The Conspiracy of Calaspia (Insanity Saga)
by Suresh Guptara, Jyoti Guptara
Our Price: $38.50
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $23.65 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Jyoti Guptara, Suresh GuptaraEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-01
ISBN: 8183860265
Number of pages: 600
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: India Research Press
Book Reviews of The Conspiracy of Calaspia (Insanity Saga)
Book Review: Promising young twin authors
Summary: 5 Stars
The authors behind Conspiracy of Calaspia (Insanity, Book 1) is highly unusual:
The Guptara twins began writing this epic fantasy novel together at the age of eleven. Six years later they are seventeen and their novel is published. Suresh Guptara & Jyoti Guptara are British with Indian roots, so obviously they live in Switzerland!
Story behind the story aside, to the story itself. This should be judged for the book's quality and not the authors' uniqueness. I had the privilege of reading an ARC (advanced reader's copy) of Conspiracy of Calaspia and this is what I have to say.
CoC is about a tribe of innocent, self-sufficient people who are caught up in events they know nothing of. As the book unfolds they discover more and more of what they've gotten themselves into - or rather what others have gotten them into. This "conspiracy" is one of the best elements of the story.
All in all a great read, with an exciting Climax and interesting Resolutions. Without giving too much away, let me say that it can be very annoying - especially with fantasy epics that go on and on - when books are not self-contained. However, this book concludes the main storyline in an interesting twist that puts everything on its head. At the end of the book the story of Insanity is only really beginning, but I didn't feel that the previous story was a waste; rather, it set things up for the continuation of the Insanity series.
Ignoring the writers' age and speaking critically, if there are weaknesses in the book these lie in characterisation / character development - sometimes the characters don't seem individual enough or fail to resonate as fully as they could. But the characters do occasionally interact well as friendships are tested and strengthened, tempers lost, and worldviews and values re-examined.
On the Fantasy: Surprisingly (considering the authors' youth) this book may not be for a typical "fantasy fan" who is only keen to gobble up more of the same. Conspiracy of Calaspia has no Elves, no Dragons, no magic swords and no The-Only-Ultimate-Hero-Who-Must-Save-The-World. But it has its fair share of magic and otherworldly intrigue, although this is for the most part hinted at and will I'm sure feature more prominently in the next "Insanity" books.
It didn't disturb me that there was this lack of magic, rather, it strengthened the logic of the book, the political interaction, the carnal struggle of its characters - while hinting at a larger more sinister picture. Maybe I should put it like this, that the fantasy is the sauce on a meal that is in itself tasty and nutritional!
And who am I to disagree with Watership Down's Richard Adams, or Stephen Lawhead? In their words on this book: "an achievement" and "most enjoyable"!
- Most recommended!
I hope to follow the development of these two young writers and eagerly await the next book in the INSANITY series.
Fantasy Fan
Richard.
Children's Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Best fantasy books
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Tor Classics)by Jules Verne
Tor Classics; Published: 1995-10-15; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.29
Price in other shops:
Specials (Uglies Trilogy, Book 3)by Scott Westerfeld
Simon Pulse; Published: 2006-05-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.95
Price in other shops:
Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2)by Scott Westerfeld
Simon Pulse; Published: 2005-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops:
Uglies (Uglies Trilogy, Book 1)by Scott Westerfeld
Simon Pulse; Published: 2005-02-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.77
Price in other shops:
The Conspiracy of Calaspia (Insanity Saga)by Suresh Guptara, Jyoti Guptara
India Research Press; Published: 2007-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $38.80
The Hobbit: or, There and Back Again (Collector's Edition)by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin; Published: 1973-10-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.93
Price in other shops:
Eragon / Eldest (Inheritance, Books 1 & 2)by Christopher Paolini
Knopf Books for Young Readers; Published: 2005-08-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.99
Price in other shops:
The Chronicles of Narniaby C.S. Lewis
HarperCollins; Published: 2004-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.80
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Beliefby Francis S. Collins
Free Press; Published: 2007-07-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.29
Price in other shops:
The Nativity StoryWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-03-20; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Amazing GraceTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-11-13; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticismby Timothy Keller
Dutton Adult; Published: 2008-02-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.00
Price in other shops: