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The Aryavarta Chronicles #2
Kaurava
Nothing left to fight for is nothing left to lose...
Emperor Dharma Yudhisthir of the Kauravas and Empress Panchali Draupadi rule over the unified realm of Aryavarta, an empire built for them by Govinda Shauri with the blessings of the Firstborn and by the might of those whom everyone believes long gone - the Firewrights.
Now the Firewrights rise from the ashes of the past, divided as before in purpose and allegiance - those who wish to use the knowledge of their ancestors for the greater good of the new empire and those determined to avenge the annihilation of their kin. Sinister plans are afoot, and no one, it seems, can stand in the way of the chaos about to be unleashed - not the Firstborn, not the kings of Aryavarta, and not Govinda Shauri.
As a plot to destroy Govinda's beloved city Dwarka takes an unexpected turn, and Dharma Yudhisthir gambles away his empire, the tormented empress is forced into a terrifying exile and Aryavarta teeters once again on the brink of destruction.
Condemned by his own failures, Govinda is left a broken man. The only way he can save Aryavarta and the woman in whose trusted hands he had left it is by playing a dangerous game: He must betray a terrible secret that the Vyasa has protected all his life. A secret that may well destroy the Firstborn, and the Firewrights with them.
Emperor Dharma Yudhisthir of the Kauravas and Empress Panchali Draupadi rule over the unified realm of Aryavarta, an empire built for them by Govinda Shauri with the blessings of the Firstborn and by the might of those whom everyone believes long gone - the Firewrights.
Now the Firewrights rise from the ashes of the past, divided as before in purpose and allegiance - those who wish to use the knowledge of their ancestors for the greater good of the new empire and those determined to avenge the annihilation of their kin. Sinister plans are afoot, and no one, it seems, can stand in the way of the chaos about to be unleashed - not the Firstborn, not the kings of Aryavarta, and not Govinda Shauri.
As a plot to destroy Govinda's beloved city Dwarka takes an unexpected turn, and Dharma Yudhisthir gambles away his empire, the tormented empress is forced into a terrifying exile and Aryavarta teeters once again on the brink of destruction.
Condemned by his own failures, Govinda is left a broken man. The only way he can save Aryavarta and the woman in whose trusted hands he had left it is by playing a dangerous game: He must betray a terrible secret that the Vyasa has protected all his life. A secret that may well destroy the Firstborn, and the Firewrights with them.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 9, 2019
It’s been a while since I’ve felt invested and excited enough to binge read a fantasy trilogy, but that’s exactly what Govinda did to me. I couldn’t even imagine reading anything other than this sequel because I had to know what happens next. And I’m so happy that I did exactly that. This review might have some spoilers for the first book, so please be mindful of that before proceeding.
The magic that the author wove in Govinda is still present in this sequel, but she also manages to make this a bit more different in tone because of the ominous events that take place. While the first book had us moving across Aryavarta, the world here is expanded to include the desert lands of Matsya and I loved how it was described as a kingdom that strove to be prosperous despite its isolation from the empire for generations. The writing is as exciting as before, with so many more twists and turns and betrayals this time around and I just couldn’t put down the book. The story actually veers a lot more from the canon in this installment, but it’s very much organic to the author’s reimagining and I enjoyed these new turns. I guess the only disappointment was that there wasn’t much of action this time around, but I’m pretty sure we’ll get a lot more of that in the finale. There were also a lot more philosophical and existential discussions in the book, which were fascinating for the most part but could also jolt me out of the story if I wasn’t feeling them.
I particularly enjoyed how this book raises a lot of questions, that can even be relevant today if we give them deeper thought. There is a lot of discussion mainly on power, who gets to have the power and what responsibilities does it bring with it. What I found as a great parallel to our society is how the few who have had power for generations seem to consider it their right, and even the idea of power being redistributed across ordinary people is too much of a disruption and threat to their way of life. I also liked that the author included conversations on gender equality as well as class discrimination, a particular point hitting me hard - we should all be respected and should have the right to fairness and justice solely because we are human beings, and it should not be limited to only those who have a higher station in life. And I have to say, I’m very impressed that the author has setup the premise for the Kurukshetra war as a revolution against the system which has wronged the ordinary people and against the rulers who would do anything to preserve the status quo.
While the writing may have faltered a bit, the characters are as impressive as ever. I thought the shades of grey of both Dharma and Syoddhan are shown brilliantly. Dharma is particularly very infuriating because he believes in his self righteousness and destiny too much, and never actually takes blame for any of the wrongs that he commits. Syoddhan on the other hand is not a bad person, but is much more susceptible to the advice and ambitions of those around him, succumbing to their ideas despite probably knowing he is doing wrong. I really loved how the author flipped the script on these two major characters, showing them as utterly flawed human beings and not as black and white as popular fiction depicts. Shikhandin again gets a lot of depth and I admired him a lot for his bravery and convictions, even though he suffers a lot of personal tragedy, is never lauded for his courageous actions and branded as a traitor. Sanjaya is one who’s character is completely different from canon but it was fascinating to see him depicted as such a master manipulator, and he goes through so many emotions throughout the story and I found it interesting to watch him change and adapt.
Obviously the larger part of the story still revolves around Govinda and Panchali and I just loved the exploration of their relationship even more. They are two halves of a whole, like Narayana and Sri themselves, and there were so few scenes of them together but I just cherished reading them. Panchali suffers a lot throughout this book and while she almost wants to give up, she ultimately doesn’t because she is strong and fierce and will never stop standing up for herself and demanding justice. Govinda on the other hand is devastated seeing what happens to her, and the way his despair and complete hopelessness is described brought tears to my eyes. This is not how Lord Krishna is usually depicted - a person who gives up everything dear to him for the dream of a prosperous empire and when it all collapses, the person who is supposed to be the hope of all people becomes hopeless himself - I’ve never seen him shown this way before and I thought it was a brave and well done attempt by the author. But towards the end, the story brings these two formidable characters together again and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
While I may not have felt as in awe of this book as it’s predecessor, the characters are what make this series so amazing and I tip my hat off to the author’s extensive imagination. As I’ve said before, if you are interested in reading reinterpretations of the Mahabharata where there are no divine elements and are open to view the characters in new light, then you should definitely give this trilogy a try. You might just end up finding a new fantasy series and author.
The magic that the author wove in Govinda is still present in this sequel, but she also manages to make this a bit more different in tone because of the ominous events that take place. While the first book had us moving across Aryavarta, the world here is expanded to include the desert lands of Matsya and I loved how it was described as a kingdom that strove to be prosperous despite its isolation from the empire for generations. The writing is as exciting as before, with so many more twists and turns and betrayals this time around and I just couldn’t put down the book. The story actually veers a lot more from the canon in this installment, but it’s very much organic to the author’s reimagining and I enjoyed these new turns. I guess the only disappointment was that there wasn’t much of action this time around, but I’m pretty sure we’ll get a lot more of that in the finale. There were also a lot more philosophical and existential discussions in the book, which were fascinating for the most part but could also jolt me out of the story if I wasn’t feeling them.
I particularly enjoyed how this book raises a lot of questions, that can even be relevant today if we give them deeper thought. There is a lot of discussion mainly on power, who gets to have the power and what responsibilities does it bring with it. What I found as a great parallel to our society is how the few who have had power for generations seem to consider it their right, and even the idea of power being redistributed across ordinary people is too much of a disruption and threat to their way of life. I also liked that the author included conversations on gender equality as well as class discrimination, a particular point hitting me hard - we should all be respected and should have the right to fairness and justice solely because we are human beings, and it should not be limited to only those who have a higher station in life. And I have to say, I’m very impressed that the author has setup the premise for the Kurukshetra war as a revolution against the system which has wronged the ordinary people and against the rulers who would do anything to preserve the status quo.
While the writing may have faltered a bit, the characters are as impressive as ever. I thought the shades of grey of both Dharma and Syoddhan are shown brilliantly. Dharma is particularly very infuriating because he believes in his self righteousness and destiny too much, and never actually takes blame for any of the wrongs that he commits. Syoddhan on the other hand is not a bad person, but is much more susceptible to the advice and ambitions of those around him, succumbing to their ideas despite probably knowing he is doing wrong. I really loved how the author flipped the script on these two major characters, showing them as utterly flawed human beings and not as black and white as popular fiction depicts. Shikhandin again gets a lot of depth and I admired him a lot for his bravery and convictions, even though he suffers a lot of personal tragedy, is never lauded for his courageous actions and branded as a traitor. Sanjaya is one who’s character is completely different from canon but it was fascinating to see him depicted as such a master manipulator, and he goes through so many emotions throughout the story and I found it interesting to watch him change and adapt.
Obviously the larger part of the story still revolves around Govinda and Panchali and I just loved the exploration of their relationship even more. They are two halves of a whole, like Narayana and Sri themselves, and there were so few scenes of them together but I just cherished reading them. Panchali suffers a lot throughout this book and while she almost wants to give up, she ultimately doesn’t because she is strong and fierce and will never stop standing up for herself and demanding justice. Govinda on the other hand is devastated seeing what happens to her, and the way his despair and complete hopelessness is described brought tears to my eyes. This is not how Lord Krishna is usually depicted - a person who gives up everything dear to him for the dream of a prosperous empire and when it all collapses, the person who is supposed to be the hope of all people becomes hopeless himself - I’ve never seen him shown this way before and I thought it was a brave and well done attempt by the author. But towards the end, the story brings these two formidable characters together again and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
While I may not have felt as in awe of this book as it’s predecessor, the characters are what make this series so amazing and I tip my hat off to the author’s extensive imagination. As I’ve said before, if you are interested in reading reinterpretations of the Mahabharata where there are no divine elements and are open to view the characters in new light, then you should definitely give this trilogy a try. You might just end up finding a new fantasy series and author.
March 3, 2015
Teenage Mutant Mahabharata/Lord of the Rings/Alistair McClean/Dan Brown mishmashed in an unholy mess.
Says Govind/Krishn,
'It makes no difference to me who rules Aryavarta or what becomes of the Secret Keeper, Firewrights or Firstborns'.
Well,my sentiments exactly!
It must take much effort to convert the original's rich , tumultous, grey characters into colorless personas for whom I could feel no emotion but mild irritation.
Sanjay is Vidur's son; Pradyumn is Rukmini's husband; Abhimanyu is Krishn's son.
Parth/Arjun needs to be lectured on the difference between fire-tipped versus fire-tailed arrows by Princess Uttara, no else.
Subhadra's dream lover, Krishn's best friend and most trusted battle-ally is...Shikhandi!
Why? Why? Why? Because that is the author's idea of 'making Vyas's story her own'.
Says Govind/Krishn,
'It makes no difference to me who rules Aryavarta or what becomes of the Secret Keeper, Firewrights or Firstborns'.
Well,my sentiments exactly!
It must take much effort to convert the original's rich , tumultous, grey characters into colorless personas for whom I could feel no emotion but mild irritation.
Sanjay is Vidur's son; Pradyumn is Rukmini's husband; Abhimanyu is Krishn's son.
Parth/Arjun needs to be lectured on the difference between fire-tipped versus fire-tailed arrows by Princess Uttara, no else.
Subhadra's dream lover, Krishn's best friend and most trusted battle-ally is...Shikhandi!
Why? Why? Why? Because that is the author's idea of 'making Vyas's story her own'.
June 7, 2015
This is not a review per se, but do bear with me. I’ll be honest with you – it is extremely difficult to read this series. Not because it is a bad book but because it is incredibly complicated a storyline. The Mahabharata in itself is a labyrinthine maze of tales and when more and more of complexity is poured into the tale, it is like wading in quicksand. I do not exaggerate when I say that the storytelling in this one gave me an aching head trying to unravel the plots and subplots scattered all along it.
Chronologically, the tale starts after Yudhishtir’s coronation as the emperor and ends at the time when the Kurukshetra war is poised to begin. As in the earlier story, there are no divine beings in the tale and it is the story of an arms race between two clans and of the arms merchants who are in their midst making the best profits of them all. To the credit of the author, she manages to retell all the major plot points in the epic in her own way. She has also been able to weave a tale of how the trade of weapons and their making can completely overwhelm the minds of just and honest rulers. The characters in her story are not the classic characters of the epic but every single one of them are flawed heroes. They pursue their own ends and thereby leading the entire kingdom of Aryavarta to the brink of a deadly war.
My problem with this book and its predecessor lies with the rambling. The characters tend to go off on monologues that last pages at the drop of a hat. The last I remember, the only author to have made me feel so was Ayn Rand. They go on and on about varied topics like honor, war, justice, technology, reason and fairness for pages and pages. I skipped huge swathes of pages, passages and sometimes even chapters for this reason. From the mass of reviews about this book, it seems that most readers have enjoyed this but for me it served to disconnect me very quickly from the storytelling.
On to the last part of the trilogy. I still want to stick on and find out the treatment that will be meted out to the Kurukshetra war.
Chronologically, the tale starts after Yudhishtir’s coronation as the emperor and ends at the time when the Kurukshetra war is poised to begin. As in the earlier story, there are no divine beings in the tale and it is the story of an arms race between two clans and of the arms merchants who are in their midst making the best profits of them all. To the credit of the author, she manages to retell all the major plot points in the epic in her own way. She has also been able to weave a tale of how the trade of weapons and their making can completely overwhelm the minds of just and honest rulers. The characters in her story are not the classic characters of the epic but every single one of them are flawed heroes. They pursue their own ends and thereby leading the entire kingdom of Aryavarta to the brink of a deadly war.
My problem with this book and its predecessor lies with the rambling. The characters tend to go off on monologues that last pages at the drop of a hat. The last I remember, the only author to have made me feel so was Ayn Rand. They go on and on about varied topics like honor, war, justice, technology, reason and fairness for pages and pages. I skipped huge swathes of pages, passages and sometimes even chapters for this reason. From the mass of reviews about this book, it seems that most readers have enjoyed this but for me it served to disconnect me very quickly from the storytelling.
On to the last part of the trilogy. I still want to stick on and find out the treatment that will be meted out to the Kurukshetra war.
July 8, 2015
The intrigues, the battles, the secrets, the characters- all in epic scale as suits this adaptation of one of the greatest epics to have originated in India. The characters are shown in varying hues of glory and flaws; which makes for excellent reading. The various threads of the story progress in a complex braid that somehow does not get tangled.
The politics of power- the age old contention between equality and knowledge against power and riches at the hands of few; sounds like the happenings in any modern nation.
Readers will eagerly await the third book in this trilogy!
The politics of power- the age old contention between equality and knowledge against power and riches at the hands of few; sounds like the happenings in any modern nation.
Readers will eagerly await the third book in this trilogy!
February 23, 2016
Kaurava is a sequel to the author's Debut novel Govinda in the Aryavarta Chronicle series. The series reconstructs the story of Mahabharata in the background of a macro plot which is a conflict between Firewrights (Order of Angirasa) and First borns (Order of Vasishta).
Kaurava begins with the rule of Emperor Dharma post the Rajasuya (where Govinda ended). The dissatisfaction crops up among the various kingdoms and there is a conspiracy to bring down Govinda's Dwaraka as well as the Pandavas at Indraprastha. The gripping narrative describes the naval attack on Dwaraka where one can really admire the attention to detail given by the author.
Simultaneously, Dharma finds himself losing his kingdom, his brothers, himself and Panchali to Syodhan. The narrative here takes a diversion from the popular narratives where Syodhan is seen as trying to 'save the situation' and Dharma getting more and more entangled owing to the complex aspects of his personality (adherence to divine order, ambition and gambling instinct). It is here where I personally got a little disengaged as a reader. The alternating narratives of the siege on Dwaraka and the insult of Panchaali have been interwoven very well.
The narrative quickly rounds up the Vanvaas and proceeds further. Anymore explaining of the plot would amount to spoiling it to the prospective readers. All I can say is that the depth of relationship depicted between Govinda and Panchaali can keep a reader hooked in a philosophical awe. Something which is lacking in the earlier narratives on Draupadi's character.
From my limited knowledge and biases, I feel Dharma Yudhishtir and Vasusena (Karna) could have been depicted more realistically.
The ending of Kaurava signals an unexpected twist which can makes the reader eagerly look forward to the upcoming title in the series, "Kurukshetra"
Kaurava begins with the rule of Emperor Dharma post the Rajasuya (where Govinda ended). The dissatisfaction crops up among the various kingdoms and there is a conspiracy to bring down Govinda's Dwaraka as well as the Pandavas at Indraprastha. The gripping narrative describes the naval attack on Dwaraka where one can really admire the attention to detail given by the author.
Simultaneously, Dharma finds himself losing his kingdom, his brothers, himself and Panchali to Syodhan. The narrative here takes a diversion from the popular narratives where Syodhan is seen as trying to 'save the situation' and Dharma getting more and more entangled owing to the complex aspects of his personality (adherence to divine order, ambition and gambling instinct). It is here where I personally got a little disengaged as a reader. The alternating narratives of the siege on Dwaraka and the insult of Panchaali have been interwoven very well.
The narrative quickly rounds up the Vanvaas and proceeds further. Anymore explaining of the plot would amount to spoiling it to the prospective readers. All I can say is that the depth of relationship depicted between Govinda and Panchaali can keep a reader hooked in a philosophical awe. Something which is lacking in the earlier narratives on Draupadi's character.
From my limited knowledge and biases, I feel Dharma Yudhishtir and Vasusena (Karna) could have been depicted more realistically.
The ending of Kaurava signals an unexpected twist which can makes the reader eagerly look forward to the upcoming title in the series, "Kurukshetra"
December 19, 2013
Kaurava is the second book in The Aryavarta Chronicles series, a perfect sequel to the first book - Govinda.
I read both the books back to back and was mesmerised by the world they created for me ! I am giving it 5 stars because I was fascinated by the book in a genre which was totally new to me. I have to admit that I was never drawn towards the mythological / historical fiction retold in a different context. I picked the two books after strong recommendations and did not regret even for a minute.
The strong aspects of Kaurava are -
1. The richness of language
2. The passionate descriptions of the settings and events
3. The way characters are woven with attention to deep and superficial layers of different human personalities.
It was a different experience for me. The book kept me glued till I completed reading it. The elaborate descriptions make alive a world from the author's imagination to stand in front of the reader. That is the power of it's language. The characters are believable and real, more human than divine. My favourite characters in the book are Panchali and Shikhandi. Suyodhhan is also well crafted character with both evil and human sides of the man.
All in all, it was an engaging read, though it was a bit tough for me to keep track of so many characters and then detach them from my prejudice of previously formed opinions with which I grew up. But those were certainly not the deterrants. I recommend this book for an inspiring read.
Waiting for the third book in the series !
I read both the books back to back and was mesmerised by the world they created for me ! I am giving it 5 stars because I was fascinated by the book in a genre which was totally new to me. I have to admit that I was never drawn towards the mythological / historical fiction retold in a different context. I picked the two books after strong recommendations and did not regret even for a minute.
The strong aspects of Kaurava are -
1. The richness of language
2. The passionate descriptions of the settings and events
3. The way characters are woven with attention to deep and superficial layers of different human personalities.
It was a different experience for me. The book kept me glued till I completed reading it. The elaborate descriptions make alive a world from the author's imagination to stand in front of the reader. That is the power of it's language. The characters are believable and real, more human than divine. My favourite characters in the book are Panchali and Shikhandi. Suyodhhan is also well crafted character with both evil and human sides of the man.
All in all, it was an engaging read, though it was a bit tough for me to keep track of so many characters and then detach them from my prejudice of previously formed opinions with which I grew up. But those were certainly not the deterrants. I recommend this book for an inspiring read.
Waiting for the third book in the series !
October 28, 2016
Just about readable, only because the backdrop is the great epic. Too many twists take the charm out of the story. Not interested in the last part, will probably read it sometime for completion sake.
September 19, 2022
"The only person who is responsible for any situation is the person who has chosen to do nothing about it".
Krishna Udayasankar has written Mahabharata in a way riddled with politics. The Kuru dynasty politics and the fate Aryavartha is riding on the wings of Firstborn and the Firewrights. A beautiful retelling of Mahabharata, with selective characters deviating from the said well known characteristics. It's the eye of the viewer that decides the merit of an event. Krishna has woven a subtle perspective in which every characters have changed drastically but yet remains the same.
The book is focused on the events leading to the Kurukshetra. The first book was focused on the coronation of Dharma. This book is focused on the events leading to the culmination of war. It's not everyone's cup of tea, and I expect blatant criticism from people who have read Mahabharata. In our country this epic carries the weight of religious sentiments. The characters are God like - beyond folly and beyond criticism. Krishna strips of the god like personas and make the characters much more complex. She makes them humans. Dharma and adharma are presented as ways of living. And the boundary between them is very subtle. This book as philosophical as it is engaging. Ofcourse, there are portions were the boundaries and the plot are vague, that leads to much confusion. All the same, she has done a wonderful work. The character of Panchali deserves an applause.
Krishna Udayasankar has written Mahabharata in a way riddled with politics. The Kuru dynasty politics and the fate Aryavartha is riding on the wings of Firstborn and the Firewrights. A beautiful retelling of Mahabharata, with selective characters deviating from the said well known characteristics. It's the eye of the viewer that decides the merit of an event. Krishna has woven a subtle perspective in which every characters have changed drastically but yet remains the same.
The book is focused on the events leading to the Kurukshetra. The first book was focused on the coronation of Dharma. This book is focused on the events leading to the culmination of war. It's not everyone's cup of tea, and I expect blatant criticism from people who have read Mahabharata. In our country this epic carries the weight of religious sentiments. The characters are God like - beyond folly and beyond criticism. Krishna strips of the god like personas and make the characters much more complex. She makes them humans. Dharma and adharma are presented as ways of living. And the boundary between them is very subtle. This book as philosophical as it is engaging. Ofcourse, there are portions were the boundaries and the plot are vague, that leads to much confusion. All the same, she has done a wonderful work. The character of Panchali deserves an applause.
July 15, 2017
I had set the author a difficult task. I started reading the trilogy in the middle, wanting to see if she could entice me enough to buy the other volumes. I was pleased to observe that she rises to the challenge.
This is a highly imaginative retelling of the Mahabharat. The author tries to balance the characters on both sides of the battlefield at Kurukshetra, seemingly considering the original text of the epic as a propaganda piece for the victors. What if Duryodhan wasn't the epitome of evil he is made out to be? What if Yudhisthir wasn't the paragon of virtue he's considered today? These and similar assumptions are what the author starts with. To be fair, the original Mahabharat does present its characters in a more balanced fashion than modern, popular fiction portrays them, but here, the scales are driven more towards equilibrium. A very welcome attempt indeed.
The author also reverses many roles, making originally marginal characters the central players of her story. Ashwatthama, Shikhandi, Sanjay, Dhrishtadyumn and others are more centre-stage compared to the Pandavs or Bhishm, to name a few. In this process, the reader's suspension of disbelief does get stretched now and then, but not to breaking point.
I'm generally not a fan of introducing entire sets of new characters in an established story universe, especially one already well populated as the Mahabharat is. Ms. Udayshankar however, not only introduces such groups (yes, in the plural), but is able to link them into the existing network of characters; the links being at times tenuous and at others more substantial.
Trying to stay true to the major turning points of the original epic, the author is forced to elide over some parts of the story that she finds impossible to explain in her alternate version, most notably in this volume the "Dyut Kreeda" episode where the Pandavs lose their empire.
Ms. Udayshankar is a lot more sensitive to female characters, fleshing them out a little more than they are in popular imagination where they serve more as wallflowers than players. Again, I must point out that the original epic was nearer to the author's depiction than to popular imagination. That said, I do feel that Draupadi's "Vastra Haran" carried on for a little longer than it might have.
All in all, a good effort at the very challenging task of retelling a very well-known story. Ms Udayshankar reimagines many characters, introduces some new ones and re-interprets some events, but still succeeds in not straining the reader's credulity too much.
I'll definitely be buying the other two volumes.
This is a highly imaginative retelling of the Mahabharat. The author tries to balance the characters on both sides of the battlefield at Kurukshetra, seemingly considering the original text of the epic as a propaganda piece for the victors. What if Duryodhan wasn't the epitome of evil he is made out to be? What if Yudhisthir wasn't the paragon of virtue he's considered today? These and similar assumptions are what the author starts with. To be fair, the original Mahabharat does present its characters in a more balanced fashion than modern, popular fiction portrays them, but here, the scales are driven more towards equilibrium. A very welcome attempt indeed.
The author also reverses many roles, making originally marginal characters the central players of her story. Ashwatthama, Shikhandi, Sanjay, Dhrishtadyumn and others are more centre-stage compared to the Pandavs or Bhishm, to name a few. In this process, the reader's suspension of disbelief does get stretched now and then, but not to breaking point.
I'm generally not a fan of introducing entire sets of new characters in an established story universe, especially one already well populated as the Mahabharat is. Ms. Udayshankar however, not only introduces such groups (yes, in the plural), but is able to link them into the existing network of characters; the links being at times tenuous and at others more substantial.
Trying to stay true to the major turning points of the original epic, the author is forced to elide over some parts of the story that she finds impossible to explain in her alternate version, most notably in this volume the "Dyut Kreeda" episode where the Pandavs lose their empire.
Ms. Udayshankar is a lot more sensitive to female characters, fleshing them out a little more than they are in popular imagination where they serve more as wallflowers than players. Again, I must point out that the original epic was nearer to the author's depiction than to popular imagination. That said, I do feel that Draupadi's "Vastra Haran" carried on for a little longer than it might have.
All in all, a good effort at the very challenging task of retelling a very well-known story. Ms Udayshankar reimagines many characters, introduces some new ones and re-interprets some events, but still succeeds in not straining the reader's credulity too much.
I'll definitely be buying the other two volumes.
May 24, 2017
The Aryavarta Chronicles as written by Krishna Udayasankar is her take on the epic Mahabharata. She has cited the numerous references that she has used in order to curate the story in her series at the end of each book. She has done extensive research on the field and I absolutely admire what she came up with and published.
Govinda(The Aryavarta Chronicles #1) was recommended to me by one of my friends. I have been interested in reading about Indian Mythology and it's contemporary takes for quite some time now and hence I agreed to give this series a read. And boy, was I delighted I chose to read this. I will be reviewing the first book too.
I finished Govinda in three weeks(I take my time to read a book. Since this book comes with impeccable English, I chose to hold off binge reading and understand everything in detail). I was enticed by Govinda(the book) so much so that I didn't waste any time in acquiring Kaurava(#2).
Spoilers Ahead:
Kaurava starts off sometime after Govinda ended. Aryavarta is described to be at its prosperous peak and seems to be a mighty undefeatable empire to the untrained eyes. This book then takes us through how Dhritarashtra's sons, the Kauravas, ended up as the rulers of the mighty empire Aryavarta by winning against Dharma Yudhisdhir on a simple game of Dice. Unlike how the actual Mahabharata story goes, here the tale and the character personifications have been tweaked to give birth to a newer version of the age old story. The story then goes on to narrate the differences, the lies, the gambles, the treachery and other things that slowly leads to the ultimate fight which I hope would be dealt with in the last book.
The major difference that this series points off from the start is the fight between two classes of people, the Firstborn and the Firewrights. The understanding, that absolute harmony can only be achieved through the collaboration of both sects of people, is lost on the major populace and leaders of Aryavarta. This rift is exactly what makes for the major storyline of the series.
All in all, this was an interesting read. Although some of the argumentative narration related to wisdom and erudition were a bit far fetched, sometimes seeming forced and unnecessary. Apart from that, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read the third one, Kurukshetra!
Govinda(The Aryavarta Chronicles #1) was recommended to me by one of my friends. I have been interested in reading about Indian Mythology and it's contemporary takes for quite some time now and hence I agreed to give this series a read. And boy, was I delighted I chose to read this. I will be reviewing the first book too.
I finished Govinda in three weeks(I take my time to read a book. Since this book comes with impeccable English, I chose to hold off binge reading and understand everything in detail). I was enticed by Govinda(the book) so much so that I didn't waste any time in acquiring Kaurava(#2).
Spoilers Ahead:
Kaurava starts off sometime after Govinda ended. Aryavarta is described to be at its prosperous peak and seems to be a mighty undefeatable empire to the untrained eyes. This book then takes us through how Dhritarashtra's sons, the Kauravas, ended up as the rulers of the mighty empire Aryavarta by winning against Dharma Yudhisdhir on a simple game of Dice. Unlike how the actual Mahabharata story goes, here the tale and the character personifications have been tweaked to give birth to a newer version of the age old story. The story then goes on to narrate the differences, the lies, the gambles, the treachery and other things that slowly leads to the ultimate fight which I hope would be dealt with in the last book.
The major difference that this series points off from the start is the fight between two classes of people, the Firstborn and the Firewrights. The understanding, that absolute harmony can only be achieved through the collaboration of both sects of people, is lost on the major populace and leaders of Aryavarta. This rift is exactly what makes for the major storyline of the series.
All in all, this was an interesting read. Although some of the argumentative narration related to wisdom and erudition were a bit far fetched, sometimes seeming forced and unnecessary. Apart from that, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read the third one, Kurukshetra!
November 28, 2019
I picked up this book as I held fond memories of the first book. I enjoy alternate retelling of history and mythology, especially those that are grounded in reality. The first book seemed to tick the right boxes in this category and was an enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed the shades of grey the author painted most of her characters and, therefore, making it a battle between flawed but relate-able characters instead of of the stock good-vs-evil fight where we see the good prevailing. One of the reasons why the series was enjoyable is that there is no "the good side" or "the bad side" per se; which made the series all the more interesting as it left it to the reader to decide with whom their sympathies lie. The first book did suffer from a few flaws, namely:-
1. excessive exposition;
2. philosophical debates that led nowhere;
3. illogical, off-character decision making.
The second book takes all these negatives of the first and exacerbates them further. Furthermore, some characters that play a more central role are poorly constructed and, at times, suffer from illogical decision making/emotional responses. The premise too starts to collapse in the second book. The author's re-imagination of the events, in her attempt to ground them in realism, was weak at certain sections. This was accompanied by numerous off-character decision making/explanations for events being a more common occurrence in this book. Some of the events as consequence to these decisions are highly illogical and the suffering caused by them, a little forced.
At times, the characters are made intentionally ignorant or stupid just to further the story. So much so that, at times, it feels that the only sort of character that would fail to notice certain happenings around them would be an innocent five year old.
All in all, this is one book that I would probably not be re-reading ever again nor do I think I would be picking up the third book.
Color me highly disappointed.
1. excessive exposition;
2. philosophical debates that led nowhere;
3. illogical, off-character decision making.
The second book takes all these negatives of the first and exacerbates them further. Furthermore, some characters that play a more central role are poorly constructed and, at times, suffer from illogical decision making/emotional responses. The premise too starts to collapse in the second book. The author's re-imagination of the events, in her attempt to ground them in realism, was weak at certain sections. This was accompanied by numerous off-character decision making/explanations for events being a more common occurrence in this book. Some of the events as consequence to these decisions are highly illogical and the suffering caused by them, a little forced.
At times, the characters are made intentionally ignorant or stupid just to further the story. So much so that, at times, it feels that the only sort of character that would fail to notice certain happenings around them would be an innocent five year old.
All in all, this is one book that I would probably not be re-reading ever again nor do I think I would be picking up the third book.
Color me highly disappointed.
August 21, 2015
I want to give this one three and a half stars, because some of the flaws of the first novel have been addressed and the flow is a lot better in this one. There's still too much telling how people feel rather than the writing showing us, but my main criticism is that, for a novel that's based on the Mahabharata, which has quite a few interesting female characters, there's really only one female characters who's give much time on the page, and that's Draupadi/Panchali
BUT again, based on the Mahabharata so that's a lot of love from me just for that, and I thought there was lots of exciting action that flowed better and wasn't nearly as confusingly told.
BUT again, based on the Mahabharata so that's a lot of love from me just for that, and I thought there was lots of exciting action that flowed better and wasn't nearly as confusingly told.
February 6, 2020
Will be back with a revised review...
December 8, 2023
When reading a very good book series, it is often difficult for sequels to ever match the standards of an excellent book 1. More often than not, book 2 will fall short in some way from what made book 1 exceptional.
Not so Kaurava. Krishna Udayasankar’s second book of The Aryavarta Chronicles, is just as good, if not better, than book 1, Govinda. I really enjoyed it.
As with Govinda, this opened a whole, vastly different view of the Mahabharata from the one that I’m familiar with.
Syoddhan as the noble royal with integrity and honour. Dharma, not the honorable intelligent prince but who came across, for me, as feckless and righteously sanctimonious. Talk about flipping roles!
The searing scene of the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata was always a very problematic one for me. Every man, including her husbands and the venerable elders of the Kuru dynasty stood by as Dushasana physically assaulted and verbally abused Draupadi and as he tore off her garments from her. She put her faith in Krishna Vasudeva (the avatar of Vishnu) and suddenly, her garments become endless- yards and yards of fabric appear miraculously and Draupadi is never fully exposed in the Kuru durbar.
I was curious to see how the author would handle it and was not disappointed. It was a masterful interpretation of the myth that was both visceral and shocking. It didn't spare any punches and made for tough reading. And while I definitely cannot understand how Draupadi could carry on living with her husbands after that incident, I understand that reading this mythology with 21st century sensibilities is not possible.
Another difference in this version of the epic occurs during the Virata Parva. This was the 13th year of exile in which the Pandavas must spend incognito to avoid another 12 years of exile in the forest and they do so in the court of King Virata of Matsya. Partha, disguised as Brihannala the eunuch, aids Prince Uttar in a battle against Duryodhana. In Kaurava, Brihannala goes to battle with Princess Uttara instead of her brother. A small change that doesn't really impact the story too much as the end of the battle remains the same. I mention it only because I like the gender reversal and how the character of Uttara was given more emphasis.
Continuing the precepts in Govinda, this book further delves into power distribution. The Haves and the Have-nots. How the Haves, the ones with power and wealth, cling to notions that only they are entitled to it. It delves into class discrimination. That those who serve must always serve and never prosper beyond what they are allowed. This melting pot of different ideas all leading to one thing only. War.
In Kaurava, the Krishna Udayasankar has done a remarkable job in setting up the great war that is coming in Kurukshetra. I'm excited to start reading it.
Not so Kaurava. Krishna Udayasankar’s second book of The Aryavarta Chronicles, is just as good, if not better, than book 1, Govinda. I really enjoyed it.
As with Govinda, this opened a whole, vastly different view of the Mahabharata from the one that I’m familiar with.
Syoddhan as the noble royal with integrity and honour. Dharma, not the honorable intelligent prince but who came across, for me, as feckless and righteously sanctimonious. Talk about flipping roles!
The searing scene of the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata was always a very problematic one for me. Every man, including her husbands and the venerable elders of the Kuru dynasty stood by as Dushasana physically assaulted and verbally abused Draupadi and as he tore off her garments from her. She put her faith in Krishna Vasudeva (the avatar of Vishnu) and suddenly, her garments become endless- yards and yards of fabric appear miraculously and Draupadi is never fully exposed in the Kuru durbar.
I was curious to see how the author would handle it and was not disappointed. It was a masterful interpretation of the myth that was both visceral and shocking. It didn't spare any punches and made for tough reading. And while I definitely cannot understand how Draupadi could carry on living with her husbands after that incident, I understand that reading this mythology with 21st century sensibilities is not possible.
Another difference in this version of the epic occurs during the Virata Parva. This was the 13th year of exile in which the Pandavas must spend incognito to avoid another 12 years of exile in the forest and they do so in the court of King Virata of Matsya. Partha, disguised as Brihannala the eunuch, aids Prince Uttar in a battle against Duryodhana. In Kaurava, Brihannala goes to battle with Princess Uttara instead of her brother. A small change that doesn't really impact the story too much as the end of the battle remains the same. I mention it only because I like the gender reversal and how the character of Uttara was given more emphasis.
Continuing the precepts in Govinda, this book further delves into power distribution. The Haves and the Have-nots. How the Haves, the ones with power and wealth, cling to notions that only they are entitled to it. It delves into class discrimination. That those who serve must always serve and never prosper beyond what they are allowed. This melting pot of different ideas all leading to one thing only. War.
In Kaurava, the Krishna Udayasankar has done a remarkable job in setting up the great war that is coming in Kurukshetra. I'm excited to start reading it.
September 28, 2023
The war of Kurukshetra happened because a woman was disrespected and humiliated in an assembly of the who's who of the era. The woman, all of the men in the assembly thought as insignificant. But she wasn't, for she was one of the few people in the world that a simple gwala (cowherd) cared for.
That gwala was Govinda Shauri.
..and was also the consequence of plottings by a few other individuals with personal agendas.
That gwala was Govinda Shauri.
..and was also the consequence of plottings by a few other individuals with personal agendas.
December 21, 2019
This book has one epic scene of love between Govinda and ****** ( no spoilers), it can make you cry, when you feel nothing else matters and the one standing on front of u is your world.. I am amazed how well Krishna has described that scene..
March 24, 2018
different view of mahabharata
Reading mahabharata from human prospective rather than God's prospective is a different experience. Still enjoyed it a lot. Good book
Reading mahabharata from human prospective rather than God's prospective is a different experience. Still enjoyed it a lot. Good book
June 10, 2018
Did not like the writing style. Not at all engaging. Reading this one was like a task!!
February 6, 2024
Too much descriptive.
October 20, 2013
"Kaurava" is the bridge that connects the author's debut "Govinda" to the tentatively titled finale "Kurukshetra", that makes up "The Aryavarta Chronicles". This is a retelling of the Mahabharata with its focus shifted from the usual plotline, to a viewpoint based storytelling, in this case, Govinda (Krishna).
Book 2 picks up on where Book 1 left off. The Mahabharata being an extensive story, the author hits the refresh button by giving brief introductions to them. In the due course of the book, we are introduced to the usual suspects, but in an entirely different viewpoint. This, of course, is the hallmark of the series. To make the characters her own and not rely on the good old fashioned themes that we have grown up wit.
The Mahabharata is, but a mere context. The author projects her characters, as living, breathing beings of their own. Something that has sprung out of extensive research, careful tweaking and intense passion for the epic. The characters are NOT perfect or divine in any way. They are as flawed an as human, as you and I could be. The author has to be applauded for her sheer presence of mind, in not only reinventing conventional thoughts, but interpreting them, in ways that are extremely relatable.
From the start, the book holds a vice like grip, with equal dosage of compelling storytelling, expansive scene settings, minute details and furious action. The book covers some major portions of the Mahabharata quite quickly. This, is not necessarily a disadvantage, because the Mahabharata is such an integral part of our reading, and culture, that explaining those events in rich detail, would be a wasted effort. The author smartly weaves in those nuances, in real time, as alternate events, leaving no strings untied.
The characters are my favourite part. Not a single person is squeaky clean. The author makes it clear that her universe is neither black nor white. It is clearly Grey and (excuse the pun) far more shades than 50. The relationships built are complex, and are derived not entirely based on mannerisms, but the way they think. One really feels the schizoid nature of Govinda, one admires the rawness in Panchali, the verve of Aswattama, the machismo of Shikhandin and weirdly, the human side of Syodhan,
Having said that, this conscious effort of being different does weigh you a little down. The overdose of familiarity with the Epic, makes you want to refer to the character listing (very well done) at the front, and then relate it to the story. I confess myself a little disappointed with the narrative of Vasusena. The most interesting part however to me, about both the books, has been Panchali. I have never read a version where so much weightage has been given to her, and that, was the icing on the cake for me, in terms of characterisation.
It is quite evident that the author has painstakingly laid out her plotline, that makes you want to second guess the events that you know will eventually happen. There lies her victory.Convincing the reader to think different is a major deal. The author has successfully done that (at least to me). The language used is exceptional, the tension is palpable, the action is furious, the settings are truly on an epic scale, and yet, the book retains an element of humanity that the readers will connect to.
Eagerly awaiting the release of Book 3. Take a bow, you deserve it Ms.Udayasankar.
Book 2 picks up on where Book 1 left off. The Mahabharata being an extensive story, the author hits the refresh button by giving brief introductions to them. In the due course of the book, we are introduced to the usual suspects, but in an entirely different viewpoint. This, of course, is the hallmark of the series. To make the characters her own and not rely on the good old fashioned themes that we have grown up wit.
The Mahabharata is, but a mere context. The author projects her characters, as living, breathing beings of their own. Something that has sprung out of extensive research, careful tweaking and intense passion for the epic. The characters are NOT perfect or divine in any way. They are as flawed an as human, as you and I could be. The author has to be applauded for her sheer presence of mind, in not only reinventing conventional thoughts, but interpreting them, in ways that are extremely relatable.
From the start, the book holds a vice like grip, with equal dosage of compelling storytelling, expansive scene settings, minute details and furious action. The book covers some major portions of the Mahabharata quite quickly. This, is not necessarily a disadvantage, because the Mahabharata is such an integral part of our reading, and culture, that explaining those events in rich detail, would be a wasted effort. The author smartly weaves in those nuances, in real time, as alternate events, leaving no strings untied.
The characters are my favourite part. Not a single person is squeaky clean. The author makes it clear that her universe is neither black nor white. It is clearly Grey and (excuse the pun) far more shades than 50. The relationships built are complex, and are derived not entirely based on mannerisms, but the way they think. One really feels the schizoid nature of Govinda, one admires the rawness in Panchali, the verve of Aswattama, the machismo of Shikhandin and weirdly, the human side of Syodhan,
Having said that, this conscious effort of being different does weigh you a little down. The overdose of familiarity with the Epic, makes you want to refer to the character listing (very well done) at the front, and then relate it to the story. I confess myself a little disappointed with the narrative of Vasusena. The most interesting part however to me, about both the books, has been Panchali. I have never read a version where so much weightage has been given to her, and that, was the icing on the cake for me, in terms of characterisation.
It is quite evident that the author has painstakingly laid out her plotline, that makes you want to second guess the events that you know will eventually happen. There lies her victory.Convincing the reader to think different is a major deal. The author has successfully done that (at least to me). The language used is exceptional, the tension is palpable, the action is furious, the settings are truly on an epic scale, and yet, the book retains an element of humanity that the readers will connect to.
Eagerly awaiting the release of Book 3. Take a bow, you deserve it Ms.Udayasankar.
February 6, 2020
Dharma Yudhisthir, King of the Kauravas and his wife the Queen Panchali Draupadi rule over the unified realm of Aryavarta, an empire built for them by Govinda Shauri with the blessings of the Firstborn and by the might of those whom everyone believes to be extinct by then - the Firewrights.
Now the Firewrights rise from the ashes of the past, divided as before in purpose and allegiance - those who wish to use the knowledge of their ancestors for the greater good of the new realm and those determined to avenge the annihilation of their kin. Sinister plans are afoot, and no one, it seems, can stand in the way of the chaos about to be unleashed - not the Firstborn, not the kings of Aryavarta, and not Govinda Shauri.
As a plot to destroy Govinda's beloved city Dwarka takes an unexpected turn, and Dharma Yudhisthir gambles away his empire, the tormented queen is forced into a terrifying exile and Aryavarta once again is barely managing to escape destruction.
Condemned by his own failures, Govinda is left a broken man. The only way he can save Aryavarta and the woman in whose trusted hands he had left it is by playing a dangerous game: He must betray a terrible secret that the Vyasa has protected all his life. A secret that may well destroy the Firstborn, and the Firewrights with them.
The book takes us to this fancy flight of plots and subplots and at times it is difficult to understand because of back and forth way of narration. Plus those who do not know much about this fable will find it very difficult to keep up with the multiple threads within the story. Yet I like the way she gives so much information based on her research.
Now the Firewrights rise from the ashes of the past, divided as before in purpose and allegiance - those who wish to use the knowledge of their ancestors for the greater good of the new realm and those determined to avenge the annihilation of their kin. Sinister plans are afoot, and no one, it seems, can stand in the way of the chaos about to be unleashed - not the Firstborn, not the kings of Aryavarta, and not Govinda Shauri.
As a plot to destroy Govinda's beloved city Dwarka takes an unexpected turn, and Dharma Yudhisthir gambles away his empire, the tormented queen is forced into a terrifying exile and Aryavarta once again is barely managing to escape destruction.
Condemned by his own failures, Govinda is left a broken man. The only way he can save Aryavarta and the woman in whose trusted hands he had left it is by playing a dangerous game: He must betray a terrible secret that the Vyasa has protected all his life. A secret that may well destroy the Firstborn, and the Firewrights with them.
The book takes us to this fancy flight of plots and subplots and at times it is difficult to understand because of back and forth way of narration. Plus those who do not know much about this fable will find it very difficult to keep up with the multiple threads within the story. Yet I like the way she gives so much information based on her research.
September 19, 2022
"The only person who is responsible for any situation is the person who has chosen to do nothing about it".
Krishna Udayasankar has written Mahabharata in a way riddled with politics. The Kuru dynasty politics and the fate Aryavartha is riding on the wings of Firstborn and the Firewrights. A beautiful retelling of Mahabharata, with selective characters deviating from the said well known characteristics. It's the eye of the viewer that decides the merit of an event. Krishna has woven a subtle perspective in which every characters have changed drastically but yet remains the same.
The book is focused on the events leading to the Kurukshetra. The first book was focused on the coronation of Dharma. This book is focused on the events leading to the culmination of war. It's not everyone's cup of tea, and I expect blatant criticism from people who have read Mahabharata. In our country this epic carries the weight of religious sentiments. The characters are God like - beyond folly and beyond criticism. Krishna strips of the god like personas and make the characters much more complex. She makes them humans. Dharma and adharma are presented as ways of living. And the boundary between them is very subtle. This book as philosophical as it is engaging. Ofcourse, there are portions were the boundaries and the plot are vague, that leads to much confusion. All the same, she has done a wonderful work. The character of Panchali deserves an applause.
Krishna Udayasankar has written Mahabharata in a way riddled with politics. The Kuru dynasty politics and the fate Aryavartha is riding on the wings of Firstborn and the Firewrights. A beautiful retelling of Mahabharata, with selective characters deviating from the said well known characteristics. It's the eye of the viewer that decides the merit of an event. Krishna has woven a subtle perspective in which every characters have changed drastically but yet remains the same.
The book is focused on the events leading to the Kurukshetra. The first book was focused on the coronation of Dharma. This book is focused on the events leading to the culmination of war. It's not everyone's cup of tea, and I expect blatant criticism from people who have read Mahabharata. In our country this epic carries the weight of religious sentiments. The characters are God like - beyond folly and beyond criticism. Krishna strips of the god like personas and make the characters much more complex. She makes them humans. Dharma and adharma are presented as ways of living. And the boundary between them is very subtle. This book as philosophical as it is engaging. Ofcourse, there are portions were the boundaries and the plot are vague, that leads to much confusion. All the same, she has done a wonderful work. The character of Panchali deserves an applause.
November 26, 2013
Completed 300-plus pages in one sitting, that's how engrossing it was. Don't remember in the recent times that compulsive need to do , one more chapter and then I will finish, kinda feeling that draws you in deeper until you realize that time has flown. And thus it came, the battle lines have been drawn and the conches ready to be blown. Let there be War.
A worthy fantastic addition to the Aryavarta Chronicles, where Krishna comprehensively proves that she ain't a flash in the pan a one book wonder. The story is long yet and it is all heating up to an explosive flashpoint. I loved this book, she's mostly gotten over her pacing issues, the convoluted wheels turning within wheels-plot continues to grow murkier and all the more exciting, brimming with action set pieces that Gore-Verbinski would be proud of and excellent in-depth characterization That charms and emotionally drains you. Especially Mr. Govinda Shauri.
It is not so much as a retelling but a soaring triumph of unfettered imagination built on pain-staking research and penned in a confident poetic prose that delights and transports you to far-away conflicted lands of erstwhile Bharat-varsha.
Here is my full review: http://bit.ly/1iaY0R3
A worthy fantastic addition to the Aryavarta Chronicles, where Krishna comprehensively proves that she ain't a flash in the pan a one book wonder. The story is long yet and it is all heating up to an explosive flashpoint. I loved this book, she's mostly gotten over her pacing issues, the convoluted wheels turning within wheels-plot continues to grow murkier and all the more exciting, brimming with action set pieces that Gore-Verbinski would be proud of and excellent in-depth characterization That charms and emotionally drains you. Especially Mr. Govinda Shauri.
It is not so much as a retelling but a soaring triumph of unfettered imagination built on pain-staking research and penned in a confident poetic prose that delights and transports you to far-away conflicted lands of erstwhile Bharat-varsha.
Here is my full review: http://bit.ly/1iaY0R3
February 13, 2014
Kaurava segues into the world of Aryavarta effortlessly. It is in the same mold as its predecessor, which is to say it shares both the highs of character building and the lows of meandering prose with its prequel Govinda. Most of the characters come into their own, as the story reaches the crucial stages. What the book beautifully captures, is the torment of Govinda (Krishna), that a sharp reader of Mahabharata would have noticed. Two halves of a whole, Govinda and Panchali are tested to the worst limits of endurance, by circumstances, schemes, and sadly, also each other. And throughout, their tender affection shines through. The author has done a great job bringing in the nuances of this complex relationship that is central to the Mahabharata as well as this series.
Kaurava is a typical 'middle book', in that it withholds the onward movement of many story lines. Some errors in editing are glaring in the edition I read, but I can overlook them for the quality of research and writing.
Eagerly waiting for the conclusion. Hope the author delivers, unlike the recent trilogies that ended with duds, like Amish Tripathi's.
Kaurava is a typical 'middle book', in that it withholds the onward movement of many story lines. Some errors in editing are glaring in the edition I read, but I can overlook them for the quality of research and writing.
Eagerly waiting for the conclusion. Hope the author delivers, unlike the recent trilogies that ended with duds, like Amish Tripathi's.
August 25, 2015
Dharma, the Emperor of Aryavarta, resents his position. All that he has achieved is because of that treacherous Firewright gwala, Govinda Shauri. Marrying Panchali, becoming the Emperor and naming his nephew the next in line to the throne, all these important milestones in his life have been orchestrated by that Govinda! That is when, through a series of events, the dice come to fall in his palms – the unique opportunity to do whatever with his empire as he wishes. The dice, his vice, spell doom to the five brothers and the Panchali.
With a bad experience behind them, the Pandavas and Panchali decide to go into anonymity in the kingdom of Matsya, on the advice of Vidura or so they think. Matsya, the stronghold of Firewrights’ knowledge, is a different experience for them. General Keechak’s death and subsequent announcement of war by Syoddhan, bring confusion. The strategic victory over Syoddhan is noteworthy.
Krishna Udayasankar outdoes herself in this sequel with her brilliant storytelling!
Full review here: https://themonkeysprings.wordpress.co...
With a bad experience behind them, the Pandavas and Panchali decide to go into anonymity in the kingdom of Matsya, on the advice of Vidura or so they think. Matsya, the stronghold of Firewrights’ knowledge, is a different experience for them. General Keechak’s death and subsequent announcement of war by Syoddhan, bring confusion. The strategic victory over Syoddhan is noteworthy.
Krishna Udayasankar outdoes herself in this sequel with her brilliant storytelling!
Full review here: https://themonkeysprings.wordpress.co...
April 18, 2014
Like a contentious matter in Christian theology, the nature - divine or not - of mythological personages can be a right issue in assessing them. Fortunately, Ms Udayasankar steers away from this, making her characters undoubtedly men (and one determined woman) and thus subject to the same emotions and motivations - pride, ambition, despair, manipulation and so on - that underpin all our actions. This is the real strength of the second volume of the Aryavarta Chronicles as this second part of this interpretative retelling of the Mahabharata saga comes into its own. Nuanced depictions of characters customarily depicted as evil or even amoral - viz. Syoddhan, Aswattama, or those generally under-represented - Dhristdhyumna, Shikhandin - or for that matter of Dharma Yudhistir. who comes across as pompous, self-righteous and even hypocritical - are delightful. And yes the reference to the Creator not playing dice and roping in Pyrrho of Elis earns this top honours - would have given more stars if possible. Eagerly await the next one
January 1, 2020
After Govinda, I searched a lot for the second part. At last I found it at Delhi Duty Free, of all places.
The book certainly lived upto the expectation set by the first part. Some parts, I read twice to actually understand what the philosophy was all about.
This book gives greater insights in to the characters lives. And as with the first book, it is fun to read the epic from a practical point of view. How some sideline characters are brought to the mainstream, eg Sanjaya.
But among all, one character that the author has done some serious injustice with is Vasusena (Karna). Among all the characters in the Mahabharata, his is one characters that inspires. For his only weakness was his friendship to Duryodhana.
But in the book, he is shown to be a dithering fool no better than Dushasan, though mightily skilled.
When even Duryodhan could turn to Syodhan, why this injustice to the mighty, benevolent Karna?
Otherwise a delightful read.
Now waiting to lay my hands on Kurukshetra.....
The book certainly lived upto the expectation set by the first part. Some parts, I read twice to actually understand what the philosophy was all about.
This book gives greater insights in to the characters lives. And as with the first book, it is fun to read the epic from a practical point of view. How some sideline characters are brought to the mainstream, eg Sanjaya.
But among all, one character that the author has done some serious injustice with is Vasusena (Karna). Among all the characters in the Mahabharata, his is one characters that inspires. For his only weakness was his friendship to Duryodhana.
But in the book, he is shown to be a dithering fool no better than Dushasan, though mightily skilled.
When even Duryodhan could turn to Syodhan, why this injustice to the mighty, benevolent Karna?
Otherwise a delightful read.
Now waiting to lay my hands on Kurukshetra.....
January 13, 2014
Kaurava is the sequel to Govinda, Krishna Udayasankar's debut effort and a book that I liked a lot. Kaurava had a tough act to follow and what didn't help was the fact that it fell into the "middle book syndrome". Writing a review for a book that you didn't quite enjoy is a task and I'll do my best to highlight what are this book's strengths and foibles
For the vast 2/3rds of the book, the plot doesn't move forward as most characters spend time agonizing over their past actions and how their future seems to be desolate. There are some major events which happen such as Panchali's vastraharan and the ill-fated game of dice.
The book in its last third, gains direction and goes on to a good climax wherein the seeds for the great war are set and with the next book titled Kurukshetra, one can only imagine what havoc lies ahead.
More to come in full FBC review
January 12, 2017
Mesmerising is the word I can use for such a book. Kaurava is a book like none other. It highlights a very different perspective from the other books which describe the great epic of Mahabharata.. Krishna udayasankar has done a brilliant job and brings forth a new view which is rather realistic and not an idea that we all must have read which astonishes us by telling us about the supernatural powers and unbelievable myths. However, the book is partly fiction and puts up some ideas to which we all may disagree to. For instance, the author writes that Draupadi was only the wife of Yudhishtir. All in all, I feel that kaurava is a very bold writing and wins my heart with its amazing use of languages and set ups.
March 12, 2015
The momentum from the first book is definitely sustained with the theory of the FireWrights and the Firstborn which forms the backbone of this trilogy. Along with the turnaround of events including the game of dice and eventually the exile, the book tries to fit in more happenings including the one in Dwaraka in the same timeline. The tracking back of the ancestry of all the Kauravyas to Matsya Kingdom at this time seems to be unwarranted unless there is some thing that's big in the third book on this front.
Krishna Udayshankar is definitely a talented writer and has set her bar high. Hence, this gets 3 stars for not wowing me as much as Govinda. Nevertheless a good continuation to the exciting trilogy.
Krishna Udayshankar is definitely a talented writer and has set her bar high. Hence, this gets 3 stars for not wowing me as much as Govinda. Nevertheless a good continuation to the exciting trilogy.
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