A fantasy novel by Arwa Vastani


PUNE: Class 10 student from Victorious Kidss Educares, an IB World School, Kharadi, Arwa Vastani has published her first fantasy novel – Sword of Shadows! Writing this book had been her dream for years and seeing that dream come true has truly been a blessing for her. Ever since she was a little girl, she had been a huge fan of stories, immersing herself in magical words beyond the greatest of imaginations. Reading and writing have always been a form of escapism and relaxation and have helped her develop many useful skills.
“I have always been an avid reader. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a huge fan of stories, immersing myself in magical words beyond the greatest of imaginations. Reading and writing has always been a form of escapism and relaxation and has helped me develop many useful skills,” said Arwa.

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Sword of Shadows

What started off as a small idea in the middle of the night, turned into a rough plotline and ended up becoming a novel. Sword of Shadows is a dystopian fantasy novel based in a fictional kingdom called Ocaelux and is about a young girl named Emmalyn Delmotte. The book also consists of subtle snippets of many social issues that Arwa has noticed in the world, such as homophobia, child neglect, and the marginalisation and social isolation of people due to societal norms and beliefs.
Arwa’s journey to being a published author may not be the easiest one – from the stress of writing the novel to the painful writer’s blocks and slumps, however, holding the book in her hand was definitely worth it all. She started writing the book in November 2021.
“I would have never achieved my dream if it wasn’t for my family, friends, and my teachers who supported me and encouraged me to follow my passions,” said Arwa Vastani.