I got the book as a part of the review program in Outset.
https://rakhijayashankar.blogspot.in
Took me a while to decide on the rating but I think I will
stick to 5 because the book was, indeed, amazing!
When I read the blurb, I definitely did not anticipate what
I am in for. The narration, the storyline, the execution of the plot - I loved
every bit of it! And (bless the author!!) the book was edited. If you have read
my previous reviews, you will know how this has been a big big big hindrance
for me in the past. Congratulations on this beauty! Aapke khayaal kaafi behtereen
hain. :)
The cover: The cover design is beautiful. It is different
and crisp and not screaming for attention, like sometimes cover illustrations
do. The quality of the image is what makes the reader want to dive in the
beauty, head first.
The blurb: I was a little disappointed with the blurb. While
it is not inaccurate or lacking per se, it could have been made more exciting.
The book is one hell of a roller-coaster ride and, for a reader who relies
heavily on the blurb before picking up the book, the blurb does not do justice
to what lies ahead. Spice it up, I'd say.
The plot: The plot is fresh and detailed. The story is, as
the blurb says, of one Rudra, a newly crowned prince faced with the daunting
task of saving his empire from the British army. In the process of unearthing
secrets that led to his father's death/murder, Rudra uncovers some deep, dark
ancient secrets that have the potential of reshaping his entire world. What
follows is a nail-biting war between Rudra and dark powers, between the good
and the bad, between peace and power.
There is an element of mythology in the book which gives it
a unique flavour, a flavour that, in my opinion, should be introduced in the
blurb as well. The fight between good and bad is age old, and placing this book
contextually in the frame of Hindu mythology has rendered it a notch above your
average good vs bad literature.
The execution: The plot had been executed commendably well.
The author has left no stone unturned to make this book a definite page-turner.
The editing is crisp and keeps the reader always on the edge, eager to know
what's next. There are layers and layers to the book that keep uncovering every
now and then. All the loopholes have been neatly tied the end, making this one
satisfactory read.
The writing style: The author's got style (if you know what
I mean). And damn, that style is thoroughly enjoyable. The imagination that the
narrative is able to ignite in the reader's mind is commendable. The writing
flows, along with the story, gently moving forward but still journeying like a
bullet (geddit?). Oh, and the splash of humour here and there made me smile
quite many times.
The characters: The characters are well-etched. The
protagonist, Rudra, has been sketched fairly well, and is relatable. Burdened
with the daunting task of running an entire kingdom under extreme
circumstances, the young king is often faced with the same dilemmas we face in
our lives. The choices may be difficult, but they still have to be made. There
is a long list of supporting cast, who have been given their due place and time
in the narrative.
The climax and end: The climax is exactly like it should be,
unexpected yet plausible. This is not one of those "what the hell just
happened?" kind of stories. Everything eventually makes sense, you just
have to dig deeper.
The end is open, both in terms of interpretation and in
terms of content. Maybe the end is an indication for a sequel, maybe it is a
satire (that's not the most appropriate word but my vocabulary is failing me
terribly in conveying what I want to say without giving any spoilers), a general
remark on how the world functions. Read the book now to know more!
Definitely recommended! Looking forward to reading more by
the author, and soon.
*****
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