How will Tara escape the malevolent gaze of the Third Eye?
Themes: Indian mythology, superstition, bravery, step siblings, friendship
Tara and her brother, Suraj, have been living a nightmarish year. Their mother and grandfather fled the village of Morni under strange circumstances. Their new stepmother is cruel and deceptive. Their father is indifferent to their suffering. Villagers have been disappearing, often returning in a horrifying form.
When a new healer, Zarku, a mysterious man with a third eye possessing strange power, suddenly appears in Morni, all are mesmerized by his magic. All except Tara, who sees through his evil disguise.
With nothing but her own courage and wit, Tara sets out on a journey. She tries to find her missing mother and grandfather—the true healer, in time to save her village. Alone and lost in the forest, she must enlist the help of the god Ganesh and the lord of death, Yama. Or she, like others before her, will fall victim to Zarku’s third eye. Age/Grade: 9-12 years/Grades 4-8 Formats: eBook/ Paperback Page Count: 222 pages ISBN:
eBook: 978-1777831875
Paperback: 978-1777831882/ 1777831881
Nominations and Awards:
2009 Silver Birch Award — Winner
2009 Red Maple Award — Shortlisted
2009 Best Books for Kids & Teens — Commended
2008 CLA Book of the Year for Children Award — Longlisted
Reviews:
Readers Favorite Five Stars
"The tone of the story feels like reading a fairytale with the wicked stepmother and two siblings lost in the forest searching for a parent. Mahtab Narsimhan places a unique spin on this concept, creating something delightfully original. The setting weaves between the village and the forest with each serving a specific purpose for how Tara’s journey moves forward. The forest adds to the subtle fairytale aesthetic with monsters and riddles. Narsimhan introduces various antagonists that the two siblings have to face, from their stepfamily to Zarku with his third eye and real monsters like a python. Elements of mythology are brought to life with subtle inclusions such as the Vetalas which adds richness to the story and helps to create this amazing world. The lovely writing is drawn from vivid details and succeeds in creating a story that makes The Third Eye enjoyable for all ages." -Liz Konkel, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews "In some places it gets so scary that a shiver runs down my spine. There are a lot of surprises and the book is filled with adventure and chills. Mahatab Narsimhan has done a really good job giving mythology an engrossing modern plot" -Groovy Dhruv, The Guardian "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, Reviewer "A gripping novel, filled with tension, intriguing characters and fascinating cultural detail." -Marsha Skrypuch, Award-winning Author "A wonderful fantasy with a Hindu Flavour. This is a fairy tale, a myth, and a quest fantasy, set in an Indian village, all rolled into one." -Nicola Mansfield, Top Amazon Reviewer "Action-packed and engaging The Third Eye by Mahtab Narsimhan is a page-turning read. I like the intelligence and courage of the character of Tara. It's a suspenseful story of good vs evil. Kids Vs the world. Survival and family/community. 5 star recommendation. Can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy" -Caroline Fernandez, Author of Plague Thieves
Readers Favorite Five Stars
"The tone of the story feels like reading a fairytale with the wicked stepmother and two siblings lost in the forest searching for a parent. Mahtab Narsimhan places a unique spin on this concept, creating something delightfully original. The setting weaves between the village and the forest with each serving a specific purpose for how Tara’s journey moves forward. The forest adds to the subtle fairytale aesthetic with monsters and riddles. Narsimhan introduces various antagonists that the two siblings have to face, from their stepfamily to Zarku with his third eye and real monsters like a python. Elements of mythology are brought to life with subtle inclusions such as the Vetalas which adds richness to the story and helps to create this amazing world. The lovely writing is drawn from vivid details and succeeds in creating a story that makes The Third Eye enjoyable for all ages." -Liz Konkel, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews "In some places it gets so scary that a shiver runs down my spine. There are a lot of surprises and the book is filled with adventure and chills. Mahatab Narsimhan has done a really good job giving mythology an engrossing modern plot" -Groovy Dhruv, The Guardian "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, Reviewer "A gripping novel, filled with tension, intriguing characters and fascinating cultural detail." -Marsha Skrypuch, Award-winning Author "A wonderful fantasy with a Hindu Flavour. This is a fairy tale, a myth, and a quest fantasy, set in an Indian village, all rolled into one." -Nicola Mansfield, Top Amazon Reviewer "Action-packed and engaging The Third Eye by Mahtab Narsimhan is a page-turning read. I like the intelligence and courage of the character of Tara. It's a suspenseful story of good vs evil. Kids Vs the world. Survival and family/community. 5 star recommendation. Can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy" -Caroline Fernandez, Author of Plague Thieves
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