Malaysian fantasy novel portrays battle against dementia

Award-winning author's saga widely translated across Asia

Daryl Kho's "Mist-Bound" was inspired by the experience of losing his father after a double stroke and vascular dementia. (Nikkei montage/Source photos courtesy of the author)

MARCO FERRARESE, Contributing writer

February 16, 2024 08:00 JST

SINGAPORE -- Alexis stumbles into Mist, a fantasy world of magic and monsters inspired by the mythology of Southeast Asia, to seek out eight unique ingredients, including nose hair from a baku, a dream eater, and sweat from a duyung, a sea siren. Mixed together, the eight substances will become the "memory glue" she needs to restore her beloved grandfather's memory, broken by the spell of a kenit, a forest imp.