Prithviraj Chauhan: The Emperor of Hearts

by Anuja Chandramouli

Prithviraj Chauhan was destiny's chosen one, singled out for glory and greatness. During the course of an extraordinary life, he transcended the limits imposed on mortals and achieved Godlike luster. The conquering hero dreamed of a united land where peace prevailed over war and love over hate.

Princess Samyukta loved him from afar, and when Prithviraj Chauhan claimed her for his own, defying the wrath of an implacable foe, their happiness was complete. Victorious in love and war, Prithviraj Chauhan was soon to discover that success came with a terrible price - trouble, treachery and tragedy. What happened next? Read the tale of the legendary warrior who lives on in the hearts of those who remember his unmatched valor and timeless heroism.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Indian Literature, Romance, India

350 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2017

About the author

Anuja Chandramouli is a bestselling Indian author and New Age Indian Classicist. Her highly acclaimed debut novel, Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince, was named by Amazon India as one of the top 5 books in the Indian Writing category for the year 2013. Kamadeva: The God of Desire and Shakti: The Divine Feminine are her other bestsellers. Currently all three books are being translated into Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi and Bengali, a real achievement for one so young. Her epic fantasies called Yama’s Lieutenant and its sequel has received an overwhelming response.
Her books on Kartikeya, Padmavati and Prithviraj Chauhan have been very successful. Her latest book is Ganga: The Constant Goddess.
An accomplished orator, she regularly conducts workshops on Creative Writing, Story Telling and Mythology in schools, colleges and various other platforms. Her motivational speeches have also been well received. According to Chandramouli, her work with youngsters in the rural belt helping them improve their Spoken English and Writing skills has been wonderfully satisfying and enriching.
This happily married, mother of two little girls, lives in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. She is a student of classical dance and Yoga.
Email: anujamouli@gmail.com
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/authoranujac...

Reviews

[Supratim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

First a few words about Prithviraj Chauahan. He was one of most powerful kings of India and stories of his exploits have reached legendary status. He is like a character straight out of a good old adventure novel. He was a generous king, a mighty warrior, a passionate lover, a patron of scholars, a man of lofty ideals, a man who sought glory and above all a king who wanted to protect his kingdom from foreign invaders. Unfortunately the mighty king’s story did not have a happy ending. His tragic defeat in the hands of the Ghurids changed the destiny of India.

History, legend and the author’s imagination have come together to create a pretty good story.
Prithviraj was born in the Chahamanas dynasty. Similar to royalty in any corner of the world, behind the façade of power and wealth lay: intrigue, treachery, envy, greed, debauchery, dirty court politics and assassinations.

There are quite a few well fleshed out characters in the book.

I liked the way the author has tried to portray the different facets of the eponymous hero’s character. From his childhood, he was so different – a person of contradictions. Intelligent and generous on one hand, wild and impulsive on the other. He dreamt of glory, fought many wars but at the same time he loved beyond limits, was a just and benevolent ruler.

One of my favourites is Kanchanadevi, Prithiraj’s paternal grandmother. What a character she was - intelligent and ruthless. Ministers would say that her sharp mind was wasted in a woman’s body. Kanchanadevi had all the qualities to be a good king, but the medieval society did not see beyond her gender. She would also train Prithviraj’s mother Karpuradevi into an able administrator.

There are other interesting characters: warriors, pundits, ministers, rival kings and mysterious assassins. History and legends remember the feats of great kings, but tend to forget the behind-the-scene players who were responsible for the victory of their king.

What I liked best about the book was the way the author has put forward the reasons behind so many foreign invaders being able to loot and plunder this land again and again. Our country back then was divided into a number of small kingdoms. The internecine struggle between the kings weakened them and their lack of unity in the face of the foreign aggressor made the latter’s task so much easier. Also, the kings refused to learn from the enemies’ strategies and superior weaponry.

I have always enjoyed the author’s writing. She would write beautifully and all of a sudden she would insert a phrase or a sentence which my teachers would have termed inappropriate or even objectionable. It actually made me laugh a few times.

In my humble opinion, a good historical fiction should be able to stimulate the reader’s interest in the actual history of the person or the events it describes. I am glad to say after reading this book I do feel like learning more about the protagonist.

Now coming to my criticism:
• I felt the book ended a bit too abruptly
• The author has not mentioned any time period in the book
• The heading of the blurb was a tad melodramatic

Overall, the book is well written and if enjoy tales of war, treachery and romance – then you can give this one a try.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 4 out of 5]

None of my books made me feel as guilty as Prithviraj Chauhan by Anuja Chandramouli. Anuja had sent me the review copy before the book was released but it was wrongly couriered to other address. It took me almost a month to receive that book. With tha1t mess up started unavoidable sequences called a book on the shelf. So Anuja I am really sorry for not able to finish the book on time.

Before I start I would like to add a fact, I have read "Gujarat no Nath" and "Rajadhiraj" by K M Munshi. So when the story started with Kanchanadevi & Kumarpal I was able to relate plot. Don't worry if you haven't read those books, you can still read this book with ease.

So the story started with Pregnancy of Karpuradevi. She was adjusting a Chauhan-Chalukya customs. Married to a less capable Someshwar, she understood that her mother-in-law's expectations were high from her son. But Karpuradevi didn't want to restrain herself to just royal wife, she started developing skills under Kanchanadevi's tutelage. She knew that her mother-in-law would take care of upbringing and training of his sons and she would be neglected by her husband. From the birth, Prithviraj was able to attract the attention of Royals and commoner alike. His fame increased as he started growing up. Being a kind hearted, a skilled warrior and a good looking he was the center of attraction wherever he went. His own father was envying his son's fame.

I think I have given enough plot details, you can check the book for more details.

Talking about writing style, as usual, Anuja's storytelling gives you poetic feeling. Scenes would start with a person then it goes back or forth in some detailing. You need to keep patience to explore what will come next. She carefully developed each and every character based on historical facts It has taken some time for me to attach to the story.

The book seems heavy at places, and flow also bit boring, which have delayed my reading pace, Otherwise a nice read

Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[Ronak Gajjar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Anuja Chandramouli for the review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Prithviraj - The literal meaning of the name - Ruler of the Earth
The way his name is so glorious it is been said his reign was more than magnificent! Well, there is literally much folklore about him because he was the iconic ruler before the Mughal era.
So, about the book:
Concept: 3.50/5.0
Execution: 3.0/5.0
Characters Bespoken: 3.0 /5.0
World Building: 2.75 /5.0
Cover: 2.5/5.0
Writing Style: 2.5/5.0
Overall: 3.25/5.0

Concept:
Historical fiction is kind of alluring genre and difficult to write as you reflect your own thought process on the chronological facts, which may be liked by an individual or really get an unexpected response. I have already read so much about Prithviraj Chauhan because my grandfather’s dad - my great grandpa used to narrate stories about Mahabharat, Ramayan, and of course Prithviraj to me regularly. Until some extents, I liked the concept here the way the author has chosen certain events and mentioned it with splendid details.
Execution:
This becomes the ultimate hard part where it is so damn hard not to judge! Also, three pages deep and a side of me was revolting that why I am reading this? However, something kept me engaged until the end. (*maybe curiosity about the execution!) If I could literally portray my reactions at the turn of proceedings:
Okay what? Okay, what again? Why again? How again? When again?
So, the story-line started with the mother having dreams about her unborn son who is destined to be a warrior, I felt like it was a bit over stretching and overdone at time of Prithviraj’s birth, before his birth and after his birth. I had a hard time remembering who’s who and figuring out hidden motives like all the times. This was slow-paced (**First time in life tinge of supernatural got on my nerves!). Moreover, the interconnecting link rather weakened because of the confusion and concept became layered by haziness.
The growing up of Prithviraj and until the time he started his reign was a bit sluggish and I felt the end was too much abrupt. The journey part of Prithviraj was amazingly atmospheric but seemed irrelevant.
It seemed like the author has tried too hard not to make it typical Indian author book typos and certainly not a love story! The alien-interjection about Prithviraj’s affection for a girl he saved named - Yogita kind of seemed irony to me. She got into his life and all of sudden vanished in-betweens, found her way into his enemy’s harem, risked her life to get back to Prithviraj to warn and save his life when he wanted her back into his life her conscience came into the picture all of sudden and she attempted suicide!
Also, the stories about Princess Samyukta or Samyogitaa(*She married his statue) and her love for Prithviraj which is almost legend which is barely touched upon, as mentioned it was love at first sight(*okay I agreed with that!) but why such a plot-twist that she was daggered by Rani Padmavati - first wife of Prithviraj! Rather blew me off.
Characters Bespoken:
Confusion! All the way confusion and too much confusion kept coming on my way as I kept forgetting kings names along with their subjections.
Nevertheless, the character sketches of Someshwar, Karpuradevi, Kanchanadevi, Mahamantri, Kanha, and Prithviraj are somewhat brilliant in their own way.
World Building:
The war details? – I am completely sold out for it. Reminded me of movie – Baahubali. All those plotting and politics and mind games by Prithviraj – really amazing.
I wish there were more details about the battle between him and Muhammad of Ghor because for me always the most interesting part of the story was battle of Tarain.
About writing style:
Throwing excellent vocabulary to re-phrase sentences doesn’t deepen emotions, it just further complicates the subjective matter. - I have always strongly felt this.
The writing is a bit dense. At times, it felt like I am reading a social studies textbook and I have to remember names. In addition, at times this thought did strike me that if you dump so much information on a person who is been familiar with the timeline of the events he/she would definitely understand and digest it but I am literally dreading what will happen to the one who is completely ignorant? Also,
“Have a care how you speak, old man” - such conservations seemed like they have been translated from Hindi without proper sentence formations. I read the terms - Bowels for like eight times. And those philosophical conversations at time dragged.
“A mother is a fool! He was never yours alone. And never will be. Prepare yourself for the reign of the king of the earth. For fame and fortune, love and death, glory and grief!” - The sentence starting threw me off the edge.
Getting him to park his royal bottom in one place during the course of his lessons proved to be a tedious task as he was forever giving his tutors the slip. - Like seriously?
Also, the cover and the blurb seemed quite melodramatic and slightly contradicting to me.
Overall:
Sometimes, grief may drive a man to do things he wouldn’t otherwise. - So true!

P.S.: I would recommend this one to all the history lovers. (**part of me is glad that it did not turn out into typical love-story!)

[Bharath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Anuja Chandramouli that I have read after "Kartikeya: The Destroyer's Son", and find her to a very credible storyteller of Indian historical and mythological fiction. The characters while still great heroes, are also very human with some self doubt and weaknesses in situations. The characters grow on you as you read on based on a string of episodes in their lives which add layers to their characters gradually.

Prithviraj Chauhan's is a great story in any case - a tower of strength in the face of invaders seeking to conquer, subdue and plunder. He is thrown into conflict very early in his life and a domineering mother and a complex relation with his wife Padma add to the early challenges. He later falls in for Princess Samyukta and very soon tragedy strikes them both in different ways. In the end Prithviraj Chauhan his head high, upholding his honour and self respect knowing what the decision would mean for him.

While the story follows the broad contours of popular accounts of history, there is great depth of detail which is built around the characters and their history.

The initial stages of the book has a number of characters being introduced which can be a bit confusing, and a character index would have helped. And there is a great deal of focus on war - but then I suppose that is what those times were about - especially in the face of great dangers.

If Indian historical and mythological fiction interest you, this is a book you will love.

I received a free copy of the book so as to be able to provide an honest review.

[AvidReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prithviraj chauhan was a very fascinating book. Anuja Chandramouli has done a remarkable job.

I liked that the book started from the events that happened before the birth of Prithvi. The palace dynamics, powerplay,gossips were interesting to read. The way characters gained power and confidence in passing time, the way a new person emerged from the ashes of another and all was very well written. For example how Karpuradevi (king’s mother) later became more like kanchana devi( his grandmother). I was astonished by the growth of karpuradevi from a awkward unhappy wife to a powerful selfish queen. And the things she did to ‘protect’ her son left me stunned especially the ‘sati’ scene. And i hated her there. So much. And later after Yogitha’s death the confrontation between king and his mother went in totally unexpected way. I hated the outcome still it made me respect her just a tiny bit.

Prithviraj was also the same. His growth from a newborn to a both ruthless and kind king was so remarkable. In this book most characters had grey shades.

But still sometimes I found myself sympathesing with Prithviraj. About the burden of expectations he had to carry through out his life!

Minor spoilers ahead.
The only reason I am giving this fantastically written book 4 stars is because eventhough Prithviraj loved Yogitha so much , he didn’t avenge her death. I wanted the culprits to be punished severely. And also he gave his promise to his father’s young wife and still didn’t protect her.
I was so engrossed in this book , enjoying alot when prithvi lost his virginity to a courtesan soon after Yogitha broke up with him. I was baffled and angry. I lost some enthusiasm then. And after that I couldn’t concentrate for some pages. I was recovering little by little when second ONS happend. Ugh. I think I should have expected this concubines, multiple wives etc.

Still the author has a natural way of telling a story beautifully. The action scenes and little details about that era was also well written.
Recommended to all who love historical stories with war ,victory , power struggle,betrayal and of course passion.

[Archit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blend of history and heroes who rule your world.

Prithviraj Chauhan was the Indian king who controlled present-day Rajstham, Haryana and Delhi with some parts of Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh from 1178 to 1192. Having a large area to rule, his legend is well-known and his stories are full of inspiration, battles and charm. His military success and failures shape the future of a vast and still-developing continent.

This is why he was an important character in the history and portraying him, his actions, victory and defeats in writing is both challenging and interesting. It needs research and then a balance between fiction and reality, making the work entertaining for the readers and at the same time, presenting the work carefully. All the steps have been covered by the author and a commendable book is its result.

The writing is lyrical and polished. As you go on experiencing the ups and downs of the lives of the protagonists, there develops a bond which is strong and unforgettable. The battle scenes are class-apart. A cool cover adds fun to the reading experience.

Anuja Chandramouli's take on Indian history is top-notch. She sees some incidences minor or major and makes the readers see new perspectives, expanding the thinking process and establishing a new-found respect and interest for the history, culture and traditions.

For experiencing Indian history and its dynamics, you should certainly read the works from Anuja Chandramouli.

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Note: I received book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to author and publisher. ***

Stars: 4.75 (That sums 5)

{Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora in the folk legends, was an Indian king from the Chahamana (Chauhan) dynasty ruled from 1178 to 1192 CE.}

I’m warning you this review is my thought dumping. Whatever I felt or came in my mind while reading this book, I have just written it here.

Fate was already written for Prithviraj even before his birth.

This book was about passion, dreams, love, betrayal, political plots, family drama, and war set in early medieval period of India. There was so many things in the book, a very deep history and life story of Prithviraj, social and political issues in that era, people’s thinking, nature or lifestyle. Author has covered almost all the details in the book.

Characters-
Prithviraj– was great warrior and a person as well. In the beginning I found him little overambitious and childish sometimes, his only interest was in winning over kingdom and war and little less in running kingdom, which was little hard to digest. But as story progressed this character developed nice and steady. He was sensitive and emotional guy and his ability of surrounding himself with great friends and people was great. They were ready to die for him which was most remarkable.

All characters mentioned in the book, whether small or the big one, they were so important in the life history of Prithviraj. Some I liked and some I didn’t. I specifically loved Uncle Kanha and Jaya and their thoughts. They were most likable and selfless characters of the book. Yogita and his wife Padmavati were also great.

What I liked-
Loved the beginning. It started with the dream telling Prithviraj’s mother about her son and his fate when he was in her womb. It made story more interesting as I wanted to know how it was going to happen and what will lead to his end.

It started with the family background nature of his parents and family and their good or bad sides, their feeling for Prithviraj and expectations. It covered the long lineage of Chauhans, their deeds, and how Prithviraj’s family has reclaimed the throne. Also the story of how four main Kshatriyas clan came into existence.

I loved all character’s point of view in third person narrative which was flawlessly written and made it easier to understand all the characters. The best thing about this or any book by this author is, both good and bad sides of the characters are shown. It’s not like that a character is villain so only bad side of him is represented or if it is hero only praises are written. I got to discover all the layers of characters in the book and for which I love the author. The teaching part of Prithvi and his friends made the tense and serious theme of the book light. It was relief in the book, I laughed out loud at some point.

Book also covered sensitive and political matter of medieval era- Killing and plotting against own family, clashes between queens and clans, kidnapping and harassing to save the king by people who supposed to be a good in eyes of king as well as people. How in the name of saving kingdom and birthright, royalties fought, did heinous crimes, and shed blood. Suffering of people and the differences between the royal and common people. And also the religious belief of people in that era, how it can blind men to an extent that they can’t see the wrong they are doing.

I loved all remarkable and extraordinary insights in the book like – How overindulgence of anything, even the love, can blind men and lead to destruction. When destiny is already written, no matter how much people try to change it, they can’t escape it and no one can help or can do anything about it. God never stay with those who shed the blood and causes the destruction and war never brings happiness (I loved that portion of the book, it was so mesmerizing).

Another thing that made me think for a long time even after I finished the book was- Prithviraj’s relation with his mother. I know she did few wrong things and I’m totally against it but I couldn’t see where his anger was in initial parts- was it because she was doing her husband’s work while he was drunk in alcohol and female or she couldn’t find time for him or treating him like baby. He could accept his father’s behavior, his grandmother’s sharp mind and her knowledge but not her mother taking care of things! This indicating the male ego/mentality; ahh, the egos of mother-in-laws and how they treat their son’s wife; and wanting heir a son instead of daughter- all of these was there hundreds years before and it still hasn’t changed much! (Well, it is so sad that no matter how many warrior and heroes or good people trying to bring change dies, some things never change in this world.)

Climax was surprising, I didn’t see that coming. That end was so sad. So many thing happened between climax and end that it was so shocking. I don’t blame Padma for what she did. Action of Prithvi for that just surprised me, I was like how he could be so blind. I wish I can change it.

This is kind of book that I would love to re-read.

why 4.75 stars-
Well, I couldn’t judge Samyuktya. I wanted to read her thoughts as well. She came so later in the story for such a short time that I couldn’t set mind for this character. Good or bad or was it just the same for her, fate already written! It was justified that why there was least mention of her but the point is the same, I couldn’t know her.

I want a family tree in this book. Wow, the ancestry was long and same names didn’t help it as well. It made me re-read few portion to know clearly the whole Chauhan dynasty.

Overall, this was steady paced, a fabulous precise history of Prithviraj Chauhan with brilliant and detailed point of view of characters and their part in the history. I recommend this book to all history lovers.

[Vismay · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Prithviraj Chauhan’ is by far, the best work of Anuja Chandramouli. Extensively researched, fast-paced, action-packed and full-bodied page turner which marries history and mythology, this helluva book chugs along at the speed of bullet train.
Impersonal mythical retelling, no more! Show, not tell, right? While Anuja’s books have always been engaging and well-written, I always felt that they keep the readers, 10 feet away from the action. But this one reads different, this one moves away from narration and into live-action. Yet, Anuja maintains the sign of a reliable historian/researcher. The myth-making doesn’t precede fact. The author doesn’t give in to cloying hero-worship/romanticism, and is extremely disciplined in her approach towards the subject.
Prithviraj Chauhan – the last Hindu king to hold Delhi. Paeans have been sung, stories have been written, prime-time TV has aired a longish tear-jerker, he has also found his way in politicians’ speeches. The profligacy of the praise notwithstanding, even if we were to take his story with a pinch of salt – Prithviraj Chauhan was a remarkable being. He had to be the first successful expansionist after Ashoka – right on top alongside Akbar and the British. Had he lived long enough (if he had been successful in killing Muhammad Ghori in the first battle of Tarain itself), he might have brought the entire sub-continent under one rule. He would have been a kind and a tolerant king, and his subjects would have lived in relative peace. But for fate and its inequity, where ‘what ifs’ have no scope for existence! All he was successful in doing was consolidating major centers of power in India and hand it over a platter to the subsequent Muslim rulers. Had he not been an effective consolidator, Ghori would have had to do a lot more fighting with lot many rulers, it would have taken him much longer to wrest control of India and it might again have turned the tide of history.
Also, the fact that we never learn from history. The Mughals repeated the same mistake that the Hindu kings in the time of Pritviraj Chauhan did. Infighting, regicide, fratricide, patricide and petty selfishness – the Hindu rulers failed to consolidate their might against their common enemy, the Muslim invaders. Similarly, Mughals couldn’t stop the march of British invasion due to petty differences and a thirst for power which lead them to kill their own brothers and sisters. They would rather hand over the land to a foreign intruder than make amends with their neighbors. Divided, we always fall. A united front would have prevented both the conquests! But incorrigible me, I am again thinking in terms of ‘What ifs’!
What is refreshing about this book – is the utter absence of adulatory myth. Chauhan never let go Ghori out of kindness in the first battle, Ghori escaped after a fatal blow landed on his person and survived. It would be an insult to the brilliant tactician in Chauhan, which lead him to expand the frontiers of his rule in India, had he let go of him out of such a naïve, childish reason. Also as a king he took certain decisions that doesn’t entirely paint a pretty picture. History reveals that everyone has shades of grey, even the noble Prithviraj Chauhan.
This book is a remarkable feat. Hope my school history texts read like this!

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to the author for a review copy of this book.

This is the fourth book I’ve read by Anuja Chandramouli, and while the first three I read were mythology, and a combination of mythology and fantasy, this one is purely historical fiction. Now I must confess that as is the case with Kartikeya, the other book by Chandramouli I read earlier this year, Prithviraj Chauhan was a character I knew very little of when I started the book―I knew he was a warrior king of course, but the only real ‘story’ I knew of him was that of his ‘romance’ with Princess Sanyukta, and one reference I same across in the context of the tale of Alha Udal (which I only read as a picture story―and really only finished now when I started this book) where he is presented as the ‘enemy’ of our heroes and indeed not in very positive light, with even the story with Sanyukta being given a different spin. So anyway, back to this book, I was really glad to actually read his story, which this book tells, pretty much starting with his birth, his life as a child, his education, his reign, wars, loves, and of course his end. He was a child for whom much glory but also great sorrow was portended, and in his story we see how the astrologers’ (one in particular, really) predictions played out.

From the blurb at the back of the book, the impression one gets is that this is a story of Prithviraj of course but also that his story with Sanyukta was the main focus. But this is not really so, the focus of the book is Prithviraj and his story with the Sanyukta legend only forming a small, though important part of it. This was something I actually liked about the book rather than holding against it. It gave a complete picture of the king’s life and deeds rather than focusing just the few legends one most often hears about him. I also liked that the author was able to present a quite good picture of the time as well―the various kingdoms and fiefdoms, the petty and more serious battles between them, the ‘politics’ of the time and of course, the threat and invasions from outside in the form of Muhammad of Ghazni and Mahmud of Ghur. One sees the essence of what was also to cause trouble in a much later age, the Kings attaching more to their petty fights and refusing to aid each other against threats from outside (even allying with them at times) bringing about not only their supposed enemies’ downfall but also their own. Another thing that I really liked about the book was that Chandramouli presented the characters, Prithviraj as well as others as human beings, and not ‘heroes’ in the storybook sense of the word. Prithviraj has several good qualities but he is not beyond having shades of grey and black even. We see his youth and impetuosity, which leads to differences with others older than him, his mother among them. Other characters too make good decisions and bad ones, but they are presented as human with failings and strengths. In fact, the only character who seemed to really have his head on his shoulders was his uncle Kanha, an unusually wide man. Even Prithviraj’s enemies when one comes to think of it, while presented, and naturally so, from Prithviraj’s perspective, don’t come across as outrightly evil (except some, anyway). Also, that the author has put in some research into writing this book is evident from the descriptions of the politics of the time, the alliances and battles, and various relationships but I won’t go into issues of accuracy since I haven’t got much knowledge of the time period, but I did notice a few variations from the Wikipedia account of Prithviraj (I glanced through but didn’t read thoroughly) and the Alha Udal picture story/comic (probably I shouldn’t attach as much to this one).

The book of course has Chandramouli’s characteristic vivid descriptions, which I enjoy reading but there is of course, as would be expected in a book which has its fair share of war, plenty of blood and gore. While most of it was justified, I still cringe a bit at the references to excreta, which while made sense in some cases, felt unnecessary in others.

A couple of things that I felt would have made the book better for the reader were one that the author should have included a map of the region which she is talking of which would have made the picture a lot clearer. Also she should have included one or more family trees explaining the various kingdoms and relationships as while one does get familiar with Prithviraj and his more immediate family pretty much from the start, when it comes to other branches, and the relationships between them, it took me a bit of time and some rereading to get my head around it.

This was overall a pretty good read for me―though it took a little time to really get into the story, once I was into it, I really enjoyed it even overlooking the things that I didn’t like so much about it. Looking forward to the author’s other historical fiction title that I have on my TBR- Padmavati!

[Aishwary Mehta (The_Fugitive_Biker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote from the Book I Liked - 'The worst deeds usually have the best justifications and it has seldom amounted to much in terms of exonerating one for unforgivable crimes.' (Para 3, Page 290)

Rating - 3.5/5

Synopsis - Prithviraj Chauhan was destiny's chosen one, singled out for glory and greatness. During the course of an extraordinary life, he transcended the limits imposed on mortals and achieved Godlike lustre. The conquering hero dreamed of a united land where peace prevailed over war and love over hate.

Princess Samyukta loved him from afar, and when Prithviraj Chauhan claimed her for his own, defying the wrath of an implacable foe, their happiness was complete. Victorious in love and war, Prithviraj Chauhan was soon to discover that success came with a terrible price - trouble, treachery and tragedy. What happened next? Read the tale of the legendary warrior who lives on in the hearts of those who remember his unmatched valour and timeless heroism.

About The Book - Firstly, I thank the author for the review copy of the book for an Honest Review.

The book is based on the Legendary Life of the Greatest King Aryavarta (Now India) had ever seen. The book revolves around the life of the great king Prithviraj Chouhan with his conquest to rid the great Aryavarta from the chains and repetitive raids of Musselmen. The author has weaved from her imagination as well as facts and legends about the greatness of the King. 

From the birth, Prithvi stood out from all other kids ever born. From his great strength to his wits and confidence, he made his sole purpose of life to serve his holy land and Try to make one United Aryavarta under his reign. 

The greatest character from the book was her Steel made Paternal Grandmother- Kanchanadevi. She was Ruthless and cunning all that a Queen must be. Her character was portrayed just as it should have been.

The very few parts that were a let down for me were -

1. The absence of a timeline of the whole Epic Saga. The timeline would have been more informative for the fellow readers. Although the last chapter did feature a few characters which might help the reader guess the timeline but it would've been at ease if already provided.

2. The ending was rather abrupt. The whole story ended just like a *pff*. A bit elaboration would have made it perfect.

3. The Battle scenes were just to smalls even the last major one ended in a few paragraphs. As a reader, I waited for the Big Blast-off between The Greatest King and the Musselmen which had been hyped since the first chapter of this book, but it too ended soon. 

Verdict - The book is filled with Treachery, War, Emotions and Romance. A must read to know more about 'The Greatest King of Aryavarta' a.k.a. 'The Emperor of Hearts' - Prithviraj Chouhan.

Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker

[Chitra Iyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prithviraj Chauhan: The Emperor of Hearts by Anuja Chandramouli is a story of the lionhearted King of our country, Prithviraj Chauhan. The book summarizes the epic in a way that is interestingly informative, especially if you are someone like me who had no clue about the king. As always, let me give you a short summary and then I shall get into my thoughts about the book.

The book begins with King Someshwar and Queen Karpuradevi (Prithvi’s parents) and how the royals anticipate his birth. The story continues with his childhood teachings and practices and how he grows into this fearless prince. It surprises his close companions how he can be cleverly strategic and also, kind and merciful at the same time. Princess Samyukta is hopelessly in love with him after having heard his many tales of valor. The moment Prithvi lays eyes on her, he too, is smitten. But when finally they meet, it is a little too late for them as destiny has other plans.

Yes, this is a short summary for a book that is 347 pages long but I didn’t want to give anything away. I’ll talk about the things I liked in the book first. This is the third book by the author that I am reading and this time too, she has impressed my socks off with her command over the English language! I mean, wow! The lady sure knows how to express herself!

The story is perfect for someone who knows nothing about the fabled king and would, like me, enjoy taking in the details of Prithvi’s kingdom and his victories and adversaries. A very well written narrative.

So why the above average rating, you ask? Here’s why.

Read the rest of my review here:
https://bookvue.wordpress.com/2018/07...

[Swathi Manchili · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Prithviraj Chauhan' by Anuja Chandramouli is an interesting and informative book which keeps the reader hooked. This is my first encounter with the story of Prithviraj Chauhan. Prithviraj Chauhan is a brave and generous king who is also a passionate lover. I like the way characters were etched espcially the strong female characters of Kanchanadevi and Karpuradevi. I was impressed with the growth of Kanchanadevi and Karpuradevi from being a Queen to running the kingdom. But I was a bit confused in the begginning as there were so many characters introduced in the first chapter. It was difficult to keep track of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it is a must for historical fiction and non-fiction readers.
I would like to thank the author for the copy in exchange for this review.

[Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!

Review to come...

[Subhajit Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Name: Prithviraj Chauhan- The Emperor of Hearts
Author Name: Anuja Chandramouli
Format: Paperback
No of Pages: 360
Publisher: Penguin Random House India (23/11/2017)

Blurb: The blurb section of the book has been written quite shortly but providing neat & to the point information about the content; this it will make the reader curious about the story. So, it is good and apt indeed.

Cover: The front cover of the book is carrying a decent, aristocrat & catching look. It is complementing the title of the book really well I must say.

Title: Only the title of the book is enough to tempt the reader to pick this book up and turn the pages of the book. When a book contains the journey of the King of the Earth- Prithviraj Chauhan, then no other reason is needed to go through the book. The title is justifying the content & substance of the book, hence I consider this appropriate.

Language & narration: Language of the book is classy & consisting with authentic rich words in the aspect of vocabulary. If I have to keep the genre of the book, then this type of formation in the sentences was needed actually, so there is nowhere I faced any problem in the language of the book. Rather, the authoress is very skillful while ornamenting the sentences with appropriate words, I must say. Now, coming to the narration, it is not only authoritative, but turned out to be more descriptive as the story progressed; thus it never lacked the grip of the story till the very end of the book. Especially, whether it is a War scene or any Royal practice- have been portrayed with utmost detail possible.

Plot: As per the theme, I must say that the author has crafted this glorious plot and developed the legendary saga of the Warrior King Prithiviraj Chauhan very maturely & sensibly. Because, as the author, she was bound to maintain some limitations in order to keep the authenticity intact of the Historical era of bravery while portraying the incidents consecutively in order. In the middle of the plot, if we take a close look, we will get to see that, through the conversations, author puts forth every relatable incident that are somewhere connected with the history of the emperor and she has presented them as subplot to reach the concluding end of the book- this is the X-Factor of the book if I have to point out such. A huge amount of successive in-depth research has been done by the authoress for this.

Setting: Setting of the story covered a vast region reigned by Chahamanas; now first & foremost I have to mention Ajmer, Sapadalaksha Territory / formerly ‘Shakhambhari’, Tripuri, Patan, Malwa, Maroth, Gurjardesa, Chittor, Kathiawar, Malwar, Pushkar, Anhilwara Patan, Dillika, Saurashtra, Sajjana, Nagore, Nadol, Pali, Jalore, banks of Durlabh Sarovar, Panchpura, Kilhana, Ghazni, Ghur, Peshawar, Naharvala, Delhi, Chambal, Kannauj, Urai, Tabarindeh, Tarain, Bulandshahr and other places around these.

Characterization: Is this book is a historical fiction, and that too covering the journey of the King of the Earth- the Bravest Prithviraj Chauhan, so it is obvious that the main and supporting characters around him need to be presented with utmost care & with clarity; and the authoress seems to be an Ace in this. I am saying this, because though I was not familiar with most of the characters mentioned in the book, still, I was not at all uneasy or confused while connecting with the characters. All of them are justified to the roles that had to offer and each one of them has own significance to add when it comes to completing the journey (even in the last page). So, profound & crystal characterization is one of the major strength in the book I admit. Let’s get familiar with the names of the character mentioned in the book- KARPURADEVI, SOMESHWAR, Maharaj Siddharaj Jaisingh, Yashovarma, KANCHANADEVI, King Arnoraj, Vigraharaj-IV, Vigraharaj-II, Johiyani Sadhava, Maharajadhiraja Vigraharaj, Jaggadeva, KANHA, Prithviraj-I, Ruka Devi, Mallikarjun, Ambad, Maharaj Kumarpal, Hemachandra, Chahad, Lakshmibai, PRITHVIRAJ CHAUHAN-III, Hariraj Chauhan, Pritha, Bhallal, Princess Jalana, Chalukyan Mularaj, Rajguru Bharadwaj, Nahar & Padhri Ray, Kanak, Jayanaka, Chakradatta, Rudrani, Chandan Chauhan, Ajayraj (“Founder of Ajmer”), Amaragangeya, Prithviraj-II, Atreya, Maharaj Vasantapala, Dasaladevi, Nagaraj, Suhana Devi, Maharaj Jaipal, Sabuktigan, Mahmmud, Anadpal, Govindaraj-III, Harshit Kinasariya, Daravarsh Parmar, Mahamantri Sallakshanapal, Pandit Padmanabh, Senapati Sinhabala, Nagarjun, Mahamantri KADAMBAVAS, Ajaypal, Pratapamalla, Yashpal, Bhimdev-II, YOGITA, Rani Ketaki, Bhimdev, Chandana, Semapati Bhuvanakamala, Sinhabala, Kumarasimha, Kelhanadeva, Govindraj, Vaidya Narana, Sultan Mahmud, Ulaudin Husayn, Ghiyasuddin (Sultan of Ghur), SHIHABUDDIN (Mahmud of Ghur), Achaladev, General SKAND, Devabhatta, Maladev, MAINUDDIN CHISTI, PADMAVATI, Prince Brahma, Krishnakumari, Maharaj Paramardi, Maharaj JAICHAND, CHANDRADEV, Alha, Udal, Govindraj Chauhan (the little Prince of the King Prithviraj Chauhan-III), Chandraraj, Ziauddin Tulaki, SAMYUKTA, Qutb-Din-Aibek.

Theme: Historical Fiction, History, Legendary Saga, Contemporary Fiction.

Story in a nutshell: This is the legendary journey and the glorious saga of the Great Warrior King, the Bravest King ever in the history of Bharatvarsha, the King of the Earth- Prithviraj Chauhan. The book starts from the righteous moment of the birth of Prithviraj Chauhan, third in the name, and even before his birth, the Kingdom of Chahamanas, the Sapadalaksha Territory and the entire emperor got to know that the chosen, mightiest King of the Aryavartas will be none other than the Prithviraj Chauhan. Father of Prithviraj, Someshwar was not having the appropriate abilities to conduct the Kingdom efficiently, in fact, the Grandmother of Prithviraj, Kanchanadevi also aware about this fact about her Son. The throne was glowing on the head of Prithviraj-II at the time of birth of Prithviraj. Kanchanadevi also knew that the brother of Someshwar, Kanha was a fine and well deserving for the throne. Unlike his brother, he had all the abilities to rule and shine the pride of glory of Chahamanas. Yuvraj Prithvi’s mother, Karpuradevi knew that her son is going to rule the World one day and he was a born Winner. But, Kanchanadevi never made her forget about her position in the family. Though, she knew that, yuvraj Prithviraj will get the best possible care and training to become the “Mightiest King” ever walked upon Earth, but still, she took all the personal care for her grandson to make sure about all his needs get fulfilled. The main system and the inner control was on the hands of Kanchanadevi and with her firm & strong personality, she managed to get the attention of all. Her wishes were command to Karpuradevi and the mother of Prithvi never failed to obey her command. Soon after the birth of Prithvi, he was on his way of getting himself trained and polished for the path he was destined to rule. Even, all his features were proving the same he was the chosen one. Time was passing by and incidents were happening accordingly. Prithvi was sent to Gurukul at Pushkar, to gather all the academic knowledge & training that a prince was bound to take before claiming the throne. Prithvi was doing the best of his abilities and already growing the fastest possible. Meanwhile, fate crossed his path with Yogita, and appeared as a savior for her. Yogita loved Prithvi from the bottom of her heart and devoted herself to him. Prithvi also gave his heart & pure love to her and was determined to have a future together with her. But that was not destined to happen, and Yogita had to part her way from the Prince. This incident affected Prithvi in his heart. Meanwhile, after the sudden demise of Prithviraj-II, the throne replaced the position to Maharaj Someshwar, but even he also knew that his Son, Yuvraj Prithvi will rule over the world. Prithvi was very close to his Uncle Kanha and from him, he was already contained about their rivals, the history of their Kingdom and their past glory; even Mahamantri Kadambavas also shared his vast knowledge to Prithviraj Chauhan about everything that a King needs to know. Prithvi was determined to vanquish all his enemies (and at last his targets were ‘the Chandels’, ‘the Chalukyans’ & the ultimate ‘Mahmud of Ghur’ Sultan Shihabuddin). In the battle of Chambal, after the sudden unfortunate demise of Maharaj Someshwar, Prithvi knew that it was time to take things in hand. After many noticeable events, finally Prithvi was crowned and became Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan and continued to slash his enemies with ruthless force and became the Bravest Mightiest Warrior King of the Earth… But…even the Goddess of Victory also not permanent in the side for anyone… Prithvi also realized this, but at the cost of love… and… everything…
What happened after that? How did things go for Prithvi when he was at the top most enviable way of Winning battles consecutively one after another? What happened when it comes to the matter of love that Prithvi nursed in his heart and when things took a turn and even the Chosen King of Earth had to face the ultimate pain of loss…? What happened to his throne and the Kingdom of Chahamanas? To know the entire journey, pick this book up and go through the same…

My Verdict: Authoress Anuja has depicted this saga of bravery so profoundly, that even a non reader or the 1st timer also have to go through the book till the end once after starting it. Yes, I am saying this because, the information this book is consists of, cannot be found in any other single book like this one. This glories journey of Prithviraj Chauhan was not that completely unknown to everyone, but one thing I can say that, the inner history behind this saga and the details are capable of making any reader astonished. From the birth of the warrior to the end of this book, the authoress has captured many priceless moments together under the single shade. The maturity of Prithvi in an early age, his bravery, efficiency, techniques in the battle field, mentality, respect for Women, love in heart, caring nature, romantic side, fearless side, obedient nature, leadership quality, and responsible behavior- all have been shown here with utmost grace. The core power and position that Kanchanadevi possessed at that time deserves huge guts & respect, and after reading the book, I feel the same for her (along with the mother, Karpuradevi also). The concern of a mother, the protectiveness, the insecurity of a mother, is prominent in the book. Prtihvi’s curiosity & eagerness to know about the history of the Kingdom and his determination to set the future in another level by giving justice to all, was commendable. The characters of Uncle Kanha, & Mahamantri Kadambavas were extremely noticeable and significant for the journey of Prithviraj. His friends (Kanak, Padhri, Nahar, Jaya) were loyal and dedicated to him and in the concluding end, the role that the chief of the Khokars played, beyond any comparison. The love of Yogita, her sacrifice for Prithvi, the mental battle and dilemma of Prithvi, while facing his mother at the end, the pain of his heart after the sacrifice of Yogita, the gratitude sense of him by naming his baby boy after the of Govindaraj, the happiness moments with his wife Padmavati, the reaction of first seeing and holding his baby boy for the first time, the unconditional divine love for Samyukta and the broken heart at the end and of course the fearless eyes of him at the end…that can shake the heart of even a lion..because till the last moment, Prithviraj Chauhan was mightier and braver than anyone in this World… The planning and plotting of the rivals for the throne and dominance, the strategy after strategy, the conspiracy everything is presented with the place needed. Last but not the least, the character of Mainuddin Chisti is most heart wrenching and learnable in the entire book.

Recommendation: I’d love to recommend this book to all the readers who are history lovers or anyone having interest in the journey of the bravest fearless legendary King of Earth- Prithviraj Chauhan. Trust me when I say, this book has much more in store for the readers than they are already familiar with. Give this a try. Thank you.

My favorite lines from the book: “Courage was the only quality that defined a real man, who must resist pain and be willing to sacrifice everything, including his life for honor”.
“There is no power in the three Worlds to rival a mother’s love”.
“Sometimes, grief may drive a man to do things he wouldn’t otherwise”.
“By its very nature, war cannot yield victory or happiness, in its wake there is never anything but sorrow & suffering”.

Rating (Overall): 4/5 Stars.

[Neeleisch G · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have all known historical Prithviraj Chauhan for his long life battles, his victorious journeys, his struggles for his Rajputana empire to keep away from the Ghurids and his martyrdom while struggling on the front... Then we came to know about his soft heartening, loving and charming personality while reading Prithviraj Chauhan : The Emperor of Hearts by Anuja Chandramouli.

On the beginning of the book the author says that, this is a work of fiction ... and Yes it is .. But still while reading this flick we can actually feel that we are roaming with the characters... be it in the Royal palaces, with the royal gurus, in the jungle nearby the waterfall or on the battlefield .... It was like a historical trip with the mighty Prithviraj Chauhan himself.

Here are some positive points about the book with some really catchy lines said by the characters :

"..We never learn the lessons from the past and insist on making them over and over again .." and ‘My head is too small to contain the full extent of my knowledge and so my belly proved most obliging!’ :-)

The narration of the story is really good though it's a fiction but a detailed research were done by the author thoroughly. All the battles like, battle of Chambal, battle with the Chandels, the battle with the Bhadnaks and last but not the least the two battles of Tarain were explained extremely beautifully with all the details of the cavalary, armaments, armours and all ..

While discussing the war Kumarapala said, ".... preserving something is hard, whereas destroying something is far too easy." is very sensuously written. The description of Somnath Temple and the incidents it was looted by Mahmud Ghazni and took the tattered relics of the Lingam back to Ghazni and added to the steps of a Mosque very sensitive part written nicely.

The author is in really Love with the Mahabharata warrior Arjun, we can find numerous examples in the book while comparing Prithviraj Chauhan with the ancient warrior :-). Anuja Chandramouli uses very bold words to depict the reality like, Veshya, Whore, Bitch, Rascles etc ...

Okay .. let us see about some negative (sort of) points too :-)

The author has a question mark over who is / was a biological father of the Protagonist.
It's a fiction though a historical one but if two characters are discussing over the enemy positions they should stick to the names of the city's of that era only,

for example : they should use Mulasthan instead of Multan, Askini or Chandrabhaga instead of Chenab (river), Puruspura or Pushkalawati instead of Peshawar, Ajmora instead of Ajmer and Dilli or Dillika instead of Delhi.

Further at one point author used a word Mujahideen which was derived at 19th century while the war in between Afghanistan and Russia, this word can be avoid and Jihadist word can be used instead.

Also when Moinuddin Chishti said to Prithviraj Chauhan that he hails the same clan of Hashim from which Prophet himself were belonged to .... I think Prophet were belongs from the Quraysh clan.

Well these are some points which I want to highlight with you, it might be right or wrong "-)
But the book is really a readable one as well as a recommendable one too.

Lots of things are written beautifully by Anuja Chandramouli, the hidden character of Prithviraj Chauhan is very nicely and powerfully presented. The clash of the clans, their battles for their glory, their pride and their subjects handled very artistically.

We came to know the fact that, how Prithviraj Chauhan made his vast military against the Ghurids and defeated him in the first battle of Tarain.

My actual rating is 3 (***) star but the way this historical story narrated in fictional style by the author, have given the extra one star too.

Go and read this one. Good day. Keep reading :-)

[Gayathiri Rajendran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thankful to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I have heard the basic outline of the story of Prithviraj Chauhan and this is my first time reading about it in depth. Prithviraj Chauhan was one of the most powerful and legendary kings of India. He was known for his valour and bravery in the battlefield and also for his passionate love. Unfortunately,he died trying to defend his land from invaders.

The author has created a wonderful story woven with legend and history. This book speaks about two sides of royalty which are almost like two faces of a coin. Underneath all that glory,might and power,there is revenge,treachery,greed,assassinations and underhanded politics. This shows us that one simply cannot look at everything as only black and white.

The characters in this story have been portrayed beautifully by the author and even the most noblest amongst them have shades of grey etched into them. This shows the frailty of human nature. Some characters stand tall over the rest. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Kanha and Kanchanadevi. Karpuradevi annoyed me from the beginning and I disliked her even more after the incident of "sati". At the end of the book, I hated her completely.

I like how the author has portrayed several facets of the character of Prithviraj Chauhan from his childhood till his death. He is shown to be brilliant and benevolent but also wild and having a fiery temper at the same time.

The book is historically rich and has a lot of information about the various other kingdoms during that time and their rulers. I learnt a lot about the various other events that conspired during that era. The way the author portrayed the war scenes was so vivid that I actually felt as though I was present there. Some parts of the books were humorous and some of the dialogues were poetic.

The book has been well researched and well written taking care to show people as they were and not painting a rosy picture. However I felt the ending was too abrupt. I was not really expecting multiple wives and concubines in this tale and that was a bit shocking. An excellent tale of glory,treachery and passion.

[Rajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prithviraj was the last Hindu ruler of India before Muhammad Ghori established the Muslim rule in India. There are many myths associated with him. Chanderbardai, the court poet wrote “Prithviraj Raso” which project him as a legend. This book is not a copy of Bardai’s work.


The book does not start with Prithvi as a king. That comes much later maybe after half the book is done. This shows his father and uncle and how he grew up from a kid. There is palace intrigue, wars, assassinations and his training. His uncle Kanha is not ambitious and is happy to serve his brother. There are rumors that Prithvi is his son as he is very handsome unlike his ugly father. He saves a girl named Yogita from bandit like thugs and brings her to his palace. They fall in love only to grow apart. Then there is attacks from Shabuddin Ghori and famous battles.


The book is pretty thick and cannot be finished in one sitting. But that is all right. I came to know many new things, which are against popular myths. Alha Udal for instance have legendary status in this part of India (I live in Meerut UP). They met their death from Prithvi’s hands. Then Yogita is not Sanyogita and Prithvi never kidnapped her from Jaichand’s home. She was not even his daughter as per popular myth. Prithvi was also not against Muslims as such but only fought bloodthirsty plunderer Ghori. He never pardon his life but it was a mistake that Ghori was left alive.


The horrible practice of showing the blood soaked bed sheet after first night to prove virginity of bride was a new revelation to me. So were dialogues of Prithvi and Chisti. The sufi sect represent soft peace loving Islam which is different from the Islam practiced by the likes of Ghori.


There are few hiccups as well. The book took too much time to come to the point. The book is about Prithvi but Anuja wasted (harsh word but true) almost half the book till he ascends the throne. That left very little time to show him in action. Also the character of Ghori and other adversaries got just passing mention and they were not fleshed out. Prithvi and Ghori are like Ram and Ravan and Ghori needed more detailing. Then Jaichand and all others were given no importance whatsoever except when Yogita comes to Prithvi in fag end. I am also sure that Anuja must have done her research (the references are given in theend) but the story is slightly deviating from the popular stories of Prithvi. Then the story was too slow at many places where not required. On the other hand it was rushed at some important junctures. One instance is the climax where Prithvi is executed.


I have read mythological books from Anuja and I can’t resist the comparison. I read to historical fictions from Anuja: “Padmavati” and “Prithviraj”. The overall quality as compared to her myths is lesser. The book has inferior language and plotting. However I liked this one better than “Padmavati”. Maybe these books were written in deadline pressure.


All in all a very enjoyable read barring few hiccups. 4/ 5 stars.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Title :
Author: Anuja Chandramouli
Format: e-book

Book Title:
The book title ' Prithviraj Chauhan: The Emperor of Hearts ' is interesting and unravels the other side of the mighty emperor.

Book Cover :
The book cover is a simple and colorful painting of a King and his Queen on a horse, looks like he has released a captivated woman. This reminds every reader the folk tales and their covers.

Plot:
The book is about one of the very famous hero and mostly the last Indian ruler of Indian History before the advent of the Mughals. discarding many confusing stories about him the author has presented the readers as a human first and a ruler next.

The book very interestingly talks about the palaces, kings, the kingdoms, wars, the murder conspiracies, the rituals, the culture and the tradition during those times. Also an engaging love story keeps the book interesting and thus a page turner.


What I liked:
1. The attempt of introducing the olden times in a very novel way.
2. Some sequences explaining about the atrocities during the war times.

What I disliked:
1. Found the story a little dragging at some places.

Narration:
The narration is very laudable, interesting and in new angle.

Language and Vocabulary:
A very good language and very nice vocabulary.

My Final Verdict—
A very fine definite read who has a nice ear towards Indian Historical Heroes.

Book title:4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Narration: 3.5/5
Language and Vocabulary: 3.5/5
The overall rating I give is 3.5\5

[Aravind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prithviraj Chauhan: The Emperor of Hearts hovers in the space between Historical Fiction and Mythological Fiction... This story of the renowned warrior and king begins with a dream prophesizing the glories he is destined to achieve and his inevitable fall to his mother who is pregnant with him. It then traces his life from his celebrated birth through his youth full of power, passion and angst to his ultimate end after presenting the last substantial resistance to Muslim invasion of India.
The author has attempted to portray Prithviraj both as a human being with all his strengths and failings and also as a godlike figure who is almost invincible. The writing is breezy - making the pages move fast, and the language is immensely enjoyable. A few other characters also have adequate space to develop in this heroic tale.
My only complaint is that not many pages have been devoted to the deciding war against Mahmud of Ghur and the events preceding it. Other than that, it is quite a captivating read that I would rate as 3.5 out of 5.
One afterthought: Having a map showing the places covered in a historical novel tremendously enhances the reading experience. Would have loved a map with this one...

[Kavita Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 'Doomed Love' stars

This is my first rendezvous with Ms.Chandramouli's work and I am mighty impressed with the amount of research she must have done to write about one of India's most loved kings. I have always been a fan of Indian history and reading the life's story of a king about whom I have learned in our school history books has been a remarkable experience.

The book is long but worth it. And oh my God! That prelude 'Fever Dream' ! Raised the anticipation even more..

The book takes us through Prithvi Raj Chauhan's birth, childhood, adolescence, youth, and adult life ending with this death. Many of the royal scenes were heartbreaking! You know, we commoners, have this dreamy idea about royalty and about how lucky they are. But this book portrays the true grey and black colors of being born in a royal family. It's not all a bed of roses, you know! The scrutiny they have to undergo, the tests they have to give each time, the responsibilities they have to shoulder from birth, the sacrifices they have to make..everything is there to read. By the time the book ended, I almost pitied Prithvi or any child who has had to live under such circumstances.

All the side characters were impactful in Prithvi's life and each had a shade of grey in them. So, they weren't all bad. But they did commit grave crimes to safeguard Prithvi's future. I think there was only one character for me who stood the test of time and remained pure no matter what, and that was Prithvi's fraternal uncle Kanha. I had originally liked his wife Padmavati ! But that twist towards the end ?? Shocking !

There were a few places where the book fell short of my expectations. I would have loved to read more about Samyukta. The coverage of their love was so little that the end seemed instant. I would have liked to read more about Samyukta. I would have liked to know what happened to Karpura Devi and even Padmavati with clarity.

But that epilogue !! I have given the extra half star for that end !! I had goosebumps on my hand and I wanted to shout "Prithvi Raj,Prithvi Raj !! " Abso-phenomenal end !!

The book is well-written and at a good pace. The words used to describe Prithvi's character at all stages of his life, his emotions, his sensitivity, his leadership were beautifully woven within this dramatic tale of doomed love. Many scenes were so impactful! The scene where Prithvi threatens his cousin Nagarjun's minister to give up his location was downright ruthless! And Prithvi's emotional outrage at Rani Ketaki's sati !! My heart broke for the young man under so much pressure.. Sigh, I felt a little sad at the end of the book, but Prithvi Raj Chauhan is a legend and his life was a fitting reason why !

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prithviraj Chauhan is a historical name that I knew very little about before I picked up this book. Though yes, Prithviraj and Samyukta’s story is a well known one.

The book begins with a scene where the kingdom is anticipating the birth of a royal baby. Would it be an heir to the throne? And the author has us hooked from the word get go. We see how Prithviraj grows up and the education and training that he gets. The life lessons that he learns comes from all quarters and the inherent quality that he has of attracting people to him is undeniable from a young age. He is charismatic and he is brave. The tales of his heroic acts spread through the land and a young Samyukta falls in love with Prithviraj from those tales. Then they meet and Prithviraj is smitten at first glance. Little do they know that their lives are going to change forever… There is love and there is treachery and betrayal too.

I cannot say this enough and if you have read more than one of my reviews of Anuja’s books, this may feel a bit repetitive. But Anuja can sure tell a story in a way that entertains her readers to the fullest. The book tells us of the life of this charming and fascinating king who belonged to the Chahamana Dynasty. The book only covers his life, but also covered the lives of all those who influenced him in some way or the other. While the romance of Prithviraj and Samyukta plays a crucial role in the story, it is not the author’s main point of focus as she has told the whole story of the short but eventful life of Prithviraj Chauhan.

This book offers a good look into the political and cultural situation of the times and it wouldn’t surprise many readers to know that not much has changed in our core values when it comes down to it. Whether it’s the character of Someshvara, his father, or Karpuradevi – his mother or Kanchanadevi – his grandmother; through each of them, the author has painted a picture that is hard to overlook. And the influence that it had on Prithviraj is undeniable too. Karpuradevi made for an interesting character with shades of grey.

Overall, the book is a refreshing take on our history. It is both informative and entertaining. It is clear that the author has taken certain liberties at place, but for most parts she has stuck to historical facts. If you love historical fiction, do give this book a try!

[Priyadarshni Palanikumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sent to me as an author giveaway right here on Goodreads. And I expected a lot from this book, having attended a panel session by Ms Chandramouli at the Bangalore Literature Festival, and being so obsessed with historical fiction.

All I knew beforehand about Prithviraj Chauhan was the blindfolded shot he made at Muhammad Ghor, and then committing suicide with his poet Chand Bharai.

In this book, the King of the Earth 'Prithviraj' is born amidst mixed omens. His family is overjoyed and expect great things from the boy. He grows up a natural leader with friends rallying around him, and masters many arts. When his father is named Emperor of the Chauhans, the family moves back to their motherland Ajmer. Then, follows the series of conquests and battles arranged by the young yuvaraja. Political alliances, the queen regent, and unquenchable thirst to prove himself, all torment Prithvi in different directions. Everything stood still when he first locked eyes with the Princess of his heart, Samyukta.

I had issues with this book.

1. The confusing pell-mell of characters in the first chapter : I still don't know a few relationships from the others. But, I should have been clarified by the end of the book. That's not an unfair expectation, is it?
2. The heroine named on the back cover : She is entirely non-existent for 99% of the book. If the book had been written for the description of Prithviraj's life, then, don't advertise only this ultimate romance. His life was still interesting, mind you.
3. Inconsistency : I have come across many, many decisions made by characters who never see them through on paper.
4. Vocabulary : Well, some indices for the Indian terms (as a writer myself, I think one should aim for a global audience by making things easier for everybody; and if humans find a way to have exchanges with aliens, every writer should write for the universal audience), and some verification of the authenticity of some English words (this was unforgivable), would have helped a lot.

It was very appealing to read. And my imagination overdrive might have made me expect miracles. But, while disappointing me in the above aspects, it was very compelling to read. I would have liked it better if the compulsion had been fed satisfactorily.

[Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, one among the trio launch of author Anuja Chandramouli was offered to me for reading and reviewing. History has always fascinated me and so this book was a welcome addition in my bibliography. Moreover I had never got an opportunity to read about this great warrior earlier.

The book starts prior to the birth of the Great King and finishes with his tragic end. The book is a medium paced book and a very engrossing one. I admit to be a fan of the authors diction and excellent command over English. All the characters have distinctive characteristics and are beautifully developed. You can easily fall in love with a character and come to hate the other.

The book has all the emotions ranging from happiness, sad moments, tragic endings to lives etc.
The story also portrays the clarity of thoughts of the author. It's a nice intriguing piece of history which can be read by everyone.

I'll rate this book as 4/5. A great book

Follow my bookreviews at: http://readitbyroma.blogspot.in/

[Gunjan Mittal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prithviraj is a hero whose stories of valor and bravery we all have grown up to.
The book is a right mix of romance, politics and warfare. It is just perfect to keep the reader hooked on to the book and keep looking for more.
The book has described the character and personality of Prithviraj really well. I totally fell in love with him in the book.
There are some other very strong characters in the book about whom I had very little knowledge till I read this book. The characters of Karpuradevi and Kanchanadevi was a delight to read. Not much mention is made in any of our history books as to how these strong women held so much power.

Read the complete review on my blog - https://wp.me/p9jhDF-12l

[Sriram Radhakrishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an inspiring read! Read my complete review here https://instinctspeaks.wordpress.com/...

[Maya Pillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Lucidly written work which describes the life and the roles played by the women folk in the historical era. Life of Pritiviraj Chauhan explained vividly. A must read book for those who love history. He is truly the last hindu emperor of India before the Mughals take over the nation and establishes themselves here.

I have reviewed the book in amazon

https://www.amazon.in/gp/customer-rev...

[Prashant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am keen to read the book on this rajput braveheart soon. There is lot to read, know and write about this great rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan. I have read the Amar Chitra Katha Book on Prithviraj but haven't read the books based on his life and times. It will be a great privilege reading this new historical book on Prithviraj.

[Taanya Ahuja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Prithviraj Chauhan
Author: Anuja Chandramouli
Published by: Penguin Random House
Published on: November 2017
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 315
ISBN: 9780143441199




"The worst deeds usually have the best justifications and it has seldom amounted to much in terms of exonerating one for unforgivable crimes."




BLURB

Prithviraj Chauhan was destiny's chosen one, singled out for glory and greatness. During the course of an extraordinary life, he transcended the limits imposed on mortals and achieved Godlike luster. The conquering hero dreamed of a united land where peace prevailed over war and love over hate.
Princess Samyukta loved him from afar, and when Prithviraj Chauhan claimed her for his own, defying the wrath of an implacable foe, their happiness was complete. Victorious in love and war, Prithviraj Chauhan was soon to discover that success came with a terrible price - trials, treachery and tragedy.




COVER PAGE

The cover page of the book is very attractive. It is in yellow, orange and blue colours having an image of Prithviraj Chauhan and Princess Samyukta on a horse. The cover page is very apt to the story. I loved the cover page a lot.





REVIEW

Prithviraj Chauhan The Emperor of Hearts by Anuja Chandramouli is an intriguing mythical fiction revolving around the famous Indian Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan. The book takes the reader on a bumpy ride from Priviraj Chauhan's childhood to adulthood and how he became the emperor. I've read about him only in my history textbooks that too not in much detail and watched a few TV shows but this book made me explore his whole life.

Prithviraj Chauhan is written in a simple language which is very attention grabbing. The author's command over the language is marvelous and I loved her writing style. It is so well written that I was able to visualize a lot of events making my read very enjoyable. The plot line is very engaging and is binded very well which focuses not only on his love life rather various aspects of his life such as war, politics, family etc. The book is very well researched and is very engrossing talking about even the minute details of the era.

There are a lot of happenings which take place in the story and all the events are very well described in a detailed manner. A lot of characters are there which are important in the life of Prithviraj Chauhan. I really liked the character of Samyukta and Uncle Kanha and the author has shown both the sides of the characters the positive as well as the negative. The book is set in various regions. The book is quite thick and cannot be finished in one sitting.

Overall, a very interesting and an enjoyable read. I took time to read it but I cherished it a lot. I would highly recommend this book to all the historical fiction lovers.


* I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange of a review.

[Shrikanth Venne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the mighty and a valor king Prithviraj Chauhan. First of all thanks to author for sending me the book for a honest review and will not disappoint and give my best. sorry for taking such a long time to read and review.First star is for the language of the author used in this book which helped me learn lot of new words her language shows the command she has and what a top author she is. Coming back to the book you would have always heard "Behind the success of each man there is a women." But in this book it's totally opposite as the failure of Prithviraj Chauhan was due to a women. Prithviraj Chauhan being such a great ruler who won lot of wars and defeated many could not win his personal war against love which has defeated him by his own family. The only this is that the author should have gone in detailed about the doom of such a king which was started and concluded in a single chapter. Being such a great king who defeated many could not defeat if main enemy whom he wanted to Shahab Uddin of Ghur. Some parts in the book were mystery like when he goes for war he use to have some kind of drug which is not clear. Prithviraj Chauhan in his early days was invincible bit later on he becomes prone to defeat through which the goddess has told that he is too a mortal and not a God. amazing effort by the author to collect informations about the king which is very difficult to find and needs a lot of research . Writing a book on a history of a king is always difficult Kudos to the author. Overall a amazing book by Anuja Chandramouli lots to learn about the king and also the language used it's really a amazing Goodread... 😊