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The Thirteenth Day
It is the tenth night of the great war between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Bhishma, the venerable patriarch of the families, lies fatally wounded on the plains of Kurukshetra. On his deathbed he offers Radheya, his nemesis, a chance to rule the Kuru kingdom by capturing Yudhishthira.
In the Pandava camp, Yudhishthira, a reluctant warrior, tries desperately to hold his allies together and escape capture without appearing to be a coward. Meanwhile, his young and impulsive nephew, Abhimanyu, a warrior prince, dreams of glory and yearns for a chance to save the Pandava cause. The lives of these three warriors, Yudhisthira, Radheya and Abhimanyu, collide brutally on the thirteenth day. A story of how stories are created, how fact becomes fiction, how history becomes mythology and how men become legends, The Thirteenth Day re-imagines India's greatest epic like never before.
In the Pandava camp, Yudhishthira, a reluctant warrior, tries desperately to hold his allies together and escape capture without appearing to be a coward. Meanwhile, his young and impulsive nephew, Abhimanyu, a warrior prince, dreams of glory and yearns for a chance to save the Pandava cause. The lives of these three warriors, Yudhisthira, Radheya and Abhimanyu, collide brutally on the thirteenth day. A story of how stories are created, how fact becomes fiction, how history becomes mythology and how men become legends, The Thirteenth Day re-imagines India's greatest epic like never before.
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
21 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Aditya Iyengar
7 books42 followersAditya Iyengar is a writer from India. He writes Indian mythological and historical fiction and enjoys constructing epic fantasies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 31, 2016
This is a lovely re-imagination of four days of Mahabharata - starting from the fall of Bhishma to the breaking of Chakravyuh.
It was refreshing since the focus was minimal on Krishna and Arjun, with Abhimanyu being the main protagonist more or less.
Pros:
Written like the personal diary alternating between Radheya (Karna), Yudhishthira and Abhimanyu.
Stressing on the thought process and underlying emotions, detailed battle formations and war strategies.
Interesting twists on how small things could have changed the course of history.
No use of magical astras or superhuman characters making it very believable.
Cons:
A bit of drag in the middle, and usage of modern language was a turn off.
Radheya being a dude and Bhishma the brat who could shoot flame arrows from his eyes and fart tornadoes!
Verdict:
In spite of all its fallacies, overall loved it for the idea and presentation. Especially the Chakravyuh description which is the core of this book!
Recommended for all Mahabharata enthusiasts. Not recommended to pick this as your first book on Mahabharata.
It was refreshing since the focus was minimal on Krishna and Arjun, with Abhimanyu being the main protagonist more or less.
Pros:
Written like the personal diary alternating between Radheya (Karna), Yudhishthira and Abhimanyu.
Stressing on the thought process and underlying emotions, detailed battle formations and war strategies.
Interesting twists on how small things could have changed the course of history.
No use of magical astras or superhuman characters making it very believable.
Cons:
A bit of drag in the middle, and usage of modern language was a turn off.
Radheya being a dude and Bhishma the brat who could shoot flame arrows from his eyes and fart tornadoes!
Verdict:
In spite of all its fallacies, overall loved it for the idea and presentation. Especially the Chakravyuh description which is the core of this book!
Recommended for all Mahabharata enthusiasts. Not recommended to pick this as your first book on Mahabharata.
September 15, 2015
This book started out with a lot of promise, but did not quite live up to it.
The writing was good -- no idiotic writing like Amish Tripathi in Immortals of Meluha. And the book does treat the Mahabharata as history rather than myth, and has a very realistic feel to the entire book.
The book revolves around Karna, from the time Bhishma falls to the time Abhimanyu falls. The author could have written through until the end of the war, or at least until Karna's death. The ending felt abrupt.
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had not read Bhimsen or Irawati Karve's book before this. As such, this book gives you nothing new; no new way of looking at the battle, no new insights, no reconstructions of what might have been. After about a quarter of the way in, it got slightly boring.
The writing was good -- no idiotic writing like Amish Tripathi in Immortals of Meluha. And the book does treat the Mahabharata as history rather than myth, and has a very realistic feel to the entire book.
The book revolves around Karna, from the time Bhishma falls to the time Abhimanyu falls. The author could have written through until the end of the war, or at least until Karna's death. The ending felt abrupt.
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had not read Bhimsen or Irawati Karve's book before this. As such, this book gives you nothing new; no new way of looking at the battle, no new insights, no reconstructions of what might have been. After about a quarter of the way in, it got slightly boring.
November 12, 2015
The Mahabharat is the greatest epic India has ever produced. The layers to the story, the symbolism, flawed heroes, upright ‘villains’ – it has the works. You could enter a debate on the Mahabharat and it could continue for weeks and months
The Thirteenth Day begins at the end of the Bhishma campaign or the beginning of the Drona campaign, depending on which way you look at it. It attempts to humanize the characters we have come to know and love/loath. Aditya Iyengar cuts through the mists of legends and introduces them to us as normal people, with their strengths and fallacies. It makes us relate more with them in terms of understanding their fears, their desires and their reasons for being in ‘The Great War’.
The story is told from the viewpoint of three figures: Yudhishthira, the leader of the Pandav clan, fighting for the crown and recognition. From our earlier readings, we remember him as a just, honourable, silent man who is remorseful of his treatment of his wife. Here, he is torn between who he needs to be as a leader of the war, an active combatant and a valorous one at that; and who he is, a thoughtful leader who does not see the need for so much bloodshed, one who would see the war end even with a victory for the other side.
The second figure is Radheya/Karna, a man who for me is the most intriguing character in the great tale - the lost son of the Pandavas; the best friend of the leader of the Kurus, Suyodhana – the man who would be king. Fresh with the knowledge that recognition would give him the throne in case of a Pandava victory, he is torn between his duty and desire. Does he abandon Suyodhana’s cause for pursuing his own ambition of being king; one that will potentially end the bloodshed? Or does he stay true to the man who brought him to the limelight and remains his closest friend till date? This dilemma is what defines Radheya, and what makes him the most human character among all.
The final character is Abhimanyu, the boy warrior itching for a chance at glory. This is the character I found to be cast in the most different light. Rather than be a prodigy thrust into the pitch of battle because of his Dharma as a warrior; he comes across as a warrior yearning to make his mark on history and be remembered forever. He is not a fledgling prince, but a fully aware, honourable warrior.
The author writes of the Chakravyuh used by the Kauravs as an onion with layer upon layer. His story is something similar. As a reader, you go through multiple iterations of the major characters, and come to know newer and newer nuances of not only them; but the people, times and even how history was written for them.
War is no light matter, and you can sense a shadow of gloom towering above everyone, a sense of impending doom pervading the air. As the story builds towards it crescendo, you can see yourself yearning for the best ending – one that would do all three of our narrators well – and see it coming towards you, in sight. And then you see it being torn away cruelly, and the reality or the yatharth of war, stares you squarely in the face, and smiles a hard, yet understanding smile, as if saying – “This is what was to happen, and this is what will”.
If you want to strip away the layers of the mystique, and understand the emotions of the people and the war around them, pick up a copy of The Thirteenth Day. You will enjoy it thoroughly. I rate it 4.5 out of 5.
The Thirteenth Day begins at the end of the Bhishma campaign or the beginning of the Drona campaign, depending on which way you look at it. It attempts to humanize the characters we have come to know and love/loath. Aditya Iyengar cuts through the mists of legends and introduces them to us as normal people, with their strengths and fallacies. It makes us relate more with them in terms of understanding their fears, their desires and their reasons for being in ‘The Great War’.
The story is told from the viewpoint of three figures: Yudhishthira, the leader of the Pandav clan, fighting for the crown and recognition. From our earlier readings, we remember him as a just, honourable, silent man who is remorseful of his treatment of his wife. Here, he is torn between who he needs to be as a leader of the war, an active combatant and a valorous one at that; and who he is, a thoughtful leader who does not see the need for so much bloodshed, one who would see the war end even with a victory for the other side.
The second figure is Radheya/Karna, a man who for me is the most intriguing character in the great tale - the lost son of the Pandavas; the best friend of the leader of the Kurus, Suyodhana – the man who would be king. Fresh with the knowledge that recognition would give him the throne in case of a Pandava victory, he is torn between his duty and desire. Does he abandon Suyodhana’s cause for pursuing his own ambition of being king; one that will potentially end the bloodshed? Or does he stay true to the man who brought him to the limelight and remains his closest friend till date? This dilemma is what defines Radheya, and what makes him the most human character among all.
The final character is Abhimanyu, the boy warrior itching for a chance at glory. This is the character I found to be cast in the most different light. Rather than be a prodigy thrust into the pitch of battle because of his Dharma as a warrior; he comes across as a warrior yearning to make his mark on history and be remembered forever. He is not a fledgling prince, but a fully aware, honourable warrior.
The author writes of the Chakravyuh used by the Kauravs as an onion with layer upon layer. His story is something similar. As a reader, you go through multiple iterations of the major characters, and come to know newer and newer nuances of not only them; but the people, times and even how history was written for them.
War is no light matter, and you can sense a shadow of gloom towering above everyone, a sense of impending doom pervading the air. As the story builds towards it crescendo, you can see yourself yearning for the best ending – one that would do all three of our narrators well – and see it coming towards you, in sight. And then you see it being torn away cruelly, and the reality or the yatharth of war, stares you squarely in the face, and smiles a hard, yet understanding smile, as if saying – “This is what was to happen, and this is what will”.
If you want to strip away the layers of the mystique, and understand the emotions of the people and the war around them, pick up a copy of The Thirteenth Day. You will enjoy it thoroughly. I rate it 4.5 out of 5.
October 16, 2016
What is it about Mahabharata that makes it so interesting every time! This book takes a very humanised look at the run up to the death of Abhimanyu. Gripping tale that I finished in less than a week.
March 30, 2018
I, for one, am very wary of all the recent flurry of Indian mythological retellings and I can't say that wasn't constantly at the back of my head when I picked this book today morning but boy, was I pleasantly surprised with the fresh narrative. I love how the author has stripped the story of all its supernatural and divine embellishments and treated it as a piece of history. I will be honest here, I read this and the next book in the trilogy, back to back and maybe it's because it is still fresh in my head, that I'm loving this so much.
The author describes everything very tactfully and very beautifully, including setting up little backstories wherever required and providing everyone very human emotions. One cannot help but feel for each character, whether it's the Pandavas, or Karna (referred here as Radheya) or the comparatively lesser known elephant warrior Bhagadatta and his "beast" Supritika.
Torn between their duties as warriors and their emotions towards hacking to death those that they grew up with, those that they trained with, indeed gives one a picture, albeit hazy as to what goes on in an individual's mind when faced with the horrors of war, bloodshed and violence, especially when it is against one's own family.
It's a fresh retelling, suitable for anyone who likes to know more about the Indian epics. This doesn't try to take a stand or support either side and instead, tries to present a more human side of both the parties.
The only little thing that kind of didn't work for me was its use of modern words like dude, brat, fart etc.
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The author describes everything very tactfully and very beautifully, including setting up little backstories wherever required and providing everyone very human emotions. One cannot help but feel for each character, whether it's the Pandavas, or Karna (referred here as Radheya) or the comparatively lesser known elephant warrior Bhagadatta and his "beast" Supritika.
Torn between their duties as warriors and their emotions towards hacking to death those that they grew up with, those that they trained with, indeed gives one a picture, albeit hazy as to what goes on in an individual's mind when faced with the horrors of war, bloodshed and violence, especially when it is against one's own family.
It's a fresh retelling, suitable for anyone who likes to know more about the Indian epics. This doesn't try to take a stand or support either side and instead, tries to present a more human side of both the parties.
The only little thing that kind of didn't work for me was its use of modern words like dude, brat, fart etc.
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November 12, 2015
Almost all of us heard the story of Mahabharata from our grandpas and grandmas. And, as we grew up, the whole story got abridged and deposited in our minds simply as the game of dice followed by fight between Kauravas and Pandavas with Krishna helping Pandavas. Can you imagine how will it look if each of the brave warriors wrote a diary giving account of what happened every day and night as the war progressed? That's exactly what Aditya Iyengar has tried to do, and the result is "The Thirteenth Day". His choice of characters for presenting this is excellent - Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu. It really appears that he stole the diaries of these three warriors and tore the pages from them for three complete days to create this marvel! I feel very sad that he had the time to grab only three days. I wish he plucked up all the eighteen days' pages so we could have enjoyed a complete war. Such a brilliant presentation with minute attention to details - like the composition of akshauhinis, how powerful Krishna is with his chariot, the armors used in the battle etc.,
When we heard Mahabharata from our elders, we all had our own imagination of the characters in this epic. The way Aditya delineates each character is scrumptious. A good example is the introduction of Bhima - his structure, his enthusiasm and his characteristics as a team leader. Same way, the twelve councils present in Pandavas' side (yes, for many of us, this itself is a new information) are elucidated with such minute details! Even, when the plans for the next day were discussed, one will certainly wonder and appreciate the details that Aditya has given to explain the intricacies.
The language used in this book is extremely a rich one. If you want to increase your vocabulary, this book is a big gift. For a reader with average fluency (like me), a dictionary kept nearby while reading will be useful. Sure, some of us will find some of the words used in this book difficult to grasp at first look, but that does not affect the pace of reading - just like, though there are lot of rocks lying underneath, the river's flow is never affected - in fact, they only add beauty to its flow. The usage of terms for the war teams like "Khamboja Raiders & Indraprastha Chariot Corps" will take our imagination to IPL and amuse! The way the battle scenes are explained takes our imagination to Hollywood's action movies. Emotions overflow when each of these three warriors delve into the details of the day's accounts. For example, the way Karna narrates Abhimanyu's final moments will make one feel sad, very sad for the young warrior (it certainly made me sad)
You will find a lot of subtle & whimsical humor spread throughout the book. In fact, that is what it makes the book more interesting. When Krishna is introduced first in this book we read "His cunning had saved thousands of men over the past ten days and resulted in the slaughter of over twice as many". :-) I couldn't control my laughter when Kauravas' council meet starts. There are many more humorous narrations sprinkled till the end.
I am still unable to stop admiring this book. After a very long time, I am reading an epic presented in a very different manner. I am giving 5.0/5.0 for this one. Sure, I am going to read it once more to enjoy the nuances spread throughout this book, and I have already started waiting for Aditya Iyengar to come up with his next one - he has entered my list of favorite authors.
When we heard Mahabharata from our elders, we all had our own imagination of the characters in this epic. The way Aditya delineates each character is scrumptious. A good example is the introduction of Bhima - his structure, his enthusiasm and his characteristics as a team leader. Same way, the twelve councils present in Pandavas' side (yes, for many of us, this itself is a new information) are elucidated with such minute details! Even, when the plans for the next day were discussed, one will certainly wonder and appreciate the details that Aditya has given to explain the intricacies.
The language used in this book is extremely a rich one. If you want to increase your vocabulary, this book is a big gift. For a reader with average fluency (like me), a dictionary kept nearby while reading will be useful. Sure, some of us will find some of the words used in this book difficult to grasp at first look, but that does not affect the pace of reading - just like, though there are lot of rocks lying underneath, the river's flow is never affected - in fact, they only add beauty to its flow. The usage of terms for the war teams like "Khamboja Raiders & Indraprastha Chariot Corps" will take our imagination to IPL and amuse! The way the battle scenes are explained takes our imagination to Hollywood's action movies. Emotions overflow when each of these three warriors delve into the details of the day's accounts. For example, the way Karna narrates Abhimanyu's final moments will make one feel sad, very sad for the young warrior (it certainly made me sad)
You will find a lot of subtle & whimsical humor spread throughout the book. In fact, that is what it makes the book more interesting. When Krishna is introduced first in this book we read "His cunning had saved thousands of men over the past ten days and resulted in the slaughter of over twice as many". :-) I couldn't control my laughter when Kauravas' council meet starts. There are many more humorous narrations sprinkled till the end.
I am still unable to stop admiring this book. After a very long time, I am reading an epic presented in a very different manner. I am giving 5.0/5.0 for this one. Sure, I am going to read it once more to enjoy the nuances spread throughout this book, and I have already started waiting for Aditya Iyengar to come up with his next one - he has entered my list of favorite authors.
November 10, 2015
Aditya Iyengar's novel The Thirteenth Day is a retelling of the four eventful days and nights (the tenth day to the thirteenth night) of the Kurukshetra War in the Indian epic Mahabharata.
As a child, I believe every Indian will have been told the story of how the Pandavas & Kauravas went to war for the throne of Hastinapur, shedding their own blood in the process, decimating their kin and refusing to stop at anything in the struggle for power. This book not only presents these eventful days in a concise yet interesting manner, but also invokes in people like me, the urge to read the entire epic in whatever form (preferably in a similar presentation) to know the entire story as it has been passed down from generation to generation.
Every description, every backstory and every emotion is so beautifully put, that you cannot help but feel for each character, whether it's the Pandavas' half brother Karna (refered here as Radheya) or the comparatively lesser known elephant warrior Bhagadatta and his "beast" Supritika. Torn between their duties as warriors and their emotions towards hacking and piercing to death, those that they grew up with, those that they trained with, indeed makes you wonder what goes on in an individual's mind when faced with the horrors of war, bloodshed and violence. What indeed, is so alluring that makes people want to be so merciless for a throne, for gold, for riches, for power.
Cheers to Mr. Iyengar for bringing legends and demi-gods to an equal footing with humans, for making them relatable, for showing us yet again, how stories are created, how fact becomes fiction, how history becomes mythology and how men become legends. Here's hoping he and Rupa publications have plans for prequels and sequels.
As a child, I believe every Indian will have been told the story of how the Pandavas & Kauravas went to war for the throne of Hastinapur, shedding their own blood in the process, decimating their kin and refusing to stop at anything in the struggle for power. This book not only presents these eventful days in a concise yet interesting manner, but also invokes in people like me, the urge to read the entire epic in whatever form (preferably in a similar presentation) to know the entire story as it has been passed down from generation to generation.
Every description, every backstory and every emotion is so beautifully put, that you cannot help but feel for each character, whether it's the Pandavas' half brother Karna (refered here as Radheya) or the comparatively lesser known elephant warrior Bhagadatta and his "beast" Supritika. Torn between their duties as warriors and their emotions towards hacking and piercing to death, those that they grew up with, those that they trained with, indeed makes you wonder what goes on in an individual's mind when faced with the horrors of war, bloodshed and violence. What indeed, is so alluring that makes people want to be so merciless for a throne, for gold, for riches, for power.
Cheers to Mr. Iyengar for bringing legends and demi-gods to an equal footing with humans, for making them relatable, for showing us yet again, how stories are created, how fact becomes fiction, how history becomes mythology and how men become legends. Here's hoping he and Rupa publications have plans for prequels and sequels.
August 29, 2015
Another re-telling of the Mahabharata. This time focusing on 3 days of the war, from 3 points of view - Yudhishtira, Karna and Abhimanyu. It's a realistic telling - a storyline that is not dependent on gods, curses or fantastic weaponry. It is an attempt instead, to show how larger-than-life characters are created through a combination of real-life heroism and carefully orchestrated story-telling with a view to history.
And no matter how many times you have heard the story, Abhimanyu's fall is still heartbreaking.
A quick weekend read.
And no matter how many times you have heard the story, Abhimanyu's fall is still heartbreaking.
A quick weekend read.
October 31, 2015
A fun and different perspective on the Kurukshetra war - the view of the players , without the myth tinged glasses. A wonderful account of the days from Bhishma's death till Abhimauyu's on the 13th day. The last chapter and the consequences of that truly turned the war's destiny.
April 29, 2016
I found the book a bit draggy. Could have been more crisp. However, the style with which it is written is good, focusing on details with the character's perceptions. A one time read, good book.
May 12, 2016
Read my detailed review of this book on
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/0...
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/0...
January 7, 2018
Oh Mahabharata! How I much love thee...let me count the ways!
Aditya Iyengar tells the story of 4 days of Kurukshetra war - from the 10th day when Grandsire Bhishma falls to the 13th day when Abhimanyu was killed. The story is told from the viewpoint of Yudhisthira, Radheya and Abhimanyu and is mostly about war and strategy. According to the author himself, it is a re-telling of Abhimanyu's life within the story of Kurukshetra war.
It became obvious on the 13th day that there could be no peace, which Grandsire was still trying to bring about (sort of), between the cousins.
What if Yudhisthira's heart was really not in the war and he did not really have all the answers . What if Abhimanyu was a talented but impetuous young man looking for glory, who had to be reprimanded by his own father. What if Radheya had been just a bit swayed by Bhishma to betray Suyodhana ("Bards were already calling him Duryondhana") and make peace with Yudhisthira, and become king in the process as First-Born of Kurus?
How are myths made? In Radheya's words "Victory has the ability to twist facts and mould them into grotesque caricatures that people call legends...My ear-rings and armour began to take on talismanic proportions so I gave them away....No man should have to live with the burden of his own legend".
This particular re-telling does not turn the Epic on its head making good guys bad and bad guys good....It delves into the motivations of major participants in the war, their failings, doubts and strengths. And oh, the Charkarvyu is explained....sort of. I could go on and on.....Just read it. You won't be disappointed.
Aditya Iyengar tells the story of 4 days of Kurukshetra war - from the 10th day when Grandsire Bhishma falls to the 13th day when Abhimanyu was killed. The story is told from the viewpoint of Yudhisthira, Radheya and Abhimanyu and is mostly about war and strategy. According to the author himself, it is a re-telling of Abhimanyu's life within the story of Kurukshetra war.
It became obvious on the 13th day that there could be no peace, which Grandsire was still trying to bring about (sort of), between the cousins.
What if Yudhisthira's heart was really not in the war and he did not really have all the answers . What if Abhimanyu was a talented but impetuous young man looking for glory, who had to be reprimanded by his own father. What if Radheya had been just a bit swayed by Bhishma to betray Suyodhana ("Bards were already calling him Duryondhana") and make peace with Yudhisthira, and become king in the process as First-Born of Kurus?
How are myths made? In Radheya's words "Victory has the ability to twist facts and mould them into grotesque caricatures that people call legends...My ear-rings and armour began to take on talismanic proportions so I gave them away....No man should have to live with the burden of his own legend".
This particular re-telling does not turn the Epic on its head making good guys bad and bad guys good....It delves into the motivations of major participants in the war, their failings, doubts and strengths. And oh, the Charkarvyu is explained....sort of. I could go on and on.....Just read it. You won't be disappointed.
November 17, 2020
Brilliant in conception, flawless in elaboration
An amazing novella that gives the reader so much joy even while describing how men plot to kill other men. Told neatly from three points of view.
Finished it in 24 hours flat, still short of breath at one of the finest interval blocks ever leading to the sequel.
Another distinguishing feature: it tries to put myth in its place, reimagining the story as it must have been originally before the so called bards blew it up. For example, Krishna is not an avatar but still made to look respectable; there are no divyastras but we can still make out the difference in level between Arjuna and another archer.
Cannot help recalling here that Prem Panicker's Bhimsen used the same principle of rationalizing, in addition adding more elements of psychology and emotion. Not that the 13th Day falls short; the otherone is a must read for someone who reads witjer one of them.
An amazing novella that gives the reader so much joy even while describing how men plot to kill other men. Told neatly from three points of view.
Finished it in 24 hours flat, still short of breath at one of the finest interval blocks ever leading to the sequel.
Another distinguishing feature: it tries to put myth in its place, reimagining the story as it must have been originally before the so called bards blew it up. For example, Krishna is not an avatar but still made to look respectable; there are no divyastras but we can still make out the difference in level between Arjuna and another archer.
Cannot help recalling here that Prem Panicker's Bhimsen used the same principle of rationalizing, in addition adding more elements of psychology and emotion. Not that the 13th Day falls short; the otherone is a must read for someone who reads witjer one of them.
April 5, 2021
This is a refreshing retelling of Mahabharata battle. The story starts after defeat of Bhishma and ends after death of Abhimanyu.
I have been waiting from my childhood for someone to explain the concept of Chakravyuha. This author did it. And I will be grateful for that. Abundance of battle sequences, with elaborate description of weaponry, tactics and strategies in this book separates it from every other retelling of Mahabharatha. All scenes in the book are explained completely in the realm of possibility ;no divinity, no parlor tricks . It ticks another important box humanising villains as well as heroes. A fantastic read overall.
One thing I feel missing is wisdom, which should be there in Indian mythology . They are present but rare. I would like to have more of them. Another thing I don't like about this book is lack of depth for Drona's Character. His character is the least humanised one. It looks like he is unpredictable just for the sake of story. His decisions have repercussions, so it's logical to present a method to Drona's Madness.
I have been waiting from my childhood for someone to explain the concept of Chakravyuha. This author did it. And I will be grateful for that. Abundance of battle sequences, with elaborate description of weaponry, tactics and strategies in this book separates it from every other retelling of Mahabharatha. All scenes in the book are explained completely in the realm of possibility ;no divinity, no parlor tricks . It ticks another important box humanising villains as well as heroes. A fantastic read overall.
One thing I feel missing is wisdom, which should be there in Indian mythology . They are present but rare. I would like to have more of them. Another thing I don't like about this book is lack of depth for Drona's Character. His character is the least humanised one. It looks like he is unpredictable just for the sake of story. His decisions have repercussions, so it's logical to present a method to Drona's Madness.
January 4, 2020
It was my second book on the mythology genre. Loved the simple yet poetic writing, talking about a saga happened centuries ago and it still has so many valuable life lessons. I was hooked to the book until I finished it.
August 7, 2018
Nice Explanation of the Final war until the Thirteenth Day
August 25, 2020
Too many creative liberties with the original epic for my taste.
September 9, 2020
A modern retelling of Abhimanyu's tale. The language is modern but the soul of this ancient tale remains.
October 16, 2025
Started well. Too many liberties. Didn't enjoy it that much. Abrupt ending.
It's like read first 15 pages and last 50 pages & you'd know the story....
It's like read first 15 pages and last 50 pages & you'd know the story....
January 29, 2016
A great addition to the Mahabharata inspired fiction which is crowding our bookshelves and one of the very few books which stays true to its inner logic and is not getting dragged into the larger story of Mahabharata.
Unlike Anand Neelakantan's Ajaya series, this is no revisionist retelling which is trying to find justice in the Kauravas stand. But given how most mainstream narrations are skewed in favor of Pandavas, this book probably could be classified as 'subversive'. The narrative reads somewhat partial to the Kauravas since even patriarchs like Bhishma acknowledge that the Pandavas have no real right to stake a claim to the kingdom they gambled away and taking Indraprastha away from Suyodhana would be an injustice since he has shown himself to be a good ruler. Draupadi's famous 'harassment' is barely acknowledged except where Yudhishtra ironically brings it up as the 'cause' of the war. He knows, as much as everybody else (except perhaps the besotted Bhima) that Draupadi or her humiliation has little to do with this war.
The books biggest strength is that it has chosen to focus on a very small part of the story. The background story is briefly narrated where necessary. But it does not overwhelm the story or even break the narrative flow.
This is also an extremely non-sentimental book. Non sentimental in that even anger does not make a significant entry into the book. In most popular retellings, Karna's meeting with Kunti has either been represented as a sentimental homecoming where he sobs in his mother's lap or an angst ridden angry rant agains his 'mother'. Here, he is almost indifferent, his upper most thought being whether this is indeed the truth or if Kunti is pulling a fast one on him. There is no outpouring of tenderness towards his brothers. In fact at a later stage, when he thinks Bhima is dead, he has to remind himself that Bhima is his brother and it is perhaps not seemly to feel such glee at his death. Even as he is fighting Abhimanyu, Karna has to remind himself that this boy is his niece, and the only sentiment he allows himself is a sense of awesome respect at the dignity with which the young boy dies.
Despite this non-sentimental outlook, the book does true justice to the Karna Suyodhana friendship, a relationship which comes across as one between equals here. Karna's decision to stay with his friend over his brothers is not one borne out of gratitude but one born out of genuine love and respect for Suyodhana. Moreover, Karna acknowledges Suyodhana's right to rule and does not have too many complimentary things to say about his king designate 'brother'. He is definitely not one for stepping aside and allowing Yudhishtra to rule.
The book's central premise is that Bhishma offers Karna a chance to rule the kingdom should he be able to capture Yudhishtra and then broker a peace agreement between the cousins. This premise itself is interesting because it is generally considered that once Karna makes his sentimental speech to Kunti, he never really hankers for the throne. Its almost like he never wavers. But the central premise of this book is an alternative scenario. What if he did want the throne. He agrees to Bhishma's plan to stop the war, partially because of this ambition and partially because of a desire to save Suyodhana. But he remains conflicted about this choice, and the novel is in a way a story of this internal conflict. The measure of peace he finds in the end when he realizes that after taking part in Abhimanyu's slaying, there is no going to the Pandavas, is strangely touching. He has resolved his conflict and is at peace with his choice, but at what price.
The author's choice of narrators is extremely interesting. Iyengar explains, in his introduction that he is interested in how people created their own myths in the 'non-selfie' era. And his three narrators are definitely the three people in the epic who are most concerned with how posterity will remember them. Abhimanyu's desire for glory in the battlefield is not so often discussed in the epic, but it is clear that it is partly behind his reckless entry into the Chakravyuha. Karna and Yudhishtra, otherwise so unlike, show that they are brothers in that they are quite obsessed with how posterity will perceive them. Yudhishtra wants to always be seen as following 'dharma' and Karna wants to be the 'best archer'. This concern for posterity drives a lot of their choices including fairly self destructive ones, and often it is not only them, but their loved ones (Both Suyodhana and the younger Pandavas) who pay the price for their actions.
For all that the book is about an epic, it has a fairly intimate canvas and is a riveting read. It chooses to skip the major characters, including Arjuna, Krishna and Draupadi, and maybe because of this, it genuinely seems fresh and not like some of the rehashes of the epic which have become so popular now.
Unlike Anand Neelakantan's Ajaya series, this is no revisionist retelling which is trying to find justice in the Kauravas stand. But given how most mainstream narrations are skewed in favor of Pandavas, this book probably could be classified as 'subversive'. The narrative reads somewhat partial to the Kauravas since even patriarchs like Bhishma acknowledge that the Pandavas have no real right to stake a claim to the kingdom they gambled away and taking Indraprastha away from Suyodhana would be an injustice since he has shown himself to be a good ruler. Draupadi's famous 'harassment' is barely acknowledged except where Yudhishtra ironically brings it up as the 'cause' of the war. He knows, as much as everybody else (except perhaps the besotted Bhima) that Draupadi or her humiliation has little to do with this war.
The books biggest strength is that it has chosen to focus on a very small part of the story. The background story is briefly narrated where necessary. But it does not overwhelm the story or even break the narrative flow.
This is also an extremely non-sentimental book. Non sentimental in that even anger does not make a significant entry into the book. In most popular retellings, Karna's meeting with Kunti has either been represented as a sentimental homecoming where he sobs in his mother's lap or an angst ridden angry rant agains his 'mother'. Here, he is almost indifferent, his upper most thought being whether this is indeed the truth or if Kunti is pulling a fast one on him. There is no outpouring of tenderness towards his brothers. In fact at a later stage, when he thinks Bhima is dead, he has to remind himself that Bhima is his brother and it is perhaps not seemly to feel such glee at his death. Even as he is fighting Abhimanyu, Karna has to remind himself that this boy is his niece, and the only sentiment he allows himself is a sense of awesome respect at the dignity with which the young boy dies.
Despite this non-sentimental outlook, the book does true justice to the Karna Suyodhana friendship, a relationship which comes across as one between equals here. Karna's decision to stay with his friend over his brothers is not one borne out of gratitude but one born out of genuine love and respect for Suyodhana. Moreover, Karna acknowledges Suyodhana's right to rule and does not have too many complimentary things to say about his king designate 'brother'. He is definitely not one for stepping aside and allowing Yudhishtra to rule.
The book's central premise is that Bhishma offers Karna a chance to rule the kingdom should he be able to capture Yudhishtra and then broker a peace agreement between the cousins. This premise itself is interesting because it is generally considered that once Karna makes his sentimental speech to Kunti, he never really hankers for the throne. Its almost like he never wavers. But the central premise of this book is an alternative scenario. What if he did want the throne. He agrees to Bhishma's plan to stop the war, partially because of this ambition and partially because of a desire to save Suyodhana. But he remains conflicted about this choice, and the novel is in a way a story of this internal conflict. The measure of peace he finds in the end when he realizes that after taking part in Abhimanyu's slaying, there is no going to the Pandavas, is strangely touching. He has resolved his conflict and is at peace with his choice, but at what price.
The author's choice of narrators is extremely interesting. Iyengar explains, in his introduction that he is interested in how people created their own myths in the 'non-selfie' era. And his three narrators are definitely the three people in the epic who are most concerned with how posterity will remember them. Abhimanyu's desire for glory in the battlefield is not so often discussed in the epic, but it is clear that it is partly behind his reckless entry into the Chakravyuha. Karna and Yudhishtra, otherwise so unlike, show that they are brothers in that they are quite obsessed with how posterity will perceive them. Yudhishtra wants to always be seen as following 'dharma' and Karna wants to be the 'best archer'. This concern for posterity drives a lot of their choices including fairly self destructive ones, and often it is not only them, but their loved ones (Both Suyodhana and the younger Pandavas) who pay the price for their actions.
For all that the book is about an epic, it has a fairly intimate canvas and is a riveting read. It chooses to skip the major characters, including Arjuna, Krishna and Draupadi, and maybe because of this, it genuinely seems fresh and not like some of the rehashes of the epic which have become so popular now.
November 1, 2015
Received this book from the Flipkart Book Review Program
There are many stories that need to be told from the Mahabharatha. The grand epic has had many many interpretations since the advent of writing and many modern interpretations have mushroomed in the last few years. Partly due to the fact that you have such a rich premise with widely contrasting characters, many many writers pick the Mahabharatha as the theme for their book. ‘The Thirteenth Day’ by Aditya Iyengar is no different and provides a voice to not one, not two, but three characters from the epic. What makes this an interesting read is the choice of characters and the timeline in the epic that it traverses.
The Thirteenth Day - A Story of the Kurukshetra War - starts off with a conversation between the grandsire Bhishma and Karna (who in my opinion has an untold story to tell himself) and goes on as a narrative of the event that occur between the tenth and the thirteenth night of the Kurukshetra war. The narrative is provided by Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu. The choice of narrators, as unique as it seems, provides a different perspective of the epic from the ones that you may have read in the past.
There is not a single instance when I do not get moist eyed while reading the fate of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharatha, be it any interpretation. The fact that Abhimanyu gets a voice in this book is what made this book work for me. Abhimanyu usually finds a mention mostly in the buildup to the Kurukshetra war and in the war, and there is not much focus on Abhimanyu except for the tragic way in which he was killed. However, this book highlights many a thing including how Abhimanyu while still immature and not yet ready for the war, goes on to fight the war and how he does get reprimanded for overstepping. As with Karna, Abhimanyu deserves a voice and this book gives a strong enough voice to the teenage warrior Abhimanyu. However, what would have worked better was to have an epilogue with the thoughts that Abhimanyu had in his mind when he was ‘slaughtered’ in the Chakravyuha.
The second thing I liked about the book was the fact that it highlighted the insecurities of Yudhishthira pretty openly without elevating him as Dharmaraja or the virtuous eldest brother of the Pandavas. It shows him in a more realistic sense than many other interpretations I have read in the past and this includes him showing his jealousy and the fact that he is not a warrior like his other brothers.
The Thirteenth Day focuses a lot more on Karna from the start to the end and shows glimpses of what an interpretation of the Mahabharatha entered around Karna would look like. Be it his interactions with Bhishma or him battling his inner demons through the war, there is a some commendable writing in the portrayal of Karna.
The book does not dwell in the happenings that led to the war in great detail, but uses occasional flashbacks to insert details or a backstory into the current happenings. This both works to the advantage and the disadvantage of the book. The disadvantage is the fact that this book cannot serve as a standalone perspective or interpretation of Mahabharatha and one does need to know the background of the epic. Unfortunately, if someone wants just one book to read about the epic, The Thirteenth Day will not be my recommendation to them.
The other shortcoming of the book to me personally was the verbosity in the description of the proceedings of the war. You do end up not paying attention to a lot of the description in the grander scheme of things, since this is a book that is entered around the characters more than it being entered around the happenings in the war.
Overall, The Thirteenth Day while providing a voice to two of the much-deserving characters in Mahabharatha shows how much more ‘story’ the epic that’s called Mahabharatha has!
There are many stories that need to be told from the Mahabharatha. The grand epic has had many many interpretations since the advent of writing and many modern interpretations have mushroomed in the last few years. Partly due to the fact that you have such a rich premise with widely contrasting characters, many many writers pick the Mahabharatha as the theme for their book. ‘The Thirteenth Day’ by Aditya Iyengar is no different and provides a voice to not one, not two, but three characters from the epic. What makes this an interesting read is the choice of characters and the timeline in the epic that it traverses.
The Thirteenth Day - A Story of the Kurukshetra War - starts off with a conversation between the grandsire Bhishma and Karna (who in my opinion has an untold story to tell himself) and goes on as a narrative of the event that occur between the tenth and the thirteenth night of the Kurukshetra war. The narrative is provided by Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu. The choice of narrators, as unique as it seems, provides a different perspective of the epic from the ones that you may have read in the past.
There is not a single instance when I do not get moist eyed while reading the fate of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharatha, be it any interpretation. The fact that Abhimanyu gets a voice in this book is what made this book work for me. Abhimanyu usually finds a mention mostly in the buildup to the Kurukshetra war and in the war, and there is not much focus on Abhimanyu except for the tragic way in which he was killed. However, this book highlights many a thing including how Abhimanyu while still immature and not yet ready for the war, goes on to fight the war and how he does get reprimanded for overstepping. As with Karna, Abhimanyu deserves a voice and this book gives a strong enough voice to the teenage warrior Abhimanyu. However, what would have worked better was to have an epilogue with the thoughts that Abhimanyu had in his mind when he was ‘slaughtered’ in the Chakravyuha.
The second thing I liked about the book was the fact that it highlighted the insecurities of Yudhishthira pretty openly without elevating him as Dharmaraja or the virtuous eldest brother of the Pandavas. It shows him in a more realistic sense than many other interpretations I have read in the past and this includes him showing his jealousy and the fact that he is not a warrior like his other brothers.
The Thirteenth Day focuses a lot more on Karna from the start to the end and shows glimpses of what an interpretation of the Mahabharatha entered around Karna would look like. Be it his interactions with Bhishma or him battling his inner demons through the war, there is a some commendable writing in the portrayal of Karna.
The book does not dwell in the happenings that led to the war in great detail, but uses occasional flashbacks to insert details or a backstory into the current happenings. This both works to the advantage and the disadvantage of the book. The disadvantage is the fact that this book cannot serve as a standalone perspective or interpretation of Mahabharatha and one does need to know the background of the epic. Unfortunately, if someone wants just one book to read about the epic, The Thirteenth Day will not be my recommendation to them.
The other shortcoming of the book to me personally was the verbosity in the description of the proceedings of the war. You do end up not paying attention to a lot of the description in the grander scheme of things, since this is a book that is entered around the characters more than it being entered around the happenings in the war.
Overall, The Thirteenth Day while providing a voice to two of the much-deserving characters in Mahabharatha shows how much more ‘story’ the epic that’s called Mahabharatha has!
December 7, 2015
The first time I came across the name Aditya Iyengar was while reading Mumbai Avengers where Mr. Hussain Zaidi mentioned Mr. Aditya for his creative contribution in the work. Within a week, this book reached me by courier and now, I am writing its review.
The epic Mahabharata, the rivalry of Pandavas and Kauravas and the great Kurukshetra war do not need an introduction for any of us. The story of well known and is quite a good example where the good finally wins over the bad. The Thirteenth Day narrates three days of the Kurukshetra War and the thought processes that went through the minds of the three warriors – Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu. What make this work stand out with a well known story is that the characters are represented as warriors of 1000 BC dressed in dhotis, wearing metallic armours and fighting with metal and stone weapons.
Yudhishthira, the eldest of Pandavas is well known for his honesty and sincerity rather than his skills at war front. The author presents him almost the same way and most of the time, he finds himself unfit to lead the Pandavas and even attempt to surrender to his enemies so as to put an end to the war and bloodshed. Radheya or Karna, my personal favourite, is one of those characters who earn the readers respect even though he is an ally of the chief antagonist. Born as a Pandava, Radheya was made the king of Anga by Suyodhana owing to which he took side of the Kauravas during the war. Last but not the least, Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna is the real hero of this work of fiction. He is presented as someone who fought so bravely and matched his father for his skills and was killed by the Kauravas in such a way that brought disgrace to the entire family.
The author’s emphasis on these characters, leaving behind Suyodhana, Arjuna, Bhima and Krishna need a special mention here. Many books have been written retelling the same old tale from the perspective of different characters from the epic. The author has picked just three days which decided the fate of the Kuru clan, detailed it from the perspective of three warriors with entirely three different intentions and brought up this book which is highly recommended for those who enjoy mythological works and would like to experience this new take on the great epic.
The epic Mahabharata, the rivalry of Pandavas and Kauravas and the great Kurukshetra war do not need an introduction for any of us. The story of well known and is quite a good example where the good finally wins over the bad. The Thirteenth Day narrates three days of the Kurukshetra War and the thought processes that went through the minds of the three warriors – Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu. What make this work stand out with a well known story is that the characters are represented as warriors of 1000 BC dressed in dhotis, wearing metallic armours and fighting with metal and stone weapons.
Yudhishthira, the eldest of Pandavas is well known for his honesty and sincerity rather than his skills at war front. The author presents him almost the same way and most of the time, he finds himself unfit to lead the Pandavas and even attempt to surrender to his enemies so as to put an end to the war and bloodshed. Radheya or Karna, my personal favourite, is one of those characters who earn the readers respect even though he is an ally of the chief antagonist. Born as a Pandava, Radheya was made the king of Anga by Suyodhana owing to which he took side of the Kauravas during the war. Last but not the least, Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna is the real hero of this work of fiction. He is presented as someone who fought so bravely and matched his father for his skills and was killed by the Kauravas in such a way that brought disgrace to the entire family.
The author’s emphasis on these characters, leaving behind Suyodhana, Arjuna, Bhima and Krishna need a special mention here. Many books have been written retelling the same old tale from the perspective of different characters from the epic. The author has picked just three days which decided the fate of the Kuru clan, detailed it from the perspective of three warriors with entirely three different intentions and brought up this book which is highly recommended for those who enjoy mythological works and would like to experience this new take on the great epic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2016
Attempting a partially fictionalized account of the greatest saga of our country is indeed a brave thing. And to come out of it with flying colors is even greater an achievement. Debutant author Aditya Iyengar joins the list of the authors who have tried re-telling the Mahabharata from different angles.
No one is unfamiliar with the plot of the Mahabharata; and yet Aditya’s unique narrative makes this book a lovely read.
The story unfolds on the tenth day of the war in Kurukshetra, leading to the events that ultimately led to the death of Abhimanyu. The entire plot is narrated from the point of view of three key characters – Radheya/Karna, Yudhishthira and Abhimanyu.
A lot of research has gone behind this book, and it definitely shows. An in-depth information about combats, formations, different war weapons and instruments has been provided. This is one aspect relatively unexplored previously.
Secondly, the characterizations are superb. The way Aditya develops each character, makes us feel as we know them personally. All three – Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu are characterized brilliantly.
Yudhishthira’s character is lovely. I loved how he is shown to be vulnerable, unsure, and insecure. He is the most humane character in the plot.
Our heart goes out for Abhimanyu’s character. However, my personal favorite was Karna’s character.
It is also a relief to see few of the central characters take a backseat – including Krishna, Draupadi, etc.
OVERALL, Aditya’s narration of the events from Bhishma’s death to Abhimanyu’s death is a must read for all those who love Mahabharata. I mean, is there anyone who doesn’t love it?
A fresh, different and well written novel, I would definitely recommend this one to all mythology lovers!
No one is unfamiliar with the plot of the Mahabharata; and yet Aditya’s unique narrative makes this book a lovely read.
The story unfolds on the tenth day of the war in Kurukshetra, leading to the events that ultimately led to the death of Abhimanyu. The entire plot is narrated from the point of view of three key characters – Radheya/Karna, Yudhishthira and Abhimanyu.
A lot of research has gone behind this book, and it definitely shows. An in-depth information about combats, formations, different war weapons and instruments has been provided. This is one aspect relatively unexplored previously.
Secondly, the characterizations are superb. The way Aditya develops each character, makes us feel as we know them personally. All three – Yudhishthira, Karna and Abhimanyu are characterized brilliantly.
Yudhishthira’s character is lovely. I loved how he is shown to be vulnerable, unsure, and insecure. He is the most humane character in the plot.
Our heart goes out for Abhimanyu’s character. However, my personal favorite was Karna’s character.
It is also a relief to see few of the central characters take a backseat – including Krishna, Draupadi, etc.
OVERALL, Aditya’s narration of the events from Bhishma’s death to Abhimanyu’s death is a must read for all those who love Mahabharata. I mean, is there anyone who doesn’t love it?
A fresh, different and well written novel, I would definitely recommend this one to all mythology lovers!
April 20, 2016
The Great epic, Mahabharata, is ripe for myths, stories of great bravery, foolishness and loyalty. It's well known fact that the loyalty shown by the enigmatic Karna will fill many storybooks for many more generations. So is the bravery of the warrior Prince Abhimanyu.
The King Yudhishtira has also always been a mystery.at least I've always thought- Was he always such a prude? Or foolish? Is it possible for any human to be that faithful to Dharma?
This book is a culmination of these warriors' perspectives on a crucial part of the Great War.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and noticed that I wished the book doesn't end, because I wanted to read the author's interpretation of the rest of the days of the war. It would be interesting to read how he would write about Drona's death. Or how Jayadrutha gets killed? Or how Krishna gets to con Suyodhanain the end.
That is the mark of a good book to me - making me want to read a book even though it's on a plot I know thoroughly well.
The narration is very crisp, to the point and tells you what the character is thinking. The plot is just right, the right size and gripping enough to hold your attention.
And I loved how the story is very practical. No flying weapons here. Or illogical curses. Or bravado stories that couldn't be true. That, is very real to me. It felt like I was reading a war book set in current day, or an age I could relate to.
The King Yudhishtira has also always been a mystery.at least I've always thought- Was he always such a prude? Or foolish? Is it possible for any human to be that faithful to Dharma?
This book is a culmination of these warriors' perspectives on a crucial part of the Great War.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and noticed that I wished the book doesn't end, because I wanted to read the author's interpretation of the rest of the days of the war. It would be interesting to read how he would write about Drona's death. Or how Jayadrutha gets killed? Or how Krishna gets to con Suyodhanain the end.
That is the mark of a good book to me - making me want to read a book even though it's on a plot I know thoroughly well.
The narration is very crisp, to the point and tells you what the character is thinking. The plot is just right, the right size and gripping enough to hold your attention.
And I loved how the story is very practical. No flying weapons here. Or illogical curses. Or bravado stories that couldn't be true. That, is very real to me. It felt like I was reading a war book set in current day, or an age I could relate to.
February 9, 2017
An average book based on an interesting character in the Mahabharata. The book treats the Mahabharata as a series of events that occurred ages ago instead of reinforcing the godly pedestal it is on. The vantage point structure of the book makes it an interesting read. A lot of effort seems to have gone into fleshing out the battle scenes.
The sentences in general are too simplistic and lack depth. The book tends to trivialize the characters which is a little off putting. The book has enough flatulence jokes to even make a juvenile stop grinning.
Give the book a try, however. For the Indian Mythology buffs, you may read something you hadn't though off. For the novices, it may spark your interest in a vast sea of stories that mythology is.
The sentences in general are too simplistic and lack depth. The book tends to trivialize the characters which is a little off putting. The book has enough flatulence jokes to even make a juvenile stop grinning.
Give the book a try, however. For the Indian Mythology buffs, you may read something you hadn't though off. For the novices, it may spark your interest in a vast sea of stories that mythology is.
November 15, 2015
Mahabharata; a tale that has been retold a several times, and shall be recreated by authors for time immemorial. There are so many characters, themes, philosophies, and stories that come together to create the mega-epic that is the Mahabharata.
The Thirteenth Day by Aditya Iyengar on the contrary is a reimagined version of just three days of the Kurukshetra war. Moreover, Iyengar's effort is concentrated on retelling of the incidents over these three days from perspectives of three characters of the saga namely Yudisthira, Radheya or Karna as he is popularly known and Abhimanyu.
The Thirteenth Day is a re imagined version of the war of Kurukshetra by Aditya Iyengar. This is also the authors debut work and he does leave a mark. The author very carefully narrates the story from perspective of the three characters mentioned above, but also does a commendable job of giving the readers a perspective about the past events and also reflects on acts of other important characters like Suyodhana, Bhima, Arjuna etc.
- See more at: http://cogentdesi.blogspot.com/2015/1...
Actual rating: 2.5
The Thirteenth Day by Aditya Iyengar on the contrary is a reimagined version of just three days of the Kurukshetra war. Moreover, Iyengar's effort is concentrated on retelling of the incidents over these three days from perspectives of three characters of the saga namely Yudisthira, Radheya or Karna as he is popularly known and Abhimanyu.
The Thirteenth Day is a re imagined version of the war of Kurukshetra by Aditya Iyengar. This is also the authors debut work and he does leave a mark. The author very carefully narrates the story from perspective of the three characters mentioned above, but also does a commendable job of giving the readers a perspective about the past events and also reflects on acts of other important characters like Suyodhana, Bhima, Arjuna etc.
- See more at: http://cogentdesi.blogspot.com/2015/1...
Actual rating: 2.5
November 10, 2022
What I love about The Thirteenth Day is that everything is grounded in reality. Unlike other novels I have read that cover the epic, this novel tells the story in a believable manner. Personally, I have always struggled with believing the historical aspect of the Mahabharata since most versions include so much many fantastical elements. Although those are intriguing to read, I am glad I also got to read a novel that told the story how it most likely occurred. I had also not previously read of the specifics of the war and found all the details very interesting. I also enjoyed getting to know Yudhishthir more since he is one of the Pandavas I know least about. Additionally, I appreciated the multiple allusions to the backstories of important characters since it allowed me to orient myself in the complex story the Mahabharata is. My only complaint is that the story did not cover all 18 days of the war. Though I understand outlining it in so many opinions would be tedious, a chapter covering the outcome of the war would have given me some closure. Regardless, I still recommend this novel to anyone interested in the details of the Kurukshetra war. I certainly enjoyed it very much.
June 18, 2016
Detailed Review on Life as Freya
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
A retelling of the Mahabharata this plot isn’t new and yet, it felt so because of the perspective. Set in Kurukshetra the story starts out on day 10 of the war and details the events that lead up to the death of Abhimanyu.
Igengar does a good job if describing the war and all that happens behind the scenes when the war is not on, in the camps and around the campfires. The main and support characters are rich in detail and it felt like I knew them.
There aren’t any loose ends but there is an abrupt end, smoothly delivered. The pace is good with a build-up towards climax, that kept me glued to the book.
I enjoyed Aditya Iyengar’s style of writing and language. The book is a breeze to read and an enjoyable one at that.
I’d recommend this book if your are a epic fan and even if you are not. :)
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
A retelling of the Mahabharata this plot isn’t new and yet, it felt so because of the perspective. Set in Kurukshetra the story starts out on day 10 of the war and details the events that lead up to the death of Abhimanyu.
Igengar does a good job if describing the war and all that happens behind the scenes when the war is not on, in the camps and around the campfires. The main and support characters are rich in detail and it felt like I knew them.
There aren’t any loose ends but there is an abrupt end, smoothly delivered. The pace is good with a build-up towards climax, that kept me glued to the book.
I enjoyed Aditya Iyengar’s style of writing and language. The book is a breeze to read and an enjoyable one at that.
I’d recommend this book if your are a epic fan and even if you are not. :)
May 13, 2021
The book describes the three days and nights of the Kurukshetra war from the point of view of Bhishma Pitamah, Yudhishthir eldest of Pandavas, Abhimanyu son of Arjun and Radheya, or Karana son of Kunti.
The book is not mystically written. It was like reading just another war story. Lord Krishna was denoted as Krishna, Arjun's charioteer, which would hurt my Hindu sentiments otherwise but this book was purely Historical and not mythical. Focused on how Abhimanyu was defeated, how brilliant yet dangerously Radheya planned the Chakravyuha on the thirteenth day, and how Yudhisthira accepted his lack of war expertise and want for peace.
I wish there was more of what happened next in relation to Abhimannyu's fall in this same book. however very much looking forward to reading other books by Aditya Iyenger.
The book is not mystically written. It was like reading just another war story. Lord Krishna was denoted as Krishna, Arjun's charioteer, which would hurt my Hindu sentiments otherwise but this book was purely Historical and not mythical. Focused on how Abhimanyu was defeated, how brilliant yet dangerously Radheya planned the Chakravyuha on the thirteenth day, and how Yudhisthira accepted his lack of war expertise and want for peace.
I wish there was more of what happened next in relation to Abhimannyu's fall in this same book. however very much looking forward to reading other books by Aditya Iyenger.
November 24, 2015
The different perspective of the kurukshetra war. The days between the tenth day and the thirteenth day. The author tried to tell a descriptive way of those days.
Since this a season of the books with the theme of kurukshetra war , the book will not attract the non mythology lovers. the reason behind this is , there are some of the best which readers considered are out in the stores and to read the same story again will get them bored.
But for the mythology lovers it is a lovable one.
Happy reading friends!!!!
Since this a season of the books with the theme of kurukshetra war , the book will not attract the non mythology lovers. the reason behind this is , there are some of the best which readers considered are out in the stores and to read the same story again will get them bored.
But for the mythology lovers it is a lovable one.
Happy reading friends!!!!
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