Title: The Deal in Akmud
Author: Ekta Sinha
Publisher: Paper Towns India
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
First Publication: 2022
Language: English
Book Summary: The Deal in Akmud by Ekta Sinha
AKMUD is a quiet village lying amidst beautiful mountains and sharing its borders with three kingdoms.
Time has changed for Akmud. It is now a place engulfed with dull darkness. The silence in the village is frightening and it has come with a ‘DEAL’. The world is full of secrets and magic but every enchantment comes with a price. After reading this story, you will never wish for magical stuff in your life. The story tells you what REAL magic is in this world.
Book Review: The Deal in Akmud by Ekta Sinha
Fantasy realism, also known as magical realism, is a genre of narrative fiction as well as a broader category of art (literature, painting, film, theatre, etc.) that, while encompassing a variety of subtly different concepts, expresses a primarily realistic view of the real world while adding or revealing magical as well as supernatural elements. It is frequently referred to as fabulism, which refers to the conventions of fables, mythology, and allegory that it adheres to. “Magical realism”, perhaps the most common term, often refers to fiction and literature in particular, with magic or the supernatural presented in an otherwise real-world or mundane setting. The Deal in Akmud by Ekta Sinha is the essence of Magic Realism. The setting is a small village called Akmud, and the main characters are your average people, but the things they encounter are far from normal; you will question what is real and what is imagination.
Akmud is a peaceful town nestled in the foothills of majestic mountains that share its boundaries with three kingdoms. Compared to the other villages in the area, this one is distinctive. It is renowned for its magical qualities as well as the presence of the devil, who serves as the village’s ruler. Atticus and Branny, two well-respected inhabitants of the village, live here and are responsible for all of the significant magical happenings that occur in the village. With a mysterious signboard hanging in his store, Atticus sells magical things and takes no cash in exchange for his services. Branny is Atticus’ best buddy as well as his constant companion.
Afton, a distinguished merchant and the king’s guest, arrives in Akmund and purchases a magical wine from Atticus’ store, which changes the course of events. Several things occur in Afton’s life that he could not have predicted under normal conditions, and the King decides to dispatch his soldiers to investigate the strange events. Misunderstandings and disasters occur when the soldiers, who came for the investigation, kill Marcus’ wife and daughter. Marcus strikes a deal with the devil and swears to kill Afton in retaliation for the murder of his wife. To make matters worse, he accepts the terms of the agreement, which include that he will not be visible to anyone in the village and that the villagers will forget everything about Marcus. Meanwhile, puzzle pieces are dropped along with hints of the paranormal that keep us on our toes. The mystery is what takes center stage in Akmud.
Ekta Sinha sets up a cast of characters, a suspense line with the murders, but also a paranormal intrigue that builds behind all that. Some parts of the book were slow built while others were fast moving. It was obvious that the slow beginning was laying the groundwork for the long-haul when it came to revealing the secrets of Akmud and how all the characters fit into that. I think this was all paced out well and had a delicious atmosphere.
The Deal in Akmud has so many delicious layers, mysteries upon mysteries, and many compelling characters, some of which we get to know well and some of which are only passing through. Following the main characters as they grow and change as events unfold is very rewarding. The village of Akmud is almost a character in its own right – there are mysteries all over. Ekta Sinha’s writing and descriptions are so beautiful and vivid. It is like being transported into a whole new world, that is dreamlike and filled with mystery and excitement.
Imaginative writing, a memorable setting, a mystery that will keep you on your toes, and a village filled with unusual and unexplained things that is bound to have you pondering the story long after you put it down. The Deal in Akmud is a multi-layered fantastically written story with supernatural and mystery in it that should be read by anyone that appreciates good mystery with memorable characters.
