Book Blurb: Shanti and the Magic Mandala is an adventure in which fantasy and reality are mingled. The book tells the story of six teenagers, from different religious and cultural origins and different parts of the world, who are mystically recruited to form two groups – one in the Northern Hemisphere, and one in the Southern. They eventually gather in Peru, and through a single alliance, begin a frantic chase for the sacred object that can stop the black magician’s final plan.

I really enjoyed the multicultural aspect of Shanti and the Magic Mandala. F. T. Carmargo has developed six very different and interesting characters from different cultures and religions. Each character is unique, however, they all share a love of nature and animals. I especially liked how we got to know each character individually before they joined together to form the alliance. It was very interesting to learn where they were from and what their previous lives were like. I loved how, although the characters enjoyed learning about each other’s cultures and traditions, there was never any question about them joining together to fight their common enemy. These six teenagers are a great example of acceptance and mutual respect.

The plot was interesting with plenty of twists and turns. The characters past lives are introduced but I did find parts of these descriptions a little bit repetitive. (The characters knew each other in past lives.) I was a little bit surprised how readily the six teenagers accepted their fate. I felt they would’ve questioned their quest a little bit more, rather than being content to wait for things to develop but I did enjoy how the plot built up to an engaging climax.

Overall I found the book well paced and interesting. It was easy to sympathize with and support the characters as they embarked on their quest to fight evil with good. I liked how informative the book was with interesting settings and plenty of information on topics that I’ve not seen in other young adult novels. I learnt things whilst being entertained… it was a really enjoyable way to spend a road trip!

I give Shanti and the Magic Mandala 4 stars and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult adventures, especially if you enjoy the classic good verses evil plot.

Disclaimer: I was gifted a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the author: F. T. Camargo is an Italian Brazilian living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. An award winning architect and author, he also studied Arts and Media and has a post degree in Economics and MBA in e-commerce. He is a vegetarian because of his love for all animals and has been deeply involved in causes for their protection and freedom. He is a world traveler adventurer, outdoor sports lover, speaks 4 languages and has published a travel book “Rio, Maravilha!”
For many years he has been practicing yoga and meditation and studying the Kabbalah. His exploration of spiritual teachings motivated a commitment to self-development which in turn created a new path and goal in life. Shanti and the Magic Mandala was born from his inner journey.

You can connect with F. T. Camargo on his website or on twitter.