What do you think?
Rate this book
The Emperor's Riddles
THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER!!!
Carrying quotes from Amish Tripathi & Ashwin Sanghi on its cover, this new mystery thriller, described by Hindustan Times as 'a gripping tale of intrigue'and by The Hindu as a 'heady mix of history & mystery', has already made it to several Top 10 Bestseller charts.
More terrifying than the savage murder of historian Ram Mathur on the ghats of Ganga, are the questions that follow. Desperate for answers, Sia turns to esoteric writer & friend Om Patnaik. But what begins as a hunt for the killer, becomes an extraordinary trail of riddles strewn across the country, that must end at the gates of an enigma.
An ancient enigma so powerful that even gods would kill for it!!!
In another time and space, rules an Emperor who plays with phenomenal forces that make him supreme…who faces these very forces when they threaten the survival of the human race. An Emperor who must ultimately pay homage to the enigma…
As Patnaik and Sia race from one riddle to another, towards a royal secret that has remained alive for centuries….will the final truth, save them or destroy them forever?
The path beckons. Can you solve The Emperor’s Riddles?
Check out the Online Extract here on Goodreads and the Official HD Trailer on YouTube.
Carrying quotes from Amish Tripathi & Ashwin Sanghi on its cover, this new mystery thriller, described by Hindustan Times as 'a gripping tale of intrigue'and by The Hindu as a 'heady mix of history & mystery', has already made it to several Top 10 Bestseller charts.
More terrifying than the savage murder of historian Ram Mathur on the ghats of Ganga, are the questions that follow. Desperate for answers, Sia turns to esoteric writer & friend Om Patnaik. But what begins as a hunt for the killer, becomes an extraordinary trail of riddles strewn across the country, that must end at the gates of an enigma.
An ancient enigma so powerful that even gods would kill for it!!!
In another time and space, rules an Emperor who plays with phenomenal forces that make him supreme…who faces these very forces when they threaten the survival of the human race. An Emperor who must ultimately pay homage to the enigma…
As Patnaik and Sia race from one riddle to another, towards a royal secret that has remained alive for centuries….will the final truth, save them or destroy them forever?
The path beckons. Can you solve The Emperor’s Riddles?
Check out the Online Extract here on Goodreads and the Official HD Trailer on YouTube.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2014
10 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
Satyarth Nayak
6 books98 followersSatyarth Nayak is an author and screenwriter based in Mumbai. A former SAARC Award-winning correspondent with CNN-IBN, Delhi, he holds a Master’s in English Literature from St. Stephen’s.
Satyarth’s bestselling biography, ''Sridevi—The Eternal Screen Goddess'', was published by Penguin in 2019 and charted the journey of the screen legend from child star to becoming India’s first female superstar. It met with high acclaim with the media hailing it as ‘’that one work of literature to decode Sridevi.’’ Satyarth’s debut novel, ''The Emperor’s Riddles'', that released in 2014, became a bestselling thriller, earning comparisons with Dan Brown for being a ‘history meets mystery’. Amish Tripathi described it as ‘’a fantastic blend of myth, imagination and mystery’’ while Hindustan Times called it ‘’a celebration of our great Indian civilization.’’ Satyarth followed it up with his second thriller, ''Venom'', in 2020. He has also scripted Sony’s epic historical show, ''Porus'', touted as India’s most expensive television series that aired from 2017 to 2019. His short stories have won the British Council award and appeared in Sudha Murty’s Penguin anthology, ''Something Happened On The Way To Heaven''. Satyarth’s latest book titled, ''Mahagatha'', has been published by HarperCollins and is an epic collection of 100 greatest mythological tales from the Puranas of Hinduism, narrated from Satya Yuga to Kali Yuga.
Named one of the Top 50 authors to follow on social media and a regular speaker at national and international literature festivals, Satyarth is currently scripting a high-profile mythology web series, working on his first film script and writing his next book based on the Mahabharata.
Satyarth’s bestselling biography, ''Sridevi—The Eternal Screen Goddess'', was published by Penguin in 2019 and charted the journey of the screen legend from child star to becoming India’s first female superstar. It met with high acclaim with the media hailing it as ‘’that one work of literature to decode Sridevi.’’ Satyarth’s debut novel, ''The Emperor’s Riddles'', that released in 2014, became a bestselling thriller, earning comparisons with Dan Brown for being a ‘history meets mystery’. Amish Tripathi described it as ‘’a fantastic blend of myth, imagination and mystery’’ while Hindustan Times called it ‘’a celebration of our great Indian civilization.’’ Satyarth followed it up with his second thriller, ''Venom'', in 2020. He has also scripted Sony’s epic historical show, ''Porus'', touted as India’s most expensive television series that aired from 2017 to 2019. His short stories have won the British Council award and appeared in Sudha Murty’s Penguin anthology, ''Something Happened On The Way To Heaven''. Satyarth’s latest book titled, ''Mahagatha'', has been published by HarperCollins and is an epic collection of 100 greatest mythological tales from the Puranas of Hinduism, narrated from Satya Yuga to Kali Yuga.
Named one of the Top 50 authors to follow on social media and a regular speaker at national and international literature festivals, Satyarth is currently scripting a high-profile mythology web series, working on his first film script and writing his next book based on the Mahabharata.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 59 reviews
September 3, 2014
Although I am a proud Indian I kept myself away from Indian writers. The sole reason was because I went through the torment of reading Chetan Bhagat and Durjoy Dutta. They have lowered the standards of Indians in front of the world. I have read books from writers all across the globe and I'm a sucker of good language. With heavy heart I placed my bet on this book because of the impressive bio of the author.
Let's start the review then :
The start was mysterious justifying the cover page of novel. The tales about the Emperor felt more like misplaced anecdotes. The narration clearly didn't make any sense. I was unable to relate the tale of Emperor with the present except for the science each riddle was pointing to.
As the story progressed it became more cliched and I suddenly remembered two people the most. Sidney Sheldon and Dan Brown. The flow of story, the primary characters, the riddles, the history behind it, Associating myth with science - Everything was pointing to Dan Brown and the flow of story looked more a Sidney Sheldon style but in an improper way. I want to give full marks to the author for doing his bit of research because it was really informative and surprising.
I got frustrated in the middle. The reason was - the characters were not having any sort of connection, not even the primary characters on which the whole story was depending. They were just having a conversation which I felt hard to comprehend because half of the times the author was in a serious rush and decided to leave everything behind.
The end was really disappointing, I expected a proper closure, it was abrupt and lacking the facts.
Overall, the author wrote fantastic details about many places mentioned in the book. However, it was not a story, it never felt like a story. More like a great non-fiction but never a story.
Let's start the review then :
The start was mysterious justifying the cover page of novel. The tales about the Emperor felt more like misplaced anecdotes. The narration clearly didn't make any sense. I was unable to relate the tale of Emperor with the present except for the science each riddle was pointing to.
As the story progressed it became more cliched and I suddenly remembered two people the most. Sidney Sheldon and Dan Brown. The flow of story, the primary characters, the riddles, the history behind it, Associating myth with science - Everything was pointing to Dan Brown and the flow of story looked more a Sidney Sheldon style but in an improper way. I want to give full marks to the author for doing his bit of research because it was really informative and surprising.
I got frustrated in the middle. The reason was - the characters were not having any sort of connection, not even the primary characters on which the whole story was depending. They were just having a conversation which I felt hard to comprehend because half of the times the author was in a serious rush and decided to leave everything behind.
The end was really disappointing, I expected a proper closure, it was abrupt and lacking the facts.
Overall, the author wrote fantastic details about many places mentioned in the book. However, it was not a story, it never felt like a story. More like a great non-fiction but never a story.
October 24, 2015
Unsure what to make of this... on one hand, it is quite intriguingly plotted but there are some fiendishly difficult puzzles but on the other hand, the sum of the parts don't make a whole - there is no explanation for why the policeman has nightmares, some characters' appearance strains incredulity, the real villain's motive seem tacked on and laughable, there is an excess of gore which doesn't do anything for the plot and the parallel narration seems not only too esoterically difficult but also jarringly disconnecting and plain gruesome (what role does the torture chamber scene have to do?)
March 10, 2014
This is an ultimate history-meets-mystery story. I absolutely loved reading it.
March 10, 2014
Move over Dan Brown, Satyarth Nayak has arrived.
With this beautifully crafted mystery thriller, this debutante author brings together legends from Indian history and the Buddha's origin story to create an intelligent novel bound to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
What starts off as a murder mystery quickly spirals into a journey to uncover ancient secrets wilfully obscured from mankind.
With evil on their heels, will the protagonists get to the core of the enigma in time?
This unputdownable book takes you on a thrilling roller-coaster ride.
You might think you have it all figured out.
But have you?
Though it boasts of well-rounded characters like mystery writer Om Patnaik, scientist Sia, Television show maker Jasodhara, the stars of the book are the lyrically crafted riddles that guide the protagonists on their quest. I also enjoyed the surreal feel of the chapters that focus on the emperor and Buddhist mythology.
Lately, we've seen a plethora of books based on Indian mythology flood the Indian publishing scene - what sets the Emperor's Riddles apart is the writing. It is smart, beautifully written and does not talk down to the reader.
Instead, it respects the reader's intelligence and in doing so sets the bar really high for other writers of the genre.
I highly recommend this for lovers of the mystery, Sci-fi, History and Mythological genres.
Satyarth Nayak is certainly one to watch and I cannot wait to read his next offering.
With this beautifully crafted mystery thriller, this debutante author brings together legends from Indian history and the Buddha's origin story to create an intelligent novel bound to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
What starts off as a murder mystery quickly spirals into a journey to uncover ancient secrets wilfully obscured from mankind.
With evil on their heels, will the protagonists get to the core of the enigma in time?
This unputdownable book takes you on a thrilling roller-coaster ride.
You might think you have it all figured out.
But have you?
Though it boasts of well-rounded characters like mystery writer Om Patnaik, scientist Sia, Television show maker Jasodhara, the stars of the book are the lyrically crafted riddles that guide the protagonists on their quest. I also enjoyed the surreal feel of the chapters that focus on the emperor and Buddhist mythology.
Lately, we've seen a plethora of books based on Indian mythology flood the Indian publishing scene - what sets the Emperor's Riddles apart is the writing. It is smart, beautifully written and does not talk down to the reader.
Instead, it respects the reader's intelligence and in doing so sets the bar really high for other writers of the genre.
I highly recommend this for lovers of the mystery, Sci-fi, History and Mythological genres.
Satyarth Nayak is certainly one to watch and I cannot wait to read his next offering.
March 31, 2014
Great to see that the book is finally available on online retail sites. When a thriller flaunts such awesome quotes from Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi on its cover, the expectations rise ten-fold. Gladly the book lives up to its promise and how!!!
The book works amazingly on many levels. Fundamentally it's a gripping thriller with deliciously twisted murders thrown in for good measure and a climactic revelation that's nothing short of stunning. But what I loved are the powerful and beautiful layers of the Emperor's track and the journey of the Buddhist Samanera that make it such an artistic piece of writing. The ten riddles of course are the back-bone and each is an absolute joy. See if you can crack them before you read the answers. This is an intelligent book that also entertains hugely.
Some may find the use of Indian history and Buddhist mythology stories here and there a little excessive but anyone who enjoys them will be in for a treat. Also the track of the Emperor in the Second part of the book is not chronological but thematic. This can confuse some readers but it all works out fine in the end. I love how this book fuses mystery, history, sci-fi and philosophy so seamlessly. The end is beautiful and has a calm about it. Go for it.
The book works amazingly on many levels. Fundamentally it's a gripping thriller with deliciously twisted murders thrown in for good measure and a climactic revelation that's nothing short of stunning. But what I loved are the powerful and beautiful layers of the Emperor's track and the journey of the Buddhist Samanera that make it such an artistic piece of writing. The ten riddles of course are the back-bone and each is an absolute joy. See if you can crack them before you read the answers. This is an intelligent book that also entertains hugely.
Some may find the use of Indian history and Buddhist mythology stories here and there a little excessive but anyone who enjoys them will be in for a treat. Also the track of the Emperor in the Second part of the book is not chronological but thematic. This can confuse some readers but it all works out fine in the end. I love how this book fuses mystery, history, sci-fi and philosophy so seamlessly. The end is beautiful and has a calm about it. Go for it.
September 26, 2019
The Good:
1. The writing is vastly superior compared to hackworks produced by Christopher Doyle or Vinnet Bajpai.
2. Characterisation is nuanced, with various shades of grey defining each of the principals and accessories.
3. Legends associated with Ashoka play a very important role in setting the pace and creating the backdrop.
4. Less-discussed and forgotten nuggets of cultural history have been brought up and refreshed in connection with every site where the 'enigma'-s were revealing themselves.
The Bad:
1) Story is totally rubbish, with every single conspiracy theory and other discredited concepts being brought together to produce a wordy, dragged narrative.
2) The motive of the antagonist was ludicrous, to say the least.
3) Rehashing the 'Nine Unknown' concept was rather a damp squib. Even worse was the completely pointless ending.
The puzzles were rather overdoing (Dan) Brownesque symbology. Nevertheless, I don't have much issues with them. But the central conceit...
Your call.
1. The writing is vastly superior compared to hackworks produced by Christopher Doyle or Vinnet Bajpai.
2. Characterisation is nuanced, with various shades of grey defining each of the principals and accessories.
3. Legends associated with Ashoka play a very important role in setting the pace and creating the backdrop.
4. Less-discussed and forgotten nuggets of cultural history have been brought up and refreshed in connection with every site where the 'enigma'-s were revealing themselves.
The Bad:
1) Story is totally rubbish, with every single conspiracy theory and other discredited concepts being brought together to produce a wordy, dragged narrative.
2) The motive of the antagonist was ludicrous, to say the least.
3) Rehashing the 'Nine Unknown' concept was rather a damp squib. Even worse was the completely pointless ending.
The puzzles were rather overdoing (Dan) Brownesque symbology. Nevertheless, I don't have much issues with them. But the central conceit...
Your call.
March 12, 2014
Its tale of our past, beautifully entwined with the present. And only a few can do that kind of justice to this kind of story. Debutante author Satyarth Nayak has shown the kind of maturity in his writing that very few are able to strike.
Although it starts as a murder mystery the Dan Brown way, it quickly becomes a very personal Indian tale. There are moments of tranquility as you journey through its pages. This book reflects all that we've grown up reading about in our text books and well, life in this country in general. It’s what we've been mystified about each time we visited a fort or a monastery and wondered ‘was our great past really true?’ It feels like the book is but a product of the author’s wonder and amusement into our great past, and finally as an ode to it.
It’s a must pick not just a dose of good mystery but good writing. More power to young writers :D
October 20, 2014
This book is quite brilliant for many reasons. Personally I am not a reader of the thriller or mystery genre for most part, but I found this book irresistible. It is a layered, complex book, that goes back and forth between the past and the present, ancient riddles, myth, history, fantasy and current events. There is a strong use of Buddhist icons and lore, a new for a mainstream book in current times that too in this genre. There is the beautiful, flowing, fluid prose that keeps you reading without a pause. There is all the excitement and gore of murders and other sinister stuff to keep the thrill and suspense going....all in all a very enjoyable read, an intelligent entertainer.
November 14, 2014
Review at A Bookworm’s Musing: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2El
What works:
+ The pace of narration kept me engaged
+ The plot of the novel is different, I liked the treasure hunt idea
+ An unexpected twist in the end
+ Simple language
What doesn’t:
- Alternate timeline set in history doesn’t hold interest
- Characters don’t feel interesting
A book worth reading, and definitely re-readable.
What works:
+ The pace of narration kept me engaged
+ The plot of the novel is different, I liked the treasure hunt idea
+ An unexpected twist in the end
+ Simple language
What doesn’t:
- Alternate timeline set in history doesn’t hold interest
- Characters don’t feel interesting
A book worth reading, and definitely re-readable.
May 27, 2020
The Emperors Riddles is one of those books which will keep reminding you of Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”. It adds a breath of freshness and uniqueness in it, though. The story brings to life the colourful and holy streets of Varanasi and takes you to an unprecedented cultural journey. Satyarth Nayak successfully encapsulates the Indian pop-culture, which keeps the reader engaged and on the edge throughout.
Check out the complete book review here:
https://www.bombayreads.com/the-emper...
Check out the complete book review here:
https://www.bombayreads.com/the-emper...
December 1, 2017
An interesting and exciting read. But many similarities to the Da Vinci Code.
The climax was interesting and the overall plot was good.
The climax was interesting and the overall plot was good.
June 6, 2018
Overall a very interesting book, but I feel he rushed at the end. Revealing of the mystery and following events were too abrupt.
Loved the riddles and the info on History.
Loved the riddles and the info on History.
June 20, 2018
As debut novel it was good but characters were little dull couldn't connect with them, it was good that it fast paced , riddles were appropriate, storyline is similar to da Vinci code
July 12, 2014
"Satyarth Nayak is an author, script-writer and journalist based in Delhi. In 2011, two of his short stories were selected for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. As a TV journalist, he has worked with premiere news channels like NDTV and CNN-IBN. The Emperors Riddles is his first full-length novel."
Now this is book that underpromises and overdelivers. Classic way to win. I didn't have great expectations as I had never heard the name of the author. The cover design looked mysterious and enigmatic but didn't quite build up the tension maybe because of the font selection. The cover didn't fall into the stereotypical Dan Brown-ish legacy where bold, embossed fonts, declaring the author name and book title leave a lasting impact. One cursory look at the front and back covers and you come to know that it falls in the genre of historical fiction with the likes of the Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi recommending it. I turned a few pages expecting a few yawn-worthy descriptions of historical events, I didn't even intend to start reading and ended up reading 50 pages non-stop! I realized I had just found a gem and had to do proper justice to it by reading it with the respect that it deserved.
"More terrifying than the savage murder of historian Ram Mathur on the ghats of the Ganga are the questions that follow. The letter carved on his face, the cryptic mail he sends his daughter Sia after he dies, more murders piling up. Desperate for answers, Sia turns to esoteric writer and friend Om Patnaik. But what begins as a hunt for the killer, becomes an extraordinary trail of riddles strewn across the country, that must end at the gates of an enigma. Patnaik and Sia race from one riddle to another, towards a royal secret that has remained alive for centuries."
So, I began again and was overwhelmed by the writer's knowledge about ancient Indian history, I think a lot research must have gone into making of this book. The book easily floats past eras, taking you to flashes of events in Indian history that find relevance in the present day India. (I am trying hard to give you no spoilers here). The character of Om Patnaik has hints of Robert Langdon (created by Dan Brown) in him complete with a weird phobia and vulnerable personality but I think the similarity crept unknowingly and the writer more than compensated for it by his vivid descriptions from the Indian and mostly Buddhist history. The character called Sia Mathur is given the female protagonist part but due to other powerful female characters in the book, she doesn't quite take the centerstage. Ram Mathur's character although doesn't get much space but is important in the story.
I think there were some moments of confusion in the novel when the author switches back and forth from past to present but, it all becomes clear in the later part of the novel. The novel is best enjoyed if read twice, it is a story that has multifold dimensions and repeated readings will make it even more enjoyable.
The language is well-knit, lucid and the writing style is reader-friendly. One thing is for sure that Satyarth Nayak is here to stay. There are a few typographical errors which I forgot to mark but I am sure, the further editions will take care of that.
The book is divided into multiple chapters so, you never feel burdened by the enormity of text as there is always a chapter ending and a new one starting. It can get on your nerves if you are not quite a history buff but, in that case, I think you should read the last few chapters, ruin the surprise and then come back and read the chapters that you find confusing. Or maybe just put a bookmark there and read them later with clarity.
Now, who should be reading this book. I definitely do not recommend it to those who are regular Dan Brown readers or those who have just finished reading The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi. The book does draw a lot from the contemporary authors of the same genre and that might upset the reader's mind if it is not open enough. I recommend it to those who have been into other genres and want to test the waters before jumping into the genre of historical fiction. Also, those with keen interest in Geography and History of India will find this joyride amusing. I'd also recommend it all the first timers, believe me, it is much better to start with these books. Put that "Five Point Someone" down and pick this one up!
All in all, I'll give this book three stars out of five. Three is a factor of 9! What a coincidence! (You'll understand the joke once you read the book)
***
Happy reading!
Now this is book that underpromises and overdelivers. Classic way to win. I didn't have great expectations as I had never heard the name of the author. The cover design looked mysterious and enigmatic but didn't quite build up the tension maybe because of the font selection. The cover didn't fall into the stereotypical Dan Brown-ish legacy where bold, embossed fonts, declaring the author name and book title leave a lasting impact. One cursory look at the front and back covers and you come to know that it falls in the genre of historical fiction with the likes of the Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi recommending it. I turned a few pages expecting a few yawn-worthy descriptions of historical events, I didn't even intend to start reading and ended up reading 50 pages non-stop! I realized I had just found a gem and had to do proper justice to it by reading it with the respect that it deserved.
"More terrifying than the savage murder of historian Ram Mathur on the ghats of the Ganga are the questions that follow. The letter carved on his face, the cryptic mail he sends his daughter Sia after he dies, more murders piling up. Desperate for answers, Sia turns to esoteric writer and friend Om Patnaik. But what begins as a hunt for the killer, becomes an extraordinary trail of riddles strewn across the country, that must end at the gates of an enigma. Patnaik and Sia race from one riddle to another, towards a royal secret that has remained alive for centuries."
So, I began again and was overwhelmed by the writer's knowledge about ancient Indian history, I think a lot research must have gone into making of this book. The book easily floats past eras, taking you to flashes of events in Indian history that find relevance in the present day India. (I am trying hard to give you no spoilers here). The character of Om Patnaik has hints of Robert Langdon (created by Dan Brown) in him complete with a weird phobia and vulnerable personality but I think the similarity crept unknowingly and the writer more than compensated for it by his vivid descriptions from the Indian and mostly Buddhist history. The character called Sia Mathur is given the female protagonist part but due to other powerful female characters in the book, she doesn't quite take the centerstage. Ram Mathur's character although doesn't get much space but is important in the story.
I think there were some moments of confusion in the novel when the author switches back and forth from past to present but, it all becomes clear in the later part of the novel. The novel is best enjoyed if read twice, it is a story that has multifold dimensions and repeated readings will make it even more enjoyable.
The language is well-knit, lucid and the writing style is reader-friendly. One thing is for sure that Satyarth Nayak is here to stay. There are a few typographical errors which I forgot to mark but I am sure, the further editions will take care of that.
The book is divided into multiple chapters so, you never feel burdened by the enormity of text as there is always a chapter ending and a new one starting. It can get on your nerves if you are not quite a history buff but, in that case, I think you should read the last few chapters, ruin the surprise and then come back and read the chapters that you find confusing. Or maybe just put a bookmark there and read them later with clarity.
Now, who should be reading this book. I definitely do not recommend it to those who are regular Dan Brown readers or those who have just finished reading The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi. The book does draw a lot from the contemporary authors of the same genre and that might upset the reader's mind if it is not open enough. I recommend it to those who have been into other genres and want to test the waters before jumping into the genre of historical fiction. Also, those with keen interest in Geography and History of India will find this joyride amusing. I'd also recommend it all the first timers, believe me, it is much better to start with these books. Put that "Five Point Someone" down and pick this one up!
All in all, I'll give this book three stars out of five. Three is a factor of 9! What a coincidence! (You'll understand the joke once you read the book)
***
Happy reading!
May 2, 2019
The Da Vinci Code but set in India with Indian mysteries & conspiracies.... I loved it! It brought together 2 of my favourite genres. The quest to solve a centuries old mystery plus the Indian setting of the story.
The story was fast paced and intriguing. I never realised, despite all my reading, that India was such a hotbed of enigmas.
The characters were cartoonish at times but not so much that I found them too annoying. There were some dubious elements to the mysteries but the book provided a rollicking good fun adventure.
A quick, easy read that I enjoyed.
The story was fast paced and intriguing. I never realised, despite all my reading, that India was such a hotbed of enigmas.
The characters were cartoonish at times but not so much that I found them too annoying. There were some dubious elements to the mysteries but the book provided a rollicking good fun adventure.
A quick, easy read that I enjoyed.
December 6, 2014
“Your journey now sleeps with your great awakening”. Does the line seem to have been pinched out of some boring, old incomprehensible religious text? Not if Satyarth Nayak holds his pen with confidence and smiles calmly as the readers feel the hair at the back of their neck, rising, as they flip the pages of his debut novel- The Emperor’s Riddles. An alumnus of St. Stephen’s, Satyarth proves his genius as his tale marries Amish Tripathi with Dan Brown; and that’s not all- a careful read might find you discovering generous helpings of the Bhagwat Gita as well!
So, to start with, The Emperor’s Riddles is essentially a thriller that grips you like a vice but in the process, makes you feel amazed and enlightened too, if you are patient enough. Shuttling between time periods, the narrative may seem a bit convoluted in the initial chapters but that’s just 00.THE-EMPERORS-RIDDLES-COVER-707x1024Satyarth tying a cloth over your eyes and shoving you in circles before you become the blind man looking for his buff. Historian Ram Mathur is brutally murdered on the banks of the Ganga. What follows after that fateful night is a journey that Om Patnaik, an esoteric writer, is never going to forget. Mathur’s daughter Sia receives an e-mail after her father’s death and then begins Om’s quest for the vast unknown. There is a cult of theological practitioners who aspire to help humanity through an ancient secret that has been kept under wraps since ages. It’s a secret so extra-ordinary, “an enigma so powerful that even Gods would kill for it”! But there is also a certain scorpion on the loose and he is hell bent to take on the scepter of might that the mystic secret has in store. There is an emperor in another dimension who has his control over nature; he too must surrender to the ultimate truth or else must witness the entire human race succumb to the feet of evil. Ably guided by Parag Suri, Om and Sia become our very own Robert Langdon and Sophie on the hunt for answers. Answers to the Emperor’s riddles.
At 398 pages, the book is replete with intense intellect, racy action and unfathomable revelations. The portion where Mathur is murdered may have the faint hearted flinch at the blood and gore it unfolds. And there is a shock twist towards the end that makes you feel so ignorant in front of the immensely knowledgeable British Council Writers Circle Prize winner, Satyarth Nayak.
Well woven with history and imagination, Nayak is at the helm, deftly pulling at the strings and making the reader dance to his tunes. Nowhere does he use ornate sentences, neither a complicated syntax. But the way he writes lucidly on the spiritual, makes his already enriches content all the more effective. A Christopher Nolan of the West or our very own Anurag Kashyap can pretty well give it a thought to bring The Emperor’s Riddles to life on screen.
I could have written more and gone on writing but that would be trying too hard to explain a conjurer’s maneuvering of his hat and still getting nowhere! With eager expectations for your next, way to go, Satyarth Nayak. You should be blessed with nine lives. Not to meow, but to simply roar! (Spoiler Alert!)
So, to start with, The Emperor’s Riddles is essentially a thriller that grips you like a vice but in the process, makes you feel amazed and enlightened too, if you are patient enough. Shuttling between time periods, the narrative may seem a bit convoluted in the initial chapters but that’s just 00.THE-EMPERORS-RIDDLES-COVER-707x1024Satyarth tying a cloth over your eyes and shoving you in circles before you become the blind man looking for his buff. Historian Ram Mathur is brutally murdered on the banks of the Ganga. What follows after that fateful night is a journey that Om Patnaik, an esoteric writer, is never going to forget. Mathur’s daughter Sia receives an e-mail after her father’s death and then begins Om’s quest for the vast unknown. There is a cult of theological practitioners who aspire to help humanity through an ancient secret that has been kept under wraps since ages. It’s a secret so extra-ordinary, “an enigma so powerful that even Gods would kill for it”! But there is also a certain scorpion on the loose and he is hell bent to take on the scepter of might that the mystic secret has in store. There is an emperor in another dimension who has his control over nature; he too must surrender to the ultimate truth or else must witness the entire human race succumb to the feet of evil. Ably guided by Parag Suri, Om and Sia become our very own Robert Langdon and Sophie on the hunt for answers. Answers to the Emperor’s riddles.
At 398 pages, the book is replete with intense intellect, racy action and unfathomable revelations. The portion where Mathur is murdered may have the faint hearted flinch at the blood and gore it unfolds. And there is a shock twist towards the end that makes you feel so ignorant in front of the immensely knowledgeable British Council Writers Circle Prize winner, Satyarth Nayak.
Well woven with history and imagination, Nayak is at the helm, deftly pulling at the strings and making the reader dance to his tunes. Nowhere does he use ornate sentences, neither a complicated syntax. But the way he writes lucidly on the spiritual, makes his already enriches content all the more effective. A Christopher Nolan of the West or our very own Anurag Kashyap can pretty well give it a thought to bring The Emperor’s Riddles to life on screen.
I could have written more and gone on writing but that would be trying too hard to explain a conjurer’s maneuvering of his hat and still getting nowhere! With eager expectations for your next, way to go, Satyarth Nayak. You should be blessed with nine lives. Not to meow, but to simply roar! (Spoiler Alert!)
June 2, 2014
On the name and the cover:
The book unfolds around ten riddles which will lead the two main protagonists towards a royal secret. The Emperor’s role in the story is equally effective as well as Patnaik and Sia's. So I think this is the best possible name for the story. This name even matches with the number game the author was playing from the very beginning of the book. Full marks for choosing such an effective and an appropriate name.
The cover looks appealing. The green color gives the book a soothing effect when the sword in the middle perfectly resembles the Emperor mentioned in the book. Any reader can easily understand the cause of the one eye on the front cover when he/she completes the book. I appreciate the effort of the designer Sonia Lal, for this fabulous work.
On the narrating style:
When readers pick this book , the first thing that catches their eyes is the comment of ASHWIN SANGHI and AMISH TRIPATHI. This will create a huge expectation within readers before even reading one page. But I must say this debutant writer have done proper justice to their expectations. Some time its scenes reminds me of ASHWIN SANGHI’s THE KRISHNA KEY but the narrating style is fresh and attractive. The way this author has distributed the chapters and all the last lines of those chapters make this book unputdownable. The stunning narrating style and the command the author had on his words will keep the readers on the edges of their seats.
On the story line:
The story starts when Inspector Suri finds Ram Mathur’s dead body on the ghats of ganga and then the story goes around Sia ( Mathur’s daughter) and esoteric writer Om Patnaik started their journey in search of the the killer and why Ram Mathur brought them together. The story picks up its speed when the riddles started coming. In one side of the story when Sia, Patnaik and Television star Jasodhara are solving those riddles to unlock the royal secret, on the other side the author has very efficiently portrayed the story the Emperor plays with the unparalleled forces that will make him unbeatable. In this wonderfully crafted fiction the author had managed to muddle up history, science-fiction, murder mystery and Imagination. I specially love the way the author narrates the whole part of the Indian olden times and the Buddha’s origin legend. Number Nine had played a very effective role in the whole book, starting for the name of his book from the name of his characters, to find out the real mystery one should read the book. As the author says ‘Open your eyes and see’.
+Point: The way the author framed the whole plot and the wonderfully planned unanticipated ending.
- Point: Sometime I felt the author has concentrated a lot on describing things or scenes, though these scenes can easily be ignored.
Debutant writer Satyarth Nayak joins the league of Ashwin Sanghi by his efficiently written breathtaking, fast-paced, murder mystery. A definite page turner and soon turning out to be the new best seller.
The book unfolds around ten riddles which will lead the two main protagonists towards a royal secret. The Emperor’s role in the story is equally effective as well as Patnaik and Sia's. So I think this is the best possible name for the story. This name even matches with the number game the author was playing from the very beginning of the book. Full marks for choosing such an effective and an appropriate name.
The cover looks appealing. The green color gives the book a soothing effect when the sword in the middle perfectly resembles the Emperor mentioned in the book. Any reader can easily understand the cause of the one eye on the front cover when he/she completes the book. I appreciate the effort of the designer Sonia Lal, for this fabulous work.
On the narrating style:
When readers pick this book , the first thing that catches their eyes is the comment of ASHWIN SANGHI and AMISH TRIPATHI. This will create a huge expectation within readers before even reading one page. But I must say this debutant writer have done proper justice to their expectations. Some time its scenes reminds me of ASHWIN SANGHI’s THE KRISHNA KEY but the narrating style is fresh and attractive. The way this author has distributed the chapters and all the last lines of those chapters make this book unputdownable. The stunning narrating style and the command the author had on his words will keep the readers on the edges of their seats.
On the story line:
The story starts when Inspector Suri finds Ram Mathur’s dead body on the ghats of ganga and then the story goes around Sia ( Mathur’s daughter) and esoteric writer Om Patnaik started their journey in search of the the killer and why Ram Mathur brought them together. The story picks up its speed when the riddles started coming. In one side of the story when Sia, Patnaik and Television star Jasodhara are solving those riddles to unlock the royal secret, on the other side the author has very efficiently portrayed the story the Emperor plays with the unparalleled forces that will make him unbeatable. In this wonderfully crafted fiction the author had managed to muddle up history, science-fiction, murder mystery and Imagination. I specially love the way the author narrates the whole part of the Indian olden times and the Buddha’s origin legend. Number Nine had played a very effective role in the whole book, starting for the name of his book from the name of his characters, to find out the real mystery one should read the book. As the author says ‘Open your eyes and see’.
+Point: The way the author framed the whole plot and the wonderfully planned unanticipated ending.
- Point: Sometime I felt the author has concentrated a lot on describing things or scenes, though these scenes can easily be ignored.
Debutant writer Satyarth Nayak joins the league of Ashwin Sanghi by his efficiently written breathtaking, fast-paced, murder mystery. A definite page turner and soon turning out to be the new best seller.
June 11, 2014
And here I am done reading debutant author Satyarth Nayak’s The Emperor’s Riddles. Well, Reading the blurb itself, is enough for any reader to understand what the book is about.
Ram Mathur, a known historian is found murdered on the ghats of Ganga. Eccentrically, Om Patnaik, a good friend of Mathur receives a message from him, on facebook after he was killed. However, Patnaik has no clues about the murder of Mathur. He only learns about the incident when he goes to the ghats after he receives Mathur’s message. There comes the entry of Sia Mathur, the daughter of the historian who claims that she received an email from Mathur minutes after he was killed.
Eight murders have already happened on the ghats and Ram Mathur’s murder is the ninth one. On a hand where investigating Inspector Parag Suri names the murderer as scorpion, Sia and Patnaik try to crack this mystery.
While solving the mystery of the orange paper with lines and circles, that Sia claims she got in a mail from Mathur after his death, Sia and Patnaik reach to the Sarnath temple where they find a woman. She later turns out to be Jashodhara, a Television Programmer and a follower of Ram Mathur. She also joins them in this mystery. Interest grips up when trio solve the riddles. In the course of solving this mystery, number nine plays an importance role, about which you will get know when you read the book. The powerful and crucial discoveries, inventions and experiments that India did in prehistoric times has also found space in the book.
Over-all, this whole tale is an interesting one with suspense and thrill attached to it. The ecstasy in the book will surely generate a sort of quest among the readers to know more and more about the story. The writing style of the author is really brilliant. Even the narration of the story is perfect. The mythological flavour that the book contains will surely fascinate the readers towards it. I can evidently say this that the whole novel is an outcome of thorough research done by the author.
Speaking about the drawbacks, at certain parts I did find an unrequired extension which could have been eliminated by the author. Also, the story of the emperor that runs simultaneously creates a bit of confusion at times. Otherwise, the book is thrilling and one will surely enjoy in the course of reading it!
Considering everything, I would rate it with 4.65/5. Recommending it to the readers, I would label it as a ‘must-read’ novel! Grab your copies today!!! My best wishes to Satyarth Nayak for his future projects!
- www.suyashscorner.blogspot.com
- This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program" . To get free books log on to The Readers Cosmos.
Ram Mathur, a known historian is found murdered on the ghats of Ganga. Eccentrically, Om Patnaik, a good friend of Mathur receives a message from him, on facebook after he was killed. However, Patnaik has no clues about the murder of Mathur. He only learns about the incident when he goes to the ghats after he receives Mathur’s message. There comes the entry of Sia Mathur, the daughter of the historian who claims that she received an email from Mathur minutes after he was killed.
Eight murders have already happened on the ghats and Ram Mathur’s murder is the ninth one. On a hand where investigating Inspector Parag Suri names the murderer as scorpion, Sia and Patnaik try to crack this mystery.
While solving the mystery of the orange paper with lines and circles, that Sia claims she got in a mail from Mathur after his death, Sia and Patnaik reach to the Sarnath temple where they find a woman. She later turns out to be Jashodhara, a Television Programmer and a follower of Ram Mathur. She also joins them in this mystery. Interest grips up when trio solve the riddles. In the course of solving this mystery, number nine plays an importance role, about which you will get know when you read the book. The powerful and crucial discoveries, inventions and experiments that India did in prehistoric times has also found space in the book.
Over-all, this whole tale is an interesting one with suspense and thrill attached to it. The ecstasy in the book will surely generate a sort of quest among the readers to know more and more about the story. The writing style of the author is really brilliant. Even the narration of the story is perfect. The mythological flavour that the book contains will surely fascinate the readers towards it. I can evidently say this that the whole novel is an outcome of thorough research done by the author.
Speaking about the drawbacks, at certain parts I did find an unrequired extension which could have been eliminated by the author. Also, the story of the emperor that runs simultaneously creates a bit of confusion at times. Otherwise, the book is thrilling and one will surely enjoy in the course of reading it!
Considering everything, I would rate it with 4.65/5. Recommending it to the readers, I would label it as a ‘must-read’ novel! Grab your copies today!!! My best wishes to Satyarth Nayak for his future projects!
- www.suyashscorner.blogspot.com
- This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program" . To get free books log on to The Readers Cosmos.
June 14, 2015
The book begins with Om Patnaik, an author who has penned down numerous bestsellers containing scholarly stuff and is one of the most revered authors of the country. He has a bizarre fixation with number 9 and the reason behind it is explained in detail in the early part of the book. Ram Mathur, friend of Om Patnaik and a scholar himself is murdered on the ghats of Ganga. Ram, who is in Lucknow at that point of time is called on by Sia Mathur, daughter of Ram and is asked to be there at the murder site.
Inspector Parag Suri is investigating this case and names the murderer The Scorpion. The Scorpion is one a leash and is killing people across the country.As the story progresses, Om & Sia connect the dots left by Ram Mathur to resolve his murder mystery and while they are at it, they come very close to uncovering an ancient enigma that is so powerful that even Gods would kill for it.
I must admit the book has such an uncanny resemblance to last year's Ashwin Sanghi's 'The Krishna Key', a book i was not too fond of despite its commercial success. A murder mystery to be followed, a trail of mythology clues, the suspecting main protagonist, a serial killer on the loose and a back story involving the mythological/historical characters. Problem is here, the back story interspersed within the chapters (where the main narrative happens) rarely catches your attention. Drawback in Krishna Key was that the story of Krishna was just too familiar, here the material is obtuse, dense and does not provides a logical interconnections with the main narrative. In the end, these portions act as sore thumb in an otherwise taut thriller.
Nayak builds the pace with the solving of trailing clues and as a reader, you are engrossed once the clues keep opening up. The writer keeps a tight leash on its characters, furiously explaining the logic behind each clue and the background on each of it. The editing is water tight and it helps that the author does not over do the explaining of mythological references. Bouncing off an impressive cover, there is not too much time building up characters but straight away you are thrown right in the center of the murder. It grows on you as the pages progress and is saved by a climax which is surprising yet particularly believable. It also helps that writer ties up most ends to avoid any logical fallacies usually associated with such thrillers.
I am going with 3/5 for Satyarth Nayak's 'The Emperors Riddles'. Barring those portions of mythological references, it's a taut book most suitable for mythological fans. A quick weekend read, go for it.
Inspector Parag Suri is investigating this case and names the murderer The Scorpion. The Scorpion is one a leash and is killing people across the country.As the story progresses, Om & Sia connect the dots left by Ram Mathur to resolve his murder mystery and while they are at it, they come very close to uncovering an ancient enigma that is so powerful that even Gods would kill for it.
I must admit the book has such an uncanny resemblance to last year's Ashwin Sanghi's 'The Krishna Key', a book i was not too fond of despite its commercial success. A murder mystery to be followed, a trail of mythology clues, the suspecting main protagonist, a serial killer on the loose and a back story involving the mythological/historical characters. Problem is here, the back story interspersed within the chapters (where the main narrative happens) rarely catches your attention. Drawback in Krishna Key was that the story of Krishna was just too familiar, here the material is obtuse, dense and does not provides a logical interconnections with the main narrative. In the end, these portions act as sore thumb in an otherwise taut thriller.
Nayak builds the pace with the solving of trailing clues and as a reader, you are engrossed once the clues keep opening up. The writer keeps a tight leash on its characters, furiously explaining the logic behind each clue and the background on each of it. The editing is water tight and it helps that the author does not over do the explaining of mythological references. Bouncing off an impressive cover, there is not too much time building up characters but straight away you are thrown right in the center of the murder. It grows on you as the pages progress and is saved by a climax which is surprising yet particularly believable. It also helps that writer ties up most ends to avoid any logical fallacies usually associated with such thrillers.
I am going with 3/5 for Satyarth Nayak's 'The Emperors Riddles'. Barring those portions of mythological references, it's a taut book most suitable for mythological fans. A quick weekend read, go for it.
October 22, 2014
And here I am done reading debutant author Satyarth Nayak’s The Emperor’s Riddles. Well, Reading the blurb itself, is enough for any reader to understand what the book is about.
Ram Mathur, a known historian is found murdered on the ghats of Ganga. Eccentrically, Om Patnaik, a good friend of Mathur receives a message from him, on facebook after he was killed. However, Patnaik has no clues about the murder of Mathur. He only learns about the incident when he goes to the ghats after he receives Mathur’s message. There comes the entry of Sia Mathur, the daughter of the historian who claims that she received an email from Mathur minutes after he was killed.
Eight murders have already happened on the ghats and Ram Mathur’s murder is the ninth one. On a hand where investigating Inspector Parag Suri names the murderer as scorpion, Sia and Patnaik try to crack this mystery.
While solving the mystery of the orange paper with lines and circles, that Sia claims she got in a mail from Mathur after his death, Sia and Patnaik reach to the Sarnath temple where they find a woman. She later turns out to be Jashodhara, a Television Programmer and a follower of Ram Mathur. She also joins them in this mystery. Interest grips up when trio solve the riddles. In the course of solving this mystery, number nine plays an importance role, about which you will get know when you read the book. The powerful and crucial discoveries, inventions and experiments that India did in prehistoric times has also found space in the book.
Over-all, this whole tale is an interesting one with suspense and thrill attached to it. The ecstasy in the book will surely generate a sort of quest among the readers to know more and more about the story. The writing style of the author is really brilliant. Even the narration of the story is perfect. The mythological flavour that the book contains will surely fascinate the readers towards it. I can evidently say this that the whole novel is an outcome of thorough research done by the author.
Speaking about the drawbacks, at certain parts I did find an unrequired extension which could have been eliminated by the author. Also, the story of the emperor that runs simultaneously creates a bit of confusion at times. Otherwise, the book is thrilling and one will surely enjoy in the course of reading it!
Considering everything, I would rate it with 4.65/5. Recommending it to the readers, I would label it as a ‘must-read’ novel! Grab your copies today!!! My best wishes to Satyarth Nayak for his future projects!
June 26, 2014
Note : The Review was originally posted @ Readers' Muse
The Summary sounded just my kind of book – A perfect mystery with history. Alas! The book exceeded my expectations. I’ve read quite a number of books by Indian wannabe Dan Browns who have just ended up giving me a good migraine. Maybe that lowered my expectations over books involving history and professor.
It is apparent that the writer was inspired Dan Brown, but he didn’t let the inspiration change his originality. Or to put it simply, he was just inspired and didn’t try to imitate Dan Brown like others.
The story is about a secret society of guardians (The Nine) founded by an Emperor (Read the book to know which one) to protect a wealth of knowledge, which when fallen into wrong hands can be used to destruct the mankind. Ram Mathur, A part of that society is murdered. A mysterious mail lands in his daughter’s inbox. His daughter along with Ram Mathur’s friend Patnaik embarks on a journey to solve the murder of her father. And thereby beings the tale of Nine and a thrilling journey filled with brain whacking riddles.
The writer deserves a big applause for his riddles. They were simply brilliant and thoroughly logical. It’s very apparent that the writer has done a good research on the Buddhist structures and teachings.
The plot was well woven with rather unpredictable twists. I’ve never witnessed a modern Indian writer weave a plot so cohesively filled with true suspense. The dual story line ( that of present – Sia and of “The Emperor” ) contributed a lot to the suspense element.
My only wee bit complaint would be the story of “the emperor” was a bit over done that the reader would be left disorient if he/she didn’t concentrate a lot on the book.
The writing was simple and crisp. The riddles certainly deserve a special mention. It’s not an easy task to frame 9 riddles which have that true suspense element and are logical.
It’s safe to say that Indian literary world has found another brilliant and true mystery writer – A rarity amongst writers who make money writing trash life changing “love” stories (Pun intended)
In short, this was one brilliant, perfect and well written mystery book!
VERDICT: Must read! When Chetan Bagat can sell, this one surely deserves to sell like The Da Vinci Code.
RATING: 4.5 on 5
The Summary sounded just my kind of book – A perfect mystery with history. Alas! The book exceeded my expectations. I’ve read quite a number of books by Indian wannabe Dan Browns who have just ended up giving me a good migraine. Maybe that lowered my expectations over books involving history and professor.
It is apparent that the writer was inspired Dan Brown, but he didn’t let the inspiration change his originality. Or to put it simply, he was just inspired and didn’t try to imitate Dan Brown like others.
The story is about a secret society of guardians (The Nine) founded by an Emperor (Read the book to know which one) to protect a wealth of knowledge, which when fallen into wrong hands can be used to destruct the mankind. Ram Mathur, A part of that society is murdered. A mysterious mail lands in his daughter’s inbox. His daughter along with Ram Mathur’s friend Patnaik embarks on a journey to solve the murder of her father. And thereby beings the tale of Nine and a thrilling journey filled with brain whacking riddles.
The writer deserves a big applause for his riddles. They were simply brilliant and thoroughly logical. It’s very apparent that the writer has done a good research on the Buddhist structures and teachings.
The plot was well woven with rather unpredictable twists. I’ve never witnessed a modern Indian writer weave a plot so cohesively filled with true suspense. The dual story line ( that of present – Sia and of “The Emperor” ) contributed a lot to the suspense element.
My only wee bit complaint would be the story of “the emperor” was a bit over done that the reader would be left disorient if he/she didn’t concentrate a lot on the book.
The writing was simple and crisp. The riddles certainly deserve a special mention. It’s not an easy task to frame 9 riddles which have that true suspense element and are logical.
It’s safe to say that Indian literary world has found another brilliant and true mystery writer – A rarity amongst writers who make money writing trash life changing “love” stories (Pun intended)
In short, this was one brilliant, perfect and well written mystery book!
VERDICT: Must read! When Chetan Bagat can sell, this one surely deserves to sell like The Da Vinci Code.
RATING: 4.5 on 5
Read
June 28, 2014Link: Rent/Buy
If ever one was to think of a Bollywood style retelling of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, in a completely Indian context, Satyarth Nayak’s book would fit the bill.
A father is murdered brutally, leaving behind clues for his daughter to embark on a mission that would lead her to a sacred truth, a truth closely guarded by a secret brotherhood. What’s more, he etches a symbol on his face before dying, to summon his writer friend to help her out, on a journey that requires deciphering of secret codes. Does that ring a bell? Yes, that’s The Emperor’s Riddles for you!
The basic plot resembles Dan Brown’s book, with slight variations and the story essentially is rooted in Buddhism (not Christianity). But it lacks that thrill. There are well researched details and the story moves along smoothly, but it doesn’t keep me hooked in my chair, biting my nails, wondering what will happen next.
Following the gory death of historian Ram Mathur, and eight others before him, his daughter Sia, a scientist, and writer Om Patnaik find themselves in Sarnath in the midst of a puzzle which Sia’s father wanted her to solve. Patnaik and Sia set off on a path stained with blood, poison, mystery and ultimately, enlightenment, a revelation of a two thousand year old secret. From the far away shores of Tamil Nadu to the mountains of Ladakh, the search takes them everywhere, each destination bringing them a little closer to the big secret. Alongside are the policeman, Suri, and the clever, enthusiastic journalist Alia, who are on a quest to find the murderer but miss him quite close. The magic number ‘Nine’ reveals itself everywhere, in all sorts of ways, forming a common thread through the story.
The author has well accomplished the task of running multiple stories together, which occur and recur in a jumble of chapters, till the mystery starts unfolding and all the stories become related, as different moments in history. There are mythological connotations and historical references and legends combined with the reality of today. The book is well put together and has some interesting parts like the solving of riddles. It has its share of twists and turns and the end comes as a real surprise. I only wish that the plot was a little more original.
It’s a good one time read, but falls many miles short of becoming a classic. Nonetheless a commendable debut.
If ever one was to think of a Bollywood style retelling of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, in a completely Indian context, Satyarth Nayak’s book would fit the bill.
A father is murdered brutally, leaving behind clues for his daughter to embark on a mission that would lead her to a sacred truth, a truth closely guarded by a secret brotherhood. What’s more, he etches a symbol on his face before dying, to summon his writer friend to help her out, on a journey that requires deciphering of secret codes. Does that ring a bell? Yes, that’s The Emperor’s Riddles for you!
The basic plot resembles Dan Brown’s book, with slight variations and the story essentially is rooted in Buddhism (not Christianity). But it lacks that thrill. There are well researched details and the story moves along smoothly, but it doesn’t keep me hooked in my chair, biting my nails, wondering what will happen next.
Following the gory death of historian Ram Mathur, and eight others before him, his daughter Sia, a scientist, and writer Om Patnaik find themselves in Sarnath in the midst of a puzzle which Sia’s father wanted her to solve. Patnaik and Sia set off on a path stained with blood, poison, mystery and ultimately, enlightenment, a revelation of a two thousand year old secret. From the far away shores of Tamil Nadu to the mountains of Ladakh, the search takes them everywhere, each destination bringing them a little closer to the big secret. Alongside are the policeman, Suri, and the clever, enthusiastic journalist Alia, who are on a quest to find the murderer but miss him quite close. The magic number ‘Nine’ reveals itself everywhere, in all sorts of ways, forming a common thread through the story.
The author has well accomplished the task of running multiple stories together, which occur and recur in a jumble of chapters, till the mystery starts unfolding and all the stories become related, as different moments in history. There are mythological connotations and historical references and legends combined with the reality of today. The book is well put together and has some interesting parts like the solving of riddles. It has its share of twists and turns and the end comes as a real surprise. I only wish that the plot was a little more original.
It’s a good one time read, but falls many miles short of becoming a classic. Nonetheless a commendable debut.
July 3, 2014
Review at : http://shilpaagarg.com/2014/06/the-em...
An eminent historian is murdered on the banks of Ganga. What causes a stir is that the pattern of the murder is similar to deaths in the past months. But what is strange is that there’s a symbol scrawled on his face that adds to the mystery and intrigue.
The historian’s daughter, Sia, a writer friend, Patnaik and a film-maker Jasodhara, together go on a treasure hunt that takes them from Mysore to Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nadu to Haridwar, Kongka La near Ladakh to Kolkata… Since, they are on a quest for an enigma so powerful that even the Gods would kill for it, they are hounded by a super smart and slippery murderer and a police officer.
A parallel plot which has some mysterious conversations and glimpses from the life of Buddha, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka are interwoven with the murder mystery and the quest for an enigma. I found this parallel plot a bit of a distraction to the main plot.
All this was ok but as I reached halfway, I felt the book lost its steam. I felt that the riddles were solved way too easily and that too without the use of internet (shocking!) And they were way too many. Also, I felt that the dialogues when solving the riddles were a bit forced. While the significance of number 9 fascinated me but showing its importance in every other thing was a bit too contrived. There’s a mix-up between the 2 lady characters Alia and Sia in Chapter 47, which I guess can be rectified in subsequent prints.
The end came as a big surprise which is the hallmark of a thriller though it was pretty rushed. The research done by the author is remarkable with a lot of fascinating and interesting details.
Overall, despite the minor irritants, The Emperor’s Riddles is an intriguing and a gripping read.
An eminent historian is murdered on the banks of Ganga. What causes a stir is that the pattern of the murder is similar to deaths in the past months. But what is strange is that there’s a symbol scrawled on his face that adds to the mystery and intrigue.
The historian’s daughter, Sia, a writer friend, Patnaik and a film-maker Jasodhara, together go on a treasure hunt that takes them from Mysore to Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nadu to Haridwar, Kongka La near Ladakh to Kolkata… Since, they are on a quest for an enigma so powerful that even the Gods would kill for it, they are hounded by a super smart and slippery murderer and a police officer.
A parallel plot which has some mysterious conversations and glimpses from the life of Buddha, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka are interwoven with the murder mystery and the quest for an enigma. I found this parallel plot a bit of a distraction to the main plot.
All this was ok but as I reached halfway, I felt the book lost its steam. I felt that the riddles were solved way too easily and that too without the use of internet (shocking!) And they were way too many. Also, I felt that the dialogues when solving the riddles were a bit forced. While the significance of number 9 fascinated me but showing its importance in every other thing was a bit too contrived. There’s a mix-up between the 2 lady characters Alia and Sia in Chapter 47, which I guess can be rectified in subsequent prints.
The end came as a big surprise which is the hallmark of a thriller though it was pretty rushed. The research done by the author is remarkable with a lot of fascinating and interesting details.
Overall, despite the minor irritants, The Emperor’s Riddles is an intriguing and a gripping read.
July 29, 2015
The story is divided into three parts.
Buddham saranam gacchami
I go to the Buddha for refuge
Dhammam saranam gacchami
I go to the Dhamma for refuge
Sangham saranam gacchami
I go to the Sangha for refuge.
The echoes of these beautiful words are enough to entice a reader. This story shuttles between the past and the present - without killing the essence and the beauty of each era. Frankly speaking, this is no light read. It took me some time to get into the flow of the story. But after you catch the thread of the story, it is so gripping and 'unputdownable'.
The story begins with the death of Ram Mathur. The death itself is very strange and gruesome. His eyes are gouged out and yet he seems not to suffer in pain but had died with a smile on his face. Why? He had carved the name Ohm on his face with a trident. Ohm not as the most holy word in the Hindu scriptures, but the name of the protagonist Ohm Patnaik.
Ohm Patnaik is summoned by the police of Varanasi and Ram Mathur's daughter Sia to come and help out in solving the mystery. How he is connected to the death is a great bafflement for him. This starts a series of riddles which was triggered by an email left by Ram Mathur after his death. Along with Sia, Ohm starts his quest in solving 9 riddles which would not only solve ancient secrets for them but also solve the murder of Ram Mathur.
Constant danger lurks in the form of Scorpion - the serial killer who was targeting men related in terms of their destiny. Why and how is the most interesting part of this story and without screaming spoiler alert, I cannot give in the details. But all I can say is that the riddles would be the most interesting thing in this book. You would want to solve them to find out what this is all about. :)
Read the full review at
http://www.rubinaramesh.com/2014/10/t...
Buddham saranam gacchami
I go to the Buddha for refuge
Dhammam saranam gacchami
I go to the Dhamma for refuge
Sangham saranam gacchami
I go to the Sangha for refuge.
The echoes of these beautiful words are enough to entice a reader. This story shuttles between the past and the present - without killing the essence and the beauty of each era. Frankly speaking, this is no light read. It took me some time to get into the flow of the story. But after you catch the thread of the story, it is so gripping and 'unputdownable'.
The story begins with the death of Ram Mathur. The death itself is very strange and gruesome. His eyes are gouged out and yet he seems not to suffer in pain but had died with a smile on his face. Why? He had carved the name Ohm on his face with a trident. Ohm not as the most holy word in the Hindu scriptures, but the name of the protagonist Ohm Patnaik.
Ohm Patnaik is summoned by the police of Varanasi and Ram Mathur's daughter Sia to come and help out in solving the mystery. How he is connected to the death is a great bafflement for him. This starts a series of riddles which was triggered by an email left by Ram Mathur after his death. Along with Sia, Ohm starts his quest in solving 9 riddles which would not only solve ancient secrets for them but also solve the murder of Ram Mathur.
Constant danger lurks in the form of Scorpion - the serial killer who was targeting men related in terms of their destiny. Why and how is the most interesting part of this story and without screaming spoiler alert, I cannot give in the details. But all I can say is that the riddles would be the most interesting thing in this book. You would want to solve them to find out what this is all about. :)
Read the full review at
http://www.rubinaramesh.com/2014/10/t...
October 23, 2014
I should have known better than to pick up a book with cover blurbs from Aswin Sanghi and Amish Tripathi. But I'm nothing if not doggedly hopeful. So when I caught sight of the words "ancient enigma" on the back, I decided to give it a shot.
The story kicks off with the brutal murder of a historian with a carving on his face meant to be a clue to lead his daughter and an educated friend to some answers.
Wait a second! Where have we heard that story before? And why are the faces of Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou flashing before my eyes?
Look, I'm not one to call foul on retelling of familiar stories. In fact, I believe that there can be no better proof of literary skill than to take an old story and repurpose it to interest a modern reader.
What I take issue with is the pathetically thin veneer that was added to this tale to make it Buddhist instead of Catholic. I adore Indian heritage, and with each clue that was uncovered, my mind raced to find monuments and events that would fit the bill. But each time, I was disappointed to discover that the author leaped to the obvious conclusion rather than a subtler more fulfilling one.
And besides, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the main characters. In fact, Sia, the young woman who has just lost her father and should have been the heart driving the story forward, came across as generally shrill, whiny, and kind of heartless.
To the author's credit though, the writing is clean and crisp, making the experience quick if not painless.
The story kicks off with the brutal murder of a historian with a carving on his face meant to be a clue to lead his daughter and an educated friend to some answers.
Wait a second! Where have we heard that story before? And why are the faces of Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou flashing before my eyes?
Look, I'm not one to call foul on retelling of familiar stories. In fact, I believe that there can be no better proof of literary skill than to take an old story and repurpose it to interest a modern reader.
What I take issue with is the pathetically thin veneer that was added to this tale to make it Buddhist instead of Catholic. I adore Indian heritage, and with each clue that was uncovered, my mind raced to find monuments and events that would fit the bill. But each time, I was disappointed to discover that the author leaped to the obvious conclusion rather than a subtler more fulfilling one.
And besides, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the main characters. In fact, Sia, the young woman who has just lost her father and should have been the heart driving the story forward, came across as generally shrill, whiny, and kind of heartless.
To the author's credit though, the writing is clean and crisp, making the experience quick if not painless.
June 8, 2014
There are always secrets. Secrets which have been guarded for a long time from the human's prying eyes and then it becomes the responsibility of some people to carry on this task tirelessly and defend of what's right and maintain the sanctum of the society. This is a story of a similar quest in the present day to reveal an enigma of the past long lost?
The book starts with a bang and gradually makes its way to the top and takes readers for a ride blended with mystery,fiction,history and some unsettling facts. The science injected into history and manoeuvred around perfectly. The story telling kept simple yet convincing and providing a gush of excitement all the time. The quest to complete the adventure always managing to grab attention and keeping readers on it's toes.
The story faltered when the a parallel plot and some hidden mystery conversations couldn't make proper headways into the whole set up. The book also lost it's historical charm towards the end and turned into a murder mystery. The treatment towards the end not leaving any remarkable footprints on a readers mind.
All in all the story is a big push towards revelations and some past buried secrets of history which have bearings of science. The book manages to provide entertainment, enrichment but doesn't leaves unscathed through the whole process. The story was a page turner but the idea of blending a parallel plot faltered. A book with a lot of depth and a lot of promise.
The book starts with a bang and gradually makes its way to the top and takes readers for a ride blended with mystery,fiction,history and some unsettling facts. The science injected into history and manoeuvred around perfectly. The story telling kept simple yet convincing and providing a gush of excitement all the time. The quest to complete the adventure always managing to grab attention and keeping readers on it's toes.
The story faltered when the a parallel plot and some hidden mystery conversations couldn't make proper headways into the whole set up. The book also lost it's historical charm towards the end and turned into a murder mystery. The treatment towards the end not leaving any remarkable footprints on a readers mind.
All in all the story is a big push towards revelations and some past buried secrets of history which have bearings of science. The book manages to provide entertainment, enrichment but doesn't leaves unscathed through the whole process. The story was a page turner but the idea of blending a parallel plot faltered. A book with a lot of depth and a lot of promise.
April 21, 2023
DNF - pure garbage!
The only reason I picked up this book was because it carried a blurb from Ashwin Sanghi (whom I enjoy reading).
Boy am I sorry I picked this book!
I would give this zero stars if I had the option.
Poorly written and super confusing narrative. I had to really struggle to figure out who is talking to whom.
Then after every chapter or 2 the author adds in some esoteric tale with Indian mythical characters and I for the life of me still haven't figured out how these chapter relate to the main story here.
The language seems vernacular at times and feels as if some high-school kid has written.
"...and they ran like the dead..." - really ??
The dead don't run.
I don't really care much for the characters as they are poorly constructed.
Sia just lost her dad and is standing next to his dead body. She is grieving and a minute later she is talking to Ram as if nothing ever happened and then a short while later she is sipping orange juice at a police station !
I could go on about the poor attempt on the author's part, but I won't waste my time here.
Please skip this book !
update: I really tried picking up this book and getting to the end of it...I hate leaving a book unfinished no matter how bad it is..but this won is unbearable. This is definitely written under the influence of some heavy narcotics!
Absolute garbage!
The only reason I picked up this book was because it carried a blurb from Ashwin Sanghi (whom I enjoy reading).
Boy am I sorry I picked this book!
I would give this zero stars if I had the option.
Poorly written and super confusing narrative. I had to really struggle to figure out who is talking to whom.
Then after every chapter or 2 the author adds in some esoteric tale with Indian mythical characters and I for the life of me still haven't figured out how these chapter relate to the main story here.
The language seems vernacular at times and feels as if some high-school kid has written.
"...and they ran like the dead..." - really ??
The dead don't run.
I don't really care much for the characters as they are poorly constructed.
Sia just lost her dad and is standing next to his dead body. She is grieving and a minute later she is talking to Ram as if nothing ever happened and then a short while later she is sipping orange juice at a police station !
I could go on about the poor attempt on the author's part, but I won't waste my time here.
Please skip this book !
update: I really tried picking up this book and getting to the end of it...I hate leaving a book unfinished no matter how bad it is..but this won is unbearable. This is definitely written under the influence of some heavy narcotics!
Absolute garbage!
June 2, 2014
Full Review: http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/histo...
he contribution of ancient Indians to the development of various sciences is substantial. Aryabhatta invented zero, and gave us the modern number system. Over 2600 years ago, Sushruta conducted surgeries like cataract, fractures, and brain surgeries. Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by earth to orbit the sun in 5th century. Even our epics talk of episodes which are very similar to many modern inventions. Ravana’s ‘Pushpaka Vimana’ is an ancient aeroplane. The astras used by devas and asuras are nothing less than modern missiles. There are many more such examples from all fields of science, but the world, by large, does not know about them either because of lack of preservation of our ancient texts or because of our history of foreign rule. Satyarth Nayak has taken this idea – our rich ancient knowledge of science – and converted it into a historical fiction, “The Emperor’s Riddles”.
he contribution of ancient Indians to the development of various sciences is substantial. Aryabhatta invented zero, and gave us the modern number system. Over 2600 years ago, Sushruta conducted surgeries like cataract, fractures, and brain surgeries. Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by earth to orbit the sun in 5th century. Even our epics talk of episodes which are very similar to many modern inventions. Ravana’s ‘Pushpaka Vimana’ is an ancient aeroplane. The astras used by devas and asuras are nothing less than modern missiles. There are many more such examples from all fields of science, but the world, by large, does not know about them either because of lack of preservation of our ancient texts or because of our history of foreign rule. Satyarth Nayak has taken this idea – our rich ancient knowledge of science – and converted it into a historical fiction, “The Emperor’s Riddles”.
May 4, 2015
The plot of this book follows what seems to have become a formula these days. One or more dead bodies, some cryptic verses or clues, the protagonist following the clues through a series of locations in India, some twist at the end of the tale, you get the drift. Without even a trace of any disrespect to the writers, they all seem, to me, the same... The differentiating factor in all these books is the way the story is told, and, on this count, this one is better than a couple of others I've read. The narration is pretty good, but, the dialogues are not so. The conversations the lead pair have during the quest of their lives seem trivial. The characters are not built-up well. The bits from the past lack coherence, though written nicely.
Reading this book, I felt almost the same way I did after my previous few reads, the author shows a lot of promise... Waiting for more, better works from him!
Reading this book, I felt almost the same way I did after my previous few reads, the author shows a lot of promise... Waiting for more, better works from him!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 59 reviews