The potion of eternity
By Sonja Chandrachud
Puffin Books, Rs. 195

If you’re like me, chances are you will plough through this book, no matter what. And plough you have to, because the first few chapters of The Potion of Eternity by Sonja Chandrachud are a test of patience. First, because you cannot escape its uncanny resemblance to the Harry Potter books. For example, quite like Hagrid’s arrival with Harry in his arms, Chandrachud’s book too has a one-eyed ogre, big enough to “dwarf everything around it”, arriving with important messages while plundering his way through town. Second, you get the feeling that the author is trying too hard to create ambience and adventure.

Luckily, if you persevere long enough, like I did, you get over that feeling after a while. The book picks up pace after a few chapters. This is what happens. There is a potion that has gone missing from the world of wizardry. If it falls into the wrong hands then Life itself can be destroyed. So, this organisation of, by and for wizards called WOW (Wizard Organization Worldwide), sends one of its special agents, undercover, to fix an antidote. How this agent completes the mission, fighting spells and the Black Magi, it’s sworn enemy, along the way, makes for an interesting read.

The agent has a short-tempered Indian tantrika for a wife, who, by the way, has a trident-wielding, mystic Yogi Baba, for a father, who lives high up in the Himalayas. The author deserves credit for the way she builds on her characters. They range between the rib-ticklingly funny and the deadly. And they come in all shapes and sizes and names. There’s Buttercup, a 200-year-old cobra, who lives in the tantrika’s braids and there’s Headless Hamid, the master chef, whose head hangs by a tendon. If you’re a light sleeper, then read no further. For there’s also the housekeeper Marmie, who uses a very dead and shrivelled hand that belonged to someone else, for lighting. There are also spirits of knights called Laphroaig, though if I were you, I’d take a few more years to find out why that is important.

If “weird” is indispensable in your lexicon, then this book specialises in it. Just remember it’s on wizardry. So, a typical family feast would comprise “a scrumptious spread of lizard eggs sunny side up, sprinkled with crunchy chopped spider legs, and slices of mouldy wheatgerm bread.”

I’m tempted to tell you what happens in the end, but it wouldn’t be right. I’d rather let you pick your way through the smoke and the spells. Good luck!