By: Jay Kt
A vengeful hero. An equine sidekick. A family reunion. Abdullah Irfan’s upcoming novel, The Journey of Akuma, has all the trappings of a Bollywood action movie. Except that it is set in 15th-century Japan (well, not literally).
A Wounded Hero
We are introduced to Prince Akuma, the protagonist. He is young, wears a dark embroidered tunic, a thick leather belt at his waist, and carries an old sword. He is accompanied by his beautiful black horse, Zaku. In the very first scene, they take out more than 100 soldiers within minutes, while saving a village in the process, the first of many on the imaginary Yarpak Island.
At the start of the story, Akuma saves a family of three: Mira, her husband Ju, and their younger daughter Alina from a group of tyrant soldiers. Mira invites him to stay for dinner. By the end of the meal, Alina begins to call Akuma her “older brother.”
The villagers hail him as a hero. Yet, he remains stoic, which is perhaps the only shade of gray in his character. He is grieving the murder of Liyana, the woman he loved as an older sister, and he blames himself for her death. Perhaps he is trying to redeem himself by saving innocent lives on the island.
When Akuma leaves that night, he leaves some gold coins by the door, enough to repair their broken home. That is the kind of man he is.
An Immersive World
The “island” itself is a fascinating exercise in world-building. Yarpak is imaginary; you cannot help but think about medieval Japan (the story is set in 1464). The homes are made of timber with thatched roofs; the characters wear embroidered tunics, layered leather coats, and iron-riveted armor; and they fight with katanas, kusarigamas, spears, and naginatas. The conquering armies use maps made of washi paper, with trade routes marked in brushstrokes and villages circled in red ink.
The author, Abdullah Irfan, who hails from Wisconsin, is a fan of both old Pakistani TV shows, sci-fi, and Southeast Asian history. And it shows.
A Storybook Villain
No action story is complete without a menacing villain. Meet Hon Bu, the six-foot-tall, 280-pound conqueror from Mongol. He is strategic; his soldiers carry a map of the villages they attack with his intricate notes. But he is also ruthless, not thinking twice about killing women and children.
He wants Yarpak Island. And after that, the world. He has no redemption arc. No backstory to gain sympathy. No moment of doubt. He is pure evil, characteristic of Irfan’s literary universe with everything black and white, good and evil, and both the characters and readers have to make a choice. This is the author’s nod to classic Pakistani literature, and a gentle snub to contemporary literature’s preoccupation with humanizing villains.
A Family Drama (but with karate and swords)
As Hon Bu’s marches on and Akuma faces his army, he is also being pursued by his cousin Sunny, who thinks that Akuma killed his sister. Sunny couldn’t care less about the destruction of Yarpak Island, even though he is tougher than Akuma. He only has revenge on his mind. Unlike Akuma, he carries a sword crafted specifically for him.
He encounters Akuma, but Akuma always deflects him. The truth is, Akuma doesn’t want to fight back. But Sunny won’t stop. Neither will Bu. Will Akuma succeed in saving Yarpak Island? Will he reunite with his family? Or will he lose himself at the end?
Meet the Author
Abdullah Irfan hails from Wisconsin. When asked what inspired him to write this book, he replied, “personal experiences, and a little bit of daydreaming.” He is an active runner and only finds time to write between his work and daily runs.
The idea for The Journey of Akuma came to him several years ago, something he couldn’t shake away. His debut novel will soon hit bookstores nationwide.
