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Emperor Vikramaditya
Love. Family. Home. Chandra has sacrificed it all at the altar of duty. now, he has to choose between duty and justice. India, fourth century CE. Peace reigns in the land of Magadha, under the rule of Emperor Samudragupta. New alliances are made every day, trade and the arts flourish, and Chandra ? the young prince ? leads his father?s horse across the length of Bharatvarsha as a part of the ashwamedha yagna, cementing the emperor?s influence. The kingdom is at its peak, but Chandra?s thoughts are clouded, his heart heavy. As his elder brother, Ramagupta, prepares to take their ageing father?s place on the throne, Chandra, bound as he is to obey the future king, wrestles constantly with his brother?s decisions ? decisions he believes are inimical to the stability of the empire. And so begins a tale of conflict between two brothers: one drunk on power, buoyed by the unmitigated support of the Pataliputra court, the other a seeming outsider in the palace, who yet commands the people?s loyalty and love. And when an enemy unlike any before rises to challenge the Guptas? might, Chandra must overcome his demons in order to protect his people and become a king in his own right ? he must become Vikramaditya.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews
August 20, 2019
Adity Kay's recent historical fiction, Emperor Vikramaditya, is a sequel to her previous book, Emperor Chandragupta. After reading Emperor Chandragupta, I couldn't wait to read the author's second book which just released last month!
As the title of the book suggests, this book tells the tale of the legendary emperor of ancient India, Chandragupta II, or Vikramaditya. The younger son of the Gupta king Samudragupta, the young prince Chandra is troubled within himself as his elder brother Ramagupta prepares to take their ageing father's place on the throne, he wrestles constantly with his brother's decisions. He finds his brother's decisions to be dangerous to the stability of the empire. And thus, begins the conflict, and struggle for power between two brothers. But when the empire is threatened by a dangerous enemy from outside, Chandra emerges as the king in his own right.
Read the book to know whether an unwanted prince can save a kingdom on the brink of ruin.
The book beautifully portrays the important historical characters. It is absolutely beautiful. The language is lucid and easy. And the narration goes on at a perfect pace. Also, I loved the detailed descriptive portions.
Altogether, it was quite an interesting read for me.
Historical fiction fans, you can always go for this book!
As the title of the book suggests, this book tells the tale of the legendary emperor of ancient India, Chandragupta II, or Vikramaditya. The younger son of the Gupta king Samudragupta, the young prince Chandra is troubled within himself as his elder brother Ramagupta prepares to take their ageing father's place on the throne, he wrestles constantly with his brother's decisions. He finds his brother's decisions to be dangerous to the stability of the empire. And thus, begins the conflict, and struggle for power between two brothers. But when the empire is threatened by a dangerous enemy from outside, Chandra emerges as the king in his own right.
Read the book to know whether an unwanted prince can save a kingdom on the brink of ruin.
The book beautifully portrays the important historical characters. It is absolutely beautiful. The language is lucid and easy. And the narration goes on at a perfect pace. Also, I loved the detailed descriptive portions.
Altogether, it was quite an interesting read for me.
Historical fiction fans, you can always go for this book!
August 28, 2019
Composed like a beautiful painting.
You can feel the essence of story by mere reading it, you need not t read between the lines, as in the first book story telling is nice, and the narration style in this one is also lovely.
So overall is I say that in the aspect of presentation, I like this particular one. “The Vikramaditya book” and compared to Chandragupta.
I thought that this book might not entertain me as much as earlier one did, but nope. It surpassed my expectations unexpectedly.
So, it is slightly connected with the previous book but the story is very well composed and presented.
This time in much more better ,
See when I am reviewing the History fiction, I am not at all talking about the story.
because it is History, the same goes with the Mythology fiction. No one can change it, and if changed it. It no more remains the same genre.
I am talking only about the presentation, the style an of course the composition.
“Emperor Vikramaditya” is done better, I personally feel that chandraguta story had better characters, which were more interesting and engaging but this one had descent characters but a intriguing story.
The balancing is really nice, the descent composition makes the reading feel more clear, uncluttered and well as balanced.
Making the story more appealing.
The cover is very beautiful.
The inner conflicts, love, strategy all makes the tumultuous plot fascinating.
You should check this one out, I admire the narration, and clear story telling.
The detailed research done for this book is visible, I can definitely say that the author very well presents history unlike any other I have read till now.
You can feel the essence of story by mere reading it, you need not t read between the lines, as in the first book story telling is nice, and the narration style in this one is also lovely.
So overall is I say that in the aspect of presentation, I like this particular one. “The Vikramaditya book” and compared to Chandragupta.
I thought that this book might not entertain me as much as earlier one did, but nope. It surpassed my expectations unexpectedly.
So, it is slightly connected with the previous book but the story is very well composed and presented.
This time in much more better ,
See when I am reviewing the History fiction, I am not at all talking about the story.
because it is History, the same goes with the Mythology fiction. No one can change it, and if changed it. It no more remains the same genre.
I am talking only about the presentation, the style an of course the composition.
“Emperor Vikramaditya” is done better, I personally feel that chandraguta story had better characters, which were more interesting and engaging but this one had descent characters but a intriguing story.
The balancing is really nice, the descent composition makes the reading feel more clear, uncluttered and well as balanced.
Making the story more appealing.
The cover is very beautiful.
The inner conflicts, love, strategy all makes the tumultuous plot fascinating.
You should check this one out, I admire the narration, and clear story telling.
The detailed research done for this book is visible, I can definitely say that the author very well presents history unlike any other I have read till now.
July 13, 2020
.⠀
शिवाज्ञया च नृपतिविक्रमस्तनयस्ततः।⠀
शतवर्षं कृतं राज्यं देवभक्त स्ततोभवत।⠀
दशवर्षं कृतं राज्यं शकैदुष्टैलृयं गतः ।।⠀
Praise for Emperor Vikramaditya.⠀
.⠀
Reading historical fiction is like exploring rare tales which should be read bcz it is necessary to understand how glorious out past was. And in indian historical fiction we have a few authors who recreated the ancient environment. Adity kay is one of them.⠀
One day scrolling on Amazon I found this book about king Chandragupta-2 aka Vikramaditya. I read Vikram-Vetaal & many micro tales about king Vikram but this book is the highlight of the mighty King's whole journey towards a vast empire. The empire which is known as the golden era of ancient India.⠀
The journey of price Chandra starts with responsibility of Magadh's security. His brother Ramagupta is given scripture knowledge and Chandra is given weapons knowledge. Ramagupta is determined to be crown prince due to his age, but along with being virtuous, he is jealous of Chandra. ⠀
At the same time, Chandra is aware of the safety of Magadha and the responsibilities of the state guardian. So for the protection of Magadha, it's required to have an emperor like Chandra absolutely necessary. So an incident turns the dices & enthronement of chandra takes place. ⠀
After taking responsibility of the greatest empire he construct an ideal & prosperous empire of the history.⠀
.⠀
For historical fiction lovers it's a must read because there is no such type of literature available on emperor Vikramaditya. Connection of facts with imagination is good & also it contains some hidden characters of the past. With a fast storyline & easy language it simply tells the whole story in a chronological manner. One point I want to maintain that it have not such type of action scenes which we read in many historical fiction books. Simply it follows the standard story with some essential elements like love, hatred, responsibilities & kingship. Not so entertaining but knowledgeable.⠀
So if you want to read about this mighty king you can pick this book undoubtedly.⠀
⠀
शिवाज्ञया च नृपतिविक्रमस्तनयस्ततः।⠀
शतवर्षं कृतं राज्यं देवभक्त स्ततोभवत।⠀
दशवर्षं कृतं राज्यं शकैदुष्टैलृयं गतः ।।⠀
Praise for Emperor Vikramaditya.⠀
.⠀
Reading historical fiction is like exploring rare tales which should be read bcz it is necessary to understand how glorious out past was. And in indian historical fiction we have a few authors who recreated the ancient environment. Adity kay is one of them.⠀
One day scrolling on Amazon I found this book about king Chandragupta-2 aka Vikramaditya. I read Vikram-Vetaal & many micro tales about king Vikram but this book is the highlight of the mighty King's whole journey towards a vast empire. The empire which is known as the golden era of ancient India.⠀
The journey of price Chandra starts with responsibility of Magadh's security. His brother Ramagupta is given scripture knowledge and Chandra is given weapons knowledge. Ramagupta is determined to be crown prince due to his age, but along with being virtuous, he is jealous of Chandra. ⠀
At the same time, Chandra is aware of the safety of Magadha and the responsibilities of the state guardian. So for the protection of Magadha, it's required to have an emperor like Chandra absolutely necessary. So an incident turns the dices & enthronement of chandra takes place. ⠀
After taking responsibility of the greatest empire he construct an ideal & prosperous empire of the history.⠀
.⠀
For historical fiction lovers it's a must read because there is no such type of literature available on emperor Vikramaditya. Connection of facts with imagination is good & also it contains some hidden characters of the past. With a fast storyline & easy language it simply tells the whole story in a chronological manner. One point I want to maintain that it have not such type of action scenes which we read in many historical fiction books. Simply it follows the standard story with some essential elements like love, hatred, responsibilities & kingship. Not so entertaining but knowledgeable.⠀
So if you want to read about this mighty king you can pick this book undoubtedly.⠀
⠀
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September 21, 2023A great book explains the story of Emperor Vikramaditya in a story of cinematic.
August 11, 2019
🌸Emperor Vikramaditya By Aditya Kay🌸
India, fourth century CE. Peace reigns in the land of Magadha, under the rule of Emperor Samudragupta. New alliances are made every day, trade and the arts flourish, and Chandra - the young prince - leads his father's horse across the length of Bharatvarsha as a part of the Ashwamedha yagna, cementing the emperor's influence.
The kingdom is at its peak, but Chandra's thoughts are clouded, his heart heavy. As his elder brother, Ramagupta, prepares to take their ageing father's place on the throne, Chandra, bound as he is to obey the future king, wrestles constantly with his brother's decisions - decisions he believes are inimical to the stability of the empire.
And so begins a tale of conflict between two brothers: one drunk on power, buoyed by the unmitigated support of the Pataliputra court, the other a seeming outsider in the palace, who yet commands people's loyalty and love. And when an enemy unlike any before rises to challenge the Guptas' might, Chandra must overcome his demons in order to protect his people and become a king in his own right - he must become Vikramaditya.
.
After reading the first book, I couldn't stop myself from reading this amazing book. Definitely, I love to read about King Vikramaditya and I love him personally as a king. The author brings the beautiful era back and makes us feel rejuvenated. Page after page, the book becomes more and more interesting. I loved how it processed and how the emperor grew gradually in the book. It's one of the best historical fiction I have ever read. Definitely recommended.
.
Rating: 4.25🌟
India, fourth century CE. Peace reigns in the land of Magadha, under the rule of Emperor Samudragupta. New alliances are made every day, trade and the arts flourish, and Chandra - the young prince - leads his father's horse across the length of Bharatvarsha as a part of the Ashwamedha yagna, cementing the emperor's influence.
The kingdom is at its peak, but Chandra's thoughts are clouded, his heart heavy. As his elder brother, Ramagupta, prepares to take their ageing father's place on the throne, Chandra, bound as he is to obey the future king, wrestles constantly with his brother's decisions - decisions he believes are inimical to the stability of the empire.
And so begins a tale of conflict between two brothers: one drunk on power, buoyed by the unmitigated support of the Pataliputra court, the other a seeming outsider in the palace, who yet commands people's loyalty and love. And when an enemy unlike any before rises to challenge the Guptas' might, Chandra must overcome his demons in order to protect his people and become a king in his own right - he must become Vikramaditya.
.
After reading the first book, I couldn't stop myself from reading this amazing book. Definitely, I love to read about King Vikramaditya and I love him personally as a king. The author brings the beautiful era back and makes us feel rejuvenated. Page after page, the book becomes more and more interesting. I loved how it processed and how the emperor grew gradually in the book. It's one of the best historical fiction I have ever read. Definitely recommended.
.
Rating: 4.25🌟
September 9, 2019
What an extraordinary book this was -- truly, an epic! I was deeply moved by the characters: a bitter struggle between two brothers, a passionate love story, the difficult decisions of governing disparate groups of proud people with dignity and physical strength. As I read, I kept imagining myself decades younger, lost in this story that might have given me insight into otherwise dry readings of historical narrative. Because while it certainly contains mythical proportions, it's drawn from history that I now realize I'd like to learn so much more about.
Oddly -- for a book that features an emperor's hand-battle with a cheetah, and a battle that takes place on the back of horned bulls -- there's much that harkens to our present political divisiveness, with Chandra's deft maneuvering to balance the needs of powerful local kings and rulers. The respect provided to travelers, religious minorities, and even those who threaten Chandra's rule is palpable, and instructive.
The style of writing is perhaps not in fashion, but it matched the narrative's sense of formal distance. (That said, the battle scenes -- particularly the final battle between Vikramaditya and Rudrasimha -- were thrilling! And I loved reading the sensual description of so many physical spaces that Chandra travels to throughout the Empire.) I also read this book digitally, and it was helpful to be able to quickly pull up information on unfamiliar references.
Oddly -- for a book that features an emperor's hand-battle with a cheetah, and a battle that takes place on the back of horned bulls -- there's much that harkens to our present political divisiveness, with Chandra's deft maneuvering to balance the needs of powerful local kings and rulers. The respect provided to travelers, religious minorities, and even those who threaten Chandra's rule is palpable, and instructive.
The style of writing is perhaps not in fashion, but it matched the narrative's sense of formal distance. (That said, the battle scenes -- particularly the final battle between Vikramaditya and Rudrasimha -- were thrilling! And I loved reading the sensual description of so many physical spaces that Chandra travels to throughout the Empire.) I also read this book digitally, and it was helpful to be able to quickly pull up information on unfamiliar references.
August 27, 2019
A prequel to Emperor Chandragupta, Adity Kay’s Emperor Vikramaditya was a well awaited book for me. I had picked up the first book and was mesmerized by it. So after finishing that one, I was absolutely very excited to pick up the sequel as well.
Vikramaditya is the younger son of King Samudragupta, he was also called the Chandragupta II. Throughout this book we see the constant struggles he faces – it is a lot about people facing their fears I suppose. Chandra does not at all agree with his elder brother Ramagupta’s viewpoints. Like Dumbledore once said, it is easy to rise up against one’s enemies, but the greatest courage lies in standing up against one’s friends. Likewise, as Ramagupta starts making decisions, which are harmful for the country in the long term, young Chandra has to plunge headfirst into trying to stand up against what he believes are wrong views of his profligate brother.
With a lucid writing style, Adity Kay has again managed to drown the readers into the story of this legendary figure in India’s history. The gripping narrative is supported by a great plotline, full of emotions that are real and so very relatable, with characters that feel so real you could probably touch them, and dialogues. Filled to the brim with action and adventure, Emperor Vikramaditya was a stunning sequel to the first book in the series – Emperor Chandragupta.
Vikramaditya is the younger son of King Samudragupta, he was also called the Chandragupta II. Throughout this book we see the constant struggles he faces – it is a lot about people facing their fears I suppose. Chandra does not at all agree with his elder brother Ramagupta’s viewpoints. Like Dumbledore once said, it is easy to rise up against one’s enemies, but the greatest courage lies in standing up against one’s friends. Likewise, as Ramagupta starts making decisions, which are harmful for the country in the long term, young Chandra has to plunge headfirst into trying to stand up against what he believes are wrong views of his profligate brother.
With a lucid writing style, Adity Kay has again managed to drown the readers into the story of this legendary figure in India’s history. The gripping narrative is supported by a great plotline, full of emotions that are real and so very relatable, with characters that feel so real you could probably touch them, and dialogues. Filled to the brim with action and adventure, Emperor Vikramaditya was a stunning sequel to the first book in the series – Emperor Chandragupta.
October 19, 2019
Could have been better
Narration was not interlinked , often within a chapter, the plot, the era were explained we'll, war or the action sequence were just skipped
Narration was not interlinked , often within a chapter, the plot, the era were explained we'll, war or the action sequence were just skipped
October 20, 2019
Powerful narrative, compelling story-line. Brings out the period vividly, well-crafted and well-researched ! Must read for historical fiction buffs.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews