Chronicling Shame-Veiled Sensual Realities: 'Cockatoo's' Liberating Echo | Cockatoo by Yashraj Goswami

           

"Chronicling Shame-Veiled Sensual Realities: 'Cockatoo's' Liberating Echo"

Cockatoo by Yashraj Goswami

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Cockatoo by Yashraj Goswami

Author: Yashraj Goswami

ISBN: 978-9389109955

Genre: Collection of Short Stories

Length: 216 Pages

Publication Date: 18^th July 2023

Publisher: Pan

Cover Illustration and Design: Devangana Dash | Website: https://www.devanganadash.com/

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3Rrmc6Y

About the Author:

Yashraj Goswami is a writer, poet and teacher based in Delhi. His words have appeared in various publications, including the Indian Express, Huffington Post, Scroll.in, and DNA. His poems and short stories have been widely anthologized. His writing gently probes the varied shades and expressions of masculinity in modern India. Cockatoo is his first book.

Yashraj Goswami (PC: Youth Ki Awaaz)

Instagram: @mubble.fubbles

Twitter: @aviDSays

Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

I finished reading this gem a few days ago, yet I found myself at a loss for words to convey my thoughts immediately after finishing it. I took time to let this paperback sink in. Cockatoo, seemingly a collection of short stories, goes beyond the concept of a novel. It features diverse characters and narratives, all set in ordinary Indian surroundings. It highlights the profound spectrum of emotions and experiences that characterize everyday life.

It's remarkable how authentically the author portrays these themes, given that our society tends to sweep anything unconventional under the rug. A significant part of society, including anxious and conservative Indian youth, remains closed to discussing or destigmatizing natural aspects of life, like desire, sex, sexuality, dating, non-binary gender identity, mental health, and the stigma surrounding infertility. While acknowledging that change is underway, I feel that the pace of this transformation is not ideal, and any halt in progress could regress us to where we began. Goswami also sheds light on critical issues like divorce, barriers to quality healthcare for trans people, domestic violence, and police brutality.

These subjects aren't superficially tackled; Goswami has crafted finely detailed stories with well-fleshed-out characters, intricately woven and nested structures, and brilliant storytelling from various perspectives, utilizing irony and other literary devices to engage with readers on an open canvas that says, "you may see it coming, but I'm going to surprise you anyway." I found myself laughing, shedding literal tears, and experiencing numerous jaw-dropping moments throughout my reading journey.

Despite the episodic and stand-alone nature of the stories, akin to the structure of Arabian Nights, the book culminates in a cohesive whole. Upon finishing the book, readers can piece together a completed puzzle—a comprehensive novel with a clear beginning, middle, and closure. And since this work of joining the dots is upon readers, or you can say because of its open-endedness, readers get a huge enough canvas to make the best out of their reading experience. You can't get enough of it.

Goswami, in this debut masterpiece, demonstrates exceptional storytelling skills and accomplishes a commendable feat in stirring the depths of the reader's mind with thought-provoking narratives. These stories deserve to be read and retold, for they carry significant impact and offer validation to the diverse and queer experiences they portray.

Happy Reading!

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The Sage's Secret by Abhinav | The Kalki Chronicles | Book Review

    

The Sage's Secret by Abhinav (The Kalki Chronicles)

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

The Sage's Secret by Abhinav

Author: Abhinav

ISBN: 978-0143442363

Genre: Children's Action and Adventure

Length: 256 Pages

Publication Date: 31 August 2018

Publisher: Penguin Random House India

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3gY43Ln

About the author:

Abhinav is a Mumbai-based software developer working for a financial services firm. His debut book The Sage’s Secret is the first instalment in the Kalki Chronicles. He has since published a second book in the series, Kali’s Retribution.

Instagram: @am_abhinav

Goodreads: @am_abhinav

Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

The Sage's Secret by Abhinav is the first instalment in the series The Kalki Chronicles, an Action and Adventure book series for children based on Hindu Mythology. Set in the year 2025 and onwards, the book has several fantastical elements and a set of characters. The premises is far removed from the reality of the novel itself. The Kalki avatar is not 'all-knowing' like Krishna and so Lord Krishna had already arranged for Kalki's training in Kaliyuga before he died. The twenty-year-old protagonist, Anirudha receives communication and instructions from the lord via dreams, God's favourite mode of communication as is evident in Indian folklores. Sage Dweepa is going to teach Anirudha everything that he'll need to defeat his enemies and fulfil his duties as the tenth avatar.

The antagonist for this first book is Kalanayaka who is given the position in the army of Kalabakshakas, led by the lord of time—Kalarakshasa. It is said that the formation of this group can be traced back to Dvapara Yuga, although the author has not provided any explanation of the origins as to how they came to be or why. The Sage's Secret includes the journey of Anirudha from being an ordinary boy to a well-equipped combatant. 

What I liked about the book is the use of sorcery and the fantastical power of controlling energy, though the idea is poorly executed. The writing style is engaging and the narration provides more information than what can be considered adequate. I also appreciate the secret after which the book is titled after. The character development of Kalanayaka and Anirudh is what made me stick to the book till the end. In the last few chapters, the story progresses exponentially which sets a quite dramatic stage for the next book, 'Kali's Retribution'.

I do not understand though that while the story spans over such a vast expanse of time, places and possibilities, the story's focus narrows down to just a few characters and an isolated battlefield. As it is categorised as children's fiction, I think it should have provided something more useful instead of repetitive expositions, making it slower and boring to follow. 

Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva | Changing Perceptions

Book Review

Once There Was Me: The Extraordinary Life of an Unknown Indian by Bobby Sachdeva

Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva

Author: Bobby Sachdeva

ISBN: 978-9389109559

Genre: Semi-autobiography (Fiction)

Length: 420 Pages

Publisher: PanMacmillan India (30^th June 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3kP7k0d

About the author: 

Bobby Sachdeva is a storyteller and a businessman based in Amritsar. While his profession and his circle of interaction marks him out as an outsider in literary circles, his radical views on religion, society and tradition make him stand out as an unconventional writer from among the non-literary common people. Several of his short stories are under consideration by media houses. He is currently producing short films based on these short stories in Punjabi and Hindi. Apart from 'Once There Was Me', he has a short story collection titled 'Stories of Us' to his name.

Bobby Sachdeva

Instagram: @ibobbysachdeva

Twitter: @iBobbySachdeva

Facebook: iBobbySachdeva

Check out my review of 'Stories of Us', a short story collection by the same author, here.

REVIEW

Summary

Once There Was Me by Bobby Sachdeva is a semi-autobiography sharing the candid-est account of the true events, long and short battles against disgraceful circumstances and some victorious and joyful moments that are entrenched in the author’s heart; narrated with a touch of fiction, it directs your attention to the more serious problems of the Indian society and exterminates the silly notions we are holding on to for so long unnecessarily; exposing the ruthless & corrupt institutions, leaders and con men, it brings us closer to the idea of rationalism; this truly extraordinary journey of a commoner will entertain you and more importantly, will help you as a mirror to this world.

***

Once There Was Me is obviously narrated in first-person POV by Bobby AKA Gurvinder Singh Sachdeva. The language is very simple and consistent throughout the book. The writing style is densely informative, evocative and funny at the moments. The events in the author’s life are portrayed chronologically, divided into plenty of chapters with appropriate titles.

***

The story starts with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It gives you a closer look at the lives of Sikh people in Delhi at that time. What all it took for innocent people to survive. The mass murders, burning of the properties owned by Sikh people, sexual assault, lootings and acid attacks. This all brings back memories associated with one of the darkest times that India has witnessed, the partition 1947. Jasbir Singh, Bobby’s father recounts the horrors of the partition.

The author narrates his life before 31^st October, 1984; his school life in Delhi and Amritsar and the kind of treatment he received there; categorically for being a Sikh, financial crisis and the gentle Harbir (one of my most favorite chapters), his friend. After the riots, restoration of self-esteem becomes a prime necessity. Hence, Bobby gets influenced by the Sikh hardliners and believes that the extremist Sikh movement will bring back the dignity and identity of his community.

The mental conflicts begin when in his teenage years, Bobby notices that the caste system is prevalent in every community including his own but he also knows that Sikh gurus always preached oneness and love for all. The author send across this profound message that the true meaning of any religion can only be attained by learning its history and origins.

The perceptions change and the hatred offered by the preachers and the separatists find no space in the author’s heart anymore. On the other hand, militancy is at its peak in Punjab and has made it very difficult for businesses. And to top everyone’s miseries, politicians decide NOT to end this violence. Divisive politics is nothing new to India; it has been in practice since British Raj and quite recently we have seen the repercussions that how commoners, especially the poor ones fall prey to this filthy politics and the fight between two ideologies (mostly the religious polarization).

Bribery

We may cry at the top of our voices that corruption needs to end but somewhere deep down we all know the reality. Currently, we often see the media exposing government officials, police and so on, but is that all? Sometimes, people (especially the ones who can afford it) feel the need to get things done via such means because they don’t find it feasible to abide by the rules. As the author encourages you to ask questions, why is it like that? What about the people belonging to the lower socioeconomic classes? Apart from bribery, what about the big scandals of rich people? We know enough causes and consequences of the corruption to start contributing towards the lower Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

The American Episode

Here, Bobby has narrated his journey to the US quite elaborately. America might seem to be more acceptable, but even there discrimination existed on the basis of race. Although, on the other hand, people are treated more equally at the workplace irrespective of their role. The author frequently compares and highlights the major differences between the US and India and their citizens based on his experiences, which help us determine what are our collective strengths and weaknesses as being Indians.

Unethical Medical Practices

This one is a very important subject that the author has addressed. As there are always some defaulters in every profession, medicine is not an exception. There are a lot such doctors who run their hospitals just for money and patients’ health is their last concern. They hide the real situation and keep hoarding money until you run out of cash. This is scary enough that you won’t want to trust doctors so easily. As we are in the middle of this pandemic, several cases have surfaced where the reports were manipulated so that they can loot and mentally torture the families to death, just because they’ve got enough money to pay the bills? Just imagine what all could be going on right now as you read this, how many lives would be lost by now unnecessarily?

Obviously, all doctors are not the same. It’s just a few greedy people who are generally evil-minded. I totally respect all the Covid-19 frontliners who at the risk of their lives, are working hard and fighting against all odds. And I would request you all that don’t add to their difficulties. Stay Safe.

Fraudulent Godmen

Last but not least. I completely agree with the author when he says ‘Where there’s money, there’s a Guru.’ We all are aware of these types of fake babas who have accumulated a large sum of money over the span of a few years, who have neither done well to their followers nor the underprivileged. The author proposes that this excess money should be used for the country’s development. However, there’s another concern that the leaders to whom they help create vote banks; how to trust them with this money?

***

Bobby Sachdeva has successfully sent across the message. All the above-mentioned issues badly impacted the author’s life, but he never gave up. The book comprises a lot of intimidating details (including financial details), which makes you think why are we not getting taught this in academics. The book has the potential to initiate discussions on numerous social issues. I would recommend this book to every Indian, for it will change your perceptions. This book really brings about a good change and encourages you to ask questions, which is the most important take away from the book. Besides, it’s too adventurous to miss out on.

PS: All 'the author' and 'his life' pointers in the above article represent the fictional character and events.

Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Pokhran by Uday Singh | Indian Crime-Thriller

Book Review

Pokhran by Uday Singh

Pokhran by Uday Singh

Author: Uday Singh

ISBN: 978-9387022874

Genre: Crime, Thriller & Mystery

Length: 213 Pages

Publisher: SrishtiPublishers and Distributors (15^th July 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2CbYQ1E

About the author: 

Uday is a philosopher, economist, and engineer with a firm belief in the progressive march of humanity towards a better and brighter future. He has traveled and lived across countries and continents, which has given him a unique outside-in perspective on India. With a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia University, when he is not writing, he works at an investment bank in New York City and likes to spend time with his family in Princeton, New Jersey.

Uday Singh

Instagram: @uday_singh_0000

Twitter: @udaysingh007

Author's interview at GovernanceNow: ‘Always write (or live life) with all passion and heart in it’

REVIEW

Summary

Pokhran by Uday Singh is a thriller fictional novel based on the true events that took place in India following the ‘Smiling Buddha’ operation – a successful nuclear bomb test, in 1974; the book shows how it impacted the lives in Pokhran; moreover, the story follows the protagonist whose life is closely connected with ‘Smiling Buddha’ operation; with a wonderful cast of supporting characters and an excellent fast-pacing and enthralling plot, the book touches numerous thought-provoking subjects highly relevant to the current circumstances; packed with shocks and surprises at every page, surely makes it an enjoyable read.

Narration

Pokhran is narrated in first person POV most of the times by Chaitanya, the protagonist. The writing style is natural and easily comprehensible, perfect for the kind of novel it assembles. The language is simple and can be read by anyone including children. The structure of the novel complements the mystery element of the book that makes you eager to read more every time the chapter ends.

Setting and Characters

Pokhran by Uday Singh, as it suggests, begins with the ‘Smiling Buddha’ operation at the Pokhran Test Range, Rajasthan, and a prologue with a glimpse of the situation in 2019. Firstly, the book focusses on the childhood and school-life of Chaitanya in Pokhran and his trips to Payradanga, Calcutta, and Kakekapura, a village his best friend belonged to. The portrayal is so vivid that it makes us reminisce about those invaluable moments of our golden age. Chaitanya’s character arc remains tremendous throughout the book with the same amount of ups and downs. Apart from these locations, the book travels you through MIT, Boston, and Syria.

The supporting characters include Paramvir, his father who brought up Chaitu to be strongest. Radhika, Chaitanya’s sister who stands by her brother throughout her life and supports him at every stage. Ramesh Sir, Chaitanya’s favorite teacher and his mentor who sees the great potential in his student. Divyani, her childhood friend and crush from Payradanga. Zara, his wife, and a persecuted Yazidi from Syria having a fearless and lively personality. There are even more pivotal characters from diverse backgrounds.

Theme

The theme of the book can be collectively described as crime, thriller, and mystery. The book addresses many subjects varying from religion to human trafficking. It sheds light on the communal riots in parts of West Bengal after the Bangladesh Partition. It also discusses land redistribution and greedy politicians. The subjects that are highly relevant at this time in 2020 such as discrimination, equality, refugees, immigration, and encounters to conceal their felonies. The author shares the objective behind writing this novel, an idea of the formation of the government and society that eradicates the generational build-up of the wealth gap, which I strongly disagree with. But the intent is indeed very good that of level playing field.

Plot

The plot is about the ups and downs in Chaitanya’s life. There are several heart-breaking moments in his life. There are delightful moments too, marking his success and celebrating emotional bonds with other characters. The book is filled with meaningful dialogues providing different perspectives.

My Opinion

The book is engrossing that I never felt bored reading the book. It is a fast-paced book that lures you to complete the book in one sitting. There are a lot of elements involved that somewhat don’t keep up with what readers might be expecting which makes it highly unpredictable. The plot and the concept, as I said earlier is excellent. However, the purpose of writing the book, introduction to ‘Paracratic society’ which I think is very unrealistic and dangerous for humankind. Instead, I would like to take away this great thought from the book – “It is in the service of others that you will find true joy and happiness”.

I also think that my difference of opinion should not be considered a part of this evaluation. The author has done a commendable job in jotting down this remarkable story of Pokhran and her son. If Pokhran doesn’t get recognized by the readers all over the country, then I'll consider it an underrated work of Indian literature. I’m truly looking forward to reading more from the author.

Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman by Mehool Parekh | Crime, Thriller & Suspense

Book Review

Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman by Mehool Parekh

Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman by Mehool Parekh

Author: Mehool Parekh

ISBN: 978-9352019830

Genre: Crime, Thriller & Suspense

Length: 317 Pages

Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. (15 January 2020)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/39QiCeD

About the author: 

A finance professional, Mehool has, over time, worked as a management consultant, equity research head and a fund manager. He ran a successful venture capital fund and is currently a private equity investor in growth companies. In between these, he has dabbled in film finance and production and owns a well-known media company. He lives in Mumbai with his family.

Mehool Parekh

Instagram: @mehoolparekh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bhootbhavishbartaman/
Twitter: @parekhm

REVIEW

Summary of the Book

Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman, particularly a whodunit story, is surely an absorbing and finely written novel revolving around a striking main character’s complex life that boldly confronts the corporal and lucrative desires of human beings.

Narration

The book is written in third person POV that produces accurate information at the right time for readers. The narration is perfect in a way; profound details and flawless writing style altogether makes it a fruitful read for any type of reader. It is precisely a well-structured novel comprising a narration rocking back and forth on the timeline, maintaining balance with suspense at every step.

Location, Setting & Theme

The story is set in Mumbai ─ India’s largest city and Pune ─ “Oxford and Cambridge of India” as our former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru referred to it. The narration covers two decades of time starting from the year 1996. Apart from Pune where the murder has been reported, mostly the story represents western suburbs of Mumbai such as Vasai, Kandivali, Lokhandwala, etc. Locations depicted in the book are very well researched by the author it seems. The book deals with many subjects along with the investigation of a murder that took place in an apartment where initially the house help is the prime suspect. The book also explores dark sides of some industries including film and financial industries.

Characters

The author has certainly developed alluring characters that readers would not want to leave them, not even after the end. What really adds to these characters is the dialogues, which are thoroughly carried out corresponding to each character’s personalities. Dialogues make them animated and put life into them.

Rupali, a beautiful lady in her early thirties who has been found dead, lying in a pool of blood on her bed. Rupali’s character is dramatically captivating with the most dynamic character arc; her life’s journey had been quite intimidating. Ravi Lokhande is the Senior Inspector at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station where the murder has been reported. Lokhandeji is one and only comical character in this novel, who has got almost all the laughter and funny moments to his account. Major Bartaman Bhowmick or ‘Batty’, Southern Command of the Indian Army, whose passion is crime detection. His critical thinking and examining skills attribute to his investigative talent, unlike Lokhandeji who depends on personal prejudices and opinions. Robin Chowdhury, a crime beat reporter at Pune City Times with her keen intellect helps Batty solve this case.

Plot

It is difficult to disclose anything regarding the plot without giving away spoilers. No doubt, this book is unputdownable and really fast-paced. The interesting thing about this book is how Mehool Parekh has included such pressing subjects into the plot. It makes you aware of the reality which is unbelievable. Meanwhile, there is a lot that you got to consume from this book.

Subjects

Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman significantly addresses a sensational topic, a culture that normalizes the use of women’s assets for whatever reason, which was and is being abused willingly or unwillingly by both men and women. It shows, how this culture is conveniently accommodated in several business models. The author Mehool Parekh has made a unique remark, putting in a different perspective. Still, it is the harsh reality of human desires that turns you completely blind and you’re left wanting more and more.

My views

It is amusing how the author has depicted this complex and critical puzzle very easily and much creatively. The duo of Batty and Robin has emerged as an intelligent detective squad. The character of Rupali outshines every other character because the book is tremendously seemed to be focused on her only or maybe I’m just too fascinated by her character. There are a few essay-like expositions which are mind-numbing and requires more energy to comprehend. Lastly, the author criticizes people with self-limiting attitude, who don’t further inspect what they consider unnecessary work or too much than required. It is hard to believe that it is a debut work and I will definitely wish to read more from the author. I would highly recommend this book to everyone because it is full of surprises and information.

Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Narasimha by Kevin Missal (The Mahaavatar Trilogy Book 1)

Book Review

Narasimha by Kevin Missal

Narasimha by Kevin Missal

Author: Kevin Missal

ISBN: 978-9353570767

Genre: Mythological Fiction (Fantasy)

Length:  350 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins India (10th June, 2019)

My Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/2X0IZMw

About the author:

Kevin Missal wrote his first book at the age of 14, and at 22, the St Stephens graduate is a bestselling author and a fulltime writer, with the first two books in his Kalki series being runaway successes. Dharmayoddha Kalki: Avatar of Vishnu and its sequel Satyayoddha Kalki: Eye of Brahma have sold one lakh copies in under a year.

Kevin Missal

Kevin loves fantasy fiction and has always been a fan of mythology. His books have been featured in publications like The Sunday Guardian, The New Indian Express and Millennium Post.

Follow him on Instagram: @kevin_9695

Check out his Facebook Page: Kevin Missal

Twitter Handle: @kevin_missal

REVIEW

Narration

Narasimha is first of ‘The Mahaavatar Trilogy’, the reimagining of mythological tale about Lord Narasimha, fourth Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Narasimha is written in third-person narrative, where chapters are narrated through different POV characters. The thoughts of particular characters are presented in each chapter. The story starts with prologue, where POV character is Kayadhu, Hiranyakashyap’s wife. Hiranyakashyap is ruler of the Asura Empire. The writing style is simple yet gripping.

Location and Setting

As we all know that Narasimha is the fourth Vishnu Avatar from time of Satya Yuga according to Hindu mythology. The story takes place in the world of Illavarti, a fictionalized fantastical version of Vedic Age. The conception of this world is just amazing and more realistic. Asuras are foreigners from island of Pataal and Devas are foreigners from island of Swarg. Apart from Manavs, there are Danavs, Nagas, Shivas, Ganas and Simhas. And Nara belongs to the Tribe of the Simhas, thus Narasimha. The story reflects the rich architecture through fortresses and palaces. There are mountains and rivers; Mandara hills are talked about often as almost half of the story revolves around Sonitpur (where Andhaka rules─ Hiranya’s nephew) and the mini kingdom of Shiva, which are situated at the feet of these hills. City of Kashyapuri is ruled by Hiranya and the story depicts the type of corrupt government he leads.

Theme

Narasimha falls under the category Myths, Legends and Sagas. There are different beings with opposite beliefs. Devas stand for Dharm and Asuras stand for Adharm. So the wars are being fought for one reason or another. And Indra has made it worse by breaking the truce, not once but twice. Kevin Missal has done great job by putting in perspectives of both Devas and Asuras without being biased that reader will find it difficult to sympathize with either of them. We all have heard this tale at some point of our life as a part of Holika Dahan tradition. An epic of the legends like Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap, Holika and Narasimha. Prahlad who being son of Asura king, starts worshiping Lord Vishnu, however that was most essential for eradicating Adharm and that provides the central point for this novel.

Characters

Narasimha is full of characters and I think, is the sole essence of the book apart from the story itself. Kevin Missal has provided with such distinct voices through the POV characters that I loved all of them. Kevin presented such definite vision through the third-person POV of such discrete characters that made me question whether the character is wrong at all even if he/she is rebellious and depraved. Kevin Missal has created such strong and phenomenal characters. Narasimha the soldier. Anuhrad and Prahlad. Anuhrad goes to help his cousin Andhaka (main antagonist for this novel) by the orders of his father. Prahlad remains in the city for being interim king of Kashyapuri while his father Hiranya, goes to fight with Vigyasa against Lord Agni. Hiranya’s sister Holika is searching for the mastermind behind the Vishnusena, a threat to the Asura Empire. 

SPOILER ALERT!

Plot

Well, the storyline for this first installment is all about Hiranyakashyap getting that ultimate boon/weapon from Lord Brahma and Prahlad converting from non-believer to believer and betraying his own subjects. The book ends with the epilogue stating that it won’t be that easy for Narasimha to protect Dharm.

“In the name of religion, one must preach and spread peace, not violence.”

My Views

The story was very unpredictable and bit slow at first until Holika made her first appearance. Then it started to build speed and remained steady but was still unpredictable. The story then accelerated when Hiranya discovers about Brahmashastra but it still remained unpredictable despite the fact that we all know this tale since childhood. The character arcs are very dynamic, be it Holika or Prahlad. Each supporting character contributes to the storyline. The conception of weapons and the stones that fuels them, like any other modern fiction but is meaningful for the future of story. Romance is the inevitable part of the storyline and gives the very reason for the succeeding plot. The end is satisfying and I am already waiting for the sequel.

Final words. This book is an epic in the true sense for author has mind-blowingly written providing multi perspective view of ancient epic, makes it more realistic and more stimulating.

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