Sons of Darkness

The Raag of Rta #1

by Gourav Mohanty

Some ballads are inked in blood.

Bled dry by violent confrontations with the Magadhan Empire, the Mathuran Republic simmers on the brink of oblivion. Krishna and Satyabhama have put their plans in motion within and beyond the Republic's blood-soaked borders to protect it from annihilation. But they will soon discover that neither gold nor alliances last forever.

They are however not alone in this game.

Mati, Pirate-Princess of Kalinga, has decided to mend her ways to be a good wife. But old habits die hard, especially when one habitually uses murder to settle old scores. Brooding but beautiful Karna hopes to bury his brutal past but finds that destiny is a miser when it comes to giving second chances. The crippled hero-turned-torturer Shakuni limps through the path of daggers that is politics only to find his foes multiply, leaving little time for vengeance.

Their lives are about to become very difficult for a cast of sinister queens, naive kings, pious assassins and ravenous priests are converging where the Son of Darkness is prophesied to rise, even as forgotten Gods prepare to play their hand.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Mythology, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Dark Fantasy

636 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2022

About the author

Author, Lawyer, Stand Up Comedian, Papercut Survivor, Pretend Swordfighter, Recovering Burgers Addict. As evident, his life has many tabs open.

Though he was doing well as a lawyer in Mumbai, he is now pursuing the infinitely more unattainable dream of being the first 'epic fantasy novelist' of India. A connoisseur of mythologies and momos, he enjoys channeling 'The Rock' and writing author bios in third person.

Sons of Darkness is Gourav’s first novel. Give it a shot for the poor author owes considerable gold to goblins.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC was provided by the publisher—Leadstart—in exchange for an honest review.

Mahabharata imbued with A Song of Ice and Fire, The First Law, & Malazan Book of the Fallen, Sons of Darkness is the best fantasy debut of 2022.

‘Whenever men found it hard to justify success, they inevitably fell back on luck as the reason. And if the success was completely unimaginable to their feeble minds, they called it magic.’

I need to first mention this. Since I finished The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie last September, I haven't read any grimdark novel before this month. Yes, it's almost a year. It has been hard to put my feet back into the grimdark sub-genre. Not because I disliked The Wisdom of Crowds or grimdark. It's the other way around. Grimdark is one of my favorite subgenres to read, even though I don't like the term itself; I prefer calling it dark fantasy, but oh well. Anyway, I loved The Wisdom of Crowds so much that I fell into a grimdark subgenre hangover. Since then, it seemed like I had no interest in reading any book that certifies itself as grimdark. Until I saw the reveal and interview of Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty three months ago.

‘They are all fascinating. They have talked to Gods, loved like animals, and written songs that would make Sister Mercy cry. Though we will never leave these hallowed walls to see them in person, yet through their tales, we will be their companions. You can look through any of our journals; access is not denied to any Matron. You are one of us now. Treat them with care, for it is your gift, child. Your welcome to the Ballad of the Fallen.’

The super stunning cover art by Micaela Alcaino caught my attention, and everything the author said in his interview with Fantasy Book Critic finalized my decision to read this book. Sons of Darkness, the first Indian Epic Grimdark Fantasy novel (published in India), is the first installment in The Raag of Rta series. It is practically a smorgasbord of Mahabharata, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, The First Law by Joe Abercrombie, Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. All of these (except Mahabharata that I haven't read) are some of my favorite series/books of all time, and there is no way I am not reading this. And now that I've finished reading Sons of Darkness, I can vouch that these series' respective influences are embedded with justice. Mohanty deserves praise for his creativity in blending every one of them into one unforgettably stunning and distinct debut novel. And believe me, once you've read this novel, the hidden symbolism behind the cover art will shine through. Let’s begin this review with a brilliant line from the novel:

“‘What do you call an angry sheep and an angry cow?’ Draupadi laughed, shaking her head. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Baaa... aaad moooo... ooood.’”

The passage above should be enough to make you read this novel, right? No? Seriously? I love that kind of joke! Alright, I will begin with a quote from the prologue instead.

‘For a Hero of Light, he reckoned he cast a rather grim shadow. Hero. The word slithered nastily in his mind. An honour bestowed upon you when you had killed all those who would have called you a mass murderer.’

If you want to know the premise of Sons of Darkness, I highly recommend you check the official blurb on the back of the book instead. The blurb did a great job in telling the premise without going into spoiler-territory. As for this review, let me start by saying Sons of Darkness has one of the best prologues I’ve ever read. I have always found myself dumbfounded by the argument that prologues shouldn’t exist anymore in the fantasy genre. I disagree with this. A prologue in a fantasy novel can do many things, one of the most important things being the chance to give readers something to look forward to later on. This is what Mohanty did in his 16 pages prologue. It was brutal, it immediately exhibited the darkness of the story, and I knew Muchuk Und's story and the elements introduced here would come back to enhance the narrative eventually. And it did.

‘You have your sword, I have my mind. And a mind can be sharper than any Assyrian blade. We play with the gifts the Gods bestow upon us. And who are they to us? Either carpets to our thrones or casualties on the way.’

With the sprawling scope of the series and the many varying cast of characters, Mohanty is burdened with a challenge that many epic fantasy authors encounter. To write a compelling slow-burn first half before exploding the narrative into an unstoppable thrilling reading experience in the second half. This is normal in a sprawling epic fantasy like A Song of Ice and Fire and many more. Personally, I tend to love a relatively slow-paced narrative, especially in the early section of the first volume of an epic fantasy series. Mohanty needed to introduce the characters and the world-building of Sons of Darkness to make the readers invested in their journey and the world first, and from my experience, that is what he precisely did in the first half of the novel. Your patience with the relatively slow section will be returned tenfold. Patience is a virtue.

‘But Krishna liked that about her. It had made her… realistic about things. She laughed with the knowledge that it wasn’t meant to last, and cried with the self assurance that it was futile. She was like a glacier, relentless and implacable. But eyeing the letter from Panchal, he reckoned that sometimes even a vast glacier could crack into crevasses under deer hooves.’

In ADHYAYA (Sanskrit for chapter) I: WINTER OF DISCORD, Mohanty introduced and developed the pairing of Krishna and Satyabhama from Mathura. And also Shisuphal from Magahd. The characterizations for the characters in Sons of Darkness were superbly written. It was difficult for me to choose which character was my utmost favorite. I actually cannot choose just one. But I can certainly say that Satyabhama and her band of Silver Wolves (Storm and Rain were my favorites of the Wolves) were some of my favorite characters in Sons of Darkness. Their unflinching bravery, loyalty, and their admirable determination to fight against prejudice and control their own destiny as women were nothing short of inspiring. I mean. Due to the sprawling narrative, Satyabhama didn't even appear again after ADHYAYA I for approximately 50% of the book. However, I guarantee you this. Once you're done with the book, Satyabhama and the Silver Wolves will become some of your favorite characters. Their presence was irreplaceable.

‘Women are cursed to suffer, thought Draupadi. None can change that… not with complaints, or prayers, or revolution. But one can spit at life and dare it to hurt you more. Draupadi pondered over the likes of Satyabhama, Storm and the other Silver Wolves. Women who had taken charge of their destinies, women fighting their fate. A losing battle perhaps, but a fight nonetheless.’

It goes without saying that Satyabhama and the Silver Wolves weren't the characters worth highlighting here. In ADHYAYA II: ALL THAT GLITTERS, Mohanty focused the plot on Mati from Kalinga and Karna from Hastina. Karna was a character I felt a bit lukewarm at first, but this opinion instantly vanished after I read the first out of two sets of convergence chapters: SWAYAMVAR PART I and PART II, which I will talk about soon. Mati did not have much of an appearance in Sons of Darkness, but Karna somehow transformed into one of my favorite characters in the book, just like Satyabhama and the Silver Wolves I just talked about. Karna earned so much of my empathy. Though kind-hearted and mighty with his bow, he's frequently ridiculed, hated, and prejudiced simply due to his birth. As I said, being patient is so worth it with this novel. Once you reach the convergence chapters, you will reap the first sequence of rewards.

‘Most ballads say that Luck is a Lady, naked and shapely, reserving her blessings for the most valiant and dashing of heroes. Perhaps this was so as the bards were usually Namins. If Karna had been asked to give his luck a shape, it would have been a female praying mantis, the creature that made love to its mate, then decapitated him and devoured his body for dinner.’

The geopolitical dramas in Sons of Darkness were evidently inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire. But the first and the most dominant evidence of The First Law inspiration can be seen in the master of spies from Hastina, Shakuni, and the name of the chapter that he appeared, which is ADHYAYA III: BEST SERVED COLD. Shakuni is a former tortured prisoner of war that turned into a crippled torturer. Yes, you're right. Shakuni is undoubtedly Glokta-inspired. Initially, I was taken aback by how similar they were. However, after researching Shakuni's background in Mahabharata, I think it is smart to emulate Glokta's style of inner monologues for this character. And as I progressed further into the book, fortunately, their story turned out more and more differently. I love how the author included his main inspirations to Sons of Darkness clearly, and still, he successfully transformed the novel into something that is definitely his own. For example, take a look at the next quote I'm going to show you.

‘It is said that the greatest gift the Gods can give you is to forget about you. And Shishupal wanted nothing more than to spend his life unnoticed by the Gods. A life unnoticed by the Gods is boring and unimaginative, but a happy and long one. And he worked hard to make his life precisely thus.’

If you've read the prologue of Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, you will notice it came from there. And speaking of inspirations, it is time to talk about the main spotlights of the novel. Exactly. It is time to discuss the epic convergences in THE SWAYAMVAR and THE BATTLE OF MATHURA. The SWAYAMVAR: PART I and THE SWAYAMVAR: PART II take place halfway through the book. This is the first instance of Mohanty's incredible action sequences. But have no fear. It shall not be the last. This storytelling structure of including two big epic convergences sequences reminded me of reading a book in Malazan Book of the Fallen. A good example of this is Memories of Ice. In that book, we have Siege of Capustan and Siege of Coral in one big book. THE SWAYAMVAR and THE BATTLE OF MATHURA are what we readers get here, and the results were absolutely pulse-pounding.

‘I know what I said of hate… But vengeance is a sword with a hilt made of jagged glass. You will bleed when you swing this sword. All those kings and their families that I butchered, brought me no peace. No happiness. No satisfaction. Take it from one who has suffered girl, do not walk that path.

I thought the weapons of precise chaos unleashed in THE SWAYAMVAR were destined to be the peak of the novel. I am gratified to be proven wrong by this. Remember this as you read it. If you love THE SWAYAMVAR chapters, what ensues in the ultraviolent BATTLE OF MATHURA will blow your mind away. It definitely did for me. War is coming with merciless malice. Everyone involved in the war has to stop being a lamb and be a wolf instead. As I write this review, I am still not over the intense carnage I read in THE BATTLE OF MATHURA. And just like the other best battle scenes I've read, I don't think I will ever be over it. It was, unquestionably, one of the best war sequences I've ever read in fantasy.

‘A day may come when the courage of men fails… but it is not THIS day.’—Tolkien, Lord of the Rings

With glimpses of The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie in its battles structure, the memorable duel and the battle frenzy in the climax sequence of Sons of Darkness should deservedly be entered into the hall of fame of some of the best battles in fantasy. Seriously, reading the powerfully inspiring battle spirits, the massive detonation of the bellower (similar to Moranth munitions in Malazan Book of the Fallen), and the relentless symphony of blood songs in THE BATTLE OF MATHURA was all-consumingly immersive. Due to the ever-growing quantity of fantasy books I read, it's getting harder for me to feel absolutely riveted in a war sequence within a fantasy novel. But trust me on this. Epic fantasy readers will want to WITNESS this fiery conflagration of emotions. It is truly a breathtaking culmination to Sons of Darkness.

‘There are few things more dangerous than a man who has nothing to lose.’

Before I end this review, I need to mention a few important things. The author has forewarned this in the author's note. Sons of Darkness is an epic grimdark fantasy novel. The novel is certainly not for the faint of heart. The characters are morally grey. None of them are protagonists or antagonists; they are characters trying their best to survive and do what's right according to them. They do questionable things. Although never endlessly bleak and depressing, brutal and violent scenes are evident in the text; pretty much all the harrowing actions you can expect in wars.

‘The end justifies the means... Any end achieved through violence ends in a pit of despair. It is not a destination to aspire to, my friend.’

I've mentioned in this review constantly that this is an epic grimdark fantasy novel. But it is worth remembering that the story in Sons of Darkness, as shown in the colored map drawn by the author at the front of the book, takes place in Ancient India. Mathura, Magadh, Hastina, Panchal, Kalinga, and more settings in this book exists in our world. It is more precise to call Sons of Darkness a historical epic grimdark fantasy novel. Many words and terminologies such as ADHYAYA, SWAYAMVAR, chakras, and mandalas can be researched to enhance reading enjoyment. This counts deities and demigods in Indian mythology like Daevas from Deva, Rakshasa, and mounts like Airavata and Garuda. I can't emphasize this highly enough. All of these, plus the inspirations implementation I explained earlier and the manipulation of the dark prophecy gave Sons of Darkness extra extensive reason why it should be read by historical/grimdark fantasy enthusiasts.

‘A man is not known by the promises he makes but by those he keeps.’

With seven key characters and other well-written supporting characters in 206,000 words, there is a LOT to unpack in Sons of Darkness. I highlighted so many quotes. And I still left out tons of amazing things from the novel in this review. You can't experience the full glory of it through my (or any) review. You have to read this for yourself. The unbreached bastion for grimdark fantasy literature in India has been breached with Mohanty as the lead, and nothing can stop the novel from encompassing the entire world now. Some ballads are inked in blood, and the blood ink in Sons of Darkness has left a permanent mark in the fantasy genre. Valorously retelling Mahabharata by infusing influences from some of the most magnificent epic grimdark fantasy series in the world elevated Sons of Darkness into becoming the new scintillating hidden gem in epic grimdark fantasy. With engaging duel, an exceptional war sequence, lovable and despicable characters, heroic stunts, dark prophecies, meddling gods, and many more, Sons of Darkness is filled with all the makings of a tremendous epic grimdark fantasy. It has reignited my passion for reading grimdark again after a one-year break from it. And to think this is only the first installment! I, and Choco Boy, love being engrossed in this tale from Ancient India, and we can't wait to read the sequel, Dance of Shadows, as soon as possible. Bravo, Gourav Mohanty, for this excellent debut.

P.S:
Thank you so much to Gourav Mohanty and Leadstart for sending me a physical copy (directly printed in India edition) and for doing a great job in publishing Sons of Darkness. It is floppy. The cover art is super stunning. It also comes with a fully colored frontispiece and map. I heard Indian readers who read my reviews or watch my YouTube channel convinced the author and publisher to send me Sons of Darkness, and I would like to thank all of you who did that. Not only has Sons of Darkness become one of my favorite books, but it is also a gorgeously produced paperback. Leadstart, if you're reading this, time to create a hardcover of Sons of Darkness. Everything about it is too good to stay exclusively as a paperback.

Picture: Frontispiece art by Jennifer Bruce



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[Gourav Mohanty]

Hi, there and Namastey!

So, SONS OF DARKNESS is my book (yay). I'm going to use this space to tell you a little about its origins and its themes in case you're wondering whether you might enjoy reading it.

Before you fasten your seat-belts however, do give my bipolar invitation below a further read.
Sons of Darkness begins as a SLOW BURN. The array of South Asian character names might (will) initially overwhelm you. There is no central hero. The characters will appear snide and scornful (especially in the first 20% of the book). Your mind will go "What is happening? I don't understand. Random Lore. Dense! Misogynist brother! Why is he calling his sister - a war general - ugly?!"

But I promise that the labyrinth you will find yourself in is a web unraveling - all in a bid to snare you. For, I never intended the book to be read on the course of a short flight journey. No. I wanted this book to be something you marinate in, simmering with a host of spices. So, hang in there till the Second Adhyaya and I promise this tale from Ancient India will go for your throat. Pirate princesses, lowborn archers, adorable psychopaths, devious lawyers, valiant swordswomen, and reluctant soldiers dancing amidst murderous weddings, murder trials, and massive battles await you in a brave new world—just waiting for you to Indiana Jones your way through it!

If you are still prepared to dive head-first into this chasm of chivalry and cynicism, all I ask is that you leave your helms behind and trust the fall.

On to the BTS, when I took some of the wonderful characters of the mythological poem Mahabharata and tossed them into a parallel dimension that was pervasively bleak and nihilistic, it was with the intention of making an alternate version of ME in a parallel universe — my intended reader — sit up and gasp on his couch. 'Cause creating a world of morally grey characters with Wodehousian humour was my north star when I set out to play a medieval matchmaker and marry the mystique of the Italian Renaissance with the mythology of India, and I think that is what you might enjoy in SONS OF DARKNESS.

Not just because it is a grimdark reimagination of an ancient Indian folktale, or because it features complex political Malazan-Machiavellian machinations across kingdoms and empires. Sure, all those reasons as well.

But I prophesize (more like, hope) that you might deeply resonate with the multiple-POV cast of this saga. You might be inspired by Satyabhama, a third wife/master-swordswoman who commands an all-female squad of search-and-rescue soldiers who were abandoned at birth because of fear of dowry. Or mayhaps you might savour the debauchery of Mati- a pirate princess with no conscience or sympathize with Masha, a tortured young clairvoyant tasked with deciphering the future to prevent it. And that is just the women of this tale.



I think you might enjoy the dynamic between Eklavvya (adorable psychopath) and Shishupal (retired soldier who just wants a vacation), or delve into the psychology of a villain/antihero in Krishna (puppeteer behind thrones). If you love Glotka, you might relish Shakuni (who incidentally in ancient Indian mythology was also a crippled torturer - like a 4000 year old predecessor of Glotka). Or you might just cheer for Karna (a lowborn archer), the way you cheered for Kaladin in Words of Radiance.

I know not who might touch a chord with you but I do nurture the candle of hope that you might find SONS OF DARKNESS a move towards reclaiming stories from history especially from a part of the world that hasn’t fully gotten the chance to tell its epic-fantasy stories on the world stage yet. In this movement set on course by amazing writers from first, Greece, followed by Africa, then East Asia and now China, I hope I am able to carve a tiny space for Indian mythological tales.

Why?

Because the epic fantasy genre is dead in India.

The bare bones of Sons of Darkness saw the light after I read A Game of Thrones . I eagerly went up on Goodreads to search a similar book set in India or by an Indian author, and I was honestly shocked that there were no desi epic-fantasy tomes. This struck me as an anomaly especially when you consider more than half the concepts (reincarnation, circular time, et) in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time are inspired by Indian lore.

The other idea was to have badass women. Every mythological text is unfortunately steeped in misogyny. For example, in India, we don’t worship a God of War but a Goddess of War. However, that does not axiomatically translate into the portrayal of powerful devil-may-care mortal women in mythological texts. Stereotypes and traditional gender roles still persist, limiting the representation of resilient brown women in literature and media.

Don’t get me wrong. Have fictional Indian women in mythology been strong? Yes. Resolute? Yes. Have they have faced and conquered innumerable odds? Yes. But they have almost always been damsels-in-distress who have perserved against patriarchy, and I wanted to read of damsels-who-caused-distress. I remember a reader from the West spoke of how snide a certain swordswoman appears in the book - understandably unaware that in the scriptures she has relegated to a footnote character with no voice of her own. Imagine - the only mortal swordswoman in the entirety of Ancient Indian mythology - and she is just mentioned in passing in the scriptures. It was the same with the issue of marital rape - the criminalization of which is a burning issue in my country. Someone from the West raised issue with the idea of subjecting a woman to it in the book. But, as Indians, we know and we remember how the mythological text glossed over the forced polyandrous marriage of that princess. I wanted to peel off that nail to show the horrors underneath which I imagined that princess must've felt when she found herself brainwashed into marrying multiple men who lived in dire poverty in the original text.

So as cliche as it sounds, I set out to write a book I wanted to read. I can only hope that I did justice to the lore of India and to the women of the past.

Whether the Book is for you?

We all drink, unconsciously or not, from the fountain of our creative inspirations. This book sprang from the smorgasbord of A Song of Ice and Fire, Malazan and First Law. I’m not saying Sons of Darkness will read like these works. But if geopolitical dramas across kingdoms layered with brutality, caste-conflicts, dry humor and twists (and a South Asian touch) is something you love, I hope you will find it reflected in the writing.

To be frank, if you’re turned off by violence, you might like to pick up a different book for there are assassinations, arson, murder, battles, sacrifices, you name it. But! If you have ever been interested in Ramayana, Kaikeyi or even Naruto but always wished it were a lot more fucked up, you might enjoy this book.

Alright, I will wind up this TedTalk. Thank you for giving this Indian book a chance :)

P.S. There is a mother of typos in the Prologue. Asha is devouring the neck of Savitre Lios (her lover) and NOT Muchuk Und (her brother). ASOIAF is my inspiration, yes, but there are limits (*Chandler Bing's Awkward Laugh*)

[Mark Lawrence]

Shockingly, this is only the 3rd book I've read this YEAR!

It's a long book and took me 2 months to get through.

The headlines are that it's a very well written book, with strong, witty prose, and I feel a lot of people will love it.

I had to think hard about why I didn't enjoy it as much as I should, and I think it's because I just don't get on with books that have lots of points of view and lots of politics. I can only really think of A Song of Fire And Ice as books I love that fall into that category.

With many PoVs and lots of bouncing around I generally fail to make any emotional connection with the characters, and as a consequence I don't really care what they're doing, why, or if they succeed.

I struggled to follow the story lines in Sons of Darkness. I read Gardens of the Moon and whilst I had the same issue of not really caring about the characters, I followed the story easily enough. I don't know what the difference was here - some of it may have been the character names, many of which were many syllabled and quite similar to my eye. That's probably a me-problem. Many of the place names, event names etc were also quite long and the unfamiliarity exacerbates my mild dyslexia, mixing them up into jumbles that are hard for me to tell apart.

For example: Satyaki & Satyabhama discuss the Syamantaka - vaikunshard lies all around. Meanwhile Shishupal & Shalya are talking to Hiranyavarman.

Now none of these names are super-long but my brain just has difficulty telling them apart & it makes following the story that bit more difficult.



What saved the book for me was the strength of the writing, the author's great imagination, and the humour running through it.

I've seen people talk about the book as "Indian grimdark". I'm not sure about that. There was certainly a significant amount of awfulness in terms of innocents butchered, tortured etc, some of it in stomach churning detail. But the great majority of that felt like background/wallpaper – a bunch of children were mutilated at a public event, but the PoV character doesn’t know them, isn’t the one doing it to them, and doesn’t enjoy it at all.

It's more “Indian Game of Thrones”. Most of the characters are self-interested, many prepared to do horrific stuff if it gets them to their goal. We have points of view from child acolyte to old (middle-aged?) statesman in a “grand vizier” role.

The prologue is important but didn’t really sell me on the story. Chapter 1 was far more engaging. It’s a long book with a TON of stuff going on, so I won’t address most of that, but there’s a great variety of levels to see the world through. A young girl whose family have been killed training as an assassin for revenge (you might say Arya, but it’s only the very top level descriptions that overlap), a maimed political manipulator (the Spider? But again, no similarities beyond the highest level), a peerless fighter, a brilliant but besieged leader, the list goes on.

Towards the end there’s some blatant trolling of LotR’s readers, which is quite fun. And the huge battle at the end does give some level of closure but really just sets us up for book 2 with many irons in the fire.

There are certainly some characters I’d like to know more about. It’s a drawback of many PoVs that we never get to spend long enough with any of them for me to feel I really have that great a picture of them. Especially with so much going on. But for readers who feel my books are slow and who want a plot with many moving parts, all unfolding at pace – this could very well tick all your boxes.

The prose, as I said, is lively and strong. I liked: "Her bosom rose and fell like an empire." which is ridiculous but also works marvellously. And: "The sky fitted neatly over the overcrowded city-" (though I would have just used "crowded" to avoid echoing the "over")

Near the end there’s a really strong description of a princess feeling like she’s a path beaten into the long grass, but I can’t find that one.

In the end I definitely had fun with the book and there were many things to praise, inventive, exciting, varied, well written. But what I personally read for is primarily to fall in love (not romantically) with characters, and that’s where this one missed my particular target.

For me it’s a strong effort in the Game of Thrones vein, drawing on Indian mythology – an area I don’t know much about, so I can’t comment on how closely it does or doesn’t fit culturally, religiously etc.

If it’s the kind of book you love, then I’m pretty sure you’ll love this one. And while it basically takes George RR Martin to make a book like this one swallow me up, Mohanty came closer than anyone else I can think of.



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[William Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic fantasy tale that everyone needs to keep an eye on! Sons of Darkness has everything a fantasy reader could want. Immersion, action, epic conflicts, warring factions, fluid prose and so, so much more.

[Mihir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Once in a while (say around 10 years or so), you come across a book that makes you believe that it was written just for you. Gourav Mohanty’s debut novel Sons Of Darkness, is such a book and for an Indian SFF reader (like me), it couldn’t have come any sooner.

According to the author, this was his effort to bring something epic to the Indian SFF genre which has been relatively bereft so far (not discounting Samit Basu’s Gamesworld trilogy & Amish Tripathi’s works). However having read both the authors’ works. I can safely say this is definitely the first traditionally published, Indian Grimdark fantasy. Sons Of Darkness takes a lot of characters from the Mahabharata while thoroughly putting them in a secondary fantasy world inspired by A Song Of Ice And Fire & whilst retaining the Indian sensibilities. This is a uniquely written story that rewards both the eastern and western fantasy readers as it shocks and etches its own mark on the global SFF landscape.

The plot is a multi-faceted one and had a wide cast of characters as well. Beginning with Krishna, one of the Senators of the Mathuran republic and a Machiavellian character as cunning as his mythological counterpart. Shishupal is a claw in the service of the Magadhan empire and is a honorable man forced to play dishonourable games and activities. Karna, a Resht has gained the friendship of Prince Duryodhan of the Hastina Union and is forever in his debt. Pirate princess Mati fears no man and has plans of her own. They however depend on many people doing the right thing and that has never been the case. Shakuni, the master of spies of the union of Hastina is always in pain due to his tortured body but his mind is sharp as ever and it won’t stop him for doing the best for his nephew Duryodhan. We also meet Draupadi, the famed, fiery beauty of Panchal who is soon to learn that politics and passion do not overlap. Lastly there’s Nala who learns that above all fate is the cruelest master. There are a couple more POVs but I don’t wish to spoil the surprise about who they are and what their part is in this story.

Here’s why I think this book is so unique. Firstly the worldbuilding, combining Indian mythology in a secondary fantasy world is hardly unique. But to do it in such a way to make the world feel so incredible, is a feat to be lauded. The readers will be pulled into this world called Aea that is deep as it is wide. Focusing on a large character cast and geo-political issues, the author one-ups his mentor George R.R. Martin by also having magic be a vital and active part of this world. There are also some wonderful science fictional aspects, which as an Indian mythological fan are not surprising. But to the western fantasy readers, this might be a tad surprising. However it fits within the confines of the world and makes sense entirely.

Secondly, the rich characterization makes this story even more spectacular. We get different POV characters and nearly all of them are from the epic of Mahabharata however, there are some new ones and some whose entire history and personalities have been altered beyond recognition. In this regards, I have to give kudos to the author for taking this bold step. It is very clear he has a final goal in mind and this book lays down the foundation stones quite brilliantly. The story is over 200K words and the first 30% of the book is spent carefully explaining the world and setting up the world scenario.

What I loved about the characters was how the author explored the class and geo-political dichotomies through their personal lives. Be it Karna and his rage at the classist issues in Aryavrat. Shishupal is a decent man caught up in a war and is forever striving to be honourable. Shakuni and Krishna are both strategists who are always striving to one up their opponents. Satyabhama’s character was a revelation as she’s shown to be an incredible warrior & leader who enthralls everyone. In this regards, she seemed like a perfect Gemmellian hero and kudos to the author for highlighting her as a character. I loved how the author explored more of the world and past/future with Nala and Masha. Moreover, there’s a bit role played by Eklavya and I was over the moon with the author’s interpretation for him. Lastly, there’s many more side characters who are introduced within and will play a bigger role in the sequels (if they survive that is). One small thing I wish to mention is that while the Pandavas do make cameo appearances, they are not the focus of the story and do not get any POV appearances.

Next up the book has some tremendous action sequences that will astound. I can’t talk about them in detail because of spoilers but for those who have read the Mahabharata will know about the Swayamvar incident. However here the author twists expectations and truly gives us a chaotic fight that has to be read to be believed. Also a fine taste of the main archery showdown is provided. The climax is focused on a siege that is bloody and massively destructive, as we have come to expect in fantasy stories. Lastly there’s a one on one warrior duel that is very unexpected and possibly one that rivals the best written by David Gemmell.

I do not know if this was done on purpose but the author emulates his idol by giving us some terrific food descriptions. Which are fun to read and definitely are a highlight when its done (and it is sparingly so).

Lastly the best thing about this book is the incredible amount Hindu mythology and lore that author has vigorously inserted and utilized within. So many characters and events are referenced and mentioned that even I had to look them up. Now I am by no means an expert on Hindu mythology however I count myself decently knowledgeable. Hence I was very impressed with Gourav’s imagination and the plot twists he planned within. For non-desi readers, this won’t matter as they will be given an incredible Malazan-like experience. As they are exposed to a rich world that is multiple millennia old and has many, many secrets. All in all, this is a world building aficionado’s wildest dream come true and I can’t wait for the sequels to see more secrets being spilled.

In another nod to GRRM, the author plays with certain predictions and these play out in the auguries experienced by one of the POV characters. These are snippets of the future and it was fun to read them to see what is possibly being planned for the future.

For any drawbacks, I must say the first 30-40% are a bit slow-paced while the author sets up the main plot. In addition, the author has been influenced in a couple of dialogues from a few popular movies (for eg. Man Of Steel).

CONCLUSION: Sons Of Darkness is heralded as India’s first grimdark fantasy and I can heartily proclaim it true and more. Sons Of Darkness is an incredible debut that showcases the darkness of human hearts but also the heroic nature that resides within. It is a phenomenal fantasy story that heralds Gourav Mohanty & the rise of Indian fantasy on the world SFF stage. I can’t wait for the sequel Dance Of Shadows, don’t miss this debut. It’s the best one of 2022.

[ivanareadsalot]

I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

DNF @ 27%

This dense narrative is simply not working for me, and I have other arc commitments that need my attention at this time.✌🏼

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog

If you, like me, were hesitant about Sons of Darkness because you don’t know anything about the Mahabharata, then I am here to tell you that you can throw those concerns out the window right now. This book stands completely on its own and it will sweep you off your feet, no matter your background or prior knowledge. It’s a sprawling character-driven grimdark fantasy like you’ve never seen before, and I have no doubts that it will entrance both eastern and western readers alike.

As soon as I read this absolute banger of a prologue, I knew I was in for something special. Whereas most grimdark fantasies have dirty and bleak settings, Mohanty welcomes you into a rich, vibrant and honestly just all-round breathtaking world. However, that beauty soon proves to be quite deceptive, as this world is no less brutal than any other grimdark world you’ve encountered before. Right from the get-go, the stakes are dangerously high, and absolutely nothing and no one can be trusted at face value.

Now, this is a truly sprawling epic with a multi-layered plot that follows a large and diverse cast of characters spread out over all corners of the map (and over the entire spectrum of gray morality). There's no denying that it can be overwhelming to keep track of all the names, places, interpersonal relationships, tenuous alliances, and geopolitical scheming, but because the book is divided into 8 parts that each focus on only two or three of the POV characters at a time, the reading experience is surprisingly smooth. Yes, especially the first 25-30% definitely require some trust and patience from the reader, but if there was ever a book where the pay-off is worth it, then it’s in Sons of Darkness.

Each new part of the book only got more and more exciting for me as new characters were introduced and storylines started to converge in exciting yet often cataclysmic ways. There’s a sense of anticipatory dread that just permeates every aspect of this story from the very first page and I loved how the tension kept building, all leading up to not one, but two of the most thrilling action sequences I have ever read. Mohanty juggles all the disparate story threads with effortless grace and weaves them all together into a truly magnificent tapestry.

Add to all of this the fact that Mohanty's character work is outstanding, coming close to Abercrombie-levels of character voice. Naturally there were some characters that I latched onto way easier than others (mostly the women, to be honest), but there is no denyhing that both the main cast and the numerous secondary and tertiary characters just leapt off the page with their strong and vibrant personalities. Not to mention, they are all just deliciously Desi, which is exactly what makes them stand out from the rest of the morally grey grimdark crowd.

I also found it fascinating to see how the prominent themes of vengeance and ambition manifested in unique ways in every single character’s personal journey. Because especially when you follow such morally grey characters, that fiery ambition and quest for vengeance can result in some truly shocking actions and brutal back stabbings and betrayals, which this book is exploding with.

Other difficult themes of classism, oppression, disability, and sexism were also seamlessly woven into the narrative and handled with a lot of sensitivity and care, which added so much depth to the story and characters. I always love a good underdog story and the way that some characters use their perceived weaknesses to their own gain was super fascinating to explore. There is some great character growth that we get to witness and some of the character arcs were surprising and unexpected in the most satisfying way possible.

Also, a very big round of applause to Mohanty for creating some of the best female characters in the entire SFF genre, and in a deeply patriarchal world at that! Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some awfully brutal (and potentially triggering, tread with caution!) scenes that showcase the deeply ingrained sexism and devastating violence against women in this world, but I personally feel like they were not included for the sake of shock-value and I think they were handled in a relatively delicate and tactful manner.

From Satyabhama the war mistress with her warrior band of Silver Wolves, to Mati the rebellious pirate princess, to Draupadi the trophee princess who takes back her own agency, and to Masha the Oracle whose prophecy lies at the heart of this story, they all just absolutely stole the show for me. Truly, if there was one quibble I had with this entire book, it’s that I just wanted more of these kick-ass female characters on page. Though, I have a feeling that we will get to see some of them shine more in the rest of the series, so I am very excited to see where some of their stories go.

Speaking of things that I want to see more of… this story features chakra and mandala magic that absolutely entranced me. As someone who practises yoga and meditation every single day, I loved this spiritual type of magic and I desperately want to see more of it! Much like in Martin's ASOIAF, magic is viewed more as something of the distant past and it’s treated with a lot of superstition, though there are certain races/groups of people who have held onto the ancient knowledge and practices. It's really no surprise that Nala’s storyline quickly became one of my favourites, as that one came closest to fulfilling the magic apprentice in a sort of magical school setting trope, though in a way you’ve never seen before!

How Mohanty retells an ancient epic while wearing his modern influences on his sleeve without the story ever feeling unoriginal or like a rip-off is just completely beyond me. After finishing this book, I was already deeply impressed by what he pulled off here, but then I watched some author interviews and that only made me appreciate the bold and unique storytelling even more. Again, you don't have to know anything about The Mahabharata to appreciate and adore this story, but when you realise how cleverly Mohanty reinvented familiar characters and how deftly he wove Indian mythology into his own unique narrative, I will guarantee you that you will be left completely awe-struck.

Deadly political intrigue, exhilarating battles, thrilling duels, ethereal magic, ominous prophecies, meddling gods, mythological beings, utterly immersive world building, and a cast of deliciously dark and desi characters; this book truly has it all. Sons of Darkness is truly a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre and it will undoubtedly leave you hungering for more in the best way possible.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
*******************************************
First read 2023: 4 stars
Second read 2025: 3.75 stars

Prepping for book 2 with a re-read on audio was an absolute blast. Though while I came to enjoy and appreciate some aspects of Mohanty's ingenius storytelling even more with foresight of what's to come this second time around, there were also sections of the story that didn't work as well for me, especially in the first half. Still extremely hyped to dive into the sequel asap, because the way that this book ends is just deliciously dreadful in the most enticing way possible. Bring on the chaos!

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this a while back but forgot to write my thoughts!

A truly epic, stunning grim dark fantasy that wears it's influences on it's (jacket) sleeve. There is the historical and mythological influence of the Mahabharata, the epic scope and strife and ASOIAF and the humour and grey characters of The First Law. I loved it. Although it clearly has its inspirations, it is also incredibly unique. The characters are absolutely individual, multi-dimensional humans from all manner of backgrounds that lend to the marvellous world building. The action is brutal and serves the story, the dialogue is sharp and witty and the pacing is exactly what an epic fantasy should be.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus)]

Legit, this got dropped into my inbox from my library this morning and I had no idea what it was. Send help!

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was a rich piece of epic fantasy, but not as a grimdark as I hoped, given the marketing. I suspect I would have enjoyed this book more if I was more familiar with the Indian epic story that inspired this novel. Yet this was still a well drawn world with strong characters and plenty of action.

[Lauren Book Witch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this, having little knowledge of the Mahabharata but being really into non-western epic fantasy tales. The received an ARC of this story that comes out in July and was ready to dive all in. However, the first page, the very first damn page, at mention of the first female character goes, “…her haunched muscular shoulders, looked all the more ungainly without a bosom to balance her form. It was a miracle she did not slide off her horse.” 🙄 Yeah…so I’m out. There are plenty of amazing exciting fantasy books by Indian women out there. I’m going to go read those and suggest you do the same.

[Sahitya · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: gore, violence, rape during war/marital rape, casteism

When I first saw the cover reveal of this book, the immediate feeling was that I was upset I didn’t know a Mahabharata inspired fantasy novel was coming out soon, that too by a mainland Indian author. And the second feeling was how interesting the idea sounds and how cool the cover was. I was very very excited that I got an advance copy and I’m so happy that this turned out to live upto my expectations.

First things first, the comp title of this book is Game of Thrones and the author also is definitely writing in a dark/grimdark fantasy space which is something I’m not quite familiar with. It usually isn’t to my taste but I wasn’t gonna let that stop me from reading this book. And it definitely took me a while to get used to the huge cast of characters, the immense brutality and violence, the epic scope of the world, and the liberal use of the word “whore” which I’m still not a fan of. But despite the expansive nature of this story, I didn’t feel confused because it’s still familiar ground and I enjoyed making comparisons with what I know of the original epic. The pacing might feel like it’s slow and there’s conversations happening which you are not sure where they’ll lead to, but situations evolve very quickly and things accelerate from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye. There were many things I never saw coming and I enjoyed this unpredictable nature of the story. The magic system is alluded to and we only see little glimpses of it but that seemed like a lot of fun (almost reminded me of the talismans that Wei Wuxian writes in the air in the MDZS adaptations), and I can only hope we’ll have more magic in the sequel. The way the author kept a little essence of the original characters from the Mahabharata here but also drastically changed their personalities is also something I found very fascinating and I’m interested to see how much more troubles they are all gonna encounter in the future.

I do read adult fantasy a lot these days but I’ve truly not encountered a book with so many POVs in a long while. I think I lost count of how many we have here. But naturally I gravitated towards Krishna instantly. He is a strategic kingmaker who has already thought through many many moves ahead of his opponents and is fairly confident of achieving his goals. But sometimes this surety of his becomes his bane because he has overlooked some very unexpected scenarios and unpredictable people. I really liked him even though he could be a bit too callous and calculated to get his way, but that didn’t really stop me from wanting to know more of his story. He is perfectly complemented by Satyabhama who is a warrior and can be slightly impulsive, but is also strong and brave and compassionate enough to save many young girls in unfortunate circumstances. The only thing I didn’t like was probably that Satya exudes the “not like other girls” vibe a lot which I’m not that much of a fan of. Nevertheless, she is admirable and mostly her straightforwardness is out of place in this world full of cunning masters.

I think the author took the original Shakuni and dialed it up a 100, so his character here is fascinating because you think you know what he wants but you are never sure whom he will sacrifice at the altar of his desires. We don’t get any Pandava or Kaurava POVs and I think that was a very cool choice because we only get hints about the kind of people they are and it’ll be exciting to see where their stories will go next. It’s Karna whom we get to follow in detail and he was everything I expected him to be. He is a warrior at heart and is resolved not to live within the confines of caste and society, rise up based on his own virtues and skills and hopefully destroy the discriminatory caste system on the way. But he can also be a naive and too trusting because he is honest in his dealings and can’t see other’s cunning plans. I find that it’ll be difficult to survive in this world for him and only see more dreadful days ahead.

On the other side, we have characters like Mati and Shishupal and more who are pretty insignificant in the original epic but are formidable in their own ways here. Mati is a pirate princess and a force to reckon with, who has plans of her own and won’t let any man undermine her. Shishupal on the other hand wants to be far away from all the fighting because he is disgusted by the violence but unfortunately finds himself in the middle of the melee. I think he was the only person I found to be reasonable in the whole cast of characters and that was a fun surprise. Ekalavya’s glee for anything violent and Kalyavan’s naivete combined with his invincibility in war were also other interesting but not always comfortable aspects of the story. There are many other characters who also left an impression on me, especially Satya’s girls who seem like strong fighters but ultimately are just young girls who have no choice and find some strength in their sisterhood; and Draupadi who is unsure of her place in this world because it’s always others making choices for her and never anything that she truly wants.

In the end, I can only say I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this book but I definitely liked whatever has happened so far. This debut will definitely impress readers of the grimdark fantasy genre, and I’m sure the lifelong Mahabharata lovers like me will also find this inspired tale fascinating, if a lot more morally grey than the original. The impressive world building, the huge cast of characters who are both familiar and different, and the hint of magic that’s coming next, along with some prophecies of doom and oracles and other worldly beings all made for a very exciting (albeit a bit huge) story and I’m so looking forward to see where it goes next.

[Dom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the cover and had heard so many good things about this one, so I was very interested in reading it. As I was about to start, a friend told me she DNFd at about 40%, saying she couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and I reported back when I got to that point that I felt the same, and that feeling stayed with me to the end of the book.

Very loosely, this comes across, in feel and in marketing, as a bit of “A Song of Ice and Fire in India”, and you have quite a wide and varied cast, and POV chapters alternating between characters. Here though, I found there were big sections with one bunch of characters, and then there would be another big section with another bunch of characters, and whenever I started to get close enough to one batch, it would move on and I wouldn’t see them again for a long time. When I could get into the characters, I found it to be quite an enjoyable read, but those instances were just too few and far between for me.

I think this is a book that’s very grand in scale, and is definitely worthy of the term “epic”, but for me, I just felt like it was trying a bit too hard, and didn’t have enough focus on some of the smaller, but still very important, things.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY FAVOURITE BOOK THIS SUMMER ! THANK YOU MOHANTY FOR REPRESENTING INDIA IN FANTASY ARENA

Sons of Darkness is a slow burn, like burning in the fires of a dragon. The dragon takes time to fool around, floating lazily (still looking awesome) in the air till 1/3 of the book when it sinks its claws in and Dracarys-es the shit out of you. The book starts with showing us where each of the characters are (and there are a few) and takes its time about it. Though the journey is in no way dull for the sprinkle of dry humour with casual violence does more than enough to keep my appetite fed.

You have a Senator who is trying to figure out a diabolical way to save his tiny Republic from annhilation.

And who are they to us? Either carpets to our throne or casualties on the way

You have a manic princess who is really messed up in the head.

I have found, at great cost, that the best way to keep your word is by never giving it.

You have a noble warrior (Karna) who is dumber than Jon Snow.

Karna himself was dressed in passably aristocratic style in a caramel-brown knee-length coat that he was sweating in. A mark of a fraud, for the truly rich never sweat.

You have a reluctant diplomat (Shishupal) who has been dragged to the center of the maze of kingdom politics.

It is said that the greatest gift the Gods can give you is to forget about you. A life unnoticed by the Gods is boring and unimaginative, but a happy and long one.

You have an oracle tasked with the duty to decipher a prophecy:

There was a time when young Oracles awaiting investiture were made to witness the slaughter of their families, to sear into their souls the futility of hope. This sacred tradition had however, been abandoned by the Matrons over time, in favour of a meeker rite of passage into the House of Oracles. They reckoned the trials of initiation were lessons enough for the novices. Masha, on the other hand, thought the Matrons had grown soft.

There is just so much happening but Mohanty does a fine job in keeping a firm grip on the narration. The characters are fleshed out beautifully. I highly recommend having patience as you dig deeper into the book. It is only at the halfway mark where all the characters meet for a wedding that shit gets real, and how. From there on, we see everything, a duel, marital rape, murder trial, siege and battles. The action scenes played out cinematically enough for the ending to stab at your chest true and deep.

This book claims it combines Mahabharata with Game of Thrones and it lives up to its promise. There are beautiful flavours of India sprinkled across the book, with the wedding rituals, the magic system, the worldbuilding. So glad India finally has an epic fantasy series that is so dark.

Hero. The word slithered nastily in his mind. An honour bestowed upon you when you had killed all those who would have called you a mass murderer.

Thank you Victory Editing for the Netgalley copy

[Shauna Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually don’t know how to start this review.

This book was so good, I’m slightly speechless.

However, this is a blog post. It cannot simply be a page with the words BUY THIS BOOK repeated ad infinitum. I shall therefore endeavour to describe why I loved this book so much.

If we start with genre, it’s historical fantasy using mythology as a basis for the magic contained within the novel. So let’s just say from the get-go, I had high hopes. This is my genre. This is what I write. I know both how challenging it is to showcase a mythology and make it entertaining for people who already love it, and make it understandable for those who have never heard of it.

I will say right now, I know almost nothing about the Mahabharata on which this novel is based. It doesn’t matter. It is one hell of a novel that stands on its own feet.

That comes down to the writing. The story weaves between myth, history, war, romance and magic. Nothing is ever too much. Nothing is ever too little.

Err – Gourav – how dare you be so good?

I was absolutely gripped by this story and I really think it will make waves in fantasy and mythology retelling circles when it is released in July.

Game of Thrones is an obvious influence, so is The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie.

If anyone reading this is a fan of Joe Abercrombie, you will know that the duel in The Blade Itself makes for a thrilling set piece where almost every POV character comes together. Something similar happens in Sons of Darkness during a wedding swayamvar – where the hand of a princess can be won via a competition.

It’s quite a work of genius how this all plays out.

That of course is down to the characters.

We have Mati a mysterious pirate, who is not all she first seems. Krishna, a conqueror who finds his new kingdom at risk. Shishupal, a former prince who is sick of war. Nala, a young protegee at a temple who has many secrets. Masha, an oracle who has seen the future. And I cannot forget Karna, a low born man who is breaking through all social barriers – but at what cost? All so different. All utterly compelling in their own way.

I do not wish to spoil the plot, so I will leave it here. For those who want to sink their teeth into something complex, thought provoking and epic, this book is for you.

In short, this novel is amazing. How long is it until book 2 comes out?

Oh, and BUY THIS BOOK.

You can thank me later.

[Rachael]

Had to preorder the gorgeous special edition from The Broken Binding. So excited to finally get my hands on this! 🤩

[North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I goof about in my reviews, as I’m mostly writing these to draw a chuckle from my friends on here - but since this is a new release, and the author’s debut - I feel like I have an obligation to do this review right.

This book takes elements of the epic Mahabharata, and blends in other things. It has inspiration from ASOIAF, First Law and Malazan as the author mentions. My only experience is with Malazan, and yep there are nods to Steven Erikson’s work in here. I still feel that this will be a uniquely enthralling experience for most readers picking up this book.

I had a fantastic time with the novel. It has the all the check marks - multi-POV, kingdoms and conquests, flashy duels, an elaborate social system, a new and unique magic system, and most importantly - 200 IQ scheming from some of the smartest characters you will read about. Krishna and Shakuni’s POVs were an absolute delight to read from.

Touching on the themes explored for a second here - societal injustice and the lack of control over one’s own fate are explored beautifully in this one.

Before I go on and recommend the book, I must remind that is grim dark. Capital G, capital D. Is it that way the whole time? No. But it makes that evident very early in the book, and the grimdark elements are scattered throughout the novel. He does not shy away from describing humanity at its lowest, and the characters can be ruthless and selfish. But you still find some reason to root for these people.

This book was an absolute banger, straight 10/10. Excited to read the sequel. Best new release this year, and has a comfortable spot in my top 5 for all books this year.

[Rob Hayes]

I enjoyed this one. The author cites inspirations from GRRM and I can definitely see that along with Abercrombie. It's billed as a retelling of the Mahabharata with modern fantasy style. I have no experience of the Mahabharata, so I have no idea how close a retelling it is, but I found it easy enough to follow.

It's a dense book though. I found myself regularly wishing there was a glossary of terms as well as characters because there is a lot to remember.

Gourav really excels in the intrigue sections. They heighten the tension and it's fascinating to see all the twists and turns and schemes on display. And I was really impressed with how alive the world felt. So often if can feel as if characters are pieces being moved about to tell the story, but in Sons of Darkness, the characters felt real.

Fascinating and bloody, full of intrigue, with characters that leap off the page and feel alive. If you like GRRM or Abercrombie, I highly recommend giving this one a go.

[lookmairead · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 | 2nd Read
I’m so glad I listened to this bloody beast again before book 2.

I’m ready continue this pure adrenaline rush in Dance of Shadows (pub date 24 Feb 2025)

4.75/5

2023 | 1st Read

Man. I’ve been hungry for this level of original-feeling mythology + high fantasy.

I’m blown away by this debut. Mohanty writes whip-smart and holds no punches back in this war-fueled plot. Just, wow.

The conflicts are robust and brazen. The tension is stunning. The dialogue is intricate and at points just… funny. (Mohanty is a comedian also.) An absolute page turner in the category.

I can’t wait to see how he tops this in book 2.


4.5/5 (Rounded up, because Daeva take me, this is worth the TBR space.)

[Chaitanya Srivastava · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel so utterly bad for writing this review because I have always enjoyed the stories of/from Mahabharata but this was, quite detestable.

Too many things went wrong. And they went wrong right from the start! To begin with -
1/ this felt like the author tried really very hard to take Mahabharata and turn it into Game Of Thrones QUITE LITERALLY!!!!
2/ now as someone who has read the first two books in A Song of Ice and Fire, i can confirm that, unlike Sons of Darkness, to follow the book is relatively easier and perhaps more simper.
3/ the book has too many characters... more POVs than i cared to count (and most of them you dont even return to until after real long time) and the time/space jumps are also weirdly paced out
4/ the writing is dense and, to be honest felt extremely pretentious
5/ i couldn't care less about the characters, of what was happening to them, and the book itself by 230 pages.

I know this sounds like a rant but well I am just being honest. I really did wanted to enjoy this book especially since the cover is what really attracted me to it + the whole premise + the fact that we dont see enough Indian-based fantasies coming out INTL publishers! But this was just not for me.

Thanks to Bloomsbury India for sending across an early proof.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this book in anticipation of Dance of Shadows. And I enjoyed this even more on a reread. I was able to follow the story and characters so much easier since I was already familiar with the overall story. I am definitely glad I reread this book since it provided a great refresher on the characters. I have started Dance of Shadows and it is so much easier to read having reread Sons of Darkness. I also felt the need to reread Sons of Darkness since Dance of Shadows is a book written along side the events of Sons of Darkness.

I still agree with my previous review. I really am enjoying this series and I am excited to see where the author goes with the story. I do recommend giving this book a try, but keep in mind it is a different style from other typical fantasy stories in terms of the way it is written. I personally enjoyed its uniqueness and appreciated how the author wrote the story.

Old Review:

4.5-5.0 rounded up
Thank you NetGalley for giving the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review before its release. I honestly really enjoyed this book and it would have been 5 stars for me except for my frustration with the beginning of the book. To be fair though, the frustration in the beginning is because you have no idea what is going on and names are dropped everywhere. And speaking of names… I struggled hard with these names, the names of characters, the names of the places, its all unpronounceable for me. But that’s okay, I understand this is more India fantasy, and I got used to the names, I just had a really hard time for the first 30% of the book.

This story follows multiple point-of-views: which in the beginning this can be very confusing (especially with the complicated names and places) because each person is from a different area. But when you get to know the characters, each character is so rich in personality and each one is uniquely written. I enjoyed every character’s point-of-view. The main ones you get are Krishna, Shakuni (who is a lot like Glotka from First Law), Karna (who is a favorite), Draupadi, Nala, Masha, Shakuni, and others along with a plethora of amazing side characters as well such as Sudama, Satyabhama, Parshuram, Mati, and so many more. These characters all have unique personalities, differences and struggles. Karna, Krishna and Satyabhama were my favorites to read about.

Satyabhama is such an amazing character and I love this description of her: “Many bards had attempted to describe Satyabhama, but they had all failed. Perhaps it was the sheer contradictions of her personality—the stern unforgiving ruthless warrior and the Mother Patron of a hundred orphaned girls.”

Krishna is trying to rule Mathura but he is trying to not be a tyrant, he has a senate and tries to give the people a voice. But the Magadhan empire is at war with Mathura and trying to conquer them. Karna is a hero everyone loves and hates, but he was born of the lowest class and is trying to fight for the rights of his people.

This book does not really have a set plot but it is taking you on a journey into the world the author has created and you are experiencing all the political turmoil of the characters. Politics are the main part of this story. Each character is involved in some type of political maneuver and everyone is trying to out maneuver everyone else. And as reader it is quiet enjoyable to see all the political twists and turns the characters either knowingly or unknowingly create. A couple of main political storylines include the battle between Mathura and the Magadhan empire; the wedding (swayamvar) of Princess Draupadi—which is a huge political event that brings all the characters together.

But over all of these politics is the prophesy of the Son of Darkness rising to break the world. Which gives you an awesome reveal and anticipation for what is to come at the end of the book!
I will say the worldbuilding was amazing, the richness of the characters and politics was amazing. There were battles, duels, assassinations, betrayals, constant scheming and a taste of magic/otherworld beings to show what is to come. I cannot wait for the next book and I honestly think this will change to a five-star for me on a reread because I think with a reread I will be able to follow the beginning so much better than I was the first time and I will see so many different hints and foreshadowing that I missed the first read through.

I highly recommend this book, but go into this knowing that it may be a difficult start but it is worth it to continue. I promise it will make sense and get better the more you read. Just don’t let the names intimidate you as it almost did me. I do think this would be a lot easier to read with a physical copy as there is a guide but on a e-book I was not able to flip through to the indexes. But I still loved this nonetheless—which is why I think with the other books in the series and a reread that my rating will increase. This is a complex and wonderfully written book with so many complex characters and storylines, I am just amazed by how great this book turned out to be! Please give it a try it will be worth it in the long run and I cannot wait to see how rich the series will become.

[Douglas Lumsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when, after reading a really long book, the first thing I want to do is start over and read it again. I felt that way after reading Lord of the Rings, and Sons of Darkness affected me the same way. The world is so well drawn, and the stories in it so vivid, I didn't want to leave! Fortunately, more is on the way.

Gourav Mohanty gives us a sprawling tapestry of a fantasy version of South Asia inspired by the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Game of Thrones. After a brilliant Prologue, it's a slow burn as the pieces of the overall picture are introduced. The number of important characters with long non-western names can be a challenge to keep straight, but if you hang in there it gets much easier as the sections of the tapestry start to pull together. I found all of the characters fascinating, but my favorites are the clever scheming Krishna and his badass third wife Satyabhama, as wonderful a yin/yang duality as you'll ever see. I also grew to really like Shishupal, a pragmatic everyman who finds himself traveling with a mysterious and dangerous man he fears and hates, and discovers him to be a rather charming and likable rogue. I also got a kick out of Shikuni, the clever old spymaster with the bum leg. Happily, Mohanty does a great job out of making most of the dozens of characters in this story more than simple cliches.

The final section of the book, mostly dealing with the apocalyptic siege of Krishna's city of Mathura, is as gripping and exciting as it gets. It's got all the heroic action, heartbreaking tragedy, pulse-pounding suspense, and surprising twists we all crave in our epic fantasy blockbusters. And there's plenty left on the table to keep us anxiously counting the days for the sequel.

Sons of Darkness is a triumph from beginning to end. I am in awe of this book, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

[L'encre de la magie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 relecture
Beaucoup de personnages, normal on est sur une épopée védique, la relecture fait du bien, je suis près pour la suite avec Dance of Shadows 🤩
I need the sequel Mohantyyyyy 🤣🙏

Avis Lecture 🧐📖 "Sons of Darkness", The Raag of Rta 1, Gourav Mohanty, 🇮🇳 🕉️

English below ⬇️

Voilà un roman qui était sur ma wishlist depuis des mois et j'ai eu la chance de recevoir un service press de @netgalley (thank you so much!!) en échange d'une chronique honnête !
Auteur indien, Grimdark Fantasy inspirée du Mahabharata (le grand livre sacré de l'inde, une épopée magnifique de la mythologie Hindoue. 🙏❤️), bref vous l'aurez compris, j'avais hâte de lire ce titre et je n'ai pas été déçu !

Mohanty nous plonge dans un univers gigantesque, violent (l'auteur nous prévient tout de suite) une fresque s'étalant sur des milliers d'années, très colorée au début, avec des personnages tout en nuances et dont certains noms vous sembleront peut être familiers.
J'ai trouvé Krishna et sa femme la grande guerrière Satyabhama, du côté de la République Mathuran excellents, de même que Mati la Princesse pirate et Shishupal, un personnage que j'ai trouvé très humain, fuyant la violence comme le regard des dieux qui ne semblent pas lui laisser de répit. 😂
Pour autant j'ai parfois trouvé l'écriture de ces personnages un peu cliché... Mais ça ne m'a pas coupé dans ma lecture. 👍

La magie de l'univers m'a par contre émerveillé 😱🤩 c'était beau !!! Elle repose essentiellement sur les Chakras (et c'est magique c'est le cas de le dire 😍), les Mandalas qui sont utilisés comme des Runes et sur des êtres élémentaires ! J'ai trouvé cette magie tout à fait originale, bien qu'elle tienne de la culture hindou, mais c'est quelque chose qui a été peu exploité en Fantasy et c'était superbe !

Si vous aimez les récits avec des enjeux politiques, humains ; si vous aimez les grandes épopées et les univers non eurocentrés alors ce titre pourrait vous plaire. Attention par contre, il n'est pas si facile c'est plus de 800 pages avec une liste impressionnante de personnages et ça n'a pas été tout le temps aisé à suivre. Mais perso je continuerai la série 👍😍💗

_____________

Review 🧐📖 "Sons of Darkness", The Raag of Rta 1, Gourav Mohanty, 🇮🇳 🕉️

Here's a novel that had been on my wishlist for months and I was lucky enough to receive a press service from @netgalley (thank you so much!!) in exchange for an honest review!
Indian author, Grimdark Fantasy inspired by the Mahabharata (the great sacred book of India, a magnificent epic of Hindu mythology. 🙏❤️), in short, you will have understood it, I was eager to read this title and I didn't not disappointed!

Mohanty plunges us into a gigantic, violent universe (the author warns us right away) a fresco spanning thousands of years, very colorful at the beginning, with characters full of nuances and whose names may seem familiar.
I found Krishna and his wife, the great warrior Satyabhama, on the side of the Mathuran Republic excellent, as did Mati the Pirate Princess and Shishupal, a character I found very human, fleeing violence like the gaze of the gods who don't seem to give him any respite. 😂

On the other hand, the magic of the universe amazed me 😱🤩 it was beautiful!!! It is essentially based on the Chakras (and it's magic it is the case to say it 😍), the Mandalas which are used as Runes and on elementary beings! I found this magic quite original, although it comes from Hindu culture, but it's something that hasn't been used much in Fantasy and it was superb!

If you like stories with political, human stakes; if you like great epics and non-eurocentric universes then this title could please you. Be careful though, it's not that easy, it's more than 800 pages with an impressive list of characters and it wasn't easy to follow all the time. But personally I will continue the series 👍😍💗
Author : @thekingbeyondthewall on Instagram

[Zana]

DNF @ 13%

I can't do this, fam. The writing is so dense that it's difficult to pay attention to what's going on. And there are so many characters and none of them are even compelling enough to keep me hooked.

I tried reading this on Kindle and it was so wordy. I tried listening to the audiobook and it was even worse.

[Ravi · Rating 2 out of 5]

i wanted to love this book so, so badly. spoiler alert: i didn’t. i don’t know what it is with indian fantasy but why is there so much lackluster prose? the author was trying way too hard to be grrm, but it just consistently feels flat with regards to the writing style; every sentence just felt like a total and complete slog. i know it can be hard to balance flow and period-authenticity, but i really can’t overlook how stilted mohanty ends up sounding. neither do i feel like it delivers on the grimdark promise it so prominently centers; it just feels toothless and edgy for edginess’ sake, much like your average high school brown boy. the violence lacks a clarity that makes got, lotr, and other high fantasy classics so enduring, and don’t get me started on the use of profanity. it feels very childish, coming from someone who feels no unease letting string of four-letter-words rip. i genuinely cannot feel the gravitas necessary for the plot; it just reminds too much of my cousins swearing just because they liked how the foreign words felt on their tongue, and not out of any genuine heightened emotion. the worldbuilding is probably this story’s saving grace, although i, like probably every other brown person, can see twists coming from miles away. i was really invested in the courtly politics, and the weight of decisions upon the characters heads and what that meant for their nations was pretty compelling. just wish they didn’t sound as cringe vocalizing them. probably picking up the next book, but indian fantasy still has a long way to go. don’t think it’s a good sign if i was wishing i could be reading the dandelion dynasty for the first time instead ninety percent of the time. 2.5/5, rounded down to a 2 for finding the author, ngl, kind of annoying

tl;dr: took a leg injury to suck it up and finish this. fails to live up to expectations

side note: why did they make my boy karna a lil bit of a homophobe. what was the point other than misguided lip service to representation. not to make more comparisons to dandelion but lesbian marriage-legalizer kuni garu would never do this

[Dreamcatcher (HIATUS)]

Chonky epic/high fantasy indie published books are either a once-in-a-lifetime experience or the cause of a major headache. Let's see where this stands

[Mhairi B · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 40%.

This book is incredibly ambitious, with huge amounts of worldbuilding, an enormous cast of diverse characters, and is very clearly heading towards something huge and mind-blowing. However at 40% of this 800 page book, I cannot tell you who the main characters are, cannot describe the world in which this takes place, and can give no basic summary of the plot thus far. It feels like it's trying to set up too much all at once, with nothing central to ground everything for the reader. There are far too many points of view and changes to the story, the minute the book establishes a rhythm with one set of characters in one place, and starts to build a momentum, it switches to another set of characters in a completely different place, and you feel like you're right back at the beginning again with meeting new people having yet more worldbuilding terms thrown at you and explained. The book doesnt allow you to get invested in any one set of characters because you move past them almost immediately, and there's no indication that we're going to go back to them. Even in the start of the book, it feels like you have two or three 'prologue' chapters before the main story gets going.

Did enjoy the writing for the most par, although it felt a little exposition-y at times when trying to explain the worldbuilding terms, and the author is definitely able to create lots of believable characters. I did like the worldbuilding that we saw, with the different peoples, and the war that is going on.

I would love to be able to finish this book and see how everything connects together, but at this moment in time it feels like a chore to be pushing though this book.

[Mae · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF’d

Literally could not get 10 pages in and subject myself to the rest of it.

In desperate need of editing and someone needs to tell the author that shoving a thousand adjectives into a sentence does not a well-written book make.

Hitler joke during the first few pages was a choice. Info-dumping I can forgive in a fantasy story but honestly it needed some spreading out. I got 10 PAGES in and was already exhausted.

Also pretty sure the names of characters get mixed up at one point and it leads to a scene where it says a sister is ‘sucking on the neck’ of her brother rather than another character (who is decidedly NOT A FAMILY MEMBER) and I could not get passed it. How are you going to mix up the names of your characters like that. Never seen before honestly.

Stick to stand up and even then, maybe not.

[Jitesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is still very good on reread, just awesome.

It's been two years since I read the book for the first time and since the second one named 'Dance of Shadows' is coming next month, I was like why not reread this to refresh my memory of it.

And it is still so good upon rereading. And finding new references and Easter eggs upon 2nd read is so much fun, which were missed during the 1st read. After reading this, I am again excited to see where the story goes from here, because there are so many threads and plots to uncover and collide or what not. The action sequences are bloody good in this book.

Let's hope the Dance of Shadows is as good as, if not better than the Sons of Darkness.

[Alec Voin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like if the structure of Malazan was taken as an inspiration for Joe Abercrombie to write an indian epic grimdark fantasy novel, but unfortunately it lacks what makes those 2 incredible. It emulates the writing style of The First Law, but nowhere near as witty, fluid and immersive, far more abrupt and forced at times with characters that are not as interesting (not even close) and lack the depth that made Joe Abercrombie's characters so good. It also lacks the complexity of plot and themes of Malazan and overall the book does not blend the 2 styles well together. This is obviously my subjective opinion, but this book is not for me.