Book Review for "Ashes for the Elephant God"

Book Review for: "Ashes for the Elephant God."

Written by: Vijaya Schartz

Blue Planet Books

ISBN: 1-930501-00-5

319 pages

4 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

Schartz pens a fascinating tale of karma and the power of love with "Ashes for the Elephant God." Fabienne journeys to India to honor her brother's dying wishes only to come face-to-face with her destiny.

The novel opens with Fabienne making the decision to go to India and spread her dead brother's ashes in the town of Ganeshpur. Her brother believed in karma and reincarnation, but Fabienne isn't so sure. Still, she keeps an open mind. Fabienne travels from France to India and stays at the Ganeshpur monastery.

While there Fabienne meets Kora. Kora is also staying at the monastery. Kora has a bad attitude and is full of negative energy. Despite that, Fabienne comes to enjoy monastery life and resolves to help Kora overcome her negativity.

Nearby, an American engineer, Alex Springfield, who the head swami renames Mukunda, is working on a dam. He has a one night stand with Kora who quickly manipulates the event to her advantage. Claiming she's pregnant, Mukunda reluctantly agrees to marry her.

Stuck in a commitment he doesn't want, when Mukunda meets Fabienne, he knows she's his soulmate. Still, he reluctantly stands by Kora. After the dam fails to hold during a flood, Fabienne is trapped in a mudslide. Mukunda realizes he must follow his heart, but is it too late?

Schartz uses a fine touch in dealing with such concepts as karma and reincarnation, never preaching, but showing the reader through the characters the power of karma and how reincarnation allows the soul to grow. The plot is interesting, referring back to Mukunda and Fabienne's past life. The pacing is a bit slow in the beginning, but reflective of Fabienne's journey and acceptance.

There are a lot of foreign terms used in the text, but there is a glossary in the back to help the reader along.

The cast of characters is rich and deliciously complex as they have karma to work through. Kora has issues she needs to reconcile. Amit is a good and loyal friend. Fabienne is an honest soul and trusting, almost too trusting. Kora attempts to take advantage of this. Ultimately, Fabienne must come to see who Kora really is and she must stand up to her.

Mukunda has a good heart, but a momentarily lapse of judgment puts him in an impossible situation. He must find the strength and will to overcome.

Schartz's love scenes are tasteful and sensual. The novel inspires the reader to take a deeper look at their own spirituality. "Ashes for the Elephant God" is an intriguing story about the power of karma and love.