Batu and the Search for the Golden Cu..., Zira Nauryzbai
Batu and the Search for the Golden Cu..., Zira Nauryzbai
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Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup

Author: Zira Nauryzbai, Lilya Kalaus, Shelley Fairweather-Vega

Narrator: David Aranovich

Unabridged: 7 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/01/2023

Synopsis

A warrior’s power lies not in his weapons but in his heart.Batu is just an ordinary kid in present-day Almaty, worried about bullies, school, and his mom’s new baby…until the day he meets Aspara, the Golden Warrior. Aspara steps straight out of Batu’s notebook cover—and out of Kazakhstan’s past. Aspara has been waiting hundreds of years to be summoned to the human world and to finally get his chance to search for the Golden Cup, a magical talisman sent down from the heavens. When the Golden Cup was lost, Aspara watched as many of his friends and family were killed or disappeared.Craving adventure and a sense of purpose, Batu sets out with Aspara and his own friends to find the Golden Cup, plunging them into an adventure through a world where myths come alive. But there are others looking for the Cup, and they’ll do anything to make sure the kids fail. Will Batu and his friends make it out alive (and make it home in time for dinner)?

About Zira Nauryzbai

Zira Nauryzbai is a writer and cultural anthropologist. She is the author of multiple books and of more than three hundred articles, all written in Russian. She is also a translator from Kazakh into Russian. She is the coauthor, with Lilya Kalaus, of Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup (and its sequels), which was a bestseller in Kazakhstan. Links to her publications can be found at www.otuken.kz. She is currently based in Astana, Kazakhstan. In her free time, Zira volunteers in the search for petroglyphs, rides horses, and practices shooting from a traditional Turkic bow.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Richard on July 08, 2023

As a participating title in July's Amazon First Reads program, "Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup" will undeniably kick off its English language literary journey quite nicely. It remains to be seen if U.S. children, in particular, will resonate with this most unique story from co-authors Zira N......more

Goodreads review by David on July 25, 2023

As the only piece of Kazakh literature I have read, so I appreciate seeing a new cultural perspective. The eBook is currently free to Amazon Prime members as part of the First Reads program. It is a mediocre middle school level fantasy chapter book. There are many cultural references that could be b......more

Goodreads review by Kristy on May 14, 2023

I absolutely love that this is a Kazakh story about Kazakh myth and history written by Kazakh authors. It's amazing to see this kind of thing get published in English. That said, I hated almost everything about it. The plot was confusing, the dialogue was unnatural, the writing was amateurish, and th......more

Goodreads review by Dave on September 29, 2023

Nauryzbai and Kalaus blend Kazakh myth with modern pre-teen concerns, creating a middle-grade fantasy about someone who isn’t the chosen one facing an epic quest. Batu isn’t an especially skilled or especially brave boy. However, when Aspara, a hero from Kazakh myth, appears in his room believing Bat......more

Goodreads review by Eric on November 05, 2023

Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is a great introduction to the mythology and culture of Kazakhstan and Central Asia for younger readers. Taking place in modern Almaty, it has the same feel as the many other middle grade fantasy novels like Percy Jackson and Aru Shah that are so popular right......more

Quotes

“Culturally significant details—including sensorial descriptions of the smell of dishes such as bauyrsaq and shelpek, and the intricate patterns of traditional Kazakh rugs—ground the characters’ journey in Batu’s present, even as the narrative swiftly shifts between contemporary action and scenes from Aspara’s past. Fans of fantasy adventures such as the Pandava series and Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond will enjoy the easy-to-root-for characters and familiar tropes that populate this action-packed tale.” —Publishers Weekly“A promising series opener that journeys into a thrilling world.” —Kirkus Reviews“Middle-schoolers are bound to be entertained while being introduced to Kazakhstan history and culture.” —Midwest Book Review

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