers.

This was a delightfully wonderful book. With the rather mystical yet staid cover I wasn't sure what to suspect with its pages. The book begins very over the top in fairy tale fashion but not in a satire fashion, just in an obvious tone letting one know that in fairy tales bad thing can happen and probably will happen. The book then turns darker and there are some quite dark images pictured throughout the book, hence I would not recommend for young children. The secondary characters are never fully realized and left to play their parts in the plot by Tara is a wonderful, resourceful, intelligent, strong female character with a deep character and realistically flawed. The plot itself is steeped in Hindu mythology and this is where the whole feel and essence of the book comes from. It's not a particularly common topic in YA fantasy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Certainly well-written and a compelling read. My one main flaw with the book is that it is too short. At times it feels rushed; there are many parts that could have been extended and an extra hundred or so pages could have filled out the quest section and the final ending which seemed to hurry up and finish as time was running out. This can all be excused as first novel symptoms, but then, the book ends with an absolutely brilliant last sentence letting one know there is a sequel in the works and as I look on Amazon The Silver Anklet will be out in November ('09). Well worth a read if you are looking for a YA fantasy a little different than the norm.

“In her first novel, author Mahtab Narsimhan combines elements of classic fairy tales, such as ‘Hansel and Gretel’, with Indian mythology for a highly original and entertaining fantasy adventure … readers will enjoy the lushly described Indian setting as well as the cultural references to Hindu gods and celebrations, making this a solid middle grade read suitable for literature circles or book club discussions.” – Rachel Steen, Canadian Children’s Book News Spring 2008