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Immortal
'Death is certain for all who are born...or is it?
Professor Bharadvaj is more than just another whisky-loving, gun-toting historian-for-hire. Behind the assumed identity of the cynical academic is a man who has walked the earth for scores of years. He is Asvatthama - the cursed immortal, the man who cannot die.
When Professor Bharadvaj is approached by the enigmatic Maya Jervois to search for a historical artefact unlike any other, he is reluctant to pursue it. The object in question, the Vajra, is rumoured to possess incredible alchemical powers, but the Professor does not believe it exists. After all, he has spent many lifetimes - and identities - searching for it, in a bid to unearth the secret to his unending life.
Yet, as the evidence of its existence becomes increasingly compelling, the Professor is plunged into an adrenaline-fuelled adventure that takes him from the labyrinthine passages beneath the Somnath temple to the legendary home of the siddhas in the Nilgiris, and finally into the deserts of Pakistan to solve a confounding puzzle left behind by the ancients.
But who is behind the dangerous mercenaries trying to thwart his discoveries at every step? And is the Professor - a legendary warrior in a long-ago life – cursed to walk the path of death and bloodshed forever?
Professor Bharadvaj is more than just another whisky-loving, gun-toting historian-for-hire. Behind the assumed identity of the cynical academic is a man who has walked the earth for scores of years. He is Asvatthama - the cursed immortal, the man who cannot die.
When Professor Bharadvaj is approached by the enigmatic Maya Jervois to search for a historical artefact unlike any other, he is reluctant to pursue it. The object in question, the Vajra, is rumoured to possess incredible alchemical powers, but the Professor does not believe it exists. After all, he has spent many lifetimes - and identities - searching for it, in a bid to unearth the secret to his unending life.
Yet, as the evidence of its existence becomes increasingly compelling, the Professor is plunged into an adrenaline-fuelled adventure that takes him from the labyrinthine passages beneath the Somnath temple to the legendary home of the siddhas in the Nilgiris, and finally into the deserts of Pakistan to solve a confounding puzzle left behind by the ancients.
But who is behind the dangerous mercenaries trying to thwart his discoveries at every step? And is the Professor - a legendary warrior in a long-ago life – cursed to walk the path of death and bloodshed forever?
408 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
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November 24, 2016
“The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.”
----William H. Gass
Krishna Udayasankar, an Indian bestselling author, pens an enlightening and highly thrilling part fantasy and part mythology book, Immortal that revolves around a cynical history professor, who has been walking on the Earth since the beginning of the time and will be walking till the end of the time, and his quest to find a historical and supposed to be extinct as well as mythical object with the help of his patient assistant and a mysterious young and beautiful woman, traveling across the borders and the seas.
Synopsis:
'Death is certain for all who are born...or is it?
Professor Bharadvaj is more than just another whisky-loving, gun-toting historian-for-hire. Behind the assumed identity of the cynical academic is a man who has walked the earth for scores of years. He is Asvatthama - the cursed immortal, the man who cannot die.
When Professor Bharadvaj is approached by the enigmatic Maya Jervois to search for a historical artifact unlike any other, he is reluctant to pursue it. The object in question, the Vajra, is rumored to possess incredible alchemical powers, but the Professor does not believe it exists. After all, he has spent many lifetimes - and identities - searching for it, in a bid to unearth the secret to his unending life.
Yet, as the evidence of its existence becomes increasingly compelling, the Professor is plunged into an adrenaline-fueled adventure that takes him from the labyrinthine passages beneath the Somnath temple to the legendary home of the siddhas in the Nilgiris, and finally into the deserts of Pakistan to solve a confounding puzzle left behind by the ancients.
But who is behind the dangerous mercenaries trying to thwart his discoveries at every step? And is the Professor - a legendary warrior in a long-ago life – cursed to walk the path of death and bloodshed forever?
Professor Bharadvaj, the cursed immortal, the talented historian, has been approached by a young and mysteriously charming lady, Maya Jervois, to find the missing pieces of an historical object that still holds powers of alchemy, called the Vajra, the most valuable weapon built by the alchemist, Nagarjuna. Although the said object was said to be lost from the face of the world and Professor Bharadvaj has been looking for it from the beginning of time, but with no luck. Moreover, Professor Bharadvaj has stopped believing in that object, hence reluctantly he accepts Maya's offer. Alongside his calm yet haughty assistant and the young lady, Professor Bharadvaj embarks on a quest to search for that artifact, but little did anyone knew that they would have to face near-death, hurdles and complicated challenges while jumping from one destination to another across the seas and the mountains.
Honestly I've never before came across an Indian fantasy novel that is so excellent, intriguing and so much well written. Even some of the top authors of this genre would be put to shame, as their books would fall short and meager in every respect when compared to Udayasankar's book. This book proved to be one hell of a wild and crazy roller coaster ride complete with adrenaline rushing actions, heart pounding moments and anticipating folds that only make the book arresting enough for any reader to keep them glued till the very last page.
The author's writing style is flawless, coherent and is laced with so much emotions, actions and historical facts that I'm pretty sure, after reading this gem, any reader would feel highly interested and enlightened about the Indian, Greek and Egyptian mythologies. The narrative is articulate and easy to comprehend with. Moreover, the author pens the whole story in an engaging manner as she depicts each and every scene in this book with careful and thorough details that will vividly roll right in front of the eyes of the readers. The author projects so many historical and mythological stories through the dreams and the voices of the central character, that are not only accurate but are highly illuminating and thought-provoking.
The pacing of the book is fast, even though the author unravels the many layers in this story one after another, only after building enough tension in the hearts of the readers. The mystery is not only mystifying but is highly adventurous, that is often bone-chillingly creepy and at times, extremely puzzling like a dark maze and it is surely going to keep the readers on their edges till the turn of the very last page of the book. The author also captures the backdrops of each destination from the temples in Gujarat to the mountains in the Tamil Nadu to the holy ghats in Varanasi to the golden sandy deserts in Pakistan to the dusty and dingy alleyways in Delhi, vividly and hence the readers are bound to shift from one destination to another, alongside the characters.
The characters are well crafted out highlighting enough realism in their demeanor, flaws, talents and strength thereby making them look honest and authentic in the eyes of the readers. Even though the central character is fantastical yet the author portrays the professor as someone relatable. His backstory is strikingly enough for the readers to support this mystifying immortal man till the end of his journey. Apart from being brave, strong, emotional, passionate, brooding, super talented and super natural with a brain like Einstein, the professor is down-to-earth. His enticing voice all through out the story will simply compel the readers to keep turning the pages of this book frantically till the very end. His chemistry with Maya is compassionate and desiring enough for the readers to keep rooting for the odd couple. The supporting cast of characters are also well developed and impressionable.
In a nutshell, this adventure is not to be missed by the Indian readers, as they will not only get to explore the forgotten parts of mythology, but will also get mesmerized into a thrilling journey to find a lost mythical weapon.
Verdict: A profound tale of history, mythology laced with fantasy that is a complete page turner.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Hachette India for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
----William H. Gass
Krishna Udayasankar, an Indian bestselling author, pens an enlightening and highly thrilling part fantasy and part mythology book, Immortal that revolves around a cynical history professor, who has been walking on the Earth since the beginning of the time and will be walking till the end of the time, and his quest to find a historical and supposed to be extinct as well as mythical object with the help of his patient assistant and a mysterious young and beautiful woman, traveling across the borders and the seas.
Synopsis:
'Death is certain for all who are born...or is it?
Professor Bharadvaj is more than just another whisky-loving, gun-toting historian-for-hire. Behind the assumed identity of the cynical academic is a man who has walked the earth for scores of years. He is Asvatthama - the cursed immortal, the man who cannot die.
When Professor Bharadvaj is approached by the enigmatic Maya Jervois to search for a historical artifact unlike any other, he is reluctant to pursue it. The object in question, the Vajra, is rumored to possess incredible alchemical powers, but the Professor does not believe it exists. After all, he has spent many lifetimes - and identities - searching for it, in a bid to unearth the secret to his unending life.
Yet, as the evidence of its existence becomes increasingly compelling, the Professor is plunged into an adrenaline-fueled adventure that takes him from the labyrinthine passages beneath the Somnath temple to the legendary home of the siddhas in the Nilgiris, and finally into the deserts of Pakistan to solve a confounding puzzle left behind by the ancients.
But who is behind the dangerous mercenaries trying to thwart his discoveries at every step? And is the Professor - a legendary warrior in a long-ago life – cursed to walk the path of death and bloodshed forever?
Professor Bharadvaj, the cursed immortal, the talented historian, has been approached by a young and mysteriously charming lady, Maya Jervois, to find the missing pieces of an historical object that still holds powers of alchemy, called the Vajra, the most valuable weapon built by the alchemist, Nagarjuna. Although the said object was said to be lost from the face of the world and Professor Bharadvaj has been looking for it from the beginning of time, but with no luck. Moreover, Professor Bharadvaj has stopped believing in that object, hence reluctantly he accepts Maya's offer. Alongside his calm yet haughty assistant and the young lady, Professor Bharadvaj embarks on a quest to search for that artifact, but little did anyone knew that they would have to face near-death, hurdles and complicated challenges while jumping from one destination to another across the seas and the mountains.
Honestly I've never before came across an Indian fantasy novel that is so excellent, intriguing and so much well written. Even some of the top authors of this genre would be put to shame, as their books would fall short and meager in every respect when compared to Udayasankar's book. This book proved to be one hell of a wild and crazy roller coaster ride complete with adrenaline rushing actions, heart pounding moments and anticipating folds that only make the book arresting enough for any reader to keep them glued till the very last page.
The author's writing style is flawless, coherent and is laced with so much emotions, actions and historical facts that I'm pretty sure, after reading this gem, any reader would feel highly interested and enlightened about the Indian, Greek and Egyptian mythologies. The narrative is articulate and easy to comprehend with. Moreover, the author pens the whole story in an engaging manner as she depicts each and every scene in this book with careful and thorough details that will vividly roll right in front of the eyes of the readers. The author projects so many historical and mythological stories through the dreams and the voices of the central character, that are not only accurate but are highly illuminating and thought-provoking.
The pacing of the book is fast, even though the author unravels the many layers in this story one after another, only after building enough tension in the hearts of the readers. The mystery is not only mystifying but is highly adventurous, that is often bone-chillingly creepy and at times, extremely puzzling like a dark maze and it is surely going to keep the readers on their edges till the turn of the very last page of the book. The author also captures the backdrops of each destination from the temples in Gujarat to the mountains in the Tamil Nadu to the holy ghats in Varanasi to the golden sandy deserts in Pakistan to the dusty and dingy alleyways in Delhi, vividly and hence the readers are bound to shift from one destination to another, alongside the characters.
The characters are well crafted out highlighting enough realism in their demeanor, flaws, talents and strength thereby making them look honest and authentic in the eyes of the readers. Even though the central character is fantastical yet the author portrays the professor as someone relatable. His backstory is strikingly enough for the readers to support this mystifying immortal man till the end of his journey. Apart from being brave, strong, emotional, passionate, brooding, super talented and super natural with a brain like Einstein, the professor is down-to-earth. His enticing voice all through out the story will simply compel the readers to keep turning the pages of this book frantically till the very end. His chemistry with Maya is compassionate and desiring enough for the readers to keep rooting for the odd couple. The supporting cast of characters are also well developed and impressionable.
In a nutshell, this adventure is not to be missed by the Indian readers, as they will not only get to explore the forgotten parts of mythology, but will also get mesmerized into a thrilling journey to find a lost mythical weapon.
Verdict: A profound tale of history, mythology laced with fantasy that is a complete page turner.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Hachette India for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 8, 2019
I have read Govinda (first book in Aryavarta Chronicles) twice by Krishna Udayasankara. And after that I read beast by her. Looking at writing style she has exceptionally prooved her skills by delivering complete two different kind of writing styles & genre. Where first was mythofiction , the second one was paranormal fiction. So when I checked Immortal by her was republished again by penguin, I thought of not missing it. I checked the blurb, and found it was again a different style, a histo-thriller. I simply took it. But due to my survical spondilysis I was not able to read it on time. Well guilty of not writing review was greater than not reading a book, so I took out special time during my physicio therapy and finished it.
The protagonist of our story is professor Bharadvaj, a 40 year looking men assisted by Manohar. He was approached by a lady called Maya to find out the elixir of immortality. But professor tried his best to deny the task claiming it to be a fairy tell. As professor himself was Ashwatthama, legendary warrior & son of Drona. In his long life span he tried to locate that potion but never found clue of it. But somehow after Maya had approached professor , he started finding hard to find that elixir was just myth. So that is when Ashwatthama started one and last trial to find out what was the truth behind missing artifact.
Coming to the writing style, tone has changed this time. You may feel difference between Govinda & Immortal. Govinda was written lavishly at ease as author had option to write it in 3 parts. Where in here she had only one book to compile things that to multiple historical incidents (wars after great war) where Ashwatthama was present. So pace was generally medium to fast. Krishna's control over words is visible throughout the book. Again based on type of reading you prefer your opinion may change for storyline as few find it flawed and few find it flawless. For me it is mixed or I would say slight flawed but still far better than upcoming mythofiction writers who are trying to race in the league.
Detailed review link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
The protagonist of our story is professor Bharadvaj, a 40 year looking men assisted by Manohar. He was approached by a lady called Maya to find out the elixir of immortality. But professor tried his best to deny the task claiming it to be a fairy tell. As professor himself was Ashwatthama, legendary warrior & son of Drona. In his long life span he tried to locate that potion but never found clue of it. But somehow after Maya had approached professor , he started finding hard to find that elixir was just myth. So that is when Ashwatthama started one and last trial to find out what was the truth behind missing artifact.
Coming to the writing style, tone has changed this time. You may feel difference between Govinda & Immortal. Govinda was written lavishly at ease as author had option to write it in 3 parts. Where in here she had only one book to compile things that to multiple historical incidents (wars after great war) where Ashwatthama was present. So pace was generally medium to fast. Krishna's control over words is visible throughout the book. Again based on type of reading you prefer your opinion may change for storyline as few find it flawed and few find it flawless. For me it is mixed or I would say slight flawed but still far better than upcoming mythofiction writers who are trying to race in the league.
Detailed review link - https://chevusread.blogspot.com/2019/...
November 30, 2019
How rare it is, to find an Indian thriller that combines pace, history, geography, mythology, science and philosophy?
How impossibly difficult it is to get to read a fantasy that meanders in and out of territory claimed by techno-thrillers and science fiction?
How many thrillers retain that haunting lyricism which we associate with fantasy, amidst all the ups and downs, till the end?
How many books are out there, which can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with THIS book?
I don't know if Krishna Udayasankar has written any more books. If she has written, I would find them and read them. If she hasn’t written any, I don't think I would mind that much. This book was enough.
Highly recommended.
How impossibly difficult it is to get to read a fantasy that meanders in and out of territory claimed by techno-thrillers and science fiction?
How many thrillers retain that haunting lyricism which we associate with fantasy, amidst all the ups and downs, till the end?
How many books are out there, which can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with THIS book?
I don't know if Krishna Udayasankar has written any more books. If she has written, I would find them and read them. If she hasn’t written any, I don't think I would mind that much. This book was enough.
Highly recommended.
September 23, 2016
I am not really a reader of Indian urban fantasy. Or even Indian fantasy, in general. This book has converted me, if the rest in the genre are just as good.
Immortal is the story of Asvatthama. Yes, that Asvatthama - the one who was a part of the Mahabharata. The son of Dronacharya. Duryodhana's friend. Disgraced at the end of the Great War and cursed with eternal life.
Of course, I am sure I will learn a lot more about him when I get to The Aryavarta Chronicles - Govinda Kaurava Kurukshetra - by the same author.
That being said, let's talk about this book. Asvatthama is alive and well and has now been 'roped' into a search for the Vajra. Something we think is a mythical weapon. Or is it? It is definitely mythical, even to Asvatthama - who is extremely skeptical. After all, if he could not find it in centuries - it must not exist, right?
We move with this man, this undying man, as he follows the trail from the temples in Dwaraka to the deserts of Balochistan. What he is doing is truly interesting, but who he is now, that is even more interesting. Here is the man who was there with Genghis Khan, with Subhas Chandra Bose - who fought in battles all over the world - who, in his own words, is now that rare breed - 'a soldier by profession'. It is him as a person who truly intrigued me - his fear of his body rotting - of losing his mind due to this horror - but not being able to die, his terror at the thought of forever drowning - and the fact that he overcomes all this to do what needs to be done. I liked the other characters too. There are no caricatures - but real people. All with their own machinations, desires and failings.
An extremely interesting read, the book is filled with well-researched references, characters that feel real in spite of their 'magical' realities, and a story that keeps you hooked and guessing till the end. I personally really enjoyed all the name dropping Asvatthama does.
Definitely, a read I'd recommend.
Immortal is the story of Asvatthama. Yes, that Asvatthama - the one who was a part of the Mahabharata. The son of Dronacharya. Duryodhana's friend. Disgraced at the end of the Great War and cursed with eternal life.
Of course, I am sure I will learn a lot more about him when I get to The Aryavarta Chronicles - Govinda Kaurava Kurukshetra - by the same author.
That being said, let's talk about this book. Asvatthama is alive and well and has now been 'roped' into a search for the Vajra. Something we think is a mythical weapon. Or is it? It is definitely mythical, even to Asvatthama - who is extremely skeptical. After all, if he could not find it in centuries - it must not exist, right?
We move with this man, this undying man, as he follows the trail from the temples in Dwaraka to the deserts of Balochistan. What he is doing is truly interesting, but who he is now, that is even more interesting. Here is the man who was there with Genghis Khan, with Subhas Chandra Bose - who fought in battles all over the world - who, in his own words, is now that rare breed - 'a soldier by profession'. It is him as a person who truly intrigued me - his fear of his body rotting - of losing his mind due to this horror - but not being able to die, his terror at the thought of forever drowning - and the fact that he overcomes all this to do what needs to be done. I liked the other characters too. There are no caricatures - but real people. All with their own machinations, desires and failings.
An extremely interesting read, the book is filled with well-researched references, characters that feel real in spite of their 'magical' realities, and a story that keeps you hooked and guessing till the end. I personally really enjoyed all the name dropping Asvatthama does.
Definitely, a read I'd recommend.
July 12, 2020
A fresh perspective on Ashwattama. Combining Alchemy with the legendary warrior certainly raises some eyebrows, but she had done justice to this idea. Whether this work was perfect in its execution, that is up to debate. Many places, you will find that the author has done wonderful narration. But in many places, you will find yourself disagreeing with the author.
The book is about Ashwattama in the present time. The warrior has survived the great war and is thriving in the present era as P. Bhardwaraj, a historian who finds long lost relics at a price. Maya came to his life raising the quest of Vajra aka Philosophers Stone and what follows is the journey for finding the mythical relic. The relic that can make a person immortal and can transmute any metal into gold.
The author doesn't waste any time plunging into the core of the book. It is fast-paced, well researched, and has a great array of characters that pops in and out throughout the book. The philosophical musings of Asva, his relationships with his father, and his recollections of the pasts make up for an interesting read. The science side is a bit rocky, but all the same, it satisfies the general theme of the story, so I am not gonna criticize a book written for enjoyment due to lack of scientific basis.
The author has tried to bring many incidents in a single book, thus adversely affecting the magic. Too much information can bring a sense of suffocation. It is clear that the author wants to say more, but is limited by the boundaries of her book. You are left with a sense of incompleteness in many places. The author was also confused with the character portrayal of Asva. It could be intentional, as we cannot expect an immortal being to be completely rational.
If you expect another Aryavarta chronicles, you are in for a disappointment. The book is completely different from her previous works. It is a new take on mytho fiction and should be treated as such. Recommended to all those myth heads out there.
The book is about Ashwattama in the present time. The warrior has survived the great war and is thriving in the present era as P. Bhardwaraj, a historian who finds long lost relics at a price. Maya came to his life raising the quest of Vajra aka Philosophers Stone and what follows is the journey for finding the mythical relic. The relic that can make a person immortal and can transmute any metal into gold.
The author doesn't waste any time plunging into the core of the book. It is fast-paced, well researched, and has a great array of characters that pops in and out throughout the book. The philosophical musings of Asva, his relationships with his father, and his recollections of the pasts make up for an interesting read. The science side is a bit rocky, but all the same, it satisfies the general theme of the story, so I am not gonna criticize a book written for enjoyment due to lack of scientific basis.
The author has tried to bring many incidents in a single book, thus adversely affecting the magic. Too much information can bring a sense of suffocation. It is clear that the author wants to say more, but is limited by the boundaries of her book. You are left with a sense of incompleteness in many places. The author was also confused with the character portrayal of Asva. It could be intentional, as we cannot expect an immortal being to be completely rational.
If you expect another Aryavarta chronicles, you are in for a disappointment. The book is completely different from her previous works. It is a new take on mytho fiction and should be treated as such. Recommended to all those myth heads out there.
July 14, 2022
Es zieht sich sehr.
Die Liebesgeschichte ist unglaubwürdig.
Die Plottwists nicht nachvollziehbar.
Die Liebesgeschichte ist unglaubwürdig.
Die Plottwists nicht nachvollziehbar.
Read
August 14, 2020
CHARACTERS
Professor Bharadvaj has a secret; a secret he has been keeping all his life, which is saying something considering he's the legendary warrior Asvatthama from the time of Mahabharatha. The author portrays his character in a beautiful manner showing us his personality with every word he says and every thing he does. He is a man haunted by his past and looking for answers to his immortality. His knowledge of the history is extensive, considering he has lived through it all. At many points in the story, the Professor tells us of various things that happened in the history (Or rather, as the author calls it, mythohistory) which was interesting to read about.
Manohar, Maya Jervois, Hari, and the other secondary characters all play a pivotal roles in the story but I feel I can't talk much about them without giving away spoilers.
PLOT
Maya Jervois has one of the three pieces of the Vajra; an object said to have alchemical powers which was made by the famous alchemist Nagarjuna. She wants the Professor to help her unearth the remaining two pieces. The Professor initially does not believe that such an object exists but he is pulled in by his own curiosity. He has spent thousands of years trying to find answers to his immortality and the Vajra might have an answer.
What follows is a quest that leads the Proffesor, his handsome assistant Manohar and the mysterious Maya to various historic places in an attempt to find the Vajra. Along the way, the Professor tells us about various historic events across the world and how he was a part of it. He is a warrior who has fought in just about every war since the epic war in Kurukshetra. Fighting is as much a part of him as breathing is. His take on the wars of the world and other important events is interesting to learn about.
I loved how the author blended science and myth to explain various things mentioned in mythology. All these play a huge role in the unraveling of the plot. While I felt certain things were predictable, there were nevertheless twists in the story I definitely did not see coming.
WRITING
The writing is wonderful and I loved the flow of the story despite certain words that made me scramble for the dictionary or turn to Google. Other than that, the writing is smooth and expressive. The author creates wonderful imagery with her descriptions that made me want to travel to the places the author mentions in the book.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters
- The plot
- The writing
- The Mythohistory
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The predictability of certain happenings in the story.
CONCLUSION
A wonderfully written thriller that brings together fact, fiction, mythology and philosophy in a smooth manner. I will definitely be picking up more books by the author.
Professor Bharadvaj has a secret; a secret he has been keeping all his life, which is saying something considering he's the legendary warrior Asvatthama from the time of Mahabharatha. The author portrays his character in a beautiful manner showing us his personality with every word he says and every thing he does. He is a man haunted by his past and looking for answers to his immortality. His knowledge of the history is extensive, considering he has lived through it all. At many points in the story, the Professor tells us of various things that happened in the history (Or rather, as the author calls it, mythohistory) which was interesting to read about.
Manohar, Maya Jervois, Hari, and the other secondary characters all play a pivotal roles in the story but I feel I can't talk much about them without giving away spoilers.
PLOT
Maya Jervois has one of the three pieces of the Vajra; an object said to have alchemical powers which was made by the famous alchemist Nagarjuna. She wants the Professor to help her unearth the remaining two pieces. The Professor initially does not believe that such an object exists but he is pulled in by his own curiosity. He has spent thousands of years trying to find answers to his immortality and the Vajra might have an answer.
What follows is a quest that leads the Proffesor, his handsome assistant Manohar and the mysterious Maya to various historic places in an attempt to find the Vajra. Along the way, the Professor tells us about various historic events across the world and how he was a part of it. He is a warrior who has fought in just about every war since the epic war in Kurukshetra. Fighting is as much a part of him as breathing is. His take on the wars of the world and other important events is interesting to learn about.
I loved how the author blended science and myth to explain various things mentioned in mythology. All these play a huge role in the unraveling of the plot. While I felt certain things were predictable, there were nevertheless twists in the story I definitely did not see coming.
WRITING
The writing is wonderful and I loved the flow of the story despite certain words that made me scramble for the dictionary or turn to Google. Other than that, the writing is smooth and expressive. The author creates wonderful imagery with her descriptions that made me want to travel to the places the author mentions in the book.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters
- The plot
- The writing
- The Mythohistory
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The predictability of certain happenings in the story.
CONCLUSION
A wonderfully written thriller that brings together fact, fiction, mythology and philosophy in a smooth manner. I will definitely be picking up more books by the author.
October 29, 2019
Fantastic, specially for me as i don't know much about the mythology of India I won't say Hindu religion, its India's mythology.
I have read all previous ones of this author, i found them very good for me and this new generation.
But in this book author put too much data, data was useful as it increased my knowledge but i felt it making story boring, but it does improve.
I love all the characters in this book, i wish to see sequels of this story.
Go for it.
I have read all previous ones of this author, i found them very good for me and this new generation.
But in this book author put too much data, data was useful as it increased my knowledge but i felt it making story boring, but it does improve.
I love all the characters in this book, i wish to see sequels of this story.
Go for it.
November 27, 2019
The adventurous Professor Bharadvaj a renowned historian who became a part of many centuries of events and his equally talented assistant Manohar takes up the critical case of finding the elixir stone called Vajra for Maya Jervois. Vajra, one of the best creation of world famous Alchemist Nagarjuna is said to possess transmutative powers.From the very first meeting, the trio realise to have company who refuse to be on friendly terms.
:
The ratrace to hunt the elixir stone takes them to places of geographical, historical, mythological and spiritual importance. The readers get glimpses of Indian, Greek and Egyptian mythology in the book.The amalgamation of mythology, folklore, science and mysticism makes it an alluring read.
:
The superb writing and an eloquent prose gripped my attention since the very beginning.The plot is layered and fast-paced supplemented with strong emotions like greed, desire, trust, devotion, deception and liberation.Premise is fine detailed, I became the mute spectator of the shocking revelations.Characters are well developed, each one has their own ghosts and distinct features which makes them more relatable and humane.The ending is just perfect.
But at a certain point, the web of science, myth, history and spirituality became so thick that it partially killed the suspense built so far.
:
I would recommend this well researched book to every thriller and history lovers.
:
The ratrace to hunt the elixir stone takes them to places of geographical, historical, mythological and spiritual importance. The readers get glimpses of Indian, Greek and Egyptian mythology in the book.The amalgamation of mythology, folklore, science and mysticism makes it an alluring read.
:
The superb writing and an eloquent prose gripped my attention since the very beginning.The plot is layered and fast-paced supplemented with strong emotions like greed, desire, trust, devotion, deception and liberation.Premise is fine detailed, I became the mute spectator of the shocking revelations.Characters are well developed, each one has their own ghosts and distinct features which makes them more relatable and humane.The ending is just perfect.
But at a certain point, the web of science, myth, history and spirituality became so thick that it partially killed the suspense built so far.
:
I would recommend this well researched book to every thriller and history lovers.
October 14, 2016
Have been a Fan of Krishna's Writing since i stumbled upon her Govinda from Aryavarta's Chronicles. This time around she is bringing one of my Favourite character from the Aryavarta Chronicles to the modern World. It was time to meet the Professor.
The novel follows the typical Action thriller format and is fast paced, exciting and very well written. The plot has enough depth for her to marry the philosophical with action and thrills. The dialogue lends sufficient credence to the characters and Asva's personality is rendered wonderfully well. the book is populated by a more than competent supporting cast. The philosophical musings of Asva is some of the highlight's of the book. While the action and Romance are competent but nothing extraordinary.
In the crowded world of "Dan Brown Meets Indian mythos" books Immortal is a great addition and one of the best executed books.
Well worth you time.
The novel follows the typical Action thriller format and is fast paced, exciting and very well written. The plot has enough depth for her to marry the philosophical with action and thrills. The dialogue lends sufficient credence to the characters and Asva's personality is rendered wonderfully well. the book is populated by a more than competent supporting cast. The philosophical musings of Asva is some of the highlight's of the book. While the action and Romance are competent but nothing extraordinary.
In the crowded world of "Dan Brown Meets Indian mythos" books Immortal is a great addition and one of the best executed books.
Well worth you time.
October 23, 2016
Turned out to be far better than I thought it would be. Certainly going to check out Krishna Udayasankar's other books.
March 15, 2019
Immortal is my first book of the author. It's an interesting book. The story is about Ashvatthama who is living as professor Barathvaj and his quest towards finding the 3 pieces of a crystal . There are few characters in the story and each plays an important part. The book was written in Asvatthama's words.
Maya who works for government visited professor Bharatwaj and his associate for finding the missing pieces of a crystal. They had to travel through Kashi - Pakistan to find the pieces which was secretly hidden in different parts of the world. The journey was dangerous and also they encounter several Goons who were also behind them for the missing pieces.
Hari, who was a friend of Aswa was a traitor who employs the goons to make Aswa find the secret of immortality. Several lives had been lost finding the power of immortality. Maya , did she fell in love with Aswa or is she using him to find the secret which has been buried thousands of years before.?
It's best to read the complete story to know what happened to Aswa and those he loves.
Maya who works for government visited professor Bharatwaj and his associate for finding the missing pieces of a crystal. They had to travel through Kashi - Pakistan to find the pieces which was secretly hidden in different parts of the world. The journey was dangerous and also they encounter several Goons who were also behind them for the missing pieces.
Hari, who was a friend of Aswa was a traitor who employs the goons to make Aswa find the secret of immortality. Several lives had been lost finding the power of immortality. Maya , did she fell in love with Aswa or is she using him to find the secret which has been buried thousands of years before.?
It's best to read the complete story to know what happened to Aswa and those he loves.
November 6, 2019
Oh ! What a book i say. Spell Binding and refreshing. Fast paced , gripping and wonderfully written. This novel makes a great read. Book is definitely a compulsive page turner. Kudos to the author Krishna Udayasankar the way she blends the mythology with fiction in a contemporary style is simply awesome. The book revolves around Professor Bharadwaj ( also known as ASVATTHMA )who was approached by Maya Jervois to search for Vajra which possess alchemical power. The language of the book is simple and easy to read. The cover page and the title of the book is apt to the story. I cannot say enough good things about the book. A wonderful book with a great plot and a fair share of twists and turn. A must read book. Highly recommend.
February 23, 2017
The setup was good but the plot turns into a typical Indian movie blockbuster towards the climax . In my opinion, the author needs to work a little more on trying to connect the dots between mythology and science. Physics is not just mumbo jumbo and connecting 'physics keywords with verbs and adjectives' don't always make sensible sentences.
June 26, 2017
I was pretty excited when I read the synopsis of this book. It had been on my to read list for a while. This was all because of my interest in mythical character of Ashvatthama. There's very less written about him and a fusion based on his character was always welcome. But it was utter disappointment when I finished reading the book.
First and foremost, the language. It's good. But this is not the language for a mystery thriller. It must be simple and the reader has too hardly look up dictionary while reading. That's not the case with this one. The effect of thrill is washed away from the breaks.
Secondly, There is no background story for Ashvatthama. The author says that the character doesn't suffer from the unhealing wounds. But doesn't mention how or why. This has been mentioned a few times and the very next sentence diverts the topic.
Third, Every character is weird and unpredictable and crazy including the protagonist. No character evolves but just twists every now and then. This is the most frustrating thing about this book.
Unless you are a fan of her writing, I don't suggest reading this book. All you may gain is a few new words into your vocabulary.
First and foremost, the language. It's good. But this is not the language for a mystery thriller. It must be simple and the reader has too hardly look up dictionary while reading. That's not the case with this one. The effect of thrill is washed away from the breaks.
Secondly, There is no background story for Ashvatthama. The author says that the character doesn't suffer from the unhealing wounds. But doesn't mention how or why. This has been mentioned a few times and the very next sentence diverts the topic.
Third, Every character is weird and unpredictable and crazy including the protagonist. No character evolves but just twists every now and then. This is the most frustrating thing about this book.
Unless you are a fan of her writing, I don't suggest reading this book. All you may gain is a few new words into your vocabulary.
November 23, 2016
Review:
The author has kept true to her style of spinning a beautiful mythological fiction with a glorified plot, intricate details, steeped with action and adventure. But there are certain detrimental factor that largely hampered my pace of reading the book. The style of writing that has been used keeps the plot going, but the language could have been more simplified to make it a much more enjoyable experience. The showmanship of flair over a language can sometimes be more detrimental than forseen at the time of writing.
Secondly, the character of Professor Bhardwaj aka Asvathama haa suitably glorified and mystified as per the mythical character from the grand epic Mahabharata. But beyond the whole Indiana Jones and Da Vici combination, the character failed to make any impression on me. The plot and the characterization appeared to be disjointed and out of sync in minds of the reader.
My opinion: For the main plot based on a mythological figure, I liked the book. But I am not sure if it will suit the likes of others.
My rating: 3 out of 5
The author has kept true to her style of spinning a beautiful mythological fiction with a glorified plot, intricate details, steeped with action and adventure. But there are certain detrimental factor that largely hampered my pace of reading the book. The style of writing that has been used keeps the plot going, but the language could have been more simplified to make it a much more enjoyable experience. The showmanship of flair over a language can sometimes be more detrimental than forseen at the time of writing.
Secondly, the character of Professor Bhardwaj aka Asvathama haa suitably glorified and mystified as per the mythical character from the grand epic Mahabharata. But beyond the whole Indiana Jones and Da Vici combination, the character failed to make any impression on me. The plot and the characterization appeared to be disjointed and out of sync in minds of the reader.
My opinion: For the main plot based on a mythological figure, I liked the book. But I am not sure if it will suit the likes of others.
My rating: 3 out of 5
October 25, 2016
This is a sequel to her Aryavarta Chronicles, which are my favorite Mythology based books. And she's done it again with this book. It follows the adventures of Asvathama from the mythology, who is Immortal and is living in the present times under the identity of Professor Bhardvaj. While the plot is Dan Brown-esque, it's her use of language in the form of philosophical exchanges and monologues, which make this such a good book. So if you haven't read the Aryavarta Chronicles, I'd recommend you to do so, and then pick this up. I hope she continues writing more, coz I'd love to read more about the Professor.
February 7, 2017
This book makes me a fan of the author and her style of writing. It was the first book I’ve read of hers, *goes around asking for Aryavarta Chronicles to friends*. It was bit of a slow start for me but it kept me going to read it till the end. A book which gave me shades of Da Vinci Code and Robert Langdon in particular as they go on the hunt of philosopher’s stone. It has some extremely well researched references and characters which feel real. Must read if you’ve loved the author’s work before, she won’t disappoint.
February 17, 2017
Professor Bharadvaj would have ceased to exist had the call from his assistant, Manohar, had not come the moment that it did.
Being Immortal has its advantages and disadvantages, and nobody knows it better than Asvatthama. He has to shed his identities every few years in order to keep mortals from discovering his true identity. It was time to end the persona of Professor Bharadvaj and cut all ties from that life in order to restart a new life with a new name when Manohar calls with information that could possibly change Asvatthama’s life. Ms.Maya had approached to get in touch with Professor Bharadvaj with regards to a relic which could mean either of two things. First option would be that she wanted to go on a wild goose chase looking for the Vajra, an object with great alchemical powers. Or, she could have traced back his real identity and this could be a trap for him. Not willing to take a chance in case she had any real information, Asvatthama agrees to meet this woman. When she produces real proof about the possibility of Vajra being in existence, and they get attacked immediately after – Professor Bharadwaj embarks upon a journey spanned around the world to hunt this object before he becomes a victim.
The book opens with a scene that establishes the immortal nature of our protagonist and right off the bat we are taken on a journey that takes us from beautiful Dwaraka to intriguing Baluchistan. The story is narrated from the point of view of the protagonist. For a man of the world who has lived through history since the times of Mahabharata, Asvatthama sure has a personality that is both expected and yet surprising. His experiences with life have given him unique perspectives and at the same time brings with certain insecurities that make him human. He is intelligent, he is smart and he is certainly endearing, that is once you get to know him. Maya Jervois was a character I wasn’t very sure about at the beginning… I had my doubts about which side she was really playing on and about her true motives. But her character is shaped up nicely over the storyline and yes, I will leave you to wonder whether she is the heroine or the vamp of the story. There is not a single major character that is indispensable in the story. Each of them has something to contribute and have been developed just right. As for the plot, the author has managed to create a line that keeps the readers intrigued throughout. With the right balance of action and information delivery, the book hardly has a slow patch. It is very apparent that the author has put in quite a bit of research in this story and the fusion of facts with fiction is well delivered. Her language and narrative style only adds positives to the story.
This is a book for Mystery, Thriller & Mythology lovers.
Being Immortal has its advantages and disadvantages, and nobody knows it better than Asvatthama. He has to shed his identities every few years in order to keep mortals from discovering his true identity. It was time to end the persona of Professor Bharadvaj and cut all ties from that life in order to restart a new life with a new name when Manohar calls with information that could possibly change Asvatthama’s life. Ms.Maya had approached to get in touch with Professor Bharadvaj with regards to a relic which could mean either of two things. First option would be that she wanted to go on a wild goose chase looking for the Vajra, an object with great alchemical powers. Or, she could have traced back his real identity and this could be a trap for him. Not willing to take a chance in case she had any real information, Asvatthama agrees to meet this woman. When she produces real proof about the possibility of Vajra being in existence, and they get attacked immediately after – Professor Bharadwaj embarks upon a journey spanned around the world to hunt this object before he becomes a victim.
The book opens with a scene that establishes the immortal nature of our protagonist and right off the bat we are taken on a journey that takes us from beautiful Dwaraka to intriguing Baluchistan. The story is narrated from the point of view of the protagonist. For a man of the world who has lived through history since the times of Mahabharata, Asvatthama sure has a personality that is both expected and yet surprising. His experiences with life have given him unique perspectives and at the same time brings with certain insecurities that make him human. He is intelligent, he is smart and he is certainly endearing, that is once you get to know him. Maya Jervois was a character I wasn’t very sure about at the beginning… I had my doubts about which side she was really playing on and about her true motives. But her character is shaped up nicely over the storyline and yes, I will leave you to wonder whether she is the heroine or the vamp of the story. There is not a single major character that is indispensable in the story. Each of them has something to contribute and have been developed just right. As for the plot, the author has managed to create a line that keeps the readers intrigued throughout. With the right balance of action and information delivery, the book hardly has a slow patch. It is very apparent that the author has put in quite a bit of research in this story and the fusion of facts with fiction is well delivered. Her language and narrative style only adds positives to the story.
This is a book for Mystery, Thriller & Mythology lovers.
September 25, 2017
Manche Mythen gibt es weltweit
Immortal – der Unsterbliche von Krishna Udayasankar, erschienen im Luzifer Verlag am 11.07.2017.
Professor Bharadvaj ist der derzeitige Name des unsterblichen Kriegers Asvatthama dem die Strafe aufgebürdet wurde nicht sterben zu können. Im Augenblick lebt er im modernen Indien und beschafft Artefakte für Auftraggeber. Seine Geschäftsgebaren sind dabei meist Zwielichtig und er hat sich ein großes Netzwerk aufgebaut auf das er jederzeit zurückgreifen kann. Als er gerade untertauchen möchte um sich neu zu erschaffen, tritt die hübsche Maya Jervois in sein Leben. Sie will nach dem suchen, was er schon lange als nicht existent abgetan hat: den Stein der Weisen. Als sie ihm beweist, dass es ihn gibt, beginnt ein Wettlauf gegen eine unbekannte Gruppe, die ihnen entweder Knüppel zwischen die Beine wirft oder ihnen eine Nasenspitze voraus ist.
Nach einem spannenden Prolog plumpst der Leser in eine Ich-Erzählung die es in sich hat. Wir erleben die Reise zu verschiedenen religiösen Städten in Indien, aber auch in Rückblickend das Leben oder auch die Existenz des Asvatthama. Sehr spannend und außergewöhnlich gemacht.
Leider habe ich mich teilweise in den Aufzählungen von Göttern und Ritualen bzw. der Geschichte von Indien verloren. Ich muss aber sagen, dass ich dank Google Maps und Wikipedia sehr viel über Indien bei der Reise durch dieses Buch gelernt habe.
Der Plot ist sehr spannend und abwechslungsreich geschrieben. Einige der Fantasy Komponenten sind ungewöhnlich für einen Unsterblichen und der Prof ist mir nicht zynisch genug gewesen. Dabei ist er eine sehr gefestigte Persönlichkeit bei der es Spaß gemacht hat die Geschichte aus seiner Perspektive zu erleben.
Dieses Buch ist ganz sicher etwas für jemanden, der Indianer Jones Geschichten mag und sich entweder gerne auf die indische Vielgötterei einlassen möchte, oder sich dort schon ausreichend auskennt. Leseempfehlung.
Immortal – der Unsterbliche von Krishna Udayasankar, erschienen im Luzifer Verlag am 11.07.2017.
Professor Bharadvaj ist der derzeitige Name des unsterblichen Kriegers Asvatthama dem die Strafe aufgebürdet wurde nicht sterben zu können. Im Augenblick lebt er im modernen Indien und beschafft Artefakte für Auftraggeber. Seine Geschäftsgebaren sind dabei meist Zwielichtig und er hat sich ein großes Netzwerk aufgebaut auf das er jederzeit zurückgreifen kann. Als er gerade untertauchen möchte um sich neu zu erschaffen, tritt die hübsche Maya Jervois in sein Leben. Sie will nach dem suchen, was er schon lange als nicht existent abgetan hat: den Stein der Weisen. Als sie ihm beweist, dass es ihn gibt, beginnt ein Wettlauf gegen eine unbekannte Gruppe, die ihnen entweder Knüppel zwischen die Beine wirft oder ihnen eine Nasenspitze voraus ist.
Nach einem spannenden Prolog plumpst der Leser in eine Ich-Erzählung die es in sich hat. Wir erleben die Reise zu verschiedenen religiösen Städten in Indien, aber auch in Rückblickend das Leben oder auch die Existenz des Asvatthama. Sehr spannend und außergewöhnlich gemacht.
Leider habe ich mich teilweise in den Aufzählungen von Göttern und Ritualen bzw. der Geschichte von Indien verloren. Ich muss aber sagen, dass ich dank Google Maps und Wikipedia sehr viel über Indien bei der Reise durch dieses Buch gelernt habe.
Der Plot ist sehr spannend und abwechslungsreich geschrieben. Einige der Fantasy Komponenten sind ungewöhnlich für einen Unsterblichen und der Prof ist mir nicht zynisch genug gewesen. Dabei ist er eine sehr gefestigte Persönlichkeit bei der es Spaß gemacht hat die Geschichte aus seiner Perspektive zu erleben.
Dieses Buch ist ganz sicher etwas für jemanden, der Indianer Jones Geschichten mag und sich entweder gerne auf die indische Vielgötterei einlassen möchte, oder sich dort schon ausreichend auskennt. Leseempfehlung.
November 12, 2017
Das war für mich der erste Roman in der Art. Aber mich hat das Cover so angesprochen, dass ich mich für die Leserunde beworben habe und auch den Zuschlag erhalten habe.
Professor Bharadvaj ist eigentlich ein alter Krieger Namens Asvattama, leider hat er verbüßt er seine Strafe ewig zu Leben. Aber er sieht sich nicht nur als Gefangener seiner Zeit, sondern auch Als Historiker und natürlich auch Schatzsucher. Durch einen Auftrag von der jungen Maya Jervois, kann er seine erneute Flucht in eine andere Identität nicht antreten, denn Sie sucht nach einem Stein, und dieser Stein könnte auch ihm helfen endlich den Schlüssel zu seiner Unsterblichkeit zu entschlüsseln. Mit der Annahme des Auftrages kommen auch Verfolger auf die Oberfläche und eine Jagd quer durch Indien beginnt für die beiden. Dabei geht es um Leben und Tod.
Was wirklich toll ist, das nachdem Prolog man direkt im Geschehen ist. Man wird mitgenommen in verschiedene religiöse Städte und erfährt von Gottheiten, die vorher nicht kannte. Aber alles in einem kann man sagen, war das Buch wirklich gutgeschrieben.
Fazit: Ich kann dieses Buch vom Luzifer Verlag nur empfehlen, es ist zwar nicht einfach vom Schreibstil, aber es verspricht eine Menge Spannung, Action, etwas Liebelei und viele neue Namen ;o)
Professor Bharadvaj ist eigentlich ein alter Krieger Namens Asvattama, leider hat er verbüßt er seine Strafe ewig zu Leben. Aber er sieht sich nicht nur als Gefangener seiner Zeit, sondern auch Als Historiker und natürlich auch Schatzsucher. Durch einen Auftrag von der jungen Maya Jervois, kann er seine erneute Flucht in eine andere Identität nicht antreten, denn Sie sucht nach einem Stein, und dieser Stein könnte auch ihm helfen endlich den Schlüssel zu seiner Unsterblichkeit zu entschlüsseln. Mit der Annahme des Auftrages kommen auch Verfolger auf die Oberfläche und eine Jagd quer durch Indien beginnt für die beiden. Dabei geht es um Leben und Tod.
Was wirklich toll ist, das nachdem Prolog man direkt im Geschehen ist. Man wird mitgenommen in verschiedene religiöse Städte und erfährt von Gottheiten, die vorher nicht kannte. Aber alles in einem kann man sagen, war das Buch wirklich gutgeschrieben.
Fazit: Ich kann dieses Buch vom Luzifer Verlag nur empfehlen, es ist zwar nicht einfach vom Schreibstil, aber es verspricht eine Menge Spannung, Action, etwas Liebelei und viele neue Namen ;o)
October 26, 2016
What a trip!
I got into Prof. Bharadwaj's head because of that excellent first chapter about jellyfish (I did NOT know that) and followed as his lovely sidekick Manohar and an intriguing Maya Jervois set off on an adventure to find the mythical Vajra - a philosopher's stone of sorts, for my fellow Harry Potter lovers out there.
Without getting into any of the spoilers, I'd just like to say that I could not put this book down. Even though the Professor laughs at the idea of being a swashbuckling Indiana Jones type, he kind of is.
Intense swagger, great deductive powers and as an immortal who's kind of lived through most of history, he makes amazing references to historic world events across the ages. I love how Krishna melts mythology into science and creates possible answers to all the magical weapons/astras mentioned in texts like the Mahabharata. I also enjoyed traveling across the different locations mentioned in the book - the author's descriptions are so vivid, you actually feel the dangers of being on cliffs and in caves with little breathing space.
Fast paced and entertaining, I'd highly recommend this one. (And I'd love to see this as a movie!)
I got into Prof. Bharadwaj's head because of that excellent first chapter about jellyfish (I did NOT know that) and followed as his lovely sidekick Manohar and an intriguing Maya Jervois set off on an adventure to find the mythical Vajra - a philosopher's stone of sorts, for my fellow Harry Potter lovers out there.
Without getting into any of the spoilers, I'd just like to say that I could not put this book down. Even though the Professor laughs at the idea of being a swashbuckling Indiana Jones type, he kind of is.
Intense swagger, great deductive powers and as an immortal who's kind of lived through most of history, he makes amazing references to historic world events across the ages. I love how Krishna melts mythology into science and creates possible answers to all the magical weapons/astras mentioned in texts like the Mahabharata. I also enjoyed traveling across the different locations mentioned in the book - the author's descriptions are so vivid, you actually feel the dangers of being on cliffs and in caves with little breathing space.
Fast paced and entertaining, I'd highly recommend this one. (And I'd love to see this as a movie!)
May 2, 2018
The blurb of the book had so much promise, I have picked it up hoping it would be something similar to The Krishna Key - in a way. Sadly I was wrong. This book contains so many complex words, I was initially forced to google every meaning, and then gave up, hoping I wouldn't miss much.
For a warrior trained by Dronacharya himself and also who has been a part of many wars in the last 5155 years with much practice in fighting, the number of times others get control of him is funny. I was expecting this guy to be someone deadly who doesn't allow anything out of his control, but feels like he's no better than a regular fighter.
And the concept chosen for this book - the author could not give any clarity by the end, which makes the reader feel he/she's been made a fool of.
For a warrior trained by Dronacharya himself and also who has been a part of many wars in the last 5155 years with much practice in fighting, the number of times others get control of him is funny. I was expecting this guy to be someone deadly who doesn't allow anything out of his control, but feels like he's no better than a regular fighter.
And the concept chosen for this book - the author could not give any clarity by the end, which makes the reader feel he/she's been made a fool of.
April 12, 2025
A history professor and his sidekick are engaged by Maya a govt research personnel into finding the missing pieces of an ancient artifact that takes them from Somnath to Tiruvannamalai and finally to the Hingoli temple for the last clue. The path to unravelling this mystery is not easy as their are other forces at work to prevent him from reaching his goal which is interlinked with solving this mystery that humankind has been trying to solve but for different reasons. A taut thriller in the fashion of Indiana Jones that keeps you on the edge till the end with romance, friendship, betrayal and salvation making it more interesting. It also touched upon ancient Indian myths and history, science and philosophy.A book that should not be missed by anyone.
April 9, 2019
Immortal's Hauptcharakter Professor Bharadvaj, weist seine potentielle Klientin gleich zu beginn darauf hin das er kein "Indiana Jones" ist, und das selbe gilt auch für den Roman. Der Roman der Autorin lässt sich stilistisch am ehesten noch mit Dan Browns Robert Langdon Erzählungen vergleich, allerdings mit weniger atemloser Hatz und mehr Zeit für Charaktere.
Eine Schatzsuche eingebettet in Indiens reiche Historie, Fans beider Lager (und auch Tomb Raider Fans) können hier ruhig einen Blick riskieren, das Ganze ist weigehend flott erzählt und stimmig aufgebaut.
Einzig ein etwas zu lang geratener Epilog verwässert den Lesegenuß ein wenig.
Eine Schatzsuche eingebettet in Indiens reiche Historie, Fans beider Lager (und auch Tomb Raider Fans) können hier ruhig einen Blick riskieren, das Ganze ist weigehend flott erzählt und stimmig aufgebaut.
Einzig ein etwas zu lang geratener Epilog verwässert den Lesegenuß ein wenig.
June 19, 2017
Definitely a step down from the Aryavarta Chronicles. The characterization leaves something to be desired. There is a lot of action but feels repetitive as you go along. The characters move at a frentic pace but there is little to tell you the motives - the climax attempts to stitch together the motives but comes across as too little.
As ever, the premise of the story is interesting and Asvattama's character holds your attention throughout. The various nuggets from history - Christ, World War etc. - bring in an interesting twist here and there.
As ever, the premise of the story is interesting and Asvattama's character holds your attention throughout. The various nuggets from history - Christ, World War etc. - bring in an interesting twist here and there.
September 25, 2019
This book is about professor bharadwaj who is actually a immortal known to many ashwatthama. He is the protagonist in search of the vajra stone and to find the way top die. In this book the vajra stone is divided into 3 parts which are situated in near somnath temple in gujrat the other part in sirisalem and the last one in thiruannamalai. After finding these three parts of stone the climax is in the northern part of Pakistan. This book is to find the secret of immortality. Overall this book is a good Goodread... 🙂
January 17, 2018
Aśvatthāmā, My name is Aśvatthāmā !!!
An extension of Aryavarta Chronicles story line and contemporary fiction on one of mythologies most misunderstood characters !!! One doesn't need to have read the chronicles to enjoy this book. Except for few logical loop holes ( which ought to be forgiven, given the premise is mythology), loved the different takes on life, light, matter, energy and immortality.
An extension of Aryavarta Chronicles story line and contemporary fiction on one of mythologies most misunderstood characters !!! One doesn't need to have read the chronicles to enjoy this book. Except for few logical loop holes ( which ought to be forgiven, given the premise is mythology), loved the different takes on life, light, matter, energy and immortality.
October 10, 2018
I suppose I was hoping for more. This novel did not have much emotional impact.
It reads as a typical thriller but without much tension. Perhaps a little foreshadowing would have helped. Without it, each turn of the story seemed like a long list of, "and then this happened, and then this happened."
The occasional historic reference was interesting and the glimpses of Indian culture and religions was a delight. It didn't add up to enough to make me want to read more.
It reads as a typical thriller but without much tension. Perhaps a little foreshadowing would have helped. Without it, each turn of the story seemed like a long list of, "and then this happened, and then this happened."
The occasional historic reference was interesting and the glimpses of Indian culture and religions was a delight. It didn't add up to enough to make me want to read more.
November 2, 2016
Krishna Udayasankar, for me is the queen of mythohistory, that’s what she calls this genre of mythological fiction. Immortal is a story of Asvatthama, the very famous character from Mahabharat.
Read the complete review on my blog - http://blushesandsparkle.com/immortal...
Read the complete review on my blog - http://blushesandsparkle.com/immortal...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews