The Indus Challenge

by R. Durgadoss

Bharat is in chaos. While the kingdoms fight each other, Alexander’s forces gather for the assault, their leader lured by tales of supernatural weapons and the elixir of immortality. Only one man can save the subcontinent from domination by the Greeks: the young Chandragupta Maurya, trained under the aegis of the ‘dark brahmin’, Chanakya. When an ancient seal is found, sharing the secrets of the brahmastra, the redoubtable weapon of the Mahabharat, it is up to Rudra, young commander of the Mauryan Nava Yuva Sena and lifelong friend and confidante of Chandragupta, to decode it. Along with his fellow commandos, and with the able guidance of his guru, Rudra embarks on a quest that takes him from the snowy peaks of the Himalayas to the seas of Rameshwaram, hunting the clues that will lead him to the brahmastra. On the way, he meets the Chiranjivis, ancient beings tasked with divine duties, and learns the secrets behind his own birth, and his mysterious powers. But Rudra must be careful, for not all enemies were dispersed with the death of the mighty Alexander. Treachery lurks in the home, and when Rudra is framed for the attempted murder of his sovereign, he must pull every trick at his disposal to reveal the enemy, and save his kingdom from plunging, once more, into bloodshed and chaos. A historical, mythological adventure story, The Indus Challenge is sure to appeal to readers interested in the storied past of India, and the legends woven into its soil.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2017

About the author

A consistent Top Rank holder and a Gold Medallist throughout his academics, Mr. Durgadoss has had a career spanning 30 years comprising of depth from industry and width from management consultancy as highlights. He has held various senior management positions in top notch companies. Having travelled extensively on consulting assignments, he has interacted with prominent International Bodies like the UNIDO, Investment Bankers and companies held by Professors of Harvard Business School. He has a rare exposure to multiple cultures namely, MNCs, Home grown large groups, family concerns and public sector undertakings during his career. He is blessed with 360 degree analytical skills, which in turn emanates from his all round experience as a Functional head, General manager, Entrepreneur and a Board director. He is an advisor on the board of Directors of several companies benefiting the organizations with his remarkable cross functional skills and his up to date knowledge. Currently he is the Group Director – Finance and Strategy, House of S.T.Bhatia, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition he is the chief mentor, coach and Co – Promoter of Icon Management Services (IMS), UAE. Unceasing ‘Value Addition’ and not just ‘Validation’ is the mantra of success for IMS, a multi – disciplinary management consultancy organisation. He has multi-sectoral / cultural/ territorial/ functional exposure with proven track record of success. He is a PhD on Corporate Governance which involves CSR dimensions. He has delivered several lectures in various forums on Character, Competence and Consciousness (3C’s) towards the society and also has several articles to his credit.
Track travelled...
Raising the altitude from a functional entrant to a functional champion, extending his width as a management consultant of a Big 4 firm, he took up the profit centre head position, with a challenging revival assignment in the mid nineties.
Then he moved up to the entrepreneurial mode by taking up the role of a Managing Director of a new venture. Due to several macro economic factors, the venture went into deep trouble. He faced the worst disaster of his life on this venture, losing money, peace and friends, who invested along with him. From the brink of bankruptcy, he fought back to reach the basin of wisdom & wealth in the current assignment as the Director of a large group based in Dubai. The turbulence he went through during this phase tested his character & confidence. Now, along with Dr. Yerram Raju, his co-author, he has penned down this book on Character driven Competence, which elucidates practical ways of ‘Winning without Sinning’. He always says ‘Momentum leaders don’t wait for the waves; instead they build their waves and ride on them’.
After having fought the greatest wars in the deep chambers of his soul, he came triumphant, obtained his PHD in Corporate Governance and now presents the book with the worldly wisdom, gained by him during his career.
‘Experience is the greatest from of Education’ says Dr. Durgadoss.

Reviews

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book ever since I checked its promotional email from TBC. Dr. R Durgados has gifted me this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Indus Challenge is the first independent book in the trilogy. It is written in times of Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya. The protagonist of the story is Rudra. A fictional character conceptualized by the author. Rudra was the reincarnation of a special force captain aiding Abhimanyu during Chakravyuh infiltration. Due to failure in saving Abhimanyu's life, he was cursed to take three (shorter) birth. As per the divine plan, the first incarnation was Rudra. Due to his special powers and mystery around his birth, he was trained & brought up by Chanakya along with Chandragupta. The story is divided into multiple parts
- Alexander's secret ambition behind his desire to dominion over India
- Rudra's treasure hunt with Chanakya and Chandragupta for ancient secrets (Amrita and Brahmastra)
- Clash between Rudra and Chandragupta's wife Helena
Each part has its own plus and minus. I liked the first and second part. The third part was more like Hindi sdrama. Talking about nearest similarity would be "Chandra-Nandini" airing on Star Plus. Talking about the first part it was mixed with historical and fictional components. Medium to high paced. This part was nearer to historical facts. The second part was more mythological and magical. The pace of this part was a super fast journey. Many funny or illogical or less thought about incidents mentioned in this part. I already mentioned drawbacks of the Final part. Due to this part, I am giving one star less to the book.

Still, it is a different book. Properly written. One can take it as a light read for the journey.

Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2017/08...

[Sundari Venkatraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that attracted my attention towards the book is the gorgeous cover. It made me want to read the blurb and I was hooked.

The story is a weave of history, mythology and fiction and has obviously been extremely well-researched. It brings forth the history from both Indian as well as Greek point of view during Alexander’s invasion.

I have read quite a few books where Chanakya plays a pivotal role. The Indus Challenge brings forth yet another angle to the kingmaker.

Rudra is a fascinating character and I am already curious to know about the story of his next janam (birth).

When I read the book, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the command that the author wields over the English language.

I don’t want to say more about the story to avoid spoilers.

VERDICT: A must read if you are a fan of this genre.

[Arnab Chaudhuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of "The Indus Challenge" is quite different from other mythology based stories that I came across till now. Personally I found it quite fascinating. The point of view in "The Indus Challenge" is mostly first person. This point of view is limited and reliable, proven by the fact that each of the narrators is only able to access their own thoughts and feelings. We get to hear the story of Chandragupta's coming to power through various point of views.

The story revolves round the protagonist Rudra and narrates the adventures and misadventures of his second life. he was cursed by his guru in his first life and according to the curse he will be taking nine births and in each of them he will meet his end at the age of 30. So this story is about his 2nd birth. He is the commander-in-chief of Chandragupta's Nava Yuva Sena and a man of utmost importance...
for more please visit :
http://arnabchaudhuri005.blogspot.in/...

[John Trident · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Indus challenge is a book which gives a perfect overview of what it means to indulge in war & chaotic battles. It’s a blend of mythology, ancient history of India with many battles forged across this earth. The war is set in the era of Indus valley civilization with a knowledge, mystery, adventure, depth of beauty, mystical beings, mysterious powers, divine weapons, legacy, fallacy, duty, karma, oath, vow the likes of which has never been seen or felt in any era. The time also held truth for many legends of Mahabharata & many other fabulous kings whose rekindled fame is still echoed throughout the history & time immemorial yet to come.

The cover is beautifully designed with warriors standing upright facing each other despite aware of the fact that they may perish in this war, though oblivious to the fact what future has in hold for thems. The birds flying amuck gives a royal description of what a battle cry really is. The vast expanse of the sky also truly tells how beautiful nature is, with a rustic description of one true self.
The title is unique & fascinating, it ignites the spirit in the readers with a shaft of curiosity as to what happens in the book, with enough curiosity.

Theme as described is of war & its aftereffects.

The language is kept in consistent with the story, the pace is good & satisfactory. Narration is okay.

[Rubina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a war zone:
When the title of a book is "The Indus Challenge' how can a mythological lover like me not pick it up? One cannot help but stare at the image of the book, wondering how much a war will influence the characters in this one. None of us are ignorant to the bloody times of the Mahabharata Period, where every character seemed to be born to play a role in the war.

The young lad who set an example of determination:
We have heard about Abhimanyu's spearing through the Chakravyuh but none of us can ever imagine how a chakravuyuh looked like.

Dr. Durgadoss showed it to us. By an illustration which is like a maze- a very difficult one at that. I even tried to trace lines to reach the ends of the maze. It's not easy. One must see the diagram to see what I am talking about. It made me close the book and think about the young lad who knew how to enter this "chakra" and entered it knowing well that he might not be able to come out of it. Our ancestors had guts, no doubt about that.

The Bold and the Beautiful
One story that fascinated me was that of Rudra and Swastika. His bravery and her boldness were complimenting each other. And I had never heard of this story before. Reading a modern day mythology is like hearing stories from the past in a new packaging. But Dr. Durgadoss has brought in new anecdotes which are very interesting. I suppose watching the serial Chandra Nandini made me visualize it more. Hailing from the land of the Mauryans, I was always fascinated by Chandragupta's story. He was my first historical love affair anyway.

But it has been always been from the Royal's POV. This was the first time I was standing along with the characters outside the palace and watching history unfolding.

Swastika, even from poison we extract nectar, we wash and take back gold if it has fallen in filth, receive the highest knowledge from a lowborn person; so also is a girl who possesses virtuous qualities, even if she is born in a disreputable family.
The Storyteller:
The author lets us travel across time using narratives and stories of the great men of those days. Many anecdotes surprised me. Draupadi asked to sleep with a horse - which she refused but instead put a bindi on the horse as a symbol of completion of the ritual. It was not her sleeping with the horse that surprised me - our ancient culture does not surprise me anymore. Sometimes I feel, symbolism has been twisted as the stories were mostly word of mouth. But what surprised me was the women of India - be it Draupadi or Swastika were bold and knew what they wanted. When Swastika's uncle wanted to marry her, he could have just forced her to marry but still, her consent was necessary. So when did women are the weaker sex syndrome start?

As mentioned above, we have many more philosophies and code of conducts discussed in this book. Some of them even surprised me to think they date back to such an extent. This is no doubt a very well researched book.

The language of the book:
The author has kept the tone of the book a bit archaic. It can be due to the subject, I don't know. It has a soothing quality - a narration, every mytho lover would love to go on and on. Some of you might find it a tad old fashioned but once you get used to it, believe me, this book is something one must read to get a glimpse of our ancient culture, where science, art, politics, and economics were not mere subjects, but a way of life.

My views:
I enjoyed reading this book. I think the story of Rudra is very well placed - for it captures a reader's attention from the start. In fact, I hated it when the author diverted from this story. A must read for all historical and mythological lovers.

[Geeta Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

PLOT/ STORY-LINE : Interesting, intriguing and one in which the author’s imaginative side is very much evident. To weave a story combining history with mythology seamlessly is indeed a tough task. However the author has to a considerable extent succeeded in the same. Revolving around the Maurayan Empire lead by Chandragupta Maurya, the story has as its protagonist neither Chandragupta nor Chanakya but someone with special powers, one who holds a key to Brahmastra, a man blessed to meet five of the eight Chiranjivis. He is none other than Rudra a close companion and confidante of Chandragupta Maurya and a dear disciple of Chanakya.

Rudra’s journey from infancy to his untimely death at thirty is filled with adventure. While his mystic powers make him the most powerful man in the empire, they also tend to be the source of his agony given that Chandragupta Maurya’s Greek wife Helen feels jealous and insecure of his close bonds with her husband. What follows is a tale of treachery and deceit.

There are twists and turns, some expected and some unexpected but what held my interest is the mystery shrouding Rudra, his mission and the eight keys or eight commandoes who hold the keys to eight shastras (sciences). What is their mission? Do they accomplish it? If so, how? To get the answers to these one must read this book which I must stress is a piece of historical ficion and not history.

CHARACTERIZATION: The characters of Rudra and Helen are well- developed. While Rudra comes across as a true warrior, a man of his words and duty bound, Helen comes across as a vile one, expert in the art of treachery and one jealous to the core.

However I feel that the characters of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya leave room for improvement. They somehow seem sidelined. A little more effort on their character and their role in the story would have added value to the book.

LANGUAGE : Simple and easy to understand. There are no jargon that act as stumbling blocks nor long winding sentences to trip upon.

PACE: Slow at first but gradually picks up and when it does, one can’t help spending more time with the book.

NARRATIVE: This is where I felt there is still a lot of scope for improvement. The opening sentences in nearly all the chapters put me off. I wish they were constructed differently. It would have made the transition from one chapter to another smooth and enjoyable.

[Ankitha Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Indus Challenge, The fight for nine unknown secrets and the solving of puzzles to reach the clue of Brahmastra seems so interesting that makes the book worth reading. Author has tried to answer many unanswered questions that remained a mystery in the history which seems inspiring about the book.



The book takes us to the era of battles and makes us hear the real cries of war. Through the character Rudra, the protagonist who plays a key role throughout the story, the author showcases the heroic fight of the warriors, their selflessness and sacrifice for the good and well being of the kingdom.

The book not only talks about the efficient ruling of the emperor Chandragupta under the legendary leadership and guidance of Chanakya but also talks about the empowerment of women. Though the queen with her lady commandos had a motto to betray the king, they showed women are not any less to men and portrayed that they are equally great, courageous and capable.

The author has intelligently talked about the link between the science of ancient days and the modern science and the link between the weapons of ancient and modern era. The author has extraordinarily narrated the untold side of the past with a different perspective. The key success of the book is the storyline; he takes us from historic events of ancient days to new era. In short, a perfect blend of the historic past and the modern present.

R. Durgadoss

Overall a good read for history lovers. Waiting for the next book of the series.
The Indus Challenge

[Rakhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Indus challenge is a rare seamless mix of mythological historical and contemporary fiction. This is the story of Sagar, who aides Abhimanyu in Kurukshetra war, who reincarnates as Rudra, commander-in-chief of Mauryan army when Macedonian army under Alexander,the great attacks India and as Shiva in the current era, a victim of the terrorist attack in Mumbai.
The plot unfolds as shreds of memory in Shiva's mind while he is in ICU post attack. The introduction and prologue are brief accounts that just brushes the background. Sagar, the aide of Abhimanyu is cursed by his Guruji for bringing death to his sons, that he will take three births for his three sons and nine incarnations to remind him that Guruji's sons died in the nine tier chakravyuha. Later of afterthought, he alleviates his curse by giving special powers over land, water and air in each births. Sagar's untruthful wife is cursed to take birth as a prisoner of war in the next birth, who continuously begs for help. The book is about the next birth of Sagar, as the army chief of Mauryans by the name Rudra. Rudra meets Swastika whom he falls in love immediately. Thenceforth, the adventurous life of Rudra unveils.
The plot is exceptional and has a lot of possibilities to work with. Author has worked out the historical part more than the fictional part. The narration is fast paced and the chapters are small. Nevertheless some areas are rushed. For instance the relation between Rudra swastika. The book surely needed a developmental edit. Nevertheless, I didn't ooze out the entertainment value completely.


This review is in return of a free book from TBC

[Mahathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Indus challenge is a historical fiction covering many ancient facts about Brahmasthra and Amrit. This story is second  part of the series about a specific chatacter from Mahabharata epic which the author mentions as reborn in mauryan tenure. 'Rudra' who is the hero of the story plays a key role in establishing mauryan empire with guru Chanakya, Chandragupta and a group of nine young men known as Nava Yuva sena. The story is about the clues this team finds and the puzzles it solves to claim nine sciences  and unravel the secret of the universal missile 'Brahmasthra' mentioned in Mahabharatha epic. 

What I liked?
1. The facts and well researched information on Brahmasthra
2. The concept and the big picture
3. The characterization.
4. The images in the book which were relevant and useful to understand the story better.

What didn't impress me?
1. Logic is missing at a few places and some information is repeated many times like the details about Brahmasthra and its impact.
2. The narration and vocabulary can be better. There are too many quotes and lengthy conversations in the story as if the characters are giving a speech to the reader.
3. Eventhough title of the book and blurb give an impression that it's more about puzzle and challenges, the story drifts its focus more on politics in Mauryan empire than the puzzle to unsolve Brahmasthra.

Overall, it's a good read if you love historical fiction. If the story is narrated in a better way, this would be an impressive book with many historical facts.

My Rating: 3/5

Ps: I have received this free review copy from The blog tours in exchange for an honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.

[Shilpi Chaklanobis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by historical and mythological reads. And when the book has mention of Chanakya and his wisdom, it becomes all the more interesting. Revolving around the Maurayan Empire lead by Chandragupta Maurya, the protagonist of the novel is Rudra. Empowered with special powers, Rudra is a general in the army of Chandragupta. He is also a close companion and confidante of Chandragupta Maurya and a dear disciple of Chanakya. Rudra is a fictional character conceptualized by the author.
The story took a while initially to pick up but after a few pages the read was smooth. The plot is interesting which includes elements of history with mythology along with a blend of twists and turns woven beautifully in the story. However, the description sometimes felt a little monotonous as most of the story has been narrated in the form of conversations between two characters.
The main characters have been developed well. However, the author could have devoted some more pages to develop the other characters.
The language is simple and easy to follow and one doesn’t need a dictionary to read the book.
The cover of the book is gorgeous and grabs the attention of the readers with its first look. The title is also apt considering the storyline.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and recommend it to those who like to read historical and mythological fiction.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In school we have learnt about the great king Chandragupta Maurya and also of King Alexander’s invasion to India. But what attracted him to India? Why did he invade India?
The Indus Challenge answers all the above questions. Though this is second book of the series (first one I haven’t read though), it mainly explains the role of Rudra who is Sagar from Mahabharata reborn due to a curse. How does Rudra help Chandragupta Maurya and the great Brahmin Chanakya in making of Akand Bharat?
The Indus Challenge is a treat for people who love fiction and mythology. It is a mixture of history, romance, treachery, courage and bravery.
The author has taken care of each and every minute detail to make it look more realistic rather than just a fictional one.
The story is medium paced, use of appropriate images and illustrations make the read worthy and easy to understand. The first half of the book is bit slow paced and I did have difficulty in holding my attention but second part catches pace as the story slowly unfolds itself.
Though the plot is interesting, I feel the narration could have been better. In all a good book and interesting storyline, must read if you like reading mythological fiction and love history.

[Anugya Sinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Intriguing Mythological & Historical Read

The first thing that demands attention is the cover of the book. It’s intriguing! Then comes the blurb of the book, which also makes you feel that this is going to be an interesting journey. A journey of a rare blend of mythology, history and present-day fiction.

The story is spread over centuries giving you a glimpse of various eras however, the most intriguing part is that of the segment of Alexander and Chandragupta, which contributes the maximum in the story. The story has lot of interesting elements, such as there’s an angle of reincarnation, ancient seal that unearths the long lost mystery.

It is the author’s deep-rooted passion for Indian mythology, history and philosophy that has resulted into a well-researched and well-thought series.

It can be a good addition to your library, especially if you a lover of mythological and historical fiction.

My rating: 4 Stars

I received a copy from the author on behalf of The Book Club Members in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Manjri Gopalan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Indus Challenge by R. Durgadoss is the second book in the series (I don't know how many does the author intends to write). The book is a work of fiction and an amalgam of mythology and Indian/Greek history. The story is much better and interesting than the first book - The Shackles of the Warrior.

I found the first book extremely disappointing. The storyboard was poor, bad narration, extremely amateurish writing style...

I am happy to see some improvement in Durgadoss' second book - The Indus Challenge. However, I feel there is still a huge scope for improvement. For example, the transition from one chapter to another is very abrupt. You will find at many times, the writer struggles with his 'characters narrating their stories' in the book. There were times when I felt like I am reading an answer sheet OR an official email. There are so many inspirational quotes that it runs in pages and you get fed up with them.

Not dwelling more on the negatives, what I liked in the book was its STORY. Hope the author works on his shortcomings and comes up with his next book soon.

[Varun Moka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is special to me because it's the first book that I ever got as a gift from someone. Thank you to the person who got me this. But unfortunately that dsnt make up for the ratings. I gave an extra star beacause I got it as a gift. This book is a combination of Myth and Fiction. I'm not a great fan of Hindu Mythology therefore I couldn't enjoy it much also the ending suspense was kind of stupid. Can't reveal it here obviously but I was not impressed at all.

[Senthil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read for all mythological fiction lovers. The fictional characters are very nicely emboldened along with the historical facts.. Give a try.

[Vimarsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wouldn't recommend anyone to read this
Basic child language with suspense dried out in the beginning itslef , could have been a better story if the end was at end and not in the beginning

[nibedita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

I personally love mythological fiction and I must say this book is an good attempt. Overall the book is readable as it has various informations which seems to be a result of research work. But the main flaw is that there are various repeatations including narrating incidents and quotations which made the book boring. Moreover i didn't find the image of the Patal door in the given website link. One more thing I want to mention is that the author has mentioned the magic square of Saturn which is a practice in western occult but I'm Hindu mythology the same thing is represented as Surya Yantra. While everything was related to Hindu mythology like chiranjivi, amrit and bhrahmastra it should have been wiser to use the term Surya Yantra rather than Saturn magic square.

[Parvez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing presentation of history

[Jasleen Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is 3.5

The book was full of details, stories and suspense. It really lived up to the expectations if one forgets the long and boring narrations by different characters. The book was much better towards the ending. The middle was so okayish that it brought the level of the book down.
It is that sort of a book which will make you want to read the next phase of Rudra’s and Chankaya’s life. Though I didn’t read the first book in the series but still it didn’t feel like I have missed that much.

You can read the complete review here:
https://thesubtlebraiding.blogspot.in...

[Vani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good narration of mythology with fiction. Great read.

[Karthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Alexander has always been fascinating. But reading fiction on Alexander and Chankya was very inquisitive.. I definitely recommend reading this book...

[Karthikeyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read, felt like the whole story was happening around. Recommended for Indian mythology lovers.

[Mithuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book on Indian mythology... Mythology lovers can have one in their library..

[D.R. Downer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one, I'll start with congratulating the author, R. Durgadoss, on the brilliant research work done for the book. It could not have been easy diving to such depth into India's history, given that it is being twisted and rewritten everyday to suit the political weather.

What I liked:
The characters are well defined, as was expected in a historical. The locales are descriptive. The narrative is easy and flowing.

What I didn't:
The dialogues, at some places, sounded ineffective, misplaced, and even repetitive. For example, 'Marriage is a three-ring circle: Engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering', is not something I'd expect Rudra to be saying to his wife. Or, Acharya Chanakya could not have said, 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win'; I'm sure Gandhi said that, much later.

Apart from the above, 'The Indus Challenge' is a fantastic read. I recommend it to every historical fiction aficionado out there.

I give the book, a four out of five stars.

[Kamesh Kumar N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice blend of mythology fiction and history of the great emperor Chandragupta Maurya and the great Guru Chanakya. Good to see that the mythological part of the story has been presented without distortion. Good coverage on the holy places of India starting from Rameswaram, Chidambaram and other places in north. Overall, the plot was nice and narrated in a lucid manner, but I felt that the role of Chanakya has been presented in a somewhat passive manner. Most of the times, Chanakya has been portrayed as giving advice and mediating disputes but as per history he played a role a very active role in building India.

[Raji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. book for history fiction lovers. There is no beating around the bush.It will be very difficult to keep the book down once u start it. waiting for the next in this series.

[Anil Swarup · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Unless you perceive your worth, you cannot shine in your life. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier". This unusual book is full of such quotes from the redoubtable Chanakya. The story line takes you through the centuries, including the prehistoric period. The objective appears to be highlighting of Indian ethos and culture as the author uses historical figures like Chandragupta Maurya to drive home a number of points. The connect between the Greek thought, practices and philosophy and thòse obtaining in India around that period also comes out lucidly.
A book worth reading

[Saiswaroopa · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 Stars for the historical knowledge but 2 stars for the poor structure.
If you are an ardent historical fiction lover, this book has a lot that can excite you as well as a lot that can disappoint you. The author's knowledge of history and ability to blend them with characters he created is something commendable. My expectations zoomed up the moment I read about Kripa Devi's children and was bracing myself for a nail biting historical mystery.

However, the book suffers from a lack o structure that manages to retain attention of the reader. A third of the story is narrated between Chandragupta Maurya and his wife, taking a good chunk of the narrative away from the main story and by the time I returned to the main thread, the grip was no longer there. I personally think the editing team is to be blamed. The story had a great potential and to see it plagued by bad structuring feels very unfulfilling. A part of me hopes they will recall it and restructure the book and release a second edition that does justice to the narrative.

[Wander Girl Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Indus Valley Civilization is based over centuries right from the times of Kuru war to the Kal yuga. The plot is mainly based in the time zone when the Greek King Alexander aims to extend the boundaries of the kingdom across the world, to Chandraguta and Chankya’s conquest to dethrone ‘Nanda- the evil King’ and accomplish an ‘Akhand Bharat’.
The story focuses on the hidden knowledge of unveiling the secrets of Bramastars, Chiranjivi’s and other mythological events. Along with the historical facts about Alexander and Chandragupta, the fictional tale of Rudra, the Yuga Purash is weaved in. The blend of fiction, history and mythology is the highlight of this book.
The most intruding part of the book for me was reading about Alexander and Chandragupta together. We have read of them individually but imagining them together was quite a treat. I loved the historical and mythological insights that the book gave. The drawings and the symbols were very helpful while devouring the book. The narration was crisp but I felt it got too text bookish at times.
If you love historic and mythological tales, you can give this book a shot.