How often can you offer a book to a teenager to read that’s written by a teenager? Sorceress of the Himalayas was written by Ketaki Shriram when she was thirteen. Now sixteen, it will be interesting to watch how her literary career unfolds with a beginning that shows promise.

Sorceress of the Himalayas is a youth fantasy fiction novel about a young girl who is orphaned as a baby and raised by an old woman who is a wise elder in a Chinese village that is nestled at the base of the Himalayan Mountains. Tien Ming is found by Wise Women during a snowstorm in the mountains. Wise Women brings the young child back home with her and raises her like a daughter.

Tien’s upbringing by Wise Women is carefully done with love and compassion but the rest of the villagers look down on Tien because she is not Chinese. Although her name is Chinese she doesn’t look like anyone else in her village. She is a mixed race child and she herself doesn’t know where her parents came from. The children of her village taunt her and attack her so her daily life is one of survival. She is an outcast and has no sense of belonging due to her mixed race and unknown parentage.

Slowly over time, Wise Women reveals to Tien the significance her past will have on her future. The lives of her family members were integrally related to the forces of magic that control the world. An evil magical force is out to dominate and destroy humanity, slowly eroding the good magic that barely lingers, fighting the evil with its last bit of strength.

The day finally comes when Tien is forced to face her future. She journeys into the Himalayans to search for a spellbook whose fate will determine the survival of her race and the winner of the battle between good and evil in the magical world. It’s a heavy burden on young shoulders but she is fortunately met with companions who will help her in her quest.

There are several themes that are intertwined in Shriram’s novel: discrimination, mixed race children, bullying, good versus evil, heartache, death, betrayal, and loss of parents. Each one is well-managed by this young writer with perception like that of one much older than she. Shriram’s peers will be challenged by her book to reflect on their own values and ask themselves how they would handle the situations Tien is faced with.

Adults reading this young writer’s book may enjoy the fantasy she weaves and note her acute perception of challenging themes, but will see maturity is still needed in her writing and she fortunately has plenty of time to achieve that. For one, research is a key component to setting when describing an actual geographic region and the culture of the people who live there. An accurate timeline is key to plot development or else you’re left with a jumbled mess. Shriram’s timeline deviates at times, meandering around itself until it stumbles back on its path.

These don’t hamper a story for young readers but to continue with her career as a writer, Shriram will need to tackle these and she’ll excel.
http://buffaloathome.com/dct/54/id/9898/mid/2135/Sorceress-of-the-Himalayas.aspx

"Sorceress of the Himalayas”
Ketaki Shriram
Review BY J. EDWARD SUMERAU

AUGUSTA, GA - In a stunning collection of adventure, emotion, and intricate characterization, Ketaki Shriram provides a stunning fantasy debut sparkling with magic and intrigue in “Sorceress of the Himalayas.”

A junior in high school, Ketaki Shriram follows in the footsteps of Christopher Paolini with a sizzling fantasy debut. Having composed the original draft as a 13 year old, Shriram provides an original voice within a traditional framework. Living in California with her family, she is merely beginning to follow her passion for reading and writing into the world of literature. 

A stunning fantasy, Shriram’s debut is built upon the usual fantasy framework. A child is orphaned due to extraordinary circumstances, but have no fear because a kind stranger gives her a home. When disaster strikes this adopted homeland, young Tien Ming must seek the life that left her alone for the power to re-inspire the good in her own life. Accompanied by two creatures with designs of their own for the power source, Tien Ming begins a perilous journey sure to thrill fans of the "Harry Potter," "Lord of the Rings," "Eragon" and "Chronicles of Narnia" variety. 
   
The center of the storm in this dazzling display is a spell book capable of providing its owner with immense power, extraordinary wealth, and the gift of immortality. Having been composed by a village pariah named Kamsa who happens to be the grandfather of Tien Ming, the book is a treasure beyond imagination certain to dominate the existence of anyone who holds it. 

With a rather impressive ability to twist and turn events, Shriram frames the search for the spell book within a myriad of betrayals, dilemmas and emotional extremities from the opening chapters. In so doing, Shriram offers a deeply engaging view of perseverance, strength, and focus in the life of a girl who happens to be just a little bit different from those around her. 

Filled with astrological prophecies, the possibility of a world without light, a conflict riddled sanctuary in a bamboo garden, issues of mixing races and social misunderstanding, and phantom monks, Shriram’s composition exposes readers to a menagerie of powerful intrigue wrapped within a world faced with a choice between fighting for the beauty of the light or falling into a realm of darkness. The answer lies in the character and strength of a girl who may or may not know the password to salvation for the people. 

Written in a fast-paced style, “Sorceress of the Himalayas” is a perfect complement to the closing of the "Harry Potter" series. Built within a framework of intricate arrangements of conflict, passion and power, Shriram’s debut is a wonderful addition to any fantasy collection. 

Shriram, Ketaki.  “Sorceress of the Himalayas.”  Menlo Park, California:  Crystallius Press.  2008.  268pp.  $17.95 Cloth.  ISBN:  9780615198408.
http://www.metrospirit.com/index.php?cat=1993101070610360&ShowArticle_ID=11010909083163117