Book Review — Warlord of Ayodhya Book 1: Rebellion by Shatrujeet Nath
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
Pages: 408
Price: Rs. 399 INR(paperback), Rs. 320 INR(Kindle Edition)
ISBN: 978–9391019792
Buy here: https://amzn.to/3sEnjmn
My take on the book:
Anyone who is familiar with the story of Ramayana would have read or heard about Rama’s brother Bharat becoming the King of Kosala, as per the wish of his mother Kaikeyi. Bharat even reaches to the forest where Rama was spending his exile, to request him to take over as the King. Beyond this, not much is known about Bharat as a King other than being known as the ‘Reluctant King’.
Best-selling author Shatrujeet Nath picked this less explored angle of Ramayana by spinning a mythological fictional tale around Bharat as the King and Rebellion is book one of the Warlord of Ayodhya series.
The story starts with a rakshasa attack on Ayodhya as an amateur Bharat is struggling to manage his emotions and new responsibilities, after his brother’s exile and their father’s sudden death. This is followed by more trouble — the magic of the kingdom is diminishing, an impending drought threatens, while common people go missing mysteriously.
Gauging this multi-fold trouble situation for the King, everyone around him is executing their devious plans. How will Bharat face all these challenges forms the rest of the story.
Mythological fiction is a sensitive genre to handle as the author must be extremely cautious about their imagination of the topic and while the story of Bharat as King of Kosala is an unexplored area in Indian fiction writing, the author pleasantly surprised with a taut and flawless narration. Bharat being a lesser-known character also adds to the intrigue; while some characters are already known ones there are a whole set of new characters who hold the reader’s interest.
The story transports the readers to a different, fantasy world which was the highpoint for me. The action sequences are par excellence; this part ends at a cliffhanger which could be a disappointment for few readers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and eagerly waiting for the next in this series — Resurrection.
My rating:
5/5.