The Manticore's Secret (2005) is the second novel in Indian fantasy author Samit Basu's GameWorld trilogy.

Meanwhile in Kol, a secret society of the shapeshifters, called the Rainbow Council, prepare to battle against the mind-controlling foes who threaten history.

Many Hero and villain guilds are formed in Kol in the wake of Kirin's ascension as dark lord.

Asvin, however is eager to battle the hordes of the dark lord and still believes the ravians to be noble heroes who would save humanity.

It is also revealed here that the heart of Kol and the seven Hero mirrors where actually created by the shapeshifters although earlier they had been credited to lord Simoqin.

The ravians Myrdak and Peori attack the palace of Kol one night with the intention of kidnapping Maya and using her to get rid of Kirin.

Myrdak challenges dark lord Kirin to a duel, knowing he would come to rescue the girl he loved.

Kirin seeks the advice of Behrim, who states flatly that he could not be defeated in an open duel as he was the greatest ravian warrior alive.

She escapes again with the help of Djongli and arrives at a peculiar place guarded by knights of Ventelot, called the Desolate Gard.

Myrdak finally catches up with Maya and tells her that it was a ravian portal, and the nundu would give its blood to activate it.

Peori raises the splintered glass to kill the dagger but Steel-bunz, who was small enough not to figure as dangerous nipped her from behind.

He initially decides to fight against Kirin as he was the son of Danh Gem, however he realized that Myrdak was only interested in getting his armor and turned upon him.

He wins the trance duel, but as he emerges back into the real world intending to strike Kirin down, the shapeshifter Red kills him with his own sword.

The emerging theme elements include the distinction between good and evil, the subjectivity of history and the animosity between races, to name a few.

There are many cultural references, which range from those to The Beatles, to Star Wars to those to traditional games played by kids in Bengal.