The Prince of Patliputra (Asoka trilogy, #1).

The Asoka Trilogy #1

by Shreyas Bhave

"272 BC

Bindusar, the second Samrat Chakravartin of all the Aryas, rules the Indian sub-continent from his capital, Patliputra. Fifty years previously his father, Chandragupta Maurya, had laid the foundations of this vast Samrajya, Guided by the famed Guru,Arya Chanakya.But the pinnacle of the Empire's wealth and glory has now passed...As the samrat's health declines due to a mysterious illness, problems and factions in fighting rebellion, raise their heads across his realm. There is no clear successor as the ninety nine sons of Bindusar vie to ascend the throne.

"

Genres: Historical Fiction

502 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Video Review Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdjuW...

In last one year, I have read more than 5 books either on Chanakya or Patliputra and trust me this book can easily stand out. Chanakya used to say "Never tell your secrets to anyone" and he never told his secrets of how he made Chandragupta the Samrat of Bharatvarsha. It's up to speculations and imaginations of authors to portray the story. In the first part of Asoka Trilogy, Shreyas has done it really nicely.

Well, the story has two parallels. One around Chandragupta's ascent to the throne of Taxila and another around Ashoka's efforts to subdue rebels of Avanthi. Chandragupta's part starts with Alexander's invasion and finishes with Chandragupta's was preparation against Patliputra. Ashoka's part starts from him being Vaishya class son of king Bindusar joining the army as a normal soldier to the general in the army. The book ends where Ashoka took resolve to take Samrat-ship and kill his brother Sushem. Chandragupta has Chanakya while Ashoka had Chanakya and Radhagupta. Every author who has written around Chanakya have added some level of fantasy or fiction part. Shreyas has added the Ancient Brahminical Order. The order was founded by Ajatshatru, who had also founded Patliputra. Chanakya had even outwitted that order for greater good. We will have to wait for the next part to see what happens in war.

I know I have taken more than 2 weeks to finish the book, but it was due to my busy schedule. If I have got the normal time that I used to get earlier I would have finished the book in 2-3 days. The book is written with a proper thought process. The work looks more like a matured author's than a debut one's.

My short review doesn't indicate I liked this book lesser. I am surely recommending it to others. I would like to thank Sheetal from HaloofBooks for arranging this wonderful review copy for us. The only thing that author should look into would be the book cover. I know map was drawn not considering measurement, but it still doesn't look like Bharata at all. Rivers and kingdoms look alien.

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

[Ronita Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name- Prince of Pataliputra
Written by- Shreyas Bhave
Published By- Platinum Press
Pages- 456
Ratings- 4.5🌟
Review-
Historical fictions are on the rise. It's quite ironical though, keeping in mind that a section of the society dislikes history books.
I belong to one of those handful and scarce category who adores history and hence making historical fictions one of my favourites.
Out of all the Dynasties who ruled India the Mauryan Empire has been a subject of my fascination. Hence, I was thrilled when I got the first two books of The Asoka Trilogy.
Shreyas Bhave, wonderfully re created the history of Asoka, the great. A ruler whose fame spreads far and wide. Giving this book some fictional twists, Bhave pens down a plot full of treachery, suspicion, mistrust and revenge.
The author draws out the similarity between Asoka and Chandragupta's rise to power and hence narrating parallel stories which worked in the favour of the book.
There are about a dozen of characters and the author tactfully introduced them at the beginning, and hence the readers never feels lost with them.
We all have some ideas regarding Asoka's rise to power. There are several rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding his time. Asoka being the least favourite of Bindusar being one of them. His hundred brothers, his ruthlessness and him being favoured by the great Chanakya and Radhagupta. This book deals with all such theories giving history a dramatic touch. Devi, Asoka's wife is among the characters about whom we know very little. Luckily, Devi is one of the major characters here.
Lastly, I read a historical fiction after a long time and I wasn't disappointed at all. I finished this book a within a week.
I started reading the sequel immediately and will probably finish it today.
Recommended to ardent fans of Historical Fictions.

[Rajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give 7/ 10 stars to “The Prince of Patliputra” by Shreyas Bhave published by Leadstart Publishing.

This is book one of “Asoka trilogy”. This is a fictionalized account of Mauryan rule’s first three rulers. This has used names of historical characters but it is far from true history as I have read. So I read it as historical fiction. I advise every reader to read it as fiction to enjoy fully, otherwise you will keep on comparing with history and will remain unsatisfied.

In the beginning it refers to The Mudrarakshasa which is a historical play in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta that narrates the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 -297 BC), the founder of Mauryan Dynsaty, to power in India. Second is The Ashokavadana ("Narrative of Ashoka") is an Indian Sanskrit-language text that describes the birth and reign of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka. It contains legends as well as historical narratives, and glorifies Ashoka as a Buddhist emperor whose only ambition was to spread Buddhism far and wide.

The story starts with a reference to a secret society called “Ancient Brahmincal order”. They want to kill Asoka the prince of Patliputra for reasons unknown. Fifty years before they wanted Chandragupta, his granddad, the Raja of Taxila dead. Sushem and Tissa (Vittasoka who is 7 year old) are sons of Maharaja Bindusar. Bindusar is old and sick and has 100 sons. Only three are serious contenders for succession. Apart from these two Asoka is the third one but he is not pure Kshatriya, as his mother is Vaisya. 50 years ago there is Greek invasion by Alexendra the great. Local rulers like Ambhi, Puru and Dhanananda are busy in infighting. Chankya is very pained to see all this and he wants to make Bhartavarsha safe, secure, united and prosperous. He mentors a talented person Chandragupt Maruya to take on Greeks and unite whole of India. This story is told in alternate chapters and story keeps moving 50 years back and forth. Presently Sushem is the strongest contender for throne and Asoka is not considered worthy. Chankya is very old now and runs a brothel on outskirts with changed name of Kautilya. Bindusar never liked him and due to a mistake of Radhagupt (steward of Bindusar) he is thrown out. However Radhagupt is repenting and seeks guidance of Chankya to make Bharat great again. They both decide to make a plan for ascension of Asoka to the throne. Meanwhile there is a fatal attack on Asoka and a girl named Devi rescues him. Asoka falls for Devi. Bindusar sends Asoka to Avanti to quell the rebellion and there he finds out that Devi is daughter of Buddhist guild master Hardeo. The story of Part I ends at impending invasion by Chandragupta and Sushem.

The book is enticing and keeps you hooked. The language used is lucid and has no grammatical mistakes. The narrative technique used is back and forth pendulum like movements in time. This also shows a parallels between life of Chandragupta and Chankya and Asoka and Radhagupt respectively. It is indeed true that history repeats itself. The same story of power, conspiracies and greed is repeated time and again. The general public also takes side based on perception. Army is a tool of oppression in the hands of ruling elites. This is explained beautifully as below:

“But what is a better livelihood? The peasant has, by observation of nobles, created an ideal which he is trying to achieve. At this point, one can ask the question why the peasants don’t band together to bring the nobles down, taking their place through sheer strength of numbers. The answer to this question is that such type of a rebellion again requires a leader, which must come from the peasants themselves. But obviously there won’t be just one contender for this post. There will be several, which will again lead to chaos. The kings and nobles rule because the common people let them. The kings depend on the peasants for food and the peasants depend upon the kings for protection. The standing army is faithful to the Raja because the Raja lets them enjoy a specific position in return for their services. The whole system is perfect, except for the fact that the Raja can’t train his son to be a better Raja, because most of the time, the Raja is himself not an epitome of the ideal.”
---
“That is exactly why I have come to you.” I said. “Only Maharaja Dhanananda’s army has what it takes to stop the Greeks.”
“But do you know how this army is used?” Rakshasa asked. “It is used to rule over the people. It is by the tyranny of the army that Dhanananda rules Magadha. All his subjects hate him; he keeps putting men of his own dynasty in official places, and keeps ruling with the might of his army.” He tapped on the table for effect. “If Dhanananda, as you say, was to take his army, and march northwest, there would be a big rebellion here. The people would rise against their evil masters. The present truce that is maintained by the presence of the army here would be dissolved.”

The society was divided badly along caste lines. Only Kshatriyas or Brahmins were considered worthy to rule. The secret society is established for this end. Avarak does baptism of Chankya and it is swore thus:


“I (Chankya) kept reciting as Avarak spoke, “That I shall take upon myself the prime responsibilities for the conservation of our Arya race, and its age-old religion. I shall strive to maintain the caste system of us Aryas. Those who strive to disrupt these age-old principles shall be my sworn enemies. I shall fight against them with all my strength and that will be the only aim of my life. I vow to stand again heretics of all kind and use whichever force necessary to destroy them.” Avarak led again. I followed. “Whenever the established order of society is disturbed, I vow to rise to make things right again. Chaos is my enemy. The trinities of Brahma Vishnu Mahesh are my Gods. I vow to fight for what is correct and hereby I am inducted into this Order for life.”

This is a very captivating novel, a real page turner. It keeps you engrossed even though everybody knows the story by heart. But still how is more important that what which everybody knows. In this Shreyas gets full marks.

However, the disconnect with history sometimes irks and I had to keep reminding myself that this is a fiction. This is like a Dan Brown or James Rollins novel where you cannot differentiate between fact and fiction. But still this is only fiction. The exchanges between Devi and Asoka are fun but sometimes all those winking (wink, wink and more wink) irritated me. Even in today’s generation nobody winks so much (except baba Ramdev ;) of course) whereas here we are talking of about 300 years BC.

So 7 stars (4 stars deducted for last para and 1 additional star for debut effort) out of 10. Eagerly waiting for book two of the trilogy.

[Murali Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prince of Patliputra by Shreyas Bhave, an historical fiction and mythology. First part in Ashoka trilogy. First of all wants to appreciate author to choose historic genre in debut. The story is about rise of Mauryan dynasty has two parallel lines one is about one of the great ruler of India, Ashoka who also has pride to unite whole Bharat (India) during his rule in 272BC and another part about founder of Maurya Dynasty- Chandragupta, grand father of King Ashoka.

The story revolves around the Pride, culture, tradition, love, war, rajatantra and also the society "Ancient Brahmincal Order" who tends to kill prince of pataliputra, Ashoka.

The author has blended both history and fiction. I don't refer it as full and fully historical book but as an historical fiction. When taking it as an fiction its great work.

The slow pace in start makes boring but later its ok. That's the only flaw.

My rating - 3/5.

[Purba Chakraborty · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I learnt that the book is authored by a 21 year old guy, I was quite skeptical if he could handle this historical fiction with deftness. The author managed to totally eradicate my doubts by the time I was in the middle of the book.

"The Prince of Patliputra" is a historical fiction that deals with the life of Asoka, one of the towering figures in the history of India. In the first few pages, it was a bit difficult to comprehend the direction where the story was heading, but once you read a couple of chapters, you will surely be hooked to the book.

Garnished with conspiracies, clever strategies, subtle romance and bitter betrayals, the book is a fast paced read.

A few editing errors could have been avoided and some scenes could have been a little more crisp.
However, with good story telling skills, powerful characters and enough twists, Shreyas Bhave makes a great debut with his historical fiction. The book ends at a very interesting juncture which will compel the readers to wait for the part 2 of the trilogy, "The Scourge from Taxila"

Read the complete review here: http://www.purbareviews.blogspot.in/2...

[Sheetal Maurya - Godse (Halo of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: Author Interview Interview of Shreyas Bhave, The author of 'The Prince of Patliputra'

Introduction:

This is the debut book of Author Shreyas Bhave. History is deep sink in mysteries and that is the reason history always fascinated me. History has an important role in building the part of future and present. We all must have read about Samrat Asoka in school history book. He is known as one of the successful Samrat in whole Bharatvarsha after Chandragupta Maurya. Today India's flag has the symbol of Asoka chakra as well as our national emblem is also derived from Asoka. This book is the first part of Asoka trilogy.

Plot summary:

The book starts with a brief introduction of Chandragupta Maurya and his grandson Asoka. The prologue has intrigued instances where history repeats itself.

Samrat Bindusar, son of Chandragupta Maurya and the second Samrat Chakravartin of all the Aryas is now suffered from an unknown illness. Back then, Chandragupta Maurya has glorified his kingdom perfectly under the guidance of Arya Chanakya. Samrat Bindusar has got the vast realm from his father in legacy. He managed to rule his kingdom as per his father but now the things have changed and his health is declining due to an unknown illness. His 99 son is waiting in line to achieve the throne but in fact, nobody is suitable to take the holy throne of Patliputra.

The only candidate who looks suitable to take the throne is Asoka- an army general and least favorite half- vaisya son of Samrat Bindusar. The prime minister Radhagupta and exiled Kautilya (Chanakya) is silently shaping the ways of Asoka to put him on the throne of Patliputra. Sushem, the most favorite son of Samrat Bindusar has already started Ashwamedha- Yadnya to prove his efficiency for the throne.

In this ebbs and flow, in this game of thrones the history is repeating itself and in this sensitive period, Bharat needs Chandragupta and Chanakya again. But all this is possible?

With the present story, author takes back you to in history to know the Chanakya and his rebel youth alliance of Chandragupta who eradicate Raja Ambhi and tyrannical Nandas from the throne and made an Akhand Bharat.

This book is placed in the context of Ancient Bharat, where you can find caste-system, their interesting tradition & culture.

The book ends with various aggressive situation and questions. 'A west wind is going to blow strong over Bharatvarsha.....'

The answers, which we will find in the next part of this trilogy titled as 'The Scourge of Taxila'.

Writing style:

This book is written with lots of research and a person who has the vast interest in history can write this kind of book. Although this is a fiction book but it will hold your nerves until you reached the last page. The characterization is simply awesome. While reading the book your mind will automatically shape the character. The writing style is smooth and you can read it in pace. The lively conversation between characters is the gaining point of this book.

My perception:

Maurya dynasty is known to rule the largest empire of the world. Chandragupta Maurya has already left marks on history by his good deeds. Asoka, who was best known to Buddha religion spreader. has some of the features of his grandfather. This book travels between pride, betrayal, conspiracy, relations and love. In limited words, this book is a reflection of history A must recommend book to everyone who want to know more about history.

Eagerly waiting for the second book!!

[Abhilash Ruhela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading historical fictions have become a new habit for me considering the number of books releasing in this genre these days. Greatest fact to know is that almost all the writers in this genre are of younger generation who are either in college or just passed out of it. Shreyas Bhave is the newest one to release his book in this genre with his first book in the Asoka Trilogy named "The Prince of Patliputra". He is just 21 years old and studying in an Engineering college. The book is almost 400 pages thick and this young debutante should be applauded for his work. Not even once did I feel that an experienced hand was needed to write this book. He has given his 100% which is quite reflective in each and every chapter that you'll read in this thrilling story based on the history of Asoka.

Shreyas Bhave's command on the language is great which makes the reader in you very happy about it. Trilogy is the new cool in Indian publishing market since the emergence of Amish Tripathi. But not all authors are doing justice to it. I am glad to find Shreyas understanding the concept and choosing a perfect plot for each of his book. The sequence at which the first part has ended gives you enough impatience to read the next one. Not many trilogies are making you feel like that. The way the author have carved each of the characters tells you how creative he is. Though the history has been read by us during school time, yet you do not feel it boring when you read it through Shreyas's eyes.

Coming to the book, the initial chapters are little confusing and you find yourself trapped in it. You want to finish the book earliest so that you can move out of the jail. But as the purpose of the book starts becoming clear about 50-70 pages or so, you start getting addicted to it. The political strategies, wars, military experiences, battles and everything that is discussed adds charm to the story. The way Chandragupta Maurya and Asoka's story runs parallel makes it easy for you to understand why Asoka is considered to be the perfect successor to his grandfather. Also Chanakya's character win you over with its own charm and wit. Radhagupta's character is also well-justified. The mention of Alexander in the flashbacks also comes like a fresh air to us. Overall, the book is a clear winner except few spelling errors. I give it 4 stars out of 5. Hats off, Shreyas.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

[Chaitanya Somalwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://thebookreviewsjdas.blogspot.in...

Name : The Prince of Pataliputra

Author: Shreyas Bhave ( A fellow Nagpurian :P )

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The fact that had heightened my eagerness to get my hands over this book was the fact that I know the author. (Well, not exactly. He was in the same school as my brother. But, never mind. :P)
An additional anticipation factor was that the book was a flaring topic of discussion and appreciation in my household. Setting these frivolities aside, let us move towards the book.
This book is the first in a trilogy that delves into the life of the great Samrat Ashoka and his conquests .If anyone were to entertain the thought that this topic has been rather widely written upon these days , I would be inclined to agree. However what makes the plot of book unique is that it splendidly amalgamates treachery, politics and love. The book is incredibly well paced and a certain page turner.
One striking thing about this book is that at no point in the course of reading, will you even in your wildest imaginations think that this has been crafted by a debutante author. The book has been written with the maturity of a seasoned writer,
However, as perfection is a nearly hypothetical concept, this book has some lacunae as well.The plot seems a bit weak at times and some of the happenings could have been crafted more meticulously. These, unfortunately, manage to hinder the true glory of the book, though to a small extent.
But, overall the book makes a nice read!
Waiting eagerly for 'The Scourge of Taxila'! :)

[Isha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shreyas Bhave’s debut book, The Prince of Patliputra, the first in the Asoka Trilogy series takes the readers to the ancient world of the Mauryan Empire. Asoka, who has been described as “The King Without Sorrow” and “India’s founding father” by Charles Allen for “…being the first ruler to forge India into a single nation state” (Charles Allen, Ashoka, 2012) ruled over the Indian subcontinent from c.268 to 232 BCE. Despite being the first ruler to consolidate the Indian subcontinent into an empire, the Emperor was all but forgotten by history until he was once again resuscitated in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century by European Orientalists (Charles Allen, Ashoka, 2012). This long silence and erasure and rediscovery have added layers of “legends” to his persona (Romila Thapar, Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, 1963).

Although many historians have compiled the accounts of Asoka and the Mauryan Empire however; there are only a few who have attempted to pen down a fictional account of the life of Ashoka and rise of Mauryan Empire. With his new Asoka trilogy, Shreyas Bhave explores the ancient and much distanced world of the Mauryas, their culture, lifestyle, religion and the inevitable war of thrones that accompanies the rise and decline of almost every Empire.

For the complete review, please visit:

http://rainingreviews.com/2016/01/25/...

[Shweta Kesari · Rating 3 out of 5]

As reader hops to start this journey the strange events that author has knitted started to trap reader in its arm slowly and steadily. It would take some couple of pages to gauge what author has in mind, but once reader discovers how the story would wave, he/she would find it interesting to cover the rest of the journey. Author has served flavours in this book. Love, betrayal, relationship and conspiracy all has occupied a good place in the story and they are very well placed to charm readers.

Read Full Review here : http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/revi...

[Tushti Bhatia · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW : The book revolves around the two majestic figures of indian history-bindusara and samrat chakravartin,who have been instrumental in shaping the indian history. The book takes us through the time when their respective dynasties needed a political reform that would register their names in the golden pages of human history.the book is filled with extremely inquisitive incidences as several questions are answered while others are left unaswered. The characters of the book provide an insight into the day -to day scheming and political discussions that formed the backbone of the two most credible dynasties of india. As compared to the textbookish history i felt the one explained by Shreyas is exemplary and made me understand the characters really well. The narration is very lucid and comprehensive and the vocab included can be understood by all the readers easily. I just felt that a sequel is needed to make some concepts a lil clear in my head, otherwise the book is amazing and should be picked up by all the mythology lovers across the world.


RATING : 4/5

[Kritika Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember the history we studied in schools? No? Well, this the book that relives it.
Prince of Patliputra is the first part of 'Asoka's triology' which deals in 272BC and 50 years before that. It has two parallel story lines, one of Asoka and another of Chandragupta.

Talking about history, it seemed so boring when we studied it, isn't it? (Please excuse all who thought otherwise). But this book is not boring at all. While reading it, you would feel you are actually living in that era. Well, two eras actually - Asoka's and Chandragupta's and both are written beautifully and author has done justice to both.
Chadragupta was the grandfather of Asoka and the great Samrat of India. The story lays down events of the lives of two great kings India has ever seen. One key angle to the book is of Chanakya. It is well known that Chankya enabled Chandragupta's rule but to read it from author's perspective is fresh and different.

Talking about characters, the book is full of them. Author had been smart while putting up a list in the beginning of the book to enable readers with an index. Yes, there are so many that one might get lost while reading.
Although there are many characters but author has done a good job in justifying them. You won't feel story lost of any or yearn for more details.

The writing style is rather friendly and decent. However there are small errors which can be ignored. The only thing that I didn't like was certain scenes were dragged out but given the book is overall good, one tend to get over it.

Overall, the story is full of politics, conspiracy and betrayals -but it is also laced with slight romance, which makes it perfect.

My rating to the book is - 4/5

More reviews at: http://kritisharmacreations.blogspot.in/

[Divya Ramnath Bandodkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:

The only thing that came to my mind when I heard Asoka Triology is S.R.K’s movie- Asoka which I haven’t watched yet. Of late, I have realized that books seem to be more interesting than the movie. I decided that I wouldn’t watch the movie and go with the book no matter how long it takes for the 2nd and the 3rd part to be out for sale in market. And trust me; I have not regretted reading The Prince of Patliputra.

I picked up this book on Tuesday and finished its all 382 pages in flat 2 days. The story keeps the reader hooked on to the very end. (I wanted to read more but sadly the other parts aren’t out yet.) The alternate shift between Chandragupta and Asoka’s time has been done incredibly well. No confusion will arise in the minds of the readers. The flow of events is smooth and steady.

There are many characters (yes. since it is a mythology) and I feel that the author has done justice with every character except for Samrat Bindusar. I feel that including a chapter on Samrat Bindusar’s rule would have been better. Like Chandragupta, Asoka too seems to make a place in the hearts of the readers.

Incredible narration, the mystery element coupled with simple yet gripping language makes ‘The Prince of Patliputra’ a must read. Author’s work can be termed as exemplary. Author is sure to reach at the top position of the ladder in mythology genre.

Eagerly waiting for the next part!


I rate:

Cover: 4/5
Story and Narration: 4.5/5


My overall rating for The Prince of Patliputra is 4.5/5 stars.

[Anmol Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Asoka trilogy book 1 shows two time periods 272 BC and 50 years before ; how two great personalities Ashoka and Chandragupta rise to power kind of in a similar fashion. It explores history of Patliputra, Taxila, the idea election system , life of Aryas and Buddhism and even the Alexander the Great . The incidents of our history is depicted pretty well in the book in the form of a very interestng fiction.

The story takes you through conspiracies, suspense, rajatantras, love, betrayal, communal differences, pride, ego and so on which wont let you to keep the book down; consider the fact that i did not even though my exams are nearing :) . Eventhough it is named after Ashoka, the whole story is stole or lead by the great mind Chanakya, how he with chanakya-tantras or cunning and intelligent ways keeps the grace of realms in his ways which is sheer brilliance depicted in both the times. Even Alexander the Great fall for his words and plans.

A line from the book , quoted by Chanakya which striked me is : "It is better to talk a lot, and be a leader, than work a lot and be a slave" ; A point indeed!

Excluding some minor distastes like all characters winking a lot, using India instead of Bharat in some places considering the time period, and lot of talks over wine and deer and similar scenes it is a great work to enjoy.

I will rate this must-read book a 4.25/5 ; highest so far by me ;)

[Shilpi Chaklanobis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first part of the trilogy, The Prince of Patliputra, where the author chronicles the military exploits and excursions of Asoka before he becomes the Samrat. He has woven an intriguing tale by weaving history with fictional account of the life of Ashoka which is fast paced, highly engrossing and a sure page turner.

The author has been successful in bringing the highly written about and historical legends like Asoka, Chandragupta, Chanakya, Radhagupta etc. alive from the pages of history and setting them in a fiction.

The narration and writing style seems effortless and is easy to read. All in all a fast paced, tightly knit story that brings forth the story of the legend called Asoka through an interesting plot which is an amalgamation of historic facts and fiction. A must read for those who like historical fiction.

4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Full review here

[Pankaj Goyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of the book can be read by clicking on the following link:
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2016/0...

[Pooja Srivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

•••BOOK REVIEW•••
THE PRINCE OF PATLIPUTRA By Shreyas Bhave
⚔️
#PLOT: This is book one of “Asoka trilogy”. This is a fictionalized account of Mauryan rule’s first three rulers..The book covers two parallel plots— The rise to power of Asoka in the declining years of Samrat Bindusar Circa in 272 BC and the rise to power of Chandragupta Maurya about 50 years earlier.The story is about Mauryan ruler Asoka and Mauryan Dynasty.
Story start with reference to secret society called '' Ancient Brahmincal Order'' who wants to kill Ashoka.The story revolves around the Pride, culture, tradition, love, war, rajatantra and also the society "Ancient Brahmincal Order" who tends to kill prince of pataliputra, Ashoka.
⚔️
#WRITING_N_NARRATION : The writing style is very fluid and clear. Author's command on the language is great which makes the reader in you very happy about it. 
The narration was in first a bit slow..but later on it grasped pace. The ending definitely will leave you wanting for more!
⚔️
#CHARACTERS : The primary characters are Asoka, Radhagupta and Chanakya, along with other dozens of secondary characters.
This is a plot-driven story, which means that character portrayal takes a back seat to some extent. But the author has successfully engaged all the characters making it easy to follow.
⚔️
#MY_VIEWS : I like to read about history and historical fiction is the current favourite genre for Indian authors. But not every author have the calibre to pull it off! But @shreyasbhave had an absolute control over the facts and wonderfully transformed it into a high paced, thrilling novel. I loved the way in which he used the idea of parallel stories was very unique and he was able to create thrill among the readers.😇
.
.

[DarkAng3L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am utterly amazed that this book was written by a Debut Author - for real?

Such a complex and dark read - unputdownable, spine-tingling, hatch of plot read.
Author has so cleverly merge two stories parallelly. It is kind of unique narrative technique that has been used for movements of time. One part of the story is about ascend of throne for Chandragupta and role of Chanakya and the other part of the story is about Asoka and Radhagupta.
All the characters has been introduced beautifully and I simply the progress they have made throughout the read. It is a simple read, smooth and definitely to complete the read in a good pace.
I have noticed that author has carefully chosen important quotes from the Sanskrit verses and infused them throughout the pages - i have obviously loved those little touch done.

Author has done immense amount of research to complete this book and I bet it would the same on the sequels as well which I am so excited to read after this.

"Remember, the bonds which are so closely knit, like the bonds of brotherhood must not be strained by little things like the division of cows. These things shall come and go, but the unity of one's own kind of utmost importance. That is the thing which is missing in us Aryas."

[Soham Mohanty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince of Pataliputra is the first book of the Aśoka Trilogy written by Shreyas Bhave. It provides a detailed information about the life of two very famous Magadhan rulers- Chandragupta Maurya and Asoka. It is a completely research-based analysis due to which its accuracy is remarkable. Although it fictionalizes the pre-reign life of Asoka, it tries to maintain an overall non-fictional background. The most appealing part of the book is the organization of the chapters in such a way that it portrays two different stories set in different time periods together by connecting likewise instances. The inclusion of sexual content has aroused an excitement in the reader from time to time. The various plots in different scenes have been presented so innovatively that it seems as if the reader is watching a movie. It is one of the best historical fiction books in my library and will keep inspiring the youth to pursue their passion of writing.
But there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors because of lack of review before publishing and a negligence from the publisher’s part.

[My Happy Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a lover of Historical fiction, then you would adore this book totally!Story starts with the king, Bindusar getting ill and close to his death. He has 100 sons and his least liked among them, is Asoka.. As he is getting more and more ill, the big question arises that who will be the next successor to the throne? Will prince Sushem be the next king as everyone is expecting, who is present king's favourite or will prince Asoka will come into the picture in the run for throne...It is a fast pace narrative and a well knit story line. Very intriguing plot.The writing style of the author is very fluid and engaging. You will not feel a moment of boredom during the entire read. The story is action packed and full of throne politics, betrayals, love, conspiracies etc. It was fun to read about Chanakya and his intelligent clever ways!
For full review check my blog: https://www.myhappychance.com/2018/12...

[Narayanan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really pathetic writing and really pathetic imagination and story. Rather than doing proper research looking at diverse viewpoints before writing such a historical fiction, he swallows whole the greek narrative portraying the greek as great and takes to even higher levels. He takes one of the most illustrious and honorable persons in the history of India like Chanakya and portraits him as a dishonorable goonda/rascal whose only purpose is personal revenge. One would think Chanakya personally murdered someone in family of Mr Bhave for him to have such shameless vengeance. Maybe he seems him own character in Chanakya when writing. One of the worst historical fictions ever written.

Anyone who has read Arthasastra or even the historical records of how the rule in Chandragupta's time was conducted in a decentralised power manner, justice system etc can only pity the lack of credibility in anything depicted in this trilogy.

[Archana Dash · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read, interesting storytelling, sincerely enjoyed the narration. What I did not enjoy was the writing style - very simple litrature, spelling & grammar mistakes. Those mistakes were disturbing. But the way the story was narrated and build up to the sequels, it was good enough to enjoy reading it till the end.

[Dhanashri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very causally picked up this book from a local library and after reading its I feel glad that I did :)
The writing style, narrative & historical details are impressive and it takes you back to that golden era wondering what it would have been like if India wasn’t invaded at all. I am definitely going to read the next two in this trilogy.

[Munjal Dalwadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good details from Mauryan Era. Authors had done lot of studies. The story line is intriguingly carved in fast paced environment. Good book to read. Looking forward for the 2nd book.

[Avinash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story

[Nemish Kanwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing plot

Chanakya is shown as a badass character, who 'doesn't knows no humanity', only a mission.
The plot is divided into Chandragupta age and Ashoka age and how similar and dissimilar were there way of getting the throne.

[Parikshit Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start, let me take a moment to appreciate the book cover. It is a map of Akhand Bharat that Maurya used to rule. The map on cover successfully makes top-of-the-mind impact and makes to you want the book. Cover quality and binding of the book is good, no complaint regarding it. I took 10 days to read the book but still it is as new as it was when I received.

Now thanking the author himself for finding me and sending me the autographed copy of the book. This is a generous act by a 21 years old debutant author. Really appreciate it!

https://imparixit.wordpress.com/2016/...

The story of the book starts with a prologue that is absolutely brilliant. It is nicely and smartly written one which will make you turn the pages quickly. The list of characters and the position they hold is listed at the very beginning which is quite helpful. The first thing I noticed about the book was the word “Asoka”; the author has used it instead of famous name “Ashoka”.

The first scene starts with Tissa, who is brother of Maharaja Sushem and son of Samrat Bindusar. Initially it looks it the author is trying to create a plot for the story. However the brotherly relation between two of them are nicely narrated in this chapter and in the forthcoming chapters as well. Then characters of Radhagupta, Chanakya and Asoka are introduced. The story goes fifty years back, to the time when Chandragupta Maurya was on the rise in Taxila. All these chapters look decent and like I said, somehow setting the plot for the upcoming story.

When someone writes a historic-fiction, especially about Mauryas, it is quite common that the whole story revolves around Chanakya but Shreyas Bhave has walked a different. He has given enough importance to characters like Radhagupta, Sush7em, Tissa, Asoka, Hariharan, etc. At some occasions I felt like the events, time-line and relations between characters can be a subject of debate on the ground of history.

The book has two parallel storylines, one of Asoka and the second of Chandragupta. While Asoka is sent to battle against the rebels of Avanti, Chandragupta is seen in the action to stop Alexander’s march to conquer whole Bharat. Asoka meets Devi lost his heart to her very soon. Chanakya tries to unit Rajas of Bharat to battle against foreign invader. The two timelines are well narrated but I find that at some stages is stretched a little too far which is bit boring. I found Asoka’s journey to Avanti through Vidishanagri very well written compared to Chanakya-Chandragupta storyline.

Few things like Ashwamegh Yajna by Sushem, Chanakya meeting Avark, Puru battling Alexander, Asoka dealing with rebels… makes the books a pure page-turner. Very big part of the book is occupied with the ancient thinking of only Brahmin and Kshatriya should be on the privileged positions of the kingdom. It is very well researched narration of how big issue ‘caste’ was in the ancient time. I do not wish to give any spoiler here because I believe that giving this book one read is definitely worth the money you’ll need to spend.

In the book you’ll find two young hearts falling in love and striving to keep their love alive. You’ll read about how people who are in blood-relations are ready to kill each other for the throne. When it is question of money and power, no one can be trusted and that’s what the book states very well. How caste and religion were most dominating factors and people will not think even for a moment to kill others in the name of religion’s pride, you will get very clear display of it.

To conclude my short review, I will say that this book is a promising one which will make you wait for the next book of the Asoka Trilogy. I am giving this book 4.5 star out of 5.

[Rahul Mohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been quite a while since I received this book as a review copy, but my academic commitments delayed the write up. Sincere apologies to all concerned before I start my review.

The rise and fall of Mauryan dynasty and its greatest leader, Emperor Asoka were a part of the history classes of my high school days. The course material was more concerned about the War of Kalinga and Asoka’s subsequent transformation which made him a follower of Buddhism. Asoka is considered as one of the greatest emperors of India and often termed as Asoka the Great.

Founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the primary objective of preserving the Aryan bloodline and safeguarding it against foreign invasions, the empire reached its peak during the reign of his grandson Asoka. The biggest irony of the era is Asoka himself, taking up Buddhism, the spread of which was one of the founding reasons of the empire. However, very little is known about the transcend of power from Chandragupta Maurya to his son Bindusar and then to Asoka. This book gives us a sneak peek into those unknown facts in an intriguing way that the moment you finish reading the final words of the book, you are hit with an urge to pick up The Scourge from Taxila, the second part of this trilogy, which is currently being written.

This book takes us to the days where Chandragupta Maurya was Chanakya’s disciple and the different situations which ultimately take him to the throne as the King of Taxila. The story often shifts between past and present, narrating the story of Chandragupta and Asoka and drawing a lot of similarities between the two. While for Chandragupta there was one Chanakya to guide him, for Asoka there is Radhagupta who masterminds Asoka’s transition from an army general to a contender for the throne of Bharatvarsha. Chandragupta vows to be the people’s leader and fights against the Nandas’ tyrannical rule and the invasion of Alexander the Great. For Asoka, it’s more personal, as he fights against his own half brother after he uncovers the plot by his brother to assassinate him. The work also throws light on the caste system prevalent on the society then, much of which hasn’t changed much today.

This historical fiction has all the necessary elements to make it a thriller worth a read – it has suspense, betrayal, patriotism and beautifully written, yet subtle romance between Asoka and Devi. It beautifully depicts the extent to which the addiction to power and pride would take a man, even if that demands killing his half brother. Though the main protagonist is Asoka, my pick among the characters is Chanakya and to an extent Radhagupta, who himself his Chanakya version 2.0. Chanakya once again proves that wars are not necessarily won on battlefields and takes a calculated step every time, without deviating from the ultimate objective just like a game of chess. With an advisor like him, any Raja can be a Maharaja or Samrat in no time.

Another striking feature of this book is it’s author and I have to admit that he is someone to lookout for, given he has come up with such a well written debut work at the age of 21. I had to go through a few historical references and the 2001 bollywood flick Asoka to get to know more about the scenario, and I have to admit that this is indeed well written if not better than the screenplay of the film. Hats off to you Mr. Shreyas Bhave!!!

Like the other side of the coin, the book has its own flaws. I wish it was well edited and trimmed a bit, thereby making it a racy thriller. To wind up, there is no particular genre lovers for whom I would recommend this book. It’s for all. Go for it and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

[Percy Wadiwala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot
The Prince of Pataliputra covers two parallel plots – the rise to power of Asoka in the declining years of Samrat Bindusar circa. 270 BCE, and the rise to power of Chandragupta Maurya about 50 years earlier. Narrated partly in third person and partly in first person through Chanakya, the author gives us glimpses of the Greco-Indian wars, Chanakya’s quest to consolidate the princes of India into a single entity and of the machinations of Radhagupta to put Asoka on the throne, as well as the young Prince’s own campaigns.

Also woven into the narrative is a burgeoning conflict between the established religion – Brahminical Hinduism and Buddishm, reflected in the ideological and practical differences between the ruling class and many of the merchants.

Characters
The primary characters are Asoka, Radhagupta and Chanakya, along with other tertiary figures like Raja Ambhi, Alexander, Porus, Kanadutta the arms dealer and Devi the Vaidya (the female lead).

This is a plot-driven story, which means that character portrayal takes a back seat to some extent. Mr. Bhave does a decent job with the main characters, whose motivation and nature we do get a glimpse of, though the secondary characters can be a little one-dimensional.

Writing
The style is very fluid and the writing fast-paced, making the book sprint forward with the pace of a well-written thriller rather than a dreary historical. As the historical context and events are reasonably well-known to an Indian audience (or should be), Mr. Bhave focuses on events and people.

His skill in writing action is admirable, and he is able to bring a fight to life in the matter of a few words without faltering or overdoing it, a great asset in a book where there is no dearth of action scenes.

There are a lot of conversations, the dialogue is quick and snappy, and the author is able to pack the book with incidents even when the plot may not be moving forward quite as quickly as it appears to be. I’d say this is actually a good thing, by the way!

There are enough call-backs and foreshadowing to indicate that the plotting has been done carefully, and the writer can claim to bring shades of James Patterson-esque writing to this genre, making it quite exciting.

The little things
As far as language goes, there are errors of commission that the author needs to look at. Usage of certain words like ‘biased’ is incorrect. At times, one wishes for more detailing or a more elaborate turn of phrase, but I suppose it’s a wishlist item that Mr. Bhave can look at in his own time. It is better the way it is – sort of a quicker, better version of Amish – than becoming a half-way hybrid.

Conclusion
The Prince of Pataliputra is an excellent debut work, bringing the spirit of a thriller to the genre of historical fiction. A relatively quick read, it can be equally recommended to fans of Amish and Dan Brown.
- See more at: http://percytheslacker.blogspot.in/20...

[Robin Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is the first part of the Asoka trilogy and is in the genre of historical fictions. For those who have known much of the history revolving around the historical legends like Asoka, Changragupta, Chanakya, Radhagupta etc., a little comparison to actual history is inevitable. However, the author, that to a debutant, has been successful in bringing alive these stalwarts from the pages of history and setting them in a fiction.
The book begins with an intriguing prologue and a brief reference to the existence of a secret society, and traces the last years of the reign of Samrat Bindusar. The author has been successful in recording the feats and intrigues of Radhagupta concurrently with Chanakya to bring a corollary that while Asoka was a meritorious successor of Chandragupta, his grandfather, Radhagupta was a commendable successor of Chanakya. To achieve the same, the author takes back and forth the readers to two time periods i.e. 272 BC and 50 years before it. Chanakya’s character wins over with its own charm and wit. The narration of wits and political strategies of Chanakya written in first person account was fabulous. The narration and writing style seems effortless and is easy to read.
The book is an amalgamation of historic facts and fiction and the author was successful in weaving it into a tight-knit story with interesting plots. The author has also been successful in taking you through conspiracies, suspense, rajatantras, love, betrayal, communal differences, pride, ego and so on.
Some minor distastes like all characters winking a lot, using word “oye” at a few places and using India instead of Bharat in some places considering the time period, and a lot of talks over wine and deer and similar scenes are spoilers. Also, proof-reading mistakes could have been avoided by the publisher and while going through the work of fiction, I collected all the texts (quite a lot !!) where I found mistakes in proof-reading. Without all of them, it is a great work to enjoy.
The book closes with much anticipation and evokes interest for the second book in the trilogy titled “THE SCOURGE FROM TAXILA“. Will Ashoka proves himself to be a worthy successor of Chandragupta or “Will Sushem be able to do what his grandfather Chandragupta did? Hopefully, the next in the trilogy to further unravel the ancient world of Mauryas will be as good as its predecessor.
I will rate this must-read book a 4.25/5