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The Vedic Trilogy #1
Thundergod - The Ascendance of Indra
One day a prince from one of the four great tribes will unite the sons of Aditi and he will sow the seeds of an empire that will rule the world.
Born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas, comes the story of a child recounted by history to have become a king and retold by legend to have transcended into a god. Indra, destiny's orphan, finds himself growing up in a vortex of treachery and tribal incumbency. Shielded from the usurpers of his birthright only by the watchful eye of the warrior sage Mitra, he first sets out to conquer the hearts of his tribesmen, and then the kingdoms of the unmapped world.
Aligning forces with his brothers by blood oath and divine intervention Agni, Vayu, Varuna and Soma Indra embarks on a military campaign of epic proportions, stretching from the Euphrates in Asia Minor to Harappa on the Indian subcontinent, encountering formidable armies, demonic beings and powerful goddesses, and losing the only woman he really loves.
Will he get her to love him again? Will he avenge the death of his father? Will he assume his place in the pantheon of the gods?
In a compelling saga, blended by history, spiced by legend and mutated by myth, Rajiv G. Menon transforms ten years of research into a lightning rod of an action adventure that streaks into your consciousness with the speed of Indra's thunderbolt.
About the Author
Before setting out on a writing career, Rajiv G. Menon was an actor, occasional screenwriter, traveler and beach bum. A voracious reader since childhood, he was fascinated by stories and characters from Indian, Greek and Norse Mythology. Thundergod was born as a result of that fascination.
Born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas, comes the story of a child recounted by history to have become a king and retold by legend to have transcended into a god. Indra, destiny's orphan, finds himself growing up in a vortex of treachery and tribal incumbency. Shielded from the usurpers of his birthright only by the watchful eye of the warrior sage Mitra, he first sets out to conquer the hearts of his tribesmen, and then the kingdoms of the unmapped world.
Aligning forces with his brothers by blood oath and divine intervention Agni, Vayu, Varuna and Soma Indra embarks on a military campaign of epic proportions, stretching from the Euphrates in Asia Minor to Harappa on the Indian subcontinent, encountering formidable armies, demonic beings and powerful goddesses, and losing the only woman he really loves.
Will he get her to love him again? Will he avenge the death of his father? Will he assume his place in the pantheon of the gods?
In a compelling saga, blended by history, spiced by legend and mutated by myth, Rajiv G. Menon transforms ten years of research into a lightning rod of an action adventure that streaks into your consciousness with the speed of Indra's thunderbolt.
About the Author
Before setting out on a writing career, Rajiv G. Menon was an actor, occasional screenwriter, traveler and beach bum. A voracious reader since childhood, he was fascinated by stories and characters from Indian, Greek and Norse Mythology. Thundergod was born as a result of that fascination.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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698 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 21, 2020
I have great interest in alternate history/mythology stories. After reading Shiva Trilogy, I wanted to read some more books in similar line. I saw this book on flipkart and I ordered it. Completed it in week.
Unlike Amish (in Shiva Trilogy), Rajiv has given Superhuman power to the characters of story.
Some good points
1) Good story line
2) Nice conceptualization
Some bad points
1) Pace of book is very fast
2) In just first part of trilogy, more than 6-7 big plots took place
Overall 3.5 stars from my side.
Unlike Amish (in Shiva Trilogy), Rajiv has given Superhuman power to the characters of story.
Some good points
1) Good story line
2) Nice conceptualization
Some bad points
1) Pace of book is very fast
2) In just first part of trilogy, more than 6-7 big plots took place
Overall 3.5 stars from my side.
December 4, 2012
Rajiv G Menon’s debut novel, ‘Thundergod : The Ascendance of Indra’ is a bout of relief amidst the various attempts at handling mythology by his contemporaries. While the plot draws a sigh out of you; yet another story based on yet another character out of Indian mythology. The neat narration that doesn’t lose pace (or gore for that matter) has you hooked until the end. The language is clean.
The book details the birth and rise of Indra as the king of Devas and in time, ascend to being god of thunder. What begins as a journey of vengeance, takes him through his self as a barbarian who works to become king, then the ultimate warrior, leader of brother tribes, slayer of evil and eventually graduate as a god, literally relocating to heaven, so he could keep a protective watch over lesser mortals.
This journey as you can imagine, is not easy. Why and how Indra tackles life and his destiny is what the novel attempts to convey.
What worked for me:
1. The plot, events and narration in general. One thing leads to another naturally and the author takes us through in a logical pace.
2. Short chapters that makes it easy to navigate.
3. Subtle humour that runs along, without getting cocky.
4. I liked the names of Indra’s friends; the fact that they happen to be named so and acquire their powers only later on. The author plays a clever hand here.
What did not work for me:
1. Inspite of an interesting plotline and good narration, this book can actually be summarized in one equation : Sex + War (Die Hard style). If someone isn’t cutting someone else’s head off, or disemboweling an army, they are jumping into each others’ arms.
* There are women of all sorts – goddesses, slaves, wives and friends, using sex as the only weapon to either humiliate Indra & Co or to supposedly attempt to defeat them. At one point it just got plainly queasy and felt like the author had run out of imagination. Granted, our ancestors lived literally like animals but detailed explanations everytime and the frequency only made the author sound like an ancient version of E.L.James.
* If you held the book sideways and squeezed it hard, you could most definitely collect a bucket of blood and gory body parts. Ruthless killing in the name of war happens page after page. No wonder history is so violent! Be warned of possible nightmares if you sit on this one late.
2. There are atleast a hundred names in here. And a few hundred more for animals and weapons even. They all end up sounding very very alike, and sometimes even gender-neutral. I had a tough time placing Ur-Uruk and Ugra. Wait, did I get it right?
3. The war sequences are presented in excruciating detail. While watching it on screen would be easy on your imagination, reading about it line by line, grows tedious after a hundred pages. Those sequences could have been trimmed. And, the mission of Indra, describes the need to unite the sons of Aditi. Sadly, you have to dig that act up amidst descriptions of a hundred other battles.
4. The blurb wonders whether Indra would ever get the one woman he loves, to love him back again. There is no description of any such attempt in the book. She hates him after a terrible incident and that's it. They drift apart. Later he comes to know she considers him dead and he just let's her go. For someone he claimed as his true love, this was simply lack of effort and interest. Why?
5. The biggest thorn in this books fictional flesh, is the phrase ‘Unlike the world had ever seen’. Take my word for it when I say, that phrase appears atleast 675 times in this book. I admit, the number is exaggerated, but that is how magnificently annoying it was. It reminded me of Harold Bloom’s review of Harry Potter, where he claims JKR had over used the phrase ‘Stretched his legs’. One more occurrence and the book could have been renamed. Thundergod –Unlike the world had ever seen!
Verdict:
Thundergod is a good and interesting narrative. It guarantees a read that will take you from cover to cover, having to make only a few pitstops enroute. Definitely commendable for a debut. Pick it up when you are in the mood for a history lesson that holds the promise of a roller coaster ride.
The book details the birth and rise of Indra as the king of Devas and in time, ascend to being god of thunder. What begins as a journey of vengeance, takes him through his self as a barbarian who works to become king, then the ultimate warrior, leader of brother tribes, slayer of evil and eventually graduate as a god, literally relocating to heaven, so he could keep a protective watch over lesser mortals.
This journey as you can imagine, is not easy. Why and how Indra tackles life and his destiny is what the novel attempts to convey.
What worked for me:
1. The plot, events and narration in general. One thing leads to another naturally and the author takes us through in a logical pace.
2. Short chapters that makes it easy to navigate.
3. Subtle humour that runs along, without getting cocky.
4. I liked the names of Indra’s friends; the fact that they happen to be named so and acquire their powers only later on. The author plays a clever hand here.
What did not work for me:
1. Inspite of an interesting plotline and good narration, this book can actually be summarized in one equation : Sex + War (Die Hard style). If someone isn’t cutting someone else’s head off, or disemboweling an army, they are jumping into each others’ arms.
* There are women of all sorts – goddesses, slaves, wives and friends, using sex as the only weapon to either humiliate Indra & Co or to supposedly attempt to defeat them. At one point it just got plainly queasy and felt like the author had run out of imagination. Granted, our ancestors lived literally like animals but detailed explanations everytime and the frequency only made the author sound like an ancient version of E.L.James.
* If you held the book sideways and squeezed it hard, you could most definitely collect a bucket of blood and gory body parts. Ruthless killing in the name of war happens page after page. No wonder history is so violent! Be warned of possible nightmares if you sit on this one late.
2. There are atleast a hundred names in here. And a few hundred more for animals and weapons even. They all end up sounding very very alike, and sometimes even gender-neutral. I had a tough time placing Ur-Uruk and Ugra. Wait, did I get it right?
3. The war sequences are presented in excruciating detail. While watching it on screen would be easy on your imagination, reading about it line by line, grows tedious after a hundred pages. Those sequences could have been trimmed. And, the mission of Indra, describes the need to unite the sons of Aditi. Sadly, you have to dig that act up amidst descriptions of a hundred other battles.
4. The blurb wonders whether Indra would ever get the one woman he loves, to love him back again. There is no description of any such attempt in the book. She hates him after a terrible incident and that's it. They drift apart. Later he comes to know she considers him dead and he just let's her go. For someone he claimed as his true love, this was simply lack of effort and interest. Why?
5. The biggest thorn in this books fictional flesh, is the phrase ‘Unlike the world had ever seen’. Take my word for it when I say, that phrase appears atleast 675 times in this book. I admit, the number is exaggerated, but that is how magnificently annoying it was. It reminded me of Harold Bloom’s review of Harry Potter, where he claims JKR had over used the phrase ‘Stretched his legs’. One more occurrence and the book could have been renamed. Thundergod –Unlike the world had ever seen!
Verdict:
Thundergod is a good and interesting narrative. It guarantees a read that will take you from cover to cover, having to make only a few pitstops enroute. Definitely commendable for a debut. Pick it up when you are in the mood for a history lesson that holds the promise of a roller coaster ride.
July 8, 2013
Me being a history major, have a fascination with all things mythology. Did I mention Indra is my favorite among pantheon of gods? I’ve been fascinated with his complex character since the last 6 years. He has innumerable layers and layers to his personality which make it all the more exciting trying to assess him. When I heard about this book, I had to read it because not many have attempted to write about Indra. I would consider any writer brave attempting to dissect Indra.
But when I finished this book I was in tears. Of frustration. I was bewildered on how the character I love had been reduced to a brawny, mumbling, dumb witted cardboard of his real self. That too with blonde hair and blue eyes! Thankfully I came across this BRILLIANT article by Arjunī http://maghavan.wordpress.com/2012/12... . It helped attaining a much needed closure. I think I enjoyed reading Arjunī’s review million times more that the book itself.
I’ll not be unfair and will discuss only a few major issues I had with this book. First, writing! It was obvious after a few pages (or lines) the author was trying too hard to impress. Over usage of adjectives killed my imagination (in a bad way of course). Splotchy pace and broken narrative made my put down the book a lot which is uncharacteristic of me as I can finish a 600 page book over 3-4 days. This book took me 10 days to finish (a new record). I had to force myself to pick it up again day after day.
Second, shallow characterization. I felt nothing for ANY of the characters because the main focus was on their actions rather than thoughts and reasons behind them. I was excited at the prospect of getting a peek into the mind of Indra and how he functioned. But I got none of it. Indra of this book was a warrior and nothing else. The real Indra has thousand more sides to him of which none were taken up.
The story itself is a chronicle of wars. A lot of work exists on the journey of Aryans to the Indian subcontinent, if I wanted to read about that I would have picked up a book specially written about it. But I wanted to know about Indra which surprisingly was not the central focus of the book. So many important events about Indra were skimmed over, I can’t even count. A random and pointless duel between sideline character Paras and a crocodile were given a whole sub-section while Dadichi and his sacrifice took only 2 lines. I don’t even……….
Pages and pages are wasted on describing warfare and techniques. Spardha (annual championship) had a whole chapter to it. I couldn’t help but laugh over the fact that Spardha was something of a cross between Harry Potter and Olympics. Teams were the Lions (Gryffindor), Wolves (Hufflepuff?) and Falcons (Ravenclaw). I still don’t get it how all this had to do with the Indra I know.
I’ll just come to the main question- will I purchase the sequel? No. I would rather burn my hard earned money. Maybe I will offer my copy to Indra’s friend Agni with proper rituals and ceremony so it would reach the Thundergod and upon reading it, he’ll question his own existence.
But when I finished this book I was in tears. Of frustration. I was bewildered on how the character I love had been reduced to a brawny, mumbling, dumb witted cardboard of his real self. That too with blonde hair and blue eyes! Thankfully I came across this BRILLIANT article by Arjunī http://maghavan.wordpress.com/2012/12... . It helped attaining a much needed closure. I think I enjoyed reading Arjunī’s review million times more that the book itself.
I’ll not be unfair and will discuss only a few major issues I had with this book. First, writing! It was obvious after a few pages (or lines) the author was trying too hard to impress. Over usage of adjectives killed my imagination (in a bad way of course). Splotchy pace and broken narrative made my put down the book a lot which is uncharacteristic of me as I can finish a 600 page book over 3-4 days. This book took me 10 days to finish (a new record). I had to force myself to pick it up again day after day.
Second, shallow characterization. I felt nothing for ANY of the characters because the main focus was on their actions rather than thoughts and reasons behind them. I was excited at the prospect of getting a peek into the mind of Indra and how he functioned. But I got none of it. Indra of this book was a warrior and nothing else. The real Indra has thousand more sides to him of which none were taken up.
The story itself is a chronicle of wars. A lot of work exists on the journey of Aryans to the Indian subcontinent, if I wanted to read about that I would have picked up a book specially written about it. But I wanted to know about Indra which surprisingly was not the central focus of the book. So many important events about Indra were skimmed over, I can’t even count. A random and pointless duel between sideline character Paras and a crocodile were given a whole sub-section while Dadichi and his sacrifice took only 2 lines. I don’t even……….
Pages and pages are wasted on describing warfare and techniques. Spardha (annual championship) had a whole chapter to it. I couldn’t help but laugh over the fact that Spardha was something of a cross between Harry Potter and Olympics. Teams were the Lions (Gryffindor), Wolves (Hufflepuff?) and Falcons (Ravenclaw). I still don’t get it how all this had to do with the Indra I know.
I’ll just come to the main question- will I purchase the sequel? No. I would rather burn my hard earned money. Maybe I will offer my copy to Indra’s friend Agni with proper rituals and ceremony so it would reach the Thundergod and upon reading it, he’ll question his own existence.
December 1, 2017
A great, great and a MUST READ book.
“Born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas, comes the story of a child recounted by history to have become a king and retold by legend to have transcended into a god.”
Thundergod: Ascendance of Indra is a fast paced, action packed, Cracker of a story about 1 of the most wrathful gods of Indian mythology, the Indian contemporary to Zeus, INDRA, the leader of Devas, the god of Lightening & Thunder. The god who wields the Lightning Bolt shaped weapon, the VAJRA. Indra, accompanied by, Vayu, Agni, Varuna and Soma set out to seek their destiny whilst carrying out a military strike of epic proportions, which turns these men into a legend that over time transforms all them into GODS that reside in their heavenly abode, SWARGA. When in reality they are held captives in a very comfortable prison.
It is a book that I believe has been highly under-rated for some reason. This is a Debut novel from Rajiv G Menon but it hardly feels so. He has taken Norse, Greek and Hindu Mythology, which is quite a handful, and he has come up with a completely Awesome Lip-smacking cocktail of a story, that as per him has taken in 10 years’ worth of research..!!!
The author has a very smooth and free flowing style of writing that lets you connect with the lead character, lets you experience the same as the protagonist. There is some brilliant character development of the characters in this book who start out as brave at heart men who yet have a sense of fear left in them and are turned into hardcore killing machines that crave more blood to be spilled. The book is not lacking at all in terms of Action, Sex, Lust or Gore for that matter. But what really stands out is how seamlessly the author has brought together some of the most renowned mythical figures into the story.
Rajiv is a great author and it’s almost impossible to put it down. The story will pull you in from the very 1st page and won’t let you go even long after you’ve finished reading the book and will definitely leave you wanting for more. But the sad part is that the sequel to this book is still awaited.
“Born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas, comes the story of a child recounted by history to have become a king and retold by legend to have transcended into a god.”
Thundergod: Ascendance of Indra is a fast paced, action packed, Cracker of a story about 1 of the most wrathful gods of Indian mythology, the Indian contemporary to Zeus, INDRA, the leader of Devas, the god of Lightening & Thunder. The god who wields the Lightning Bolt shaped weapon, the VAJRA. Indra, accompanied by, Vayu, Agni, Varuna and Soma set out to seek their destiny whilst carrying out a military strike of epic proportions, which turns these men into a legend that over time transforms all them into GODS that reside in their heavenly abode, SWARGA. When in reality they are held captives in a very comfortable prison.
It is a book that I believe has been highly under-rated for some reason. This is a Debut novel from Rajiv G Menon but it hardly feels so. He has taken Norse, Greek and Hindu Mythology, which is quite a handful, and he has come up with a completely Awesome Lip-smacking cocktail of a story, that as per him has taken in 10 years’ worth of research..!!!
The author has a very smooth and free flowing style of writing that lets you connect with the lead character, lets you experience the same as the protagonist. There is some brilliant character development of the characters in this book who start out as brave at heart men who yet have a sense of fear left in them and are turned into hardcore killing machines that crave more blood to be spilled. The book is not lacking at all in terms of Action, Sex, Lust or Gore for that matter. But what really stands out is how seamlessly the author has brought together some of the most renowned mythical figures into the story.
Rajiv is a great author and it’s almost impossible to put it down. The story will pull you in from the very 1st page and won’t let you go even long after you’ve finished reading the book and will definitely leave you wanting for more. But the sad part is that the sequel to this book is still awaited.
September 30, 2025
3.5⭐️
I started this with some trepidation as I have been disappointed many times previously by such mythology. But I was pleasantly surprised at the writing style and the premise of the story.
It does for Indra, what Amish Tripathi did for Shiva. The origin story of a man who became a God.
Admittedly, there was lots of fighting within the story which I usually don't enjoy. But here, surprisingly, it didn't bore as much as it usually would have.
Towards the end there were some elements that bothered me
Elements of racial purity - Aryan race - breeding program Devas & Brahmana women
Racial bias - dark hostile enemy
Misogyny
But I think this is just laying out the storyline for where book #2 of the series is headed so I just moved on.
There were loopholes and some things that didn't make total sense but still, a good tale that I enjoyed.
I will definitely move on to read book #2 Rakshasa.
I started this with some trepidation as I have been disappointed many times previously by such mythology. But I was pleasantly surprised at the writing style and the premise of the story.
It does for Indra, what Amish Tripathi did for Shiva. The origin story of a man who became a God.
Admittedly, there was lots of fighting within the story which I usually don't enjoy. But here, surprisingly, it didn't bore as much as it usually would have.
Towards the end there were some elements that bothered me
Elements of racial purity - Aryan race - breeding program Devas & Brahmana women
Racial bias - dark hostile enemy
Misogyny
But I think this is just laying out the storyline for where book #2 of the series is headed so I just moved on.
There were loopholes and some things that didn't make total sense but still, a good tale that I enjoyed.
I will definitely move on to read book #2 Rakshasa.
June 5, 2013
Thundergod: The Ascendance Of Indra is a complete high-octane read from the outset. Being an ardent mythology buff, something in me (I call it curiosity) prompted me to read this one, if only to know how the author had portrayed a less popular God like Indra!! The Hindu has described this book as “a story of unbridled flamboyance from a debutant author”, so yes - unbridled it is and how!! Mediocre doesn’t settle it for the author, the events here are at the extremum - swashbuckling action, bloodbath, heartbreak, amorous dalliances, revenge, cowardice, conspiracies, shifting loyalties – you name it & it has got it.
The story kickstarts with King Daeyus (who is the chief of Devas – a clan of barbarian warriors) leading his men on a mission across the vast sandy stretches of the Karakum Desert. So brave and virile he is, (The way his character is sketched, I am compelled to imagine him as Gerard Butler from the movie “300”), that even the Earth Goddess Gaia, who being an Elemental is forbiden from consorting with humans, cannot resist him. The result of this brief tryst is Indra – whose birth is prophesied and who is destined to unite the sons of Aditi. However, from the moment Indra is even conceived, forces of nature & human beings alike start concocting to annihilate him. However, destiny’s child – Indra remains protected by supernatural powers and guarded by the warrior sage Mitra. As the years proceed, Indra grows up in a vortex of treachery, tribal incumbency and splintering loyalties. On attaining adulthood, Indra claims his birthright position as well as his childhood sweetheart’s hand in marriage. However, on the other hand he loses her love in a series of unexpected events and is left heartbroken in a single stroke. A heartbroken & brave warrior never fears anything and needless to say, what follows next is Indra’s ambitious quest - first to conquer the vanquishers of his father & then the kingdoms of the unmapped world. The author charts Indra’s journey as he turns into a war machine and attains a new high after every conquest. Supporting him in the carnage are his brothers who are bound to him by a blood oath – Agni, Vayu, Varuna & Soma. Finally, the hunter becomes the hunted and Indra finds himself ensconced in Swarga after he fulfils his prophecy.
Read complete review at : http://poojareviewer.blogspot.in/2013...
The story kickstarts with King Daeyus (who is the chief of Devas – a clan of barbarian warriors) leading his men on a mission across the vast sandy stretches of the Karakum Desert. So brave and virile he is, (The way his character is sketched, I am compelled to imagine him as Gerard Butler from the movie “300”), that even the Earth Goddess Gaia, who being an Elemental is forbiden from consorting with humans, cannot resist him. The result of this brief tryst is Indra – whose birth is prophesied and who is destined to unite the sons of Aditi. However, from the moment Indra is even conceived, forces of nature & human beings alike start concocting to annihilate him. However, destiny’s child – Indra remains protected by supernatural powers and guarded by the warrior sage Mitra. As the years proceed, Indra grows up in a vortex of treachery, tribal incumbency and splintering loyalties. On attaining adulthood, Indra claims his birthright position as well as his childhood sweetheart’s hand in marriage. However, on the other hand he loses her love in a series of unexpected events and is left heartbroken in a single stroke. A heartbroken & brave warrior never fears anything and needless to say, what follows next is Indra’s ambitious quest - first to conquer the vanquishers of his father & then the kingdoms of the unmapped world. The author charts Indra’s journey as he turns into a war machine and attains a new high after every conquest. Supporting him in the carnage are his brothers who are bound to him by a blood oath – Agni, Vayu, Varuna & Soma. Finally, the hunter becomes the hunted and Indra finds himself ensconced in Swarga after he fulfils his prophecy.
Read complete review at : http://poojareviewer.blogspot.in/2013...
February 6, 2017
First of all, I salute the research that must have gone into this, for writing such a discerning piece of information. Author has connected many dots and given a method to the madness of unscripted history. Yes at the end it gives a feeling to the reader that, yes, this must have been the way things had happened. Though there are many questions that arise in the mind. I'm parking the questions for the time being.
The Deva-Asura war precedes the vedic period, hence it was assumed that it happened after the Aryan invasion of Harappa, which is supposedly the beginning of Deva-Asura war. Later on as the Aryans advanced into the heartland, the Original harappans & aboriginal tribes had the option of either stay and get subjugated, or move out to newer terrains. Those who decided to stay became downward castes and got oppressed. Those who moved south and east, were eventually dominated by Aryans who pursued them in subsequent centuries, read, Ramayan.
The book substantiates the Aryan pursuit of India and subjugation of local populace, but differs in saying that the Deva-Asura war happened in Assur and Sumer which were near eastern Europe. But the scores of proof of Asura existence in India like Ravana's Lanka, Mahishasur's Mysore, Folksongs and idolization of Mahishasur in Jharkand and Bihar's tribal areas, Folklore of Mahabali in Kerala remain an enigma if what is told in the book is right.
Then again the atheist in me asks- If Danavas were successors of Dinosaurs then why Lord Shiva needs Indra's help to finish them off, can't he had done that himself, given that he is the one who created all of us?
The Deva-Asura war precedes the vedic period, hence it was assumed that it happened after the Aryan invasion of Harappa, which is supposedly the beginning of Deva-Asura war. Later on as the Aryans advanced into the heartland, the Original harappans & aboriginal tribes had the option of either stay and get subjugated, or move out to newer terrains. Those who decided to stay became downward castes and got oppressed. Those who moved south and east, were eventually dominated by Aryans who pursued them in subsequent centuries, read, Ramayan.
The book substantiates the Aryan pursuit of India and subjugation of local populace, but differs in saying that the Deva-Asura war happened in Assur and Sumer which were near eastern Europe. But the scores of proof of Asura existence in India like Ravana's Lanka, Mahishasur's Mysore, Folksongs and idolization of Mahishasur in Jharkand and Bihar's tribal areas, Folklore of Mahabali in Kerala remain an enigma if what is told in the book is right.
Then again the atheist in me asks- If Danavas were successors of Dinosaurs then why Lord Shiva needs Indra's help to finish them off, can't he had done that himself, given that he is the one who created all of us?
August 9, 2016
Full points to cover - unfortunately it is not a book on Hercules. As to title 'Fifty Shades of Mythology' would have been better.
July 15, 2019
Very neatly written with all kind of emotions, survival, love, hartred, anger, greedy, amorous, sex, violence, everything it has in it.
Naration of the story starting from the lone moonlit night where the seed of the story planted till the end where Indra ascended to the king of the Devas and moving to swarga was quite a tale. How a god is born and how he struggled his life throughout different phases and finally to reach the heaven to rule the mankind and Devas. The phases were captured quite well involving different noble characters with their own significance.
Being a follower of hindu mythology many names were relevent and many were completely new. Without going into facts or reference, I just went with the flow of the narration.It was brilliantly written. Plots travel from one to another very naturally and many a things are covered. The pace is bit fast but thats the magic of the narration which keeps you tight with the story.
It was like a screenplay of a mythical blockbusters. Every plots were written so detailed, felt like a magical movie. Each scenes are very detailed either a war scene of cutting heads and gory body parts in sequnce or in a scene of passionate love making or chasing enemies in war or fighting with pisachas in dark. But earlier two were described more frequently in almost every other chapter. Either people kill others or Indra sleeps with some or other woman.
Being a book of around 380 pages, Its bit long to complete in one go but its defintitely capturing starting till end. Only thing I felt going away was the unknown greek, mesopotamia and egyptian charcaters which were completely new to my brain and maintaining the story timelines and the significance of the characters were difficult, most importantly remebering so odd names. Other than these, the book was a good ride.
Naration of the story starting from the lone moonlit night where the seed of the story planted till the end where Indra ascended to the king of the Devas and moving to swarga was quite a tale. How a god is born and how he struggled his life throughout different phases and finally to reach the heaven to rule the mankind and Devas. The phases were captured quite well involving different noble characters with their own significance.
Being a follower of hindu mythology many names were relevent and many were completely new. Without going into facts or reference, I just went with the flow of the narration.It was brilliantly written. Plots travel from one to another very naturally and many a things are covered. The pace is bit fast but thats the magic of the narration which keeps you tight with the story.
It was like a screenplay of a mythical blockbusters. Every plots were written so detailed, felt like a magical movie. Each scenes are very detailed either a war scene of cutting heads and gory body parts in sequnce or in a scene of passionate love making or chasing enemies in war or fighting with pisachas in dark. But earlier two were described more frequently in almost every other chapter. Either people kill others or Indra sleeps with some or other woman.
Being a book of around 380 pages, Its bit long to complete in one go but its defintitely capturing starting till end. Only thing I felt going away was the unknown greek, mesopotamia and egyptian charcaters which were completely new to my brain and maintaining the story timelines and the significance of the characters were difficult, most importantly remebering so odd names. Other than these, the book was a good ride.
Read
May 16, 2021Iwas really very interested when the book came out but my insticts told me it woudl be sloppy, it looked like finally the Indian Mythology has started to grow in English Fiction category. But it was not to be after going through whole of the book, i could help but feel sorry for myself and kick myself in the foot, why did i had to do that. Go against my instincts that is!! its just a sex-filled meaningless novel with story, plots, characters etc all stolen from already popular novels, be it harry potter, percy jackson, lord of the rings etc. and a really really sloppy ending with me pray why is it dragging the whole thing. End it have mercy. I'm not sure what Mr. Rajiv Memon was thinking while jotting down his thought, it just seems to me as a sex dream filled confused person who started something but didn't know how to carry it thorough & end it. I feel sorry for Westland for reading it and okaying it for publication. It seems After Amish Tripathi, they just looking for anyone who can type English letter. Don't we have a Editor left or atleast a quality team who can go through and fix up the GAPS in a already mindless novel. Its just a waste of time and money, better kept at the bookself of bookstore
December 1, 2023
An interesting an imaginative interpretation of mythology. I loved the fact that Indra was the protagonist allowing the story to have a flawed character, whose story is being told.
Suprisingly, I picked the book up at random didn't expect to like it this much.
I've read the sequel and my only wish was for it to be longer. This could be a GoT style series if done well. Best of luck to the author.
Suprisingly, I picked the book up at random didn't expect to like it this much.
I've read the sequel and my only wish was for it to be longer. This could be a GoT style series if done well. Best of luck to the author.
April 4, 2018
This is mythology story of Lord Indra, the king of all devas who commands rain, cloud and thunder and his battle against asura. It's modern interpretation and combination with history. I liked the cover of the book, shows intense, mystery & adventure form of mythology which I loved the most. And I really liked the way author has described Lord Indra which made a interest for furture stories.
August 15, 2018
Starts with promise but ends with a whimpwr
The book has a good beginning but in the middle of the story author tried to unite too many loose ends it is a authors version how devas came into being and many passages in it r for mature audience and not ya
The book has a good beginning but in the middle of the story author tried to unite too many loose ends it is a authors version how devas came into being and many passages in it r for mature audience and not ya
June 9, 2018
Amazing read...
Loved the book.
Fascinating story line.
A very good mix of mythology and fiction.
Some events could have been explained better, like the Harappan victory dance...
Loved the book.
Fascinating story line.
A very good mix of mythology and fiction.
Some events could have been explained better, like the Harappan victory dance...
September 1, 2018
Quite a good and well crafted mythological fiction!!!
January 22, 2019
Nice fast paced.. but feels like it has been written with a viewpoint of getting adopted as a movie
May 8, 2021
I found the plot fun and loved the fast of the book. It's action packed and keeps the story interesting at all points. Looking forward to seeing how the characters develop in the next series ...
September 6, 2018
Do not waste time reading this book. It has nothing but paper cut out characters. Even the protagonist has no personality. We cannot know what goes in his head and why he chooses to behave in certain way. There are no strong female characters. All of them are just used as props. It won't make any difference even if they are deleted.
Story reads as summary of itself at quite few places. The book is no different than other contemporary indian reads. There are wars and some more wars(because it is mythological fiction), some magic and explicit scenes (which could be toned down but then maybe this will not sell).
Indra is prophesied orphan who is an underdog until he gets magic powers and then becomes a war hero and king. I still don't understand why he had to be blond and blue eyed though(racism much, ya). He could be perfectly the opposite and still achieve everything.
Save money and read some better books.
Story reads as summary of itself at quite few places. The book is no different than other contemporary indian reads. There are wars and some more wars(because it is mythological fiction), some magic and explicit scenes (which could be toned down but then maybe this will not sell).
Indra is prophesied orphan who is an underdog until he gets magic powers and then becomes a war hero and king. I still don't understand why he had to be blond and blue eyed though(racism much, ya). He could be perfectly the opposite and still achieve everything.
Save money and read some better books.
March 8, 2017
It is a really interesting and mysterious story but astonishingly fun.
December 17, 2012
The characters:
Indra- a boy who rises to be king and later befalls to be GOD.
Sachi- childhood friend of Indra, who ties knot with him
Mitra- a sage, a watchful warrior who guides Indra
Varuna, Agni, Vayu, Soma- oath taken blood bothers of Indra.
The story is about Indra who was born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas. Indra is brought up a orphan, because of the unidentified mother and father who is killed in a war.
Indra grows up in tribal community, under the sage Mitra. .Agni, Vayu, Varuna and Soma and Indra are trained under Mitra as brothers. All of them united, work to conquer the unmapped lands and become the king.
Indra kills Pusan, son of Vasu who was his guardian to become the kind of Deva’s . Vasu also get killed accidently. Till then, Sachi, Vasu’s daughter who is engaged to Indra marries him only to complete her duty. The childhood friends Indra and Sachi are together only to give a heir.
Indra is out on campaign defeating various kings and acquiring kingdoms, Indra continues his campaign and eventually attains god hood and rises to the heavens. But how is the story about.
The author is adept at sketching the known characters interestingly and keeps the proceedings gripping with a twists and turns with regular dose of wars and fights intervened with sex in between the pages. The book is more like mythology rediscovered with addition of lots of eroticism, becomes mundane of the Apsara’s who are available there for. The way the warfare, chariots and other gears used, carved are described beautifully.
Well researched theories of ancient Greek, Indian and Norse mythology. When you read the book, you find various characters from them, and the way he has linked up is really enthralling.
A perfect blend of the stories we learnt in our childhood about Deva’s, Asurasa and the Amrit. It is new look on how Indra raised to become the “ Thundergod”.
I liked the way the character Sachi is etched. That were you find both beauty and brains together with arrogance and dutiful wife. The transformation of love to hatredness is well depicted with the right context.
Though narrative is slow at the beginning yet gripping till end. I am sure it will make its name in the bestsellers.
Indra- a boy who rises to be king and later befalls to be GOD.
Sachi- childhood friend of Indra, who ties knot with him
Mitra- a sage, a watchful warrior who guides Indra
Varuna, Agni, Vayu, Soma- oath taken blood bothers of Indra.
The story is about Indra who was born of a prophetic union between the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, chief of the Devas. Indra is brought up a orphan, because of the unidentified mother and father who is killed in a war.
Indra grows up in tribal community, under the sage Mitra. .Agni, Vayu, Varuna and Soma and Indra are trained under Mitra as brothers. All of them united, work to conquer the unmapped lands and become the king.
Indra kills Pusan, son of Vasu who was his guardian to become the kind of Deva’s . Vasu also get killed accidently. Till then, Sachi, Vasu’s daughter who is engaged to Indra marries him only to complete her duty. The childhood friends Indra and Sachi are together only to give a heir.
Indra is out on campaign defeating various kings and acquiring kingdoms, Indra continues his campaign and eventually attains god hood and rises to the heavens. But how is the story about.
The author is adept at sketching the known characters interestingly and keeps the proceedings gripping with a twists and turns with regular dose of wars and fights intervened with sex in between the pages. The book is more like mythology rediscovered with addition of lots of eroticism, becomes mundane of the Apsara’s who are available there for. The way the warfare, chariots and other gears used, carved are described beautifully.
Well researched theories of ancient Greek, Indian and Norse mythology. When you read the book, you find various characters from them, and the way he has linked up is really enthralling.
A perfect blend of the stories we learnt in our childhood about Deva’s, Asurasa and the Amrit. It is new look on how Indra raised to become the “ Thundergod”.
I liked the way the character Sachi is etched. That were you find both beauty and brains together with arrogance and dutiful wife. The transformation of love to hatredness is well depicted with the right context.
Though narrative is slow at the beginning yet gripping till end. I am sure it will make its name in the bestsellers.
January 31, 2014
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Indra…
The Thundergod. The warrior who shot arrows with deadly precision from horseback. The marksman whose agility and strategy made him win the war against the heavily armed Asuras. The cheeky Casanova who charmed several women; Gods and mortals alike. That is all I knew before I read ‘Thundergod-The Ascendance of Indra’.
The newspapers, magazines and the internet have been raving for quite a while about this book so, when I found myself with nothing to read on a holiday (the horror!!!!), I picked this up.
What followed as a trip to the vedic times and (unfortunately) back. The fast paced journey from Central Asia to India kept my adrenaline pumping; with wars, women and politics. I cannot fail to mention the gory but ingenious war scenes. Even though I had a good hunch as to who will win (*sigh, no prizes for guessing), the strategies and the settings were enough to make my heart beat faster.
The story unfolds intricately with sinister plots and strong characters. Indra himself is a hero with a glorious destiny but he in no way free from the complexities and confusions of a normal human being, not to mention all the steamy sex (no kidding!!).
As a debut novel, hats off to Mr. Menon. Whatever pitfalls are present in terms of narration and editing will hopefully disappear in the upcoming parts. Now, the wait begins for part two and three (I hate this). I would definitely recommend this book to crazy fans of historical fictional and mythology (like me). In the current literary scenario, where a brave attempt is being made to reconstruct what we know as ‘mythology’ into history, this piece of work cannot be ignored. The balance of fantasy and reality made me push my imagination to great heights.
Did Indra live up to the charming, agile, warrior image? He exceeded it in so many ways! The research gone behind this is truly commendable. It must have been a mammoth task! Nevertheless, it was well accomplished.
Indra…
The Thundergod. The warrior who shot arrows with deadly precision from horseback. The marksman whose agility and strategy made him win the war against the heavily armed Asuras. The cheeky Casanova who charmed several women; Gods and mortals alike. That is all I knew before I read ‘Thundergod-The Ascendance of Indra’.
The newspapers, magazines and the internet have been raving for quite a while about this book so, when I found myself with nothing to read on a holiday (the horror!!!!), I picked this up.
What followed as a trip to the vedic times and (unfortunately) back. The fast paced journey from Central Asia to India kept my adrenaline pumping; with wars, women and politics. I cannot fail to mention the gory but ingenious war scenes. Even though I had a good hunch as to who will win (*sigh, no prizes for guessing), the strategies and the settings were enough to make my heart beat faster.
The story unfolds intricately with sinister plots and strong characters. Indra himself is a hero with a glorious destiny but he in no way free from the complexities and confusions of a normal human being, not to mention all the steamy sex (no kidding!!).
As a debut novel, hats off to Mr. Menon. Whatever pitfalls are present in terms of narration and editing will hopefully disappear in the upcoming parts. Now, the wait begins for part two and three (I hate this). I would definitely recommend this book to crazy fans of historical fictional and mythology (like me). In the current literary scenario, where a brave attempt is being made to reconstruct what we know as ‘mythology’ into history, this piece of work cannot be ignored. The balance of fantasy and reality made me push my imagination to great heights.
Did Indra live up to the charming, agile, warrior image? He exceeded it in so many ways! The research gone behind this is truly commendable. It must have been a mammoth task! Nevertheless, it was well accomplished.
September 8, 2016
A book based on Indian mythology. It looks like he is trying to recreate the Aryan invasion. The book talks about the deification of the Vedic pantheon, with the assumption that the Vedic pantheon has its origin in the middle Asian ancient civilization. He has used the -------- mythology.
Though an interesting read, it does not allow the reader to really connect to the Vedic pantheon. He is diligently abstained from the Bhagawatization by using clutches of Rama or Krishna which is interesting.
In the context of the Harapan civilization he refers to nature worship which is the authentic faith of the subcontinent before being conveniently classified as a ubiquitous Hindu.
However there are gross patches in the narration like the practice of sati, which is hinted at, it, does not make sense as the ancient civilization practiced remarriage and polyandry even if we were to talk in terms of the mid Asian civilization.
The physical description of male and female beauty is more in tune with contemporary build, the concept of pear shaped voluptuous women is unknown to the author, a quick run of Botticelli, Ravi Verma and temple carvings may revive it.
The decor, the life style that dictates the walk and wear of a society is quite distinct but the author has not been able to overcome the colonial symbols of grandeur.
There were very interesting twists like the saptarishi’s being light bodies, the emerges of pishacha’s as people with infected blood. Maybe some research is required over that, for paisachi or the language of the pisacha’s are accepted both in literature and mythology. The use of Valli the community name of indigenous medicine makers.
The legends of vishwamitra and kashyapa are reinterpreted, with Indra being the chosen one to unite the sons of Aditi the presentation reminds one of the lost tribes of Israel.
All the best if you are planning to read the trilogy.
About The Author.
October 9, 2012
As I started to read the book, the aura of myth and surrealism awed me. It was compelling, yet I was unsure. I didn’t know what to expect and what was in store. I surrendered and let the author take me through the saga. And… let me tell you. I am not disappointed.
Thundergod – The Ascendance of Indra, is a mythical saga. It takes us through the lifeline of the King of Gods – Indra. As we flip pages, we realize that the author, Rajiv G Menon, has put lot of research. All the details in the book add to the charm of the book. As readers, we are transported to a different World altogether. A World of warriors, wars, Gods and finally humans!
The story takes us through the events that led to the birth of Indra. It then narrates how he acquired the status of God. The book does not fail to explain each detail and each such detail does not fail to enthrall us.
The book takes us through the events that led to the great flood that wiped Mother Earth once. It speaks about how the mighty land named “Bharatha” was born. The last few pages are a delight. Hence, reading through the first 300pages is worth it.
Yes… The book has 380 pages and an assured page turner. I read most of the book in a single sitting; that is how compelling it is!
However, I wish that the author makes it a little crispier. There were times, I felt as if there is an overflow of detailing; more than what is actually needed.
Various emotions like love, lust, greed, vengeance, power and important of all divinity is beautifully captured.
In short…
Thundergod – The Ascendance of Indra is different. The plot is intriguing. Grab the book… It is a nice way to spend a lazy and sunny afternoon…
Thundergod – The Ascendance of Indra, is a mythical saga. It takes us through the lifeline of the King of Gods – Indra. As we flip pages, we realize that the author, Rajiv G Menon, has put lot of research. All the details in the book add to the charm of the book. As readers, we are transported to a different World altogether. A World of warriors, wars, Gods and finally humans!
The story takes us through the events that led to the birth of Indra. It then narrates how he acquired the status of God. The book does not fail to explain each detail and each such detail does not fail to enthrall us.
The book takes us through the events that led to the great flood that wiped Mother Earth once. It speaks about how the mighty land named “Bharatha” was born. The last few pages are a delight. Hence, reading through the first 300pages is worth it.
Yes… The book has 380 pages and an assured page turner. I read most of the book in a single sitting; that is how compelling it is!
However, I wish that the author makes it a little crispier. There were times, I felt as if there is an overflow of detailing; more than what is actually needed.
Various emotions like love, lust, greed, vengeance, power and important of all divinity is beautifully captured.
In short…
Thundergod – The Ascendance of Indra is different. The plot is intriguing. Grab the book… It is a nice way to spend a lazy and sunny afternoon…
May 27, 2013
The cover is fantastic and succeeds in making you want to read this book. fresh from the shiva trilogy, asura and chanakya chant, i did not have thundergod in my to read list for another few months, but some funny circumstances led me to start this book before many other books ahead in the queue. wasn't disappointed at all because the first few pages had me glued to the book and i found the narration quite good too.
there are several characters that stay with you ... years of research and love for the genre is evident in the way rajiv menon has written the book. while the build up is there towards a crescendo, the crescendo doesn't actually happen and that was the let down for me.
every now and then you are reminded that indra is the great warrior, god etc but other than destiny that brings together different tribes and creatures, you don't feel convinced that indra is truly that great to rule the world. he is a fantastic warrior but something is missing .... and man, despite having the ability to write so well and create scenes that make you trip, the book was not good towards the end. not sure why but maybe it is because some important questions stay unanswered. i am hoping book 2 will be nice but feel that this was a chance wasted. it could have been a far better book than this. sad that rajiv blew the chance to get a 5 star. but definitely recommended and will look forward to future works from the author!
there are several characters that stay with you ... years of research and love for the genre is evident in the way rajiv menon has written the book. while the build up is there towards a crescendo, the crescendo doesn't actually happen and that was the let down for me.
every now and then you are reminded that indra is the great warrior, god etc but other than destiny that brings together different tribes and creatures, you don't feel convinced that indra is truly that great to rule the world. he is a fantastic warrior but something is missing .... and man, despite having the ability to write so well and create scenes that make you trip, the book was not good towards the end. not sure why but maybe it is because some important questions stay unanswered. i am hoping book 2 will be nice but feel that this was a chance wasted. it could have been a far better book than this. sad that rajiv blew the chance to get a 5 star. but definitely recommended and will look forward to future works from the author!
February 14, 2013
It is good that there are more authors writing on mythology and mythological fiction. The Indian mythology (ancient history really) is rich and diverse, providing ample material for authors to step in and peel the layers off. While past contemporary works were largely intellectual, analytical and philosphical, the trend of de-mystifying the mythology is more than welcome. In that sense, Rajiv Menon has done a good job of writing about Indra, the leader of the devas with whom Zeus of Greek mythology bears a strong resemblance.
While the book was an entertaining read, I wish the character of Indra was fleshed out more: it felt like a good start, really I looked forward to more. In certain episodes, the book could have been tighter: in its current form, it feels more like fantasy fiction.
To his credit, the author has done an excellent job of keeping the language simple and easy to read, all key elements to bringing in the reader.
Overall I would say the book is a decent read, and the author certainly has the potential to do better.
While the book was an entertaining read, I wish the character of Indra was fleshed out more: it felt like a good start, really I looked forward to more. In certain episodes, the book could have been tighter: in its current form, it feels more like fantasy fiction.
To his credit, the author has done an excellent job of keeping the language simple and easy to read, all key elements to bringing in the reader.
Overall I would say the book is a decent read, and the author certainly has the potential to do better.
March 2, 2016
When you read, There are several characters that stay with you, Indra is one of them.
The story takes us through the events that led to the birth of Indra, how he acquired the status of God. The book does not fail to explain each detail and each such detail does not fail to thrill.
The Indian mythology is rich and diverse, providing ample material for authors to step in and rediscover the story.
This book gives you a perfect blend of the stories we learnt in our childhood about Deva’s, Asurasa and the Amrit. It is new look on how Indra raised to become the “ Thundergod”.
Though the book is about Indra, that doesn’t stop writer to develop other Characters like Mitra,Varuna, Agni, Vayu, Soma, Vasu. but I liked the way the character Sachi is etched. That were you find both beauty and brains together with arrogance and dutiful wife. The transformation of love to hatredness is well depicted with the right context.
Absolutely loved the way they twisted a mythological tale to fit the reality
The story takes us through the events that led to the birth of Indra, how he acquired the status of God. The book does not fail to explain each detail and each such detail does not fail to thrill.
The Indian mythology is rich and diverse, providing ample material for authors to step in and rediscover the story.
This book gives you a perfect blend of the stories we learnt in our childhood about Deva’s, Asurasa and the Amrit. It is new look on how Indra raised to become the “ Thundergod”.
Though the book is about Indra, that doesn’t stop writer to develop other Characters like Mitra,Varuna, Agni, Vayu, Soma, Vasu. but I liked the way the character Sachi is etched. That were you find both beauty and brains together with arrogance and dutiful wife. The transformation of love to hatredness is well depicted with the right context.
Absolutely loved the way they twisted a mythological tale to fit the reality
October 14, 2013
Mr. Menon's writing and book deserve more than a star. But only at select points of the narrative.
As an avid reader of myths, fantasy; I was intrigued by this book's cover. When I started reading I realized, it was a problem of not too less, but too many ideas crammed in one book.
The author wants to create an adult fantasy series and uses everything in his arsenal all at once.
References from Hindu myths apart, Mr Menon has pulled in Egyptian and European myths in to this. The result is a fast paced narrative that does not grip it's reader.
A lot of things are left unexplained and is left to the reader's imagination (without setting contexts this is difficult), the narrative lacks depth.
Let's hope the second part has more to show and less to say :)
That said, please give it a shot. Every book should be judged only after one reads it.
Cheers!
As an avid reader of myths, fantasy; I was intrigued by this book's cover. When I started reading I realized, it was a problem of not too less, but too many ideas crammed in one book.
The author wants to create an adult fantasy series and uses everything in his arsenal all at once.
References from Hindu myths apart, Mr Menon has pulled in Egyptian and European myths in to this. The result is a fast paced narrative that does not grip it's reader.
A lot of things are left unexplained and is left to the reader's imagination (without setting contexts this is difficult), the narrative lacks depth.
Let's hope the second part has more to show and less to say :)
That said, please give it a shot. Every book should be judged only after one reads it.
Cheers!
April 30, 2014
Having read Game of Thrones Volume 1 before this which spanned a good 850 pages..I was shocked at how Over-rated that book was & how under-rated this one is..The former one was dull, boring bland with some action thrown in between while the latter had a valcano of Action on Every Page. While writing a book based on Indian Mythology, most authors assume that the book will be read by Children too..hence they skip the Gore, Sex, Lust part..but Rajiv menon reminded us why India is considered as The Land of Kamasutra through his spiced up Narration. The Characters too sound more Greek than INdian, which adds up a certain Charm to them. The Book takes us into the. Enchanting World of Deva clan & how mere mortals like Indra go on to become GOds..There is not a dull moment in this Book. For me this Book is as great as the Percy Jackson series or the Heroes of Olympus series.
March 28, 2013
It was a wonderful effort but fell flat....i did not fall in love with any of the characters...much less Indra, the protagonist.
Menon has potential, i believe he could write books with better plots unlike many of the new breed of writers who take Indian mythology and try to retell the story in their own way and somehow lose their Indianness. Menon could do well with infusing some heart into the characters.
Where Govinda by Krishna Udayshankar was a fave when I absolutely connected with Draupadi and was enchanted by the language, Amish failed to engage me in his Shiva trilogy despite his unique and ambitious plot that I loved in the first two books.
Hoping for a better read from Menon in the other parts of this saga!
Menon has potential, i believe he could write books with better plots unlike many of the new breed of writers who take Indian mythology and try to retell the story in their own way and somehow lose their Indianness. Menon could do well with infusing some heart into the characters.
Where Govinda by Krishna Udayshankar was a fave when I absolutely connected with Draupadi and was enchanted by the language, Amish failed to engage me in his Shiva trilogy despite his unique and ambitious plot that I loved in the first two books.
Hoping for a better read from Menon in the other parts of this saga!
August 10, 2013
Originally reviewed at - http://www.bookgeeks.in/
The effort and handiwork on part of a debut author is praise-worthy. The language is simple and intelligible, though a few editing errors here and there could have been easily avoided. It is this patchy and often hastily done editing work which spoils the reading pleasure. I liked the storyline and the way it transcends geographical barriers to cover almost the whole world known to the realms of men at that point in time. From Asia Minor to Euphrates to the plateau of Gandharva to Harappa to Himalayas and subsequently Swarga, the geographical coverage is just extraordinary.
Read the complete review at - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/fanta...
The effort and handiwork on part of a debut author is praise-worthy. The language is simple and intelligible, though a few editing errors here and there could have been easily avoided. It is this patchy and often hastily done editing work which spoils the reading pleasure. I liked the storyline and the way it transcends geographical barriers to cover almost the whole world known to the realms of men at that point in time. From Asia Minor to Euphrates to the plateau of Gandharva to Harappa to Himalayas and subsequently Swarga, the geographical coverage is just extraordinary.
Read the complete review at - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/fanta...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews