Ja Lama was raised in Russia by an ambitious father and a peace-loving mother, and throughout his life, he always knew about his Mongolian roots. When his family finally gets a chance to return to their motherland, he is thrilled to see where he comes from. However, upon arriving, he finds that the Chinese still hold dominion over the land. His parents leave him at a Buddhist monastery, where Ja Lama realizes the hardships that come with not having an independent nation. Ja Lama embarks on a spiritual awakening journey, during which he develops supernatural abilities and declares that he is the reincarnated scourge of Amursanaa, a Buddhist leader anointed on a mission to save Mongolia. Wearing his signature yellow Buddhist robe over his European military uniform and armed with a gun, he embarks on a journey across Asia, rallying allies and spreading the message of freeing the people of Mongolia. Join Ja Lama on his wild journey in Lama with a Gun by Seth Augenstein.

Lama with a Gun is a captivating story full of twists and turns. The unpredictability, shocking scenes, and intriguing characters make it a memorable read. Ja Lama's rise to power is fraught with highs and lows that keep the story suspenseful. His cunning ideas, instincts, and determination make him a formidable force, and his spiritual journey is a great plot line that adds depth to the story. The ending makes sense as the story comes full circle, leaving the reader feeling satisfied. Seth Augenstein does an excellent job of grabbing the reader's attention and keeping them glued to the pages. The author addresses various injustices people went through during that era while making references to many historical figures, places, and events. The blend of fiction and history is a nice touch and is well-executed. I enjoyed reading this author's work and look forward to reading more because Lama with a Gun is a great introduction to his work.

Lama with a Gun by Seth Augenstein is a spiritual journey into the mystical and often violent world of the Mongol warriors. Born in exile in the late nineteenth century in southern Russia, Ja Lama is set to unite the Mongol tribes that once ruled most of the civilized world and regain the glory that was Mongolia. As the legend prophesied, Ja Lama believes himself to be the anointed savior of the Mongol people, a reincarnation of the greatest ruler of all time; the fearless Genghis Khan. From his early beginnings in a small Buddhist monastery where his parents took him to train, he had two burning desires; a vision of a united, once again proud Mongolia and to discover the legendary, mythical city of Agharti. Leaving the monastery as a young man, after killing the head monk who had tried to sexually abuse him, Ja Lama sets out on his violent and often turbulent journey through Tibet and Western Mongolia; a journey that will pit him against the hated and accursed Russian and Chinese usurpers who seek to grind Mongolia and the Mongols into the frozen steppes of history. Armed with his fearless courage and supernatural willpower, Ja Lama will seek to make his dreams come true for all of Mongolia.

Lama with a Gun is a powerful, deeply spiritual, and frighteningly violent read. Author Seth Augenstein pulls no punches with his narrative which is as bloody and graphic as it is deeply spiritual. I appreciated the Buddhist spirituality and philosophy that underpinned the entire narrative as well as the absolute irony of a peace-loving philosophy in the hands of a man so committed to destroying those who stood in the way of his vision for a united, powerful, and respected Mongolia. The author’s style is beautifully lyrical, almost poetic at times and this does a marvelous job of softening some of the more horrific passages of bloodshed and violence. This book will keep readers fully engaged, not only because of the deep spiritual truths brought to the fore through Buddhist philosophy but also through the excitement and travails of Ja Lama’s adventures across his homeland. The author also does a marvelous job of highlighting the absolute sense of helplessness and the depth of loss the average Mongolian experienced on a day-to-day basis, especially given their people’s historical preeminent position and power in the known world just a few centuries earlier. I was pleased that the treatment of Mongols and especially their children by the Chinese, the Russians, and other Western émigrés was highlighted in this story. This is a powerful and exciting read that I can highly recommend.